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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Time is running out to submit a nomination for a Super 60 award. The Springfield Regional Chamber’s Super 60 Awards honor the success of the fastest-growing privately owned businesses in the region. Businesses can nominate themselves and others to receive an award for their percentage of revenue growth over a three-year period or for total revenues for the latest fiscal year.

Super 60 honorees gain publicity for the company, recognition by their peers, and recognition for employees’ efforts. The nominating organization will also be recognized at the awards luncheon for submitting a Super 60 company. Both the Super 60 winner and nominating organization will gain branding opportunities using the Super 60 logo.

To submit a nomination, click here.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Bulkley Richardson, with offices in Springfield and Hadley, recently welcomed four attorneys to the firm.

Matthew Dziok earned a juris doctor degree from Western New England University School of Law, where he graduated second in his class. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UMass Boston.

Briana Dawkins is a graduate of Western New England University School of Law and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Curry College, summa cum laude. She was an intern at the U.S. Department of Labor and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Shriti Shah graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She received a master’s degree in Management Studies in 2007 and a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 2004 from the University of Mumbai.

Jacob Kosakowski is a graduate of Suffolk University School of Law and earned a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst, summa cum laude. He served as an intern for Chief Justice Paul Dawley and the Child Abuse Unit of the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

“The hiring of these four talented lawyers is consistent with the firm’s ongoing strategy for continued growth,” said Kevin Maynard, chair of the firm’s hiring committee. “Briana, Shriti, and Jacob are all graduates of Bulkley Richardson’s enhanced Summer Associate Program, so we had the pleasure of working with them last summer. And Matt’s experience as a private investigator and clerking for an area law office will help him integrate well into our litigation practice. We are confident they will each make significant contributions to the firm.”

Daily News

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union was featured in episode 326 of World’s Greatest!, a television series produced by How2Media. World’s Greatest! is a 30-minute show dedicated to highlighting the world’s greatest companies, products, places, and people. Each show is a fast-paced tour around the world featuring behind-the-scenes footage, informative interviews, and exciting visuals. The episode featuring UMassFive premiered on Bloomberg TV on Sept. 3 and will re-run on Sept. 10 at 3:30 p.m.

In recent years, credit unions have become more and more popular as people transition away from for-profit banks and toward more customer and member-oriented institutions. With a history dating back to 1967, a focus on sustainability, and a commitment to keeping the local economy strong, UMassFive has continued to grow and innovate. “We think their story will be meaningful as well as educational to our viewers,” said Kyle Freeman, executive producer of World’s Greatest!

As part of the show, How2Media sent a film crew to spend time at UMassFive’s headquarters in Hadley to discover the company’s story and to show viewers why the credit union was selected as the best in its category, and therefore featured on the show.

“We are immensely thankful to How2Media for providing us this opportunity to amplify the mission of the credit union,” said Craig Boivin, vice president of Marketing at UMassFive.

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — With fresh recognition from BusinessWest, the Dulye Leadership Experience (DLE) 2022 Leadership Immersion is generating a buzz for its speakers and topics for building connected teams.

Registration for this professional-development program closes on Thursday, Sept. 15 for 45 exclusive seats that guarantee direct access and high engagement with internationally recognized authors, scholars, and business experts and a cohort of diverse, motivated professionals. The event takes place Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5 at the lakeside Proprietor’s Lodge conference venue in the Berkshires.

Interactive sessions and breakout exercises will transfer success strategies for leading team communications, collaboration, and connectivity. Click here for the event brochure, speaker profiles, and registration. Discount lodging is available for registrants.

Featured speakers include Lynne Vincent, associate professor of Management, Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University; Marc Williams, everyday communications coach and author of Beyond Limitations and The Rules of Engagement for Public Speaking; Keith Grafman, co-founder of Creative Content Consulting and author of The Art of Instant Message; Andrea Lein, positive psychology expert; and Ken Faber, faculty instructor at the Center for Personalized Education for Professionals in Denver. Registration is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — September events at Wistariahurst will offer something for everyone. They include:

Thursday, Sept. 8, 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Join City Historian Penni Martorell and Wistariahurst Master Gardener Ralph Strycharz for a guided tour of Wistariahurst’s historic gardens and grounds. Advance registration is required for this tour. Visit wistariahurst.org/events-2 to register for this event.

Sunday, Sept. 11, 12:30 p.m.: Take a 45-minute tour of two floors of Wistariahurst, home of textile industrialist William Skinner and his family. Advance registration is required for this tour. Visit wistariahurst.org/events-2 to register for this event.

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Join Skinner family descendant and avid golfer Bill Armistead for a slide presentation about the Orchards Golf Course. Armistead recently published a book, The Orchards…One Hundred Years, which he wrote in celebration of the Orchards’ centennial year. Advance registration is required for this tour. Visit wistariahurst.org/events-2 to register for this event.

Friday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to noon: The third Friday of each month is the time for in-person plant sales at Wistariahurst. Gardeners will also be selling their excess gardening supplies and pots.

Sunday, Sept. 18, 3-4 p.m.: Choreographer Michelle Marroquin presents a program of original dances and familiar favorites, including “Garden of Sprites,” performed by young ballerinas of the Academy of Ballet Arts in the Wistariahurst Gardens. Tickets cost $12 to $22. Bring your own chair or blanket. In case of inclement weather, a rain date will be posted. Coupons for $5 off will be made available at the Holyoke Senior Center. This production is supported by a grant from the Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Visit wistariahurst.org/events-2 to register for this event.

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Join Patti Steinman, Mass Audubon education coordinator, to explore and question the natural surroundings in a program called “The Wonders of Fall.” This leisure walk will take place on the Wistariahurst grounds, or will be an indoor presentation in case of inclement weather, and will be enjoyed by nature enthusiasts, educators, and students alike. Visit wistariahurst.org/events-2 to register for this event.

Daily News

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank’s Hampden Branch will host a free Community Shred Day on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon. As in past years, Monson Savings Bank is partnering with PROSHRED of Wilbraham for this event. The bank will welcome the public to dispose of their private documents safely and securely.

Storing documents that contain personal information in the home can pose a major security risk. Monson Savings Bank is encouraging residents to shred any documents they no longer need, especially those that contain private information. This free Community Shred Day is the perfect chance to properly discard unwanted documents, such as tax returns, bank or credit-card statements, bills, medical records, and more.

“We are very happy to host our branch’s annual Community Shred Day,” said Adriano Dos Santos, Hampden branch manager. “Our Shred Day gives members of our community the opportunity to safely, conveniently, and securely destroy their old documents. It is always such a fun event, and I look forward to it every year.”

The Hampden branch is located at 15 Somers Road. Pre-packaged refreshments and giveaways will be available at the event while supplies last.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Since 2018, BusinessWest has been celebrating outstanding women from all industries through its Women of Impact award program. You certainly know some women who are actively leading and making a difference for their companies and their communities, and acting as role models and mentors for our region’s future leaders. Nominate one or more today for BusinessWest’s prestigious Women of Impact award.

Nominations for the class of 2022 are due by end of day Friday, Sept. 16. For nominating guidelines and to submit a nomination, click here. Nominees who score the highest in the eyes and minds of a panel of independent judges will be honored at a celebratory event on Thursday, Dec. 8.

Women of Impact was chosen as the name for the program because, while nominees can be from the world of business, they can also be from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, healthcare, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, and many, many other areas.

The event’s presenting sponsor is Country Bank, and the partner sponsor is Comcast Business. Other sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Daily News

AMHERST — The Peace Development Fund announced the addition of two new foundation associates, Sophia Trifone and Sonya Epstein, in its Amherst office. Trifone will oversee the organization’s communication work, including social media, newsletters, press outreach, and annual publications. Epstein will be focused on donor data management, ensuring accurate accounting of donations, grant requests, and support for fiscally sponsored organizations.

After earning her associate degree from Holyoke Community College, Trifone began her career with a prominent local nonprofit focusing on arts and culture in Holyoke’s Puerto Rican cultural district. In her time there, she notably fundraised for signature events and projects, hosted walking tours of the city’s artwork, collaborated with other community organizations, and aided in weekly food distribution.

Epstein is a community organizer who has been deeply involved with student activism around restorative justice, free public higher education, and LGBTQ liberation for many years. They are an immigrant from Belarus and studied social thought & political economy and sociology at UMass Amherst.

Daily News

TURNERS FALLS — Eggtooth Productions announced that board member and frequent collaborator John Bechtold has been appointed to the role of creative director for the company. Working closely with founder and Artistic Director Linda McInerney, Bechtold’s role will be to help guide the creative vision for Eggtooth’s original works.

Following award-winning experiences at Eggtooth’s Double Take Fringe Festivals in 2011-2013, Bechtold’s first full-length production with Eggtooth came in 2016 with an immersive version of William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, taking over the entirety of the then-vacant Arts Block (now Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center) in downtown Greenfield. With an emphasis on site-inspired design, he has been dubbed the “Valley’s genius of immersive theater” by the Valley Advocate, with a list of immersive works including Sam’s Place (Shea Theater), Stagehand (Shea Theater and Academy of Music), Before You Became Improbable (Emily Dickinson Museum), and Gem of the Valley (Chester Theatre).

“Linda and I both believe deeply in the influence of the Valley on our work,” he noted, “and we’re constantly scheming together for ways to welcome new audiences into these magic spaces around us.” He and McInerney both cited Eggtooth’s strong ties to the Shea Performing Arts Center in Turners Falls and its role as a creative home for local and regional artists.

The Eggtooth-Shea partnership will be on full display this fall, as Eggtooth prepares for two upcoming immersive productions in late September and October, both to be produced at the Shea.

First produced in 2017, Deus Ex Machina is an immersive production for an audience of only 18 members per show. With an intimate 1:1 cast-to-audience ratio and the entire Shea Theater as the set, participants will have a series of engagements with an array of characters inspired by the building’s storied history as 1920s vaudeville house to a 1970s hippie commune and, of course, a theater venue over a span of decades. Performances are sleted for Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

After a successful inaugural year in October 2021, A Happening will return to the Shea Theater as an evolving community festival tradition. The collision of evocative art forms, including but not limited to music, dance, theater, sculpture, painting, and film, with a ‘choose your own adventure’ structure creates a powerful immersive experience for performers and audience alike, where the lines between witness and participant are disrupted and dissolved. Performances will take place Oct. 21-22.

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — New online marketplace Feel Good Shop Local will partner with the Big E in its Front Porch endeavor to bring local businesses to the forefront of the fair, making this enviable selling opportunity available to these local stores.

“I can’t think of a better way to launch the ultimate local shopping platform, feelgoodshoplocal.com, than at the ultimate fair, the Big E,” said Michelle Wirth, owner of Mercedes-Benz of Springfield and founder of feelgoodshoplocal.com. “We are so excited to be here with our Feel Good Shop Local courtyard. This is a unique opportunity for shoppers and our sellers to conveniently connect. This embodies what we stand for; we are passionate about helping local businesses thrive.”

Fueled by the COVID-19 crisis, Wirth founded Feel Good Shop Local in 2020 to ensure local small businesses would not be left out of the online shopping and discovery experience. Focused on selling consumer lifestyle goods and services, it has brought local small businesses and artisans of Western Mass. and Northern Conn. to one online marketplace for the region to discover, shop, and ship to their door, all with a few clicks of the mouse. Visit www.feelgoodshoplocal.com to shop and learn more.

Each local business receives a ‘storefront’ within the platform, their own always-open e-commerce store. It is a place they can send their existing customers to shop them more often and a place where new customers can find them easily. The store owners and their stories are front and center.

“We felt it was really important for shoppers to know who they are buying from, so we produce the imagery and videos of the owners and artisans telling their story,” Wirth said. “Our aim is to help shoppers support local by making these stores discoverable and accessible to a wider array of today’s shoppers used to the online shopping experience.”

The Feel Good Shop Local courtyard at the Big E will be located prominently just outside the Better Living Center among a variety of new local food and consumer-goods vendors. Local stores will rotate in and out of the space, so consumers can visit often to discover new and interesting local finds each day. Programming will place in the courtyard periodically over the course of the fair.

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently made a $5,000 donation to Easthampton Neighbors to help provide services and programs to assist Easthampton seniors and to support the organization’s participation in the Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative.

Easthampton Neighbors is a member-driven, nonprofit organization that provides volunteer services and programs to seniors who strive to live independent, engaged lives at home. Its ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ approach creates a local support network for area seniors. It are a partnering organization of the Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative, which is a coalition of healthcare and community providers, based out of the Cooley Dickinson Geriatrics program, dedicated to empowering and supporting older adults living with dementia and their family caregivers to improve their quality of life.

“Seniors are the backbone of our community,” said Matthew Sosik, the bank’s president and CEO. “bankESB is proud to support Easthampton Neighbors as they work to keep seniors in our area engaged, connected, and thriving.”

The donation was made as part of the bank’s charitable-giving program, the Giving Tree, which reflects the roots the bank has in its communities, its commitment to making a real difference in the neighborhoods it serves, and the belief that everyone’s quality of life is enhanced when parties work together to solve their communities’ biggest problems.

“This donation is significant to our organization,” the Easthampton Neighbors board of directors noted. “It bolsters our funds for costs incurred by our expansion of services to include participation in Cooley Dickinson’s Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative and affords us the means to sustain current services to the senior community of Easthampton. Thank you, bankESB.”

Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

We are excited to announce that BusinessWest 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.

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 128: September 5, 2022

George Interviews Mark Rivers, event producer for Hooplandia, the giant 3-on-3 basketball tournament coming to the region next summer

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Mark Rivers, event producer for Hooplandia, the giant 3-on-3 basketball tournament coming to the region next summer. The two talk about how this concept came together, how it survived three years of cancellations and delays due to COVID, and why this tournament, a production, led by the Big E and the Basketball Hall of Fame, has the potential to become a legacy event. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest  and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

 

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Cannabis Education Center (CEC) at Holyoke Community College (HCC) will begin its fall schedule of industry training programs Sept. 10-11 with “Cannabis Core: Foundations of the Industry,” a two-day, introductory cannabis course.

Additional Cannabis Core programs are set for Oct. 1-2, Oct. 29-30, and Dec. 10-11. All classes meet over Zoom on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Cannabis Core program provides an overview of the cannabis industry in Massachusetts and is geared for people looking for general knowledge as they consider a cannabis career. The program is a foundational course and a prerequisite for the center’s four career-track courses: cultivation assistant, extraction technician, culinary assistant, and patient services/retail associate.

The CEC is now partnering on its cannabis industry programs with Green Path Training, an accredited RVT, or responsible vendor trainer.

“Green Path Training brings responsible vendor training to HCC for the first time,” said Julia Agron, the CEC’s assistant project coordinator. “This will allow our local and statewide cannabis businesses to benefit from the highest-quality classes available for their current and future employees.”

All businesses in Massachusetts licensed by the Cannabis Control Commission are required to provide RVT for cultivators, managers, and employees involved in the handling and sale of marijuana for adult and/or medical use.

Green Path founder Ellen Brown will be joining the CEC team as one of the instructors for the “Cannabis Core: Foundations of the Industry” classes. Brown is an award-winning educator and industry leader and U.S. Air Force veteran. For more than a decade, she has been a pioneer in the cannabis industry, training thousands of students around the world.

The CEC’s fall cannabis training program schedule is as follows:

“Cannabis Core: Foundations of the Industry”: Sept. 9-10, Oct. 1-2, Oct. 29-30, Dec. 10-11 (Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Zoom);

“Cultivation Assistant” (Session 1): Sept. 18, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, Oct. 9;

“Cultivation Assistant” (Session 2): Nov. 27, Dec. 4, Dec. 11, Dec. 18 (Sundays, 4:30-6 p.m., Zoom and asynchronous online classes);

“Extraction Technician”: Oct 15, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 5 (Saturdays, 10-11:30 a.m., Zoom and asynchronous online classes);

“Culinary Assistant”: Oct 18, Oct. 20, Oct. 25, Oct. 27, Nov. 1, Nov. 3 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., first two classes over Zoom, the rest in person at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, 164 Race St., Holyoke); and

“Patient Services/Retail Associate”: Nov. 5-6, Nov. 12-13, Nov. 19-20 (Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. over Zoom).

The cost of the Cannabis Core training is $599; career track programs cost $799. Scholarships are available to those who qualify. To register, visit hcc.edu/cannabis-core or call Julia Agron at (413) 335-6540.

The Cannabis Education Center is a partnership between HCC and Elevate Northeast and based out of HCC’s Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development. Elevate Northeast is a Massachusetts-based, women-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit, created to support the growing cannabis industry in the Northeast U.S. through workforce training, education, and advocacy.

More information on these and other cannabis-industry programs can be found on the Cannabis Education Center’s website, cannabiseducationcenter.org.

Daily News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — National non-residential construction spending increased 0.8% in July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, non-residential spending totaled $847.6 billion for the month.

Spending was up on a monthly basis in 13 of the 16 non-residential subcategories. Private non-residential spending was up 0.4%, while public non-residential construction spending was up 1.5% in July.

“The non-residential sector continues to grapple with rising borrowing costs, elevated material and labor costs, and pervasive economic pessimism,” ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said. “Despite a modest increase in July, non-residential construction spending remains below its pre-pandemic level. There is, however, at least one bright spot for the industry: publicly financed construction. State and local governments are flush with cash, and considerable funding is slated for various forms of infrastructure. In July, spending in the highway and street category increased 4.4%, while spending in the public safety category rose 2.3%.

“For privately financed construction, circumstances could get worse before they get better,” Basu added. “The Federal Reserve recently recommitted to further tightening monetary policy. Market sentiment quickly turned negative. Rather than disappear, supply-chain challenges are proliferating in much of the world, including in Europe and China, and the risk of recession is elevated. This is simply not a set of circumstances conducive to rapid non-residential construction spending growth, and according to the most recent Construction Confidence Index, just 31% of contractors expect their profit margins to grow over the next six months.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The drought plaguing the region is not only affecting water supplies and burning out lawns, it is also leaving trees around the state weak and vulnerable, with the potential to damage the electric system. As effects of the drought, coupled with the ongoing infestation by invasive insects, continue to threaten Massachusetts’ landscape, Eversource is working closely with the communities it serves to address the hazardous trees along roads across the state that threaten overhead electric lines.

“It has been a hot, dry summer, and our team of arborists is seeing telltale signs of stress like weakened branches and early fall color,” said Paul Sellers, Eversource’s Vegetation Management manager for Massachusetts. “We’ve seen the devastation storms can cause, and trees already in poor health are especially vulnerable to the effects of drought, raising even greater concern of them coming down in a storm, possibly taking down electric lines with them and causing power outages. Addressing the state of our trees is critically important to ensuring safe, reliable electric service for our customers, and we’re committed to collaboration with our communities and property owners as the changing climate drives more extreme drought conditions that weaken trees and threaten reliability.”

Eversource reminds customers that maintaining vegetation and trees is a shared responsibility between utilities, communities, and property owners. The energy company regularly performs maintenance work to clear branches, trees, and other vegetation that cause outages or are public-safety concerns and works with property owners to help them understand their responsibility to maintain their own trees, including keeping branches away from the lower-voltage service wires connecting their homes and businesses to the main utility lines of the street.

Eversource also encourages customers to work with them and give permission when needing to remove trees that are in danger of coming down and could possibly cause power outages. Customers should also check trees on their property for signs of stress — which may include thinning of the crown, loss of foliage, early color changes, and the presence of mushrooms near the base of the tree — and call a certified arborist to assess the situation.

“Trees that are experiencing drought-related stress may cease growing and commence premature leaf-drop,” said Rick Harper from UMass Amherst. “The lack of foliage may facilitate visibility to the upper canopy area of a tree, providing residents with the opportunity to monitor and report any visible conflicts that they may note with electrical lines.”

For details on Eversource’s comprehensive vegetation management program, visit eversource.com.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The oldest craft fair in Western Mass., the Mattoon Street Art Festival, will take place Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Throughout the festival, patrons will be able to purchase from local artisans from throughout the Pioneer Valley. More than 100 vendors will showcase their crafts in a range of media, including paintings, pottery, fiber arts, and more. Strolling entertainers will provide photo opportunities and music throughout the festival for all to enjoy.

Local food vendors will also join craft artisans to sell their creations. Food will be available for purchase from Cajun on the Go, Nosh, Moe’s Dogs, Granny’s Baking Table, Soulao’d Kitchen, Joyful Ice, Island Cow Ice Cream, Allechant Macarons, and CremeBru.LA.

Set-up for the festival is scheduled to begin on Friday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. Mattoon Street is located off Chestnut Street, near the Springfield Museums. Free festival parking is in the TD Bank lot at the corner of Dwight Street and Harrison Avenue. On-street parking is free throughout the weekend.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Since 2018, BusinessWest has been celebrating outstanding women from all industries through its Women of Impact award program. You certainly know some women who are actively leading and making a difference for their companies and their communities, and acting as role models and mentors for our region’s future leaders. Nominate one or more today for BusinessWest’s prestigious Women of Impact award.

Nominations for the class of 2022 are due by end of day Friday, Sept. 16. For nominating guidelines and to submit a nomination, click here. Nominees who score the highest in the eyes and minds of a panel of independent judges will be honored at a celebratory event on Thursday, Dec. 8.

Women of Impact was chosen as the name for the program because, while nominees can be from the world of business, they can also be from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, healthcare, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, and many, many other areas.

The event’s presenting sponsor is Country Bank, and the partner sponsor is Comcast Business. Other sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Sports & Leisure

Stressing the Fundamentals

Gene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Big E,

Gene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Big E, announces plans for Hooplandia at a press conference staged last month.

Mark Rivers acknowledged that a lot of things have changed since he and officials at the Big E and the Naismith Memorial Basketball of Fame first announced that the region would host a giant three-on-three basketball tournament to be called Hooplandia.

Indeed, that announcement came late in 2019, just a few months before the arrival of COVID-19, which would eventually cancel large-scale events of all kinds and put plans for Hooplandia on ice — for 2020, 2021, and then 2022.

But what hasn’t changed, said Rivers, a marketing and programming consultant to the Eastern States Exposition who has also worked with the Hall of Fame on tournaments, is that what he calls the ‘fundamentals’ are still in place.

“Fundamentally, and probably most importantly, the idea going in, even in 2019, was to create an event that would be around for 40 years or more, just like in Spokane. So if you’re looking at creating an event that’s a 40-year event, it doesn’t get stale after a few years — it’s still a grand idea and still a great proposition for the region.”

“Three-on-three basketball is still very, very popular, and Springfield is the birthplace of basketball,” he told BusinessWest, as he explained, succinctly and effectively, why those who conceived Hooplandia are still bullish on this concept and are proceeding with a tournament set for late June 2023.

If anything, conditions are even better, he said, noting that three-on-three basketball has only become more popular as a sport — and a competition (more on that later).

John Doleva, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame, agreed, noting that, while it might have been easy to walk away from the event given all the challenges and uncertainty moving forward, the vast potential of the concept led them to stay the course.

The cover of the March 2, 2020 edition of BusinessWest

The cover of the March 2, 2020 edition of BusinessWest announced Hooplandia. That was just a few weeks before the pandemic shut down the state and put Hooplandia on ice for what will be three years.

“Everyone stayed with it, and that’s very encouraging,” he said. “To have all those entities — the Big E, the city of West Springfield, Mark Rivers — step up and be as committed, if not more, after a couple of years is a very positive thing.

“Everything is lined up for a great event,” he went on. “It just took a little longer to get there.”

In fact, it will be roughly four years from the date it was first conceptualized until the whistle that starts the first game on June 23, 2023. But everyone involved is sure it will be worth the wait.

Turning back the clock, Rivers said planning for Hooplandia began in early 2019. Inspired by a huge tournament in Spokane, Wash. called Hooptown USA that brings tens of thousands of people to that city every June, Rivers conceived of a concept that would unite the Big E and the Hall of Fame in an endeavor that would capitalize on the soaring popularity of three-on-three basketball and bring the game to the area where the sport was invented.

The March 2, 2020 issue of BusinessWest featured Doleva and Eugene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Big E, standing on either side of a poster promoting Hooplandia. The headline read: “Nothing but Net: Hooplandia Has the Makings of a Legacy Event.”

Just a few weeks later, the state was in lockdown. A few months later, it was clear to everyone that there would be no Hooplandia in 2020. And as the pandemic persisted and subsequent surges continued to hit the nation and the region, the tournament was scrapped for 2021 as well.

And while the situation improved somewhat that year — enough for the Big E to make a much-anticipated comeback after being idled for 2020 — there were too many uncertainties and not enough time to put a tournament in place for 2022, Rivers said.

Young players get a taste for 3-on-3 basketball

Young players get a taste for 3-on-3 basketball at the press conference announcing the Hooplandia event set for June, 2023.

“We thought we could do it in 2021, but there was still a lot of overhang related to crowd gathering and big events,” he said. “And with Hooplandia, you need almost a year’s run-up, because you open up registration six months prior and mobilize your whole organization, and we couldn’t predict what June 2021 was going to look like. Then, we get into 2021, and we just didn’t have enough time to get it organized for ’22; and once you commit, you commit, and we were fearful about putting a lot of time and resources into this and having to pull the plug again.”

But through all of that, no one involved in Hooplandia had any thoughts of giving up on this concept.

That’s because of those fundamentals, he went on, adding that what was true in those early days of 2020 remains true today — Hooplandia does have the makings of a legacy event.

“Fundamentally, and probably most importantly, the idea going in, even in 2019, was to create an event that would be around for 40 years or more, just like in Spokane,” Rivers explained. “So if you’re looking at creating an event that’s a 40-year event, it doesn’t get stale after a few years — it’s still a grand idea and still a great proposition for the region. It’s not like three-on-three basketball went away or Springfield is no longer the birthplace of the game. Those things didn’t change.”

Essentially, organizers are picking up where they left off, said Cassidy, with expectations that the 2023 event will draw 1,000 or more teams (4,000 players) across a number of categories — from youths to veterans; from those in wheelchairs to what would be considered professionals in this sport — and that it will grow over time to draw several thousand teams and someday rival Spokane’s event in terms of size and prestige.

“Spokane is the benchmark because that is an economic driver — it’s an annual event that brings tens of millions of dollars to the local economy. To bring in 1,500 teams and grow that every year to 10,000, that’s a big initiative, but it’s not an unrealistic goal.”

The original plan was to mobilize the grounds of the Eastern States, play a handful of games at the Hall of Fame, have both organizations work together on marketing and promoting the event, and conduct some outreach to basketball organizations and teams throughout the Northeast, Rivers said. And, by and large, that is still the plan.

If anything, he went on, three-on-three basketball is probably even more popular than it was when Hooplandia was first conceived.

“It’s now an Olympic sport, it’s now an international sport with national teams representing their countries in international play, and there’s more and more tournaments around the country that are focusing on this caliber of basketball,” he explained. “So it’s become a little more common, and I think we have a great opportunity to be a leader in that segment.”

Doleva agreed.

“No one has stepped back from that, and I guess that’s the big thing,” he said. “No one has said, ‘let’s do this on a 25% scale.’ It’s all hands on deck.”

Elaborating, he said local organizers have Spokane as a target, with a goal of seeing Hooplandia approach and even exceed that scale when it comes to everything from the number of participating teams to the impact on the local economy.

“Spokane is the benchmark because that is an economic driver — it’s an annual event that brings tens of millions of dollars to the local economy,” Doleva told BusinessWest. “To bring in 1,500 teams and grow that every year to 10,000, that’s a big initiative, but it’s not an unrealistic goal.”

Hooplandia will actually be staged the same weekend as the festival in Spokane, but organizers don’t see it as competition for that event.

“We’re 3,000 miles away,” Doleva said. “We see this an opportunity for people from the Midwest east to come to Springfield and play in a tournament where they might not have gone all the way to the West Coast — and you have the allure of the Hall of Fame.”

These are more of the fundamentals that prompted organizers to take Hooplandia from the drawing board to reality more than three years ago. And they are the fundamentals that have prompted them to stay the course — and stay on course — through more whitewater than anyone could have imagined in early March 2020.

As Cassidy told BusinessWest and all those assembled at a recent press conference to announce the new date for the tournament, “it’s game on for 2023!”

 

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

Sports & Leisure

The Sound of Music

 

Bryan Lynch performs at the 2021 Jazz Festival in Northampton.

Bryan Lynch performs at the 2021 Jazz Festival in Northampton.

Ruth Griggs is a firm believer in the power of jazz.

She says this brand of music has the ability to energize people and lift their spirits. It also has the ability to bring people, and a community together, said Griggs, who had seen this phenomenon at work in Northampton during the early years of its annual jazz festival.

And she also saw what was missing when the festival took a three-year pause toward the end of the last decade, and that’s why she became instrumental — that’s an industry term — in not only bringing the festival back to Northampton in 2018, but bringing it to more of Northampton, meaning more venues across this thriving arts community.

In fact, she was honored earlier this year by BusinessWest with its Difference Makers award for her efforts to bring the jazz festival back to the Northampton — and the region.

“Live music helps lift people’s spirits and it just gives them a positive feeling; these are professional musicians, they know what they’re doing, and it’s a real pleasure for the audience to be able to experience that,” said Griggs, adding that there will be plenty to experience at the 2022 Northampton Jazz Festival set for Sept. 1-Oct. 1.

A number of local and regional artists are scheduled to perform, she said.

“On Friday night, we have what we call the Jazz Strut, held at Pulaski Park and six different breweries and restaurants, throughout downtown; there is free jazz at these establishments all night long,” said Griggs, listing venues ranging from the the park to the Northampton Brewery; from Spoleto to the Wurst Haus.

“Jazz Fest Day will be on Saturday,” she went on. “World-class musicians are playing at no charge to the public. They’ll be playing in a variety of venues in and around Pulaski Park this year.”

The main stage act, the Ron Carter Quartet, will play at the Academy of Music on Saturday. It is the one paid performance; patrons are required to buy tickets online before the show, she said, adding that ticket sales are on a record pace.

The Northampton Jazz Festival was started in 2011 by a group of enthusiasts who were looking for something to replace the “Taste of Northampton” as a way to bring people — and energy — to the streets of Northampton. The festival was staged in the Armory Street Parking Lot and had a five-year run before losing steam.

After a three-year absence, momentum started to build to bring the festival back, with Amy Cahillane, executive director of the Downtown Northampton Association, taking the lead.

“Amy had come to me in 2017 and said ‘people are talking about this jazz festival. I’m not too familiar with it, but they are really looking for live jazz downtown. Is there any way it could be brought back?’ said Griggs. “And, long story short, with Amy’s impetus, we brought it back.”

Griggs told BusinessWest that the weather for the end of September can be hit or miss, but otherwise it is a perfect weekend for the festival, with little else on the calendar to compete with the event. She is predicting large crowds and large amounts of energy.

“The festival adds a sense of vitality and energy, like things are happening here, and that’s so important after what we’ve been through with COVID,” said Griggs. “It’s important for people to see there is creativity and artistry that’s happening in Northampton that is accessible, participial, and professional. It’s good music. We’re really happy to be a part of that for people that live here as well as for people that are coming in from out of the area.”

Indeed, not only is the festival creating a stronger sense of community, but it is drawing people into the city. Griggs told BusinessWest that with the increased number of ticket sales, she anticipates a higher volume of visitors this year.

“Maybe they (tourists) have known about Northampton or have stopped in once or twice; maybe they haven’t stopped into the city before, but I hope that when people stumble across this jazz festival, they are just absolutely delighted by it. I just hope to bring more people to Northampton than we ever have before.”

Insurance

Counting the Cost

By HUB International New England

 

When do you need to list your teen driver on your car-insurance policy, and how can you make this additional coverage fit in your budget?

It is certainly not inexpensive to get car-insurance coverage for a new teen driver. When a teen driver is added to their parent’s policy, the typical insurance premium for a one-car family is likely to increase by 40% to 50%. If you’re a multi-car family, then you will probably see your insurance rates rise even higher. And if you’re opting to reward your new driver with a car and expecting them to secure their own insurance policy, you should prepare yourself — or your teen — to pay at least a couple thousand dollars in car-insurance costs.

So we understand why parents might want to hold off on getting auto insurance for their teen driver until absolutely necessary. However, even if you think your teen will only occasionally be borrowing the family car, the fact is they are now a licensed household member. As such, if you do not add them to your current policy as a covered driver, you risk being denied by your insurance carrier for any future claims, having your coverage terminated, or both.

In addition, should you decide you want to shop around for a better car-insurance rate, you will also need to make sure your teen driver is listed on all of your insurance applications so that you get an accurate quote and adequate coverage.

 

Six Tips for Saving Money

At HUB International, we have several strategies for saving money that we discuss with our clients:

• You can take advantage of discounts such as Good Student, which rewards teens with a grade point average of ‘B’ or higher. If your student is eligible for this discount, it may save you hundreds of dollars on your car-insurance premium.

• Completing defensive-driving courses can also earn you and your teen significant monetary credits toward your policy premium. Even more, your teen will hopefully drive away from this course with a better understanding of how to keep safe behind the wheel. Since even minor fender benders can drive up your insurance costs, it’s critical that your teen — as well as all other family members listed on your policy — do their best to keep their driving record clean of any accidents and moving violations.

• Investing in accident forgiveness can limit the financial impact in the event your teen does get in a car accident. Since 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age, we recommend that our clients with teens strongly consider this endorsement, which can cancel out the surcharge points that are typically assessed by your insurer after an accident.

• Sharing a vehicle with your teen rather than giving them their own vehicle may allow you to classify your youngster as an occasional driver rather than the primary driver, which is another excellent way to keep your insurance rate lower. If you decide, however, that your teen will need a car of their own, it may make financial sense and keep your insurance costs down to assign them as the primary driver of the family vehicle that is the least expensive.

• Are you adding a vehicle to your household for your teen to drive? Look for a car with safety elements, such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, and anti-theft devices, as insurers will often reward you for having these features with lower car-insurance rates.

• Monitoring your teen driver with today’s technology can not only help you keep an eye on your teen when they are on the road, but also earn you discounts on your car-insurance premium. Some insurers are now offering devices to parents that can be installed under a car’s dashboard and create a report card of your teen’s driving behavior. Information may include the number of miles the car covers, how fast your teen is driving, the hours the car is on the road, and how often your teen slams the brakes. Insurers with this program are providing discounts ranging from 15% to 30% to drivers who achieve predetermined safe-driving benchmarks.

• Raising your deductibles lowers your premiums. However, this is only a smart choice if you are comfortable knowing that you might end up having to pay a larger share of costs for an accident out of your own pocket.

 

What Are the Options?

The team at HUB International has helped thousands of families across New England adapt to having a teen driver in their home. We know that your child’s newfound independence is exciting but may also cause you some stress and anxiety. But we can help make sure you and your teenager are insured properly.

While there is a natural desire to look for ways to cut costs on your insurance as your teen becomes a full-time driver — and drives up the cost of your premium — it’s definitely not the time to decrease your coverage limits or eliminate optional coverages. In an effort to save money, you could leave your teen and all other drivers in your home dangerously underinsured and at financial risk should they be involved in an accident.

Instead, it’s an excellent time to review your current auto policy with your insurance agent. We strongly recommend that our clients with teens carry more coverage than the state’s minimum required auto-insurance levels and that they opt for additional coverages such as collision and comprehensive. We also want to make sure that they are taking advantage of commonly overlooked car-insurance policy options that can save them money, stress, and time, like Bundle & Save, Disappearing Deductible, and Loan/Lease Gap Endorsement.

Finally, because teen drivers are, unfortunately, an accident-prone age group, once your child gets behind the wheel, your liability risk inevitably increases. So it’s not a bad idea to consider adding an umbrella policy to your insurance solutions for those worst-case scenarios where your teen is in an accident and is found at fault for bodily injuries to others or damage to other people’s property. For a minimal investment, this type of coverage may give you the peace of mind that your savings, investments, retirement accounts, and your family’s financial future are protected from an accident-related liability claim.

HUB, along with our partners, is committed to improving driver safety. Nationwide, well over half of new drivers crash in their first two years behind the wheel. Safety Insurance has partnered with the In Control Family Foundation to improve driver safety in Massachusetts. The In Control program offers a half-day, hands-on driver skills-development program that teaches drivers to avoid the most common and serious collisions. In Control’s crash-prevention training course has been shown to reduce crashes by new drivers by 70%.

With Safety Insurance, you can save 5% on your auto insurance by completing In Control’s crash-prevention training course, as well as saving more than 70% on the course itself.

Contact HUB for all of your insurance needs, and for additional information on programs such as In Control, call (833) 462-2554.

Insurance

Water, Water Everywhere

By Peter Normand

 

According to a 2020 report from the First Year Foundation, there were 336,000 properties in Massachusetts alone that were at some level of risk for flooding. This number is 65% higher than the existing flood maps indicate.

The heavy rains of last summer and the claims that followed got me wondering what the future holds. We are beginning to feel the impacts of climate change in more severe and less predictable weather. How valid are our flood maps? What can property owners do to protect their property in an uncertain future? If you haven’t talked about flood insurance with your insurance agent yet, now is the time.

Banks require flood insurance on all properties that are located in a flood zone per existing flood maps. Why do they do this? Commercial and homeowners policies exclude flood as a cause of loss. Nearly all of my commercial insurance clients who have flood insurance have purchased it to satisfy a loan requirement. Nearly everyone else is rolling the dice — most stating that, since they aren’t in a flood zone, it’s not an issue. After a very wet summer of 2021, however, the conversation is changing, even if this summer has been drier.

Let’s start off by defining what a flood is. Floodsmart.gov notes that “flood insurance covers losses directly caused by flooding. In simple terms, a flood is an excess of water on land that is normally dry, affecting two or more acres of land or two or more properties.” Just because there is water in your basement doesn’t mean it’s a flood. In fact, water seeping into a foundation without the above definition being met would not be covered by flood insurance. When determining whether or not there is coverage, the cause of the flooding that damages your property does matter.

On the market side, there are more options than ever, with more carriers offering a flood product. This leads to more flexibility for our insureds. For example, some markets allow for multiple properties on a single policy, some carriers offer limits in excess of NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) limits to adequately insure the value of the property, there are replacement cost (RC) and actual cash value (ACV) valuations, and more competition has created market pressure on premiums, especially for properties outside of flood zones.

With changing weather patterns and other unknowns, it’s reassuring to know that there are options. If you haven’t considered flood insurance in the past, or have been putting it off, now is the time to talk to you insurance agent. There is an expanding market with options to meet your specific exposures and needs.

 

Peter Normand is a Commercial Lines account executive and RiSC consultant with Webber & Grinnell Insurance.

Women in Businesss

‘A Pivotal Moment’

 

Rites of Passage & Empowerment (ROPE) recently announced its official transition to independent 501(c)(3) status. The Pittsfield-based program, founded in 2010 by Shirley Edgerton, a longtime educator, community activist, and mentor in Pittsfield, has been a fiscally sponsored project of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts since its inception.

ROPE is a proven mentoring program for young women of color and young people identifying as female or non-binary. The mission of ROPE is to celebrate and honor the entry of adolescents into adulthood and provide them with skills and knowledge that they need to be successful, independent, and responsible people.

“This designation marks a pivotal moment for ROPE,” Edgerton said. “We are deeply grateful for the continuous and unwavering support of the Women’s Fund through the years. As we look ahead, we are excited to embark on this new chapter and continue our ongoing work with our scholars and ambassadors.”

Donna Haghighat, CEO of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, added that “it has been our honor to fiscally support ROPE and Shirley Edgerton’s vision. Too few philanthropic institutions believe in the power and possibility of the solutions that women of color create to address systemic barriers. The future is fierce thanks to ROPE’s nurturing of amazing young women and thanks to Shirley’s vision for ROPE itself.”

This new designation comes in the wake of other major news for the organization, which supports young people on their journey to a college education. This past April, ROPE was awarded a significant grant by the city of Pittsfield through its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Awards.

“This grant comes at an essential time,” Edgerton said. “Now that we are an independent organization, this multi-year funding will allow us to build into the future with a solid and secure foundation.”

In addition to the weekly mentoring, monthly workshops, and local trips through the Berkshires, two key elements of the ROPE program are college tours and biannual service-learning trips to Africa.

“These opportunities provide our scholars with deep transformational experiences,” said Jean Clarke-Mitchell, a mentor with the program. “It is gratifying to see their growth and confidence bloom with each new opportunity.”

In July, ROPE scholars and ambassadors traveled to Accra, Ghana, where they engaged with young Ghanaians, learned about the customs and culture, and visited historic sites, including W.E.B. Du Bois’ former home, which is now a museum.

Edgerton explained that, while the grant allows for a variety of initiatives, funding guidelines do not include international travel, so the organization engaged in fundraising to ensure the mentees had access to this experience. She then noted the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.”

“We depend on the ongoing partnership with community members who recognize and embrace their role as a part of ROPE scholars’ village. We are proud to know so many of our ROPE alumni return to the area to mentor the young people coming up behind them, to work in local organizations and government, and to otherwise give back to the community they come from,” she said. “Investing in these young people is truly an investment in the future of our community as a whole, and that is priceless.”

Picture This

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

 


 

Critical Improvements

Sen. John Velis recently presented American Rescue Plan Act earmark funding of $50,000 to American Legion Post 185, to fund much-needed maintenance and improvements to its existing building in Feeding Hills. Velis was joined at American Legion Post 185 by Post Commander Wayne Keating, City Counselor Anthony Russo, members of American Legion Post 185, and members of the greater Agawam community. With the funding secured, Post 185 will move forward with plans for a new roof and insulation, among other improvements to the facility.

Sen. John Velis recently presented American Rescue Plan Act earmark funding of $50,000 to American Legion Post 185, to fund much-needed maintenance and improvements to its existing building in Feeding Hills.

Sen. John Velis recently presented American Rescue Plan Act earmark funding of $50,000 to American Legion Post 185, to fund much-needed maintenance and improvements to its existing building in Feeding Hills.

 


 

Need a Lift?

Baystate Wing Hospital and Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. recently announced the funding of a new Quaboag Connector van dedicated to providing transportation to convenient-care and primary-care services for area residents. The curb-to-curb service will provide non-emergency medical transportation, allowing patients to request rides to and from medical appointments at Baystate Wing Hospital facilities.

Pictured, from left: Jan Mayforth, chief financial officer, Baystate Wing Hospita; Molly Gray, president and chief administrative officer, Baystate Wing Hospital;  Stuart Beckley, Ware town manager; and Melissa Fales, Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp.

Pictured, from left: Jan Mayforth, chief financial officer, Baystate Wing Hospita; Molly Gray, president and chief administrative officer, Baystate Wing Hospital;  Stuart Beckley, Ware town manager; and Melissa Fales, Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp.

 

 


 

 

Jazz & Roots Festival

Springfield’s Jazz & Roots Festival brought some great music, large crowds, and a great amount of energy to the Stearns Square area on August 12 and 13. The festival, staged in front of a new mural facing the square, featured a number of local and regional acts, including FAT, Mitch Chakour & Friends Band, Janet Ryan & Straight Up, The Buddy McEarns Band, & Shor’ty Billups.

 

 

 


 

Court Dockets

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

 

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

 

Linda Langdon v. Riverside Park Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Six Flags New England

Allegation: Negligence; fall resulting in personal injury: $295,000

Filed: 8/8/22

 

Amazing Hands Home Care LLC v. Vantage Care LLC d/b/a Vantage Care Management, Vantage at Hampden LLC, Vantage at South Hadley LLC, Vantage at Wilbraham LLC, Vantage at Hampden Realty LLC, Vantage at South Hadley Realty LLC, and Vantage at South Wilbraham LLC

Allegation: Breach of contract; breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; unjust enrichment; money owed for services, labor, and materials: $227,399.10

Filed: 8/8/22

 

 

Adam Pomales v. Adam Guyette and RJM Landscaping Inc.

Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence resulting in personal injury: $143,192

Filed: 8/8/22

 

Luis A. Montanez v. Pedro N. Castro and Cabrini Moving Service Inc.

Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence resulting in personal injury: $29,732.22+

Filed: 8/8/22

 

KeyBank National Assoc. v. David Gruszka Logging Inc.

Allegation: Breach of contract: $54,717.97

Filed: 8/9/22

 

Mary Mushok and Michael Mushok v. J&N Salema Family Limited Partnership and Salema Management Corp.

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall resulting in personal injury: $635,482.18

Filed: 8/11/22

 

Valeisya Drayton v. City of Springfield

Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence causing property damage: $12,000

Filed: 8/12/22

 

 

Sandra Santiago v. South Campus BH Holdings LLC and Baystate Diversified Health Services Inc.

Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence resulting in personal injury: $60,508

Filed: 8/12/22

 

Carolyn Schultz v. Jhameyka Delisme and Sheffield Express LLC

Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence resulting in personal injury: $49,743.26

Filed: 8/12/22

 

Nerimar Jimenez p/p/a Aryanna Sanchez v. Springfield Housing Authority

Allegation: Negligence resulting in personal injury, breach of implied warranty of habitability: $42,134

Filed: 8/12/22

 

Manuel Valera v. Ritchie & Sons Inc.

Allegation: Negligence resulting in personal injury, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose: $25,000+

Filed: 8/12/22

 

Chamber Corners

1BERKSHIRE

(413) 499-1600; 1berkshire.com

 

Sept. 20: Virtual Dulye Leadership Experience Workshop: “Demystify Digital Currency,” 5-6 p.m. With its dramatic swings, the world of cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and blockchains has been volatile and perplexing. Sort through the confusion with nationally recognized experts Paul Farella and Alexandra Renders of Berkshire-based Willow Investments, who will provide a balanced take on the current landscape, how it works, and where they see digital currency heading. This interactive program features a question-and-answer exchange with the speakers. Register for this virtual event at 1berkshirestrategicalliancemacoc.weblinkconnect.com/events.

 

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 253-0700; amherstarea.com

 

Sept. 8: Amherst Area Internship Fair, 12-2 p.m., hosted by UMass Amherst, Goodell Bernie Dallas Room. Is your business looking for an intern? Meet with UMass students from all majors who can support you in a variety of areas: communications and marketing, data, analytics, statistics, research, technology, security, websites, databases, creative arts, design, finance and accounting, writing, editing, content management, sales, lead creation, database cleanup, metrics evaluation, lab and environmental data collection, and/or analysis. For more information, visit amherstarea.com.

 

Sept. 14: Grillin’ & Chillin’ Under the Pavillion, 4:30-7:30 p.m., hosted by Summit View Banquet. Join us for a multi-chamber event with the Amherst Area, Greater Holyoke, Greater Chicopee, and South Hadley Granby chambers of commerce at Summit View Banquet and Pavilion with a BBQ buffet, games, a photo booth, door prizes, and featuring DJ Jay Entertainment, Totally Hitched Photo Booth Camper, and Loophole and Leadfoot breweries. Sponsored by Keiter, Polish National Credit Union, Superior Plus Energy Services, Holyoke Gas & Electric, and the Plan. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Register at amherstarea.com.

 

BRADLEY REGIONAL CHAMBER

(860) 653-3833; bradleyregionalchamber.org

 

Sept. 21: Bradley Regional Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn, 12-1 p.m., hosted by Bobby V’s in Windsor Locks, Conn. Join us as Wayne Lerario, vice president of Sales at Nutmeg Technologies, helps chamber members answer the question, do you have the right tech company for your business? We all rely on technology for our businesses, both for our staff and our customers. Lerario will help us consider the benefits of choosing the right IT partner as he talks about the many important things to consider with this critical partnership. Attendees will pay for their own lunch. To register, email Bob Brawders at [email protected].

 

EAST OF THE RIVER FIVE TOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 575-7230; www.erc5.com

 

Sept. 7: Coffee Hour Connections with ERC5, 8:30-9:30 a.m., hosted by the Yoga Shop, 185 Miller St., Ludlow. Grab a coffee, energize, and flow into a morning of connecting with colleagues and growing your brand. Sponsored by Community Bank. Register online at www.erc5.com.

 

Sept. 23: 20th Annual Golf Classic, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., hosted by Country Club of Wilbraham. Throughout the day, there will be food, raffles, awards, contests of skill, networking, and spirited competition. To purchase a sponsorship or register for the Classic, visit bit.ly/ERC520thGolfClassic.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 773-5463; franklincc.org

 

Sept. 23: Chamber Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., hosted by Franklin County Tech School, in the gymnasium, located at 82 Industrial Blvd. in the Turners Falls Industrial Park. Our first breakfast of the season will be the United Way of Franklin and Hampshire Region campaign kickoff. Cost: $20 for members, $22 general admission. Register at franklincc.org.

 

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 594-2101; chicopeechamber.org

 

Sept. 14: Grillin’ & Chillin’ Under the Pavillion, 4:30-7:30 p.m., hosted by Summit View Banquet. Join us for a multi-chamber event with the Amherst Area, Greater Holyoke, Greater Chicopee, and South Hadley Granby chambers of commerce at Summit View Banquet and Pavilion with a BBQ buffet, games, a photo booth, door prizes, and featuring DJ Jay Entertainment, Totally Hitched Photo Booth Camper, and Loophole and Leadfoot breweries. Sponsored by Keiter, Polish National Credit Union, Superior Plus Energy Services, Holyoke Gas & Electric, and the Plan. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Register at chicopeechamber.org.

 

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 534-3376; holyokechamber.com

 

Sept. 12: 2022 Chamber Cup Golf Tournament, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., hosted by Wyckoff Country Club, Holyoke. Mingle and network, win prizes, make new connections, and enjoy a fun day of golf. Each registration includes lunch, golf, and dinner for four people, and a chance to win prizes. On-course activities include beer and spirit tastings; hole-in-one contests for a car, an all-expenses-paid vacation, and an alcohol-filled YETI cooler; a long-drive contest; and food tastings from local restaurants. Inside are silent auctions on one-of-a-kind sports prizes, with a memorabilia auction before dinner. The dinner will be open to membership and the public and will include a brief annual meeting and the awards ceremony, Register at business.holyokechamber.com/events or by calling (413) 534-3376.

 

Sept. 14: Grillin’ & Chillin’ Under the Pavillion, 4:30-7:30 p.m., hosted by Summit View Banquet. Join us for a multi-chamber event with the Amherst Area, Greater Holyoke, Greater Chicopee, and South Hadley Granby chambers of commerce at Summit View Banquet and Pavilion with a BBQ buffet, games, a photo booth, door prizes, and featuring DJ Jay Entertainment, Totally Hitched Photo Booth Camper, and Loophole and Leadfoot breweries. Sponsored by Keiter, Polish National Credit Union, Superior Plus Energy Services, Holyoke Gas & Electric, and the Plan. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Register at business.holyokechamber.com/events or call (413) 534-3376.

 

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 584-1900; northamptonchamber.com

 

Sept. 14: Arrive@5 Networking Event, hosted by the Academy of Music, Northampton. Connect with community and the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce at the next Arrive@5. Sponsored by United Way of Franklin and Hampshire Region, Kuhn Riddle Architects, and Hampshire Hearing and Speech Services. For more information, visit northamptonchamber.com.

 

Sept. 23: netWORK at ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Join us for our netWORK series, where we partner with a local nonprofit and invite our Greater Northampton Chamber community to participate in a project to benefit that organization. For this netWORK event, we’ll team up with ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm, the first therapeutic farming community in the Pioneer Valley, providing meaningful agricultural employment for people with developmental disabilities, autism, or mental-health challenges. Volunteer work for the day will be broken up into two shifts, and tasks will include field work (weeding and harvesting), mushroom work, and animal work. Volunteers should arrive dressed for farm work, with appropriate clothes and shoes. For more information, visit northamptonchamber.com.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 568-1618; westfieldbiz.org

 

Sept. 14: After 5 Connections, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Results in Wellness LLC at 93 Springfield Road, Suite B, Westfield. Join us again or for the first time to discuss the concerns you may have as a business owner and how we may help each other through these challenging times. You will meet fellow business people from this community, exchange business cards, and discuss what’s happening in your business. Cost: free to chamber members; $5 for non-members. For more information, visit westfieldbiz.org.

 

Sept. 22: September Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., hosted by 104th Fighter Wing, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield. This is one of our most popular events. Platinum sponsor is Baystate Health. Silver sponsors include A Plus HVAC and ProAmpac. Bronze sponsors include Westfield Public Schools, Armbrook Village, Fly Lugu, Northeast Paving, and BHN/Carson Center. Coffee-bar sponsor is the Westfield Starfires. Cost: $35 to chamber members; $40 for the general public. For more information, visit westfieldbiz.org.

 

Sept. 29: Morning Brew, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club, Westfield. Introduce your business to the group and take advantage of this networking opportunity. Cost: free. For more information, visit westfieldbiz.org.

 

SOUTH HADLEY & GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 532-6451; shgchamber.com

 

Sept. 14: Grillin’ & Chillin’ Under the Pavillion, 4:30-7:30 p.m., hosted by Summit View Banquet. Join us for a multi-chamber event with the Amherst Area, Greater Holyoke, Greater Chicopee, and South Hadley Granby chambers of commerce at Summit View Banquet and Pavilion with a BBQ buffet, games, a photo booth, door prizes, and featuring DJ Jay Entertainment, Totally Hitched Photo Booth Camper, and Loophole and Leadfoot breweries. Sponsored by Keiter, Polish National Credit Union, Superior Plus Energy Services, Holyoke Gas & Electric, and the Plan. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Register at shgchamber.com.

 

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 426-3880; www.ourwrc.com

 

Sept. 8: Job Fair 2022, 4:30-7 p.m., hosted by Storrowton Tavern/Carriage House, West Springfield. West Springfield and Agawam businesses, along with other employment opportunities from around Western Mass., will be showcased for the public. High-school students, college students, and adults will be attending this event looking to begin or advance their careers. This event is free and open to the public. To be a participating vendor, register online: at www.ourwrc.com.

 

Sept. 13: September Social & Celebrity Cornhole Tournament, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Trinity Pub/Irish Cultural Center of New England, West Springfield. Join us for a night of networking as you cheer on the mayors, state senator, state representatives, and police and fire chiefs as they battle it out to be the cornhole champs of 2022. Sponsorship opportunities are available. To register to attend or sponsor, visit www.ourwrc.com.

People on the Move
Christine Shea

Christine Shea

David Lawson

David Lawson

Nicholas Mishol

Nicholas Mishol

Taylor Sawicki

Taylor Sawicki

Olivia Freeman

Olivia Freeman

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) recently welcomed Christine Shea, CPA, MSA as a manager; David Lawson, MSA as a tax supervisor; Nicholas Mishol and Taylor Sawicki as associates; and Olivia Freeman as an administrative assistant. Shea joined MBK in 2022 with more than 25 years of experience in general accounting, cost accounting, auditing, and tax in both public accounting and corporate firms. She holds a master’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University and is a certified public accountant in the state of Massachusetts. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA). Lawson joined MBK in 2022. He has practiced public accounting since 2018 and worked for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Treasury for 16 years. His experience in several different divisions and job functions at the IRS provides a strong basis for understanding a variety of tax issues and insight into the IRS’s approach to compliance issues. Mishol is a member of the Audit and Accounting department at MBK. He received his bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and holds an associate degree in business administration from Holyoke Community College. He has practiced public accounting since June 2022. Sawicki is a member of the Audit and Accounting department at MBK. She has worked in public accounting since January 2021, working mainly with individual tax returns, and looks forward to expanding her experience as an audit associate. She holds a bachelor of business administration degree, concentrating in accounting. Freeman joined Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. as an administrative assistant. She brings an attitude of efficiency, hard work, ambition, and care to the team at MBK, seeking to make clients feel comfortable and cared for by the firm.

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The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts’ trustees of the Order of William Pynchon announced their selection of two local residents, Carol Cutting and Sherry Elander, as recipients of this year’s Pynchon Medal. Cutting has been the owner and operator of WEIB 106.3 FM since 1999. She persisted through a protracted legal battle to become the first black woman to operate a radio station in Massachusetts. In so doing, she fulfilled a 15-year vision of bringing representation of the region’s African-American community to the airwaves. She has also served in a host of change-making organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha and the National Assoc. of Black-Owned Broadcasters. For nearly 24 years, Elander has served as a special-education teacher in Westfield Public Schools, with a special focus in helping students transition to life after their formal education. Throughout her career, she has built a program designed to bring college, career, and other life goals within reach for countless students with intellectual, developmental, and/or physical disabilities. The program she developed, and the network of advocacy she built, has become a model for districts throughout the state and for educators across the country. She has developed partnerships with colleges and universities, local businesses, and policymakers in Western Mass. and beyond, all with a view to maximizing opportunity for her students. The presentation of the Pynchon Medal and celebration will take place on Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Delaney House in Holyoke. Event details and ticket information can be found at adclubwm.org or by calling (413) 342-0533.

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Kayla Staley

Kayla Staley

The Springfield Museums announced the 2022 Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award winners. Now in its 31st year of celebrating leadership by people of African heritage, the Ubora Award honors Dr. Gerald Cutting and Carol Moore Cutting as exemplary leaders and role models. Meanwhile, the 13th Ahadi Youth Award honors the activist energy and artistic power of Kayla Staley. The award ceremony will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Wood Museum of Springfield History. Dr. Gerald Cutting is the first and only African-American individual to own and operate a veterinary hospital and clinic in Western Mass. At age 11, he decided he wanted to be a veterinarian so he could help save animals. After graduating as a doctor of veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in Alabama, he worked hard to achieve this dream of owning his own practice, mentoring and encouraging students to explore STEM careers. For almost 50 years until his retirement, he lived his dream of serving multiple generations of ‘pet parents’ at his clinic in Chicopee. With the goal of connecting community through communication, Carol Moore Cutting applied in 1984 to the Federal Communications Commission for a radio frequency permitting her to build a FM station. After an exhaustive 15-year legal battle with an existing broadcaster, she prevailed all the way to the Washington D.C. Court of Appeals, and finally began test broadcasting in 1999. She became the first woman in Massachusetts and the first African-American in New England to be granted a construction permit to build, own, and continuously operate an FM radio station, WEIB-106.3 Smooth FM. Staley is a rising senior at the Conservatory of the Arts in Springfield, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and earning more than $20,000 in vocal scholarships since January 2021, as she was selected to receive private coaching and lessons from Broadway stars, college professors, summer overnight music intensive enrichment camps, and master classes with Broadway coaches. She is a frequent guest artist with Grammy winner Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G), and she often performs in the community. Staley is among two students from the Conservatory of the Arts accepted into the Massachusetts Music Educator’s Assoc. Western Regional Honors Festival Choir, the first time in 20 years any student has represented the city of Springfield in this event.

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Local law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin announced that eight of its attorneys were listed in Best Lawyers in America 2023. Steven Schwartz was named a Lawyer of the Year in the field of business organizations. He was also selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in the fields of bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), closely held companies and family business law, and corporate law. Michele Feinstein was named a Lawyer of the Year in the field of trusts and estates and was also selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in the fields of litigation: trusts and estates, elder law, and trusts and estates. Mark Esposito was named One to Watch by Best Lawyers in the field of litigation: labor and employment. The other attorneys selected by their peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America 2023 are: Gary Fentin, who was recognized in the fields of banking and finance law and commercial transactions/uniform commercial code (UCC) law; Carol Cioe Klyman, selected in the fields of elder law and trusts and estates; Managing Partner Timothy Mulhern, recognized in the fields of corporate law and tax law; James Sheils, recognized in the field of commercial transactions/UCC law; and Steven Weiss, selected in the fields of bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law.

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Arlen Carballo

Arlen Carballo

E. David Wilson

E. David Wilson

American International College (AIC) announced Arlen Carballo as a new member of the board of trustees and long-time board member E. David Wilson as trustee emeritus. Carballo is the executive director of Finance for MGM Springfield, overseeing all aspects of finance operations for both gaming and non-gaming areas. She has been part of the MGM Springfield team since the property opened in 2018, serving as the resort’s first director of Financial Planning. Prior to MGM Springfield, Carballo was part of the opening team for MGM National Harbor in Maryland. She is a graduate of the MGM Resorts Management Associate Program and has held leadership roles across both finance and operations at MGM’s Bellagio and Mandalay Bay properties in Las Vegas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Northern Arizona University and is a graduate of the HACR 2022 Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers program. Wilson joined the AIC board of trustees in 1991, while serving as president of Milton Bradley. A graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program, he was vice president of Parker Brothers before joining Milton Bradley as manager in the game division in 1980. He was later promoted to senior vice president of Sales by Hasbro Industries, the parent company, before being named president, a title he held until his retirement in 2005. In June 2021, following 30 years of service to the institution, Wilson retired from the AIC board of trustees.

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Bulkley Richardson announced that 16 lawyers from the firm were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in America. They include: Peter Barry (in the practice areas of construction, education, healthcare); Kathleen Bernardo (real estate); Michael Burke (medical malpractice law: defendants, personal injury litigation: defendants); Mark Cress (banking and finance, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, corporate); Francis Dibble Jr. (bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, criminal defense: white-collar, litigation: labor and employment, litigation: securities); Daniel Finnegan (administrative/regulatory law, construction, litigation: construction); Scott Foster (business organizations, including LLCs and partnerships); Mary Jo Kennedy (employment); Kevin Maynard (commercial litigation, litigation: banking and finance, litigation: construction); David Parke (corporate, mergers and acquisitions); Jeffrey Poindexter (commercial litigation, litigation: construction); John Pucci (bet-the-company litigation, criminal defense: general practice, criminal defense: white-collar); Jeffrey Roberts (corporate, trusts and estates); Michael Roundy (commercial litigation); Elizabeth Sillin (nonprofit/charities law, trusts and estates); and Ronald Weiss (corporate, mergers and acquisitions, tax).

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Emi Lee

Emi Lee

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union recently introduced Emi Lee as the newest member of its expanding UMassFive Retirement Planning and Investments team available through CUSO Financial Services, LP. Lee supports two of the credit union’s CFS financial advisors, Aimee Marden and Dana Graham. She schedules appointments, sends appointment reminders, and helps with advisor administrative duties and service work. As an advisor assistant, she is also now the primary contact for current and prospective clients looking to work with Marden and Graham. After joining UMassFive as a part-time member service representative in November 2019, Lee quickly transitioned into a full-time position as a member service specialist at the Hadley branch in March 2020. In that role, she excelled at educating members financially and connecting them to the financial services most relevant to their needs. Her background includes a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Smith College.

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Community Access to the Arts (CATA) announced the appointment of Kelly Galvin as program director. She joins current CATA staff members Jeff Gagnon and Kara Smith, who have been promoted to the program director position, to create a new, three-person arts leadership team at the nonprofit, reporting to Executive Director Margaret Keller. CATA strategically restructured staff roles to develop a shared program leadership model, following the retirement of long-time staff member Dawn Lane, coupled with vigorous growth in CATA’s arts programs serving people with disabilities. The three-person arts leadership team will work closely with Keller to seize opportunities and provide inclusive arts programs for people with disabilities across the Berkshires and Columbia County. Galvin joins CATA as an accomplished director, producer, and teaching artist. She has been a company member with Shakespeare & Company since 2008 and served as the artistic associate at WAM Theatre. As a director and producer, she has led acclaimed productions at Shakespeare & Company, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, the Theater at Woodshill, and Gloucester Stage, and assisted at regional theatres including the Guthrie and Asolo Repertory Theatre. She is the founder of the rig, an organization in Western Massachusetts working to create connections through the arts and to redistribute cultural resources to a larger portion of the community.

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Charlene Smolkowicz

Charlene Smolkowicz

Freedom Credit Union recently announced the promotion of Charlene Smolkowicz from commercial credit manager to assistant vice president. She has been with Freedom since 2016 and is based in the main office in Springfield. In her role, she manages the Commercial Credit department, underwriting process, and analyst team for commercial and industrial, commercial mortgage/commercial real estate, and nonprofit borrowers. She is also responsible for maintaining sound portfolio credit quality and monitoring risk. Smolkowicz earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at Northeastern University in Boston and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management at Bay Path University. She also completed the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. Advanced School of Commercial Lending at Babson College. Active in the community, she serves as treasurer and chairs the finance committee for the board of directors for Viability Inc., and participates in both the WIT (Women Innovators & Trailblazers) Mentor Match Program and the Springfield School Volunteers Read-Aloud program. She was recognized by United Way of Pioneer Valley as Volunteer of the Year in 2012.

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St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced that the club hired Jordan Smith as an assistant coach for the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Smith spent the last five years in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as an associate coach with the Sudbury Wolves (2017-18) and Soo Greyhounds (2018-22). He was on the same coaching staff as current Thunderbirds Goalie Coach Dan Stewart with the Greyhounds from 2018 to 2020. Smith reached the postseason with Soo in 2019 and 2022. Smith is now the third member of the Thunderbirds’ coaching staff with ties to the Soo organization. Head coach Drew Bannister served in the same position for the Greyhounds from 2015 to 2018. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Smith began his coaching career in 2012-13 with the Thunder Bay North Stars of the Superior International Junior Hockey League before serving four seasons as a head coach with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (2013-17), where he won four division titles and compiled a 176-29-10-3 record. In his playing career, Smith was a second-round selection by the Anaheim Ducks in 2004 but was forced to retire from professional hockey due to injury after two AHL seasons with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Portland Pirates. He also skated for the Greyhounds from 2001 to 2005, putting up 68 points in 211 games in the OHL. In addition, the Springfield Thunderbirds announced two staff promotions and two new hires ahead of the 2022-23 season. Matthew McRobbie has been promoted to director of Business Development. An original member of the Thunderbirds’ front office, this is McRobbie’s third promotion within the organization. He served as a senior account executive from 2016 to 2021 before taking on the role of manager of Ticket Sales last season, where he oversaw the Thunderbirds’ team-record year in tickets sold and ticket revenue. In his new role, McRobbie, an alumnus of Springfield College, will be focused on working with local and national brands in the Thunderbirds’ Corporate Sales department. Additionally, John Jones, Jr. has been promoted to senior account executive. An alumnus of Florida State University, Jones has been a member of the Thunderbirds’ Ticket Sales department since the 2018-19 season. The Thunderbirds have also announced the hires of Nate Lynch and Alana Mather as account executives in ticket sales. Lynch joins the Thunderbirds full-time after serving as an intern in the team’s Ticket Sales department. He graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2021. Mather joins the Thunderbirds after serving as an intern with the team for two seasons while a student at Western New England University.

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Megan Moynihan

Megan Moynihan

Sydney Brady

Sydney Brady

United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) announced two new appointments within the company. Longtime employee Megan Moynihan has been promoted to serve as UWPV’s chief operating officer. In this role, she will oversee all daily operations and fundraising. She previously held the positions of senior director of Finance and manager of Finance & Operations, and she has been in UWPV’s Finance department since 2012. Moynihan holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and administration from Salve Regina University and is a graduate of the Springfield Leadership Institute program. Sydney Brady joined UWPV in June as the call-center supervisor for the Call2Talk Center in Springfield. Call2Talk is United Way’s emotional-support and suicide-prevention hotline. Brady holds a bachelor’s degree from Lasell University and previously served as a Call2Talk intern. She is currently earning her master’s degree in Social Work at Springfield College.

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Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., a labor and employment law firm serving employers in the Greater Springfield and Worcester areas, announced that one of its partners, Timothy Murphy, has been recognized by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for 2023. He is listed in three fields: employment law: management, labor law: management, and litigation: labor and employment. Focusing his practice on labor relations, union avoidance, collective bargaining and arbitration, employment litigation, and employment counseling, Murphy has been included in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2013, and was Lawyer of the Year in 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2022. Murphy is very active within the local community, sitting on boards of directors for several area organizations, such as the Human Service Forum and Community Legal Aid. He also is a member of the World Affairs Council.

 

Agenda

Real-estate Licensing Course

Sept. 7 to Oct. 6: The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley will host a 40-hour, 14-class sales licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real-estate salesperson license exam. Tuition is $400 and includes the book and materials. For an application, call the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley at (413) 785-1328 or visit www.rapv.com.

 

Sip & Slide FUNd-raiser

Sept. 8: In support of the Eastern States Exposition’s (ESE) youth agriculture programs, the ESE Foundation Sip & Slide FUNd-raiser will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Giant Slide. Attendees can ride down the slide and enjoy craft beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres, live music, raffles, and more. Partners Restaurant and Catering will provide a range of appetizers such as pulled-pork, veggie, and grilled-chicken sliders; potato-skin bites; assorted kabobs; and more. Live music will be provided by Ric & Amy Acoustic. Guests will receive welcome bags stuffed with three event drink tickets, Big E swag, a cream- puff voucher to be used during the Big E (Sept. 16 through Oct. 2), and other surprises. Presented by PeoplesBank, Sip & Slide tickets are available for purchase at thebige.com/sipandslide. Tickets cost $50 per person if purchased in advance and $60 at the door. You must be 21 or over to attend this event.

 

Free Shred Event

Sept. 10: The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV) announced that its community service committee will host a shred event at the association’s parking lot, located at 221 Industry Ave., Springfield, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is free and open to the public. The limit of shredding is five boxes per household, and shredding services will be provided on-site by Proshred.

 

Annual HCC Golf Benefit

Sept. 12: Registration is now open for the Holyoke Community College (HCC) Foundation’s 35th annual golf tournament at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield. Money raised from this year’s tournament will support student scholarships managed by the HCC Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising arm of Holyoke Community College. The golf outing begins with an 11 a.m. buffet lunch followed by a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. After golf, participants can enjoy cocktails on the clubhouse porch with scenic views of the Pioneer Valley, followed by dinner. Participants can arrange their own foursomes or sign up as singles. The $185 individual fee includes greens fees, golf cart, lunch, dinner, and refreshments on the course. The cost per foursome is $740. Dinner only is $40 per person. Sponsorships are also available in various increments from $100 to $10,000. To register or sponsor the golf tournament, visit www.hcc.edu/golf.

 

Second Installation of ‘Voices of Resilience’ Exhibit

Sept. 18 to Oct. 15: With a team of collaborators and scholars, the second installation of “Voices of Resilience: The Intersection of Women on the Move” will be presented by South Hadley’s Center Church. The opening event will be held Sunday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. Taking an inclusive look at local and national women’s history while exploring the pursuit of a more complete narrative of American history, the exhibition celebrates the intersecting lives of women — and women of color — in Massachusetts and beyond who changed the course of history. The exhibit launched at the Springfield Museums during the pandemic. The new installation will open at Center Church and reflect on local history and political shifts in our culture. The exhibit is free and open to the public Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wednesdays 4 to 7 p.m. Group visits at other times are available by appointment. “Voices of Resilience” showcases a range of voices from early Black feminists such as Barbara Smith to longtime columnist Barbara Bernard. The exhibit celebrates both spiritual and lay leaders, artists, musicians, and educators such as Amy Hughes, formerly of the MacDuffie School, as well as Lucie Lewis, who traces her story to the Salem witch trials. Many voices from Springfield, South Hadley, Amherst, and beyond are featured. To learn more about the exhibit, visit centerchurchsouthhadley.org/voices. For questions or to schedule a tour, call (413) 532-2262 or email [email protected].

 

HCC Women’s Leadership Series

Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 21: Holyoke Community College (HCC) will begin its fall 2022 Women’s Leadership Series on Wednesday, Sept. 21 with presenter Trayce Whitfield, executive director of the Coalition for an Equitable Economy, leading a discussion titled “Leaning Into the Positive.” Whitfield will be followed in subsequent months by Michelle Lemoi, chief operating officer of Zora Builders in Newton (“How Claiming ‘I Don’t Know’ Opens Up Opportunities to Bolster Confidence”); Christina Royal, president of HCC (“Growth Mindset”); and Suzanne Blake, a career coach and consultant based in Medfield (“Ask for It and Get It”). All sessions run from noon to 1 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month over Zoom. During each session, participants will join prominent women leaders for discussions on relevant topics and ideas to help their leadership development. They will also have the opportunity to form a supportive network to help navigate their own careers. The cost of each session is $25. The full four-session series can be purchased for $75. Email Lanre Ajayi, HCC’s executive director of Education & Corporate Learning, at [email protected] if pricing is an issue. Registration will open soon at hcc.edu/womens-leadership. Space is limited, so advance registration is required.

 

United Way Day of Caring

Sept. 23: United Way of Pioneer Valley announced the 2022 Day of Caring. Anyone interested in local volunteer opportunities can visit volunteer.uwpv.org to register as a volunteer. Day of Caring opportunities will be posted as the details are finalized, and other opportunities year-round are hosted on this site as well. Agencies who are interested in hosting a Day of Caring location, or corporations interested in sponsorships and/or bringing a group of volunteers, can contact Jennifer Kinsman, director of Community Impact, at [email protected] or (413) 693-0212.

 

Cruise for Critters

Sept. 24: Cruise for Critters returns to Westview Farms Creamery for the 10th annual car show to benefit pets in need at Second Chance Animal Services. The fundraiser, sponsored by Service Connection of Monson, has been helping Massachusetts pets since 2012. This year’s event will have fall fun for everyone, including a vendor fair and the popular Halloween Barktacular kids’ games. Second Chance volunteers are excited to break out the Halloween Barktacular kids’ games. After COVID forced the nonprofit to cancel both the 2020 and 2021 Halloween Barktacular, a group of volunteers brought a few of the games to last year’s Cruise for Critters. This year, volunteers are planning even more fun for kids. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will also feature all the fall fun that Westview Farms Creamery has to offer, including pumpkin picking and a corn maze. Spare Parts will be on hand to provide entertainment, and visitors can take a chance to win some raffle prizes. Event organizers are appealing to local businesses and vendors to join the fight for pets in need. For more information on sponsorships or to become a vendor, visit secondchanceanimals.org/events/cruise. The event will be free to spectators, and there’s a $20 car-show entry fee, with every dollar supporting pets in need. In case of bad weather, the rain date is Saturday, Oct. 1.

 

World Affairs Council Talk on Indo-Pacific Developments

Sept. 28: The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present its first Instant Issues brown bag lunchtime discussion of the 2022-23 program year at noon at 1350 Main St. in downtown Springfield. Dennis Yasutomo, Esther Cloudman Dunn professor emeritus of Government at Smith College, will speak on “Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific: Evolution of a Eurasian Century?” A longtime member and friend of the Council, Yasutomo’s field of research is contemporary Japanese foreign policy, and he is the author of numerous books and articles on Japanese politics and diplomacy. He will look at the impact of the crisis in Ukraine on the emerging Euro-Asian geopolitical dynamics involving China, the U.S., Japan, Australia, and Europe’s enhanced involvement in the Indo-Pacific region. Advance registration is required at www.eventbrite.com/e/instant-issues-ukraine-and-the-indo-pacific-tickets-399638689077. No walk-ins will be allowed. Admission to the event is $5 for council members without a lunch provided, $20 with a box lunch. Non-members’ admission cost is $10 without a lunch and $25 with lunch.

 

Healthcare Heroes

Oct. 27: BusinessWest Magazine and its sister publication, the Healthcare News, will honor the Healthcare Heroes for 2022 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. The Heroes, which cover several categories, from Administration to Lifetime Achievement, have been identified by a panel of judges, and they will be profiled in the Sept. 19 issue of BusinessWest and the September/October issue of HCN. Tickets to the Healthcare Heroes are now on sale and can be purchased by visiting https://businesswest.com/healthcare-heroes/healthcare-heroes-tickets/ The 2022 Healthcare Heroes program is being sponsored by presenting sponsors Elms College and Baystate Health/Health New England, and by partner sponsors American International College and Trinity Health of New England/Mercy Medical Center.

 

Hooplandia

June 23-25, 2023: After nearly three years of pandemic-era scheduling hurdles, Springfield and West Springfield will host Hooplandia, the largest 3×3 basketball competition and celebration on the East Coast, next spring. The event, which will be hosted by the Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will feature hundreds of games for thousands of players of all ages and playing abilities, with divisions for young girls, boys, women, men, high-school elite, college elite, pro-am, OGs, wheelchair, Wounded Warrior, Special Olympians, veterans, first responders, and more. The event will feature more than 70 outdoor blacktop courts placed throughout the roadway and parking-lot network of the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds in West Springfield; slam-dunk, three-point, free-throw, dribble-course, vertical-jump, and full-court-shot skills competitions; themed state courts for all six New England states; featured ‘showcase games’ held on new court surfaces in the historic Eastern States Coliseum and on the Court of Dreams, the center court of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; and a festival environment throughout the weekend with food, music, entertainment, and family activities. A year-long community-outreach effort will begin immediately. Registration will open on March 1, 2023.

Company Notebook

Marcella Named to 2022 Inc. 5000

NORTHAMPTON — Marcella, a mission-driven, ethically made direct-to-consumer designer fashion brand committed to advancing women and girls globally, experienced a 909% jump in revenue from 2018 to 2021 and has been listed on the annual Inc. 5000 list as the fastest-growing company in the retail sector in New England, 35th in retail nationally, and 689th overall. The Inc. 5000 is a ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. In addition to impressive growth, the companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have also demonstrated resilience amid supply-chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19. Headquartered in Northampton and founded by husband and wife duo Siyana and Andy Huszar, Marcella’s edgy, affordable women’s minimalist basics are designed in New York and handcrafted in Europe. Core to the brand’s DNA is a commitment to benefiting women and girls around the world: for every design Marcella sells, the company supports three days of school for a marginalized girl around the world, with the goal of supporting 8.5 million school days by the end of 2024. In pursuit of this mission, Marcella partners with CAMFED, the global NGO revolutionizing how girls’ education is delivered. Since April 2021, Marcella has already supported more than 600,000 school days for girls in need. Marcella takes a holistic approach to sustainability that respects both people and the planet. Its original designer apparel and accessories are priced accessibly. Every individual involved in the production of any Marcella product enjoys a truly living wage, generous benefits, and free healthcare. Additionally, the brand’s innovative ‘just in time’ production cycle minimizes the global fashion industry’s typical inventory overproduction and waste, enabling Marcella to sell more than 99% of what it makes and dramatically reducing its ecological footprint. “Marcella began as an Etsy shop and quickly transformed into a successful global e-commerce business fueled by our ‘design that matters’ philosophy of accessible prices, ethical production, sustainability, and social impact,” added Andy Huszar, co-founder and CEO of Marcella. “We moved Marcella’s headquarters from New York City to Western Massachusetts in 2017 because we saw unlimited potential in the region for supporting the growth of a global e-commerce brand. We’re honored to be recognized by Inc. and excited to continue to deliver on our mission to create sustainable fashion that reflects our brand values.”

 

Community Action Pioneer Valley Receives Workforce-training Funds for Formerly Incarcerated Citizens

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced $1.68 million in Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program grants awarded to 14 organizations, including one in Western Mass., Community Action Pioneer Valley in Greenfield. Funds will place formerly incarcerated citizens re-entering the workforce into new occupations, where they will receive on-the-job training. “The efforts of these community organizations, which includes their ability to locally connect individuals and employers, helps improve workforce readiness for those re-entering society,” Gov. Charlie Baker said. “These re-entry grants are focused on evidence-based outcomes that best prepare those who have served their time to find employment that helps support themselves and their families.” Community Action Pioneer Valley will receive $160,000 to work with both the Franklin and Hampshire county sheriff’s offices to implement a training program focused on the manufacturing industry. Successful program graduates will be placed into production-occupation roles at Deerfield Packaging, Hillside Plastics, Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center, or Quabbin Wire & Cable Company Inc. The Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program is an outcome of the Baker-Polito administration’s Task Force on Economic Opportunity for Populations Facing Chronically High Rates of Unemployment, chaired by Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta. The Task Force found that individuals within prison populations experienced complex needs that require intensive interventions for them to be successful in securing and maintaining employment. Access to adequate re-entry services was identified as a barrier to employment that disproportionally impacts the target populations and leads to greater recidivism. “Providing the formerly incarcerated with opportunities for on-the-job-training is an important way to address inequities in the Commonwealth’s workforce,” Acosta said. “Partnering with community organizations through these grants helps those with chronic high rates of unemployment find meaningful career pathways in Massachusetts.”

 

 

Chicopee Cupboard Food Pantry Moves to New Location

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) hosted a ‘new home’ celebration for the Chicopee Cupboard Food Pantry on Aug. 16 at 226 Exchange St. in Chicopee. The Chicopee Cupboard, powered by the United Way of Pioneer Valley, provides shelf-stable food, fresh produce and dairy items, and frozen food to anyone in need. These items are available thanks to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, grants, and donations. “We are honored to be able to battle any and all food insecurity in the great city of Chicopee,” said Paul Mina, president and CEO of the United Way of Pioneer Valley. “Our team is eager to provide our clients the best services possible.” To make an appointment, call Lee Drewitz at (413) 693-0213.

 

Joe Andruzzi Foundation Marks One-Year Anniversary of Food Security Assistance Program

NORTH ATTLEBORO — The Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF), providing help and hope to New England cancer patients and their families through financial support when it is needed most, announced that its Food Security Assistance Program is entering its second year of helping cancer patients across New England access healthy and nutritious foods to sustain them during treatment. Since its inception in 2021, the program has raised $436,850 for 1,867 cancer patients across New England. In December 2020, JAF conducted a pilot Food Security Program, which provided aid outside the financial-assistance grants already provided to cancer patients throughout New England, with the support of a $50,000 grant from Stop & Shop. The program pilot funded 199 households to support 478 patients from December 2020 through March 2021. Overall, nearly half (47%) of the grants distributed during the pilot program helped families who reported annual household income losses between 50% to 100% due to a cancer diagnosis. After a successful pilot, JAF formally launched its Food Security Assistance support for patients on August 11, 2021, with ROI Communications as its presenting sponsor. Additional support was received from Oncopeptides, Bearingstar Insurance, and the Dunkin’ Joy Foundation. Through the program, JAF sends grocery-store gift cards directly to the patient to be redeemed at Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, Big Y, Hannaford, or Market Basket. Donations to assist New England cancer patients and their families can be made online at joeandruzzifoundation.org/ways-to-give/donate.

 

Incorporations

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

CHICOPEE

Ganzer Construction Inc., 31 Emerald St.- 2nd Floor, Chicopee, MA 01013. Gabriel Vitalino Ganzer, same. General contractor and building construction.

Squeaky Cleaning Service Corp., 20 Henry Harris St., Apt 1, Chicopee, MA 01013. Scarlett Gianei, same. Janitorial and cleaning services.

EASTHAMPTON

Trouble Street Inc., 4 Valley Lane, Easthampton, MA 01027. Norman Amandi, same. Motion picture production.

FLORENCE

Innovation Plumbing Inc., 51 Clark St., Florence, MA 01062. Gabe Fagen, same. Plumbing repairs and installation.

GREENFIELD

Returning Youth Initiative Inc., 259 Mohawk Trail #1010, Greenfield, MA 01301. Surajit Khanna, same. Provides young adults with a pathway to be reintegrated into society pursuing a productive life by providing housing, food, life skills training, secure employment (through entrepreneurship programs), and help pursue long term education.

LONGMEADOW

The Tate Learning Center Inc., 594 Converse St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Christina Rizzo, 1194 Windsor Ave. Windsor, CT 06095. Non-profit organized to provide instruction, services, and job coaching to disabled individuals needing intensive care.

NORTH BROOKFIELD

Dolce Vita Catering Co. Inc., 187 Oakham Road, North Brookfield, MA 01535. Elena Viapiano, same. Restaurant and catering services.

NORTHAMPTON

Somos Semillas Inc., 16 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. Maria Guarino, same. Non-profit organization that facilitates accessible and safe community connections for immigrants in the Pioneer Valley.

PITTSFIELD

BV Productions Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Harry Booras, same. Multimedia and entertainment production.

Delta-X Research USA, Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. John Brett, P. O. Box 42083, 2200 Oak Bay Ave. Victoria, BC, Canada, V8R6T4. Provides sales and marketing services to companies in the United States.

Enduring Ventures Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Francis Helgesen, same. Holdings company.

Iflexion Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Yauheni Yanul, same. Custom software development and related services.

Mental Health Support for Families, Inc., 341 West St. 32-02, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
Celencia Hill-Gladden, same. Contract, rent, buy, or sell personal or real property.

SOUTH HADLEY

RF Builders Inc., 24 Harvard St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Justin Ramondetta, same. Home improvement and construction services.

SPRINGFIELD

B & D Logistics Corp., 66 Flint St., Springfield, MA 01129. Shawn Burney II, same. Secure transportation of goods.

Home of Homes Inc., 21 Garvey Dr., Springfield, MA 01109. Jose Hernandez, III, same. Real estate ownership, development, management, and maintenance.

JFH Consulting Inc., 292 Washington Blvd., Springfield, MA 01108. Jack Hunter, same. Economic development consulting services.

Phoenix Training Center Inc., 32 Hampden St. Ground Floor, Springfield, MA 01103. Maria Isabel Davila, same. Skills training center.

Remodeling Mission Inc., 26 Hebron St., Springfield, MA 01107. Otoniel Gomez, same. Home improvement services.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

All Home Improvements Inc., 20 Hummingbird Lane, West Springfield, MA 01089. Fevzi Ramazanov, same. Construction.

Smileworks Family Dentistry, P.C., 353 Rogers Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Divya Mudumba D.M.D., same. Full range of dental treatments for adults and children.

DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the months of July and August 2022. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

AMHERST

Ayla Tarot
1185 Bay Road
Brittany Thompson

David J. Noonan
32 Tanglewood Road
David Noonan

Hazel’s Blue Lagoon
39-41 Boltwood Walk
Junior Williams

BELCHERTOWN

AA Enterprises
438 State St.
Alyssa Maggi

Bo Jackson Construction
12 Jabish St.
Alex Jackson

Hoot the Handyman
47 Wilson St.
Todd Huhtanen

Mendyk Professional Services
25 Brandywine Dr.
Michael Mendyk III

Stratia Electric
150 Aldrich St.
Christopher Szczepanek

DEERFIELD

Blazing Light Photography
8A Sugarloaf St.
Richard Logan

Bright Ferry Originals
29 Hawks Road
Bright Ferry Originals

Carquest of South Deerfield/Hampshire Hill
93 North Main St.
John Lamoureaux

Cutting Edge Services
571 River Road
Kyle Bry

Glover Piano Studio
265 Greenfield Road
Dorothy Glover

O’Bryan Enterprises
385 Upper Road
Patrick O’Bryan

Polar Focus, Inc.
20 Industrial Dr., Unit E
Michael Akrep

R. Moody Machine
667 River Road
Richard Moody Jr.

EAST LONGMEADOW

AJS Appraisal Group
175 Orchard Road
Anthony Santaniello

Be Here Now Therapeutic Massage
280 North Main St., Suite 4
Viginia Levine

Boyajian Remodeling
10 Crane Ave.
David Boyajian

Chestnut Hill Farm
12 Chestnut St.
Victoria Clark, Fred Stevens

C.J. Antique Institute
174 North Main St.
Claudette Stephenson

Elements of Style
1 Apple Blossom Lane
Sharon Sweeney

New Beginnings Hair Salon
10 Crane Ave.
Maria Koutroubila

New England Termite & Structural Repair
121 Mountainview Road
Eric Lucas

Northeast Asset Management
119 Industrial Dr.
Brandon Behnk

Pine and Birch Photography
5 Lester St.
Olivia Hall

Revolution Hair and Makeup
10 Center Square
Caitlin Howland

Rockstar Brow Lounge
69 Maple St.
Denise Pelletier

HADLEY

Barstow Massage and Bodywork
8 River Dr.
Heather Barstow

Hadley Robotics
136 West St.
Edward Hannigan

Precision Dental Associates
190 Russell St.
Precision Dental Associates

Precision Massage
245 Russell St.
Jennifer Beal

Winter Moon Roots
7 Cemetery Road
Cultivating Solutions LLC

HOLYOKE

BloomHerbs
31 Vernon St.
Keiry Heath

Buscan Brother Painting
1 Bowers St.
Jose Buscan

Care Alliance of Western Massachusetts
4 Valley Mill Road
Care Alliance of Western Massachusetts

The Clover Pub
102-104 High St.
Michael Rigali

Knoxworx Multimedia
36L Maple Crest Circle
Mary Knox, Marc Knox

Lugo’s Kitchen
915 Main St.
Edward Hernandez

MATRS LLC
214 Southampton Road
Michael Clark

Paws Finding Peace
3 Hawthorne Lane
Elizabeth Atkins

NORTHAMPTON

All About You by Shannon
2 Conz St., #64
Shannon SBlomstrom

The Bloomberg Art Gallery and Meeting Place
17 New South St., Unit 203-204, Suite D
Lucy Abbott

The Conway School
88 Village Hill Road
William Dwight

Hatfield Hardwood
94 North Main St.
Charlotte Mascowki, Mitchell Mascowki

Jo Smith Studio Gallery
9 Market St.
Joanne Smith

La Boutique Panthea
14 Lady Slipper Lane
Pantea Azari

Piper’s Hair Salon
99 Market St.
Piper Murphy

Tugboat Consulting
42 Day Ave.
Jessica Dawson

SOUTH HADLEY

Farmers’ Market South Hadley
76 Pittroff Ave.
Jennifer Krassler

Guardian Property Management
504 Granby Road
Sharleen Roman

Hostimus
5 Pheasant Run
Jacob Broyles

Jalbert Drywall
17 Garden St.
Kenneth Robinson

K & R Drywall
17 Garden St.
Kenneth Robinson

SOUTHWICK

Innovative Aerospace LLC
8 Woodland Ridge
Lynn Stapleton, Thomas Stapleton

On Point Resume & Coaching Services
17 George Loomis Road
Desiree-Marie Jackson

Truce Ambition Dance Academy LLC
13 Ferrin Dr.
Julianne Wendzel

SPRINGFIELD

2 Cents Home Grown
83 Jamaica St.
Shaunia Swinton

47 Motors & Services LLC
47 Colton St.
47 Motors & Services LLC

ABC Supply Co. Inc.
270 Rocus St.
American Builders

Alpha 13
32 Luden St.
Leslye Marshall

Beyond Cycle & Fitness
1914 Wilbraham Road
Lisa Acosta

Bouney Enterprise
243 Naismith St.
Cynthia Oset-Tutu

Bradco Supply
270 Rocus St.
American Builders

Cardoso Remodeling Service
33 Parkwood St.
Luis Cardoso

Courage Hill LLC
1221 State St., Suite 202
Adam Hill

Delivered by Xperience
29 Donbray Road
Kenny Washington

DJBoomz
11 Ward Court
Braun Auguste

Elevated Energy
126 Savoy Ave.
Ashley Rodriguez

Eric Vick
1690 Boston Road
Eric Vick

FDR Auto Sales
245 Verge St.
Frank Roda

Felo’s Duct & Vents Restaurant
32 Hampden St.
Felix Pagan

Glow Esthetics
125 Main St., Suite 125
Jennifer Diaz

Good Quality Business
167 Hermitage Dr.
Justin Andrews

H&A Logistixs Broker LLC
121 State St.
Harvene Mitchell

Janna General Trading LLC
253 Pasco Road
Ibrahim Babetti

J.R. Star Barber Inc.
471 State St.
Jasiel Reyes

Kabahji Mediterranean Grill
253 Pasco Road
Mustafa Al Azawi

Knots Athletics
116 Kathleen St.
Kemisha Redd

Lion Carpentry
19 Wigwam Place
Leonardo Santiago

Little Italy’s
130 Union St.
Dean Baiardi

Little’s Pizzeria
672B Dickinson St.
Little’s Pizzeria

LM Construction
19 Eckington St.
Luis Malave

Maisonet Painting
65 Kenwood Park
Omar Maisonet

Media Garden
141 Waldorf St.
Richard Morganstern

Mel’s Affordable Painting
210 Marmon St.
Melvin Torres

Merrill’s Superette
60-62 High St.
Shazia Nizam

New Homes Realty Group
906 Carew St.
Juan Santana

NJMoves Photography
10 Sumner Ave.
Nathaniel Jewell

The Pleasant Snack Bar
174 Main St.
Scott Lubarsky

Pura Belleza Nutrition LLC
1228 Main St.
Ashley Cotto

Restoration City Church
30 Bowdoin St.
Restoration City Church

Rise Shine Create
124 Pondview Dr.
Carmen Oyola

Robert Rivest
64 Brunswick St.
Robert Rivest

Rosado Tires and Detailing
100 Verge St., F6
Hector Rosado

San Santiago
2560 Main St.
Yoan Bremen

Santa’s Cleaning Service
90 Athol St.
Yolanda Santa

Satin Moon Beauty
47 Nursery St.
Veronica Levy

Shandyce Willis LLC
118 Belvidere St.
Shandyce Willis

Shuree Jewel Box
229 Fernbank Road
Keeyana Koleman

Soul Aura
531 Main St.
Breanne Costa

Springfield Hospitality
2 Boland Way
Vidhyadhar Mitta

Wild & Crazy Events
80 Teakwood Road
Jabuk Lakomski

WARE

Dog Grooming by Norma
60 Cummings Road
Norma Ailloway

WESTFIELD

Antler Dog Chews & More
24 Chestnut St.
Tammy Kenney

Bell Realty
110 Main St.
Grady Bell

Clearwater Swimming Pools
20 Laro Road
Kyle Miltmore

Family Medicine Associates
75 Springfield Road
Pioneer Valley Medical Center LLC

Independent Logistics
69 Neck Road
Luke Cavanaugh

Novelty Ties
24 Chestnut St.
Matthew Kenney

Whip City Pressure Washing
15 Maria Dr.
Jas Enterprises Inc.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Ever and Green Co.
69 Ely Ave.
Caitlin Camberis 
 
Gargun Apartments Co.
33 Birnie Ave.
Vladimir Gargun
 
J & L Medical Services
201 Park Ave.
Gregory McCarthy 
 
JG Therapeutic Practice
81 Cass Ave.
Julia Goncalves
 
K. M. Curran Co.
201 Park Ave.
Kenneth Curran
 

Payper Everyday Promotions and Entertainment 
85 Ashley St.
Charles Berard
 
Red Light Lounge
125 Capital Dr.
Barry Tabb

Shtarker Moving & Storage LLC
203 Circuit Ave.
Constance Ryder
 
Suad Rooter
60 Colony Road
Suad Dizdarevic

WILBRAHAM

Wilbraham Candle
38 Manchonis Road
Emily Engel

Wilbraham Community Preschool
500 Main St.
Emily Engel

Wilbraham & Monson Academy
423 Main St.
Tia Marie Chevalier

Bankruptcies

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

Burnett, Christopher Gene
PO Box 544
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/26/2022

Campbell, Sophine
109 Wolcott St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/29/2022

Christiansen, Craig A.
15 Hampden St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/29/2022

Filippone, Katelynn T.
726 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/29/2022

Flasinski, John E.
57 Franklin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/30/2022

Fox, Rodney A.
74 West Main St., Apt. 2
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/25/2022

Guzman, Natalie Nicole
a/k/a Willis, Natalie Nicole
101 Miller St., Apt. 2R
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/29/2022

Kelleher, Karen
67 Deepwoods Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/27/2022

Maloney, Miriam A.
15 Alden Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/20/2022

Leask, Kimberly A.
131 Alfred Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/28/2022

Maxwell, Winston N.
14 Berbay Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/27/2022

McRobbie, Scott Allen
153 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/30/2022

Neifa, Carmen
342 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/26/2022

Northern Express
Butova, John E.
587 Barry St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/30/2022

Phommasith, Vorasinh
16 Gay St., Apt. 2
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/26/2022

Ram Mark F.
17 Fairfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/27/2022

Ramirez, Yaremi
PO Box 1742
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/30/2022

Ribeiro, Melanie Nicole
31 State St., Apt 10B
Monson, MA 01057-1146
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/25/2022

Zavala, Rebecca L.
60 Deerfield Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/22/2022

Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

Merrifield Road, Lot 5
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Eric Boliski
Seller: Veaceslav Falceanu
Date: 08/03/22

182 Parmenter Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Alexander R. Keir
Seller: Michael A. Romano
Date: 07/29/22

BUCKLAND

85-89 Mechanic St.
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Shelburne Falls Rentals
Seller: Shelburne Falls Realty Corp.
Date: 07/26/22

39-41 Water St.
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Kimberly Guzewicz
Seller: Burnap INT
Date: 07/25/22

CHARLEMONT

66 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Meade
Seller: Buntin INT
Date: 08/02/22

1689 Route 2
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Zachary E. Bartak
Seller: R&Pearl Burrington IRT
Date: 07/29/22

CONWAY

595 Williamsburg Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: David Perusse
Seller: Theodore J. Farrie
Date: 07/26/22

DEERFIELD

58 Eastern Ave.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Lindiwe N. Sibeko
Seller: Joan H. Joshi
Date: 07/27/22

ERVING

223 North St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Gavin C. McDonough
Seller: Allison L. Rollins
Date: 07/27/22

GILL

392 Main Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $476,000
Buyer: Corwin D. Edson
Seller: Renaissance Community LLC
Date: 08/05/22

GREENFIELD

427 Adams Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Timothy L. Menard
Seller: Constance A. Tombs
Date: 07/29/22

10-12 Beech St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Marianne E. Bullock
Seller: Michael R. Pendriss
Date: 08/02/22

Colrain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Cynthia L. Nims
Seller: Merriam, Mary M., (Estate)
Date: 07/25/22

58 Deerfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Eben Bull
Seller: Apple E. Berkery
Date: 07/28/22

24 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Tyler R. Miner
Seller: James M. Elwell
Date: 07/29/22

50 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Stephen H. Crowningshield
Seller: Kirk Sanger
Date: 08/01/22

42 Kenwood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Christal L. Cutler
Seller: Harry R. Gove
Date: 07/27/22

583 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Evan J. Morrell
Seller: Steven Rossetti
Date: 08/03/22

66 Orchard St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Jesse Leavitt
Seller: Spencer Sherman
Date: 08/01/22

Plain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Cynthia L. Nims
Seller: Merriam, Mary M., (Estate)
Date: 07/25/22

263-265 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Bobisfat LLC
Seller: Stephen H. Crowningshield
Date: 08/01/22

23 Spruce St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Roy D. Balzter
Seller: Bernadette A. Bernard
Date: 08/01/22

27 Sunrise Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Susan K. Emond
Seller: Alan C. Devlin
Date: 07/26/22

100 Wildwood Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $298,900
Buyer: Gabriella M. Jasper
Seller: Joanne C. Start
Date: 08/05/22

HEATH

3 Flagg Hill Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Marie T. Forster
Seller: Krikor G. Krikorian
Date: 07/29/22

9 Wigwam Dr.
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Gregory Antonini
Seller: Henry R. Josephson
Date: 07/27/22

LEVERETT

20 Chestnut Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Margaret Seldin
Seller: Naff, Rose Y., (Estate)
Date: 08/01/22

LEYDEN

111 Alexander Road
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $935,000
Buyer: Penn J. Ritter
Seller: David W. Freeley
Date: 07/29/22

MONTAGUE

61 Central St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: David W. Galvin
Seller: Jessica K. Adamites
Date: 08/05/22

24 Coolidge Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Jaimye S. Ingraham
Seller: JCT Corp.
Date: 07/25/22

9 Depot St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $265,500
Buyer: John L. Kulusich
Seller: Heather M. Tobey
Date: 07/28/22

183 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $386,500
Buyer: Jeremy M. Roussel
Seller: Jeremy Dillensneider
Date: 07/29/22

39 Montague Ave.
Montague, MA 01347
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: William J. Szal
Seller: Daniel J. Drumgool
Date: 08/03/22

23 Unity St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Ira B. Karasick
Seller: Charles J. Light
Date: 08/01/22

10 Worcester Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Anne M. Bowman
Seller: Kevin J. Richotte
Date: 07/29/22

NORTHFIELD

75 Highland Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Peter Cross
Seller: Thomas Aquinas College
Date: 07/25/22

234 Old Wendell Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Ilie Groza
Seller: Rachael M. Pride
Date: 08/04/22

314 Warwick Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Marcus Graly
Seller: Gretchen M. Parker
Date: 07/26/22

ORANGE

357 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Dylan Haughton
Seller: Asma Saeed
Date: 07/25/22

24 Church St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Troy Santerre
Seller: Wayne L. Hess
Date: 08/05/22

43 Hamilton Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Erric F. Lopez-Lassend
Seller: Witty FT
Date: 07/29/22

52 RW Moore Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Orange Real Estate Holdco LLC
Seller: Lot 9 RW Moore Ave LLC
Date: 07/27/22

20 Royalston Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Nicole E. Noll
Seller: Thomas J. Ellsworth
Date: 08/02/22

450 West River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Freeborn LLC
Seller: Heywood Realty Corp.
Date: 08/01/22

SHELBURNE

2 Reynolds Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $319,500
Buyer: Erin M. Wilensky
Seller: Catherine H. Smith
Date: 08/01/22

SHUTESBURY

124 Pelham Hill Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Hogan
Seller: Mark S. Pocsik
Date: 08/05/22

35 Weatherwood Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $233,036
Buyer: Weizhao Huang
Seller: US Bank
Date: 07/29/22

296 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Valerie Killebrew
Seller: Tammie A. Foster
Date: 08/01/22

SUNDERLAND

226 Hadley Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Christa M. Donner
Seller: Thomas Warnick
Date: 07/28/22

375 Hadley Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Gideon A. Porth
Seller: Hadley & Ferry LLC
Date: 08/02/22

375 Hadley Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $264,108
Buyer: Gideon A. Porth
Seller: Hadley&Ferry LLC
Date: 08/02/22

62 Howard Hepburn Dr.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $543,000
Buyer: Hanna M. Shea
Seller: Debra A. Zimnowski
Date: 07/28/22

229 Russell St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Julian Segundo-Zapata
Seller: Lynn A. Olynik
Date: 07/29/22

WARWICK

319 Wendell Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Eric P. Faust
Seller: James E. Carey
Date: 07/28/22

WHATELY

101 Haydenville Road
Whately, MA 01039
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Duncan T. Hurst
Seller: Robin S. Weiss
Date: 07/28/22

199 Long Plain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $756,000
Buyer: Michael P. Damon
Seller: LA Management LLC
Date: 07/28/22

94 State Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: 94 State Road LLC
Seller: Whately Self Storage Inc.
Date: 07/29/22

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

144 Birch Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: James Ricco
Seller: Robert A. MaGovern
Date: 08/03/22

57 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Lauren A. Belisle
Seller: Madeline E. Belisle
Date: 08/02/22

26 High Meadow Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: William J. Clark
Seller: Elizabeth A. Latham
Date: 08/05/22

158 Karen Lynn Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Annakay Bonner
Seller: Tiffani A. Beeman
Date: 07/27/22

25-27 Mark Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Kristina L. Ruhland
Seller: Janet Marano
Date: 07/28/22

122 Monroe St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Brent Spruill
Seller: Danielle Stark LT
Date: 08/01/22

96 Nicole Ter.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Randy Payette
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 07/28/22

40 Oak Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Joshua A. Hazelwood
Seller: Veronica A. Berezenko
Date: 07/26/22

140 Ridgeway Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $517,000
Buyer: Becket Academy Inc.
Seller: John E. Nordquist
Date: 08/01/22

221 Rowley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Adam Serella
Seller: L. Anthony Spryzenski
Date: 08/05/22

BRIMFIELD

73 Cubles Dr.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Wilbraham Builders Inc.
Seller: Jonathan Barton
Date: 08/04/22

32 Dearth Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $514,000
Buyer: Charles W. Utter
Seller: Brian A. Barrows
Date: 07/25/22

Devils Lane
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Frank M. Savino
Seller: David Cheney RET
Date: 08/01/22

9 Devils Lane
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $362,500
Buyer: Chani Langford
Seller: Scott A. Maki
Date: 08/01/22

106 Wales Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: John M. Remick
Seller: Robert G. Zollo
Date: 07/29/22

46 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Kimberly Day
Seller: Brian D. Delnegro
Date: 08/02/22

Washington Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $900,000
Buyer: Ruport Realty 3 LLC
Seller: Palmer Paving Corp.
Date: 08/05/22

CHESTER

6 Emery St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ian Gifford
Seller: Philip L. Bragdon
Date: 07/29/22

11 Main St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Perennial Flow LLC
Seller: Diane Demoss
Date: 08/05/22

CHICOPEE

161 Asselin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Shea
Seller: Gary D. Render
Date: 07/25/22

98 Basil Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $323,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Segarra
Seller: Crespo, Mac, (Estate)
Date: 08/03/22

451 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Matthew B. Jensen
Seller: Mary J. Skinner
Date: 07/28/22

112 Clark St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Zuzula
Seller: Regina Rivera
Date: 07/28/22

232 Dale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Mason Werbicki
Seller: Loan T. Champagne
Date: 08/04/22

362 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Wirbir A. Perez
Seller: Marilyn J. Hearn
Date: 08/03/22

16 Emmett St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Kurt Seidnitzer
Seller: Spire Property Solutions Inc.
Date: 07/28/22

284 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Ashlee Munoz-Aponte
Seller: Mark A. Boutin
Date: 08/05/22

63 Felix St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,001
Buyer: Macrina S. Cunningham
Seller: Gabrielle Roberge
Date: 07/29/22

103 Fernwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Leslie R. Robarge
Seller: Jennifer C. Farrell
Date: 08/05/22

Grape St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $746,134
Buyer: Real Estatge Investments Northeast
Seller: Next Realty Inc.
Date: 07/26/22

13 Hillman St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Saba Yasin
Seller: MPower Capital LLC
Date: 08/05/22

30 Loomis Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Heroux
Seller: William P. Millette
Date: 07/25/22

27 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sarah Wallitis
Seller: Doris J. Roberge
Date: 07/29/22

329 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Darci Morrissette
Seller: Luke Leszczynski
Date: 07/27/22

20 Olivine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Brandon P. Lawlor
Seller: Gabriel M. Liaigre
Date: 07/29/22

91 Rimmon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Muhammad J. Akbar
Seller: Arthur P. Dipaola
Date: 08/05/22

Shawinigan Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: PBHI Properties LLC
Seller: Lombardz LLC
Date: 08/01/22

166 Shepherd St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Servicing
Seller: Heather J. Jendrysik
Date: 07/27/22

35 Sherman Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Ramon Gonzalez
Seller: Pedro Davilla
Date: 07/26/22

62 South St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Katherine P. Robillard
Seller: Daniel W. Goggins
Date: 07/29/22

10 Union St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Nick Ide
Seller: Liam P. Reynolds
Date: 07/29/22

94 Wellington Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Vevelin Pabon-Oliveras
Seller: Zawisza, Thomas J., (Estate)
Date: 08/05/22

EAST LONGMEADOW

5-A Acorn St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $428,000
Buyer: Jennifer Crowl-Perry
Seller: Toni N. Jacobs
Date: 07/27/22

302 Benton Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $217,812
Buyer: MPT Development LLC
Seller: Hampden View Real Estate LLC
Date: 08/03/22

41 Evergreen Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Cruz
Seller: Robert Tirrell
Date: 08/02/22

21 Schuyler Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Samuel Edandison
Seller: Deborah J. McCain
Date: 07/28/22

26 Smith Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $459,900
Buyer: Kaylina J. Green
Seller: Custom Home Development Group LLC
Date: 08/05/22

12 Speight Arden
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $169,790
Buyer: Tho Le
Seller: USA VA
Date: 08/01/22

29 Thompson St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Annie Lacasse
Seller: Suzanne M. Petruzzello
Date: 08/01/22

117 Vineland Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Kyle A. Conley
Seller: Susan M. Wszolek
Date: 07/27/22

22 Young Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Samuel Ohearn
Seller: Daniel Nogueira
Date: 08/03/22

GRANVILLE

81 Granby Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Gabriel Alfano
Seller: Michelle J. Meyer
Date: 07/28/22

348 Water St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $446,000
Buyer: Megan Hurst
Seller: Michael G. Fillion
Date: 08/01/22

HAMPDEN

168 Allen St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Logan J. Sullivan
Seller: Lisa Bullen
Date: 07/26/22

26 Chestnut Hill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Michael Andre
Seller: Ferne W. Andre
Date: 08/02/22

85 Martin Farms Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $307,500
Buyer: Stephanie Bacon
Seller: Amy L. Mayotte
Date: 07/27/22

241 North Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Michelle Bryans
Seller: Cornelius R. Flynn
Date: 08/01/22

HOLLAND

21 Collette Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Allysa T. Cornelius
Seller: Robert B. Badgley
Date: 07/29/22

3 Island Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Susanne L. Carter
Seller: Brian S. Sacerdote
Date: 08/01/22

Sandy Beach Road Lot 42
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Mason T. Flagg
Seller: Michael D. Sherman
Date: 08/02/22

Sandy Beach Road Lot 41
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Mason T. Flagg
Seller: Michael D. Sherman
Date: 08/02/22

Sandy Beach Road Lot 101
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Mason T. Flagg
Seller: Michael D. Sherman
Date: 08/02/22

Sandy Beach Road Lot 102
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Mason T. Flagg
Seller: Michael D. Sherman
Date: 08/02/22

HOLYOKE

9 Alto St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Jacob A. Edwards
Seller: Kyle M. Stevenson
Date: 07/28/22

126-128 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Andrew Rohan
Seller: Albert E. Paone
Date: 07/26/22

33-35 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Lisa V. Rosario
Seller: Reinaldo Cruz
Date: 08/05/22

19 Cherry St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kettia A. Raymond
Seller: Edward A. Cianci
Date: 07/28/22

50 Claremont Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Kaci E. Ruh
Seller: William J. Sudsbury
Date: 07/26/22

4 Dunn Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: 4 Dunn RT
Seller: Joseph J. Gamba
Date: 07/25/22

693 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Albert E. Paone
Seller: Enviroserv Inc.
Date: 07/29/22

215 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Karin J. Figueroa-Lopez
Seller: Antonio Alvarez
Date: 08/01/22

217 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Karin J. Figueroa-Lopez
Seller: Antonio Alvarez
Date: 08/01/22

69 Lexington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Jonathan D. Murphy
Seller: Marvin Thang
Date: 07/28/22

89 Madison Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Dante F. Vacca
Seller: Kathleen A. Dunn
Date: 07/26/22

57 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Raili Raud
Seller: Michael P. McManus
Date: 07/28/22

1130 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Jennifer B. Hammond
Seller: Robert Mackay
Date: 08/02/22

174 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $599,999
Buyer: Guillermo Delpinal
Seller: Shelly A. Perdomo-Ahmed
Date: 08/02/22

14-16 Saint James Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jennifer Fleury
Seller: Lynn F. Mikolajczak
Date: 07/29/22

230 Southampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Epiphany Enterprises LLC
Seller: Martha M. Klaczk LT
Date: 08/01/22

LONGMEADOW

119 Belleclaire Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Christopher C. Dow
Seller: Brian D. Osborne
Date: 07/26/22

18 Bellevue Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Heather A. Kumove
Seller: Karl J. Petrick
Date: 07/26/22

38 Cobblestone Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $421,000
Buyer: Donna Casale
Seller: Harry Zeroogian
Date: 07/26/22

128 Colony Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: Jamil Abbasy
Seller: Mary Feldman
Date: 07/28/22

32 Deerfield Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Thomas Trutanich
Seller: Tetyana Buescher
Date: 08/02/22

123 Edgewood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Morgan L. Doyle
Seller: Global Homes Properties LLC
Date: 07/27/22

70 Dennis Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $975,000
Buyer: Christina Lo
Seller: Evan Y. Lau
Date: 08/01/22

134 Farmington Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $476,750
Buyer: Nathaniel Tupper
Seller: Craig D. Kronlund
Date: 08/04/22

147 Hillcrest Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Joshua Elterman
Seller: Matthew J. Zick
Date: 07/28/22

79 Kenmore Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Rakesh Kumar-Jha
Seller: Ronald J. Bakowski
Date: 07/26/22

77 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Etabav RT
Seller: Horst Schielke
Date: 08/02/22

567 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: JJB Builders Corp.
Seller: Brent S. Spruill
Date: 07/29/22

210 Redfern Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Lisa Doherty TR
Seller: Lois M. Kroopnick
Date: 08/05/22

117 Rugby Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Nicholas T. Bucci
Seller: Steven M. Marantz
Date: 08/01/22

225 Tanglewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $770,000
Buyer: George Hendrey
Seller: Prasanth Potluri
Date: 07/29/22

79 Viscount Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Lauren N. Pryor
Seller: Emily J. Steele
Date: 08/03/22

146 Wenonah Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Brooke D. O’Brien
Seller: William W. Scott
Date: 08/05/22

LUDLOW

Balsam Hill Road Lot 60
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Nelson G. Duarte
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 07/29/22

18 Butler St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Golden Gorillas LLC
Seller: Chelo, Antonio A., (Estate)
Date: 08/02/22

34 Carol St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Patricia A. Martin
Seller: Margaret E. Mayberry
Date: 08/01/22

Equinox Pass Lot 94
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Vladimir Sidorovnin
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 08/02/22

41 Franklin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Marilyn T. Bourbeau
Seller: Teixeira, Carlos, (Estate)
Date: 08/04/22

38 Harris Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Yavuz Yanbul
Seller: Braidy L. Miarecki
Date: 07/28/22

15-17 Hubbard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Tracy Bernal
Seller: Maria C. Jayma
Date: 07/29/22

79 Laconia St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Nicholas Zaldivar
Seller: Nuno J. Rocha
Date: 08/02/22

140 Paulding Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $321,000
Buyer: Mehmet Siperoglu
Seller: Kevin McCullough
Date: 07/29/22

54 Richmond Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Rachel Correia
Seller: Alice M. Fitzgerald
Date: 08/04/22

59 Tower Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Center For Human Development Inc.
Seller: Home Rehabit LLC
Date: 08/01/22

Turning Leaf Road Lot 21
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Hemlock Ridge LLC
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 07/29/22

Turning Leaf Road Lot 100
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Krzysztof Haber
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 07/29/22

6 Warwick Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Awais Mir
Seller: Erin K. Wasik-Gutierrez
Date: 07/26/22

173 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Corey A. Dubuque
Seller: Mill Road Properties LLC
Date: 07/28/22

336 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Renee N. Smith
Seller: Equity Trust Co.
Date: 07/25/22

38 Wood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Makenzie R. Reynolds
Seller: Elizabeth W. Catarino
Date: 07/29/22

 

MONSON

200 Brimfield Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Maxim Arbuzov
Seller: Michael J. Koske
Date: 08/03/22

19 Crow Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Walter R. Rogers
Seller: Michael W. Payne
Date: 07/28/22

205 Lower Hampden Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $470,584
Buyer: Anthony Patalano
Seller: Douglas Delisle
Date: 08/01/22

332 Lower Hampden Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Theresa A. Thompson
Seller: Kevin B. Carney
Date: 08/03/22

112 Reimers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: George L. Saunders
Seller: David Jarvis
Date: 08/01/22

147 Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: Deanna J. Veinotte
Seller: Michelle L. Bryans
Date: 08/01/22

43 Zuell Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Robert Kearney
Seller: Wenwei Li
Date: 07/28/22

MONTGOMERY

131 Carrington Road
Montgomery, MA 01050
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Thomas C. Jacques
Seller: R. C. Nummy FT
Date: 08/03/22

PALMER

1075 Central St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Charlotte Phillips
Seller: Jin X. Ren
Date: 07/28/22

2015 Chestnut St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Christopher A. Davis
Seller: Kristin N. Davis
Date: 08/05/22

89-91 Ford St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Luis A. Cruz-Garcia
Seller: Natasha Pieciak
Date: 07/27/22

61 French Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Bruce J. Lauzier
Seller: HRQ Global LLC
Date: 07/25/22

2067 High St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Rose Seide
Seller: Dravon Stanley
Date: 08/02/22

72 Laurel Road
Palmer, MA 01095
Amount: $371,000
Buyer: Jay S. Levine
Seller: William R. Mueller
Date: 08/01/22

2194-2196 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Isaac F. Santiago
Seller: Mark A. Cameron
Date: 08/05/22

1558-1560 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $172,006
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Carlos A. Rodriguez
Date: 07/27/22

109 River St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Irina Djalalov
Seller: Kevin R. Godek
Date: 08/03/22

5 Sasur St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Patcharee Callahan
Seller: Robert Morton
Date: 07/28/22

RUSSELL

1024 Blandford Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Mitchell G. Young
Seller: William F. Barry
Date: 07/28/22

SOUTHWICK

128 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jason Smith
Seller: Mary A. Mortati
Date: 08/03/22

6 Eagle St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Denis Zinchencko
Seller: Maioriono, Alfonse, (Estate)
Date: 07/25/22

252 Hillside Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Noah J. Foint
Seller: Stephanie J. Couture
Date: 07/29/22

36 Mort Vining Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $649,900
Buyer: Robert M. Bauer
Seller: Oak Ridge Custom Home Builders
Date: 07/29/22

3 Tall Pines Trail
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Seller: Fiore Realty Holdings LLC
Date: 07/29/22

6 Tall Pines Trail
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Seller: Fiore Realty Holdings LLC
Date: 07/29/22

SPRINGFIELD

288 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Latrisha Lyons
Seller: Ronald N. Dupuis
Date: 07/29/22

25 Arvesta St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Robert P. Roussel
Seller: Thomas M. Meleady
Date: 08/02/22

11 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Mary F. Sawyer
Seller: Adriana C. Gallo-Grimaldi
Date: 07/25/22

74 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Ann M. Kissel
Seller: Beverly Chiarizio
Date: 07/26/22

120 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Daniel Aguilar
Seller: Rboys LLC
Date: 07/26/22

131 Atherton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Andrew Courtland-Clark
Seller: Michelle Scott
Date: 07/28/22

42 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Zachary Egan
Seller: William Gonzalez-Crespo
Date: 07/29/22

24 Blodgett St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Emmanuel S. Adegoke
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 07/29/22

196-198 Bowdoin St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $1,355,000
Buyer: 196 Bowdoin LLC
Seller: 196-198 Bowdoin St. Realty
Date: 07/25/22

876 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Old Green Acres LLC
Seller: BCNS Investments LLC
Date: 08/03/22

53 Braywood Circle
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $367,000
Buyer: Nancy Cortes
Seller: Donald H. Ayotte
Date: 08/02/22

5 Bretton Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Lawrence D. Green
Seller: Richard L. Brown
Date: 07/26/22

173 Cherokee Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Old Green Acres LLC
Seller: BCNS Investments LLC
Date: 08/03/22

140 Chestnut St., Lot C1
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $512,500
Buyer: Guardian Assets LLC
Seller: Kimball RT
Date: 07/28/22

24-26 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Edvalda M. Defaria
Seller: Fan Y. Li
Date: 08/05/22

99 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Cynthia M. Bleil
Seller: Juan Alejandro
Date: 07/27/22

213 Cooper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Edeline St.Fleur
Seller: Patrick K. Lawson
Date: 07/29/22

41-43 Copley Ter.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Hung Phan
Seller: Monzer Saleh
Date: 08/05/22

23 Corey Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Shane E. Pelletier
Seller: Tina M. Smith
Date: 07/29/22

28 David St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: M. De Mota-Trinidad
Seller: Lismel Luciano
Date: 08/02/22

120 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Stephen A. Chiavaroli
Seller: Abaigeal S. Hillyard
Date: 07/27/22

56 Dimmick St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: William Cornelius-Alston
Seller: Aida Ruiz-Batiste
Date: 08/03/22

182-184 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Zhi P. Huang
Seller: An V. Nguyen
Date: 08/05/22

39-41 East Hooker St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Noha Aljubory
Seller: Kan Zhang
Date: 08/04/22

88 Eddywood St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $299,500
Buyer: Audrey M. Thompson
Seller: Kati T. Litten
Date: 07/26/22

64 Eleanor Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Veronica Martinez-Lopez
Seller: Nilsa I. Vazquez
Date: 08/05/22

114 Elmore Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Rivera, Carole A., (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

22-24 Elsie St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: J&R Homes Corp.
Seller: Scott E. Kibbe
Date: 07/29/22

169 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jordan G. Regadas
Seller: Bethany M. Torres
Date: 08/01/22

199 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Michelle Ivey
Seller: Arthur E. Henneberger
Date: 08/05/22

68-70 Fountain St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Jose Dejesus
Seller: Joseph Tyburski
Date: 08/04/22

42 Fremont St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Magali Ortiz
Seller: Nancy Williams
Date: 07/25/22

204 Garvey Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Regina Shaunta-McNair
Seller: Western Mass. Property Development LLC
Date: 08/05/22

212 Garvey Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $181,500
Buyer: Orlando Ortiz-Rodriguez
Seller: David R. Bellucci
Date: 07/25/22

114 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $278,500
Buyer: Christina Obert
Seller: Stephanie J. Roszko
Date: 08/05/22

34 Grant St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Annette Ofarril
Seller: Jailyn Gonzalez
Date: 08/05/22

13 Granger St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jamison Carney
Seller: Scott Simpson
Date: 07/25/22

37 Greentree Circle
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jenise Rivera
Seller: Ruth Dereus
Date: 07/29/22

120 Hamilton St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Nahiomy L. Vazquez
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 08/03/22

12 Haskin St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $161,250
Buyer: Alex Owusu
Seller: Malone, Philip A., (Estate)
Date: 08/01/22

97-99 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

103 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

105 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

107 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

109 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

111 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

113 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

115 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

117 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

119 High St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

140 High St.
Springfield, MA 01199
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

149-155 High St.
Springfield, MA 01001
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

161-167 High St.
Springfield, MA 01001
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

173 High St.
Springfield, MA 01001
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

177-181 High St.
Springfield, MA 01001
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

35 Hudson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Judith J. Cruz
Seller: David A. Pagnoni
Date: 07/25/22

83 Huron St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Juan Martinez
Seller: James M. Santamaria
Date: 08/04/22

51 Inglewood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Nathan B. McNulty
Seller: Catharine E. Stevens
Date: 07/27/22

4 Ingraham Ter.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

98 Kane St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Guy A. Bowens
Seller: Kevin Huynh
Date: 07/27/22

24 Lavender Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Karl J. Osborn
Seller: Annette Barnes-Hightower
Date: 07/28/22

312-314 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Luis A. Alvarado
Seller: Eulalia Alvarado
Date: 08/01/22

11-13 Lorraine St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Alex A. Nieves
Seller: Jose M. Ortiz
Date: 08/03/22

117 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Abigail Rivera
Seller: James P. Lynch
Date: 07/27/22

16 Lynwood Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Regina Rivera
Seller: Casiano R. Lozada
Date: 07/28/22

96 Lyons St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: SLC Associates LLC
Seller: Victoria A. Calkins
Date: 07/28/22

16-18 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Hector Torres-Diaz
Seller: Trust 2U RT
Date: 07/29/22

22-24 Mansfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: UNA Rawls
Seller: Castle Headquarters Inc.
Date: 07/29/22

79 Mapledell St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jessica M. Olivo-Colon
Seller: Round 2 LLC
Date: 08/01/22

43 Martha St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $326,900
Buyer: Rafael J. Gonzalez
Seller: Julie M. Laviolette
Date: 08/04/22

62 Massachusetts Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Amjad Hussain
Seller: William E. Arnold
Date: 08/02/22

119 Massreco St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Linda Cemeus
Seller: Henry Garcia
Date: 07/28/22

42 Mattoon St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $331,500
Buyer: Danielle Johnson
Seller: Winners O. LLC
Date: 07/27/22

62 Mayfair Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Shirley Stephens
Seller: Myrna L. Leiper
Date: 08/04/22

71 Mayfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Janet Wynne
Seller: Beth A. Lewis
Date: 08/02/22

20-22 McBride St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $323,000
Buyer: Anderson Cortes
Seller: Randall S. Housman
Date: 07/29/22

104 Navajo Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Old Green Acres LLC
Seller: BCNS Investments LLC
Date: 08/03/22

841 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $363,000
Buyer: Mathias T. Anim
Seller: Ian A. Mclean
Date: 08/01/22

245 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Katherine C. Ortiz
Seller: Luis D. Santos-Vazquez
Date: 08/01/22

137 Oregon St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Heather Wagner
Seller: Anna M. Gelinas
Date: 07/28/22

417-419 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Maria Muniz
Seller: Miguel Perez
Date: 07/28/22

53 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Gaspar Hernandez
Seller: Yoselyn Chalas
Date: 07/27/22

57 Pearl St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: SJC LLC
Seller: Charles A. Yenian
Date: 07/27/22

117 Pidgeon Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Judith Arthur
Seller: Timmerman, Bob, (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

66-68 Ranney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Emerson R. Arthur
Date: 08/01/22

138 Rollins St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Megan A. Ewens
Seller: Michael Gatanio
Date: 07/29/22

173 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Vernon Charles
Seller: Blythewood Property Management LLC
Date: 08/02/22

129 Silas St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Shalawnda Carr
Seller: Cristofer S. Herman
Date: 07/26/22

279 Stapleton Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Old Green Acres LLC
Seller: BCNS Investments LLC
Date: 08/03/22

42 Stephanie Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Luis G. Rodriguez
Seller: Cedar Investment Group LLC
Date: 07/26/22

171 Tamarack Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Nancy Sanchez-Camacho
Seller: Lanier, Frances A., (Estate)
Date: 08/03/22

120 Tapley St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $1,695,000
Buyer: 90 Tapley LLC
Seller: 90 Tapley LLC
Date: 07/29/22

366 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

372-378 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

384 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

388-390 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

394-396 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $3,650,000
Buyer: Key Com Mortgage TR
Seller: Matthew D. Mason
Date: 08/05/22

160 Vincent St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Chary Jimenez
Seller: Anthony J. Girard
Date: 08/01/22

20 Wallace St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Naylor Nation RE LLC
Seller: Rodriguez, Evelyn, (Estate)
Date: 07/26/22

38 West Alvord St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Leonardo A. Quintero
Seller: Martha Pulgarin
Date: 08/01/22

383 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Panther Development LLC
Seller: Opus Durum LLC
Date: 08/03/22

53 Whiting St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Francelaine Arthur
Seller: Jean P. Alisma
Date: 08/03/22

415 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Mabel Desiree-Guicho
Seller: Methe, Robert A., (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

157 Woodcrest Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Shaun M. Finn
Seller: Paul W. Liberty
Date: 08/03/22

23 Yale St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Patrick Tamba
Seller: Melinda Russo
Date: 08/02/22

98 Yale St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Makaila Hart
Seller: Barbara J. Craig
Date: 08/03/22

WALES

3 Church St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Sara Morin
Seller: Susan L. Hagen LT
Date: 07/26/22

11 Cordially Colony
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Richard F. Dziadul
Seller: Eileen M. Hatton
Date: 07/27/22

15 Hidden Acres Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $195,500
Buyer: Keith Trifone
Seller: Jordan T. Keefe
Date: 07/29/22

WEST SPRINGFIELD

898 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Matthew M. Marek
Seller: Dorothy J. Link
Date: 07/29/22

1358 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Hiba A. Bandar
Seller: Michael S. Yu
Date: 07/26/22

67 Armstrong St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Trang V. Nguyen
Seller: Ceciley M. Fenno
Date: 07/28/22

49 Bear Hole Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Ryan Perreault
Seller: Jeffrey A. Fraser
Date: 07/29/22

39 Crestview Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $366,500
Buyer: Jose A. Rivera
Seller: Gina D. Fernandez
Date: 08/04/22

215 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $452,000
Buyer: Nicolai Cantir
Seller: Jeremy J. Merlo
Date: 08/05/22

26 Fairview Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: JDK Properties LLC
Seller: Gayle F. Thomas
Date: 07/28/22

301 Forest Glen
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Juliet Munhenga
Seller: Joanne Siller
Date: 07/26/22

228 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Caelah M. Akalis
Seller: Christine L. Krokov
Date: 07/28/22

76 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Denise Whaples
Seller: Ryan Perreault
Date: 07/28/22

357 Massachusetts Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Elizabeth K. Bekoe
Seller: Elizabeth A. Charest
Date: 07/28/22

110 New Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Mahendra Bhattarai
Seller: Pratap Gautam
Date: 07/26/22

46 Norman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Hind Yahya
Seller: Derek Fu
Date: 08/05/22

753 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,600
Buyer: Joseph E. Motta
Seller: Carl A. Augsberger
Date: 07/27/22

336 Prospect Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: John F. Egan
Seller: Etabav RT
Date: 08/01/22

647 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Adam Taylor
Seller: Bonnie McEwan
Date: 07/29/22

43 Queen Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Matthew Lang
Seller: Anthony J. Hanke
Date: 08/05/22

119 South Blvd.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: B9 Industries Inc.
Seller: Foley Capital LLC
Date: 08/03/22

217 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Saremi LLP
Seller: Briarwood 8 LLC
Date: 08/05/22

2223 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Pink Finch LLC
Seller: Acumen Management Group LLC
Date: 07/27/22

WESTFIELD

17 Carriage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Issac Mizer
Seller: Carlos W. Dejesus
Date: 08/05/22

10 Clifton St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Lecrenski Brothers Real Estate
Seller: Richard R. Ryll
Date: 08/03/22

93 Dana St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: James Carlson
Seller: Anita J. Horney
Date: 08/05/22

102 Falley Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Francisco Rodriguez-Matos
Seller: Joanne E. Dickinson
Date: 08/05/22

134 Glenwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $462,000
Buyer: Becket Academy Inc.
Seller: John E. Nordquist
Date: 08/01/22

74 Hagan Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Christian Bowers
Seller: Susanne M. Romani
Date: 07/27/22

28 Laro Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Nancy A. Sherman
Seller: Sarah I. Phipps
Date: 08/05/22

123 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: GS Westfield LLC
Seller: LMO 7 LLC
Date: 07/29/22

131 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: GS Westfield LLC
Seller: LMO 7 LLC
Date: 07/29/22

440 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Samuel O. Walker
Seller: Brian C. Smith
Date: 08/05/22

343 Northwest Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Mary J. Pitoniak
Seller: Dorothy E. Taudel
Date: 07/29/22

5 Norwood Plsace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: Michael Pellegrini
Seller: Alfred Pellegrini
Date: 07/28/22

81 Otis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: James W. Mosher
Seller: Christina M. Robarge
Date: 08/05/22

154 Russellville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $449,900
Buyer: 154 Russellville Road TR
Seller: Kane, Claudia J., (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Blythewood Property Management LLC
Seller: RYMC LLC
Date: 08/03/22

130 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $3,312,500
Buyer: 809 College Highway LLC
Seller: Saremi LLP
Date: 07/29/22

18 Sterling St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,500
Buyer: Michelle Pinto
Seller: Michael D. Blanchard
Date: 08/02/22

9 Stuart Place
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Ivan J. Rodriguez
Seller: Wayne P. Proulx
Date: 07/29/22

135 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Shelly A. Hawley
Seller: Vitaliy Bich
Date: 07/29/22

7 William St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Garsesus White
Seller: Iurie Beleai
Date: 08/01/22

WILBRAHAM

7 Falcon Heights
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $739,000
Buyer: Michael J. Hyder
Seller: John M. Rossini
Date: 07/29/22

4 Leemond St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Timothy P. Sheehan
Seller: Mary S. Christensen
Date: 07/29/22

5 Old Farm Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $610,000
Buyer: Krishma Safaya
Seller: L. R. Mudawwar 2007 TR
Date: 08/02/22

4 Oxford Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Evan R. Tardy
Seller: John T. Thorpe
Date: 07/27/22

335 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $437,900
Buyer: Pauline J. Jones
Seller: Vantage Home Buyers LLC
Date: 07/25/22

680 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $309,900
Buyer: Brooke Williams
Seller: Norbert Gould
Date: 07/29/22

44 Weston St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jennifer Peltz
Seller: Campagnari Construction LLC
Date: 08/01/22

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

9 Applewood Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Afsoun Ostadaliaskariha
Seller: Doris Troy
Date: 07/29/22

31 Colonial Court
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Jocelin G. Perry
Seller: Robert H. Whittemore
Date: 08/01/22

128 Cottage St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $479,900
Buyer: Trang M. Nguyen
Seller: Jon E. Kent
Date: 07/27/22

354 Henry St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $219,500
Buyer: Alexander Niefer
Seller: Scott Tundermann
Date: 08/02/22

940 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,348,500
Buyer: Francisco J. Martin
Seller: Neil Carey
Date: 08/05/22

585 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $670,000
Buyer: Madalina Defta
Seller: John A. Loos
Date: 08/01/22

63 Woodlot Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $871,000
Buyer: Cathleen M. Mitchell
Seller: Kinga K. Pluta
Date: 07/25/22

BELCHERTOWN

279 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Gregory A. Gresham
Seller: James J. Spellman
Date: 08/01/22

84 Canal Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Kristin Davis
Seller: Patricia A. Davis
Date: 08/05/22

27 Cloverhill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: William R. Mueller
Seller: Stacy L. Monette
Date: 08/01/22

1041 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: David E. Valade
Seller: Frank H. Rogala
Date: 07/29/22

565 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Nathan P. Poirier
Seller: Barbara A. Miskiewicz RET
Date: 07/29/22

21 Green Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $680,000
Buyer: Jennifer Schilling
Seller: Timothy J. Frasier
Date: 07/27/22

80 Jackson St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jenine Davison
Seller: Laura Madden
Date: 08/04/22

6 Jeffery Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Naomi Valentine
Seller: Roy A. Cooley
Date: 07/26/22

19 Oakwood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Margaux MacDonald
Seller: Vincent Cardona
Date: 08/03/22

107 Pondview Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $556,500
Buyer: Gaurav Dang
Seller: Dwight D. Lowe
Date: 08/04/22

213 Summit St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Emily M. Flores-Asencio
Seller: Allen J. Fizsimmons
Date: 08/05/22

376 Turkey Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Cathy A. Terry
Seller: Thomas A. Nelson
Date: 07/28/22

205 Ware Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $238,350
Buyer: Ngan T. Nguyen
Seller: Linh Tran
Date: 08/02/22

5 Whispering Pines Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $355,500
Buyer: Rasif Rafiq
Seller: Jeffrey R. Lamore
Date: 07/29/22

CHESTERFIELD

818 Main St.
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Karen Militana
Seller: Scott Swigget-Miller
Date: 08/05/22

EASTHAMPTON

4 Bernie Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $217,778
Buyer: Wicked Deals LLC
Seller: Claudia J. Cunningham
Date: 07/29/22

32 Briggs St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Emily Gamber
Seller: Mark J. Vecchio
Date: 07/29/22

22 Gaston St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: John Dunphy
Seller: Frederick C. Sthilaire
Date: 07/25/22

9 Gula Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Rachel Matteis
Seller: Huguette D. Beauchemin
Date: 07/29/22

27 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Anne Vaillant
Seller: Nathan G. Davis
Date: 07/29/22

10 Knipfer Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Ian Wentz-Young
Seller: Tarla Colton-Bergman
Date: 07/27/22

31 Pine Hill Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Lindsey Broussard
Seller: Mark J. Popielarczyk
Date: 07/29/22

25 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: William Lotter
Seller: Ruth O. Hennemann
Date: 07/29/22

11 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Jenna J. Messer
Seller: Holly H. Allgaier
Date: 08/03/22

20 Underwood Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jaime D. Pizha
Seller: Richard M. Zafft
Date: 08/05/22

GOSHEN

8 Berkshire Trail, E
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Pratt
Seller: Kurt Elgers
Date: 07/26/22

57 Lake Dr.
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $554,000
Buyer: Rick D. Chandler
Seller: Rochelle Nahmias RET
Date: 07/29/22

149 West St.
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. West
Seller: Gary R. Papineau
Date: 08/04/22

GRANBY

609 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Nicole L. Garreffi
Seller: Bruce Labonte
Date: 08/03/22

Batchelor St., Lot 5
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Better Together Dog
Seller: Equity Trust Co.
Date: 07/27/22

Cold Hill Road Lot 6
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Matthew Huard
Seller: Antonio C. Branco
Date: 07/25/22

5 Darrel Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Nationwideabstract LC
Seller: Wright, Barbara Ann, (Estate)
Date: 08/03/22

12 Hubbard Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Tinamarie Garde
Seller: Timothy M. Tremblay
Date: 08/05/22

165 Kendall St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Mosheh Roller
Seller: Oziel Woodward
Date: 08/01/22

50 North St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Michael Romano
Seller: Hudgik, Frank A., (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

HADLEY

5 Aloha Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $442,500
Buyer: Sally F. Rubenstone
Seller: Jonathan Schneider
Date: 08/01/22

177 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Boisvert
Seller: Anthony A. Pipczynski
Date: 07/28/22

HATFIELD

18 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Benson MS Realty
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 08/03/22

6 King St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Garland H. Green
Seller: Peter J. Johanson
Date: 08/04/22

HUNTINGTON

22 Basket St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Brad A. Dawley
Seller: James T. Dawley
Date: 07/25/22

18 Crescent St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Desmond Whalen
Seller: Justin R. Pinard
Date: 07/29/22

NORTHAMPTON

783 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,147,800
Buyer: Milestone Funeral Services
Seller: Ahearn, Michael T., (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

15 Burncolt Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Kyle L. Scott
Seller: Kendra Kaczenski-Cross
Date: 08/04/22

41 Chestnut Ave.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $631,000
Buyer: Spencer Sherman
Seller: Ray G. Sylvester
Date: 07/29/22

635 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Anthony A. Dastoli
Seller: Driscoll, Thomas D., (Estate)
Date: 08/04/22

78 Golden Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Pamela E. Witting
Seller: Elbin Vargas
Date: 08/04/22

142 Grove St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $405,600
Buyer: Alfred F. Lyons
Seller: Anna Jarnryd
Date: 08/01/22

64 Hatfield St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Erin Lingle
Seller: Craig L. Moore
Date: 08/05/22

8 Heffernan St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $555,500
Buyer: Emily M. Jacke
Seller: Elizabeth C. Walton
Date: 07/25/22

11 Ladyslipper Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Ann M. Rocheleau
Seller: Peter R. Daniello
Date: 08/01/22

102 Massasoit St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $805,000
Buyer: Jordi Herold
Seller: A. Nicholas Fleisher
Date: 08/05/22

60 Norwood Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Stephen C. Bartlett LT
Seller: Mari Jon Adams
Date: 08/01/22

54 Rick Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Eliezer Hutton
Seller: Renaud, Barbara T., (Estate)
Date: 07/28/22

83 Spring St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $449,000
Buyer: Building Trust LLC
Seller: Chaos Real Estate LLC
Date: 08/05/22

44 Winterberry Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: William Scales
Seller: Burt Snover
Date: 07/28/22

PELHAM

13 Bray Court
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $439,250
Buyer: Stephen J. Prieston
Seller: Maria Varriale
Date: 07/27/22

SOUTH HADLEY

2 Benoit Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Pavan Nandan-Racherla
Seller: Christopher M. Kibler
Date: 07/28/22

48 Charon Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: David Yang
Seller: Bryan Pelchat
Date: 08/05/22

44 Chestnut Hill Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $486,000
Buyer: Robert Martin
Seller: Aimee R. Racicot
Date: 08/01/22

100 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Carlson
Seller: Sandra M. Roy
Date: 08/01/22

20 Country Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $353,700
Buyer: Lindsay Smith
Seller: Kyle L. Scott
Date: 07/28/22

9 Graves St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Jessica Mekal-Foss
Seller: Gallagher Capital Group LLC
Date: 08/01/22

39 Hillside Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Brittney M. Stedman
Seller: Reginald W. Lucia
Date: 07/26/22

12 Normandy Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Samantha A. Kloft
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 07/27/22

29 Searle Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Kathryn Peverley
Seller: Kerkoff, Michael D., (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

3 Walnut St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jordan Veins
Seller: Cockerill, Margaret J., (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

SOUTHAMPTON

36 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Patrick S. Michaud
Seller: James E. Carlson
Date: 08/05/22

73 Fomer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Ryan Dearborn
Seller: Daviau & Robert Properties LLC
Date: 08/05/22

104 Gilbert Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $428,500
Buyer: William Keyes
Seller: Michael J. Vail
Date: 07/28/22

154 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $499,900
Buyer: 154 Russellville Road TR
Seller: Kane, Claudia J., (Estate)
Date: 07/29/22

86 Strong Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: Christopher Dunham
Seller: Andrew Dirats
Date: 08/01/22

100 White Loaf Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $382,500
Buyer: Guinevere A. Vanhorne
Seller: Kara D. Cisek
Date: 08/01/22

21 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $780,000
Buyer: Michael S. Yu
Seller: Matthew M. Gagnon
Date: 07/28/22

WARE

4 Mattson Blvd.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Moira K. Mathieu
Seller: Jennie S. Kapinos
Date: 08/04/22

207 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Richard A. Zelinski
Seller: Richard A. May
Date: 07/27/22

207 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Sanborn
Seller: Nicholas W. Burgos
Date: 08/03/22

51 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $310,400
Buyer: Michael F. Matondi
Seller: Audra Hogle
Date: 07/28/22

19 Walnut St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Michael A. Elwell
Seller: Arthur G. Elwell
Date: 07/29/22

WESTHAMPTON

Blueberry Hill Road Lot 1
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Benjamin A. Kraus
Seller: Martin M. Downey
Date: 08/05/22

100 Laurel Hill Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $564,750
Buyer: Maria Rabinovich
Seller: Jannifer L. Waters
Date: 08/04/22

199 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Jordan Prickett
Seller: Joseph B. Prickett
Date: 08/03/22

WILLIAMSBURG

3 Chesterfield Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $787,000
Buyer: Leigh Fagin
Seller: Mark D. Corner
Date: 07/29/22

WORTHINGTON

160 Lindsay Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $161,500
Buyer: Thomas G. Church
Seller: Bruce N. Porzelt
Date: 08/02/22

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the months of July and August 2022. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Falls Polish Home
27 Grove St.
$60,000 — New fire-alarm system

Couture Partners LLC
12 Chapman St.
$20,170 — New cabinets, kitchen sink, floors, bathroom drop ceiling

Hampden Charter School of Science
20 Johnson Road
$9,238 — Build shed

O’Leary-Vincunas LLC
2140 Westover Road
$190,000 — Roofing

HADLEY

CBR Realty Corp.
191 Russell St.
N/A — Roofing

FDF Realty LLP
299 Russell St.
N/A — Insulation

Francine Ness
137 West St.
N/A — Demolish floors on first and second floor of main house

Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters
227 Russell St.
N/A — Move existing sign

LEE

Min Khant
114 Housatonic St.
$39,200 — Fit out street-level commercial restaurant and kitchen, including installation of new hood exhaust and fire-suppression system, painting, and railing and deck repairs

LENOX

PVI Lenox Village LLC
51 Church St.
$5,000 — Select demolition to lower level

NORTHAMPTON

Colvest/Northampton LLC
325 King St.
$2,000 — Non-illuminated wall sign

Colvest/Northampton LLC
327 King St.
$25,000 — Cell site modification

Community Enterprises Inc.
5 Franklin St.
$43,037 — Fire sprinkler system

LP Altera Northampton Investors
195 Industrial Dr.
$125,000 — HVAC

Smith College
14 Green St.
$75,500 — HVAC sheet-metal work

PITTSFIELD

542 Tyler LLC
534 Tyler St.
$12,000 — Interior non-structural demolition and removal of finishes and furnishings

Rapissarda Laiken
1404 North St.
$1,000 — Select interior demolition

SPRINGFIELD

Blackened Realty LLC
201 Worthington St.
$37,000 — Alter second-floor interior tenant space at Smith’s Billiards for new accessible women’s restroom

City of Springfield
31 Kensington Ave.
$25,800 — Alter existing library at Kensington International School into two new classrooms, remove and replace walls and door in mechanical room

Manuel Colon
820 Worthington St.
$15,000 — Repair minor holes in sheetrock on mercantile building

Eastern General Contractors Inc.
38 Berkshire Ave.
$10,875 — Roofing

Stephen Jablonski, Jillian McLeod
22 Green Lane
$3,500 — Add second level to existing garden shed

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency
1550 Main St.
$145,041.60 — Remove and replace glass doors, install fire caulking in existing penetrations

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that eight of its attorneys have been named to Best Lawyers in America for 2023.

They are: Kenneth Albano, recognized in the category of business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships); Gary Breton, banking and finance law; Gina Barry, elder law; Hyman Darling, elder law; Mark Tanner, litigation – real estate; Michael Katz, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law; Peter MacConnell, real-estate law; and Stephen Krevalin, family law. Daniel McKellick was also recognized in Best Lawyers’ Ones to Watch in America for his work in real-estate law.

The firm was also recognized in Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms in U.S. News & World Report. The firm is regionally ranked in tier 1 in banking and finance law, tier 2 in business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), tier 2 in elder law, and tier 2 in family law.

Daily News

AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced the return of the 19th annual A+ Awards celebration to be held on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the UMass Student Union Ballroom, celebrating “This Is What’s Next.” Each year, the chamber bestows A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in education, business, and civic engagement across its service area of Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland.

Nominations for the 2022 A+ Awards are open for one more week and can be made online only through Sept. 9 at amherstarea.com. The A+ Award categories are:

• The Lifetime Achievement/Legacy Award recognizes an individual or business for their outstanding contributions to the Amherst area over their career and the lasting impact their work will have on future generations.

• The Leader in Innovation Award recognizes entrepreneurs who craft creative solutions and redefine the way Amherst lives, works, and learns.

• The Leader in Sustainability Award recognizes a business, organization, or individual for their contribution to creating a sustainable Amherst, preserving and ensuring its vitality for future generations.

• The Young Professional Award honors a young professional who has a positive presence and has made a significant impact in the Amherst area.

• The Community Service Award honors a business, nonprofit, or individual that has benefited the lives of the Amherst area community through their work and outreach.

• The Chamber MVP is an individual who truly embodies the mission of the Amherst Area Chamber as a convener, connector, and catalyst for business and community development.

PeoplesBank returns as the presenting sponsor of the program and is an Amherst Area Chamber Platinum Chamber Champion partner. BusinessWest continues as media partner for this annual event.

Sponsorships and advertising opportunities are still available for the celebration. Email Claudia Pazmany, the chamber’s executive director, with any inquiries at [email protected].

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Ron Bryant, president of Baystate Noble Hospital and Baystate Franklin Medical Center – Northern Region, will extend his role to become president of Baystate Health Regional Hospitals, which also includes Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer.

His new role becomes effective on Oct. 9 upon the retirement of Molly Gray as president and chief administrative officer of the Baystate Health Eastern Region.

“At Baystate Health, our goal is to continue providing a top-tier patient experience while focusing on safety, quality, and value across our organization. Ron’s proven visionary leadership and business acumen will further our mission of improving the health of the people in our communities every day, with quality and compassion,” said Marion McGowan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Baystate Health.

Bryant joined Baystate Health in 2015 as president of Baystate Noble Hospital. Previously, he was executive vice president and CEO for the Noble Hospital Health System. In 2018, he was promoted to president of both Baystate Noble Hospital and Baystate Franklin Medical Center.

He brings a wealth of leadership experience and a passion for positive change within the Western Mass. healthcare community. During his time as president of Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield and Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, he successfully developed the strategic and operational plans for the two hospitals, comprised of 200 combined beds and nearly 1,800 team members. He will now oversee three hospitals with nearly 300 combined beds and more than 2,300 Baystate team members.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Bing Productions will present MOSSO’s “Mix and Match: A Chamber Music Medley” on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in Asbury Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield.

This performance by the MOSSO Chamber Players features violinists Robert Lawrence and Miho Matsuno, violist Masako Yanagita, cellist Patricia Edens, double bassist Boots Maleson, clarinetist Christopher Cullen, horn player Robert Hoyle, and bassoonist Shotaro Mori. According to Lawrence, the program — including the music of Mozart, Brahms, Dvořák, and Schubert — will be family-friendly and last approximately 75 minutes.

General-admission tickets, $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and students, are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/mosso-chamber-ensemble-tickets-408920240447.

Cover Story Sports & Leisure

Looking Sharp

Anneliese Townsend

Anneliese Townsend

 

“Never attempt to catch an axe.”

That’s one of a handful of rules printed above the targets in each of the 12 lanes at the Agawam Axe House. And while that’s just good common sense, said Anneliese Townsend, founder and co-owner of this intriguing business, this reminder is there for a reason.

“You would think that would be pretty obvious, but, in fact, it’s a natural instinct to put your foot out and try to stop something coming at you, so we have to remind people that it’s an axe,” she told BusinessWest, adding that, since she opened the doors in January 2018, no one has tried to catch an axe.

But many have tried to throw one.

Indeed, this unique enterprise, said to be the first of its kind in New England, the only one in Western Mass., and one of just six currently operating in the state, has seen, well, a sharp rise in interest since it opened, and the numbers — of both participants and revenue — continue to grow.

The venue has welcomed a wide range of constituencies, from companies large and small that are looking for a new and different kind of team-building exercise (a large contingent from LEGO was in recently) to birthday, bachelor, bachelorette, and divorce parties (axe throwing has become popular among women, as we’ll see); from leagues that compete weekly to individuals, many of them professionals, who are looking to blow off a little steam and rid themselves of some stress.

There are many days when Townsend will see all of the above.

“It’s absolutely massive, and it’s getting bigger every day,” she said of the sport of axe throwing, which she was introduced to while on a trip to Montreal with her boyfriend (and now business partner), Bob Manning.

“We Googled ‘things to do in Montreal,’” she recalled, “and the second and fourth items that came up were both axe throwing, and I thought that it was the best thing I’d ever heard of.”

the Burn Battle

The Agawam Axe House hosts a number of leagues and fund-raising events, such as the Burn Battle, which raises money for the American Cancer Society. Participants in last year’s ‘battle’ are seen here. The 2022 edition is set for Oct. 2.

They went to such a facility, but because they were with Manning’s children, they could not partake — it was an over-18 activity, and for obvious reasons. But Townsend was certainly intrigued, and upon returning to Western Mass., she did another Google search, this one to find axe-throwing venues near Agawam.

The closest one she found was in New Jersey. Instead of driving there, this entrepreneur — she’s been involved with an ice-cream shop and some other ventures in this community — eventually decided to open her own facility.

“We Googled ‘things to do in Montreal,’ and the second and fourth items that came up were both axe throwing, and I thought that it was the best thing I’d ever heard of.”

And from the day it opened, it’s been a hit. Or, as participants in this activity might say in this sport, it has stuck.

Business is brisk, and as the sport gets more exposure — from ESPN 8 or from the many who have already tried it — Townsend expects it will only continue to grow in popularity.

When people try it, they find that it’s not nearly as hard as it might look, and it has become a proven stress reliever — at a time when many are having issues with stress, for one reason or another.

“We have a lot of doctors from Noble Hospital [in Westfield] who come in,” she said. “They’re the most stressed people out there.”

This writer tried it, and, after a few throws to get a feel for it and stop trying to ‘flick the axe,’ as Townsend put it, managed to stick a few. Hundreds of other people have done the same, and that’s why Agawam Axe House is more than on target with its business projections.

For this issues and its focus on sports and leisure, BusinessWest talked with Townsend about the sport — and business — of axe throwing, and why she believes this is anything but a fad.

 

Gaining an Edge

When asked about axe throwing, or hatchet throwing, which is a more accurate description of the implement being used, as a leisure activity, Townsend described it as “a Canadian thing,” meaning that is where it started and is perhaps most popular.

She said urban axe throwing became a sport — and a business — in 2007 with the opening of Backyard Axe Throwing, or BATL, founded by Matt Wilson. It has grown from there, and there are now hundreds of venues across Canada, the U.S., Australia, Europe, and elsewhere, with more opening their doors every year.

Indeed, Townsend, a native of Australia whose parents still live there, said she keeps urging them to open an axe-throwing business in Sidney. They haven’t, but others have, much to her consternation.

Members of one of the leagues throwing at the Agawam Axe House

Members of one of the leagues throwing at the Agawam Axe House show off their axes, and their enthusiasm for the increasingly popular sport.

There are now actually two bodies governing the sport and promoting it on a global scale — the International Axe Throwing Federation (IATF), which the Agawam Axe House operates under, and the World Axe Throwing League (WATL).

Overall, the sport is catching on at many levels, everything from tournaments, including the U.S. Open, staged by the WATL — which took place in July in Minneapolis, with the finals airing on ESPN — and the International Axe Throwing Championship, which took place in June, to amateurs picking up the sport in places like the Agawam Axe House.

As for the business of axe throwing … getting off the ground was relatively easy, said Townsend, explaining that she acquired the location, secured the necessary permits (a liquor license was sought initially but not granted), and found insurance — a necessary but expensive item in this business sector, to be sure — through a company in Chicago that specializes in writing policies for axe-throwing establishments.

And, as noted, things got off to a fast start, and the company quickly built up some momentum.

But COVID brought things to a screeching halt in the spring of 2020, as it prompted the closing of all indoor sports facilities, said Townsend, adding that she and Manning eventually gained permission from the town to operate a few lanes outdoors, enabling the business to survive until restrictions were fully lifted in the spring of 2021.

Since then, business has been steady, with healthy amounts of new and repeat business, with both being vital to the success of any sports-related business.

Visitors to the Axe House, which now also boasts ‘foot bowling’ — bowling with a football — can use ‘house’ axes or bring their own, although it must meet certain specifications, especially with the size of the head and the material for the handle; it must be wood to control the amount of bounceback.

Many who partake, especially those in leagues, do own their own axes, which typically run for $80 to $90 — much more than a hatchet off the shelf at a hardware store would cost — and some go for as much as $200 to $300, with customized handles.

“That’s part of the fun; you come in thinking, ‘I’m never going to be able to do this,’ and you stick it, and the elation is … well, that’s what it’s all about. That’s why it’s so addictive.”

But otherwise, the sport is very affordable, with lanes renting for $25 per hour, per person.

Townsend said axe throwing is growing in popularity for a number of reasons, starting with the fact that it really is much easier than people think and doesn’t take any real strength, agility, or athletic ability in order to excel. It’s been called the ‘great equalizer’ by one facility owner interviewed by USA Today. And Townsend agreed with that assessment.

“The reason many people don’t try it is because they assume you have to be strong, you have to be able to throw it fast, you have to have some throwing ability,” she said. “It’s a lot easier than one could imagine; people come in every day and say, ‘I’ll never be able to do it,’ and four or five throws later, they’re sticking it.

“It’s all about where you stand — I can make anyone stick it,” she went on, adding that instruction for first-timers is part of the package. “And that’s part of the fun; you come in thinking, ‘I’m never going to be able to do this,’ and you stick it, and the elation is … well, that’s what it’s all about. That’s why it’s so addictive.”

What’s more, you can do this yourself or in groups of all kinds — leagues, a gathering of co-workers, those bachelor, bachelorette, and divorce parties (Townsend had two of them scheduled for the approaching weekend when she talked with BusinessWest), and fundraising events.

These include the upcoming Burn Battle, the second annual women’s tournament, slated for Oct. 2, that will raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

“Girls from all over New England and far away as New Jersey and Philadelphia come and throw and compete,” she said, adding that one of the bigger surprises thus far is how popular the Axe House, and the sport, has become with women. She estimates that perhaps 65% of customers are women. She’s not exactly sure why, although she has some theories.

“I think many women know that this is women-owned; the assumption, when you hear ‘axe throwing,’ is that it’s going to be a gentleman teaching you how to throw axes. I think that women find out it’s me, because I’ve been on the radio a few times, they’re much more comfortable coming in and trying it out,” she said. “Also, it’s an outlet — for everybody, not just women.”

Looking ahead, Townsend said there are no immediate plans to add additional locations or expand beyond Agawam. The immediate focus is on growing the business there and continuing to build the customer base by promoting the sport in any way she can.

 

All You Could Axe For

As for some of those other posted rules, they include “never run with an axe,” “no trick shots,” and “do not hold the axe by the blade.”

There is another rule — participants must wear close-toed shoes (again, for obvious reasons). Some show up not aware of this stipulation, said Townsend, adding that the Axe House has shoes (Crocs, actually) for rent.

“We call them shoes of shame, for obvious reasons — you weren’t smart enough to wear close-toed shoes throwing sharp objects,” she joked, adding that fewer people have to rent them these days, yet another sign that people are becoming aware of this activity and what it’s all about.

Suffice it to say this business venture is paying off, and that participants are not only sticking it, but sticking with it.

 

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

Features Special Coverage

Meetings of the Minds

Korey Bell says Vistage has acted like a board of directors

Korey Bell says Vistage has acted like a board of directors for small companies who don’t have such a body, and has helped with some important issues.

 

Korey Bell had an issue.

It hasn’t been entirely resolved, but he’s making some real progress, thanks to some other business owners he was able to bounce things off.

The issue concerns pricing of the services provided by his company, Westside Finishing, which, despite that name, is based in Holyoke (yes, it started in West Springfield). More specifically, Bell noted that he held the line on prices, despite inflation and soaring costs of labor, material, and just about everything else, while almost all his competitors had raised theirs. He had questions about what to do and when, but needed a sounding board, like a board of directors.

And he had one in the form of a group of area business owners and managers — many of them in various stages of leadership transitions — called Vistage. This is a global entity with chapters across the country that total more than 23,000 members. The group now serving Western and Central Mass., led by business consultant Ravi Kulkarni, is in its infancy stages, having been formed in the spring.

Bell, the second-generation CEO who took over Westside Finishing from his father a few years ago, was one of the group’s first members. He credits the others in the room with being good listeners, solid providers of advice, and, perhaps most importantly, peers who will hold him accountable when he decides to move forward with something.

“We all do things differently, and that’s a refreshing perspective,” he said. “I may be thinking of attacking a problem one way, but at the meeting, some of the other members are able to ask the questions to get you looking at the problem in a different light. You might come into a meeting with a plan, and by the time you leave, you might have turned that plan on its head, but you’re more comfortable with the plan you came up with with the group then you were with your own.”

“You might come into a meeting with a plan, and by the time you leave, you might have turned that plan on its head, but you’re more comfortable with the plan you came up with with the group then you were with your own.”

Will Maybury, chief financial officer at East Longmeadow-based Maybury Material Handling, agreed. Maybury, son of company president and CEO John Maybury, is poised to take the helm at the company in a few years (there is no firm timetable) and he joined Vistage to help prepare him for that moment and learn from those who already have the title he aspires to.

“Where I saw the biggest value for myself is the growth opportunity the group provided me as someone coming into the CEO position,” Maybury said. “I’m able to surround myself with people who have been in the role and get an outside perspective, while also giving myself some personal growth and networking to help me transition into the role.”

Steve Graham, owner of Toner Plastics in East Longmeadow has been a Vistage member for more than a decade now. He’s not a member of the local group — instead he travels to Boston for meetings there — but is a firm believer of the organization’s power to bring minds together to address common problems and issues, and often help create answers.

“You have an opportunity to speak with other people who are in similar positions of leadership at their companies — entrepreneurs, owners, executives,” he said. “And having an advisory board of sorts, or a board of directors, which is what Vistage boils down to for many of us, is extremely valuable.

William Maybury, now in the process of succession planning

William Maybury, now in the process of succession planning

“You sometimes get reinforcement of an idea that you’ve been thinking about, and it’s just enough to push you over the edge to pull the trigger,” Graham went on. “And sometimes … you get a different view of the problem or the issues that you’re seeking to solve, and it pushes you in another direction; it’s extremely motivating for me.”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked with members of the local Vistage group about what they gain from participation, and how the monthly meetings have helped them become better leaders at a time when managing a business, large or small, has become ever-more challenging.

 

That’s the Idea

As he talked about his group and how and why it was formed, Kulkarni told BusinessWest that there was a clear need for such an entity in Western Mass., where there are few groups of this type focused on bringing young CEOs from diverse industries together around a conference room table.

Those that do exist are mostly regional, with Boston being the closest meeting place, and have requirements for membership that ultimately exclude many of the small businesses in this region. Vistage requires companies to have at least 25 employees and annual revenues of at least $5 million, which brings more area businesses into the mix, he said.

As for how it works, Kulkarni said it’s rather simple — when you put a dozen or so high-performing business executives in a room, these meetings of the minds have enormous potential for creating not only meaningful dialogue about the issues of the day — and there are many of them — but give and take that leads to problem-solving.

“You sometimes get reinforcement of an idea that you’ve been thinking about, and it’s just enough to push you over the edge to pull the trigger. And sometimes … you get a different view of the problem or the issues that you’re seeking to solve, and it pushes you in another direction; it’s extremely motivating for me.”

Elaborating, he said the hallmark of Vistage groups is something called ‘issue processing,’ a structured, thorough approach to helping members think through the dynamics of a challenge.

“It forces you to push beyond your assumptions and get to the real issues,” Kulkarni explained. “That’s critical to understanding and evaluating your options before making a decision and taking action.”

Such was the case with Bell and his issue with pricing and whether to increase his, which we’ll return to later. As he talked about it, Bell said that while Westside Finishing, a powder-coating operation that handles products ranging from cabinets to hand-dryers, has grown exponentially since his father started it as a one-person show and now boasts 65 employees, it is still, in most all respects, a small company.
“We’re not to the size where I would have a formal board of directors that I, as the president or CEO could lean on, bounce ideas off of, or help me with strategizing and planning for the future growth and development of our business,” he explained. “The members of Vistage are all people who have similar, high-level experience in running and managing a business, but at the same time, they have different backgrounds, very similar to what you would find on a board of directors.”

While Vistage is open to business owners and managers at all stages of their careers, Kulkarni said it is especially beneficial to those going through transition, be it in leadership or ownership.

Such was the case with Dave Boisselle, senior vice president of Operations for J. Polep in Chicopee, which has gone from being family owned to being owned by a large conglomerate, National Convenience Distributors. It’s not a small change, he told BusinessWest.

“When you’re sitting in the room and you’re talking corporate, it’s much different from family,” he said. “Family is family; everyone knows what they have to do, and they can talk to each other a certain way. Corporate is all professional, so you choose your words wisely and explain things in much more detail. It’s a much different structure.”

As for his transition to leadership of his company and how Vistage will ease that process, Maybury said he intends to be a sponge and “soak up as much as he can” at the monthly meetings with the goal of being more ready to take the helm. He said he benefits from being in a room where people at different points in their careers and different business situations, can thus provide different perspectives.

“Some people in our group are getting to the end of their careers and want to pass on some knowledge,” he explained. “I’m at the beginning, and some are in the middle; everyone is different, and that brings a lot of perspective to the table.”

Overall, Vistage provides value to members by bringing leaders of diverse businesses who are facing common issues and challenges together in a room to share what are usually different thoughts and approaches to those matters.

Ravi Kulkarni

Ravi Kulkarni says the Vistage group he leads is diverse and looking to add new members from different sectors of the economy.

“People do things differently in their businesses — they have different ideas,” said Graham. “They may have different ways of financing their business that you haven’t considered, for example, and you make some friends.”

Ryan Clutterbuck, president of Pace Engineering Recruiters in Quincy, which specializes in finding artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicle and high-performance and quantum-computing engineers, and another member of the local Vistage group, agreed.

“It’s beneficial to have a group of people that you can share ideas within a safe environment, where they’re willing to give you direct feedback,” he told BusinessWest. “You can’t always run your ideas by people below you, so you need a group of peers who can give you honest and direct feedback, and that’s what I get out of Vistage.”

Such feedback is what Bell sought, and received, when he brought his ‘issue’ to the group a few months ago.

“This year has been the busiest year in company history — we’ve set four sales records from January up until now,” he said while setting the stage for the discussion that ensued. “The issue brought to the group was ‘I’m busier than I’ve ever been, my margins are pretty good, but I feel that I may be leaving something on the table … because a lot of competitors had gone up 10-fold from what I’d done as far as price increases since COVID started.’

“I wanted to make sure I was charging a fair-market price for the service that I’m offering and make sure I’m not leaving a lot of meat on the bone,” he went on, adding, without going into much detail about his actual plans, that members of the group were able to help him answer those critical questions and others that were brought to the table.

“You can’t always run your ideas by people below you, so you need a group of peers who can give you honest and direct feedback, and that’s what I get out of Vistage.”

This is the essence of issue-processing, said Kulkarni, adding that members ask clarifying questions and, by meeting’s end, have the member in question much closer to moving beyond asking questions and acting. And once this action is taken, these same group members will follow up and hold the members accountable for the actions taken, again, similar to the way a larger company’s board of directors would.

Boisselle agreed.

“When it comes to issue-processing, first members listen and then they ask questions and ultimately give suggestions,” he said. “And you start changing your perspective on how you’re going to do things; asking the questions gets you to start thinking, then the advice comes, and then you connect everything together and decide how to move forward.”

Clutterbuck brought his own issue — one of scalability and the personal mindset to accompany such possible growth — to the group and came away with the feedback he was seeking.

“I’d gone through the roller-coaster of ‘are you building to scale or are you building to get to a certain level and then sustain?’” he said. “So, I brought an issue to the table that was related to more my personal mindset of what should I be doing from a target standpoint and a growth standpoint that’s going to beneficial for both the company and the family and making sure I’m not burning out on either end.

“It certainly helped me reset and get back to the original plan that I had developed for the business and the direction I wanted to go in,” he went on as he recalled this issue-procession session. “It was a good conversation to have, because there’s no one else I can have it with.”

 

Meeting Expectations

Moving forward, Kulkarni said his immediate goal is to recruit more members — “we’re looking for those who are hungry, humble, and smart” — and bring the number of business leaders in the room closer to 12, the desired sweet spot.

Doing so will bring more voices to that table and more processing of critical issues facing area business owners and managers.

These company leaders do not have their own board of directors, but they can share one. And this is the essence of Vistage, summed up effectively and concisely by Clutterbuck.

“They say it’s lonely at the top; I don’t necessarily agree with that, but you don’t have a lot of sounding boards,” he said. “It’s not like you can bring these conversations to your employees or people within your organization because they’re deeply personal. This is a good group of people to have real conversations with.”

 

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

Insurance Special Coverage

Into the Breach

 

 

 

When hackers gained access to a large retailer’s computer network through scam emails to employees, more than 900 store locations were affected, and 2 million customers were impacted before the company was alerted by a security blogger six months later. That led to several class-action lawsuits against the company, attorney generals in multiple states opened investigations, and the affected credit-card companies issued fines.

In another case, a ransomware attack blocked all access to a regional accounting firm’s computer system, and also deleted files. After ransom was paid, it took several days to restore the applications and recover deleted files from a backup. As a result, the firm was unable to meet tax-filing deadlines, causing brand and reputation damage.

Then there was a company that provides technicians to a laptop manufacturer’s repair center. While a young woman’s laptop was in the custody of technicians at the center, her Facebook account was hacked, and several sexually explicit photos were posted to it. She negotiated a quick multi-million-dollar settlement with the laptop manufacturer, which demanded, in turn, that the staffing company compensate it for the privacy breach.

These are only three of many real-life cases detailed by the Hartford Financial Services Group as warnings that companies of any kind and any size are vulnerable to cybercrime.

“That’s where insurance comes in, to mitigate the cost of a claim,” said Chris Rivers, senior vice president of Phillips Insurance Agency in Chicopee. “Small businesses sometimes feel they have less risk than larger ones, but that’s not the case. Anybody can be hacked and be held ransom or have data get out.”

Breaches can come at all severity levels, he noted, from a simple Facebook hack to an attack that steals credit-card information or Social Security numbers from tens of thousands of consumers.

Chris Rivers

Chris Rivers

“Small businesses sometimes feel they have less risk than larger ones, but that’s not the case. Anybody can be hacked and be held ransom or have data get out.”

The Hartford reports that the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 million, and the U.S. will account for half of all breached data in the world by 2023, when an estimated 33 billion records will have been stolen by cybercriminals.

One of the more severe types of attacks, those involving ransomware, take place every 11 seconds, and the average ransom payment increased to more than $233,000 in 2020. Such attacks result in an average of 19 days of business interruption and downtime.

Again, it’s not just large companies at risk of cyberthreats of all kinds, said Jack Dowd, vice president of Personal Lines and a commercial risk consultant for the Dowd Insurance Agencies in Holyoke.

“The percentage of small businesses that are targeted is significant,” he noted. “A lot of the people doing this know that a lot of small businesses don’t have the infrastructure in place that a larger business does and are more susceptible to attack, and that’s why they’re attacking them.

“It’s important to know, if you’re taking credit cards or you have a system where you store any type of sensitive information with clients, you’re vulnerable,” he went on. “We’ve seen them target people who wouldn’t think they’d be typical targets, and your best course of action is to protect yourself as best you can, and that would include looking into cyber insurance.”

 

Costs Pile Up

According to the Philadelphia Insurance Companies, the average cost of a data breach is $204 per lost record, with more than half of such costs attributable to lost customers and the associated public-relations expenses to rebuild an organization’s reputation.

That’s one reason why cyber insurance policies cover two distinct classes of loss: first-party and third-party.

First-party coverages include loss resulting from damage to or corruption of electronic data and computer programs; income reimbursement during the period of restoration of the computer system; customer notification, regulatory fines and penalties, and public-relations expenses; and reimbursement for extortion expenses, among others. Third-party coverages, on the other hand, include legal liability for financial damage and privacy violations involving customers, employees, and other third parties.

“Network-security liability is a coverage that will provide defense and settlement costs in the event a third-party claimant sues the insured over a failure to secure their own computer system,” Dowd explained.

Jack Dowd

Jack Dowd

“If you’re taking credit cards or you have a system where you store any type of sensitive information with clients, you’re vulnerable.”

But he warned that these expenses can total much more than the client anticipates. In fact, insurers often include sublimits on certain specific types of losses, and it’s up to the insured party to purchase higher limits.

“A lot of insurance companies give a certain amount, say $50,000, toward notifying people they’ve been hacked. But the notification costs alone, depending on the size of the client book, could be more than that. Then there’s the cost to rebuild data, the cost to secure their network … a lot of things go into cyber insurance that people don’t always consider.”

Rivers agreed. “Within the insurance industry, a lot of carriers have thrown in some smaller sublimits that weren’t there in the past. But you can always buy more, up to what you want.”

It’s easy to see why they would. The Philadelphia Insurance Companies lists many breaches over the past several years that affected thousands of customers, like the international hacking group that gained access to the computerized cash registers of a restaurant chain and stole the credit-card information of 5,000 customers, starting a flood of fraudulent purchases around the world.

Or an employee of a Massachusetts rehabilitation center who improperly disposed of 4,000 client records that contained Social Security numbers, credit- and debit-card account numbers, names, addresses, telephone numbers, and sensitive medical information. The center settled the claim with the state and agreed to pay fines and penalties as well as extending $890,000 in customer redress funds for credit monitoring on behalf of the victims.

Selective Insurance Group relates the case of a payroll employee at a plastics manufacturing company who received a spoofed email from a scammer purporting to be the CEO, requesting that the employee send all employees’ W2s immediately. Which he did, and multiple employees reported that fraudulent tax returns were filed in their name.

This last example is a case of what’s known as ‘social engineering,’ and such phishing attempts have become more savvy and authentic-looking. “They’ve gotten a little more sophisticated in recent years,” Dowd said, which is why companies, often encouraged by their insurance companies, initiate training to reduce the chances of human error causing a breach.

 

Closing the Circle

Insurance companies provide another human element to the fight against cyberthreats, Dowd said.

“If you have a cyber policy, you have a place to go, a place of refuge, if you will. If you ever go to work Monday morning and your system is hacked and someone is demanding a ransom payment, you don’t know where to begin. But if you have cyber insurance, you can call the company; they’ve been through this many times, and they’ll tell you exactly what to do. It gives you a starting point you wouldn’t have otherwise.”

When quoting a policy, he added, an agency might run a test of the company’s system and let it know of any holes that need to be closed, Dowd added. “Even if you don’t proceed with coverage, at least you know you have those entry points, and you can pass it on to a person able to close those gaps for you.”

Insurers may also supply clients with training and quarterly check-ins, he added. “They’ll have your employees take these quizzes that will supply them with real-life incidents that happen in the cyber world, and have them identify the errors or signs that they were fake or malicious; they can actually give you some real-life practice on that.”

Rivers said many insurers provide an online help center, but many clients don’t use that resource, instead hiring a computer specialist to make sure the company has the correct virus and malware protection and that there are no gaps in security, in both the hardware and human realms.

However they delegate it, keeping up to date with the latest threats, strategies, and technology is critical, he added. Even though there’s a cost associated with that, it can pale compared to the cost of a breach.

“It’s something that is out there, and everyone can be impacted by it, no matter how small or how big they may be,” Rivers told BusinessWest. “The reputation of a company can certainly be impacted by it. It’s something people don’t always think about — or want to think about. They say, ‘I only have a couple computers; it can’t happen to me.’ But it can.”

 

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]