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Year: 2016

Know Your Rights When an Insurance Company Reserves Its Rights

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Employment Sections

Make Sure You’re Covered

 By Timothy M. Netkovick, Esq.

 

Timothy Netkovick

Timothy Netkovick

Many employers with employment-practices liability insurance (EPLI) and directors and officers liability insurance (D&O) policies know too well that they often face a frustrating struggle when reporting the fact that a lawsuit has been filed to their insurance company.

As an employer, being faced with employment litigation is challenging enough, but then being told that you have to work with an attorney you have never met, who may not be locally located, is extremely frustrating. Employers are frequently told they have to use the attorney their insurance company tells them to use. This, however, is contrary to Massachusetts law when an insurance company reserves its rights. In fact, under Massachusetts law, the insured can choose its own counsel in that scenario.

The insurance company will frequently reserve its rights upon initial receipt of a claim. It will then send a reservation-of-rights letter, advising its insured (you) that it will provide a defense of the claim while simultaneously reserving its right to deny coverage of the claim. This means that, while the insurance company will provide a defense right now, it is reserving its right to deny coverage of the claim after it learns additional information, which could leave you exposed to liability with little or no insurance coverage at a later date.

Many employers know that one issue that periodically arises with insurance companies is their insistence on having the insurance company’s attorneys defend a claim, even when the insurance company is reserving its rights. The insurance company you are dealing with could be located in another state, where the laws governing insurance companies may be different, and the insurance company could try to bully you into selecting an attorney that the insurance company selects. That attorney could be at a big firm in a big city, and you may prefer to be represented by a local attorney who knows your business.

If your attorney has been representing you in the matter prior to litigation being filed, it may also not be in your best interest for the insurance company’s attorney to become involved from the standpoint of cost and familiarity with the claim. In a reservation-of-rights scenario, you have the right to choose your own counsel. Massachusetts courts have ruled that an insurance company cannot insist on using its own attorneys to defend a case when it is reserving its right to deny coverage, as it has the potential to adversely affect the insured’s rights.

When an insurance company says it is going to fund a defense, it means it will pay the legal fees and costs associated with defending the claim. Depending upon the language of your individual insurance policy, your company will likely be responsible for paying legal fees until your deductible is reached. The insurance company would pay all legal fees once the deductible is exceeded.

Let’s assume your insurance company is providing you a defense under a reservation of rights, and then decides to deny coverage based upon facts it learns as the case develops. What happens to your company? In this scenario, timing is key. Massachusetts courts have ruled that an insurance company can be barred from denying coverage in a scenario where the insurance company learns of facts upon which it could deny coverage, then takes no action to inform its insured it will deny coverage until months, or years, later.

Many employers are also familiar with their insurance company trying to force the settlement of a claim during litigation. The insurance company recommends settlement of the claim based upon its bottom line by performing a financial analysis of the potential settlement amount against the cost of paying the legal fees and costs associated with the continued defense of the claim and the risk to its insured.

However, if the insured believes the claim is meritless, a settlement may not be in the insured’s best interest. If a settlement is paid, then the insured’s premiums will increase, whereas, if the claim was taken to trial and the insured prevailed, its premiums would not increase.

Often, employers think they are at the mercy of the insurance company when it comes to decisions made in litigation. As an employer, it is important to know your rights under EPLI and D&O insurance policies. Decisions made in litigation have an impact on your business, your employee relations, your reputation, and your bottom line.

Timothy M. Netkovick, 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 and the National Assoc. of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move
Maureen Sullivan

Maureen Sullivan

The Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that Maureen Sullivan has been named its Director of Marketing and communications, effective Dec. 1. Sullivan will be responsible for the strategic direction, development, management, and implementation of all aspects of marketing, public relations, social media, media relations, and communications efforts. She replaces Nancy Creed, who assumed the role of chamber president in August. Sullivan comes to the chamber with extensive marketing and communications experience, most recently as president of the Maureen Sullivan Media Group, an advertising and marketing firm focused on developing branding, marketing strategies, advertising, and event marketing. Prior to her founding her own business in 2013, she served as the marketing director for the Republican, where she directed corporate and internal communications, community engagement, loyalty programs, and sponsorships. Before being promoted in 1999 to marketing director, Sullivan served as the newspaper’s promotional manager, responsible for all internal communications, advertising sales, and event marketing. Sullivan is the founder of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” a successful, award-winning event series for women. She produced and managed the series of events attended by more than 2,100 women, launched its profitable merchandise line, and launched its digital and print publication with a reach of 376,000. Sullivan also produced an award-winning television commercial and has been named one of the Top 10 Women in Business by the Women Business Owner’s Alliance. Before joining the Republican, Sullivan served in similar capacities with the Hartford Courant and the Transcript-Telegram in Holyoke. She is a board member of Unify Against Bullying, a nonprofit that raises money to fund anti-bullying projects in schools; a former member of the Holyoke Cultural Council appointed by Mayor Alex Morse; and a former board member with the Newspaper Assoc. of America and the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts. She is a graduate of UMass with a degree in journalism and communications.

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Andrew Steiner

Andrew Steiner

Andrew Steiner has been named Executive Director of JGS Lifecare’s Leavitt Family Jewish Home (JNH). He brings more than 20 years of diverse experience improving the quality of care and quality of life of seniors. He will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Joint Commission-accredited, 200-bed, long-term-care nursing home located in Longmeadow. Before joining JGS Lifecare, Steiner served as president of Sycamore Health Care Consultants, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in senior housing and health care, policy and compliance, reimbursement programming, healthcare technology integration, operations and turnaround management, marketing, and real-estate investment. In addition, Steiner has served as the executive director of the 205-bed Abbott Terrace Health Center in Waterbury, Conn. In this role, he implemented and managed programs for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, pulmonary rehabilitation, and cardiac care management. He also developed and implemented partnerships with regional hospital networks and delivered significant improvements in patient care and customer-service outcomes. Prior to this, Steiner served as director of Strategic Planning for National Health Care Associates in Wethersfield, Conn., coordinating business planning and strategies for more than 40 skilled-nursing facilities in six states with more than 4,000 beds under management. “Andrew clearly brings to JNH a wealth of administrative experience in clinical, long-term, and sub-acute settings, as well as a diverse programming background,” said Martin Baicker, president and CEO of JGS. “His wide-ranging skills and expertise will be a critical asset to JNH as we introduce the patient-centered ‘green house’ model of care in our nursing home over the next few years. We feel confident that, under his leadership, this new range of service will continue to grow our legacy of more than a century of proud caretaking, and fulfill our mission to provide quality eldercare services to the people of our community.” Steiner teaches health systems management at the University of Connecticut School of Business. He is also active on many local boards and organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and Hartford Hospital, and has served the Florida Health Care Assoc., the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, and Dominican University. Steiner holds a master of public health degree in community health sciences and gerontology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, emphasis in marketing, from the Kogod School of Business Administration, American University, Washington, D.C. He is licensed as a nursing-home administrator in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

•••••

Western New England University President Anthony Caprio announced the appointment of two new faculty members in the University’s School of Law:

Mark Worthington

Mark Worthington

• Mark Worthington is serving as the Director of Elder Law and Estate Planning Program in his new position in the Western New England University School of Law. Worthington has been in private practice exclusively in special-needs law, elder law, and estate planning for the past 24 years. He has been a member of the LLM faculty as an adjunct since the program’s inception. He is widely recognized as a national leader the field of elder law, having lectured and written for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Worthington is a graduate of the University of Rochester, Northeastern University School of Law, and Boston University School of Law. As adjunct faculty, he has been teaching courses in Medicaid Planning and Planning with Grantor Trusts.

Henry Boroff

Henry Boroff

• Henry Boroff has been a visiting professor and jurist in residence at Western New England University School of Law since July 2016, and previously an adjunct professor at the law school since 1996. From 1993 until his retirement in 2016, he served as a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the District of Massachusetts, handling cases throughout Massachusetts, as well as in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Boroff was chief judge of the Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court from 2006 until 2010, and served from 1996 through 2016 an appellate judge on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the First Circuit. He is a graduate of Boston University and Boston University Law School, and teaches courses in Bankruptcy and Secured Transactions.

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Anne Stout

Anne Stout

Anne Stout has recently been appointed Director, Business Development, for Webber & Grinnell Insurance. In this role, she will build market position by locating, developing, defining, and acquiring new clients. Having previously worked at Toole Insurance and Pitney Bowes Inc., Stout has more than 20 years of success in marketing and consistently strives to maximize the reach, efficiency, and business impact of strategic relationships. In keeping with the agency’s mission, she is committed to the community. She has held roles as vice president, Membership for Berkshire Business and Professional Women and served on the United Way resource development committee.

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David Griffin Sr

David Griffin Sr

The Dowd Insurance Agencies announced that David Griffin Sr. was selected as Treasurer for the new Pope Francis High School board of directors. Pope Francis High School is a faith-based, college-preparatory school serving grades 9-12, formed through the merger of Cathedral and Holyoke Catholic high schools, and currently operating out of the former Holyoke Catholic building. A new, state-of-the-art facility is under construction on Wendover Road in Springfield and is slated to open for the 2018-19 academic year. “I have strong ties with both legacy schools — I’m an alumnus of Holyoke Catholic, and three of my children were educated at Cathedral,” Griffin said. “Participating on the new Pope Francis High School board is one way I can help ensure that Catholic secondary education remains a viable option here in the Pioneer Valley.” Griffin is a principal and the executive vice president and treasurer of the Dowd Insurance Agencies. He has more than 35 years of experience in the insurance industry. He is a licensed insurance advisor as well as a certified insurance counselor. Griffin is also very active in the community. He has served as president of the West Springfield Chamber of Commerce, West Springfield Rotary, Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, Springfield Country Club, Hampden County Insurance Agents, and chair of Mont Marie Health Care Center.

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Richard Sawicki Jr.

Richard Sawicki Jr.

Richard Sawicki Jr. has been elected President of the 1,700-member Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. The election took place at the association’s annual membership meeting held earlier this month at the Delaney House in Holyoke. Sawicki is office manager and real estate sales agent with Sawicki Real Estate in Amherst. As president, he will oversee the association’s activities and
operations, including meetings of the board of directors, and act as a
liaison to the association’s various committees. He is the official spokesperson of the association on issues related to the real-estate industry and the local housing market. The other 2017 officers and directors are Edward Alford, President-elect; Kelly Bowman, Treasurer; Susan Drumm, Secretary; and Lou Mayo, Immediate Past President. The directors include Elias Acuna, Suzi Buzzee, Shawn Bowman, Peter Davies, Janise Fitzpatrick, Ray Hoess-Brooks, Susan Rheaume, and Russell Sabadosa.

•••••

Stacey Price has been hired as director of development and marketing at Dakin Humane Society, according to Executive Director Carmine DiCenso. Price will oversee development and marketing efforts for the organization, which has two adoption centers in Leverett and Springfield, as well as a community spay/neuter clinic at the latter location. She will focus on donor and community relations and pursue strategic partnerships that will enable Dakin to continue to innovate while serving the needs of animals and the people who care for them in Western Mass. and beyond. Price was formerly the interim executive director and development director at Gifford Cat Shelter in Brighton, where she served as a funding strategist. Prior to that, she was the capital campaign manager for the EcoTarium in Worcester, and animal welfare director at Kitsap Humane Society in Silverdale, Wash. Price is a member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators and was part of the Spay Worcester Task Force. She received a Who’s Who 40 Under 40 award in 2010 from Kitsap County, Wash., and earned an MBA from Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y.

MBTA to Place Second Order of Rail Cars with CRRC

By
Daily News

BOSTON — The MBTA announced it will place a second order for new Red Line cars with CRRC, the company already contracted to build new train cars at a facility it is building in Springfield, the Republican reported. MBTA officials say it’s cheaper to pay $300,000 for each new car than to rehab aging trains.

CRRC, the Chinese-owned world leader in rail-car manufacturing, won a contract in 2014 to build 152 Orange Line cars and 132 Red Line cars to replace aging trains. Under the new proposal, CRRC will start building an additional 120 Red Line cars in 2022 after completing the initial order of Red Line and Orange Line cars. The proposal includes an option to purchase 14 more.

Doing Business As Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the month of November 2016.

BELCHERTOWN

Arcadia Construction
27 Eskett Road
Robert Mileski

Grumpy Gramps
41 Stebbins St.
David Benedetti

Liberty Blues Designs
75 South Liberty St.
Cynthia Ablicki

New England’s Hidden Treasures
204 Munsell St.
Briana Gosselin

Quabbin Painting and Construction
340 State St.
William Landford

CHICOPEE

Freedom Body Products
1628 Westover Road
Michele Thais Oparowski

Jiffy Lube #119
2017 Memorial Dr.
Daniel Ramras

K Lawrence Construction
260 Grove St.
Karl Lawrence

New England Radon Testing and Mitigation
686 Britton St.
Ashley Bissell, Joshua McPherson

Riverbend Medical Group Inc.
1109 Granby Road
Richard Shuman, M.D.

Riverbend Medical Group Inc.
444 Montgomery St.
Richard Shuman, M.D.

WOW
19 Blanan Dr.
Juliette Noonan

GREENFIELD

BGH Dental
207 Silver St.
Bagley, Goodwin & Hrinda, P.C.

Bill’s Auto Sales
330 Federal St.
William Redmond

Hair It Is
258 Main St.
Wendi Rose

Hangar of Greenfield Inc.
30-44 Federal St.
Harold Tramazzo

Indian by Nature
286 Main St.
Madan Rathore

HOLYOKE

East and West
50 Holyoke St.
Zehao Gan

La Pescaderia Restaurant
389 Main St.
Victoria Williams

Onix Landscaping
589 Pleasant St., 2R
Onix Gonzalez

Rehab Resolutions Inc.
98 Lower Westfield Road
Sofio Zanzarella

NORTHAMPTON

Alport Hearing Rep Services
139 Greenleaf Dr.
Stephen Alport

Dust Dancer Domestic Engineer
42 Fruit St.
Patricia Trant

Emerald Ki
11 Arnold Ave., Apt. 1B
Megha Amira Arraj

Gayla Berry Enterprises
8 Hockanum Road, #8
Gayla Berry

His & Hers Energy Effiency
12 Perkins Ave.
Adin Maynard

Jiffy Lube #1164
188 North King St.
Daniel Ramras

Mullberry St. Exchange
7 Mullberry St.
Wayne Andrews Jr.

Reboot Enterprise
21 Brisson Dr.
Matthew Hamel, Brian Elim

Trailer Tech USA
50 Hatfield St., Unit 2
Billy Davis Jr.

PALMER

Affordable Fences and Decks
34 Beech St.
Leonard Boyer

Do It Rite
Route 51
Steven Kusek

Leisure Motors Inc.
1317 Main St.
Peter Scagliarini

Russo’s Lakeside Seafood & Steakhouse LLC
2092 Palmer Road
Steven Giard

Supply Stop & More
1009 Central St.
Ivan Vlasyuk

Yield Management Corp.
148 Hovey Road
Robert Brown

SOUTHWICK

Agnes and Dora by Nickie D
299 College Highway
Douglas Seymour

Delreo Home Improvement
131A North Lake Ave.
Gary Delcamp

Fresh Food
195 College Highway
Kulh Thacung

Happy Nails & Spa
610 College Highway, #19
Tam Tran

SPRINGFIELD

Alice’s Photobooth
78 Chauncey Dr.
Alice Baiyee

Baked Beauty Bar
94 Island Pond Road
Irene Mendez

Dainty Doll Dresses
1455 Bay St.
Paula Wilson

Danny’s Home Maintenance
420 Roosevelt Ave.
Daniel Blais

Empower Wearables
27 Wesson St.
Ryan Nault

Global Cell Corp.
1655 Boston Road
Kyarisha Magar

Hunter Financial
57 Florence St.
Darnel Hunter

Johanna’s Cleaning Service
303 Maple St., #353
Johanna Gaston

Luis A. Romero Painting
77 Chester St.
Luis Romero

Nena’s Products
90 Audubon St.
Marilyn White, Peter White

NEO Technology Solutions
225 Carando Dr.
Oncore Manufacturing

Rivas Auto Care
812 Cottage St.
Victor Rivas

Seania Care
180 Warrenton St.
Shenee Jheanell

Sport Clips
302 Cooley St.
Ian Coogan

Springfield Pedicab
1350 Main St., 5th Floor
Frankie Mozell

Star 86
101 Mulberry St.
Kimothy Jones

Torres Transport
181 Daviston St.
Miguel Torres

Transport USA
30 Clayton St.
Simeon Mayers

Unique Landscaping
31 San Miguel St.
Carlos Santiago

V & G Auto Repair
294 Darwell St.
Vicente Rosario

V Nails & Spa, LLC
368 Cooley St.
Vy Lefebvre

Who Dat Jerk Chicken
755 Liberty St.
Ricardo Wilson

Wilbraham Road F.L. Roverts
1200 Wilbraham Road
Tony El-Nemr

WARE

Ateks Tree
51 West St.
Andrew Hogan

Chantel Bleau Accounting Services
228 West St.
Chantel Bleau

Fancy Nails
54 Main St.
Ut Nguyen

Jett Property Services
40 Coffey Hill Road
Tracey Giard, John Giard

WESTFIELD

Monty’s Motorsports LLC
518 Southampton Road
Monty’s Motorsports

Rain
252 Elm St.
Bocage Inc.

Rob Alberti’s Event Services
1310 Russell Road
Robert Alberti

Skyline Trading Co.
Skyline Beer Co.
124 Elm St.

U30 Cat & Small Dog Wellness Center
69 Southwick Road
William Faircloth

Westfield Community Education
4 School St.
Domus Inc.

Westfield Financial Management Services
141 Elm St.
Westfield Bank

Westfield Music
347 Elm St.
Joshua Friend

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

GREAT BARRINGTON

Holcomb Plumbing and Heating Inc., 5 Mountain St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Victor Holcomb, same. Plumbing and heating services.

HOLYOKE

Iglesia Cristiana Ministros Del Nuevo Pacto Inc., 3 Laurel St., Apt 1R, Holyoke, MA 01040. Luis D. Soto, same. Purpose of organization is to form and establish a Christian church, to encourage and promote the study and teaching of the bible, to conduct prayer and worship services, and to hold and conduct bible classes and Sunday school program.

MMF Inc., 224 Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Marilyn A. Fitzgerald, 163 Madison Ave, Holyoke, MA 01040. Convenience and package Store.

Movimiento de Reconciliacion Misioneros Unidos Inc., 9 North East St., Apt. 2B, Holyoke, MA 01040. Amalia Ruiz, same. The mobilization of the word, taking the word to different places.

INDIAN ORCHARD

La Pesca Milagrosa, 159 1/2 Main St., Unit 2, Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Geromino Torres, 11 Mazarin St., Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Church.

LONGMEADOW

New England Lacrosse Inc., 136 Grassy Gutter Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Steven R. Dudeck, same. Operates instructional lacrosse camps.

NORTH ADAMS

North Adams Lodge #487 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United State of America Inc., 100 Eagle St., North Adams, MA 01247. Matthew Labonte, 555 North Eagle St., North Adams, MA 01247. To further on a local level the charitable works of the benevolent and protective order of Elks of the United States of America. Charitable works include, but are not limited to, scholarships, veterans support activities, disaster relief and other civic activities.

PITTSFIELD

Disantis Law P.C., 75 North St., Suite 310, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Lindsay D. Disantis, same. To render professional services performed by a licensed attorney.

IPR Inc., 413-415 North St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Isa Balik, 37 Howard St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Operation of a pizzeria restaurant.

SOUTH DEERFIELD

MRB Controls Engineering Inc., 27 Sawmill Plain Road, South Deerfield, MA 01373. Kenneth M. Brutt, same. Engineering and technical services company.

SPRINGFIELD

Mertandkardesler Inc, 27-29 St. James Blvd., Springfield, MA 01104. Mert Gunaydin, 35 Joy St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Pizza restaurant.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

L.A.X. Transportation Inc., 70 Riverdale St., Unit 2, West Springfield, MA 01089. Aleksey Kushman, 89 Rivera Dr., Agawam, MA 01001. Trucking.

Economic Outlook 2017

By
coverfeature1216a
Cover Story Economic Outlook Sections

Balance Statement

Forecast Is Strong for 2017, but Questions Loom on the Horizon

outlookdpartAfter six years of largely uninterrupted economic growth in both Massachusetts and the U.S. as a whole, questions have arisen as to how long the expansion can last, especially coming on the heels of an unusual election season and amid sluggish economic trends internationally. The consensus seems to be that the present course should hold in 2017, but also that recessions are a regular occurrence in the American economy, and it wouldn’t take much to spark a slowdown. For now, though, cautious optimism reigns.

Rarely, economists note, does the U.S. economy grow for a full decade without hitting a recession. So the continuing strength of the economy — reflected most notably in falling unemployment — is a mixed bag of news. In short, while the growth is welcome, some caution is warranted.

“At the state and national level, the recovery has been going on for six years, and while there are no hard-and-fast rules about this, we could expect some moderation after six years of growth,” said Karl Petrick, assistant professor of Economics at Western New England University. “Every year of growth makes it more likely that the downward part of the business cycle is closer.”

Karl Petrick

Karl Petrick

Because of both economic and political reasons, I think the state economy is entering into a period of more uncertainty. Luckily, we are doing so after a period of robust economic growth, so, as a state, we have a good foundation to weather this uncertainty.”

 

 

A year ago, Bob Nakosteen, professor of Economics at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, called the economic outlook “fuzzy,” but said last week that 2016 solidified into a positive year on many fronts.

“Growth statewide has been somewhat modest, but continuous; we haven’t seen the unemployment rate this low since 16 years ago, the turn of the century,” said Nakosteen, who is also co-editor of MassBenchmarks, the quarterly publication devoted to analysis of the Bay State’s economy. “I don’t think the economy is going gangbusters, but it’s been steady, moderate growth over a long period of time, with higher employment numbers and the total number of workers higher.”

Slowly and steadily, if not spectacularly, he went on, the economic outlook since the low point of the Great Recession has morphed into a remarkable period of expansion. In Massachusetts, the main drivers include the usual suspects, such as information and communications technology, healthcare, and education. “These are industry sectors that are in high demand both nationally and globally, and we have the good luck, at least in the recent past, to have a heavy dose of those sectors. Any time there’s a big demand in the national economy for the services and industries we specialize in, it’s going to help us, and that’s what’s happening.”

PeoplesBank’s Tom Senecal (left) and Mike Oleksak

PeoplesBank’s Tom Senecal (left) and Mike Oleksak say indicators like rising employment and fewer foreclosures point to a strengthening economy.

Massachusetts, Petrick noted, has outpaced the national rate of growth since 2008.  For example, the state’s economy expanded at an annual rate of 3.7% in the third quarter of this year, while the national annualized rate of growth was 2.9% during that same period.

A similar trend holds in the category of unemployment rate. In October 2016, the last month for which state data is available, the Bay State’s unemployment rate was 2.7%, compared to the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.9%.

But is unemployment falling because more people are finding jobs, he asked, or because people are leaving the labor force and aren’t being counted? Comparing October 2016 to Oct 2015, the labor force grew while the unemployment rate fell (from 4.5% in Oct 2015 to 2.7% in Oct. 2016). While that’s a sign of success, one result is a tightening job market.

“The unemployment rate is falling for the right reasons, but it does also signal that it will be harder to keep up the pace of economic growth that we have been experiencing as the labor market gets tighter,” he told BusinessWest. “Effectively, it will be harder for those who are unemployed to find work.”

Meanwhile, the 2.7% number doesn’t tell the whole story. The official (U3) unemployment rate, the one that gets reported, counts anyone who is either working or willing to work, defined as someone who has looked for a job in the past four weeks, he explained. A broader measure of unemployment is the U6 rate, which includes workers who have given up looking for work but would return to the labor force if jobs were available, as well as people who are employed part-time because they can’t find a full-time job. The average U6 number in Massachusetts is 8.8%.

“The difference between that and the state U-3 rate does indicate that there is potentially more room to grow in Massachuetts,” Petrick said. “That’s a lot of potential workers that are on the sidelines who could return to the labor market if things continue to improve.”

Whether the economy will, indeed, continue to improve is the big question.

East and West

Petrick and Nakosteen both noted that breaking the state down by region results in a much more mixed picture for Western Mass.

Specifically, while Hampden County’s U3 rate fell from 6.0% to 3.6% from October 2015 to October 2016 — and similarly decreased from 8.3% to 5.1% in Springfield and 7.4% to 4.3% in Holyoke — those figures trail other metro areas in Massachusetts, including Boston (2.6% in October 2016) and Worcester (3.3%). In fact, Springfield’s 5.1% rate ranks among the highest city unemployment rates in the state.

“The recovery started sooner in Eastern Mass., and it took a while for the effects to be really felt in the western part of the state,” Petrick said. “Over the past year, we have seen a degree of catching up … after lagging in Western Mass. for a few years, the rate of job growth is now pretty consistent across the state.”

One interesting result over the past year, he noted, has been a rebound in the construction industry in Massachusetts, which saw employment grow by almost 38%. But much of that growth — particularly new construction — has been concentrated in the Greater Boston area.  Still, he went on, as construction was hard-hit by the recession, a rebound in this sector is a positive sign.

Bob Nakosteen

Bob Nakosteen

I don’t think the economy is going gangbusters, but it’s been steady, moderate growth over a long period of time, with higher employment numbers and the total number of workers higher.”

 

“It’s always been the case that the growth in Boston spreads very unevenly, and it dissipates as it gets farther from Boston,” Nakosteen added. “In Western Massachusetts, our employment numbers have increased, but not dramatically.”

One oft-discussed reason has been the decline of the manufacturing base over the past few decades, with no one industry stepping up to replace it. “We have a smattering of everything, and a number of manufacturing companies, but nothing very big.”

Area economic-development leaders hope the emergence of CRRC USA Rail Corp., a subsidiary of the China-based world leader in rail-car manufacturing — which promises to create more than 150 manufacturing jobs in Springfield when its plant on Page Boulevard opens in 2018 — is a harbinger of more good news for the region’s manufacturing sector. At the same time, downtown projects like Union Station and MGM Springfield, coupled with a surge in entrepreneurial activity in the region, bode well for the future.

So do the continued health of the ‘eds and meds’ sectors in the region. Nakosteen noted that people think of Massachusetts’ world-class hospitals when they think of the state’s healthcare prowess, but in addition to that anchor, companies that perform pharmaceutical research and build medical devices are thriving — although, again, mainly in the eastern part of the state.

Still, he went on, “there has been some convergence of the economic prospects of the eastern and western parts of the state, and that’s a good thing.”

Nancy Creed, president of the Springfield Regional Chamber, said her organization’s members are mainly bullish on the year ahead.

“There’s a lot of optimism. I hear it on the streets and in chamber meetings,” she said. “We’re seeing new business come into the city — small businesses, especially, that want to be part of what’s happening here. And the chamber is growing — chamber members are increasing job growth, increasing spending. I think, overall, people are feeling good about the city of Springfield.”

Nancy Creed says businesses expect to grow in 2017

Nancy Creed says businesses expect to grow in 2017, despite caution over what national events and trends represent.

However, “I would say it’s also tempered with what could potentially happen with the new federal administration,” she added. “Who knows what’s going to happen with healthcare and the ACA? So there’s also some caution overall.”

Indeed, Petrick noted, markets don’t like uncertainty, and they tend to be volatile during an election year in the U.S. — particularly one as unpredictable and unusual as the one that gave rise to President-elect Donald Trump and his aggressive rhetoric regarding trade.

“Certainly two of our biggest trade partners at the national level, China and Mexico, have both responded by letting us know that a trade war is a very bad idea for the U.S. as well as for them,” he said. “They have also both let the incoming administration know that there’s not a whole lot of good will there after a series of inflammatory statements regarding both countries during the campaign.

Those relationships need mending, he said, and it’s in the interest of both the U.S. and Massachusetts economies for that to happen. At the national level, he noted, much uncertainty lingers — more than what is typical after an election — and both companies and consumers want to see what the incoming administration will do, particularly after so many statements, many of them contradictory, regarding potential policy.

“So, because of both economic and political reasons, I think the state economy is entering into a period of more uncertainty,” Petrick said. “Luckily, we are doing so after a period of robust economic growth, so, as a state, we have a good foundation to weather this uncertainty.”

In the financial world, indicators reflect general economic health, said Thomas Senecal, president and CEO of PeoplesBank.

List of Business and Economic Development Resources

“Interest rates, obviously, drive most of what we do,” he said, adding that the Fed is expected to raise rates another 25 basis points this week, and he anticipates further jumps in the spring and perhaps the fourth quarter of 2017. “We see it as a moderate increase in rates that won’t have a huge, detrimental effect.”

In fact, he added, the Fed moves should instead translate into positive consumer confidence, which usually brings positive economic impact.

Meanwhile, Senecal added, “unemployment is significantly down in Western Mass., and we see in the banking industry that foreclosures are down, delinquencies are down — these are all positive signs for the economy.”

Broader Trends

Other fundamentals at the national level remain positive, Petrick said. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the U.S. economy will grow by 2.2% over the next year. That’s a strong rate of growth, although one part of the IMF forecast — higher energy prices — is better for some states (like Texas and North Dakota) than for Massachusetts. The IMF also estimate that the U.S. dollar will weaken over the coming year, which is good news for exports from Massachusetts, as a strong dollar over the past two years has seen state exports to many top trade partners suffer.

While the national economy is still growing, Nakosteen noted, it’s growing at a slightly slower rate than in previous years, and that’s bound to affect Massachusetts. “We can only be healthy to the extent of a strong national economy.”

Meanwhile, globally, China continues its transformation from an export-led economy to one more consumer-driven, and that could be a painful process. “It’s not clear that transition will be successful or happen any time soon,” he said, “and it’s not clear the politics in that country will be able to sustain it.”

As for Europe, “what they consider good news, we’d call stagnant. We’d be lamenting it here, but they’re happy there. There’s not much in the tea leaves to say that will change any time soon,” Nakosteen said, adding that slowdowns in commodities exports — a problem from Asia to Africa to Canada — are proving to impact economies negatively as well.

“The world isn’t on the brink of anything, but it’s certainly challenged in a number of ways, and certainly just slogging along,” he said. “We’re not disconnected from any of that. Even though we have a really dynamic economy, these trends are bound to suppress growth at some point. We’ve managed to keep modest growth continually for a long time, but there are troubling outside signs.”

Petrick agreed. “A generally sluggish world economy doesn’t help the U.S. or the Massachusetts state economy. The weakened Chinese economy, a sluggish European Union, and the continued fallout from the Brexit vote in the UK all bear watching.”

Michael Oleksak, executive vice president, senior lender, and chief credit officer at PeoplesBank, noted, as many analysts have, that Western Mass. is to some degree more shielded from national trends than, say Boston — never reaching the same heights or plumbing the same depths.

“The last few years, we’ve seen positive trends for both our customers and prospective customers,” he said, adding that he sees some staying power in regional trends like rising household incomes, strong commercial occupancy levels, and an uptick in home purchases in the mortgage realm after several years of refinances dominating that sector. Meanwhile, he sees the casino and other large projects causing a trickle-down effect of renewed investment interest in the region.

“I think the casino and CRRC will have an impact on the Western Mass. market; there will be some economic spilloff from that,” Senecal added. “Any time you see cranes in the sky, it makes you feel good about what’s going on in the immediate area.”

Meanwhile, some sectors are dealing with trends that are more cultural than economic, notably retail, which continue to grapple with Internet sales cutting deeply into their bottom line. Nakosteen said he has talked to store owners who say they hear that things are getting better, but they’re not seeing it themselves. “Retailers across the state and nation are struggling to deal with the Internet world.”

Bottom Line

In summary, Petrick expects Massachusetts’ economic growth to remain positive in 2017 but at a slower rate, closer to the U.S. national rate of growth.

“It’s really hard to continually outpace the national rate of growth after so many years of doing so,” he said. “I suspect, for at least part of the year, we will grow faster than the national average, but the gap will get narrower.”

One advantage the Bay State has is a high percentage of educational attainment, as 41.5% of residents in age 25 or older have a bachelor’s degree or higher; the national rate is 30.6%. “That is one of the reasons that Massachusetts is an attractive place for companies to locate.”

On the other hand, they still grapple with skills gaps, trying to match their needs with the available talent. But one of the more positive stories over the past decade in Western Mass. has been the region’s efforts to attack that problem.

“The skills gap is always going to be a concern, as businesses evolve and have different needs,” Creed said, adding, however, that the city has been fortunate to see robust partnerships emerge between its colleges, technical schools, and workforce-development agencies to prime the pump of talent and keep it in the region. “That’s the nature of the beast — businesses evolve, the skills they need evolve, and we’ve got to keep pace with that.”

Those partnerships don’t happen everywhere and shouldn’t be taken for granted, she added — but they are being noticed by both local companies and those looking for a place to plant new roots.

“I hear it from people at my events — they want to be downtown, they want to be part of the excitement. They want to be part of what’s happening here.”

It’s an optimism being felt across Western Mass. — admittedly, more strongly in some communities than others — as the calendar turns to 2017, and all the economic questions a new year brings.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Nutcracker and Sweets

Dec. 16-18: One of Holyoke’s most beloved holiday traditions will return as the Massachusetts Academy of Ballet presents Nutcracker & Sweets at Wistariahurst. This unique, historical interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet is presented through narration and dance in the historic setting of Wistariahurst, thanks to the support of Holyoke Gas & Electric. Student dancers will perform the magical story with a local historical twist and lively choreography, in eight performances on Friday, Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 17 at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. Seating is limited, and advance ticket purchases are required. Tickets are available online at www.wistariahurst.org, and can also be purchased in person at the Wistariahurst visitor’s center, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seated tickets are available for $15. Children under 4 are permitted on laps at no additional charge (one child per adult). Standing-room-only tickets are available for $12. Massachusetts Academy of Ballet is a training school for students interested in pursuing a career in classical ballet. The academy also has a program for non-professional students and adults seeking ballet training and artistic education. Classes emphasize classical ballet technique, musicality, artistry, and creativity.

Tree of Love Ceremony

Dec. 17: As the holiday season approaches, the Baystate Wing Auxiliary has set the date for its annual Tree of Love ceremony. This special event, created to honor and remember loved ones, features ornaments that can be purchased, personalized, and placed on the tree with names in memory of family and friends. “There is a definite comfort in coming together with others to remember someone, especially during the holidays,” said Teresa Grove, president of the Auxiliary and Philanthropy officer for the Baystate Health Eastern Region, which includes Baystate Wing and Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center. The ornaments may be purchased for $5 for a single name and $10 for a family. In addition, the community is invited to be part of an event held on Sunday, Dec. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m., when the decorated Tree of Love will be displayed in the lobby located on the ground floor of the hospital. This special event will include fellowship, refreshments, and festive music by Voices of Love and Remembrance. “The Tree of Love is our annual tradition that warms our hearts as we remember loved ones and celebrate their lives,” said Carol Doyle, an auxiliary member who coordinates the event. All proceeds benefit the Baystate Wing Auxiliary, which in turn donates needed equipment and other items for the benefit of patients to the hospital. The funds from this year’s event will benefit the Baystate Wing Hospital Emergency Department expansion project. For more information about the Tree of Love or to purchase an ornament, stop in the Baystate Wing Hospital Gift Shop or call Doyle at (413) 267-9219.

JGS Lifecare Unveils a New Rehab Center

By
Business of Aging Sections

A Transformation in Care

The living room at the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation

The living room at the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation, like other areas of the facility, are meant to
evoke a home-like feel for residents preparing to return to their own homes.

When JGS Lifecare launched the strategic plan five years ago that would become Project Transformation, the goal was to, well, transform the organization’s entire range of senior services to reflect 21st-century ideas about delivering care in a resident-centric way. The Sosin Center for Rehabilitation, the highlight of the project’s first phase, is a good example, employing the burgeoning Green House philosophy, a model aimed at making residents feel at home while achieving the independence they need to return to their own homes.

The hallways in the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation are wide, allowing for freedom of movement for multiple individuals going about the business of regaining their independence.

The bedrooms, as BusinessWest observed on a recent tour, are simple but elegant, with mounted flat-screen TVs and adorned with paintings created by local artists. The bathrooms are large, well-appointed, and completely accessible to people with ambulatory challenges, and the spacious common living room is bathed in natural light.

Martin Baicker

Martin Baicker says the Green House model has been proven to improve rehab outcomes and reduce rehospitalization rates.

“When we show people the Sosin Center, it speaks for itself,” said Susan Halpern, vice president of Philanthropy for JGS Lifecare, which opened the Sosin Center to short-term residents this month. “It’s the kind of environment where you’d want your loved ones to be cared for.”

The facility is named after George Sosin, a JGS volunteer, family member, former resident, and supporter who left $3 million dollars to JGS Lifecare in support of the center, the largest contribution received in JGS’s 104-year history. It contains two households, each designed to accommodate 12 short-stay residents. All 24 rooms are private, with full baths, and each home has a shared living room, dining room, den, kitchen, and porch, which provides seasonal access to the outdoors.

JGS unveiled the Sosin Center and the neighboring Michael’s Café — which connects the short-term rehab facility with the Leavitt Family Jewish Home, the organization’s nursing home — as part of phase 1 of Project Transformation, a multi-pronged endeavor to, well, transform JGS’ many senior-care elements into facilities that truly reflect 21-st century healthcare.

Notably, JGS Lifecare partnered with the Green House Project to implement a small-house model of care at the Sosin Center that is slowly becoming recognized throughout the industry for its success in reducing medication use and rehospitalizations, while affording greater socialization and interaction with caregivers.

Martin Baicker, president and CEO of JGS Lifecare, noted that more than 64% of all short-stay residents at JGS are successfully discharged to the community, which is more than 10% above the national average, but he expects the percentage to rise further at the Sosin Center.

The Green House model extends well beyond aesthetics, Baicker said, encompassing a three-pronged philosophy — real home, meaningful life, and empowered staff.

The first element is an effort to make short-term residents feel at home, not on some institutionalized schedule. “You wake when you want, go to sleep when you want — and it also looks like your home, architecturally,” he said.

Meaningful life means giving people choices in their day, and the small number of units allows residents to build strong relationships with the staff, he went on. “They feel a real sense of engagement.”

As for empowered staff, this might be the most important element of all, Baicker noted. Typically, he noted, an organizational chart extends from the top down, but here, it’s a series of concentric circles with the resident at the center, and the certified nursing assistants representing the second circle. “They provide personal care, cooking, laundry, light housekeeping, activities — and this is given by the same person spending an awful lot of time with the resident, getting to know them.”

Susan Kline and Stephen Krevalin

Susan Kline and Stephen Krevalin are co-chairing the $11 million capital campaign for Project Transformation.

The CNAs are supported by nurses; physical, speech, and occupational therapists; and perhaps a doctor, but still essentially make the day-to-day decisions about how the house is run, he explained. “That is totally, radically different than running a traditional nursing home.”

Person-centered Care

Of course, the Sosin Center isn’t a nursing home, which is why Halpern is happy that short-term rehab residents at JGS are no longer sharing space at Leavitt. “It’s not beneficial for someone to come in for rehabilitation and cohabitate with people in long-term care. They’re here short-term, getting ready to go home.”

Baicker agreed. “People in short-term rehab don’t want to feel like they’re in a nursing home.”

The Green House philosophy represents a stark change in the way the healthcare industry traditionally frames short-term rehab, Halpern added. “It’s person-centered care. You empower the residents to make decisions about how to model their daily lives and routines — when they get up, what food they eat. They have more say in their actual caregiving.”

Baicker said the outcomes of the Green House model have been impressive at other facilities that utilize it. Patients tend to need less medication, eat more food — because the scents of meals being prepared where they live activates their appetite — and engage in life in a more dynamic way, since they’re constantly engaged with the staff. “All those things combine to improve outcomes.”

Much of the rehabilitation incorporates activities residents will conduct once they’re back at home, from reaching shelves and preparing food to washing and bathing, said Susan Kline, who is co-chairing the $11 million capital campaign for Project Transformation with Stephen Krevalin. Both are longtime volunteers with the JGS Lifecare organization and former chairs of its board of directors.

Most Sosin residents will come from hospitals, but some from other settings, and while a small number may wind up in nursing homes, that’s rare; the idea is to prepare individuals to return to their homes and independence.

“The outcomes have proven to be much more successful in this setting than what occurs in other areas,” Kline added.

When Baicker came on board in 2012, JGS was already busy strategizing for the series of changes that would eventually become Project Transformation, including planned improvements to short-term rehabilitation and assisted living, as well as a revamp of the adult day health program to better serve a growing population of seniors in the early stages of dementia.

JGS Lifecare building committee members Frank Colaccino and Jeff Grodsky

JGS Lifecare building committee members Frank Colaccino and Jeff Grodsky unveil the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation at the facility’s recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.

But he was one of the first in the organization to promote the Green House model, and when the board responded positively, team members started paying visits to other facilities that had incorporated it, from Mary’s Meadow in Holyoke to the Leonard Florence Center for Living in Chelsea.

“The board did their due diligence and decided this is the way we’re going to move,” he said. “And, ultimately, we want to expand this model to the long-term portion of the nursing home.” Indeed phase 2 of Project Transformation will turn to modernizing two 40-bed wings of the Leavitt Family Jewish Home in the Green House model.

Construction of the 24,000-square-foot Sosin Center and the adjoining kosher café began in June 2015, and both were dedicated at a ceremony last month shortly before their official opening.

The café is dedicated to the memory of the late Michael Frankel, who was an outspoken advocate for Project Transformation, Halpern said. “Naming the café in his honor is a permanent tribute not only to Frankel’s extraordinary commitment to the care of our elders at the highest standards, but also his vision for JGS Lifecare for generations to come.”

Krevalin hopes the café serves as a “beacon for the community,” noting that it connects the nursing home and the Sosin Center and is not only an ideal meal spot for residents, families, and staff, but for the public as well. “We’re hoping the community supports it.”

Ahead of the Curve

Project Transformation is far from the first time JGS leadership has moved away from traditional, stale facility design, Halpern said. As far back as the 1990s, the organization was renovating the nursing home and designing the Ruth’s House assisted-living facility to be more homelike and less institutional. “It’s all about making people feel comfortable in the environment where they’re living. The nursing home was built at a time when nursing homes were like hospitals, with nurses’ stations.”

Twenty years ago, a shift to a more home-like setting was still an innovative idea in healthcare, Baicker said. “You can’t underestimate the forward thinking of the leaders of this organization, making the common areas and dining areas less institutional. This [Project Transformation] is the continued evolution of that.”

“And believe me,” Kline added, “we’re already thinking about what’s next.”

Ruth’s House underwent some improvements as part of phase 1 as well, and phase 2, in addition to modernizing the nursing home according to the Green House model, will relocate and expand Wernick Adult Day Health Care to include a specialized Alzheimer’s program.

All this takes money — both phases were initially budgeted at $20 million but could eventually approach $23 million, Krevalin said — and more than 150 supporters have already contributed some $8.5 million to the capital campaign, which had an initial goal of $9 million but will be extended to $11 million.

“The initial response is heartening. It shows that many donors already understand the impact that our new facilities will have on the quality of life of our elders and others we serve,” Krevalin said. “Once people see Project Transformation, they will understand its impact, and they will want to be part of it.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following business permits were issued during the month of November 2016.

CHICOPEE

Briarwood Fourteen LLC
470 Memorial Dr.
$30,000 — Install new architectural shingles and siding

CEA Realty LLC
1247 East Main St.
$2.7 million — Renovate existing building to accommodate new business

City of Chicopee
27 Arcade St.
$1,434,600 — Construct new public pool and alteration to existing bathhouse

Chicopee Housing Authority
1 Volpe Dr.
$347,000 — Upgrade fire-alarm system at Volpe Apartments

David Carlos
486 Springfield St.
$25,140 — Minor renovations/alterations to existing pizza shop

Todd Russo
454 Grattan St.
$4,000 — Roofing

EAST LONGMEADOW

Charles Richard
40 Baldwin St.
$86,000 — New commercial warehouse

L.E. Blecher
227 Shaker Road
$734,065 — New gas station

L.E. Blecher
227 Shaker Road
$38,000 — Canopy over gas pumps

Pure Barre
432 North Main St.
$53,000 — Commercial fit out

Town of East Longmeadow
150 Somers Road
$35,000 — Replace antennas

GREENFIELD

409 Federal Street LLC
407-409 Federal St.
$411,104 — Construct addition

Byrne Everything LLC
286 Federal St.
$5,000 — Construct wood-frame wall, pour small section of foundation wall, damaged due to vehicle

Hobo Enterprises LLC
8-16 Federal St.
$60,000 — Masonry repairs to façade

Sander Greenfield LLC
367 Federal St.
$15,000 — Replace windows and add door

HADLEY

173 Russell St. LLC
173 Russell St.
$120,000 — Storage barn for bike shop

Pyramid Mall of Hadley Newco LLC
367 Russell St.
$1,362,505 — Improvements at existing space for PetSmart

LUDLOW

Burger King
419 Center St.
$1,900 — Alterations

C.A. Smith Lumber and Feed
84 Hubbard St.
$12,000 — Foundation, repairs

NORTHAMPTON

Coca-Cola Co.
45 Industrial Dr.
$57,000 — Plumbing replacement

Smith College
College Lane
$133,450 — Renovate four classrooms

Smith College
College Lane
$248,900 — Roof replacement at Ainsworth Gym

Smith College
146 Elm St.
$325,000 — Renovations to existing structure

Smith College
10 Henshaw Ave., Unit B
$575,000 — Miscellaneous interior and exterior renovations

Smith College
10 Henshaw Ave., Unit C
$345,000 — Miscellaneous interior and exterior renovations

Smith College
21 Henshaw Ave.
$365,000 — Miscellaneous interior and exterior renovations

Smith College
19 Round Hill Road, Unit D
$725,000 — Miscellaneous interior and exterior renovations

Smith College
83 West St.
$3,550 — Strip and shingle roof

Smith College
126 West St.
$89,350 — Remodel two rooms

PALMER

Angelica Properties LLC
1294 Ware Road
$57,300 — Remodel inside of existing business

Baystate Wing Hospital
40-42 Wright St.
$65,000 — Renovate existing office space

Breton Realty LLC
4 Boston Road
$1,015,000 — Solar field

Camp Ramah in New England
39 Bennett St.
$2,523,204 — New cafeteria

Frank Spelko
400 Peterson Road
$16,120 — Antenna swap

Neal Corp.
4279 Church St.
$815,000 — New variety store

Nenameseck Sportsman Club
150 Bacon Road
$10,700 — New pavilion

SOUTH HADLEY

South Hadley High School
153 Newton St.
Renovate two classrooms to kitchen and teaching café

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Medical Center
$66,000 — 759 Chestnut St.
Alter shell space for conference room, gift shop, and storage area

Falcone Retail Properties LLP
40 Island Pond Road
$145,485 — Install roof-mounted solar array

HS Holdings, LLC
980 Bay St.
$16,000 — Installation of solar array, sistering rafters for extra support

Mercy Medical Center
271 Carew St.
$12,985 — Interior renovations for medical area

Orionls, LLC
428 Belmont Ave.
$13,000 — Replace three rooftop antennas and replace with three upgraded antennas

South Campus Group LLC
140 High St.
$37,500 — Combine office space

WARE

HTC Wireless
85 South St.
$19,761.43 — Verizon replacement of six antennas and addition of three remote radio heads to existing structure

O’Reilly Auto Parts
124 West St.
$25,000 — HVAC

Tackling Workplace Depression Starts with Overcoming Stigma

By
Employment Sections

Reach Out, Speak Up

depressiondpart

According to a survey cited by the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Massachusetts, while the vast majority of people say they would confide in a family member about a mental-health issue like depression, fewer than three in 10 say they would tell a co-worker. That stigma means millions of Americans suffer in silence on the job, while their productivity plummets. The NAMI Mass program known as CEOs Against Stigma is trying to turn that trend around by fostering open communication around mental-health issues and helping employees get the help they need without fear or shame.

Not all behavioral-health issues are alike — in impact, prevalence, or public perception.

Take substance abuse, which is having its day in the sun in Massachusetts as public and private organizations across the state wage a high-profile fight against what has become, in recent years, an opioid crisis.

Robert Pura says that spotlight has helped people understand that addiction is a disease like any other, one that needs to be treated as candidly and openly as cancer or cardiovascular disease.

But across the spectrum of behavioral health, other issues, such as depression, aren’t always treated the same way.

“The numbers of students who carry with them mental-health issues has increased, so it’s our responsibility to appreciate and understand those struggles, just like when someone struggles with a disease like diabetes or a heart issue or a pulmonary issue,” said Pura, president of Greenfield Community College and one of the most recent signers of the CEOs Against Stigma pledge.

Robert Pura

Robert Pura

There are treatments and protocols for mental illness with very hopeful indicators of positive outcomes, but too many struggle in the dark and are less than comfortable talking about it.”

 

 

The pledge is a key component of an effort by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts (NAMI Mass) to push back the feelings of shame, stigma, and isolation that keep people from seeking help for mental-health issues. More than 250 leaders of for-profit companies, nonprofit agencies, and municipalities have signed on to date.

“There are treatments and protocols for mental illness with very hopeful indicators of positive outcomes,” Pura told BusinessWest, “but too many struggle in the dark and are less than comfortable talking about it. We send a get-well card to someone with heart issues, but we stay away when someone is struggling with mental-health issues.”

And that’s a serious concern, given the prevalence of such issues in the workplace. Mental-health conditions affect one in five adults and, unlike physical illnesses, carry a stigma that prevents people from discussing them at work, said NAMI Western Mass. President Bernice Drumheller. “That stigma can lead to high turnover, low productivity, and increased employer costs. In fact, mental-health conditions represent the leading cause of workplace disability.”

Joanne Marqusee, right

Joanne Marqusee, right, signs the CEOs Against Stigma pledge last year alongside Bernice Drumheller and Laurie Martinelli from NAMI.

CEOs Against Stigma seeks to change misconceptions, one company at a time, about mental illness by encouraging people to open up and speak freely about the conditions that affect them and their immediate families — and, importantly, seek treatment without fear of being ostracized or losing their jobs.

Joanne Marqusee, president and CEO of Cooley Dickinson Health Care, signed the pledge about a year ago and has since ramped up communication in the organization to encourage people who are struggling with depression and related issues to seek treatment.

“People might think it’s easier for us, that our staff is sensitized to it, because we’re always giving that message to patients,” she told BusinessWest. “But healthcare workers tend to focus on what the patient needs, not what they need themselves. As a caregiver, they may feel they somehow don’t deserve care.”

However, she continued, “we want to be clear with our employees that they’re human beings and have the same challenges and issues as patients — and they can’t give compassion and support to patients unless they feel compassion and support from us.”

Cooley Dickinson’s initiatives to date include trainings and discussions with managers, directors, vice presidents, and other department leaders, who then reach out to all employees about the resources — such as a robust employee-assistance program — available if they find themselves struggling with depression or any other issue.

“Most people are not going to come to the CEO and say, ‘I’m having challenges with mental-health issues,’” Marqusee said, adding that they need to feel comfortable taking these concerns to their supervisor. Reducing the fear through communication is one way to overcome the stigma of talking about such issues.

“They need to know their supervisor will support them and in no way make them feel uncomfortable,” she said, “but will help them get the resources they need, whether it’s flexibility in their schedule to see a therapist once a week or something else.”

Suffering in Silence

According to NAMI Mass, 20% of American adults currently suffer from a depressive illness, yet 71% of adults with depression never contact a mental-health professional about it. Meanwhile, employees experiencing depression lose 35% of productivity each week.

Most of that lost productivity has nothing to do with missing work, however. The more common culprit is ‘presenteeism,’ an illness-related reduction in work productivity — in other words, showing up for work but getting far less done than a healthy employee would. Among all productivity losses, 81% is due to presenteeism.

Yet, individuals with mental-health disorders also experience more absentee days per year than individuals with no conditions — at a ratio of 31 to 1, NAMI Mass reports. Meanwhile, such disorders contribute to workplace accidents. For example, drivers with severe depressive symptoms are 4.5 times more likely than others to experience an accident or a near-miss in the 28 days preceding. Driving with severe depression has been likened to driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.8 — which, in Massachusetts, is legally impaired.

So employers have plenty of reasons to be interested in the mental health of their employees. But CEOs Against Stigma wants to address the personal toll of depression and other conditions, not just the financial costs.

“In general, there’s more conversation around mental-health issues than there used to be,” said Nina Slovik, a social worker and clinic director for the Center for Human Development. “In some senses, the stigma is diminishing, although we still encounter some amount of misinformation and shame and ignorance about how to recognize signs of significant health problems.”

Nina Slovik

Nina Slovik

It’s not the job of a workplace to address someone’s mental-health issues, but it certainly can’t hurt to say, ‘this workplace wants to support you.’ Just the little spark of someone else acknowledging you and wondering if you’re OK is a good thing.”

 

In the workplace, she noted, people aren’t typically looking for those signs, but the signs do exist. “Typically, when someone becomes clinically depressed, you see changes — reduction in their motivation, which may be manifested in attendance issues or concentration issues. And when people are depressed, they tend to withdraw socially; their interactions may be less friendly. Communication is a casualty of depression.”

Conversely, people might mention some of their stressors at work, such as financial or marriage problems at home, and that can be a sign of depression as well.

“As with any mental-health issue,” Slovik told BusinessWest, it never hurts to directly ask someone what’s going on — not ‘what’s wrong with you?’ but ‘what’s going on with you?’ — expressing concern from a non-judgmental, dispassionate place, and always avoiding blaming, shaming, or accusing. Ask, ‘what can I do? Let me direct you to some resources.’ The bottom line is beginning a dialogue and letting them know you’re concerned.”

The Center for Human Development’s own CEO, Jim Goodwin, is another signer of the anti-stigma pledge. “Recognizing that something isn’t quite right with our emotional wellness doesn’t indicate a weakness; it indicates a strength,” he said when he joined the movement. “It says you know who you are, you realize something isn’t as it should be, and you are strong enough to ask for help. Or it says you care enough about someone to get help for them.”

One key element of the program is NAMI’s In Our Own Voice presentations into the workplace, which feature two people sharing their personal stories of recovery.

“It’s very powerful,” Marqusee said. “These are very brave, very articulate young people, and you think, ‘that could be my daughter — how would I want her workplace to support her?”

GCC already has a similar program where students speak openly about mental-health issues, learning disabilities, and other topics, Pura said, so awareness of the need to tackle stigma is already part of the campus culture — but the college can always do more, he added. “It’s not as if we’ve licked it; we want to continue working at it.”

Timely Education

Recognizing that college campuses are just as prone to mental-health issues as workplaces and family settings, the American Medical Assoc. (AMA) recently adopted a new policy to improve mental-health services at colleges and universities. The policy supports strategies to improve accessibility to care and reduce the stigma surrounding mental-health issues. The AMA also urged colleges and universities to emphasize to students and parents the importance, availability, and efficacy of mental-health resources, and to develop mechanisms of care that support timely and affordable access.

“Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and — sadly — suicide are common among young people at colleges and universities. The lack of resources and stigma associated with seeking help can prevent students from getting the mental health care they need,” said AMA board member Dr. William Kobler. “By improving access to care, colleges and universities will make it easier for young people to focus on their own well-being and give them a greater chance for success on campus.”

It’s a goal Pura certainly shares.

“That’s one of the things that prompted us to sign on — to open a window, open some doors, and light the way for individuals and families who are struggling with mental health.”

While the CEOs who have signed NAMI’s pledge hail from a variety of industries, healthcare is the most widely represented field, encompassing hospitals, health systems, insurers, and public-health agencies, to name a few.

One issue specific to healthcare and a few other professions is known as ‘compassion fatigue,’ Slovik explained. “People in the mental-health or medical environment are seeing terrible things, one story worse than the next, and we’re not inoculated against that. People can experience compassion fatigue and get burned out, triggering a sense of despair. There’s a special onus on mental-health and healthcare professionals to recognize that’s an issue.”

Of course, she went on, “it certainly can be true in other high-stress businesses where people are under constant pressure — they have to perform, have to be ‘on’ all the time, have to be in a good mood, and internally they’re in conflict because they don’t feel good, and that can cause stress in their lives.”

Marqusee hopes Cooley Dickinson’s system-wide focus on reducing mental-health stigma draws the attention of employees who might be feeling that burnout.

“There’s lots more work to do,” she said, noting that, although there has been a marked increase in use of the employee-assistance program, it’s difficult to quantify the effects of the anti-stigma effort. “We have some talented staff in there, and people are feeling comfortable enough to call.

“I feel hopeful the message is getting out,” she continued. “In healthcare, people assume we know this world because we provide patient care, but I don’t think healthcare organizations are immune to how stigma affects a workforce — even if they’ve been successful in helping patients overcome stigma.”

That stigma can affect workplaces of all kinds, which is why NAMI Mass presses on with its outreach to CEOs, and why Slovik continues to encourage people not to ignore the signs that a co-worker might be struggling in isolation.

“It’s not the job of a workplace to address someone’s mental-health issues, but it certainly can’t hurt to say, ‘this workplace wants to support you,’” she told BusinessWest. “Just the little spark of someone else acknowledging you and wondering if you’re OK is a good thing.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Chamber Corners

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Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Dec. 12: Holiday After 5 & AmherstWorks Ribbon Cutting, 5-7 p.m., at AmherstWorks, 11 Amity St., Amherst. Sponsored by PeoplesBank and Young Professionals of Amherst. Join the Amherst Area Chamber and the Young Professionals of Amherst at our annual holiday party sponsored by PeoplesBank. Mid-December is an ideal time of year to see familiar faces, build fresh relationships, and be part of the fun as we welcome new members to the chamber. As a special feature that evening, we’ll also be cutting the ribbon of Amherst’s new co-working space, AmherstWorks. Tours of the facility will be available, and everyone will have a chance to win one of our special holiday raffle prizes. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call (413) 253-0700.

FRANKLIN COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• Dec. 16: 34th Annual FCCC Holiday Breakfast and the Recorder Citizen of the Year Award, 7:20-9:05 a.m., hosted by Deerfield Academy Dining Commons, Albany Road, Deerfield. Come celebrate the holidays with Franklin County Chamber of Commerce members, employees, and guests, at a sumptuous breakfast buffet provided by Deerfield Academy. Gary Maynard & Friends will perform seasonal musical entertainment before and during breakfast through the generosity of the Skip Hammond Family. Cost: $25 for members and their employees, $28 for non-members. Call (413) 773-5463 to make a reservation.

GREATER CHICOPEE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Dec. 21: December Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Chuck’s Auto Body & Towing, Mountain View Landscapes & Lawn Care, Paratemps Inc., Reminder Publications, and Sunshine Village. Chairperson: Judith Tremble-Murphy. Guest Speaker: Sy Becker of WWLP 22 News. Salutes: Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry, 25-year anniversary; American Red Cross Blood Service, 135-year anniversary; Chicopee Electric Light, 120-year-anniversary. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER HOLYOKE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holyokechamber.com
(413) 534-3376

• Dec. 14: Holiday Business Breakfast 2016, 7:15 a.m.-9 a.m., hosted by the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Holyoke Gas & Electric, Health New England, United Bank, and the Republican-El Pueblo Latino-MassLive. Business networking and salutes while enjoying a hearty buffet breakfast. Cost: $22 for members in advance, $28 for non-members and at the door. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or visit www.holyokechamber.com to sign up.

• Dec. 21: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., sponsored and hosted by the Delaney House, Three Country Club Road, Holyoke. This business-networking event in a festive atmosphere includes a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and money (scratch-ticket) wreath. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Public registration has closed. Call (413) 534-3376 for more information.

GREATER WESTFIELD
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Dec. 16: Holiday Chamber Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Westfield State University, Baystate Health, Savage Arms, Easthampton Savings Bank, and Walmart. A 50/50 raffle will support two Citizen’s Scholarships. To register, visit www.westfieldbiz.org. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information or to donate a door prize for the event, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Dec. 13: Ladies Networking Night, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Cooper’s Curtains & Gifts, 161 Main St, Agawam. This event will feature special sale items from the store’s extensive collection of gifts, home goods, and women’s apparel. Make new friends, create business contacts, enjoy the refreshments, and celebrate the season. Admission is free.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Dec. 14: Springfield Regional Chamber “The Art of Networking” After 5, 5-7 p.m, hosted by Ninth Floor Art Gallery, 1350 Main St., Springfield. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
413-426-3880

• Dec. 15: Google Lunch Seminar/SCORE, noon to 2 p.m., hosted by West Springfield Public Library, 200 Park St., West Springfield. Let SCORE give valuable tips on how to effectively use Google to market your business. Cost: free. Register online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com or call (413) 426-3880.

• Jan. 12: Google Workshop, noon to 2 p.m., hosted by West Springfield Public Library, 200 Park St., West Springfield. Workshop sponsored by WRC and SCORE.  Learn how to effectively utilize Google Analytics and AdWords to better your company’s  online exposure. Light lunch will be served. Cost: free. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected], or register online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

• Feb. 9: Multi-Chamber Lunch & Learn Seminar on Robert’s Rules of Order, noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Enjoy lunch while learning about Robert’s Rules of Order with guest speaker Robert MacDonald. Cost: $35. Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

• Feb. 22: Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., hosted by Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. The breakfast will feature a panel of various legislators and mayors discussing community concerns, giving updates on their towns, and taking questions and answers from the audience. Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members. Register online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

Unearthing Hope and Help for People with Hoarding Disorder

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Business of Aging Sections

Finders, Keepers

pileofjunkhoardingartWhen Bec Belofsky married Lee Shuer, she had no idea he had hoarding disorder.

When they met, he was living in an apartment with roommates, and she didn’t know most of the items in it, which included a ‘museum room’ filled with a seemingly endless number of things, belonged to him.

But within a short period of time, every surface in the married couple’s apartment was covered. In fact, although they could barely get through the apartment — and she had bruises from bumping into things — he continued to bring home ‘treasures’ on a daily basis. “I had a feeling of dread every time I heard the sound of his key in the lock,” she recalled.

Shuer told BusinessWest he also had a storage unit that was full and a collectibles booth in South Deerfield, but never sold much.  “I couldn’t let go of anything, so I had everything priced for more than it was worth,” he said.

Anyone has who watched TV shows depicting people who hoard might think there was little hope for Shuer or the marriage, but today much of the couple’s Easthampton home is immaculate, he has been in recovery for 11 years, and they have made it their mission to help other people with what they refer to as “excessive finding and keeping,” because the word ‘hoarder’ leads to feelings of shame and guilt.

They have appeared on many national and international TV and radio shows, including CBS Sunday Morning and Voice of America, and travel the world educating therapists, government officials, relatives of people who hoard, as well as hoarders themselves about what it takes to successfully overcome the disorder.

They want the public to know that television shows that portray interventions with people who hoard are extreme and not representative of the majority of people with the problem. In addition, tactics that include forcing the person to make quick decisions about untold numbers of items, accompanied by threats from family members, can be devastating and lead to a return of the behavior after their space is free of clutter.

“There are kinder, gentler, more effective approaches to the problem,” Shuer said. “Telling someone to stop collecting things is like putting a warning on cigarettes. You have to have the motivation to stop, but once it becomes internalized, people find the strength of purpose they need.”

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Lee Shuer

Top: before Lee Shuer overcame hoarding disorder, his home office was unusable. At left: today, his home office is well-organized and contains only items that are truly important to him.

He has worked with individuals, groups, and institutions ranging from Stanford University and Smith College to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization through the couple’s business, Mutual Support Consulting, and has created a program called WRAP for Reducing Clutter, which is a wellness and recovery plan.

Shuer also works with researcher Randy Frost, who co-authored the book Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding, to create The Facilitator’s Manual for the Buried in Treasures Workshop, as well as another workbook designed to help people with the problem.

Frost says the reason it is so difficult for people with hoarding disorder to relinquish possessions is that everything they save has real significance to them. In some cases, such as a journalist who collects newspapers, the collection is a concrete embodiment of their professional identification.

“So getting rid of them makes the person feel as if they are losing that piece of themselves,” said Frost, professor of Psychology at Smith College. “We don’t really know what the underlying cause is, although it is clearly an attachment issue, and there is some indication it is related to early life experiences.”

Jane Laskey, a psychotherapist from Holyoke Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Center, has had clients with hoarding disorder, and each one of their situations has been unique. “In many cases, hoarding is a symptom; it’s something people do to protect themselves from feelings that are very scary or painful, including sadness, anger, or hopelessness that often originated in childhood,” she explained.

For this issue’s focus on health, BusinessWest explores the type of thinking connected with hoarding and offers advice from these experts to help people with an overabundance of possessions regain control of their lives.

Making Progress

Shuer’s love for tangible items began when he was about 4 years old and began asking neighbors if they had anything old they didn’t need. His parents allowed him to keep many of the things he was given, including old tools he really liked.

“I was socially awkward as I was growing up, and these things gave me comfort and something to talk about with other people,” he said, adding that, although he had a wonderful family, he often felt lonely because he was a social outcast at school. “I was looking for myself in the stuff I collected.”

For example, he’d always wanted to learn to play a musical instrument, and by the time he was married, he had collected far too many of them.

Today, Shuer tells people who hoard that “letting go doesn’t mean giving up a dream. You can come back to it, but you need to keep your eyes on the real prize.”

His own recovery began 11 years ago when Belofsky-Shuer heard of a study on hoarding that was being conducted by Dr. David Tolin, co-author of Buried in Treasures.

“We have developed treatments for the disorder that work fairly well, but they don’t work for everyone,” Frost said, noting that research continues to help people with hoarding disorder.

At the time, Shuer was working as a mental-health counselor for ServiceNet in Northampton and had served on the Western Mass. Hoarding Task Force for about a year. No one at work knew he had the problem, but in time he admitted to it publicly.

“I had to help others overcome the stigma,” he said, adding that he also received a grant to lead a peer-support group based on Frost’s book. After using principles outlined in the tome himself, Shuer began leading the group and meeting with Frost weekly, and they developed the facilitator guide to help others.

“By that time, I had learned enough to help myself and share what works,” he said. “What takes place in the Buried in Treasures groups is not therapy; it’s an action-oriented plan that helps people take concrete steps to alleviate clutter.”

Still, his wife struggled for years with her own issues caused by his problem. Although Belofsky Shuer has a degree in psychology from Smith and had some academic knowledge gleaned from one of Frost’s classes, she felt isolated and alone.

“The stuff Lee collected was so important to him that it put a real strain on our marriage,” she said. “I felt helpless in our home and insignificant; the things that made up my identity were buried under all of his things.”

Lee Shuer and Bec Belofsky-Shuer

Lee Shuer and Bec Belofsky-Shuer want others to know that TV shows about people with hoarding disorder do not present realistic ways to overcome the problem.

She added that most people don’t know there is help available that works. “Research only began in the ’90s, and TV shows that show forced cleanouts don’t work. But finding the motivation to change and learning why people become so attached to things and challenging their beliefs can make a real difference.”

However, the couple stressed that it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition; getting support from others online, through counseling, or in a support group with peers, which offers the best chance at success, can slowly lead to change.

Shuer said the disorder reflects an abnormal attachment to items that can stem from positive qualities that spiral out of control. For example, a person may feel they are archiving family treasures, don’t want to get rid of printed information they believe may prove valuable in the future, or be overly concerned about recycling things in a proper manner.

“There are emotional and cognitive aspects to decision making when it comes to letting go of things,” Belofsky Shuer explained, adding that the workbook outlines steps for decision making and is available free through their website, www.mutual-support.com.

“We encourage people to start small and focus on clearing one square foot at a time,” Shuer said.

Anyone whose problem hasn’t reached an extreme level can also begin by focusing on sorting through one type of item at a time: they could gather all the books in their home, put them in one place, then begin going through them.

“They need to remember they can get many of them at the library if they want to read them again,” Shuer told BusinessWest.

It’s critically important, Belofsky Shuer added, for family members to take care of themselves during the process. “I completely lost my identity and had a lot of anger and resentment when our home was filled with his possessions,” she said, noting that counseling allowed her to be supportive and restored her sense of self while her husband slowly worked toward their shared goals.

Course of Treatment

Studies have shown that people who hoard have suffered more trauma than the normal population, but only half have undergone a very difficult trauma.

“Trauma is not the underlying issue, but there is a lot of co-morbidity, and the biggest one is depression. More than half of hoarders suffer from it,” Frost said. “It isn’t clear that depression causes the problem, but it can make it worse.”

Laskey added that accumulating things can give people a feeling of control or enhanced self-esteem. She treated one woman with a very poor self-image that stemmed from her childhood who kept buying new clothing, even though she had never worn most of what she already owned.

“Buying gave her hope and a momentary feeling that included excitement and anticipation,” Laskey said, adding that the woman envisioned feeling attractive and confident wearing the new clothing, and lacked the confidence to think of other behaviors that could improve her self-esteem.

She suggests using stalling techniques before bringing anything new home, which can be something as simple as taking a walk.

“The problem is that the brain gets stuck like a record in a groove, and the need to have something becomes an automatic way of thinking,” Laskey said, explaining that, in some cases, the person can learn to be an “impartial spectator” by detaching from their feelings and trying to judge an item the way a friend might view it.

Indeed, asking a close friend for support can be beneficial, but it’s critical for that person to respect boundaries.

“If the person with the problem says they only want to spend 10 minutes going through things, don’t push them to do another five minutes,” Laskey said. “Let them set the ground rules and praise any progress they make. Hoarding is like an addiction which becomes a habit, and habits are really hard to break.”

Frost says three elements are critical to attaining lasting success. The first is controlling acquisition, and addressing the reasons why the person feels compelled to collect things.

“People see something they want, seek things out at yard sales, or find something while they are driving on trash day. Acquiring it is an impulsive behavior. When they find something they like, they get a high that is almost like an addiction; many people have told us it gives them joy in life when they find a new object to bring home,” he explained. “Their attention becomes so narrowly focused that they don’t think about whether they have the money to buy it, room to keep it in, or whether they already have a dozen of the same items at home.”

Treatment involves bringing conscious control into the decision-making process, but won’t work unless something else is substituted that gives the person an equal sense of pleasure.

Frost’s book Buried in Treasures contains a tear-out page with questions people can ask themselves to help them decide whether they should acquire a new item, and includes room for questions appropriate for individual situations that can be generated during therapy sessions or with a peer-support group.

The second key element in successful treatment is treating the overpowering urge and belief the person has that they must have something they see and desire.

“The urge is overpowering, but they have to learn to tolerate it, which is done by creating a hierarchy of situations in which they practice walking away from an item without buying it,” Frost said.

After acquisition and impulsive behavior are under control, the person then needs to pare down their existing trove of belongings.

“We work on changing the nature of the person’s attachments to things so it’s easier to get rid of them,” Frost noted, explaining that people often fear they will become depressed and unable to stop thinking about an item they get rid of, will never be able to find the same type of thing again, will lose an important connection to someone in their life, or will be responsible for harm coming to the object.

“So, we turn them into scientists whose goal is to discover whether their beliefs are true,” Frost said, noting that some clients get rid of one item, then keep track of what their life is like afterward.

“Some feel they will be anxious forever and won’t be able to stand it,” he told BusinessWest, explaining that putting long-held beliefs to the test is difficult for anyone to do.

Shuer said it was an epiphany to realize he could get rid of something and not miss it. “I thought, ‘If I can let go of one thing, maybe I can let go of others.’ The idea brought me a sense of joy and relief that I thought I could only get from acquiring things,” he said, cautioning that, when people begin weeding through their belongings, they should start with items that don’t have strong emotional meaning.

The third key element in successful treatment is learning organizational skills. People who hoard are taught how to create filing systems as well as ways to organize items that are important, as many lack knowledge in this area.

New Outlook

Today, whenever Shuer is tempted to bring home anything new, he asks himself whether he has a place for it, whether he can afford it, and what his wife will think.

“These questions are reality checks that have become automatic for me. I am less impulsive and have moved towards a long-term vision for acquiring things that fits in with my physical space,” he said.

His success has resulted in a new life mission and a better marriage.

“We are happy now,” Shuer said. “When you are living with too much stuff, you can never relax; you feel you should always be working to reduce it. But now that we are liberated from clutter mentally and physically, we have the time and freedom to have fun and help others.”

Indeed, the hope of finding peace of mind, improving relationships, and having time to enjoy life are real treasures that can motivate ‘finders and keepers’ to seek — and work toward — lasting change.

JGS Lifecare’s Sosin Center for Rehabilitation Welcomes First Patients

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Louis Lucchesi of Springfield became the first-ever resident in JGS Lifecare’s Sosin Center for Rehabilitation on Dec. 12, marking the arrival of the first Green House-certified residence in Western Mass. JGS Lifecare dedicated the Sosin Center in November, successfully passing all regulatory requirements for opening in December.

“I may never want to leave,” Lucchesi said jokingly as he settled into his new short-stay home. He’d begun his day in a room on the New York unit of JGS Lifecare’s Leavitt Family Jewish Home, which was built in 1972.
“In the ’70s, nursing homes were built like hospitals,” said Andrew Steiner, executive director of Leavitt Family Jewish Home. “They were designed with long halls, nursing stations, and a limited number of private rooms. The Sosin Center is crafted around a philosophy of de-institutionalized, home-style living with increased focus on individual autonomy.”

Lucchesi was the first of three patients who moved into the first-floor Sosin household on Dec. 12.

The 24,000-square-foot Sosin Center is only the third Green House Project facility in Massachusetts. The center carries the name of George Sosin, a JGS volunteer, family member, former resident, and supporter who left $3 million to JGS Lifecare in support of the center, the largest contribution received in its 104-year history.

Designed by Perkins Eastman, an industry leader in the planning and design of elder-care facilities and short-term rehabilitation programs, the Sosin Center contains two households that have been designed from the ground up to give residents the same feeling and experience as living in a real home, only under the guidance of a dedicated team of qualified caregivers called Shahbazim, who have received 120 hours of specialized Green House training in the core principles of ‘real home,’ ‘meaningful life,’ and ‘empowered staff.’

Each household accommodates 12 short-stay residents who receive physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies that are important to daily life, by practicing normal, everyday activities with their caregivers and therapists. Higher staffing levels ensure more than a fourfold increase in staff time spent engaging with residents, improving the quality of care. The center’s small-house model of care has been proven to reduce medication use by patients post-rehab with fewer return trips to the hospital.

“Currently, more than 68% of all short-stay residents at JGS Lifecare have made improvements in function, which is nearly 15% above the Massachusetts average. With the addition of the Sosin Center, we expect those numbers to be even stronger,” said Martin Baicker, president and CEO, of JGS Lifecare.

Added Dr. Robert Baevsky, and chair of the JGS Lifecare board of directors, “as a physician, I am convinced of the positive healthcare outcomes and improvements in the quality of life under this model.”

All 24 rooms in the two-story Sosin Center are private, with full baths, and each home has a shared living room, dining room, den, kitchen, salon, and screened porch, which provides seasonal access to the outdoors. For admissions information, call (413) 567-6211.

Picture This

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Departments Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]
A photo essay of recent business events in Western Massachusetts December 12, 2016

Service Above Self

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Last month, the Springfield Rotary Club staged its annual Service Above Self luncheon at the Basketball Hall of Fame, an event where two individuals, one regional and one national, are honored for their work for and within the community. Honored this year were NBA great (and Hall of Famer) Spencer Haywood and Susan Jaye-Kaplan, founder of Link to Libraries and GoFIT. Top to bottom: from left, Lamont Clemons, first vice president of the Springfield Rotary Club, Frank Colaccino, CEO of the Colvest Group, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and Haywood; Basketball Hall of Fame President and CEO John Doleva, right, with the two honorees; state Sen. Eric Lesser presents Jaye-Kaplan with a commendation from the state for her work within the community.

Accelerator Helps Job Shops Find New Ways to Thrive

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manufacturingfeature-1216a
Manufacturing Sections

Manufacturing Progress

Andrew Walmsley

Andrew Walmsley says VVM’s Manufacturing Accelerator has given him insights about how he can grow Volo Aero MRO in East Longmeadow.

Valley Venture Mentors has made a name for itself providing invaluable mentoring and technical assistance to mostly young, startup ventures. But this fall, it has taken its ‘tough-love’ approach to helping business owners become more competitive and efficient to some businesses that are anything but young. Indeed, several of the participants in VVM’s Manufacturing Accelerator are decades old. But they are learning new ways to communicate with and better serve customers — and gain new ones.

Scott Decker recently had a five-hour meeting with a long-time customer, during which they discussed business in a way they never had done before.

“Communication is key, and it helped us bridge some gaps,” said the CEO of Decker Machine Works Inc. in Ashfield. “The customer had some expectations that hadn’t been verbalized, and the meeting helped us align our thinking and fill in blanks in our relationship.”

The dialogue was initiated as a result of Decker’s participation in Valley Venture Mentors’ Manufacturing Accelerator program, which is a pilot that launched in October. It’s a new type of venture for VVM, which historically has focused on matching entrepreneurs with mentors who help them avoid pitfalls and grow their fledging businesses.

The pilot is being run by Paul Silva, president of VVM, and Scott Longley, who owns Eidolon Consulting and has served as a VVM mentor for manufacturers.

“It’s an experiment because we’re not working with startups; some of these companies have been in business for three generations and have dozens of employees,” Silva said, noting that the average age of participants is 50.

One assignment each of the so-called ‘students’ received was to ask open-ended questions of existing and potential customers and continue these queries until they get to their bottom line in terms of need, expectations, and values, which is exactly what occurred in the recent meeting Decker had with a client.

The program has also helped students hone in on what they do best, because most ‘job shops,’ which is the term these small manufacturers go by, are generalists and don’t specialize in a specific type of product or offering.

Andrew Walmsley purchased Volo Aero MRO in East Longmeadow a year ago, and although his background includes business development, he says the course has been quite beneficial.

Paul Silva, left, and Scott Longley

Paul Silva, left, and Scott Longley say VVM’s Manufacturing Accelerator is a pilot project to help local job shops define what they do best so they can focus on a specialty.

“It forced me to do outreach to a broad range of companies to understand what’s important to them,” he said, noting that he made more than 40 calls to supply-chain professionals, and if he hadn’t been accountable to the program, he would never have spent so much time defining exactly what they want, need, and value.

“The program makes you revisit beliefs. What was true 20 years ago isn’t necessarily true today, and one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is how important it is to focus and understand your core market,” he said, adding that there is a high cost to doing business in this region and participants have discovered they face the same challenges.

He likens running a business to tactical firefighting, and says it’s easy to get caught up in day-to day-problems. “But the program directs you back to the market and shows you where you can add value so you can be profitable,” Walmsley explained.

Longley told BusinessWest that it’s critical to ensure that manufacturing re-establishes the strong foothold it had generations ago when the Springfield Armory, Indian Motocycle, and other major companies were flourishing.

“Local job shops grew up around the Armory to support their needs as well as the needs of other large companies,” he noted, adding that hundreds of these small, local shops still exist, manufacturing components used in medical, aerospace, and other industries, and have tremendous capabilities due to expertise honed by decades of experience.

“Our goal is to help them find new customers and ways of doing business,” Longley said.

Silva noted that many small job shops were forced to close during the recession, and the focus for shops that remain open has often been simply to survive. “The world is getting more competitive, and they need to figure out how they can be the best in the world at something so they can thrive and add zeros to their bottom line.”

For this issue and its focus on manufacturing, BusinessWest talked with Silva and Longley to find out what the accelerator program involves and how its students — job-shop owners and executives — are integrating lessons honed from the syllabus into their operations.

Matters of Perception

VVM has a storied history of success in helping entrepreneurs, and its accolades have included participation in a White House initiative last fall as well as other prestigious honors.

Silva said the agency’s success prompted Vita Clark, executive vice president at MassDevelopment, to approach him last summer with the idea of starting a pilot to help local manufacturers develop an innovative mindset and synergistic approach to doing business. Silva thought it was a viable idea, and MassDevelopment gave VVM a $200,000 grant to fund the program.

Eight companies were selected to become students, and they have devoted a tremendous amount of time to the program, which consists of 10 six-hour sessions along with a great deal of homework they are held accountable for.

Sam Decker

Sam Decker of Decker Machine Works Inc. in Ashfield says the VVM Manufacturing Accelerator has helped him gain new information about the needs of his customers.

Because it’s an experimental program, Silva noted, changes have been made along the way, and although initial sessions were scheduled on a weekly basis, they switched to every other week because the working professionals couldn’t afford to be away from their job shop for an entire day every week.

He told BusinessWest the program has been painful for students in some ways because it has exposed company weaknesses. But participants have discovered they share similar challenges that include problems such as not being able to afford a sales representative or being too small to get a good deal on health insurance.

Decker Machine has been in business for more than 30 years, and Decker admitted he was skeptical about the accelerator before he attended an audition night. But today, he feels honored that his company was selected to be part of the inaugural class.

“VVM is giving us the tools we need not only to survive, but to thrive,” he said. “It is really difficult today to be profitable and relevant in an ever-changing marketplace. We have lots of competition, especially overseas, and there are onerous regulations. But this program is offering us a different perspective by helping us to see different ways of looking at things. We have been doing business in the same way for so long that we are kind of myopic.”

Silva and Longley noted that many of the students were relying on 20th-century marketing tactics to generate business, included attendance at trade shows, cold calls, and word-of-mouth referrals. Most had not used social media before the accelerator began, and some didn’t have websites or only maintained very basic ones.

List of Largest Manufacturers in Western Mass.

But that is changing, and new skills are being learned. The program requires students to make presentations to the class, which has not been easy because many were not used to speaking in front of an audience. They have taken on the challenge, however, and been able to tell their peers what they learned from calls and meetings with clients as well as from other assignments.

The purpose has been to grow and develop their comfort level on stage, and the participants have learned to include slides and other visuals to enhance what they have to say.

A few weeks ago, Decker said, program administrators staged a Shark Tank-like experience during which people were brought in to critique participants’ sales pitches. He joked that he was happy to be one of the first presenters to go before the “sharks got organized,” because the feedback was not always easy to hear.

“But they have learned, if they want to get a customer 10 times larger than any they currently have, they need to develop a good sales pitch,” Silva said.

Longley noted that constructive criticism is completely honest and direct. “We tell them what’s wrong in a non-hurtful way.”

But the larger goal is to work toward identifying what sets them apart from other local job shops.

“VVM wants us to specialize; it’s a way to survive and thrive in a market full of mediocre offerings,” Decker said.

Still, it has been difficult for them to define what makes them different from their local competitors, which is critical knowledge as it can help them focus on developing a specialized niche.

“There are different ways of specializing. For example, being able to turn something around in 24 hours is a very different skill than offering the cheapest price,” Silva noted.

However, detailed phone calls and meetings have led students to the realization that buyers have different priorities; some want things produced quickly, while others don’t need a part right away but are very appreciative when a manufacturer can store it for them or delay a shipment, because it helps them manage their own inventory storage cost.

“About 80% of what we teach them is talk, listen, and ask open-ended questions about what is important to their customers,” Silva noted. “In addition to probing questions, they’ve had to ask for referrals, and they have been able to branch out and build foundations as they move out of their comfort zones.”

The students have also been inspired by speakers from companies with histories of enviable growth, including the chief strategist at Yankee Candle and the CEO of FloDesign Sonics.

As a result of their shared experiences, new alliances have been forged between these competitors who often didn’t know each other well before the class; for example, Deckers’ son recently helped Walmsley with search-engine optimization.

“The group members have come to know each other and want to help each other,” Decker said. “We all have similar issues, and if we can bond together, we’ll be stronger as a group as well as individually.”

Fruitful Lessons

The pilot program will end Jan. 30, and putting lessons to work will not be easy.

“It’s almost human nature to fall back into old habits, but we believe our students can be successful, and we truly want that to happen,” Silva said.

The course, he added, has been aimed at helping them discover how they can add jobs and increase revenue by working differently, and it will take time to digest and implement the lessons. “It’s been painful for every single one of the participants to be in the class.”

But the ultimate goal is for them to use the skills and expertise gained from decades of manufacturing in a new way that keeps pace with today’s ever-changing marketplace.

STCC Given Award for Reducing Greenhouse-gas Emissions

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The state named Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) a 2016 Leading by Example Award Winner in the higher-education category for its efforts to advance energy efficiency and sustainability on campus.

Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito recently recognized STCC and other state agencies, public colleges, municipalities, and public-sector individuals for their leadership in promoting clean energy and environmental initiatives with the 10th annual Leading by Example Awards.

The Leading by Example program — a division of the Department of Energy Resources — coordinates clean energy and environmental opportunities at facilities owned and operated by the Commonwealth.

“As a member of the Greater Springfield community, we believe it is our responsibility to be good stewards of the environment and promote the use of clean energy and sustainable practices,” said Joseph DaSilva, STCC’s vice president of Administration and chief financial officer. “We are proud of the accomplishments we have made so far. We continue to develop and implement new initiatives regularly. All of our initiatives are not only environmentally necessary, but also save us a great deal of money operationally.”

According the Department of Energy Resources, STCC was recognized for its progress and creative approach to reducing its carbon footprint. STCC has reduced greenhouse-gas emissions more than 40% percent since 2011. The college is implementing several sustainability efforts, including energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, and a green building renovation.

Highlights of STCC’s clean-energy efforts include upgrading the heating system in fiscal year 2014, saving an estimated $200,000 a year; adding insulation, upgraded windows, and installed LED lights across campus to address efficiency challenges in historic buildings; connecting the curriculum of the Architecture and Building Technology Program to the historic building-renovation project targeting LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver certification; switching to single-stream recycling in 2015, and upgrading containers and signage; reducing use of disposable water bottles with six bottle-filling stations on campus; implementing a double-sided printing requirement, reducing paper waste and saving an estimated $14,000 a year in printing costs; and streamlining the campus shuttle route to save fuel and reduce emissions.

“As Massachusetts works to reduce energy costs, usage, and emissions, our state, municipal, and public partners continue to set an impressive example for others to follow,” Baker said. “The foresight to embrace energy and environmental innovations throughout the Commonwealth’s cities, towns, universities, and other locations saves taxpayers and ratepayers millions.”

Added Polito, “Massachusetts’ colleges, universities, and municipalities are on the front lines of energy and environmental innovation. Our administration is committed to ensuring that the Commonwealth continues to be an example for the positive benefits of adopting clean energy and environmental practices.”

Real Estate Transactions

By
Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

203-215 Main St.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Noah J. Decker
Seller: Scott A. Decker
Date: 11/01/16

BERNARDSTON

51 Fox Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $282,400
Buyer: Joshua M. Mitera
Seller: Peck FT 2012
Date: 11/03/16

BUCKLAND

9 Laurel St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Lotus Yu
Seller: Christine Cusson
Date: 11/04/16

CHARLEMONT

127 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: 127 Main St Realty LLC
Seller: Dennis C. Avery
Date: 11/02/16

COLRAIN

256 Thompson Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Carl A. Purington
Seller: Purington, Myrtle L., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/16

DEERFIELD

196 Mill Village Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $205,900
Buyer: Carl Davis
Seller: US Bank
Date: 11/01/16

GREENFIELD

36 Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Michael D. Frank
Seller: Meehan, Elizabeth A., (Estate)
Date: 11/02/16

449 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Judith K. Boersma
Date: 11/08/16

645 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Walter L. Williams
Seller: Robert P. Lafleur
Date: 11/01/16

58 Haywood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Jordon Stempel
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 11/09/16

172 Highland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Lupinewood LLC
Seller: John G. Bailey
Date: 11/02/16

201 Munson St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Munson St. Properties LLC
Seller: Greenfield Savings Bank
Date: 11/04/16

40 Summer St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Lewis Zoey-Culver
Seller: David F. Bassett
Date: 11/02/16

HAWLEY

59 East Hawley Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Jonathan C. Schaefer
Seller: Eugene J. Tanguay
Date: 11/01/16

LEVERETT

346 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Levine
Seller: Donald R. Putnam
Date: 11/10/16

14 Richardson Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: Jed Proujansky
Seller: Terry E. Gaberson
Date: 11/10/16

MONTAGUE

41 Court Square
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $499,500
Buyer: Brittany J. Czarick
Seller: Janet G. Haas
Date: 11/10/16

NORTHFIELD

6 Ferncliff Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Angelica L. Beausoleil
Seller: Jennifer J. Newton
Date: 11/04/16

11 Lyman Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $136,833
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Tamara L. Adams
Date: 11/02/16

54 New Plain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Dawn M. Kazokas
Seller: Samuel J. Browning
Date: 11/04/16

ORANGE

72 Adams St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $124,500
Buyer: Matthew P. Hanks
Seller: John W. Griffiths
Date: 11/10/16

337 North Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Michael Gobeille
Seller: Kayla S. Rice
Date: 11/09/16

SHELBURNE

103 Mechanic St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Michael S. Bromberg
Seller: Susan M. Broadhurst
Date: 11/01/16

6 Warren Ave.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Thomas P. Crean
Seller: Jeremy J. Schriber IRT
Date: 11/09/16

SHUTESBURY

294 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Rick B. Woodruff
Seller: William D. Kirtz
Date: 11/09/16

SUNDERLAND

109 East Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $433,000
Buyer: Jorn Myre
Seller: Michael B. Stone
Date: 11/01/16

17 North Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $253,500
Buyer: Eric S. Banach
Seller: Kevin W. Bernotas
Date: 11/09/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

387 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Daniel L. Welling
Seller: Sean P. Leahy
Date: 11/01/16

791 Barry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: Edward Rivers
Seller: Benoit L. Dion
Date: 11/10/16

31 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $210,500
Buyer: Joshua A. Fournier
Seller: Marie T. O’Donnell
Date: 11/02/16

41 Debra Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Ronald P. Brown
Seller: Gary T. Stone
Date: 11/02/16

37 Gunn Geary Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Amy L. Boyd
Seller: Donna M. Christensen
Date: 11/10/16

71 Hall St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $187,900
Buyer: Susan M. Owen
Seller: Noel J. Girard
Date: 11/01/16

24 Highland Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: George Pascaru
Seller: Mikhail Taranenko
Date: 11/04/16

1129 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Paulo A. Villegas
Seller: Claire O’Toole
Date: 11/09/16

437 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Tatyana Kirilovich
Seller: Patricia L. Semanie
Date: 11/03/16

BLANDFORD

10 Maple Lane
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Simmitt
Seller: Donald E. Blanchette
Date: 11/08/16

BRIMFIELD

34 Farmington Circle
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $458,000
Buyer: Michael A. Woytowicz
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 11/09/16

CHESTER

114 Bromley Road
Chester, MA 01050
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Michael T. Decker
Seller: Gary P. Marcoullier
Date: 11/03/16

7 Soisalo Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Linda L. Malcovsky
Seller: Valerie A. Leone-Ragucci
Date: 11/04/16

CHICOPEE

165 Clarendon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $149,197
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Alexander Jovan
Date: 11/07/16

254 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Alejandro Marrero
Seller: Marie Tylek
Date: 11/04/16

1247 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,072,050
Buyer: DKRV Commercial Props. LLC
Seller: CEA Realty LLC
Date: 11/09/16

56 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $151,453
Buyer: Citizens Bank
Seller: Darius J. Shepard
Date: 11/09/16

44 Gilmore St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Kenneth A. Allard
Seller: Dyan Viens
Date: 11/04/16

30 Leona Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Rebecca K. Stadnicki
Seller: Doris E. Mozdzanowski
Date: 11/10/16

854 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Olatomide Ogunfeibo
Seller: Joshua A. Mozeleski
Date: 11/01/16

275 Moore St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,800
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Maryann Rogers
Date: 11/08/16

73 Sunflower Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Heather L. Huot
Seller: Michelle M. Cormier
Date: 11/08/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

154 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: C&M Builders LLC
Seller: Household Finance Corp. 2
Date: 11/04/16

27 Maryland St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: C&M Builders LLC
Seller: Giuseppe V. Capua
Date: 11/04/16

59 Pioneer Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Michael F. Collins
Seller: Nancy P. Jarvis
Date: 11/07/16

16 Sturbridge Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Steven F. Tereso
Seller: Andrew D. Mees
Date: 11/01/16

17 Susan St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Kyle W. Barlow
Seller: Lloyd R. Hildreth
Date: 11/04/16

226 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Daniel Leary
Seller: Sadia Kausar
Date: 11/04/16

HAMPDEN

70 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Anna L. Marion
Seller: Michael J. Marion
Date: 11/04/16

576 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $155,900
Buyer: Mahlon Peterson
Seller: Stedman, Linda J., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/16

203 North Monson Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Anna Mascaro
Seller: Ellsworth M. Frey
Date: 11/07/16

6 Pinewood Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Beverly H. Hoekstra
Seller: Fresh Pinewood LLC
Date: 11/03/16

311 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $137,600
Buyer: Wilson Wong
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 11/02/16

HOLLAND

117 Butterworth Ext.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $255,279
Buyer: George Markopoulos
Seller: US Bank
Date: 11/08/16

14 Union Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Antonia S. Young
Seller: Laurie E. Schlatter
Date: 11/10/16

HOLYOKE

17 Argyle Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Gina A. Mitchell
Seller: Curtis J. Hoye
Date: 11/04/16

881 Hampshire St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Levy
Seller: Ducharme, Valda E., (Estate)
Date: 11/07/16

33 Mayer Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: E. A. Delpilar-Morales
Seller: Bruno Taborelli
Date: 11/07/16

408 Southampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Mary Y. Xie
Seller: Seth R. Taylor
Date: 11/10/16

9-11 Thorpe Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Molly A. Smith
Seller: Thomas Ferrante
Date: 11/04/16

5 Upland Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: John R. Wagner
Seller: Jean Griot
Date: 11/09/16

LONGMEADOW

1535 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Patriot Living LLC
Seller: FHLM
Date: 11/10/16

99 Oxford Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Frances R. Cress
Seller: Wilbur M. Swan
Date: 11/04/16

LUDLOW

157 Carmelinas Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Pio Real Estate LLC
Seller: Adelina Teixeira
Date: 11/02/16

22 Overlook Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Elias Colon
Seller: Eduardo Rego
Date: 11/07/16

106 Pine Cone Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $259,850
Buyer: Richard J. Corsi
Seller: Elizabeth A. Gamache
Date: 11/08/16

26 Raymond St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Richard A. Belden
Seller: Kevin Czaplicki
Date: 11/03/16

MONSON

12 Macomber Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Gloria Rubin
Seller: Gregory S. Leighton
Date: 11/10/16

137 Munn Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Gregory S. Leighton
Seller: Craig R. Levesque
Date: 11/07/16

18 Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Craig R. Peltier
Seller: David E. Mill
Date: 11/10/16

243 Wilbraham Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Mark Wegryn
Seller: Kenneth P. Barrepski
Date: 11/07/16

PALMER

90 Buckland St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Laura B. Yarbrough
Seller: Anthony A. Heropoulos
Date: 11/01/16

2030 Calkins Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: David E. Bachand
Seller: Christine F. Reim
Date: 11/04/16

1537 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: GR Properties LLC
Seller: Duda Realty LLC
Date: 11/08/16

1294 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $344,500
Buyer: PVU Palmer Realty LLC
Seller: Angelica Properties LLC
Date: 11/09/16

SPRINGFIELD

74 Aldrew Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Mark A. Fiore
Seller: Della Ripa Real Estate
Date: 11/04/16

34 Ashwood St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Raul Fraga
Seller: Bonnie E. Kiley
Date: 11/01/16

55 Bennington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Dawn M. Amell
Seller: Angela Cosenzi
Date: 11/04/16

235 Bolton St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $123,711
Buyer: Elisa M. Ramos
Seller: Richard E. Eggleston
Date: 11/04/16

28 Cara Lane
Springfield, MA 01028
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Tajh Monroe-White
Seller: Dennis B. Chechile
Date: 11/01/16

233 Corcoran Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Timothy Harwood
Seller: Joshua A. Cusson
Date: 11/01/16

24 Crest St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Michelle Y. Sanabria
Seller: Dawn M. Amell
Date: 11/04/16

100 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,500
Buyer: Margarita Cruzado
Seller: Sileski, Selma, (Estate)
Date: 11/07/16

71 Dearborn St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,450
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Jessie Beckett
Date: 11/09/16

57 East Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Manuel H. Medina
Seller: Shaun K. Allen
Date: 11/10/16

138 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $163,400
Buyer: Julie-Ayn Montalvo
Seller: David P. Robillard
Date: 11/04/16

13-15 Groveton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Yaritza Reyes-Colon
Seller: Victor F. Degray
Date: 11/10/16

142 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Richard E. Rosado
Seller: Marques T. Stallings
Date: 11/10/16

185 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: North Harlow 4 LLC
Seller: Richard H. Brody
Date: 11/04/16

140-142 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Francisco J. Miranda
Seller: Robert E. Wojtczak
Date: 11/02/16

106 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: London Realty LLC
Seller: Eric Marthinsen
Date: 11/07/16

47 Martin St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $167,900
Buyer: Tamika Rose
Seller: James Fiore
Date: 11/01/16

216 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Zadok Nwafor
Seller: Quetszy A. Melendez
Date: 11/10/16

59 Peekskill Ave.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Rosalia Esquilin-Santos
Seller: PCI Construction Inc.
Date: 11/01/16

117 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Donna Karam
Seller: Russomando, Mafalda A., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/16

156 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Jessica S. Alicea
Seller: Anthony T. Gamelli
Date: 11/10/16

241 Prentice St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $146,500
Buyer: Adam D. Bergeron
Seller: Gerrit M. Devries
Date: 11/04/16

11 Providence St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Massachusetts Mutual Life
Seller: Beth A. Washington
Date: 11/04/16

47-49 Somerset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Ciaramar Vazquez-Collazo
Seller: Brian G. Bartish
Date: 11/09/16

192 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Aletta N. Martinez
Seller: Peck, Linda M., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/16

39 Washburn St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Dionne Real Estate LLC
Seller: Dionne Real Estate LLC
Date: 11/04/16

8 Washington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Jonathan A. Quinones
Seller: Francesco Lacopo
Date: 11/09/16

30 Wells St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $172,900
Buyer: Brenda Gonzalez
Seller: Christopher L. Edge
Date: 11/10/16

529 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Christian Negron
Seller: Jasmine Matta-Naylor
Date: 11/08/16

SOUTHWICK

296 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $383,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Coppa
Seller: David K. Recoulle
Date: 11/04/16

21 Lauren Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Harry C. Lane
Seller: Ronald K. Vezina
Date: 11/10/16

352 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Seth A. Lalli
Seller: Steven C. Girard
Date: 11/10/16

TOLLAND

28 Ona Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $653,125
Buyer: Linda M. Balicki TR
Seller: Robert Churchill
Date: 11/07/16

WALES

32 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: William B. Warren
Seller: Charles H. McKinney
Date: 11/04/16

WESTFIELD

211 Barbara St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Brignoli
Seller: Matthew J. Rinaldi
Date: 11/10/16

75 Brookline Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Nelya Balan
Seller: FHLM
Date: 11/04/16

5 Daylily Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $374,000
Buyer: Steven F. Exware
Seller: Bent Tree Development LLC
Date: 11/01/16

154 Glenwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Cui X. Lin
Seller: Brad A. Whitaker
Date: 11/09/16

162 Honey Pot Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Justin Dauplaise
Seller: Eric Dauplaise
Date: 11/03/16

174 Honey Pot Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Eric N. Dauplaise
Seller: Craig A. Kamps
Date: 11/03/16

8 Noble St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Luisa J. Sarabaez
Seller: Debra J. Barker
Date: 11/02/16

15 Oakcrest Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Erika Walas
Seller: Michael Foy
Date: 11/10/16

24 Pinewood Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Randy McGregor
Seller: V. Michael Clapper
Date: 11/10/16

261 Ponders Hollow Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Gerald L. Verardo
Seller: Ukrainian Selfreliance Credit Union
Date: 11/01/16

44 Sabrina Brooke Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jason A. Lavallee
Seller: Jason A. Lavallee
Date: 11/04/16

169 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Sarah G. Perreault
Seller: Amber M. Matos
Date: 11/04/16

50 Southview Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Christopher Morris
Seller: Michael L. Rickson
Date: 11/08/16

200 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $2,700,000
Buyer: 2nd Oakwood Terrace LLC
Seller: Joseph F. Colette
Date: 11/04/16

25 William St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Deborah A. McLaughlin
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/10/16

64 Woodside Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Fratamico
Seller: Marth-E LLC
Date: 11/09/16

WILBRAHAM

2525 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $3,708,000
Buyer: Prime Storage Boston Road
Seller: EBR LLC
Date: 11/09/16

26 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $403,900
Buyer: Burt H. Fahy
Seller: Custom Homes Development Group
Date: 11/09/16

772 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Omar Ezziddin
Seller: Nazih Zebian
Date: 11/09/16

4 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Rachel M. Kellner
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 11/04/16

10 Poplar Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Joyce Meiresonne
Date: 11/04/16

7 Ridgewood Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Moreland Realty LLC
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 11/01/16

23 Ripley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Karen D. Boisvert
Seller: Lynsey M. Cantalini
Date: 11/03/16

664 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ahmad A. Habboub
Seller: Carolyn J. Lacasse
Date: 11/10/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

132 Bonair Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Maher Elkobersi
Seller: Prescott, Catherine E., (Estate)
Date: 11/03/16

56 Bonnie Brae Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Heidi A. Gomez
Seller: Diana L. Marshall
Date: 11/08/16

243 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: A&R Cerrato LLC
Seller: Richard Gallerani
Date: 11/09/16

398 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Agnes Properties LLC
Seller: Maecar Realty Inc.
Date: 11/10/16

122 Highland Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01085
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Home Equity Assets Realty
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 11/04/16

85 Jensen Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $162,093
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Scott D. Ramsdell
Date: 11/02/16

255 Laurel Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Paul C. Shields
Seller: Lisa F. Reagan
Date: 11/04/16

27 Queen Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Abdul Majid-Rahmat
Seller: Marie A. Bovat
Date: 11/04/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

20 Bridge St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Plumtree Real Estate LLC
Seller: Donald R. Morrow
Date: 11/08/16

177 Henry St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Kendra D. Weisbin
Seller: Patrick A. Ray
Date: 11/10/16

BELCHERTOWN

40 Autumn Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Suzanne T. Jorey
Seller: Gary M. Martins
Date: 11/07/16

535 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Brian L. Gendron
Seller: Piemonte, Peter T., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/16

94 Old Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Matthew J. Stone
Seller: Tolzdorf, Peter M., (Estate)
Date: 11/07/16

CHESTERFIELD

18 Soaker Road
Chesterfield, MA 01096
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Richard J. Labbee
Seller: Ellen J. Laroche
Date: 11/10/16

CUMMINGTON

73 West Main St.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Laura M. Goodspeed
Seller: Cynthia M. Volk
Date: 11/07/16

EASTHAMPTON

60 Division St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Kathleen McDade-Joss
Seller: Thomas M. Bacis
Date: 11/10/16

205 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Wendy S. Sawyer
Seller: Alexis J. Neubert
Date: 11/10/16

89 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Mary T. Martone
Seller: Leah P. Cartmell
Date: 11/01/16

26 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $289,500
Buyer: Daniel D. Rist
Seller: Edward J. Gawle
Date: 11/04/16

298 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $219,500
Buyer: K. Lesli Ligorner-Ritchie
Seller: Mai Stoddard
Date: 11/04/16

GRANBY

255 Carver St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Carl R. Parylak
Seller: Richard Ordynowicz
Date: 11/04/16

55 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Scott Family Properties
Seller: Henry, Dorothy L., (Estate)
Date: 11/04/16

107 North St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Samuel A. McClellan
Seller: John K. Rhicard
Date: 11/10/16

12 Woodside Terrace
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $235,901
Buyer: Citibank
Seller: Mark A. Dufault
Date: 11/02/16

HADLEY

117 East St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: George J. Kermensky
Seller: Nelson P. & B. C. Lemay RET
Date: 11/01/16

24 Maple Ave.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Emerald City Rentals LLC
Seller: Timothy J. Porter
Date: 11/04/16

Spruce Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Allards Farm Inc.
Seller: Westfield Bank
Date: 11/03/16

HATFIELD

161 North Hatfield Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jerome J. Maczka
Seller: Jillian N. Minor
Date: 11/03/16

HUNTINGTON

154 County Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $243,500
Buyer: Joshua P. Driscoll
Seller: Rozanne L. Chouinard
Date: 11/10/16

MIDDLEFIELD

268 Skyline Trail
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Louise M. Harlow
Seller: Peter Oligny
Date: 11/07/16

NORTHAMPTON

48 Blackberry Lane
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: J. R. Caldwell-O’Keefe
Seller: June W. Klaes
Date: 11/07/16

293 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $672,000
Buyer: Benjamin G. Steinberg
Seller: Harry G. Bertram
Date: 11/10/16

15 Garfield St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Philip R. Shumway
Seller: Pamela A. Parenteau
Date: 11/10/16

333 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $444,500
Buyer: Sustaining Partners LLC
Seller: Thomas A. Porter
Date: 11/10/16

59 Sherman Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $311,500
Buyer: German Alvarado
Seller: Paula Chakravartty
Date: 11/07/16

41 Spruce Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Marguerite A. Merrigan
Seller: Ivana Tonoff-Toone
Date: 11/04/16

PLAINFIELD

189 Prospect St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $194,782
Buyer: Kim M. Vieira
Seller: Christine M. Brandon
Date: 11/01/16

SOUTH HADLEY

260 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Brian M. Church
Seller: Richard M. Howe
Date: 11/03/16

29 Easy St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jenny Malinowski
Seller: Zachary L. Stupak
Date: 11/09/16

325 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Robert Stockton
Seller: Lindsay A. Berry
Date: 11/10/16

13 Hollywood St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Christina M. Ramos
Seller: James D. St.Hilaire
Date: 11/08/16

44 Judd Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Amanda Mackey-Desautels
Seller: Wallace J. Desautels
Date: 11/07/16

122 Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Anna M. Brick
Seller: Martin P. Zebrowski
Date: 11/04/16

14 Rivercrest Way
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $354,602
Buyer: Cathy A. Labrie
Seller: Rivercrest Condominiums
Date: 11/04/16

SOUTHAMPTON

61 Coleman Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Jonathan Jay
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 11/08/16

10 Old Harvest Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $448,500
Buyer: Joel J. Haznar
Seller: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Date: 11/10/16

WARE

4 Coldbrook Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Emmett Rooney
Seller: MRT Development LLC
Date: 11/04/16

44 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Shawn M. Kopec
Seller: David B. Poulin
Date: 11/10/16

197 River Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Cole R. Murphy
Seller: Francis M. Quinlan
Date: 11/10/16

WESTHAMPTON

79 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Shayla R. Howe
Seller: Elizabeth G. Koziol
Date: 11/01/16

67 Pine Island Lake
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Letendre
Seller: Demers, Richard F., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/16

WILLIAMSBURG

8 Deer Haven Dr.
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Polly F. McGrath
Seller: Jayne Benjulian
Date: 11/07/16

84 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Pierre J. Belhumeur
Seller: Keith H. Snow
Date: 11/03/16

WORTHINGTON

57 Fairman Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Eugene R. Labrie
Seller: Tompkins FT
Date: 11/10/16

Berkshire Bank Announces $9,600 Grant to Soldier On

By
Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that its foundation, in partnership with New England Sports Network (NESN), has awarded a $9,600 grant to Soldier On through the Berkshire Bank Exciting Assists Grant program. Soldier On CFO Bruce Buckley accepted the contribution from Gary Levante, Berkshire Bank’s assistant vice president of Community Engagement, during NESN’s coverage of the Boston Bruins game on Dec. 8.

The Exciting Assists Grant program runs through April 1, 2017 and raises funds to support three charitable causes. Berkshire Bank’s foundation provides $100 per Bruins assist to the program. During the first portion of the season, Boston had 96 assists, resulting in the $9,600 grant from Berkshire Bank Foundation.

Soldier On, the first nonprofit beneficiary of the Exciting Assists Grant program, has a single mission: ending homelessness among the nation’s veterans. Since 1994, it has provided homeless veterans with transitional housing and supportive services including the first Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community in 2010, a permanent housing cooperative that provides formerly homeless veterans with safe, sustainable, affordable housing, transitioning them from homelessness to home ownership. Soldier On is replicating this model nationally.

In addition to Soldier On, two other nonprofit organizations will receive funding during the remainder of the season: Birthday Wishes, which provides children facing homelessness with a joyous birthday party that will brighten their special day, reduce the trauma of homelessness, and give them hope for a better future (promotion period: Dec. 8 to Feb. 3); and Cradles to Crayons, which provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive at home, at school, and at play, free of charge, by engaging and connecting communities that have communities in need (promotion Period: Feb. 4 to March 31).

Lessons in Common Sense

By
Opinion

Editorial

The American flag is once again flying over the campus at Hampshire College. The flap over the removal of the flag, which captured space on the front page of newspapers around the region and across the country, is seemingly yesterday’s news.

Perhaps, but we hope that the furor that erupted over this incident isn’t soon forgotten at this school, which was famous for its protests and alternative policies before the flag controversy, and has, in the minds of many, now become infamous for this philosophy, if it can be called that.

But what happened at Hampshire — where the flag was removed from the flagpole at the center of the campus for several days, during which the Hampshire community discussed and confronted deeply held beliefs about what the flag represents — was not as much another case of outspoken students seeking attention for a cause as it was an incident of historically poor leadership on the part of the school’s president, Jonathan Lash.

Hampshire prides itself on being different — it eschews letter grades in favor of written evaluations, for example, and does not accept SAT scores as part of its admissions process — and for its track record of activism.

Right on the college’s home page, in huge, block letters, just above a directional arrow pointing out how to apply to the school, are the words ‘Disrupt the Status Quo.’ The school has lived by those four words since it first admitted students in 1970, and usually, doing so is OK. But not, in our opinion, with the American flag.

Yes, the flag means different things to different people. It is not, nor will it ever be, a universal symbol of one thing. What the flag means and represents is an extremely individual thing, and it is worth discussing and studying.

But you don’t have to take down the flag — for several days or even a few hours — to do all that.

And that’s why this flag controversy can be categorized as poor leadership, not a case of rebellious students or employees burning the flag or questioning what it represents at a time of great turmoil and introspection concerning this country and its symbols.

Students at campuses across the country have questions about the flag and just what values and principles it represents, and there have probably even been a few other cases of a flag being burned. But none of those actions resulted in the flag being lowered.

At Hampshire, as noted, they do things differently. They disrupt the status quo. It’s quite all right to do that in most instances, but at certain times, common sense must prevail.

And this was one of them. v

Springfield College’s Samuel Headley Leads Clinical Trial

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College Professor of Exercise Science and Sports Studies Samuel Headley, along with nephrologist Dr. Michael Germain from Renal and Transplant Associates of New England (RTANE), are leading a clinical trial that is focused on the impact of lifestyle interventions on key functional measures and quality of life in a sample of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

During this sixth-month study, the focus will be to determine what effect a comprehensive and individualized lifestyle intervention program has on an individual’s short physical performance battery (SPPB) and other indices of physical function. The intervention program includes dietary, exercise, pharmacy, and behavioral counseling on patient performance of the SPPB, which gives an indication of an individual’s ability to perform activities of daily living dependent upon lower extremity function. Additional objectives include the impact of the intervention on cardiovascular risk factors.

The research group hypothesizes that patients who participate in this integrated, intensive, individualized lifestyle intervention will have higher SPPB scores compared to individuals in the usual care group. The research will also aim to demonstrate that this approach will lead to higher adherence rates to the lifestyle recommendations, and those who adhere will also show better improvements in the measured variables over time compared to patients who are randomly assigned to the usual care group or who comply poorly with the various study components.

A total of 45 stage 3 and 4 CKD patients will be randomized to either the intervention or usual care group, and will be tested at baseline, one month, three months, and six months. Individuals randomized to the intervention group will be encouraged to consume a plant-based diet.

This study is a collaboration between RTANE and Springfield College. A team of researchers including Dr. Richard Wood, Dr. Jasmin Hutchinson, and Dr. Brian Thompson are conducting the work at Springfield College. The study coordinators are Jennifer Siddall and Kristen Dempsey, and retired professor Dr. Beth Evans serves as the major recruiter for this study. In addition, Dr. Courtney Doyle-Campbell and Dr. Marissa Wolfe from Western New England University are assisting with the medication management in this study.

Springfield Regional Chamber Breakfast to Feature Dr. Steve Sobel

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Regional Chamber will kick off the new year with high energy and humor as it presents “Dr. Steve Sobel’s Prescriptions for Success, Happiness and Humor” at its January Business@Breakfast. The first breakfast of 2017 will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 7:15 to 9 a.m. at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, and is sponsored by United Personnel.

Sobel is known for his engaging and uplifting presentations. Heading into a year of uncertainty, Sobel will show attendees how resilience, humor, and passion can help them embrace 2017 and its myriad changes and challenges. Attendees will bring new ideas and energy back to their organizations, businesses, and personal pursuits. Guests will leave Sobel’s presentation inspired to go beyond what they think they are capable of, get past limiting fears and beliefs, and deal proactively with change and adversity.

The breakfast will also recognize Anne Thomas, new president and CEO at Glenmeadow.

Reservations are $22.50 for Springfield Regional Chamber members in advance ($25 at the door) and $30 for general admission in advance ($35 at the door). Reservations can be made in advance online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by e-mailing [email protected].

State Board Confirms Christina Royal as New HCC President

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — The state Board of Higher Education unanimously approved Christina Royal as the next president of Holyoke Community College.

Royal traveled to Boston on Nov. 29 for her official interview with the Board of Higher Education. The HCC board of trustees voted unanimously on Nov. 3 to recommend Royal as the successor to William Messner.

“Holyoke Community College has made an excellent choice in Christina Royal,” said Carlos Santiago, commissioner of Higher Education. “Her demonstrated record of success and commitment to high-quality education make her the perfect candidate for this role, and we look forward to having her at HCC.”

Royal, is now the provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. She visited the HCC campus at the start of November for a series of interviews and meetings with a presidential search committee, trustees, staff, faculty, and students. She was one of three finalists who visited the HCC campus earlier this semester.

Royal plans to start work at HCC on Monday, Jan. 9, when she will become the fourth president in the 70-year history of HCC and the first woman to hold the position.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” said Robert Gilbert, chair of the HCC board of trustees. “I think you’ll see a lot of interesting thoughts and ideas coming from Christina. I know we picked the right person for the coming years to continue the mission of HCC.”

Royal holds a PhD in education from Capella University, as well as a master’s degree in educational psychology and a bachelor’s degree in math from Marist College.

She joined Inver Hills Community College in 2013. Prior to that, she served as associate vice president for E-learning and Innovation at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland and director of Technology-assisted Learning for the School of Graduate and Continuing Education at Marist College. She has also worked as the director of Curriculum for the Beacon Institute of Learning and was the manager of Research and Development at CompUSA.

Messner retired in August after serving for 12 years. He succeeded David Bartley (1975-2003) and George Frost (1946-75), the school’s founding president. Since Messner’s departure, William Fogarty, vice president of Administration and Finance, has been serving as interim president.

Michael Gove Again Recognized as Super Lawyers Rising Star

By
Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — The Gove Law Office, LLC announced that founding attorney Michael Gove has been named a 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Gove has been recognized among high-achieving young attorneys in Massachusetts.

A program of Thompson Reuters, Massachusetts Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who, through peer review and independent research process, have been identified as attaining a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only the top 2.5% of up-and-coming Massachusetts attorneys are named to the Rising Star list.

Gove earned his juris doctor from Boston College School of Law in 2004 and is admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Bar of the State of Connecticut, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, and the U.S. District Court of Connecticut.

The Gove Law Office, with offices in Northampton and Ludlow, is a bilingual firm with attorneys who assist clients in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, providing legal representation in the areas of business representation, commercial lending, residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, immigration, and bankruptcy.

WNEU College of Pharmacy Welcomes Chinese Pharmacists

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University (WNEU) College of Pharmacy recently welcomed six Chinese pharmacists to the university as part of the Pharmacy Education and Clinical Pharmacy Practice Training Program, a partnership with Yale New-Haven Hospital and the Chinese Pharmacological Society – Division of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Research (CPS-TDM).

The program allows international pharmacists to spend one month at the WNEU College of Pharmacy to learn about doctor of pharmacy education, and five months at Yale New-Haven Hospital to learn about the practice of pharmacy in the U.S.

The program represents a new opportunity for international collaboration at Western New England University, and is managed by Dr. Shusen Sun, director of International Pharmacy Programs and board member of CPS-TDM.

The Chinese pharmacists attend College of Pharmacy didactic lectures, case discussions, interactions with students on clinical rotations, and faculty-development seminars. A variety of lectures and topics of discussions are offered, including pharmacy admissions process, accreditation standards and outcome assessment, curricular design, mission and vision development, experiential education, pharmacists as educators, and leadership development in pharmacy practice. The visiting pharmacists also have opportunities to interact with faculty to discuss research and clinical practice.

Valley Blue Sox to Host Holiday Party Dec. 15

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Valley Blue Sox will host their annual Holiday Fan Appreciation Party on Thursday, Dec. 15 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the bar at La Quinta Inn & Suites in Springfield. The event is free and open to the public.

Free food and beer will be available, as well as opportunities to win door prizes that include Blue Sox tickets, merchandise, and memorabilia. The Blue Sox will also have an early roster reveal as well, exclusive to those who show up to the event.

“Our holiday party is a blast and gives our front office the chance to mingle with the people who make our organization go,” said Blue Sox President Clark Eckhoff. “So many people contribute their time and money to help us do what we do, and this is a great way for us to give back and give them a fun, family-oriented night out with their family.”

In addition to the festivities, Sox fans will have the opportunity to purchase holiday ticket packages, group tickets, merchandise, and more.

“It’s been a busy offseason so far, and it’ll be great to bring folks up to speed on what’s been going on, from the roster to the park improvements at MacKenzie Stadium,” said Blue Sox General Manager Hunter Golden. “They’ll get a little sneak peak of what’s been going on, which will be a nice primer on the season to come.”

HCC Campus Center to Launch $43.5 Million Renovation

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) is about to embark on a two-year, $43.5 million renovation project that will transform the look, feel, and organization of the campus.

The HCC Campus Center is scheduled to close Feb. 3, 2017, and construction will begin soon after. When it reopens in 2019, college officials say, the building will be a place that truly lives up to its name.

Originally known as G Building, the sloping, three-story concrete structure sits in the middle of the campus between an intermittent stream choked with invasive plants and the HCC Courtyard. Since it opened in 1980, the Campus Center has been plagued by water leaks. Projects that would have waterproofed the building have been delayed since at least 2008.

“The main impetus for this is to get the building watertight,” said interim HCC President Bill Fogarty. “Then we also wanted to do things that will improve the operation of the building and make it a real campus center.”

The state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance is in charge of the project. Walsh Brothers Construction of Boston has been hired as the general contractor. The state has already allocated $8 million for the current fiscal year to begin the project, with the remainder of the funding to follow, Fogarty said.

The key features of the project include squaring off the building’s sloping façade and giving the entire building given a new exterior shell that will make it both weathertight and energy-efficient.

The squaring off and the addition of large windows on its eastern side will give the building a look that complements the adjacent Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development, which opened in 2003. About 9,000 square feet of space will be added to the current 58,727.

A glass atrium will be added to the west side of the building, covering a set of double stairs that descend from the lower courtyard into an area known as the ‘pit’ that now serves as the main entrance to the food court and cafeteria. On the east side of the building, the open balcony on the second floor will be enclosed, adding extra interior space to the student dining area.

The first floor of the Campus Center, on the side facing Homestead Avenue, will become the new ‘front door’ to the campus, accessed by a bridge to be built over a restored Tannery Brook. HCC Admissions, Assessment Services (college placement testing), and the ACT Center (Advising, Career and Transfer Affairs) — now in the Frost Building — will relocate to a new Welcome Center. Admissions will have a dedicated parking lot, and a separate, college-funded project will reconfigure traffic flow, creating a new bus drop in the front of the campus.

The Campus Store (formerly the College Bookstore) will move from the first floor to the second floor, on the same level as the food court and cafeteria. The second floor will include programs and departments focused on student engagement, including Student Activities, Student Clubs, and Multicultural Academic Services (MAS), which are being relocated from other parts of the campus.

“The whole idea of bringing the Campus Store up to the second floor, so that it’s on the same level as dining services and Student Activities, really makes sense in terms of foot traffic,” said Fogarty. “They all complement each other. It will give it a real feel of a campus center.”

Academic classrooms at the north end of the second floor will be opened up to make more room for student-engagement areas. The layout, both on the first and second floor, will be more open and airy, with glass walls and doors separating offices and community spaces.

“It’s going to look different, much more open and inviting, not so much offices and chunked-up spaces like we have now,” said Michelle Snizek, director of Retention and Student Success. “The idea is to create engaging and alluring spaces — we’re calling them pods — where students can come and charge up their cell phones and do their work.”

The third floor will remain the Media Arts Center. In preparation for the renovation, the Electronic Media Program is already operating in its temporary home on the first floor of the Donahue Building.

The HCC Campus Store will temporarily relocate to the Donahue Building, with a focus on retail merchandise and school supplies. Textbook sales are now being handled by HCC’s online partner, MSB Direct.

The HCC cafeteria will remain open in its present location for the first two weeks of the spring semester. The Subway franchise now in the food court is being moved to the second floor of the Frost Building. Food service will be handled by increased offerings at the POD concession area on the first floor of Donahue, and the Forum Café on the second floor of the Fine & Performing Arts Building, and by the addition of high-end vending machines in the Kittredge Center and Bartley Center. When not in use for special events, the Picknelly Dining Room in the Frost Building will be open for students who want to sit and eat.

After the Culinary Arts program moves off campus into the new hospitality and culinary-arts center in downtown Holyoke, HCC Dining Services will be serving a larger menu of freshly cooked food for purchase in the dining room. In the renovated Campus Center, the food court and cafeteria will return to their present locations with a new look and configuration.

Holyoke Mall to Host Pet Night with Santa Dec. 11

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Many people think of their dogs and cats as family members. Because of this, Santa will be at Holyoke Mall for photos with the furry kids on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. Parents can bring their pets to visit Santa and have their photo taken. Various photo packages will be available to purchase through the Noerr Programs. Santa is comfortable with most pets; however, please leave snakes and rodents at home.

This will the last pet night of the season. However, Santa will still be available for photos in Café Square until Dec. 24.

Springfield Cultural District Releases Video Map for Walking Tour

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Central Cultural District (SCCD) launched a new video map to accompany the Downtown Springfield Cultural Walking Tour. The tour, first introduced in the summer of 2015, is a tool designed to be used by visitors or residents to learn more about the city’s architectural, historic, and cultural highlights. Printed maps are available at all downtown hotels, visitor’s centers, and cultural institutions, and is also available digitally on the SCCD website, springfieldculture.org.

“Sometimes even residents are unaware of the beautiful assets we have throughout the Cultural District, and these videos are a living, breathing way for everyone to connect with the people at our historic and cultural landmarks, not just the buildings,” said Morgan Drewniany, SCCD director.

The video map brings a new dimension to the walking tour. Viewers gain insight into the history of each location on the map and have the chance to learn an unexpected fact about the venue or building. Each video is presented by a member of the Springfield Central Cultural District on location, and is under two minutes, to allow viewing while out and about.

There are 12 videos linked to the Walking Tour. Kay Simpson, president of the Springfield Museums; John Doleva, president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame; Stacey Church, general manager of the MassMutual Center; and Peter Salerno, executive director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, are just a few of the highlighted speakers, among many others. The project was funded, in part, by a Springfield Cultural Council grant, and was produced by Focus Springfield.

WNEU School of Law Sweeps American Bar Assoc. Competition

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SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University (WNEU) School of Law entered the American Bar Assoc. (ABA) Region 1 Negotiation Competition with three two-person teams this fall. A total of 16 law-school teams from throughout New England and New York competed at the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford. After two days of intense competition, the three WNEU teams finished in first, second, and third place, sweeping the competition.

The teams included law students Thomas Holman and Joseph Masse in first place, Kimberly Roche and Matthew Minniefield in second place, and Rachna Khanna and Egzon Beha in third place.

“I learned the importance of creative problem solving in negotiations,” Roche said. “Sometimes you have to go beyond typical solutions and find a creative, alternative solution that both clients will accept.”

The university teams that placed first and second in the ABA Region 1 competition will go on to compete nationally in Chicago in February. Assisting Professor René Reich-Graefe in coaching the teams were law alumni Sandra San Emeterio, Mark Borenstein, Cara Hale, and Chris Rousseau.

“I’m so very proud of all the Western New England students,” San Emeterio said. “My fondest memory of law school is the time I spent on the negotiation team. Best of luck in Chicago, and I hope to get the opportunity to work with you again.”

In the 2015 ABA competition, the School of Law team of Rousseau and Emily Dubuc went on to compete in the finals in San Diego.

Elms College President Talks Leadership with Young Professionals

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CHICOPEE — Elms College hosted a leadership luncheon for the Young Professional Society (YPS) of Greater Springfield on Dec. 7.

The keynote speaker at the event was the college’s president, Mary Reap. In her lecture, Reap discussed the importance of recognizing opportunities, even unexpected or perhaps at-first unwelcome ones, and taking advantage of them to further one’s career goals. She also talked about developing diplomacy and perseverance, banishing self-doubt, and learning from mistakes.

YPS is a group of young professionals who work and live in Western Mass., particularly around the Greater Springfield area, bringing them together to exchange ideas, share common interests, and become the Pioneer Valley’s leaders of tomorrow. The group aims to represent the region’s corporate, nonprofit, and cultural interests by engaging a younger demographic in several distinct areas, including business and career development, networking, cultural and community involvement, educational opportunities, volunteerism, and recreational and social activities.

The lunch series, formerly called the CEO Luncheon Series, is meant to highlight prominent local business owners who are successfully working in the city.

Allison Ebner and Val Boudreau Join EANE Team

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AGAWAM — The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced that Allison Ebner has been named director of Member Relations and Val Boudreau has joined the team as a senior training specialist.

Ebner works to define and identify the greatest needs of prospective members and fully engage current members in the programs and services that will generate the most value for their membership investment. She has more than 17 years of experience in human resources, recruitment, and corporate branding, including talent acquisition and retention, employee engagement and team building, and labor trends and compliance.

Most recently, she was director of recruitment for FIT Staffing and director of membership development for Associated Industries of Massachusetts. She also served as director of marketing and talent acquisition for United Personnel.

Ebner is the current president and board chair for the Human Resource Management Assoc. of Western New England. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and a member and secretary of the board of trustees for Mason Wright. She is a 1987 graduate of Ithaca College in New York, where she received a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Boudreau is known for her ability to understand talent, learning, and people requirements and deliver strategic solutions that achieve business objectives. Before joining EANE, she was the owner of Leadership Heights, a strategic planning consulting business. Prior to that, she spent more than 25 years in the financial-services industry, serving in various learning and development and talent-management leadership roles.

Boudreau received a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University and a master’s degree in training and development from Lesley University. She is currently a board member of GFWC Wilbraham Junior Women’s Club.

Dakin Hires Stacey Price as Director of Development and Marketing

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SPRINGFIELD — Stacey Price has been hired as director of development and marketing at Dakin Humane Society, according to Executive Director Carmine DiCenso.

Price will oversee development and marketing efforts for the organization, which has two adoption centers in Leverett and Springfield, as well as a community spay/neuter clinic at the latter location. She will focus on donor and community relations and pursue strategic partnerships that will enable Dakin to continue to innovate while serving the needs of animals and the people who care for them in Western Mass. and beyond. The organization is 100% self-sustaining.

Price was formerly the interim executive director and development director at Gifford Cat Shelter in Brighton, where she served as a funding strategist. Prior to that, she was the capital campaign manager for the EcoTarium in Worcester, and animal welfare director at Kitsap Humane Society in Silverdale, Wash.

Price is a member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators and was part of the Spay Worcester Task Force. She received a Who’s Who 40 Under 40 award in 2010 from Kitsap County, Wash., and earned an MBA from Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y.

Holyoke Medical Center Earns 2016 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award

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HOLYOKE — The Leapfrog Group announced that Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) has been named a Top Hospital for the second time in three years. Widely acknowledged as one of the most prestigious distinctions a hospital can receive in the U.S., the recognition showcases HMC’s commitment to patient safety and quality.

“It is with great pride Holyoke Medical Center accepts the Top Hospital award for the second time. Being one of only two hospitals in Massachusetts to receive this distinction demonstrates how truly hard our team is focused on providing high-quality care in a safe environment, close to home. I extend my sincere gratitude to the exceptional staff of HMC for their dedication and focus,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems Inc.

HMC received a Top General Hospital distinction, and was one of 115 Top Hospitals recognized across the country. Selection is based on the results of the 2016 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, maternity care, and a hospital’s ability to prevent medication errors.

“Being acknowledged as a Top Hospital is an incredible feat achieved by less than 3% of hospitals nationwide,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of the Leapfrog Group. “With this honor, Holyoke Medical Center has established its commitment to safer and higher-quality care. Providing this level of care to patients in the Pioneer Valley requires motivation and drive from every team member. I congratulate the board, staff, and clinicians, whose efforts made this honor possible.”

To see the full list of institutions honored as 2016 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.

Fort Carolers Return to the Student Prince

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas on Fort Street. Starting today with a matinee performance at 11:30 a.m. and continuing through Christmas Eve, the Fort Carolers will bring their one-of-a-kind holiday cheer to the Student Prince.

For some longtime patrons, coming to the Fort for the carolers is a tradition that goes back to childhood. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas until the lights go down and the entire dining room joins together for a rendition of “Silent Night.”

“It’s an amazing thing to be a part of this long holiday tradition,” said Managing Partner Andy Yee. “And it’s great to see new people discovering it every year. It’s the kind of thing people pass down for generations and share with their friends and loved ones. We’ve got some fun surprises in store this year.”

A special holiday menu — featuring the iconic Student Prince veal shank, back by popular demand — is available all month long. The Fort Carolers are also available for private holiday party performances at the restaurant.

bankESB Promotes Meridith Salois, Sandra Brakey

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Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced the promotion of two employees at the bank’s recent quarterly meeting. Meridith Salois was promoted to assistant vice president, credit analyst, and Sandra Brakey to officer, senior commercial loan assistant.

Salois joined bankESB in 2001 as a loan servicer and progressed over time to collections assistant, credit analyst, and senior credit analyst before being elected officer in 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business executive management from Bay Path College, and has a number of CFT certificates and diplomas in financial services, lending, and credit analysis. She is active in the community, volunteering for Stop Hunger Now, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, and serving as a board member for Westfield Youth Football & Cheerleading.

Brakey began her career at bankESB in 2010 as commercial loan administrative assistant and was promoted to supervisor, senior commercial loan assistant in 2015. She had more than 20 years of legal documentation experience before joining the bank.

7 Eagle Group Expands to Help Companies Hire Military Veterans

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Daily News

AMHERST — 7 Eagle Group, a national executive search firm founded in 2012, recently hired a new talent-acquisition manager, expanding its team to seven professionals who are passionate about pairing employers with veterans seeking a job.

Founder Jordie Kern said Susie McCrea was hired recently to assist the team in recruitment and strategic planning for the expansion of 7 Eagle Group. McCrea joins four other local staff members: Kern; Chris Caffrey, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps; Bob Clark; and Lorrie Dragon, a U.S. Army veteran. David Davidson, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL in Florida, and New York-based Megan Johnson work remotely for the firm.

“Our growth allows us to better serve our clients across the country who are interested in connecting with America’s highly qualified military veterans,” Kern said. “Our military veterans are dedicated, loyal, multi-skilled, and have can-do attitudes. They have risked their lives for our freedom and deserve our support in finding them great careers that match their talents.”

Added McCrea, “we assist military veterans employed in the civilian workplace to secure even better positions that align with their talents. 7 Eagle Group also partners with veterans transitioning from the military to ensure that they are placed in the best job possible. It’s a win-win for both the employer and the military veteran.”

Employers and veterans seeking more information can visit www.7eagle.com or call McCrea at (413) 537-4083.

Dora Robinson to Step Down at United Way of Pioneer Valley

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) announced that the organization’s president and CEO, Dora Robinson, will retire effective June 30, 2017, starting an orderly leadership transition over the next six months. The board of trustees named Jeffrey Ciuffreda as the organization’s interim president and CEO, effective immediately. Robinson will continue to serve UWPV as president emeritus.

Robinson’s decision will bring to a close a career of moren than 40 years of nonprofit leadership in the Greater Springfield community, the last seven with UWPV.

“We thank Dora for her years of service, celebrate her contributions, and are excited to build upon them,” said Bennett Markens, president of the UWPV board of trustees. “It is our sincere hope that she enjoys this well-deserved retirement.”

Added Robinson, “it has been an honor to lead this organization alongside our dedicated volunteers, staff, and board members. I look forward to working with Jeff, the board, and the management team during the six-month transition period.”

Robinson began with UWPV in 2009. Under her leadership, the organization launched several new strategies to diversify revenues contributing to education, homelessness, basic needs, and financial-security programs, among others. During her tenure, she co-founded the UWPV Women’s Leadership Council to engage local women leaders in supporting financial literacy and health initiatives for women and girls. She also led the effort to establish UWPV as a support organization for local and regional disaster-recovery efforts.

With Ciuffreda managing day-to-day operations, the board of directors will conduct an exhaustive search for Robinson’s successor. “As the search for a permanent replacement moves forward, we know that UWPV is in good hands and that there will be no interruption in the critical services we provide in our community,” said Markens.

Ciuffreda noted that “the United Way has been providing key support to families and organizations across the Valley for 94 years and has operated at a high level in this role. It is my hope to not only maintain the organization’s success, but also build upon it. I am honored to lead an organization with such an impressive legacy.”

Ciuffreda becomes interim president and chief executive officer of UWPV after his August retirement from the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he served for 29 years, the last five as president.

Berkshire Hills Completes First Choice Bank Acquisition

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Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. has completed the acquisition of First Choice Bank and the merger of First Choice Bank into Berkshire Bank, effective at the close of business on Dec. 2. As a result of this merger, First Choice Loan Services Inc. has become a wholly owned operating subsidiary of Berkshire Bank.

“This combination diversifies our revenue sources, improves our profitability after integration, and complements our other franchise growth initiatives as we expand into attractive banking markets in Central New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania,” said Berkshire Bank CEO Michael Daly. “We’ve been working closely with the First Choice team to prepare for this merger and look forward to completing the systems conversion in February.”

Berkshire issued approximately 4.4 million common shares as merger consideration in the stock-for-stock exchange detailed in the merger agreement. The total stock consideration is valued at approximately $150 million. Additionally, Berkshire paid cash totaling approximately $700,000 million to holders of First Choice options and warrants. Including the new shares issued, Berkshire’s outstanding common stock has increased to approximately 35.5 million shares, resulting in a market capitalization of approximately $1.2 billion.

With this acquisition, Berkshire adds eight bank branches in the areas of Princeton, N.J. and Greater Philadelphia, as well as First Choice Loan Services, a mortgage-banking business originating loans across a national platform. This merger adds approximately $1 billion in assets, will benefit Berkshire’s capital and liquidity metrics, and is book value accretive.

Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin Appoints David Webber as Shareholder

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Local law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. announced that David Webber has been appointed as a shareholder of the firm. The firm’s shareholders voted unanimously to extend the offer to Webber, demonstrating the level of respect his work and professionalism have earned.

“As a founding partner of Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, it has been my distinct pleasure to invest in the next generation of leadership,” said attorney Steven Schwartz. “I work closely with David and can attest to his professional and legal acumen that will continue to uphold our firm’s strong reputation and quality of work for years to come.”

Webber joined Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin as a law clerk in May 2007 and was immediately offered a position as associate after passing the bar exam in August 2008.

“I have been working toward this for a long time, and it’s the most significant event in my career so far,” Webber said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to advance and for the confidence of my fellow shareholders.”

Webber concentrates his practice in the areas of closely held business, corporate law, real estate, trusts and estates, and bankruptcy. He has regularly been selected to the Super Lawyers list of Rising Stars for his work with closely held business. He is a graduate of the Western New England University School of Law, where he interned with Justice Francis Spina at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and served as note editor of the Western New England Law Review. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UMass, where he graduated cum laude. He is admitted to practice before the Massachusetts Bar, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the Bureau of Veterans Affairs.

In addition to his legal career, Webber serves on the advisory boards of the Mason-Wright Foundation, and his alma mater as a member of the advisory committee for the UMass Student Legal Services Office. He serves as a mentor to entrepreneurs and startup businesses with Valley Venture Mentors. He is also an active member of the Hampden County Bar Assoc. and Real Estate Section, the Massachusetts Bar Assoc., the Real Estate Bar Assoc. of Massachusetts, and the Estate Planning Counsel of Hampden County.

Greater Holyoke Chamber Names 2016 Ambassador of the Year

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce gave its 2016 Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award to Katherine Buckley, personal customer service representative at Goss & McLain Insurance.

“It is our privilege to honor Katie Buckley for her volunteer efforts on behalf of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce,” said Kathleen Anderson, chamber president. “We value her enthusiasm, energy, and the support she brings to the chamber ambassador committee. Katie goes over and above her role as an ambassador in welcoming people to our events and networking opportunities.”

Added Wanda Zabawa, business manager and chamber ambassador committee coordinator, “we’re grateful for the service and dedication that Katie has demonstrated on behalf of the chamber. Our ambassadors are crucial to the success of our mission to support our members and local businesses.”

The chamber’s primary role is to provide support and resources to its existing members in order for them to prosper and grow. The goal and messages of the chamber are carried to members through the ambassadors as they disseminate information to members and the community. Ambassadors help to familiarize current and prospective members about the chamber and its services and benefits, while helping businesses get the greatest return on their membership investment.

Buckley started with Goss & McLain in 2009 shortly after her graduation from Endicott College. She is a Leadership Holyoke graduate and became a chamber ambassador in 2012. She serves on the board of the Holyoke Merry Go Round and is a Holyoke Rotarian, as well as an active member of the Junior League of Greater Springfield.

Buckley received the award after accumulating the most credits through volunteerism and participation throughout the year. Buckley and her manager, Deborah Buckley, president of Goss & McLain Insurance, will be honored at the chamber’s Holiday Business Breakfast on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at the Log Cabin. Tickets cost $25. To register, visit holyokechamber.com.

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