Year: 2016

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced six promotions last week. The new assignments are: Mary Rawls, vice president – compliance; Adam Baker, commercial loan officer; Chelsea Depault; commercial loan officer; Christine Gagnon, residential mortgage originator for the Hampshire County marketplace; Janet Rosenkranz, loan analyst; and Kari Welch, branch Manager at the 67 King St. location of the bank’s Northampton Cooperative division.

Rawls has more than 22 years of experience in banking, and is responsible for ensuring bank compliance with the numerous banking and consumer laws and regulations. She also coordinates various regulatory and compliance examinations for the bank.

Baker has more than eight years of experience in banking, primarily in commercial lending. He is based in the King Street, Northampton Cooperative division of the bank, and is responsible for developing new commercial-loan business in the bank’s market area, with a focus in Hampshire County.

Depault is based at the 62 Federal St. location of Greenfield Cooperative Bank and is responsible for developing new commercial business in the bank’s market area, with a focus in Franklin County. She has more than seven years banking experience with GCB, most recently as a senior credit analyst.

Gagnon’s new duties will complement in her current position of assistant vice president at the Northampton Cooperative division of GSB. She will be responsible for assisting consumers looking to buy or refinance their home and to develop mortgage business through ongoing relationships with local realtors. She has more than 18 years of experience in banking with Northampton Cooperative Bank.

Rosenkranz has been in banking for the past 20 years, starting with Vanguard Bank and the former Springfield Institution for Savings. She will be based in the King Street, Northampton office and is responsible for monitoring commercial credits and will assist in managing the overall bank-loan portfolio.

Welch has been with the bank for more than five years. She will be responsible for overall management of the King Street branch and its staff and operations.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Anastasia Ezequelle recently joined Lexington Group in West Springfield, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the contract furniture industry.

Ezequelle’s design background allows her to manage projects from conception through completion, including field measurements, space planning, product specification, and assisting clients with color and finish selection. She has an in-depth knowledge of the Herman Miller line and the many other furniture lines Lexington Group represents. She is a LEED green associate and hopes to be involved with the growing green-building movement that is thriving in this region.

Lexington Group has been providing new and used office furniture to the region since 1989.

SPRINGFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) announced an upcoming Circle of Faith build on 479 Allen St. in Springfield. This project is a partnership between GSHFH and 11 local faith communities who have come together to raise the funds for a Habitat home, and who will also contribute volunteers, in-kind materials, and amenities for the project. As an intentionally interfaith project, this build incorporates Christian, Islamic, and Jewish communities.

These 11 faith communities include First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, Sinai Temple in Springfield, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in East Longmeadow, St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Longmeadow, the Islamic Society of Western Mass. in West Springfield, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Wilbraham, East Longmeadow United Methodist Church, Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System in Springfield, St. Cecilia’s Parish in Wilbraham, and Foster Memorial Church in Springfield.

Ellen Tougias, the point person for First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, says her church is “proud to be a part of the Circle of Faith Build for Habitat. We have committed to this project as part of our 30th-year celebration. It is one way that we have chosen to give back to our community in honor of this special year.”

Mohammad Bajwa of the Islamic Society of Western Mass. referenced a piece of Scripture in relation to the project: “cooperate with one another, for doing good deeds and righteousness … surely God’s mercy is upon the good doers.”

To kick off this partnership, the Circle of Faith communities and GSHFH are hosting a “House Wrapped in Love” event at the Islamic Society of Western Mass. on June 1 at 6:30 p.m. This event is family-friendly and invites kids to paint what home, family, and love means to them on sheets of plywood that will then be used to build the walls of the new habitat house at 479 Allen St. Following this event will be several days of building on the job site, where the exterior walls of the home will start to take shape.

NORTHAMPTON — The Creative, a collaboration of three local businesswomen, has opened an office in Thornes Office Suites.

The collaboration, which launched in April 2013, is made up of Janice Beetle, principal of Beetle Press; Ruth Griggs, principal of RC Communications; and Maureen Scanlon, principal of Murre Creative. Together, they provide strategic marketing, messaging, and design services. The trio provide flexible services to clients, combining forces to match clients’ needs and offering a full complement of agency services where necessary.

The Creative provides its clients with the opportunity for comprehensive marketing and communications services, including assistance with advertising campaigns, branding, public relations, print collateral, strategic marketing planning, and fund-raising campaigns. For more information, call (413) 727-3354 or visit thecreativemarketing.net.

SPRINGFIELD — Effective immediately, Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts will begin offering alumni of their programs a mutual 20% discount — just one part of a new effort between these organizations to strengthen and coordinate learning opportunities for emerging leaders in the region.

Both LPV’s core program and the Women’s Fund’s Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) program seek to empower up-and-coming leaders and, ultimately, strengthen the region as a whole. However, each program has unique content and perspectives that, if taken subsequently, provide a comprehensive leadership experience. Graduates of the LPV program can apply for LIPPI at womensfund.net; graduates of LIPPI can apply for LPV at leadershippv.org.

“The Women’s Fund is thrilled to participate in this collaborative effort with Leadership Pioneer Valley,” said Elizabeth Barajas-Román, CEO of the Women’s Fund. “We think this is a natural partnership for our organizations, as we both invest in creating strong communities through leadership development. Together, our participants will become the civic and business leaders of tomorrow who will help the region thrive.”

Added Lora Wondolowski, executive director of Leadership Pioneer Valley, “this partnership makes so much sense as we feel our curriculums are complementary. Together, we are building a cadre of leaders who are making a difference in their careers and communities.”

LPV is a nonprofit that works to identify, develop, and connect diverse leaders to strengthen the region. LPV’s core program challenges and engages emerging leaders from all sectors of the community from throughout the region. The curriculum consists of both classroom and hands-on, experiential learning that builds leadership skills, enhances regional understanding, and creates broader networks.

The Women’s Fund is a public foundation that connects donors with the lives of local women and girls through strategic grant making and leadership development. Its signature, non-partisan program, LIPPI, is designed to address the need to provide women with the tools, mentors, and confidence they need to become powerful and effective civic leaders and elected officials.

Further information on each program can be found at leadershippv.org and womensfund.net.

NORTHAMPTON — The Fairfield Inn & Suites Springfield Northampton/Amherst was awarded the 2015 Gold Hotel Award by Marriott International in its first year eligible for the distinction. The hotel, which opened in 2014, was the only hotel property in New England to achieve this designation.

“Guest satisfaction is our top priority. We’re here to serve our guests and make them comfortable while away from home. This award is validation that we are meeting our own goals in providing the best service possible,” said Hilary Wallace, general manager. “We have an amazing team, and this award is a true testament to all of them.”

The 2015 Gold Hotel Award is based on guest-satisfaction scores throughout 2015. The award is achieved only by eligible properties in the top 8% of the total 781 Fairfield Inn & Suites properties across the globe. Overall satisfaction scores for the Fairfield Inn & Suites Springfield Northampton/Amherst were 11.6% higher than the national brand average.

Kyle Richardson, vice president of Royal Talens of North America, utilized the Fairfield Inn & Suites as a home base when the company was just starting out. “Without having a permanent home, we relied on the outstanding service and accommodations of the Fairfield Inn to be our headquarters for the first few months,” he noted. “Whether it was welcoming guests from overseas, finding meeting space at a moment’s notice, or just friendly advice on where to find the best steaks or sushi in town, we were fortunate to have the welcoming and professional staff of the Fairfield Inn & Suites as an extension of our team.”

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College Department of Physical Therapy Chair Julia Chevan received the Ronnie Leavitt Award for Leadership in the Promotion of Social Responsibility in Physical Therapy at the American Physical Therapy Assoc. (APTA) combined section meetings in Anaheim, Calif.

Established by the APTA Health Policy and Administration Section Global Health Special Interest Group, the Ronnie Leavitt Award recognizes a physical therapist whose contributions and actions have demonstrated leadership in the promotion of social responsibility, locally and/or globally, through service, scholarship, and/or advocacy.

Chevan started her career in physical therapy in 1985, and the themes of her 30 years of work as a physical therapist have always included a focus on social justice and global health issues. In 2011, she was a Fulbright scholar to Rwanda, where she taught and conducted research with her colleagues at Kigali Health Institute. That work spawned a collaboration with Health Volunteers Overseas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to training health professionals globally, that resulted in a two-year USAID grant to provide continuing professional-development programming to promote rehabilitation services throughout Rwanda.

Chevan’s global health work has included teaching and mentoring therapists in the U.S., Armenia, Liberia, Rwanda, and Haiti. Her scholarly endeavors focus on the intersection of health-services research and physical therapy. These endeavors have resulted in publications that have uncovered race and sex disparities among people with lower-extremity amputations in the U.S., and studies of the expenditures and distribution of physical-therapy services.

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Savings Bank announced the promotion of John “Trey” Fortier III to accounting officer and financial reporting manager. In his new position, he is responsible for preparing numerous financial and analytical reports for management and the board of directors, as well as regulatory reporting for the FDIC and DIF.

Fortier graduated from Merrimack College in 2006 and received an MBA with honors from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. He recently received CPA certification. In his spare time, he volunteers as finance chair of Northampton Area Young Professionals and is a member of the Look Park Auction Committee.

Founded in 1869, Greenfield Savings Bank has 135 employees has offices and ATMs throughout Franklin and Hampshire counties.

HADLEY — The owner of both Cultivate and Nest and Beloved Earth will offer a free workshop geared toward the small-business owner or freelancer who wants to learn how to take his or her business to the next level. Terra Missildine will offer “Archetypes at Work” on Tuesday, June 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cultivate and Nest, 2 Bay Road, Suite 100, Hadley.

The workshop will focus on discovering participants’ personality archetypes and exploring how they can use that knowledge more effectively in their branding and in attracting their ideal clients.

“Participants will have fun and have a chance to be introspective while digging deep to discover who they really are in business and, more importantly, how they are perceived in the marketplace,” Missildine said.

Missildine is an experienced entrepreneur. She and her husband, David, launched Beloved Earth, a ‘green’ cleaning business, 10 years ago, and she founded Cultivate and Nest, a membership-based co-office space that incorporates a child-care component, in January.

The workshop is free, but seats are limited. Participants are encouraged to e-mail [email protected] to reserve a spot. For more information, visit cultivateandnest.com or contact Missildine at (413) 345-2400.

SPRINGFIELD — The Vann Group and Epstein Financial Services will present “Building Your Exit: The Owner Succession Planning Process Defined,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, on Wednesday, June 22 at the Student Prince/the Fort in Springfield, and Thursday, June 23 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley.

Registration both days will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

One of the largest challenges facing business owners today is the question of how to get out of their business. These seminars will present a step-by-step breakdown of the succession-planning process and what to expect along the way, including the many benefits to transitioning business ownership.

Panelists include Kevin Vann and Michael Vann of the Vann Group and Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial Services and Epstein Financial Group.

Admission is free, but RSVP is requested by June 14 for the first seminar and by June 15 for the second. Register online here, or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced the bank’s intention to build a branch in Holyoke.

The entry into Holyoke provides an opportunity for bankESB to be a part of the recent revitalization of Holyoke, he said. It also reinforces the bank’s commitment to community banking in the local market.

For many years, Holyoke has been in bankESB’s top 10 communities for deposits. The bank currently services almost 1,000 customers from Holyoke with $18 million in deposits and $28 million in loans.

The new branch will be built on a lot currently owned by the city of Holyoke at the corner of Sargeant and Beech streets, next to CVS and the newly built Holyoke Senior Center.

“We are presently in the site design and review phase and plan on opening the branch in 2017. We are thrilled to add the convenience of a local branch for our existing Holyoke customers,” said Sosik. “At the same time, we are very excited to share our unique, community-focused brand of banking to the residents of Holyoke who are not yet customers. Holyoke has seen such a resurgence in recent years; we’re excited to be a part of that turnaround.”

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse added that “bankESB is having an ever-increasing presence as a lender in Holyoke, driving the financing behind some of the largest projects in the city. I’m very excited they’ll have a physical location here as they continue growing their business and other business in the community.”

LUDLOW — John Hunt has been named chief executive officer of Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts in Ludlow. A speech-language pathologist by trade, he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UMass Amherst.

Hunt’s career in rehabilitation has spanned almost 30 years as a clinician, director, administrator, private practicioner, consultant, and educator, both regionally and nationally. He has served as a guest speaker and lecturer on the topics of motor speech and swallowing disorders in the neurologically impaired population. His focus has been the improvement of patient care and superior clinical outcomes in the post-acute continuum.

SPRINGFIELD — Starting Monday, visitors, residents, and employees of downtown Springfield can expect their daily walk to be a little bit more fun, thanks to the Springfield Central Cultural District’s (SCCD) new placemaking program. Eighteen artists will be painting murals on what are currently bland, grey utility boxes at intersections throughout the footprint of the district.

This program was designed by the SCCD to both encourage walking downtown and provide a source of income to working artists. Artist Priya Nadkarni painting the box at Bridge and Main streets, noted that, “since moving to Springfield, I have noticed a special pride and gumption in the people of this city that I believe is truly unique … it’s important to see that translate into beautifying this place and preserving all the positives in the city.”

Artists may be seen creating murals representing ‘unexpected beauty’ from Monday, May 23 to Saturday, May 28. Pedestrians are invited to stop and watch the murals come together and share their experiences using the hashtag #experiencetheunexpected.

The SCCD is funding this program by matching local businesses and organizations to artists. Sponsors of this program include the Armory-Quadrangle Civic Assoc., the Basketball Hall of Fame, Community Music School of Springfield, Eastern States Exposition, Inspired Marketing, Lessard Property Management, Maplegate Rehab, MassDevelopment, the Mattoon Street Assoc., MacIntosh Condos, One Financial Plaza, New England Farm Workers Council, Painting with a Twist, Springfield Parking Authority, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Taylor Street Dental, Tower Square, and WGBY Public Television.

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

More details on this program can be found at springfieldculture.org/artistresources. Live updates on the painting can be found on Twitter at @slfdculture.A schedule of painting is available upon request. Questions can be forwarded to Morgan Drewniany, executive director of the SCCD, at [email protected] or (413) 454-1195.

HOLYOKE — The relationship between Holyoke Community College and UMass Amherst is highlighted in a national report as a model of a successful transfer partnership other colleges would do well to emulate.

HCC and UMass were selected as one of only six pairs of ‘high-performing’ community colleges and partner universities in “The Transfer Playbook: Essential Practices for Two- and Four-Year Colleges” from the Aspen Institute and the Community College Research Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College.

“We analyzed the practices at partnerships of community colleges and four-year institutions with high rates of transfer-student success,” said Davis Jenkins, senior researcher at CCRC and co-author of the report released Tuesday. “This report presents the evidence-based strategies that community colleges and university leaders can use to improve outcomes on their own campuses.”

The free report is available online at as.pn/transfer1. It praises HCC for its “culture of commitment to transfer” and “the institution’s goal of improving transfer rates,” and cites President Bill Messner for regularly communicating “the importance of clear transfer pathways with UMass Amherst leaders.”

The report cites collaborative grants that align degree pathways and support student success for HCC students who transfer to UMass; HCC’s learning-community courses that “provide the sort of rich and rigorous learning experiences that will prepare students for four-year college coursework”; the HCC Honors program, including a new transfer pact between HCC and the Commonwealth Honors College at UMass; the emphasis on dual enrollment for high-school students taking college classes; and regular visits to HCC from UMass transfer representatives.

The report also notes the general expectation among faculty, staff, and advisors that students at HCC will transfer after earning a certificate or degree. “Everyone asks, ‘where are you going next?’” an HCC student quoted in the report remarks.

Each year, UMass Amherst accepts and enrolls more transfer students from HCC than from any other community college in Massachusetts. For the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters, a total of 203 HCC students transfered to UMass Amherst.

SPRINGFIELD — The Vann Group will present “Building Your Exit: The Owner Succession Planning Process Defined,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, on Wednesday, June 22 at the Student Prince/the Fort in Springfield, and Thursday, June 23 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley.

Registration both days will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

One of the largest challenges facing business owners today is the question of how to get out of their business. These seminars will present a step-by-step breakdown of the succession-planning process and what to expect along the way, including the many benefits to transitioning business ownership.

Panelists include Kevin Vann and Michael Vann of the Vann Group and Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial Services and Epstein Financial Group.

Admission is free, but RSVP is requested by June 14 for the first seminar and by June 15 for the second. Register online here, or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

PLAINVILLE — Gambling revenue at Plainridge Park Casino rose another 2% in April, continuing a four-month upward trend at the state’s first casino after a rocky second half of 2015.

The Plainville slot parlor brought in $13.3 million last month, about $8,000 more a day than in March, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Plainridge is averaging $13 million in monthly revenue in 2016, up from an average of $12.2 million over the last four months of 2015. To draw more players this year, the casino has significantly increased promotional free-play credits.

“The fact that revenue is up is a good sign for Plainridge Park,” Paul DeBole, an assistant professor of political science at Lasell College and a specialist in gambling regulation, told the Boston Globe. “I’m cautiously optimistic that the upward trend will continue.”

Despite the upturn, Plainridge — which opened strongly last June — remains well short of initial revenue forecasts for its first year. The casino estimated it would bring in $300 million in its opening year, but is on pace for just $161 million.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Preservation Trust will host its annual Preservation Awards reception to honor individuals and organizations that help restore and preserve historic places in Springfield. The event is open to the public and will take place tonight, May 18, at 6 p.m. in Center Court of Tower Square, 1500 Main St., Springfield.

The recipients for 2016 are:

• Hector Grullon for restoration of 90 Buckingham St.;

• Charles and Cathy Bellows for restoration of 50 Colony Road;

• The McKnight Neighborhood Council for installation of new historic-district signage;

• The Ocasio Irrevocable Family Trust for restoration of 238 Pine St.;

• Roger Roberge for the restoration and reuse of the Sumner Avenue Fire Station;

• Livingstone, LLC for the restoration of 82 Temple St.;

• Patrick and Deborah Murray for the restoration of 367 Union St.;

• David and Robin Taimanglo for the porch restoration of 34 Westminster St.;

• The Edward Sims Award for Stewardship will go to Victor and Frances Gagnon for 1120 Worthington St.;

• The Robert Holbrook Award for Stewardship will go to Alex and Charlotte DeVillier for 125 Atwater Road;

• The George Pooler Award for Stewardship will go to David and Jacqueline Pleet for 70 Bellevue Ave.; and

• The Donald E. Campion Award for Outstanding Achievement in Historic Preservation will go to Ralph Slate.

Photographs of award winners from 2016 and previous years will be on display at Tower Square through May 21. Slideshows of previous years’ awardees can be found online at springfieldpreservation.org/preservation-awards.

AMHERST — The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art announced that co-founder Eric Carle will return to sign books and meet fans on Saturday, May 28 at 10 a.m. Museum members will receive priority line placement and may enter early at 9:30 am. The signing is free with museum admission.

Carle has illustrated more than 70 books. His latest book, The Nonsense Show, published last October, is a book to make children laugh and use their imagination by introducing them to different artistic styles. It made Time’s Top 10 Children’s Books of 2015. It follows on the heels of The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, an homage to the artist Franz Marc and expressionism, and Friends, with its semi-abstract artwork.

Carle’s literary career began in 1967 when educator and author Bill Martin Jr. asked him to illustrate a story he had written. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is the result of their collaboration and is still a favorite with children everywhere. Soon Carle was writing his own stories. His first wholly original book was 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo (1968), followed afterward by the celebrated classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969).

Carle’s books have been read by millions of children all over the world and have been translated into 62 languages. He has illustrated more than 70 books, many of them bestsellers, most of which he also wrote. More than 132 million copies of his books have sold worldwide. Carle and his late wife, Barbara Carle, co-founded the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst in 2002.

A limited number of tickets to the signing will be distributed to visitors on the day of the event. No tickets will be available in advance. There is a limit of three books total per ticket holder (includes one book from home per group or family), and no personalization. Carle will be signing books only. No flash photography is allowed. The signing is in person only; the museum is not able to accommodate online orders that need to be shipped.

LEE — In honor of National Military Appreciation Month in May, Lee Premium Outlets will unveil two reserved veteran/military parking spaces with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 20. The event will take place, weather permitting, in the parking lot in front of the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store. The rain location will be inside the food court.

U.S. Army recruitment officers Staff Sgt. Aaron Pierce and Sgt. First Class Kenneth Rosado will be in attendance, along with representatives from various local veterans’ organizations. Other business and civic leaders in attendance will include State Rep. William Pignatelli, Lee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Colleen Henry, and Lee Chamber of Commerce Board President Franck Tessier.

The public is welcome to attend, and the recruitment officers will also remain on site through 3 p.m. in front of the Nike Factory Store to provide shoppers with giveaways, information, games, and more.

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University will hold its 2016 undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21 at 2 p.m. in the Alumni Healthful Living Center on campus. The ceremony will include the awarding of approximately 600 bachelor’s degrees.

Roland Merullo, author of In Revere, In Those Days, will deliver the keynote address. Merullo is the author of 20 books, including 12 novels, two memoirs, and numerous essays that have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Yankee, Good Housekeeping, and Forbes.

Merullo has served in the Peace Corps in Micronesia and worked for the U.S. Information Agency in the former Soviet Union. He also taught creative writing and literature at Bennington College and Amherst College. In addition, he has been a writer in Residence at Miami Dade College and North Shore Community College. He has spoken at hundreds of colleges, conferences, and civic organizations.

His 2003 novel In Revere, In Those Days was a Booklist Editor’s Choice and Maria Thomas Award winner. Breakfast with Buddha was nominated for the Dublin IMPAC International Literary Award, and American Savior won the Honor Award in fiction from the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Revere Beach Boulevard was recently named one of New England’s top 100 essential books by the Boston Globe.

Western New England University will provide live streaming video of the commencement ceremonies. The feed will be available at wne.edu/commencement.

SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley Plaza, located at 501 Newton St., is officially under new ownership. The new owners are a triumvirate of local business leaders: Rocco Falcone of Rocky’s Hardware, Peter Picknelly of Peter Pan Bus Lines, and the Yee Family, whose other South Hadley businesses include Johnny’s Bar and Grille, Johnny’s Taproom, and IYA Sushi & Noodle Kitchen.

The plaza is home to Rocky’s Hardware, Friendly’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, General Cleaners, and Mandarin Gourmet. There are currently vacancies in the former Movie Gallery and Big Y locations. That is due to change under the new ownership.

“We’re in a great position to attract a mix of local and national businesses,” Falcone said. “This is a vibrant community, and we want to deliver some exciting options and breathe new life into South Hadley Plaza. The former Big Y site in particular, with its 60,000 square feet of space, is a unique offering that we’re exploring some interesting ideas for.”

The new owners bring the resources and pedigree to draw new business and connect with the South Hadley community. Rocky’s Hardware has 31 stores in New England and four in Florida. Meanwhile, this will be the second collaboration for Picknelly and the Yee Family, who purchased and revitalized Springfield’s historic Student Prince restaurant in 2014.

“It’s essentially three family businesses coming together — big families with big businesses, but families all the same,” Falcone said. “We look forward to expanding the horizons of this space and being a great resource for the community.”