Home 2016 May (Page 4)
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Martha Potvin has been named provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Springfield College, beginning June 30. She brings more than 25 years of academic administrative experience to Springfield College.

Most recently, Potvin served as executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at Montana State University (MSU) since January 2011. Potvin also served as a professor in the Department of Ecology at MSU.

Nationally, she serves as board member of the Assoc. of Chief Academic Officers. Prior to MSU, Potvin served for 10 years as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of Biology at the University of North Dakota. As dean, she was active in the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences and served on its board of directors for three years.

Potvin began her career as a faculty member at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. During her 16 years at that institution as an assistant, associate, and full professor, she served as chair of the department of Biology for 11 years and as interim dean of Graduate Studies and Extended Education.

Potvin has a bachelor’s degree in biology from UConn, a master’s degree in botany and plant ecology from Michigan State University, and a PhD from the University of Nebraska in ecology and evolutionary biology.

Daily News

AGAWAM — The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast announced that Mark Snow has joined EANE as the new director of Learning & Development.

Snow describes his passion for learning and development as going beyond training, where performance is a process to measurable behavior or productivity changes. He has been a frequent speaker at major conferences and events on innovative subjects that embrace leadership-building, culture-enhancing, and engagement-measuring topics.

His workplace credentials include serving as a board member of the Institute of Management Consultants, where he was deeply involved in setting the course of national trainings. He spent 11 years at HRD Press, where he led a group of international management and HR consultants, working with organizations to optimize their workforce-development practices. He designed and delivered leading-edge business training for companies that included Wells Fargo, Aetna Insurance, Whole Foods, and other national organizations.

Snow earned a bachelor’s degree in English from UMass in 1998.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — On May 22, June 5, and June 26, Wistariahurst will host artist Tammy Denease in a series of historical storytelling performances. At each of the Sunday sessions, Denease will bring to life a woman from the past.

The women featured in the series are Clo Pratt, born into slavery but self-employed after being freed; local hero Elizabeth “Mum Bett” Freeman, who successfully sued Col. Ashley for her freedom in 1781; and Bessie Coleman, “First Negro Aviatrix.” The family-friendly performances will take place in the Belle Skinner Music room at 3 p.m. on each of the days, and are free and open to the public of all ages.

This series is supported in part by a grant from the Holyoke Local Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies. Educational programming at Wistariahurst is supported by Historic Holyoke at Wistariahurst.

Daily News

BOSTON — The Small Business Administration (SBA) named Peter Rice of Berkshire Bank the 2016 Financial Services Champion of the Year for Massachusetts.

“Berkshire Bank consistently ranks top 5 in the state for productivity,” said Robert Nelson, SBA Massachusetts District director. “Peter’s commitment in developing strong partnerships with SBA and its partners while supporting underresourced communities serves as a prime formula for success in community lending.”

Added Sean Gray, chief operating officer at Berkshire Bank, “Peter exemplifies the best of Massachusetts partners that help small businesses succeed. It’s an honor to highlight his hard work and dedication. We look forward to continuing to leverage his experience and resources to provide an exceptional SBA lending platform that supports the SBA’s mission on a larger scale.”

Over the past three years, Berkshire Bank has been able to provide more than 150 million dollars in financing to local businesses, with 183 individual SBA loans approved.

The Financial Services Champion of the Year award is presented annually to an economic-development practitioner who exceeds expectations and requirements for advocating for changes to assist small businesses.

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — 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 Saturday, June 11 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.

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — On Friday, May 20, Innovative Business Systems will explore the ways IT can return more value to organizations. The lunch-and-learn session will take place at 163 Northampton St., Easthampton, from noon to 2 p.m.

Ideally, every IT dollar spent should provide a return by helping to increase revenues, decrease costs, or improve efficiencies. Over lunch, participants will learn many value-driven best practices, while demonstrating how IBS best adds value through its client engagements.

Topics will include how the use of automation can reduce support costs due to economies of scale, how providing streamlined access to support can improve efficiencies, what skills are required and how to staff the IT function within an organization, and disciplined project selection, management, and budgeting best practices.

An open-discussion IT roundtable will be faciliated by IBS immediately following the lunch-and-learn session. To register online, visit www.for-ibs.com/news/simple-registration-form.

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — The state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development continues its 2016 listening tours across the state in Hampshire County on Monday, May 9, beginning with a public hearing at 10 a.m. at the UMass Fine Art Center Concert Hall.

This listening tour is part of a statewide series headed by state Sen. Eric Lesser and State Rep. Cory Atkins, committee co-chairs. Legislators from the committee and representatives from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, and the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Committee will join community members, artists, and local business owners to discuss the economic impact the arts, culture, and tourism have on Hampshire County.

“We’re very excited to welcome members of the committee to Hampshire County again,” said Suzanne Beck, executive director of the Northampton Chamber of Commerce and director of the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council. The committee visited Hampshire County in April 2014. “This is a great opportunity for our industry members to speak directly to their representatives about the good work they’re doing and thank them for the critical financial support we’ve received from the Legislature.”

Tourism is the third-largest revenue-producing industry in the Commonwealth. In 2014, domestic and international visitors spent $19.5 billion in the state. Statewide, the tourism industry employs 132,000 people. Visitors — defined as people who travel from more than 50 miles away — spent nearly $146 million in Hampshire County alone and support 870 jobs. An additional 3,300 jobs are dependent on tourism spending. More than 60% of these jobs come from independent artists and promoters, agents, performing-arts venues, and museums. The tourism industry has grown 20% in the last decade.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Ad agencies, design firms, marketing departments, and other members of the Western Mass. and Northern Conn. creative community have submitted work for the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts’ Creative Awards, the club’s annual recognition of creative excellence. Each year, they come together to celebrate the region’s best creative work with a festive evening of camaraderie. This year’s event — titled “Make. Believe.” — will be held on Thursday, May 19 at Open Square in Holyoke.

The judges for this year’s Creative Awards include 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. “We were really fortunate to get two judges who are at the top of their field,” said Lynn Saunders, co-chair of the Ad Club’s Creative Awards. “They held the work to a very high standard.”

On May 19, the region’s creatives and guests will convene to find out which works Grady and Prokhorov deemed worthy, and to set the bar for the upcoming year of local advertising and communications. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, live music, a champagne toast to the local creative community, and the opportunity to rub shoulders with, and celebrate with, colleagues whose creative work will be on display.

“Our region has long been home to outstanding creative talent, and the Creative Awards continue to affirm the great work being produced here” said David Cecchi, Ad Club president.

Tickets are $35 for members, $50 for non-members, and $20 for students. For more information about the 2016 Creative Awards or to purchase tickets, go to adclubwm.org or call (413) 736- 2582.

This year’s Creative Awards sponsors include Andrew Associates, Cecco – the Design Office of David Cecchi, Common Media, 423 Motion Inc., Marcus Printing, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., Milltown Productions, Six-Point Creative Works Inc., Stephanie Craig Photography, TSM Design, and WWLP-22News.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Central Cultural District (SCCD) and Springfield Business Improvement District will jointly present a “Plug Into the Creative Valley” networking event on Tuesday, May 10 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event will feature music by renowned jazz pianist Jim Argiro in the lobby/gallery of 1350 Main Street. He will be joined by a bassist for the event. Evan Plotkin of City Mosaic will give a few sneak-peek details about the upcoming Jazz and Roots Festival, to be officially announced on May 17.

Artists, creatives, businesspeople, and others are invited to attend this event to connect in a unique and relaxed setting. Food and drink will be provided, and admission is free. The organizers believe providing a welcoming environment for networking is necessary to support the local creative economy.

“This event is important for us to host because it offers an outlet for those often left out of networking events, folks who are working on their own out of their homes or studios, and helps them make connections to other local artists and business people,” said SCCD Director Morgan Drewniany. “If nothing else, the music will be spectacular.”

The Springfield Central Cultural District encompasses an area of the metro center of Springfield, and is membership-based, involving many of the downtown arts institutions. Its mission is to create and sustain a vibrant cultural environment in Springfield.

More details on the May 10 event can be found at facebook.com/springfieldculture. Any questions can be directed to Drewniany at [email protected] or (413) 781-1592.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Each year, the Human Service Forum trustees sift through nominations, submitted by member agencies, to choose its annual award honorees. The organization congratulates its 2016 award winners:

• Luz Rivera, Clara Temple Leonard Direct Care Award (nominated by HAPHousing);

• Facilities Team, Springfield (Edwin Rodriguez, Matthew Asia, Christopher Brown, Charlie Gonzalez, Angel Rivera, Jose Rosario, Angel Ruiz, and Christian Velazquez), Exceptional Team Award (nominated by Children’s Study Home);

• Colleen Brosnan, Robert J. Van Wart Manager Award (nominated by Sunshine Village);

• Pride Stores, Business Award (nominated by Center for Human Development); and

• Tom Campbell, Board Member Award (nominated by the United Arc).

The awards presentation, set for May 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin, is a celebration of the work of human-service organizations who dedicate themselves to working toward the well-being of everyone in their communities. The public is welcome. The cost is $38 and includes dinner. Tickets are available online at www.humanserviceforum.org or by calling Kathleen at (413) 693-0214.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Less than a month after losing the Falcons to Tucson, Ariz., hockey could be returning to Springfield for the 2016-17 season.

According to Portland, Maine-based WCSH, the Portland Pirates, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Florida Panthers, has been sold to a new ownership group that intends to relocate the team in Springfield.

According to a statement released yesterday by the team, “the Portland Pirates have announced that a letter of intent has been signed with an outsider buyer to purchase and relocate the AHL franchise to a new city. The details of the agreement were not disclosed, and final sale is pending approval of the AHL board of governors and the Florida Panthers. All previously purchased season tickets for the 2016-17 season will be refunded.”

Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling told WCSH that losing the team “will have a terrible impact on the local economy.”

The Springfield Falcons were purchased by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Arizona Coyotes, in April. The club intends to move the Falcons to Tucson in time for the 2016-17 season, and will refund all advance tickets sold to Springfield fans for that season.

Portland has been the host city to a minor-league hockey team for almost 40 years, dating back to the Maine Mariners, WCSH said. The Mariners left in 1992, and after a one-year gap, the Pirates arrived in 1993.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Inc. announced that its 2018 Fall Leadership Conference will take place in August 2018 at the Springfield Sheraton Monarch Place and MassMutual Center.

According to the Republican, the event is expected to draw more than 600 insurance professionals to the city from around the U.S. and should generate about $1 million in local economic activity.

Anthony Abdelahad, a spokesman for the organization, said Springfield was chosen due to the major development coming to the city, including MGM Springfield and Union Station, and a local connection — Joseph Leahy of Springfield-based Leahy & Brown Insurance and Realty will be sworn in as the group’s chairman at the 2018 convention.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The animals and staff at the Zoo in Forest Park are welcoming the community to be a part of Baby Days Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, May 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 200 exotic and domestic animals make up this zoo community, and guests will get the chance to name the newest animal baby additions this weekend. The event is free with paid admission to the zoo, and free for members.

State Sen. Eric Lesser and Springfield City Councilor Kateri Walsh will join the Kiwanis Club of Springfield at the event, helping to welcome the newest animal baby additions to this growing zoo community.

The Kiwanis Club will promote pre-K and kindergarten literacy, while celebrating 100 years of service to the youth of the Lower Pioneer Valley. Those pre-K and kindergarten students who prevent a voucher given to them by their school will be given backpacks and books as well. With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, members of local key clubs will be on hand, teaching youth about how animal parents care for their young and prepare them to survive.

“Come to the zoo and celebrate the new little additions to our zoo family” said Darlene Blaney, business manager for the Zoo in Forest Park. “This is a one-of-a-kind experience that the zoo is creating for the community, and everyone should take part.”

Daily News

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. Walkers or runners can register online at www.accu-specracing.com for $25, or $15 for kids 12 and under. Individuals may also call the chamber office at (413) 594-2101 to sign up or if they have additional questions.

The price includes the race fee with timed chip bib, T-shirt, lunch at the Munich Haus Biergarten after the race, and goodie bag. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee summer camps.

Last year, the event drew more than 100 participants, and the chamber hopes to grow that number each year. “This was such a fun event last year, and one of my favorites” said Lynn Morrissette, events coordinator for the Chicopee Chamber. “It is a great way for people to gather downtown in an organized and lighthearted atmosphere. It helps not only the chamber, but also a great cause like the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee summer-camp program.”

Sponsors for the event include Munich Haus, Chicopee Savings Bank, Polish National Credit Union, PeoplesBank, Holyoke Medical Center, First American Insurance Agency Inc., Insurance Center of New England, and Spherion Staffing.

Daily News

AGAWAM — Comcast Spotlight has signed a lease for a new, 3,157-square-foot space in Agawam Crossing, located at 200 Silver St. in Agawam. This is the final space at Agawam Crossing, a class A professional office building. Comcast Spotlight recently moved into its new home alongside Baystate Rehabilitation, Life Laboratories, and Associates in Women’s Health, among others.

Comcast Spotlight is an advertising sales company that provides video solutions to local, regional, and national businesses through television and digital advertising. It provides local market coverage across multiple platforms (cable TV, satellite, telco, online, VOD) and can target customers geographically, demographically, and by message to reach specific audience segments.

Development Associates of Agawam was the leasing agent and project manager for the construction of Comcast Spotlight’s new offices. The tenant was represented by Bob Peterson, managing broker at REAL Partners, LLC, and Daniel Moore of NAI Plotkin of Springfield.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce President Kathleen Anderson, and Circle K franchisee Yasser (Sunny) Hussain will gather on Thursday, May 5 for the grand opening of the new Circle K convenience store at 337 Appleton St. in Holyoke. The public is invited to the event, which will kick off at 10:30 a.m. with a ribbon cutting by Morse.

The Cinco de Mayo grand-opening celebration will feature store specials, such as any size fountain sodas for 69 cents, that will run through May 7. Hussain, the site’s owner, took a vacant and abandoned building in the downtown area and completely renovated the space into a new, state-of-the-art Circle K convenience store. The store is open 24 hours a day and carries everything from morning coffee to late-night snacks, as well as a wide selection of cold drinks, fresh roller grill items, and staples like milk and eggs.

Daily News

AMHERST — Arts educator Patty Bode will discuss ways museums can engage with their communities and broaden their audiences in the 21st century, in a keynote address at the fourth annual summit of Valley-based collaborative Museums10 on Monday, May 16. Bode’s talk, “Museums, Engagement, and Creating Social Change,” will take place at 4 p.m. at the Yiddish Book Center at 1021 West St. in Amherst. It is free and open to the public.

Bode has decades of experience working with museums through hands-on practice as an educator in urban schools, community arts programs, and teacher education, with a particular emphasis on collaborating with marginalized communities. In her address, she will discuss why access to and participation in museum life is a civil and human right in our democratic society. She will also offer case studies that demonstrate ways museums have been successful in engaging a wide range of audiences across race, social class, language, sexual orientation, and religion.

Currently a teacher at Springfield Conservatory of the Arts, a magnet public school, Bode is the former director of Art Education for Tufts University in affiliation with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and was a visiting associate professor at Ohio State University’s Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy. For more information, visit fivecolleges.edu and click ‘events.’

Museums10 is a collaboration of seven campus and three campus-affiliated museums that work together to celebrate the collections and promote the programs of its member museums to local, regional, and national visitors. Museums10 is facilitated by Five Colleges, which provides administrative support for the partnership.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno will deliver the commencement address to graduate and undergraduate students and receive an honorary degree from American International College (AIC) at its commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m. at the MassMutual Center.

The mayor will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree in recognition of his commitment to economic development, financial stewardship, and community-based programs that address quality-of-life issues, education, and public safety.

Now in his fourth term, Sarno was first elected mayor in 2007, and won re-election in 2009, 2011 and 2015. He is the first mayor in the city’s history to be elected to a four-year term. During his time in office, Sarno has shepherded Springfield through financial challenges and natural disasters. His leadership has inspired businesses and residents of Springfield to look to a brighter future through redevelopment and renewal projects.

A native son, Sarno is a graduate of Westfield State College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He also attended American International College, where he majored in political science.

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of April 2016.

AGAWAM

Pleasant Hill Village
25 Pleasant Hill Dr.
$498,000 — Exterior renovations

Pleasant Hill Village
25 Pleasant Hill Dr.
$260,000 — Alterations to community building

Town of Agawam
760 Cooper St.
$7,950,000 — Construct a concession building, new athletic field, and renovate existing locker rooms

AMHERST

Middle Hampshire Development Group, LLC
31 Hall Dr.
$27,500 — Repair water damage from frozen pipes

HADLEY

Morningstar Church, Inc.
11 North Main St.
$6,000 — Interior renovations

LUDLOW

Black Diamond Development
485 Holyoke St.
$18,000 — Alterations

Xu Sheng, LLC
221-223 East St.
$8,000 — Alterations

NORTHAMPTON

Coolidge Northampton, LLC
243 King St.
$5,000 — Interior renovations at Domino’s

Gaev Bennett
95 South St.
$3,000 — Repair water damage

Norma Lee Realty Trust
90 King St.
$4,000 — Interior renovations

Northampton Four, LLC
338 King St.
$95,000 — Redesign and modernize fascia and alter vestibule

Rogers Hall
47 Roundhill Road
$3,758,000 — Convert Rogers Hall to 15 apartments

Thornes Marketplace, LLC
150 Main St.
$110,000 — Renovate interior for Herrell’s

Webs
82 Conz St.
$10,000 — Construct wall to create office space

PALMER

Keith Construction
1 Beacon Dr.
$30,000 — Renovate apartment to meet UFAS standards

Old Pond  Elementary School
4107 Main St.
$18,342 — Exterior renovations

SOUTH HADLEY

Cinderelli’s
480 Newton St.
$13,000 — Re-roof

Michael E. Smith Middle School
100 Mosier St.
$150,000 — Install security modifications in lobby

South Hadley Post Office
1 Hadley St.
$206,000 — New roof

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health
759 Chestnut St.
$502,000 — Renovate pharmacy area into new command center

Kaitlin O’Hara
100 Brookdale Dr.
$400,000 — Renovations

Newport Development
379 Allen St.
$163,000 — Interior fit-up for Dollar Tree in existing building

Ronald McDonald House
34 Chapin Terrace
$67,000 — Interior renovations

Tom Hodouanek
300 Stafford St.
$476,000 — Renovate existing cardiology office

Woodruff Realty, LLC
90 Fisk Ave.
$36,000 — Convert warehouse to a meeting/training room

WEST SPRINGFIELD

DDR Corporation
935 Riverdale St.
$325,000 — Combine two tenant spaces at the Riverdale Shops

Hampden County Improvement
1305 Memorial Ave.
$43,000 — New roof

Sherwin Williams
835 Memorial Ave.
$30,000 — Cosmetic makeover of showroom

Sunnyside Corporation
177 Norman St.
$85,000 — Erect a 3,720-square-foot storage building

Toni Sorcinelli
781 Fairview Ave.
$9,000 — Exterior renovations

Health Care Sections

Taking Matters to Heart

By Kathleen Mitchell

Dr. Yufeng Zhang

Dr. Yufeng Zhang says it’s critical to see a doctor right away after unusual symptoms.

The statistics are chilling: Not only is cardiovascular disease the number-one killer of women in this country, every 80 seconds a woman dies from the disease or from a stroke.

Roughly 40 million women across the nation are affected, and although 90% have more than one of the major risk factors — which include high blood pressure, elevated serum cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, and family history — up to 80% of heart disease is preventable.

Much has been done in recent years to raise awareness, including the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative, but Dr. Yufeng Zhang says that, although about 50% of Caucasian women know the risks for heart disease, only one-third of Hispanic and African-American women are armed with such knowledge. In addition, the incidence of diabetes is higher in Hispanic females, which raises their risk for cardiovascular disease or an event.

“Women have fewer heart attacks than men, but their mortality rate is higher,” said Zhang, a cardiologist from Pioneer Valley Cardiology in Springfield.

She added that age also increases risk, because younger women get some protection from estrogen, which declines after menopause.

But that doesn’t mean they’re immune. “We see 30-year-olds in our office with heart disease,” she said.

Most studies on cardiovascular disease have been conducted on men, and the symptoms that occur when a woman is having a heart attack can be very different from what men experience.

For example, sudden exhaustion with no known cause and shortness of breath are signs that a woman should go to the hospital. So is acute indigestion and sweating or shortness of breath with no other cause.

“If you have chest pain with acute stomach discomfort, it’s important to seek immediate medical care,” said family nurse practitioner Kristin O’Connor of Western Mass Physician Associates in Holyoke. “Women’s symptoms are often more vague than the ones men experience.”

Other, more-well-known indicators include chest pain that doesn’t disappear after 15 minutes, arm numbness or tingling, and jaw and back pain. But women often ignore what they are feeling and hope their discomfort will go away.

“So many women come here a few days after damage to their heart has been done, so don’t wait to go the hospital: be vigilant about unusual symptoms,” Zhang said, explaining that she recently saw an older woman whose only complaint was exhaustion when she was having a heart attack.

Stress is also a risk factor and can change the body’s hormone levels. “The heart can temporarily give up if a person is under a lot of stress,” she added.

Preventive measures are important, and O’Connor says women should do all they can to mitigate them.

“Although you can’t modify your family history, you can change excessive alcohol intake, your diet, your weight, and your stress level,” she said, adding it’s also important to know one’s family history. “You can also stop smoking and increase your activity if you lead a sedentary lifestyle.”

Kristin O’Connor

Kristin O’Connor says a woman can be thin, but still have clogged arteries.

Other risks include co-morbid conditions such as kidney disease, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that raise the chances of having heart disease. Many of the factors don’t have symptoms until damage has been done, but, according to the National Institute for Health, if women have three or more of the following criteria, they are at risk for the syndrome:

• A waist measurement of 35 inches or more or abdominal obesity. Excess fat in the stomach area puts women at greater risk for heart disease than excess fat in other parts of the body, such as the hips;

• A high triglyceride level or taking medicine to treat it;

• A low level of HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol, or taking medication to increase it, which also helps remove cholesterol from the arteries;

• High blood pressure or taking medicine to treat it. If pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the heart and lead to plaque buildup; and

• High fasting blood sugar, which may be an early sign of diabetes, or taking medicine to treat it.

“But metabolic syndrome is not a disease, so lifestyle modifications can change it,” O’Connor said.

She added that women need to engage in 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week and increase the amount as their stamina and endurance build.

“You don’t need to run; you can walk, but you do need to increase your activity above and beyond what you do in a normal day,” she told BusinessWest.

For example, although some might assume that a woman who works as a waitress and is on her feet all day is getting her fair share of exercise, O’Connor says it’s not enough because the body adjusts to whatever a person does on a daily basis.

Knowledge Is Key

Managing heart disease is important, and women need to keep track of their cholesterol levels. HDL should be high, and LDL should be low, but even if those numbers fall within a normal range, a high triglyceride level puts women at risk for a cardiac event.

Triglycerides— fats from the food we eat that are carried in the bloodstream — are especially significant in women. In fact, an increase of only 88 points raises the risk that a woman will develop heart disease by 37%, while it increases the risk for men by only 14%. In the past, their importance was overshadowed by a focus on cholesterol, but research has shown that triglyceride levels over 150 mg/dL can increase the risk of heart disease, especially if HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL.

Cardiovascular disease includes coronary artery disease, which occurs when there is a blockage in a heart vessel caused by high cholesterol, which allows plaque to build up.

But drugs called statins, which reduce cholesterol and stabilize plaque, can make a difference. Stents can be put into vessels that are blocked to enlarge them, but Zhang warns that people can develop new blockages if they don’t alter their diets and lifestyles.

Guidelines say a woman’s body-mass index (BMI) should not be more than 25, but Zhang said that number may be too high for some groups, such as Asian women.

O’Connor concurs, and says looking fit or being thin does not necessarily equate to heart health.

“It’s not just about the numbers on the scale; a woman may have a normal BMI or weigh 100 pounds, but still smoke like a chimney or drink too much,” she said, noting that it’s important for women to get screening tests during annual visits with their physicians. She added that some women are “skinny fat” — their bodies are thin, but they have clogged arteries from plaque that cannot be seen.

Indeed, what women choose to eat does make a decided difference. Zhang noted that, although many women with heart disease tell her they don’t eat much fat or red meat, new studies show carbohydrates and sugars are the biggest dietary culprit and can significantly increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that, if 17% to 21% of the calories a person consumes each day come from sugar that does not occur naturally in foods such as fruit or milk, the risk of dying from coronary vascular disease rises by 38%.

“Sugar causes inflammation in cells, weight gain, and is linked to an increase in LDL or bad cholesterol, as well as triglycerides,” O’Connor said.

The World Health Organization advises limiting sugar intake to five teaspoons a day, but since the average adult in the U.S. consumes about 22 teaspoons a day, which is hidden in processed foods and beverages, it’s not an easy change to make.

“But sugar increases blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol, which all raise the risk of heart disease,” warned registered dietician and nutritionist Nancy Dell of Nancy Dell & Associates Nutrition Counseling, adding that it also causes aging and wrinkling of the skin.

Although it’s difficult to give up sugar cold turkey, Dell said it can be done by gradually retraining the taste buds. For example, she told a woman who loves cola to begin adding a small amount of lemon-flavored seltzer to each glass, then slowly increase the amount of seltzer in the beverage over time.

However, consuming too much dietary fat is still problematic, and it’s found in products women tend to enjoy, such as cheese, cream cheese, and coffee creamers, although black coffee and tea can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Trans fats are the worst offender, and a Harvard study found that women in the U.S. with the highest levels of trans fats in their blood had three times the risk of coronary heart disease as those with the lowest levels. And although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has mandated that companies stop using trans fats in food products, the agency is allowing it to be phased out over time.  As a result, Dell said it still appears in many products, so it’s important to read labels.

“You are what you eat, and if you eat foods that are unhealthy, you will become unhealthy,” she said. “The food you consume becomes part of your body.”

Cautious Approach

Zhang said women have more risk factors than men for cardiovascular disease, so they need to make it a point to care for themselves.

Gender differences that men don’t face include radiation for breast cancer and pregnancy-related hypertension and gestational diabetes, which raise the likelihood that a woman could have a heart attack or heart disease; even though two of these conditions occur during pregnancy, the risk factor doesn’t disappear after a woman has given birth.

Ultimately, prevention is key, and O’Connor recommends that women start blood screenings at age 20 to measure inflammatory markers and their cholesterol.

“Even if the results are normal, the screenings should be repeated every two to three years for the rest of their lives,” she said.

All these factors play a role in maintaining a healthy heart.

“Most heart disease is preventable,” Zhang said, “and if it does occur, it is treatable if women take care of themselves, eat a healthy diet, exercise, see their doctors on a regular basis, and take the medications prescribed for them.”

Health Care Sections

A Holistic View of Healthcare

Dr. Scott Wolf takes the reins at Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System at an exciting time in the system’s history, but also a challenging era in healthcare overall — one in which its leaders must emphasize cost efficiency, yet focus on the patient experience and outcomes more than ever before. The key, he said, is to maintain a holistic, ‘360-degree view’ of a rapidly changing industry.

Dr. Scott Wolf

Dr. Scott Wolf says a background in direct patient care gives a physician leader an important perspective that helps him or her impact the operational aspects of care.

Dr. Scott Wolf says he brings to his job what he refers to as a “360-degree view” of healthcare.

That’s a phrase Wolf, the recently named president of Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS), would use early and often as he talked about his background, which blends direct care to patients — he’s a board-certified internist — as well as time spent working on population-health initiatives, the insurance side of the equation, and several roles within the broad realm of hospital administration.

Which means, he noted, that he can see matters from several different perspectives, including those who provide the care, as well as those who pay for it.

“I think every physician should spend a week in a managed-care office, just to understand what goes on beyond their practice,” he said of his time spent with Aetna as senior medical director of Northeast Patient Management. “It really gives the perspective from the payer.”

That was just one of several efforts he made to not only break down his diverse background in healthcare, but also explain its inherent value.

Here’s another one.

“When you think of how healthcare is transforming, with the growing focus on the patient experience, on outcomes, and as we emerge from a pay-per-service, business-focused approach to healthcare, and we evolve into this population-health era, these are the conditions where a physician-leader can excel,” he said, while explaining why more people with direct patient-care experience are now in senior management positions in healthcare. “Having a background in direct patient care really affords a physician leader the opportunity to have that perspective and be able to impact the operational aspects of care.”

Indeed, that full-circle view he described is enormously helpful, he told BusinessWest, because these are extremely challenging times for all those involved in the delivery of healthcare — a time of immense competition, a broad host of financial challenges, and an intense focus on the patient experience.

“All of my experiences have helped me develop a very 360-degree view of healthcare,” he explained, “and the challenge we face on a daily basis of providing the highest-quality care in a very cost-effective manner, while all the while providing an extraordinary patient experience.”

Wolf has the additional challenge of leading a hospital, and a health system, guided by a mission to deliver care to those who most need it, regardless of the circumstances when it comes to profit and losses.

But that mission is what makes SPHS, part of the larger Trinity Health system, unique and such a pivotal force in the Western Mass. region, he said, adding that working in such an environment is quite satisfying.

“That’s what makes the job so rewarding,” he explained. “Everyone in this organization feels a responsibility to carry on the legacy of the Sisters of Providence. They live out our values — caring for the poor and the most needed — and that’s what really grounds us.”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Wolf, who succeeded Dan Moen in his twin roles in January, about his new role at Mercy and SPHS, the challenging environment the system faces, and how that 360-degree view should help him as he steers the ship through some fairly treacherous waters.

The Big Picture

Traveling back in time to his days in medical school, Wolf recalled a period when was “teetering” as he pondered which specific path to take with regard to a career in healthcare.

“I was already accepted into a fellowship in pulmonary critical care,” he explained. “But I was developing an affinity for primary care, as opposed to subspecialty medicine, and as I thought about my future, I didn’t want to be restricted to one discipline; I really felt that my passion was in helping and addressing the needs of the whole person.”

Such a philosophy is likely a refection of his background — he’s an osteopathic physician, Wolf noted, adding that, while he’s had several employers during his career and a wide array of titles on his business cards, this desire to tend to the whole person has been what amounts to a constant throughout.

Chronicling those career stops, Wolf started with his stint at Hartford Hospital, where he was chief medical resident, as director of Clinical Operations in Ambulatory Medicine. In that role, for which he wore a number of hats, his accomplishments include development of a strategic plan resulting in the implementation of a primary-care model of healthcare delivery, with outcomes demonstrating improved patient care, increased practice efficiency, and improved patient satisfaction.

And it was during this time that Wolf, and the industry in general, began what has been a gradual shift toward population health, or “pop health,” as he called it. He became involved with research involving populations with asthma and diabetes, and the in the course of doing so was introduced to individuals working for Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical giant, and this eventually led to his first serious career shift.

Indeed, after earning a public health degree in population health, Pfizer presented him with an opportunity to take on a leadership role in the design and implementation of disease-management programs.

“I made a bold move to leave clinical medicine and my comfort zone of dealing with patients and jumped into corporate America,” he explained, adding that his four years at Pfizer provided learning experiences on a number of levels — not to mention travel around the world — through his work as medical director of state initiatives, such as the “Florida: A Healthy State” program, which, over its first four years, improved the health of more than 190,000 Medicaid beneficiaries based on behavioral, clinical, and utilization metrics, while generating savings and investment of $139 million.

By 2004, Wolf was ready to significantly reduce his frequent-flyer miles and make another bold move, this one to yet another branch of healthcare, if you will — the insurance industry.

That aforementioned role as regional medical director with Hartford-based Aetna involved mostly a focus on healthcare-utilization services across the Northeast.

As noted earlier, he experiences in this realm were eye-opening.

“It was an incredibly enlightening experience,” he told BusinessWest. “It gave me insight into the business side of healthcare, from understanding utilization to understanding the many challenges payers face in helping to provide appropriate levels of care but do so in a cost-effective environment.

“When you’re sitting on that [managed care] side, you’re exposed to an incredible amount of waste that is delivered in our system,” Wolf went on. “There’s an extraordinary amount of duplication and superfluous tests that are done.”

Wolf said he considered such insight into that side of the business to be a prerequisite of sorts for effective service in the higher ranks of hospital management, so, three years after arriving at Aetna, he decided to go back to the realm where he was most comfortable and most satisfied.

It took just one visit in early 2010, by his recollection, for him to determine that Mercy Medical Center was where he wanted to continue his career in healthcare in the role of chief medical officer.

“From the minute I walked in the door and experienced my first day visiting with key members of leadership at the time, I knew right away that this was the place for me,” he explained. “The commitment to the mission was palpable. The commitment to each other, and just the reverence that was expressed in the hallways among colleagues and patients, was such that I knew that this was the place I wanted to be.”

Healthy Perspective

As he talked about the changes that have come to the healthcare field in recent years, and especially what would have to be described as an even sharper focus on the patient experience, Wolf summoned a name Millennials would probably have to Google to fully appreciate.

“I go back to the days of Marcus Welby,” he said, referring to the television doctor of the ’70s, “when the patient did whatever they were told, how they were told, and they were never in a position to question. What the doctor said was doctrine.”

Those days are long gone, he told BusinessWest, adding that patients are much better-informed than they were years ago, they’re emboldened to ask questions and challenge what they’re told, and their demands and expectations are much greater because of something else they didn’t have in abundance four decades ago: choice.

Scott Wolf says he welcomes the challenge of leading a hospital and health system guided by a mission to deliver care to those who most need it, regardless of the financial equation.

Scott Wolf says he welcomes the challenge of leading a hospital and health system guided by a mission to deliver care to those who most need it, regardless of the financial equation.

“In this new age of consumerism, the patient is becoming much more cognizant and aware and educated about the care and services they are receiving,” he went on. “And they have much more choice about where they seek care and services. Information is now all over the Internet in a very transparent way, so that patients have the ability to shop, if you will. It’s not that we’ve never paid attention to the patient experience before, it’s just now elevated to the point where the expectations of the patients are much greater.”

This new age of consumerism is just one of many elements in that broad, three-legged challenge he described earlier — providing the highest-quality care in a cost-effective manner, while providing the highest levels of patient satisfaction.

And it’s another example of why that full-circle view of healthcare is so valuable today, he said. “With the focus on the patient experience, it’s hard to be able to understand what that experience is like unless you’ve been in a position to deliver that experience.”

But the patient experience is just part of the equation. That experience must be delivered effectively and in a cost-efficient manner, he noted, adding that the constant and ever-growing challenge is to meet what he called the “triple aim.”

“We’re constantly driven to reduce operational expenses,” he went on. “But at the same time, we’re also challenged to hopefully realize operational revenues so we can reinvest in resources; you need to have a stream so you can reinvest in technology, human resources, capital requirements to maintain facilities, and more. It’s a challenge to keep your costs at a minimum, deliver care as efficiently as possible, and be able to generate a margin so you can keep reinvesting.”

In this environment, hospitals and healthcare systems must be responsive and, in a word, somewhat nimble, he said, adding quickly that they must also have the necessary resources to do all of the above.

Being part of Trinity Health gives the SPHS and Mercy the needed size and flexibility to function efficiently and compete in this changing healthcare landscape, he said, adding that the system has undertaken a number of strategic initiatives in recent months to better position it for growth.

These include everything from an affiliation (now being finalized) with Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven Hospital to the acquisitions of Hampden County Physician Associates and RiverBend Medical Group, the latter of which he described as a “true game changer.”

“This is huge in terms of our strategy to pursue our strategy of true population health,” he explained. “The fact that we’ll be on one common electronic medical record will allow for the seamless transfer of information, and we will be able to assure a seamless transition of care from the inpatient arena to a primary-care provider in our community.

“And this truly allows us an enormous foundation of primary care,” he went on. “And primary is really the core of population health.”

Coming Full Circle

Looking ahead, Wolf said the challenges confronting Mercy, SPHS, and all healthcare providers are only going to grow in severity as the population ages, technology improves, and patients become increasingly demanding.

To succeed, providers must be flexible and able to adapt to changes quickly and effectively, he said, adding that the system is now better-positioned to carry out that multi-faceted assignment.

He said his job description comes down simply to giving all those within the system the means and the tools to carry out their mission. And, as he said many times, having a 360-degree view of healthcare certainly helps with that broad task.

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

Employment Sections

Distance Learning

By Stefanie Renaud, Esq.

Stefanie Renaud

Stefanie Renaud

Telecommuting is one of the fastest-growing employment trends in the U.S., up 103% since 2005. Today, more than 3.7 million employees telecommute at least half the time. Undoubtedly, that number will continue to grow, because 85% of Millenials, who make up the largest generation in the workforce, would actually like to telecommute full-time.

Although research shows that telecommuting improves morale, increases productivity, and improves employee quality of life, there are many legal issues for employers that may complicate this popular work arrangement.

The Fair Labor Standards Act

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and parallel Massachusetts law require employers to pay their employees properly. These statutes categorize employees in two ways: exempt and non-exempt. For non-exempt employees, the vast majority of the workforce, the employers must keep detailed records of hours worked and wages paid, pay the overtime rate of time and half for all hours worked over 40 per week, and pay employees minimum wage.

Exempt employees are just that: employees who are exempt from these record-keeping and overtime requirements. Thus, telecommuting for exempt employees does not implicate wage/hour law. However, employers should take great care before classifying employees as exempt. The FLSA and Massachusetts law lay out a few narrow exceptions with specific job and salary requirements. To ensure you are properly classifying your exempt workers, consult with an employment attorney before classifying employees as exempt.

Record-keeping Requirements

For non-exempt telecommuting employees, the employer must keep accurate time records and pay the employee for all work performed. How does an employer keep records for an employee it never sees?

Employers may utilize an electronic time-keeping program that requires employees to punch in and out, or rely on paper time cards. Regardless of form, the employer should provide time sheets for employees to use when recording their work hours. Employees should also ‘sign off’ on their time sheets, either electronically or in paper form.

According to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the employer is responsible for providing the time sheets, but the employee is responsible for accurately keeping their time records. Thus, the telecommuting policy should emphasize that the employee is responsible for accurately recording their work hours.

Employers should also provide telecommuting employees with information to help them independently determine what working time is compensable. For non-exempt employees, compensable time is any time spent engaged in ‘principal activity.’ Commuting time may also be compensable. If employees complete principal activity at their home or office, then travel to the other workplace and complete principal activity there, then their commuting time is compensable. Consult with employment counsel to help define principal activity and to untangle the many complicated issues surrounding compensable time under wage/hour law.

Proper and Timely Payment of Wages

Regardless of the telecommuting employee’s status as exempt or non-exempt, the employer is responsible for complying with all state and federal wage laws. Employers must know where telecommuting employees will be working because state law governs many facets of the employment relationship, including meal and rest breaks and how often employees must be paid.

In Massachusetts, employees are entitled to a 30-minute meal break when working six or more consecutive hours, and wages must be paid on either a weekly or biweekly basis.

Location is also particularly important to comply with minimum-wage laws, because some states and municipalities, such as San Francisco, have higher minimum-wage rates than federal law. In Massachusetts, the minimum wage is currently set at $10 per hour, with another increase scheduled for Jan. 1, 2017. Consult with your employment counsel to ensure compliance with state and local laws.

Overtime Managed

Keeping accurate time records not only aids in tracking employee eligibility for federally mandated benefits under the Family Medical Leave Act and the Affordable Care Act, but also in the proper calculation of overtime compensation. How can an employer control overtime for employees who telecommute? The telecommuting policy should clearly prohibit overtime, unless authorized in advance.

The policy should be consistently enforced, with proper remedial action taken after each violation. However, regardless of the employer’s overtime policy, a non-exempt employee must be paid overtime compensation, at the time-and-a-half rate, for all hours worked over 40 per week.

Even so, some overtime does not have to be paid — if the activity is de minimis.  De minimis activity is an insubstantial or insignificant period of time, beyond the normal work hours, that cannot practically be precisely recorded for payroll purposes. Business realities will determine if an activity is de minimis, so consult with your employment counsel on any question about whether overtime pay is due or not.

The Best Policy

The best telecommuting policy is one that is well-thought-out and extremely clear. The policy should clearly define what it means to work, what is ‘principal activity,’ which activities are compensable, and how to request authorization for overtime. The policy should also be clear as to when employees are not expected to work, what breaks should be taken, and that the employee is responsible for accurately recording their work hours.

The best policy will not only give employees important information, but get important information in return. Because state and local laws differ, employers should obtain information about the legal obligations in the specific state where their employee will be based.

Employers may wish to test their telecommuting policy by running a pilot program. A test run can help identify potential problems and allow for proactive solutions to be incorporated into the final policy. Because of the legal complexity of this area, employers should carefully consult with employment counsel when developing and implementing a telecommuting policy and program.

Finally, as with any policy, the telecommuting policy must be clear about which employees are eligible to telecommute. The policy should be consistently followed, as inconsistent awarding of telecommuting privileges could expose the employer to liability for discrimination.

Stefanie Renaud, Esq. is an associate with the law firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., which exclusively represents management in labor and employment matters. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]

Employment Sections

A Transition in the Law

By Karina L. Schrengohst, Esq. and Jennifer Butler, Esq.

Discrimination based on transgender status or gender identity is a developing area of the law.

Recently, there has been considerable debate on the local, state, and national levels over access to bathrooms for transgender individuals. As the public debates this issue, legislators, administrative agencies, and courts are shaping the law that prohibits gender discrimination, including discrimination against transgender individuals.

In light of this, businesses that are open to the public should understand how to navigate through the legal landscape of an evolving area of discrimination law.

Karina L. Schrengohst

Karina L. Schrengohst

Jennifer Butler

Jennifer Butler

In 2012, with the passage of An Act Relative to Gender Identity (also known as the Transgender Equal Rights Bill), Massachusetts added gender identity as a protected class under the state’s anti-discrimination law, which defines gender identity as “a person’s gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned sex at birth.” Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination against an individual based on that individual’s gender identity, transgender status, or perceived nonconformity with gender stereotypes in the context of employment, housing, education, and credit.

Massachusetts public-accommodation law, however, currently does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or transgender status. Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, and disability.

A place of public accommodation is essentially any place open to the general public. This includes, for instance, hotels, restaurants, bars, retail stores, theaters, sports stadiums, museums, libraries, parks, gyms, swimming pools, beaches, laundromats, gas stations, and public transportation. In other words, this means that, for example, it is unlawful for a restaurant to refuse service or a movie theater to refuse entry to an individual based on his or her gender.

Gender identity will likely soon be a protected class under Massachusetts public-accommodation law. In fact, a bill is now under review by the state Legislature that seeks to add the term ‘gender identity’ to the existing law to expressly prohibit discrimination against transgender individuals in the context of places of public accommodation. In addition, the proposal specifically aims to increase the scope of anti-discrimination law to explicitly grant transgender individuals access to public areas legally separated by gender, like bathrooms and locker rooms, consistent with their gender identity.

The proposed legislation has gained an increasing amount of support from the business community. Earlier this month, more than 40 businesses supporting the public-accommodations bill joined Attorney General Maura Healey in an open letter to lawmakers, urging them to take a favorable vote on the bill.

In the meantime, even in the absence of an explicit prohibition on discrimination based on gender identity, business owners should understand that denying access to transgender individuals could result in a lawsuit based on gender discrimination, which is explicitly prohibited by Massachusetts public-accommodation law.

In the employment context, federal law does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.  Despite this, federal courts and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have recognized that discrimination based on gender identity or transgender status is a form of unlawful gender discrimination. A lawsuit could similarly be brought in the context of public-accommodation law.

Because change is on the horizon, and considering the current trend of interpreting gender-discrimination law, to reduce the risk of litigation, business owners would be wise to take steps to ensure that their policies and practices do not deny access and otherwise discriminate against individuals based on gender identity, transgender status, or perceived non-conformity with gender stereotypes.

Additionally, as most places of public accommodation are subject to employment-discrimination law, business owners should educate their employees that discrimination based on gender identity is unlawful and will not be tolerated in the workplace. Because this is a developing area of the law, business owners should consult with counsel with any questions concerning transgender-discrimination law.

Karina L. Schrengohst, Esq. and Jennifer Butler, Esq. specialize exclusively in management-side labor and employment law at Royal, P.C., a woman-owned, boutique, management-side labor and employment law firm, which is certified as a women’s business enterprise with the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Schrengohst can be reached at (413) 586-2288 or [email protected]. Butler can be reached at (413) 586-2288 or [email protected].

Employment Sections

Don’t Try to Disprove Evolution

By Peter Vickery

Peter Vickery

Peter Vickery

Is a hospital allowed to terminate a Muslim employee who refuses to be vaccinated on religious grounds, or would termination constitute unlawful discrimination?

That was the question confronting the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts when Leontine Robinson sued Boston Children’s Hospital under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act and Chapter 151B of Massachusetts General Laws. The short answer? The hospital was entitled to summary judgment, meaning Robinson lost. But as for the reasons why she lost, employers should take note of the many steps the hospital took in an effort to accommodate Robinson, steps that in combination amounted to a ‘reasonable accommodation’ sufficient to fend off her claim of discrimination.

Need the hospital have gone to the trouble of taking those steps for fear of a lawsuit? The well-reported cases of the past few years send mixed messages. Some suggest that many judges are deaf to pleas for religious liberty, while others have ears to hear. On one hand, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that hijab-wearing job applicants have a right to be hired by Abercrombie & Fitch despite the company’s no-headwear policy and that Hobby Lobby has the right to refrain from paying for its employees’ abortifacients despite the dictates of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act.

On the other hand, unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise, the federal Department of Health and Human Services — with the approval of six different federal courts of appeal — will continue insisting that the nuns of the Little Sisters of the Poor must pay for contraceptives. Similarly, after a Catholic prep school (Fontbonne Academy in Milton, Mass.) rescinded its job offer to a man when it learned that he was married to another man, the Superior Court for Norfolk County held that the school had discriminated against him unlawfully.

Notwithstanding the fact that Fontbonne based its decision on a religious objection to same-sex marriage, it was not entitled to any sort of dispensation from the state. Incidentally, the school would have been on firmer ground had it limited its enrollment and employment to Catholics, but by welcoming people of all faiths and none, it ran afoul of the Commonwealth’s anti-discrimination law (yes, you read that correctly).

So, given the experience of Little Sisters of the Poor and Fontbonne Academy, one could be forgiven for thinking that, when a children’s hospital — by definition, a place for the treatment of children who are ill, some of them very seriously — instructs its employees to get vaccinated against influenza, it would be perfectly all right for the hospital to respond to a simple ‘no’ with an equally simple ‘goodbye,’ even if the employee cites religious grounds. That is not the current state of our Commonwealth’s anti-discrimination law, however. Boston Children’s Hospital demonstrated admirable wisdom and foresight in not immediately directing Robinson to the door marked ‘exit.’

The case began in 2011 when, in accordance with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Mass. Department of Public Health, the hospital adopted a policy requiring those employees working in patient-care positions to be vaccinated against the influenza virus. Robinson refused. She was often the first employee to come into contact with patients, and her job involved touching them and sitting close to them. She also happens to be a Muslim, more specifically an adherent of the Nation of Islam, and initially she said the basis for her refusal was the presence of pork byproducts in the influenza vaccine.

At this juncture, although it is not relevant to the legal analysis of Robinson’s claim of religious discrimination, readers may wish to note that, within Islam as a whole, on this issue at least, the Nation of Islam is a bit of an outlier. In 1995 (coincidentally, the year Robinson started working at Boston Children’s Hospital) the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences ruled that the series of chemical reactions by which porcine products turn into gelatin is transformative, so much so that the resultant gelatin is not ‘judicially impure’ but ‘lawful and permissible.’ Therefore, according to the Islamic scholars who authored the 1995 statement, observant Muslims are allowed to receive vaccinations via gelatin that, prior to its transmogrification, contained pig tissue.

But the Nation of Islam takes a different view of vaccines, as do some Scientologists, a few minor Christian denominations such as End Time Ministries, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  The year after the Islamic scholars issued their statement, the Nation of Islam’s minister of health declared all vaccines suspect and recommended a “moratorium for all African-American members of the Muslim faith.” Although it was issued in 1996, Robinson only learned of this recommendation in November 2011.

From that point forward, she foreswore all vaccines, possibly regretting the tetanus shot she had received in September. Nevertheless, so far as the hospital was concerned, the loneliness of the Nation of Islam’s anti-vaccine position among Muslims in general and the fact of Robinson’s prior vaccines were not trees worth barking up: judges are loath to assess the sincerity and bona fides of a litigant’s religious professions.

To recap, Robinson, an employee at a children’s hospital, refused a mandatory influenza shot on religious grounds that it was pig-based, and even though mainstream Muslim opinion holds that the vaccine is permissible, the hospital did not simply fire her. Rather, in order to accommodate her religious objection (the initial one), the hospital offered Robinson a pig-free version of the influenza vaccine. But by that stage, Robinson had learned of the Nation of Islam’s moratorium on all vaccinations, so she refused that too.

Again, instead of firing Robinson, the hospital attempted to accommodate her. Human resources arranged an interview for a clerical position, a job that did not involve direct patient care, but for which Robinson was not chosen. After that, she did not apply for any other positions in the hospital. After that, the hospital not only granted Robinson a two-month leave of absence to look for work, but also assigned an HR employee to help her.

When the two months were up and Robinson had not found new employment, the hospital gave her two more weeks. Finally, when the additional two weeks expired, it categorized Robinson’s separation from the hospital as voluntary so that she could apply for other positions. In February 2014, Robinson sued the hospital for religious discrimination.

At summary judgment, the court assumed that Robinson could show that her vaccine refusal was based on a sincerely held, bona fide religious belief, so the burden shifted to the hospital to show either that it had offered her a reasonable accommodation or that a reasonable accommodation would be an undue burden. The court found in the hospital’s favor on both counts: the hospital had offered a reasonable accommodation (see the preceding paragraph), and the accommodation Robinson requested would have been an undue hardship (her working in a patient-care position without vaccination would increase the risk to the hospital’s already-vulnerable patients).

What should Massachusetts employers take away from this case? First, that Title VII and Chapter 151B prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion. Second, challenging the bona fides of an employee’s professed belief is a fool’s errand. As the court stated. “although inconsistencies between a person’s conduct and her professed religious beliefs may suggest insincerity, they may also reflect an evolution in the person’s religious views.” Do not try to disprove evolution.

Third, on the bright side, an accommodation is not reasonable if it would generate undue hardship, which in turn means that the employer does not have to create a new job for the religious objector.

Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, as a practical matter, an employer should bear in mind the burden-shifting formula and prepare to demonstrate two things in detail: (1) that it attempted to accommodate the employee’s religious objection, and (2) precisely how the particular accommodation that the employee requested would cause undue hardship.

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

Employment Sections

Hire Education

By SARAH LEETE TSITSO

Maria Cokotis

Maria Cokotis, assistant director of Career Development for the College of Business at Western New England University, helps Michael Jednak, a senior finance major, prepare for a job opportunity at a company in Boston.

Within weeks, the job market will be flooded with newly minted college graduates clutching both diplomas and dreams of the perfect job — or at least a solid opportunity with which to begin their chosen career.

Andrea St. James, director of the Career Development Center at Western New England University, said most young professionals will fare well in their pursuits given the current economic climate — particularly those who have completed their degrees in subject areas where there is high demand for trained, qualified candidates.

And that description certainly pertains to sectors including information technology, computer science, information management, accounting, actuarial science, and business analytics.

Candice Serafino, interim director of UMass Amherst Central Career Services, agrees that many of the technical majors are seeing high rates of employment upon graduation. For some students at UMass, job offers have been coming for several months now.

“There is high demand for all of the STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] majors,” said Serafino. “For many of these jobs, firms are recruiting students in the fall semester. These students are faring quite well, and already have their jobs lined up well before graduation. Employers are looking for the analytical and problem-solving skills these students possess.”

The ability to creatively solve problems is a common theme for this year’s graduating seniors, with career counselors crediting this skill with their success in the job market.

Andrea St. James

Andrea St. James says career-services professionals and students need to have frank, honest conversations about which jobs are hot — and which are not.

“Employers are finding that this cohort of students is filled with lifelong learners who use their critical-thinking skills to approach problem solving,” said Serafino. “Our students are looking at problems from a big-picture perspective, communicating at a high level, and working as part of a team to achieve results. They are motivated, hardworking, upwardly mobile, and resourceful. All of this makes them very appealing to employers.”

St. James agrees, noting that the 2016 graduates are comfortable sharing their opinions, are willing to take calculated risks, and have a desire to work for innovative entrepreneurs.

“Employers are going to see young professionals who are hungry to gain experience while, at the same time, making a difference in their communities,” she said. “They are a creative bunch who are ready to add value to organizations across the board.”

Laurie Cirillo, executive director of career and life planning at Bay Path University, told BusinesWest she believes this generation is sometimes “misunderstood,” with some employers believing these young professionals want high salaries and accolades without putting in the requisite work.

“That’s just not true,” she said. “The work ethic is there — when employers are able to find what motivates them. My experience with this generation is that they are pushing hard to excel and achieve. They take risks and are not afraid to try something new. Employers can catch this wave and cultivate some pretty extraordinary talent.”

Entrepreneurial thinking is a skill many of these young professionals have cultivated, which means more are looking for outside-the-box opportunities when it comes to employment.

“We’re seeing students who want to create their own machine instead of being a cog in someone else’s,” said Serafino. “Students are interested in innovative startups and niche jobs.”

Finding Their Niche

When it comes to niche professions, Cirillo noted that providing new, cutting-edge majors is critical for students’ long-term success.

She said areas like healthcare and information technology are booming, with high levels of job placement for graduates.  Total enrollment at Bay Path has grown 42% since 2011, with 100% growth in graduate programs since 2001, primarily in Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Accounting.

She added that 96% of the 2015 graduates from the university’s traditional-student programs are employed, enrolled in graduate school, or both. She also noted that the state’s unemployment rate for March was 4.4%, well below local and national average, another benefit for job seekers. Overall, she attributes the success of Bay Path graduates to strategic decisions to offer programs and majors that reflect hiring trends and needs within the workforce.

“We build our programs and majors around where we see job growth,” Cirillo said, citing Bay Path’s new cyber security major as just one example.

Laurie Cirillo

Laurie Cirillo says she believes the current generation of students is largely “misunderstood” by employers.

Serafino said UMass takes the same approach. This year, the university noted an increase in employer interest in its life-sciences programs, so it held a career fair specifically for those students and prospective employers. “It was hugely successful, and we plan to expand on it next year.”

But if some fields are at various levels of ‘hot,’ others are cooling off, having reached a saturation point in today’s competitive job market. St. James said she’s seen a “leveling off” in law, education, communications, and marketing, for example.

And such trends warrant frank discussions between career-services professionals and students pursuing degrees in those fields, she went on.

“When we have students pursuing a major where we’re noticing a market saturation or fewer potential jobs, we’re poised to have an honest conversation with them, advising them to look at different opportunities where they can still utilize their skills and be successful,” said St. James. “In these cases, students need to look at what else they can do to diversify and translate their skills [into a career]. We want them to be ready when the economy shifts or new innovations change the marketplace.”

Serafino agrees that jobs in certain creative fields are experiencing a slowdown. However, she notes that technology and other innovations have shifted the demand to new niches. For example, the need for social-media professionals is opening up a whole new area of career opportunities for graduates.

Degrees of Success

Another challenge many college graduates are facing is the need for advanced degrees. Having a bachelor’s degree is often required, but in many industries it is becoming just as important to have a master’s or other advanced degree.

“You can still get a position in your field, but if you want to move up, master’s degrees are becoming the new bachelor’s degree,” said St. James. “We are also seeing an increased need for certificates and advanced study for certain professions, which is creating a niche market for specific areas of expertise.”

At Bay Path, where some of the most popular majors are science-based, advanced degrees are a necessity. Areas of study with high rates of students seeking advanced degrees include occupational therapy, physician assistant, accounting, clinical and mental-health services, and education (special education in particular).


Click HERE for a list of Western Mass. Employment Agencies


Even though some careers are now requiring a higher level of education, Serafino said she is still seeing many undergraduates who are able to secure great jobs. The question is, how are they doing it?

All three career-services professionals agree that there are several ways graduating students can get a leg up on their competition in the open market.

The first is by connecting early and often with career counselors. This includes attending job fairs, being paired with mentors who have experience in the student’s chosen field, and job-shadowing opportunities.

St. James noted that Western New England University is part of the College Career Centers of Western Massachusetts, along with American International College, Bay Path University, Holyoke Community College, Elms College, Westfield State University, Springfield College, and Springfield Technical Community College. Together, this collaborative recently hosted a career fair that helped cross-promote the colleges while also providing a one-stop shop for prospective employers.

“Hosting a career fair that is open to eight colleges really allows businesses to see the breadth and depth of the candidates we have here in Western Mass.,” said St. James. “We had a number of large employers in attendance who really got a chance to see a range of candidates from a wide variety of majors and schools.”

Serafino said UMass also hosted a number of job fairs this year, bringing more than 500 employers to that campus.

In terms of providing students with the information and guidance they need to prepare for the workforce, St. James said it is important to have career counselors with real-world experience in a specific industry.

“Our career counselors need to be able to connect students with professionals in the industry so those students can have real conversations and experiences with innovators who are working in the trenches,” she said.

Cirillo said career exploration is built directly into the curriculum at Bay Path, from the student’s first year until they complete their course of study.

“We want every student to have a plan for the future before they cross that stage on graduation day,” she said. “We spend four or more years preparing them to make connections, continuously think about and modify their education and life plan, and take the steps they need to be empowered and successful in whatever career they have chosen.”

Second, internships are more crucial than ever. Bay Path University requires internships for nearly all of its undergraduate students, for example.

Cirillo said studies have shown that employers are more likely to hire a candidate if he or she has a grade point average above 3.0 and has experience in the field. Internships provide that experience and, for many prospective employees, enable them to make connections within their industry that can lead to permanent positions. Internships help students feel confident in their chosen career path, as well as provide them with experience that often translates into higher starting salaries.

At Western New England University, students are eligible for an academic internship in their junior year. St. James noted that some majors require an internship, while others do not. That said, St. James said her career counselors always recommend internships, whether or not the student receives course credit for the experience.

“For most students, they have never done any real work in that career field,” she said. “Internships help students determine if they really want to do such work and if that career is right for them. Experiencing it first-hand, as early as possible, either reaffirms their career choice or enables them to redirect their efforts.

“When our students take that first step into the workforce, it can be a scary experience, especially if they have no knowledge or realistic expectations about work in the field,” she went on. “That can make the transition into the workforce much more difficult.”

Serafino said internships are a win/win proposition, often ensuring that talented young professionals stay in the area. She noted that employers like hiring students who have interned with their company, because those interns have a better understanding of that organization’s needs and culture.

At UMass, Serafino said a recent survey showed that close to 65% of seniors in the class of 2015 participated in some type of experiental learning, whether it was a formal internship, community-service opportunity, or job shadowing.

Cirillo also noted that internships can keep talent local.

“Employers who offer internship opportunities are cultivating their own pipeline,” she said. “It helps keep talent here in our region.

Balancing Act

As students celebrate their graduation, they are also experiencing anxiety.

Debt is front of mind for many, and so is the desire for that elusive work/life balance. As St. James noted, students want to work for companies that are socially responsible and that offer opportunities for employees to volunteer in the community. Some students want to wear a suit every day, but some don’t.

This duality is challenging for employers looking to attract and retain young talent. One commonality is a desire for mentors, and the development of strong relationships among co-workers.

“Those relationships are important to this generation of employees,” said St. James. “They need to like and value their jobs and the people around them. For them, it’s about more than a paycheck. It’s about forming relationships that have value, making a difference, progressing within their chosen field, and building a strong network. That’s what our students are looking for as they enter the job market.”

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Kevin Kennedy

Kevin Kennedy says MGM’s casino is just one of the many positive stories unfolding in Springfield.

Springfield is undergoing a $2.7 billion transformation, and although that number — and the current spate of progress — is dominated by MGM’s $900 million casino, a plethora of other exciting projects are underway.

Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy said the city initiated a team effort four years ago with city officials and groups that include DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber, the Business Improvement District (BID), and the Parking Authority, who convene on a regular basis to collaborate on projects and areas of focus that are proposed or underway.

Each group does its part, and an annual city report is designed to show the public the substantial investments being made.

They include the $88.5 million renovation of Union Station, which is 55% complete and slated to open at the end of the year.

“We all share the same vision,” said Jeffrery Ciuffreda, president of the Springfield Regional Chamber, adding that the chamber wrote numerous letters of support to help secure the funding to revitalize Union Station.

DevelopSpringfield has a number of projects taking place (more about that later), and a groundbreaking ceremony will be staged in the upcoming weeks for the new Innovation Center, which will serve as the cornerstone for the city’s newly designated Innovation District.

DevelopSpringfield President and CEO Jay Minkarah told BusinessWest the center will comprise about 18,000 square feet of space in two formerly vacant adjacent buildings at 270 and 276 Bridge St. and will become the new home of Valley Venture Mentors (VVM), which provides collaborative work space and services to help fledging businesses.

The center, which will be bordered downtown on the south by the MGM casino and on the north by Union Station, will include a café and rental space for young companies as they outgrow shared space at VVM.

The city partnered with DevelopSpringfield on the project, and the Commonwealth awarded a $2 million MassWorks grant to MassDevelopment to support development of the Innovation Center. The agency then sub-granted the funds to DevelopSpringfield. MassMutual also contributed $500,000 to the project, and generous contributions were received from the Beveridge Family Foundation and the Berkshire Bank Foundation.

In addition, the city will soon announce plans to redevelop and refurbish Stearns Square and Duryea Way, which connects to Union Station.

“We’ve developed a collective strategy and vision, and have had a great deal of good fortune,” Kennedy told BusinessWest, referring to winning the bid for the casino and securing funding for Union Station, which was accomplished with help from legislators. However, he and other key figures credit the city’s successful tornado recovery and rebuild efforts that began in the wake of the 2011 catastrophe with their recent success in obtaining funding for downtown projects.

And the plans continue to expand. “We would also like to create a dining district, and are actively working with the BID to create a loan program to encourage new restaurants,” Kennedy noted. “Our future revolves around culture, entertainment, innovation, and dining. MGM is an entertainment giant, and their offerings will be very attractive, but we need to couple them with innovation because that is where the economy is moving.”

Sizeable Investments

Successfully revitalized downtowns feature housing options as well as retail establishments, said Ciuffreda, and the chamber is excited about SilverBrick Lofts, a 200-unit complex with one- and two-bedroom apartments that are slowly being converted from subsidized housing into market-rate rentals. Renovations have been going on for about 18 months as leases expire, and many of the revamped units are already rented and feature exposed brick, reclaimed wood beams, arched windows, and high ceilings.

Union Station

The redevelopment of Union Station is being hailed as one of the keys to revitalization in Springfield’s downtown.

“They’re in an old mill that is actually three buildings in one, and runs from Worthington Street to Taylor Street; SilverBrick sits behind the new Innovation Center and is right across from the open tunnel that leads into Union Station,” Ciuffreda noted, adding that, in addition to housing, there are also a dozen retail spaces in the complex, mostly along Worthington and Main streets. One of them has been rented, and a new chocolate and coffee shop is expected to open there soon.

In addition, MGM’s contract includes establishing 54 new units of market-rate housing within a mile of the casino, and the (now-vacant) former Springfield School Department building on 195 State St. has been identified as a potential site.

“We’re starting to see the rebirth of the downtown with the Innovation District, the new market-rate housing, and Union Station opening in the fall,” Ciuffreda said. “The combination is resulting in a big change while MGM is being built.”

In addition, the Mass. Convention Center Authority has been working closely with the Springfield Parking Authority, and the Convention Center Authority will soon be issuing requests for proposals for a feasibility study to determine the future of the Civic Center Garage.

The Parking Authority has undertaken about $900,000 in structural repair work to the facility, but that patch is expected to be effective for only five years, so the study will show whether the garage should undergo more repairs or be replaced, given that MGM will build a garage to house 3,300 vehicles a few blocks away.

The city, Parking Authority, and Springfield Technical Community College also plan to conduct a study of the upper State Street area to determine the need and feasibility for developing a parking structure there to serve the growing needs of the neighborhood.

In addition, the city recently finished a $6 million reconstruction of Boston Road and has undertaken major work along the State Street corridor that serves as a major east-west connector with the downtown area.

Ciuffreda said real opportunity exists at Eastfield Mall on Boston Road, which has lost its anchor tenants in recent years, but continues to be a popular destination for area residents.

To serve their needs, the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority has a bus service that runs along the corridor. A recent study identified it as a prime route to introduce Bus Rapid Transit to the region, which would originate at Union Station and run to Eastfield Mall — a 7.1-mile corridor that’s one of the most heavily traveled bus routes in the PVTA system, with more than 5,000 riders a day.

Over the coming months, PVTA will host neighborhood and public forums to share information on the system and get input about the service, which would include faster service and fare collection, exclusive bus lanes, and stations as opposed to bus stops.

Work is also going on in other parts of the city. The intersection at Sumner and Harkness avenues was completely reconfigured within the last year, and reconstruction of North Main Street to the Chicopee line has taken place.

A ribbon cutting will be staged next month in Forest Park for the new Eco Center, which is part of the tornado rebuild; construction on the senior center at Blunt Park is about to begin; and work to rebuild the South End Community Center will commence this summer.

Kennedy added that financing is being lined up to redevelop the Indian Motorcycle building in Mason Square, which is partially occupied, and construction should start by the end of the year. In addition, the North End Citizens Council also received a $50,000 state grant to create a master plan for the area.

Preserving History

Minkarah said one of DevelopSpringfield’s exciting projects is the creation of the $1.8 million Lower Maple Business Park, which includes the renovation of the historic Ansel Phelps-Solymon Merrick House and the former Female Seminary on adjoining parcels along Maple Street.

Jay Minkarah

Jay Minkarah says DevelopSpringfield is creating a new business park on lower Maple Street.

The site also includes six commercial garages and a two-story carriage house with a double-bay garage that is ideal for a contractor or other business that needs attached indoor parking. In addition, there is plenty of space for parking on the grounds.

The $1.8 million renovation of the property is almost complete, and is within walking distance of downtown Main Street. A number of offices and suites have been thoughtfully designed, while other space will be outfitted to suit tenants’ needs, and space in the Merrick House at 83 Maple St. will become DevelopSpringfield’s permanent home.

The majority of funding for the project has been provided by the organization, which was founded in 2008 and initially composed of volunteers in the wake of the State Street redevelopment program. Its focus is extremely challenging projects — restoring blighted but highly visible buildings with cultural and historic value that have deteriorated to the point where it is cost-prohibitive for the city or developers to rehabilitate them.

“We’re seeking to meet multiple goals, which include stimulating revitalization and economic development by saving buildings that show decay, decline, and disinvestment,” Minkarah said. “They give the wrong message when people drive by, but if they are restored, it has the opposite effect and helps to bring up property values, which contributes to the economy. We see ourselves as the city’s private, nonprofit development partner.”

He added that the Innovation Center was conceptualized at the end of 2014 when it became apparent that a new vision was needed for the city’s entertainment district.

“We’re hoping not only to create an exciting center for entrepreneurship and innovation, but a place where jobs are created,” Minkarah said, referring to VVM’s programs for startup businesses. “It’s always exciting when new businesses come to a city, but our core strategy needs to be growing new companies here to fulfill dreams and create jobs. We want to stimulate innovation, which needs to be one of the pillars of our economy.

“This project is also about revitalizing buildings that really need renovation and making a very visible investment in an area suffering from a high vacancy rate,” he continued, noting that the total cost, including acquisition and rehabilitation of the buildings, will total $3.5 million.

Other DevelopSpringfield projects include a historic renovation of the Gunn Block on the corner of State and Walnut streets. The organization is also working to bring a full-line grocery store to Mason Square, where it owns about 4.5 acres and is willing to develop the site.

Last August, it purchased a vacant church on the corner of Carew and Dwight streets in the North End and is in the process of acquiring six vacant lots from the city for parking.

Along the Central Street corridor, which was heavily impacted by the 2011 tornado, DevelopSpringfield acquired several vacant lots for redevelopment. New homes have been built on three of them by Viva Development for qualifying, working low-income families, and additional homes are planned.

“Sometimes we are the developer, sometimes we take a lead role in planning issues, and other times we provide support to the city and other nonprofits by serving as part of a project team or by writing grants to secure funding that can lead to revitalization,” Minkarah said.

Bright Future

A city’s reputation centers around its central business district, said Kennedy, noting that, while Springfield has had some problems in recent years, work by multiple stakeholders who share a vision is aimed at changing that perception.

“Our future is much brighter than it was five years ago, and there is a lot of activity going on downtown, coupled with increased lighting and a new police program,” he said. “All of the projects fit together, and we have the highest bond rating in our history, which really adds confidence to everything as we move forward.”

In short, the city is seeing considerable movement, he said in conclusion, noting that, through a concerted team effort, Springfield is enjoying real progress in its efforts to grow, thrive, and attract entrepreneurs, new residents, and visitors in the years to come.

Springfield at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1852
Population: 153,278
Area: 33.2 square miles
County: Hampden
Tax Rate: Residential: $19.66; Commercial: $38.60
Median Household Income: $50,916 (2014)
Family Household Income: $64,576 (2014)
Type of government: Mayor, City Council
Largest Employers: Baystate Health; MassMutual Financial Group; Big Y; Sisters of Providence Health System; Smith & Wesson; Center for Human Development
* Latest information available

Banking and Financial Services Cover Story Sections

Dollars and Sense

Westfield Bank President and CEO Jim Hagan

Westfield Bank President and CEO Jim Hagan

Westfield Bank and Chicopee Savings Bank will come together in the first merger of locally based institutions in more than two decades. The $2.1 billion entity will have a solid foundation on both sides of the Connecticut River, said Westfield Bank President and CEO Jim Hagan, and the capital with which to undertake further territorial expansion.

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly when they started, but Westfield Bank President and CEO Jim Hagan said the talks he’s had with his counterpart at Chicopee Savings Bank, Bill Wagner — about this marketplace, the changes taking place in it, and a possible merger of their institutions — are not exactly a recent development.

Well, that’s true of those first few subjects of conversation, anyway.

“Bill and I had a number of discussions about this market, what was happening in it, bank consolidations, and the importance of size and scale in the industry,” said Hagan, who took the helm at Westfield in 2005, adding that these talks took a different tone and moved to a much higher level of intensity last fall.

That’s when both men were working together on what could be called the financial institutions’ component of the capital campaign to raise funds for the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center, and thus seeing much more of each other.

Summing up those discussions in general terms, Hagan said the two presidents agreed that there were many shortcomings — and, yes, risks — to remaining at their respective sizes (roughly $1.4 billion in assets at WB and $650,000 at CSB) given the many changes in the region’s banking community and the growing dominance of larger players.

He and Wagner eventually concluded that a merger of their banks not only made sense, but easily made the most sense of the many options that had presented themselves in recent years.

“We were both well-capitalized institutions, and we both felt strongly that we wanted to have what we considered to be a strong, independent bank headquartered in Western Massachusetts, one that would be locally owned and locally managed,” Hagan explained. “And, together, we felt we had a great opportunity to do just that.”

It took several more months to hammer out the details, but those discussions last fall certainly laid the groundwork for the announcement made early last month — that the two institutions would merge and thus become the second-largest locally managed bank in Hampden County, a $2.1 billion entity (to operate under the name Westfield Bank) with 21 locations in Western Mass. and Northern Conn.

As he elaborated on why this was the most sensible route for the banks, Hagan said this would be a merger of two local institutions with long histories in the region — and with footprints that featured hardly any overlap. (The only community where both banks have a branch is West Springfield, and those facilities are separated by several miles, not several blocks or even yards, as is often the case in a region almost always characterized by the term ‘overbanked.’)

These historical and geographical considerations will translate into fewer redundancies and therefore fewer reductions in workforce when the banks come together later this year, said Hagan, as well as less encroachment in this market by the larger regional banks that had shown interest in acquiring CSB.

Meanwhile, the two institutions have similar philosophies, nearly identical operating systems, and even a common marketing approach — one with the accent on a highly personalized brand of service, said Kevin O’Connor, senior vice president of Retail Banking, Retail Lending, and Marketing for Westfield Bank.

All of this should lead to a smooth transition and greater customer retention when the dust eventually settles, said Hagan, as well as a financial institution that will play a much more significant role in the local economy than the banks could individually.

For this issue and its focus on Banking & Financial Services, BusinessWest looks at this latest merger to reshape the local banking community and what the emerging $2.1 billion institution will bring to the proverbial table.

Points of Interest

As he returned to the subject of when and how this merger started to come together, Hagan said it was born from the knowledge — possessed by everyone conducting banking in this market — that size really does matter.

Elaborating, he said that size, or ‘scale,’ the other term used to convey the same points, amounts to far more than bragging rights or a significantly larger limit on commercial loans (although that certainly is an important factor, as will be discussed in a bit).

WestfieldBankLogoChicopeeSavingsLogoInstead, size is easily the most effective means with which to effectively cope with razor-thin margins and significantly deeper layers of regulation that resulted from the financial crisis — caused in good part by a lack of regulation of financial institutions — of nearly a decade ago.

“Size and scale creates efficiencies in terms of your operating costs,” he explained. “And having that 21-branch network creates efficiencies with products, services, and the delivery network.”

Elaborating, Hagan noted that, while there are few redundancies to result from this merger when it comes to physical locations, there will certainly be some redundancies — which can be reduced or eliminated — that involve operations and the staffing of same.

Meanwhile, the merger will enable the larger institution to spread the costs resulting from greater regulation over a wider footprint, he went on, adding that, in simple terms, the costs for the new, larger Westfield Bank will be significantly less than what the two current institutions are paying together at present.

This phenomenon goes a long way toward explaining much of the recent movement within the market, and why a number of brands have disappeared from the landscape.

Along with these mergers have come some growing pains during the process of transforming two banks into one, Hagan acknowledged, adding quickly that he expects this merger to go rather smoothly because the banks operate on different platforms of the same system and there will be few of what would be called ‘institutional changes.’

Kevin O’Connor

Kevin O’Connor says Westfield Bank and Chicopee Savings Bank have similar cultures and operating systems, which should make for a smooth transition.

“What we found is that the culture of Chicopee Savings Bank is very similar to the culture of Westfield Bank,” he explained. “So we expect that the integration of the systems, the people, and the philosophies will go very smoothly.”

But efficiencies constitute only one of the benefits of size, he went on, adding that the merger with CSB takes the Westfield Bank name to places it has never been (physically, anyway), starting with Chicopee, the second-largest city in Western Mass. and one with a huge business community.

Chicopee also has branches in Ludlow, South Hadley, and Ware, locations that will greatly increase Westfield Bank’s presence on the east side of the Connecticut River, which is limited (if that’s the right term) at present to locations in Springfield, East Longmeadow, and Enfield, Conn.

And while the bank has historically done business with residents and businesses in virtually all communities in Western Mass. and Northern Conn., including those on the east side of the river, having one’s name on buildings in more of those cities and towns is a tremendous benefit, Hagan explained.

“A greater percentage of the businesses we lend to — the machine shops, the universities, healthcare institutions — are on that [east] side of the river,” he explained. “And we think we can increase our loan portfolio, our deposits, and more based on the success we’ve already had with a limited presence in those communities.”

Taking Note

In practical terms, the merger will significantly increase the emerging bank’s lending capacity, said O’Connor, noting that the current limit at WB is $22 million, and for CSB it’s $16 million. The larger Westfield Bank will have a $35 million limit. This will enable it to write more loans and generate more deals without the need to collaborate with other institutions, he explained.

“There would less need to do participations with other banks,” he said of the higher limit. “And it broadens the view of what Westfield Bank can do for people in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and others that we do well in, even though we can do a lot now.”

Beyond this greater lending capacity, the merger will enable Westfield Bank to greatly accelerate that process of territorial expansion that has been ongoing for several years now, said Hagan.

Significant milestones include a move into downtown Springfield (Tower Square) in 2000, a move that has paid significant dividends, said Hagan, noting more than $65 million in deposits at that location, as well as the East Longmeadow branch, opened in 1997.

These steps were followed by penetration into the Northern Conn. market with branches in Granby, just a few miles from a location in Southwick, in 2013, and the one in Enfield, opened a year later.

Both moves were common-sense expansions of what is truly a network, he said, adding that both Connecticut branches, and especially the one in Enfield, have done extremely well despite the fact that they have the name of a small Western Mass. city over the door.

When this merger is completed, that name should resonate even more, said Hagan, who anticipates further territorial expansion in the years to come.

When asked where it might take place, he was understandably vague, but did offer some insight, hinting that the institution will likely look south to Connecticut, east toward Quabbin and perhaps Worcester County, and within the city of Springfield for potential opportunities. And the merger greatly increases the list of possibilities.

“With the combined capital we’d have, we’d be able to look at additional acquisitions in different marketplaces where we may have an interest in expanding,” he explained. “We like the Northern Connecticut marketplace, we would look at Central Mass., and I’d like to expand in Springfield; there are many possibilities.

“But first and foremost,” he went on, “we want to make sure this merger is successful.”

Bottom Line

As he talked about Chicopee, the pending loss of the community’s name from the institution that has had a huge presence in its downtown since 1854, and how well the new name would play in that proud community, Hagan acknowledged that all this will constitute a significant change that might take a while for some to digest and accept.

Then again, he told BusinessWest, the reaction he’s seen thus far in that city has been overwhelmingly — but not, in his mind, at least, surprisingly — positive.

“That’s because this is the first in-market merger in more than 25 years, and because we’re a local institution, and because of our reputation of being community leaders and community supporters,” he said by way of explaining his theory.  “It’s gone  very well.”

And he expects things to continue to go well, for all those reasons listed above, but mostly because of what they all verify — that this is the option that makes the most sense for both institutions.

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

 

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

331 Baptist Corner Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Alan Taylor
Seller: Sheila M. Graves
Date: 03/31/16

686 Creamery Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $284,800
Buyer: Aaron Grinstein
Seller: Joshua Muszynski
Date: 03/28/16

64 March Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Charity Ritscher
Seller: Sven Huggins
Date: 03/25/16

BERNARDSTON

367 West Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Dennis Rezendes TR
Seller: Eden Trail LLC
Date: 03/29/16

BUCKLAND

4 Round House Hill Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Thomas S. Lively
Seller: Patrick D. Finn
Date: 03/31/16

6 Round House Hill Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Thomas S. Lively
Seller: Patrick D. Finn
Date: 03/31/16

CONWAY

81 Fisher Place Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: William Sheehan
Seller: John Doherty
Date: 03/29/16

206 South Ashfield Road
Conway, MA 01096
Amount: $241,500
Buyer: Nathaniel E. Bastarache
Seller: John F. Marcelina
Date: 03/21/16

DEERFIELD

1 Bloody Brook Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $258,500
Buyer: Jacob R. Howe
Seller: Jeffrey P. Metevier
Date: 03/30/16

20 King Philip Ave.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Austin D. McComb
Date: 04/01/16

595-B River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Prison Dharma Network Inc.
Seller: Bela Breslau
Date: 04/01/16

ERVING

11 Lester St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Matthew Calcari
Seller: Brian P. Leduc
Date: 04/01/16

40 North St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Cody J. Pease
Seller: Justin Fellows
Date: 03/28/16

GILL

17 Riverview Dr.
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Jenna J. Wikler
Seller: Robert Callery
Date: 03/30/16

GREENFIELD

303 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Kathleen N. Forster
Seller: Richards, Janet M., (Estate)
Date: 03/31/16

10 Eastern Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $196,500
Buyer: Rachel H. Gordon
Seller: Andrew V. Papachristos
Date: 03/22/16

9 Forest Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Erin B. Morrissey
Seller: Justin J. Mickiewicz
Date: 03/31/16

94 Homestead Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Morgan
Seller: William A. Young
Date: 03/29/16

12 Lincoln St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Michael J. McGath
Seller: Lamar Realty LLC
Date: 03/31/16

LEVERETT

312-314 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $161,100
Buyer: Second Long Plain LLC
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/25/16

MONTAGUE

15 5th St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: William J. Doyle
Seller: Matthew L. Robinson
Date: 03/21/16

33 Hillside Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jason W. Massey
Seller: Michael E. John
Date: 03/23/16

54 Main St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Meghan Wheeler
Seller: Donald F. Patterson
Date: 03/21/16

40 Taylor Hill Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Norman H. Bolter
Seller: Jeanne S. Antill
Date: 03/29/16

34 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Kenneth A. Rounds
Date: 03/25/16

NEW SALEM

68 Fay Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Paula T. McNee
Seller: Mark J. Lussier
Date: 04/01/16

157 Neilson Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $159,800
Buyer: William P. Poirier
Seller: Steven E. Blinder
Date: 03/31/16

32 Old North Dana Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Marcos N. Severino
Seller: Samantha Scott
Date: 03/23/16

ORANGE

87 Mechanic St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $223,175
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lonnie Helman
Date: 03/28/16

SUNDERLAND

2 Hubbard Hill Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Ventures TR
Seller: Kern, Kenneth L., (Estate)
Date: 03/25/16

82 South Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Seller: Bruce A. Bennett
Date: 03/22/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

115 Anvil St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Qing J. Cao
Seller: Thomas J. Jendrysik
Date: 03/24/16

20 Autumn St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Sidney S. Martin
Seller: Rita Allen
Date: 03/31/16

158 Elizabeth St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Jeffrey D. Presz
Seller: Rita T. Scala
Date: 03/31/16

11 Hamilton Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: David J. Turner
Seller: Caryn A. Lariviere
Date: 03/21/16

32 Lealand Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Benjamin A. McCormick
Seller: Brian C. McCarthy
Date: 03/29/16

41 Liquori Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $241,900
Buyer: Donna L. Vandall
Seller: Keith E. Checca
Date: 03/31/16

61-63 Mark Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Terry M. Gamache
Seller: Langone Realty Corp.
Date: 03/31/16

16 Morgan St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: James C. Stellato
Seller: Joseph A. Bshara
Date: 03/21/16

13 Nicole Terrace
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Tylor R. Vaillancourt
Seller: Jeffrey D. Presz
Date: 03/31/16

42 Norman Terrace
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Danial Bennett
Date: 03/24/16

261 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Linda-Jean Dimartino
Seller: Scott S. Hodgdon
Date: 03/31/16

1060 North St. Ext
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Joseph Modzelewski
Seller: Roscoe, Debra L., (Estate)
Date: 03/22/16

28 Simpson Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Zachary L. Demers
Seller: Robert P. Cormier
Date: 03/25/16

58 Simpson Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $135,903
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Judith D. Day
Date: 03/23/16

554 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jaimie Plamondon
Seller: Richard R. Brouillard
Date: 03/28/16

1075 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Jason C. Jordan
Seller: Richard Heinemann
Date: 03/28/16

81-83 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Gamaliel Gomez
Seller: Kathleen T. Devins
Date: 04/01/16

BLANDFORD

56 Woronoco Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ryan C. Kelly
Seller: Nancy Ackley
Date: 04/01/16

BRIMFIELD

18 Cubles Dr.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: James A. Phillips
Seller: Martha L. Stegemoen
Date: 03/21/16

9 Lyman Barnes Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Amanda Doyle
Seller: Justin B. Powers
Date: 03/30/16

89 Tower Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Liz P. Fitzgibbons-Keyes
Seller: Kacey W. Looney
Date: 03/22/16

CHICOPEE

41 Blanchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: David W. Bell
Seller: Diane Bujnicki
Date: 03/30/16

215 Carew St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Stanley C. Kopeski
Seller: Laura Gregoire-Labroad
Date: 04/01/16

109 Carriage Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: National Equity Inc.
Seller: Bart Boissonneault
Date: 03/29/16

295 College St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Costas A. Mathews
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/24/16

4 Dobek Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Michael L. Boutin
Seller: Dennis Pelletier
Date: 03/22/16

15 Driscoll St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Michael A. Roch
Seller: Teehan, Stella P., (Estate)
Date: 03/22/16

437 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,200
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Darrell Thompson
Date: 03/28/16

225 Fuller Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jillian L. Bowyer
Seller: Grzegorz Lech
Date: 03/24/16

458 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Linda M. Ledbury
Seller: New TJM LLC
Date: 03/31/16

32 Harding St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Buyer: Denis Rotar
Seller: Carol A. Mackechnie
Date: 03/25/16

8 Highland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Kenneth J. Butler
Seller: William A. Gallacher
Date: 03/31/16

79 Kaveney St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Donna M. Weber
Seller: Michael E. Strepka
Date: 03/31/16

63 Lorraine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Debra E. Fournier
Seller: Jennifer L. Williamson
Date: 03/29/16

Morgan Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jason L. Lamothe
Seller: CRA Holdings Inc.
Date: 03/31/16

119 Murphy Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Craig Lupien
Seller: Patricia Rattell
Date: 03/28/16

218 Newbury St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Laura A. Medeiros
Seller: Alexander M. Spear
Date: 03/29/16

124 Taylor St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Clark Maynard
Seller: Malek, Richard R., (Estate)
Date: 03/31/16

39 Wanda St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Zachary R. Vozella
Seller: Franciscan Missionary Sisters
Date: 03/31/16

32 York St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Pirog
Seller: Richard J. Deziel
Date: 03/25/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

80 Braeburn Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: David A. Dimiero
Seller: Danielle Geoffrion
Date: 04/01/16

14 Callender Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $131,828
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Christian A. Meredith
Date: 03/28/16

64 Dawes St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Steven J. Moore
Seller: Kevin G. Miles
Date: 03/31/16

60 Franconia Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Sowers
Seller: Claudia F. Amore
Date: 03/31/16

210 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Stephen Miller
Seller: Kenneth M. Lucas
Date: 04/01/16

64 Helen Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $173,500
Buyer: Eric A. Retzlaff
Seller: Stephen M. Miller
Date: 04/01/16

141 Patterson Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: John C. Miarecki
Seller: Louis Morabito
Date: 03/31/16

115 Ridge Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Ralph Rosien
Seller: Patricia A. Barry
Date: 04/01/16

Silver Fox Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Capaccio FT
Seller: C&M Builders LLC
Date: 03/21/16

105 Somersville Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Meadow Holdings LLC
Seller: AC Management Group LLC
Date: 03/21/16

GRANVILLE

181 Barnard Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $181,403
Buyer: Pennymac Corp.
Seller: Mary Cooley
Date: 03/28/16

88 Old Westfield Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Susan L. Baceski
Seller: Thomas P. Gates
Date: 03/23/16

HAMPDEN

51 Burleigh Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $442,000
Buyer: Paul Gonzales
Seller: Joseph A. Dolben
Date: 03/25/16

17 Fernwood Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Molly M. Blades
Seller: Vincent Mandolini
Date: 04/01/16

308 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $331,000
Buyer: Richard C. Brideau
Seller: MC&CO Development LLC
Date: 03/31/16

HOLLAND

15 Alexander Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Thomas G. Riemer RT
Seller: Jason A. Raffone
Date: 03/22/16

3 Massaconnic Trail
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $145,500
Buyer: James J. Blanchette
Seller: Charles E. Jenks
Date: 03/23/16

92 Vinton Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Travis W. Kauppila
Seller: Francis J. Gregoire
Date: 03/22/16

HOLYOKE

45-47 Bay State Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Thomas D. Szumowski
Seller: Matthew F. Moriarty
Date: 04/01/16

88 Columbus Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Cynthia L. Archer
Date: 03/25/16

32 Florida Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Bethany I. Labelle
Seller: Frey, James E., (Estate)
Date: 03/29/16

75 Lower Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Brenda I. Quinones
Seller: Satbir S. Rakhra
Date: 03/24/16

57 Park Slope
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Edward P. Armstrong
Seller: Gregory M. Virgilio
Date: 03/25/16

80 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $271,200
Buyer: Craig E. O’Brien
Seller: Thomas J. Schwab
Date: 03/31/16

43 Rock Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $341,000
Buyer: Samantha H. King
Seller: Kristine S. Potasky
Date: 04/01/16

649 South Summer St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $379,999
Buyer: CRF Realty LLC
Seller: Kevin Cruz
Date: 04/01/16

39 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Raquel Rodriguez-Rosales
Seller: Christopher H. Lawler
Date: 03/25/16

26 Upland Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Dawne K. Brown
Seller: Robert E. Dancy
Date: 04/01/16

LONGMEADOW

36 Avondale Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Todd Westhaver
Seller: David D. Arthur
Date: 03/25/16

257 Captain Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $413,000
Buyer: Andrew C. Ryan
Seller: Wissam M. Dah
Date: 03/28/16

123 Crestview Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: William P. Laplante
Seller: Laplante Construction Inc.
Date: 04/01/16

87 Ferncroft St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: Michael L. Vasu
Seller: Christopher C. Boutin
Date: 03/31/16

57 Greenacre Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Hutton
Seller: Andrew C. Ryan
Date: 03/25/16

56 Lawnwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Goldfinch Holdings LLC
Seller: Stanley Kowalski
Date: 03/31/16

63 Osceola Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $334,500
Buyer: Craig R. Stevens
Seller: Susan T. Bailey
Date: 03/28/16

17 Porter Lake Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Erik Peterson
Seller: James C. Donovan
Date: 03/28/16

45 Westmoreland Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Daniel E. Moran
Seller: Edward T. Corrigan
Date: 03/25/16

398 Wolf Swamp Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: David T. Burgess
Seller: Mary C. Butler
Date: 03/28/16

LUDLOW

17 Cypress St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Luciano P. Dantas
Seller: Yekaterina V. Breault
Date: 03/31/16

57 Elm St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Shorey E. Raymond
Seller: Nicholas S. Line
Date: 03/25/16

92 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sheryl Fedora
Seller: Silver Serra
Date: 03/31/16

120 Hubbard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Sewall & Hubbard LLC
Seller: James R. Auclair
Date: 03/31/16

168 Hubbard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $179,999
Buyer: Bruce R. Belmer
Seller: Michael J. Desimone
Date: 03/24/16

81-83 Motyka St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Lee A. Fernandes
Seller: Zina, Maria A., (Estate)
Date: 03/29/16

51-53 Munsing Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Nancy S. Goncalves
Seller: Jose A. Goncalves
Date: 03/29/16

11 Posner Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Samantha L. Whitney
Seller: Denise A. Lind
Date: 03/29/16

108-122 Sewall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Sewall & Hubbard LLC
Seller: James A. Auclair
Date: 03/31/16

State St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Ludlow Mill Housing LP
Seller: Westmass Area Development
Date: 03/21/16

71 West Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Danielle Morin
Seller: Mary G. Desautels
Date: 03/31/16

114 Wilno Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Nicholas S. Line
Seller: James E. Chouinard
Date: 03/29/16

MONSON

32 Ayers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Brad I. Aubin
Seller: James M. Veninger
Date: 03/31/16

19 Lower Hampden Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Amy L. Sarlan
Seller: Kimberly D. Reed
Date: 03/29/16

41 Reimers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ruth M. Mooney
Seller: Stephen W. Butcher
Date: 04/01/16

93 Thayer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Berry
Seller: Ann P. Murphy
Date: 03/25/16

76 Woodhill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $347,900
Buyer: Joseph Bshara
Seller: Bedrock Financial LLC
Date: 03/31/16

PALMER

2 Arch St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $190,500
Buyer: Christopher R. Strelczyk
Seller: Robert W. Bruscoe
Date: 03/29/16

11-15 Knox St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Scott Q. Ingleman
Date: 03/30/16

N/A
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Heidi S. Boucher
Seller: Sean M. Fogarty
Date: 03/31/16

45 Ruggles St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Heather M. Remy
Seller: Margaret M. Superneau
Date: 03/22/16

358 Shearer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $227,431
Buyer: Cunnigham Equities LLC
Seller: Cardinals View LLC
Date: 03/29/16

1042-1044 Thorndike St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Alexis Vega-Camacho
Seller: Donald E. Wiseman
Date: 03/25/16

RUSSELL

98 Highland Ave.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Danielle Y. Weaver
Seller: James B. Vansickle
Date: 03/31/16

200 Huntington Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Nicholas R. Mello
Seller: Cowles, Bruce L., (Estate)
Date: 03/30/16

SOUTHWICK

45 Lexington Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $438,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Searles
Seller: Terry M. Gamache
Date: 03/25/16

399 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Mullen
Seller: Julie A. Hilton
Date: 03/25/16

5 Patriots Way
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Paul Watts
Seller: Donald W. Lindsay
Date: 03/25/16

2 Tobacco Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Sarah K. Willey
Seller: Roger M. Tudor
Date: 03/31/16

SPRINGFIELD

57 Abbe Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Fritz Alvarez
Seller: Susan W. Thara
Date: 03/29/16

422 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Kevin Rodriguez
Seller: Liberty Onyx LLC
Date: 03/23/16

89 Bancroft St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: IC RT
Seller: Feliciano Rosa
Date: 03/21/16

46 Bangor St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Thomas D. Moore
Seller: Kristopher G. Harlow
Date: 03/23/16

30-32 Beaudry St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Helen C. Wojcieszynski
Seller: Kevin S. McNamara
Date: 03/23/16

7 Bellamy Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: RHL Properties LLC
Seller: Jeziel M. Gonzalez
Date: 03/21/16

824 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Seller: Robert G. Pafumi
Date: 03/22/16

124 Blanche St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: William C. Elsden
Seller: Yelle, Amelia A., (Estate)
Date: 03/31/16

89 Chauncey Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Shobana Kausar
Seller: Sidney S. Martin
Date: 03/31/16

110 Chesterfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Marcus P. Earley
Seller: Phillip Giguere
Date: 03/31/16

46 Colfax St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Abimael J. Alicea
Date: 03/31/16

616 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $138,500
Buyer: Rostin Lee
Seller: Malinda S. Lovic
Date: 03/29/16

6 Dianna Dr.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Anthony D. Lamb
Seller: Sodi Inc.
Date: 03/24/16

192-194 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Nelson Reynoso
Seller: Man Nguyen
Date: 03/31/16

56 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Kane
Seller: Liberty Onyx LLC
Date: 03/31/16

38 Fenwick St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Lester B. Bradford
Seller: Saw Construction LLC
Date: 03/31/16

15 Fern St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $115,500
Buyer: Janava Lockett
Seller: NSP Residential LLC
Date: 03/28/16

116 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Adam Perreault
Seller: James J. Bertier
Date: 03/22/16

54 Garfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Patricia Bonica
Seller: Patricia H. Melenkivitz
Date: 03/25/16

33 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Robert Dancy
Seller: Kevin M. Hebert
Date: 04/01/16

190 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Erik D. Ryan
Seller: Nancy F. Schumann
Date: 03/31/16

24 Gralia Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Duquette
Seller: Patrick J. Lynch
Date: 03/29/16

37 Greentree Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $194,999
Buyer: Ruth Paul
Seller: Anna K. Dyrkacz
Date: 03/25/16

70 Harrow Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $292,004
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Paula A. Lynch
Date: 03/24/16

52 Jordan St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Yen Ngo
Seller: Mark E. Elkhay
Date: 03/28/16

50-52 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $169,050
Buyer: V&A Realty LLC
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 03/31/16

159 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $126,589
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: James L. Goldrup
Date: 03/30/16

15 Mandalay Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Andrea L. Berte
Seller: Tarcisio S. Ferreira
Date: 04/01/16

14 Marchioness Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Wanda Collins
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/31/16

37 Middlebrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Matthew W. Pagliaro
Seller: Jamie Erickson
Date: 04/01/16

7 Monmouth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Bernard C. Welch
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/30/16

20 Naismith Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Sheila R. Ramos
Seller: Michael J. Dickson
Date: 03/31/16

155 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Alex Owusu
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 03/22/16

61 Oak Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Gerald R. Gibbon
Seller: Paula Theroux
Date: 04/01/16

257 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $168,187
Buyer: Diplomat Property Manager
Seller: Ralph Mercier
Date: 03/21/16

72 Overlea Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Paul Twum-Barima
Seller: Justin A. Levesque
Date: 03/21/16

820 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Maria C. Rodriguez
Seller: Randall R. Jarry
Date: 04/01/16

46 Prentice St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Martin Caraballo
Seller: Kevin J. Tessier
Date: 03/25/16

31 Ravenwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Greg A. Pease
Seller: Debra Cossaboom
Date: 03/29/16

65 Shefford St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Iran G. Tejada
Seller: Cecilia M. Rebelo
Date: 03/31/16

24 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $118,401
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Sarah J. Russell
Date: 03/31/16

195 State St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: MGM Springfield LLC
Seller: 195 State Street Real Estate
Date: 03/28/16

1188 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Michael R. Zucco
Seller: Thomas M. Carhart
Date: 03/25/16

97 Treetop Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Evelyn M. Moore
Seller: Arthur W. Clement
Date: 03/31/16

373 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $158,848
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Katelyn Pisano
Date: 03/25/16

237 Waverly St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jose Reyes
Seller: Andrey Rudin
Date: 03/25/16

93 Westbank Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Edwin Hernandez
Seller: Thomas K. Kealey
Date: 03/23/16

35 Wheeler Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jeannette Padilla
Seller: Jason J. Aguda
Date: 03/23/16

784 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $116,900
Buyer: Carl Stewart
Seller: Mary C. Kirwan
Date: 03/29/16

78 Whittier St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: SLF Realty Corp.
Seller: Wei Q. Ni
Date: 03/23/16

2416 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Kyle G. Roy
Seller: Jesse J. Nason
Date: 03/30/16

19 Woodrow St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Sendra
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 03/22/16

819 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Sargoon Hawil
Seller: Frankstone Group LLC
Date: 03/21/16

WALES

17 Orchard Lane
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Bethany A. Sivula
Seller: Jesse P. Martin
Date: 03/31/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

35 Armstrong St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Jennife Gonzalez-Morales
Seller: AGA Properties LLC
Date: 03/29/16

194 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $345,000
Seller: Mitchell J. Salamon
Date: 03/28/16

65 Cataumet Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: David M. Duquette
Seller: Richard Duquette
Date: 04/01/16

60 Churchill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Adam L. Dasso
Seller: Coleen S. Nauman
Date: 03/24/16

19 Kelly Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Syed F. Ahmad
Seller: Suchanek, Paul, (Estate)
Date: 04/01/16

822 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: 822 Main Street LLC
Seller: Mariani-Cote LLC
Date: 03/30/16

446 Massachusetts Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $194,400
Buyer: Alexander Hoyo
Seller: James G. Berrelli
Date: 03/28/16

25 Mulcahy Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Dennis Francis
Seller: Francis Wheeler Construction
Date: 04/01/16

N/A
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Eileen Moore
Seller: Ellen M. Kupiec
Date: 03/24/16

40 Moseley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Man B. Rana
Seller: Jason W. Reynolds
Date: 03/24/16

320 Park St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: 320 Park Street LLC
Seller: 652 Chicopee Street LLC
Date: 03/30/16

62 Paulson Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Christopher A. Nyman
Seller: Mikhail Podgayskiy
Date: 03/25/16

Tiara Lane #2
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Eliza A. Dacruz
Seller: Kolodziej Enterprises LLC
Date: 03/28/16

4 Trinity Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $262,100
Buyer: Arpita K. Patel
Seller: Linda F. Egan
Date: 03/25/16

WESTFIELD

139 Barbara St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Marybeth Sienkiewicz
Seller: Donald C. Tryon
Date: 03/31/16

9 Buschmann Court
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Joshua S. Carrier
Seller: Donna C. Button-McEwan
Date: 03/31/16

93 Christopher Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $226,340
Buyer: Robert J. Deterlizzi
Seller: Marino M. Deterlizzi
Date: 03/21/16

19 Country Club Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $216,078
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Joseph P. Katalina
Date: 03/24/16

1173 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $298,500
Buyer: Brandon F. Giordanolanza
Seller: David J. Miller
Date: 03/31/16

20 Eastwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Melissa L. Utzinger
Seller: Bush FT
Date: 04/01/16

54 Feeding Hills Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Jason C. Bhajan
Seller: FHLM
Date: 04/01/16

138 Franklin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $194,900
Buyer: David O. Albert
Seller: Tiffany M. Carey
Date: 04/01/16

24 Harvest Moon Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $471,000
Buyer: Randy G. Stone
Seller: Peter A. Toro
Date: 03/31/16

10 Heggie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $141,374
Buyer: Donald P. Sicard
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/22/16

28 Laro Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Seller: Susan R. Crum
Date: 03/24/16

15 Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Gregory P. Strattner
Seller: Sawyer James LLC
Date: 03/24/16

13 Park St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Michel Absous
Seller: Igor Radionov
Date: 03/24/16

86 Ridgecrest Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Fred W. Geiger
Seller: Robert G. Gordon
Date: 03/23/16

27 Ridgeway Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Robert M. Mackay
Seller: Inez Otero
Date: 03/30/16

1040 Russell Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $279,341
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Melissa D. Bannish
Date: 03/29/16

15 Shepard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Stella M. Smith
Seller: Robert L. Bovat
Date: 03/31/16

4 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Cheryl L. Szafran
Seller: Lapitsky, Elizabeth V., (Estate)
Date: 03/25/16

WILBRAHAM

2200 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Minton LLC
Seller: Mark O. Melikian
Date: 03/23/16

7 Briar Cliff Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $426,000
Buyer: Kyle R. Sylvester
Seller: Robert D. Merrill
Date: 03/31/16

37 Brooklawn Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jennifer Farrell
Seller: Michael A. Mackie
Date: 03/28/16

3 Bungalow Point
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Thomas W. Johnson
Seller: John R. Boudreau
Date: 03/31/16

6 Colonial Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Jeziel M. Gonzalez
Seller: Dell R. Rodman
Date: 03/21/16

24 Forest St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Jason Raymond
Seller: Daniel N. Linton
Date: 03/21/16

222 Maynard Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Michael Bell
Seller: Lisa Bordenuk
Date: 03/31/16

8 Wagon Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $573,000
Buyer: Ernest K. Dinino
Seller: Thomas W. Johnson
Date: 03/31/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

198 Alpine Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,500
Buyer: Monica W. Gichuhi
Seller: Harrington, John G., (Estate)
Date: 03/21/16

724 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Dennis A. Walker
Seller: Patricia A. Jasmin
Date: 03/29/16

3 Matoon St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Christine Donatone
Seller: Richard W. Goldstein
Date: 03/25/16

166 North Whitney St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Ricardo A. Orellana
Seller: O’Neil, Gerald T., (Estate)
Date: 03/23/16

75 Red Gate Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $409,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Bajorek
Seller: Quinton, Arthur R., (Estate)
Date: 03/24/16

62 Triangle St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Amaar C. Buxhari
Seller: Dominic Cuce
Date: 03/23/16

28 Woodlot Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Thomas L. Leatherman
Seller: Firman, Winfield, (Estate)
Date: 03/31/16
BELCHERTOWN

505 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $168,750
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Cindy Suarez
Date: 03/23/16

19 Chauncey Walker St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Martha A. Scott
Date: 03/23/16

29 Old Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $168,800
Buyer: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Seller: ABCD FT
Date: 03/22/16

27 Old Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Stanley Jacobs
Seller: R. F. Wilhelms-Tricarico
Date: 03/24/16

30 Pheasant Run
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $304,000
Buyer: Thomas R. Hawkins
Seller: Carol A. Morra
Date: 03/30/16

22 Pondview Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Quentin K. Duke
Seller: John W. Campbell
Date: 03/31/16

EASTHAMPTON

21 Ashley Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Mary C. O’Connor
Seller: Joseph S. Dimartino
Date: 03/30/16

95 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Ian M. Carrier
Seller: Robert C. Adams
Date: 03/31/16

14 Kingsberry Way
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $391,500
Buyer: Christina K. Lyman-Sandoz
Seller: Crown Meadow Corp
Date: 03/30/16

118 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Beverly Colby
Seller: Coburn, Gertrude A., (Estate)
Date: 03/24/16

39 Meadowbrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Christopher Olinski
Seller: George T. Dorman
Date: 04/01/16

24 Peloquin Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Richard A. Franklin
Seller: Susan M. Lagoy
Date: 04/01/16

24 Rabideau Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $197,750
Buyer: James Bradley
Date: 03/31/16

35 Union St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Gary R. Campbelll
Seller: Cartledge, Nancy L., (Estate)
Date: 03/22/16

58 Williston Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Robert Dragon
Seller: Dorothy M. Misner RET
Date: 03/31/16

21 Wright St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: David Meunier
Seller: Cartledge, Nancy L., (Estate)
Date: 03/30/16

GRANBY

150 East St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Thomas D. Haska
Seller: Rhonda-Marie E. Haska
Date: 03/31/16

39 Harris St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Richard E. Murphy
Seller: Vasiliy Konyrev
Date: 03/31/16

6 Jerry Lane
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Michael Bogdanovich
Date: 03/31/16

49 North St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Eric D. Supinski
Seller: Peter J. Ciempa
Date: 03/30/16

HADLEY

18 Breckenridge Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Grant E. Rodkey
Seller: Jane H. Lekus
Date: 04/01/16

Chmura Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Khyati K. Parmar
Seller: Sadowski, Agnes M., (Estate)
Date: 03/24/16

20 Comins Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Royko
Seller: Clarence H. Carey
Date: 03/30/16

15 Maple Ave.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Gregory M. Mish
Seller: John P. Mish
Date: 03/31/16

26 North Maple St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Alan P. St.Hilaire
Seller: Summerlin Co. LLC
Date: 03/31/16

43 Roosevelt St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Alan P. StHilaire
Seller: Summerlin Co. LLC
Date: 03/31/16

249 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Steven Eli
Seller: Abdul R. Jaradat
Date: 03/31/16

HATFIELD

18 Primrose Path
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Reuben Ress
Seller: Michael P. Stoddard
Date: 03/25/16
HUNTINGTON

5 Barr Hill Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: 5 Barr Hill Road Land Trust
Seller: Raymond L. Glick
Date: 04/01/16

9 Stanton Ave.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Brandon M. Phillips
Seller: Debora S. Phillips
Date: 04/01/16

NORTHAMPTON

32 Adare Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $482,000
Buyer: Nicholas P. Naunton
Seller: Perry L. Cohen
Date: 03/21/16

14 Beaver Brook Loop
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: David L. Dambrov
Seller: Beaver Brook NT
Date: 03/24/16

380 Chesterfield Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: UMassfive College FCU
Seller: Tanya L. Abbatessa
Date: 03/22/16

35 Chestnut Ave.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Leslie Chalmers-Gravel
Seller: Nira Harper-Elkins
Date: 03/30/16

369 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Lisa M. McCray
Seller: Robert A. Martinez
Date: 03/31/16

7 Franklin St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Christopher Stein
Seller: Marcy J. Larmon

147 Hinckley St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Sara E. Northrup
Seller: Debra L. Davis
Date: 03/28/16

40-54 Round Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $2,850,000
Buyer: 1924 LLC
Seller: Historic Round Hill
Date: 03/24/16

29 Rust Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Andrew R. Lawrence
Seller: Marion R. Foster
Date: 03/30/16

254 Spring St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Hal E. Marshall
Seller: Susan B. Crimmins
Date: 03/22/16

SOUTH HADLEY

59 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Michael D. McCray
Seller: Stephen D. McCray
Date: 03/29/16

236 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $261,100
Buyer: Eric D. Nelson
Seller: Eric D. Wartel
Date: 03/31/16

331 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Robert J. Roll
Seller: Kenneth Guilbault
Date: 03/28/16

43 Lamb St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $216,900
Buyer: William E. Pead
Seller: Jesse M. Moreno
Date: 03/25/16

630 Newton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $186,500
Buyer: Steven R. Mercier
Seller: Ann M. Zito
Date: 03/25/16

5 Spring Meadows
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $438,000
Buyer: Eric D. Wartel
Seller: Paul R. Gallagher
Date: 03/31/16

5 Victoria Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Melanie J. Devanski
Seller: John M. White
Date: 03/28/16

SOUTHAMPTON

56 Line St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Thomas M. Bacis
Seller: Cartledge, Nancy L., (Estate)
Date: 03/22/16

4 Madeline Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $602,500
Buyer: Stephen M. Curtis
Seller: Olde Colonial Building Co.
Date: 03/31/16

1 Old Harvest Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Coleen S. Nauman
Seller: RCT T. LLC
Date: 03/24/16

66 Pleasant St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Buyer: Larochelle Construction
Seller: Benjamin J. Hogan
Date: 03/29/16

91 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $183,900
Buyer: Thomas J. Leveille
Seller: Fondakowski RT
Date: 03/25/16

WARE

48 Bacon Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $203,400
Buyer: Citimortgage Inc.
Seller: Brian C. Connor
Date: 03/30/16

220 Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Kirk A. Letendre
Seller: Kirkham, William, (Estate)
Date: 03/25/16

95-99 Main St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Michael Harris
Seller: O. Ice LLC
Date: 03/22/16

1 Walter Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $160,184
Buyer: VR Realty Partners LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/21/16

WILLIAMSBURG

37 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $134,500
Buyer: Megan E. Pelis
Seller: Wayne R. Beebe
Date: 03/31/16

192 Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Matthew P. Anderson
Seller: James Lebeau
Date: 03/30/16

DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

Euro Imports
325 Main St.
Martin Radwick

Feeding Hills Wellness Center
567 Springfield St.
Sarah Stiles

Greener Image Fertilizer
15 Melrose Place
Matthew Henry

Lularoe by Melissa Gilbert
21 Mulberry St.
Melissa Gilbert

New England Home Improvement
56 Randall St.
Ivan Smirnov

Ragno Restoration
15 Federal St.
John Ragno

Raw Face Graphics
775 Springfield St.
Shellie Spencer

HOLYOKE

Easy Pic Convenience
224 Lyman St.
Aizfa Shaikh

Emmanuel Jewelry Store
311 High St.
Tai Kang

First Choice Home Health
187 High St.
Benjamin Beaulieu

Piedmont Woodcraft
10 Roosevelt Ave.
Matthew T. Johnson

Real Clean Services
161 Lower Westfield Road
Shaun Texeira

NORTHAMPTON

D2 Investments
90 Conz St.
Paul DeBettencourt

Florence Farmer’s Market
90 Park St.
Maureen Dempsey

Spirit of the Heart
47 Market St.
Nancy Rothenberg

The Antiquarian, LLC
108 Main St.
William Youngworth

The Blue Marble
150 Main St.
Cathie Walz

The Foundry
24 Main St.
Sally Noble

PALMER

Kings Crown Hairstyling
1345 Main St.
Tracy Ogoley

Palmer Mapletree, LLC
21 Wilbraham St.
John Rottman

Sandy Hill Farm
25 Alan St.
Heidi Bara

SPRINGFIELD

Home City Housing Development
261 Oak Grove Ave.
Thomas Kegelman

House Max Home
892 Carew St.
Zeeshan Ali

Interstate Friendship
475 Sumner Ave.
Taran Tiwari

Janitze Springfield
1400 Main St.
Mark Dorsey

Little Store
285 Belmont Ave.
Mohamed Ahmed

Lularoe Danielle
91 Shawmut St.
Danielle Silva

Magic Hands Cleaning
69 Harkness Ave.
Paula Yearwood

Marie’s Haitian Specialties
189 Santa Barbara St.
Daniel Cherival

Mayes Insurance Agency
1102 State St.
Mia Mayes

Mike Langone Design
170 Hartford Terrace
Michael Joseph

Moe’s Pro Gardening
72 Melrose St.
Maurice Baker

Monster Music
54 Byers St.
Jesus Hernandez

Next Step Commercial
11 Elizabeth St.
Donald Sacco

Photography by Juhn Ciano
30 Springfield St.
Rodolfo Gutierrez

Powers Auto, LLC
420 Oak St.
Adam Powers

Princess Nails
1385 Liberty St.
Ken Ve

RJP Vending
15 Dewey St.
Ryan J. Pelletier

Santiago Tree Landscape
125 Arcadia Blvd.
Harry Santiago

Sciantics Group Business
34 Front St.
Michael Budnick

Smokin Deals
1285 Boston Road
Banaras Khan

WEST SPRINGFIELD

3D Motors
44 Exposition Terrace
Glenn Dmarco

Afterglow Auto Detailing
134 Orchard View St.
Michael Joseph

AMS Floors
158 Doty St.
David Minchuk

ATI Physical Therapy
124 Myron St.
Performance Inc.

Beautiful Beginnings
69 Van Horn St.
Eileen Stewart

BMW of West Springfield
1712 Riverdale St.
Clayton Gengras

Clean House with Jessica
31 Field St.
Jessica Dziewit

Ezee Mart
83 River St.
Javed Navqu

Hampton Inn
1011 Riverdale St.
Shawna McDaniel

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

Holla Magazine Inc., 441 West St., Amherst, MA 01002. Ingrid Claudia Askew, 33 Kellogg Ave. #2, Amherst, MA 01002. Non-profit organization organized for charitable purposes.
 
CHICOPEE

Jesse James Charity Inc.,  1735 Donahue Road, Chicopee, MA 01020. Casey Ostrander, same. Non-profit organization organized for charitable purposes.
 
Martinez Tree Services Inc., 882 Chicopee St., Apt. 4L, Chicopee, MA 01013. Jorge Luis Martinez, same. Construction.
 
EAST LONGMEADOW

Lucky Cat Inc., 50 Industrial Ave., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Reza Shafii, 27 Juniper Dr., Deerfield, MA 01342. Retail print and copy shop.
 
FEEDING HILLS

Leos Trucking Inc., 160 Valley Brook Road, Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Leonid Shevchuk, same. Operating specialty and dedicated services of transporting foods, commercial goods, vehicles, and other commodities via flatbed, container, and heavy hauling trailers on a for-hire basis
 
GREAT BARRINGTON

Jaisai Corporation, 179 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Howard Na, same. Dry cleaning service.
 
INDIAN ORCHARD
          
Iglesia Arca De Refugio Pentecostes, 58 Pasco Road, Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Luis Alberto Epulveda. 95 Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Angel Salgado, 555 South Summer St., Holyoke, MA  01104. A local church by the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit in accordance with all of the Commandments and provisions set forth in the Holy Bible, the irrevocable word of God.
 
NORTHAMPTON

Jacob & Tina Chen Inc., 261 King St., Northampton, MA 01060. Yi Qiang Chen, 80 Barrett St., Apt. 11, Northampton, MA 01060. Food service.
 
Lighthouse Darkroom Inc., 111 Franklin St., Northampton, MA 01060. Sakchai (Chris) Tamma, 44 Fort St., Apt. 1, Northampton, MA 01060. A photographic arts collective, community darkroom, photo lab, education center, and gallery.
 
McCallum Dry Goods Inc., 150 Main St., Suite 310, Northampton, MA 01060. Dror Shmerling, same. Retail Sales.
 
Mocha Inc., 76 ½ Maple St., Northampton, MA 01062. Michael Dinelle, same. Equipment leasing to businesses and individuals to help with Internet visibility.
 
PITTSFIELD

Joss Management Co., 54 Alpine Trail, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Suzanne Chung, same. Restaurant managing and consulting business.
 
SPRINGFIELD

Immaculate Cleaning Service Inc., 64 Melha Ave., Springfield, MA 01104. Shukrallah Reissour, same. Cleaning services.
 
Neuro-Ophthalmology and Eyecare P.C., 159 Sumner Ave., Apt 8, Springfield, MA 01108. Erkan Mutlukan, MD, PHD, 1964 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Optometrist.
 
Our Journey at OD Fitness, Inc., 441 White St., Springfield, MA  01108.  Yardley Mellon, 44 Eleanor Road, Springfield, MA 01108. Exercise and fitness program.
 
WEST SPRINGFIELD

LK Express, Inc., 27 Morton St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Leonid Kukharchuk, same. Specialty and dedicated services of transporting foods, commercial goods, vehicles, general freight and other commodities via flatbed, container, and heavy hauling trailers on a for-hire basis.
 
WILBRAHAM

Om Racing Mart Inc., 5 Patriot Ridge Lane, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Rakeshkumar V. Patel, same. Convenience store.

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Arsenault, Michael
PO Box 292
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/23/16

Ayala, Yolanda
30 Home St., 2nd Fl.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/17/16

Belyshev, Tatyana A.
42 Charles St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/16

Bigby, Abimalec Mary
a/k/a Bigby, Abimalec N.
a/k/a Laboy, Abimalec Mary
76 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Bishop, Melissa F.
14 Taylor St., 2nd Fl.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/16

Brown, Betty J.
a/k/a Lamper, Beth
a/k/a Lampro, Elizabeth
a/k/a Brown, Elizabeth
a/k/a Lampro, Betty
51 Toronita Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Bryant, Michael A.
Bryant, Kathleen J.
a/k/a Bolduc, Kathleen J.
P.O. Box 3496
Amherst, MA 01004
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/16

Burnham, Michael John
136 Newton St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Caracciolo, Anna
90 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Carrington, Vivien M.
PO Box 2124
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/17/16

Cebula, M. Eileen
a/k/a Cebula, Mary Eileen
942 Grayson Dr., Apt 12
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/24/16

Clough, Christopher Brian
71 South Prospect St. #3
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Cooper, Linda Mae
168 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/16

Correa, Juan
25 Federal St., Apt. 1-C
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/24/16

Cramer, Elizabeth Bronwyn
59 Wendell St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/16

Czeremcha-Medas, Bozena B.
7 Tolpa Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Daignault, Robert J.
Daignault, Amanda M.
a/k/a Turner, Amanda M.
227 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Depoutot, Joseph
113 Winton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/24/16

Gaj, David P.
25 Highland Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/17/16

Gascoigne, Bonny L.
26 Terrance St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/16

Gates, Deirde E.
28 Barna St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/23/16

Genereux, Laurie A.
11 Bellevue Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Gibson, Eve M.
a/k/a Kwatowski, Eve M.
1440 Riverdale St.
Apartment A4
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/16

Gonzalez, Debra M.
63 Ventura St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/16

Gonzalez, Iris Y.
111 Beacon Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/16

Haney, Tanya M.
a/k/a Flebotte, Tanya M.
a/k/a Gebo, Tanya M.
38 Monroe St., 2nd Fl.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/24/16

Jacobs, Christopher C.
2 Park Ave. Apt. E
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

James, Walter W.
James, Donna J.
a/k/a Hebert, Donna J.
312 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108-1852
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/16

Jeanis, Tracy B.
6 Meadow Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Kaczmarek, Ashley M.
326 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Kessler, Thomas R.
906 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Lawrence, Iris N.
99 Blueberry Hill St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/16

Ledoux, John William
P.O. Box 171
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Machanik, Judith L.
PO Box 2185
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Maldonado, Enrique
Maldonado, Julia Anna
a/k/a Kashmanian, Julia Anna
36 Saint James Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/16

Marchefka, John J.
2 C Mountain Road Estates
Gill, MA 01354
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

McCoy, Cathy L.
331 Rosewell St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/22/16

MCM Contractors Inc.
CMA, LLP
Mastaler, Michael C.
96 Athol Road
Royalston, MA 01368
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/16

Mena, Oscar Antonio
951 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/18/16

Montalban, Antonio
P.O. Box 70114
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Morse, James E.
Lorow, Susan M.
229 Buck Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Myco, Linda A.
156 Suffield St., Apt
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/16

Nesterov, Dmitriy A.
42 Merrick St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/17/16

Pion, Lawrence G.
Pion, Mona L.
38 Howard Hepburn Dr.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Plouffe, Jacob J.
419 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Porcello, Michael V.
11 Harwich Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/29/16

Reed, Beau T.
33 Anthony St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/28/16

Reed, Brandi
a/k/a Scanlon, Brandi
76 Crane Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Reed, Theresa M.
43 Howard St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/17/16

Rivard, Steven G.
Rivard, Sheila J.
16 Kaveney St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Rodriguez, Frances Michelle
a/k/a Rodriguez Quinones, Frances Michelle
27 Farnsworth St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Rousseau, Elizabeth M.
a/k/a Perez, Elizabeth Morales
55 Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Russo, Jacquelyn M.
431 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/16

Sulikowski, Edward
332 Sargent St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/16

Swinchatt, Tara N.
28 High St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/16

Tierney, Katelyn G.
115 Valley Brook Road
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/17/16

Tomasauckas, Rodney R.
645 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/21/16

Torrey, Barker T.
54 New State Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/16

Tritscher, Hubert
Tritscher, Flora
20 Russell Road, Apt. C
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/16

Urban, Valerie Eve
a/k/a Brosseau, Valerie E.
a/k/a Baker, Valerie Eve
10 Sheffield Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/24/16

Usher, Jeffrey T.
102 Dartmouth St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/16

Walker, Ronald B.
67 Jefferson St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/16

Wysocki, Gina M.
15 Overland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/24/16

Zapata, Jorge A.
165 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/16

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced that attorney Kevin Chrisanthopoulos has been appointed to the Hampden County Bar Assoc. board of directors.

Founded in the same decade as Robinson Donovan more than 150 years ago, the Hampden County Bar Assoc. represents the interests of lawyers in Hampden County. This volunteer organization of attorneys serves lawyers, the justice system, and the public by providing support, education, and networking opportunities. Its purpose is to maintain the honor of the profession, promote the administration of justice, and encourage overall cooperation and goodwill among the members of the bar.

“Kevin is not only an outstanding litigator, but a natural leader,” said attorney Jeffrey McCormick, a senior partner at the firm and past president of both the Hampden County Bar Assoc. and the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. “We are very proud that he has taken on a leadership role at the Hampden County Bar Association. Kevin’s steadfast commitment to the preservation of justice will make him a valuable addition to the board of directors. He will be carrying on a decades-old tradition at Robinson Donovan of bar-association service.”

Chrisanthopoulos exclusively practices litigation. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Western New England University and his juris doctor at Roger Williams University School of Law. He is also very active in his community, serving as an advisor to the board of directors for the Amelia Park Arena and Memorial Garden, past president of the Westfield Youth Hockey Assoc., assistant coach for the St. Mary’s High School hockey team, and a Massachusetts Bar Assoc. mock-trial judge. He is also a member of the Board of Bar Overseers disciplinary hearing committee and has been listed as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer since 2014.

Departments Picture This

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

 
PicThisTravel1
PicThisTravel2

Travel into the Past

Wistariahurst, the Holyoke-based historical museum, and Brick Coworkshop, a collaborative art and design space in the Holyoke Innovation District, teamed up this spring to produce a traveling museum experience, comprised of installation space, protective cases for artifacts and objects, and a recording area where members of the community can document and share their memories. “We have a fantastic collection of objects, documents, photographs, maps, and multi-media pieces that we want people to be aware of,” said Wistariahurst Director Kate Preissler. “Our goal here is to physically take this material out into the city and use it to engage people the same ways we would at the museum. We want to interact with people who’ve never heard of Wistariahurst, those who can’t get here, and maybe even get some folks excited about history who would never before have thought that a museum was a place that would interest them.” Wistariahurst is working with several community partners and organizations to set up a schedule for the traveling museum after its debut this spring. Pictured at right: Holyoke City Historian Penni Martorell holds a ‘dandy roll’ once used to watermark paper products. At left: examples of some museum items that may travel.

Fit to Be Healthy

PicThisFit
The annual Springfield College Fit Fest, held last week at the college’s Field House, recognizes National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day, an annual event of the National Intramural-Recreation Sports Assoc. More than 40 exhibits and activities representing Springfield College groups and area businesses addressed wellness topics including mental health, skin safety, nutrition, emergency preparedness, and healthcare. Attendees had the opportunity to receive a free chair massage, measure their body fat, participate in a functional movement screening, and learn about self-defense. Exhibitors included the Springfield North WIC Program, the Melanoma Foundation of New England, the American Cancer Society, the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, the Boston Ski and Sports Club, and more. Pictured: 2016 Fit Fest organizers Kate (McMahon) Luscombe and Kristen Brosius, with a couple of canine companions, prepare for the festivities in the Field House.

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.

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

David E. Ritchie v. Balise Ford of Wilbraham
Allegation: Unfair and deceptive trade practices in sale of vehicle: $14,589
Filed: 3/4/16

Global Tranz Enterprises Inc v. East Baking Co. Inc.
Allegation: Complaint to enforce foreign judgment: $12,152.44
Filed: 2/24/16

Petro Mirisis v. Affordable Home Repair and Scott Roth
Allegation: Failure to complete project and negligent workmanship: $50,000
Filed: 3/2/16

Santandor Bank, N.A. v. Batteries Included Inc. and Adam D. Berman
Allegation: Non-payment of promissory note: $43,034.66
Filed: 3/8/16

United Bank v. MS Motors Inc.
Allegation: Breach of promissory note: $53,000
Filed: 3/1/16

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

David G. Rocah and Sons Inc. v. Ryco Excavating Contractor Inc. and Ryan Vlaco
Allegation: Seeking damages for purchase of replacement materials and costs for delays: $135,000
Filed: 2/10/16

Jake and Ashley Blake v. Marcotte Ford Sales and Ford Motor Co.
Allegation: Breach of warranties under Magnuson-Moss Act: $27,636.88
Filed: 3/11/16

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Franklin County Community Development Corp. v. Grow, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to pay amounts due on promissory note: $25,099.33
Filed: 3/2/16

Hampton Flooring Co. Inc. v. James J. Welch and Co. Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment for labor, equipment, and materials: $24,818.60
Filed: 2/25/16

Agenda Departments

‘Wolf to Woof’

Through May 12: In today’s society, dogs enhance the lives of millions of people in countless ways, but they are also some of our oldest friends. Ancient clues like cave paintings and burials reveal that dogs and people have lived together for thousands of years. But why have humans formed such close relationships with dogs, and not cows or chickens? “Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs” is the largest and most comprehensive traveling exhibition ever created on the history, biology, and evolution of dogs. The exhibit, on view at the Springfield Science Museum through May 12, attempts to sniff out the facts on dogs and explore what makes the human/dog relationship so unique. It uses the familiarity and love of these four-legged friends to explore science and biological concepts. The exhibit has four themed sections including multi-media displays, artifacts, photo murals, and dioramas of taxidermied wild canines and sculpted modern dog breeds. Additionally, interactive, hands-on components demonstrate key exhibit concepts. For example, visitors can enter a ‘howling area’ and guess what dogs are saying, test their nose against a dog’s great sense of smell, and examine fossil and genetic evidence of how modern-day dogs are descended from wolves. “Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs” is sponsored by United Bank. MassMutual is the 2015-16 Premier Sponsor of the Springfield Museums.

Valley Gives Day

May 3: Nearly 500 community organizations will participate in the Pioneer Valley’s 24-hour e-philanthropy event, Valley Gives — the fourth year for the event, but the first time it is being held in the spring. Valley Gives is hosted by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Valley Gives will take place from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Participating community organizations span the Pioneer Valley and are eligible if their work is focused on Franklin, Hampden, or Hampshire county. Organizations include nonprofits, schools and educational institutions, places of worship/religious organizations, and local community groups that can be fiscally sponsored by nonprofit organizations. Since Valley Gives began in December 2012, $5.8 million has been raised from more than 24,000 donors in support of 559 nonprofits that are doing good work in every corner of the Pioneer Valley. With nearly 500 organizations signed on to participate this May, Valley Gives is expected to add substantially to those numbers again this year.

Kentucky Derby Day

May 7: Starting at 4:30 p.m., the Colony Club in Springfield will the setting for hats, horses and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate the 142nd annual Kentucky Derby. Presented by The Gaudreau Group, with support from Northeast IT, as well as the Colony Club and host Jeffrey Lomma, the event will raise much-needed funds for Square One’s programs and services. Tickets are $35 and include big screen monitors to enjoy the race, hearty hors d’oeuvres, and a complimentary mint julep. Prizes will be awarded for the best Derby attire. Tickets may be purchased via Eventbrite or by contacting Heather at Inspired Marketing at (413) 303-0101.

‘Creating a Western Massachusetts Renaissance’

May 11: The Springfield Regional Chamber, in partnership with the Western Mass. Economic Development Council (EDC), will present a panel discussion, “Creating a Western Massachusetts Renaissance,” from 7:15 to 9 a.m. at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield, sponsored by People’s United Bank. Panelists will discuss the Massachusetts economy and how communities across the Commonwealth can work together to create a broader and more robust economy. Panelists will also outline local economic-development initiatives at work in Western Mass. and how the region can capitalize on its existing assets and develop its growth engines, and the important role the healthcare sector plays in developing centers of excellence for future growth. Panelists will include John Traynor, executive vice president and chief investment officer at People’s United Bank; Rick Sullivan, EDC president; and Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, and the discussion will be moderated by David Hobert, the bank’s regional president. Reservations for the breakfast event are $35 and may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by e-mailing Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].

Community Enterprises 40th-Anniversary Luncheon

May 12: Richard Venne, president and CEO, invites the public to join Community Enterprises Inc. in celebrating 40 years of empowering individuals with disabilities to live, learn, work, and thrive in the community. A luncheon will be held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $50 per person, a reserved table for eight is $400, and tickets for clients and staff of Community Enterprise are $30. For more information about tickets, sponsoring the event, or placing an ad in the program, e-mail Krystle Bernier at [email protected] or call (413) 584-1460, ext. 120. Community Enterprises is a human-service organization that provides employment, education, housing supports, and day supports for people with disabilities. Headquartered in Northampton, it maintains 27 service locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Kentucky. Massachusetts offices include Gloucester, Greenfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Salem, Somerville, Springfield, Wakefield, and Worcester.

‘Maximize Your Website for Business Growth’

May 13, 20, 27: MarketingWorks, a series of educational programs for business owners, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs hosted by Stevens 470 in Westfield, announced an upcoming program called “Maximize Your Website for Business Growth.” It meets weekly for three Friday mornings, May 13, 20, and 27. Customers, prospects, and associates make an immediate assessment of a business based on the content of its website. Participants in this group program will evaluate their current website and clarify the steps needed to make it the company’s most valuable marketing channel. For program details, visit www.stevens470.com/educational-programs.html or call Tina Stevens at (413) 568-2660.

Youth Mental-health First-aid Training

May 13, 20: Funded by a three-year grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) through the White House’s “Now is The Time” initiative, Clinical & Support Options Inc. is now offering free youth mental-health first-aid trainings to the community. The free, two-day training will be held at CSO’s administrative offices in Northampton; attendance both days is required. Youth mental-health first aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis. The training is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental-health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders. Identified on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, the training helps the public better identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses. Registration is required; e-mail [email protected] for a registration form. CSO is also available to bring this training on site to local agencies and businesses that wish to have a group of people trained for free. For more information on bringing this training to your agency or business, contact Allison Garriss, director, Business Development and Projects at CSO, at (413) 773-1314, ext. 5502 or [email protected].

‘Grieving the Death of a Child’ Workshop

May 14: The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens announced a free workshop, “Grieving the Death of a Child,” from 12:30 to 4 p.m. The workshop is open to adult parents and caregivers who have experienced the death of a child. The workshop will include a screening of the video “Helping Parents Grieve: Finding New Life After the Death of a Child,” which was produced by Paraclete Press and features real stories about families who have lost a child. The video has five parts, including knowing you are not alone, loss of hopes and dreams, death of a baby, families, and honoring and remembering. Following each section there will be a break for discussion and an activity. Parents and caregivers who have experienced the death of a child are welcome, and there are no limits on how, where, or when the child died. The workshop is for appropriate for adults only and is open to the public. It will be held at the Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton. The event is free, but registration is required. For more information, contact Shelly Bathe Lenn, coordinator at the Garden, at (413) 582 5312, or [email protected].

Mental Health and Wellness Fair

May 18: In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, Clinical & Support Options Inc. (CSO) will host its 14th annual Mental Health and Wellness Fair at the Energy Park in Greenfield from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring CSO’s Green River House and Quabbin House Clubhouse members, the fair will be an afternoon of music, singing, poetry, and testimonials by members to highlight mental-health illness, wellness, and recovery. The fair started in 2002 in an effort to bring awareness and information to the community about mental-health illness and recovery. The event is an opportunity to dispel the stigma around mental-health illness, encourage people to seek support, and spotlight agencies available to assist. This year, the theme is “Mental Health Matters.” Local mental-health and wellness providers are welcome to present their materials and programming for free by registering for a table by calling the Green River House at (413) 772-2181. In addition to local community providers sharing information, there will be live music, a food vendor, and raffles, and WHAI will be on site doing a live broadcast. For questions or more information on how to be a part of this event, call the Green River House at (413) 772-2181.

‘Women Lead Change’

May 23: The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) will host “Women Lead Change,” a celebration of the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) class of 2016, at the Log Cabin in Holyoke from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will include remarks from Mass. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and a keynote address from Julie Chavez Rodriguez, special assistant to the president and senior deputy director of Public Engagement at the White House. WFWM will acknowledge the lieutenant governor as well as Rodriguez with a “She Changes the World” award presented to honor exceptional contribution to social change, creating economic and social equity for women and girls. More than 300 participants are expected to attend the annual celebration of graduates of the Women’s Fund LIPPI program. LIPPI is the only program of its kind in Massachusetts. Through 11 sessions over eight months, the program is designed to respond to the shortage of women stepping into leadership at all levels. LIPPI gives women the tools and confidence they need to become more involved as civic leaders in their communities and to impact policy on the local, state, and national levels. The event is open to the public with online registration at www.womensfund.net. The current graduating LIPPI Cohort  represents 60% women of color, and LIPPI graduates also embody a wide spectrum of backgrounds, ethnic groups, and ages with ranges from 18 to 60. They represent the entire state of Massachusetts, from the Berkshires to Boston-area counties. Together, graduates form a strong cohort of like-minded women who support each other when they run for office, meet with policy makers, form coalitions, and get-out-the-vote efforts. The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) is a public foundation that invests in local women and girls through strategic grant-making and leadership development. Since 1997 the Women’s Fund has awarded more than $2 million in grants to over 100 organizations in Western Mass.

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 has chosen the winners, and their stories were told in the April 18 issue. This is a sell-out event, and only a limited number of standing-room-only tickets remain. 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. For more information, call (413) 781-8600s, ext. 100.

Departments People on the Move
Arlene Rodriguez

Arlene Rodriguez

The Professional Women’s Chamber (PWC) announced that Arlene Rodriguez, Vice President of Academic Affairs for Springfield Technical Community College, has been named the PWC 2016 Woman of the Year. The Woman of the Year is presented to a woman in the Western Mass. area who exemplifies outstanding leadership, professional accomplishment, and service to the community. The award has been given annually since 1954 and is publically recognized as one of the most prestigious honors given to any citizen for distinguished service and selfless giving.

“We’re thrilled with this year’s honoree — a truly inspiring and accomplished woman like Dr. Rodriguez,” said PWC Board President Janet Casey. “She is a trailblazer amongst women and a staunch advocate for education, empowerment, and advancement, and her passion to help young people succeed is unparalleled.”

A celebration in her honor will be held on Tuesday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Reservations are $55 and may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by contacting Kara Cavanaugh at [email protected]. At STCC, Rodriguez oversees all faculty in the academic schools at the college, and formerly was the school’s dean of the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. She has also served as the Honors College coordinator and professor at the college, and is the first Latina vice president of academic affairs at the College.

Rodriguez grew up in New York City, spending each of her summers in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, a rural mountain town where her parents’ roots grow deep. Life in New York taught her an appreciation for an expansive, fast-paced city life with all peoples, cultures, and languages, while Aibonito showed her the importance of family, neighbors, and their stories. Born in the Bronx to parents who never finished high school, Rodriguez, the youngest of four, learned to read by reading articles aloud from the newspaper to her mother as she cooked breakfast every morning. At a young age, she developed a love for the written word, devouring everything from newspapers to magazines and classic literature. Rodriguez speaks English and Spanish, and longs to add Italian to that list. Her love of literature led her to earn three degrees in English, including her undergraduate degree from Fordham University, a master’s from Lehigh University, and her doctorate from UMass Amherst.

Rodriguez has been a journalist and a short-fiction writer. For more than 10 years, she taught English at Springfield Technical Community College. She has served as the college’s dean of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences from 2005 to 2015, when she was then promoted to vice president of Academic Affairs, the first Latina to serve in that position. She was recently honored with the Springfield Women’s Commission Unsung Heroine Award, was named among BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty in 2007, and was honored with the STCC Anthony Scibelli Endowed Chair in 2005.

She is a member of the YWCA Board of Directors, and serves on Springfield’s Rosa Parks Organizing Committee, the Springfield Ward 7 Democratic City Committee, the Springfield Armory Council, and the WGBY Board of Tribunes and Latino Advisory Board.

•••••

Florence Bank, a mutually owned savings bank serving the Pioneer Valley through nine branch locations, has promoted Kurt Shouse of to the position of Information security officer/cyber security administrator. Shouse joined Florence Bank in 2014 as a cyber security administrator. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst, as well as a master’s in cybersecurity, with a concentration in computer forensics and cyber operations. He also has earned a Global Essentials Security certification. Florence Bank President and CEO John Heaps Jr., said, “we’re pleased to promote Kurt to this expanded role with our bank. We take a very proactive stance where security and information security is concerned, and Kurt is someone whose expertise will continue to be of great value to our bank and our customers.”

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Jean Deliso

Jean Deliso

Jean Deliso, CFP, from the CT Valley General Office of New York Life, recently joined a select group of agents who are authorized to offer AARP members a range of financial solutions through AARP life insurance, annuity, and long-term-care options from New York Life. To become part of this group of agents, Deliso followed a certification process established by New York Life, which includes extensive training on products and regulations, education on evaluating client needs, state licensing, and a commitment to service. AARP Services, AARP’s for-profit subsidiary, provides quality control over the certification process and training. Deliso is president and owner of Deliso Financial and Insurance Services, a firm focusing on comprehensive planning designed to help position clients for a solid financial future. Her extensive experience in several areas has helped lead to a reputation for certain specializations, such as assisting people in planning for their financial future, particularly in preparation for retirement as well as in times of transition such as divorce or widowhood. After graduating from Bentley University, Deliso spent seven years in the public accounting profession before transitioning to financial services, in which she has been working for more than 20 years. New York Life has been offering AARP-branded products to AARP members since 1994. Since then, the relationship has grown to include a portfolio of annuity products (added in 2006) and, most recently, long-term care options in 2016.

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David Bohl

David Bohl

Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAi) recently announced that David Bohl has been promoted to digital marketing analyst. GCAi also announced that Bohl is now the agency’s third Google AdWords qualified planner. Bohl started his career at GCAi in 2014 as a digital marketing intern. When he was hired as digital marketing assistant by GCAi in 2015, he began to develop e-mail marketing campaigns. Mr. Bohl now manages content marketing, e-mail marketing, and social-media marketing campaigns for GCAi and clients in entertainment, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and hospitality.

He also presented, along with Google, Carbonite, Corporate Ink, and Brandwatch, on e-mail marketing at the recent Digital Marketing Innovation Summit in Hyannis. As a Google AdWords qualified planner, Bohl is required to pass tests in the areas of AdWords fundamentals, search advertising, display advertising, and video advertising on a recurring basis. GCAi is the only agency in the region to hold the Google Partner status. Bohl is a magna cum laude graduate of Western New England University in Springfield, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in public relations. He is a member of the Advertising Club of Western Mass. and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, and is an associate member of the Public Relations Society of America.

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van Schouwen Associates, LLC (vSA) announced the addition of Todd Lucht as art director and web developer for its business-to-business marketing team. Lucht adds extensive graphic and interactive design and creative software engineering to vSA. As the head of creative for Sounds True, a Colorado-based multi-media publisher, Lucht most recently oversaw that firm’s art direction and brand management. Previously, he supervised the art department for mortgage broker Urban Lending Group and worked with Florida-based ad agency Provident Creative. “Todd’s interactive development and design skills will enhance our programs for our many business-to-business clients,” said Michelle van Schouwen, vSA president. “His experience producing digital assets will appeal to our clients as B2B and launch marketing rapidly continue to expand.” Lucht has a master’s degree in technology management from the University of Denver and a bachelor’s degree from International Fine Arts College. He has developed asset-management websites and applications, motion graphics, and online catalogs. In addition to his work in the creative and marketing industry, Lucht played professional hockey in Russia for four years.

Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

• May 11: After 5, 5-7 p.m., Amherst Golf Club, 365 South Pleasant St., Amherst. The club will be running some fun-filled activities that evening, including a 50/50 putting contest, and attendees will receive a voucher for a free round of golf. Established in 1900, the semi-private Amherst Golf Club is owned by Amherst College and run independently by an incorporated community group of dedicated golfers. The 9-hole layout, which tests all skill levels, was designed by Walter Hatch, an assistant of the famed Donald Ross, and later renovated by Geoffrey Cornish. Cost: $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

• May 18: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members.

• May 20: Golf Tournament at Chicopee Country Club, 10 a.m. start. Cost: $125 per golfer, $600 corporate green sponsorship includes a foursome and exclusive green sponsorship.

• May 21: New York City bus trip. A day on your own in the city. Bus leaves at 7 a.m. and returns at 9:30 p.m. Cost: $55 per person.

• May 25: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Loomis House, 298 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members pre-registered, $15 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

• May 7: Downtown Cleanup Day, 8 a.m. to noon. General cleanup of downtown, the Rail Trail, Cottage Street municipal parking lot, the banks of the Nashawannuck Pond, and more. Volunteers are needed. No experience is necessary. Register at (413) 527-9414.

• May 12: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., Amy’s Place. To register, call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• May 19: Medallion Speaker Forum, noon to 1:30 p.m. “The Affordable Care Act: The Legal Twists & Turns.” Attorney Eilin Gaynor of Health New England helps employers, business owners, and entrepreneurs navigate the legalities of this important piece of legislation. Complete Payroll Services shares what it means from an accounting perspective. Space is limited for this member exclusive opportunity. Cost: $20, which includes a boxed lunch. For more information, call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holyokechamber.com

(413) 534-3376

• May 16: Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament celebrating the chamber’s 125th anniversary, Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and lunch at 10:30 a.m., tee off at noon (scramble format), dinner following game with assorted food stations. Cost: $125 per player includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, cart, and dinner. Dinner only: $25. Awards, raffles, and cash prizes follow dinner. Corporate sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Loomis Communities, Marcotte Ford, Mountain View Landscapes, Northeast IT Systems Inc., Holyoke Medical Center, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. For reservations or sponsorships, call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com.

• May 18: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Quality Life Adult Day Services, 18 Elm St., Holyoke (behind the South Street Shopping Center). Join friends and colleagues for this fun and casual evening of networking. Tours of the new facility will be available. Cost: $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members and walk-ins.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) (413) 584-1900

• May 11: Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors at Emerson Way. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Sponsored by Greenfield Savings Bank, Lia Honda, Thornes Marketplace & Emerson Way, and Montessori School of Northampton.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

• May 2: Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Mayor Brian Sullivan, the Arbors Assisted Living Residential Communities, 40 Court St., Westfield. Event is free and open to the public. To register or for more information, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• May 9: Workshop: “What to Save and What to Shred?” at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Registration and networking at 8:30 a.m., followed by workshop from 9 to 10 a.m. Attorney Karina Schrengohst of Royal, P.C. will present an informational seminar providing an overview of state and federal record-keeping requirements. The discussion will cover which records must be saved, where records must be kept, and how long records must be retained pursuant to a variety of employment laws. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• May 11: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., Bella Medspa, 3 Court St., Westfield. Don’t miss out on this 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.

• May 23: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce 55th annual Golf Tournament, East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield. Registration and lunch, 10 a.m.; shotgun start, 11 a.m.; cocktail hour, 4 p.m.; dinner, 5 p.m. Cost: $500 for a foursome with dinner, or register a single player for $125. Title sponsor: Alternative Health Inc. Premium gift sponsor: Westfield Gas and Electric. Ball sponsor: Westfield Gas and Electric. Cart sponsor: Westfield Bank. Goody-bag sponsor: Liptak Emergency Water Removal. Register by calling the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mailing [email protected]. Consider donating a raffle prize or a gift for the wine and spirit table raffle.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• May 4: Springfield Regional Chamber Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Natural History, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield. “The Creative Economy” panel discussion with Helena Fruscio, deputy assistant secretary of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology; and Jeffrey Bianchine, Holyoke Creative Economy coordinator. Sponsored by United Personnel and the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. Cost: $20 for members in advance ($25 at the door), $30 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• May 11: Springfield Regional Chamber Economic Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., MassMutual Center, 1277 State St., Springfield. “Creating a Western Massachusetts Renaissance” discussion with John Traynor, People’s United Bank; Rick Sullivan, Western Mass. Economic Development Council; and Dr. Mark Keroack, Baystate Health, moderated by David Hobert, People’s United Bank. Panelists will discuss the Massachusetts economy, local economic-development initiatives, how the region can capitalize on its existing assets, the role of the healthcare sector, and more. Sponsored by People’s United Bank. Cost: $35. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• May 18: Springfield Regional Chamber Kick Off to Summer After 5, 5-7 p.m., Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. Informal, after-hours networking. Sponsored by Wolf & Company, P.C. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• May 24: Springfield Regional Chamber Pastries, Politics & Policy, 9-10 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring state Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

• May 4: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Park Square Realty 470 Westfield St., West Springfield. 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. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 at the door for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

• May 10: Coffee with Mayor Reichelt, 8-9:30 a.m., West Springfield Senior Center, 128 Park St. Join us for a cup of coffee and a town update from Mayor Will Reichelt. Q&A will immediately follow. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

• May 19: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., Cal’s Wood Fired Grill, 1068 Riverdale St., West Springfield. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while networking with fellow chamber members. You must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. The only cost to attend is the cost of your lunch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately the day of the event. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

Company Notebook Departments

United Financial Announces Q1 Earnings, Dividend

GLASTONBURY, Conn. — United Financial Bancorp Inc., the holding company for United Bank, announced results for the quarter ended March 31.
The company had net income of $11.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, compared to net income for the linked quarter of $9.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share. Operating net income (non-GAAP) for the first quarter of 2016 was $10.9 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to $11.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share for the linked quarter. Operating net income is adjusted for purchase accounting impacts and net gain on sale of securities.
Additionally, in the first quarter of 2016, operating income was also adjusted for Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston pre-payment penalties. The company reported net income of $13.0 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.
“In the first quarter of 2016, linked quarter annualized growth included a 13% increase in demand deposits, 9% growth in total deposits, and a seven-basis-point expansion in the net interest margin. Non-interest expense to average assets declined to 2.03% on an operating basis, and asset quality remained excellent. Tangible book value increased by 5% compared to the linked quarter (annualized) as we announced our 40th consecutive dividend payment,” said William Crawford IV, CEO of the company and the bank. “Given the interest-rate environment, we believe execution on the aforementioned key variables gives us the best opportunity to continue building long-term shareholder value.
“While volatile interest rates reduced mortgage-banking income and headline company profitability in the first quarter of 2016, management is focused on growing revenue centered in net interest income and core fee income,” he went on. “I remain bullish on United Financial Bancorp Inc.’s outlook for 2016 earnings and tangible book value growth.”
The report’s financial highlights include return on average assets of 0.76%, return on average equity of 7.59%, a net interest margin increase to 3.09% from 3.02% in the linked quarter, and operating non-interest expense/average assets of 2.03% for the quarter (annualized) balance sheet. Total assets at March 31, 2016 increased by $90.7 million to $6.3 billion from $6.2 billion at Dec. 31, 2015.
At March 31, 2016, total loans were $4.6 billion, representing an increase of $34.9 million from the linked quarter. Despite the typical softness experienced in the first quarter in general, total commercial loans increased by $38.5 million, or 6% annualized. Residential mortgages declined during the first quarter of 2016 by $3.6 million, reflecting the company’s strategy to reduce on-balance sheet exposure to residential mortgage loans.

Balise Kia Dealership Opens in West Springfield

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The new Balise Kia in West Springfield, located on Riverdale Street next to Balise Mazda, opened on April 14. The completely renovated, 15,000-square-foot dealership replaces the Balise-owned Mighty Auto Parts warehouse, which has been relocated to a nearby facility. The new Kia building features a customer-friendly showroom and comfortable waiting area with free WiFi. The dealership also offers a covered service drive-up for customer convenience. Bill Peffer, president and COO of Balise Motor Sales, said he’s excited to welcome a rapidly growing brand to the Balise family. “The addition of Kia, one of the fastest-growing brands in the United States, aligns perfectly with the Balise philosophy of putting the customer first,” he said. “With numerous accolades in the areas of quality, safety, and sustainability, we’re thrilled to continue serving Kia customers throughout Western Massachusetts with a high-quality product.” Construction and renovation of the facility was completed by Associated Builders of South Hadley. This is the first Kia dealership for the Balise group and will be the only Kia Motors America franchise in the Springfield Metro area.

W.D. Cowls, Beacon Communities to Partner on Third Phase of Mill District

NORTH AMHERST — W.D. Cowls Inc. announced the start of phase three of its Mill District development, with a preliminarily agreement with Beacon Communities, a multi-family housing development, management, and investment company based in Boston.
Mollye Lockwood, W.D. Cowls’ vice president for Real Estate and Community Development, initiated a relationship with Beacon Communities for what she expects will be the next phase of the Mill District.
Beacon envisions a development that will feature mixed-income rental housing and first-floor commercial/retail space for lease, all to be located on the south side of Cowls Road, across the street from the Trolley Barn, between Atkins Farms and Cowls Building Supply. The project is still in its initial stages of site due diligence, community engagement, and concept brainstorming.
With the redevelopment of the Mill District, Cowls seeks to bring back community in this less-personally connected Internet age. “So many people today don’t belong to sporting clubs, fraternal organizations, or churches like they used to. Shopping malls and huge grocery emporiums on highways have taken away community interactions that were once naturally organic,” said Lockwood. “The Mill District seeks to bring back community by creating a sense of place through a mixed-use destination, where people live, dine, recreate, buy things better bought at a store rather than on the Internet, and enjoy services such as salons and health clubs.”
For several years, Cowls has been looking for the opportunity to create a mixed-income rental community in the Mill District and has heard from its neighbors and the Amherst community that this much-needed housing would be welcomed.
“I’ve worked with the impressive principals of Beacon Communities in the past,” Lockwood said, “and the town of Amherst has admired this Massachusetts company for stepping forward to protect the town’s affordable-housing inventory by purchasing and soundly managing Rolling Green Apartments.
“We have heard and responded to the wishes of our neighbors,” she added. “Our goal is to create a high-quality community that serves a diverse income range and offers housing options that will appeal to young professionals, young families, and those who are downsizing their homes.”
While Beacon will own and professionally manage all apartments, as it does with all of its properties, the first-floor commercial/retail space will be controlled by Cowls in order to provide and ensure a diverse community gathering space with a balanced mix of restaurants, shops, and services.

Briefcase Departments

Leadership Pioneer Valley Seeks Class of 2017

SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) is now accepting applications for enrollment in its class of 2017. The regional leadership-development program begins in September.
LPV utilizes a 10-month, topically relevant, ever-changing curriculum designed to challenge and engage emerging leaders from all sectors of the community within the Pioneer Valley region. The curriculum consists of both classroom and hands-on, experiential learning through retreats, day-long seminars, field experiences, and team projects. To date, more than 180 individuals representing more than 82 companies, organizations, and municipalities have participated.
LPV is seeking applicants from nonprofits, businesses, and government who are eager to increase their leadership skills and take action to better the region. Applicants are considered in a competitive application process that prioritizes diversity by employment sector, geography, race, gender, and sexual orientation. Emerging leaders, mid-career professionals with leadership potential, and those looking to better the Pioneer Valley should consider applying.
In its five years running, the program has filled a critical need for a leadership program that builds a network of emerging leaders to address the challenges and opportunities of the region. Fifty-three percent of alumni have a new leadership role at work, 64% have joined a new board of directors, and 99% made new, meaningful connections.
The deadline for LPV class of 2017 applications is July 1. Applications and further information can be found at www.leadershippv.org.

State Unveils Low-cost Bachelor’s Degree Plan

LOWELL — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito joined public higher-education leaders Thursday to announce the ‘Commonwealth Commitment,’ an innovative college affordability and completion plan to help more students achieve the dream of a college degree.
The Commonwealth Commitment, the first agreement of its kind in the nation, was signed by UMass President Marty Meehan, Worcester State University President Barry Maloney, and Middlesex Community College President James Mabry, representing the three segments of the public higher-education system, at a ceremony at Middlesex Community College. The plan commits every public campus to providing 10% rebates at the end of each successfully completed semester to qualifying undergraduate students, in addition to the standard MassTransfer tuition waiver received upon entering a four-year institution from a community college. Students who meet the program requirements will, depending on the transfer pathway they choose, be able to realize an average savings of $5,090 off the cost of a baccalaureate degree. Also, as part of the Commonwealth Commitment’s goal to increase cost savings and predictability, tuition and mandatory fees will be frozen for program participants as of the date they enter the program.
Students will begin their studies at one of the state’s 15 community colleges, enrolling in one of 24 Commonwealth Commitment/Mass Transfer Pathways programs that will roll out in fall 2016 (14 programs) and fall 2017 (10 additional programs). They must attend full-time, and must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. After earning an associate’s degree in two and a half years or less, students will transfer to a state university or UMass campus to earn a baccalaureate degree.
“I am pleased that our higher-education leaders have worked collaboratively to create this program to decrease the cost of a college degree and accelerate on-time completion,” Baker. “Even though public higher education in Massachusetts is already a great value, the Commonwealth Commitment will make it even easier for students to go to school full-time and to enter the workforce faster and with less debt.”

Springfield Among Cities Gaining Jobs

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates dropped in 12 labor market areas, remained the same in nine areas, and increased in three areas in the state during the month of March, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. The rates were down in all areas compared to March 2015.
A total of 14 areas added jobs over the month, with the largest gains in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham, and Barnstable areas. The Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford area recorded the only loss over the month. From March 2015 to March 2016, 14 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newport-Amesbury, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, and Barnstable areas. The Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead area jobs level remained unchanged.

Hydropower Project Upgrades Announced

WEST SPRINGFIELD — State energy officials announced more than $1 million in funding to support upgrades to hydroelectric facilities in three communities. Facilities receiving grant funding are Mini-Watt Hydroelectric in Orange, Pioneer Hydro Electric in Ware, and A&D Hydro Inc. in West Springfield. The initiatives, announced during Earth Week, are aimed at increasing Massachusetts’ clean-energy generation.
“In filing legislation for the procurement of cost-effective, low-carbon hydropower, our administration recognizes the importance of improving renewable-energy facilities to help the Commonwealth continue to lead the way on clean energy, energy efficiency, and the adoption of innovative technologies,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “These grants to make hydropower facilities more efficient and increase hydropower production will help us meet our greenhouse-gas emissions goals and continue to increase the role of renewables in our energy portfolio.”
The upgrades, which are being funded through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Hydropower Program, will allow the facilities to annually produce an average of 1.2 million more kilowatt hours of renewable electricity.
“Upgrading local hydroelectric facilities further diversifies the Commonwealth’s energy portfolio, while helping to reach our ambitious greenhouse-gas emissions-reduction goals,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “Hydropower is a low-cost, clean resource that allows us to provide reliable electricity to Massachusetts residents while protecting the environment.”