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Month: September 2020

Empower Retirement to Acquire Retirement-plan Business of MassMutual

By
Wealth Management

Shared Expertise

Empower Retirement and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Empower to acquire the MassMutual retirement-plan business. The acquisition will capitalize on both firms’ expertise, provide technological excellence and deep product capabilities, and create scale to the benefit of retirement-plan participants and their employers.

Based on the terms of the agreement and subject to regulatory approvals, Empower will acquire the retirement-plan business of MassMutual in a reinsurance transaction for a ceding commission of $2.35 billion. In addition, the balance sheet of the transferred business would be supported by $1 billion of required capital when combined with Empower’s existing U.S. business.

The MassMutual retirement-plan business comprises 26,000 workplace savings plans through which approximately 2.5 million participants have saved $167 billion in assets. It also includes approximately 2,000 employees affiliated with MassMutual’s retirement-plan business who provide a full range of support services for financial professionals, plan sponsors, and participants.

“Empower is taking the next step toward addressing the complex and evolving needs of millions of workers and retirees through the combination of expertise, talent, and business scale being created,” said Edmund Murphy III, president and CEO of Empower Retirement. “Together, Empower and MassMutual connect a broad spectrum of strength and experience with a shared focus on the customer. We are excited about the opportunity to reach new customers and serve even more Americans on their journey toward creating a secure retirement.”

“We believe this transaction will greatly benefit our policy owners and customers as we invest in our future growth and accelerate progress on our strategy.”

The transaction, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020 pending customary regulatory approvals, will increase Empower’s participant base to more than 12.2 million and retirement-services record-keeping assets to approximately $834 billion administered in approximately 67,000 workplace savings plans.

“In Empower, we are pleased to have found a strong, long-term home for MassMutual’s retirement-plan business, and we believe this transaction will greatly benefit our policy owners and customers as we invest in our future growth and accelerate progress on our strategy,” said Roger Crandall, MassMutual chairman, president, and CEO. “This includes strengthening our leading position in the U.S. protection and accumulation industry by expanding our wealth-management and distribution capabilities; investing in our global asset-management, insurance, and institutional businesses; and delivering a seamless digital experience — all to help millions more secure their future and protect the ones they love.”

The MassMutual retirement-plan business has grown substantially over the past decade, with the number of participants served doubling to more than 2.5 million and assets under management more than quadrupling from $34 billion to more than $160 billion.

The combined firm will serve retirement plans sponsored by a broad spectrum of employers. These include mega, large, mid-size, and small corporate 401(k) plans; government plans ranging in scale from state-level plans to municipal agencies; not-for-profits such as hospital and religious-organization 403(b) plans; and collectively bargained Taft-Hartley plans. The transaction will also bring MassMutual’s defined-benefit business under the umbrella of plans Empower serves.

Empower and MassMutual intend to enter into a strategic partnership through which digital insurance products offered by Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC3, and MassMutual’s voluntary insurance and lifetime income products will be made available to customers of Empower Retirement and Personal Capital.

Empower today administers $667 billion in assets on behalf of 9.7 million American workers and retirees through approximately 41,000 workplace savings plans. Empower provides retirement services, managed accounts, financial wellness, and investment solutions to plans of all types and sizes, including private-label record-keeping clients.

In August, Empower announced it had completed the acquisition of Personal Capital, a registered investment adviser and wealth manager. The Personal Capital platform offers personalized financial advice, financial planning, and goal setting, providing insights and tools for plan participants and individual investors. In addition, Empower’s retail business provides a suite of products and services to individual retirement-account and brokerage customers.

Can Springfield Turn Back the Clock?

By
Opinion

Editorial

Mayor Domenic Sarno is certainly confident that Springfield will rebound from all the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown at it the past seven months or so.

As BusinessWest spoke with him recently, he said at least a few times that he expects the City of Homes to bounce back — and quickly — when COVID is over (whenever that is). This isn’t surprising, obviously; this is what mayors do. And he bases that optimism on the many projects currently in progress, new initiatives likely to move onto and then off the drawing board, and the considerable amount of momentum the city had created before the pandemic changed the landscape back in late winter.

We share his optimism to some degree, but the future of Springfield right now is a giant question mark. And before we go any further, we need to say that most all urban areas, even Boston and New York, are in the same boat and facing the same daunting question.

Which is … what will things look like when this is all over?

In Springfield, the hope is that things will look a whole lot like they did in mid-January. Back then, there were events happening, like Red Sox Winter Weekend. The Thunderbirds were packing them in at the MassMutual Center, while MGM was drawing decent crowds at the casino and bringing people to the city for concerts and shows, benefiting the downtown restaurants and bars. The downtown office towers weren’t full, certainly, but there were plenty of people working in the central business district — enough to support the retail and hospitality businesses in that area.

Now … none of that is happening as the city tries to hang on and fight its way through this. The question is, can Springfield turn back the clock to start of this year and essentially pick up where it left off?

Perhaps, but it won’t be easy. And a big factor in this equation is the commercial office space downtown. Right now, the larger towers are mostly quiet as companies continue to have many of their employees work remotely. And there is speculation that they will remain mostly quiet as businesses adapt to a new way of doing things and considerably downsize their space.

Again, this isn’t an issue specific to Springfield. Boston is facing the same problem, and, to a large extent, so is New York.

But having a critical mass of workers in a central business district is one of the key ingredients in any success formula for such an area. The others are having people live in that district and having them come to visit. All three are important, and without one, more pressure gets put on the other two.

There are housing projects coming together in the broad downtown area — at Court Square and at the former Willys-Overland building on Chestnut Street, to name a couple notable efforts — with the promise of more to come. And there are strong hopes that the vibrancy seen when there were shows at MGM and Symphony Hall and hockey games at the MassMutual Center will return once the pandemic is behind us — again, whenever that is.

But will this be enough to make the downtown area — and the city as a whole — thrive and regain the momentum lost to the pandemic?

Again, perhaps — but it seems logical that the city will not simply be able to turn back the clock; instead, it will likely have to turn the clock forward and find new and intriguing uses for the office space downtown and for the commercial spaces vacated by businesses that didn’t survive COVID-19.

Seven months into the pandemic, we know what we’ve lost, and we know what we have to somehow regain. The question for Springfield — and all urban areas — is ‘what can we expect when all this over?’ And right now, no one really knows.

Our Rivers Don’t Need Plastic

By
Opinion

Opinion

By Stacey Lennard

The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) hosts its 24th annual Source to Sea Cleanup throughout September. CRC is asking you to sign up and help spread the word about our plastic problem and the impact on our rivers. In addition to annually coordinating thousands of volunteers to clean up trash in our rivers, CRC continues to work toward solutions to the persistent problem of trash pollution. Plastic bags, bottles, and polystyrene (Styrofoam) are consistently the most-found items during the Source to Sea Cleanup, and these items never fully break down in the environment.

You can help show the problem to help solve the problem. Take a photo, video, or make art inspired by river beauty or river pollution. Get creative, use #RiverWitness, #PurgeThePlastic, and tag CRC on social media. CRC will add your images to an online mosaic photo display and video. Select images will be used to call on decision makers to enact trash solutions to keep trash out of our rivers. Show them this is important to you. Speak up for your rivers.

According to CRC, the solution to this problem is to redesign our economy so there isn’t waste in the first place. “It’s time businesses step up to voluntarily do the right thing by offering more sustainable, reusable, recyclable, and compostable options,” said Andrew Fisk, CRC’s executive director. “Vermont and Connecticut are leading the way with their recent state-wide bans on single-use plastics. This is particularly important due to China’s recent import restrictions on plastic waste. The cost of plastic waste is beginning to outweigh its usefulness.”

Other solutions are to make recycling easy, effective, and widely accessible; to increase the use of effective incentives like ‘bottle bills’ for recycling aluminum, plastic, and glass containers; and to disincentivize Styrofoam, especially foam dock floats in favor of enclosed foam or non-foam dock materials that won’t send plastic chunks into rivers.

“It’s time businesses step up to voluntarily do the right thing by offering more sustainable, reusable, recyclable, and compostable options. Vermont and Connecticut are leading the way with their recent state-wide bans on single-use plastics. This is particularly important due to China’s recent import restrictions on plastic waste. The cost of plastic waste is beginning to outweigh its usefulness.”

We all have a responsibility to solve this problem,” Fisk said. “We are responsible as consumers to make good choices in how we purchase and dispose of products. Manufacturers, businesses, and government are also responsible, and it’s time they do their part. By working together, we can make a real difference for our rivers. These ideas are going to take time, decades even. And we’ll keep at it as long as it takes. But our rivers need change now.”

Over the past 23 years, Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have removed more than 1,167 tons of trash from our rivers. The Source to Sea Cleanup is a river cleanup coordinated by CRC in all four states of the 410-mile Connecticut River basin. Each fall, thousands of volunteers remove tons of trash along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, trails, and more. Eversource, USA Waste & Recycling, and All American Waste are the lead Source to Sea Cleanup sponsors.
For more information or to register for the event, visit www.ctriver.org/cleanup.

 

Stacey Lennard is Source to Sea Cleanup coordinator for the Connecticut River Conservancy.

Rick’s Place

By
Features

This Nonprofit Is Finding New Ways to Provide a ‘Safe Place’

Kelsey Andrews (third from left, with Therese Ross, program director; Bill Scatolini, board president; and Diane Murray, executive director) calls Rick’s Place “a wonderful support system” — and much more.

Diane Murray says that, like most nonprofits, Rick’s Place is responding to the pandemic in a proactive fashion.

In other words, this agency, founded to provide peer support to grieving families, and especially children, has, out of necessity, changed, pivoted, and in some ways reinvented itself, said Murray, its executive director, noting that much of this involves carrying out its mission in a virtual manner.

“As soon as we became aware that it wasn’t safe to have in-person meetings, we moved to a virtual format for all our peer-support groups,” she told BusinessWest. And that was very successful. We were surprised at how well children made that transition; it’s hard enough to be grieving and talk about it in person with your peers, but looking at a screen can be tricky. But we sent them activities, and they would complete them and bring them to the meeting. It’s worked quite well.”

As she noted, grieving and talking about loss among a group of peers is hard, but it has become a proven method for helping children and families cope with the loss of a loved one. And Rick’s Place has been bringing people together in this way and providing what many call a ‘safe place’ since 2007.

Its mission, and its success in carrying it out — which made the agency the latest of several nonprofits to be named Difference Makers by BusinessWest — was summed up succinctly and effectively by Program Director Therese Ross when we spoke with her back in February.

“It’s a unique grief journey, but it’s also a universal experience,” she noted. “To hear from other people how they manage when their child says this or does that, it’s real boots on the ground, people living it, and it’s really helpful.”

Providing such help was the overarching goal for the many friends of Rick Thorpe, the former football star and 1984 graduate at Minnechaug High School who was among the more than 1,100 people who died in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. He left behind his wife, Linda, and newborn daughter, Alexis. Searching for ways to memorialize Rick, friends and family members eventually turned to Alexis for inspiration and created a bereavement center in her honor.

In 2020, the work of this agency goes on, but obviously many things have changed, and in the meantime, new and different needs have emerged, said Murray, noting, as just one example, the restrictions placed on funeral services for the first several months of the pandemic.

“Deaths during the COVID era are so much more complicated for kids,” she explained. “Losing a grandparent or parent — and not being able to have the usual services you would have and seeing a large number of family and friends — has impacted the grief and made it more complicated. Also, in many cases, they didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, and that makes the process so much more difficult. We’re focusing on these COVID-era issues with families and giving them information on how to start that grief journey.”

Overall, though, a movement to virtual services has been the biggest change brought about by COVID-19, Murray noted, adding that, in addition to virtual peer sessions, the agency is also conducting virtual training sessions with local school systems on the impact of grief on students. Meanwhile, she and others at the agency are talking with area schools about taking the popular eight-week ‘grief groups’ it had been offering to a virtual format now that school has started up again.

“The schools are where we see our most diverse population and students with the greatest economic need,” she explained. “Finding a way to continue those virtually is very important to us. We’re talking to some school counselors who are very invested in getting our programs into the schools virtually.”

Since 2007, Rick’s Place and its loyal supporters — and there are many of them — have been invested in providing much-needed support to those who are grieving. In the COVID-19 era, the word ‘place’ has taken on new meeting. Now, in many cases, it’s not an actual, physical place, but rather … well, a computer screen where people can still gather. And where they can share, cope, and learn together.

As Murray said, the agency has had to pivot and in some cases reinvent. But its vital mission, one that has made it a Difference Maker, remains unchanged.

—George O’Brien

Dianne Fuller Doherty

By
Features

This Advocate and Cheerleader Remains Active on Many Fronts

Photo by Leah Martin Photography

When we first introduced Dianne Fuller Doherty back in February, we used the term ‘semi-retired’ to describe her status — and it’s the appropriate phrase to use.

Indeed, while she has stepped down from her role as director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network’s Western Mass. office, she remains heavily involved in this region, and on a number of fronts — everything from mentoring young people, especially women, to serving on several boards and being part of a few prominent search committees, such as the one that eventually chose Robert Johnson to be the sixth president of Western New England University (see story, page 29).

And most, if not all, of her work has been in some way impacted by COVID-19, including that search at WNEU, and another at Tech Foundry.

“We never met any of the candidates — only the winner after he had been given the position,” she said of the WNEU search, noting that all interviews were conducted remotely, a process she didn’t think would be very effective, but ultimately proved to be. “When we started both these searches, I said, ‘how can we not meet these people?’ It turned out it was incredibly effective — you really got to know these candidates.”

Fuller Doherty’s commitment to remain involved in this region and be, in some respects, a cheerleader for it comes naturally. She’s been doing this she came to Western Mass. in the early ’70s after marrying attorney Paul Doherty, a community leader himself, who passed away several years ago. And she become involved with everything from the creation of the Women’s Fund — she was one of the original founders — to the growth and maturation and the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Over the course of her lengthy career, she was a business owner — she and partner Marsha Tzoumas started a marketing firm that bore their last names — and, as director of the Small Business Development Center, one who helped countless small businesses get off the ground and to that proverbial next level.

She has a great deal of experience in all matters of launching and operating a business, and she’s never been shy about sharing it with others.

As she told us in February, her MO has always been to provide a kind of tough love to entrepreneurs — in other words, be supportive whenever possible, but also honest and realistic, telling people what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear.

“The best advice I give to people is to ask enough questions so that they can come to the right conclusion on whether this is the right time, or the right place, or the right financial backing to go forward,” she said when we first spoke with her. “You let them come to the decision about whether it’s a ‘no.’ And if it’s a ‘yes,’ then you just try to be as supportive as possible and it them know that there are going to be highs and lows in any business, and the challenges will come. But the rewards will come also.”

For Fuller Doherty, the biggest reward has been to see the region continue to grow, prosper, and meet the enormous potential she has always thought it possessed. Progress has come on a number of fronts, she said, listing everything from the advancement of women, thanks to groups like the Women’s Fund, to that entrepreneurial ecosystem, to the capital of the region, the city of Springfield.

She told BusinessWest she has always been focused on ‘what’s next’ for the region, and especially Springfield, and believes the answer may lie in housing.

“Education requirements dictate housing investment,” she explained. “And I think we can do a lot with housing; Springfield used to be the City of Homes, and I think it can come back to that.”

But there is work still to do on all these fronts, she acknowledged, and she wants to continue playing a meaningful role in all of it.

In other words, she has no intention of slowing down, even in the era of COVID-19, and this attitude, this mindset, certainly explains why she is a member of the Difference Makers class of 2020.

—George O’Brien

Sandy Cassanelli

By
Features

COVID Has Brought New Challenges to an Already-intense Cancer Fight

Photo by Leah Martin Photography

Sandy Cassanelli has always been a fighter.

Which is good, because these first nine months of 2020, the year of COVID, have tested her in every way imaginable.

Let’s start with her health. As most know, she was diagnosed with stage-4 breast cancer four years ago, and has been not only fighting that fight, but helping others fight it as well through the Breast Friends Fund, a charity that raises funds that go directly to metastatic breast-cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Having a terminal illness in the middle of a pandemic, though, brings even more challenges to the fore.

“There was the realization that this virus could kill me,” she said, noting that, for obvious reasons, she began working at home back in March. “And my husband, Craig, had to be careful to make sure he wasn’t bringing anything home to me; he would take off his clothes in the garage and run up to the shower every day. He jokes that I would spray Lysol on him before I would let him in the house.”

Meanwhile, as she started a new treatment regimen and underwent tests and biopsies, the protocols were much different.

“At Dana-Farber, my husband always comes with me — he’s never missed an appointment,” she explained. “But once everyone started locking down, only the patients could go, so I had to go from my first scans to see if my new treatment was working by myself. And since March, I’ve had to go to every appointment by myself. It’s been very challenging not to have the support of my husband.”

Let’s move on to her business that she manages with Craig — Greeno Supply. Near the top of the list of the products it supplies to a wide range of customers are a number of items in high demand but short supply during the pandemic — paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies … all those things. Getting them — and meeting the needs of customers — has been daunting, to say the least.

“It was very challenging — it was hard to get these things from our suppliers,” she said of products that ranged from those paper goods to gloves, masks, and other PPE. “We had to reinvent the wheel and go out to different suppliers just to get these items. And we’re still struggling — we’re still reinventing the wheel.”

And then, there’s family, or life at home, a phrase that has certainly taken on new meaning during this pandemic.

Cassanelli, like many parents, and especially many women, has been working at home and helping her children with school at home. In this case, the children were in eighth and 12th grade, respectively — big years, graduation years. Not a year one would want to spend confined at home.

“I’ve been battling for seven years, so my daughters are used to adversity and things not going the way normal life goes,” she explained. “They’ve been dealing with a lot, and they actually did really well because they know how to deal with adversity. But I’d have to say that when the final announcement came that they wouldn’t be going back to school and there was no graduation — that was probably the only time that tears flowed in my house.

“When I was first diagnosed with stage-4 cancer, the doctor set a goal for me and my older daughter Samantha — that I would get to see her graduate and walk across the stage” she went on. “So it was a double whammy — but we moved on.”

Overall, Cassanelli’s ability to meet all these challenges head on helps explain why she’s a Difference Maker in this memorable year.

It’s a mindset summed up perfectly by something she said to BusinessWest back in February while discussing her diagnosis and her approach to life.

“Does it suck? Yeah, it totally sucks. But me crawling up in a ball and putting the sheets up over my head is not going to fix anything, so I might as well just get up and go,” she said. “I try not to sweat the small stuff. I believe that every day is a gift, and I’m going to make the best of that day, and I’m going to be positive, because if I’m positive, then everyone around me is going to be positive.”

COVID-19 — and all that has thrown at her — isn’t small stuff. But she doesn’t seem to be sweating it, either.

—George O’Brien

Ira Bryck

By
Features

Former Family Business Center Leader Is Still Delivering Frank Talk

Ira Bryck spent 25 years as the executive director of the Family Business Center of the Pioneer Valley. And over that quarter-century, he left an indelible mark on those he helped through his rather unique style and ability to create impactful learning experiences.

These included plays he authored, dinner meetings with provocative speakers, and, quite often, frank talks about family businesses and whether people should be part of them or not.

And he continues to make a mark, even though he’s retired from the FBC, as it was called, and the center itself has gone out of business. He does it through a radio show with WHMP called The Western Mass. Business Show a variety of consulting work, and even his work in the COVID-19 era to help keep the residents of Amherst, where he has lived for some time, safe as college students return to campuses.

In all these settings and circumstances, Bryck speaks his mind, creates dialogue, and helps to generate progress in many forms. And that, in a nutshell — and he wrote a play called A Tough Nut to Crack — is why he is a member of the Difference Makers class of 2020.

He has decided not to join his fellow classmates for the ceremony on Sept. 24 due to a strong desire to help keep his family safe during this pandemic — two adult children and their families with New York addresses have moved in with him as they seek what amounts to higher ground during the pandemic — but he has definitely earned his place on the podium, even if he’ll be addressing his audience remotely.

That’s because, since being named director of the fledgling FBC in 1994, he has done things his way — and in an ultimately effective way. And he has helped educate and inspire an important, if often unrecognized, segment of the local economy — its family businesses.

They come in various shapes and sizes and cross a variety of sectors, but they share common issues and challenges. When we talked with Bryck in February, he compared small businesses to snowflakes in that no two are alike, and summoned that famous opening line from Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

Bryck has addressed these issues and challenges in a manner that had members of the FBC describe him, alternately, as ‘communicator,’ ‘connector,’ ‘facilitator,’ and even ‘entertainer.’

One long-time member described his style and his approach this way: “He can take things that are very theoretical and make them realistic. It’s one thing to read a paper from a professor who deals in theory, but it that reality? Can that be applied to the everyday businessperson? Ira was able to translate those kinds of things.”

And he’s still doing all that, just in different settings and with different audiences. With his radio show, he just passed a milestone — his 300th interview.

“It’s a nice exercise to meet and interview someone every week,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun and a tremendous learning experience.”

Meanwhile, he’s also working with Giombetti Associates as a senior advisor working on personality assessments, coaching, and organizational development. He’s involved in several projects, including one with a private school in Springfield that is undergoing a change in leadership.

“We’re restructuring and creating much more of an idea system within their leadership team,” he explained, adding that he’s working on another project involving a Connecticut grower of plants and trees that is seeking to make structural changes and increase self-awareness and self-management.

He’s also coordinating a roundtable for area business owners. “We meet monthly and just explore people’s challenges and help each other think things through, and that also involves coaching,” he said, adding that he’s also involved with the family business center at Cornell University, participating in what he called a “speed-dating event involving mentors and mentees.”

“All this keeps me busy, but I’m only working about half as much as I used to,” he explained. “Which leaves me plenty of time of walk five to 10 miles a day, so I’ve lost 45 pounds.”

Overall, he’s still finding ways to educate — and also entertain, in some cases — while also making a mark on those he’s working with.

In short, he’s still very much making a difference in this region — and well beyond it.

—George O’Brien

Monte Belmonte

By
Features

His March Will Go On … but with Fewer Marchers

Monte Belmonte says the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about some changes in what he does on the radio each day.

Like helping his listeners know what day it is — a simple assignment that has become a good deal more difficult as the days blend together and the things that make them different are increasingly removed from the equation.

“I would come in and do my show the same way I’d been doing it, except I introduced what I call ‘quaran-themes’ — a different musical theme for each day of the week,” explained Belmonte, a DJ with WRSI the River Radio in Northampton. “Wednesday, for example, is wanderlust Wednesday, where I take people musically to places they couldn’t otherwise go — like the ukulele version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ to make them feel like they could go on that trip to Hawaii they were supposed to go on but couldn’t.”

Like everyone else, Belmonte is making needed adjustments because of the pandemic — at home, at work, on the air — and especially with the fundraiser to combat food insecurity that now bears his name: Monte’s March.

Indeed, the march, which takes place in November and has grown exponentially — in every way — since he started it back in 2010, has, in recent years, attracted hundreds of marchers who have joined Belmonte on his two-day trek from Springfield to Greenfield. This year, in the name of social distancing, those marchers will be encouraged to stay home and support the effort virtually, something many supporters have already been doing.

“It’s such a long walk that people have participated virtually over the years — where they create a fundraising team and set up a fundraising page — so at least there some institutional knowledge,” he explained, noting that specific details of this year’s march are coming together and will be announced soon. “But now, with everyone doing almost everything virtually, I think people will want to participate.”

And they certainly need to participate, he went on, because need has never been greater. That’s because the pandemic is leaving many in this area unemployed and in need of help — bringing the broad issue of food insecurity to the forefront as perhaps never before.

Nightly newscasts show long lines of cars at designated locations to pick up donations of food. Many of those being interviewed say this is the first time they’ve ever needed such help and that they never imagined they would be in such a situation. It’s a scenario playing itself out in California, Florida, Texas — and the Pioneer Valley.

“Because of the pandemic, hunger has been in the forefront of people’s minds in a different way,” Belmonte told BusinessWest. “I’ve talked with some of the survival centers, and the need has definitely grown.”

Getting back to his day … Belmonte said the pandemic has certainly impacted that as well — in ways beyond his song to signal what day it is.

Indeed, he noted that, in many ways, radio, and his work on the air, have more become more important and more appreciated in the era of COVID-19 as people look for some normalcy and comfort in their lives.

“Especially in the beginning, the pandemic reinforced how important radio is to people at a time like this,” he noted. “It’s a medium that feels more personal and intimate than some others; maybe the commuting times have changed, but people are still going places in their car, so most of the time it’s just you and your radio in your car together. When people needed a listening ear and a voice and some kind of sense of normalcy that might have been lost, they turned to radio in a different way.”

Meanwhile, he has used his show, his platform, to provide needed information and also try to help the businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic, especially restaurants.

“We offered to the restaurant community what amounted to public-service announcements,” he explained. “We said, ‘let us know what you’re doing, whether it’s takeout or whatever,’ and we called it the ‘takeout menu.’ It let people know what different restaurants were doing at different times.”

Overall, Belmonte said some things are starting to feel a least a little more like normal. But the pandemic is still impacting lives in all kinds of ways — which is why he’s still helping people understand what day it is.

And also why he’s hoping his next march will be among his most successful — even if supporters are not actually on the road with him.

—George O’Brien

Picture This

By
Picture This

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

 

Feed the Body – Feed the Mind

Link to Libraries and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts announced a partnership to provide books and meals to hundreds of local families in need in Western Mass. In partnership with Northampton Radio Group and Springfield Rocks Radio Group, the organizations launched the “Feed the Body – Feed the Mind” campaign, distributing children’s books and meals to families at several Food Bank member organizations’ designated meal-pickup sites in Springfield, Easthampton, Greenfield, and Holyoke.

 

 

 

Red Alert


Springfield was among cities nationwide to participate in a Red Alert event on Sept. 1 to draw attention to the plight of the entertainment and live-event industry. Zasco Productions, LLC lit up downtown Springfield (pictured) in the color red to raise awareness of the 12 million event professionals currently out of work due to COVID-related economic shutdowns. In addition, CJC Event Lighting lit up its offices, Chez Josef, and the Log Cabin.

 

 

 

People on the Move

By
People on the Move

Kim Zabek

Jared Cyhowski

Jared Cyhowski

Elisabeth Porter

Elisabeth Porter

Greenfield Savings Bank (GSB) recently announced the promotions of Kim Zabek, Jared Cyhowski, and Elisabeth Porter. Zabek has been appointed assistant manager of the bank’s Hadley office. She will oversee the daily operations of the office and assist customers with their banking. She first joined Greenfield Savings Bank in August 2011 as assistant manager in Shelburne Falls, and in 2015 she was promoted to manager of the GSB call center. Most recently, she held the position of assistant manager of the South Deerfield office. An active community volunteer, Zabek has served on the board of Friends of Children in Hadley and is a member of the South Deerfield Women’s Club. Cyhowski has been promoted to Loan Operations specialist. In his new position, he will work with customers providing residential and consumer loan servicing. He started his career at GSB as a teller supervisor and was previously promoted to customer-service representative in the bank’s call center. Cyhowski joined GSB in May 2016 after attending Fitchburg State University, where he graduated with high honors in communications and a minor in English. He is a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communication Studies Honor Society. He has volunteered at a range of community events, including Superhero Nights for Kids, where he wore a Mario (from Nintendo) costume, and he has volunteered at the Great Falls Festival (a/k/a Pumpkin Fest) in Turners Falls. Porter has been promoted to Corporate Support specialist, with responsibilities of assisting and providing support services to the bank’s CEO, COO, and financial officer. Her daily responsibilities include assisting in the preparation of reports, scheduling meetings and events, and maintaining official minutes. She will also assist other Greenfield Savings Bank executives as needed. Porter joined GSB in 2018 as a teller, and by October was promoted to customer service representative. This past March, she was promoted to the position of super banker. She is active in the community and volunteers at many GSB-sponsored community events.

•••••

Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., a labor and employment law firm serving employers in the Greater Springfield and Worcester areas, announced that one of its partners, Timothy Murphy, was listed in Best Lawyers in America for 2021. He was recognized in three fields: employment law – management, labor law – management, and litigation – labor and employment. Focusing his practice on labor relations, union avoidance, collective bargaining and arbitration, employment litigation, and employment counseling, Murphy has been included in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2013, and was Lawyer of the Year in 2015, 2019, and 2020. Murphy is very active within the local community. He sits on boards of directors for several area organizations, such as the Human Service Forum and Community Legal Aid. He also is a member of the World Affairs Council and the Finance Committee in Wilbraham. In 2017, he was named “Man Enough to Be a Girl Scout” by the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts.

•••••

Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that 10 attorneys have been named to Best Lawyers in America for 2021. Kenneth Albano, the firm’s managing partner, was recognized in Best Lawyers for business organizations including LLCs and partnerships; Michael Katz for bankruptcy and reorganization; Stephen Krevalin for family law; Hyman Darling for elder law; Gary Breton for banking/finance law and business organizations; Gina Barry for elder law; Jeffrey Fialky for commercial finance; Mark Tanner for real-estate litigation; Paul Rothschild for litigation; and Peter MacConnell for real-estate law.

•••••

Jeffrey Roberts

Jeffrey Roberts

James Martin

James Martin

Nancy Frankel Pelletier

Nancy Frankel Pelletier

Patricia Rapinchuk

Patricia Rapinchuk

Carla Newton

Carla Newton

Richard Gaberman

Richard Gaberman

Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced six attorneys were listed in Best Lawyers in America for 2021, and one was also named Lawyer of the Year in her field. Jeffrey Roberts, managing partner, practices corporate and business counseling and estate planning, and was named in the practice areas of corporate law and trusts and estates. He has received Best Lawyers recognition for 29 consecutive years. James Martin, partner, was listed in the practice areas of franchise law and real-estate law. He concentrates his practice on corporate and business counseling, litigation, and commercial real-estate law, and is a member of Robinson Donovan’s alternative dispute resolution group. He has received Best Lawyers recognition for 21 consecutive years. Nancy Frankel Pelletier, partner, was listed in the practice area of personal injury litigation-defendants. A member of the firm’s alternative dispute resolution group, she concentrates her practice in the areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution. She has received Best Lawyers recognition for 16 consecutive years. Patricia Rapinchuk, partner, was listed in the fields of employment law – management and litigation – labor and employment. She was also named Lawyer of the Year in the field of employment law – management. She practices employment law and litigation. She has received Best Lawyers recognition for 12 consecutive years. Carla Newton, partner, was named in the field of family law. She focuses her practice on divorce and family law, litigation, corporate and business counseling, and commercial real estate, and is a member of the firm’s alternative dispute resolution group. She has received Best Lawyers recognition for nine consecutive years. Richard Gaberman was named in the fields of corporate law, real-estate law, tax law, and trusts and estates. He focuses his practice on corporate and business counseling, commercial real estate, and estate and tax planning law. He has received Best Lawyers recognition for 29 consecutive years.

•••••

Bulkley Richardson announced that 13 lawyers from the firm were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for 2021. Bulkley Richardson had more honorees than any other law firm in Springfield. These 14 lawyers were recognized in 20 unique areas of practice. They include Peter Barry, recognized for construction law; Michael Burke, medical-malpractice law (defendants) and personal-injury litigation (defendants); Mark Cress, banking and finance law, bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, and corporate law; Francis Dibble Jr., bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, criminal defense (white-collar), litigation (antitrust), litigation (labor and employment), and litigation (securities); Daniel Finnegan, administrative/regulatory law and litigation (construction); Robert Gelinas, personal-injury litigation (defendants); Kevin Maynard, commercial litigation, litigation (banking and finance), and litigation (construction); David Parke, corporate law; Melinda Phelps, medical-malpractice law (defendants) and personal-injury litigation (defendants); Jeff Poindexter, commercial litigation; John Pucci, bet-the-company litigation, criminal defense (general practice), and criminal defense (white-collar); Elizabeth Sillin, nonprofit/charities law and trusts and estates; and Ronald Weiss, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law and tax law.

•••••

Shelley Daughdrill

Shelley Daughdrill

Florence Bank has promoted Shelley Daughdrill to the position of senior vice president, director of Retail Banking. In her new role, she will oversee the bank’s retail banking operations and direct and supervise the retail administrative staff and managers throughout the bank’s branches, as well as the Customer Service Center. Daughdrill first joined Florence Bank in 2005. Prior to her recent promotion, she served as vice president and area manager. During her tenure at the bank, she’s been the recipient of both the President’s Award and the Community Service Award, given by the bank to employees who consistently go above and beyond at work and in the community. Daughdrill is also the recipient of the 2011 Paul Winske Access Award given by Stavros, a local nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities. The annual award is given to organizations and people who go above and beyond for the people they serve. Daughdrill is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College. Additionally, she is currently enrolled at UMass Amherst pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business studies. She serves her community as a board member and attendance chair of the Amherst Rotary Club.

•••••

Coldwell Banker Community Realtors announced the addition of Realtor Lori Baronas to its roster of professional real-estate agents serving Franklin and Hampshire counties. Baronas has had her Realtor and broker licenses for more than 42 years. Her father started Dresser Real Estate in Turners Falls when she was a child, and once in high school, she began helping out in the office. When her father retired in the 1980s, she took over the office in addition to working at UMass, earning a general business and finance degree from UMass, running a bookkeeping business, and raising her two children, Megan and Justin. She has long been active in her community, volunteering in the public schools her children attended. Her biggest achievement was starting the Pop Warner Football league in Deerfield more than 26 years ago and chairing the Frontier Athletic Field Lights Project, which allowed the children to play night games. Baronas is a member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley, the National Assoc. of Realtors, and the Massachusetts Assoc. of Realtors. With Coldwell Banker, her primary focus will be residential real estate in Franklin and Hampshire counties.

•••••

The Springfield Rescue Mission (SRM) introduced its new executive director, Kevin Ramsdell Sr. Ramsdell served in the U.S. Navy, receiving two honorable discharges, and has been employed by Ford Motor Co. for 35 years. He also has been a part of his local church and involved in many areas of ministry. The Springfield Rescue Mission is a leader in meeting the needs of the poor and homeless in Greater Springfield. The SRM provides food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, Christian counseling, literacy training, and advocacy through its emergency shelter, give-away center, mobile feeding program, rehabilitation center, and transitional living facility, all free of charge. The programs help individuals take meaningful steps toward becoming responsible and productive members of the community.

Agenda

By
Agenda

Gap-semester Course on Social-justice Issues

Sept. 21 to Dec. 21: Bay Path University has put together a unique course for recent high-school graduates looking to explore ways they can impact movements for social justice. The course, “Exploring Pathways to Social Justice,” will combine lectures, discussions, videos, readings, and virtual, experiential learning through the context of history, legal studies, and communications. In addition, the students will participate in presentations by professionals who have channeled their visions for a more just world into careers advocating for social justice and leading their communities. The three-credit course runs from Sept. 21 to Dec. 21 and is open to recent high-school graduates and college students, whether enrolled at Bay Path University; its online program, the American Women’s College; or any other institution, as well as students who are taking a gap semester while they evaluate their college options. Registration runs until Sept. 16. The class is a collaboration between several faculty members and will explore social-justice movements, trace the historical roots of the civil-rights struggle, investigate how race factors into the contemporary criminal justice system, and consider strategies for change. Students will be challenged to apply their passion for social justice while learning to express themselves and developing practical skills for academic and professional settings. Through the course material and ongoing opportunities for conversation, they will connect with other students and become part of an inspired, motivated network. “We created this class for students who may be using this time away from their schools to contemplate how and where to channel their voice and their passion for social justice, as they begin to think about their long-term goals, personally and professionally,” said Gwen Jordan, director of Bay Path’s Justice and Legal Studies department. She will be teaching sections on the criminal justice system, including a focus on the movement devoted to exonerating the wrongly convicted and reforming the system. Additional course information and a registration link are available at www.baypath.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/the-american-womens-college-online/academics/gap-semester-course.

‘HiSET to Medical Sciences’

Sept. 23: Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) is offering a course that helps students get their high-school equivalency diploma while introducing them to the field of medical science. Offered through the Springfield Adult Learning Center at STCC, the class, called “HiSET to Medical Sciences,” prepares students for the high-school equivalency test (HiSET) while teaching them medical terminology. The class will be offered in three sessions this year, the first beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23. STCC offers an associate degree in health science, which provides the opportunity to explore specialty areas for a career in healthcare, as well as a number of specialized health programs, such as diagnostic medical sonography, dental hygiene, and nursing. The class, which is free for eligible students, will be taught online. To apply or for more information, visit stcc.edu/explore/communityed/adult-learning. For questions, e-mail [email protected] or call (413) 755-4300.

Difference Makers

Sept. 24: BusinessWest’s celebration of the Difference Makers class of 2020, rescheduled from March, will be a hybrid event, with the honorees and sponsors gathered at the Upper Vista at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, and other guests taking in the proceedings virtually. The class of 2020 includes: Christopher (Monte) Belmonte, DJ at WRSI the River Radio and creator of Monte’s March; Ira Bryck, consultant and former executive director of the Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley; Sandy Cassanelli, CEO of Greeno Supply; Dianne Fuller Doherty, retired director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network; Ronn Johnson, president and CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services; Steve Lowell, president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank; and Rick’s Place. Guests who have purchased tickets for the event, originally scheduled for March at the Log Cabin, will be able to pick up a boxed meal, a program guide for the event, and gifts from event sponsors at locations to be announced at a later date. The Difference Makers program for 2020 is sponsored by Burkhart Pizzanelli, Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health Of New England, Royal P.C., and TommyCar Auto Group, with nonprofit partners MHA Inc., the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament, and United Way of Pioneer Valley.

‘Run for the Bar’

Sept. 26: The Hampden County Bar Assoc. will hold its seventh annual 5K/10K Run/Walk Race Judicata, “A Run for the Bar.” For the safety of the participants, spectators, and volunteers, and to adhere to the current safety guidelines, the event will be held virtually. Proceeds from the event will benefit the William J. Boyle Scholarship, the Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship, and the Children’s Law Project. The cost for the 5K is $30, and the 5K is $40. All registrants will receive a shirt and water bottle. Registration is now available at bit.ly/3gTjult. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Virtual Info Session for WSU Accounting Graduate Program

Sept. 29: The College of Graduate and Continuing Education (CGCE) at Westfield State University will host a virtual information session for the master of science in accounting (MSA) program at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The graduate program is designed to foster leadership skills and prepare students for successful careers in public and private accounting. It allows students to complete the additional 30 credit hours necessary to fulfill the educational requirements for the certified public accountancy (CPA) license in Massachusetts and several other states. The program offers a foundation curriculum for students who have a business background but lack the necessary coursework in accounting to complete a series of prerequisite courses as part of the master’s program. This curriculum can be completed entirely online with courses offered on a rotating basis (students can also take courses in person). The advanced curriculum is for students with an undergraduate major or concentration in accounting. It includes 10 courses (the majority are offered in a hybrid format, and certain courses are 100% online) that can be completed in only two semesters. The MSA program offers students flexibility and affordability to achieve a greater degree of sophistication in accounting and auditing. Information-session attendees will have an opportunity to speak with faculty and members of the outreach team about the program and its application process. The $50 application fee will be waived for all attendees. To RSVP, visit www.gobacknow.com. For more information, call (413) 572-8020 or e-mail [email protected].

 

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

Officials Celebrate Start of Court Square Project

SPRINGFIELD — A host of city, state, and national leaders were on hand at the former Court Square Hotel property on Aug. 27 to mark the official start of a long-awaited $51 million project to convert the long-dormant landmark into apartments and retail space. Gov. Charlie Baker, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno were among the many dignitaries to address those gathered to commemorate the launch of the initiative, which will bring 59 market-rate apartments, 15 workforce apartments, and more than 20,000 square feet of retail to the center of Springfield. The project is the result of a partnership involving a number of players, including developers Winn Companies of Boston and Opal Real Estate of Springfield, as well as MassMutual, MGM, and MassHousing’s Workforce Housing Initiative. More than $11 million in state and federal historic tax credits have also been secured for the project. Initial work on the property involves $4 million worth of demolition and hazardous materials cleanup, expected to completed by November. Actual construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months.

AmherstWorks Reopens; New Applications Being Accepted

AMHERST — AmherstWorks, a co-working space dedicated to serving the Pioneer Valley community, has reopened and is accepting new applications for membership passes and private offices. AmherstWorks has implemented new policies and procedures, in addition to restructuring the space to adhere to the state’s health and safety regulations in light of the coronavirus pandemic. All members will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing of six feet at all times. Previously shared desks will be assigned exclusively to individuals each day, with hand sanitizer readily available. AmherstWorks membership assistants will sanitize all surfaces a minimum of three times a day. The newly renovated downtown workspace includes large windows for natural light, high-speed internet, and premium amenities for members.

MCLA, BCC Sign Education Articulation Agreement

NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and Berkshire Community College (BCC) have signed a new articulation agreement, creating a pathway for students who complete BCC’s associate degree in early childhood education to enroll in MCLA’s liberal-arts degree-completion program in children, families, and society. Students who complete this associate-degree program at MCLA will also be able to enter MCLA with a core-requirement waiver. Students must graduate with at least a 2.5 grade point average to qualify. This agreement means students who qualify will be able to earn their associate and bachelor’s degrees as well as early education and care certifications. These credentials support requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC). This pathway can also result in a lead teacher certification from the DEEC.

Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley Moves to Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley, part of the TommyCar Auto Group, moved from South Deerfield to its new location at 48 Damon Road in Northampton on Sept. 1. “This is an exciting change for us as Northampton is such a wonderful community and has been incredibly welcoming,” said TommyCar co-owner Carla Cosenzi. “The dealership will be more conveniently located for our customers, right off the highway. They will still get the same outstanding service they have come to expect from us, along with a greater inventory and a more spacious showroom and service department.” TommyCar Auto Group already has three dealerships in Northampton — Country Hyundai, Genesis of Northampton, and Northampton Volkswagen — as well as Country Nissan in Hadley.

Westfield State University Installs Cell Tower Atop Scanlon Hall

WESTFIELD — Cellular service on the Westfield State University campus is expected to significantly improve now that a new cell tower has been installed atop Scanlon Hall. Westfield State partnered with the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and the Massachusetts State College Building Authority on the project. The installation was completed in August by Berkshire Wireless, a subcontractor for Verizon Wireless. In addition to improved and more reliable cell service, the university will also generate revenue by leasing the space to the cellular provider. A 10-year contract will generate $240,000 over the term, and the $24,000 per year will go toward the university’s Residential Life area to support services and programming for resident students.

Bulkley Richardson Joins Law Firm Anti-racism Alliance

SPRINGFIELD — Bulkley Richardson announced it has joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA), a national collaboration of more than 260 law firms united in identifying and dismantling structural or systemic racism in the law. The alliance’s charter states its purpose is to “leverage the resources of the private bar in partnership with legal-services organizations to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism, to better use the law as a vehicle for change that benefits communities of color, and to promote racial equity in the law.” “We are joining some of the country’s most prominent law firms to shine a spotlight on systemic racism,” said Jeff Poindexter, co-chair of Bulkley Richardson’s litigation department. “Recognizing that racism is a public crisis, the firm has made a pledge to reject racism, hate, bigotry, and all forms of discrimination. By joining the LFAA, we can be a part of the solution and support an initiative to advance racial equity.”

HCC Receives $40,000 Grant for COVID-19 Relief

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Community College (HCC) Foundation has received a second grant in as many months to help students facing financial emergencies because of COVID-19. In its latest round of grants, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts awarded $40,000 to HCC from its COVID-19 Relief Fund. In July, the Community Foundation awarded the HCC Foundation $35,000. All $75,000 went into the President’s Student Emergency Fund, which is managed by the HCC Foundation. Thanks to the Community Foundation’s first grant to HCC, 67 students received emergency funding with an average disbursement of $522. Already, in the past two weeks, 15 additional students have received emergency aid. Typically, students request help paying for basic needs, such as food, rent, utilities, childcare, and transportation.

JFS Selected for Year Two of Jewish Poverty Challenge

SPRINGFIELD — Following a North American call for submissions and an exhaustive selection process, Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts has been chosen by the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA) for participation in year two of its NJHSA Jewish Poverty Challenge, an offering of the network’s Center for Innovation and Research. The goal of the program is to help NJHSA member agencies better analyze the marketplace, launch and manage solutions, and implement sustainable measures for success to address the many dynamics associated with responding to Jewish poverty. NJHSA has partnered with Start Co., a venture-development consultancy firm based in Memphis, Tenn. with an expertise in launching startups and engaging municipalities, corporations, and nonprofits in poverty-reduction responses. The team at Start Co. will provide expert consultation assistance as JFS rethinks and redesigns products and services, adjusting assumptions and organization models. Throughout the process, special attention will be paid to the impact of COVID-19 on service-delivery methods.

Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley Awards Six Scholarships

SPRINGFIELD — Six area students were each recently awarded a $1,000 Gerard L. Pellegrini Scholarship to advance their education by the law firm that bears his name, Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan and Blakesley. The Gerard L. Pellegrini Scholarship is an award that goes to a member of a local union affiliated with the Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation or their spouses or dependents. Applicants were asked to submit their high-school or college transcripts, written recommendations, a recital of their community-service activities, and an essay detailing the importance of the labor movement to their family. Winners of this year’s awards are Corey Bryant of Springfield, Alexandria Barnard-Davignon of Longmeadow, Anna MacDonnell of Longmeadow, Lindsay Marjanski of South Hadley, Sarah Meunier of South Deerfield, and Taryn Morse of Hatfield.

Hazen Paper Pioneers New Type of Custom Holography

HOLYOKE — Hazen Paper Co. has created an innovative, two-sided promotion to demonstrate cutting-edge holographic technologies. Hazen’s team designed the artwork on both sides to showcase specific visual effects with nano-holography that delivers an even more dramatic three-dimensional effect than lenticular printing. The front features a fire-breathing dragon with minutely detailed glittering scales. The effect of a blast of moving flames was achieved with registered, custom color-motion and multi-channel holography. On the back, a shimless random repeat custom hologram, ‘random burst,’ creates a moving, three-dimensional flash backdrop for a flock of butterflies. Originated entirely within Hazen’s state-of-the-art holographic lab and manufactured in its Holyoke facility, the project was realized on Hazen Envirofoil, an environmentally friendly product. Sub-micron transfer-metallized Envirofoil uses less than 1% of the aluminum of traditional foil laminate and a recycled film carrier, and is repulpable as paper after de-inking. It was offset-printed using UV-cure inks by AM Lithography of Chicopee. Vertically integrated, Hazen can take production from design to holographic paper in less than two weeks.

WNEU, Big Y Pharmacy Residency Program Accreditated

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University (WNEU) College of Pharmacy Health Sciences and Big Y Foods, Inc. Community-Based Residency Program has received accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Pharmacists Assoc. (APhA). The accreditation establishes criteria for training pharmacists for the purpose of achieving professional competence in the delivery of patient-centered care and in pharmacy services. The purpose of the post-graduate year one (PGY1) Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program is to build upon the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) education and outcomes to develop community-based pharmacist practitioners with diverse patient care, leadership, and education skills who are eligible to pursue advanced training opportunities, including post-graduate year two (PGY2) specialized residencies and professional certifications. ASHP’s Commission on Credentialing extended the accreditation of the residency program through 2024. The accreditation means the program meets or exceeds the national standards set for a residency training program. The WNEU College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Big Y Foods Community-Based Residency Program is the only such university-based initiative in Western Mass. This year, the residency program graduated its fifth resident. Three of the graduates are Big Y pharmacists who have created new pharmacy services, and two graduates went on to pursue PGY2 ambulatory-care residencies. WNEU College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences also offers a PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program with Walgreens. This program began in 2014 and is also accredited by ASHP and APhA.

Multiple Sclerosis Center Opens at Mercy Medical Center

SPRINGFIELD — Trinity Health Of New England announced the opening of the Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research at Mercy Medical Center. Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the Greater Springfield area are now able to access their healthcare needs in one central location with a team of specialists dedicated to every aspect of their care. The Mandell Center, located at 175 Carew St. in Springfield, offers a combination of cutting-edge treatments, groundbreaking research, and innovative rehabilitation programs, and provides an all-inclusive treatment plan for each patient’s individual needs. In addition to state-of-the-art equipment, the model will include a nationally recognized team of MS specialists including neurologists, neuropsychologists, urologists, physiatrists, social workers, occupational and rehabilitation therapists, speech pathologists, physician’s assistants, and nurses. The Mandell MS Center at Mercy is partnered with the world-renowned Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell MS Centers at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, Conn. and Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Conn.

HMC Recognized for Promoting Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) has earned national recognition as a Let Life Bloom Platinum Award recipient for its efforts to increase organ, eye, and tissue donor registrations through the Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) Hospital Organ Donation Campaign. The WPFL is a national initiative that unites the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the organ-donation community with workplaces across the nation in spreading the word about the importance of donation. The WPFL Hospital Organ Donation Campaign challenges hospitals and healthcare organizations to “let life bloom” by educating staff, patients, visitors, and communities about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation, including offering opportunities to register as organ donors. HMC earned points for conducting awareness and registry activities between October 2019 and April 2020 and prompting new donor registrations during that time period. Visit registerme.org to sign up as a donor.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Gourmet to Go Inc., 26 Perry Lane, Agawam, MA 01001. Stephen A. Amato, same. On-site catering and food preparation.

ATHOL

King’s Memorials Inc., 1265 South Main St., Athol, MA 01331. Peter D. King, 5 Sanders Street, Apt. B, Athol, MA 01331. Design, carve, and sell public memorials.

CHICOPEE

Hidden Tradition Distilling Company, 185 Frontenac St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Michael Alan Styckiewicz, same. Alcoholic beverages and distilled spirits.

CUMMINGTON

Hilltown Vision Fund Inc., 17 Packard Road, Cummington, MA 01026. Kathryn Regina Eiseman, same. To support activities that further a common vision for an ecologically and financially sustainable rural economy and culture in the Hampshire County.

EAST LONGMEADOW

KM Corporate Services, 82 Birch Ave., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Alfred Adegboyegun, same. Provide physician support services and innovation.

GRANBY

Kingston Estates Inc., 83 Harris St., Granby, MA 01033. Nolan R. Hodgins, same. Purchase, sell, improve, manage, rent real estate.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Jetstream Support Services Inc., 777 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Rebecca Shoval, 407 East 12th St., New York, NY 10009. Provision of payroll, benefits and other support.

LENOX

Holborn Foundation Limited, 14 Pine Knoll Road, Lenox, MA 01240. Yuko Torigoe, 27 Langley Road, Newton Center, MA 02459. Promotes experimentation in cultural design, supports discovery, and seeks to support and document important conclusions about the crossroads of technology, philanthropy, and creative culture.

PITTSFIELD

Honey Am Home Corp., 82 Wendell Ave., Ste 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Yeyson Pimentel, same. Sale of honey and organic products.

JI Mei Inc., 26 Dunham Mall, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Kang Chen, same. Limited-service restaurant.

Kessler Alair Insurance Services Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Charles Kessler, same. Insurance sales.

Krupa Realty Inc., 31 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Rakeshkumar Vyas, 12 West Dr., Edison, N.J. 08820. Gas station.

SHELBURNE FALLS

Guaranteed Power International Inc., 398 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370. Calvin M., Clarak, 745 Williamsburg Road, Ashfield, MA 01330. Make, buy, market, and sell automobile and truck component parts.

SPRINGFIELD

GreenGrab Inc., 172 Birchland Ave., Springfield, MA 01119. Odaliz Breton, same. On demand delivery platform.

Hancock Used Tires Inc., 556 St. James Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Jose Vardes, same. Operating of an auto tire service business.

Hipress Corp., 432 Belmont Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Ramon E. Espinal, 23 Tulsa St., Springfield, MA 01118. Retail sales.

WESTFIELD

K&K Services Inc., 16 Hunters Slope, Westfield, MA 01085. Kirill Katalnikov, same. Plumbing and HVAC services.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Growth Generation Inc., 228 Main St., Apt. 129, Williamstown, MA 01267. Arthur Aronov, same. Retail sales.

Bankruptcies

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Bankruptcies

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

Allard, David W.
Allard, Cindy J.
61 Blue Hill Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/13/2020

Boehmler, David
12 H St., Apt. #2
Turners Falls, MA, 01376
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/07/2020

Hodge, Luz A.
512 Page Blvd., Apt. #2
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/13/2020

Monarca, Edward M.
a/k/a Monarca Monserrate Eduardo
34 Willow St.
Holyoke, MA, 01040
Chapter: 13
Date: 08/10/2020

Smith-Denson, Cassandra F.
Smith, Cassandra F.
86 Temby St.
Springfield, MA, 01119
Chapter: 13
Date: 08/10/2020

Ulitsch, Eric J.
13 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA, 01082
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/01/2020

Doing Business as Certificates

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DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of August 2020. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

GREENFIELD

All About Beads
38 Bank Row
Christi Bartos

A-Star Publications
71 Conway St., #1
Adrienne Nuñez

Avant Garde Salon
226 Federal St.
Julie Maloney

BK Tile & Stone, LLC
50 Federal St.
Kelly Whitaker

Common Ground Fitness Center, LLC
368 High St.
Nadya Beaudoin, Jamie Roberts

Conte Office Interiors
25 Miles St.
Gary Conte

Greenfield High School Alumni Assoc.
Barr Ave.
Cynthia Bompastore

Hair Affairs Salon
30 Mohawk Trail
Robin Candelaria

John Doe Jr.
275 Main St.
Scott Seward, Maria Danielson

Kim’s Upholstery
22 Riddell St.
Kimberley Chagnon

Meadows Café & Golf Center Inc.
398 Deerfield St.
Constant Poholek Jr., Sheila Orecchio

Meineke Car Care Center
440 Bernardston Road
Douglas Kemp

Moldavite Dreams
176 Main St.
Eleanor Richardson

The Music Store
150 Federal St.
Eugene LaCoy

One Medical Esthetics, LLC
64 Newton St.
Abby Brockelbank

Pierce St. Ironworks
80 Pierce St.
John Passiglia

Renfrew Real Estate
64 Mohawk Trail
Susan Renfrew, Debra Gilbert

Yankee Millwork & Building
229 Wisdom Way
William Childs

HADLEY

Alina’s Restaurant
96 Russell St.
MMAAB Inc.

Blades Landscaping
122 Middle St.
Brian Kristek

Cinemark #321
367 Russell St.
Cinemark

Hartsbrook School
193 Bay Road
Waldorf School Assoc.

Window Works
3221 Russell St.
Randall Roberts

PALMER

KJS Contracting
2115 Baptist Hill Road
Kurt Staeb

Let’s Go Fashion
10 Berkshire St.
Justina Onasanya

M. Lewis Landscaping
26 Bowden St.
Martin Fernandez

Marciano Painting
3067 High St.
Nicholas Marciano

MassTech
1054 Baptist Hill Road
Brent Massey

NEC, LLC
1037 Pine St.
Mike Swiatek

NESCO Sales Inc.
89½ State St.
Kevin Comstock

Palmer Motorsports Park, LLC
58 West Ware Road
Fred Ferguson

Park Saw Shop
1292 Park St.
Northern Tree Service Inc.

Rapid Home Improvements
36 Elizabeth St.
Leon Marsh Sr.

Roof Maintenance Management & Materials
111B Breckenridge St.
David Giordano

Sandy Hill Farm
25 Cyd Allan St.
Robert Gromosky

Select Physical Therapy
1415 Main St.
Lora Hammaker

Simply Dip-Licious
75 Belanger St.
Tracy Peloquin

Village Cuts
1041 Thorndike St.
Michael Arroyo

Western Mass Cleaning
161 Stimson St.
Nicholas Matsuk

SOUTHWICK

Slow Down Aesthetics Co.
143 Point Grove Road
Kayla Fontaine

Sunny Dog Days Pet Waste Removal
6 Tree Top Lane
Soia Ellis

Three Run Pictures
9 Coyote Glen
Christopher Rooney

WESTFIELD

Adriana’s Cleaning Service
15 Morris St.
Adriana Rivera

Coastal Construction
151 North Road
Zeke Rozell

JRMO Transport, LLC
38 Dartmouth St.
Joshua Bruso

Mr. Phipps
113 North Elm St.
Mehr Corp.

Piece of My Art Studio
16 Union Ave.
Jennifer Dorgan

Poma Kids & Teens
16 Union Ave.
Kayla Reno

Triple C Transportation
11 State St.
Charles Flores

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Confident Healthy Living
7 Upper Church St.
Shawnda Hudson

Convenience Mart
189 Piper Road
Mohammad Shabaz Ishaq

The Courtyards Apartments
1139 Westfield St.
Nicholas Bencivengo

Curry Printing
91 Union St.
Stephen Lang

Early Bloomers Family Daycare
76 Blossom Road
Jocelyn Donohue

Jerusalem Wholesale & Retail
246 Memorial Ave.
Asem Aydah

Metamorphosis Massage
201 Westfield St.
Kathleen Cullinan

Mind, Body & Skin
117 River St.
Jennifer Pruitte-Sefton

Pacto de Vilda International
209 Rogers Ave.
Maritza Manchester

U-Haul Co. of Western Massachusetts
380 Union St.
Raphael Avraham

Vehicle Repair Center of Western Massachusetts
414 Park St.
William Della Guistina

WRB Auto Sales
194 Baldwin St.
William Bayton

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

307 Hawley Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Brittany K. Terry
Seller: Sloin, Hilary M., (Estate)
Date: 08/21/20

203 Murray Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Hillary M. Hall
Seller: Josette M. Banks
Date: 08/31/20

BERNARDSTON

388 Huckle Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Brad D. Smyth
Seller: Jacques A. Lamuniere
Date: 08/19/20

BUCKLAND

121 Elm St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $356,850
Buyer: Phillip Lewis
Seller: Michael P. Earl INT
Date: 08/24/20

185 Lower St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michael J. Churchill
Seller: Paul T. Shulda
Date: 08/31/20

CHARLEMONT

215 Burnt Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Christian B. Berg
Seller: Gilbert INT
Date: 08/31/20

99 East Hawley Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Bye Son LLC
Seller: Christopher A. Jones
Date: 08/25/20

10 North St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $140,500
Buyer: Donald F. Young
Seller: Marguerite M. Rancourt
Date: 08/31/20

COLRAIN

120 Franklin Hill Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Charles W. Roberts
Seller: John D. Ivanisin
Date: 08/17/20

DEERFIELD

31 Eastern Ave.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Eric J. Farrell
Seller: Rebecca O. Lewis
Date: 08/26/20

58 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $266,200
Buyer: Catherine Chiavarini
Seller: Angela M. Amidon
Date: 08/24/20

ERVING

47 Poplar Mountain Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: David Valiquette-Lalonde
Seller: Joseph A. Waseleski
Date: 08/18/20

GILL

74 French King Hwy.
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Robert L. Corbin
Seller: Taggart NT
Date: 08/17/20

GREENFIELD

5 Arch St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: LCS Realty LLC
Seller: MW&MW Realty LLC
Date: 08/21/20

33 Birch St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Cynthia J. Breunig
Seller: Susan K. Farber
Date: 08/31/20

199 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $218,700
Buyer: Nancee Bershof
Seller: Douglas R. McNamara
Date: 08/31/20

203 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Dawn M. Barrett
Seller: Anais Surkin
Date: 08/18/20

101 Colrain St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Alexx Payton-Badillo
Seller: FNMA
Date: 08/26/20

347 Colrain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: David K. Stahnke
Seller: Fiset, Arthur J., (Estate)
Date: 08/31/20

Davenport Way #10
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Parody Builders & Sons LLC
Seller: Christopher Davenport
Date: 08/20/20

Davenport Way #11
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Parody Builders & Sons LLC
Seller: Christopher Davenport
Date: 08/20/20

Davenport Way #9
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Parody Builders & Sons LLC
Seller: Christopher Davenport
Date: 08/20/20

162 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Emily E. Almeida
Seller: Kimberley A. Chagnon
Date: 08/21/20

671 Lampblack Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $251,746
Buyer: Christian S. Smith-Ahearn
Seller: Marcia Ann Boyd RET
Date: 08/31/20

78 Meadowood Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Phillip P. Gent
Seller: Charles J. Spofford
Date: 08/28/20

279 Mountain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $193,300
Buyer: Lucia E. Ramirez
Seller: Richard E. Kells RET
Date: 08/17/20

39 Park Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Christopher Lucia
Seller: Mark R. Cadran
Date: 08/27/20

167 Wells St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Carter J. Robertson
Seller: George L. Asselin
Date: 08/31/20

HEATH

50 Sumner Stetson Road
Heath, MA 01340
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Paul T. Shulda
Seller: Bruce T. Davin
Date: 08/31/20

20 Town Farm Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Mark M. Davino
Seller: David L. Freeman
Date: 08/27/20

LEVERETT

33 Lead Mine Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $619,900
Buyer: Charles T. Genre
Seller: John Klier
Date: 08/21/20

4 Still Corner Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $392,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Shea
Seller: Stephen E. Haggerty
Date: 08/17/20

MONTAGUE

14 Alice St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Christian J. Garner
Seller: Megan Bertoni
Date: 08/18/20

6 Emond Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Brittany E. Tuttle
Seller: Sheryl A. Jablonski
Date: 08/27/20

40 K St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Robert P. Austin
Seller: Susan L. Bushey
Date: 08/17/20

NORTHFIELD

65 Highland Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $387,000
Buyer: Jamie S. Yost
Seller: Raymond C. Fiske
Date: 08/21/20

663 Mount Hermon Station Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Laura J. E. Earl INT
Seller: Eric R. Burrington
Date: 08/24/20

ORANGE

20 Hillside Ter.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $347,500
Buyer: Qiwen Chen
Seller: Jay Guilmette
Date: 08/27/20

207 Oxbow Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael E. Allen
Seller: Donna A. Billiel
Date: 08/21/20

20 Prentiss St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Brittany L. Dunn
Seller: Brian G. Desreuisseau
Date: 08/26/20

58 Spring St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Tracy Morales
Seller: Reginald C. Haughton
Date: 08/28/20

258 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Jason R. Finch
Seller: William J. Wrigley
Date: 08/18/20

SHUTESBURY

201 Leverett Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $307,495
Buyer: William Skarzynski
Seller: Kathleen A. Sepanek
Date: 08/18/20

210 Leverett Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Christopher T. Elliott
Seller: Michelle Babione
Date: 08/24/20

36 Watson Straits
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Catherine Dill
Seller: James J. Barron
Date: 08/24/20

16 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Russell A. Wallack
Seller: Kathleen C. Quinlan
Date: 08/24/20

457 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Amy Robinson
Seller: Arpad Stamusz
Date: 08/20/20

WARWICK

299 Flower Hill Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Gerard V. Levasseur
Seller: Kevin E. Smith
Date: 08/28/20

65 Orange Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Mary A. Shipman
Seller: Silvio Graci
Date: 08/21/20

WENDELL

65 Lockes Village Road
Wendell, MA 01380
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Thomas Merle-Richardson
Seller: Jacob A. Doody
Date: 08/24/20

151 West St.
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Edward E. Rouse
Seller: William B. Holloway
Date: 08/25/20

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

102 Anthony St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: John Lemoine
Seller: Susan M. McDonough
Date: 08/27/20

71 Columbia Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Calabrese Construction LLC
Seller: Petr Kiforishin
Date: 08/31/20

111 Edgewater Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $362,500
Buyer: Natalie Prokopchuk
Seller: Robert J. Sonsini
Date: 08/25/20

38 Fruwirth Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Clark
Seller: Patriot Living LLC
Date: 08/28/20

81 Granger Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Eileen M. Beal
Seller: Rosemarie A. Pinette
Date: 08/27/20

155 Line St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Araya Property LLC
Seller: Leah Harrington
Date: 08/26/20

1140 North St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Leonard Warren
Seller: John D. Trudeau
Date: 08/28/20

85 Old Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Melissa Laufer-Mange
Seller: Joseph J. Delaney
Date: 08/26/20

17 Overlook Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Leonid Butyrin
Seller: Novotney, S. Bernard, (Estate)
Date: 08/31/20

41 Richardson Place
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $382,000
Buyer: Nicholas Bull
Seller: Michael A. Abbott
Date: 08/27/20

44 River St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Alycar Investments LLC
Seller: Anthony J. Russo
Date: 08/21/20

27-29 Riverview Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Sharon Sedik
Seller: McGuy, Jane M., (Estate)
Date: 08/21/20

124 Robin Ridge Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $339,900
Buyer: Christopher J. Harper
Seller: John C. Patrick
Date: 08/31/20

76 Stewart Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Ontour Properties Inc.
Seller: Wayne J. Marek
Date: 08/19/20

Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Mark S. Sarrazin
Seller: Anthony R. Boido
Date: 08/27/20

87 Valentine Ter.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Nicholas J. Clement
Seller: Clara Scott
Date: 08/25/20

53 William St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Asbel Nunez
Seller: Howard R. Ackerman
Date: 08/31/20

BLANDFORD

18 Kaolin Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Michael E. Smith
Seller: Gordon C. Avery
Date: 08/28/20

16 Russell Stage Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Justin M. Lafrance
Seller: 16 Russell Stage Road Land Trust
Date: 08/28/20

BRIMFIELD

2 Echo Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Matthew W. Newsome
Seller: Aaron K. Rittlinger
Date: 08/31/20

Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: GJL RNL NT
Seller: Douglas F. Wolcott
Date: 08/31/20

81 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $394,000
Buyer: Julie Fitzgerald
Seller: Richard E. Witaszek
Date: 08/24/20

CHESTER

90 Middlefield Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Timothy B. Jenks
Seller: David R. Christensen
Date: 08/27/20

25 William St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $122,900
Buyer: Justin D. Leigh
Seller: Michael W. Poudrier
Date: 08/31/20

CHICOPEE

45 Armanella St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Natalie Bys
Seller: Gabriel G. Veilleux
Date: 08/21/20

168 Artisan St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Maryann McCarthy
Seller: Yuriy Sivolobov
Date: 08/26/20

33 Austin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Gina L. Mazza
Seller: Austin St. Property Mgmt. LLC
Date: 08/20/20

19 Bell St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Andy Rivas
Seller: Thomas Fregeau
Date: 08/21/20

151 Blanan Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $260,475
Buyer: Matthew J. Carvalho
Seller: Steven T. Swanson
Date: 08/17/20

3 Boileau Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Derek St.Marie
Seller: Gerald H. Lane
Date: 08/17/20

35 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Patrick Goff
Seller: Alyssa R. McKenna
Date: 08/27/20

319 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Lisa Russell
Seller: Roman Catholic Bishop
Date: 08/21/20

58 Charles St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Teresita Mallari-Santos
Seller: Hillary A. Morrissette
Date: 08/20/20

123 Chester St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Conor Olejarz
Seller: Kotowski, Edward M., (Estate)
Date: 08/27/20

494 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Hurricane Properties LLC
Seller: Kevin P. Corley
Date: 08/31/20

31 Dale Court
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: William G. Goldenberg
Seller: Ali B. Kitchell
Date: 08/31/20

48 Fanjoy Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Wieslaw Macko
Seller: Kenneth Delude
Date: 08/31/20

299 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Jillshani E. Ortiz
Seller: Dnepro Properties LLC
Date: 08/21/20

36 Johnny Cake Hollow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $3,700,000
Buyer: Hare Krishna Springfield
Seller: G6 Hospitality Prop LLC
Date: 08/20/20

59 Keddy Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $251,500
Buyer: Christopher Landry
Seller: Kyle T. Krow
Date: 08/24/20

45 Laclede Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Russell Maylott
Seller: Edward A. Leonard
Date: 08/17/20

49 Leo Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Justin Fox
Seller: Maureen Fluet
Date: 08/28/20

56 Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Gerald H. Lane
Seller: Melanie A. Hines
Date: 08/17/20

57 Marble Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Crizaida L. Santiago
Seller: Peria I. Ruiz
Date: 08/21/20

60 Marble Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Nyobi D. Brown
Seller: JBD Empire LLC
Date: 08/19/20

108 Nonotuck Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Edwing Delgadillo
Seller: Bruce W. Taylor
Date: 08/21/20

58 Norman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Elaine J. Labbe
Seller: Ann L. Brough
Date: 08/27/20

13 Olivine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Joseph Oserei-Evborokhai
Seller: Vitaliy Polchyn
Date: 08/25/20

32 Paderewski Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Yury Sivolobov
Seller: Joseph J. Carriveau
Date: 08/26/20

11 Palmer Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Lorena Machuca-Davila
Seller: James Bell
Date: 08/19/20

44 Rochester St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Heather A. Dandy
Seller: Laura Benson
Date: 08/21/20

21 Schley St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Ryan A. Meuse
Seller: Phelps, Geraldine, (Estate)
Date: 08/25/20

154 School St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $201,400
Buyer: Iglesia Fuente De Salvacion
Seller: 1890 Chicopee LLC
Date: 08/21/20

29 Shaban Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Keith Naumchick
Seller: Marcus M. Moore
Date: 08/31/20

307 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Nathan G. Cousineau
Seller: Zwiercan, John A., (Estate)
Date: 08/21/20

258 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Karen A. Newman
Seller: Andrew R. Prats
Date: 08/31/20

346 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Anthony Figueroa
Seller: Martin J. Pion
Date: 08/27/20

26 Sullivan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Alberto Olmeda
Seller: James F. Netkovick
Date: 08/25/20

16 Summer St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Dano Travassos
Seller: Halina Witczak
Date: 08/21/20

18 Summer St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Dano Travassos
Seller: Halina Witczak
Date: 08/21/20

122 Trilby Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $232,900
Buyer: Leslie Bibee
Seller: Serge Dumont
Date: 08/25/20

9 Wilfred St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Angel D. Cruz
Seller: Amy C. Rokosz
Date: 08/17/20

EAST LONGMEADOW

34 Anne St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Carlos A. Cruz
Seller: Natalya Kuznetsova
Date: 08/24/20

12 Bella Vista Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $606,175
Buyer: Jarrod Liebel
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 08/28/20

Bella Vista Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Jeremy R. Giard
Seller: John Papale
Date: 08/27/20

39 Day Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael J. Miro
Seller: Christopher J. Bolduc
Date: 08/28/20

125 Dearborn St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $411,000
Buyer: Brian G. Alter
Seller: John M. Dickson
Date: 08/21/20

21 Donamor Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Colo
Seller: Addie Clough-Carabetta
Date: 08/17/20

54 Dorset St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Joseph C. Santaniello
Seller: Nico J. Santaniello
Date: 08/21/20

78 Glen Heather Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Michael J. Calcasola
Seller: Ann M. Niznik
Date: 08/21/20

94 Hanward Hill
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Mark Manolakis
Seller: William E. Hassin
Date: 08/28/20

13 Holy Cross Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Ann M. Nitznik
Seller: Lauren E. Murawski
Date: 08/21/20

241 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $392,500
Buyer: Paulo F. Martins
Seller: Thomas E. Argenio
Date: 08/21/20

8 Knollwood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Ronald J. Cutler
Seller: Justin M. Dalessio
Date: 08/31/20

38 Mill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Rita L. Mance
Seller: Hugh K. Martin
Date: 08/25/20

58 North Circle Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Dorinne A. Rodriguez
Seller: Virginia C. Robbins
Date: 08/28/20

63 Orchard Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Travis G. Schwamb
Seller: Edward M. Bellerose
Date: 08/21/20

718 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Ronald E. Humason
Seller: Timothy A. Lucier
Date: 08/20/20

392 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $342,500
Buyer: Raymond J. Guilbert
Seller: Steve Setian
Date: 08/31/20

33 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: 38 Center Square RT
Seller: Steven W. Graziano
Date: 08/21/20

52 Senecal Place
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $571,000
Buyer: Scott D. Cunningham
Seller: Daniel Heiskala
Date: 08/20/20

159 Stonehill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Christopher Solie
Seller: Salvatore Decesare
Date: 08/21/20

HAMPDEN

165 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Day
Seller: William G. Barrett
Date: 08/27/20

75 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Christina J. Goodreau
Seller: Darcey F. Walulak
Date: 08/26/20

19 South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Vincent R. Hogan
Seller: Lorraine A. Hanley
Date: 08/31/20

HOLLAND

21 Barry Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Steven Verrette
Seller: Dorothy Dilernia
Date: 08/21/20

23 Bernie Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Linda Sellig-Slap
Seller: Calvin D. Lajoie
Date: 08/21/20

4 Darcy St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $120,500
Buyer: Karen V. May
Seller: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Date: 08/31/20

HOLYOKE

20 Beacon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael J. Soto
Seller: Wilvaldo Cabrera
Date: 08/27/20

42 Chapin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $251,500
Buyer: Ricky E. Kreiser
Seller: Donna M. Theroux
Date: 08/28/20

33 Fairfield Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Christopher A. Solano
Seller: Old Rivers LLC
Date: 08/28/20

999 Hampden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Angela L. Lynch-Daigle
Seller: Morsen, Debra A., (Estate)
Date: 08/19/20

93 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: William F. Zych
Seller: Billie-Jo Blyda
Date: 08/26/20

30 James St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Luis Orsini-Maldonado
Seller: Janet Crespo
Date: 08/26/20

58 Longfellow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Kelly Raila
Seller: Gregory J. Maichack
Date: 08/27/20

201 Madison Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $373,000
Buyer: Robert R. Chatt
Seller: Bernadette Stark
Date: 08/28/20

1117 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Evan Kashinsky
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 08/21/20

4 Ross Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Aracelis Burgos
Seller: Christopher Leveille
Date: 08/28/20

194 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Sara Kennedy
Seller: Talitha L. Abramsen
Date: 08/21/20

157 Sheehan Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. Grise
Seller: Kyle Mardeuse
Date: 08/20/20

61 Sherwood Ter.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Frank A. Matsalia
Seller: Paul Rohan
Date: 08/21/20

242 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Ian J. Mackenzie
Seller: Adam Paradis
Date: 08/19/20

221 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: C. M. Espinosa-Marrero
Seller: Flippin Good Homebuyers LLC
Date: 08/21/20

116-118 West St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Rebecca E. McPhee
Seller: TM Properties Inc.
Date: 08/20/20

LONGMEADOW

217 Ardsley Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Jessica Gilmore
Seller: Elizabeth Gaberman
Date: 08/17/20

87 Bel Air Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Michael Lareau
Seller: Denise A. Connelly
Date: 08/24/20

114 Birnie Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Ved P. Agarwal
Seller: Debra A. Michalik
Date: 08/28/20

26 Brooks Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Gloria M. Cangialosi
Seller: Tramazzo, Gloria M., (Estate)
Date: 08/20/20

81 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Christopher Wojcik
Seller: Cedar Inv Group LLC
Date: 08/26/20

11 Cross St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Evan S. Dowd
Seller: David A. Wheaton
Date: 08/28/20

85 Dunsany Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $363,000
Buyer: David A. Cordeiro
Seller: Juliana Serafini
Date: 08/27/20

74 Fairfield Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Linnae M. Rondeau
Seller: Wendy A. Pollack
Date: 08/28/20

287 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Grammatiki Anderson
Seller: Joanne M. Buoniconti
Date: 08/31/20

962 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $797,000
Buyer: Jasmine Gill
Seller: Mikhail Gerasimchuk
Date: 08/20/20

127 Hazardville Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Kim T. Vo
Seller: Craig C. Tedeschi
Date: 08/17/20

29 Longfellow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Carlos H. Melendez
Seller: Dennis D. Callahan
Date: 08/20/20

296 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $721,900
Buyer: Kartik K. Viswanathan
Seller: John D. Buda
Date: 08/28/20

60 Merriweather Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Tzu-Chien Wen
Seller: John R. Ketcham
Date: 08/21/20

40 Nevins Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $325,850
Buyer: Nicole Choiniere
Seller: Mark F. O’Connor
Date: 08/25/20

95 Normandy Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $785,000
Buyer: Robert G. Logan
Seller: Mark R. Weyer
Date: 08/21/20

36 Pinewood Hills
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $618,150
Buyer: Manish K. Sharma
Seller: Narayana R. Lebaka
Date: 08/21/20

46 Prynne Ridge Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $667,500
Buyer: Daniel Heiskala
Seller: Mary A. Trelease LT
Date: 08/20/20

28 Roseland Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Samantha A. Austin
Seller: Deborah A. Yesu
Date: 08/24/20

220 Twin Hills Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: John Royden-Ketcham
Seller: Alan T. Pohli
Date: 08/21/20

38 Westmoreland Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Marlon Sears
Seller: Meadows RE LLC
Date: 08/21/20

180 Williamsburg Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Bahadir K. Akcam
Seller: Oz Harmanli
Date: 08/17/20

LUDLOW

70 Barre Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Cynthia A. Fuller
Seller: Diane J. Wojcik
Date: 08/28/20

61 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Alicia Seymour
Seller: Nelson Vital
Date: 08/21/20

25 Cedar St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Charles Moran
Seller: Lamas, Nelson A., (Estate)
Date: 08/25/20

306 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Vincent Fuda
Seller: Cristina Brown
Date: 08/31/20

54 Circuit Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Batakis
Seller: Daniel C. Gaumond
Date: 08/20/20

36 Evergreen Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: James Netkovick
Seller: David S. Socha
Date: 08/25/20

78 Gamache Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Christopher Bolduc
Seller: Anne Fitzpatrick
Date: 08/28/20

156 Kendall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Hillary A. Morrissette
Seller: John S. Placzek
Date: 08/20/20

57 Kirkland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Sarah E. Gauss
Seller: Danielle M. Marshall
Date: 08/27/20

173 Lakeview Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Alyssa Ryan
Seller: Andrew J. Goodreau
Date: 08/26/20

53 Lawrence St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Flavio Cunha
Seller: Jack R. Nuno
Date: 08/28/20

35 Mineral Spring Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Ryan S. Kumiega
Seller: David J. Vanderboom
Date: 08/21/20

760 Moore St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Kaitlyn Sosnowski
Seller: Joy S. McCarron
Date: 08/26/20

38-40 Old West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $354,000
Buyer: Christian Rivera
Seller: Judith E. Camarena
Date: 08/21/20

156 Pinewood Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Zahid Habib
Seller: Marie A. Chartrand
Date: 08/26/20

168 Southwood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: David B. Morin
Seller: Tiago A. Leal
Date: 08/18/20

43 Watt Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Hector E. Brookman
Seller: Desare Hall
Date: 08/18/20

23 White St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Joanne Haley
Seller: Michael J. Foley
Date: 08/31/20

MONSON

30 Butler Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Eric Ciborowski
Seller: Richard A. Cordner
Date: 08/21/20

126 East Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Jeremy Cushing
Seller: Thomas Simonich
Date: 08/24/20

154 Maxwell Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Tami E. Prince
Seller: Ernest P. Pasquini
Date: 08/27/20

106 Stebbins Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Samantha Dominique
Seller: Emerald City Rentals LLC
Date: 08/19/20

174 Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Steven Sulewski
Seller: Eric Raymond
Date: 08/31/20

3 Woodridge Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Property Advantage Inc.
Seller: Hott, Blake H., (Estate)
Date: 08/25/20

MONTGOMERY

12 Birch Bluff Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $358,000
Buyer: Nathan M. Wuerth
Seller: Kathleen A. Griffen
Date: 08/20/20

PALMER

18 Brainerd St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: JMS North Main Street LLC
Seller: Palmer Town
Date: 08/28/20

323 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $308,800
Buyer: Susan E. Williams
Seller: Carol A. Federico
Date: 08/28/20

7 Country Lane
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: James K. Woo
Seller: Jared D. Gliesman
Date: 08/21/20

29 Dublin St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Real Estate Restoration Inc.
Seller: Turley Publications Inc.
Date: 08/27/20

15 Homestead St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Dominic M. Kimatu
Seller: Marlene Reveliotis
Date: 08/28/20

2014-2016 Maple St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Hmlm Realty LLC
Seller: Katelyn Bishop
Date: 08/25/20

18 North St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Gerald J. Tessier
Seller: Roger R. Duguay
Date: 08/20/20

1686-1688 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Justin M. Corneau
Seller: Gregory A. Bossie
Date: 08/28/20

2001 Pleasant St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Gerald Flynn
Seller: Heidi S. Boucher
Date: 08/28/20

132 River St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: James P. Peterson
Seller: Tanne, Lydia L., (Estate)
Date: 08/20/20

12 Riverview Pkwy.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Donald Hall
Seller: Beauregard, Gloria M., (Estate)
Date: 08/21/20

102 State St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Nicholas Mardirosian
Seller: David Rosenburg
Date: 08/31/20

17 Taft St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Steven J. Williams
Seller: George Tinkelenberg
Date: 08/31/20

2 Vaile St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Real Est Restoration Inc.
Seller: Turley Publications Inc.
Date: 08/27/20

74 Water St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $153,500
Buyer: Melanie E. Smith
Seller: William McMahon
Date: 08/31/20

RUSSELL

220 Pine Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Colin B. Fecteau
Seller: David A. Boyden
Date: 08/27/20

SPRINGFIELD

130 Acrebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Erick T. Hernandez
Seller: Andrea M. Emery
Date: 08/17/20

55 Albemarle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $221,500
Buyer: Crescencio E. Martinez
Seller: Wayne F. Trahan
Date: 08/21/20

7-9 Algonquin Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Johengry Rivas
Seller: Carlos Aguasvivas
Date: 08/24/20

20 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Jose Arturet-Pagan
Seller: Cedar Inv Group LLC
Date: 08/19/20

38 Angelica Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Frank Magala-Namukangula
Seller: David M. Clark
Date: 08/21/20

65 Anniversary St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michael C. Tantao
Seller: Sean M. Seifert
Date: 08/31/20

8 Ansara St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $197,900
Buyer: Anthony Maldonado
Seller: Castle Headquarters Inc.
Date: 08/21/20

113 Appleton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Tek Poudel
Seller: Alexandra A. Ludwig
Date: 08/31/20

75 Arch St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Hann Realty Berkshire LLC
Seller: H&H RE Holdings LLC
Date: 08/18/20

31 Arthur St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Adrianna M. Isham
Seller: FNMA
Date: 08/17/20

98-100 Beaumont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Lourdes J. Mercado
Seller: Branden Mach
Date: 08/31/20

43 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,700,000
Buyer: Belmont State LLC
Seller: Jasnia Realty LLC
Date: 08/31/20

49 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,700,000
Buyer: Belmont State LLC
Seller: Jasnia Realty LLC
Date: 08/31/20

4 Birnie Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Hann Realty Berkshire LLC
Seller: H&H RE Holdings LLC
Date: 08/18/20

28 Blodgett St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Kathleen Vega
Seller: US Bank
Date: 08/18/20

165 Bolton St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Stephen H. Fanolis
Seller: Carol S. Hewitt
Date: 08/28/20

216 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jesmaniel Bermudez
Seller: Craig F. Lapinski
Date: 08/27/20

75 Briarcliff St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Mackenzie Sumwalt-Kijak
Seller: Brianna M. Barcomb
Date: 08/27/20

102 Bulat Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Christian Ramos
Seller: Agnieszka Trela
Date: 08/25/20

33 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Green Light Homes LLC
Seller: John T. Cavicchia
Date: 08/19/20

15 Cedar St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Kempton E. Pollard
Seller: Lupine Properties LLC
Date: 08/27/20

145 Chalmers St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Kenneth B. Haney
Seller: Jessica L. Sullivan
Date: 08/28/20

87 Cherrelyn St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Melissa A. St.Pierre
Seller: SLC Associates LLC
Date: 08/19/20

489 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Williams Erazo
Seller: Thomas P. O’Connor
Date: 08/20/20

241 Corcoran Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Stephanie Carnevale
Seller: Kevin Seymour
Date: 08/17/20

111 Cornell St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,900
Buyer: Ahtavia Wright
Seller: Hampden Realty LLC
Date: 08/27/20

43 Cornwall St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Latoiya N. Drummer
Seller: Deborah D. Hatzipetro
Date: 08/31/20

244 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Alexsandra F. Rivera
Seller: Dorett M. Lamb
Date: 08/21/20

93 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Gabriel Gonzalez-Colon
Seller: Dawn J. Berard
Date: 08/31/20

299 Eastern Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Leonor A. Familia
Seller: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Date: 08/26/20

19 Eddy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $248,500
Buyer: Jorge L. Cuello
Seller: Egidio M. Robinson
Date: 08/25/20

134 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Edward A. Grullon-Reyes
Seller: SA Capital Group LLC
Date: 08/28/20

86 Emerson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Carrasquillo Fix Up LLC
Seller: Rovelli, Ciro V., (Estate)
Date: 08/24/20

159 Fair Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Ty J. Ingram
Seller: Xin Li-Smigiel
Date: 08/31/20

162 Feltham Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Julio A. Ortiz
Seller: Thao E. Phommasith
Date: 08/28/20

43 Florentine Gardens
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Meaghan F. Graul
Seller: Annabelle F. Vanderleeden
Date: 08/24/20

29 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Sona Avagyan
Seller: Elba Rodriguez
Date: 08/18/20

3 Fordham St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $189,500
Buyer: William J. Figueroa
Seller: Michelle A. Tetrault
Date: 08/19/20

30 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Edwin Mendez
Seller: Giovanni Montefusco
Date: 08/17/20

79 Fountain St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Thanh Tran
Seller: Marla Early-Moss
Date: 08/27/20

166 Garland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jason R. Boire
Seller: William T. Raleigh
Date: 08/31/20

58 Glencoe St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Evelio Sibrian-Alas
Seller: Lawrence C. Adams
Date: 08/19/20

39 Goldenrod St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Denise I. Sanchez
Seller: 613 LLC
Date: 08/18/20

155 Groton St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Wilfredo J. Rodriguez
Seller: Dam H. Nguyen
Date: 08/20/20

31-33 Haumont Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Zandra Figueroa-Morales
Seller: Diane Lezinski
Date: 08/28/20

376 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Yajaira Torres-Feliciano
Seller: Nicole StPeter
Date: 08/31/20

8 Hickox Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Latoya K. Wilson
Seller: Heather L. Burbeck
Date: 08/31/20

116 Hudson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Heidi M. Dube
Seller: Maurice P. Pepin
Date: 08/21/20

28 Intervale Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Taylor Tranghese
Seller: FNMA
Date: 08/21/20

272 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Betsy Cruz
Seller: William McAllister
Date: 08/31/20

116 Jenness St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jereth M. Hodge
Seller: Jason A. Smith
Date: 08/21/20

76 Jonquil Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Holly Hozempa
Seller: Brennan J. Roy
Date: 08/26/20

64 Kathleen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Patriot Living LLC
Seller: Lavallee, Paul E., (Estate)
Date: 08/26/20

96 Kirk Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $165,500
Buyer: Princess N. Forde
Seller: Lloyd Chadbourne
Date: 08/24/20

87 Lakevilla Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Anthony N. Rojas
Seller: Jonathan S. Weibel
Date: 08/18/20

102 Lakevilla Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: Talia K. Gee
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 08/18/20

204 Lamont St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Karen S. Giraldo
Seller: La-Toya Wilson
Date: 08/31/20

260 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Jose Lopez
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 08/25/20

Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Nakia S. Dewberry
Seller: John Martin
Date: 08/27/20

4-8 Leyfred Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,700,000
Buyer: Belmont State LLC
Seller: Jasnia Realty LLC
Date: 08/31/20

878 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Analda E. Velazquez
Seller: Yolanda Delacruz
Date: 08/21/20

111 Lucerne Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: C. K. Swaby-Williams
Seller: Lamonte Parks
Date: 08/27/20

117 Lumae St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $163,113
Buyer: AEM Prop Investment LLC
Seller: Dianne Tougas
Date: 08/20/20

48 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Celia Casanova
Seller: Prime Partners LLC
Date: 08/21/20

27-29 Martin St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Brenda L. Montanez
Seller: Emeka Unegbu
Date: 08/17/20

155 Nagle St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Kevin Saez-Rodriguez
Seller: Antonio Rivera
Date: 08/31/20

165 Navajo Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Stefan Kowalik
Seller: Anthony Geary
Date: 08/28/20

36 Norman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Jasmin Rodriguez
Seller: Cullen N. Owen
Date: 08/28/20

49 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $193,200
Buyer: Wilfredo A. Jiminez
Seller: Linda M. Jefferson
Date: 08/28/20

141 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alexander Rivera
Seller: Ena S. Graham
Date: 08/28/20

42 Observer St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Krissy Pelletier
Seller: Patrick D. Bergeron
Date: 08/25/20

18 Ogden St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Charest
Seller: Steven W. Hayes
Date: 08/28/20

273 Old Farm Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Kurt Champagne
Seller: Arlene Medeiros
Date: 08/27/20

11 Old Point St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: John J. Healy
Seller: Earl L. Caulton
Date: 08/21/20

197 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Luis A. Lopez
Seller: Andrew M. Soucie
Date: 08/31/20

22 Orleans St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Suaneth Marrero
Seller: Yajaira Santiago
Date: 08/25/20

50 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Genesis Pujols
Seller: Shannon B. Moretti
Date: 08/20/20

91 Penrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: April Hadley
Seller: Lori Wilbur
Date: 08/17/20

131 Penrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Axel L. Quinones
Seller: Axel Quinones-Diaz
Date: 08/18/20

80 Perkins St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Dominic R. Grilli
Seller: Justin Campbell
Date: 08/20/20

70 Plumtree Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Andrea Jenks
Seller: Revitalized Renovations
Date: 08/25/20

75 Rochford Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Christopher Nascembeni
Seller: TD Bank NA
Date: 08/20/20

114 Signal Hill Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $371,000
Buyer: Tou F. Lee
Seller: Steven A. Rizas
Date: 08/28/20

155 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Desare E. Hall
Seller: Stratton Renovation LLC
Date: 08/19/20

685 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $1,700,000
Buyer: Belmont State LLC
Seller: Jasnia Realty LLC
Date: 08/31/20

966 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: David Dayes
Seller: Scott M. Coen
Date: 08/21/20

67 Sylvan St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $139,175
Buyer: Louie Perkins
Seller: Jack J. Collins
Date: 08/28/20

103 Timothy Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Ivonne M. Garay-Pagan
Seller: John W. Backlund
Date: 08/19/20

63-65 Tyler St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Fazle Rabbi
Seller: Damian Cieszkowski
Date: 08/20/20

17 Washington Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Mitchell
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 08/26/20

35 Washington Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $264,500
Buyer: Carmelo L. Figueroa
Seller: Michael Taylor
Date: 08/25/20

10 Welland Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Elvis I. Rodriguez
Seller: Kevin Windisch
Date: 08/28/20

49 Westbank Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $257,500
Buyer: Nathan H. Murchison
Seller: Nancy Jackson
Date: 08/31/20

121 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Julio Carrasquillo
Seller: Full Service RE LLC
Date: 08/17/20

2084 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Alicia J. Parzych
Seller: Ashley J. Parzych
Date: 08/28/20

216 Wildwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Omar Phillips
Seller: Carol L. Bullington
Date: 08/21/20

56 Wilton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Pearson
Seller: Jose L. Santa
Date: 08/20/20

55 Wing St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Roselyn M. Headley
Seller: Shawn M. Jiles
Date: 08/28/20

28 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Yvette Jackson
Seller: Darlene A. Morse
Date: 08/24/20

SOUTHWICK

14 Buckingham Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Dylan D. Hennessey
Seller: Robert P. Degray
Date: 08/21/20

57 Buckingham Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Spencer F. Higgins
Seller: Connor K. Hedge
Date: 08/17/20

215 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Loulou Holdings LLC
Seller: Southwick Investors I LLC
Date: 08/27/20

430 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Samuel Wood
Seller: Robert Burns
Date: 08/28/20

282 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: John T. Manzi
Seller: Rebecca R. Nelson
Date: 08/28/20

10 Industrial Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: TSC Enterprises LLC
Seller: Clayton A. Cigal
Date: 08/31/20

14 Industrial Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: TSC Enterprises LLC
Seller: Clayton A. Cigal
Date: 08/31/20

217 Klaus Anderson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $391,500
Buyer: Tori B. Jennings
Seller: Terrence J. Hickey
Date: 08/28/20

67 Lakeview St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Marjorie Arnold
Seller: Thomas C. Swain
Date: 08/20/20

8 Laurel Ridge Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $493,000
Buyer: Denise A. Ratti
Seller: Ronald E. Humason
Date: 08/20/20

11 Lexington Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $559,000
Buyer: Karrie Ford
Seller: William R. Anderson
Date: 08/18/20

38 Lexington Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $521,000
Buyer: Pavel Poznyur
Seller: Brett A. Ralph
Date: 08/21/20

6 Tobacco Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: John J. Fairbanks
Seller: David H. Johnson
Date: 08/28/20

TOLLAND

190 Meadow Dr.
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Phyllis H. Myers
Seller: Maria Mitchell-Owen
Date: 08/26/20

WALES

19 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Jason P. Yelinek
Seller: Joseph C. Yelinek
Date: 08/19/20

56 Lake George Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Noga
Seller: Thomas R. Groody
Date: 08/20/20

14 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Eric S. Champagne
Seller: Celine Champagne
Date: 08/26/20

WEST SPRINGFIELD

80 Albert St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Karla P. Merced-Fraguada
Seller: David A. Johnson
Date: 08/28/20

226 Ashley St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Darlene A. Morse
Seller: MAA Property LLC
Date: 08/24/20

86 Audubon Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Marshall
Seller: Brian A. Hallinan
Date: 08/27/20

621 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aleksandr Livchin
Seller: Todd N. Bajor
Date: 08/17/20

62 Connecticut Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: George Renaud
Seller: Gunter A. Brodt
Date: 08/17/20

45 Cynthia Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Stefanie A. Diorio
Seller: Thomas E. Price
Date: 08/24/20

49 East Gooseberry Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jamie Guillermo
Seller: Anh T. Diep
Date: 08/31/20

159 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $361,500
Buyer: Kyle P. Mardeuse
Seller: Thomas J. Castonguay
Date: 08/21/20

67 Hill St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Roman Shtefan
Seller: Aleksandr M. Dashevsky
Date: 08/28/20

72 Jensen Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Brian Lewis
Seller: Ruslan Shvetsov
Date: 08/21/20

139 Jensen Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Brian D. Kowal
Seller: James G. Harper
Date: 08/31/20

67 Lennys Way
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $524,000
Buyer: Jignesh Patel
Seller: Michael S. Murphy
Date: 08/21/20

129 Lincoln St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jacob A. Sanborn
Seller: Barbara A. Sanborn
Date: 08/27/20

33 Mosher St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Maryory Ardila
Seller: Peter M. Grimaldi
Date: 08/24/20

100 Myron St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Hann Realty Berkshire LLC
Seller: Pennock Co.
Date: 08/20/20

90 Nelson Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Meshach B. Poi
Seller: Nicholas A. Bull
Date: 08/27/20

17 Neptune Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Lemuel P. Burrell
Seller: Suraya Kapitonova
Date: 08/24/20

147 North Blvd.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Gail L. Gonyea
Seller: James Richardson
Date: 08/31/20

8 Northwood Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Puspa L. Darjee
Seller: William V. Torres
Date: 08/27/20

29 Peachstone Glen
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $366,000
Buyer: Mark E. Mangini
Seller: Jean L. Bradley
Date: 08/28/20

48 West School St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Michael S. Santaniello
Seller: Sergey Kucherenko
Date: 08/31/20

68 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Laguercia Family LP
Seller: Lazy River Housing Co. LLC
Date: 08/17/20

1290 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Nicole M. Hernandez
Seller: Carlos H. Melendez
Date: 08/20/20

2063 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: MAA Property LLC
Seller: Angela A. Ciancotti
Date: 08/25/20

66 Westwood Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Steven A. Shapiro
Seller: Gary D. Parmentier
Date: 08/28/20

90 Wistaria St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jessica Laureano
Seller: Mark D. Lussier
Date: 08/28/20

WESTFIELD

2 Ascutney Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Nico Paolucci
Seller: Ievgenii Gusiev
Date: 08/24/20

32 Birch Bluffs Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Shahzaib Siddiqui
Seller: Alvina Antonovschi
Date: 08/21/20

35 Camelot Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $745,000
Buyer: Darren Lecrenski
Seller: Robert A. Paul
Date: 08/24/20

22 Day Lily Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $820,000
Buyer: Yasser Hussain
Seller: Julia Minchuk
Date: 08/20/20

32 Evergreen Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: James E. Laconte
Seller: Francis Wheeler Construction
Date: 08/18/20

5 Fairview St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Maryna Sukhyna
Seller: Alexandr A. Filev
Date: 08/19/20

14 Hanover St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Armando Cruz
Seller: Richard B. Spitzer
Date: 08/31/20

5 Harrison Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Michael D. Jones
Seller: Bush, Arlene A., (Estate)
Date: 08/24/20

8 Harrison Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Krystal Slawski
Seller: Samantha A. Shea
Date: 08/31/20

21 Highland View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Keyla A. Fernandez
Seller: Tina Osowski
Date: 08/17/20

27 Jeanne Marie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $471,500
Buyer: Luiza Tereshchuk
Seller: Aaron J. Allard
Date: 08/28/20

109 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Jeevan Kafley
Seller: Donald P. Burland
Date: 08/31/20

15 Linda Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Guyott
Seller: Paul M. Bovat
Date: 08/31/20

15 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Nicole Godard
Seller: Irina Kazimirets
Date: 08/25/20

12 New Broadway
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: McKenzie M. Schmidt
Seller: David Garstka Builders LLC
Date: 08/28/20

29 Parker Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $143,500
Buyer: Michael P. Sears
Seller: Belville, Noelle, (Estate)
Date: 08/31/20

165 Ridgeview Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Vladimir Cobileanschi
Seller: Anna V. Jakus
Date: 08/20/20

12 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Cody C. Gonyea
Seller: Demetrios Kanavaros
Date: 08/24/20

28 Shepard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Anthony F. Lefemine
Seller: William J. Golen
Date: 08/28/20

29 Spruce St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Celine E. Dagenais
Seller: Michael E. Stroshine
Date: 08/21/20

52 Squawfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: John W. Pignatare
Seller: Adina A. Pignatare
Date: 08/25/20

119 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $479,900
Buyer: Connor Hedge
Seller: Travis J. Koske
Date: 08/17/20

425 West Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: David Christensen
Seller: Eileen M. Beal
Date: 08/27/20

191 Western Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Stephen Crabtree
Seller: Christopher P. Whalley
Date: 08/27/20

WILBRAHAM

172 3 Rivers Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Dominic Dobrzycki
Seller: Roger E. Paull
Date: 08/27/20

2423 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Northeast Automotive Realty
Seller: Kim R. Baker
Date: 08/17/20

8 Glenn Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Zachary Jackson-Chaffee
Seller: Elizabeth Maturin
Date: 08/21/20

4 Longview Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Shawn Jiles
Seller: David M. Folli
Date: 08/31/20

632 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Travis J. Bell
Seller: Eagle Home Buyers LLC
Date: 08/28/20

1080 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Courtney M. Lafreniere
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 08/19/20

7 Sunnyside Ter.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Alexander T. Fagan
Seller: Ana C. Serrenho
Date: 08/27/20

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

90 Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Alexandra Barlow
Seller: Colleen A. Champ
Date: 08/17/20

115 Blackberry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Andrea J. Boulanger
Seller: Huanye Hu
Date: 08/17/20

27 Canterbury Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Alexandra Steinhauer
Seller: Aaron D. Julien
Date: 08/20/20

19 Chapel Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Roberta J. Uno
Seller: Gregory D. Zimmerman
Date: 08/21/20

75 Cherry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Michael V. Lariccia
Seller: Edward Levine RET
Date: 08/19/20

34 Country Corners Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $720,000
Buyer: Timothy P. Schmitt
Seller: Casey FT
Date: 08/28/20

180 East Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $567,750
Buyer: Nahoma Clinton
Seller: Amir Mikhchi
Date: 08/27/20

91 Hulst Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Jonatan Steenbrink
Seller: Sandra J. Wentworth
Date: 08/26/20

97 Hulst Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Sarah R. Vincelett
Seller: Kim M. Deshields
Date: 08/21/20

472 North Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $12,500,000
Buyer: University Of Massachusetts
Seller: Roman Catholic Bishop
Date: 08/20/20

251-253 Pelham Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Ryan Karb
Seller: Eve T. Melnechuk
Date: 08/28/20

474 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Louis G. Arnos
Seller: Neal C. Crago
Date: 08/18/20

35 The Hollow
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Megan M. Frestadt
Seller: Amy S. Bush
Date: 08/27/20

37 The Hollow
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $323,000
Buyer: Brian D. Mulak
Seller: Nina S. Mentin
Date: 08/27/20

64 West Pomeroy Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Drumm
Seller: Michael S. Rudd
Date: 08/18/20

19 White Pine Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Suresh V. Patel
Seller: Dragan Curcija
Date: 08/27/20

57 Woodside Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $975,000
Buyer: Brittany L. Crow-Miller
Seller: Alexander W. Hiam
Date: 08/21/20

BELCHERTOWN

256 Cold Spring Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Theresa A. Przybylowicz
Seller: Jonathan G. Martins
Date: 08/25/20

18 Crestview Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $357,500
Buyer: Brian Rodriguez
Seller: Marcus P. Lafountain
Date: 08/17/20

257 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Frederick E. Tilton
Seller: Steven P. Tilton
Date: 08/18/20

10 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Bruce S. Shainwald
Seller: Jimmy M. Lugo
Date: 08/21/20

80 Howard St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Jessica L. Minikowski
Seller: Therese E. Chabot
Date: 08/21/20

102 Jensen St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: George Tinkelenberg
Seller: Quabbin Valley Property LLC
Date: 08/31/20

135 Mountain View Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $529,500
Buyer: Jacob Robinson
Seller: Diane C. Malachowski
Date: 08/28/20

11 Newton St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Monica A. Torres-Manzano
Seller: Raj K. Shahi
Date: 08/26/20

12 Newton St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Joann M. Lafountain
Seller: Jennifer McLeod
Date: 08/17/20

22 Pine Brook Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Ronald C. Motta
Seller: Jonathan P. Endelos
Date: 08/28/20

142 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: Aaron M. Howland
Seller: Matthew T. Hoyle
Date: 08/19/20

Rockrimmon St. #7B
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $115,900
Buyer: Alexandre F. Mendes
Seller: Xingcheng Hua
Date: 08/21/20

Rockrimmon St. #7C
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $115,900
Buyer: Alexandre F. Mendes
Seller: Xingcheng Hua
Date: 08/21/20

16 South Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: James Mawson
Seller: Alan J. Jamilkowski
Date: 08/28/20

491 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Ronald H. Archambault
Seller: M. F. Archambault LT
Date: 08/28/20

6 Trillium Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $392,000
Buyer: Matthew Shadeed
Seller: Katrina R. Fitzpatrick
Date: 08/21/20

EASTHAMPTON

61 Clapp St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jeffrey B. Wilga
Seller: Richard & Irma Warnock LT
Date: 08/28/20

13 Coed Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Chelotti
Seller: Paul Kearney
Date: 08/26/20

11 Droy Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Thomas Galko
Seller: Betsy Wright
Date: 08/20/20

13 Droy Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Juan Perez
Seller: Alexander D. Mackenzie
Date: 08/21/20

250 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Jodi L. Koomen-Bias
Seller: Chester J. Bara
Date: 08/17/20

18 Gaugh St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $331,500
Buyer: Samuel J. Hammerman
Seller: Lake Rentals LLC
Date: 08/31/20

26 Hisgen Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Chris C. Murphy
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 08/21/20

16 Howard Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $374,000
Buyer: Makenzie B. Mulcahy
Seller: Audrey E. Mercado
Date: 08/31/20

334 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Jayohm Inc.
Seller: Joseph Shu
Date: 08/27/20

9 Water Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Taylor Real Estate Holding LLC
Seller: Woodlawn Construction LLC
Date: 08/31/20

GRANBY

73 Carver St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Carla L. Brodeur
Seller: Kotowicz Custom Homes LLC
Date: 08/21/20

68 Harris St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Raymond M. Sharick
Seller: Joseph A. Mercier
Date: 08/28/20

36 Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $255,700
Buyer: Gina Brindisi
Seller: Laramee, Marilyn L., (Estate)
Date: 08/18/20

29 Truby St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Andrew W. Szczygiel
Seller: Terrence F. Szczygiel
Date: 08/28/20

HADLEY

108 Hockanum Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jacob Drozdal-Miller
Seller: Mary E. Drozdal
Date: 08/31/20

34 Newton Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Wade W. Vandoloski
Seller: Harry L. Vandoloski
Date: 08/28/20

HATFIELD

72 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Joseph N. Peltier
Seller: Joseph S. Barker
Date: 08/28/20

HUNTINGTON

9 Pond Brook Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Anna R. Meyerhoff
Seller: Mary A. Shipman
Date: 08/19/20

66 Searle Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $265,200
Buyer: Nathan A. Labay
Seller: Lone Creek Properties LLC
Date: 08/28/20

34 Worthington Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Colby M. Lurgio
Seller: Blanco Electric LLC
Date: 08/17/20

NORTHAMPTON

1 Amber Lane
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Iconica Social Club LLC
Seller: Emily Withenbury
Date: 08/18/20

32 Beacon St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Michael A. Cinelli
Seller: Hensley IRT
Date: 08/31/20

218 Cardinal Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Sharla Zwirek
Seller: Rhonda J. Venne
Date: 08/28/20

218 Coles Meadow Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $374,000
Buyer: Kristen A. Beam
Seller: John N. McCarthy
Date: 08/27/20

8 Conz St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jaime Taylor
Seller: Slattery, Clara, (Estate)
Date: 08/27/20

35 Day Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Jacqueline H. Baron
Seller: Daphne S. Joubran
Date: 08/25/20

175 Grove St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Ella Reily-Stocker
Seller: Thomas J. Colo
Date: 08/17/20

37 Hatfield St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Kathleen Doherty
Seller: Patricia Duffy
Date: 08/31/20

64 Kennedy Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Pamela L. Hannon
Seller: Merle L. Taylor
Date: 08/24/20

9 Kingsley Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $471,000
Buyer: Nathan Sirota
Seller: TN Real Estate Group LLC
Date: 08/31/20

39 Landy Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Seller: Prasol, Josephine C., (Estate)
Date: 08/18/20

31 Leeno Ter
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Brenda L. Flanigan
Seller: Maureen Ryan-Wise
Date: 08/31/20

16 Massasoit St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Aparajit Naram
Seller: John S. Hoops
Date: 08/31/20

197 North Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $370,700
Buyer: Jennifer C. Green
Seller: Hilary B. Price LT
Date: 08/31/20

New St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Michael A. Cinelli
Seller: Lester Hensley
Date: 08/31/20

217 Park Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Steven R. Taylor
Seller: Jananne S. Cannon FT
Date: 08/20/20

73 Pioneer Knolls
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Susan L. Miller
Seller: Tobin, Beverly A., (Estate)
Date: 08/31/20

56 Ridgewood Ter.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Mary J. Laforest
Seller: Ridgewood NT
Date: 08/20/20

603 Spring St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Gregory J. Wales
Seller: Christopher S. Kellogg
Date: 08/20/20

30 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Elizabeth R. Meyersohn
Seller: Heather Hamel
Date: 08/28/20

374 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Loom Properties LLC
Seller: Ann C. Betters LT
Date: 08/28/20

PELHAM

51 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Theodore B. Streeter
Seller: Frank Ernest FT
Date: 08/18/20

SOUTH HADLEY

28 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Carlos Carrero
Seller: Roberts, Mona J., (Estate)
Date: 08/31/20

8 Gaylord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: BBP Realty LLC
Seller: James A. Occhiuzzo
Date: 08/31/20

12 Lois Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Trisha Lerose
Seller: Geraldine A. Mastello
Date: 08/31/20

4 Lyon Green
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: J. N. Duquette &Son Construction
Seller: Mountain Brook LLC
Date: 08/26/20

32 Lyon Green
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Seller: Mountain Brook LLC
Date: 08/26/20

36 Lyon Green
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: J. N. Duquette &Son Construction
Seller: Mountain Brook LLC
Date: 08/26/20

54 McKinley Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Karen E. Smith
Seller: Dolores A. Stec
Date: 08/31/20

14 West Summit St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Brital 1987 LLC
Seller: John R. Guz
Date: 08/28/20

SOUTHAMPTON

107 Middle Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Kristin E. Gengler
Seller: Michael E. Smith
Date: 08/28/20

9 Quigley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Wade E. Loud
Seller: Daviau & Robert Properties LLC
Date: 08/28/20

WARE

68 Beaver Lake Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Ryan S. Semione
Seller: Bruce N. French
Date: 08/31/20

24 Berkshire Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $243,500
Buyer: Devon A. Whitehead
Seller: USA VA
Date: 08/31/20

87 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $184,800
Buyer: Kurt D. Staven
Seller: Freedom Mortgage Corp.
Date: 08/27/20

30 High St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Curtis A. Hayden
Seller: Christopher M. Robidoux
Date: 08/27/20

59 Old Poor Farm Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Ronald Riethle
Seller: Nicholas Markopoulos
Date: 08/26/20

102 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Laurel Levy
Seller: Cheryl L. Carroll
Date: 08/20/20

10 Sczygiel Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Chelsea R. Beaulieu
Seller: Timothy R. Smith
Date: 08/20/20

83 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Lauren Maslon
Seller: Eric W. Tuller
Date: 08/21/20

15 Williston Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $240,560
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: John E. Kos
Date: 08/25/20

WILLIAMSBURG

22 North Farms Road
Williamsburg, MA 01062
Amount: $360,500
Buyer: Pamela Field-Sadler
Seller: George E. Danziger
Date: 08/20/20

WESTHAMPTON

111 Kings Hwy.
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Gabrielle Vitiello
Seller: Katelyn C. Dutkiewicz
Date: 08/19/20

WORTHINGTON

141 Buffington Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $255,600
Buyer: Karin I. Muller
Seller: Timothy J. Sena
Date: 08/27/20

328 Ridge Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $331,000
Buyer: Richard C. Millis
Seller: Christopher J. Chase
Date: 08/21/20

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of August 2020. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

AMHERST

85 University Dr., LLC
85 University Dr.
$24,600 — Add front entrance and sidewalk to existing building

CHICOPEE

Elms College
147 Grape St.
$1,000 — Construct two hand guards on steps

GMZ Realty, LLC
137 Broadway
$52,000 — Roofing

GREENFIELD

Wood & Barrel Co.
427 Davis St.
$4,789 — Install fire-alarm system

LEE

Berkshire Corporate Realty, LLC
480 Pleasant St.
$6,000 — Install four windows

Great Green Theory Land, LLC
845 Pleasant St.
$1,100,000 — Site preparation for new building

LENOX

Adams Community Bank
7 Main St.
$263,489 — Interior renovation of first floor

Sarah Martinelli
2 Holmes Road
$317,220 — Convert existing bank building to specialty dental practice

NORTHAMPTON

Bermor, LP
25 Armory St.
$280,000 — Interior renovations

Central Chambers Realty Trust
16 Center St., #401
$5,000 — Repair walls

Colvest Northampton, LLC
303 King St.
$275,000 — Tenant fit-up for Starbucks

Nonotuck Mill, LLC
296 Nonotuck St.
$605,000 — Renovate lower level for Massachusetts Adaptive Technology Center

Smith College
46 College Lane
$98,000 — Demolish wall in Burton Hall for installation of new cold room

Stop & Shop
238 King St.
$800,000 — Renovate sales floor

PITTSFIELD

Lama Altagracia
263 Second St.
$38,700 — Brick veneer stabilization and restoration

Berkshire Crossing Retail, LLC
555 Hubbard Ave.
$13,850 — Separate existing wet sprinkler system into two zones at former Pier One Imports space

Centro Bradley Berkshire Crossing, LLC
555 Hubbard Ave.
$4,900 — Modify fire-alarm systems in tenant buildout for Spectrum/Charter

City of Pittsfield
55 Depot St.
$9,962 — McKay Parking Garage elevator recall system

Milltown Capital
101 Dan Fox Dr.
$1,424 — Selective demolition, maintenance, and repairs

Michael Phelps
19 Dalton Ave.
$17,000 — Remove and replace shingles off main and back porch

Shaker Community Inc.
1843 West Housatonic St.
$17,707 — Install fire-alarm system for trustees building

Wojtkowski Bros. Inc.
501 East St.
$133,500 — Renovate Suite 101 for use by Berkshire Health Systems as testing and call center

SPRINGFIELD

Astro Logistics, LLC
126 Memorial Dr.
$2,554,170 — Add pre-engineered building to side of existing building for business expansion of Astro Chemical

Baystate Medical Center Inc.
759 Chestnut St.
$17,609 — Alter space for an IT closet expansion on fifth floor of Daly Building

Gulmohbur 546 Sumner Corp.
544 Sumner Ave.
$35,000 — Repair roofing

Multicultural Community Services of the Pioneer Valley Inc.
1000 Wilbraham Road
$187,785 — Alter interior space on first floor

NE Enterprises, LLC
1200 West Columbus Ave.
$654,360 — Alter interior space for use as INSA cannabis retail store

Springfield Preparatory Charter School
2071 Roosevelt Ave.
$663,712 — Perform abatement and interior exploratory demolition for future buildout

Super Worcester, LLC
800 Worcester St.
$673,572 — Alter interior space at Super Brush for construction of new mezzanine in existing open storage space with office and production rooms below

WILBRAHAM

Town of Wilbraham
5 Spec Pond Way
$476,450 — Construct new rigid frame metal building, renovate existing utilities

Steve Lowell

By
Features

He Has Plans to Retire, but No Plans to Scale Back His Involvement

Photo by Leah Martin Photography

When we talked with Steve Lowell back in January, he related just how familiar he became with the commute from Cape Cod to Upton in the middle of the state, where he lived, earlier in his career.

That’s because, while he was working for a bank on the Cape, he also became heavily involved in the community there — as part of his work, but mostly because giving back is his MO. He recalled that he was on the Cape so much, many people thought he lived there.

When we reconnected several days ago, Lowell was again talking about this commute, but from a different perspective.

Indeed, only days after he was introduced as a member of the Difference Makers class of 2020 in February, Lowell announced he would be retiring as president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank, effective early next year, and stepping into a role new for this institution — chairman of the board. He and his wife, Anne, are in the process of relocating to the Cape, but he now keeps a small apartment in Brookfield and is there three or four nights a week, because he’s not only neck-deep in the transition of leadership at the bank (Dan Moriarty, the long-time CFO at the bank, has been named his successor), he’s still active in this region. Make that very active.

And he intends to remain involved with a number of organizations in this region, which means he’ll doing that commuting thing again.

“I’ll be around,” he said with conviction, he said, noting that’s not certain how long he will continue those living arrangements in Brookfield. “One way or another, I’ll be around.”

And while his work and that of his team at MSB has been somewhat different because of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as handling PPP loan applications, the basic formula hasn’t changed, he said, meaning Monson continues to fill the many roles of a community bank — and continues to search for new growth opportunities in a heavily banked region.

“In spite of COVID, we’ve moving forward, and we’re looking to the future,” he told BusinessWest, noting that the institution recently opened a new branch in East Longmeadow. “We’re trying to build an organization that is resilient enough to withstand not only this but anything else that might happen.”

While working to build this organization, Lowell is transitioning into his new role as chairman, one that will translate into a good deal of mentoring and also helping to guide the bank through a period that will likely be much more difficult than the one it just went through.

“I think 2021 is going to be an extremely challenging year, so I’m happy to stay involved and lend whatever expertise I can to them to make sure we keep things going in a really positive way,” he said. “I’m excited about that; I’m honored that they thought that this would be helpful, and I’m looking forward to it; I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Meanwhile, as noted earlier, he will continue a career-long pattern of being heavily involved in the community, work that has involved nonprofits and institutions ranging from the United Way of Pioneer Valley to Link to Libraries; Baystate Health’s Eastern Region (Wing Memorial and Mary Lane hospitals) to the Western Mass. Economic Development Council (EDC).

“They’ve asked me to stay on for another year as chairman of the board of the Baystate Health Eastern Region,” he said. “And I just got asked by Rick Sullivan [president and CEO of the EDC] to continue on as treasurer — he said, ‘even though you’re going to be down on the Cape, can you stay on as treasurer?’ And I said, ‘as long as you’ll have me.’”

That request, and his answer in the affirmative, both speak to why Lowell is a member of this Difference Makers class of 2020. He’s almost always said ‘yes’ when asked to serve, and, more importantly, he usually didn’t wait to be asked.

He noted that, as he was arriving in this region in the late spring of 2011, the region — and Main Street in Monson — were hit, and hit hard, by a tornado. And as he’s retiring — at least from his role as president and CEO — the world, and Main Street in Monson, are being hit, and hit hard, by a pandemic.

“People might be happy to see me go,” he joked.

That’s certainly not the case. Even more to the point, he won’t be going anywhere soon, except for that commute he knows all too well.

—George O’Brien

Ronn Johnson

By
Features

Meeting Community Needs Has Become Even More Critical During a Difficult Year

Ronn Johnson has spent a lifetime improving the neighborhood of his youth — and impacting lives far beyond it.
(Photo by Leah Martin Photography)

When times got tougher for struggling families back in March, they appreciated any resources they could access, from emergency food supplies to educational assistance to … lotion?

“With children being home every day, parents were super stressed, and they needed a way to manage it all,” said Ronn Johnson, president and CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services Inc. in Springfield.

“We said, ‘let’s deliver pampering products to these women — lotions, bath oils, shower gels, facial scrubs — things they can use to pamper themselves with on occasion, once the children are down,” he told BusinessWest earlier this month. “With the response we got, it was like we’d given them a pot of gold — they said, ‘these are things I’ve never been able to get for myself.’”

Those items were complemented by deliveries of hard-to-find cleaning supplies and paper products. But they certainly didn’t replace the bread-and-butter services of the organization, from educational resources to healthy-food access.

The pandemic, in fact, only laid bare a growing need for such services — and new ways of delivering them.

“It was a tremendous challenge to pivot on a dime. We’ve had to restructure ourselves from being an after-school resource to being a remote-learning center,” Johnson said, noting that the organization serves many economically disadvantaged families that need extracurricular support and don’t want to have to choose between their kids and making a living. “Work is important to them, but their child’s education is also important. We’re one of the resources in the community trying to be responsive to the needs of children.”

The center has also expanded its emergency-food program, serving up to 400 people weekly. Even so, pantry volunteers weren’t seeing some of the faces they expected to see — mainly older people — and learned these regulars were staying at home because of fears for their health.

So Johnson talked to community partners, in particular Baystate Health, which helped procure a cargo van to deliver food to homes. The volunteer-driven delivery program began with about 10 recipients and now visits some 65 elderly, sick, and shut-in individuals every week.

Johnson’s work with MLK Family Services — the latest stop in a career dedicated to his community — is one reason he was chosen as a Difference Maker, along with his work with the Brianna Fund, named for his daughter, which has raised more than $750,000 over 22 years and helped 50 children with physical limitations access tools to improve their lives.

But he stresses that he can’t do his job alone. To serve 750 different people each week with after-school programs, college courses, family support, public-health outreach, sports programs, cultural activities, and more — with only about $1.6 million in annual funding — he relies not only on his team, but more than 100 volunteers.

They worked together to open summer camp this year, he noted. “That was well-thought-out; we assured we had all the safe distancing and PPE, and we made it work, with no incidents of the virus spreading. It was a real benefit to both children and their parents, to provide meaningful activities for them eight hours a day.”

Community members stepped up this spring and summer in other ways as well. For example, a woman came by in late March to donate a new laptop to the center, along with funds to distribute items like coloring books, flash cards, notebooks, crayons, and markers so kids could occupy themselves when holing up at home became the new normal.

Johnson also credited the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts for its financial support of the center, as well as donations that came in after Common Wealth Murals and Art for the Soul Gallery drew attention to the center in June with a mural, called “Say Their Names,” honoring individuals killed by police violence.

He’s equally gratified that people are talking.

“It’s been heartwarming and affirming that our white neighbors and other community members have extended their support to us, not only financially, but they’re looking to be engaged in conversations,” he said. “So many families from the suburbs and the hilltowns came to Mason Square to show their children this mural.”

It’s a conversation being held back on the national level by leaders who refuse to engage in these issues and create positive momentum, he added. Yet, he’s encouraged by young people of all races who are energized by fighting for social justice.

“That is very encouraging,” he said. “We need to build bridges to understanding and have it happen in a more global way than just these pockets of support.”

In the meantime, he’ll keep building bridges locally, and making a difference for families whose needs go much deeper than lotion.

But a little pampering never hurt.

—Joseph Bednar

Elms College Climbs U.S. News List of ‘Top Performers on Social Mobility’

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — Elms College improved its ranking by 30 spots on U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 list of “Top Performers on Social Mobility” in the northern U.S. region.

The list ranks schools for enrolling and graduating large proportions of students who have received federal Pell Grants. Elms College improved its ranking dramatically, moving to seventh among 89 regional universities in the region, up from 37th in 2020.

“This tremendous jump in the social-mobility rankings is an exceptional affirmation of our efforts to make a Catholic liberal-arts education accessible to students from all backgrounds,” Elms College President Harry Dumay said. “It further demonstrates Elms’ commitment to support our students from their first-year seminar all the way to commencement.”

On U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 list of “Best Regional Universities,” Elms College retains its ranking in the top 55% among 176 other colleges and universities in the northern U.S. region.

U.S. News ranks Elms College as a university because of changes to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education’s basic classification system and the number of graduate programs Elms offers. The Carnegie categories are the accepted standard in U.S. higher education.

The U.S. News “Best Colleges” rankings are designed to help students and their families find colleges that offer the best academic value for their money. The list provides at-a-glance breakdowns of each institution and ranks them based on such indicators of excellence including value and first-year student retention rate. The full rankings are viewable at www.usnews.com/colleges.

STCC Offers Flexible Option to Start Classes on Oct. 28

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College’s (STCC) traditional fall semester typically begins right after Labor Day, but STCC is also offering flexible options for prospective students.

The college is accepting applications for Fall Flex Term 2, which runs Oct. 28 to Dec. 16. The condensed, seven-week term includes classes from a range of academic disciplines at STCC, including general-studies classes that can be used to transfer to a four-year college or university. STCC has several dozen transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities.

Regardless of the start time this fall, STCC will offer online classes with a mix of low-density, on-campus labs for health, science, and technical programs. The online format allows students to complete coursework any time of the day on their computer. Some class meetings will be scheduled live using videoconferencing.

The October Flex Term start at STCC could be an ideal option for students who had planned to enroll at a four-year institution during the COVID-19 pandemic but decided to stay local, said Geraldine de Berly, vice president of Academic Affairs at STCC.

The Flex Term also can be helpful for anyone who is juggling work and childcare, or for parents whose school-age children are studying from home during the pandemic, de Berly said. “We know that starting the semester in September is not always possible for any number of reasons, so the October start date offers flexibility. Additionally, students can take fewer courses during the session. Some students might do better focusing on two classes in a semester instead of four.”

Fall Flex Term 2 is also open to students who are currently enrolled at STCC who may want to increase their course load. A wide range of online courses will be offered, including accounting, biology, criminal justice, English, history, math, psychology, sociology, and Spanish language, among others.

The majority of three-credit courses at STCC cost $771, a savings of 50% or more versus other campuses. Financial aid is available. Students should apply for admission, in addition to the FAFSA, by Oct. 14 to qualify.

To see the full schedule of classes and to enroll for the fall, visit stcc.edu/flexterms. To apply, visit stcc.edu/apply. Questions may be directed to STCC Admissions at (413) 755-3333, or click the ‘Chat Now’ button at stcc.edu.

Judith Roberts Appointed to Greenfield Community College Board of Trustees

By
Daily News

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College recently welcomed Judith Roberts, executive drector of the Literacy Project, to serve its board of trustees. Elected by her peers as the alumni representative, she was officially appointed to the board by Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this month.

A single mother, Roberts came to GCC in her early 30s, when her youngest child was just 1 year old. After graduating from GCC in 1995, she went to Smith College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree with honors. From there she went on to Harvard University, where she received her master’s degree in community-based education and a certificate in nonprofit management. She later returned to Franklin County to become executive director of the Literacy Project, a Greenfield-based nonprofit offering free classes to adults across Western Mass. in basic skills, high-school equivalency, and college and career readiness.

“I’m proud and pleased to serve my fellow GCC alumni on the board,” Roberts said. “I very much believe in community college and the access to education that Greenfield Community College provides. I was able to climb the ladder to success by virtue of entering this school. My hope is to use my position on the board to share the opportunities that GCC has to offer even more widely.”

Roberts’ direct experience with the school and pay-it-forward approach make her a strong addition to the board of trustees, said GCC president Yves Salomon-Fernandez. “She has walked in the shoes of a non-traditional student and was a single mother who began her academic degree later in life at GCC. She went from our rigorous little college to achieve a graduate degree at Harvard University. Judith’s personal journey is both compelling and exemplary. We are delighted to welcome her to the board.”

MHA Takes Suicide-prevention Message to the Streets

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The statistics are sobering. Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S., with 132 suicides per day on average.

However “suicide is preventable when people start talking,” said Jennifer Kelliher, managing director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP). “Every September, we highlight this message through National Suicide Prevention Week — although it is important that our work and our message continue year-round. Community awareness and breaking the silence with public-service announcements and messages, such as the mobile message board sponsored by the Mental Health Association [MHA], and those available on MCSP’s social media, can help people understand how important it is to start a conversation, either when they are concerned about someone they care about or when they are struggling themselves. We need to break the silence around suicide — in September, but also year-round.”

MHA and its partners at the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention and the Pioneer Valley Coalition for Suicide Prevention are encouraging conversations that can help to prevent suicide — a national health problem that currently ranks as the second-leading cause of death for ages 10 to 24.

On Sept. 9, a press conference was held at MHA’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic, BestLife, which featured speakers from MHA and the Pioneer Valley Coalition for Suicide Prevention, to introduce a unique and highly visible medium to assist in efforts to deliver suicide-prevention messaging throughout Hampden County.

For the next several weeks, the Stand Out Truck will be visible throughout Hampden County. During the entire month of September and first week of October, messaging will be delivered during the morning and evening commute and as well on weekends. This electronic mobile billboard will deliver messages like “conversations can save lives,” “we hear you,” and “let’s talk it out,” among others, to thousands of Hampden County residents. The headlines were created by O’Brien Advertising to encourage conversations about mental health. Messages are in Spanish as well.

“It’s important to reach people who are having thoughts of suicide or prior to these thoughts wherever possible,” said Sara Kendall, vice president of Clinical Operations for MHA. “Through BestLife, MHA’s outpatient center for emotional health and wellness, people who are anxious, depressed, afraid, or at risk of hurting themselves can talk with someone who cares, who listens, and who can help connect them with supports to assist. BestLife opened in Springfield in 2019, and in a little over a year, we have had conversations with more than 500 individuals in this community — people ready to start talking about their anxiety, their depression, their fears, and thoughts of suicide.

“COVID has certainly added an additional layer of stress,” she added. “More than ever, people are feeling distressed, isolated, frustrated, and confused. So we invite members of the community to join us for a conversation. Whether that conversation happens in person, with appropriate social distancing, or whether it happens virtually using MHA’s TeleWell app to connect interested persons with a licensed MHA counselor, we are ready to start talking. We are ready to listen. We are ready to help by helping people live their best life.”

Anyone who is thinking about suicide or is worried about a friend or loved one can access the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 for immediate, free, confidential support for people in distress. The Lifeline network is available 24/7 and connects callers with local resources and supports.

BusinessTalk with Peter DePergola

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Business Talk Podcast

We are excited to announce that BusinessWest, in partnership with Living Local, has launched a new podcast series, BusinessTalk. Each episode will feature in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders, providing thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachuetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running during these challenging times

Episode 27: Sept. 14, 2020

George Interviews Peter DePergola, Director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health

Peter A. DePergola II

George interviews Peter DePergola, Director of Clinical Ethics at Baystate Health and one of BusinessWest’s 2020 Alumni Achievement Award finalists. When he joined the other members of the 40 Under Forty class of 2015, he was a staff ethicist at Baystate and the only person to hold that title in Western Mass. Now a professor of Bioethics and Medical Humanities at Elms College, he’s still the only ethicist in the 413, but his influence now extends well beyond this region.

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Greenfield Savings Bank Promotes Anna Zadworny

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Daily News

GREENFIELD — Anna Zadworny has been promoted to assistant vice president and training and staffing manager at Greenfield Savings Bank.

In her new position, she will be responsible for facilitating one-on-one and classroom training for employees with a focus on enhancing employee development, including product knowledge, internal systems training, and compliance course oversight. She will also be responsible for maintaining appropriate levels of staffing in all offices and will assist in maintaining vendor relationships, record keeping, and training budget oversight. In addition to her training role, she coordinates and oversees the external audit process.

Zadworny began her career in the banking industry in 1990, and she joined Greenfield Savings Bank in 2012 as manager of its Northampton office. In 2016, she was promoted to office manager of the South Deerfield office, and in 2019, she was promoted to assistant vice president and office manager of the Greenfield office.

She earned an associate degree in business management from Holyoke Community College and is currently pursuing a business management degree with a minor in leadership from Bay Path University. She graduated with honors from Babson College in the financial studies program.

Zadworny is an active community volunteer at a wide range of local events and serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County and as assistant treasurer of the Salvation Army of Hampshire County. She is also a volunteer for the United Way of Hampshire County.

River East School-to-Career Announces New Partnership Director

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Daily News

PALMER — River East School-to-Career Inc. (RESTC) announced the appointment of Amy Scribner as its new partnership director. She replaces Loretta Dansereau, who retired in August after more than 16 years of service to the organization.

River East School-to-Career is a business and education partnership under the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The organization’s mission is to help students gain work experience, build employability skills, and explore career options to prepare them for their future careers.

“Amy’s experience, as well as her passion for our organization, is why we truly believe she is the right person to lead the organization into the future,” said Dodie Carpentier, president of the board of directors. “She will serve well in filling the very big shoes of Loretta, who brought our organization and initiatives to a higher level during her tenure at River East School-to-Career.”

Throughout her career, Scribner has worked in banking, marketing, and education, and has served in various roles at RESTC since 2010, volunteering, serving on the executive committee, and taking on the role of business development. Scribner holds a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from UMass Amherst and a master’s degree in leadership and negotiation from Bay Path University.

“I am honored to join River East School-to-Career and begin to collaborate with the career facilitators to help students make informed decisions regarding their education and career goals through work-based learning/internship opportunities, co-op placements, career days, and work-readiness workshops,” Scribner said. “I also look forward to bringing together students, businesses, and organizations in Hampden and Hampshire counties and providing the opportunity to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills they’ll need to secure their futures and the futures of the communities in which they live.”

Norcom Mortgage Welcomes April Healey

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Daily News

AVON, Conn. — Norcom Mortgage announced the addition of one of Franklin County’s top mortgage originators, April Healey.

Healey has consistently been ranked in the top three of Banker & Tradesman’s monthly list of mortgage originators in Franklin County.

“We are excited to add Ms. Healey to our mortgage-lending team,” Executive Vice President James Morin said. “Her vast knowledge of the various mortgage products allows her to provide more options to customers.”

Miranda Ronke-Czarniecki, loan manager, added that “April has a reputation for finding solutions for her customers. She is an invaluable resource for consumers.”

Prior to becoming a mortgage officer in 2012, Healey was a real-estate agent for 12 years. Her experience as a real-estate agent and understanding of the process from beginning to end has helped to make her a better mortgage officer.

“My experience as a real-estate agent has proven useful as a mortgage officer,” Healey said. “There are many moving parts that have the potential to complicate a real-estate transaction. I know what questions to ask my customers and their agents to ensure the mortgage approvals are seamless. My number-one goal is my customer’s number-one goal.”

Collaboration Between UMass Amherst, IntelliVen Supports Lifelong Learning

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Daily News

AMHERST — UMass Amherst announced a new collaboration with IntelliVen, a leading executive-team-development organization, to provide interactive remote-learning programs designed to raise the performance and effectiveness of leadership teams.

IntelliVen offers immersive programs designed to help an organization’s core leadership team tackle the unique challenges of managing a growing organization, especially in today’s turbulent markets. IntelliVen’s proprietary set of course modules enables an interactive, remote learning experience that leaders take along with their teams to unlock their true potential to perform and grow.

“IntelliVen teaches leaders, teams, and organizations to set direction, achieve team alignment, implement strategy, and make the change they want to grow faster and perform better,” said Peter DiGiammarino, managing partner.

Members of the university community will receive a discount on the standard price of IntelliVen’s leadership-development immersion programs.

“Education is a journey, not a destination. In fact, we view it as a lifelong journey, not something that ends when a person receives a college degree,” said John Wells, senior vice provost at UMass Amherst. “That’s why partnerships like this are so important. They provide affordable, convenient access to our students and alumni interested in continuous, lifelong learning.”

Community Foundation Welcomes Four New Staff Members

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) announced four new staff members, filling philanthropic and program support roles at the organization. Bianca Walker has been hired as philanthropic officer, Nikai Fondon has been hired as donor engagement coordinator, Anastasia Dildin has been hired as grants assistant, and Sophie Kanetani has been hired as scholarship program associate.

Walker and Fondon will help deepen and broaden the organization’s fundraising and connection with donors. Walker has worked in the nonprofit field for the past 15 years, most recently as senior Development officer at the regional Alzheimer’s Assoc. office. She developed a strong sense of devotion to, and appreciation for, the nonprofit field through her experiences as an annual youth employee with a summer work program at Data Institute. She is currently attending Bay Path University, pursuing a degree in nonprofit management.

Fondon previously served the Community Foundation for three years in the role of scholarship associate, and is bringing her knowledge of the younger community to her new role. A recent graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, Fondon has a strong passion for women’s empowerment, leadership, and education, and, in her words, chooses to use her position in society “to uplift and encourage others of all backgrounds to become better versions of themselves.”

Dildin will support the foundation’s programs team with database management and other administrative support. After graduating in 2018 from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in statistics, she served one year with AmeriCorps as a data analyst and mentor program manager at Grace Academy, a Hartford school dedicated to fighting poverty through education. She is currently enrolled in Central Connecticut State University’s geography graduate program.

Kanetani, who will support CFWM’s scholarship program as the new scholarship associate, is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College.

WSU to Host Virtual Information Session for Master of Social Work Program

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Daily News

WESTFIELD — Westfield State University’s (WSU) College of Graduate and Continuing Education (CGCE) will host a virtual information session for the master of social work program on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. on Zoom.

The program, one of only four located in Western Mass., is also offered at the YWCA at Salem Square in Worcester.

The master of social work (MSW) program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and prepares students to become licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) and to work in a variety of positions in the human-services field. The program aims to prepare advanced-level social-work practitioners who have specialized knowledge and skills for clinical practice, based on a firm generalist foundation.

“The MSW program at Westfield State University provides students with a competitive, accessible, and affordable social-work education,” program Director Maria del Mar Farinam said. “As future social-work professionals, students will be exceptionally well-prepared to meet the increasingly complex needs of the diverse communities served by our profession.”

With full- or part-time options — and the consistency of having all of one’s classes on Monday and Thursday evenings — the MSW program offers flexibility and affordability.

Information-session attendees will have an opportunity to speak with faculty and members of the outreach team about the program and its application process. The $50 application fee will be waived for all attendees. To RSVP, visit www.gobacknow.com. For more information, call (413) 572-8020 or e-mail [email protected].

Local Bus Company First to Use New Disinfectant System

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Daily News

GILL — F.M. Kuzmeskus Inc., a family-owned school transportation provider since 1925, is the first and only transportation company in the country to use a new system designed specifically for disinfecting buses.

At the height of the COVID-19 crisis in early 2020, the bus company approached Bete Fog Nozzle Inc. in Greenfield about developing a system which would quickly, consistently, and accurately apply an EPA- and CDC-approved disinfecting agent to the interior environment of each of its more than 100 school buses.

Working closely with Ted Toothaker, systems engineer at Bete Fog Nozzle, testing and development began in early May.

Currently, the system is in use in all chool buses servicing F.M. Kuzmeskus’ Windham Southeast Supervisory Union contract, in Southern Vermont. Once in-school learning resumes in the other districts served by F.M. Kuzmeskus — including more than a dozen schools in Western Mass. — those buses, too, will equipped to provide this state-of-the-art extra level of protection to all of its student passengers.

The system, dubbed Bete FastPASS (public area spray system), ends the need for manual spraying and was specifically designed to eliminate human error. Using high-pressure nozzles and air compressors, two buses are treated in just three minutes. Each bus is treated twice a day.

Dr. John Rousou Joins Board of Trustees at American International College

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dr. John Rousou has joined the board of trustees at American International College (AIC). In a career dedicated to cardiothoracic surgery, Rousou was chief of the Cardiac Surgery division at Baystate Medical Center until his retirement in 2018.

Graduating with an undergraduate degree in biology from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, Rousou received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut Medical School in 1970. Following an internship at the university, he relocated to the U.S., completing a residency in general surgery at the University of Rochester in New York, and a residency in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, where he was also an instructor.

Rousou and his associate, Dr. Richard Engelman, initiated the Cardiac Surgery program at Baystate Medical Center in 1978. He served as chief of the division from 2001 until his retirement. Combined with his responsibilities at Baystate Medical Center, Rousou served as assistant professor of Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine and assistant clinical professor of Surgery at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

In addition to the boards of Surgery and Thoracic Surgery, Rousou was a member of the American Heart Assoc., the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Hampden County Medical Society, and the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery. He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American Assoc. for Thoracic Surgery, and is a fellow with the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Chest Surgeons. He had multi-year affiliations with the International Cardiovascular Society, the International Society for Artificial Organs, and the International Society for Heart Transplantation.

Rousou and his wife, Maria, have three adult children Dr. Anthony Rousou, a cardiac surgeon practicing at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield; Dr. Laki Rousou, a thoracic surgeon at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield; and Zachary Rousou, an architect practicing at a firm in Manhattan, N.Y.

Josie Brown Appointed Interim Dean of WNEU College of Arts & Sciences

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Josie Brown has been named interim dean of the Western New England University (WNEU) College of Arts & Sciences.

“Dr. Brown stood out to me for her passion and compassion — that is, her unquestioned loyalty and commitment to Western New England University and her abiding devotion to the well-being of our students,” said Curt Hamakawa, acting university provost. “Over her 18-year tenure at Western New England University, Dr. Brown has earned the admiration, respect, and support of her peers and colleagues, as well as the legions of students who have graced our campus over this period.”

Brown joined the College of Arts & Sciences faculty in 2003, most recently serving as assistant dean for Arts and Sciences; professor of African-American, Caribbean, and Black Literatures; and student advisor, as well as the Study Abroad assistant director.

As an undergraduate, Brown double-majored in English and African-American Studies at Bates College. She then went on to pursue a master’s degree in English at Queens College in New York. Brown earned her Ph.D. in English from Stony Brook University with a concentration in African-American, Caribbean, and Post-colonial Literatures. In September 2019, she was honored by the African American Female Professors Award Assoc.

“Dr. Josie Brown is a scholar of many talents. She is an outstanding teacher, an authority in Caribbean literatures, a superb higher-education administrator, and an expert and a leader in diversity,” said Saeed Ghahramani, who will be rejoining the university’s College of Arts & Sciences faculty, where he previously served as dean since 2000.

Bacon Wilson Announces Katharine Shove as New Associate

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson announced that attorney Katharine Shove has joined the firm as an associate and a member of the firm’s litigation team. She will practice primarily from Bacon Wilson’s offices in Springfield and Northampton.

Prior to joining Bacon Wilson, Shove served as a clerk for the Massachusetts Appeals Court. She attended Western New England University School of Law, where she served as the senior articles editor for the Western New England Law Review. She earned her juris doctor degree magna cum laude in 2019, and earned her bachelor’s degree from Utica College in 2015.

STCC Schedules Hackathon-like Virtual Event on Sept. 11

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The STEM Starter Academy at Springfield Technical Community College invites STCC students to participate in a hackathon-like virtual event on Friday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Students will work in teams through the Zoom videoconferencing platform to create a solution to a problem and present their findings for judging on Friday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon. This year’s theme is “Create for Student Success.” The event is open to STCC students, who should e-mail Reena Randhir, director of the STEM Starter Academy, at [email protected] to request registration and Zoom information.

Students will be taught skills such as app design, web design, gaming, and simulations on Sept. 11. Each team is expected to present their creative solution in a seven-minute PowerPoint presentation on Sept. 18. Students will receive a certificate and stipend upon successful completion. Winning team members will receive awards.

The goal of the STEM Starter Academy is to improve awareness among, recruit, prepare, retain, and graduate more students in science, technology, engineering, and math majors and pathways.

Girls on the Run Launches Fall Season with Several Program Options

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Girls on the Run (GOTR) Western Massachusetts is launching its sixth fall season beginning next week. GOTR is a leader in delivering evidence-based life-skills curriculum to girls of all abilities. Through more than 75 sites across the Western Mass. region, it has served more than 5,400 youth since it was founded in 2015.

For the 2020-21 school year, GOTR Western Massachusetts is offering a variety of programs to accommodate the changing and unpredictable school year due to the pandemic. Registration for the season is open at www.girlsontherunwesternma.org. Financial assistance is available to all participants, and no one is turned away for financial need.

“Our staff and coaches are ready to bring critical social-emotional programming to Western Mass. girls at a time when they need it the most,” said Alison Berman, council director. “We have adapted based on the recommendations of local health officials and decisions of local governments and school districts. The three options that we are offering — in-person, hybrid, and virtual — make it possible for girls to stay active despite the pandemic. Our fluid model will work completely in-person, completely virtually, or can seamlessly transition between the two as needed.”

GOTR programming is being delivered, as in the past, with enhanced safety measures including physical-distancing modifications and smaller teams. Should sites close, the in-person programs will be easily transitioned to a virtual model, with lessons that mirror the in-person program. This fluid programming model ensures that participants will experience the social, emotional, and physical outcomes of the program while allowing local teams to adjust to changes in school and community health guidelines throughout the season.

Virtual programming is also available for families who would prefer that option. Virtual fall programming is delivered by trained coaches in a safe virtual space, with lessons that mirror the in-person Girls on the Run or Heart & Sole program. Virtual programming will include physical activity and social-emotional learning, providing girls with an opportunity to build meaningful connections with their peers and caring adult role models.

“Together, we will find a way to motivate girls to nurture their physical and emotional health, no matter the circumstances,” Berman said.

Girls on the Run is looking for a few more volunteers for their fall season. Volunteer coaches will receive the training and materials required to provide girls a safe, trauma-sensitive space to learn valuable life lessons and be active. Coaches do not need to be runners.

BusinessTalk with Samalid Hogan

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Business Talk Podcast

We are excited to announce that BusinessWest, in partnership with Living Local, has launched a new podcast series, BusinessTalk. Each episode will feature in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders, providing thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachuetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running during these challenging times

Episode 26: Sept. 9, 2020

Thom Fox interviews Samalid Hogan, Regional Director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC)

Thom Fox interviews Samalid Hogan, Regional Director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC).  The MSBDC provides free and confidential one-to-one business advice.  COVID-19 has created a tremendous amount of challenge throughout the business community, and the MSBDC have been on the forefront of lending support. Along with helping business owners navigate the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Small Business Association (SBA) Disaster Assistance Program,  Samalid and her team have also launched an informative webinar series and built a comprehensive listing of area Business Resources.  

Sponsored by:

Monson Savings Bank logo

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Employer Confidence Inches Higher During August

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Daily News

BOSTON — Confidence among Massachusetts employers rose slightly during August amid continued uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term effect on the state and national economies.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose a half-point to 46.3, resuming an uneven climb from its 2020 low of 38.4 at the height of the pandemic in April.

The reading was 12.4 points lower than in August 2019 and continued to indicate a predominantly pessimistic outlook among businesses throughout the Commonwealth.

The Index has moved in a volatile pattern since suffering the largest one-time decline in its history during March. Employer sentiment has been constrained by a 16.1% Massachusetts unemployment rate that is the highest in the nation, along with persistent weakness in key economic sectors such as healthcare and education.

“The good news is that employers are showing increased confidence in the prospects of their own companies. The sobering news is that recent announcements of major layoffs by healthcare, higher-education, and hospitality organizations in Massachusetts leave little doubt about the challenges of getting the state economy back on track,” said Raymond Torto, professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and chair of the AIM Board of Economic Advisors (BEA).

One employer who participated in the survey noted that “the pandemic has shortened the time horizon for evaluating business prospects. The environment changes so quickly that it’s hard to project conditions six months out.”

The AIM Index, based on a survey of more than 140 Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative.

The constituent indicators that make up the Business Confidence Index were mostly higher during August. Employers’ confidence in their own companies rose 1.4 points to 49.0, one point shy of an optimistic reading but still 9.2 points lower than in August 2019.

The Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth lost 2.7 points to 46.1 as rising COVID-19 cases in early August prompted a pause in a planned four-phase economic reopening. The Massachusetts Index remains 17.8 points lower than a year ago.

The state’s payroll employment in July was 12.6% below its February 2020 level — the third-worst performance after Hawaii (down 16.5%) and New York (down 14.2%).

The U.S. Index measuring conditions nationally ended the month at 38.4, a 1.2-point gain for the month and a 16.8-point loss for the year. The gap between attitudes toward Massachusetts and the nation shrank from 12 points in July — the largest in a decade — to eight points last month.

The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, rose 2.9 points to 44.9, while the Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, dropped 1.9 points to 47.7. The Employment Index increased slightly, 0.2 points to 47.9, while the Sales Index, a leading indicator, rose 2.2 points to 44.8.

Large companies (47.8) were more optimistic than medium-sized companies (46.1) or small companies (45.0). Also driving confidence levels was the degree to which different industries have been able to reopen under the Massachusetts plan. Manufacturing companies (46.8), many of which have operated throughout the pandemic as essential businesses, remained more confident than non-manufacturers (45.9). And companies in manufacturing-heavy Western Mass. (48.9) were more upbeat than those in Eastern Mass. (44.2).

“There is a clear disparity by industry in the effects of the economic downturn,” said Michael Tyler, chief investment officer at Eastern Bank Wealth Management and a BEA member. “Recent layoff announcements by UMass Amherst, Cape Cod Healthcare, MGM, and several tourist destinations in the Berkshires draw a clear map of which types of organizations are being most immediately affected.”

AIM President and CEO John Regan, also a BEA member, said the end of August brought encouraging public-health news as the positive COVID-19 test rate in Massachusetts fell below 1%.

“We have said all along that resolving our economic issues and putting people back to work depends upon the ability of the medical community and the government to manage the public-health issue,” Regan said. “Several AIM-member pharmaceutical companies are among those engaged in an extraordinary race to develop COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. The clarity brought about by those advances will eventually be the medicine that also heals the state and national economies.”

Empower Retirement to Acquire Retirement-plan Business of MassMutual

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Empower Retirement and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Empower to acquire the MassMutual retirement-plan business. The acquisition will capitalize on both firms’ expertise, provide technological excellence and deep product capabilities, and create scale to the benefit of retirement-plan participants and their employers.

Based on the terms of the agreement and subject to regulatory approvals, Empower will acquire the retirement-plan business of MassMutual in a reinsurance transaction for a ceding commission of $2.35 billion. In addition, the balance sheet of the transferred business would be supported by $1 billion of required capital when combined with Empower’s existing U.S. business.

The MassMutual retirement-plan business comprises 26,000 workplace savings plans through which approximately 2.5 million participants have saved $167 billion in assets. It also includes approximately 2,000 employees affiliated with MassMutual’s retirement-plan business who provide a full range of support services for financial professionals, plan sponsors, and participants.

“Empower is taking the next step toward addressing the complex and evolving needs of millions of workers and retirees through the combination of expertise, talent, and business scale being created,” said Edmund Murphy III, president and CEO of Empower Retirement. “Together, Empower and MassMutual connect a broad spectrum of strength and experience with a shared focus on the customer. We are excited about the opportunity to reach new customers and serve even more Americans on their journey toward creating a secure retirement.”

The transaction, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020 pending customary regulatory approvals, will increase Empower’s participant base to more than 12.2 million and retirement-services record-keeping assets to approximately $834 billion administered in approximately 67,000 workplace savings plans.

“In Empower, we are pleased to have found a strong, long-term home for MassMutual’s retirement-plan business, and believe this transaction will greatly benefit our policy owners and customers as we invest in our future growth and accelerate progress on our strategy,” said Roger Crandall, MassMutual chairman, president, and CEO. “This includes strengthening our leading position in the U.S. protection and accumulation industry by expanding our wealth-management and distribution capabilities; investing in our global asset-management, insurance, and institutional businesses; and delivering a seamless digital experience — all to help millions more secure their future and protect the ones they love.”

The combined firm will serve retirement plans sponsored by a broad spectrum of employers. These include mega, large, mid-size, and small corporate 401(k) plans; government plans ranging in scale from state-level plans to municipal agencies; not-for-profits such as hospital and religious-organization 403(b) plans; and collectively bargained Taft-Hartley plans. The transaction will also bring MassMutual’s defined-benefit business under the umbrella of plans Empower serves.

Empower and MassMutual intend to enter into a strategic partnership through which digital insurance products offered by Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC3, and MassMutual’s voluntary insurance and lifetime income products will be made available to customers of Empower Retirement and Personal Capital.

STCC Offers High-school Equivalency Class with Medical Science Focus

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — This fall, for the first time, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will offer a course that helps students get their high-school equivalency diploma while introducing them to the field of medical science.

Offered through the Springfield Adult Learning Center at STCC, the class, called “HiSET to Medical Sciences,” prepares students for the high-school equivalency test (HiSET). At the same time, students will learn medical terminology. The class will be offered in three sessions this year, with the first beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23. To apply, visit the Adult Basic Education page at stcc.edu.

Katrina Doolittle, director of the Springfield Adult Learning Center, said “HiSET to Medical Sciences” might spark interest in a healthcare career or inspire students to continue taking college classes after earning a high-school equivalency diploma.

STCC offers an associate degree in health science, which provides the opportunity to explore specialty areas for a career in healthcare. The college also offers a number of specialized health programs, such as diagnostic medical sonography, dental hygiene, and nursing, among others.

“Our ‘HiSET to Medical Sciences’ class will give an introduction to medical science and help students get on the same level as those who are entering health-science programs at STCC,” Doolittle said. “They will be prepared when they take their next step and enroll at STCC. This is a terrific option for students who are highly motivated but don’t have their HiSET yet. I’m really excited about it.”

The Springfield Adult Learning Center is offering the new class in response to workforce demands, said Assistant Vice President of Workforce Development David Buonora.

“Healthcare is a key workforce area in Western Massachusetts, and the college remains committed to responding to the needs of the region’s employers,” he said. “We know that career opportunities in the healthcare sector will continue to grow over the next several years. We’re focused on finding new ways to prepare students for these careers.”

The class, which is free for eligible students, will be taught online. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, STCC will offer online classes with a mix of on-campus, low-density labs.

To apply or for more information, visit stcc.edu/explore/communityed/adult-learning. For questions, e-mail [email protected] or call (413) 755-4300.