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Year: 2022

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Moves Closer to a New Home

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A rendering of the future Chicopee home of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, set to open in 2023.
Nonprofit Management Special Coverage

Growth Is on the Menu

 

A rendering of the future Chicopee home of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, set to open in 2023.

A rendering of the future Chicopee home of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, set to open in 2023.

While it manages an impressive flow of food from numerous sources to the people who need it most, in recent years, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been doing that job in a space that’s not sufficient for the work. That will change with the opening, in 2023, of a new headquarters in Chicopee that will more than double the organization’s space and allow it to serve more people with more food and more nutrition and educations — in effect, expanding the menu of what’s possible at a time when the need is great.

 

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts was launched in a Hadley barn 40 years ago. Four years later, it relocated to its current facility in Hatfield.

Today, as one of four regional food banks in Massachusetts, the organization provides food to 172 food pantries, meal sites, and shelters in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. Its food sources include the state and federal government, local farms — including two of its own  — retail and wholesale food businesses, community organizations, and individual donations.

The organization also provides other forms of food assistance, such as nutrition workshops, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment assistance, and education, public-policy advocacy, and engagement around issues of food insecurity.

That’s a lot of food and a lot of people being served, and not enough space to do it all. In fact, the Food Bank has had to turn away about a million pounds of food donations over the past three years, said Andrew Morehouse, its executive director.

The need for a new facility is nothing new, but the reality of one is finally on the near horizon, with a $19 million, 63,000-square-foot facility breaking ground in Chicopee next month and set to open next year, more than doubling the organization’s current 30,000 square feet of space.

Those are gratifying numbers, Morehouse said.

“This is a project we’ve been planning for probably six years, when we realized we were beginning to run out of space here at the facility in Hatfield. So we began the process of figuring out what we needed to do,” he told BusinessWest. “Do we want to expand the facility in Hatfield or purchase or build a second facility in Hampden County? Can we operate two facilities? If we can’t, are we prepared to move to the Springfield area?”

About three years ago, the Food Bank decided to move to Hampden County, for multiple reasons. “One is because it’s right at the crossroads of two major interstates, which facilitates loads of food to and from the Food Bank. We distribute large amounts of food, tens of thousands of pounds of food every day — over a million pounds every month.”

“It’s right at the crossroads of two major interstates, which facilitates loads of food to and from the Food Bank. We distribute large amounts of food, tens of thousands of pounds of food every day — over a million pounds every month.”

In addition, Hampden County boasts the region’s largest concentration of people facing food insecurity. “For that reason as well, we said, ‘we really need to be in Hampden County,’” Morehouse explained. “We’ve been an upper Pioneer Valley organization, even though we serve all four counties, and this affords us the opportunity to raise our visibility in Hampden County.”

More than two years ago, the Food Bank honed in on a building for sale on Carando Drive in Springfield and made an offer to purchase, but backed out after the inspection stage. “So we went back to the drawing board,” he said, and that process eventually brought the nonprofit to a parcel of land at the Chicopee River Business Park owned by Westmass Area Development Corp.

Andrew Morehouse (center) with Big Y CEO Charlie D’Amour (left) and Dennis Duquette, MassMutual Foundation president

Andrew Morehouse (center) with Big Y CEO Charlie D’Amour (left) and Dennis Duquette, MassMutual Foundation president, when they announced pledges of $1.5 million each to the Food Bank’s capital campaign last year.

The space is plentiful — 16.5 acres, 9.5 of which are buildable, the rest protected as wetlands and greenspace. The Dennis Group had begun designing a building well before the land purchase (Thomas Douglas Architects also had a hand in the design), and C.E. Floyd, based in Bedford, will do the construction, with groundbreaking, as noted, likely to happen next month and the new facility expected to open in March or April 2023, with move-in complete by that summer.

“It’s twice the size of our current facility, which gives us the capacity to receive, store, and distribute more healthy food to more people for decades to come,” Morehouse said.

 

Special Deliveries

The Food Bank’s reach is impressive, serving as a clearinghouse of emergency food for all four counties of Western Mass., most distributed to local food pantries, meal sites, and shelters.

“It’s important to note that more than 50% of the food we distribute is perishable foods, like vegetables and frozen meats,” Morehouse noted. “And a lot of the non-perishable food is very healthy grains, pastas, beans, and nutritious canned food items, low in salt and sugar, for people who don’t have time to cook.”

Much of the food the organization collects is purchased, using state and federal funds, from wholesalers, local supermarkets, and three dozen local farms, from which the Food Bank purchased more than a half-million pounds of vegetables last year using state funds; farmers also donate another half-million pounds each year.

“It’s important to note that more than 50% of the food we distribute is perishable foods, like vegetables and frozen meats. And a lot of the non-perishable food is very healthy grains, pastas, beans, and nutritious canned food items, low in salt and sugar, for people who don’t have time to cook.”

“We’ve also increased our own capacity to distribute food directly,” Morehouse said. “Since the late ’80s, we’ve been providing food to seniors in 51 senior centers across all four counties, and we continue to do that. Every month, we send a truck and provide bags of groceries to 6,500 elders — about 16 food items to supplement elders who lived on fixed incomes. And in the last six or seven years, we initiated a mobile food bank where we send a truck once or twice a month to 26 sites in the four counties — 10 in Hampden County — and provide fresh vegetables and other food items to individuals who live in food deserts, neighborhoods that don’t have grocery stores where they can buy healthy food.”

Andrew Morehouse

Andrew Morehouse says moving food — tens of thousands of pounds of it a day — in and out of the Food Bank’s headquarters will be much more efficient in the new facility.

The federal government responded well to suddenly increased food-insecurity needs in the first year of the pandemic, Morehouse noted, but by late 2021, many of those expanded safety-net programs were sunsetting, at the same time inflation was sending food prices soaring. “We believe that will lead to another spike in demand for emergency food.”

He intends for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to meet that demand locally.

“This brand-new building is designed to maximize the efficiency of the flow of inventory. Over the last 30 years at our current facility, we’ve been expanding in a very small footprint in any way we can; this new property allows us to maximize efficiency and store more food and move food in and out more quickly and have more bays to receive food and distribute it quickly.”

And because combating hunger requires multiple lines of attack, Morehouse plans to use the additional space for expanded nutrition education programs as well, including a large demonstration kitchen. He also plans to hire more staff.

“We have partnerships with local hospitals and community health centers to address people with food insecurity. We’ll have more staff to help people apply for SNAP benefits and have more community space to accommodate workshops and community events.”

One of the project funding sources, a MassWorks grant to the city of Chicopee for site development, requires the building to have a physical public benefit, Morehouse noted. “So we’ve entered into an easement agreement with the city where our parking lot and community room are available as emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster.”

Speaking of funding, while the project budget is $19 million, the capital campaign aimed to raise $26.3 million, which includes financing, furniture, fixtures, equipment, legal costs, accounting, and fundraising. Of that, more than $25 million has already been pledged. Large earmarks included $5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and $1.6 million from Chicopee’s coffers.

“Mayor [John] Vieau has repeatedly said how proud he is that the city of Chicopee will become the hub for food insecurity for the four counties of Western Massachusetts,” Morehouse said.

Other sources of funding include a New Market Tax Credit investment program, which will raise $4.2 million from investors, as well as support from individuals foundations, and businesses, he explained. “Lastly, the Food Bank will invest the proceeds from the same of our current building to the campaign.”

When MassDevelopment issued a $9.5 million tax-exempt bond for the project earlier this month, MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera noted that “more residents of Western Massachusetts will soon be able to access nutritious food and supportive services with the construction of this bigger, modern Food Bank. MassDevelopment is proud to deliver tax-exempt financing to help the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts fulfill its mission of addressing food insecurity and empowering people to live healthy lives.”

“This is a great project to be a part of,” added Matthew Krokov, first vice president of Commercial Banking at PeoplesBank, which purchased the bond. “The Food Bank plays a vital role in alleviating food insecurities in our region, and this investment in the Food Bank’s future home will help provide better access for individuals in our community.”

 

Food for Thought

The project, like any large construction project these days, has run into supply-chain obstacles that have caused delay and boosted costs, but Morehouse and other stakeholders finally see it coming into focus — and not a moment too soon for an organization that provided 11.6 million meals in 2021, reaching an average of 103,000 individuals per month.

“We are excited the Food Bank of Western Mass. has chosen the Chicopee River Business Park to relocate their operations and headquarters,” Vieau said. “I can think of no better place in terms of access, efficiency, and accessibility than right here in Chicopee, at the crossroads of New England.” u

 

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

There’s a Developing Story in Palmer

By Contributor
Linda Leduc
Community Spotlight Special Coverage

Community Spotlight

By Mark Morris

Andrew Surprise

Andrew Surprise says Palmer has looked into several family-friendly attractions to draw more people to town.

Three years ago, when Ryan McNutt took the job as Palmer’s town manager, he observed that, when people entered town from Mass Pike exit 8 (now exit 63), they encountered a Big Y World Class Market, a McDonald’s, a couple of other businesses, and lots of empty parcels all around them on Thorndike Street.

“You don’t typically see this near a turnpike exit; it’s usually built out with commercial real estate,” he said, adding that town residents — and those passing through — may soon see the landscape change in a meaningful way.

Indeed, McNutt has been working with other town officials and with landowners to take advantage of the considerable opportunities these empty lots present.

“The landowners have met with several national chains, and I can now share that one of the projects will be a Starbucks coffee shop,” he said.

Linda Leduc, the town planner and Economic Development director, is working on finding a retail tenant and a sit-down restaurant to join the planned Starbucks. She said turning these chronically vacant sites on Thorndike Street into vital businesses gives a big boost to Palmer residents.

“Just seeing the cleanup happen on two of the lots we’re developing is getting people excited,” she added.

Far from a scattershot approach, these commercial developments are part of a master plan the town compiled and published at the end of 2020. McNutt said this is the first master plan for Palmer since 1975.

“We had an amazing amount of public input on the plan,” he noted. “When you put the meetings on Zoom, more people show up.”

The plan addresses commercial, residential, and protected open space in Palmer. McNutt said it helps prioritize the “low-hanging fruit” where the town should put its energy now, as well as projects that can be done later. The master plan lists 20 underdeveloped sites in Palmer, 12 of which are in the process of being developed or close to that point.

“Instead of getting off the pike and just driving through, there are going to be lots of opportunities for people to stop and spend money in Palmer,” Leduc said.

 

Right Place, Right Time?

One significant potential development area is known as ‘the hill.’

As drivers exit from the turnpike, they are immediately confronted by a large hill at the end of the exit ramp. On top of the hill are nearly 100 acres of land available for development. The hill was once the proposed site for a casino until voters in Palmer rejected those plans. Recently, the Town Council approved a zone change that made an adjacent 78-acre parcel available for business use and further incentivize a large-scale project for the land.

“We’ve always seen interest in development of the hill,” said McNutt, adding that there is optimism that interest may soon turn into progress and some recognized needs met.

“With the tourism guide, we’re hoping to entice some of the folks who go to Brimfield to check out antique shops, vintage shops, and other boutique retailers in Palmer. The idea is to create a trail, similar to brewery trails.”

One priority residents have shared with him involves bringing another supermarket to Palmer. Big Y has been a stalwart in town for many years and has contributed to various community efforts.

“Big Y is a great company, and they are a great partner, but residents would like to have some other options,” McNutt said. “It’s what I’m hearing the most from people in Palmer.”

Closer to downtown, a recent zone change to the former Converse Middle School has drawn both interest and concern. Andrew Surprise, CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, said the more business-friendly zone change has drawn interest from a company that would convert the school to an Esports Arena, where video-game players of all levels could compete against others.

“In the New England area, there’s really nothing like this,” said Surprise. “There are some at colleges like UMass Amherst, but those are geared to students on campus rather than the general public.”

The Esports Arena is one of several ideas to bring family-friendly attractions to Palmer. According to Surprise, the town has looked into a water park, a trampoline park, and other attractions.

Linda Leduc

Linda Leduc says turning chronically vacant sites on Thorndike Street into vital businesses is a development priority.

“I believe the town will do a feasibility study at some point for the Esports idea as there’s still much to do to make sure the residents approve of it or any other proposed use,” he said.

Through a MassDevelopment program know as the Transformative Development Initiative, Surprise is working on other ways to attract businesses to Palmer. The Vacant Downtown Storefront Program is one that may have some promise for the downtown area. “It provides grant funding for a business to renovate a storefront if they plan to open there,” he explained.

Meanwhile, as interest in more retail grows, another aspect of the town’s economy, tourism and hospitality, is poised for a resurgence after two long years of the pandemic.

Indeed, for the past two years, Surprise has held off publishing the chamber’s tourism guide and visitors directory. The pandemic led to frequent changes and cancellations to event schedules, making publishing the guide seem futile.

Businesses are now contacting Surprise because they want to get their names and events out to the public once again. The new guide is scheduled to be complete by early May and available to the crowds attending the Brimfield Antique Flea Market in mid-May.

“With the tourism guide, we’re hoping to entice some of the folks who go to Brimfield to check out antique shops, vintage shops, and other boutique retailers in Palmer,” he said. “The idea is to create a trail, similar to brewery trails.”

Speaking of breweries, Surprise said Palmer and other towns in the chamber are looking to host a brewery in their community.

“Even though there are lots of breweries in the general area, we have our eyes open for anyone who wants to open a brewery to see if we can help them with any incentives,” he noted.

 

Bridges to the Future

To make Palmer more economically viable, the master plan suggests ensuring proper infrastructure is in place. Two main bridges in town, located on Church Street and Main Street, are both in need of replacing. MassDOT closed the Church Street Bridge in 2019 while the Main Street bridge had minor repairs which will keep it safe for vehicular traffic. The town will soon erect a truss bridge to use while a new Church Street bridge is built.

“The state said it will use some of their infrastructure funding to fully replace the Church Street bridge, but that could take up to five years,” McNutt said. “The truss bridge allows us to keep the bridge open to traffic.”

In MassDOT terms, the Main Street bridge is not in imminent danger, but the town does need to replace it in the future. McNutt said the plan right now is to use the truss bridge on Church Street, then move it to Main Street once the permanent Church Street bridge is complete.

With passage of the federal infrastructure bill, McNutt remains optimistic about the proposed east-west rail proposal across Massachusetts. Currently, the state has three alternative configurations for the rail project, with a stop in Palmer included in all three. McNutt said he’s hopeful that remains the case and looks forward to talking with the state once it is ready to proceed.

“Obviously, this would be transformative for Palmer,” he said, adding that a rail stop will serve to make the town an even more attractive option for new retail and hospitality-related businesses.

Nearly two-thirds of housing in Palmer consists of single-family homes, higher than the state and county averages of just below 60%. McNutt said town leaders are working to attract more permanent housing development for the community.

To that end, work will soon begin on a 200-cottage development at Forest Lake. The plan calls for seasonal cottages that will have water and sewer services. McNutt estimates that, when complete, the cottages will add nearly $800,000 to the tax base in Palmer.

On the other side of Forest Lake, the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game plans to build a new boat launch, parking lot, and ADA-accessible fishing pier so people of all abilities can enjoy the water. McNutt estimates the state project and the cottages are about two years away from completion.

“I feel like we’re finally getting to the point where Palmer is going to see lots of great things happening that residents and visitors will be able to enjoy,” Leduc said.

 

 

Bottom Line

Everywhere he goes in town, McNutt carries a copy of the economic-development chapter of the master plan.

“This way, when someone has a question about what we’re doing, I can show them in the plan how we want to create destination locations for them and for folks who have never been here,” he said.

With the proposed east-west rail and a lower cost of living compared to Eastern Mass., McNutt believes Palmer has the right location at the right time, and can take a meaningful step forward in terms of growth and prosperity.

“We’re going to position Palmer as an attractive place to live,” he said, adding that it can, and hopefully will, also become an attractive place for businesses of all kinds to plant roots.

Monson Savings Launches 150 Build-a-Bike Campaign 

By
Daily News


MONSON — The celebratory planning for Monson Savings Bank’s 150th anniversary continues, with the bank pledging to show extra support to nonprofits and have an extra level of community participation throughout the year. A large and very fun part of that support comes in the form of the Monson Savings Bank 150 Build-a-Bike Campaign. 

  

For this campaign, MSB will be purchasing more than $20,000 worth of children’s bicycles and helmets from the Family Bicycle Shop in East Longmeadow, with guidance from the shop’s owner Ray Plouffe.  

  

To gear up for the campaign, Monson Savings Bank has also teamed up with five local non-profits to identify children who are in need of a bicycle: the YMCA of Greater Springfield; the YWCA of Western Massachusetts; I Found Light Against All Odds; Educare Springfield; and the South End Community Center. 

  

Beginning this spring, MSB will be planning events hosted with each nonprofit. The bank’s team members will assemble the bikes, when possible alongside the very children who will be receiving them. Nonprofit employees will be welcomed to join the activity, and representatives from the Family Bicycle Shop will be on site to assist and ensure children are properly fitted with helmets and training wheels. Monson Savings Bank will provide and share a meal for attendees. 

  

“When exploring the various ways we could celebrate Monson Savings Bank’s 150th Anniversary, there were so many ideas,” said Dan Moriarty, president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank. “We wanted to be sure to do something that would make a difference on many fronts and spread some joy.  

  

“With the 150 Build-a-Bike campaign, we are able to connect with the vital community nonprofits and their leaders,” he went on. “Our team gets to work together on hands-on projects to further foster our culture of teamwork and community support. Plus, we are able to provide the children with the experience of building and riding a bike, a joy-filled activity, and something they otherwise might not have had the opportunity to experience. I could not think of a better way to commemorate our 150th Anniversary.” 

  

To see a full schedule of events for MSB’s 150th anniversary,  www.monsonsavings.bank/anniversary.  

James Martin Joins Pullman & Comley’s Springfield Office 

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Attorney James Martin, a leader in the legal and business community in Western Mass., has joined the Springfield office of Pullman & Comley, LLC, the law firm announced today. 

Martin has more than 43 years of experience practicing in the areas of corporate and business counseling, commercial real estate, real estate planning and permitting, solar and wind, and litigation. He is also recognized as a leading automotive franchise attorney throughout New England. He has handled the purchase and sale of numerous car dealerships and related real estate, franchise negotiations, floor plan and real estate financing, in addition to litigation arising from the operation of a dealership. ​​He is a member of the National Association of Dealer Counsel and the Massachusetts Automobile Dealer Association. 

Martin received his B.A. from Georgetown University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. District Court and the Massachusetts and U.S. Tax Court. He has been named to Best Lawyers every year since 2001 and Massachusetts Super Lawyers since 2009. He previously practiced with the law firm Robinson Donovan, P.C. 

Martin brings with him paralegal Sara Winniman Rossman and administrative assistant Lori Baru. Winniman has nearly 40 years of experience working in both commercial and residential real estate, as well as in corporate work including formation of entities and maintenance of stock books, and trusts and estates. Baru has worked directly with Martin for the past 16 years and has more than 30 years of experience, both in Springfield and New York. 

The addition of Martin and his team marks a noteworthy expansion for Pullman & Comley’s Springfield office, which was established in 2019. Drawing on resources from across the firm’s eight offices, in addition to Martin’s areas of practice, the Springfield office specializes in commercial property tax appeals and eminent domain matters, employment law and more. 

“Jim’s wide range of expertise and deep commitment to the Springfield community adds a great deal to our team in Massachusetts,” says James T. Shearin, chairman of Pullman & Comley. “He will be a tremendous asset to our firm and our clients throughout the region.” 

Martin is the former chairman and a former trustee of Baystate Medical Center and was recently appointed as a trustee for Springfield Museums, where he also serves as vice chair of the Museum Committee. He serves on the Springfield Riverfront Development Commission and is the chairman of the board of directors of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. He has also served as a youth sports coach in Springfield and Longmeadow. 

Veritas Prep Charter School Establishes Teacher Diversification Fellowship Fund 

By
Daily News

 

SPRINGFIELD — Veritas Prep Charter School (VPCS) has been awarded $53,883 from the Mass. Teacher Diversification Pilot Program, a state-funded grant program that provides approximately $2 million in competitive funding to support local school and district efforts to strengthen and diversify existing teacher recruitment and retention programs. VPCS is using this grant to establish the Veritas Prep Teacher Diversification Fellowship Fund to help educators and aspiring educators who identify as people of color enter or remain in education by removing common financial barriers. 

  

Candidates can apply for access to funding for education, MTEL test fees, relocation assistance and tuition and loan reimbursement. New and current associate teachers and lead teachers are eligible to apply, and Teach Western Mass (TWM) residents can also apply for TWM tuition coverage. Recipients must commit to working at Veritas Prep middle or high school for three years. All recipients will receive access to free MTEL test preparation, if applicable. 

  

“Veritas is working to become an anti-racist organization, and as we continue to move this work forward, we strive to recruit and retain a diverse teaching staff and to create a school community where all teachers feel safe, heard and valued,” said Romano. “We know that representation matters for the success of all students and especially our students of color.” 

  

Launched in April 2019, the Massachusetts Teacher Diversification Pilot Program provides tuition assistance to support enrollment into an approved-educator preparation program and MTEL preparation and examination. Schools and districts may also use grant funds to enhance teacher recruitment and retention efforts. 

  

“Teachers of color often experience barriers to entering and remaining in the teaching profession, and as we work to remove some of those barriers within our school by creating an anti-racist community, we know that there are external financial barriers that can also affect recruitment and retention,” said Romano. “We hope that by creating a diverse, inclusive, anti-racist organization and offering financial assistance through the Diversification Fellowship Fund, we can continue to improve experiences and outcomes for students, teachers and staff.” 

  

Educators and aspiring educators who identify as people of color can learn more about the Veritas Teacher Diversification Fellowship Fund and apply for support here: veritasprepma.org/teacher-diversification-fund/. 

YPS of Greater Springfield Slates Third Thursday Networking Event 

By
Daily News

 

HOLYOKE — The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS) will host its signature Third Thursday event series at Smokin’ Scoops in West Springfield on April 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The networking event will support and encourage young professionals to become more involved and invested in their local communities. 

  April’s Third Thursday event will feature Smokin’ Scoops’ signature offering, Nitro Ice Cream, made from scratch and mixed at 320 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as its popular Boozy Milkshakes, networking with fellow young professionals, food from Springfield’s The Saucy Mama food truck, and more. 

  “Events like this will help retain individuals who are enthusiastic about the future of the community and their personal endeavors,” said YPS president, Heather Clark. “YPS is here to exchange ideas, share common interests, and cultivate membership to serve as local leaders of tomorrow. We’re hopeful that our monthly events will make it easier to make meaningful connections that will help local young professionals thrive.” 

  Springfield YPS concentrates its efforts on business & career development, networking, social & cultural involvement, and community activism. Their diverse membership comes from a wide range of professions and backgrounds united by a commitment to make Springfield a better place to work, live, play, and stay. 

  Smokin’ Scoops is located at 1425 Westfield Street in West Springfield. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance. Registration is free for members and $10 for non-members. Register today by visiting: YPS Third Thursday at Smokin’ Scoops (springfieldyps.com) 

 Rocky’s Ace Hardware Is Raising Funds for Children’s Miracle Network 

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Rocky’s Ace Hardware, one of the country’s largest family-owned Ace Hardware dealers with 47 locations in nine states, will host a ‘round-up’ fundraising campaign in eight Western Mass. stores and one Connecticut store with 100% of money raised going to benefit Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals. Customers can round up their totals to the next dollar between April 13 and April 25 at the Island Pond Road and Liberty Street stores in Springfield; the Agawam, East Longmeadow, Westfield, Ludlow, Palmer and South Hadley stores in Massachusetts; and the Vernon, Conn. location.  

  “We are very excited to be raising funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals again this year,” said Rocky’s Ace Hardware President Rocco Falcone. “This great cause helps the more than 10 million kids each year who rely on care from a children’s hospital to get the best possible medical treatment. We hope our customers will help us in our goal of providing as much support as possible to our local CMN Hospitals.” 

  Since 1983, CMN Hospitals have helped fill funding gaps by raising more than $7 billion. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. 

An Important Step Forward

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

It’s easy to understand why members of the Springfield City Council were not happy with the way the recent request for $6.5 million in emergency funding for the Court Square Development project came to them.

It arrived late and in the form of an ultimatum of sorts: ‘approve this additional expenditure immediately, or this important project will die.’ One of those officials involved with the now $64 million project hinted strongly that if the money was not approved, and quickly, the building would deteriorate and perhaps even collapse.

The 11th-hour request, which came on the heels of skyrocketing construction costs that are impacting development projects of all kinds across the country, should have come at the 10th hour or even the ninth. Those leading the project, which will bring 71 market-rate apartments, retail space, and a restaurant to downtown Springfield, knew costs were escalating and knew they would need additional assistance to keep the initiative on track.

They put the council on the spot, unnecessarily — so much so that a resolution was recently passed requiring the mayor’s office to give the council 30 days’ notice on any economic-development issue that needs council approval.

Fortunately, most members of the council put aside their concerns about how all this went down and did the right thing. They voted to approve the measure and enable the much-needed project to move forward.

There were some questions as to just how much this project is needed, but the majority of the council could see how the importance of the initiative to the future of the city.

We’ve said it many times, and others have said it many times as well: one of the real keys moving forward is to balance the many people working downtown with those who actually call that area home.

This has been a formula for success in many cities, including Lowell, Worcester, Hartford, and many others, and it will be a key ingredient for Springfield moving forward, especially if current trends continue and there are fewer people actually coming to work each day in the city’s downtown.

In those other cities, a critical mass of people living in a downtown has spawned new service and hospitality businesses, which, in turn, have promoted more people to want to live in those areas, which, in turn, has prompted more businesses, which attract more people … you get the idea.

The Court Square project, which has been talked about for decades, literally, and has come to fruition through a unique public-private partnership, isn’t the answer. But it’s part of the answer, just as MGM Springfield, a revitalized Tower Square and White Lion Brewing, the Springfield Thunderbirds, Union Station, new housing in the old Willys-Overland property on Chestnut Street, and other developments are parts of the answer.

And that’s why it was so important for the council to look past the nature of this request and, as we said, do the right thing.

For Springfield, and the region, this was an important step forward.

Picture This

By
Picture This

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

 

 

Winning Team

Florence Bank recently completed a five-year, $100,000 donation to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to support its multi-phase, multi-year renovation. In addition, Florence Bank customers using their debit card will get 50% admission discounts to the Hall during school vacation week, April 18-22. The collaboration between the bank and museum began roughly a decade ago and has grown to support programming of all kinds. Pictured: Florence Bank President and CEO Kevin Day and John Doleva, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame.

 

 

Long-distance Partnership

Representatives from Elms College and Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing qualified students at Yarmouk to complete their master’s degree in biotechnology via Elms College’s online learning platform. Pictured, from left: Elms College President Harry Dumay; Sudad Saman, assistant professor of biology at Elms College; Almuthanna Khalaf Ahmad Alkaraki, head of the Biological Sciences department at Yarmouk University, and Khalid Al-Batayneh, dean of the College of Sciences at Yarmouk University, both on screen via Zoom; Janet Williams, professor of Biology at Elms College; and Walter Breau, vice president of Academic Affairs at Elms College.

 

 

Gyro-ic Return

Le Greque celebrated a grand reopening at Tower Square on March 25, the date the Greek restaurant opened 40 years ago. Husband-and-wife team Kyriakos ‘Kyri’ and Diana Varypatakis started dishing up gyros and other Greek specialties for the first time in two years since closing at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured: Diana Varypatakis with the framed cash from the eatery’s first sale on March 25, 1982.

 

Court Dockets

By
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.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Christopher Kelleher v. St. Clair Landscaping Inc.
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $4,886
Filed: 1/6/22

Carmen Rodriguez v. Walmart Supercenter
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $7,645
Filed: 1/6/22

Eddie Vega v. Daniel Peters individually and as an agent of Specialty Restoration & Refinishing Inc., and Specialty Rstoration & Refinishing Inc.
Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence causing personal injury, negligent entrustment: $5,751
Filed: 1/12/22

Alexander Perez v. Allen J. Charlton and New Bern Transport Corp.
Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence causing personal injury: $7,776.60
Filed: 1/12/22

National Convenience Distributors LLC d/b/a J. Polep Distribution Services v. Akach Mobile LLC and Arfan Akach
Allegation: Breach of contract for goods sold: $9,433.22
Filed: 2/8/22

Nolan Florence v. Bauer Hockey Retail and Bauer Hockey LLC
Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury, breach of implied warranties: $8,556.48
Filed: 3/2/22

Susana Arroyo v. McDonald’s Corp.
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $20,000
Filed: 3/23/22

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Andrew Hearne, personal representative of the estate of Carrie Hearne v. Thomas A. Schwann, MD and Baystate Medical Center Inc.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $1,015,000
Filed: 3/17/22

James Scott Atkins v. Community Transportation Services Inc. and Jose Angel Monje-Diaz
Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence causing personal injury: $5,500,000
Filed: 3/18/22

Excelsure Home Health Care Solutions LLC v. Vero Health XI LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract, failure to pay for services rendered: $58,794.85
Filed: 3/18/22

Agenda

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Agenda

Free Community Shred Day

April 16: Monson Savings Bank’s Monson branch will host a free Community Shred Day 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 safely and securely dispose of their private documents on site. Storing documents that contain personal information in the home can pose a serious security risk. Monson Savings Bank is encouraging local residents to shred any documents they no longer need, especially those that contain private information. The bank’s free Community Shred Day is a chance to do some spring cleaning and properly discard unwanted documents, such as tax returns, bank or credit-card statements, bills, medical records, and more. Prepackaged refreshments and giveaways will be available at the event, while supplies last.

 

Eggstravaganza at the Zoo in Forest Park

April 16: The Zoo in Forest Park will host its annual Eggstravaganza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include grab-and-go stations for children with take-and-make activities, prize-filled Easter eggs, books, and candy while supplies last. There will also be animal encounters and enrichment to allow guests an up-close look at some of the animals, as well as free face painting and visits from Felix the Fox and Andy the Armadillo. Pre-registration is required to attend. No additional tickets will be sold at the door. Registration closes April 11 or when all tickets are sold. To purchase tickets, visit www.forestparkzoo.org/eggs.

 

Program on Building Resilience for Self-care and Caregivers

April 18: From 11:45 to 12:45 p.m., Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts will present mindfulness educator and trauma-informed coach Reina Goldberg, who will discuss simple and enjoyable ways to shift habituated patterns of holding stress in one’s body while also practicing tuning into one’s innate body wisdom. Attendees of the virtual session will engage in a fluid unfolding of body-based practices to allow for deeper unwinding and integration. Some practices include mindful body scans, body-led movement, gentle-release practices, brain and body balancing and strengthening exercises, Qigong, and tapping to boost the immune system. Attendees will learn new patterns of resilience, rejuvenation, and relaxation while walking away with new practices and perspectives. All ages are welcome, and all exercises can be done seated or standing. The program is free and open to the public and will be held on Zoom. Registration is required. RSVP online at www.jfswm.org or call (413) 737-2601.

 

Springfield Symphony Orchestra Spring Concerts

April 22, May 13: The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Board announced two spring concerts will be hosted at Springfield Symphony Hall with former SSO Music Director Mark Russell Smith serving as guest conductor. Smith is music director and conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. He previously served as music director for the SSO from 1995 through 2000. He has worked as director of New Music Projects for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and artistic director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Minnesota, and has also served as music director for the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra. Details about the concerts, program, and availability of tickets will be forthcoming and available at springfieldsymphony.org.

 

Social Justice Awards

April 23: Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services (MLKFS) announced that this year’s Social Justice Awards will honor the organization’s former President and CEO Ronn Johnson, who passed away in January. The organization also announced that the Justice Resource Institute has stepped forward as the first event sponsor. The 2022 Social Justice Awards will continue to be a virtual event this year and will begin at 11 a.m. Michael Weeks, president and CEO of the Providers Council, will be the keynote speaker. This year’s honorees are Barbara Gresham (education), Bishop Bryant Robinson Jr. (lifetime achievement), Bishop Talbert Swan II (race relations), CMSS and Eileen McCaffery (arts and culture), Doris Harris (health advocacy), First Church of Christ in Longmeadow UCC (faith-based initiative), MassHire Springfield and Kevin Lynn (economic development), and Thomas Morrow and Julius Lewis (entrepreneurship). Individuals and organizations interested in supporting Johnson’s work at MLKFS through sponsorship or a donation should contact Lenise Williams at (413) 736-3655 or [email protected], or visit mlkjrfamilyservices.org/donate.

 

Great Golf Escape

April 25: The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS) will host its annual Great Golf Escape tournament at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. YPS aims to engage the younger demographic in career development, networking, community involvement, recreational and social activities, and more. The cost for this event is $125 for YPS members, $500 for a YPS member foursome team captain, $135 for non-members, and $540 for a non-member foursome team captain. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. There will be prizes and a poker challenge throughout the event. The first-place team will also be able to select a charitable organization to receive a donation from YPS. Registration includes lunch, post-golf dinner, and giveaways. Members can register for the event at www.springfieldyps.com/events. This event is open to the public. However, YPS members will receive a free mulligan, entry into the door-prize raffle, and more. They’ll be offering golfers on-course hospitality, including ice-cream samples from Batch Ice Cream, sponsored by LiftTruck Parts & Service, and craft beer samples from Leadfoot Brewing. Foursomes and sponsorships are still available by visiting springfieldyps.com/golf or e-mailing [email protected].

 

‘Rewire: Finding Purpose and Fulfillment After Retirement’

April 27: Holyoke Community College (HCC) will present a three-hour, in-person workshop focusing on life after retirement. “Rewire: Finding Purpose and Fulfillment After Retirement” will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development on HCC’s main campus, 303 Homestead Ave. The workshop will be facilitated by former career counselor Barbara Foster. The workshop will offer a series of exercises and self-assessments, as well as time to reflect, brainstorm with others, and develop goals and a vision for this new chapter of life. Participants will also leave with an extensive list of resources to explore. Space is limited, so advance registration is required. To register, visit hcc.edu/rewire, or call (413) 552-2500 for more information. The cost is $39. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all workshop participants, and masks must be worn in all HCC campus buildings.

 

Homework House Adult Spelling Bee

April 28: Homework House announced that its annual Adult Spelling Bee is back in person this year. Teams of three will gather at Open Square at 5:30 p.m. to demonstrate their spelling aptitude in this entertaining, and often comical, community event. Former state Rep. Aaron Vega will once again emcee the evening’s activities. Homework House, a not-for-profit, after-school program, offers free tutoring and mentoring services to children in kindergarten through grade 6. Homework House sites are located in Holyoke’s most economically challenged neighborhoods, and more than 98% of its budget comes from charitable contributions. Popular radio announcer Monte Belmonte will once again serve as the word reader. Virginia Dillon, executive director of Homework House, announced that this year’s judges will include Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia and City Councilor Tessa Murphy-Romboletti. Team registrations can be completed online. Tickets to the event cost $25 in advance and $30 at the door and can be purchased online or from any board member or staff member of Homework House. For more information, to register a team, or to purchase tickets, visit www.homeworkhousebee.com.

Get Hired Job Fair

May 5: Holyoke Mall will host an in-person job fair from 3 to 6 p.m. on the lower level near Macy’s. Sponsored by Valley Opportunity Council, the Get Hired Job Fair is a convenient opportunity for Western Mass. employers to interview and hire workers, and to help job seekers connect with businesses who need their skills. Employers from a variety of industries will be in attendance looking for candidates at all skill levels. Several stores and venues at Holyoke Mall will also be in attendance to fill open positions. The event is free to attend for all job seekers. Employers that have already signed up to staff a table include MGM Springfield, Holyoke Medical Center, Springfield College, Trinity Senior Communities, and Valley Opportunity Council. Employers interested in participating in the upcoming job fair should contact Jim Geraghty, advertising representative for Holyoke Mall, at (617) 840-2998 or [email protected]. For full details regarding the job fair, visit www.holyokemall.com/event/get-hired-job-fair.

Annual Shred Day

May 7: The Wealth Transition Collective of Holyoke is partnering with Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice for their annual shred day. Anyone who has financial or sensitive documents that need shredding may bring them to the VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton from 9 to 11 a.m. A donation of $5 per paper box will directly benefit the VNA & Hospice. Shredding will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis until the truck is full or 11 a.m., whichever comes first. Only paper items will be accepted. For more information, visit www.twealthtc.com.

sheLEADS Conference

May 20: The Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce will host sheLEADS, a woman’s conference aimed at building a bold, brave community of women in the 413 with an eye on professional development and beyond. The day begins at the Boylston Room in Easthampton at noon and ends with networking at Abandoned Building Brewery. In between, attendees can look forward to “Activating Your Leadership Strengths,” facilitated by Colleen DelVecchio of Colleen DelVecchio Consultants; “The Language of Leadership,” a panel discussion featuring Pia Kumar, chief strategy officer at Universal Plastics, Lynnette Watkins, president and CEO of Cooley Dickinson Health Care, and Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, CEO of Inclusive Strategies; and “Be Great Where Your Feet Are,” featuring keynote speaker Robyn Glaser Sr., vice president, Business Affairs for the Kraft Group. For tickets and details, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org.

 

Chamber Corners

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Chamber Corners

1BERKSHIRE
(413) 499-1600; 1berkshire.com

• April 19: Berkshire Economic Recovery Project Kickoff Workshop: “Get Ready to Get Funded,” 4-6 p.m. Robin Helfand is a small-business owner and consultant and an alumna of Mckinsey & Co. and Procter & Gamble, with more than 20 years experience developing strategies to successfully help client businesses receive funding approval, whether seeking first-time loans, increasing existing funding, or applying for grants, micro-loans, debt modification, inventory, or equity financing. She will share some proprietary ‘hacks’ to get your specific application moved to the top of the pile … and likely to be approved. If you have been turned down in the past, don’t miss this opportunity. Register at https://bit.ly/3qZPhJz.

• April 26: 1Berkshire Entrepreneurial Meetup, 9-10:30 a.m., hosted by Juice N’ Java, 661 Main St., Dalton. Enjoy coffee and conversation with your fellow innovators and hear from Isa Ali about his journey as a third-generation entrepreneur. 1Berkshire Entrepreneurial Meetups are free to attend and made possible through the support of Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. Registration is required. To register, visit 1berkshirestrategicalliancemacoc.weblinkconnect.com/events.

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(413) 773-5463; franklincc.org

• April 22: Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m. Join us for a “The Economic Impact of Tourism on Franklin County,” with speakers Keiko Orrall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, and Tony D’Agostino, research director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.Visit franklincc.org for registration and location.

• April 28: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Deerfield Inn. Join us for networking, refreshments, and a chance to visit and preview our new Visitor Information Center right next door. Visit franklincc.org for registration details.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER
(413) 534-3376; holyokechamber.com

• May 18: Spring Fling at Westfield Bank, 4:30-7 p.m. Join us for an lawn party at Westfield Bank, enjoy the feel of spring, and make new connections. Hearty hors d’oeuvres, open bar, raffles, and more. Cost: $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Registration to open April 1.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(413) 568-1618; westfieldbiz.org

• April 28: Morning Brew, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club. Visit www.westfieldbiz.org for details.

• May 11: After 5 Connections, 5-7 p.m.., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club. Visit www.westfieldbiz.org for details.

• May 16: 61st annual Golf Tournament, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club, sponsored by Westfield Gas & Electric and Whip City Fiber. Visit www.westfieldbiz.org for details.

• May 26: Morning Brew, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club. Visit www.westfieldbiz.org for details.

People on the Move

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People on the Move

Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank, announced eight recent staff promotions.

Mary McGovern

Mary McGovern

• Mary McGovern was promoted to executive vice president, chief financial and operating officer. She joined Country Bank in 2011 as the executive vice president and chief financial officer. She oversees the bank’s finance, operations, electronic delivery, information technology, retail banking, retail lending, facilities, and security. She holds an MBA in accounting and finance from Babson College and recently served on the board of the Baystate Health Foundation.

Miriam Siegel

Miriam Siegel

• Miriam Siegel was promoted to first senior vice president, chief Culture and Development officer. She will continue to lead the human-resources and learning and development functions, and serves as the bank’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer. Joining Country Bank in 2018, she brought 26 years of professional experience as the senior vice president of Human Resources for United Bank. She serves on the board of Behavioral Health Network, the Baystate Wing Hospital board, and the Wilbraham Personnel Advisory Board.

Jennifer Bujnevicie

Jennifer Bujnevicie

Laura Dennis

Laura Dennis

• Jennifer Bujnevicie and Laura Dennis, of the Retail Banking division, were promoted to vice presidents. Collectively, they contribute 36 years of experience at Country Bank; each began her professional banking career as a teller and has grown within the organization to oversee the Retail Banking division. Together, they bring a wealth of experience to the banking centers and are focused on providing the bank’s customers with exceptional customer service throughout its network. Both hold associate degrees in business administration and management from the New England College of Business and have attended the New England School for Financial Studies.

Alyson Weeks

Alyson Weeks

• Alyson Weeks was promoted to vice president of Human Resources and Professional Development. She has been with Country Bank for 13 years, starting as a teller and working in various other roles in the Retail Banking division, including teller supervisor, Branch Operations manager, and Retail Operations manager, before joining the Human Resources team six years ago. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Worcester State University and a master’s degree in education from American International College.

Erin Skoczylas

• Erin Skoczylas, assistant controller, was promoted to assistant vice president, assistant controller. She began her career at Country Bank 25 years ago as a part-time Operations clerk. Before transitioning to Accounting in 2008, she worked in various positions throughout the Operations department. She holds an associate degree in business administration from Springfield Technical Community College and a bachelor of business administration degree from Western New England University. She is also a 2017 graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies.

Tracey Wrzesien

• Tracey Wrzesien of Retail Banking, Wilbraham Banking Center was promoted to assistant vice president. She has been with Country Bank for 27 years and previously served as a Retail Banking officer. She is the vice president of the Wilbraham-Hampden Rotary Club and will take over as president in July. She is a graduate of the New England College of Business and holds an associate degree in science and business administration with a concentration in finance and is also a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies.

Dianna Lussier

Dianna Lussier

• Dianna Lussier has been promoted to assistant vice president of Risk Management. She has been with Country Bank for 18 years and previously served as the Risk Management officer. During her tenure with Country Bank, she has worked in various roles, including accounting representative and financial-reporting analyst. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance and accounting from Worcester State College and has attended the New England School for Financial Studies. She is currently attending the Graduate School of Banking and Wharton Leadership Program. She was also the recipient of the President’s Platinum Award in 2021.

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Springfield Museums announced that Jenny Powers has been named director of the Springfield Science Museum. A science educator for 20 years and the family engagement coordinator for the Springfield Museums for six years, Powers is ready to take her knowledge of playful learning to the Science Museum in the form of interactive, immersive additions to the museum. She also takes inspiration from the last woman who directed the Science Museum, Grace Pettis Johnson, who led the way from 1910 to 1949. Powers’ dynamic programing has filled the Museums on family-engagement days with exciting features such as bubble parties, high-fives with the Cat in the Hat, and Mount Crumpit derbies during Grinchmas. She has also been a regular guest on WWLP’s Mass Appeal, sharing hands-on science that families could explore together at home.

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Alissa Fuller

Alissa Fuller

Florence Bank is announced that Alissa Fuller joined the bank as assistant vice president, Compliance and CRA manager. She has more than 20 years of experience in retail banking, consumer lending, and compliance. Prior to joining Florence Bank, she was a compliance specialist at a local community bank. Her duties included ensuring that the organization’s operations complied with relevant laws, regulations, and policies. In her new role at Florence Bank, Fuller’s primary responsibilities will include the oversight of programs to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws that govern the bank’s operations. In addition, she will play a vital role in the encouragement and development of the bank’s Community Reinvestment efforts. She graduated from the New England College of Business and Finance in 2016 with an associate degree in business administration with a concentration in management.

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Bulkley Richardson recently welcomed Jeffrey Roberts to the firm as counsel in the Trusts & Estates and Business practices. Roberts has handled many sophisticated estate-planning matters and complex business transactions throughout his career. His practice will continue to focus on estate planning, trusts and estates, taxation, and estate administration, as well as corporate work and business transactions primarily for closely held companies. He also has extensive experience with advice to family-owned companies with respect to business-succession planning and representation of the owner with respect to the sale of a closely held business. Roberts has practiced law at Robinson Donovan P.C. since graduating from Georgetown Law in 1974 and served as the firm’s managing partner for many of those years.

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Chris McMasters

Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. announced the promotion of Chris McMasters to the role of vice president. He is an accredited adviser in insurance and has been with Phillips Insurance for more than eight years. He is a graduate of Springfield College. “Chris has developed a strong clientele within the construction, hospitality, and manufacturing industries throughout New England,” said Joseph Phillips, president of Phillips Insurance. “His strong work ethic and creativity in developing risk-management strategies has set him apart.”

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The Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society, the nonprofit organization that manages Northampton’s Three County Fair and fairgrounds, has elected two new members to its board of directors, Jessica Dizek of Mapleline Farm in Hadley and Thomas Giles, former owner of Hadley Garden Center. Dizek and Giles join the society’s board, consisting of 21 other members who make up the fair’s agricultural leadership. Dizek is the fifth generation on her family’s farm. Mapleline Farm milks about 125 Jerseys and bottles their milk on the farm premises, while running a distribution business, wholesaling fluid milk products to the local area and Boston market. Prior to her taking over operating the farm full-time in 2018, Dizek held full-time employment off the farm for 20 years, most recently at UMass Amherst. She started at the university working for cooperative extension programs and eventually working in alumni major gifts. During this time, she also earned her MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. She currently serves as treasurer for the New England Jersey Breeders Assoc. and as a director for the Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board, and is a member of the Massachusetts Dairy Advisory Board for the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center. Giles is a graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, having majored in landscape operations, and first worked for the Hadley Garden Center in the spring of 1973. In January 1988, Giles and his wife, Janine, purchased the center and ran it for 33 years until selling it to Gardeners Supply Co. of Vermont in January 2020. Giles is an active member of the First Congregational Church of Hadley and is on the board of directors for Easthampton Savings Bank and has also served on the horticulture/forestry advisory committee at Smith Vocational High School.

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Heather Gawron

Annie Celdran

Annie Celdran

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced it has hired Development and Grants Associate Heather Gawron and Audience Development Manager Annie Celdran. Gawron has focused the past 10 years of her career on fundraising for community nonprofits in Western Mass. Most recently, she served as senior director of Development at New England Public Media (NEPM), where she focused on overseeing the nonprofit media organization’s fundraising efforts, including grants, on-air fundraising campaigns, and its planned and major giving programs, contributing to the organization’s overall budget of $10 million. Prior to NEPM, Gawron spent years at American International College as executive director of Institutional Advancement. During her tenure at AIC, Gawron was an engine for growth, strengthening and expanding the college’s alumni-engagement program on a national scale. Her stewardship work with alumni yielded remarkable growth in engagement of the alumni base and landed one of the largest-ever single donations made to AIC. She also worked closely in supporting the grant director to secure Title III funding and developed scholarship funds to help AIC students continue their education. Before AIC, Gawron worked for Alstom University, headquartered in Paris, and helped launch five international corporate university campuses across Europe and Asia. Prior to joining SSO, Celdran most recently worked for New England Public Media as the New Voices Campaign manager. She communicated regularly with donors, visitors, and volunteers and worked closely with the president, chief operating officer, and Marketing and Development personnel on ambitious fundraising campaigns. A Western Mass. native, Celdran spent some of her career in San Francisco, utilizing her client-services skills at Hanson Bridgett, LLP, a Bay Area law firm with a reputation for community engagement. At the firm, she managed the Client Concierge and Office Services departments, also bringing her creativity to various fundraising campaigns such as the firm’s annual Food From the Bar campaign in support of the SF-Marin Food Bank.

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Beth Cohen, professor in Western New England University (WNE) School of Law and former WNE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, has been named interim dean of the School of Law by Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Maria Toyoda. Cohen will provide interim leadership following the departure of current Dean Sudha Setty, who will begin her new role as dean of the City University of New York School of Law on July 1. A School of Law professor since 1990, Cohen has also served as director of the Legal Research and Writing Program since 1999. She was the associate dean for Academic Affairs from 2009 to 2020 and the director of the Academic Support Program from 1994 to 2008. She teaches Lawyering Skills, Externship Seminar, Professional Responsibility, and Mindfulness in Law Practice, and has written a number of articles in the areas of legal education, legal writing, civic education, and name-change law. Cohen graduated cum laude from Suffolk University Law School and earned a diploma in Advanced International Legal Studies in Salzburg, Austria, from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge Law School. She also co-founded and co-directed the popular civic-education Mini-Law School Program at WNE. A search committee will be appointed to conduct a national search for a new School of Law dean. Cohen will hold her position until a new dean is appointed.

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Carolyn Martinez

Carolyn Martinez

Shannon Mumblo, executive director of Christina’s House, announced that Carolyn Martinez has joined the organization as program manager. In her new role, Martinez will work closely with Christina’s House human-services professionals and direct service staff to ensure that mothers and their children who were homeless or near-homeless are developing vital life skills and are steadily working through the program with the goal of transitioning to stable housing and self-sufficiency. Martinez brings first-hand experience to Christina’s House as a graduate of the program. She has worked in community healthcare settings for the past several years and has completed certificate programs in child behavioral health and community health. She is currently a student at Cambridge College working toward a bachelor’s degree in human services.

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Milford Federal Bank announced that Jeremy Leap has joined the Bank as senior vice president, Commercial Lending. He will lead a growing team of commercial bankers, joining Anna Case, associate vice president, Commercial Credit officer, and Operations manager; Anita Carroll, Commercial Portfolio manager; and Stephanie Saraidarian, Commercial Credit representative. Leap has 16 years of experience as a commercial lender, including in the Western Mass. region at Country Bank in Ware and People’s United Bank in Springfield, and most recently at Savers Bank in Southbridge. He is involved with the United Way and Habitat for Humanity.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

The Marketplace Opens Great Barrington Location

GREAT BARRINGTON — The Marketplace, known for its menu of specialty foods, celebrated the grand opening of the Marketplace Specialty Food Shop, its newest location at 265 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, earlier this month. Led by chefs David Renner, Kevin Schmitz, Douglas Luf, and Christopher Brooks, the Marketplace offers a variety of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including a large section of prepared foods such as entrees, sides, soups, and chili. With a fully staffed pastry department, the Marketplace offers cookies, brownies, pies, custards, and cake as well as special-day custom cakes. The specialty shop also features artisan cheese. The full menu, specialty food offerings, catering options, and cafes can be found at marketplacekitchen.com. The 265 Stockbridge Road location is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Berkshire Bank Aids Humanitarian Efforts in Ukraine

BOSTON — Berkshire Bank announced several actions it will take with its employees and customers in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. As a first step, the Berkshire Bank Foundation will make a $50,000 contribution to the Ukrainian Federation of America, one of the oldest Ukrainian organizations in the U.S., which is working to deliver humanitarian and medical aid. In addition, Berkshire’s donation will be leveraged in collaboration with Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island on 401Gives Day, a statewide day of giving in Rhode Island on April 1. The bank selected 401Gives Day because it is a time-sensitive campaign that provides Berkshire the opportunity to make a greater impact by inviting the public and business community to match the bank’s contribution. In addition to its significant financial contribution, Berkshire Bank has implemented several actions to harness its entire business to support those impacted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Efforts include matched employee contributions, a supply drive and employee volunteering, and customer support, refunding outgoing wire-transfer fees to individuals sending money to family and nonprofit organizations in Ukraine.

 

Sourcepass Adds Suite3 to Its Portfolio of Companies

EASTHAMPTON — Sourcepass announced it has added Easthampton-based Suite3 to its portfolio of IT companies focused on serving small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). The deal is Sourcepass’ second acquisition in 30 days and will not only boost the company’s solutions targeting the financial-services industry, but also grow the company’s reach in the Northeast, expanding its footprint into 43 states. Suite3 provides managed network, cloud migration and management, cybersecurity, and IT support services to more than 6,000 managed customer endpoints. Its clients span more than eight industries, with a strong focus on financial services. As part of the transition, Suite3’s current employees will join the Sourcepass team. They will also receive institutional training and growth opportunities. In addition, the core Suite3 leadership team will remain, with new roles to help Sourcepass with its growth into the financial-services industry and culture of customer engagement. Current Suite3 clients will also see benefits from the new agreement. Sourcepass will extend its interactive web portal to enable 24/7, on-demand, omni-channel support to Suite3 customers, and they will have access to Sourcepass’ broad portfolio of technology solutions.

 

Pare Corp. Opens Holyoke Office

HOLYOKE — Pare Corp., a multi-disciplinary civil, structural, geotechnical, transportation, and environmental engineering firm, announced it is growing with the opening of its third office. Strategically located in Holyoke to serve the greater Pioneer Valley and the central and western areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut, Pare’s office is in the Whitney Place Business Center, which provides easy access to the Mass Pike and Interstate 91, as well as accessibility to biking and local bus routes. From this location, Pare will be able to quickly respond to the many growing needs of clients and communities throughout the area. Pare will provide a full range of engineering and consulting services from the Holyoke office. The firm is currently working on a variety of public- and private-sector projects, including the Belchertown State School Carriage Grove redevelopment, the Singing Bridge redevelopment project in Chicopee, traffic-light signalization and roadway improvements for Brightwood/Lincoln School in Springfield, and traffic-engineering design for Fort River Elementary School in Amherst. The office will also allow Pare to expand several growing practice areas, including its water and wastewater engineering, highway and bridge engineering, bike paths and recreational ballfields, and geotechnical and dam services.

 

MassDevelopment Bond Helps Gándara Buy New Corporate Offices

SPRINGFIELD — MassDevelopment has issued a $4.3 million tax-exempt bond on behalf of Gándara Mental Health Center Inc., which used the proceeds to buy and renovate a 13,200-square-foot office building at 933 East Columbus Ave. in Springfield. The organization will relocate its corporate offices from West Springfield into the new, larger building, where it can meet increased demand for its innovative, culturally competent behavioral-health, prevention, and education services that promote the well-being of Hispanic, African-American, and other culturally diverse populations. Gándara’s services include outpatient mental-health and substance-abuse treatment for underserved communities, as well as residential and preventative services for children, adults, and families throughout Massachusetts. The organization recently began renovations and expects to move into the facility by late spring 2022. Westfield Bank purchased the bond, which will also be used to refinance previously issued debt.

 

Colebrook Brokers Sales of Sites in Northampton Industrial Park

NORTHAMPTON — Colebrook Realty Services Inc. announced it has brokered the sale of 168 and 178 Industrial Dr. in Northampton. The firm announced the sale of approximately 58,443 square feet of class-A industrial/flex space in the Northampton Industrial Park, along with a 12,000-square-foot R&D building and a 2.10-acre adjoining land site. Kissell Inc. and PVC West Inc. sold the properties to GMS Realty LLP. The properties, which represent a significant portion of the park’s available industrial space, are highly strategic assets located along Interstate 91, with the Mass Pike interchange just 15 minutes south. The properties have been fully leased to strong local manufacturing and service companies for many years. Mitch Bolotin and Ben Bolotin of Colebrook represented the seller of the property and sourced the buyer. Inquiries about the sale of 168 Industrial Dr. and 178 Industrial Dr. may be directed to Bolotin at [email protected] or (413) 781-0066.

 

Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley

Wins Victory for Worker’s Rights

SPRINGFIELD — On March 25, the Department of Industrial Accidents Reviewing Board issued a major ruling concerning worker safety. In the underlying case, Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley (PSRB) attorneys Thomas Downey and Ronald Kidd claimed their client suffered severe, disabling injuries as a result of the employer’s serious and willful misconduct. After a hearing, the judge awarded the injured employee double compensation under Section 28 of the Workers’ Compensation Act on account of the employer’s misconduct. Section 28 claims are rare and often unsuccessful because of the requirement to prove a willful act or failure. The Reviewing Board affirmed the judge’s double-compensation award. “This was a case in which an employee, in the normal performance of their duties, was badly injured by a machine he was cleaning. The action stems from the fact that the owner of the business did not inform the worker about an emergency shut-off switch which was in place to prevent this exact sort of accident,” Downey said. “The willful disregard for safety by the owner allowed us to recover double compensation for our client. This is an uncommon occurrence and shows the strength of our case, the disregard for worker’s safety, and the ability of our team to work on behalf our injured client.”

 

Balise Supports Square One’s

Campaign for Healthy Kids

SPRINGFIELD — Balise Auto, a longtime Square One supporter, recently raised $4,000 to support the nonprofit agency’s Campaign for Healthy Kids. The funds were raised through Balise’s “Tires to Inspire” initiative, through which donations were made to Square One when customers purchased a set of new tires. “Square One does so much to set local children and their families up for success,” said Alex Balise, director of Marketing for Balise Auto. “Education and community development are at the core of our charitable giving philosophy, so we couldn’t be happier to highlight their amazing programs and continue to support Square One in their mission.” Square One’s Campaign for Healthy Kids is a multi-year fund-development initiative focused on the agency’s commitment to providing healthy meals, physical fitness, social-emotional well-being, and a healthy learning environment.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Alpha Cares Inc., 5C Mason Woods Dr., Agawam, MA 01001. King Khali Luciano Layne, 192 County Road, Salem, IL 62476. Charitable organization.

BELCHERTOWN

Friends of the Program Inc., 114 Mountain View Dr., Belchertown, MA 01007. Randy J. Milou, same address. Fundraising and scholarship organization.

CHICOPEE

Aya Vustom Homes Inc., 18 Beech St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Aleksey Bazukin, same address. Construction.

Great Wall II of Chicopee Inc., 785 Burnett Road., Chicopee, MA 01020. Bao Li, same address. Full-service restaurant.

EASTHAMPTON

MRVD Inc., 11 Union St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Olga L. Akers, 150 Linseed Road, West Hatfield, MA 01088. Restaurant and delivery.

Tong Sing Wok Inc., 126 Northampton St., Suite I, Easthampton, MA 01027. Chang Shou Lin, 625 55th St., Brooklyn, NY 11220. Takeout restaurant.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Big Brick Enterprises Inc. 123 Mountainview Road., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Sarah H. McClelland, same address. Rental properties.

GREENFIELD

King Triton Automotive Inc., 381 High St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Jeremy Ainsworth, same address. Automotive repair and used car sales.

HOLYOKE

Catalyst Cooperative Healing Inc., 650 Dwight St., #744, Holyoke, MA 01040. Marina Rodriguez, 11 Sherwood Terrace, Holyoke, MA 01040. Counseling and mental health services.

Cavanaugh Law, P.C., 1823 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Kathleen A. Cavanaugh, same address. Legal services.

LONGMEADOW

Kathleen A. Kerrigan, M.D., P.C., 195 Eton Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Kathleen A. Kerrigan, M.D., same address. Medical services.

SPRINGFIELD

Pathway to Freedom Outreach Ministries, Inc., 524 King St., Springfield, MA 01109. Tanisha Williams Smith, same address. Religious organization.

Capitara Investments Corp., 215 Fort Pleasant Ave., B8, Springfield, MA 01108. Ahmad Sarrage, same address. Source investments in the logistics industry.

WESTFIELD

Deliveredbyfaith Inc., 134 Union St., Apt. 56, Westfield, MA 01085. Goleana S. Grant, same address. Homeless outreach services.

DVT Express Inc., 173 Russell Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Vadym Dobrovolskyi, same address. Trucking.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

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

NORTHAMPTON

AK Construction
710 Florence Road
Alex Komler

Alchemy Healing Center
17 New South St., #108
Leta Herman

Better Marketing Realty
243 King St., Suite 100
Daniel Shermeta

Born Perfect
17 New South St., #108
Jaye McElroy

Boy Harsher
11 Verona St.
Jessica Matthews

Coles Meadow Music
470 Coles Meadow Road
William Hunt

Northampton Athletic Club
306 King St.
Perry Messer, Judy Messer

Northampton Concrete
400 Westhampton Road
Steohen Calcagnino

Ostrander Law Office
36 Service Center Road
David Ostrander

Penny Lane
141 Main St.
Ronny Hazel

PORT
202 Main St.
Benjamin Glushein

Shop Therapy
189 Main St.
Ronny Hazel

Skytemple
19C Hawley St.
Curtis Hayden

Tandem Bagel
306 King St.
Christopher Zawacki

Valley Fabrics
59 Service Center Road
Francesca Den Hartog

SPRINGFIELD

2nd II None Consulting
216 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Desi Jackson

The 50/50 Food Truck LLC
62 Laurel St.
Stephanie Figueroa

A1 Mobile Detailing
44 Trinity Terrace
Gary Rodowiez

Alexus Taxi
34 Florida St.
Ibrahim Adil

Bay State Mini Mart
314 Bay St.
HSD Corp.

Beautiful Boutique
48 Martha St.
Kassandra Maldonado

Bentley’s Barbershop
1142 Berkshire Ave.
Evan Nyman

Best Painters
1172 Page Blvd.
Daniel Santiago

BLK Photography
27 Bancroft St.
Alex River

Blood and Water Designs
1400 State St.
John Platten

Blooming Roses Childcare
119 Mildred Ave.
Leslie Perez

Boss Scrubs LLC
12 Somerset St.
Donovan Phillips

Boston Babe’s Realty LLC
869 Worthington St.
Gissel Santiago

Building Your Dreams
121 State St.
Felix Pagan DeJesus

Café Christo
513 Belmont Ave.
Christos Kalaitzidis

Cephas Enterprises LLC
30 Abbott St.
Robert Cephas

Chabela’s Beauty Salon
898 Main St.
Teodocia Martinez

Charlene’s Boutique LLC
1655 Boston Road
Charlene Naylor

Cyphen Sportswear Two
135 Victoria St.
Jared Bogart

Daniels Family Child Care
74 Andrew St.
Eis Quinones

Elohim Family Day Care
54 Hebert Ave.
Massiel Herrera

Express Gas & Foodmart
1103-1107 State St.
Amjad Hussain

Family Home Improvement
11 Brigham St.
Keven Torres

Fresh International
49 Whittier St.
Kirk Rigg

Gato’s Barbershop
932 Boston Road
Jonathan Velez

Happy Juice Palace
32 Hampden St.
Marielys Rosado

Hola Restaurant
455 Belmont Ave.
Joanny Queazada

HR Springfield Corp.
13-67 Boston Road
HR-Twenty Corp.

HSD Corp.
314 Bay St.
Aamir Wani

Hummingbird
347 Orange St.
Fresh International

IC Realty & Trust
566 Newbury St.
Israel Calderon

J. Monsee Car Washing
146 Gresham St.
Jackson Monsee

JR Transportation LLC
64 Moreland St.
Joel Rodriguez Puello

JJJ Handyman
77 Grover St.
Jonathan Berrmudez

Joy Travel Agency
132 Lucerne Road
Jaimary Acevedo Cotto

Just B
900 Allen St.
Bianca Jackson

KC Logistics
38 Cherrelyn St.
Karrish Frost-Mercado

Knots Indeed
63 Lakevilla Ave.
Rita Bartholomew

L&T Floor Covering
101 Whittier St.
Luis Carraballo

La Favorita Mini Mart
179 Walnut St.
Fizaan Muhammad

Liznail’s
43 Whittier St.
Liz Santiago

Lola’s Lashes
214 Spear Road
Anaida Cruz

Maggie’s Family Child Care
9 Sycamore St.
Milagros Alverio

Marcel’s Legendary Eats
536 Worthington St.
Marcel Minto

Market Monsters
64 Gillette Ave.
John Spear Jr.

Mary’s Family Child Care
92 Grenada Terrace
Maribel Antigua

Mass Value Painting LLC
61 Eloise St.
Samuel Diaz

Mayers Home Repairs
34 Front St.
Simeon Mayers

WESTFIELD

AC Auto Sales
766 Southampton Road
Charles Croney

Affable Tea
253 Granville Road
Janet Ruiz

All Energy Solar
66D Mainline Dr.
All Energy Solar

BCA Property Management
404 Southwick Road
Brandon Avery

Blackbrook Solutions
466 Pochassic Road
Carl Schwarzenbach

Broken Wolf BBQ
6 Hickory Ave.
Eric Lacombe

Cote’s Popcorn
1343 Southampton Road
Raymond Cote

Crazy Arepas
480 Southampton Road
Crazy Arepas

Doody Dashers
206 Fowler Road
Aaron Kremer

Honeyland Farms Food Shop
4 Russell Road
Kandy 2022 LLC

Hourglass Half Full
932 Russell Road
Kevin Weldell

JML Enterprises
129 Root Road
Jeff James

KBL Designs
9 Frederick St.
Bryanna Lannon

Lady Vee Soapery
10 Smith Ave., Apt. 1
Lady Vee Soapery LLC

Louis & Clark Country Gifts
1029 North Road
Clark Matthews

MAR Consulting
83 Pineridge Dr.
Mona Rastegar

Marek’s Automotive
11 Sherman St.
Marek Sobolewski

My Home Is Your Home Daycare
50 Holland Ave.
Sara Williams

New England Chiropractic Care
94 North Elm St.
New England Chiropractic Care

OBF
10 Smith Ave., Apt. 1
Obsession Be Fit LLC

Onsite Women’s Health
815 North Road
Michael Rockwal

Ortiz Lawn Care Services
8 Morris Ave.
Angel Ortiz

Relax.Rinse.Repeat
106 City View Road
Stephanie Liptak

Rusin Business Solutions
32 Jessie Lane
Jeffrey Rusin

Six Zemi
11 Pleasant St.
Janis Christian

Tierney Properties
22 Pearl St.
MTB Real Estate LLC

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Andras, Lori J.
67 Woodside Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/02/2022

Baird, Ernest A.
80 Damon Road, #1302
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/02/2022

Binnenkade, Barry B.
44 Oak St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/02/2022

Boyle, Shawn
Boyle, Lisa Marie
44 North St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/14/2022

Canterbury, Cody Robert
85 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/03/2022

Einzig, Robert A.
186 North West St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/01/2022

Fitzpatrick, Sean T.
96 Providence St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/12/2022

Godbolt, Josephine
65 Pendelton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/02/2022

Jusino, Maribel
Jusino, Eddie
11 Brenan St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/03/2022

Laflamm, Walter Henry
Slabinski-Laflamm, Gail Anne
41 South St., Unit 19
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/03/2022

MacDonald, Sean Michael
MacDonald, Colleen
a/km/a Trevisone, Colleen
245 South Main St., 2nd Fl.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/15/2022

Moriarty, Alexis
Alban, Alexis V.
134 Mill St., Apt. 2L
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/01/2022

Ng, Jack
209 Woodcrest Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/07/2022

Santana-Ruiz, Amanda L.
10 Berkshire Peak, Apt. 22
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/08/2022

Sherwood, Dillon
1 Park St.
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/05/2022

Skinner, Holly L.
143 Magazine St., Unit 204
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/03/2022

Smith, Sarah A.
182 Nursery St., Apt. B17
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/07/2022

Turoczy, Nicole Jan
85 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/03/2022

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

790 West Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: David J. Corliss
Seller: Phyllis A. Hubert
Date: 03/11/22

BUCKLAND

Bray Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sportsmens National Land Trust
Seller: Lynn M. Meixler
Date: 03/18/22

103 North St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: John J. Mossman
Seller: Sarah H. Buck
Date: 03/11/22

CONWAY

Bray Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sportsmens National Land Trust
Seller: Lynn M. Meixler
Date: 03/18/22

GREENFIELD

101 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Alexandru Teaca
Seller: Ronald E. Baker
Date: 03/17/22

437 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Stephen E. Walk
Seller: James A. Turner
Date: 03/15/22

15 Greenfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $4,100,000
Buyer: Valley Precision Parts Corp.
Seller: CJBW Stamp LLC
Date: 03/14/22

52 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Adil A. Behadiliaboade
Seller: Arundina LLC
Date: 03/11/22

30-32 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Robert H. Bennett
Seller: Grinnell Properties LLC
Date: 03/15/22

LEVERETT

253 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Margaret Moore
Seller: Andrew J. Starkweather
Date: 03/14/22

83 North Leverett Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Gregory S. Murphy
Seller: Diane L. Gorenstein
Date: 03/14/22

MONTAGUE

10 Chester St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Angela Young
Seller: Eileen R. Jurek
Date: 03/08/22

34 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Cheryl Thompson
Seller: Laelia LLC
Date: 03/07/22

108 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $175,900
Buyer: Christian K. Bowers
Seller: Shannon Manzi
Date: 03/18/22

18-20 Turnpike Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $429,900
Buyer: Christopher L. Monti
Seller: Doris A. Ducharme
Date: 03/18/22

NEW SALEM

303 Petersham Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Katelyn Herold
Seller: Ashoryn LLC
Date: 03/18/22

90 Whitaker Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Michael T. Jones
Seller: Thomas O. Jones
Date: 03/17/22

NORTHFIELD

44 Munns Ferry Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: 44 Munns Ferry LLC
Seller: 4 Pleasant Street LLC
Date: 03/10/22

ORANGE

Quabbin Blvd., Lot 3
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: APG Quabbin LLC
Seller: 3 Quabbin Orange LLC
Date: 03/14/22

77 Chase St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jeffrey D. Abare
Seller: Michele Satrowsky
Date: 03/08/22

26 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Peter Whitmore
Seller: Amanda Castiglione
Date: 03/11/22

112 Mechanic St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michael A. Maguire
Seller: Eileen A. Jansson
Date: 03/10/22

25 New Athol Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Orange Trails LLC
Seller: Kyle Higgins
Date: 03/09/22

17 Shumway St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Keauna J. Foster
Seller: Tara Fregeau
Date: 03/11/22

117 West Orange Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Keith M. Washington
Seller: Jon D. Holland
Date: 03/17/22

SUNDERLAND

248 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $50,500,000
Buyer: Cliffside TIC 2 LLC
Seller: Northland Cliffside LLC
Date: 03/15/22

653 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $51,500,000
Buyer: PR LMP Amherst Road LLC
Seller: Sugarbush Meadow LLC
Date: 03/17/22

220 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Alexandra Carley
Seller: Frederic S. Thomas
Date: 03/16/22

WARWICK

45 Orange Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Janette L. Gill
Seller: Dennis C. King
Date: 03/16/22

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

49 Center St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Alice Verbetsky
Seller: Damiano Trimboli
Date: 03/17/22

38 Depalma St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Michael County
Seller: Olga Arbuzov
Date: 03/10/22

47 Edward St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Golden Gorillas LLC
Seller: Nicky P. Lawrenchuk
Date: 03/07/22

45 Family Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Man B. Rana
Seller: Nathan L. Hall
Date: 03/11/22

59 General Abrams Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $12,000,000
Buyer: CGI Manufacturing Real Estate LLC
Seller: KSD Realty LLC
Date: 03/14/22

79 General Abrams Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $12,000,000
Buyer: CGI Manufacturing Real Estate LLC
Seller: KSD Realty LLC
Date: 03/14/22

99 General Abrams Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $12,000,000
Buyer: CGI Manufacturing Real Estate LLC
Seller: KSD Realty LLC
Date: 03/14/22

84 Hastings St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Joan Moura
Seller: Lavalley, Gloria M., (Estate)
Date: 03/17/22

76 Horsham Place
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $299,995
Buyer: Matthew M. Bruno
Seller: Abbey R. Massaro
Date: 03/10/22

53 James St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Spire Property Solutions Inc.
Seller: Jaskulski, David M., (Estate)
Date: 03/10/22

17 Kimberly Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Hyrmete Sejdiji
Seller: Larry L. Hoague
Date: 03/11/22

25 Monroe St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Douglas A. Dichard
Seller: David B. Quigley
Date: 03/08/22

1139 North St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: John Nguyen
Seller: Emanuel Diaz
Date: 03/16/22

124 North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Stellato RT
Seller: Alex Vilkhovoy
Date: 03/17/22

116-118 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Gulam Dastigir
Seller: Evelyn Rodriguez
Date: 03/11/22

28 Thalia Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Melody Fennelly
Seller: Linda M. Langevin
Date: 03/11/22

BRIMFIELD

122 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Paul Oday
Seller: Scott A. Martin
Date: 03/18/22

 

CHESTER

19 Higgins Road
Chester, MA 01050
Amount: $181,886
Buyer: Julieann Young
Seller: Christopher C. Haskell
Date: 03/11/22

32 Maple Ave
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Brian C. O’Donnell
Seller: DTA LLC
Date: 03/16/22

CHICOPEE

22 Adams St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Diane Rosario
Seller: David A. Laverdiere
Date: 03/11/22

Arthur St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $171,080
Buyer: Erik S. Lamountain
Seller: Wyszynski, Chester H., (Estate)
Date: 03/09/22

20 Arthur St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $171,080
Buyer: Erik S. Lamountain
Seller: Wyszynski, Chester H., (Estate)
Date: 03/09/22

13 Benefit St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,500
Buyer: Nathaniel J. O’Connor
Seller: Andrea M. Galiatsos
Date: 03/10/22

28 Bonner St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Gerardo Rivera-Lopez
Seller: Brital 1987 LLC
Date: 03/15/22

27 Bristol St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $215,150
Buyer: Jennifer L. Lavalley
Seller: Kenz, Loretta, (Estate)
Date: 03/14/22

Bromont St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: DGL Properties LLC
Seller: Barbara L. Ruffo
Date: 03/08/22

6 Bush Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Jonah Investments LLC
Seller: Dulong Holdings LLC
Date: 03/17/22

Carew St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: DGL Properties LLC
Seller: Barbara L. Ruffo
Date: 03/08/22

155 Carriage Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Jose Suarez
Seller: Michelle M. Vecchiarelli
Date: 03/16/22

52 Felix St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Paul Sullivan
Seller: Roger A. Lafleur
Date: 03/17/22

15 Hamel St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Eloy Arocho
Seller: Susan M. Basili
Date: 03/16/22

38 Hilton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Niurka D. Alicea-Jusino
Seller: William D. Howe
Date: 03/11/22

140 Joy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Jeremy Rodriguez
Seller: Joy Street RT
Date: 03/16/22

92 Nonotuck Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Angela A. McMahon
Seller: Robert J. Hanson
Date: 03/09/22

34 Paul Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Miguel Nieto
Seller: Justin T. Lavertue
Date: 03/10/22

10 Riverview Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Beatrice Lunsford-Wilkins
Seller: Urszula Stetson
Date: 03/10/22

69 Rochester St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jarrid Kendall
Seller: Corey M. Mange
Date: 03/15/22

Rose St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Home LLC
Seller: Francis P. Meckay
Date: 03/11/22

31 Rose St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Home LLC
Seller: Francis P. Meckay
Date: 03/11/22

102 Roy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Roberto Camacho
Seller: Suzanne I. Provost
Date: 03/17/22

1125 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Amount: $2,600,000
Buyer: EIP 1125 Sheridan LLC
Seller: 41 Liberty Street LLC
Date: 03/11/22

142 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Margarita Sepulveda
Seller: Eich Estates Inc.
Date: 03/07/22

107 South St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $356,500
Buyer: Wilmary Labonte
Seller: Kenneth R. Germain
Date: 03/09/22

462 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Urszula NT
Seller: Leonardo Corporan
Date: 03/17/22

EAST LONGMEADOW

88 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $144,755
Buyer: Bogdanow RT
Seller: Symmes, Richard D., (Estate)
Date: 03/16/22

159 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Anicia N. Marshall-Roman
Seller: RC Builders LLC
Date: 03/09/22

35 Hazelhurst Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: Trudy A. Elliston
Seller: Tyler J. Wheelock
Date: 03/16/22

254 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $431,500
Buyer: Andrew A. Clough
Seller: Vincenzo Calabrese
Date: 03/17/22

Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Panini Properties MA LLC
Seller: Apple Blossom Farm LLC
Date: 03/18/22

322 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Dominic J. Nardi
Seller: Marc A. Frisino
Date: 03/11/22

461 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Amanda D. Robinson
Seller: John R. Crowley
Date: 03/16/22

97 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Nandlal S. Reejhsinghani
Seller: Nicole M. Boulanger
Date: 03/07/22

GRANVILLE

1586 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Sean Burke
Seller: Cody A. Depew-Paas
Date: 03/11/22

HAMPDEN

24 Meadow Brook Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Matthew T. Strout
Seller: Kenneth O. Kern
Date: 03/09/22

160 Mill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Lisa A. Schmuck
Seller: Gary R. Barnett
Date: 03/08/22

HOLYOKE

25 Ashley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Wayne Klinge
Seller: Bailly, Donald W., (Estate)
Date: 03/11/22

5 Blossom Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $303,500
Buyer: Philip S. Bartholomew
Seller: Mary E. Atchison
Date: 03/11/22

61-63 Brookline Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Tascon Homes LLC
Seller: Barry L. Rock
Date: 03/08/22

579-583 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: 579 Dwight Street LLC
Seller: Muayyad Realty LLC
Date: 03/15/22

34-36 Elmwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Edward A. Olmo
Seller: David G. Paulsen
Date: 03/18/22

671-677 High St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Wade Lee
Seller: Rosemary Leduc
Date: 03/14/22

11 Hillview Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Morgan L. Jones
Seller: David A. Leblanc
Date: 03/11/22

25 Linden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Olana Flynn
Seller: Myriam Quinones
Date: 03/15/22

69 Lyman St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: James B. Stillwaggon
Seller: Amelia Mosley
Date: 03/15/22

37 Lynwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Alycar Investments LLC
Seller: Kimberly Santiago
Date: 03/18/22

1 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: 1 Main Realty LLC
Seller: Carol D. White
Date: 03/14/22

Mountain Road Lot 2
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Barnett
Seller: Adam J. Mulcahy
Date: 03/14/22

605 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jared Hamre
Seller: Daniel Flores
Date: 03/10/22

251 Oak St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Raleigh A. Venne
Seller: Carole A. Hebert
Date: 03/11/22

69 Portland St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Taishla Lopez-Perez
Seller: Mildred Hernandez
Date: 03/16/22

20 Richard Eger Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Gladysh Capital LLC
Seller: Obrzut, Peter S., (Estate)
Date: 03/11/22

7 Russell Ter.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Aida Reys-Lugo
Seller: Round 2 LLC
Date: 03/11/22

47 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Real Estate Investments LLC
Seller: Kevin G. Elliott
Date: 03/08/22

LONGMEADOW

128 Birch Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $417,000
Buyer: Tao Wang
Seller: Stephen J. Payne
Date: 03/16/22

91 Birchwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $459,000
Buyer: Austin Moore
Seller: Global Homes Properties LLC
Date: 03/17/22

226 Blueberry Hill Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Robert J. Harrington
Seller: John P. Santoro
Date: 03/08/22

26 Cobblestone Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Alan S. Eisgrau
Seller: Ilyssa O. Zippin
Date: 03/14/22

141 Lawnwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Mohammad Eskandarinejad
Seller: Patricia G. Larivee
Date: 03/18/22

117 Lincoln Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Christie L. Gaudio
Seller: Catherine Cole
Date: 03/10/22

86 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Sheryl L. McQuade TR
Seller: Mihaela S. Stefan
Date: 03/10/22

20 Sherwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Francesco A. Ferrentino
Seller: Francesco Ferrentino
Date: 03/07/22

18 South Park Place
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $449,000
Buyer: Kevin Winslow
Seller: Ronald G. Proulx
Date: 03/17/22

LUDLOW

19 Belmont St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Ronald O. Molina-Rivas
Seller: Lucia B. Gomes
Date: 03/11/22

47 Dale St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: 2017 Coelho FT
Seller: Patricia J. Renauld
Date: 03/18/22

68 Deponte Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $527,000
Buyer: Kendra Salvador
Seller: New England Equities LLC
Date: 03/17/22

9 Elaine Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $415,700
Buyer: Cory J. Mills-Dick
Seller: BGRS Relocation Inc.
Date: 03/11/22

9 Elaine Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $415,700
Buyer: BGRS Relocation Inc.
Seller: Jennifer L. Fafard
Date: 03/07/22

122 Irla Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Michael Parent
Seller: Scotty L. Afonso
Date: 03/11/22

245 Moore St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Daniel Lozada
Seller: Snab LLC
Date: 03/11/22

144 Swan Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Jose A. Roxo
Seller: Roxo, Laura R., (Estate)
Date: 03/18/22

MONSON

22 Bridge St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Nasser H. Chihemi
Seller: Victoria M. Lee
Date: 03/08/22

166 Bumstead Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Daniel A. Hersey
Seller: Dylan J. Mann
Date: 03/11/22

15 Mill St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: William Dean
Seller: Jared P. Pignone
Date: 03/07/22

165 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Aubin
Seller: Daniel A. Hersey
Date: 03/11/22

6 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Anthony Monteiro
Seller: Thomas M. Greene
Date: 03/16/22

55 Stafford Hollow Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Ryan Arsenault
Seller: Daniel P. Provost
Date: 03/11/22

232 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Benjamin J. Andrews
Seller: SZF Properties LLC
Date: 03/11/22

MONTGOMERY

184 Carrington Road
Montgomery, MA 01050
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Glen G. Koundry
Seller: David R. Berndt
Date: 03/15/22

PALMER

18 Holbrook St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Emily A. Doiron
Seller: Jolene L. Lepow
Date: 03/11/22

Jim Ash Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Mark Salamon
Seller: Steven E. Cormier
Date: 03/11/22

44 Smith St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $401,000
Buyer: Matthew Janik
Seller: Norma J. Roberts
Date: 03/07/22

96 Smith St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $401,000
Buyer: Matthew Janik
Seller: Norma J. Roberts
Date: 03/07/22

3038 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Jared Marciniec
Seller: Kenneth E. Boyer
Date: 03/14/22

SOUTHWICK

49 Coes Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Avery W. Vazquez
Seller: Stephen Werman
Date: 03/17/22

604 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $1,600,000
Buyer: Southwick Gristmill Plaza
Seller: TJ Welch Inc.
Date: 03/10/22

45 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Etabav RT
Seller: John D. Sullivan
Date: 03/08/22

136 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Troy Senecal
Seller: Cheryl N. Smith
Date: 03/14/22

22 Shirley Ter.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Kaile Blaze
Seller: George S. Hatzidakis
Date: 03/16/22

SPRINGFIELD

126 2nd St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $216,500
Buyer: Nathan S. Valois
Seller: Emily A. Warner
Date: 03/09/22

89 Acushnet Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Nancy Calderon
Seller: Joseph P. Decaro
Date: 03/15/22

99 Acushnet Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Alexandra Segura-Estrella
Seller: Giovanni P. Calabrese
Date: 03/18/22

70 Alderman St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Ariel Properties LLC
Seller: Rodman Capital Group LLC
Date: 03/14/22

97 Alderman St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $431,000
Buyer: Frederick H. Bohn
Seller: AJN Rentals LLC
Date: 03/07/22

114 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: William Raleigh
Seller: Melinda Barry
Date: 03/18/22

60 Arnold Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Josue Irizarry
Seller: Carlos Y. Garcia
Date: 03/15/22

63 Atwater Ter.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $427,500
Buyer: Michael A. Fenton
Seller: David Finn
Date: 03/14/22

17 Atwood Place
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: John M. Finch
Seller: Emilia Dones
Date: 03/17/22

87 Balfour Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Crystal J. Perez
Seller: Pamela J. Bourbeau
Date: 03/15/22

45 Bancroft St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Fikiri Amisi
Seller: North End Housing Initiative
Date: 03/11/22

65 Beaufort Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Fallah Razzak
Seller: Theresa Glog
Date: 03/11/22

10 Blanding St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Hamit T. Adiguzel
Seller: Alberto S. Crisostomo
Date: 03/17/22

19 Canterbury Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Aleesha R. Penna
Seller: Rosaida Mercado
Date: 03/14/22

64 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Ashley L. Graham
Seller: Lisa A. Schmuck
Date: 03/08/22

171 Clearbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Benjamin T. Cole
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 03/18/22

7 Colorado St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Reynalda Torres
Seller: Alycar Investments LLC
Date: 03/17/22

40 Cortland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Aidalis Rodriguez-Otero
Seller: Gabriel Paredes
Date: 03/15/22

971-973 East Columbus Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Pena Lopez Auto Repair
Seller: John P. Veronesi
Date: 03/14/22

93 Creswell Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Robert E. Fisk
Seller: Meadowbrook Property Solutions LLC
Date: 03/07/22

53 Crystal Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Kevin S. Rivera
Seller: Christopher Ortega
Date: 03/07/22

95 Dawes St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Anthoney M. Lomax
Seller: R. M. Blerman LLC
Date: 03/10/22

109 El Paso St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Hosbaldo Adorno
Seller: Garrett Sullivan
Date: 03/11/22

29 Endicott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Darius M. Cofer
Seller: Karen M. Sokolowski
Date: 03/18/22

49 Euclid Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Daniel Della-Giustina
Seller: Thong D. Nguyen
Date: 03/16/22

5 Flower St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Hassan Echchetouani
Seller: Mary F. Sawyer
Date: 03/17/22

55 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Geoffrey Frost
Seller: Alex Hiller
Date: 03/18/22

47 Garfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Stefan Hagmann
Seller: Michael J. Rheault
Date: 03/07/22

173 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ivor Santos
Seller: Anthony L. Tyson
Date: 03/15/22

20 Green Way
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Deu Thapa
Seller: Ganga Tiwari
Date: 03/16/22

88-90 Groveland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jose A. Dejesus
Seller: Carmen Valentin
Date: 03/07/22

49 Hobson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Kevin Perez
Seller: Salim Abdoo
Date: 03/18/22

124 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jarinelys Figueroa-Roldan
Seller: Rodman Capital Group LLC
Date: 03/11/22

28 Howes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Renardo N. Clayton
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 03/14/22

49 Judson St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: James E. Cavallo
Seller: Elizabeth Boggis
Date: 03/11/22

15 Kane St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $161,700
Buyer: David M. Wilson
Seller: Robert J. Schroeter
Date: 03/08/22

19 Kimberly Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Maria Garcia
Seller: Birch Properties LLC
Date: 03/11/22

125 Larkspur St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $207,500
Buyer: Dennis A. Montalvo
Seller: Ryan D. Doty
Date: 03/18/22

55 Lawndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Hiep Do
Seller: Veteran Stan LLC
Date: 03/16/22

62-64 Lester St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: TIHWDI LLC
Seller: Erik White
Date: 03/11/22

37 Lexington St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Peace Y. Carboo
Seller: Maria Estrada
Date: 03/14/22

838 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Gerald Oleksak
Seller: Irma Langone
Date: 03/07/22

82-84 Marion St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Stephanie M. Acevedo
Seller: Paul D. Calder
Date: 03/18/22

42 Mattoon St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Winners O. LLC
Seller: Infinity Developments LLC
Date: 03/11/22

44 Mattoon St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Winners O. LLC
Seller: Infinity Developments LLC
Date: 03/11/22

111 Merrimac Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Yomaira Amaro
Seller: Nelson Tejada
Date: 03/15/22

69 Monrovia St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Kaitlyn Parent
Seller: Zacharia M. Graham
Date: 03/08/22

91 Mulberry St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Alycar Investments LLC
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 03/18/22

44-46 Palmyra St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Center For Human Development Inc.
Seller: Sean Kavanagh
Date: 03/18/22

1061 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Gabriel Paredes
Seller: Robert A. Couture
Date: 03/15/22

1655 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: JJJ 17 LLC
Seller: Joseph Salvador
Date: 03/15/22

16 Partridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $219,500
Buyer: Partridge Drive LLC
Seller: Diplomat Property Manager LLC
Date: 03/08/22

4 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: SHRE Holding Co. LLC
Seller: Kenneth S. Bernstein
Date: 03/16/22

29 Pocantico Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Michael Richardson-Polk
Seller: Hung Pham
Date: 03/10/22

75 Pocantico Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: John Barron
Seller: Western Mass. Property Development LLC
Date: 03/09/22

75 Prouty St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $332,000
Buyer: Kourtnie Noel-Morales
Seller: Lorenzo M. Hall
Date: 03/14/22

15 Rio Vista St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Nicholas G. Conner
Seller: Doris M. Mietka
Date: 03/15/22

28 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $259,500
Buyer: Adam D. Mayhew
Seller: Debra A. Griffith
Date: 03/18/22

194 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Quadria Carter
Seller: Annette Gerber
Date: 03/11/22

105-111 School St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $1,725,000
Buyer: New Man Ventures LLC
Seller: Ironsides School LLC
Date: 03/10/22

194 Shady Brook Lane
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: High Ridge Real Estate LLC
Seller: Goodrow, Robert R., (Estate)
Date: 03/07/22

104 Stockman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Dreana C. Sanders
Seller: Samuel Sanabria
Date: 03/11/22

83-85 Strong St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Elayni I. Marte
Seller: SA Holding 1 LLC
Date: 03/10/22

712 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Deny Kim
Seller: Javed Shah
Date: 03/15/22

1562 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $330,200
Buyer: Lal B. Thapa
Seller: Jacqueline Vega
Date: 03/08/22

8 Timothy Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Tyrone Nelson
Seller: Scott P. Demaria
Date: 03/16/22

43 Wait St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Sandra I. Cruz
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 03/11/22

73 Watling St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Sergio G. Ortiz
Seller: Lori J. Marchand
Date: 03/16/22

133-135 Westford Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $194,755
Buyer: Saklaa RT
Seller: Melvin J. Collins
Date: 03/15/22

184 Winton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Cara E. McGee
Seller: Artioli, Russell N., (Estate)
Date: 03/11/22

18-20 Wolcott St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Cecilia Gomes
Seller: Celia Pena
Date: 03/07/22

WALES

10 Polly Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Craig P. Garvey
Seller: Dawn Upton
Date: 03/11/22

WEST SPRINGFIELD

1066 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Robert P. Fortin
Seller: Robert P. Fortin
Date: 03/07/22

104-106 Ashley St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: G&C RE Investments LLC
Seller: Bilodeau, Joan I., (Estate)
Date: 03/18/22

54 Carriage Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Rachelle Hannoush
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/16/22

119 Chestnut St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: John Montalvo
Seller: James R. Christofori
Date: 03/17/22

25 Circle Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Meeghan P. Ramsey
Seller: Heather M. Fortin
Date: 03/11/22

134 Country View St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Michael J. Riordan
Seller: John J. Riordan
Date: 03/08/22

61 Forris St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Zachary Grchan
Seller: Stephen Wesolowski
Date: 03/11/22

40 Globe St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Qassim Khalaf
Seller: V&K Realty LLC
Date: 03/18/22

67 Lewis Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Ellen M. Dale
Seller: Marino Biagini
Date: 03/18/22

104 Prospect Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Joseph P. Letendre
Seller: Myrna Vilas
Date: 03/14/22

820 Union St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: William O. Torres
Seller: Kelly, George A., (Estate)
Date: 03/10/22

WESTFIELD

58 Arnold St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: J&M Realty LLC
Seller: Irene J. Flahive
Date: 03/17/22

54 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Paul A. Montanaro
Seller: Aspasia Gravanis
Date: 03/16/22

8-1/2 Bush St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Nathan P. Solitario
Seller: Bryan M. Tirrell
Date: 03/10/22

37 Coolidge Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Amy L. Damour
Seller: Kristina M. Schultz
Date: 03/17/22

124 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $193,666
Buyer: Wayne J. Lawrence
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/15/22

680 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Eryn S. Tobin
Seller: William E. Footit
Date: 03/11/22

25 Holyoke Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Joshua M. Remy
Seller: Donna E. West
Date: 03/09/22

92 Knollwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jamison Bolduc
Seller: Scott J. Wojcik
Date: 03/15/22

19 McKinley Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: R. M. Blerman LLC
Seller: David G. Moquin
Date: 03/10/22

304 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Jason R. Lisee
Seller: Susan D. Hunley RET
Date: 03/15/22

5 Northridge Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $314,900
Buyer: Nissy P. Manacheril
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 03/18/22

29 Orange St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $528,000
Buyer: 29-29 5 Orange St LLC
Seller: J&F Management LLP
Date: 03/17/22

13 Pine St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $237,900
Buyer: Brandyn J. Peterson
Seller: FHLM
Date: 03/08/22

51 Queen St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Colleen T. Lent
Seller: Dorothy Lent
Date: 03/18/22

120 Springdale Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Mikhail Kozachuk
Seller: David K. Young
Date: 03/18/22

109 Whitaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Angela T. Derouin
Seller: Patricia Vachula
Date: 03/10/22

WILBRAHAM

9 Brookside Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Christopher Q. Brown
Seller: Patricia E. Perkins
Date: 03/15/22

22 Hunting Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Susan M. Mondor
Seller: Joseph G. Mondor
Date: 03/11/22

8 Joan St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Danise Fahor-Etienne
Seller: Patricia Feliz
Date: 03/16/22

239 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Nestor R. Rivera-Alicea
Seller: Stuart J. Johnsen
Date: 03/18/22

78 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $143,746
Buyer: Glenroy Burke
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/18/22

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

295 Amity St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $552,000
Buyer: Jordan R. Katz
Seller: J. Richard Pilsner
Date: 03/16/22

8 Berkshire Ter.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Sarah Mabry
Seller: Connolly, Judith A., (Estate)
Date: 03/17/22

16 Bridge St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Bridgestreet Rentals LLC
Seller: Cheryl Noble
Date: 03/18/22

156-A Brittany Manor
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $58,000,000
Buyer: Boulders TIC 2 LLC
Seller: Northland Boulders LLC
Date: 03/15/22

170 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Fern & Co. LLC
Seller: Dolan, Daniel T., (Estate)
Date: 03/07/22

7 Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $550,700
Buyer: Meghan Correa
Seller: Carrie-Lynn Saunders
Date: 03/10/22

9 Kettle Pond Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $518,000
Buyer: Katharine J. Waggoner LT
Seller: Ren L. Yao
Date: 03/18/22

191 West Pomeroy Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: Fort River Solar 2 LLC
Date: 03/10/22

BELCHERTOWN

196 Barton Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Robin Parncutt
Seller: Joshua M. Slovack
Date: 03/11/22

1131 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Elizabeth E. Tomlinson
Seller: Pratt James L., (Estate)
Date: 03/10/22

635 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $436,250
Buyer: Jackson Powers
Seller: Meaghan L. Williamson
Date: 03/15/22

348 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $377,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Flink
Seller: Ronald J. Flink RET
Date: 03/18/22

24 Sycamore Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $482,900
Buyer: Scott Demaria
Seller: JN Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 03/16/22

8 Tucker Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Daniel Debastiani
Seller: Sivart RT
Date: 03/18/22

6 Woodland Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Shing Lau
Seller: Bailey Housing LLC
Date: 03/10/22

EASTHAMPTON

Brook St. Lot 1
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Norine L. O’Neil
Seller: Patricia A. Larochelle IRT
Date: 03/17/22

50 Church St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $394,000
Buyer: Pandura Properties LLC
Seller: Brian D. Slezek
Date: 03/10/22

53 Hannum Brook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $402,000
Buyer: Ryan Kurtz
Seller: Verville, Ronadl G., (Estate)
Date: 03/07/22

248 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $408,000
Buyer: Lauren R. Steis
Seller: Mark T. Izzo
Date: 03/18/22

32 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Jessica B. Hertzberg
Seller: Norwich Properties LLC
Date: 03/07/22

12 Lord St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Holden S. Sparacino
Seller: Michael A. Pellin
Date: 03/18/22

Reservation Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: City Of Easthampton
Seller: Suzanne E. Scallion
Date: 03/07/22

GOSHEN

West St.
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $845,000
Buyer: Chandobald TR
Seller: St.Amand FT
Date: 03/17/22

14 Williams Dr.
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Richard A. Barton
Seller: Michael G. George
Date: 03/16/22

GRANBY

12 Griswold Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Dakota P. Richards
Seller: Tetrault, Diane E., (Estate)
Date: 03/10/22

86 Morgan St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $332,250
Buyer: Michael W. Livingston
Seller: Michael W. Crochiere
Date: 03/08/22

220 West State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: T&A Associates & Properties LLC
Seller: Brooks FT
Date: 03/11/22

HADLEY

1 Autumn View Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Donald A. Brown
Seller: L. Ann Hopkins
Date: 03/09/22

HATFIELD

8 Circle Dr.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Barbara N. Weinberg
Seller: Elizabeth N. Clarke
Date: 03/07/22

NORTHAMPTON

Berkshire Ter.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $586,500
Buyer: Rita E. Sohlich
Seller: Nolava LLC
Date: 03/07/22

737 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $2,600,000
Buyer: Prospect Place Owner LLC
Seller: 737 Northampton LLC
Date: 03/07/22

57 Gothic St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Samuel B. Whitney
Seller: 57 Gothic Street LLC
Date: 03/11/22

27 Higgins Way
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $848,190
Buyer: David Overfield
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 03/18/22

168 Industrial Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $5,351,083
Buyer: GMS Realty LLP
Seller: Kissell Inc.
Date: 03/17/22

178 Industrial Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,098,917
Buyer: Recovery Real Estate Holdings LLC
Seller: PVC West Inc.
Date: 03/17/22

256 Jackson St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Thomas H. Craig
Seller: Du Con Properties LLC
Date: 03/17/22

Locust St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $586,500
Buyer: Rita E. Sohlich
Seller: Nolava LLC
Date: 03/07/22

Sherman Ave. Lot 1
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Nu Way Homes Inc.
Seller: Barbara A. Lamontagne
Date: 03/10/22

57 Warner St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Yunting Xu
Seller: Nu Way Homes Inc.
Date: 03/14/22

SOUTH HADLEY

7 Benoit Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Christine A. Craig
Seller: Du Con Properties LLC
Date: 03/18/22

89 Brainerd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Thomas Fusari
Seller: Sally J. Poudrier
Date: 03/11/22

22 Edison Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Joshua Berge
Seller: Thomas J. Kelleher
Date: 03/17/22

324 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Barbara E. Leyden
Seller: Eleanor Ustach
Date: 03/08/22

17 Leahey Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: Andrew Kretschmar
Seller: Michael D. Russell
Date: 03/15/22

18 North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Scott Family Properties LLC
Seller: Michael G. Edwards
Date: 03/09/22

SOUTHAMPTON

16 East St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $127,302
Buyer: Anthony Wheeler Construction LLC
Seller: Christine E. Wright
Date: 03/10/22

88 High St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $252,625
Buyer: Michael L. Buehler
Seller: Anne L. Vaillant
Date: 03/09/22

90 High St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $252,625
Buyer: Michael L. Buehler
Seller: Anne L. Vaillant
Date: 03/09/22

WARE

19-21 Aspen St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Eurides Batista
Seller: Scudder Bay Capital LLC
Date: 03/17/22

121 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Alice Bonasio
Seller: Theresa A. Baldassarri
Date: 03/11/22

52 Main St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: FEI Group LLC
Seller: Mark A. Andrews
Date: 03/11/22

54-58 Main St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: FEI Group LLC
Seller: Mark A. Andrews
Date: 03/11/22

78-80 Main St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: FEI Group LLC
Seller: Mark A. Andrews
Date: 03/11/22

198 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Winners O. LLC
Seller: Lauren Noone
Date: 03/09/22

6-10 South St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: FEI Group LLC
Seller: Mark A. Andrews
Date: 03/11/22

WORTHINGTON

144 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $524,580
Buyer: Pippin & Jane LLC
Seller: Bearly LLC
Date: 03/08/22

110 Williamsburg Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: K. M. Downs 2016 TR
Seller: Gabriel K. Shippee
Date: 03/14/22

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

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

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Marketplace Owners LLC
591 Memorial Dr.
$8,693 — Replace two gas-fired RTUs

G.M. Northrup Corp.
1600 Memorial Dr.
$8,800 — Add/relocate existing sprinklers at O’Reilly Auto Parts

Trajen LLC
363 Chicopee St.
$3,000 — Roofing

LEE

MTB Housing Inc.
1290 Cape St.
$20,000 — Construct storage building

Thomas Parente
880 East St.
$1,672 — Insulation

South Lee Assoc. LLC
501 Pleasant St.
$3,500 — Concrete structural slab for future chiller

LENOX

Wallace Clark
260-F05 Pittsfield Road
$19,300 — Bathroom remodel

Smegal Holdings LLC
36 Pittsfield Road
$15,000 — Replace roof and siding on garage

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Medical Center Inc.
725 North St.
$3,500 — Relocate existing piping and sprinklers

David Bell Deane
40 Perrine Ave.
$15,700 ­— Install fire-alarm control panel

Chris Fabino
5 Cheshire Road
$12,000 — Remove existing demising wall and constrict new demising wall

KO Resources LLC
501 Dalton Ave.
$2,000 — Install concrete equipment pad

Light Holdings LLC
10 Betnr Industrial Dr.
$8,796 — Fire-alarm system

Tower 21C LLC
123 North St.
$3,600 — Change of use from retail store to barbershop

WBRK Inc.
39 Lakewood Dr.
$35,000 — Replace three existing antennas with six new antennas and related lines and equipment

SPRINGFIELD

44 Howes Street Realty LLC
250 Albany St.
$120,000 — Alter interior space for new refrigeration/frozen storage area

575 Union Street LLC
311 Page Blvd.
$130,000 — Repair exterior masonry walls damaged by car accident

627 Cottage Street LLC
627 Cottage St.
$21,000 — Install lead-lined drywall for new equipment at T.J. O’Connor animal shelter

3455 Main Street Associates LP
3455 Main St.
$72,500 — Remodel interior space at New England Dermatology

Honore LLC
280 Worthington St.
$15,000 — Interior fit-out for future tenant

Knox Residences II LP
42 Waltham Ave.
$27,000 — Partial demolition, removal of section at rear of building

Big Y Express Launches New Downtown Format

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y has announced plans to build a new concept Big Y Express Fresh Market at 1500 Main St. as part of Tower Square in Springfield.

The new, 10,000-square-foot Big Y Express Fresh Market will be tailored to fit the needs of the city’s downtown community. Currently, there are workers and area residents who are eager to have access to delicious, nutritious and affordable offerings that are not currently available in a convenient way, said Colin D’Amour, senior director of Big Y Express. “Between the UMass classrooms, YMCA daycare, area office workers and downtown residents, many are looking for an option to meet their food needs.”

While not a complete supermarket due to its size, this location will have a full assortment of items from each department, he said. The offerings will include prepared meals and sandwiches along with natural and organic products and everyday necessities. In addition, there will be an inhouse sushi chef preparing fresh sushi daily.

“We are excited to bring an entirely new concept to downtown Springfield,” said D’Amour. “We know that there has been an appetite for Big Y’s fresh and local foods for many years now. We are confident that customers will enjoy our many offerings. We are working diligently with our contractors to establish a timeline for opening and are excited to be a part of the downtown community.”

The Drake Opens for Live Music on April 28

By
Daily News

AMHERST — While the doors to The Drake will soft open on April 26 with the Green Street Trio of Northampton Jazz Workshop fame, a grand opening will take place April 28 at 44 North Pleasant Street in Amherst. 

The grand opening weekend will showcase performances by celebrated jazz violinist Regina Carter (April 28), Titans of Ethio-Groove & Funk Gili Yalo & the Anbessa Orchestra (April 29), singer/songwriter and chronicler of life Loudon Wainwright III (April 30), homegrown electro fever-pop from Home Body + NOVA ONE (May 1) and culminate in a Ribbon Cutting on May 2.

Tickets for grand opening weekend and beyond are available at www.thedrakeamherst.org.

The Downtown Amherst Foundation (DAF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is the driving force behind this venture, which will bring arts and culture to downtown Amherst. The Drake will present nightly entertainment from nationally and internationally recognized performers under the purview of Laudable Productions, known for presenting successful music festivals, concerts, and other cultural events across the Pioneer Valley.

Envisioned as a true community-based venture, The DAF is collaborating with the Art and Music departments of Amherst College, UMass Amherst, and Amherst-Pelham Regional High School to offer students, faculty, and alumni musicians the opportunity to perform live in an intimate space. Once a month, proceeds from the new “FEEDBACK LIVE” series will be donated to a local nonprofit. Many communities and education forward series will be announced soon. 

Founded on a vision of diversity and inclusivity for both performers and audience, and adopting its name from the original Drake, a storied Amherst bar that closed in 1985, the Drake will welcome local residents of all ages and attract visitors coming to hear top talent in an intimate and familiar space.

Located on the second floor of the Amherst Bank Building (44 North Pleasant St.), the space has been completely transformed with state-of-the-art lighting and audio installed by Klondike Sound, and a Steinway Grand piano courtesy of Amherst College. The venue is open to all ages. For patrons 21 and over, it will house a full-service bar featuring craft cocktails, wine, and beer.  It will feature both seated and dance floor configurations.

HCC Offering New Round of Free Hotel Job Training 

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE – Interested in jumpstarting a career in the hospitality industry? Holyoke Community College is running a free, seven-week hotel training program starting April 26.  

The hands-on, in-person classes for hotel front-desk workers and hotel room attendants will take place in HCC’s hotel training lab on the second floor of the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute on Race Street in downtown Holyoke.

The program runs on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30-8:30 p.m., April 26 through June 9. 

The course will provide students with up-to-date knowledge of the hotel industry, hands-on experience for front desk and/or room attendant roles, workplace skills, resume building, interviewing, job search assistance, and connections to local employers. 

HCC’s hotel lab was equipped using $35,000 from a 2019 Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant, which funds purchases for educational initiatives linked to workforce needs.

HCC ran its first round of free hotel industry training in February and March.

The lab is set up like a hotel reception area with a front desk and adjoining guest room and equipped with the most modern technology and software. 

“The hotel lab gives students the ability to learn in a model hotel room and reception lobby, gain knowledge about key card access systems, and understand point-of-sale technology,” said Jeff Hayden, HCC vice president of Business and Community Services. “This is the kind of experiential training employers are asking for.”

No high school diploma or GED/HiSET test is required for admission.

Offered as part of HCC’s Business & Workforce Development division, the hotel training course is free to qualifying applicants. 

For more information, contact Laura Smith, HCC job placement assistant and career development counselor, at [email protected] / (413) 552-2833, or fill out the inquiry form at hcc.edu/job-ready.

Baystate Medical Center Re-Opens Blood Donor Center

By
Daily News

 

SPRINGFIELD — As the cases of COVID-19 subside in the community, Baystate Medical Center has re-opened its Blood Donor Center to the public.

 The Blood Donor Center is located in the hospital’s Daly Building at 759 Chestnut St. in Springfield. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon. Appointments are necessary by calling 413-794-4600.

 Only red-blood cell donations are being accepted at this time, and no platelets. Also, the Baystate Blood Donor Mobile for blood drives is currently not in service.

 The re-opening comes on the heels of a nationwide blood shortage in January primarily due to the surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, winter months when blood donations are at their lowest, and staffing limitations that caused the closure of many donor centers nationwide and cancelled blood drives.

 Dr. Chester Andrzejewski, medical director, Transfusion Medicine Services at Baystate Medical Center, noted that staff members appreciate the level of interest and the return of donors to the hospital’s Blood Bank collection efforts.

 “The re-activation of our Blood Donor Center has already contributed greatly to our local inventory supplies,” said Andrzejewski. “As we continue to navigate the challenges imposed by the pandemic on our operations, the commitment of our donors encourages all of us in the work we do.

 “By donating blood, an individual becomes a hero to someone by making sure there is blood on our shelves when a patient desperately needs it,” he added. “With just one donation that one individual can help save many lives.”

 Every day in America, about 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims. And every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and/or platelets.

 At Baystate Health, 100% of all blood and platelet donations made to its Blood Donor Program are used locally in Western Mass. More than 5,000 patients at Baystate receive more than 18,000 transfusions of blood products each year.

 Donors must be at least age 17, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health, and have a photo ID. Donors are able to give blood every eight weeks.

 Masks are required to enter the hospital and to donate blood. Scheduling appointments ahead of time also ensures that the Blood Donor Center is not overcrowded and social distancing efforts are in effect.

 

For more information, visit baystatehealth.org/services/blood-donor.

Country Bank Names Patrick O’Hara, Vice President, Commercial Lending Officer

By
Daily News

WARE — Country Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Central and Western Massachusetts, announced that Patrick O’Hara has joined its Commercial Lending Division in Worcester.

A 17-year industry veteran with immersive client engagement, O’Hara will architect and deliver strategies to support growth in the commercial banking portfolio. O’Hara has held several positions in commercial lending and business development with SunTrust Bank, Bank of America, Santander Bank, and, most recently, Citizens Bank covering the Worcester and MetroWest Boston markets before joining Country Bank.

In his new role, he will serve Central and Eastern Mass. to support businesses throughout the region.

“Welcoming Patrick to the Business Lending Team at Country Bank is very exciting for us; he has an extensive background working with business owners to develop business plans, financing strategies, and, in the process, building long-term partnerships,” said Tom Wolcott, first senior vice president, Commercial Lending. “These partnerships define Country Bank, and Patrick is a valuable addition to our team and exemplifies our iSTEP Corporate Values of Integrity, Service, Teamwork, Excellence, and Prosperity. We are pleased that he has chosen Country Bank to be his employer of choice.”

O’Hara holds a bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College, he is accredited in Commercial Credit from Omega Performance, and has received multiple top performer and excellence awards throughout his career. He is also an avid supporter of St. Vincent De Paul and New Horizons, which supports veteran’s issues and mental health.

“I’m extremely excited to join a bank with such an impressive history of helping businesses grow and thrive in our region,” said O’Hara. “Country Bank is one of the most well-capitalized banks in the market, with a tremendous reputation for integrity and service to the community. I look forward to contributing to our continued growth and success across central and eastern Massachusetts, and beyond.”

Rocky’s Ace Hardware Purchases Nine New Stores in Ohio

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD – Rocky’s Ace Hardware, one of the country’s largest family-owned Ace Hardware dealers, has purchased the nine Ohio-based Handyman Ace Hardware stores, which have been family-owned and operated since 1939. The new Ohio stores are located in Dayton, Fairborn, Xenia, Centerville, New Carlisle, Kettering, Springfield, and Miamisburg.

Rocky’s Ace Hardware now has 47 locations in nine states.

“It is very exciting for us to be expanding into a new state and continuing the family-owned values and service Handyman customers have come to expect,” said Rocky’s Ace Hardware President Rocco Falcone. “We are also family-owned and share many of the same values as Handyman, including putting the customer first in all business actions.” 

Falcone noted that customers will see the same faces from Handyman at Rocky’s, and former owner David Grimes, who is retiring, will be integral in the transition.

Falcone also said customers will benefit from some exciting changes over the next few months including expanded Ace Rewards features, product selection and online capabilities.

“We plant roots in each of our neighborhood locations and intend to maintain this community focus in our Ohio stores,” he said. “We’re excited to be a part of the greater Dayton community.”

Former Landsdowne Dormitories Renovated into Apartments

By
Daily News

WESTFIELD — Shawna Gutowski and Maritza Zavala, of the Slope to Shore Team of William Raveis Real Estate, announced that the former Landsdowne Dorms in Westfield have been fully renovated and are officially on the market for lease under the name Landsdowne Place.

“We’re excited to make these beautifully-renovated apartments available in downtown Westfield, where residents can shop, experience downtown events, and enjoy quick access to the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail right outside their door,” said Project Manager Anthony Leroux.

The newly renovated apartments are a mixture of one bedroom/one bath and two bedroom/two bath units, which were formerly used as housing for Westfield State College students. The complex also features gym and laundry facilities on-site, as well as access to the bike trail. Apartment leases start at $1,400 per month and will require first, last, security, and credit check.

Ad Club of Western MA Opens Submissions for Annual Scholarship

By
Daily News

The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts Scholarship Committee announced that a $1,000 communications scholarship will be awarded in 2022, and applications are now available. Visit adclubwm.org/scholarships to download the guidelines and application form. In addition, the information is available by contacting the Ad Club at (413) 342-0533 or email.

 

The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts supports future generations of creative professionals with an annual scholarship. It is awarded to one or more deserving western Massachusetts high school graduates going to college to study communication arts.

 

Western Massachusetts seniors who plan to attend an accredited college or technical school to study advertising, communications, marketing, or graphic arts and will be attending in September 2022 are encouraged to apply. The scholarship must be applied against tuition and fees at the school. Candidates will be judged on academic performance, extracurricular activities, community service and/or work experience, a demonstrated interest in advertising, communications, marketing or graphic design, personal recommendations, and a letter of introduction outlining future plans.

 

Completed scholarship applications and all support materials must be submitted to the Ad Club, postmarked by April 15. Scholarship decisions are made by the Scholarship Committee of The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts and are considered final. The scholarship will be awarded in May and the recipient will be recognized at the Ad Club’s Creative Awards show in September.

BusinessTalk with Darby O’Brien, founder and principal of Darby O’Brien Advertising

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Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

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

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 107: April 11, 2022

George Interviews Darby O’Brien, founder and principal of Darby O’Brien Advertising

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien engages in provocative discussion with Darby O’Brien (no relation), founder and principal of Darby O’Brien Advertising. Speaking from 42 years of experience, Darby believes businesses have become too cautious in their marketing and advertising and far less willing to take on anything approaching risk — to their detriment. The give and take between the two O’Briens is must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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Reading Success by 4th Grade Convenes Educators for Building Bridges Conference

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Reading Success by 4th Grade, Springfield’s community-wide early-literacy program, recently convened 539 Springfield early educators for the second annual Building Bridges Conference, the only city-wide professional-development conference for early educators working with children birth to kindergarten.

The full-day event featured a keynote by Junlei Li, Saul Zaentz senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The conference featured more than 34 different presenters in the field of early education.

Conference attendees were from all different areas of early education, including Springfield Public Schools, Head Start, Square One, Springfield Partners/New Beginnings, independently owned family childcare centers, early interventionists, the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA of Greater Springfield, and more.

The conference allowed the more than 500 participants to join in more than 32 breakout sessions throughout the day on a variety of topics, including “5 Roles Families Play in Family-School Partnership,” led by Gretchen Osodipe, founder of Co-Teach, LLC; “The Whole Book Approach,” led by Courtney Waring, director of Education at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art; “Astronomy for Children,” led by Jenny Powers, director of the Springfield Science Museum; and “We Have Stories to Tell: Making Stories and Texts with Young Children,” with Maria José Botelho, Gretchen Hohmeyer, and Meghan Whitfield from the UMass Amherst College of Education, to name a few.

The closing plenary was given by Francia Wisnewski, director of the National Early Educator Training Center of the SEIU-ESF, an organization that focuses on providing education and training programs that empower workers, raise standards, and promote high-quality jobs in the family childcare sector.

“It is amazing to see our Springfield community rally to support the early-childhood field and give them space to come together around the very compelling content offered throughout the day,” said Chrissy Howard, manager of Reading Success by 4th Grade and organizer of the event. “We are happy to see so many early educators learning more to educate and honor the whole child and family. We celebrate our early educators and are inspired by how they collaborate to move our children forward in early language and literacy development, which is imperative for our long-term goal of all children learning to read proficiently.”

When asked for feedback, one attendee said, “there were things said in this conference that I will definitely remember and believe will make an influence and difference in my life.” Another said, “the interactive questions and leaderboard activities helped me to feel connected to the virtual conference versus just watching some Zoom classes.”

The Conference was supported by a number of community organizations and companies, with the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation and PeoplesBank as lead ‘architect sponsors.’

Reading Success by 4th Grade is a broad coalition of leaders in education, child development, business, philanthropy, and government working toward the goal of all of Springfield’s children reading proficiently by the end of third grade.

Jane Albert to Retire from Baystate Health After 20 Years

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, announced that Jane Albert, senior vice president and chief consumer officer, will retire on July 1, following 20 years of service with Baystate.

“In all of her work for the health system, she has demonstrated a steadfast focus on our communities, transformative and nurturing leadership skills, and a deep understanding of data-driven learning and improvement,” Keroack wrote in a letter to the Baystate community. “She has been a trusted partner to me and enjoys the respect of all across Baystate Health and the communities we serve as a source of timely and trusted communications that promote our vision of advancing care and enhancing lives.”

Albert joined Baystate Health in 2002 as manager of Medical Practices Marketing and developed the first marketing plan to integrate legacy physician groups into the organization known today as Baystate Medical Practices (BMP). She then expanded her scope as manager of Corporate Marketing for the whole health system. She went on to deepen her focus on the external environment in subsequent roles in Public Affairs, Strategic Communications, and Community Relations.

“Her underappreciated background in accounting led her to focus on metrics in these and subsequent roles, helping the organization adopt and embrace the value of social media and other digital technologies as vehicles to gauge the impact and reach of our communications efforts,” Keroack wrote.

Albert then returned to BMP to stand up its first Office of Physician Referral Services, with a focus on improving access to care. She was recruited back to the system level with a promotion to vice president of Philanthropy and executive director of Baystate Health Foundation (BHF). During four years at the foundation, she developed a comprehensive strategic plan that led to a more balanced portfolio of events, major gifts, and planned giving, all tracked by a dashboard of performance metrics. Her work led to significant growth in overall giving and greater diversification of BHF’s philanthropic activities.

She was promoted again in 2017 to senior vice president of Marketing, Communications and External Relations, a role which included the areas of BHF and Government & Community Relations. She brought in experienced leaders for all three areas and oversaw dramatic growth across all her areas of responsibility. Key activities included the “Advancing Care. Enhancing Lives” brand campaign, the growth of more broad and sophisticated governmental advocacy efforts, and continued growth in philanthropy.

The results of all this work, Keroack noted, included a new appreciation by the public of Baystate Health, national and international awards for marketing and communications, dramatic increases in government funding, and record charitable donations of all types to BHF.

“But it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Jane’s leadership truly shone through,” he added. “The work of our marketing and public-relations teams positioned Baystate Health as a thought leader in a time of great public concern, with thousands of stories featured in local, statewide, and national media.”

During this turbulent period, Albert’s scope was enlarged yet again to her current role. She collaborated with other members of the President’s Cabinet to develop the health system’s 2025 Consumer Strategy with a focus on access to care, a new digital platform, and the importance of recognizing the unique needs of individual patients and families.

“The new structure includes the areas of patient experience and patient relations, with a view to coordinating our efforts across the system in order to take the hassles out and put the kindness in for every encounter with the system,” Keroack wrote. “Throughout her 20 years with Baystate Health and across her multiple and varied roles, Jane has shown an unwavering commitment to our mission of improving the health of our communities every day. She has helped us see that this mission entails recognizing and respecting the uniqueness of every individual, listening to diverse voices in the community, and elevating the experience of patient care to a level on par with our other goals of safety and quality. I will miss the energy and passion with which she advanced these worthy goals, and I will honor her time with us by pursuing the road map she has left for us with vigor.”

BFAIR Announces Licensing, Certification Renewal by Office of Quality Enhancement

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Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — BFAIR (Berkshire Family & Individual Resources) announced a successful review and continued licensing by the Office of Quality Enhancement (OQE), part of the Commonwealth’s Department of Developmental Services. BFAIR earned positive licensing outcomes, with the eight critical indicators reviewed meeting the standards set forth by the department. These positive outcomes resulted in a two-year licensing and certification for BFAIR’s residential, individual home support, and day and employment services.

“BFAIR’s outcomes on reviews and assessments like these are indicative of the work that we do,” said Ethel Altiery, executive director. “Receiving positive survey outcomes and consistent state licensing results speaks to our commitment to consistency in quality services.”

Rich Weisenflue, CEO, agreed. “I consider OQE’s survey a very important measure of the quality of BFAIR services, and therefore, a two-year license is an outstanding outcome. Every BFAIR member of our team should be extremely proud, as the high quality of our services is directly attributable to the hard work of each one of our employees.”

Since 1994, BFAIR has provided a wide range of services for adults and children with developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury, and autism.

Balise Auto Continues to Drive Square One’s Campaign for Healthy Kids

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Balise Auto, a longtime Square One supporter, recently raised $4,000 to support the nonprofit agency’s Campaign for Healthy Kids. A check presentation will be held today, April 8, at 10 a.m. at Square One, 1095 Main St., Springfield.

The funds were raised through Balise’s “Tires to Inspire” initiative, through which donations were made to Square One when customers purchased a set of new tires.

“Square One does so much to set local children and their families up for success,” said Alex Balise, director of Marketing for Balise Auto. “Education and community development are at the core of our charitable giving philosophy, so we couldn’t be happier to highlight their amazing programs and continue to support Square One in their mission.”

Square One’s Campaign for Healthy Kids is a multi-year fund-development initiative focused on the agency’s commitment to providing healthy meals, physical fitness, social-emotional well-being, and a healthy learning environment.

“We love that Balise takes such a creative approach to supporting our work with children and families,” said Kristine Allard, vice president of Development & Communication for Square One. “Not only do they give generously on a corporate level, but they encourage their customers to get involved as well. That impact is far-reaching for the children and families we serve. We are so grateful for their partnership.”

Leadership Pioneer Valley Now Accepting Applications for LEAP Class of 2023

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) is now accepting applications for enrollment in the LEAP class of 2023, a regional leadership-development program. This year’s class is expected to have a fully in-person experience. Applicants are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The LEAP program engages the Pioneer Valley’s most promising emerging leaders through learning, exploration, and connecting. Participants are trained in applied leadership skills by experts. They also explore critical community issues by connecting with local leaders and visiting businesses and local towns across the region. The upcoming program runs from September through May.

In its 12th year, more than 350 individuals representing more than 125 companies, organizations, and municipalities have participated. The program has filled a critical need for a leadership program that builds a network of emerging leaders to address the challenges and opportunities of the region. Fifty-three percent of alumni have a new leadership role at work, 64% have joined a new board of directors, and 99% made new, meaningful connections.

LPV is seeking applicants from all over the Pioneer Valley, including Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, representing different employment sectors. The program is made for those in nonprofits, businesses, and government who are eager to increase their leadership skills and take action to better the region.

Applicants are considered in a competitive application process that prioritizes diversity by employment sector, geography, race, gender, and sexual orientation. Emerging leaders, mid-career professionals with leadership potential, and those looking to better the Pioneer Valley should consider applying. The deadline for LPV class of 2023 applications is July 1. Applications and further information can be found at www.leadershippv.org.

Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Plan Summer Concert Series

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MOSSO, the Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, have announced a summer concert series of three programs, two in Springfield Symphony Hall and the third, an outdoor brass quintet program, in Forest Park in Springfield.

According to MOSSO Chair Beth Welty, “our musicians are performing concerts in April and May in Symphony Hall because the Springfield Symphony Orchestra was mandated to produce those concerts by the NLRB. But, although the musicians have been in negotiation with the SSO since late 2019, our community has not yet had a steady series of professional-quality, live orchestra programs. MOSSO is here to provide that music.

She added that “there has not been an ongoing summer pops series since the SSO performed in Westfield’s Stanley Park some 20 years ago.”

On Thursday, June 23, MOSSO will celebrate the music of the late, legendary Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who penned the words and music to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and others. Broadway conductor Tim Stella (of The Phantom of the Opera and Hello, Dolly!) will lead the program, joined by some major Broadway stars. The program will be announced later this month.

On Thursday, July 21, Maestro Kevin Rhodes will return to Springfield to conduct a program of light classics and music of renowned composer John Williams, whose works include Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Schindler’s List. Rhodes will be joined by a guest soloist. This will be a benefit concert for MOSSO, so that the nonprofit organization can continue to deliver professional symphonic music to Greater Springfield and Western Mass. The program will be announced later this month.

Tickets for both Symphony Hall concerts will go on sale on May 9. To get on the mailing list for information on these programs, visit springfieldsymphonymusicians.com.

On Saturday, Aug. 13 (rain date: Sunday, Aug. 14), a MOSSO brass quintet will perform a free concert at Camp Star Angelina on Trafton Road in Forest Park. This concert will be produced for MOSSO by Bing Productions. No tickets are required.

MOSSO thanks the office of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Amanda Spear-Purchase and the staff of Springfield Symphony Hall, and the following sponsors (to date) of the Symphony Hall performances: the Republican/MassLive, BusinessWest and the Healthcare News, WWLP-22News & the CW Springfield, the Sheraton Springfield at Monarch Place, and the Bolduc Schuster Foundation (which is underwriting tickets for music students). In addition, the Musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra donated funds to their MOSSO colleagues, which will be used for these concerts.

AIC’s 137th Commencement to Welcome Honorary Degree Recipient Marcella MacDonald

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will celebrate its 137th commencement on Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m., at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, with President Hubert Benitez presiding. Benitez takes the helm as the college’s 12th president on April 11. The board of trustees unanimously selected Benitez to lead the institution in February.

International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee and AIC alumna Marcella MacDonald will deliver the commencement address to graduate and undergraduate students and receive an honorary degree from the college. MacDonald, who graduated from AIC in 1985, will receive an honorary doctor of laws, honoris causa, awarded for outstanding achievement.

MacDonald graduated with a bachelor’s degree from American International College in 1985. While attending AIC, she credits now-retired Coach Judy Groff with welcoming her to the college that eventually led to her becoming a softball All-Conference student-athlete and an All-American honorable mention her senior year. Following completion of her undergraduate studies, MacDonald attended New York College of Podiatric Medicine in New York City, graduating with a doctoral degree.

While attending to a successful podiatric practice spanning more than 30 years that focuses on caring for the senior population, MacDonald has likewise achieved monumental athletic success. In 1994, she was inducted into the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame for softball in her hometown of Manchester, Conn. In 2005, she was inducted into the AIC Athletics Hall of Fame, also for softball. Most recently, in 2019, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

According to MacDonald, she approaches swimming “in its purest form: one bathing suit, cap, and goggles. No wetsuits or performance enhancements.” To that end, she has conquered the English Channel, “the Mount Everest of open water swims,” she said, amassing 17 solo crossings from England to France, including three double crossings of the English Channel by herself — that is England to France, then return to England, in one shot, more than 40 miles. MacDonald holds the distinction for the most solo crossings for an American woman.

Among her international and national accomplishments, MacDonald successfully tackled Loch Ness in 2015, swimming 23 miles in just under 12 hours; the Maui Channel in six hours; and Lake Sunapee, N.H., a punishing, 10-hour qualifying swim in 60-degree water. Among other accomplishments, she has participated in the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim five times, where she was highlighted in the Discovery film The Big Swim. She has participated in the annual Swim Across the Sound to encourage past swimmers to get reacquainted with the sport. In addition, she swam the Molokai Hawaiian Channel, a feat of 17 hours, 27 minutes, 20 seconds. But, as she says, “who’s counting seconds?”

MacDonald and her wife, Janet Galya, reside in Andover, Conn., where she can frequently be spotted training for open-water swims early in the morning before patient hours and on the weekends at Connecticut state parks and the shore.

UMassFive to Host Career Fair in Hadley on April 14

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Daily News

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union will host a career fair on Thursday, April 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at its Hadley Branch, located at 200 Westgate Center Dr. The credit union, a nonprofit financial cooperative, invites interested applicants to learn more about working with a team of professional, upbeat, and dynamic employees who take pride in working for people’s best interests and going the extra mile to help them save time and money.

There is no pre-registration needed to attend the career fair, and walk-ins are encouraged. UMassFive asks that interested applicants bring a copy of their resume. Members of the UMassFive management team will be on site during the career fair to provide information on the credit union’s benefits package, as well as answer any questions candidates may have before applying.

UMassFive is currently looking to fill the following roles: Member Service specialist (full-time in Amherst, Hadley, and Northampton); Member Service representative floater (full-time in various Western Mass. locations); Contact Center Member Service specialist (full-time in Hadley); Contact Center representative (part-time in Hadley); video teller (ITM) agent (full-time in Hadley); and staff accountant (full-time in Hadley with remote-work possibility).

Additional opportunities are available in the Commercial Services division and Financial & Investment Services teams.

Interested applicants can learn more and apply for position openings online at umassfive.coop/careers.

Florence Bank Donates $100,000 to Basketball Hall of Fame Renovation

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Daily News

FLORENCE — Florence Bank donated $100,000 to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to support its multi-phase, multi-year renovation, and as programming ramps up for families visiting during April vacation week, new and ongoing 50% admission discounts will be one benefit for bank customers.

The savings for those who use their Florence Bank debit card for admittance to the museum is a recent enhancement and will be an ongoing benefit of the long-term partnership the bank has with the Hall of Fame. The discount will be in effect during school-vacation week, April 18-22.

The collaboration between the bank and museum began roughly a decade ago with a Florence Bank ATM at the Hall of Fame. It has since grown to support programming of all kinds, including a Dribble Parade held by the bank several years ago to celebrate its first branch in Hampden County. Customers and community members dribbled basketballs through the streets of West Springfield in an event that also included Hall of Famer Teresa Edwards.

“We want to do our best to make sure we are taking care of the community. That’s one of the goals that we’ve had in working with Florence Bank, and we’re trying to amplify it,” said John Doleva, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame. “Florence Bank’s partnership with the Hall of Fame has played a crucial role in getting us where we are today.”

Michael Pietrzak, the Hall of Fame’s director of Partnerships, said the museum renovations began four years ago, and the bank’s gift of $100,000 came in phases over the past five years, with the final $20,000 gift made recently.

“The unique thing about the Basketball Hall of Fame is that it’s a global brand, recognized all across the world, with visitors from China and Australia. Yet, we have strong partners here in the community,” Pietrzak said. “Our relationship with Florence Bank is on top of the list.”

The bank helps make the museum and participation in its events, such as Enshrinement Weekend, more accessible to area residents, and Florence Bank partners with the Hall of Fame on events, such as a high-school tournament called the Hoop Hall Classic.

“Florence Bank was founded on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors,” President and CEO Kevin Day said. “The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is one of our neighbors and an economic driver in our community. If you haven’t visited since it reopened, I encourage you to stop by — and use your Florence Bank debit card to enjoy the discounted admission.”

Berkshire Bank Names Ryan Shorette Senior Vice President, Retail Branch Banking

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Daily News

BOSTON — Berkshire Bank announced the promotion of Ryan Shorette to senior vice president, Retail Branch Banking. In this new role, he will oversee all 105 branches across Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. Prior to this promotion, he was first vice president, regional branch manager at Berkshire Bank for the last eight years.

“During his tenure at Berkshire Bank, Ryan has been an instrumental team leader in several markets, increasing our brand presence and deepening customer relationships,” said Lucia Bellomia, executive vice president, head of Retail Banking. “We are excited to have Ryan drive employee growth and enhance the customer experience, both critical components to the success of our Berkshire’s Exciting Strategic Transformation (BEST) plan. His deep understanding of complex financial client needs and financial data analysis will be an asset in his new role.”

Shorette has more than 25 years of retail banking experience and has held a number of leadership positions. Before joining Berkshire Bank, he worked at Bank of America and Webster Bank. He has been nominated for the New Leaders in Banking Honors Award from the Connecticut Bankers Assoc. and has a proven track record of successfully developing leaders and enhancing the customer experience. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Central Connecticut State University.

Outside of work, Shorette is an active volunteer, coaching youth sports for the towns of Bristol and Plainville, Conn. He has also participated in Christmas in April, the United Way Day of Caring, and Hands on Hartford, a COVID-19 virtual event assembling comfort kits for those in need. Beyond these civic efforts, he also served as an executive board member for the American Heart Assoc. Heart Walk in Hartford, Conn.

UMass Dining To Host 11th Annual 5K Dash and Dine to Benefit Amherst Survival Center

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Daily News

AMHERST — UMass Dining Services will host its 11th annual UMass 5K Dash and Dine on campus Saturday, April 9, at 9 a.m., after a two-year hiatus. The goal of the event is to promote health and wellness at the university while raising funds for the Amherst Survival Center. In total, UMass dining has been able to raise more than $50,000 for the center.

The 5K features a USA Track and Field-certified course to runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants. When race participants are finished, all are welcome to have lunch at the award-winning Dining Commons on campus.

“It’s fantastic to see the UMass community come together for such a great cause. We’re a big believer in building community through food, and this event is another shining example of this. I’m extremely proud of our team and what we are able to accomplish,” said Ken Toong, executive director of Auxiliary Enterprises.

The race fee is $10 for all UMass and Five College students, $15 for UMass Amherst faculty and staff, and $20 for the general public. Children age 8 and under may participate for free. This race fee includes registration and the complimentary meal at the Hampshire or Berkshire Dining Commons. Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m. today, April 6, but walk-up registration is available on race day. To register for the event or make a donation, visit runumass.com.

“We are so excited to see Dash and Dine return,” Amherst Survival Center Executive Director Lev Ben-Ezra said. “This event is such a perfect fundraiser for the center. It is all about community, everyone pitching in, and world-class cooking. A huge thank you to everyone who makes it possible and comes out to join. See you there!”

Francis Kirley to Speak at Elms College’s 91st Commencement on May 14

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — Francis Kirley, president and CEO of Nexion Health, will deliver the commencement address for the Elms College class of 2022 and receive an honorary degree. The college’s 91st commencement exercises take place on Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m. (the academic procession starts at 9:30 a.m.) at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

As the founder and president and CEO of Nexion Health, Kirley leads 42 skilled-nursing facilities in Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. He has more than 32 years of acute and long-term healthcare-management experience and founded Nexion to be a strong, clinically driven healthcare organization.

Kirley serves as chairman of the American Health Care Assoc. PAC and is a board member of the Louisiana Nursing Home Assoc., the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the Warfield Development Center in Sykesville, Md. He ended a term on the Elms College board of trustees in 2021. Kirley earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1973, and completed his MBA at Western New England College in 1980.

Honorary degrees will also be awarded to Karen Keating Ansara, founder and chair of the Network of Engaged International Donors, and Sr. Maureen Ann Kervick, former administrator at Elms College, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the world.

Ansara and her husband, Jim, make grants to end global poverty with a focus on Haiti. In late 2008, she launched New England International Donors, now the Network of Engaged International Donors, a nationwide network of more than 180 philanthropists, foundations, and impact investors learning and funding to address the world’s big problems. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Ansara co-founded the Haiti Fund at the Boston Foundation, now the Haiti Development Institute, which strengthens Haitian-led organizations and connects funders to them.

Kervick taught at schools in the Springfield and Providence dioceses before becoming administrator at Mont Marie Infirmary. She was director of Student Services and dean of students at Elms College, associate retreat director of Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery in West Springfield, and a nursing instructor at Springfield College. She also served as vice president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from 1987 to 1993. She was both administrator and executive director at St. Gabriel’s Youth House in Shelter Island Heights, N.Y., and director of Programs for Catholic Charities of Greater Boston. She returned to Elms College as director of campus ministry. Currently, she is site supervisor for Passionist Volunteers International in Jamaica.