Day: November 12, 2019

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The National Science Foundation recently awarded two grants to support research by two Western New England University faculty members — Robert Barron, assistant professor of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, and Amer Qouneh, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering — and their collaborative partners.

Barron is a co-principal investigator on a project titled “INFEWS/T2 FEWtures: Innovation Analysis Framework for Resilient Futures, with Application to the Central Arkansas River Basin.” The project will develop strategies to promote resilient small-town and rural (STAR) communities using renewably powered fertilizer production and wastewater treatment. FEWtures will equip STAR communities to face urgent challenges such as low crop prices, high prices for energy and fertilizer, pollution, and depleting water supplies. Barron is among a team of researchers led by the University of Kansas and including Western New England University, Kansas State University, and Washington State University that have been awarded $2.5 million to craft a creative, multi-faceted set of responses to these challenges.

The focus of Qouneh’s research is “SHF: Medium: Collaborative Research: Enhancing Mobile VR/AR User Experience: An Integrated Architecture-System Approach.” This research will open the door for next-generation mobile platforms that provide high-quality, low-power applications for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). It seeks to develop a synergetic architecture-system approach to improve the user’s experience with AR and VR by addressing performance, battery life, and thermal issues. The project is a collaboration effort between Qouneh and faculty at the University of Florida and the University of Houston. The total amount of the grant is $1.1 million.

EANE Names CIS Abroad 2019 Employer of Choice

Daily News

AGAWAM — CIS Abroad of Northampton was selected as the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) Employer of Choice award recipient for 2019. The award was presented at EANE’s Employment Law and HR Practices Conference luncheon at the Sheraton Monarch Place in Springfield on Nov. 7.

The Employer of Choice award recognizes companies and organizations for developing workplaces that value employees, foster engagement, invest in employee development, and reward performance. Past winners view the award as a cornerstone of their company credentials and often highlight the award in recruiting and retention, grants and funding applications, and business development. Many past winners have gone on to sit on the application review board to help select future winners of this award.

“In our present job market, employers need to consider how they’re investing in their workforce,” said Meredith Wise, president of EANE. “In order to attract and retain top-level talent, organizations need to offer more than a paycheck to their employees. CIS Abroad has demonstrated their commitment to fostering a people-focused operation, where their entire workforce knows the importance of the organization’s core values and mission. CIS Abroad has developed an employee-engagement plan that is both measurable and personally impactful for their entire workforce.”

CIS Abroad provides innovative education programs that broaden academic perspectives, promote global awareness, and encourage personal development while laying the foundation for student participants to become engaged world citizens. The passion of the CIS Abroad employees is visibly present when they talk about their programs and partners, as the lives of their employees have all been transformed by international experiences.

Employers from the Northeast who have been in business for at least three years and have a minimum of 25 employees are eligible to apply for EANE’s annual Employer of Choice award. Both the company size and its resources are considered in the screening and selection process. Entrants are judged in areas that include company culture, training and development, communication, and recognition and reward.

Springfield College President’s Gala Raises More Than $500,000 for Scholarships

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The annual Springfield College President’s Gala raised more than $500,000 for student scholarships.

More than 300 gathered on Oct. 26 at the MGM Springfield Aria Ballroom. All proceeds will go toward need and merit-based scholarships.

“The results are nothing short of extraordinary, and because of everyone’s support, we have made it possible for students to continue to choose Springfield College,” said President Mary-Beth Cooper. “We appreciate every gift from our generous community and corporate supporters and every member of our Springfield College family, including our alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Our students are truly inspirational people, and because of all of the generous donations, these funds will go toward helping the next generation of scholars. These financial contributions help to ensure that we continue to provide top-quality experiences and resources to our students so that each student has the essential tools to be successful.”

Serving on the President’s Gala planning committee were senior Alexandra Goslin, a math and secondary education major from South Windsor, Conn., who is serving as the elected 49th student trustee this academic year, and junior Kristian Rhim, a communications/sports journalism major from Philadelphia who serves as the student trustee-elect this academic year; he will continue on as the 50th student trustee starting in June 2020.

Kim Robinson Takes the Helm at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

Cover Story

Forward Thinking

Kim Robinson

Kim Robinson, who has worked with planning and development agencies in Detroit and Nevada, has been chosen to fill the large shoes left by Tim Brennan, who recently retired as director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission after more than four decades in that position. Robinson is focused on a number of short- and long-term priorities — everything from the upcoming census to east-west rail service.

Kim Robinson says she wasn’t exactly looking to move on from her job as executive director of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency in Reno, Nevada.

But then…

The advertisement posted on the jobs board on the American Planners Assoc. website caught her attention. And held it.

It was an ad seeking candidates to succeed Tim Brennan as executive director of the Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission, a post he held for more than four decades.

“ I saw this as a one-of-a kind opportunity. This seemed like a real opportunity to lead an organization that is so well thought of and has so many opportunities to help and support the 43 jurisdictions that are part of the area we serve. I could tell this was a special opportunity.”

Robinson, who moved into Brennan’s office just a few weeks ago, doesn’t recall the specific wording within that posting, but does recall what struck her eye and what prompted her to eventually move roughly 2,800 miles east.

“I saw this as a one-of-a kind opportunity, and I recognized that pretty early on in reading the job description itself,” she told BusinessWest. “This seemed like a real opportunity to lead an organization that is so well thought of and has so many opportunities to help and support the 43 jurisdictions that are part of the area we serve. I could tell this was a special opportunity.”

That area is Hampden and Hampshire counties, and those 43 jurisdictions are cities and towns as diverse as Springfield and Ware; Northampton and Longmeadow. For those communities, the PVPC, as it’s called, provides, as Robinson noted, a number of planning-related services.

Indeed, from its creation in 1962, the PVPC has been involved with everything from building bike trails to cleanup of the Connecticut River to creating the so-called Plan for Progress, a regularly updated document that has identified planning priorities for the region.

The specific list of services doesn’t go from A to Z, but rather from A to W, starting with air-quality analysis and ending with water-supply protection. In between lies everything from climate action and clean energy to housing planning and development to parking studies.

Meanwhile, the PVPC also provides what’s known as local technical assistance, or LTA, to member communities. It can take many forms, including information from the agency’s Data Center, traffic counts on local roads, and assistance with local grant applications.

the Connecticut River is no longer the “best-landscaped sewer in the country.”

Kim Robinson says one of many priorities for the PVPC, and the region, is expanding rail service to Springfield and other area communities.

It was the opportunity to be part of all that and write the next chapter in the agency’s history that prompted Robinson to go beyond reading the want ad and actively seek the position.

Since arriving, she has been busy on a number of fronts — from putting some of her own maps up on the walls of her office (like most planners, she has an affinity for maps) to meeting with many of the PVPC commissioners from those 43 cities and towns that are members; from getting a lay of the land, if you will, to setting some priorities for the short and long term.

In that first category is the upcoming national census and work to help ensure that as many area residents as possible are counted. An accurate count is important, she told BusinessWest, because the dollar figures attached to grants and assistance programs are driven by the numbers generated by the census.

“A lot of funding is derived from the census, so we obviously want as accurate a count as possible,” she said, adding that the PVPC has formed what’s known as a Complete Count Committee, or CCC, which utilizes local knowledge, influence, and resources to educate communities and promote the census through outreach efforts (more on that later).

Meanwhile, in that latter category are issues ranging from housing — specifically, the need to create more housing options, especially at the lower end of the price scale — to transportation and especially efforts to create more rail service and, in particular, an east-west line. And also something Robinson called ‘resiliency.’

This is an attribute the region and its individual cities and towns need to attain, she said, adding that there are many factors that can impact long-term resiliency, from jobs to climate change and efforts to control it.

“Resiliency is about an organization, or a community, being able to absorb changes that are kind of outside its control, whether it’s the economy or the climate or other factors — it’s the ability to be able to withstand and move forward,” she noted, adding that the goal moving forward is to make the 43 cities and towns in the region more resilient.

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Robinson about her move across the country and what lies ahead for the region and the PVPC when it comes to planning and readying this area for what is to come in the decades ahead.

Background Discussion

Robinson brings a diverse background in planning and economic development to her new position with the PVPC, as well as experience working in different parts of the country.

Indeed, before relocating to Reno, she worked in Detroit, where she was born, starting in 1997 as a planner/administrator for the Jefferson-Chalmers District Council.

A year later, she became manager of the city’s Planning and Development Department, a post she stayed in for a full decade, an intriguing and challenging time for a city that fell into a serious spiral but in recent years has been on the rebound.

Early on in her Detroit tenure, the concept of empowerment zones was gaining traction, and Detroit was awarded $100 million for initiatives and departments.

“That provided an opportunity to do a lot of good, interesting work,” she recalled, “and there started to be a lot of growth and growth potential, and by the mid-2000s, we could really start to see the positive changes that were coming.”

Seeking a new and different challenge but in a somewhat familiar setting (she spent much of her childhood living in Southern Nevada), Robinson relocated to Reno and became Planning manager of the Washoe County Department of Community Development in 2007. Later, she would become executive director of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency, where she addressed a number of the same challenges she will encounter in Western Mass., including housing and the need to create more options at different price points.

Meanwhile, industrial land and, more specifically, challenges presented by its development, was another of the issues she and her agency addressed.

“The largest industrial park in the country is in the county next door,” she noted, referring to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, a 107,000-acre facility that is home to more than 100 facilities, including the Tesla Gigafactory 1, a massive lithium-ion-battery and electric-vehicle assembly plant. “So the conversation around competition between the two counties was a large one. Meanwhile, one of the things we saw was a large number of jobs going to that county, but not a lot of homes being built. So the Washoe County area, all 6,000 square miles of it, which includes Reno and the city of Sparks, was responsible for providing housing, schools, education, all those pieces; it was a tremendous strain on the existing infrastructure, and they weren’t getting the tax dollars from that employment.”

Strategies for addressing these issues were part of the five-year regional plan for Washoe County that Robinson helped draft earlier this year. The ink was drying as she read about the job opportunity in the Pioneer Valley.

Robinson said she enjoyed her work in Western Nevada and, as she noted, wasn’t really looking for a new challenge, but that ad on the American Planners Assoc. job board changed that. Specifically, she recalled what the PVPC wrote with regard to what it was seeking in its first new executive director since Jimmy Carter was in the White House.

“They were looking for leadership, experience, and the opportunity to get some different perspective,” she recalled, adding that she was confident she could deliver all of the above, especially that ‘different perspective.’

Indeed, Robinson said she knew little, if anything about Hampden and Hampshire counties when she applied, but was intrigued by the agency, the depth of its portfolio of services, and the chance to lead such an organization.

While getting to know the region and some of the specific communities — she’s visited a few and plans to put a considerable number of miles on her car in the weeks and months to come — and also meeting with staff and having a few conversations with her predecessor, she is getting a handle on the issues confronting them. And in many respects, they’re the same as those she encountered in Nevada and Detroit.

Moving Targets

These include renewable energy (especially solar), housing, transportation, overall sustainability, and, yes, that all-important 2020 census.

Transportation, and especially efforts to expand and improve rail service, was Brennan’s pet project and one of his enduring legacies, said Robinson, adding that she understands the importance of passenger rail service to this area and its long-term prospects and intends to continue Brennan’s advocacy for additional service.

“We’ve just recently had a huge success with the start of the Flyer,” she said, referring to expanded north-south rail service on a line that extends from New Haven to Greenfield. “That’s a palpable piece of Tim’s legacy.”

As for the potential for east-west service that would link Boston and Springfield, Robinson said she’s among many eagerly awaiting the results of the state’s ongoing study of that concept.

But rail is just part of the larger transportation picture, she went on, adding that the PVPC is in the process of updating the Regional Transportation Plan, which will include discussion of streets, bike lanes, transit, “all the ways we move in our community,” she noted.

As for the census, it is an important priority for individual cities and towns and the PVPC, said Robinson, adding that the counts do far more than help determine how many congressional districts a state has and how they are drawn.

And the Complete Count Committee plays an important role in getting the numbers right.

“A lot of funding is derived from the census, so we obviously want as accurate a count as possible.”

“These committees present an opportunity to bring together all the various folks that are impacted by, or can help to impact, the census itself,” she explained. “We bring together a wide group of people — service providers, representatives of the cities and towns, the Census Bureau — and the conversation is about how we can get the most accurate and complete count possible.”

The upcoming census is an example of the many ways the PVPC assists local communities, and it also provides that local technical assistance, said Robinson, adding that this comes in a number of forms. As one example, she cited ongoing work with Longmeadow, which has requested assistance with its open-space and recreation plan, as well as frequent requests to help communities amend zoning bylaws.

The agency is also enjoying success with — and looking to perhaps expand — what it calls ‘shared services,’ such as accounting services provided by an individual hired by the PVPC that can be made available to smaller communities, thus saving them the expense of hiring someone themselves.

“It’s a great opportunity for them to save money because they’re buying along with others,” she explained, adding that other shared services include IT help and other areas; for example, at present, Longmeadow and East Longmeadow are having discussions about sharing a health director.

Moving forward, the PVPC will continually look for new and different ways to assist member communities, said Robinson, adding that the already-deep list and the potential to add to it was one of the many aspects of this job that caught her attention.

Toward Tomorrow

As she talked with BusinessWest in one of the conference rooms at PVPC’s headquarters on Congress Street in Springfield, Robinson said she doesn’t spend a lot of time looking at the APA jobs board and wasn’t necessarily looking to leave the Reno area.

“I applied for one job,” she explained.

It was a job she continually described as a one-of-a-kind opportunity, and for a number of reasons — but especially a desire to continue a nearly 60-year track record of service to the region, one that involves keeping one eye on today and the other squarely on tomorrow, meaning decades down the road.

That’s been the PVPC story, and Robinson is excited about the prospects of writing the next several chapters.

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

Veterans Take Lessons from the Military into the Workplace

Soldier Stories

As the nation honors those who have served on Veterans Day, BusinessWest does the same with a special section on veterans in business. It includes an in-depth look at why some companies make the hiring of veterans a priority, and why others should follow suit. But we’ll start with several profiles of individuals who have made the transition from military service to business management, and how they’re taking lessons from their years of service into the workplace.

Corey Murphy, President, First American Insurance

Retired Marine Corps Major Stresses Teamwork, Accountability

Dorothy Ostrowski, President, Adams & Ruxton Construction

Her Afghanistan Tour Brought Many Lessons for Life, Business

Andrew Anderlonis, President, Rediker Software

His Time in the Navy Provided an Education on Many Levels

Colleges, Organizations Strive to Advance Women in STEM

By Kayla Ebner November 12, 2019

Education

Breaking Down Stereotypes

A mom of two young children, Alysha Putnam strives to be a mentor for women of all ages in the PVWIS.

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs have historically been labeled careers for men. Those stereotypes, along with unfair treatment of women in STEM, have dissuaded many from beginning or furthering such careers. Luckily, women in STEM are becoming less of an exception, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of many colleges and organizations, women now have more resources than ever to follow their STEM dreams.

Wearing many hats is a common theme for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.

Parent, teacher, student, and scientist are only a few that Alysha Putnam can name off the top of her head.

When speaking about her journey, she recalls it was a bumpy road, and says several female mentors helped her become the successful woman she is today.

“It was because of various key people — particularly women, actually — who believed in me despite the life challenges that I was going through, that I was able to be successful despite all the chaos,” she said.

One of these women was her master’s adviser, Paulette Peckol, who, as Putnam recalls, was very accepting of the fact that she had two young children and was flexible with her schedule.

Now, as a teaching and research assistant at UMass Amherst in the organismic and evolutionary biology Ph.D. program, she teaches classes while pursuing her research-focused doctoral degree. Throughout this journey through education, Putnam said, she has developed a strong passion for giving back in the same way she was supported.

Unfortunately, women in STEM, including moms like Putnam, have historically faced backlash, oftentimes driving them away from pursuing a career in these fields or even discouraging them from continuing to climb the ladder once they are established. But Putnam and other women in Western Mass. are using their own personal experiences to try to improve the lives of other women who are hoping to make it in these fields.

That’s why Putnam wears yet another hat: co-founder of Pioneer Valley Women in STEM (PVWIS). She and fellow co-founders Melissa Paciulli, Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh, and Michelle Rame dedicate much of their time to being a support system and connector to women either already in STEM fields or pursuing such a career. Putnam is an alumna of Holyoke Community College (HCC), Paciulli serves as the director of the STEM Starter Academy at HCC, and Rame is an HCC graduate and current engineering student at Western New England University.

One of their biggest goals is to squash many of the stereotypes that surround both women in STEM, at community colleges specifically.

“Stereotypes in STEM as a whole exist,” Paciulli said. “I think it’s important to really recognize that all people belong in STEM — people of all abilities and all races and all sexual orientations. We at PVWIS really believe in inclusivity, and through the community colleges we can provide access to a wide, diverse population for STEM, and we can really tackle that issue of diversity in STEM through our work within the region and within the community colleges.”

And they are not the only women in the area making it their goal to help women pursue and excel in these fields.

Gina Semprebon, founding director for the Center for Excellence in Women in STEM (CEWS) at Bay Path University, notes that her own experiences inspired her to start this program to help women pursuing STEM careers.

“I had a really hard time trying to break into the STEM field when I did,” she said. “It was so clear, even as a student for my graduate work, that there was bias. The males were breezing through, and the few women that were in there were not getting the help or support they needed, or were actually being thwarted.”

Fortunately, programs like PVWIS and CEWS are providing access to resources and educational opportunities for these women to follow their passion and climb the STEM ladder.

Turning Experience Into Expertise

When Susanna Swanker walked into the first day of her college internship, the women’s restroom had to be cleaned out for her because it was being used for storage.

Susanne Swanker

At S.I. Group (formerly Schenectady International), she was a chemist working on a pilot project. Aside from the secretary (whom Swanker bonded with very well), she was the only woman in her area. She remembers going to work in a hardhat and jeans while her other friends in accounting or social-services positions were getting dressed in business professional attire.

“It’s a different field, so you have to be willing to do those things,” she said. “I think sometimes maybe that’s a little off-putting or it’s not so attractive for people. But if you love the work, and I think that’s maybe where the challenge is, you get past that.”

Now dean of the School of Business, Arts, and Sciences at American International College, she is working toward refining STEM programs at the university to better fit students’ interests.

Being the only woman in a STEM room is not limited to the workplace. McGinnis-Cavanaugh said it is not unusual for her to be the only woman in the room while she is teaching engineering courses at Springfield Technical Community College.

While the percentage of female faculty in STEM programs at STCC is healthy, she said, the female student population is not so great.

Melissa Paciulli says the events hosted by the PVWIS are intended to make connections and build relationships among fellow STEM women.

Being a woman who went to community college and experienced many of the same struggles her students now face is one of the main reasons why she co-founded PVWIS and continues to teach at STCC.

“I see myself in my students,” she said. “I don’t care what anybody says — community colleges still have that stigma attached to them. ‘Oh, you go to a community college, you couldn’t get into a real college,’ that type of thing. That really bothers me because I went to a community college, so that resonates with me in a big way.”

These stigmas, she said, are an issue of equity in the community-college world, and the everyday issues women in STEM often face come back to one word: access.

Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh

“There should be no difference between the opportunities that men and women have,” McGinnis-Cavanaugh argued. “We kept coming around to the same thing, that our students needed access. That was the word that we kept coming back to. We were trying to think of ways that we could expose them to professional women, to professional situations and professional networks.”

Bay Path’s Leadership Exploration Analysis Development program has similar goals. This 100% online initiative under the CEWS umbrella provides a certificate to early- to mid-career women in STEM fields, giving them the leadership skills they need to advance in their career.

Michele Heyward, founder of PositiveHire and CEO of Heyward Business Consulting, acts as an industry expert for the program, and says this certificate provides women with the tools they need to continue to move up the ladder in their career.

From left: Gina Semprebon, Michele Heyward, and Caron Hobin.

“Men are generally promoted based on potential, while women and people of color are promoted based on the proof that they know what they’re doing,” she said. “It is truly essential to have programs like this that are in place, active and engaging for students who are generally going to go out into a workplace where they may be the only one.”

Caron Hobin, vice president of Bay Path, partnered with Semprebon on CEWS and says stereotypes and stigmas faced by women in STEM made it a no-brainer to kick-start the program in 2013.

“I was moved by the statistics that would scream loud and clear that women were just not advancing at the same level as men,” she said. “You’re surrounded by really sharp women, and you look around and say, ‘why is this?’”

Toward a More Equal Future

The statistics speak for themselves.

According to Million Women Mentors, 75% of STEM workers are male. In addition, only three out of 12 women who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field still work in a STEM career 10 years after graduation.

That is why programs and organizations like CEWS and PVWIS exist, and these stigmas are slowly being squashed.

“We see ourselves as being the connecting point of all these different women across the Valley and bringing them together to support each other, to share knowledge, to encourage, to uplift, to make connections, to empower,” Putnam said. “As we interact with our community-college students here in Western Mass., we are seeing incredible women of all ages coming through the community-college system who are very capable and smart and just need the support and encouragement to say, ‘yes, you can do it.’”

Kayla Ebner can be reached at [email protected]

Sustainable Design Moves Further into the Mainstream

By Joseph Bednar November 12, 2019

Architecture

Living with the Land

Environmentally friendly ideas are nothing new in the architecture and design world, but advances have come at a rapid pace — not just in how green a project can be, but how effectively the long-term cost savings justify the upfront expense. Clients want to do the right thing, design professionals say, but they’re much more willing if they can see an economic justification. Increasingly, they’re able to achieve both goals.

Sometimes design decisions bring unexpected benefits, Rachel Loeffler says.

Take a project her firm, Berkshire Design Group, designed for East Meadow School in Granby.

“Cost was a big factor, so we looked at using a meadow feed mix instead of traditional bluegrass, which saves the school 100 gallons of gasoline in mowing, as well as the labor,” said Loeffler, a principal and landscape architect with the firm.

“But then, what happened was, some birds moved in almost instantly, including some orioles.”

Orioles, by the way, are among the hundreds of bird species most at risk from climate change and destruction of meadow lands due to development, so creating a healthy habitat for them is significant, she said. “Sometimes, delightful surprises happen.”

When Northampton-based Berkshire Design Group, one of the region’s leading firms in the realm of sustainable design, opened its doors in 1984, its founders might have been equally surprised to see how common green ideas would become a few decades later.

“Back then, we were experimenting with stormwater standards, alternatives that then became state standards,” Loeffler said. “That creative approach is something that was part of us from the beginning.”

C&H Architects, headquartered in Amherst, can track a similar trajectory, emphasizing green and sustainable architecture since its launch in 1989.

“Nobody was trying to do that 30 years ago — it wasn’t even part of the lexicon,” said Thomas Hartman, partner and principal architect. “Over the years, it’s really been interesting to see how what might have been an odd-duck type of client become the norm.”

In those early years, he said, forward-thinking clients would seek out C&H specifically for this expertise, while today, green design isn’t surprising at all. “It’s gone from the occasional project to where, if this isn’t part of the conversation, you’re not really practicing in the mainstream anymore.”

In fact, he noted, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has basically shifted its organizational philosophy to suggest that, if a project isn’t environmentally conscious, if it’s not sustainable, then it’s just not good design.

“Climate change requires a holistic approach, addressing the interdependencies among people, buildings, infrastructure, and the environment,” AIA President William Bates said recently. “Our training allows us to look for solutions and ways to mitigate climate change comprehensively and creatively, which we do every day.”

At their most basic level, Hartman explained, buildings protect individuals from the elements and provide texture to people’s lives. Buildings, however, are also one of the largest contributors to global warming, accounting for nearly 40% of all greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide — a statistic expected to double by 2050. In an effort to mitigate these impacts, there has been a steady increase in sustainable architecture — the design of buildings that work in harmony with the environment.

Installing a meadow instead of grass at East Meadow School in Granby reduces gasoline use and provides a habitat for endangered birds.

C&H Architects has been at the forefront of this effort for three decades. For example, it designed the fifth-ever certified Living Building Challenge project in the world (and the first in New England) for Smith College’s MacLeish Field Station, the most rigorous performance standard for buildings available.

“It’s the most difficult standard — net-zero water, net-zero energy, avoiding certain materials and chemicals,” he said, noting that net zero means producing as much of that resource as one takes from the environment.

The firm has followed similar standards with other commercial and academic projects, and has designed more than 10 homes that boast net-zero energy, the most recent of which won the top honor at AIA Rhode Island in 2018, and includes a solar array that powers both the house and the car of its occupants.

That’s an especially cutting-edge standard, Hartman said, but it may become mainstream as well in the coming years, just as many sustainable practices in building and landscape design have become the norm, not the exception.

Holistic Approach

Loeffler said there are two ways to craft a sustainable philosophy for a project. One is to simply create a checklist of energy-saving or environmentally conscious features.

The other way of thinking actually takes cues from ecological thinking and the way all organisms are interrelated. On the simplest level, she cited the example of humans and trees — plants give off oxygen, while we breathe it in and give off carbon dioxide.

“There’s an understanding that each entity has a need for resources to consume, and has a waste product,” she said. “What sustainable thinking allows us to do is look at a project and look at ways to tie resources and waste together in a project or adjacent use somewhere else.”

Tom Hartman takes meter readings at a mill renovation in Lawrence — part of his goal to make sure energy-saving projects are performing as they are designed to.

One example is a dog park she recently worked on, during which time she approached a company that specializes in taking dog waste and turning it into energy. “Farms are taking waste from grocery stores, and any sort of organic waste products, and generating electricity. These are waste products that are being taken out of the waste stream instead of being shifted to a landfill somewhere.”

Hartman said architects, including those at his firm, are also starting to think about reductions in embodied carbon, which are the emissions associated with building construction, including extracting, transporting, and manufacturing materials.

“What that means is that we’ll be making low-carbon buildings, so we’re not adding to the carbon issue,” he said, adding quickly that this, like all new initiatives, comes with a learning curve. “In the evolution of our practice over 30 years, as soon as we get competent in one thing, we’re going to the next thing.”

Clients in the education sector have been particularly receptive to innovative ideas around sustainability, he noted, but those projects often come with time barriers.

“When you’re doing academic work, doing renovations on an existing building, they’re occupied, so you may have just a couple of weeks to do your job and have a limited budget, so how do you address environmental design and sustainable design on these types of projects?” he asked. “It comes down to the materials you’re choosing and what opportunities are available. For example, if you’re renovating a dormitory, you may only have 12 weeks, so you probably won’t renovate the exterior envelope of the building.”

“Nobody was trying to do that 30 years ago — it wasn’t even part of the lexicon. Over the years, it’s really been interesting to see how what might have been an odd-duck type of client become the norm.”

But all projects must consider their long-term impact on users, said Leon Drachmann, a principal at Payette Associates in Boston, who recently talked about sustainability on the U.S. Green Building Council website.

“The green-building initiative will have a deeper impact by expanding its scope — by shifting its focus to areas outside of building design, such as real-estate economics, zoning regulations and land use, while concentrating on the human experience and societal well-being,” he noted, adding that “sustainability should be considered not as an independent, separate process, but as an integral part of design itself.”

Dollars and Sense

One impact that can never be overlooked is the financial one, Hartman said. After all, while clients want to do the right thing, they’re still focused on the bottom line.

“I’ve never met a client where, if we could provide the economic case for doing good in sustainable design, they wouldn’t do it,” he told BusinessWest. “It’s rarer to find a client who will do the feel-good of sustainable design if it doesn’t pass the economic test.”

So part of his service to clients is actually visiting the site after completion, monitoring elements like energy use, waste production, and the overall costs to make sure the promised efficiencies have come to fruition.

“It has been really important for us to do that,” he said. “Most of the time, we want to maintain a relationship with the client in the future anyway. We will ask for energy bills. We’ve never met a client who doesn’t want us to follow up. That’s probably the most important thing for the profession — to make sure it all works, and if it doesn’t work, figure out why. Otherwise, you’re just waving your arms.”

Loeffler noted that clients that have a long-term vision are much easier to convince of the benefits of green design.

“If an organization’s economic-benefit analysis focuses on a one-year plan, they’re going to make a decision based on that — and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that,” she said. “But if their vision centers around a 20- or 50-year plan, they might be inclined to make different decisions.

“In a homeowner’s situation, with solar panels, there are upfront costs in that initial year. Over a certain amount of time, you’ll recoup those costs, but if you’re only looking at one year, you’re not going to budget for solar panels. If you’re looking at the long term, the cost makes more sense.”

The tipping point for much sustainable design and technology will come when those costs approach those of traditional methods across the board — and many in the industry say those days are getting closer. “When green materials become cheaper to acquire than previous materials, we project there will be a huge increase in the desire for this type of technology,” Loeffler said.

Until then, “we try not to push the issue too hard. We engage every client in the discussion, but they have different comfort levels. At the end of the day, we’re there to meet their needs and goals, and we work with them.”

Hartman is happy he works in a state which saw the value of renewable-energy credits and green standards well before most other states did.

“Massachusetts has been progressive, and they did those things so we wouldn’t be so reliant on fossil fuels from other countries,” he said. “It’s really exciting nowadays.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Women of Impact Speaker Says People Need to Find It in Their Work

www.johnnystavernamherst.com

Features

‘Passion and Purpose’

Lisa Tanzer says it took her a while to find work she was truly passionate about. But it was well worth the wait and the effort.

“It took me a long while to get here, but I learned along the way that I need to be working every day on something I’m excited about and passionate about,” she said. “You need to do what you love every day and find a way to put passion into what you do.”

This, in a nutshell, is the message Tanzer, president of Life Is Good — a lifestyle brand that now generates more than $100 million in annual revenue and also operates the Life Is Good Kids Foundation — intends to leave with attendees at BusinessWest’s second annual Women of Impact luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Sheraton Springfield.

In a phone interview, Tanzer told BusinessWest that Life Is Good provides her passion and purpose not merely because of what it sells or how much it sells, but because of how it spreads the “power of optimism,” as she put it.

Elaborating, she said ‘Life Is Good,’ the slogan placed on a T-shirt along with a smiling face by brothers Bert and John Jacobs as a last-ditch effort to stay in business, has received a great reaction from the public.

“People from all sorts of demographics started resonating with the brand,” she explained. “In the early days, they started to get letters from people who were wearing ‘Life Is Good’ who were facing terrible adversity — illness or loss of a loved one.

“They connected with the positive message of Life Is Good and realized there was more depth to the brand than ‘hey, life is good, enjoy the beach, enjoy the outdoors,’” she went on. “People really needed optimism in their lives and started to understand the power of optimism. So the company became more mission-driven.”

Tanzer’s keynote address will be one of many highlights at the second annual Women of Impact Luncheon, which will honor eight women who are making an impact in different ways. They are:

• Tricia Canavan, president, United Personnel Services;

• Carol Moore Cutting, president, CEO, and general manager, Cutting Edge Broadcasting;

• Jean Deliso, principal, Deliso Financial Services;

• Ellen Freyman, partner, Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin;

• Mary Hurley, Massachusetts Governor’s Councilor;

• Lydia Martinez-Alvarez, assistant superintendent, Springfield Public Schools;

• Suzanne Parker, executive director, Girls Inc. of the Valley; and

• Katherine Putnam, managing director, Golden Seeds.

Tanzer, who speaks to a wide variety of audiences on many topics each year, will bring a broad range of corporate experience to the podium at the Women of Impact event. Indeed, she has more than 25 years of consumer brand experience, working for powerhouse brands such as Hasbro, Staples, Gillette, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Fast Facts

• What: The Second Annual Women of Impact Gala
• When: Dec. 5, 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Where: Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place
• Keynote Speaker: Lisa Tanzer, president of Life Is Good
• Tickets: $65 (tables of 10 available)
• For More Information: Visit HERE or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Starting very early in her career, though, she started working with nonprofits, especially one founded by a high-school classmate called Project Joy, which helped homeless children find purpose and connection through play.

The talk Tanzer will give at the Women of Impact Luncheon concerns how she determined long ago that she wanted to blend work in the corporate world with “making people happy and providing joy in people’s lives.” And while it was a rather circuitous route and there was a good deal of serendipity along the way, she found all of what she was looking for at Life Is Good.

To hear the full story, you’ll need to be at the Sheraton on Dec. 5. And you should be there to salute the eight outstanding honorees who make up the Women of Impact class of 2019.

The Women of Impact program is sponsored by Country Bank and TommyCar Auto Group (presenting sponsors), Comcast Business and Granite State Developing (supporting sponsors), New Valley Bank & Trust (speaker sponsor), and WWLP 22 News/CW Springfield (media sponsor).

For more information, or to order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, or go HERE.

Western Mass. Offers More than Presents Under the Tree

By Kayla Ebner November 12, 2019

Holiday Gift Guide

The Gift of Stepping Out

Picking out the right gift for a loved one, partner, friend, or child can be a stressful experience. There are many different factors to consider, and there’s always the worry they won’t like what you pick out. Luckily, Western Mass. has a wide variety of places that offer great experiences you can all share together. Whether it be a go-karting adventure, having dinner at a great local restaurant, or visiting an art museum, there are plenty of experience-based options out there for you and a loved one to share. Save yourself the stress of buying material things this year, and try out one of these experiences for the holidays.

For Adventurers and Adrenaline Seekers

Berkshire East Mountain Resort

66 Thunder Mountain Road, Charlemont, MA

(413) 339-6617; www.berkshireeast.com

This resort is Southern New England’s year-round outdoor destination. With everything from whitewater rafting to skiing and snowboarding — and the resort’s signature mountain coaster — there are plenty of options for all types of adventure seekers. Whether you want to celebrate the holidays now or save it for a warm, summer day, a trip to the mountains is the perfect getaway.

Nomad’s Adventure Quest

100 Bidwell Road, South Windsor, CT

(860) 290-1177; www.nomadsadventurequest.com

With more than 65,000 square feet of space, there is something for people of all ages at Nomad’s. The facility has laser tag, glow-in-the-dark black-light mini golf, thunderbowl bowling, a climbing wall, more than 80 arcade and redemption games, two full-size basketball courts, a billiard room, conference and banquet rooms with overhead projection screens, a full bar, a full service café, and more. There is no admission price to enter; activities are individually priced.

Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting

10 West St., West Hatfield, MA

(413) 446-7845; www.pioneervalleykarting.com

Conveniently located just over the Northampton town line right off I-91 exit 21, Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting is perfect for the adventurous family that loves a good adrenaline rush. The facility opens daily at 11 a.m. for ‘arrive and drive’ high-speed gas go-karting. All pricing is per person, and the facility offers high-speed junior karts specifically designed for junior racers ages 8 to 13 who are taller than 48 inches and weigh less than 180 pounds.

Springfield Thunderbirds

MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield, MA

(413) 787-6600; www.springfieldthunderbirds.com

If you’re a sports lover, this is the event for you. The Springfield Thunderbirds are the American Hockey League’s minor-league affiliate of the Florida Panthers, now playing their fourth season in Springfield. The Thunderbirds play their home games at the MassMutual Center. Tickets start at $10 depending on seating and game night.

For History and Art Lovers

Clark Art Institute

225 South St., Williamstown, MA

(413) 458-2303; www.clarkart.edu

The intimate scale and the wide variety of the galleries at the Clark makes for the perfect family trip, no matter what age a person may be. This institution also offers special programs and events throughout the year that are catered to families specifically, such as gallery talks, art making, and related entertainment.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA

(413) 559-6300; www.carlemuseum.org

The Eric Carle Museum is a nonprofit organization seeking to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The Carle houses more than 11,000 objects, including thousands of permanent-collection illustrations, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, educational programs for families, and more.

Connecticut Science Center

250 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT

(860) 724-3623; www.ctsciencecenter.org

Only a half-hour from Springfield, the Connecticut Science Center boasts more than 165 hands-on exhibits in 10 galleries and live science demos daily. There is a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, and daily programs and events. General admission for members is free, youth (ages 3-17) tickets are $16.95, adults (ages 18-64) are $23.95, and seniors (65+) are $21.95.

Norman Rockwell Museum

9 Glendale Road, Stockbridge, MA

(413) 298-4100;

www.nrm.org

The Norman Rockwell Museum houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell art. It presents, preserves, and studies the art of illustration and is a world resource for reflection, involvement, and discovery inspired by Norman Rockwell and the power of visual images to shape and reflect society. The museum is open seven days a week, year-round. Admission for members and youth ages 18 and under are free, adult tickets are $20, seniors (65+) are $18, veterans are $17, and college students with an ID are $10.

Shaker Village

1843 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA

(413) 443-0188; www.hancockshakervillage.org

Shake Village boasts 20 authentic Shaker buildings, rich collections of Shaker furniture and artifacts in rotating exhibits, a full schedule of activities and workshops, a mile-long hiking trail and hundreds of acres of additional land with a variety of trails for all skill levels, picnic areas, a store and café, and a working farm with extensive gardens and heritage-breed livestock. Admission for adults is $20; seniors and active/retired military are $18; youth (ages 13-17) are $8; children 12 and under are free. From Nov. 16 through Dec. 22, the village is open weekends only. It is closed for the season Dec. 23 through April 10 and reopens for the spring season April 11.

Springfield Symphony Orchestra

1441 Main St., Suite 121, Springfield, MA

(413) 733-0636; www.springfieldsymphony.org

The SSO is the largest Massachusetts symphony outside of Boston, featuring more than 80 musicians from the New England region of the U.S. and Canada, and holding many performances each season. A Holiday Celebration concert on Dec. 7 will feature guests conductor Nick Palmer, the SSO Chorus directed by Nikki Stoia, the Young@Heart Chorus directed by Bob Cilman, cantor Elise Barber, and soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine. Tickets are available online starting at $25.

Yankee Candle Village

25 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield, MA

(877) 636-7707; www.yankeecandle.com/south-deerfield-village

This is more than just a candle store. The Yankee Candle Village provides everything from make-your-own-candles to irresistible food, and has plenty of options for the kids and the parents to enjoy — as well as a year-round Bavarian Christmas village.

For the Foodies

Capri Pizza Shop

18 Cabot St., Holyoke MA

(413) 532-3460;

www.capripizzashop.com

Capri has been in the family since 1966 and is now owned and run by Fiore Santaniello and managed by his two sons, Salvatore and Gennaro. Though Capri’s look has changed over the years, it has maintained the quality of its food, even earning the People’s Choice Award from Best of Mass Pizza.

Esselon Café

99 Russell St., Hadley, MA

(413) 585-1515; www.esselon.com

Esselon is an award-winning café featuring fresh roasted coffee, rare and exotic teas, and a full menu. Centrally located between Amherst and Northampton on Route 9 on the Common in Hadley, this café offers outdoor dining during the spring, summer, and fall months and a casual atmosphere indoors.

La Fogata

770 Tyler St., Pittsfield, MA

(413) 443-6969; www.lafogatarestaurante.com

La Fogata (Spanish for ‘the bonfire’) offers traditional Colombian cuisine. Owner Miguel Gomez moved to Pittsfield from Colombia in 1993 and realized there were no Latino restaurants in the area, so he decided to open his own. Items on the menu include everything from carne asada to pechuga apanada.

Johnny’s Tavern

30 Boltwood Walk, Amherst

(413) 230-3818;

Johnny’s Tavern is a contemporary American restaurant nestled in the heart of the community of Amherst, priding itself on using organic produce, sustainable seafood, and hormone-free meat and poultry whenever possible. Items on the menu range from pizza to a pulled duck sandwich.

Munich Haus

13 Center St., Chicopee, MA

(413) 594-8788; www.munichhaus.com

The Munich Haus gives customers a taste of Germany, no passport required. A family-owned restaurant that opened in 2004, this restaurant prides itself on its authenticity, right down to the food, beer, and décor. The comfortable, laid-back atmosphere paired with popular menu items like its wide array of schnitzels and a plentiful selection of beer and wine make the Munich Haus a place where anyone can find something to enjoy.

Nick’s Nest

1597 Northampton St., Holyoke

(413) 532-5229;

www.nicksnestholyoke.com

This is the perfect place to go for those who want to spend quality time over some great food on a low budget. Founded in 1921 by Nick Malfas, Nick’s Nest started as a roadside popcorn cart. Now serving much more than popcorn, it continues to be a hot spot, featuring hot dogs, homemade potato and macaroni salad, ice cream, and much more.

For the Adults

Abandoned Building Brewery

142 Pleasant St., Easthampton

(413) 282-7062; www.abandonedbuildingbrewery.com

This brewery began in March 2013 when owner Matt Tarlecki transformed this abandoned mill building into what now stands as Abandoned Building Brewery, complete with a walk-in cooler, a 15-barrel brewhouse, two 30-barrel fermenters, and one 30-barrel bright tank. Its ales include a combination of year-round, seasonal, and collaboration beers.

MGM Springfield Topgolf Swing Suite

One MGM Way, Springfield

(413) 273-5000;

www.mgmspringfield.com

Located outside on the Plaza next to Indian Motorcycle, Topgolf Swing Suite is a perfect option for couples or a group of friends looking to have fun and enhance golfing skills. The experience offers a comfortable lounge to hang out in while enjoying food and drinks.

Northampton Brewery

11 Brewster Court, Northampton

(413) 584-9903;

www.northamptonbrewery.com

The Northampton Brewery brews fine ales and lagers, served with outstanding food and a friendly staff. The brewery is conveniently located in downtown Northampton and is an ideal place to go for a delicious meal and a couple beers in front of the fireplace on a chilly winter evening. The destination has been around for 35 years and continues to be one of the area’s most popular breweries.

The Quarters

8 Railroad St., Hadley, MA

(413) 429-4263;

www.hadleyquarters.com

The Quarters, located just off Route 9 and directly on the Norwottock Rail Trail, is a destination for those seeking a place to enjoy some creative food, excellent drinks, and a selection of more than 20 vintage arcade games — perfect for a group outing or a date night.

Kayla Ebner can be reached at [email protected]

Wilbraham Looks to Revive Key Parts of Town

By Kayla Ebner November 12, 2019

Community Spotlight

Jeff Smith and Sue Bunnell say one of the biggest projects going on in Wilbraham is a renovation of Route 20.

Revival by its very definition suggests an improvement in the condition or strength of something. It means giving new life to what already exists, an upgrade of sorts.

This is what elected officials in Wilbraham plan to do in several places around town, for a number of reasons.

One of the most valuable assets the town of Wilbraham has to offer both residents and visitors is the array of businesses and attractions on Route 20, and Jeff Smith says that artery is getting a serious upgrade.

“We have a lot of real estate that could be developed,” said Smith, chairman of the Planning Board. “We’ve got a lot of opportunities for businesses to locate here.”

And some already have.

What was known as the Wilbraham Light Shop many years ago was closed up until recently, and friends of the previous owner are reopening it as a new and improved light shop, something that came as a bit of a shock to Smith and other town employees, seeing as it was vacant for about 20 years, but good news for the town nonetheless.

Sue Bunnell, who chairs the Board of Selectmen, added that Wilbraham boasts an excellent track record when it comes to bringing businesses into town.

“Wilbraham has a good reputation of being business-friendly and among the easier places to get a business up and running,” she said.

Part of this is due to zoning flexibility, Smith said. “We have boards and committees that are willing to not only work within the existing zoning laws, but present new zoning laws to the town to ratify so that new businesses can locate here.”

This has happened recently, when Iron Duke Brewing was looking to move from Ludlow Mills to Wilbraham. Zoning laws were changed, and Iron Duke is now one of two breweries in town.

Still, there is work to be done. And at this point, the Route 20 renovation plan is at 25% completion, which marks the start of public hearings.

“We’ve seen preliminary drawings,” said Bunnell. “Those will be made available to the public, and they will be going from the Friendly’s corporate location to the Palmer line with that redo of the highway.”

What was once meant to include solely road work has become a much more involved process, and town officials recognize the need for all the work being done to make this project happen.

“It started off as what we thought was a repaving, but it really seems like it’s expanding now to more of a redesign,” said Planning Director John Pearsall.

Wilbraham’s town officials hope this redesign, coupled with a progressing marketing strategy and few other things on the agenda, will continue to make it a place people want to live and spend their money.

Driving Momentum

Like Pearsall said, what was supposed to be a fairly simple project has now turned into a plan to revive Route 20. This includes making adjustments to some of the problematic intersections, widening driving lanes, adding sidewalks and bike lanes, and more.

Wilbraham at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1763
Population: 14,868
Area: 22.4 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $21.80
Commercial Tax Rate: $21.80
Median Household Income: $65,014
Median Family Income: $73,825
Type of government: Board of Selectmen, Open Town Meeting
Largest Employers: Baystate Wing Wilbraham Medical Center; Friendly Ice Cream Corp.; Big Y; Home Depot; Wilbraham & Monson Academy
*Latest information available

Most importantly, town officials hope to capitalize on the space and buildings available along the road, and are already taking some options into consideration, including mixed-use developments.

Actually, while the term ‘mixed use’ has been thrown around a lot for Route 20, Pearsall said, a better phrase would be ‘multiple use.’

Recently, Delaney’s Market opened in a building that was redeveloped into a multiple-use project. In addition, a proposal for a Taylor Rental property that has been vacant for a while is under review. Also in the works for that property, a Connecticut developer recently filed an application to create another multiple-use development on those grounds.

“I think pedestrian access to a lot of these businesses is going to increase because they’re talking about running proper sidewalks up both sides of Route 20,” Smith said. “It will be a huge help to the existing businesses and future ones.”

The bigger picture of Boston Road is that it was, at one time, all exclusively zoned for commercial activity. But over the years, the town has been trying to introduce residential uses there, including the Woodcrest Condominiums and a new active-adult community that’s being developed off Boston Road.

Route 20 isn’t the only part of town that will be utilizing mixed-use communities. Smith noted that they also hope to revive the town center.

“In our town center, there are a few buildings that are slated for demolition, and we’re working on redevelopment of the site,” he said. “We recently decided at a town meeting at the beginning of this year to allow a mixed-use development on this site.”

For this specific development, the term ‘mixed use’ is appropriate. According to Smith, there will be retail and commercial establishments on the first floor and living quarters on the second floor. This, he said, is part of a bigger picture concerning town redevelopment being worked on behind the scenes.

Another development in the works is part of a ‘community compact’ to identify and explore the potential for expanding municipal fiber along Boston Road to determine how that might impact business opportunities.

“Our expectation is to identify someone to explore how delivering fiber along the Boston Road corridor could create opportunities for businesses,” said Bunnell.

Using Entry Point, a company that has worked with other municipalities to develop and build out their own fiber networks, Wilbraham hopes to give businesses along the Route 20 corridor this opportunity.

Smith is also a business owner of New England Promotional Marketing alongside his wife, Amy, and has been a guinea pig of sorts for the fiber network.

“It was critical for our business; it’s a great system,” he said. “If you’re choked down by your internet, it just becomes slow and difficult to do, and it can really put a damper on your business. Opening up to that fiber-optic pipeline was huge for us, and we want to provide that opportunity all the way down Route 20.”

Welcome Mat

With quite a few items on the to-do list, it’s safe to assume there will be no shortage of excitement in Wilbraham in the coming months and years.

“There are a lot of older buildings that have been kind of run down for a long time, and they’re being turned around,” said Smith. “There are a lot of properties that have been dormant or underutilized, and there’s a big push to rehabilitate these and find new uses or, in some cases, existing uses.”

As for any new businesses looking to make Wilbraham their new home, they can sleep well knowing this is a top priority in Town Hall, Bunnell said. “I think the goal is to make Wilbraham even more attractive and accessible to businesses that are looking to come into town.”

Kayla Ebner can be reached at [email protected]

Healthcare-reform Legislation Seeks to Build on Past Reforms

By Columnist November 12, 2019

Features

Another Step Forward?

By Jodi K. Miller, Esq.

Jodi K. Miller, Esq

Massachusetts has been a leader in healthcare system reform.

In 2006, Massachusetts passed a first-in-the-nation, comprehensive healthcare-reform law that sought to achieve near-universal coverage for all individuals in the Commonwealth. The 2006 reforms became a model for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed in 2010. In 2012, after making significant gains in healthcare coverage, Massachusetts enacted additional reforms, with a key aim of controlling healthcare costs.

Among other things, the 2012 reforms set statewide benchmarks to limit the growth of healthcare costs and created a new agency, the Health Policy Commission, which is responsible for monitoring increases in healthcare spending and market activity.

Last month, seeking to further overhaul the healthcare-delivery system in Massachusetts and build upon past reforms, Gov. Charlie Baker introduced new healthcare-reform legislation, titled “An Act to Improve Health Care by Investing in Value.” The legislation seeks to tackle challenges in the current healthcare system by improving access and care delivery, further containing costs, and protecting consumers from high out-of-pocket costs.

As a former healthcare executive and former Massachusetts secretary of Health and Human Services, Gov. Baker has a particular interest in healthcare. According to the governor, his “legislation supports holistic approaches to care, provides consumers and employers with affordable care options, promotes behavioral-health parity, and ensures everyone has access to the services they need.”

Preventive Measure

The governor’s proposal prioritizes investment in primary care and behavioral-health services with the goal of keeping patients healthier and avoiding more expensive services, like emergency-department visits. Specifically, the legislation requires that providers and insurers increase spending on primary care and behavioral-health services by 30%, while at the same time staying within spending-growth limits required by the 2012 healthcare-reform law. The new legislation introduces new penalties for failure to stay within those limits.

As a means to increase access to primary care, the legislation reforms the requirements for mid-level practitioners, such as nurse practitioners. States like California that have expanded the scope of practice for nurse practitioners have seen an increase in the use of, and access to, primary-care services. The new legislation would allow nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental-health specialists to prescribe medications without a supervising physician.

“The governor’s proposal prioritizes investment in primary care and behavioral-health services with the goal of keeping patients healthier and avoiding more expensive services, like emergency-department visits.”

Similarly, the bill creates a mid-level dental-provider position to provide basic dental services, and expands the scope of practice for optometrists and podiatrists. To address the shortage of nurses in Massachusetts, the legislation makes it easier for nurses to move to the Commonwealth by allowing nurses licensed in another state to practice in Massachusetts without having to obtain a new license.

The bill also seeks to expand access to, and coverage of, mental and behavioral-health services through various measures, including provisions to encourage behavioral-health providers to accept insurance and to develop and grow the number of providers. The legislation establishes a Board of Registration of Recovery Coaches — a recommendation of the Recovery Coach Commission formed as part of the opioid legislation enacted in Massachusetts last year — which will credential recovery coaches who provide addiction-recovery services.

The legislation includes new consumer protections to manage healthcare spending and reduce consumers’ out-of-pocket costs. For example, it seeks to curb the practice of ‘surprise billing’ that consumers receive for emergency and unplanned services from out-of-network providers by establishing a default, out-of-network rate for such services. The bill also imposes limits on when a hospital can charge a fee for services delivered at an outpatient or satellite site and prohibits such fees for certain types of evaluative and diagnostic services.

The legislation also seeks to contain healthcare costs by addressing the high costs of prescription drugs. In addition to requiring pharmacists to inform consumers about the lowest cost options for the drugs they purchase, the legislation creates a review process for certain high-cost drugs and imposes financial penalties on manufacturers for increases in drug prices that exceed certain set percentages. Drug manufacturers also would be required to participate in annual cost-trend hearings before the Health Policy Commission.

Relatedly, the legislation imposes new oversight authority over pharmacy benefit managers, companies that negotiate contracts with drug manufacturers and manage pharmacy benefits and payments for health plans. Pharmacy benefit managers would be required to be certified with the Mass. Division of Insurance and report financial data to the Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis.

In addition to cost controls, the legislation includes provisions aimed at improving access to appropriate, coordinated healthcare, including access to urgent-care centers and telemedicine services. According to a 2018 analysis by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, there has been a sharp increase in the use of urgent-care centers, where services are less expensive than those provided at hospital emergency departments.

The governor’s proposal seeks to improve access to, and to eliminate confusion regarding, urgent-care centers. For example, the names of clinics operating as urgent-care centers would have to include the term ‘urgent care’ or otherwise suggest that urgent-care services are provided. The bill also requires urgent-care centers to be licensed by the state Department of Public Health, and, as requirements of licensure, such centers must accept MassHealth (the Massachusetts Medicaid program), provide behavioral-health services, and meet standards for coordinating with patients’ primary-care providers.

The legislation also seeks to expand access to care by improving and increasing the use of telemedicine (healthcare services provided via telecommunication services such as videoconferencing). Telemedicine can be a cost-effective form of care, and it eliminates the requirement of travel, which can be significant for individuals living in rural areas. In an attempt to increase the use of telemedicine in the Commonwealth, the legislation creates a regulatory framework for such services and requires insurance-coverage parity for such services (i.e., if there is coverage for the services if provided in person, there must be coverage if the services are provided via telemedicine).

The legislation seeks to support community health centers and hospitals by investing in the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, which pays hospitals and community health centers for services provided to low-income residents who are uninsured or underinsured. The governor’s proposed investment – $15 million – constitutes less than 5% of the total amount paid out by that trust fund to hospitals and community health centers in 2018. The legislation also provides for additional funding to the Community Hospital and Health Center Investment Trust Fund through the penalties that the legislation imposes on drug manufacturers and providers for failing to meet cost-containment requirements.

Along with efforts to control healthcare spending, the legislation also seeks to control the price of insurance premiums, particularly those paid by small and mid-size employers and their employees. An October 2019 report from the Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis found that premiums and cost-sharing obligations for private-sector employees in Massachusetts are continuing to increase at a faster rate than wages and inflation. Among other things, the legislation includes provisions which are designed to give small employers (50 employees or fewer) greater access to health-plan options.

Finally, on Oct. 18, the same day he filed his healthcare-reform bill, Gov. Baker issued an executive order to create a commission to study the combined individual and small-employer group health-insurance market. This unique market — known in Massachusetts as the ‘merged market’ — was established in 2007 with “the intention of increasing and stabilizing its risk pool to provide greater access to affordable health-insurance coverage,” according to the governor’s executive order.

The commission is tasked with analyzing the merged market in light of the legislative reforms and changes to the healthcare market that have occurred over the past 12 years and reporting recommendations to the governor by April 30, 2020, with the objective of “ensuring that all residents have access to affordable health-insurance coverage.”

Bottom Line

Gov. Baker’s proposed reforms are just that — proposals. Lawmakers at the State House are working on their own healthcare-reform legislation, including bills supporting a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system. What will follow are negotiations among legislators and the Baker administration, with the goal of passing comprehensive healthcare-reform legislation in Massachusetts before the Legislature’s formal session ends on July 31, 2020.

Jodi K. Miller, Esq. is a partner at Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP, in Springfield, where she represents clients in commercial and other civil-litigation and regulatory matters, with a focus on health law.

Springfield’s Educare Facility Is State-of-the-art in Every Respect

Education

Center of Attention

Nikki Burnett, seen here in one of the Educare center’s outdoor play areas, says the facility is a showcase of what early education should be — and what all young children deserve.

Nikki Burnett says Springfield’s Old Hill neighborhood and those surrounding it certainly need the gleaming new $14 million Educare facility constructed next door to the Elias Brookings Elementary School on Walnut Street.

More to the point, though, she told BusinessWest, they deserve this facility, which can only be described with that phrase state-of-the-art when it comes to everything from its programs to its play areas to its bathrooms.

“Mason Square, Old Hill, McKnight, Bay, all those neighborhoods … they’re so rich in history, so they’re rich in great success stories that have come out of here and are still coming out of here,” said Burnett, the recently named executive director of the 27,000-square-foot facility, who should know; she grew up there herself. “People like Ruth Carter, who just won an Oscar for the costume design in the movie Black Panther — she’s from Springfield.

“We have to celebrate those things, and we have to model those things for our children so they can see that they have greatness in them,” she went on. “One of the very important things about Educare is that it aligns potential with opportunity. I believe all children are born with immense potential, but many do not have the same opportunity to realize that, so Educare will give them that push — it will help readjust their trajectory.”

That’s why this area of the city, traditionally among the poorest neighborhoods in the state, deserves this Educare facility, just the 24th of its kind in the country and the only one in Massachusetts, she continued, adding quickly that this building, and the Educare model itself, were designed to show decision makers and society in general what all young children deserve and what has to be done so that they can all enjoy a similar experience.

Mary Walachy, executive director of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, which spearheaded efforts to bring the Educare facility to fruition, agreed.

“The message being sent here is that it costs money to do this work well,” she said. “It costs money to fund quality at the level that children in this community and others deserve, and we can’t expect outcomes that we want from children if the investment is not there at the front end.”

Considering those comments, Educare is certainly much more than a building, and those who visit it — and many will in the weeks and months to come — will come to understand that.

Indeed, the facility set to open later this year, supported by the Buffett Early Childhood Fund and to be operated in partnership with Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start, is, for lack of a better term, a standard — or the new standard when it comes to early-childhood education.

And it is, as Burnett and Walachy noted, a model — hopefully to be emulated — that incorporates everything science says young children need to flourish. This includes data utilization, high-quality teaching practices (three teachers to a classroom instead of the traditional two), embedded professional development, and intensive family engagement.

All this and more will come together at the much-anticipated facility, which will provide 141 children up to age 5 (already enrolled at a Head Start facility in that neighborhood) and their families with a full-day, full-year program that Burnett projects will be a place to learn — and not just for the young children enrolled there.

The Educare facility in Springfield is just one of 24 in the country and the only one in Massachusetts.

“Educare is going to be a demonstration site; we’re going to be able to bring in students of education, social work, counseling and therapy, and other areas from across the state and have them observe and learn our model,” she explained. “We understand that 141 children is not every child; however, what we learn here, we’re going to be able to send out — others can do what we’re doing. And on a policy level, it’s my hope that legislators can see the success of this and realize that, when they’re making out the budget, it needs to be funded so everyone can enjoy Educare quality.

“Educare is not going to be on every corner,” she went on. “But that doesn’t mean that the quality of Educare cannot be beneficial to all children.”

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest toured the Educare facility and talked with Burnett and others about what this unique early-education center means for Springfield and especially those young people who walk through its doors.

New School of Thought

Janis Santos, the longtime director of Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start, recalled that, when she toured the Educare facility recently as construction was winding down, she became quite emotional.

“I have to be honest, I started crying,” said Santos, honored roughly a year ago by BusinessWest as one of its Women of Impact for 2018. “One of the construction-crew members said, ‘why are you crying?’ and I said, ‘because I’m so happy.’

“Educare is going to be a demonstration site; we’re going to be able to bring in students of education, social work, counseling and therapy, and other areas from across the state and have them observe and learn our model.”

“This is a dream come true,” she went on, adding that the facility provides dramatic evidence of how far early-childhood education has come during her career — it was considered babysitting when she got her start — and how important it is to the overall development of young people.

Tears of joy have been a common emotional response among those who have toured the site, especially those involved in this initiative from the beginning, but there have been others as well. Indeed, Burnett told BusinessWest, when the staff members assigned to the Educare center visited the well-appointed teachers’ room, many of them started clapping.

These reactions provide ample evidence that the six-year journey to get the facility built and the doors open was certainly time and energy incredibly well-spent.

By now, most are familiar with the story of how an Educare facility — again, one of only 24 in the country — came to be in Springfield. It’s a story laced with serendipity and good fortune at a number of turns.

It begins back in 2014 when an early-childhood center on Katherine Street in Springfield closed down abruptly, leaving more than 100 children without classroom seats, said Walachy, adding that the Davis Foundation began looking at other options for early education in that building.

One of them was Educare, she went on, adding that officials with the Buffett Foundation and other agencies involved, as well as architects, came and looked at the property. They quickly determined that it was not up to the high standards for Educare centers.

“Their model is ‘make it a state-of-the-art, unbelievable building to send a strong message that this is what all kids deserve,’” said Walachy, adding that, after those inspections and being informed that a new facility would have to be built at a cost of more than $12 million, the Educare concept was essentially put on the shelf.

And it stayed there for the better part of two years until an anonymous donor from outside the Bay State who wanted to fund an Educare facility came into the picture.

“This individual pledged to pay for at least half the cost of building an Educare somewhere in the country, and she was willing to do it here in Springfield,” she said, adding that the donor has written checks totaling more than $9 million for both the construction and operation of the facility.

With this commitment, those involved went about raising the balance of the needed funds — the Davis Foundation and another donor committed $2 million each, and state grants as well as New Market Tax Credits were secured, bringing the total raised to more than $20 million — and then clearing what became another significant hurdle, finding a site on which to build.

Indeed, the Educare model is for these facilities to be built adjacent to elementary schools, and in Springfield, that proved a challenging mandate. But the tornado that ravaged the city, and especially the Old Hill area, in 2011, forcing the construction of a new Brookings School, actually provided an answer.

Indeed, land adjacent to the new school owned by Springfield College was heavily damaged by the tornado, making redevelopment a difficult proposition. Thus, the college became an important partner in the project by donating the needed land.

But while it’s been a long, hard fight to get this far, the journey is far from over, said both Burnett and Walachy, noting that another $500,000 must be raised to fund an endowment that will help cover operating expenses at the school.

And raising that money is just one of many responsibilities within Burnett’s lengthy job description, a list that also includes everything from becoming an expert on the Educare model to attending regular meetings of Educare facility directors — there’s one in New Orleans later this year, for example.

At the moment, one of the duties assuming much of her time is acting as a tour guide. She even joked that she hasn’t mastered the art of walking backward while talking with tour participants, but she’s working on it. To date, tours have been given to city officials, funders and potential funders, hired staff members, like those aforementioned teachers, and, yes, members of the media.

BusinessWest took its own tour, one that featured a number of stops, because items pointed out are certainly not typical of those found in traditional early-education centers.

“I literally cannot wait to see the children in there — that will be a special moment.”

Starting with what Burnett and others called the “outside-in” of the building’s design, which, as that phrase indicates, works to bring the outside environment into the school to provide continuity and the sense that the school is part of the larger world. Thus, green, grass-like carpeting was put down in the entranceways, and green carpet prevails pretty much throughout the facility. Meanwhile, the brick façade on the exterior is continued inside the building.

Throughout the building, there are generous amounts of light and state-of-the-art facilities throughout, from the well-equipped play areas inside and out to the two sinks in each of the classrooms — one for food preparation, the other for hand washing — to the restrooms designed especially for small people.

In addition, each classroom is equipped with small viewing areas with one-way mirrors so that so-called ‘master teachers’ and others can see and evaluate what’s happening.

In all, there are 12 classrooms, seven for infants and toddlers and five for preschool. As noted earlier, they will be places of learning, and not just for the students.

Model of Excellence

Returning to that emotional tour of the Educare facility she took a few weeks ago, Santos said that, as joyous and uplifting as it was, she’s looking forward to the next one even more.

“I literally cannot wait to see the children in there — that will be a special moment,” she told BusinessWest, putting almost a half-century of work in early childhood behind those words.

She can’t wait because students will be learning and playing in a facility that really was only a dream a few years ago — a dream that came true.

It’s a facility that those students truly need, but as Burnett and all the others we spoke said, it’s one they deserve — one that all students deserve.

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

Corey Murphy, President, First American Insurance

Retired Marine Corps Major Stresses Teamwork, Accountability

Corey Murphy, third from left, with several First American Insurance employees during a Toys for Tots campaign the company helped launch.

Corey Murphy knew he was no longer on active duty with the Marine Corps when he walked into his first staff meeting at his family’s business — Chicopee-based First American Insurance — with the accent on when he walked in.

Indeed, that meeting was scheduled for 8 a.m., and from his years as a Marine officer, Murphy translated this to mean that he should arrive no later than 10 minutes before the hour.

“You never, ever walk into a meeting if the boss is already there; you just don’t do that,” he told BusinessWest, referring to life in the Marine Corps. “So I show up at 10 of 8, because … if you’re on time, you’re late. I’m looking at my watch, and I’m the only one sitting there. I look at my watch again at 8, and I’m still the only one sitting there, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘what’s going on here?’ I couldn’t comprehend the idea of having an 8 o’clock meeting and have it not start by 8 o’clock.”

This wasn’t a serious wake-up call, but simply a reminder that life in the business world is not exactly like life in the Corps. He would get other lessons to this effect, he went on, adding that he once asked someone to get him something by the ‘close of business.’

“Two of the biggest similarities between the military and the business world are teamwork and accountability.”

“The military interpretation of that is that is ‘when you’re done, then you can close your business day,’” he explained. “As opposed to ‘it’s 5 o’clock, and I’m going home.’ They didn’t get it done by 5 and went home, and I said, ‘wait, I said close of business.’”

So there was certainly a period of what Murphy called “transition and adjustment” from life in the military to work at the office on Front Street. But, overall, many of the tenets, if you will, of life in the service do carry over to the workplace, often creating a more focused, more efficient, more sustainable workplace, he said, listing everything from an emphasis on teamwork to the need to keep up with — and take full advantage of — ever-improving technology, to stepping up when the need arises.

But there are other, perhaps even more important takeaways (if that’s the right term) from the military, he said, citing both the company’s philosophy of continuous education and training, and its commitment to the community.

There is a heavy emphasis on the former in the military and especially the Marine Corps, he noted, adding that there is now a similar degree of importance attached to it at First American.

“This is something I have tried to instill with everyone; training is very critical,” he said, adding that an even heavier emphasis on community involvement — one existed already at this company— stems from his experiences with the Marines is such places as Okinawa, the Philippines, and Korea.

“Coming home, I realized we have resources that we can use to try to make a difference, and so we try to help where we can,” he said, mentioning, as just one example, the company’s visit to a nearby elementary school on Halloween to distribute candy to the students.

Overall, Murphy spent 20 years with the Marines, on active duty and with the reserves, and retired as a major. He said joining the Corps was something he “always wanted to do,” although he couldn’t pinpoint a reason for this. He said his uncle served in the Marines during Vietnam and took part in the prolonged siege of Khe Sanh, but doubts whether that was a motivating factor in his decision.

Murphy went into the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Va. while attending Virginia Military Academy, and, after gaining his commission, was stationed in Hawaii and, later, Korea and Okinawa.

In the fall of 1998, he finished his four-year tour of duty and joined the family business. He would eventually buy it from his father in 2014.

After only six months of being home, he joined the Reserves, and would continue to serve — he did take a break at one point to earn his MBA — for another 16 years, before retiring in 2016. The last five years were spent with Marine Forces Pacific, leaving First American for stretches lasting several weeks on average to take part in exercises across that vast theater.

To be able to take part in such assignments, Murphy said he knew he needed a capable team behind him, one he knew he could trust to carry on without him — although, with technology, he was able to keep in touch.

And this is one of the many aspects of military service that has carried over to the workplace, he said, noting that teamwork and doing what’s necessary are some of the guiding philosophies at First American.

“Two of the biggest similarities between the military and the business world are teamwork and accountability,” he said, adding that they are necessary in both settings, and he has worked to instill these attributes in his team of nearly 20 employees. “If someone’s out sick or if we’re down a person or things get busy, there’s an expectation that people are going to pitch in and do whatever they need to do.”

Overall, Murphy said what he’s brought back from the Marine Corps is a philosophy of “adapt and overcome,” which is a big reason for the success the company has enjoyed.

“You adapt to the situation, and you overcome,” he explained, adding that this what happens in the Marines. “You go in with aplan, but the enemy has a plan, too. So you have to adapt to the situation you’re presented with and come up with a new plan.”

Murphy said he’s adjusted well to the business world and how it differs from the military, right down to what time people are expected at meetings and what ‘close of day’ means in this setting.

But the two worlds are actually more similar than they are different, he added, and those basic tenets of teamwork and accountability are the cornerstones on which success is built.

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

Dorothy Ostrowski, President, Adams & Ruxton Construction

Her Afghanistan Tour Brought Many Lessons for Life, Business

Dorothy Ostrowski is seen here during her tour of duty in Afghanistan with Gen. Karl Eikenberry (center) and fellow military police officers (from left) Ryan Stone, Dominic Cirillo, and Jeffrey Botcher.

Dorothy Ostrowski was only 17 when she joined the Army National Guard.

She needed her parents’ consent to do so at that age, and she got it, because they knew — and, more importantly, she knew — that this was something she needed at that critical junction in her life.

“I didn’t have probably the best circle of friends at that time,” she told BusinessWest, turning back the clock more than 23 years. “I was looking to get some direction in my life.”

To say she found some through her seven years in a military police company, serving in locations ranging from Italy to Panama to Afganistan, where she became a chase driver for Gen. Karl Eikenberry, would be a huge understatement.

Indeed, she said, during that time of service, she gained invaluable lessons in teamwork, trusting those you’re working beside, being ready for essentially anything, taking nothing for granted, and taking good care of team members.

And they have served her well since, in positions ranging from emergency-room nurse to president of the company that she and her husband, Mike, purchased at the start of this year, West Springfield-based Adams & Ruxton Construction.

“There are many ways in which what you learn in the military impacts what you do in life and in business,” she noted. “There’s the teamwork dynamic, the attention to detail, and the mindset of taking care of the troops — your troops eat first. It’s about taking care of the people around you, because they’re the ones who are going to pull you through things. And that directly impacts where I am now.”

“There would be times when you were out on convoys and there would be explosions, or you’d be out on a mission … and you’re not really thinking that you might not come back at the end of the day.”

Afghanistan was essentially the final stop in a lengthy stint with the National Guard that, as noted, took Ostrowski to several other countries and working situations. She told BusinessWest that her first ambition was to be a police officer. But, as she said, she needed to bring direction to her life, and so, while still enrolled at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, she made the decision to join the Guard with the stated goal of becoming a military police officer. Boot camp was the summer after her junior year.

Looking back on her time in Afghanistan, Ostrowski said it wasn’t until that tour of duty was over and she was back in this country that she could really put those experiences into their proper perspective.

“When you’re there, you’re just doing your job,” she told BusinessWest. “There would be times when you were out on convoys and there would be explosions, or you’d be out on a mission … and you’re not really thinking that you might not come back at the end of the day.”

Her Guard unit was there to be part of the efforts to train the Afghan national army, she explained, adding that her specific role with the Military Police was to protect Gen. Eikenberry, an assignment that often put her at the wheel of the chase car that rode close behind his Chevy Suburban.

“We would ensure that no one tried to drive into him or drive him off the road,” she noted. “Our mission for those several months was to get him where he needed to go safely, whether that meant chase-driving him or accompanying him in Blackhawks or Chinooks to different villages in Afghanistan.”

When that tour of duty ended, Ostrowski enrolled at Holyoke Community College, with the goal of joining the law-enforcement field, but instead took a different career path — into healthcare. She eventually became an emergency-room nurse after gaining her degree at Springfield Technical Community College, and later, while seeking work that would allow her to spend her time with her family, joined Sound Physicians, a medical process-improvement company. Along the way, she earned a dual master’s degree in nursing and business administration at Elms College to better position herself for new opportunities and, ultimately, a leadership position.

Dorothy Ostrowski says she won’t hesitate to do anything she asks her team members to do.

She created one for herself by acquiring Adams & Ruxton, a move she categorized as part of a lifelong pattern of continually seeking out new challenges and raising the bar when it comes it comes to her career ambitions — something else she took home from her time in the military.

Today, she leads a team of 25 people and boasts a broad job description, everything from meeting with clients to coordinating the subcontractors to handling the financials. And she brings her experience in the military to the workplace seemingly every day, especially those lessons in teamwork and working as a unit to achieve a mission, whatever it may be.

To get her points across, she referenced a cartoon a friend sent her that effectively illustrates — literally and figuratively — the difference between a manager and a true leader.

“In one panel, there’s a picture of a boss sitting up on a rock with all his employees pulling him,” she recalled. “And then, in the other, there’s a picture of a leader, the one at the front of that rope helping all his people pull that big rock; that’s the kind of leader I am, and I think a lot of it comes from my time with the Guard.

“It’s about not being afraid to do anything that you ask the people you’re surrounded by to do,” she went on. “But I think it’s also about recognizing the qualities of the people around you and being humble enough to say, ‘hey, I don’t know how to do this,’ and allowing those that know how to do it to teach you to do it.”

“In the military, you rely on each other,” she said in conclusion, adding that this mindset has helped enable her to be a driving force in business, long after she was a driving force in Afghanistan.

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

Andrew Anderlonis, President, Rediker Software

His Time in the Navy Provided an Education on Many Levels

Andrew Anderlonis says his time in the Navy helped him become an effective, people-oriented leader.

Andrew Anderlonis laughed as he noted that one of the Navy’s better selling points is that, no matter where you’re stationed, you’re certain to be close to be a beach.

And that was certainly the case when he was assigned to the destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69), which was based in San Diego; there are lots of fine beaches there.

But Anderlonis said he didn’t join the Navy to sit in the sun. No, he did so to get an education — in every sense of that term.

Indeed, through the Navy, he was awarded a full scholarship to attend George Washington University, earning degrees in international business and management information systems. But that’s just one aspect of the education he received. Later, serving on the Milius and then the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, he was put in situations where he could lead people, develop management skills, test himself, and grow as an individual.

And he credits those experiences — everything from work on nuclear reactors to missions to thwart pirates in the Middle East — with helping him become an effective, people-oriented leader at Rediker Software, which he now serves as president.

“I call my time in the Navy the ultimate leadership experience,” he told BusinessWest. “The experience that the Navy gave me, from an early stage, right out of college, put me into some really tough, really challenging situations that helped build my confidence, helped build my humility, and helped make me the kind of manager I am today.

“There’s different styles of leader out there,” he went on. “Through the Navy, I found out I was a people-first person. Taking care of people, taking care of the sailors under me really became how I was successful. I knew that if I took care of them, they would do their jobs and take care of me, and thus we would accomplish the mission — and I carry a lot of that same methodology to how I lead and manage today.”

“I call my time in the Navy the ultimate leadership experience.”

Before elaborating, Anderlonis flashed back a few decades to his decision to commit to the Navy.

As he noted earlier, this was, as they say in the military, a tactical decision. He knew that beyond a beach — somewhere — the Navy would help provide him with both a college education and invaluable work and life experience.

And it delivered all that and more.

“The Navy was really appealing to me, and I liked the opportunities that it offered — you’re given a lot of responsibility as soon as you graduate, especially as an officer,” he recalled, adding that, after graduating from the ROTC program as a midshipman, he started his career on the Milius, a guided-missile destroyer.

There, he wore a large number of hats, as he put it; he served as a gunnery officer, a legal officer, and was the ‘vessel-boarding, search-and-seizure officer.’

After two years in San Diego, he moved on to Charleston, S.C. for a year and switched gears, becoming a nuclear engineering officer. He earned his qualification to work onboard an aircraft carrier, and was later assigned to one of the reactors on the George H.W. Bush.

All told, he served more than five years of active duty that included those two ship tours and several deployments, including (while on the Milius) some anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the central and southern Arabian Gulf, previously known as the Persian Gulf.

“I was the vessel-boarding, search-and-seizure officer … I had an 18-person crew that was under me,” he recalled. “We would board ships and look for pirates; I was out there in my desert camos climbing up the side of tankers.”

Those were among the myriad experiences that, in total, helped prepare Anderlonis for his transition to the business world, specifically Rediker Software, a venture started by his wife’s father that specializes in integrated school-management systems.

And that preparation involved everything from technology and how to make the most of it, to management and how to handle just about anything that can be thrown at the leader of a small business.

Elaborating, he returned to that mindset, or philosophy, of being a people-oriented leader, a methodology that has worked at Rediker in the same way it did on the George H.W. Bush.

“I make sure that I take care of them,” he said, referring to his team of 95 employees. “I make sure their needs are met and that they’re happy. And I know that, in the end, they’ll take care of me and work as a team to accomplish the business objectives that we’ve laid as we move forward.”

Another tangible benefit from his years in the Navy, he said, is how it has helped him with the broad realm of crisis management and what falls into that category of ‘crisis.’

“It puts everything into perspective when you’re in a war zone and there are actual casualties or something happens and your training kicks in,” he explained. “That’s helped me decide here what’s a true emergency and what’s not. It’s also helping me to maintain a level head and manage stress. And while others are panicking or might be having a really difficult day, I’m able to help them keep a level platform and get through what they might be going through from a leadership perspective.

“At a young age, I was put in a lot of stressful situations, and there were a lot of challenging moments early in my career,” he went on. “And I think those really helped define who I am as a manager and a leader today.”

Meanwhile, there was certainly some beach time in the Navy as well, especially in San Diego. But that’s another story.

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

The Red Sox Are Coming to Town

By Editorial November 12, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

As the headlines keep coming about the state’s casinos not meeting their projections for gaming revenues, the announcement last week that the Boston Red Sox will bring their annual Winter Weekend fan event to MGM Springfield and the MassMutual Center was well-timed and quite poignant.

We’ve been saying for some time now — and we’ll keep on saying — that, while the revenue projections for the state’s casinos are somewhat disappointing, they are just part of what gaming brings to the state and the communities in which they are located. Do we wish their revenues were more in line with the projections made all those years ago? Sure, but the casinos, and especially the one in Springfield, have brought benefits well beyond additional revenues to the state.

In the City of Homes, it has created momentum and traffic on most Saturday nights. On nights when there are shows, downtown comes alive and looks like … well, it doesn’t look like Springfield, or at least the Springfield of much of the past several decades. And the casino continues to bring energy and benefits in ways that probably couldn’t have been anticipated when officials were signing the host-community agreement drafted several years ago.

Which brings us back to the Red Sox and the Winter Weekend. This is one of the many benefits resulting from the new, multi-year partnership the team inked with MGM as the “official and exclusive resort of the team” early last year.

That designation once belonged to Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut, meaning that, for two days in January, a large group of Red Sox players (past and present), officials, and, yes, fans traveled to the Nutmeg State and spent a considerable amount of money there.

Next Jan. 17 and 18, those players, officials, and fans — and that spending money — will instead be coming to Springfield. And they’ll be coming during a time when the tourism sector here could certainly use a boost.

Several thousand fans are expected to come to the festival, which will include a town-hall event, autograph sessions, and photo opportunities with the players from today and yesterday.

This will be a great opportunity for fans of the team to connect with the players and coaches in a way they probably never have before. Meanwhile, those who come to see the team’s stars will also see a rising star in the city of Springfield — which they probably haven’t seen up close either.

Overall, this will be a tremendous opportunity for the city to roll out the red carpet and showcase all the good things that have happened here in recent years.

Some logistically minded people are already wondering, ‘what happens if it snows?’ We’re pretty certain the organizers will figure out. And they’ll also figure out how to make these two days something memorable, not only for Red Sox fans but for those doing business in downtown Springfield.

It all came to be because MGM forged a strong business partnership with the Red Sox. That’s one of the benefits you don’t see when you’re just looking at statistics concerning gross gaming revenue. And it’s one of the many reasons why it’s far too early to discuss whether the gaming industry is off to a disappointing start in the Bay State.

The Red Sox are coming to town. And Springfield is the big winner in this game.

Musical Chairs Is Not Real Development

By Editorial November 12, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

The CVS in Tower Square in downtown Springfield closed its doors the other day as the chain opened a new facility several blocks to the south, almost across Main Street from MGM Springfield.

While this event isn’t in itself newsworthy on most levels, it is part of what is becoming a trend that is rather … well, disconcerting is too strong a word, but it’s pretty close. It’s a trend we would like to see reversed.

And that’s a trend toward businesses and institutions moving a block or two and having officials and business leaders label such activity ‘economic development.’ It might be that on some level — or in some cases, to be precise. But mostly, it’s just musical chairs that isn’t really helping matters when it comes to the big picture.

Let’s start with that CVS. On some levels, we should consider this part of efforts to revitalize the tornado-ravaged South End of Springfield — and that’s what it’s being called. In fact, MGM’s leaders have mentioned this project early and often when talking about how the $960 million facility is stimulating additional development in and around its campus.

Maybe that’s true. That’s maybe. But moving CVS several hundred yards to the south can’t be interpreted as bringing ‘new business’ to Springfield. And moving that store out of Tower Square can’t be helping the ongoing efforts to revitalize that former business hub and shopping center. In fact, the decrease in foot traffic will certainly hurt efforts to bring new businesses into that once-thriving but long-struggling facility. And it will also hurt the employees in the downtown business towers who frequent that convenient location.

But enough about CVS. We’ve seen this musical-chairs activity with bank branches, small businesses, nonprofits, and more. They move into a new space to considerable fanfare while leaving a vacancy somewhere else.

Sometimes it’s necessary — as when a company needs to move to better or larger space, or when a lease is being terminated, as was the case a few years ago with a number of law firms displaced by the arrival of MGM. And it’s nothing unique to Springfield or this region. Indeed, every time a new office building is constructed in Boston, New York, or any other large city, tenants relocate to it from other facilities in the general area.

And, as we noted, sometimes it’s a good thing, as is the case with Peter Pan moving just a few hundred feet into Union Station. That seemingly unnecessary move cleared the way for Way Finders to build a new facility on the Peter Pan site that might help revitalize the North Blocks area, while also helping to speed development in the South End, in property currently home to Way Finders.

But in most cases, this musical-chairs activity is just that — people moving from one chair to another with no real benefits, other than to those doing the moving.

We don’t know all the reasons why CVS moved three blocks down Main Street, and we’re not sure what kind of impact it will have in the South End. Maybe it will be a catalyst for more development, and maybe it will be a solid start to efforts to balance the glitz on the west side of Main Street with some on the east side.

But overall, such moves don’t generate economic development as much as they just move it around. The real goal should be to have companies change their zip code (to one in the 413) when they move, not keep the same one.

Picture This

Picture This

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

President’s Gala

An evening of elegance and passion, the Springfield College President’s Gala raised more than $500,000 for Springfield College student scholarships. More than 300 gathered on Saturday, October 26 at the MGM Springfield Aria Ballroom. All proceeds will go toward need and merit-based scholarships. The gala was also an opportunity to celebrate the Springfield College Humanics philosophy and its 50-year commitment of having an active member of the current student body serve as a voting member of the board of trustees. Pictured, clockwise from top left: Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper with sport management major Shamar Martin; Kristian Rhim, a communications/sports journalism major from Philadelphia who serves as the student trustee-elect this academic year and will continue on as the 50th student trustee starting in June 2020, is introduced at the gala; Alexandra Goslin, a math and secondary education major from South Windsor, Conn., who is serving as the 49th student trustee this academic year, welcomes visitors to the gala.

Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper with sport management major Shamar Martin

Kristian Rhim, a communications/sports journalism major from Philadelphia who serves as the student trustee-elect this academic year and will continue on as the 50th student trustee starting in June 2020, is introduced at the gala

Alexandra Goslin, a math and secondary education major from South Windsor, Conn., who is serving as the 49th student trustee this academic year, welcomes visitors to the gala

Children’s Study Home Art Show

On Sept. 19, the Children’s Study Home held a child and youth art show and auction at the Carriage House at the Barney Estate in Forest Park. More than 30 pieces of artwork from all mediums, including acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil, chalk, and sculptures, were shown from the students of the Children’s Study Home’s Mill Pond School and Curtis Blake Day School, as well as artwork from the children of the Children’s Study Home’s residential programs. Local area artisans participated and donated art pieces to the event. The art was displayed for the evening and sold to raise money for the Children’s Study Home’s art and culturing programs.

Uplifting Women

More than 130 people attended the COMMversations 2019 event at the Springfield Museums. This Bay Path University student-directed event, in partnership with community collaborators, honored and recognized the voices of historic women of the past, pacesetters of the present, and those who are working in ‘brave’ spaces today to define a future for all. Featured speakers were Bay Path President Carol Leary, who was recognized for her 25 years of leadership at Bay Path, and Freedom Rider Jean Denton Thompson, who courageously fought for justice on the front lines of the civil-rights movement.

Allison Zacynski (left) and Tabitha Shustock were two of many Bay Path students who participated in COMMversations 2019

From left, state Rep. Brian Ashe, Leary, state Sen. Eric Lesser, Denton Thompson, Bay Path Professor Janine Fondon, and Marvena Shubrick, representing state Rep. Jose Tosado.

Harvest of Creativity

On Oct. 25, students and staff from DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology in West Springfield delivered creepy, cute, and festive Halloween pumpkins to the young patients of Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield and Baystate Children’s Hospital. A yearly tradition at DiGrigoli School, the students spent weeks painting, gluing, and designing their pumpkins. Paul DiGrigoli, owner of DiGrigoli School and DiGrigoli Salon, purchases 60 pumpkins every year to increase creativity among the students and teach them the importance of giving back. Once the pumpkins are designed and completed, they are judged by staff members, and prizes are awarded. A selection of the best are then hand-delivered to the child patients of the two Springfield hospitals.

Note-able Family

The Ja’Duke Theater announced a father/daughter duo as winners of the Valley Voice competition, which took place Oct. 26. The winner of the Valley Voice Kids & Teen division is 10-year-old Natalie Duff of Wilbraham. She competed in three rounds of performances to win the top spot, a cash prize of $500, and a one-hour recording session at Next Level Records. This division is designated for singers in grades 1 to 12. Natalie’s father, Jared Duff, was named the winner of the Valley Voice adult division. He also competed in three rounds of performances and won a cash prize of $1,000 and a one-hour recording session at Next Level Records.

Super 60

Now in its 30th year, the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Super 60 program celebrates the success of the fastest-growing privately-owned businesses in the region. Businesses on the Total Revenue and Revenue Growth categories for 2019 represent myriad sectors of the economy, including nonprofits, transportation, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, retail, and hospitality. They were feted on Oct. 25 at Chez Josef in Agawam.

Pictured at right: Michael Mancuso (left) of event sponsor People’s United Bank presents a plaque to Nate Costa, president of the Springfield Thunderbirds, honored in the Revenue Growth category.

Passing the Torch

The Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley (FBC) celebrated its 25 years of success and first leadership transition with a Legacy and Soul event on Oct. 23 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Founding Director Ira Bryck officially passed the torch to the new Executive Director Jessi Kirley (pictured belwo). FBC members, sponsors, friends, and family shared stories about Bryck and gave a show of support for Kirley. The night finished with dancing to local reggae band (and family business) ReBelle.

Keep the Ball Rolling

Joe Phillips (right), president of Phillips Insurance Agency Inc., recently delivered a $5,000 check to John Freedman (center) and state Rep. Brian Ashe for the eighth annual Joseph D. Freedman Bowl-a-Thon. John is the founder of the event, and Ashe will serve as master of ceremonies. The event is being held Saturday, Nov. 16 at AMF Lanes in Chicopee. All proceeds will benefit Camphill Village, a community for adults with developmental disabilities who live and work together, caring for each other. Last year, hundreds of bowlers enjoyed the bowling, face painting, and other activities.

Court Dockets

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
Carmen Lopez v. Gleason Johndrow Landscaping Inc.
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing injury: $5,729+
Filed: 10/11/19

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Christian Goodchild v. Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital, Dr. John Benson, and Dr. Kira Randall
Allegation: Negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress: $37,500
Filed: 8/23/19

Tricia Torrey v. United Personnel Services Inc. and James Kervick
Allegation: Employment discrimination: $70,000
Filed: 9/12/19

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Kathleen Rapoza and Joseph Rapoza v. Bond Street Development
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $219,026.03
Filed: 10/3/2019

Smith & Wesson Inc. v. Frontier Enterprises, LLC
Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $47,433.88
Filed: 10/4/2019

Heritier Kampew v. Balise Motor Sales Co. Inc.
Allegation: Fraud, emotional distress, defamation: $100,000
Filed: 10/7/2019

Michelle Magner v. Balise Motor Sales Co., James E. Balise Jr., and Timothy Ingerson
Allegation: Employment contract: $25,000
Filed: 10/7/2019

Jonathan Crothers, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Crosstown Courier Service Inc. and Christopher J. Noyes
Allegation: Money owed for labor and services: $25,000+
Filed: 10/15/2019

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Mason Woolley v. Smith College and Hampshire College
Allegation: Breach of contract, violation of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment: $32,500
Filed: 10/8/19

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Daniel Narreau v. Zoetis Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract, negligence, gross negligence, animal cruelty, negligent design and manufacturing: $7,000
Filed: 10/15/2019

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
John Deere Construction & Forestry Co. v. Joshua A. Ayotte d/b/a Ayotte Tree Services
Allegation: Default on loan for equipment purchased: $13,540.02
Filed: 9/3/19

Agenda

Agenda

Western New England Demo Day

Nov. 12: Launch413 will host the first in a new triannual event series, Western New England Demo Day, at TechSpring in downtown Springfield. The purpose of this event is to bring local startups and investors together to give entrepreneurs greater access to capital, and investors more options for local investment. WNE Demo Day aims to provide a friendly and organized environment for startups and investors to meet each other and find new paths to mutual prosperity. In June 2019, Launch413 hosted a pilot Demo Day event at Valley Venture Mentors in downtown Springfield. The event was a success, drawing the interests of more than 30 local startups and five other investment groups, each of which has brought its support to the new WNE Demo Day event series (including River Valley Investors, Milltown Capitol, Alchemy Fund, Golden Seeds, and Maroon Fund). Launch413 first conceived of Demo Day as a tool to further Launch413’s mission of providing guidance from veteran executives to local startups in need of a path to scalability. Demo Day would provide a way to get these startups the funding they need. After the Demo Day pilot event exceeded expectations, Launch413 learned of the need for a regular event like this from both startups and investors.

Chili Cook-off

Nov. 17: The Hampden County Bar Foundation and the Dante Club will hold a Chili Cook-off fundraising event from noon to 3 p.m at the Dante Club, 1198 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Hampden County Bar Foundation and the Dante Club Scholarships Inc. The Hampden County Bar Foundation funds the Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship, the John F. Moriarty Scholarship, the Hampden County Legal Clinic, and the Children’s Law Project. The cost to register chili for the competition is $25, and registration is open to all. For more information and to register, visit www.hcbar.org.

Forward Fifty

Nov. 20: Springfield School Volunteers (SSV) will host Forward Fifty, its golden anniversary fundraising gala, at 5:30 p.m. at MGM Springfield. The event will honor 50 individuals, businesses, and community officials who have helped SSV become the impactful organization it is today. They include: American Honda Finance Co., Wylene Bailey, Baystate Health, Evelyn Benedetti, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County, Robert Bolduc, Gary Breton, A. Craig Brown, Bulkley Richardson, Jean and Durham Caldwell, Velada Chaires, Marsha Crapps, Helaine Davis, Maria DeAngelis, Mary Devlin, B. John Dill, Paul Doherty, Don Dorn, Carol Fitzgerald, Leo Foster, Sally Fuller, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Peter Hess, Alberta “Dolly” Howard, Marjorie Hurst, Judy Kelly, Pauline Kimball, Carol Kinsley, Kiwanis Club, Lucie Lewis, John Manzi, Mass Partnership Mentoring, MassMutual Life Insurance Co., Norma Nunnally, Gloria Peeler, Peter Pan Bus Lines Inc., Allen Reed, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Edwin Shea, Ken Shea, Patricia Spradley/PACE, Springfield Regional Chamber, Springfield City Library, Springfield College, Springfield Public Schools, Smith College, James Trelease, state Sen. James Welch, Western New England University, and Sally Wittenberg. Forward Fifty will take place in the Bellagio Ballroom with a celebration of SSV’s rich history through speakers, photos, and videos. There will also be a buffet dinner, cash bar, and presentation of the Springfield School Volunteers Honoree Award to 50 individuals and businesses. Proceeds from the gala will help SSV continue its work improving the lives of Springfield’s students. Over the years, SSV has been a strong supporter of the Springfield Public Schools, developing programs in response to the diverse needs of the students and the district. Today SSV runs three distinctive programs — School-based Mentoring, Academic Support, and Read Aloud — that bring more than 1,000 volunteers each year into the schools. Tickets and tables to Forward Fifty are now on sale at ssvgoldengala.eventbrite.com.

Women of Impact Luncheon

Dec. 4: BusinessWest will present its second annual Woman of Impact Luncheon on on Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Sheraton Springfield. The keynote speaker will be Lisa Tanzer, president of Life Is Good. The 2019 Women of Impact honorees were profiled in the Oct. 28 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. Tickets cost $65 per person, or $650 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets, visit www.businesswest.com/women-of-impact or e-mail [email protected]. The Women of Impact program is sponsored by Country Bank and TommyCar Auto Group (presenting sponsors), Comcast Business and Granite State Developing (supporting sponsors), New Valley Bank & Trust (speaker sponsor), and WWLP 22 News/CW Springfield (media sponsor).

HMC Annual Gala

Nov. 23: Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) will host its annual gala at the Log Cabin. All proceeds will benefit Valley Health Systems, which includes Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke Medical Group, Holyoke VNA Hospice Life Care, and River Valley Counseling Center. The annual gala will feature a complimentary cocktail reception; a seven-course chef’s dinner, each with its own wine pairing; a silent auction to support Valley Health Systems; award presentations; and dancing to music performed by the O-Tones. Holyoke Medical Center has selected Dr. M. Saleem Bajwa to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and hard work on behalf of Holyoke Medical Center and the local community for more than 40 years. Also being recognized are select members of the Valley Health Systems staff who exemplify exceptional care in the categories of Best Physician, Best Caregiver, Best Supporting Employee, and Best Leader. Tickets for this black-tie-optional gala are $125 per person and can be purchased through the Holyoke Medical Center website at www.holyokehealth.com/gala19 or by calling the Development Office at (413) 534-2579.

Micro-emerging Markets: Cannabis Certificate Program

Jan. 13 to May 5: American International College (AIC) is announcing a new undergraduate initiative in the School of Business, Arts and Sciences titled Micro-Emerging Markets: Cannabis Certificate Program. Three business courses are offered in rotation beginning with the spring 2020 semester. The first course of the series will run on Wednesdays, 3:50 p.m. to 6:20 p.m., starting Jan. 13, 2020 and continuing through May 5, 2020. There are no prerequisites to enroll other than a high-school diploma or GED equivalency. Non-matriculated students can enter the program at any time in the sequence. The first course, “Cannabis Entrepreneurship,” will examine customer groups, products, and services in the recreational market. The effect of price, quality, and competitors will be explored relative to competing effectively. This will involve key components of the industry, including legal aspects, business models, financing, and marketing. In “Cannabis Business Operations,” students will analyze the evolving cannabis marketplace and investigate the complexities and challenges of this sector. This course will conduct an in-depth look at the key components of different business types, how the sector is evolving, starting and operating a cannabis business, in addition to financial constraints, investments, and strategic marketing in the industry. The final course, “The Law and Ethics of Cannabis,” will examine the legalization of cannabis. Discussion around the legal and ethical implications of cannabis use, its legalization, criminal activity, and marketing will be explored in addition to perspectives of law enforcement, business owners, and recreational uses. For more information about the Micro-Emerging Market: Cannabis Certificate Program, visit aic.edu/mem.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Chamber Corners

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

• Nov. 13: Chamber Nite, 5-7 p.m. 1Berkshire’s monthly networking opportunity continues in November with an event to be held at Wohrle’s Foods in Pittsfield. Cost: free for members. To register, visit 1berkshire.com.

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

• Nov. 13: Working Across Generations Workshop, 5-6:30 p.m., hosted by Look Park Garden House. Cost: free. RSVP at northamptonchamber.com.

• Nov. 15: Launching Women Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., hosted by Courtyard by Marriott. Cost: $25 for members, $45 for non-members.

• Nov. 18: Talk on Housing and Employment, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Amherst Survival Center. Cost: free.

• Nov. 21: Diversity and Inclusion Workshop, 8 a.m. to noon, hosted by Hadley Farms Meeting House. Cost: $25 for members, $45 for non-members.

BRADLEY REGIONAL CHAMBER
www.bradleyregionalchamber.org
(860) 653-3833

• Nov. 12: Business After Hours, 5:30 p.m., hosted by Bradley International Airport. Tour new updates of the terminals and hear Kevin Dillon, Connecticut Airport Authority chief, speak.

• Nov. 14: E-Circle Marketing Lunch & Learn, noon. “A Fresh Approach to Marketing and Sales That Will Drive Business Growth. Registration required.

• Nov. 14: USA Mechanical grand reopening ribbon cutting, 4 p.m. USA Mechanical & Energy Services, LLC is doubling its footprint. With the growth of the company in both construction and HVAC service and maintenance, it has added employees, sheet-metal fabrication and warehouse space, offices, and a conference room and training center.

• Nov. 20: Ambassador Luncheon, noon, hosted by DoubleTree Hotel/Shade Bar & Grill.

All events are free for Bradley Regional Chamber members, and there is small fee for non-members. The Ambassador Luncheon is a ‘pay your way’ event. Visit www.bradleyregionalchamber.org for more information and to register.

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

• Nov. 19: Speed Networking, 8-10 a.m., hosted by Inn on Boltwood, 30 Boltwood Dr., Amherst. Start your morning off at this high-energy, fast-paced, fun new way to network. Have some coffee, enjoy breakfast, and then do some speed networking. Cost: free for members only. Pre-registration required. For more information and to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

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

• Nov. 14: Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, 5:30-8:30 p.m., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Join us as we roll out the red carpet and honor our 2019 ‘Of the Year’ Award winners: Business of the Year: Westfield Gas & Electric/Whip City Fiber; Nonprofit of the Year: Westfield 350th Committee; Lifetime Achievement: Sister Elizabeth Oleksak of Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center. Cost: $59. Members and non-members are invited to attend. For more information, to become a sponsor, and to register, visit westfieldbiz.org/events or call (413) 568-1618.

• Nov. 26: After 5 Connections, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Rosewood Home & Gifts, 34 Elm St., Westfield. Refreshments will be served, and a 50/50 raffle will benefit the chamber’s scholarship fund. Bring your business cards and make connections. Cost: free for members and non-members. For more information and to register, visit westfieldbiz.org/events or call (413) 568-1618.

• Nov. 29-30: Westfield #ShopSmall. The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with many local businesses throughout Westfield, will support Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29-30. Forty businesses are featured on a game board. Event sponsor, Staples, will provide a posterboard of the game board for the 40 businesses to display in their window. Another event sponsor, the Pennysaver, will include the game board in its Nov. 21 issue. Shoppers can visit a minimum of 10 participating merchants to be eligible for cash prizes of $500, $300, and $150. For more information, visit westfieldbiz.org/events or call (413) 568-1618.

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

• Nov. 21: Government Reception, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. To make a reservation, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 755-1310.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
springfieldyps.com

• Nov. 21: November YPS Third Thursday. 5-7 p.m., hosted by Worthington Street Pub, 211 Worthington St., Springfield. Join YPS for complimentary handcrafted appetizers and a cash bar with more than 50 craft beers and barrel-aged cocktails. Cost: free for members, $10 for non-members. Register at springfieldyps.com.

People on the Move

People on the Move

Hector Toledo

Gov. Charlie Baker recently appointed Hector Toledo, vice president and Branch Distribution Network officer at Greenfield Savings Bank, to Greenfield Community College’s (GCC) board of trustees. One of 11 trustees, he will replace former trustee Linda Melconian. Toledo joins the board with close to 30 years of experience in banking. Before joining Greenfield Savings Bank in 2018, he held executive positions at People’s United Bank, Hampden Bank, and Bank of America. Raised in Springfield, he has spent the past 25 years volunteering for numerous nonprofits. He is a board member and chair of the finance committee for Baystate Health, a board member for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, a former chairperson of the board of Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), and a board member of both the YMCA of Greater Springfield and the United Way of Pioneer Valley. Though new to the college, Toledo has served on boards alongside former GCC President Bob Pura, and is acutely aware of the life-changing impact community colleges have on the students they serve. An alum of STCC, he is of the first generation in his family to attend college. “One of the greatest qualities of community colleges in this state is the automatic support and hope given to students regardless of where they come from, their ethnicity, their gender, or their age,” Toledo said.

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Viability Inc. announced that Don Kozera will serve as interim president and CEO following the recent death of President and CEO Dick Venne. “With decades of executive leadership experience, Don rejoins Viability to provide support and guidance for the organization,” said Patricia Robinson, vice president. “During this time, Don and the board will be collaborating to identify the future needs of Viability and how we continue to develop our organization better together.”

•••••

Karen Smith Wohlers

Karen Smith Wohlers has joined Smith Brothers Insurance and will be responsible for employee-benefits compliance and legal services. She has a strong background in human resources and compliance, which will complement Smith Brothers’ growing employee-benefits services in support of clients throughout the U.S. Previously, she was vice president of Human Resources and then chief operating officer at Square One. “Karen’s experience and impact with both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, as well as her compliance training and consulting work for the Employer Association of the NorthEast, will be a significant addition to our employee-benefits practice,” said Don Poulin, Employee Benefits practice leader at Smith Brothers Insurance.

•••••

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Berkshire County ran its first All-Ideas Pitch Contest at the Berkshire Museum, awarding first prize of $1,000 to Kaitlyn Pierce of Binka Bear, a product that helps wean children off pacifiers. She also won the Fan Favorite award of $500. Second place prize of $750 went to Michelle Latimer and Leia Miller for their idea 413 Bubbly, a mobile prosecco/champagne business. Third place went to Erin Laundry of Bottomless Bricks, a building-block birthday-party business with a storefront in Adams. More than 100 members of the community came to support the new business ideas, where 11 individuals were invited to showcase and eight pitched their ideas. The contest judges were Evan Valenti of Steven Valenti Clothing, Jodi Rathbun-Briggs of Greylock Federal Credit Union, John Lewis of Sp3ak Easy Studios, Laurie Mick of PERC and the city of Pittsfield, Linda Dulye of Dulye & Co., and Lindsey Schmid of 1Berkshire.

•••••

Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality Group, announced the appointment of H. Jackson Donoyan as vice president of Operations for the growing hotel-management company. As vice president of Operations, Jackson will work closely with Eustis and Main Street’s leadership team to oversee operations at each hotel property in the portfolio. He will focus on revenue generation, operational oversight, owner relations, talent development, and strategic growth. In addition, he is tasked with stabilization and development of the brand while also enhancing the overall guest experience and reinforcing brand standards. Jackson brings a wealth of industry ingenuity to Main Street Hospitality Group, including a background opening and operating newly constructed and renovated hotels. Most recently, he was the general manager at NYLO Providence Warwick Hotel in Warwick, R.I. Prior to that, he was a hospitality consultant in Boston and held positions as the director of Food and Beverage and director of Operations/interim general manager at both the Liberty Hotel in Boston and Hotel Viking in Newport, R.I.

•••••

Kevin Kervick

OMG Roofing Products hired Kevin Kervick as solar products business manager, reporting to Adam Cincotta, director of the company’s Adhesives/Solar Business Unit. In his new role, Kervick is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic plan for the company’s solar business, as well as for managing solar sales, product development, and profitability. For the past four years, Kervick has been a sales and marketing consultant, most recently working with the Spencer Brewery, a startup venture. Earlier, he was owner and chief Marketing officer for the Bassette Co., a commercial printing and marketing company based in Springfield. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Babson College.

•••••

Peter Reinhart, director of the Institute of Applied Life Sciences (IALS) at UMass Amherst, announced that six campus research teams have been named recipients of the first Manning/IALS Seed Grants. The awards will support next steps in their research, such as proof-of-concept studies, business development, and fundamental research into new products, technologies, and services to benefit human health and well-being. Earlier this year, alumnus Paul Manning and his wife, Diane, committed $1 million through their family foundation to establish the Manning Innovation Program, which provides three years of support in advancing a robust and sustainable pipeline of applied and translational research projects from UMass Amherst. The seed grants were awarded after a competitive process that narrowed 35 teams to six winners. Faculty researchers will receive not only seed funding of $100,000 each over three years, but also business training and mentorship from IALS, the College of Natural Sciences, the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship, and the Isenberg School of Management, among others. The winning team leaders and their projects include Derek Lovley, microbiology, “Fabricating Protein Nanowires for Unique Sensing Capabilities”; Jeanne Hardy, chemistry, “Development of Potent Zika Virus Protease Inhibitors”; S. “Thai” Thayumanavan, chemistry, and Steve Faraci, “Pre-clinical Efficacy Evaluation of Liver-targeted, Thyromimetic-encapsulated IntelliGels for the Treatment of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis”; Neil St. John Forbes, chemical engineering, “Bacterial Delivery of Therapeutic Peptides to Treat Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma”; Shelly Peyton, chemical engineering, “GelTech to Enable Tissue-specific Drug Discovery and Help Eliminate Potential False-positive Hits from Screening”; and Madalina Fiterau Brostean, computer science, “4Thought: Unlocking Insights into Your Mental Health.” The Manning Foundation’s gift provides an investment in UMass Amherst as a partner of choice in advancing and applying knowledge and innovation for the betterment of society.

•••••

Kingbill Zhao

OMG Roofing Products announced that Kingbill Zhao has been promoted to director of Key Accounts and International Sales. He replaces Web Shaffer, who was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of the company’s FastenMaster Division. In his new role, Zhao will manage all sales and marketing activities of the company’s three key account managers, as well as the company’s international sales and its European and Asia market managers. He reports to Peter Coyne, senior vice president and general manager. Zhao joined OMG Roofing Products in January 2010 as the company’s first employee in Asia, and was instrumental in not only building its presence in China, but also in hiring the team in place now in China. Prior to joining OMG, he worked for the Chinese National Building Waterproof Assoc. as manager of the International Liaison Department. Earlier, he worked for North China Power Engineering Co. in Nigeria as commercial manager on a substation expansion project. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Beijing International Study University and is pursuing his MBA from Washington State University. He is based at the company’s Agawam headquarters.

•••••

Jessica DeFlumer-Trapp, vice president of Integration at Behavioral Health Network (BHN), recently received the Excellence in Care Integration Award at the Assoc. for Behavioral Health’s (ABH) annual “Salute to Excellence” event. In the two years DeFlumer-Trapp has served at BHN, she has been guiding the organization’s dramatic growth in medical integration and care management. Strategies to integrate behavioral and physical health are at the forefront of healthcare in BHN’s service area and in the nation. As BHN’s vice president managing behavioral and physical health integration, she is guiding new initiatives related to integration and population health. She was recognized by ABH for her ability to understand trends at the macro level as it relates to the evolving landscape in behavioral health, and bring concept and strategy to the implementation level. Prior to her current position, DeFlumer-Trapp served as BHN’s senior program manager of Population Health, where she charted the overall course of BHN’s population-health initiative, working closely with those in the areas of care management, pharmacy, health, and wellness.

Company Notebook

Company Notebook

HCC, C3RN Launch Cannabis Education Center

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) and the Cannabis Community Care and Research Network (C3RN) recently announced the creation of the Cannabis Education Center to provide education and training opportunities and other business resources to individuals in the region who want to work in the state’s newly legalized cannabis industry. HCC and C3RN are designated training partners through the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Equity Vendor Training program. The program was designed to provide priority access, training, and technical assistance to those negatively impacted by the drug war. The Cannabis Education Center will be managed out of HCC’s Kittredge Center and provide academic advising and workforce training, public education events that highlight entrepreneurship and workforce development, entrepreneurship events for those interested in joining the cannabis industry as a startup company, and social-equity training for applicants qualified through the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Equity Training program. More information about these programs will be posted soon on the Cannabis Education Center’s website, cannabiseducationcenter.org. The Cannabis Education Center will also be running four previously announced certificate programs for specific jobs in the cannabis industry: cannabis culinary assistant, cannabis retail/patient advocate, cannabis cultivation assistant, and cannabis extraction technician assistant. The first of those programs, cannabis culinary assistant, will begin on Jan. 11, 2020, at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute. Each certificate program will consist of 96 hours of instruction, half of which will be held on the HCC campus with the other half conducted through C3RN’s internship program with participating dispensaries, cultivators, manufacturers, and ancillary businesses. C3RN and HCC will also be running five courses for the entrepreneurship track in the Social Equity Program starting Saturday, Nov. 23 at HCC’s Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center, 206 Maple St., Holyoke. The first two-session class, set for Nov. 23-24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., will focus on business-plan creation and development.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County Receives Mentoring Matching Grant

GREENFIELD — Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP), the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding quality youth mentoring in Massachusetts, is awarding $869,000 in mentoring matching grants to mentoring and youth-serving organizations across the state. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County is one of only 44 organizations chosen to receive a grant. These funds were approved by the state Legislature in the FY 2020 budget and are the only state funding dedicated to the mentoring field. MMP worked closely with legislative and community partners in advocating for the money, which represents a 110% increase over the last two years. The Mass Mentoring Partnership matching grant is used to make and support one-to-one mentoring matches that help ignite the power and promise of Franklin County youth. The mentoring matching grants are managed by MMP, with oversight from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and are intended to improve students’ attitudes towards school. Research has shown that young people who are in mentoring relationships show improved academic performance, better school attendance, and a greater chance of going on to higher education. Despite this compelling evidence, there remains a shortage of mentors, with research suggesting that one in three young people will grow up without one. This year’s grants are expected to create and support more than 3,200 high-quality mentor and mentee matches in schools and youth-serving programs statewide.

Eversource Partners with United Way on Programs

SPRINGFIELD — As part of its commitment to the health of all Bay State communities and economic development across the state, Eversource presented Massachusetts United Way agencies with contributions totaling more than $930,000 this year that support programs and services for hundreds of thousands of residents around the state. In total, Eversource and thousands of the company’s employees across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut contributed more than $2.2 million to the United Way in 2019 to support after-school programs, health clinics, workforce-development programs, weatherization for low-income homeowners, and more. Eversource’s contributions to agencies throughout the state include a corporate gift of more than $515,000 as well as $410,000 in personal contributions made by Massachusetts employees during the company’s annual giving campaign for the United Way. Additionally, Eversource employees across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut have volunteered more than 1,300 hours in partnership with the United Way to serve hundreds of nonprofits throughout New England.

Westfield Bank to Open Bloomfield, Conn. Location

WESTFIELD — James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Western New England Bancorp Inc., announced that the bank will open a new branch office in Bloomfield, Conn. in mid-2020. The bank will open a full-service branch in the Copaco Center shopping plaza on Cottage Grove Road. The office will include lobby and safe-deposit services, an image-technology ATM, and multiple drive-through teller lanes. The bank looks forward to breaking ground as soon as it secures the necessary permits and approvals, with construction being facilitated by AmCap Inc., the property owner and manager, and Borghesi Building and Engineering Co. Inc. of Torrington. Plans are subject to regulatory approval. The Bloomfield location will follow a new Financial Services Center, which is expected to open in West Hartford Center earlier in 2020. In addition to a full-service branch, the West Hartford Financial Services Center will include a suite of offices for residential lending, commercial lending, and business and government deposit services. Representatives of these departments currently occupy temporary space at 977 Farmington Ave. to assist with their community-outreach activities.

Levellers Press Named a Manufacturers of the Year

AMHERST — Levellers Press in Amherst received a Manufacturer of the Year Award at the fourth annual Manufacturing Award Ceremony at the State House on Oct. 22. Collective Copies, a collectively managed and worker-owned printing company, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its publishing wing, Levellers Press, on Sept. 18. Levellers’ beginning was marked by the launch of its first title, Robert H. Romer’s Slavery in the Connecticut Valley of Massachusetts, still one of its bestsellers. One hundred titles later, it has expanded its book-printing and distribution capabilities with Off the Common Books to help self-publishing authors get their books out in a more collaborative way than is possible through the big vendors. Levellers offers a wide selection of printing papers and welcomes input from authors throughout the layout and design process. Levellers Press is a member of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers and was nominated by state Rep. Mindy Domb. The award ceremony was sponsored by the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus. Along with Levellers Press, 76 manufacturers were recognized for truly ‘making it’ in Massachusetts.

‘Best Law Firms’ Ranks 11 Bulkley Richardson Practice Areas in Top Tier

SPRINGFIELD — Best Lawyers, in partnership with U.S. News and World Report, has included Bulkley Richardson in its 2020 list of “Best Law Firms,” ranking the firm in the top tier for the most practice areas of any Springfield law firm. The 2020 “Best Law Firms” list ranks Bulkley Richardson in the following 11 practice areas: bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, corporate law, criminal defense: general practice, criminal defense: white-collar, litigation – labor and employment, medical malpractice law – defendants, personal injury litigation – defendants, tax law, and trusts and estates law. To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer included in Best Lawyers. Bulkley Richardson has 12 of its lawyers included on the 2020 Best Lawyers list, the most from any Springfield law firm. Three of the firm’s partners were also named 2020 Springfield Lawyer of the Year: Michael Burke, David Parke, and John Pucci. The rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from leading attorneys in their field.

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union Honored with Award

BOSTON — During the recent Empower U conference in Boston, Credit Union Student Choice presented its third annual Honor Roll Award to UMassFive College Federal Credit Union. The award recognizes excellence in higher-education financing and is given to the winning financial institution in conjunction with a $5,000 Chip Filson Scholarship, which may be awarded by the credit union to an outstanding student-member of its choice. The scholarship was given to UMassFive College Federal Credit Union in honor of Chip Filson, a credit-union industry icon and former Student Choice board member, who played an influential role in the founding and ongoing development of Credit Union Student Choice.

Mellon Foundation Awards Five Colleges $800,000 for Online Museum Collections

AMHERST — The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded the Five College Consortium $800,000 to reimagine the way museum collaborations can share their online collections with each other and the world. The current shared collections database at Five Colleges was developed more than 20 years ago, and this commitment to a consortial database has enriched collaboration across the Five Colleges and opened up discovery and access to museum collections for students, faculty, staff, and the public. It remains one of the few collections databases in the country that is shared among several museums, but with advancements in technology and new accessibility needs on the part of the user, this database has revealed its age and limitations. These facts, combined with Five Colleges’ long history of collaboration, was what originally led the Mellon Foundation to request a grant proposal from the consortium. The museums that are a part of the current collections database are the Hampshire College Art Gallery, the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, the Smith College Museum of Art, the University Museum of Contemporary Art at UMass Amherst, and Historic Deerfield, an independent museum that works closely with the campuses. The award from the Mellon Foundation’s Arts and Cultural Heritage program is a 30-month planning grant that will be used to assess the museums’ collections-management needs.

Melanson Heath Joins BDO Alliance USA

NASHUA, N.H. — Melanson Heath has joined the BDO Alliance USA, a nationwide association of independently owned local and regional accounting, consulting, and service firms with similar client service goals. As an independent member of the BDO Alliance USA, Melanson Heath can expand the services offered to clients by drawing on the resources of BDO USA, LLP, one of the nation’s leading professional-services firms, and other Alliance members. The firm serves clients through more than 60 offices and 550 independent Alliance firm locations nationwide. As an independent member firm of BDO International Ltd., BDO serves multi-national clients through a global network of more than 73,000 people working out of 1,500 offices in more than 162 countries. The BDO Alliance USA enhances member-firm capabilities through the availability of supplementary professional services, comprehensive management-consulting services, focused industry knowledge, customized state-of-the-art computer systems, and internal training programs.

Way Finders Breaks Ground on Library Commons Apartments

HOLYOKE — Way Finders held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Library Commons development, which will include 38 affordable apartments, support services, and retail and cultural spaces, on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. at Holyoke Public Library. The development will feature 23 two-bedroom apartments and 15 three-bedroom apartments. The complex also features on-site laundry facilities, two wheelchair-accessible apartments, and 54 off-street parking spaces, and is a short walk to child-care centers, transportation, and schools. Way Finders has also developed a partnership with the Care Center on Roqué House, a first-of-its-kind facility in the Commonwealth that will provide 10 two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments for families headed by young parents who are full-time students. Library Commons is comprised of two rehabilitated historical buildings and one newly constructed building. Way Finders’ services will be made available on-site. There will also be meeting space, classrooms, and an art studio/gallery available to all Library Commons residents. The architect for the project is Dietz & Co. Architects Inc., and the contractor is NL Construction Inc.

Girls on the Run Completes Successful Autumn Auction

NORTHAMPTON — Girls on the Run of Western Massachusetts reported a successful Autumn Auction on Oct. 19. The event raised enough money to fund five more teams in Western Mass. Mill 180 Park in Easthampton donated the space and all the food for the event, while 70 items were donated by local business, and a cake was donated by Small Oven. Girls on the Run is a youth-development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3-8. Participants develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to others and themselves with care, create positive connections with peers and adults, and make a meaningful contribution to community and society. The next event is the GOTR 5K at Smith College on Saturday, Nov. 23 starting at 10:30 a.m. This event is open to the public.

Incorporations

Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Divine Vision Inc., 36 Yarmouth Dr., Agawam, MA 01001. Dinesh B. Patel, same. Convenience store and gas service station.

AMHERST

CHN Northern J & J Corp., 380 Riverglade Dr., Amherst, MA 01002. Jiarui Liu, same. Full-service restaurant.

BELCHERTOWN

C & H Auto Sales Inc., 40 Emily Lane, Belchertown, MA 01007. Bruno Calouro, same. Auto sales.

CHICOPEE

DC & S Services Corp., 109 Holiday Circle, Chicopee, MA 01020. Daniel Nogueira Nogueira Sardinha, same. Janitorial services.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Dr. E. H. Eskander And Associates, P.C., Emad H. Eskander, M.D., 14 Dartmouth Lane, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Emad H. Eskander, 181 Park Ave., Suite 13, West Springfield, MA 01089. Private psychiatric practice.

FLORENCE

Casenotes Inc., 339 Bridge Road, Florence, MA 01062. Lauren Burke, same. Create case management software programs.
PHILLIPSTON

Castle Group Properties Inc., 110 Baldwin Hill Road, Phillipston, MA 01331. Reginald Haughton, same. Real estate investment and management.

LONGMEADOW

Costas 3D Imaging Inc., 55 Benedict Terrace, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Barbara J. Costas, same. 3D diagnostic imaging for non-medical purposes.

PITTSFIELD

Casa De Adoracion Profetica Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Ste 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Walter Vazquez, same. Build the kingdom of god through the liaison of ministers and Christian ministries.

SOUTH DEERFIELD

Cornerstones: Early Childhood Development Center Inc., 29 Sunderland Road, South Deerfield, MA 01373. Doria Kate Rhodes, 447 South Washington St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Provide quality, early educational experiences for infants and children up to the age of 5.

SOUTHWICK

Corporate Z.A.J. Inc., 39 Deer Run, Southwick, MA 01077. Jeff King, same. Computer software development.

SPRINGFIELD

Camile Hannoush Inc., 1655 Boston Road, Unit B-7, Springfield, MA 01129. Camile A. Hannoush, 4 Cherry Brook Lane, Suffield, CT 06078. Jewelry wholesale, retail sales, repairs, and gifts.

Edmisado Investments Corporation, 12 Pasadena St., Springfield, MA 01108. Edwin Miguel Sanchez, 12 Pasadena St., Springfield, MA 01108. Real estate investments.

WILBRAHAM

Deep Roots Landscape Co., 2555 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Richard E. Ewing, same. Landscaping and other services.

Doing Business as Certificates

DBA Certificates

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

AMHERST

Datamat
401 Main St.
James Triplett

Eliana’s Barber Shop
196 North Pleasant St.
Eliana Dabbous

Georgia’s
950 North Pleasant St., Apt. 45
Georgia Malcolm

The Pine Village Co.
170 Pine St.
Nathan Chung

Reed M. Smith II
11 Eames Place
Reed Smith II

BELCHERTOWN

Adams Window Washing
96 Allen St.
Bruce Adams

Advantage Service Co.
77 Barton Ave.
Steven Slater

Ahlman Brothers A/V
11 Rimrock Road
Jason Ahlman

Arrow Gas
225 North Liberty St.
Patricia Belanger

Cold Spring Recovery Service
27 Main St.
Sonja Carroll

Diversified Equipment Services & Consulting Organization
9 Sarah Lane
Andrea Bordenca

Don Cole & Sons Excavating Contractor
297 Franklin St.
James Cole

Freihofer’s
412 Michael Sears Road
Rafal Lasiuk

KCB Painting
29 Westview Dr.
Christy Breen

Linda Coffey Physical Therapy & Wellness
23 Everett Ave.
Linda Coffey

CHICOPEE

Apartment Rentals of Western MA
44 Munger Road
Richard Chiecko, Tanyia Brown

Family Barber Shop
97 Main St.
Alex Nieves

San Juan Cleaning Services
178 Prospect St.
Elba Ramos Diaz, Samuel Arroyo

DEERFIELD

Chesapeake Bay Candle Co.
16 Yankee Candle Way
Yankee Candle Co.

WoodWick Candle
16 Yankee Candle Way
Yankee Candle Co.

EASTHAMPTON

E. Cohen Designs
20 Fairfield Ave.
Edward Cohen

Kingarooart
2 Sandra Road
Kinga Martin

EAST LONGMEADOW

Camerota Deleading
282 Maple St.
Frank Camerota

Lortie Building & Home Improvement
16 William St.
Leo Lortie

GREENFIELD

All Things Pumpkin
30 Lovers Lane
Pamala Cutter

Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Elijah Pell
101 Munson St., Suite 122
Elijah Pell

Federal Street Books
8 Federal St.
Hillary Hoffman

Foot Care by Nurses, LLC
63 French King Highway, #7
Mary Clayton-Jones

Mark Fleury’s Cleaning Services
362 Wells St.
Mark Fleury

Old Deerfield Productions
102 Highland Ave.
Linda McInerney

Pristine Orientals
16 Butternut St.
Tyler Ward

Pure Current Therapeutics
158 Main St., Suite 5
Alexa Williamson

Stobierski & Connor
337 Main St.
John Connor

Triton Automotive
381 High St.
Jeremy Ainsworth

Wisdom Way Self Storage, LLC
303 Wisdom Way
James Wood

HADLEY

Exotic Auto Service & Sales
373 River Dr.
Paul Narus

Padew Farm
79 Comins Road
Brian Konieczney

River Drive Auto Body
81 River Dr.
Stephen Szymkowicz

HOLYOKE

Circle K Holyoke
337 Appleton St.
Yasser Hussain

Honeyland Farms
636 Main St.
Wahab Bari

Leora Law
429 Pleasant St., Apt. 2
Tasha Marshall

LightHouse Personalized Education for Teens
208 Race St.
Catherine Gobron

Pier 1 Imports #853
98 Lower Westfield Road
Pier 1 Imports Inc.

LUDLOW

Legacy Fine Woodworking
1240 Center St.
Michael Jodoin

NORTHAMPTON

Auto Plus
125 Carlon Dr.
Jonathan Leseowski

Edward D. Jones & Co., LP
6 Market St.
Stephanie Griffin

JoiaBeauty
6 Crafts Ave.
Mette Gustavsen

Noho Petsitters
88 Laurel Park
Melanie Miller

Northampton Radio Group
15 Hampton Ave.
Edward Christian, Chris Forgy, Sam Bush

RiseLine Wealth Planning
243 King St., Suite 244
James Mahoney III, Steven Daury

Trulieve
216 North King St.
Life Essence Inc.

PALMER

M.G. Janitorial Services
405 Springfield St.
Margaret Guberow

Ocean State Job Lot
1178 Thorndike St.
John Conforti

SOUTHWICK

ACO Masonry, Heating & Air Conditioning
14 Hillside Road
Adam Quimette

C & R Painting & Handyman Services
137 South Longyard Road
Christopher Roberts

Robert E. Girroir Jr. Trucking
13 Congamond Road
Robert Girroir Jr.

SPRINGFIELD

3D Your Way
113 Massreco St.
Travis Stephens

Bla Kary
185 Pheland St.
Terrel Bennett

Crew Investigations Inc.
41 Luden St.
John Brock

Delgado Home Improvement
151 Florence St.
Modesto Delgado

Dino’s
320 St. James Ave.
Jean Baiardi

Dollar Tree #3541
1101 Boston Road
Rosa Banks

Gentle Family Dentistry
1206 Boston Road
David Chou

Greenleaf Solutions
83 Webber St.
Edgardo Garcia Jr.

Join
13 Bonnyview St.
India Clemons

Lady A Enterprises
122 Chestnut St.
Arrelia James

Law Office of Jeffrey Hiser
122 Pineview Dr.
Jeffrey Hiser

Lee Brown Construction
555 Union St.
Lee Brown

Marlon Terrell Development
89 El Paso St.
Marlon Holmes

Neighborly Home Services
77 Pinevale St.
Ruth Cobb

Ora Care Inc.
878 Sumner Ave.
Violet Hall

Sunshine Insurance Agency
884 Sumner Ave.
Dina Lam

Swift Mart
1271 Page Blvd.
Farhad Iftikhar

Western Mass. Zombies
1655 Boston Road #141
William Bullock

WARE

Adirondak Heating
13 High St.
Corydon Kibbe III

A.T. Carpentry
111 Old Poor Farm Rd.
Andrew Tetreault

Cookie’s Car Connection
13 West St.
Karen Parker

WESTFIELD

Bella J’s Salon
1144 Southampton Road
Bella J’s Salon

Element Repair Handyman Services, LLC
26 Cedar Lane
Anatoliy Sosnin

Glow
38 Elm St., Rooms 9-10
Ciara Dumont

Grader Auto Services, LLC
22 Franklin St.
Anthony Grader III

Pioneer Valley Auto Club Insurance Agency
16 North Elm St.
Stephen Brochu

Pitch Fork Farm
3 Delancey St.
Ann Barone

Solid Ground
27 Susan Dr.
David Guilbert

Walgreens #02710
78 Main St.
Walgreen Eastern Co. Inc.

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies

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

Benoit, Jodi M.
8 Leona Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/19

Besner, Stephen L.
Besner, Melissa M.
28 Braeburn Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/19

Charpentier, Raymond Arthur
12 Crosby St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Chopping Block Salon
Rise Salon
Michelle Anne Hair Design
Tomlinson, Michelle Anne
a/k/a Padla, Michelle Anne
135A Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/11/19

Cosgrove, Sheree A.
a/k/a Connors, Sheree A.
17 Riverboat Village Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/19

Costa, Katherine M.
a/k/a Marshall, Katherine
4039 South Athol Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Dent, Michelle M.
505 East State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Earl, Jennifer
3 James Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/01/19

Goosby, Sheldon
184 Middlesex St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/03/19

Guyott, Wayne Matthew
Guyott, Janet Marie
90 Anson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Irwin, Kate E.
5 Olney Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/08/19

Kudla, Sandy D.
100 Pine St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/01/19

Kulas, Maryann Elizabeth
335 Grattan St., Apt. # 1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Landon, Laurel A.
460 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Lange Chiropractic, Inc.,
Lange, Kimberly Ann
a/k/a Hinckley-Lange, Kimberly
463 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Lopez, Selina M.
6 Morris Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

McCallum, Michael R.
57 Willwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/08/19

Pacheco, Andy W.
138 Spear Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/07/19

Pichette, William D.
P.O. Box 454
Ashfield, MA 01330
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/09/19

Piteo, Ronald A.
Swain, Catherine A.
a/k/a Piteo, Catherine A.
478 Cold Spring Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/10/19

Priest, Wanda Aileen
a/k/a Rathburn, Wanda Aileen
31 Sunrise Ter.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/04/19

Reese, Robert P.
11 Monroe St., Apt. E
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Ryan, James
Ryan, Priscilla M.
85 Bliss Hill Road
Royalston, MA 01368
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/02/19

Santerre, Scott M.
Santerre, Jennifer M.
79 Moreau Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Silver Hill Properties, LLC
Falcone, Carol M.
P.O. Box 4233
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/19

Surbaugh, Dale A.
72 Nancy Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/19

Thompson, Lynn Ann
193 Roy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/03/19

Torres, Wanda I.
a/k/a Almonte, Wanda I.
22 Fresno St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Walter, Christina Ann
449 Beacon Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/19

Woodbury, Mark S.
118 Clairmont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/30/19

Real Estate Transactions

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

228 Plainfield Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Urban Veneer LLC
Seller: Sonam Lama
Date: 10/22/19

CONWAY

112 River St.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Lachlan M. Higgins
Seller: Tiffany E. Angell
Date: 10/11/19

DEERFIELD

79 Boynton Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Tracia
Seller: Gregory T. Felton
Date: 10/09/19

3 King Philip Ave.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Larry C. Kleinschmidt
Seller: Alan R. Ballou
Date: 10/18/19

6 Lee Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Lancelot J. Beck
Seller: Anthony Martino
Date: 10/11/19

228 Lower Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Dwight P. Manley
Seller: Sharon L. Chan
Date: 10/11/19

Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $357,280
Buyer: Town Of Deerfield
Seller: New England Natural Bakers
Date: 10/17/19

Mountain Road #3
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Richard K. Wu
Seller: Carol A. Guertin
Date: 10/21/19

15 Settright Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Costigan
Seller: Anna M. Kopec
Date: 10/18/19

ERVING

10 Ridge Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Shane M. Linscott
Seller: Jeffrey R. Ethier
Date: 10/15/19

GILL

297 Mountain Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Thomas R. Currie
Seller: Maureen J. Filiault
Date: 10/10/19

51 Wood Ave.
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Robert B. Marcalow
Seller: Elizabeth W. Ramlow
Date: 10/18/19

GREENFIELD

11 Abbott St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Mark A. Sonier
Seller: Ellen J. McGuane
Date: 10/21/19

115 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: MSR Property Development
Seller: Ann M. Powers
Date: 10/16/19

9 Cherry Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Lilian Rosca
Seller: Dorothy A. Arsenault
Date: 10/15/19

10 Ferrante Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Nancy Stark
Seller: George V. Anderson
Date: 10/21/19

19 Green St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Gregg S. Diefendorf
Seller: Virginia A. Carmody
Date: 10/18/19

17 Holly Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: William R. Pennington
Seller: Edmond L. Lachapelle
Date: 10/15/19

39 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Nicole Wrisley
Seller: Robert Cross
Date: 10/17/19

17 Long Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: New England Learning Center
Seller: Kenneth D. Mullen
Date: 10/18/19

124 Meadow Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Susan A. Cole
Seller: Mark H. Allen
Date: 10/22/19

102 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Nissa Dawn-Hallquist
Seller: Paul M. Laude
Date: 10/15/19

107 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Emily Meltzer
Seller: Michael C. Stempel
Date: 10/10/19

128 Verde Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $363,000
Buyer: John Chickanosky
Seller: Greenfield KMW LLC
Date: 10/15/19

95 Wildwood Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,095
Buyer: Kenneth D. Mullen
Seller: Gregg S. Diefendorf
Date: 10/18/19

MONTAGUE

5 13th St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Wyatt Andrews
Seller: Wenzhen Lin
Date: 10/18/19

41 Central St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Paul A. Interlande
Seller: Edward F. Wilcox
Date: 10/11/19

95 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Rose E. Welcome
Seller: Danielle J. Sullivan-Beck
Date: 10/11/19

NORTHFIELD

91 East St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Carlton Brown
Seller: Matthew R. Brown
Date: 10/21/19

24 Old Elm Way
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Sinclair
Seller: Agnes H. Piscopo FT
Date: 10/21/19

ORANGE

128 Mechanic St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Patrick F. O’Brien
Seller: 128 Mechanic Street RT
Date: 10/15/19

128 South Shore Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Gael Wakefield
Seller: Etienne J. Leguern
Date: 10/10/19

SHELBURNE

99 Bardwells Ferry Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Teresa A. Caldwell
Seller: Michael F. Desorgher
Date: 10/18/19

40 Mechanic St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Nancy Kirschner-Sachs
Seller: William J. Clough
Date: 10/18/19

SHUTESBURY

35 Weatherwood Dr.
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $229,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Norma J. Anderson
Date: 10/11/19

SUNDERLAND

39 Old Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $1,852,000
Buyer: Kipa Realty Inc.
Seller: Kenneth P. Kahn
Date: 10/18/19

WHATELY

Eastwood Lane #45
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Peter Y. Hoag
Seller: Jawk Inc.
Date: 10/17/19

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

20 Anthony St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Mary Hinshaw
Seller: Joshua Goodman
Date: 10/18/19

36 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Andrew Pelvin
Seller: Joel D. Barlar
Date: 10/18/19

117 Franklin St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Michael J. Giuggio
Seller: Barbara J. Giordano
Date: 10/11/19

299 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Agawam ORG 1 LLC
Seller: BRN Mustang LLC
Date: 10/18/19

N/A
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Lynnsey G. Hickling
Seller: Alicia Michaud
Date: 10/18/19

141 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: CIL Realty Of Mass Inc.
Seller: Mental Health Association
Date: 10/15/19

80 Poinsetta St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Stephen A. Childs
Seller: Alan A. Mazza
Date: 10/16/19

208 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Ashley B. Magin
Seller: Joseph W. Mikalson
Date: 10/11/19

33 Seymour Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $272,847
Buyer: Robert Calise
Seller: Carrie Garfield
Date: 10/21/19

1016 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Riley Properties LLC
Seller: Ellsworth W. Smith
Date: 10/11/19

161 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Steven J. Dionne
Seller: Kevin Buynicki
Date: 10/21/19

41 Trinity Ter.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $236,500
Buyer: Michael J. Consolini
Seller: Nicholas E. Gingras
Date: 10/21/19

BRIMFIELD

67 Champeaux Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $429,000
Buyer: Nicholas Catt
Seller: MTGLQ Investors LP
Date: 10/16/19

66 Holland Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Jessica L. Powers
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 10/17/19

258 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Tyler Joyal
Seller: Brian S. Willis
Date: 10/09/19

CHICOPEE

62 Armanella St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $183,400
Buyer: Sara J. Brault
Seller: Timothy D. Lynch
Date: 10/11/19

43 Asselin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $202,500
Buyer: Robert A. Lopez
Seller: Z&M Investments LLC
Date: 10/11/19

57 Beesley Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Thomas R. Herbert
Seller: Robert L. Nowak
Date: 10/18/19

106 Bostwick Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $223,500
Buyer: Artem Yenikeyev
Seller: Wayne R. Roy
Date: 10/11/19

279 Bostwick Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Steven Roulston
Seller: Tracy A. Laduke
Date: 10/22/19

285 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $141,375
Buyer: RB Homes LLC
Seller: Miner, Joanne, (Estate)
Date: 10/09/19

880 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $5,000,000
Buyer: Quality Beverage LP
Seller: Eagle Discovery LLC
Date: 10/18/19

245 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Patricia M. Napolitan
Seller: Mariya Bochkar
Date: 10/10/19

1060 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $935,000
Buyer: Volga Empire MA LLC
Seller: 1060 Chicopee Street LLC
Date: 10/16/19

196 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Marisol Nazario
Seller: Amaan Realty LLC
Date: 10/18/19

112 Clark St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Regina Rivera
Seller: James Brown
Date: 10/21/19

21 Deslauriers St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Cesar A. Colon
Seller: Maureen A. Desabrais
Date: 10/21/19

19 Emerald St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $181,294
Buyer: TM Properties Inc.
Seller: TM Properties Inc.
Date: 10/18/19

56 Fletcher Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Kristen Pope
Seller: Joan A. Skypeck
Date: 10/21/19

168 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Whisperwood LLC
Seller: Theresa M. Lacasse
Date: 10/22/19

115 Lawndale St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Janet Ramirez
Seller: Helen M. Wright
Date: 10/16/19

44 New Lombard Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $3,500,000
Buyer: 44 New Lombard Road LLC
Seller: Chicopee Gardens Rehab
Date: 10/16/19

104 Pine St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Cara Roberge
Seller: Manuel P. Luis
Date: 10/09/19

23 State St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Ibelis Mateo
Seller: Alex T. Krofta
Date: 10/15/19

30 Stearns Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Haruna Bature
Seller: Kevin F. Piquette
Date: 10/10/19

41 Sullivan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $145,841
Buyer: Almir Dias
Seller: Flavio Nunes-Dacunha
Date: 10/18/19

70 Watson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Richard D. Gelinas
Seller: Sergeo Arbuzov
Date: 10/18/19

126 Woodcrest Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Rebecca L. Thrasher
Seller: Felix Parker
Date: 10/16/19

EAST LONGMEADOW

45 Brookhaven Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: CIG4 LLC
Seller: Jennifer L. Voyik
Date: 10/18/19

34 Cedar Hill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $288,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Regina N. Thoma
Date: 10/15/19

107 Colony Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Barbara J. Borden
Seller: Vincent P. Scordino
Date: 10/15/19

64 John St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: William Tobin
Seller: Susan I. French
Date: 10/15/19

635 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $229,200
Buyer: John E. Garwacki
Seller: Ann G. Rutherford
Date: 10/10/19

41 Schuyler Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Tuan T. Bui
Seller: Kelly Osada
Date: 10/18/19

GRANVILLE

776 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jayden B. Cowles
Seller: Henry G. Koloski
Date: 10/17/19

HAMPDEN

11 Allen Place
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Lianne A. Barr
Seller: Aaron M. Suprenant
Date: 10/18/19

294 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jennifer R. Scott
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 10/17/19

66 Oak Knoll Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Community Care Resources
Seller: CIL Realty Of Mass Inc.
Date: 10/10/19

HOLLAND

12 Candlewood Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Diana Sarkosi
Seller: Crystal Dymon
Date: 10/11/19

286 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Heather M. Amons
Seller: Michael Bogacz
Date: 10/21/19

12 Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Michael K. Brawn
Seller: Deric J. Talbot
Date: 10/11/19

HOLYOKE

54 Arden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Virginia R. Bienvenue
Seller: Mark S. Forkey
Date: 10/18/19

15 Autumn St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Lusignan
Seller: Stephen A. Foster
Date: 10/18/19

15 Dale St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jessica L. Badger
Seller: Gilberto Sotolongo
Date: 10/17/19

19 Donlee St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Joseph Williams
Seller: William S. Gruszkos
Date: 10/11/19

3 Fenton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $202,900
Buyer: Joshua Perreault
Seller: Teresita Guerra
Date: 10/21/19

60-62 Gates St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $147,600
Buyer: Midfirst Bank
Seller: Jonathan Ingle
Date: 10/16/19

18 Howard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Steven L. Fournier
Seller: Deborah Schwartz
Date: 10/18/19

35 Lynwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Maria C. McGale
Seller: Robert A. Lamirande
Date: 10/16/19

336 Mackenzie Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Eric C. Andujar
Seller: Mariel L. Williamson
Date: 10/22/19

130 Middle Water St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Alaska Assets LLC
Seller: Milton Hilton LLC
Date: 10/21/19

193-195 Oak St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $251,402
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lillian L. Lugo
Date: 10/11/19

548 South St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: BJK 1903 LLC
Seller: Dumont & Monko LLC
Date: 10/18/19

266 Southampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Jeremy J. Cotton
Seller: Viktor Gorobinskiy
Date: 10/18/19

4 Wayne Court
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Karen Collins
Seller: McKay, Mary C., (Estate)
Date: 10/21/19

82 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Joel I. Ayala-Delgado
Seller: Thomas Herbert
Date: 10/17/19

71 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Carlos J. Ortiz
Seller: Christopher Draper
Date: 10/11/19

LONGMEADOW

97 Canterbury Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Blakeman
Seller: Marjorie B. Feinberg
Date: 10/17/19

121 Captain Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $479,000
Buyer: Davis W. Sparks
Seller: Sean M. Marien
Date: 10/11/19

62 Chatham Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Michael Kavitsky
Seller: John Hall
Date: 10/10/19

38 Concord Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Robert C. Gianelly
Seller: Gianelly, Cynthia C., (Estate)
Date: 10/18/19

44 Elmwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Johanna F. Margeson
Seller: Lauren J. Elliott
Date: 10/09/19

58 Meadow Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Marie A. Louis-Jean
Seller: Edward M. Sluis
Date: 10/18/19

131 Prynnwood Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $487,000
Buyer: Scott A. Fearn
Seller: Lawrence N. Silverstein
Date: 10/10/19

LUDLOW

Autumn Ridge Road #5
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Kevin M. Bowen
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 10/18/19

117 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Norman D. Dudley
Seller: Idalete M. Barbosa
Date: 10/11/19

205 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brian Conroy
Seller: Pamela A. Fleming
Date: 10/22/19

15 Leland Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Caligaris
Seller: Edward Wilczynski
Date: 10/15/19

77 Meadowlark Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $441,000
Buyer: Christopher Sowa
Seller: Fernando Roxo
Date: 10/11/19

771 Moore St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $219,999
Buyer: Alec W. Cheney
Seller: Erwin Tietze
Date: 10/10/19

162 Piney Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Evgeniy L. Zhigalin
Seller: Lance J. Boutin
Date: 10/18/19

44 Richmond Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Edward T. Pachocha
Seller: Brian G. Dennis
Date: 10/09/19

14 Salli Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $255,500
Buyer: M. L. Bradway-Marshall
Seller: Chocorua Realty Invests
Date: 10/18/19

90 Timberidge Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Todd Dauplaise
Seller: Barbara Lafountain
Date: 10/18/19

221 Ventura St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Keith S. Hevey
Seller: Strickland, Eleanor R., (Estate)
Date: 10/16/19

MONSON

354 Boston Road West
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Bropod LLC
Seller: Globe Source LLC
Date: 10/18/19

139 Cote Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Craig M. Johnson
Seller: Kristen N. Whalen
Date: 10/18/19

34-1/2 Paradise Lake Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $243,800
Buyer: Yan T. Li
Seller: Francis P. Roach
Date: 10/10/19

MONTGOMERY

48 Birch Bluff Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $382,000
Buyer: Elijah Sears
Seller: Deana M. Gasperini
Date: 10/10/19

PALMER

27 Glenn St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Michael J. Roulston
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/11/19

146 Mason St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Linda A. Regis
Seller: Dennis G. Parent
Date: 10/11/19

116 Nipmuck St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Terence A. Blair
Seller: Henry L. Rigali
Date: 10/18/19

2006 Oak St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Tyler Bigda
Seller: Matthew D. Charette
Date: 10/10/19

1033 School St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Victor Girouard
Seller: Leduc, Christine L., (Estate)
Date: 10/18/19

RUSSELL

275 Woodland Way
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Lance R. Cote
Seller: Beverly J. Wilander
Date: 10/21/19

SPRINGFIELD

150 Almira Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Jared H. Sundberg
Seller: Margaret Chick
Date: 10/18/19

85 Barber St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,400
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Mark J. Lapierre
Date: 10/15/19

1026 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: NPN Realty LLC
Seller: Quality Properties LLC
Date: 10/10/19

438 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: Hai P. Lu
Date: 10/16/19

23 Benz St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Patrick F. Sherry
Seller: Z&M Investments LLC
Date: 10/11/19

739 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $3,833,953
Buyer: Store Master Funding 12
Seller: True Blue Personal Touch
Date: 10/18/19

1245 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Donovan G. Henry
Seller: Anthony I. Wilson
Date: 10/18/19

1444 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Joao A. Dias
Seller: Gail D. Pinkerton
Date: 10/18/19

98-100 Carver St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $126,280
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Servicing
Seller: Steven Durocher
Date: 10/10/19

133 Catharine St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: John S. Rivera
Seller: Orange Park Management
Date: 10/17/19

50 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: MBC Properties LLC
Seller: Lloyd Harris
Date: 10/18/19

44 Curve St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,900
Buyer: Tascon Homes LLC
Seller: Philip H. Del-Negro
Date: 10/10/19

128 Derryfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Robert Lodi
Seller: Scott T. Pirog
Date: 10/17/19

367-369 East Columbus Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $216,400
Buyer: Jose A. Lopez
Seller: Idelmy J. Vasquez
Date: 10/09/19

50 Eddy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Basilio Castro
Seller: Jacqueline White
Date: 10/18/19

131 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: BTS Realty LLC
Seller: Mister Mister LLC
Date: 10/21/19

55 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Alex Hiller
Seller: Sheryl L. Little
Date: 10/16/19

265 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Emily M. Barrows
Seller: Erin M. Prendergast
Date: 10/17/19

317 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Pedro J. Perez
Seller: Peter S. King
Date: 10/11/19

85 Hampshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $196,900
Buyer: Luz A. Herrera
Seller: Ting Chang
Date: 10/22/19

194-196 Hampshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Bergeron
Seller: Luz A. Herrera
Date: 10/17/19

127 Harmon Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Christina E. Anderson
Seller: Christine A. Callahan
Date: 10/11/19

76 Hazen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Janna Mayersky
Seller: Mark J. Mancini
Date: 10/18/19

42 Hobart St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $140,500
Buyer: Kayla Cardona
Seller: Canaan Baptist Church
Date: 10/17/19

120 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Kenny Manguinuri-Cuevas
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 10/17/19

50 Joan St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Justin B. Dabsky
Seller: James R. Lovotti
Date: 10/10/19

22-24 Kendall St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Volga Empire MA LLC
Seller: HP Rum LLC
Date: 10/16/19

146 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Volga Empire MA LLC
Seller: Mister Mister LLC
Date: 10/16/19

24 Laurence St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Ivy Afra
Seller: MS Homes LLC
Date: 10/17/19

1148 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Rick Adams
Seller: Brad A. Deschaine
Date: 10/10/19

90 Lucerne Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $143,900
Buyer: Jennifer C. Daley
Seller: Desmond E. Farrell
Date: 10/18/19

90-92 Marsden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Luz Rivera
Seller: KEC Properties LLC
Date: 10/21/19

89 Midway St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Tiana L. Sanchez
Seller: Matthew J. Spear
Date: 10/21/19

124 Myrtle St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $220,900
Buyer: Robert R. Rivers
Seller: LE & Associates LLC
Date: 10/21/19

477-479 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Rafael Garcia
Seller: Elido Nunez
Date: 10/21/19

273 Nottingham St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Angela McGary
Seller: Paul M. Barrows
Date: 10/21/19

501 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Hayden Wattley
Seller: Noel E. Sweeney
Date: 10/21/19

95-97 Oakwood Ter.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Erik Wolmart
Seller: Mark K. Kiontke
Date: 10/09/19

63-65 Orpheum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Nicole M. Baginski
Seller: Ron E. Christenson
Date: 10/11/19

75 Pheasant Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Rebecca Cromwell
Seller: Christopher R. Cromwell
Date: 10/10/19

621 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jacqueline Cintron-Arce
Seller: Eagle Home Buyers LLC
Date: 10/10/19

43 Preston St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Nicholas R. Goss
Seller: Anthony Bourget
Date: 10/11/19

169 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Jeremias Morales
Seller: Debra A. Bokon
Date: 10/22/19

1809 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Claribel Bonet-Reveron
Seller: Keith C. Hann
Date: 10/22/19

31 Shelby St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Brenda L. Colon
Seller: Julio Ayala
Date: 10/11/19

123 Skyridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Jessica L. Pafumi
Seller: Fumi Realty Inc.
Date: 10/21/19

170 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Dulce M. Garcia-Vazquez
Seller: Judith C. Babcock
Date: 10/21/19

148-150 Stafford St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $274,900
Buyer: Maria I. Rodriguez
Seller: Laura Rosado
Date: 10/16/19

118 Tavistock St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Cid M. Colon
Seller: CME Properties LLC
Date: 10/15/19

82 Treetop Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Saronn Meak
Seller: Robert Ackerman
Date: 10/11/19

108 Warrenton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Daniel Ranson
Seller: Alex Owusu
Date: 10/11/19

74 Westbank Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Richard M. Bachetti
Seller: John P. Beninati
Date: 10/17/19

79 Westbank Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Green Light Homes LLC
Seller: David K. White
Date: 10/17/19

174-176 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Kathy Huynh
Seller: Joseph C. Gomila
Date: 10/18/19

SOUTHWICK

18 Ed Holcomb Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Andrew B. Hawley
Seller: Joshua J. Kelleher
Date: 10/18/19

153 Fred Jackson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Joel D. Barlar
Seller: Tracy A. Hess
Date: 10/18/19

13 Liquori Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Welch
Seller: Dennis E. Shaughnessy
Date: 10/17/19

7 Overlook Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Kopatz Constriction Inc.
Seller: Cynthia N. Metcalf
Date: 10/10/19

WALES

12 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $204,700
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Mitchell T. Allen
Date: 10/15/19

WEST SPRINGFIELD

57-59 Allston Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: 502 Union Station LLC
Seller: CKMM LLC
Date: 10/18/19

208 Bear Hole Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Rosemarie Jakubaszek
Seller: Michael L. Coppola
Date: 10/11/19

191 Central Miami St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Tiffany B. Mattson
Seller: Robert E. Mattson
Date: 10/21/19

174 Chestnut St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Humboldt Realty LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 10/10/19

237 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: David M. Murphy
Seller: Terry A. Fortini-Skelly
Date: 10/15/19

107 Dorwin Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Cristian Sirbu
Seller: West Springfield United
Date: 10/09/19

99 Forris St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Donald J. Donohue
Seller: Gourley, Samuel E., (Estate)
Date: 10/16/19

202 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Arthur Sheremet
Seller: USA VA
Date: 10/11/19

56 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Turgut O. Kupeli
Seller: John Lightcap
Date: 10/11/19

24 Hampden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Tristin J. Edwards
Seller: SRV Properties LLC
Date: 10/22/19

50 Harney St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Charles L. Annette
Seller: David M. Siegel
Date: 10/18/19

187 Highland Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Joshua Saulenas
Seller: Sandra Parsons
Date: 10/11/19

220 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Brandon L. Carrillo
Seller: David E. Strong
Date: 10/15/19

23 Kelso Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Ruben J. Lopez
Seller: Steven Dionne
Date: 10/21/19

56 Lathrop St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $224,460
Buyer: Town Of West Springfield
Seller: Brian F. Gendreau
Date: 10/11/19

322 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Gladys V. Perez
Seller: Mustafa F. Niyazov
Date: 10/21/19

640 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $181,900
Buyer: Dean Katica
Seller: Ali M. Ahmed-Sameem
Date: 10/15/19

41 Massasoit Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Sean Sylvester
Seller: Lisa A. Safarik
Date: 10/10/19

915 Memorial Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Eastern States Exposition
Seller: Oday West Side LLC
Date: 10/09/19

216 Norman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: 502 Union Station LLC
Seller: CKMM LLC
Date: 10/18/19

1468 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Robert A. Lamirande
Seller: Edward J. Landry
Date: 10/16/19

75 Prince Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: CA&DA Realty LLC
Seller: Zachary T. Brown
Date: 10/15/19

340 Sibley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Andrew J. Fiala
Seller: Normand R. Bergeron
Date: 10/22/19

14 Wilder Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Matthew S. Fowler
Seller: Karen A. Barrett
Date: 10/18/19

151 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Richard T. Jordan
Seller: Andrew J. Fiala
Date: 10/22/19

WESTFIELD

330 Buck Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: David J. Bishop
Seller: John R. Borges
Date: 10/18/19

56 Cardinal Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $469,900
Buyer: Christopher Sportello
Seller: Donald J. Roy
Date: 10/21/19

3 Carole Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Greg M. Braman
Seller: Nathan Osowski
Date: 10/15/19

125 Crane Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Brian E. Till
Seller: Bruce L. Till
Date: 10/10/19

21 Day Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $313,000
Buyer: Chad Dakin
Seller: Lake Rentals LLC
Date: 10/11/19

94 Foch Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Stacy L. Kuzon
Seller: Aleksander Viktorchuk
Date: 10/09/19

190 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Jones
Seller: Anthony Gaudino
Date: 10/17/19

37 Highland View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Allan C. Eldridge
Seller: John R. Ciampaglia
Date: 10/21/19

121 Hillcrest Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Benjamin Beaulieu
Seller: Kevin Chrisanthopoulos
Date: 10/21/19

28 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Jeffrey C. Keating
Seller: Kenneth T. Murphy
Date: 10/11/19

23 Knollwood Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Kenneth A. Newell
Seller: Thomas J. Maciolek
Date: 10/10/19

68 Mainline Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: 68 Mainline Dr LLC
Seller: Mas 68 Mainline LLC
Date: 10/18/19

206 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Sonja M. Chenier
Seller: Daniel J. Fedora
Date: 10/11/19

52 Park Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,800
Buyer: Lisa A. Pellegrini
Seller: Wilfrid J. Bourque
Date: 10/22/19

180 Prospect St. Ext.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Anmar Khalil
Seller: Nikolay Lukomsky
Date: 10/09/19

5 Reservoir Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jennifer E. Gilbert
Seller: Mindy Norton
Date: 10/22/19

78 Rosedell Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Shawn A. Gaudette
Seller: Strong, Albert E., (Estate)
Date: 10/22/19

119 Springdale Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Christian L. Ala
Seller: Jason M. Perron
Date: 10/09/19

114 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $162,100
Buyer: Oleg Abramchuk
Seller: Parker, Leura J., (Estate)
Date: 10/18/19

43 Waterford Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $412,000
Buyer: Patrick Coty
Seller: John Harrelson
Date: 10/18/19

35 Whispering Wind Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Kevin Chrisanthopoulos
Seller: Shaun P. McConkey
Date: 10/21/19

WILBRAHAM

28 Brainard Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Brett Z. Bohl
Seller: Stanley J. Strzempek
Date: 10/10/19

36 Burleigh Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Janice M. Wajda
Seller: Jon A. Rich
Date: 10/10/19

14 Dollar Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: O&C Properties LLC
Seller: RMS-MA LLC
Date: 10/17/19

9 Peak Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Big Sky Properties LLC
Seller: Sturbridge Development
Date: 10/10/19

Peak Road #10R
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,250,000
Buyer: Big Sky Properties LLC
Seller: Kent W. Pecoy
Date: 10/10/19

3 Pease St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Daniel M. True
Seller: David J. Gordon
Date: 10/16/19

311 Soule Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $366,000
Buyer: Dustin Ketron
Seller: Joseph P. Sheehan
Date: 10/15/19

415 Soule Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $269,400
Buyer: Abigael M. Crowther
Seller: Viktoria Dubovoy
Date: 10/10/19

63 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: CIL Realty Of Mass. Inc.
Seller: Mental Health Association
Date: 10/15/19

640 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Paulo R. Soares
Seller: Mary A. Ohagan-Gahm
Date: 10/22/19

791 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $215,500
Buyer: Micheal L. Coulombe
Seller: David J&S L. Mahoney IRT
Date: 10/11/19

1051 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $277,250
Buyer: Anibal Burgos
Seller: Maria R. Roxo
Date: 10/16/19

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

870 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $427,000
Buyer: Bruce D. Montague
Seller: Alexandra Bradspies
Date: 10/16/19

15 Blue Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: William H. Ewell
Seller: Robert W. Hyers
Date: 10/15/19

34 Dana Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $439,900
Buyer: James F. Barna
Seller: Katherine R. Andrews
Date: 10/10/19

81 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Anthony R. Kubiak
Seller: Lavinia P. Gripentrog
Date: 10/11/19

984 East Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: 7Q59 Amherst LLC
Seller: David I. Clooney
Date: 10/15/19

37 Hartman Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $409,000
Buyer: David A. Cox
Seller: Ilene Lacey
Date: 10/09/19

48-50 High St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Jesse J. Mills
Seller: Lynne Chase
Date: 10/11/19

94 Lessey St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $823,000
Buyer: Roses Supposes Magical LT
Seller: Thomas A. Ehrgood
Date: 10/11/19

133 North Whitney St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Joshua M. Rosenthal
Seller: William T. Stapleton
Date: 10/18/19

436 Pine St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $279,901
Buyer: Cushman Cottage LLC
Seller: Joshua M. Rosenthal
Date: 10/18/19

Route 116
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: Szala RT
Date: 10/10/19

575 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Alexandra E. Purdy
Seller: Stephen M. Reynolds
Date: 10/11/19

500 Sunderland Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Ruby Realty LLC
Seller: Kenneth L. Bergstrom
Date: 10/17/19

252 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ru Zheng
Seller: Warren S. Hall
Date: 10/18/19

BELCHERTOWN

1 Atherton Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $291,500
Buyer: Tsering Dolma
Seller: Marlene S. O’Brien
Date: 10/18/19

50 Brandywine Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $234,500
Buyer: Sarah J. Laberge
Seller: Evangeline Lamontagne
Date: 10/11/19

111 Clark St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Griffin
Seller: Suzi A. Wallace
Date: 10/10/19

113 Gulf Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: Felicia Baltazar
Seller: Vincent P. Hohreiter
Date: 10/16/19

22 Rimrock Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Helen M. Wright
Seller: Michael W. Forcum
Date: 10/17/19

627 South Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Karen L. Watts
Seller: Josephine M. Fontaine
Date: 10/18/19

273 Warren Wright Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Benjamin A. Surner
Seller: Louis A. Gentile 2009 RET
Date: 10/10/19

EASTHAMPTON

1 Beyer Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Charles D. Cambra
Seller: Brian F. Diemand
Date: 10/18/19

3 Hyde Hill Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Ashley E. Goulet
Seller: Susan E. Kalentek
Date: 10/18/19

18 John St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Lara R. Ramsey
Seller: Raymond E. Price
Date: 10/22/19

10 Knight Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Erich D. Roggenbuck
Seller: Ronald D. Chateauneuf
Date: 10/22/19

129 Parsons St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Matthew L. Goldman
Seller: Jonathan A. Poirier
Date: 10/11/19

31 Rabideau Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Norwich Properties LLC
Seller: Gormley, Nancy A., (Estate)
Date: 10/15/19

19 Wemelco Way
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Wemelco Development LLC
Seller: Miri Realty LLC
Date: 10/10/19

GRANBY

32 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Leonard Yakir
Seller: P. Martin Conway
Date: 10/16/19

206 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Stella Virchick
Seller: Patricia A. Desormier
Date: 10/16/19

HADLEY

Comins Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: White Silo LLC
Seller: Szala RT
Date: 10/10/19

7 High Meadow Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $499,000
Buyer: Diane Forman-Judd
Seller: Matthew W. Dufresne
Date: 10/17/19

11 North Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Karli A. Sacco
Seller: Gregory J. Rodak
Date: 10/18/19

Shattuck Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $1,067,000
Buyer: Kestrel Land TR
Seller: Szala RT
Date: 10/10/19

HATFIELD

153 Depot Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Michael D. Bilodeau
Seller: Paul S. Ciechomski
Date: 10/22/19

18 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $531,663
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Carol L. Benson
Date: 10/16/19

HUNTINGTON

4 Pine St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $228,257
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Linda M. Pignatare
Date: 10/16/19

37 Russell Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Deborah Supinski-Labonte
Seller: Jeffrey A. Thomas
Date: 10/15/19

NORTHAMPTON

6 Austin Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $140,500
Buyer: Aj Capital RT
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 10/15/19

84 Bradford St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Hytech Park Properties
Seller: Sandra L. Culbertson
Date: 10/18/19

55 Dryads Green
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Phoebe B. McKinnell
Seller: Smith College
Date: 10/18/19

1006 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Andrew Leblanc
Seller: Alyx S. Akers
Date: 10/21/19

59 Ice Pond Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Seller: David March
Date: 10/11/19

29 Keyes St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $309,500
Buyer: Jessica L. Christenson
Seller: Christenson, Mary E., (Estate)
Date: 10/22/19

202 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $630,000
Buyer: William J. Thron
Seller: James J. Cummings
Date: 10/21/19

PELHAM

13 South Valley Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $347,000
Buyer: Mia Mckenzie-Ascencio
Seller: Barbara J. Weisman
Date: 10/21/19

PLAINFIELD

Bow St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Birch Hollow LLC
Seller: Stage Road Restorations
Date: 10/09/19

East St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Birch Hollow LLC
Seller: Stage Road Restorations
Date: 10/09/19

SOUTH HADLEY

8 Birch Hill Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Karen Schlachter
Seller: Cynthia L. Odell
Date: 10/17/19

20 Carriage Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $382,500
Buyer: Nicholas E. Gingras
Seller: Kenneth F. Mruk
Date: 10/22/19

1 Douglas Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Sarah Bickley
Seller: Mary Brady
Date: 10/10/19

231 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $820,050
Buyer: Quercus Holdings LLC
Seller: Fort Sewall RET
Date: 10/15/19

60 Judd Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Joan M. Ciechomski
Seller: Jason Balut
Date: 10/22/19

69 Laurie Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Donna J. Asher
Seller: Pauline C. Fontaine
Date: 10/18/19

23 Ranger St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jessica Nelson
Seller: Thomas Griffin
Date: 10/10/19

10 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Roger G. Weger
Seller: Donald Rondeau
Date: 10/21/19

SOUTHAMPTON

22 Camp Jahn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Paul Roger
Seller: Smith, Brandon E., (Estate)
Date: 10/15/19

15 Katelyn Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $496,668
Buyer: Huot Ang
Seller: Thomas E. Bassett
Date: 10/18/19

19 Miller Ave.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Danielle N. Brazeau
Seller: Walter A. Czepiel
Date: 10/15/19

51 Rattle Hill Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Jonathan P. Hilchey
Seller: Katherine J. Fleming
Date: 10/09/19

WARE

30 Eagle St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Kyle J. Voiland
Seller: Raymond R. Hall
Date: 10/16/19

129 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $120,100
Buyer: Robert Noel
Seller: MTGLP Investors LP
Date: 10/11/19

31 Warebrook Village
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Matthew Gallagher
Seller: Edward Walsh
Date: 10/22/19

WESTHAMPTON

32 Mine Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Ford
Seller: Charles Braun
Date: 10/15/19

WILLIAMSBURG

24 North Farms Road
Williamsburg, MA 01062
Amount: $347,500
Buyer: Rachel M. Clay
Seller: Jacob M. Cunningham
Date: 10/22/19

Building Permits