Month: June 2016

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Brian Risler, Farmington Bank’s assistant vice president and mortgage sales manager for the Western Mass. region, has been named 2016 Affiliate of the Year by the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley (RAPV).

The announcement was made during the association’s recent annual awards banquet on June 8. The affiliate of the year is the highest form of recognition given by the RAPV to an affiliate member who has shown outstanding service and devotion to the organization during the past 17 months in the areas of affiliate-related association activity, community service and business activity.

Risler has served in many capacities for the RAPV, including co-chair of its Education Fair & Trade Show, which was the association’s largest and most heavily attended event of the year. Risler also served on the Government Affairs Committee of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR), advocating for private property rights and promoting MAR’s legislative agenda and positions on key issues.

As affiliate of the year, Risler was also recognized for his involvement in the community. For instance, he has been a guest speaker for HAP Housing, the largest nonprofit developer of affordable housing in Western Massachusetts, educating first-time homebuyers on the fundamentals of residential financing and how best to advocate for themselves as consumers.

At Farmington Bank, Risler has more than 16 years of experience in residential mortgage banking in Massachusetts. Risler received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Finance from Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

Sarno Issues Sanctions Against Show Bar

SPRINGFIELD — Following a hearing held June 28, and upon the recommendation of Licensing Director Attorney Alesia Days, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, who holds statutory authority over entertainment licenses, has issued severe sanctions against Show Bar.

The establishment received a suspension for a period of 60 days, with 15 days to serve from July 1-15, 2016. The balance of 45 days will be held in abeyance for one year. If there are additional violations committed by Show Bar during the period of abeyance, the 45 days would be served in addition to any penalty imposed as a result of any new violation.

In addition to the suspension, Sarno has ordered that the licensee is required to submit an application for approval for a new manager of record and security plan to the License Commission prior to reopening on July 16. Upon Show Bar reopening on July 16, Sarno further imposed a rollback of hours to closure at 1 a.m., as opposed to its regular closing time of 2 a.m., for a period of 30 days.

The adult entertainment club, located at 240 Chestnut Street in Springfield, was found in violation of various charges resulting from an assault that occurred on March 18. Show Bar is also facing charges relating to a pending complaint involving the club’s hiring of an underage dancer. That matter is being reviewed by state and local Law Enforcement agencies and a hearing will be held once such a review is complete.

The License Commission will hold a special hearing regarding Show Bar today (June 30) at 4:30 p.m. in Room 220 at City Hall.

Berkshire Hills to Acquire First Choice Bank

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. and First Choice Bank announced Wednesday that they have signed a definitive merger agreement under which First Choice Bank will merge into Berkshire Bank and its subsidiary, First Choice Loan Services Inc., will become a subsidiary of Berkshire Bank in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $111.7 million.

Berkshire’s total assets will increase to $8.9 billion including the $1.1 billion in acquired First Choice assets. This market-expanding merger provides entry into attractive markets with strong demographics, and includes six branches near Princeton, N.J., and two in the greater Philadelphia, Pa. area. First Choice reported $436 million in net loans (excluding loans held for sale) and $906 million in deposits as of March 31, 2016.

First Choice Bank is the second largest community bank by deposit market share in Mercer County, New Jersey, an area with per capita income well above national and regional averages. First Choice Loan Services is a leading residential retail and consumer direct mortgage originator serving borrowers across the United States. Total mortgage production in 2015 was $2.5 billion.

Berkshire will have a pro forma market cap of approximately $905 million and 101 branches, serving customers and communities across the Northeast.

“We’re pleased to welcome First Choice customers and employees to America’s Most Exciting Bank^®,” said Michael P. Daly, Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire. “This partnership builds on Berkshire’s commitment to create a strong regional platform for serving our customers, while diversifying our revenue streams, improving profitability and increasing shareholder value. The First Choice franchise builds on markets where we presently manage commercial relationships, and adds a well-positioned deposit base, a best in class home lending operation and enthusiastic new teams that complement our current culture. After integration, the transaction is expected to be accretive to Berkshire’s earnings per share, return on equity and return on assets, liquidity and capital. We have a strong track record of execution and our collective teams are positioned to complete this integration flawlessly.”

Martin Tuchman, First Choice’s Chairman of the Board, commented, “We’re pleased to announce this combination with Berkshire and believe our customers, community and employees will benefit greatly from this transaction. We believe Berkshire fits both the culture of our bank and our expanding mortgage operation. Their product suite and commitment to service will enable the combined company to better compete in this growing marketplace. With Berkshire’s attractive stock, I’m pleased to be a shareholder going forward, and our bank employees and mortgage lending group look forward to joining the Berkshire team.”

Academy of Music Theatre Adds New Audio System

NORTHAMPTON — The Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton recently acquired a new state-of-the-art audio system, designed and installed by Jason Raboin.

The hall had become increasingly busy with a variety of programming, from rock concerts to theatrical productions, literary arts to dance, youth programs to indie music, which would all benefit from an enhanced system, said a spokesperson for the Academy.

Two challenges were identified for the project: First, the speakers needed to provide consistent coverage throughout the entire theater without interfering with sightlines to the stage opening, or distracting from the architectural beauty of the 125-year old opera house; and secondly, the limited rigging options within the historic performing arts center demanded compact, lightweight loudspeakers as part of a visually unobtrusive sound system.

The installation centered around four Fulcrum Acoustic CX1595 speakers powered by Ashly nXp amplifiers. The speaker’s lightweight, compact, visually unobtrusive design provides consistent coverage throughout the entire theater without interfering with sightlines to the stage opening, or distracting from the architectural beauty of the 125-year old opera house.

Two compact, portable Fulcrum Acoustic Sub215 subwoofers provided concert-level low frequency for the historic theater while minimizing visual intrusion.

As a touring sound engineer (Joan Baez, Modest Mouse, Lake Street Dive), Raboin who had worked on a variety of audio systems in the field, said “I have not heard anything that sounds better than Fulcrum Acoustics speakers. When you combine their fidelity with their lightweight and compact size, they really were the only choice for this installation. It was hard to believe that such a compact system would be able to cover the venue at the desired SPL, but the system exceeded our expectations and the theater’s design goals.”

At mix position, a Yamaha Ql1 mixing console was chosen for its compact footprint as well as its ability to handle the wide variety of programming in the theater.

Gandhi Named COO of Baystate Medical Center

SPRINGFIELD — Tejas Gandhi, the former chief administrative officer at Navicent Health in Macon, Ga. — where he led the organization through an era of positive change and restructuring, contributing greatly to their financial recovery — has been named chief operating officer at Baystate Medical Center.

His appointment became effective June 13.

Gandhi fills a position left vacant by Nancy Shendell-Falik, RN, MA, who for two years served in the dual position at Baystate Health as chief operating officer and senior vice president/chief nursing officer for Baystate Medical Center, prior to being named president of Baystate Medical Center and senior vice president of Hospital Operations for Baystate Health in October 2015.

“Dr. Gandhi is a true change agent, whose culture building skills and talents in the area of continuous process improvements will be an asset in leading Baystate Medical Center and supporting Baystate 2020, our health system’s strategic plan,” said Shendell-Falik. “His adherence to core values and accountability in all actions, as well as his advocacy of transparency, especially in his own interactions, will make him a key member of the Baystate Health family,”

Gandhi, with 15 years of professional experience in health care administration, comes to his new position from a hospital similar to Baystate Medical Center — a 637-bed teaching hospital affiliated with Mercer University School of Medicine, Level I Trauma Center, and three-time Magnet Designated hospital for nursing excellence nationwide.

Prior to joining Navicent Health in 2013, Gandhi was employed by Virtua Health in Marlton, N.J., the largest comprehensive health care system in Southern New Jersey, where he helped change the overall culture to one of continuous process improvement, resulting in cost savings and key improvements for the organization. During his 10 years there, Gandhi oversaw the process-driven planning process for a new $618 million replacement hospital and regional ambulatory center, also leading successful initiatives to improve clinical safety and quality outcomes, as well as patient satisfaction and employee engagement.

Gandhi attended the University of Bombay, India, where he received his bachelor of science degree in Chemical Engineering. He later received a master of science in Industrial Engineering from State University of New York at Binghamton and a doctorate in Health Administration and Leadership from Medical University of South Carolina.

Pioneer Valley Home Sales Rise

SPRINGFIELD — The REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley reported Tuesday that single-family home sales in May were up 19.4% compared to the same time last year. The median price was up 2.0% to $205,000.

County reports vary. In Franklin County, sales were up 90.3% and prices up 5.6%; in Hampden County, sales were up 16.8% and prices up 1.5%; in Hampshire County, sales were up 10.6% and prices down 3.7%.

Ashe Explores Starting Foundation

Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr., honored by BusinessWest as one of its Difference Makers for 2016, issued a statement to the press Tuesday announcing that he was exploring the possibility of staring a foundation to continue his life’s work.

“Like most anyone else facing retirement, I find myself contemplating what I want to do with the rest of my life,” he said. “I know that despite being in my mid-70s, I still have great intensity and energy. The fire still burns in me for my life’s work of 42 years — assuring that offenders have the best possible likelihood of re-entering the community as law-abiding, productive, positive citizens, ‘giving to,’ rather than ‘taking from’ the lives of others. That life’s work would be hard for me to completely walk away from when I still feel vital and useful and passionate about its value to others.

“One of the scenarios that I’ve contemplated,” he continued, “is to continue that life’s calling in a new framework is to create a local foundation, with myself as its unpaid chief administrator, to enhance our community’s effort to successfully re-enter offenders.”

Ashe said he’s far from having an exact blueprint regarding specific ways that such a non-profit might help, and he’s not yet completely certain that starting and heading-up such a philanthropic foundation is where he can be of best service in retirement. But he did say it’s an idea worth exploring.

“Although I am not far enough along to have detailed the specifics of the structures of such a possible foundation, I would want any such foundation to be marked by simplicity and integrity.,” he explained. “One model that I would use is the local charity Griffin’s Friends, which was founded to bring moments of joy to courageous kids at Baystate Medical Center, and which minimizes administrative costs and maximizes direct service to those it seeks to help.”

Ashe said one reason he’s thinking aloud and publicly about this is to put the word out to others who might be likewise interested in founding such a new non-profit to let him know of their interest in helping to build what could be “an inspired addition to the edifice that we’ve labored so tirelessly to build during these last 42 years – a community corrections system driven by a vision of social justice, integrity and public safety.”

Union Station Passenger Rail Platform Delayed

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA) Director Christopher Moskal announced Tuesday that required design modifications will delay the opening of a new boarding platform at Springfield Union Station.

He said progress at the Union Station Regional Intermodal Transportation Center project continues to advance and he “expects that the Union Station terminal project itself will open on schedule in January 2017, albeit without the new boarding platform in operation.” He said that “includes the terminal building, the bus terminal, the parking garage and the passenger tunnel up to the current Amtrak lobby on Lyman Street.”

As a separate component of the overall project, MassDOT is committed to delivering a new boarding platform for Amtrak trains. This high-level platform, which will provide “level-entry boarding” for Amtrak passengers, was scheduled to be in operation when Union Station opened.

However, in reviewing the new platform’s design, Amtrak indicated that a waiver of two Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) design requirements would be needed. This waiver relating to the width of the new platform was necessitated by the unique configuration of the existing Union Station tracks. The SRA submitted the waiver request on March 10, 2016.

After discussions between FRA and MassDOT, FRA issued a letter on May 23, 2016, requiring full compliance with its design regulations. This FRA decision requires major modifications to the initial design of both the platform and the underground passenger tunnel. Accordingly, the project’s architect has been directed to prepare necessary changes to the project’s plans and specifications. The project team is currently working to finalize a revised schedule and budget.

Moskal indicated that MassDOT remains committed to funding related design and construction costs.

In the interim, he indicated that Amtrak passengers will access trains from the new terminal by passing through the renovated portion of the tunnel into the current Amtrak lobby and using the existing boarding platform on the Lyman Street side as they do today.

After the new boarding platform is completed, the Lyman Street end of the tunnel — the current Amtrak lobby — will be renovated and will reopen. This will result in a fully renovated passenger tunnel between the terminal and Lyman Street.

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

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

AMHERST

Slobody Development Corporation
7 Pomeroy Lane
$4,500 — Interior renovations in Unit 4

Slobody Development Corporation
85 University Dr.
$199,850 — Erect a 1,740-square-foot commercial-use building with drive-thru

Stavros Center for Independent Living
210 Old Farm Road
$25,000 — Replace two rooftop air conditioning units

Woodgreen Amherst, LP
6 University Dr.
$5,000 — Store-front work and interior renovations

NORTHAMPTON

Coolidge Northampton, LLC
243 King St.
$15,000 — Remove and construct partition walls for training room

JF Kennedy School
100 Bridge St.
$370,500 — 36’ x 60’ modular building for recreation office

Microcal, LLC
22 Industrial Dr.
$14,000 — Interior renovations

The Bible Baptist Church
722 Florence Rd.
$4,200 — Strip and reshingle roof

Northampton Revolver Club
519 Ryan Road
$9,500 — Construct an 80’ x 40’ shooting structure

PALMER

Beacon Properties
1 Beacon Dr.
$5,550,000 — Kitchen and bath updates on 29 units

Beaumont Solar Company
100 Ware St.
$1,058,000 — Ground solar array

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
1 College St.
$3,200,000 — Renovations and alterations

US Industrial Gaylord, LP
7-27 Gaylord St.
$170,000 — Interior renovations

SPRINGFIELD

855 Liberty Springfield, LLC
279 Main St.
$10,000 — Install new roof

Albany Road-Springfield Plaza, LLC
1365 Liberty St.
$295,000 — Fit out for new auto parts store

Five Town Station
380 Cooley St.
$600,000 — Interior and exterior remodel

Gardening the Community Inc.
200 Walnut St.
$3,000 — Construction of greenhouse

Greater Springfield Service
66 Industry Ave.
$230,000 — Renovations of 1,500 square feet to create a new main entrance, reception area, and general office space

Loomis Senior Living Inc.
807 Wilbraham Road
$408,500 — Alterations and buildout of cottages

Norse Properties, LLC
428 Springfield St.
$3,000 — Demo existing interior finishes in preparation for a remodel

Wells Fargo Bank
4 Stratford Terrace
$20,000 — Replace windows

WESTFIELD

Advanced Associates
8 Turnpike Industrial Park Road
$1,410,000 — Construct steel addition to existing factory

J&F Management, LLP
124 Elm St.
$11,000 — Construct unisex handicap bathroom

Peabody-Westfield, LLC
126 Union St.
$46,000 — Bathroom renovations

Werner Gossels
1029 North Road
$30,000 — Interior renovations

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bob Tariff
136-150 Doty Circle
$67,000 — Install new roof

DDR
935 Riverdale St.
$22,000 — Renovate front facade on four stores

McDonald’s
429 Memorial Ave.
$284,000 — Add addition to drive-up booth

Montauk Morning, LLC
2097 Riverdale St.
$7,000 — Replace windows on front of building

Bill Would Bring Changes in Non-compete Agreements

Employment Sections

For Good Measure

By Jeffrey J. Trapani, Esq.

Jeffery Trapani

Earlier this month, the Commonwealth’s House of Representatives began considering H.4323, titled “An Act Relative to the Judicial Enforcement of Non-competition Agreements,” the content of which reflects a compromise between parties advocating for and against the existence of such agreements.

The bill does not bar non-competition agreements, but places certain limitations on them. H.4323 provides that these agreements should be in writing and, regardless of whether the agreement commences before employment or during, that it inform the employee that he or she has 10 days to seek counsel. It limits such agreements to protecting trade secrets, confidential information, and goodwill.

The bill also limits the restrictive period to one year, unless the employee engages in certain forms of misconduct, in which case the restrictive period can increase to two years. The bill also requires that the restrictive area be reasonable in geographic reach and scope, and ties the reasonableness of these restrictions to a two-year look-back period.

During the one-year restrictive period, the former employee is not to be considered a former employee. The bill, however, provides a former employee with ‘garden leave,’ which requires the employer to pay 50% of the employee’s annualized base salary over the one-year restrictive period in the usual course and subject to the protections afforded under wage and hour laws (including treble damages if not paid properly).

The bill also makes non-competition agreements unenforceable against non-exempt employees as defined under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), certain students, employees who have been laid off or terminated without cause, or employees age 18 and younger. Also, unlike the present practice in the courts, which allows a judge to reform or modify a non-competition agreement so as to make it enforceable, H.4323 invalidates any non-competition agreement that does not strictly conform with the provisions of the bill. Finally, the bill, as presently drafted, would go into effect July 1, 2016.

H.4323 also addresses employers’ concerns about protecting their business information by adopting the Uniform Trade Secret Act (UTSA). The adoption of the UTSA brings Massachusetts in line with 47 other states, and by agreeing to adopt the act, legislators appear to be acknowledging that much of the concern about employee movement is inextricably linked to an employer’s interest in protecting its business information from competitors.

Thorny Issues

As of this writing, the House has not yet debated H.4323, and some of its provisions will be the focus of intense debate. First on this list is the garden-leave provision, which was first introduced to the conversation when House Speaker Robert DeLeo signaled his support in March 2016 for passing legislation restricting non-competition agreements. While DeLeo included it when describing the potential legislation, the exact terms of the provision were not known until recently.

Continuing with the plant theme, the House will also need to address the ‘tree line’ for employees who may be subject to non-competition agreements. The momentum for passing a bill was due, in part, to testimony from employees working in low-paying and seasonal jobs, such as camp counselors and fast-food workers, who were forced to sign non-competition agreements. In addition to precluding younger employees and students from signing one of these agreements, H.4323 eliminates non-competition agreements for employees classified as non-exempt under the FLSA.

Until recently, employees earning less than $23,660 could not be considered exempt from the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the FLSA. Recently, however, the federal government revised the regulations under the FLSA and doubled the salary amount to $47,476. This means employees earning less than that amount cannot be considered exempt from the minimum-wage and overtime provisions of the FLSA. These regulations were also revised to automatically increase this threshold every three years. These changes under the FLSA will likely require that the House debate whether to continue to tie the prohibition on noncompetition agreements to the FLSA, to identify an independent threshold, or to exclude certain jobs.

Critics of H.4323 will also likely ask the House to revise the provision that requires courts to invalidate a non-competition agreement where the agreement includes, but does not strictly conform with, the law. This is a clear change from current precedent that could result in employers having no protections because of a non-material, technical error in the written agreement.

Broad Approach

When DeLeo signaled his support for passing legislation that would restrict non-competition agreements in Massachusetts earlier this year, employers and employees alike were put on notice that the end of a years-long debate was imminent. H.4323 takes a broad approach to addressing employers’ concerns about protecting their business information by adopting the UTSA and by retaining what many employers consider to be an effective way to prevent an employee from taking a business’ trade secrets or goodwill. The bill also appears to address what employee advocates and entrepreneurs see as abuses of the system.

While there is still much debate to be had on the more controversial aspects of the bill, the support of Speaker DeLeo shows a desire by at least the House to get these protections on the books sooner rather than later.

Jeffrey J. Trapani, Esq. is a partner at Robinson Donovan. He concentrates in civil litigation, including insurance defense, employment law, municipal liability, business litigation, and professional malpractice. He also represents landlords in summary process actions and housing-discrimination claims, and insurance companies in unfair settlement claims and coverage issues; (413) 732-2301; [email protected]

Agawam Officials Look to Create Walkable Downtown

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Mayor Richard Cohen and Marc Strange say the new, $8 million Agawam High School sports complex will be completed in the fall.

Mayor Richard Cohen recently unearthed a 30-year-old newspaper article that said Agawam’s Walnut Street Extension area needed to be revitalized.

The story reveals just how long that area has been a target for redevelopment, and also how current efforts may finally produce headlines of a different nature.

Indeed, the mayor said it has long been his plan to transform the area into a walkable downtown where people want to live, work, and play — and that dream may be approaching reality.

“It will take time, effort, and money to achieve, but we are moving in the right direction,” said Cohen, adding that the area has been a primary focus since 2010.

The town’s efforts received a tangible boost on April 1 when David Peters of Site Redevelopment Technologies purchased the former Games and Lanes bowling-alley property at 346-350 Walnut St. Extension. It has been a highly visible eyesore since it closed in 2001 after a fire caused extensive damage to the 30,000-square-foot building, which sits on a 2.3-acre lot.

The property was owned by Standard Uniform Corp. from 1969 through the ’80s, and in 1989, widespread groundwater contamination was discovered that spread off-site in a northeasterly direction.

The former owner worked in partnership with the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection to clean up the brownfields and spent $1.5 million on the effort, but eventually gave up; the property has been vacant for 15 years.

In the past, developers shied away from purchasing it due to the unknown amount of environmental remediation that still needs to be done. But Peters didn’t view that as an impediment.

“I’m a purchaser of last resorts; I look for environmental disasters, and although they can be costly and time-consuming to clean up, this gave me an opportunity to rehabilitate the property and the neighborhood,” he said, explaining that his work as a chemical engineer led him to create Site Redevelopment Technologies, which specializes in purchasing, cleaning, and redeveloping environmentally impaired properties.

However, before making the purchase, he did want to know how far the pollution had spread. The town had received a $50,000 grant to study the property and completed the first phase of that investigation in 2014, and after Peters sent a letter of intent stating he was interested in purchasing it, the City Council approved an additional $12,000 for the study.

Peters spent a year working closely with town and state officials to get the results, and estimates it will take another year and cost about $300,000 to complete the cleanup. But the property is already on the market, and a developer has approached him about using it as an indoor recreation area that would feature go-karts.

“This project is like a pebble thrown in a pond,” noted Marc Strange, the town’s Planning and Community Development director. “It will have a ripple affect on the entire Walnut Street Extension area. It could become an anchor development that will drive traffic and new customers to the neighborhood, especially if it is coupled with new programs like a Taste of Agawam or a block party.”

Plans Unfold

The Walnut Street Extension area is home to about 30 service-oriented businesses, retail shops, and restaurants, with a loyal customer base.

But it was clear that improvements needed to be made to transform it into a town center, and last October, the town hired the engineering firm Tighe & Bond to create a design plan that would be inviting and attractive.

The company worked with landscape architect Andrew Leonard to create several conceptual designs, and Strange said two public meetings were held with property owners in the Walnut Street Extension area to gather input on their preferences.

The majority chose an outdoor market concept, which will be reflected in the final design that is anticipated in about a month. It will include the outdoor market area, a 12-foot-wide sidewalk and 12-foot-wide island with new trees and sidewalk furniture on one side of the street, a roundabout at the end of the road, and a 10-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian lane. Parking will be maintained on the side of the street with the narrower sidewalk, and new spaces will be added on an adjacent street.

The town was also recently awarded a $10,000 Massachusetts Downtown Initiative grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide support for businesses on Walnut Street Extension.

A portion of the money was used for a June 14 workshop conducted by Christine Moynihan of Retail Visioning titled “Best Retail Practices.” It was open to the public, and six Walnut Street Extension area business owners were selected for free follow-up, one-on-one sessions, along with $350 worth of improvements made on their behalf.

In addition, the reconstruction of the Morgan Sullivan Bridge, which spans the Westfield River and runs from West Springfield into Agawam, serving as a gateway to the nearby Walnut Street Extension, will also help to revitalize the area. The $13.3 million rehabilitation project will add new traffic signals to relieve congestion and prevent the traffic jams that occur daily during rush hour.

In addition, the former Food Mart store on 63 Springfield St., which was most recently home to the Agawam YMCA, has been put to new use.

Cohen said the nonprofit vacated the structure May 31, and the next day it reopened as the West of the River Family Community Center.

“The Y’s misfortune was our good fortune,” he told BusinessWest, explaining that the community center will offer an expanded menu of more than 100 programs and will help draw more people to the area.

“We’re moving in the right direction with our dream,” he reiterated, adding that the Valley Opportunity Council plans to open an office in the building and was very helpful with the transition.

Cohen said the town will continue to seek funding to help with revitalization efforts, and will apply for a $1 million MassWorks grant to help pay for the new streetscape project that is being designed in conjunction with the Complete Streets plan, which encourages the development of safe and accessible bicycle and pedestrian traffic lanes.

Ongoing Development

Efforts are underway to make Agawam into a ‘dementia-friendly community’ in conjunction with an initiative created by Dementia Friendly America to increase awareness about the disease.

Cohen said the idea of providing ongoing education was proposed by Melinda Monasterski, and he believes it is important.

She told BusinessWest that she put together a meeting with the mayor, Strange, and officials from the senior center, library, and home-health agencies with the idea of providing the public with more education and information about dementia.

“It can be difficult to know how to interact with people who have dementia. It’s also hard for families to understand and cope with the changes that occur in their loved ones, and it can be challenging for first responders to help people with the condition during a crisis,” said the director of Heritage Hall’s dementia program, citing studies estimating that 10 million Americans will be affected by the disease over the next decade.

As a result of Monasterski’s efforts, educational sessions and support-group meetings will be held in the senior center, library, and new family center, and informational videos will be shown on the town’s website and broadcast on the public-access TV channel.

Progress is also occurring at another gateway in town; last month, the Colvest Group purchased and razed the former Agawam Motor Lodge on the corner of Suffield and Main streets. Cohen said the company has plans to redevelop the entire corner, which will make a decided difference, as the motor lodge had become a public nuisance.

Another significant project kicked off in March at Agawam High School, where construction began on a new track and sports complex. The $8.1 million project is expected to be completed in September and will include a new synthetic track and multi-purpose artificial turf field, new bleachers and electronic signage, new lighting, eight lighted tennis courts, a new baseball field, a new basketball court, upgrades to the softball fields and added dugouts, a new concession stand with room for an athletic trainer, and handicapped-accessible bathrooms. Work will also be done inside the school and will include new locker rooms and state-of-the-art bathrooms. In addition, the grounds around the complex will contain bicycle and pedestrian walkways so people can easily access different areas.

The designs were created by Milone and Macbroom of Springfield and Caolo & Bieniek Associates of Chicopee, and the construction is being undertaken by Lupachino and Salvatore of Bloomfield, Conn.

“We haven’t had a track in well over a decade and were in desperate need of new tennis courts,” Cohen said. “When the work is finished, it will be a very impressive sports campus.”

A $2.2 million upgrade to School Street Park was also completed last year. The project was done in two phases and encompasses 50 acres.

Cohen said it was the largest park project undertaken in the state in the past 25 years and offers something for everyone of any age: it boasts a water-spray park, a band shell and stage, volleyball courts, a small playground, and an additional 200 parking spots, which were all paid for with Community Preservation funds and a $1 million PARC grant.

A new dog park, built on Armory Drive with a $250,000 grant, was also finished last year and has proved to be very popular.

Infrastructure improvements are also on the agenda, and this year’s budget contains money to hire a four-person crew to maintain and repair the town’s sidewalks, which went by the wayside for a few years due to a lack of funding. In addition, the town is working with SCORE to start programs for people who want to open businesses.

But even though development is taking place in many areas, Cohen noted the town has worked to maintain open space by putting restrictions in place to preserve farmland and prevent it from ever being developed.

Solid Framework

On June 3, the mayor received notification that Standard and Poor reaffirmed the town’s AA+ bond rating, and an accompanying report states Agawam has a strong economy and strong management team, and employs good financial policies and practices.

“I’m extremely proud of what we have done, what we are doing, where we are going, and our AA+ bond rating,” Cohen said, adding that, whenever a new project is planned, the impact on taxpayers is taken into careful consideration.

“We still maintain the lowest split tax rate in the area, offer full services including free trash pickup, and are committed to elevating the quality of life,” he continued. “I want Agawam to be a place that has a lot to offer where people can afford to live.”

Revitalizing the Walnut Street Extension area will go a long way toward realizing that goal, but the mayor noted that all of the projects that were recently completed, are underway, or are in the planning stages have a synergistic element.

“The pieces dance around each other, and we are trying to put them all together,” Cohen said. “There is a lot of positive change taking place in Agawam.”

Agawam at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1761
Population: 28,976 (2016)
Area: 24.2 square miles 
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $16.18
Commercial Tax Rate: $29.98
Median Household Income: $63,682
Family Household Income: $72,258
Type of government: Mayor; City Council
Largest Employers: OMG Inc., Agawam Public Schools, Six Flags New England
* Latest information available

Nonprofits Must Consider ‘Community Rule’

Law Sections

By Jennifer Butler

Jennifer Butler

Nonprofit organizations face a multitude of compliance issues every day, and keeping up with them can be a challenge. Because compliance failures may result in the loss of funding, organizations need to know what the current applicable regulations are and make sure their programs conform to them.

For providers of home and community-based services, that means understanding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) updated regulations and ensuring their programs comply with them. Referred to collectively as the ‘community rule,’ the CMS regulations are intended to provide individuals receiving long-term services and supports with full access to the benefits of community living and the opportunity to receive services in the most integrated settings possible.

All providers who operate home and community-based services (HCBS) programs under sections 1915(c), 1915(i), and 1915(k) of the Medicaid statute, in both residential and non-residential settings, are subject to the rule.

While much of the community rule focuses on states’ responsibilities, providers are responsible for bringing their programs into compliance with the regulations in two key areas: settings requirements and person-centered planning. Providers who operate residential programs must also ensure that their programs satisfy the additional requirements specific to provider-owned or -controlled residential settings.

Home and Community-based Settings Requirements

All HCBS providers must ensure their programs meet certain settings requirements outlined in the community rule. The goal of the rule’s settings requirements is to maximize participants’ access to the benefits of community living and enable them to receive services in the most integrated setting. Per the rule, HCBS settings must:

• Be integrated in and support full access to the greater community;
• Allow the individual to select the setting from among setting options, including non-disability specific settings and an option for a private unit in a residential setting;
• Provide individuals with opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive integrated settings, engage in community life, and control personal resources;
• Ensure the individual receives services in the community to the same degree of access as individuals not receiving Medicaid home and community-based services;
• Ensure the individual’s rights of privacy, dignity, respect, and freedom from coercion and restraint;
• Optimize individual initiative, autonomy, and independence in making life choices; and
• Facilitate individual choices regarding services and supports, and who provides them.

Additional Requirements for Provider-owned Residential Settings

In addition to the general settings requirements, the community rule imposes further requirements on providers operating programs in provider-owned or -controlled residential settings. Per the rule, residential settings must:

• Provide the individual with a lease or other legally enforceable agreement providing similar protections;
• Ensure the individual has privacy in their unit, including lockable doors, choice of roommates, and freedom to furnish or decorate the unit;
• Allow the individual to control his or her own schedule, including access to food at any time;
• Provide that the individual can have visitors at any time; and
• Be physically accessible.

Any modification of the additional requirements for residential settings must be supported by a specific assessed need and justified in a person-centered service plan. For example, if the provider determines that it would be unsafe for a particular individual in its care to have lockable doors, the provider must document that need in the service plan.

Person-centered Planning

Finally, the community rule requires that service plans be developed for all program participants through a person-centered planning process which results in a plan that reflects his or her unique goals and preferences. The person-centered planning process must:

• Be driven by the individual;
• Include people chosen by the individual;
• Reflect cultural considerations and use plain language;
• Offer choices to the individual regarding services and supports the individual receives and from whom;
• Include strategies for solving disagreement;
• Provide a method to request updates;
• Identify the strengths, preferences, needs (clinical and support), and desired outcomes of the individual; and
• Include individually identified goals and preferences related to relationships, community participation, employment, income and savings, healthcare and wellness, and education.

Additional planning-process requirements, as well as specific requirements for person-centered service plans, are also outlined in the rule.

All providers of community-based programs should carefully review them to make certain they fully comply with the community rule. Some requirements of the rule, such as the provision regarding leases, may raise complex legal issues that are best addressed by an attorney. Providers are encouraged to consult with counsel if they have any questions about bringing their HCBS programs into compliance with the community rule.

Jennifer Butler, Esq. specializes 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 Assoc. of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]

Accounting Is a Sector on the Front Lines of Innovation

Accounting and Tax Planning Sections

Some Clear Math

By Amy Pitter

Now that all the mortarboards have been flipped in the air, college graduates are assessing their career prospects. Amid all the noise surrounding their choices, at least one trend is very clear: Much of the opportunity in the innovation economy goes to the mathematically inclined — research scientists, data analysts, and robotics engineers, to name a few. We just can’t get enough of them.

But let me suggest another high-demand, math-centric occupation that may surprise you: Accounting. It is, in fact, one of the hottest fields for young graduates in the Commonwealth. Why accountants? You can’t have an innovation economy, or anything resembling a healthy economy, without them. Accountants set up the financial controls and systems that help companies prosper. And they are in the middle of the new economy, by, for example, auditing companies for acquisition and providing the financial data for initial public offerings, among many other critical services.

In short, as Massachusetts grows, so does its accounting sector. And as we look to create more pathways for less-advantaged students to join the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) economy, accounting holds the potential to be a bridge to have them play a role in the innovation that’s driving Massachusetts’ growth.

Attractive Numbers

This year, many accounting graduates are quickly walking into jobs that pay $53,000. Colleges are seeing placement rates for grads of well over 90% — it’s a whopping 97% at UMass Amherst three months after graduation. And demand will increase as the retirement wave that is expected to drain many sectors also hits accounting. In fact, it’s estimated that 75% of certified public accounts, or CPAs, will retire in the next 15 years.

Despite the strong demand, and its clear-math orientation, accounting has not yet found a place in the roster of STEM occupations considered by students. That’s an avoidable loss for many young students who struggle imagining themselves in a research lab or calculating the algorithms in a computer-science class, but love numbers all the same.

We are going to need many new accountants over the next 10 years, an occupation that not only pays well, but also often leads to additional opportunities and greater earning potential. As Massachusetts business and government leaders look to connect students with the many possibilities in STEM careers, accounting should be part of the mix. Given the clear demand, an advanced-placement course in accounting deserves a place in the high-school curriculum.

As we consider addressing growing income inequality, we need to capture the imagination of students to see themselves in various fields well before they reach college. Here’s the conundrum: even though our fourth- and eighth-grade student test scores, including math, are the highest in the nation, the income gap in Massachusetts is the widest in the country.

As STEM-related occupations account for a larger percentage of the Massachusetts workforce, we risk letting the gap widen, leaving too many kids behind. Accounting beckons as a great opportunity to open more doors for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Accounting also holds potential to diversify math-oriented fields, which tend to be predominately white and male. That is why we at the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants hold workshops, focusing on diversity recruiting.

We are also working with the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council to integrate accounting into their efforts to expand STEM opportunities, specifically through the Early College High School Program.

The society is hopeful the Massachusetts House and Senate will prioritize funding streams for these important programs in the FY17 budget to start building the pipeline of talent. Recognizing accounting as one of many high-growth segments of Massachusetts that often puts professionals on the front lines of innovation is a great place to start.

Amy Pitter is president and CEO of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

When Uber and the Tax Man Collide

Accounting and Tax Planning Sections

Driving Home Some Points About This Intriguing New Business

The rise of Uber and similar transportation services like Lyft have been a boon for people looking to make some extra money on their own schedule. But they have also given rise to a number of taxation issues. For anyone looking to turn their personal vehicle into a part-time taxi service, here’s a handy guide to IRS rules for tax filing, expense deductions, and more.

By Sean Wandrei

You know your city has arrived when a transportation network company is operating in town.

Uber has been in the Springfield area for some time now. Uber has been in major U.S. cities since 2011 and is now in 66 countries and 449 cities worldwide. New companies, such as Lyft, are also popping up in these markets (Lyft is now in Boston). With the casino arriving in 2018, it is safe to assume that this industry could be expanding locally.

For those of you who do not know what Uber is, here is a quick crash course. Uber is a transportation service that allows passengers to connect with drivers in the area via a smartphone app. Prices are predetermined before the transaction occurs, and all fares are paid via the app with a credit card. Generally, no cash is exchanged. Uber is basically a taxi service where the driver uses his or her own automobile.

Of course, since transactions are occurring, there are tax ramifications for the driver. An Uber or Lyft driver is not an employee of Uber or Lyft. The drivers are independent contractors who are considered self-employed individuals. Drivers have to calculate their taxable income and pay federal and state income and self-employment tax on the profits.

Generally, drivers report income and expenses on Schedule C of IRS Form 1040. While most taxpayers will file as a self-employed individual on Schedule C, some may want to think about limiting the liability that they could be exposed to.

The taxpayer could file paperwork to make the entity a single-member limited-liability corporation (SMLLC). While there are additional costs (that are deductible) to create and maintain the SMLLC, it could be worth it for the liability protection in case of an accident or lawsuit. The IRS does not recognize a SMLLC for tax purposes, so a self-employed taxpayer would file Schedule C if it was an SMLLC or not.

Uber drivers earn revenues from the fares they collect from driving passengers. All the fares that a driver receives have to be reported as revenue even if no tax documents (1099-Misc or 1099-K) are received. As of this writing, Uber issues tax documents to all drivers no matter the fares earned. Lyft only issues 1099-K if the total fares are $20,000 or greater and there are 200 or more transactions (the minimum threshold set by the IRS).

Since most of these transactions occur with a credit card, form 1099-Misc would not be issued since that form is for cash payments in excess of $600. Any cash tips that are received should also be reported as a part of gross income. Ordinary and necessary business expenses, which are defined as common and accepted in the general industry or type of activity in which the taxpayer is engaged, can be deducted from the revenues to arrive at the taxable net income which is subject to both income and self-employment tax.

Driver Deductions

Let’s take a look at some of those expenses that an Uber driver could deduct. The first, and most obvious, expense is for the automobile driven. There are two deduction methods available for automobile expenses — the standard mileage method (the easiest to calculate) and the actual vehicle expenses. The taxpayer has a choice of what method to use.

Generally with expenses, you are going to select the method that will generate the largest deduction. One thing to note about the method choice: if the taxpayer elects to use the standard mileage method, he or she must do so during the first year the automobile is placed in service. Under the standard mileage method, the taxpayer determines the expense by multiplying the business miles driven during the year by the standard mileage rate (54 cents per mile for 2016). The tax form that Uber issues lists the miles driven while on fare, but those probably would not be the total business miles driven during the year. There are miles driven while not on fare that would be considered business miles, such as miles driven searching for the next fare, which could be deducted.

Click HERE for a list of Accounting Firms in Western Mass.

Proof of these miles must be maintained in a daily log listing the business miles driven during the year. The other method for deducting automobile expenses, the actual vehicle expense, is more record-intensive. All actual business-use expenses incurred to operate the automobile during the year can be deducted. These expenses usually include gas, tires, repairs, maintenance, insurance, registration, and depreciation. Only the expenses directly related to the business can be deducted. The deductible costs are calculated by multiplying the actual costs incurred by the percentage of business use of the automobile.

Some other expenses that may be overlooked that could be deducted are car washes, USB and mobile-phone chargers, wireless plans, commissions paid, tolls, parking fees, floor mats, spare tire, flat-tire kit, jumper cables, AAA membership, supplies, music apps like Spotify, ice and snow scrapers, mobile routers such as a MiFi, and food and drink for passengers (limited to 50% deduction by law).

Only the portion of these expenses related to the driving business can be deducted. Any portion of an expense related to personal use is not deductible. Any expenses that are not listed above that are ordinary and necessary for the business could be deducted as well.

Some other expenses that could be deducted, which are not that common, include the home-office deduction and any health insurance paid for the driver and his or her family. The rule with deductions is that the taxpayer must prove the expenses were incurred, so all receipts from the expenses should be saved in case the IRS audits the tax return.

As sole proprietors, drivers are responsible for both income and self-employment tax on the profits. So it’s important to make sure all of the business deductions incurred are properly deducted.

While driving for Uber or Lyft can be a fun and easy way to make some extra cash, it is important to understand the tax issues that could arise from being a driver. As always, you should see your tax professional if you have any tax questions.

Sean Wandrei is a lecturer in Taxation at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. He also practices at a local CPA firm; [email protected]

Due Diligence Required to Conduct Successful Job Interviews

Employment Sections

Careful Culling

John McGlew says the best predictor of future success on the job is past behavior, which can be gleaned during the interview process and by checking references.

Interviewing job candidates is an art and a science that many small and mid-size employers don’t have the time to perfect. But knowing what to ask job candidates and how to interpret their answers is important, because hiring the wrong person is a waste of time and money and can lead to difficulties later on.

John McGlew says it’s critical for employers to do their homework before they sit down and begin interviewing job candidates.

The director of Employment and Employee Relations for the Sisters of Providence Health System noted that he was interviewed by 21 people before he was hired, and he has developed a program for his managers that teaches them how to use behavioral questions to find the person most suited for a particular job.

“Good interviewing practices and thorough vetting of candidates is critical to any business trying to hire the right person,” he explained. “It includes getting proper references and employment information, but you need to do a lot to get prepared for the actual interview.”

Michele Cabral, who hired many employees in her former position as CFO and COO of Farm Credit Financial Partners in Agawam and now helps employers with the process through her company, CFO On the Go, agrees that the work should begin long before applicants are actually interviewed.

“Most companies have a culture, but they fail to take it into account when they write a job description,” said the Holyoke Community College professor of Business, explaining that it is important for new hires to be invested in a company’s success as well as its mission.

McGlew agrees, and considers this so important that he tells managers to convey the Sisters of Providence mission to candidates and explain how the job advertised will relate to it, and says every business should have a clearly articulated mission statement that it shares.

Shannon Levesque concurs, but adds that interviewers also need to have a list of clear and measurable goals that get conveyed to everyone they interview.

“The person not only needs to be a good cultural fit, but you need to be realistic, honest, and up front about what will be expected to eliminate any surprises for the candidate,” the director of talent acquisition for Baystate Health told BusinessWest. “A small or mid-sized business also needs to know what makes the company attractive; an interview is a two-way street, and if you want to hire talent, it’s important to sell your company.

“Good people always have options, and even more so if they are already working, so there has to be an incentive,” she continued, noting that this may mean taking on a new challenge or having the ability to use newly acquired education. In any case, the interviewer needs to understand what is driving the candidate to apply for the position.

Experts say it’s not difficult to assess someone’s technical skills, but knowing how well they work in a team environment and how they will handle difficult customers, people, or situations can be equally or even more important.

“The best predictor of future success is past behavior. But in order to get this information, you need to be able to elicit responses about how the person has behaved in workplace situations in the past,” McGlew said.

For this edition and its focus on employment, BusinessWest looks at methods that seasoned interviewers use in their own hiring, so business owners can employ them and assess a candidate’s ability to do a job.

Essential Measures

Although there are many ways to conduct an interview, Cabral says most people fail to ask the right questions.

“The wrong candidates are often hired because the interviewer didn’t dig deep enough during the interview,” she noted.

Michelle Cabral says people applying for managerial positions should to be able to inspire others and have standards in place, while employees at lower levels need to be able to manage their workload.

She measures five core competencies: leadership, management, communication, technical skills, and analytical skills, or the ability to solve problems, and says interviewers need to assess each of these areas while the candidate is in front of them.

“At the highest level, you need someone who can create a vision, understand the environment they are working in, and navigate their way through it. The person needs to be articulate verbally and in writing,” she said. “At the lowest level, the new employee needs to understand the vision, but interpret it for themselves as it relates to their job. They also need to know when to use different communication skills, such as e-mailing versus speaking to someone.”

She added that people applying for managerial positions should be able to inspire others and have standards in place, while people at lower levels need to be able to manage their workload. They should also be able to identify problems, come up with ways to solve them, and be able to discuss these options with their manager.

She suggests conducting a 15-minute phone interview with candidates whose résumés align with job requirements, and recommends getting people out of their comfort zone right away.

For example, if someone says they answer the phone frequently at their current job, the interviewer should ask them to cite an example of how they handled a customer who was rude to them.

“The phone interview helps you determine how articulate the person is and also assess their listening skills and whether they answer questions appropriately,” she said.

McGlew agrees that asking a person how he or she dealt with a challenging customer or phone call, as well as what steps they took toward service recovery, can reveal how they will handle stressful situations in the future.

“You want someone who takes steps to effectively resolve a difficult situation and restore the relationship for the company,” he noted.

Indeed, experts say the ability to communicate can be more important than technical skills, because most people can be taught to do new things. “But they need to be able to communicate when they are struggling and not be too embarrassed to ask for help,” he said.

Levesque told BusinessWest that problems sometimes arise because interviewers fail to differentiate between what is needed and what is preferable, which should be clearly defined in the job description. And if no one in the company has time to spend to help a new hire become proficient in a new skill, it may be a moot point.

“If you are taking a chance on someone’s potential to learn something, you need to structure training in a way that gets them up to speed quickly,” she said.

McGlew says interviewers should write down the qualifications the applicant must have before conducting the interview. In addition to technical skills, requirements can range from the ability to complete work within a given time frame to the ability to collaborate well, be knowledgeable about cultural diversity, or anything else that is pertinent to the job.

These things are important because, if soft skills are missing, a new hire’s interactions can become problematic. “It may be important for a security officer to know the law, but if the person has a brusque way of dealing with others, their interactions may become a problem,” Levesque said.

McGlew tells managers to come up with 20 to 25 behavior-based questions and then prioritize them. Although they are unlikely to get through all of them during an interview, asking candidates the same questions evens the playing field and allows interviewers to compare their answers.

But the candidate should do most of the talking. “You need to spend twice as much time listening as you do asking questions,” Levesque said.

Her interviews begin with a welcome, followed by behavioral questions. And there is always a defined closing, with time allotted for the candidate to ask questions and for her to assess their interest.

She said some interviewers aren’t used to using open-ended questions and may need to practice interviewing team members. But it makes a difference because open-ended or behavioral questions require candidates to give examples that include details related to their past performance, which allow the interviewer to understand the situations they have encountered, what their response was, and what they learned.

“You have to probe; it’s absolutely essential, but you also have parrot back what you heard and ask for elaboration,” Levesque said.

However, interviewers should avoid asking candidates to talk about their strengths or weaknesses. “They have already done their bragging on their cover letter and résumé,” Cabral said.

More useful questions can include, “if I called your manager today, what would he or she say about you?”; “tell me about a time when you were communicating a message and you were misunderstood?”; “tell me what gets you out of bed in the morning?”; and “tell me about a time when your employer needed you to stay late at work and you couldn’t?”

“You need to remain quiet after the person’s initial response,” Cabral advised. “And once they start sharing, you need to keep digging. If they couldn’t stay late when their boss needed them to, you want to know what happened and how they handled the situation or got the work done.”

Details That Matter

Although some employers seek well-rounded employees who can bring unique perspectives to problems, lifestyle can play a role in determining whether a candidate is suitable for a job. For instance, if the person says they love to ski and do so every weekend, it is appropriate to ask if it will present a problem if they are occasionally asked to work weekends.

Shannon Levesque says interviewers need to know which technical skills are critical and which ones are preferable and can be learned after the person is hired.

And although young candidates may not have a job history or be able to provide examples of handling difficult workplace situations, they can be asked what led them to believe the job they are applying for is the right career, Cabral said, adding that gauging a candidate’s honesty is important. They can also be asked to supply references that include professors, members of the clergy, or people at places where they have volunteered.

Obtaining proper references and an employment history does play a role in choosing a new hire, but experts say busy interviewers can hire an outside service to do this.

However, McGlew suggests asking the person for past-performance appraisals. They may need to give their supervisor permission to share the information, but it can prove invaluable.

People conducting interviews who are not familiar with employment law also need to brush up on what they can and can’t ask.

“Don’t get into the person’s personal life. If someone starts talking about their family, change the subject,” Cabral advises.

Salary or hourly pay should also be discussed. Although it doesn’t need to be definitive, it’s important to divulge how much the organization or business is willing to pay a new hire.

McGlew told BusinessWest that, if the person won’t or can’t accept the dollar figure, it is a waste of time to continue the interviewing process.

“You also have a duty to give people a clear idea of the benefits you plan to offer,” he went on. “Salary and fringe benefits are definitive economic decisions, and if you don’t meet a person’s requirements, they may choose to keep looking or stay at their present position.”

Levesque agrees, and says there is nothing more disappointing to both parties than to offer someone a job, then find out they can’t afford or are unwilling to accept the pay. And when an interview nears the time allotted for it to end, it’s important to identify and set expectations about what will happen next.

“You should ask about their job search and whether they have any offers pending; an employer needs to know where a candidate is in the process,” Levesque said. “We have an obligation to treat job seekers with respect and understand their goal is to find gainful employment that is rewarding, challenging, and fits their career goals. Nothing is more painful to a candidate than to be in a black hole and not know where they stand or what to expect.”

Cabral understands that employers can get exhausted looking through hundreds of résumés, but warns against taking short cuts simply to fill a vacancy with someone.

“Some rush to get a job filled when they know in their gut they are hiring the wrong person,” she explained. “But if a new hire is not working out, you need to have an honest conversation. It’s OK to provide a soft landing and give them several months notice, but if the job is not getting done, you need to find the right person for it.”

However, experts say that situation can be tempered by hiring a person on a probationary basis. “But the person really needs to understand that there will be a formal assessment period,” McGlew said, adding that, when a person is being interviewed or hired, the words “permanent position” should never be used.

Instead, the interviewer should refer to a job as a “full-time opportunity,” which can prevent legal problems later on, he said, even though the Massachusetts Employment at Will statute allows employers to terminate an employee at any time, barring a contract.

Final Decisions

Cabral says hiring is an art and a science, and employers need to know the art is important in helping them make a decision. “At the end of the day, 80% of a decision is based on gut feel and attitude.”

McGlew agrees. “A lot is subjective and has to do with judging whether the person’s values and priorities are in line with the organization’s values,” he said. “But there is no foolproof methodology to interviewing, and sometimes the person who shows up for work is not the person you interviewed.”

Still, knowing what to ask and being well-prepared goes a long way toward keeping that from happening.

“It can be difficult to separate personality from competency, but if you ask questions in the right way, you will be surprised what people tell you,” Levesque said. “Good interviewers accept what they see, then probe for validation. And it’s a win-win if you get it right.”

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

235 Martindale Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $120,750
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: Erin Stacy
Date: 05/17/16

CHARLEMONT

63 Hawk Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $244,800
Buyer: Wilder B. Sparks
Seller: Denise M. Albano
Date: 05/27/16

47 Warner Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $183,500
Buyer: Walter E. Martin
Seller: David R. Cunningham
Date: 05/27/16

COLRAIN

3 Patton Hill Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Ryan M. Billiel
Seller: Terrie L. Billiel
Date: 05/23/16

CONWAY

266 Whately Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $221,600
Buyer: Jennifer D. Bartak
Seller: Ostrowski, Phyllis R., (Estate)
Date: 05/27/16

DEERFIELD

18 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Charles M. Mathers
Seller: Sarah Jarman
Date: 05/25/16

32 Sawmill Plain Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: James I. Waitkus
Seller: Thaddeus W. Jarowski
Date: 05/16/16

33 Thayer St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Seller: Clifford V. Bowen
Date: 05/19/16

GILL

42 Hoe Shop Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Charles J. Garbiel
Seller: Kyle R. Macleay
Date: 05/20/16

446 Main Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Cathleen A. Benben
Seller: Kevin H. Chickering
Date: 05/27/16

GREENFIELD

4 Brookside Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Joan Reardon
Seller: Paul M. McLain
Date: 05/19/16

448 Colrain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Plan B. RET
Seller: Judith A. Dryer LT
Date: 05/16/16

76 Ferrante Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Shane D. Walters
Seller: Charle Harrington-Elster
Date: 05/27/16

123 Green River Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ryan K. Martin
Seller: Robert W. Gilmore
Date: 05/16/16

12 Grinnell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Katherine R. Holdsworth
Seller: Michael A. Case
Date: 05/27/16

146 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Seth S. Adams
Seller: Salvation Army of Mass.
Date: 05/27/16

126 Shelburne Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $147,200
Buyer: Brandon B. Noyes
Seller: Adolph J. Wolfram Jr. RET
Date: 05/24/16

HAWLEY

124 East Hawley Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Casey M. Peters
Seller: Holly A. Garvey
Date: 05/20/16

HEATH

49 Route 8A S
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: James C. Burwell
Seller: Maitland, Alastair G., (Estate)
Date: 05/27/16

LEVERETT

19 Laurel Hill Dr.
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $549,000
Buyer: Deborah T. Voland LT
Seller: Prebis, E. John, (Estate)
Date: 05/26/16

160 Rattlesnake Gutter Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jason A. Aylward
Seller: Thomas L. Scott
Date: 05/27/16

237 Shutesbury Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Joshua R. Nugent
Seller: Leo L. Hwang
Date: 05/27/16

MONTAGUE

137 Dry Hill Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Linda E. Jones
Seller: James Lyon
Date: 05/18/16

139 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $145,489
Buyer: Alayna A. Macleay
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/20/16

72 Randall Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Arthur M. Canterbury
Seller: Porter-Kabaniec FT
Date: 05/27/16

NEW SALEM

143 Fay Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Robert D. Watkins
Seller: Ralph P. Giggey
Date: 05/23/16

NORTHFIELD

32 Hidden Pond Lane
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Eric S. Kaeppel
Seller: Lorna Benton
Date: 05/23/16

ORANGE

350 North Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Goodale
Seller: Cloukey FT
Date: 05/20/16

47 Oak Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Vasco A. Costa
Seller: Randee L. Sobolik
Date: 05/20/16

191 Packard Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Jeffrey P. Scribner
Seller: Blast-Tech Inc.
Date: 05/16/16

235 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: William Deeley
Seller: Harold J. Bacon
Date: 05/25/16

SHELBURNE

141 Main St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Travis E. Johnston
Seller: Peter H. Wood
Date: 05/18/16

146 Smead Hill Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Erin F. Koshinsky
Seller: John H. Nisbet
Date: 05/20/16

SHUTESBURY

85 Locks Pond Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $301,882
Buyer: PNC Bank
Seller: Moore, Lukiel L., (Estate)
Date: 05/26/16

271 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Leontine Alkema
Seller: Pamela J. Tinto
Date: 05/20/16

SUNDERLAND

19 Meadowbrook Dr.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Richard W. Peterson
Seller: Kent A. Whitney
Date: 05/24/16

201 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Jeremy Lorusso-Dillon
Seller: Edward H. Kaplan
Date: 05/27/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

62 Althea Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Dennis A. Letendre
Seller: Quilliam, Donald M., (Estate)
Date: 05/26/16

7 Edward St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $144,300
Buyer: Jon A. Gendron
Seller: Dirk G. Gendron
Date: 05/18/16

52 Elbert Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Kristen A. Langevin
Seller: Michael A. Abbott
Date: 05/20/16

59 Garden St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Andrey Shevchenko
Seller: John L. Beauregard
Date: 05/25/16

70 Hall St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Frank Alves
Seller: Janet E. Holt
Date: 05/27/16

97 Independence Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Marco M. Fiore
Seller: Eric W. Morgan
Date: 05/16/16

40 Lealand Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Fay
Seller: Holly M. Harrison
Date: 05/27/16

25 Marla Place
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: John L. Beauregard
Seller: Lori A. Westlund
Date: 05/25/16

1166 North St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Joel Howe
Seller: Jeffrey A. Woodard
Date: 05/26/16

76 Reed St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Stratton Renovation LLC
Seller: Mckinley, Madonna, (Estate)
Date: 05/16/16

41 Richardson Place
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $313,000
Buyer: Michael A. Abbott
Seller: Daniel P. Robert
Date: 05/16/16

132-134 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Alan E. Pranka
Seller: Brian Pranka
Date: 05/17/16

88 Southwick St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Gregory Lamica
Seller: Albert R. Kana
Date: 05/27/16

69 Tracy Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Dirk G. Gendron
Seller: Charles E. Yelinek
Date: 05/18/16

43 Zachary Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $266,450
Buyer: Tomasz Sroka
Seller: Renaldo Rondoletto
Date: 05/20/16

BRIMFIELD

20 Holland Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Nicholas E. Abair
Date: 05/20/16

114 Old Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Eric S. Bacon
Seller: Alice J. Earnest
Date: 05/24/16

CHESTER

21 Middlefield Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: J. Andrew Myers
Seller: Robert M. Larkham
Date: 05/27/16

CHICOPEE

62 Armanella St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Timothy D. Lynch
Seller: Stanislow Tabor
Date: 05/25/16

44 Beaudry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,500
Buyer: Jordan Gladu
Seller: Evgeniy Kutergin
Date: 05/18/16

276 Bostwick Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,200
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Joseph E. Shea
Date: 05/20/16

45 Captain Mac St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Rafael Mkanga
Seller: Aubrey Properties LLC
Date: 05/25/16

19 Dickinson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Dipper
Seller: Lois A. Yiznitsky
Date: 05/19/16

216 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Michelle Crochetiere
Seller: Gracinda Neto
Date: 05/23/16

320 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Martin
Seller: Amanda Latour
Date: 05/16/16

15 Lachine St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Larson
Seller: Susan J. Carron
Date: 05/27/16

56 Langevin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Shawn A. Pierce
Seller: Gerry-Paul Geoffrion
Date: 05/23/16

13 Lauzier Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Diaz
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/19/16

63 Ludger Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: John F. Simmons
Seller: Andrew R. Beaudry
Date: 05/27/16

145 Manning St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Adam R. Haney
Seller: Bryan R. Guillemette
Date: 05/26/16

79 Moreau Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Scott N. Santerre
Seller: Patricia A. Roy
Date: 05/27/16

57 Mount Vernon Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $256,500
Buyer: Kevin T. Odea
Seller: David C. Labrie
Date: 05/27/16

73 Otis St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Gelissa Conde
Seller: Shawn P. Haubner
Date: 05/27/16

33 Percy St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Summit Group Properties
Seller: Patricia A. Tessier
Date: 05/19/16

210 Pondview Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Dwayne P. Anderson
Seller: Ann L. Fowler-Cruz
Date: 05/27/16

36 Roosevelt Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Jose C. Carrasco
Seller: Julian Bazalar
Date: 05/27/16

110 Roosevelt Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Jason W. Hurley
Seller: Noreen T. O’Shea
Date: 05/18/16

35 Shaw Park Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $159,960
Buyer: First Niagara Bank
Seller: Crystal T. Harrison
Date: 05/19/16

389 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Natalia Rose
Seller: Justin A. Fortier
Date: 05/23/16

127 Vadnais St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Glen Richard
Seller: Dianne Lenox
Date: 05/27/16

46 Willow St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Gary J. Blanchard
Seller: Lisa M. Blanchard
Date: 05/27/16

134 Woodcrest Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Mary A. Dzialo
Seller: Frank Pietrasiuk
Date: 05/27/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

16 Black Dog Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $449,900
Buyer: Andrew R. Shpak
Seller: Michael A. Torcia
Date: 05/18/16

3 Converse Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $222,027
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: William P. Venn
Date: 05/24/16

81 Evergreen Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: James T. Wolohan
Seller: Joseph J. Mulligan
Date: 05/17/16

149 Glynn Farms Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $384,000
Buyer: Peter A. Bernard
Seller: Dennis P. Mcmanus
Date: 05/20/16

35 Hazelhurst Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Tyler J. Wheelock
Seller: Emily Beer
Date: 05/20/16

20 Maynard St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $227,900
Buyer: Marc J. Riccio
Seller: Eileen Z. Nacsin
Date: 05/20/16

99 Meadow Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $151,652
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Peter M. Silvano
Date: 05/25/16

329 Pease Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Krista Santaniello
Seller: Aurelio C. Bramucci
Date: 05/17/16

59 Rural Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Kusnierz
Seller: Maryann O. Lord
Date: 05/20/16

50 Saint Joseph Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Claude Manigat
Seller: Joseph Attilio-Marazzi
Date: 05/19/16

484 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,700
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Mark Maurer
Date: 05/17/16

GRANVILLE

427 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Brittany Perras
Seller: Czapracki, Denise M., (Estate)
Date: 05/23/16

14 Water St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Ian T. Brown
Seller: Linda L. Malcovsky
Date: 05/20/16

HAMPDEN

247 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: John J. Santaniello
Seller: Mary Cahillane
Date: 05/23/16

HOLLAND

6 Blodgett Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $173,500
Buyer: Matthew Chapman
Seller: Shawn A. Gale
Date: 05/27/16

24 Brandon St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Cynthia Fox
Seller: David C. Landgren
Date: 05/18/16

20 Forest Park Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Jeznach
Seller: Nathan Fuller
Date: 05/16/16

HOLYOKE

59 Beacon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,400
Buyer: Deleon Hughes
Seller: Peter Delfino
Date: 05/20/16

16 Brenan St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $152,045
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jonathan S. Karas
Date: 05/23/16

94 Columbus Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Alison K. Hornbeck
Seller: Jillian M. Tallman
Date: 05/23/16

787 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Isabelle Tower LLC
Seller: Elmir Simov
Date: 05/18/16

66 Elmwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Shawn R. McNulty
Seller: Kristen L. Troccolo
Date: 05/23/16

39 Evergreen Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Erin E. Carroll
Seller: Carolyn M. Robinson
Date: 05/19/16

76 Hillview Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Susan B. Church
Seller: William F. Matuszek
Date: 05/17/16

205 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Eddy A. Andujar
Seller: Richard A. Langlois
Date: 05/27/16

45 Linden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Lois Properties LLC
Seller: Rafael Diaz
Date: 05/26/16

16-18 Morgan St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Michael G. Reagan
Seller: James G. Carroll
Date: 05/16/16

140 Mountain Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Patricia A. Underwood
Seller: Donna Allen
Date: 05/27/16

135 Mountain View Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Rolf Gasser
Seller: Thomas J. Murphy
Date: 05/26/16

9-11 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Joshua V. Croake
Seller: Pauline Talbot
Date: 05/20/16

98 Queen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $122,900
Buyer: Jill A. Melao
Seller: Edward F. Sturtevant
Date: 05/23/16

LONGMEADOW

155 Belleclaire Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Cheryl Mustain
Seller: Elisabeth Nossinski
Date: 05/23/16

47 Chiswick St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Alfonso L. Basile
Seller: Mitchell J. Drozdowski
Date: 05/20/16

25 Concord Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Edward M. Sluis
Seller: Seth N. Stratton
Date: 05/27/16

97 Cooley Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Craig F. Pericolosi
Seller: Constance C. Haynes
Date: 05/23/16

1000 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Michael Oumano
Seller: George P. Cullinan
Date: 05/16/16

35 Green Willow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $499,000
Buyer: Derek Fu
Seller: Srinivasa B. Gutta
Date: 05/26/16

1535 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $235,354
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Lawrence I. Schwartz
Date: 05/25/16

314 Merriweather Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Todd Theroux
Seller: Bernard N. Gotlib
Date: 05/27/16

51 Mohawk Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $624,900
Buyer: Susan J. Manoussoff
Seller: Michael P. Walsh
Date: 05/24/16

15 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $277,500
Buyer: Jirawat Ninsri
Seller: Zachary J. Smith
Date: 05/16/16

50 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Veronica P. O’Neil
Seller: Colleen Anastasia-Brown
Date: 05/27/16

140 Quinnehtuk Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Donald Magri
Seller: Heesung Moon
Date: 05/27/16

LUDLOW

972 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Sapphire Property Development LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 05/20/16

1062 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Kristen N. Deslauriers
Seller: Tracy A. Moskal
Date: 05/26/16

540 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jimmy J. Moore
Seller: Jeanette D. Crumb
Date: 05/26/16

66 John St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Sapphire Property Development LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 05/20/16

77 Mountainview St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Terry Randall
Seller: Maureen A. Ramsay
Date: 05/20/16

286 Poole St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Bartlomiej Orzol
Seller: Joann Bradley
Date: 05/26/16

179 Prospect St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Julie A. Kirchner
Seller: Alyssa Alcantara
Date: 05/20/16

152 Wedgewood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Andrew P. Mulek
Seller: Michael C. Furtek
Date: 05/27/16

MONSON

10 Bethany Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: William Lamb
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 05/24/16

42-1/2 Bethany Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: John D. Galanek
Seller: Michael E. Andross
Date: 05/27/16

22 Country Club Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $257,541
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Dominick Corsetti
Date: 05/20/16

94 Moulton Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Suzanne M. Hicks
Seller: Huse, Bertha A., (Estate)
Date: 05/17/16

96 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: 3G Management LLC
Seller: Northeast Investments LLC
Date: 05/23/16

MONTGOMERY

8 Old Main Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Chester Ogulewicz
Seller: Marcia H. Hendrick
Date: 05/20/16

PALMER

6 Fieldstone Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $328,000
Buyer: Scott D. Harder
Seller: Steven Weigel
Date: 05/18/16

4045 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Isaiah D. Pagan
Seller: Kimberly L. Gilbert
Date: 05/25/16

9 Katie Lane
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $354,000
Buyer: Denise K. Zielecki-Koons
Seller: Patrick J. McCormack
Date: 05/20/16

81 Nipmuck St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Danilo Rodriguez
Seller: Joseph F. Gulluni
Date: 05/18/16

1525 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: BYS Realty LLC
Seller: Robert W. Peterson
Date: 05/27/16

26 Old Farm Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $307,000
Buyer: James J. Guilbault
Seller: Shawn Howard
Date: 05/25/16

2078-2080 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Bernadette Hicks
Seller: Eugene J. Olearczyk
Date: 05/20/16

RUSSELL

770 Blandford Stage Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $123,250
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Yelena Govor
Date: 05/25/16

SPRINGFIELD

28 Andrew St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Susan J. Roberts
Seller: Roger W. Williams
Date: 05/20/16

315 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $172,900
Buyer: Ronnie Colemon
Seller: Scott Safner
Date: 05/27/16

27 Balfour Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Ricardo Diaz
Seller: Joseph Sullivan
Date: 05/25/16

383-391 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Mega Meadow REI LLC
Seller: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Date: 05/23/16

891 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $138,632
Buyer: 906-908 Belmont RT
Seller: Onota Rental LLC
Date: 05/25/16

4 Birnie Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: H&H Real Estate Holdings
Seller: Curtis Universal Joint Co.
Date: 05/20/16

31 Briarwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Richard W. Gheen
Seller: Gerald F. Walsh
Date: 05/25/16

114 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Tenesha M. Hamm
Seller: Peter S. Donner
Date: 05/25/16

121-123 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Kayrim B. Lopez
Seller: JJS Capital Investment
Date: 05/27/16

5 Butternut Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $158,500
Buyer: Michelle C. Stiso
Seller: Jennifer M. Mowel
Date: 05/26/16

154 Canterbury Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Judy Mathieu
Seller: Mathieu, Virginia R., (Estate)
Date: 05/24/16

60 Clement St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Nigel A. Springer
Seller: Paul V. Allard
Date: 05/17/16

40 Cooper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $137,900
Buyer: Daniel J. Fenton
Seller: Marco M. Fiore
Date: 05/20/16

70-72 Corona St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Andre Cortez
Seller: Joan M. Lyons
Date: 05/20/16

21 Daviston St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Isabel Cruz
Seller: Esther Haagsma
Date: 05/25/16

48 Donbray Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $158,400
Buyer: Gustavo Rosa
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/20/16

73 Donbray Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Jaron A. Kenney
Seller: Ryan C. Weldon
Date: 05/18/16

225 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Carmen F. Espino-Nunez
Seller: Roel Figueroa
Date: 05/25/16

459 Dwight St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $236,508
Buyer: 459 Dwight Street LLC
Seller: Jennifer Arvanitis
Date: 05/26/16

57 Eton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Tameika Daley
Seller: Jeffrey A. Morris
Date: 05/26/16

94 Fenimore Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Arlene Iarola
Seller: John A. Zaleski
Date: 05/23/16

121 Finch Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Rosetta Mascaro
Seller: Nicholas Fosberg
Date: 05/26/16

15-17 Florence St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Victor D. Pereira
Seller: Alliance Associates LLC
Date: 05/18/16

84 Francis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Edwin Rodriguez
Seller: Juan Santana
Date: 05/27/16

201 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Jose R. Santiago
Seller: Roberto Chacon
Date: 05/16/16

90 Groveland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $136,724
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: June Leichsenring
Date: 05/24/16

3-5 Hutchinson St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $164,222
Buyer: Carolyn Gerena-Pica
Seller: Carolina Figueroa
Date: 05/20/16

92 Ithaca St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Ash Darjee
Seller: Adam Tarquini
Date: 05/26/16

136 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $153,500
Buyer: Anne R. Richard
Seller: Erica Etchells
Date: 05/18/16

19 Margaret St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: David A. Costa
Seller: Joseph E. Rueli
Date: 05/25/16

97 Melba St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Mumby
Seller: Marjorie M. O’Donnell
Date: 05/23/16

75 Michigan St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Luan R. Griswold
Seller: Alvin Gosselin
Date: 05/20/16

126-128 Miller St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Mike Krasnov
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 05/17/16

457-459 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Pedro M. Rivera
Seller: F. Fernandes-Nieves
Date: 05/16/16

24 Notre Dame St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Awildo Morales
Seller: Tony F. Casciano
Date: 05/20/16

49 Nutmeg Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $995,000
Buyer: Bayview Loan Servicing
Seller: Tracy G. Lynch
Date: 05/26/16

155 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Campagnari Construction
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 05/18/16

1052 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $147,900
Buyer: Manual A. Ortiz
Seller: Benton J. Carr
Date: 05/27/16

72 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $131,148
Buyer: MCM Capital Partners LLP
Seller: Janet E. Spencer
Date: 05/25/16

76-78 Ranney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $138,900
Buyer: Raquel Gomez
Seller: William T. Mecroules
Date: 05/20/16

89 Ravenwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Cheryl W. Moore
Seller: Diane Bouffard
Date: 05/23/16

101 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Kofi Mireku
Seller: Charles H. Richard
Date: 05/26/16

593 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Asia M. Stewart
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 05/20/16

90 Saint James Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Samara Serrano
Seller: Patricia Rogers-Doten
Date: 05/20/16

177 Starling Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Brazil L. Martin
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 05/20/16

1156 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Manuel A. Ortiz
Seller: Lydia M. Negron
Date: 05/26/16

128 Tamarack Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Lawrence J. Emerle
Seller: Raymond A. Vautrain
Date: 05/27/16

88 Tioga St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Joselyn Ocasio
Seller: Manassas Real Estate LLC
Date: 05/24/16

36 Wells St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Kevin A. Hachey
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 05/23/16

62 West Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $169,850
Buyer: Eileen Z. Nacsin
Seller: Michael J. Keane
Date: 05/20/16

96 Westbank Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Robert T. Poloski
Seller: Jeanne M. Keeley
Date: 05/27/16

37 Wentworth St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ezequiel Torres
Seller: Joshua J. Cardinale
Date: 05/19/16

119 White Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $154,400
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: John J. Bubar
Date: 05/25/16

82 Wilber St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Edwind Rivera
Seller: Scott G. Tomestic
Date: 05/20/16

63 Woodcrest Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Rooke
Seller: Nancy V. Rooke
Date: 05/20/16

13 Woodrow St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Orlando Ramos
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 05/27/16

SOUTHWICK

63 Foster Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Kimberley J. Betts
Seller: John F. Cain
Date: 05/27/16

11 Maple St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Jami D. Filiault
Seller: Brittany Perras
Date: 05/20/16

18 Shore Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $339,900
Buyer: Mark H. Goulet
Seller: Timothy J. Tracy
Date: 05/27/16

23 Sunnyside Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Robert I. White
Seller: Basan N. Nembirkow
Date: 05/27/16

WALES

38 Holland Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jeremy A. Lempke
Seller: Southbridge RE LLC
Date: 05/25/16

WESTFIELD

11 Allen Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Antoinette M. McLean
Seller: Marchesi, Joseph P., (Estate)
Date: 05/20/16

31 Alquat St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $130,924
Buyer: Maria Sopet
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 05/27/16

228 Barbara St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Martin Petranek
Date: 05/27/16

43 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $305,400
Buyer: Jean-Guy A. Aube
Seller: Linda J. Greaney
Date: 05/27/16

110 Christopher Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Christopher Robare
Seller: Kimberly S. Fisher
Date: 05/20/16

8 City View Blvd.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Christine Libardi
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/20/16

26 Dana St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Yevgeniy S. Maltsev
Seller: Lynn F. Gruneiro
Date: 05/26/16

48 Feeding Hills Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Sarah E. Alwon
Seller: Jean Hart-Steffes
Date: 05/25/16

11 Fern Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Dena Polverari
Seller: Sergio C. Bonavita
Date: 05/25/16

12 Foch Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Maryanne B. Gainer
Seller: Kevin W. Shultz
Date: 05/26/16

190 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $252,500
Buyer: Anthony Gaudino
Seller: Kenneth F. Phipps
Date: 05/26/16

130 Hawks Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $309,900
Buyer: Carl W. Grobe
Seller: Thomas A. Hall
Date: 05/26/16

15 Maria Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Kevin W. Shultz
Seller: Timothy M. Uliana
Date: 05/26/16

128 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: 128 Meadow Street LLC
Seller: Westfield Service Center
Date: 05/25/16

5 Morris St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Zoilayne Velazquez
Seller: Craig Filiault
Date: 05/18/16

247 Munger Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Beverly J. Fein
Seller: Adam C. Bird
Date: 05/27/16

27 Phillip Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $182,400
Buyer: Latroa M. Godbolt
Seller: Darcy A. Santos
Date: 05/18/16

85 Sandy Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Kathleen M. Koske
Seller: Kenneth J. Neary
Date: 05/26/16

13 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Jason R. Lamothe
Seller: Collier, Elaine J., (Estate)
Date: 05/26/16

52 Squawfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Adina A. Pignatare
Seller: Anthony Gaudino
Date: 05/26/16

61 Stoney Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,500
Buyer: Robert E. Cloutier
Seller: Michael J. Popko
Date: 05/20/16

77 Stoney Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,500
Buyer: Robert E. Cloutier
Seller: Michael J. Popko
Date: 05/20/16

353 Sunnyside Road
Westfield, MA 01077
Amount: $144,850
Buyer: Matthew C. O’Boyle
Seller: Stanley Haracz
Date: 05/19/16

146 Wildflower Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Charles E. Yelinek
Seller: Joseph H. Avonti
Date: 05/20/16

154 Wildflower Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $402,000
Buyer: Sergio C. Bonavita
Seller: Jeffrey B. Lavoine
Date: 05/25/16

7 William St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Iurie Beleai
Seller: Sergey Kachur
Date: 05/20/16

56 Yankee Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Sergey Novenko
Seller: FHLM
Date: 05/25/16

130 Yeoman Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $177,900
Buyer: Robert A. Bengle
Seller: Steven B. Clement
Date: 05/27/16

WILBRAHAM

2 Bonair Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $334,000
Buyer: Eric J. Blair
Seller: Peter R. Carmichael
Date: 05/23/16

24 Briar Cliff Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $499,900
Buyer: James H. Pollard
Seller: John P. Whiting
Date: 05/23/16

21 Brookside Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Gary A. Wright
Seller: Lawrence J. Emerle
Date: 05/27/16

8 Bulkley Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Wilbraham & Monson Academy
Seller: Stacy H. Hagenbaugh
Date: 05/17/16

8 Fox Hill Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Denise Lafountain
Seller: Pinnacle Estates At Ranch
Date: 05/24/16

10 Lake Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Dilipkumar Patel
Seller: Sushilaben Patel
Date: 05/24/16

16 Leemond St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Jason K. Maurice
Seller: Stephen R. Welch
Date: 05/27/16

9 Maple St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $13,500,000
Buyer: WHC Wilbraham LLC
Seller: CCP Properties Business TR
Date: 05/26/16

5 Merrill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Jacquelynn D. Szybillo
Seller: Matthew J. Nardi
Date: 05/26/16

138 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $212,400
Buyer: Nicholas L. Aubrey
Seller: David E. Desautels
Date: 05/27/16

41 Shirley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Scott Harvey
Seller: Paul M. Dailey
Date: 05/20/16

4 Webster Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $587,500
Buyer: Seth N. Stratton
Seller: Daniel Chalifour
Date: 05/27/16

5 Woodside Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Erin E. O’Brien
Seller: Kristen Mann
Date: 05/19/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

138 Beacon Hill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,500
Buyer: Steven B. Clement
Seller: Nicole M. Lachance
Date: 05/27/16

215 Cayenne St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Richard Rodriguez
Seller: Brett E. Jenkins
Date: 05/25/16

40 Connecticut Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Rose Flores
Seller: Peter P. Bobinski
Date: 05/26/16

33 Cynthia Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Patrick J. McCormack
Seller: Mark F. Burke
Date: 05/27/16

123 Heywood Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Shakeel Ahmed
Seller: Della Ripa Real Estate
Date: 05/27/16

73 Maple Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $255,428
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Martin K. Rzeznik
Date: 05/23/16

86 Norman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Yost Family Realty LLC
Seller: Stanley Czaplicki
Date: 05/17/16

42 Old Barn Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jeffrey B. Lavoine
Seller: William V. Guiel
Date: 05/25/16

9 Pease Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Scott A. Ashley
Seller: John A. Vieceli
Date: 05/20/16

1009 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Kyle J. Redmond
Seller: Joseph W. Dupuis
Date: 05/27/16

50 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lisa M. Allen
Date: 05/19/16

1612 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: 83 Worthen Street Inc.
Seller: John T. O’Donnell Realty
Date: 05/18/16

1844 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: 1844 Riverdale LLC
Seller: Matthew S. Griswold
Date: 05/24/16

27 Rochelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Bo Win
Seller: Robert R. Asselin
Date: 05/23/16

89 Spring St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Milagro D. Vasquez
Seller: Jose C. Carrasco
Date: 05/27/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

1174 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $291,500
Buyer: Lucas F. Chaufournier
Seller: David A. Ottariano
Date: 05/17/16

691 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Jason H. Roach
Seller: Garrabrants FT
Date: 05/17/16

783 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Jennifer E. Abbingsole
Seller: Jon W. Holcombe
Date: 05/20/16

123 Blackberry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $462,500
Buyer: Lili Hu
Seller: Joseph F. Bohan
Date: 05/18/16

12 Cranberry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $313,000
Buyer: Rosalind Reid
Seller: Dorick J. Digenti
Date: 05/20/16

39 Emily Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $405,900
Buyer: Chen Wang
Seller: Julie M. Goddard
Date: 05/23/16

349 Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Elizabeth C. Smith
Seller: Leigh F. Andrews
Date: 05/16/16

106 Pelham Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Robert J. Dullea
Seller: Austin S. Polebitski
Date: 05/20/16

36 Pondview Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Ethan B. Plunkett
Seller: Alice C. Swift
Date: 05/19/16

197 South Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Amherst College
Seller: Elizabeth Cannon-Smith
Date: 05/16/16

196 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Japheth E. Dziubek
Seller: Charles V. Grybko
Date: 05/17/16

38 Woodlot Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Marcy L. Daniels
Seller: Barbara J. Bigelow
Date: 05/27/16

BELCHERTOWN

323 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $202,500
Buyer: Gordon P. Hamilton
Seller: Julie M. Lincourt
Date: 05/16/16

11 Cottage St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $219,800
Buyer: Lucienne A. Hyson
Seller: Liming Liu
Date: 05/26/16

9 Dana Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Daniel P. Resca
Seller: David H. Rainaud
Date: 05/26/16

5 George Hannum Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Norcor Autowash Inc.
Seller: TNT Auto Wash LLC
Date: 05/17/16

7 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Steven T. Giuffre
Seller: Richard K. Kirchner
Date: 05/20/16

85 North Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: David Ottariano
Seller: DAG Real Estate Development Inc.
Date: 05/17/16

62 Orchard St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $305,500
Buyer: Christopher R. Martell
Seller: Andrew P. Mulek
Date: 05/27/16

60 Sargent St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Eagle Crest RT
Seller: Amie C. Elwardany
Date: 05/25/16

41 Shaw St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Jeffrey W. Roy
Seller: Michael J. Roy
Date: 05/20/16

55 South Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Michael A. Chotkowski
Seller: Alan Bourbeau
Date: 05/26/16

39 Springfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $356,000
Buyer: Thea V. Kristensen
Seller: Hans H. Mentzen
Date: 05/26/16

343 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Johndrow
Seller: David L. Bassett
Date: 05/20/16

37 Terry Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Julianne Crum
Seller: Susan F. Lesniak
Date: 05/27/16

345 Warren Wright Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Adam A. Quenneville
Seller: Casey, Ethel E., (Estate)
Date: 05/27/16

EASTHAMPTON

15 Beyer Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Samuel R. Maule
Seller: David F. Cordaro
Date: 05/27/16

14 Broad St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Samuel R. Dibble
Seller: W. Marek Inc.
Date: 05/20/16

47 Carillon Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $299,500
Buyer: Michael A. Jurkowski
Seller: Laurin Builders Inc.
Date: 05/27/16

21 Center St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Charles R. Robertson
Seller: Karel P. Guardado NT
Date: 05/16/16

2 Cherry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Evan L. Ray
Seller: David Robertson
Date: 05/23/16

4 Clark Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: April Realty Investments
Seller: Lynn A. Brakey
Date: 05/27/16

130 Cottage St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: William F. Steplar
Seller: Libby K. Kanazi
Date: 05/18/16

15 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Keely G. Savoie
Seller: Patricia A. Underwood
Date: 05/27/16

26 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $229,500
Buyer: Susan E. Schaeffer
Seller: Picam Real Estate LLC
Date: 05/27/16

40 Kenneth Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Brenda L. Maurer
Seller: Carolyn Leduc
Date: 05/23/16

28 Kingsberry Way
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: David B. Kinstle
Seller: Leticia M. Almeida
Date: 05/27/16

33 Meadowbrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Keeley G. Herbert
Seller: Robert E. Dragon
Date: 05/20/16

12 Melinda Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Brittani A. Coopee
Seller: Matthew D. Mielke
Date: 05/16/16

72 Parsons St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $364,140
Buyer: 72 Parsons Street LLC
Seller: Susan J. Hess-Snape RET
Date: 05/26/16

20 Wright St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Ronald H. Cody
Seller: Natalie Nan Jones RET
Date: 05/17/16

GOSHEN

34 Main St.
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Sasha D. Starr
Seller: Amy K. Harper
Date: 05/26/16

GRANBY

20 Barton St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Allen R. Morrison
Seller: Roy L. Dupuis
Date: 05/27/16

415 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Sarah A. Hill
Seller: Brian M. Harrison
Date: 05/20/16

111 Cold Hill
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Melissa E. Mills-Dick
Seller: Julia E. Stearns
Date: 05/26/16

87 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $268,500
Buyer: Robert S. Killin
Seller: Susan E. Clark
Date: 05/26/16

91 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Michael S. Lesniak
Seller: Richard N. Hooper
Date: 05/27/16

48 Lyman St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Ryan M. Sullivan
Seller: Leo E. Fugler
Date: 05/24/16

HADLEY

199 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Agnes Ting
Seller: Deborah L. Ponce
Date: 05/20/16

HATFIELD

13 Cronin Hill Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jessica N. Norton
Seller: Caitlin V. Sheffer
Date: 05/23/16

Plain Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: 5 Colleges Inc.
Seller: Lynda S. Holich
Date: 05/16/16

West St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: 5 Colleges Inc.
Seller: Lynda S. Holich
Date: 05/16/16

122 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Timothy E. Jaescke
Seller: Ronald Mistarka
Date: 05/18/16

NORTHAMPTON

91 Barrett St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Juan C. Aguilar
Seller: Foley, Anita M., (Estate)
Date: 05/20/16

1123 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $204,900
Buyer: Aaron J. Drysdale
Seller: Michael E. Parmenter
Date: 05/18/16

134 Clement St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Keith C. Milne
Seller: Craig S. Cardinal
Date: 05/27/16

14 Conz St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: 14 Conz Street LLC
Seller: August RET
Date: 05/25/16

115 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $541,777
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Doak
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 05/24/16

70 Forest Glen Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Jennifer Novak
Seller: Colepaugh, Arthur H., (Estate)
Date: 05/20/16

15 Glendale Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: David J. Moffett
Seller: Barbara A. Moffett
Date: 05/27/16

44 High St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Annelise J. Martin
Seller: 44 High Street T. 2
Date: 05/26/16

75 Park Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $307,500
Buyer: Laura M. Furlan
Seller: Thomas J. O’Connor
Date: 05/25/16

45 Prospect Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $432,500
Buyer: Stacey L. Novack
Seller: Stephen Woodruff
Date: 05/18/16

16 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ridgeview Development LLC
Seller: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Date: 05/23/16

17 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ridgeview Development LLC
Seller: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Date: 05/23/16

28 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ridgeview Development LLC
Seller: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Date: 05/23/16

29 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ridgeview Development LLC
Seller: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Date: 05/23/16

50 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ridgeview Development LLC
Seller: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Date: 05/23/16

58 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ridgeview Development LLC
Seller: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Date: 05/23/16

367 Rocky Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Thomas J. O’Connor
Seller: Marguerite A. Merrigan
Date: 05/25/16

900 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Kristine E. Pollard
Seller: Jessica Nardizzi
Date: 05/20/16

245 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $389,000
Buyer: Katherine F. Glynn
Seller: Phoebe D. Sheldon
Date: 05/20/16

SOUTH HADLEY

19 Blueberry Bend
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $379,900
Buyer: Brooke A. Liguori
Seller: Charles A. Dooley
Date: 05/25/16

13 Bombardier St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Jesse Caputo
Seller: Wendy A. Papko
Date: 05/27/16

7 Charles St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Neal D. Lacey
Seller: Joseph M. Landry
Date: 05/27/16

15 Cypress Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $186,900
Buyer: Brian A. Dimock
Seller: Nathan D. Ryan
Date: 05/27/16

157 Ferry St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Robert J. Roose
Seller: Baba H. Hillman
Date: 05/27/16

573 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $12,000,000
Buyer: WHC South Hadley LLC
Seller: CCP Properties Business TR
Date: 05/26/16

161 Lathrop St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Catherine E. Linberg
Seller: RL Holbrook Realty LLC
Date: 05/16/16

118 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Carol A. Lyszchyn
Date: 05/19/16

276 Morgan St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Malaney
Seller: Joseph F. Long
Date: 05/24/16

263 North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Audrey Letizia
Seller: Brooke Adams
Date: 05/25/16

414 Pearl St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Todd Danio
Seller: Diana Grand-Masters
Date: 05/19/16

9 Upper River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Paul E. Macgregor
Seller: Christopher A. Ghanoski
Date: 05/25/16

31 West Summit St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Ronald J. White
Seller: Jessica Mykytiuk
Date: 05/16/16

4 Wright Place
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $245,900
Buyer: Sankar Datta
Seller: Lisa M. Chiodo
Date: 05/23/16

SOUTHAMPTON

139 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $196,200
Buyer: Merrimack Mortgage Co. Inc.
Seller: Maya L. Leiva
Date: 05/25/16

4 Line St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $722,500
Buyer: Merellie Realty LLC
Seller: Dutch LLC
Date: 05/19/16

Old Harvest Road #3
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $429,000
Buyer: Brian M. Harrison
Seller: G&F Custom Built Homes
Date: 05/20/16
WARE

437 Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: David E. Cote
Seller: Timothy R. Souza
Date: 05/19/16

7 Berkshire Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Kimberly L. Gilbert
Seller: James J. Wojcik
Date: 05/25/16

14 Gould Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $123,549
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Louis F. Sibley
Date: 05/25/16

49 Old Poor Farm Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Denise M. Albano
Seller: Kimberly Rivest
Date: 05/27/16

110 Old Poor Farm Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Scott Allen
Seller: Anthony M. Laforte
Date: 05/18/16

WILLIAMSBURG

86 Adams Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Debra Warner
Seller: Diane E. Bushee
Date: 05/16/16

41 Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Cumberland Farms Inc.
Seller: LHB Enterprises Inc.
Date: 05/18/16

168 Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $123,500
Buyer: Paul C. Roud
Seller: Carl V. Cignoni
Date: 05/24/16

98 Old Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Tedric F. Eiseman
Seller: James P. Godfrey
Date: 05/23/16

5 Williams St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Kyle J. Marquis
Seller: Sarah G. Marquis
Date: 05/20/16

WORTHINGTON

242 Williamsburg Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. McCoubrey
Seller: Eric D. Byrne
Date: 05/26/16

Gun Violence Is a Public-health Crisis

Opinion

By James S. Gessner, M.D.

Yet another mass shooting has stunned the nation, this time in Orlando, Fla., leaving 49 people dead and another 50 injured. The home of Walt Disney World and the destination of thousands of tourists each year is now the site of the largest mass shooting in the history of America, joining such names as Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Sandy Hook, along with more than a hundred other places.

Such events are becoming all too common. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 133 mass shootings in 39 states occurred in the U.S. between January 2009 and July 2015 — almost two per month. Yet, as horrible and shocking as they are, mass shootings — defined by the FBI as any incident in which at least four people are murdered with a gun — account for a small share of firearm homicides.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 33,000 deaths from firearms — about 91 a day on average — occur each year.

The statistics make it abundantly clear: gun violence is a public-health issue. And the physician’s voice — ever so critical on matters of public health — must become stronger.

The Mass. Medical Society (MMS) stance on this issue has been firm and long-standing. Our medical society’s policy on firearms and gun violence is expansive and dates back to 1995. It is guided by “the principles of reducing the number of deaths, disabilities, and injuries attributable to guns; making gun ownership safer; promoting education relative to guns, ammunition, and violence prevention for physicians and other health professionals, as well as for the public; and encouraging research to understand the risk factors related to gun violence and deaths.”

Our actions have matched our policy. Our Committee on Violence Intervention and Prevention, also established in 1995, has provided a number of resources to help reduce violence in many forms, and gun violence has been prominent among the topics.

From testimony on proposed legislation on Beacon Hill to education for patients; from resources for physicians on talking with patients to our Public Health Leadership Forum on Firearm Violence in April, to then-MMS President Dr. Richard Aghababian’s call to action following the school shootings in Newtown in 2012, gun safety and gun violence have been key issues for our society.

It is heartening to see more physician groups lend their strong support to the effort. The American Medical Assoc. (AMA), with long-standing policies on reducing violence from firearms, stated its position at this year’s annual meeting, adopting a policy calling gun violence in the U.S. “a public health crisis” that requires a comprehensive public-health response and solution. The AMA also resolved to lobby Congress to overturn legislation that for 20 years has banned the CDC from conducting research on gun violence.

A second resolution by the AMA on firearm availability encourages legislation that would enforce a waiting period and background check for all firearm purchases and urges additional legislation to ban the manufacture, sale, or import of lethal and non-lethal guns of non-metallic materials that can not be identified by weapons-detection devices.

More efforts at our medical society are underway. Our Leadership Forum will provide materials for six continuing-medical-education courses on gun violence to launch at the end of June. Among the topics will be the role of the clinician, community-based prevention, and evaluating the risk for gun violence in patients. Additionally, we are participating with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in developing materials to enhance the provider-patient relationship regarding firearms.

The shock of Orlando may fade over time, but physician efforts to reduce gun violence should not. Attorney General Healey, speaking at our Leadership Forum, highlighted the importance of physician participation in curbing gun violence, saying it will require a “partnership” with physicians. Indeed it will.

Dr. James S. Gessner is president of the Mass. Medical Society.

Doing Business As Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

Business Technology Solutions
22 King St.
Matthew Gates

Leak’s Abelta Skincare
159 Main St.
Somchai Daniels

Lularoe-Katelyn Linder
51 Elbert Road
Katelyn Linder

Margarita Interior
472 Meadow St.
Margarita Abramova

SD Business Services
26 Franklin St.
Said Mandour

T & R Dining Service
67 Hunt St.
Ronald Perry

HOLYOKE

Renaissance On Cabot
217 Cabot St.
Joel F. Camp

Target Optical
50 Holyoke St.
Deborah Ackerman

Torrid
50 Holyoke St.
Brenda Morris

Zales Jewelers
50 Holyoke St.
Justin Droder

LUDLOW

Fancy Nails
207 Winsor St.
Jo Ann Tuyet

Furches Performance
430 Center St.
Brandon Furches

Kerry’s Kitchen
247 Cady St.
Linda Soytokowski

NORTHAMPTON

B.E.S.T. Clinical Massage
71 Bradford St.
Nathan McElligott

Creative Coaching Methods
72 Chapel St.
Marylou Meddaugh

Family Legacy Partners
48 Round Hill Road
Karen Curran

Greens Treat
1236 Florence Road
John Sielski

Nadia’s Alterations
518 Pleasant St.
Nadezhda Sliuka

Passalongs
198 Sylvester St.
Adrienne Bashista

Venn Magic
13 Bridge St.
Barbara Marsh

PALMER

GMR
2094 Main St.
Gregory Drolet

New England Bookkeeping Services
9 Coache St.
Donna Weeks

SPRINGFIELD

66 DKR, LLC
851 East Columbus Ave.
Dinesh Patel

AIM
18 Pineview Dr.
William E. Blatch

ABC Supply Company
75 Page Blvd.
American Builders

All About Beauty
158 Chestnut St.
Michael Perez

Ayalas Handyman Service
111 School St.
Santos Ayala

B. Ricks Management
235 State St.
Brittany Jenee

Benovations
43 Rockland St.
Benjamin Lynch

Bettermen Construction
1 Federal St.
Mark Failey

C & C Grocery
546 Worthington St.
Candida Carbalo

Carmen’s Gift & Jewelry
2684 Main St.
Darien L. Santiago

Carrier Northeast
467 Cottage St.
Carrier Enterprise

DD Cleaning
26 Dubois St.
Nelson D. Devia

Shrub Man
153 Plainfield St.
Thomas Mauer

Swagger Apparel Line
54 Herbert Ave.
Teressa Doris

T & T Nail Bar
340 Cooley St.
Tuan Truong

Total Tech Recycling
115 State St.
Marc Brown

Varzea, LLC
1242 Main St.
Hector Fearfield

Weed Man
153 Plainfield St.
Thomas Mauer

Wicked Tan
1760 Boston Road
April Ramos

WQY Beauty Center Inc.
1195 Sumner Ave.
Franky Luan

WESTFIELD

DJ Construction
9 Allen Ave.
Daniel Johnson

Laurinda’s Solutions
136 Sunset Dr.
Laurinda Pudlo

Sarah Boudreau
277 Falley Dr.
Sarah Boudreau

Optimum Health Massage
120 Elm St.
Christine Bissonette

WEST SPRINGFIELD

98 Front St., LLC
98 Front St.
Suzanne Halpin

Beautiful Rooms
42 Myron St.
Gary Okun

Convenience Mart
189 Piper Road
Mohammad Ishaq

Cosmo Prof
464 Riverdale St.
Debra Cox

Elm Street Partnerships
195 Elm St.
Rajesh Rayonia

Galaxy 900
32 Pine St.
Ralph Dalise

Guitar Center
935 Riverdale St.
John Unger

Innovative Concepts
871 Elm St.
Tiffany Lissa

CityBlock Concert Series Will Rock Springfield’s Downtown

Sections Travel and Tourism

The Sounds of Summer

Each summer concert in Stearns Square may attract between 1,000 and 5,000 attendees, depending on the artist.

Chris Russell says the performers at this year’s CityBlock Concert Series will appeal to a wide variety of musical tastes.

“The outdoor concerts have been a popular event for many years, and we worked hard last year to diversify the offerings,” said the executive director of the Springfield Business Improvement District, or BID, which stages the series. “But we think we’ve done an even better job this year.”

The summer lineup includes a range of genres and showcases well-known groups whose music ranges from pop, rock, and folk to country, Motown, and blues.

“We offer regional and national acts that most people have to pay to see,” Russell told BusinessWest, noting that performances are held on Thursday nights in Stearns Square in the heart of downtown.

They begin at approximately 7:30 p.m., and Russell said area restaurants definitely benefit from the events: they are filled before and after the concerts, which is particularly beneficial because the summer is a time when business usually slows down.

“The restaurants get very busy on the nights of the performances. The concerts are one of the driving economic forces for their weeknight summer business, and they are very important to them. They report a big uptick during the events,” he noted, adding that the concerts attract about 20,000 people each season, with attendance varying from 1,000 to 5,000 each night, depending on the weather and what group is playing.

Word has spread about the free attractions, and the BID begins receiving requests as early as December from groups that want to be part of the concert series in Springfield.

“We try to get national touring acts, so putting schedules together can be challenging,” Russell noted, adding that, although the BID stages the events — which includes hiring the acts, taking care of all operations, and producing the series — the sponsors provide critical funding.

This year, MassMutual Financial Group is CityBlock’s presenting sponsor, followed by other businesses that include Williams Distributing, Sheraton Springfield, the Eastern States Exposition, and United Personnel.

Diverse Talents

Although all of the concerts feature well-known groups, a few are expected to be especially popular. They include the Machine Performs Pink Floyd, which will appear July 21.

“We’re expecting a very large turnout that night,” Russell said.

The Machine is the most popular Pink Floyd show in the nation and has been playing for 25 years. They employ elaborate stage displays and dramatic lighting and have appeared in theaters, large clubs, and casinos across North and Central America, Europe, and Asia, along with playing at many renowned music festivals.

The American country-music group Natalie Stovall and the Drive, which will appear July 28, is also expected to attract a large crowd.

Stovall began playing the fiddle professionally at age 10 and made her Grand Old Opry debut at age 12. She puts on about 200 shows every year and has performed at the White House as well as on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and supported non-country acts like Switchfoot, the Doobie Brothers, Styx, and Safetysuit.

The Springfield BID staged the first CityBlock Concert Series 15 years ago, and the annual events have continued since that time, boosting business downtown and bringing people to the city who might not otherwise visit on a weeknight.

BID ambassadors are stationed on a number of streets, and the architectural details of many historic buildings are highlighted, thanks to special lighting installed by the BID, which runs from the MassMutual Center along Main Street to Lyman Street.

Extra police details patrol the area during the concerts, although Russell says Springfield is one of the safest cities of its size in the region.

And although many communities offer free summer music events, Springfield’s CityBlock series differs due to the local and nationally acclaimed acts, which are made possible by the support of local businesses.

“The concerts take place rain or shine and are a big undertaking,” Russell said, adding that vendors offer food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to concertgoers, although many choose to frequent downtown restaurants before and after the shows.

The first concert will take place June 30 and will feature FAT, a rock band from Springfield that toured as the opening act for the Allman Brothers after their first album was released, and has sold out the MassMutual Center Ballroom.

“They’re a local favorite and always draw a huge crowd,” Russell said.

Their performance will be held in Court Square instead of Stearns Square, but there will be no street closures, and parking will be available in the Civic Center and 91 South garages, as well as on the street.

In addition to FAT, the Machine Performs Pink Floyd, and Natalie Stovall and the Drive, other concerts include:

• Ricky Nelson Remembered on July 7;
• Forever Motown on July 14;
• Terry Sylvester on Aug. 4;
• Max Creek on Aug. 11;
• Blessid Union of Souls on Aug. 18; and
• The Shadowboxers on Aug. 25.

Russell said the American rock band Max Creek is expected to draw a large and diverse audience. The group has been playing for more than 40 years, and its music incorporates rock, country, reggae, soul, jazz, and calypso, as well as their own songs. Guitarist Scott Murawski, keyboardist Mark Mercier, and bassist John Rider have been with Max Creek since the mid-’70s, and are accompanied by the drums and percussion team of Bill Carbone and Jamemurrell Stanley.

A performance by the Shadowboxers, which will mark the end of the season and is being paid for by the Big E, is also expected to bring large numbers of people to Stearns Square. Their first full-length album, Red Room, produced by Brady Blade (Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris) was featured in the New York Daily News “Top 10 Picks in Music,” and the band’s cover of Justin Timberlake’s “Pusher Love Girl” attracted nearly 200,000 YouTube views as well as recognition on Twitter from Timberlake and Pharrell Williams.

In addition to the main acts, the Eastern States Exposition is sponsoring a weekly opening-act performance. These acts will be finalists in the exposition’s Masters of Music Competition, and the overall winner will perform at the Big E and receive $1,000 and a trip to Nashville for two band members.

“The concerts provide a fun night in the city,” Russell said. “But we have to give a lot of credit and thanks to our sponsors, and we are very grateful for their support.”

New Director Sets the Stage for Continued Growth at the ‘Pillow’

Sections Travel and Tourism

Choreographing a Game Plan

Pamela Tatge says an invite to Jacob’s Pillow is a goal set by choreographers across the country and around the world.

There are 10 weeks to the season at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival each summer, and two main theaters hosting productions. That means 20 dance groups get to appear during those extended weekends between late June and the end of August.

But that’s a tiny fraction of the number that would like to book a trip to the picturesque campus in the Berkshire County hamlet of Becket, noted Pamela Tatge, who said that to be chosen for one of those 20 spots represents what she called a serious “vote of confidence” for the troupe in question.

“This is a very powerful brand — to get to Jacob’s Pillow is a goal that choreographers across the country and around the world share,” said Tatge, who recently took over as director of ‘the Pillow,’ as it’s known, succeeding Ella Baff. “It is a gold standard.”

Choosing which groups get this vote of confidence is a team effort, but something at or near the top of a lengthy list of her job responsibilities, said Tatge, who arrived in April.

Others include everything from fund-raising to marketing; from preservation (this is a National Historic Landmark) to overseeing acclaimed education and residency programs; from so-called audience engagement (welcoming attendees to those aforementioned performances, for example) to working with the institution’s large board of directors to create a vision and set a tone, artistically and otherwise, for the Pillow moving forward.

And recently, there have been some additions to that list, or at least matters that have taken on a new sense of urgency.

These include efforts to work in greater collaboration with other Berkshire-area attractions and institutions to make the region an even greater destination, and work to develop new and different ways to diversify the audiences at those performances and, especially, engage more young people in dance, the Pillow, and the arts in general.

Tatge, who comes to the Becket campus from a lengthy stint as director of the Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University, embraces every line on that job description and the broad, overarching challenge of continuing a proud, 84-year-old tradition.

“I knew how precious this institution was,” she said while explaining this career move, “and what an incredible opportunity it would be to be invited to lead it.”

For this issue and its special Summer Happenings section, BusinessWest talked at length with Tatge about the Pillow, her vision for its future, and how she intends to carefully choreograph a game plan for this venerable institution for the decades to come.

The Next Steps

Tatge said she couldn’t recall how many times she had taken in performances at Jacob’s Pillow over the years, but made it clear she didn’t need directions to the Becket campus, located just off Route 20.

Created by Ted Shawn, one of the first notable male pioneers of American modern dance, in 1933, the Pillow has been not only a place to take in fine dance, she explained, but also a scholarly retreat, both literally and figuratively, in many respects, providing a window into the past, present, and, in some ways, the future of contemporary dance.

“Jacob’s Pillow has been in my consciousness ever since I was a dance presenter,” she said, adding that she considers her work with dance to be perhaps her signature accomplishment at Wesleyan. “It’s the place I looked to discover emerging artists, to see international work that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to see because I didn’t have the travel resources at my institution, and for its resources — the archives are so extensive and so important for dance curators like me to access.”

So when a headhunter called last fall inquiring about whether she would be interested in succeeding Baff, Tatge offered an enthusiastic ‘yes,’ thus setting the wheels in motion for what would become a much different kind of visit to the Becket campus.

Fast-forwarding to this past April, Tatge said that, upon arriving on campus, she set out to immediately fill the calendar with meetings involving a variety of stakeholders, from the staff to board members to the managers of other arts institutions in the Berkshires with which the Pillow collaborates.

She described them all as learning experiences that will be of great benefit as she goes about tackling all the responsibilities within that description.

She said her meetings with board members have been especially enlightening and eye-opening.

“They are palpably passionate about this dance form, and they are here all the time,” she explained, adding that she’s met with 21 of the 23 members. “I wanted to understand their connection, hopes, and dreams for the Pillow individually.”

Looking forward, she said she has a number of goals for the institution, and generally, they can be described as efforts to continue and strengthen traditions that have been in place for decades.

“I want to continue and deepen our investment in choreographers and the development of new work, using the campus at Jacob’s Pillow as a research site for artists,” she explained. “And think of the many ways we can leverage the assets we have at our magnificent site and our archives for the benefit of artists. I also want to continue our commitment to international work, making sure our audiences witness the world here, as they always have.”

Getting into greater detail, she said one of her goals is to continue work she described as cross-disciplinary.

Indeed, at Wesleyan, Tatge became known for work that brought different arts forms together in unique ways. In one, she brought a Japanese artist and a Wesleyan history professor together for a course on the history of the atomic bomb — the former through the work of artists in postwar Japan, and the latter handling the science and history.

Such work dovetails with initiatives already in place at Jacob’s Pillow, she said, listing, as just one example, a partnership with MASS MoCA in North Adams that brings dance and modern visual arts together.

“I’m fascinated by the intersection of art forms,” she explained. “And a lot of the work we will do at MASS MoCA will involve artists who are working at the crossroads of visual arts and dance, and I’m delighted to have that platform for that kind of work.”

Rallying the

Pamela Tatge says she embraces all of the many lines on her very lengthy job description as director at Jacob’s Pillow.

Meanwhile, another priority will be work to broaden audiences — and the Pillow’s membership base — and draw more young people into the arts at all levels. This is not a challenge unique to the Pillow, she said, noting that arts institutions across the country face the same hurdle, nor is it a recent phenomenon.

Indeed, the Pillow has been engaged in a number of initiatives in this realm, everything from incorporating more live music into performances to taking its act (and acts) off site and into area communities.

As an example, she said the group scheduled to perform in mid-August, Brooklyn-based FLEXN, will conduct an advance visit to the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield. It will include a dance-off (practitioners from across the region will be invited to participate), with members of the group taking part. The young dancers will be invited to take in one of the group’s performances in Becket.

“To engage new audiences, we need to leave our site and take dance into many different parts of our county,” Tatge explained, “as a way to expose audiences, on their turf, to what it is we do, and then invite them to come to our house after we’ve gone to their house.”

There are many other initiatives in this realm, she said, listing everything from visits to area schools to more intense use of social media to market the Pillow and its performances, to free admission to the so-called Inside/Out Stage, where groups beyond those chosen 20 perform each week.

As for that aforementioned work to decide which 20 groups get to come to Becket for a given season, Tatge said this is a challenging assignment as well, given the number of groups, or projects, wanting to get that vote of confidence she described, as well as the need to satisfy many different tastes for dance and its various genres, all while maintaining an international flavor.

She described the process of meeting that challenge with a single word — balance — and a commitment to creating it.

“I want to make sure that all of the appetites of our audience have to be taken care of,” she explained, adding that she is in the thick of creating the schedule for 2017 and is already thinking about 2018.

Elaborating, she said this assignment involves a mix of proactively seeking out choreographers and companies whose work represents “the intention and aesthetic I’m excited about for our audiences” as well as fielding entreaties from agents and groups about existing projects they would love to bring to Becket.

“What’s wonderful about the current Pillow program is how broad it is in terms of genre and geography, and I want to maintain that,” she told BusinessWest. “We’re a national center for dance, so we need to make sure that we’re being geographically represented when we’re considering U.S. artists, while continuing our commitment to international work.”

A look at the 2016 schedule, which includes groups from Stuttgart, Germany; Chicago; New York; Santa Fe; Seattle; and a host of other cities, reveals this geographic diversity, said Tatge, adding that this is certainly a tradition that will continue.

Beyond the Routine

When asked how she intended to make her mark, or put her stamp, on Jacob’s Pillow during her tenure, Tatge said one obvious answer would be the manner in which the schedule for those 10 weeks each summer is filled.

But from a larger-picture perspective, the answer lies in how, and how successfully, she addresses each of the many lines in her job description — from broadening the audience to creating those collaborations with other arts institutions, to securing a solid future for this eight-decade-old tradition.

When it comes to that assignment, Tatge has been given her own vote of confidence, and she intends to make the very most of that opportunity.

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

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Build with us Properties, 232 Walnut St., Agawam, MA 01001. Jennifer Illouz, same. Residential redevelopment .

FEEDING HILLS

Aps Consulting Inc., 236 James St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Carmine Dibella, same. Installation, maintenance, and service of ATM machines.

HADLEY

Adam Brady Bodyworks Inc., 171 River Dr., Hadley, MA 01035. Adam Brady, same. Physical therapy and body work services.

Banas Ventures GP Inc., 10 Mill Valley Road, Hadley, 01035. Brent Banas, same. Asset management services.

LONGMEADOW

Azrech Solutions Inc., 138 Tennyson Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Himadhar Vemulapalli, same.

Camden Row Designs Inc., 8 Rosemore St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Lindsay Daviau, same. Event design creating custom goods.

PITTSFIELD

413 Plumbing & Heating Inc., 4 Clarendon St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Justin Kisselbrock, same. Plumbing, heating and air conditioning services.

Berkshire Property Services Inc., 118 Winesap road, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Robert John Tremble, same. Property maintenance.

SOUTHAMPTON

Brian Craven Dentistry, P.C., 4 Line St., Southampton, MA 01073. Brian Craven, same. Dental practice.

SPRINGFIELD

AM & M Supermarket Inc., 1072 State St., Springfield, MA 01109. Alaa Abdelghani, 47 Warren St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Grocery store.

Arnold Construction Inc., 128 Cambridge St., Springfield, MA 01109. Bruce Arnold Sr., same. Construction service.

Bettermen Cnstruction Inc., 122 Cuff Ave., Springfield, MA 01104. Tracy Whitfield, same. Construction service.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

American Leisure Travel Inc., 203 Circuit Ave., Unit Office124, West Springfield, MA 01089. Kuo Sun, same. Charter bus and tour services.

WILBRAHAM

Ajr Enterprises Inc., 223 ThreeRivers Road., Wilbraham, MA 01095. Paulo Ramos, same. Landscaping services.

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Basile, Christopher J.
47 Cass Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/23/16

Berg, Ashley Brooke
48B Stillwater Road
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/17/16

Bingle, Sylvia G.
a/k/a Suchorzewski, Sylvia G.
6 Dayton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/27/16

Charles, Paul B.
69 Sanderson St. # 403
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/21/16

Coolbeth, Karen Ann
a/k/a Gerrard, Karen Ann
a/k/a Wright, Karen Ann
6 Circle Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/24/16

Dahlquist, Nancy Edith
161 Federal St. Unit 2
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/19/16

Design & Construction
Weise, David A.
37 Lawn St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/25/16

Dewey, Dean D.
10 Healey St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/25/16

Doran, Susan Lee
211 Fairway Village
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/19/16

Engley, April Rose
7 Avenue C
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/18/16

Franchere, Niki L.
24 Lemuel Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/20/16

GFY Enterprises, LLC
Turnberg, James M.
63 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/20/16

Gomes, Carol A.
60 Rochester St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/16

HFL Enterprises
Lavo, Harry Fessler
20 Easthampton Road, Apt. F
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/27/16

Jean Claude Hardwood Floors
Koffi, Jean-Claude Didier
9 Pearl St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/17/16

LaBrecque, Jessica L.
22 Texel Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/27/16

Lacoy, Angelique M.
46 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/20/16

Malloy, George O.
Malloy, Virginia L.
2 West Kittler Ave.
North Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/23/16

Maureen Bridget Photography
Sullivan Studios
Sullivan, Maureen B.
55 Circleview Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/26/16

McCarthy, Laura D.
82 Nassau Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/20/16

Mleczko, Mary A.
9R Rising Corner Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/26/16

O’Neil, Judith A.
87 East Road
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/24/16

Richardson, Barbara Ellen
43 Crown St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/17/16

Rivera, Juan P.
15 Valley Heights St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/23/16

Robson, Erin K.
a/k/a Robson, E. Kinsella
a/k/a Robson, Erin Kinsella
344 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/27/16

Robson, Peter H.
344 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/27/16

Rollins, Robert C.
30 Berkeley St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/19/16

Sadoski, Norma Jean
PO Box 384
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/27/16

Saunders, Jeanne M.
20 Randall Road
Montague, MA 01351
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/20/16

Smith, Jamie G.
PO Box 1822
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/27/16

Stuff N More
LeBlanc, Jesse
374 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/17/16

Vatter, Charles M.
24 Greenwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/18/16

Walsh, John J.
Walsh, Sheila A.
380 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/24/16

Zabriskie, Sarah Nenner
71 Gleason Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/18/16

Our Annual Guide to Warm-weather Fun in Western Mass.

Sections Travel and Tourism

What Summertime Blues?

In the mood for some live music or theater? Or are art shows and antiques more your style? How about clambering through the trees or soaring on roller-coaster tracks? Whatever your taste, Western Mass. boasts plenty of ways to enjoy the summer months, making any day potentially a vacation day. Here are 25 ideas to get you started, in a region that’s home to many, many more.

July

> Berkshires Arts Festival
Ski Butternut, 380 State Road, Great Barrington
(845) 355-2400; www.berkshiresartsfestival.com
Admission: $7-$14; free for children under 10

July 1-3: Ski Butternut may be best-known for … well, skiing, of course. But the property also plays host to the Berkshires Arts Festival, a regional tradition now in its 15th year. Thousands of art lovers and collectors are expected to stop by to check out and purchase the creations of more than 175 artists and designers, as well as experiencing theater and music from local and national acts. Founded by Richard and Joanna Rothbard, owners of An American Craftsman Galleries, the festival attracts top artists from across the U.S. and Canada.

>Fireworks Shows Various Locations

July 1-4: Independence Day weekend is brimming with nighttime pageantry throughout the Pioneer Valley. The Valley Blue Sox in Holyoke kick things off with fireworks following its July 1 game. July 2 brings displays at Beacon Field in Greenfield, while on June 3, Michael Smith Middle School in South Hadley and East Longmeadow High School get into the act. July 4 will bring the spectacle to Riverfront Park in Springfield and McGuirk Stadium at UMass Amherst. And Six Flags in Agawam will light up the night on July 2, 3, and 4.

> Brimfield Antique Show
Route 20, Brimfield
(413) 283-6149; www.brimfieldshow.com
Admission: Free

July 12-17, Sept. 6-11: After expanding steadily through the decades, the Brimfield Antique Show now encompasses six miles of Route 20 and has become a nationally known destination for people to value antiques, collectibles, and flea-market finds. Some 6,000 dealers and close to 1 million total visitors show up at the three annual, week-long events; the first was in May. The Brimfield Antique Show labels itself the “Antiques and Collectibles Capital of the United States,” and — judging by its scope and number of visitors — it’s hard to disagree.

> Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival
Look Park, 300 North Main St., Florence
(413) 862-8095; www.glasgowlands.org
Admission: $16; $5 for children 6-12; free for kids under 6

July 16: This 23nd annual festival celebrating all things Scottish features Highland dancers, pipe bands, a pipe and drum competition, animals, spinners, weavers, harpists, Celtic music, athletic contests, activities for children, and the authentically dressed Historic Highlanders recreating everyday life in that society from the 14th through 18th centuries. Inside the huge ‘pub’ tent, musical acts Enter the Haggis, Soulsha, Albannach, Screaming Orphans, and Charlie Zahm will keep toes tapping in the shade. Event proceeds benefit programs at Human Resources Unlimited and River Valley Counseling Center.

> Pioneer Valley Beer & Wine Festival
Look Park, 300 North Main St., Florence
(413) 584-5457; www.lookpark.org
Admission: $35 in advance, $40 at the door

July 30: Hungry — or thirsty — for something to do as the dog days of summer take hold? Look Park presents its first annual Beer & Wine Festival at the Pines Theater from noon to 4 p.m. Attendees (over age 21 with ID) will get to sample local beer and wine from the Pioneer Valley, live music, and food vendors including Local Burger, La Veracruzana, and Sierra Grille.

August

> Pocumtuck Homelands Festival
Unity Park, 1st Street, Turners Falls
(413) 498-4318; www.nolumbekaproject.org
Admission: Free

Aug. 6: This annual celebration of the parks, people, history, and culture of Turners Falls is a coordinated effort of the Nolumbeka Project and RiverCulture. The event features outstanding Native American crafts, food, and live music by Theresa ‘Bear’ Fox, Mohawk (Wolf Clan), ‘wave artist’ Mixashawn, the Medicine Mammals Singers, and Kontiwennenhawi, the Akwasasne Women Singers. Also featured will be the Black Hawk Singers, the Visioning B.E.A.R. Circle Intertribal Coalition Singers, a Penobscot hoop dancer, round dancing, elder teachings, craft activities, storytelling, and traditional dances. The Nolumbeka Project aims to preserve regional Native American history through educational programs, art, history, music, heritage seed preservation, and cultural events.

> Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival
Court Square, Springfield
(413) 303-0101; springfieldjazzfest.com
Admission: Free

Aug. 6: The third annual Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival will offer a festive atmosphere featuring locally and internationally acclaimed musical artists, dance and theater workshops, local arts and crafts, and plenty of food. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend and enjoy the sounds of jazz, Latin jazz, gospel, blues, funk, and more. Featured performers include Taj Mahal, Eric Krasno Band, Joey DeFrancesco Trio, Terri Lyne Carrington Group, Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils, Rayvon Owen, Heshima Moja and Ofrecimiento, and Jose Gonzalez and Banda Criolla. The festival is produced by Blues to Green, which uses music to bring people together, uplift and inspire, and help build a more equitable and sustainable world.

> Agricultural Fairs
Various locations and admission costs; see websites
www.thewestfieldfair.com; www.theblandfordfair.com; www.3countyfair.com; www.fcas.com; www.belchertownfair.com

Starting in late August and extending through September, the region’s community agricultural fairs are a much-loved tradition, promoting agriculture education in Western Mass. and supporting the efforts of local growers and craftspeople. The annual fairs also promise plenty of family-oriented fun, from carnival rides to animal demonstrations to food, food, and more food. The Westfield fair kicks things off Aug. 19-21, followed by the Blandford Fair and the Three County Fair in Northampton on Sept. 2-5, the Franklin County Fair in Greenfield on Sept. 8-11, and the Belchertown Fair on Sept. 23-25.

September

> Stone Soul Festival
Blunt Park, 1780 Roosevelt Ave., Springfield
(413) 636-3881; www.ssfestival.weebly.com
Admission: Free

Sept. 2-4: Stone Soul began in 1989 as a community reunion picnic aimed at gathering together the Mason Square Community. It has since evolved into a three-day event, and New England’s largest African-American festival. Stone Soul aims to provide family-oriented activities, entertainment, and cultural enrichment, and is a vehicle for minority-owned businesses to display their wares and crafts. Entertainment includes gospel, jazz, R&B, and dance. Sunday’s free picnic includes ribs and chicken cooked by talented pitmasters, as well as barbecued beans, cole slaw, and more, with the backdrop of an afternoon of live gospel music performed by local and regional choirs.

> Mattoon Street Arts Festival
Mattoon St., Springfield
(413) 736-0629
www.mattoonfestival.org
Admission: Free

Sept. 10-11: Now in its 44th year, the Mattoon Street Arts Festival is the longest-running arts festival in the Pioneer Valley, featuring about 100 exhibitors, including artists that work in ceramics, fibers, glass, jewelry, painting and printmaking, photography, wood, metal, and mixed media. Food vendors and strolling musicians help to make the event a true late-summer destination.

> Glendi
22 St. George Road, Springfield
(413) 737-1496
www.stgeorgecath.org/glendi
Admission: Free

Sept. 9-11: Every year, St. George Cathedral offers thousands of visitors the best in traditional Greek foods, pastries, music, dancing, and old-fashioned Greek hospitality. In addition, the festival offers activities for children, tours of the historic St. George Cathedral and Byzantine Chapel, various vendors from across the East Coast, icon workshops, movies in the Glendi Theatre, cooking demonstrations, and a joyful atmosphere the whole family will enjoy.

> Fresh Grass
1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams
(413) 662-2111; www.freshgrass.com
3-day pass: $99 for adults, $89 for students, $46 for ages 7-16

Sept. 16-18: The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is known for its musical events, and the Fresh Grass festival is among the highlights, showcasing more than 50 bluegrass artists and bands over three days. This year, the lineup includes Old Crow Medicine Show, Glen Hansard, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Devil Makes Three, Rosanne Cash, the Infamous Stringdusters, and many, many more. Also on tap are new-artist competitions (with prizes totaling $25,000) and bluegrass workshops open to festival attendees.

All Summer Long

> Berkshire
Botanical Garden
5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge
(413) 298-3926
www.berkshirebotanical.org
Admission: $15; free for kids under 12

Through Oct. 10: If the flora indigenous to, or thriving in, the Berkshires of Western Mass. is your cup of tea, try 15 acres of stunning public gardens at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge. Originally established as the Berkshire Garden Center in 1934, today’s not-for-profit, educational organization is both functional and ornamental, with a mission to fulfill the community’s need for information, education, and inspiration concerning the art and science of gardening and the preservation of the environment. In addition to the garden’s collections, among the oldest in the U.S., visitors can enjoy workshops, special events, and guided tours.

> CityBlock Concert Series
Worthington and Bridge streets, Springfield
(413) 781-1591
www.springfielddowntown.com/cityblock
Admission: Free

Through Aug. 25: Downtown Springfield’s annual Thursday-evening summer music series is again studded with a mix of national touring acts and local lights, starting with FAT on June 30 in Court Square. The shows then move to Stearns Square for the rest of the summer, and include Ricky Nelson Remembered (July 7), Forever Motown (July 14), the Machine (July 21), Natalie Stovall and the Drive (July 28), Terry Sylvester (Aug. 4), Max Creek (Aug. 11), Blessid Union of Souls (Aug. 18), and the Shadowboxers (Aug. 25). The presenting sponsor for the shows is MassMutual, and the series is presented by the Springfield Business Improvement District. See article on page 27 for more information.

> Crab Apple
Whitewater Rafting
2056 Mohawk Trail, Charlemont
(413) 625-2288; www.crabapplewhitewater.com
Admission: $110-$116 through Sept. 11; $99 after Sept. 11

Through Oct. 9: Wanna get wet? Crab Apple is a third-generation, multi-state family business that operates locally on the Deerfield River in the northern Berkshire Mountains of Western Mass. Its five separate rafting excursions range from mild to wild, full- or half-day runs, in rafts and inflatable kayaks. In short, Crab Apple offers something for everyone, from beginners to more experienced rafters.

> Hancock Shaker Village
1843 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield
(413) 443-0188; www.hancockshakervillage.org
Admission: $8-20; free for children 12 and under

Through October: In 1774, a small group of persecuted English men and women known as the Shakers — the name is derived from the way their bodies convulsed during prayer — landed in New York Harbor in the hopes of securing religious freedom in America. Nearly 250 years later, their utopian experiment remains available to the public in the restored 19th-century village of Hancock. Through 20 refurbished buildings and surrounding gardens, Shaker Village illuminates the daily lives of its highly productive inhabitants. After spending a day in the recreated town, visitors will surely gain a greater appreciation of the Shakers’ oft-forgotten legacy in the region.

> Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
358 George Carter Road, Becket
(413) 243-0745; www.jacobspillow.org
Admission: $25 and up

Through Aug. 30: Now in its 84rd season, Jacob’s Pillow has become one of the country’s premier showcases for dance, featuring more than 50 dance companies from the U.S. and around the world. Participants can take in scores of free performances, talks, and events; train at one of the nation’s most prestigious dance-training centers; and take part in community programs designed to educate and engage audiences of all ages. This year’s events introduce a quirky, charming company from Germany, the explosive footwork of South American gauchos, inspiring ballet companies from across the U.S., astounding flex dancers from the streets of Brooklyn, and 12 high-flying men from Algeria — plus, more live music than ever before. See article on page 25 for more information.

> Lady Bea Cruise Boat
1 Alvord St., South Hadley
(413) 315-6342; www.brunelles.com
Admission: $10-$15; free for kids 3 and under

Through Labor Day: If you’re in the mood for a scenic meander up and down the Connecticut River, consider the Lady Bea, a 53-foot, 49-passenger, climate-controlled boat operated by Brunelle’s Marina, which typically runs Thursday through Sunday between South Hadley and Northampton. If you don’t feel like sharing the 75-minute narrated voyage with others, rent the boat out for a private excursion. Amenties include a PA system, video monitors, a full bar, and seating indoors and on the sun deck — but the main attraction is the pristine water, sandy beaches, and unspoiled views along the river.

> Mahaiwe Performing
Arts Center
14 Castle St., Great Barrington
(413) 528-0100; www.mahaiwe.org
Admission: Varies by event

Year-round: The beloved Mahaiwe Theatre dates back to 1905 — continuously running programs since its opening — and underwent an extensive, $9 million renovation starting in 2003. Today, the theater seats just under 700 and hosts year-round arts programming, including music, dance, theatre, opera, talks, and movie classics. It’s leaders say Mahaiwe is a staple and a resource: its live performances inspire tens of thousands of audience members each year, its family and educational events are vital to the region, its embrace of modern technology supplements programming with live, high-definition satellite broadcasts from around the world, and its year-round schedule enhances the quality of life for those who reside in and visit the Berkshires.

> Nash Dinosaur
Track Site and
Rock Shop
594 Amherst Road, South Hadley
(413) 467-9566; www.nashdinosaurtracks.com
Admission: $3 for adults; $2 for children

Year-round: Walk where the dinosaurs walked, literally. It’s hard to believe that the first documented dinosaur tracks found in North America were on the shores of the Connecticut River, in 1802, near today’s site of Nash Dinosaur Track Site and Rock Shop in South Hadley. Over the years, thousands of dinosaur tracks have been discovered; many were sold to museums and private individuals all over the world, but many more can be seen due to the extensive work of Carlton S. Nash. Visit the site and learn about some of this region’s earliest inhabitants, and also about the geology of the area.

> New England Peace Pagoda
100 Cave Hill Road, Leverett
(413) 367-2202
www.newenglandpeacepagoda.com
Admission: Free

Year-round: A Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa, a monument to inspire peace, designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds, and to help unite them in their search for world peace. Most peace pagodas built since World War II have been built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Japanese Buddhist monk. Fujii was greatly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 and decided to devote his life to promoting non-violence. In 1947, he began constructing peace pagodas as shrines to world peace.

> Ramblewild
110 Brodie Mountain Road, Lanesborough
(844) 472-6253; www.ramblewild.com
Admission: $69 for adults, $59 for youth

Year-round: Aerial parks are an outdoor activity in and among the trees that offer excitement, challenge, and personal growth for families and adventurists of all kinds. At Ramblewild, the focal point is a central wooden platform about 10 feet above the ground from which eight aerial obstacle courses originate, meandering from tree to tree at various heights through the forest. Each course consists of 15 to 17 elements (high wires, ziplines, balancing logs, rope ladders, cargo nets, suspended bridges, etc.) that meander through a pristine hemlock forest. These tree-to-tree challenge courses are designed to have a profound impact on visitors’ self-confidence — while having lots of fun, of course.

> Six Flags New England
1623 Main St., Agawam
(413) 786-9300
www.sixflags.com/newengland
Admission: $61.99; season passes $91.99

Through oct. 31: Continuing an annual tradition of adding a new major attraction each spring, Six Flags New England recently unveiled Fireball, a looping coaster, and rethemed Bizarro to its original Superman motif, adding a virtual-reality component (via goggles) to boot. Other recent additions include the Wicked Cyclone, the 420-foot-tall New England Sky Screamer swings, the 250-foot Bonzai Pipeline enclosed waterslides, and the massive switchback coaster Goliath — in addition to a raft of other thrill rides. But fear not: the park has attractions for everyone along the stomach-queasiness spectrum, from the classic carousel and bumper cars to the wave pools and lazy river in the Hurricane Harbor water park, free with admission.

> Valley Blue Sox
Mackenzie Stadium
500 Beech St., Holyoke
(413) 533-1100
www.valleybluesox/pointstreaksites.com
Admission: $4-$6; season tickets $79

Through Aug. 1: Western Mass. residents don’t have to trek to Boston to catch quality baseball. The Valley Blue Sox, members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, play close to home at MacKenzie Stadium in Holyoke. These Sox feature a roster of elite collegiate baseball players from around the country, including some who have already been drafted into the major leagues. Frequent promotional events like postgame fireworks and numerous giveaways help make every game at MacKenzie Stadium a fun, affordable event for the whole family.

> Williamstown Theatre Festival
1000 Main St., Williamstown
(413) 597-3400; www.wtfestival.org
Admission: $40 and up

Through Aug. 21: Six decades ago, the leaders of Williams College’s drama department and news office conceived of an idea: using the campus’ theater for a summer performance program with a resident company. Since then, the festival has attracted a raft of notable guest performers. This season will spotlight a range of both original productions and plays by well-known lights such as Tennessee Williams (The Rose Tattoo) and Wendy Wasserstein (An American Daughter), as well as a number of other programs, such as post-show Tuesday Talkbacks with company members.

Joseph Bednar can be reached a [email protected]

Agenda

Agenda Departments

Baystate Heart & Vascular Program Lecture, Tour

June 29: The Baystate Heart & Vascular Program will host a free community lecture and tour from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s (BFMC) main conference rooms. Presenters Dr. Senthil Sivalingam and Dr. Heba Wassif will share information about the latest advances in heart and vascular care available in Greenfield. The event will include a tour of the program’s new location at BFMC. Heart-healthy refreshments will be served, and handouts will be provided. Sivalingam, a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist, will discuss slow heart rates, when it’s time to worry and seek treatment, and talking points to discuss with one’s physician. A graduate of Madras Medical College in India, he completed his internship and residency at Baystate Medical Center. He also holds a fellowship in cardiology from Tufts University School of Medicine/Baystate Medical Center, and a fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Sivalingam joined Baystate Medical Center in 2012 and Baystate Franklin Medical Center in 2015. A non-invasive cardiologist, Wassif will discuss the risks, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease, as well as new screening options to help improve one’s overall heart health. She received her master’s degree in public health from the Bloomberg John Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, and her medical degree from Cairo University in Egypt. She served as an internal medicine resident at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinic and as the chief resident for the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She completed her cardiology fellowship at John Hopkins Hospital/School of Medicine in Baltimore and an interventional-cardiology fellowship with additional advanced cardiology training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston. Wassif joined Baystate Franklin Medical Center in 2015.

Centennial Motorcycle Ride

July 4-5: The Springfield Museums will host events tied to the launch of the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride, a commemorative cross-country trip to honor the epic journey made by Adeline and Augusta Van Buren 100 years ago this summer. In 1916, the Van Buren Sisters were the first women to cross the continental U.S., each on her own Indian Powerplus motorcycle built in Springfield. During their historic trip, they became the first women to reach the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, and reached San Francisco after 60 days of riding. In 2002, the Sisters were inducted into the American Motorcyclist Assoc. Hall of Fame, and in 2003 they were inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Just as Adeline and Augusta did in 1916, Centennial Ride participants will begin their ride west in Springfield. The roughly 100 motorcyclists will gather on Monday, July 4 for dinner, music, and a viewing of fireworks from La Quinta Hotel in downtown Springfield. The next day, Tuesday, July 5, riders will attend an opening ceremony at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History at the Springfield Museums. The Wood Museum features the famous Indian Motocycle Collection, an expansive exhibit of vintage bikes, photographs, and memorabilia detailing the Springfield-based company’s proud history from its inception in 1902. Ride participants will also hear remarks from ride organizer Alisa Clickenger, Robert Pandya of Indian Motorcycle, and Wood Museum Director Guy McLain. That portion of the program will take place at 10 a.m. in SIS Hall at the Wood Museum, and is open to the public with paid museum admission. Following those opening comments, riders will be able to tour the Indian collection and enjoy a new exhibit created in honor of Adeline and Augusta. “Crossing the Country to Cross Barriers: The Van Buren Sisters Ride into History” will feature a range of photographs taken on the trip and a variety of rare memorabilia items on loan from the Van Buren family. The exhibit runs from June 28, 2016 to July 30, 2017. Adeline and Augusta will also be the honorees at this year’s Indian Day Celebration at the Springfield Museums, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 24. “We are thrilled that we’ve played a part in connecting the Van Buren family with the Springfield Museums and providing the inspiration for this new exhibit,” Clickenger said. “What a terrific way to formally start our event, by being able to bring our riders to the Springfield Museums to experience how and where our fabulous story began.” Information about the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride on July 5-23, as well as background on the Van Buren Sisters, adventure tours for women, and additional ride routes, can all be found on the event website, www.sistersmotorcycleride.com.

Lean LaunchPad Weekend

July 29-31: In today’s competitive market, startups and small businesses need all the help they can get. The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Elms College will hold a Lean LaunchPad weekend to help startups identify the specific problems their products or services can solve for customers. The weekend-long workshop, titled “Creating Customers and Value,” will help businesses fail less, save money, and discover target customers and ideal business models. The Lean LaunchPad weekend course combines hands-on experience, customer interaction, and business fundamentals to entrepreneurship. Participants will dive deep into the ‘value-proposition canvas’ to understand product market fit; they will also learn how to turn ideas into statements that convince customers to buy. The events will begin with a 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. session on Friday, July 29, and run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31. The workshop will include an “Idea Jam,” a look at business pitch concepts, team formation, networking, in-depth exploration of the value-proposition canvas, hands-on development of customer-value creation, an overview of market size and customer segments, and a business-pitch competition. The facilitators for the Startup Lean Weekend will be Jeremy Casey and Rick Plaut. Casey started Name Net Worth, a software startup company, in Springfield in 2014. His background as a serial networker, commercial lender, and communicator was the springboard to his transition from corporate America to entrepreneurship. He was president of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS), has conducted workshops with many high schools and colleges in the Northeast, and has mentored many startup organizations through Valley Venture Mentors, helping them get their businesses started and providing ongoing feedback as they grow. Plaut became an entrepreneur in 2009 after 30 years as a corporate ‘intrapreneur,’ developing new products, customers, markets, and businesses. Currently founding his third enterprise, he is a partner in InCommN and was a partner at Universal Quality Machine. He and his partners at InCommN teach the principles of Lean LaunchPad to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and businesses with a need for quick growth in new markets. He also shares the tools of Lean LaunchPad and the Business Model Canvas with students at a number of local colleges, including Smith, Elms, and UMass. He is also a mentor and facilitator for early-stage startups at Valley Venture Mentors, and is a board member and mentor for a variety of early-stage enterprises. All events will take place on the Elms College campus. The cost is $250 per person or $150 for Elms alumni.

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

New AHL Franchise Named Springfield Thunderbirds

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield’s new American Hockey League (AHL) franchise will take the ice for the upcoming 2016-17 season as the Springfield Thunderbirds. With hockey fans and local dignitaries looking on from center-ice seats at the MassMutual Center Arena, team officials announced the new name through a pulsating two-minute video on the arena’s state-of-the-art LED scoreboard. “The Springfield Thunderbirds’ name represents the strength and pride of Western Massachusetts. It is a nod to our hockey past, a tribute to the men and woman of the Air Force who are so vital to this region, and a symbol of the new energy and spirit that is palpable in Springfield,” said Nathan Costa, Thunderbirds executive vice president. Thunderbirds is an allusion to two previous Springfield AHL hockey team names, the Indians and the Falcons. The name refers to the animal of Native American legend that creates thunder and lightning by flapping its massive wings. Like the Falcon, it is also a fierce bird of prey. The name also refers to the famous demonstration planes of the U.S. Air Force and serves as an homage to Barnes Air National Guard Base and Westover Air Reserve Base, in Westfield and Chicopee, respectively. The announcement follows a name-the-team campaign that solicited suggestions from the public in a survey coordinated in partnership with MassLive and the Republican. The survey received more than 2,600 responses. “We would like to thank the thousands of fans who participated in this survey,” Costa said. “We were overwhelmed by the creativity and enthusiasm of those who submitted suggestions. Our fans wanted a name that honored the proud history of AHL hockey in Springfield while at the same time reflecting the new energy and excitement of this franchise. We believe the Thunderbirds captures this spirit.” The logo features a bird’s head in bright blue with a curved beak against a background of red and yellow. The team’s name is picked out in yellow and white. “The City of Springfield has a long and storied relationship with the American Hockey League going back to the days of Eddie Shore,” said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal. “For 80 years, professional hockey has been played in our community, and many fans could not imagine a season without a local franchise playing home games at the MassMutual Center. Next season, the Springfield Thunderbirds will take the ice in pursuit of their first Calder Cup. And we have the ownership group to thank for the efforts to keep a charter member of the AHL in downtown Springfield. I am certain that local fans will welcome this exciting new team to ‘the Nest,’ and that the 2016-17 season will be a successful partnership between the Thunderbirds and the Florida Panthers of the NHL.” In coordination with the announcement, the franchise also launched its new website, www.springfieldthunderbirds.com, where fans can now place deposits for season-ticket memberships. The team’s social-media handles are Springfield Thunderbirds on Facebook, @thunderbirdsahl on Twitter, and thunderbirdsahl on Instagram. “Again, so thankful, but not surprised that these outstanding corporate citizens continue to step up for our city of Springfield,” Mayor Domenic Sarno said. “Their continued belief and investment in our Springfield is deeply appreciated. Now we need to pack the house to help assure that professional hockey is here to stay for many years to come. Drop the puck!” Added Florida Panthers Executive Chairman Peter Luukko, “we are excited to have our AHL players take the ice next season with the Springfield Thunderbirds name and logo on their jerseys. This is the start of a new era for AHL hockey in Western Massachusetts, and we look forward to being a part of it.” Founded in 1936 and now with franchises in 30 cities across North America, the American Hockey League serves as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives, and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88% of today’s NHL players are AHL graduates, and for the 15th year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games in 2015-16. For more information on the Thunderbirds, go HERE.

Employer Confidence Surges in May

BOSTON — Confidence among Massachusetts employers rose to a 10-month high during May as the state approached full employment and the national economy continued to throw off mixed signals. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose 1.5 points during May to 57.7, the highest level since July 2015. The reading was slightly higher than the 57.3 level posted a year ago and comfortably above the 50 mark that denotes an overall positive economic outlook. The brightening outlook came amid growing evidence that the U.S. economy is regaining its footing after posting a 0.8% growth rate during the first quarter. Recent reports on retail sales, housing starts, and industrial production paint an upbeat picture of the economy in the second quarter. At the same time, the government reported that the U.S. economy created just 38,000 jobs during May, the slowest pace since 2010. “Massachusetts employers appear to have shaken off the uncertainty of the fall and winter and are now feeling optimistic about the remainder of 2016,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s board of economic advisors and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “The most encouraging news is that every constituent measure contained in the Business Confidence Index rose during May, and most were higher than they were a year ago.” The AIM Index, based on a survey of Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. It has remained above 50 since October 2013.

UMass Generates $6.2B in Economic Impact

BOSTON — The University of Massachusetts was responsible for $6.2 billion in economic activity in Massachusetts last year — a record high — and helped to support more than 43,000 jobs statewide, President Marty Meehan announced Tuesday. “UMass educates more students than any college or university in the Commonwealth and is one of the state’s three largest research universities, but it also has a profound impact on the Massachusetts economy based on the scope and reach of its operations,” Meehan said. “UMass is a vital economic engine for the Commonwealth, and its impact is felt in every community and by virtually every family across Massachusetts.” Victor Woolridge, chairman of the UMass board of trustees, said the report illustrates that “UMass truly is here for a reason, and that reason is to serve the entire Commonwealth. The importance of generating an economic impact on the scale that we do — and having it distributed in every corner of the state — cannot be overstated.” The economic impact generated by the five-campus UMass system translates to a 10-to-1 return on investment for state government when total state funding for the university is considered, according to a FY 2015 analysis performed by the UMass Donahue Institute, which conducts economic and public-policy research. The major drivers of economic impact are student, faculty, and staff spending; construction projects; and the university’s purchasing the goods and services required for its activities. The study measured that spending and its ripple effect in determining the $6.2 billion impact estimate. According to the Donahue Institute report, each of the five university campuses generated a substantial economic impact for its region and the state. By campus or unit, the figures were: Amherst, $2.069 billion; Boston, $1.085 billion; Dartmouth, $466.1 million; Lowell, $921.9 million; Medical School, $1.584 billion; and Central Administration, $198.4 million.

Board of Higher Education Amends Leave Policies

BOSTON — A committee of the state Board of Higher Education voted Tuesday to amend the leave policies for non-unit professionals (NUPs) at the state’s 15 community colleges and nine state universities in an effort to better align such policies with those governing UMass employees, public higher-education systems in other New England states, and Massachusetts state employees. The vote is subject to a final vote by the full Board of Higher Education on June 14. If approved, the changes would impact approximately 1650 employees. The board’s Fiscal Affairs and Administrative Policy (FAAP) Committee voted to eliminate the current policy allowing employees to convert unused vacation days into sick time. Going forward under the new policy, any vacation days that remain over a 64-day balance would be forfeited by the employee if not used. The 64-day vacation balance would be reduced over the next two and a half years to a maximum of 50 days that can be ‘carried’ by an employee. Additionally, the committee voted to reduce the number of vacation days allotted to higher-education employees to a maximum of 25, a reduction from a previous allocation of 30 days per year for the longest-serving employees; and to standardize the number of personal days allotted to employees across all three segments of the higher-education system. All non-unit professionals employed at the state’s community colleges and state universities will receive a total of five annual personal days, effective Jan. 1, 2017. “These changes will bring our employment policies for non-unit professionals at community colleges and state universities into alignment with those in place at the University of Massachusetts, at public colleges and universities across New England, and for state employees,” said Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago, who ordered an expedited review of the policies in March. “They will allow us to remain competitive with other institutions in our bid to attract top talent, while also making good on our commitment to be effective stewards of state resources.”

State Unemployment Rate Remains at 4.2% in May

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 4.2% in May, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday. The preliminary May job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate that Massachusetts lost 6,400 jobs. Job losses were impacted by a temporary labor dispute in the information sector. In May, leisure and hospitality was the only sector to experience over-the-month job gains. BLS also revised upward the state’s over-the-month job gains in April, reporting that 15,200 jobs were added compared to the 13,900-job gain originally reported. From December 2015 to May 2016, Massachusetts has added 30,500 jobs. At 4.2%, the unemployment rate is down 0.7% over the year, with the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropping from 4.9% in May 2015. There were 26,600 fewer unemployed persons and 49,000 more employed persons over the year compared to May 2015. The Commonwealth’s May unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 4.7% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “The labor force continues to grow, with 7,000 more employed residents and 2,000 fewer unemployed residents in May,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said, adding that the education and healthcare sector and the professional, scientific, and business-services sector continue to generate the most jobs in Massachusetts. The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — remained at 65.0%. The labor-force participation rate over the year has decreased 0.2% compared to May 2015. Over the year, the largest private-sector percentage job gains by sector were in construction; professional, scientific, and business services; other services; and leisure and hospitality.

Online Resource Aims to Keep River Users Healthy

GREENFIELD — In time for the summer recreation season, the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) and 16 partners have launched the 2016 Connecticut River water-sampling program. Water samples are tested for E. coli bacteria as an indicator for all types of other pathogens that could potentially make one sick. River users can visit the “Is It Clean” web page at www.connecticutriver.us to find bacteria test results at more than 147 river-access and recreation sites in Massachusetts, Northern Conn., Vermont, and New Hampshire. Samples are typically collected at each site weekly or bi-weekly, and test results are posted online 24 hours later, through early October. “When weather gets warm, people head to our rivers to cool off and have fun, and they want to know if our rivers are clean. The data tells us that it is a good idea to stay out of the water for 24 to 48 hours after a heavy rain because bacteria levels could be high,” said CRWC Lower River Steward Alicea Charamut. “Heavy rain is often the cause of high bacteria levels. Bacteria can spike after a storm due to combined sewer overflows and polluted stormwater runoff from urban, suburban, and agricultural areas.” Added CRWC Massachusetts River Steward Andrea Donlon, “cities and towns along the river are making significant investments to reduce pollution to our rivers, and this has made a tremendous difference. We want people to be able to explore and enjoy this wonderful resource. Our rivers are certainly much cleaner than they used to be, but it makes sense for river users to pay attention to this information so they know when it’s clean for swimming or boating.” Water sample results are color-coded and map-based to offer guidance about whether the water is clean enough for swimming and boating. Results are a snapshot of river conditions at the moment the sample was taken, but give river users information they can use to make informed decisions and prevent potential illness. The website provides bacteria data for the Connecticut River and more than 20 tributaries, including the Chicopee River, Mill River in Northampton, Mill River/Lake Warner in Hadley, Farmington River in Connecticut, Ottauquechee and Black Rivers in Vermont, and many more.

Ten Years of Excellence

Features

Scenes from the Class of 2016 June Event

40u40 2016Group

012_BusinessWest40under40-2016Event The Log Cabin in Holyoke was once again bursting with energy and excitement as more than 700 people packed the house to celebrate the 40 Under Forty class of 2016 — the 10th class of successful young professionals so honored by BusinessWest since the program’s inception in 2007. This year’s winners were treated to a game-show-themed ceremony — complete with valuable prizes — courtesy of presenting sponsor Paragus Strategic IT. And for the second year, presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual unveiled the winner of the Continued Excellence Award: Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president of Allergy and Immunology Associates of Western Mass. and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Baystate Medical Center. Scroll down to view the photos by Leah Martin Photography.

Three members of the 40 Under Forty class of 2016, from left: Justin Killeen, Energia Fitness and 50/50 Fitness/Nutrition; Meghan Godorov, career consultant; and Lamont Clemons, S-Cel-O Painting and Proton Energy Group.

Rebecca Moriarty, Hampden Senior Center, 40 Under Forty class of 2016, and Laura Walsh, Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management, 40 Under Forty Class of 2016.

Ross Giombetti, Giombetti Associates, 40 Under Forty class of 2016; and his wife, Elizabeth Giombetti, Giombetti Associates.

From left: Amanda Moyer, Market Mentors, 40 Under Forty class of 2016; Ashley Clark, Berkshire Bank, 40 Under Forty class of 2016; and Renee Mancuso, Berkshire Bank.

From left: Diane Sabourin, BusinessWest; Rebecca Connolly, Moriarty & Primack, P.C., 40 Under Forty class of 2016; Jennifer Connelly, Junior Achievement of Western Mass., and Amanda Huston Garcia, Elms College, 40 Under Forty class of 2010, and finalist for the Continued Excellence Award.

Beth DeGray (right), Log Cabin and Delaney House, 40 Under Forty class of 2016, with her sister, Nicole Kim.

Lidya Rivera-Early (second from left), Springfield Technical Community College, 40 Under Forty class of 2016, with her husband, Dwayne Early, High School of Commerce; LaTonia Monroe Naylor, United Way of Pioneer Valley, 40 Under Forty class of 2016; Christina Grass, Training & Workforce Options, 40 Under Forty class of 2016; and Tom Reynolds, Paper City Strength and Conditioning.

Meghan Rothschild (second from left), chikmedia, 40 Under Forty class of 2011, Continued Excellence Award finalist, with her husband, Andrew Mankus, UMass Dining; and Leanne Sedlak, SkinCatering Spa, 40 Under Forty class of 2016, with her husband, Scott Sedlak, Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding.

Scott Coen, game show announcer, Saga Communications; and Nunzio Bruno, Disruptive Strategy Co., 40 Under Forty class of 2016.

From left: Michelle Chase, PeoplesBank; David Chase, Freedom Credit Union; and Teresa Spaziani, Market Mentors.

From left: Beth DeGray, Log Cabin and Delaney House, 40 Under Forty class of 2016; Lamont Clemons, S-Cel-O Painting and Proton Energy Group, 40 Under Forty class of 2016; Nicole Kim; Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, 40 Under Forty class of 2012, and co-emcee of this year’s gala; and Michael Sakey, Center Square Grill, 40 Under Forty class of 2016.

Representing event sponsor the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, from left: Samalid Hogan, 40 Under Forty class of 2013; Brittney Kelleher; Kyle Sullivan, class of 2015; Katie Chappell, class of 2016; Alfonso Santaniello, class of 2014; Leanne Sedlak, class of 2016; Heather Zielenski; Jeremy Casey, class of 2013; Ashley Clark, class of 2016; Peter Ellis, class of 2011; Justin Roberts; and Jose Delgado, class of 2014.

Representing event sponsor Moriarty & Primack, P.C., from left: Shelley Sheridan; Michelle Fenton; Rebecca Connolly, 40 Under Forty class of 2016; Beth deSousa; and Sharon Blazejowski.

Representing presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual, from left: Tyler Landry, Kate Kane, Kelsey Fletcher, Jamie Campbell, and Tim Steffen.

From event sponsor Health New England, from left: Elaine Mann, Damion Brown, Sandra Ruiz, Sarah Fernandes, Sandra Bascove, Jennifer Loranger, Kerry LaBounty, Patrick McColley, and Jessica Dupont.

From event sponsor the UMass Isenberg School of Management, back row, from left: Mike Famighette, Trista Hevey, Elizabeth Paul Hoffman, Laurie Millikan, and Tom Moliterno; front row, from left: Chris Foley Pilsner, Rachel Trafford, and Jennifer Meunier.

From event sponsor EMA Dental, from left: Colleen Nadeau, Jeannie Reynolds, Dr. Lisa Emirzian, Dr. Vincent Mariano, Cassandra Woodworth, Dr. Rebecca Cohen, Laura Panzetti, Jennifer Ziobrowski, and Dr. Colleen Chambers.

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien (right) presents the second annual Continued Excellence Award — honoring a past 40 Under Forty winner who has since significantly built on his or her success — to Dr. Jonathan Bayuk (class of 2008), president of Allergy and Immunology Associates of Western Mass. and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Baystate Medical Center.

Kate Morneau of John R. Fausey Elementary School, 40 Under Forty class of 2016, enjoys the celebration.

Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, director of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley and member of the 40 Under Forty class of 2012, co-emcees the 2016 gala.

Michael Sakey of Center Square Grill cheers on his fellow 40 Under Forty class of 2016 honorees during the awards presentation.

This year’s 40 Under Forty gala added a game-show-style twist, courtesy of presenting sponsor Paragus IT. Here, Sophia Lilly (right) presents LaTonia Monroe Naylor of the United Way of Pioneer Valley with her prize, a Crosley portable USB turntable.

Ashley Clark of Berkshire Bank, 40 Under Forty class of 2016, is carried to the stage to receive her award by fellow members of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (and 40 Under Forty alumni), from left, Jeremy Casey (class of 2013), Jose Delgado (class of 2014), and Peter Ellis (class of 2011).

Adrian Dahlin of Conway School of Design dances his way to the stage to be honored as part of the 40 Under Forty class of 2016.

Robert Kain (left) of event sponsor United Bank is welcomed to the 40 Under Forty class of 2016 by BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien.

Representing presenting sponsor Paragus IT, from left: Tom Beyer, Jim Young, Margie LaMotte, a cardboard Delcie Bean, Alissa LaMotte, Ray Olson, Jocelyn Bugan, and Steve Monska.

Photo gallery from the June 16, 2016 BusinessWest 40 Under Forty Class of 2016 Gala

For reprints contact: Leah Martin Photography

[Show slideshow]

Berkshire Bank’s Kathryn Dube Honored

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that Kathryn Dube, First Vice President Wealth Business Development Leader, has been honored by the United Way of Pioneer Valley as Volunteer of the Year for the 2015-2016 season.

Dube joined the United Way of Pioneer Valley Board of Directors in 2007 and committed to this position until 2017. As an affiliate of the United Way, she has also held other reputable titles, such as chairperson of the Allocations and Impact Committee, chairman of the Board and Founding Member of the Women’s Leadership Council in Western Mass. in 2013.

The award is based upon leadership, community engagement, and core values, among other essential qualities. The United Way of Pioneer Valley granted the award to Dube on June 22 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

Acuna Named Realtor of the Year

SPRINGFIELD — Elias Acuna, a real estate agent with Maria Acuna Real Estate in Springfield has been named the 2016 Realtor® of the Year by the Realtor® Association of Pioneer Valley (RAPV). The announcement was made during the association’s Annual Awards Banquet held recently at The Log Cabin in Holyoke.

As the highest honor given to a member, the Realtor of the Year award is bestowed upon the one person who has shown outstanding service and devotion to the 1,650-member organization during the past 17 months in the areas of Realtor activity, community service and business activity.

A Realtor since 2004, Elias serves on the Association’s Board of Directors, Finance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Young Professional’s Network Committee, where was the chairman in 2015. He is a co-presenter at the bi-monthly new member orientation promoting involvement and member benefits. Elias is a frequent technology instructor teaching topics such as real estate apps and social media practices.

At the state level, Elias is a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Assoc. of REALTORS® (MAR). He is the chairman of the Mass. Assoc. of REALTORS® Young Professional’s Network Committee, and a member the MAR Diversity Committee. He participated along with 400 Massachusetts Realtors® in the 2015 and 2016 Realtors® Day on Beacon Hill to lobby on behalf of homeownership and private property rights. He attended the 2015 Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) Convention and Trade Show.

Selling Hockey (Again) to the Region

Opinion

Editorial

When it was announced this past spring that the Springfield Falcons had been sold and the franchise, an affiliate of the National Hockey’s League’s Arizona Coyotes, was being relocated to Tuscon, we opined that city officials should not make securing another team a top economic-development priority.

Not until some kind of solid evidence could be obtained that the city, or this region, whichever you prefer, could or would support hockey at a level that would make a team profitable.

Well, a large group of area business owners went ahead and decided to make another team a priority, and they also decided they had enough evidence to support their notion that bringing the now-former Portland (Maine) Pirates here is a sound investment.

We applaud their efforts, and we sincerely hope they’re right — although we admit that we’re just not sure they are.

There is no debating that hockey has been a part of the fabric of this region for more than 80 years. Just how important a part … well, that can be debated.

Indeed, there have always been strong supporters of the team, whether it was called the Indians, Kings, or, most recently, the Falcons. The problem was, there were never really enough of them.

Crowds were decent on some nights, but only fair at best on most nights, and it’s been that way for some time; this is not a recent phenomenon. The problem was so persistent that many people stopped wondering whether this was or could be a ‘hockey town’ and came to the conclusion that it wasn’t.

Which is why there was some sadness attached to the announcement that the Falcons had been sold, but nothing approaching a large amount of surprise.

There was plenty of that emotion, though, when a large ownership team came together quickly, acquired the Pirates while Portland apparently slept, and moved the team to the City of Homes.

Surprise has been replaced with healthy doses of optimism and energy, commodities possessed by both the new ownership team and its new executive vice president, Nate Costa, a Springfield native and Cathedral High School graduate.

In a lengthy interview with BusinessWest (see story on page 6), Costa talked about an all-out sales blitz, a focus on making connections to the community, and creating (and selling) an experience, not just a hockey game.

Similar words and phrases have been spoken in the offices occupied by the AHL franchise in the MassMutual Center for decades now. This time, we are told, things will be different.

There will be a heightened sense of urgency, a sharp rise in the level of intensity in the sales office, and the benefit of being able to leverage the various assets and abilities of 26 local owners.

It all sounds good, and Costa’s resume — he worked for the AHL, acting as a consultant to the league’s 30 teams — and track record are impressive. And he sites many examples of how franchises have succeeded through strategic initiatives similar to those he has outlined for the new Springfield franchise, the Thunderbirds.

But hockey has been a hard sell in these parts for some time now. Reversing this pattern will require more than optimism and a large ownership group — we’ve had those before, too.

The support of the business community will be essential, and we hope it is forthcoming. If this new venture is to get off the ground and fly (as its namesake would), it will need loud, strong support right out of the gate and a willingness among supporters at all levels to make a long-term commitment, because this won’t happen overnight.

People doubting the prudence of this investment have a right to be skeptical; recent history is certainly on their side.

Still, this venture deserves the community’s support. Hockey can and should be a part of the city’s future.

Maybe, just maybe, this can become a hockey town.

Owners, Manager Craft a Business Plan to Enable Thunderbirds to Soar

Cover Story

A New Era

Nate Costa

After a two-month hiatus, professional hockey is back in Springfield, with a franchise recently named the Thunderbirds. Its executive vice president and large ownership group are confident this team can get over the attendance hump that has plagued previous franchises in the City of Homes, and say this confidence stems from an intense focus on sales coupled with the commitment — and connections — of the 26 owners.

Nate Costa had what most people would consider an attractive position with the American Hockey League — with the operative word being had.

As a member of the AHL’s Team Business Services Department, Costa had a broad job description, but essentially he worked with all 30 of the league’s teams to improve revenues and attendance and deploy best practices to help their organizations run more efficiently and profitably. It was a job that took him across the country, to cities ranging from San Diego to Grand Rapids, Mich., to Utica, N.Y., and provided a host of learning opportunities.

But while Costa, a Springfield native and Cathedral High School graduate, enjoyed that work, he coveted another title and a much different set of job responsibilities.

“I really wanted to run a franchise, and I entered the job with the AHL with that goal in mind,” he told BusinessWest, adding that achieving this career ambition would provide him with an intriguing opportunity to put to work many of the lessons learned while working with and for teams like the Hershey Bears, Syracuse Crunch, Utica Comets, and Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

And now, thanks to the dramatic turn of events that brought the Portland (Maine) Pirates franchise to Springfield this spring, he’ll get that chance. Indeed, Costa was recently named executive vice president of the team, recently renamed the Thunderbirds.

It’s been a whirlwind month or so for Costa; he got married just a few weeks ago, and officially started his new job at the same time. He doesn’t have an office yet — a new lease with the MassMutual Center doesn’t begin until July — or even business cards. Meanwhile, most of his time, and that of the new ownership group, has been spent on matters of business, such as franchise agreements, negotiating with the MassMutual Center, and choosing a team name, logo, and colors.

But Costa told BusinessWest that the real work of running this franchise and doing what the previous ownership group could not — move the team out of last place, at least when it comes to attendance — is underway.

When queried about how he intends to improve the numbers at the gate as well as the overall profitability of Springfield’s AHL franchise — a question posed repeatedly and in several different ways — he said, in essence, that it comes down to one word: selling.

He would elaborate, of course, touching on both what is to be sold and, especially, how and to whom.

As for the former, he said the product is much more than hockey, although that’s obviously a big part of it. He preferred to say that the team would be selling “an experience” that could be enjoyed by all members of the family.

TbirdsPrimary(Color) As for the latter, he said the selling would take on a far more aggressive tone than it has historically, with a specific focus on season tickets and group sales, strategic targets that have yielded success for other franchises, as we’ll see later.

Dennis Murphy, owner of the Ventry Group and a member of the ownership group, summed things up this way:

“To compare what’s happened in the past to what this situation looks like would be to compare a shovel to a bulldozer,” he explained. “This is the most powerful sales force ever assembled in any part of Western Mass., bar none.”

Overall, Costa said the Thunderbirds won’t really do anything the previous franchise didn’t do — it will just do it better and more aggressively, with the goal of creating more and stronger connections between the team and the community.

And it will also do it with the backing of 26 local owners, all of whom are committed to hockey, this team, and selling it (there’s that word again), said Paul Picknelly, president of Picknelly Enterprises, who is among that group.

“We now have 26 owners,” he noted, saying that number slowly and with added emphasis to convey strength in numbers. “That, in itself, is a huge positive change in the way we sell hockey across the region.”

Picknelly said the ownership group is diverse — from Tony Caputo, owner of the Red Rose Group, to Peter Martins and Derek Slema, who both own of a number of Dunkin’ Donuts franchises across the region — and they will use these businesses, and their skill sets, to help bring visibility to the team and fans to the MassMutual Center.

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Costa and others about the Thunderbirds franchise and how the new ownership group and leadership team plan to take hockey to new heights in Springfield.

Dropping the Puck

Looking ahead, Costa noted, while the AHL’s 2016-17 schedule is not yet official, he knows the Thunderbirds, the affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers, will start the campaign on the road.

That’s good in many respects, he said, because it will give the team another week to get ready for opening night (Oct. 22) — seven days that will certainly be needed.

Indeed, the new ownership group and leadership team will be compressing a process that usually begins the day after the season ends, and actually long before that — Costa said roughly 80% of ticket packages for the ‘next’ season are sold while a team is still playing games — into a much shorter time frame.

But that’s just one more element to an already imposing and multi-faceted challenge, one the energetic 33-year-old certainly embraces.

Costa has taken an interesting path to this point in his career. A journalism major at Northeastern, he found employment opportunities in that field few and far between. While searching for one in the fall of 2006, he instead decided to join a classmate at Cathedral who had recently become one of the first salespeople hired by the new AHL franchise in San Antonio, owned by that city’s hugely successful NBA franchise, the Spurs.

“My original thought was to go down there, cut my teeth, learn some things, and eventually get back to the public-relations or writing side of things,” he explained. “But I ended up loving what we were doing; we were starting a team from scratch in San Antonio, and I got to see that on a day-to-day basis.”

Tasked with selling season tickets, corporate partnerships, and group packages, Costa said he could see momentum build for the sport and the team in a city that could never be described as a hockey hotbed.

“I saw over the course of my three and half years with the club that we were making a real impact,” he said, using that phrase to describe both the efforts of the sales team on the club as they related to the team’s success, and the franchise’s work to become a force within the community. “The hockey piece kind of sells itself, but we had to find a niche to get people out to the building and experience this sport for the first time; we centered on connecting with the community, connecting with kids, showing them experiences at the building and through our games that they couldn’t get from going to a San Antonio Spurs game, and providing them access they couldn’t get with the NBA.

“This opened my eyes to the difference between the, quote, unquote, minor leagues and the professionals,” he went on, “and the cool things you could do from a community-connectivity standpoint with our league.”

Costa’s success in San Antonio — he was one of the top performers on a sales team that won awards from the league for highest group-sales growth — led him to be recruited by the head of the Team Business Services Department formed a few years earlier to help franchises develop and share best practices.

Paul Picknelly says the ability to leverage the talent and resources of 26 local owners is a huge benefit for Thunderbirds management.

“We were sharing revenue streams as a league, so the AHL was able to identify teams that were having success and teams that were doing really good things, and we were able to share that across the league,” he said, adding that he joined that department in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed his seven years in a role he described as part support system, part consultant.

But, as mentioned earlier, a career goal he set some time ago was to one day manage a team of his own.

“I viewed that opportunity with the American Hockey League as a chance to get my Ph.D. in sports business,” he explained. “I spent the past six and half years working closely with our other owners and presidents, helping them to improve their businesses, while also being completely entrenched in what works from an AHL perspective; it was a great learning ground for me.

“It got to the point where I wanted to see if I could actually enact all the things we talked about on a regular basis and helped our teams with,” he went on. “The ability to do so here in Springfield was very intriguing to me. I had worked with them over the course of time, I’ve seen opportunities, and there were things I wanted to see if I could make a difference with.”

Seeking Net Results

Looking forward, Costa said the challenge facing him, his management team, and the ownership group is not exactly the same as the one he encountered in San Antonio, but there are many similarities.

Professional hockey is certainly not new to Springfield — there has been an AHL team in the city since Calvin Coolidge was in the White House — and the sport of hockey is much more entrenched in the Northeast than it is in the Southwest. But in most respects, this is a new team and a new business, said Costa, adding that, as in San Antonio, he intends to improve attendance and profitability by building season-ticket and group sales and strong connectivity to the community.

He said this is not exactly a new strategy — those managing the former Springfield Falcons used the same words as they discussed their work — but efforts will take on a new sense of urgency and higher level of intensity.

Both will be needed, he acknowledged, to get the team over an attendance hump that has been a formidable obstacle for many years now. Indeed, while he didn’t have the figures at his disposal, Costa knew the Falcons were either last or just ahead of the Portland franchise when it came to average game attendance last season, a statistic that ultimately drove the previous ownership group to sell the team to the parent Arizona Coyotes, which moved it to Tucson.

To bring those numbers up significantly, the management team intends to first create that ‘experience’ mentioned earlier and then sell it to families, groups, the business community, and the region as a whole — the basic road map used in San Antonio and other cities, he noted.

“The game plan is to take pieces of everything I’ve learned over the last six and half years and put those together to form a business plan that’s going to have success here in Springfield,” he explained. “Though there is a rich hockey history in Springfield, with this being a charter member of our league, we’re essentially starting a business from scratch.”

When asked about specific elements of that business plan, Costa said most involve developing what he called a “sales-focused mindset” and a service-oriented approach to everything the team does.

And while all types of sales are important, including season tickets and walk-ups, group sales are usually the prime mover for franchises in this league, and for many reasons.

“What really drives our business and what fuels revenues is the group-ticket side of the business,” he explained. “This involves getting out into the local community and selling tickets to groups that are going to come out on a regular basis and participate in our games, have a good time, and, hopefully, expose new people and new kids to the experience we provide and create fans for a long time moving forward.”

If a sellable experience can be created, he went on, as well as solid connections with the community, then the franchise can succeed whether it is at the top of the standings, the middle, or even the bottom.

“We have markets that are successful even though the team isn’t winning,” he noted, adding that winning is obviously preferable. “That happens because you create an environment that shows that value to people, and there’s an experience that goes well beyond wins and losses on the ice. And that’s going to be the plan — creating a season ticket that people can see value in.”

Model Franchises

Costa said he’s optimistic the new franchise can soar higher than previous teams in Springfield because he’s seen a number of success stories in similar markets — models that can be effectively emulated.

He pointed, for example, to what’s happened in Hartford, with its Wolf Pack, an affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers, and a team he worked with extensively in his role with the AHL.

“Since coming back into the market as the Hartford Wolf Pack, they’ve had a great group there that has focused on tickets,” he explained, adding that, while this sounds obvious, it’s actually not. “We laid out a plan for them on where they needed to focus, and on finding more ways for them to connect with their local community at their arena. If you were to visit there, you’d see that they’ve done a great job with their building and with creating an experience and that interconnectivity — and that’s what we’re looking to do.”

The team in Providence, long called the Reds, but more recently the Bruins (because it’s an affiliate of the NHL team in Boston), is another example.

“They’re very driven from a sales perspective, and they’re one of the best at doing that,” Costa explained. “They have a full-on sales force making out-bound connections with their community. If you go to a Providence Bruins game, you see groups connected to their games constantly, from the national anthem through to everything else; they do a great job of utilizing the space that they have to sell tickets.”

Another thing those franchises do well that the Thunderbirds must emulate is getting fans to do much more than turn out for games, said Costa.

Elaborating, he said very successful teams work hard to get their fan base, and especially those who purchase season tickets, engaged, a verb he would explain in some detail.

“Selling season tickets just for the sake of selling season tickets is fantastic, but if people aren’t using those tickets and they’re not going to the games and getting that experience, then you’re not getting full benefit from those sales,” he explained. “You want people who are engaged, who are ambassadors that feel a connection to the organization that they won’t get anywhere else. That’s something I want to create.”

Moving forward, while the team is several months and perhaps a full year behind the schedule it would like to be on with regard to all the initiatives described above, it does have a few things working for it for next season and beyond.

First, it is now the only AHL franchise left in Massachusetts after Worcester lost its team, said Picknelly, noting that the Thunderbirds will attempt to effectively widen their circle of influence and bring in fans from across the state and especially from Worcester west.

Meanwhile, MGM’s $950 million casino is expected to bring several thousand people to Springfield each day, while also providing an attractive incentive to those planning meetings and conventions to take their events to Greater Springfield. Thus, the casino has serious potential to bring more families and groups to the MassMutual Center for individual games, said Picknelly.

But easily the biggest asset the team has moving forward is that large — and local — ownership group, he went on.

It translates into 26 people (all of them successful business owners in their own right) passionate about hockey in this region, committed to making it work, and willing to use their businesses and any other means available to them to promote the team and get fans to the games.

“These owners will be looking upon their local professional hockey team in a different way than they have in the past,” he explained — a natural sentiment when one is making an investment in that franchise. “For example, myself and two other owners own four of the five hotels in downtown Springfield; we’re going to sell hockey differently than how we did it in the past in our hotels.”

The same is true of all the owners, including the Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners, he went on, adding that their stores are visited by more than 250,000 people a week, customers who will likely be exposed to the new hockey franchise in some way during those visits.

Murphy agreed, noting that the team will benefit from that new and expanded sales force he described, coupled with that large and local ownership group — a powerful combination, in his estimation.

“This sales force will work hand in glove with 26 of the most successful business owners in the Pioneer Valley,” he went on. “You can’t possibly overstate our ability to leverage these relationships.”

Bottom Line

As he sought to sum up what he described as a “new era” for hockey in this region, Picknelly chose to relate an e-mail he received from an individual who wants to join the new ownership team and likely will.

“He said he spent the last few nights sleepless, thinking about ways to sell hockey,” Picknelly recalled, adding that just about everyone already in this ownership group has probably done the same thing.

Sleepless nights do not directly correspond to success at the box office, he implied, but they do convey energy, commitment, and, most importantly, passion.

Both he and Costa believe those traits, and especially the last one, will enable the Thunderbird franchise to fly as high and fast as its namesake, and reach new heights.

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

People on the Move

Departments People on the Move

Colin Leduc

Webber & Grinnell announced that Colin Leduc has joined the agency as an account executive. He brings insurance-agency experience to the firm, as well as knowledge gained during his many years as a recruiter for ADP. Leduc was raised in Longmeadow and grew up working in his father’s sheet-metal shop in Holyoke. This experience greatly contributed to his passion for protecting the assets of local, family-owned businesses — and his decision to move to Webber & Grinnell. “I spent my life watching my father work hard to provide for our family,” he said. “I was drawn to Webber & Grinnell because of their commitment to local businesses, as well as the work environment they provide for their staff.” Bill Grinnell, president of Webber & Grinnell, noted that “Colin has a very dynamic personality and is a very strong addition to the Webber & Grinnell family. He’s very dedicated to helping the firm grow, especially in the field of family business.”

•••••

Gary Schiff

October Mountain Financial Advisors announced it has appointed Gary Schiff as managing director of the firm, which provides client-centered investment-management, financial-planning, and trust-administration services to clients in Berkshire County and throughout New England. Formed earlier this year, October Mountain Financial Advisors is an alliance of Lee Bank and St. Germain Investment Management, based in Springfield. “We’re excited to welcome Gary to October Mountain Financial Advisors. As managing director, he will be leading our efforts in the Berkshires and our alliance with Lee Bank,” said Tim Suffish, senior vice president and head of equities at St. Germain Investment Management. “Gary joins us with over 30 years in the business of investments and banking, and a passion for delivering professional and accountable service to clients at the local level. It’s this consistency with our core beliefs, along with Gary’s experience in the industry, that will benefit all of our clients in the Berkshires and the region.” Schiff most recently served as vice president, senior investment advisor with the Private Client Group at TD Wealth in Pittsfield from 2001 to 2016. Prior to his position with TD Wealth, he joined Bank of Boston’s Berkshire Region senior management team in 1995, and through successive mergers leading to TD’s current ownership, held senior positions at the bank in marketing, communications, government, and public relations. Schiff is a graduate of Middlebury College, received his master’s degree from Harvard University, and has attended the Cannon Financial Institute Trust School. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations. Schiff is presently a member of the Berkshire Funders’ Roundtable and serves as a corporator of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Foundation, a member of the Congregation Knesset Israel Investment Committee, a member of the Berkshire County Estate Planning Council, and chair of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Investment Committee. He is a past director and president of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, past director of the Berkshire Economic Development Corp. and the Colonial Theatre, and a former member of the Lenox Planning Board, Berkshire County Regional Employment Board, and Berkshire Community College Business Advisory Committee. Along with Schiff and Suffish, October Mountain Financial Advisors’ principal team includes St. Germain Investment Management’s Michael Matty, president and director; Richard Bleser, vice president, portfolio manager; Matthew Farkas, vice president, portfolio manager; and Thaddeus Welch, portfolio manager. “I worked closely with Gary and Tim as portfolio managers with Banknorth Wealth Management. Together we served a significant number of individual, family, and institutional clients throughout Berkshire County and nationally,” said Chuck Leach, president and CEO of Lee Bank. “We’re all Berkshire residents, and October Mountain’s base in Lee enables us to again collaborate closely as a team that places the highest value on client relationships and locally made investment decisions.”

•••••

Marianne Fresia

Chuck Leach, president and CEO of Lee Bank, announced that Marianne Fresia was named assistant vice president, private banking and trust services. She will focus on attracting, growing, and retaining Lee Bank’s trust clients, and will serve as liaison to October Mountain Financial Advisors’ team for clients interested in wealth management. October Mountain Financial Advisors, an alliance of Lee Bank and St. Germain Investment Management, was formed earlier this year. In her new role, Fresia will act as a conduit between retail banking, commercial banking, and October Mountain Financial Advisors to ensure that customers are aware of and have access to products and services from all areas. Fresia joins Lee Bank after serving for six years as a financial trust administrator at Berkshire Bank Wealth Management in Lenox. Prior to her position in wealth management, she held various roles at Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield. Fresia has completed coursework toward achieving the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation and will sit for the exam in August.

•••••

M. Susan Guyer

Springfield College Exercise Science and Sport Studies Chair M. Susan Guyer will be awarded both the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award and the Gail Weldon Award of Excellence during the National Athletic Trainers’ Assoc. (NATA) annual conference in Baltimore on June 22-25. The Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award recognizes NATA members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to leadership, volunteer service, advocacy, and distinguished professional activities as an athletic trainer. Currently, Guyer serves as the NATA District 1 secretary and the vice president for governance for the NATA Research and Education Foundation. She also has held positions of public relations chair and president of the Athletic Training Assoc. of Massachusetts. “Dr. Sue Guyer is truly a gifted and talented teacher, mentor, leader, and serves as an amazing role model to women who would like to enter the profession of athletic training,” said Tracey Matthews, dean of the Springfield College School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. “Her passion and deep commitment for her discipline is unprecedented.” The Gail Weldon Award of Excellence recognizes one athletic trainer each year who has displayed an exceptional commitment to mentoring, professional development, and a balanced life for female athletic trainers or offered significant contributions to improve the healthcare of women. “We are very lucky to have such an amazing role model, faculty, and leader in athletic training at Springfield College,” Matthews added. “She continues to elevate the profession everyday. I can’t think of another person who is so deserving of these awards from the NATA.” Since arriving at Springfield College in 2001, Guyer has taught courses in prevention of athletic injuries, research methods and education, athletic-injury rehabilitation and therapeutic exercise, and human anatomy. She has been invited to speak internationally on the prevention of athletic injuries and concussions in China and at the European Society of Athletic Training and Therapy Conference in Jerzmanowice, Poland. In addition, Guyer has also presented at the Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Assoc. and the National Athletic Trainers’ Assoc. annual meetings and the NATA Educators’ Conference on issues relating to teaching and learning. She is also a manuscript reviewer for the Athletic Therapy Today Journal and the Journal of Athletic Training.

•••••

Bryn Nowell has been named a finalist in the BlogPaws 2016 Nose-to-Nose Pet Blogging and Social Media Awards. Her blog, A Dog Walks into a Bar (www.adogwalksintoabar.com), was selected by judges to compete in the Best New Pet Blog category at the BlogPaws Annual Conference in Phoenix on June 23-25. The first social-media network for pet bloggers, BlogPaws (www.blogpaws.com) hosted its first pet-friendly social-media and marketing conference in 2010, and has grown annually into the biggest social-media event and conference of its kind, drawing attendees from all over the world. Nowell was one of 48 finalists in 12 categories chosen by a panel of industry professionals. From these 48, 12 winners will be selected by judges based on creativity, expertise, and performance in their respective categories. “Our bloggers strive to be something at BlogPaws, not just to write something or create something,” said BlogPaws co-founder Yvonne DiVita. “It’s about learning, growing, and striving for excellence. BlogPaws rewards them with our Annual Nose-to-Nose Awards, sharing the 48 finalists leading up to our conference, then awarding the winners at a red-carpet ceremony at the close of our conference.” A Dog Walks into a Bar is a site that focuses on “paws, pints, and prose — all things dogs and drinking.” Nowell, the author and site designer, decided to focus on the two things she loves, dogs and adult beverages. As such, the page includes product reviews, DIY ideas, giveaways, and insights on both industries.

Court Dockets

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Emmanuel Pena v. Fitness Associates Inc.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance and deficient inspection of equipment causing injury: $1,500+
Filed: 4/25/16

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Kurt Bricault v. Brian Sarisley Construction
Allegation: Failure to perform construction job pursuant to a written contract: $40,000
Filed: 4/26/16

Ricky Shink v. Gigi Inc. d/b/a Shakago
Allegation: Negligence in ability to keep patrons safe and employees failure to act when plaintiff was stabbed by another patron: $275,558.34
Filed: 4/29/16

St. John’s Congregational Church v. PAR Church Builders Inc. and Aaron Burgess
Allegation: Breach of construction contract for services, labor, and materials in the design and construction of a new church: $25,000+
Filed: 5/24/16

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Arabella Mutual Insurance Co., as subrogee of Davyn McGuire and Rebecca White v. Traditional Painting Co.
Allegation: Negligent disposal of cigarettes by employees causing fire and loss of home: $1,041,069.54
Filed: 4/21/16

Direct Capital, LLC v. First Transportation and Repairs, LLC
Allegation: Breach of master equipment finance agreement: $42,618.46
Filed: 4/12/16

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Computer Optimization Specialists Inc. d/b/a Post Computer v. Visual Changes Inc. and Mark Maruka
Allegation: Non-payment for goods and services rendered: $10,105.13
Filed: 4/28/16

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Reallinx Inc. v. Spoleto Management Group Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for services rendered: $3,855.96
Filed: 4/28/16

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Ruth Dickinson-Burquist v. Ronald Albee Contracting
Allegation: Breach of home-remodeling contract: $10,000
Filed: 4/29/16

Jonathan Tooker v. C&M Builders and Real Estate, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract: $3,034
Filed: 5/11/16

PVPC Releases Economic Development Strategy

SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) recently released its 2016 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) annual update, as part of its larger Plan for Progress, a 10-year blueprint for economic development in the region.

The CEDS features a description of regional economic development conditions and sets forth goals and objectives for the future, as well as a list of projects seeking the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) Public Works funding in the next year.

The report highlights the region’s continued decrease in unemployment, an improved workforce talent pipeline, and increased early education enrollment and high school and community college graduation rates, among others, as metrics illustrating the overall progress being made.

The CEDS also lists many major committed projects of regional significance such as the Center for Hospitality and Culinary Excellence at Holyoke Community College, the Springfield Innovation Center, CRRC Subway Car Manufacturing Plant, and the Aviation Research and Training Center – a collaboration between UMass Amherst and Westover Air Reserve Base.

A full digital copy of the 2016 CEDS is available on the PVPC website: www.pvpc.org. Hard copies are also available upon request.

The PVPC, which administers this process, has been the EDA-designated regional planning agency for the Pioneer Valley region since 1999, which includes 43 cities and towns comprising the Hampshire and Hampden county areas in western Massachusetts.

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

Delcie Bean Turns Over 40% of Paragus Stock to Employees

HADLEY — After more than two years of strategic planning, in a deal valued at approximately $1.6 million, Paragus IT announced that its employee stock-ownership plan (ESOP), which distributes ownership of 40% of the company to its 40-plus employees, is officially a go. “There has been a lot of celebration around here,” said Paragus CEO Delcie Bean. “While this is an announcement we have all been anticipating for over two years, the time seems to have only contributed to the excitement.” While there have been a few recent high-profile ESOPs, including Harpoon Brewery and Chobani Yogurt, they are still fairly uncommon. What makes the Paragus ESOP especially unique are the reasons behind it. ESOPs are traditionally formed after the company has fully matured and when a major shareholder is looking to exit. For Paragus, it’s about fueling future growth by giving everyone a direct stake and a personal investment in the future of the company. “I knew this was the right decision for myself and for Paragus because Paragus is a company that owes 100% of its success to the hard work of its incredible employees, or partners, as I like to call them,” Bean said. “As the only shareholder, I knew that anything I could do to further that spirit and attract new talent would be a sound investment. That’s why it made sense to give everybody some skin in the game. Now they aren’t just growing a company, they’re growing their company. Which means Paragus is here to stay, and we’re only getting bigger.” Added Dennis Schilling, quality assurance officer, “it’s always been about us at Paragus. It’s never been one person pointing and the rest following. With the ESOP, Delcie has made official what has always been true. It’s a beautiful thing that he has taken his company, his dream, and carved off such a sizable piece of it for all of us.” While Bean has no plans to step down, he has shaken up the management structure a bit. Just before the ESOP became a reality, he appointed former Paragus Operations Manager Jim Young to be president of the company. In his new role, Young is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations and making sure everyone on the leadership team and across the company is working together to realize Paragus’ vision. This allows Bean to focus exclusively on growth, acquisitions, and moving into new markets. “It’s a brand-new set of responsibilities and challenges for me,” Young said. “But these changes will enable each of us to contribute to the greatest extent possible while ensuring decisions are being made quickly by the people best positioned to do so.” Added Bean, “we don’t believe in growth for growth’s sake. Our growth is fueled by one singular objective that is bordering on an obsession — we are all completely committed to being the absolute best at what we do while simultaneously being the best place to work. Ask anyone here, and they will all tell you that nothing is going to stand in our way when it comes to our relentless pursuit of being the best.”

Elms, WNEU Establish Law School Agreement

CHICOPEE — Elms College and Western New England University School of Law executed a ‘3+3’ agreement this month that allows students to apply for admission to the law school and begin their legal education during their senior year at Elms College. This could shorten the time for students to earn both their bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees from seven years to six years. This agreement is not limited to criminal justice or legal studies majors — any undergraduate student, regardless of major, can earn credits toward law school under this program. “This is a significant opportunity for students in all majors who are interested in attending law school,” said Assistant Professor Kurt Ward, director of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and director of ABA Paralegal Education at Elms College.

HCC Gateway to College Program Earns Award

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College’s (HCC) Gateway to College program, which in 2014 was ranked number one among all the Gateway programs in the U.S., is the recipient of the first-ever Gateway Program Excellence Award. The inaugural award from the Gateway to College National Network recognizes HCC’s program for exceeding all four of the network’s benchmarks for success in 2014-15: GPA, one-year persistence, two-year persistence, and graduation rate. “Recognitions like this make us feel more important and shiny,” said coordinator Vivian Ostrowski said at Gateway’s June 1 graduation ceremony in the Leslie Phillips Theater, “but we know, we so know, that these numbers really mean that some kids with complicated and messy lives decided time and time again to show up and do their work.” Gateway to College is a dual-enrollment program for students who have either left high school or are at risk for dropping out. Gateway students take classes at HCC, collecting transferable college credits while also earning their high-school diplomas. Since 2008, 204 Gateway students at HCC have graduated from high school, and more than half have continued on to college. Twenty-nine were enrolled at HCC this spring and HCC’s Gateway graduates have so far earned 19 associate degrees and three bachelor’s degrees. Twenty students from six school districts earned their high-school diplomas through HCC’s Gateway program his spring: from Springfield, Korcan Atmaca, Amena Cooke, Melinda Diaz, Deikwon Duke, Ciara Garcia, Jamilee Gomez, Denisse Rivera, Mercedes Robare, Elmer Rodriguez and Jonte Toro; from Belchertown, Casey Beaudry, Christopher Chaffee, Shauna Driscoll, and Summer McLauglin; from Westfield, Emma Cowhey and Jacob Hartley; from Holyoke, Alexander Escalante; from Palmer, Bailey McDowell and Dylan Tallman; and from Agawam, Sarah Wyckoff. Gateway to College was founded in Portland, Ore. in 2000. There are now 41 Gateway programs in 21 states. The spring 2014 report from the national Gateway network listed HCC’s Gateway program number one in both persistence, or fall-to-fall retention (87% compared to a network average of 53%); and graduation rate (80% compared to a 27% network average). “Holyoke’s program is poised to build on its successes and can serve as an example for the rest of our network,” Emily Froimson, president of the Gateway national network, wrote in a congratulatory letter to Ostrowski. “You have not simply made a difference for students in Holyoke, Massachusetts; the work that your school district and college partnership has accomplished is a model for how we solve these persistent problems as a nation.” Ostrowski will collect the award on behalf of HCC at the Gateway to College National Network Peer Learning Conference in Minneapolis on June 28.

Berkshire Bank Employees Volunteer More Than 4,500 Hours on June 7

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank completed its Xtraordinary Day on June 7. This event marked the first year the entire bank participated in community-service events concurrently from 1 to 4 p.m., closing the entire financial institution as a united effort for community involvement. During Xtraordinary Day, 95% of the Berkshire Bank team, 1,161 employees, completed 56 projects. From painting of elementary schools and cleanups of local parks to financial-literacy lessons, they contributed more than 4,500 hours of service, a value of $128,000. The projects helped 54 different nonprofit organizations and directly impacted more than 100,000 individuals across the bank’s footprint. Berkshire Bank’s goal with Xtraordinary Day was to affect the communities that support it every day in a significant way, by being active and immersed in projects that would have a meaningful and lasting impact on these communities. “Berkshire Bank’s Xtraordinary Day was intended to create a sense of unity through all of our employees and within our communities,” said Tami Gunsch, the bank’s executive vice president, noting that the day’s projects benefited nonprofit organizations and communities in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. In Berkshire County, projects included painting at Stearns Elementary School, Egremont Elementary School, and Boys & Girls Club Camp Russell; downtown guide assembly at Downtown Pittsfield; cleanup of Pittsfield parks, Greenagers Housatonic River Walk, and Berkshire Athenaeum; a home build with Northern Berkshire Habitat For Humanity; tree measuring with Trustees of Reservations at Bartholomew’s Cobble; and fourth- to sixth-grade literacy at Farmington River Regional School. In the Pioneer Valley, projects included cleanup of Stanley Park, YMCA of Westfield, Southwick Rail Trail, West Springfield YMCA, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Birthday Wishes, and Girls Inc. of Greenfield; a house build and restore for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity; a bike build at YMCA of Greater Springfield; administrative duties at Children’s Study Home; tree planting at ReGreen Springfield; and truck unloading at Community Survival Center.

GoodWorks Insurance Profiled in National Magazine

GREAT BARRINGTON — GoodWorks Insurance is booming while giving half of its growing profits to charities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, according to a profile in the May issue of Independent Agent, the national magazine for independent insurance agents. When Chad Yonker, a former minority investor, took over GoodWorks as CEO in 2011, it was struggling financially despite growing sales. He recapitalized the firm. “Since then, the agency has more than tripled in size,” the magazine notes. Based in Glastonbury, Conn., GoodWorks Insurance is an independent agency with additional Connecticut offices in Avon, Columbia, and New Milford, and Massachusetts offices in Great Barrington and Worcester. It’s marking its 10th anniversary this year. GoodWorks’ corporate charter requires that a minimum of 50% of operating earnings be distributed to nonprofits. Its community grants support local nonprofits that work in education, healthcare, public safety, and community development. They include medical clinics, fuel-assistance programs, visiting-nurse associations, special education, the YMCA, and more. GoodWorks’ 2015 sales were about $6 million, and the agency expects up to 50% growth for 2016. Yonker and the other agency owners decline compensation in order to boost the profit pool available for giving, according to the magazine. Its commitment to nonprofits has resulted in many growth opportunities. Besides insuring families and small businesses in general, GoodWorks has special expertise in nonprofits, fuel dealers, aerospace, manufacturers, and surety bonds. The full article can be read online at tinyurl.com/j9hua44.

HCC Expands Presence in Hampshire County

WARE — Calling it a great day for Ware and a great day for the region, business leaders, elected officials, and representatives from Holyoke Community College recently celebrated the opening of a new education and workforce-training center in downtown Ware. The center, called E2E, short for Education to Employment: Quaboag Region Workforce Training and Community College Center, is a collaboration between HCC and the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. “We are so thrilled to welcome Holyoke Community College to our community,” said Sheila Cuddy, executive director of the Quaboag CDC. “As a CDC, we are here with a focus on business development and to better our economic community. What better way to make that happen than to focus on giving the folks who live here the skills they need to become good employees for our local businesses?” More than 60 people attended the grand opening, ribbon-cutting and reception. HCC president Bill Messner told the crowd he was impressed by the persistence with which representatives from Ware courted the college to establish a presence there. “We’re delighted,” Messner said. “We’re Holyoke Community College, and we take the community very seriously, and you are part of our community, so we’re here. We’re here because of the efforts of a lot of people in this room.” Also speaking at the opening were John Carroll, chairman of the Ware Board of Selectmen; state Sen. Anne Gobi; state Rep. Todd Smola of Warren, a 2005 graduate of HCC; Vincent McCaughey, board chairman of the Quaboag Valley CDC; Paul Scully, president of Country Bank, who donated the space for the E2E center; Tracy Opalinksi of the Ware Business and Civic Assoc.; and Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. The roughly 3,000-square-foot center located at 79 Main St. includes two classrooms, as well as private study areas and office space. Ten computer workstations will be available for community members interested in enrolling in credit classes at HCC as online students. The center is already offering non-credit classes in hospitality and culinary arts. The expectation is that course offerings will expand to include manufacturing and health careers. For some courses, classroom education will be supplemented by hands-on training at Pathfinder Vocational High School in Palmer. HCC will also offer academic-advising and career-counseling services. “This is a great day for Ware and a great day for our region, which has been lacking in sources of education beyond high school for so long,” Cuddy said, “so we could not be more pleased that HCC has shown the willingness to be our partner in this endeavor and to move the project forward.”

LPV Application Deadline is July 1

SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley, which recently honored the 34 graduates of its class of 2016, is currently accepting applications for its 5^th anniversary class.

The deadline for submitting applications is July 1. Information on applying or nominating an individual is available on the agency’s website: www.leadershippv.org.

Each class of Leadership Pioneer Valley is selected through a competitive process conducted by members of the Enrollment Committee. In any given year, there are more applicants than positions available. Interviews may be offered on a case-by-case basis. Approximately 30-40 individuals will be selected based on criteria including: commitment to civic involvement in the Pioneer Valley region, potential for community leadership, and professional as well as personal achievement. Diversity is a key goal of Leadership Pioneer Valley. Factors used in determining the final make-up of the class include age, geographic location, employment sector, race, sexual orientation, and gender.

LPV offers a flat rate for tuition, and the agency wants to ensure that all who need tuition assistance receive it. Tuition for each participant in Leadership Pioneer Valley is $3,500, which includes a suggested personal tuition of $300. Tuition covers all class year expenses, including: an overnight retreat, meals, transportation, training and materials, trainers, commencement ceremony, and graduation dinner. Tuition assistance is available for organizations that are non-profits, public sector, and small businesses and individuals who are self-employed, unemployed, and who would otherwise be unable to participate. Additionally, flexible payment plans are available upon request for both employers and applicants.

Scholarships are also available for the personal tuition, including YPS and NAYP Scholarships. Graduates of the Women’s Fund’s LIPPI Program receive 20% off tuition.

Chamber Corners

Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

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

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

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

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

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

holyokechamber.com
(413) 534-3376

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

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

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

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

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

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• July 14: 39th annual Pancake Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m., South Middle School Lawn, Westfield, rain or shine. Cost: $6 for adults $5 for seniors, $3 for kids under 12. Tickets are available at the chamber office in advance or on the day of the event. Vendor Tables are available: $75 for chamber members, $100 for non-members. Vendors must bring their own table and chairs. We will also be doing our popular vendor bingo. There are many activities for children, including a bounce house, face painting, music, a fire engine, and more. For more information, to volunteer, or to reserve a table top and/or sponsorship, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• July 18: Connect in July – After 5 Connection, 5 p.m., Papps Bar & Grill (on the observation deck), 110 Airport Road, Westfield. Appetizers include eggplant tower bites, renowned tomato bruschetta, and a chef’s choice selection. There will be a raffle for a $25 gift certificate to Papps Bar & Grill. Also, we are having a scholarship-fund raffle where we will raffle off an aerial scenic view of Westfield in a 1942 Aeronca L3 that evening, weather permitting. The event is sponsored by Air1 Flight Training and A Slight Edge Salon. Don’t forget your business cards. Cost: $5 for chamber members, $10 for general admission. To register for this event, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

Creative Hub to Cut the Ribbon

WESTFIELD — The public is invited to attend the official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for The Creative Hub on June 30, at 2 p.m. 2016 at 2 p.m., 28 North Elm St. Lite refreshments and snacks will be served.

The Creative Hub features an open art studio space along with a unique craft store filled with recycled and reclaimed items ready to repurpose. The open art studio is $5 per person for 90 minutes; visitors are free to use all the recycled items to build and create. There are a variety of tools, paints, markers, glues etc. to borrow along with other planned crafts supplied by The Creative Hub. The space is also available for parties, workshops, club meetings and our upcoming scheduled classes. Many eclectic items will be ever changing throughout the craft store. Some of the staples will be Whip City Soy Candles, BeanTowne Bears, and hand-crafted soaps.

Greenfield Co-op Registers Growth

GREENFIELD — Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank and its parent company, Greenfield Bancorp, MHC, recently announced today the operating results of the bank’s latest fiscal year. Tucker reported that the first year of the combined Greenfield Cooperative Bank and its Northampton Cooperative division was successful, and the bank achieved its first-year goals with minimal disruption and no layoffs. In fact the bank has added two new commercial lenders and a commercial analyst since the merger. Other results included:

• The bank’s financial performance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016 saw total assets grow by 6.64% to $559,975,000. This was an improvement over the 5.06% annual asset growth of GCB during the five-year period before the merger with Northampton. Asset growth included 5.83% growth in total loans $338,769,000. In 2015, GCB originated more than $102 million in loans of all types, including $52 million in commercial lending,  $34 million in residential mortgages,  $13.7 million in home equity loans and lines,  and $1.1+ million in MassSave® ‘’zero-interest” energy loans

• GCB had an increase of $33 million in deposits over the past year. Total deposits increased by 7.56% compared to an average annual growth of 5.74% for the prior five years.

• Total equity grew 4.78% to $65,180,709. GCB’s Tier 1 Capital to average assets is 11.7% and Total Capital to Risk-Weighted assets is 22.3%. The bank is considered “well capitalized” by all regulatory definitions.

• Greenfield Cooperative Bank and its employees contributed more than $133,000 to more than 100 charities, community groups, school events, youth teams and cultural events throughout both Hampshire and Franklin County during the past fiscal year.

• The pre-tax operating income for Greenfield Cooperative Bank was $2,231,000 for the first year ended March 31, 2016 and the net income after taxes was $1,520,000. This was an increase of 5.18% over the average net income of GCB alone for the 5 years prior to the merger year.

In other news, the following seven directors were re-elected to three-year terms as directors of the bank and Greenfield Bancorp, MHC:

•Attorney Robert Carey, a principal in the Greenfield law firm of Curtiss, Carey, Gates &  Goodridge, LLP. He was re-elected as clerk of the bank;

• Kevin O’Neil, president of Wilson’s Department Store in Greenfield, re-  elected chairman of the board;

• Keith Finan, chief financial officer of Deerfield Academy;

• Attorney Daniel Graves, owner of the Law Offices of Daniel Graves located in Greenfield.

• Attorney Peter MacConnell, principal in the law firm of Bacon Wilson, P.C. He was also re-  elected as a corporator for a 10- year term;

• John Kuhn, principal in the firm of Kuhn-Riddle Architects in Amherst. He was also re-elected as a corporator for a 10-year term;

• Robb D. Morton, CPA, principal in the accounting firm of Boisselle, Morton & Associates, LLP located in Hadley. He was also re-elected as a  corporator for a 10-year term.

Re-elected to 10-year terms as corporators of Greenfield Bancorp, MHC were: Barry Roberts, president of Roberts Builders Inc; Margarita O’Byrne Curtis, head of School at Deerfield Academy; and Douglas Clarke, retired after many years with Western Massachusetts Electric Co., now Eversource.

State Awards $8.5M in Workforce Training Grants

NORTH BROOKFIELD — The Baker-Polito administration announced recently that more than $8.47 million in Workforce Training Grant funds to 101 companies, which will enable the businesses to train current or newly hired workers.

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced the grants at Vibram USA, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of high performance shoe soles, outdoor products, and FiveFingers athletic shoes.

Among the local companies receiving grants: Sound Seal Inc. in Agawam was awarded $168,360 to train 59 workers, six additional jobs expected by 2018; Lake Region Medical in Brimfield was awarded $46,002 to train 79 workers; Tiger Press in East Longmeadow was awarded $105,500 to train 65 workers, with five additional jobs expected by 2018; Tapestry Health Systems Inc. in Florence was awarded $58,585 to train 90 workers; Eye & Lasik Center in Greenfield was awarded $61,590 to train 10 workers, with two additional jobs expected by 2018; Valley Steel Stamp Inc. in Greenfield was awarded $123,120 to train 27 workers, with 27 additional jobs expected by 2018. Also, CSW Inc. was awarded $27,500 to train 32 workers, with two additional jobs expected by 2018; Monson Savings Bank was awarded $58,675 to train 84 workers, with two additional jobs expected by 2018; Interprint Inc. in Pittsfield was awarded $38,900 to train 132 workers, with three additional jobs expected by 2018; Modern Mold and Tool Inc. in Pittsfield was awarded $41,280 to train 31 workers, with two additional jobs expected by 2018; Big Y Foods Inc. was awarded $217,123 to train 183 workers; and Kielb Welding Enterprises Inc. in Springfield was awarded $30,385 to train nine workers, with one additional job expected by 2018. Also, Placon IM Inc. in West Springfield was awarded $28,530 to train 28 workers, with 16 additional jobs expected by 2018; EpiCenter in Westfield was awarded $31,170 to train 29 workers, with 10 additional jobs expected by 2018; Sonicron Systems Corporation in Westfield was awarded $30,385 to train nine workers, with one additional job expected by 2018; and Transcon Technologies in Westfield was awarded $109,020 to train 80 workers, with three additional jobs expected by 2018.

Progress: One Building at a Time