Home 2017 September (Page 2)

Month: September 2017

Enfield Aims to Become a Multi-track Destination

By
Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Mike Vezzola

Mike Vezzola says Enfield has cultivated a diverse economic landscape, with retail, manufacturing, and warehousing and distribution all playing key roles.

Commuters whisking past Enfield, Conn. on I-91 — especially exits 47E and 48, which drain into the heavily trafficked corridors of Routes 220 and 190, peppered with shopping centers and fast-casual restaurants — no doubt see the stretch as a retail mecca, but a closer look casts doubt.

Take the Enfield Square Mall, for instance, which has been heavily buffeted by store departures and doesn’t draw nearly the traffic it used to.

“From a retail perspective, yes, we lost some of the anchor stores of the mall — Macy’s, Sears — but I know there has been some interest from new stores to go into the mall,” said Mike Vezzola, executive director of the North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, noting, as one example, a new Party City on the property, one of the biggest among the chain’s New England stores.

“I spoke to the folks at the mall last week, and we’re starting to see the retail aspect rebound a little bit,” he went on. “But it’s definitely more of a mixed bag. Ten years ago, we were looking at Enfield as the retail hub between Springfield and Hartford. I feel that’s shifted to Manchester. Instead, we’re now an all-inclusive package drawing from all aspects of economic development.”

Take, for instance, a strong uptick in small and sole-proprietor businesses coming online in the past year, reflective of an entrepreneurial wave that has been noticeable in Western Mass. as well. Or a wave of warehousing and distribution companies that have set up shop in Enfield over the past year or two.

Enfield Square Mall

Enfield Square Mall

“It’s a combination of a few things,” Vezzola said, noting that the manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution niches have been bolstered by the likes of Veritiv, Plastipak, and Conval all moving into Enfield in the past year. “We’ve also seen a lot of interest from property managers and developers who have been purchasing open lots here in town, with intentions of perhaps bringing more distribution and manufacturing businesses into the area.”

Recognizing an opportunity to create a pipline of local talent for such companies, Asnuntuck Community College unveiled its new, 27,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center in the spring, part of an overall $25 million campus expansion plan. The new space will allow Asnuntuck to double its enrollment in its undergraduate manufacturing-technology programs. Meanwhile, the college is extending its tuition rate for Connecticut residents to students from Massachusetts. All these moves are aimed at bolstering what is becoming a key part of Enfield’s — and, perhaps, the region’s — economy.

Enfield, Conn. at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1683 in Massachusetts; annexed to Connecticut in 1749
Population: 44,654 (2010)
Area: 34.2 square miles
County: Hartford
Residential Tax Rate: $31.43 (plus fire district tax)
Commercial Tax Rate: $31.43 (plus fire district tax)
Median Household Income: $67,402
Median Family Income: $77,554
Type of Government: Town Council, Town Manager
Largest Employers: MassMutual, Retail Brand Alliance, Lego Systems
* Latest information available

“Within the past year, the state has given much support to Asnuntuck to focus on advanced manufacturing and programs that are more of a specific niche in terms of a career path,” Vezzola told BusinessWest. “The expansion of that school has been phenomenal, everything from the infrastructure to the subtleties like offering in-state tuition prices to Massachusetts residents.”

Other developments have local officials equally excited about Enfield’s position, from a planned transit center in the Thompsonville section of town to MGM Springfield’s opening in 2018 and, perhaps, a second casino just to the south in East Windsor.

“If anything, I think Enfield is going to be more appealing over the next five years with the institution of a new commercial rail system and the casinos going up,” Vezzola said. “I can see Enfield really being the middle-ground tourist attraction, the alternative place to stay between those two points of interest.”

All Aboard

As for that railroad, service on a New Haven-to-Springfield line should be up and running in the spring of 2018. Enfield — specifically, its Thompsonville neighborhood on the Connecticut River — is one of the proposed stops along that line, although the station won’t be up and running immediately. Nor will it be built in a vacuum, as the town has been planning a transformation of the future station site into an intermodal transit center in a walker-friendly village.

“It’s a rather large and complicated project,” said Peter Bryanton, the town’s director of Community Development, adding that the sticking point has been a former power-plant site that sits on the river. “That site is owned by Eversource, and we started negotiating with Eversource about five years ago to go on the property and do environmental testing, because we need to know what kind of contaminants are there before we can do anything. We’re now at the point where we have an access agreement with them, and we’re in the process of getting a firm to do the work for us.”

Depending on the results of that survey, if the site needs to be remediated or capped, the transit-center could be looking at a three- to five-year timeline. In the meantime, the state will build a basic rail station, with an elevated, double-tracked platform on each side. Later on, the town will build in some parking, bus facilities, and outdoor recreation, such as walking trails and overlook areas so people can enjoy the view of the river.

“Hopefully the commuter-rail system revives some of the walkability in town,” Vezzola added. “The service will start running in 2018 — we’re the only stop on the Connecticut River itself — and the Thompsonville project will be greatly affected by that once it’s instituted. We really want to take the train station and make a livable, walkable atmosphere, with restaurants and retail shops from the train station all the way up to Town Hall, all the way up Main Street. It all kind of works together.”

There isn’t room for a lot of retail at the site, Bryanton said, but one four-story commercial building, acquired by the Enfield Community Development Corp., will feature some ground-level retail and housing on the upper floors.

“We’ve gone through the conceptual phase, and we’re now in the construction planning phase,” he noted. “The rail-station plans are almost completed — the state is working on that — and with our environmental work, we can move on our construction plans for the infrastructure around the rail station.”

Sure Bet

Vezzola noted that the chamber’s role is to foster economic growth and development in the four towns it represents. “We’re here as a supporter of local commerce and want to be a driving force behind keeping our region an appealing, attractive place to grow your business.”

That’s why he’s cheered by some of the initiatives taking shape in and around Enfield, from workforce-development progress to the future transit center to a pair of casinos, although the East Windsor, while approved by the Connecticut Legislature, isn’t quite a done deal.

“I think Springfield is a sure bet, and that is most certainly going to help tourism in this particular area,” he said. “We have plenty of restaurants in Enfield, the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn hotels in Enfield will be pretty much occupied, and it’s only going to be bigger if the East Windsor casino comes to fruition as well, because we’re right in the middle. We’re not a 45-minute commute, like coming from Northampton or West Hartford; we’re your driveable destination.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Web Services Take End-of-life Planning into the Smartphone Age

By
Business of Aging Sections

Passing Interest

It’s hardly news that America’s Internet and smartphone culture has transformed the way people live.

But not everyone knows they’re also changing the way people die — or, more specifically, how they plan for death and the often-difficult process of transferring key information, end-of-life wishes, and even treasured memories to their loved ones.

cakeTake Cake, for instance. This free online platform helps people determine and share their end-of-life wishes. Similar to the popular dating app Tinder, Cake outlines and organizes these wishes by presenting users with a number of questions on which they can swipe yes or no. Based on the answers, the app creates a profile divided into four categories — legacy, health, legal/financial, and funeral — each of them accompanied by action steps one could take to carry out those wishes.

“Each and every one of us should have a say in how we live our lives, from beginning to end (and even beyond),” the Boston-based Cake creators note. “Gift your loved ones with the information of what you would want, and how you want to be remembered.”

For many people, they note, thinking about the end of life isn’t a morbid activity, but can be a motivating factor to live life to the fullest. “It can put things in perspective and give you and your loved ones more peace of mind. It is a very considerate act to let your loved ones know what you would want. You can go at your own pace, and plan as much as feels right to you.”

Even folks with a will can benefit from such a service, the company notes, because many aspects of end-of-life planning — right down to the food one would want served at one’s funeral — are typically not be covered in that document.

“Additionally, medical preferences can be difficult to think through,” they go on. “Cake helps uncover your values so you can be clearer on your preferences, and so that your loved ones can be clear on them too.”

Plenty of Options

But Cake is far from the only player on this unique scene, which mixes some time-honored concepts with a decidedly 21st-century twist. Here are some of the others.

everplansEverplans, in some ways similar to Cake, is a digital vault for a person’s end-of-life plans, described as “a complete archive of everything your loved ones will need should something happen to you.” The app allows users to securely store wills, passwords, funeral wishes, and more in a shareable vault. Documents may include anything from wills, trusts, and insurance policies to bill-payment schedules, advance directives and do-not-rescuscitate orders, as well as final wishes and funeral preferences.

Users begin by taking a short assessment survey to see how much planning they’ve already done, how much else they need to do. Based on that information, the service, which costs $75 per year, creates a to-do checklist and helps prioritize that list. The user then assigns specific ‘deputies’ for the plan, so loved ones can find everything neatly in one place.

mydirectivesMore of an emergency-care tool than an strictly an end-of-life plan, MyDirectives allows people to speak for themselves — digitally. Users populate their ‘medical ID’ with date such as their health information and end-of-life plans. This allows doctors to have access to this information right from a patient’s iPhone lock screen.

The four basic parts to this free service are ‘My Decisions,’ which outlines care preferences, values, and treatment goals; ‘My Thoughts,’ which uses messages, video posts, music, and photos to help caregivers know more about the patient; ‘My Healthcare Agents,’ which outlines who represents the patient during a health crisis when he or she can’t communicate; and ‘My Circle,’ which keeps key contact information in one place.

principled-heartThe creator of Principled Heart, a certified financial planner, said his goal was to help answer a common question: where do we keep all our planning documents and information — and how will my loved ones know what to do? His site encourages people to keep only what is necessary, including passwords (or instructions on where to find them) for financial accounts, social media, and other accounts. Other features include instructions for pet care, key contacts, and space to upload up to 60 documents.

Three specified people are required to validate the account owner’s death, and then the site, which costs $45 a year for up to one gigabyte of storage, will provide access to all the information stored inside.

afterstepsAfterSteps, created by a Harvard Business School student, also requires the names of three verifiers, who will be notified in the event of the user’s death and will get access to all information stored on the site, which includes wills and other legal forms, passwords and instructions for digital accounts, funeral-arrangement wishes, and other data. It costs $60 a year or $299 for life.

Most services of this sort are recent developments, but a few have a longer history. DocuBank was created in 1993 as a registry to give members 24-hour access to their advance directives. More than 200,000 members have used the service ($55 per year) since then, and DocuBank has added new features, including an online vault called SAFE that provides a place for members to store files. The site’s latest ‘Digital Executor’ feature allows members to designate one person who will be able to access all of their online files once they’ve presented proof of the member’s death or permanent incapacity.

Celebrating Life After Death

Many end-of-life planning apps are about more than financial and funeral arrangements; however, crossing over into the realm of preserving history and sharing memories.

safebeyondFor example, SafeBeyond ($48 to $96 per year) defines itself as a ‘legacy-management service.’ As such, this app allows users to keep record of their life story in the form of meaningful digital content. SafeBeyond’s distribution capabilities then allow for the future delivery of this content in the form of personalized messages accessible by specific loved ones – almost like emotional life insurance through which one can be remembered.

“Everyone’s life story is unique and constantly affected by change,” the creators write. “Our platform provides an innovative online and mobile-app solution for the easy and secure management of your life story and your meaningful digital content, with enhanced distribution capabilities for the future delivery of personalized messages and digital assets. You decide when, where, and with whom your messages and other digital assets will be shared.”

The app allows people to record text, audio, and video messages throughout their life and store them in a heavily encrypted ‘digital vault.’ Then, SafeBeyond will send messages on behalf of its clients for up to 25 years after they die. Many users choose to schedule those messages on birthdays or on the anniversary of their passing. After the user dies, their recipients are e-mailed a notification telling them to download the app so that they can, one day, receive a message from the grave.

eterniamMeanwhile, Eterniam provides a free, secure online locker for one’s personal digital assets, including photos, videos, and other documents, and then releases them after the user’s death to whomever he or she specifies. Rather than focus on death, the app encourages users to ‘celebrate life,’ and to capture moments and upload them to the cloud.

Bcelebrated ($20 yer year, $100 for a lifetime membership) enables members to create a multi-media website that will become their autobiographical memorial site when the time comes. They may share their story in words, images, and audio; write password-protected private messages for loved ones; and essentially leave a permanent site where friends and family can celebrate a life.

Members create password-protected private pages for loved ones, record their last wishes, and assign a charity to receive donations on their behalf. The service also sends automated notification e-mails at the time of a member’s death and provides a list of numbers for those who need to be called.

Finally, on a different, slightly more downbeat note, Life Countdown is a free app that asks users to pick the date they think they’ll live to, then sends notifications at random intervals about how much time they theoretically have left. The app, its creators say, has a philosophical bent: “to cultivate the contemplation of death.”

Some might feel that’s a worthy-enough goal. For those who want to do more than contemplate, but instead do some real planning about what they’ll leave behind, today’s online culture offers plenty of options.

Bay Path University Named Among Nation’s Fastest-growing Colleges

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — The Chronicle of Higher Education has recognized Bay Path University in its Almanac of Higher Education 2017 as one of the fastest-growing colleges in the U.S., currently ranked 17th in the category of “private nonprofit master’s institutions” with a 113.4% growth rate over a 10-year period. Bay Path was the only institution of higher education from Massachusetts on the list.

“This national recognition represents the commitment of talented faculty and staff who truly understand workforce needs and student interests,” university President Carol Leary said. “Our growth is based on three key factors: the different levels of education we provide; the variety of modalities we use in our learning environments, which include on-campus, online, and hybrid; and the continual diversification of our program offerings for both undergraduate and graduate students.”

With the opening of the Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center, Bay Path has seen significant growth in its applied health science degrees, including the master of occupational therapy, master of science in physician assistant studies, and master of science in genetic counseling, among others. In 2017, Bay Path opened a satellite campus in Concord, offering master’s programs in clinical mental health counseling, developmental psychology, special education administration, occupational therapy, and healthcare administration.

Data contained in the Almanac of Higher Education 2017 are based on fall enrollment of full- and part-time graduate and undergraduate students during the span of 2005-15, including students that are online-only. The report included all U.S. degree-granting institutions with at least 500 students in 2005. Published by the Chronicle of Higher Education, the annual Almanac of Higher Education is a comprehensive assessment of the higher-education industry. It contains more than 80 tables of data, among other data points, providing “a portrait of the nation’s multi-billion-dollar effort to educate more than 20 million undergraduate and graduate students.”

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

1BERKSHIRE
www.1berkshire.com
(413) 499-1600

• Sept. 27: SPARK!, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Berkshire Lake House Cottages, Lanesborough.
• Sept. 26: Entrepreneurial Meetup, 8-10 a.m., at Fuel, Great Barrington. 1Berkshire’s Entrepreneurial Meetups are free events that gather entrepreneurs together to network, learn, and engage. They provide small-business owners, or people interested in starting a business, opportunities to have casual, organic conversations with peers and resource providers. Register online at www.1berkshire.com.

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

• Sept. 22: Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by Franklin County Tech School. Register at www.franklincc.org.
• Sept. 27: “Start Your Own Business,” 8:30-11:30 a.m., hosted by Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 395 Main St., Greenfield. Starting a small business requires more knowledge, skills, perseverance, and planning than meets the eye. This three-hour workshop will help you understand the details, challenges, opportunities, and rewards of owning and operating your own business through the real-life experiences of several highly successful entrepreneurs. This course is a suggested prerequisite for our Business Planning workshop. Cost: $25. Register at www.franklincc.org.

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

• Sept. 20: Salute Breakfast with state Sen. Eric Lesser and Sandra Sheehan of PVTA, 7:15 to 9 a.m., at the MassMutual Learning and Conference Center. Sponsored by King Ward, Chuck’s Auto, and Westfield Bank. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members. Register at chicopeechamber.org/events.
• Sept. 28: Lunch & Learn with John Regan, executive vice president for Government Affairs for Asssociated Industries of Massachusetts, noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Oct. 12: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., at Eastworks, 116 Pleasant St., Easthampton. Sponsored by Easthampton Travel. For more information, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org, or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

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

• Sept. 22: Women and the Art of Risk, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Join us for a women’s leadership event featuring workshops, discussions, and career-development opportunities, all led by distinguished women from the Pioneer Valley. Hear personal and professional stories of how taking calculated risks led these women to new adventures and made them stronger leaders. Price includes a light breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea/coffee and dessert. Cost: $119, or $750 for a table of eight.
n Sept. 22: Leadership Holyoke, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Holyoke Community College. This leadership series includes HCC faculty members participating as instructors and facilitators while various community leaders participate as speakers. Sites will include the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center and Heritage State Park. Sponsored by PeoplesBank in partnership with Holyoke Community College and the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Sept. 19: “How to Do Business with Different Generations,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., presented by SCORE of Western Mass., hosted by TD Bank, 175 Main St., Northampton. Cost: $5. Space is limited, and RSVP is required. To register, visit westernmassachusetts.score.org/content/take-workshop-38.
• Sept. 22: “Introduction to Mail Chimp,” 9-11 a.m., presented by Pioneer Training. MailChimp is a free e-mail marketing application similar to Constant Contact. This workshop will cover the basics of creating an e-mail campaign and tracking your results. You’ll learn how to set up an account, how to add lists of subscribers, how to create a signup form so visitors to your website can sign up to be added to your lists, and much more. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To register, visit goo.gl/forms/My7lF9Xk1aB7xg0Q2.
• Oct. 4: October Arrive @ 5 and Chamber Open House, 5-7 p.m., at the Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St. Cost: $10 for members. Sponsors: Clinical & Support Options, Florence Bank, Innovative Business Systems, and Pioneer Training.
n Oct. 24: Start Your Business, 9 a.m. to noon, at TD Bank, 175 Main St., Northampton. Presented by SCORE of Western MA. This three-hour workshop will help you clearly understand the details, challenges, opportunities, and rewards of owning and operating your own business. This workshop is a suggested prerequisite to our Business Planning Workshop. Cost: $25. RSVP, as space is limited. To register online, visit westernmassachusetts.score.org/content/take-workshop-38.

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

• Sept. 18: Chamber Workshop: “Go Mobile!” 8:30-10 a.m. hosted by Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Join Kurt Lumpp of Russell Cellular for this informational workshop and maximize the use of your cell phone. Cost: free for members, $30 for non-members (cash or credit card). Contact Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or [email protected] for more information or to register.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER
www.springfieldregionalchamber.com
(413) 787.1555

• Sept. 19: C-Suite Conversations and Cocktails, 5-7 p.m., at CityStage, 150 Bridge St., Springfield. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Exclusive event for SRC members only.
• Oct. 4: Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Crestview Country Club, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Sponsored by United Personnel Services. Joshua Weiss, co-founder of the Global Negotiation Initiative at Harvard University and program director of Bay Path University’s master of science program in Leadership and Negotiation, will keynote the event, with a focus on “The Negotiator in You.” Attendees will learn how to negotiate with confidence and calm for successful results. The chamber will also recognize Anthony Hayes as the new general manager for WGBY and Tim Kennedy as the new president of MassLive Media. Cost: $25 for Springfield Regional Chamber members in advance ($30 at the door), $35 for general admission in advance ($40 at the door). Register online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by e-mailing Jessica Hill at [email protected]. Also, contact Hill at (413) 755-1310 for information on sponsorship opportunities.

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

• Sept. 21: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, West Springfield. Only members and guests of members may attend. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. The only cost to attend is the cost of your lunch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately that day. We cannot invoice you for these events. Register online at [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• Sept. 21: YPS Presents: Vote The Valley, 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted by Sheraton Hotel, One Monarch Place. This event will bring together local elected officials and candidates for elected office in a business-networking environment. Join us to connect and engage with policymakers while learning more about your voting rights. Register at www.springfieldyps.com.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the months of August and September 2017.

AMHERST

CTI-OES JV
37 South Pleasant St.
CTI Energy Services, LLC; OpTerra Energy Services Inc.

Erasmus Design
43 Wildflower Dr.
Natasha Friedman, Ran Deren

Fire and Water Yoga Studio
39 Boltwood Walk
Arieh Kurinsky

The Hampstore
893 West St.
Hampshire College

Invisible Cities Apiary
517 Pine St.
Daniel Berry

CHICOPEE

Bouchard
135 Slate Road
Marcus Bouchard

Efrain’s Repair & Services
574 East St.
Efrain Aviles

LaLa’s No Limit Styles
46 Medford St.
Laverne Jackson

EASTHAMPTON

Courageous Faith Consulting
33R Maine Ave.
Kimberly Sweeney

CRI New England
54 Oliver St.
Sharon Ziemek

Edward Jones
180 Pleasant St., Suite 212
Edward D. Jones & Co., LP

ReadWriteSnack.com
185 Main St.
Lori Pelliccia

EAST LONGMEADOW

Cloud 9 Marketing Group
674 North Main St.
Dylan Pilon

Countryside Store
334 Somers Road
Tejemdra Patel

NW Collective
34 Center Square
Nolan Wells

Onset Customs
48 Moore St.
John Murphy

Scarnici Productions
132 Parker St.
Leonardo Scarnici

HOLYOKE

ABC Sales & Service
234 Brainard St.
Robert Celi

Almonte Market
549 South Bridge St.
Evaristo Almonte

Almonte Market II
129 Sargeant St.
Jose Almonte

Little Junebug Photography
532 Main St.
Heather Pirog

M. Gomez Enterprises, LLC
170 Main St., Unit C
Mariano Gomez Jr.

mrwaterslide Presents
532 Main St.
John Van Noate

LUDLOW

Country Paw Mobile Grooming
531 Pinecone Lane
Alexa Wurszt

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts
222 State St.
Rehabilitation Institute of Western Massachusetts, LLC

J.J. Barbeau Home Improvement
272 Ventura St.
Jason Barbeau

Mackenzie and Sons
125 Wilno Ave.
Brandon Mackenzie

Patrick Kubala Home Improvements
5 Pell St.
Patrick Kubala

Santos Auto Repair Inc.
1068 East St.
Mark Santos

NORTHAMPTON

Above and Beyond Drone Videography
209 Main St., Apt. 2A
Cian Dowling

Big Tree Books
61 South St., Apt. 10
Svein Arber

Elizabeth Grace Burkhart, LICSW
16 Center St., Suite 303
Elizabeth Burkhart

The Mirage Group
16 Market St.
Gary Richardson

Northampton Auto Wholesale Inc.
139 Damon Road, Suite B2
Luis Leyva

Northampton Suzuki Studio
297 Main St.
Christa Hendricks

Pioneer Valley Food Tours
36 Pomeroy Terrace
Deborah Christakos

Reconnect Massage
45 Main St.
Christopher Clough

Sticks and Bricks
9 Market St.
Elizabeth Karney

PALMER

Meadows Driving School
1339 Main St.
Derrick Mason

Michael Seward Real Estate
3074 Main St.
Michael Seward

SOUTHWICK

Cottage Artifacts
36 North Longyard Road
Barbara Westcott

SPRINGFIELD

Artisan Finish Trim
55 West Bay Path Terrace
Gerardo Rodriguez

B.L.A. Handyman Services
130 Mulberry St.
Aleman Benigno

Bano International
17 Locust St.
Ghafoor Faisal

Barak M & L Transport
84 Agnes St.
Jose Medero

Bay State Fence
281 Cooper St.
James Steele

Chabela’s Beauty Salon
898 Main St.
Teodocia Martinez

Color Your World
35 Flower St.
Lamont Johnson

D.L. Green Enterprise
1124 Berkshire Ave.
Dossie Green

Desiree’s Art Shop
98 Dana St.
Desiree Rivera-Perez

FedEx Office #2348
1382 Main St.
Stacy Jean

GDH Property Management
156 Brewster St.
Gary Hunter

G.L. Provost Construction
120 Webber St.
Gary Provost

Guaranteed Sales
118 Kerry Dr.
Mark Blackman

L’Boe Import
76 Amherst St.
Nikiya-Star Conner

Lee Brown Construction
555 Union St.
Lee Brown

Legacy Dance Studio
33 Oak St.
Machiael Pollard

Liquid Solutions
130 Firglade Ave.
Quincy McCray

PEA-DS Trucking Co.
48 Bevier St.
Michael Jones

Performance Auto Accessories
479 Main St.
Ronique Evans

Phyx iPhone Repair & Sales
1 Federal St., Building 6
Frank Tate IV

Picharjo Trucking
73 Keith St.
Eduardo Antonia

Springer’s Oil, LLC
538 Page Blvd.
Samuel Springer

Springfield Express Wash
739 Boston Road
Vincent Porzio

Spruell & Spruell
71 Middlesex St.
Mark Spruell

Stop & Go Market
91-93 Chestnut St.
Farman Elahi

Thy Word Is Truth
156 Cooper St.
Elliott Green

Torres Painting
34 Massachusetts Ave.
Juan Torres

Vintage Home
894 Main St.
Virginia Ellis

Wakeup Movement
755 Worthington St.
Kyreen Kynard

Wings & Things
17A Rutland St.
Daniel Tulloch Jr.

Wruckit Transportation
35 Lawn St.
Dale Wruck

Ziggy’s Pool Maintenance
29 Fair Oak Road
Mark Pacheco

WARE

Minney & Sons Excavating
38 Malboeuf Road
David Minney, Barbara Minney

Platform Hair Design
277 Palmer Road
Joslyn Drouin

T-Mobile Northeast, LLC
352 Palmer Road
T-Mobile USA Inc.

T-Mobile Leasing, LLC
352 Palmer Road
T-Mobile USA Inc.

T-Mobile Financial, LLC
352 Palmer Road
T-Mobile USA Inc.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Belaz Inc.
15 Cottage St.
Anatoliy Sevgeychik

Brothers Covers
239 Western Ave.
Kenneth Labelle

DeSousa Auto Detailing
431 Rogers Ave.
Wesley DeSousa

Donbass Cement
70 Windsor St.
Sergiy Lutsenko

Lattitude Restaurant
1338 Memorial Ave.
Jeffrey Daigneau

Legend Auto Craft
346 Morgan Road
Mykola Mevshyy

Mary Hunt O’Connor LMT
175 Labelle St.
Mary Hunt O’Connor

Nippon Grill
935 Riverdale St.
Aroma Inc.

Salamon Realty, LLC
103 Myron St.
Mitchell Salamon

Spirit Halloween Superstore
935 Riverdale St.
Barry Susson

Stevens Jewelers Inc.
1501 Elm St.
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Kathleen Sweeney

WILBRAHAM

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Armbrook Village Helps Seniors Build Independence, Confidence

By
Business of Aging Sections

Re-connecting the Dots of Life

By Alta J. Stark

From left, Beth Cardillo, Terry Hodur, and Susan O’Donnell.

From left, Beth Cardillo, Terry Hodur, and Susan O’Donnell.

Helen S. is in her 80s. She’s lived at Armbrook Village Senior Living Residence in the northwest corner of Westfield since June 2016.

A resident of the community’s assisted-living homes, she receives help with many activities of daily living. When Helen moved here, she exhibited many of the cognitive challenges of aging, which can range from basic memory loss to Alzheimer’s disease. She would stay in her room and watch TV. Aides would guide her to and from meals and visit with her, but Helen didn’t socialize or make friends with other residents.

A long-time friend of hers, Terry Hodur, says she was getting discouraged. “There was a care meeting about a year ago when we discussed how quiet and reserved Helen had become. She would never step out, and she would always say ‘that isn’t my business,’ and she would turn away from people. It seemed like there was no way to help her, and we were told we needed to prepare ourselves for a possible move into the memory care unit.”

Then, Beth Cardillo, the residence’s executive director, mentioned a new program that was getting underway at Armbrook called ConnectedLIFE. The program is designed to meet the unique needs of those beginning to show signs of dementia.

“They might not process as quickly as they used to, or maybe they don’t remember things like how to play a card game, or people’s names, so they tend to isolate themselves in their room; they don’t engage in social activities and they tend to become depressed, frustrated and angry,” she explained. “This program helps them maintain connectedness, independence, and confidence.”

A few weeks after Cardillo mentioned the program, Helen started participating, and soon, Hodur saw a transformation she says is nothing short of amazing.

Helen S., Terry Hodur’s formerly shy, reserved friend, enthusiastically took part in a tea party for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday at Armbrook Village.

Helen S., Terry Hodur’s formerly shy, reserved friend, enthusiastically took part in a tea party for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday at Armbrook Village.

“She’s doing well and she’s so happy,” said Hodur. “The ‘aha’ moment for me, came one night after dinner when Helen left her walker by me and walked over to a woman in a wheel chair who could really benefit from someone helping her, and Helen just started to push her into the room where residents gather. When she came back to me, I said ‘Helen, that was phenomenal,’ and she said ‘what do you mean? Of course I was going to do that!’

“To me, that was just a giant step,” Hodur went on. “This very quiet, reserved person is now someone who jumps in to help her friends. She wasn’t going to breakfast, now she is; she was losing weight early on, and now she’s starting to gain it back. ConnectedLIFE is providing a significant service, helping people like my friend Helen.”

Life’s Work

Susan O’Donnell, a certified dementia practitioner, is the director of the ConnectedLIFE program at Armbrook, and she explained how it came to be.

“We noticed that many of our assisted living residents were wandering around the building and not going to their preferred activities. They didn’t really have anything to do, and wouldn’t get up til noon, or one o’clock in the afternoon. So we designed a specific program that not only jumpstarts their days but also meets their therapeutic goals. It’s a set of failure-free activities that provides just the right challenge for them to be successful.” O’Donnell says the program is an intimate peer group of people who have a lot in common.

“We try to foster fun and laughter, because laughter is a good medicine. It’s one of the brain chemicals that get released and when you laugh, it makes you feel good,” she told BusinessWest. “We also talk a lot about relationships and reminisce, because these women (the group is presently all women) have a lot of things in common, and they don’t realize it. But the program helps them start to help each other and they empathize with each other.

“It’s kind of amazing,” she added.  “Take Helen for example. She’s playful now, and everybody knows about Helen at Armbrook.”

The ConnectedLIFE program starts after breakfast each morning. All of the a.m. programming is done in the same place to help people remember where they need to be, an important consideration.

“We had one woman living with dementia who was living independently with her husband. When he died, she moved into assisted living, but kept going back to her old apartment, because she didn’t remember where the new one was,” said Cardillo. “I remembered she and her husband sailed a lot, and I had a nice photo of a sailboat, so I hung it by her new apartment, so that whenever she got off the elevators, she’d follow the sailboat.”

The first activity is really a coffee klatch — a time to look at the daily paper, see what’s going on, what the weather’s going to be, and what happened in history that day. “I want them to realize, ‘yup, it’s August; yup, it’s hot,’ and that it’s normal. That’s what we’re trying to do, normalization,” said O’Donnell.

After coffee hour, there’s usually a cognitive game that gets the women remembering and sharing things like what they fed their kids, or what they did with them in the car on long road trips. “Everything flows from one activity to the next,” said O’Donnell. “The activities are usually about 45 minutes in total, because that’s the attention span we have,” she added. A snack is served midmorning. After the snack, residents take part in a physical game to get them revved up for lunch.

“At this point, their minds are alert,” O’Donnell noted, “and now I want their bodies to be as well. We really focus on whole-brain fitness. It’s the whole package of body, mind and spirit.”

After lunch, there’s another physical game to keep the residents active. When the weather’s good these activities tend to be outside, including games like golf or corn toss.

In the fall, they’ll move inside and into the kitchen for the wonderful aromatherapy of baking. After the physical game, they may move into the den and play bingo or other games.

“We work a lot with reminiscing. We have a lot of books that are … ‘finish the phrase; finish the line; finish the lyrics.’ We do a lot with music. Thanks to YouTube, we can find pretty much anything they want, including Sinatra and Perry Como. They also love cute baby pictures and puppies,” said O’Donnell.

The last half hour before dinner is all about chilling out and cooling down. “These people are tired. They’ve been going since 8 in the morning, so by 4:30, they’re spent, and if they want to take a little snooze before dinner, that’s o.k.,” says O’Donnell.

The final program of the day is after dinner, at 6:15 p.m. While it’s geared to ConnectedLIFE, it’s open to the whole community, which gives residents a chance to see what the program is all about.

Still Growing

Recently, ConnectedLIFE expanded programming to include weekends. “We were hearing from families that when they came to visit loved ones on Saturdays, they didn’t have much to do. We listened to that feedback and added weekend programming,” said Cardillo. “This is way more than a day program.”

Presently, there are 14 people participating in ConnectedLIFE, and Cardillo hopes there will be more.

“We started last September with a small group and have seen about 20 come through the program,” she said. “We don’t know where this is going to take us, maybe a second tract, but for now we know it works.

With ConnectedLIFE, seniors get as many chances as they need to get the bean bag into the hole.

With ConnectedLIFE, seniors get as many chances as they need to get the bean bag into the hole.

Hodur agreed. “When Helen came here, I was hoping she’d have a friend, someone to get coffee with; well now, she’s got a baker’s dozen friends. It’s so fabulous.”

Families are kept up to speed with quarterly assessments and a bi-annual care plan meeting where they go over goals for each resident. Cardillo also e-mails or texts families weekly to keep them updated and aware of what’s going on.

ConnectedLIFE is another example of how Armbrook Village, one of 14 senior living residences owned, operated and managed by Senior Living Residences (SLR), continues to innovate and create new programs to meet residents’ needs.

Twelve of the SLR communities are in the Boston area, with Armbrook Village the only community in Western Mass. The first ConnectedLIFE program started in SLR’s Canton, Mass. community, and once Cardillo heard about it, she said “we have to do this.”

Cardillo praises SLR for being innovative.

“They’re incredibly progressive, and proactive; every month all of the executive directors meet with the company president,” she explained. “At one meeting, I brought up how we were seeing people walking around, and we weren’t serving their needs, and everyone said ‘that’s a problem for us, too.’ ConnectedLIVING is the end result.”

Canton was a start-up community at the time, she went on, and it was decided to pilot the program there as an opening-up venture.

Cardillo is also proud of another first-of-its-kind educational program that started at Armbrook.

“We have the distinction of being the first Dementia Friendly Community on the east coast,” she noted. “It’s part of a drive to make towns friendlier and safer to those experiencing dementia. We wanted to create an environment where, if an individual with memory loss went into a restaurant or other establishment, staff would know the right steps to handle the situation.”

Every EMT in Westfield has been trained in the program, along with Baystate Noble Hospital, Baystate Noble VNA, Councils on Aging, schools, chambers of commerce, family members, and the community at large.

“My job is really to educate people,” she explained. “We feel it’s really important to prepare people for interactions with someone whose memory may be a little topsy-turvy. We started this campaign here, then all Senior Living Residences decided to do that in their community, and now there’s a whole movement called Dementia Friendly Massachusetts.”

Community Resource

Armbrook Village also provides support groups once a month for people in the community. Presently there are about 15-20 people who attend each month, sharing experiences, advice, and sympathy.

“Our role is to make sure everybody gets a chance to talk, and get their questions answered,” said Cardillo. “It’s meaningful for them, and us. We’ve gotten really close with these people.”

Cardillo said she sees Armbrook Village as an educational resource in the community. “We see a need, and we figure out what to do to meet the need,” she says.

Armbrook offers a variety of options along the continuum of aging, its 122 units encompassing independent living, assisted living, and what’s known as Compass Memory Support Neighborhood, a secure setting where residents receive constant treatment and supervision.

Research-based memory support programs, including Reconnections lifelong learning, and specialized art and music classes, contribute to increased social engagement and greater cognition.

“Four or five women are of Italian descent, so we started to learn Italian,” said O’Donnell. Every day she puts up a vocabulary word for the day and the women practice. “It brings them back to their childhood, and their roots.”

A year ago, Armbrook started a Memory Café for people in the community newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. “We offer a place for folks to go monthly with their caregivers to meet other people like them. It’s not a support group; it’s a chance for them to meet people who have the same stuff going on, and share an activity from yoga and painting to art and ice cream sundae socials,” said Cardillo.

Her next venture, which is still in the research phase, involves a new movement of music therapy called the ‘Giving Voice Chorus.’

“All the current research points to the importance of music in people’s lives,” said Cardillo. “And we’re seeing amazing success stories of people living with dementia coming together and forming a chorus.”

Stay tuned.

“We’ve learned to be flexible,” Cardillo said in conclusion. “We want to give our residents the best quality of life possible, and we keep raising the bar. We work until we get it right.”

Homework House to Mark 10 Years with Oct. 19 Celebration

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Homework House is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, and on Thursday, Oct. 19, it will mark the occasion with a 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fund-raising Breakfast from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke to share its story and inspire the financial resources Homework House needs to sustain its programs for the next 10 years and beyond.

The anniversary breakfast’s theme is “A Decade of Inspiring Children, Supporting Families, and Transforming Community,” which reflects the broad ripple effect that occurs as a result of children’s participation in Homework House’s academic after-school and summer programming.

Founded by retired educators Sr. Maureen Broughan and Sr. Jane Morrissey, Homework House promotes educational success through free, individualized tutoring and mentoring for children. Featuring a program that will highlight the stories of Homework House alumni, parents, and stakeholders, the breakfast will reflect on the powerful work of the past 10 years while looking forward to Homework House’s continued growth.

The breakfast is free for guests and will feature a focused ask for donations at its culmination. Community members interested in attending the event or taking a leadership role as a table captain can register by visiting www.homeworkhousetenth.com.

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move
Robert Pura

Robert Pura

Greenfield Community College (GCC) President Robert Pura announced he will retire in June 2018 after 17½ years of service to the college and community. During his opening-day remarks to GCC’s faculty and staff on Aug. 31, Pura reflected on many things that the college community has achieved since he arrived in 2000, including:

• Creating the Testing Center, Wellness Center, Advising Center, Vet Center, and the Department Studios, as well as work with the courts and the jail, creation of the GCC Food Pantry, and development of the Senior Symposia;

• Experiencing extensive building renovations to the north and south wings, a new roof and weatherization of the East Building, and creation of the Greenhouse, the Outdoor Learning Lab, and the new Core building; and

• With the GCC Foundation, raising a total of $14 million, awarding 139 scholarships last spring, building the endowment to $5 million, among other accomplishments.

In addition to 39 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in the Massachusetts community-college system, the past 17 as president of Greenfield Community College, Pura is also a graduate of a community college. As the first in his family to attend college and the child of an immigrant, he said he understands what a community-college education can mean to students. “Opening the doors to higher education to all who aspire to a better life for themselves and their families while at the same time maintaining high academic standards is the noblest mission in higher education.” The GCC board will assemble a search committee, with the goal of choosing a new president within a year.

•••••

Chris Mader

Chris Mader

OMG Roofing Products has promoted Chris Mader to the position of technical services manager. In his new role, Mader will manage the day-to-day activities of the Technical Services department, which oversees building-code and approval issues, product-application issues, as well as technical customer-support activities. In addition, he will manage the technical-support team of Andy Cleveland and Stephen Childs. He reports to Josh Kelly, vice president and general manager. Mader started with OMG Roofing Products in 2011 as a codes and approvals support engineer. Since then, he has worked extensively with OMG’s private-label customers and code and approval officials both in North America and abroad, helping with product evaluation, developing technical product specifications, and maintaining code approvals and keeping abreast of technical changes and advancements in the commercial roofing industry. Prior to joining OMG, he was a manufacturing engineer with Hamilton Sundstrand. Mader is a member of the National Roofing Contractors Assoc., the Single-Ply Roofing Industry, and the Roof Consultants Institute. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UMass Dartmouth and a master’s degree in engineering management from Western New England University.

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Ralph Thresher

Ralph Thresher

Ralph Thresher has joined Webber & Grinnell Insurance as a loss-control consultant. He has more than 30 years of experience as a loss-control specialist. Through his expertise, Thresher has helped companies reduce their losses through policy and regulation implementation. In his most recent position with L.E. Mahoney/Wheeler & Taylor Inc., he worked with clients’ management teams to create a safer work environment through the evaluation of their existing safety policies and procedures, performing safety surveys of their work sites, and making recommendations to reduce accidents and improve regulatory compliance.

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Jessica Laporte

Jessica Laporte

Anthony Worden

Anthony Worden

Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Co-operative Bank, announced the promotions of Jessica Laporte to administrative officer and Anthony Worden to senior vice president, commercial loans. Laporte has been with the bank since 2013, and in her new role, she is primarily responsible for directing Bank Secrecy Act and fraud-monitoring efforts. She has more than 16 years of banking experience and is currently completing her bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University. She is based in the bank’s King Street, Northampton office. Worden has been with Greenfield Co-operative Bank since 2009. He will be primarily responsible for the management of the bank’s commercial-lending efforts. He has more than 18 years of commercial-lending and credit-analysis experience. He received his bachelor’s and MBA degrees from UMass Amherst and is a graduate of the Banking School at the Wharton School of Business.

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The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced that Christopher Matteson has joined the EANE team as grant developer. He will work with EANE members to train and develop their workforces using funding secured from targeted grant sources. He brings more than 10 years of experience — primarily in the areas of manufacturing, healthcare, and social services — to his role at EANE. Matteson will spearhead the October initiative to generate awareness for Massachusetts-based companies in workforce-training opportunities, and will outline strategies and trends for significant funding resources. Two lunch programs will be held: one in EANE’s Auburn office on Tuesday, Oct. 3, and the other in Agawam on Friday, Oct. 6. Both programs run from noon to 1:30 p.m., and businesses and organizations can register at no charge by contacting Matteson at [email protected]. EANE has facilitated numerous grants — close to $2 million in total, with several grants ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 — for members to increase job retention, growth, and wages; to foster more productive and competitive companies; and to increase commitments to private investment in training. Matteson spent more than eight years with the 500-member advocacy group the Rhode Island Manufacturers Assoc. and its nonprofit arm, the Rhode Island Manufacturing Institute, most recently as vice president and chief operating officer. In that position, he maintained member services, developed strong relationships with manufacturers, and created training programs in partnership with universities, community colleges, and local training providers. He developed several manufacturing apprenticeship programs which led to dozens of new hires for manufacturers, and spearheaded a program for Rhode Island called “Dream It, DO IT,” which is a national initiative charged with increasing the positive awareness of manufacturing as a career choice. Matteson also spent several years in social-service positions and mental-health community-action programs dealing with sex offenders, fire setters, and substance abusers, where he implemented behavior-modification and managed-treatment programs. Matteson has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from Rhode Island College and will complete his project management professional (PMP) certification in October at Bryant University. He has served on the advisory boards of Davies Career and Technical School, North Kingston High School, and East Providence Career and Technical School. He is a member of the National Assoc. of Workforce Development Professionals. He also serves on the board of directors for St. Mary’s Home for Children, a nonprofit agency offering comprehensive treatment programs for boys and girls traumatized by abuse or experiencing the challenges of psychiatric disorders.

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Tighe & Bond, an engineering and environmental consulting firm, announced the recent addition of three senior environmental professionals to its team:

• Christopher Koelle is a Connecticut licensed environmental professional (LEP) and project manager with 19 years of experience providing environmental-consulting services for a wide range of large and smaller-scale multi-disciplinary projects. This includes environmental assessment, hazardous building material (HBM) surveys, site development and redevelopment of brownfields, remediation, HBM abatement, and facility demolition. Koelle’s projects have involved assessment and remediation of PCBs, petroleum, solvents, and metals at both federally and state-regulated sites. He is known for developing innovative approaches to site assessment and remediation that have yielded significant savings at a multitude of sites across Connecticut. Koelle earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Lehigh University, and his master’s in environmental science from the University of New Haven. He works out of the firm’s Middletown office, Conn. office;

• Shawn Rising is a Massachusetts licensed site professional (LSP) and project manager with more than 19 years of experience providing environmental-consulting services for a wide range of diverse projects throughout New England. He provides site assessment, remediation, due-diligence services, and environmental permitting. In addition, he has designed and implemented a variety of remedial programs for the treatment of oil and hazardous materials impacts to soil and groundwater under various regulatory programs. Rising has managed numerous waste site cleanup projects throughout the Northeast, with a focus on petroleum site assessment and remediation. In addition, he has substantial experience with facility compliance in the petroleum industry. Rising also has managed several large-scale due-diligence projects, supporting the acquisition of up to 300 properties under single-portfolio transaction. Currently he is providing LSP services for the closure of the former Mt. Tom power plant in Holyoke. Rising earned his bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in chemistry, from Westfield State University. He works primarily out of the firm’s Westfield office, routinely providing support to many other Tighe & Bond offices; and

• Daniel Williams is a senior environmental-compliance specialist with more than 27 years of experience in industrial health and safety, as well as regulatory compliance. His expertise includes development and support for process-safety management; risk-management programs; environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs; and various OSHA, EPA, and state environmental-compliance standards. Williams has developed, coordinated, and managed EHS policies, programs, training, and reporting processes for numerous industrial facilities throughout New England. During this time, he has overseen numerous safety improvements and implemented successful accident- and cost-reduction strategies. He brings a wealth of safety and compliance experience to the firm gained from past positions at industrial facilities in Massachusetts. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in EHS program management from UMass Amherst. He works out of the firm’s Westfield office.

•••••

Michelle Baity

Michelle Baity

BFAIR (Berkshire Family & Individual Resources) announced the appointment of Michelle Baity as director of Human Resources. A key member of the senior leadership team at BFAIR, Michelle brings significant experience and knowledge to the organization. Prior to joining BFAIR, Baity’s human-resource experience includes the past 16 years at Berkshire County ARC, most recently serving as assistant director of Human Resources. During her tenure at Berkshire County ARC, she worked in all capacities within the human-resource field, gaining new responsibilities and skills throughout the years. Prior to her work in human resources, her career was dedicated to the field of human services. Baity holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She is a 2004 graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program. She volunteers for the Berkshire Place as a member of its personnel committee, is the past president of the Reid Middle School PTO, and worked on the city of Pittsfield’s Winter Carnival.

•••••

Elms College added nine new faculty members in accounting, biology, communication sciences and disorders, education, nursing, and social work:

• Sara Smiarowski, an adjunct professor in the Elms MBA program, has been promoted to assistant professor of Accounting. Most recently, she was CFO of Berkshire Brewing Company in South Deerfield, MA. She also held leadership financial roles at Yankee Candle Co. in South Deerfield and Kringle Candle Co. in Bernardston;

• Joining Elms as a lecturer in Biology is Dr. Andrew Rucks. Most recently, Rucks has been a faculty member at American International College in Springfield and a consultant with Westat in Rockville, Md. He previously held faculty positions at Holyoke Community College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, and Western New England College;

• Brittney Carlson and Kathleen Murphy have been hired as assistant professors of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Carlson, who had been an adjunct professor at Elms since January, most recently served as a staff audiologist for VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Since 2004, Murphy has worked in a number of roles for Futures Education, Futures Healthcore in Springfield. She has also served as a speech language pathologist at Stepping Stones Birth to Three Center in Hartford, Conn.; Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton; and Holyoke Public Schools;

• Joining Elms as associate professor of Education is Natalie Dunning, and as lecturer of Education is Shannon Dillard. Dunning had been assistant superintendent for teaching and learning for Freetown-Lakeville Regional Schools in Lakeville since 2013. Prior to that, she was chief academic officer for Springfield Public Schools and K-12 supervisor of science for Providence (R.I.) Public Schools. Dillard has been adjunct faculty in curriculum development at Bay Path University since 2010. Prior to that, she was a clinical faculty member and lecturer at UMass Amherst;

• New faculty in the School of Nursing are Elizabeth Fiscella as associate professor of Nursing, and Deana Nunes as instructor of Nursing. Fiscella most recently served as an associate professor of Nursing at Berkshire Community College and as assistant clinical professor of Nursing at UMass. Nunes, a certified wound care nurse at Mercy Wound Care Center in Springfield since 2010, has been a clinical adjunct at Elms College since 2015; and

• William Gilbert has joined the college as assistant professor of Social Work. He has more than 25 years of experience in social work as a clinician, administrator, supervisor, and educator. He has taught at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic; the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn.; the University of Connecticut in West Hartford; and Elms College. His social-services experience includes positions at agencies such as Catholic Charities in Norwich, Conn.; Family Support Services; Community Prevention and Addiction Services Inc. in Willimantic, Conn.; and the Village for Families and Children Inc. in Hartford, Conn.

New Products Give Callaway Plant a Needed Bounce

By
callowaycoverfeature0917b
Cover Story Manufacturing Sections

A New Spin

Vince Simonds

Vince Simonds stands by the Truvis V machine with one of the products of the same name.

Over the past century or so, golf balls — and golf-ball history — have been made in Chicopee. Indeed, the sprawling plant on Meadow Street that once bore the name ‘Spalding’ and now ‘Callaway’ has been home to a number of innovations and new products. In recent years, though, that tradition — not to mention the number of workers at the plant — has been in decline. However, a new and exciting golf-ball design is changing the landscape, in all kinds of ways.

They’re calling it the Truvis V.

That’s the name given to a large, sophisticated piece of machinery recently installed at the sprawling Callaway plant in Chicopee. It was built to carefully place the 12 pentagons that have become the distinctive design pattern for the Truvis golf ball, as well as the Callaway name and the player number, all in accordance with USGA rules and regulations.

This machine is cutting-edge when it comes to such work, said Vince Simonds, senior director of Global Golf Ball Operations for Callaway, adding that it packs as much symbolism as it does science and technology.

Indeed, the Truvis V is perhaps the most visible evidence — except for perhaps the soccer-ball-like product the company has developed — of a compelling turnaround in the history of golf-ball manufacturing in Chicopee.

It’s a long history, to be sure, one that dates back to the late 1800s, but recent chapters have certainly not been as glorious. Decades ago, the talk about this plant was mostly reserved to the tens of millions of golf balls produced there annually. Lately, though, it’s been about the dwindling numbers of men and women working inside; decades ago, more than 1,000 people were employed at the plant, and only a few years ago that number dipped below the century mark.

It’s now at or near 200 and steadily climbing, and there were essentially two catalysts for that growth. The first was the arrival of Chip Brewer as the company’s president and CEO in 2012, a move that energized Callaway in many ways, Simonds noted. The second was the development of the Chrome Soft golf ball, or the “ball that changed the ball,” as the company says in its marketing materials.

This became the ball that essentially changed the fortunes of the Chicopee plant as well, Simonds went on, adding that the product has helped Callaway become the number-two ballmaker in the world (well behind the leader, Titleist), and it has also spurred those growing employment numbers in Chicopee.

The ‘Made in Chicopee’ banner at the Callaway plant

The ‘Made in Chicopee’ banner at the Callaway plant has new meaning these days.

And the Truvis model of the Chrome Soft is a very big part of this improved and still-changing picture.

It is still relatively new — it’s been on the market for a few years now — and no one on the PGA Tour is using it yet (more on that later), although Tom Watson is using it on the Champions Tour for players over age 50. But it is certainly catching on among amateurs.

As the name implies, the ball’s claim to fame is that is it is easier to see and enables players to focus better. The product has won some supporters among older players, said Dan Gomez, director of Golf Ball Supply Chain at the Chicopee operation, and among the younger clientele as well, who see is as a break from golf’s staid (some would say stuffy) image.

“It’s something new and different, and some would argue that’s just what’s needed in golf right now,” said Simonds.

The response has been so good that Callaway is having a hard time keeping up with demand. In fact, it isn’t keeping up.

“We’re capacity-constrained right now,”Gomez said with a laugh. “We’ve been sold out on this product for two years; everything we make goes right out — we can’t make enough of them.”

This development explains the Truvis V, but also the fact that space has cleared on the production floor for several more of these machines, and the company plans to add 30 to 40 more workers to operate them.

Indeed, Callaway is quite convinced that the strong interest in the Truvis ball does not represent a fad, like colored golf balls were when first introduced 40 years ago, but rather a business it can build on for years to come. And it is investing heavily in new equipment and plant reconfiguration.

It is also taking very necessary steps to ensure that it will have workers to staff those machines in the years to come. Like all manufacturers, Callaway is having a difficult time finding qualified help, and it is forging (that’s an industry term) relationships with area technical schools to help create a better pipeline.

Part of this relationship building involves tours — officials at Springfield Technical Community College recently visited, for example — designed to impress upon schools and the young people they educate that golf-ball making is alive and well in Chicopee.

And that’s something that really couldn’t have been said just a few years ago.

Round Numbers

Speaking of history, there is quite a bit of it on display, literally, in a row of cases in the hallway leading from the executive offices to the main production floor at the Callaway plant.

There’s more than two centuries of golf-ball technology and product developments behind the glass, including a reproduction of a ‘feathery,’ an 18th-century product that, as the name might suggest, was essentially leather-covered feathers. There’s also some gutta percha balls, or ‘gutties,’ as they were called — products used in the 1800s that were made from dried gum resin from guttiferous trees — as well as dozens of balls from the 20th and 21st centuries with the Spalding name on them, as well as those of several subsidiaries acquired over the years.

There’s even a ball that commemorates the historic moon shot, or moon golf shot, taken by Alan Shepard during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971. (Simonds said there is some ambiguity as to just which brand of ball Shepard used for his famous lunar 6-iron, but he signed a promotional deal with Spalding soon after his return from that mission.)

Dan Gomez, left, and Vince Simonds show off some of the Chrome Soft products that have changed the dynamic at the Chicopee plant.

Dan Gomez, left, and Vince Simonds show off some of the Chrome Soft products that have changed the dynamic at the Chicopee plant.

Further down the hall, there is another display case. Its top rows are currently populated with a number of variations on the Truvis theme — meaning a host of color schemes and a few speciality balls, such as one produced for Australian pro Mark Leishman that has the shape of Australia printed inside the pentagons.

There are rows of empty racks waiting to be filled, as well as the confidence that they will be — something that probably didn’t exist just a few years ago.

Indeed, as he talked about Callaway’s acquisition of Spalding’s assets, including the Chicopee plant, in 2003, Simonds said the ensuing years were certainly not what the leaders at that company hoped they would be.

The company’s consistently sluggish performance in the golf-ball business was coupled with the fact that it was overcapitalized — actually, way overcapitalized — especially with regard to the sprawling Chicopee plant, which was much too big for the company’s needs.

Out of necessity, Callaway downsized and rightsized, said Simonds, adding that it sold the Chicopee plant and is currently leasing back roughly 275,000 square feet, maybe one-quarter the footprint of the original facility.

The rightsizing coincided with Brewer’s arrival as president and CEO of the company and the introduction of new products, especially the Chrome Soft, which is essentially technology that enables lower-compression golf balls to perform as well as higher-compression balls years ago.

These developments led to a dramatic increase in market share — from just over 7% in 2013 to more than 14% at present — which has in turn fueled investments in new product development, and especially the Truvis.

Today, the company is making 200,000 to 250,000 balls a day, and the workforce has steadily grown over the past few years to roughly the 200 mark, about a 50% increase, with more hiring planned, primarily in response to the strong early performance of the Truvis.

“It’s been a phenomenal success,” said Simonds, adding quickly that the company has taken steps, patent-wise (from both a manufacturing and design standpoint), in efforts to protect itself from competitors developing something similar, something he believes they’ll try to do.

At present, there are black pentagons on yellow (popular with fans of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Steelers) and red-on-white options in this country, and a blue-on-white model sold in Japan, he went on, adding that there have been a number of custom orders as well, including green on white for Dick’s Sporting Goods, white on pink for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Mother’s Day, and red maple leaves to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Canada.

The response has been so strong — those balls shipped to Canada sold out quickly — that Callaway has mapped out an ambitious, three-year capital expansion plan to produce the balls.

The Truvis V, as noted, is merely the first of many that will be installed at the Chicopee plant.

And this is very specialized, and expensive, equipment.

“This is an involved process,” Simonds explained. “When you think about stamping such a large design on a spherical object … you have to distort the artwork so that it doesn’t look distorted on the ball. And we’ve developed some techniques to purposefully and mathematically distort the artwork so that, when it’s placed on the ball, it looks normal.”

Another challenge will be finding qualified individuals to operate these machines, he said, adding that this is why the company is reaching out to STCC and the technical high schools in the area, with the goal of establishing relationships and putting Callaway back on the radar screen for young people looking for career opportunities.

In the meantime, Callaway officials look forward to the day — and they predict it will come — when a PGA tour regular starts playing the Truvis, a development that would give the ball a huge boost in terms of both exposure and credibility.

“Most of the tour pros have them, and they use them for chipping and practicing,” Simonds explained. “But most PGA tour pros are too traditionalist to put those in play. But I think it will happen someday.”

Growth Patterns

There’s another item of interest on the shop floor to the administrative offices at the Callaway plant.

It’s a large banner hanging from a utility duct that features images of the Chrome Soft ball, with the Truvis product well-represented. Above those images, in large white letters, are the words ‘Made in Chicopee, MA.’

Such banners and such words have been seen at the plant for decades, obviously, but today, there is more meaning behind them, more optimism, and more promise, if you will.

A plant that has made a good deal of golf balls — and a great deal of golf-ball history — is entering a new era in which it will produce more of both.

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

CIC Celebrates 25 Years of Uplifting Moments

By
cicfeature-0917b
Manufacturing Sections

Moving Experience

Company President Carol Campbell shows off new CIC’s new 40-60 Hoist.

Company President Carol Campbell shows off new CIC’s new 40-60 Hoist.

When Chicopee Industrial Contractors (CIC) officially marked a quarter-century in business a few months back, it did so with an elaborate open house at its headquarters in Chicopee.

This meant that a good number of those invited — especially a host of the company’s best customers — had to rely on their car’s navigation systems to get them to the ceremonies.

That’s because, for starters, they’d almost certainly never been there before — and also because this business is not exactly easy to find. Indeed, North Chicopee Street is a dead-end road in the northwest corner of the city, not far from Route 391. Meanwhile, the company’s facility is a somewhat non-descript building, with its claim to fame being that it housed Hampden Brewing Co., maker of Hampden Ale, decades ago.

Those customers, most all of them manufacturers — although there are some other sectors in the mix, including area municipalities — don’t come to CIC, because it comes to them, specializing, as it does, in rigging, heavy lifting, machinery moving, machine installation, millwrighting, machine repair, plant relocations, and more.

Once they found the place, open-house attendees could see that the company boasts a large inventory of equipment, space to store machinery for some customers, a training room where employees hone both technical and soft skills (more on that later), and even a large picture of the property with the Hampden Brewery sign on the roof.

Most of the guests probably won’t be back until there’s another round-number anniversary, said Carol Campbell, the company’s energetic president and CEO, who told BusinessWest that she’s marking her anniversary, in part, with steps and strategic planning to ensure that there are such occasions.

“We’ve done some looking back at where we’ve been and what we’ve accomplished,” she said of anniversary celebrations that officially began in February. “But we’re really looking ahead to what we need to do as a company. We want to be here in another 25 years.

“And what we really need to do is build on our strengths, and there any many of those,” she went on, “while also making ourselves more versatile and better-equipped to take on more kinds of jobs.”

There is much that goes into that phrase ‘better-equipped,’ including initiatives such as the company’s most recent acquisition, a 40/60 Hoist, as it’s called. The numbers reflect the fact that can handle loads of 40,000 to 60,000 pounds, and Hoist is both the name of the manufacturer and a description of what it does.

The machinery was acquired to give CIC more flexibility and the ability to work more efficiently, said Campbell, adding that it’s a solid investment in the company’s future.

As are other measures that fall into that category of being ‘better equipped,’ such as the many training programs carried out in a classroom carved out of space on the building’s second floor and other efforts to build and strengthen the CIC team.

“What makes CIC unique is that this is a group of individuals, brought together by skills, that believe in the company,” she told BusinessWest. “And they not only believe in our mission and our vision — they believe in CIC. It’s not ‘Carol Campbell’s company,’ it’s CIC, and that became apparent at our open house.”

The new piece of wall art at Chicopee Industrial Contractors tells a compelling story.

The new piece of wall art at Chicopee Industrial Contractors tells a compelling story.

But while Campbell said the 25th anniversary was a chance for her to thank customers such as Lenox, Smith & Wesson, Olympic Manufacturing, and others, as well as that team she talked about in such glowing terms, that second constituency turned the tables and thanked her with a gift.

This was a sculpture of sorts — a collection of the various tools of this trade (turnbuckles, chains, wrenches, and even a bottle opener as a nod to the building’s past as a brewery) welded into something approximating the number ‘25.’

Now holding down a prominent piece of wall space at CIC headquarters, the artwork is symbolic in that those tools, and employees’ mastery of them, made ‘25’ possible. This is a success formula that Campbell won’t be changing — but she may add some new ingredients to ensure that higher numbers can be reached.

Weighty Matters

As she talks about economic cycles, and especially downturns, both modest and severe, Campbell does so with tremendous recall and attention to detail.

Most people who have a business within the construction sector or who have a customer base dominated by manufacturers have such ability, and for good reason. Those are sectors that are among the most vulnerable to recessions, and, as noted, CIC is tied to both.

So she speaks from experience, and lots of it, when she says her business is what she calls a ‘lagger.’ That’s not a real word, but one nonetheless often used to describe a business that lags behind others when a recession hits. And that’s because there’s work to do soon after the economy turns south.

For CIC, that work translates into handling assignments for companies that are downsizing — or worse, as in closing their doors.

After work of this nature is done, then the recession hits for CIC. Which means that, while the phones stopped ringing at most businesses just a few hours after the planes struck the Twin Towers on 9/11, they didn’t really stop ringing at CIC until several months later. And it was the same later in the decade; while 2008, the height of the Great Recession, was the year of doom for most businesses, it was 2009 for CIC.

But while the declines come later, they are still profound, said Campbell, adding that one of her goals as she looks at what’s ahead for CIC is to reduce the impact of such declines, or, in other words, make the ups and downs (or at the least the downs) less dramatic.

This will be difficult, given the nature of the customer base and the general portfolio of products and services, but initiatives such as the new 40/60 Hoist will certainly help, she said.

In the meantime, the company will look to make itself more of a force when the economy is doing relatively well. And this involves sticking to the playbook first drafted in 1992, the one that enabled that sculpture to take the shape it did, and making the team carrying out those plays even stronger.

Elaborating, Campbell said one of her priorities moving forward is securing leadership for the future — at all levels.

“As we’ve brought new employees on from 10 years ago and 12 years ago, and even some of the more recent additions from the past few years, we’ve trained them to take leadership roles,” she explained. “So as we say ‘goodbye’ and ‘thank you’ to our senior staff, leadership can be transferred to that younger generation.”

And while developing leadership abilities, the company is continually building upon the skills of its team members, one of the keys to its ongoing success, Campbell noted, adding that this was one of the matters she’s stressed to employees as the company has marked 25 years in business.

“I told them that we got here by continuing to sharpen our skills, whether it be our technical skills or our soft skills,” she said, while noting that the latter, which involves team interaction with customers, is just as important as the former. “This has certainly served us well, and we will continue on that path.”

One of the biggest challenges the company faces moving forward is securing enough talented workers to handle the various types of assignments CIC undertakes.

Campbell said she has struggled for many years now to build the workforce when expansion was possible and needed, and like almost every owner of a manufacturing company or contractor, she’s concerned about the prospect of replacing those workers who will retire in the years to come.

“It’s definitely been a challenge — for us, and for everyone,” she told BusinessWest, adding quickly that the generally frustrating search for talent is not exactly stifling the company’s growth efforts, and it’s certainly not keeping CIC from taking on work. But it is a concern moving forward, and one of the many matters to address as the company ponders what the next 25 can and should be like.

Carrying the Load

As she posed for a few pictures around and on the 40/60 Hoist, Campbell looked ready to put it through its paces.

But she’ll leave that to her talented, experienced crews.

Instead, she’ll continue to do what she’s done from the start — manage, do some selling, build relationships, be active within the community and, most important, set a tone for the company she founded.

That would be a tone of continuous improvement and performing well as a team — something her father, Vic Fusia, who coached the UMass Amherst football team in the ’60s, would certainly appreciate.

Those attributes are responsible for the sculpture now gracing the hallway of the old brewery in Chicopee, and they’re the ones that will carry the company to new milestones — and moving experiences of all kinds.

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

Expo Will Help Attendees Work on Their Business

By
Features

Learning Opportunities

expologo2017webIt’s often said that business owners and managers are good at what they do, good at their particular business, but not necessarily good at — well, fill in the blank.

And there are many things to fill in that blank with, from information technology (and how to make the most of it) to employee benefits; from social media to ever-changing employment laws. There are dozens more ways to fill in the blank, as anyone doing business in today’s ultra-challenging environment can attest.

That’s why experts in such matters are so valuable. And that’s also why the 2017 Business & Innovation Expo of Western Mass., set for Nov. 2 at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, will feature a host of experts.

They will have ‘a seat at the table,’ to borrow a popular phrase from business, and those attending the Expo can have one as well.

Indeed, there will be a number of  industry-expert panelists, as well as ‘Ask an Expert’ roundtables that present attendees with an opportunity to have a small-group, 45-minute session with regional industry leaders. (Space is limited to 10 at each ‘Ask an Expert’ table, and pre-registration is required at www.wmbexpo.com.

Overall, the show’s many programs are designed to help attendees become more innovative and work ‘on’ their business, not merely in it.

“Innovation comes in many forms,” said BusinessWest Associate Publisher Kate Campiti. “It might mean new-product development, new and improved technology, or new ways of doing business. But it also means looking at the many aspects of running a business in different ways, with an eye toward greater efficiency and continuous improvement.

“The Expo will put a premium on all these forms of innovation,” she continued, “and the expert tables, as we’re calling them, are just part of that equation.”

Other elements of the Expo, once again presented by Comcast Business, include a number of seminars with panels of, yes, more experts; robotics demonstrations; presentations from area technical high schools focused on how they’re readying students for the jobs of today and tomorrow; and much more.

As for the expert roundtables noted above, these will be tables of 10. The presenter will make a brief presentation and then field what will certainly be a host of questions from those filling the other nine seats.

Commitments are still being secured, but at present, experts have signed on to focus on such topics as social media, healthcare reform, employment law, improving public-speaking skills and being more assertive, issues with family businesses, and funding a business venture.

Other elements of the day-long seminar include:

• A fund raising breakfast for Revitalize CDC’s JoinedForces program. The event will take place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on the Expo show floor. The master of ceremonies will be state Rep. Aaron Vega. Revitalize CDC has been supporting veterans for more than 25 years. JoinedForces, in partnership with businesses, civic organizations, and other nonprofit agencies, provides veterans and their families with critical repairs and modifications on their homes to help make them safe, healthy, and energy-efficient. Parking in the Civic Center garage will be validated at the conclusion of the breakfast. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Call (413) 781-8600 for additional information;

• Several educational seminars, including a number of panel discussions. These include a panel addressing common marketing myths, another featuring area media representatives who will discuss how business owners and managers can make better use of the media resources available to them, a seminar titled “How to Build Skills to Help You Succeed,” and other panels addressing cybersecurity and marijuana in the workplace;

• A lunch program, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., featuring keynote speaker Ron Insana, senior analyst and commentator for CNBC, addressing the impact of “Trumponomics.” For ticket information, call (413) 781-8600 or visit www.wmbexpo.com;

• A Retail Marketplace in the atrium of the MassMutual Center. Retail vendors will include LuLaRoe, Springfield Macarons, Springfield Thunderbirds, SKM Jewelers, Sassy Mama’s Delectable Cupcakes, Lipsense, Rodan & Fields, Fork Art, the Shops at Marketplace, and more. In addition, there will be numerous booth demonstrations, giveaways, and specials. For example, Kitchens by Curio will offer virtual-reality demonstrations of their kitchen and bath remodels, Dani Fine Photography will offer a headshot session plus digital images for only $49, and DiGrigoli Salon will return to the Expo with free haircuts and manicures, just to name a few;

• The day-capping Social Expo, sponsored by Xfinity, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. This popular networking event will feature a ‘best in show’ food-sampling competition. Restaurateurs interested in participating should call (413) 781-8600; and

• More than 150 exhibitor booths featuring businesses in virtually every sector of the economy.

In addition to Comcast Business, sponsors include Johnson & Hill Staffing Services and Wild Apple Design Group (executive sponsors), Inspired Marketing (show partner), MGM Springfield (corporate sponsor), Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst (education sponsor), Xfinity (social sponsor), Elms College (information booth sponsor), Smith & Wesson (Workforce Development sponsor), Savage Arms (JoinedForces and Workforce Development parking sponsor), and the Better Business Bureau (contributing sponsor). Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $800. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Real Estate Transactions

By
Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

615 Old Stage Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Noah Hoffenberg
Seller: David A. Soucie
Date: 08/18/17

844 Spruce Corner Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jason W. Rasku
Seller: Robert M. Davidson
Date: 08/18/17

BERNARDSTON

712 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $549,900
Buyer: Thomas Tyminski
Seller: James S. Ruder
Date: 08/15/17

35 Gill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Eric Bliznak
Seller: Allan E. Margeson
Date: 08/11/17

157 Merrifield Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Barbara Massoni
Date: 08/14/17

BUCKLAND

12 Martin Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Chianne P. Hubert
Seller: Dennis D. Smith
Date: 08/18/17

CHARLEMONT

25 Heath Stage Terrace
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Brisson
Seller: Verne W. Bissell TR
Date: 08/18/17

COLRAIN

367 Main Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Leger
Seller: Melissa J. Koncz
Date: 08/15/17

261 West Leyden Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Wroblewski
Seller: Larry R. Hill
Date: 08/11/17

CONWAY

86 River St.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Veronique C. Blanchard
Seller: Brian W. Burke
Date: 08/17/17

DEERFIELD

50 Eastern Ave.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $190,740
Buyer: Jade R. King
Seller: Meredith T. Southergill
Date: 08/18/17

34 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Joseph E. Carey
Seller: Kenneth Kuzontkoski
Date: 08/10/17

8 Porter St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Robyn J. Harris
Seller: L. Neal Grover
Date: 08/11/17

GREENFIELD

45 Birch St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Natascia M. Pica
Seller: Theresa Jenoure
Date: 08/18/17

4 Brookside Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Donald A. Joy
Seller: Rosemary Reardon
Date: 08/10/17

93 Burnham Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Craig R. Wray
Seller: Howard J. Arkush
Date: 08/16/17

68 Cheapside St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Bruce G. Thomas
Seller: Rachel Roy
Date: 08/15/17

55 Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Marc Seedorf
Seller: Chani Craig
Date: 08/09/17

50 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $145,800
Buyer: Shawn Cypher
Seller: Jason W. Rasku
Date: 08/18/17

112 Fairview St, East
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Aleta R. Smith
Seller: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Date: 08/18/17

278 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Karen Baker
Seller: William L. Goly
Date: 08/09/17

227 French King Hwy.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Rachel M. Roy
Seller: Mary M. Dion
Date: 08/15/17

211 Green River Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Daniel J. Stafford
Seller: Ann K. Twohig
Date: 08/18/17

370 Green River Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Erin Nugent
Seller: Penfield INT
Date: 08/15/17

102 James St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Timothy D. Smith-LaClaire
Seller: New Beginning Homes LLC
Date: 08/18/17

49 Madison Circle
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jennifer E. Webster
Seller: Sharon L. Pleasant
Date: 08/18/17

10-24 Miles St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: SMR Greenfield TR
Seller: George A. Spence
Date: 08/16/17

85 Sanderson St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Thomas L. Lark
Seller: Jared M. Nugent
Date: 08/14/17

28 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $158,500
Buyer: Joanne B. Hoyt
Seller: Louis J. Bordeaux
Date: 08/17/17

229 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Iomay C. Gleason
Seller: Daniel J. Brisson
Date: 08/18/17

HEATH

283 Number 9 Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $203,202
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Michael L. Freeman
Date: 08/10/17

LEVERETT

37 Laurel Hill Dr.
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Jeffrey D. Laney
Seller: Sidney J. Poritz
Date: 08/11/17

76 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $276,500
Buyer: Kaitlin A. Schofield
Seller: Lewis, Bradford H., (Estate)
Date: 08/11/17

MONTAGUE

396 Federal St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Thomas Delvan-Dougan
Seller: Tracy Ross
Date: 08/08/17

80 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $180,100
Buyer: Peter P. Doyle
Seller: Thomas M. Markol
Date: 08/16/17

54 Old Stage Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: C. Walker Korby
Seller: Joanne M. O’Neil
Date: 08/17/17

478 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: John P. Frangie
Seller: Linda Johnson
Date: 08/11/17

30 Union St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Philip M. Grandin
Seller: Holly E. Anderson
Date: 08/18/17

NORTHFIELD

1 Gulf Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: George B. Voss
Seller: Stephen P. Kucinski
Date: 08/15/17

20 Pine Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Phillips B. Sherburne
Seller: Pamela S. Haskins
Date: 08/17/17

ORANGE

511 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $230,500
Buyer: Daniel J. Paras
Seller: Craig Blanchard
Date: 08/18/17

29 McKenna St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jacob W. Laurie
Seller: Mary V. Kimball
Date: 08/15/17

332 North Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Anne M. Loiselle
Seller: Chase FT
Date: 08/17/17

SHELBURNE

99 Main St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jenny New RET
Seller: Peggy J. Warwick
Date: 08/16/17

411 Mohawk Trail
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Elisei L. Taraburca
Seller: James R. Wade
Date: 08/15/17

SHUTESBURY

30 Great Pines Dr.
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Mark Rivers
Seller: Anne M. Loiselle
Date: 08/07/17

484 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Brittany Adams
Seller: Roger A. Witter
Date: 08/11/17

SUNDERLAND

84 Old Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Isla S. Castaneda
Seller: Bruce A. Bennett
Date: 08/16/17

WARWICK

51 Orange Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Nancy Sunflower
Seller: Gunnar W. Lambert
Date: 08/14/17

WENDELL

10 Rush Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Melinda Nutter
Seller: Thomas J. Tyminski
Date: 08/17/17

WHATELY

117 Webber Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: David J. Chez
Seller: Richard C. Spencer
Date: 08/14/17

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

67 Charter Oak Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $185,100
Buyer: Yaroslav Moshkovskiy
Seller: Deborah A. Saunders
Date: 08/18/17

43 Coronet Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $216,250
Buyer: Kenneth G. Madeiros
Seller: Andrea E. Flynn
Date: 08/11/17

78 Elmar Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Philip M. Edwards
Seller: Karen Nagel
Date: 08/17/17

49 Florida Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Marilyn Rosario
Seller: Geoffrey J. Creed
Date: 08/08/17

48 Jamie Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jennifer E. Bonavita
Seller: Oleg Abramchuk
Date: 08/10/17

116 Liberty St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Deborah L. Steenhoff
Seller: Justin Rainville
Date: 08/11/17

1194 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Stephen R. Cincotta
Seller: Blake Andrews
Date: 08/11/17

117 Maple St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Joseph T. Martin
Seller: Patriot Living LLC
Date: 08/11/17

1132 North St, Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Kelsey E. Wellman
Seller: Aaron J. Musa
Date: 08/16/17

51 Roberta Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Constance F. Roberts
Seller: Kathleen A. Moore
Date: 08/09/17

208 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $170,560
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Stephen M. Gronski
Date: 08/09/17

250 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Robert M. Hoyle
Seller: Gary Megliola
Date: 08/16/17

129 Tobacco Farm Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $394,900
Buyer: Justin E. Rainville
Seller: Joseph T. Martin
Date: 08/11/17

BRIMFIELD

19 2nd St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Michael P. Gonynor
Seller: Elizabeth Jensen-Maurer
Date: 08/18/17

Palmer Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $549,500
Buyer: Brimfield LLC
Seller: Sentry Services Inc.
Date: 08/11/17

58 Washington Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $129,400
Buyer: Bayview Loan Servicing
Seller: Henry J. Levesque
Date: 08/14/17

CHICOPEE

29 Academy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: James T. Ouimet
Seller: Robert A. Arcott
Date: 08/07/17

37 Beauchamp Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Abdullateef Salman
Seller: Gary A. Leroux
Date: 08/11/17

79 Beaudry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Mai T. Tran
Seller: Waycon Inc.
Date: 08/11/17

696 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $163,400
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Robert R. Giroux
Date: 08/10/17

324 Carew St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Omar AlAttar
Seller: Caroline Moore
Date: 08/11/17

14 Chestnut St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: PFC Investments LLC
Seller: Leclerc Properties LLC
Date: 08/11/17

18 Chestnut St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: PFC Investments LLC
Seller: Leclerc Properties LLC
Date: 08/11/17

30 Daley St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Felicita Cintron-Serrano
Seller: Bayview Loan Servicing
Date: 08/18/17

22 East Street Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Igor Revniuk
Seller: US Bank
Date: 08/17/17

241 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Adam Saleem
Seller: John E. Daigle
Date: 08/08/17

15 Fernwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Zbigniew Korenkiewicz
Seller: Donald A. Gagnon
Date: 08/09/17

85 Freedom St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Hayder AlJebur
Seller: Brenda K. Wilk
Date: 08/11/17

650 James St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Michael E. Mostowski
Seller: Malibu Rentals LLC
Date: 08/08/17

102 Jamrog Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Adam Deliefde
Seller: Carolyn M. Wall
Date: 08/18/17

202 Lafayette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Rayan C. Abdulbaki
Seller: Metras, Patricia A., (Estate)
Date: 08/15/17

171 Langevin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Paul J. Washington
Seller: Henrietta J. Fortin
Date: 08/09/17

63 Laskowski St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Daniel P. Lesperance
Seller: Walter C. Kos
Date: 08/11/17

157 Manning St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: David A. Martins
Seller: Jeffrey J. Bagge
Date: 08/15/17

56 Marion St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Akim Rivera
Seller: Sterste, Margita, (Estate)
Date: 08/17/17

60 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Lillian M. Torres
Seller: George Tarnowski
Date: 08/07/17

732 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Selma Masic
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 08/18/17

128 Medford St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Qusay H. Hawi
Seller: Eugene D. Roux
Date: 08/18/17

11 Morris St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Hayder Al Hamdani
Seller: George A. Bruneault
Date: 08/15/17

108 Nelson St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Abraxas RT
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 08/18/17

44 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Glorister Aviles
Seller: Olas Tleis
Date: 08/15/17

25 Pine St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Valley Opportunity Council
Seller: City Of Chicopee
Date: 08/11/17

94 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $459,000
Buyer: Lavallee Group Inc.
Seller: Maddox Realty LLC
Date: 08/18/17

91 Providence St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Robert J. Arcott
Seller: LTC Enterprises LLC
Date: 08/18/17

59 Roy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Victor M. Colon
Seller: Vitaliy Volkov
Date: 08/11/17

40 Sampson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Thomas Kenney
Seller: Bonita L. Brunelle
Date: 08/11/17

188 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $243,322
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Joseph T. Collins
Date: 08/14/17

67 Streiber Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Short 4u RT
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 08/18/17

69 Wanda St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Shane Brooks
Seller: Donald E. Vitkus
Date: 08/15/17

1576 Westover Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Tyler J. Hadley
Seller: Karen L. Everett
Date: 08/14/17

EAST LONGMEADOW

277 Dwight Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01108
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Matthew L. Streeter
Seller: Wilbraham Builders Inc.
Date: 08/11/17

16 Judy Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jacob E. Werbicki
Seller: Nathan R. Provost
Date: 08/16/17

33 Longview Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $204,500
Buyer: Paul J. Stebbins
Seller: Daniel B. Desilets
Date: 08/18/17

Peachtree Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Sugar Magnolia RT
Seller: Cabot Real Estate LLC
Date: 08/17/17

13 Pilgrim Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Lori A. Chaves
Seller: Nicole Gaudreau
Date: 08/11/17

27 Saint Joseph Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Fawcett
Seller: Nancy Georgantas
Date: 08/11/17

20 Speight Arden
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Old Coach Properties LLC
Seller: Susan B. Hart
Date: 08/07/17

32 Stonehill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $434,900
Buyer: Kelly Landron
Seller: Craig F. Wilson
Date: 08/09/17

68 Timber Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: John P. Rucci
Seller: Eric D. Hagopian
Date: 08/15/17

GRANVILLE

597 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: James R. Shimp-Jylkka
Seller: Melinda J. Wackerbarth
Date: 08/11/17

367 Water St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Birge
Seller: Michael C. Pultz
Date: 08/18/17

HAMPDEN

325 Allen St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Specht
Seller: Teresa Blask
Date: 08/18/17

56 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Maria E. Williams
Seller: Joanne Soares
Date: 08/18/17

261 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Mark Acosta
Seller: Lisa R. Hammerle
Date: 08/14/17

HOLLAND

9 Dug Hill Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Denton A. Berkeley
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 08/07/17

47 Lake Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $337,500
Buyer: Robert Maryyanek
Seller: Daniel Bugnacki
Date: 08/17/17

HOLYOKE

206 Allyn St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Amanda B. Wojcicki
Seller: Christy A. Geffin
Date: 08/15/17

20 Amherst St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $315,500
Buyer: Karen R. Freedman
Seller: Diane M. Defalco
Date: 08/15/17

54-56 Beacon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $896,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Cynthia D. Thomas
Date: 08/18/17

13 Cabot St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,069,650
Buyer: Holyoke TD Realty LLC
Seller: 13 Cabot Street LLC
Date: 08/07/17

84 Chapin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $122,100
Buyer: Gilberto L. Vega-Rios
Seller: Manuel T. Reyes
Date: 08/11/17

11 Clark St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Grisel Cruz
Seller: Gregorio Rosario
Date: 08/18/17

20 Donlee St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Sheila M. Cruz
Seller: Janina Irzyk
Date: 08/11/17

81 Edbert Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Elizabeth M. Lafrance
Seller: Christopher J. Dautel
Date: 08/14/17

23 Evergreen Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Denise M. Quinones
Seller: Pearl J. Jackson
Date: 08/17/17

18 Harrison Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Bernardo Ortiz-Rodriguez
Seller: Paul R. Gallagher
Date: 08/17/17

291 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Coakley Corp
Seller: Ricardo Delvalle
Date: 08/16/17

142 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Grace M. Sullivan
Date: 08/09/17

375 Jarvis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $368,284
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Sarah A. Bidus
Date: 08/15/17

393-399 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Bayview Loan Servicing
Seller: Ernst Pierre-Louis
Date: 08/14/17

51 Merrick Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Devin D. Egan
Seller: Timothy J. Welch
Date: 08/18/17

1653 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Seller: Pamela M. Vantassell
Date: 08/14/17

119 Ridgewood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Daniel F. Goitein
Seller: Robin L. Martins
Date: 08/15/17

200 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $194,500
Buyer: Jonathan M. Brennan
Seller: Isaac Santana
Date: 08/17/17

21 School St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $148,500
Buyer: Lenin Pacheco-Montero
Seller: Katherine Ryan
Date: 08/14/17

56 Sterling Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: David Cavanaugh
Seller: John J. Kelley
Date: 08/11/17

169 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Karen A. Gaulin
Seller: Norma H. Bagnall
Date: 08/11/17

LONGMEADOW

63 Albemarle Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Lina A. Hogan
Seller: July Sanchez
Date: 08/16/17

108 Berwick Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Dawn M. Quercia
Seller: Robert H. Basdekis
Date: 08/17/17

133 Colony Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Ruby Realty LLC
Seller: Thomas J. Lacasse
Date: 08/15/17

7 Farmington Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Rodney Kuntz
Seller: Justin B. Clemow
Date: 08/14/17

124 Longfellow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $506,000
Buyer: Song Zhang
Seller: Brice D. Englert
Date: 08/18/17

201 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Gaurav Narula
Seller: Michael P. Doyle
Date: 08/17/17

944 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Maggie Wang
Seller: FNMA
Date: 08/11/17

64 Meadowlark Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $321,450
Buyer: Luke M. Rutkowski
Seller: Andrea S. Martin
Date: 08/16/17

86 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Benjamin J. Weiss
Seller: Edward J. Barkett
Date: 08/14/17

150 Quinnehtuk Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Ernest Zavalunov
Seller: Clifford Z. Feen
Date: 08/11/17

213 Wolf Swamp Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Jessica Lewis
Seller: Smith, Ruth M., (Estate)
Date: 08/14/17

LUDLOW

501 Alden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Christian C. Gonthier
Seller: James E. Santos
Date: 08/11/17

20 Birch St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Henry Hampton
Seller: Maria Moran
Date: 08/17/17

44 Green St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Matthew Papia
Seller: Keith Fulton
Date: 08/18/17

37 Massachusetts Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Daniele A. Decesare
Seller: Theresa E. Rivest
Date: 08/09/17

76 Pine St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Poomjai A. Pollawit
Seller: Mario P. Santos
Date: 08/15/17

30 Regall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Marble
Seller: Nancy J. Como
Date: 08/17/17

199 Reservoir Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Robert J. Hogan
Seller: Jeannine B. Kwatowski
Date: 08/08/17

57 Russell St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $142,419
Buyer: Abraxas RT
Seller: US Bank
Date: 08/14/17

111 Southwood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Eric Kosciusko
Seller: James Pirog
Date: 08/17/17

149 Waverly Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $364,900
Buyer: Kristen N. Miller
Seller: John S. Lovely
Date: 08/15/17

27 West Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Justin M. Pouliot
Seller: Victor R. Zina
Date: 08/10/17

362 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Gremio Lusitano Inc.
Seller: Manuel S. Tereso
Date: 08/17/17

MONSON

65 Stafford Hollow Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Shawn Bronson
Seller: Christopher Lepoer
Date: 08/18/17

92 Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Kevin Gibney
Seller: Margaret T. Shuemaker
Date: 08/09/17

MONTGOMERY

58 Birch Bluff Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $319,900
Buyer: Christopher Bush
Seller: David A. Hayes
Date: 08/18/17

PALMER

110 Griffin St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $157,234
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Yvan L. Latulippe
Date: 08/16/17

4108-4110 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Yan W. Wu
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 08/14/17

30 King St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Deborah McMillan
Seller: Francesco Cardaropoli
Date: 08/11/17

88 Laurel Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $210,700
Buyer: Kimberly A. Korytko
Seller: Nicholas P. Laliberte
Date: 08/10/17

1528-1530 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Abimael Claudio
Seller: Gary L. Libiszewski
Date: 08/17/17

8 Riverview Pkwy.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $156,600
Buyer: Erin E. Messier
Seller: Robert W. Nicholas
Date: 08/16/17

344 Springfield St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: John J. Mercier
Seller: Carol L. Nelson
Date: 08/07/17

38 Strong St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Teresa R. Guhl
Seller: Elaine M. Kowalczyk
Date: 08/07/17

249 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Matthew P. Desmarais
Seller: JNB Property Investment
Date: 08/16/17

24 Whalen St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Shawn M. Desabrais
Seller: Jose Goncalves
Date: 08/16/17

RUSSELL

225 Huntington Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Kathleen M. Dubour
Seller: Barber, Blanche L., (Estate)
Date: 08/17/17

SOUTHWICK

41 Bungalow St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Robert Bosco
Seller: Clayton A. Cigal
Date: 08/17/17

41 Fernwood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jennifer Rossi
Seller: Michael Tetreault
Date: 08/11/17

19 Honey Pot Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Cedar Investment Group
Seller: Lionel S. Miller
Date: 08/11/17

18 Kimberly Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Carreira
Seller: Jodi H. Wagner
Date: 08/18/17

37 Lauren Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Yevgeniy Saykin
Seller: Richard L. Neipp
Date: 08/11/17

3 Mallard Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Carolyn S. Gagliarducci
Seller: James A. Demeo
Date: 08/16/17

134 North Lake Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Richard J. Anderson
Seller: Jennifer Whitman
Date: 08/14/17

385 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Maloney
Seller: Andrey N. Novenko
Date: 08/11/17

441 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $183,300
Buyer: Bryan G. Wright
Seller: Thomas A. Grabowski
Date: 08/11/17

226 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jaydub LLC
Seller: Danny B. Lombardo
Date: 08/11/17

15 Southwick Hill
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Julia Aloisi
Seller: Rosa Mitchell
Date: 08/10/17

SPRINGFIELD

41 Aberdale Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Michael T. Lynch
Seller: Lori A. Beston
Date: 08/16/17

603 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $147,606
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Sheileen R. Talbot
Date: 08/16/17

333 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Clara H. West
Seller: Lori A. Chaves
Date: 08/11/17

125 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: TSLE LLC
Seller: Springfield BMS Realty
Date: 08/07/17

582-584 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $233,489
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Juan C. Gonzalez
Date: 08/14/17

104 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $163,500
Buyer: Kelley Diederich
Seller: Marissa J. Turnbull
Date: 08/18/17

18 Barry Wills Place
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Katherine E. Conway
Seller: Kristin L. Jacobs
Date: 08/15/17

70-78 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $2,460,000
Buyer: Belmont Ave Holdings LLC
Seller: Sic Infit LLC
Date: 08/09/17

27 Bennington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Inmari Rosario
Seller: Robert Donahue
Date: 08/11/17

55 Benz St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Wilfred Kasilo
Seller: Luis J. Manzi
Date: 08/11/17

34 Berard Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Sergio A. Colon
Seller: Melro Associates Inc.
Date: 08/09/17

965 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Aastha Bansri LLC
Seller: Huang Family Property LLC
Date: 08/18/17

182 Birchland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Yessenia Feliciano
Seller: John T. Olszewski
Date: 08/10/17

8 Blake Hill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: FT Pleasant Holdings LLC
Seller: Sic Infit LLC
Date: 08/09/17

20 California Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Jonathon S. Taylor
Seller: Jeffrey R. Peterson
Date: 08/08/17

89 Calley St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Jennifer E. Banker LT
Seller: Edward Szczepanek
Date: 08/18/17

75 Chapin Terrace
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Julio A. Rodriguez
Seller: Thomas G. Hidalgo
Date: 08/18/17

58 Crawford Circle
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Della Ripa Real Estate
Seller: Frank Depergola
Date: 08/18/17

23 Curtis St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Rita A. Cruz-Maria
Seller: Myriam I. Laboy
Date: 08/16/17

92 Donbray Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Carl J. Shaw
Seller: Butler, Ruth E., (Estate)
Date: 08/11/17

127-129 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jagat Biswa
Seller: Barbara J. Devino
Date: 08/11/17

133 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Joseph H. Reynolds
Seller: Susie S. Chapin
Date: 08/11/17

11 Dunbar St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Edward V. Wrann
Seller: Deanna S. Laffan
Date: 08/17/17

40 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Luz M. Cotto
Seller: Kathleen Weldon
Date: 08/17/17

48 Elwood Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Lay Seng
Seller: Diana Kumisca
Date: 08/18/17

28 Entrybrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Evan J. Donermeyer
Seller: James Niedbala
Date: 08/07/17

51 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: FT Pleasant Holdings LLC
Seller: SIC Infit LLC
Date: 08/09/17

59 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: FT Pleasant Holdings LLC
Seller: Sic Infit LLC
Date: 08/09/17

32-1/2 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Tabernaculo Cristiano
Seller: Antim LLC
Date: 08/07/17

38-40 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Tabernaculo Cristiano
Seller: Antim LLC
Date: 08/07/17

38 Ina St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,280
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Gerald R. Cottle
Date: 08/14/17

21 Josephine St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Joseph A. Ogoley
Seller: Michael P. Verteramo
Date: 08/07/17

72 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Mercy Jenkins
Seller: FP Realty LLC
Date: 08/17/17

101 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Jasnia Realty LLC
Seller: Hampden Realty LLC
Date: 08/17/17

107 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Jasnia Realty LLC
Seller: Hampden Realty LLC
Date: 08/17/17

107-109 Kent Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Musiak
Seller: Christine E. Porcello
Date: 08/09/17

113 Littleton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $131,500
Buyer: Jacqueline Martinez
Seller: Steven O. Chapman
Date: 08/10/17

47-49 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Gilberto Vargas
Seller: Furman, Rose H., (Estate)
Date: 08/15/17

50 Madison Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Alexander Rodriguez
Seller: Tania I. Ruiz
Date: 08/18/17

106 Meadowlark Lane
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Kim M. Charles
Seller: Cheryl A. Chavis
Date: 08/18/17

27 Mountainview St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $151,500
Buyer: Israel R. Willard
Seller: Shawn A. Rairigh
Date: 08/15/17

114 Oklahoma St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Gisele M. Daggett
Seller: Jacob E. Werbicki
Date: 08/16/17

89 Park Road
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Miguel A. Alvarado
Seller: Boduch, Henrietta, (Estate)
Date: 08/08/17

54 Patton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: AMRAP LLC
Seller: Calhoun Properties Inc.
Date: 08/08/17

386 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Ashley B. Weisse
Seller: Timber Development LLC
Date: 08/09/17

24 Puritan Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Edwin Irizarry
Seller: Michael W. Mettey
Date: 08/14/17

59 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Edwin Lopez
Seller: John A. Teague
Date: 08/18/17

129 Spruceland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Jesse Lederman
Seller: Jeffrey S. Moores
Date: 08/15/17

685 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Jasnia Realty LLC
Seller: Springfield Homes LLC
Date: 08/17/17

42 Sterns Terrace
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Francis A. Dutton
Date: 08/11/17

104 Sunapee St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Linda N. Dockery
Seller: William Raleigh
Date: 08/18/17

77 Sunrise Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: David T. Cioch
Seller: Eric S. Dymnicki
Date: 08/17/17

96 Vadnais St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Domenico Fratamico
Seller: Antonic LLC
Date: 08/15/17

343-345 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: FV 1 Inc.
Seller: Kellie Lynch
Date: 08/14/17

12 Wells St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Adam R. Morrison
Seller: Donald Wiswall TR
Date: 08/15/17

21 Westbank Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Benjamin A. Marotte
Seller: Maureen A. Marotte
Date: 08/15/17

169 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Keith R. Sheppard
Seller: Eva Brown
Date: 08/14/17

31 Wing St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: David Barrera
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 08/09/17

45 Wing St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $127,920
Buyer: Bank Of New York Mellon
Seller: Jeffrey R. Rostron
Date: 08/15/17

TOLLAND

38 Ridge Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Frederick J. Borys
Seller: Guy P. Prairie
Date: 08/11/17

WALES

100 Monson Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Diane L. Monette
Seller: Philip J. Jean
Date: 08/11/17

68 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Diane L. Monette
Seller: Philip J. Jean
Date: 08/11/17

WEST SPRINGFIELD

28 Almon Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $212,900
Buyer: Jeffrey Marini
Seller: Dean R. Dupre
Date: 08/11/17

235 Ashley St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $154,461
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: Michael K. Moore
Date: 08/09/17

192 Bear Hole Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $233,900
Buyer: Brenda X. Chavez
Seller: Citizens Bank
Date: 08/16/17

150 Butternut Hollow Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Nicholas Alfano
Seller: Earl J. Haubenreiser
Date: 08/17/17

309 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $169,700
Buyer: Bayview Loan Servicing
Seller: MP Consulting Inc.
Date: 08/14/17

62 Fairview Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: AGA Properties LLC
Seller: Lori A. Smith
Date: 08/17/17

158 Falmouth Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jonathan Chretien
Seller: Kyle W. Gibbons
Date: 08/07/17

395 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $209,500
Buyer: Michael M. Nelson
Seller: Jeffrey W. Manijak
Date: 08/07/17

85 Lewis Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Seidell Realty LLC
Seller: Joanne G. Walsh
Date: 08/11/17

122 Nelson St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Katherine S. Shallbetter
Seller: Wanat, Elaine M., (Estate)
Date: 08/18/17

112 Partridge Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $394,500
Buyer: Adam A. Tebaldi
Seller: Debra A. Whiting
Date: 08/16/17

33 Pebble Path Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael S. Pooler
Seller: Groll, Frederick F., (Estate)
Date: 08/10/17

314 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Peter Mones
Seller: V. Mortgage REO 2 LLC
Date: 08/17/17

83 Sibley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Isaac Santana
Seller: Jose Ramos
Date: 08/18/17

WESTFIELD

58 Bayberry Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Robert Henrichon
Seller: Karin L. Leonard
Date: 08/11/17

90 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $229,500
Buyer: Todd S. Cieplinski
Seller: Vanessa E. Beattie
Date: 08/15/17

309 Buck Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Manuel J. Minchala-Tacuri
Seller: Edward Kolenda
Date: 08/18/17

84 Cardinal Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Michael Graveline
Seller: Thomas W. Humphrey
Date: 08/18/17

25 Cleveland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Samantha Gulsvig
Seller: Gregory A. Towers
Date: 08/11/17

109 Glenwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Thomas I. Wilson
Seller: Peter J. Fiore
Date: 08/11/17

34 Holland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Koehler
Seller: Janice M. Parisi
Date: 08/18/17

5 Lathrop Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Ziad N. Kutayli
Seller: David E. Koerber
Date: 08/09/17

5 Lathrop Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Ziad N. Kutayli
Seller: David Koerber
Date: 08/16/17

419 Little River Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $266,500
Buyer: Kimberly A. Bond
Seller: Theodore M. Buynicki
Date: 08/16/17

40 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Blythewood Property Management
Seller: Stephen C. Poteat
Date: 08/10/17

8 Morris St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Erika Casiano
Seller: Gary J. Snyder
Date: 08/11/17

68 Old Quarry Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Stephanie N. Alvarez
Seller: Christopher M. Bush
Date: 08/18/17

70 Turnpike Industrial Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $3,612,500
Buyer: 70 Turnpike Owner SPE LLC
Seller: Spirit SPE Portfolio 2006
Date: 08/14/17

251 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $740,000
Buyer: Upper Pomeroy Enterprises
Seller: Mecca Property LLC
Date: 08/10/17

144 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $287,900
Buyer: Patrick J. Kiendzior
Seller: Dan W. Gordner
Date: 08/14/17

213 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Krystal A. Kozikowski
Seller: Cynthia J. Gallant
Date: 08/09/17

229 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Aimee L. Goguen
Seller: Jennifer L. Sady
Date: 08/11/17

WILBRAHAM

6 Catherine Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Michael W. Pelletier
Seller: Michael C. Mannix
Date: 08/07/17

26 Bittersweet Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $367,500
Buyer: Michael P. Verteramo
Seller: Paul J. Stebbins
Date: 08/18/17

64 Brainard Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jennifer Assad
Seller: Mikiel Setian
Date: 08/15/17

15 Circle Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $142,501
Buyer: High Ridge Real Estate
Seller: Gipssy S. McKenzie
Date: 08/18/17

12 Dalton St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Justin Jones
Seller: Evelyn Blanco
Date: 08/15/17

638 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $311,000
Buyer: Joshua M. Laflamme
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 08/18/17

540 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $259,865
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Janice B. Bogdahn
Date: 08/14/17

23 Oldwood Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $412,000
Buyer: Chad A. McLeod
Seller: Deirdre M. Barbeau
Date: 08/17/17

7 Railroad Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Shannon Court LLC
Seller: George J. Scarfe
Date: 08/18/17

2 South Park Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: James A. Coletta
Seller: Mary T. Petrone
Date: 08/14/17

40 Stonegate Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $429,500
Buyer: Nicholas P. Laliberte
Seller: Edward K. Ryter
Date: 08/08/17

Stonington Dr. #5
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Michael J. Thompson
Seller: Silo Farm Associates LLC
Date: 08/15/17

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

24 Canton Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Historical Enterprises
Seller: Doris R. Drake
Date: 08/09/17

34 Canton Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Amanda J. Balarezo
Seller: Stephen J. Frasier
Date: 08/11/17

155 East Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $382,500
Buyer: Andrew R. Reiter
Seller: 220 North East Street LLC
Date: 08/18/17

459 Flat Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Brianna L. Sunryd
Seller: Genglin Li
Date: 08/11/17

124 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Marmanis Sayegh LLC
Seller: Richard A. Mears
Date: 08/18/17

24 Hickory Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Paul C. Roud
Seller: Martin Espada
Date: 08/09/17

Lindenridge Road #24
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Bercume Construction LLC
Seller: Tofino Associates LLC
Date: 08/11/17

167 Montague Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jason R. Aldrich RET
Seller: Janna L. Aldrich
Date: 08/15/17

1436 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Philip B. Torrey
Seller: Augie Tidlund
Date: 08/08/17

215 Sunset Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $324,900
Buyer: Kilerine Properties LLC
Seller: Marcos Y. Kleinerman
Date: 08/17/17

10 Wildflower Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $371,000
Buyer: Stephen J. Frasier
Seller: Robert E. Levin
Date: 08/10/17

BELCHERTOWN

75 Alden Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: Gloria Lopez
Seller: Steven R. Harvey
Date: 08/08/17

23 Blacksmith Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Paul B. Morris
Seller: Todd W. Bergstrom
Date: 08/15/17

19 Chauncey Walker St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $220,800
Buyer: Martha A. Scott
Seller: NSP Residential LLC
Date: 08/10/17

471 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Michael D. Schwendenmann
Seller: Stephen J. Grader
Date: 08/17/17

19 Fletcher Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Matthew W. Reynolds
Seller: Kozak FT
Date: 08/17/17

785 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Daniel Alley
Seller: Robert P. Wawro Sr. FT
Date: 08/10/17

42 Jabish St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Gary P. Gougeun
Seller: Joseph F. Sarno
Date: 08/17/17

530 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jesse J. Danek
Seller: Michael H. Rosen
Date: 08/11/17

85 Turkey Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Kimberly Wright
Seller: Kevin R. Green
Date: 08/18/17

EASTHAMPTON

65 Clark St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Robert F. Tremble RET
Seller: Josh M. Ley
Date: 08/17/17

115 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $379,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Barbara A. Marczyk
Date: 08/09/17

13-15 Exeter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $247,900
Buyer: Laura F. Arbeitman
Seller: New City Properties LLC
Date: 08/16/17

198 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Pasqualina Azzarello
Seller: Amy B. Davis
Date: 08/15/17

200 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Daryle B. Powers
Seller: Michael L. Richard
Date: 08/14/17

109 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Corissa L. Colon
Seller: Czarnik, Helen M., (Estate)
Date: 08/18/17

11 Karen Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kelly A. Syer
Seller: Marcy B. Bloomenthal
Date: 08/11/17

18 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Andrew R. Tilbe
Seller: Park Street NT
Date: 08/11/17

9 Paul St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jackson K. Weber
Seller: Antoinette L. Breau
Date: 08/10/17

25 Pine Hill Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Earl C. Frey
Seller: Shawn D. Osterfund
Date: 08/18/17

5 Spring St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Skaza
Seller: Mabel Sekac RET
Date: 08/11/17

33 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Amy E. Thompson
Seller: Naomi L. Pusch
Date: 08/11/17

25 Westview Terrace
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Gregory M. Sellas
Seller: Samuel A. Masinter
Date: 08/11/17

88 Williston Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Nathaniel Livingston
Seller: Tina M. Gravel
Date: 08/08/17

9 Wilton Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Katherine N. Fedorov
Seller: Crossroads Prop. Investors
Date: 08/15/17

GOSHEN

705 East St.
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $231,364
Buyer: David T. Lashway
Seller: Deborah L. Soto
Date: 08/16/17

GRANBY

444 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Christine Barch
Seller: Batchelor Street RT
Date: 08/11/17

17 Carver St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Matthew O. Harrington
Seller: A. Nebraska Corp.
Date: 08/18/17

142 New Ludlow Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Diana L. Sullivan
Seller: Cathy Grayson
Date: 08/18/17

HADLEY

7 High Meadow Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Matthew W. Dufresne
Seller: Donald C. Ahrens
Date: 08/07/17

29 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: D. Stanford-Haddock
Seller: Kostek 2007 FT
Date: 08/15/17

112 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Maureen K. Devine
Seller: Neil M. Longley
Date: 08/16/17

43 West St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Alinas Real Estate LLC
Seller: R. Susan Woods
Date: 08/07/17

HATFIELD

130 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jonathan A. Scagel
Seller: Monica Jurczyk
Date: 08/11/17

7 Mountain Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Adrienne P. Walker
Seller: Henry W. Gessing
Date: 08/10/17

14 Sunset Ave.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Kathryn A. Poole
Seller: Karen Holman
Date: 08/15/17

322 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Vicki Marsh-Arnould
Seller: Patricia A. Bell
Date: 08/09/17

HUNTINGTON

17 Brookside Glenn
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Deborah M. Leonczyk
Seller: Christopher C. Wood
Date: 08/08/17

6 Rockybrook Dr.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Gary M. Desjardins
Seller: Lawrence S. Tkaczek
Date: 08/08/17

MIDDLEFIELD

43 Chester Road
Middlefield, MA 01011
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Chandler A. Pin
Seller: Thomas N. Ryan
Date: 08/07/17

NORTHAMPTON

94 Autumn Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Samantha I. Dana
Seller: Michael Skwisz
Date: 08/11/17

86 Cahillane Terrace
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $307,000
Buyer: Richard C. Spencer
Seller: Nikki Davenbrie
Date: 08/14/17

26 Calvin Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $562,500
Buyer: Mary B. Haberkorn
Seller: Nira Harper-Elkins
Date: 08/08/17

133 Cardinal Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $467,000
Buyer: Mary J. Persaud
Seller: Michelle R. Warren
Date: 08/15/17

48 Chapel St. #M
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Nancy Smith
Seller: John A. Loughney INT
Date: 08/11/17

27 Dunphy Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $406,000
Buyer: Christopher R. Vancamp
Seller: James M. Tobin
Date: 08/07/17

14 Evergreen Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Rachel C. Baker
Seller: Greenwood, Richard E., (Estate)
Date: 08/15/17

982 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Shaver
Seller: Edwin H. Larson
Date: 08/15/17

4 Fort Hill Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $223,750
Buyer: Kevin G. Cote
Seller: Michael J. Longley
Date: 08/10/17

17 Holly Court
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Ann M. Sollinger
Seller: Matthew A. Motamedi
Date: 08/17/17

73 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Mikaela Murphy-Boyle
Seller: Jennifer A. Bogin
Date: 08/07/17

31 Lilly St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Allison Gomes
Seller: Macgregor J. Thomson
Date: 08/15/17

63 Massasoit St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $489,900
Buyer: Anita Milman
Seller: Samuel L. Graham-Platt
Date: 08/07/17

56 Meadow St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Peter Labrusciano
Seller: Michael J. Behrens
Date: 08/08/17

Prince St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Servicenet Inc.
Seller: Hospital Hill Development
Date: 08/14/17

261 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $361,100
Buyer: Stephen R. Taranto
Seller: Darlene M. Baker
Date: 08/14/17

269 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $361,800
Buyer: Julie R. Thomson
Seller: Edmund M. Harris
Date: 08/15/17

7 Shepherds Hollow Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Janice L. Cooper
Seller: Rachel D. Cartmell
Date: 08/18/17

124 Turkey Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $737,500
Buyer: Katherine M. Mullen
Seller: David R. Bishop
Date: 08/11/17

PELHAM

47 Arnold Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $458,000
Buyer: John W. Cherry TR
Seller: Mark Lange
Date: 08/15/17

57 Harkness Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $347,500
Buyer: Christina P. Taylor
Seller: Roberta L. Diehl
Date: 08/17/17

SOUTH HADLEY

130 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $442,000
Buyer: Kenneth D. Brumer
Seller: Robert J. Pleasure
Date: 08/15/17

113 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $263,900
Buyer: Kathryn Guggino
Seller: Matthew O. Harrington
Date: 08/17/17

127 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Charles Miles
Seller: Francis A. Ditaranto
Date: 08/11/17

64 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $207,450
Buyer: Virginia Dautreuil
Seller: Douglas R. Borgatti
Date: 08/11/17

53 Noel St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $271,900
Buyer: Jason N. Parent
Seller: William Guiel
Date: 08/09/17

1 Promenade Way
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Nichols Everett RT
Seller: Mary Lou Krause TR
Date: 08/15/17

11 Stanton Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Katharin Johnston-Telman
Seller: Robert L. Robertson
Date: 08/08/17

SOUTHAMPTON

32 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: 32 Management LLC
Seller: Kyle C. Winkler
Date: 08/15/17

350 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Ralph R. Morton
Seller: Larry R. Lacroix
Date: 08/11/17

354 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Ralph R. Morton
Seller: Larry R. Lacroix
Date: 08/11/17

24 Hillside Meadows Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Janice M. Jasiorkowski
Seller: Antonio S. Silva
Date: 08/14/17

WARE

306 Beaver Lake Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Edward Murphy
Seller: Stephen A. Williams
Date: 08/15/17

24 Berkshire Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $133,259
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Mary J. Starsiak
Date: 08/09/17

51 Chestnut St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Jason Alexandrovich
Seller: Donald J. Vadnais
Date: 08/18/17

36 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $198,500
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Joseph A. St.Cyr
Date: 08/09/17

10 Dunham Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Susan T. Lak
Date: 08/09/17

14 Gould Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $167,900
Buyer: Michael T. Maiers
Seller: Ronald C. Keddy
Date: 08/07/17

5 Horseshoe Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Kim A. Otis
Seller: Robert M. Heon
Date: 08/15/17

290 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Andrew Egan
Seller: Citibank
Date: 08/18/17

14 Skyview Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Joie M. Cousineau
Seller: William T. Rohan
Date: 08/10/17

WILLIAMSBURG

7 Cider Mill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $620,500
Buyer: Jonathan Ames
Seller: Lori A. Schwartz
Date: 08/15/17

31 Hyde Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: David Perlow
Seller: Elizabeth M. Filson
Date: 08/07/17

2 Village Hill Ave.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Amy L. Bisbee
Seller: Rhea B. Sanderson
Date: 08/10/17

WORTHINGTON

225 Thayer Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Abigail L. Shallcross
Seller: Elke Astrid-Ryan
Date: 08/17/17

 

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

HOLYOKE

20167 Inc., 50 Holyoke St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Harry C. Chen, 517 Whitney Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Restaurant.

Urban Grown Inc., 4 Keefe Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Stephen Herbert, 81 Shattuck Road, Hadley, MA 01035. Agricultural and analytical industry.

INDIAN ORCHARD

US Fried Chicken & Gyro Corp., 253 Pasco Road, Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Syed A. Salman, 80 Edmund St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Restaurant and food service.

NORTHAMPTON

Window of Heaven Acupuncture & Yoga Inc., 242 South St., Northampton, MA 01060. Courtney Hill, same. Operation of an acupuncture facility and yoga classes.

ORANGE

West River Dental Associates P.C., 450 West River St., Ste 2, Orange, MA 01364. Houssam Alkhoury, 97 Fox Road. Bolton, MA 01740. Dentist.

PITTSFIELD

Valco Trading Inc., 68 Burbank St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Ngoni Makoni, same. Online sales.

SOUTH HADLEY

5 Star Living Inc., 35 Fairlawn St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Jonathan Giedrowicz, same. Real estate development and management.

Ty’s Body Shop Inc., 3 Main St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Tyler P. Saporito, 10 Brigham Road, South Hadley, Ma 01075. Auto repair.

SPRINGFIELD

Aarya Krishna Inc., 61 Kent Road, Springfield, MA 01129. Bharatkumar S. Patel, 110 Wheatland Ave., Chicopee, MA 01020. Convenience store.

WASHINGTON

White Wolf Sand & Gravel Inc., 470 North Washington State Road, Washington, MA 01223. Craig H. Willis, same. Sand and gravel business.

White Wolf Septic & Portables Inc., 470 North Washington State Road, Washington, MA 01223. Craig H. Willis, same. Septic tank services and portable toilet rentals.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

West Side Truck Repair Inc, 534 Union St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Murad Kazimov, 43b Windsor St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Truck repair.

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

Abbott, Frank R.
30 Algonquin Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/2017

Alvarez-Savageau, Holly L.
68 Whittier St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/2017

Barrera, Olga M.
40 Aberdale Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/2017

Berrios, Jessica
142 Merrimac Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/03/2017

Boenitz, Maryanne K.
49 McArthur St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/2017

Boyd, Phyllis Theresa
27 Foch Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/2017

Brown, Jennifer Marie
431 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/2017

Brown, Kevin Edward
Brown, Tammy Marie
63 Telbar St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/09/2017

Calderwood, Patricia A.
239 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/02/2017

Camilleri, Donna M.
45 D St. Colbey Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/01/2017

Casilla, Gloria A.
51 Van Deene Ave., Apt. H-5,
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/2017

Coach, Michael E.
84 Ely St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter:  13
Filing Date: 08/01/2017

Collins, Charles A.
Collins, Suzanne B.
1885 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/08/2017

Cormier, Kurt J.
Cormier, Denise R.
69 Peros Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/04/2017

Correa, Alex M.
Correa, Anita L.
35 Malden St. #2
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/2017

Crespo, Amanda J.
464 Ventura St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/2017

Dec, Sharlene G.
19 Letendre Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/15/2017

Dulude, Mark
6 Meadowood Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/09/2017

Duong, Lenny
750 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/01/2017
Lessard, Donna Jean
150 Winton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/02/2017

Elevli, Halit
155 Rover St., Apt. L-3
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/2017

Estridge, Steven R.
Estridge, Pamela J.
P.O. Box 57
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/2017

Flagg, Mary M.
10 Congress, Apt. 603
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/08/2017

Frye, Darik J.
3335 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/2017

Hager, Robert Otis
726 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/2017

Hill, Arthur E.
64 Quaboag Valley Co-op
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/2017

J&R Auto Sales
Rooney, Kelly Francis
1 Off Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/2017

Kenney, Patrick J.
45A Fort Square
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/08/2017

Konunchuk, James J.
Konunchuk, Carolann A.
22 Coronet Circle
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/2017

KP’s Lil Tot Daycare
Paul, Kathy
208 Westford Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/10/2017

Lalumiere, Anthony J.
205 Greenwood Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/2017

Leese, Killian John
152 Housatonic St.
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/08/2017

Manchester, Richard Jeremy-Joseph
302 South St. #2
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/09/2017

Marco, Robert J.
Marco, Libia G.
30 Lozier Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/03/2017

Martinson, Theresa C.
3 Pineview Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/2017

Matos, Luis Francisco
634 Plainfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/2017

Moran, John D.
42 Sheridan Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/01/2017

Ocasio, Odemaris
Ocasio, Gina
a/k/a Ayala, Odemaris
a/k/a Ocasio, Roberto
92 Pine Grove St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/2017

O’Sullivan, Gerald Edward
14 Alvord Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/04/2017

Page, Travis D.
1630 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/2017

Payant, David A.
Payant, Marcia J.
58 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/08/2017

Quarterley, Tracy F.
a/k/a Vincensi-Quarterley, Tracy F.
51 Pochassic St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/2017

Rigueiro, Jesus A.
134 Hadley Village Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/04/2017

Rizzo, Georgina
6 Crestwood St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/2017

Rodriguez, Vanessa
87 Florence St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/11/2017

Shumpis, David W.
Shumpis, Linda M.
136 Clayton Road
Ashley Falls, MA 01222
Chapter: 17
Filing Date: 08/09/2017

Smith, Blossom E.
a/k/a Whyte, Blossom E.
236 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/10/2017

Sostoski, David
206 Corcoran Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/03/2017

Walsh, Daniel M.
118 Phoenix Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/2017

White, Keith M.
139 Austin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/2017

Williams, Vivian C.
73 Warrenton
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/02/2017

Wright, Stephnie E.
a/k/a Johnson, Stephnie Wright
a/k/a Johnson, Stephnie Elizabeth
P.O. Box 90414
Springfield, MA 01139
Chapter: 13

Wunch, Jean E.
104 Serymore Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/08/2017

Yeoman Design Build
DeSorgher, Michael Francis
DeSorgher, Elizabeth Arline
99 Bardwells Ferry Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/03/2017

Zordani, Gary L.
Zordani, Ellen L.
869-871 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/01/2017

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the months of August and September 2017.

AGAWAM

Ashakris HNA, LLC
336-344 North Westfield St.
$15,000 — Remove and replace wall, install new acoustic ceiling

Jaffe Family Foundation
45 Tennis Road
$468,500 — Roofing

AMHERST

Amherst Pelham Regional School District
170 Chestnut St.
$13,000 — Demo and remove concrete chimney cap and brick veneer and replace with new chimney at Amherst Regional Middle School

Hampshire College
893 West St.
$8,500 — Interior renovation in bookstore to subdivide space

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee
110 Church St.
$150,000 — New fire-alarm system at Chicopee Police Department

City of Chicopee
110 Church St.
$438,000 — Masonry, carpentry, and roofing at Chicopee Police Department

Charles Sourmaidis
467 Memorial Dr.
$66,234 — Refinish Denny’s dining room, bring bathroom to code, replace cabinets

Valley Opportunity Council Inc.
35 Mt. Carmel Ave.
$25,300 — Install new demonstration cabinets and countertops

Valley Opportunity Council Inc.
516 Chicopee St.
$28,000 — Renovate existing office space and create additional offices, add new doors

EASTHAMPTON

Autumn Properties, LLC
184 Northampton St.
$103,450 — Install fire-suppression system in three buildings

City of Easthampton
50 Payson Ave.
$6,000 — Remove and replace gazebo roof, replace decking, repair trim and lattice

Keystone Enterprises
122 Pleasant St.
$4,500 — Create roof penetrations, chaseway for duct system

EAST LONGMEADOW

Excel Dryer
355 Chestnut St.
$25,600 — Fire protection

Louis & Clark
436 North Main St.
$11,000 — Commercial alterations

HADLEY

325 Rocky Hill Rd., LLC
325 Rocky Hill Road
$4,200 — Frame, insulate, sheetrock, and new bathroom floor

Lacomb Holdings, LLC
189 Russell St.
$24,050 — Add bathroom with shower, add two sets of double doors, move existing door, add screen wall in reception area

Med Express
424 Russell St.
$10,000 — Illuminated channel letters backlit with LEDs and mounted to building

Pizza Hut of America
424 Russell St.
$58,900 — HVAC; install ductwork, register grills, and diffusers

Pyramid Mall of Hadley Newco, LLC
367 Russell St.
$200,000 — Minor interior remodel on sales floor of JCPenney, add Sephora cosmetic department

Pyramid Mall of Hadley Newco, LLC
367 Russell St.
$693,000 — Fit-out in existing construction for Planet Fitness

The Taproom
1 Mill Valley Road, Suite C
$6,800 — Add divider wall, plumb sink, dishwasher, power outlets, and track lighting

LONGMEADOW

GPT Longmeadow, LLC
714 Bliss Road
$3,000 — New sign for Great Harvest Bread Co.

LUDLOW

Apex Dental
653 Center St.
$2,500 — Illuminated sign

Apex Dental
653 Center St.
$3,100 — Non-illuminated sign

Eversource
Chapin Street
$2,634,740 — Solar panels

NORTHAMPTON

39 Main Street, LLC
33 Main St.
$14,843 — Install walls, door, flooring, and lighting in new second-floor offices

1924, LLC
46 Round Hill Road
$50,000 — Kitchen addition

Chamisa Corp.
25 Main St.
$9,500 — Disassemble and remove existing elevator hoistaway cage and install temporary construction-control barriers in preparation for new elevator

Coolidge Center, LLC
47 Pleasant St.
$18,500 — Install new interior staircase

Cumberland Farms Inc.
43 Main St.
$790,000 — New commercial building for Cumberland Farms store

O’Connell Oil Associates Inc.
506 Pleasant St.
$4,000 — Illuminated ground sign with Shell logo and LED price sign

Rockwell Management Corp.
30 Village Hill Road
$8,600 — Illuminated ground sign for the Columns at Rockwell Place

Smith College
102 College Lane
$175,000 — Reconfigure existing conference room and exercise studio, roofing, decking

Smith College
College Lane
$193,000 — Roofing

Thornes Marketplace
150 Main St.
$34,000 — Remove nine antennas and replace with nine upgraded antenna pabels, add three remote radio heads

Wohl Family Dentistry, LLC
61 Locust St.
$15,000 — Flooring, lighting, section off five offices

SPRINGFIELD

Albany Road
1287 Liberty St.
$25,000 — Replace floors, remove non-beating walls, new bar, electrical, and plumbing at Springfield Plaza

City of Springfield
415 State St.
$5,000 — Add door to provide classroom access to existing closet at Commerce High School

MassMutual Life Insurance Corp.
1500 Main St.
$395,074 — Demolish interior partitions, new partitions and doors, new finishes, hand sinks, headwall units for UMass College of Nursing expansion

Bobby Patel
942 Belmont Ave.
$78,300 — Remove existing roof system at Old Grampy’s building to get ready for new truss design

Shriners Hospitals for Children
516 Carew St.
$249,942 — Renovate space to accommodate new equipment in radiology suite

SIS Center Inc.
1441 Main St.
$230,000 — Interior fit-out for new tenant on 12th floor

Juliette Son
170 Mayflower St.
$5,000 — Rebuild and expand garage

Yukon Group, LLC
119 Fisk Ave.
$4,850 — Add office and restroom

WARE

Aldrich Management Co.
124 West St.
$35,000 — Interior renovations for a takeout pizza kitchen

U.S. Bank Trust/Marty’s Real Estate
21 Robbins Road
$32,000 — Roofing, carpentry, build steps to basement, install new bulkhead

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Agri-Mark
964 Riverdale St.
$10,000 — Changes to concrete block wall

Vista Home Improvement Builds on a Decade of Growth

By
Home Builders Sections

On the House

A sunroom built by Vista Home Improvement.

A sunroom built by Vista Home Improvement.

Brian Rudd parlayed 14 years of experience with his father’s large home-improvement company into his own small firm in 2008 — one he has grown into one of the larger players on the regional landscape. But that growth, he insists, has been measured and smart, because he doesn’t want to lose the emphasis on customer service that continues to drive impressive repeat and referral business.

Brian Rudd graduated from college with a degree in accounting, but spent about six months in that field before deciding he’d rather work for his father’s company, Patriot Home Improvement.

That was in 1994, and he worked his way up to operations manager in that organization before the elder Rudd began contemplating retirement. Brian made an offer to buy the business, but his father didn’t take it — so he struck out on his own.

“I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do” during his years at Patriot, he said, but when he launched Vista Home Improvement in a second-floor apartment in 2008, he didn’t realize he’d soon be staring into the teeth of a global financial crisis and resulting recession.

“We didn’t think about the economic landscape; we thought about what we wanted to accomplish,” Rudd told BusinessWest, adding that the company’s small size — he did $319,000 in business his first year — was actually a benefit during a time when larger companies were struggling to keep their large crews busy. In other words, he earned enough business to survive and grow, one customer at a time.

“Whether times are tough or not, your house — outside of your children — is your number-one investment, and you’re going to need to have it fixed,” he explained. “And at that time, people were more selective about who to spend money with. We were always obsessed with taking care of the customer. And that’s how we grew.”

Starting with a focus on siding, windows, and roofing, Rudd hung up a shingle on Elm Street in West Springfield soon after, then moved to Vista’s current location on Riverdale Street three years ago — a space he’s already outgrowing, with 26 full-time employees and 24 more installers in the field. Last year, the company did $6 million in sales.

To reach that point took a lot of hard work and hustle, particularly while building a name that first year. “I’d be at Home Depot at 6 in the morning picking up lumber, then off to work a bunch of appointments.”

Brian Rudd says smart growth — not taking on more than the company could handle without losing its personal touch — has been a successful philosophy.

Brian Rudd says smart growth — not taking on more than the company could handle without losing its personal touch — has been a successful philosophy.

Weekends saw him at home shows, flea markets, and other events, soliciting for appointments, and then it was back to work early Monday morning for another non-stop week. But by doing so much himself in the early days, he was able to hone a customer-service philosophy he says has always driven his business.

“I really wanted to focus on customer service, because unfortunately, in this business, so many people get burned,” he said. “It’s a great business to be in — even now, I’ll be out checking out job sites for cleanliness, helping finishing up jobs … it’s a blast.”

Rudd knew he wanted to forge a more intimate, person-to-person model of business than his father’s large firm, so he has grown gradually, never taking on more than he could handle without losing that service-oriented touch.

“Our big thing is growing one good person at a time,” he said. “And as we get bigger, I’m still concerned with giving customers the ‘wow’ factor. They can choose anyone, so you have to give a great experience. That’s what we do. We’re not perfect, but when we make a mistake, we hold ourselves accountable for it and take care of it.”

Windows to Success

That philosophy, Rudd said, has helped grow Vista largely through repeat and referral business. “We might do a roof for a customer, and three years later, we’re back there doing the windows because they remembered the good experience we delivered.”

Today, Vista specializes in all types of exterior remodeling — custom doors and entryways, windows, awnings, decks, gutters, and sunrooms in addition to roofing and siding projects — but also installs bath and shower systems.

“We got into bathroom systems because, in the wintertime, when it’s cold, we want to keep working,” he said, adding that Vista has become one of the top dealers for its manufacturer of choice, Luxury Bath Technologies.

It’s a good niche to be in, he noted, because, while many homeowners enjoy tackling DIY projects around the house, they’re often loath to look behind the tiled walls of their bathroom and deal with issues of mold, poor plumbing, and other problems that might arise. Rudd recalled someone he knows who started a bathroom remodel on his own and still isn’t done six months later.

“Eventually you get so much mold and mildew buildup, you can’t avoid the project — it has to get done,” he said. “What’s your time worth to you? We can do it in a single day.”

However, quick turnaround doesn’t mean cheap materials, he noted. “I do not sell the cheapest products — they’re not the least expensive or the lowest-quality. Companies that do that are just putting lipstick on a pig. If you buy the cheapest windows, and five years later, there are problems with that window, and no warranty on it, well, that poor customer is out buying it again. We see this all the time. I partner with good manufacturers that have great warranties and great customer service. That is so key.”

For instance, Vista is one of about 200 Owens Corning platinum preferred contractors. As part of that program, the installers attend annual trainings, and each project is factory-inspected by Owens Corning when done, so the manufacturer knows the roof is installed to the correct specifications.

That program also provides lengthy warranties — “not the kind where you have to read the fine print, but true warranties, so if there’s a system failure 10 years from now, I’m covered by the manufacturer, and so is the customer.”

Vista’s headquarters on Riverdale Street is its third home in a decade, and the company is already threatening to outgrow the space.

Vista’s headquarters on Riverdale Street is its third home in a decade, and the company is already threatening to outgrow the space.

In short, Rudd said, customers shopping for roofing or other home-improvement needs get what they pay for, but Vista does try to work within each customer’s budget and offers no-money-down financing, which makes large, necessary projects slightly more amenable to a household budget. “It’s like when people are looking at a car — they’re not looking at the $50,000 price tag; they’re looking at the monthly payment.”

More customers each year are choosing Vista for those exterior and bathroom needs, he noted, and not only from Western Mass. The company has also opened an office in Northborough to service the central and eastern parts of the state. “We get a lot of referral business there, so having an office out there is so much easier.”

But at the end of the day, Rudd says Vista has grown because of the way customers and employees are treated.

“It’s all about customer service,” he told BusinessWest. “To me, the number-one person in the company isn’t me; it’s my employees. If you treat the employees like they’re number one, they’ll treat the customers like they’re number one, and that’s how it works here.

“We don’t have to be the least expensive guy to be the best,” he went on. “We provide very high-quality products and build off referrals and repeat business.”

High Grades

The accolades speak for themselves — Super Service Awards from Angie’s List the past six years, an ‘A’ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and the aforementioned platinum status with Owens Corning, to name a few.

While always looking to expand on the company’s product lines, Rudd said he won’t take on work he’s not accustomed to doing just to get a contract. But he said the region’s remodeling companies form a tight network, and will refer customers to each other.

“I love what I do; to me, it’s not work. I take care of my customers, and making money is secondary,” he said, adding that he expects to keep growing in the coming years. “It’s a fantastic business. As long as people live in houses, you’re in business. But a lot of companies are top-heavy; they don’t pay their help. And the help is what makes the customer happy.”

In fact, one hindrance to growth is the ever-present challenge of finding quality employees at a time when the trades are struggling to attract young talent.

“It’s hard to find good people, but I’m blessed to have great employees. That’s what makes it happen,” he said. “There’s a ton of opportunities, but you also have to pay people. Typically in this business, a lot of people don’t want to pay for talent.”

Rudd wants to go beyond that, and has a goal of making Vista an employee-owned firm, with profit sharing, within five years — which would help the company become even more of an employer of choice.

“We’re happy with where we are now,” he added. “We could grow more if we had the right people, but we’ll find them.”

Meanwhile, he’ll keep his boots on the ground as much as he can, in between managing the day-to-day affairs of a company that is a far cry from its humble beginnings in a small apartment at the start of the Great Recession.

“I run appointments, go to see customers, I’m moving bundles of shingles, I’m loading trucks. I absolutely love it,” Rudd said. “I’m a people person. I enjoy working with people, and it’s good for my employees to see me out there. Besides, it’s good exercise.”

Sure, but love it?

“I really do,” he said. “The minute I can’t do that, I probably won’t be happy. It’s that important.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

Employer Confidence Slips in August

BOSTON — Massachusetts employer confidence edged lower for the second consecutive month during August. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index (BCI) shed 0.3 points to 61.2 last month, leaving it 7.1 points higher than a year ago. The Index has been essentially flat since April and now stands 0.2 points lower than at the beginning of 2017. Last month’s slip reflected offsetting trends in employer attitudes about conditions inside and outside their walls. Employers grew less bullish about their own companies during the month, but showed growing optimism about the national economy and about prospects for manufacturers. “Employer confidence continues to move in a narrow range defined by broad optimism about both the state and national economies,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “The steady level of confidence readings above the 60 mark reflect a state economy that grew at a 4% annual rate during the second quarter while maintaining a steady level of employment growth.” The AIM Index, based on a survey of Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The Index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. It has remained above 50 since October 2013.

Valley Venture Mentors Joins Global Accelerator Network

SPRINGFIELD — After a rigorous selection process, the Global Accelerator Network (GAN) has invited Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) to join its network. To date, GAN has helped more than 5,000 startups receive more than $4.8 billion in funding and create 28,000 jobs globally. VVM will join more than 85 other accelerators in a network that includes notable programs such as TechStars, Microsoft Accelerator, and PlayLabs @ MIT. The network offers expansive opportunities for VVM’s startups and for VVM as a whole, including startup accelerator alumni access to morw than $1 million in in-kind perks, from cloud hosting credits to airline tickets; a network of thought partners with which to share best practices and develop innovations; a global coworking exchange that will allow VVM’s startups to work all over the world and bring other GAN members to Springfield; access to a global network that will match startups with interested investors; the opportunity for VVM to serve as a pipeline to GAN Ventures, which invests in early-stage startups; and programming for alumni that will augment VVM offerings.

New App Accompanies Springfield Walking Tour

SPRINGFIELD — Finding the next big thing or a historic old thing is now easier than ever. The Springfield Central Cultural District (SCCD) has launched an app version of its Cultural Walking Tour. The walking tour, first introduced in the summer of 2015, is a tool designed to be used by visitors or residents to learn more about the city’s architectural, historic, and cultural highlights. Printed maps are available at attractions and the visitor’s center, and a video map is hosted on springfieldculture.org, but until now, it wasn’t possible to access easily on your phone. Easily found by searching ‘Springfield Cultural Tour’ in the App Store or Google Play, visitors and residents alike can learn something new about the Cultural District and its assets. Public art; attractions like the Armory, Springfield Museums, and Basketball Hall of Fame; and architectural and historic points of interest have background information and video that are accessible from the app, which is based in Google Maps. Users can choose what they’re interested in and sort points of interest. “As people walk around, they can see themselves moving through the app. What we couldn’t do before this existed was point out the HH Richardson Courthouse or the Sol Lewitt mural without being on site with a visitor. Now they can see it in real time, and navigate directly there on their own schedule,” said Morgan Drewniany, SCCD director. The app was designed to not only engage a changing demographic in and around Springfield to appreciate their surroundings, but to help shed light on little-known assets within the downtown and orient visitors not familiar with the area. Paper maps will continue to be available alongside the app. The project was funded by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Additional support was provided by the city of Springfield, the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and the Springfield Business Improvement District.

Valley Blue Sox Break into Top 10 in Collegiate Baseball Attendance

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox have officially broken into the top 10 for average attendance among summer collegiate baseball teams nationally, according to BallparkDigest.com. In addition, the 2,121 average attendance at 2017 Blue Sox games also placed first in the New England Collegiate Baseball League for the second consecutive year.

The 10th-place ranking — following an 11th-place ranking in 2016 — comes on the heels of a challenging 2017 season where weather wasn’t kind to the Blue Sox, as they ended up having six games postponed due to rain.

“We had some challenges this year with weather, so being able to crack the top 10 in spite of that is quite an accomplishment, but also a pretty good harbinger of things to come,” said Blue Sox President Clark Eckhoff. “Just to be where we were five years ago to now is something else, and it’s been a lot of hard work and heavy lifting from a lot of good people that’s made this all happen.”

This past summer saw not only the team’s first championship in franchise history, but also several upgrades to Mackenzie Stadium, including a new playing surface and bullpens. A new concessions and restroom facility is on track for completion by the 2018 season.

In addition to its national standing among collegiate-level teams, the Blue Sox also topped several professional, affiliated teams as well, finishing ahead of teams in Staten Island, N.Y., Modesto, Calif., and Daytona Beach, Fla.

“Some of the teams we finished ahead of are from major markets, some of which have major-league teams in them in certain sports,” Eckhoff said. “The trajectory is great in terms of where we’re headed, and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to the fans who keep showing up. Many of which have become familiar faces to us who we see there game after game. They’re a big part of the reason we do what we do and make it so much fun to show up at the ballpark day in and day out.”

In addition to the success off the field, the team posted its second-best record in team history and capped it off with a run to the championship in which the Blue Sox swept every team in their path.

“It’s a mixture of everything,” said Blue Sox General Manager Hunter Golden. “When you put a winning product on the field with a great promotional calendar and provide a fun, family environment, it’s a pretty great recipe for success. Thanks to the fans and to the city and community  — and our great staff — for helping make this season what it was.”

Expo Breakfast to Feature Revitalize CDC, JoinedForces Fund-raiser

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Business & Innovation Expo of Western Mass. will kick off on Thursday, Nov. 2 with a fund-raising breakfast for Revitalize CDC’s JoinedForces program. The event will take place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on the Expo show floor at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. The master of ceremonies will be state Rep. Aaron Vega.

Revitalize CDC has been supporting veterans for more than 25 years. JoinedForces, in partnership with businesses, civic organizations, and other nonprofit agencies, provides veterans and their families with critical repairs and modifications on their homes to help make them safe, healthy, and energy-efficient. This is all done in a surrounding that offers integrity, dignity, and hope.

Registration is free, but day-of donations are strongly encouraged, as this is a fund-raising event. Parking in the Civic Center garage will be validated at the conclusion of the breakfast. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Call (413) 781-8600 for additional information.

The Business & Innovation Expo of Western Mass., the seventh annual business-to-business show produced by BusinessWest and the Healthcare News, will feature more than 150 exhibitor booths, educational seminars, breakfast and lunch programs, and a day-capping Expo Social. Current sponsors include Comcast Business (presenting sponsor), Johnson & Hill Staffing Services and Wild Apple Design Group (executive sponsors), Inspired Marketing (show partner), MGM Springfield (corporate sponsor), Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst (education sponsor), Xfinity (social sponsor), Elms College (information booth sponsor), Smith & Wesson (Workforce Support Center sponsor), Savage Arms (JoinedForces parking sponsor), and the Better Business Bureau (contributing sponsor). Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $800. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Country Bank Recognized for Charitable Giving

By
Daily News

WARE — Country Bank was recognized by the Boston Business Journal as one of the state’s top charitable contributors. The bank received a Corporate Citizenship Award at the 12th annual event, held at Fenway Park on Sept. 7.

Each year, the publication celebrates Massachusetts corporations and nonprofits for their contributions in giving back to the communities in the Commonwealth. A total of 94 companies were recognized during the evening, and Country Bank ranked 64th with total donations of $615,000 and more than 1,000 hours of community service hours from their staff.

Court Dockets

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Court Dockets Departments

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

HAMPDEN DISTRICT COURT

Evadney Jumpp v. High Ridge Real Estate, LLC
Allegation: Negligence causing injury: $2,261.88
Filed: 8/21/17

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Charles Dodge and Candice Dodge v. Baystate Health Inc.; Michael Dunkerley, M.D.; Amanda Shorette, M.D.; Eleanor Winston, M.D.; and Ziv Corber, M.D.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $22,000
Filed: 8/10/17

Douglas Knoechelmann and Trina Knoechelmann v. Baystate Health Inc.; John Wang, M.D.; Amanda Shorette, M.D.; Thomas Chin, M.D.; and Brian O’Connell, M.D.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $30,000
Filed: 8/10/17

Debra Smethurst, individually and as personal representative of the estate of Kris Smethurst v. Richard Wait, M.D., Baystate Medical Center, and Baystate Surgical Associates
Allegation: Medical malpractice, wrongful death: $40,000+
Filed: 8/11/17

Brian Beloncik v. Bruce M. Goldstein, M.D.; Northampton Dermatology Associates, P.C.; Glenn P. Genest, M.D.; and New England Dermatology, P.C.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $25,000+
Filed: 8/14/17

Catherine Brantley v. Price Rite a/k/a PRRC Inc.
Allegation: Slip and fall causing injury: $39,694
Filed: 8/14/17

Margaret Richardson v. Walmart Stores East, LP
Allegation: Employment discrimination: $250,000
Filed: 8/14/17

Arthur J. Hurley Co. Inc. v. Amps Electrical Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Massachusetts Inc., and Southern Sky Renewable Energy Chicopee, LLC
Allegation: Construction dispute: $38,690.45
Filed: 8/15/17

Joseph B. Collins, trustee in bankruptcy of Donald J. Wheeler v. Thomas Richard Canto, M.D. and Baystate Wing Hospital
Allegation: Malpractice: $1,000,000
Filed: 8/16/17

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Historic Round Hill Summit, LLC v. TP Daley Insurance Agency Inc.
Allegation: Negligence re: insurance policy: $3,063,448
Filed: 8/15/17

Agenda

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Agenda Departments

Mini-Medical School

Sept. 21 to Nov. 16: Going back to school has never been so much fun when it comes to your health. Baystate Medical Center’s Mini-Medical School, which begins its fall session on Sept. 21, will give area residents an inside look at the expanding field of medicine – minus the tests, homework, interviews, and admission formalities. The course runs weekly through Nov. 16. Mini-Medical School is an eight-week health-education series featuring a different aspect of medicine each week. Classes this fall will include sessions on various medical topics such as surgery, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, midwifery, pathology, and several others, including the current opioid crisis. Many of the ‘students,’ who often range in age from 20 to 70, participate due to a general interest in medicine and later find that many of the things they learned over the semester are relevant to their own lives. The goal of the program — offered in the hospital’s Chestnut Conference Center — is to help the public make more informed decisions about their healthcare while receiving insight on what it is like to be a medical student. Baystate Medical Center is the region’s only teaching hospital, and each course is taught by medical center faculty who explain the science of medicine without resorting to complex terms. All classes are held Thursday nights starting at 6 p.m. and run until 8 or 9 p.m., depending on the night’s topic. No basic science knowledge is needed to participate. Each participant is required to attend a minimum of six out of eight classes in order to receive a certificate of completion. Tuition is $95 per person and $80 for Senior Class and Spirit of Women members. To register, call (413) 794-7630 or visiting www.baystatehealth.org/minimed. To see a schedule of topics and speakers slated for the fall semester, visit www.baystatehealth.org/about-us/community-programs/education-training/mini-medical-school.

Free Legal Help Hotline

Sept. 21: The Hampden County Bar Assoc. will offer a free Legal Help Hotline in conjunction with Western New England University School of Law from 4 to 7 p.m. at the law school, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Individuals needing advice should call (413) 796-2057 to speak to a volunteer. Volunteers will provide legal advice on a variety of topics, including divorce and family law, bankruptcy, business, landlord/tenant matters, and real estate. Additionally, in light of recent immigration developments, attorneys with immigration-law experience will also be available to answer questions. Spanish-speaking attorneys will be available.

Labor & Employment Law Symposium

Oct. 5: Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. will hold a Labor & Employment Law Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel. “The past year has brought significant changes in labor and employment law, and employers need to be aware of these changes; not knowing the law is no excuse for not following it,” said attorney Timothy Murphy, a partner at Skoler Abbott. “We are offering this symposium to provide local and regional HR professionals and employers with the latest developments, and to help them prepare for what’s coming next.” The symposium is geared toward human-resources professionals and business owners. Topics will include “Labor Law Update: Change Is Coming,” “Massachusetts’ New Pay Equity Law and the Effects of Implicit Bias in the Workplace,” “Top Ten Wage & Hour Mistakes Made by Employers,” “Insurance Coverage in Employment Litigation: Limiting Your Risk & Knowing Your Rights,” “After Barbuto: Strategies for Addressing Drugs in the Workplace,” and “How You Should (and Shouldn’t) Conduct a Workplace Investigation.” Attendees will be able to select three of six breakout sessions, and the symposium will close with an overall question-and-answer session. The symposium has been pre-approved by the HR Certification Institute for five hours of general recertification credit toward PHR and SPHR recertification. The cost to attend is $99 per person and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Registration is available at skoler-abbott.com/trainingprograms.

Square One Tea Party

Oct. 5: This year, Square One will draw inspiration from the early days of its Tea Party. “Our annual tea party began 11 years ago in a classroom with tiny tables and a big dream,” said Joan Kagan, Square One president and CEO. “This year’s theme brings us back to the event’s roots. We’ll be celebrating all the success that this event has helped us achieve over the years.” The 12th annual Square One Tea is expected to draw 400 supporters who will celebrate the work the provider of early-learning and family services is providing to thousands of families throughout the Greater Springfield region. “Year after year, we look forward to this wonderful opportunity to highlight the work we are doing and the impact that our programs and services have had on the thousands of children and parents who have been served by Square One,” Kagan said. “It is so gratifying to hear from our guests how much they enjoy being a part of this special day, and it’s always fun to see who is going to have the best hat.” The wearing of hats for women and men has become a tradition, with a Top Hat Award bestowed upon the wearer of the most elaborate or unusual hat. Early event supporters include Health New England, Smith & Wesson, USI Insurance, Columbia Gas, the Gaudreau Group, MGM, United Personnel, Mercedes-Benz, Bay Path University, Springfield Thunderbirds, and Fathers & Sons. Tickets are $60 each. Tables of eight and 10 are available. To register, visit startatsquareone.org. For sponsorship or vendor information, call Andrea Bartlett at (413) 858-3111.

Healthcare Heroes

Oct. 19: BusinessWest and the Healthcare News will present the inaugural Healthcare Heroes Awards at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden. This new recognition program was created by the twin publications to recognize outstanding achievement across the region’s broad and diverse healthcare sector. From a pool of 70 nominations, panel of judges chose eight winners in seven categories, who were profiled in the Sept. 4 issue of BusinessWest, the September issue of HCN, and at businesswest.com. American International College and Trinity Health are the presenting sponsors of Healthcare Heroes. Partner Sponsors are Achieve TMS East, Health New England, and HUB International New England. Additional sponsors are Bay Path University, Baystate Health, Cooley Dickinson Healthcare, Elms College, and Renew.Calm. Tickets to the event are $85 each, with tables available for purchase. For more information or to order tickets, call (413) 781-8600.

Out of the Darkness Walk

Oct. 21: Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S., yet suicide is preventable. The Western Mass. Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) announced that its flagship event, the Greater Springfield Out of the Darkness Walk to Fight Suicide, has a new home, School Street Park in Agawam. Roughly 1,000 people from throughout the Greater Springfield Area are expected to participate in this annual event at its new location starting at 10 a.m. This fund-raising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s local and national education and advocacy programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual rate of suicide by 20% by 2025. “We walk to raise awareness about this important health issue. Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking, we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said Heather White, area director for AFSP in Western Mass. The event is one of more than 375 Out of the Darkness community walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 250,000 walkers and raise millions of dollars for suicide-prevention efforts. With this walk last year, the Greater Springfield community raised almost $60,0000 for suicide awareness and prevention initiatives, and had nearly 800 participants. Planning committees for the 2017 Greater Springfield Out of the Darkness Walk are meeting now. If you would like to help organize this inspiring charitable event, sponsor the walk, or have a booth on site, contact Heather White at [email protected] for more information. To join the fight against suicide, register to walk at School Street Park in Agawam on Oct. 21 by visiting www.afsp.org/greaterspringfieldma.

Lowcountry Celebration

Oct. 27: Blue Heron Restaurant will celebrate its 20th anniversary by hosting “Lowcountry Living: An Evening of Gullah Culture and Cuisine,” a one-night event designed to take diners on a culinary trip to the South Carolina Lowcountry, the region which originally inspired owners Deborah Snow and Barbara White to open a restaurant focused on local, seasonal ingredients and unpretentious hospitality. The dinner, which will feature a Gullah-themed menu, as well as music and pieces from critically acclaimed South Carolina artist Sonja Griffin Evans’ “American Gullah Collection,” will start at 6:30 p.m., with reservations open to the public. Menu and pricing for the event will be announced at a later date. Reservations can be made by calling (413) 665-2102 or e-mailing [email protected].

Business & Innovation Expo of Western Mass.

Nov. 2: Comcast Business will present the Business & Innovation Expo of Western Mass. at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, produced by BusinessWest and the Healthcare News. The seventh annual business-to-business show will feature more than 150 exhibitor booths, educational seminars, breakfast and lunch programs, and a day-capping Expo Social. Current sponsors include Comcast Business (presenting sponsor), Johnson & Hill Staffing Services and Wild Apple Design Group (executive sponsors), Inspired Marketing (show partner), MGM Springfield (corporate sponsor), Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst (education sponsor), Xfinity (social sponsor), Elms College (information booth sponsor), Smith & Wesson (Workforce Development sponsor), Savage Arms (JoinedForces and Workforce Development parking sponsor), and the Better Business Bureau (contributing sponsor). Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $725. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook Departments

Old Chapel at UMass Earns LEED Gold Certification

AMHERST — The renovation of the historic Old Chapel at UMass Amherst earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED rating system is the foremost program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. Built in 1885, the Old Chapel is the most iconic and significant historic building on the UMass Amherst campus. Designed by Steven Earle in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, the building originally housed a library, auditorium, natural-history collections, and classrooms. It was later used as a drill hall, departmental offices, and finally as home to the Minuteman Marching Band in the 1960s, before officially closing its doors in 1999 due to structural deterioration. The Old Chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, and work began on a $21 million renovation, addition, and preservation effort to restore the building to its original glory. The revitalized Old Chapel now serves students, faculty, and alumni as a campus resource. The first floor provides a flexible layout for student study, gallery exhibitions, and community events, while the Great Hall on the top floor provides a large, open space for performances, lectures, receptions, and weddings. UMass Amherst and the UMass Building Authority hired Finegold Alexander Architects of Boston to design the restoration and demonstrate how aspects of historic preservation and sustainability can work together. The firm deployed an array of sustainability strategies to maintain the integrity of the original design and materials, while adapting the building’s structure and interior to modern use, access, and building-code requirements. The Old Chapel’s original structure consists of local timber and stone such as Pelham granite and Longmeadow sandstone. The design reused 83% of structural masonry, wood columns, beams, trusses, and wainscoting trim, and 82% of new wood products were either locally sourced or certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The addition of a contemporary glass entry pavilion at the south façade is integrated into a landscaped terrace that provides full accessibility while also incorporating water-efficient landscaping and rainwater management that improves site ecology. Meeting modern indoor environment and energy-efficiency requirements within the original exterior wall assembly was a challenge; the design team used energy modeling to find the correct balance of masonry-wall insulation, energy-efficient glazing, and stained-glass restoration so that sustainability goals were in concert with historic restoration efforts. The building is designed to exceed code energy performance by 21% and to reduce potable water use by 34%, and it will follow a rigorous measurement and verification process that ensures those savings are realized post-occupancy.

The Hub Studio Announces Grand-opening Celebration

FLORENCE — Tracy Roth, who launched the Hub Studio, a fitness studio located at the Nonotuck Mill in Florence, will host a grand opening at the studio on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The studio will offer spinning, TRX resistance training, mat Pilates, scientifically backed nutrition-coaching programs, outdoor cycling instruction, workshops, special events, and more. The grand opening will include refreshments and snacks from local cafés and restaurants, live music from kid-friendly DJ Quintessential, free chair massage, a raffle, and more. The raffle prizes include classes and a three-month membership at the Hub Studio, as well as other exclusive items from area businesses. The event is free, and the public is welcome. Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz will attend to assist with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Located in Suite 202 at the Nonotuck Mill, 296-C Nonotuck St., Florence, the studio will be open full-time starting Monday, Oct. 2 and will include group fitness classes for all levels during the morning, afternoon, and evening hours. The studio will also have classes, workshops, and special events on Saturdays and Sundays. For class descriptions, schedule, a blog, and more, visit www.yourhubstudio.com.

BCC Launches New Job-search Website

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced that its Career Development Center has launched new career-management software with College Central Network (CCN) at www.collegecentral.com/berkshirecc. BCC students past, present, and future now have access to the latest resources and job opportunities at the regional and national level. Additionally, this tool will enhance communication among various departments within the college that routinely collaborate with employers in the community. The new website offers exclusive job postings targeting the BCC student and alumni population as well as access to hundreds of career articles, podcasts, and career-advice resources. Students and any community members can upload or build a résumé on the site as well as register for career-related events around the area and receive alerts for their ideal job. BCC recently sent out registration notifications to local employers, inviting them to create an account. Once confirmed, they may begin uploading job opportunities that they would like to post. BCC’s job-search site is meant to assist local employers and the community in making it easier to post and find jobs. It also helps ensure a smooth transition for BCC students to find local employment with support from the software and the college’s Career Development Center team.

JA of Western Massachusetts Announces Grant Awards

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts announced that it received a $10,000 grant from the United Bank Foundation to bring financial-literacy programs to students in East Longmeadow, Westfield, West Springfield, and Springfield. The programs will teach students concepts related to budgeting, saving, and money management with the intent of promoting the development of good financial habits. The partnership includes the involvement of volunteers from United Bank to help deliver the programs to students. Meanwhile, JA of Western Massachusetts also received a $7,200 grant from the UPS Foundation to implement JA “Be Entrepreneurial” classes. The curriculum introduces high-school students to the essential elements of a practical business plan and challenges them to start an entrepreneurial venture while still in high school. Students learn about advertising, competitive advantages, financing, marketing, and product development, all of which are key to being an informed entrepreneur. The program includes seven 45-minute sessions taught by a community or corporate volunteer. Volunteers bring in their own experiences and life lessons to the classroom to enhance the JA program. Schools and organizations participating in “Be Entrepreneurial” include Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, the JA BEE Summer Program, the Center for Human Development, St. Mary’s High School, and East Longmeadow High School.

Tighe & Bond Among Top New England Design Firms

WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, a Northeast leader in engineering and environmental consulting, has been ranked ninth in the Engineering News Record’s (ENR) New England Top Design Firms edition. In addition, the firm was named among the Top 200 Environmental Firms by ENR, and appeared for the first time as a Top 60 Engineering Firm nationwide by Building Design + Construction. Other recent rankings for Tighe & Bond include number 154 on ENR’s list of Top 200 Environmental Firms, based on environmental-specific revenue from 2016; number 260 on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms, based on design-specific revenue from 2016; and sixth on Hartford Business Journal’s list of Largest Engineering Firms in Greater Hartford.

Hogan Technology Receives Cybersecurity Certification

EASTHAMPTON — Hogan Technology, a provider of unified communications, announced that the company is certified to provide cybersecurity solutions to SMBs (small to mid-sized businesses) to protect them from the barrage of cyberattacks that occur every day. Cybercrimes are a serious threat, and most businesses cannot afford to become the victim of malware, ransomware, phishing, password attacks, denial-of-service attacks, or malvertising of any sort for a prolonged period of time, said Sean Hogan, president of Hogan Technology. Recent advancements in preventive technology have helped SMBs safeguard themselves from unnecessary attacks, network vulnerabilities, and company downtime that can often result from such disruptions. Hogan Technology invests heavily in its staff of IT professionals to ensure that everyone is well-trained, certified, and fully equipped to protect customers from cyberattacks.

Bay Path Master’s Degree in Applied Data Science Ranked 12th Nationally

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University’s master’s of science degree in applied data science was ranked 12th in a list of the top 50 data-science programs nationwide by www.onlinecoursereport.com. Rankings were based on a combination of affordability, flexibility, and student support services. The article highlights the low student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1 at Bay Path. It also makes reference to the university’s WiSH (Women in STEM Honors) program, which offers a four-year curriculum consisting of integrated and advanced study and research for women at the undergraduate level dedicated to becoming scientists. The university is also home to the Center of Excellence for Women in STEM, providing professional development, networking, and mentorship opportunities for students and professional women in STEM fields. The program is fully online and open to both women and men. The 36-credit program teaches the fundamental principles, platforms, and toolsets of the data-science profession in an accelerated format that can be completed in as little as one year. This rapidly growing career field is well suited to professionals with backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, and business analysis, with graduates achieving such career outcomes as data scientist, data engineer, and more.

Massachusetts Adds 10,800 Jobs in August

By
Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in  August, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate that Massachusetts added 10,800 jobs in August. Over the month, the private sector added 9,900 jobs as gains occurred in professional, scientific, and business services; other services; information; construction; and manufacturing. The July estimate was revised to a gain of 2,500 jobs.

From August 2016 to August 2017, BLS estimates Massachusetts has added 57,400 jobs.

The August unemployment rate was two-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.4% reported by the bureau.

“Massachusetts has gained 57,400 jobs in the last year, with much of that growth concentrated in key economic sectors like health, education, professional, business, and scientific services,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “While these job gains, alongside a low unemployment rate, are signs of a strong economy in the Commonwealth, skills gaps and labor-market pressures persist. That is why our workforce-development agencies and partners continue to focus on matching available workers with the training and resources they need to connect to high-demand jobs.”

The labor force decreased by 17,200 from 3,697,700 in July, as 10,700 fewer residents were employed and 6,500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased eight-tenths of a percentage point from 3.4% in August 2016. There were 31,300 more unemployed residents over the year compared to August 2016.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — decreased three-tenths of a percentage point to 66.1% over the month. The labor-force participation rate over the year has increased 1.3% compared to August 2016.

The largest private sector percentage job gains over the year were in other services; professional, scientific, and business services; education and health services; and financial activities.

Business & Innovation Expo to Feature Panel Talk on Cybersecurity

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Business & Innovation Expo of Western Mass., the seventh annual business-to-business show produced by BusinessWest and the Healthcare News, slated for Thursday, Nov. 2 at the MassMutual Center, will feature wide range of seminars, workshops, and panel discussions delivered by local experts.

One particularly timely panel discussion will tackle the topic of cybersecurity. Slated for 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., the panel will include Marco Liquori, president of NetLogix, Regina Jasak, president of Regina Jasak Independent Insurance; and June Liberty, a board member with HRMA.

The Expo will feature more than 150 exhibitor booths, educational seminars, breakfast and lunch programs, and a day-capping Expo Social. Current sponsors include Comcast Business (presenting sponsor), Johnson & Hill Staffing Services and Wild Apple Design Group (executive sponsors), Inspired Marketing (show partner), MGM Springfield (corporate sponsor), Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst (education sponsor), Xfinity (social sponsor), Elms College (information booth sponsor), Smith & Wesson (Workforce Support Center sponsor), Savage Arms (JoinedForces parking sponsor), and the Better Business Bureau (contributing sponsor). Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $800. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Fairfield Inn & Suites to Hold Ribbon Cutting in Holyoke Sept. 21

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The 95-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Holyoke, which opened its doors on Aug. 9, is scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. The hotel is located at 229 Whiting Farms Road, at Ingleside Square, and will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Shield Hotels of Northampton.

Ingleside Square is a ground-up redevelopment featuring such restaurants as Applebee’s, Chipotle, and McDonald’s, as well as retail stores. Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce executives and local legislators are expected to attend, and the public is invited.

Located 25 miles from Bradley International Airport, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Springfield/Holyoke at Ingleside Square is close to family attractions such as the Basketball Hall of Fame, Six Flags, Yankee Candle, the Volleyball Hall of Fame, and starting next year, MGM Springfield.

Hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool, a 24/7 fitness center, valet laundry service, complimentary wi-fi, as well as fax and copy services. The hotel also offers 450 square feet of space to accommodate functions of up to 50 people.

“Delivering both function and comfort, our new design and décor elevate the Fairfield brand, setting a new standard in the moderate tier category,” said Callette Nielsen, gthe chain’s vice president and global brand manager. “At Fairfield Inn & Suites, we provide an easy, positive, and productive travel experience, as well as the promise of consistent and reliable service at an exceptional value. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Springfield/Holyoke at Ingleside Square is a truly stunning example of the brand’s contemporary look and feel, and we are pleased to introduce Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels in the Holyoke area.”

Women’s Fund Welcomes Donna Haghighat as CEO

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts recently welcomed Donna Haghighat as its new CEO. She comes to the Women’s Fund with more than 12 years of experience developing programs, cultivating relationships, fund-raising, directing communications strategy, creating strategic plan, and building advocacy programs.

Most recently principal at the Collabyrinth Collective, LLC, Haghighat’s previous roles have included executive director of the Aurora Women & Girl’s Foundation, chief engagement and advocacy officer for YWCA Hartford Region, a strategic consultant, chief development officer for Hartford Public Library, interim director and grants/program manager of the Women’s Education and Leadership Fund, and co-president of AAUW CT.

“I am thrilled to join the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts at this pivotal time,” Haghighat said. “Together with our amazing board, staff, donors, funders, volunteers, and program participants, we build stronger communities and organizations when women lead.”

Ameriprise of South Hadley Relocates, Changes Name, Expands Team

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Daily News

SOUTH HADLEY — Stephen Duval, a private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., recently announced he has moved his practice to a new location at 551 Newton St. and changed its name to Summit House Wealth Partners. Duval has also expanded his team of financial advisors by one.

A certified financial planner, Duval moved his office in June from 130 College St., and colleague Justin Osowiecki, a financial advisor, made the transition with him. At the same time, Duval partnered with Edward Boscher, who is also now serving clients as a Summit House Wealth Partners financial advisor.

The team will hold an open house for the public at the new Newton Street office on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 2 to 7 p.m.

Duval holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass in business administration and is a graduate of the College for Financial Planning. He has been with Ameriprise for 25 years. Boscher is also a certified financial planner and a certified investment management analyst. He has spent much of his career working with Voya Investment Management out of its Windsor, Conn. office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State University.

Boscher made the transition to Summit House Wealth Partners, he said, “to put my 23-plus years of asset-management experience to work for people around here, because I live here.”

Duval’s practice is an Ameriprise Financial franchise. Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. offers financial-advisory services, investments, insurance, and annuity products. For more information, or for details on upcoming workshops — on topics ranging from Social Security to identify theft to retirement planning — call (413) 540-0196.

CATIC Relocates Western Mass. Office to Springfield

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — CATIC has relocated its Western Mass. office to One Monarch Place, Suite 1210, in Springfield. The building, located in the heart of Springfield’s Financial District, with easy access to I-91 and the Mass Pike, offers state-of-the-art accommodations and convenience for its customers, said Jim Bilodeau, CATIC’s Massachusetts state manager.

“One Monarch Place is a beautiful building in a central location,” he added. “This new space enhances our ability to serve clients in Western Massachusetts.”
The Springfield office’s telephone number is (413) 552-3400.

CATIC, currently licensed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, is an underwriting member of the American Land Title Assoc. and North American Bar-Related Title Insurers.

American International College Announces Two Promotions

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) announced the promotions of Christopher Garrity, CPA to vice president for Finance and Jeffrey Bednarz to associate vice president for Auxiliary Services.

Garrity came to AIC in 2013 from Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. in Holyoke, bringing with him 12 years of public-accounting experience. During his tenure, he has increased controls within the finance department as well as instituted technological advances to better serve the needs of the college. In recent months, Garrity has assumed additional finance and administrative responsibilities including insurance, real estate, and banking.

Garrity graduated from Nichols College in Dudley with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Bednarz has been with AIC since 2007. During his tenure with the college, he added to his responsibilities with the campus police to become a full-time sergeant, deputy chief, safety officer, and campus-services systems administrator. He was instrumental in the growth of AIC’s access-control and video-surveillance systems. His duties include the day-to-day management of outsourced campus providers, including campus police, dining services, buildings, and grounds.

In his new role, Bednarz will continue to oversee campus police, dining services, and buildings and grounds. In addition, he will oversee new construction as well as other construction projects across campus.

Expo to Bring Back ‘Marketing Myths Revealed’ Panel

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Business & Innovation Expo of Western Mass., the seventh annual business-to-business show produced by BusinessWest and the Healthcare News, slated for Thursday, Nov. 2 at the MassMutual Center, will feature a wide range of educational seminars and panel discussions.

Take the “Marketing Myths Revealed” panel, for instance. Back by popular demand and slated for 1:15 to 2:30 p.m., the discussion will bring together key regional players in marketing and visual design to offer up their combined expertise. Award-winning graphic designers, marketers, copywriters, and visual artists will offer their insight and advice and unwrap some marketing secrets, myths, and misconceptions. Attendees will find out what others are asking and saying about successful brands and campaigns in today’s market. Panelists will include Amy Scott, president of Wild Apple Design Group, who will moderate, and representatives from the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, Inspired Marketing, and Greenfield Community College, to name a few.

The Expo will feature more than 150 exhibitor booths, educational seminars, breakfast and lunch programs, and a day-capping Expo Social. Current sponsors include Comcast Business (presenting sponsor), Johnson & Hill Staffing Services and Wild Apple Design Group (executive sponsors), Inspired Marketing (show partner), MGM Springfield (corporate sponsor), Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst (education sponsor), Xfinity (social sponsor), Elms College (information booth sponsor), Smith & Wesson (Workforce Support Center sponsor), Savage Arms (JoinedForces parking sponsor), and the Better Business Bureau (contributing sponsor). Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $800. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

WNEU Welcomes Record Number of New Students

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University (WNEU) announced a second consecutive year of enrollment growth in its recruitment efforts. WNEU reported a total of 899 new students enrolled in classes for the 2017 fall semester, bringing the total opening full-time undergraduate enrollment up to 2,656, the largest in university history.

The university also saw a record number of admissions applications in 2017, totaling 7,037, along with an increase in the diversity of the incoming student population, with minorities representing 26% of the cohort in 2017, up from 21% in 2016.

“We are at a very important time in the history of higher education with respect to how families are assessing the rising cost to attend college. Students are asking the important questions during their college search process; they need and deserve hard data on internships and job-placement rates, the availability of merit- and need-based scholarships, and the support networks that will be in place to enhance their academic and social development. We welcome this,” said Bryan Gross, WNEU’s vice president for enrollment management and marketing. “The fact that Western New England University has been so successful in attracting diverse and highly qualified students while many other universities are experiencing enrollment declines demonstrates that people are taking notice and realizing the true value we offer.”

The university’s College of Arts and Sciences enrolled 403 new students, a 10.1% increase over 2016, while the College of Business enrolled 203 new students, a 3% increase over last year. In the first year of a new Business Impact Scholarship initiative, the College of Business enrolled 67 new students from Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties compared to 44 new students from those counties last year. The renewable, $2,000-per-student scholarship was offered to support the recent surge of economic development in the Greater Springfield area, and to encourage business students to remain in Western Mass.

Many students are attracted to the university’s Merit Scholarship program, which rewards previous academic performance. Merit Scholarships will again increase for the fall 2018 academic year to a range from $8,000 to $21,000 annually (each year students maintain good grades), as well as need-based grants.

WNEU students will also soon enjoy a new, four-story, 70,000-square-foot Dining Commons building, scheduled to open in January 2018, as the university continues to expand the campus facilities.

Mark Fulco Named President of Mercy Medical Center

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Mark Fulco has been named president of Mercy Medical Center, effective October 9. In this role, he will be responsible for the operational performance of the hospital; provide leadership in the execution, management, financial performance, and oversight of all hospital operations; and explore opportunities for growth through strategic development initiatives.

“Mark is a highly respected, highly engaged healthcare leader with extensive experience in various areas of hospital operations. We are certain he will not only help sustain our rich legacy of providing high-quality care with a compassionate touch, he will also help us reach new levels of service to our community,” said John Sjoberg, board chair of Mercy Medical Center.

Fulco returns to Mercy after spending the past two years at Trinity Health’s corporate office in Livonia, Mich., where he served as system vice president for Health Ministries and System Office Communication Interface. Reporting to the president and chief operating officer of Trinity Health and group executive vice presidents, he provided operational leadership in developing and communicating deployment of initiatives, served as the communication liaison between regional CEOs and the system office, coordinated several operations leadership councils, and led several special projects, including the creation of operations reports and updates to the Trinity Health operating model.

“Mark is a strong, strategic leader with deep ties to health care in New England, and we are pleased he’s returning to Springfield to lead our ongoing transformation to people-centered care,” said Ben Carter, executive vice president for Trinity Health.

Fulco first joined the Mercy team in 2005 as senior vice president of Strategy and Marketing and a member of the senior leadership team. In 2015, he was additionally named chief transformation officer to reflect his growing list of responsibilities around population-health management and value-based contracting.

During his decade at Mercy, Fulco was instrumental in the success of several important initiatives, such as creation of the Mercy Care Alliance clinically integrated network and the Accountable Care Organization of New England. He also served as Mercy’s Integration Management Office lead for the CHE-Trinity consolidation and played a key role in building the partnership that resulted in Saint Francis Care joining Trinity Health.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark back to Mercy Medical Center. He is a visionary leader with unparalleled business acumen, exceptional creative ability, unwavering dedication to our mission, and tremendous enthusiasm — traits that will undoubtedly serve us well as he takes on this important role,” said Christopher Dadlez, president and CEO of Trinity Health of New England.

Prior to joining Mercy, Fulco served as vice president of Strategic Marketing and Business Development for Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, Conn. His previous roles include serving as president of a healthcare-management-services organization and as senior vice president of a national disease-management company.

Fulco is the recipient of the 2010 American College of Healthcare Executives Management Innovation Poster Session Award for “A Successful Micro-Accountable Care Organization as a Model for Evolving Payment Reform in Massachusetts.” A former member of the board of the Springfield Performing Arts Development Corp. and the board of East Catholic High School in Manchester, Conn., he is a USA Hockey official and member of the officiating instructor staff.

Fulco holds a master’s degree from the Barney School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Hartford, where he was a Woodruff fellow, and a bachelor’s degree from Clark University, where he was a Travelli scholar.

Pathlight, VVM Seek Innovations to Benefit People with Disabilities

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Applications are now open for the second year of the Pathlight Challenge, Pathlight’s partnership with Valley Venture Mentors (VVM). The two organizations have put out a national call to entrepreneurs to develop solutions aimed at increasing independence for people with intellectual disabilities and those with autism.

Pathlight, headquartered in Springfield, has served people with developmental and intellectual disabilities throughout Western Mass. since 1952, while VVM offers support to business startups. The Pathlight Challenge is supported by a grant from the Westfield Bank Future Fund.

Startups from anywhere in the world are invited to apply for two spots in VVM’s prestigious, intensive, four-month Accelerator program, which kicks off in January.

Pathlight Executive Director Ruth Banta said that the partnership with Valley Venture Mentors highlights the organization’s long-standing history of innovation. Pathlight has been a pioneer in partnering with people with developmental disabilities and autism to live full and engaged lives. She said it seems a natural next step to consider how technology or other innovative solutions can help a new generation of people with disabilities live as independently as possible.

The Accelerator program is held over one long weekend a month, offering startups connections to subject-matter experts, investors, and engaged and collaborative peers. Those competing in the program can win up to $50,000 in grants to develop their business or product. Applications for the Accelerator are open through Oct. 18. The Pathlight fellows will graduate from the Accelerator program in May, when they will also unveil their new products or services.

For more information or to apply for the Pathlight Challenge, visit pathlightgroup.org/our-community/pathlight-challenge.

Expo Seminar Aims to Help Business People Build Skills to Succeed

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Business & Innovation Expo of Western Mass., the seventh annual business-to-business show produced by BusinessWest and the Healthcare News, slated for Thursday, Nov. 2 at the MassMutual Center, will feature wide range of seminars, delivered by local experts, aimed at equipping attendees with information they can take back to their own companies.

As one example, Ryan Stelzer, co-founder of Strategy of Mind, LLC, will present a seminar called “How to Build Skills to Help You Succeed” from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.

In this program, participants will spend their time engaged in a carefully structured HQ dialogue that is uniquely designed by a team of experts to foster active inquiry, careful listening, and creative thinking about alternative approaches to problems and challenges. By developing these critical qualitative skills, individuals and organizations alike will flourish and innovate for success.

Participants will learn to elevate the level of trust and collaboration among colleagues and clients; manage stressful experiences with greater resilience and strength; deepen self-awareness, mental focus, and creative collaborative thinking; address diverse, often unfamiliar challenges; and better judge and assess complex scenarios.

Stelzer co-founded Strategy of Mind as a management consultant specializing in both individual and organizational performance improvement. Prior to his work in consulting, he served at the White House as a presidential management fellow during the Obama administration, where his team was responsible for improving and sustaining high levels of performance across federal agencies. Before this, he worked as a special assistant to the chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S.

The Expo will feature more than 150 exhibitor booths, educational seminars, breakfast and lunch programs, and a day-capping Expo Social. Current sponsors include Comcast Business (presenting sponsor), Johnson & Hill Staffing Services and Wild Apple Design Group (executive sponsors), Inspired Marketing (show partner), MGM Springfield (corporate sponsor), Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst (education sponsor), Xfinity (social sponsor), Elms College (information booth sponsor), Smith & Wesson (Workforce Support Center sponsor), Savage Arms (JoinedForces parking sponsor), and the Better Business Bureau (contributing sponsor). Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $800. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

MSB to Hold Free Workshop on Small-business Retirement Plans

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Daily News

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank will host a complimentary workshop titled “Small-business Retirement Plans” on Tuesday, Sept. 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the bank’s corporate office, 107A Main St., Monson. It is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

The workshop will be presented by Phil Hahn, regional vice president of Security Benefit. Through a combination of innovative products, strong investment management, and a unique distribution strategy, Security Benefit has become a leader in the U.S. retirement market. Attendees will learn what the state of the retirement plan market is, defined benefit versus defined contribution, the many different types of plans, and much more.

“We are very pleased to be offering this free workshop,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “Owning your own business and making the right retirement-plan choices for you and your employees can be a daunting process. This workshop will help you understand the many different plans, describe the different benefits, and address your questions and concerns.”

Seating is limited, and reservations are required. To RSVP, call Anna Calvanese at (413) 267-1221 or e-mail [email protected].

Zeynep Dere Receives Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Scholarship at ILI

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Zeynep Dere is the recipient of a scholarship established by Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee for area immigrants and refugees studying at the Northampton-based International Language Institute (ILI) of Massachusetts. The scholarship allows Dere to enroll in ILI’s intensive English program. Her application was chosen from many submitted by immigrants and refugees in the school’s free English evening classes for immigrants and refugees.

Dere, from Turkey, has been a student in the free English classes since 2015. When not busy with her family and school, she volunteers her time to raise funds for needy children, at one time for orphanages in Turkey and now in Western Mass.

“I am very excited,” Dere said. “This means I can study English more every week, and that is good for my family and me. Dean’s Beans is helping to make my dreams come true.”

Dean Cycon, founder/owner of Dean’s Beans, came up with the idea for the scholarship after learning about the school’s free English classes. “I wanted to make it possible for one of these hard-working students to benefit from more of the excellent instruction I witnessed at ILI,” he said. “A scholarship seemed the best way to make that happen.”

Added ILI Executive Director Caroline Gear, “this is a perfect match. We promote strong, diverse communities through high-quality language instruction, and Dean’s support of our efforts fits well with his company’s commitment to social activism. We thank him for this scholarship, the first at our school.”

Bay Path to Host Emotive Agility Interactive Talk on Sept. 19

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Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Strategic Alliances at Bay Path University will host a free, interactive talk led by Berit Elizabeth, the creator of Emotive Agility Training, on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. in Breck Suite at Wright Hall on the university’s Longmeadow campus.

“What Matters More? What You Say or How You Say It?” is Elizabeth’s interactive presentation, aligning theater techniques with emotional-intelligence principles. Participants will learn how to integrate body language with preparation to present themselves with confidence and authenticity in any scenario.

Elizabeth specializes in the link between body language and emotional intelligence. She loves empowering people — especially women — to tap into the underrated power of body language to transform any situation and one’s sense of self. She studied theatrical directing and social psychology at Carnegie Mellon and New York University and has traveled the world to study embodied actor training techniques. She is certified in emotional-intelligence assessment and coaches individuals and organizations on how to leverage the power of physical presence during difficult conversations and presentations.

This presentation is part of the Kaleidoscope series sponsored by Strategic Alliances at Bay Path University, which fosters openness, curiosity, and dialogue concerning issues and topics in local and global communities. Registration is strongly encouraged and available at www.baypath.edu/events-calendar.

WNEU Lecture Series to Tackle Health Effects of Chemicals

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences announced its community lecture series, titled Healthy U. With faculty expertise from pharmacy to biomedical engineering, health sciences to business and law, this series is designed to help individuals, and the community as a whole, make better decisions about health and safety.

The first lecture in the series, “From Sweeteners to Mercury: Chemicals and Your Health,” will be presented on Tuesday, Sept. 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dr. Ronny Priefer, professor of Medicinal Chemistry at WNEU’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, will deliver the talk and answer audience questions. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held in Room 300 of the Center for Sciences and Pharmacy, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield.

Chemicals surround us in our everyday lives. We consume them in our food and medications and have frequent contact with them in our homes and on the job. While some people are fearful that chemicals are harmful to their health, it is important to remember that the human body is essentially a large container of chemicals. This lecture will help demystify some of the general concerns about chemicals and those chemicals that may be harmful after years of low exposure.

The second lecture in the Healthy U Series, “Let’s Talk About It: Opioid Overdose Prevention Basics,” will be held on November 8 at 6:30 p.m. Some future talks in the Healthy U series will explore such topics as “Drugs in the Water and in Nature,” “Are Pharmaceutical Companies Evil?” “Drugs and Genes,” “Medical Marijuana Laws,” and “Bugs and Drugs.”

More information is available at wne.edu/pharmacy/community/healthy-u. Registration is not required, but an RSVP is appreciated at [email protected].

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