2022 - Page 8 of 44 - BusinessWest

Aelan Tierney

By George O'Brien October 27, 2022

Women of Impact 2022

Principal, Kuhn Riddle Architects

She’s Created a Blueprint for Being an Effective Leader

Aelan Tierney was recalling her search for an internship opportunity while in high school.

This was before the internet, so she used something quite foreign to people of that age today — the phone book. Starting in the A’s, she came to ‘Advertising,’ thought about it for a minute or two, and then continued turning pages until arriving at ‘Architecture,’ and decided that this was a profession she needed to explore.

When asked why she moved down the book from advertising, she said simply, “it was interesting, but it wasn’t three-dimensional.”

Architecture is, and that’s just one of the many things she likes about what eventually became her chosen field.

“Architecture impacts every aspect of our life, whether it’s your home, school, or place of work,” she told BusinessWest. “The experiences you have are shaped by the spaces that you’re in; if you’re in a good space, you do and feel good, and if you’re in a bad space, it can make your life difficult. I like how architecture makes an impact on people.”

As it turns out, that high-school internship spawned more than an interest in architecture. It started Tierney down a truly impactful career path, as an employer (she’s president of the Amherst-based firm Kuhn Riddle), as someone active her in profession and trying to diversify its ranks (much more on that later), and as someone active in her community, as a member of the board of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, for example, and also as chair of the Northampton Central Business Architecture Committee.

“Architecture impacts every aspect of our life, whether it’s your home, school, or place of work. The experiences you have are shaped by the spaces that you’re in; if you’re in a good space, you do and feel good, and if you’re in a bad space, it can make your life difficult. I like how architecture makes an impact on people.”

One internship didn’t inspire all that, obviously. What has is an ongoing desire to get involved (she’s a former Peace Corps volunteer), inspire and mentor others, and, yes, impact everyday lives through her work in architecture.

In all aspects of her life, Tierney would be considered a leader, and to her, that means someone who possesses many skills, but excels at listening and responding to what is heard. This is true when it comes to the relationship between an architect and a client, in the workplace, and in life in general.

“Listening and hearing what people are saying is really important,” she said. “We all come from very different life experiences that shape who we are and how we see and understand the world. Strong leaders try to best understand the goals and aspirations of the people they are leading.

“I think strong leaders also know how to bring the best people to them and then bring out the best in them,” she went on. “They learn the strengths of the people on their team, and they cultivate and support the growth of those strengths while also figuring out how to help them strengthen their weaknesses.”

Aelan Tierney says the past few years brought challenges the industry hadn’t seen before, but Kuhn Riddle was able to ride out the storm.

Tierney certainly fits these descriptions, and her strong leadership skills and ability to change the landscape, in all kinds of ways, makes her a Woman of Impact.

New Dimensions of Leadership

Architecture is one of those fields that is most impacted by the ups and downs in the economy, especially those downs.

And those in this profession feel the impact usually before most others.

Indeed, as the economy starts to decline, or even before that as storm clouds start to gather, building projects large and small are often put on hold or scrapped altogether. Tierney has seen the phone stop ringing, or ringing as often, several times in her career, especially during the Great Recession of 2009, when most building ground to a halt.

Still, the pandemic that started in March 2020, was something altogether different, unlike anything she or anyone else in this profession had seen before.

“Listening and hearing what people are saying is really important. We all come from very different life experiences that shape who we are and how we see and understand the world. Strong leaders try to best understand the goals and aspirations of the people they are leading.”

“It was scary,” she recalled, noting that many of the public institutions Kuhn Riddle has worked for, and it’s a long list, simply shut down and shelved most all construction and renovation work. “We actually started talking about … ‘well, what happens if we have to close the firm?’”

The firm didn’t close, obviously, and it was Tierney’s work with her partners and others at the company to diversify its portfolio — as well as those leadership skills she described earlier — that enabled it to ride out this and other storms.

“During the pandemic, I learned that leaders have to think quickly on their feet; they have to gather as much information as possible about things they never thought they would be dealing with,” she said. “They need to communicate clearly and frequently in an ever-changing and rapidly changing crisis. They need to make tough decisions, and hopefully keep the business and all of the staff afloat.”

Tierney said everything she experienced prior to the pandemic helped prepare her for that moment — as much as anyone could have been prepared. And to understand, we need to go back to that internship. Actually, our story goes back further, to Tierney’s childhood, when she spent considerable time in her father’s woodworking school for fine furniture and watching him craft pieces to meet a client’s specific needs. It was through such experiences that she developed an interest in architecture.

“I thought it was fascinating to take something from paper and transform it into an object,” she said, adding that this interest eventually led her to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she majored in architecture and minored in architecture history.

She graduated during one of those aforementioned downturns in the economy, the lengthy recession of the early ’90s. Unable to find work, she joined the Peace Corps as a community-development volunteer and was assigned to work in Guinea in West Africa — a learning experience on many levels, and one in which she put her education to good use.

“I was a health and community-development volunteer, and I renovated an old warehouse building into a workshop for a women’s cooperative,” she recalled. “It was amazing job to have to have as young woman in a developing country.”

She started her career in architecture at Dietz & Co. Architects in Springfield, led by Kerry Dietz, a member of BusinessWest’s inaugural class of Women of Impact, whom Tierney described as a great mentor. She then joined Kuhn Riddle in 2005 and became president and majority owner in 2016.

As an architect, she works on projects across a broad spectrum, including residential, commercial, education, and nonprofits. Her portfolio includes a number of intriguing projects, including the renovation of Easthampton’s historic Town Hall, the Gaylord Mansion historic renovation at Elms College, the new Girls Inc. of the Valley headquarters and program center in Holyoke, the Olympia Oaks affordable-housing project in Amherst, the Kringle Candle Farm Table restaurant in Bernardston, and many others. While the projects vary in size and scope, a common thread is the partnership between the client, architect, and builder that makes a dream become reality.

The new Girls Inc. headquarters in Holyoke

“As an architect, I strive to listen to my clients to learn about what types of spaces would make their lives better, and then, hopefully, we create those spaces together,” she said. “My greatest satisfaction is facilitating the collaboration between the client, design professionals, and builders to realize a client’s vision.”

In her current role, she balances her design work with her leadership responsibilities, which include setting a tone, leading by example, and creating an effective culture for the firm.

“As president of Kuhn Riddle, I strive to make our work environment as supportive as possible for our staff,” she explained. “We love what we do, but we also have lives and families outside of work, and it is important to me that everyone here has a work/life balance. I believe that people will give their best when they feel that they are being given the best possible support and appreciation.”

For Tierney, balance means time with family, but also for giving back to the community. She has been a member of the Amherst Area Chamber board for several years now, and is currently a member of its diversity task force. Formerly, she served on the board of the Enchanted Circle Theatre.

As noted earlier, she is chair of the Northampton Central Business Architecture Committee, and also vice chair of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Architects, as well as a member of the diversity committee of the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards.

“ It was an anti-beauty pageant, because it wasn’t about looks. It was all about owning who you are, being who you are, doing some community service, sharing whatever talent you have … they didn’t have to show up and look a certain way.”

In recent years, bringing diversity to the profession, one historically dominated by white males, has become one of her priorities. She noted that, while there are more non-whites, and many more women, in architecture schools than when she was at Carnegie Mellon, they are not becoming licensed architects at the same rates.

“Diversity is important to me, not only as a woman, but as the mother of a biracial child,” she explained. “I recognize that this profession is lacking diversity, and I believe that architecture is better when all the voices are represented in the design process.”

To create a more diverse mix of voices, Kuhn Riddle now funds a scholarship for UMass Amherst’s Summer Design Academy for high-school students, specifically targeting women and people of color.

“If you get kids interested in high school, maybe they’ll go to college,” she explained, adding that several area firms now contribute to that scholarship, one of many steps she believes will eventually change the face of the profession, literally and figuratively.

Progress — by Design

As she talked with BusinessWest about her life and career, Tierney presented a small card, a marketing piece used by the firm.

On one side is a brief history of Kuhn Riddle, a quick summation of its specialties and client base, and even mention of its own headquarters, an open-design studio with no private offices to promote communication and “cross-fertilization of ideas.”

On the other side, in gray, is a map of Amherst, with properties designed by Kuhn Riddle (either new construction or renovations) in yellow.

“That’s a lot of yellow,” said Tierney as she referenced the card, noting projects in every corner of the community.

Indeed, the firm has certainly changed the landscape in Amherst over the past 32 years, enhancing, improving, supporting, and in some cases changing lives through ‘good architecture.’

Tierney has been changing lives herself, going all the way back to her Peace Corps days, as an architect, an activist, and, most of all, a leader. All of that makes her a true Woman of Impact.

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

Ashley Sullivan

By Joseph Bednar October 27, 2022

Women of Impact 2022

President, O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun

She’s Engineering Opportunities for Many in a Dynamic Field

When asked about being a leader and role model in her company and in her industry, Ashley Sullivan sums it up simply: “I like to help people, and a lot of people have helped me.”

And she knows the value of helping and encouraging others. During her college days and into her long engineering career at O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun (OTO) — after 20 years with the firm, she was named president at the start of 2020 — she sometimes questioned whether she knew enough, whether she measured up to her responsibilities, and to her peers.

It’s why events like a recent after-work gathering between OTO and Fuss & O’Neill, another civil-engineering firm headquartered in downtown Springfield, are valuable, she said, in that they help young engineers, and especially young women, not only network, but recognize their place in the field.

“I was intimidated to be in a room with a lot of people who had 20-plus years of experience on me. I always thought I had more to learn; I always thought I didn’t have as much experience as I needed,” she recalled. “But if you put me in a room with my peers, I would have been like, ‘oh, I can do this; I want to get them in situations where they see they’re good.”

“The big thing I stressed was, we all have value, and we’re all part of a team, and we need to be rowing the same way.”

Joining a small, newish engineering firm in 2000, Sullivan didn’t network much outside the company, but she sees the value in it now. “I didn’t know my path, and that’s something that’s true with a lot of people. But once they see you out there and you see yourself in that role, it just happens.”

The passion for inspiring younger engineers is what also drives Sullivan to be a mentor, not only by teaching a civil-engineering capstone design course at Western New England University, where she guides graduating students through a mock building project, but by encouraging OTO’s team members to seek any professional-development opportunities that will help them learn and advance, like she did.

“I think we should be mentors. I think it’s very important to give back to the industry,” she said. “We want to hire, and sometimes you hear complaints that there’s nobody great to hire, but is anyone helping them succeed? I think it’s our responsibility to do it.

Ashley Sullivan discusses a project at One Ferry Street in Easthampton with OTO field engineer Dustin Humphrey and client Mike Michon.

“If you give people a lot of opportunity and the skills to help them move up, I feel that benefits the company itself,” she added. “The company needs to support the development of those skills.”

And hiring and recruitment are definitely a challenge now, Sullivan said, adding that the firm saw some turnover during the pandemic but has hired seven employees since January. “We’ve been able to navigate it so far. That’s why I also think it’s important to be a mentor and reach out to students and to have the kind of culture that appeals to them.”

Sullivan has certainly navigated some transitions over the past few years, from taking the reins at OTO to almost immediately having to steer it through a pandemic. For successfully leading in what is still a male-dominated field, and for being a mentor, role model, and inspiration to the next generation of civil engineers, Sullivan is certainly a Woman of Impact.

Ninth Time’s the Charm

Engineering runs in Sullivan’s family — sort of. She said her grandmother always had a lot of respect for engineers, and her father is one of eight siblings who tried engineering but didn’t stick with it. “My grandmother really wanted one, so I said I’ll try it.”

The truth is, Sullivan had already cultivated an interest in chemistry in high school and was considering studying environmental engineering at UMass Amherst — a place where, again, her insecurity nagged at her.

“I want to set us up to the next transition, and that means giving people the skills to manage and lead — not just engineering skills, but all those other things that have to happen. Communication is a big thing we work on, and so is trust.”

“I did very well in high school, but I was nervous about going to a challenging school, or a school where there were others who would do really well too. That plays into why I like to give people confidence and why I do what I do. On the outside, I did well and came across like I had a lot of confidence. But inside, I was like, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing. I have no idea.’”

She had a positive experience at UMass, though she shifted gears toward civil engineering, “mainly because I found that chemical engineering students ended up in a dark lab, and civil engineering students were outside in the quad, and that just looked a lot more enjoyable to me.”

When she graduated in 1998, a lot of the jobs being offered at the time were at the Big Dig in Boston, and she wasn’t interested in heavy construction, so she stayed in graduate school, where she gained the experience she would put to use at OTO two years later.

“I was working for a Mass Highway project where we were installing wells, doing groundwater sampling, modeling groundwater flow, looking at contamination, and two years later I had my master’s in environmental engineering,” she said. “I interviewed at OTO because they were local, in Springfield, and halfway through the interview with Jim Okun and Mike Talbot, I thought I’d like to work there. It was a small firm, everybody seemed very nice, and it seemed to suit my personality.”

OTO’s services over the years have included testing commercial properties for hazardous materials and overseeing cleanup, asbestos management in schools and offices, brownfield redevelopment, indoor air-quality assessments, and geotechnical engineering, a broad term encompassing everything from helping developers assess how much force and weight the ground under a proposed structure can stand to determining the strength of a building’s foundation and surrounding topography.

“I enjoyed working for a small company, working directly with the principals,” Sullivan said, the third being Kevin O’Reilly. “I learned a lot. I also enjoyed working in my own community. It’s been fun over the years driving around the neighborhoods, whether I go to Baystate for a doctor’s appointment or a library, or take my kids to a park, and see projects that I worked on. Rather than working on a high-profile job in another city, I really liked that the jobs were near where I work.”

The other positive experience — one that would later color the kind of president she would be —was being allowed a flexible schedule when she started a family in 2005.

“That was not industry-wide; it’s just not something that was offered,” she explained. “I went down to 24 hours with my first daughter, and I stayed there until they were both in school, then went to 32 hours. But I was still allowed to progress in management.”

That was the key, she said — being able to have work-life balance without sacrificing future opportunities.

“It’s a two-way street. I got some flexibility, but there was accountability and good communication, and I would try to be available when I absolutely needed to; my kids went to some job sites. That was something you couldn’t easily find at other engineering firms. And I also kept progressing; I was allowed to manage projects and manage staff that way. So that kept me going here, to the point where we transitioned.”

Ashley Sullivan performs a phase-1 dam inspection.

In fact, when the three founders started talking about the next generation of leadership, they discussed selling OTO to an outsider, but they preferred an internal transition, and felt they had the right individual in Sullivan.

“We had a good business, we had a good foundation, and I just said, ‘I want to be part of it … I like what I do, I like the people I work with, we have a good company, let’s just try to make this work.’”

Sullivan has taken lessons from her own experience and saw how offering flexibility in different ways to employees could benefit both them and the company, although COVID, admittedly, helped that process along. “I wanted to make sure people, whether managers or other individuals, had the skills and knew the expectations to make that kind of work more widespread.”

She has led her team, she noted, according to the company’s core values, three of which are transparency, respect, and togetherness.

“The big thing I stressed was, we all have value, and we’re all part of a team, and we need to be rowing the same way,” she told BusinessWest. “That was really important, and it was something I learned here but I saw fall away a little bit when we were going through the transition, because when times get hard, it becomes very individual: ‘what does this mean for me? Is this going to be good or bad? I’ve got to fight for my own.’ We needed to come back together.”

So she conducted sessions where she asked employees what kind of culture they want and what keeps them at OTO. “I asked, ‘what are some of the great things we can build upon? What can we do better?’ I think that was important. I like to hear what others want, and then see if I can help make that happen. So, really, one of the big things I wanted to do was to hear from more voices.

“And there was a good foundation,” she added. “My experience here was something I thought I could build upon and then bring to the next level.”

Reaching New Heights

The mission statement posted in the conference room attests that “we will elevate our industry to create and deliver the best solutions for natural and built environments.”

And to elevate an industry, Sullivan believes she must first elevate her people. “I want to set us up to the next transition, and that means giving people the skills to manage and lead — not just engineering skills, but all those other things that have to happen. Communication is a big thing we work on, and so is trust.”

When she talks to young people about a career in civil engineering, she’s quick to explain how much variety and opportunity they will encounter. “You can go into transportation or structural or geotech or environmental. You can do public work at the state or municipal level, or even the federal level. You can work in private consulting or go into technical sales. You can go into a testing lab. You can work for a contractor. That allows for some flexibility because you don’t always know when you’re right out of school and you have to make all these decisions.”

At the same time, “going into a field like civil engineering, you’re going to be needed forever. We do important projects for people. It’s important for people to have that job security and know there are so many different things you can do with that.”

The message is rersonating, especially with young women. A few weeks ago, Sullivan attended a geotechnical conference in Connecticut and was “blown away” by the number of women she saw, compared to, say, five years ago. And on a heavy construction site on Boston Road recently, she walked the grounds alongside a female field engineer and a female quality-control engineer, all from different firms.

“That was something that I hadn’t seen, to see three women working together on a project with a big rig installing ground improvement. It was really neat. Sometimes I think, ‘wow, this is happening.’

It’s happening because of the impact of women like Sullivan, who knows the value of being helped and inspired, and wants to do the same for others.

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

Hilda Roqué

By George O'Brien October 27, 2022

Women of Impact 2022

Executive Director, Nuestras Raíces

This Leader Helps Others Achieve a Sense of Belonging

Hilda Roqué was 14 when she and other members of her family arrived in Holyoke from her native Puerto Rico.

It was February, she recalled, noting that the extreme climate change from the tropical Caribbean provided a constant reminder that she was a long — as in long — way from home.

And, unfortunately, weather was far from the only such painful reminder. Language was a considerable barrier, she said, and there were myriad cultural differences as well. Overall, she did not feel included.

“I had no sense of belonging when I came here; when you come from a different country, it’s always difficult, especially when you’re trying to find your own identity,” she told BusinessWest, adding quickly that she worked hard to overcome what would be considered stern challenges to lead the Spanish newspaper at Holyoke High School and become the first recipient of its Latino Leadership honor, a poignant sign of what was come.

Indeed, fast-forwarding to today — we’ll go back and fill in some gaps later — Roqué has become a leader in this community on many levels.

She is the executive director of Nuestras Raíces, a Holyoke-based nonprofit with a broad mission that involves connecting people with the land through agriculture programs, empowering communities, and advocating for food justice.

While doing all that through a process of growth, evolution, and essentially breaking agriculture into two words — agri and culture — the team at Nuestras Raíces, and especially Roqué, have made it part of the mission to make sure that current and future generations of people coming to Holyoke from Puerto Rico and elsewhere don’t have to feel as far away from home as she did all those years ago.

“I had no sense of belonging when I came here; when you come from a different country, it’s always difficult, especially when you’re trying to find your own identity.”

Indeed, they strive to make them feel at home in as many ways as they can.

“It was always my dream to make it easier to transition,” she said. “I went through a lot of bullying and a lot of racism … there were so many barriers, including language, that I didn’t want people to feel like I felt when I came here.

“That’s why I fought so much, and why I’m still fighting, for that to happen,” she went on. “Equality — that’s something that this organization stands for. We are all worthy of eating healthy, we should all be eating healthy, there shouldn’t be so much discrimination when it comes to food; we all have the same rights. This is something that is also my passion; we should live in better places, and we should aim for the stars like everyone else.”

Roqué, who first came to Nuestras Raíces as a volunteer more than 30 years ago and took on several different roles before being named executive director in 2011, is a Woman of Impact for many reasons, starting with what she has done with this nonprofit.

Working with others, she has taken the mission in many different directions, from incubating new businesses to providing an education in financial literacy, to taking an annual harvest festival to new heights as a tradition and celebration of many different cultures.

“People from Puerto Rico thought they were in Puerto Rico; people from Colombia thought they were in Colombia; people from the Dominican Republic thought they were in the Dominican Republic,” she said of that event. “That’s what we celebrate when we separate the word ‘agriculture’ — because it is a great part of what this organization wants to pass on to the next generation, not only safe and sustainable practices in agriculture, but also the love for their culture.”

For Roqué, this is not a job, but a passion, and she sees the agency’s programs as a powerful force for change and empowerment within the community.

“It’s very rewarding when you see that we’re trying to help the environment, that we’re providing socioeconomic opportunities for people in this community so they can live a dignified life, when we can actually have people in the community graduate from our programs and they become business owners,” she said, adding that, while she has seen a great deal of progress made, there is still much work to be done.

But she is also being honored for her mentoring of young people and especially girls, her commitment to improving quality of life for those she touches, and for her various efforts to make all those in Holyoke, but especially those who come from other countries, as she did, feel included, not excluded.

All this clearly explains why she is a Woman of Impact.

Food for Thought

Nuestras Raíces translates neatly into ‘Our Roots.’

It’s a fitting name, and a play on words, obviously. Those two short words hit on both sides of the organization’s mission succinctly and effectively. The agency encourages people to put roots in the ground, both literally and figuratively, while connecting them with their roots.

The agency was born in 1992 by a group of community members in South Holyoke who had the goal, the dream, of developing a greenhouse in downtown Holyoke. The founding members were migrating farmers from Puerto Rico with a strong agricultural background who found themselves in a city with no opportunities to practice what they knew.

“I love teaching kids that there’s a future and that the future holds something good if you actually grasp opportunities and grow as a community.”

Eventually, these community leaders located an abandoned lot in South Holyoke, one full of trash, needles, and criminal activity, and came together to clean the lot, which would become the first community garden, sparking the growth of urban agriculture in Holyoke under the umbrella of Nuestras Raíces.

Today, the agency coordinates and maintains a network of 14 community gardens, including the gardens of the Holyoke Educational System and community partners, and also operates a 30-acre farm, called La Finca, that focuses on urban agriculture, economic development, and creating change in food systems.

Those gardens, and the farm, grow a wide range of crops native to Puerto to Rico, from several different types of peppers to lettuce; from garlic to peas. These are just some of the items made available at a mobile farmers market — a refurbished school bus — created as a grassroots response to address health issues and food access by providing access to produce grown at local farms in neighborhoods across the city, many of which would be considered food deserts.

“To see the foods that we used to grow in our backyards in Puerto Rico be actually grown here … there are no words to really explain the feeling that you get when you get reconnected to your roots,” Roqué told BusinessWest. “And that’s why I feel so passionate and I love this organization so much.”

She joined it as an office manager and developed into a program developer and program manager, and eventually worked her way up to executive director. It’s a broad role with a number of responsibilities, both within the offices on Main Street and across the community, that she summed up this way:

“I don’t sit behind my desk — I go out there,” she said. “I hear; I listen to people. Nuestras Raíces provides programming that is a response to the needs that we hear from constituents. We ask and respond in ways that reflect our mission, which is to connect the agriculture and the socioeconomics and the food-justice piece of it and tie it together in ways that bring opportunities to this community.”

Indeed, over the years, the mission at Nuestras Raíces has been broadened into the realms of education and economic development.

For example, the agency has created what it calls the Holyoke Food and Agriculture Innovation Center (HFAIC), which serves as a food hub for Holyoke in the form of a center of food production, innovation, and education. The agency boasts two industrial kitchens and leases those spaces to community food entrepreneurs.

It also hosts a seven-week educational program focused on providing financial and business-management assistance to community entrepreneurs based in Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, and other area communities. It offers bilingual lessons covering a wide range of topics including business and property insurance, permitting, bookkeeping, investing, marketing, business planning, and many others.

Beyond these offerings, Roqué and her team strive to help others understand the opportunities and open doors that are available to them through hard work, education, and perseverance.

“I love teaching kids that there’s a future and that the future holds something good if you actually grasp opportunities and grow as a community,” she explained. “If you hold each other’s hand — and that’s what we do here with our businesses and our program participants; we hold their hand — you can help them navigate their way and feel included.”

As the leader of Nuestras Raíces, as a leader in the community, and as a mentor to young people, Roqué says she tries to “teach by example,” as she put it, especially when it comes to treating all people with the respect and dignity they deserve.

“I don’t do unto others as was done unto me,” she said. “I see everyone, and when I see them, I don’t see color or race — I see people as human beings, and I try to instill that in the younger generations; I tell them to pass on the love, not the hate, and treat others the way you would like to be treated.

“I try to be an example to others, especially women, who feel that maybe they didn’t have value or are not being heard,” she went on. “That’s what I’m trying to do with my voice; I’m trying to be someone in this community who is respectable and who respects, and who likes to be heard.”

When asked to assess what has changed and improved since she arrived and the work still to be done, Roqué said there has been considerable progress, and she points to City Hall as just one example. There, Joshua Garcia, the city’s first Puerto Rican mayor, sits in the corner office.

“For a lot of years, Holyoke did not reflect the community that lives here,” she said. “Things have been getting progressively better, but there is still a lot more to do when it comes to navigating through systemic challenges. There’s still work to be done and a lot of effort needed to come together as one community.”

Bottom Line

Roqué will certainly be putting in that effort.

As she has said, and others have said of her, the work she does at Nuestras Raíces is not really work. It is, indeed a passion.

Specifically, a passion to serve, to educate, to inspire, to create opportunities, and to change lives. She does all of that, and that’s why she’s always been a leader and a Woman of Impact.

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

Laurie Raymaakers

By George O'Brien October 27, 2022

Women of Impact 2022

President, J.L. Raymaakers & Sons Inc.

She’s Spent a Lifetime Paving the Way for Others

The company was called SealMaster.

That name was chosen because it specialized in seal-coating driveways and crack filling, said Laurie Raymaakers, who started it with her husband, John, after work they were doing in property management dried up amid the banking crisis and deep recession of the late ’80s and they needed to find something — anything — to generate revenue and help provide for a growing family.

She joked — only it wasn’t really a joke — that they should have called it ‘We Can Do That,’ because while they seal-coated a lot of driveways across Western Mass., they quickly picked up other skills and took on other assignments related to driveways, landscaping, and small-scale construction.

In many ways, ‘we can do that’ describes not only the company the Raymaakers partners created, but the mindset that has driven them, and especially Laurie, over the past 40 years or so. It sums up her approach to business and life itself — always learning, always evolving, always doing whatever it takes to make ends meet, first and foremost, but also create opportunities and grow a company.

“That was the attitude that I had, that John had, and we’ve instilled it in everyone around us,” she explained. “It’s ‘I can do that’ — you can always learn, you can research, you can read … you can evolve and adjust and do what it takes.”

And she has. Over the course of those four decades, she’s worked two and sometimes three jobs at a time — everything from shifts as a police dispatcher to plowing snow to working at the local Boys & Girls Club — to help support the family and enable their Westfield-based business, now known as J.L. Raymaakers & Sons Inc., to gain a foothold and eventually thrive.

This is a story of perseverance, determination, imagination, and, well … ‘we can do that.’

Laurie Raymaakers and her husband, John, have persevered through a number of challenges to lead their company to continued growth.

Laurie Raymaakers is a Woman of Impact for many reasons, but especially the manner in which she has become a role model and mentor to others, especially women in the construction trades and other male-dominated sectors.

She can remember the early days, showing up with her sister-in-law to seal-coat driveways and finding homeowners, men and women, being indifferent about women showing up to do the work. In more recent years, she can remember being the only woman in construction-management meetings and having the others look at her as if she was there to take minutes or pour coffee. Through the course of her career, she’s been asked more times than she could remember if she worked for her husband, not with him in a leadership role.

One can only overcome such actions and sentiments by proving they are good at what they do, exhibiting large amounts of confidence, and believing in themselves, she said.

And she has always been that person.

Today, the company she leads as president is handling projects with budgets in the millions of dollars. It specializes in excavation and site work, water- and sewer-line installation, snow removal, and more.

Meanwhile, she has been involved in her community in quiet ways, be it lifelong support of the Boys & Girls Club or encouraging those in local trade schools, especially Westfield Technical Academy, that there are real opportunities in the trades, and that they should not be overlooked as one considers career options.

All along the way, Raymaakers has been convincing others that there is nothing beyond their reach if they are willing to work hard for it, make the needed sacrifices, and, as Bill Belichick might put it — ‘do your job.’

She knows, because she’s been there and done that. The sum of her life and work, as well as that ‘we can do that’ attitude and her ability to instill it in others, explains why she is a Woman of Impact.

Sealing the Deal

As she talked about the early days of SealMaster, Raymaakers got up from her desk and retrieved a photo. Actually, it was one of those wooden frames, partitioned off to hold several different photos of various sizes and shapes.

Some of the larger images were of a huge house in Longmeadow, the owner of which commissioned the biggest project the company had taken on to that time, a long, curving driveway. But there were other shots of her moving five-gallon buckets of sealer into position.

“That was the attitude that I had, that John had, and we’ve instilled it in everyone around us. It’s ‘I can do that’ — you can always learn, you can research, you can read … you can evolve and adjust and do what it takes.”

Raymaakers has kept those photos all these years because they serve to remind her of where and how things started — and of how far she and John, and now their two sons, have come since. It’s an inspiring story in many ways, and it serves as a reminder — not that anyone who has ever started and grown a business needs one — that nothing about having your name over the door (literally or figuratively) is easy, and that success only comes to those who have what it takes to ride out the hard days and find ways to create better days.

Our story really begins with Raymaakers, soon after relocating to Westfield from Hardwick when she was 24, taking a job with the Westfield Boys & Girls Club in the early ’80s.

“I knew I wanted to do something that made a difference somehow,” she recalled, adding that she started working at the club part-time, and later, after some grant funding was secured for the facility, was assigned to be program director at a satellite office in a large apartment complex called Powdermill Village.

“It was a great experience … I met some wonderful kids that have turned into great adults,” she told BusinessWest. “And what we did was needed. The kids that lived there needed a place to go after school to empower them, tell them they could make a difference, and just let them be themselves. It was a really good program, and I was there for six years.”

Looking back, she said her work went beyond the day-to-day programming and into the realm of mentoring and helping those young people overcome a difficult childhood.

“I can remember saying to them, ‘you can do it, you can do it — you can do anything you want to do,’” she recalled, adding that she stayed in touch with many of them, standing up for one at her wedding and becoming a godmother to one of her children.

Laurie Raymaakers has become a role model to others, especially women in the construction trades and other male-dominated sectors.

Her time at Powdermill was life-changing in many other respects. It was there she met John Raymaakers, who worked in maintenance at the facility, and “fell in love, got married, and all that goofy stuff.”

‘Goofy stuff,’ in this case, is decades of working together to forge some dreams and make them come true.

After a brief and unfulfilling time in Oklahoma, where John took a job, they returned to Westfield and started working for a property-management company, handling apartment complexes in several area communities, and later opened their own company. As noted earlier, with the sharp downturn in the economy, their portfolio diminished in dramatic fashion.

“We lost 70% of our business in six months,” she said, adding that they soon began looking for something else to do, settled on sealing driveways, and started SealMaster with some grit and an old Chevy pickup.

“I had to put a quart of oil in it every day to drive it down the road,” she said with a hearty laugh, noting that, while there were many tough times, especially when John was severely burned while on a job and out of action for a lengthy period of recovery, the company persevered.

She remembers preparing for the annual home show and sitting at the kitchen table with her children folding marketing pieces that she would load into the family station wagon and put in newspaper boxes across the region.

But John’s accident came at a time when the couple had allowed their health insurance to expire. It was a scary time, and one that convinced her that she needed to take a job that offered health insurance.

“This was a case of ‘when one door closes, another opens,’” she said, adding that the former director of the Westfield Boys & Girls Club, whom she worked with and for, had taken the same position in Springfield, and he hired her to manage three satellite offices — and provide more mentoring and counseling to young people.

“These were rough neighborhoods; there were a lot of gangs,” she recalled. “And I tried to convince them that they didn’t have to do it this way, with the street life, the gangs — I said, ‘you have opportunities out there. You don’t have to be a follower; you can be a leader.’”

She worked at the club from 2 to 10, which gave her the opportunity to work at SealMaster before that, she said, adding that, over the years, she would work several different jobs to help make ends meet.

In 1998, she and John started J.L. Raymaakers, specializing in paving and site work, crack-filling at places like the Holyoke Mall, snowplowing, and more, a venture that has grown over the years to now boast 41 employees. The ‘& Sons’ part of the title came later, as sons John and Joshua, who first started helping out when they were 12, officially joined the company.

While the company has enjoyed steady growth over the years, success has not come easily, and Raymaakers remembers many years when she — and John — would work at least two jobs.

“I worked at the Westfield Police Department for five years, 4 to midnight, as a police dispatcher,” she recalled. “It was exhausting; I’d get up at 6 in the morning and get the kids off to school, and then I’d do company work, and then I’d have to go to work again.

“At night, the boys used to plow,” she went on. “And then they’d come to the police station at night and switch vehicles with me; I would go out and plow all night, and they’d take my car home.”

When asked what she does day in and day out at J.L. Raymaakers, she laughed, as if to indicate that there is little she doesn’t do. The list includes project management, estimating, marketing, and many other assignments.

Summing up what it’s been like for her — and for all business owners, for that matter — she put things in perspective in poignant fashion.

“It’s been a challenge … it’s been a struggle … it’s been rewarding … it’s been frightening,” she said. “But there’s nothing else I’d rather do. Growth doesn’t come easy — it comes at a cost; you have to be willing to pay that cost.”

Concrete Example

Raymaakers recalls a time she visited a job site about eight years ago, with the intention of getting her hands dirty — literally.

“I went to pick up a wheelbarrow of asphalt to patch, just ’cause I wanted to, and I couldn’t pick it up,” she said with exasperation in her voice all these years later. “I was so ticked off … I’m like, ‘I’m out of shape!’”

It was one of the few times over the past four decades when she couldn’t say ‘I can do that.’

Because she was able to say it all those other times, she’s been not only a force in the workplace — whatever that might be — but a force in the lives of those around her, a true Woman of Impact.

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

Anika Lopes

By Joseph Bednar October 27, 2022

Women of Impact 2022

Amherst Town Councilor; President, Ancestral Bridges

By Connecting Past with Present, She’s Changing the Narrative of Amherst’s History

While showing off her extensive collection of hat blocks in her Amherst home, Anika Lopes explained how they tell a story of her time in New York City, but, more importantly, of generations before her.

“Hats really are a universal connector. You’d be hard-pressed to find any culture in the world that doesn’t have traditions with some sort of headwear, whether that’s a feather, bones, a traditional hat, or just something to keep people warm. It’s a space of universal connection.”

Lopes has dedicated much of her life to making connections, particularly involving the long, often-undertold history of Black and Indigenous communities in and around Amherst. It’s work she took up in earnest after returning to her hometown in 2019.

But let’s start with the hats.

As an artist and sculptor who graduated from the New School University, she found herself interning with Horace Weeks, one of the first Black men to own a hat factory, Peter & Irving, in the Garment District of New York City. “Millinery chose me,” she said, using the proper name for hat design. “I was fascinated by Mr. Weeks, and walking into that space felt like walking back in time. I had always had a passion for sculpting, and hand-blocking hats was very much like sculpting.”

Lopes and an ex-partner eventually took over the factory and revamped it, and she found overnight attention when the R&B artist Usher commissioned a hat from her in 2005 and wore it on a popular MTV show. “Pretty much overnight, that hat was on billboards in Times Square, and I had buyers from all over the world calling in,” Lopes said. “I thought, now what do I do? And I looked at it for the opportunity it was.”

As her profile grew, she made commissioned designer hats for Madonna, Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, numerous films and celebrities, and exclusive boutiques in New York and Japan, including Isetan in Tokyo and Bergdorf Goodman.

“It was a whirlwind experience being in the fashion industry, but I got to the point where my passion for connecting people and wanting to help people, which has always been something in me, made me feel like I needed more,” she recalled. “I was able to reach out and work with different internship programs and different corporations where I was able to merge the business of fashion with having an impact on marginalized communities, with disadvantaged youth, and also with adults coming into second-chance programs dealing with harm reduction.”

When she returned to Amherst three years ago, Lopes began directing that passion for connecting people to a different purpose: to uncover and bring to light the Black and Indigenous history of generations of Amherst residents, including some who played a direct role in the events that were eventually commemorated as Juneteenth.

The Ancestral Bridges exhibit of historical photographs and artifacts will be on view at the Amherst History Museum for two more Saturdays, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Through efforts to “daylight” some of that long-neglected history — through historical events, museum exhibits, her role on the Amherst Town Council, and especially a foundation she calls Ancestral Bridges — Lopes is connecting past with present and providing not just a clearer sense of history, but new opportunities for young BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) individuals today.

“I have to pinch myself,” she told BusinessWest. “There have been few times in my life where I’ve been so excited about something and feel such a connection. Ancestral Bridges is part of my life’s work, part of my purpose.”

Deep Roots

Growing up in Amherst, Lopes said, she was close to her family — parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents — and when she returned, she found herself revisiting spaces and connecting with the past. She looked up to her grandfather, Dudley Bridges, who had launched an initiative in the late 1990s to restore and publicly display Civil War tablets that told the story of Indigenous and Black soldiers.

Due to the efforts of Dudley and his family, important aspects of Amherst’s history were brought to light, she explained. As a board member of the Amherst Historical Society, he worked to obtain National Historic Register status for Amherst’s Westside District of Snell Street, Hazel Avenue, and Baker Street — one of several neighborhoods in Amherst with significant cultural history for BIPOC people.

But, while he funded the restoration of the tablets, they remained in storage when he passed away in 2004. So Lopes took up her grandfather’s mission to bring them into the light.

“The tablets were given to the town in 1893 by the Grand Army of the Republic to honor more than 300 Union soldiers and sailors from Amherst. Many of the names are familiar ones in Amherst: Dickinson, Cowls, Kellogg,” she explained. “Each man and his family made a difficult choice and great sacrifice to enlist — perhaps none so much as the Black soldiers from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment and 5th Cavalry who traveled through and to very hostile territory in 1865 to notify residents of Texas that the Civil War had ended and that the Emancipation Proclamation made slavery illegal in the Confederate states.”

“It was a whirlwind experience being in the fashion industry, but I got to the point where my passion for connecting people and wanting to help people, which has always been something in me, made me feel like I needed more.”

Cinda Jones, the ninth-generation president of W.D. Cowls Inc., was inspired by this work, among other things, in nominating Lopes as a Woman of Impact. “Anika Lopes demanded that her ancestors’ names on the town of Amherst Civil War tablets be on permanent exhibit. That they be seen. That the total history of Amherst be seen for the first time. That Black and Indigenous residents, heretofore invisible, be recognized. She asked for inclusivity.”

She got it; the Civil War tablet exhibit is now on display at the Bangs Community Center. The exhibit debuted on June 19, 2021 and served as the inspiration for the first townwide Juneteenth celebration. For the 2022 Juneteenth event, Lopes curated and led a walk of Black historical sites in Amherst.

“For the first time, hundreds of residents saw and recognized where Black history occurred,” Jones wrote. “Coinciding with the walk was a first-ever Amherst History Museum exhibit curated, owned, and presented by Ancestral Bridges. It is still going. It represents the very first time that Amherst’s Blacks and Indigenous people have ever been represented in the Amherst History Museum. Anika Lopes made this happen.”

Indeed, Lopes founded Ancestral Bridges in June 2022 to bring together stakeholders to elevate economic and cultural opportunities and build a more equitable future for regional BIPOC individuals. According to its mission statement, Ancestral Bridges receives grants of money and land and leverages these to celebrate BIPOC arts and culture, enable first-time home-ownership opportunities, and raise the potential of BIPOC and disadvantaged youth. Some of the activities it supports include telling the stories of local ancestors through interactive history walks, art exhibits, and music events; educating about wealth generation and developing internships, programs, and workshops for BIPOC youth and families; and enabling local BIPOC wealth generation by receiving gifts, grants, and other resources to benefit BIPOC futures.

“Ancestral Bridges serves as the bridge between past and present, between elder and youth, between diverse populations, connecting all who seek to learn and grow through meaningful engagements that educate, empower, and nurture long-lasting growth,” Lopes added.

The Ancestral Bridges exhibit of historical photographs and artifacts at the Amherst History Museum features Black and Indigenous families who lived in Amherst for centuries, were integral to the fabric and character of Amherst and surrounding towns, served in the Massachusetts 54th Infantry Regiment and 5th Cavalry Regiment during the Civil War, built and founded the first black churches in Amherst, facilitated the smooth functioning of commerce and institutional education, and provided living quarters for those otherwise denied, including newly arrived Black people from the South.

Anika Lopes’ mother, Debora Bridges (third from right), gives a narrative tour of the Civil War tablet exhibit as a highlight of her 50th Amherst High School reunion.

But that wasn’t the extent of Lopes’ daylighting efforts. “When I came on the Council, one of the first things I noticed was the list of proclamations for celebratory days. Both Indigenous Peoples Day and Native American History Month weren’t on the list. That really floored me, because just about everyone else was there.”

Proclamations, tablets, museum displays, and history walks won’t by themselves reverse the centuries-long trend of downplaying BIPOC contributions in Amherst, but each effort is another positive step — and Lopes is by no means done.

Telling a New Story

The fact that Amherst itself is named after a British military officer who supported the extermination of Native Americans is not lost on Lopes. Rather, it’s perhaps the most glaring example of those whose stories have been allowed to be told and celebrated over the centuries. On display at the museum exhibit, in fact, is a full set of Amherst College china designed by the college’s president in the 1940s, depicting Lord Jeffrey Amherst massacring Indigenous people. Meals were served on that china to Amherst College professors, staff, and students between 1940 and 1970.

That’s not that long ago, so these wounds are still fresh.

“You’re talking about two cultures [Black and Indigenous] that are connected by a certain type of trauma and displacement and erasure,” Lopes said. “In a lot of places, you can’t see and document this history, but we can.”

Which is why she brings to light stories like Christopher and Charles Thompson, direct ancestors of Lopes who were among the black soldiers to arrive in Texas in 1865 to christen the now-federal holiday of Juneteenth. “These Amherst men — the Thompsons, Josiah Hasbrook, James Finnemore — may not yet have streets named after them, but should be remembered for enlisting to advance the belief that all men are created equal,” she noted.

So as she serves on Amherst’s Town Council, where she chairs the town services and outreach committee and sits on the governance, organization, and legislation committee; serves as a board member of Family Outreach of Amherst, assuring that Amherst’s most vulnerable families are safe; and works as a member of the Jones Library building committee, among other efforts, Lopes is putting time and energy into improving her hometown.

But just as importantly, she’s inspiring others to appreciate the town’s history and, more importantly, draw on it.

“We’re able to bring something forward for youth in Amherst who maybe have never heard about the Black history of Amherst, did not know that we had soldiers right here who fought for their freedom, people who were participating in banking before there were banks here, who brought business here … these are all stories that are inspiring for youth to know about,” she said. “They can say, ‘this what my ancestors did; these are the shoulders I stand on — what can I do? I’m empowered. I am going to be able to take this world so much further than they did’ — and really realize that we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Jodi Falk

By George O'Brien October 27, 2022

Women of Impact 2022

Director, Rachel’s Table

She’s Choreographed a Broader, More Holistic Mission at This Critical Nonprofit

Jodi Falk knows what it’s like to be like food-insecure.

For a brief time, she received assistance from the program known as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). It’s not something she can easily talk about — and, in fact, it was something she couldn’t talk about until very recently, mostly because of the stigma attached to being in the program.

She recalled that time for BusinessWest, however, because, by doing so, she believes she’s helping to address that stigma, while also putting into perspective the feelings of those that she and the organization she leads, Rachel’s Table, serve day in and day out.

“Those were the days when it wasn’t a card you can give to a cashier or put in a machine, but checks to hand to a person who made sure that what you purchased was on their list — and this could take a while, which was embarrassing,” she recalled. “I used to look around the store to see if I knew anyone, and if I did, I would wait until I was sure they had left the store before going to the register.”

Elaborating, she said she is still embarrassed to talk about those experiences, but admits that they made her aware, and understanding, of what others may be going through when they are on government assistance. And she believes her story has given her some perspective that each individual needs to be treated with “dignity and care.”

In short, those experiences have helped in her role as director of Rachel’s Table, a program of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, and they are not the only chapter from her past that she says has earned that distinction.

Indeed, Falk spent many years professionally as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher, both here and abroad. And while her work administering Rachel’s Table might seem worlds removed from those vocations, the skill sets, and her many experiences in those roles, dovetail nicely with her current assignment. In many ways, they inspired it.

“For several of those years, besides working in the professional arts world, I also taught and choreographed in the community dance and arts world, where I worked with various populations, such as young teen moms or young women who were incarcerated and in treatment centers, elders in nursing homes, people in recovery, families in foster-care communities, and more,” she explained.

“I focused on art making as a means of making voices heard and bodies seen that aren’t always heard and seen. I became more interested in the lives of those with whom I was dancing, in their nourishment, and when Rachel’s Table had an opening for a director, I felt that I could serve more people with nourishment from a literal as well as figurative perspective.”

“We live in a world where we sometimes we don’t see the ‘other,’ if you will. How do we learn to live to live together in a much bigger society, a much broader world? We don’t know each other’s story until we really know each other’s story.”

With that, she referenced not only why she took on this new career challenge, but how dance and choreography have made her a better administrator and problem solver. And, in some ways, they help explain why she is a Woman of Impact.

To gain more perspective on why Falk has earned this honor, we need to look at all that she has accomplished since taking the helm at Rachel’s Table in 2019. In short, she has taken the agency “to a new level of food rescue for our very needy community,” said Judy Yaffe, vice president of the advisory board for Rachel’s Table, in nominating Falk as a Woman of Impact.

And she has done this through many new initiatives, including:

• A broadening of the agency’s reach; in the past, it has served only Hampden County, but has expanded into Hampshire and Franklin counties;

• A new program called Growing Gardens, an offshoot of the agency’s gleaning program, whereby constituents focus on growing and harvesting their own food;

• A new partnership with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to pick up food from Big Y stores and other large donors;

• A new, fully refrigerated van that will enable the agency to deliver larger quantities of food throughout the year;

• Steps that have enabled Rachel’s Table to rescue 50% more healthy produce, meat, milk, and prepared foods for the more than 50 agencies it serves;

• Upgrades to the volunteer-management program; and

• A significant increase in the number of grants received by the agency, and in the amounts of those grants, as well as a surge in the number of donors to the program.

In short, Falk has been instrumental in essentially expanding the mission and taking it in new directions, while also modernizing the agency, making it more efficient, and, yes, guiding it through a pandemic that brought challenges that could not have been imagined.

As we examine all this in greater detail, it will become abundantly clear why she’s been named a Woman of Impact for 2022.

Growing Passion

As noted earlier, Falk brings a diverse résumé to the table.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Brown and master of fine arts and Ph.D. degrees from Temple University, and she has put them to work in several different capacities.

Most recently, she served as founding director of the dance program at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School in South Hadley, where she created nationally recognized dance programs for more than 400 students, produced more than 15 original and critically acclaimed concerts, and oversaw a national touring company. Prior to that, she was program director of the Trinity Lasban Conseratoire of Music and Dance in London. There, she directed and developed a program in choreography and community-engaged arts-education outreach for the institution, among a host of other duties.

Earlier, Falk served as chair of SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Councils for the Greenfield Public School District and Franklin County Region), a family-advocacy organization that provides resources, support, and advice on policy for families of children with special needs. Before that, the was coordinator of Community Engagement for the Five College Consortium in Amherst.

As she mentioned, these various assignments, which provided in experience in everything from teaching and mentoring to grant writing and new program creation, helped prepare her for, and in many ways inspire her interest in, the position at Rachel’s Table. It also provided perspective on the need to fully understand the plight and the challenges of others in order to effectively serve them.

“We live in a world where we sometimes we don’t see the ‘other,’ if you will,” she explained. “How do we learn to live to live together in a much bigger society, a much broader world? We don’t know each other’s story until we really know each other’s story.”

As she goes about her work, she doesn’t talk much about her experiences with WIC, for many reasons. Stigma is one of them, but a bigger reason is that she received assistance for only a short time and moved on from her food insecurity. Her story, she said, doesn’t really reflect the true hardships of those in need.

A gleaning program is one of many new initiatives launched by Jodi Falk since she took the helm at Rachel’s Table in 2019.

It is those individuals’ stories that should be told, she said, and their needs that should be addressed.

And this is what she’s been doing since she took the helm at Rachel’s Table, an organization now celebrating its 30th anniversary. Over that time, and especially in recent years, it has evolved and become much more of a holistic agency while still “nourishing people with dignity,” as Falk likes to say.

It carries out its broad mission of battling food insecurity and not only distributing food but first rescuing much of it from restaurants, supermarkets, and other venues in a number of ways and through several different initiatives, including:

• A gleaning program, known as Bea’s Harvest, that works with young people and school groups to engage them in the service of collecting excess produce and donating it to agencies that serve the hungry and homeless in Western Mass.;

• Growing Gardens, which provides the Pioneer Valley with direct access to healthy foods by helping local organizations build gardens to grow culturally appropriate food;

• Bountiful Bowls, a gala staged every two years to raise funds for the agency;

• Outrun Hunger, a biennial 5K run/walk and one-mile fun walk that raises funds to “fill the bowls of those in need”;

• A Hunger Awareness Arts Fest, at which issues of local hunger were highlighted by music and dance performances and art exhibits; and

• A Teen Board, which, partially sponsored by a grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, aims to alleviate childhood hunger and educate their peers about local hunger and poverty issues, and then involve them in being part of the solution.

While overseeing all of this, Falk guided the agency through the pandemic while also blueprinting the agency’s response to it, a response that included raising more than $95,000 for food in the agency’s Healthy Community Emergency Fund; purchasing and delivering more than 5,000 pounds of meat and potatoes, 3,000 pounds of fluid milk, and much more; participating with a network of partners in the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program, delivering, at times, more than 140,000 pounds of food a month to families in need; and creating and funding a program to give lunches to first responders in all three counties.

Falk brings to all her work that perspective from being on WIC for a short time, but, far more importantly, decades of experience in leadership, inspiring those she works with to be creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative, and forging the partnerships that are critical to a nonprofit being able to not only carry out its mission, but take it in new and different directions, as Rachel’s Table has.

And she brings even greater emphasis to keeping in mind, always, the ideas, thoughts, and feelings of those most affected by food insecurity.

“This model, which we’ve had for 30 years, helps the planet — food doesn’t go into a landfill; it gets delivered to agencies that support people who are in need,” she explained. “And at the same time, I wanted to make sure that we address, more directly, some of the problems that cause food insecurity.”

She’s done that through initiatives such as the Growing Gardens program, which helps any of those agencies that want to grow their own food in collaboration with those they serve.

“Young kids from Christina’s House are getting their hands dirty in the garden, and they’re making their own salads,” she said, citing the example of the Springfield-based nonprofit that provides services to women and their children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (and whose leader, Shannon Mumblo, was named a Woman of Impact in 2021).

“To me, that’s a bigger story than how many thousands of pounds of food we can deliver,” Falk said, “because it means there is a dignified approach to food choice, a dignified approach to having a choice about what you want to plant and grow, and we’re helping to teach people — or learn with people, because I think we all teach each other — how to make our own food and not wait for a handout.”

Food for Thought

‘Learning with people.’ That’s something that Falk has been doing throughout her career — and, really, her whole life.

It’s a pattern that has continued at Rachel’s Table, an model that has enabled the agency to expand, evolve, rescue more food, deliver more food, grow food, and, in sum, be much more responsive to agencies serving those in need.

It has enabled Rachel’s Table to do something else as well — to hear those it serves and understand their story and their needs.

That’s what Falk has brought to Rachel’s Table. And her accomplishments, not only there but at other institutions where she has enabled voices to be heard, certainly make her a Woman of Impact.

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

Sister Mary Caritas, SP

By George O'Brien October 27, 2022

Women of Impact 2022

For Nearly a Century, She’s Been Fighting for Good Causes

Sister Mary Caritas, SP has always remembered something that one of the doctors, a cardiologist, at Mercy Hospital told her while she was doing duty on one of the floors as a nursing student more than 75 years ago now.

“He told me, ‘little nurse … when we’re born, we’re born with a certain amount of energy; at the rate you’re going, you’re going to be dead by 40.’”

Turns out, he was wrong. Big time. And an entire region can be very glad that he was.

Sister Caritas was obviously born with more energy to expend than the rest of us, and she’s still proving that at age 99. She’s spent her whole life proving it, in ways large and small, highly visible or seen by only a few.

Space does not permit us to get into all that Sister Caritas has done during her remarkable life and career, at least in any detail. Hitting the highlights, she has been a hospital administrator — she was president of Mercy Hospital for 16 years, and before that was administrator at St. Luke’s Hospital and associate director of Berkshire Medical Center. She’s also been very active with the Sisters of Providence and its broad mission, serving as president from 1960 to 1977, as vice president from 2009 to 2013 and from 2016 until today, and in other roles as well; she is now the oldest member of that order.

She has also been very active in healthcare, serving on the boards of the Sisters of Providence Health System, Trinity Health Of New England, Catholic Health East, the Massachusetts Hospital Assoc., the American Hospital Assoc., Partners for a Healthier Community, Cancer House of Hope, the New England Conference of the Catholic Health Assoc., and perhaps two dozen other local, state, regional, and national institutions and organizations.

And she’s been active in the community, serving in capacities ranging from corporator of the former Community Savings Bank to trustee of the board of the Massachusetts Easter Seals Society, to chairperson (quite famously, by the way) of the Task Force on Bondi’s Island in the mid-’90s.

But it’s not the lines on the résumé — no matter how many there are, and yes, there are a lot them — that explain why Sister Caritas is a Woman of Impact. It’s what you can read between those lines.

It’s the story of an extraordinary individual driven at a young age to learn, teach, serve the community and especially those who are less fortunate, and simply make this region, and the world, a better place.

She has, in fact, said ‘no’ to a few people who have asked her to take on an assignment because there are only so many hours in the day — she tried to turn down the Bondi’s Island Task Force, for example, but those asking wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. But almost always, she said ‘yes.’

And she became known not merely for serving, but for fighting, doggedly, for what she thought was right and just and needed at the time, whether it was a cancer-treatment facility at Mercy Hospital, fairer Medicare reimbursement rates, or, yes, a solution to the odor problems at Bondi’s Island.

Sister Mary Caritas, seen here when she was president of Mercy Hospital, has been a leader in the community and an inspiration to generations of area decision makers.

As one might expect with someone who started working professionally in the mid-’40s, talk of her accomplishments obviously involves the past tense. But she remains a Woman of Impact for the way she counsels, mentors, and inspires others, especially women, in leadership roles today. She didn’t officially coin the phrase ‘no margin, no mission,’ but many area nonprofit managers will attribute those words to her as they strive to live by them.

Meanwhile, her life and career has been marked by being thrust into a series of new and daunting challenges, many of which she considered herself quite unprepared for. She’s proven that, with hard work, energy, and a focus on the best outcome for all, one can thrive despite adversity.

“Every role I’ve had, despite the challenges, was the happiest time of my life,” she told BusinessWest, adding that she made the most of every situation and turned them all into invaluable learning experiences. “Every day is a present, and if I haven’t learned something new in a day, then it wasn’t a good day.”

Energy. Yes, Sister Caritas still has large amounts of that commodity. She doesn’t play golf as much as she used to, not because she has slowed down, but because most of those she played with over the years have slowed down. She drives, and she sets a good pace when walking the halls of Providence Place.

She doesn’t have the same level of energy she did 40 years ago or when she was a nursing student, but she’s still very much involved — and clearly a Woman of Impact.

Small Wonder

Those who know Sister Caritas, who came to be known as ‘little sister’ to some because of her small stature, would say it’s not what she does — whether it’s in healthcare, the community, or with the Sisters of Providence — that makes her a true leader, still, at age 99.

Rather, it’s how she goes about … well, whatever it is she is doing. One hears the word ‘determined’ early and quite often when people describe her, and that word fits. So does ‘relentless.’ And ‘unstoppable’ works as well.

Those adjectives certainly apply to her lengthy battle to win approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for a cobalt unit for cancer treatment at Mercy Hospital. She first filed an application in 1978, and it was denied. Applications could only be filed biannually, so she tried again in 1980. And in 1982. And in 1984. And in 1986 … you get the picture.

“There was nothing wrong with the applications, it was just that the Department of Public Health deemed it was not needed,” she said. “But I thought otherwise.”

“He told me, ‘little nurse … when we’re born, we’re born with a certain amount of energy; at the rate you’re going, you’re going to be dead by 40.’”

So she kept on filing applications until finally, in 1993, after she had given notice to the board at Mercy that she would be retiring, the state said ‘yes.’

There are many examples of such determination and perseverance from her lengthy career. Before getting to some, for those who don’t know the Sister Caritas story — and most do — we’ll recap quickly.

Mary Geary was born in Springfield and attended schools in the city. Her parents thought it would be good for her to pursue a career as a secretary, and for a short while, she did, at Commerce High School.

“I was in the secretarial program, learning shorthand and all that … and I was flunking; I hated it every single minute of it,” she recalled, noting that her life changed when she met a girl training to become a nurse at Providence Hospital in Holyoke.

“That absolutely turned my life around,” she told BusinessWest. “I knew … I was so incredibly inspired that I went from Commerce over to Tech [Technical High School], took all my sciences, and eventually went to nursing school.”

Fast-forwarding through the next half-century or so, Geary joined the Sisters of Providence and was sent to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester as a nurse. But upon making her final vows after her fifth year, in 1949, she was sent to Mercy Hospital in Springfield, a move she was thrilled with until she found out that, instead of nursing, she would focus on dietary services, a decision made by the reverend mother.

After receiving a master’s degree in nutrition education at Tufts University and undertaking a dietetic internship at the Francis Stern Food Clinic at the New England Medical Center in Boston, she was assigned to be administrative dietitian at Providence Hospital in Holyoke, an assignment she enjoyed for seven years.

She then got another call from the Mother House, this one to inform her that she was being named administrator at St. Luke’s Hospital.

When she replied that she didn’t know anything about hospital administration, her superior responded with a simple ‘you’ll learn,’ which she did.

After St. Luke’s and Pittsfield General merged in 1969 to become Berkshire Medical Center, Sister Caritas served briefly as associate director of that facility — briefly because she was chosen to lead the Sisters of Providence and take the title superior general, a title that intimidated her about as much as the long list of responsibilities that came with it.

“I was totally unprepared for this,” she said, adding that, as she did with other stops during her career, she learned by doing.

And that ‘doing’ included work to create a new Mercy Hospital, a facility that would replace a structure built by the Sisters of Providence in 1896; it opened its doors in 1974. Sister Caritas would be named president of the hospital three years later, and would serve in that role until 1993.

Highlights during her tenure, and there were many, include an in-hospital surgery center; an eye center; an intensivist program; one of the nation’s first hospitalist programs; creation of the Weldon Center for Rehabilitation, the Family Life Center, the Healthcare for the Homeless initiative; and much more.

Sister Act

As noted earlier, it’s not the lines on the résumé that explain why Sister Caritas is a Woman of Impact, but the determination she showed when there was a fight to be waged, whether it was for the cobalt unit, to solve the odor problems at Bondi’s Island, or to gain needed adjustment in the Medicaid Area Wage Index.

That last fight was one that took her from Springfield to Washington, D.C. with several stops in between. If there’s an episode from her career that best sums up her persistence — her willingness to fight for something important — it is this one. It’s a story she enjoys telling, and she did so again for BusinessWest.

“The change in the rate meant that Mercy Hospital was going to lose $6 million that year, and $6 million then is like $30 million now,” she said, noting that all the other community hospitals in the area, and there were many more at the time, were looking at similar losses. “So I became very involved because I was so upset with what they were doing.”

That is an understatement.

“Richie Neal was a very young congressman at the time,” she said, noting that he secured a revision in the rate on the House side of the budget. “I thought my friend Mr. Kennedy [U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy] had put it in on the Senate side, it had gone to vote, and it was now in conference.

Sister Mary Caritas says “every day is a present, and if I haven’t learned something new in a day, then it wasn’t a good day.”

“We learned that it was in conference and that it had not made its way into the budget,” she went on. “So I was panicked; I called all the other hospital administrators and said, ‘we’ve got to go to Washington; I can’t afford to lose $6 million this year — Mercy will go out of business. They all they felt the same way, but none of them wanted to go to Washington, so I went on my own; I went for all of us.”

Here’s where an already revealing story becomes even more so. She first went to see Neal, who told her that a revision was, indeed, included in the House side of the budget. The problem, he said, was in the Senate.

“So I marched across the Capitol to the Senate side, and Kennedy wasn’t there,” she said. “They told me that he may not be back that day, and I told them, ‘you better plan on me staying here all night; I’m not leaving here. I’m a constituent, I have a right to see my senator, and I will not leave this office until I see him.

“They kept trying to placate me, offering me cookies and tea, and I just kept saying, ‘no, I’m not leaving until I see my senator,’” she went on. “I waited, and waited, and waited, until finally, about 4 in the afternoon, he shows up.

“He tells me it’s in conference, and I said, ‘I know; that’s why I’m here,’” she continued, adding an exclamation point through inflection on her voice. “He said, ‘who do you know on the conference committee?’ I poked him on the chest and said, ‘it’s not who I know, it’s who you know.’”

Sensing that the battle might be lost if she had to rely on the senator, Sister Caritas went to work. She went to the nearest pay phone (this is the early ’90s, remember) and instructed her administrative assistant to call the other area community hospital presidents and have them in her office the following morning. Before that, though, she called the Mercy Hospital print shop and had it print 6,000 postcards that would eventually be sent by area constituents to legislators imploring action on the Medicare issue.

While Kennedy would call Sister Caritas after the vote to revise the wage index a few days later, she believes it was those postcards that turned the tide. And those involved would say that it was Sister Caritas herself who really drove that outcome — again, just one of many examples of her fighting spirit.

Century Unlimited

The last page of Sister Caritas’s résumé has the single word ‘Honors’ at the top. And there is a long list that follows, including honorary degrees from several area colleges, a William Pynchon Award, a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Springfield Rotary Club, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Girl Scouts of Pioneer Valley, and a Woman of Achievement Award from the YWCA — a few of them, in fact.

She’s also won several from BusinessWest and its sister publication, the Healthcare News, including Business Person of the Year in 1992, Difference Maker (awarded to the Sisters of Providence) in 2014, and Healthcare Hero (in the Lifetime Achievement category) in 2018.

And because of all that she did earn these honors, she now has one more line to add to that page: Woman of Impact.

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

Latoya Bosworth

By George O'Brien October 27, 2022

Women of Impact Women of Impact 2022

Program Officer, Mass Humanities

This Writer, Coach, Mentor, Educator, and Motivator is a True Renaissance Woman

When asked about her day job, Latoya Bosworth said she actually has quite a few of them.

She’s the program officer for Mass Humanities’ Reading Frederick Douglass Together program. She’s also an adjunct professor at Springfield College’s School of Professional & Continuing Studies. She coaches professionals and especially women. She mentors young people. She’s a writer. She’s a mother and a grandmother. She motivates others to get a mammogram to protect their breast health.

Ok, that last one’s not a day job, but it’s something she takes very seriously, having seen the disease take lives in her family and making a decision to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy.

Summing up all that and much, much more, Bosworth likes to say that she “helps others transcend limits and transform lives.”

And she does this in many ways, but especially by setting a tone, leading by example, helping individuals discover who they are, and inspiring others to set a higher bar for themselves and then clear that bar.

Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director for Public Services for the Springfield City Library and one of BusinessWest’s first Women of Impact back in 2018, who nominated Bosworth for this award, has come to know her through some of her many initiatives, including an open-mic poetry series for young teen girls at the library. Those experiences made an impression.

“I think of Latoya as a Renaissance woman,” said Canosa Albano, noting that the many accolades, avocations, and interests on Bosworth’s résumé reflect a wide range of interests and expertise. “That phrase also evokes for me that period of history when writing, ideas, discovery, and exploration flourished, centering on humans and humanity.

“Latoya has a tremendous impact on people, especially women and girls in so many ways,” she went on. “Through writing, spoken word, and coaching, she shares her journey. She has motivated many people to get a mammogram to protect their breast health. She has inspired at least five women to go to college, heading to Bay Path University for master’s degrees.”

As she goes about her coaching, mentoring, and even her teaching, Bosworth focuses on an acronym she created: HERS — short for health, empowerment, resilience, and self-worth. These are the qualities she preaches and that she helps others find. Her efforts over the years have earned her a number of honors, from BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty award in 2016 to inclusion in the 2015 100 Women of Color cohort, to the 2014 Eyes of Courage Award for empowering women and girls.

Bosworth spends considerable time and energy helping others, especially younger women and women of color, create and build confidence, with the accent on ‘helping others’ because this is something they ultimately have to do themselves.

“Latoya has a tremendous impact on people, especially women and girls in so many ways.”

“It starts with learning who you are, because you can’t show up and be who you are if you don’t know who you are,” she explained. “And learning how to be authentic — when we show up to our authentic selves, we give people the freedom to do that, and with that freedom comes that confidence.”

When mentoring young women and girls, Bosworth tells them to essentially follow her lead and “pour into themselves.”

“By that, I mean taking time with yourself to figure out who you are, because there are so many outside influences and people telling you what you should be doing, people telling you what it means to be successful, what it means to be beautiful, all of these things,” she explained. “You have to pour into yourself and figure out what’s important to you, what your values are, and how to turn off the noise.”

‘Renaissance woman.’ That’s an apt description of Latoya Bosworth. As we’ll discover, so too is ‘Woman of Impact.’

Impact Statement

“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”

That’s the name attached to an iconic Independence Day speech delivered by the American abolitionist Frederick Douglass, during which he answers that question by saying ‘…a day that reveals to him, more than all the other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”

As program officer for this Mass Humanities initiative, Bosworth schedules public readings of that speech at gatherings of all sizes and many different places.

“And they’re followed by discussions on equity and race and what that speech means today, as an American,” she told BusinessWest. “Sometimes, it’s just children; other times, it’s multi-generational, multi-racial … and it’s all over the state of Massachusetts, so it’s looks different in different communities. Sometimes it’s a small organization; other times, it’s a larger event with hundreds of people at a public square.”

Arranging such readings is just one of many assignments that add up to a very full plate for Bosworth, who also goes by ‘Doc Boz’ to some — a nod to her doctorate in human services she earned at Capella University and the nickname given her grandfather (Bozzie) — and also ‘Brenda’s Child,’ a pen name, if that’s even the right term, she uses to honor her mother, Brenda Kay Swinton, who died from breast cancer at age 23 when Latoya was only 4.

By whatever name she goes by, she keeps her days full. As noted, she’s an adjunct professor at Springfield College, teaching courses ranging from “Race, Culture & Religion” to “Contemporary Issues in Education” to “Communication Skills.”

She also has her own business as a workshop facilitator and ‘speaker/life coach.’ She told BusinessWest that she specializes in “confidence, purpose, and joy,” and facilitates writing and empowerment and educational workshops for women, youth, and youth workers for organizations, schools, and professionals. She also creates and hosts empowerment events under that acronym HERS.

Much of what Bosworth does when coaching is focused on that intangible — and precious commodity — known as confidence. And when asked how she helps individuals, and especially women, find it and build more of it, she said she does this in several ways.

“What I find is that, when people have issues with goal setting or trying to change their lives, a lot of it comes down to some of the things they’ve internalized — from society, from family — that they need to unlearn and reprogram so they can develop that confidence that they need to take the risk,” she explained, “and know that, if they take the risk, it’s going to be OK, no matter what; even if doesn’t work out, there’s going to be something they can learn from and grow from.”

Long before her Woman of Impact award, BusinessWest honored Latoya Bosworth as part of the 40 Under Forty class of 2016 for her work with young people.

Elaborating, she said she tries to help individuals and groups understand that trying and failing — if that’s what happens — should always be preferable to simply not trying at all.

“What happens if you fail? What does that look like? What does success look like to you? What does failure look like to you? And if you fail, what will happen? These are the questions I want people to think about,” she said. “Sometimes, we get caught up in these thoughts — I call it worst-case-scenario thinking. I want people to tell me what would happen if they fail, and then I ask them, ‘is that really a big deal, or are you overthinking?’

“Most of the time, people come to find out that it’s not that big a deal if something doesn’t work out the way they want it to,” she went on, adding that this helps in that process of transcending limits and helping people transform their own lives.

Taking Control

Another focal point of Bosworth’s life and work to help others is breast cancer, and here, she tells her own story to inspire others do to what they can to understand this disease and protect their own health.

That story involves tragedy and overcoming adversity on many levels. Her mother, as noted, died from breast cancer. Her father, a veteran, was injured in a training exercise and left paralyzed from the waist down. She and her siblings were raised by her maternal grandmother, who died of ovarian cancer.

These tragedies led to a profound awareness of cancer and its ability to take lives and impact many others while doing so, she said, adding that this awareness led to a proactive approach to caring for her health and encouraging others to follow that lead.

“As I grew up, I learned how to do breast self-exams when I was 12 or 13 — it’s something we pay attention to in our family,” she said, adding that, over the years, she has seen multiple family members, on both sides, die from breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

“So I did some genetic testing; I was negative, but there was some sort of variant there,” she went on, adding that she made the decision to have a prophylactic double mastectomy in 2015, and also to have her ovaries removed to prevent ovarian cancer.

“I share that experience with other people because I want them to know that, while this wasn’t easy, there are options,” she said. “I tell people that they need to understand about genetic testing, and also the health disparities and the fact that African-American women are twice as likely to die from breast cancer because it’s more aggressive in us than it is in other people, even though we are less likely to be diagnosed.”

“What I find is that, when people have issues with goal setting or trying to change their lives, a lot of it comes down to some of the things they’ve internalized — from society, from family — that they need to unlearn and reprogram so they can develop that confidence that they need to take the risk.”

Health is the ‘H’ in HERS. The ‘E,’ ‘R,’ and ‘S’ — empowerment, resilience, and self-worth — are just some of other qualities she helps others discover, and build, through her coaching, mentoring, and a nonprofit youth program she created called Keep Youth Dreaming and Striving Inc.

The mentoring started when she taught in the Springfield Public Schools earlier this decade, and has continued ever since, with Bosworth staying in touch with those she first counseled years ago.

“As a teacher, I was just getting involved in my students’ lives and showing up outside of school for things,” she said. “And as they graduated, I would stay in contact with them, attending baby showers, unfortunately some funerals … but really just showing up for them. And on the side, I started an after-school mentoring program, primarily with girls.”

Keep Youth Dreaming & Striving, which caught the attention of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty judges and made Bosworth part of the class of 2016, featured a number of initiatives, including a Gifted Diva Showcase, what she calls a “self-esteem exhibition” that followed eight weeks of intensive workshops, trainings, and a discovery process.

“It was an anti-beauty pageant, because it wasn’t about looks,” she explained. “It was all about owning who you are, being who you are, doing some community service, sharing whatever talent you have … they didn’t have to show up and look a certain way.”

Leading by Example

Returning to that phrase ‘Renaissance woman,’ in her nomination of Bosworth, Canosa Albano noted that word comes from the French for ‘rebirth.’

“Her journey epitomizes someone who has faced trauma, great loss, and illness, and has reframed those challenges, learned, and grown from them, ‘rebirthing’ herself as Brenda’s Child and Doc Boz.

Reframing challenges and learning and growing from them — this is what Bosworth helps others do as she enables them to transcend limits and transform their lives.

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

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Picture This

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

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Community Effort

Pictured, from left: Freedom Credit Union’s Stephen Phillips, Facilities Maintenance; Kara Herman, vice president, Retail Administration; and David Chase, vice president, Member Business Lending, get ready to deliver food

For 100 days, from Memorial Day until Labor Day, Freedom Credit Union accepted cash and non-perishable food donations at all its branch locations as part of its year-long 100th-anniversary celebration. Donations from members, staff, and the community totaled more than $4,100 for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and 930 pounds of food for the Gray House in Springfield.

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Funding the Fun

Pictured: Adriano dos Santos (right), Monson Savings Bank’s Hampden branch manager, delivers the $1,450 donation to Wendy Cowles, outreach coordinator for the Hampden Senior Center

Monson Savings Bank recently donated $1,450 to the Hampden Senior Center in support of the facility’s many fun events it hosts throughout the year. The donation will help offset the cost of the center’s Alzheimer’s Association Dinner, Grandparents Day, Halloween Luncheon, Thanksgiving Grab and Go Lunch, and Holiday Luncheon.

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Meeting of the Minds

The accounting and tax firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka hosted a gathering for emerging leaders from across the area on Oct. 20 in the parking lot outside its offices in Holyoke. Leaders from Western Mass. and Northern Conn. gathered for networking, local brews, pub fare, trivia, games, and good conversation.

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Court Dockets

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Court Dockets

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

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Lakes National Emergency Physicians Inc. v. Health New England Inc. and Does 1 through 50

Allegation: Services, labor, and material contract; breach of implied contract; tortious interference with business relationships; unfair competition: $2,500,000

Filed: 9/29/22

Mingdian Zhang v. Robert Sonsini and Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative

Allegation: Negligence: $50,000+

Filed: 9/29/22

Raybern Foods LLC v. C&K Machine Co. Inc.

Allegation: Goods sold and delivered, breach of contract, breach of express warranty, unjust enrichment: $581,709

Filed: 10/4/22

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Insa Inc. v. Cultiva Systems LLC, Addison HVAC LLC, Hesnor Engineering Associates PLLC, Mueller Refrigeration Products Co., and Growroom Technologies LLC

Allegation: Construction dispute, property damage, breach of contract, breach of express warranty, professional negligence/malpractice, breach of warranty of merchantability, product liability, unjust enrichment, breach of warranty of fitness for a particular purpose

Filed: 7/8/22

Joshua Feidstein v. Town of Amherst

Allegation: Property damage: $5,100

Filed: 7/14/22

Craig Brown v. Leeds MA SNF LLC d/b/a Highview of Northampton

Allegation: Negligence resulting in personal injury, medical malpractice: $194,000

Filed: 7/14/22

Philips Enterprises Inc. v. Okabashi Brands Inc.

Allegation: Goods sold and delivered, breach of contract: $99,696.20

Filed: 8/3/22

Wayne Parker v. Robert Schapiro, MD

Allegation: Medical malpractice: $100,000

Filed: 8/26/22

Chamber Corners

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Chamber Corners

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 253-0700; www.amherstarea.com

Nov. 9: “Beyond COVID: Leadership Self-Assessment Tools,” 8-11 a.m., hosted by Venture Way Collaborative, 200 Venture Way, Hadley. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members. For more information and to register, visit business.amherstarea.com/events.

Nov. 17: 2022 A+ Awards Dinner, 5-8:30 a.m., hosted By UMass Amherst Student Union Ballroom, 41 Campus Center Way. Each year, the Amherst Area Chamber bestows A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in business, education, and civic engagement across the area that the Chamber serves: Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland. The theme for the 19th annual event is “This Is What’s Next.” Cost: $90 per person, $700 for a table of eight. For more information and to register, visit business.amherstarea.com/events.

EAST OF THE RIVER FIVE TOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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

Nov. 1: ERC5 After 5, 5-6:30 p.m., hosted by Delaney’s Market, 2030 Boston Road, Wilbraham. Invest in your network, get social with the ERC5, reconnect with friends, and make new connections. To register, visit www.erc5.com.

Nov. 9: ERC5 Talkin’ Turkey Table Top 2022, 3-7 p.m., hosted by Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow. This is an opportunity to learn more about some local businesses. From community-oriented financial, marketing, and security institutions to gift shops, elder-care facilities, and more, this is a one-stop-shop for all types of personal and professional business. Exclusive vendor offers will be available. Admission is free. To register, visit www.erc5.com.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 594-2101; www.chicopeechamber.org

Oct. 29: Chicopee Thriller 5K Road Race & Walk. 10 a.m. registration, 11 a.m. start. Start and finish at Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St., Chicopee. Wear your spookiest costume. Awards for best costume and fastest runners at the afterparty at Rumbleseat Bar and Grille. Half of all proceeds go to benefit Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry. Presented by N. Riley Construction. Cost: $35, which includes lunch, beverage ticket, and T-shirt. Registration coming soon at chicopeechamber.org. Sponsorships available now.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 584-1900; www.explorenorthampton.com

Nov. 2: Link/Learn series, 4-5 p.m., hosted by Forbes Library, 20 West St., Northampton. During this one-hour interactive workshop, we will consider different scenarios of trust in the workplace, identifying key conditions that foster it and the leadership competencies needed to create a culture of trust and accountability. We will begin at the self-level and expand to leadership in the workplace. Participants will leave with a complimentary Everything DiSC Workplace Assessment code (valued at $85), which is a science-backed tool for developing social and emotional competencies for all levels of an organization. Sponsored by Florence Bank. Cost: free. To register, visit www.northamptonchamber.com.

Nov. 2: Arrive@5 networking event, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Forbes Library, 20 West St., Northampton, with additional support from Smith College, Straw Dog Writers Guild, Artifact Cider, State Street Fruit Store, and Friends of Forbes Library. To register, visit www.northamptonchamber.com.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 568-1618; www.westfieldbiz.org

Oct. 27: Morning Brew, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Introduce your business to the group and take advantage of this networking opportunity. Cost: free. To register, visit members.westfieldbiz.org/events.

Nov. 2: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Westfield Museum, 360 Elm St., Westfield. Join Mayor Michael McCabe and hear about what’s going on in Westfield and ask questions. Cost: free. To register, visit members.westfieldbiz.org/events.

Nov. 9: After 5 Connections, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Hampton Inn, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Join us for an evening of networking. Bring some business cards to share with the attendees and to enter into the raffle. Cost: free to chamber members, $5 for non-members. To register, visit members.westfieldbiz.org/events.

Nov. 16: Annual Meeting, 5-8 p.m., hosted by Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Join us for a cocktail hour, dinner, welcome and annual meeting, and award presentations. Platinum sponsor: Westfield Bank. Cost: $65 for chamber members, $75 for non-members. To register, visit members.westfieldbiz.org/events.

Nov. 17: Morning Brew, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Introduce your business to the group and take advantage of this networking opportunity. Cost: free. To register, visit members.westfieldbiz.org/events.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

(413) 787-1555;
www.springfieldregionalchamber.com

Nov. 10: Super 60, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., hosted by the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. This annual award luncheon will honor businesses from many communities across the region representing all sectors of the economy, including real estate, transportation, sports, dining and entertainment, insurance, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. Keynote speaker Myke Connolly, president and CEO of Stand Out Truck, will share his story, insights, and business expertise as an entrepreneur who began his career as an 18-year-old immigrant dishwasher with a strong ambition and a dream. Cost: $60 for members, $75 for general admission. Reserved tables of eight or 10 available. To register, visit myonlinechamber.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/6186.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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

Nov. 17: Legislative Luncheon & Tour, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Lower Pioneer Valley Education Collaborative/CTEC, Brush Hill, West Springfield. Join us as the culinary students from CTEC serve lunch while we listen to updates from our local legislators on the happenings on Beacon Hill and then tour the CTEC school and see the trade opportunities it provides students. Cost: $35 for chamber members, $45 for non-members. To register, visit www.ourwrc.com.

Dec. 1: Holiday Networking Spectacular with ERC5 and YPS, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Storrowton Tavern, 13305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Join the WRC, ERC5, and YPS for an evening of festive fun and friendly competition. Rock your most fabulous ugly holiday sweater and vote for your favorite chamber cocktail. Cocktail competition sponsored by PeoplesBank. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. To register, visit www.ourwrc.com.

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Agenda

Social Media Summit

Oct. 27: Chikmedia invites the community to attend its virtual 2022 Social Media Summit, where it will provide an update on all things social-media related. Chikmedia, a boutique firm offering strategic marketing planning and creative PR, is hosting this virtual event to support the future generation of marketing leaders. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the latest trends, updates on Instagram and Facebook, and how to create an engaging reel to capture their audience’s attention. They will walk away with information they’ll need to effectively manage social-media platforms and produce quality content. The event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Participants will receive a Zoom link for where the event will be held. Tickets cost $75 for current Chikmedia clients and $125 for non-current clients. Visit www.chikmedia.us/chik-events.html to register.

Healthcare Heroes

Oct. 27: BusinessWest and the Healthcare News will honor eight individuals and groups as Healthcare Heroes for 2022 at a celebration dinner at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. The Healthcare Heroes class of 2022, profiled in the Sept. 19 issue of BusinessWest, and the categories they represent are: Helen Caulton-Harris, director of Health and Human Services, city of Springfield (Lifetime Achievement); Mark Paglia, chief operating officer, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center (Administrator); Dr. Philip Glynn, director of Medical Oncology, Mercy Medical Center (Provider); Dr. Paul Pirraglia, division chief, General Medicine and Community Health, Baystate Health (Collaboration); ServiceNet’s Enrichment Center & Strive Clinic and its partners at Springfield College and UMass Amherst (Collaboration); the Addiction Consult Service at Holyoke Medical Center (Community Health); Dr. Sundeep Shukla, chief, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baystate Noble Hospital (Emerging Leader); and the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation (Innovation). The Healthcare Heroes program is being sponsored by presenting sponsors Elms College and Baystate Health/Health New England, and partner sponsors Trinity Health Of New England/Mercy Medical Center, American International College, and MiraVista Behavioral Health Center. .

Chicopee Thriller 5K

Oct. 29: The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual costume-themed Thriller 5K at 11 a.m. A portion of the event’s proceeds benefit Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry. The race starts and ends at Grise Funeral Home, located at 280 Springfield St. Registration opens at 10 a.m., and the race starts at 11 a.m. The 5K running route takes runners to Front Street, through Szot Park, then back to Grise via Abbey Memorial Drive and Fairview Street. A two-mile walking route will turn up Academy Street. After the race, participants are invited to Rumbleseat Bar & Grille for an awards ceremony and after-party, which is included in the $35 race registration fee. Prizes will be awarded for fastest runners as well as best individual and group costumes. The Thriller 5K is presented by N. Riley Construction with other sponsorship support from Holyoke Medical Center, Polish National Credit Union, Valley Opportunity Council, PeoplesBank, First American Insurance Agency, Health New England, HUB Insurance Services, Lumber Dogs, Ondrick Natural Earth, BK Hotels, and Beauty Batlles Lounge. Prizes and decorations are sponsored by Phil Beaulieu & Sons, Riley Home Realty, the Beauty Box, Roca, Slosek Insurance, Grise Funeral Home, East Commerce Solutions, Lids Live Well, Florence Bank, and Vibe Dance Studio.

Ironman 70.3 Triathlon

June 11: The IRONMAN Group, in partnership with the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, announced that the city of Springfield will host the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Western Mass. triathlon. General registration is available at www.ironman.com/im703-western-massachusetts. The triathlon will consist of a 70.3-mile journey as athletes will take on a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run. Athletes will start with a downriver swim in the Connecticut River. Once out of the water, athletes will transition to the bike at Riverfront Park in Springfield for the 56-mile ride around the region’s biking areas. Once back in Riverfront Park, the race will conclude with a run using the riverwalks and downtown streets of Springfield. The triathlon will offer qualifying slots to the 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Finland on Aug. 26-27, 2023.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Company Notebook

New Valley Bank & Trust Opens West Springfield Branch

SPRINGFIELD — New Valley Bank & Trust cut the ribbon on its newest full-service branch at 333 Elm St., West Springfield, on Oct. 7. Joining the bank’s board chair, Frank Fitzgerald, was West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt, state Sen. John Velis, and state Rep. Michael Finn. “Our customers and prospects have been asking us to open a branch on the west side of the Connecticut River for some time,” New Valley President Jeff Sullivan said. “We have recognized the need to increase the convenience of doing business with the bank, and we are proud to be able to offer our services in West Springfield. I spent 11 years of my career working on Elm Street, and many members of the New Valley team have had similar past experiences. We are thrilled to be back in the neighborhood with friendly, familiar faces. As a gesture of good will, the bank recently donated to the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club, the first of many new community partnerships to come.”

Country Bank Pledges $10 Million to Support Affordable Housing

WARE — Country Bank has introduced a new affordable-housing program featuring no down payment for first-time homebuyers. The first-of-its-kind program will assist low- to moderate-income families in purchasing a home. Country Bank has pledged $10 million to the program to help make a difference for these first-time homebuyers. This program is designed to help those who need it most by offering 100% financing for single-family homes or condominiums and 95% financing for two-family properties, with no down payment. In addition, the bank will cover 100% of the private mortgage insurance (PMI) that traditionally adds to the monthly payment, saving the borrower hundreds of dollars each month. This feature also gives the borrower more purchasing power by not having to pay the cost of mortgage insurance. Certain restrictions and locations apply for this program. “Buying your first home can be very stressful, and not having the ability to save for a down payment prohibits many from purchasing a home, even when they can afford the monthly payment. Country Bank’s mortgage experts can assist those interested in learning more about the program or who may be ready to purchase a home. The no-down-payment, first-time homebuyer program is available until the $10 million commitment has been allocated. To learn more, visit www.countrybank.com/mortgages or a banking center, or call the Customer Care Center at (800) 322-8233.

Arts Integration Studio Opens

HOLYOKE — Priscilla Kane Hellweg announced the launch of a new consulting firm, the Arts Integration Studio. Hellweg, who retired in December 2021 after 40 years as the executive/artistic director of Enchanted Circle Theater in Holyoke, said the Arts Integration Studio is a creative makerspace designed to address critical needs in education, community health, and the environment. The studio incorporates creativity, the arts, and cultural engagement, and collaborates with others to promote positive outcomes and sustainable solutions to pressing educational and social concerns. This fall, the studio announced four partnerships: with Pittsfield Public Schools and Berkshire Educational Resources on comprehensive professional development in arts integration, open to all K-12 teachers and specialists in Berkshire county; with Mount Holyoke College and its Professional and Graduate Education Department on a graduate fellowship focused on producing research and publications on arts and learning; with the town of Longmeadow, Bay Path University, and Deza Studios to produce a public art exhibit that illuminates community-wide perspectives around climate despair, resilience, and action as the town embarks on updating its master municipal plan with a focus on equity and climate change; and with the Treehouse Foundation, an intergenerational community in Easthampton designed to support families with children who have experienced foster care. The Arts Integration Studio is also developing ARTS CORPS, a work/study/professional training program for college students and emerging teaching artists interested in the intersectionality of arts, education, social justice, and community well-being.

Mercedes-Benz of Springfield Celebrates Five Years

CHICOPEE — Mercedes-Benz of Springfield is celebrating five years since opening its doors on Oct. 16, 2017. Mercedes-Benz of Springfield’s early and sustained success continues to validate the brand’s decision to put a site in the Pioneer Valley, despite the 11-year hiatus in having a local Mercedes-Benz dealership. Since opening five years ago, the dealership has serviced 53,795 cars, conducted 68,000 car washes, sold and delivered more than 6,400 vehicles, partnered with more than 350 organizations, and increased its team from 30 employees on opening day to 55 today. It has been honored with two BusinessWest 40 Under Forty awards, three Mercedes-Benz Best of the Best Awards, and an Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce A+ Award, and was an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.

Rocky’s Ace Hardware Reopens Agawam Store

SPRINGFIELD — Rocky’s Ace Hardware, one of the country’s largest family-owned Ace Hardware dealers, celebrated the reopening of its Agawam location on Oct. 22. “This renovation has allowed us to expand options for our customers and offer a more well-rounded shopping experience,” Rocky’s Ace Hardware President Rocco Falcone said. “Aside from a complete indoor and outdoor remodel, we have added full fishing and Carhartt departments to the store, as well as expanded tool and grill departments. We are really excited to show off these renovations to our new and returning customers.”

Hometown Financial Group Welcomes Envision Bank

EASTHAMPTON — Hometown Financial Group Inc., the multi-bank mutual holding company for bankESB, bankHometown, and Abington Bank, has completed its acquisition of Randolph Bancorp Inc, the bank holding company for Envision Bank. Under the agreement, the acquired Envision Bank branches have been rebranded as Abington Bank. Abington Bank now has $1.4 billion in assets and 10 branches located throughout the South Shore and South Coast, adding offices in Braintree, Randolph, and two in Stoughton to its existing network of offices in Abington, Avon, Holbrook, Marion, and two in Cohasset. The transaction expands Hometown Financial Group’s market presence in Eastern Mass., bringing consolidated assets to $4.5 billion with 37 branches located throughout Massachusetts and Northeastern Connecticut. In addition, Envision Mortgage, with offices in Braintree, North Attleboro, and Westport, will join Hometown Financial Group within the newly formed Hometown Mortgage. This transaction is the sixth strategic merger for Hometown in the last seven years. In 2015, Hometown acquired Citizens National Bancorp. Inc., based in Putnam, Connecticut, then merged with Hometown Community Bancorp. MHC, the holding company for Hometown Bank, in 2016. It then acquired Pilgrim Bancshares Inc. and Abington Bank in 2019, and later that year acquired Millbury Savings Bank.

Chariot Payments Network Emerges from Reorganization

BOSTON — Chariot Payments has emerged from reorganization with a reconstructed board, a new CEO, and an experienced team poised to launch its bank-compliant, hybrid-payment network to introduce a new way to connect traditional finance and banking to the emerging digital economies burgeoning in the world of decentralized finance. Chariot’s hybrid network is configured for bank and regulatory compliance, enabling trusted, secure transactions between traditional finance and banking and instant settlement across digital currency protocols at a fraction of the cost imposed by the current payment networks. Chariot’s CEO, Benjamin Cavallari, along with Chief Technology Officer Mariana Jbantova, resuscitated the startup. After a long rebuild, Chariot Payments announced that Glenn Hanson, CEO of Colony Hills Capital and co-founder of River Valley Investors, and Jay Como, chief data officer of Silicon Valley Bank, are joining Cavallari on the new board of directors. Chariot also announced the reformation of its board of advisors, which includes prominent compliance leaders Angela Ratliff and Kevin Troxell (both with US Bank) and Brandon Oliver (previously with JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and the DCU Fintech Center).

Liberty Bank Supports Habitat for Humanity

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Liberty Bank recently selected Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) to receive one of its community grants. The foundation aims to help low- and moderate-income families improve their economic situation and quality of life.

“We are very grateful to have been selected to receive this grant. It will help us to continue to provide home-ownership and home-repair services in Hampden County,” GSHFH Executive Director Aimee Giroux said. Through Liberty Bank Foundation, Liberty Bank supports nonprofit organizations that its neighbors depend on to build strong families and communities. Grant making is focused on organizations that serve people within Liberty Bank’s market area. GSHFH is a housing ministry dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through home-ownership and home-repair opportunities. This is accomplished by working in partnership with diverse people, from all walks of life, to build and repair simple, decent, affordable housing.

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

People on the Move

Andrew Coston

Elms College has named higher-education executive Andrew Coston the college’s new vice president of Student Affairs. Reporting directly to the president, Coston is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the college’s Student Affairs office. Coston is joining Elms from Gustavus Adolphus College (GAC) in Saint Peter, Minn., where he recently served as assistant dean of students and executive director of GAC’s Center for Career Development. Prior to that, he was director of Career Services at Cecil College in Maryland. In his new role at Elms, Coston is responsible for providing leadership, management, and supervision to the dean of students, the director of Campus Ministry, the director of Residence Life, and director of the Health Center. Additionally, he is a member of the president’s cabinet. Coston has more than 20 years of higher-education experience in student affairs and career services. He holds a doctoral degree in education from Morgan State University in Maryland, a master’s degree in school counseling from Loyola College in Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Assumption College in Worcester.

•••••

Heather Arbour

Monson Savings Bank recently announced the promotion of Heather Arbour to the role of assistant vice president, BSA/Fraud officer, and Compliance manager. Arbour has been with Monson Savings Bank for 15 years, previously serving in the role of BSA officer and Compliance manager. In her new role, she is responsible for overseeing the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering programs for the bank and ensuring compliance with banking regulations. Additionally, she manages the Retail Operations department and serves on the bank’s compliance, CRA & fair lending, and IT steering committees. Arbour is a graduate of Springfield Technical Community College, where she earned highest honors, was a dean’s list recipient, and received an associate degree in business administration. She is currently enrolled in the American Women’s College at Bay Path University, where she is an honors student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration and minoring in criminal justice, while serving as a peer mentor. In 2021, she graduated from the New England School for Financial Studies with honors. As a volunteer and co-treasurer for the Monson and Palmer Salvation Army and a dedicated parent volunteer for the Monson Parent Teacher Student Assoc., she is committed to contributing to local communities.

•••••

The Springfield Thunderbirds announced the return of Steve Forni as the team’s public-address (PA) announcer inside the MassMutual Center. A native of Agawam, Forni began his pro-hockey announcing career with the Springfield Falcons in 2015 and held the position with the Thunderbirds from 2016 to 2020. During the 2021-22 season, he served as one of the PA voices of the NHL’s Boston Bruins at the TD Garden. He also currently serves as the PA voice of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.

•••••

Kristina Hamel

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union recently introduced the newest addition to its senior management team: Kristina Hamel, who joins UMassFive as vice president of Human Resources. Hamel comes to UMassFive from Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, where she worked for the past 20-plus years, overseeing up to 250 employees and more than 150 volunteers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Bay Path University and has earned her Senior Professional Human Resource certification. At UMassFive, Hamel will oversee all employee hiring, training, recognition, and diversity program efforts.

•••••

Pioneer Valley Financial Group (PVFG) recently appointed Kelly Haber and Karen Nogueira to partner. Haber began her journey at PVFG in 2016 as director of Compliance. Armed with her FINRA series 7, 66, and 24 designations, she was quickly promoted to chief operating officer. Nogueira started her career at PVFG in 2006 as a sales assistant. With strong dedication and loyalty to the client experience, she was promoted to director of Client Relations.

•••••

Justin Goldberg

The Royal Law Firm announced it recently welcomed attorney Justin Goldberg to the team. Goldberg received his bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College, his master’s degree in teaching with secondary mathematics certification from Simmons College, and his juris doctor from Western New England University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

•••••

Excel Dryer Inc., manufacturer of the XLERATOR hand dryer, announced that Scott Kerman has been hired as business development manager – specifications. In this new role, Kerman will work with the Excel Dryer Sales and Marketing teams to grow profits; nurture, retain, and support partner relationships; conduct demonstrations and sales presentations; and much more. Kerman, a graduate of Arizona State University, has more than 30 years of experience in sales and business development. He has extensive product knowledge with numerous construction market segments and will tap into this experience at Excel Dryer to help grow and support the construction team’s annual profit by leveraging data in construction platforms.

•••••

Friends of Children Inc. presented Clare Higgins, executive director of Community Action Pioneer Valley and former mayor of Northampton, with its 2022 Changemaker Award at a dinner on Oct. 26 at the Garden House in Look Park. Higgins is being presented with the Changemaker Award to celebrate her accomplishments, advocacy, and impact. She has been a steadfast advocate for vulnerable people in the Pioneer Valley, including children and young people served by Friends of Children, since 1993. Higgins began her service in the Pioneer Valley as a member of the Northampton City Council beginning in 1993. She served as mayor of Northampton from 1999 to 2011. Friends of Children is dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults impacted by foster care or juvenile-justice involvement. There agency addresses the needs of high-risk children who are not readily supported by systems designed to protect them and encourage their full participation in society.

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Arial Tax Inc., 21B Castle Hills Road, Agawam, MA 01001. Albert V. Innarelli, same. Accounting and tax services.

AMHERST

Organicin Scientific Inc., 240 Thatcher Road, c/o Life Science Laboratories, Amherst, MA, 01003. Griffin O’Driscoll, same. Development of responsive drug recovery platforms capable of identifying antimicrobial proteins ethically.

CHICOPEE

Hands Together Inc., 10 Center St., Suite 413, Chicopee, MA, 01013.
Thomas Hagan, P.O Box 80985, Suite 413 Springfield, Ma 01138. Non-profit organization devoted to educating, inspiring, and encouraging people to understand the importance of responding to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged.

Medulla Foundation Inc., 31 Old Chicopee, Chicopee, MA, 01013. Beritta Barjey, same. Fund raising to help needed kids in Africa – provide skills training – accept donation for kids in school – organize shipment of donated items – building free healthy community and churches.

Zen Body Work Inc., 477 Britton St., Chicopee, MA, 01020. Kaiying Chen, same. Massage spa.

EASTHAMPTON

Meowmeowmeow Corp., 116 Pleasant St., Apt 416, Easthampton, MA, 01027. Lauren J. Clark, same. Retail sales of alcoholic beverages and specialty food items.

GRANVILLE

Food Banks for Pets, Inc., 467 Main Road, Suite 206, Granville, MA, 01034. Karen Thomas, 293 Country Club Road, Torrington, CT 06790. Nonprofit organization established to solicit and receive contributions, grants, membership fees, donations, gifts, bequests, and other sources of funding to establish sustainable pet food programs.

HOLYOKE

Absolute Wood Floors Inc., 42 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA, 01040. Bryan Andrew Parsons, same. Hardwood flooring.

LEE

Black Bear Masonry Inc., 650 Cape St., Lee, MA 01238. Justin N. Broderick, same. Masonry and stone work.

LUDLOW

Pioneer Valley Financial Group Inc., 535 East St., Ludlow, MA, 01056. Edward J. Sokolowski, 7 Carla Lane Wilbraham, MA 01095. Financial services.

NORTHAMPTON

The Shareholder Commons Inc., 32 Adare Place, Northampton, MA 01060. Frederick Alexander, 32 Adare Place Northampton, MA 01060. Works with diversified investors around the globe to protect systemic well-being.

PITTSFIELD

Dgen Energy Partners Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Tim Polega, same. Energy services.

Five Star Cleaning and Management Inc., 46 Elaine Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Gabriele Bundi, same. Cleaning services.

Recharge America Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201, Jon Olseth, same. Non-profit organization.

Titan Commercial Inc., 82 Wendell Ave. Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
Imran Khan Mohammed Shafeque Mohammed, 13 Sarsenstone Way Southborough, MA 01772. Heavy equipment services and manufacturing.

SOUTH HADLEY

Tailgate Picnic Inc., 7 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Dawn Morey, 244 Burlingame Road Palmer, MA 01069. Restaurant.

SOUTHWICK

Jelly On My Belly Inc., 51 Mort Vining Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Thomas J. Costas, 55 Benedict Ter., Longmeadow, MA 01106. 3D diagnostic imaging and ultrasound for non-medical purposes.

SPRINGFIELD

Family Physiatry, P.C., 3640 Main St., Suite 204, Springfield, MA 01107. Paul Azimov D.O., same. Medical services.

MSZ Inc., 597 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108. Muhammad Mustafa, 50 Prospect Street Auburn, MA 01501.Conveinence store.

Pies N’ Paninis Inc., 38 Wheeler Ave., Springfield, MA 01118. Eric M. Ryan, same. Food service to include take-out and delivery.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Huzaa Logistics Inc., 203 Circuit Ave., Unit #122, West Springfield, MA 01089. Mohammed Hazza Alqurashi, 97-28 57th Ave, 3d Corona, NY 11368. Cargo transportation.

WESTFIELD

JAS Enterprises Inc., 15 Maria Dr., Westfield, MA, 01085. Kevin Shultz, same. Pressure washing services.

VP Express Inc., 31 A St., Westfield, MA 01085. Volodymyr Pylypiv, same. Transportation services.

Doing Business as Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

DBA Certificates

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

AGAWAM

Finley Tax Service
343 North Westfield St., Feeding Hills
Melissa Finely

Guns and Gear
167 Elm St.
John Cooley

The Saving Haven
525 Springfield St., Unit A, Feeding Hills
Dionys Cabriotti

AMHERST

A. Smith Builder
53 Salem St.
Adam Smith

Amherst Glass
100 Sunderland Road
Jonathan Michael

Inn on Boltwood
30 Boltwood Ave.
Amherst Inn Co.

Ritual with Rachel
26 South Prospect St.
Rachel Arnold

Roger’s Delivery
8 Palley Village Place
Roger Mami

Roger’s Express
8 Palley Village Place
Roger Mami

BELCHERTOWN

Pioneer Valley Storage
1270 Federal St.
Alejandro Levins

Super Attractive Markdowns
109 Federal St.
Michael Demarco

CHICOPEE

Berrios Trucking
37 Gagne St.
Elvis Berrios

Caeles Collective
14 Collins St.
Deborah Chiz

R&M Cleaning Solutions
42 Montauk Road
Rene Morrissette

DEERFIELD

Catena Resources
17 Ward Ave.
David Mako

Douglas James Automotive LLC
951 River Road
Douglas Ryan

EAST LONGMEADOW

Insight Sales
143E Shaker Road
Stephen Yacovone

EASTHAMPTON

Al Sanchez Construction
286 Main St.
Albert Sanchez

Coy
100 Cottage St.
Aidan Benoit

Fresh Pawz Dog Spa
135A Northampton St.
Amanda Barnish

Shayne Pancione Painting
120 Union St., Apt. 5
Shayne Fleming-Pancione

ENFIELD

Buckle-Up
90 Elm St.
Victor Davila

Dance Amore Competitive Team
54 Old King St.
Julie Malecki

Select Physical Therapy
113 Elm St.
Michael Tarvin, PTSMA Inc.

GREAT BARRINGTON

The Sheep Shed
33 Silver St.
Sherry Lynn Kozel

HOLYOKE

ARA Holyoke Dialysis Center
36 Lower Westfield Road, Unit C3
ARA Holyoke Dialysis LLC

Blue Gatherings LLC
400 Dwight St.
Laura Bowman

Commercial Cleaning by Angel V.
48 Pearl St.
Luissette Arroyo, Jose Vazquez

Coquito Chukito
329 Main St.
Jesus Rivera

Daybrook Village Senior Living
298 Jarvis Ave.
Holyoke Retirement Community Inc.

Endangered Species 4WD LLC
155 Elm St.
Robert O’Connor

Hi-Shine Nails LLC
246 Westfield Road
Thuy Tran

HMC Pharmacy
575 Beech St.
Proxsys RX Inc.

Holyoke Discount Liquors
209 South St.
Rishabh Rabari

Holyoke Market
6487 High St.
Bal Kilshan LLC

JP’s Restaurant
200 Whiting Farms Road
James Lavelle

Oliver Auto Body
1519 Dwight St.
Churchill OPCO Holdings/Vive Collision

Ortiz Family Café
206 Maple St.
Nilka Ortiz

Peacekeeper Cleaning Inc.
98 Lower Westfield Road, Suite 101
Priscilla Johnson

Roberts Painting and Powerwashing
287 High St.
Richard Roberts

Sam’s Food Store
5154 Beech St.
Munaza Akabar

LEE

Half Brook Hill Farm
258 Washington Mountain Road
Brian Hogencamp

Sunglass Hut
17 Premium Outlets Blvd.
Sarah Andersen

LONGMEADOW

Wright Window Cleaning and Janitorial
219 Birch Road
Thomas Wright

NORTHAMPTON

AEG Massachusetts LLC
86 Masonic St.
Patricia McCormick

Curran, Berger & Kludt
79 Masonic St.
Megan Kludt

Fleisher Law
99 Blackberry Lane
Isaac Fleisher

Ford of Northampton
968 Bridge Road
Scott Sarat

Pixel Startups
109 High St.
Ali Usman, Sunergix Inc.

A Quiet Touch Therapeutic Massage
60 Maple St.
Karen Lavalee-Tente

Story Catching Studios
207 Brookside Circle
Amanda Sergiy, Heather Richard

Tristate Truck & Tractor Pullers
17 Old Ferry Road
Lyle LaBarage

Zinna Skin + Body Care
25 Main St., Suite 211
Sarah St. Germain

SOUTHAMPTON

Technology Consulting for Planning
27 Manhan Road
Colby Brown, the Manhan Group LLC

SPRINGFIELD

Above All Vision
51 Merwin St.
Vivette Shanell

Cathangey Creations
115 College St.
Cathen Ryan-Thomas

Center for EcoTechnology
83 Warwick St.
Ashley Muspratt

Buy Develop and Sell
69 Silver St.
Zachary Nunnally

Dollar Tree #3541
1101 Boston Road
Dollar Tree Inc.

Elite Barber Studio
534 Main St.
Mayrely Gonzalez

Family Magic Touch Cleaning
109 Lowell St.
Luis Cintron

Gearhead Automotive Services
256 Laconia St.
Michael Freitas

GS Trucking
82 Florida St.
George Samuels

JCAL
39 Dearborn St.
Christian Cherisclair

JDJ Transportation
235 State St.
Julio Figeroa

Jezy’s Cake & Wedding Place
52 Brentwood St.
Jezenia Delgado Hance

King Imports Parts and Motors
64 Myrtle St.
Angel Gonzalez

Lavish Nails & Spa LLC
1704 Boston Road
Dong Nguyen

Lavish Natural Products
888 State St.
Veronica Mallayyea

Little Rainbow Daycare
174 Westford Circle
Jennifer Velez

Luna’s Painting and More
163 Bloomfield St.
Harold Luna

Malakei Handyman Service
41 Oak Grove Ave.
Maurice Waters

Modern Security Contract
383C Rocus St.
Jeffery Williams

Rosado Tires and Detailing
100 Verge St.
Hector Rosado-Torres

Sanchez Barber Shop
215 Berkshire Ave.
Miguel Sanchez

Style Staging Co.
101 Larkspur St.
Antinque Veney

Velozo Volleyball Service
31 Melba St.
Timothy Velozo

Yeyo Promotions
86 Mapeldell St.
William Vazquez

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Best Western
429 Riverdale St.
Sham Rana

Butterfly Beauty Design
354 Memorial Ave.
Destiny Clark

My Custom Apparels
58 West School St.
Syed Zafar

Precision Auto Repair
12 South Blvd.
James Stephenson

Pretty Paws Grooming
730 Union St.
Michele Strattman

Prospect at Monastery Heights
110 Monastery Ave.
Mary Ouimet

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Bankruptcies

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

Basinsky, Steven Donald
PO Box 193
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/20/2022

Blackwood, Anne M.
4 Bolton St., Apt. 1
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/16/2022

The Borelli Advantage
HJL Style Cottage LLC
Borelli, George J.
a/k/a Borelli, Joe
Borelli, Holly Hitchcock
a/k/a Hitchcock, Holly Borelli
100 Nelson St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/29/2022

Boulrice, Rebecca R.
1 Old Thompson St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/27/2022

Chaimongkol, Ratthanarangsri
Chaimongkol, Kanokwan
a/k/a DaliKanokwan
460 Flat Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/27/2022

Daniel, Lonell
162 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/29/2022

Diciocco, Gaetano T.
a/k/a Diciocco, Gaetano A.
PO Box 783
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/28/2022

Donicz, Gail
40 Highland Village
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370-1233
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/27/2022

Freeman, Annette Louise
519 East River St., Lot 22
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/26/2022

Hartin, Andrea C.
3 Perennial Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/21/2022

Hoffner, Charles
105 Labelle Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/16/2022

Keefner, Lawrence W.
37 King St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/26/2022

Kimball, Morgan D.
89 Howard St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/16/2022

Mathieu, Cassandra Lyn
71 Norman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/20/2022

Maynard, Joey S.
Maynard, Risa L.
74 McArthur St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/26/2022

Newby, Christianne T.
a/k/a Lacharite, Christianne T.
4 College Park Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/26/2022

Poirot, Edward J.
1440 Riverdale St., Apt B4
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/26/2022

Reddick, Lukisha
239 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/28/2022

Rosado, Nelson E.
Caulton, Ericka T.
1 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/22/2022

Sargentelli, John R.
31 Wildwood Dr.
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/27/2022

Schultz-Baer, Mia
a/k/a Baer, Mia
a/k/a Schultz, Mia
2 North Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/16/2022

Scolforo Jr., John Peter
470 Chapel St.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/28/2022

Smith, Lauren Nicole
93 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/21/2022

Solar Wolf Energy, Inc.
582 Wauwinet Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/23/2022

Spring, Heather Lee
19 Bill St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/29/2022

Stewart, Chad M.
238 Maple St., Apt. B-6
Elizabeth Manor Apts.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/28/2022

Tong, Bao N.
47 Ridge Trail Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/27/2022

Tyburski, Matthew B.
36 Pinta Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/26/2022

Collins Electric Wins Project Excellence Award From National Electrical Contractors Assoc.

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Daily News

CHICOPEE —Collins Electric Co. Inc., an electrical contractor based in Chicopee, was recently recognized by the National Electrical Contractors Assoc. with a NECA Project Excellence Award in Education in the over $1 million category for Smith College Neilson Library.

NECA established the Project Excellence Award to showcase the exceptional work that its members perform throughout the country. Collins Electric was recognized along with this year’s other winners during NECA’s 2022 convention in Austin, Texas on Oct. 17.

“Winning this national excellence award from the premier electrical-contractor association, NECA, is a first for Collins Electric,” said Larry Eagan, president and CEO. “Competing and winning across the country against other large and complicated (over $1 million) education projects is a salute to Smith College, designers, engineers, and contractors who diligently worked together to construct this nationally recognized, award-winning building.”

The renovation gutted the historic building with a new focus on the future. Additions to the library in the 1930s, 1960s, and 1980s were demolished along with the entire interior of the original 1909 library. The front and rear brick brownstone façades were the only remaining parts.

The project involved 150,000 square feet with 5,000 LED, energy-efficient light fixtures; glass skylights; dimming; and windo- shade controls to deliver the best-quality energy-efficient lighting possible. Strict attention was paid to controlling temperature and humidity, as well as tight security, for the library’s rare-books collection.

“This unique restoration, one of the most challenging in Smith College’s 150-year history and Collins Electric’s 116-year history, is a salute to our past, current, and future members of our team,” Eagan said. “Everyone is proud to have participated in this project and looks forward to other challenges that bring out our best in diligence, creativity, and problem solving.”

Click here for a video about the project produced by Smith College.

LGBTQ+ Business Leaders Roundtable Scheduled for Today in Easthampton

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Commonwealth Corp., in partnership with the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce and other state and local organizations, will host a roundtable discussion in Easthampton geared towards meaningful access and upward mobility for LGBTQ+ business leaders in Massachusetts.

The #LeadTheChange LGBTQ+ Owned Business Roundtable is scheduled for today, Oct. 26 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, 122 Pleasant St., Suite 107, Easthampton.

As part of Commonwealth’s minority-owned-businesses event series taking place across the state, this Easthampton event convenes business owners to exchange information related to growth, workforce development, and access to state funding. Featured speakers include Grace Moreno, executive director of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce; Xiomara Albán DeLobato, chief of staff at the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council; Isa Wang, founder of Gamut Pins and co-founder of the Bower Studio; and Ron Molina-Brantley, vice president, relationship manager, team leader at Berkshire Bank.

Established under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Commonwealth Corp. is a quasi-public agency that fosters workforce equity in Massachusetts by delivering innovative and collaborative professiona- development solutions that help diverse communities and employers succeed.

To register for this event, visit www.commcorp.org/mbrt.

JimBuddy’s Rec Shop to Host Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting on Nov. 2

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Daily News

CHICOPEE — The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the grand opening of JimBuddy’s Rec Shop at 1269 Memorial Dr. with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. Chicopee Mayor John Vieau and other officials are expected to be in attendance.

JimBuddy’s Rec Shop is owned by Jim and Lisa Robinson, who opened JimBuddy’s Glass Gallery & Vape Shop next door at 1271 Memorial Dr. in 2015. When the space next door at 1269 became available in 2018 — the year cannabis was legalized by Massachusetts voters — the Robinsons rented the space with hopes to open a dispensary. JimBuddy’s received a special permit from the city of Chicopee in April 2021, making it the third recreational cannabis dispensary approved in the city. The shop officially opened to the public on Oct. 1, 2022.

As a small family business, JimBuddy’s focus is offering quality products from small, local businesses in the cannabis industry like those based Florence, Whately, and Pittsfield. JimBuddy’s Rec Shop is open to customers who are age 21+ with valid ID.

Jeffrey Gelinas Named Sales Training Leader for OMG Inc.

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Daily News

AGAWAM — OMG Inc., a Steel Partners company and a leading manufacturer of fasteners, adhesives, and construction-productivity tools, has named Jeffrey Gelinas manager of Sales Training for its FastenMaster and Roofing Products divisions.

In his new role, Gelinas will develop and manage a comprehensive sales-training program focused on reducing time to proficiency for sales personnel in both company divisions. Specific responsibilities include developing curriculum, role-specific sales training, as well as analytics for measuring program effectiveness. He will also oversee new hire training as well as advancement training for sales personnel moving into new roles.

“As a teacher and university-level coach by training, Jeff is ideally suited for his new role,” said Web Shaffer, senior vice president and general manager of FastenMaster. “Jeff is a proven leader with outstanding management and teaching skills, and we are excited to welcome him to the OMG team.”

Gelinas joined OMG from Westfield Middle School, where he has been teaching science since 2007 and was on the team that helped develop the school district’s current science curriculum. In addition to the classroom work, he has also been coaching at the collegiate level, overseeing the women’s golf program at Westfield State University since 2021. He has also been actively involved in coaching a variety of teams at Westfield High School and numerous youth sports programs in Western Mass. for years.

Prior to his teaching career, Gelinas held various sales positions for Tommy Hilfiger Golf, TaylorMade/Adidas, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, and Spalding Sports Worldwide. He holds a master’s degree in education from UMass Amherst, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Westfield State University, and an associate degree from Holyoke Community College.

Celebrating Women of Impact

By Editorial October 26, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

In 2018, BusinessWest launched a new recognition program, one what would recognize the outstanding accomplishments of women across this region and tell stories that might otherwise go untold.

This new program, this new honor, needed a name. After many options were considered, ‘Woman of Impact’ was chosen because, while success in business is certainly a consideration, there are many other ways to make a difference in this community, and we wanted to show that.

Over the first four years of this program, we have done that just, and this pattern continues with the class of 2022 — a very diverse group of eight women who have given back, and changed lives, in many different ways: by taking their business or nonprofit to new levels of success; by serving as a role model to others, but especially women and girls; by mentoring others and helping them find direction and purpose in their lives; by persevering through adversity; by doing, well … all of the above.

As the stories will show, these are indeed, Women of Impact. They are:

• Latoya Bosworth, who, through her work with MassHumanities, her coaching of professionals, her mentoring of young people, her efforts to promote breast health and the importance of mammograms, and much, much more, helps others “transcend limits and transform lives,” as she likes to say;

• Sister Mary Caritas, the 99-year-old leader and inspiration to generations of residents of this region. She has led hospitals, served on countless boards, and even led the effort to end the odor problems at Bondi’s Island. But mostly, she has shown others the value of getting involved and the power of perseverance;

• Jodi Falk, who has been on public assistance for a short time in her life and knows what food insecurity is all about. And that’s one of many chapters in her life that has enabled her to take the reins of the nonprofit Rachel’s Table, broaden its mission, create new programs, and meet the needs of more people in Western Mass. She is an innovator, a motivator, and a true leader;

• Anika Lopes, an internationally recognized milliner (or hat maker) who returned to her ancestral home of Amherst three years ago and set about bringing its neglected history — particularly the history of the Black and indigenous people who shaped it — into the light, and lauched a foundation to help provide today’s BIPOC communities with opportunities for success;

• Laurie Raymaakers, who knows that success in business does not come easy, but through hard work, sacrifice, and finding ways to make it through the difficult days that inevitably come. Her story brings all this home in a compelling way while also showing that there are many ways to touch people’s lives and impact the community we call home;

• Hilda Roqué, who came to Holyoke from Puerto Rico at age 14, far from home and with no sense of belonging. Her role as executive director of Nuestras Raíces comes with many responsibilities, including its mission to connect people to their roots through agriculture. But beyond that, she is committed to seeing that those arriving today, and in the years to come, are not made to feel as she was;

• Ashley Sullivan, who, even as she succeeded in college and in her early career in engineering, often felt inadequate for the task. Her achievements, capped by earning the presidency of her firm after two decades, has instilled in her a desire to inspire and support young engineers, especially young women, with not just opportunity, but confidence; and

• Aelan Tierney, who told BusinessWest that “architecture impacts every aspect of our life. If you’re in a good space, you do and feel good, and if you’re in a bad space, it can make your life difficult. I like how architecture makes an impact on people.” She has indeed made an impact with more than her architecture. She’s also a leader in her business and in the community, and she’s a true role model.

Active Listening and Leadership

By Contributor October 26, 2022

Opinion

By Valerie Boudreau

It seems like people are talking at each other more than listening to each other these days. Think about how many emails, text messages, voice mails, and other interruptive, one-way communications we send and receive — there’s a lot more talking than active listening going on.

The ability to listen effectively is not only a critical communication skill, but also a strong leadership skill. Active listening allows employees, customers, and co-workers to feel that their ideas, thoughts and perspectives are heard, accepted, and understood.

To become a better listener, you need to understand what is involved in effective communication and develop the techniques to sit quietly and listen — a feat of true discipline and self-control! You must ignore your own needs and focus solely on the person speaking. Here are a few keys to active listening:

• Focus on the person and the message. Focus your entire attention on the speaker, and listen without judging or trying to come back with a response before they’re halfway through speaking. Look at the speaker’s body language in addition to their words.

• Communicate your attention. Use your body language and gestures to let the speaker know you are locked into what they’re saying. Face them directly and make eye contact. Sit or stand in an open position. Smile and nod occasionally.

• Acknowledge what the person is saying. From time to time, use “uh-huh” or “I see” to indicate you are following what the person is saying. This indicates that you are actively listening and following them, not necessarily that you agree with them.

• Don’t interrupt. Interrupting shows impatience and disrespect, especially if you interrupt with an argument rather than a question. It frustrates the speaker and limits your understanding of the message. Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions.

• Build rapport. Engage with the speaker by asking questions or reflecting back what you have heard. For example, say, “what I’m hearing you say is…” or “I’m not sure I understand…” This demonstrates that you are paying attention and will allow you to gain more information.

• Be authentic in your response. Your job as the listener is to gain information, perspective, and understanding. Be candid, open, and honest when responding to the speaker, but do so in a respectful manner. If there is conflict or disagreement, focus your response on the issue rather than the person.

As leaders, to make the best decisions for our organizations, we need as much information and as many different perspectives as possible. Active listening encourages people to proactively share information, ideas, thoughts, and perspectives because they know they will be heard and respected.

Valerie Boudreau leads the Learning & Development team at the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. This article first appeared on the EANE blog.

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

51 Bald Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Dakota Dodge
Seller: Thomas A. Anderson
Date: 09/30/22

CHARLEMONT

191 Hawk Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01370
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Jack Rybczyk
Seller: Teresa S. Hassay
Date: 09/30/22

1139 Route 2 E
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Charles J. Hayes
Seller: Slaunwhite, Francis R., (Estate)
Date: 09/27/22

DEERFIELD

108 Lee Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Lacy Pittelli
Seller: Duprey 2020 IRT
Date: 09/19/22

GREENFIELD

16 Butternut St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Radial Realty LLC
Seller: William B. Noyes
Date: 09/20/22

16 Eastern Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Fred Olszewski
Seller: Meridith A. Warden
Date: 09/23/22

7 Francis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Matthew Kernan-Callaghan
Seller: Gabriel F. Hmieleski
Date: 09/20/22

9 Homestead Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jennifer A. Hoffman
Seller: SD TR
Date: 09/27/22

12 Kenwood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Strom & Lagreze LLC
Seller: Eyewink LLC
Date: 09/21/22

20 McLellan Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Andrew R. Cannon
Seller: A. Plus Enterprises Inc.
Date: 09/21/22

126 Poplar St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $339,900
Buyer: Gail E. Nutting
Seller: Gary S. Moran
Date: 09/19/22

52 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Land Home Financial Services Inc.
Seller: Tommie P. Kendrick
Date: 09/27/22

272 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Abigail Jackson
Seller: Christopher P. Arel
Date: 09/23/22

Silvio O. Conte Dr., Lot 19E
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Summit Ice Inc.
Seller: Alan Dretel
Date: 09/23/22

23 Sunset Square
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Katherine A. Fish
Seller: Richard C. Simmons
Date: 09/26/22

HEATH

8 Taylor Brook Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Emily Luhrs
Seller: Samantha M. Howe
Date: 09/26/22

LEVERETT

20 Cushman Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $793,250
Buyer: Gregory R. Tuzzolo
Seller: Henry E. Whitlock
Date: 09/23/22

7 Sprinkle Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $309,500
Buyer: Randy S. Carey
Seller: Corinne M. Kolasienski
Date: 09/29/22

MONTAGUE

29 Walnut St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $469,000
Buyer: Brooke A. Donatone
Seller: Deborah R. Dugan
Date: 09/22/22

NORTHFIELD

83 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Scott T. Martineau
Seller: Carla J. Simpson
Date: 09/23/22

515 South Mountain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Devin H. Donohoe
Seller: Scott T. Martineau
Date: 09/23/22

ORANGE

22 Center Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Steven W. Meuse
Seller: Malia Homebuyers LLC
Date: 09/28/22

91 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Wayne W. Eckert
Seller: Lacroix, Shirley M., (Estate)
Date: 09/23/22

21 Dexter St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: David M. Bremer
Seller: Adrian B. Softic
Date: 09/21/22

52 East Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Provident Capital Group LLC
Seller: Noble Manna Farms LLC
Date: 09/26/22

145 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: New Life LLC
Seller: Wayne D. Whitmore
Date: 09/23/22

294 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Tia M. Parsons
Seller: David Giampa
Date: 09/19/22

31 Evergreen Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $257,500
Buyer: Shawn P. Killay
Seller: Killay, Donna R., (Estate)
Date: 09/20/22

332 Holtshire Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Tsute Chen
Seller: Dennis R. Barrows
Date: 09/26/22

44 Lake Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Seth Simonelli
Seller: Joyce A. Stevens
Date: 09/26/22

369 Oxbow Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Richard A. Anair
Seller: Paul A. Kowacki
Date: 09/26/22

395 Oxbow Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Richard A. Anair
Seller: Paul A. Kowacki
Date: 09/26/22

29 Sherman Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ronny D. Departo
Seller: Jeffrey Holston TR
Date: 09/23/22

SHUTESBURY

361 Montague Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Cedar Firesong-Robideaux
Seller: Teru Jellerette
Date: 09/20/22

23 Pelham Hill Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Karin M. Eichelman
Seller: Linda Newcomb
Date: 09/30/22

SUNDERLAND

246 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $232,774
Buyer: Weizhao Huang
Seller: Bonnie L. Ball
Date: 09/21/22

WARWICK

595 Winchester Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Leblanc
Seller: Robert R. Robitaille
Date: 09/30/22

WHATELY

80 Long Plain Road
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $384,000
Buyer: Kevin Diguglielmo
Seller: Sherry Weitzen
Date: 09/27/22

221 River Road
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Janice Chen
Seller: Mindy T. Thach
Date: 09/19/22

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

87 Anthony St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $163,690
Buyer: Marth E. LLC
Seller: JCCM Home Solutions LLC
Date: 09/29/22

127 Colemore St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $239,555
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: Santander Bank
Date: 09/23/22

73 Cooper St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $268,100
Buyer: Shannel Ortega
Seller: Mark Woodbury
Date: 09/22/22

63 Doane Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Alyssa M. Szlachetka
Seller: Brian T. Pagella
Date: 09/30/22

28 Grant St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Casey Brenner
Seller: Ruslan Kuzmenko
Date: 09/28/22

92 James St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Malia Homebuyers LLC
Seller: Racicot, Daniel E., (Estate)
Date: 09/29/22

55 Lawnwood St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Hector A. Engleton-Mendez
Seller: Geiger, Eleanor A., (Estate)
Date: 09/20/22

17 Liberty St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $268,891
Buyer: Della Ripa Real Estate LLC
Seller: Alycar Investments LLC
Date: 09/28/22

220 Line St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Douglas Dichard
Seller: John Larese
Date: 09/22/22

1730 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $394,500
Buyer: A&H Legacy LLC
Seller: Joyce Yamer
Date: 09/30/22

527 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $406,000
Buyer: Omar Awad
Seller: Karen M. Conkey
Date: 09/23/22

13 Princeton Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Domenick R. Pisano
Seller: Albert F. Lepore
Date: 09/28/22

43 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jose Sanchez
Seller: Sergey Dikan
Date: 09/30/22

27 Sherwood Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Sybel Gonzalez
Seller: Ronald T. Cote
Date: 09/21/22

295-299 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Shibley Holdings LLC
Seller: William E. Shibley
Date: 09/21/22

1094 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $1,300,000
Buyer: 1094 Suffield LLC
Seller: Tiernanoge Properties LLC
Date: 09/19/22

99 Thalia Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: John E. Schott
Seller: Alechny, Nancy K., (Estate)
Date: 09/22/22

30 Washington Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Allison Ulasewich
Seller: James B. Burgos
Date: 09/23/22

22 Wright St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $244,900
Buyer: George S. Canapi
Seller: Suellen Duga
Date: 09/27/22

BLANDFORD

2 Maple Lane
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Austin Garrett
Seller: Caleb A. Rowe
Date: 09/28/22

BRIMFIELD

233 Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Joseph Hastings
Seller: David G. Govoni
Date: 09/30/22

CHICOPEE

183 Basil Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Jessica Sousa
Seller: Mark Duda
Date: 09/19/22

57 Beesley Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Marlene Sandora
Seller: Thomas R. Herbert
Date: 09/30/22

148 Boulay Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Robert Fournier
Seller: Gerald R. Fournier
Date: 09/26/22

277 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michelle Rose
Seller: Crystal Cooper
Date: 09/30/22

515 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Robert Maziarz
Seller: Barbara A. Myca
Date: 09/27/22

179 Casey Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Jenna Szalkiewicz
Seller: Doris D. Fagan
Date: 09/23/22

326 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Jones Ferry Development LLC
Seller: Carter Broadcasting Corp.
Date: 09/29/22

160 Cochran St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Destinie Phillips
Seller: MA & NH Home Buyers LLC
Date: 09/23/22

504 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Abimael Pizarro
Seller: Sullivan, Alberta M., (Estate)
Date: 09/19/22

41 Ellsbree St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Sonia Rivera
Seller: Michael Guerin
Date: 09/22/22

134 Farnsworth St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Zakory Christian
Seller: Tyrone Dockery
Date: 09/26/22

17 Fay St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Ramon L. Gonzalez-Serrano
Seller: Michael J. Brushway
Date: 09/30/22

384 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Squire Investments LLC
Seller: 384 Front Street RT
Date: 09/30/22

920-950 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Alansari Realty LP
Seller: Front Street LLC
Date: 09/21/22

699 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Santos Pineda
Seller: JJJ17 LLC
Date: 09/27/22

74 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Hector J. Cuevas
Seller: Timothy J. Czerwiecki
Date: 09/28/22

175 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $364,900
Buyer: Sheyla Mirabal
Seller: Allen G. Croteau
Date: 09/30/22

21 Hartford St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Mohammed J. Mohammed
Seller: Steven R. Desousa
Date: 09/20/22

182 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $406,000
Buyer: Dominic A. Iannuzzi
Seller: DCL Property Management LLC
Date: 09/22/22

39 Jean Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Gerald Gramer
Seller: North Riley Development Inc.
Date: 09/21/22

74 Jefferson Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jessica McRobbie
Seller: Dawn L. Ferrari
Date: 09/30/22

200 Mountainview St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Michelle St.James
Seller: Isabel M. Bakos
Date: 09/23/22

201 Nelson St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Junior P. Swaby
Seller: Craig R. Authier
Date: 09/27/22

103 Oakridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Zebrowski
Seller: Deborah A. Wagner
Date: 09/27/22

15 Oxford Place
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joseph A. Cuzzone
Seller: Timothy V. Flouton
Date: 09/22/22

46 Roberts Pond Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Timothy D. Beaulieu
Seller: Nicole M. Beaulieu
Date: 09/23/22

151 Rolf Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Sarah Cuzzone
Seller: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Date: 09/21/22

23 Saint Jacques Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: J. R. Deespiritusanto
Seller: Casa Bonita Apt. LLC
Date: 09/21/22

70 Saint James Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Amy D. Dybas
Seller: Dybas, Edward D., (Estate)
Date: 09/29/22

75 Sampson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jesse M. Haas
Seller: Karen Hoffman
Date: 09/21/22

106 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: LP Properties LLC
Seller: Jenise Jaworski
Date: 09/28/22

139 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Andres O. Arroyo
Seller: Tavernier Investments LLC
Date: 09/23/22

2 Summer St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Natasha M. Quiles
Seller: Robert E. Bergmann
Date: 09/22/22

20 Swol St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Extremely Clean LLC
Seller: Homestead Connections LLC
Date: 09/22/22

24 Theodore St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Annaliese Bischoff
Seller: Scott C. Bennett
Date: 09/22/22

EAST LONGMEADOW

215 Braeburn Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Joshua Fois
Seller: Marilyn T. Bourbeau
Date: 09/30/22

21 Channing Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01108
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Gina O’Connor
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 09/29/22

191 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Paulette B. Duncan
Seller: Tomroc Holdings LLC
Date: 09/27/22

27 Clareside Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Andrzej Chmielewski
Seller: Paul J. Corish
Date: 09/30/22

88 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Evan Eastburn
Seller: Bogdanow RT
Date: 09/26/22

130 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Luke Denver
Seller: Quazi Kamran-Uddin
Date: 09/30/22

14 Fairway Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $795,000
Buyer: Karl W. Rehbein
Seller: Michael Carabetta
Date: 09/30/22

18 Merriam St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: John Reynolds
Seller: Sean N. Hammond
Date: 09/28/22

641 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: 25 Granby Street LLC
Seller: Burke Properties Inc.
Date: 09/29/22

43 Pease Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Ashley Wang
Seller: Benjamin M. Keating
Date: 09/27/22

20 Pilgrim Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Timothy Bailey
Seller: Paul A. Bianconi
Date: 09/23/22

99 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Renata M. Ferraro
Seller: Jacqueline E. Brecht
Date: 09/19/22

221 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Lynn Landry
Seller: Cheryl L. Luongo
Date: 09/30/22

118 South Brook Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $935,000
Buyer: Eugeniu Corja
Seller: Carmela M. Bonavita
Date: 09/23/22

50 Thompson St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Stephanie N. Cardano
Seller: Shirley Brown Cahill RET
Date: 09/30/22

HAMPDEN

59 Allen Crest St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $409,500
Buyer: Larry L. Beaulieu
Seller: Gabrielle M. Morgan
Date: 09/26/22

10 Allen Court
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Richard Clark
Seller: William A. Kerr
Date: 09/27/22

103 Thresher Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $588,000
Buyer: Melinda Blue
Seller: Melanie J. Hermenet
Date: 09/30/22

HOLLAND

1 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Brian Coulombe
Seller: Jeremiah J. Brewer
Date: 09/28/22

13 Morse Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Tess Mazzone
Seller: Isabel Mazzone
Date: 09/20/22

3 Ridge Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Daniel Hall
Seller: Property Advantage Inc.
Date: 09/27/22

3 Roberts Park Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $123,400
Buyer: Alec Barkett
Seller: John M. Morelli
Date: 09/30/22

HOLYOKE

20 Calumet Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Haresh Lalchandani
Seller: Stelmach, Barbara A., (Estate)
Date: 09/23/22

8 Edbert Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jose O. Gaston
Seller: Steven G. Reno
Date: 09/28/22

77-79 Elmwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Sarah Larose
Seller: Katherine M. Coleman
Date: 09/29/22

84 Lynch Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Gabrielle Roy
Seller: Luis Dafonseca
Date: 09/29/22

78 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: New Line Realty LLC
Seller: Bickford, James, (Estate)
Date: 09/28/22

134-136 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Winners O. LLC
Seller: RJB Properties LLC
Date: 09/21/22

64 North Bridge St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Ibn Husein Muhammad
Seller: JJJ17 LLC
Date: 09/19/22

635 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: Georgia Parker-Welch
Seller: Edison Santana
Date: 09/28/22

21 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Andrew Kurtz
Seller: Susan W. Oparowski
Date: 09/23/22

203 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Luis A. Rodriguez
Seller: Janusz Lecko
Date: 09/22/22

28-30 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $309,500
Buyer: Allegra R. Mazanec
Seller: Brian O’Connor
Date: 09/26/22

48 Vernon St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Lismel Luciano
Seller: Ushokoledi RT
Date: 09/27/22

109 Waldo St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Winners O. LLC
Seller: RJB Properties LLC
Date: 09/21/22

252 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Winners O. LLC
Seller: RJB Properties LLC
Date: 09/21/22

26 Washington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Adam Mission
Seller: Robert W. Narey
Date: 09/23/22

LONGMEADOW

100 Ashford Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $817,500
Buyer: Daniel Shapira
Seller: Jonna I. Gaberman
Date: 09/21/22

34 Dartmouth Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $692,000
Buyer: Correa LT
Seller: Audubon Road RET
Date: 09/29/22

561 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: William J. Driscoll
Seller: Diane R. Boucher
Date: 09/26/22

21 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jason J. Chamberlain
Seller: Nancy J. Walker RET
Date: 09/30/22

36 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Xavier N. Miller
Seller: Linda A. Lajoie RET
Date: 09/30/22

33 Meadowbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $674,000
Buyer: Doris M. Egan
Seller: Paul A. Zingarelli
Date: 09/30/22

152 Meadowbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Barry A. Rice
Seller: 152 Meadowbrook Road RT
Date: 09/30/22

129 Meadowlark Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $386,000
Buyer: Kasey J. Pekala
Seller: Katarzyna K. Soja
Date: 09/21/22

67 Ridge Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Mohammadhossein G. Kohan
Seller: Samba NT
Date: 09/30/22

131 Viscount Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Zengxin Ouyang
Seller: Yan Ou
Date: 09/29/22

LUDLOW

55 1st Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $1,300,000
Buyer: Westmass First Avenue LLC
Seller: Walter S. Wood LLC
Date: 09/30/22

37 Bondsville Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Tyler D. Hubbard
Seller: Robert Rose
Date: 09/27/22

Colonial Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jamie Tomas
Seller: Hazel E. Bazinet
Date: 09/21/22

623 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Amato
Seller: Walter J. Bilodeau
Date: 09/21/22

54-56 Franklin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Silver P. Serra
Seller: Mary C. Evangelista
Date: 09/28/22

421 Lyon St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Mark Dangleis
Seller: Louis T. Saletnik
Date: 09/28/22

444 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $628,000
Buyer: Nazim Hack
Seller: Bruce Tetrault
Date: 09/29/22

562 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Robert J. Rose
Seller: Lawrence F. Roberge
Date: 09/27/22

113 Simonds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Joejoe Properties LLC
Seller: Kevin Andryc
Date: 09/30/22

41 Warren St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Paulo G. Norberto
Seller: Stanley E. Sokolowski
Date: 09/27/22

West St. Lot 87
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Jhon Wielblad
Seller: Antonio S. Martins
Date: 09/19/22

MONSON

22 Bridge St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Adrienne Mojica
Seller: Nasser H. Chehimi
Date: 09/27/22

365 Cedar Swamp Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Diane S. Salstead
Seller: Michael J. Coolong
Date: 09/20/22

8 Circle Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Martin J. Sweeney
Seller: Devan Katrell-Beane
Date: 09/23/22

73 Cote Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Charles A. Corbett
Seller: Keelin White
Date: 09/28/22

4 Green St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Barkett Capital LLC
Seller: Jeffrey Allard
Date: 09/30/22

38 Margaret St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Hector E. Ramos-Perez
Seller: GM Properties LLC
Date: 09/27/22

178 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: George F. Taylor
Seller: Piper Lowe Real Estate Group LLC
Date: 09/30/22

MONTGOMERY

Carrington Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Mayor Habitat Management LLC
Seller: 20 Chamberlain Road Land Trust
Date: 09/26/22

PALMER

12 Barlow St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Edwin Rodriguez
Seller: Judith M. Auclair
Date: 09/27/22

37-39 Belchertown St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Zaid A. Watt
Seller: Amira Antar
Date: 09/20/22

86 Boston Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Revampit LLC
Seller: Karen A. Brown
Date: 09/20/22

4048 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Second Chance RT
Seller: Nancy L. Dranka
Date: 09/22/22

11 Holbrook St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Adriana Alban
Seller: David G. Walker
Date: 09/30/22

31 Old Farm Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Brian A. Figueroa
Seller: Thomas J. Barone
Date: 09/30/22

RUSSELL

59 Raymur Dr.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Dawn M. Koivisto
Seller: Hawk, Kenneth M., (Estate)
Date: 09/21/22

SOUTHWICK

1 Brayton Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: B. L. Lempke RET
Seller: Linda I. Drake
Date: 09/28/22

84 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Timothy Pochron
Seller: David V. Reale
Date: 09/26/22

23 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Nikolas Savva
Seller: Lori P. Clarke
Date: 09/19/22

SPRINGFIELD

20 Alderman St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Antoinette Guidry
Seller: Noel Soto-Cruz
Date: 09/30/22

17 Alice St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Phyllis T. Morris
Seller: Kenia Gonzalez
Date: 09/30/22

1929 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $353,000
Buyer: Nellysha Sanabria-Lopez
Seller: Kyle G. Unsderfer
Date: 09/20/22

215 Almira Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Dominic N. Mogusii
Seller: John Kanyoko
Date: 09/28/22

223 Almira Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Aiviis Rosado
Seller: Roy Eggleston
Date: 09/22/22

58-60 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Springfield Foodmart Inc.
Seller: Andrew Calvanese
Date: 09/21/22

96-98 Arthur St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Maria M. Franco
Seller: Jose L. Claudio
Date: 09/30/22

22 Atwater Place
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Agathe Joseph
Seller: Richard A. Facchini
Date: 09/28/22

259 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: DJ&T Investments Inc.
Seller: Lascelles Marsh
Date: 09/23/22

65 Beaufort Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Yamilka Figueroa-Rivera
Seller: Fallah Razzak
Date: 09/19/22

148 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Charles Park
Seller: Neil P. Walker
Date: 09/29/22

974 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Shannon Shainwald
Seller: Kennedy, William R., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/22

31 Bray St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Edwin O. Garcia
Seller: Patricia A. Carlin
Date: 09/22/22

6 Bremen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $141,450
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Jack D. Rivera
Date: 09/30/22

41 Briggs St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jeremy D. Scott
Seller: Jackson FT
Date: 09/26/22

977 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Robert A. White
Seller: Fabbri, Joseph A. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 09/21/22

1026 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Ushokoledi RT
Seller: Calvin D. Blakes
Date: 09/30/22

150 Catherine St.
Springfield, MA 01013
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: DJ&T Investments Inc.
Seller: Lascelles Marsh
Date: 09/23/22

154-160 Catherine St.
Springfield, MA 01013
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: DJ&T Investments Inc.
Seller: Lascelles Marsh
Date: 09/23/22

44 Cherrelyn St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Ernie E. Colon
Seller: Fitzgerald, Noreen B., (Estate)
Date: 09/23/22

59 Clement St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Alexis Pothul
Seller: Lindsey Russell
Date: 09/30/22

47 Clough St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jacob Gonzalez
Seller: Aimee R. Freeman
Date: 09/23/22

135 College St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Yenit Degracia
Seller: Nres LLC
Date: 09/21/22

246 Connecticut Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Wilber A. Bernal
Seller: Sean M. Bradshaw
Date: 09/23/22

134-136 Darling St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $223,111
Buyer: DB Real Estate LLC
Seller: Carlos M. Ortiz
Date: 09/22/22

181 Davis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Antonio Maldonado
Seller: Joan P. Valliere
Date: 09/30/22

145 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: Samuel Feliciano
Seller: Brian P. Yacovone
Date: 09/30/22

108-110 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Eridania Arias
Seller: Daniel R. Boutin
Date: 09/30/22

28 Drumlin Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Jason T. Labeau
Seller: Brian Santiago
Date: 09/28/22

141-143 Dubois St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jose M. Cotto
Seller: Heidi S. Terrell
Date: 09/30/22

216 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Bryan Cunningham
Seller: Ryan, John D., (Estate)
Date: 09/22/22

11 East Fisk Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $795,000
Buyer: 11 Fisk Ave. Storage LLC
Seller: K&J Realty LLC
Date: 09/20/22

89 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Olga Martinez
Seller: Lydia E. Martinez
Date: 09/26/22

16 Eldert St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Jones
Seller: Megan Loschiavo
Date: 09/29/22

117-119 Fenwick St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Luis Nunez-Matos
Seller: Darryl Hines
Date: 09/30/22

36 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Dudley B. Pierre
Seller: Muhammad U. Farooq
Date: 09/19/22

97 Garvey Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $352,000
Buyer: Denise R. Jordan
Seller: Arthur R. Outhuse
Date: 09/19/22

26 Gates Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Paul E. Lietz
Seller: Ronald W. Wyzik
Date: 09/30/22

15 Gatewood Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Mohamed H. Ibrahim
Seller: Michael McDonnell
Date: 09/22/22

106 Gillette Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Brenda L. Davis
Seller: Brianna H. Stellato
Date: 09/30/22

20 Glendell Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Rebeca Flores
Seller: Ahmed A. Aljanabi
Date: 09/30/22

97 Goodwin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Tyler C. Havriliak
Seller: Antonio S. Monteiro
Date: 09/28/22

496-498 Grayson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Rosa H. Lane
Seller: Marzena K. Sochacka-Medina
Date: 09/20/22

5 Greentree Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Godfrey A. Smith
Seller: Matadormus RT
Date: 09/28/22

71 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Thomas Crawford
Seller: Ryan McDowell
Date: 09/28/22

23 Harvey St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Guzman-Sierra
Seller: Aldrwyn Figuereo
Date: 09/21/22

12 Jean Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Ransford Wilson
Seller: Ascione, Anthony P., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/22

41 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Luis A. Rivera-Morales
Seller: Henry Chhim
Date: 09/28/22

31 Juliet St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Dung H. Pham
Seller: Bukowski Construction LLC
Date: 09/19/22

68 Kenwood Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kiet A. Huynh
Seller: Christian Nguyen
Date: 09/29/22

15 Kenyon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jose I. Nunez-Mejia
Seller: Leon Woods
Date: 09/28/22

147 Knollwood St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Jennifer Chamrin
Seller: Susan L. Cole
Date: 09/28/22

46 Ladd St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Anthony Santiago
Seller: Gladysh Capital LLC
Date: 09/30/22

38 Ledyard St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Albert Rivera-Zayas
Seller: Jose A. Pena
Date: 09/28/22

12-14 Lester St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Xiomara Torres
Seller: Helen S. Keough
Date: 09/26/22

830 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $860,000
Buyer: Liberty Street RET
Seller: Roy, Armand M., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/22

279 Locust St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Tejada Market 2 Corp.
Seller: Christopher J. Liquori
Date: 09/28/22

14 Lorimer St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Dwayne Brathwaite
Seller: Nexus Apartments LLC
Date: 09/30/22

141 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kathleen E. Pumilia
Seller: Angela M. Pessolano-Pelzek
Date: 09/21/22

758 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Andy Downtown Realty LLC
Seller: Izzo Realty LLC
Date: 09/30/22

2928-2936 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Pesky Properties LLC
Seller: Healey Main RT
Date: 09/21/22

82 Marengo Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: 82 Marengo Park LLC
Seller: David E. Dragon
Date: 09/19/22

114 Marengo Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Georgieanna Brunton
Seller: Edwin R. Hunt
Date: 09/29/22

7 Marlborough St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $116,500
Buyer: Hunter Property Group LLC
Seller: Value Properties LLC
Date: 09/20/22

44 Mattoon St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $331,500
Buyer: Danielle Johnson
Seller: Winners O. LLC
Date: 09/26/22

81 Navajo Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Aimee Maldonado
Seller: Nathan A. Garner
Date: 09/23/22

60 Norman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Cherie Burton
Seller: John T. Moriarty
Date: 09/23/22

57 Notre Dame St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Kathie L. Rosado
Seller: Mctizic Management Group LLC
Date: 09/29/22

311 Old Farm Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Page P. Torres
Seller: Laura E. Mazur
Date: 09/30/22

5 Old Lane Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Samson Rusoke
Seller: Campagnari Construction LLC
Date: 09/30/22

11 Old Lane Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $489,000
Buyer: Neil P. Walker
Seller: Campagnari Construction LLC
Date: 09/29/22

252-254 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Leonardo E. Perdomo
Seller: Luis M. Rodriguez
Date: 09/22/22

268-270 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Prestigious One LLC
Seller: Joseph J. Perla
Date: 09/23/22

35-37 Ozark St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Davila Enterprises LLC
Seller: Jared M. Kahn
Date: 09/30/22

91 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Julia Belanger
Date: 09/22/22

81 Pemaquid St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Chelyka Diaz
Seller: Jeffrey S. Clemons
Date: 09/30/22

65 Pembroke Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Esmeralda Gonzalez
Seller: Nathan Rodriguez
Date: 09/22/22

37 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Derek Chandonnet
Seller: Guy R. Petit
Date: 09/22/22

472 Plainfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Clinton Mitchell
Seller: Joanne Morales
Date: 09/30/22

29 Pocantico Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Noel Y. Soto
Seller: Michael Richardson-Polk
Date: 09/30/22

163-165 Prospect St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Lesly Campo
Seller: Ramirez, Jason F., (Estate)
Date: 09/26/22

65 Puritan Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Jorge Santiago
Seller: Michael D. Fisher
Date: 09/20/22

148 Regal St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Tiffany M. Fangman
Seller: Joshua Fois
Date: 09/30/22

28-30 Rittenhouse Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: C&K Blue Sky Properties LLC
Seller: Watchmaker LLC
Date: 09/28/22

43 Rockland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Alejandra Heron
Seller: Tara B. Neddeau
Date: 09/27/22

2402 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $284,500
Buyer: Jeanne G. Calvaire
Seller: NKZ Realty Inc.
Date: 09/30/22

185 Rosewell St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Judy T. Scott
Seller: Glenn M. Hartling
Date: 09/29/22

99 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Orville A. Lugg
Seller: Elisa Cortez
Date: 09/30/22

30 Skyridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $304,120
Buyer: Elica Diaz-Rodriguez
Seller: Charles J. Saufler
Date: 09/30/22

1671 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $264,900
Buyer: Paul E. Cote
Seller: Dawn M. Keenan
Date: 09/21/22

50-52 Savoy Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jerome Brown
Seller: S. W. Williams
Date: 09/23/22

104 Signal Hill Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Sha B. Pradhan
Seller: Gladys Rivera
Date: 09/20/22

110-112 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Santaniello
Seller: Mary T. Popko
Date: 09/20/22

75 Steuben St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Eben Cossutta
Seller: Nicholas J. Korniotes
Date: 09/30/22

104 Stuart St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Dawn M. Keenan
Seller: William W. Cygan
Date: 09/21/22

9 Texel Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $253,400
Buyer: Holly Wedderspoon
Seller: Nina M. King
Date: 09/29/22

139 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Evelyn Camacho
Seller: Colton H. MacDonald
Date: 09/22/22

128 Tioga St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Brandon J. Hunter
Seller: Andrzej Chmielewski
Date: 09/30/22

85 Upland St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Krzysztof Letowski
Seller: Evelyn Pratt
Date: 09/29/22

45 Vann St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jean C. Baez-Rivers
Seller: Chouinard, Marie, (Estate)
Date: 09/22/22

288 Verge St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: CTSI Realty LLC
Seller: Pra Realty Inc.
Date: 09/29/22

73 Washington Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $572,000
Buyer: Frederick R. Lewis
Seller: Idir Kendek
Date: 09/30/22

401 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $207,500
Buyer: Cangi Five Properties LLC
Seller: FHLM
Date: 09/23/22

93 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $119,500
Buyer: Dnepro Properties LLC
Seller: John J. Percy
Date: 09/23/22

499 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Gladys Perez-Terrero
Seller: Franco Fomuki
Date: 09/26/22

2450 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Matahari RT
Seller: Stacy M. Bilodeau
Date: 09/29/22

14 Woodcliff St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Dennise Dejesus
Seller: Jason Libardi
Date: 09/30/22

145-147 Woodside Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Eleanore Vonthaden
Seller: Xiuyu Ma
Date: 09/30/22

941 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Springfield Foodmart Inc.
Seller: Andrew Calvanese
Date: 09/21/22

19 Yale St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Nora Mokam-Mouassom
Seller: Nolava LLC
Date: 09/23/22

TOLLAND

40 Meadow Dr.
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: William A. Dittrich
Seller: Julie A. Roberts
Date: 09/23/22

WEST SPRINGFIELD

112 Ashley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Calabrese LLC
Seller: Jan Chrzan
Date: 09/30/22

217 Ashley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Oscar Cornejo
Seller: John T. Donnelly
Date: 09/30/22

605 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Brett C. Belden
Seller: Walter Garstka
Date: 09/30/22

163 Bosworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Gabriel Miranda
Seller: Dhan Gurung
Date: 09/27/22

49 Buckingham Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Devon J. Bones
Seller: John F. Wilson
Date: 09/30/22

3 Central St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $544,334
Buyer: Vadechi LLC
Seller: Gogri Brothers Inc.
Date: 09/26/22

41 Chapin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Robert M. Zeller
Seller: CMBD Properties Enterprises LLC
Date: 09/23/22

42 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Oleksandr Myronov
Seller: MAA Property LLC
Date: 09/30/22

72 George St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Padam Gajmer
Seller: Sarupa Rai
Date: 09/28/22

50 High St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Abdullah M. Jashaami
Seller: Korzeniowski, Edward J., (Estate)
Date: 09/28/22

102-104 Highland Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Devin Lichwan
Seller: MCL NT
Date: 09/30/22

Hyde Road, Lot 9
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Maksim Vasilchenko
Seller: John G. Kudlic
Date: 09/23/22

27-53 Mercury Court
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $12,500,000
Buyer: West Springfield Arms LLC
Seller: Arms Apartments LLC
Date: 09/28/22

34-86 Mercury Court
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $12,500,000
Buyer: West Springfield Arms LLC
Seller: Arms Apartments LLC
Date: 09/28/22

38 Merrick St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Mantosh Rai
Seller: Anatoliy Gunko
Date: 09/29/22

76 New Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $186,909
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Nancy A. Rodgers
Date: 09/30/22

597 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Tatum S. Calabrese
Seller: Daniel J. Casey
Date: 09/22/22

151 Upper Beverly Hills
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Shirley M. Martinez
Seller: Clayton Tinson
Date: 09/20/22

22 Vincent Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Frantz S. Etienne
Seller: Robert J. Turcotte
Date: 09/19/22

152 Wilder Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Mark A. St.Jean
Seller: William J. Weckerly
Date: 09/30/22

195 Windsor St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Abimael Rodriquez-Jamie
Seller: Thaddeus Tokarz
Date: 09/29/22

43 Wishing Well Way
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $483,000
Buyer: Michael Theulen
Seller: Trudy L. Alix-Pierce
Date: 09/28/22

WESTFIELD

18 Bates St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $262,250
Buyer: Angel M. Rivera
Seller: TBG Property Management LLC
Date: 09/28/22

17 Clinton Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: John T. Pitoniak
Seller: Vilma F. Broga
Date: 09/29/22

21 Cranston St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Sarah S. Whiteley
Seller: NRES LLC
Date: 09/29/22

28 Crown St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: John D. Robinson
Seller: Matthew J. Romano
Date: 09/28/22

20 Darby Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Rebecca R. Leporati
Seller: Ciancotti, Joanne T., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/22

86 Dartmouth St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Luz C. Caballero
Seller: Lawrence E. Oleksak
Date: 09/20/22

10 Day Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Aurora Holdings LLC
Seller: Mechanic Man LLC
Date: 09/28/22

62 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Aurora Holdings LLC
Seller: Mechanic Man LLC
Date: 09/28/22

22 Hillside Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Devine L. Hill-Coleman
Seller: Ross, Jane E., (Estate)
Date: 09/28/22

110 Little River Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Joseph Sclafani
Seller: Timothy J. Howe
Date: 09/30/22

26 Lois St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Robin Sheldon
Seller: Baronas, Irene C., (Estate)
Date: 09/27/22

43 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Sahar Khawaja
Seller: William F. Lacey
Date: 09/30/22

6-8 Morris Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Jared D. Hudson
Seller: Alicia A. Alexion
Date: 09/29/22

353 North Elm St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Paul W. Nimchick
Seller: Dana K. Rising
Date: 09/23/22

420 Paper Mill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Lyudmila Okhrimenko
Seller: Little Big Fellas RT
Date: 09/30/22

30 Pleasant St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Behavioral Health Network
Seller: Center For Human Development Inc.
Date: 09/27/22

51 Radisson Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: James J. Kane
Seller: Stephanie L. Martell
Date: 09/30/22

26 Saint Paul St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $295,900
Buyer: Donald Bailey
Seller: Andrew C. Delusa
Date: 09/21/22

1037 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Theodore Burrell
Seller: Michael Burris
Date: 09/27/22

1071 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Bruce L. Cordero
Seller: Douglas Fuller
Date: 09/23/22

48 Shannon Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Heath M. Rawlings
Seller: Arnold E. Thompson
Date: 09/23/22

18 Shepard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: D. V. Sarmiento-Castillo
Seller: Igor Radionov
Date: 09/30/22

164 Steiger Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Shari Petrucci
Seller: Warner, Doris F., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/22

213 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $431,000
Buyer: Roman A. Correa
Seller: Krystal A. Kozikowski
Date: 09/28/22

9 Waterford Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $674,900
Buyer: Robert J. Archbald
Seller: Steven M. Mitus
Date: 09/28/22

292 West Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Andrew Delusa
Seller: Henry M. Bisbee
Date: 09/21/22

142 Western Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $316,500
Buyer: Daniel Wright
Seller: Andrew Laverdiere
Date: 09/20/22

140 Wildflower Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $645,000
Buyer: Ghassan A. Saleh
Seller: C. M. Fantakis-Henderson
Date: 09/23/22

83 William St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: BP LLC
Seller: Glenn E. Vanveldhuizen
Date: 09/22/22

41 Woodcliff Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Michael C. Potter
Seller: Normand L. Guilbert
Date: 09/23/22

WILBRAHAM

29 Blacksmith Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Dejura
Seller: Joanne W. Felchner
Date: 09/20/22

9 Echo Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Christine L. Graham
Seller: Kathleen E. Collins
Date: 09/20/22

16 Hickory Hill Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Servicenet Inc.
Seller: Williamson, Colin D., (Estate)
Date: 09/20/22

27 Hillcrest Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Rolando L. Bones
Seller: Gavin D. Berkeley
Date: 09/22/22

9 Leemond St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $439,000
Buyer: Kelly E. Middleton
Seller: Daniel R. Balser
Date: 09/20/22

7 Oaks Farm Lane, Lot 7
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $484,800
Buyer: Ronald Wyzik
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 09/22/22

105 Silver St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Grayson Kern-Colarusso
Seller: China Cat RT
Date: 09/23/22

39 Soule Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: John Q. Hunt
Seller: Gerard A. Rocchi
Date: 09/21/22

18 Sunnyside Ter.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Michael Vivenzio
Seller: Frank Kulig
Date: 09/23/22

945 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Andre King
Seller: Robert K. Adamski
Date: 09/20/22

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

19 Applewood Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Emily H. Belt
Seller: Walker, Elaine L., (Estate)
Date: 09/22/22

4 Charles Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Daniel Cook
Seller: Christopher J. Allen RT
Date: 09/30/22

14 Gray St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $830,000
Buyer: Bradley Kobylarz
Seller: Barbara L. Guidera RET
Date: 09/19/22

171 Heatherstone Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $660,000
Buyer: Chaoran Ma
Seller: Richard J. Giglio
Date: 09/23/22

399 Henry St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,050,000
Buyer: Victoria Risk
Seller: Joel W. Martin
Date: 09/28/22

54 Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: David M. Orr
Seller: 54 Hills Road NT
Date: 09/28/22

754 Main St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Lincoln Fearing LLC
Seller: Grover R. Ballou
Date: 09/28/22

39 Old Town Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $569,000
Buyer: Steven Nelson
Seller: Nirupama Ravi
Date: 09/22/22

485 Pine St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Seunghun Kang
Seller: CNS Home Solutions LLC
Date: 09/26/22

91 State St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Eugene Mattie
Seller: Moreland, Benjamin F., (Estate)
Date: 09/22/22

BELCHERTOWN

40 Azalea Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Brian A. Bachand
Seller: Thomas A. Barry
Date: 09/30/22

24 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Nicholas W. Burgos
Seller: Sharon E. Miner
Date: 09/30/22

112 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $464,988
Buyer: Michael Hoffman
Seller: Shirley A. Pogodinski
Date: 09/29/22

100 Pine St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Cynthia D. Harbeson
Seller: Edward C. Richardson
Date: 09/26/22

124 Sheffield Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $549,900
Buyer: Michael Falcione
Seller: Laurie A. Fabbri
Date: 09/30/22

631 Warren Wright Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Frances Orourke-MacPhail
Seller: Stephen R. Utley
Date: 09/23/22

EASTHAMPTON

1 Adams St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: SGS Holdings LLC
Seller: Bradley J. Robbins
Date: 09/27/22

117 Everett St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Dara Darabi
Seller: Susan J. Hess-Snape
Date: 09/30/22

233 Loudville Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: New England Remodeling
Seller: Marc C. Maki
Date: 09/23/22

13 Louise Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Janell Tryon
Seller: Linda K. Smargie
Date: 09/26/22

33-R Maine Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Aarin Feliz
Seller: Kimberly A. Sweeney
Date: 09/28/22

113 Oliver St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $502,000
Buyer: Samuel I. Pashall
Seller: David E. Valade
Date: 09/30/22

10 Pinebrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Jeanne M. Ryan
Seller: Ushokoledi RT
Date: 09/22/22

113 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Christopher F. Sterpka
Seller: Daryl Brosseau
Date: 09/26/22

27 Treehouse Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Susanne Weinman
Seller: James R. Jackson
Date: 09/30/22

GRANBY

24 Baggs Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Amanda N. Hunt
Seller: Jennifer D. Dirico
Date: 09/21/22

75 Carver St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $694,000
Buyer: 3 East LLC
Seller: Kotowicz Custom Homes LLC
Date: 09/26/22

12 Cedar Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $348,600
Buyer: W. L. & A. N. Gould 1990 FT
Seller: Mark R. Plante
Date: 09/29/22

75 Kendall St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Michael G. Page
Seller: John Grimaldi
Date: 09/22/22

HADLEY

5 Adare Place
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: Albert J. Steppi
Seller: W. Marek Inc.
Date: 09/29/22

53 East St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Brian J. Crandall
Seller: Theresa Banach
Date: 09/23/22

11 Middle St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: Pioneer Valley Ventures LLC
Seller: Palangi, David M., (Estate)
Date: 09/26/22

14 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: 14 & 18 Russell St. LLC
Seller: Christine M. Newman RET
Date: 09/21/22

18 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: 14 & 18 Russell St. LLC
Seller: Christine M. Newman RET
Date: 09/21/22

HATFIELD

20 Chestnut St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Zachary M. Heller
Seller: James B. Thein
Date: 09/29/22

12 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $2,350,000
Buyer: Benson Mini Storage LLC
Seller: Bowditch LLC
Date: 09/30/22

142 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $15,500,000
Buyer: Foxrock 142 Elm Realty LLC
Seller: Arc LLC
Date: 09/19/22

45 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Lindsay Gutekunst
Seller: Kostek, Thomas E., (Estate)
Date: 09/29/22

HUNTINGTON

220 Searle Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Joseph Lopez
Seller: Jean Bushey
Date: 09/23/22

MIDDLEFIELD

107 Chipman Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Aimee M. Mendicino
Seller: Belynda A. Basak
Date: 09/30/22

NORTHAMPTON

407 Audubon Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $1,035,000
Buyer: Audubon Road RET
Seller: Lynell M. Branch RET
Date: 09/29/22

392 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Gena M. Downey LT
Seller: Ronald T. Blechner
Date: 09/19/22

358 Chesterfield Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Susan E. Berger
Seller: George E. Guyette
Date: 09/20/22

37 Corticelli St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Katherine M. Brewer-Ball
Seller: Turner, Brian W., (Estate)
Date: 09/28/22

15 Elizabeth St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Jesse T. Casaubon
Seller: Birdie Properties LLC
Date: 09/27/22

275 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,375,000
Buyer: Kyung H. Sin
Seller: Rebecca B. Foley
Date: 09/28/22

839 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $318,500
Buyer: Lauren Lee A. Barry
Seller: Meghan C. Hoagland
Date: 09/30/22

6 Franklin Court
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Stephen Sheldon
Seller: Judith S. Polan
Date: 09/20/22

38 Grant Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $501,000
Buyer: Eli Dwight
Seller: Suzanne Dantonet
Date: 09/30/22

1 King St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,300,000
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: D. P. Holdings LLC
Date: 09/22/22

15 Mary Jane Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Brian Hanlon
Seller: Christopher M. Hunt
Date: 09/20/22

39 Middle St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Timothy M. Enman
Seller: John J. Brennan
Date: 09/30/22

38 North Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Maria A. Rao
Seller: Joan Swerdlow Brandt RET
Date: 09/19/22

12 Rick Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Wickles
Seller: Sliwa, Edward W., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/22

329 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Wicked Deals LLC
Seller: Robert E. Jones
Date: 09/19/22

36 Ward Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,010,000
Buyer: Alexander George
Seller: Blair McLaughlin
Date: 09/30/22

26 Williams St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Eli Dwight
Seller: Hoynoski 2008 RET
Date: 09/29/22

PELHAM

25 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Yosef Nimni
Seller: William M. Rock
Date: 09/30/22

33 Enfield Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Lisa Crossman
Seller: Ann P. McNeal
Date: 09/21/22

PLAINFIELD

6 Hill St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Susan Bartfay
Seller: Gary L. Hunt
Date: 09/22/22

SOUTH HADLEY

151 Abbey St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Sweeney
Seller: Anthony Dejura
Date: 09/20/22

5 Brook St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Kathleen E. Stewart
Seller: Jonathan T. Driskell
Date: 09/19/22

Carol Ann Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: RLB Management LLC
Seller: Pride Real Estate LLC
Date: 09/30/22

20 Columbia St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Norman R. Betournay
Seller: Scott Menard
Date: 09/30/22

112 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Andrew G. Roberts
Seller: Sharon M. Styffe
Date: 09/29/22

5 Grandview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Kris A. McNulty
Seller: Sarah L. Fogg
Date: 09/19/22

280-286 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: RLB Management LLC
Seller: Pride Real Estate LLC
Date: 09/30/22

19 Harvard St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Donna Yazwinski
Seller: Ashley Kohl
Date: 09/30/22

19 Helm St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Donald R. Packard
Seller: Elizabeth B. Musto
Date: 09/30/22

137 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Michael J. Brushway
Seller: Kyle Taylor
Date: 09/30/22

169 North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $392,000
Buyer: Luis R. Torres
Seller: Mohammad A. Javaid
Date: 09/29/22

1 Pearl St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Rebecca T. Bassett
Seller: Lukasik IRT
Date: 09/23/22

39 Pine St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Sean Bradshaw
Seller: Ciolek, Bernice K., (Estate)
Date: 09/23/22

4 Priestly Farms Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Ethan J. Mansur
Seller: Patricia A. Costello
Date: 09/20/22

11 Spring Meadows
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Li Q. Gao
Seller: Christine A. Phillips
Date: 09/23/22

17 Taylor St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Brett Remillard
Seller: Ronald P. Oparowski
Date: 09/23/22

SOUTHAMPTON

15 East St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Paul Cheney
Seller: Linda B. Emerson
Date: 09/30/22

27 East St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Gordon Alexander
Seller: Ellen F. Kaplan
Date: 09/22/22

15 Eastwood Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Robert W. Bassett
Seller: Raymond R. Picard
Date: 09/30/22

31 Gilbert Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Dominic B. Rachmaciej
Seller: Stein, Edward R., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/22

77 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Dean T. Couture
Seller: Richard A. Jensen
Date: 09/20/22

80 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Dax Gillis
Seller: Immacolata Silvestri
Date: 09/19/22

54 Strong Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Dillon F. Monroe
Seller: Terry R. West
Date: 09/19/22

WARE

37 Benham Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Robert Vassallo
Seller: 4J Real Estate Group LLC
Date: 09/22/22

20 Eddy St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Michael W. Ponyta
Seller: Erick A. Vasquez
Date: 09/23/22

259 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Moses Deliz
Seller: John M. Prenosil
Date: 09/30/22

105 Maple St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jason Chemero
Seller: Kelly R. Blinn
Date: 09/19/22

46 Morse Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ashliana Woulfe
Seller: Harszy, John P., (Estate)
Date: 09/23/22

114 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Marianell Castillo
Seller: Merissa Titus-Abate
Date: 09/30/22

104 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Brandon Cairns
Seller: Marc A. Varnum
Date: 09/27/22

2-4 Vigeant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Von Capital LLC
Seller: David W. Foote
Date: 09/29/22

18 Walnut St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Lorie A. Miller
Seller: Joshua B. Paydos
Date: 09/30/22

54 West St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Damaris M. Frias
Seller: Manomednet LLC
Date: 09/19/22

139 West St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $2,700,000
Buyer: Samp Realty LLC
Seller: Alexandria T. LLC
Date: 09/30/22

WESTHAMPTON

Blueberry Hills Road Lot 4A
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Benjamin A. Kraus
Seller: Paul A. Nowak
Date: 09/30/22

201 North Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Edison Santana
Seller: Charlene J. Lapan
Date: 09/30/22

6 West Shore Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $406,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Nash
Seller: Laura A. Pompei
Date: 09/29/22

WILLIAMSBURG

31 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Randy R. Sherman
Seller: Susan M. Goulet
Date: 09/20/22

2 Pine St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Wendy Messerli
Seller: Mark D. Albright
Date: 09/21/22

WESTHAMPTON

127 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Caroline Moore
Seller: Gail E. Nutting
Date: 09/19/22

64 Southampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Emily M. Coggins
Seller: Benjamin W. Coggins
Date: 09/23/22

WORTHINGTON

270 Kinnebrook Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Sylvaria FT
Seller: Barbara H. Shea
Date: 09/19/22

285 Williamsburg Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Timothy W. Lipski
Seller: Serena F. Slack
Date: 09/21/22

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff October 26, 2022

Building Permits

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

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Falls Polish Home
25 Grove St.
$8,200 — Egress improvements, basement stairs

City of Chicopee
154 Grove St.
$470,000 — Roofing repairs, clean out drains, coat stairwell roofs, reframe and cap skylights

Leah Laflamme
37 Montville St.
$27,400 — Drywall, cabinets, flooring, electrical, windows, paint, plumbing

Nancy Paul
54 Edward St.
$3,753.60 — Insulation

Livana Perez
45 Forest St.
N/A — Replace front porch

Dom Narodowy Polski
144 Cabot St.
$4,999 — Roofing on gazebo

Joaquin Rodriguez
1098 Chicopee St.
$6,000 — Roofing

LEE

Highlawn Realty LLC
535 Summer St.
$34,105 — Roofing

JGC Properties LLC
208 Main St.
$2,900 — Roofing

LENOX

45 Walker LLC
45 Walker St.
$19,000 — Insulation

224 Housatonic Street LLC
224 Housatonic St.
$32,400 — Repair brick veneer of building

Electric Power Research Inc.
115 East New Lenox Road
$127,090 — Insulation

Mears Family Trust
5 Greenwood St.
$4,067 — Remove and replace four windows

WS Management Inc.
489 Pittsfield Road
$19,935 — Exterior trim and siding at Marshalls/Kohl’s intersection wall

NORTHAMPTON

660 Riverside Drive LLC
660 Riverside Dr.
$35,000 — Repair walls and replace flooring due to water damage

Aster Associates LLC
80 Barrett St.
$125,000 — Repairs due to fire

City of Northampton
80 Locust St.
$22,500 — Separate and demolish rear portion of building E of Smith School

City of Northampton
33 Hockanum Road
$1,395,363 — Renovate existing Hockanum flood station at sewage treatment plant

Coolidge Northampton LLC
249 King St.
$3,700 — Wall sign for Crestal Health

Dead River Co. LLC
300 King St.
$6,100 — Install new illuminated, double-sided ground sign

Dead River Co. LLC
300 King St.
$1,100 — Replace existing wall sign with new non-illuminated sign

Pioneer Development LLC
39 Day Ave.
$6,600 — Insulation and weatherization

Safe Passage Inc.
76 Carlon Dr.
N/A — Gazebo

Trident Realty Corp.
6 Crafts Ave.
$8,997 — Replace rooftop HVAC

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Dream Center
475 Tyler St.
$245,000 — Roofing

Berkshire Hospitality Group
1 West St.
$35,000 — Modify/add auxiliary antennas to existing mast

Druinski LLC
43 George St.
$13,550 — Siding

Donna Cavallero Ehmann
13 Taconic Park Dr.
$76,000 — Siding

RKE Realty LLC
100 West St.
$20,000 — Build interior walls to add new offices

Ruby View Management LLC
970 West Housatonic St.
$28,000 — Insulation

Seven Oh Three Nominee Trust
703 West Housatonic St.
$2,500 — Add one room to space

Seven Oh Three Nominee Trust
703 West Housatonic St.
$2,000 — Remove interior sheetrock walls for one vacant tenant suite

Sport Sod LLC
100 Dan Fox Dr.
$95,000 — Tear down racquetball building and entry/office area

SPRINGFIELD

AT&T Communications
351 Bridge St.
$85,000 — Install nine new antennas on AT&T telecommunications tower

BH Chestnut Crossing LLC
275 Chestnut St.
$295,405.48 — Install 16 antennas and steel platform for computer equipment on Verizon telecommunications tower

Picknelly Family LP
1414 Main St.
$500,000 — Repair East Columbus Avenue pedestrian bridge panel system damaged by vehicle

T&K Property LLC
1038 Main St.
$103,060 — Alter interior tenant office space for Springfield Dental

Berkshire Innovation Center Announces Completion of Project Frontline Documentary

By BusinessWest Staff October 25, 2022

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — The Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) announced that two of its member organizations, Boyd Biomedical and Digital Eyes Film, have completed a feature-length documentary titled Project Frontline. The film chronicles the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the response that was mobilized by state government, academia, and industry partners in Massachusetts to address the PPE crisis facing frontline workers, production of COVID testing, and the scientific discovery of novel vaccines.

The Berkshire Innovation Center opened its doors in February 2020 to Boyd, Digital Eyes, and more than 30 other member companies representing industries including life sciences, advanced manufacturing, aerospace + defense, software + engineering, clean tech, and healthcare. The BIC’s belief is that collisions between its members fuel unexpected collaborations and positive outcomes. These types of relationships spark innovation, foster shared discoveries, and drive economic development. Core to the BIC’s mission is the curating of these member relationships.

“Project Frontline speaks volumes to the organic and curated collisions that we see so frequently amongst BIC member companies,” Executive Director Ben Sosne said. “The BIC convenes innovative firms and leaders in our region and beyond. We sit at the intersection of so much potential and will continue to encourage our member companies to collaborate and leverage the knowledge spillover that happens naturally when they engage with peers in the BIC network.”

Production of Project Frontline began in March 2020, and the film is a real-time account highlighting the statewide industry response in one of the country’s first virus surge states, including emergency-response efforts mobilized by Gov. Charlie Baker’s office in partnership with healthcare systems, academic institutions, and the manufacturing industry as a whole.

Boyd Biomedical will host the Boston-area theatrical premiere of Project Frontline on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Regent Theatre, located at 7 Medford St. in Arlington, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are complimentary and open to the public by clicking here. The Berkshire-area theatrical premiere will take place on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7p.m. at the Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield. Both events will feature audience Q&A with the producers and subjects of the film.

In addition to collaborating with Boyd Biomedical on Project Frontline, Digital Eyes has joined forces with the BIC to form BIC Studios, a strategic partnership aiming to elevate industry storytelling and drive awareness about the burgeoning culture of technology and innovation in the Berkshires. Current projects include a multi-platform marketing campaign about careers in key growth sectors in the region in partnership with MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board, an audio/video podcast with Boyd titled Boyd Biomedical Design Stories, along with several projects for BIC member companies and additional documentaries in development.

“Project Frontline is the latest example of what we witness daily here at the BIC … that collaborative innovation truly lives right here in Berkshire County,” Chief Learning Officer Dennis Rebelo said. “In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell stated that ‘the tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.’ Those magic moments are already happening here at the Berkshire Innovation Center. We are frequently the catalyst to crossing that threshold.”

Girl Scouts Receive $10,000 Grant from TD Charitable Foundation

By BusinessWest Staff October 25, 2022

Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts announced that it has received a $10,000 grant from the TD Charitable Foundation in support of On Your Own: Financial Literary for Girls. The grant will provide a free badge program to all Girl Scouts designed to empower them to control their financial futures.

All participants complete age-appropriate activities to gain real-world money-management skills. Girl Scouts develop leadership skills and self-esteem as they build a greater understanding of becoming responsible consumers, creating and living by a budget, building and managing credit, increasing their income, and saving and investing for whatever’s next.

With the support of contributors such as the TD Charitable Foundation, Girl Scouts is able to help build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

“We take to heart the important work of teaching financial literacy to girls,” said Pattie Hallberg, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. “Supporting this program for the 11th consecutive year, the TD Charitable Foundation has significantly impacted building financially savvy Girl Scouts.”

On Your Own: Financial Literacy for Girls is available to all members in grades K through 12. Learn more and sign up to be a member at www.gscwm.org.

Ticket Sales Open for Advertising Club’s 2022 Creative Awards Show

By BusinessWest Staff October 25, 2022

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts encourages the community to purchase tickets by Thursday, Oct. 27 to attend its 2022 Creative Awards Show on Thursday, Nov. 3, where the 2022 Creative Awards winners will be announced.

The event will take place at Union Station, 125A Pleasant St., Northampton, starting at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail social hour, with the awards show following at 7 p.m.

Attendees will have the opportunity to taste signature cocktails with a special twist to them, while they mingle with judges and meet the faces behind the work submitted this year.

Guests can purchase tickets by clicking here or contacting the Ad Club at (413) 342-0533 or [email protected].

“I am so excited to share all of the great submissions we received this year,” said Kelly McGiverin, president of the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts. “Our three judges were beyond impressed with everything. I invite anyone in Western Mass. to join us for an evening of fun and celebration.”

MCLA Education Department Offers MTEL Prep Courses

By BusinessWest Staff October 25, 2022

Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — Anyone interested in obtaining teacher licensure in Massachusetts is invited to register for MCLA’s Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) preparation courses, which will be held online on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 12 and 13. The classes will cover “Communications and Literacy” from 9 a.m. to noon and “Foundations of Reading” from 1 to 4 p.m.

Each semester, the college’s Education Department offers classes to prepare students for the MTEL. Each class will focus on a specific test and be taught by instructors knowledgeable in both the content/skill area and the test. Passing the MTEL is a requirement for teacher licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The cost is $50 per course for non-MCLA students. Register online at mcla.edu/mtelprep, email [email protected], or call (413) 662-5575 for more information.

BusinessWest and the Healthcare News to Celebrate Healthcare Heroes on Oct. 27

By BusinessWest Staff October 24, 2022

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest and the Healthcare News, the business and healthcare journals covering Western Mass., will honor their sixth annual Healthcare Heroes on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

The Healthcare Heroes program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services and the institutions and individuals providing that care locally.

The stories behind this year’s eight heroes reveal large quantities of energy, imagination, innovation, compassion, entrepreneurship, forward thinking, and dedication to the community. Honorees were profiled in the Sept. 19 issue of BusinessWest and the September/October issue of the Healthcare News, and the stories are also available at www.businesswest.com and www.healthcarenews.com.

This year’s honorees and the categories they represent are: Helen Caulton-Harris, director of Health and Human Services, city of Springfield (Lifetime Achievement); Mark Paglia, chief operating officer, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center (Administrator); Dr. Philip Glynn, director of Medical Oncology, Mercy Medical Center (Provider); Dr. Paul Pirraglia, division chief, General Medicine and Community Health, Baystate Health (Collaboration); ServiceNet’s Enrichment Center & Strive Clinic and its partners at Springfield College and UMass Amherst (Collaboration); the Addiction Consult Service at Holyoke Medical Center (Community Health); Dr. Sundeep Shukla, chief, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baystate Noble Hospital (Emerging Leader); and the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation (Innovation).

The Healthcare Heroes Gala will begin with a VIP reception at 5:30 p.m. with networking and opportunities to meet this year’s honorees. The evening will include live entertainment, butlered hors d’oeuvres, a lavish plated dinner, remarks from the honorees, and more networking opportunities.

A limited number of tickets are available by calling (413) 781-8600 or emailing [email protected]. For those who cannot join us in person, we welcome you to watch the event via livestream at businesswest.com/healthcareheroes.

Healthcare Heroes is presented by Baystate Health/Health New England and Elms College, and sponsored by American International College, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, and Trinity Health Of New England/Mercy Medical Center.

Amherst Area Chamber to Celebrate A+ Awardees on Nov. 17

By BusinessWest Staff October 24, 2022

Daily News

AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will present its 2022 A+ Awards on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the UMass Student Ballroom at UMass Amherst, with returning presenting sponsor Peoples Bank and major supporting sponsor UMass Amherst.

Each year, the Amherst Area Chamber bestows A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in business, education, and civic engagement across the area that the chamber serves: Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, Sunderland, and the Pioneer Valley as a whole.

“Our 2022 A+ awardees make us a better community and a better chamber,” said Claudia Pazmany, the chamber’s executive director. “Individually, they all choose to make contributions that improve our daily quality of life, and collectively, they remind us why building business and building community makes this the place we choose to live, work, and play.”

This year’s Legacy Award honors the United Way Franklin & Hampshire Region for a century of giving of an estimated $50 million through the Great Depression, World War II, the social upheaval of the sixties, the energy crisis, the Great Recession, and the COVID pandemic.

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors Angelina Ramirez for her significant contributions to Stavros Center for Independent Living of Amherst. Ramirez has led Stavros since 2019 as its CEO and has spent more than 30 years advocating for the Stavros community. She remained a steady force through the pandemic, ensuring Stavros never closed its doors.

The Leader in Innovation Award recognizes Joshua Rousseau as founder of Amherst Intelligent Security (AIS). As a UMass graduate and CEO and founder of AIS, he has consistently set the bar for great communication, creative solutions to problems, and encouraging the growth and success of individuals and businesses in the Valley. His software and team are changing the way companies work.

The Young Professional Award honors Taylor Robbins of the UMassFive College Credit Union. She has served as a big sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County and mentored through Entrepreneurship for All. Robbins is an active volunteer with the Clean River Conservation, the Hugh O’Brien leadership Group, the Cancer Walk at Polar Park, Dakin Humane Animal Shelter, and Amherst Survival Center.

The Community Service Award honors Sean Barry of Four Seasons Wines & Liquors of Hadley for his significant contributions to the community around food insecurity. He has been a supporter of Monte’s March in support of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts for many years. In addition, he has supported Cancer Connection, Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares, Fragile X Foundation, Amherst Survival Center’s Empty Bowls event, the Porter Phelps Concert Series, local veterans, and the first-ever Ireland Forever Festival held in Northampton this year.

The Chamber MVP Award recognizes Kyle Dumas of Greenfield Savings Bank for his significant contributions to the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, including his role as an essential member of the Margarita Madness committee. Beyond his work at the chamber, Dumas has been committed to his community, volunteers in many capacities, and exemplifies building business and building community.

Balazs Buszynak of Video Production by MVRK Productions, Powered by Seven Roads Media, is returning to create video tributes for each awardee.

The chamber will also honor its 2022 Cooley Dickinson Health Care & Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce $1,000 Scholarship Award recipients. Cooley Dickinson’s contribution ensures the scholarships go to four deserving seniors from Amherst Regional High School, Hopkins Academy, Belchertown High School, and Frontier Regional School pursuing business- and/or healthcare-related studies at an institution of higher education.

The 2022 A+ Awards are also made possible by committee members Heidi Flanders, chair, Integrity Development & Construction; Nancy Buffone, UMass Amherst; Joan Dahl Lussier, Homewood Suites; Jonathan Scully, Cooley Dickinson Health Care; Jessica West, bankESB; Lynn Gray, Hampshire Mall and Holyoke Mall; Kishore Parmar, Pioneer Valley Hotel Group; and Michael Gay, PeoplesBank.

Tickets cost $90 per person and $700 for a table of eight, and registration is open at amherstarea.com.

Holyoke Community College to Begin Fall Session III Classes on Oct. 31

By BusinessWest Staff October 24, 2022

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Prospective students have one more chance to sign up for classes at Holyoke Community College (HCC) for the fall 2022 semester.

Fall session III classes at HCC begin Monday, Oct. 31 and run for seven weeks.

Students who enroll for fall session III have the opportunity to take courses both on campus and online in a variety of academic areas: biology, business administration, communication, culinary arts, economics, English, forensic science, human services, management, math, sociology, and veterinary and animal science.

Students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend classes on campus. Students must submit proof of their vaccination status before being allowed to register for on-campus classes.

Students who plan to register only for online or remote classes do not have to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

The HCC Admissions and Advising offices are located on the first floor of the HCC Campus Center and are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. on Fridays).

For more information, contact HCC Admissions at (413) 552-2321 or [email protected], or visit hcc.edu.

United Way of Pioneer Valley to Present Family-friendly Boo Bash on Oct. 30

By BusinessWest Staff October 24, 2022

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) invites the public to a scary good time at its annual Boo Bash. This year, it will be held in Tower Square Park, next to the TDBank building in Springfield, on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Children and their families will enjoy music with a local DJ, pumpkin decorating, glitter tattoos, face painting, local food trucks, live animals from the Zoo in Forest Park (sponsored by NAI Plotkin), a magician, community tabling, and more. Dress up in your best costumes and join in the fun.

UWPV is seeking volunteers to assist during the day with setup and tabling. Anyone who would like to help with this community event should contact Alisha Santiago at (413) 693-0238 or [email protected].

BusinessTalk with Bob Nakosteen, professor of Economics at UMass Amherst

By BusinessWest Staff October 24, 2022

Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

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

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 134: October 24, 2022

George Interviews Bob Nakosteen, professor of Economics at UMass Amherst

‘What’s next for the economy?’ It’s an easy question to ask, but a much harder one to answer. Bob Nakosteen, a professor of Economics at UMass Amherst does his best to assess where the economy is, and where’s it’s going in the months and quarters to come as the Fed battles inflation, consumers cope with rising prices, the job market remains hot, and spending starts to cool. It’s must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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bankESB Supports Local Food Pantries with Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fundraiser

By BusinessWest Staff October 21, 2022

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced the kickoff of the bank’s 2022 Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive to help support local food pantries.

This marks the second year of the bank’s annual appeal, inviting bank customers, employees, and members of the community to donate money toward food pantries throughout the month of November. All donations (up to $2,500 per customer) will be matched dollar for dollar by bankESB, and the total raised will be divided among participating food pantries across Western Mass. in communities the bank serves. In 2021, a total of more than $39,000 was raised, which equated to $3,000 for each participating pantry.

Donations of any amount are encouraged, and as an added incentive to give, the bank will offer those who donate the opportunity to win a $25 gift card at each of its locations.

“Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a great example of how communities can come together to help others in need,” Sosik said. “bankESB is proud to continue this annual giving tradition and thankful to our valued customers and employees who selflessly choose to give.”

Those who wish to participate have until Nov. 30 to make their donations. Checks should be made payable to “bankESB Neighbors” and can be dropped off at any bankESB branch or mailed to Margaret Prendergast, bankESB, 36 Main St., Easthampton, MA 01027.

The food pantries to be supported include Amherst Survival Center Food Pantry; Best Life Food Ministry, Agawam; BUCC Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry, Belchertown; Chicopee Cupboard; Easthampton Community Center Food Pantry; Easthampton Congregational Church Food Cupboard & Oasis Kitchen; Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Hatfield; Hadley Food Pantry; Hilltown Food Pantry, Goshen; Margaret’s Pantry, Holyoke; Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Inc., South Hadley; Northampton Survival Center; Southampton Community Cupboard; and Westfield Food Pantry.

Massachusetts Unemployment Creeps Down in September

By BusinessWest Staff October 21, 2022

Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s September total unemployment rate was 3.4%, down two-tenths of a percentage point over-the-month, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 13,800 jobs in September. This follows August’s revised gain of 800 jobs. The largest over-the-month private-sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, education and health services, and construction. Employment now stands at 3,691,700. Since the employment trough in April 2020, Massachusetts has gained 640,700 jobs.

From September 2021 to September 2022, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 151,700 jobs. The largest over-the-year gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, education and health services, and professional, scientific, and business services.

The September unemployment rate of 3.4% was one-tenth of a percentage point below the national rate of 3.5% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The labor force decreased by an estimated 13,500 from 3,763,000 in August, as 7,900 fewer residents were employed and 5,600 fewer residents were unemployed over-the-month. Over-the-year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 1.7%.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — dropped two-tenths of a percentage point to 65.6%, the same figure recorded in September 2021.

VOC to Open Springfield Fuel-assistance Storefront with Ribbon Cutting on Oct. 24

By BusinessWest Staff October 21, 2022

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) will open a new storefront to serve those needing fuel assistance for the coming winter season with a ribbon cutting slated for Monday, Oct. 24 at 11:30 a.m. at the new 555 State St. office in Springfield.

Mayor Domenic Sarno will be joined by VOC Executive Director Steve Huntley, VOC frontline staff, and members of the Springfield legislative delegation to formally cut the ribbon on the new office.

VOC is now the agency of record for providing fuel assistance for income-eligible residents of the city of Springfield. Residents will be able to apply for fuel assistance at the new 555 State St. location.

VOC has been providing fuel assistance to families in all communities in Hampden County with the exception of Springfield for many years until now.

Those interested in applying for fuel assistance can visit the State Street office or call (413) 552-1548 or email [email protected]. More information is also available online at www.valleyopp.com/springfieldfuel.

Congressman Richard Neal Announces $740,000 Earmark for Agawam

By BusinessWest Staff October 21, 2022

Daily News

AGAWAM — At a press conference outside Agawam Town Hall, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, announced a $740,000 earmark to the town’s Main Street Sewer Main and Slope Stabilization project alongside Agawam Mayor William Sapelli.

The allocation was made possible through congressionally directed spending (CDS) from the Department of the Interior and the Environment. Neal submitted funding for this project in the FY 2022 spending bill that was signed into law earlier this year.

“Across our country and right here at home, our infrastructure is aging,” he said. “I fought to procure this funding for Agawam as it will have a significant impact on the environment, protect the Connecticut and Westfield rivers, and upgrade the town’s sewer and stormwater management operations.”

Agawam’s plans for this funding are twofold: to relocate the sanitary sewer interceptor main located at the top of the embankment of the Westfield River, which will ensure the sanitary sewer does not discharge into the river but flows to the nearby treatment plant instead; and to restore the embankment to an outfall adjacent to Main Street to prevent erosion from compromising Main Street/Route 159.

This project is one of ten CDS projects submitted by Neal, totaling more than $9 million in investments throughout the First Congressional District of Massachusetts.

Breeze Airways to Expand at Bradley International Airport in 2023

By BusinessWest Staff October 20, 2022

Daily News

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority announced that Breeze Airways is launching four new destinations from Bradley International Airport, including non-stop service to Vero Beach, Fla., and Phoenix, Ariz., starting from $79 and $99 one-way, respectively; and one-stop/no-plane-change ‘BreezeThru’ flights to Provo, Utah, and San Bernardino, Calif, starting from $99.

The new routes will operate on an A220 aircraft as follows: Vero Beach daily, starting Feb 2; Phoenix and Provo Thursday and Sunday, starting Feb. 9; and San Bernardino Thursday and Sunday, starting Feb. 16.

“Partnering with Breeze on their expansion has been transformative for Bradley International Airport,” said Kevin Dillon, Connecticut Airport Authority’s executive director. “Their national growth, ongoing innovation, and expanding local network offer our passengers more opportunities to travel conveniently and affordably. We thank Breeze for their partnership in bringing these exciting new routes to this key market and for their continued commitment to our community.”

Breeze Airways President Tom Doxey added that “Breeze is always looking for opportunities to bring our fast, efficient, and affordable air service between underserved city pairs, and Hartford to Phoenix and Vero Beach are two prime examples. When you add one-stop service to the west … we’re bringing affordability, convenience, and ease to our guests in and around Hartford.”

The Great Halloween Drive-Thru Returns to Suffield Today

By BusinessWest Staff October 20, 2022

Daily News

SUFFIELD, Conn. — Campiti Ventures is bringing the Halloween spirit back to Suffield with the Great Halloween Drive-Thru. A family experience full of holograms, projection technology, and kid-friendly spooky scenes, the event will be held Oct. 20-23 and 27-30 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Sunrise Park in Suffield. Tickets are $25 per car (cash only), paid at the entrance.

The half-mile journey will take participants on a fun, haunted, and not-too-scary (no jump scares) route sure to get them in the mood for Halloween season. This is the third annual Halloween event at Sunrise Park, following the successful 2021 Great Halloween Drive-Thru and 2020 Suffield Halloween Spooktacular. Audiences can expect an even bigger and better experience this year with more holograms, projections, and scenes.

“We are so thrilled to be welcomed back for another year of spooky fun,” event creator Frank Campiti said. “People really loved the experience last year — we had families dressed up for Halloween coming through the park, and even had a family come through in a hearse! We saw families with kids, couples on date night, and groups of friends looking for something fun, festive, and safe to do. We’re excited to bring this back to the community and give families a Halloween tradition they can look forward to each year. Expect some of the same fun as last year with some new features that both kids and adults will enjoy.”

A portion of each admission will be used to fund the town of Suffield’s 2023 Suffield Summer Fair and Fireworks. The 2022 event in June drew Suffield residents as well as those from surrounding towns, and the overwhelming response was that the fireworks were the best they had ever seen. Donations are also accepted, and 100% of donations will go directly to the Fireworks Fund.

“We would like to thank partner sponsor PeoplesBank and supporting sponsor Artioli Chrysler Dodge Ram for helping us put on this event,” Campiti added.

Campiti Ventures, run by Suffield resident Frank Campiti, is responsible for the 2021 Great Halloween Drive-Thru, 2021 Suffield Summer Fair and Fireworks, and 2020 Suffield Halloween Drive-Thru and Winter Wonder Drive-Thru. For more information on the Great Halloween Drive-Thru, visit thegreathalloweendrivethru.com.

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New Valley Bank & Trust Opens West Springfield Branch

Country Bank Pledges $10 Million to Support Affordable Housing

Arts Integration Studio Opens

Mercedes-Benz of Springfield Celebrates Five Years

Rocky’s Ace Hardware Reopens Agawam Store

Hometown Financial Group Welcomes Envision Bank

Chariot Payments Network Emerges from Reorganization

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Episode 134: October 24, 2022

George Interviews Bob Nakosteen, professor of Economics at UMass Amherst

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