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Month: March 2019

American International College Prepares Graduates for Economic Success

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) is among the state’s top colleges and universities in increasing graduates’ earning potential, according to a recent study.

A 2017 Harvard University study revealed that AIC ranks second among private institutions of higher education in Massachusetts in upward income mobility of its graduates. According to the report, “Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility,” the likelihood of an AIC graduate moving up two income quintiles in their lifetime is 24%. This data is based on the anonymous tax records of more than 30 million students over a 15-year period.

“AIC excels at teaching and preparing first generation, low-income, minority, and non-traditional college students for post-college and career success,” said Jack Benjamin, director of grants for the College’s Office of Institutional Advancement. “Injecting economic success into the lives of graduates from populations typically underserved by traditional higher-education institutions is one of the college’s greatest strengths.”

Eric Lesser Wants to Close the Distance Between East and West

By
Sen. Eric Lesser
Cover Story

Bridging the Gulf

Sen. Eric Lesser

Sen. Eric Lesser

Since first elected to office five years ago, state Sen. Eric Lesser has made economic development and, more specifically, closing the wide gap in prosperity between the eastern and western areas of the state his top priority. While he’s most closely linked to high-speed rail, he’s put his name — and energy — behind a number of initiatives to bring more jobs and more vibrancy to the 413.

As he talks about economic development in the Bay State, Eric Lesser focuses on most of the usual subjects — jobs, wages, taxes, incentives, industry clusters, training, and technology. But the issue he’s really obsessed with is geography.

To be more specific, it’s the economic gulf that exists between east — meaning Greater Boston — and west in a state that’s only 120 miles wide. It’s a huge gulf, and since he was first elected to the state Senate in 2014, Lesser has devoted most of his waking hours to somehow closing it and enabling the four western counties to look and feel more like those east of Worcester, at least from a jobs and overall vibrancy perspective.

This broad goal has been the inspiration for dozens of bills and initiatives, ranging from high-speed rail service that would connect Boston and Springfield to more recent endeavors such as legislation that would pay $10,000 to individuals willing to move to Western Mass. and work remotely, and another bill that would funnel $87 million in incentives that General Electric is essentially refunding to the state toward vocational education programs.

But in each case, Lesser told BusinessWest, the bills were filed not to benefit Western Mass. exclusively, but the state as a whole, said Lesser, chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus and also its Gateway Cities Caucus.

“This challenge we have is actually a huge opportunity, because we have a lot of assets; we’ve got great cultural institutions, we’ve got great academic institutions, we’re really close to red-hot economic centers in New York to our south and Boston to our east. We have to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

“Boston has an endless supply of fast-growing, high-paying jobs,” he told BusinessWest. “What it doesn’t have is enough open space, enough affordable housing, and a transportation system that can sustain all this. So my philosophy for the past five years has been to work on policies that address the needs of both ends of the state.”

As an example, he cited the issue he is perhaps most closely associated with — high-speed rail service, again the focus of ongoing study. Lesser said there is a good reason for his preoccupation with rail — actually several of them.

Indeed, both research and recent events show there a strong relationship between rail service and seizing opportunities within the broad realm of economic development, he said, citing several once-struggling cities within the Commonwealth as examples.

“The Wall Street Journal did a detailed report on this about a year and a half ago,” he explained. “They looked at Lowell, Lawrence, Worcester, and Springfield and determined that recovery from the Great Recession was greatest in those gateway cities that were connected by rail service.

“Why? Because they were able to take advantage of the overheating of the economy in Boston — people were moving out of the city to find more affordable places to live, and they could do that because of the rail connection,” he went on. “Rail will give people in Western Mass. access to high-paying jobs that will grow our economy by producing and fueling the construction industry, among others. And it gives Eastern Mass. access to more open space and more affordable housing, which are desperately needed priorities.”

Likewise, the legislation involving incentives to move west would help this region because it would bring more young professionals with buying power to the area, but it would also help the Greater Boston area by giving remote workers for companies based there a more affordable option for living in the Bay State.

Overall, the energetic Lesser is committed to helping this region not only regain some of the prominence it enjoyed when it was a center for precision manufacturing and had tens of thousands of people working in that sector at the Springfield Armory and several private companies, but thrive in a modern, technology-driven economy fueled by innovation and entrepreneurship.

Eric Lesser says a strong precision-manufacturing sector

Eric Lesser says a strong precision-manufacturing sector is one of the region’s many assets, and one that should be leveraged in the years and decades to come.

And as he goes about that assignment, he sees a number of links between the past and the future.

Indeed, when one of the young entrepreneurs speaking at the State of Entrepreneurship event staged last month at Valley Venture Mentors opined that Western Mass. could be the next Silicon Valley, Lesser, when it was his turn to talk, said this region was Silicon Valley not so long ago, at least in terms of industrial innovation and ‘firsts’ — everything from the Blanchard lathe to the monkey wrench — due to a strong culture of entrepreneurship.

It is becoming that again, but has a ways to go, he told BusinessWest, specifically when asked if this region could become home to many of the large corporations now based in and around Boston.

“The single biggest challenge is workforce,” he said. “Companies need a a mix of workers, and they need a supply of workers that can do what they need done; we’re not there yet.”

Overall, to play a more prominent role in today’s IT-driven economy, this region needs some help in the broad and critical realm of connectivity, he went on, adding that this help could come in the form of a high-speed rail connection, funding to help vocational high schools reduce or eliminate their waiting lists for some programs, and, yes, even incentives for individuals to relocate here.

“This challenge we have is actually a huge opportunity,” he said, “because we have a lot of assets; we’ve got great cultural institutions, we’ve got great academic institutions, we’re really close to red-hot economic centers in New York to our south and Boston to our east. We have to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Lesser about how his primary focus since being elected to office is doing just that.

State of the Economy

As he talked about the gulf that exists between east and west, Lesser, whose district includes roughly half of Springfield, more than half of Chicopee, and several smaller towns east of Springfield, provided a quick history lesson in how things came to be this way.

“In the 1980s, we had a manufacturing-oriented economy here that emptied out over the course of the 20 or 30 years since then,” he explained, referencing the closing, relocation, or downsizing of stalwarts such as American Bosch, Chapman Valve, Westinghouse, Monsanto, and others. “Those companies used to employ thousands each, and most of those still lie empty. Boston and Eastern Mass. had the same phenomenon — in fact, the whole country saw it; there were major manufacturing centers in the Boston area that also emptied out.

“The difference and the challenge we have is that, in the Boston area, those jobs were replaced by jobs in high tech, education, healthcare, the so-called eds and meds, as they say,” he went on. “We had some of the replacement in Western Mass., but nowhere near as much or at the same rate as Eastern Mass.”

And while jobs have left, so too have people.

Lesser noted that Holyoke, in its heyday as a paper and textiles mecca, had a population of close to 60,000; today it’s around 40,000. Springfield once had 190,000 residents; today the number is closer to 160,000. And while the populations are getting smaller, they’re also getting older, and it’s not just the urban centers.

“They’re talking about closing schools in communities all across my district — in Granby, in Wilbraham-Hampden, even in Longmeadow, where they’re talking about closing one of the two middle schools,” he told BusinessWest, adding that these smaller, aging populations are reaching a critical stage.

“If we don’t do big creative things to reverse this challenge that we face, then we’re going to be in big trouble,” he said, emphasizing that adjective. “We’ve got to bring in new ideas, be aggressive about trying new concepts, and work with what we have, which is great people, a great legacy of innovation, and great quality of life.”

And Lesser has brought forth a number of new ideas since first elected, many of them focused on replacing the jobs that have been lost in this region, drawing more young people to the 413, and building the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Valley.

He wants to replace jobs lost by bolstering the region’s already-strong manufacturing sector with education and training programs aimed at retaining jobs and adding new ones. And at the same time, he wants to build a stronger workforce in this region — one that will eventually attract more employers — by making it easier to work for the companies in and around Boston, but live here.

Which brings us back to high-speed rail.

The matter has been studied, but Lesser fought hard for and eventually helped win funding to get it studied again. He’s confident that the study will reveal what he firmly believes — that such rail service is a worthy investment for the Commonwealth because of the benefits that will come from bringing Greater Boston and Greater Springfield closer together, figuratively speaking.

Eric Lesser, seen here at a recent roundtable

Eric Lesser, seen here at a recent roundtable with manufacturing and vocational-education leaders, says the state must do something to ease the long waiting lists for vocational programs.

“Rents are out of control in Boston, the traffic is asphyxiating, they need relief from that, and we offer that in Western Mass.,” he explained, adding quickly that he does not believe Boston-area prices will come to the 413, as they have in parts of Rhode Island and other regions of this state.

“We’re a long way from that being the challenge,” he said. “I’m sensitive to that, and we have to stay on top of that. If you focus on things like transit-oriented development — clustering development around Union Station, for example, and redeveloping mill properties and vacant home units — you can do this in a sustainable way that lifts all boats.”

Making Progress

As he referenced the region’s proud history as an advanced-manufacturing hub, Lesser said this sector remains one of its strengths. However, its status is threatened by a number of sustainability challenges, especially when it comes to the workforce.

“Right now, in the Pioneer Valley, you have thousands of vacant positions in advanced manufacturing,” he noted. “And the reason they’re vacant is because you have wait lists at all our voke schools; they can’t produce graduates fast enough to keep up with the growth.

“This is a golden opportunity for us to grow the economy if we can target the state investments toward closing those voke-ed and career and technical education waiting lists,” he went on, referring to his legislation related to the GE incentives being refunded to the state. “You’re going to get more people out the door into jobs, working good jobs that pay $25 to $30 an hour entry level for an 18- or 19-year-old with no college debt. And if we don’t do that, how long is a company going to sit around with vacancies on their books? They’re going to move to North Carolina, Texas, Eastern Mass., or upstate New York, where they’re going to find the workers.”

Thus, the legislation regarding those GE incentives, filed just last month, is an example of that creative, aggressive thinking that Lesser mentioned earlier, and an example of initiatives aimed at benefiting not just Western Mass., but the state as a whole.

It’s a measure that triggered a discussion about the prudence of granting large incentives for relocation to companies like GE, when, in Lesser’s opinion, there are plenty of better ways to invest those tens of millions of dollars.

“The idea behind that money was to create jobs,” referring to the more than $150 million awarded to GE as an incentive to move from Connecticut to Boston and invest in new facilities there. “But it was creating almost entirely high-paying, white-collar jobs in an area of the state that is already producing a lot of high-paying, white-collar jobs. We desperately need middle-class jobs in all the regions outside of Boston, which already has a red-hot economy.

“So the idea here is to direct the money to vocational and CTE programs to do things like purchase more equipment, outfit more classrooms, and hire more teachers,” he went on. “You’re going to reduce that backlog, get students off the wait list, and get them slotted right away into jobs with local employers that are already here.”

He said the measure has garnered a considerable amount of support since it was filed, and from across the state — not surprising given the priority placed on training workers for the manufacturing sector by both the Manufacturing Caucus and the Gateway Cities Caucus and efforts to get more CTE funding.

Such efforts have been going on for years, and the momentum created by such efforts, as well as changing views about granting incentives to large corporations that often don’t bring all the jobs they promise or want too much in exchange for them, may be prompting some rethinking when it comes to how this state might invest in economic development.

“If we don’t do big creative things to reverse this challenge that we face, then we’re going to be in big trouble. We’ve got to bring in new ideas, be aggressive about trying new concepts, and work with what we have, which is great people, a great legacy of innovation, and great quality of life.”

“The state is willing to shell out, with such enthusiasm, a massive tax writeoff to a huge corporation that may or may not keep that money in Massachusetts — and in fact is more likely to distribute it to its shareholders, who live all over the world,” Lesser said. “Now, this becomes a test to see if the state is committed to middle-class job creation outside of already-hot markets. How committed are we to creating jobs in Springfield, Holyoke, and Pittsfield?”

While awaiting an answer to that question, Lesser will also see if there is sufficient support for legislation that has come to be called his ‘go west’ bill, one that would award $10,000 to individuals willing to relocate to Western Mass. and work remotely.

It was sparked, he said, by both the ongoing and accelerating trend toward professionals working remotely, and also those alarming demographic trends cited earlier involving populations getting smaller and older. Instead, he wants them to get larger and younger.

“There’s a big trend globally regarding remote working, especially companies based in San Francisco, Boston, or New York,” he explained. “They’re facing sky-high commercial real-estate prices, so they’re under immense pressure to shrink their office footprints in those cities. So you can see a scenario where a bank based in New York wants to shrink its rent footprint in Manhattan; it can offer an incentive to its workers that can be matched with our incentive. Those workers can move here, buy homes here, send their kids to school here, shop here, and pay taxes here.”

Lesser enthusiastically points to an analysis of that bill authored by Hans Despain, chair of the Economics department at Nichols College, who praised Lesser’s focus on remote jobs, especially those in the FIRE (finance, insurance, and real estate) sector, and projected a benefit to the region of $60,000 for each individual who goes west.

“The first thing to underscore is that this is quite literally a jobs bill,” Despain wrote in an op-ed in the Republican. “For example, for each new citizen who relocates to Holyoke, she brings with her a job that previously did not exist in the area.”

Connecting the Dots

When asked about whether energies should be put toward incentivizing the next GE — if there is one — to locate in the western part of the state or another still-struggling region like the New Bedford area, Lesser reiterated his contention that Greater Springfield simply couldn’t contend for such a prize at this moment in its history — for the very reasons that have prompted all those measures that have come off his desk.

“We can’t bring a GE here until we make the investments, until we make the decisions we have to make that have, quite frankly, been kicked down the road far too long,” he told BusinessWest. “We need to invest in connectivity; we need the rail service. We need to continue to invest in our workforce and our local communities so we’re producing the skilled workers who can work at those companies.

“And I’m very confident that a GE or an Amazon could come here,” he went on. “But I’m more interested in the kid at Chicopee Comp who thinks up the next GE and decides to locate it here and grow it here rather than packing up and moving it to Boston or San Francisco.”

That can only happen if there’s a workforce, and if the gulf between east and west can be bridged. These are the hard facts that drive Lesser as he tries to engineer a solution to this long-standing problem.

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

Hampshire College Brings Challenges in Higher Ed into Sharper Focus

By
Hampshire College President Miriam Nelson
Education

The Face of a Changing Landscape

Hampshire College President Miriam Nelson

Hampshire College President Miriam Nelson

As high-school graduating classes continue to get smaller and the competition for those intensifies, many smaller independent colleges are finding themselves fighting for their very survival. One of them is Hampshire College in Amherst, which, because of its unique mission, alternative style, and famous alums (including Ken Burns), has in many ways become the face of a growing crisis.

Miriam Nelson says she became a candidate to become the seventh president of Hampshire College — and accepted the job when it was offered to her last April — with her eyes wide open, fully aware of the challenges facing that Amherst-based institution and others like it — not that there are many quite like Hampshire.

Then she clarified those comments a little. She said she knew the school was struggling with enrollment and therefore facing financial challenges — again, as many smaller independent schools were and still are. But she didn’t know just how bad things were going to get — and how soon.

She became aware through a phone call on May 2 from the man she would succeed as president of the school, Jonathan Lash.

“He let me know that our target number for enrollment this year was significantly lower than what was expected; I think he knew, and I knew, at that time that my job this year was going to be different than what I’d planned,” she recalled, with a discernable amount of understatement in her voice.

Indeed, with that phone call — and the ensuing fight for its very survival — Hampshire became, in many ways, the face of a changing landscape in higher education, at least in the Northeast.

That’s partly because of the school’s unique mission, alternative style, and notable alums such as documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. But also because of heavy media coverage — the New York Times visited the campus earlier this month, one of many outlets to make the trip to South Amherst — and the fact that the school is really the first to carry on such a fight in an open, transparent way.

In some ways, Hampshire is unique; again, it has a high profile, and it has had some national and even international news-making controversies in recent years, including a decision by school leaders to take down the American flag on campus shortly after the 2016 election, while students and faculty members at the college discussed and confronted “deeply held beliefs about what the flag represents to the members of our campus community,” a move that led veterans’ groups to protest, some Hampshire students to transfer out, and prospective students to look elsewhere.

But in most respects, Hampshire is typical of the schools now facing an uncertain future, said Barbara Brittingham, president of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), adding that those fitting the profile are smaller independent schools with high price tags (tuition, room, and board at Hampshire is $65,000), comparatively small endowments, and student bodies made up largely, if not exclusively, of recent high-school graduates.

That’s because high-school graduating classes have been getting smaller over the past several years, and the trend will only continue and even worsen, said Brittingham, citing a number of recent demographic reports.

Meanwhile, all schools are confronting an environment where there is rising concern about student debt and an increased focus on career-oriented degrees, another extreme challenge at Hampshire, where traditional majors do not exist.

“He let me know that our target number for enrollment this year was significantly lower than what was expected; I think he knew, and I knew, at that time that my job this year was going to be different than what I’d planned.”

None of these changes to the landscape came about suddenly or without warning, said Brittingham, noting that the storm clouds could be seen on the horizon years ago. Proactive schools have taken a variety of steps, from a greater emphasis on student success to hiring consultants to help with recruiting and enrollment management.

But for some, including several schools in New England, continued independence and survival in their original state was simply not possible. Some have closed — perhaps the most notable being Mount Ida College in Newton, which shut down abruptly two months before commencement last spring — while others have entered into partnerships, a loose term that can have a number of meanings.

In some cases, it has meant an effective merger, as has been the case with Wheelock College and Boston University and also the Boston Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music, but in others, it was much more of a real-estate acquisition, as it was with Mount Ida, bought by UMass Amherst.

What lies ahead for Hampshire College is not known, and skepticism abounds, especially after the school made the hard decision not to admit a full class for the fall of 2019. But Nelson remains optimistic.

An aerial photo of the Hampshire College campus

An aerial photo of the Hampshire College campus, which has been in the national media spotlight since it was announced that the school was looking to forge a partnership with another school in order to continue operations.

“Hampshire has always been innovative, and we’re going to do this the ‘Hampshire way,’” she said during an interview in the president’s off-campus residence because her office on the campus was occupied by protesting students. “We’re thinking about our future and making sure that we’re as innovative as we were founded to be. We need to make sure that our financial model matches our educational model.”

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest talked with Nelson and Brittingham about the situation at Hampshire and the changing environment in higher education, and how the school in South Amherst has become the face of an ongoing problem.

New-school Thinking

Those looking for signs indicating just how serious the situation is getting within the higher-education universe saw another one earlier this month when Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker filed legislation to strengthen the state’s ability to monitor the financial health of private colleges.

“Our legislation will strengthen this crucial component of our economy, but most importantly, it will help protect students and their families from an abrupt closure that could significantly impact their lives,” Baker said in a statement that was a clear reference to the Mount Ida fiasco.

The bill applies to any college in Massachusetts that “has any known liabilities or risks which may result in imminent closure of the institution or jeopardize the institution’s ability to fulfill its obligations to current and admitted students.”

And that’s a constituency that could get larger in the years and decades to come, said Brittingham, adding that demographic trends, as she noted, certainly do not bode well for small, independent schools populated by recent high-school graduates.

She cited research conducted by Nathan Grawe, author of Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education, which shows that, in the wake of the Great Recession that started roughly 11 years ago, many families made a conscious decision to have fewer children, which means the high-school graduating classes in the middle and end of the next decade will be smaller.

“Things are going to get worse around 2026,” she said. “The decline that is there now will only get more dramatic, especially in New England.”

As noted earlier, Nelson understood the landscape in higher education was changing when she decided to pursue a college presidency, and eventually the one at Hampshire, after a lengthy stint at Tufts and then at the University of New Hampshire as director of its Sustainability Institute.

She told BusinessWest that Hampshire offered the setting — and the challenge — she was looking for.

“Hampshire was the one where I thought there was the most opportunity, and the school that was most aligned with more core values and my interests,” she explained, adding that she was recruited by Lash for the post. “This school has always been inquiry-based, and I always like to start with a question mark. To be at Hampshire means you have to have imagination and you have to be able to handle ambiguity when you have an uncertain future; that’s one of the hallmarks here at Hampshire.”

Imagination is just one of the qualities that will be needed to help secure a solid future for the school, she acknowledged, adding that, while the current situation would be considered an extreme, the college has been operating in challenging fiscal conditions almost from the day it opened in 1970 — and even before that.

“We started out under-resourced, and we’ve had different moments during almost every president’s tenure where there were serious concerns about whether the college could continue,” she said. “We’ve always been lean, but we’ve managed.”

Barbara Brittingham

Barbara Brittingham

“Things are going to get worse around 2026. The decline that is there now will only get more dramatic, especially in New England.”

However, this relatively thin ice that the college has operated on became even thinner with the changing environment over the past several years, a climate Nelson put in its proper perspective.

“Higher education is witnessing one of the most disruptive times in history, with decreasing demographics, increased competition for lower-priced educational offerings, and families demanding return on investment in a college education in a short period of time,” she told BusinessWest. “There’s a lot of factors involved with this; it is a crisis point.”

A crisis that has forced the college to reach several difficult decisions, ranging from layoffs — several, effective April 19, were announced last month involving employees in the Admissions and Advancement offices — to the size and nature of the incoming class.

Indeed, due to the school’s precarious financial situation — and perhaps in anticipation of the governor’s press for greater safeguards against another Mount Ida-like closing, Hampshire has decided to admit only those students who accepted the school’s offer to enroll via early admission and those who accepted Hampshire’s offer to enroll last year but chose to take a gap year and matriculate in the fall of 2019.

Nelson explained why, again, in her most recent update to the Hampshire community, posted on the school’s website, writing that “our projected deficit is so great as we look out over the next few years, we couldn’t ethically admit a full class because we weren’t confident we could teach them through to graduation. Not only would we leave those students stranded — without the potential for the undergraduate degree they were promised when they accepted Hampshire — we would also be at risk of going on probation with our accreditors.”

Hampshire College is just one of many smaller independent schools

Hampshire College is just one of many smaller independent schools challenged by shrinking high-school graduating classes and escalating competition for those students.

While reaching those decisions, leaders at the college have also been working toward a workable solution, a partnership of some kind that will enable the school to maintain its mission and character.

Ongoing work to reach that goal has been rewarding on some levels, but quite difficult on all others because of the very public nature of this exercise, said Nelson, adding that her first eight months on the job have obviously been challenging personally.

She said the campus community never really got to know her before she was essentially forced into crisis management.

And now, the already-tenuous situation has been compounded by negativism, criticism (Nelson has reportedly been threatened with a vote of no confidence from the faculty), and rumors.

“There’s a lot of chaos and false narratives out there,” she explained. “So I’ve been working really hard both in print and in many assemblies and meetings to get accurate information out. This is a world with lots of false narratives and conspiracy theories; we heard another one yesterday — they’re really creative and interesting. I don’t know how people think them up.”

Textbook Case?

As she talked about the ongoing process of finding a partnership and some kind of future for Hampshire College, Nelson said she’s received a number of phone calls offering suggestions, support, and forms of encouragement as she goes about her work in a very public way.

One such call was from a representative of the Mellon Foundation.

“He said he’s never seen a college do this in a transparent way like we are,” she said. “He’s right, and when you’re doing it in real time, and transparently, it’s going to be clunky; it’s not like you’ve got every detail worked out and figured out right at the very beginning. We’re doing the figuring out in a public way and engaging with the community and our alums and the broader community and the higher-ed community as we do this.

“It’s a very different way to do it, and no one has ever done it; it is a very Hampshire way,” she went on. “But that makes it really hard, and I can see why every other president who has been in this place has not done this in an open way. I understand it.”

Miriam Nelson

Miriam Nelson says Hampshire College is determining the next stage in its history in real time, which means the process will be “clunky.”

Elaborating, she said there are no textbooks that show schools and their leaders how to navigate a situation like this, and thus she’s relying heavily on her board (in the past, it met every quarter; now it meets every week), the faculty, students, and other college presidents as she goes about trying to find a workable solution.

And there are some to be found, said Brittingham, adding that several effective partnerships have been forged in recent years that have enabled both private and public schools to remain open.

Perhaps the most noted recent example is Wheelock and Boston University, although it came about before matters reached a crisis level.

“Wheelock looked ahead and felt that, while they were OK at that moment, given the trends, given their resources, and given their mission, over time, they were going to be increasingly challenged,” she explained. “So they decided that sooner, rather than later, they should look for a partner, which turned out to be Boston University, which Wheelock essentially merged into.

“That’s seen as a good arrangement, it was handled well, and they were able to preserve the name of the founder in the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development at Boston University,” she went on. “They were able to transition a large number of faculty and staff to Boston University, it was geographically close … it’s been a smooth transition.”

Another partnership that fits that description is the one between two small public colleges in Vermont — Johnson State College and Lyndon State College.

“They had compatible missions — one of them was more liberal-arts-oriented, and the other was more focused on career programs — so they merged and became Northern Vermont University,” she said, adding that the merger allows them to share central services and thus gain efficiencies in overall administration.

Whether Hampshire can find such an effective working arrangement remains to be seen, but Nelson takes a positive, yet realistic outlook.

“I continue to be optimistic because Hampshire is an exceptional place with a great reputation,” she said. “But it’s not easy facing layoffs and things like that. But I believe this year, 2019, will be the toughest year, and then things will get better.”

Charting a New Course

Time will tell whether this projection comes to pass.

The decision not to admit a full class for the fall of 2019 is seen by some as a perhaps fateful step, one that will make it that much harder to put the college on firmer financial ground moving forward.

But Nelson, as noted, is optimistic that the ‘Hampshire way’ will yield what could become a model for other schools to follow in the years and decades to come, as the higher-education landscape continues to evolve.

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

Home-improvement Industry Continues to Surge

By
Home Improvement

Total Transformations

With the economy chugging along, home-improvement businesses report solid activity over the past few years, with the prospect of more to come. Locally, perhaps partly because of a relatively mild December and January, companies logged more customer calls during a time of year when homeowners traditionally want to hibernate. Now, on the cusp of spring, they’re ready to hit the ground running.

If there’s one thing R.J. Chapdelaine is grateful for, it’s changing tastes in home design.

Take, for example, the current trend — one that has been building over the past decade or two — of open floor plans.

“People seem to want to open up the kitchen to family room space, open the kitchen to dining room, and create that open floor plan. That, I think, is what we see the most, taking someone’s compartmentalized house and opening it up,” said Chapdelaine, owner of Joseph Chapdelaine & Sons in East Longmeadow.

“You see the center-hall Colonial with a dining room, living room, and kitchen, and we go in and open up the walls,” he continued. “I say, thank God my grandfather and my father built them the way they did. Now I can go in and open them up. It’s job security. And you watch — someday down the road, it’ll go back.”

Whatever the trends and the homeowner’s personal tastes, the home-improvement industry has been riding a wave for some time now.

According to the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), the market for home-improvement products and materials grew by 6.3% in 2018 after a 7.3% jump in 2017. Breaking it down further, the professional market increased by 9.9% last year, while the consumer market saw a sales increase of 4.7%. That trend is expected to slow slightly over the next three years, but still increase by an annual average of 4.2% through 2022.

“What I’ve seen is a very strong push for kitchens and baths, additions, and remodels,” Chapdelaine said. “That seems to be our strongest portion of the business right now. The new homes have slowed for us considerably, but the kitchen, bath, and addition calls have been very strong, straight through the winter.”

“The new homes have slowed for us considerably, but the kitchen, bath, and addition calls have been very strong, straight through the winter.”

That’s somewhat surprising because normally calls slow through December, January, and February, he added. “Over the years, we’ve come to the conclusion that people really don’t want us in their house around the holidays. But this year, it’s been incredibly strong right through the winter months, which is great. As we gear up for spring, there’s a lot of work on the board. Usually we would be expecting the phone to ring now in anticipation of a good spring start, but it’s been ringing throughout the winter.”

Frank Nataloni, co-owner of Kitchens & Baths by Curio in Springfield, has also seen a busier-than-usual winter, perhaps because the snowfall has not been too onerous.

“We’re a year-round operation, but it really depends on the type of winter we have,” he said. “If we have a mild winter, what happens is demand ends up being spread out, and we see a bit more people through the winter. When the weather is really bad, nobody goes outside. Either way, spring is always the strongest time from a sales standpoint.”

According to the Project and Sentiment Tracking Survey conducted by HIRI toward the end of 2018, which queries adults across the U.S. about their planned home-improvement projects, outdoor living spaces will feature the most activity in the next three months. More than one-quarter of homeowners surveyed indicated they will take on lawn and garden and/or landscaping projects during this time.

R.J. Chapdelaine

R.J. Chapdelaine says the region’s older housing stock and demographic changes have contributed to a strong remodeling business in recent years.

Taking all types of projects into consideration, inside and out, the Northeast and South lead the way, with about two-thirds of homeowners in both regions saying they plan home-improvement projects this spring.

Meanwhile, whether homeowners shoulder the work themselves is relatively dependent on the project type. On average, a little more than half of all projects are of the DIY variety — and of those, many involve outdoor living spaces, with 82.6% of homeowners tackling landscaping projects.

“I have to say, people feel confident, and they’re willing to spend money on their house,” Chapdelaine said. “It seems as though people are upbeat, and we’re reaping the phone calls and the benefits of that consumer confidence.”

Trending Topics

HIRI reports that, nationally, the home-improvement products market continues to outperform many other sectors of the economy. At the organization’s 2018 Industry Insights Conference last fall, experts in the sector shared what they felt were some prevailing trends heading into 2019. Among them:

• DIYers are more likely to be Millennials, which may have to do with that generation’s connection to devices. “DIYers spend more than 60 hours per week on TV and digital devices, including computers and smartphones,” Peter Katsingris, senior vice president of insights at Neilsen, told conference attendees, according to Forbes. “The technology and the choices it provides make DIY a realistic option for people.”

• More than one-third of homeowners who completed a home-improvement project in the past year regret not spending more on the project.

• The rental housing market is on the rise. A wave of growth has increased the number and share of rental households in the U.S., especially higher-end rentals in urban areas. This reality could lead to greater interest in portable and free-standing home-improvement products tenants can take with them when they move, as opposed to permanent fixtures.

• With home wellness on the rise, the lighting industry has been coming up with intriguing options. A technology known as circadian rhythm lighting is one rising trend, producing indoor illumination that more closely matches natural light in its warmth and, paired with home automation, can shift through the day with the sun to ease the impact of artificial light on the human body.

• Finally, remodeling activity isn’t slowing down anytime soon, due in part to an aging housing stock. With home prices increasing and new construction harder to find in some areas of the country, people are staying put and remodeling. “With the existing house stock averaging 38 years old, much of the inventory is in need of updating,” Mark Boud, senior vice president and chief economist at Hanley Wood/Metrostudy, told the conference.

That aging stock is an especially relevant reality in Western Mass., but so is another trend boosting the remodeling market: an increasing desire among Baby Boomers to age in place.

This recent remodeling project by Kitchens by Curio

This recent remodeling project by Kitchens by Curio reflects some current trends in kitchens, particularly its color palette dominated by white and grey.

“We’re seeing more aging in place, and we’re seeing that as a reason people are making changes,” said Lori Loughlin, manager of Frank Webb Home in Springfield. “They’re doing what they can to make sure they stay in their homes as long as possible because they feel like it’s a better option.”

In some cases, that means installing mobility and safety equipment, but in others, it means building in-law suites, or even moving to — by either building or remodeling — a smaller house.

“We’re getting phone calls now for people looking to to downsize,” Chapdelaine said. “I think the Baby Boomers are going to be looking for that smaller house and aging in place.”

Style Points

As for interior styles, those haven’t shifted much over the past couple of years. Painted cabinetry finishes and color palettes dominated by white and grey are still popular in kitchens and bathrooms, Nataloni told BusinessWest. “I just did a process of cherry wood with a black finish rubbed off, and the cherry comes through the black. It’s spectacular, actually.”

Styles change, he noted, but they don’t change abruptly. “White is very popular, grey is popular, but we are starting to see other colors, hints of yellow and green, coming in. I’ll be doing a yellow kitchen — not school-bus yellow, a very pale yellow, but a very warm color.”

“We’re seeing more aging in place, and we’re seeing that as a reason people are making changes. They’re doing what they can to make sure they stay in their homes as long as possible because they feel like it’s a better option.”

Chapdelaine reported similar, gradual movement toward color, but mainly pastels and muted colors, not too much that would be characterized as bold. “We’re still seeing a lot of white cabinetry and floors stained a number of different colors. With surfaces, we’re still running strong in quartz — some granites, but mainly quartz.”

The most important trend, of course, is that the home-improvement business as a whole remains strong.

“We’re seeing everything from full bathroom jobs to kitchens with the walls removed, right up to additions, which are ranging from family rooms to master suites,” he said. “We’re seeing more whole-house updates — painting, hardwood floors, that kind of work — and we’re also seeing whole-house remodels, which is very similar to building a house. You’re gutting the house down to the bare studs, going through and doing a new bathroom, new kitchen, new flooring, new drywall, which is kind of nice.”

He expects spring to bring its usual rush of customer inquiries as the weather continues to improve, but said people looking to get into the queue for the spring should really be calling in February and March.

Nataloni agrees, and says he appreciates the fact that, with the economy performing fairly well, homeowners are investing more money in their living space, whether they plan to stay there for a long time or improve the house’s dated look in preparation to sell it.

“We have a lot of older housing stock around here,” he said. “Wherever you go, you see someone working on their house.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

An Umbrella Policy Brings Peace of Mind in Life-altering Moments

By
Insurance

Shelter from the Storm

In the insurance world, an umbrella policy is exactly what it sounds like, sitting atop home, auto, and business insurance coverage and providing excess protection against liability risks. What is less clear, area insurance experts say, is why more people don’t avail themselves of this relatively inexpensive vehicle. After all, life’s storms can strike at any time, and when they do, no one wants to be totally exposed.

Even the best intentions can’t always fend off an expensive lawsuit, said John Dowd, president and CEO of the Dowd Agencies in Holyoke. Take a field trip, for example.

“If you or your spouse has volunteered to chaperone your kid’s school field trip to an amusement park, you both can be held legally responsible for anything that goes wrong on the trip,” he explained. “If a child under your care is injured during the excursion, that child’s parents might try to sue you for damages.”

Which could wind up being a trickier situation than simply loading that child into one’s own car and crashing it — because the driver’s auto-insurance policy covers bodily injury. But what about situations like that field trip — what policy covers that?

It’s just one example, Dowd said, of why an umbrella policy is a good idea for most people. “A personal umbrella policy can provide coverage for such potential incidents, allowing you to chaperone a trip without worrying about potential financial risks.”

An umbrella policy — sometimes referred to as ‘family insurance,’ he noted — essentially sits atop existing auto and homeowners policies to deliver an additional layer of protection, especially against catastrophic liability loss.

“I would like to see anybody who has any net worth — say, more than $100,000, which would include most homeowners these days — to have a personal umbrella,” said Mark Lussier, who co-owns Lussier Insurance in West Springfield.

“The idea behind a personal umbrella is, you want to cover your net worth. When I get a phone call from someone who says, ‘I have this umbrella, but I don’t really need it,’ I say, ‘if somebody were to sue you for everything you were worth, is what you have on your home or auto policy enough?’”

Dowd noted that the coverage from a personal umbrella policy is wide-reaching, providing protection for scenarios not covered by a typical home or auto policy. For instance, if a family member rents a snowmobile on vacation and is involved in an accident, the umbrella policy may help pay for the cost of repairs and medical bills of the injured parties.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of an umbrella policy, Lussier said, is its cost — maybe $250 or $300 per year for $1 million in coverage, with additional coverage available beyond that, typically in increments of $1 million. “I have a couple of clients who’ve got $5 million umbrellas because their net worth justifies the extra cost.”

“The idea behind a personal umbrella is, you want to cover your net worth. When I get a phone call from someone who says, ‘I have this umbrella, but I don’t really need it,’ I say, ‘if somebody were to sue you for everything you were worth, is what you have on your home or auto policy enough?’”

That’s on top of legal defense fees, which insurers cover as part of any policy. “So, if the unimaginable happens and you’re called by Mark E. Salomone, you have peace of mind knowing your insurance is going to defend you as well as pay anything you’re legally responsible for.”

Mark Lussier

Mark Lussier says the inexpensive cost of a personal umbrella policy, coupled with the many scenarios it covers, present a strong argument for buying one.

In addition, the umbrella is worldwide coverage. “So you can be vacationing in Europe, and if someone is injured because of something you’re responsible for, your umbrella is going to respond,” Lussier said.

Bill Trudeau, president of the Insurance Center of New England in Agawam, said he draws a simple diagram to explain the umbrella concept to customers, with policies like home and auto represented by rectangles, and the umbrella hovering over all of them.

“You can imagine a multi-fatality accident, where the claims might easily surpass $1 million. If an accident is deemed your fault, you may run out of insurance,” he explained. “But if you’ve bought a $2 million umbrella to go on top of a $1 million policy, now you have $3 million in protection in that instance. It’s a policy for excess liability claims — product liability, premises liability, bodily injury, property damage, all kinds of claims. It’s one policy, and you can decide how much protection you want to buy.”

Surprising Circumstances

Lussier stressed that umbrella coverage isn’t technically coverage the policy holder doesn’t already have. “You can’t get umbrella unless you have the underlying policy.”

While some may ask why not just increase coverage on existing home and auto policies, he pointed to the broad nature of umbrella protection, and, again, its cost.

“Many times, to buy more coverage under the basic policy begins to beg the issue of why you shouldn’t have the umbrella. I can have a $1 million umbrella for three cars and two houses for $250 a year. So it’s cheap.”

In Massachusetts, Dowd explained, most umbrella policies provide coverage for the policy holder and their immediate family members living in the same household, with some exceptions. And he listed a few scenarios where that wide net may come in handy.

For example, “if a dog attacks a guest in your home, you may be responsible for any medical bills,” he explained. Even a small bite could end up costing thousands of dollars, and, while some homeowners insurance policies provide liability coverage for dog bites, they typically restrict what breeds are covered. “If your policy excludes your dog’s breed, umbrella insurance may help cover any financial responsibility you have for the incident.”

As another example, if a recently licensed teenager causes a multi-vehicle auto accident, the resulting financial liability could be expensive. “While a single-car accident likely won’t exhaust your auto-insurance policy, a multi-car accident might exceed the coverage,” he said. “Personal umbrella insurance can cover expenses beyond those covered in your auto policy.”

One hindrance to purchasing umbrella coverage, Lussier noted, is that the holder must first increase his or her automobile bodily-injury coverage to $250,000 — and that floor can rise to $500,000 for older drivers. “In some cases, especially with multiple cars, that can be unaffordable. People say, ‘I can’t allocate that risk transfer; I’d rather retain the risk myself and take my chances.’ And that’s really what insurance is all about — it’s a transfer of risk.”

Then there’s something called ‘personal-injury coverage,’ Lussier said, which is different from bodily injury, instead referring to libel, slander, false arrest, and defamation of character. And this has become a minefield in the age of social media.

“Many times, to buy more coverage under the basic policy begins to beg the issue of why you shouldn’t have the umbrella. I can have a $1 million umbrella for three cars and two houses for $250 a year. So it’s cheap.”

“Some people, especially teens, don’t fully comprehend the power of social media,” Dowd said. “If your child makes a disparaging remark or unsubstantiated claim about someone on social media, that person might try to sue for libel.”

An umbrella policy may provide coverage for such situations, with most policies extending coverage to online statements. “Aside from just physical damage, umbrella protection can provide financial assistance if you’re being sued for libel or slander.”

Lussier agreed that this is a significant issue in an era when everyone is quick with a camera, and when images, videos, and statements online can live forever.

“Depending on your means, you can find yourself liable for substantial sums,” he told BusinessWest. “Nowadays, something said innocuously or without much thought can be a big deal. It goes viral, and the next thing you know, you’re saying, ‘I didn’t really mean it the way it was taken, but if I’d have known it would go that far, I would’ve kept my mouth shut.’ And if you put it in writing, you can make it even worse.”

Cost of Doing Business

Clearly, personal umbrella policies cover a wide net of possibilities. But it can be tricky when they cross over into the business realm. Lussier cited the example of a photographer who closes his studio and moves his enterprise into his house. “Now his house is a business exposure, and an umbrella excludes business exposures.”

That’s where a business umbrella comes in, working in much the same way a personal umbrella does, but covering liability risks related to a business.

Bill Trudeau

Bill Trudeau says growing businesses should continually reassess what level of coverage they need from an umbrella policy.

“If you have a relationship with your broker, they’re likely to offer you umbrella liability,” Trudeau said of business owners. “If you’re doing a review of your insurance, it’s something almost any competent broker brings up. As your business grows, it would be part of the basics of insurance coverage.”

The nature of the business would impact the risk exposure and, hence, the level of coverage needed, he noted. While a $1 million umbrella might be fine for a storefront shoe store or florist, a business owner with a fleet of heavy trucks would likely need more.

“We’re hoping not to scare people, but we want them to make realistic choices,” he said. “And a lot of times, those choices are informed by some requirement from the place you’re doing business with, like a contractor taking on bigger jobs, like a casino or office tower or hotel chain. The risk managers for those entities tend to have a requirement for higher limits of liability. So, like it or not, if you want to play in that area and do business with these kinds of clients, you probably have to buy an umbrella of some sort.”

Fame is a factor, too, Lussier said — and often results in higher rates per million of coverage, because famous people are seen as bigger targets for lawsuits.

“If you’re a high-profile person, like a news anchor, you won’t get an inexpensive umbrella, because of the higher exposure,” he explained. “If we’re selling you cheap insurance, we’re basically gambling that you’re never going to use it. That’s really what insurance is all about. The most people participate for the least amount of risk, so we can then price it accordingly.”

In addition, the level of coverage should reflect not only one’s net worth, but future earning potential as well. A doctor who just graduated from medical school and plans a career in brain surgery might have little more than debt to show right now, but a lawsuit could put significant future earnings at risk.

In the end, Trudeau said, umbrella coverage can bring peace of mind in myriad scenarios.

“If something’s gone wrong in your business — someone went through a stop sign, something terrible happened, some member of the public is injured badly, and your company is sued for $5 million — you can take some comfort: ‘I bought insurance, and I’m able to pay what people wanted to negotiate without having to declare bankruptcy.’ It’s still awful, but you have that small comfort, as opposed to sitting there wondering what to do.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Deerfield Balances Old, New Ways of Thinking

By
South Deerfield center
Community Spotlight

Community Spotlight

Diana Schindler

Diana Schindler says it’s key for Deerfield to balance the town’s rural character with needed economic growth.

Deerfield boasts numerous draws for businesses looking to relocate, Diana Schindler says, from its reasonable property-tax rate to its proximity to Interstate 91, Route 116, and Routes 5 and 10.

But there’s also been some pushback against some of those businesses, which reared its head when residents recently spoke out against a proposed Dollar General store in town. The Planning Board listened and turned down the project, said Schindler, Deerfield’s interim town administrator.

“There’s been a feeling in the community that they want that at arm’s length — that big-box retail development, drive-thrus, things they don’t feel are part of the culture of old Deerfield. It’s meaningful to them,” Schindler told BusinessWest.

“On the flip side, it creates more of a burden on the residential tax base,” she went on, noting that more than 80% of the town’s tax base is residential. “There’s a cost to the citizens in their tax rate and the sustainability of that tax rate. Deerfield has always readily paid for the level of service its citizenry wants and expects, but at the expense of not doing some major projects.”

For instance, the town is looking at a $1 million cost to replace a tank at the South Deerfield Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to needed work at the facility over the next decade or two. Then there are plans to expand the Tilton Library and develop a shared senior center with surrounding communities.

“Seniors are asking for that. But all this adds up to millions of dollars, and you have the pressure of limiting development — or, rather, wanting development that will fit into the culture, which does limit it to some capacity,” Schindler said. “Less than 20% of the tax base is commercial/industrial, which is not a lot considering the viability of the property we have along 5/10 and a couple other areas. It’s going to become a question for the citizenry — is it sustainable?”

She’s one of many in Deerfield who believe economic development — in whatever form residents may want — is critical to the future of a town known for its tourist draws, including Yankee Candle’s flagship store, Mount Sugarloaf, Historic Deerfield, and Magic Wings, but needs to diversify and broaden its commercial portfolio.

“At first, they wanted to hide it, put it on the outskirts of town, but now they want it close to downtown. And that’s where it should be — take it out of the shadows, take it away from the edge of town where people can just pop in and leave. Bring them in and use it for economic development.”

“The ideal would be to get everybody together and integrate it all. We’re spread out geographically, and there’s a dichotomy between Old Deerfield and South Deerfield. We’re working toward making sure the town is the town, and everybody recognizes that if the town does well and comes together, then all of the components, all of our events, could do better.”

A veteran of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and the Hampshire Council of Governments, Schindler has some regional government experience, and she believes there’s value in taking a regional view of economic development. But she’s more concerned with Deerfield’s residents, agencies, and organizations working together to forge a common vision for community development.

“If we could come together,” she said, “especially as we come to our 350th-anniversary celebration, we could build energy off of each other.”

Forging a Path

That celebration rolls around in 2023, which should be enough time, Schindler said, to see some real development progress in town, particularly in the Elm Street corridor, the main commercial area in South Deerfield.

Town leaders know that to attract new businesses — in hospitality and other sectors as well — they need to make the downtown area more inviting and pedestrian-friendly, and they’re eyeing a host of potential improvements in the Elm Street center, which may include work on sidewalks, lights, and storefronts.

For a year before taking on her current role last month — one she is interested in pursuing on a permanent basis — Schindler was a special projects consultant in town, and one of the big projects she embraced right away was Complete Streets, mostly geared toward the South Deerfield center.

South Deerfield center

Town leaders see plenty of potential in the South Deerfield center corridor.

“We’re in the process of putting that plan together. We want to create more walkability, more accessibility, and that includes for folks in wheelchairs, people with children, people of all abilities,” she said. “We’re also looking at ways to make South Deerfield’s center more aesthetically pleasing — light it, put in streetscapes, put in wayfinding, finish the municipal parking lot we have down there; all that is being discussed as part of the plan. We want it to stay a viable downtown.”

The area is not particularly expansive, she pointed out, spanning just a few blocks, but in some ways, that presents a more enticing opportunity, by ensuring that development and improvement efforts are tightly focused. There’s some land-use complexity as well, as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation owns a small part of the corridor, and the state owns Conway Street, home to Town Hall.

“But that’s an opportunity,” she said, “because the state is also excited about Complete Streets, and we could see a wonderful economic center down here, which I’m sure the state would support in a variety of different ways.”

The downtown has seen some business change recently, with longtime restaurant Jerry’s Place closing last year, and a café called Leo’s Table setting up shop in the location, with proprietor Jennifer Howard specializing in made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch fare. The building itself — which is also home to Ciesluk’s Market, Giving Circle Thrift Shop, the Tavern, and a Subway sandwich location, as well as 19 apartments on the second floor, has new owners, Jason Kicza and Justin Killeen, who plan to touch up the property this spring.

“I would consider that the anchor building on that side,” Schindler said, “and it’s doing great.”

Cumberland Farms’ move from South Deerfield’s center to the main road — specifically, the corner of Elm Street and Routes 5 and 10 — may not have been as great for the downtown’s prospects.

Deerfield at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1677
Population: 5,400
Area: 33.4 square miles
County: Franklin
Residential and commercial Tax Rate: $16.34 (Deerfield), $18.14 (South Deerfield)
Median Household Income: $74,853
Median Family Income: $83,859
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Largest Employers: Yankee Candle Co., Pelican Products Inc.
* Latest information available

“They have a bigger business down on the corner, but it’s not necessarily a draw into the center; now people can just pop into Cumby’s for gas and keep going,” she said. “So we are looking at ways to basically create more stability in the center of South Deerfield by doing a variety of things. Obviously, part of that is keeping businesses and attracting more businesses.”

These days, the corridor can be oddly empty at certain times of the day, she noted, but well-trafficked during morning and evening rush hours. The goal, she told BusinessWest, is to turn it into a pedestrian-friendly center at all hours, rather than a thruway.

The Complete Streets plan will be a big part of that. By the time the 350th rolls around, she’d like to see significant physical and infrastructure improvements to make the downtown more of a destination. “The sidewalks will look different, maybe more green space, and hopefully we’ll see more people down there.”

High Times

Like many area communities, Deerfield has embraced the burgeoning cannabis industry in Massachusetts, recently approving two site plans, one for a cultivation facility at Pioneer Gardens on Mill Village Road, and the other for a dispensary run by Harvest Inc. on State Road.

“The culture has changed,” Schindler said, noting that, when communities were first exploring the economic possibilities of marijuana businesses, many Deerfield residents — most of them older — were staunchly opposed. But that opposition has died down to a large degree in many towns, to the point where communities might begin to locate such businesses in more central areas.

“At first, they wanted to hide it, put it on the outskirts of town, but now they want it close to downtown. And that’s where it should be — take it out of the shadows, take it away from the edge of town where people can just pop in and leave. Bring them in and use it for economic development.”

Meanwhile, Schindler and other Deerfield leaders will continue to think outside the box — even if big boxes aren’t in the cards — by examining where pockets of land already devoted to commercial and industrial businesses might have some infill potential, and continue to take pressure off the residential tax base.

“The thing I think is so tremendous about Deerfield is the huge opportunity it offers,” she said. “It’s wide open, and it’s got resources — financial resources, natural resources, culture, art, access to main roads. I get excited about it.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Grant Aims to Build Pathways in a Technology-driven Workforce

By
Amanda Gould
Education

Closing the Gap

Amanda Gould

Amanda Gould says the grant awarded to Bay Path University will fund a collaborative effort to help improve the digital fluency of the workforce.

When people talk about an ‘IT gap,’ Amanda Gould says, the appropriate response might be, ‘which one?’

Indeed, there’s the gap that seems to getting most of the attention these days, the one that involves the huge gender disparity in the IT workforce, with the vast majority of those well-paying jobs going to men, said Gould, chief administrative officer for the American Women’s College at Bay Path University, one of the institutions working to do something about this through its expanding Cybersecurity and IT degree programs.

But there’s another gap, she said, and this one involves the workforce and its digital fluency — or lack thereof. In short, too many people lack the necessary skills to thrive in the modern workplace, especially in IT-related roles, and the need to devise solutions for changing this equation is becoming critical.

For this reason, the nonprofit Strada Education Network committed $8 million to what it calls the ‘innovative solutions in education-to-employment’ competition, a name that speaks volumes about its mission.

And Bay Path emerged as one of the winners in this competition, garnering $1.58 million for a three-year project appropriately called “Closing the Gaps: Building Pathways for Women in a Technology-driven Workforce” (note ‘gaps’ in the plural).

This will be a collaborative effort, said Gould, adding that work is already underway with a number of partners, including the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, Pas the Torch for Women, Springfield Technical Community College, the UMass Donohue Institute, and others.

“Thinking about IT being in and of itself a discipline is, in my view, becoming obsolete.”

This work, said Gould, “involves extensive employer research and engagement, and building capacity of the American Women’s College to scale enrollment of adult women and prepare them with core cybersecurity and information-technology competencies that meet the needs of employers, support them as they move to degree completion, and assist them to successfully transition to careers in cybersecurity and IT-related employment.”

The key word in that sentence is ‘core,’ she said, because such competencies are now needed to succeed in jobs across virtually all sectors, not just IT and cybersecurity, and, as noted, many individuals simply don’t have them, and thus doors to some opportunities remain closed.

Opening them is the purpose of the of the Strada Education Network program, said Gould, adding that it will address a large problem that is obvious, yet often overlooked.

“What we’re not doing well overall when we think about our workforce is recognizing that technology is becoming increasingly more important in any role in any industry,” she explained. “Thinking about IT being in and of itself a discipline is, in my view, becoming obsolete; technology is a part of any organization running, and we should be less focused on training people to live in a silo or column that prepares them to fulfill very specific functions, and instead be training our women across all our majors to be thoughtful about how technology may impact their future roles in the workforce and how to be more engaged with ways technology helps them perform the aspirations they have in a variety of careers.”

Patricia Crosby, executive director of the MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board, agreed. She said her agency and other workforce-related partners will play a key role in this initiative — specifically bringing business leaders and those in the education sector together in the same room to discuss how curriculum can and should be structured to vastly improve the odds of student success and make what has been a fairly closed field much more open.

“The IT field has not been an open field to newcomers, diverse workers, and female workers,” said Crosby. “The Bay Path program is attempting to remedy some of that and make the pathways clearer.”

Overall, the nearly $1.6 million grant will be put toward a variety of uses, said Gould, who listed everything from career coaching to scholarships; from curriculum development to putting students in situations where they’re getting hands-on training in their chosen field. And all of them are pieces to the puzzle when comes to not only entering the workforce, but succeeding in a career.

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at the ‘closing the gaps’ initiative and why it is so critical when it comes to today’s workforce.

Keys to Success

Smashing Bay Path’s program down to a few key swing thoughts, Gould said it basically involves determining which IT skills are most needed in the workplace, which ones are missing in a large number of applicants and employees, and how to effectively provide those skills.

And while it’s easy to state the problem and this three-year project’s goals, devising solutions won’t be quite so easy because the problems are systemic and fairly deep-rooted.

Patricia Crosby

Patricia Crosby says the grant awarded to Bay Path University will help create clearer, better pathways into an IT field that historically has not been open to women, newcomers, and diverse workers.

“As higher-education institutions,” Gould explained, “we haven’t kept up with our education and our curriculum to make sure that, as students are leaving with a psychology degree or a communications degree or nursing degree, we are building in exposure to these tool sets and these skills. By being more theoretical in our education, we’ve almost created the gaps.

“I really think we’re at a moment in time when we need to be more thoughtful about integrating technology for all students,” she went on, adding that, if those in higher ed created the gaps, it’s now incumbent upon them to close them.

Elaborating, she noted that cybersecurity, while still a specific discipline and course of study, is also part of myriad job descriptions today — for those helping with social-media campaigns to those handling customer records — and thus cyber should be part of occupational training.

This is a relatively new mindset, she acknowledged, one that involves a close partnership between the business community and those in higher education.

To put it in perspective, she cited some research conducted by Strada and Gallup regarding the relevancy of educational programs.

“When they were interviewing higher-ed administrators about how prepared they thought their students were for the workforce, a majority of them said ‘they’re very prepared,’” she noted. “But when they interviewed employers, a very small percentage of them thought the students were truly prepared to enter the workforce. There’s an enormous disconnect.”

A commitment to closing it explains why the Strada network is giving $8 million to seven winners of its competition, and also explains why partners like the EDC and the MassHire facilities will play such a critical role in this endeavor.

They will help connect those with the project to industry groups and specific companies with the goal of not only determining the skill sets they need in their employees, but placing students in situations where they gain valuable hands-on experience.

These experiences can include job shadowing, interviewing someone in a particular role, project-based coursework, or actual internships, said Gould.

“There are a variety of ways we can get our students connected with employers,” she said, adding that such connections are vital to understanding the field, comprehending the role IT plays in it, and, ultimately, gaining employment within that sector.

“In an ideal scenario, our students are off and working,” she went on. “It would be better if they were working in a field they see as their career rather than in a job where they’re working to offset expenses. If there are ways to get students into the workplace before graduation, we want to nurture those entry points.”

Crosby agreed.

“In an ideal scenario, our students are off and working. It would be better if they were working in a field they see as their career rather than in a job where they’re working to offset expenses.”

“In this field [IT], more than any other, as much as any credentials or degrees, employers are looking for experience,” she said. “There’s a gap between the people who are learning it and the people who are getting the jobs because the people who get the jobs already have experience. There’s a bridge that has to be crossed between any education and training program and the workplace.

Sound Bytes

As she talked about the Bay Path program and how to measure its success, Gould said there will be a number of ways to do that.

These include everything from the level of dialogue between the business community and those in education — something that needs to be improved — to the actual placement rates of graduates in not only the IT and cyber fields, but others as well.

In short, the mission is to close the gaps, as in the plural. There are several of them, and they are large, but through a broad collaborative effort, those involved in this initiative believe they can begin to close those gaps and connect individuals to not only jobs but careers.

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

Home & Garden Show Marks 65 Years of Making Connections

By
Andy Crane
Home Improvement

Foundation to Roof

The Western Massachusetts Home & Garden Show may last only four days each March, but Lori Loughlin says vendors reap the benefits all year long.

“The exposure at the show is tremendous,” said Loughlin, manager of Frank Webb Home in Springfield. “It pays for itself within the first week after the show closes. In May, June, July, people are coming in saying, ‘I was at the home show, and I saw this showerhead.’ They come back six months after and want to buy something they saw there. It’s nice.”

Loughlin, who serves as the event’s deputy chair for 2019, said her company, the showroom division of F.W. Webb, offers such a wide variety of products and services that it’s a no-brainer to participate in the show, which, in its 65th year, will feature more than 350 vendors displaying at more than 700 booths.

“You’ll find landscaping, appliances, hot tubs, bathrooms … you can go from foundation to roof and everything in between,” she said.

The Home & Garden Show, slated for March 28-31, is produced by the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Massachusetts (HBRAWM), whose 500-strong membership reflects the variety on the show floor, with roughly 90 categories on display from builders, remodelers, kitchen and bath specialists, landscapers, painters, roofers, financial institutions, pool companies, and more.

“We can give you a snapshot of what’s out there, of what’s new,” said Andy Crane, HBRAWM president. “The key word is local. Almost every business in there is local; these are the people who managed to stay in business through the ups and downs of the economy, and they’re there to show their wares.”

“The key word is local. Almost every business in there is local; these are the people who managed to stay in business through the ups and downs of the economy, and they’re there to show their wares.”

Crane said 2019 has been one of the show’s better years, with fewer than a dozen booths left to sell two weeks before the event was set to begin. In short, it remains the association’s signature showcase.

“People are going to see companies and meet owners that they probably wouldn’t be exposed to by word of mouth,” Loughlin said. “I can’t believe how many companies are involved in this home show. It’s huge. And we get such a rebound on this.”

While recognizing the show’s potential to connect businesses with homeowners, she said the cross-promotion that goes on is just as valuable as the visitors who walk through the door.

Andy Crane

Andy Crane says the 2019 Home & Garden Show is shaping up to be one of the strongest, if vendor commitments are any indication.

“The networking between companies has been great for our company,” she told BusinessWest. “We tie in with the tile people and kitchen-design people, who send people here to find sinks. It’s nice to create relationships with other vendors.”

Something for Everyone

The home show started as a way to generate revenue to support the association, but it also provides member companies with a chance to market to an audience — and a big one, with around 20,000 visitors over the four days in a typical year — that might not otherwise see their name. Conversely, it gives attendees, many of whom simply come to the show for fun, a host of concrete (or hardwood, or tile, or whatever) ideas for home improvement.

The exhibitors run the gamut from inspection services to security and alarm systems; Internet and communications to moving and storage; duct cleaning to pianos and organs. Meanwhile, show attendees fall into one of several categories, the association notes, including:

• People planning to buy or build a new home, who may visit with builders, real-estate agents, financial institutions, and sellers of component products, such as hardwood flooring, tile, and appliances;

• People planning to remodel or renovate, who may want to check in with all of the above, plus vendors of replacement components such as windows and doors, as well as appliances, wall treatments, and home furnishings;

• Yard and garden enthusiasts, who tend to be interested in lawn and landscaping services; wall, walk, and edging components and materials; and trees, shrubs, flowers, and seeds;

• Lifestyle-conscious individuals, who like to check out trendy, high-tech, or time-saving products; home furnishings; and products focused on self-improvement, fitness, and health;

• Committed renters, who have no plans to own a house, but may be interested in space-conservation and space-utilization products, as well as home furnishings;

• Impulse buyers, who flock to vendors of home décor, arts and crafts, cooking and baking products, jewelry, and personal goods; and

• Those who attend the show purely for fun, who may arrive without an agenda but often develop ideas for future purchases and home products. “More than any other group,” according to the association, “these people are the ones who have come to rely upon our show on an annual basis and who perhaps have the greatest impact upon our vendors.”

Indeed, Crane told BusinessWest, “it’s not just about coming to the show and spending money with the vendors, even though we hope that’s the case. It really is a social event. That’s the mindset — it’s a nice evening out, and people walk out of the show with ideas of their home.”

Once again, visitors will see the LIXIL Beauty in Motion 49-foot mobile showroom in the Young Building, showcasing an array of American Standard, DXV, and Grohe kitchen and bath products.

“We have a mobile showcase with active and working plumbing fixtures, the newest and greatest features in plumbing, from toilets to water-saving showerheads,” Crane noted.

Also in the Young Building, chefs from across the Pioneer Valley will create some of the signature dishes they serve at their restaurants. Visitors can see how they prepare some of their favorite dishes and perhaps ask how to tailor those dishes to fit their own family’s taste. This popular area, hosted by WMAS Radio, will also include cooking seminars every day of the show.

“It’s not just about coming to the show and spending money with the vendors, even though we hope that’s the case. It really is a social event.”

The Young Building will also be home to several kids’ and family activities, from the Melha Shriners clowns to Thousand Cranes Studio, which will be on hand to show off the creative talent of their students, as well as conduct hands-on activities with show attendees. Other attractions will include live butterflies from Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens, taking pictures on one of the go-karts from Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting, science experiments at the Rolling Acres Outdoor & Science Summer Camp, a Springfield Thunderbirds booth, face painting, and Looney Tunes characters from Six Flags New England. On Saturday and Sunday, the West Springfield Police Department will be on hand to fingerprint children and offer safety tips, and the Chesterfield Fire Department will give out hats and coloring books.

“There are a lot of different things to do, so you don’t have to come only for a siding or roofing job,” Crane said. “You can go have a nice, inexpensive time in a warm, dry facility.”

Business and Pleasure

In addition to Loughlin, Gisele Gilpatrick of Pro-Tech Waterproofing in Chicopee will serve as Home Show chair, while other committee members include Lisa Grenier of Market Mentors, Joe Mole’ of C.J. Carpentry, Josh Nolan of Fuel Services, Tom Silva of Triple S Construction, and Brian Zippin of Contractors Home Appliances. All are ramping up for what most in the home-improvement world say looks to be a strong year (see related story, page 24).

“This year, as every other year, the home show is a spring kickoff to the building season,” Crane said. “It’s the perfect time of year when people are thinking about projects both inside and outside the house. The show gets their minds moving a little bit.”

Again, though, he stressed that show organizers also want people to have fun.

“Take your wife out to dinner and swing by the home show, or call your brother or your neighbor. You can get out of the house and look at 700-something booths with different products — maybe something you’ve dreamed about.”

This year’s show hours are Thursday and Friday, March 28-29, 1-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, March 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, and children under 12 are admitted free. Discount coupons are available at www.westernmasshomeshow.com. Veterans and active military with ID receive free admission on Thursday only.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Health Connector Ends Open Enrollment with Record Membership

By
Insurance

Culture of Coverage

Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the Massachusetts Health Connector completed Open Enrollment with the highest membership in the 13-year history of the state’s health-insurance exchange, covering more than 282,000 people with health insurance.

“The Health Connector just completed its most successful Open Enrollment since the start of the Affordable Care Act, signing up more than 65,000 new people with health insurance coverage,” Baker said. “Massachusetts leads the way with the best insured rate in the country, with over 97% of our residents covered due in part to the Health Connector’s strong efforts to create a culture of coverage in the Commonwealth.”

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito added that “the Health Connector plays an important role in ensuring communities across the Commonwealth have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. Over the last four years, the Connector has worked tirelessly to transform the exchange into a functional and reliable service, as is evident by its current milestone enrollment figures.”

“Massachusetts shines as a model for the rest of the nation when it comes to getting people enrolled in health insurance — and maintaining coverage. That success is built off outreach and education efforts that effectively and efficiently target the state’s underinsured communities and get more people covered. This year, the Connector made inroads in these tough-to-reach uninsured groups.”

The Health Connector held Open Enrollment from Nov. 1 to Jan. 23, twice as long as the federal government’s Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 open period, to ensure Massachusetts residents had as much time as possible to shop for affordable coverage. Throughout Open Enrollment, Massachusetts residents were encouraged to get covered or stay covered, provide security for their health and financial well-being, and comply with the state’s individual mandate. Assistance was available through community-based health navigators around the state.

“Massachusetts shines as a model for the rest of the nation when it comes to getting people enrolled in health insurance — and maintaining coverage,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, the Connector board chair. “That success is built off outreach and education efforts that effectively and efficiently target the state’s underinsured communities and get more people covered. This year, the Connector made inroads in these tough-to-reach uninsured groups.”

As of March 1, 282,114 people were enrolled in health insurance, including 209,973 people in ConnectorCare, the state’s innovative affordability program, through which state subsidies are made available on top of federal tax credits, resulting in lower premium costs for members — including $0 premiums for the lowest-income enrollees — while also offering no or low co-pays and no deductibles. Overall, Health Connector membership rose 13%, compared to a 4% enrollment decrease through the federal healthcare.gov platform. In addition, 18,000 individuals receive dental insurance through the Connector.

“With stable operations and a clear message to get covered and stay covered, this was our most successful Open Enrollment to date, with high retention rates and strong new enrollment,” said Louis Gutierrez, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. “We are going to keep working to ensure that everyone in Massachusetts is covered.”

The Health Connector placed extra focus on outreach and public education about affordable coverage options in communities with higher rates of uninsurance and worked to raise public awareness about coverage generally. At the close of Open Enrollment, the Connector had enrolled more than 65,000 people who did not have coverage at the start of Open Enrollment, about 22% more than last year.

Risk and Reward in Online Education

By
Opinion

Editorial

It’s a logical step, but the recent decision by the University of Massachusetts to create a national online college is one that can perhaps best be summed up with that phrase risk/reward.

Indeed, there are certainly potential rewards, but also some huge risks and certainly no guarantees of success with this planned enterprise. Like the school’s venture into big-time college football a decade or so ago, this move is certainly not as easy as it looks and will require a large investment, time, patience, and even some luck.

More on that later, but first the ‘logical step’ part.

The announcement made earlier this month by UMass President Martin Meehan certainly makes a great deal of sense given recent demographic trends and other factors that are impacting almost every college in the country, large or small.

High-school classes are getting smaller, and they’re going to continue to get smaller for at least another decade as families have fewer children. These smaller pools of high-school graduates are going to affect both smaller private schools like Hampshire College in Amherst and larger public universities like UMass, but in some ways, those public institutions will likely benefit from these demographic shifts as students and their families look for landing spots on firm financial ground.

But it only makes sense for a growth-minded institution to look beyond traditional students and toward older adults (non-traditional students) seeking to continue their education or finish a degree program — individuals who are prime candidates for online learning because of its flexibility and convenience (specifically, the opportunity to learn from home).

It makes so much sense that many growth-minded institutions are thinking along these same terms. In fact, UMass might actually be considered late to this party — although hopefully not too late.

Several large institutions such as Purdue, Arizona State, and the University of Maryland have established highly successful online programs, as have some smaller schools, such as Southern New Hampshire University. And, right here in the 413, Bay Path University formed the American Women’s College, an online school that has helped change the fortunes of the former two-year college in a profound way.

On the other side of the scorecard, however, several schools have launched online programs that have not met expectations, and still others have essentially scuttled their initiatives after years of high-cost underperformance.

The bottom line is that online education programs are, contrary to public opinion, quite expensive, rather complicated, and immensely competitive. Officials at UMass say this matter has been thought through thoroughly and that there is tremendous opportunity for growth — if they move quickly and properly.

“The time for us to act is now,” Meehan said in announcing the plans during his annual report on the state of the five-campus university system at the UMass Club in Boston. “It’s predicted that, over the next several years, four to five major national players with strong regional footholds will be established. We intend to be one of them.”

He’s certainly right about the first part of that equation — there will be several established in a few years. As for the second part, we hope he’s right about that, too.

But as several schools have already discovered, breaking into the online market is a challenging proposition.

Some Reasons for Optimism at MGM

By
Opinion

Opinion

‘How are they doing?’

That’s the question that seemingly everyone is asking these days, with the ‘they’ obviously being MGM Springfield, the $960 million resort casino complex in Springfield’s South End. Everyone wants to know how they’re doing because this is the biggest business development in this part of the state in who knows how long, the expectations were and are sky-high, and the stakes — for MGM, the state, the city, and the region — are equally high.

And people want to know because, well, it’s not clear just how well they’re doing so far. The revenue numbers, meaning GGR (gross gambling revenues), are not on pace to come close to what MGM told the state they would be for the first year of operation at this facility — just over $400 million. Indeed, over the first six months or so of operation, MGM Springfield was averaging just over $20 million per month. You can do the math.

But beyond the revenues, there are other signs that perhaps this casino is not performing as well as all or most us thought it would and hope it will.

Going all the way back to opening day, the traffic, the lines to get in, the crowds of people downtown just haven’t materialized. Yes, there have been some big days (usually Saturday nights) when it’s difficult to maneuver around downtown Springfield, but not as many as we were led to believe.

Thus the question, ‘how are they doing?’

It’s a difficult question to answer because there are many ways to answer it, and aside from those really qualified to answer that query, no one truly knows.

More to the point, and Mike Mathis said this to BusinessWest for a recent interview, it’s still early in the game when it comes to both gaming in Massachusetts and MGM Springfield, and perhaps much too early to be drawing conclusions about how MGM will fare even this year, let alone in the years to come.

He’s right. These early months can tell us something about how MGM Springfield is going to perform over the long term, but they’re not going to tell us everything. Several of these first months have come in late fall and winter, a typically slow period in this region for both business and tourism.

Meanwhile, MGM Springfield is still very much in the process of trying to figure out what works in this market and what doesn’t, and how to achieve maximum efficiency for this multi-faceted operation. Mathis and others at MGM call this period ‘ramping up,’ and they project it might take three years to get all the way up the ramp.

But there are many reasons for optimism, starting with a change of season and the likelihood that MGM will make far better use of its vast and unique outdoor facilities. There’s also the emerging ROAR! Comedy Club and a multi-year partnership agreement recently inked with the Boston Red Sox that will make MGM Springfield the team’s ‘official and exclusive resort casino’ (replacing Foxwoods in Connecticut) and home to its January Winter Weekend.

Finally, when it comes to the ‘how are they doing?’ question, the most important aspect of the answer relates not to revenues for the state‚ although those are important, but impact on the city of Springfield and the surrounding region.

In the years and then months leading up to the casino’s opening, area officials — and those of us at BusinessWest — said MGM was going to be big piece of the puzzle, not the entire picture. It was going to be a big contributor to the overall vibrancy in the region, but just one of many potential contributors.

Overall, we expected the casino to be a catalyst, not a cure-all, a force that would help put Springfield on the map and help bring people to that spot that on the map.

Maybe all the revenues are not as solid as we hoped they would be, but thus far, the casino is doing most everything we anticipated it might do.

Picture This

By
Picture This

Photo essay of business happenings and events

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

 
 

Outlook 2019

The Springfield Regional Chamber staged its annual Outlook lunch on March 4 at the MassMutual Center. More than 600 area business leaders and elected officials heard from a number of speakers who presented the outlook for the region, the state, and the nation. At top, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal gives the federal outlook.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal gives the federal outlook

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal gives the federal outlook

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno offers some remarks

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno offers some remarks

Margaret Carlson, columnist for the Daily Beast, presents the view from the U.S. Capitol

Margaret Carlson, columnist for the Daily Beast, presents the view from the U.S. Capitol

 

 

Celebrity Readers

Jeb Balise, CEO of Balise Auto, right, and West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt, below, took a break from their respective duties recently to become celebrity readers at West Springfield’s Coburn Elementary School. They both read The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, written by Michelle Cuevas and illustrated by Erin Stead, to third-graders.

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 

FSB Community Grants

Through its Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program, Florence Savings Bank (FSB) recently presented grants totaling $102,500 to 61 area nonprofits at an awards ceremony on March 5 at the Garden House at Look Park. At top, FSB President and CEO John Heaps presents Jessie Cooley, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, with a $4,853 award. Below, Adena Calden, left, and Kate Agresto, both of the Leeds Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, read the brochure outlining the award recipients.

FSB President and CEO John Heaps presents Jessie Cooley, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, with a $4,853 award

FSB President and CEO John Heaps presents Jessie Cooley, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, with a $4,853 award


Adena Calden, left, and Kate Agresto, both of the Leeds Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, read the brochure outlining the award recipients

Adena Calden, left, and Kate Agresto, both of the Leeds Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, read the brochure outlining the award recipients

 

 

 
 

Gateway to College

Holyoke Community College recently staged graduation ceremonies for its Gateway to College program. Gateway at HCC is part of a national network of programs that put struggling high-school students and dropouts into college classes, where they work toward their high-school diplomas and also collect transferable college credits.

Biannca Colflesh of Holyoke, one of the 15 graduates, celebrates with her family after the graduation ceremony

Biannca Colflesh of Holyoke, one of the 15 graduates, celebrates with her family after the graduation ceremony

Jeysha Vega Colon of Springfield celebrates with her family

Jeysha Vega Colon of Springfield celebrates with her family

 

 

 
 

Dealer of the Year

Country Hyundai in Northampton recently earned the 2019 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award and the 2019 Consumer Satisfaction Award, which recognizes auto dealerships across the U.S. and Canada who deliver outstanding customer service, based on consumer reviews written on DealerRater.com.

Carla Cosenzi, center, joins staff at the dealership in celebrating the honor.

Carla Cosenzi, center, joins staff at the dealership in celebrating the honor.

Court Dockets

By
Court Dockets

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Eugenio Flores v. Kimball Tower Condominium Homeowner Assoc. and Kimball Tower Condominium Assoc.
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $7,426
Filed: 1/8/19

Joanne Silvestri v. Robert Bolduc and Pride Stores, LLC
Allegation: Negligence causing damage to automobile: $3,185.66
Filed: 1/24/19

Ann Facchini v. WGBH Educational Foundation
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $2,200
Filed: 1/30/19

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Benjamin J. Hay and H & H Earth & Field, LLC v. John S. Henderson Adams and Western Earthworks, LLC
Allegation: Breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract: $500,000+
Filed: 2/5/19

Dr. Joseph G. Gomez Jr. v. Dr. Paul A. Larocque, Lori Bell, and United Dental Brokers of America Inc. d/b/a United Dental Brokers of America
Allegation: Breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, unfair and deceptive practices, fraud, misrepresentation: $120,000
Filed: 2/5/19

Anthony Jarmolowicz v. Walmart Inc.
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $35,706.97
Filed: 2/15/19

HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT COURT
Janene Mallet v. BICA, LLC a/k/a Bart’s Ice Cream
Allegation: Non-payment of wages, breach of employment contract: $3,692.31
Filed: 2/1/19

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Mark Chesterton Sr. v. Walmart Inc. and W/S Ware Properties, LP
Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $41,342.17
Filed: 1/17/19

Manganaro Northeast, LLC v. Barr & Barr Inc. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Allegation: Money owed for labor and materials: $2,175,882.60
Filed: 1/21/19

J & E Precision Tool Inc. v. Air Industries Machining Corp.
Allegation: Money owed for services rendered: $105,145.87
Filed: 1/23/19

Jennifer Cucitero-Baque v. trustees of Hampshire College and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $82,000
Filed: 1/24/19

Caspia Hotel Private Limited d/b/a Caspia Hotel Ahmedabad v. Youth Futures International Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for goods and services: $21,711.21
Filed: 1/28/19

Beth McElhiney v. the Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. and John Doe
Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $19,547.96
Filed: 2/13/19

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Michael Ruggeri v. Planet Fitness
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $10,930.55
Filed: 2/5/19

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Carly Michel v. Scoreboard Bar & Restaurant Inc.
Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $3,625.36
Filed: 1/30/19

Belson Outdoors, LLC v. Business Express Janitorial Inc.
Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $3,857
Filed: 2/5/19

Sinh La d/b/a King Yen Restaurant Inc. v. Main Street America Group Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract, consumer protection violation: $30,000
Filed: 2/25/19

Agenda

By
Agenda

Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series

Starting March 22: Women leaders of prominent area institutions will be featured speakers at a spring Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series hosted by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute. The four-part, monthly “Leadership in Your Future 2019” series kicks off Friday, March 22 and continues on April 26, May 24, and June 28. Each of four presenters will sit at a different table and speak on a subject of their choosing. Over the course of the four-session series, they will rotate among the tables so guests have the opportunity to hear all the presentations. The four presenters are Ashley Allen, vice president of Marketing for Health New England (topics: “What Is a Career?” and “Designing Your Career Destiny”); Beth DeGray, managing partner at the Log Cabin, Delaney House, and D. Hotel Suites & Spa (“Mentoring & Being Mentored”); Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College (“Authentic Leadership in an Age of Disruption”); and Shannon Rudder, executive director of Providence Ministries Inc. (“Building Your Coalition”). The luncheons will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 164 Race St. in Holyoke. Lunch will be prepared and served by students in the HCC Culinary Arts program. The series will provide an opportunity to learn from women leaders of area institutions and a chance for participants to network with their peers and gain insights on building their own careers. The cost is $150 for all four sessions. Seats are limited. To reserve a spot, contact Jordan Hart at (413) 534-3376 or [email protected], or register online at holyokechamber.com under ‘Events.’

ACC Open House

March 26: Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) will hold an open house starting at 5:30 p.m. The open house will feature information about ACC’s academic programs, including healthcare and manufacturing, and credit-free options. Attendees will learn about the admissions and financial-aid process and be able to take a campus tour, including the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. Walk-ins are always welcome, but reservations are recommended. RSVP at www.asnuntuck.edu/admissions/visit-us to reserve a spot. Refreshments will be served. Students can apply on the spot, and one prospective student from Connecticut will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship for the 2019-20 academic year. To qualify for the scholarship, an application for the fall semester must be completed on or before March 26, and they must attend the open house. Registration for the fall semester will open on Monday, April 1. Visit www.asnuntuck.edu for information on how to register.

Difference Makers

March 28: BusinessWest launched its Difference Makers program in 2009 to celebrate individuals, groups, organizations, and families that are positively impacting the Pioneer Valley and are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The class of 2019 were profiled in the Feb. 4 issue and will be feted at the Difference Makers Gala at 5 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Tickets are on sale now for $75. To reserve a spot, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected]. The presenting sponsor is Baystate Health/Health New England, and other event sponsors include Royal, P.C., Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., Development Associates, TommyCar Auto Group, and Viability Inc.

Women’s Leadership Conference

March 29: In celebration of women everywhere knocking down doors and breaking through glass ceilings, Bay Path University will host its 24th annual Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. This one-day event, which has become the region’s prime women’s leadership event for professional networking and enrichment, will challenge women seeking to make career or life changes to look at the power within to make their dreams a reality, and to dare to ask “why not me?” instead of “why me?” Delivering the keynote address will be award-winning actress, dancer, and singer Rita Moreno. For further information on the conference and its many presenters, and to register, visit www.baypathconference.com.

Social-work Career Panel

March 30: The School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Elms College, in partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC) and 1Berkshire, will host a social-work career panel from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the cafeteria at BCC. The event will feature panelists — Elms faculty, BCC faculty, and Elms alumni — with experience in criminal justice, youth service, guidance counseling, senior services, mental health, private practice, addiction and recovery, and more. The panelists will illuminate the array of options available to those who have a bachelor’s degree in social work. The moderator will be Maureen Holland, director of Social Work at Elms. Panelists will include Tom Verdi, Department of Youth Services social worker, Social Work academic advisor, and adjunct faculty in Social Work for Elms College Off Campus at BCC; Pam DiGrigoli, Lee Council on Aging and Senior Center director; Jonathan Schnauber, adjunct faculty for Elms College Off Campus at BCC Social Work and doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California; Kari Dupuis, BCC associate professor of Human Services, program advisor for Social Work transfer concentration/associate’s degree, and licensed therapist in the Berryman Professional Building; and Pamela Coley McCann, BCC assistant professor of Human Services and licensed therapist in the Berryman Professional Building. A continental breakfast will be served. For more information, e-mail Kelly Zieba at [email protected].

EANE Leadership Conference

April 4: The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) will stage its annual Leadership Conference at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place with a focus on measuring success while motivating and inspiring one’s team to improve performance. The program will feature Jim McPartlin, vice president of Leadership Development for Forbes Travel Guide. McPartlin’s keynote will challenge attendees to bring integrity to their leadership responsibilities, even when times get tough. A second keynote will be presented by Tim Hebert, a perennial entrepreneur, innovator, author, speaker, and adventurer. Hebert will ignite the leadership spark in attendees in a keynote focused on the choices of leadership and techniques to help live life by design, not by default. Between keynote presentations, conference attendees will have access to dozens of breakout session topics ranging from performance management to diversity and inclusion, to perfecting ‘C-suite speak,’ and more. The cost for the program is $360 per person with discounts for three or more. Register at www.eane.org/leadership-2019 or by calling (877) 662-6444. The program will offer 5.75 credits from the HR Certification Institute and SHRM.

Riverside Industries Silent & Live Auction

April 5: Riverside Industries’ 15th annual Silent & Live Auction, featuring more than 250 silent-auction items and a live auction full of experiences from the Valley and beyond, will be held at One Cottage St. in Easthampton from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees can expect plenty of food, casual attire, and a cash bar. Tickets cost $30 in advance. Securely register online at rsi.org. The presenting sponsor is bankESB; the associate sponsor is Harvard Pilgrim; the table sponsors are Finck & Perras Insurance Agency and Mutual of America; and the collaborator sponsors are A-Z Storage & Properties, Helping Hand Society, SBI Benefits Consulting Group, Ruth and Spencer Timm, Whittlesey & Hadley P.C., and Williston Northampton School.

Springfield Art Stop

April 26: The Springfield Cultural Partnership (SCP) announced the return of Art Stop, a pop-up gallery/street festival hybrid, from 5 to 8 p.m. The SCP is partnering with venues downtown to open galleries in unexpected spaces simultaneously. Additionally, several existing Springfield art galleries along this year’s route will also participate as stops along the Art Stop. Between the galleries, which will have the typical artist talks and receptions, there will be street performances. Art Stop was designed to activate underutilized community spaces with colorful art, create economic opportunity for artists, and bring communities together. Galleries will all be located in downtown Springfield. Each individual gallery opening will have an reception with the artist on site to both sell and talk about their work. This year, the SCP has also partnered with several downtown restaurants that will offer a discount on food to Art Stop attendees who present their Art Stop ‘passport’ on April 26. The SCP, along with organizing the curation of art in the pop-up spaces, is hiring unique buskers to encourage attendees to walk from place to place. Guides will be strategically placed to guide attendees along the Art Stop route. The performers will showcase an array of dance, music, and entertainment. All locations are within a walkable area.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners

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

• April 24: Good News Business Salute, 7:30-9 a.m. Throughout the year, 1Berkshire selects businesses and organizations to recognize at events called Good News Business Salutes. These may honor an expansion, creation of new jobs, a significant milestone or anniversary, the unveiling of a new program, or a substantial new commitment to the community. The Esther Quinn Award will be given out at this event to an actively involved community member. Cost: $35 for members; $50 for non-members. Register at bit.ly/2H71NS6.

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

• March 28: Margarita Madness, 5:30-8:30 p.m., hosted by Insterskate 91 at Hampshire Mall. Presented by TommyCar Auto Group. Enjoy an evening of margaritas and vote for your favorite. There will also be dishes from participating restaurants and dozens of raffle prizes. Trumpy of the Valley’s Hits 94.3 will emcee the event. Cost: $30 in advance, $40 at the door. Buy tickets at www.amherstarea.com. Margarita tables are sold out.

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

• April 18: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Polish American Citizens Club, 46 South Main St., South Deerfield. Sponsored by Polish National Credit Union. A networking event featuring a cash bar and an all-Polish menu by Hamel’s Catering. Register at franklincc.org or by e-mailing [email protected].

• April 26: Monthly Chamber Breakfast Series, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by Terrazza Restaurant. Sponsored by the Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice. Full breakfast will be served during the program, featuring a panel celebrating the contribution of today’s immigrants. Speakers include Laurie Millman, executive director for the Center for New Americans; Abas Cecunjanin, owner of Terrazza Restaurant; Arjen Vriend, owner of Pioneer Gardens Inc.; and Geetu Shokeen, owner of Montague Dental Arts. Register at franklincc.org or by e-mailing [email protected].

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

• March 20: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by the Delaney House. Chief greeter: Karen Hansmann, Chicopee Cultural Council/chamber board. Keynote: Happier Valley Comedy, “5 Tips for Quieting Your Voice of Unhelpful Judgement.” Series sponsored by Westfield Bank, Holyoke Medical Center, N. Riley Construction Inc., Polish National Credit Union, USI Insurance Services, Spherion Staffing Services, and PeoplesBank. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members. Sign up online at chicopeechamber.org/events. Sponsor tables still available; call (413) 594-2101, ext. 102.

• April 5: Shining Stars Gala, 6-10 p.m., hosted by Castle of Knights, Chicopee. Presented by Westfield Bank. Sponsored by PeoplesBank, Polish National Credit Union, Health New England, BusinessWest, Siddall & Siddall, P.C., the Arbors Kids, N. Riley Construction, the Chicopee Herald, and Hampton Inn of Chicopee. Sign up online at chicopeechamber.org/events.

• April 17: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Willits-Hallowell Center. Sponsored by Westfield Bank, Holyoke Medical Center, N. Riley Construction Inc., Polish National Credit Union, USI Insurance Services, Spherion Staffing Services, and PeoplesBank. Marketing for small business chief greeter: Chris Thompson of CT Enterprises. Keynote speaker: Alfonso Santaniello of Creative Strategy Agency. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Sign up online at chicopeechamber.org/events.

• April 25: Business After Hours – Happy Hour After Hours, 4:30-6:30 p.m., hosted by Exchange St. Station. Come after work and relax and enjoy a drink and some light refreshments. Don’t forget your business cards. Cost: $10 for member, $15 for non-members. Sign up online at chicopeechamber.org/events.

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

• April 3: Networking by Night, 5-9 p.m., hosted by the Springfield Thunderbirds at the MassMutual Center. Networking 5-7 p.m., followed by a game courtesy of the Thunderbirds. This event is free to members and their families. Pre-registration is required, as there will be no tickets available at the door. For more information and to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• April 25: Food 4 Thought Lunch & Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Mill 180 Park, 180 Pleasant St., Easthampton. Robin Kline, director of Volunteer & Guest Services at Cooley Dickinson Health Care, will facilitate a program about customer Service. If you think it’s no big deal, think again. This seemingly innocuous little detail can make or break an organization. A box lunch is included with registration. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for future members. For more information and to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

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

• March 20: Big Honkin’ Business After Hours at Marcotte Ford, 4:30 p.m. This event is a collaboration with the Greater Westfield and Greater Chicopee chambers, featuring food stations, beer and wine, marketing opportunities, door prizes, and more. Cost: $10 for members, $25 for non-members.

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

• March 26: Workshop: “Excel Tips & Tricks, Part 1,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop contains a variety of quick tips and tricks in Microsoft Excel that will save users hours of time. Learn how to add buttons to the quick-access toolbar, so the commands you want are at your fingertips. Learn how to view all the formulas in a worksheet and how to freeze rows and columns for easier viewing and navigation. Practice time-saving shortcuts for selecting, moving, and copying cells, and learn how to use autofill to create a series of numbers or dates or to copy formulas. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

• April 2: Workshop: “Excel Tips & Tricks, Part 2,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This class will present a series of tips and shortcuts that will help attendees work more efficiently and complete more complex tasks with Microsoft Excel. Learn how to assign range names to groups of cells and how to use range names in formulas and functions. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

• April 3: April Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Danco, 10 West St., West Hatfield. A networking event sponsored by Northeast Solar, NEPR, Health New England, and MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board. Cost: $10 for members.

• April 23: Workshop: CyberSafe, 9 a.m. to noon, hosted by Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. CyberSafe is a three-hour workshop for non-technical users that focuses on using technology without compromising personal or organizational security. Students will learn the skills they need to protect digital data on computers, networks, mobile devices, and the internet. They will learn how to identify many of the common risks involved in using technology, such as phishing, spoofing, malware, and social engineering, and then learn how to protect themselves and their organizations from those risks. Cost: $50 for members, $60 for non-members.

May 1: May Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Emerson Way, Northampton. A networking event sponsored by Gove Law Office, Keiter Builders, and Kuhn Riddle Architects. Cost: $10 for members.

May 14: Workshop: “Microsoft Word Tips,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop contains a variety of quick tips and tricks in Microsoft Word that will save hours of time. Attendees will learn to add buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar; shortcuts for selecting words, sentences, and paragraphs; and how (and why) to display non-printing characters in a document. Practice using the Format Painter to copy formatting and fix problems with numbered and bulleted lists. Learn to create AutoCorrect entries to correct common typos, and AutoText entries and Quick Parts to easily enter frequently used text. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

May 28: Workshop: “Upgrading to Office 365,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. Cost: $35 for members, $45 for non-members.

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

• March 20: Big Honkin’ Business After Hours, 4:30-7 p.m., a three-chamber event with the Greater Westfield, Greater Chicopee, and Greater Holyoke chambers, hosted by Marcotte Ford, 1025 Main St., Holyoke. Hearty appetizers, food stations, beer, and wine provided. Live jazz music and valet parking. Bring business cards to make connections and enter to win raffle prizes. A 50/50 raffle will benefit the chamber scholarship fund. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Pre-registration is recommended at www.westfieldbiz.org/events or by calling the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

SOUTH HADLEY & GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.shgchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• April 6: Mohegan Sun Bus Trip, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hop on King Ward’s 40-person bus for a day of fun at one of the world’s finest casinos. Pickup and dropoff at the Chicopee Home Depot parking lot at 9 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, which includes bus fare, $15 food voucher, and $15 gambling voucher. Call Steven Laplante at (413) 246-4911 for more information, or e-mail [email protected] to reserve seating.

• April 17: Business After 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by the Thirsty Mind, located in South Hadley’s Village Commons, across the street from Mount Holyoke College. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. RSVP and direct questions to [email protected], and mail a check, payable to the South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce, to 2 Lyman St., South Hadley, MA 01075.

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

• March 19: “A New Wave,” 4-6 p.m., hosted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 Hall of Fame Ave., Springfield. A presentation by the city of Springfield Office of Economic Development in partnership with the Springfield Regional Chamber, highlighting new economic-development projects and updates on larger economic-development projects in the works. Includes reception with cash bar following. Admission is complimentary, but reservations are required.
Reservations for all Springfield Regional Chamber events may be made by visiting www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, e-mailing [email protected], or calling (413) 755-1310.

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

• March 21: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, West Springfield. Enjoy lunch while networking with fellow chamber members and guests of members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief intro and company overview. You must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Cost: free for members; $10 for non-members. Register online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

• April 3: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, West Springfield. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information about this event, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or register at www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
springfieldyps.com

• March 21: YPS Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m., hosted by MGM Springfield Lobby Bar. Join us for our March Third Thursday. Cost: free for members, $10 for non-members. Afterward, we will enjoy the show at ROAR comedy club. For an exclusive discount on tickets to the show, visit springfieldyps.com.

• April 19: April Third Thursday featuring area graduate schools, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Samuel’s at the Hall of Fame. Join us for our monthly Third Thursday while learning about graduate schools from representatives from various area colleges and universities. Cost: free for members, $10 for non-members. Learn more at springfieldyps.com.

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Emily White

Emily White

Brian Benson

John Veit

John Veit

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. announced three promotions: Emily White to senior audit associate, Brian Benson, CPA to senior audit associate, and John Veit to director of Marketing and Recruiting. White has been with the firm since 2016. In her new position, she plays a leading role in the Accounting and Audit department, serving commercial, pension, and not-for-profit clients. She also prepares individual, partnership, and corporate tax returns and reviews for commercial and healthcare entities. She attended Elms College, where she earned dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and marketing and a master’s degree in accounting. As a senior audit associate, Benson is in charge of completing and monitoring staff on audit and review engagements of low-income housing and not-for-profit organizations. He holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and business management from Elms College, where he will graduate in September with an MBA with a concentration in financial planning. He then plans to sit for the certified financial planner exam. In his former position as senior Marketing and Recruiting associate, Veit had been managing the day-to-day operations of marketing and recruiting for some time. The firm decided it was time for him to take the reins in all matters related to marketing, recruiting, and recruiting consulting for clients. He earned his BBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst with a focus in marketing.

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Raúl Gutiérrez

Raúl Gutiérrez

Raúl Gutiérrez, assistant professor of Spanish at Holyoke Community College (HCC), has been selected as an Engaged Scholar for 2019-20 by the Eastern Region Campus Compact, a regional partnership of colleges and universities dedicated to promoting civic engagement. Gutierrez was one of 12 scholars picked for the inaugural, 18-month program that includes academics from 11 other institutions from Maine to Washington D.C., including Lehigh, Ithaca, Swarthmore, Dartmouth, Georgetown, and Yale. Scholars were selected from a highly competitive pool of candidates nominated by college and university presidents and chief academic officers. Gutiérrez is coordinator of HCC’s Foreign Language program, coordinator of the Center for Public Humanities at HCC, and adviser to the HCC LISA (Latino International Students Assoc.) Club. He also spearheaded the creation of a new Latinx Studies program at the college that will begin in the fall 2019 semester, and he teaches Spanish literacy to migrant farm workers through Head Start in Springfield. His specific projects will focus on two areas: building a civic-engagement/service-learning component into the new Latinx Studies program and continue to work with migrant farm workers. Gutiérrez was born in Mexico and holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in Hispanic Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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Two professors at Western New England University have been awarded $30,000 in seed funding by the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC) Acorn Innovation Fund. Dr. Vedang Chauhan and Dr. Jingzhou “Frank” Zhao were among 13 grant recipients statewide, including researchers from Boston University Medical Center, Northeastern University, Tufts University, and UMass. The funding is designed to assist researchers in testing the viability of their technologies and potentially bringing the research to market. Continuously variable transmission technology is widely used in modern vehicles to improve fuel efficiency and performance. However, small engines currently cannot meet power requirements to utilize the technology. Chauhan’s goal is to build, implement, and test an E-CVT system for small engines, evaluating endurance, reliability, and performance. Zhao, an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, leads the College of Engineering’s Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Processing Lab. The grant funding will support a project covering production of silica-coated metal nanoparticles using electrospraying, a technology that holds the potential to achieve much lower manufacturing costs and much higher throughput than existing methods. Acorn funding will support the research activities of Zhao’s team to obtain proof-of-concept evidence.

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James Wolfe

James Wolfe

James Wolfe has been appointed general manager of Seven Hills, a historic, 57-room boutique hotel in Lenox. Backed by 17 years of senior leadership experience in the hospitality industry, Wolfe joins the hotel in the midst of a repositioning and renovation that is slated for completion this spring. Wolfe comes to Seven Hills from Comfort Inn & Suites Sturbridge, where he also served as general manager. Over the course of his career, he has held general-manager positions at hotels throughout the Northeast and Midwest under the Courtyard by Marriott, Hyatt Place, and Residence Inn brands. As general manager of Newark Metropolitan Hotel in Newark, Ohio, he led the 118-room hotel through an acquisition, renovation, and grand opening. Wolfe has also served as director of operations for Crowne Plaza and the Lofts in Columbus, Ohio, and for Sage Hospitality’s Cherry Valley Lodge and Sheraton Kansas City Sports Complex.

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Connecticut-based Liberty Bank announced that David Glidden will serve as its new president and CEO, effective March 18, succeeding Chandler Howard, who has led the bank since 2007. Glidden brings more than 30 years of industry leadership experience to Liberty Bank. Most recently, he served as regional president for the Northern New England and Upstate New York Region for TD Bank. He was responsible for managing retail banking, small-business, wealth-management, commercial, and specialty banking operations and lending services. Glidden began his banking career at Shawmut Bank’s Commercial Lending Division in Boston and joined TD Bank in 1994, embarking on a path that led to numerous positions of increasing responsibility.

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Web Shaffer

Web Shaffer

As part of organizational changes previously announced by OMG Inc. to accelerate growth, the company has promoted Web Shaffer to the position of senior vice president and general manager for the FastenMaster Division. In this role, Shaffer is responsible for developing and executing the division’s overall strategy for the two recently created divisional business units, Decking and Structural Products. In addition, he is responsible for overseeing FastenMaster’s new product-development and innovation group and its sales and marketing teams, including retail sales, customer service, and technical support. Shaffer joined OMG Roofing Products in 2015 as vice president of Marketing and took on international sales responsibility in 2016. He was promoted in 2018 to vice president of the Fastener Business Unit. Prior to joining OMG, he spent eight years in the Newell Rubbermaid tool business, managing hand tools and power-tool accessories for the Lenox and Irwin brands. He also served as vice president of Marketing for the baby gear segment at Newell. Earlier, he was director of Product Management at Permatex, a division of Illinois Tool Works, and worked in sales, channel marketing, and market research at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and an MBA from The University of Indiana.

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Daniel O’Neill

Daniel O’Neill

Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, announced that Daniel O’Neill has joined the bank as vice president – Commercial Lending in its Northampton Cooperative Bank division. O’Neill, who will be based in the 67 King St. office of the Northampton Cooperative Bank division, earned bachelor’s degree from Assumption College in Worcester and is a graduate of the School of Commercial Lending held by the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. He has been active in the community throughout his career with time spent as a volunteer board member with groups such as the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, the Holyoke YMCA, the Chicopee Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and Blessed Sacrament School in Holyoke.

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Whittlesey announced that Amy Richards, CPA has been promoted to manager in its Holyoke office. In this role, she is responsible for expanding and managing assurance, tax, and advisory engagements. Richards has more than 11 years of experience providing accounting, tax, and advisory services. Over her career, she has managed client relationships, made process improvements, and analyzed data to provide actionable insights for her clients. Richards formerly served as a supervisor at Whittlesey. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fitchburg State University and an MBA in accounting from UMass Lowell.

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K. Lev Ben-Ezra

K. Lev Ben-Ezra

The Amherst Survival Center, a regional resource serving low-income residents of Hampshire and Franklin counties, announced the selection of K. Lev Ben-Ezra as its next executive director. Ben-Ezra succeeds Mindy Domb, who has been director since June 2013 and has been elected state representative for the 3rd Hampshire District. Ben-Ezra’s experience includes extensive work over the past decade at Community Action Pioneer Valley, where she developed and implemented leadership and workforce-development programs for both youth and adults. Most recently, she served as director of Youth and Workforce Development, and previously as director of Youth Programs. She has also worked in several other youth-serving organizations, working to support youth at risk in a variety of settings. She has served as chair of the Franklin County/North Quabbin Communities that Care Coalition for the last eight years, as a steering committee member of the Hampshire County Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth, and as a member of the Regional Employment Board’s Youth Career Connections Council, as well as on other local coalitions. She is also an adjunct faculty member of Marlboro College Graduate and Professional Studies and a board member of the Community Health Center of Franklin County.

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The Eastern States Exposition (ESE) announced the promotions of Robert Gottsche Jr. to Sales manager, Steve Ferraro to captain of Parking & Security, and Terri Brown to Creative Arts/New England Center program manager. Gottsche will be responsible for all Big E vendors and concessionaires, and will oversee ESE’s year-round event coordinators. He first joined the staff of the Exposition in 1983 and became an event coordinator in 1991. He worked in the Special Events department for eight years during the Big E as well as the Sales department as a show coordinator throughout the year. In 1999, he began overseeing Young Building exhibitors during the fair and quickly added vendor and vendor-space sales and contracting to his list of responsibilities. Ferraro will oversee all parking for weekend events and the Big E, as well as assist Cliff Hedges, director of Public Safety & Security, with scheduling security staff for 24-hour and event coverage. Ferraro started working at ESE at age 14 when his father, the late Albert Ferraro, a long-time Big E employee, oversaw parking for the Exposition. He stepped into the position of Parking manager in 2015. Brown has been affiliated with ESE since 2011 as the building’s 4-H coordinator, served as assistant to the Creative Arts coordinator in 2017, and became co-coordinator of the department in 2018. In her new position, she will oversee the management and administration of all contests, 4-H participation, displays, and the New England Center stage. Brown graduated from Southwick High School, Holyoke Community College, and the University of New Hampshire, where she earned a degree in zoology.

•••••

Evan Broslovsky

Evan Broslovsky

Comcast recently announced the appointment of Evan Broslovsky as vice president of Customer Experience for the company’s Western New England region, which is headquartered in Berlin, Conn. and includes more than 300 communities in Connecticut, Western Mass., Western New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. In this newly created regional role, Broslovsky will be responsible for regional implementation of the company’s multi-year strategy to transform the customer experience. Prior to joining Comcast, he spent nine years as vice president of Contact Center Operations at Priceline.com, where he oversaw more than 800 customer-care agents in six locations across the country. He also has an extensive history in the cable industry that spans 17 years. His first role was that of a care agent, and he quickly grew in the ranks to supervisor, assistant manager, and finally to manager of care operations overseeing a team of six supervisors and 120 care agents at Cablevision and its predecessor companies. Broslovsky then joined Time Warner Cable as director of business operations, with responsibility for call centers that supported 1.4 million customers.

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PV Squared, a worker-owned cooperative and local solar design and installation company located in Greenfield, recently welcomed seven new worker-owners to the ownership team: Madeleine Geschwind, Brain (Craig) Lakas, Jeremy Latch, Jeff Molongoski, Todd Sessions, Nik Perry, and Matt Valliere. To become a worker-owner, employees must work at PV Squared for at least one year before participating in an additional one-year worker-owner in training (WOIT) program. The WOIT program involves in-depth education about all aspects of the cooperative, the development of a personal leadership plan, and additional learning opportunities about socially responsible business practices. PV Squared is a worker-owned cooperative that provides renewable-energy solutions to a range of clients, including business owners, commercial property owners, farmers, and homeowners.

•••••

The board of directors of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV) recently welcomed Brendan Bailey as its new CEO. Bailey began his career in association management with the Raleigh Regional Assoc. of Realtors (RRAR) in Cary, N.C., a board of more than 8,000 members, where he served as chief operating officer. Prior to joining RARR, he served as policy coordinator for the American Assoc. of Colleges of Pharmacy and as a House legislative assistant in the North Carolina General Assembly. On the national level, Bailey currently serves as vice chair for the AE YPN Forum for the National Assoc. of Realtors.

•••••

Brian Brenner

Brian Brenner

Tighe & Bond Inc. announced that Brian Brenner, has joined the firm as a principal bridge engineer in its Building Services business line. He has 36 years of experience in highway and railroad bridges, tunnels, and value engineering for large highway and transit projects. Brenner will serve Tighe & Bond’s clients across the Northeast, working from the firm’s Westwood, Mass. office. Brenner’s projects include the Central Artery/Tunnel in Boston and the Burns Bridge in Worcester. In 2016, the American Public Works Assoc. named the Burns Bridge its Project of the Year, and the National Steel Bridge Alliance named it the Best Steel Bridge Design (in the medium-span category). Other project examples include two accelerated bridge-construction projects across the MBTA Commuter Rail in Dorchester, an award-winning accelerated bridge-construction project in Back Bay, Boston, and value engineering for numerous Department of Transportation projects throughout Massachusetts. A professor of Practice at Tufts University, Brenner also teaches classes in bridge and concrete design, as well as introduction to engineering. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

•••••

At its 2019 annual meeting in Atlanta, the Assoc. of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced that Carol Leary, president of Bay Path University, was appointed board chair. Richard Guarasci, president of Wagner College, will continue to serve on AAC&U’s board as past chair. The members also voted to appoint William Craft, president of Concordia College, as vice chair of the board. Royce Engstrom, professor of Chemistry at the University of Montana, will continue his term as treasurer. Two new directors were also appointed to AAC&U’s board: Timothy Eatman, dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community and associate professor of Urban Education at Rutgers University Newark; and Mary Ann Villareal, assistant vice president, Strategic Initiatives at California State University Fullerton.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

West of the River Chamber Foundation Funds Equipment at Agawam High School

AGAWAM — The West of the River Chamber of Commerce and its 501(c)(3) foundation presented Agawam High School with a check for $3,600 on Feb. 27 for the purchase of a Haas Simulator for its new manufacturing program. The West of the River Chamber Foundation (WRCF) has a mission to impact the local economy and area businesses by engaging in philanthropic work in the communities of Agawam and West Springfield. It recognizes that approximately 500 machinists’ jobs are vacant in the Commonwealth on any given day. This affects local business and industry because they cannot hire skilled machinists, and, therefore, machine shops cannot operate at maximum capacity. Lower productivity means lower incoming revenue. In an effort to alleviate this problem, the WRCF enacted a plan. It formed a focus group with the Agawam school system and the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative. The focus group’s efforts have resulted in programs, like the new Agawam High School program, implemented in its STEM program to introduce students to the vocation of a machinist. With the purchase of the new machines, the students will be able to learn trades that will provide them with lifelong skills and careers. Ace Precision, a manufacturing company in Agawam, has purchased two new simulators and donated a CNC machine towards this new program as well. Agawam High School has received more than $100,000 in community donations towards this new opportunity for its students.

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts Earns 5-Star Award

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM), now celebrating its centennial anniversary, has earned a 5-Star Award from Junior Achievement USA for the third consecutive year. Junior Achievement organizations are judged on five categories: Student Growth/Year-over-Year % Change in Contact Hours; Surplus; Cash on Hand; Debt Ratio, and Current Ratio, defined as current assets divided by current liabilities. All chapters must meet the criteria for Surplus and at least one of the two student ratios, with the level of the star determined by how many of the other three standards are met. JAWM’s volunteer-delivered, K-12 programs foster work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial-literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to reach their potential. It provides turnkey solutions for businesses to engage students; rigorous and proven curriculum to educators for Massachusetts frameworks in English-language arts, mathematics, and social studies; and business-startup experience for teens. In addition, Junior Achievement provides educational programming for K-12 students that supports the newly signed law by Gov. Charlie Baker aimed at giving Massachusetts students the tools they need to navigate their financial futures, including milestones like buying a home and planning for retirement. The law allows state education officials to establish standards around financial literacy, which schools could incorporate into their existing curricula in subjects like math, business, and social sciences.

 

Allied Flooring and Paint Donates $5,000 to MHA

SPRINGFIELD — Allied Flooring and Paint made a $5,000 donation to support the work of MHA, which provides residential and support services to people impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and homelessness. “Allied has supplied and installed carpet, floors, and paint for MHA residences throughout the area for many years,” said Allied President Mario Tedeschi. “These are family homes for the individuals MHA serves, and I’m proud to help ensure they are comfortable, clean, and bright.” Kimberley Lee, vice president, Resource Development & Branding for MHA, noted that the donation will support MHA’s new outpatient clinic for emotional wellness, known as BestLife. “I’ve had opportunity to see first-hand the compassion and caring that MHA has for the clients they serve,” Tedeschi said. “I’m proud of my long-time affiliation with MHA and consider myself a champion of their work and a cheerleader as well.”

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Denise Miller-Zhang PC, 159 Main St., Unit N, Agawam, MA 01001. Denise Miller-Zhang, same. Psychologist office.

BELCHERTOWN

Dimoda Inc., 175 State St., Unit 6, Belchertown, MA 01007. Ilario Modafferi, same. Merchant financial services.

GRANBY

Fog Farm Inc., 116 Pleasant St., Granby, MA 01033. Nicholas Robinson, same. Farming and growing plants.

HOLYOKE

JA Transport Inc., 88 Calumet Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Joseph Arsenault, same. Trucking transportation of materials.

NORTHAMPTON

Delta T Advanced HVAC Inc., 40 Maine Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027. Matthew B. Gawle, 80 Highland Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027. Heating and air conditioning sales and service.

PITTSFIELD

Collabra Technology Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Ste. 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Janet Case, same. Marketing and sales platform.

Evisort Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jerry Ting, same. Consultant and document management.

Great Societies Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Ramon Xulvi-Brunet, same. Consulting and education service to institutions.

Great Woods Distribution Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Elliot Oliveira, same. Contract manufacturer.

SOUTHWICK

Environment 1st Pest Management Inc., 9 Industrial Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Brian J. Morrissey, 6 Joseph Ave., Westfield, MA 01085. Pest management, commercial and residential cleaning services.

WESTFIELD

Crockwell’s Mobile Welding Inc., 211 Russellville Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Nickolas R. Crockwell, same. Mobile welding services.

WILBRAHAM

Cold Spring Liquor Inc., 19 Ruth Dr., Wilbraham, MA 01095. Dariusz Karpinski, same. Convenience and package store.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the month of March 2019.

AMHERST

Bread Tree Farms
220 North Pleasant St., Suite 10
Russell Wallack

FrontMe
141 North Pleasant St., #915
Babatunde Ajai

Of Note Stationers
220 North Pleasant St., Suite 10
Katherine Kellman

The Susie Show
P.O. Box 344
Susanne McCrea

TEDx Amherst
11 Amity St.
Ruby Ramsay

Transformation in Action
1325 Bay Road
Annabelle Keil

Wanderlust Tattoo
71 North Pleasant St.
Stephen Lambert

BELCHERTOWN

Masesa Export & Import
133 Jabish St., G6
Juma Mesesa

Sowing the Slope Farm and Nursery
275 Jackson St.
Ian Walton

Stone House Museum
20 Maple St.
Thomas Stockton

CHICOPEE

Chris’ Styling Corner
331 Hampden St.
Christine Barry

Death Grip Barbell Club
159 Olko Circle
Eric Mailloux

Smart Looks II
104 Lauzier Terrace
Brenda-Lee Fortin, Jason Fortin

Stop & Run
1057 Montgomery St.
Fizan Nazim

Trugreen
2160 Westover Road
Keith MacDonald

Vet51 Transportation
89 Woodcrest Circle
Louis Harrison Sr.

DEERFIELD

Blue Door Vintage
235 Greenfield Road
Jennifer Cummings

Durant’s Mobile Detailing
30 Pine Nook Road
Jeremy Durant

Hither and Yon Adventure Rider
20 Industrial Dr. East, Unit 2
Michael Akrep

EASTHAMPTON

Art Club
82 Williston Ave.
Garett Yahn, Ceara Yahn

Danielle Sears Art
35 Kenneth Road
Danielle Sears

Easthampton Community Acupuncture
116 Pleasant St., Suite 120
Cassandra Daniels

Masters of Adventure
442 East St.
Jonathan Schmidt

Shalan Stained Glass, LLC
150 Pleasant St., #220
Glenn Shalan

EAST LONGMEADOW

Carolyn Pickles Practice Management Consultant
33 Anne St.
Carolyn Pickles

Ciao Bella Salon
128 Shaker Road
Christine O’Connell, Katie Schebel

Connecticut Valley Construction
12 Town View Circle
Felix Tranghese

Elite Image
489 North Main St.
Stephanie Reid

Idle Moments Massage, LLC
10 Crane Ave.
Christina Conti

JMG Salon
37 Maple St.
Jennifer Guinipero

Omega Cleaners
14 Harkness Ave.
Joo Lee

Peter Levesque Wetlands Consultant
123 Orchard Road
Peter Levesque

GREENFIELD

The duMont Co.
289 Wells St.
Pilot Precision Products, LLC

Greenfield Nail Bar
255 Mohawk Trail
Quang Luu

LLMT, LLC
259 Mohawk Trail
Adam Hey, Candice Karten

Maniatty Real Estate
92 Federal St.
George Maniatty

Martin’s Farm Compost
341 Plain Road
Adam Martin

McDonald’s
285 Federal St.
Jorge Gomez, Eleni Gomez

Padula Brothers Inc.
191 Shelburne Road
Bryan Mansfield

Rise Above
282 Main St.
Brian Meunier

Roux Designs, LLC
303 Leyden Road
Larry Roux

Salon 20
20 Church St.
Christine Roth

Serenity Senter
45 Bank Row
Laurie Dulude

HOLYOKE

Budget Inn/Nistha, LLC
579 Northampton St.
Mita Patel

China House
322A Appleton St.
Lin Lin

DFSNotify
41 Lynn Ann Dr.
Daniel Fiebig

Fonseca Home Renovation Co.
1384 Dwight St.
Carlos Fonseca

Hathaway Road Dental, P.C.
217 South St.
Tu Tran

La Vega Grocery
518 High St.
Manuel Gomez

The Manifestagency
194 Sargeant St.
Talitha Abramsen

Messier Funeral Home
1944 Northampton St.
CSI Funeral Services of MA Inc.

Nasty Habit Crossfit
68 Winter St.
David Vooris

Pleasant Auto Sales
170 Main St.
William Johnson, Stephen Foster

LUDLOW

Compass Professional Services
733 Chapin St.
Kathleen Duke

Ludlow Smoke Shop & Convenience
246 East St.
Khaled Saleh

NORTHAMPTON

Amherst Archery Academy, LLC
221 Pine St., Suite 155
Kye Forbes Bissell

Anton Corliss Cleaners
21 Locust St.
Kenny Nguyen

Applied Mortgage
211 North St.
Todd Barron

Balance Wellness Consulting
14 Westwood Terrace
Suzanne Canter

Cellu-Spray Insulation
55 Maple St.
Jonathan Tauer

Context Capital Asset Mgmt., LLC
123 South St.
Melissa Frydlo

Florence Pie Bar
17 Main St.
Maura Glennon

Grey Good Builders
72 Dunphy Dr.
John Demerski

JAD Construction
80 Damon Road, Apt. 2106
Jonnathan Alvacora Lala

Newborn Care by Karen
19 Water St.
Karen Yatsko

Northampton Child Development
25 Maynard Road
Emily Kieval, David Kieval

Northampton Financial Services
243 King St., Suite 244
James Mahoney III

Q & A Transcripts
22 Graves Ave.
Quaverly Rothenberg

Riseline Wealth Planning
243 King St., Suite 244
James Mahoney

undiminished.me
www.undiminished.me
Ilya Parker

PALMER

Atty. Geoffrey Farrington
16 King St.
Geoffrey Farrington

Buddy’s Auto Sales
1150 Park St.
Stephen Tripp

Chmura’s Bakery
303 Gates St.
Emma Fossati

Cute Kids Preschool
17 Highland St.
Ghada Ghrear

Darling’s Hoops Academy
61 Breckenridge St.
Alyssa Darling

FitClub, LLC
159 Wilbraham St.
Jessica Brothers, Eric Brothers

Kmart #9255
159 Wilbraham St.
Jeanette Pollock

MaxLife Education
3009 Hill St.
Keith Stewart

SPRINGFIELD

All Star Cleaning
423 Eastern Ave.
Noel Mercado

Betty’s Thrift Store
616 Boston Road
Betty Marquez

DFG Enterprises
98 Briggs St.
Damion Harper
Esmine’s Cuisine
341 Wilbraham Road
Evan James

Forastiere Family Funeral Home
45 Locust St.
Forastiere Family

Frank Gentile Automotive
149 Rocus St.
Frank Gentile

GRP Funding Holdings, LLC
1350 Main St.
GRP Funding Holdings, LLC

Hannoush Jewelers
1655 Boston Road
N. Hannoush Jewelers

Her Management
122 Chestnut St.
Tatiana Donaldson

Houle Painting and Remodeling
201 Davis St.
Scott Houle

Hyman’s Trucking
663 Allen St.
Christopher Hyman

Jah Lloyd Cuisine
341 Wilbraham Road
Evan James

Law Offices of Susan Grossberg
293 Bridge St.
Susan Grossberg

Lids Live Well
24 Bissell Ave.
Lidya Early

Loc’d Crown Hair Boutique
143 Main St., Suite 215
Kristol Griffith

Mendez Roofing
563 Armory St.
Rodimiro Mendez

Mid-Air Drone Services
11 Judith St.
Joshua Glushien

North End Mini Mart
2469 Main St.
Luis Marrero

NWS Fastpitch
16 Loretta St.
Jessica Colson

Redbrick Books
797 Page Blvd.
Marcia Fuller

Samuel Taps & Table
1000 West Columbus Ave.
Samuel’s Tavern, LLC

Spotlight Entertainment
15 Barber St.
Stephen Josey

White Tee Towing
20 Andrew St.
Carmen Flores

Wrong Side of the Traxx Recording
91 Pinevale St.
Shane Dowsey

WESTFIELD

ATL Transport
84 Orange St.
Aleksandr Livchin

Darling Construction
42 Beveridge Blvd.
Larry Darling Jr.

Greg Mastroianni Electrician
265 Montgomery Road
Greg Mastroianni

GTG Plumbing & Heating
7 Stuart Place
Guy Gautreau

Hot Piece of Glass
55 Loomis Ave.
Crysta Ascolillo

JB Home Inspections
330 Buck Pond Road
John Borges

M5D’s Concrete
126 Old Stage Road
Mikhail Okhrimenko

Precision Construction
19 Shepard St.
Oleg Romanchenko, Roman Romanchenko

WEST SPRINGFIELD

84 Lumber Co.
38 Monterey Dr.
John Uveges

A & A Furniture Repair
32 Partridge Lane
Alan Archambault

Boston Bartenders School of America
218 Memorial Dr.
Maria Scrima

C & M Realty
1095 Westfield St.
Donald Nault

Inter-Technologies Inc.
451 Dewey St.
Yury Altyev

Lynch Flooring
115 Frederick St.
Peter Lynch

Nailtique Spa
1817 Riverdale St.
Nhung Nguyen

Parus
766 Main St.
Dzhavat Azizov

Willow and Moss
133 Janet St.
Melissa Ahrayah

WILBRAHAM

The Bilberry Salon – Julie Sokol
2141 Boston Road
Julie Sokol

The Bilberry Salon – Molly Bragiel
2141 Boston Road
Molly Bragiel

The Grille at CCW
850 Stony Hill Road
Marc Sparks

Lori Designs
392 Three Rivers Road
Lori Mead

Oak and Elm Home Services
10 Joan St.
Jennifer Branco

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Andre, Lenna
137 Vienna Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/07/19

Ball, Larry C.
Ball, Patricia A.
46 Nutmeg Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/19

Baxter, Carl Anthony
554 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/19

Beaulieu, Joseph R.
P.O. Box 4953
Holyoke, MA 01041
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/06/19

Bedore, Brian F.
12 Maple St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/19

Bernardi, Christopher A.
21 Lyman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/13/19

Birtwell, Karen L.
a/k/a Kachinski, Karen L.
77 Portulaca Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/19

Boston, Hank M.
Boston, Janet E.
530 South Mountain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/19

Breor, Laurie
14 Columbia Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/19

Cathy’s Daycare
Brantley, Catherine Yvonne
76 Strong St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/04/19

Clark, George O.
8 Bonny Lane
Peru, MA 01235
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/19

Cognac, Matthew R.
58 Allison Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/14/19

Conklin, George Robert
P.O. Box 543
Becket, MA 01223
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/07/19

Consic, Richard J.
Kritz-Consic, Cynthia
49 Hillcrest Park
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/19

Danishevsky, Steven J.
Danishevsky, Jillian I.
146 Tanglewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/19

DeCaires, Roland Arlington
115 Northampton St., A
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/19

Fontaine, Richard R.
35 New Boston Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/19

Froebel, Joshua
164 Mohegan St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/19

Garcia, Alexis E.
2 Daniels Court
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/19

Gordon, Philip J.
832 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/19

Jaskulski, Linda A.
23 Hancock St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/11/19

Jesus M. Delgado Electric
Delgado, Jesus M.
1835 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/19

Jordan, Amanda Lee
554 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/19

Karnolisz, Jason
57 Squawfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/06/19

Kittle, Kerri L.
154 Stoddard Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/19

LeBlanc, Sarah Marie
53 Pine Acre Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/19

Lisi, Savannah
16 Montgomery Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/19

McCarthy, Philip S.
McCarthy, Sarah B.
100 Nonotuck Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/19

Menard, Kimberly M.
126 Peck Brothers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/19

Miles, Ryan F.
407 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/19

Miner, Jaime M.
1 Meadowbrook Lane
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/19

Nancys Painting Plus Home
Binette, Bruce A.
Lessard-Binette, Nancy L.
51 West Orchard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/19

O’Brock, Karen L.
90 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/19

Plant, Helen S.
243 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/13/19

Rodriguez, William
337 White St., 1st Fl.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/01/19

Ruell, Ronald A.
121 Albemarle St
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/05/19

Scace, James A.
16 Congress St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/19

Schadler, Henry
Schadler, Martha
85 Eagle St., Apt. 401
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/19

Shaw, Victoria Lauralie
175 Tully Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/08/19

Smith, Darrell L.
208 Wildwood Ave
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/13/19

Smith, Shanice
a/k/a Raschilla, Shanice
14 King Ave., Unit 1
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/19

Smith, Thomas P.
39 Hillside Ave.
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/19

Steinkuehler, Terra Renee
11 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/19

Stevens, Lori S.
1545 Allen St. Apt 3
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/19

Stocks, Diane Dean
55 Cedar Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/05/19

Surdue-Boutique
Goodman, Lisa
19 Schuyler St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/07/19

Yacovone, John J.
24 Maebeth St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/19

Real Estate Transactions

By
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

562 Suburban Dr.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: Whitney J. Roberts
Seller: Austin J. Snape
Date: 02/15/19

BERNARDSTON

115 Northfield Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Bernardston DG Series LLC
Seller: Damon, Edwin H. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 02/22/19

BUCKLAND

56 Ashfield St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Carlye M. Woodard
Seller: Saari L. Koponen-Robotham
Date: 02/22/19

30 Howes Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $204,070
Buyer: Patrick G. Conlin
Seller: Marc R. Kaufmann
Date: 02/26/19

CONWAY

435 Bardwells Ferry Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: David P. Adie
Seller: Christine M. Clark RET
Date: 02/15/19

DEERFIELD

Greenfield Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Michael B. Antonellis
Seller: Ciesluk Farm Properties
Date: 02/15/19

Old Ferry Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Michael B. Antonellis
Seller: Ciesluk Farm Properties
Date: 02/15/19

Pogues Hole Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Michael B. Antonellis
Seller: Ciesluk Farm Properties
Date: 02/15/19

Round Pond Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Michael B. Antonellis
Seller: Ciesluk Farm Properties
Date: 02/15/19

GREENFIELD

126 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Michael Restaino
Seller: Jennifer J. Garbiel INT
Date: 02/20/19

27 Frederick Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Sarah L. Konopka
Seller: Christy C. Porter
Date: 02/22/19

6 Freeman Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Tyler P. O’Brien
Seller: Nathan D. Gray
Date: 02/21/19

107 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael C. Stempel
Seller: Bush, Frank J., (Estate)
Date: 02/15/19

HEATH

68 Avery Brook Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $376,400
Buyer: Barbara J. Gordon
Seller: Raymond D. Hanson INT
Date: 02/19/19

210 Taylor Brook Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Steven R. Wiles
Seller: S&K 8 Point TR
Date: 02/15/19

LEVERETT

11 Number 6 Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Elena Pobezinskaya
Seller: Barbara Goldstein
Date: 02/25/19

MONTAGUE

9 Hillside Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Amie M. Keddy
Seller: Stewart, James K., (Estate)
Date: 02/25/19

8 Randall Wood Dr.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Nathan Gray
Seller: Robert Bergeron
Date: 02/21/19

NEW SALEM

22 Neilson Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Kristopher Helton
Seller: Joseph W. Hamilton
Date: 02/25/19

ORANGE

25 2nd St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Jericho Fellows
Seller: Joshua A. Dasilva
Date: 02/13/19

105 Fryeville Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Bruce L. Alford
Seller: Baker FT
Date: 02/22/19

40 Lake Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Leblanc
Seller: Charles C. Bridges
Date: 02/22/19

42 Lake Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Leblanc
Seller: Charles C. Bridges
Date: 02/22/19

69 Mayo Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: 88 Lambert Ave NT
Seller: Gary H. Moise
Date: 02/22/19

SHELBURNE

123 Frank Williams Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Glenway M. Fripp
Seller: Michael O. Crowley
Date: 02/21/19

360 South Shelburne Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jill Pontiff
Seller: Raymond E. Beaulac TR
Date: 02/21/19

SUNDERLAND

653 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $4,000,000
Buyer: Sugarbush Meadow LLC
Seller: Bourey LLC
Date: 02/21/19

Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $4,000,000
Buyer: Sugarbush Meadow LLC
Seller: Bourey LLC
Date: 02/21/19

WHATELY

4 Strippe Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Patrick McCoy
Seller: Wesley B. Smith
Date: 02/19/19

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

90 Clover Hill Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Ethan J. Nassar
Seller: Srinivasa Gutta
Date: 02/14/19

78 Hall St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Laura J. Fox
Seller: Darryl Ledoux
Date: 02/19/19

68 Maynard St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Mark Rogerson
Seller: Alan B. Olbrych
Date: 02/15/19

232 Rowley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Anthony M. Santaniello
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/20/19

178 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Dmitriy Brutskiy
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 02/13/19

BRIMFIELD

65 East Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Christian Collins
Seller: Denton, Jean M., (Estate)
Date: 02/22/19

31 Echo Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: David Muir
Seller: Jay Mooney
Date: 02/14/19

CHICOPEE

67 Basil Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Judd Jackson
Seller: Cartier, James R., (Estate)
Date: 02/19/19

30 Bemis St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Adrian P. Vega
Seller: Breire IRT
Date: 02/25/19

421 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Sycamore Homes LLC
Seller: Broadway Street LLC
Date: 02/14/19

96 Catherine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Tracy A. Lafreniere
Seller: Candace Ribeiro
Date: 02/21/19

585 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jayne S. Price
Seller: Carol A. Konarski
Date: 02/14/19

25 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Kimberly Devine
Seller: Anthony Eichstaedt
Date: 02/22/19

50 George St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $181,500
Buyer: Elly J. Rozell
Seller: Richard R. Carbonneau
Date: 02/25/19

20 Gill St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Kevin Dragon
Seller: Edward G. Furnelli
Date: 02/22/19

164 Joy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Gregorio Rosario
Seller: Ferenc, Chester E., (Estate)
Date: 02/22/19

90 Loveland Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $158,100
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: Robert L. Hall
Date: 02/19/19

123 Newbury St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Jennifer L. Weisgerber
Seller: Brahman Holdings LLC
Date: 02/15/19

18 Pickering St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $198,500
Buyer: Gabriel M. Jaworski
Seller: BHR Properties LLC
Date: 02/21/19

15 Piquette Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Kassem Z. Kabbout
Seller: Roland H. Jodoin
Date: 02/15/19

10 Tolpa Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Frank F. Vezina
Seller: Roxanne Asselin
Date: 02/21/19

EAST LONGMEADOW

385 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Gerald J. Celetti
Seller: Marc Mamoun-Dulaimy
Date: 02/14/19

70 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Cbatts Properties LLC
Seller: Michael B. McCarthy
Date: 02/25/19

10 Jennifer Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Duprat
Seller: Robert W. Jergensen
Date: 02/21/19

50 Mill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Mario Gallo
Seller: Margaret K. Trase
Date: 02/15/19

102 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jessica E. Thomas
Seller: Richard L. Gardner
Date: 02/19/19

428 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Megan E. Leahan
Seller: Kelly Rider
Date: 02/26/19

46 Putting Green Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Cang Huynh
Seller: Vincent G. Laduke
Date: 02/15/19

316 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $116,500
Buyer: Frank A. Demarinis
Seller: MTGLQ Investors LP
Date: 02/19/19

GRANVILLE

384 Water St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Pomeroy
Seller: No Place Like Home Properties
Date: 02/20/19

HAMPDEN

382 Allen St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Linda J. Whitaker
Date: 02/14/19

54 Ames Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Jeffrey P. Bramucci
Seller: Sawx Holdings LLC
Date: 02/25/19

190 Stafford Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Brandon M. Laux
Seller: William Lang
Date: 02/15/19

HOLLAND

233 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Andrew W. Bzdel
Seller: Elizabeth M. Martin
Date: 02/22/19

85 Jackson St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Magali Trabal
Seller: E&L Properties LLC
Date: 02/22/19

326 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Michael A. Breor
Seller: Penelope L. Hill
Date: 02/15/19

7 Old County Way
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jonas Putz
Seller: Doreen D. Andrew
Date: 02/15/19

HOLYOKE

Chestnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Holyoke Housing Authority
Seller: Roman Catholic Bishop Of Springfield
Date: 02/14/19

264 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Holyoke Housing Authority
Seller: Roman Catholic Bishop Of Springfield
Date: 02/14/19

214 Knollwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Eric W. Cromwell
Seller: Marie E. Cromwell
Date: 02/20/19

240 Locust St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $184,500
Buyer: Matthew S. Kay
Seller: Merrill C. Desrosiers
Date: 02/15/19

6 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jason Ferreira
Seller: John S. Gay
Date: 02/19/19

LONGMEADOW

37 Birchwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: David A. Delbuono
Seller: Vickie L. Maryou
Date: 02/13/19

1150 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $319,500
Buyer: Jared L. Standiford
Seller: Diane D. Parzych
Date: 02/15/19

51 Pinewood Hills
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Marc Dulaimy
Seller: Michael J. Cavanagh
Date: 02/14/19

LUDLOW

676 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Fumi Realty Inc.
Seller: Stone Bear LLC
Date: 02/22/19

28 Laroche St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Rita L. Sevivas-Folta
Seller: Dianne Fabrocini
Date: 02/26/19

105 Main Blvd.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Tammy M. Tryba
Seller: JDS Capital Inc.
Date: 02/14/19

80 Piney Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kara McCormack
Seller: BP LLC
Date: 02/15/19

123 Ray St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Allison M. Jessup
Seller: Dawn E. Veautour
Date: 02/21/19

241 Reservoir Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Joseph T. Cohen
Seller: Guy F. Mode
Date: 02/15/19

138 Ridgeview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: William Hatch
Seller: Nelson G. Duarte
Date: 02/26/19

54 Roy St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Robert Bodley
Seller: Judy L. Hansen
Date: 02/26/19

52 Stanley St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Jonathan W. Curtis
Seller: Sergey Myakushko
Date: 02/15/19

126 Whitney St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $188,450
Buyer: Alexander T. Avery
Seller: Allison Jessup
Date: 02/21/19

43 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Mark A. Caplette
Seller: Allie T. Casey
Date: 02/26/19

PALMER

2252 Baptist Hill Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Sean C. Winterson
Seller: Ann E. Tencza
Date: 02/15/19

121 Bourne St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Sean P. Sweeney
Seller: George S. Milkowski
Date: 02/20/19

129 Jim Ash Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Conner Harris
Seller: Lauren J. Cox
Date: 02/15/19

2286-2288 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Busigo
Seller: Aime J. Lamontagne
Date: 02/21/19

3088 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Heather A. Marek
Seller: Cathy A. Barnes-Masztal
Date: 02/15/19

1213 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: William J. Bernat
Seller: Mark Baldyga
Date: 02/25/19

SOUTHWICK

34 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Michael Albert
Seller: Italia Cecchini
Date: 02/19/19

172 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Erik J. Pori
Seller: Raymond R. Hauff
Date: 02/22/19

108 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Cory M. Schwarzenbach
Seller: Matthew J. Pomeroy
Date: 02/26/19

SPRINGFIELD

22 Albee St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $139,400
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jose M. Sala-Diaz
Date: 02/13/19

11 Albemarle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Maria C. Rodriguez
Seller: Elvin J. Marte
Date: 02/14/19

74 Ames St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $303,912
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Priscilla M. Schissel
Date: 02/14/19

9-13 Baldwin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $303,912
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Priscilla M. Schissel
Date: 02/14/19

28 Barnet St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Orvill Torres
Seller: Della Ripa Real Estate
Date: 02/15/19

329 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Giselle Vizcarrondo
Seller: Bay Liberty LLC
Date: 02/25/19

129 Berkshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Josue Lissaint
Seller: Laurinda J. Rodrigues
Date: 02/13/19

1050 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Joshua Montanez
Seller: Adam Gravel
Date: 02/22/19

1245 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Radha Swami 2351 LLC
Seller: Mike W. Lee
Date: 02/25/19

121 Brewster St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: David Salazar
Seller: Mark Daviau
Date: 02/21/19

68-70 Calhoun St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $232,750
Buyer: Yoit W. Dong
Seller: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Date: 02/26/19

35 Calley St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Ricky R. Paro
Seller: Richard F. Police
Date: 02/19/19

27 Cluster Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $194,900
Buyer: Robert Ackerman
Seller: Sherman, Stephney Y., (Estate)
Date: 02/20/19

20 Connolly St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: John R. Schulte
Seller: Lana M. Nietipski
Date: 02/26/19

126 Croyden Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Eduardo Otero
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/15/19

15 Dow St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jaime Dominguez-Almenas
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 02/26/19

106 Fallston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $195,900
Buyer: Rebeca Serrano
Seller: Hoang Lam
Date: 02/25/19

58 Fieldston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Katherine Weidhaas-Vega
Seller: Middalia Ramos
Date: 02/25/19

37 Gerald St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,500
Buyer: Richard Farrell
Seller: Goodman, Mildred, (Estate)
Date: 02/26/19

67 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: BTS Realty LLC
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 02/21/19

225-227 Kent Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Aleksandr N. Dubovoy
Seller: Michael Donskoy
Date: 02/22/19

75 Labelle Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Laura Condega
Seller: Faustine N. Rios
Date: 02/19/19

2594 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $2,600,000
Buyer: Greenberg Blatt Management LP
Seller: HRES Main Street LLC
Date: 02/19/19

270 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Katherine J. Prewitt
Seller: Caserta Co. LLC
Date: 02/14/19

95 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Andrew Jalbert
Seller: Yamarie L. Hernandez
Date: 02/26/19

13 Morris St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Todd J. Illingsworth
Seller: John F. Nettis
Date: 02/13/19

9 Morris St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Todd J. Illingsworth
Seller: John F. Nettis
Date: 02/13/19

55 Nelson Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Darnell G. Coleman
Seller: Adeleke Thomas
Date: 02/20/19

164-166 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Domingos Enterprises LLC
Seller: Lisa A. Lajoie
Date: 02/20/19

81 Orpheum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Vitaliy S. Divnich
Seller: Verdi-Ann Vadnais
Date: 02/20/19

152 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Ama Addai
Seller: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Date: 02/22/19

46 Pheland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Victor M. Colon-Santiago
Seller: Brenda M. Clinton
Date: 02/15/19

51 Pocantico Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $266,900
Buyer: Crystal Tyndal
Seller: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Date: 02/26/19

11 Pulaski St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Ruby Realty LLC
Seller: Frank E. Schissel
Date: 02/13/19

799 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Jimmy E. Chang
Seller: William Raleigh
Date: 02/15/19

21-23 Virginia St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Christopher Chin
Seller: Global Homes Properties
Date: 02/15/19

153 Warrenton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $163,500
Buyer: Davy Perez
Seller: Crystal J. Tyndal
Date: 02/26/19

202 Westford Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Value Properties LLC
Seller: Jreaswec, Julio C., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/19

1376 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: RHL Properties LLC
Seller: Timothy H. Goodchild
Date: 02/22/19

61-63 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Jason Gobin
Seller: Giuseppe Leone
Date: 02/22/19

TOLLAND

650 Colebrook River Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Joel Townson
Seller: Kelly J. Sullivan
Date: 02/15/19

WEST SPRINGFIELD

1332 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Merrill C. Desrosiers
Seller: Erwin S. Redman
Date: 02/15/19

57 Angeline St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Gary F. Saccomani
Seller: Joshua Ehle
Date: 02/26/19

66 Apricot Hill Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Mario J. Bernal
Seller: Csgee FT
Date: 02/13/19

90 Baldwin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: OG Murphy LLC
Seller: Robert J. Sonsini
Date: 02/15/19

25 Blossom Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Christopher S. Bibeau
Seller: Steven J. Bibeau
Date: 02/22/19

21 Gay Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jonathan M. Bozek
Seller: Lillian P. Lissandri
Date: 02/22/19

217 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: David G. Clark
Seller: Mario J. Bernal
Date: 02/13/19

261 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Robyn L. Gay
Seller: Saw Construction LLC
Date: 02/20/19

460 Massachusetts Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Kerry Koehler
Seller: Robin C. Bruneau
Date: 02/15/19

43 Warren St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Patricia E. Chavez
Seller: Sean J. Pringle
Date: 02/22/19

WESTFIELD

71 Christopher Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Jason P. Parker
Seller: Sean M. Peterson
Date: 02/22/19

21 Denise Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Patrick J. McNeice
Seller: Horton, Leonard R., (Estate)
Date: 02/15/19

13 Harrison Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Dhiraj Gurung
Seller: Anna Karaduman
Date: 02/26/19

37 Mechanic St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Benjamin P. Digiammo
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/13/19

45 Noble Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: John A. Devine
Seller: Bank Of America
Date: 02/14/19

175 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Timothy M. Bourbeau
Seller: Anthony R. Nadeau
Date: 02/15/19

Springfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: DNSL LLC
Seller: Laguercia, Frederick P., (Estate)
Date: 02/20/19

30 Summer St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $149,250
Buyer: James R. Jylkka
Seller: Ryan K. Bussinger
Date: 02/20/19

84 Wildflower Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Daryl J. Ledoux
Seller: Robert G. Labun
Date: 02/19/19

WILBRAHAM

Boston Road #9A
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $329,221
Buyer: Monson Savings Bank
Seller: Garvey Group Inc.
Date: 02/14/19

20 Devonshire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Nicholas Phillips
Seller: Michael E. Arslan
Date: 02/20/19

58 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Anthonie G. Torres
Seller: Keem LLC
Date: 02/26/19

3 Russell Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Allie Casey
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 02/26/19

105 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Kiley Skinner
Seller: Robert F. Pabis
Date: 02/22/19

109 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Alex Gamache
Seller: Danielle J. Decoteau
Date: 02/22/19

447 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $210,800
Buyer: Rachel M. Kania
Seller: Huruma Kange
Date: 02/19/19

1105 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Sunlight Properties LLC
Seller: An Dinh
Date: 02/20/19

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

575 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Sarah L. Pallas
Seller: Donna Rouisse
Date: 02/19/19

43 Hitchcock Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Matthew L. McGann
Seller: Amherst College
Date: 02/15/19

20 Palley Village Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $463,600
Buyer: Hayes FT 2018
Seller: Jeremy D. Ober
Date: 02/21/19

Red Gate Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jonathan S. Klate
Seller: Alex K. Phakos
Date: 02/15/19

BELCHERTOWN

12 Autumn Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $183,972
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Todd F. Dauplaise
Date: 02/20/19

201 Oakridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $448,387
Buyer: Robert E. Bergendahl
Seller: Dahlia Development Ltd
Date: 02/14/19

195 Railroad St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $366,000
Buyer: Harry E. Santiago
Seller: Leah J. Greenberger
Date: 02/21/19

CHESTERFIELD

115 Indian Hollow Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Rachael A. Hathaway
Seller: New Frontiers LLC
Date: 02/14/19

EASTHAMPTON

54-56 Clark St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kevin C. Netto Construction Inc.
Seller: David E. Derouin
Date: 02/14/19

135 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Rachel L. Phillips
Seller: Robert R. Plantier
Date: 02/15/19

2-4 Oakdale Place
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Manhan Properties LLC
Seller: Laurie A. Nulph
Date: 02/21/19

39 Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Matthew Gray
Seller: Daniel R. Bernashe
Date: 02/22/19

14 River Valley Way
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: Zaka LLC
Seller: Mary Olson
Date: 02/13/19

GRANBY

18 Deerbrook Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $464,000
Buyer: Scott C. Tencza
Seller: Richard E. Wojtczak
Date: 02/15/19

HADLEY

99 Bay Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Farrelly FT
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 02/13/19

271 Bay Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Shane M. Dion
Seller: Donald R. Dion
Date: 02/25/19

HATFIELD

172 Linseed Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Richard H. Blais
Seller: Donald R. Lamica
Date: 02/14/19

NORTHAMPTON

70 Bradford St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Kevin C. Netto
Seller: Charles J. Mazeski
Date: 02/26/19

374 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Peter J. Hacunda
Seller: Donna L. Brewer
Date: 02/14/19

5 Hawthorne Terrace
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Kevin Gonzalez
Seller: Thomas J. Lippie
Date: 02/15/19

486 Haydenville Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: EDC Real Estate LLC
Seller: Andrulis, John A., (Estate)
Date: 02/21/19

28 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: James C. Link
Seller: Ridgeview Development LLC
Date: 02/22/19

83 Spring St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Bienia
Seller: Hannoush Buys Houses LLC
Date: 02/22/19

19 Stonewall Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $150,666
Buyer: Frederick H. Alexander RET
Seller: Susan Kan
Date: 02/15/19

34 Sylvan Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Billy E. Peterson
Seller: Bill E. Peterson
Date: 02/25/19

40 Woodlawn Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $690,000
Buyer: Matthew Roth-Katz
Seller: Cara McCaffrey
Date: 02/14/19

SOUTH HADLEY

41 Carew St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Joseph H. Vigneau
Seller: Sharon M. Bowler
Date: 02/22/19

28 Cornell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Farrelly FT
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 02/13/19

66 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $409,000
Buyer: South Hadley Rentals LLC
Seller: Alan R. Gaj
Date: 02/20/19

105 Lyman Terrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $449,000
Buyer: Craig J. Sypek
Seller: Joyce C. Cote
Date: 02/15/19

15 Richview Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $291,500
Buyer: William Robinson
Seller: Melissa M. Croteau
Date: 02/19/19

508 River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Walter J. Rose
Seller: William T. Lyle
Date: 02/15/19

SOUTHAMPTON

100 Fomer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Elizabeth M. Martin
Seller: Michael Kent
Date: 02/22/19

52 Line St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Ashley McGill
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/15/19

70 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: David P. Desrosiers
Seller: Estes, Linda J., (Estate)
Date: 02/20/19

WARE

108 Old Poor Farm Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Thomas Hudock
Seller: Nicole L. Guimond
Date: 02/22/19

35 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Tericyn J. Loehr
Seller: Nathan P. Lanier
Date: 02/22/19

WILLIAMSBURG

4 North Kellogg Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Keith J. Kosior
Seller: Frank J. Kosior
Date: 02/19/19

WESTHAMPTON

48 Tipping Rock Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Peter L. Gauthier
Seller: Matthew J. Hathaway
Date: 02/14/19

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of March 2019.

AMHERST

57 East Pleasant St., LLC
57 East Pleasant
$46,700 — Renovate existing meeting rooms

Central Amherst Realty Trust
51 East Pleasant St.
$6,000 — Remove wall, install sinks, move gas lines, resurface bar

Gillen Development Corp.
401 Main St.
$3,200 — Relocate two interior doors, install shower

The Green Tree Family, LP
85 North Whitney St.
$14,000 — Construct four offices within existing separation

Roula Kofides
363 Main St.
$2,000 — Replace damaged entry door

Mosaic Real Estate Amherst, LLC
169 Meadow St.
$125,000 — Renovate space for phase 2 of medical waiting and display room

One East Pleasant St.
1 East Pleasant St.
$145,00 — Restaurant buildout

CHICOPEE

4 Perkins, LLC
165 Front St.
$30,000 — Construct two Hollywood-type sets

Center Group, LLC
13 Center St.
$12,000 — Remove existing kitchen hood and install new hood and ductwork

Chicopee Boys Club Inc.
580 Meadow St.
$1,500 — Add non-bearing walls to create lobby space within existing larger lobby

Chicopee Tower Nominee Trust
481 Center St.
$25,000 — Install wireless communications equipment on existing tower and within existing equipment shelter

DEERFIELD

Angel Properties
3 Sugarloaf St.
$6,000 — Interior renovations

EASTHAMPTON

155 Northampton, Easthampton
155 Northampton St.
$1,283,250 — Interior renovations, renovate storefront enclosure

Eastworks, LLP
116 Pleasant St.
$10,000 — Oversee installation of new elevator equipment

EAST LONGMEADOW

American Tower Corp.
30 Benton Dr.
$25,000 — Cell site modification

99 Restaurant
390 Main St.
$12,000 — Repair automobile damage

LG Industries, LLC
194 Pleasant St.
$25,000 — Basement

Town of East Longmeadow
60 Center Square
$25,000 — Renovate bathroom and break room

GREENFIELD

Baystate Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$230,870 — Reconfigure interior of Emergency Department to install bathroom and shower for behavioral-health pod

One Arch Place Inc.
46 Wells St.
$10,000 — Construct interior walls, new bathroom

Town of Greenfield
298 Federal St.
$336,000 — Construct interior wall partitions, suspended ceiling

HADLEY

Parmar & Sons
24 Bay Road
Two directional signs and one wall sign at Homewood Suites

Sandri Development Inc.
457 Russell St.
$262,000 — Install new siding, windows, and doors; redo parking lot and sidewalks; and renovate interior to convert former gas station into retail facility

W/S Hadley Properties II, LLC
337 Russell St.
New wall sign and alter tenant panel in existing ground sign at Marshalls

LONGMEADOW

GPT Longmeadow, LLC
674 Bliss Road
$135,000 — Exterior renovations to former Bertucci’s restaurant

GPT Longmeadow, LLC
674 Bliss Road
$125,000 — Interior upgrades to dining area, bar area, and bathrooms at former Bertucci’s restaurant

Longmeadow Historic Preservation
734 Longmeadow St.
$1,014,000 — Construct office spaces in former single-family home

NORTHAMPTON

Billmar Corp.
330 North King St.
$16,906 — Install new electric door at entrance

City of Northampton
123 Haydenville Road
$2,000 — Replace three antennas and add ancillary equipment to telecommunications tower at Smith School

City of Northampton
125 Locust St.
$11,368 — Re-roof storage building for Department of Public Works

City of Northampton
300 North Main St.
$143,000 — Removate two bathrooms at Pines Theater in Look Memorial Park

City of Northampton
6 Water St.
$5,688 — Re-roof building for Water Department

Five College Realtors
92 Main St.
$2,800 — Illuminated wall sign (side)

Five College Realtors
92 Main St.
$2,800 — Illuminated wall sign (front)

P + Q, LLC
110 Main St.
$1,000 — Non-illuminated wall sign for Coldwell Banker

Saga Communication of New England Inc.
15 Hampton Ave.
$12,500 — Install new drop ceiling in conference room, install refrigerator in break room

Konstantinos Sierros
99 Main St.
$8,000 — Remove staircase, construct walk-in keg cooler for JJ’s Tavern

PALMER

JJC Materials, LLC
153 Breckenridge St.
$7,668,000 — Install ground-mount solar array

Yummy Asian
1033 Thorndike St.
$13,931.29 — Install new hibachi, including non-structural wall; hood, ductwork, and wet chemical fire suppression; and CO- and smoke-detection system

SPRINGFIELD

Blue Tarp Redevelopment, LLC
12 MGM Way
$2,000,000 — Alter existing gaming floor area at MGM Springfield for casino island bar

Colebrook Partners South, LLC
511 East Columbus Ave.
$993,000 — Alter tenant pharmacy space, Springfield CTC

Michele Hagan
1930 Wilbraham Road
$30,000 — Interior demolition for future buildout for New Valley Bank

SCP 2001 A-CSF-27, LLC
370 St. James Ave.
$124,700 — Interior renovations and lab upgrades at CVS

SCP 2001 A-CSF-27, LLC
970 St. James Ave.
$124,000 — Interior renovations and lab upgrades at CVS

Springfield MA Post Office Employees Credit Union
264 Brookdale Dr.
$224,360 — Alter interior space in basement and first floor for Pioneer Valley Credit Union

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Town of West Springfield
255 Interstate Dr.
$20,000 — Replace three existing antennas

WILBRAHAM

Town of Wilbraham
28 Springfield St.
$31,975 — Repair existing ramp at rear entrance

Elms College to Host Spiritual Direction Event on April 6

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Elms College will host a day of reflection titled “What Is Spiritual Direction? Is It for Me?” on Saturday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Decice Hall at the Marian Center, located at 1365 Northampton St. in Holyoke.

The event will include an introduction to what spiritual direction is (and what it is not), some exploration of different ways to be with God in prayer, reflection on each participant’s own sacred story, discussion of several approaches to spiritual direction, and time for both shared and personal prayer.

“This day of reflection is for people who been yearning for a deeper spiritual life, for meaning and direction in their lives, to feel closer to God, to find out what God desires for them, to explore their sacred stories in their daily lives, to find companionship on their spiritual journeys, and for a deeper prayer life,” said Virginia Collins-English, a certified spiritual director, retreat director, writer, and psychotherapist who will lead the day of reflection.

All are welcome, including those who are ‘spiritual but not religious,’ those who feel marginalized by the church, and those of all faiths.

Sponsored by the Religious Studies Department and the Institute for Theology and Pastoral Studies at Elms, this event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, call (413) 265-2575 or e-mail [email protected]. Attendees should bring a bag lunch. Beverages and dessert will be provided.

The Dowd Agencies Welcomes David Hess as Insurance Producer

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Agencies, LLC announced that David Hess has joined its staff as an insurance producer. He is responsible for writing personal, commercial, and life-insurance plans at Dowd.

“David holds a wealth of experience in the insurance field,” said John Dowd Jr., president and CEO for the Dowd Agencies. “We believe David has great potential in sales, and his experience in the industry will help him expand his sales network to bring in new business.”

Hess brings more than 14 years of experience to his role at Dowd. After graduating from UMass Amherst in 2003, he worked as an insurance agent with a local agency until his recent transition to the Dowd Agencies. He is licensed as a producer for property, casualty, life, and health insurance in both Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing Reaches 100-employee Milestone

By
Daily News

LEE — Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing recently reached a milestone of 100 employees. In addition, it is actively recruiting for another 11 jobs, including entry-level professional and senior-leadership roles.

Jennifer Kratovil-Moriarty, senior manager, Human Resources, said the 100-employee milestone is notable for any small business and particularly noteworthy in Berkshire County. She noted that Gov. Charlie Baker visited the facility in January to check out its expansion and success first-hand.

“I am personally excited about how we engage with young adults. We hire many interns who came to us through the Mass Life Sciences Internship Challenge,” she said, adding that students from Middlesex Community College’s Special Topics in Biotechnology program will visit today for a tour and informational discussion.

She added that “we have a global, vibrant, and professional workplace with an on-site daycare for working parents, a variety of compressed work-schedule programs, attractive insurance, a new bonus incentive program, and we listen to our employees on their needs to ensure we remain competitive.”

Applications Available for Advertising Club’s 2019 Scholarship

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD —  The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts scholarship committee announced that scholarship applications are now available online at adclubwm.org. Applications will also be available through guidance departments at high schools in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, or by contacting the Ad Club at (413) 342-0533.

Western Mass. seniors who plan to attend an accredited college or technical school to study advertising, communications, marketing, or graphics arts and will be attending in September 2019 are encouraged to apply. The scholarship must be applied against tuition and fees at the school. Candidates will be judged on academic performance; extracurricular activities; community service and/or work experience; a demonstrated interest in advertising, communications, marketing, or graphic design; personal recommendations; and a letter of introduction outlining future plans. 

In 2019, one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded. Completed scholarship applications and all support materials must be submitted to the Ad Club and postmarked by Friday, March 29. The scholarship will be awarded at the Ad Club’s Creative Awards show in May.

Resource Guide Addendum

By
Departments

BANQUET FACILITIES
Changes:
The Inn on Boltwood
(Formerly Lord Jeffery Inn)
Website: www.innonboltwood.com

Change:
Tower Square Hotel
Services: Full-service hotel that offers a wide range of services for weddings, business functions, meetings, reunions, and conventions; 11 different rooms, more than 12,000 square feet of indoor event space, and an outdoor oasis with 10,000 square feet of space

Addition:
Storrowton Village Museum
1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089
(413) 205-5051; www.storrowtonvillage.com
Capacity: 175
Contact: Chelsea Viens
Services: Offers distinctive, historical settings for weddings and events through a partnership with Storrowton Tavern and Carriage House; the Union Meeting House, gazebo, and Greenwich Barn can accommodate guest lists of all sizes, and spaces can be styled in rustic vintage, elegant modern, and anything in between; secure parking on site and minutes away from Route 5, Interstate 91, and the Mass Pike

Addition:
The Student Prince/The Fort
8 Fort St., Springfield, MA 01103
(413) 734-7475; www.studentprince.com
Capacity: 100
Contact: Bill Porter or Grace Szydziak
Services: The historic Edelweiss and Heidelberg rooms are ideal for bridal showers, business meetings, office parties, graduations, and family parties; both rooms are customizable to events of all sizes from 6 to 100 guests and fully equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology for presentations, music, and other displays

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
Change:
ServiceNet
Services: Individual counseling and innovative group therapies for children, adolescents, and adults who are dealing with a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, substance-use disorders, physical/sexual abuse and other trauma, relationship and family concerns, school-adjustment problems, pain-management challenges, and obsessive-compulsive disorders; also providing psychological testing, psychiatric care, and medication services; clinics are located in Amherst, Greenfield, Holyoke, Northampton, and Pittsfield

Addition:
Holyoke Medical Center –
Center for Behavioral Health
575 Beech St., Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 534-2500; www.holyokehealth.com
Services: Inpatient psychiatric unit; partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program for people with psychiatric and addiction issues, including compulsive gambling; outpatient psychotherapy service specializing in depression, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD/trauma, and EMDR; NeuroStar TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation)

Change:
River Valley Counseling
Center Inc.
Services: Adult, child, and adolescent individual and group outpatient mental-health services and psychiatry with offices in Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, and Easthampton; state-certified gambling specialists; substance-abuse counselors; adult psychiatric day treatment program; school-based health centers/teen clinics located at Holyoke High School North, Dean Campus, and Peck School; school-based mental-health services in Holyoke, Chicopee, Easthampton, and Granby public schools as well as select schools in Springfield and Springfield Technical Community College; the HIV/AIDS Project; CONCERN: Employee Assistance Program for local businesses, organizations, and municipalities; CBHI services; RVCC is also the mental-health provider for the clients of WestMass Elder Care Inc., LifePath, ROCA, and Womanshelter/Compañeras; all programs are staffed by bilingual/bicultural professionals; RVCC is an affiliate of Holyoke Medical Center and member of Valley Health Systems Inc.

COMPUTER HARDWARE DISTRIBUTORS
Change:
Northeast IT
Employees: 14

COMPUTER NETWORK/IT SERVICES
Addition:
PHYX Device Repair & Sales
1 Federal St., Building 101, Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 234-4313; www.phyx.me
Contact: Frank Tate
Service area: Western Mass., Connecticut
Services: General computer services including system backup, device backup, media transfers, data recovery, logic board repair, and consignment services

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
Addition:
Zap Electric
2025 Pine St., Three Rivers, MA 01080
(413) 567-2228; www.zap-electric.com
Chief executive: James Jaron
Types of work: Electrical; security; data

EYE CARE
Change:
Balin Eye & Laser Center
Services: Refractive surgery including iLASIK (custom, no-blade laser vision correction), PRK and the KAMRA Inlay for the correction of reading vision; no-stitch cataract surgery offering the latest lens implants to restore distance and reading vision; Center for Excellence in Dry Eye Treatment offering Lipiflow technology; treatment of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy; routine eye exams; contact-lens fittings; Botox and Juvederm cosmetic treatments; eyelid surgeries

FINANCIAL SERVICES/BROKERAGE FIRMS
Change:
Infinex Financial Group at Monson Savings Bank
Branch manager: Paul Hillsburg

Addition:
PNCU Financial Services
46 Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020
(413) 333-5047; www.pncu.com
Licensed brokers in Western Mass.: 1
Branch manager: Christopher Casale
Services: Retirement; financial planning; college education; life and long-term-care insurance; mutual funds; stocks, bonds, and annuties

Changes:
Raymond James
Licensed brokers in Western Mass.: 15
Branch manager: Mark Teed

GENERAL CONTRACTORS
Addition:
D.A. Sullivan & Sons Inc.
82-84 North St., Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 584-0310; www.dasullivan.com
Employees: 43
Chief Executive: Mark Sullivan
Specialties: General contractor; construction manager; owner’s project manager; commercial; public and private projects; schools and colleges, libraries, churches, municipalities, healthcare facilities
Recent Local Projects: MGM Head Start Daycare Center, MGM Kringle Candle Emporium, Springfield; Northampton Community Arts Trust, the Coach House at Village Hill, Northampton; Mount Holyoke College Kendall Athletic Center, South Hadley; Eaglebrook School Science, Arts & Music Center, Deerfield; Berkshire Community College Hawthorne and Melville Halls, Pittsfield

HEARING CENTERS
Addition:
Hampshire Hearing and Speech Services
243 King St., Suite 105, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-9572; www.hamphearing.com
Allison Holmberg
Comprehensive hearing evaluations and screenings for children and adults; evaluation and speech/language therapy services for children and adults of all ages, including articulation, language, aural habilitation, auditory processing, aphasia, fluency, and voice therapy; evaluation and selection of hearing aids from various manufacturers; custom hearing-aid fittings with state-of-the-art digital technology

HOME CARE OPTIONS
Change:
Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice
Website: www.vnaandhospice.org

Change:
Glenmeadow at Home
Director: Maeghan Carrier

Change:
Holyoke VNA/Hospice Life Care
Director: Debra Strempek

Addition:
Overlook Visiting Nurse Assoc. and Hospice
1252 Elm St, Suite 21, West Springfield MA 01089
267 Amherst Road, Sunderland MA 01075
(508) 434-2360; www.overlook-vna.org
Director: Sharon Wright
RN/LPN care: Yes
Services: Certified home healthcare agency; skilled nursing; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; social work; home health aides; specialty programs; telehealth; wound-care team; hospice and palliative-care services

Addition:
Viability Inc.
5 Franklin St., Northampton MA 01060
(413) 584-1460; www.viability.org
Director: Dick Venne
RN/LPN care: No
Services: Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, Viability community-living programs provide care management, direct care, and referral services to individuals with disabilities, enabling them to live in the community with dignity; additional Western Mass. locations in Holyoke, Pittsfield, and Springfield

HOTELS
Changes:
The Inn on Boltwood
(Formerly Lord Jeffery Inn)
Website: www.innonboltwood.com

Changes:
Tower Square Hotel
Website: www.thetowersquarehotel.com
Restaurant seating: 104

INSURANCE AGENCIES
Addition:
AAA Pioneer Valley Auto Club
Insurance Agency
150 Capital Dr.,
West Springfield, MA 01089
(413) 785-1381
www.aaa.com/insurance
Full-time agents/employees: 11/15
Offices: 5
Types of insurance: Commercial, Personal, Life, Auto, Home
Top Local Official: Steve Brochu

Addition:
MillBrook Benefits and Insurance Services, LLC
933 East Columbus Ave., Suite A, Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 886-0008; www.millbrookbenefits.com
Full-time agents/employees: 4/6
Offices: 1
Types of insurance: Employee Benefits, Life, Disability, Long-term Care
Top local official: Peter Miller

LARGEST EMPLOYERS
Change:
Callaway Golf
Total employees: 360

Changes:
Eversource
Address: 300 Cadwell Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Phone: (413) 787-1004
Top local officer: Daryle Brown

LARGEST MANUFACTURERS
Addition:
Quabbin Wire & Cable Co. Inc.
10 Maple St., Ware, MA 01082
(413) 967-6281; www.quabbin.com
Total employees: 100
Top local officer: Paul Engel
Business: Manufacturer of ethernet and data communications cables used in commercial, industrial, A/V, and general-purpose applications

LAW FIRMS
Change:
Bacon Wilson, P.C.
Number of Lawyers: 44

MEETING & CONVENTION FACILITIES
Changes:
The Inn on Boltwood
(Formerly Lord Jeffery Inn)
Website: www.innonboltwood.com

Change:
Tower Square Hotel
Services: 12,000 square feet of indoor meeting/banquet space; 10,000 square feet of outdoor event space; on-site audio/visual

REHABILITATION FACILITIES
Addition:
CORE Physical Therapy
575 Beech St., Holyoke, MA 01040; (413) 534-2555
155 Ashley Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089; (413) 535-4909
1970 Memorial Dr., Chicopee, MA 01020; (413) 532-9913
www.holyokehealth.com
Administrator: Hasaan Khawaja
Services: Physical therapy; occupational therapy; cardiac rehabilitation; pulmonary rehabilitation; orthopedic care; stroke rehabilitation; hand therapy; lymphedema therapy; vestibular rehabilitation; work injury and ergonomics; LSVT BIG, for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease; McKenzie method for the treatment of low back pain; instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization; Kinesio Taping method; vestibular and balance rehabilitation; treatment of TMJ and temporomandibular disorders; inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation; rehabilitation services for speech, language, and audiology offered through HMC Speech and Hearing Center

Change:
Encompass Health
(formerly HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Mass.)
Website: www.encompasshealth.com/westernmassrehab

Change:
Mont Marie Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
Administrator: Kathryn Auclair

Change:
Professional Physical Therapy
(formerly ProEx Physical Therapy)
Website: www.professionalpt.com
 
Change:
TEAM Rehab & Wellness
Website: www.teamrehabcenter.com

Holyoke Community College Welcomes Lea Occhialini as Its First Ombudsperson

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Lea Occhialini as its first ombudsperson and chief culture officer. 

Occhialini is the former faculty and staff ombudsperson at Hampshire College and mediator/trainer in the Smith College Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. Prior to that, she worked as a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court qualified mediator for the Mediation and Training Collaborative in Greenfield and helped oversee the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Face-to-Face mediation program in Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield small-claims courts. 

The ombudsperson/chief culture officer position is new at HCC.

“I’m excited about this,” said HCC president Christina Royal. “Although it’s very common at four-year institutions, to my understanding, this is the first time a community college in Massachusetts has had an ombudsperson.”

Occhialini has worked in the mediation field since 2013. She started at HCC on March 4.

“My job is to protect the interests of faculty and staff at all levels of the college and to promote fairness,” she said. “I assist in clarifying issues and determining options for resolving conflicts, and I also bring systemic concerns to the attention of the president, and I do this as a confidential, neutral, and independent resource.”

Occhialini holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College, a law degree from American University’s Washington College School of Law, and a certificate in the foundations of organizational ombudsman practice from the International Ombudsman Assoc.

Hazen Paper Co. Impresses AIMCAL Judges to Win 2019 Product of the Year

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Turning a simple box into an unusual ‘beauty and the beast’ packaging statement, Hazen Paper Co. was honored for the second year in a row with Product of the Year honors at the annual meeting of the Assoc. of International Metallizers, Coaters, and Laminators (AIMCAL), held recently in Palm Beach, Calif.

The winning entry was a folding carton titled “The Spirit of Innovation” for prestige luxury box maker Autajon Packaging USA, which featured a three-dimensional, jewel-toned snake and a female model whose face transformed from flawless to gorgeously reptilian when the box is tilted.

The folding carton was made with precisely registered custom color-motion holography that reflects and refracts light to bring the snake’s sinuous curves to life and allows the woman’s face and eye to blaze with unexpected snake-like gleam. The box is embossed with a snakeskin pattern and finished with a soft-touch coating. Inside, a sea-green coating contrasts with the rich black exterior.

“It’s a testament to the vision and talent of the Autajon designer that this package is so visually and tactilely stunning,” said Hazen President John Hazen. “In one package, she clearly demonstrated brand-identity and brand-protection benefits that can be achieved with holography. I’m proud that our holographic artists were able to deliver on the brilliance of her idea.”

The judges were impressed with the winner’s visual impact and expert combination of registered holograms, embossing, and matte and gloss finishes. “There’s a lot of complexity,” observed one judge. “The result is a highly premium appearance,” concluded another. 

Hazen also received a “Product Excellence” award for Benefit Cosmetics’ Hoola Quickie Contour Stick packaging, created with silver Ultracure acrylic-coated metallized polyester laminated to paperboard, offset-printed in transparent and opaque colors, and embossed. Judges rewarded the package for its extensive use of embossing, halftone reproduction, tight registration, and vivid green interior. “This is a complete integration of design, metallizing, and other elements,” one noted. 

Springfield College Announces Two Army and Air Force ROTC Grants

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College announced two new grants that assist with funding for Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets enrolled full-time and participating in the ROTC program at Springfield College.

The Springfield College Room and Board Grant covers on-campus housing and basic meal-plan expenses for any Springfield College Army or Air Force ROTC cadet who has earned a national or local full-tuition ROTC scholarship. Additionally, the college will offer an annual undergraduate ROTC grant of $2,500 to any cadet entering Springfield College as a first-year student who does not qualify for an ROTC scholarship. This grant is renewable for up to eight semesters at Springfield College, as long as the cadet continues in the Springfield College ROTC program. 

In a recent ceremony on campus recognizing the ROTC grants, Springfield College junior and ROTC scholarship recipient Madelyn Reppucci was recognized at an official ROTC signing and swearing-in ceremony in the Marsh Memorial Chapel. 

“This is a very special opportunity, to be able to take my oath at such a special place with so many special people here watching,” said Reppucci, who majors in elementary and special education and American studies. “Being a part of the ROTC program has been a blessing. I have enjoyed my time at Springfield College so much. I have met so many wonderful people, made so many lifetime friends already; it’s just a great place to go to college.”

Through the Army ROTC program, students have the chance to work towards a career with the Army for up to four years, where they are taking courses for college credit alongside their academic major. The first two years are voluntary basic courses with no military obligation. These courses provide students with a background on the military’s role in society and the missions of the Army, focusing on leadership, land navigation, marksmanship, military history, and basic military skills. The final two years are advanced courses with military obligation, including a five-week camp prior to the final year. These courses include leadership skills, training, personnel management, ethics, military justice, and military tactics.

Through the Air Force ROTC program, students complete a program designed to train and commission officers into the U.S. Air Force. The first two years allow students to complete the general military courses. The second two years begin with field training, leading to time as Professional Officer Corps, where students will be contracted with the Air Force.

Limited Tickets Still Available for Difference Makers Gala

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — BusinessWest launched its Difference Makers program in 2009 to celebrate individuals, groups, organizations, and families that are positively impacting the Pioneer Valley and are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Tickets are still available to celebrate the class of 2019 at the Log Cabin on Thursday, March 28.

This year’s honorees are Carla Cosenzi, co-president of TommyCar Auto Group; the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts; Peter Gagliardi, president and CEO of Way Finders; Frederick and Marjorie Hurst, publisher and editor of An African American Point of View; Joe Peters, vice chairman and former president of Universal Plastics; and the Springfield Museums. They were profiled in the Feb. 4 issue.

The Difference Makers Gala begins at 5 p.m., and limited tickets are still available for $75. To reserve a spot, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected]. The presenting sponsor is Baystate Health/Health New England, and other event sponsors include Royal, P.C., Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., Development Associates, TommyCar Auto Group, and Viability Inc.

Jewish Nursing Home, Six Other Facilities Reach Settlement with State

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BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced that the state reached settlements with seven nursing homes, including Jewish Nursing Home of Longmeadow, after an investigation found “systemic failures” at the facilities that led to the death or injury of some residents.

About $500,000 in penalties were announced during a news conference Wednesday, the Boston Globe reported. The seven facilities will now be enrolled in strict compliance programs and must undergo safety and care-quality improvements.

Settlements were reached with Jewish Nursing Home of Longmeadow (which received an $85,000 fine), Oxford Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Haverhill ($180,000), Wakefield Center in Wakefield ($30,000), the Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Everett ($40,000), Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Westboro ($37,500), Braemoor Health Center in Brockton, and Woodbriar Health Center in Wilmington.

Synergy Health Centers, which owns Braemoor and Woodbriar, is banned from operating in Massachusetts for seven years. Synergy will pay between $100,000 and $200,000 in fines.

“Every senior has the right to quality care, and every family deserves to know their loved one is safe when choosing a long-term care facility,” Healey said. “Long-term-care facilities must be accountable to the public, and to the commitments made to residents and family members.”

Attorney David Lawless Named a Partner at Robinson Donovan, P.C.

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SPRINGFIELD — Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced that attorney David Lawless has been named a partner at the firm.

“David has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to our clients and our community since he joined our firm,” said Partner James Martin. “We are thrilled to welcome him to his new role as a partner in the firm, and look forward to his growing contributions.”

Lawless previously served as an investigative analyst in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in New York City. He focuses his practice on civil litigation in federal and state courts, including employment law and litigation, business litigation, and municipal defense litigation.

A member of the American, Massachusetts, Franklin County, Hampden County, and Federal bar associations, Lawless graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2005. He was named to the Super Lawyers Rising Star list every year from 2008 to 2015.

He is active in the legal community, serving as a board member of the Federal Bar Assoc., Massachusetts chapter, and co-chair of its civil rights and new programming committees. He also serves on the board of the Northeast Center for Youth and Families.

Dowd Agencies Promotes Jennifer Lawton to VP of Insurance Operations

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Agencies, LLC announced the promotion of Jennifer Lawton to vice president of Insurance Operations. Lawton, who began her career with Dowd in 2014, was formerly the agencies’ personal-lines manager.

“We’re very excited to welcome Jennifer to her new and well-deserved role,” said John Dowd Jr., president and CEO. “Of her nearly 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Jennifer has spent the last five lending her significant talent, expertise, and sense of dedication to the Dowd Agencies. We think Jennifer will thrive in her new position, which not only helps our organization but also, and most importantly, the clients we serve.” 

In her new position, Lawton provides leadership in the development, implementation, and oversight of systems and procedures that align with Dowd’s organizational strategic initiatives, helping to ensure the achievement of business results. She also serves as the primary advisor to the company’s senior executive leadership team on operational efficiencies.

A certified insurance service representative, Lawton received her associate degree in business from Holyoke Community College. She is the chairperson and program coordinator for Distinguished Young Women of Greater Easthampton, a scholarship program for high-school girls.

Timothy Garstka Named Director of Sales at Eastern States Exposition

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Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Eastern States Exposition announced that Timothy Garstka has joined ESE and will serve as the organization’s director of Sales. Garstka comes to ESE from his position at Williams Distributing in Chicopee, where he served as Sales manager and Brand Marketing manager.

He has more than 15 years of experience in strategic direction, coaching and counseling, performance management, and revenue growth, overseeing inside and outside sales professionals. His skills range from direct sales management and revenue growth to team building and training initiatives.

Prior to joining Williams Distributing, Garstka was a Field Sales manager for Molson/Coors Brewing Co. in Burlington, Vt., and worked as a salesperson for Burke Beverage in Chicopee.

“We are extremely pleased to have Tim on board at the Exposition,” said Gene Cassidy, ESE president and CEO. “His experience will bring a fresh, new approach to our year-round program of events and help bring innovative shows and events to our grounds.”

As director of Sales, he will be responsible for the oversight of the department, including the extensive number of year-round events held at ESE, Big E sponsorships and vendor/concessionaire space sales, advance ticket-sales outreach, and group sales.

“As a West Springfield native, I understand the importance of the Big E to the local economy,” Garstka said. “I am honored to be a part of this iconic organization that believes strongly in supporting local business, agriculture, and education. It’s an amazing organization with an outstanding team.”

Garstka graduated from West Springfield High School in 1991. He serves as the vice president of the East Longmeadow Baseball Assoc. and is a former board member of the Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter. He and his wife, Christine, are active volunteers for local Jimmy Fund events. He was also an assistant golf professional at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield and the Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Fla.

Country Hyundai Wins 2019 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Country Hyundai has been awarded the 2019 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award and the 2019 Consumer Satisfaction Award, which recognize auto dealerships across the U.S. and Canada that deliver outstanding customer service, based on consumer reviews written on DealerRater.com.

“Car buyers have spoken and have identified Country Hyundai as the best Hyundai dealer to do business with in Massachusetts,” said DealerRater General Manager Jamie Oldershaw. “The quality and number of reviews for Country Hyundai speak volumes of the top-notch experiences they provide to customers.”

The DealerRater Dealer of the Year Awards are based on reviews by new- and used-car shoppers and those who took their vehicles into dealerships for service. Reviewers evaluated Country Hyundai on its customer service, quality of work, friendliness, pricing, and overall experience.

“We want to ensure that our customers are satisfied not only at the time of purchase, but as long as they own their vehicle,” said Carla Cosenzi, owner of Country Hyundai. “The DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award is reflective of our long-standing commitment to create exceptional customer experiences. Exceeding customer expectations is not an easy task. However, this is exactly what we strive to do every day here at Country Hyundai.” 

American International College Students to Celebrate Pi Day

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will host a National Pi Day celebration on Thursday, March 14 that promises to be equal parts educational and delicious.

In honor of National Pi Day, students of AIC Associate Professor and Mathematics Department Chair James Sansalone will hand out pie and pencils to peers and the public while putting their mathematical knowledge to the test. Those who visit the college’s Dining Commons from 10:45 a.m. to noon will not only receive complimentary dessert but will also be challenged by the Wheel of Pi. In a competition between students and non-students, participants will spin the wheel and attempt to identify mathematical formulas that use pi, while also learning fun and historical information about one of the most famous and significant geometric constants.

Pi, represented mathematically by the Greek letter π, is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. While it has been calculated to more than one trillion digits past its decimal, pi is most commonly identified numerically as 3.14. As such, Pi Day is celebrated each year on March 14. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting National Pi Day, encouraging schools and educators to teach students about pi and engage them about the study of mathematics.

Bay Path Receives Grant to Help Fund Student Internship Experiences

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Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has been awarded $5,000 in grant funding support from the Charles H. Hall Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., trustee, for its project, “Impacting the Community: Fostering Social Justice Through Student Internships.” The foundation’s support will benefit Bay Path undergraduate students who are performing internships at nonprofits in Hampden County, including Square One, the Jewish Community Center, and Girls Inc., all of whom service at-risk children and youth.

Bay Path requires its traditional undergraduate students to complete a three- or six-credit internship, research project, or field-work experience, depending on their major, to ensure they have the opportunities to develop the skills and competencies that will help them launch their careers. This funding, which will cover four internships, will help relieve the financial worry that unpaid internships can bring for students. Many Bay Path students hold part-time jobs to make ends meet, and adding an unpaid internship to the mix can be stressful.

“Supporting our students as they perform their required internships not only develops leaders and underlines the importance of giving back to our local community, but also enables students to experience a sense of self-discovery and often personal transformation as they undertake their projects and interface with the nonprofit community,” said Kathryn Wiezbicki-Stevens, Bay Path’s chair of Undergraduate Psychology and director of Pre-OT Studies and Human and Health Science Programs, who oversees the project.

The Charles H. Hall Foundation was established in 2007 to support and promote educational, health and human services, religious, arts, and cultural programming for underserved populations. 

CommunicateHealth Celebrates 10th Anniversary

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — CommunicateHealth announced its 10th anniversary as a national consulting firm specializing in health information design.

CommunicateHealth started as a consulting practice focusing on translating health information into plain language. Co-founders Xanthi Scrimgeour and Stacy Robison started the business in their Northampton attic. “From day one, the demand for our services was off the charts. There was no one else out there doing this type of work,” said Scrimgeour. The couple quickly outgrew their attic space, eventually establishing an office on nearby Market Street.

Over the past 10 years, the company has been successfully evolving into a full-service communications shop. “We’ve brought nearly every service in house, including graphic design, website development, audience research, and usability testing,” said Robison. “All the while, we’ve kept our focus on designing simple, accessible health information.”

The mission-based company works for some of the biggest names in healthcare and public health, including health-insurance companies, health systems, patient-advocacy groups, and government. They also take on projects for local hospitals and community organizations. “Our formula is simple,” says Robison. “We write and design health information that’s easy to understand, and we test it with real people to make sure we got it right.”

CommunicateHealth’s growth is exceptional, noted Scrimgeour, as 70% of businesses fail in the first 10 years. The statistics are even more dramatic when it comes to women-owned businesses. “Only 1.7% of women-owned businesses generated revenues of more than $1 million in 2018,” she said. “CommunicateHealth broke $1 million in our third year of business. In 2018, we did over $12 million [in sales].”

CommunicateHealth is headquartered in Northampton with a second office in the Washington, D.C. area. It employs more than 65 employees across both offices.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with our arrangement,” said Scrimgeour. “We are proud to be a part of the Northampton community and have an impact at the national level.”

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