WEST SPRINGFIELD — New Valley Bank & Trust Co. plans to open its third office in West Springfield in September.
MassLive reported that New Valley has a lease to occupy the former Holyoke Credit Union office at 333 Elm St. in West Springfield and is working on regulatory approval, according to President and CEO J. Jeffrey Sullivan. The bank, which opened in downtown Springfield in 2019, has a second branch on Wilbraham Road.
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.
BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien talks with Peter Picknelly, chairman of Peter Pan Bus Lines and president of OPAL Development. The two discuss everything from the price of diesel fuel to the housing project taking shape in Court Square. But mostly, they focus on Picknelly’s recently revealed, very ambitious plans for a new courthouse in Springfield, a project he believes will reshape the riverfront in Springfield. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
Sponsored by:
MONSON — Monson Savings Bank’s 150th anniversary celebrations began earlier this year and will continue throughout the year. Most recently, to carry on the commemoration of the bank’s sesquicentennial, employees joined together to bury a time capsule that will be excavated and opened in 25 years at the bank’s 175th anniversary in 2047.
It was a team effort to determine which items would be included in the time capsule. The 150th anniversary committee reached out to the all employees of the bank to get their feedback on which items should be added. Some of the items included were photos, business cards, brochures, a piggy bank, letters, deposit slips, 150th-anniversary articles, and, of course, Monson Savings branded masks and hand sanitizer.
Dan Moriarty, president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank, led the crew to the time capsule burial location for a brief ceremony.
“We thought burying a time capsule would be a unique way for us to commemorate this momentous occasion of Monson Savings Bank turning 150 years old,” he said. “It gave us an opportunity to think about the future and those who may be opening this capsule in 25 years at our 175th anniversary. We all feel honored to be a part of the Monson Savings legacy. We carefully thought about the items and messages we would want to share with future generations of the bank.”
“There is so much history behind Monson Savings Bank — a 150-year history of making a difference for the residents, businesses, and communities we serve,” added Michael Rouette, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “It was exciting to be together adding items to the time capsule and discussing the bright future we all believe is ahead for Monson Savings Bank.”
SPRINGFIELD — Adam Hogan has joined Bulkley Richardson as the firm’s controller.
In this management role, Hogan will execute all financial and tax-related activities for the firm, including development of the annual operating budget; partnership reporting; successful collaboration with his team for billing, payables, and receivables; and working closely with firm leadership to contribute to the growth and overall success of the firm.
Previously, Hogan held the positions of CFO, controller, and staff accountant at several area businesses. He holds both a master’s degree in accounting and financial planning and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Elms College.
EAST LONGMEADOW — Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, a global residential real-estate brokerage franchise network, announced its further expansion in the state of Massachusetts with the addition of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Professionals.
This addition marks the brand’s continued growth in the region with its 48th franchisee, led by President Robert Molta, who has been an industry leader in the market for more than 30 years.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Professionals is a full-service real-estate brokerage serving Western Mass. and Northern Conn.
By joining the network, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Professionals agents gain access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ active referral and relocation networks and its FOREVER Cloud technology suite, a powerful source for lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production and distribution, and more.
The brand also provides an exclusive Luxury Collection marketing program for premier listings. Its Prestige magazine showcases network members’ premium listings with a strong lineup of feature stories covering topics that appeal to high-end real-estate clients.
SPRINGFIELD — In the spring of 2017, BusinessWest and its sister publication, the Healthcare News, 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. And that’s where you come in.
Nominations for the class of 2022 are due July 30, and we encourage you to get involved and help recognize someone you consider to be a hero in the community we call Western Mass. in one (or more) of these seven 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.
Nominations can be submitted by clicking here. For more information, call Melissa Hallock, Marketing and Events Director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or email [email protected].
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival will this year be staged over two days, August 12 and 13, with a broad mix of music, arts activities, talks on arts, culture, and social justice, local pop-up craft, food and beverages.
The internationally heralded festival is the city’s premier annual event, featuring national stars and local talent playing jazz, blues, funk, Latin, and African music. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. This year’s full musical line-up can be found at springfieldjazzfest.com.
The festival will also offer a sneak peek (or an unveiling depending on its progress) of the iconic Worthington Street Mural project celebrating Springfield history. The mural is being painstakingly restored by Springfield artist John Simpson who has studied old photographs of the building’s wall in an effort to accurately recreate as much of the original mural as possible.
Musical performances on August 12 feature Shor’ty Billups, a soul and R&B living legend who played with Ruth Brown, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Jackie Wilson, and Wilson Pickett among others. Also performing are valley legends FAT with Peter Newland and their special guest Scott Murawski from Max Creek, Valley blues/rock icon Mitch Chakour (who was Joe Cocker’s music director) and friends, popular Valley blues rockers The Buddy McEarns Band, and soulful blues belter Janet Ryan and her band.
The festivities on August 13 commence at 12:30 at the Springfield Museum with a parade led by the New Orleans celebrated second-line ensemble The New Breed Brass Band starting from the Wood Museum of Springfield History, where attendees will have free access to the ‘Horn Man: The Life and Musical Legacy of Charles Neville’ exhibit. The parade will end at the stage for the kick-off performance. The complete Saturday performer line-up can be seen at springfieldjazzfest.com.
In addition to the musical performances, the multi-faceted festival will feature various arts activities and presentations and workshops. Puerto Rican jazz trombonist William Cepeda will lead a workshop about traditional Afro-Puerto Rican music on August 12 at 5 p.m., at the Hispanic American Library. Cuban jazz vocalist, Dayme Arocena, will lead a workshop about traditional Afro-Cuban music at the festival on August 13. Attendees can also participate in a mural paint party (separate mural project from the one on Friday) and a presentation by Puerto Rican mural artist Betsy Casanas, and conversations connecting arts with food and climate justice.
The annual festival is presented by Blues To Green, a nonprofit, using music and art to center the cultures of the African diaspora within American culture, nurture personal freedom, strengthen multicultural community, and catalyze action for racial and climate justice. Inspired by famed musician Charles Neville and founded by his wife, B2G is led by Black Springfield community leaders. Learn more about Blues to Green and how the festival helps achieve social change at bluestogreen.org.
This festival is made possible by a grant from Springfield’s Neighborhood Economic Recovery and Relief Fund, other grant funders and local business sponsors, and donors.
In addition to the musical performances, the multi-faceted festival will feature various arts activities and presentations and workshops. Puerto Rican jazz trombonist William Cepeda will lead a workshop about traditional Afro-Puerto Rican music on August 12 at 5 p.m., at the Hispanic American Library. Cuban jazz vocalist, Dayme Arocena, will lead a workshop about traditional Afro-Cuban music at the festival on August 13. Attendees can also participate in a mural paint party (separate mural project from the one on Friday) and a presentation by Puerto Rican mural artist Betsy Casanas, and conversations connecting arts with food and climate justice.
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds were recognized for their business excellence in a variety of departments at last month’s AHL Team Business Meetings.
For their season-long #WeAre413 campaign, the Thunderbirds organization took home the league award for Marketing Campaign of the Year. The Thunderbirds returned to the ice in 2021 after opting out of the 2020-21 shortened season. This campaign messaging’s goal was to speak to the pride felt by each and every resident of the greater Western Mass region, as well as the longstanding hockey history of the city.
This marks the second time the Thunderbirds have been recognized for having the Marketing Campaign of the Year. The club also received the award following the 2018-19 season for its #RiseUp campaign.
#WeAre413 got underway with the team’s return to the ice on Oct. 16, with legendary NHL broadcast voice Mike “Doc” Emrick narrating the journey the Thunderbirds and the Springfield community experienced to get back on the ice. The full video can be viewed here.
“We wanted to establish a campaign that would speak to the rallying of our community for our triumphant return to play in 2021-22,” said Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa. “#WeAre413 showcased our fans’ passion for hockey and our players’ shared goal of bringing the Calder Cup back to Springfield. By the time the Calder Cup Finals arrived, Springfield was the center of the AHL world thanks to the unwavering support of this community. This award further validates our belief that Springfield is one of the best hockey cities in this league.”
In addition to the Marketing Campaign of the Year, the Thunderbirds achieved a pair of milestones in both the ticket sales and corporate sales departments. As part of the award recognition at the Team Business Meetings, AHL member clubs that hit benchmarks pertaining to tickets sold and corporate sponsorship revenue were honored.
The ticket sales team received honors for reaching 600 new full season equivalents (FSEs) during the 2021-22 season, where one FSE equates to one
LEE — Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $70,700 to 13 Berkshire area organizations for their second-round of 2022 community funding. Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $12,500 to support their local programming. Included in the awards are a series of Arts Access Grants for arts and culture organizations to expand access to programming for underserved audiences.
The following organizations received funding from Lee Bank Foundation:
• Berkshire Black Economic Council;
• Berkshire South Regional Community Center;
• Berkshire Bounty;
• Community Health Programs;
• Construct;
• Elizabeth Freeman Center;
• Flying Cloud Institute;
• Goodwill of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont;
• Link to Libraries; and
• South Community Food Pantry
Additionally, Arts Access Grants of $1,000 each were awarded to Berkshire Theatre Group, BODYSONNET, and Norman Rockwell Museum.
The deadline for the next round of 2022 Foundation funding is September 1st. The application and more information can be found on the Community Impact section of Lee Bank’s website (https://www.leebank.com/community-impact/donations-sponsorships.html)
To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation is focused on funding programs that work to bridge income and opportunity gaps in our region. Funding requests should reflect one or more of Lee Bank Foundation’s primary focus areas:
• Education and literacy;
• Food security and nutrition;
• Economic growth and development;
• Health and human services;
• Mentorship, internship and “school to work” initiatives; and
• Arts and culture
Applicants are only eligible for funding once in a 12-month period.
SPRINGFIELD — Tiffany Appleton has been named president of the board of directors at Dakin Humane Society in Springfield. Appleton joined the board in 2017 and served as its secretary from 2020–2022.
She is currently the associate director employer relations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a position she has held for the past two years. Prior to that, she Appleton was a director, accounting and finance division at Johnson & Hill Staffing Services in West Springfield from 2016-2020.
“I can’t imagine what my life would be like without my pets,” she said. “They provide so much value to my life and I joined Dakin initially as a volunteer to support that amazing human-animal bond. I quickly fell in love with Dakin and all the service offerings beyond adoption that further the mission of keeping people and their pets happy, healthy, and together. I can’t wait to see all the good we can do for the community in the future.”
Appleton earned both a master of Education, Science Education, and a bachelor of Science, Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She previously served as a board member at the Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley from 2018-2020.
NORTH ADAMS — Last month, BFAIR staged its First Annual Summer Kick-Off Festival, which that raised more than $31,000. With support from 34 sponsors and 28 in-kind donations from local businesses, the agency able to offer a fun-filled day full of the musical stylings of Code Blue Duo, food from Adams Mason Food Truck, two mini-golf courses as part of the BFAIR-Way Mini Golf Tournament, and 15 games and activities. In total, more than $3,000 in prizes and raffles were distributed.
“Our first Summer Kick-Off Festival was an amazing way to get back into in-person events and further share the BFAIRmission with the greater community,” said Tara Jacobsen, Fundraising & Grants Manager. “Support that we receive through events like the Summer Kick-Off Festival and with other fundraising activities, helps us to provide essential and individualized care to persons with developmental disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injury. We are so grateful to all our generous sponsors for making this event possible, the volunteers who donated their time, and to all the guests who came out to the event. We are already gearing up for next year.”
Since 1994, BFAIR has been providing AFC, residential, in-home clinical services, employment and day services for adults and children with developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury and autism.
By Mark Morris
Karl Stinehart, left, and Russ Fox say Southwick’s goal is preserve its high quality of life while also creating needed business tax revenue.
Southwick residents love the natural beauty and the many recreation choices their town offers but they also like reasonable tax rates.
Russell Fox, chair of the Southwick Select Board, said to accomplish both means business development must be part of the equation to ease the tax burden.
“It’s a balancing act that the Select Board takes very seriously,” said Fox, who has been a selectman off and on (mostly on) for more than 40 years. “I would not want to see families who have lived in town for generations say they can no longer afford to stay here.”
A balancing act indeed, as last year residents made it know that they will support some business development proposals, but not all. After the town’s planning board and select board had approved a $100 million project involving the online used car seller Carvana, residents expressed a number of concerns about the size of the project and its impact on the community.
The site where the Carvana project was proposed is a 90-acre parcel on College Highway near Tannery Road. After residents rejected Carvana, Karl Stinehart, chief administrative officer for Southwick said the owner of the property has since come up with a creative solution.
“The parcel will be broken into five lots,” Stinehart said. “We can now look to attract a retail store or a light manufacturer, something that won’t have the negative impact of a large facility.”
That’s the kind of progress that gets the attention of Eric Oulette, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s a great idea for them to split up that parcel to make it more attractive for smaller businesses,” Oulette said. Currently, 13 Southwick businesses belong to the Greater Westfield Chamber.
Stinehart pointed to the town’s tax rate of $16.98 per thousand for both residential and businesses as another incentive for economic development in Southwick. Oulette agreed.
“Southwick’s tax rate is competitive and should help the town to attract more business there,” Oulette said.
Overall, there are many types of development happening in this recreational town, both commercial and residential.
“It’s a balancing act that the Select Board takes very seriously. would not want to see families who have lived in town for generations say they can no longer afford to stay here.”
That list includes Faded Flowers LLC, which has been cleared to build a cannabis-growing facility. Stinehart said town voters have approved this facility, which will grow and process cannabis for commercial distribution. At the same time, voters have rejected hosting any retail dispensaries in town.
“We are in the early stages of this project,” Stinehart said. “They have done some site work but have not yet built the facility. Once complete there will be a lag time before the business is productive, so we are a long way from seeing any revenue for the town.”
Meanwhile, the Greens of Southwick is a development of custom-built homes on the land that was formerly Southwick Country Club. Located on both sides of College Highway, the west side of the development features 25 lots, with only two still available. More recently work began on the east side of the property where 38 lots are planned. Phase one of the east side has only three lots available.
On the other side of town, a 100-unit condominium project near the intersection of Depot Street and Powder Mill Road has also been approved.
“When those are built, the people who live there will have close access to the Rail Trail and can easily walk to the center of town,” said Stinehart.
While all these new homes will create additional tax revenue, residents who live on Lake Congamond are begrudgingly contributing more to the town’s tax coffers due to improvements to their current homes.
For several years, many of the modest homes on the shores of the lake are getting major renovations by their owners. As a result, these lakefront residences are now assessed at a higher tax rate than before the reno work.
“People are very upset with us about their increased taxes and we tell them how the state sets the tax rate, we have nothing to do with it,” said Fox.
For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at Southwick and the ongoing efforts to create that balance that Fox spoke of.
Calling the lake a tremendous asset to Southwick, Fox also noted that part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds the town received were used to install weir gates on Congamond.
“Weir gates help us address flood control and keep contaminated water from flowing into the lake,” Fox said. Every spring the town treats the lake with aluminum sulfate or “alum” to keep algae blooms down and improve water quality. Without the weir gates, contaminated water from flash floods would back up into the lake and negate the alum treatment. That affects the health of the lake, and the town budget, as Southwick spent $600,000 for the alum treatment.
Looking longer term, Fox said the town would like to dredge certain areas of the lake to keep it healthy.
“Lakes die naturally from sediment that keeps increasing over the years on the lakebed,” he explained. “Right now, there is an estimated six feet of sediment on the bottom of Lake Congamond.”
Because Congamond acts as a recharger for the aquifer, Fox is also hoping to start a dialogue with Westfield and West Springfield, as both communities get their water from the aquifer.
“It might be beneficial for all three towns to kick in to dredge the lake to make sure it keeps providing clean water,” he said.
Most of the $1.4 million Southwick received in its first allotment of ARPA funds was spent on a water project of a different sort, a new water pump and filtration station.
“This is a benefit to every water ratepayer and helps the town with improved water pressure,” said Fox.
Like nearly every town, Southwick has plenty of paving projects to tackle. Stinehart said town officials plan to use some of the ARPA money to fix roads in town but there’s a hitch. Budgets for road projects are set long before any paving happens.
“Because asphalt is petroleum-based, our paving projects now cost much more than we had planned,” Stinehart said. “The price inflation shortens the length of roads we can cover for that amount of money.”
As Southwick has an open-meeting form of government, big decisions are determined directly by residents.
“Everything we do must ultimately be approved by the voters at the Town Meeting,” said Fox. “I tell people all the time it’s the purest form of government.”
Stinehart explained several areas where voters have decided to make investments in their community.
“We continue to expand our paramedic EMS service which is run by the Fire Department,” he noted. “We’re adding more people so we can deliver that service at the highest level.”
Southwick is the lead community for a shared services grant to fund one full time and one part time nurse. In addition to Southwick, the nurses will cover Granville, Tolland, Blandford, Russell and Montgomery and serve in a visiting nurse-type of role. Stinehart explained that because of COVID, some people are still reluctant to go to medical facilities for routine treatment. With several towns taking part, the need for the service can be addressed at a more reasonable cost for everyone.
“It’s tough for one small community to budget for having a nurse on call, but with several towns paying it becomes more affordable for each town and it’s financially worthwhile for the nurse,” Stinehart said.
Year Incorporated: 1770
Population: 9,502
Area: 31.7 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $17.59
Commercial Tax Rate: $17.59
Median Household Income: $52,296
Family Household Income: $64,456
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting; Select Board
Largest Employers: Big Y; Whalley Computer Associates; Southwick Regional School District
*Latest information available
When entering Southwick drivers are greeted with a welcome sign that brands the town as a “recreational community.” One notable recreation spot in town is The Wick 338, the motocross course that continues to grow in prominence in the sport. On July 9, the course will host the Southwick National Motocross Championship, which will be televised nationally on NBC.
“Based on ticket sales so far, the organizers are anticipating one of the largest events ever,” said Fox. “I hope they have good weather for it.”
The town also hosts two popular golf courses with The Ranch and Edgewood Country Club. Stinehart discussed a new golf game in town that has begun to take off: disc golf.
“The folks at the New England Disc Golf Center have told us people are playing hundreds of rounds of disc golf every week,” Stinehart said. “It’s a relatively new sport that’s gaining in popularity.”
Southwick is still basking in the glow of its 250th anniversary celebration. Though 2020 was the actual year of the anniversary, COVID forced the town to delay scheduled events and create new ones. In a “making lemonade out of lemons” kind of way, Fox remarked that they were able to celebrate the 250th for two years instead of just one.
“In 2020 we had a rolling parade where we drove floats into neighborhoods and then last year we held a traditional parade,” Stinehart said. “We’re still selling souvenirs from the event.”
The anniversary celebration was so successful, the organizing committee had a surplus after all the costs were covered. That money will be used to make improvements to the town green and renovate the memorial to veterans who were Southwick residents.
“It’s a good use of the money and it will improve the municipal center of our community,” Stinehart said.
Reflecting on the anniversary, Fox said even with a two-year celebration, COVID prevented them from holding all the activities they would have liked to host.
At that point, Stinehart quipped, “Well, there will be a 275th anniversary.”
By Lauren Foley
After graduating college and entering the workforce there are endless opportunities and lessons to learn as a young woman in business. The expectations and opportunities of a first job are not always taught in the classroom.
While some of those expectations are directly related to skills and job functions, there are more intangible ones that are expected of people who enter the business world. Soft skills such as growing your outreach, building clientele, and developing relationships, are heavily valued and weighted in the career of business. As women in business, we want to empower ourselves to grow our careers and position ourselves for success. It is imperative that we advocate for our career path and grow our worth in our chosen professions. Well, how does a newly graduated woman enter the workforce and gain growth in these areas in their career? It is simple, networking.
Lauren Foley
“The purpose of networking is to gain connections with other business individuals to create working and professional relationships. Connections can provide many opportunities for young professionals ranging from cliental referrals, job offers, event sponsorships, achievement recognition, and even learning opportunities.”
Before jumping in, the first step is to understand the basic goal of networking. The purpose of networking is to gain connections with other business individuals to create working and professional relationships. Connections can provide many opportunities for young professionals ranging from cliental referrals, job offers, event sponsorships, achievement recognition, and even learning opportunities. The positive outcomes span even farther. By forming connections with other people in similar positions, you create a new network of people who can provide resources to each other, and connections that enable each other to grow.
Where are you networking, how do you do it, and why? Are you looking to create a connection with a specific person who has influence in your field or community? Are you looking to make an introduction within a specific service that would be necessary to advance your career? Are you looking to find more ways to get more involved in your community and be of service? It is important to understand why you are attending each event you attend before you engage. Networking can take place in many different atmospheres such as attending a BBQ, going to an awards’ ceremony, or attending a convention. Your choice in events to attend should be in alignment with your purpose of networking. When looking for a referral source, individuals should look for a working relationship. A working relationship refers to the idea that if the other person’s client needs a service you provide, then they would refer the client to you and vice versa. Those looking for a working relationship should attend a networking event that is sponsored or put on by a local organization where other business professionals associated with the field will also attend — think maybe a trade show, chamber of commerce, or specific public roundtables. If the purpose of networking is to find new clients, then attending a business event or local young professionals’ event where others are just starting their career is the perfect place to create ground-level relationships that could lead to gaining clients.
It is especially important for new professionals to feel empowered at networking event. It can sometimes feel easier to stick to the people you know at an event rather than to approach a stranger and strike up a conversation. A great approach to avoid this issue, is to scope the room, remember your purpose and use the buddy system to approach new people. When using the buddy system, it allows both individuals to have more confidence when starting to network because they can lean on each other while still being able to meet new people.
Remember, there are many ways to network, and some events might work better than others for you depending on your personality and your overall expectations. There are also events that will provide a more specific purpose of networking than others, so it is always important to note how the events went to determine if they are worth your time in the future.
It is great best practice to touch base internally with whoever went to the event to get their feedback. Who did everyone meet? What did they enjoy at the event? Were there any important follow-up tasks post event? What was the overall outcome? Having a quick internal conversation post event can increase the value your networking activities because you will remember who to follow up with, and as previously mentioned, weigh whether you would like to attend again in the future.
Overall, networking as a young women can be challenging but it is a great way to take the initiative to grow our own careers. It can help you advance your career faster while also improving your client service and relationship skills. While the benefits may not feel immediate in nature, networking is a terrific way to get your name out there, create learning points, and gain opportunities as a young professional. So, understand the value you could receive by meeting the right person, and start planning what is most important to you and your career. It is a skill that takes some time to learn, so practice makes perfect and get out there and grow your ‘Net.’
Lauren Foley is an associate at the Holyoke-based accounting firm, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
Michael Kusek says the cannabis industry is in what he calls “a first bout of growing pains.”
“Our first bout of growing pains.”
That’s the phrase Michael Kusek summoned after being asked to describe the state of the cannabis industry in the Bay State more than five and a half years after its start.
“We’re still very much in the early stages of this industry,” said Kusek, who launched the quarterly publication A Different Leaf, with the subtitle ‘A Journal of Cannabis Culture’ to essentially chronicle this business and tell the many stories that define it. “It took over a year to sell the first billion-dollars-worth of cannabis, and then it took eight months to sell the second billion. Those billions are going to come faster; the market isn’t shrinking, it’s just being spread out over more locations.”
Elaborating, he said the numbers of dispensaries and other kinds of businesses is growing rapidly and profoundly, and soon — how soon remains to be seen — there will come an answer to the question ‘how many of these is too many?’
“Competition has come to the market — quickly,” he explained. “In some places, dispensaries that were the only game in town — those that had first-mover advantage — are no longer the only game in town. That has come quickly as the Cannabis Control Commission has become faster and more efficient at licensing businesses.”
Meanwhile, there will soon be more competition from other states, including New York and New Jersey, which will likely have their first dispensaries by the end of this year, developments that will certainly impact regions like the Berkshires. And there will be companies based in other parts of the country that will want to enter this state and likely partner with existing ventures to do so, he said, adding that all these factors go into that phrase ‘growing pains.’
Overall, the state’s cannabis business continues to grow, evolve, and influence the regional economy in many different ways, said Kusek, listing everything from the profound impact on commercial real estate, with dozens of formerly vacant or underutilized properties finding new life as homes to different kinds of cannabis businesses, to the introduction of new kinds of ventures, such as home delivery (see related story, page 20) and social-consumption sites, to the infusion of tax revenue from these various ventures.
And the stories in the latest edition of the publication — the Spring 2022 ‘Cannabis and Culture’ issue — speak to all this. They punctuate how the industry is evolving and influencing the region, and how there are many subplots to the larger story. Indeed, there’s a piece about how the cannabis industry can help cities and towns like Holyoke revitalize their economy. There’s another piece, in the ‘how-to section’ where experts talk about communicating with children about cannabis use. And then, there’s a story about entrepreneurs Phillipe and Ashlan Cousteau about their new line of “ocean-infused” cannabis products.
The past several issues and the one coming next provide more insight: winter 2021 was the ‘medical issue,’ while fall 2021 was the ‘annual’ (the third) ‘Edibles Issue.’ The summer issue, meanwhile will be the first devoted to ‘cannabis travel and tourism,’ said Kusek, noting that he’s always wanted to do one of these, but couldn’t until COVID subsided sufficiently.
“This is the first summer we thought we could do travel and tourism,” he said, adding that the issue will include pieces on traveling with cannabis — what’s legal and what isn’t, according to the Transportation Safety Administration; cannabis spas; and a broad piece on just what is cannabis tourism.
“There’s two ways of looking at it,” he explained. “People are going to destinations where there is cannabis, and that’s why they’re going there, places like Jamaica, where they may be able to visit a cannabis farm. Or, if people are traveling in California, they may want to visit dispensaries — like a brewery tour; cannabis becomes the destination.”
While cannabis is certainly changing the local and national landscape — literally and also figuratively — the overarching questions are: ‘what’s next?’ and ‘how big can this industry become?’
In a candid interview, Kusek, whose magazine is now national in scope but still pays close attention to what’s happening in this region and the Commonwealth as a whole, provided some perspective on the state of this emerging sector and what we can expect in the months and years to come.
Kusek said there has been considerable change in the landscape since the cannabis industry was born in 2016, and also since BusinessWest last spoke with him, just as he was launching A Different Leaf in the summer of 2019.
Perhaps the biggest change, and this has led to more competition, has been quicker action on the part of the CCC when it comes to issuing licenses.
“Early on, the commission was taking their first tentative steps toward licensing, and licensed very slowly, from 2018 on,” he explained. “They were not licensing dozens a week; it was in the single digits. And that created some tension within the pool of people waiting for licenses, and there were many kinds of businesses within that pool of applicants — locally grown companies, businesses coming into Massachusetts from other states — MSOs (multi-state operators), and a pool of applicants under the social-equity provisions of the law.
“The state was not speedy in granting licenses, and you had a fair number of businesses who burned through their capital waiting for licenses. It’s not like opening a restaurant, where you find a space, and you rent it, and you go to the town and you get your food permits and then you acquire a liquor license; it could take a while, but it’s not that long a process,” he went on. “With cannabis, early on, you had people who had to rent a storefront, because you needed a license to get the host-community agreement with your town. There are people I talked with who had their host-community agreements and had rented a building, and they never opened their doors til three years later.”
He said there are more than a few examples of entrepreneurs who burned through their money, with an emphasis on their money, because one cannot get bank financing for such businesses, because cannabis is still illegal federally. But the situation is improving, he noted, and this is leading to more ventures opening their doors, thus changing the competitive landscape, at least in some communities.
Indeed, there are several cities and towns where cannabis has a huge presence and large impact on the local economy — Holyoke, Northampton, and Easthampton are on that list — and others where it has little if any, such as West Springfield, where a moratorium on such businesses still exists. Many lie somewhere in the middle, he said, adding that their status depends largely on how ‘friendly’ these communities are to the industry.
The varying degrees of friendliness leave entrepreneurs with some choices, said Kusek, adding that they may choose to wage a more difficult campaign to locate in a community where there are few such businesses, or choose to join the growing number of players in communities like Northampton.
“Do you try your luck with the city of Springfield and burn through all of your money on rent, or do you go to Northampton, where you can get a host-community agreement and hopefully get through the state process much quicker, and at least get your doors open?” Kusek asked rhetorically. “You may not make a dollar, but you might make 50 cents.”
Another interesting dynamic was the state’s willingness to grant licenses to dispensaries, but not to the cultivators that would provide product to those facilities, said Kusek, adding that over the past few years, it has essentially caught up, meaning that there is now both more competition and more product.
“In the fall and winter of 2021, I had more than a half-dozen phone calls from people asking me if I knew where they could buy flower — if I knew anyone who had cannabis flower to sell wholesale,” he explained. “I don’t grow cannabis, I don’t sell cannabis, I write about cannabis. But the marketplace was so tight, and people were having such a hard time finding product, they were calling people like me looking for product. That has stopped happening.”
And that is just one of the many developments contributing to the growth and evolution of the industry, adding that as the sector emerges here, takes root in other states, and becomes more national in scope and reach, there will be many fronts to watch.
These include the ongoing debate about whether to make cannabis legal on a federal basis, what Kusek calls “the next big shoe to drop,” because of the huge implications of such a development — on everything from inter-state commerce to use of the banking system and all those ramifications — should it come to pass and how it might come to pass.
“There are lots of competing and complementary interests helping to develop legislation, and there are advocates for smaller businesses who don’t want this legislation to be dominated by MSOs or Big Tobacco, or InBev, or whoever else wants to get into the cannabis industry when it becomes federally legal,” he explained, adding that it will be a very complicated process to take the regulations put in place by the three dozen or so states that have legalized medical or adult-use cannabis, and overlay that with federal policy. “They don’t want the federal regulations to squash small business, and they don’t want federal regulations to squash social-equity provisions at the state level.”
Overall, he said this White House has not made legalizing cannabis a priority, and he does not expect that to change anytime soon, although he certainly leaves the door open to that eventuality.
In the meantime, the local landscape continues to change, with new businesses, new business types, such as delivery and social-consumption sites (which Kusek predicts will be the next ‘big thing’), brands developing their identities, businesses identifying customers, and much more.
Kusek said these are all contributing to growing pains, which, overall, are a good thing to have. They convey that a sector is expanding and evolving, so much so that the growth and evolution are creating issues, and, in his case, things to write about it.
There will be no shortage of such things for the foreseeable future, which is good for Kusek, and very good for an industry that is, in most all ways, very much in its infancy.
By Pat Grenier
We have a well laid out plan for how our wealth-building investment portfolios will provide us with the lifestyle we want, confidence in our financial strategy that we believe we deserve, and the legacy we want to leave our loved ones.
Inflation, rising interest rates, high gas prices, the war in Ukraine are non-trivial distractions that test our ability to stay calm and focused. As Mike Tyson once said, “everyone has a plan ‘till they get punched in the mouth.”
Pat Grenier
For many depending on their 401k plans, their IRAs and/or their investments, this is a gut-wrenching feeling. It certainly is painful to watch the value of our monies depreciate — especially in an inflationary environment. Emotions can take over and cause anxiety, nervousness, and fear. You are not alone. These feelings are real and may drive the person into a decision that may be irrational, absolutely the wrong one at the wrong time.
Until we address these feelings with facts and common sense, we will not be able to make rational decisions about our investments and the impact it will have on our lives.
As a start, let’s put the current market environment in perspective. As with any market decline, we don’t know when it will hit bottom or how long it will take for markets to come back. What we do know, and history has proven, is that market corrections occur periodically and have been short-lived:
As much as anyone would like to avoid these declines, they are an inevitable part of investing.
Looking back at the 15 largest single-day percentage losses in the S&P 500 since 1960, we see that investors are rewarded for staying the course:
Warren Buffett said it best “American magic has always prevailed, and it will do so again.” Can you think of a year where there was not an event that had a negative impact on the economy and investments? It is reassuring to know that despite these annual headwinds, the U.S. economy is resilient and has always recovered.
As much as the fearmongers want us to believe the world is falling apart, we should know better than to listen to the 24/7 negative news cycles. For our own sanity, we need to focus on the positive. Our economy continues to open after the closures due to the Covid pandemic, there are plenty of jobs for anyone that needs one and consumers are still spending. To our surprise many corporations for the first quarter of this year reported higher-than- expected earnings. In addition, in spite of higher mortgage interest rates, pending home sales rose in May. This should provide us with optimism for the economy, even if the ride is bumpy.
Famed British Banker, Sir Baron Nathan Rothchild, is credited with the phrase “buy on the sound of canons, sell on the sound of trumpets.” The old adage ‘buy low and sell high’ makes sense but is one of the most difficult principles to follow and act upon.
Markets decline on negative news. The negativity creates fear, but the decline presents an opportunity to reassess our investments, our allocation, our risk tolerance and to take advantage of quality investments that may have been beyond our reach. If time is on your side, buying on sale makes sense.
It is not just about the money. Investing is about having the right frame of mind to make our money work efficiently and effectively.
Pat Grenier, CFP® is president and founder of Springfield-based Grenier Financial Services; (413) 736-6712; [email protected]
Securities and advisory services offered through Cadaret Grant & Co., an SEC Registered Investment Advisor and member FINRA/SIPC. Grenier Financial Advisors and Cadaret Grant are separate entities.
By Jeff Liguori
When markets slide, investors’ knee jerk reaction is to draw parallels to difficult markets in the past.
The most recognizable episode in recent history is the Great Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008-09. The S&P 500 peaked in October 2007, followed by a crushing sell off that bottomed out in March ’09 — but not before losing 56% of its total value, a near total collapse of the financial system, and several high-profile bankruptcies.
A significant contributor to that grueling bear market was the decline in home prices. Real estate was a bubble that overinflated; the ‘pop’ led to a meltdown in our financial system due to intricate investment products linked to mortgages, over-leveraged home buyers, and inordinate risk assumed by some large investment banks. When that very large balloon deflated, there was no place to hide until the buyer of last resort — our federal government — stepped in with a bailout.
Jeff Liguori
“This is not that housing market. When it cools – and it will – there should be enough demand to maintain stability.”
There are some eerie similarities in today’s investment landscape. Home prices have trended drastically higher as pent-up demand, fueled by excessive liquidity and a strong economy, has caused a buying frenzy in many markets. Speculation, specifically in crypto currency and “meme” stocks, prompted unsophisticated and inexperienced investors to buy assets about which little was known. The quick success of those speculators was widely publicized through social media, which caused a feedback loop that then further inflated the bubble as it drew more neophytes into the ‘game.’ We’ve seen this movie before, and it doesn’t end well.
Following the playbook of the GFC, should we expect a high-profile bankruptcy of a major financial institution, or a collapse in the housing market, or — heaven forbid — both and maybe more? We keep hearing that we’re in a bear market and a recession is all but guaranteed, so what now?
First, from a macro economic standpoint, today’s economy is quite different than what we experienced 13 years ago. Take real estate. Yes, home prices have skyrocketed and the market for buyers is possibly as tight as it has ever been. But the number of homes being bought with cash is at the highest level since 2005; transactions not subject to financing by the buyer represent almost one quarter of all transactions. For perspective, cash transactions at the peak of the market in 2007 were almost 40% lower than they are today. Mortgage debt is almost always the greatest liability for a consumer; that liability was significantly higher during the 2008-09 recession. And bank-lending standards today have made it more difficult for less creditworthy consumers to take on mortgages because of the Great Financial Crisis. This is not that housing market. When it cools – and it will – there should be enough demand to maintain stability.
The number of first-time home buyers, or housing formation, declined during the 2010s, mostly due to a combination of younger adults living with their parents, and a move toward urban centers where renting is more prevalent. But one of the consequences of the pandemic, that was impossible to predict, was the spark in housing demand. Major employers allowed workers to work remotely, which enabled growth in desirable suburban and rural real estate markets. We may be on the doorstep of housing formation trend that persists for a very long time, a long-term positive for the economy. Prices should normalize in the near term, but demand for housing remains intact.
The real crisis may be a lack of supply. But that is an article for another time.
Second, speculative bubbles are a natural consequence of a strong economy. We have all seen or heard of the Tik Tok millionaires, who seemingly made their fortune overnight, then spread the get-rich-quick gospel on social media, thus influencing more risky behavior — the very definition of a bubble. However, when equity markets decline substantially in a short time — the tech-heavy Nasdaq was down nearly 32% for the year in June – this risky behavior gets flushed out.
Look at this statistic, courtesy of Sundial Research: On June 16, 90% of the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 were down on the day. This occurred five times in the in the seven trading sessions leading up to June 16. There are zero historical precedents for that level of selling over a seven-day period, which is a sign of capitulation by inexperienced investors, necessary for a bottoming process in stock prices.
Many variables contribute to economic weakness, and with the Fed raising rates to battle inflation, it may lead to a recession. How quick is hard to predict. But this is not 2008. Consumer balance sheets are much healthier, with manageable levels of debt relative to income. Stocks have already discounted many of the negatives associated with tighter financial conditions and higher inflation.
As investors we move from fear to greed and back again. Strong emotions that are exploited by the media. Perhaps the Fed can navigate through this, or some type of peaceful settlement occurs in Ukraine, relieving inflationary pressure, and the adjustment in all asset prices is just that — a necessary adjustment in a healthy economy. Perhaps we should instead be thinking of long-term opportunity. That scenario doesn’t seem to be the narrative today, which, as a contrarian, makes me think it is more likely than not.
Jeff Liguori is the co-founder and chief Investment officer of Napatree Capital, an investment boutique with offices in Longmeadow as well as Providence and Westerly, R.I.; (401) 437-4730.
By Lisa Johnson
You have probably noticed higher prices in many areas of your life. From gas to groceries, prices are going up, with the U.S reaching inflation levels never seen before — and the insurance industry is not immune to this trend. Across the industry in most markets and with most insurance companies, whether you’ve had a claim or not, home-insurance premiums are rising due to a variety of factors.
Many of these factors are out of your control, as well as your agent’s and insurance company’s. Many current conditions, including increased costs of material and labor, as well as an ongoing shortage of workers, mean you may see a rise in your premiums at renewal time.
Home-insurance rates are determined by the likelihood of a homeowner filing a claim and the potential risks involved. Rates are driven by numerous standard factors, including amount of coverage needed, age of the home, location, liability issues, and previous claims. Other influences caused by national trends also contribute to rates.
Why are home-insurance rates going up? The biggest cause is the rise in inflation. When prices rise, the cost of living and owning a home increases, which in turn influences home insurance rates. These rate increases are happening in insurance companies across the country.
Home-insurance premiums can be affected by influences outside of your control. Various nationwide factors are impacting the cost to rebuild homes, leading to the need for more coverage in case of a claim. Some of the trends that are driving up costs include higher material costs and supply-chain issues. For instance, materials to rebuild homes are up 26%. Labor shortages are resulting in longer construction and claims-handling times, which also impact the cost of claims.
From record high prices to shortages of materials, the home-building industry has seen lengthy delays, increased prices, and a large number of postponed projects. These higher prices for construction projects, renovations, and repairs lead to higher costs for homeowners.
With the price of building materials — such as drywall, shingles, lumber, and copper wiring — up an average of 26%, homes have become more expensive to fix and replace. According to a survey by the National Assoc. of Home Builders, this is the largest single-year increase in the survey’s history. Ninety-three percent of contractors are impacted by the increased price of materials, which leads to higher replacement costs when insurance claims are filed.
The pandemic has impacted almost every part of the global supply chain, causing shipping delays and higher prices. When shipping ports get overwhelmed and backed up, it impacts the time it takes to get materials to homeowners and the cost of delivering the materials.
From appliances to plumbing fixtures, it’s taken weeks and months longer to get building supplies, which previously had taken days to procure. In fact, 94% of Fortune 1000 companies have reported supply-chain disruptions from COVID-19.
Globally, RBC Capital Markets reported that 77% of ports are experiencing abnormally long times to turn around traffic. In fact, Freightos.com marketplace data shows that, in September 2021, China-to-U.S. ocean shipments took an average of 73 days to arrive at their final destination, 83% longer than in September 2019.
Builders often hire subcontractors who handle electrical, drywall, plumbing, and other areas of construction. With the current labor shortages, higher costs are needed to secure skilled laborers or obtain the needed materials. This, in turn, has forced home builders to factor in higher costs for construction and remodeling work.
Eighty-nine percent of contractors are having a hard time finding craft workers, and 88% of firms are experiencing project delays. Additionally, the U.S. is seeing a drop in the number of Americans becoming tradespeople. The National Electrical Contractors Association reports that 7,000 electricians join the field annually, but 10,000 retire. This shortfall results in higher prices and longer wait times for home projects.
Home insurance isn’t the only coverage impacted by current trends. Auto insurance is also experiencing increases due to national trends. Used-car prices are up 40%, the cost of labor for repairs is up, car parts are costlier and harder to obtain due to supply-chain issues, and rental car costs are up 30%. These factors and others are contributing to a rise in auto-insurance rates.
It might be time to review your home and auto policies with an agent to make sure your coverages are appropriate in the current inflationary market.
Lisa Johnson is chief operating officer for Amherst-based Encharter Insurance; (413) 658-3410.
Sources: NAHB, AGC, Accenture, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, AutoRentalNews, CCC Intelligent Solutions, CNBC. All products are underwritten by The Hanover Insurance Company or one of its insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage.
LexisNexis Risk Solutions recently released its 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Trends Report, which aggregates annual market data about driving behaviors, auto-insurance shopping, underwriting, and claims to help insurers better navigate myriad evolving trends impacting the U.S. auto-insurance industry.
This year’s report analyzes 2021 data, detailing how the industry continues to navigate the aftermath of pandemic-induced supply shortages, inflation, and new driving behaviors, and provides insights for insurance carriers to help improve their workflows with an eye on streamlining consumer experience.
One of the big questions within the U.S. auto-insurance industry heading into 2021 was whether it would see a rebound to more normal driving and shopping patterns, or if the industry is undergoing a revolution in the wake of the pandemic that would compel insurers to think about the policy life cycle differently.
“The jury is still very much out on the long-term effects of these market trends impacting the auto-insurance industry,” said Adam Pichon, vice president and general manager of Auto and Home Insurance at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. “While we have seen some traditional patterns re-emerge with respect to miles driven and insurance shopping volumes, we saw another roller-coaster year due to volatile activity in claims severity, insurance switching, more serious traffic violations, and vehicle purchasing due to macroeconomic conditions.
“Add to that increasing consumer interest in telematics data and an active regulatory and legislative environment,” he went on, “and we are seeing more signs of a revolution in the industry than a rebound. Insurers who arm themselves with accurate and comprehensive data are poised to price and rate more accurately, handle claims more efficiently, and improve customer experience in the face of evolving market stressors.”
Auto-insurance shopping and new policy-growth numbers were volatile for the second year in a row, shaped largely by continued pandemic-related influences.
• Changes in driving behavior — including riskier driving behaviors such as distracted driving — created a notable shift in the driving-violation data mix reported. An abnormal rise in major speeding violations coincided with another yearly increase in traffic fatalities.
• Claims severity increased even as more normal driving patterns returned, particularly in the second half of the year. While severity of claims have increased, the number of ‘touches’ required to close a claim has not improved, with 29% of consumers reporting having to speak with three or more people to get their claim settled.
• Vehicle shortages and supply-chain issues led to reduced car sales and slowed the adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems after gains in recent years. And with fewer cars available, vehicle purchases were suppressed, which meant auto-insurance shopping was down, as vehicle purchases account for as many as one in three auto insurance shopping events.
• Miles driven, which is a strong predictor of loss cost frequency, rebounded to traditional seasonal patterns exhibited in 2019, and carriers could see a significant benefit in more accurate and frequent mileage readings from connected vehicles.
• According to a December 2021 LexisNexis Risk Solutions survey of U.S. consumers, 71% are interested in the of use telematics-enabled usage-based insurance for purposes of discounts. However, consumer adoption remains much lower, presenting a significant opportunity for both consumers and insurers.
• Changes in the regulatory environment are putting pressure on core rating variables as some states are introducing legislation designed to restrict the types of data used for risk-based insurance scoring. This could be harmful to consumers, as 85% of new U.S. consumer auto-insurance policies issued to consumers in 2021 benefited from products that leverage data and analytics.
“When you consider all the variables at play, I do think the assertion by LexisNexis Risk Solutions that we are in a revolution of sorts in the insurance industry is apt,” said Karlyn Carnahan, head of Insurance, North America at Celent. “Like no time I can ever recall, insurers are reliant on data and analytics to not only assess risk, but also to provide a more seamless experience for the customer from point of quote all the way through the claims process. Across the insurance continuum, data is oil that keeps the engine running.”
We could be headed for another year of vehicle and insurance shopping volatility in year-over-year growth rates. Additionally, current economic uncertainty and continued risky driving behaviors suggest claims severity will remain high. Finally, LexisNexis Risk Solutions will continue to watch the regulatory environment closely in support of consumers and carriers.
“The insurance industry is in a critical phase,” Pichon said. “There are so many unknowns, and insurers, no matter the size, who adapt by using data and analytics to enhance their workflows and meet customers where they are will be positioned to make better, more informed decisions and gain market share.”
Gov. Charlie Baker, Sarah Yee, center, and Mercy Medical Center President Deborah Bitsoli at last month’s announcement of plans for the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit.
Sarah Yee recalls that, during her husband’s final stay at Mercy Medical Center before he succumbed to cancer — a week in the intensive care unit in late May 2021 — there was some subtle “bending of the rules,” as she called it.
Most of it involved visitation, and, more specifically, the number of people who could visit and the hours when people could drop in, she noted. But there was more to it, especially efforts to make his room more like home, she said, adding that steps involved everything from the music playing — Earth Wind & Fire — to the Disney movies he would watch with family members, to pictures of family and friends that were brought in and placed around the room.
Summing it all up, Yee said that it wasn’t long before she called for an ambulance to bring Andy to Mercy for that final stay, that she decided that she didn’t want him to die at home.
Andy Yee was a successful entrepreneur known for his passion for giving back. The palliative care unit is a continuation of that legacy.
“We love our house and the memories that we made here … but I didn’t want these to be our last memories of him,” she said, adding quickly that she did want him to die in a setting that was as close to home as she and family members could make it.
And the desire to enable others to enjoy that same home-like setting has prompted members of the Yee family, working in concert with those at Mercy Medical Center, to conceptualize the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit, which is slated to open its doors before the end of this year.
Eight rooms are planned in space on the fifth floor of the hospital that had been a med-surg unit. Plans call for those private rooms, family respite places, private meeting rooms, and an outdoor terrace.
“This will be a specialized unit with specialized care,” said Deborah Bitsoli, president of Mercy Medical Center. “The rooms will have a particular color scheme, there will be a garden for the families, there will be particular types of furniture so the patients can stay overnight, and we will also outfit the rooms so some of the hospital equipment is behind walls, so that the environment would almost be like a home setting.
“The ICU is very institutional-looking,” she went on. “These rooms will not be institutional-looking; they’re going to look like a family room; this will be a very unique model for Springfield.”
The center will take the name of a man known for his many business accomplishments — he was a serial entrepreneur known in recent years for partnering with Peter Picknelly and others to save the Student Prince restaurant and then the landmark White Hut eatery — but also for his philanthropy.
At an elaborate press conference to announce the creation of the palliative care unit, staged last month in Mercy’s courtyard, several speakers, including Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, both of whom became friends with Yee in recent years, talked about how the facility would not only meet a need, but speak — and in dramatic fashion — to Yee’s passion for giving back.
Indeed, before talking about the new unit, what it would offer, and what it would mean for patients and their families, Bitsoli set the tone by first turning back the clock to the early weeks of the pandemic, when Yee arranged to bring a Peter Pan bus full of food for staff at the hospital.
“There was another time when I called Andy and said, ‘I need your help,’ and he immediately said ‘what can I do?’” she recalled. “I said ‘it’s been a tough day for the staff; I need 1,000 roast-beef sandwiches. He said ‘when?’ I said ‘tomorrow.’ He said ‘I’ll get them there.’ And he did get them there.”
This desire to give back to those at the hospital and to support employees continued until that last stay in the ICU, said Bitsoli, noting that before he fell gravely ill, Andy Yee and officials at Mercy were planning a large, thank-you-to-staff celebration that would take place in that same courtyard as the press conference. That celebration never happened, but the spirit that spawned it would inspire something with more-lasting impact on the hospital and the patients it will serve.
Indeed, in the latter stages of her husband’s battle against cancer, Sarah Yee said she had many conversations with Andy’s oncologist, Dr. Philip Glynn, Bitsoli, and others about how donations in Andy’s name to Mercy Medical Center might best be used. There was talk of funding additional infusion rooms, she said, referring to facilities where infusion therapy is administered to cancer patients.
But officials at Mercy identified a greater need — one for palliative care facilities that would cater to critically ill patients who are mostly at the end of their lives.
Such facilities are not common, said Bitsoli, noting that fewer than 20% of hospitals offer palliative care.
“There are not many units like this; it really takes a combination of a vision and particular type of expertise,” she noted, adding that the unit will be overseen by Glynn and Dr. Laurie Loiacono, chief of Critical Care at Mercy. “It also takes a particular type of administration that feels committed to providing that type of experience for patients and families. It’s a particular unit that is resourced and outfitted in a very unique way, and you have to be behind that vision — and we’re all behind that vision.
“As the population ages, there is considerable focus on palliative medicine, which focuses on how someone passes in a dignified way, in a setting where they are surrounded by loved ones and in a supportive manner,” she went on. “There is a level of expertise and specialty around that, and Dr. Glynn has that type of expertise.”
Those at Mercy have been involved with the project for several months now, said Bitsoli, adding that there have been meetings with architects and room designers to finalize color schemes and other aspects of overall design. A committee has been meeting every week to get updates and keep the project on track for a fall ribbon-cutting.
Tim Stanton, vice president of Philanthropy for Trinity Health of New England, Mercy’s parent company, agreed, and noted that there is clear need for such a facility in this region.
“Sometimes, a family may feel it is desirable to have the patient come home during those last days,” said Stanton. “But oftentimes, it’s not practical or logical. So we want to create an environment here that replicates many of the comforts of home.”
Stanton said Mercy has embarked on what he expects will be a six-month campaign to raise money to help defray the cost of the new unit, which he projects will cost between $500,000 and $1 million in its initial stage.
Those wishing to donate may do so by visiting https://give.mercycares.com/andy-yee-palliative-care-unit
SPRINGFIELD — In the spring of 2017, 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. And that’s where you come in.
Nominations for the class of 2022 are due July 29, and we encourage you to get involved and help recognize someone you consider to be a hero in the community we call Western Mass. in one (or more) of these seven 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.
Nominations can be submitted at
https://businesswest.com/healthcare-heroes/nominations/
For more information call Melissa Hallock, Marketing and Events Director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or email to [email protected]
FLORENCE — Florence Bank announced that president and CEO Kevin Day will retire on Nov. 25, and a focused search is underway for a new leader.
Day took over as president in January 2020 and became CEO in May of the same year.
When Day took the helm at age 64, he promised that nothing would change at the bank. Little did he know, he’d be called upon to usher Florence Bank through some of the most tumultuous times in history, including a pandemic and the resulting financial strife. Day led the bank in ensuring that countless homeowners and businesses were able to defer their payments during the pandemic and in helping business customers connect to grants and other available funding.
These measures helped customers navigate the financial turmoil and gave them much-needed time to adjust to new financial situations.
The bank also expanded over these past two years, opening a branch in Chicopee; creating a work-from-home program for employees; and granting hundreds of thousands of dollars to nonprofit organizations in the Valley.
Day takes pride in the bank’s stability but shares the credit with the full banking team.
“Our goal in this transition is to identify an individual to lead the bank into the future while preserving the values and mission of the past that have proven so successful here,” he said. “I am proud to say that Florence Bank is fundamentally sound in every way. We have an experienced executive management team, a solid officer team and a dedicated staff. I am confident that the bank will continue to prosper for many years to come.”
Day joined Florence Bank in 2008 as chief financial officer, responsible for finance, facilities and risk management. His responsibilities expanded to include compliance in 2013, residential lending in 2014 and retail banking in 2016. He was also promoted to executive vice president in 2016.
The Berkshire Economic Recovery Project, a program of 1Berkshire and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, with funding from the United States Economic Development Administration, announced the launch of its women- and minority-owned business enterprise (W/MBE) module.
The training module, available in both English and Spanish, provides a high-level overview of what it means to be a certified women- and/or minority-owned business enterprise, and how such a certification can help support the small businesses in the Berkshires. In addition to the short overview training modules, interested businesses will also find a direct link to schedule a free intake consultation with the Economic Development team at 1Berkshire.
These consultations will allow 1Berkshire to make direct referrals to technical assistance support to help guide interested women- and minority-owned businesses through the certification process.
“We know we have many incredible small businesses in the Berkshires owned and operated by women, immigrants, minorities, and LGBTQ community members, however we find very few businesses are certified as such,” said Benjamin Lamb, 1Berkshire’s director of Economic Development. “This effort aims to move the needle on helping our underserved business owners access the opportunities that W/MBE certification unlocks, including government contracting opportunities, specific loan and grant programs, tax incentives, and more.”
Businesses and business owners are invited to visit the W/MBE module page at https://bit.ly/3yff8zP for more information and to view the recordings.
WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, Inter-Fluve, the Town of Falmouth (MA), and project partners have been recognized with two awards for the Coonamessett River Restoration and John Parker Road Bridge project.
The project team received the Bronze Engineering Excellence Award from The American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA) and the Nicholas Humber Outstanding Collaboration Award from the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC).
The awards recognize the successful transformation of 56 acres of abandoned cranberry bogs, which established a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem supporting wildlife, increasing coastal resiliency, and providing educational opportunities. Numerous barriers to fish passage were removed including a dam, water control structures, a series of undersized culverts that were replaced with the new John Parker Road Bridge, and 5,560 feet of the river were reestablished to closely match the historic natural flow of the river. A river overlook is a gateway to miles of trail with interpretive signs about the natural history placed along the river that is protected by town and land trust conservation lands.
“The Coonamessett River restoration achieved its goals to be a nature-based solution to increase resiliency to climate change and community resiliency,” said Elizabeth Gladfelter, Falmouth Conservation Commission Member. “This project has increased awareness and stewardship of natural resources in Falmouth and both formal and informal educational programs.”
Project partners spanning local, state, and federal organizations collaborated with the technical engineering and construction teams to successfully complete this project. The restoration is serving as an example for other Cape Cod communities transforming former cranberry bogs across the region into thriving wildlife habitats and educational and recreational opportunities for all.
SPRINGFIELD — After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, The Zoo in Forest Park is bringing back its popular Brew at The Zoo, presented by PDC Inc., on Aug. 6 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The 21+ event features beer samples from local craft breweries, a home brew competition, food trucks, live music, games, a raffle, and animal interactions.
“We haven’t been able to host Brew at the Zoo since 2019, and we’ve really missed it,” said Sarah Tsitso, executive director at The Zoo in Forest Park. “This event brings together our incredible craft beer community, who all come out to support the 225 animals that call our zoo their home.”
Attendees can choose from four ticket types: VIP, VIP Designated Driver, General Admission and Designated Driver. Attendees with a VIP ticket will enjoy an extra hour of sampling beginning at 12 p.m., the opportunity to participate in up-close animal encounters, and grain to feed the animals. All attendees must be 21+.
The current list of breweries attending the event include Loophole Brewing, One Way Brewing, Vanished Valley Brewing Co., Broad Brook Brewing Company, Connecticut Valley Brewing Company, Berkshire Brewing Company, Rustic Brewing Company, Iron Duke Brewing, Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company, Brew Practitioners and New City Brewery, in addition to nine home brewers.
The Zoo will be closed to the public on Aug. 6. Advanced tickets are required to attend this event and IDs will be checked at the door. Tickets are limited and on sale now at www.forestparkzoo.org/brew.
For more information, contact Gabry Tyson at (413) 733-2251 ext. 5 or [email protected].
SPRINGFIELD — The historic grounds of Springfield Armory National Historic Site is once again the stage this summer for live music.
On July 16 at 6 p.m., the Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra, led by Jeff Gavioli, will perform. The Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra is a 19-piece orchestra that has been performing since 2012, playing swing music from the 1930s and 1940s.
Diana Szynal
Diana Szynal says that within minutes of the announcement that she had been named the new president of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce going out last spring, her phone started ringing and pinging.
There were calls and texts from area business leaders, government officials, and directors of area economic development agencies wanting to meet and talk.
“The calls started coming, and I’m still getting them,” said Szynal (pronounced Zy-nal), adding that her appointment book is quickly filling up for the next several weeks.
Those appointments are part of what she describes as a broad learning process as she takes the reins at the Springfield chamber, succeeding Nancy Creed, who has stepped down officially after several years at the helm, but is assisting in the transition.
Indeed, while Szynal, who most recently served as director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and before that served as a legislative aide to the late state Rep. Peter Kocot, is certainly familiar with Springfield and Hampden County in general, she admits that there will be a ‘getting acquainted’ period awaiting her as she assumes the leadership position at the Springfield Regional Chamber.
“I know that I don’t know everything about Springfield,” Szynal, who started her new job July 5, told BusinessWest. “But I do know that I’ve had dozens of local businesses and community leaders offer to help me with that; Springfield is the economic engine of Western Massachusetts, and we need to make sure that we’re at the forefront, always at the cutting edge, of what’s happening, business-wise and legislatively.”
“The pandemic really did shine a spotlight on how critical it is to be part of that larger group and have that support and have that information that was so important.”
While scheduling meetings with those who are now calling and texting her, Szynal is also putting together a to-do list, one that includes a return of the chamber’s popular Super 60 program this fall — nominations are currently being accepted for that honor — as well as a resumption of the chamber’s ambassadors program (put on the shelf due to COVID), and, further down the line, planning of the first in-person Outlook lunch since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020.
Also on the list is creation of a new strategic plan — the last one was undertaken before the pandemic — and continuing and building upon Creed’s strong track record for not only keeping members well-informed, but making sure their voices are heard on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill.
“Nancy was, and still is a great voice for this region,” said Szynal. “We need to continue to make sure that our voice is heard, and the way you do that is by engaging the legislators and forming good relationships with stage agencies. The legislative piece is really important, and that’s where the Springfield Regional Chamber has a leg up, because it spends so much time making sure that it has put together a solid legislative agenda that supports what businesses need and makes sure that the voice at this end of the state is heard.”
Overall, Szynal takes the reins at an intriguing time for this chamber, and chambers in general.
Indeed, she said that the pandemic provided an opportunity for chambers to show their true value to members — and potential members — when it comes to not only providing needed information (although there was plenty of that) but for being a true resource for, and advocate for, the business community.
“I think there was a real affirmation of the value of chamber membership, particularly during the pandemic,” she said. “In Franklin County, when we went into the shut-down and my phone was ringing, it was non-members who were reaching out. Members of chambers were getting a lot of information during that tumultuous time on matters such as the Payroll Protection Program, who qualified, and how the loans were processed.”
This ability to step up and elevate their game, if you will, resulted in chambers being able to retain members and actually add new ones at a time of real challenge for businesses of all sizes and in every business sector, she went on, adding that both the Franklin County chamber and the Springfield Regional chamber have posted solid numbers the past few years, better than those from before the pandemic.
Moving forward, she said she plans to build off this momentum — and that’s what she prefers to call it — while also strengthening existing relationships with both other chambers and other economic-development-related agencies.
For this issue, BusinessWest talked with Szynal about her new appointment, the state of the Springfield Regional chamber, and the prospects for all chambers in the post-pandemic world.
Recalling her shift from public service — she was a selectman in Hatfield and then in county government before joining Kocot as an aide — to running a chamber of commerce, Szynal said it was a relatively smooth, almost seamless transition. That’s because the work is similar in many respects, she noted, adding that in both arenas, there are large amounts of listening and advocacy involved.
Elaborating, she said that in her municipal roles, she got to work with many area economic-development-related agencies, such as the regional employment boards (now MassHire agencies), the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., and others. She was able to take those relationships, as well as her understanding of the state Legislature and relationships she forged there, to her work with the Franklin County chamber.
“It was while I was working for representative Kocot that I really cut my teeth on learning about workforce development, economic development, the importance of community organizations and nonprofits, and the importance of public-private partnerships,” she explained. “And how all of that fits into economic development.
Diana Szynal says one of her priorities moving forward is making sure this region’s voice is heard on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill.
“I was also able to develop at that time really important relationships with key stakeholders throughout the region,” she went on. “So when Rep. Kocot passed away, I went to the Franklin County chamber, and all of those relationships and learning experiences were invaluable in helping me execute the mission there.”
Szynal is expecting a similarly smooth transition as she moves from the Franklin County chamber to the one in Springfield, because, while the two regions are certainly different when it comes to population, the chambers are of similar size, membership-wise. Meanwhile, most all of the issues and challenges within the business communities are the same, and so is the basic mission of the organizations — to serve members and advocate on their behalf.
“The main focus of a chamber is communication, relationships, and business support,” said Szynal. “Each chamber is a little different, but most focus on the same things. Through events we facilitate networking and collaboration among members, and we give businesses some visibility through our membership directory, our website, member spotlights, all of those things. The business-to-business relationships, business-to-community relationships, those are things that most chambers focus on, although each chamber adds their own flavor.”
In Springfield, the size and makeup of the chamber reflects the diversity of the city and its recent upward trajectory, said Szynal, noting that, despite the pandemic and its impact on every sector of the economy, Springfield is in a growth mode and seeing vitality in most aspects of its economy.
“Springfield has so much going for it — there’s been so much revitalization in the area,” she said. “The sectors of healthcare and education, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing … all of those things are so vital and so critical here. I’m really looking forward to diving in and learning all that I don’t know and putting some fresh eyes on the chamber and the region.”
As noted earlier, she arrives at an intriguing time for this chamber, and all chambers. While most have become smaller staff-wise — several, including the Springfield Regional Chamber, are essentially one-person operations — there is a new vibrancy for many due to the relevancy gained during the pandemic.
“There is a lot of opportunity here. I have a lot on my to-do list, but I can’t wait to dive in.”
“The pandemic really did shine a spotlight on how critical it is to be part of that larger group and have that support and have that information that was so important,” Szynal told BusinessWest, adding that the challenge, and opportunity, moving forward is to hammer home the importance of chambers during what could be called more-normal, but still quite challenging times.
Indeed, Szynal said businesses large and small are still being impacted by a number of issues, many of them COVID after-effects including supply-chain issues, soaring prices, the early signs of recession, and, especially, a workforce crisis that doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
“Look at the challenges businesses are facing today that they didn’t have to before — supply chain issues, fuel prices are going to be crushing to some businesses, workforce issues, childcare, and more,” she said, adding that in such times, being part of an organization like the chamber, which can make its voice heard in Boston and Washington can be beneficial to businesses of all sizes.
Speaking of more normal, Szynal said the chamber will be turning back the clock to 2019 with regard to its events and many of its programs. On the events side of the ledger, the agency has started to stage in-person gatherings again — the annual meeting at the Springfield Sheraton drew more than 250 guests — and one of its largest annual get-togethers is back on the docket for the fall.
This is the program known as Super 60, a compilation of the region’s most successful companies based on performance in two categories — Total Revenue and Revenue Growth. One of the chamber’s most important revenue generators, Super 60 was put on ice in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, and Szynal believes the lengthy pause will generate some interest in the popular program, slated for Oct. 28 at the MassMutual Center.
The same could be said for the chamber’s annual Outlook lunch, the region’s largest gathering of area business leaders. It has been staged remotely the past two years, and Szynal is looking forward to that tradition, and many other annual gatherings, returning to an in-person format.
“Outlook, the Beacon Hill and Washington summits, the Government Reception, the Mayors Forum … it’s so important to get back to doing those again because they provide information and offer opportunities for businesses to be together,” she explained. “I’m looking forward to being back full steam.”
While planning those events, she has many other items on her to-do list, starting with those meetings with area civic, business, and economic development leaders.
And there will also be work to create a new strategic plan for the institution.
“The last one was done three years ago, so it would be time to do another one anyway,” she noted. “But with everything that’s happened in the last two and a half years, it’s a really good time to evaluate the mission of the chamber and how we’re meeting that mission.”
From a personal perspective, Szynal said she chooses to look at the next stop on her career path as an opportunity and not necessarily as a challenge.
It will be an opportunity to continue the kind of work she has been doing for the past several years in several different capacities.
“I really love connecting with people, learning about their business, and learning about their business needs,” she explained. “I love that aspect of any job, that’s why I loved working with Peter Kocot, because I did so much constituent work; this is what I’m looking forward to.
“There is a lot of opportunity here,” she went on. “I have a lot on my to-do list, but I can’t wait to dive in.”
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]
The staff at the Ekus Group in the reference library that Lisa Ekus has built over the past 40 years.
If one wanted to gain a full appreciation for how the company started by Lisa Ekus back in 1982 has grown, evolved, and emerged over the past 40 years, maybe the place to start is in what she calls her reference library.
It has become the centerpiece — although there are several of those — of the 250-year-old renovated farmhouse in Hatfield she calls home. She started with a small collection gathered in high school and college, and has grown it to 7,000 volumes, with more added seemingly every week; there’s a pile of books outside her office for reading and possible addition to the collection.
There are works of fiction placed in one small section, but the rest — much like Ekus’s career, and that of her daughter, Sally Ekus, now a partner in this venture — are devoted to food and cooking. The volumes are carefully cataloged and arranged by various subjects, meaning everything from food types to geographic regions, authors to individual countries; she recently added two volumes on Polish cuisine.
“There were agencies that did book PR. But we really honed in on chefs, cookbooks, food companies, and understanding the evolution and growth of what was happening on a very vast global stage.”
The library, like her work to create what have come to be known as ‘culinary celebrities,’ is a passion.
“It’s all organized physically, it goes around the globe by country, and then it goes through our country by region,” she told BusinessWest. “And there’s specialty, single subjects — soup, health and diet, wine … you name it. I’ve read maybe 75% of them and I’ve touched them all in some way.”
When asked what makes a book worthy of placement in the library, Sally answered for her mother. “It has to be … unique.”
That’s a word that could, and should, also be applied to this business, formerly known as the Lisa Ekus Group, but changed recently to reflect Sally’s more prominent role. Indeed, there are few companies like this anywhere, and probably only one in a rural setting like Hatfield. And while the library does a good job of conveying its growth and presence, it doesn’t … well, tell the full story — pun very much intended.
To fully understand, we need to visit other rooms of the house, which is adjacent to the company’s offices and plays a huge role in day-to-day activity.
Like the dining room and its massive table. Here, Lisa Ekus has hosted literally thousands of people for dinner over the years, including culinary celebrities such as Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, and countless others.
Sally Ekus, left, with her mother and business partner, Lisa Ekus.
Or the nearby kitchen, which doubles as a TV studio where many of these same chefs have mastered the fine art of cooking for a television audience, a business niche that the Ekus Group has cultivated over the years.
Or the large side porch that Ekus added on the property several years ago. Here, she does more entertaining with those who have become celebrities and those who want to gain that status.
Or the Airbnb that she recently opened with the appropriate name Cooks Chateau. As the pandemic has eased and leisure and business travel have returned, she has booked the space for the next several months, and projects that it will eventually become a solid profit center.
Together, these spaces in the Ekus home speak to a hugely successful business, one that continues to add new lines to its recipe for success, such as a virtual “How to Write a Cookbook” course that Sally considers a logical extension of what the company has done for the past four decades (more on it later).
Looking ahead, Sally said the company will continue to evolve and grow, but likely remain a boutique, as in “small” agency that can provide personalized service to its many kinds of clients.
“It’s not ‘here’s a book — let’s sell it. We want to identify the unique selling points and where in the marketplace this might fit; how can we help an author and a publisher articulate what the primary focus and goal of this particular book is. That’s what we do.”
“We have a desire to grow intentionally in a way that continues to support the work that our current team loves to do and also potentially bringing in a handful of new talent to grow things like our agent-representation program and our talent representation, and also continue to buildout our workshops and culinary expertise,” she said.
For this issue and its focus on women in business, we talked with Lisa and Sally Ekus about the first 40 years at this unique business and what may come next. Putting it in perspective, Lisa stated the obvious:
“We have so much fun with what we do; it’s one of the best industries to be in.”
For Sally Ekus, the phrase ‘growing up in the business,’ has perhaps more meaning than it does for most second-generation business owners and managers.
Indeed, since the Ekus home was — and is — also the office, but also the place where countless celebrities and celebrities in waiting came to meet with Lisa Ekus, cook, dine, and chat after meals with her, and Sally was part of all that; she literally grew up in the business — and around people like Julia Child.
And while she fondly remembers what she calls “the good old days,” she came of age, and became part of the business, as the scene was changing, with developments such as blog-to-book deals, online recipes, the rise of self-publishing, and much more.
From left, Lisa Ekus, Julia Child, and Irena Chalmers, a noted author and food commentator at one of many gatherings in the backyard of the company’s home in Hatfield.
Today, the company still celebrates the old while embracing the new, and Sally and Lisa are planning the next courses, if you will, for this venture, while continuing to provide the services that have made this company so successful over the past four decades. Summing them up, Lisa said she, Sally, and the assembled team “bring people out from behind the stove.”
By that, she means that the company helps those with culinary skills cultivate a brand while also helping them develop expertise in other areas required to become a true culinary celebrity — everything from writing a cookbook and getting it published, to learning how to cook for a television audience, to effective self-promotion.
While there have been cookbooks for perhaps a century now, there wasn’t, until recently, a focus on the chefs, the authors of these cookbooks, said Sally, noting that the Ekus Group devotes its energies to putting them front and center, and making them, as much as their recipes, the stars of the show.
It’s a package of services that, together, make the company unique and has enabled it to assemble a client list that is a veritable who’s who in the culinary world, with luminaries such as Haile Thomas, Toni Tipton-Martin, Davis Olson, and many others.
Turning back the clock 40 years, Lisa Ekus said she started her company to fill a need for a business that focused on book PR. She moved to the valley from New York City and brought with her an extensive portfolio of connections and experience.
“I developed the business because of, and through, my connections in New York publishing,” she explained. “So, I had a great base upon which to draw clients and get recommendations.”
In essence, she was doing remote work before anyone knew what remote work was, she went on, adding that she loved the lifestyle in Western Mass. and was committed to building a business here and traveling back to Gotham — or anywhere else she needed to go — when needed.
Over the next several years, the company would develop a culinary niche and become, in her estimation, the first and only culinary PR book agency in the country.
“There were agencies that did book PR,” she went on. “But we really honed in on chefs, cookbooks, food companies, and understanding the evolution and growth of what was happening on a very vast global stage. Our niche was putting it forward in book form.
“We worked to put our authors and their expertise out there through the covers of their books,” she went on. “No one had really focused on the personalities, the experts within the categories they wrote about — like Rose Levy Beranbaum and desserts; she wrote The Cake Bible, or Lynn Rosseto Kasper, who founded and was the host of Splendid Table for decades; she was an expert on the Emelia-Romagna section of Italy.
“Books were just put out there,” she continued. “And we really brought the expertise forward on a national level. And I really love personally to understand where someone comes from and what they write about. It’s not simply another book about cookies or Italy or wherever; it’s understanding and taking a deep dive into food.”
While the Ekus Group remains grounded in the principles and services on which it was founded, it has certainly evolved over the years and changed as the times have.
The biggest change has simply been the emergence of food and cooking, said Lisa, noting that, 40 years ago, there were very few celebrity chefs, no television networks devoted to the subject, exponentially fewer cookbooks being written annually, few who knew what veganism was, and far fewer people who would say they are really into the culinary arts.
Starting in the early 90s, things started to change, she recalled, and today the landscape is much different.
“We’re willing to, and want to, explore food origins,” Lisa explained. “We want to say, ‘I’m going to cook an entire Korean meal this weekend, and I’m going to buy authentic ingredients and I’m going to make it from scratch. People have taken up cooking and food as a major hobby, and it’s a huge sector economically in the country.”
Elaborating, she said the food business has transformed itself into the food businesses — hundreds of different types, from importers to retailers to specialty food purveyors.
The Ekus Group has positioned itself to thrive in this environment, said the two partners, through the cookbook, but also a hard focus on serving those who want to be players in this movement, if it can still be called that, be they book writers, bloggers, podcast hosts, or simply those who want to take their culinary skills to another plane.
Top, the kitchen in Lisa Ekus’s home doubles as a studio for training chefs om how to cook before a TV audience. Above, one of the rooms in the Cooks Chateau.
Elaborating, Sally said the company is working with several hundred clients a year and perhaps a few dozen at any given time on specific book projects. Overall, the work involves building their brand, she said, and taking them beyond their first book, although they certainly help many get started.
“Oftentimes, it’s not just one book or the first book, although we love that it starts there,” she explained. “It’s the second, the third, fourth, fifth, and beyond; we help them build their brand through their publishing career.”
Lisa agreed, and said the company helps those at various stages of the book-writing process, from developing a concept, to finding a publisher, to shooting a photo for the cover.
The broad goal is to ‘position’ the book, she went on, adding the Ekus Group specializes in this value-added service.
“It’s not ‘here’s a book — let’s sell it,’” she told BusinessWest. “We want to identify the unique selling points and where in the marketplace this might fit; how can we help an author and a publisher articulate what the primary focus and goal of this particular book is. That’s what we do.”
Moving forward, the company is always looking for different ways to share its expertise in this large and growing market, she went on, adding that this mindset has led to new and different initiatives, such as the online How to Write a Cookbook course.
There are many such courses on the Internet, said Sally, but few if any that bring the Ekus Group’s level of expertise and understanding of what makes a book successful at a time when shelves are crammed with new titles, and more are written every week.
“I realized that we were getting the same questions about publishing, and cookbook publishing in particular, over and over again, whether they’re from our clients, the consults that we do, or just general curiosity in this industry,” she explained. “So a few years ago, I thought ‘how can we extend a core value of ours, which is to be a resource in this industry?’ And I put together this course, which is an extension of our expertise.”
Elaborating, she said it helps answer questions about self-publishing versus traditional publishing, how to stand out, the role of agents, and much more.
Thus far, the course, which features more than 20 “exclusive, insider tips” from Sally Ekus, has drawn considerable interest, said the partners, adding that it complements other services, such as training in culinary media, which ranges from cooking on TV or before a live audience, to conducting a radio interview. Cooking is one skill, said Sally, but media appearances are another … kettle of fish.
“There are a lot of people who say ‘I’m a food expert,’ or ‘I want to be famous and cook and talk on television,’” she said. “But there’s a very specific skill and personality that needs to be cultivated and trained, so we developed this program, which is the first of its type in this space.”
Over the past 40 years or so, hundreds, including celebrities like Lagasse, known for his mastery of Creole and Cajun cuisine, have had such training in that kitchen in the Ekus home.
As noted, countless cooking celebrities have come to Hatfield over the years, and now more are making the trek with the new Airbnb, which, as its name indicates, has a culinary focus.
“People can visit us, whether they’re a client or not, and be inspired, write, cook, visit the library, and more,” said Sally, adding that as more people become more comfortable with travelling, she expects that the space will become popular with those looking for a quiet spot to create — whether it’s with a laptap or on a stove.
Summing up 40 years in business and the mindset that drives the Ekus Group, Lisa said, “some people eat to live; we live to eat and to celebrate the writers, the authors, the cooks who are doing it so brilliantly.”
And by celebrating them, it is helping them navigate the path to becoming celebrities — on one level or another.
This business is, like those books on the reference library shelves, unique. And as the business marks 40 years, those rooms in the Ekus home show just how far it has come and where it can still go.
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]
From left, Kevin Perrier, Volkan Polatol, and Erza Parzybok, partners in Budzee.
Volkan Polatol didn’t actually speak the words, but he strongly implied them: ‘If this was easy, then everyone would do it. Or at least try.’
The ‘it,’ in this case, is delivery of cannabis products — Amazon-style. Polatol, teaming with Kevin Perrier and Ezra Parzybok in a venture called Budzee, has created such a service, believed to be one of the very few in this region, and the country, for that matter.
As the partners talked about their business, they addressed that logical question about why they are the first and why there are not more ventures addressing what appears to be a logical need within the marketplace.
And the simple answer is that this isn’t as easy as it looks. And it doesn’t even look easy.
Indeed, there are complex licensing issues to overcome, software programs to develop, logistics, myriad expenses — from buying dedicated, unmarked vehicles to outfitting them with special equipment, to staffing each vehicle with two people (one of many requirements to be followed). And now, gas costs more than $5 a gallon.
“All of this is incredibly expensive, and it’s very difficult; we had to create the model,” said Polatol, who summed it all up by saying that a roadmap had to be in place for such a unique venture.
Parzybok agreed, and elaborated — on the many challenges facing this venture and all businesses in the cannabis sector.
“There’s a strain put on these businesses when the state invents all these rules that make it difficult to run a smooth, profitable business,” he explained. “The rules for cannabis are more strict than for pharmacies that sell opioids; they’re more strict than those for the delivery trucks that deliver alcohol. All that costs money.”
The partners who created Budzee, all veterans of this industry in one capacity or another, have chosen to take on all these challenges — they opened their doors this past spring. And that’s because, despite all these hurdles and expenses, they see real need for what they’re doing. They also see a path to profitability — not right away, but certainly some day, and perhaps soon as word of their venture grows and more people decide that it’s easier to have cannabis products delivered to their door than it is to travel to an area dispensary.
“There are people who can’t drive to a dispensary,” said Polatol. “Meanwhile, even though cannabis is legal in this state, there is still a stigma out there; some people don’t want to be seen in dispensaries. There’s still a great many people who want to be home, and they like the convenience of things being delivered to them.”
“There’s a strain put on these businesses when the state invents all these rules that make it difficult to run a smooth, profitable business. The rules for cannabis are more strict than for pharmacies that sell opioids; they’re more strict than those for the delivery trucks that deliver alcohol. All that costs money.”
And that brings the partners, who have invested more than $1.2 million to move Budzee off the drawing board, to the major challenge that remains for them — educating the public about this service and the convenience it brings.
“There’s considerable work to do to educate the public about this,” said Polatol, adding these efforts are ongoing. “Once we get established, people will understand; there are so many non-cannabis models out there — from Domino’s Pizza to Amazon. Once they understand it, it clicks. To get it out there, though, will require marketing, marketing, and more marketing.”
Parzybok agreed, and said that in time, consumers will come to understand, appreciate, and embrace the convenience just as they have in many other industries where home delivery has become an important part of the business model.
“It’s a new industry, so you assume that most licensed categories are going to be profitable,” he said. “You can look at the numbers for retail establishments or see the lines coming out the door when retail was opening, so you just assume that people will also embrace delivery. But when Amazon first came out, people were like ‘why should I buy something on the Internet when I can just go get it at the grocery store?’ But now they realize that they never have to bring it in from their car again.”
Budzee’s location in Easthampton is ideally situated off I-91
Getting the word out, and creating a comfort level with home delivery of cannabis products is essential, because with this model — where Budzee is charging the same price for products as one would pay if they went to a dispensary (there is a $100 minimum) — relies on volume. And creating it will be the primary assignment moving forward.
“It’s all about scaling up,” said Polatol, adding the goal is to eventually serve the entire state and build a large portfolio of new and repeat clients.
For this issue and its focus on the region’s emerging cannabis industry, BusinessWest talked with the partners at Budzee about the venture, what it took to get it off the ground, and how they anticipate that it will continue to gain altitude in the months and years to come.
As they offered BusinessWest a quick tour of their facilities — dominated by signs that read ‘authorized personnel only’ or ‘Do Not Enter — Limited Access Area’ — on just about every door — the partners stopped in the large vault area where the various cannabis products are stored and then gathered for delivery.
There are literally hundreds of different products on the shelves — a selection larger than what is to be found at most dispensaries, said Polatol — with names ranging from Rootbeer Float to Blue Sunshine; Purple Pineapple Express to Sundae Driver.
Putting such a portfolio of products together has actually been one of the easier aspects of this enterprise, they noted, adding quickly that just about everything else — from the software to the business model; from the licensing to the logistics — is difficult and, in many ways, pioneering.
Turning back the clock roughly two years, Polatol said the three partners came together behind the idea that the region needed a service that would ‘bring cannabis to your house like a pizza,” as he put it, and conviction that this team had the expertise, determination, and patience (a key ingredient to be sure) to make this happen.
There were some courier-like businesses working on a DoorDash model, said Polatol, but the concept they had, for a warehouse, Amazon-like model, was totally unique for this region, and the country, as far as they knew.
The vault at Budzee holds a wide variety of products for delivery to customers.
The partners already knew each other well. Polatol and Perrier are the owners of the dispensaries Dreamer Cannabis in Southampton, and Honey in Northampton, and Parzybok served as a licensing consultant on those ventures. United in their vision for this new kind of business, what they put together a checklist of everything that was needed, and then a roadmap for taking the concept from the drawing board to the marketplace.
The first item on the list was a license, which was somewhat problematic, because the state was, and still is, awarding cannabis-delivery licenses exclusively to those who qualify for the state’s social equity program — meaning they were previously harmed by the nation’s war on drugs.
Enter Parzybok, who was arrested in 2015 after federal agents raided his home in Northampton and eventually seized dozens of marijuana plants; he received probation for the offenses.
The license-application process was lengthy and complex, mostly because of the new ground being broken, but also because the Cannabis Control Commission has historically been methodical when issuing licenses, said Perrier, adding that this bridge would eventually be crossed.
The partners also needed a location, and realized that they actually had one in property that Perrier owned in Easthampton that was ideally situated less than a minute from an exit onto I-91, positioning the company to deliver to the four counties of Western Mass. and beyond.
They also needed software for taking orders, vehicles, specialized equipment, drivers (a challenge when all companies are looking for help), and a system for safely getting products into those vehicles and then into the hands of customers.
All those hurdles were cleared early this year, and the company commenced deliveries in early April.
Most of these have been in and around Springfield, but there have been some farther east; the territory attached to the license is essentially everything west of Worcester. And the two-person teams (one drives, the other brings the items to the door) are delivering the full spectrum of products, from flowers to edibles to accessories.
Deliveries come on three levels: ‘express’ (within two hours, but usually less than that); ‘same day,’ where the customer picks a time slot, and ‘scheduled,’ where the customer picks the day and time.
Thus far, business has been good, but the venture is still very much in the ramping-up phase as awareness of the service builds, the public becomes more comfortable with the notion of having cannabis delivered to their doorstep, and it understands (at least with this company) that delivery is not more expensive than going to the dispensary.
And there are obstacles to building this awareness, they said, adding that state and federal laws limit where and how such a venture can advertise its products and services. For example, cannabis companies can only advertise on vehicles that can prove that 85% of their audience is 21 or older, said Perrier. Meanwhile, because cannabis is still illegal federally, such platforms as Google, Instagram, and Facebook “won’t take our money,” he noted, adding that television stations will not take it, either. They can’t even advertise on the vehicles delivering the products — those must be unmarked for, presumably, security reasons; this is a cash-only business.
“You’re really handicapped in how you can advertise,” said Polatol, adding that the company is using some billboards and a digital campaign to draw people to the Budzee website. But that’s just half the battle. Once there, consumers need to become comfortable with the products and procedures, and place orders.
Despite these challenges, the partners believe they have the right concept at the right time, and as awareness and comfortability grow, they will achieve the volume they need to be profitable.
“Once Budzee becomes known as a household delivery option for cannabis, things will snowball and we’ll get bigger numbers,” said Polatol. “And we’re seeing that right now; the numbers are going up every week, and we’re getting a lot of regulars.
“There are some people who can’t leave their house for health reasons, and they’re ordering from us three times a week,” he went on. “They love it, and it’s rewarding for us; it’s a model that’s working.”
At present, the company is making maybe 20 to 30 deliveries a day on average, he said, with the goal being to take that number past 100. Other goals are to go statewide (more licenses will be needed for that) and then perhaps to other states, he told BusinessWest.
None of that will be easy, of course. But as these partners have shown, they are willing to assume challenges and clear some high hurdles to get where they want to be.
And right now, they are where they want to be — the first to be out the door (and to your door) with delivery of cannabis products.
They know that it will take some time to scale up, as Polatol noted, and reach the volume level they need to be successful, but they believe they have a model that works and a foundation to build on.
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]
By Barbara Trombley, CPA
If you have a retirement account, as many of us do, it is hard not to follow what is going on in the financial markets today. We are officially in a bear market, defined by a drop of 20% or more in a broad market index.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed into bear market territory on June 13 of this year. Unfortunately, bear markets may plummet even deeper than the 20% threshold and may do so over a prolonged period. It is a tough time to be an investor during this scenario but, eventually, the market finds a bottom and investors feel comfortable once again to begin buying, putting an end to the bear market.
Bear markets are usually the result of a recession or some other financial strain. We are not officially in a recession, but many experts think that one is coming. A recession is defined as a significant decline in economic activity that lasts for months or years. This often means that unemployment rises as companies fail or shrink to control costs. Corporate profits fall causing a decline in stock market prices.
Usually, a bear market signifies tougher economic times ahead. Unfortunately, bear markets are ‘normal’ and happen periodically. We actually experienced a short bear market at the beginning of the pandemic. Bear markets tend to be much shorter than bull markets (when stocks rise over a period of time). They also tend to be less statistically severe, with average losses of 33% compared with bull market average gains of 159%, according to data compiled by Invesco.
“It is a tough time to be an investor during this scenario but, eventually, the market finds a bottom and investors feel comfortable once again to begin buying, putting an end to the bear market.”
What should an investor do during a bear market? Risk tolerance, asset allocation and your age really come in to play right now. The percentage of equities in your portfolio should match your risk tolerance and age. For instance, if you are in your thirties and forties and are investing in your 401(k), you could be very aggressive and have a large percentage of equities.
If this is the case, then you should be thrilled to make your monthly deposit into your account. You are buying stocks ‘on sale’ and you have many years to make up any temporary losses in your account. Even if you are a few years from retirement, and depending upon you situation, a bear market could be seen as an opportunity to purchase stocks at a discount.
A prolonged bear market for someone approaching retirement or a new retiree could mean making some changes to your lifestyle. For example, you could limit withdrawals from your investment account and/or eliminate panic selling. When you withdraw money or sell in a bear market it is considered “locking in the losses.” Perhaps you can cut spending or pick up an extra job for the short term, until the economy is on more stable footing.
There are financial products available that could potentially be suitable in many portfolios. In some cases when determined appropriate, an annuity could be used to create more stable income, a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) could be used to help diversity a portfolio and many insurance companies offer products with downside protection. Consult your financial advisor for different ideas to help address the volatility in your portfolio.
Perspective is key to a good night’s sleep when dealing with market volatility. Downturns are a normal occurrence in the stock market. Since 1932, bear markets have occurred, on average, every 56 months (about four years and eight months), according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. Make sure to keep emergency funds in the bank to keep market withdrawals to a minimum. Do not make rash changes to your portfolio. There is a saying that ‘time in the market beats timing the market.’ It is very hard to predict the exact best day to sell a stock or to buy a stock. Missing the best days in the stock market, over time, can seriously undermine your performance. Having a plan and sticking to it could yield the best results in the long term.
If you are a new investor, you may want to proceed cautiously. One potential strategy is to dollar cost average any funds that you have into the market (spread the investment over a period of time). This way you are buying at different price points in the market. Dollar cost averaging involves continuous investment in securities regardless of fluctuation in price levels of such securities. An investor should consider their ability to continue purchasing through fluctuating price levels. Such a plan does not assure a profit and does not protect against loss in declining markets.
No one is predicting when the market bottom will happen, and it is nearly impossible to time. I believe you should see to have a well-diversified portfolio with a mixture of asset classes, though there is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.
Always remember the adages “This too shall pass” and “Time is on your side.” Those people that have been investing for a while have been through many economic downturns and have survived and, most likely, thrived if they have stayed the course and stuck to their plan!
Barbara Tromblay is a financial advisor and CPA with Wilbraham-based Tromblay, CPA: (413) 596-6992. Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Trombley Associates, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.
By Stephen Carter
If not for the pandemic, Sam Hanmer said, he might have stayed retired.
Or maybe not.
A long stretch when COVID-19 largely shut down the world certainly didn’t add to whatever enjoyment his retirement years — which began in the spring of 2018 — were bringing him, but the truth, he admitted, is that early retirement simply didn’t suit him.
“Quite honestly, I was hanging around doing nothing every day and had a lack of purpose in my life,” said Hanmer, whose more than three-decade career in insurance was highlighted by the rapid growth of FieldEddy in the early years of this century and its acquisition by Hub International in 2014. “I said, ‘OK, I have to go do something. This is crazy; I’m too young. None of my friends are retired. I’m a golfer, but not a passionate golfer.’ So retirement didn’t sit well with me.”
As noted, COVID didn’t help — Hanmer’s bulldog, Santino, was his “pandemic dog,” a companion during those isolating months — and not even the golf courses were open for a while. Simply put, he was restless.
“I figured, I’ve got plenty of earning years left, so I went back to what I know,” he said, noting that he honored his non-compete agreement with HUB before jumping back into the insurance business. After bidding on another agency and falling short, he purchased the two locations of LeBel, Lavigne & Deady Insurance (in Chicopee and Springfield) in May 2021, rebranding them as the Rush Insurance Group. Then, in November, he bought Towne Insurance Agency in Agawam, changing the name to Towne Insurance Group; it may eventually be part of the Rush name as well.
“I got back in the business,” he said. “I needed something to do, and it’s what I knew.”
Back in the 1980s, when Hanmer graduated from UMass Amherst, his father was the majority owner of a firm known then as Field, Eddy, and Bulkley, but Hanmer didn’t go to work for him right away. When he later joined the family business, he started in sales but moved to the financial side when the treasurer suffered a heart attack and had to leave the company for some time. After his father retired in 1995, Hanmer stepped into the role of CEO.
It wasn’t long before he started to capitalize on a trend within the industry — many small, mom-and-pop operations struggling to adjust to changes and technology began looking in earnest for exit strategies — to grow by acquisition.
Sam Hanmer tried retirement, but it didn’t suit him, so he returned to the insurance business with a new venture
Over the next two decades, the firm acquired a number of agencies, including the Curtis and Hodskins agencies in Monson, Aliengena in Palmer, LDS in Three Rivers, Meadows in East Longmeadow, Remillard in South Hadley, Buckley Bridge in Windsor Locks, and both BPI and Lawson, Marino & Bertera in Springfield.
The 160-year-old firm, later branded FieldEddy, was still growing its footprint when it became part of the HUB International family in 2014, where Hanmer remained in a leadership role for three and a half years, then retired.
For a while, anyway.
Looking back to his un-retirement decision early last year, Hanmer figures it was probably inevitable, pandemic or not.
“I’m very happy I made the call to do it. I’ve had people, friends in the business, say, ‘why did you get back into this business?’ But it’s a good business, it really is, and they know it.
“But after a while, it can get old,” he went on. “So for me, taking three years off and coming back was a like a recharge. I was in the business 30-something years, and after 30 years, anything can get a little tiring. You take a few years off and realize — in my case, at least — retirement wasn’t working, and you come back with a different lens because you had three years off. So I’m excited and having fun in the business — probably more fun now than I had back in the day.”
Hanmer has navigated a number of changes in the sector, including the rise of direct writers like Geico and Progressive, who poured into Massachusetts after state regulations were changed to stimulate competition. But Hanmer, like other independent agents, has always countered that evolution by emphasizing the value of relationships in his business.
“The direct writers have captured a fair amount of the Massachusetts business, and you saw a big pitch years ago about online sales from direct writers. Now you see Geico offices popping up because they finally understand it is a relationship business. Geico’s done phenomenally; they don’t have to put offices up, but they’re starting to build offices you can walk into. And Progressive probably does 80% of their business through independent agents. People don’t know that.”
The other factor that’s been affecting the insurance world over the past 20 years — and remains a factor today — is consolidation, and there’s a place, Hanmer said, for locally owned companies in that landscape.
“Consolidation has been happening in all sectors, and that’s very much the case in the insurance-agency world,” he noted. “Everything is going to the nationals, and the local insurance agencies are dwindling. But we’re still local people.”
The main challenge is one of scale, he said, noting that the size of HUB certainly helped the former FieldEddy grow its business because of the buying power of a national firm. “And they have a lot of what I would call specialty units that focus on a particular sector. It’s powerful. It served us well.
“But I still think there are a group of middle-market buyers, smaller businesses that get lost in the shuffle with the nationals, and I think there’s a big opportunity for smaller local agencies to capture that business,” he went on. “A lot of national players actually walk away from that business. And in Western Mass., that’s 90% of businesses.”
So, against the backdrop of continued consolidation and with his accumulated years of experience, Hanmer saw an opportunity to be successful.
“It certainly was a scary thought to get back in, and come up with some capital in order to get back in, knowing that things have changed in three years — although they didn’t change as much as I thought they would have.”
Elaborating, he said he discussed coming back with friends and colleagues, and they led him to believe the business had changed quite a bit, even in the three years he was away.
“And there is change in the system environment, in the software we use, some of the peripheral things, but the actual dynamics of the business didn’t change. Once I got back in, I said, ‘this is what I anticipated.’”
It’s a landscape where relationship building and the consultative approach still matter, he explained.
“That’s never gone away. I’d rather be your consultant than your salesman. If someone buys from me, great, but if they don’t, and I’ve helped them, that’s fine too, because at some point, that will come around. Maybe they’ll talk to a friend. Even if I don’t ever get their business, that approach works. It doesn’t necessarily work quickly, but this is a marathon, not a sprint.”
He paused for a moment. “Well, I’m sprinting a little bit, because there will be retirement at some point ahead of me.”
For now, though, Hanmer is focused on growing his three offices, which offer personal, commercial, and employee-benefit lines — the latter being new for both agencies.
“My makeup isn’t to sit back. I absolutely plan on growing it through organic growth and organic sales and through further acquisitions, for sure,” he told BusinessWest. But he wants to leave his enterprise in healthy shape when that second retirement does come around — and, presumably, sticks.
“I’m hoping this time around to create something where a perpetuation might be internal instead of selling it externally to a national brand. If I can get a few young guys — and women — in here who are passionate about the business and want to keep it going, I would definitely perpetuate it internally, just create a little annunity for myself, as opposed to just cashing out. That’s the plan. Plans change, but that’s the plan.”
Bringing in young professionals is a national challenge, however.
“It’s hard. This industry is struggling to attract young people who want to be in the insurance business. It’s hard to get young people energized or even want to talk to you. They’d rather be in a dot-com; they’d rather be in a startup in Boston. There’s all kinds of things they’d rather do than sell insurance.”
One reason is that insurance isn’t an instant-gratification career, he explained.
“It’s a recurring-revenue business, which means your first few years are tough because you have to build a book of business. It’s a commission-based business, so once you build your business, you can create a recurring-revenue compensation program. It can be lucrative if you stick it out, but most people won’t stick it out because the first few years are lean. If they can manage through their first few years and have thick enough skin not to worry about the public perception of insurance, it can be a very lucrative job.”
The negative perception arises, Hanmer said, because insurance is something everyone needs, but they don’t want to pay for it. “They love having it when they have a problem, but if they’ve never had a problem, they say, ‘I can’t believe I spent all this money on insurance.’”
Hanmer found he needed insurance, too — not the product, but the career. He needed it more, in fact, than putting on a green or puttering around a house, or whatever activities he and Santino — who now goes to work with his owner every day — might get up to.
In other words, Hanmer needed to feel the spark of working again, so that’s what he did. And he found that spark.
“I definitely made the right decision,” he said. “I’m really happy.”
The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties and are the latest available. They are listed by community.
AMHERST
Goldpundit Inc., 64 Heatherstone Road, Amherst, MA, 01002. Firas Hashmi, same. Internet services.
The Peachtree Suite Inc., 167 Rolling Ridge Road, Amherst, MA, 01002. Monique Worthy, same. Digital marketing agency.
BELCHERTOWN
Golden Cross Brands Inc., 54 Pepper Ridge Dr., Belchertown, MA 01007. Matthew Lacroix, same. Holding company that includes multiple brands.
Krispy’s Inc., 146 State St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Anna Voyiatzis, 46 Howard St. Paxton, MA 01612. Restaurant.
CHICOPEE
Joyous Relax Spa Inc., 665 Prospect St., 2h, Chicopee, MA 01020. Chun Yan Li, same. Spa.
KFY Inc., 345 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Kerameddin Ozdemir, 70 Hill St., Second Floor, West Springfield, MA 01089. Pizza restaurant.
EAST BROOKFIELD
Graceful Youth Inc., 220 Adams Road, East Brookfield, MA 01515. Melissa J. Victor, same. Cosmetic treatments.
EAST LONGMEADOW
K. Ebner Creative Inc., 160 Maple St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Kayla Ebner, same. Creative services including photo, video, drone photography/videography, and social media management.
EASTHAMPTON
Type 2 Fun Inc., 27 Holyoke St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Nathan Graham Davis, same. Writing and filmmaking services.
FEEDING HILLS
Integrity Home Improvements Inc., 25 Henry St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Yvan A Wampler, same. Home improvements and remodeling.
GREENFIELD
Osprey Drone Solutions Inc., 94 Oakland St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Adam Mitchell, same. Drone inspection/search services.
HOLYOKE
Nia Billing and Consulting Inc., 98 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA, 01040. Ramon Lorenzi, 7 Thomas St., Windsor Locks, CT 06096. Medical billing.
LENOX
Sexhippies Inc., 41 Taconic Ave., Lenox, MA, 01240. Benjamin Baptiste, same. Clothing brand.
LONGMEADOW
An Khang Consulting Inc., 294 Anthony Way, Longmeadow, MA, 01106. Tu Pham, same. Financial consulting service.
LUDLOW
Cha’s Ice Cream and Grill Inc., 329 West St., Ludlow, MA, 01056. Charlene A. Coelho, same. Ice cream shop.
NORTHAMPTON
Aeg Massachusetts Vision Therapy, PC, 86 Masonic St., Northampton, MA, 01060. Theresa J. Ruggiero O.D., same. Optometry practice.
PITTSFIELD
Ace Carrier Transportation Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Derrell Spencer Brown, same. Transportation services.
Kovo Credit Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Charles Li, same. Financial services marketplace and retail platform.
Low6 USA Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jamie Mitchell, same. Free online game operator.
SOUTH DEERFIELD
Willoughby Inc., 61 Eastern Ave., South Deerfield, MA 01373. Kelli M Richardson, same. Hair salon.
SPRINGFIELD
413 Elite Foundation Corp., 393 Belmont Ave Unit #80347, Springfield, MA 01108. Charles T Evans, same. Provides mentorship, education, and coaching for a broad community where children and young adults aged 5-25 years.
Camino Profetico Inc., 113A Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01105. Juan Rivera, same. Ministry.
Casa Deborah, 147 Santa Barbara St., Springfield, MA, 01104. Merilyn Bermudez, same. Spiritual corporation, organized as a national ministry exclusively for religious purposes.
Cidilhz Gran Cruzada Id Y Predicar Gran Crusade Go Ye Preach Inc., 148 Hartford St., Springfield, MA 01118. Julio E. Edwards, same. Ministry.
Greater Vermont Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ, 173 Berkshire St., Springfield, MA, 01109. Talbert W. Swan II, same. Nonprofit religious organization.
Iglesia Pentecoastal El Carvario Inc., 294 Dorwell St., Springfield, MA, 01108. Juan A. Rivera, same. Nonprofit religious organization.
J & J Hilltop Trucking Inc., 234 Eastern Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Javier C. Santiago, same. Trucking services.
JD’s Experts in Home Repairs Inc., 85 Silver St., Springfield, MA 01107. Jesus D Santos Diaz, same. Home repairs and improvement services.
WARE
Ware Soccer Club Inc., 14 Mountainview Dr., Ware, MA 01082. Herbert Foley, same. Non-profit organization formed and established to provide for the advancement of amateur soccer in Ware.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
1st Response 24/7 Mitigation Inc., 6 Lenny’s Way, West Springfield, MA 01089. Jason Gale, same. Restoration and mitigation company.
Albazi Express Inc., 57 Nelson St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Abdullah Shihab, same. Transportation services.
Bee Logistics Inc., 73 Verdugo St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Vitaliy Pchelka, same. Long-distance transportation.
WESTFIELD
Dukach Transportation Inc., 20 Linden Ave., Westfield, MA 01085. Andrii Dukach, same. Long-distance transportation.
The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of June 2022. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).
DEERFIELD
J. Corbett Home Exteriors
38 Graves St., South Deerfield
John Corbett
The Olde Highway Bookshop
250 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield
Maria Burge
NORTHAMPTON
Angela Rietvelt, LMHC
44 Maple St., Florence
Angela Rietvelt
Cheap Thrills
321 Easthampton Road
Joseph Cox
Companion Software
71 Olander Dr.
Lawrence M. Daniele
Creations by Candy, LLC
68 Bradford St., Unit E
Candy Lee Lacey
Friendly’s
54-56 Main St., Florence
Friendly’s Restaurant Co. LLC
Holy Cow On-Line Marketing
71 Olander Dr.
Lawrence M. Daniele
Interiors by Ursula
140 Olander Dr., Apt. #115
Ursula Knolton
Laudable productions, LLC
408 North Farms Road, Florence
Kyle Homestead
Mantis Graphics Inc.
557 Easthampton Road
Bradley J. Robbins
MOMS Northampton
216 North King St.
Joel Wheeler
NOHO Nails
32 Pleasant St.
Minh Chau
Northampton Center for Health and Healing
241 King St., #228
Marcia L. Nickerson
Progression Brewing Company
9 Pearl St.
Andrew Starkweather, Member
Room 6
140 Pine St., Florence
Wendie Anne Willey
Spill the Teas Sis Apotherapy
183 Main St.
Mischa R. Epstein
Sunderland Challenge
966 Ryan Road, Florence
Megan Elizabeth Jones
VIP Nails Spa
104B Damon Road
Hoa Ly
SOUTHWICK
CNS Neurofeedback, LLC
20 Davis Road
Connie Jansen
Country Auto Sales
520 College Hwy.
Alan Gendron
Southwick Computer
4 Island Pond Road
Robert Cranston
Wildernedd Experience Unlimited
526 College Hwy.
Robert Templeton
SPRINGFIELD
Allston Antiques
48 Firglade Ave.
William Young Worth
Beautiful Inside And Out
1192 Bay St.
Barbra Jean Williams
Bellevue Home Solutions
62 Bellevue Ave.
Reinaldo Gonzalez
Borinquen Bakery
464 Bridge St.
Dario I. Grullon
Cat Scraps
13 Naismith Place
Salman Nadeem
Cellar Door Productions
109 Dewitt St.
Anthony Zalowski
Chef It Up Catering
57 Macomber Ave.
Carla Edmonds
Chic Elite Credit
46 Harkness Ave.
Luxury Lifestyle
The Children’s Playhouse
112 Gresham St.
Annette Guzman
Clean 2 the Max Cleaning
14 Berbay Cir., Suite B
Juliet M. Maxwell
Comcast of Massachusetts
1083 Boston Road
Tom Donnelly
Crazy Andy’s Liquors
754-758 Main St.
Ravimder Arora
Cristian Transport
39 Stockman St.
Christian H. Perez
Crowns Auto Sales
472 Boston Road
Crowns Traders Corp.
Dream A4 Transportation
32 Hampden St.
Alberto J. Diaz
Edwin Ivan Towing
66 Kenyon St.
Edwin Ivan Albaladejo
Euro Style Hair Salon
28 Burdette St.
Yelena Merzel
Frederick’s Cut
677 South Branch Parkway
Frederick Rivera
Georgie’s Barber Shop
774 Liberty St.
Jorge L. Cruz
J&M Consulting
122 Massasoit St.
Joesiah Gonzalez
JC Carriers LLC
21 Lawndale St.
Johnny A. Colon Alago
J.C. Quick Supply
26 Kenwood Ter.
Julio Casado
Jackline Alston
44 1/2 Chapel St.
Jackline Alston
La Minta De Kelsey, Inc.
154 Catharine St.
Denzel Williams
La Playita Caribena
15 Olney Ave.
Dalfri Ciprian
Last of the Real
105 Central St.
Stevens Brown
Liam Towing LLC
510 Boston Road
Joselito Pagan
Luna Studios TCG
65 Wentworth St.
Gabriel Luna Riveria
Luxury Tax Solutions
46 Harkness Ave.
Luxury Lifestyle
Metrocom Tax Services
11 Preston St.
Tom Lee Morrow
Michael L. Foy, Attorney
21 Stockbridge St.
Michael Foy
My Man Marty
1727 Carew St.
Marty Lee McKemie
Nana’s Crazy Chicken
133 Powell Ave.
Gamalier Colon
Nicolas Family Consulting
32 Hampden St.
Benjamin Robert
Ora Care
878 Sumner Ave.
Violet Hall
Outfit Crislianes
554 Carew St.
Johanna Alicea Alicea
Phoenix Skin Care
127 Sumner Ave.
Carolina Reyes
Premier Nursing Institute
16 Rearson Dr.
Tara M. Johnson
Robbin D. Jones
21 Deveau St.
Robbin Daniel Jones
Sai Amour
262 Connecticut Ave.
Jose Irizarry
Skin Care Types
515 Tiffany St.
Thuy Tran
Snatched
27 Cherry St.
Tiffany Harris
Stop & Go Mini Mart
261 Locust St.
Mark Anthony Centeno
TNS Landscaping LLP
258 Union St., Apt 1A
Hector D. Reyes
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Blinks By JoJo
2260 Westfield St.
Julianna Driscol
Bourque Real Estate
1233 Westfield St.
Wilfrid J. Bourque
Comfort Inn and Suites
106 Capital Dr.
Shailesh N. Patel
Conca Sport and Fitness
170 Elm St.
Stephen F. Conca
The Flying Locksmiths
425 Union St.
Michael Faubert
Total Fitness Equipment LLC
1267 Riverdale St.
Jon Valles
Westside Bar & Grill
95 Elm St.
Tyler Saremi
The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.
Beltran Suren, Felix
1342 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 05/28/2022
Bergeron, Chris P.
Bergeron, Linda A.
735 Memorial Dr., Trailer 28
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/31/2022
Butterworth, Leatrice J.
250 New Boston Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/02/2022
Choquette, Stephen H.
Choquette, Elizabeth M.
15 Blemer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/31/2022
Dukette, Ross
66 Stony Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Date: 06/06/2022
Eldred, Brandon Michael
34 Longwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/31/2022
Evans, Robert P.
20 Easthampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/28/2022
Fontanez, Olga
10 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/01/2022
Hartnett, Richard B.
199 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/28/2022
McDonnell, Patricia
1688 South Branch Parkway
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Date: 06/01/2022
Morales Badillo, Victor E.
a/k/a Morales, Victor E.
95 Methuen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/05/20227
Parks, Stephen J.
610 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/01/2022
Salamon, Nancy
77 Madison St., 2nd Fl.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/28/2022
Simonoko, Michael J.
243 Manchonis Road Ext.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Date: 13
Chapter: 06/06/2022
Smith, Alexandra Denise-Marie
21 Herrick Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/27/2022
Tiefenauer, Jeane M.
579 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/31/2022
Verenich, Larisa
343 Chicopee St., Unit 25
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/02/2022
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
GREENFIELD
407-409 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $7,692,308
Buyer: Lac 407-409 Fed St.
Seller: 409 Federal Street LLC
Date: 06/07/22
10 Greenway Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Oleg Cobileanschi
Seller: Zimmerman, Lee F., (Estate)
Date: 06/09/22
14 Hope St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Olive Street Development LLC
Seller: Newspapers Of Mass. Inc.
Date: 06/07/22
85 Hope St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Liza B. Knapp
Seller: Jonathan R. Storm
Date: 06/08/22
124 Meadow Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Terry R. West
Seller: Susan A. Cole
Date: 06/09/22
39 Nichols Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $416,250
Buyer: Adam G. Mitchell
Seller: Cameron R. Ward
Date: 06/07/22
MONTAGUE
32 H St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Brian Dew
Seller: George Carner
Date: 06/10/22
NORTHFIELD
278 Birnam Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jonathan Storm
Seller: Philip Baker
Date: 06/08/22
148 Winchester Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Taylor O’Neill
Seller: Thomas Aquinas College
Date: 06/07/22
ORANGE
60 Prentiss St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ginger Siri
Seller: Charles D. Anderson
Date: 06/07/22
27 Riverside Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Stephanie Robinson
Seller: Jacob Brown
Date: 06/10/22
SUNDERLAND
425 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Joseph K. Bagdon
Seller: Mary A. Obdens
Date: 06/09/22
WHATELY
233 Haydenville Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $407,000
Buyer: Jesse Nichols
Seller: Susan E. Stebbins
Date: 06/07/22
HAMPDEN COUNTY
AGAWAM
8 Carmen Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Maksim Kot
Seller: David E. Borowski
Date: 06/09/22
44 Forest Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Craig D. Kronlund
Seller: Ryan Martin
Date: 06/08/22
53 Harvey Johnson Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $356,000
Buyer: David Spafford
Seller: Mary M. Kirk
Date: 06/08/22
145 High St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Kenia Pena
Seller: Ryan P. Fitzemeyer
Date: 06/10/22
79 Karen Lynn Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Claudia V. Hill
Seller: Barbara A. Hayes
Date: 06/10/22
21 Laura Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Sabo
Seller: John F. Wadlegger
Date: 06/08/22
1005 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Cydney L. Grauer
Seller: Thies, Muriel S., (Estate)
Date: 06/08/22
340-342 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Ginger N. Dubois
Seller: Karen Ollari
Date: 06/10/22
23 Ridgeview Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: John F. Wilson
Seller: Joan A. Gamelli
Date: 06/10/22
15 Sharon Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Emily Dagenais
Seller: Lilliam Yvon
Date: 06/09/22
371 South Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $2,320,000
Buyer: 371 South Westfield LLC
Seller: Luigi Chiarella
Date: 06/08/22
BLANDFORD
30 Gore Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Amy J. Harchelroad
Seller: Emily Dagenais
Date: 06/07/22
29 South St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $835,000
Buyer: Natalie Kowalczyk
Seller: Rhonda J. Boulette
Date: 06/10/22
BRIMFIELD
53 Harnois Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Bradford G. Maxfield
Seller: Linda Neto
Date: 06/08/22
12 Paige Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Andrew T. Porter
Seller: Louise M. Dickinson
Date: 06/07/22
CHESTER
54 Holcomb Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: C. M. Callahan-Carey
Seller: Mark Hetherington
Date: 06/06/22
CHICOPEE
78 7th Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Thomas B. Selby
Seller: Steven M. Tomaino
Date: 06/06/22
54 Alfred St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,800
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Hann Realty LLC
Date: 06/07/22
8 Bonneta Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $216,600
Buyer: Douglas J. Dichard
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 06/10/22
802 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Jennifer Caldalda
Seller: Robert M. Gancarz
Date: 06/09/22
37 Frink St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Jason Schreiber
Seller: Robert Schreiber
Date: 06/06/22
406 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Edson Souza
Seller: Lapierre, Arthur L., (Estate)
Date: 06/06/22
512 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Aguasvivas Realty LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 06/10/22
45 Magnolia Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Darrian Plasse
Seller: Plasse, Marion T., (Estate)
Date: 06/08/22
62 Paradise St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $193,500
Buyer: Daniel Ewing
Seller: Caroline K. Crooks
Date: 06/10/22
23 Sanford St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Melissa L. Cardona-Birkner
Seller: Partyka Partners LP
Date: 06/10/22
138 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Andrew R. Beiser
Seller: Edward R. Pelland
Date: 06/08/22
EAST LONGMEADOW
31 Sturbridge Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Ryan M. Martin
Seller: Laurie A. Campbell
Date: 06/08/22
25 Tracey Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Alisha Richardson
Seller: Joseph J. McGrath
Date: 06/10/22
21 Voyer Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Ryan Fatula
Seller: Taylor Kjar
Date: 06/08/22
221 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Joseph Torcia
Seller: Mark C. Allen
Date: 06/07/22
GRANVILLE
789 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Brian T. Vecchiarelli
Seller: Kevin M. Washington
Date: 06/10/22
Water St. Lot 1
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Joshua Wilburn-Simpson
Seller: Michael G. Fillion
Date: 06/07/22
HAMPDEN
110 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Jakob Labonte
Seller: Bruce A. Specht
Date: 06/10/22
432 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Ryan A. Wheaton
Seller: Betty J. Sutcliffe
Date: 06/09/22
HOLLAND
12 Brandon St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Nicole C. Holguin
Seller: Kenneth M. Ference
Date: 06/08/22
4 Cove Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: R. J. & Kristien Lscheyd RET
Seller: Richard A. Sisk
Date: 06/10/22
513 Old Turnpike Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $383,000
Buyer: Eric Walsh
Seller: Cormier & Sons Construction
Date: 06/06/22
49 Over The Top Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Robert F. Baker
Seller: Rosenblatt, Marguerite, (Estate)
Date: 06/07/22
HOLYOKE
15-17 Carlton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Daniel Gladek
Seller: Patrick S. Michaud
Date: 06/10/22
69 Gates St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Alycar Investments LLC
Seller: Anna R. Gagne
Date: 06/08/22
22 Green Willow Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Manuel Reyes
Seller: McGillicuddy, John M., (Estate)
Date: 06/10/22
268 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Roxanne Roman
Seller: Miguel Pacheco
Date: 06/10/22
LONGMEADOW
678 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $730,000
Buyer: Robert Hicklin
Seller: Christine Nault
Date: 06/10/22
73 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $408,000
Buyer: Shigefumi Tomita
Seller: Floyd Lewis
Date: 06/06/22
1656 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Karen Stamand
Seller: Anthony E. English
Date: 06/07/22
636 Wolf Swamp Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Matthew P. Stone
Seller: Jeffrey D. McDonald
Date: 06/07/22
LUDLOW
182 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Alfred M. Connizzo
Seller: Andrea McCarthy-Bates
Date: 06/07/22
27-29 Walnut St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Hannah Sugrue
Seller: Jose L. Ferreira
Date: 06/07/22
679 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $443,000
Buyer: Juan C. Acevedo
Seller: Seth M. Falconer
Date: 06/08/22
PALMER
2078-2080 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Feeney FT 2021
Seller: Bernadette Hicks
Date: 06/07/22
1010-1012 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Jacob Mead
Seller: JBD Empire LLC
Date: 06/09/22
65-1/2 Shearer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $257,650
Buyer: Matthew Stone
Seller: Erica Beaulieu-Walch
Date: 06/08/22
10-12 Stewart Court
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Deven K. Collignon
Seller: Kevin Goodhind
Date: 06/08/22
SPRINGFIELD
89 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: John Thomas
Seller: Fernan Thomas
Date: 06/10/22
138 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: L. A. Bucciarelli-Dwyer
Seller: Todd A. Haugsjaahabink
Date: 06/07/22
719 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Anibal Alamo
Seller: CIG3 LLC
Date: 06/09/22
270 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Value Properties LLC
Seller: Vecchiarelli, R. N., (Estate)
Date: 06/10/22
332 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $227,950
Buyer: Natasha A. Emery
Seller: Greater Springfield Habitat
Date: 06/10/22
60 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Carol Pennant
Seller: Safee Idrees
Date: 06/10/22
258-260 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Lisa W. Cassidy
Seller: Ernest W. Hamel
Date: 06/10/22
1090 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: GR Springfield Land LLC
Seller: 1090 Boston Road Inc.
Date: 06/10/22
934 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Malania A. Gormley
Seller: Robert F. Wheeler
Date: 06/09/22
15 Burns Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ileana Garcia
Seller: Alice L. Dezan
Date: 06/10/22
222 Cabinet St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: C. Delaovalle
Seller: George M. Quinlan
Date: 06/10/22
29 Catalina Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Lisa Aiello
Seller: Eleanor Sampson
Date: 06/09/22
40-42 Cherry St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Alinoska Jimenez-Colon
Seller: Victor M. Melendez
Date: 06/07/22
38 Collins St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: 38 Collins LLC
Seller: Nolava LLC
Date: 06/06/22
24-26 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $367,000
Buyer: Sarita Oli
Seller: Bijay Tamang
Date: 06/10/22
37-39 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jose Blanco
Seller: Safee A. Idrees
Date: 06/06/22
20 Craig St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Michael P. Jones
Seller: Crystal A. Jones
Date: 06/10/22
26 Crawford Circle
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $369,500
Buyer: Chiedozie P. Ekeimoh
Seller: Norris Rabb
Date: 06/10/22
12-14 Demond Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: M. Tran Properties LLC
Seller: Brico Properties LLC
Date: 06/10/22
145 Devens St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Tracy L. Hill
Seller: Ruth D. Salcedo
Date: 06/07/22
69 Dexter St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Ding K. Wu
Seller: Jianneng Wu
Date: 06/09/22
41 Dresden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Schuyler D. Busch
Seller: Steve McLeod
Date: 06/09/22
103 Eastern Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Altiery Chauvet
Seller: Jesus M. Garcia
Date: 06/09/22
35 Eton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Platinum Homes LLC
Seller: Nancy E. McCarthy
Date: 06/08/22
15 Ferncliff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Traci Hershman
Seller: Ana M. Fontanez
Date: 06/08/22
48-50 Ferris St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Tashanna K. Myers
Seller: Donna Franceschina
Date: 06/10/22
88 Fisher St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Abdel Velazquez
Seller: Randy Gonzalez
Date: 06/10/22
115 Garfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Garvin Cius
Seller: Majid G. Kia
Date: 06/08/22
5 Gourley Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Quartz & Raffio LLC
Seller: Theresa M. Conway
Date: 06/09/22
139 Hampden St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Carlos Frais-Castillo
Seller: Gene Phelps
Date: 06/08/22
72-74 Horace St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Javier Rivera
Seller: TM Properties Inc.
Date: 06/06/22
58-60 Howes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Winners O. LLC
Seller: Shawn D. Davis-Smith
Date: 06/09/22
22-24 Kendall St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Pierre B. Louis
Seller: Volga Empire Mass. LLC
Date: 06/06/22
60 Kulig St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Hibert
Seller: Daniel Smith
Date: 06/10/22
59-61 Lawrence St.
Springfield, MA 01056
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Danielle Tetreault
Seller: Vilai Sivongxai
Date: 06/07/22
1387 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $969,026
Buyer: Louis Wiener LT
Seller: JGT Mass. LLC
Date: 06/10/22
110-112 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Benny Troncoso
Seller: Benjamin Velazquez
Date: 06/07/22
32-34 Massachusetts Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $303,850
Buyer: Roger Cruz-Cordero
Seller: Jailyn Gonzalez
Date: 06/10/22
Mulberry St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Tomasina Reyes
Seller: Lidia Tolparova
Date: 06/07/22
95 Patricia Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $352,500
Buyer: Everett L. Handford
Seller: Janice Marsala
Date: 06/10/22
35 Pine Acre Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kyle R. Kalin
Seller: Robert J. Mucha
Date: 06/07/22
567 Plainfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Mashia D. Waters
Seller: Cruz Rosario
Date: 06/10/22
1412 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Bryan N. Lopez-Acevedo
Seller: Vanessa M. Marrero
Date: 06/10/22
137 Roy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Angelica R. William
Seller: Debra A. Aberdale
Date: 06/10/22
1276 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $3,005,357
Buyer: Exchanferight Net Leased
Seller: Arista Springfield LLC
Date: 06/06/22
46 Shumway St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Michael Garcia
Seller: Kimberly Santiago
Date: 06/08/22
61 Southern Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: John M. Stavro
Seller: Andre P. Bernatchez
Date: 06/10/22
58-60 Sterling St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Luis J. Ayala-Martinez
Seller: Johnson, William J., (Estate)
Date: 06/08/22
78-80 Sterling St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Dyan Varnadore
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 06/06/22
403 Sunrise Ter.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Juan C. Corniel-Liriano
Seller: Lesmore A. Gibb
Date: 06/10/22
151 Surrey Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Kali N. Thomas
Seller: Daniel J. Hall
Date: 06/07/22
38 Tinkham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Kathleen A. Pierson
Date: 06/07/22
105 Upton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Shilasi Investments LLC
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 06/09/22
152 West Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Ngoc Vo
Seller: Carmelo J. Federico
Date: 06/07/22
89 Wexford St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Peter K. Mwaura
Seller: Brian F. Dominick
Date: 06/08/22
134 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Carmen Vega
Seller: Dale D. Ngo
Date: 06/07/22
79 Wilbraham Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Felix Oliveras
Seller: Yvonne M. Buchanan
Date: 06/08/22
547 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: John Cunningham-Boyce
Seller: Alfredo Improta
Date: 06/07/22
48 Zephyr Lane
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: John R. Lapierre
Seller: Edward J. Peplinski
Date: 06/10/22
SOUTHWICK
3 Harvest Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $432,500
Buyer: Andre P. Bernatchez
Seller: Susan D. Bourque
Date: 06/10/22
WESTFIELD
189 Barbara St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Brendan C. McCarthy
Seller: Suzanne M. James
Date: 06/08/22
7 Ethan Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Benjamin L. Kuta
Seller: Thomas A. Kuta
Date: 06/08/22
24 Fowler St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Wicked Deals LLC
Seller: Kellie Stuck
Date: 06/07/22
990 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $477,500
Buyer: Robert C. Manley
Seller: James J. Crean
Date: 06/10/22
5 Ingersoll Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Kyle T. Allen
Seller: Justin K. Kiefer
Date: 06/10/22
49 Ingersoll Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Michael B. Wilson
Seller: Meghan L. Kelso
Date: 06/10/22
6 King St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Elovate Capital LLC
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 06/06/22
2 Linden Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Ryan M. McCarthy
Seller: K&R Real Estate Solutions
Date: 06/09/22
18 Oakcrest Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Daniel A. Gaskin
Seller: Vera Bricker-Dunley
Date: 06/09/22
216 Ponders Hollow Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Justin K. Kiefer
Seller: Ruslan Golubchik
Date: 06/10/22
24 Prospect St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Ray A. Wyckoff
Seller: Ivan Carrasquillo
Date: 06/10/22
13 Sackett St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Hunt Rentals LLC
Seller: Dubs Capital LLC
Date: 06/07/22
710 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: 710 Southampton LLC
Seller: MRC Enterprises LLC
Date: 06/09/22
168 Susan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Kara M. Graves
Seller: Daniel Cronin
Date: 06/10/22
WILBRAHAM
518 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Victoria Dunbar-Bryan
Seller: Allen T. Baird
Date: 06/10/22
699 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: Jones, Odessa, (Estate)
Date: 06/06/22
10 Meadowview Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Richard Corsi
Seller: Jennifer L. Trombley
Date: 06/10/22
8 Nokomis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $307,000
Buyer: Paul Ireland
Seller: Ann M. Zanetti
Date: 06/08/22
619 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Sandra Brown
Seller: Ann M. Mercando
Date: 06/10/22
632 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Noel A. Espinal
Seller: Travis J. Bell
Date: 06/10/22
24 Sunset Rock Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Christopher S. Clark
Seller: Stanley R. Grochmal
Date: 06/06/22
WEST SPRINGFIELD
114 Deer Run Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Robert Miles
Seller: Steven R. Williams
Date: 06/10/22
62 George St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Daniel Carthon
Seller: Frank Rios
Date: 06/08/22
4 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Mohammed A. Shihab
Seller: West Co. Investments LLC
Date: 06/09/22
86 Overlook Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Alicia Zitka
Seller: Andrew R. Goodsell
Date: 06/10/22
34 Talcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Om N. Bhujel
Seller: Narayan K. Basnet
Date: 06/09/22
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
AMHERST
463 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Annie E. Nelson
Seller: J. P. Regish & T. Delaney LT
Date: 06/10/22
39 Country Corners Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Martha M. Faison
Date: 06/10/22
228 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $463,500
Buyer: Toby J. Susse
Seller: Maple Leaf Capital Reserve
Date: 06/06/22
46 Kestrel Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Scott Niekum
Seller: Crist, Margaret L., (Estate)
Date: 06/06/22
295 Lincoln Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $369,375
Buyer: Lincoln Fearing LLC
Seller: Lynne K. Edwards
Date: 06/07/22
555 Market Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $733,000
Buyer: Noel Llopis-Artime
Seller: Laurel D. Dickey
Date: 06/08/22
111 Mill Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $457,000
Buyer: Stephen Orloske
Seller: Marco Keiluweit
Date: 06/10/22
19 Pebble Ridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $720,000
Buyer: Vaidehi Ravikumar
Seller: Kristen L. Lynch
Date: 06/10/22
103 Sunset Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $780,000
Buyer: Francisco J. Botto
Seller: Daphne Patai
Date: 06/06/22
152 Triangle St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $583,000
Buyer: Canaan Gifford
Seller: Carolyn Lee-Davis
Date: 06/06/22
BELCHERTOWN
51 Gold St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Brian M. Phelps
Seller: James E. Snow
Date: 06/08/22
15 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $353,000
Buyer: Edna Wilson
Seller: Virginia B. Hislop NT
Date: 06/06/22
63 Oakridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Samuel Clark
Seller: Lynn A. Clark
Date: 06/09/22
31 Old Sawmill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Kathleen Stewart
Seller: John A. Benoit
Date: 06/08/22
EASTHAMPTON
10 David Richardson Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: David R. Boyle
Seller: Quinn, Lucy L., (Estate)
Date: 06/06/22
322 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Emma Freedman
Seller: Emily A. Moreau
Date: 06/06/22
32 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $411,750
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Mack
Seller: Lee A. St.Martin
Date: 06/06/22
63 Highland Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Jason Vogel
Seller: Kathleen Etzel
Date: 06/10/22
142 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Kody O. Crawford
Seller: Margaret Powers-Sheehan
Date: 06/10/22
32 Mayher St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Sebastian Barr
Seller: Caitlin M. Bunning
Date: 06/08/22
20 Plymouth Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Molly Bajgot
Seller: 20 Plymouth Avenue RT
Date: 06/10/22
5-7 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $545,500
Buyer: Sarah J. Fogel
Seller: Labelle, Thomas H., (Estate)
Date: 06/10/22
GOSHEN
4 Highland Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Alexander J. Kessler
Seller: James F. Heroux
Date: 06/06/22
GRANBY
92 Chicopee St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: GC&RK LLC
Seller: Phyllis M. Laborde NT
Date: 06/07/22
HADLEY
31-A Chmura Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $1,250,000
Buyer: David Leith
Seller: Tod R. Loebel
Date: 06/09/22
15 Cold Spring Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $310,500
Buyer: Henry E. Whitlock
Seller: Spring Associates Inc.
Date: 06/06/22
HUNTINGTON
24 Allen Coit Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $462,500
Buyer: James A. Lipshaw
Seller: Daniel A. Noel
Date: 06/08/22
NORTHAMPTON
88 Crescent St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $689,000
Buyer: Michael G. George
Seller: Christopher Jackson
Date: 06/07/22
64 Forest Glen Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Daniel J. North
Seller: James A. North
Date: 06/10/22
213 Park Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Karen Randall
Seller: Robert L. Charette
Date: 06/08/22
117 Riverbank Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $457,000
Buyer: John Nicolaou
Seller: Pinky Hota
Date: 06/08/22
SOUTH HADLEY
25 Highland Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Gregory K. Shenk
Seller: John P. Leonard
Date: 06/10/22
11 Karen Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jerry Lombardo
Seller: Lesperance, Robert W., (Estate)
Date: 06/10/22
62 Old Lyman Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $467,000
Buyer: Christopher Viens
Seller: Christine M. Talamini
Date: 06/08/22
135 Old Lyman Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $469,900
Buyer: Kevin Schwartz
Seller: Daniel W. Goble
Date: 06/09/22
7 Ranger St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Christopher Chouinard
Seller: Debra A. Dwight
Date: 06/08/22
SOUTHAMPTON
43 Cold Spring Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Max T. LLC
Seller: Donna M. Garstka
Date: 06/09/22
102 Pequot Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Ryan L. Kaulback
Seller: Jerry L. Kaulback
Date: 06/10/22
82 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Vladimir Tverdokhlebov
Seller: Conn. Valley Biological Supply
Date: 06/06/22
WARE
44 Greenwich Plains Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Casiano Ramos
Seller: Baird, Evelyn E., (Estate)
Date: 06/07/22
18 Lower Cove Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Joseph A. Croteau
Seller: Carol Kolenik
Date: 06/09/22
246 Old Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Dylan F. Smith
Seller: Nancy J. Carter
Date: 06/10/22
104 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Marc A. Varnum
Seller: Kristie L. Allen
Date: 06/09/22
21 School St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Benjamin Perry
Seller: Rocket Mortgage LLC
Date: 06/07/22
14-16 Vigeant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alycar Investments LLC
Seller: Jahjan LLC
Date: 06/09/22
50 Warebrook Village
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $123,295
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Andrew Fritscher
Date: 06/08/22
WILLIAMSBURG
16 Nash Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $860,000
Buyer: Jonathan Chapman
Seller: Mark R. Chrabascz
Date: 06/08/22
The following building permits were issued during the month of June 2022. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).
CHICOPEE
Center for Human Development
89 Ninth Ave.
$18,000 — Install new bathroom and kitchen
PITTSFIELD
4 Second Street Realty LLC
4 Second St.
$40,000 — Repairs to existing concrete landing, stairs and railings on rear exterior of building
SPRINGFIELD
276 Bridge LLC
286 Bridge St.
$10,000 — Remove and replace 1,440 square feet of sheet rock, install four partition walls and one door
Northgate Center LLC
1985 Main St.
$61,675 — Alter 256 square feet of interior tenant medical office space in miscellaneous locations, Boston Orthopedic
Springfield College
807 Wilbraham Road
$7,128 — Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing install new skylight
DCX Springdale DST
1610 Boston Road
$33,500 — Relocation of drive-thru window and addition of 61-square-foot cash booth for relocated window; update drive thru for a side by side ordering layout and site work; McDonalds Restaurant
Colvest/Parker Spfld LLC
1242 Parker St.
$135,000 — Alter 1,902 square feet of interior space; CVS Pharmacy
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Board of Trustees recently announced the outcome of its 2022-23 board election results during its annual spring meeting.
William Burke III was re-elected as chair for the board of trustees. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola College, and also received a master of Business Administration from Loyola College Sellenger School of Management.
The following individuals have been elected to serve a three-year term on the board of trustees (Class of 2025):
The following individuals have been elected as new members to serve a three-year term on the Springfield College Board of Trustees (Class of 2025):
The following individuals have been elected to serve a five-year term on the Springfield College Board of Trustees (Class of 2027):
Samantha Hourihan, a native of Bridgewater, will continue to serve as a student trustee until January 2023. A physical therapy major, Hourihan has been named to dean’s list multiple times and is a member of the women’s basketball team.
Gizzelle Abanador, a native of Ludlow, will continue to serve as student trustee-Elect until January 2023 and then serve as student trustee from January-December 2023. She is a biology major.
David Henke, a native of Brookfield, Conn., was elected as student trustee-elect for January-December 2023. He is a secondary education major.
LENOX — The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home, announced its 2022 Summer Lecture Series line-up. Now in its 29th year, the Summer Lecture series brings leading biographers and historians to the Berkshires. This year’s series includes journalist and New York Times bestselling author Kati Marton, Pushcart prize-winning poet Ravi Shankar, and Syrian/Jordanian thought leader Luma Mufleh, among other notable speakers.
Lectures will be held outdoors under an open-air tent on Mondays at 4 p.m. and Tuesdays at 11 a.m., beginning July 11 through August 30. To view the full line-up and purchase tickets, visit EdithWharton.org.
“We have a fascinating mix of narratives about historical figures and contemporary underrepresented voices in this year’s lineup,” said Patricia Pin, The Mount’s Public Program Director. “We are looking forward to welcoming our community back to The Mount for what promises to be an engaging season of meaningful storytelling.”
For more information, visit EdithWharton.org
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center has announced the appointment of Lisa Wray-Schechterle, as the hospital’s director of Community Benefits.
Wray-Schechterle joins the hospital from Pyramid Management Group where she served as the marketing director of the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, a position she held for more than 20 years.
Wray-Schechterle holds both a master of Arts in Communication and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Western New England University. She serves as a marketing committee member for Girls Inc. of the Valley, a board member of the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, and as an advisory board member for the Holyoke Community College School of Business.
“We are happy to welcome Lisa to our team,” said Spiros Hatiras, Holyoke Medical Center’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her proven ability to build collaborative partnerships coupled with her knowledge of Holyoke and the many community based organizations we work with throughout the region, will enable her to successfully manage and expand our Community Benefits program.”
Holyoke Medical Center Community Benefits provides programs and services to improve health in communities and helps to increase access to health care. This is done to advance medical and health knowledge in the community and relieve or reduce the burden of government and other community efforts. Wray-Schechterle has succeeded Kathy Anderson as the director of the department, following Anderson’s retirement.
“I am excited to extend my knowledge and networking connections to help improve the health needs of the Pioneer Valley,” said Wray-Schechterle.
“As the hospital has just completed their 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, I look forward to creating the next implementation strategy based on the feedback we received and expressed needs identified by the community.”
HOLYOKE – Holyoke Community College is now accepting applications for its free Community Health Worker training and apprenticeship program.
The program begins in September and is tuition free thanks to a federal grant HCC received in 2020.
The purpose of the four-year, $1.89 million grant, awarded in 2020 from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) is to increase the number of CHWs qualified to help children and families affected by opioid use.
HRSA’s Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program supports training programs like HCC’s CHW program that enhance and expand paraprofessionals knowledge, skills, and expertise.
The training involves college level coursework during the first year, as well as supervised field work experience at Behavioral Health Network in Holyoke. Classes are held in person at HCC and require basic computer proficiency and literacy skills. After the first year, students can apply for a full-time, paid apprenticeship placement — the first of its kind in Western Mass.
During the pre-apprenticeship training at HCC, students take two core Community Health Worker classes across two consecutive semesters.
“The HCC Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program is an initiative that offers free training for people interested in pursuing community health and human services,” said Tina Tartaglia, CHW project coordinator. “There is a specific focus on teaching students how to support children and families affected by opioid use and substance use disorders. Students with lived experience are encouraged to apply.”
This is the third year of the four-year grant, which aims to train 25 individuals as CHWs each year. The grant also provides stipends to students as incentives to complete the program and seek employment in the field. Students who enter an apprenticeship after they finish training are eligible for an additional annual stipend of $7,500.
“COVID-19 has made clear how essential community health workers are in addressing the wide range of physical, behavioral and mental health issues faced by members of our community,” President Royal said in 2020 after the HRSA grant was awarded. “Through this program and with our partners, we will not only have the ability to support more families struggling with substance use, but we will also be creating more jobs in a sector central to our region’s economic growth.”
HCC’s partners in the grant include Behavioral Health Network, Holyoke Health Center, and the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board.
For more information or to apply, please visit hcc.edu/chw-free
From the day he took the helm with the fledgling Springfield Thunderbirds hockey team, Nate Costa, now the president of the franchise, talked about the importance of winning to the ultimate success of a team.
Indeed, Costa, who came to Springfield following management roles with several minor league sports operations, often spoke about the importance of presentation and the overall experience when it came to how well a team could capture the hearts and minds of a region or community — and thrive financially. But ultimately, he said there is no real substitute for winning. A team can have endless promotions, bring in big names as guests, and offer special prices on hot dogs and beer, he implied, but in the end, it would have to win to really break through.
The events of the past few several months, and especially the past few weeks, have proven Costa right.
As the Thunderbirds made their way to the Calder Cup finals against the Chicago Wolves, the team moved to a new and much higher level in terms of visibility and presence, for lack of a better term, in the Greater Springfield area. While T-Birds ultimately lost the series, four games to one, including the last three at home, it was a clear winner on every other level.
Let’s start with the games themselves. The downtown area was electric on game nights. Some fans would arrive an hour or two before the game started. There was some tailgating in some of the parking lots and larger crowds in many of the area restaurants.
The weekend games that closed out the series were sell-outs, and there were high levels of energy in the MassMutual Center.
Overall, the Thunderbirds were front of mind for the past month or so as they progressed in the playoffs to the finals. They were the lead story on local sports pages and the local news shows, but there was more than that.
People were talking about them — at the office, in coffee shops, and at the many events that have been staged in the region over the past several months as the long-awaited return to normalcy from the pandemic has moved to a different level. And they are still talking about them.
And while people were talking about this team, they were reminiscing about championship teams from 30 and 50 years ago. Hockey, for at least a little while, became king.
The best news is that interest in the T-Birds has moved well beyond talk. Season-ticket sales are far ahead of the pace for previous years, and they, as everyone knows, are one of the key cornerstones to success. More corporate support is certain to follow.
While the Thunderbirds have always had a presence in Springfield and the region, they have now officially arrived. And this bodes extremely well for a city that will need this team to play a big role in its full recovery from the pandemic and ongoing efforts to make downtown a place to not only work, but live.
The T-Birds did not bring home the Calder Cup in 2022. But they may have succeeded in an even bigger game, if one can call it that.
They have broken through and truly captured the attention of the region. That makes them big winners.
