COVID-19 Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration provided an update on the plan to reopen the Massachusetts economy and preparations for phase 2. The administration will determine the start of phase 2 on June 6.

On Monday, June 1, Gov. Charlie Baker will issue an executive order with a detailed list of sectors that fall into each phase. The order will allow phase 2 businesses to bring back employees in preparation for reopening. Through this order, professional sports teams can begin practicing at their facilities in compliance with the health and safety rules that all the leagues are developing. Facilities remain closed to the public.

The administration today issued workplace safety standards for restaurants and lodging, organized around four distinct categories covering social distancing, hygiene protocols, staffing and operations, and cleaning and disinfecting.

Outdoor dining at restaurants will begin at the start of phase 2. Indoor dining will begin later within phase 2, subject to public-health data. Even when indoor seating is permitted, use of outdoor space will be encouraged for all restaurants.

Social-distancing guidance includes spacing tables six feet apart with a maximum party size of six people. The use of bars, except for spaced table seating, will not be permitted. For hygiene protocols, utensils and menus should be kept clean through single use or with strict sanitation guidelines; reservations or call-ahead seating is recommended; and contactless payment, mobile ordering, or text on arrival for seating will also be encouraged.

Restaurants will be expected to follow cleaning and disinfecting guidelines, in accordance with CDC guidance. This includes closing an establishment temporarily if there is a case of COVID-19 in an establishment.

Hotels, motels, and other lodging businesses will be allowed to expand their operations in phase 2. Lodging safety standards apply to all forms of lodging, including hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and short-term residential rentals including Airbnb and Vrbo.

Event spaces, like ballrooms and meeting rooms, will remain closed. On-site restaurants, pools, gyms, spas, golf courses, and other amenities at lodging sites may operate only as these categories are authorized to operate in accordance with the phased reopening plan. Lodging operators must also inform guests of the Commonwealth’s policy urging travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days when arriving from out of state.

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CHICOPEE — Elms College distributed funds to 425 students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stability (CARES) Act, the college announced.

“We are pleased that we could ease the financial burden put on many of our students as they adapted to learning remotely during the pandemic,” said Financial Aid Director Richard O’Connor, adding that qualifying expenses included moving off campus and investing in technology to do classwork from home. “These funds have also helped offset childcare costs and preventive measures in addition to the treatment of COVID-19.”

Expenses such as food, housing, course materials, healthcare, childcare, technology, and transportation were considered as well. Overall, the college received 496 applications from students for emergency funding. The average amount awarded to the 425 students was $1,478.

Money spent on trips that the college had to cancel were also included in the funding requests that were granted. “We had several students who were affected by canceled mission trips, and I am grateful that these students were able to get reimbursed,” O’Connor said.

On March 27, Congress passed the CARES Act, which included specific guidelines for colleges and universities to distribute the funding. For example, half of each institution’s total grant allotment was earmarked for students in need of emergency aid, with the other half going to the institution to defray costs and expenses resulting from COVID-19.

Following passage of the CARES Act, Elms College received nearly $1.3 million. Half of the college’s allotment, just over $649,000, was reserved for eligible students in need of emergency aid, and the other half was issued to the college to defray costs and expenses as a result of COVID-19.

To date, the college has awarded more than $628,000 to students. The remainder of the allotment to students, approximately $21,000, will fund students’ future emergency needs.

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AMHERST — The American Institute of Architecture’s (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) announced recently that the John W. Olver Design Building on the UMass Amherst campus is a winner this year of its highest honor, the COTE Top Ten Awards. Projects “illustrate the solutions architects have provided for the health and welfare of our communities and the planet,” the AIA citation says.

The COTE jury wrote of the Olver Building, “the space is made possible by an innovative wood-truss system showing us how to reach beyond the cross-laminated timber (CLT) systems to make larger spaces. Its courtyard guarantees views and access to campus to everyone within the building and is well-integrated into the larger campus.”

Called the most technologically advanced CLT building in the country, the Design Building opened in 2017 to house the campus’s Department of Architecture, Building and Construction Technology Program (BCT), and Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning. The BCT program developed some of the CLT technology used and has since been testing native Massachusetts wood species for CLT suitability.

The building is named for former congressman and UMass Amherst Chemistry professor John Olver and was designed by Boston architectural firm Leers Weinzapfel. In 2014, Olver attended a talk by associate professor of Environmental Conservation Peggi Clouston of the BCT program. She noted how CLT construction using lower-quality wood was enjoying a comeback. Olver, recognizing an expanded use for regional wood, encouraged campus officials to consider adopting the new technology.

Built of CLT timber and glue-laminated columns, the 87,000-square-foot Design Building saves the equivalent of more than 2,300 metric tons of carbon compared to a traditional energy-intense steel and concrete building. It uses 54% less energy than a typical campus building and is one of two in North America to use CLT for wind and seismic resistance.

Its footprint once a parking lot, the building now includes a rooftop garden and rain-garden landscaping. A central courtyard highlights natural light while reducing heat loss. Its open central stairway invites visitors to take the stairs instead of an elevator.

Previously, among other awards, the Olver Design Building was named the Jury’s Choice for Wood Innovation in the WoodWorks 2018 Wood Design national awards for excellence in wood building design. In November 2017, it was honored with an Award of Merit in the Engineering News-Record list of New England’s 2017 Best Projects in the Higher Education/Research category.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to give small businesses financially strapped by the COVID-19 crisis more flexibility to spend forgivable loans for payrolls and expenses from the government’s popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Bloomberg News reported.

The 417-1 vote sends the measure to the Senate, which may seek changes. The bill’s sponsors say urgent action is needed because the eight-week period when proceeds must be spent for loans to be forgiven will begin expiring Friday for the first loan recipients after the U.S. Small Business Administration program opened April 3.

The House measure would give companies much more time to spend the money — within 24 weeks or until the end of the year, whichever comes first — and still qualify to have their PPP loans forgiven. Businesses would also have up to five years, instead of two years, to repay any money owed on a loan and could use a greater percentage of proceeds on rent and other approved non-payroll expenses.

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HARTFORD, Conn. — Whittlesey announced it has achieved exclusive Blue partner status with Datto, the world’s leading provider of IT solutions delivered through managed service providers (MSPs). Datto Blue status represents the top 5% of the company’s partners worldwide.

“We’ve been partnered with Datto since 2014,” said Mark Torello, partner in charge of Whittlesey Technology. “We’ve been growing with them as they’ve branched out from data backup and recovery products to networking, cloud continuity, and device management. The reliability of their products and services and outstanding customer and technical support have been consistently top‐notch and provided us the resources to accelerate our business growth. It’s an honor to be acknowledged for putting these products and tools to use and demonstrating success.”

Whittlesey has exceeded high standards of performance to qualify for Blue status within Datto’s Global Partner Program, the highest classification provided by Datto. Blue status includes many exclusive programs and benefits designed to support further enablement and business growth.

“We are thrilled to recognize Whittlesey as a Blue partner,” said Rob Rae, vice president of Business Development for Datto. “We are committed to providing Whittlesey and all of our partners with the necessary capabilities to develop deep relationships with their customers and keep growing their brands and businesses. We look forward to more success from Whittlesey in 2020 as we continue to roll out new partner services.”

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SPRINGFIELD — The board of directors of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley (HRIPV) announced that former board member Vanessa Otero has been named interim director through the end of the year to support and move forward the work of the institute.

The institute also announced it has become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As part of that move, the HRIPV board has appointed Baystate Health executive and longtime social-justice advocate Frank Robinson as the organization’s first president.

Otero is among the co-founders of HRIPV that grew out of a City2City Pioneer Valley visit to Grand Rapids, Mich. in 2011, where a Healing Racism Institute was formed and housed at the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. Grand Rapids has also established institutes in its community’s faith and higher-education sectors.

“This work began for me after a trip to Grand Rapids with other community leaders,” Otero said. “I remember stopping John Davis, another founder of the initiative, in the hallway to tell him I wanted to be part of his effort to address racism in our region. Since then, even when my participation waned, I believed in the importance of this work and the impact it has on participants.

“The pandemic provides a moment in time where I can be of help in anticipation of hiring a permanent director,” she added. “This is not a full-time position, but is as important as any work I have done for the greater good.”

Otero is currently director of Smith College’s Urban Education Initiative. She has deep roots in the community, serving on state and regional boards, including being appointed to the Governor’s Latino Advisory Commission. She is also the chair of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. Mostly recently, Otero was asked to join the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Health Equity Advisory Group, advising Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel and DPH on health-equity issues related to and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing suggestions on solutions to be implemented at all levels.

Otero graduated from Smith College as an Ada Comstock Scholar. She has a master’s degree in public policy administration from UMass Amherst.

HRIPV’s transition to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is a result of the institute’s growth in size and scope in recent years, performing work that has engaged more than 800 individuals, more than 200 organizations, and nearly 20 sectors. The work has also expanded into the metro Boston area. The nonprofit organization status will help as the organization formalizes resource development and expands its offerings beyond its signature two-day Healing Racism seminar.

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BOSTON — Criminal enterprises in possession of stolen personal information from earlier national data breaches have been attempting to file large amounts of illegitimate unemployment claims through the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) system. This is part of a national unemployment-fraud scheme.

The DUA has begun implementing additional identity-verification measures that will temporarily delay the payment time frame for many unemployment claims in Massachusetts. As a result of these measures, certain unemployment claimants may be asked to provide additional identity information in order to verify the validity of their claim.

“Protecting the integrity of the unemployment system and ensuring benefits are going only to valid claimants is a top priority of the Department of Unemployment Assistance,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “While the program-integrity measures we are taking will unfortunately mean that some claimants will experience temporary delays in payment, we believe these steps are necessary to respond to this unemployment scam. We are working rapidly to respond to this scheme and urge individuals who may have had a false unemployment claim filed in their name to contact the department.”

Individuals who believe they may have had a false unemployment claim filed using their identity are urged to utilize the Department of Unemployment Assistance fraud contact form at mass.gov/unemployment-fraud or call DUA customer service at (877) 626-6800.

Additional updates related to this criminal activity will be posted at mass.gov/unemployment as soon as they are available.

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HOLYOKE — Obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan may have seemed like a difficult task, but the more complex journey may lie ahead.

MBK will host a free webinar on Monday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to noon for small businesses. Kristina Drzal Houghton and Jim Krupienski will review the latest guidance from the U.S. Treasury and Small Business Administration on completing the required loan-forgiveness application.

The two-hour event will take a dive into what qualifies for loan forgiveness, what employment thresholds must be reached to obtain full forgiveness, what happens if the requirements are not met, and an example of the calculation.

Registration is required, and seating is limited. To register, click here.

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LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University is joining a growing movement that uses storytelling to strengthen the connection between the clinical and emotional facets of healthcare with the launch of a certificate in Narrative Medicine, offered through its master’s in Creative Nonfiction program.

Through reflections on the giving and receiving of treatment; interactions with practitioners, patients, and agencies; and the journey of illness and recovery, the medical community has embraced the sharing of stories as a way to bring a depth of humanity to what’s so often experienced as an impersonal transaction.

“This new offering draws on the most recent research into the connections between medicine, the humanities, and literature,” said Suzanne Strempek-Shea, faculty member in Bay Path’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction program and author of the cancer memoir Songs from a Lead-Lined Room. “Students will not only develop empathy but also build skills in creative writing, critical analysis of literature, workshop design, teaching and facilitating, and active listening that can be applied to patient/client settings, and beyond.”

Coursework will focus on coping with illness and trauma and explore how inequities in access to medical care and exposure to trauma influence the experiences and outcomes for people of color, women, poor people, and immigrants and undocumented residents, in addition to other marginalized groups.

An internship will give students the opportunity to apply creative and critical thinking, people skills, flexibility, and communications skills in a real-world setting, while contributing meaningfully to their communities.

Launching in January 2021, the certificate in Narrative Medicine will require no academic prerequisites, and will be available to a wide array of professionals within the healthcare field: physicians and physician assistants, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, and trauma and addiction specialists, as well as to writers with a personal illness or trauma story. The certificate courses will also be available to MFA students as a specialized track within Bay Path’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction, currently the only MFA in the country with a Narrative Medicine certificate option.

“We find that a significant number of students in our MFA in Creative Nonfiction — many with backgrounds in social work, nursing, teaching, and other related fields — are interested in writing narratives based on medical, physical, and psychological trauma,” said MFA Director Leanna James Blackwell. “Whether it be healing from cancer, recovering from addictions, surviving abuse, healing from grief, or reckoning with the real-world costs of navigating the world as a woman, person of color, and/or member of the LGBTQ community, they have important stories to tell. In addition to helping these students tell their stories, the program prepares them to pursue post-graduate careers as teachers and writing workshop leaders, who are specifically qualified to help others wanting tell their own healing stories.”

On June 1, Bay Path will offer a glimpse into the power of medical storytelling at a free online discussion, webinar, and Q & A session with Strempek-Shea and Meredith O’Brien, MFA graduate and author of the new medical memoir Uncomfortably Numb, which details her multiple sclerosis diagnosis and her struggle to maintain her life as a journalist, teacher, and mother. For more information about the event, click here.

For more information on the certificate in Narrative Medicine, click here.

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SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson announced that the firm has recently completed a $10,000 contribution to the capital campaign for the YMCA of Greater Springfield. The pledge originated in the fall of 2019, as Bacon Wilson supported the YMCA’s transition from the former Chestnut Street location to the new Tower Square facility in downtown Springfield. 

“My partners and I are very pleased to be able to support the Springfield YMCA at this critical moment,” said attorney Kenneth Albano, Bacon Wilson’s managing partner. “Bacon Wilson is pleased to know our contribution will boost the mission and continuing good works of the YMCA of Greater Springfield.”

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SPRINGFIELD — With regional food banks experiencing unprecedented demand, Big Y is providing an additional $125,000 in support to address the rise in food insecurity.

With the donations made in March, Big Y has provided $250,000 in financial assistance to area food banks in addition to the healthy surplus food it provides to them on a weekly basis. Using the estimate that every dollar donated provides four meals, the Big Y financial assistance amounts to 1 million meals.

“Our goal, our mission, is to feed families,” said Charlie D’Amour, president and CEO of Big Y. “We have people in our communities that are really struggling to get food on their table. The role of food banks serving local neighborhoods has never been more important.”

The donation will be split equally by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Worcester County Food Bank, and the Greater Boston Food Bank in Massachusetts, as well as Foodshare and the Connecticut Food Bank in Connecticut. As part of its commitment to hunger relief in its neighborhoods and ongoing partnerships with regional food banks, Big Y provided an estimated $11.5 million of healthy surplus food to these organizations in 2019. This food donation amounts to an estimated 5.7 million meals, two-thirds of which include donations of meat and fresh produce as well as bakery and non-perishable grocery items. Frozen food and dairy products account for one-third of the annual donation.

“Local feeding sites are receiving new patrons from the ranks of the recently unemployed who have never sought food assistance before,” said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. “The coronavirus poses an even greater threat to vulnerable households at risk of hunger.”

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HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley is looking to the community for support as it launches Project Red on Menstrual Hygiene Day, Thursday, May 28, to collect donations of essential wellness supplies that will benefit girls in the Pioneer Valley. Project Red’s mission is to supply 500 girls in the Valley with a four-month supply of menstrual products. 

Access to essential menstrual products has been challenging due to COVID-19, as many girls relied on schools or after-school programs for their menstrual-product needs. Many families are having to choose between purchasing these products or purchasing food. Girls Inc. of the Valley is looking to the community to help lead the charge in supporting girls in the community by encouraging the creation of fundraising pages, donations of supplies, and help spreading the word across social platforms. Girls Inc. will accept donations of a variety of new and unopened products: toothpaste, body wash, bars of soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, menstrual pads with wings, and monetary gifts. It has received support for Project Red in the form of a $1,500 grant from Health New England.

Donations will be accepted at the Girls Inc. of the Valley headquarters at 6 Open Square Way in Holyoke on May 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. Contactless, curbside dropoff will be offered.

A monetary donation or creation of a fundraising page can be made by following these simple steps: visit www.givegab.com/campaigns/project-red, select ‘make a donation’ or ‘start fundraising,’ and follow the step-by-step instructions to create a fundraising page.

“As Girls Inc. of the Valley staff members continued to reach out to our girls, the need for menstrual products became abundantly clear,” Executive Director Suzanne Parker said. “We are launching Project Red to ensure girls in the Valley have access to these essential products, and we invite the community to join us in our efforts. Health New England, an amazing community partner, has already stepped up to provide a $1,500 grant to support Project Red.” 

Project Red is an initiative that directly aligns with Girls Inc. of the Valley’s healthy sexuality curriculum and mission to inspire and prepare all girls to develop and achieve their full potential, and that begins with putting their wellness needs first. All partners understand how important it is for Girls Inc. to be there for girls right now, especially during trying times due to COVID-19.

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SPRINGFIELD — When BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007, it did so to identify rising stars across our region — individuals who were excelling in business and through involvement within the community — and celebrate their accomplishments.

In 2015, BusinessWest announced a new award, one that builds on the foundation upon which 40 Under Forty was created. It’s called the Alumni Achievement Award (formerly the Continued Excellence Award). As the name suggests, it is presented to the 40 Under Forty honoree who, in the eyes of an independent panel of judges, has most impressively continued and built upon his or her track record of accomplishment.

To nominate someone for this award, click here. Only nominations submitted to BusinessWest on this form will be considered. The deadline is Friday, June 12 at 5 p.m. No exceptions.

Candidates must be from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007 to 2019. For a list of 40 Under Forty alumni, click here.

Past winners include: 2019: Cinda Jones, president, W.D. Cowls Inc. (40 Under Forty class of 2007); 2018: Samalid Hogan, regional director, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (class of 2013); 2017: Scott Foster, attorney, Bulkley Richardson (class of 2011), and Nicole Griffin, owner, ManeHire (class of 2014); 2016: Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president, Allergy & Immunology Associates of New England (class of 2008); 2015: Delcie Bean, president, Paragus Strategic IT (class of 2008).

The 2020 honoree will be announced at the 40 Under Forty gala later this year. The presenting sponsor of the Alumni Achievement Award is Health New England.

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EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently donated $5,000 to the Easthampton Community Center to help cover additional costs of the Kid’s Bag Pantry program resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kid’s Bag Pantry Program typically provides each child up to age 18 with a bag of food monthly during the school year and weekly during the summer months. This year, the weekly program began in March due to the area’s school closures. The program will run through August and will serve approximately 800 children from 22 cities and towns across Western Mass.

According to Executive Director Robin Bialecki, the cost to run the program is approximately $10,000 per month. In addition to incurring three additional months of services, the organization is experiencing a funding shortfall because its annual fundraising golf tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Food insecurity, especially among children, is sadly prevalent and even moreso without our schools in session,” said bankESB President and CEO Matthew Sosik. “This program is a wonderful example of communities coming together to help feed our children, and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

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BOSTON — The state’s April total unemployment rate was up 12.3% from March at 15.1%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts lost 623,000 jobs in April. This follows last month’s revised loss of 43,800 jobs. The monthly change in the job estimates reflects the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the month, the private sector lost 597,100 jobs as losses occurred in all sectors, the largest of which occurred in leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; construction; and other services. Government lost jobs over the month.

From April 2019 to April 2020, BLS estimates Massachusetts lost 638,000 jobs.

The only private-sector job gain over the year was in information. The remaining private sectors lost jobs over the year, with the largest percentage losses in leisure and hospitality; other services; construction; and trade, transportation, and utilities.

The April unemployment rate was four-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 14.7% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The labor force decreased by 364,700 from 3,772,000 in March, as 773,500 fewer residents were employed and 408,700 more residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by 12.1%.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents age 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — dropped to 60.3%. Compared to April 2019, the labor-force participation rate is down by 7.2%.

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NORTH ADAMS — MCLA Gallery 51 announced that its new online program, the G51 Virtual Artist Series, will be held live on Zoom, at noon on alternating Saturdays. Local, regional, national, and international artists will give virtual tours of their studios and discuss their practices. Discussions with the artists will also be recorded for later viewing.

The series kicked off on May 16, with North Adams-based painter Galen Cheney. The gallery’s full spring programming schedule is available by clicking here.

“We are excited to have these incredible artists join us and give us access to their practice,” said Gallery 51 Manager Veronica Preciado. “It is a wonderful opportunity for people to meet and interact with artists across the globe, no matter their physical location.”

Future events in the G51 Virtual Artist Series are as follows:

• Saturday, May 30: Gerald Sheffield, whose work explores the margins of representation regarding national identity, cultural heritage, and western art history as it relates to everyday life in the U.S.;

• Saturday, June 13: Gladys Kalichini, who is known for paintings, digital work, and installations that explore history and the marginalization of certain groups;

• Saturday, June 27: Todd Elliott, a multi-disciplinary artist whose work is inspired by shapes and forms used in architectural motifs, transpiration design, typography, and logos;

• Saturday, July 11: Sula Bermudez-Silverman, whose conceptual work intertwines multiple issues, investigating and critiquing the issues of race, gender, and economics;

• Saturday, July 25: Kim Faler, a local, multi-disciplinary artist working in painting, drawing, installation, sculpture, and photography, whose art practice unpacks the emotional weight found within everyday objects and architecture; and

• Saturday, Aug. 8: Anina Major, who works with topics of identity, slavery, the female body, Bahamian culture, and more. She considers her creative practice to be a response to continuous erasure and a culture that is constantly being oversimplified.

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AMHERST — In the largest study of its kind in any non-European population, an international team of researchers, including a UMass Amherst genetic epidemiologist, has identified new genetic links with type 2 diabetes among 433,540 East Asian individuals.

The findings, published in Nature, “provide additional insight into the biological basis of type 2 diabetes,” said co-lead author and statistician Cassandra Spracklen, assistant professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology in the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences.

Spracklen served as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the research. “How diabetes comes about in different populations can occasionally vary in subtle but significant ways,” she says. “With studies like these, we are able to come at that question a little better.”

Ultimately, the goal is to identify potential genetic targets to treat or even cure the chronic metabolic disorder that affects and sometimes debilitates more than 400 million adults worldwide, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

The international team of more than 100 researchers was led by scientists at five institutions in Singapore, the U.S., South Korea, the U.K., and Japan. The research was funded by more than 30 governmental sources and foundations.

“Such a large-scale study would never have been possible without the commitment and dedication to collaboration among so many scientists around the world, especially in Asia,” said Karen Mohlke, professor of Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and one of the study’s senior authors. “The data this team collected and analyzed has provided the research community with much-needed new information about the biological underpinnings of diabetes.”

The other senior authors are Xueling Sim of the National University of Singapore, Dr. Bong-Jo Kim of the National Institute of Health in Cheongjusi, South Korea; Robin Walters of the University of Oxford, U.K.; and Dr. Takashi Kadowaki of the University of Tokyo, Japan.

Coronavirus Cover Story

Baby Steps

After more than two months of a widespread economic shutdown, Massachusetts is opening its economy again — sort of. The plan, announced by Gov. Charlie Baker on May 18, allows some businesses to open their doors under tight health restrictions, while others — including restaurants, spas, and most retail — have to wait longer to invite the public inside. What’s got businesses frustrated is not knowing exactly when their turn will come — and the financial impact they continue to endure every week they have to wait.

Massachusetts is the 15th-most populous state in the U.S., yet, the day Gov. Charlie Baker released his economic reopening report, it had reported the fourth-most total COVID-19 cases in the country.

So, the reopening was never going to be a free-for-all.

“We were all very aware that, no matter what we went forward with, there will be more infection and more deaths,” said Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, one of 17 members of the governor’s Reopening Advisory Board. “While the public-health metrics are numbers, statistics, they’re also people — they’re your neighbors, maybe your mother or father.

“People want to open,” she told BusinessWest, “but they don’t want to put people at risk — themselves, their customers, their parents. The compassion is remarkable.”

That’s why it was no surprise that Massachusetts is reopening slowly and cautiously. Last week, manufacturing facilities, construction sites, and places of worship were allowed to return under strict guidelines (more on those later), and on May 25, the list will expand to offices (except in Boston) and labs; hair salons, pet grooming, and car washes; retail, with remote fulfillment and curbside pickup only; beaches, parks, drive-in movies, and some athletic fields and courts; fishing, hunting, and boating; and outdoor gardens, zoos, reserves, and public installations.

That covers what Baker is calling phase 1, with three more reopening phases to follow. Conspicuously not on the phase-1 list? Restaurants, spas, daycare centers, in-store retail … it’s a long list. And, for many business leaders, a frustrating one.

Nancy Creed

Nancy Creed says businesses in phase 1 got the clarity they were seeking, but those in phase 2 are still waiting.

“There’s certainly an appreciation for public health, but there also needs to be some common sense, and I think it’s very hard to explain why it’s OK for 200 people to be in line at Home Depot, but a small, downtown store can’t have two or three people in it,” Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, told BusinessWest.

“Certainly everyone has to be smart,” he added, “but I think there needs to be more common sense brought into the reopening. I appreciate where the governor is — the balancing act — and I think the reopening committee did a great job with outreach, but there needs to be clear guidance and some common sense.”

Others were less diplomatic.

“While protecting public health is important and something we all support, it defies logic to declare that the opening of barbershops and hair salons is safe, while claiming opening small retail businesses is not,” Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Assoc. of Massachusetts, said in a statement.

“The same is true for the opening of churches and large office buildings,” he went on. “Having two or three people in a retail shop is every bit as safe, if not safer, than the allowable businesses in phase 1. The Baker administration has consistently picked winners and losers during this crisis, and it is disappointing to see that trend continue in the reopening plan.”

As president of the Springfield Regional Chamber, Nancy Creed has been in touch with her members for almost three months now on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She, like Sullivan, understands the delicate balance the state is walking.

“When we were part of the presentation to the advisory board, the last thing I said to them was, ‘our businesses are struggling, but they are surviving this. What they can’t survive is for it to happen again.”

“Certain sectors thought they’d be in phase 1, so there’s always that frustration,” she told BusinessWest. “When we were part of the presentation to the advisory board, the last thing I said to them was, ‘our businesses are struggling, but they are surviving this. What they can’t survive is for it to happen again. So we need to be smart about it and make sure we’re doing everything we can so the reopening is successful, and this doesn’t happen again.’”

She knows that’s not easy for many small businesses to hear, particularly ones with no revenue stream at all during this time.

“This is different for everyone, but businesses are muddling through it, pivoting, doing the things they need to do for basic economic survival,” she added. “But if it happens again, I don’t think we’ll survive the second round.”

Hence, baby steps, and a multi-phase reopening that offers real hope for many sectors, but continues to draw no small amount of criticism as well.

Guidance — and Lack Thereof

According to Baker’s plan, each phase of the reopening will be guided by public-health data that will be continually monitored and used to determine advancement to future phases. The goal of a phased plan is to methodically allow businesses, services, and activities to resume, while avoiding a resurgence of COVID-19 that could overwhelm the state’s healthcare system and erase the progress made so far.

Each phase will last a minimum of three weeks and could last longer before moving to the next phase. If public-health data trends are negative, specific industries, regions, or even the entire Commonwealth may need to return to an earlier phase.

Nicole LaChapelle

Nicole LaChapelle

“When talking to businesses and different groups and unions, the question was always, ‘what are the barriers right now, what are your biggest challenges, but more importantly, what do you need to see happen in order for your industry to open, and what is the timeline for that to happen for you?’”

In addition, success in earlier phases will refine criteria for future phases, including travel, gathering sizes, as well as additional openings in retail, restaurants, lodging, arts, entertainment, fitness centers, museums, youth sports, and other activities.

“Going in, the goals were, how do we safely and slowly open the Massachusetts economy?” LaChapelle said. “And that is directly tied to public-health metrics. When talking to businesses and different groups and unions, the question was always, ‘what are the barriers right now, what are your biggest challenges, but more importantly, what do you need to see happen in order for your industry to open, and what is the timeline for that to happen for you?’”

It was helpful, she explained, to seek input from myriad sectors and businesses — those deemed essential and never forced to shutter; those that had to pivot, such as retailers boosting their online presence and manufacturers shifting to making masks and face shields; and businesses that have been effectively sidelined.

“The board, at no point, even at the beginning, was like, ‘let’s get this thing going and roll it out immediately,’” she added, noting that she understands the need for companies to start ramping back up. “They may be a little disappointed, but they’ve been very understanding. There’s some education we have to do, but nobody is really upside-down about it.”

In order to reopen, businesses must develop a written COVID-19 control plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of the virus. They must also create and display posters and signs describing rules for maintaining social distancing, hygiene protocols, as well as cleaning and disinfecting.

“I think there needs to be an appreciation for restaurants and small Main Street businesses that are not going to be able to just comply with the state’s protocols immediately.”

Sullivan appreciates the attention to public-health concerns, but said it offers little comfort for businesses stuck in an as-yet-undefined phase 2 — or beyond. While the reopening plan gives clear guidance for businesses in phase 1, those in phase 2 don’t even get a target date they can work toward or a set of protocols they can begin to develop. And that lack of clarity has led to frustration.

“I do think many businesses, especially smaller businesses, were kind of expecting more things to open up,” he said. “I think there needs to be an appreciation for restaurants and small Main Street businesses that are not going to be able to just comply with the state’s protocols immediately. They’ll need to plan, order some equipment, and spend some time reorganizing their business, because it’s going to be different than it was pre-COVID. And it’s not something they can do overnight. Many businesses are just looking at lead time — they want to open sooner than later, but they want lead time so they can be ready to go.”

Creed agreed.

“I think what businesses wanted, at least in the beginning, was some clarity about the guidelines, about the timelines, about the standards, about the checklists, all those things, so they can create their own plan — and that was achieved, at least for phase 1,” she explained. “But I am hearing the phase-2 people saying, ‘well, I wanted to be able to plan, but I don’t have enough guidance right now,’ so there’s some frustration.”

The Massachusetts Restaurant Assoc. said as much in a statement following the plan’s release.

“Obviously, every restaurateur is disappointed with the lack of a defined reopening date in today’s announcement,” it noted. “Massachusetts restaurants need their suppliers to have time to restock perishable inventory before it can be delivered to them. They need to notify employees about returning to work and conduct other due diligence to ensure restaurants can open effectively.”

Safety and Numbers

Across Massachusetts, the reopening plan sparked a spectrum of reactions, all acknowledging the competing health and economic interests in play, but expressing different levels of understanding and frustration — and often both.

“We realize that every employer in Massachusetts would love to hear that they can reopen immediately. But we also acknowledge that a phased reopening balances the need to restart the economy with the need to manage a public-health crisis that continues to claim 100 lives a day in Massachusetts,” John Regan, president and CEO of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, noted in a statement.

Even as some businesses start to reopen and others plan to do so, the state Department of Public Health updated its stay-at-home advisory, replacing it with a new “Safer at Home” advisory, which instructs everyone to stay home unless they are headed to a newly opened facility or activity. It also advises those over age 65 and those with underlying health conditions to stay home, with the exception of trips required for healthcare, groceries, or that are otherwise absolutely necessary. All residents must continue to wear a face covering in public when social distancing is not possible, and individuals are advised to wash their hands frequently and be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms. Restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people remain in effect.

The state also encourages working from home when possible, and Baker’s office released a list of 54 large companies — employing about 150,000 workers among them — that have issued statements extending work-from-home policies for the remainder of the spring, with numerous reporting intentions to extend into the summer and, in some cases, for the remainder of 2020.

“As MassMutual develops our plan to gradually return to the office, the health and safety of our employees is our top priority,” said Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual, noting that his employees will return to the office no sooner than the beginning of September.

“We expect to come back in a slow, phased manner,” he added. “We will continue to monitor and reassess and will be factoring in a number of considerations — from federal, state, and local government and health officials’ guidance to a sustained reduction in cases in our operating locations, to broader available testing and our employees’ personal circumstances and comfort.”

Patrick Sullivan, Massachusetts President of People’s United Bank, is also promoting continued work from home where possible.

“People’s United Bank is assessing re-entry conditions and protocols to ensure the safety of our team members and our customers,” he said. “Our approach will balance the needs of employees with the needs of the business. As we have been successful in pivoting and adjusting to working from home, we will continue to encourage this behavior.”

Still, those are businesses that can at least operate in most aspects. Retail stores can’t so easily adjust — and have been devastated by the inability to invite shoppers into their stores.

“We are incredibly disappointed with how Governor Baker has treated retail businesses throughout the health and economic crisis. Massachusetts has been one of the most hostile states in the nation toward small retailers.”

“We are incredibly disappointed with how Governor Baker has treated retail businesses throughout the health and economic crisis. Massachusetts has been one of the most hostile states in the nation toward small retailers,” said Hurst, noting that Massachusetts stores are losing Memorial Day weekend at a time when other states have let them open up shop by now. “Retail businesses are ready and able to open safely now with a limited number of people in stores and for appointment shopping. By not allowing that until late June, many small, Main Street businesses will close forever.”

That’s not hyperbole for small businesses of many kinds. Matt Haskins, who operates the popular Matt’s Barber Shop in Amherst, said a recent grant from the Downtown Amherst Foundation has helped him stay afloat at a time when he doesn’t know when college business will return.

“Just five minutes before [receiving word of the grant], I was on a phone call discussing if Matt’s Barber Shop was going to make it or break it,” he told foundation officials. “The grant helps me think we’re going to make it.”

So will being able to open his doors again on May 25. And that’s all most business owners want right now — a target. Creed hears that, but at the same time, she’s encouraged by recent chamber polling suggesting the percentage of business owners who feel they’ll survive this crisis is rising.

“What that says to me is people are finding a way to make sure it doesn’t put them out of business,” she said, “which shows the resilience of the businesses we have here.”

Yes, they have resilience, in spades. Now, they want clarity — and some hard dates.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Law Special Coverage

COVID Lawsuits

By John Gannon, Esq.

Businesses across the globe are in the midst of planning, preparing, and executing their reopening strategies. While this news is encouraging, employers face novel and complicated legal questions about their potential liability to employees who either get sick at work or cannot return due to medical or childcare-related reasons.

Searching for answers, businesses leaders are confronted with an array of local, state, federal, and industry-specific protocols for operating safely. Charting a course in the face of this uncertainty is no small task. Unfortunately, one thing remains clear: there will be a wave of lawsuits triggered by the difficult business decisions made during this challenging time.

The COVID-19 crisis will send shockwaves through the courts and fair-employment agencies (such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination) for years to come. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell remarked that an “epidemic” of these lawsuits will lead to “a trial-lawyer bonanza.” While likely overstated, the concern for employers should be real. Numerous COVID-19-related lawsuits have been filed, with many more on the way. Here are a sampling of those legal theories, with prevention tips and tactics at the end.

Negligence and/or Wrongful Death

One of the scariest claims for businesses will be negligence and wrongful-death lawsuits. In short, these actions may be lodged by employees (and even customers) who are harmed by COVID-19 because the employer failed to keep the work environment safe.

How might this look? Imagine that employees in a manufacturing plant return to work as the business reopens (or perhaps they have been working all along if the workers are deemed ‘essential’). Joe, who works on the factory floor in close proximity with others, tests positive for COVID-19. Mike, who works near Joe, also tests positive. Mike in turn infects members of his household, including an aging, immune-compromised parent. Can any of them sue the business?

John S. Gannon

John S. Gannon

“Our workers’ compensation system typically prevents employees from suing their employers for injuries that result from working. Instead of suing, employees with occupational injuries get paid through workers’ comp. But is a COVID-19 infection ‘occupational?’”

Our workers’ compensation system typically prevents employees from suing their employers for injuries that result from working. Instead of suing, employees with occupational injuries get paid through workers’ comp. But is a COVID-19 infection ‘occupational?’ Proving the root cause of a COVID infection is very difficult, as the virus spreads easily and can be contracted nearly anywhere.

In the above example, would Joe have a workers’ comp claim? Probably not, unless he can show others he was working in close proximity with someone who had the virus before him. What about Mike? He has a better claim, but still no sure thing. And certainly the family member would not be filing a comp claim. Instead, a negligence or wrongful-death suit might follow.

Recently, the relative of a retail-store employee in Illinois who died from COVID-19 sued the retailer for negligence and wrongful death. The lawsuit claims that the employee contracted COVID-19 in the store, and the business did not do enough to protect employees from the virus. All businesses that are open or reopening should have this case on their radar.

FFCRA Violations

By now, everyone should know that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) allows employees to take paid leave for a number of COVID-19-related reasons, including the need to care for children who are unable to go to school or daycare. Employees who are denied FFCRA rights or retaliated against for taking FFCRA leave can sue you in court. Successful employees may be entitled to reinstatement, lost wages, attorney’s fees, and double damages.

The first FFCRA-related lawsuit was filed last month. In the case, a female employee (and single mom) claimed she was fired because she requested FFCRA leave due to her son’s school closing. The employee allegedly discussed her need for leave to care for her son, and was told that the FFCRA was not meant to be “a hammer to force management into making decisions which may not be in the interest of the company or yourself.” She was fired a few days later and then filed what might be the first FFCRA lawsuit. Many more are certain to follow.

Discriminatory Layoffs

At the time of this article, the unemployment rate in the U.S. stands at almost 15%, and more than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment since mid-March. Each layoff decision comes with the risk that someone will claim the reason they were selected was discriminatory.

Suppose Jane, who is 60, gets laid off, while many younger workers were retained for employment. Jane may claim that the reason was at least partially motivated by her age. If she was right, it would be would be textbook age discrimination.

Whistleblower/Retaliation Lawsuits

Employees who raise complaints or concerns about workplace safety are protected against retaliation by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Similarly, Massachusetts has a law that protects healthcare workers who complain about practices that pose a risk to public health. We expect an increase in these lawsuits during this pandemic.

Prevention Strategies

These novel COVID-19-related lawsuits generally fall into one of two buckets: claims related to worker health and safety, and discriminatory or retaliatory adverse employment actions.

To protect against the first batch, businesses need to rigorously follow federal, state, and local guidance on maintaining a safe workplace. Agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have issued guidance on topics like maintaining safe business operations, temperature checks for employees, and personal protective equipment. Check with your risk-management advisors to see if they have developed checklists or other tools you can use to aid in your business reopening.

Avoiding the second type of lawsuit (discrimination, retaliation, etc.) involves the same tried and true principles that were critical before COVID-19. Make sure you have reasonable, business-based justifications for your decisions that are not motivated by characteristics like race, age, gender, or use of FFCRA leave. These business-based reasons should be well-documented and understandable to laypeople, who may be reviewing your justification in a jury room. Finally, when in doubt, consult with your labor and employment-law specialists.

John Gannon is a partner with Springfield-based Skoler, Abbott & Presser. He specializes in employment law and regularly counsels employers on compliance with state and federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. He is a frequent speaker on employment-related legal topics for a wide variety of associations and organizations; [email protected]

Coronavirus Special Coverage

Q & A for the Reopening

By Ellen McKitterick and Mark Emrick

Employers are beginning to look at bringing employees back into the workplace and/or opening up their offices after being closed for six to eight weeks. Here is a sampling of the key questions that the HR Hotline staff at the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) is responding to.

Ellen McKitterick

Ellen McKitterick

Mark Emrick

Mark Emrick

How do I respond to an employee who says they are afraid to return to work? Each instance needs to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. If the employee has a valid reason that fits within an FMLA, ADA, or other reasonable accommodation, then be sure to start the interactive process and see if the request is reasonable. Otherwise, general fear is not a valid reason, and the employee would be voluntarily resigning.

How do I respond to an employee who says they don’t feel safe returning to the workplace? Assuming you have taken all required cleaning and disinfecting steps, you can respond: “we are operating a safe workplace. We are operating in accordance with state and local safety and health guidelines. There currently is no recognized health or safety hazard in our workplace.” Otherwise, general fear is not a valid reason, and the employee would be voluntarily resigning.

As we ramp up our operations, we need our workforce to return to the physical workplace. How do I respond to an employee’s request to continue working from home? Employers do not have to permit work from home if it does not fit their business needs; it is not up to the employee. That being said, in our current crisis, it is wise to allow working from home until the COVID-19 situation is under better control.

What if I can only bring my employees back part-time? They have been on unemployment during their furlough. How will this affect their ability to collect benefits? Employees who are collecting any benefit from unemployment insurance (UI) will continue to receive the additional $600 from the federal government at least through July 31. Partial unemployment may still qualify them for some UI; there is a partial-payment calculator at mass.gov to determine the possible benefit.

Can my employees continue to collect unemployment after I have asked them to come back, but they refuse? They can try, but they are not eligible if you have offered work. Employers should notify the Department of Unemployment Assistance of any employee refusing to return.

What do I do if my employee says they are making more money on unemployment than working for me and do not want to return right away? The employee needs to make a decision. Either they take the short-term gain of extra unemployment or the long-term gain of their job. This would be considered, in most cases, voluntary resignation. Their position may not be available when they decide to return to work.

What effects does our recent furlough have on my employees’ flexible spending account and dependent care accounts, the loss of contributions, and amount of time remaining for contributions in 2020? Employees may be allowed to make changes to some accounts, but it would require an amendment to your plan. IRS Notice 2020-29 may answer more questions.

Can I screen or test employees for symptoms of COVID-19 before they return to work? What screening methods should I use? Yes, during a pandemic you can take employees’ temperatures or ask business-related health questions such as “have you had symptoms, a fever over 100.4, or been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19?: Remember that HIPAA and privacy laws apply.

Can I require older workers who are at high risk to continue to stay at home? No, you cannot exclude anyone in a protected class. If they voice a concern, then you should enter into the interactive process and see if a reasonable accommodation may apply.

Do I have to provide face masks for my employees? In Masachusetts, employees will be required to wear them at work, but it is to be determined who has to provide them. Neighboring states are all requiring the employer to provide needed personal protective equipment.

How do I respond to any employee who refuses to adhere to our social-distancing guidelines or wear a face covering in the office? Upon return to work, employers should put employees on notice of any new policy, any special protocols that may apply, and the personal protective equipment that is required. Engage in an interactive process to ascertain any concerns and determine if special conditions may apply before moving to discipline.

What should I do if my employees are complaining about coming back to work and the extra requirements? Employees are entitled to complain about working conditions to fellow employees. They should remain professional and follow all company policies, but they have the right to voice their opinion as long as they are not defamatory or causing disruptions.

Ellen McKitterick is EANE’s newest HR business partner. She advises member organizations on all aspects of employment law, including wage and hour issues, employment discrimination, employee benefits, leaves of absence, and unemployment, and trains EANE members and non-members on harassment prevention, basic employment concepts, employee medical and leave issues, and key management skills. Mark Emrick is a senior HR business partner at EANE with consulting responsibilities for all aspects of the HR function — recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, benefits administration, compliance, performance management, coaching, development, corrective action, and terminations. He is also an experienced investigator for employee complaints and issues.

Law Special Coverage

Calling Back Workers

By Mary Jo Kennedy, Esq. and Sarah Willey, Esq.

Mary Jo Kennedy

Mary Jo Kennedy

Sarah Willey

Sarah Willey

As businesses prepare for reopening, many employers are summoning laid-off and furloughed employees and notifying employees who have been working remotely to return to the physical workplace.

Some employers are anticipating that their reopening may be a gradual process. Employers may do a ‘soft reopening’ in order to test workplace-safety measures such as social distancing. Some businesses may find, as a result of new safety procedures, that their workplace no longer requires certain positions. As a result, employers may not need the same number of employees or positions they had back in early March.

However, recalling only a portion of a workforce does have its own risks. Employers should carefully consider who and how many workers to recall and when to have them return.

Once notified, workers’ responses to the callback may vary. Some employees will welcome the return to work as a sign that things are returning to ‘normal,’ while others may have mixed feelings as they may want or need to stay home until the pandemic is over. Employers must consider how to best respond to workers’ requests.

How do you select which employees to call back when calling back fewer than all?

First, identify the types of positions and the number of employees needed for each position to be recalled. There may be certain skill sets or knowledge base needed in order to ramp up business after the shutdown.

“If they have medical concerns regarding returning to work, they should discuss those concerns with their supervisor or human-resources team and encourage them to stay home or arrange an alternate work assignment.”

Second, businesses should consider any policy or past practice regarding recalling employees as there may be a legitimate business reason for not following them. Employers should evaluate their business rationale for the selection process and document the criteria used for selecting one employee over another. Selection criteria may appear neutral on the surface, but the effect of its application may inadvertently result in the elimination of all or a majority of a group of employees in a class protected under discrimination laws. As a result, selection criteria may need to be reconsidered in order to avoid possible discrimination claims.

Can you decide not to recall employees because of a concern regarding their health?

Employers may have a genuine concern that a group of employees may be susceptible to greater harm if infected with COVID-19. For example, an employer may be concerned about possible exposure to COVID-19 of an older employee, employees with known medical conditions, or a pregnant employee. Any selection decision based on a person’s age, perceived disability, or pregnancy will expose the employer to discrimination claims.

Employers should not take a paternalistic view of deciding what is best for its employees. Rather, an employer should let employees know that, if they have medical concerns regarding returning to work, they should discuss those concerns with their supervisor or human-resources team and encourage them to stay home or arrange an alternate work assignment.

What if you laid off some and furloughed other employees?

Employers should consider calling back furloughed employees before rehiring laid-off employees. Employers may have given furloughed employees written assurances that they would be called back and may have retained them on health insurance, indicators that the employer intended to have the furloughed employees return to work.

How do you communicate the call back?

Employers should communicate the offer to return to work in writing. The communication should detail the start date, full-time or part-time status, position, hours, work schedules, wages, location, and conditions of the job.

What if a business calls back laid-off or furloughed employees and the response is that an employee has found other employment?

If an employer is told that a laid-off or furloughed employee is not returning to work because the individual has found employment elsewhere, the employer should document the reason for not returning and then move to the next employee on the recall list. If your business participated in the Paycheck Protection Program, documenting the reason for the refusal is critical in order to meet the loan-forgiveness requirements.

Also, if accrued but unused vacation time has not previously been paid, it should be paid out to the employee immediately, and if the employee was on the employer’s health insurance, a COBRA notice should be sent to the employee.

What if a business calls back a laid-off or furloughed employee who is unable to return to work because of a lack of childcare?

With schools and daycare facilities currently closed, employees with school-aged children may not have childcare options. Under the CARES Act, individuals who are unable to work (including telework) and are the primary caregiver for a child whose school or childcare facility is closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable due to COVID-19 can receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

In addition, the employee may be eligible for paid extended family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), under which eligible employees who are unable to work at their normal worksite or by means of telework are entitled to 12 weeks of paid extended family and medical leave (at two-thirds of their regular rate of pay) to care for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or childcare provider is unavailable) due to COVID-19-related reasons.

The FFCRA provides eligibility for paid extended family and medical leave to an employee who was laid off or otherwise terminated by the employer on or after March 1, 2020 and rehired or otherwise re-employed by the employer on or before Dec. 31, 2020, provided that the employee had been on the employer’s payroll for 30 or more of the 60 calendar days prior to the date the employee was laid off or otherwise terminated.

What if an employee has been working remotely during the shutdown and is unable to physically return to the worksite because of a lack of childcare?

While many remote employees have been able to work effectively at home during the forced shutdown, other remote employees may have struggled due their type of work not being conducive to telework. An employer may have valid concerns about an employee’s telework performance, such as the quality and quantity of the work, and should address with remote employees any performance issues.

An employer should discuss with an employee the possibility of flexible or reduced hours in a physical workplace or a modified remote-work schedule. If these options are not viable, an employee unable to return to their normal worksite may be eligible for unemployment.

What if an employee who has a medical condition increasing their risk of harm if exposed to COVID-19 wants to continue working remotely?

Addressing this issue requires consideration of federal and state reasonable-accommodation laws. If the medical diagnosis constitutes a disability under state or federal disability laws, the employee may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation. Given these unprecedented times, an employer may treat a medical condition that puts an individual at an increased risk of harm if exposed to COVID-19 as a disability. The employer should also explore with the employee other possible accommodations in addition to working remotely.

What if an employee can work but has a medical condition, adding increased risk of harm if exposed to COVID-19, but the employee’s job duties cannot be done remotely?

Dealing with employees whose work cannot be done remotely but are at an increased risk of harm if exposed to COVID-19 has unique concerns, and each situation should be considered on a case-by-case basis. If the employee was advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19 and the employer is subject to the FFCRA, the employee may be eligible for 80 hours of paid sick leave under FFCRA.

However, in this scenario, the FFCRA requires that the employee be “particularly vulnerable to COVID-19” and that following the advice of a healthcare provider to self-quarantine prevents the employee from being able to work, either at the employee’s workplace or by telework. Employers should obtain appropriate medical documentation substantiating the reasons for the self-quarantine.

In addition, if the medical diagnosis constitutes a serious medical condition or a disability, the employee may be entitled to either an unpaid leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act (if the employer has 50 or more employees and as such is a FMLA-covered employer) or a leave of absence as a reasonable accommodation for the disability.

What if an employee wants to continue to work remotely because the employee has an immediate family member who has a medical condition that puts that family member at increased risk of harm if exposed to COVID-19?

An eligible employee of a FMLA-covered employer can take a leave of absence to care for a family member with a serious medical condition. But if the family member does not need the employee’s care, the requirements for FMLA leave would not be met.

Under the American with Disabilities Act, employers are required to provide qualified disabled employees with a reasonable accommodation. When leave and accommodation laws do not apply, employees may ask employers to apply common decency to the situation and let them return to the physical workplace at a later time.

These are challenging issues for employers, who must balance the need to protect employees from COVID-19 with the need to maintain a workforce to keep the business open.

Employers should be cautious when navigating the various leave and disability laws in order to avoid lawsuits. Before denying employees’ leaves or other reasonable-accommodation requests, employers should engage with employees in order to assess the validity and reasonableness of the requests and should document the steps taken.

Mary Jo Kennedy is a partner and chair of the employment group at Bulkley Richardson, and Sarah Willey is counsel and member of the employment group at Bulkley Richardson.

Features

Into the Breach

Debbie Bitsoli

Debbie Bitsoli says her learning curve has been altered by COVID-19, but she’s made the most of the opportunity.

Debbie Bitsoli understood she was taking on a huge challenge when she accepted the role of president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates late last fall.

But she certainly wasn’t expecting anything quite like this.

Indeed, the first six months of her tenure have been dominated not only by a global pandemic that has tested hospitals, and especially smaller community hospitals, in every way imaginable, but also a painful and controversial decision to close inpatient beds at Providence Behavioral Hospital, one of Mercy’s affiliates (more on that later).

Overall, it has been a pressure-packed, greatly accelerated learning experience on innumerable levels, one that has left her knowing more about herself, and also about Mercy and its team; Trinity Health Of New England, the parent to Mercy Medical Center; and the community the hospital serves.

“This has given me the opportunity to learn more about the culture here at Mercy and its history,” she noted. “It’s allowed me to cherish that history more as I’ve understood it, and all the years the hospital has stood on these grounds. It’s been a different type of learning experience because I’ve had to do a lot of it virtually, but I’ve made the most of it.”

The pandemic arrived in this region just a few months after Bitsoli did, and, as noted, it has impacted the hospital and its staff on a number of levels — everything from combating shortages of personal protective equipment to the strain of treating those with the virus, to the financial trauma resulting from the inability to perform elective surgery and a sharp decline in emergency-room visits due to the public’s fear of contracting the virus.

“This has given me the opportunity to learn more about the culture here at Mercy and its history.”

All hospital administrators have been facing the same potent mix of challenges, but for Bitsoli, who came to Mercy from Morton Hospital in Taunton in early December, the pandemic has greatly accelerated but also profoundly changed the process of putting her stamp on the 147-year-old institution.

And it has left her calling on experience — and experiences — going all the way back to when she worked in the dietary department at a hospital, delivering meals to patients — a job her mother, an emergency room nurse, helped her land.

“My mother set an extremely high bar,” Bitsoli told BusinessWest. “And when she got me my first job, she said two things to me — first, ‘when you bring that tray in to that patient, you’re to think about the person in front of you, not yourself.’ And, second, ‘don’t embarrass me.’ I don’t think I ever have.

“The 12 years I spent on the front lines — in dietary, housekeeping, and ultimately in the intensive care unit by the bedside with the nurses — really helped to prepare for what it’s like in direct clinical care,” she went on. “It has provided me the empathy, respect, and admiration for the front-end work that all the caregivers — the nurses, the doctors, and all the medical staff and colleagues — contribute. I had that as background, which I think equips me very well for the future.”

While the first six months of her tenure have been difficult, Bitsoli said there have been some silver linings, if one chooses to call them that. She said the pandemic has enabled her to work with her team and her board on a level — and under circumstances — that could not have been anticipated when she arrived. Meanwhile, the crisis has enabled her to see first-hand — and in many different ways — the importance of Mercy within the community and the strong level of support the institution enjoys.

“The outpouring from the community, and the love, respect, and admiration that they feel for Mercy Medical Center, has been … I can’t describe in words how much it resonates for me and how much it means for the front-end staff,” she said. “All those contributions we received, and the prayers, respect, and recognition, have meant the world to people here and allowed them to move forward knowing they’re contributing significantly.”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Bitsoli about her brief but already memorable tenure at Mercy, and how this stern challenge has tested her and the medical center — and will keep doing so for months, if not years, to come.

Background — Check

Bitsoli brings a deep portfolio of experience in healthcare management to her role at Mercy — and the current crisis — with all of it coming in the Bay State.

As noted earlier, she came to the Springfield campus after a four-year stint as president of the 110-bed Morton Hospital. Prior to that, she served as chief operating officer and vice president of Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, a position she took after serving for three years as COO of MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. Previously, she served as associate COO, chief administrative officer, and chief financial officer at Cambridge Health Alliance; administrator of Internal Medicine at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates; and audit manager and project manager at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

She said she was drawn to the leadership post at Mercy by a number of factors, including the hospital’s somewhat unique mission as a Catholic hospital, its strong reputation for quality and caring, and its status as part of the larger Trinity Health Of New England system.

She took over a hospital that reported a $12.6 million loss for the 2018 fiscal year and had made a number of staff reductions and other cutbacks in the months prior to her arrival.

“The 12 years I spent on the front lines — in dietary, housekeeping, and ultimately in the intensive care unit by the bedside with the nurses — really helped to prepare for what it’s like in direct clinical care.”

But such challenges were common to most all smaller hospitals in Massachusetts and New England, and Bitsoli said this was part of the landscape when it comes to hospital administration in this era. And so was dealing with crises, she said, adding that she’s helped lead institutions through recessions, the fallout from 9/11, and even other epidemics, such as SARS.

But this pandemic? That’s another story, and it has changed that landscape quickly and profoundly. Indeed, in addition to treating those with the virus and safeguarding staff and the community from it, Mercy, like all hospitals, has been hit hard by the inability to perform elective surgeries and sharply declining revenues from declining visitation in the ER — conditions that have forced hospitals to trim staff and implement pay cuts, even to doctors.

To guide the hospital through the crisis and its many impact points, Bitsoli said she and the management team have been focused on three things — planning, preparing, and anticipating — to the extent that they are all possible with this fast-moving pandemic.

“We have twice-daily meetings with the executive team seven days a week, so we can plan and adjust accordingly based on what’s occurring,” she noted, adding that, in recent weeks, patient volumes related to COVID-19 have declined. “The key for me was planning, preparing, and anticipating as this unfolded so that we could make sure we had our structures and designs in place to keep our patients safe.”

Meanwhile, the decision to close the 74 inpatient beds — the pediatric, geriatric, and adult units — at Providence has brought its own set of challenges. Deemed necessary because of a lack of permanent psychiatrists, the planned closure of the units, with the intention of patients seeking care at other Trinity Health facilities in Connecticut, has been criticized not only for the level of inconvenience it imposes on area residents, but also for its timing.

Indeed, the pandemic has generated a sharp rise in the need for behavioral-health services as residents cope with everything from isolation-related issues to depression and other conditions related to job loss and financial pressures, promoting even greater need for beds at Providence.

But Bitsoli said that, for several reasons, and especially the lack of psychiatrists, the hospital cannot continue to operate those beds.

“It’s been a difficult but necessary decision in light of the fact that you need physicians to take care of the patients,” she explained, adding that the services are slated to be discontinued on June 30, although the state Department of Public Health has asked for a more detailed plan on how and where people can get help before it can approve the closure plan.

Vision Statement

When asked specifically about what is involved with leading a hospital through a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic and difficult transitions like that at Providence, Bitsoli paused for a moment as if to convey that there is a lot that goes into that equation.

She mentioned everything from leading by example, something she strives to do every day, to communicating effectively with constituents ranging from patients and staff to the community to state and federal lawmakers about the many forms of help hospitals will need to weather this storm.

When Bistosli, a CPA, was working toward her MBA at Babson College in Wellesley, she did a considerable amount of reading on the subject of leadership, and is putting what she learned from that time — as well as at all the other stops on her résumé — into practice now.

“I read historical books about great leaders like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and I think that’s the learning there,” she noted. “One key element of leadership for me is trust and really making sure that the people who are on the direct team know that my vision for leadership is that we’re all in a boat together and we’re all united in that boat moving downstream, with the goal of looking at our workday to provide the maximum impact to patient safety and the colleagues we work with and for.

“For me, leadership is about trust and the ability to have a relationship with people to allow them to do the best work possible,” she went on. “To learn, to adapt, and to sometimes make mistakes, which is OK, because you learn from them. At the end of the day, you mature as a business owner and as a professional, and to me, that’s what leadership is all about.”

She said another key element to providing effective leadership — during a pandemic or any other time — is to inspire team members to reach a level they may have thought was beyond their reach, and then give them the support and the tools needed to get there.

“I want people to really aspire to greatness because, through my career, I’ve seen great, great people who didn’t know that they could get there, but with a little prodding and trust and a comfort zone, they’re able to rise above what they thought they were capable of,” she told BusinessWest. “They got there through a little support, mentorship, and really nudging — and that’s a the sign of a great leader; you invest in people, you mentor people, and you prod them because you know they can get to another level of performance.”

Moving forward during this pandemic, Bitsoli said Mercy, and all hospitals, for that matter, are summoning the same two-word phrase being used by every other business sector to describe the present and the near future: ‘new normal.’

Indeed, as COVID-19 cases decline — Mercy recently closed two of its COVID units — and the state slowly begins the process of reopening the economy, hospitals are, like all other businesses, looking to get back to what was normal.

But that won’t happen for some time, she said, adding that there are several factors that will determine when and if that state can be reached, including everything from possible new surges of the virus to the public’s appetite for returning to places like emergency rooms and doctor’s offices and fully addressing their health issues.

And, again, as at other businesses, the day to-day will certainly be different in this new normal.

“For Mercy and all the other hospitals nationally, there is going to have to be more state and federal funding allotted,” she said, referring to the fiscal challenges created by the pandemic. “It’s going to take a long time for hospitals to be able to open their doors as they did six months ago or even four months; it’s going to be a while.”

Elaborating, she said that so much depends on both the state’s reopening strategy and the ability of individual hospitals to convince the public it is safe to seek care at such institutions. The plan, released on May 18, allows hospitals that can meet specific capacity criteria and public-health and safety standards to resume a limited set of in-person services. These include high-priority preventive services, including pediatric care, immunizations, and chronic-disease care for high-risk patients, and urgent procedures that cannot be delivered remotely and would lead to high risk or significant worsening of the patient’s condition if deferred.

“Hospitals have to demonstrate to the public that they have sufficient areas that are COVID-free, which Mercy does,” she noted, “and demonstrate to the public through word of mouth that people are coming back, they’re seeing the signage, they’re seeing the care, they’re seeing that we’re going to great lengths to ensure that the public is safe and we’re screening at the door, handing out masks, and taking temperatures.

“It’s going to take the public seeing that continued structure in place to demonstrate that acute-care hospitals are safe for them to come back to,” she went on, adding that it’s difficult at this time to say when that day will come.

She said she couldn’t properly quantify the economic impact at this point, noting that April’s numbers are still being analyzed. What she does know, though, is that all hospitals are in the same boat, and that Mercy is fortunate to be part of the larger Trinity system. “The hospitals that are in the smaller systems that don’t have the leverage and the scale — they’re in a different bucket than a hospital that is based with a system nationally.”

Bottom Line

When asked when things might start to get better for hospitals, Bitsoli said matters are complicated by uncertainty about when elective surgeries may begin again and how a second wave of COVID-19 cases might impact that equation.

“There are criteria being established at the state level for when people can start to do more elective surgeries, and the key driver to that is your intensive-care unit and your number of staffed beds,” she explained. “As we look at the data, we do expect that there will be a second wave, so as they’re discussing opening up the doors to hospitals for elective surgeries, they are factoring in that second wave, which they think will be in the fall.

“Once the state establishes the criteria and we can start to do more procedures based on Governor Baker’s recommendations, we’re going to have a better sense of what the future projections are going to look like,” she went on.

At this time, it’s difficult to make projections about the future because there are simply too many unknowns. For Bitsoli, the plan is to continue planning, preparing, and anticipating, and to lead by example as Mercy confronts novel challenges on an unprecedented scale.

She has several decades of experience to call on, right down to the words of advice her mother gave her about how to focus on the patient when she was bringing in that tray of food.

And, like her mother, she sets a high bar, one that will be needed during this time of challenge and the ongoing work of meeting it head on.

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

Coronavirus Features

The Questions Keep Coming

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was created by the CARES Act to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to keep American workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBA recently provided updates to its PPP guidance and also released the form application for PPP loan forgiveness, which will help small businesses seek forgiveness at the conclusion of the eight-week covered period, which begins with the disbursement of their loans.

Here are five common questions area attorneys have been hearing from business owners concerned about how PPP funds may be used in order to be forgiven.

Where can I spend my PPP loan in order for it to be forgiven?

“You’ve got to use 75% of what was loaned for payroll purposes,” said Kathryn Crouss, shareholder with Bacon Wilson. “Obviously, that’s salaries and wages, but other money employers spend on payroll costs count as well — vacation pay, parental or family leave, paid sick leave, or if there’s an employer match for plan premiums. So the definition of ‘payroll costs’ is relatively broad.

“The remaining money can be spent on other approved expenses — keeping the lights on or mortgage or rent or utility bills, those sorts of things,” she added. “Assuming you can prove to the government that you have spent 75% of the loan on qualified payroll expenses and the remaining portion on other qualifying expenses, then the loan should be forgiven and becomes a grant rather than a loan.”

In addition, she added, “if an employer brings an employee back on and that employee used to make, say, $3,000 a month, if they pay them less, they have to be within 75% to be forgiven. That’s not true for head count — they still have to have the same number of employees; not necessarily the same people, but the same head count.”

How do you measure whether an employee’s salary or wages were reduced by more than 25%?

“This may be the area that was causing the most angst among business owners, since it seemed mathematically impossible to not have reduced compensation by at least 25% if you were comparing compensation in the first quarter of 2020 — 13 weeks — to the covered period of eight weeks,” said Scott Foster, partner with Bulkley Richardson. “Fortunately, the SBA has opted to focus only on either the annualized salary for exempt employees, or the average hourly wage for non-exempt employees. Also, with respect to the salaried employees making more than $100,000 per year during the first quarter, as long as the annualized salary remains above $100,000 during the covered period, then any reduction in salary is not considered a reduction under this test.”

What about employees that were furloughed or laid off, but now refuse to return to work?

“For any employee the business has offered to re-employ in writing, and the employee (for whatever reason) refuses to accept re-employment, this will not reduce the loan-forgiveness amount,” Foster said.

Amy Royal, CEO of Royal, P.C., noted that she’s had many questions of this type. “They’re asking, ‘if I want to make sure I get loan forgiveness, how do I address a situation where I’ve offered to bring people back and they’ve said, thanks but no thanks?’ Obviously, those people have their own unemployment issues because if they’ve been offered a job and continue to take unemployment benefits, that could, in certain circumstances, be fraudulent.”

As for the employer, “if you make a good-faith offer to rehire someone with PPP money, make sure that offer is in writing,” she added. “If the employee rejects the offer, make sure you, as a business, have documented that. It will help you when you apply for loan forgiveness. That issue has been a real concern.”

Crouss agreed, noting that some employees may have legitimate reservations about returning to work — for instance, because they have a 95-year-old parent and don’t want to infect them.

“Make sure that conversation is in writing,” she said. “If they say they can’t return, get that response in writing as well, save that correspondence, and put those documents in their personnel file. Where we’re heading is, the head-count piece may be forgiven if they have that kind of documentation.”

Interestingly, Foster noted, “the application states that any employee fired for cause during the covered period does not reduce the borrower’s loan forgiveness. Oddly, this could mean that an employee that was fired for cause prior to the covered period would still count as a missing FTE during the covered period.”

My employees have nothing to do until my business is allowed to reopen and ramps back up. What if I want to save the PPP funds for after the eight-week period?

For example, Royal said, “if you’re a restaurant, you’re not open now. Maybe, if you’re lucky, you’re doing takeout, but the bulk of your business is full service. So the timing has presented issues because they can’t be fully ramped up now, but they’ve got to avail themselves of the funds right now before they run out.”

Businesses may absolutely hang onto the money and use it beyond the eight-week window, she explained — but they will have to pay it back over two years with 1% interest.

“That’s a very attractive loan,” Crouss noted. “Many businesses are making that decision — which is a perfectly sound decision. This only goes for eight weeks, and when you get that amount of money, it should cover your payroll for eight weeks, but what happens if the world hasn’t righted itself? So maybe it makes sense to save it for a rainy day and think of it as a loan and not a forgivable grant.”

Do I have to claim the PPP loan as income?

“The good news is, the IRS has spoken and said no,” Royal said. However, expenses paid for with PPP funds are also not deductible. “That makes sense — you can’t double dip. The way I conceptualize this is, it didn’t happen. We’re going to pretend this period didn’t happen for tax purposes.”

—Joseph Bednar

Features

Closing the Digital Divide

By Mark Morris

When schools closed across Massachusetts due to coronavirus, it revealed a digital-learning divide between low-income students and their higher-income peers. The gap is driven in large part by a lack of internet access and proper devices.

“There was an expectation that, with the schools closed, kids would resume their classwork online, but that can only happen if they have the proper technology and internet service,” said Eileen Cavanaugh, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke (HBGC).

Cavanaugh applied for and received a grant for $35,000 from the Waldron Charitable Fund to provide Chrome tablets and internet access to nearly 100 families in Holyoke.

Working with Holyoke Public Schools to identify the families with the greatest need for technology access, club staff began reaching out to those households.

Eileen Cavanaugh

Eileen Cavanaugh

“There was an expectation that, with the schools closed, kids would resume their classwork online, but that can only happen if they have the proper technology and internet service.”

What they found was that many depended on their phones as their only technology and did not own a laptop or tablet computer. Cavanaugh pointed out that phones are not very effective when used for online learning platforms. Even families that owned a tablet or laptop usually had to share it among as many as four school-age children.

“Four kids from one family can’t access the online platforms at the same time using one device, so we were able to supplement those families with additional equipment,” she noted.

Access to reliable internet service is just as important as having the proper device. The HBGC is working with Mobile Citizen to provide secure, high-speed access to internet hotspots in Holyoke for one year.

“Even if students return to the classroom in the coming months, these kids are trying to catch up, so by extending the internet access for a full year, they can take advantage of online educational opportunities,” Cavanaugh said.

A recent study reinforces this point. Curriculum Associates of North Billerica makes distance-learning software for school systems in all 50 states. When schools closed in Massachusetts, they researched the usage patterns of iReady, the company’s digital-learning tool, which was originally designed for the classroom but is now used a great deal in distance learning.

They found that, when learning first moved from the classroom to the home, use of the program dropped significantly in the first week as fewer than half the students who used the software in the classroom used it at home. After five weeks, once students and teachers were able to settle into new routines, the usage rates increased to 81%.

A closer look at the data revealed a digital divide in which students who live in low-income zip codes had a larger initial decrease in using the digital-learning tool followed by a lower recovery percentage five weeks later than students in higher-income zip codes.

On the other hand, once low-income students could access it, they spent more time with the online-learning program than their higher-income peers.

Supplemental Efforts

Cavanaugh pointed out that the HBGC effort supplements the nearly 1,000 tablets and access to Comcast internet hotspots that the Holyoke Public Schools provided to families. She credits Superintendent Stephen Zrike for anticipating that access to digital learning would be a struggle for many families in the city.

In addition to providing devices and hotspots, Cavanaugh said HBGC is also offering technical assistance. “In our conversations with parents, we learned some are not tech-savvy and may need some support, so we’ve made our technology director available for any kind of technical assistance they might need.”

The grant HBGC received was part of a $1 million series of ‘rapid-response grants’ from the Waldron Charitable Fund to assist children affected by school closings due to the COVID-19 crisis. The fund is co-managed by Rob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates, and his wife, Jennifer Waldron, and administered by the Boston Foundation, an organization that does not usually fund efforts in Western Mass.

“This is the first time we’ve been eligible for this type of funding,” Cavanaugh said. “We are grateful for the fast turnaround of our request and the recognition that the need is across the state.”

To date, HBGC staff have distributed nearly 75 tablets. Despite the challenges of social distancing, Cavanaugh said they are able to provide families with tablets and instructions for the device, as well as how to access the internet and tech support. The response has been very positive.

“Our families have been incredibly appreciative,” she said. “They’ve told us about their past frustrations of trying to access the public-school platform by phone and how grateful they are now for our support.”

Coronavirus Features

Unwanted Break in the Action

By Mark Morris

Thunderbirds

Nate Costa says the Thunderbirds were on track for their most successful season when it ended prematurely.

When discussing the impact COVID-19 has had on the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, team president Nathan Costa doesn’t mince words.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat this — it’s a challenge, and it stinks,” he said, noting that, with seven games remaining in the regular season, the Thunderbirds were close to making the playoffs when the American Hockey League (AHL) suspended play on March 12, then formally canceled the remainder of the season on May 11.

“I’ve been in the pro-sports world for more than 10 years, and none of us have ever seen anything like this,” he told BusinessWest, using that phrase to talk about everything from the sudden end to the 2019-20 season to the prospects for the season tentatively scheduled to start in just four short months.

And those sentiments were echoed by executives with teams in another sport — baseball.

Indeed, in Holyoke, the Valley Blue Sox will not be playing in 2020 as its league, the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), announced on May 1 it would cancel the entire season.

Chris Thompson

Chris Thompson hopes the Starfires are able to take the field at all this summer.

Meanwhile, the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) has not yet canceled its season, but it has pushed back opening day from May 27 to an as-yet-undetermined date, which affects the Westfield Starfires, a team in only its second year of existence.

Chris Thompson, owner of the Starfires, said the student athletes on his roster have already missed the spring college season because the NCAA canceled it due to the coronavirus. He remains hopeful there will be some opportunity for his team to play ball this summer, adding that this will happen only if the health and safety of the players, fans, and staff at the ballpark can be assured.

“From our perspective, we won’t play until it’s safe to do so, but we won’t cancel until we’re told we have to,” Thompson said. “There’s no blueprint for this.”

Taking a Timeout

With that last statement, Thompson, who once worked as an executive with the Thunderbirds, spoke for everyone involved in professional sports. There is no blueprint for how to proceed, but teams can try to plan for the short and long term and adjust for what will certainly be a new normal.

Costa said his team and the AHL are having discussions about what the experience will look like for fans at the MassMutual Center, and other buildings in the league, if and when play returns.

He pointed out that the NHL and the NBA may be able to play in empty arenas because of lucrative TV contracts that provide a great deal of income to the teams, but playing with no fans is just not just not feasible for the AHL because so much of its revenue is from ticket sales, concessions, and other in-arena activity.

“As a league, we cannot play without people in the stands,” said Costa. “It’s pretty much impossible to generate any type of revenue, yet we would have the same amount of expense.”

“As a league, we cannot play without people in the stands. It’s pretty much impossible to generate any type of revenue, yet we would have the same amount of expense.”

Before the season was cancelled, Costa was pleased with the momentum the Thunderbirds had been building in their four years as a franchise. Through 31 home games this season, the team had nine sellouts and anticipated at least three more for their remaining games. By contrast, last year they had nine sellouts in their entire 38-game home schedule. He also cited a promotion that received national attention when the team rebranded for one game as the Springfield Ice-o-topes, in a nod to The Simpsons.

With the beginning of a new hockey season four months away, Costa said the AHL has an opportunity to see how other professional leagues handle reopening for games and get a feel for what might work, or not work, as the case may be.

“The NFL will start its season before us,” he noted, “and that will be a real barometer in terms of social distancing at stadiums and what the experience might look like for people going to games.”

He added that state officials and MassMutual Center staff continue to look at ways to make the environment safe for everyone who enters the building. The AHL is also looking at contingencies such as delaying the start of the season to December or January.

“There’s nothing stopping us from pushing back the start and then playing a little longer next year,” Costa said, “especially if it gives us a chance to get a full season in.”

Costa has good reason to be optimistic for a full season next year as it marks the fifth anniversary of the Thunderbirds and begins a new affiliation with the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. “We’re already deep into planning what the fifth anniversary season is going to look like, and we’re excited about what the future will bring.”

Thompson had similar thoughts on the Starfires and what lies ahead for that team.

While the FCBL has been working on a plan for social distancing at the ballpark — in this case Bullens Field in Westfield — Thompson said working through an unprecedented challenge like this generates more questions than answers. How teams manage ballpark seating and concession operations are just two of the areas where he has concerns. It even affects travel, as the teams play games in three New England states.

“We usually travel on one coach bus,” he explained. “We can’t afford to have fewer people on two buses; it would double our transportation expense.”

Even if summer baseball happens this year, Thompson said coronavirus has already wrecked a special dynamic in the league. Starfire players often come to Westfield from different parts of the country and stay with local host families for the summer.

“Sometimes a family has an 8-year old Little Leaguer in the house who then has a college roommate for the summer, or we have empty nesters who are looking to host a player or two,” Thompson said. “Host families are one of the great things about summer baseball.”

Now, of course, the model of families hosting players is on hold until next year at the earliest.

Rather, Thompson is now looking to have more players from the eastern part of Massachusetts and the Hartford area of Connecticut so they could commute to games in Westfield.

With the Starfires in a holding pattern, it’s doubtful they will get to play their full 56-game schedule. During this time, Thompson has been reaching out to his corporate sponsors to keep them engaged.

“We’re looking at different ways to use our social-media platforms to get our fans involved and to give our corporate sponsors exposure,” he said.

Finding a Winning Formula

The Thunderbirds are also using social media to extend the reach of their sponsors. Costa said one effective technique has been running ‘rewinds’ of notable games from this season on Facebook. In some cases, the potential audience for sponsors can be larger than in-arena exposure.

“Our Facebook presence has grown to more than 22,000 followers, and on Instagram we have 15,000 followers, giving us a core audience of nearly 40,000 eyeballs,” Costa said, adding that many sponsors have already assured him they will be back next year.

When play was suspended, he placed a high priority on reaching out to season-ticket holders about the seven games they would be missing this year. The team provided options such as a refund for the remaining games, or a credit that would apply to tickets for next season. Costa and his staff also offered a third option.

“We’re setting aside some funds to provide tickets to frontline workers next season at no charge and to recognize all their efforts,” Costa said noting that nearly 25% of the season-ticket holders chose that option.

In a similar move, Valley Blue Sox General Manager Kate Avard said the team had planned to dedicate its opening day in 2021 to “honor and support community organizations and first responders who are currently on the front lines of combating COVID-19.”

As the area’s pro sports teams search for some answers concerning the future, they acknowledge they are hard to come by, noting that perhaps the only certainty is no shortage of uncertainty.

But guarded optimism still prevails.

“We have great community partners who want us to succeed for a long time,” said Thompson, speaking, again, for all those in his profession. “Setbacks like this make us more resilient.”

Law

That Is the Question, and Here Are Some Answers

By Valerie Vignaux, Esq.

Valerie Vignaux

Please allow me to interrupt your quarantine gratitude journaling and victory gardening to demystify a topic apt for these unfortunate times: probate.

I have found in my legal practice that most consider probate to be a dirty word. I have also found widespread misunderstanding of what that dirty word really means. What better time than during a pandemic to learn about the legal process surrounding death?

What, then, is probate? It is a process to appoint someone to be in charge of your probate assets after you die, and to distribute those assets according to your wishes. You ask, one eyebrow raised, “what are probate assets?” Excellent question — I can tell that you are a close listener.

Probate assets are property (such as real estate, bank accounts, cars, investment accounts, and retirement funds) that you own in your name alone at your death. These assets do not have a joint owner (like a joint bank account you might have with a spouse). These assets do not have a designated beneficiary (like on an IRA or a life-insurance policy that lists a child as beneficiary). In order for anyone to be able to access these assets after your death — to pay bills, to make distributions to loved ones — the assets must go through the probate process.

“I have a will!” you proclaim with confidence, “so there won’t be any probate.” But you are wrong, my friend. It is not the existence of a will that prevents probate; it is the absence of probate assets that prevents probate. It is how you own something that dictates whether that process must be undertaken, not whether you have a will.

“Then I shall tear up my will!” you cry out. Please, no. Your will makes this process easier, in part, by telling the court whom you want to be in charge of those assets. In the old days, when we shook hands with gusto and gathered at bars to buy overpriced cocktails, we called this person the executor or executrix. Today — really, since 2012 — the personal representative fills this role. Same job, different name.

“What, then, is probate? It is a process to appoint someone to be in charge of your probate assets after you die, and to distribute those assets according to your wishes.”

Your will also informs the Probate Court who will get your probate assets. Additionally, if appropriate, your will names your desired guardian of your children, in the event you die leaving minors behind. (Please wash your hands and stop touching your face.)

“Probate is the fourth circle of hell,” you sigh with resignation, “and I will take great pains to avoid it.” Here’s the dirty word bit, and what so many believe: probate is complicated, takes forever, and costs tons of money. This is not, however, necessarily true, and it is often not true at all. Of course, it depends upon the nature of your assets — perhaps you own many properties in different states, or a family business. Probate’s difficulty depends, too, upon your family circumstances — maybe you don’t have highly valued assets, but your children do not get along and there is a high likelihood of challenge over your collection of red hawk tail feathers.

For most people, probate is simply a process with clearly defined steps and a timeline. Getting help from an attorney can make the process even easier.

You now know, because you’re a quick study, two ways to avoid probate (add a joint owner, designate a beneficiary). But here’s something radical to consider: you might not want to avoid it. There are situations in which it makes good sense to force your assets (some or all) through the probate process. Your will can serve as a master plan for what happens to all you leave behind. That document allows you to spread your wealth (whether millions in cash or a trunkful of hand-sewn face masks) among all of your loved ones equally, or unequally. Your will can even create a trust that can hold assets for minors, those with poor spending habits, or a disabled family member.

If you name your children as beneficiaries of your life-insurance policy and die while they are still minors, a conservator will need to be appointed to receive, hold, and manage those funds for the benefit of your children — kids can’t just inherit money. The conservatorship process, another Probate Court endeavor, also takes time and money — often more than probate itself.

If you instead name your estate as beneficiary of your life insurance (“such madness!” you gasp, but bear with me), those funds will be handled according to the master plan — your will. You can avoid the necessity of a conservatorship by directing those funds into a custodial account at a bank, or by including a trust in your will that will hold the money for the benefit of your children. This is just one example of many.

I work with clients regularly to avoid probate and still achieve their desired goals. But sometimes I recommend that they embrace the process because it makes the most sense for their situation. Probate doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Working with an estate-planning attorney, and perhaps a financial advisor, you may find this is true for you. It’s important that everyone have a plan in place, but let’s all try to stay alive for a good, long while.

Valerie Vignaux is an attorney with Bacon Wilson, P.C., and a member of the firm’s estate-planning and elder-law team. She assists clients with all manner of estate planning and administration, including probate, and provides representation for guardianship and conservatorship matters. She received the Partner in Care award from Linda Manor in 2017, and served on the board of directors for Highland Valley Elder Services; (413) 584-1287; [email protected]

Opinion

Editorial

If you watched Gov. Charlie Baker at his highly anticipated press conference to announce the state’s reopening plan last week, you may have been very disappointed.

The governor said he is trying to create a balance between keeping people safe and attempting to resurrect an economy that was seen by many as being one of the strongest in the country — although not anymore, thanks in part to the governor.

If balance is the goal, this plan — if we can really call it a plan — falls way short. It doesn’t move quickly or profoundly enough, and it leaves far too many of the small businesses that form the backbone of the state’s economy without any real chance to weather this storm.

In short, Gov. Baker’s plan creates winners and losers, haves and have-nots —  a situation where Walmart or Home Depot can open their doors to the public, but small, locally owned retailers are forced to keep theirs closed or operate curbside (if they can); a situation where a yoga school with eight students is put in the same category as a Planet Fitness with thousands of members.

As most everyone knows by now, the Baker administration’s reopening plan has four phases — named ‘start,’ ‘cautious,’ ‘vigilant,’ and ‘new normal.’ On May 18, a day every business owner had circled on his or her calendar, the governor gave some details on phase 1. Manufacturing and construction could restart immediately, with restrictions, as could places of worship, while hospitals and community health centers can now provide high-priority preventive care, pediatric care, and treatment for high-risk patients and conditions. On May 25, laboratory and life-sciences facilities can open; offices can reopen, except in Boston; and recreational-marijuana shops can reopen, as can salons, barber shops, and pet groomers. Retail facilities can open for remote fulfillment and curbside pickup.

Gov. Baker’s plan creates winners and losers, haves and have-nots —  a situation where Walmart or Home Depot can open their doors to the public, but small, locally owned retailers are forced to keep theirs closed or operate curbside.

But there are no details on phase 2, which includes restaurants and lodging, some healthcare facilities, and playgrounds and pools, or phase 3, which includes bars, casinos, gyms, and museums. All that’s known is that each phase will last at least three weeks and could be extended before moving on to the next stage, depending on factors like COVID rates, testing, and healthcare-system readiness.

For small businesses, this slow, plodding pace and lack of details makes it difficult, if not impossible, to plan and — more importantly — stay alive. The governor’s plan is anything but a plan, and it will spell the demise of many small businesses.

Rick Sullivan, president of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, put things in perspective when he told BusinessWest, “I think there needs to be an appreciation for restaurants and small Main Street businesses that are not going to be able to just comply with those protocols. They’ll need to plan, order equipment, and spend some time reorganizing their business, because it’s going to be different than it was pre-COVID. And it’s not something they can do overnight.”

The reopening panel could have recognized the needs of small businesses and implemented common-sense protocols to allow them to open. Instead, it chose not to. Clearly, there doesn’t seem to be an appreciation for just how endangered our state’s small businesses are, or what will become of our cities and towns if they are allowed to die on the vine.

These businesses need more than a belated plan with cleverly (or not-so-cleverly) named stages. They need a common-sense blueprint for effectively reopening an economy that’s been shut down for two tortuously long months.

The governor’s ‘plan’ is anything but that.

Opinion

Opinion

By Mary Flahive-Dickson

Seemingly, there is very little time for reflection these days. As we move from one news report, one Zoom meeting, one emergency to another, it is not lost on us that this is now our norm; life has changed. Restlessness is nationwide. Our communities are apprehensive at best, and our seniors are even more isolated now than any other historical time.

Social isolation, while defined as a lack of relationships and meaningful contact with society, needs to be further contemplated and gauged in our elder population as COVID-19 continues to force us to shelter in place, while begging for social and physical distance.

Caregivers, as catechized members of the front line, are being asked to rise to the challenge of defense against physical and social isolation of seniors.

Our elders are seemingly the target of so many evil pathogens and infections as their immunologic response has slowed and their physicality is compromised. Add life-changing risk factors such as retirement, death of loved ones, and the global nature of our society to the geriatric mix, and oftentimes the result assumes the form of social and physical isolation and loneliness.

Isolated and lonely seniors are at an increased risk for additional physical and emotional health conditions such as anxiety, high blood pressure, depression, and cognitive decline. With the loss of a sense of connectivity to the outside world and specifically their community, our elders run the risk of a decrease in wellness and a general decline in health.

Additionally, and especially in the current COVID-19 theatre, physical and emotional needs such as activities of daily living (ADL), companionship, and personal care may not be satisfied or executed. This situation is yet another nail in the proverbial coffin of enabling an immunologic response to infections, therefore rendering individuals less able to fight off disease, while increasing their risk of mortality.

Conversely, elders who engage with society, continue to be active and cognitively stimulated, have conversations, and have their ADLs satiated oftentimes experience increased positive influential health opportunities and many times are able to maintain the state of wellness longer.

Our role as caregivers is to facilitate an improvement or at least a maintenance of independence, health, and well-being of our elders. By providing for and assisting them with activities of daily living, promoting self-care, and reinforcing social support and a sense of community, caregivers continue to promote and disseminate multiple dimensions of physical and emotional health and wellness among this population.

As society continues to seesaw under the cloud of COVID-19, the senior population is not exempt from partaking in groups, programs, and activities which can help in thwarting physical and social isolation and loneliness. In fact, for the seniors, it is just the opposite. No populace has seen a furthering of isolation more than the seniors.

And, with home care widely accepted as a significant player in promotion of health and wellness, staving off mortality and reduction of admissions to institutional care such as hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities, caregivers’ roles should be touted as the front-line essential necessity they have always been, albeit unpronounced.

Mary Flahive-Dickson is chief operating officer for Golden Years Home Care Services.

Picture This

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


Celebrating Carol Leary

On May 17, what would have been Bay Path University’s 123rd commencement celebrating the class of 2020, President Carol Leary and her husband, Noel, were treated to a surprise drive-by parade commemorating Carol’s retirement after 25 years. For 20 minutes, more than 200 cars snaked down Route 5 in Longmeadow blasting their horns. Headed by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, the decorated cars featured a giant teddy bear, an inflated flamingo raft tied to a car roof, numerous signs expressing ‘carpe diem’— the official school motto — and, of course, balloons. While maintaining their social distance, the parade of alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends shouted their thanks and well wishes to the Learys. (Photos by Leah Martin)

 


 

Election Protection

Scott Rote, president of Wheeler & Taylor Insurance, recently called Charles Burger, director of the Southern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee, wanting to donate 2,000 surgical masks. Then the agency went a step further, procuring foam, elastic strapping material, and 200 sheets of polycarbonate plastic and constructing face shields to be used by poll workers in upcoming elections. Burger will allocate the personal protective equipment to the 12 towns in Southern Berkshire County. After the face shields are used for elections, they will be cleaned and repurposed.

 

 


 

Project Toybox

The United Way of Pioneer Valley recently partnered with numerous community organizations to deliver more than 1,000 educational, age-appropriate to families hit hard by COVID-19. Thanks to its partnership with Good360, the toys arrived at the United Way’s office on May 13 and are being distributed to the following organizations who will pass them along to children in need: Boys & Girls Clubs of West Springfield, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Westfield, Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Holyoke, YMCA of Greater Springfield, and Holyoke Housing Authority. Pictured: the United Way’s Joe Mina moves a pallet of donated toys.

 


Sign and Drive

Bulkley Richardson trusts and estates attorneys have been coordinating parking-lot and driveway signings for higher-risk clients in need of executing legal documents. Keeping the health and wellness of clients a top priority, these arrangements, and others, are made so that an office visit is not required.

 


 

People on the Move
Elisa Speranza

Elisa Speranza

Daniel Rukakoski

Daniel Rukakoski

Tighe & Bond Inc. recently appointed two new members — Elisa Speranza and Daniel Rukakoski — to its board of directors for three-year terms. “Both Elisa and Dan bring substantial industry experience and leadership to Tighe & Bond that will be an asset to our strategic and growth initiatives,” said Robert Belitz, president and CEO. “Elisa’s fresh external perspective and Dan’s professional successes at our firm will complement our existing board of directors.” Speranza brings many years of industry experience from her various leadership roles. As a business-line president and senior executive and corporate director at global project-management firm CH2M (acquired by Jacobs in 2017), she led the implementation of transformative policies regarding corporate social responsibility and award-winning global-sustainability programs. Prior to her career in the private sector, she served in project manager and director roles at the Boston Water and Sewer Commission and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. She has been an active board member, volunteer, and officer with industry organizations such as the U.S. Water Alliance, the American Water Works Assoc., the New England Water Works Assoc., and the Water Environment Federation, and is a past president of the Massachusetts Water Works Assoc. Speranza has helped guide strategy, brand, communications, and governance decisions for several companies, water utilities, and nonprofit organizations, including for the global, non-governmental organization Water for People, where she served as board chair. She is also a university instructor and has authored water-industry reference works on sustainable financing, communications, asset management, and leadership. Rukakoski has more than 24 years of experience in environmental consulting, including environmental and energy permitting, wetland delineation, sediment evaluations, regulatory negotiations, site assessment, and environmental construction observation. As a project director and client services manager, he regularly leads the environmental permitting efforts for municipal, commercial, and public utility projects throughout the Northeast. He often provides senior technical guidance on dam removal, dam repair, and dredging projects. Most recently, Rukakoski has served as a technical director in Tighe & Bond’s Environmental Business line and serves on numerous corporate committees. Speranza and Rukakoski join five other Tighe & Bond board members: Belitz, Peter Grabowski, Tiffany Labrie, Bradlee Mezquita, and Patrick McCann.

•••••

Darcey Kemp

Darcey Kemp

Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) has named a higher-education administrator from New York as vice president of Student Affairs. Darcey Kemp began her new post on April 27. She had served as the assistant vice president for Student Development, Leadership, and Completion Initiatives at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y. since 2015. In her leadership role, Kemp will oversee the division at STCC charged with providing support that extends the classroom experience, including student governance and clubs, athletics, tutoring, advising, and student health and wellness. From admissions to graduation, Students Affairs enhances opportunities for student development, involvement, and transformation at an institution known for degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), signature health programs, and a highly diverse student body. STCC President John Cook called Kemp an outstanding leader who made an impression on the search committee. “Throughout the search process, Ms. Kemp demonstrated she has the qualities we were looking for in a vice president of Student Affairs,” he said. “I look forward to her serving as part of our team at STCC.” Kemp said she was honored to accept the new role at STCC. “I am committed to fostering an inclusive and engaged community that puts students first. I look forward to getting to know the faculty and staff and building strong relationships with students to help them achieve success.” Prior to serving at the College of Saint Rose, Kemp spent nearly a decade at Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. She served, respectively, as dean of students for the North East campus and as director of the Center for Student Engagement & Leadership Development at the Erie campus. Kemp holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.

•••••

Anthony (Tony) Franco

Anthony (Tony) Franco

Arrha Credit Union President and CEO Michael Ostrowski recently welcomed Anthony (Tony) Franco as the new vice president of Commercial Lending. Franco has more than 25 years of banking experience and been recognized throughout his banking-industry career for outstanding member service. Recently he was the vice president of Special Assets at United Bank. “It is with great excitement that we welcome Tony to the Arrha team and begin offering commercial products and services. Arrha now has a complete array of all commercial deposit products and lending services,” Ostrowski said. “Tony is known for helping area businesses achieve their goals and direct them to what works best for them. He lives local and believes in the power of local business.” Added Franco, “I am excited to be part of the Arrha Credit Union family and launch the Commercial Lending area to serve local businesses and its members. I look forward to providing caring service, offering rewarding business-membership benefits to existing and new members, and growing these relationships.”

•••••

PeoplesBank announced the appointment of Jennifer DeBarge as assistant vice president of Marketing. She has more than 22 years of financial-services and marketing experience. In her new position, she will provide strategic direction and execution for various marketing projects, supporting the lines of business and brand. “Jennifer is an asset to our team and brings a tremendous depth of bank marketing experience,” said Matthew Bannister, first vice president, Marketing and Corporate Responsibility at PeoplesBank. “We are looking forward to her contributions as she will be helping us communicate and connect with our customers and communities.” DeBarge earned an MBA in entrepreneurial and innovative thinking from Bay Path University and a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University. She also received a certificate from the ABA School of Marketing & Management. She has a history of community service and currently serves on the board of directors for the Westfield Boys & Girls Club.

•••••

Matthew Pittenger

Matthew Pittenger

Florence Bank announced that Matthew Pittenger was recently selected as a recipient of its President’s Award. The President’s Award was established by the bank in 1995, affording employees the annual opportunity to nominate their peers for this prestigious honor that recognizes outstanding performance, customer service, and overall contribution to Florence Bank. Pittenger was nominated by numerous colleagues. Pittenger is the senior information technology specialist at the main headquarters in Florence and has worked at Florence Bank for six years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from UMass Amherst. Pittenger also holds a Comptia A+ certification, which is the industry standard for establishing careers in information technology and the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and operational roles. “Matt is a perfect example of how hard work and determination truly pays off,” said Kevin Day, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “His peers have praised his dedication, enthusiasm, and the impressive skill set that he brings to the job each day. We’re happy to have Matt as part of our team, and the President’s Award is the perfect milestone to showcase his service to the bank.”

•••••

Gina Maroni

Gina Maroni

Alexis Miarecki

Alexis Miarecki

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union announced the recent promotion of two employees. Gina Maroni has been promoted to vice president of Finance and chief financial officer. She has taken on the responsibility of financial oversight, strategizing, and budgeting for the credit union, and previously served as UMassFive’s assistant vice president of Finance and controller for 18 months. Prior to joining UMassFive, she was the senior vice president of Finance and chief financial officer at Athol Credit Union. Alexis Miarecki has been promoted to manager of Marketing. Transitioning from her former role as graphic designer, she is now responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Marketing department, including oversight of the marketing team, creative direction, and developing and executing all marketing and promotional plans for UMassFive in collaboration with the vice president of Marketing.

•••••

Jennifer Beineke has been named the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award at Western New England University (WNEU). She is a professor of Mathematics in the university’s College of Arts and Sciences. Winners of this prestigious award are nominated by students, faculty, and administrators for outstanding contributions as educators and advisors. During the review process, current and former students praised Beineke as somebody who “made me see the beauty of mathematics” and “always pushed us to be our best.” Another added, “when I walked out of her classroom for the final time, I knew I was a different student and person than the one who had walked in.” Faculty members describe Beineke as having “a natural gift for explaining challenging concepts,” and “using a variety of methods to engage students in thinking about and solving problems.” Beineke, who has been teaching at WNEU since 2001, received undergraduate degrees in mathematics and French from Purdue University, and earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA. Her research is in the area of analytic number theory. In conjunction with the National Museum of Mathematics, she recently co-edited the three-volume series The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects.

Company Notebook

Country Bank Donates $75,000 as Part of ‘Neighbors in Need’ Program

WARE — As the pandemic continues to disrupt business activities both nationally and in Massachusetts, Country Bank announced a $75,000 series of donations designed to assist organizations on the front lines. As the latest installment in a string of recent financial support, the bank will be facilitating donations to select organizations throughout its market from Springfield to Worcester. The Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts will each receive $25,000 to provide additional grant funding for critical-needs programs. These programs offer support for vulnerable seniors, those without stable housing, with limited English proficiency, and with compromised health conditions, including mental health and drug addiction. Other programs receiving a contribution include: Springfield Rescue Mission and Friends of the Homeless in Springfield; and Abby’s House, Saint John’s Food Pantry, and the Boys and Girls Club in Worcester. These donations will assist in continuing to meet the ever-changing needs in their communities. Many nonprofit organizations are not only combating reduced financial support as many businesses are closed, but also face a lack of volunteers, and have to continually evolve how they support their clients while keeping everyone safe on a limited budget and with limited resources. “This is an uncharted time for our bank, our customers, and our local business community. As part of our effort to assist those most affected by COVID-19, Country Bank has already donated $400,000 to help local hospitals, first-responder recovery centers, food pantries, homeless shelters, veterans, children, and community foundations,” said Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank. “We continually look for opportunities where we can help make a difference in the health and well-being of the people in our communities.”

Westfield Bank Future Fund Announces 2019 Giving Totals

WESTFIELD — Westfield Bank announced that the Future Fund, a philanthropic endeavor dedicated to supporting local 501(c)(3) organizations that have a positive impact on the region’s educational, recreational, cultural, and social well-being, awarded more than $300,000 to more than 40 organizations in Western Mass. and Northern Conn. in 2019. Grant recipients included the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, Domus Inc., Farmington Valley YMCA, Friends of the Holyoke Soldiers Home, Girls Inc. of the Valley, the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Spirit of Springfield, and the YMCA of Greater Westfield. According to James Hagan, and CEO of Westfield Bank, the Future Fund awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants each year to qualifying organizations whose applications are accepted. “There are so many people and groups in our communities that have devoted themselves to making life better for all of us, and especially the young people who represent our future, and we know that supplying needed services presents financial and logistical challenges that grow with each passing year,” he said. “The Future Fund, and Westfield Bank, are dedicated to providing needed support to worthy organizations that enrich and define life in the towns and cities we serve.” In addition to the Future Fund grants, Westfield Bank contributed more than $400,000 to help sponsor community and performing-arts events, youth sports teams, fundraisers, and more. The bank also donated more than $500,000 to local organizations via the Chicopee Savings Charitable Foundation, an affiliate of Westfield Bank. In total, Westfield Bank provided more than $1.2 million in local and regional philanthropic support in 2019.

Springfield College AmeriCorps, Parent Villages Begin Mask Project

SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Springfield College AmeriCorps program are partnering with Parent Villages Inc. and other local nonprofits to lead the Village Engagement Matters initiative, a program committed to providing community members with face masks at no cost to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The initial distribution of protective facemasks took place on May 12 at three meal-distribution sites located at Springfield elementary schools. Springfield College AmeriCorps members have been assisting with the production of the masks, and also helping with the planning of the distribution efforts. “Giving back to our community is always something we have done in our family, and we are committed to helping with this project,” said Springfield College AmeriCorps member and social-work student Molly Glynn. “My mom and I started making masks for our family members, but that quickly has turned into helping our community as well. What I like about the Olson mask pattern we are using is, it provides a pattern to make masks for both adults and kids, and the pattern also allows for a pocket on the inside for a micron filter to help those individuals who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.” Added Parent Villages Inc. CEO Lakisha Coppedge, “the Parent Villages organization always tries to stay in touch and learn about items that community members really need, and obviously right now the masks are at a high demand. Springfield College stepped up to the plate to help, and we can’t thank the college enough to make this project a reality, and always being there to help our community members.” During these challenging times of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, Springfield College AmeriCorps members continue to seek opportunities to serve the Greater Springfield area, including volunteering their time making sure the Village Engagement Matters initiative is a success. “It really means a lot to have AmeriCorps members finding ways to support others,” said Springfield College AmeriCorps Director LaTonia Naylor. “We continue to live our Humanics mission at Springfield College of educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership and service to others. It brings me so much joy to watch people step up and show love and support for our community members.”

United Way of Pioneer Valley Announces EFSP Grant Funding

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) has been appointed administrator for Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) grant funding from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, which appropriated supplemental funding in the amount of $194,555 for Phase 37 and $277,380 for CARES grants. With a board comprised of local community leaders, UWPV will determine funding allocation through a competitive application process. These funds will be used to supplement existing food and shelter services, and cannot be given to start new programs. Funding for Phase 37 and CARES-funded grants is now available. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that serve Hampden County, South Hadley, or Granby may apply. Allocations are to be applied toward supplementing existing food and shelter services. Applications are due by Friday, May 22 at noon. For information or to apply, contact Nicole Young, manager of Community Investments, at [email protected].

Vann Group Becomes Licensed Practioner of Predictable Success

SPRINGFIELD — The Vann Group, LLC announced that Michael Vann has recently become a licensed practioner of the Predictable Success, a business-growth methodology that over the last 30 years has been used to scale hundreds of businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Widely recognized as one of the most powerful organizational growth models available, Predictable Success was developed by Les McKeown, a successful entrepreneur and business-growth advisor. McKeown is the author of the bestselling book Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track and Keeping It There, as well as the companion book, The Synergist: How to Lead Your Team to Predictable Success. Until recently, access to the full model was available only through McKeown. Michael Vann is part of the first cohort of licensed practioners. “I’ve been working with growth models for the past 20 years but have never come across one as powerful as Predictable Success. It isn’t an academic model or a hypothetical theory; it’s a proven, real-world process that enables any organization to scale successfully,” Vann said. “What I find really valuable about Predictable Success is its ability to get to the root cause of an organization’s issues rather than trying to solve symptoms. It integrates very well with our core methodology and tool set. It has been a great addition for our clients that are looking to grow and build value.” Les McKeown, the founder and CEO of Predictable Success, noted that “I’m absolutely delighted to have Michael join our growing group of licensed practitioners. Michael’s background as a trusted advisor and consultant makes him a stellar addition to our group, and I know his existing client base will benefit enormously from his access to the Predictable Success growth model, especially in these precarious times.” The Predictable Success model is intuitive and non-complex and can easily be implemented with the completion of a workshop. In conjunction with the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund, the Vann Group has several Predictable Success workshops approved under the Express Grant Program. The program will reimburse eligible businesses for up to 50% of the actual cost of training. Contact the Vann Group for additional information.

Pioneer Valley College Students Recognized for Entrepreneurship

AGAWAM — Eighty-six students from 14 local colleges and universities recently received awards for their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, with 55 unique businesses and business concepts represented. News of the 2020 Grinspoon Entrepreneurship Initiative (EI) Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards came at about the same time as participating students’ semesters were disrupted by COVID-19. Soon thereafter, the annual entrepreneurship banquet, where more than 450 people were scheduled to attend to celebrate these students, was canceled. The Grinspoon EI class of 2020 received their award checks of up to $1,000 by mail, and they and continue to be mentored by their Grinspoon EI faculty advisors. This year’s entrepreneurial class represents many diverse concepts and businesses. Some examples include:

• Bac-Be-Gone, bacteriocin-based cleaning products (Hadley Beauregard, Hailey Charest, and Bryanna Lexus Freitas, UMass Amherst);

• Keifer Games, a clever tabletop game for creative thinkers (Matthew Kiefer, UMass Amherst);

• Nashion, a new material for salon gel nails (Sona Kim, Amherst College);

• PAL, a prosthetic airliner medical device (Courtney Carlson, Kelsey Hastings, and Olivia Truenow, Western New England University); and

• Slacktyde, eco-art and eco-friendly clothing (Camila Mirow, Mount Holyoke College).

Mary Schoonmaker, Grinspoon EI faculty advisor and assistant professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Western New England University, noted that “the Grinspoon Foundation Spirit Awards are foundational to building entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Past and present recipients have appreciated the confidence building and encouragement to advance their innovations.” This year’s Grinspoon, Garvey & Young Alumni Award went to Justin Park, founder and CEO of QL Gaming Group, a direct-to-consumer sports-betting data and iGaming affiliate platform. This annual award is given to a former Entrepreneurial Spirit Award winner who has advanced their entrepreneurial endeavors. It is named after Grinspoon’s original business partners, Tom Garvey and Bill Young. “The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation has provided me with encouragement since 2012 to pursue my passion in entrepreneurship,” Park said.

Incorporations

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

ADAMS

Chehar Corp., 60 Commercial St., Adams, MA 01220. Ankit Patel, same. Package store.

AGAWAM

Ava Acquisition Corporation, 11 Bowles Road, Agawam, MA 01001. Alan Wosky, 210 Pleasant St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Design, engineer, manufacture belts, and pulleys.

BELCHERTOWN

Banyan Properties Inc., 51 Oasis Dr., Belchertown, MA 01007. Lindsey Matarazzo, same. Property management.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Arman Shree Inc., 334 Somers Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Anil Patel, 42 Lee St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Convenience store.

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Neighbors Inc., C/O Easthampton Council on Aging, 19 Union St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Stephanie Kelly, 11 Fox Run, Easthampton, MA 01027. Organized to help seniors and others stay in their homes as long as possible by providing appropriate services through volunteers, by helping senior and others find acceptable vendors to provide services.

FLORENCE

Dwellings Arts Inc., 98 Hinckley St., Florence, MA 01001. Caroline O’Leary, 216 Homestead Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Community arts organization with values of inclusive and intentional booking practices, ethical treatment of artists, community collaboration and engagement.

GREENFIELD

Danny J. Haselton Inc., 413 Adams Road, Greenfield, MA 01301. Danny J. Haselton, same. Electrician.

HOUSANTONIC

Barrington Public Theater Inc., 26 Kirk St., #551, Housatonic, MA 01236. Jim Fangione, same. Readings, workshops, and productions of new plays, writer and performed with a focus on local artists.

LANESBORO

Berkshire Short Film Festival Inc., 163 Balance Rock Road, Lanesboro, MA 01237. Jennifer Cathryn Lyon, same. Organize and screen short films from local and worldwide filmmakers.

PELHAM

Creative Collective for Issue Advocacy Inc., 98 Arnold Road, Pelham, MA 01002. Daniel Giat, same. Produce and distribute public service announcements concerning critical issues of public interest, for the purpose of advocating for progressive legislation and candidates for public office.

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Family Practice Associates PC, 20 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jonathan B. Grenoble, 1991 Dublin Road, Richmond, MA 01254. Medical services.

SOUTH HADLEY

Craft Beauty Inc., 4 Dickinson Farm Road, South Hadley, MA 01075. Ann E. Boyden, same. Hair styling and beauty services.

SOUTHWICK

Cain’s Industries Inc., 15 Liquori Dr., Southwick, MA 01077. John Cain, same. Construction.

SPRINGFIELD

Arrow Transport Inc., 237 Memorial Dr., Springfield, MA 01101. John D. Debarge, 132 Erin Lane, Ludlow, MA 01056. Transpiration services.

Chess Angels Promotions. Sometimes Referred To As “Cap” Inc., 38 Lakeside St., Springfield, MA 01109. Richard Johnson, same. Provides a vast pool of talent and entertainment to local cities and communities. Services include singers, dancers, musicians, poets, and visual artists.

WESTFIELD

Asian Food Market Inc., 284 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Sun Kyung Kim, 66 Washington Ave., South Hadley, MA 01075. Grocery store.

Bankruptcies

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court (bankruptcy petitions omitted from our last are include hereunder). Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Brosseau, Aaron George
21 H St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Carpio, Junabel D.
PO Box 96
Bondsville, MA 01009
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Chapin, Yolanda R.
P.O. Box 233
West Warren, MA 01092
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Chabot, John L.
Chabot, Jean L.
23 Fairview Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/23/2020

Concepcion, Juan Jose
22 Amanda St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Custom Maid, Etc.
Demos, Julie Suzanne
641 Springfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/21/2020

Daviau, David
238 Maple St., Apt. D3
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/20/2020

Dixon, Mia L.
160 Maple St., Apt. L
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/25/2020

Faniel, Stephen D.
171 East Longmeadow Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/23/2020

Green Carlie A.
75 Zephyr Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Gwozdzik, Ashley Lyn
23 Wilson Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/17/2020

Jackson, Janine L.
98 Pine St., Apt. 1L
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Kenney, Paula Marie
26 Putting Green Circle
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Lopez, Jabet
a/k/a Lopez, Yabet
49 Washington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Nickerson, Tara Elizabeth
a/k/a Nickerson, Tee
38 Maryland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Roberts, Angela E.
87 Grover St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/20/2020

Smith, Joseph T.
2 Shepherds Hollow Road
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Woodall, Linda Jo
24 East Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

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

Bailey Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: 3 Peaks Land Stewardship
Seller: Edward Myles-Davis
Date: 04/30/20

1280 Hawley Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Georgiana Greenough
Seller: Cari Pazmino
Date: 05/01/20

CONWAY

80 Baptist Hill Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Dennis Anderson
Seller: Benneth G. Phelps
Date: 04/30/20

DEERFIELD

38 Pleasant St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ralph J. Gould
Seller: Francis J. Naida
Date: 04/30/20

365 River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Dana Schwab
Seller: Joseph W. Bysiewski
Date: 04/22/20

GILL

74 Mountain Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $307,500
Buyer: Justin D. Simpson
Seller: John J. Zywna
Date: 04/30/20

GREENFIELD

64 Adams Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $14,163,000
Buyer: Derossi Commercial Greenfield
Seller: G&I 9 Apollo SWM LLC
Date: 04/24/20

109 Beacon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: 109 Beacon Street TR
Seller: Carla A. Bernier
Date: 05/01/20

62 Burnham Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Michael A. Koncal
Seller: Hawkins, Richard M., (Estate)
Date: 04/28/20

11 East Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Megan L. Parker
Seller: Andrea G. McGeoghan
Date: 04/23/20

46 Greenfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $14,163,000
Buyer: Derossi Commercial Greenfield
Seller: G&I 9 Apollo SWM LLC
Date: 04/24/20

49 Greenfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $14,163,000
Buyer: Derossi Commercial Greenfield
Seller: G&I 9 Apollo SWM LLC
Date: 04/24/20

10 Harrison Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Sokhang B. Dong
Seller: Glenn W. Johnson
Date: 05/05/20

54 James St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Anna Webber
Seller: Sefton Codling
Date: 05/01/20

711 Lampblack Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $483,000
Buyer: Robert Herrick
Seller: William Vranos
Date: 05/01/20

42 Linden Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $231,500
Buyer: Edith M. Pullen
Seller: PDV Inc.
Date: 04/27/20

28-B Old Albany Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Sara J. Schofield
Seller: Alexander M. Gilbert
Date: 05/01/20

253 Shelburne Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Joshua A. Levin
Seller: John M. Shanahan
Date: 04/30/20

53 Silvio O. Conte Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $14,163,000
Buyer: Derossi Commercial Greenfield
Seller: G&I 9 Apollo SWM LLC
Date: 04/24/20

MONTAGUE

6 Chester St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $231,950
Buyer: Cecile Celotto
Seller: Karl R. Lapan
Date: 04/24/20

6 Henry Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Alexander N. Iverson
Seller: Grimard, Paul N., (Estate)
Date: 04/24/20

NEW SALEM

193 Neilson Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Alex Acosta
Seller: Rudolph, Nathan H., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

NORTHFIELD

68 East St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Tyler Mankowsky
Seller: Paula B. Johnson
Date: 05/01/20

ORANGE

13 Dewey Conrad Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $179,805
Buyer: Frances Deluca-Hadsel
Seller: Eric N. Druzbicki
Date: 04/27/20

145 Fryeville Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Robert H. Heigh
Date: 04/29/20

210 Oxbow Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Robert D. Bergquist
Seller: BHR Properties LLC
Date: 04/24/20

550 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $299,450
Buyer: Andrew J. Smith
Seller: Lee M. Rowe
Date: 04/24/20

SHELBURNE

441 Mohawk Trail
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $422,000
Buyer: Amie M. Redeker
Seller: Butler INT
Date: 04/27/20

SHUTESBURY

81 January Hills Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $390,400
Buyer: 10 Pine NT
Seller: Beth Goldberg-Shaine
Date: 05/01/20

379 Leverett Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Serge Fedorovsky
Seller: Thomas R. Zeller
Date: 04/22/20

174 Locks Pond Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Courtney A. Kinney
Seller: Mark T. Olszewski
Date: 04/29/20

12 Merrill Dr.
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Susan L. Goldberg
Seller: Frederic P. Hartwell
Date: 05/04/20

12 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $378,000
Buyer: Ian T. Burr
Seller: D. Joseph Jerry
Date: 05/01/20

SUNDERLAND

45 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: KDD Properties LLC
Seller: Jeffrey C. Mish
Date: 04/30/20

Cross Mountain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Kestrel Land TR
Seller: Raymond R. Samson
Date: 04/27/20

158 North Main St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Benneth Phelps
Seller: Martha E. Lorantos
Date: 04/30/20

17 North Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Ronald W. Ward
Seller: Robert H. Adair
Date: 04/28/20

154 North Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $229,500
Buyer: Anthony F. Ciak
Seller: Courtney A. Kinney
Date: 04/29/20

22 South Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Ernest Washington
Seller: Strycharz, R. W. Sr., (Estate)
Date: 05/05/20

WHATELY

129 Christian Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $689,000
Buyer: Sarah T. Xiques
Seller: Richard Pedersen
Date: 04/28/20

23 Conway Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Nicholas M. Wojcik
Seller: Duda, Robert M., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

24 Grey Oak Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jeffrey P. Zilch
Seller: Gregory W. Payeur
Date: 05/01/20

219 River Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Keith R. Bohonowicz
Seller: Joanne Pliska
Date: 04/24/20

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

97 Brien St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Richard M. Askew
Seller: Theresa N. Ciarmatori
Date: 04/24/20

35 Colonial Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Derek J. Lottermoser
Seller: Eric W. Lottermoser
Date: 05/01/20

40 Hearthstone Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $364,900
Buyer: Nikolay Zhupikov
Seller: Mark A. Sullivan
Date: 05/05/20

15 High Meadow Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Sigmund C. Barnes
Seller: Yuriy Sarkisyan
Date: 04/24/20

96 Moore St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Gary E. Traver
Seller: Lawrence S. Phelps
Date: 04/24/20

North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Claire M. Conway
Seller: Charles J. Sienkiewicz
Date: 05/01/20

352 Poplar St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Matthew Foley
Seller: Poplar Development LLC
Date: 04/30/20

24 Portland St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Mathew-Ryan M. Simpson
Seller: Eggleston, Raymond L., (Estate)
Date: 04/22/20

267 Rowley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Manuel T. Reyes
Seller: Haynes, Patricia A., (Estate)
Date: 05/01/20

73 Stony Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Shawn P. Haubner
Seller: Daniel P. Tobias
Date: 04/23/20

30 Washington Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: James B. Burgos
Seller: Timothy R. Kendrick
Date: 04/24/20

25 Westford Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Carrie Mayer
Seller: Vladmi Ivanovich-Duducal
Date: 05/05/20

39 Wilbert Ter.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Patrick Denault
Seller: Tracey Daniels-Pullen
Date: 04/30/20

BRIMFIELD

97 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $164,120
Buyer: MTGLQ Investors LP
Seller: Roy H. King
Date: 05/05/20

50 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $429,500
Buyer: Neil B. Glazebrook
Seller: Timothy D. O’Brien
Date: 05/04/20

CHICOPEE

58 Ames Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Jordyn M. Conway
Seller: Fallah Razzak
Date: 05/01/20

7 Ann St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Evelis Gonzalez
Seller: Kyle E. Mrozinski
Date: 05/05/20

38 Basil Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $349,902
Buyer: Jennifer E. Carr
Seller: Jonathan P. Damours
Date: 04/24/20

1073 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Adam F. Rice
Seller: Nico Facchini
Date: 04/22/20

6 Captain Mac St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Solimar R. Cruz
Seller: Michael W. Radomski
Date: 04/22/20

77 Debra Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Debbie Griggs
Seller: Deshaies, Lawrence, (Estate)
Date: 05/04/20

58 Edbert St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $258,400
Buyer: Sonia I. Soto
Seller: Premier Home Builders Inc.
Date: 04/24/20

95 Edgewood Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,100
Buyer: Oswald Grajales
Seller: Gary P. Picard
Date: 04/27/20

Highland Ave. #103
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: Partyka Partners LP
Date: 04/30/20

Highland Ave. #104
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: Partyka Partners LP
Date: 04/30/20

Highland Ave. #105
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: Partyka Partners LP
Date: 04/30/20

145 Jacob St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Cristobal Ortiz
Seller: Donna J. Wiley
Date: 04/30/20

45 Linden St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $217,400
Buyer: Adriana Vazquez
Seller: Brian P. Leduc
Date: 05/01/20

79 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $191,200
Buyer: Muhammad J. Akbar
Seller: Maslak, Ruth M., (Estate)
Date: 05/01/20

50 Mount Carmel Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Valley Opportunity Council
Seller: Barbara M. Dorval
Date: 04/28/20

54 Olko Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $173,079
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Brian K. Connors
Date: 05/01/20

164 Rimmon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Wilson
Seller: Donna Mason
Date: 05/04/20

43 Saint Anthony St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: James Fitzgerald
Seller: Kristin Newell
Date: 04/24/20

68 Van Horn St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Alexander N. Theroux
Seller: Jeffrey Janik
Date: 04/24/20

26 Wintworth St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Katherine Paul
Seller: Laura A. Paul
Date: 05/01/20

51 Woodcrest Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Benjamyn M. Poli
Seller: Daryl R. Kirby
Date: 04/30/20

140 Woodlawn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Tynisa Mateo
Seller: Melinda Barnes
Date: 05/01/20

EAST LONGMEADOW

259 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $212,200
Buyer: Shanna L. Morin
Seller: Mary E. Fish
Date: 04/24/20

157 Dwight Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Taylor M. Durost
Seller: Shanna L. Morin
Date: 04/24/20

100 Franconia Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Paul Fydenkevez
Seller: Ryan T. Morton
Date: 04/29/20

10 Judy Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ashley Cava
Seller: Tyler Donnelly
Date: 05/01/20

7 Odion St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $181,740
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Servicing
Seller: Ronette Garcia
Date: 04/28/20

434 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Chaisson
Seller: Dennis M. Goldrick
Date: 05/01/20

20 Redstone Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Nash
Seller: Stephen T. Varelas
Date: 04/30/20

76 Scantic Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Antonio Fonseca
Seller: Govin, Karen A., (Estate)
Date: 05/05/20

214 Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Hong T. Le
Seller: Garrett E. Goguen
Date: 04/24/20

141 Tanglewood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $426,000
Buyer: Kelly M. Cieboter
Seller: Bruce O. Desilets
Date: 04/30/20

HAMPDEN

33 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Stephen T. Varelas
Seller: Robert T. Olejarz
Date: 04/30/20

80 Rock A. Dundee Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Andrii Tverdokhlib
Seller: Olesya Cherkashin
Date: 04/27/20

150 Rock A. Dundee Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Garrett E. Goguen
Seller: Country Bank For Savings
Date: 04/24/20

86 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Steven Barthen
Seller: Conor M. Berry
Date: 04/30/20

408 South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jennifer Johnston
Seller: Brian D. Dussault
Date: 04/24/20

HOLLAND

64 Leno Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Brian W. Healey
Seller: Michael C. Lifson
Date: 04/29/20

HOLYOKE

71 Berkshire St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Westmass Apartments LLC
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 05/01/20

62 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Amber Lavallee
Seller: Mark D. Trial
Date: 04/30/20

57 Calumet Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
mount: $217,000
Buyer: Shae B. Blaisdell
Seller: Amy E. Verla
Date: 04/24/20

35-37 Columbus Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Kevin Dansereau
Seller: Alan R. Huff
Date: 04/23/20

4 Crestwood St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Jose A. Morales
Seller: Julie M. Kleszczynski
Date: 04/24/20

122 Jarvis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $145,999
Buyer: Barh RET
Seller: NRZ REO 10 LLC
Date: 04/29/20

6 Jeane Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Marisol Cartagena
Seller: Antonio Ferreira
Date: 04/22/20

69 Lexington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Marvin Thang
Seller: Michael Cavanaugh
Date: 05/01/20

Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Jillian Strycharz
Seller: Christina M. Grass
Date: 04/28/20

124 Vermont St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $293,500
Buyer: Thomas Reynolds
Seller: Veasna Pok
Date: 04/30/20

149 Whiting Farms Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Jacquelin Calderon
Seller: FM Financial Services Inc.
Date: 04/28/20

LONGMEADOW

226 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Schlemmer
Seller: David B. Appleman
Date: 05/01/20

498 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Daniel S. Regan
Seller: Stephen Geanacopoulos
Date: 04/30/20

34 Cooley Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Steven W. Groccia
Seller: Steven L. Groccia
Date: 04/27/20

5 Crescent Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Benjamin Jakubowski
Seller: Ryan R. Whitney
Date: 05/04/20

21 Homecrest St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $321,000
Buyer: Morgan J. Spencer
Seller: Donna B. McMahon
Date: 04/24/20

249 Lynnwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Roy FT
Seller: Jennifer D. Santos
Date: 05/01/20

117 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $319,900
Buyer: Jon W. Gronbach
Seller: Christopher M. Carr
Date: 04/24/20

LUDLOW

136 Cedar St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Bertolasio
Seller: Sandra Fidalgo
Date: 04/27/20

236 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Ludlow Housing Authority
Seller: Adelino D. Palatino
Date: 04/30/20

33 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $1,355,000
Buyer: Elmogys LLC
Seller: SPP Citizens NLREF 5 LLC
Date: 04/30/20

Cottage Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $2,066,500
Buyer: Dichotomy Collins Hydro
Seller: Ampersand Collins Hydro
Date: 05/01/20

43 Elaine Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Mark D. Miller
Seller: Maria J. Holley
Date: 04/30/20

23 Helena St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Dwain P. Devine
Seller: Carol C. Heath
Date: 05/05/20

242 Kendall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $385,900
Buyer: Nico A. Facchini
Seller: David A. Watts
Date: 04/22/20

85 Lakeview Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Nina M. Leclerc
Seller: Todd A. Santos
Date: 04/22/20

Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $2,066,500
Buyer: Dichotomy Collins Hydro
Seller: Ampersand Collins Hydro
Date: 05/01/20

233 Munsing St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Denise M. Pascale
Seller: Carlos A. Bastos
Date: 05/01/20

138 Piney Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Francisco J. Najera
Seller: William E. Peacey
Date: 05/04/20

620 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $245,999
Buyer: Robert B. Cunningham
Seller: Hines, Lorraine, (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

234 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Xiaoqin Zhou
Seller: Elsa D. Barros
Date: 05/04/20

124 Yale St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Cari A. Breault
Seller: Ryan Gagne
Date: 04/29/20

MONSON

Boston Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St. RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

102 Lakeside Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Angelique Peloquin
Seller: John H. Dunn
Date: 04/24/20

PALMER

Baptist Hill Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

Boston Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St. RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

100 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Gerald G. Beliveau
Seller: Dnepro Properties LLC
Date: 05/04/20

29 Gay St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $154,965
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Justin D. Torrey
Date: 04/23/20

17 Homestead St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Tomasz Marszalek
Seller: David E. Petit
Date: 05/04/20

2018 Oak St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Patrick R. Jessop
Seller: Bernice A. Fusco
Date: 05/01/20

68 Rondeau St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jerod R. Laflamme
Seller: Shawn P. Haubner
Date: 04/23/20

156 Shearer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Kyle T. Meyer
Seller: Michelle M. Dunfield
Date: 05/04/20

150-A Wilbraham St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

159 Wilbraham St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

230 Wilbraham St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St. RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

SPRINGFIELD

191 Albemarle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Donovan Huggett
Seller: Ferdinand Gonzalez
Date: 04/24/20

146 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,400
Buyer: Alan Rosario
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 04/24/20

152 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $258,900
Buyer: Carolyne R. Flowers
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 04/29/20

19 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jesse W. Chasteen
Seller: Kelly M. Cieboter
Date: 04/30/20

167 Atherton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Moises Maldonado-Medina
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/01/20

40 Ballard Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Godswill T. Andrew-Jaja
Seller: Carl D. Prairie
Date: 04/24/20

136 Barrington Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: Anthony T. Torres
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 05/01/20

81 Berkshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Ronald G. Hokanson
Seller: Wallace F. Ebner
Date: 04/28/20

1525 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $4,400,000
Buyer: Springfield Boston Road RET
Seller: TF Springfield MA LLC
Date: 04/24/20

236 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Fransheska D. Robles
Seller: Pszczyna RT
Date: 05/05/20

4 Brittany Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Keysta L. Vanasse
Seller: CIG 4 LLC
Date: 05/01/20

44 Campechi St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Errol S. Green
Seller: Devonne T. Johnson
Date: 04/30/20

731 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Cig 4 LLC
Seller: Roberto Serrano
Date: 04/27/20

28-30 Carlisle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Stephan Maldonado
Seller: Do Duong Family LLC
Date: 04/24/20

73 Catalina Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Revampit LLC
Seller: Joseph F. Miazga
Date: 05/01/20

180 Cherokee Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Kaila Rodriguez
Seller: Caroline L. Ellison
Date: 04/29/20

546 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Osvaldo A. Martir-Solano
Seller: Freya G. Baez
Date: 04/29/20

151 Cooper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: John Govoni
Seller: Ingram, Harry E., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

297 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Basil Henry
Seller: Alex Cowley
Date: 04/29/20

662-664 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Dominga Pujols
Seller: Sarno, Alfonso, (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

232 East St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Bailey Brunelle
Seller: Wolfpack Realty Corp.
Date: 04/29/20

195 El Paso St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Bianca I. Gardner
Seller: Debra L. Cauley
Date: 04/30/20

18 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Adela Colon
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/27/20

42 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Rodolfo Arismendy-Parra
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/27/20

66 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Corey Connaughton
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/30/20

285 Ellendale Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: David C. Coburn
Seller: Andrea M. Strom
Date: 04/23/20

20 Fallston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Nicole D. Vezina
Seller: Catherine A. Hartley
Date: 04/29/20

68 Feltham Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jacob Grant
Seller: Tarra M. Devine
Date: 05/01/20

17 Gertrude St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Roberto Soto
Seller: Emmanuel Pena
Date: 04/27/20

463 Gifford St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Michael W. Belmarce
Seller: Elizabeth Mortenson
Date: 04/30/20

70 Grenada Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,130,000
Buyer: Grenada Property LLC
Seller: Grenada LLC
Date: 04/24/20

74 Grenada Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,130,000
Buyer: Grenada Property LLC
Seller: Grenada LLC
Date: 04/24/20

8 Healey St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Samuel R. Shaw
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 04/24/20

92 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Maralaisy Gil
Seller: Leonard A. Cowles
Date: 05/01/20

99 Jonquil Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Ryan S. Patrick
Seller: Richard F. Bedard
Date: 04/24/20

4-6 Joseph St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Eric L. Allen
Seller: T. L. Bretta Realty LLC
Date: 04/30/20

56 Kathleen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Patricia N. Rosemond
Seller: Eric D. Rohan
Date: 04/30/20

41 Kipling St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Tyler Donnelly
Seller: Pedro Martinez
Date: 05/01/20

79 Knox St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: SLC Associates LLC
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 05/01/20

170 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: John Martin
Seller: Andie Gedeon
Date: 04/29/20

35-37 Longfellow Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,769
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Julio C. Feliciano
Date: 04/28/20

146 Lumae St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Equity T. Co.
Seller: MTGLQ Investors LP
Date: 04/28/20

97 Marion St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Melvin Otero-Davila
Seller: Daniel Carthon
Date: 05/01/20

139-141 Maynard St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Camilla J. Miller
Seller: Manfred Karori
Date: 05/01/20

40-42 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Bria L. Brantley
Seller: KEC Properties LLC
Date: 05/01/20

19 Meredith St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Edwin J. Figueroa
Seller: JJJ 17 LLC
Date: 04/24/20

45 Meredith St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jose G. Pagan-Ortiz
Seller: Minh T. Chau
Date: 04/24/20

190 Mildred Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Winnarath Son
Seller: Justin T. Tomasini
Date: 04/29/20

62 Miller St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Omaris Gonzalez
Seller: Alex O. Owusu
Date: 04/28/20

12 Montclair St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Viverston Gallimore
Seller: Amarilis Rodriguez
Date: 04/24/20

99 Monticello Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Omayra L. Figueroa-Gomez
Seller: LE & Associates LLC
Date: 05/05/20

188 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: Amarilis Rodriguez
Seller: Chiang H. Swei
Date: 04/24/20

40 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Luis Rodriguez
Seller: Christopher D. Foley
Date: 04/30/20

155 Old Farm Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Leonard Geshan
Seller: Melro Associates Inc.
Date: 04/28/20

1715 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Champion Mortgage Co.
Date: 04/23/20

1715 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Monika Lipert
Seller: FNMA
Date: 04/30/20

83 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $196,500
Buyer: Jason D. Choiniere
Seller: Craig S. Gohn
Date: 04/30/20

74 Perkins St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Alicia L. Gapen
Seller: Sarah J. Szczebak
Date: 05/01/20

27 Pidgeon Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Darren C. Duke
Seller: James A. Lapierre
Date: 04/30/20

60 Pinecrest Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Hoang N. Le
Seller: Luis Nevarez
Date: 04/24/20

199 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Luis A. Rivera
Seller: John P. Cadigan
Date: 04/22/20

154 Prouty St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Marsha Ivey
Seller: Ann S. Ward
Date: 04/22/20

61-63 Quebec St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Patrick A. Roach
Seller: Alejandro H. Rodriguez
Date: 04/30/20

69 Ramblewood Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Latisha A. Williams
Seller: Olmsted Realty LLC
Date: 05/01/20

132 Regal St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Tawiah A. Buor
Seller: Nicholas A. Malafronte
Date: 04/28/20

82 Rosemary Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Juan J. Lopez
Seller: Hilda Greene
Date: 04/30/20

104-106 Samuel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Fernando Rosa
Seller: Louis W. Rimondi
Date: 04/29/20

47 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Meghan Bull
Seller: Anthony M. Santaniello
Date: 04/23/20

73 Talmadge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Erica A. Batalha
Seller: Rosa I. Torres
Date: 05/04/20

269 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: John S. Robinson-Woodgett
Seller: Pete M. Decuir
Date: 04/29/20

20 West Canton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Julie Sanchez
Seller: Kaine K. Compton
Date: 04/27/20

1412 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $169,320
Buyer: Daniel Jaracz
Seller: Marsha M. Ivey
Date: 04/22/20

107-109 Wolcott St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Bjorn R. Miller
Seller: Lydia Miringu
Date: 04/28/20

143 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Angel Peroza
Seller: Alan Rosario
Date: 04/24/20

71 Yale St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Home Equity Assets Realty
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 04/28/20

SOUTHWICK

15 Crystal Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Lawrence N. Fuller
Seller: Bailey, Joseph J., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

99 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $496,250
Buyer: Brenda M. Leduc
Seller: Anna Frazier
Date: 05/01/20

18 Ferrin Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Aminda I. Scott
Seller: Dean C. Miller
Date: 04/30/20

8 Field St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Kenneth S. Nielsen
Seller: Kim A. Phillips
Date: 04/30/20

26 Lakeview St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Michelle M. Duncan
Seller: Kelly Duncan-Smith
Date: 04/30/20

399 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Zachary I. Kuzon
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 04/30/20

13 Ridgeview Ter.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: Julie Hyde
Seller: Brenda M. Leduc
Date: 05/01/20

WALES

91 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Brandon J. Kroll
Seller: John T. Lussier
Date: 04/24/20

WESTFIELD

98 Berkshire Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Kayla J. Reno
Seller: Donald J. McClellan
Date: 05/01/20

137 Cabot Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Witold J. Urban
Seller: Andrew T. Oleksak
Date: 04/22/20

12 Cross St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Shane Coakley
Seller: Pavel Kulyak
Date: 05/05/20

40 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $316,500
Buyer: Kathryn M. Weglarz
Seller: Bruce Scott
Date: 04/30/20

949 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $599,900
Buyer: Thomas F. Daly
Seller: Mark S. Santangelo
Date: 05/01/20

36 Janelle Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Paul E. Ancelli
Seller: Thomas F. Daly
Date: 05/01/20

6 Maria Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Carlin Tabb
Seller: Andrew K. Hall
Date: 04/27/20

20 Pheasant Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Delugan
Seller: Tyler G. Moore
Date: 05/01/20

170 Prospect St., Ext.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Peter A. Negosanti
Seller: Tammie B. Waversak
Date: 04/29/20

21 Ridgecrest Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Henry M. Koegel
Seller: Freddy Roy
Date: 05/01/20

242 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $271,900
Buyer: Michael J. McFadden
Seller: Jeffrey R. McNamara
Date: 05/05/20

WILBRAHAM

6 Apple Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: David E. Petit
Seller: Nancy B. Piecuch
Date: 05/01/20

13 Colonial Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Andrew Donermeyer
Seller: Ronald G. Hokanson
Date: 04/28/20

Devonshire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Nicholas D. Rau
Seller: Christopher V. Bovino
Date: 04/30/20

5 Jewell Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Blake A. McCoy
Seller: Lavelle, Edward J., (Estate)
Date: 04/27/20

33 Stonegate Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $416,000
Buyer: Kyle C. Abrahamson
Seller: Jeffrey P. Zilch
Date: 05/01/20

4 Wildwood Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $422,775
Buyer: Matthew S. Matroni
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 04/22/20

WEST SPRINGFIELD

79-81 Baldwin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Lachenauer LLC
Seller: Mlaguzi Inc.
Date: 04/29/20

111 Forest Ridge Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Dominic N. Hannoush
Seller: Carmen D. Ortiz
Date: 04/30/20

102 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Mindy N. Phan
Seller: David W. Ostrander
Date: 04/22/20

291 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Angel L. Feliciano-Cruz
Seller: Kumar Sunchuri
Date: 04/24/20

42 Murray Place
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Janais E. Faust
Seller: Cindy S. White
Date: 04/27/20

22 Prospect St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Luke Battista
Seller: Battista & Sons Property Mgmt.
Date: 04/23/20

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

244 Amity St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $501,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Friedman
Seller: Matthew Mone
Date: 05/05/20

763 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $389,900
Buyer: Hannah E. Hunter-Parker
Seller: Alison B. Ellis
Date: 04/30/20

228 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $244,500
Buyer: Maple Leaf Capital Reserve
Seller: Mark A. Snow
Date: 05/05/20

29 Hartman Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Aaron E. James
Seller: Aaron Arcello
Date: 05/01/20

16 Heatherstone Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Melisa Bok
Seller: Alexandria A. Price
Date: 04/27/20

214 Iduna Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $596,000
Buyer: W. Bruce Croft
Seller: Trinity Construction Group
Date: 04/30/20

143 Lincoln Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Thomas L. Bernardin
Seller: William P. Wear
Date: 04/29/20

212 North East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Julius Menn & D. Sagner TR
Seller: Brian J. Berling
Date: 04/27/20

27 Palley Village Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $449,900
Buyer: Justin H. Smith
Seller: Woo FT
Date: 04/30/20

715 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Spenser C. Lanier
Seller: Julius Menn & D. Sagner TR
Date: 04/30/20

205 South Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Amherst College
Seller: Jonathan R. Friedman
Date: 05/01/20

35 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Emily Stout
Seller: Ampar Heritage RT
Date: 05/01/20

38 Trillium Way
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Diane C. McNamara
Seller: Niels Christiansen
Date: 05/01/20

BELCHERTOWN

46 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $295,250
Buyer: Nicholas A. Friscia
Seller: Ashley Sheffield
Date: 04/24/20

62 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Ian Albert
Seller: Chocorua Realty Investments
Date: 04/30/20

631 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $366,000
Buyer: Anne O’Connor
Seller: Lenox Homes LLC
Date: 05/01/20

8 Old Farm Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $264,900
Buyer: Megan E. Millette
Seller: Mark D. Watson
Date: 04/22/20

101 Pine St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $549,900
Buyer: Jennifer L. Dupuis-Krause
Seller: James Stanczak
Date: 04/29/20

152 Sargent St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Kyle Mrozinski
Seller: Sabrina Caballero
Date: 05/05/20

297 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $424,900
Buyer: Lauren Paschall
Seller: Kimberly A. Chaisson
Date: 05/01/20

150 Warner St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Ryan Gagne
Seller: Michael G. Aliberti
Date: 04/29/20

CHESTERFIELD

24 Bisbee Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Thea M. Post
Seller: Wayne A. Hennemann
Date: 04/30/20

CUMMINGTON

525 Berkshire Trail
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $392,500
Buyer: Thomas Kane
Seller: Keith A. Jenkins
Date: 05/04/20

1 Honey Hill Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Bonnie A. Hunt
Seller: Edward S. Konieczny
Date: 05/01/20

EASTHAMPTON

112 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Richard Pedersen
Seller: Crossroads Property Investors
Date: 04/28/20

172 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Jacob Burnstein
Seller: Spear, Frank A., (Estate)
Date: 05/01/20

2-6 Hisgen Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Betty L. Duprey
Seller: D&H Property Management
Date: 05/01/20

10 Howard Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $415,500
Buyer: Peter Dwight-Sax
Seller: Paul A. Donah
Date: 05/05/20

22 Lawler Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Karen M. Roberts
Seller: Peter D. Sax
Date: 05/05/20

1 Mayher St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Betty L. Duprey
Seller: D&H Property Management
Date: 05/01/20

22 Monska Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Robert E. Ross
Seller: Doris C. Ducharme
Date: 04/30/20

13 Oliver St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $244,540
Buyer: Jonathan A. Santiago
Seller: Ted J. Pietraszkiewicz
Date: 04/27/20

106 Parsons St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Betty L. Duprey
Seller: D&H Property Management
Date: 05/01/20

89 Plain St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Gene P. Ethier
Seller: William C. Ethier
Date: 04/29/20

21 Plaza Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,900
Buyer: Zachary T. Birmingham
Seller: William J. Halford
Date: 04/29/20

30 Sandra Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $361,500
Buyer: Terry S. Hersey
Seller: Richard & Sandra Tufts LT
Date: 04/30/20

GRANBY

545 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Joseph L. Delbove
Seller: Leanne A. Becker
Date: 04/23/20

241 Chicopee St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $184,280
Buyer: Pamela Elvira Cox TR
Seller: Joseph C. Cox
Date: 04/30/20

21 Lyn Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Roxana Alequin
Seller: Robert D. Butler
Date: 05/05/20

106 Maximilian Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Laurence J. Vincent
Seller: Michael Novak
Date: 04/30/20

HADLEY

6 Shattuck Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Andrew D. Stephens
Seller: Jeffrey Wood RET
Date: 05/01/20

HATFIELD

118 Old Stage Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $447,000
Buyer: Sherri J. Wehr
Seller: Janet Nuccio
Date: 04/24/20

72 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Joseph S. Barker
Seller: Adam J. Barker
Date: 04/28/20

HUNTINGTON

23 Goss Hill Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Krason
Seller: John J. Montesi
Date: 04/22/20

14 Stanton Ave.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $215,500
Buyer: Lindsey L. Bellamy
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 04/30/20

MIDDLEFIELD

142 W. Hill Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $338,000
Buyer: Deborah A. O’Brien
Seller: E. Roberts NT
Date: 05/04/20

NORTHAMPTON

257 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Flynn
Seller: Norwich Properties LLC
Date: 04/24/20

78 Coles Meadow Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $610,000
Buyer: Gerald A. Hinkle
Seller: Joan E. Dalin RET
Date: 05/01/20

235 Coles Meadow Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Alex C. Petith
Seller: Joseph S. Barker
Date: 04/28/20

19 Ellington Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Matthew Motamedi
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 04/27/20

184 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Renuart LT
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 04/24/20

31 Loudville Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Hillary M. Sackett-Taylor
Seller: Julie E. Steiner
Date: 04/30/20

11 Verona St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Augustus H. Muller
Seller: Jason Mark
Date: 04/23/20

PELHAM

53 Harkness Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Roberley A. Bell
Seller: Judith Pierce
Date: 04/30/20

SOUTH HADLEY

545 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: South Hadley Electric Light
Seller: Holyoke Hospital Inc.
Date: 05/05/20

35 Hillside Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Christopher M. Shea
Seller: Catherine M. Vieira
Date: 04/30/20

16 Lorraine Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Mark T. Yost
Seller: Gail C. Bekier
Date: 04/29/20

211 Mosier St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Derek P. Swistak
Seller: Susan K. Narey
Date: 04/24/20

10 Plainville Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $477,000
Buyer: Candice E. Demers
Seller: Michael Lucchesi
Date: 05/01/20

3 Pleasant St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Lambert
Seller: Sheila D. Pennell
Date: 04/24/20

33 Tampa St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Pecia
Seller: John T. Pecia
Date: 04/29/20

SOUTHAMPTON

3 Beccari Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Marica J. Misiorski
Seller: Alphonse Venskus
Date: 04/28/20

80 Crooked Ledge Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Jason Lavallee
Seller: Denise L. Dupelle
Date: 04/29/20

6 Hillside Meadows Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Scott R. VanderVeen
Seller: Christopher J. Abbott
Date: 05/01/20

54 Line St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $310,500
Buyer: Samuel J. Verla
Seller: Robert F. Zemba
Date: 04/24/20

7 Noreen Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Philip J. Corbeil
Seller: Norma C. Gosselin
Date: 04/24/20

6 Parsons Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Benoit J. Lamontagne
Seller: Rosemarie Osmers LT
Date: 04/30/20

117 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Andrea L. Looney
Seller: Jacob J. Belanger
Date: 04/30/20

74 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Tobias K. Davis
Seller: Wade Loud
Date: 05/05/20

110 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $455,900
Buyer: Veasna Pok
Seller: Jill Thurman
Date: 04/30/20

WARE

10 Coldbrook Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: David L. Bassett
Seller: Benchmark Custom Homes
Date: 05/05/20

WILLIAMSBURG

19 Valley View Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $454,000
Buyer: Ryan L. Clark
Seller: Jeffrey Gillis
Date: 04/24/20

WESTHAMPTON

9 Tipping Rock Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: David M. St.John
Seller: Shirley K. Smith
Date: 04/28/20

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of March 2020.

AMHERST

Amherst College
151 College St.
$76,000 — Verizon Wireless antenna modifications on existing smokestack

CHICOPEE

Bernashe Realty Trust
749 James St.
$7,645.69 — Remove leaking sunroom windows, frame half-walls, install new windows

Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$141,129 — Renovate existing locker room; demolish existing showers, remove two doors, add one door, new finishes

LEE

Berkshire Corporate Realty, LLC
480 Pleasant St.
$7,000 — Interior infill framing of two new office spaces

Chapel River Inc.
1370 Pleasant St.
$1,700 — Install chimney liner kit for oil appliance with cleanout

Thomas Touponce
1160 Pleasant St.
$4,200 — Replace wind-damaged shingles on front storage building

LENOX

Peter Alcorn
81 Church St.
$5,000 — Remove jewelry-store displays and cabinetry, remove sheetrock on first floor

Allegrone Real Estate, LLC
150 Pittsfield Road
$45,000 — Complete finishes in tenant spaces

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
55 Lee Road
$26,000 — Renovate existing golf pro shop; finishes, lighting modifications, casework, minor space reconfiguration

SPRINGFIELD

Matthew Katz
1795 Main St.
$37,500 — Alter medical tenant office space in Suite 108

Mason Wright Senior Living Inc.
74 Walnut St.
$2,600 — Build wall to divide classroom at Bright Futures Early Learning Center

MGM Springfield Redevelopment, LLC
1 MGM Way
Install new pony wall between promenade and gaming floor on south side of casino

Pilar 2, LLC
165 Liberty St.
$425,600 — Install two new ADA-compliant bathrooms in YMCA office, install new ceiling tiles, paint and flooring throughout

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Throughout its history, Union Station has served as a place of departure and coming home. To members of the military and their families, the memory of leaving to serve and returning home through Union Station endures. As highlighted in the memories gathered by Union Station recently, some brought the war home with them, while, as loved ones noted, others did not return at all.

In order to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country as well as all of those who served many times, putting their lives on the line, Union Station asked area residents to share their memories of leaving and returning related to military service.

“Memorial Day is a time to remember,” stated Nicole Sweeney, Marketing manager for Union Station. “We want to help individuals and families bring memories of service and sacrifice to life.”

Over the course of a few days, numerous memories were posted on Union Station’s Facebook page. “I remember leaving from the old Union Station for boot camp headed to Vietnam, the song ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ was playing,” a man named John wrote. Another man, Richard, recalled “my Uncle George leaving, was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, WWII.”

These responses highlight memories of leaving, returning, and loss over 80 years and several different wars, including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Union Station Memorial Day memories can be viewed here. Additional Union Station memories can be viewed here.

COVID-19 Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced that Massachusetts residents who are eligible for the federal CARES Act and qualify for having exhausted their regular unemployment compensation may now receive the new Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). The launch of this program marks the third and final benefit available for the Commonwealth through the CARES Act. 

PEUC provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits to an individual who has exhausted all rights to any regular unemployment compensation and who meets other eligibility requirements of the CARES Act. PEUC will automatically begin for individuals who have been receiving regular standard unemployment benefits on an active claim and those benefits are exhausted, and those individuals do not have to take any further action.

If an individual’s standard unemployment claim has expired, they must file a new standard claim. If the individual is monetarily eligible on the new standard claim, regardless of the benefit rate amount, they will receive benefits from that new claim. Otherwise, the individual will be eligible for PEUC on the prior claim, and it will be automatically implemented.

Individuals who exhausted their standard benefits but were receiving benefits through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) must apply to claim weekly benefits. Residents should apply through the standard unemployment-benefits portal available here

Those receiving PEUC will also receive $600 weekly through the week ending July 25, provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program established by the CARES Act. 

The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, established the PEUC, PUA, and FPUC public benefit programs that expand unemployment eligibility, temporarily increase weekly benefits for all claimants, and allow additional categories of people to claim unemployment benefits. This is the largest expansion of assistance for the Commonwealth’s workforce since the Great Depression. 

More information about Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation can be found at mass.gov/peuc.

Daily News

LONGMEADOW — As an onslaught of complex challenges, and the urgency to develop innovative solutions to meet them, promise to reshape higher education, Bay Path University announces the launch of a new master’s program in Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) this fall.

The fully online program will tap into Bay Path’s long-standing position as a leader in the use of emerging technologies, creative curricula, and learning analytics to train professionals looking to shape the ongoing evolution of higher education by applying technology to the development of innovative, accessible, and impactful learning processes. 

Designed by a broadly representative team of Bay Path faculty and staff, the LDT program was launched to give students a students a deep foundation in the tools and theory of learning design, technology innovation, learning analytics, and higher-education leadership, a foundation on which they can create engaging and innovative learning experiences for all students. Students will also have the opportunity to enroll jointly in Bay Path’s doctoral program in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies (HELOS) and carry out applied, real-world learning design projects.

“While there are hundreds of graduate programs currently preparing individuals for careers in the educational technology field, the Bay Path MS in LDT uniquely pulls together several essential threads that are especially important in today’s environment for reimagining higher education,” said Melissa Morriss-Olson, Bay Path’s outgoing provost and the architect of the HELOS degree.

While the launch comes at a time when the coronavirus has transformed campuses, Bay Path has used technology to pioneer unique teaching and learning formats and offer flexible, dynamic, and personalized educational experiences for 20 years. The university’s diverse student population includes its traditional on-campus undergraduates, online graduate students, and online adult learners obtaining bachelor’s degrees through the American Women’s College. 

“Given Bay Path’s long-standing, successful track record in educating higher education professionals … and in applying innovative learning solutions across the university,” Morriss-Olson said, “it is logical that we should position ourselves as a leader in educating digital learning professionals for this emerging, inter-disciplinary, and in-demand career field.”

To learn more about this program, click here.

Daily News

MONSON — Although several governments are allowing some businesses to reopen, leaders at Monson Savings Bank feel it is important to keep their employees and customers safe, so, for the health and safety of everyone, the bank’s lobbies will remain closed.

Monson Savings Bank will continue to meet the needs of customers with drive-up locations, ATMs, online banking, mobile check deposit, and night drop. Curbside banking and safe deposit are available by appointment at (413) 267-4646.

“We will continue to watch as the situation changes and decide when we feel it is safe for us to open the doors to our branches again,” bank President and CEO Steve Lowell said. “We truly appreciate your patience and understanding in the face of these challenges and hope that you and your loved ones are in good spirits during these unprecedented times.”