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Year: 2023

Savvy Seniors Freeze It

By Contributor
Senior Planning

Nutrition-minded Older Adults Should Heed These Tips

By Kimberly DaSilva with Carrie Taylor and Andrea Luttrell

 

Your nutritional needs change throughout your lifetime. Some physical changes may impact appetite, senses, and fluctuations in your digestive system. These changes may be due to aging, decreased physical activity, or in conjunction with prescriptive medication suppressing your appetite.

Having a decreased appetite may impact your intake of calories, essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins needed to maintain muscle mass and prevent unintentional weight loss. When it comes to appetite, decreased senses of smell and taste can also affect the enjoyment of your food’s flavor and aroma. For digestion, your gastrointestinal tract could become less mobile and more rigid — leading to issues including constipation, stomach pain, and nausea.

“Produce that freezes well includes tomatoes, corn, carrots, peppers, zucchini, and berries. High-water-content foods such as melons, cucumbers, lettuce, and eggplant should stay clear of the freezer.”

To overcome any decrease in taste and smell, get creative. Cook with spices; herbs; aromatic vegetables like celery, onion, garlic, and shallots; and savory sauces to engage your taste buds. Select higher-quality food; cook seasonal fruits and vegetables so they have a softer mouth feel in recipes like soups, stews, and casseroles; drink plenty of water; and reduce stomach irritants, such as alcohol, to overcome physical changes as well.

As you age, your nutrition may be affected by your social and financial situation versus physical. For example, your social circle may become smaller due to the loss of a spouse, family members, and friends. Living alone and cooking for one while eating on a fixed income can present challenges for some as well.

Not all is lost! Below are some tips when cooking for one on a budget.

Six Nutritional Tips for Older Adults

Older adults have unique nutritional needs.

Simple adjustments can go a long way toward building a healthier eating pattern. Follow these tips from the National Institute on Aging to get the most out of foods and beverages while meeting your nutrient needs and reducing the risk of disease.

• Enjoy a variety of foods from each food group to help reduce the risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Choose foods with little to no added sugar, saturated fats, and sodium.

• To get enough protein throughout the day and maintain muscle, try adding seafood, dairy, or fortified soy products, along with beans, peas, and lentils, to your meals.

• Add sliced or chopped fruits and vegetables to meals and snacks. Look for pre-cut varieties if slicing and chopping are a challenge for you.

• Try foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as some cereals, or talk to your doctor about taking a B12 supplement.

• Reduce sodium intake by seasoning foods with herbs and citrus such as lemon juice.

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help stay hydrated and aid in the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. Avoid sugary drinks.

Tip 1: Be a savvy shopper. Get the most out of your food budget and purchase meats and shelf-stable foods when they are on sale. And stock up on fruits and vegetables when they are in season.

Tip 2: Be an organized shopper. Plan meals in advance and create a shopping list from your menu. Buy store brands for the same quality items at a lower cost.

Tip 3: Freeze your meals. When cooking for one, a great option is to cook and freeze meals. To do this, make multiple servings versus just one. Divide quantities into individually sized portions and freeze for future ready-made meals. Planning portions also prevents waste and can save you money.

 

Freezing Inspiration

With cooler weather around the corner, plan for hearty soups, stocks, and quick casseroles. For example, take advantage of less-expensive seasonal fruits and vegetables and preserve their fresh-picked flavor by freezing them.

Why freeze? Freezing temperatures stop the growth of microorganisms while slowing the chemical reactions that break down food and reduce its quality. This makes freezing food perfect for enjoying the taste of summer for seasons to come!

Produce that freezes well includes tomatoes, corn, carrots, peppers, zucchini, and berries. High-water-content foods such as melons, cucumbers, lettuce, and eggplant should stay clear of the freezer. Avoid discoloration of fruits such as peaches, apples, pears, and apricots by tossing with lemon juice prior to freezing.

For the best flavor and texture, use ripe, non-bruised produce free of nicks. Most raw fruit freeze just fine without blanching.

 

Tips for Freezing

• Rinse and cut produce into the desired size.

• Blanch vegetables before freezing. Drop vegetables in boiling water for one to two minutes, then immediately transfer to an ice bath and chill completely to help stop the cooking process. Drain and pat dry.

• Place fruit or vegetables in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with wax or parchment paper. Place in the freezer until the produce is frozen solid.

• Once frozen, pack into whichever freezer-safe container you prefer — a freezer-safe food-storage bag, a plastic container with an airtight lid, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil. Avoid glass, as it can shatter and cause your food to become unsafe to eat.

• Leave only a half-inch to one-inch space at the top of containers. Reducing food’s contact with air will prevent ‘off’ flavors or freezer burn.

• Store sauces and soups in freezer-safe food-storage bags and lay flat on shelves to save space.

 

Tips for Storage

• Practice food safety when cooling leftovers. Cool to room temperature for no more than two hours, or one hour for hot summer conditions above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, to avoid the risk of a foodborne illness. Putting hot food directly into the freezer creates condensation on the food, which can lead to freezer burn while possibly raising the temperature of the refrigerator. Although freezer-burned food may have off flavors, it will not cause you harm.

• Label foods with prepared, frozen, and use-by dates. Soups and stews with meat can be frozen for up to two to three months. Leftover meals can be frozen for two to six months, and fruits and vegetables can be frozen for up to one year.

 

Tips for Thawing

• Determine the quality of food after thawing. First, check odor, as some foods will develop a rancid or off odor when frozen too long. Discard such items. (Note: although some items may not look picture-perfect when frozen, they work exceptionally well in soups, stews, casseroles, and sauces.)

• Never defrost foods at room temperature. Use these three safe ways to defrost food: in a refrigerator running at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, in the microwave, or under cold running water. (Note: for foods thawed in the microwave or by running cold water, cook immediately after thawing.)

 

Tips for Use

• Enjoy frozen fruit as is, without cooking, for smoothies, flavoring plain yogurt, adding to sautés, and baking recipes.

• Vegetables can be cooked while still frozen and/or after thawing.

• Raw meat and casseroles can be cooked, or reheated, from the frozen state.

• Always reheat and/or cook foods to their recommended internal temperature, as verified with an instant-read food thermometer.

As you can see, any challenges that impact nutrition as you age can be minimized by incorporating a few new practices into your normal routine. Preserving nutrients and flavor of seasonal produce and your favorite recipes by freezing is a great way to control your food budget as well. Happy freezing!

 

Kimberly DaSilva is dietetic intern with Be Well Solutions. Carrie Taylor, RDN, LDN, RYT and Andrea Luttrell, RDN, LDN are registered dietitians with Big Y.

The Emotional Bank Account

By Contributor
Senior Planning

How Seniors Can Maintain Mental Wellness

By Behavioral Health Network

 

How can people continue to support their mental health and find ways to engage in life as they age? Leona LaFleur, a behavioral-health clinician and mental-health consultant for elder services at Behavioral Health Network, has been finding those answers through the people she works with.

Their wealth of life experience is key, she says. “I am constantly learning from my clients. They have a good degree of resilience, and so I try to help them identify what their strengths are.”

Leona LaFleur

Leona LaFleur

“A lot of people have this idea that we have to make huge changes in order to feel some success, and that’s not really necessary. We can experience success from small changes.”

According to LaFleur, there are four pillars of mental wellness for seniors: sleep, nutrition, exercise, and social connection. The latter of these is of the utmost importance, as recently referenced in an advisory by the U.S. surgeon general.

As we get older and our bodies age, maintaining a sense of control can be difficult, and choosing the people you allow to be in your life and influence you helps maintain that sense of control. Not only that, but the COVID-19 pandemic and forced isolation was tough on many people’s connections, and many are still reeling from those impacts today.

LaFleur advises seniors and their loved ones to assess how well these pillars are being addressed and where they might need to make a change. It is important to normalize what they are going through, recognize where they may be stuck, and then identify what small things can be done to make progress.

“A lot of people have this idea that we have to make huge changes in order to feel some success, and that’s not really necessary,” she said. “We can experience success from small changes.”

For example, if there is a need for more physical activity, she might recommend connecting with a friend who does yoga. Sometimes the change is as simple as getting out of bed, which can be difficult for some seniors due to their physical limitations. It is important to note that, in many cases, the elderly are not disconnected in life because they are depressed, necessarily, but because it is physically difficult for them to actively engage in their life.

Breaking things down into small components helps with anxiety and decision fatigue as well. Because of the abundance of information in the world today, people can be easily overwhelmed. Simplifying things is important to identify where the challenges are and where improvement can happen. LaFleur notes that “I try to break things down and recognize the individual, and try to get them to identify what they need.”

She also recommends considering mental healthcare like an ‘emotional bank account.’ Determine what actions can you take — whether relaxing, socializing, or otherwise — to put ‘money’ in the bank and increase your reserves for managing stress. With more reserves in your emotional bank account, you are better able to manage difficult situations that you encounter.

Deposits are different for each person and situation. For example, social actions are not always a deposit; time spent with family can come with difficult history and thus can increase stress. It is important to give yourself credit for the things you do, especially the little things, because they all contribute to your self-worth and overall well-being.

A Whole Year of Fun

By Contributor
Senior Planning

Older Adults Have Plenty of Ways to Stay Physically Active

By the National Institute on Aging

There are lots of fun and simple ways to build exercise into your daily routine. It’s easy to come up with ideas for activities to do with your family and ways to stay active in all four seasons.

 

Spending Time with the Family

Being physically active with your family is a great way to stay healthy and make exercise fun. Whether you play team sports with the entire family or take brisk walks with your spouse, child, or grandchild, you’ll be rewarded with improved health and time spent together. Here are a few activity ideas for you to do with your grandchildren:

Infants and toddlers:

• Take them for walks in the stroller and rides on your bike. Don’t forget your helmets.

• Play games that get your bodies moving, like wheels on the bus, pretend we’re animals, and hide and seek.

• Sign up for baby yoga or exercise classes.

• Try baby-friendly swimming classes.

School-aged children:

• Walk to the park and push their swing.

• Jump rope together.

• Build a fort — indoors or out.

• Play catch, kickball, basketball, or soccer.

• Go swimming or biking together.

• Play a video fitness game together and see who wins.

Teens and young adults:

• Participate in activities that interest them. Try hiking, skating, or tennis.

• Go golfing or swimming. Invite them to join you in physical activities that require two people, such as tennis or ping pong.

• Ask them to help you in the garden or with heavy-duty household chores.

 

Be Physically Active Without Spending a Dime

You don’t need to spend a fortune to be physically active. In fact, you can be active in many ways without spending any money. You don’t need special exercise equipment other than comfortable walking shoes. Here are a few ideas to help get you moving for free:

• Make your own weights from household items such as soup cans or bottles of water.

• Try out free demonstration exercises classes at your local senior center or fitness center.

• Go for a hike in a park.

• Participate in community-sponsored fun runs or walks.

• Yard work such as raking, digging, and planting can keep you active.

• Make sure to drink water or juice after exercise.

 

Find Ways to Stay Active in All Four Seasons

Being creative about your physical activity plans and trying new forms of exercise can keep you motivated by preventing boredom. A change in seasons is an excellent time to be creative about your exercise routine and try something new. There are many ways to be active throughout the year.

 

Winter:

• When your grandchildren visit, head outside to build a snowman together or go ice skating.

• Cold outdoor temperatures are an excellent reason to join a mall-walking group.

• Start the new year by trying out a fitness center — many offer New Year’s resolution specials.

• Give your heart a Valentine’s Day gift with dance lessons, such as salsa, tango, or belly dancing.

 

Spring:

• As the temperatures start to get warm, get your garden ready for spring and summer. The lifting and bending you do when gardening are great for strength and flexibility.

• A bike ride is a great way to enjoy the warmer temperatures.

• Anything can be fun with upbeat music, including spring cleaning.

• Build your endurance and strength with a bike ride during National Bike Month (May). Remember your helmet.

 

Summer:

• Swim laps or take a water-aerobics class. These are both refreshing once the weather gets steamy.

• Walking in the mall is a cool way to beat the heat.

• Now that the grandchildren are out of school for the summer, ask them to teach you their favorite sport or physical activity.

• Celebrate National Bowling Week the first week in August. Get friends and family together and challenge each other to a friendly tournament.

 

Fall:

• If you’ve heard about the benefits of yoga but haven’t tried it yet, National Yoga Awareness Month (September) is a great time to find special events and trial classes for beginners.

• As the weather begins to cool, join an indoor sports league, such as basketball, handball, or bowling.

• Fall provides great opportunities for physical activity. You can take long walks to see the beautiful fall colors. Once the leaves have fallen, raking is good exercise.

• If you have holiday shopping to do, walk the entire mall each time you’re there.

Estate Planning: An Introduction

By Contributor
Senior Planning

Goals, Strategies Can Vary with Each Stage of Life

By UMassFive Financial & Investment Services

 

By definition, estate planning is a process designed to help you manage and preserve your assets while you are alive, and to conserve and control their distribution after your death, according to your goals and objectives. But what estate planning means to you specifically depends on who you are. Your age, health, wealth, lifestyle, life stage, goals, and many other factors determine your particular estate-planning needs.

“Your age, health, wealth, lifestyle, life stage, goals, and many other factors determine your particular estate-planning needs.”

For example, you may have a small estate and may be concerned only that certain people receive particular things. A simple will is probably all you’ll need. Or you may have a large estate, and minimizing any potential estate-tax impact is your foremost goal. Here, you’ll need to use more sophisticated techniques in your estate plan, such as a trust.

To help you understand what estate planning means to you, the following sections address some estate-planning needs that are common among some very broad groups of individuals. Think of these suggestions as simply a point in the right direction, and then seek professional advice to implement the right plan for you.

 

Over 18

Since incapacity can strike anyone at any time, all adults over 18 should consider having:

• A durable power of attorney: This document lets you name someone to manage your property for you in case you become incapacitated and cannot do so; and

• An advance medical directive: The three main types of advance medical directives are a living will, a durable power of attorney for healthcare (also known as a healthcare proxy), and a do-not-resuscitate order. Be aware that not all states allow each kind of medical directive, so make sure you execute one that will be effective for you.

 

Young and Single

If you’re young and single, you may not need much estate planning. But if you have some material possessions, you should at least write a will. If you don’t, the wealth you leave behind if you die will likely go to your parents, and that might not be what you want. A will lets you leave your possessions to anyone you choose (e.g., your significant other, siblings, other relatives, or favorite charity).

 

Unmarried Couples

You’ve committed to a life partner but aren’t legally married. For you, a will is essential if you want your property to pass to your partner at your death. Without a will, state law directs that only your closest relatives will inherit your property, and your partner may get nothing. If you share certain property, such as a house or car, you may consider owning the property as joint tenants with rights of survivorship. That way, when one of you dies, the jointly held property will pass to the surviving partner automatically.

 

Married Couples

For many years, married couples had to do careful estate planning, such as the creation of a credit shelter trust, in order to take advantage of their combined federal estate-tax exclusions. For decedents dying in 2011 and later years, the executor of a deceased spouse’s estate can transfer any unused estate-tax exclusion amount to the surviving spouse without such planning.

You may be inclined to rely on these portability rules for estate-tax avoidance, using outright bequests to your spouse instead of traditional trust planning. However, portability should not be relied upon solely for utilization of the first to die’s estate-tax exclusion, and a credit-shelter trust created at the first spouse’s death may still be advantageous for several reasons:

• Portability may be lost if the surviving spouse remarries and is later widowed again;

• The trust can protect any appreciation of assets from estate tax at the second spouse’s death;

• The trust can provide protection of assets from the reach of the surviving spouse’s creditors; and

• Portability does not apply to the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax, so the trust may be needed to fully leverage the GST exemptions of both spouses.

Married couples where one spouse is not a U.S. citizen have special planning concerns. The marital deduction is not allowed if the recipient spouse is a non-citizen spouse (but a $164,000 annual exclusion for 2022 is allowed). If certain requirements are met, however, a transfer to a qualified domestic trust will qualify for the marital deduction.

 

Married with Children

If you’re married and have children, you and your spouse should each have your own will. For you, wills are vital because you can name a guardian for your minor children in case both of you die simultaneously. If you fail to name a guardian in your will, a court may appoint someone you might not have chosen. Furthermore, without a will, some states dictate that, at your death, some of your property goes to your children and not to your spouse. If minor children inherit directly, the surviving parent will need court permission to manage the money for them.

You may also want to consult an attorney about establishing a trust to manage your children’s assets in the event that both you and your spouse die at the same time.

You may also need life insurance. Your surviving spouse may not be able to support the family on his or her own and may need to replace your earnings to maintain the family.

 

Comfortable and Looking Forward to Retirement

If you’re in your 30s, you may be feeling comfortable. You’ve accumulated some wealth, and you’re thinking about retirement. Here’s where estate planning overlaps with retirement planning. It’s just as important to plan to care for yourself during your retirement as it is to plan to provide for your beneficiaries after your death.

You should keep in mind that, even though Social Security may be around when you retire, those benefits alone may not provide enough income for your retirement years. Consider saving some of your accumulated wealth using other retirement and deferred vehicles, such as an individual retirement account.

 

Wealthy and Worried

Depending on the size of your estate, you may need to be concerned about estate taxes. For 2022, $12,060,000 is effectively excluded from the federal gift and estate tax. Estates over that amount may be subject to the tax at a top rate of 40%.

Similarly, there is another tax, called the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax, that is imposed on transfers of wealth made to grandchildren (and lower generations). For 2022, the GST tax exemption is also $12,060,000, and the top tax rate is 40%.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law in December 2017, doubled the gift- and estate-tax basic exclusion amount and the GST tax exemption to $11,180,000 in 2018. After 2025, they are scheduled to revert to their pre-2018 levels and cut by about one-half.

Whether your estate will be subject to state death taxes depends on the size of your estate and the tax laws in effect in the state in which you are domiciled.

 

Elderly or Ill

If you’re elderly or ill, you’ll want to write a will or update your existing one, consider a revocable living trust, and make sure you have a durable power of attorney and a healthcare directive. Talk with your family about your wishes, and make sure they have copies of your important papers or know where to locate them.

 

Help with Estate Planning

Looking for guidance for getting started with estate planning, or maybe you just need a second opinion? The CFS fnancial advisors at UMassFive Federal Credit Union are well-versed in this type of planning and can work in conjunction with your estate-planning attorney. Visit [email protected] for more information.

Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, LP (CFS), a registered broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC) and SEC registered investment advisor. Products offered through CFS are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal. Investment representatives are registered through CFS. UMassFive has contracted with CFS to make non-deposit investment products and services available to credit-union members. CFS does not provide tax or legal advice. For such guidance, consult your tax or legal professional.

Creating an Estate Plan

By Contributor
Senior Planning

The Process Begins by Understanding the Key Documents

By Stephen Sobey, Esq.

 

In the back of your mind is a list that, particularly in quiet moments, likes to assert itself. It’s the list of the things you know you should do but haven’t. Items may include scheduling an oil change, finding a primary care physician, cleaning out your refrigerator…and creating an estate plan.

Stephen Sobey

Stephen Sobey

“You need to consider who you trust and, among those individuals, who has the right skill set and disposition to serve as personal representative of your estate or as the guardian of your children.”

One day, hopefully soon, you resolve to check off this last, very important item. What do you need to know? Although an estate-planning attorney can guide you through this process, it is to your benefit to have a basic understanding of the core documents that make up an estate plan and have already considered certain key questions.

The documents generally considered to form the core of any estate plan are the last will and testament, durable power of attorney, and healthcare proxy. Depending on your circumstances (e.g., minor children, taxable estate, etc.) or preferences, a fourth document, the revocable trust, may also be part of this core group. A discussion of trusts would require more space than is available in this article, but the questions posed here will still be useful if you and your attorney decide trust planning is appropriate.

 

Last Will and Testament

A will’s primary functions are to direct the distribution of probate property, nominate the personal representative (previously known as the ‘executor’) of your estate, and nominate the guardians and conservators of any minor children who survive you.

First, who do you want to get your probate property when you die? Although seemingly straightforward, this question contains within it a multitude of sub-questions. Do you want to make sure someone gets a particular item? Do you want to leave someone a specific dollar amount, and, if so, how much? Is there someone you want to make absolutely sure gets nothing from your estate? And what happens if everyone you have named in your will predeceases you?

As you consider these questions, keep in mind two critical points: the will ultimately controls only the distribution of probate property, which is not necessarily all the property you may own. Probate property consists only of the assets you owned in your name alone at your death. Assets with beneficiary designations, such as life-insurance policies and IRAs; jointly owned assets, such as some bank accounts; and assets in trust are all examples of non-probate property. In creating an estate plan, then, just as important as the question of what you own is the question of how you own it.

Finally, you need to consider who you trust and, among those individuals, who has the right skill set and disposition to serve as personal representative of your estate or as the guardian of your children. The best way to think about these roles, and about any of the other roles discussed here, is as jobs with their own particular job descriptions. In this way, deciding on the right person should be more than a matter of simply naming, for example, your eldest child; rather, give some thought to each person’s proverbial resumé.

 

Durable Power of Attorney

The purpose of the durable power of attorney is to designate someone to manage your financial affairs during your life. The person you appoint is variously referred to as your ‘agent’ or ‘attorney-in-fact.’

When your agent may act for you will depend on how the document is drafted. In some durable powers of attorney, the agent’s authority is immediate. In so-called ‘springing’ durable powers of attorney, the agent’s authority commences only upon the determination of a physician that you lack the capacity to manage your own affairs. Each of these approaches has its own pluses and minuses, which your attorney can explain.

 

Healthcare Proxy

In a healthcare proxy, you designate an individual to serve as your ‘healthcare agent.’ Their role is to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you are unable to communicate your wishes. However, the healthcare agent’s authority is effective only upon a physician’s determination that you are incapacitated.

Healthcare proxies are often conflated with what are commonly known as living wills. A living will is a document in which you set your preferences regarding, among other things, end-of-life care. Living wills, unlike healthcare proxies, are not legally binding in Massachusetts; however, this document can provide a helpful framework for your healthcare agent in making medical decisions on your behalf.

This is a general overview of what is ultimately an intensely detail-oriented subject. But, armed with this little bit of knowledge, you have the beginnings of what you need to create your estate plan. The next step, naturally, is to contact an attorney.

 

Stephen Sobey is an associate with Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin.

Decisions, Decisions

By Contributor
Senior Planning

How to Choose a Medicare or Medicare Advantage Plan

By Sarah Fernandes

 

In Massachusetts, more than 1.4 million people who are 65 or older will be making decisions about their 2024 Medicare and Medicare Advantage coverage during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (open enrollment) from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Before choosing their plans, Medicare beneficiaries should consider a few things.

Sarah Fernandes

Sarah Fernandes

“By focusing on prevention, any potential health issues can be identified early, and you can work to maintain optimal health and prioritize your well-being.”

Is All Medicare Coverage the Same?

While Original Medicare (Parts A and B), the plan provided by the federal government, covers hospitalizations and most doctors’ services, coverage for other services like outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive health care (Parts C and D) can vary widely. Part C, otherwise known as Medicare Advantage, and Part D (prescription drug coverage) are offered through private insurers, such as Health New England and others.

 

What is Medicare Advantage (Part C)?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover everything Original Medicare (Parts A and B) would cover, but offer additional benefits and services beyond Original Medicare. These added benefits can include prescription-drug coverage, vision care, dental services, hearing aids, wellness programs, and more. Medicare Advantage plans provide greater opportunities for beneficiaries to engage in preventive services, such as regular checkups, screenings, vaccinations, and health education.

By focusing on prevention, any potential health issues can be identified early, and you can work to maintain optimal health and prioritize your well-being. If you do have a chronic condition, a coordinated approach from your Medicare Advantage plan and your providers ensures that you receive the necessary support, education, and interventions to manage your condition effectively, leading to improved quality of life and health outcomes.

 

How Do I Decide?

To decide what plan is right for you, be sure to review the features of the plan. For instance:

• Make a list of your preferred healthcare providers and see if they are considered in-network or out-of-network for each plan you are considering. Some plans do not cover out-of-network services at all, while some cover them partially.

• Similarly, make a list of your medications and see if they will be covered and how much, if anything, you will need to pay out-of-pocket (your co-pay).

• If you travel or spend time in other areas of the country, check if the plan allows you to use any Medicare-accepting doctor anywhere in the U.S.

• See if the plan covers dental, vision care, hearing services, and prescription drugs.

• Ask if the plan offers additional healthy benefits such as gym memberships, coverage for acupuncture, activity trackers, and weight-management programs.

How Do I Learn More?

Health New England’s Medicare Advantage plans are a popular option for people aged 65 and older who are looking to tailor their healthcare coverage to their personal needs. As part of Baystate Health, Health New England has many high-quality providers in our network across Western Mass., and we have plans that cover you anywhere you travel in the U.S.

To learn more about choosing the right Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan, you can attend Health New England’s live information sessions, which you can find and register for at healthnewengland.org/medicare/sessions.

For more information about Health New England, visit healthnewengland.org/medicare or call (877) 443-3314 (TTY: 711). SHINE, Massachusetts’ free Medicare advice service, is available online at mass.gov/health-insurance-counseling or by calling (800) 243-4636. For more information about Medicare, visit medicare.gov.

 

Sarah Fernandes is the Medicare sales manager at Health New England and been with Health New England for more than 23 years. She and her team educate Medicare beneficiaries in Western Mass. on their Medicare options.

 

Preparing a Will

By Contributor
Senior Planning

It Can Be a Dreaded Task, but It’s an Important One

By Mary Paier Powers, Esq.

 

Completing a will is often a dreaded task to undertake — partly because we don’t want to face our own mortality, and partly because we don’t know where to begin.

A will is an important document that ensures property you own in your own name passes to the beneficiaries of your own choosing, and it can be changed as necessary. Your will gets filed at probate court when you pass away owning assets in your own name. Assets that have a beneficiary listed or assets that you own jointly are not controlled by your will.

Mary Paier Powers

Mary Paier Powers

“A will is an important document that ensures property you own in your own name passes to the beneficiaries of your own choosing, and it can be changed as necessary.”

As you are about to embark on this process, here are some thoughts to consider.

• Who are your beneficiaries? Family, children, friends, charities, or a combination of all? You can construct your will to leave your estate to the beneficiaries of your choosing.

• How old is a beneficiary, and does that beneficiary have the ability to manage the money or inheritance? Can they be in control if they receive a lump sum of money?

• Will you need a trust as part of your will? A trust provides for the management and distribution of assets for a beneficiary in a manner that is best for the beneficiary.

• What if a beneficiary passes away before you? Does that beneficiary’s share pass to their children? Or does it go only to your surviving beneficiaries?

• Some people plan for the future when they prepare their wills and try to accommodate various situations. It is OK and often recommended to update your will as your family and beneficiaries change. There is always uncertainty with what the future holds.

• If you do want to make minor changes later, you can do that with a codicil. This is an amendment to your will that changes the specific paragraphs that need to be adjusted, or, if there are a lot of changes, you would redo your entire will.

• If you opt to leave money to a charity, I encourage you to look at the organization’s website. You can opt to leave your money to a general fund and allow the charity to use the funds as the charity chooses, or you can specify your preferences for the use of your bequest.

• Another consideration is whom you should name as your personal representative, formerly known as an executor. This is an important responsibility since this person will gather your assets and distribute them as you direct. The personal representative will be responsible for making sure that the estate-tax return and income-tax return are completed if required, as well as making sure final personal income-tax returns are done.

• You should think of a second person to serve as a backup if the first named person/party cannot carry out these responsibilities.

• If you have minor children, you will want to think about who their guardian and/or conservator will be. Generally, the spouse or the child’s surviving parent will be listed, but you can also name alternate agents to serve in this capacity.

• You can also prepare a memorandum that will list various personal property items. Your personal representative will follow this list as a guideline. A memorandum can be completed by you individually, but you need to keep it with your will so the personal representative has access to it. This memorandum is a great mechanism to distribute personal items as well as sentimental items to beneficiaries of your choice — and if you change your mind, you can write a new memorandum.

This list is meant to be a starting point, and everyone’s situation is different. The most important step is to prepare a will; otherwise, the Commonwealth will dictate who will receive your assets at your death.

 

Mary Paier Powers is a partner at Powers Law Group in Springfield and West Springfield, where her practices focus primarily on estate settlement, estate planning, and elder law.

A Task Better Left to a Professional

By Contributor
Senior Planning

Being in Charge of an Estate Can Be Unsettling

By Janice Ward, Esq., CFP

 

It is a fact: estate administration is complicated and time-consuming. Money can, and often does, complicate relationships. Money can make people do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do. Money can breed distrust — and worse.

These are just some of many reasons why those with estates, especially large estates or those with complex assets, should think carefully about who they choose to be their personal representative (formerly known as an executor or executrix) to administer their estate after they pass. Because settling an estate can be an unsettling experience and can potentially damage and destroy personal family relationships, you might consider an alternative to a family member.

Janice Ward

Janice Ward

“Overall, the person you choose as your personal representative will be responsible for a daunting list of tasks.”

Overall, the person you choose as your personal representative will be responsible for a daunting list of tasks. For a grieving family member, this could represent an unintended burden that requires a wide range of expertise and significant time commitment during this very difficult life transition. And if this isn’t enough, they may have to contend with pressure from — and disputes with — beneficiaries who are usually other family members. The resulting tug of war can lead to lengthy delays, sometimes lasting years, and often resulting in strained relationships and sometimes irreconcilable, heartbreaking splits among surviving family members.

An increasingly popular alternative is to choose a third-party professional, such as the Estate Settlement team within Greenfield Savings Bank Wealth Management and Trust Services. Such professionals can take away the burden and worries of estate settlement and ensure that one’s estate is managed efficiently and according to their wishes, without overburdening one specific family member. Alternatively, a professional personal representative can serve jointly alongside a family member. Such professionals can handle a wide array of responsibilities, including:

• Entering the will into probate and handling other legal requirements;

• Gathering all personal property and arranging for support of the family;

• Clearing out the decedent’s home and preparing for distribution or sale;

• Obtaining appraisals of required property for tax purposes;

• Reviewing real-estate records to assure timely payment of taxes and collection of rents;

• Evaluating contracts and leases, giving necessary notices, and complying with all requirements;

• Investigating all claims against the estate and handling them accordingly;

• Collecting all life insurance, rents, and other amounts due;

• Preparing and filing your final personal income-tax return, as well as any estate/inheritance tax returns that may be required either on a state or federal level;

• Paying related estate and inheritance taxes;

• Preparing a final accounting of the estate for the remainder beneficiaries; and

• Distributing the estate as directed by the will.

This partial list of responsibilities reveals just how complicated and time-consuming the settling of an estate can be. Individuals should keep this in mind when they are choosing a personal representative.

While choosing a family member may seem like a logical step, and some family members may actually volunteer for the assignment, most individuals are not fully qualified to handle such duties, and even if they are, they would often be placed in a difficult situation where relationships can become strained and matters can be delayed. There is often a perception of unfairness if one family member is making all the decisions that affect the personal finances and tax consequences of each beneficiary. For example, is this individual liquidating all the assets — which might cause significant capital gains to family members who pay high tax rates — and are those decisions equally fair and appropriate for all affected parties?

A professional personal representative will not only know the requirements of estate administration from a tax perspective, but will also understand the consequences of every decision they make as they assemble and then distribute each important piece of the puzzle. Choosing such a professional shouldn’t be considered disrespectful to family members. It should be looked upon as a common-sense alternative, one that can alleviate potential problems and eliminate the stress on familial relationships that often arises when money is at stake and an estate needs to be settled.

 

Janice Ward is an attorney, certified financial planner, and first vice president and trust officer at Greenfield Savings Bank.

Roadblocks to Equality

By Contributor
Senior Planning

LGBTQ+ Elders Face Unique Planning Challenges

 

By Julie A. Dialessi-Lafley, Esq.

 

You have heard it and read it over and over again: everyone, regardless of their level of wealth, should have an estate plan. However, for LGBTQ+ elders, it may be even more critical to have an estate plan in place due to the challenges faced by many in the community.

Despite the fact that same-sex marriages are legally recognized in all 50 states, only 54% of same-sex couples are married. Not only are there still challenges for married same-sex couples, the high percentage of non-married couples also necessitates planning. While the government can create a law recognizing these marriages, there are organizations, businesses, and people who do not acknowledge these couples. The result is challenges for couples who simply want equality, as well as to provide and plan for their loved ones and chosen family.

Julie A. Dialessi-Lafley

Julie A. Dialessi-Lafley

“Making sure planning is in place to provide for the needs of the surviving spouse, partner, and other family and friends is crucial, as the laws in the absence of planning may not provide for those loved ones as you would want.”

Planning for retirement is both a financial goal as well as a lifestyle decision for LGBTQ+ elders. Making sure planning is in place to provide for the needs of the surviving spouse, partner, and other family and friends is crucial, as the laws in the absence of planning may not provide for those loved ones as you would want.

Additionally, social isolation can really creep up and become a serious problem to overcome. The question of where to retire has become overwhelming, as relocation brings with it a need to find an area that provides for the social inclusion for these elders as well as financial stability, reasonable cost of living, and lifestyle needs.

Within the U.S., about 80% of long-term care for older people is provided by family members, such as spouses, children, and other relatives. LGBTQ+ elders are only half as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to have close family to lean on or children to help. Simply put, folks who are part of the LGBTQ+ community are less likely to be married, they may have children where only one partner is the biological parent, and there is a high incidence of alienation from non-accepting family members.

Planning how long-term-care medical needs will be paid and who will act as the healthcare proxy/advocate for the LGBTQ+ elder is crucial, as many LGBTQ+ elders need to make sure they have an appropriate person to assist in making decisions about their care, as well as being concerned about harassment and hostility in facilities that serve the aging population. These folks often do not access aging services out of fear of hostile and harassing treatment. Few facilities are prepared to address insensitivity or discrimination aimed at LGBTQ+ elders by staff or other older people. Proper planning and memorializing those wishes in an estate plan can allow the elder person to age with the dignity and respect they deserve.

For non-married partners, planning is extremely important because, under the law, a partner is not going to have the standard rights to healthcare information and the ability to make healthcare decisions on behalf of their partner. A partner will not be able to access bank accounts if they are not in joint names and they are not able to make any and all decisions on behalf of their partner. Unmarried partners are not entitled to any inheritance in the absence of a will, trust, or proper planning.

Regardless of marital status, end-of-life decisions, the question of cremation versus burial, and any memorial arrangements should be documented to make sure your wishes are carried out as, again, both non-married and married partners may face significant challenges in carrying out your wishes in the absence of documentation.

In LGBTQ+ couples with children, only one parent might be the biological parent, or neither might be. They might have used an egg or sperm donor to conceive, or a surrogate to carry the child. There are varying rules across states about parental rights, but from a legal perspective, the biological parent is the one with the legal rights, barring any other court documentation. Even a birth certificate with both parents’ names on it may not be enough.

A last will and testament lays out who your assets should go to after you die. It also allows you to name a guardian for your minor children. It can help your family avoid disputes that might arise if there is not a plan in place or if it is not clearly stated. Additionally, trusts can be used to plan where assets go after you die and also avoid probate of your estate. This can be a cost-effective way to reduce conflict in the future and avoid claims against the elder’s estate from family who have been intentionally omitted from the planning.

As a result of what the community describes as continued discrimination and lack of inclusion, elders need to ensure that they have in place, at minimum, the appropriate documents, such as durable power of attorney, healthcare proxy; will, trusts (if warranted), and end-of-life directives in order to ensure their wishes can be carried out and their needs will be met in the event of an illness or death.

Estate planning can help to navigate through an increasingly complex legal system, and proper planning can protect your loved ones when they will need it most.

 

Julie Dialessi-Lafley is a shareholder with Bacon Wilson whose practice areas include estate planning and elder law, domestic relations and family law, and business and corporate law; (413) 781-0560; [email protected]

A Gentle Reminder

By Contributor
Senior Planning

Don’t Lose Yourself in Caring for Others

By Mary-Anne Schelb

 

Seasons.

And I don’t mean winter, spring, summer, or fall. I am referring to the seasons of life. Seasons of friendship, seasons of career, seasons of family. You get it.

We all know the saying: friends come into and out of our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Really, the same thing happens in all we do. Getting married, you become someone’s wife or husband or partner. You have children, and you are mom or dad. You get a career, and you are someone’s employee or boss. Even C-suite employees report to someone. If you are a business owner, you may have a board of directors you are in step with — or you are answering to your customers or clients. Some of these will be for a reason, for a season, or maybe a lifetime.

Mary-Anne Schelb

Mary-Anne Schelb

“If you give too much of yourself away, there will be nothing left for you, and that is why, when you step into your final season — retirement — it’s easy to feel sad or lost.”

When you are all of these things to everyone, all the time — wife, mom, employee, business owner — are you losing the core of who you are? Are you getting lost in the hustle and bustle? We all know that, as the years pass, the hustle and bustle gets more hustley and bustley.

Don’t get lost. Don’t lose your identity of who you are at your core. Remember what you need — to feel whole, to feel alive. If you give too much of yourself away, there will be nothing left for you, and that is why, when you step into your final season — retirement — it’s easy to feel sad or lost.

As the years go by, you see many college graduations with children becoming adults and going out on their own. Empty-nest syndrome is a real thing, and it is OK to feel sad, but (you knew there would be a but) do not lose yourself in this sadness. Try to replace the sadness with excitement that your kids are going forth into the world with all you have taught them, all you have shown them. Our job is to guide them and encourage them to become successful and contributing members of society. Let them live. Let them experience. And I dare you to do the same.

What were things in your world you used to love to do that got pushed to the side or put on a back burner while you cared for your children, or while you worked countless hours at a job you may or may not have even liked. Hobbies you used to love? Friends you used to see? Live your life. Become the person you have always wanted to become — or reignite the passion for yourself you used to have. I always share with clients: it is never too late.

Whether you are still mom and dad — or now maybe caring for your own mom and dad — or you are finding you are identifying too much with a job, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and picture the perfect you. Connect with your higher self (that perfect version of yourself) and move toward that. One small step at a time still moves you forward.

Don’t get lost in someone else’s dream; make sure you are living your own. And if you are? Kudos to you! We are very few and far between. So I ask this of you: reach out to a friend who may be in need. Give them a hug, spend some time, lend an ear. Talk to them about the wonderful person you know they are, and remind them not to get lost.

We are all in this together.

 

Mary-Anne Schelb is director of Business Development at JGS Lifecare.

Reading the Signs

By Contributor
Senior Planning

Six Indications It Might Be Time for Memory Care

By Arbors Assisted Living

 

Memory care is a special kind of long-term care designed to meet the specific needs of people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia or types of memory problems. Often housed within an assisted-living community, a memory-care program offers a more structured environment that comes with set schedules and routines to create a stress-free lifestyle, safety features to ensure the health of the residents, and programs designed to cultivate cognitive skills.

Five Symptoms of Dementia to Look Out For

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life.

One of the most common signs of dementia involves trouble with short-term memory. From forgetting recently learned information to asking for the same information over and over, your aging loved one may be able to remember events that took place years ago, but not what they had for breakfast.

2. Difficulty handling complex tasks.

You might notice a subtle shift in your loved one’s ability to complete normal tasks, such as driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work, or remembering the rules of a favorite game — or when they start having difficulty handling more complex tasks, such as balancing a checkbook.

3. New problems with words in speaking or writing.

Maybe your mom has always been a stellar conversationalist, and you notice that now she may have trouble following or joining a conversation. Or perhaps your dad struggles to find the right word or calls things by the wrong name.

4. Apathy and withdrawal or depression.

Changes in mood can be an indication that your loved one has dementia. Perhaps they avoid being social because of the changes in their brain. They may also have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby, so they may start to withdraw from things they previously enjoyed.

5. Increasing confusion and disorientation.

Someone in the early stages of dementia may often lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. Confusion may arise as they can no longer remember faces, find the right words, or interact with people normally.

When to see a doctor:

If your aging loved one exhibits several of these signs, consult a doctor. A general practitioner will typically refer you to a neurologist who can examine your loved one’s physical and mental health to determine whether the symptoms result from dementia or another cognitive problem.

One of the goals of a memory-care community is to keep seniors with dementia engaged and active in a safe, home-like environment and to promote the highest quality of life by adapting the staff, environment, and daily routine to the needs of each individual.

Because of this, there is no downside to placing a loved one in a memory-care community too soon. However, there are many drawbacks to waiting too long.

So, how do you know when it’s the right time to consider moving your loved one to a specialized memory care community? The following questions may be helpful when determining if a move to memory care is a good option.

 

1. Is My Loved One Becoming Unsafe in Their Current Home?

As dementia progresses, your loved one will have a harder time functioning independently. Maybe you used to be able to help your mom by writing out a daily to-do list and a schedule of when she should take her medications. But now, she needs reminders to shower and help choosing appropriate clothes for the season.

Bathing, toileting, dressing, and other activities of daily living all come with risks. Safety should always be considered, and if there are any tasks that your loved one cannot perform safely on their own, assistance should be provided.

How often each day you worry about her, check on her, or make a call regarding her safety or whereabouts? If your loved one has fallen, had a driving accident, or suffered an unexplained injury, these are safety signs it’s time to consider moving your loved one to a memory-care community.

 

2. Is the Health of My Loved One or My Health as a Caregiver at Risk?

Dementia will affect your loved one’s ability to remember to take prescribed medications at the right time or the right dosage, which can lead to serious health problems. For example, chronic health conditions such as COPD and heart disease may worsen rapidly if dementia interferes with your loved one’s ability to manage their treatment. You might also notice that your loved one starts to look different. Maybe your dad is losing weight because he forgets to eat or gaining weight because he forgets he’s eaten and eats again.

When you look in a mirror, you might notice that you are starting to look different, too. Caring for someone with dementia is mentally draining and physically exhausting. If the stress of caregiving is left unchecked, it can have an impact on your health, relationships, and state of mind, eventually leading to burnout.

Is dementia preventing your loved one from taking care of their health? Are you and your other family members exhausted? It’s important to be honest with yourself about your emotional and physical limits while caregiving. Sometimes placement in a memory-care community is best for both the caregiver and the loved one’s overall health and well-being.

 

3. Are My Loved One’s Care Needs Beyond My Physical Capabilities?

In the later stages of dementia, your loved one may require assistance getting in and out of bed and moving from the bed to a chair. Additionally, dementia physically damages the brain, which can affect your loved one’s personality and behavior.

Wandering, agitation, repetitive speech or actions, paranoia, and sleeplessness may pose many challenges for families and caregivers. However, it’s important to remember that these behaviors are often coping tactics for a person with deteriorating brain function.

Is your petite, 70-year-old mom trying to get your 180-pound dad to the bathroom two or three times each night? Is your dad’s aggression triggered by something — physical discomfort, being in an unfamiliar situation, poor communication — on a regular basis? If continuing to care for your loved one at home puts both of you in danger, that’s a telltale sign that it’s time for memory care.

 

4. Am I Becoming a Stressed, Irritable, and Impatient Caregiver?

Stress arousal is the first sign that you’re not getting the physical and emotional support you need as a caregiver. Maybe you’re frustrated or disappointed over your loved one’s deteriorating condition or lack of progress. It can be hard to accept that the quality of your care and effort have nothing to do with the actual health-related decline or mood of the care recipient. This frustration can lead to caregiver stress.

If you are so overwhelmed by taking care of someone else that you have neglected your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being, it will not be long before you are experiencing caregiver burnout. When you are burned out, it is tough to do anything, let alone look after someone else.

 

5. Am I Neglecting Work Responsibilities, My Family, and Myself?

You might be struggling to maintain a sense of purpose in working so hard to provide care, which leads to neglecting responsibilities, withdrawing socially from friends and family, and having much less energy than you once had.

Family caregivers often have to take time off, either paid or unpaid, while some have to reduce their work hours. Others leave the workforce entirely in order to provide full-time care for a loved one. Additionally, caregivers don’t have as much time to take care of themselves, and they can often feel cut off from the outside world. Social isolation leads to higher levels of both caregiver stress and depression.

“There is no downside to placing a loved one in a memory-care community too soon. However, there are many drawbacks to waiting too long.”

Are you feeling irritable or hopeless, struggling with emotional and physical exhaustion, or getting sick more often? Do you have heightened anxiety or trouble making care decisions? If your loved one’s need for care is wearing you out, it may be time to start considering your memory-care options.

 

6. Would the Structure and Social Interaction at a Memory-care Community Benefit My Loved One?

Somewhere in the middle and late stages of dementia, your loved one will no longer be able to drive, and communication with others will become increasingly difficult. Your loved one may lose track of their thoughts, be unable to follow conversations, and/or have trouble understanding what others are trying to communicate.

Maybe it’s become too challenging to take your mom out to eat, shop, or exercise because her behavior is unpredictable. Or perhaps your dad can no longer drive, so he rarely goes out and is restless and lonely.

Is dementia shrinking your loved one’s world? Memory-care programs are equipped to provide activities and stimulation — including trips and outings — that can keep your loved one engaged and active in a safe, homelike environment.

If you answered yes to any of these questions or if you have reached a point where you feel like you cannot fully meet the needs of a loved one struggling with memory impairment, it is time to start visiting memory-care communities, which offer specialized environments where your loved one can not only live, but even thrive. Plus, knowing that your loved one has trained, 24-hour care can help relieve the caregiving burden and give your family peace of mind.

Four Steps to Emotional Wellness

By Contributor
Senior Planning

Caregivers Must Understand the Importance of Self-care

By A Place for Mom

Being a caregiver for a parent or senior loved one can be a full-time job, leaving little opportunity for anything else, including your own self-care. However, self-care is essential, benefitings not only you, but the loved one you are caring for as well.

Many people who find themselves in the role of caregiver experience feelings of guilt for wanting (and needing) time for themselves; however, the necessity for self-care is sometimes compared with that of applying your own oxygen mask on an airplane before assisting anyone else. Only when we first help ourselves can we effectively help others.

Self-care is an essential and necessary part of the process of providing care that benefits not only you but the person you are caring for as well. After all, you cannot pour from an empty cup.

While providing care can be very rewarding and satisfying, it can also be exhausting, with many caregivers reporting personal health issues including depression; excessive use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; failure to exercise; failure to stay in bed when ill; poor eating habits; postponement of (or failure to make) medical appointments; and sleep deprivation.

“Self-care is an essential and necessary part of the process of providing care that benefits not only you but the person you are caring for as well. After all, you cannot pour from an empty cup.”

To combat these possible issues and live your best life possible while providing care for a loved one, consider adopting the following restorative practices for a healthy body, mind, and soul:

 

Eat a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is important, not just for your physical health, but your emotional health as well. In the short term, enjoying a diet of nutritious and well-balanced meals can help to increase energy and reduce sluggishness, while in the long-term, eating well can reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

 

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on your mental health and cause a ripple effect of negative emotions and thoughts. Your body needs seven to eight hours of restorative sleep each night for optimal health. Try implementing a predictable and regular bedtime routine to coax your body into a relaxing slumber, including limiting mobile devices or tablets two hours before bed; sleeping in a cool, dark room; and wearing comfortable pajamas.

 

Get Regular Exercise

Exercise promotes better sleep, reduces depression and tension, and increases alertness and energy. Although finding the motivation and time to exercise, especially in the beginning, may be a struggle, small steps will add up. Try walking for 20 minutes a day, three days a week to experience the full benefits of exercise.

 

Make Time for Hobbies

Taking a break from caregiving to reinvest in activities and hobbies you enjoy will help to reinvigorate you and remind you of who you are, outside of being a caregiver. Accepting help from family, friends, and professionals to reinvest in yourself may be difficult, but the reward of getting reacquainted with yourself and rediscovering what brings you happiness and peace will allow you to be the best caregiver you can be.

It’s Not About Dying

By Contributor
Senior Planning

How Hospice Care Supports the End-of life Journey

 

By Maria Rivera

 

Hospice care focuses on the quality of one’s life as they embark on the end-of-life journey. It is not about dying. Instead, hospice affirms life, neither hastening nor postponing death.

The goal of hospice care is to provide patients with comfort and symptom management to help them find peace and meaning in the final months or weeks of their lives. At Hospice of the Fisher Home, we focus on quality of life, and this guides everything we do to support patients and their families.

Managing terminal illness can feel overwhelming. A hospice care team provides support to patients and their families through a delicate and challenging time using a comprehensive care model.

Maria Rivera

Maria Rivera

“Hospice helps people to live the best life they possibly can up until their very last day.”

The hospice team forms a safety net for the patient and the family. The medical director, nurses, and CNAs are experts in comfort care. They manage pain and symptoms so that patients can live as fully and comfortably as possible.

Spiritual and bereavement counselors meet with patients and their loved ones to guide them through the emotional and social challenges that often arise at the end of life. Social workers assist with social and emotional issues. Volunteers offer support in various ways, including massage, harp, and other live music, as well as therapy dogs, Reiki, acupuncture, meditation, reading books, and sitting vigil. Each member of the team has specialized hospice training and a deep dedication to helping patients and their families experience peace, comfort, and happiness.

Hospice helps people to live the best life they possibly can up until their very last day. For some people, that may mean feeling good enough to float in the pool at the local YMCA, spend a few hours fishing with a friend, or have their favorite dish for dinner and a big helping of dessert.

Educating people about the benefits of early hospice admission is important. Because hospice care focuses on the well-being of the whole patient — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual — earlier admission to hospice means the patient can experience more quality time with loved ones. There is also a greater opportunity to contemplate what matters most in life when the patient is comfortable and experiences less stress and anxiety during their final months.

When caregivers and providers are aware of the benefits of hospice, they can facilitate early admission. It’s important to plan for these difficult decisions, put preferences in writing, and have conversations about the care you want for the end of life.

 

Maria Rivera, BSN, RN, is executive director of Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, the only independent, nonprofit hospice in Western Mass., providing end-of-life care at a nine-bed residence in Amherst and visiting private residences, assisted-living facilities, and retirement communities throughout Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties. It also provides hospice care to veterans at the Veterans’ Home in Holyoke.

Senior Resources

By
Senior Planning

These regional and statewide nonprofits can help families make decisions and access resources related to elder-care planning.

 

AARP Massachusetts

1 Beacon St., #2301, Boston, MA 02108

(866) 448-3621; www.states.aarp.org/region/massachusetts

Administrator: Mike Festa

Services: AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social-welfare organization with a membership of nearly 38 million that advocates for the issues that matter to families, such as healthcare, employment and income security, and protection from financial abuse

 

The Conversation Project and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement

53 State St., 19th Floor, Boston, MA 02109

(617) 301-4800;
www.theconversationproject.org

Administrator: Kate DeBartolo

Services: The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care; its team includes five seasoned law, journalism, and media professionals who are working pro bono alongside professional staff from the Instititute for Healthcare Improvement

 

Elder Services of Berkshire County Inc.

877 South St., Suite 4E, Pittsfield, MA 01201

(413) 499-0524; www.esbci.org

Administrator: Christopher McLaughlin

Services: Identifies and addresses priority needs of Berkshire County seniors; services include information and referral, care management, respite care, homemaker and home health assistance, healthy-aging programs, and MassHealth nursing home pre-screening; agency also offers housing options, adult family care, group adult foster care, long-term-care ombudsman, and money management, and oversees the Senior Community Service Aide Employment Program

 

Estate Planning Council of Hampden County

www.estateplan-hc.org

Administrator: Susan McCoy

Services: Provides a forum for current, accurate, and authoritative information with regard to estate and financial planning; council members are life-insurance professionals, bankers, fiduciaries, lawyers, accountants, planned-giving professionals, and other financial-service providers engaged in the planning, settlement, and management of estates

 

Greater Springfield Senior Services Inc.

66 Industry Ave., Suite 9, Springfield, MA 01104

(413) 781-8800; www.gsssi.org

Administrator: Jill Keough

Services: Private, nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining quality of life for older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities, through programs and services that foster independence, dignity, safety, and peace of mind; services include case management, home care, home-delivered meals, senior community dining, money management, congregate housing, and adult day care

 

Highland Valley Elder Services

320 Riverside Dr., Florence, MA 01062

(413) 586-2000; www.highlandvalley.org

Administrator: Allan Ouimet

Services: Services include care management, information/referral services, family caregiver program, personal emergency-response service, protective services, home-health services, chore services, nursing-home ombudsman services, adult day programs, elder-care advice, bill-payer services, options counseling, respite services, representative payee services, local dining centers, personal-care and homemaker services, and home-delivered meals

 

LifePath

101 Munson St., Suite 201,
Greenfield, MA 01301

(413) 773-5555; www.lifepathma.org

Administrator: Barbara Bodzin

Services: LifePath, formerly Franklin County Home Care Corp., an area agency on aging, is a private, nonprofit corporation that develops, provides, and coordinates a range of services to support the independent living of elders and people with disabilities with a goal of independence; it also supports caregivers, including grandparents raising grandchildren

 

Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs

1 Ashburton Place, Unit 517, Boston, MA 02108

(617) 727-7750; www.mass.gov/elders

Administrator: Elizabeth Chen

Services: Connects seniors and families with a range of services, including senior centers, councils on aging, nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels, exercise, health coaching, and more; supports older adults who may be somewhat frail through programs in nursing homes, such as the ombudsman program, volunteers who visit residents, and quality-improvement initiatives in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities; caregiver programs offer support to people with mild Alzheimer’s disease or those caring for someone with more advanced Alzheimer’s

 

Massachusetts Senior Legal Helpline

99 Chauncy St., Unit 400, Boston, MA 02111

(800) 342-5297; www.vlpnet.org

Administrator: Joanna Allison

Services: The Helpline is a project of the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Boston that provides free legal information and referral services to Massachusetts residents age 60 and older; the Helpline is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon

 

MassOptions

(844) 422-6277; www.massoptions.org

Administrator: Marylou Sudders

Services: A service of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, MassOptions connects elders, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers with agencies and organizations that can best meet their needs; staff can also assist with determining eligibility for and applying to MassHealth

 

VA Central and Western Massachusetts Healthcare System

421 North Main St., Leeds, MA 01053

(413) 584-4040;
www.centralwesternmass.va.gov

Administrator: Suzanne Krafft

Services: Provides primary, specialty, and mental-health care, including psychiatric, substance-abuse, and PTSD services, to a veteran population in Central and Western Massachusetts of more than 120,000 men and women

 

WestMass ElderCare Inc.

4 Valley Mill Road, Holyoke, MA 01040

(413) 538-9020; www.wmeldercare.org

Administrator: Roseann Martoccia

Services: Provides an array of in-home and community services to support independent living; interdisciplinary team approach to person-centered care; information, referrals, and options counseling as well as volunteer opportunities available; primary service area includes Holyoke, Chicopee, Granby, South Hadley, Belchertown, Ludlow, and Ware, as well as other surrounding communities

 

Baystate Health CEO Dr. Mark Keroack Announces Plans to Retire in July 2024

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Mark Keroack announced his plan to retire as Baystate Health CEO in July 2024 after 10 years of leadership of the region’s primary health system. The board of trustees will launch a national search for his successor.

“It has been and continues to be the privilege of a lifetime to serve as CEO of Baystate Health and partner with the amazing people who provide such outstanding care to our communities,” Keroack said. “While I look forward to spending the next chapter of my life with my family, I plan to be fully engaged in both day-to-day leadership and our strategic efforts to address the challenging dynamics in healthcare today in a way that prioritizes the health needs of our communities and continues our role as an employer of choice.”

Keroack joined Baystate Health in 2011 as chief physician executive and president of Baystate Medical Practices and was appointed to the CEO role in 2014. He has had a long career in both medicine and health administration, serving in leadership roles at UMass Memorial Medical Group and the University Health System Consortium. A specialist in infectious diseases, Keroack was a leading voice during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering public-health information and partnering with public-health officials to address the crisis.

“Baystate Health plays a unique role as a major employer, community asset, and safety net for our most vulnerable community members and their health needs. Mark leads with a focus on mission; even though the financial environment has been challenging, his decisions always prioritize local health needs,” said Harriet DeVerry, board chair. “While Mark’s strengths, vision and commitment to the community will not be easy to replace, the board recognizes this transition as an important opportunity to plan for the future needs of Baystate Health and the patients, families, and communities at the heart of our mission.”

The board has established a search committee and identified a search firm to help conduct a nationwide search for a new CEO. It is expected to take several months to a year to identify a candidate and finalize the next CEO. During this period, Keroack will continue in all aspects of the CEO role.

“I have great admiration for Dr. Keroack and the work he has done in serving the Pioneer Valley for more than a decade,” U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said. “His roots in the city of Springfield run deep, just as they do in the medical community. Growing up in a household where his mother was a nurse and his father a doctor, Dr. Keroack has always had a profound sense of service. His partnership during his time as president and CEO over the past nine years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been irreplaceable. He is a true advocate for the Greater Springfield community, and he is a true believer in facts, always following the science to achieve the best possible outcome for his patients. This, along with his measured approach and good-hearted nature, has earned him the respect of his colleagues in the medical community and those of us who have been fortunate enough to work with him over the course of his distinguished career.”

AIC Makes Plans for Fall Semester in Wake of Courniotes Hall Fire

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) is actively working to prepare for the upcoming fall semester following last week’s large structural fire that severely impacted two of AIC’s essential academic buildings: Courniotes Hall and the adjoining Lissa building.

Preliminary investigation results indicate that the fire was caused by a lightning strike during a powerful storm that passed through the area. Both Courniotes and Lissa were integral to the college’s health sciences program, accommodating critical departments including nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and public health.

AIC’s administrative team, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, is diligently developing a comprehensive plan to address both the immediate and long-term consequences of the fire. The immediate priority is to relocate the affected classes, clinical simulation labs, and faculty and staff offices to suitable alternative locations. This measure will ensure minimal disruption to academic operations and safeguard the continuity of educational activities for students.

The leadership of the college deeply appreciates the support and solidarity offered by various sources during this challenging time. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Gov. Maura Healey, and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal have all reached out to offer their assistance in moving AIC forward. Moreover, leaders from many local colleges and universities have generously offered their help.

Efforts are ongoing to stabilize Courniotes Hall and assess the extent of the damage. Frank Colaccino, chair of AIC’s board of trustees, has been actively involved in this assessment and is dedicated to helping guide the college through the recovery process. With his assistance, AIC has engaged the services of an experienced project manager to navigate the logistics of assessment and reconstruction, which is expected to be a months-long journey.

Recognizing the importance of ensuring a smooth transition during this period of recovery, the campus community will soon be provided with details of a relocation plan, including temporary facilities, academic schedules, and safety measures. Chief Academic Officer Michael Dodge and the college’s deans have worked to identify on-campus spaces for affected faculty, staff, and classes to occupy, beginning on the first day of the fall semester.

In response to the overwhelming desire of many community members to contribute financially to the rebuilding project, the Office of the President, alongside the Office of Institutional Advancement, is planning a fundraising campaign to kickstart the reimagination of Courniotes Hall. Further details will be communicated soon.

College President Hubert Benitez expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support from so many. “I want to acknowledge the remarkable resilience and unity displayed by our faculty, staff, and students. It is this collective effort from our community that gives me confidence that we will overcome this adversity together.”

It’s Win or Go Home — and Free Attendance — Tonight for Blue Sox

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox fell to the Bristol Blues Tuesday night by a score of 5-0. With the quarterfinal playoff series tied at one game apiece, the teams will play a pivotal game three in a win-or-go-home scenario at Mackenzie Stadium on Wednesday night.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the team will offer free admission to all fans who attend the game.

After winning 6-5 in 13 innings in game one, the Blue Sox are excited to head back home to potentially advance to the semifinals of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Fans are encouraged to come out to Mackenzie to support the team in its pursuit of a third championship title.

Hyundai Hope Presents Checks to Local Organizations

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Hyundai Hope donated $10,000 to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and $5,000 to the Thrive Center of Holyoke Community College (HCC), two local food sources combating food insecurity in the Greater Holyoke area. It also donated $15,000 to Baystate Health Foundation. All donations were made as part of the car-seat safety event held at Gary Rome Hyundai on July 30.

The Thrive Center and Food Pantry at HCC provide necessities to students experiencing food insecurity, housing insecurity, and other financial needs. It supplies, at no charge, food staples, toiletries, and much more, including baby food, diapers, and wipes to students raising families while getting an education. This donation will boost access to resources to help students overcome these barriers so they can focus on their studies and find success.

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts provides healthy and culturally responsive food directly through its Mobile Food Bank, Brown Bag: Food for Elders sites, and its more than 170-member food-assistance network. These independent pantries, meal sites, and shelters provide food and other resources to members of the community, including children, families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, so they may lead healthy and meaningful lives. With this donation, the Food Bank will be able to provide 40,000 nutritious meals to neighbors facing food insecurity in Western Mass.

Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation Issues Flood-relief Checks to Farmers

By
Daily News

AGAWAM — When the extent of the mid-July flood devastation on local farms in the Connecticut River Valley became evident, philanthropist Harold Grinspoon swiftly pledged $50,000 toward their relief. Joined by PeoplesBank, Chick and Audrey Taylor, and others, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation has now distributed flood-relief checks to 50 farmers impacted by the floods.

“Farmers are such wonderful folks,” Grinspoon said. “I appreciate what they’ve always contributed to the life and health of our region, and want to do my small part in supporting them through this incredibly trying time. I’m pleased to add my efforts to those of other philanthropists and institutions that have also stepped forward. Together, we can help Massachusetts farmers get back on their feet.”

Matt Bannister, senior vice president at PeoplesBank, added that, “in times of great need, it is comforting to see neighbors come together with a strong sense of community to do the right thing. Our region stands on the shoulders of our local farming community, and to see them in such need is heartbreaking. We applaud the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation for doing so much, so quickly, to help so many. We’re proud to play even a small part in their efforts.”

Focusing on the nearly 300 farms in the Local Farmer Awards network, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation requested and then responded to farmers describing their flood-related losses. On Aug. 1, checks of up to $3,000 from the Local Farmer Awards Emergency Flood Relief Fund were in the mail to farmers impacted by the floods. This relief is the first of other significant private and public funds that will be made available to farmers in the coming weeks.

“We are so thankful to be a part of this collaborative effort to help farmers during this extremely challenging time,” said Cari Carpenter, director of the Local Farmer Awards. “All of us involved with farmers at the Grinspoon Charitable Foundation believed that getting some money in their hands quickly would be helpful to them.”

Through the Local Farmer Awards, now in its ninth year, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, with lead partners Big Y and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, plus 12 other community funders, has invested $1,286,000 to support 572 infrastructure projects related to planting, growing, harvesting, and processing. In early 2024, farmers in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties can look forward to invitations to apply for these annual awards of up to $2,500.

Making Positive Introductions

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

Western Mass. is well-known for quality higher education. Which means it should have a leg up in the competition for professional talent.

But that’s not necessarily the case, and talent drain is a real thing, as graduates — especially those who didn’t grow up here and have no roots in the region beyond their college years — procure their degrees and make their way to Boston, New York, or myriad points south and west.

Which is why it’s encouraging to hear about the types of initiatives featured in two of this issue’s articles. On page 53, we learn about an MBA program at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts that takes place partly at the Berkshire Innovation Center, just down Route 7 in Pittsfield. Through that partnership, students are exposed to experts, resources, and growing, innovative companies with which they can collaborate and make connections — potentially long-term connections.

Meanwhile, the story on page 58 details an initiative through which UMass students in the iCons certificate program are matched with area companies through internships that promote mutual growth and, again, connections that may develop roots.

“We are dedicated to supporting next-generation talent … and fostering professional development in our region,” a leader of one of those companies said, and that’s really the best way to think about these partnerships. For Massachusetts to thrive in the coming decades, it needs to attract — and retain — the best next-generation talent, and part of the strategy must include robust professional-development efforts that introduce young people to successful, inspiring companies early.

We’ve mentioned before some of the issues causing the highest outmigration numbers in Massachusetts in decades, from a housing crisis to transportation challenges to high taxes and cost of living. The Bay State needs to address those, of course, but it also needs to give people positive reasons to stay. An innovative economic ecosystem is one of those reasons, and the more young people are exposed to that, on a personal, experiential level, the more they will want to stay here.

And the better the future will look.

Farms, Floods, and Climate Change

By Contributor
Opinion

Opinion

By Claire Morenon, Margaret Christie, and Phil Korman

 

On July 10, heavy rains led to widespread flooding alongside small rivers and creeks throughout our region. The next day, the Connecticut River overflowed its banks to levels not seen since Hurricane Irene in 2011.

This flooding event was fast in some ways — the fields at Natural Roots Farm in Conway, along the South River, filled with water as farmers and their draft horses worked to save their deluged chickens and equipment. And it was slow in others, as farmers watched and waited more than 24 hours to see how high the Connecticut River would rise.

Heavy rain has continued to fall, making some fields that didn’t flood too wet to access for farmwork and increasing the likelihood of plant diseases that thrive in wet conditions.

Flooding is catastrophic for farms in many ways, and the timing of this flood is especially damaging. Floodwaters sweep away plants, livestock, equipment, and topsoil. Plants that survive generally can’t be harvested and eaten because floodwater is often contaminated with road runoff, sewage overflow, and other contaminants. Any edible part of a plant that contacts flood water or flooded soil can’t be sold or donated.

A flood in early July has huge financial implications for the farms that were flooded: they have devoted immense time and money to growing and maintaining crops which are now unsalable, and they may not be able to plant and harvest new crops before the growing season is over.

Flooding impacted farms of all kinds: small startups, some of them operated by immigrant and refugee farmers; long-standing, diverse vegetable operations that sell directly to consumers through farm stands and CSAs; and large wholesale operations that supply supermarkets and corner stores across the state. Farms of all sizes donate produce, too, so food pantries and food banks are also impacted.

The response to this disaster has been swift. Farmers have donated produce and young plants to flooded farms. Community members have contributed generously, and volunteers have turned out to help clean up mud and debris. State and federal elected leaders came to see the damage and hear directly from farmers. Local legislators, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, UMass Cooperative Extension, and nonprofits that focus on food and farms worked quickly and cooperatively to tally losses, address immediate needs, and plan for a more comprehensive response to this and future climate-related disasters.

Gov. Maura Healey also announced the launch of the Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund (see story on page 64), a public/private initiative that offers a place to donate, a source of grants for impacted farms statewide, and the beginnings of a safety net for future climate-change events. In addition, advocates are hopeful that state legislators will include a farm disaster fund in their supplemental budget.

Farmers are resilient and adaptable. Farming has always been a weather-dependent, narrow-margin occupation. But the weather extremes of our changing climate are bigger and more damaging than the everyday unpredictability of New England weather.

This flood is the third weather event this year to bring widespread losses to local farms: peach buds were killed in February in a weekend cold snap during an otherwise warm winter, and a late frost in May greatly reduced blueberry and apple harvests. These events match climate-change predictions for our region, which include wild temperature fluctuations, increased precipitation, and higher summer temperatures.

Local farmers have already begun to adjust their growing practices to increase resilience in the face of these changes. But to survive, they need more help. This must include more funding for research into climate-adapted farming practices, more financial support for farmers in making those changes, and a more robust emergency-response system.

Climate change will make extreme weather events more frequent. Recent flooding and freezes show the devastation these events can cause — and the response that’s possible. Farms saw an outpouring of community support, and Massachusetts has begun to build the capacity for the larger response that will get us through this disaster and the ones to come.

Right now, funds are desperately needed. Go to buylocalfood.org to donate to the new Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund, individual farm fundraisers, and CISA’s Emergency Farm Fund, which provides no-interest farm loans. And don’t forget that using your grocery dollars to buy local food offers a two-part benefit: investing in local farms while enjoying summer’s bounty.

 

Claire Morenon is communications manager, Margaret Christie special projects manager, and Philip Korman executive director of CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture).

 

Picture This

By
Pictured: Joseph & Anna C. Dias Jr. Family Foundation trustee Maria Gomes (far right) presents the $10,000 check to JAWM President Jennifer Connolly (second from right) alongside a group of LUSO employees.
Picture This

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

 

 

Helping Students Achieve

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) recently received a $10,000 donation from the Joseph & Anna C. Dias Jr. Family Foundation, in partnership with LUSO Federal Credit Union, to fund age-appropriate financial-literacy programs for students in Ludlow. JAWM programs are offered at no cost to schools and community groups throughout the four counties of Western Mass.

Pictured: Joseph & Anna C. Dias Jr. Family Foundation trustee Maria Gomes (far right) presents the $10,000 check to JAWM President Jennifer Connolly (second from right) alongside a group of LUSO employees.

Pictured: Joseph & Anna C. Dias Jr. Family Foundation trustee Maria Gomes (far right) presents the $10,000 check to JAWM President Jennifer Connolly (second from right) alongside a group of LUSO employees.

 

 

Community Support

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty recently presented a $2,250 donation to Stacey Perlmutter, director of Development for Shriners Children’s New England. The donation was made as a part of the 2023 Monson Savings Bank Community Giving Initiative, in which the public was given the opportunity to cast their votes to support their favorite local charitable organizations. Shriners Children’s New England is a local clinic providing specialty orthopedic, neuromuscular, cleft lip and palate, and urologic care exclusively to children.

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty recently presented a $2,250 donation to Stacey Perlmutter, director of Development for Shriners Children’s New England

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty recently presented a $2,250 donation to Stacey Perlmutter, director of Development for Shriners Children’s New England

 

Having a Ball

bankESB recently awarded $5,000 to the Belchertown Pickleball Community and the Belchertown Orioles Athletic Assoc. to support the initiative of building two new community pickleball courts at 59 State St. in Belchertown. The Belchertown Pickleball Community ​is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization created to better the pickleball experience in Belchertown.

Pictured, from left: Debbie Wood, Belchertown Pickleball Community leadership committee; David Gadouas, Alicia Austin, Gary Turku, and Andrew Inglot, bankESB; and Larry Davis, Belchertown Pickleball Community leadership committee.

Pictured, from left: Debbie Wood, Belchertown Pickleball Community leadership committee; David Gadouas, Alicia Austin, Gary Turku, and Andrew Inglot, bankESB; and Larry Davis, Belchertown Pickleball Community leadership committee.

 

Celebrating Success

Executives from Hyundai Motor America visited Gary Rome Hyundai on July 27 to present several awards, including the 2022 Hyundai Board of Excellence Award and the Global Dealer Award. Pictured on top: from left, Bob Kim, Hyundai’s vice president of National Sales, presents the Global Dealer Award to Gary Rome, president and CEO of Gary Rome Auto Group, and Kevin Schechterle, general manager of Gary Rome Hyundai. Pictured below: the team at Gary Rome Hyundai and visiting Hyundai executives celebrate the awards.

from left, Bob Kim, Hyundai’s vice president of National Sales, presents the Global Dealer Award to Gary Rome, president and CEO of Gary Rome Auto Group, and Kevin Schechterle, general manager of Gary Rome Hyundai

From left, Bob Kim, Hyundai’s vice president of National Sales, presents the Global Dealer Award to Gary Rome, president and CEO of Gary Rome Auto Group, and Kevin Schechterle, general manager of Gary Rome Hyundai

 

the team at Gary Rome Hyundai and visiting Hyundai executives celebrate the awards.

The team at Gary Rome Hyundai and visiting Hyundai executives celebrate the awards.

Agenda

By
Agenda

Max on Monday

Aug. 7: Max Tavern at the Basketball Hall of Fame will host its fourth Max on Monday networking event from 4 to 6 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with other professionals while enjoying complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar will be available for beverages. Max on Monday is an ideal opportunity for those who have been working remotely to reconnect with their colleagues and find inspiration in the company of others. Each Max on Monday event will feature a selection of local businesses. In August, the sponsored businesses will include M&T Bank, Fitzgerald Law, Conklin Office Furniture, and Hillside Dermatology. Representatives from these businesses will network and share information about their organizations. A local charity is also featured. The Aug. 7 event will spotlight the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The event will also showcase a local artist. For more information about Max on Monday or to register to attend, RSVP to AnnMarie Harding at (413) 244-4055 or [email protected].

 

Big E Creative Arts Exhibitor Applications

Through Aug. 14: Have you been sewing up a storm, creating other crafts, or discovering new, delicious recipes? The Creative Arts department at the Big E is looking for entries in a variety of categories for this year’s fair. The Big E is seeking exhibitors, both youth and adults, to be featured in a diverse showcase. Fairgoers walk through the New England Center to admire the displays of exhibitors’ crafts from numerous departments, including quilting, photography, knitting, jewelry/beading, dolls, holiday ornaments, jellies, honey, homemade granola, baked pie, decorated fake cake, dried food (new for this year), scroll saw, and many more. The deadline to enter for most departments is Monday, Aug. 14. The deadline for photography and fine arts has already passed. Entries must be dropped off or mailed in prior to the fair. Exhibitors have the chance to receive awards and ribbons. Entries will be on display for the duration of the fair, which runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 1. More information regarding rules, department-specific guidelines, entry limits, fees, entry deadlines, receiving dates, and how to enter can be found at www.thebige.com/creativearts. Questions may be directed to [email protected] or (413) 205-5015.

 

Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament

Sept. 26: The fifteenth annual Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament will be held at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. Tom Cosenzi, successful businessman and father of four, succumbed to brain cancer in 2009 at the early age of 52. His vision was that no other family would experience the pain that he and his family endured. It was his wish that his family and friends continue to raise money for neuro-oncology research so the burden of cancer can be eliminated for patients and their families. In his memory, the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament was formed. All money raised will go directly to benefit the work of Dr. Patrick Wen and his team of researchers in the Center for Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in search for a cure. The tournament has raised more than $1,458,135 in its 14-year history. Volkswagen of America has has signed on as the event’s 2023 presenting sponsor. Visit www.tomcosenzidrivingforthecure.com for registration, sponsorship opportunities, and more information. Questions may be directed to (413) 341-1917 or [email protected].

 

Jack Rome Memorial 5K

Oct. 7: Local canine celebrity Jack Rome, official greeter of Gary Rome Auto Group, who peacefully passed away last year, will now be memorialized with an annual 5K run/walk to benefit the Foundation for Thomas J. O’Connor (TJO) Animals. Sponsored by Gary Rome Hyundai and Western Mass News, the first annual Jack Rome Memorial 5K will take place at 10 a.m. at Forest Park in Springfield, and will be a family- and dog-friendly event. Visit runsignup.com/race/ma/springfield/jackromememorial5k to register. All funds raised will be donated directly to the Foundation for TJO Animals and will be used specifically for medical and veterinary care, emergency surgery, and rehabilitation services to help the animals find new, loving homes. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities or for more information, contact Dara Davignon, executive assistant to Gary Rome, at [email protected] or (413) 420-8049.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

Dress for Success Western Mass. Moving to Downtown Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Dress for Success Western Massachusetts is relocating from the Eastfield Mall to its new location at 45 Lyman St. in downtown Springfield. The new location is ideally situated close to major transportation, including Union Station and the main bus terminal. This will be more accessible for users of public transit and provides Dress for Success Western Massachusetts additional space to provide services and programs to reach more women, transgender, and non-binary people. This transition to the new space will be performed with minimal interruption of services. The organization’s programs — Foot in the Door, Digital Literacy Coaching, the Margaret Fitzgerald Mentorship Program, and the Professional Women’s Group — are not being affected by the move.

 

Hackworth School of Performing Arts Wins Prestigious Award

EASTHAMPTON — Hackworth School of Performing Arts (HSPA) owners Alison Forance and Lisa Anthony announced that they were named Ultimate Studio of the Year by the American Dance Awards on July 9. This honor is given to a dance studio that shows success in training dancers in all age groups in various different styles, including but not limited to ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, acro, and musical theater. The American Dance Awards values the wide range of quality dance education offered to students and feels it should be rewarded. The nominees for this prestigious award included studios from all over the U.S., Canada, and South Africa. Hackworth School of Performing Arts strives to create a well-rounded program and is honored to receive this award, Forance said. The studio is entering its their 90th season. Families looking to join the HSPA dance family should email [email protected].

 

PeoplesBank Named Among Top Corporate Charitable Contributors

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank has been recognized as a Top Corporate Charitable Contributor for the 16th year in a row by the Boston Business Journal. Only 100 companies throughout the state are recognized, and PeoplesBank shares the spotlight with such national brands as Procter & Gamble, AT&T, and Dell Technologies, as well as local names like the Red Sox Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and MassMutual. PeoplesBank supported more than 450 nonprofits in the communities it serves in 2022, with both financial support and volunteerism from the associates.

 

Bradley International Airport, Paradies Lagardère Partner to Add, Upgrade Concessions

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority announced that its partner and award-winning airport concessionaire Paradies Lagardère will be upgrading its existing establishments at Bradley International Airport and adding two new dining concepts. Paradies Lagardère currently operates six retail locations at the airport, including two CNBC Stores, two New England Travelmarts, one iStore, and one Avanti Marketplace. As part of the upcoming upgrades, Paradies Lagardère will be updating all six concepts. Four will be refreshed within their existing brand. Two concepts will reopen under a new name, including CT River Landing and Charter Oak Emporium. In addition, a Starbucks will be introduced. This will be the airport’s first Starbucks post-TSA screening, located in the food-court area. A sit-down restaurant, called Beercode Kitchen & Bar, is also planned for the Gates 20-30 concourse, which currently does not offer a sit-down option. The restaurant is a gastropub-style concept offering a wide array of cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as an eclectic lineup of local craft beer and other beverages. Over the next year, passengers will see the locations come to life gradually, with Starbucks opening first at the end of this summer.

 

Freedom Credit Union Supports ‘A Bed for Every Child’

SPRINGFIELD — Knowing that a good night’s sleep is essential for children’s health, growth, and development, Freedom Credit Union again partnered with the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the Cooperative Credit Union Assoc. to help provide ‘A Bed for Every Child’ across the Pioneer Valley. Throughout the month of May, Freedom accepted cash donations, raising a total of $2,385. This effort began in 2011, when the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless learned that many public-school students were not getting enough sleep because they did not have their own beds. In response, they launched A Bed for Every Child with a mission to help children get the restful sleep they need to learn and succeed. To date, more than 14,250 children have been helped. Throughout the month of June, Freedom also accepted donations at all its branches to benefit Griffin’s Friends, a volunteer-led group dedicated to providing relief and support to children with cancer and their families.

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Ruth Lahti

Ruth Lahti

Following a national search, Bay Path University announced that Ruth Lahti was selected to be the inaugural dean of the School of Education, Psychology & Humanities. In her previous position, Lahti served as the associate vice president of Academics at Southern New Hampshire University, Global Campus Online. In that role, she led a team of 70 full-time administrators and faculty while overseeing 22 online programs; spearheaded the development of a career-oriented master of fine arts program in creative writing that is now the largest MFA program in the country; oversaw DEI strategies that produced positive, measurable results; and implemented data-driven decision making to foster student success, grow online programs in both enrollment and revenue, and launch a suite of career-focused embedded certificates. As dean of the of the School of Education, Psychology & Humanities, Lahti is responsible for leading and coordinating the operations of department chairs and program directors to support student and faculty success. Through collaboration with cross-university departments, she will be a member of teams that develop strategic external partnerships, implement ongoing processes for the development of and scanning for new curricular ideas and initiatives, and identify and assist in obtaining new revenue streams to support the expansion of school programs and infrastructure. Lahti earned her Ph.D. and master’s degree in English from UMass Amherst and her bachelor’s degree in English from James Madison University.

•••••

Ryan Hess

Ryan Hess

Florence Bank announced that Ryan Hess has joined the staff as vice president and commercial team leader. Hess has more than 11 years of experience in banking, serving in roles from credit analyst and portfolio manager to leadership in commercial lending. He most recently served as chief lending officer for a locally based startup bank and played a key role in its founding. Hess holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stonehill College. He serves as co-chair of the Ronald McDonald House golf committee, a member of the Make-A-Wish golf committee, and vice chair of the Springfield Zoning Board of Appeals.

•••••

Cristina Gonzalez has been promoted to general manager at the Holiday Inn Express Ludlow. She has worked with Pioneer Valley Hotel Group (PVHG) since 2015. Before taking the general manager position, she worked in various other roles within the PVHG family of hotels. Gonzalez began working at the Holiday Inn Express Ludlow in the winter of 2022. She said she has appreciated meeting new people every day, growing and learning, and experiencing innovation in hospitality, and strives to create a healthy workplace environment through trust and cooperation.

•••••

Laura Mukazhanova

Laura Mukazhanova

Chen Yu

Chen Yu

Dietz & Company Architects Inc. recently welcomed Laura Mukazhanova and Chen Yu to the firm, both in the role of architectural associate. Mukazhanova recently received her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, where she completed her thesis on the effects of architecture on one’s mental and emotional state. She illustrated this with a focus on addressing the issue of burnout in the healthcare industry through the use of visual and sensory perceptions in the workplace. As such, she has a particular interest and curiosity in architecture that has the potential for emotional and aesthetic influence on its occupants. Chen recently graduated with her master of architecture degree from the University of Virginia. While completing her studies, she interned at architecture firms in Virginia and China. She also had the opportunity to conduct research on-site in Utqiagvik, Alaska regarding the reuse of waste heat. With an interest in public building design, she looks forward to expanding her knowledge on the subject through her project work at Dietz.

•••••

Ali Salehi

Ali Salehi

Melissa Alvarado

Melissa Alvarado

Gloria Williams

Gloria Williams

Daniel Currier

Daniel Currier

The Westfield State University board of trustees elected Ali Salehi to serve as its chair, while trustees Melissa Alvarado and Gloria Williams were elected as vice-chair and secretary, respectively. Daniel Currier, class of 2025, was elected to the board as student trustee. Salehi serves as managing director of Hansen Engineering and Machinery Co. Inc. of Danvers. A former board member of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, the Westfield State University Foundation, and the Westfield Redevelopment Authority, Salehi is a current trustee of Suffield Academy and a former vice chair of the Baystate Health Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in engineering management from Western New England University. Alvarado is an assistant vice president in strategic planning and delivery at MassMutual Financial Group and, prior to that, worked in its compliance and information-technology organizations. She previously served as clerk of the Westfield State Foundation and was a member of the Westfield State Alumni Assoc. executive council. In addition earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Westfield State in 1999, Alvarado holds an MBA in finance from Western New England University and earned an executive certification in leadership and management from the University of Notre Dame. Williams is an educational consultant and leadership mentor who previously completed a 21-year tenure as a master principal for Springfield Public Schools. Her service in education, including as a representative for the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, was recognized when she received the 2019 Educational Legacy Achievement Award, presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Williams is also president of the consulting firm Coalition of Experienced Black Educators Inc. and the newly elected president of the board of directors for Families Against Violence. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Westfield State College in 1977 and a certificate in advanced graduate studies, a M.Ed., and a Ed.D. from UMass Amherst. Currier was elected by the student body in April to serve as Westfield State’s student trustee for the 2023-24 academic year. A junior with majors in accounting and finance with minors in economics and English, Currier was formerly vice president for Finance for Westfield State’s Student Government Assoc., is president of the Accounting Club, and serves as a campus tour guide, new-student-orientation leader, and peer tutor. Currier is also a Commonwealth Honors Scholar and received the Executive Excellence Award from the Westfield State University Student Government Assoc.

•••••

Panna Royal

Panna Royal

Greenfield Savings Bank (GSB) promoted Panna Royal to the position of senior vice president and chief information officer. As CIO, she will oversee the operations of the Information Technology (IT) department, including the planning, management, implementation, support, and the security of the bank’s information and computer technologies. Royal joined GSB in November 2019 as senior network administrator with more than 25 years of experience working in IT. In 2020, she was promoted to the position of vice president and senior network administrator in the IT department. In 2022, she became senior technical program and compliance manager in the Operations department, implementing and overseeing the project-management program for the bank. Royal and her team will support the bank with technology solutions to help the organization continue to provide customers with an outstanding user experience. She will also oversee training programs for upgrades and system changes, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and oversee the hiring and training of the IT department. She will manage the implementation and maintenance of existing information systems and will develop the bank’s information-technology roadmap for the future.

•••••

Alexandre Pereira

Alexandre Pereira

Allison Hanna

Allison Hanna

Lauren Rainville

Lauren Rainville

Emily Gorney

Emily Gorney

Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that Alexandre Pereira, Allison Hanna, Lauren Rainville, and Emily Gorney have been accepted into its law-clerk program for the 2023-24 school year. Bacon Wilson created the clerkship program more than 40 years ago to allow law-school students to gain experience and mentoring in the legal profession. The clerks are an integral part of the firm and participate in various firm events during their time at Bacon Wilson. Pereira joined Bacon Wilson in May 2023. He is a Western New England University School of Law candidate for juris doctor in May 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in finance from Western New England University (WNE) in 2021. Prior to Bacon Wilson, he was a teaching assistant in the academic success center at WNE. He was also a legal assistant at Marta Law Offices in Ludlow, where he gained experience in estate planning and real-estate law. Currently, he has interests in estate planning and litigation. In addition to his previous work experience, Pereira has volunteered his time at Our Lady of Fatima Parish and was also a Best Buddies International Organization member. He has lived in Western Mass. his entire life and hopes to continue his legal career here after graduation. He is looking forward to using his time at Bacon Wilson to explore many other areas of law. Hanna is one of two returning law clerks for a second year and has been with Bacon Wilson since September 2022. She is a Western New England University School of Law candidate for juris doctor in May 2024. She earned her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laud, in legal studies from State University of New York in Canton in 2020, and her associate of applied science degree in paralegal studies from Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, N.Y. in 2018. Hanna competed on the WNE National Moot Court team and served as a student attorney for the WNE Global Justice Clinic. She is the founder and chair of the parents attending law school committee through Western New England, and also worked as a lawyering skills teaching assistant. Before joining Bacon Wilson, she was a law clerk for Riscassi & Davis, P.C. in Hartford, Conn., as well as a paralegal at Morrison Mahoney in Springfield and Newman & Lickstein in Syracuse, N.Y. Rainville is a returning law clerk who joined Bacon Wilson in May 2022. She is a Western New England University School of Law Candidate for juris doctor in May 2024. She earned her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in business management from Bay Path University in 2016. Her previous experience includes negotiations and settlements with claimants’ attorneys and pro-se claimants on personal and commercial auto damage and injury losses in Connecticut. Rainville has volunteered her time at the Jewish Family Services Legal Immigration Clinic and as an educator at Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School. She participated in the WNE School of Law’s Real Estate Practicum in the spring of 2023. She is interested in pursuing a career in criminal or civil litigation, and she hopes to build on the network she has formed and practice in the Springfield area. Gorney joined the firm in May 2023 and will be eligible for her juris doctor in May 2024 from Western New England University School of Law. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international trade and marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She is interested in family law, immigration, and international law. This fall, she will be a judicial intern for the Hartford Immigration Court. She participated in WNE’s Global Justice Clinic last spring, which provided legal aid to families separated at the southern U.S. border. She has also volunteered for the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project, Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, and Dakin Humane Society. Gorney enjoys the personal and interactive aspects of lawyering and is passionate about advocating for underrepresented communities. She hopes to continue building a professional network in the Western Mass. area and is committed to maintaining involvement in the community.

•••••

 

MP CPAs recently announced the promotions of Tony Trinchini, Katelyn Henderson, and Meghan Boone. Trinchini was promoted to senior tax accountant. He works to provide quality tax services to a diverse group of clients, including individuals, trusts, corporations, and partnerships. He has a strong rapport with clients, working with many of them year-round. He joined the firm in 2020. He holds a master of accounting degree from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. He works to recruit potential interns and clients as a member of the college outreach and networking committees. Henderson was promoted to senior tax accountant. She works to provide quality tax services to a diverse group of clients, including individuals, estates, trusts, corporations, and partnerships. She has begun to develop relationships with clients and advisors, and has enjoyed gaining experience with high net-worth clients and businesses with multi-state filings. She joined the firm as an intern and started full-time in 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Western New England University (WNE). She has taken a lead role this year in organizing firm-wide events and activities, and also works closely with colleagues from WNE to continue a mentoring and recruiting relationship with her alma mater. Boone was promoted to senior audit associate. She works to provide quality audit services to a diverse group of clients, including for-profit companies, nonprofits, employee benefit plans, and charter schools. She has begun to develop relationships with her clients and has enjoyed working with them on their audits, reviews, and compilations. She joined the firm in 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management and accounting from Westfield State University, and works closely with colleagues from Westfield State to continue a mentoring and recruiting relationship with her alma mater.

•••••

Julie Dick

Julie Dick

Julie Dick, counsel at Bulkley Richardson, has been named one of this year’s Emerging Women Leaders in the Law by the Women’s Bar Assoc. of Massachusetts (WBA). The WBA’s Emerging Women Leaders in the Law award honors women attorneys who have demonstrated professional excellence or had a significant professional achievement in approximately their first 12 years in the legal profession, and either promote the status of women in the legal profession or contribute meaningfully to the equal participation of women in a just society. The other honorees are Avana Epperson-Temple of Peabody & Arnold LLP, state Rep. Tram Nguyen, and Whitney Williams of the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. The 2023 awardees will be celebrated at the WBA’s annual gala on Oct. 16 at Marriott Copley Place in Boston.

•••••

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank appointed Ray Smith as its vice president, Marketing director. In his new role, Smith will manage the co-op’s marketing efforts, media relations, and community outreach, ensuring that the company’s brand and image are communicated effectively across all platforms. Smith joins the co-op after serving as administrative director, Public Information officer, Marketing officer for Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) in Bennington, Vt. for the last nine years. While at SVHC, Smith received several marketing and communications awards and was instrumental in opening up the Northern Berkshire market and developing promotional fundraising materials. He has more than 20 years of experience in senior marketing and executive leadership roles in financial services, tourism and hospitality, consumer packaged goods, and manufacturing. He previously served on the board of directors for the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, the Berkshire Workforce Board, Berkshire Compact for Higher Education, and Berkshire Creative Economy. Smith received his bachelor’s degree in communications from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., and his master’s degree in communications from Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y.

•••••

Peter Gilbert

Peter Gilbert

bankESB recently promoted Peter Gilbert to assistant branch manager of its 241 Northampton St. branch in Easthampton. Gilbert started as a teller at bankESB’s Hadley branch in 2018, was promoted to teller supervisor in 2019, and moved to float retail supervisor in 2021. He holds an associate degree in liberal arts and science from Springfield Technical Community College, as well as a bachelor’s degree in computer information technology from Elms College.

•••••

The New England Financial Marketing Assoc. (NEFMA) recently welcomed Jamie Conaghan as its new president. With 15 years of experience in the financial and marketing industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role. She has previously served as NEFMA’s vice president and currently serves as the senior vice president of Marketing & Digital at Main Street Bank, based in Marlborough, where she oversees the marketing department and shapes the bank’s digital experience, ensuring a customer-centric approach. In addition to her new role as NEFMA president, Conaghan also serves as vice chair of the board of directors for the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, actively contributing to the growth and development of the business community. Furthermore, her dedication to financial education is showcased through her volunteer work as a mentor and facilitator for the Dollar $cholar program.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

AMHERST

Western Massachusetts Tango Inc., Pulpit Hill Road, #31, Amherst, MA 01002. Henry Lappen, same. Nonprofit educational organization to encourage the practice and appreciation of Argentine tango dance and music by organizing regular Argentine tango dances, sponsoring workshops with experts in the field, holding regular practice sessions for sharing knowledge, and organizing classes to introduce the dance to newcomers

CHICOPEE

Old Bones Genealogy of New England Ltd., 5 Nutmeg Circle, Chicopee, MA 01020. David Robison, same. Genealogical client research, teaching, and lecturing.

PH Janitorial Inc., 31 Emerald St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Eduardo Pacheco De Araujo, same. Janitorial services.

EASTHAMPTON

President Custer Inc., 33 Reservation Road, Easthampton, MA 01027. Damien Ober, same. Entertainment business.

HAMPDEN

High House Inc., 379 North Road, Hampden, MA 01036. Jeffrey Smith, same. Buy and sell firearms and ammunition.

LONGMEADOW

Frankie’s Pizza Inc., 809 Maple St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Francesco Ferrentino, 20 Sherwood Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Pizza restaurant.

MONSON

Clean Room 413 Inc., 8 Lakeside Dr., Monson, MA 01057. Erin Wallace, same. Cleaning services.

PITTSFIELD

Artivistka Corp., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Anastasia Rybnikova, same. Association of artists who use their creativity for charity and helps political prisoners and refugees by selling merchandise with paintings from caring artists around the world.

Drexel Terrace Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Thomas Coriale, same. Management company.

Infinite Sea Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Harrison Frye, same. Consulting services.

SPRINGFIELD

4pm Sports Ltd., 20 Wigwam Place, Springfield, MA 01108. Joebanna Kodzo Gavi, same. Sports and prayer club development and promotion.

Mejia Mejia Barbeshop Co., 53 Stebbins St., Apt. B, Springfield MA, 01109. Kelvin Mejia Mejia, same. Haircut for all styles.

Responders First Resources Inc., 62 Thornton St. Springfield, MA 01104. Richard Jarvis, same. Provides peer and crisis support to first responders and their families.

WESTFIELD

Western Massachusetts Charity Danceathon Inc., 35 Cardinal Lane, Westfield, MA 01085. Kevin O’Connor, same. Organization established to capture the enthusiasm of teenagers by hosting a regional, annual dance-a-thon weekend as adults assist the youth in developing skills to successfully plan and complete the fundraising event to benefit regional 501(c)(3) organizations in which the teens would like to make an impact.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Jab Culinary Inc., 240 Westfield St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Amir Bhatti, 360 Dewey St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Casual fine-dining restaurant.

WILBRAHAM

The Giveback Group Inc., 3 Lance Lane, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Michael Pabon, same. Nonprofit organization providing volunteer labor to benefit poverty-stricken, distressed, or underprivileged people and communities.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of July 2023.

AMHERST

Amherst Dental Group
650 Main St.
Arsen Bagdasarov, Colleen Chambers

Botanica Home
191 North Pleasant St.
Deborah Noyes

Downtown Hair Studio
321 Main St.
Kirsten Barnes

Laura S. Green Editing Services
439 East Pleasant St.
Laura Green

New England Submission Fighting
460 West St.
Kirik Jenness

Yellow Sabot
439 East Pleasant St.
Laura Green

BELCHERTOWN

Around Again
240 South Liberty St.
Shannon Materka

Bear Hill Sawmill & Millwork
494 George Hannum Road
Sean Hill

Be U Method
511 Daniel Shays Highway
Kelsey Lavalle

Handyman Tom
18 Country Lane
Thomas McRae

Quabbin Soccer Academy
7 Town Beach Road
Matthew Schiffer

Relentless Towing & Recovery LLC
111 Sargent St.
Travis Watts

Sleigh City Pizza Co. LLC
145A North Main St.
Kelly Gidopoulos

Swift River Gunworks
450A State St.
Douglas Everett

PITTSFIELD

Aldi
898 Crane Ave.
Aldi Massachusetts LLC

Allessio Pressure Washing
40 Brookside Dr.
Alex Allessio

Berkshire Business Services
33 Meadow Ridge Dr.
Alex Raj

Britz & Co.
82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100
BH Inc.

Catamount Response
555 Fenn St.
Catamount Cleaning of the Berkshires Inc.

C Nails & Spa
457 Dalton Ave., Unit L5
Joseph Ngo

Cleaning and Beyond
227 Robbins Ave.
Jeffrey Sayers

East Coast Insulators
4 Industrial Dr.
Benjamin Melle

Eco Girl Shop
82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100
Thoughtful Tomorrow LLC

Madison Café
49 Madison Ave.
Madcaf LLC

Manny’s Bounce House Rentals
16 Leona Dr.
Mandell Crump

Mindset Personalized
53 Orchard St.
Godwin Adu

Paul Rich & Son
242 North St.
Downtown North Inc.

PNW Loans
82 Wendell Ave.
Licensing Department

Revolution Card Grading
124 Fenn St.
Reginald Davis

SauceGod_Everything
555 Hubbard Ave.
Dereck Carter

Starbase
343 Pecks Road
Berkshire Kind Inc.

Tactiq
82 Wendell Ave.
Jason Garrett

Tom’s Residential Services
227 Springside Ave.
Thomas Harter

Understory Analytics
82 Wendell Ave.
Precision Point Group LLC

Willow
101 Hawthorne Ave.
ADCM LLC

The Witching Hour
127 Calumet St.
Kayeleigh Santspree

SOUTH HADLEY

Amber Scene Clean
650 New Ludlow Road
Amber Energy Inc.

Lemon Lavender
104 Granby Road
Farrah Matta

SOUTHWICK

DJ Jewelers
210 Mort Vining Road
Donna Buldrini

The Doughy Dog Bakery
12 Gargon Terrace
Stacey Cagan

Ginger Roots Skin Bar
535 College Highway
Jill Decoteau

Great2BHome
19 Crescent Circle
Laurie Walhord

My PT LLC
108 Congamond Road
Thomas Naro

Southwick Motors
483 College Highway
Fariaan Mufeed

Sweepin It Clean LLC
610 College Highway
Anthony Rhodes

WH Industries
74 South Loomis St.
William Henry

WESTFIELD

413 Auto Sales
128 Meadow St.
128 Meadow Street LLC

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar
441 East Main St.
Apple New England LLC

Dan Orszulak Windows & Siding
16 School St.
Dan Orszulak

Elite Mechanical
22 Pinewood Lane
Brendan MacKechnie

Essex Foods LLC
77 Servistar Industrial Way
Jason Brown

Home Environmental Services
4 School Sr.
Walter Baenziger

Interstate Towing Inc.
20 Clifton St.
Jeremy Procon

Laundry Central Inc.
3 White St.
Laundry Central Inc.

Old School Landscaping
817 Airport Industrial Park Road
Matthew Hamberg, Ray Lopez

Pit Stop BBQ
349 East Mountain Road
Christopher Santaniello

Roosters Chicken & Waffles
78 Franklin St.
Louinel Sterling

Tatyna Nail Service
78 Franklin St.
Tatyana Rotar

Under Budget Printing
8 Foss St.
Kevin Dyke

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Beaupre, Richard R.
132 Pine Ave.
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Date: 06/22/2023

Dansereau, Elizabeth Ann
307 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/23/2023

Daughtry, Ronald Lester
76 Ogden St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 13
Date: 06/23/2023

Henriquez, Leodoro U.
525 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/22/2023

Moriarty-Ryan, Michele S.
136 Wenonah Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Date: 06/23/2023

Munsell-Ward, Cristen L.
137 Acrebrook Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/25/2023

Partridge, Alice A.
141 North Pleasant St.
PO Box 295
Amherst, MA 01004
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/26/2023

Tremblay, Gerard N.
Tremblay, Tara A.
48 Flint St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/24/2023

Ward, Justin R.
137 Acrebrook Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/25/2023

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

197 Ashfield Mountain Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Adam Robbins
Seller: Kyle E. Walker
Date: 06/30/23

BERNARDSTON

52 Eden Trail
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Cairney
Seller: Edward G. Wardell
Date: 06/28/23

16 Fox Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $226,500
Buyer: Spencer Ross
Seller: Susan J. Hackney
Date: 06/28/23

BUCKLAND

45 North St.
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Ryan D. Hoar
Seller: Brian P. Heath
Date: 06/26/23

CHARLEMONT

456 Zoar Road
Charlemont, MA 01367
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Zoar River Holdings LLC
Seller: Benjamin H. Gagnon
Date: 06/28/23

COLRAIN

26 Phillips Hill Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Thomas Gutermuth
Seller: James L. McPhee
Date: 07/07/23

CONWAY

1700 Main Poland Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $775,500
Buyer: Ken Woodward
Seller: Danielle S. Mulvey
Date: 07/03/23

288 Truce Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $201,500
Buyer: HUD
Seller: Winona M. Corse
Date: 06/29/23

 

DEERFIELD

20 Elm St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Beniza LLC
Seller: Philip K. Peake
Date: 06/26/23

208 Greenfield Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Troy Santerre
Seller: Finance Of America TR 2018-HBI
Date: 06/28/23

River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Pine Nook Road NT 2
Seller: Tjalling P. Hoiska
Date: 07/05/23

26 Sugarloaf St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Orafol Americas Inc.
Seller: Marie E. Allis
Date: 06/30/23

69 Sugarloaf St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Timothy Cooley
Seller: Mark Wightman
Date: 06/30/23

ERVING

32 North St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Rogette Belliveau
Seller: Roy E. Page
Date: 06/29/23

25 Old State Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: 25 Old State Road LLC
Seller: Carol M. Rock
Date: 07/07/23

GREENFIELD

4 Ames St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Missale Properties LLC
Seller: Aedz Inc.
Date: 07/07/23

21 Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Rachel Gibson
Seller: R. N. & H. A. Richardson RET
Date: 07/03/23

164-1/2 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: 157 Bridge Street LLC
Seller: Judith B. Stein RET
Date: 06/30/23

166-1/2 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: 157 Bridge Street LLC
Seller: Judith B. Stein RET
Date: 06/30/23

9 Cross St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Sarah F. Uprichard
Seller: Steven A. Shattuck
Date: 06/28/23

114 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Mohammed Neamah
Seller: Gerald E. Sykes
Date: 06/30/23

70 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $592,000
Buyer: 70 Federal LLC
Seller: Judith B. Stein RET
Date: 06/30/23

109 Green River Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Douglas Johnston
Seller: Jesse M. Merriett
Date: 06/30/23

20 Kenwood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Chelsea Brown
Seller: Baker, Wendy J. (Estate)
Date: 06/30/23

53 Laurel St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Warren Onufer
Seller: Jeffrey R. Remillard
Date: 07/06/23

290 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Derick R. Adams
Seller: Adams, Rita A. (Estate)
Date: 07/06/23

22 Mohawk Trail
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: 22 Mohawk Trail LLC
Seller: Clayton J. Herbert
Date: 07/07/23

84 Norwood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Linda Capasso
Seller: Jesse J. Edwards
Date: 06/26/23

32 Place Ter.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Lily Harris
Seller: Carrie A. Charboneau
Date: 06/26/23

36 Plantation Circle
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Kayti D. Powell
Seller: Gabriel E. Miranda
Date: 07/07/23

39 Plantation Cir.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Tate Falvey
Seller: James M. Burke
Date: 07/07/23

81 Vernon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $352,000
Buyer: Diane Greenberg
Seller: Elmer Int.
Date: 07/06/23

47 West St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Briones
Seller: Brian D. Guertin
Date: 06/30/23

HAWLEY

West Hill Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Commonwealth Of Ma
Seller: Palmer, Sheila Ann (Estate)
Date: 06/29/23

LEVERETT

73 Depot Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jeremy Ober
Seller: Denzel G. Hankinson
Date: 06/29/23

37 Laurel Hill Dr.
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $970,000
Buyer: D. Motto & S. Railsback RET
Seller: Jeffrey D. Laney
Date: 06/29/23

MONTAGUE

4 Ross Ave.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jacob M. Torres
Seller: Jared Porter
Date: 06/30/23

NEW SALEM

99 Michael Ln
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Gayle M. Parella
Seller: Russell Pasternak
Date: 07/07/23

NORTHFIELD

124 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: David H. Reeder
Seller: Northfield Mt. Hermon School
Date: 06/30/23

ORANGE

38 Church St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Eugene Fraser
Seller: Richard W. Reynolds
Date: 06/29/23

55 New Athol Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Kelly A. Wicks
Seller: Edward B. Sullivan
Date: 06/29/23

SHUTESBURY

274 Locks Pond Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Michael Gula
Seller: Jessica C. Dufford
Date: 06/26/23

SUNDERLAND

132 Russell St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Frederick W. Strong
Seller: Joyce M. Kulessa
Date: 07/05/23

WENDELL

1 Davis Turn Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Kathryn Moffett
Seller: Wilder, Sally Ann (Estate)
Date: 06/26/23

75 New Salem Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Kristopher J. Winiarski
Seller: Matthew T. Dziedzic
Date: 06/26/23

WHATELY

River Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Nourse Farms Real Estate Acquisitions LLC
Seller: Nourse Realty LLC
Date: 07/03/23

29 River Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Timothy M. Nourse
Seller: Nathan S. Nourse
Date: 06/29/23

41 River Road
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Nourse Farms Real Estate Acquisitions LLC
Seller: Nourse Realty LLC
Date: 07/03/23

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

380 Barry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Brian J. Sheehy
Seller: Larry P. Figella
Date: 06/29/23

11 Bradford Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Francheska L. Santos
Seller: Darren Morace
Date: 07/05/23

95 Butternut Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $412,000
Buyer: Nichole Camp
Seller: Stephen King
Date: 07/07/23

5 Church St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Birdie Properties LLC
Seller: Kathleen A. Kelly
Date: 06/30/23

38 Damato Way
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Hailley K. King
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 06/30/23

236 Lancaster Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Darren Morace
Seller: Jackie Y. Tang
Date: 07/06/23

141-145 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Nasip LLC
Seller: Ricom LLC
Date: 06/28/23

740 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Leon Hubby
Seller: Sean P. Burke
Date: 07/07/23

179 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: All Farmers Inc.
Seller: Harvard Turf Farms Inc.
Date: 06/28/23

1029 North St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Matthew Shanahan
Seller: Kathleen D. Siedlik
Date: 07/07/23

108 Oak Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $387,500
Buyer: James Stpeter
Seller: Michael A. Mandella
Date: 07/07/23

31 Pheasant Run Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Mikel J. Green
Seller: Scott G. Woodford
Date: 06/29/23

118 Princeton Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Rachel Truland
Seller: George D. Ward
Date: 07/07/23

86 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Sheila Coly
Seller: Sarah Fett
Date: 06/29/23

143 Valley Brook Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Michael R. Olson
Seller: Parentela, Cynthia E. (Estate)
Date: 07/07/23

303 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: First Nationwide Realty LLC
Seller: Paul A. Placanico
Date: 07/05/23

BRIMFIELD

32 Dearth Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Kristina M. Chester
Seller: Charles W. Utter
Date: 07/05/23

140 John Haley Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $387,000
Buyer: Jaime E. Garcia-Heredia
Seller: Luzmarilda G. Ferreira
Date: 07/07/23

140 John Haley Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Luzmarilda Ferreira
Seller: Edward M. Canavan
Date: 07/07/23

41 Little Rest Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $619,000
Buyer: Richard T. May
Seller: Russell T. Prentiss TR
Date: 06/30/23

Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Light Lt
Seller: Kathleen J. Earthrowl RET
Date: 06/26/23

CHESTER

16 Maple St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Aaren Hawley
Seller: Christopher R. Pedersen
Date: 06/29/23

CHICOPEE

116 Arcade St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Blake Twining
Seller: Linda A. Payne
Date: 06/30/23

63 Beverly St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Demesis Diaz
Seller: Gilberto Ortiz
Date: 06/30/23

6 Captain Mac St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Luis Galarza
Seller: Solimar R. Cruz
Date: 06/30/23

1554 Donohue Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Alba Contreras
Seller: Barbara A. Libbey
Date: 07/07/23

94 Ducharme Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Glendaliz P. Acevedo
Seller: Jonathan Lopez
Date: 06/29/23

27 Fairmont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Prime Partners LLC
Seller: Stephen F. Powell
Date: 07/06/23

6 Glenwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Judith A. Fitzgerald
Seller: Alyssa A. Demers
Date: 06/26/23

229 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $359,350
Buyer: 229-233 Grattan St. LLC
Seller: JGT Property & Maintenance LLC
Date: 07/07/23

470 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: 470 Grattan St. LLC
Seller: Patricia P. Deslauriers
Date: 06/29/23

52 Hillcrest St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $276,500
Buyer: Francisco Cortes
Seller: Nancy M. Roy
Date: 06/30/23

120 Jean Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Kimberly Oneil
Seller: Coogan, Claire M. (Estate)
Date: 06/30/23

12 Longwood Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Kelvin F. Mercedes-Diaz
Seller: Melro Associates Inc.
Date: 07/07/23

227 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jacob J. Savageau
Seller: Maria D. Savageau
Date: 06/30/23

226 Nonotuck Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Dennis Fialho
Seller: Fernando P. Ribeiro
Date: 06/30/23

135 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Miroslav Nesterchuk
Seller: Collins, Barbara Ann (Estate)
Date: 07/07/23

25 Rose St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Rose RT
Seller: Roman J. Kokoszyn
Date: 06/30/23

50 Tremont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Tami R. Ward
Seller: Moises Matos
Date: 06/26/23

68 Trilby Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $233,061
Buyer: AVAIL 1 LLC
Seller: Napoleon Rougeau
Date: 06/30/23

37 White St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $137,445
Buyer: Daniel M. Laduke
Seller: Federal National Mortgage Assn.
Date: 07/05/23

EAST LONGMEADOW

37 Ainslie Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Linda L. Dalton
Seller: Gregory M. Dobek
Date: 06/30/23

33 Athens St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01108
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Jrchr LLC
Seller: Carrington Mortgage TR 2006 NC4
Date: 06/28/23

124 Avery St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Anthony Compton
Seller: Michael Becker
Date: 07/06/23

52 East Village Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Waseem Mudasar
Seller: Steven R. Morissette
Date: 07/06/23

41 Edmund St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jarrod Allen
Seller: Anna L. Falcone
Date: 07/05/23

2 Harvest Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Andrea Lyons
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 07/06/23

27 Helen Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Smith
Seller: Cedar Investment Group LLC
Date: 07/07/23

159 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Eugenia Krichevsky
Seller: Michael F. Jacquinet
Date: 06/27/23

139 Melwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $354,900
Buyer: Deborah Maier
Seller: Justin P. Wilson-Gabor
Date: 06/30/23

194 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $401,000
Buyer: Elzbieta K. Kneeland
Seller: Paul R. Olson
Date: 06/30/23

36 Pondview Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $826,000
Buyer: Connor E. Twaddle
Seller: Kristin L. Cressotti
Date: 06/29/23

73 Rogers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Christine Garstka
Seller: B. A. Federici TR
Date: 06/27/23

348 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: William Castro
Seller: Patrick M. Murray
Date: 07/07/23

GRANVILLE

1430 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Monica L. Kucienski
Seller: Jeremy S. Batchelor
Date: 07/06/23

HAMPDEN

338 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Joseph G. Lewis
Seller: Clinton R. Stonacek
Date: 06/27/23

77 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Taylor Loveling
Seller: HUD
Date: 06/26/23

345 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: John J. Peltier
Seller: Fred A. Pafumi
Date: 06/30/23

154 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $388,500
Buyer: James Pafumi
Seller: Lehman FT
Date: 07/07/23

2 Scantic Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Jordan Greenlee
Seller: Justin Shuma
Date: 07/05/23

273 Scantic Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $653,000
Buyer: Justin M. Kapust
Seller: Temple Estates LLC
Date: 07/06/23

HOLLAND

280 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Prosinski
Seller: Tara Pucci
Date: 06/30/23

HOLYOKE

87 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Emily S. Berge
Seller: Rock Solid Renovations LL
Date: 06/27/23

235 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $499,900
Buyer: Sunday Holdings LLC
Seller: Lunchbox Properties LLC
Date: 07/07/23

39 Cherry St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Rosanie Calderon
Seller: Cheryl A. Pesto
Date: 06/30/23

8 Clark St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Diane D. Crawford
Seller: Tammy Donoghue-Walker
Date: 07/07/23

1109 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $610,000
Buyer: 1109 Dwight LLC
Seller: Jesus M. Candelario
Date: 07/07/23

1198 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Luis O. Isaza
Seller: Edmund G. Woods
Date: 06/27/23

Dwight St. (rear)
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Dedominici Real Estate LLC
Seller: Highland Laundry Co.
Date: 06/26/23

261 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: St. Jerome Apartments LLC
Seller: Holyoke Holdings LLC
Date: 07/07/23

40-42 Gates St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Maxime Langlois
Seller: Dubs Capital LLC
Date: 06/27/23

301 High St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,213,000
Buyer: Veloz & Associates LLC
Seller: New Man Ventures LLC
Date: 06/30/23

20 Hitchcock St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Amelia M. Jayne
Seller: Kristen J. Davis
Date: 06/30/23

3 Humeston Slope
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Brian K. Charette
Seller: Waseem Mudasar
Date: 06/30/23

20 Lenox Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Charles Quimby
Seller: Beeler, Anna (Estate)
Date: 06/26/23

172 Ontario Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $367,000
Buyer: Lorna Laker
Seller: Janet P. Belanger TR
Date: 06/26/23

256 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Daniel Battat
Seller: Elizabeth Whynott
Date: 06/27/23

500 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Dedominici Real Estate LLC
Seller: Highland Laundry Co.
Date: 06/26/23

504-506 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Dedominici Real Estate LLC
Seller: Highland Laundry Co
Date: 06/26/23

512 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Dedominici Re LLC
Seller: Highland Laundry Co.
Date: 06/26/23

Pleasant St. (rear)
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Dedominici Real Estate LLC
Seller: Highland Laundry Co.
Date: 06/26/23

6 Saint Jerome Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: St. Jerome Apartments LLC
Seller: 6 Holyoke Holdings LLC
Date: 07/07/23

18-22 Saint Jerome Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: St. Jerome Apartments LLC
Seller: 18 Holyoke Holdings LLC
Date: 07/07/23

266 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Donna Smith
Seller: Paola A. Palacio
Date: 07/05/23

231 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: Ryan Rushing
Seller: Sarah-Marie Belcastro
Date: 07/03/23

139 West Meadowview Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $353,000
Buyer: Tania E. Docarmo
Seller: Genevieve Milewski
Date: 07/06/23

320 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Flor D. Platero-Ramirez
Seller: Roberto Camacho
Date: 07/07/23

60 Water St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Holyoke Gas & Electric
Seller: Benz Holdings LLC
Date: 06/27/23

LONGMEADOW

9 Althea Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $452,000
Buyer: Kevin Tran
Seller: Ivonne I. Rivera
Date: 06/26/23

434 Bliss Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Thomas Sophinos
Seller: Corcoran, Margaret E. (Estate)
Date: 06/29/23

7 Cambridge Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $586,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Suchy
Seller: Donna N. Frankel
Date: 06/30/23

89 Dover Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $489,900
Buyer: Michael S. Lee
Seller: Deborah C. Maier
Date: 06/30/23

43 Elizabeth Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $695,000
Buyer: Bart Thomee RET
Seller: Joseph D. Janik
Date: 07/07/23

160 Ellington Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $695,000
Buyer: Joshua M. Londergan
Seller: O3 RT
Date: 06/26/23

39 Emerson Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Christine Regan
Seller: Bay Path University
Date: 06/28/23

339 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $543,000
Buyer: Elliott Dowling
Seller: David S. Taylor
Date: 06/26/23

908 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $584,000
Buyer: Zachary Herrmann
Seller: Dinesh Patel
Date: 06/26/23

126 Greenacre Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Collin M. Bunch
Seller: Jane Barrett
Date: 06/29/23

126 Greenacre Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jane Barrett
Seller: Tower, Anne M. (Estate)
Date: 06/29/23

167 Hazardville Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Maia Roderick
Seller: Franny Krushinsky
Date: 06/27/23

82 Longfellow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Colin T. Britt
Seller: Carol A. Haddad
Date: 06/30/23

185 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Austin J. Seabury
Seller: Ruth K. Moxom
Date: 06/27/23

105 Northfield Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $815,000
Buyer: Sara Taheri
Seller: Mark J. Viviano
Date: 07/07/23

54 Primrose Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $780,000
Buyer: Rolland M. Combe
Seller: Daniel T. Conroy
Date: 07/07/23

63 Warwick St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Ingrid K. Shuttleworth
Seller: John D. Shuttleworth TR
Date: 06/28/23

60 Westmoreland Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $562,000
Buyer: Michael Tobin
Seller: Glenn F. Davis
Date: 06/26/23

LUDLOW

25 Fox Hill Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Paula C. Cordeiro
Seller: Eli S. Santana
Date: 06/29/23

1384 Lyon St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $529,000
Buyer: Jaime H. Cardona
Seller: Chocorua Realty Investment LLC
Date: 07/07/23

17 Oakridge St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $321,750
Buyer: Joejoe Properties LLC
Seller: Madalena, Dores S. (Estate)
Date: 06/29/23

145 Piney Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Zachary H. Szczebak
Seller: Jolie C. Szczebak
Date: 06/30/23

6 Turning Leaf Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $759,900
Buyer: Robert J. Paquette
Seller: Hemlock Ridge LLC
Date: 06/29/23

324 Westerly Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: Steven E. Grande
Seller: E. T. Daigneault Indenture
Date: 06/29/23

75 White St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Mj Real Estate LLC
Seller: Bear Stearns Alt-A T. 2007
Date: 06/26/23

MONSON

175 Brimfield Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Ashley Holden
Seller: Anna Aiello
Date: 06/30/23

6 Hilltop Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Suzana Ortiz
Seller: Deborah Blanchard
Date: 06/30/23

Hovey Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Monson Through Its Conservation Commission
Seller: Booker, Jean (Estate)
Date: 06/26/23

25 Upper Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Kurt A. Langheld
Seller: Mulloy, Francis (Estate)
Date: 07/07/23

PALMER

1217 Calkins Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Brandon Marguet
Seller: John P. Galarneau
Date: 06/26/23

4041-4043 Church St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $346,500
Buyer: Parvez M. Bhuiyan
Seller: Shannoya Beezer
Date: 07/07/23

4110 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Moran Property TR
Seller: Ronald J. Boyko
Date: 06/26/23

17 Old Farm Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Robert D. Pallister
Seller: Naomi R. Jackson
Date: 06/28/23

16 Peterson Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Bianchi Ft
Seller: Audrey A. Zalewski
Date: 06/26/23

1038 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: GJL RNL NT
Seller: Richard T. Tenczar
Date: 07/05/23

75 Riverview Pkwy.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jessica M. Lorion
Seller: Michael A. Dias
Date: 06/30/23

RUSSELL

369 Blandford Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Shawn Reinford
Seller: Reuben Leinbach
Date: 07/05/23

240 Dickinson Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Ben Arcangeli
Seller: J. M. Hess
Date: 07/06/23

255 Woodland Way
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Patrick Murray
Seller: Matthew Werner
Date: 07/07/23

SPRINGFIELD

60-62 Algonquin Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Rehab Home Buyers LLC
Seller: Junior Properties LLC
Date: 06/22/23

192 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jamal Diggs
Seller: Angelique P. Arroyo
Date: 06/28/23

429 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jacob Fellion
Seller: Francis E. Dzefi
Date: 06/29/23

46 Amore Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Adam A. Young
Seller: McDonald, Daphne J. (Estate)
Date: 06/26/23

27 Andrew St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Whitney Martinez
Seller: Daniel J. Garcia
Date: 06/28/23

115-117 Ardmore St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Brendan E. Dimaggio
Seller: DLS TR
Date: 07/06/23

853 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Brittany Houston
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 07/07/23

82 Arnold Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Eric Santiago
Seller: Rene Vigo
Date: 06/29/23

132 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Huu B. Dinh
Seller: Elena M. Siniscalchi
Date: 06/30/23

27 Balfour Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Rene Aquino
Seller: Ricardo Diaz
Date: 06/30/23

14-16 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Chinalee Cotto
Seller: Tavernier Investments LLC
Date: 06/30/23

70 Bolton St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Lisa A. Houser
Seller: Brianna Sass
Date: 06/29/23

6 Brookburn St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $191,500
Buyer: Ilyssa O. Zippin
Seller: Abfc 2005-Opt1 TR
Date: 06/26/23

49 Campechi St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Matthew Levesque
Seller: William T. Raleigh
Date: 07/05/23

49 Canterbury Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Omayra L. Trujillo
Seller: Kristin L. Dominique
Date: 06/27/23

821 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Anthony Trabal
Seller: Flabia Feo
Date: 06/28/23

72 Clement St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $172,900
Buyer: Maa Property LLC
Seller: Citizens Bank
Date: 06/20/23

73 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Hue L. Phan
Seller: Son Vo
Date: 06/30/23

23 Continental St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Mann, Michael S. (Estate)
Date: 06/27/23

807 Cottage St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Khcp Co. LLC
Seller: Danny Boy Realty Corp.
Date: 06/28/23

47 Curve St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Brett N. Chittick
Seller: Matthew R. Shanahan
Date: 07/06/23

25 Danaher Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Alison Weckerly
Seller: Buoniconti, Louis J. (Estate)
Date: 07/07/23

295 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Madeline M. Ward
Seller: Justin B. Richardson
Date: 06/27/23

52 Embassy Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Quinton Dodge
Seller: Renee C. Lodi
Date: 06/26/23

17-19 Fairmount St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Jason Property Investment LLC
Seller: Mint Realty Group LLC
Date: 06/30/23

54-56 Foster St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Myd Bliss Home LLC
Seller: Deering RT
Date: 06/20/23

73 Francis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Samy Erilus
Seller: Mariaah L. Martinez
Date: 06/26/23

114 Francis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Geraldine McCafferty
Seller: Joanne M. Richards
Date: 07/07/23

54 Georgetown St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Luis Rosa-Martinez
Seller: Jason D. Orluk
Date: 06/30/23

63 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Beattie
Seller: Jeanne I. Heaton
Date: 06/26/23

201 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Carolyn A. Bilodeau
Seller: Peter D. Bilodeau
Date: 07/03/23

137 Hartford Ter.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Debra A. Ayers
Seller: Sareen Properties LLC
Date: 06/28/23

20 Ivan St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $241,500
Buyer: Tiffany M. Sarmiento
Seller: George H. Pelletier
Date: 07/05/23

4 Jean Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Leland J. Zak
Seller: Alison M. Weckerly
Date: 07/07/23

93-95 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $134,492
Buyer: Lybia P. Cole
Seller: Nikia Brooks
Date: 06/20/23

101 Keith St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Violet Montaque
Seller: Lynn M. Hendricks
Date: 06/27/23

512-518 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: 512-518 Main Street LLC
Seller: Caslo RT
Date: 06/27/23

27 Mattoon St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Eliza Pesuit
Seller: Eric Boccio
Date: 06/27/23

60-62 Montrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Manfred Karori
Seller: Guy Louissette
Date: 07/07/23

14 North Chatham St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Robert J. Lefebvre
Date: 07/07/23

21 Nathaniel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Joshua M. Rodriguez
Seller: Yolma E. Price
Date: 06/26/23

20-22 Nelson Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: John M. Mbiriizzi
Seller: David Givans
Date: 06/27/23

218 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Anthony Arillotta
Seller: Lauretta J. Peterson
Date: 07/06/23

91-93 Oakwood Ter.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Daslin Mendoza
Seller: Inglewood RT
Date: 06/30/23

127 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Richard Barreto
Seller: Tracey A. Trottier
Date: 06/30/23

78-80 Phillips Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Paul R. Gauthier
Seller: Gary A. Daula
Date: 06/30/23

154 Phoenix Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Kyle Archidiacono
Seller: Federal National Mortgage Assn.
Date: 06/26/23

53 Pidgeon Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Brittney Troisi
Seller: Marlena Acevedo-Sanchez
Date: 06/28/23

1424 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Bretta Construction LLC
Seller: Alvin Robinson
Date: 06/29/23

57 Primrose St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Devon W. Grierson
Seller: Dasilva, James Stanley (Estate)
Date: 06/27/23

26 Queensbury Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Steven Chorney
Seller: Brian J. Kelly
Date: 06/27/23

18 Redstone Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Diann Ferguson
Seller: Kathleen J. Staples
Date: 06/28/23

379 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Jerald Kinnison
Seller: JT Realty Associates Inc.
Date: 07/06/23

30-32 Ruskin St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $341,000
Buyer: Arsenia S. Ciprian
Seller: Agape Mgmt. Group LLC
Date: 06/30/23

1547 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Yocasta M. Lara
Seller: Mary-Constance Yacovone
Date: 06/29/23

75 Saffron Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Nelson Rodrigues
Seller: Flipping Best LLC
Date: 06/28/23

1225 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Fab Holdings LLC
Seller: Taddey, Alice (Estate)
Date: 06/30/23

1265 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Ivonne Luna
Date: 06/30/23

15-17 Somerset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Savanna Henry
Seller: Edwards, Mornan (Estate)
Date: 06/26/23

369 Stapleton Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Milagros R. Rivera
Seller: Alfred J. Albano
Date: 06/30/23

770-780 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,830,000
Buyer: Van Der Heyden Apt. LP
Seller: Van Der Heyden Assocs. LP
Date: 07/03/23

66 Sunapee St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: John P. Maloney
Seller: Katherine M. McDonald
Date: 06/30/23

190 West Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Alvin Truong
Seller: Jeffrey R. Beattie
Date: 06/26/23

79-81 West Alvord St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Anthony Wilson
Seller: Jose E. Gomez
Date: 06/30/23

43 Warrenton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Ricardo Lawrence
Seller: 43 Warrenton RT
Date: 06/29/23

42 Wellfleet Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Lilliana R. Santana
Seller: Mark Taylor
Date: 06/26/23

212-216 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Jose Monje
Seller: HSB Investments LLC
Date: 06/28/23

5 Wilshire Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Carlistene Edmorin
Seller: Megliola Realty LLC
Date: 06/30/23

935-937 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: A. B. Q. Property LLC
Seller: Ramon Tapia
Date: 07/07/23

80 Wrentham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $349,525
Buyer: Jamilex Del Valle
Seller: Jjj17 LLC
Date: 07/05/23

SOUTHWICK

47 Congamond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: David Comeau
Seller: Norman H. Storey RET
Date: 07/07/23

8 Deer Run
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $660,000
Buyer: Scott R. Theroux
Seller: Marianne Q. Desimone
Date: 06/28/23

2 Hidden Place
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $475,900
Buyer: James E. Maslowski TR
Seller: Andrew P. Leete
Date: 06/30/23

7 Lauren Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $705,000
Buyer: Jeremy S. Batchelor
Seller: Mohanad Almahmoud
Date: 07/06/23

47 Lexington Cir.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $629,000
Buyer: Mark Roberts
Seller: Jennifer L. Knoop
Date: 06/29/23

11 Pineywood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Nikolai Cambur
Seller: RM Blerman LLC
Date: 06/30/23

11 Pondview Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $707,000
Buyer: Khizyr Khoultchaev
Seller: Thomas C. Feyre
Date: 06/27/23

234 Sheep Pasture Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Alan Fletcher
Seller: Vanessa Filiault
Date: 06/30/23

6 Summer Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Shaun Dearing
Seller: Lisa A. Vandervliet
Date: 06/28/23

TOLLAND

6 Path Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Christina Gloster
Seller: Timothy C. Heinze
Date: 06/29/23

WEST SPRINGFIELD

1022 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Akshardham 2023 Corp.
Seller: John P. Hammond
Date: 06/30/23

237 Ashley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Janice L. Hall
Seller: Hill, Alice (Estate)
Date: 07/07/23

84 Bear Hole Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Vasile Iorga
Seller: San Giorgi, Richard J. (Estate)
Date: 07/06/23

162 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Abbas Tamaradze
Seller: Kimberly A. Dion
Date: 06/27/23

19 Lathrop St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Dinesh B. Patel
Seller: Cornerstone Homebuying LLC
Date: 07/06/23

78 Lincoln St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $195,050
Buyer: Talal Mhanna
Seller: Pennymac Loan Services LLC
Date: 06/28/23

1071 Memorial Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $765,000
Buyer: PSM LLC
Seller: Shreeji Shayona LLC
Date: 06/27/23

1071 Memorial Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Round Two LLC
Seller: PSM LLC
Date: 06/27/23

250 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Garrett Broughton
Seller: Vertex Design & Build LLC
Date: 06/30/23

501 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $462,000
Buyer: Mangal S. Magar
Seller: Krishna L. Kharel
Date: 06/26/23

122 Norman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Zafar Takhsilov
Seller: Aga Brothers LLC
Date: 07/07/23

487 Prospect Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Laurie M. Phillips
Seller: Pinkos FT
Date: 07/07/23

15 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Kristin L. Dominique
Seller: Andrew G. Sunseri
Date: 06/27/23

44 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Ahmet Basibuyuk
Seller: Yamuna Rai
Date: 07/07/23

30 Terry Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Allison Lapierre-Houle
Seller: Christina Francoeur
Date: 06/29/23

104 West Calvin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Victor M. Diaz
Seller: Carmen A. Aliaga-Chero
Date: 06/29/23

121 Wilder Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Sandra Mackler
Seller: Allison M. Lapierre
Date: 06/29/23

WESTFIELD

10-R Cherry St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: 12 Cherry LLC
Seller: Trust2u RT
Date: 06/29/23

12 Cherry St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: 12 Cherry LLC
Seller: Trust2u RT
Date: 06/29/23

74 Court St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Adam Boggs
Seller: W. G. W. Assocs.
Date: 06/30/23

39 Day Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Marino Gallion
Seller: Cheryl L. Robinson
Date: 06/29/23

84 Gary Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Hanming Chen
Seller: Marcia Kahn
Date: 06/30/23

187 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Alyssa Boscarino
Seller: Cathleen R. Hutkoski
Date: 06/30/23

40 Murray Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Brian C. Mendes
Seller: Scott A. Miles
Date: 06/30/23

59 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: David Prouty
Seller: Gray Bae Group LLC
Date: 07/06/23

518 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: 518 Southampton Road LLC
Seller: Antal Realty LLC
Date: 06/27/23

114 West Silver St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Hitchcock
Seller: Rohman, James M. (Estate)
Date: 06/28/23

WILBRAHAM

1 Addison Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Robinson C. Rodriguez
Seller: Dorothy E. Skelly
Date: 06/30/23

100 Burleigh Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $389,500
Buyer: Franco J. Tilli
Seller: Anita Duffy
Date: 06/30/23

9 Cadwell Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $271,200
Buyer: Pupreitor LLC
Seller: Ashley M. Holden
Date: 07/07/23

4 Inwood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Steven M. Bandarra
Seller: Scott W. Sherman
Date: 07/05/23

24 Maple St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Joseph R. Sokoloski
Seller: Anthony J. Martin
Date: 06/30/23

15 Merrill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Tracey Trottier
Seller: Gregory Westland
Date: 06/27/23

28 Millbrook Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $695,000
Buyer: Nathaniel T. Moriarty
Seller: Mill Brook Dr. RT
Date: 06/30/23

46 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Lotterer
Seller: Keith Polci
Date: 06/30/23

8 Oakland St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Alexis Decasse
Seller: Sharon Kavanagh
Date: 06/29/23

16 Red Gap Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Michael Nardi
Seller: Steven P. Gobel
Date: 07/03/23

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

103 Aubinwood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: Bret E. Jackson
Seller: Robert E. Jones RET
Date: 07/06/23

97 Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Matthew Waldrip
Seller: Denison Corp.
Date: 06/28/23

107 Blue Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: Justin Hansen
Seller: Ianni LT
Date: 06/27/23

84 High Point Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: Dean M. Janeff
Seller: Jennifer Kenworthy
Date: 06/30/23

15 Jenks St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Samantha Delorey
Seller: Deborah J. Veatch
Date: 06/26/23

117 North Whitney St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Trang Le
Seller: Nancy Reffsin
Date: 06/26/23

37 Phillips St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $766,000
Buyer: Michael M. Lee
Seller: Knight Realty Group LLC
Date: 06/30/23

9-11 Poets Corner Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Maya Tal
Seller: Joshua S. Goldstein
Date: 07/07/23

500 Sunderland Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: A. Reyes Homes LLC
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 07/07/23

BELCHERTOWN

75 Alden Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $930,000
Buyer: Peder A. Gilbert
Seller: Gloria Lopez
Date: 06/30/23

137 Boardman St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $376,000
Buyer: Jamphel Gyatso
Seller: Timothy Beaulieu
Date: 06/28/23

42 Edelcy Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Temitope Oladimeji
Seller: Christofer Dehahn
Date: 06/29/23

538 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Anwar Shaikh
Seller: Michael J. Krasinkiewicz
Date: 06/27/23

28 Magnolia Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Julio Canizales
Seller: Gwenael Layec
Date: 06/30/23

83 Pondview Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Liana M. Burgos
Seller: Andrea B. Lyons
Date: 07/06/23

South Gulf Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Town Of Belchertown
Seller: Neil M. Jackson
Date: 06/30/23

CHESTERFIELD

10 Antin Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $790,000
Buyer: Robert Gosselin
Seller: Thomas E. Dawson-Greene
Date: 06/30/23

 

CUMMINGTON

204 Trouble St.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Shira Wohlberg
Seller: Jackson T. Smith
Date: 06/28/23

EASTHAMPTON

60 Campbell Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Madeline A. Zanetti
Seller: 60 Campbell Drive RT
Date: 06/30/23

14 Chapman Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $241,033
Buyer: Vrmtg Asset TR
Seller: John J. Lucey
Date: 06/28/23

205 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Rose Dibenedetto
Seller: Wendy S. Sawyer
Date: 06/30/23

56-66 Everett St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $945,000
Buyer: 56-66 Everett Street LLC
Seller: Stephen C. Robinson
Date: 07/05/23

42-44 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Daniel L. Murdock
Seller: Benjamin W. Goodale
Date: 06/29/23

14-16 Hampton Ter.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Rara Realty LLC
Seller: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Date: 07/07/23

60 Highland Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: John Sirois
Seller: Corey R. Boyle
Date: 06/27/23

13 Industrial Pkwy.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $2,400,000
Buyer: Atomic Real Estate LLC
Seller: LCR 195 Northampton LLC
Date: 06/30/23

74 Lovefield St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Alexandra M. Millett
Seller: Richard R. Facteau
Date: 07/07/23

195 Northampton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $2,400,000
Buyer: Atomic Real Estate LLC
Seller: LCR 195 Northampton LLC
Date: 06/30/23

22 Overlook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: David Wauczinski
Seller: Daniel Wauczinski
Date: 07/03/23

10 Robin Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Neil Serafin
Seller: Christine E. Sears
Date: 06/30/23

22 Spring St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Alana H. Friedman
Seller: Jeanie C. Steele
Date: 07/07/23

15 Underwood Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Eliot Vrijmoet
Seller: David J. Haines
Date: 07/07/23

143 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $347,000
Buyer: Caroline E. Foley
Seller: Wendy R. Pearson
Date: 06/30/23

GOSHEN

74 South Chesterfield Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Laura A. Stevens
Seller: Randy S. Messeck
Date: 06/30/23

GRANBY

128 Maximilian Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $791,100
Buyer: Monika M. Sullivan
Seller: Kotowicz Custom Homes LLC
Date: 07/05/23

HADLEY

9 Bayberry Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $982,019
Buyer: Karen Hosley
Seller: Salvatore P. Verdi
Date: 06/30/23

2 Plainville Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Christina Corrigan
Seller: Jeffrey V. Cicolini
Date: 06/30/23

HATFIELD

Bashin Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Nourse Farms Real Estate Acquisition LLC
Seller: Nourse Farms Inc.
Date: 07/03/23

Old Farms Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Nourse Farms Real Estate Acquisition LLC
Seller: Nourse Farms Inc.
Date: 07/03/23

22 South St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $171,900
Buyer: Robert Torrey
Seller: Denn, John A. (Estate)
Date: 06/27/23

HUNTINGTON

3 Mill St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Ryan Meersman
Seller: Brian Lizotte
Date: 07/07/23

137 Norwich Lake
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Rebekah Hanlon
Seller: Leedy Ft
Date: 06/27/23

79 Worthington Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Richard Facteau
Seller: Cassie McDonald
Date: 07/07/23

 

NORTHAMPTON

92 Blackberry Lane
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: E. A. Thulin Declaration Of Trust
Seller: Sharon Wretzel
Date: 07/05/23

36 Butler Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Anne West-Church
Seller: Patrick B. Gregory
Date: 06/28/23

105 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $812,000
Buyer: Matthew Goldfarb
Seller: Benjamin J. Schalet
Date: 06/30/23

317 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Katherine A. Ohara
Seller: Neely, Glenda (Estate)
Date: 06/29/23

93-97 High St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $636,200
Buyer: 93-97 High Street LLC
Seller: Carole A. Andrus
Date: 06/30/23

29 Industrial Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $2,900,000
Buyer: Clinical & Support Option
Seller: GPD 29 Industrial Dr. LLC
Date: 07/07/23

216 Lovefield St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Justin Ching
Seller: Wendy J. Allen
Date: 06/29/23

60 Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: W&B Development Associates LLC
Seller: KSM Properties LLC
Date: 07/07/23

329 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Northeast Asset Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 06/23/23

32 Rockland Heights Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Iohana Hayes
Seller: William Raleigh
Date: 06/27/23

145 Round Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Stephen A. Tournas
Seller: Steven M. Zucchino
Date: 06/26/23

46 Sovereign Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $1,225,000
Buyer: Jayson Lord
Seller: Brian W. Smith
Date: 07/07/23

40 Washington Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $730,000
Buyer: William M. Girard
Seller: Gerome A. Miklau
Date: 06/29/23

66 Whittier St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $985,900
Buyer: Laura M. Cocca
Seller: B. J. Ingledue Indenture RE
Date: 06/29/23

PELHAM

13 Enfield Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $353,500
Buyer: Elizabeth Crawford
Seller: Dulac, Brion C. (Estate)
Date: 06/29/23

24 Gulf Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Mill River Renovations LLC
Seller: Peter S. Lincoln
Date: 06/29/23

209 North Valley Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Li Chai
Seller: Skibinsky, Phyllis A. (Estate)
Date: 06/28/23

SOUTH HADLEY

96 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Gabriella Delmonte
Seller: Marguerite Duquette
Date: 06/26/23

125 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: PMS 2022 RET
Seller: Mary E. Kates
Date: 07/07/23

34 Boynton Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $386,500
Buyer: Mark Taylor
Seller: Minh Lang
Date: 06/26/23

6 Enterprise St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Ana G. Sanchez
Seller: Alison G. Fenton
Date: 06/26/23

65 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Gina Shankle
Seller: Timothy J. Bruso
Date: 06/30/23

25 Ludlow Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Juraye Pierson
Seller: Franchina, Alfred (Estate)
Date: 06/29/23

36 Park Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Timothy Murphy
Seller: Daniel J. Oliveira
Date: 06/27/23

53 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $636,000
Buyer: Mairead Butler RET
Seller: Carol A. Barr
Date: 06/30/23

22 Taylor St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Fatima O. Adeyemi
Seller: John J. Peltier
Date: 06/30/23

4 Willimansett St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Allister MacLeod
Seller: Victor A. Danilchenko
Date: 06/30/23

125 Woodbridge Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $837,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Poggi
Seller: Jean A. Hazen
Date: 06/29/23

SOUTHAMPTON

369 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Michael C. Cooper
Seller: Daniel Murdock
Date: 06/29/23

44 Line St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Dale Raczynski
Seller: Adam Dunne
Date: 06/30/23

114 White Loaf Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Patrick W. Hopewell
Seller: Barry G. Parker
Date: 07/06/23

WARE

14 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $320,900
Buyer: Hana Investors LLC
Seller: Brian C. Perez
Date: 07/06/23

62 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $159,251
Buyer: Wicked Deals LLC
Seller: John McClellan
Date: 06/26/23

15 Clifford Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Suzanne L. Lahna
Seller: Timothy P. Lagrant
Date: 07/05/23

37 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $267,400
Buyer: Mia Gurule
Seller: Clifford W. Lanier
Date: 07/07/23

17 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Samantha A. Squires
Seller: St. George-Sorel, G. M. (Estate)
Date: 06/26/23

5 Oakridge Cirle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: John Trela
Seller: John M. Delargy
Date: 06/30/23

51 Old Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Nicholas Dugre
Seller: Donald G. Singleton
Date: 06/30/23

28 Pulaski St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Gareth Sicard
Seller: John Trela
Date: 06/30/23

20 Smith Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Christopher T. Adams
Seller: Kyle M. Welch
Date: 06/28/23

8-10 Spring St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Aaron C. Sandridge
Seller: Donna M. Dipilato
Date: 07/07/23

8 Vlontis Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Laura J. Dion
Seller: Amelia C. Kowalski
Date: 06/30/23

88 West St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Ebenezer Construction & Cleaning
Seller: Patrick McGowan
Date: 06/30/23

WILLIAMSBURG

47 Chesterfield Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Carroll
Seller: Olga Ehrlich
Date: 07/07/23

WORTHINGTON

224 Old Post Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Timothy P. Doherty
Seller: Doherty, Gerard F. (Estate)
Date: 06/30/23

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of July 2023.

CHICOPEE

16 Grape Street LLC
16 Grape St.
$15,500 — Roofing

DCL Property Management LLC
873 Grattan St.
N/A — Minor demolition

Mittas Inn LLC
463 Memorial Dr.
$113,781 — Connect into existing fire-sprinkler piping and extent to protect rest of building

Slats Realty Trust II
28 Montgomery St.
$36,937.58 — Roofing

HADLEY

Gulmohar Realty Corp.
237 Russell St.
N/A — Construct 77-room TownePlace Suites hotel

Town of Hadley
15 East St.
N/A — Remove and replace 12 antennas

LEE

Dresser Hull Co.
74 Railroad St.
$2,500 — Remove and replace front-porch floorboards

LENOX

17 Main Cottage LLC
17 Main St.
$5,300 — Jack front porch, install helical piers, repair and make alterations to stairs

Stanley Rosen
91 Walker St.
$6,500 — Roofing

NORTHAMPTON

Arke Realty LLC
124 King St.
$8,000 — Non-illuminated ground sign for Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters

Community Care Resources Inc.
142 Glendale Road
N/A — Gazebo

EZMJ LLC
17 Main St.
N/A — Roofing

Maplewood Shops Inc.
2 Conz St.
$12,814 — Divide one room into two, add two doors and sink

New England Deaconess Assoc.
37 Coles Meadow Road
$6,200 — Deck

Nonotuck Mill LLC
296 Nonotuck St.
$5,000 — Build non-structural cubicle partitions

O’Connell Hawley LLC
10-20 Hawley St.
$1,052,206 — Selective interior demolition, replace roof, restore and rebuild masonry, replace windows, install access ramp

Smith College
25 Henshaw Ave.
$1,228,498 — Mechanical systems conversion

Smith College Amherst College Rental Property Department
64 Belmont Ave.
$45,000 — Replacement windows

Temp-Pro Inc.
200 Industrial Dr.
$195,500 — Replace mechanically attached roof

TNT Properties LLC
41 Linseed Road
$59,235 — Install 45-panel, roof-mounted solar system

PITTSFIELD

Fourteen Fifty East Street LLC
1450 East St.
$142,952 — Roofing

Hillcrest Extended Care Services
171 Valentine Road
$25,364 — Replace RTU

Interprint Inc.
101 Central Berkshire Blvd.
$254,825 — Install wet fire-protection system in new addition

Fang Tian
119 Elm St.
$18,000 — Siding

SPRINGFIELD

1441 Main Street LLC
1441 Main St.
$580,000 — Interior demolition on seventh floor for future fit-out for TD Bank

Richard Abdow, Scott Macey
33 Eastland St.
$2,138 — Remove and replace two decorative posts

Behavioral Health Network
471 Chestnut St.
$60,000 — Remodel bathroom in BHN Carlson Recovery Center

F.L. Roberts and Co. Inc.
237 Albany St.
$180,000 — Alter interior space at rear of building for office use by Roberts Fuel

FNBC Realty Corp.
1350 Main St.
25,995.76 — Minor office-space repairs, finish Suite 1508

Friends of Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence Inc.
285 Dorset St.
$293,000 — Upgrade student and staff restrooms in 10 locations in building

Heo Hoon
1327 Liberty St.
$43,000 — Alter vacant commercial space into two new bathrooms

JRH Realty Inc.
1675 Main St.
$28,000 — Repair masonry on rear wall, install new stucco

John Mastroianni Jr., Cheryl Mastroianni
401 Taylor St.
$48,000 — Roofing at Mastroianni’s Auto Body

MGM Springfield Redevelopment LLC
1 MGM Way
$45,000 — Install metal railings and egress gates to perimeter of casino floor

Leonard Michelman
1317 East Columbus Ave.
$153,000 — Structural modifications to roof-mounted billboard sign on commercial office building

Muayyad Realty LLC
405 Dickinson St.
$24,000 — Roofing

Pioneer Valley Christian School Inc.
965 Plumtree Road
$800,000 — Alter interior space for phase 2 of theater renovations

The Pride LP
101 West St.
$320,000 — Interior fit-out for Starbucks, including drive-up window

Sabis International Charter School
160 Joan St.
$914,000 — Inter interior locker rooms for new team room and replace toilets and showers; replace toilets and sinks in various locations throughout school

Springfield Bridge Holding
146 Chestnut St.
$20,000 — Alter interior classroom partition walls on third floor of Libertas Academy Charter School

Springfield Boys Club
481 Carew St.
$85,000 — Add 16 antennas, 12 remote radio heads, three surge arrestors, three fiber cables, and eight DC cables; reinforce cellular monopole

Tree House Properties LLC
181 State St.
$138,511 — Partial demolition, removal of attached open parking-garage structure

 

Attorney Amelia Holstrom Elected Chair of Wilbraham Personnel Advisory Board

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Attorney Amelia Holstrom of Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., a leading labor and employment law firm, was named chair of the Wilbraham Personnel Advisory Board, which advises the town’s Select Board on matters pertaining to personnel policy.

Holstrom, who joined the firm in 2012, is a partner at Skoler Abbott who practices in all areas of employment defense. She provides counsel to management on taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of legal liability that may be imposed as the result of illegal employment practices and defends employers who are faced with lawsuits and administrative charges filed by current and former employers.

“I am honored to have been elected chair of the Personnel Advisory Board,” she said. “Living in Wilbraham has been a great experience for my family, and I want to give back to that community. This is an opportunity to do that.”

Holstrom, who was appointed to the Personnel Advisory Board by the Wilbraham Select Board, is an active participant in the Greater Springfield community. She is a member of the Wilbraham Commission on Disability, the boards of Clinical and Support Options Inc. and the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce, the board development committee for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, and the personnel committee for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

PVPC Secures $500,000 for Regional Assessment and Cleanup Plan for Polluted Parcels

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued grants to organizations across Massachusetts to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties.

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) — the state-designated regional planning agency for the 43 cities and towns of Hampden and Hampshire counties — received $500,000 to carry out environmental-assessment and remediation-planning activities for sites in the towns of Ware and South Hadley that have been identified as potentially polluted.

“It is critical to the long-term growth and sustainability of our region that we set the table for private investment in parcels that for too long have sat dormant as the result of contamination associated with our Valley’s legacy industry,” PVPC Executive Director Kimberly Robinson said. “Just as these Hampshire County sites were home to the economic engines of our region’s past, so too can they be again with the help of strategic taxpayer dollar investments, setting them up to host the private enterprises of the future.”

The EPA has granted PVPC four years to complete the program.

These contaminated properties, or so-called brownfields, are often located at the sites of former industrial activity. There are more than 4,000 brownfields sites located throughout the Pioneer Valley, many of which are home to a wide range of chemicals, including heavy metals (such as lead and arsenic), volatile organic compounds, petroleum, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Additionally, many commercial and industrial buildings were constructed with asbestos and other hazardous building materials, and most urban residences contain lead-based paint.

In Ware’s downtown historic district, priority sites for the grants include 16 East Main St. (former Boiler House) and the Millyard Building at 12 East Main St. In South Hadley, priority sites include Gaylord Street (Gaylord Mill) and 85 Main St. (South Hadley Electric Light Department).

The assessment and ultimate cleanup and reuse of brownfields will result in both economic and non-economic benefits to communities throughout the Valley, including stimulating investment from private businesses, greater job opportunities, increasing the local tax base, spurring economic activity and growth, eliminating blight, increasing community pride, creating more open space and recreational opportunities as well as public access to waterfront, and reducing the harmful health effects and potential exposures of residents to contamination.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield Welcomes New Board Members

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS) recently welcomed three new board members. Springfield YPS elevates the level of each member’s craft by enriching their experience through programs and networking events that add value and remain relevant to their ever-evolving industries.

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

New board members include Aiden McDonald of Visual Sound Productions, Ryan Brassard of Raymond James, and Sarah Federation of Bacon Wilson.

The new board members join existing board members Nikai Fondon of Berkshire Bank and the “She Did That!” podcast, Elizabeth Hillis of WWLP, Alaina Macaulay of UMass Amherst, Lauren Zuber of the Markens Group, Drew McConaha of Train for Life, Melissa Cuzzone of EBS Insurance Brokers, and Ashley Batlle-Ramos of Beauty Batlles Lounge, as well as YPS Treasurer Russ Kelly, Secretary Isabella Brandy-Prankus of the Gray House, co-Vice President Kara Bombard of Performance Food Group, co-Vice President Tyler Hadley of DDS Acoustical Specialties, and President Heather Clark of the Baystate Health Foundation.

“Having such a robust board of directors will further our ability to provide more quality events and professional-development opportunities throughout Greater Springfield,” Clark said.

To learn more about Springfield YPS and its programming, visit www.springfieldyps.com.

New Moon Rising to Headline Jewish Federation’s Summer Concert on Aug. 6

By
Daily News

LENOX — On Sunday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m., Jewish Federation of the Berkshires will present New Moon Rising, three of the most dynamic and creative voices in Jewish music: Elana Arian, Deborah Sacks Mintz, and Chava Mirel. The concert will take place at the Duffin Theater at Lenox Memorial High School, 197 East St., Lenox.

New Moon Rising embodies a soulful oasis of rich harmonies, deep friendship, and pure Jewish joy. This year, all concert proceeds will benefit the Anti-Defamation League’s “A World of Difference” program in Berkshire County schools.

Tickets for this concert must be ordered in advance (click here), and are priced at $25, with $20 tickets available for those under age 30. Children under 13 will be admitted free of charge. Inquire about the variety of underwriting opportunities also being offered. All tickets will be held at the door. For more information, call the Federation at (413) 442-4360, ext. 10.

This concert is funded in part by PJ Library, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and generous underwriters.

Blue Sox First-round Playoff Games Start Tonight

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox have won the West Division of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), and the team will begin its first-round playoff series tonight, July 31 at 6:30 p.m., hosting the West Division rival Bristol Blues at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke in the first game of a best-of-three series.

The second game of the series will be Tuesday, Aug. 1 at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn. If necessary, the series will head back for the finale at Mackenzie Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 2. As the third seed in the 2023 playoffs, the team is excited to begin its pursuit of a third NECBL championship.

Greenfield Welcomes Amy Cahillane as Community and Economic Development Director

By
Daily News

GREENFIELD — Former Downtown Northampton Assoc. Executive Director Amy Cahillane will begin as Greenfield’s new Community and Economic Development director today, July 31. She will be replacing MJ Adams, who retired in April.

Cahillane graduated from Smith College in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in government. She then earned her juris doctorate in 1999 at Suffolk University School of Law before achieving a master’s degree in political science at the University of Washington in 2005.

Cahillane worked in a multitude of roles across the Northampton community. She was a board member from 2011 to 2013 and co-president from 2013 to 2016 of the Northampton Education Foundation. The volunteer board spearheaded fundraising efforts to procure private and corporate funds to support Northampton public schools.

As a participant on the Northampton Center of Arts from 2014 to 2016, Cahillane and other board members worked to provide affordable and accessible venues for a wide range of arts experiences, including performances, exhibits, arts education, and more. The board also partnered with the Northampton Community Arts Trust to reinvent 33 Hawley St. into a multi-faceted art space.

In 2016, Cahillane was hired as the first executive director for the Downtown Northampton Assoc. She guided the association and its volunteer board in initiatives to strengthen the vibrancy of the city’s economy and culture. Through strong partnerships with the local business community, city government, and downtown stakeholders, she produced various events, championed beautification efforts, and advocated on behalf of Northampton’s downtown community.

She also worked as the community liaison board member for the Northampton Jazz Festival from 2019 to 2023, which included engaging with municipal departments and local businesses during preparations for the festival.

“I am thrilled to be joining the city at a time filled with such positive momentum and economic opportunity,” Cahillane said. “The redevelopment of Wilson’s and the possibilities created by the rezoning of the Route 2A acreage are just two examples of MJ Adams’ legacy that I am so fortunate to step into, and I am looking forward to continuing to build on her great work.”

“My hope,” she added, “is to find ways to both support the incredible business community already here, while working to attract new employers; to balance increasing our housing stock while preserving the affordability that attracts people to Greenfield; and to celebrate all of the amazing people and places that already exist in a way that honors the character and uniqueness of Greenfield.”

James Montana of Dietz & Co. Earns Architecture License

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dietz & Co. Architects announced that James Montana, AIA has completed the Architectural Registration Examination and met all of the requirements for architectural licensure in the state of Connecticut, bringing the firm’s total number of registered architects to eight.

Montana joined Dietz & Co. in January and is currently participating in the design and project management of a new senior-center facility for the town of Wilmington. He holds a master of architecture degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology and has led design teams for multiple award-winning projects.

Prior to working for Dietz, Montana worked for architectural firms in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where he developed a specialization in design for mixed-used commercial and residential projects. He also has experience in designing boutique corporate interiors and campus planning for higher education.

United Way of Pioneer Valley Asks Community to Stuff the Bus

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley announced the return of the Stuff the Bus program, which provides backpacks filled with school supplies for students who are homeless throughout Hampden County, Granby, and South Hadley. Stuff the Bus relies on donations of school supplies from the community.

“We are fortunate to have generous donors who want to ensure that every student begins the school year with the supplies they need. And we are grateful to Peter Pan Bus Lines, who lend a bus and driver each year to deliver the backpacks to the school districts, and to Western Mass News, who has been our media partner for the past several years,” said Megan Moynihan, interim president and CEO of United Way of Pioneer Valley.

Items needed most include spiral notebooks, composition books, looseleaf paper, crayons, index cards, pencil sharpeners, erasers, glue sticks, highlighters, and rulers. Click here to order supplies through Amazon Wish List and have them delivered to United Way. Supplies may also be dropped off at the United Way of Pioneer Valley offices at 1441 Main St. in Springfield, or at Western Mass News at 1300 Liberty St. in Springfield, through Aug. 7.

BusinessTalk with Chikmedia’s Meghan Rothschild

By
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 173: July 31, 2023

Joe Interviews Chikmedia’s Meghan Rothschild

Even with a strong background in marketing, Meghan Rothschild had reservations about launching her own business. But once she took the leap in 2013, she had plenty of confidence in her vision for the company: one of fierceness, attitude, and constant learning in the service of helping clients — many of them women business owners as well — reach the next level through better branding and messaging. As Chikmedia celebrates its 10th anniversary, Meghan joins BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar on the next installment of BusinessTalk for a wide-ranging conversation about the challenges of entrpreneurship, the evolving world of marketing, and her important work in the realm of skin-cancer awareness. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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American International College Building Set Ablaze by Lightning Strike

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Courniotes Hall on the campus of American International College (AIC) was struck by lightning around 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon, causing a massive fire. Springfield firefighters fought the blaze during a severe thunderstorm.

Campus police performed a walk-through to ensure that no students, faculty, or staff were inside and that the building was cleared. Courniotes Hall houses AIC’s nursing program and provides classroom space for additional health-sciences courses. While there is significant damage to the building, AIC’s leadership pledged to take all actions necessary to ensure students are provided with continuity in their course of studies this fall.

“AIC is known for its resilience, and we will come back stronger than ever thanks to the help of our community,” AIC President Hubert Benitez said. “We want to sincerely thank our first responders, including Springfield fire and police departments, as well as our campus police, who acted swiftly to help mitigate further damage to our campus.”