Home 2021 (Page 26)

Year: 2021

Blue Sox, Starfires Ready to Kick Off Their Summer Seasons

By
Kate Avard says the Blue Sox have maintained strong relationships
Travel and Tourism

Play Ball!

Kate Avard says the Blue Sox have maintained strong relationships

Kate Avard says the Blue Sox have maintained strong relationships with programs that have delivered key players in its past few successful seasons.

Kate Avard first discovered the Valley Blue Sox as a summer intern with the club in 2016, while working toward degrees in sport management and kinesiology at UMass Amherst, and she was excited to return to the franchise as its general manager in 2020.

It wasn’t the experience she had hoped for, to say the least. But she’s happy to see the team finally taking the field in 2021.

“We didn’t get to play last year, and I think everyone across the league — players, staff, and interns — are all very excited to be able to play this season,” Avard told BusinessWest.

Last year’s lull particularly smarted for the Blue Sox, who were coming off three outstanding seasons — New England Collegiate Baseball League championships in 2017 and 2018 and a nailbiter loss in the division finals in 2019.

“We’ve gotten tons of interest from players wanting to get back out there for us,” she said. “The same thing with interns — we pull interns from across the U.S. Everyone wants to get back out on the field, and that goes for all the organizations in our league.”

Chris Thompson had a different pandemic experience last year. The co-founder of the Westfield Starfires was grateful that the Futures Collegiate Baseball League actually went through with a season, albeit one with strict pandemic protocols and limited fans. He, too, is looking forward to a more normal campaign in 2021.

“It’s an opportunity for kids to come together and kind of celebrate the social gathering once again.”

“We’re proud to be part of such an innovative and forward-thinking league,” he said. “In the last year, we were able to manage the intricacies of multiple states and municipalities to pull off a season — some of the only baseball played in North America. We’re pretty proud of that — of showcasing our team and being able to provide a safe, positive experience for fans at Bullens Field.”

In fact, the Futures league not only played last year, but managed to grow its footprint during the pandemic, welcoming two new teams, the Burlington (Vt.) Lake Monsters and the Norwich (Conn.) Sea Unicorns, into the fold, which speaks well of continued interest in baseball, Thompson noted. “We’ve been able to attract new ownership groups, which is really exciting for us.”

Despite the lost season of play last year, Avard said the Blue Sox’ director of Baseball Operations, John Raiola, was able to maintain relationships that have long fed Holyoke’s summer franchise. “He knows all the recruiting very well, so he was able to stay in contact with a lot of programs and schools that we’ve previously drawn from. We definitely didn’t go silent last year.”

Meanwhile, the Starfires have been in contact with college coaches around the country as well, Thompson said, though national recruiting is a little more difficult because Westfield is among many teams that have put host-family programs on hold during the pandemic. “Teams are taking a more local and regional roster approach for 2021.”

The Blue Sox, on the other hand, have continued to solicit host families to house the college players this summer.

“We rely on our host families to welcome them and show our players why Western Mass. is so great,” Avard said, while those players, in turn, help the team provide low-cost, family-friendly entertainment for local fans.

She added that the team is following all state health mandates for capacity and social distancing at MacKenzie Stadium — restrictions that were significantly loosened days before press time. Still, the park will be equipped with hand-washing and hand-sanitizer stations in a nod to the fact that the pandemic hasn’t gone away.

“It’s America’s pastime,” Thompson added. “We’re going to have a great atmosphere at Bullens Field. It’s an opportunity for kids to come together and kind of celebrate the social gathering once again, while following all the CDC protocols.”

The Starfires, which were named after a fighter jet once stationed at Barnes Air National Guard Base, will open the season with a new mascot, a black squirrel named Stanley Starfire, who shares a namesake with Stanley Park. “We continue to pay homage to the city of Westfield.”

Thompson is also excited about a partnership with Amherst Brewing Co., which created a new Starfires IPA for sale at the park and at the local Hangar Pub & Brewery. But he’s mostly excited about baseball. “The players are fired up and looking forward to getting back on the field.”

The two local collegiate teams — which both start play in the coming days and continue into August — aren’t the only options for fans, of course. The Hartford Yard Goats, the double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, still draw impressive crowds just down I-91 in Dunkin’ Donuts Park, while the Red Sox moved their triple-A affiliate to Worcester, where they recently kicked off play in Polar Park.

“I personally think baseball is integral to this area,” Avard said. “We have so many different teams in so many different levels, and I’ve seen so much support from the fans. People were reaching out to us in January, asking about the season, asking if we’d be back at MacKenzie.

“Baseball is one of the biggest sports around here,” she went on. “Everyone is so excited to be back on the field. As an outdoor activity, it’s a great way to start bringing things back to normal this summer.”

 

—Joseph Bednar

The ‘Bike Man’ Continues to Broaden His Mission to Give Back

By
Just some of the thousands of bikes waiting to be repaired and prepared for delivery to children
Nonprofit Management

Taking Things to a Higher Gear

Bob Charland

Bob Charland

 

While providing BusinessWest a tour of the facilities that were once home to the makers of Absorbine Jr., Bob Charland stopped at the top of the stairs leading to the huge basement.

“You want to see what 2,000 bikes looks like … there you go,” he said, gesturing with his hand toward a room absolutely crammed with bicycles of every color, size, and shape imaginable. “And that’s just a fraction of what we have here.”

Indeed, on the other side of a wall that divides the basement are probably another 1,000 bikes, he said, adding that more are stored in a facility in Palmer and still more in a trailer. Meanwhile, in other parts of the massive home for the nonprofit known as Pedal Thru Youth, several hundred bikes are in various stages of being ready for delivery to various constituencies, including 200 that are ready for delivery to working homeless individuals in Hartford.

These rooms filled with bikes go a long way toward telling the story of this unique individual known to most as simply “the Bike Man” and the nonprofit he created four years ago. But there is much more to that story as well, as his tour makes clear.

“There’s nothing in the stores; I was in a bike shop the other day, and there were maybe four bikes there, and these were the high-end models that sell for a few thousand dollars.”

There are also large supplies of clothes for the needy here, as well as backpacks filled with health supplies bound for the homeless, wheelchairs being retrofitted, and bicycles customized for those with special needs.

There’s also a bedroom that Charland adjourns to when he’s working very late (which happens often) and is simply too tired to drive home — which happens “once in a while.”

Collectively, the stops on the tour tell of the mission and the inestimable energy and passion that Charland brings to his work, which has certainly evolved since he launched Pedal Thru Youth and evolved even further in the wake of the pandemic.

 

Changing Lanes

Indeed, when COVID-19 shut down schools (to which this agency provides a large number of bikes), the economy in general, and non-essential businesses and nonprofits, Charland shifted to making cloth masks and distributing them to police departments and other destinations.

“I was bored,” he said when recalling those first few weeks after COVID arrived. “I know how to sew, so I started sewing face masks at home with my stepson. We then started putting the masks, hand sanitizer, and gloves in backpacks and handing them out to police departments, because those departments certainly weren’t ready for COVID — they didn’t have enough supplies.”

Just some of the thousands of bikes waiting to be repaired and prepared for delivery to children

Just some of the thousands of bikes waiting to be repaired and prepared for delivery to children, veterans, and other constituencies at the headquarters for Pedal Thru Youth in Springfield.

The story went viral on social media, and People magazine published a piece that caught the attention of Samsonite, which sent Charland some industrial sewing machines, fabric, and elastic so he could ramp up production of masks.

“We ended up having nine sewing machines out in the community,” he said, adding that he soon had more than 100 masks coming his way each day that he started distributing to senior centers, nursing homes, and a host of police departments.

Because of that initiative, Charland’s agency was deemed essential. And soon, most of the focus was back on bikes and other, more traditional aspects of its mission. But there was some pivoting as well.

With schools closed, many of the donations of bicycles shifted to the homeless and veterans groups, he noted, adding that he also teamed up with the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation to bring food to veterans’ organizations.

Getting back to bicycles … this is still the primary mission of Pedal Thru Youth, and the work of repairing and readying those thousands of bikes that have been donated or collected by police departments, public-works employees, and others has gone on throughout the pandemic.

The donations have mostly been much smaller in scale — again, because most schools remain closed or not open to the public — but Charland has improvised.

“There’s nothing in the stores; I was in a bike shop the other day, and there were maybe four bikes there, and these were the high-end models that sell for a few thousand dollars.”

“We did a very large donation of bikes, 169 of them, to West Springfield, but, because the schools were closed, we had to go house to house to deliver the bikes to individual families,” he said, adding that now, as the pandemic is easing, there is greater demand and an even a greater sense of urgency — if that’s possible.

That’s because bicycles — and bicycle parts — are now firmly on the growing list of items that are in demand, but also short supply. As in very short. During COVID, with children out of school, demand for bikes soared, Charland explained, adding that manufacturers have struggled mightily to build inventory amid supply-chain issues.

“There’s nothing in the stores; I was in a bike shop the other day, and there were maybe four bikes there, and these were the high-end models that sell for a few thousand dollars,” he said, adding that this dynamic is generating more individual requests for bikes from families and nonprofits in need.

Pedal Thru Youth is better equipped to handle larger requests and bulk deliveries of a few dozen or a few hundred bicycles, but, out of necessity, it has adjusted, as with those deliveries to West Springfield families. Overall, he meets roughly 90% of the individual requests for bicycles.

He tries to meet this demand not all by myself, but pretty close.

He has some help from some volunteers, including a few individuals involved in the program called Roca, which strives to end recidivism and return offenders to society through job placement and other initiatives. They assist with basic repairs to bicycles — Charland handles the more difficult work — and getting them ready for transport.

On average, he and his volunteers will get roughly 20 bikes ready for the road each day, said Charland, adding that many of the donated bikes are in decent shape, and those needing considerable work are often stripped down for parts.

In addition to traditional bicycles, requests are soaring for bikes for children with special needs. And they come from not only Western Mass., but across the country. Charland had a few ready to go out the door on the day BusinessWest visited, but there are roughly 90 requests for such bikes on his desk.

 

Pedaling On

Meanwhile, as he goes about meeting these requests, he battles a number of health issues, most recently three hernias, and shoulder and kidney issues that now keep him from working for a living and waging legal battles for workers’ comp. This is addition to a head injury that has long impacted his quality of life.

He said he soldiers on because of the satisfaction he gets from his various efforts, especially the delivery of a bicycle — and a helmet, water bottle, and first-aid kit — to a child in need.

“I love what I do,” he said simply. “This is a lot of fun, and to see the look on the kids’ faces … that’s what drives me.”

 

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

Green River Festival Returns with a New Date and New Site

By
wick
Travel and Tourism

Better Late Than Never

Femi Kuti & the Positive Force

Femi Kuti & the Positive Force entertain the crowd at the Green River Festival in 2018. (Photo by Douglas Mason)

Since its inception in the late 1980s, the Green River Festival had never been canceled. Until last year.

And Jim Olsen wanted to give it every chance to return in 2021, even if it meant moving the date from mid-July to Aug. 27-29 — which turned out to be unnecessary, but hey, better safe than sorry.

“It was definitely a challenge to plan on so many levels,” said Olsen, president of Signature Sounds, the Northampton-based company that produces the annual festival in Greenfield.

“It became apparent in January that July wasn’t going to fly — at least, it didn’t seem that way at the time,” he went on, a perception that speaks volumes about how far the state and the nation have come with COVID-19 case rates and a massive vaccination effort. At first, the move seemed prescient, especially after Gov. Charlie Baker announced the state would fully reopen, without gathering restrictions, on Aug. 1.

No one knew the governor would eventually shift that date to May 29, but Olsen doesn’t mind an extra month to get the Green River Festival right, even if the planning got a little thorny.

“We had already booked all the musicians for July, and we had to scrap that and start over again for August,” he said — a feat in itself, since musicians tend to book a series of shows in succession, and it’s not always easy to shift dates around.

“These musicians are dying to get back out there. They depend on being on the road.”

But shift they did, and this year’s festival features about 30 bands, headlined by the likes of Jon Batiste, Shakey Graves, Ani DiFranco, Valerie June, and Drive-By Truckers over the event’s three days. Check out greenriverfestival.com for the full lineup and plenty of other information.

Speaking of changes, the festival also had to find another venue after 33 years at Greenfield Community College, which announced earlier this year it would be closed for the summer. The new host is the Franklin County Fairgrounds, which actually offers more space, Olsen said. “It’s a great site, and we’re really excited about it. I feel it’s going to be a new and exciting chapter for us.”

He’s not the only one who’s excited. Musicians have struggled badly during the pandemic like few businesses have — and, make no mistake, music is a business, one that relies on live performance.

“These days, you really don’t make much money recording,” Olsen said of a market that has radically de-emphasized physical product in favor of streaming. “It’s all in the live shows. These musicians are dying to get back out there. They depend on being on the road.”

While they’re enjoying this year’s stop along that road — the event will feature music on three different stages throughout the weekend — the festival will also feature plenty of what fans have loved in the past, from Berkshire Brewing Co.’s beer and wine tent to food trucks hailing from across the Northeast to the Makers Market, a collection of regional artisans selling handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, and more.

“We’ve worked very hard building a world-class crafts market,” Olsen said. “We like to represent the best of Western Mass. at the Green River Festival. That’s why we continue to do so well.”

Tickets cost $139.99 for the weekend, but patrons can attend Friday only for $44.99 or Saturday or Sunday for $69.99 each day. Camping is available, but RV passes are already sold out.

“Our ticket sales have been very, very strong, from the minute we announced it,” Olsen said. “There’s so much anticipation among people to get back to life, to get back out and enjoy the stuff we love. I’ve always felt like this was a big community party — and this year, it’s going to be supersized.”

 

—Joseph Bednar

In the COVID World, Businesses Should Examine Insurance Expenses

By Contributor
Law

Policy Decisions

By Timothy M. Netkovick, Esq.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many businesses to examine their balance sheets. One of the areas that could be looked at is how much benefit a business is getting from its current insurance portfolio, and whether downsizing coverage could be an option.

In today’s world, a common feature of a business-insurance portfolio is employment-practices liability insurance (EPLI), which is different than traditional liability insurance and provides coverage for discrimination, wrongful termination, and other workplace issues.

EPLI typically covers discrimination claims based upon sex, race, national origin, age, and all other characteristics prohibited by law. This includes claims made under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, associated state discrimination statutes, and other federal laws. EPLI policies usually provide coverage to the company, management, supervisors, and employees from claims that arise under the policy. EPLI typically does not cover wage-and-hour law violations, unemployment issues, ERISA, or COBRA matters.

Timothy M. Netkovick, Esq

Timothy M. Netkovick, Esq

“COVID has prompted myriad adjustments in the business world. EPLI is one of the expenses a company will want to examine to see if it is getting the most bang for its buck.”

Perhaps your business has been fortunate enough to avoid employment litigation over the past few years. Therefore, the cost/benefit analysis to your business will be different than a business that has been tied up in employment litigation in the recent past. The first obvious cost is the cost of purchasing the policy. Higher insurance coverage costs more than a policy with a lower-policy limit. In addition to the cost of purchasing the policy, businesses will also need to factor in the cost of the ‘retention’ it is required to pay in the event of a claim.

Retention is similar to a deductible in other insurance policies, and is the amount of expenses for which the business is responsible before the insurer will begin paying for the cost of defense. Insurers use retention as a way to avoid incurring the expense of defending against nominal or frivolous claims by passing on that expense to the business. Conversely, the business will also want to evaluate the amount of their retention prior to obtaining EPLI.

A business will need to evaluate its options if it is faced with a high retention and a small amount of discrimination claims that are usually resolved at the administrative level. Has your business had EPLI for several years and never exhausted its retention? Or does your business have a high volume of discrimination cases at the administrative level and also never exhausted its retention?

Another factor to consider in evaluating the cost of EPLI is your company’s approach to employment lawsuits. Businesses will need to have a consistent strategy when it comes to employment lawsuits. Is your company going to vigorously defend against all claims? If so, that may impact your decision on the cost of the EPLI policy you intend to purchase. How many claims are made against your company? The more claims are reported, the more the policy will cost, and the higher the retention amount will be. The increased retention will have an impact on the company’s budget for the next policy period.

COVID has prompted myriad adjustments in the business world. EPLI is one of the expenses a company will want to examine to see if it is getting the most bang for its buck.

 

Timothy M. Netkovick, Esq. is a litigation attorney who specializes in labor and employment-law matters at the Royal Law Firm LLP, a woman-owned, women-managed corporate law firm certified as a women’s business enterprise with the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, the National Assoc. of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]

 

Employers Must Focus on Returning Women to the Workforce

By Contributor
Law

Changing the Dynamic

By Jeremy M. Forgue

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the workplace forever.

According to a report titled “Women in the Workplace – 2020,” women have been hit especially hard. As the report explains, “the COVID-19 crisis has disrupted corporate America in ways we’ve never seen before. No one is experiencing business as usual, but women — especially mothers, senior-level women, and black women — have faced distinct challenges. One in four women are considering downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce due to COVID-19.”

Gender and racial diversity are unquestionably beneficial to the workplace as it can lead to a wider talent pool with people who provide different perspectives and skill sets to utilize. With job rates slowly climbing back towards pre-pandemic levels, businesses need to put a conscious effort on recruiting and retaining female employees, and females of color in particular. Businesses small and large should re-evaluate their current practices and consider several ways to increase or maintain women in the workforce. Here are some suggestions from an employment-law attorney.

 

Flexible Schedules and Core Hours

This can be the easiest strategy, depending on your business. Allowing employees to establish their own schedules or flex the typical 9-5 business model can assist them in better balancing their home and work responsibilities. This option can allow parents to mold their schedule around daycare availability (e.g., 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or split their shift around home responsibilities.

 

Forgiving Gaps in Workers’ Employment History

According to a study by ResumeGo, applicants with work gaps of greater than six months have a 45% lower chance of receiving job interviews. Millions have lost their jobs during the pandemic and remain unemployed. With so many individuals forced to exit the workforce over the past year, accepting gaps in employment is critical to eliminating these hiring barriers.

 

Offering Job Training or Cross-training

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that new job skills are critical in a more digitized working environment. Remote work and Zoom meetings are here to stay. Offering initial job training for skills and requirements that do not require certification or a degree will allow displaced workers a chance to gain useful skills in a new working environment. Similarly, cross-training employees to learn each other’s responsibilities (so long as their positions have enough overlap) can be effective when emergencies arise due to absences from work or other staffing challenges.

 

Create Mentorship Programs or Opportunities

A female-led or minority-led mentorship program can support and promote the advancement of under-represented groups within the workplace. Seasoned women employees can be great support structures for other women trying to begin their careers or advance within the company. Women who are currently excelling at their position or working in an executive-level position can assist other women dealing with similar daily challenges, such as work-life balance.

 

Re-evaluate the Businesses Culture

This one is more abstract and requires internal inquiries, but you should ask if your business provides a culture where women are valued or has a diverse demographic that is often desired by applicants. Ask yourself: is your workforce gender-diverse? What about the leadership positions? If the answer to these questions suggests unequal gender representation in the workplace, ask whether it is because of a culture that does not support women. Perhaps it’s more of a recruiting issue. In any event, you should dig deep for answers and insist on change.

 

 

Childcare Options

Providing on-site childcare is probably an option only for larger businesses. However, here are a few suggestions for all businesses to consider:

• Revisit your employee benefits. Do you already, or can you afford to, provide a childcare subsidy, childcare referral services for nearby locations, or extended paid leave?

• Partner with surrounding businesses. If your business space is too small to provide on-site childcare, reach out to nearby childcare locations and discuss rates and hours that could create a partnership between the businesses or, at the very least, a referral resource.

• Offer extended FFCRA benefits, which are available until Sept. 30, 2021, and can be used by employees to take time off for childcare or other COVID-19-related reasons.

 

Final Thoughts

After making positive strides in the workforce over the past decade, women’s participation in the workforce declined over the last year. To correct this trend, businesses will need to put a conscious effort toward recruiting women into their workforce.

 

Jeremy M. Forgue is an attorney with the law firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. in Springfield; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]

The ‘New Normal’ Is Here

By
Opinion

Editorial

The light at the tunnel that we’ve all been waiting for is essentially here.

Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement last week that he was eliminating virtually all COVID-19 restrictions on May 29, in time for Memorial Day weekend, puts Massachusetts in the final stage of the reopening plan he announced almost exactly a year ago, which he dubbed the ‘new normal.’

But while this announcement is certainly cause for celebration and optimism, the local business community is, in many ways, still in the tunnel. COVID is not to be referred to in the past tense yet, and there are still a number of challenges to overcome, including some new ones.

Indeed, as the story on page 10 reveals, the governor’s announcement brings some anxiety to go along with the joy and relief that most business owners are certainly feeling. That anxiety comes in many forms, from finding adequate supplies of good help (a challenge confronting those in virtually every sector of the economy) to tackling the daunting task of bringing employees back to the office, to dealing with loosened restrictions on masks, which are causing confusion and considerable doubt when it comes to the ‘honor system.’

In many ways, as welcome as the governor’s announcement was and is, it’s a fact that many businesses are simply not ready to turn back the clock to the fall of 2019, when the world had never heard that word COVID.

What makes things even more complicated is that no one knows just how ready the consuming public is to turn back the clock and pick up where things left off 15 months ago. It’s safe to say it might take a little time for both constituencies to feel comfortable within the realm of the new normal.

Here’s what we do know: this region’s business community has shown remarkable resilience since the pandemic arrived in this region. We’re all tired of hearing and uttering that word ‘pivot,’ but that’s exactly what business owners and managers did, whether they’re in hospitality, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, or any other sector.

The new normal means pivoting again. In some cases, it will actually mean simply returning to how things were in late 2019, and that can be challenging enough given the abundance of ‘help wanted’ and ‘we’re hiring: $250 sign-on bonus’ signs we’re seeing in ever-increasing numbers, as well as the skyrocketing price increases involving everything from food products to lumber to gasoline (see story on page 6).

For most businesses, though, things won’t ever be just as they were before COVID. They’ve learned new and, in many instances, better ways of doing things — out of necessity. Meanwhile, many employees will continue to work remotely, changing, perhaps forever, the dynamic of the modern office.

As we said, the region’s business community will have to pivot once again. Based on how well it did the past 14 months, we believe it will adjust quite well to the new normal. We’re not out of the tunnel yet, but the light is very, very close.

Rolling with the Changes

By Contributor
Opinion

Opinion

By Sean Hogan

 

As COVID-19 winds down and we begin to go back to our normal lifestyle, I find myself asking what is next.

Let’s look back and see what has changed in the business world over the last year. The economy came to a halt, there was a major strain on the supply chain, restaurants and bars were closed, and business stopped. Certain industries, including IT, thrived, but COVID affected everyone; it missed no one.

We at Hogan Technology had to embrace meeting, selling, and collaborating over videoconferencing. This was a major shift in our protocol. We were hesitant at first, but there was not much of an option. We, like everyone else, jumped on the Zoom bandwagon. I quickly realized that Zoom had some security issues, and we moved all our collaboration to Microsoft Teams. Teams has been easy to use and efficient, and it had integration with our current voice platform. In the beginning, we were limited to viewing four participants; thankfully, MS made some changes and improved the capacity for our Teams meetings.

I have been managing and selling for more than 34 years, and shifting to video meetings with clients at first was clumsy. I was conditioned to prepping for my meetings, driving to the client site, waiting in the lobby, and then meeting face to face with my client. It took a few video calls to get into a process, but then I started to see how efficient and productive they could be. The ability to bring in my team to collaborate with my clients has worked exceptionally well.

Our sales and discovery process has completely changed, and this old dog has learned some new tricks. We now send out invites that allow our prospects and clients to log into our videoconference, and I can introduce my team and our vision. I then hand over the presentation of any software or applications to my tech team. Once the presentation is done, I can share or review any proposals or quotes though a screen share. This allows me to go line by line and make sure the client completely understands our solution.

This new style of sales has worked very well. We are printing far less, engaging the client more productively, and saving fuel and time by not driving to the site. We will still gladly meet on site, but if the client is open to meeting online, that will be our first step. Video collaboration and presentations are here it stay, and we welcome and embrace the cost-savings technology.

There were lots of new terms thrown about during the pandemic, but the two that made me think were ‘new normal’ and ‘pivot.’ The new normal, in my mind, is constant change. I like to think we all embraced the new normal, seeing that we are engaged in technology, which is constant change.

I think ‘pivot’ is what we have always internally termed ‘nimble.’ One of the advantages of being a small business is that it does not take much for us to turn our ship; we are not a large tanker, but more of a go-fast boat. We can turn on a dime, we can make changes without having to get board approval, and we can move fast when we need to get out of our own way. COVID taught us all how to be nimble and how to change the way we do business. I am amazed and proud to look at the business community and see how people have pulled together and toughed out a brutal year.

Yes, we all pivoted, and we all learned to deal with the new normal, but, most importantly, we all got up, went back to work, and supported each other.

 

Sean Hogan is president of Hogan Technology.

Picture This

By
Picture This

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

 

 

Open for Business in Chicopee

 

Florence Bank recently celebrated its third Hampden County branch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighted by a $5,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee. Pictured at top: Florence Bank staff and community leaders join bank President and CEO Kevin Day (center, flanked by Branch Manager Kimberly Downing and Chicopee Mayor John Vieau) in cutting the ribbon. Above: Day presents Lynn Morrisette, Marketing and Development director for the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, with the $5,000 donation.

 

 

Sock It to Stigma

Lenny Underwood, owner of Upscale Socks, teamed up with the Mental Health Assoc. (MHA) throughout May, Mental Health Awareness Month, with a new line of socks to support mental-health awareness. “I see how stigma relates to getting help — or not getting help — with mental wellness,” Underwood said. “It has been an issue I have seen and heard in my adulthood. But I’m optimistic when I see people in the public eye tell their story, being honest and vulnerable, because folks look up to others who are open and relatable. It helps to create more of a dialogue.” The socks will be available throughout the year at www.upscalesocks.com and at www.mhainc.org.

 

 

 

Protecting History

State Sen. Eric Lesser joined members of the Belchertown legislative delegation, local officials, and members of the community to celebrate the signing of an act providing for the permanent protection and stewardship of historic Lampson Brook Farm in Belchertown. The bill, sponsored by Lesser and supported by state Reps. Susannah Whipps, Jake Oliveira, and Thomas Petrolati, was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker in January. This law allows for the permanent protection of the five separate parcels that make up the 430-acre historic site.

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda

By
Agenda

Junior Achievement Golf Tournament

June 4: Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) announced it will hold its 23rd annual golf tournament at the Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston. In addition to the golf tournament, participants can enjoy online bidding for the auction through June 3 and live bidding at the event on June 4. Social-distancing regulations will include requiring players to wear masks in common areas, providing each player with their own cart, and a scramble format with all putts inside three feet conceded, with flags remaining in the holes. Businesses can sponsor the tournament and will receive a prize package valued at over $200. The package includes a $100 gift card to the pro shop, buy-two/get-two passes for Crumpin-Fox or Fox Hopyard Golf Club in Connecticut good through the 2022 season, and other gifts, such as Yankee Candle items. If they prefer, sponsors can opt to receive a voucher for their foursome valid through the 2022 season. In addition to a round of golf, an auction, and a raffle, golfers will enjoy a gourmet boxed breakfast at 10 a.m. and lunch served on the course around noon. To learn more about registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit jawm.org/annual-golf-tournament.

 

Fresh Paint Springfield

June 5-13: Fresh Paint Springfield, the mural festival that began in 2019 in downtown Springfield and transformed large, exterior walls into art, will be returning to Springfield on June 5-13. This year’s festival will feature new murals in downtown Springfield and in Mason Square. Among the murals that will be part of Fresh Paint 2021 are “Pioneers Past and Present,” which will be painted by local portrait painters in Mason Square, and the repainting of a historic mural on the Mosque 13 building on State Street. For news and updates about this year’s festival, visit www.freshpaintspringfield.com.

 

Asnuntuck Foundation Golf Tournament

June 15: Asnuntuck Community College’s foundation and Aerospace Components Manufacturers will host a golf tournament fundraiser — the program’s 13th annual tournament and the first year the fundraiser will be held at Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Conn. Proceeds from the event will benefit to the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at Asnuntuck, which features leading-edge technology and has educated more than 9,000 students since 1998. Additional sponsors committed to the tournament include Air Industries Group/Sterling Engineering, Aerospace Alloys Inc., Aeroswiss, Advance Welding, Pilot Precision Products, Kaman Precision Products, Willington Nameplate, Accu-Rite Tool and Manufacturing Co. Inc., and Jarvis Surgical Inc. Golfers will pay $150 for 18 holes of golf. The entry fee also includes a cart, goody bags, and two drink tickets. The day will also include a barbecue lunch and fountain drink, along with dinner and an ice cream sundae bar. Golfers will have a chance at door prizes, and awards will be presented to top golfers during the dinner portion of the evening. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. with tee-off at 1 p.m. Golfers will play with a ‘shamble,’ which is a modified scramble. This format has each golfer hit their tee shot, and the group picks the best one and plays their own ball from there. The best score on the hole is recorded, allowing everyone to feel like they contributed and not putting pressure on any one golfer. Visit birdease.com/amtgolf to register and learn about sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact event coordinator Joshua Ware at [email protected] or (203) 228-2768.

 

Healthcare Heroes Nominations

Through June 24: In the spring of 2017, the Healthcare News and its sister publication, BusinessWest, created a new and exciting recognition program called Healthcare Heroes. It was launched with the theory that there are heroes working all across this region’s wide, deep, and all-important healthcare sector, and that there was no shortage of fascinating stories to tell and individuals and groups to honor. That theory has certainly been validated. But there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of heroes whose stories we still need to tell, especially in these times, when the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many types of heroes to the forefront. Nominations will be accepted in seven different categories: Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider, Health/Wellness Administrator/Administration, Emerging Leader, Community Health, Innovation in Health/Wellness, Collaboration in Health/Wellness, and Lifetime Achievement. The Healthcare Heroes event is presented by Elms College. Nominations can be submitted at businesswest.com/healthcare-heroes/nominations. For more information, contact Jennifer Godaire, Marketing and Events Director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or [email protected].

 

40 Under Forty Gala

Sept. 23: In light of Gov. Charlie Baker’s recent announcement that most, if not all, restrictions on events will be lifted effective Aug. 1, BusinessWest has made the decision to move its annual 40 Under Forty gala, originally scheduled for late June, to Thursday, Sept. 23 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The class of 2021 was introduced to the region in the magazine’s May 12 issue, and the profiles may read online at businesswest.com. Additional details on the Sept. 23 gala will be forthcoming. Tickets, which will go on sale in June, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Don Eaton

Don Eaton

Toole Insurance Agency recently welcomed Don Eaton as an account executive. With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, his primary focus will be helping Toole Agency clients in construction and other related sectors in Massachusetts and Eastern New York by delivering innovative solutions through the Toole Guard risk-assessment process, allowing them to make informed risk-management and finance decisions. Eaton holds the certified insurance counselor (CIC) and construction risk insurance specialist (CRIS) designations. Eaton began his career as a direct writer for a midwestern mutual insurance company, where he received extensive training and achieved national recognition as a top performer. He then transitioned to working in the agency system as an independent agent in Western New York specializing in commercial lines before his most recent position as a regional vice president for one of the largest alliances of independent agents in the U.S.

•••••

Vince Maniaci

American International College (AIC) President Vince Maniaci announced plans to retire at the end of academic year 2021-22. At the time of his retirement, Maniaci will have served the college for 17 years. During his time as president, Maniaci successfully increased undergraduate and graduate programming through the doctoral level, resulting in robust enrollments; expanded athletic programs and improved sports venues; contributed to the revitalization of the college with new construction and renovation of campus facilities in support of academics, athletics, and student life; enhanced campus safety with increased personnel and technology upgrades; and pursued grant funding, including a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. In 2006, after an initial downsizing and retrenchment, AIC began to grow programming and enrollment. New programming in recent years has included a minor in Spanish, the addition of a master of science in cannabis science and commerce, the statewide expansion of the master’s in education program, and the establishment of a low-residency program. Health Sciences has experienced steady growth with the introduction of exercise science, family nurse practitioner, and a doctorate in occupational therapy. At the time of Maniaci’s arrival in the fall of 2005, graduate enrollment was approximately 380 students. As of the fall 2020 semester, the total graduate enrollment has expanded to nearly 1,250 and includes 22 program offerings. Undergraduate enrollment has grown as well. In recent years, despite downward trends in college enrollment in the Northeast, AIC has boasted two of its largest incoming first-year classes, with a current undergraduate population nearing 1,400 students. New construction and renovation of campus facilities in support of academics, athletics, and student life contributed to the revitalization of the college under Maniaci’s leadership.

•••••

Jason Berry

Jason Berry

Monson Savings Bank announced the recent hire of Jason Berry as vice president and commercial loan officer. He will focus on providing customized, sensible lending and deposit solutions to businesses. He will assist in the maximization of cash flow and bringing the full scope of the bank’s products and high-tech services to the businesses he serves. He will also introduce business partners, who are experts in their field, to support businesses. Berry graduated from Westfield State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science after earning his associate degree in liberal arts at Holyoke Community College. He brings more than 15 years of banking and financial experience to Monson Savings Bank. He most recently held the role of vice president, Business Banking relationship manager at People’s United Bank. He is active in the community, offering support to various local charitable organizations and engaging with local chambers to support the local business community. He enjoys volunteering and has given his time to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Susan G. Komen, United Way, and Junior Achievement. Additionally, he is a member of the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce and West of the River Chamber of Commerce.

•••••

After a career spanning more than three decades in public broadcasting, Martin Miller is stepping down from his position as president of New England Public Media (NEPM). He will continue in his role until a successor is named, and then will move into a senior counsel role focused on new fundraising efforts for NEPM’s music endowment, journalism, and engagement priorities. Miller led WFCR radio for more than two decades, expanding it into the 13-station New England Public Radio (NEPR) network and relocating its main broadcast facility from the UMass Amherst campus to state-of-the-art studios in Springfield. The Five College Studios, rebuilt in 2016, remain at UMass in Hampshire House. In 2019, Miller became president of NEPM after helping to orchestrate an alliance with public-television station WGBY to create New England Public Media, thus expanding journalism, community-engagement, cultural, and educational programs through multi-platform services. The successful merger of NEPR with WGBY brought together the resources of public radio and TV, creating a robust public-media organization positioned to continue its public-service mission well into the future. During his nearly 26 years leading WFCR, NEPR, and NEPM, he helped raise more than $11 million for capital improvements and new programming, developed NEPR’s Media Lab, was responsible for significant revenue and audience growth for radio, increased investments in journalism, developed a diverse board of directors and created a new community advisory board for NEPM, and, most recently, oversaw the launch of NEPM’s new local radio program And Another Thing.

•••••

Dean Marchessault

Dean Marchessault

American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced that Dean Marchessault, the nonprofit organization’s president and CEO, will retire at the end of 2021, allowing for a transition process over the next seven months. Marchessault’s decision to retire will conclude 22 years of service to Connecticut’s largest community credit union, including seven as president and CEO. American Eagle has selected Howard Brady to be the credit union’s next president and CEO, starting Jan. 3, 2022. Brady has served as senior vice president and chief lending officer since 2015. During Marchessault’s time as president and CEO, the credit union’s membership and footprint have also grown exponentially. AEFCU currently provides banking services to more than 160,000 members and opened its first office in New Haven County while also being granted approval to expand its field of membership into Western Mass. in 2019. In 2020 alone, AEFCU’s monetary contributions were just shy of $300,000 and included grants from American Eagle’s donor-advised fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, corporate sponsorships, and general donations, as well as those derived from AEFCU’s Cash Back to the Community program. In recent years, Marchessault has garnered several honors as a business and community leader, including a C-Suite Award from the Harford Business Journal in 2020, and the Business Person of the Year Award from the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2018. In 2019, AEFCU was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Connecticut” by the Hartford Business Journal.

•••••

Michael Tucker, CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) and its Northampton Cooperative Bank division, recently announced a number of promotions.

• Mary Rawls was elected executive vice president, Compliance. She also serves as the bank’s BSA officer and co-CRA officer. She first joined GCB in 1994 and has more than 26 years of experience in banking. She is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College, the Massachusetts Bankers Bank Compliance Academy, and numerous Center for Financial Studies courses.

• Michael Turley was elected executive vice president and chief financial officer. He has more than 40 years of experience in banking, most recently with GCB since 2013. He is a graduate of Union College in New York and has an MBA with a concentration in finance from Western New England University. He will be solely responsible for supervising the staff in the accounting and treasury functions within the bank. He will also officially become treasurer when Colleen Bugbee retires this May.

• Janet Rosenkranz was elected senior vice president and credit officer. She joined the bank in 2016 as credit officer. In addition to her five years at GCB, she has more than 20 years of experience at two other banks before joining GCB. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from UMass Amherst and will graduate from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania this summer.

• Alyssa Dansereau was elected assistant vice president and assistant controller. She joined GCB’s Accounting department in 2016. She is a graduate of Holyoke Community College and Western New England University with degrees in accounting.

• Melissa Tetreault was elected assistant vice president, senior mortgage originator. She has a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst and is a graduate of New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College. She has more than 18 years of experience with GCB in two tours, having rejoined the bank in 2018.

• Deborah Marvel has been promoted to senior operations specialist. She joined GCB as a teller in 2002. Since 2009, she has worked in both the Deposit Operations department and Loan Servicing department prior to this latest role in Operations.

• Erica Josephson has been promoted to credit analyst III. She has been a credit analyst at various banks since 2016, most recently a senior credit analyst at Berkshire Bank. She joined GCB as a credit analyst II in 2019. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

• Marjorie Smith has been promoted to credit analyst III. She joined GCB as a teller in 2010 and has been working in loans since 2012 and in the credit department since 2016. She is a graduate of Houghton College in New York.

• Benjamin Viens has been promoted to credit analyst II. He joined GCB in 2018 as a teller and has been in the credit department since 2019. He is a graduate of Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I.

•••••

Miranda Goncalves

Miranda Goncalves

Gove Law Office announced that paralegal Miranda Goncalves has joined the firm as a real-estate paralegal. She has more than five years of experience as a real-estate paralegal and will be focused on residential real-estate transactions with the firm. “Miranda brings significant experience to our real-estate practice, having previously worked with a local real-estate attorney for the past five years, and will be ready to help our clients with their transactions from day one,” said Michael Gove, founding partner of Gove Law Office. Miranda received her bachelor’s degree in legal studies, with a secondary concentration in psychology and a certificate of international relations, from UMass Amherst in 2015. She is also fluent in Spanish and conversant in Portuguese.

•••••

Florence Bank announced that Kiara Sonoda, Jessica Camp, Samantha Sanger, and Lynn Formel have been selected as recipients of the 2020 President’s Award. Employees nominate their peers for this prestigious honor, which recognizes outstanding performance, customer service, and overall contribution to Florence Bank. Sonoda is a teller operations manager and customer service representative at the downtown Northampton office and has been with Florence Bank for nine years. She attended the University of Massachusetts and is a figure-skating coach for the Skating Club of Amherst. Camp is a credit analyst at the main headquarters and has been with Florence Bank for three years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Framingham State University. Sanger is a customer records analyst at the main headquarters and has been with Florence Bank for 10 years. She attended the University of Phoenix. Formel is a customer service representative at the Hadley branch and has been with Florence Bank for three years.

•••••

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union recently introduced the newest leaders of its Hadley and Northampton branches and contact center: Megan Lagoy, Eurika Boulay, and Katharine Lawton. Lagoy has expanded her role as assistant vice president of Retail Services. She began her career at UMassFive nine years ago as a call center representative, eventually taking on other various contact center roles, and most recently held the title of AVP of the contact center and interactive teller machine (ITM) department. In her new position, she will oversee the Hadley branch in addition to the contact center and the ITM department. Boulay has been promoted to Northampton branch manager. She began her career at UMassFive five years ago as a member service specialist in the Northampton branch, eventually moving on to becoming the branch backup supervisor, and most recently the Northampton VA Medical Center branch manager. In her new role, she leads the Northampton branch team in creating positive member experiences, maintaining branch compliance, and working with the Community Outreach manager to develop UMassFive’s presence in Northampton. Lawton has been promoted to contact center manager. She began her career at UMassFive in 2016 as a contact center representative and quickly progressed to lead contact center representative in 2017. In her new role, she will oversee new online membership fulfillment, onboarding, loan applications, phone-system administration, and providing resolutions to ensure positive member experiences.

•••••

Karin Jeffers, president and CEO of nonprofit behavioral-health agency Clinical & Support Options (CSO), has become the newest board member of the National Council for Behavioral Health. Jeffers earned the greatest number of votes during a recent special election to replace outgoing board member Tomas Jankowski. Jeffers will be one of two representatives for the National Council Region 1, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. She will serve out the remainder of Jankowski’s term (until June 30, 2023) and be eligible to run for two additional three-year terms thereafter. Jeffers has served as CSO’s president and CEO since 2005. During her tenure at the helm, the agency has grown from a $4 million organization with fewer than 90 employees across just three Greenfield locations to what is now a $44 million agency with more than 750 employees at 20 locations across Western and Central Mass. Joining the National Council Board is not Jeffers’ first foray into public policy. In addition to being a longtime National Council member, she also serves on the board of the Assoc. of Behavioral Health (ABH), which is instrumental in lobbying for positive change in statewide and national policies governing healthcare. In fact, she served as ABH’s board chair from 2016 to 2018, and as its children’s CEO policy committee chair from 2012 to 2020. She currently chairs the ABH CEO committee on emergency services.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

BETE Fog Nozzle Earns MassHire Workforce Leader Award

GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board awarded BETE Fog Nozzle its 2021 Workforce Leader Award, honoring the company’s contributions to workforce well-being, workplace, and public safety during the pandemic. BETE now employs more than 180 people at its Greenfield facility, designing, casting, and machining spray nozzles. The company garnered headlines earlier in the year for developing an innovative machine for quickly disinfecting school buses after each use with a touchless process employing BETE’s trademark fog nozzles. Working with local bus company F.M. Kuzmeskus Inc., BETE engineers designed a button-sized fogger installed in rows along each school-bus ceiling, out of reach of children. The series of spray foggers are linked and connected to a port on the outside of the bus where a mobile compressor machine mixes air and disinfectant that is pumped through a tube to the spray nozzles on the bus interior, sending an aerosol disinfectant mist throughout each bus before rolling to the next one. When the pandemic lockdown shuttered businesses in March 2020, BETE provided paid furloughs to all its employees, and the company offers regular profit-sharing bonuses. BETE is also a founding supporter of the seven-year-old Manufacturing Skills Initiative (MSI) training partnership between Greenfield Community College, the Workforce Board, Career Center, Franklin County Technical School, and area manufacturers. BETE has hired more than a dozen graduates from MSI’s 12-week CNC Operator training program, giving them a solid start toward building a rewarding, high-skill career in precision machining. Company President Tom Fitch is chairman of the GCC Future Work Advisory Council, which brings local chambers, business, employment agencies, and the college together to develop curriculum to provide training that brings additional employment and advancement opportunities to area residents.

 

Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. Announces Acquisition

SPRINGFIELD — Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. has added the Northampton law firm Etheredge & Steuer to its regional law practice. Attorneys Edward Etheredge and Shelley Steuer bring a wealth of talent, knowledge, and expertise to Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin’s business, real estate, land-use planning, permitting, estate planning, and estate administration practice areas. Both firms have deep roots in Western Mass. and similar approaches to providing service to clients. Etheredge, whose practice is principally in real estate, land use, planning, and development, began practicing law in Northampton in 1976. He is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Steuer, whose practice focuses on estate planning and estate and trust administration, has practiced in Northampton since 1990. She is a member of the Pioneer Valley Estate Planning Council, the Hampshire County Bar Assoc., and the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, New York, and California, as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Steuer and Etheredge will be joined by members of the Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin team at 64 Gothic St., Northampton. The firm will continue to provide services to clients at 1441 Main St., Springfield.

 

Eversource ConnectedSolutions Earns Program Pacesetter Award

SPRINGFIELD — In recognition of its efforts to help customers reduce energy use and save money through demand response programs, Eversource’s ConnectedSolutions demand-management program received the 2021 Program Pacesetter Award from the Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA). The energy company was recognized for surpassing enrollment goals and setting a high bar for energy-demand-management programs. Eversource’s ConnectedSolutions program provides incentives to customers to reduce their energy use at times of peak demand, which helps reduce strain on the electric grid and lowers carbon emissions by avoiding additional power generation of dirtier fossil fuels like coal that still come online in New England when demand is high. Customer enrollment in 2020 across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire surpassed goals by more than 60 MW, reaching a total of 170 MW approved for targeted use during days with the highest energy demand and an additional 6.3 MW of storage capacity approved for daily demand reductions. ConnectedSolutions is significant not only for the large demand reductions that can be achieved, but also for the diversity of customers and devices enrolled, including more than 600 business customers using a range of demand-reduction strategies and more than 33,000 residential devices including Wi-Fi thermostats, electric-vehicle chargers, residential battery storage, and Wi-Fi-connected A/C units.

 

House Earmarks $50,000 for New Manufacturing Program at HCC

HOLYOKE — State Rep. Patricia Duffy announced that $50,000 has been earmarked in the House fiscal-year 2022 budget to seed the development and implementation of a new Manufacturing Training Program at Holyoke Community College (HCC). According to labor and workforce data, 9.7% of jobs in Holyoke are in manufacturing, compared to 6.7% statewide. Meanwhile, at 9.9%, the unemployment rate in Holyoke is the second-highest in Western Mass. after Springfield’s 11.2%, compared to a statewide rate of 6.6% for March 2021. The Manufacturing Training Program will join a robust stable of workforce-development programs at HCC. The program will serve up to 45 individuals in three cohorts by providing approximately 150 hours of remote and in-person, hands-on training combined with workplace experiential learning, and includes skills assessments and pre-training focused on workplace readiness in English and basic math, followed by core training in entry-level manufacturing. The manufacturing component will include modules in communication, teamwork, customer service, digital literacy, general manufacturing processes and principles, blueprints, dimensions, tolerances, instrumentation and measuring; manufacturing workplace math, lean manufacturing, problem solving, quality control, and workplace safety. Regional employers will be invited to participate in curriculum design and delivery as guest speakers, as well as in hosting tours of their facilities when possible. Participants will be connected to area employers and receive job-placement assistance through HCC and MassHire Holyoke.

 

Girls Inc. of the Valley Event Raises More Than $67,000

HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley has raised more than $67,000 to date from its Spirit of Girls 2021 event, which will help support ongoing program needs. The virtual event was held on May 6 and was attended by notable women such as U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Mount Holyoke College leadership fellow and political figure Carmen Yulín Cruz, actress Tequilla Whitfield, WWLP weeknight anchor Ciara Speller, and Girls Inc. President and CEO Stephanie Hull. Girls Inc. of the Valley has had to opt for safer, virtual options, which is why this year’s Spirit of Girls event was held 100% virtually. Attendees heard directly from girls, staff, and notable celebrities regarding the importance of celebrating their place at the table. Girls Inc. of the Valley will be posting a link to a video of the event on its YouTube channel, where it will still accept monetary gifts as well. Girls Inc. of the Valley aims to inspire all girls to see themselves as leaders with the skills and capabilities to improve and influence their local communities.

 

Springfield Museums Offer Sensory Friendly Saturdays

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Museums will present Sensory Friendly Saturdays on the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m., starting May 8. Sensory Friendly Saturdays provide less noise, dimmer light, and cool-down spaces for those who have sensory sensitivity. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Springfield Science Museum will open early, with some exhibits modified to provide an opportunity for people with a range of differing abilities to experience what the museums have to offer. Trained staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and, if necessary, direct visitors to a quiet space that provides a chance to cool down and take a break. Sensory-friendly crafts for all ages will be available in the Cat’s Corner. Parents and caregivers must stay with their children at all times. The modifications are enabled until 11 a.m. Preview guides are available for those who would like to explore what to expect before arriving at the museums. If visitors find the Museums too overwhelming and need to leave before 10 a.m., the Welcome Center staff will give the family a voucher to try again on another Sensory Friendly Saturday. The Springfield Museums became universal-participation-designated two years ago as part of a Massachusetts Cultural Council program to help museums, theaters, and other cultural organizations pay particular attention to ensuring their programming is accessible to all people. The staff created preview guides for families to read together before visiting the museums and made decisions about which exhibits they could modify to be more friendly to visitors with sensitivity to noise, lights, and movement.

 

WNEU School of Law Adds Race-related Coursework Requirement for Graduation

SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to incorporate antiracism education and training into the student experience, Western New England University (WNEU) School of Law has added a new Antiracism and Cultural Competency (ARCC) graduation requirement beginning with incoming students in the fall of 2022. This requirement offers students more than a dozen options from substantive courses relating to legal history, structural inequality, intersectionality, discrimination, civil rights, and theories of subordination, focusing on cultural context and cultural competency. The list of eligible courses includes “Race, Racism, & the Law,” “Business Law from an Antiracist Perspective,” “Gender & the Law,” “Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession,” and many others. “Western New England University School of Law has a long and proud history of incorporating social justice and antiracism into the education we offer,” said School of Law Dean Sudha Setty. “A cornerstone of our mission is the belief that the study of law must embrace the notion that different beliefs, backgrounds, and opinions are critical components of a well-rounded learning environment.” WNEU School of Law currently offers a wide range of elective courses, experiential learning opportunities, engagement opportunities through its Center for Social Justice, pro bono opportunities, student organizations, and vibrant speaker series that serve to broaden students’ knowledge on legal issues related to racial justice, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion.

 

 

Springfield Thunderbirds, Mass Lottery Wrap ‘Feed the Frontline’ Campaign

SPRINGFIELD — Each week during the month of April, the Springfield Thunderbirds and the Massachusetts State Lottery teamed up for the “Feed the Frontline” campaign, to thank individuals in the healthcare and service industries. The Thunderbirds worked with several of their food partners to provide lunch to some deserving individuals throughout the Pioneer Valley. Members of the Thunderbirds front office and mascot Boomer visited staff at Mercy Medical Center, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, USA Hauling, the Springfield Police Department, and the Springfield Fire Department. The Thunderbirds and the Mass Lottery will be collaborating on several initiatives throughout the spring and summer to recognize several individuals within the Western Mass. community. Meals were provided by a number of local food partners, including Nadim’s Mediterranean Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, 99 Restaurant, Uno Chicago Grill, and Theodores’. The Mass Lottery and the Thunderbirds will continue to promote the outstanding work of those in the community throughout the summer when the Hometown Salute campaign launches in May. Individuals who are currently or have served in the military, or those working in the healthcare or public-service industries, may be nominated to be recognized by the Thunderbirds each week.

 

Visiting Angels West Springfield Receives Home-care Accreditation

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Visiting Angels, a private-pay home-care agency based in West Springfield, is among a select group of agencies to earn accreditation from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. The alliance, which represents 180 home-health and eldercare agencies across Massachusetts, has created an accreditation protocol to promote quality services, ethical business standards, and superior employment practices in an industry that lacks meaningful licensure in Massachusetts even as it grows in popularity. The Home Care Alliance launched this accreditation program for private-pay agencies (agencies that are not paid by Medicare or Medicaid) in 2010. Agencies seeking accreditation are required to submit documentation to show that they meet standards established by the organization. The standards were developed over several months in consultation with an advisory task force representing agencies throughout the Commonwealth. Training requirements, administrative protocols, and business practices are among the categories the Home Care Alliance reviews for accreditation.

 

Riley Home Realty Launches Full-service Agency

CHICOPEE — Riley Home Realty announced the launch of its Chicopee-based, full-service real-estate agency. This family-owned and -operated agency will offer residents in the surrounding Western Mass. communities a comprehensive suite of services delivered with expert guidance from a team of dedicated agents. Riley Home Realty services include listing homes for sale, working with home buyers, managing rental properties and listing rental properties, and property management. It was a dream of members of the Riley family to work together to help others realize home and real-estate ownership, the company noted. “Our family-owned and -operated agency is built on the values we as a family embody. We are with each other every step of the way. Our clients get that same dedication and commitment when they work with us. When you work with Riley Home Realty, you’re family.”

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

DM Transport Inc., 28 Alhambra Circle, Agawam, MA 01001. Dundar Ozdemir, same. Transport.

EASTHAMPTON

David Lepine Building Contractor Inc., 262 East St., Easthampton, MA 01027. David Lepine, same. Construction and remodeling.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Western Mass Eye Care, Inc., 46 Center Square, second floor, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Amy Moltenbrey, 53 Court St., Westfield, MA 01085. The practice of optometry.

GRANBY

Specialty Restoration & Painting Inc., 7 Kellogg St., Granby, MA 01033. Kathleen A. Berger, same. Restoration, painting, and wall coverings.

HOLYOKE

Arpit 200 Incorporated, 550 Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Kaur Parvinder, 1936 77th St. First Foor, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. Restaurant.

LONGMEADOW

DH Retirement Solutions Inc., 161 Wenonah Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Donald E. Hanifin, same. Retirement investment services.

LUDLOW

Plucky Inc., 12 Brimfield St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Semih Altay, same. E-commerce.

PALMER

Rapid Cuts Barber Shop Corp., 36 Elizabeth St., Palmer, MA 01069. Leon Marsh, same. Barbering.

SPRINGFIELD

Retro Construction Corp., 221 Hamcock St. Springfield, MA 01109. Enrique Domingo Cruz, same. Home improvement.

XP Enterprise Corp., 53 Sterling St., Springfield, MA 01107. Wellington Da Silva Peclat, same. Janitorial and cleaning services.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

DS Auto Body Repair Corp., 51 Bliss St. West Springfield, MA 01089. Dolcimar Ferreira De Sousa, 51 Bliss St. West Hartford, MA 01089. Auto body repair.

WESTFIELD

Josh, Inc., 119 Franklin St., Apt. 2, Westfield, MA 01085. Joshua Cyr, same. Creation and marketing of video content and photos.

Doing Business as Certificates

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DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the months of April and May 2021. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

DEERFIELD

Back Alley BBQ
12 Railroad St.
Nathan Lynde

Hoop City Brewing
12 Railroad St.
Aloyce Assenga, Eva-Eliaike Mbuya

K Dog Auto Sales
670 River Road
Kevin Bourbeau

Steadfast Life Consulting
6 Stage Road
Jill Medina Elizalde

HADLEY

Cheesy Street Grill – Western MA
367 Russell St.
Jon Oligino

Happier Valley Comedy
1 Mill Valley Road
Scott Braidman

Kendrick Property Management
2 Bay Road, Suite 200
Donna Golec

Weber’s Lawn Equipment Repair
34 North Maple St.
Rodney Weber

LONGMEADOW

Brenda Cuoco & Associates Real Estate Brokerage
714 Bliss Road
Brenda Cuoco

Daly Appraisal Services
24 Birnie Road
James Daly

Dugubrown Construction, LLC
108 Bel Air Dr.
Joseph Aimua

Franca4design
375 Pinewood Dr.
Franca Conway

Joslad & Associates Civil Engineering Consultants
108 Bel Air Dr.
Joseph Aimua

LJCD Associates, LLC
678 Converse St.
Donald Nault

Professional Massage Works, LLC
1200 Converse St., Suite 204
Andrea Ott

RJ’s Complete Tree Service
120 Wimbleton Dr.
Joshua Rodriguez

NORTHAM1PTON

Fortuna Publica Studio
581 Burts Pit Road
Stephanie Arroyo

Good Alchemy Lands
22 Bright St.
Benjamin Covino

Katherine (Kate) Klemer
376 Pleasant St.
Kate Klemer

Liberal Arts
236 Pleasant St.
Jennifer Carr

Munificent Scribbler Press
95 Laurel Park
Tira Pandolf

Northeast Greenway Solutions
62 Chestnut St.
Craig Della Penna

Pho Boston
311 Riverside Dr.
Trinh Nguyen

Strada
108 Main St.
Anna Bowen

Strom Remodeling
80 Damon Road
Richard Strom

Sugar Maple Trailside Inn
62 Chestnut St.
Craig Della Penna, Kathleen Della Penna

SOUTHWICK

KJ Landworks
208 South Loomis St.
Joshua Arnett

Salon Amici
515 College Highway
Susan Allen

WESTFIELD

Bitcoin Depot
397 Little River Road
Lux Vending, LLC

Bombshelly Vintage
32 White St.
Lynn Wegiel

Full Gospel Christian School
110 Union St.
Kristina Podzemelnova

Giftology
99 Springfield Road
7C Diamonds Inc.

Hang-Rite Gutter Installation Co.
37 South Meadow Road
CKG Gutters, LLC

Jay’s Property Services
33 West Silver St.
Jay Larsen II

Jolene Hamilton, PhD
571 Granville Road
Jolene Hamilton

Katt’s Creations
35 Jeanne Marie Dr.
Yekaterina Panasyuk

Mam’s Creations Handmade
5 East Bartlett St.
Mayra Matos

MJH Carpenters & Contractors
41 Crown St.
Michael Helbling

Mr. Easy Shop Store
126 Union St.
Marianne Ramos

Munchy’s
24 North Elm St.
Samuel Thresher

NE Billing
15 Noble Ave., Apt. 1
Brittany Gum

New England Ammonia Safety Inc.
29 Salvator Dr.
James Burke

Pioneer Valley Property Services
87 Franklin St.
Mark Slayton

Scorzi’s Auto Detailing
270 Munger Hill Road
Richard Scorzafava

Sergey Mitev Music Studio
70 Fairfield Ave.
Sergey Mitev

Susan’s Discount Travel
33 Woodcliff Dr.
Susan Williams

Ultimate Floors
18 Cara Lane
Seth Lakin

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Cyber Exchange
1053 Riverdale St.
Stephen Buynicki

Hair and Nail Co.
1346 Elm St.
Maria Siciliano, Pamela Frappier

Jiffy Lube #2561
788 Memorial Ave.
Albert Chance

Law Offices of Michael Harty
698 Westfield St.
Michael Harty

Renew.Calm
160 Baldwin St.
Dawn Nooney

Savers
135 Memorial Ave.
Richard Nedway

Sefa C. Ongun Uber Lyft DoorDash
132 Birnie Ave.
Sefa Ongun

Springfield Lumber Co.
202 Day St.
Joseph Musco

Stella’s Bones
640 Elm St.
Lesley Maple

USA Medical Supply Inc.
1779 Riverdale St.
Richard Spafford

Your Story Counseling, LLC
116 Ely Ave.
Jennifer Lingenberg

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Barnes, Tammy L.
2 Center St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/18/2021

BMT Lock and Key
Kulas, Walter L.
306 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/16/2021

Dickman, Richard B.
94 Crawford Road
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/22/2021

Harvey, Chelsea M.
a/k/a Clary, Chelsea M.
42 Munsing Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/26/2021

Labbe, Michele L.
486 East State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/29/2021

Le, Vincent
Bui, Sonia
782 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/27/2021

Martin, Carol R.
84 Penrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/16/2021

Martinez, Andre Hassan
a/k/a Martinez-Avalos, Andre H.
Martinez, Andrea Marie
48 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2021

Mason-Coto, Jody Lee
290A Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/29/2021

McFaul, Carisa M.
a/k/a Szloch, Carisa M.
a/k/a Kularski, Carisa M.
181 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/19/2021

Morales, Linda Y.
15 Casimir St., Apt. Rear
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/27/2021

Mrozinsky, Edward F.
138 Slate Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/16/2021

Nasr, Georges
PO Box 148
Clarlemont, MA 01339
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/29/2021

North, Joseph John
51 Northampton St., Unit A
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/26/2021

Orrell, Jessica D.
14D Bradford Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/21/2021

Ortiz, Nathan J.
260 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/21/2021

Peyron, Madison-Taylor
a/k/a Shobe, Madison T.
4 Acrebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/17/2021

Pluta, Kathryn E.
21 Warebrook Village
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/21/2021

Powell, Barbara A.
53 Druid Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/23/2021

Smith, Willie R.
275 Chestnut St., Apt. 208
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/20/2021

St. Pierre, James J.
37 Dana Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/16/2021

Suckau, Jessica
19 Monroe St., Apt. 19F
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/17/2021

Sullivan, Maura J.
22 Corbett Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/17/2021

Thomas, Timothy Lamons
Thomas, Cynthia Denise
a/k/a Taylor, Cynthia Denise
194 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/27/2021

Warren, Brittnie A.
a/k/a Roginski, Brittnie A.
45 Deroche Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/19/2021

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

229 Norton Hill Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Roy Nilson
Seller: Elizabeth D. Castro
Date: 04/26/21

BUCKLAND

4 Conway St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $537,000
Buyer: Steven J. Andrews
Seller: Singley, Chris E., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

CONWAY

Roaring Brook Road #1
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Christopher R. Waldo
Seller: Scot Millay
Date: 04/22/21

Whately Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Hitchcock RT
Seller: James E. Matus
Date: 04/28/21

DEERFIELD

15 Keets Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $398,000
Buyer: Mark Weidenfeld
Seller: John F. Waite
Date: 04/28/21

GREENFIELD

637 Bernardston Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Janice M. Soper
Seller: Allison B. Henry
Date: 04/23/21

31 Champney Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $398,000
Buyer: Huiping Chen
Seller: Parody Builders & Sons LLC
Date: 04/22/21

51 Garfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $307,700
Buyer: Andrew A. Charlton
Seller: Aisha Russell
Date: 04/30/21

130 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Stephen P. Fernandez
Seller: El Gold LLC
Date: 04/27/21

98 Petty Plain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Jesse W. Hastings
Seller: Mark J. Burton
Date: 04/22/21

66-68 Phillips St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Phillips St Greenfield Realty
Seller: Roger S. Glassman
Date: 04/30/21

70 Phillips St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Phillips St Greenfield Realty
Seller: Roger S. Glassman
Date: 04/30/21

55 Plantation Circle
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Tyler S. Goodnow
Seller: Sally R. Roberts
Date: 04/30/21

128 Verde Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $389,000
Buyer: Tigran Ayrapetyan
Seller: John Chickanosky
Date: 04/22/21

20 Wildwood Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $285,500
Buyer: Ryan T. Grady-Wagner
Seller: BT & DNG Davilli RET
Date: 04/30/21

21 Woodleigh Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Maia L. Valcarce
Seller: Joel T. Velez
Date: 04/20/21

HAWLEY

104 East Hawley Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Lesperance
Seller: Cody M. Gerry
Date: 04/30/21

HEATH

127 Route 8A
Heath, MA 01339
Amount: $170,500
Buyer: John J. Kucich
Seller: Janet Sessions-Mello
Date: 04/23/21

MONTAGUE

5 Green Pond Road
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Pavel I. Lyvytsky
Seller: Sally J. Cary
Date: 04/28/21

38 O St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Jacob M. Eugin
Seller: Brian Markwell
Date: 04/30/21

53 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Douglas Dedischew
Seller: John Moquin
Date: 04/30/21

NORTHFIELD

68 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Gregory M. Moretti
Seller: Porter, Mary B., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

ORANGE

85 Cheney St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Reginald Haughton
Seller: Ronald L. Marsh
Date: 04/30/21

163 Pleasant St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Kimball
Seller: Mission Covenant Church
Date: 04/26/21

56 Putnam St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Nicholas M. Bass
Seller: Karen M. Bass
Date: 04/23/21

77 Wheeler Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Joseph A. Lanteigne
Seller: Linda M. Davis
Date: 04/30/21

39 Winter St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Happy Homes REI LLC
Seller: Catherine R. Johnson
Date: 04/26/21

ROWE

32 Davenport Branch Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Coastline Property Renovations
Seller: Joseph E. Thane
Date: 04/30/21

SHELBURNE

3 Allen Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Daniel Guzewicz
Seller: Singley, Chris E., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

Barnard Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Daniel Guzewicz
Seller: Singley, Chris E., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

2-8 Bridge St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: High River LLC
Seller: Singley, Chris E., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

55 Bridge St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $600,600
Buyer: Flowers & Falls LLC
Seller: Singley, Chris E., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

1 Deerfield Ave.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $550,600
Buyer: Flowers & Falls LLC
Seller: Singley, Chris E., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

WHATELY

37 Christian Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Frank R. Popkiewicz
Seller: 37 Christian Lane RT
Date: 04/27/21

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

15 Autumn St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Abdalrahman S. Alsaab
Seller: Robert A. Muldrew
Date: 04/21/21

47 Burlington Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Isaiah D. Pagan
Seller: Jeffrey R. Peterson
Date: 04/21/21

25 Danny Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Julia Park
Seller: Carol S. McGurn
Date: 04/29/21

16 Fernwood Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Mark Christian
Seller: Justin S. Waterman
Date: 04/30/21

25 Franklin St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $1,850,000
Buyer: CG Foods LLC
Seller: Ferraro Foods of MA LLC
Date: 04/28/21

108-110 Moore St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: JLX 2 Properties LLC
Seller: Amanda M. Parizo
Date: 04/30/21

107 Oak Hill Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $246,500
Buyer: Kathleen Hill
Seller: Carl M. Perella
Date: 04/29/21

315 Poplar St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Lauren E. White
Seller: David A. Robinson
Date: 04/23/21

93 Senator Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Andrew Turner
Seller: Marlene Roberts
Date: 04/20/21

85-87 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Oleksandr Melnychuk
Seller: Mark J. Danalis
Date: 04/30/21

745 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $1,850,000
Buyer: CG Foods LLC
Seller: Ferraro Foods of MA LLC
Date: 04/28/21

119 Wagon Wheel Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Kenneth A. Keppler
Seller: Gregory A. Riberdy
Date: 04/23/21

BLANDFORD

257 Brookman Dr.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $949,000
Buyer: Arlene Fishkind
Seller: Kathleen K. Bourn
Date: 04/30/21

BRIMFIELD

177 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Timothy M. Bishop
Seller: Sharon L. Morin
Date: 04/30/21

108 Cubles Dr.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $217,900
Buyer: Joseph Lace
Seller: Shaun McLaughlin
Date: 04/23/21

15 Mill Lane
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Lindsay Fleming
Seller: Andrew J. Rasys
Date: 04/20/21

20 Prospect Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Edward M. Morley
Seller: Johan T. Leth-Steensen
Date: 04/21/21

58 Washington Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Brianna S. White
Seller: Elizabeth Cebula
Date: 04/27/21

CHESTER

21 William St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Epifanio Arias
Seller: Chester S. Brett
Date: 04/20/21

CHICOPEE

376 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $154,500
Buyer: Samuel Velez-Lozada
Seller: Carol A. Laflamme
Date: 04/30/21

791 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: JSPSM LLC
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 04/23/21

358 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Jorge A. Hernandez
Seller: Sandra D. Hernandez
Date: 04/30/21

155 Chapel St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Betty M. Lichtenstein
Seller: David Hebert
Date: 04/20/21

370 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Dmitriy Salagornik
Seller: Lucas Real Estate LLC
Date: 04/21/21

25 Dayton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Ileana M. Cruz
Seller: Juan Santana
Date: 04/20/21

East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: PBHI Properties LLC
Seller: Westmass Area Development Corp.
Date: 04/21/21

191 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jonathan Giedrowicz
Seller: John C. Scribner
Date: 04/21/21

Empire St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: JBD Empire LLC
Seller: Robert P. Kardisco
Date: 04/27/21

52 Falmouth Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $242,400
Buyer: Agnieszka E. Wieczorek
Seller: Shawn A. Barrett
Date: 04/28/21

31 Franklin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Benjamin Perez
Seller: Carl C. Nunziato
Date: 04/30/21

Fuller Road #1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,900,000
Buyer: Milton Real Properties Of Mass.
Seller: JK Real Estate LLC
Date: 04/30/21

777 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Leigha Schmidt
Seller: Brian Fournier
Date: 04/26/21

59 Higgins Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Kody M. Anischik
Seller: Richard J. Anischik
Date: 04/29/21

261 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Stephanie M. Ewing
Seller: Kathy J. Trillo
Date: 04/30/21

15 Lachine St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Carolyn Martinez
Seller: Cheryl A. Budington
Date: 04/28/21

10 Lucretia Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Patrick McNamara
Seller: John C. Accorsi
Date: 04/30/21

21 Macek Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Valiquette
Seller: Volodomyr Boyko
Date: 04/23/21

38 Northwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Yolyma Montanez-Gonzalez
Seller: Raymond A. Nadeau
Date: 04/30/21

13 Park St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Jamellah S. Smith
Seller: Shari M. Duffus
Date: 04/23/21

23 Pembroke Place
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Brandon S. Ewing
Seller: Michael R. Reniewicz
Date: 04/22/21

41 Pennsylvania Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Kevin Randall
Seller: Bernard J. Chartier
Date: 04/23/21

40 Randall St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Krystal A. Rivera
Seller: Robert A. Tardiff
Date: 04/30/21

45 Reed St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Corey L. Scribner
Seller: Ronald Viens
Date: 04/30/21

56 Sesame Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $279,250
Buyer: John R. Houle
Seller: Mary E. Goulette
Date: 04/28/21

61 State St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: JBD Empire LLC
Seller: Robert P. Kardisco
Date: 04/27/21

36 Taylor St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $117,340
Buyer: R. M. Blerman LLC
Seller: Midfirst Bank
Date: 04/23/21

1559 Westover Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Wesley Jackson
Seller: Robert G. Shaw
Date: 04/30/21

EAST LONGMEADOW

70 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Annette Quinones
Seller: Phyllis M. Smith
Date: 04/28/21

245 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Michael J. Cook
Seller: Christine E. Disibio
Date: 04/20/21

27 Michel St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: William Nichols
Seller: Francis K. Minahan
Date: 04/30/21

291 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Regina Sibilia
Seller: Meng L. Wang
Date: 04/20/21

94 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Thomas Champagne
Seller: William J. Reilly
Date: 04/30/21

94 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: James Pikoulas
Seller: Patriot Living LLC
Date: 04/26/21

Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $2,200,000
Buyer: Marth-E LLC
Seller: Shaker Road LLC
Date: 04/29/21

30-34 Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $2,200,000
Buyer: Marth-E LLC
Seller: Shaker Rd LLC
Date: 04/28/21

60 Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $2,200,000
Buyer: Marth-E LLC
Seller: Shaker Rd LLC
Date: 04/28/21

54 Tufts St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Muhammad K. Khan
Seller: Colleen A. Caban
Date: 04/30/21

16 Vadnais St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Emily S. Willer
Seller: Debbie W. Lee
Date: 04/27/21

15 Westernview Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Dessire Vitorino
Seller: Mental Health Association Inc.
Date: 04/29/21

GRANVILLE

1442 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $200,200
Buyer: Midfirst Bank
Seller: William B. Phelon
Date: 04/28/21

HAMPDEN

113 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $564,900
Buyer: Alan A. Lareau
Seller: Raymond J. Crane
Date: 04/30/21

381 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Timothy Barry
Seller: Barry, William J. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 04/23/21

53 Meadow Brook Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Brendan Q. Kessler
Seller: Vincent C. Perreault
Date: 04/30/21

33 Wehr Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Stephanie Taylor
Seller: Michelle R. MacPhail
Date: 04/30/21

HOLLAND

197 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $372,500
Buyer: Jason Seplowitz
Seller: Brian J. Martin
Date: 04/21/21

 

HOLYOKE

37 Anderson Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Kathryn A. Setterstrom
Seller: John A. Ramondetta
Date: 04/29/21

28-30 Beacon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Ronald G. Bell
Seller: Modesto Melendez
Date: 04/28/21

33-35 Brookline Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Jeanna Byrd
Seller: Fens Co LLC
Date: 04/28/21

77 Brookline Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Martinelli Martini & Gallagher
Seller: Barbara J. Desmarais
Date: 04/22/21

16-24 Commercial St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: 16 Commercial Street LLC
Seller: Mcmahon, Daniel J., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

30 Hampton Knolls Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Lee Skiffington
Seller: Gerald G. Moreau
Date: 04/30/21

276 High St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Pru Holyoke MA LLC
Seller: Prew LLC
Date: 04/21/21

15 Holy Family Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Holy Family Road LLC
Seller: Robert-Thomas Construction LLC
Date: 04/29/21

Holyoke Road #B
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $2,750,000
Buyer: Holyoke Landing LLC
Seller: BRE Development LLC
Date: 04/23/21

37 Laura Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Matthew M. Bagg
Seller: Michael Kane
Date: 04/26/21

115 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $216,500
Buyer: Irene Ushomirskyty
Seller: Alex B. Morse
Date: 04/30/21

11 Linden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jorangel Marrero-Dejesus
Seller: Alex B. Morse
Date: 04/30/21

20 Magnolia Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Dugagjin Shala
Seller: Yahaira Bermudez
Date: 04/23/21

1 Meadow St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Kristin M. Fontaine
Seller: Candice J. Michaelsen
Date: 04/20/21

23 North East St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: David Class
Seller: Carlos J. Miranda
Date: 04/30/21

1298 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Rebecca E. Yadegar
Seller: Ester T. Pineault
Date: 04/30/21

1889 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Marlene Rye
Seller: Brian M. Griffin
Date: 04/27/21

2129 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $203,500
Buyer: Frank P. Brunelle
Seller: John J. O’Connor
Date: 04/29/21

57 Norwood Ter.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Lynch
Seller: Ezold, Robert, (Estate)
Date: 04/28/21

235 Oak St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Jessica Bahadur
Seller: AAD LLC
Date: 04/30/21

145 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Griffin A. Bazzeghin
Seller: Wayne B. Versace
Date: 04/28/21

167 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Erin K. Bartuska
Seller: Daniel Bones
Date: 04/30/21

272-274 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Guy C. Meade
Seller: Victoria P. Staples
Date: 04/30/21

47 Queen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Posiadlosc LLC
Seller: Jason K. Frey
Date: 04/28/21

30-32 Ridgewood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Wayne J. Caillouette
Seller: Becky A. Yacubeck
Date: 04/29/21

74 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Joshua Menard
Seller: David C. Bergeron
Date: 04/28/21

303 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Marianne Ortiz
Seller: Yu J. Lin
Date: 04/30/21

LONGMEADOW

173 Academy Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Pierre Beauchamp
Seller: Leveillee, Brad A., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

321 Ardsley Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $647,750
Buyer: Samuel R. Hamner
Seller: JEF Properties Inc.
Date: 04/30/21

26 Elmwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Meredith B. Folsom
Seller: Jason M. Lawrence
Date: 04/29/21

339 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: David S. Taylor
Seller: Francesco Ferrentino
Date: 04/30/21

361 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Mark D. Soycher
Seller: Stanley F. Jorczak
Date: 04/23/21

37 Lincoln Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Ana Pereira
Seller: Rosinski Realty Inc.
Date: 04/29/21

86 Lincoln Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $332,000
Buyer: Colee Curtis
Seller: Stuart B. Gordon
Date: 04/30/21

217 Lynnwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $647,500
Buyer: Kiran R. Palreddy
Seller: Blair E. Vassallo
Date: 04/30/21

101 Morningside Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $446,000
Buyer: Amy E. Devoe
Seller: Robert J. Wiles
Date: 04/30/21

170 Morningside Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $475,500
Buyer: Cassandra Williamson
Seller: Craig A. Barry
Date: 04/30/21

410 Pinewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Aziz Ashirov
Seller: John B. Corcoran
Date: 04/26/21

10 Quinnehtuk Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $387,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Hurst
Seller: Behan, Barbara S., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/21

178 Redfern Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: James A. Bouchard
Seller: Charles W. Gamache
Date: 04/30/21

71 South Park Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Mark R. Trent
Seller: Joan A. Crowley
Date: 04/23/21

LUDLOW

19 Acorn Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Steven J. Beauregard
Seller: Patricia Beauregard
Date: 04/30/21

763 Alden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Derek Davidson
Seller: Michael A. Houle
Date: 04/30/21

30 Bridle Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Samuel D. Kopec
Seller: Paulo G. Marta
Date: 04/23/21

182-184 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Brett E. Provost
Seller: Cynthia L. Denucci
Date: 04/22/21

66-68 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Jesse M. Warga
Seller: Delos Real Estate LLC
Date: 04/29/21

168 Hubbard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Lawrence J. Pagliaro
Seller: Bruce R. Belmer
Date: 04/21/21

155 Lakeview Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Ana M. Santos
Seller: Steven W. Balicki
Date: 04/27/21

56 Lillian St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $295,500
Buyer: Christopher Sarrasin
Seller: Paul Pereira
Date: 04/30/21

5 Marion Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $238,500
Buyer: Dean A. Miner
Seller: Pierre E. Bertrand
Date: 04/29/21

190 Moody St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $1,175,000
Buyer: HP Rum LLC
Seller: Croteau Realty LLC
Date: 04/21/21

501 Moore St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Shawn Barrett
Seller: Ernest Watt
Date: 04/28/21

58 Mountainview St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $396,000
Buyer: Matthew V. Blanchard
Seller: Michael W. Wojtowicz
Date: 04/30/21

32 Noel St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Sheltra
Seller: James A. LaFortune
Date: 04/27/21

153 West Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Cecilia Goncalves
Seller: Cristina D. Ribeiro
Date: 04/30/21

103 Williams St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Richard A. Thibeault
Seller: Richard A. Jodoin
Date: 04/30/21

MONSON

38 Ely Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Lindsey M. Garman
Seller: Charles A. Lindsay
Date: 04/29/21

79 Ely Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Victor M. Rivera-Perez
Seller: Brandon E. Watroba
Date: 04/30/21

13 Green St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Alec Truman-Barkett
Seller: Luke Paull
Date: 04/29/21

4 Hilltop Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Zachary T. Enderle
Seller: Daniel J. Enderle
Date: 04/30/21

221 Moulton Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $338,000
Buyer: Sammi Liang
Seller: Ruth I. Deroy
Date: 04/23/21

32 Paradise Lake Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Patricia A. Finch
Seller: Robert Berns
Date: 04/30/21

129 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Horizon Properties LLC
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 04/23/21

PALMER

82 Belchertown St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Allen Krasnecky
Seller: Mckee, Lydia W., (Estate)
Date: 04/23/21

4045 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: Shale Miller
Seller: Isaiah D. Pagan
Date: 04/21/21

3162-3164 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Luke Paull
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 04/27/21

10-12 Maple Ter.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Remond Speight
Seller: Real Estate Investments Northeast
Date: 04/22/21

138 Mason St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Brendan N. Campbell
Seller: Robert B. Campbell
Date: 04/29/21

51 South High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Stanley Gyamfi
Seller: Steven S. Kusek
Date: 04/26/21

1 Sibley St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Richard J. Guimond
Seller: Nancy Guimond
Date: 04/30/21

21 West Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Gonyea
Seller: Glen A. Wuerthele
Date: 04/23/21

 

 

RUSSELL

45 Blandford Stage Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $1,960,000
Buyer: Charles Russell Owner LLC
Seller: Russell Retail LLC
Date: 04/21/21

SOUTHWICK

130 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: William Rivera
Seller: Samuel R. Elander
Date: 04/30/21

162 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Nancy Couturier-Stefaniw
Seller: Christian Prosper
Date: 04/20/21

29 Hillside Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: L&A TR
Seller: Steven Zayac
Date: 04/22/21

5 Patriots Way
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Aleh Semenovich
Seller: Paul Watts
Date: 04/23/21

5 Pondview Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $541,500
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: John Adamczyk
Date: 04/27/21

33 Ranch Club Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $737,500
Buyer: Michael T. Sheil
Seller: William A. Rodgers
Date: 04/23/21

18 Reservoir Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Brandan Towers
Seller: Timofey Tserkovnyy
Date: 04/30/21

Silvergrass Lane #32
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Dennis Aube
Seller: Fiore Realty Holdings LLC
Date: 04/28/21

Silvergrass Lane #33
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Dennis Aube
Seller: Fiore Realty Holdings LLC
Date: 04/28/21

5 Tree Top Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Stephanie Jimenez
Seller: Michael T. Sheil
Date: 04/26/21

SPRINGFIELD

945 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Nasser Zebian
Seller: Todd R. Beeman
Date: 04/29/21

81 Bairdcrest Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jorge Cadiz
Seller: Erica Cadiz
Date: 04/22/21

53 Barrison St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Nicholas Malafronte
Seller: Borgy LLC
Date: 04/30/21

11 Benham St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Duenna S. Santiago
Seller: Daniel R. Muggleton
Date: 04/27/21

274 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Grahams Construction Inc.
Seller: Centro De Restauracion
Date: 04/20/21

1211 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Alberto Curbelo
Seller: Ann S. McPherson
Date: 04/28/21

88 Briarwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Gary Shepard
Seller: Joseph Amedeo
Date: 04/21/21

25 Brown St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,500
Buyer: MaCanthony Mack
Seller: Baystate Homeguard Inc.
Date: 04/30/21

59 Burghardt St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Darren Teale
Seller: Richard G. Patrick
Date: 04/30/21

70 Burnside Ter.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Micheal J. Matos
Seller: Tyron J. Zaitshik
Date: 04/20/21

160 Canterbury Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: David Hathaway-Johnson
Seller: Moltenbrey Builders LLC
Date: 04/28/21

165 Canterbury Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Michael Rodriguez
Seller: Moltenbrey Builders LLC
Date: 04/29/21

809 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Onstar Properties AA LLC
Seller: Round 2 LLC
Date: 04/26/21

11 Chase Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,555
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: PHH Mortgage Corp.
Date: 04/30/21

80-82 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Yenmy Eneida-Dominguez
Seller: Congamond Management LLC
Date: 04/23/21

81 Corcoran Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Juan L. Santiago
Seller: Heather M. Thomas
Date: 04/20/21

24 Crest St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Angelica Ortiz
Seller: Santana Real Estate Inc.
Date: 04/27/21

54 Crystal Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Yrania DeLosSantos
Seller: Oussama Awkal
Date: 04/22/21

75 Deepfield Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Yong Kim
Seller: Michael A. Rodriguez
Date: 04/29/21

257 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: An Dinh
Seller: Hieu Vuong
Date: 04/30/21

88-90 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,150
Buyer: Joseph A. Saracino
Seller: Marcia A. Lefort
Date: 04/23/21

74-76 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Angel L. Ruiz-Vega
Seller: Marcus A. Wilson
Date: 04/30/21

60-62 Edgemont St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ericka Gonzalez-Carrillo
Seller: John A. Canavan
Date: 04/23/21

43 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $408,000
Buyer: Bharatkumar S. Patel
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/21/21

128 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Carmen M. Huertas-Deleon
Seller: Nolava LLC
Date: 04/28/21

68 Eloise St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Emily S. Banerjee
Seller: Lakeside Properties LLC
Date: 04/23/21

42 Emily St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Mboboko Elikana
Seller: James Ngugi
Date: 04/30/21

33 Farnsworth St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Yanira R. Maldonado
Seller: David Givans
Date: 04/26/21

76 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Denissa Juarez-Escalera
Seller: Albert L. Williams
Date: 04/26/21

71 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $220,500
Buyer: Ryan Lau
Seller: Michael Simmonds
Date: 04/29/21

100 Gillette Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Arielle A. Santana
Seller: Michel C. Hopkins
Date: 04/30/21

22 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Homestead Connections LLC
Seller: Green, Shelley I., (Estate)
Date: 04/20/21

23 Halifax Court
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Steven B. Kivitz
Seller: William D. Neigher
Date: 04/23/21

132 Halifax Court
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Steven B. Kivitz
Seller: William D. Neigher
Date: 04/23/21

315 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Alyssa M. Babin
Seller: Brendan Linnehan
Date: 04/28/21

203 Jewett St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Christian J. Brouthers
Seller: Justin Henry
Date: 04/23/21

124 Joan St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kenneth Collins
Seller: Gail M. Corliss
Date: 04/21/21

15 Leete St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: MPower Capital LLC
Seller: Devin F. Eddington
Date: 04/27/21

117 Leitch St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Omayra Guzman
Seller: Kathleen R. King
Date: 04/30/21

18 Leroy Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,850
Buyer: Jose Vazquez-Roman
Seller: Murad Drifish
Date: 04/27/21

42-44 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Juan Rodriguez
Seller: Yanira Rentas-Maldonado
Date: 04/23/21

1592-1596 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: D&A LLC
Seller: 1670 Main Street LLC
Date: 04/28/21

86 Magnolia Ter.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $244,900
Buyer: Fyxer Up Properties LLC
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 04/20/21

1600 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: D&A LLC
Seller: 1670 Main Street LLC
Date: 04/28/21

36 Martone Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Saint James Place Properties
Seller: HDC 4 LLC
Date: 04/22/21

60 Martone Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Saint James Place Properties
Seller: Martone Place LLC
Date: 04/22/21

204 Massachusetts Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Erik Santiago
Seller: Maribel Reynoso
Date: 04/27/21

106 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Janitza Cruz
Seller: Thomas F. Barrett
Date: 04/21/21

127 Melha Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Eilleen Y. Cruz
Seller: Athan Catjakis
Date: 04/29/21

172 Middlesex St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Joel Nieves
Seller: William K. Butler
Date: 04/21/21

37 Normandy Road
Springfield, MA 01106
Amount: $416,000
Buyer: Leontino Piecuch
Seller: Jennifer Winkler
Date: 04/29/21

326-328 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Julian D. Watts
Seller: Richard G. Johnson
Date: 04/22/21

54 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: John D. Hill
Seller: Kurt Nielson
Date: 04/29/21

133 Regal St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Alexis Saez-Rodriguez
Seller: Crystal A. Frederick
Date: 04/21/21

38 Penrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Jose L. Hernandez-Pagan
Seller: Mirian P. Chavez
Date: 04/30/21

75 Puritan Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Tracy Ascolillo
Seller: Anita Clements
Date: 04/28/21

52-54 Reed St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Benjamin Nicolas
Seller: Eduard Tsikhotskiy
Date: 04/30/21

65 Rochelle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $199,500
Buyer: Michael Fontanella
Seller: Norma H. Fraser
Date: 04/30/21

90 Rochelle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $133,500
Buyer: Thomas P. Myers
Seller: Delno E. Clark
Date: 04/30/21

386 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $250,300
Buyer: Derrick J. Hatwood
Seller: Alaina M. MaCaulay
Date: 04/29/21

405 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jose Garcia-Mercado
Seller: Joan G. Kavanagh
Date: 04/27/21

57 Signal Hill Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Akadeth Paenmuan
Seller: Vanessa Raster
Date: 04/28/21

55 Slumber Lane
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Colleen Caban
Seller: Dorothy C. Desnoyers
Date: 04/30/21

27-29 Standish St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Ariangna Gonzalez
Seller: AJN Rentals LLC
Date: 04/27/21

305 State St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: State 305 LLC
Seller: Avneet LLC
Date: 04/22/21

655-657 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Elvyn A. Almarante
Seller: Alan Whitmeyer
Date: 04/26/21

1178 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Michelle Rubiera
Seller: Lindsey L. Taylor
Date: 04/28/21

131 Sunbrier Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Joanna Skora
Seller: Christopher Skora
Date: 04/23/21

23 Superior Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Tabitha A. Batterman
Seller: Maureen A. Burns
Date: 04/29/21

55 Sylvan St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Mar Mardiros-Varteresian
Seller: Lourdes M. Alves
Date: 04/23/21

74-76 Sylvan St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Nexius LLC
Seller: David Vooris
Date: 04/27/21

146 Temby St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Humboldt Realty LLC
Seller: Roger Howland
Date: 04/30/21

38 Texel Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: Elisa M. Alvaro
Seller: Scott R. Hanson
Date: 04/30/21

191 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Angelica Rosario
Seller: Martin Diaz
Date: 04/30/21

95 Washington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Tovan Nguyen
Seller: My V. Le
Date: 04/30/21

25-27 Watling St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Annette Holmes
Seller: Peter C. Coolidge
Date: 04/28/21

44-46 Wayne St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Roxanne Stanford-Simpson
Seller: Denise C. Higgins
Date: 04/28/21

116-118 Westford Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Community Loan Servicing
Seller: Frankstone Group LLC
Date: 04/30/21

54 Wildwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Ashley Alvarado
Seller: Sanderson, Gerald B., (Estate)
Date: 04/20/21

9 York St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $715,000
Buyer: York Street 2 LLC
Seller: 9 York Street Family LP
Date: 04/23/21

WALES

54 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Eric Maucione
Seller: Jennifer Dupuis
Date: 04/30/21

4 Monson Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Adam J. Jackson
Seller: David M. VanWagoner
Date: 04/28/21

WEST SPRINGFIELD

9 Albert St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Stephen A. Houpert
Seller: Alex Vilkhovoy
Date: 04/22/21

79 Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Haskell Holdings LLC
Seller: KSV Realty LLC
Date: 04/30/21

150 Chestnut St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Tarik Zaitoun
Seller: Valeriy Katainikov
Date: 04/29/21

226 Circle Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Tara M. Rana
Seller: Patricia A. Wright
Date: 04/20/21

43 Day St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Revampit Holdings LLC
Seller: Nataliya Novikova
Date: 04/28/21

202 Day St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $900,000
Buyer: J&A Aerospace Inc.
Seller: BK Realty LLP
Date: 04/22/21

60-62 Elmdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Mohammad Abdraba
Seller: Tiefu Shao
Date: 04/30/21

 

164 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Sarah E. Della-Giustina
Seller: Kennedy, Elizabeth A., (Estate)
Date: 04/28/21

78 George St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Damian J. Feliciano
Seller: Carlos D. Feliciano
Date: 04/27/21

92 Greenleaf Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Glendy M. Baez
Seller: Frederick T. Molyneux
Date: 04/23/21

65 Merrick St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Ah Bley
Seller: Petr A. Taganov
Date: 04/29/21

25 Railroad St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Cindy M. Rivera
Seller: Remoon Hawel
Date: 04/29/21

2024 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $2,700,000
Buyer: Riverdale Investment LLC
Seller: Naviah LLC
Date: 04/30/21

2036 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $2,700,000
Buyer: Riverdale Investment LLC
Seller: Naviah LLC
Date: 04/30/21

Saint Andrews Way #16
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Matthew M. Paige
Seller: Country Club Partners LLC
Date: 04/30/21

844 Union St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: DHJC Realty LLC
Seller: Edward F. Kelley
Date: 04/29/21

2063 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $373,500
Buyer: Henry Romero
Seller: MAA Property LLC
Date: 04/28/21

WESTFIELD

1 Allen Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Mebarek Abdelkebir
Seller: Jenna K. Biscoe
Date: 04/21/21

117 Berkshire Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Cavallo
Seller: Frank Cavallo
Date: 04/21/21

54 Blue Sky Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Bruce R. Belmer
Seller: Robert C. Browne
Date: 04/22/21

29 Brentwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $241,800
Buyer: Robert Hamann
Seller: Donald F. Voudren
Date: 04/30/21

39 Brentwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Wayne H. Young
Seller: Stephen A. Barrup
Date: 04/26/21

8 Bush St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Evan W. Beswick
Seller: CEJ Property LLC
Date: 04/30/21

14 Crescent Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Brandon P. Ducheney
Seller: HL Holdings LLC
Date: 04/22/21

1685 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $352,500
Buyer: Becky A. Yacubeck
Seller: David S. Usher
Date: 04/29/21

1768 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: John Q. Adams
Date: 04/28/21

130 Elizabeth Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Nicholas Fitzgerald
Seller: David J. Deveau
Date: 04/30/21

122 Farnham Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Stephanie N. Liptak
Seller: Douglas J. Fuller
Date: 04/30/21

91 Franklin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Daniel Marcoux
Seller: Stanley J. Osowski
Date: 04/30/21

27 Gloria Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Orville Libanan
Seller: Dinesh Mainali
Date: 04/30/21

76 Governor Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Jenna K. Biscoe
Seller: Daniel J. Bednarz
Date: 04/22/21

65 Hubbard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jessica Talbot
Seller: Craig A. Daniels
Date: 04/28/21

113 Lindbergh Blvd.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Hanming Chen
Seller: Michael P. Daly
Date: 04/30/21

59 King St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $139,291
Buyer: Charles L. Darling
Seller: Fife, Ruth G., (Estate)
Date: 04/20/21

64 Noble St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $285,500
Buyer: Nicole Knapp
Seller: Vadim Plotnikov
Date: 04/23/21

12 Northridge Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Daniele A. Demay
Seller: Robert C. Badone
Date: 04/22/21

64 Northridge Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Cindy A. Nikiforakis
Seller: Kelly A. Gourde
Date: 04/22/21

78 Otis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Alicia Beebe
Seller: Christopher D. Roy
Date: 04/29/21

240 Russellville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Angel Naula
Seller: Kathryn E. Cowles
Date: 04/30/21

15 Tow Path Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $382,000
Buyer: Gary J. Sperlonga
Seller: Greg A. Bevilacqua
Date: 04/23/21

5 Willow Brook Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Jaslin Orelus
Seller: Kevin D. O’Brien
Date: 04/23/21

WILBRAHAM

910 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Ronald Venne
Seller: Jeanne E. Molinari
Date: 04/29/21

381 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Matthew Murphy
Seller: Nasser Chehimi
Date: 04/20/21

77 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Krishna N. Kumar
Seller: Matthew V. Blanchard
Date: 04/30/21

207 Manchonis Road Ext.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Brett Basili-Wright
Seller: JR&D Properties LLC
Date: 04/23/21

11 Old Coach Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Mark Dore
Seller: Michael A. Pandolfi
Date: 04/30/21

24 Ripley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Audrey Camerota
Seller: Anthony G. Camerota
Date: 04/30/21

472 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: Custom Home Development Group LLC
Seller: Robert T. Rudolph
Date: 04/30/21

951 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Craig J. Siano
Seller: Nicole Murdoch
Date: 04/29/21

12 Tall Timber Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $407,650
Buyer: James R. Lovotti
Seller: Kathleen M. Whitney
Date: 04/29/21

780 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Aleksandr P. Verbetsky
Seller: Jakub Muller
Date: 04/21/21

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

260 Amity St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $708,895
Buyer: Andrew K. Leinung
Seller: Geoffrey M. Zucker
Date: 04/23/21

68 Country Corners Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $569,900
Buyer: Gabija Revis
Seller: Gail C. Whitlock RET
Date: 04/20/21

11 Dayton Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $777,000
Buyer: Stephen B. Marcus
Seller: Richard N. Palmer
Date: 04/30/21

227 Heatherstone Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Michael R. Ising
Seller: Donald Weber
Date: 04/22/21

51 Jeffrey Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Dan Wang
Seller: Dongliang Guo
Date: 04/22/21

21 Kendrick Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Narayan Sampath
Seller: Ian J. Walsh
Date: 04/29/21

762 North East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $690,000
Buyer: Adam G. Hinds
Seller: Joseph R. Polino
Date: 04/22/21

8 Pondview Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $329,500
Buyer: Shivaji Kumar
Seller: Chrystal A. George-Mwangi
Date: 04/30/21

BELCHERTOWN

93 Clark St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Barbara J. Gilbert
Seller: John R. Norden
Date: 04/23/21

29 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Btown Property Holdings LLC
Seller: Quabbin Village LLC
Date: 04/22/21

52 Howard St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jonathan Morales
Seller: Robert L. Laurin
Date: 04/27/21

171 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Cameron
Seller: Lisa Burke
Date: 04/28/21

46 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Rachel J. Foley-Diaz
Seller: Barbara Foley
Date: 04/30/21

265 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $433,000
Buyer: Mario Nascimento
Seller: Anthony Whalen
Date: 04/30/21

120 Sabin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $414,999
Buyer: Joseph Vicinanza
Seller: James A. McKimmie
Date: 04/22/21

560 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $469,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Francis
Seller: Samuel Winston
Date: 04/30/21

CUMMINGTON

28 Old Route 9
Cummington, MA 01270
Amount: $559,000
Buyer: Raphael Wolfe
Seller: Frances W. Henry
Date: 04/30/21

EASTHAMPTON

322 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Emily A. Moreau
Seller: Thai C. Kim
Date: 04/30/21

19 Fort Hill Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $407,000
Buyer: John G. Hayden
Seller: William H. Mitchell
Date: 04/30/21

19 Howard Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: William Moynihan
Seller: James M. Gosselin
Date: 04/26/21

24 Kania St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Christina M. Elman
Seller: Michael W. Buehrle
Date: 04/28/21

134 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Brendon O’Leary
Seller: Steven J. O’Leary
Date: 04/30/21

27 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Scranton
Seller: Bruce D. Campbell
Date: 04/22/21

34 Torrey St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Dylan Wetherlad
Seller: John C. Barnes
Date: 04/23/21

8 Searle Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Manhan Properties LLC
Seller: Mountain View Investors LP
Date: 04/29/21

GRANBY

235 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $311,000
Buyer: Charles Louisraj
Seller: Joseph J. Romito-Carey
Date: 04/28/21

11 Deerbrook Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Parinita Abbott
Seller: Thaddeus J. Pula
Date: 04/20/21

10 Griswold Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: David P. Bergeron
Seller: Suzanne Brunelle
Date: 04/30/21

131-137 South St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: DJD Real Estate LLC
Seller: Xios LLC
Date: 04/30/21

52 West State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: L. Lands LLC
Seller: Skelskie, Jeffrey W., (Estate)
Date: 04/29/21

HADLEY

14 Frost Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $424,000
Buyer: Zachary M. Testo
Seller: Kirsten Helmer
Date: 04/29/21

34 Lawrence Plain Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Tuckman LLC
Seller: Theodore R. Mieczkowski
Date: 04/20/21

36 Lawrence Plain Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Tuckman LLC
Seller: Theodore R. Mieczkowski
Date: 04/20/21

213 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Richard J. Rhodes
Seller: Joyce C. Fill
Date: 04/30/21

67 Stockbridge St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Jeremy D. Ober
Seller: Henry Whitlock
Date: 04/23/21

HATFIELD

73 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Joshua C. Goldman
Seller: Michael D. Waltrip
Date: 04/22/21

HUNTINGTON

5 Russell Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Crystal R. Jones
Seller: Estey, Joane A., (Estate)
Date: 04/27/21

MIDDLEFIELD

140 Arthur Pease Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Nichole Strange
Seller: Burmer FT
Date: 04/23/21

69 Town Hill Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $143,400
Buyer: Liam D. Betit
Seller: Tyler Main
Date: 04/30/21

NORTHAMPTON

137 Barrett St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: Peter T. Mack
Seller: Timmon Wallis
Date: 04/30/21

102 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Jason Allen
Seller: Kathleen C. Larsen
Date: 04/30/21

133 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Gail M. Bienvenue
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 04/30/21

14 Ferry Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Ryan M. Pelis
Seller: Andrew S. Pelis
Date: 04/20/21

7 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Cailin Qualliotine
Seller: Blaine R. Applebee
Date: 04/28/21

574 Haydenville Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Haydenville Road LLC
Seller: Pre-Cast Properties LLC
Date: 04/20/21

8 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Streetlight Financial Real Estate LLC
Seller: Northampton Coop Bank
Date: 04/29/21

151 Maple Ridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $727,000
Buyer: Philip H. Mccurry
Seller: James R. Osofsky LT
Date: 04/30/21

117 Olander Dr. #16A
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $331,192
Buyer: Barbara J. Baatz
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 04/30/21

117 Olander Dr. #18B
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $472,465
Buyer: Joyce Swing-Goodlatte
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 04/28/21

119 Turkey Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $611,500
Buyer: Brett J. Reiter
Seller: William Yenner
Date: 04/29/21

62 West Parsons Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Scott W. Smith
Seller: Nina Slovik
Date: 04/27/21

1093 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Thomas Cummings
Seller: Ian D. Premo
Date: 04/23/21

PELHAM

77 Enfield Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Brian N. Fuller
Seller: Lorraine R. Lynch
Date: 04/29/21

 

SOUTH HADLEY

590 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Alexander N. Rojas
Seller: Karen Rojas
Date: 04/30/21

36 Charon Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Laura J. Morrissette
Seller: Paul R. Gallagher
Date: 04/23/21

41 High St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Marissa Montemagni
Seller: Carolanne Bright
Date: 04/30/21

15 Los Angeles St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Robert C. Desroches
Seller: Robert C. Desroches
Date: 04/30/21

22 Midway St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Patriot Living LLC
Seller: Swenson, Roger J., (Estate)
Date: 04/22/21

13 Pittroff Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: John W. Bauman
Seller: Paul D. Pellerin
Date: 04/30/21

8 Ralph Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Mary D. Lambert
Seller: Aleksandr Verbetsky
Date: 04/21/21

27 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $495,500
Buyer: Diane C. Rossini
Seller: SEB RT
Date: 04/26/21

14 West Summit St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Antonio Turner
Seller: Britall 1987 LLC
Date: 04/23/21

SOUTHAMPTON

196 County Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Kevin P. Bacon
Seller: Susan Humphrey
Date: 04/30/21

78 Fomer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Kevin Kraus
Seller: James W. Berniche
Date: 04/21/21

101 Gunn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Robert J. Tilbe
Seller: Lawrence B. Roberts
Date: 04/23/21

11 Hillside Meadows Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $421,000
Buyer: Carl R. Bean
Seller: Frederick J. Trela
Date: 04/30/21

162 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Nina Slovik
Seller: Nancy J. Matteson RET
Date: 04/27/21

55 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Jane Howard
Seller: James F. Boyle
Date: 04/30/21

75 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Ryan L. Geeleher
Seller: Neal & Jane Howard FT
Date: 04/30/21

WARE

4 East St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Felix Rosa
Seller: Chad Drigo
Date: 04/20/21

30 Greenwich Plains Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Rachel Heyn
Seller: Juan Larronde
Date: 04/30/21

23 Horseshoe Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $602,000
Buyer: Carolyn Leonard
Seller: Donald Moffat
Date: 04/30/21

199 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $142,100
Buyer: Gm Properties LLC
Seller: Derek A. Ouimette
Date: 04/23/21

150 Old Gilbertville Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Timothy E. Wells
Seller: Carol A. Root
Date: 04/28/21

20 Parker St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Troy A. Thomas
Seller: Trinity Episcopal Church Ware
Date: 04/21/21

11 Smith Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Mark Trevathan
Seller: Raymond L. Donnelly
Date: 04/30/21

WILLIAMSBURG

5 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $422,000
Buyer: Erin A. Slott
Seller: Jae J. Casella
Date: 04/30/21

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the months of April and May 2021. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

AMHERST

Amherst College
151 College St.
$30,000 — Reconstruct deteriorated concrete slab supporting brine water tanks

Amherst College
212 Northampton Road
$287,000 — Scoreboard foundation, athletic light footings and retaining walls, block wall, concrete stairs, shed

Northland Boulders, LLC
188 East Hadley Road
$209,940 — Fire-alarm system with monitoring for three buildings

Survival Centers, LLC
138 Sunderland Road
$44,457 — Install walk-in freezer, walk-in cooler with outdoor remote refrigeration system on concrete

CHICOPEE

A & B Realty, LLC
118 Lorraine St.
$25,000 — Roofing

Main Street Property
340 McKinstry Ave.
$405,000 — Roofing

RT Commercials, LLC
185 Grove St.
$26,747 — Install new NFPA #13 system within gutted building that is being renovated into a pizza shop

VSH Realty Inc.
37 Montcalm St.
$1,200 — Replace existing rooftop unit, disconnect electrical on old RTU and reinstall on new RTU

HADLEY

CHC Windfield Senior, LLC
30 Greenleaves Dr.
Replace insulation, drywall, and flooring from water damage

Hampshire Mosque Inc.
451 Russell St.
Sheetrock and painting

James Mallet
9 Frost Lane
Insulation

Target Corp.
369 Russell St.
Replace existing wall sign

LEE

Apache Oil Co.
55 Housatonic St.
$3,850 — Install chicken counter with hood and gas line installed

LENOX

Berkshire Retirement Community
40 Sunset Ave.
$73,400 — Install new bathtubs and showers in three existing shower areas

Cornell Inn Holdings, LLC
203 Main St.
$10,000 — Construct ADA ramp and rework landing to main lobby

L & S, LP
426 Pittsfield Road
$70,000 — Replace decking and steel perlings on canopy

L & S, LP
426 Pittsfield Road
$2,000 — Remove and reinstall fire-suppression cylinders after canopy work

Town of Lenox
65 Walker St.
$5,320 — Install seven vinyl windows

NORTHAMPTON

City of Northampton
80 Locust St.
$169,085 — Renovate nurse’s office at Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School

Gerald Randall
216 North King St.
$6,000 — Illuminated wall sign for Truelieve

Gerald Randall
216 North King St.
$3,000 — Awning sign for Truelieve

Gerald Randall
216 North King St.
$2,500 — Illuminated wall sign for Truelieve

Smith College
164 Green St.
$450,000 — Install replacement windows on Tyler House

Smith College
30 Henshaw Ave.
$18,250 — Roofing on Tilly Hall

Smith College
1 Paradise Road
$450,000 — Renovate first floor of Gardiner House to improve access

ZQHW Corp.
60 King St.
$58,400 — Repair damage due to car impact

SPRINGFIELD

A1 Sumner Plaza, LLC
876 Sumner Ave.
$3,000 — Alter interior tenant space for new use as Virtue Salon

Chestnut Park Preservation, LP
10 Chestnut St.
$28,000 — Remove and replace six antennas, install three RRUs and two cabinets on T-Mobile wireless telecommunications tower

CJ’s Towing
350 Pasco Road
$168,800 — Roofing

Mittas Hospitality, LLC; DD Development, LLC; Rudra Realty, LLC
1500 Main St.
$3,000 — Install fire-alarm system at White Lion Brewery

Pearson-Cooley Development Co., LP
1334 Liberty St.
$13,000 — Alter interior commercial tenant space at Prime Liquors, merging two existing spaces into one

Spring Park Properties Inc.
192 White St.
$20,000 — Remove and replace three antennas and three RRUs, install new cabinet on T-Mobile wireless telecommunications tower

Wason Avenue Partners II, LLC
80 Wason Ave.
$34,827 — Alter interior medical space for Baystate Health, rework sinks and room assignments, clinical trials suite, phase 2 reconfiguration

Live Music Returns to MGM Springfield with Free Music Fridays Concert Series

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Live music will returns to MGM Springfield with the new Free Music Fridays Concert Series. Every Friday from June 4 to Sept. 3, some of the area’s most popular rock bands will perform on the Plaza at MGM Springfield starting at 7:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Kicking off the 2021 series is FAT featuring Peter Newland. Additional local favorites such as Trailer Trash, Darik and the Funbags, and Michelle Brooks-Thompson, among others, are scheduled to perform throughout the summer.

“MGM Springfield is known for its diverse outdoor programming with a focus on entertaining guests and bringing the community together,” said Chris Kelley, MGM Springfield’s president and chief operating officer. “We look forward to welcoming guests, as well as members of the Springfield community, every weekend this summer with an evening of music and fun. The revitalization of the downtown community continues to be a priority for our team, and we can’t wait to host guests on the Plaza for the first time in more than a year.”

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno added that “I am very happy to see the return of live music with Free Music Fridays at our world-renowned MGM Springfield. As we continue with the transitioning of a phased reopening of our city and the Commonwealth, it is exciting to see that MGM Springfield is bringing back this vibrant and festive event of live music to downtown Springfield. I want to thank MGM Springfield President and COO Chris Kelley and his leadership team for their continued commitment and investment in our city and I am looking forward to celebrating the return of these musical events once again.”

The Plaza Bar will reopen for Free Music Fridays, offering summer cocktails, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, among other options. Guests also can enjoy MGM Springfield’s diverse food and beverage offerings before or after the concerts, with options including the Chandler Steakhouse, Tap Sports Bar, and Southend Market venues including Bill’s Diner, Jack’s Lobster Shack, Wicked Noodle, and Hearth Grill.

“I am so proud of our community and the efforts we’ve all taken to get to this point,” said Chris Russell, executive director of the Springfield BID. “As we continue along this positive path, we’re very excited to see people return to doing the things they love in downtown Springfield. Thank you, MGM Springfield, for bringing concerts back to the city.”

For additional details on the Free Music Fridays Concert Series, including lineup updates, visit mgmspringfield.com.

Nicole Domnarski Becomes Financial Advisor with FSB Financial Group

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Daily News

FLORENCE — FSB Financial Group, the investment division of Florence Bank, announced that Nicole Domnarski, after working two years as an assistant financial advisor, has transitioned to financial advisor.

Domnarski began her career in the financial-services industry 24 years ago and has been employed by FSB Financial Group for the past 10 years, helping advisors protect and preserve clients’ wealth. As a financial advisor, she will work directly with individuals and business owners to develop strategic, long-term financial plans to help customers achieve their financial goals and objectives.

Domnarski is a graduate of Springfield Technical Community College and is a chartered retirement planning counselor certified by the College for Financial Planning. She is an investment advisor representative with Commonwealth Financial Network, and holds Series 6, 7, 31, 63, and 65 registrations. She is also licensed to sell both life and health insurance.

“I am pleased to congratulate Nikki on her accomplishment,” said Kevin Day, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “I know she will ensure that every FSB Financial Group client receives the highest degree of service and best possible investment advice in the Pioneer Valley.”

Holyoke Community College Commencement Slated for June 5

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will celebrate the classes of 2020 and 2021 on Saturday, June 5 with a virtual commencement ceremony starting at 10 a.m. This livestreamed event will be accessible at hcc.edu and the college’s social-media channels.

The ceremony will feature introductory and concluding remarks from President Christina Royal and Robert Gilbert, chair of the HCC board of trustees. Keynote speeches will be delivered by two members of the HCC faculty: Raúl Gutiérrez, associate professor of Spanish and recipient of the 2021 Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence; and Vanessa Martinez, professor of Anthropology and recipient of the 2020 Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence. The student address will be presented by graduating HCC student Tugce Kuruca.

The event will include musical performances by Christian Santiago, from the class of 2020, playing the cuatro (a four-string Latin American guitar); graduating music major Chan Collins, playing the cello; and the HCC College Chorale.

The virtual event will feature a virtual procession of graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021 and a collection of photos and short congratulatory videos from faculty and staff.

The Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence was endowed by the late HCC Professor Emeritus Elaine Marieb. Each year, one full-time member of the faculty is recognized with the award for outstanding classroom teaching. Award recipients serve for one year and receive a small stipend for professional development and also give the keynote graduation speech. Because of the pandemic, HCC did not have a Commencement ceremony in 2020, so Martinez was invited to give her speech this year.

In addition to their classroom teaching responsibilities, Gutiérrez is chair of the HCC Foreign Languages program and co-founder and coordinator of HCC’s Latinx Studies program, while Martinez is coordinator of the HCC Honors Program.

Detailed information about Commencement can be found at hcc.edu/commencement. The ceremony will be closed-captioned and ASL-interpreted.

Median Sales Price for Massachusetts Homes Continue to Rise in April

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Daily News

FOXBOROUGH — The number of closed sales of homes continued to rise in April from the previous month, according to the Massachusetts Assoc. of Realtors (MAR), substantiating the expectations of a busy spring market that will likely last well into summer.

For single-family homes in March 2021, there were 3,385 closed sales and 5,804 new listings, while in April there were 3,923 closed sales and 6,721 new listings. For condominiums, March saw 1,959 closed sales and 3,040 new listings, whereas April brought 2,109 closed sales and 3,394 new listings. The market continues to see many multiple-offer situations, driving sales above asking price. Median sales price for single-family homes increased by 9% since March, from $485,000 to $529,000, and condominiums by 5.5%, from $459,945 to $485,000.

Though the market paused slightly in the early spring of 2020, thanks to an increase in buying activity throughout the pandemic, the market landscape has seen quite a change since then. Months supply of inventory for single-family homes in April 2020 was 2.3, dropping by 65.2% year over year to 0.8 for the same month this year. A similar trend was noted for condominium supply, dropping 44% year over year from 2.5 to 1.4. Compared to April 2020, the median sales price for single-family homes rose by almost $100,000, increasing by 20.8%, and 11.5% for condominiums.

“As anticipated, April 2021 was another strong month for home sales,” said Steve Medeiros, 2021 president of MAR and a Realtor at Keller Williams Realty. “While housing affordability remains an area to watch as prices continue to rise, strong buyer demand and limited housing supply show no signs of easing soon, pointing to a continuation of this market trend through spring and into summer.”

Community Foundation Names Denise Hurst VP for Community Impact and Partnerships

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) announced the appointment of Denise Hurst as vice president for Community Impact and Partnerships. In this redesigned role meant to deepen community engagement and drive program efficacy and representation, Hurst will oversee community investments, including grants, scholarships, and new efforts to strengthen advocacy, technical assistance, data and research, and evaluation in regional projects and initiatives.

This appointment is the latest example of CFWM’s ongoing commitment to advance equity in the region by elevating community voices, cultivating new coalitions and partnerships, and advancing the organizational effectiveness of nonprofits.

Hurst joins the Foundation after serving Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) as vice president of Advancement & External Affairs, where she led development for the college as the executive director of the STCC Foundation, and later oversaw marketing, communications, and government affairs. Prior to that, she was appointed regional manager of the Massachusetts State Lottery in Western Mass. by state Treasurer Deb Goldberg and has worked as site director for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, as well as an adjunct professor at Cambridge College. She comes to CFWM with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and established networks across Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.

“We are delighted to welcome Denise as a member of our senior leadership team. She brings a strong set of skills and a demonstrated commitment to our community,” said Katie Allan Zobel, the Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “Her background makes her uniquely suited for this role as CFWM evolves to meet the new opportunities and challenges ahead.”

For more than a decade, Hurst served as an elected member of the Springfield School Committee. She led the charge to establish the Minority Caucus for the Massachusetts Assoc. of School Committees (MASC) and served as the former chair of the caucus, as well as the former vice president of MASC.

Hurst has been honored with several awards, including BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2014, 2015 100 Women of Color in New England, and 2015 Top 25 Women to Watch in Western Mass., and most recently as the 2019 Woman of the Year by the Professional Women’s Chamber.

Asnuntuck to Celebrate Classes of 2020 and 2021 on May 27

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Daily News

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College’s (ACC) classes of 2020 and 2021 will be celebrated on Thursday, May 27 at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford.

This will be the college’s 48th commencement ceremony and the first time the college will hold the ceremony at the home field of the Hartford Yard Goats. The ceremony will be a ticketed event. However, a livestream will be available on May 27 at 6 p.m. at asnuntuck.edu/accgradstream2021.

Online summer classes at Asnuntuck begin Wednesday, June 2, and the fall semester, with both online and on-campus courses, will begin on Thursday, Aug. 26. Visit asnuntuck.edu to learn more.

Bradley International Airport Launches New, Non-stop Service to Minneapolis

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Daily News

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) announced that Bradley International Airport will launch new, non-stop service to Minneapolis with Sun Country Airlines today.

“We are thrilled to offer new service on Sun Country Airlines, giving our passengers even more options to travel conveniently and affordably,” said Kevin Dillon, executive director of the CAA. “While Sun Country Airlines is already familiar to Bradley International Airport due to their existing cargo and charter operations, we are excited that they are expanding their footprint at the airport with the introduction of passenger service to Minneapolis. We look forward to this strengthened partnership and future route launches with Sun Country Airlines.”

The service to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport operates twice a week, in each case arriving at Bradley from Minnesota at 11:05 a.m. and departing Bradley at 11:40 a.m. To book a flight, visit www.suncountry.com.

In September, Sun Country Airlines will also be launching new, non-stop service from Bradley International Airport to Orlando, Fla.

Free Small Business Legal Clinic Now Accepting Applications

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University Small Business Legal Clinic is accepting applications from entrepreneurs and small-business owners seeking legal assistance for the fall 2021 semester.

Under faculty supervision, law students assist clients with legal issues, including choice of entity, employment policies, contract drafting, regulatory compliance, and intellectual-property issues relating to trademark applications and copyright. This is a free service available to local businesses that might not have the resources to obtain such services. Click here for more information or to complete an online application.

The Small Business Clinic has assisted more than 350 small businesses since it opened, said Robert Statchen, associate clinical professor of Law. “The clinic is a great resource for entrepreneurs who lack the finances to retain an attorney. By using the clinic’s services, businesses can avoid problems by getting legal issues addressed early and correctly. It also provides students with a great opportunity to get real-world experience.”

The clinic asks small-business owners to submit their applications by Sunday, Aug. 15. Applications received after that date will be considered if additional resources are available. Students will begin providing services in early September. For more information, call the Legal Clinic at (413) 782-1469 or e-mail Marie Fletcher, Clinical Programs administrator, at [email protected].

The School of Law Small Business Legal Clinic was established to afford law students with an opportunity to provide practical consultation to entrepreneurs starting and building small businesses in the community. This initiative strengthens alliances within the community by using the resources of the university to foster new business development.

BusinessTalk with Joel McAuliffe

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Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

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 65: May 24, 2021

George Interviews Joel McAuliffe, deputy chief of staff for state Sen. Eric Lesser and a city councilor in Chicopee

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien continues his series of discussions with members of the magazine’s 40 Under Forty class of 2021. This week, his guest is Joel McAuliffe, deputy chief of staff for state Sen. Eric Lesser and a city councilor in Chicopee. The two discuss everything from his work to bring high-speed Internet access to his constituents in Chicopee, to the need for — and prospects for — high-speed rail in state, one of the priorities identified by Sen. Lesser.  It’s must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local.

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Massachusetts Unemployment Creeps Down in April

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Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s April total unemployment rate is down 0.2 percentage points at 6.5% following a revision to the March unemployment rate of 6.7%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 5,100 jobs in April. This follows last month’s revised gain of 14,800 jobs. Over the month, the private sector added 3,900 jobs as gains occurred across four sectors. Since December 2020, Massachusetts has gained 77,500 jobs. The professional, scientific, and business services sector led in over-the-month gains, with 4,500 (+0.8%) jobs added, while the largest over-the-month losses occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities as well as education and health services, each losing 1,100 jobs.

From April 2020 to April 2021, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 392,300 jobs. Gains occurred over the year in each of the private sectors except for Information, with a small job loss of 200 jobs. The leisure and hospitality sector saw the largest gain of 119,600 (+75.7%) jobs, followed by trade, transportation and utilities, with 88,500 (19%) jobs added over the year.

The April unemployment rate was 0.4% higher than the national rate of 6.1% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The labor force increased by 1,900 from 3,744,400 in March, as 12,400 more residents were employed and 10,500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 9.9%.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks – was up one-tenth of a percentage point at 66.4%. Compared to April 2020, the labor-force participation rate is up 6.0%.

Bradley International Airport Welcomes Breeze Airways

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Daily News

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) announced that Bradley International Airport is one of the launch airports for Breeze Airways. The newly founded carrier announced its official, national debut with the rollout of a route network across the U.S. At Bradley, it will launch four new, non-stop destinations this summer, including Charleston, S.C. (beginning May 27), and Columbus, Ohio; Norfolk, Va.; and Pittsburgh (all beginning July 22).

“This is an exciting time for Bradley International Airport and the Connecticut Airport Authority as our state emerges from the pandemic and more travelers are taking to the skies,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “This announcement today is further recognition that one of our greatest assets as a state and a region is Bradley International Airport, and these new destinations allow for residents to be connected to new business and tourism travel markets.”

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Breeze Airways was founded by David Neeleman and is his fifth airline startup, after JetBlue, Brazil’s Azul, Canada’s WestJet, and Utah-based Morris Air, which was later purchased by Southwest Airlines.

“Breeze is excited to be announcing service to Hartford,” Neeleman said. “I know Connecticut well from many years living there, and we see a significant number of unserved markets from Bradley that will provide us with many years of growth opportunities. And we’re thrilled to be able to give Hartford residents non-stop service so they can get where they want to go twice as fast for half the cost.”

The new non-stops will operate on a single-class Embraer aircraft, with a two-by-two seat configuration. Breeze Airways offers booking flexibility that includes no change or cancellation fees for flights changed or canceled up to 15 minutes before scheduled departure.

The airline is also dedicated to safety and cleanliness. Breeze’s aircraft are cleaned and disinfected frequently, and are equipped with HEPA filters onboard, which refresh cabin air every few minutes. In accordance with federal law, passengers and crew are required to wear face coverings on the aircraft, except while eating and drinking.

Flights are now on sale at www.flybreeze.com and the Breeze app.

Florence Bank Presents $100,500 to 32 Area Nonprofits

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Daily News

FLORENCE — Food insecurity skyrocketed in the past year in the Valley as the pandemic caused layoffs, slowdowns, and business closures, and the results of Florence Bank’s 19th annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program reflect an awareness of the crisis.

Last year, only 10% of Florence Bank customers cast votes for organizations that ease food insecurity. This year, twice as many votes were cast for the cause, perhaps because the bank itself committed to supporting organizations that focus on food insecurity at the start of the pandemic. Since March 2020, Florence Bank has donated $140,000 to help feed people who are hungry.

During its Customers’ Choice celebration on May 18 at Look Memorial Park, $21,528 of the $100,500 in grants that Florence Bank awarded to area nonprofits went to five organizations focused on feeding people. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Inc. and the Amherst and Northampton Survival Centers each received $5,000, Manna Community Kitchen in Northampton received $3,933, and Easthampton Community Center received $2,595.

“Certainly, we’ve seen the need for food assistance grow rapidly — the fastest it’s ever grown in less than a year,” said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank. “We need to be able to provide more healthy food to people who need it. We need more community support to be able to respond to that growing demand for food assistance.”

Lee Anderson, a board member for Manna Community Kitchen, said his organization has tripled in terms of the number of area residents for whom it is providing restaurant-quality meals. Manna is now providing 5,000 takeout meals each month at the Elm Street, Northampton location, and it launched deliveries, serving roughly 30 households at present.

“Our food costs have doubled, at least,” Anderson said. “The generosity from Florence Bank will go right to paying food bills.”

The community grants program is an annual offering founded in 2002; through it, Florence Bank customers are invited to vote for their favorite local nonprofit in hopes it will receive a share of grant funding.

To qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes. In 2020, almost 7,000 votes were cast, and 32 nonprofit leaders accepted their grants Tuesday, when a total of $100,500 was awarded. That total included two ‘almost’ awards of $500 each to the Williamsburg Firefighters Assoc. and Whole Children of Hadley, which each came close to receiving 50 votes.

In addition to organizations supporting food insecurity, 25 other nonprofits with more than 50 votes accepted a check, putting Florence Bank over the $1.3 million mark in grants it has presented to community organizations over nearly two decades through the customers’ choice program alone.

“The commitment of Florence Bank customers to all of you serving the needs within our community is awesome, and we couldn’t be prouder to be able to support the programs our customers believe in,” Day said.

The following organizations received more than 50 customer votes and received an award at the event: Dakin Humane Society, Cancer Connection, Friends of Forbes Library, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, $5,000 each; Our Lady of the Hills Parish, $4,837; Belchertown Animal Relief Committee Inc., $4,326; Friends of the Williamsburg Library, $3,815; J.F.K. Middle School, $3,303; Riverside Industries Inc. and Friends of Lilly Library, $3,146 each; It Takes a Village and Goshen Firefighters Assoc., $3,107 each; Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation, $2,989; Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, $2,556; Northampton Neighbors, $2,399; Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Granby Senior Center, and Friends of Northampton Legion Baseball, $2,281 each; Northampton Community Music Center and Community Action, $2,202 each; Friends of M.N. Spear Memorial Library, $2,084; Safe Passage, $2,005; R.K. Finn Ryan Road School, $1,966; and Historic Northampton and Belchertown K-9, $1,966 each.

Fred Mills Joins baytechIT as Vice President of Sales

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — New England’s largest healthcare-centric managed service provider and value-added reseller is positioning itself for national growth with the addition of Fred Mills as its new vice president of Sales. Mills joins baytechIT after stints as senior director of Worldwide Healthcare Alliances and Business Development for data-management provider Commvault, and director and general manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise for Healthcare in the Americas.

“BaytechIT is celebrating its three-year anniversary this summer,” company President Patrick Streck said. “While we’ve enjoyed double-digit growth in our managed-services business in each of the last two years, we’re determined to match that success as a value-added reseller of hardware and software. Fred’s extensive experience in healthcare and in building sales channels is the perfect combination to help us achieve this.”

The effort is also part of a national sales strategy for the entire Pixel Health portfolio of companies under the direction of newly appointed Chief Revenue Officer Barbara Casey.

“We think that, through the development of processes and technologies, we can help make the delivery of healthcare better for patients and providers alike,” said Casey, who played an integral role in shaping the worldwide healthcare strategy at Cisco for more than seven years. “We need professionals like Fred who understand that this business is not about selling hardware and software, but about how we can use technology to enhance the patient experience, lower healthcare costs, and improve the work/life balance for our colleagues on the front lines of care.”

BaytechIT was founded in 2018 as a partnership between Pixel Health and Baystate Health System. The company’s U.S.-based call center and field-services staff supports more than 150 hospitals, clinics, and independent medical practices, with more than 16,000 devices under management. The company maintains sales partnerships with Microsoft, HPE, Cisco, Hewlett Packard, Dell, and Lenovo, among others.

Mills will support clients throughout the U.S. and will be based in Raleigh, N.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from the Boston College Carroll School of Management.

UMassFive Bids Farewell to Michael Sullivan, Welcomes Julius Lewis

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Daily News

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union announced the retirement of Michael Sullivan, longtime board director and original founding member of the credit union, at its 54th annual meeting in March. New director Julius Lewis was also elected to the open position at the virtual event.

Sullivan’s legacy extends well beyond UMassFive in the world of credit unions. While he served originally as a UMassFive board member beginning in 1982, and as the credit union board chair at UMassFive from 1986 to 1993, he concurrently held the titles of director, vice chair, and chair of Mass CUNA (1986-1998). During this time, he was instrumental in the merger of the two state credit-union leagues that eventually became the Cooperative Credit Union Assoc. (CCUA). As a thank you for his many contributions, UMassFive has dedicated the board room in its Hadley executive area as the Michael Sullivan Board Room in his honor.

Newly elected board member Julius Lewis has been a member of the credit union since 2010 and, throughout the years, has helped promote UMassFive’s products and services within the local community. He is a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, which played a major role in launching his professional career in the financial industry. He has worked as an independent financial consultant, specializing in insurance products since 2003.

In 2006, Lewis created and began hosting The Lewis & Morrow Financial Hour, a weekly financial radio talk show broadcasted throughout the region and online. In 2017, he started his company, JDL Financial, and has received several awards and achievements within his profession. UMassFive welcomes his new perspectives and ideas to the board.

‘STCC GIVES’ Fundraising Campaign Seeks Support for Students

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Technical Community College Foundation on June 3 will kick off “STCC GIVES,” a fundraising effort that seeks support for student programs and scholarships.

STCC GIVES presents an opportunity to help build scholarships to ensure that students have the support they need to succeed. All gifts made in June will be matched one to one.

“We are grateful for the support we have received over the years from our donors,” said Kelly Galanis, director of Operations & Donor Relations. “Whether you’ve donated in the past or you’re thinking of being a first-time donor, STCC GIVES is a perfect opportunity to help transform the lives of our students.”

STCC was named fourth-best community college in the nation by Academic Influence and has been named a top college by readers of multiple area publications.

Galanis said donors had many options to support students: making a gift online by visiting stccgives.com, texting ‘STCCGives’ to 50155, calling the STCC Foundation at (413) 755-4529, or mailing a donation to STCC Office of Advancement, One Armory Square, Springfield, MA 01105.

The STCC Foundation has set a goal of raising $10,000 for students to apply toward general support and programming. The Collins Companies will match the first $10,000 in gifts.

One student, Miranda Lebel, described how contributions helped her succeed. “STCC was tremendously helpful in my journey towards becoming a nurse. I found the community to be supportive, kind, and a champion of my success. I was honored to receive scholarships from the STCC Foundation, which made my education not just a dream, but a reality. The STCC community is filled with superheroes.”

One-day HCC Campaign Raises $122,000 for Student-support Programs

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Led by auto dealer Gary Rome, trustees, alumni, and friends, Holyoke Community College raised $122,000 for student-support programs last month during its one-day “Together HCC: Drive to Change Lives” campaign.

Organizers had set a goal of 150 donors for the 24-hour fund drive on April 27. The final tally was 295.

“It was really inspiring to see all the community support that came together for the ‘Together HCC’ campaign to invest in our students,” said Amanda Sbriscia, HCC’s vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation. “Our goal for the one-day campaign was 150 donors, and by noon we had already exceeded that. By the end of the day, we had almost doubled our goal, and that was in large part thanks to the support of Gary Rome Hyundai.”

Rome, an HCC Foundation board member, had issued a donation challenge of $10,000 if the campaign met its goals of securing 150 new donors and 1,000 social-media posts using the hashtag #TogetherHCC. He presented a check to HCC officials at his Holyoke dealership on May 4.

“The reason we got involved in this campaign is because we wanted to shine a spotlight on this wonderful institution right here in our backyard, dispel the misconception that community colleges receive all their funding from the state, and highlight how important it is to raise funds to help support our community college,” Rome said.

One of the donors was HCC alumna Ruby Maddox, co-founder of the Springfield nonprofit Gardening in the Community.

“As a first-generation college student, HCC made it possible for me to get my first undergraduate degree, which led me to getting my graduate degree,” said Maddox, now the study abroad advisor and international internship coordinator at Mount Holyoke College. “My HCC education was accessible, affordable, and transformational. I started Gardening in the Community while at HCC, and I learned what it was like to truly make things happen.”

In addition to Rome, Peg Wendlandt and Gary Wendlandt, Jim Izatt, Dylan Pilon, trustees Robert Gilbert and Charlie Epstein, HCC Foundation board member Mike Roundy, and the HCC Alumni Council all posed match and challenge gifts for the campaign.

Alumnus Myke Connolly, owner of Stand Out Truck, donated the use of his mobile billboard.

“Myke literally drove to change lives from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on April 27, displaying ads promoting our giving day throughout the region, and documented his day on social media, creating even more energy and buzz,” said campaign organizer Julie Phillips, HCC’s coordinator of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving.

In addition to his #TogetherHCC donation, Connolly created the Stand Out Truck Celeste Berger Annual Scholarship at HCC to be awarded this spring to a current HCC student of marketing, business, or entrepreneurship.

“The reason I had to get involved with this is because HCC has done a lot for me,” Connolly said. “Through HCC, I was introduced to Mike Kittredge, who started Yankee Candle. He taught me all about business. That’s the beauty of this place. It’s a genuine place where people want to see you succeed. If someone is looking to get a start or start over, this is where you begin.”

Mill Town Appoints Chief Operating Officer, President of Bousquet Enterprises

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Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Mill Town announced it has hired Dennis Robinson as the company’s chief operating officer and president of Bousquet Enterprises, a group of recreational and hospitality businesses based in the Berkshires.

Beginning immediately, Robinson will be responsible for the management, operations, and financial performance of the company’s operating business portfolio. He will also oversee major capital projects related to these sites, which include Bousquet Mountain Ski Area, Bousquet Sport (formerly Berkshire West Athletic Club), the Camp by Bousquet (formerly the Lakeside Christian Camp), the Gateways Inn, and Mission Bar & Tapas.

Robinson brings more than three decades of management experience to the team. Following an MBA from Harvard Business School, he spent nine years with the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, the ownership entity of the Meadowlands and MetLife Stadium. From 1999 to 2007, he was the senior vice president of Business Operations for the NBA in New York. Upon returning to the New Jersey Sports & Expo Authority in 2008, he led facility management of Giants Stadium, Meadowlands Racetrack, Monmouth Park Racetrack, and the IZOD Center. More recently, Robinson held leadership roles at Formula 1 and was the chief of staff and acting secretary of State for the state of New Jersey from 2015 to 2017.

Robinson has an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University, where he was a varsity football player; a master’s degree in sport management from UMass Amherst; and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mill Town acquired the three Bousquet properties, along with the Gateways Inn, in 2020 with plans to upgrade the facilities while providing a broader set of recreational and lodging offerings to guests. The goal for the three Bousquet properties is to create a linked hub for recreation, food and beverage, events, lodging, and youth activities under the umbrella organization Bousquet Enterprises. The teams overseeing these projects will work collaboratively across sites to fulfill the long-term vision of a geographically centric, world-class center of activity.

Bay Path Welcomes Crystal Neuhauser as Vice President of Institutional Advancement

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Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced that Crystal Neuhauser has been named vice president of Institutional Advancement, effective June 21.

Neuhauser comes to Bay Path after serving as the associate vice president of Advancement at Franklin Pierce University, where she increased overall giving by 41% in 2020. Prior to Franklin Pierce, she directed advancement and development initiatives at Yale University, Quinnipiac University, and Mitchell College, and also worked within the nonprofit community sector. Her career experience spans fundraising, donor relations, alumni engagement, grants, and corporate contributions. She also served on a strategic planning subcommittee at Franklin Pierce.

Neuhauser is currently working toward a doctorate of education in educational leadership at New England College. She earned her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Quinnipiac College and her bachelor’s degree in business management from Albertus Magnus College.

“The vice president of Institutional Advancement is a key role at Bay Path and will be critical as we execute our strategic plan, ‘Building One Bay Path,’ said Sandra Doran, university president. “Crystal’s proven success and leadership in advancement will be instrumental in helping us to achieve our goals and our mission in support of students and academic programs. I am looking forward to working together with Crystal.”

At Bay Path, Neuhauser will serve as a member of the executive staff. In this role, she will provide strategic leadership for fundraising, including responsibility for annual giving; corporate, major and planned gifts; endowment; capital campaigns; alumni and constituent-relations efforts; stewardship; and advancement services. As a nonprofit higher-education institution, Bay Path depends on the generosity of donors to fund scholarships and important initiatives that make a difference in students’ lives.

“I’m simply thrilled and look forward to joining Bay Path University at an inflection point for the institution and higher education at large. Leading in higher education during this unprecedented time calls for a strategy towards transformative change,” Neuhauser said. “President Doran and the board are charting ambitious strategic goals that will make a visible impact on our students and faculty. In partnership with a really terrific team, it will be a privilege to work with Bay Path University’s community of alumni, parents, donors, corporate and community partners, and friends.”

Rachel Rubinstein Named Dean of Springfield College School of Arts and Sciences

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College announced that Rachel Rubinstein has been named dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, effective July 12.

Rubinstein was professor of American Literature and Jewish Studies at Hampshire College for 16 years, where she also served as the dean of Academic Support and Advising for six years. She subsequently became Holyoke Community College’s inaugural vice president of Academic and Student Affairs, a position that combined two previously separate divisions. Most recently, she has been serving as senior advisor to the deputy commissioner of Academic Affairs and Student Success at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, where she has focused on supporting initiatives in the state’s equity agenda.

“I am excited about the contemporary perspectives that she brings in fostering student achievement and success as well as her talent in breaking down silos across diverse constituencies,” said Martha Potvin, Springfield College’s provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “She is a great fit with the college’s mission, and I expect that she will ably lead the School of Arts and Sciences toward further academic quality and excellence.”

The child of immigrants from Mexico, Rubinstein’s scholarship focuses on migration, multi-lingualism, racial formation, and literary nationalism, as well as on pedagogies in the fields of ethnic and race studies. She is the author of Members of the Tribe: Native America in the Jewish Imagination, as well as the co-editor of Arguing the Modern Jewish Canon and, most recently, Teaching Jewish American Literature, a volume in the MLA’s Options for Teaching series. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from Yale University and her PhD in English and American literature from Harvard University.

“I am honored and excited to bring a commitment to student success, innovative and interdisciplinary teaching and research, and student-centered academic leadership to Springfield College and the School of Arts and Sciences,” Rubinstein said.

Nancy Creed Elected President of MACCE Board of Directors

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Nancy Creed, president of the Springfield Regional Chamber, has been elected president of the Massachusetts Assoc. of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) through 2022. MACCE is a Massachusetts-based organization that offers resources and networking opportunities to its member chamber of commerce professionals across the Commonwealth.

Creed has amassed more than 25 years of strategic alliance building, communications, public relations, media relations, and government and community outreach experience. She has served as president of the Springfield Regional Chamber since 2016. Prior to becoming chamber president, she served as vice president of Marketing and Communications. She holds a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, is certified in nonprofit organization management through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management, and is a 2000 graduate of the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Leadership Institute.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as president of the MACCE board and look forward to connecting with fellow chamber professionals to provide information, education, and peer experiences to help them grow, learn, and succeed,” she said.

Creed has served in a variety of capacities on the MACCE board, including Region 1 vice president, secretary, and vice president.

Riley Home Realty Launches Full-service Agency

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — Riley Home Realty announced the launch of its Chicopee-based, full-service real-estate agency. This family-owned and -operated agency will offer residents in the surrounding Western Mass. communities a comprehensive suite of services delivered with expert guidance from a team of dedicated agents.

Riley Home Realty services include listing homes for sale, working with home buyers, managing rental properties and listing rental properties, and property management.

It was a dream of members of the Riley family to work together to help others realize home and real-estate ownership, the company noted. “Our family-owned and -operated agency is built on the values we as a family embody. We are with each other every step of the way. Our clients get that same dedication and commitment when they work with us. When you work with Riley Home Realty, you’re family.”

The ribbon cutting for the Chicopee office, located at 621 Grattan St., will take place on Thursday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m.

Gov. Baker Announces State Will Lift All COVID-19 Restrictions on May 29

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Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced that the Commonwealth is on track to meet the goal of vaccinating 4.1 million residents by the first week of June, and, as a result, all remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted effective May 29.

All industry restrictions will be lifted, and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries. The gathering limit also will be rescinded. All industries will be encouraged to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for cleaning and hygiene protocols.

The Commonwealth’s face-covering order will also be rescinded on May 29. The Department of Public Health will issue a new face-covering advisory consistent with updated guidance from the CDC. Face coverings will still be mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems (including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, commuter rail, and transportation stations), in healthcare facilities, and in other settings hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate-care settings. Face coverings will also remain required indoors for staff and students of K-12 schools and early-education providers.

The administration is able to take these steps to reopen the Commonwealth’s economy because Massachusetts is on track to meet the goal set in December to fully vaccinate more than 4 million individuals by the first week of June. The Commonwealth leads the nation in vaccinating residents, with 75% of adults receiving at least one dose. To date, more than 4 million residents have received a first dose, with 3.2 million fully vaccinated.

On May 18, 2020, the administration published the reopening phases, which called for ending restrictions when vaccines became widely available. New cases have dropped by 89% since Jan. 8. COVID hospitalizations are down 88% since Jan. 1, and the positive test rate is down by 88%, from 8.7% its peak on Jan. 1 to 1% today.

Non-vaccinated individuals are advised to continue wearing face masks and to continue distancing in most settings. The advisory will also recommend fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a face covering or socially distance indoors or outdoors except in certain situations.

“The update to the state’s mask guidelines is consistent with the administration’s thoughtful and data-guided approach to reopening, and the positive trend in key COVID-19 metrics which drove this action underscores the safety and efficacy of vaccines,” said Dr. Carole Allen, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

Effective May 18, the youth and amateur sports guidance will be updated to no longer require face coverings for youth athletes 18 and under while playing outdoor sports. Effective May 29, all youth and amateur sports restrictions will be lifted.

Effective May 18, guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Early Education and Care will be updated to no longer require masks for outdoor activities like recess and to allow for the sharing of objects in classrooms, in both K-12 and childcare settings. This guidance will remain in effect beyond May 29.

The administration will release updated guidance for summer camps, effective May 29, which will include no longer requiring masks for outdoor activities.

Baker will end the state of emergency​ on June 15, and the administration will work with legislative and municipal partners during this period in order to manage an orderly transition from emergency measures adopted by executive order and special legislation during the period of the state of emergency.

Allen noted that, because of access challenges or hesitancy, many in the Commonwealth have yet to be vaccinated.

“That can be especially dangerous for those who live and work in locations where they have frequent close contact with others,” she said. “Importantly, despite improving public-health data, we cannot relent in our efforts to vaccinate those in underserved communities which have seen and continue to see a disproportionate level of transmission and severe illness.

“Those who have yet to be vaccinated should continue to wear masks outside of the home, especially in instances where physical distancing is not possible,” Allen went on. “We encourage all who are eligible to get a vaccine and those who have questions or concerns about the guideline changes to speak with their physician or healthcare provider.”

Opinion: The ‘New Normal’ Is Almost Here

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Daily News

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started more than 14 months ago, there have been a number of comparisons between this global conflict (yes, it can be called that) and the last one — World War II.

Indeed, the analogies have involved everything from how businesses rallied to produce items to fight the COVID war — reminiscent of Franklin Roosevelt’s coining of the phrase ‘arsenal of Democracy’ — to the rationing of food and other products (remember those toilet-paper shortages?).

World War II, or the end of that conflict, must have been on some minds on Monday when Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced he was eliminating virtually all COVID restrictions on May 29, in time for Memorial Day weekend.

There was no dancing in the streets, at least that we know of (maybe there will be some on May 29), but the announcement must have felt somewhat like the end of that great war, at least to the extent that this was the news everyone has been waiting and yearning for.

Finally — yes, 14 months deserves a ‘finally’ — there will be virtually no restrictions on any businesses in terms of the number of people they can serve, when, where, and how. This is certainly the news that those in the large and all-important hospitality sector have been waiting for. It’s the news the Big E has been waiting for. And the Basketball Hall of Fame. And MGM Springfield. And … the list goes on.

But while this is great news for all those in the business community who have suffered through those four phases of reopening (the governor dubbed them ‘start,’ ‘cautious,’ ‘vigilant,’ and ‘new normal’), there is room for one more, somewhat sobering analogy to World War II. When that conflict ended, there was great joy, but also some anxiety for many about what would come next. And things were not universally rosy.

Indeed, the war economy came to a screeching halt, and before it built itself back up again to make the homes, television sets, cars, and refrigerators that everyone was demanding, there was widespread unemployment and considerable labor unrest.

Now, as the COVID restrictions are lifted and we can all go back to normal, the question is — what will ‘normal’ look like? No one really knows the answer, but it’s almost certain it won’t look like December 2019 — at least not for a while.

It will take some time before people feel comfortable eating out in restaurants again. Likewise, many will still be hesitant to go the gym and work out on a treadmill next to someone not wearing a mask. And while we can expect Fenway Park to be full the first game after May 29, many will be hesitant about gathering in large numbers and close quarters. As for those hospitality-related businesses, especially those in downtown Springfield, most of them rely heavily on office workers, many of whom are still working remotely and may well be until September.

Meanwhile, the local economy faces challenges beyond COVID. Indeed, ‘help wanted’ and ‘we’re hiring; apply within’ signs are posted at virtually every business in the service and hospitality sectors. And there are still shortages of myriad products — from lumber to used cars — and prices are skyrocketing as a result.

There is reason to celebrate today, to be sure. Fourteen long months of restrictions, questions, and uncertainty about what next month will look like are seemingly over. But remember, after World War II, it took a while for things to be like they were before — and in many cases, they never were.

Massachusetts Casinos, Including MGM Springfield, Post Solid Revenues in April

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts casinos recorded a second straight positive month of revenues in April, as MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor, and the slots parlor at Plainridge Park Casino jointly generated $84.63 million in gross gaming revenue last month, about $673,000 million more than in March.

That yielded about $24.16 million in taxes and fees for the state, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced. The state’s share from April is more than it has collected from the three gaming facilities since February 2020, the last month without COVID-19 restrictions.

MGM Springfield reported more than $21.93 in gross gaming revenue last month, including more than $4.28 million in table-game revenue. Slot revenues were slightly less than the record set in March, but still totaled almost $204.1 million in April. The house kept 8.65% of that for about $17.65 million in slot revenue.