SPRINGFIELD — Parents will discuss what adults can do to protect their children from child sexual abuse at a series of ‘parent cafés’ titled “Keeping Privates Private” to be held in Springfield and Holyoke throughout April.
The events, sponsored by the Prevention Collaboration — a community-based group organized out of the Family Advocacy Center at Baystate Children’s Hospital — are being held in conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The Prevention Collaboration is dedicated to helping the community take action to prevent child sexual abuse. Parent cafés will be held on:
• Thursday, April 7: Head Start, 30 Madison Ave., Springfield, 5:30 to 7 p.m.;
• Wednesday, April 20: Square One, 1095 Main St., Springfield, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; and
• Thursday, April 28, HCS Head Start, 206 Maple St., Holyoke, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four girls and one in six boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before they turn 18. Sexual abuse does not discriminate; children and adolescents of all races, cultures, and backgrounds are equally susceptible to sexual abuse.
Those attending the events will receive a children’s book, My Body Belongs to Me, then guided through a discussion of parenting choices help prevent child sexual abuse in their families.
The Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime offers the following strategies on how to respond if a child reports he or she has been abused:
• Stay calm.
• Listen to the child’s words and expressed emotions. Believe the child and stress that his or her safety is important.
• Don’t press the child for more information.
• Reassure the child that he or she has done nothing wrong. Abuse is never a child’s fault.
• Remember that the people who harm children are often people whom children love.
• Avoid negative comments. Encourage the child, saying that he or she did the right thing by telling and that it was brave to tell.
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that Allan Costello has been promoted to executive vice president, home lending and will join the bank’s executive team.
Costello has more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry with expertise in risk management, compliance, accounting, internal audit, and operations. He will lead the sales and operations functions of the home lending division, including loan origination, underwriting, compliance, processing, and servicing.
Costello joined Berkshire Bank in 2011 and held the position of senior vice president, audit before transitioning to the home lending division. Prior to Berkshire Bank, his career was focused in the financial field, including director at Accume Partners, divisional vice president of bank protection at Charter One Bank, and chief financial officer at Rhinebeck Savings Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Siena College and completed the American Bankers Assoc. three-year graduate banking program. His certifications include certified internal auditor and certified fraud examiner.
FARMINGTON — Farmington Bank announced the fifth annual Farmington Bank Community Concert Series, featuring 20 free performances by Simply Swing, a popular, 10-piece swing orchestra based in Connecticut.
“We’re proud to support communities in Greater Hartford and Western Massachusetts by continuing to sponsor free concerts throughout the spring and summer months,” said John Patrick Jr., chairman, president, and CEO of Farmington Bank. “These fun-filled concerts provide wonderful opportunities for families, friends, and neighbors to enjoy time together in their own communities.”
This year’s expanded series includes performances at Pleasant View Senior Center in East Longmeadow on Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m.; the Common in West Springfield on Monday, July 4 at 2 p.m.; plus 18 performances in Connecticut.
Simply Swing specializes in the music of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie; vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, and Diana Krall; and high-energy swing dance favorites. In 2013, the group released its Dancing to Simply Swing CD, featuring music composed for swing and ballroom dancers by Joe LaRosa, the group’s musical director and drummer.
“Our goal is to engage and entertain audiences throughout the region,” said Vivian LaRosa, Simply Swing’s featured vocalist. “We love seeing people swaying in their lawn chairs, singing along, and getting up to dance.”
For a complete listing of dates, times, and locations, visit www.farmingtonbankct.com/communityactivity and click on ‘Community Concert Series.’
BOSTON — Unemployment rates went down in all 24 labor market areas in Massachusetts during the month of February, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. The rates were also down in all areas compared to February 2015.
Six areas added jobs over the month, with gains in the Springfield, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Worcester, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, and Peabody-Salem-Beverly areas.
From February 2015 to February 2016, fourteen areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Haverhill-Newport-Amesbury, and Barnstable areas. The Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead area recorded a loss.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.5% for the month of February. The unemployment rate is down 0.6% over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 13,300 job gain in February and an over-the-year gain of 67,100 jobs.
SPRINGFIELD — Much as pink is associated with breast-cancer awareness, blue is the color connected with awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a group of complex disorders of brain development. To help spread ASD awareness, the Basketball Hall of Fame is turning the light on its enormous basketball completely blue at 5 p.m. on April 1-4 as part of the “Light It Up Blue” campaign for Autism Awareness Month in April.
ASD affects more than 3 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide. Statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls in the U.S. are diagnosed with autism.
“Autism Awareness Month activities help to create an environment of learning and sharing to keep the discussion of ASD disorders open and ongoing,” said Kimberley Lee, vice president, Development for the Center for Human Development (CHD). Through its Early Intervention program, CHD is actively involved in ASD screening and helping to identify those red flags, and works with infants and children from birth to age 3 in Springfield, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham and Hampden who have, or are at risk for, developmental delays. A CHD team can assess a child’s abilities, and, if indicated, work to develop an individualized plan to promote development of play, movement, social-emotional behavior, communication, and self-care skills.
“We work with children and their families in their most natural environment. We are excited that the Hall of Fame is helping to Light It Up Blue and keep the conversation about autism going,” said Erinne Gorneault, program director, Early Intervention.
To learn more about CHD or for more information on available supports and services, call Gorneault at (413) 733-6624.
SPRINGFIELD — The coming of spring also brings the return of the Springfield Museums’ annual Festival of Flowers. The year’s celebration, on April 7-10, will feature nearly 50 objects from the art, history, and science collections creatively interpreted by local florists, designers, and garden club members. More than 4,000 people flocked to the event last year.
The Festival of Flowers is free with museum admission. Associated festivities begin on Thursday, April 7 with a Museums à la Carte lecture at 12:15 p.m. titled “The English Garden: Perfection on Earth” by historian Curt DiCamillo. The cost to attend is $2 for members, $4 for non-members.
That evening, visitors can enjoy a Culture & Cocktails event from 5 to 8 p.m. Guests can view the colorful arrangements in all four museums and watch the popular Floral Fashion show as models stroll through the galleries wearing accessories created from flowers. The evening, which also includes music, specialty cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres by Log Rolling Catering, is sponsored by United Personnel. Admission is $5 for museum members and $15 for non-members (age 21 and over only). For reservations, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 379, or buy tickets online.
Following that is a presentation on Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m. titled “Jaw-dropping, Traffic-stopping, Get-your-neighbors-talking Containers” by Deborah Trickett from the Captured Garden. Trickett’s work has been featured in the Boston Globe and on the TV show New England Dream Home. The talk is free with museum admission. Tours by museum docents highlighting many of the floral interpretations will also be available on April 8-10 (hourly, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free with museum admission).
The Museum School will also offer courses related to the festival. On Friday, April 8, instructor Paul Leveille will teach a one-day class in creating “Floral Art with Pastels.” On Saturday, April 9, artist Annette Chittenden will lead a class titled “Zentangle Botancial Drawing.” To sign up, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 377 or 382, or register online.
Festival of Flowers is sponsored by Durocher Florist, with additional support from Dave DiRico’s Golf and Racquet, Gardeners on the Green in Longmeadow, Pat Parker and Sons Florists, Pennock Floral, Randall’s Farm and Greenhouse, and Springfield Florists Supply Inc. For more information about Festival of Flowers, visit springfieldmuseums.org or call (413) 263-6800, ext. 386.
SPRINGFIELD — State Sen. James Welch will address the Springfield Rotary Club’s luncheon meeting on Friday, April 1. His topic will be the opioid crisis and marijuana-legalization issues that face the Commonwealth.
Welch was elected to the Senate in 2010, representing a district that includes West Springfield, Springfield, and Chicopee. He currently serves as Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, and is a member of the joint committees on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Election Laws, and Post Audit & Oversight.
The Springfield Rotary Club meets every Friday at 12:15 p.m. in the MassMutual Room at the Basketball Hall of Fame, West Columbus Avenue, Springfield. The April 1 luncheon is $18 per person and is open to the public. For more information on the Springfield Rotary or becoming a member, contact Mike Healy, membership chair, at (413) 267-1217 or visit www.springfieldmarotary.org.
HOLYOKE — “Performance management is the foundation of performance excellence,” said Janice Mazzallo, executive vice president and chief human resource officer at PeoplesBank. “Unfortunately, the best-laid management systems often go awry due to lack of communication.”
Mazzallo will help area business leaders overcome performance-related communication hurdles at a free seminar titled “Managing Employee Performance” on April 14 from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. at the PeoplesBank executive office, 330 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. She will address how to establish SMART goals, provide counseling documentation, and develop an effective performance-improvement plan (PIP). “Most importantly,” she said, “should the PIP be unsuccessful, we’ll discuss the necessary steps to take prior to terminating an employee for poor performance.”
The event — part of an ongoing business best-practices seminar series offered by PeoplesBank — is open to the public; however, registration is required, and attendance is limited. To register, visit bit.ly/PBPerformance.
Mazzallo has more than 30 years of human-resource-management experience and joined PeoplesBank in 2005. She is a graduate of America’s Community Bankers National School of Banking at Fairfield University and holds a master’s degree from Cambridge College. She serves on the board for the Stonier ABA Graduate School of Banking Advisory and the Northampton Survival Center. She is also an active member of the Northeast Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management and a volunteer reader for Link to Libraries.
HOLYOKE — On Monday, April 4, Wistariahurst Museumm will host a workshop with journalist and photographer Dennis Hohenberger on conducting one-on-one interviews in order to collect family and community history.
Anyone who has ever wanted to interview aging family members about their younger years or wanted to document community leaders about past events will benefit from this evening session, starting at 6 p.m. Participants will learn how to prepare their materials, stay focused during a conversation, and how to set a subject at ease. The workshop is open to all, and the fee is $7, or $5 for museum members. No prior experience is required. Pre-registration at www.wistariahurst.org is suggested, as space is limited.
Hohenberger is a reporter and photographer based in Western Mass. He majored in journalism at UMass Amherst. He has lived in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. He has developed an interviewing style that has proved successful in both formal and informal settings.
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts invites the public to the annual showing of the CLIO Awards, the world’s most recognized international awards competition for advertising, design, digital, and communications.
The event will be held Tuesday, March 29 at 6 p.m. at Majestic Theater, 131 Elm St., West Springfield. Registration and networking begin at 5 p.m. Light appetizers will be provided, and a cash bar will be available. On-street parking is available, with additional parking behind CVS across Elm Street.
The cost is $15 for Ad Club members, $25 for non-members, and $10 for students. To reserve a seat, call (413) 736-2582 or e-mail [email protected], or pay at the door for an additional $5.
CHICOPEE — On Friday, April 1, Elms College will welcome 100 elementary- and middle-school students and their families from across the state as the Massachusetts Geographic Bee comes to campus for the first time.
The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Veritas Auditorium in Berchmans Hall at Elms. From 1:15 to 2:30 p.m., the public is invited to watch as the top 10 finalists compete and the winner is honored. The winner of this statewide competition will move on to compete in the National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C., in May, where the grand prize is a $50,000 college scholarship.
Each year, thousands of schools in the U.S. participate in the National Geographic Bee, using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to inspire students to be curious about the world. The National Geographic Bee sponsors competitions in every state as well as the final nationwide contest.
“This is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition, which is now in its 27th year,” said Sarah Duncan, the state bee coordinator for Massachusetts. “Bees were held in schools with fourth- through eighth-grade students throughout the state to determine each school’s bee winner.” The school-level winners then took a test and submitted it to the National Geographic Society; the students with the top 100 test scores in each state were invited to complete at the state level.
“The Massachusetts State Geography Bee is an exciting competition for students because they are competing against kids their age who love geography as much as they do,” Duncan said. “I think that the public will be in awe of the vast knowledge these students have about the world at such a young age. As an audience member, it is always fun to follow along to see how much you know.”
The state winner will receive $100, a copy of the book The National Parks, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent Massachusetts in the national finals, which will be held at National Geographic Society headquarters May 22-25. The national winner will receive a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the society, as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to the Galapagos Islands to experience geography first-hand through close encounters with the unique landscapes and wildlife of the islands.
Throughout the day on April 1, geography-related stations will be set up on campus for competitors, family members, and the general public to visit. EarthView, a large, inflatable globe that people can go inside, will be installed in Berchmans Gym, as will a large world floor map from National Geographic.
“Attendees will have a fun-filled, geography-themed day,” Duncan said. “From traveling out to Western Massachusetts and navigating around the Elms campus to competing or watching the rounds of questions, to exploring EarthView and the giant traveling floor map of Africa — geography will surround us all day.”
This is the first time the bee will be held at a college or university. Elms alumna Arlene Kowal is co-coordinator of the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance, which holds teacher workshops on campus, and she felt that Elms would be a good venue. Other Elms alumni have been recruited to serve as timekeepers, scorekeepers, and tour guides.
SPRINGFIELD — As part of its 10th annual 40 Under Forty program, BusinessWest is taking nominations for its second annual Continued Excellence Award, the winner of which will be unveiled at the 40 Under Forty gala on June 16. The nomination deadline has been extended to May 2 at 5 p.m.
Last year, BusinessWest inaugurated the award to recognize past 40 Under Forty honorees who had significantly built on their achievements since they were honored. The five finalists for that award last year were Kamari Collins, Jeff Fialky, Cinda Jones, Kristin Leutz, and the eventual winner, Delcie Bean IV.
“So many 40 Under Forty honorees have refused to rest on their laurels,” said Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest. “We wanted to honor those who continue to build upon their strong records of service in business, within the community, and as regional leaders. Last year’s five finalists have certainly done that, and we expect this year’s nominees to be equally inspiring.”
Candidates must hail from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award, in this case, classes 2007-15. The nomination form is available at businesswest.com/40-under-forty/40-under-forty-continued-excellence-award. For your convenience, a list of the past nine 40 Under Forty classes may be found at businesswest.com/40-under-forty/40-under-forty-past-honorees.
CHICOPEE — Polish National Credit Union at 46 Main St., Chicopee, will host “Mornings with the Mayor” on Thursday, April 21 from 8 to 9 a.m. Coffee and light refreshments will be served while Mayor Richard Kos shares important updates on what’s happening in the city of Chicopee. This Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce event is an opportunity for questions, answers, and open dialogue.
This event is for chamber members only and is free, but registration is required so the host business knows how many will be attending. To register, e-mail [email protected].
GREENFIELD — On Saturday, April 2, the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) will host master diver Annette Spaulding to discuss her recent petroglyph discovery beneath the Connecticut River. Spaulding will be joined by members of the Nolumbeka Project, who will discuss Native American history in this region. This free program is open to the public and will be held at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls at 1 p.m.
This is one of two petroglyph sites known to have been submerged underwater after the creation of the Vernon Dam more than 100 years ago. Spaulding is the first to locate one of the two sites. With more than 33 years of diving experience, she has discovered hundreds of historical sites and artifacts. She’s had many interesting adventures, including exploring shipwrecks, diving with great white sharks, and recovering a historic aircraft (which aired on National Geographic), but is quick to note that the Connecticut River is her favorite place in the world to scuba dive.
Spaulding is also a volunteer and trustee of the Connecticut River Watershed Council. Ed Lenik, author of Making Pictures in Stone: American Indian Rock Art of the Northeast, will include Spaulding’s petroglyph find in his newest book.
To learn more about CRWC, call (413) 772-2020, stop by the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls on weekends, or visit www.ctriver.org.
BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker received bipartisan support from three former secretaries of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Maeve Vallely-Bartlett, Rick Sullivan, and Ian Bowles, for the administration’s efforts to diversify the state’s energy portfolio through the procurement of cost-effective hydropower generation.
The announcement followed a State House meeting between Baker, current Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton, and his predecessors to discuss the need to stabilize New England’s electricity rates, meet the Commonwealth’s Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) goals, and provide ratepayers with a clean, cost-competitive alternative to coal and oil generation.
“I appreciate the support from our state’s former top energy officials as our administration aims to pursue a balanced, diversified energy portfolio through the pursuit of hydroelectric power,” Baker said. “This endorsement is illustrative of the pressing need to address Massachusetts’ rising energy costs, increase electricity-grid reliability, and reduce carbon emissions to meet the Commonwealth’s energy and environmental goals.”
Added Beaton, “I thank former Secretaries Bowles, Sullivan, and Vallely-Bartlett for their endorsement of the Baker-Polito administration’s legislation for the procurement of hydroelectric power, which will provide needed generation capacity, while positioning the Commonwealth to achieve our Global Warming Solutions Act goals. As part of the administration’s balanced approach to making the necessary investments in our regional energy infrastructure, this legislation strikes an important balance between climate and environmental awareness and the Commonwealth’s need for clean, reliable, cost-effective generation resources.”
In July, the Baker-Polito administration filed Senate Bill 1965, “An Act Relative to Energy Sector Compliance with the Global Warming Solutions Act,” to require Massachusetts utilities to jointly, and competitively, solicit long-term contracts for clean energy-generation resources and associated transmission together with the Department of Energy Resources.
In addition to the benefits this legislation aims to bring to the regional electricity market, clean energy generation will position Massachusetts to reach its ambitious greenhouse-gas-reduction targets, Baker said. A recent update to Massachusetts’ “Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020” concluded that the Commonwealth is well-positioned to meet, or exceed, a greenhouse-gas-reduction goal of 25% by 2020 through the full implementation of the Baker-Polito administration’s energy policies, which include hydropower and solar legislation.
“The Commonwealth is a national leader in clean energy and has built a world-class clean-energy industry that is increasing homegrown energy and reducing carbon emissions,” said Rick Sullivan, who served as secretary from 2011 to 2014, and currently serves as CEO of the Western Mass. Economic Development Council. “We must build on this success while continuing to work to reduce the high cost of energy for residents and businesses across Massachusetts. Bringing in cost-effective, large-scale hydro and other renewable-energy resources is critical to these efforts.”
BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate dropped to 4.5% in February from the January rate of 4.7%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday. The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts continues to gain jobs, with 13,300 added in February. Year to date, Massachusetts has added 14,500 jobs.
In February, over-the-month job gains occurred in education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; other services; construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; and government.
“Massachusetts continues to add jobs, and the labor force showed positive gains with 14,100 more residents employed and 7,400 fewer residents unemployed over the month,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald L. Walker II said.
The February state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 4.9% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.6% from 5.1% in February 2015. There were 24,600 fewer unemployed people over the year compared to February 2015. Over the year, the largest private-sector percentage job gains were in construction; professional, scientific, and business services; education and health services; and financial activities.
AMHERST — The Montessori School of Northampton and Amherst Montessori School will host a screening of Most Likely to Succeed, the educational documentary that has been inspiring conversation about a model for education that prepares students for the 21st century.
The film will screen on Tuesday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Amherst College’s Pruyne Auditorium in Fayerweather Hall. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m., and the run time is 89 minutes. The screening is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so reservations are encouraged. To reserve a ticket, e-mail [email protected] or call (413) 586-4538.
The film, written and directed by Greg Whitely, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015 and has been named “among the best edu-documentaries ever produced” by Education Week.
Corey Hadden, the teacher recently hired to launch the Montessori School of Northampton’s new middle school, feels that the ideas the film describes parallel the approach to education used in Montessori schools. “What the film reveals as new about what motivates students — opportunities to act on their curiosity, find a deep connection with their work, and work with their peers — has been at the heart of a Montessori education for over 100 years.”
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced it has contributed $225,895 to local United Way organizations as part of its 2016 workplace campaign. The money raised includes corporate donations from the bank’s charitable foundations totaling $85,000, employee contributions of $105,242, and matching donations of $35,653. The total dollars contributed rose by more than 10% compared to 2015.
Eighteen separate United Way affiliates were supported through Berkshire Bank’s 2016 campaign. Outside of Berkshire County, where the bank is headquartered, the foundation matched employee United Way contributions dollar for dollar up to $10,000 per region. In Berkshire County, the foundation provided a corporate contribution to the Berkshire United Way.
“We’re proud of the double-digit increase in our donation to local United Way organizations across our regions in 2016, due in large part to the personal contributions of our employees,” said Lori Gazzillo, vice president and director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. “The response of our team members throughout our footprint speaks to the incredible work local United Ways are doing to address critical needs in the communities where we live and work.”
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Athletic Administration Graduate Program will host its annual spring leadership series, titled “One Graduate Degree. Endless Possibilities,” on Wednesday, March 30, at 7 p.m. in the Cleveland E. and Phyllis B. Dodge Room in the Flynn Campus Union. The event is free and open to the public.
The event features panelists Ryan Bamford, UMass Amherst director of Athletics; Rachel Horn, Eaglebrook School director of Athletics; and Heath Rollins, Wayland High School director of Athletics.
All three panelists earned a master’s degree from Springfield College in 2003, and they gained experience working in the Springfield College Office of Athletics during their graduate-school years. The trio represent three different levels of athletic administration, including junior high school, high school, and college athletics.
Launched in the spring of 2011, the Athletic Administration Leadership Series is held each semester and alternates a focus between high school and intercollegiate athletics.
SPRINGFIELD — Kevin Pearce — former professional snowboarder, inspirational public speaker, and co-founder of LoveYourBrain LLC — will be a guest speaker at Springfield College on Tuesday, March 29, starting at 7 p.m. at Blake Arena. The event is free and open to the public, and is presented by the Springfield College Office of Student Activities; Office of Athletics; School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; and School of Health Sciences and Rehabilitation Studies.
While training for the 2010 Olympic trials, Pearce suffered a life-altering brain injury, effectively cutting his snowboarding career short. After a rigorous recovery, he became an advocate for the prevention of brain injuries and the promotion of a brain-healthy lifestyle for all people.
Together with his brother, Adam, he co-founded LoveYourBrain LLC, which supports traumatic brain-injury survivors and their caregivers to participate in gentle yoga and meditation classes tailored to their needs.
Pearce’s career began in 2005 when he became a professional snowboarder at just 18 years old, and he went on to earn numerous accolades, including a silver medal in the 2009 Winter X Games.
Pearce’s journey was recently chronicled in the HBO documentary The Crash Reel. Currently, he is a sports ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society, as well as the founder of the Kevin Pearce Fund to support nonprofit organizations across the country that assist those affected by brain injuries, Down syndrome, and other challenges. He also is the 2014 recipient of the Dana and Christopher Reeve Inspiration Award from Craig Hospital and the 2011 Victory Award from the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C.
AGAWAM — The West of the River Chamber of Commerce announced its second Lunch and Learn event, an event co-hosted with the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce.
The event will take place, Thursday, April 14 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Crestview Country Club in Agawam. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the economic benefits for Massachusetts businesses that install solar power. Guest speakers from Green Earth Energy PhotoVoltaic and clean-energy expert Jim Barry from the state Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will be on hand to discuss solar energy and answer questions from attendees.
The event costs $35. For more information, call the West of the River Chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or visit www.westoftheriverchamber.com to register.
SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations from the four Western Mass. counties for the 101st annual William Pynchon Award, the area’s oldest and most prestigious community-service award.
Established in 1915, the award honors individuals from all walks of life who go beyond the call of duty to enhance the quality of life in Western Mass. Past recipients have included social activists, teachers, philanthropists, historians, clergy, housewives, physicians, journalists, and business leaders — a diverse group with one thing in common: a drive to make the region a better place for all who live here.
To nominate an individual, submit a one-page letter explaining why the nominee should be considered. Include brief biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon.
All nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon trustees, comprising past and present presidents of the Advertising Club. Nominations must be submitted by April 30 to William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Pynchon medalists for 2016 will be announced in August.
SPRINGFIELD — Inspirational stories of courage and healing will take center stage during a book signing on Wednesday, March 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the UMass Center at Springfield. Authors Patricia P. Martin and Helene D. Houston will present readings and discussion from their book The Other Couch: Discovering Women’s Wisdom in Therapy as part of a Women’s History Month observance.
“We try to remove the stigma of mental illness and acknowledge that the wisest people are the ones that seek help,” said Houston. “We provide a caution about our digital age and the increased isolation of the individual and the danger that the sharing of wisdom through stories will become a lost art.”
The Other Couch explores the lives of 36 spirited women who struggle and overcome their challenges with courage, resilience, and commitment. Martin and Houston focus on the wisdom patients bring to their therapists as they introduce women diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder, multiple personality disorder, chronic suicidal ideation, and substance abuse. Each chapter conveys an important life lesson about the human condition and touches on situations including abusive relationships, addiction, and the death of loved ones.
The event will include a book reading and signing by the authors, an opportunity for networking, and light refreshments. This event is being held in conjunction with the Art for the Soul Gallery.
“We are celebrating Women’s History Month by promoting and hosting community events that empower women, girls, and those concerned about this segment of our population,” said Jamina Scippio-McFadden, director of Marketing & Community Relations at the UMass Center. “This particular book relates to physical and emotional health, to which several of our academic programs support as well.”
Scippio-McFadden highlighted the center’s programs related to the broader healthcare field, specifically the Nursing program, the Addictions Counselor Education Program (ACEP), the recent addition of extensive training offered by Berkshire AHEC, and the developing Psychological and Brain Sciences @ Springfield research program.
Copies of The Other Couch will be available. To RSVP for this free event, call (413) 788-6277 or e-mail [email protected]. Walk-ins are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.
Peter Picknelly calls it the right property — and the right project — at the right time. He’s referring to Historic Round Hill Summit, a luxury-apartment complex being created at the former Clarke School for the Deaf complex in Northampton, an initiative that will bring the past, present, and future together in intriguing fashion.
Peter Picknelly says he understood, when he submitted what would eventually become the winning bid for the former Clarke School for the Deaf property in Northampton, that there would be some significant challenges standing in the way of developing the various buildings on the campus for commercial and residential purposes.
As things turned out, he didn’t know at the time just how stern those hurdles would be. But he told BusinessWest that those challenges are the same things that make the property — and his project — so unique and attractive.
Indeed, this complex of buildings is historic — Calvin Coolidge, the nation’s 30th president, and before that, governor of Massachusetts, and before that, mayor of Paradise City, once lived in one of the buildings — and most of the structures are a century or more old. Meanwhile, the views of the surrounding area are stunning, and Northampton’s eclectic, bustling downtown is about 10 minutes away by foot.
The challenge? Blending the old (while at the same time preserving it) with the new, as in modern amenities and liveability in the luxury apartments that Picknelly and several partners will carve out of two former classroom buildings.
The preserving part of that equation is the most demanding, said Max Hebert, project manager for this $10 million endeavor, noting that these two properties, Hubbard Hall and Rogers Hall, like most others on the campus, are on the National Register of Historic Places — which means each nuance of the plans must be approved by the National Park Service before work can proceed.
“That process in itself was very complicated and very lengthy — it was an educational experience and it took much longer than we thought,” said Picknelly, but overall, work is progressing on an ambitious project that be believes represents the right product at the right time, and in the right location.
The Clarke School property has a number of unique buildings being converted for residential and commercial development.
“Apartment living is becoming increasingly popular — people want to get out of their home and live in a vibrant community,” he said, noting that it has become an attractive option for both young professionals and empty nesters looking to downsize but still enjoy luxury.
As for the location, he said it’s ideal for both of those constituencies he described. Northampton is one of the region’s most walkable communities, and Historic Round Hill Summit is just minutes from a bike trail, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Smith College, and everything downtown has to offer.
“The location is ideal, and there’s nothing else on the market like what we’re going to build here,” he said. “We think it’s an incredible mix.”
For this issue and its focus on commercial real estate, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at that mix and how Picknelly and his partners are writing an intriguing new chapter to the already-rich history of this property.
Taking Things to New Heights
Picknelly, CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines and the third-generation owner of that Springfield-based company, has — like his grandfather and father before him — always been entrepreneurial.
He’s picked up several businesses over the past few decades, with Springfield’s iconic Fort Restaurant, which he acquired with several partners from the Scherff family in 2014, the latest example. And, again, like his father, who famously acquired Monarch Place in 1994, he has been an aggressive player in the commercial real-estate realm.
He was a player in the bid to locate a casino in Springfield’s North End, on the Peter Pan property and adjoining parcels, for example, and the Opal Real Estate Group, which he also owns, is advancing plans to convert the former Court Square Hotel property in Springfield into a mixed-use complex blending retail, office space, and market-rate housing.
Max Hebert is seen here outside Rogers Hall, phase two of the Historic Round Hill Summit project.
The plan for Historic Round Hill Summit is much the same, but the project is moving forward more quickly, with one of the old Clarke structures, Coolidge Hall, already home to several commercial tenants, and phase one of the ambitious residential component of the work already underway.
That would be the renovation of Hubbard Hall into 22 apartments — a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units — which should be ready for occupancy by summer.
As he offered a hard-hat tour of the work in progress at the 36,000-square-foot Hubbard Hall, Hebert talked about that challenge of enabling the historic elements of the property to co-exist with modern needs, building codes, and a focus on energy efficiency.
As an example, he pointed to the windows — specifically a few in one unit that offer views of downtown Northampton and the Holyoke Range well beyond.
They are large (eight feet in height), in keeping with the original design, but the glass being looked through is an energy-efficient, double-paned product.
“You still have the historic charm of the window, but you don’t get the cold draftiness,” he explained, adding that, whenever possible, the historic integrity of the property has been maintained.
Beyond the windows, there are many other examples of maintaining many of the original historic features, said Hebert, who listed everything from the chalkboards that graced the classrooms to the wood trim; from fireplaces to the original Clarke School president’s safe.
But the past will also be blended with the present and even the future in the form of transitional-style fixtures, granite and quartz countertops, in-unit laundries, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and a commodity that has become a luxury item in Northampton — on-site parking.
All this comes with a steep price. Indeed, these units represent the very high end of the luxury-apartment market, with units going for between $1,500 and $2,900 a month.
Picknelly believes there is sufficient demand for such a product, and the early levels of interest, and even a few deposits on units, would seem to bear that out.
“We believe there is going to be a solid market for these units given the location, the views, the amenities — the whole package,” he said, listing professionals at Smith College, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and other companies, as well as the growing number of retirees eyeing Northampton as a suitable landing spot, as potential tenants.
The Final Word
Time will tell if he’s on target with that assessment, and if Historic Round Hill Summit becomes a sound investment.
But, at the moment, Picknelly believes he has a winning proposition.
And in a nod to Calvin Coolidge and his legendary frugality with words, Picknelly was brief and to the point when asked if he was optimistic about the next life for this historic property.
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
339 Norton Hill Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Brian Farrell
Seller: Michael S. Noetzel
Date: 02/04/16
BERNARDSTON
132 Merrifield Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $186,500
Buyer: Joseph J. Morin
Seller: Pollard, Gertrude E., (Estate)
Date: 02/19/16
BUCKLAND
124 North St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Elijah L. Gwynn
Seller: Mauricia Alvarez RET
Date: 02/12/16
DEERFIELD
365 River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Joseph W. Bysiewski
Seller: Kathleen N. Belanger
Date: 02/12/16
GREENFIELD
16 Arnold Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: John Marchefka
Date: 02/12/16
96 Columbus Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Chelsea A. Ratta
Seller: Randy W. Magin
Date: 02/05/16
29 Highland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Carl G. Burwick
Seller: Capilano LLC
Date: 02/19/16
83 Lunt Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Ralph P. Mroz
Seller: Donald P. Tarr
Date: 02/17/16
64 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Amy S. Penna
Seller: Pamela Ossorio
Date: 02/19/16
HEATH
77 Route 8A S.
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jacob A. Churchill
Seller: Blackmore FT
Date: 02/09/16
LEVERETT
33 Lead Mine Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: John Klier
Seller: Norman D. Aitken
Date: 02/19/16
LEYDEN
240 Eden Trail
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Pedro J. Borgos
Seller: Robert T. Henry
Date: 02/12/16
MONTAGUE
69 5th St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Pamela A. Gilmore
Seller: Pioneer Coop
Date: 02/04/16
88 East Taylor Hill Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $176,900
Buyer: Nathan R. Aldrich
Seller: Niels W. Cudnohufsky
Date: 02/05/16
1 Kingsley Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Kelly A. Thayer
Seller: Thomas Shiner
Date: 02/09/16
61 Montague St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Adam T. English
Seller: Jane R. Drury
Date: 02/05/16
316 Wendell Road
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Randy W. Magin
Seller: Neill L. Bovaird
Date: 02/05/16
NORTHFIELD
32 Aldrich St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $244,242
Buyer: Pamela T. Hodgkins
Seller: Julie A. Craig
Date: 02/16/16
ORANGE
27 Riverside Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Ryan W. Mailloux
Seller: Pamela J. Kingsbury
Date: 02/19/16
SHELBURNE
1000 Mohawk Trail
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Anna C. Foster
Seller: Gordon E. Taylor
Date: 02/19/16
SHUTESBURY
235 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Lincoln B. Allen
Seller: Charles D. Santos
Date: 02/08/16
33 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $278,300
Buyer: Herbert L. Hoyack
Seller: Gail P. Nelson
Date: 02/12/16
SUNDERLAND
59 Howard Hepburn Dr.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Brian J. Misterka
Seller: Paul M. Curran
Date: 02/17/16
414 Russell St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Kipa Realty Inc.
Seller: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Date: 02/17/16
332 South Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Kipa Realty Inc.
Seller: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Date: 02/17/16
HAMPDEN COUNTY
AGAWAM
4 Alfred Court
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $123,700
Buyer: Sabrina M. Brizzolari
Seller: Michael F. Diroma
Date: 02/16/16
35 Arbor Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Jeremy M. Cleveland
Seller: Moore Thomas A., (Estate)
Date: 02/17/16
579 Cooper St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $307,000
Buyer: Daniel A. Arventos
Seller: David J. Brown
Date: 02/09/16
11 Hendom Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $280,000
Seller: Kathleen J. Hanson
Date: 02/12/16
69 Kensington St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jeannette T. Dupuis
Date: 02/05/16
717 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $185,324
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Thomas M. Wiater
Date: 02/12/16
143 South St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Steven M. Ferrisi
Seller: South Street Holdings LLC
Date: 02/12/16
12 Stanley Place
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Shannon L. Ondras
Seller: Tracey A. Stanlewicz
Date: 02/17/16
23 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Route 75 Main St. AGA LLC
Seller: CH Corp
Date: 02/10/16
344 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Walz Realty LLC
Seller: Ilmie I. Preniqi
Date: 02/12/16
955 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Randall S. Housman
Seller: Cleveland, Redwing, (Estate)
Date: 02/12/16
36 Vadnais St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Carrington
Seller: Nancy Malone
Date: 02/19/16
57 Valentine St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Adam Desmarais
Seller: John E. Morse
BRIMFIELD
64 Champeaux Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $392,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Stewart
Seller: Kevin P. Kirrane
Date: 02/16/16
66 Champeaux Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: James P. Chew
Seller: John P. McCarthy
Date: 02/05/16
13 Saint Clair Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Heather J. Archambault
Seller: Debra A. Lamoureux
Date: 02/10/16
CHICOPEE
23 Ashgrove St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Antonio Colon
Seller: Antoinette Keily
Date: 02/09/16
The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.
Aguirre, Betsabe
a/k/a Cruz, Betsabe
63 Lamont St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/16
Bachand, Priscilla Joan
25 Coles Meadow Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/16
Baker, Herbert M.
1 Hollywood St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/16
Bittner, Bethany Ann
28 Madison Circle
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/16
Bouchard, Marcus J.
135 Slate Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/24/16
Butler, Lisa M.
53 Melrose St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/16
Cadoret, Shaun T.
Cadoret, Mandi B.
155 Old Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/18/16
Colon, Ana D.
9 Ivy Ave., Apt. 1L
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/18/16
Dansereau, William
3 Mill St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/16
Davis, Sarah D.
98 Calley St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/16
Diaz, Rosa
a/k/a Diaz-Burgos, Rosa
101 Lowell St., Apt. 7
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/16
Dominguez, Debra L.
88-90 Beacon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/16
Fairly Twisted
Butler, Kevin P.
53 Melrose St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/16
Figueroa, Maria D.
310 Pine St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/17/16
Forte, Ronald
61 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/16
Frangioso, Timothy E.
25 Cross St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/16
Gilbert, Dianna M.
Cook, Dianna M.
134 College Highway, Apt. G4
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/16
Girard, Nancy
71 Federal St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/19/16
Hanouille, Edward W.
107 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/22/16
Hardy, Dana Leigh
a/k/a Lauber, Dana L.
10 Nina Pierce Circle
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/16
Houghtlin, George A.
Houghtlin, Mildred E.
49 Wilson St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/16
Jarrell, Ryan
51 Connecticut Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/16
Kelley, Joanne M.
110 South Park Terr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/16
Knechtel, Katie Louise
149 Bartlett Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/28/16
Lamica, Michael A.
301 B East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/26/16
Lemoi Erectors, Inc.
54 Main St.
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/16
Lewis, Lisa M.
12 Lenox St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/24/16
Luciano, Maria L.
44 Pelham St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/16
Lysik, Carol A.
5 Rogers Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/17/16
Mancini, Francis A.
a/k/a Mancini, Frank A.
Mancini, Sarah A.
a/k/a Forester, Sarah A.
a/k/a Carotenuto, Sarah A.
73 Klaus Anderson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/16
McCabe, Kevin Donald
McCabe, Victoria Latona
a/k/a Gosine, Victoria L.
56 Old Farm Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/16
McConnell, Kimberley Anne
a/k/a Arroyo, Kimberley M.
a/k/a McConnell – Arroyo, Kimberley A.
840 Lenox St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/16
Mitchell, Sara A.
a/k/a Willard, Sara A.
49 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/16
Moran, John Dennis
42 Sheridan Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/19/16
The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and are the latest available. They are listed by community.
AMHERST
Christopher Blount Designs Inc., 6 Lawrence Circle, Amherst, MA 01002. Christopher Blount, same. Manufacturing of medical instruments.
Holla Magazine Inc., 441 West St., Amherst, MA 01002. Ingrid Claudia Akkew, 33 Kellogg Ave. #2, Amherst, MA 01002.
CHCIOPEE
DVM Electric Corp., 18 Whittier Place, Chicopee, MA 01013. Denis Mikha Ylichenko, same. Electrical installation, repair, maintenance to the general public and commercial entities on a for-hire basis
Enso Inc., 491 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01013. James Lowe, same. Import and export of goods
FEEDING HILLS
Cold Spring Academy Inc., 926B Springfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Katherine Marian Anderson, same. The specific purposes for which the corporation is organized are to manage, operate, guide, direct, and promote Cold Spring Academy. The corporation is organized and operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes pursuant.
HOLYOKE
DC Remodeling Co., 3 Overlook Dr., Holyoke, MA 01040. Ana C De Alba, same. Home remodeling services.
LONGMEADOW
Fairway Corp., 785 Williams St, Suite 352, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Louis Masaschi, same. Real estate services.
Fred Astaire Dance International Corp., 10 Bliss Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. John Rothweiler, same. Dance studio with instruction classes.
PERU
First Congregational Church of Peru, 2 West Main Road, Peru, MA 01235. Charlene Steele, 25 South Road, Peru, MA 01235. Church shall be to provide for and maintain the public worship of God; to promote the spiritual welfare of its members; and to extend the kingdom of Christ in the world.
PITTSFIELD
Explore Leadership & Coaching Inc., 78 Glory Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Michael J. Schroth, same. Oganization provides education, training, consultation and other related services.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Dillon Bodley & Associates, P.C., 63 Myron St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Brian Dillon, 22 Pomeroy St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Provides personal accounting and tax services to business owners, executives, independent professionals and households.
WILBRAHAM
Fairway Morgans Inc., 25 Cypress Lane, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Kelly Gilmartin, Same. Promote the Morgan Horse through amateur showing and breeding in addition to fostering and rescuing Morgan Horses. The amateur showing will take place in regional and national competitions including but not limited to New England regional horse show and the Morgan Grand Nationals.
BOSTON — Confidence among Massachusetts employers weakened for the fifth time in seven months during February, but businesses remain optimistic overall about the ability of the Massachusetts economy to ride out uncertainty abroad and an increasingly curious election season in the U.S. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index shed 0.7 points to 55.1 last month, still comfortably above the 50 mark that denotes a positive economic outlook. However, the reading was 4.7 points below its level of a year earlier, weighed down by growing concern about the slowing U.S. economy. That concern was confirmed Friday when the government said U.S. economic growth slowed to 1% during the fourth quarter of 2015. “We’re seeing some ambivalence among employers as they look at the economy, especially the turmoil in some overseas markets, but all within the range of general optimism about 2016,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “Ambivalence indeed seems to define most views of the U.S. economy, as we saw last week when the annual economic report of the president noted the strong rebound since 2008 while acknowledging that economic forces, including the rapid pace of technological change, are weighing on American industry.” The AIM Index, based on a survey of Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. The index has remained above 50 since October 2013.
Governor Signs Landmark Opioid Bill into Law
BOSTON — Last week at the State House, Gov. Charlie Baker signed landmark legislation into law to address the deadly opioid and heroin epidemic plaguing the Commonwealth. He was joined by a group including Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Attorney General Maura Healey, Auditor Suzanne Bump, members of the Legislature, law enforcement, healthcare providers, community leaders, individuals in recovery, and others. The bill, titled “An Act Relative to Substance Use, Treatment, Education, and Prevention,” passed with unanimous votes in both legislative chambers and includes numerous recommendations from the Governor’s Opioid Working Group, including prevention education for students and doctors and a seven-day limit on first-time opioid prescriptions. “Today, the Commonwealth stands in solidarity to fight the opioid and heroin epidemic that continues to plague our state and burden countless families and individuals,” Baker said. “I am proud to sign this legislation marking a remarkable statewide effort to strengthen prescribing laws and increase education for students and doctors. While there is still much work to be done, our administration is thankful for the Legislature’s effort to pass this bill and looks forward to working with the attorney general and our mayors to bend the trend and support those who have fallen victim to this horrific public health epidemic.” Added Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, “today, we take another step forward by passing landmark legislation that will help the individuals and communities affected by the deadly opioid and heroin epidemic. We are grateful for the Legislature’s progress and for the partnership of Attorney General Healey, our mayors, and several others as we continue pursuing aggressive reforms to combat this crisis from the Berkshires to the Cape.” The bill includes the first law in the nation to limit an opioid prescription to a seven-day supply for a first-time adult prescriptions and a seven-day limit on every opiate prescription for minors, with certain exceptions. Other provisions from the governor’s recommendations include a requirement that information on opiate use and misuse be disseminated at annual head-injury safety programs for high-school athletes, requirements for doctors to check the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database before writing a prescription for a Schedule 2 or Schedule 3 narcotic, and continuing-education requirements for prescribers, ranging from training on effective pain management to the risks of abuse and addiction associated with opioid medications. Several measures were passed to empower individuals and update current prevention efforts. Patients will receive access to non-opiate directive forms and the option of partially filling opioid prescriptions in consultation with doctors and pharmacists. Schools must annually conduct verbal substance-misuse screenings in two grade levels and collaborate with the departments of Elementary and Second Education and Public Health (DPH) around effective addiction-education policies. To reduce the prevalence of unused medication, manufacturers of controlled substances in Massachusetts must participate in either a drug stewardship program or an alternative plan as determined by DPH. This bill strengthens access to insurers and the bed-finder tool website; requires that patients receive information on FDA-approved, medication-assisted therapies after being discharged from a substance-use treatment program; and ensures civil-liability protection for individuals who administer Narcan. The opioid epidemic continues to impact every community in Massachusetts. According to the most recent data, it is estimated that there were nearly 1,200 unintentional and undetermined opioid deaths in 2014. The estimated rate of 17.4 deaths per 100,000 residents for 2014 is the highest ever for unintentional opioid overdoses and represents a 228% increase from the rate of 5.3 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2000. And the trend isn’t slowing. Preliminary data estimations show there were over 1,100 opioid deaths between January and September 2015.
United Way Wins Veteran Financial-literacy Grant
SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg announced that the United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) was one of five recipients of a grant that supports financial education to veterans and military families. Known as the Operation Money Wise: Financial Education Opportunity Grant and funded through the Office of Economic Empowerment, these grants aim to increase the scope of financial education for military families by providing them with the tools they need to achieve financial stability. Many of these workshops will include strategy sessions on managing money, planning for college, preparing for retirement, and monetary decision making. “These financial-literacy grants will further empower our military community to make informed financial decisions,” Goldberg said. “I am honored to support organizations that work to bring economic stability to the men, women, and families who help keep our country safe.” With three Thrive financial-literacy centers up and running in Holyoke and Springfield, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program flourishing throughout the region, UWPV is already a leader in improving fiscal education and responsibility among those it serve. The Thrive centers have served hundreds of student and seniors, helping them improve their credit ratings and open their first bank accounts. Last year, VITA helped 4,594 working families keep $2,462,549 through the Earned Income Tax Credit.
State Issues $9.3 Million in Workforce Skills Grants
BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced $9.3 million in workforce skills equipment grants to 35 high schools, community colleges, and vocational training providers across the Commonwealth for vocational-technical education and training equipment purchases that connect Massachusetts students and residents to economic opportunities in high-demand industries. “Workforce skills education and training plays an enormous role in economic and personal development by helping residents acquire the skills they need to connect with promising careers,” Baker said. “These vocational-technical education equipment grants will help build stronger communities and a more competitive business environment that ensures more residents have the skills they need to succeed in and support the Commonwealth’s economic future.” Added Polito, “these workforce-development grants will build bridges between residents seeking careers to build a future on and the employers who need a skilled workforce to grow the state’s economy. Today, too many good-paying jobs are going unfilled because employers are struggling to find skilled employees. This investment in training equipment will enable high schools and community colleges across the Commonwealth to equip students with the skills they need to secure a bright future.”
The Workforce Skills Capital Grant Program is a new initiative of the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet, which seeks to align education, workforce, and economic-development strategies across the state. Western Mass. recipients of the new round of grants include:
• Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, $465,119 to upgrade and modernize its manufacturing and engineering program, utilizing new hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical controls, materials testing, CNC, and 3-D printing equipment to train students and adult learners for careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and biotechnology;
• Dean Technical High School, Holyoke, $393,156 to transform its existing machine technology shop into an advanced-manufacturing shop that aligns with current industry practices and technologies, in order to connect Holyoke students to career opportunities in the Pioneer Valley’s skilled manufacturing workforce;
• Franklin County Technical School, Montague, $52,500 to revamp its computer programming and web-design programs and expand the programs’ capacity to reach adult learners;
• Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, West Springfield, $257,100 to expand the capacity of its recently-founded high school Machine Technology Program, and to extend programming to adult learners, including unemployed and underemployed individuals facing barriers to employment;
• McCann Technical School, North Adams, $121,128 to revamp its welding and metal-fabrication equipment to train students for careers in Berkshire County’s aerospace, defense, commercial, medical-device, and power-generation industries, and enable re-training for unemployed workers;
• Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, Springfield, $441,500 to launch a new program to equip students with the skills to enter the construction workforce, including training with heavy equipment; and
• Springfield Technical Community College, $499,785 to enhance training in its Laser Electro-Optics and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technology programs by creating an advanced-laser-machining laboratory and a one-year Laser Materials Processing Certificate of Completion, in order to meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s rapidly growing laser-manufacturing industry.
SPRINGFIELD — Trinity Health, the parent organization of Mercy Medical Center, has selected Mercy’s new community health project as a recipient of a grant under its Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI), a program that will result in the investment of $80 million in grants, loans, community-match dollars, and services in six communities over the next five years. As one of the six initial grant recipients, Mercy Medical Center will receive up to $500,000 per year to support a collaborative program that will improve health and well-being in the local community. The Springfield-based TCI partnership involves Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield (LWS), a multi-sector, community-based coalition that includes more than 26 organizations working in the city. The program aims to provide services and improve policies that target low-income adults and children disproportionately impacted by health conditions related to poor diet, inactivity, tobacco use, and other social determinants. Specific strategies include enhancing early-education and care sites through nutrition and physical activity, school-nutrition improvements, Complete Streets infrastructure, and tobacco-use prevention. Partners currently include Mercy Medical Center and LWS members Martin Luther King Jr. Center, HAPHousing, Square One, Springfield Food Policy Council, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and Partners for a Healthier Community, serving as co-conveners and evaluators. Expected community benefits for the Springfield community include reduced rates of smoking, reduced youth obesity rates, improved access to nutrition and physical activity opportunities, fewer health disparities, and enhanced community wellness and resiliency. “The partnership between Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield is truly a collaborative effort that brings numerous agencies together to improve the health of our community and each person we serve,” said Doreen Fadus, executive director of Community Benefit and Health, Mercy Medical Center. “It also reaffirms our commitment to population health management that calls us to identify specific individuals with particular needs within a given population, and then create care systems that work to improve the care and the health for individuals, particularly those at high risk or with chronic disease.” Mercy Medical Center earned the grant after responding to an RFP that defined appropriate multi-sector partners for these funded community collaborations. Potential partners included community groups, businesses, social-service agencies, schools, and others. The collaboration is expected to leverage system, hospital, and community expertise, funding, and other resources to improve community health. “We are delighted to be providing Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield with this support,” said Dr. Bechara Choucair, senior vice president for Safety and Community Health, Trinity Health. “Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield have a strategic collaboration and shared commitment to improving people’s lives. It’s a great investment.” In addition to the partnership between Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield, Trinity Health has selected community partnerships in New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland, Idaho, and New York for participation in TCI. All of these programs will focus specifically on policy, system, and environmental changes that can directly impact identified areas of high local need and which can reduce tobacco use and obesity, leading drivers of preventable chronic diseases and high healthcare costs in the U.S.
Lee Bank Announces Alliance with St. Germain
LEE — Lee Bank President and CEO Chuck Leach announced that Lee Bank and St. Germain Investment Management have entered into a strategic alliance called October Mountain Financial Advisors, by which St. Germain will provide investment-management and financial-planning services to Berkshire County clients from its new offices in Lee. “Lee Bank is thrilled to offer a Berkshire County-focused wealth-management platform staffed with Berkshire residents who care deeply about their customers and community,” said Leach. “We’re extremely pleased to join forces with St. Germain Investment Management as we embark on this new endeavor. Furthermore, with our recently granted trust powers, we look forward to working closely with attorneys, CPAs, and our clients on trust and estate-planning matters right here in Berkshire County. We have long considered tackling the wealth-management space because it’s a natural extension of what we do extremely well — building strong relationships with our customers and community. It is logical for us to be working with St. Germain given their deep bench of talented investment professionals, most of whom I have worked closely with in the past, and their commitment to remaining independent and committed to our same core values.” Prior to being named president and CEO of Lee Bank last July, Leach served as senior vice president/managing director of wealth management and chief investment officer at Berkshire Bank Wealth Management. Previous positions include vice president/senior portfolio manager at TD Bank Wealth Management Group and vice president of the Gilder Technology Group and the Telecosm Fund. According to Tim Suffish, senior vice president and head of equities at St. Germain Investment Management, “we place the highest value on client relationships and locally made investment decisions, whether it’s a family’s nest egg or a nonprofit’s endowment. We believe that October Mountain Financial Advisors is well-positioned to avoid the conflicts of interest, persistent fee increases, and key person risks inherent with most investment options available today. As a long-time resident of Pittsfield, I’m thrilled to bring our highly qualified team to the Berkshire community.” Along with Suffish, October Mountain Financial Advisors’ principal team includes St. Germain Investment Management’s Michael Matty, president and director; Richard Bleser, vice president, portfolio manager; Matthew Farkas, vice president, portfolio manager; and Thaddeus Welch, portfolio manager. October Mountain Financial Advisors is now open for business at the bank’s branch in Lee and at St. Germain’s offices in Springfield and Hartford, Conn. October Mountain’s permanent headquarters will be located at 103 West Park St., adjacent to Lee Bank, and is slated to open in the spring following renovations to the building.
Waterfront Tavern Re-opens in Holyoke
HOLYOKE — Earlier this month, the Waterfront Tavern held a grand re-opening event at its newly renovated facility on Main Street, featuring Damn Yankee BBQ. Events slated for the restaurant and nightclub include concerts, dancing, and comedy. Private events can be booked in one of the three banquet rooms, with capacities ranging from 50 to 300 people. “Holyoke is a great spot to set up shop. We’re thrilled to be part of such a committed group of impassioned business owners,” owner Don Robert said. “The ease of obtaining the required permits went way above my expectations. This is definitely a business-friendly city.” Robert, one of the partners at the Waterfront Tavern, has been in the restaurant business since he was 14, starting at Lacroix’s, his family-owned business in Willimansett. He is the owner of Maximum Capacity in Chicopee, which he acquired in 2004. Waterfront Tavern’s restaurant partner is Rich Davieau, owner of Damn Yankee BBQ, a full-service barbeque catering company that has been in business, developing its own barbeque rubs and sauces, since 2010.
Taylor Street Dental Offers Free Lunch at Hot Table
SPRINGFIELD — In a new campaign, Taylor Street Dental is offering patients a voucher for a free meal at Hot Table restaurants when they make an appointment. “For a lot of people, it’s hard to make time in their schedule for a dental appointment,” said Dr. David Peck, owner of Taylor Street Dental. “We thought we’d make their lives a little easier, in case they had to skip breakfast or miss their lunch break to come in.” Peck established his practice on Worthington Street 30 years ago. In 2015, he moved to the historic Stacy Building on Taylor Street. He completely refurbished the building with the latest state-of-the-art technology and equipment, in addition to adding new dentists and associates. “John Devoie from Hot Table and I are both committed to investing in Springfield and helping the city thrive,” Peck said. “Their Tower Square location is very popular with downtown businesspeople and local neighborhood folks, the same people who make up a large part of my patient base. This promotion is designed to make everyone happy.” Patients must mention the Hot Table offer while making their appointment in order to claim the gift card when they come in. The gift card has a $20 value.
Big Y Announces Make-A-Wish Promotion
SPRINGFIELD — In honor of its 80th Anniversary, Big Y Foods has partnered with Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, inviting customers to purchase ‘Wish Stars’ in checkout lines at all 61 Big Y World Class markets, including at 30 stores in Massachusetts. Stars cost $1 each, and customers are welcome to write their name on their star for display in their store. Funds raised through the sale of Wish Stars in Massachusetts throughout March will help grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions throughout the Big Y communities. On Thursday, March 17, Big Y will match all Wish Star purchases and any additional donations up to $8,000.
Columbia Gas Recognizes 75th Anniversary of USO of Pioneer Valley
SPRINGFIELD — Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has supported the USO of Pioneer Valley in its efforts to keep military families together. This year, as the USO celebrates its 75th anniversary, Columbia Gas continues its tradition by gifting the USO $2,500 in support of its programs for 2016. According to the United Service Organizations (USO), America’s 1.3 million active-duty service members receive an estimated annual total of 10 million acts of connection from USO centers, services, and volunteers. The Pioneer Valley USO, located at the Westover Air Reserve Base, is one of those centers that has made a significant difference. “Columbia Gas is proud to support the work of the Pioneer Valley USO, which provides an abundance of services to hundreds of families it serves from all branches of the military. As a company that actively recruits and employs veterans, we feel privileged to work with organizations such as the USO that focus on our military men and women as well as their families,” said Andrea Luppi, manager of Communications and Community Relations. Added Allan Tracy, executive director of the Pioneer Valley USO, said the organization “is extremely thankful for the continued support from Columbia Gas. This partnership over many years has helped the Pioneer Valley USO continually meet the ever-changing needs of our local military and their families.”
Bacon Wilson announced that Attorney Kenneth Albano will assume the role of Managing Shareholder, effective Jan. 1, 2017. For the remainder of 2016, he will share the role with Bacon Wilson’s current managing shareholder, Stephen Krevalin, who has led the firm for the past 15 years, during which time Bacon Wilson has become one of the largest regional, full-service law firms in Hampden and Hampshire counties. “I am thrilled at the choice of attorney Albano as my successor,” Krevalin said. “Ken was the unanimous choice among the shareholders, and I have every confidence that he will do a phenomenal job as the firm’s next managing shareholder.” Albano is a senior partner and a member of the firm’s corporate, commercial, and municipal practice groups. In addition to his legal practice, he is active in the community, chairing the board of the March of Dimes Western Mass Division and serving on the board of the New England Chapter of the March of Dimes. He is a board member with Behavioral Health Network, where he has served for over 20 years. He also works with the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish, and the ALS Assoc. Last June, Albano was honored with the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. Community Service Award in recognition of his volunteer work. Bacon Wilson, P.C. boasts total of 43 lawyers and approximately 60 paralegals, administrative assistants, and support staff. The firm’s offices are located in Springfield, Northampton, Amherst, Holyoke, and Westfield. For more information, visit www.baconwilson.com.
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Elyse Merrigan
Sevane Khatchadourian
Mila Renkas
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announced the hiring of three new associates: Elyse Merrigan, MSA, Sevane Khatchadourian, and Mila Renkas.
• Merrigan is an Associate in the Tax department. She previously held a career as a trial paralegal with a regional law firm. However, based on her strong aptitude with numbers, she decided to pursue the necessary advanced education that would allow her to transition into the field of public accounting. She is a graduate of the Commonwealth College at UMass Amherst and recently earned her master’s degree in accounting from Western New England University. She joined the Mass. Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as a student during her graduate studies and is currently a candidate to sit for the CPA exam.
• Khatchadourian is beginning her career in public accounting in the Audit and Accounting (A&A) practice at MBK. As an A&A Associate, she will help service a wide variety of A&A clients throughout the year. She graduated from Westfield State University in 2015 with a bachelor’degree in business management with a concentration in accounting, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in accounting at the same school. As a current graduate student, Sevane is a student member of the MSCPA and AICPA.
• Renkas, who is also an A&A Associate, brings five years of bookkeeping experience and fluency in three languages to her new position. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Elms College in 2015 and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in accounting at Westfield State University. She has been recognized for her significant academic achievements though her membership with various honors societies and scholarships, including the Western Mass Women magazine scholarship.
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Stuart Jones
Springfield College announced the hiring of Stuart Jones as Vice President for Enrollment Management, effective April 1. An enrollment-management professional in higher education for more than 20 years, Jones was vice president for Enrollment Management at Trine University in Angola, Ind. since 2013. Prior to that role, he was vice president for Enrollment Management at Averett University in Danville, Va. and dean of Enrollment and executive director of the Student Success Center at Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind. At Springfield College, Jones will work to further strengthen the college’s competitive position through enrollment growth in traditional undergraduate and graduate programs. He has a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal and public communications from Purdue University, a master’s degree in divinity and theology from the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, and a Ph.D. in higher education leadership from Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Ariz.
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Toby Grader
Bob Pion Buick GMC recently welcomed Toby Grader to the team. Grader has worked in the auto industry for more than 25 years and is a GM certified service manager. He took time off to open his own restaurant, but is now excited to start a new chapter at Bob Pion Buick GMC. “I enjoy the challenge of working in the auto industry. Helping people find the car of their dreams and making them happy is very rewarding,” he said. “Being in the auto industry for over 25 years, you make a lot of friendships. It makes the hard work worthwhile.”
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Jennifer Butler
Attorney Jennifer Butler has joined Royal, P.C., the management-side only labor and employment law firm, and will focus her practice in labor law and complex employment litigation. With her experience, Butler counsels companies on the multitude of state and federal employment laws impacting them, including employment discrimination and harassment, wage-and-hour law, disability and leave law, workplace safety, OSHA, affirmative action, and contract negotiations. Her other preventive work includes drafting employee manuals; preparing non-disclosure, non-solicitation, and non-compete agreements; and conducting management training. Butler is a graduate of Norwich University and Western New England University School of Law.
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Monson Savings Bank (MSB) announced the following:
• Kylie LaPlante has been promoted to branch manager of the bank’s Ware office. She began her career at Monson Savings in 2011 as a customer service associate in Wilbraham and quickly rose to customer service associate supervisor. In 2015, she moved to the Ware branch as assistant branch manager and now to branch manager. She is a graduate of Assumption College with a bachelor’s degree in business management;
• Clare Ladue has been promoted to Commercial Loan Officer. Ladue, formerly one of MSB’s retail banking officers, has more than 20 years of experience in banking. She is a graduate of the Mass Bankers New England School of Financial Studies, holds numerous professional certifications, and is active in several community organizations.
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Keith Nesbitt
Keith Nesbitt has joined the Springfield office of NUVO Bank as Regional Commercial Credit Officer. Nesbitt, joins NUVO, a division of Merchants, bringing a vast wealth of knowledge with 11 years of experience in commercial lending, portfolio management, and credit administration in regional and community banking institutions. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, his master’s degree from Georgia State University, and his MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He is also a candidate for the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation and will sit for the CFA Level III exam in June. Nesbitt is a high-school and college football official and a member of the Western Massachusetts Football Officials Assoc. and the Eastern Assoc. of Intercollegiate Football Officials.
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Margo Jones
The 2016 Jury of Fellows from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) elevated 149 AIA members to its prestigious College of Fellows, an honor awarded to members who have made significant contributions to their profession. Margo Jones, principal of Jones Whitsett Architects (formerly Margo Jones Architects), was nominated and elected to the College of Fellows in recognition of her leadership in the field and her service to the communities of Western Mass. Jones, who holds a master’s degree in architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has practiced architecture in Greenfield for more than 30 years. As principal of her own design firm since 1984, she has designed numerous award-winning schools, public projects, and significant historic-preservation projects, including Sanderson Academy in Ashfield, several projects at the Bement School in Old Deerfield, renovations to the Ted Shawn Dance Theater at Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, and, most recently, the renovation of Colegrove Park Elementary School in North Adams, a project currently being considered for a Massachusetts Historic Commission Preservation Award. Jones has also served on the board of directors of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Architects, and the board of directors of the Western Mass. chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Out of a total AIA membership of nearly 88,000, fewer than 3,200 members are distinguished with the honor of fellowship. Jones will be honored at an investiture ceremony at the AIA convention in Philadelphia in May.
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J. Polep Distribution Services announced the promotion of Eric Polep to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Polep has been with the company since 2002, most recently as director of sales. Over the past 14 years, he has worked his way up through the company, working in warehouse-control positions, cutting and stamping cigarettes, warehouse inventory, and as equipment delivery representative, field sales representative, and district manager. He has also played a key role in building and transforming J. Polep’s technology marketing and sales capabilities, in the process simplifying store managers’ everyday duties.
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Name Net Worth announced the hiring of Pam Thornton as Chief Operating Officer. Thornton has had an extensive career in the human-resources field, beginning in 1996 with LEGO Systems Inc. in Enfield, Conn. There, she was able to acquire hands-on experience with recruitment, interviewing, and training of year-round and part-time field personnel. Additionally, she was responsible for employee relations, benefits administration, and staff performance management. She also served in a management role with K2 Sports, where she hired a field merchandising staff of 100 employees. She was also business development manager for United Personnel, a woman-owned staffing firm in Springfield, and most recently served as a member of the HR legal team with the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. Name Net Worth, a startup app launched by Jeremy Casey and currently in beta testing, is a connective platform that leverages trusted relationships to measure and strengthen personal and professional networks, allowing the ability to measure the success of connections and easily manage follow-ups. The company was accepted to the Valley Venture Mentors accelerator program and has received investment capital. Thornton serves on the board of directors for the Human Resources Management Assoc. of Western New England and leads its membership effort. She is a past president and served on the board of directors for the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield. She has also held her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification from the Society for Human Resource Management since 2003.
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Cumulus Springfield announced that Bridget Lynott is back in radio and on 94.7 WMAS weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. She is also the promotion director for 94.7 WMAS and 1450 WHLL. “I’ve been in love with music for as long as I can remember … that love of music brought me to radio,” said Lynott, whose previous stints on the region’s airwaves include time at 1250 WARE, 560 WHYN, and 97.9 WPKX. “Growing up a shy kid, it was a shock for others to hear me on the air … but like an actor that delivers lines every night without fear, radio is my stage, and I love it. It is such an exciting time to be back on the air in the Springfield market and working with an incredible team.”
• March 31: Margarita Madness, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at TD Bank on Triangle Street or Greenfield Savings Bank on University Drive, as well as the chamber office. You must be over age 21 to participate. With questions about participating or sponsoring, call the chamber office at (413) 253-0700.
• April 7: Amherst Area Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Courtyard by Marriott, 423 Russell St., Hadley. Guest speakers include Ginny Hamilton, a pain specialist, yoga instructor, and Reiki practitioner with a multi-faceted approach teaching people how to release pain, realize habits causing pain, and revitalize healthy habits for painless living; and Brandon Wawrzonek, a Strides Human Performance Institute coach specializing in holistic fitness, functional movement training, sport performance, and injury prevention for athletes of all ages and abilities. Whether your concern is workplace productivity, athletic performance, or personal comfort, pain prevention strategies are a worthwhile investment. Cost: $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m.
• April 13: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., Hillside Pizza, 173 Russell St., Hadley. Beer tasting provided by White Lion Brewing Co., the first craft brewery in Springfield. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• April 14: Lunch & Learn, noon to 1:30 p.m., Crestview Country Club, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Co-hosted with West of the River Chamber of Commerce. This educational event will teach you how taking advantage of solar energy might save your business money and how to take advantage of available tax credits and incentives. Cost: $35 for both members and non-members. Cost includes buffet lunch.
• April 19: Feast in the East, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow. Come sample dishes from area restaurants and have a chance to vote for the People’s Choice award. There will be ample time to mingle and network in a relaxed atmosphere. Silver spoon sponsor: the Republican. Restaurant sponsors: CMD Technology Group Inc., Freedom Credit Union, the Gaudreau Group, Glenmeadow Retirement Community, JGS Lifecare, Life Care Center of Wilbraham, NUVO, and Robert Charles Photography. Cost: $25 per person.
• March 25: March Breakfast Series, Greenfield Community College. Taxpayers, come to breakfast and learn how the state Auditor’s Office attempts to save dollars by investigating fraud and waste in state government. Auditor Suzanne Bump will present a program and explain the value of her office. Sponsored by Freedom Credit Union and Franklin County CDC. Cost: $13 for chamber members prepaid or at the door, $14 for chamber members billed, $16 for general admission.
• April 29: Legislative Luncheon, noon, Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. The Greater Easthampton and Holyoke chambers are partnering once again on this event; stay tuned for details. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 527-9414.
• March 23: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Marcotte Ford, 1025 Main St., Holyoke. Food, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• April 12: Table Top Expo 2016: Let’s Get Down to Business, 4:30-7 p.m., Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. With four area chambers, 180 businesses, and hundreds of visitors, sponsoring the Table Top Expo has consistently been a premier networking and marketing tool for the region’s business community. Another sell-out event is expected. Exhibitor tables are $150 and are exclusive to chamber members. To register or for more information, e-mail [email protected].
• April 7: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., Yankee Candle Village, South Deerfield. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Sponsors: Greenfield Community College Foundation, Freedom Credit Union, and Pioneer Saab Volvo. Cost: $10 for members.
• April 22: Workshop: “Waste Reduction & Energy Efficiency,” 9:30-11 a.m., Center for EcoTechnology, 320 Riverside Dr., Northampton. Waste reduction and energy-efficiency upgrades can save your business money. This workshop will cover incentives, benefits, and options to green your business. Learn from case studies of other local businesses that have started waste-diversion programs or installed energy-efficiency improvements. RSVP required, and space is limited. To register, contact Cate Foley at [email protected] or (413) 586-7350, ext. 240.
• March 21: “Marketing to Millennials” Workshop, 3:30-5 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Presented by MassLive: Michael Burnham, sales manager; Megan Downey, regional training manager; and Brandon Farrell, account executive. Attendees will learn about how digital targeting works, sponsored content online, YouTube commercials, and social-media marketing. Light refreshments will be served. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618
• March 22: Small Business Legal Clinic, noon to 4 p.m., Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, 16 North Elm St., Westfield. Sponsored by the Western Mass. regional office of the MSBDC. Free to chamber members only. Seating is limted. To register, call Lynn Shedd at (413) 737-6712, ext. 100.
• March 25: Legislative Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m, Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Legislators attending include state Sen. Don Humason and state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, Peter Kocot, William Pignatelli, and John Velis. This event will provide members a great opportunity to bring their business concerns and issues to their state delegation. Gold sponsor: WSBK 89.5 FM at Westfield State University. Small business sponsor: Liptak Emergency Water Removal. Cost: $30 for chamber members, $40 for the general public (paid in advance). Call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 for more information and to register.
• April 4: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Event is free and open to the public. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
• April 13: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., Betts Plumbing & Heating Supply, 14 Coleman Ave., Westfield. Refreshments will be served. Bring a business card and make connections. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members (cash). To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
• April 18: “The Painkiller Epidemic: Legal Implications of Prescription Drug Use in the Workplace,” 8:30-10 a.m., Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Prescription drug use in the workplace is on the rise. From an employer’s perspective, employees who are abusing prescription medication tend to be less productive, less reliable, prone to absenteeism, a greater safety risk, and create unnecessary costs, burdens, and liabilities to the company. Royal, P.C. will present an informational seminar that will address some of the most common areas employers express uncertainty and concern about, including maintaining a safe workplace, enforcing drug-free workplace policies and conducting drug testing, and the risk of disability-discrimination claims. Light refreshments will be served. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members.
• April 26: Sixth annual Southwick Home & Business Show, 4:30-7 p.m., Southwick Town Hall, 454 College Highway. The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce is once again partnering with the Southwick Economic Development Commission on this tabletop event to promote Southwick businesses. Cost to display: $25 per business (Southwick businesses only). Registration form and payment due by April 11. The event is free and open to the public. Questions can be e-mailed to [email protected], or leave a message at (413) 304-6100.
• April 12: Professional Women’s Chamber Ladies Night, 5-7 p.m., Added Attractions, 180 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow. An evening of networking, complimentary wine, and refreshments. Reservations are free but required by e-mailing Debra Chamberland at [email protected].
• March 22: Pastries, Politics, and Policy, 8-9 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Attorney General Maura Healey. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• April 6: Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Featuring the ever-popular Mayor’s Forum with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Easthampton Mayor Karen Cadieux, and West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt. A personal and humorous discussion moderated by Western Mass News anchor Dave Madsen. Sponsored by United Personnel and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Cost: $20 for members in advance ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• April 13: Speed Networking @ Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., La Quinta Inns and Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. Make up to 50 contacts in an hour in this round-robin networking format. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• April 14: Springfield Regional Chamber Leadership Institute Graduation, 6-9 p.m., Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place, Springfield. Cost: $40 per person. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• April 27: Beacon Hill Summit, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Massachusetts State House. Co-hosted by state Sen. James Welch and state Rep. Angelo Puppolo Jr. Day-long opportunity to meet with members of the Baker-Polito administration and the Massachusetts delegation. Sponsored by Comcast and WWLP-TV 22, presented in partnership with the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce, and supported by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $180 per person, which includes continental breakfast, transportation, lunch, reception, and all materials. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• April 6: Wicked Wednesday networking event, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Stitches & Ink/From the Red Tees, 128 Myron St., West Springfield. Register online at www.ourwrc.com.
March 29: Gov. Charlie Baker will serve as the keynote speaker at the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Outlook 2016 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. He made his first major address to the business community at the chamber’s annual event in 2015. Presented by Health New England, Outlook is the area’s largest legislative event, attracting more than 700 guests and presenting expert speakers on local, state, and federal issues. The event is sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, United Personnel, and MGM Springfield; program/reception sponsors Sisters of Providence Health System, Comcast, Eversource, and the Republican; with support from Chicopee Savings Bank and BusinessWest, and presented in in partnership with the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5). Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito have set their sights on addressing some of the Commonwealth’s greatest long-term challenges, including reducing family energy costs and improving the reliability of the energy grid through hydro- and solar-power legislation; lifting the charter-school cap; securing a 50% increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); and curbing the opioid epidemic’s grip on Massachusetts families. Baker will be joined in the program by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who will remark on events at the federal level, including his insight into activities on Capitol Hill, the presidential race, and front-burner issues facing Congress in the coming months. “As a senior member of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means and ranking member of its Select Revenue Measures subcommittee, Congressman Neal serves in a critically important capacity in Washington for our area, our state, and the entire country,” said chamber President Jeffrey Ciuffreda. Tickets are $50 for Springfield Regional Chamber members and ERC5 members, and $70 for general admission. Reserved tables of 10 are available. Reservations must be made by Friday, March 18 by visiting www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or e-mailing Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected]. No walk-ins will be accepted, and no cancellations will be accepted once the reservation deadline has passed.
Difference Makers
March 31: The eighth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. To reserve a spot, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or visit HERE. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. This year’s class was profiled in the Jan. 25 issue, and their stories can also be read HERE. They include Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.; Mike Balise, Balise Motor Sales, philanthropist (1965-2015); Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties; Bay Path University President Carol Leary; and John Robison, president, J.E. Robison Service. Difference Makers is sponsored by EMA Dental, First American Insurance Agency, Health New England, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., Northwestern Mutual, PeoplesBank, Royal LLP, and Sunshine Village.
‘Training for the Digital Marketplace’
April 1, 8, 15: Stevens 470 will host a three-week program called “Training for the Digital Marketplace: Develop Your Online and Offline Marketing Strategies” to show attendees how to maximize their marketing channels. This seminar is for business owners, marketing managers, entrepreneurs, and key marketing staff. As marketing channels continue to evolve, are you using them to maximize your business opportunities? This program covers the latest online and offline marketing channels including brand presentation, websites, SEO, advertising, social media, e-mail, and mobile technologies. During this hands-on program, participants will review their current messaging and marketing channels; learn the latest ways to use both traditional and new media channels; explore social media, online advertising, and search-engine optimization; outline plans for offline and online marketing campaigns; coordinate marketing channels to maximize their effectiveness; and determine methods for evaluating results. Each participant will complete the program by creating a specific plan for their online and offline channels that they can share and put into action with members of their business team. The program meets weekly on three consecutive Friday mornings at Stevens 470 in Westfield. Limited space is available. For details, visit stevens470.com or call (413) 568-2660.
Service of Remembrance
April 3: Baystate Children’s Hospital will hold its annual Service of Remembrance for area families who have experienced the death of a child over the past year. All family member and friends are invited to attend the event, which will be held at 1 p.m. at Baystate Medical Center’s Chestnut Conference Center on 759 Chestnut St., Springfield. It is also open to families with losses prior to 2015. Baystate Children’s Hospital staff will be in attendance at the event to remember and pay tribute to the children and families who were under their care. Families are asked to respond by March 23 with the number of adults and children planning to attend the event, as well as their child’s name, if they would like it to be read aloud during the service. Families with earlier losses are simply asked to call and register. To respond, call Deborah Levine at (413) 794-3283. The special service will include readings, music, and a ceremony of light. Families can share a photograph or other memento of their child on a ‘Table of Memories’ at the event. They may also choose to have their child’s name read aloud during the Memorial Service, regardless of whether they can attend the event. As part of the service, families will be given a piece of fabric which they can personalize in memory of their child before it is added, along with others, to create a memory quilt. The new quilt will be displayed on Oct. 1, along with 17 other quilts created in past years, at Baystate’s annual Memorial Quilt Exhibit.
‘A Night of Passion’ for Link to Libraries
April 5: They’re calling the event “A Night of Passion.” That’s a phrase that applies to both support for efforts to promote childhood literacy and a fondness for a particular food or beverage. These various passions will come together April 5 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke at Link to Libraries’ biennial fund-raising event. Proceeds from all ticket sales will go to Link to Libraries. More than 500 people are expected to attend the event, which will be a celebration of all that Link to Libraries has accomplished since it was created in 2008 — including the donation of nearly 500,000 books to area schools and organizations — and how it intends to continually expand its mission in the years to come. As for those passions for specific foods and drinks, they will be a focus of the night, provided by a host of area celebrities and business leaders, including Mike Mathis, MGM Springfield president and chief operating officer; Kevin Rhodes, Springfield Symphony Orchestra conductor; Spiros Hatiras, Holyoke Medical Center president and CEO; Delcie Bean IV, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT; Mick Corduff, executive chef and co-owner of the Log Cabin; Amy Royal, founding partner of Royal, P.C., and many more. As for their passions, well, those are carefully guarded secrets at this point. Those who would like to experience these passions and support Link to Libraries — which supplies books to schools and other organizations across Western Mass. and Northern Conn., and promotes read-alouds that put area business and civic leaders in area classrooms — can buy tickets for $40 each by sending checks to: Link to Libraries, Attn. Karen Blinderman, P.O. Box 958, West Springfield, MA 01090. All beverages are included in the ticket price. Food and beverages are donated by the Log Cabin. Sponsors for “A Night of Passion” include lead sponsors Health New England and Rediker Software, and event sponsors Bacon Wilson, Bank of America – U.S. Trust, the Frank Stanley Beveridge Foundation, the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, James Vinick and Moors & Cabot Investments, Monson Savings Bank, PeoplesBank, Peoples United Bank, the Springfield Falcons, and United Bank.
‘Poets for Life: Poets Respond to AIDS’
April 9: Patrick Donnelly, 2015-17 poet laureate of Northampton, will host “Poets for Life: Poets Respond to AIDS,” a benefit reading in support of A Positive Place (formerly AIDS Care/Hampshire County), a nonprofit organization providing a wide array of services for people with HIV in Hampshire and surrounding counties. The event will be held at 3 p.m. at the Paradise Room, Conference Center, Smith College, 51 College Lane, Northampton. The Northampton Council for the Arts and the Poetry Center at Smith College are co-sponsors of the benefit. Tickets for the event are $20 and may be purchased online at poetsforlife.brownpapertickets.com, or by phone at (800) 838-3006, ext. 1, or at the door at the event. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit A Positive Place. Those unable to attend the event can designate a tax-deductible donation through poetsforlife.brownpapertickets.com to make it possible for one of A Positive Place’s clients to attend. Poets for Life will feature readings by award-winning poets Eduardo C. Corral, Patrick Donnelly, Michael Klein, and Joan Larkin, who will read not only from their own poetry about the epidemic, but from the work of other notable poets, living and dead. Singer-songwriter Laura Wetzler will also perform. Since 1991, A Positive Place has been providing comprehensive, confidential case management and health-related support services, filling life-saving needs for people living with HIV/AIDS in the county. Anyone living with HIV or AIDS is eligible for services regardless of level of need, health status, or ability to pay. Services are free to people living with HIV.
Not Just Business as Usual
April 14: The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation’s Not Just Business as Usual (NJBAU) event, a networking event for business leaders in Western Mass., will be held at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The event, now in its seventh year, is a celebration of innovative thinking giving participants the opportunity to learn from business experts while raising significant funding for the STCC WORKS scholarship program. A cocktail and networking reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with dinner and keynote speakers to follow from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This year, NJBAU will host a discussion of diversity in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields with panelists Emily Reichert, CEO of Greentown Labs; Laurie Leshin, president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute; and Frank Robinson, vice president of Public Health and Community Relations for Baystate Health. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available. Tickets are $175 each, and sponsorships begin at $2,500 for a table for 10. For additional information or to become a sponsor, contact Christina Tuohey, STCC’s director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at (413) 755-4475 or [email protected]. To purchase tickets online, visit www.stcc.edu/njbau.
5K Run & Walk for a Noble Cause
April 30: Registration is now open for Baystate Noble Hospital’s 32nd annual 5K Run & Walk for a Noble Cause, being held at Stanley Park in Westfield. The race begins at 9 a.m., with registration from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. near the Children’s Pavilion. The Baystate Noble 5K is a competitive, 3.1-mile road race through Stanley Park and surrounding areas for all levels of runners, from the novice to the serious athlete. Early registration is encouraged. The registration fee for ages 13-59 is $35 through April 29 (seniors 60 and older are $25). The registration fee for ages 13-59 is $40 on April 30 ($30 for seniors). Children 12 and under participate free when accompanied by a paying adult. T-shirts in various sizes are available to registrants on a first-come, first-served basis while inventory is available. To register online, download registration materials, and read general information, visit baystatenoblehospital.org/5k. Sponsorship and vendor table opportunities are also available. For more information, visit baystatenoblehospital.org/5k or contact the Community Development Office at [email protected] or (413) 568-2811, ext. 5520.
Walk of Champions
May 1: The community is invited to come together at the Quabbin Reservoir to mark the 11th annual Walk of Champions to benefit the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital in Ware. The walk is a one-mile loop that allows walkers to choose the number of miles they complete among the comfortable walking terrain of the Goodnough Dike. Along the way, walkers will enjoy entertainment and refreshments, along with the peace and beauty of the Quabbin Reservoir. Since its inception, the Walk of Champions has raised more than $662,000. All funds raised remain local to support those cared for in the Baystate Health Eastern Region at Baystate Medical Center’s Mary Lane Satellite Unit and for things such as family-support counseling, educational outreach, pastoral care, medications, state-of-the-art equipment, and the Healing Garden located in the courtyard of the hospital. Overlooking the Healing Garden is the oncology suite, which provides access to comprehensive cancer care, clinical trials, and a multi-disciplinary team approach to cancer care. Pledge forms, fund-raising resources, giving opportunities, and more are available at www.baystatehealth.org/woc for businesses, community organizations, and individuals who wish to participate.
40 Under Forty
June 16: The 10th annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old. An independent panel of judges has chosen the winners, and their stories will be told in the April 18 issue. Tickets — which cost $65 per person, with reserved tables of 10 available — are going very quickly. To order, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100. The event is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual and Paragus Strategic IT (presenting sponsors), EMA Dental, Health New England, Moriarty & Primack, and United Bank. More details on the gala will be revealed in upcoming issues.
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Andrew Santiago v. Target Corp.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of entryway and doors: $13,457.28
Filed: 2/11/16
HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Lori Jose v. Munich Haus Inc. and Center Group
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing bodily injury: $44,500
Filed: 1/25/16
Sherquita Thomas v. Ambiance HR & Laser Center
Allegation: Negligence during laser treatment causing permanent scarring to face: $400,000
Filed: 2/10/16
TD Bank v. Sandy Bay Service Center Inc., John P. Porter, and Cathy L. Porter
Allegation: Non-payment on promissory note: $114,332.68
Filed: 1/29/16
PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Waniewski Irrevocable Reality Trust and Karen White, Trustee v. DB Properties, LLC, Daniel Branco, and Elizabeth Branco
Allegation: Breach of purchase and sale agreement: $14,000
Filed: 2/29/16
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Kamp USA Inc. v. Salisbury Sales Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $19,469.50
Filed: 2/22/16
San Mar Corp. v. Joshua Kelsey d/b/a Design the Line Custom Clothing
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $7,968.57
Filed: 2/22/16
Tiffany Nugent v. F.P.S. Inc.
Allegation: Negligence in preparation and sale of food at Burger King causing broken teeth: $23,103
Filed: 2/26/16
U.S. Food Inc. v. Fondue Fusion Inc., d/b/a Sticks & Stones, Anne Brensley, and Sandra Squillante
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,397.83
Filed: 1/19/16
WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Karen Johnson v. Johnson’s Painting Service
Allegation: Breach of contract and negligence in services rendered and quality of work: $5,588
Filed: 2/3/16
LM Payroll Services Inc. d/b/a Ryan Associates v. Yogi Brothers Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $5,687.30
Filed: 2/11/16
St. Luke’s Greek Orthodox Church v. O’Donnell Paving & Landscaping Inc.
Allegation: Negligence in work performance and breach of contract: $5,252.16
Filed: 2/8/16
Send photos with a caption and contact information to: ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]
Celebrate Springfield
DevelopSpringfield recently presented its fifth annual Celebrate Springfield dinner at the MassMutual Center.
Photos by Ed Cohen
This year, its Partner in Progress Award, recognizing the contributions of individuals toward revitalization in Springfield, was given to, (from left) Brian Connors, Springfield’s deputy director of Economic Development; Maureen Hayes, president of Hayes Development Services; and Ira Rubenzahl, president of Springfield Technical Community College
Vincent Maniaci, American International College; Mary Kay Wydra, Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau; Michelle Goldberg, Pioneer Valley Transit Authority; and Judy Matt, Spirit of Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Smith & Wesson will host its annual live comedy show, “A Night of Laughter,” to support two local children’s charities, Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Ronald McDonald House. The event will be held on Saturday, April 30 at the Cedars Banquet Facility, 419 Island Pond Road in Springfield. The show will feature two comedians, Chris Zito and Tony V.
Zito is a mainstay of the Boston comedy scene and made appearances on Comedy Central, USA, A&E, and NESN. He has been heard on New England radio for more than 20 years, and currently “Zito and Kera” can be heard on weekday mornings on Mix 93.1. Tony V started his comedy career in 1982 in Boston. In 1986, he was named “Funniest Person in Massachusetts” by Showtime. He has also appeared on HBO, A&E, Comedy Central, and MTV. His big-screen performances include State and Main, Celtic Pride, Housesitter, One Crazy Summer, and Shakes the Clown.
The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the comedy will begin at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person and include an evening of laughs, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, raffles, and more. Tickets are now available at eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Elaine Stellato at (413) 747-3371 or [email protected].
BOSTON — A handful of Bay State businesses were recently honored by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of National Small Business Week, including two Western Mass.-based companies.
The Chamberlain Group, LLC in Great Barrington, represented by Lisa Chamberlain, vice president and managing partner, was named Small Business Exporter of the Year. Meanwhile, Berkshire Bank, represented by Peter Rice, senior vice president, business banking, was recognized as Financial Services Champion.
“We are extremely excited to honor a truly amazing line up of small business owners and champions this year,” said Bob Nelson, SBA’s Massachusetts district director. “It is so important to recognize our small businesses in the Commonwealth, as they are the job creators, innovators, and the fabric of our local communities.”
This year, National Small Business Week will be celebrated May 1-7 with national events planned across the country. The slate of leading small businesses in the Commonwealth will be honored at the annual Small Business Week Awards Luncheon at the Doubletree in Westborough on Wednesday, May 4.
GREAT BARRINGTON — Robert Harrison, principal architect and founder of Harrison Design Associates, announced that Mark Eichorn and Robert Viel Jr. have joined the firm as both architectural designers and project managers.
“I am pleased to welcome Mark and Robert to our team. They each bring a wide range of experience in residential and commercial design and detailing,” said Harrison. “In their new positions, they will enhance and carry forward Harrison Design’s tradition of architectural innovation and our singular focus on creating structures that tell a story and that inspire, delight, and surprise our clients.”
Eichorn brings more than 20 years of experience in the design and building industry. His expertise encompasses all phases of work for residential and commercial architectural-design projects, from drafting and code compliance to design and construction administration. His prior experience as an architectural project manager includes eight years with Pamela Sandler AIA in Stockbridge and three years at William Caligari Interiors/Architecture in Great Barrington. He is a 1992 graduate of Vermont Technical College, where he studied architectural and building engineering technology.
Viel joins Harrison Design with more than 19 years of experience in the architectural and interior-design professions. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1999 from the Wentworth Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture in Boston. He most recently served for five years as sole designer/draftsman at Kohl Construction in Hadley, while also managing his own architectural-design studio in Springfield. Prior to that, he was employed for 10 years at Pamela Sandler AIA as senior designer, job captain, and draftsman.
