Home 2025 (Page 22)

Year: 2025

HCC Culinary Arts Instructor Tracy Carter Honored with National Award

By
Daily News

Chef and HCC Culinary Arts instructor Tracy Carter (left) receives the Community Outreach Award from Richard Harber, associate director of Instructional Design at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.

HOLYOKE — Chef Tracy Carter, a Culinary Arts instructor at Holyoke Community College (HCC), was recognized recently for community outreach by two national culinary arts organizations.

In June, Carter, chair of the HCC Culinary Arts program, received the 2025 Community Outreach Award from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ). The national award recognizes a culinary/hospitality program or individual making a positive impact in their community via outreach programs such as food banks, recycling efforts, skill development for the disadvantaged, and other services.

As program chair, Carter has committed herself to building bridges between the college and community groups on wellness campaigns. This year, the HCC Culinary Arts program partnered with the Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to develop an adaptive cooking series designed for people with disabilities and their caregivers. The goal of the class is for participants to gain confidence in the kitchen, develop essential life skills, and foster a sense of independence and joy around food. The program is entirely hands-on, complete with accessible tools, modified recipes, and supportive instruction to meet diverse needs.

“For me, this award is a reflection of the amazing work happening every day in our kitchens at HCC,” said Carter. “It means a great deal to be recognized nationally, not just as an individual, but as a representative of a program that truly values community, inclusion, and student success.”

She added that she believes food can break down barriers and bring people together. “This program exemplifies that belief in action, merging culinary education with therapeutic outcomes to serve those who are often overlooked.”

Carter is a graduate of the International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute in Los Angeles. She grew up in Springfield and joined the HCC teaching staff in 2018 after living for several years in New York City, where she worked as a freelance food stylist and culinary producer at the Food Network on shows such as Chopped, preparing the baskets of ingredients for the cooks involved in the on-air competitions and working alongside famous chefs like Bobby Flay.

The award provides a $1,000 prize and commemorative plaque. Additionally, Carter received a complimentary registration to attend CAFÉ’s 2025 Leadership Conference in Pittsburgh, where the award was presented.

“This recognition reinforces that we’re on the right path, and it energizes us to keep growing, innovating, and building a culinary community where everyone belongs,” she said.

With campuses in Austin, Texas and Boulder, Colo., the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S. Based in Annapolis, Md., CAFÉ’s mission is to link culinary educators with the foodservice industry.

Second Annual Party with 1 Purpose Set for Oct. 4 at Basketball Hall of Fame

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — After a sold-out debut that earned national recognition from Breakthrough T1D as one of the Top New Fundraising Events of 2024, Party with 1 Purpose will return to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Chaired by David Fontaine Jr. and Sarah Fontaine, the gala unites community leaders, local families, and businesses in support of Breakthrough T1D’s mission to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). Guests will enjoy an evening on Center Court featuring live music, an energetic auction, inspiring stories from local T1D families, and opportunities to directly fund life-changing research.

This year’s Fund a Cure will shine a spotlight on the Kouflie family and their son Braden, who was diagnosed with T1D at just 7 years old. The Kouflies will share their journey of navigating the daily challenges of diabetes while holding onto hope for a cure, giving guests a personal look at why Breakthrough T1D’s research is so critical.

“This event is about more than one night,” said David Fontaine Jr., whose daughter Grace was diagnosed with T1D at age 3. “It’s about building a movement here in Western Mass. that accelerates progress toward a cure.”

Sponsorships and tickets are now available at www.breakthrought1d.org/ctma/wmassgala2025, and organizers are aiming to surpass last year’s record-breaking fundraising total.

Gleason Realty Takes Dramatic Strides in Real Estate, Self-storage

By
Jackie Janulewicz (left) and Tony and Jenna Gleason
Cover Story

Moving Story

Jackie Janulewicz (left) and Tony and Jenna Gleason

Jackie Janulewicz (left) and Tony and Jenna Gleason

 

Tony Gleason recalls that the landscaping business he started when he was 16 and had grown into one of the 100 largest such ventures in the country was at a critical crossroads.

“We had substantial, profitable, high-end accounts, and we thought we had achieved optimal growth,” he explained. “Our future paths would have been an outward geographic expansion or inward expansion through our real estate and self-storage portfolios, and I felt that, when comparing the offers that were presented and looking at both paths, it was going to be easier, and bring me more joy, to go down the path of real estate growth and expansion and moving our self-storage business forward than to try take our landscape and snow removal business regional.”

Thus, he sold the business to Yellowstone Landscape, the second-largest landscaping firm in the country, in May 2023, thus beginning what we’ll call the next chapter of his entrepreneurial exploits. It includes the formation of the Gleason Realty Group and that inward growth of the real estate and self-storage divisions that he mentioned.

With the former, the company has acquired what would be considered downtown Northampton landmarks — the historic Coolidge building, also known as the old Post Office on Pleasant Street, as well as what Gleason calls a three-part purchase of the Fitzwilly’s building on Main Street and the Fitzwilly’s and Toasted Owl operating businesses.

The portfolio also includes 179 Northampton St. in Easthampton, a mixed-use campus, as well as the Gleason complex on Pearl Street, where the family has done business for more than a century, and where other tenants, from a brewery to the Registry of Deeds, reside. And it will continue to grow in controlled fashion, said Gleason, adding that the real estate market is in an intriguing state of flux where both opportunities and challenges abound (more on this later).

“Storage can be extremely profitable or stagnant, depending on how you enter the market. You have to take a lot of time to invest in the diligence process and look at the metrics — there’s square-footage-per-capita metrics that tell the story of the demand, and you have to remain true to those metrics.”

With the self-storage division … it has become the purview of Gleason’s wife, Jenna, who left a job working in marketing and brand strategy for Baystate Health to assume this challenge. The two are both BusinessWest 40 Under Forty winners, Tony in 2010 and Jenna in 2017; Tony also won the Alumni Achievement Award in 2022.

“It was a big jump and a big risk, but it’s one that we believed in, so I totally pivoted my career,” said Jenna, while offering a primer on the self-storage business and acknowledging that she had to learn it herself, and is still learning.

Tony and Jenna Gleason

Tony and Jenna Gleason at their self-storage facility in Easthampton, part of a portfolio that now includes more than 2,200 units.

“I had limited exposure to the storage industry — Tony had some experience in that he owned a facility in Hatfield for three or four years — but it was really my baptism-by-fire learning experience,” she went on. “I looked at everything from different software programs we wanted to use to how to brand ourselves and differentiate ourselves; we really got to create it from the ground up.”

This side of the venture, called GiGi’s Self Storage, started with the acquisition of property in Easthampton that included 46 units of self-storage, a site that has been further developed, bringing the number to 200 units. Since then, there have been additions to the portfolio in Greenfield, Northampton, and, more recently, Sunderland, Pittsfield, Palmer, Leicester, and Stafford Springs, Conn., bringing the totals to nine locations and 2,200 units.

These investments include a mix of existing businesses and new developments, including the conversion of older properties into self-storage, as happened with the Dumont factory building in Greenfield, and in Pittsfield, where a three-decade-old warehouse and, more recently, a cannabis facility is being similarly converted.

As with the real estate arm, the plan for the self-storage division is controlled growth but eventually becoming one of the largest self-storage operators in the country, Jenna said, noting that the goal for the next several years is to continue filling in the spaces between the pinpoints already on the map.

Tony agreed, while noting that there is still room for considerable growth in this still relatively young business, with many communities in this region far from saturated — although some, like Springfield, have likely reached that point.

“Storage can be extremely profitable or stagnant, depending on how you enter the market,” he explained. “You have to take a lot of time to invest in the diligence process and look at the metrics — there’s square-footage-per-capita metrics that tell the story of the demand, and you have to remain true to those metrics.”

For this issue, we take an in-depth look at the Gleason Realty Group, now with a portfolio value approaching $70 million; its recent investments, totaling more than $30 million; and its plans for continued expansion.

 

Space Exploration

Tony Gleason told BusinessWest that his family has a long business history in Northampton — his great-grandfather operated a moving and storage company in what is now the Gleason complex — and with its most famous resident, the country’s 30th president.

Gleason said his great-grandfather’s company moved Calvin Coolidge into the White House when he assumed the office after the death of Warren Harding in 1923, and also helped move his items back to Northampton and into his presidential library. Meanwhile, Gleason Realty now owns and manages the Coolidge building, and the Fitzwilly’s building is home to Coolidge’s old law office. It’s on the second floor and is now occupied by a researcher.

The old Post Office in Northampton

The old Post Office in Northampton is one of several recent additions to the Gleason Realty portfolio.

But enough about Silent Cal. His former office is a small part (250 square feet) of a much larger picture, with the Gleasons and their team still filling in the canvas.

On the real estate side of the equation, there have been several additions over the past several years, including the mixed-use campus in Easthampton, which houses a diverse mix of tenants, including a doctor’s office, a tattoo parlor, a chiropractor, and other small businesses, said Jackie Janulewicz, a former school librarian (who also worked for Gleason’s landscaping company while earning her master’s degree in education) who joined Gleason Realty in 2024 and serves as director of Operations and Development and wears many hats, including property manager.

But much of the recent activity has been in downtown Northampton. The Coolidge building was acquired at auction in late 2023 when it was only half-occupied, said Tony, adding that it is now 100% occupied, with a mix of medical, office, and special-use tenants.

Meanwhile, the Fitzwilly’s building and the Fitzwilly’s and Toasted Owl businesses were acquired over the past few months. (The acquisition also includes a separate building off Route 9 in Hadley that will be separately marketed for sale or lease.)

“My first thought is always that we’re helping our customers, which are, ultimately, also our neighbors.”

The Fitzwilly’s building, also known as the Masonic building, was broken up into six different condo units with separate ownership, said Janulewicz, adding that the property is nearly full. “I only have two small spaces left, and I have bites on both. I don’t imagine them being vacant much longer.”

Moving forward, Tony said the real estate division will continue to grow and add to its portfolio, but in a smart, controlled fashion.

“We’re always looking for new opportunities, but the deal has to be right, and we have to be cautious and conservative in all of our decisions related to the commercial real estate business, because there are ebbs and flows to occupancy and varying levels of risk factors that tie into different types of tenants that may into a building,” he explained. “Our primary focus is on our self-storage business growth, but we are always going to look at Western Mass. real estate opportunities as they come around.”

Elaborating, he said the trend toward remote work continues to impact the commercial real estate industry, with many larger buildings in different markets seeing higher rates of vacancy as businesses continue to downsize. There is interest in smaller spaces, 5,000 square feet and under, he noted, adding that his company will continue to look for opportunities that provide those footprints.

“One of the reasons we did these last two deals is that a lot of these spaces are smaller in nature, and it’s easier to grow occupancy,” he explained, adding that there are many properties now coming onto the market, and the company will be diligent and cautious as it seeks to grow the portfolio.

“I think I look at 10 or so deals a week,” he explained. “Some advance five minutes, some advance 20 or 30, and some four to six months through a due-diligence process that ends up in an actual acquisition. What sets us apart is trying to remove emotion from the decision, as well as not going after everything that’s available; 95% of what’s out there is not going to work, and that’s OK.”

 

What’s in Store

Jenna Gleason remembers telling friends and colleagues at Baystate of her decision to leave her role in marketing, shift to the family business, and focus most of her energies on growing its self-storage portfolio.

“Some of them were like, ‘what are you thinking … you’re getting into self-storage?’” she recalled with a laugh, adding quickly that this is serious business, one that has grown steadily over the past half-century or so and still has enormous growth potential.

But before getting into it, she had to learn it, as she acknowledged earlier. And there was a lot to learn.

The Fitzwilly’s building

The Fitzwilly’s building, another addition to the Gleason Realty portfolio, is now at nearly 100% occupancy.

“I listened to a lot of podcasts on storage and tried to read as much as a I could on the business and the industry — any article I could find — and we worked together to figure out how we were going to leave a footprint,” she recalled, adding that she got involved as Tony was fully engaged with selling the landscaping business. If she had a problem, she said, he would usually reply, ‘figure it out.’ And she did, learning while doing.

From the beginning, the goal has been to stand out in a field that was crowded with players of all sizes and has become more crowded since, she went on, adding that she believes the company differentiates itself through a personal approach defined by building relationships with customers.

“My first thought is always that we’re helping our customers, which are, ultimately, also our neighbors,” she explained. “When someone’s in need of storage, typically it’s a stressful time in their life; they’ve lost a loved one, it might be a change in a professional career, a change in a relationship or home life — there’s usually a quick, dire need for storage. So we want to be there for them and make this less of a hassle and more easy.”

As for the name, Gigi is a family nickname for Jenna, and GiGi’s Self Storage gives the venture a less corporate feel, they said, adding that, as with the real estate division, the goal with this side of the business is controlled growth.

There are plenty of existing facilities that come onto the market, said Tony, adding that the company is continuously looking for opportunities that make sense, knowing that size brings obvious efficiencies and economies of scale.

And there is room for new development as well, they said, noting that, unlike with the banking and cannabis sectors, most area communities are not yet saturated or oversaturated with self-storage facilities.

Still, there are risks involved with such developments, and due diligence, in the form of understanding a market and its needs, is necessary.

“When you’re building from the ground up, you have to be very confident in the market — that you can lease out the spaces,” Tony said. “You want to make sure the demand is there. The worst possible scenario would be to build or overbuild a facility and look back three or four years later and not be able to fill it.”

And for the first time in the history of the industry, there are signs of oversaturation in some markets, he went on, adding that smart growth will be the course with GiGi’s, which is still a tiny player within the market, but has plans to become one of the 100 largest in the country, and can get there by growing four or fivefold.

That’s the plan for the next five to 10 years, anyway, and based on the success of Gleason’s landscaping business, there is little doubt that these driven entrepreneurs can get there.

Consider These Common Myths That Get Employers Sued

By Contributor
Law Special Coverage

Can I Fire Someone for That?

By Michael Lewis, Esq.

Employers regularly wonder: “can I fire someone for that?” You might assume the answer is simple, especially in an at-will state like Massachusetts. But the reality is more complex. Missteps can land your business in court. Here’s how to avoid them and keep your company focused on growth, not litigation.

 

Myth: At-will Means Any Reason Goes

At-will employment allows termination without contractual cause. Yet, anti-discrimination laws and retaliation protections still apply. Even a valid reason, like poor performance, becomes risky if the employee recently complained about harassment, requested an accommodation, or reported a safety issue. Terminating soon after a complaint invites legal trouble.

For example, you want to fire Sarah for repeated tardiness. But what if she reported sexual harassment a few weeks earlier? Timing alone can create exposure. So document performance issues as they arise.

Also, check if the employee recently returned from Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) or Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML). A Springfield auto repair shop faced a claim after firing a worker the day after he returned from PFML to care for his newborn. The company blamed tardiness, but the timing triggered months of legal headaches.

Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis

“At-will employment allows termination without contractual cause. Yet, anti-discrimination laws and retaliation protections still apply. Even a valid reason, like poor performance, becomes risky if the employee recently complained about harassment, requested an accommodation, or reported a safety issue.”

Myth: No Documentation Needed

Some employers assume that no paperwork is necessary under at-will rules. That approach creates unnecessary risk. Without records, even lawful firings appear questionable. Weak evidence damages credibility.

Imagine Tom, a low performer who never received formal feedback. If you fire him after years of positive reviews, expect scrutiny. Always provide timely written warnings and accurate performance evaluations. Keep emails, attendance records, and coaching notes. Would your records persuade a jury that the termination was justified?

 

Myth: We Treated Everyone Fairly

Fair treatment requires consistency. If one employee is fired and another is only warned for the same violation, questions follow.

Consider two salespeople, Mike and Jose, both caught inflating sales numbers. Mike receives a warning. Jose gets fired. If Jose claims racial bias, inconsistent discipline strengthens his argument. Review prior disciplinary decisions. Can you show a clear record of equal treatment?

 

Myth: We Can Share the Reason Widely

Managers sometimes explain a termination too broadly, believing transparency protects the company. In reality, public disclosure creates legal risk.

An employee fired for theft sued his employer after leadership announced it to the entire staff. Even truthful statements, shared excessively or with ill will, can spark defamation claims. A local example: a Chicopee retailer emailed all employees, naming a worker fired for alleged cash shortages. That email became exhibit A in court. Limit disclosure to those who truly need to know.

 

Avoiding Retaliation Claims

Retaliation is the most common Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim. Firing someone after they complain about discrimination, request leave, or raise pay concerns often leads to lawsuits. Subtle actions can count, too — cutting hours, assigning undesirable shifts, or excluding them from meetings.

Did Lisa report a wage issue last week? If she now gets the worst shifts, her attorney will call it punishment. Train managers to pause and ask: “does this look like payback?” In one Springfield restaurant, a server who complained about tips was fired days later for “attitude.” The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination viewed the timing as retaliation, and the case settled quickly.

 

Managing the Termination Meeting Professionally

How you fire someone matters. Keep the meeting short and calm. Speak plainly. Avoid debate. Bring a neutral witness, usually HR. Disable system access and collect company property immediately. For remote workers, coordinate IT to end access during the call.

Have you prepared your team to stay composed when an employee gets angry or upset? A concise, professional exit reduces emotion and litigation risk.

“You can prevent most legal problems with proactive steps. Train managers to document consistently. Encourage employees to raise concerns early, and respond appropriately when they do.”

Reducing Risks Before They Occur

You can prevent most legal problems with proactive steps. Train managers to document consistently. Encourage employees to raise concerns early, and respond appropriately when they do.

Also, follow Massachusetts requirements: final wages and accrued vacation must be paid promptly, sometimes the same day. Missing or delaying a payment can trigger penalties. Review whether your managers apply standards uniformly. Track disciplinary trends by department or supervisor. In one Holyoke warehouse, inconsistent discipline across shifts led to multiple claims that could have been avoided with routine audits.

 

Quick Pre-termination Checklist

• Document the issue in writing.

• Confirm whether the employee recently exercised protected rights (complaint, FMLA, PFML, workers’ compensation).

• Ensure similar cases were handled consistently.

• Complete a fair investigation and allow the employee to respond.

• Prepare final pay and unused vacation in compliance with Massachusetts law.

 

Bottom Line

Employee terminations happen. Legal trouble does not have to. Careful documentation, consistent actions, and thoughtful communication protect your business. Before acting, stop and ask: “have we done this right?”

Taking these steps helps you confidently answer, “can I fire someone for that?” That answer should never rest on guesswork.

 

Michael Lewis is an attorney at the Royal Law Firm who helps employers resolve workplace challenges. He counsels and defends businesses across Massachusetts and Connecticut, handling matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour claims, restrictive covenants, and breach of contract. His practice includes litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies.

Lindsay LaBonte Wants to Help Clients — and the Community — Thrive

By
Lindsay LaBonte
Special Coverage Women in Businesss

Lessons Learned at Home

Lindsay LaBonte

 

Lindsay LaBonte recalls how she felt growing up, watching her father, who owned an independent mortgage broker company, help people get into homes.

“He always came home from work so satisfied with being able to help people reach the American dream and own a house,” she said, adding that she decided early on that she wanted to do the same. “I knew I had to go to school and get that done, but I really wanted to work. So when I was 16, I started as an intern with him, and the rest is history. I worked my way up, got licensed as a loan officer, happened to be good at it — and I enjoy it.”

These days, LaBonte enjoys that work as branch manager of the Applied Mortgage team at the Northampton branch of HMA Mortgage, the most recent national company Applied Mortgage has been affiliated with.

“We’ve had different parent companies. In the mortgage world, it’s a franchise model, where branches often run as a team name and feed up to a larger parent company,” she explained. “So we’ve had different parent companies over the decades, but always the same Northampton-based Applied Mortgage team.”

Her father entered the business in 1987, and LaBonte’s success over the past two decades — she’s one of the top loan originators in Western Mass. — has turned this family success story into a multi-generational one.

“For people who are buying a home, no one’s process is the same as the next person because everybody’s got different goals, different financials. We take those goals and financials and put them together, figure out the mortgage that’s going to work, and get them into that home.”

“A lot of family businesses don’t work out, but I’m really fortunate — my dad is an awesome dad, an awesome mentor, an awesome boss at the time. I ended up being his boss. Now he’s retired, so it’s been a good run.”

That run continues with LaBonte and her team serving a variety of clients in Western Mass.; the business is licensed in more than 30 states, but about 99% of its business is centered in Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties.

The focus is residential mortgages, she explained — purchases, refinances, and renovations of primary or second homes, and some clients who rent out homes as entrepreneurial enterprises. About a third of her clients are first-time homebuyers, while the rest are either upsizing, downsizing, repeat buying, or renovating.

With that volume of clients navigating the process for the first time, LaBonte said strategic planning and financial education are important parts of what Applied Mortgage brings to the table.

“What I love the most, at least professionally, is getting to meet with and speak to people from all different walks of life,” she said. “For people who are buying a home, no one’s process is the same as the next person because everybody’s got different goals, different financials. We take those goals and financials and put them together, figure out the mortgage that’s going to work, and get them into that home.”

For this issue’s focus on women in business, BusinessWest sat down with LaBonte for a wide-ranging talk about the mortgage business, why she enjoys it, and how she connects with the community in a number of different ways.

 

Sharing the Love

It’s called Local Love Days.

That’s a program recently created by Applied Mortgage as a way to give back and support local businesses. On select days, the team will partner with local small businesses and invite the community to stop by, explore what they offer, and show their support. To spark participation, Applied Mortgage will cover the cost of a small thank-you item, such as a coupon for the first set of shoppers, a free drink or appetizer, or another offering tailored to the partner business.

Lindsay LaBonte (center) with HMA Mortgage colleagues

Lindsay LaBonte (center) with HMA Mortgage colleagues Bob Petrelli (left) and Jess LaMothe.

“We’ve always, throughout the years, supported nonprofit organizations,” LaBonte said. But at the same time, “we’ve got a lot of business owners we work with. So, while we want to continue to give back to the nonprofit sector, I was trying to brainstorm, how do we directly impact and help businesses?

“If if we’ve got a network of about 10,000 to 15,000 homeowners that we’ve helped over the last 35 years, how can I mobilize those people to come out and support businesses and also give them a cool incentive or coupon or something? So the Local Love Days really came from trying to tie that all in together,” she went on.

“We’re selecting some businesses to partner with and having a day where maybe the first 50 people get a free donut on Tuesday morning at such and such donut shop, or maybe something at a happy hour at a bar, or a free yoga class. We’re trying to span the three counties that we work in, span all different types of restaurants and retail, and use this as an opportunity to mobilize our network and help connect people and bring them out to support businesses.”

As she noted, the company supports dozens of nonprofits as well through volunteerism and philanthropy, and LaBonte also serves on a number of local boards. That, like her business goals, was partly due to her father’s influence.

“I think my dad was maybe a little ahead of his time, starting in the ’80s, being in a mortgage company and raising his hand for corporate social responsibility. We’ve always had that ingrained in our core values. And I picked that up from him when I started.

Lindsay LaBonte

Lindsay LaBonte

“I think my dad was maybe a little ahead of his time, starting in the ’80s, being in a mortgage company and raising his hand for corporate social responsibility. We’ve always had that ingrained in our core values. And I picked that up from him when I started.”

“He said, ‘you’ve got to get out there,’” she added. “So part of it was business networking, and another part of it was, what do you want to support? In the financial world, we’re in a spot where we can financially support causes, as well as volunteering and lending our expertise.”

As for that volunteering, LaBonte — now the mother of two kids, ages 4 and 3 — has had to learn how to balance work, family, and her passion for the community.

“I got engaged with some of the local young professional organizations originally, and it kind of grew from there. I was probably 20 at the time that I served on my first committee, and once you raise your hand as a young professional, you get pulled by a lot of different organizations. So most recently, it’s been figuring out where it makes sense and learning how to not say yes to everybody, even though it’s really hard to do that.”

That said, she finds as much time for all of it as she can, and laughed when asked what her typical day is like.

“Typical is not really in my vocabulary anymore. It used to be,” she said, noting that she was “very type A” at one time, but having young kids changed that.

“About 10% of our homeowners actually are entrepreneurs. And a lot of my time is speaking with other entrepreneurs, business owners right here in the Pioneer Valley. And we do a lot of work with nonprofit organizations, giving back to over 30 organizations a year. So my day kind of bounces between actually working on mortgages to just meeting and networking with folks, and then also doing a lot of the community support that we get to do.”

 

Changes and Challenges

LaBonte said the mortgage field has changed in some ways, especially through new technology, which now incorporates everything from electronic portals to share information to clients using FaceTime to view houses.

“There’s just so much more video and photography and text messaging and all these different aspects. I think that’s the biggest change. And what we always try to do is use technology and social media and all those other support tools to enhance relationships rather than to replace the relationship.”

Of course, the biggest challenge for clients these days is the fact that home values have soared, inventory is tight in most areas, and mortgage rates are higher than they have been in the recent past.

“I was just speaking with somebody earlier this week, and they said, ‘wow, this just isn’t my mom’s housing market.’ I’m like, I need to make a T-shirt that says that. Because it’s hard, right? I mean, where do you typically go for your advice? Probably your parents or close friends or someone else who bought a house five or 10 years ago. And really, in the last five years, there’s been a big switch.

“It’s attainable for some people, but not for everybody. And it’s less affordable to buy a house than it has been,” she went on. “So we’ve always incorporated an element of education into everything we do. I always tell people, it’s never too soon to contact us to just start making a plan.”

For many clients, especially first-time homebuyers, that’s crucial, LaBonte added.

“There’s not really financial 101 kind of stuff in schools. Sometimes, when we’re talking to people, it’s their first time ever seeing their credit score or really sitting down and making a budget. So we have those conversations that are just a base plan, all the way up to people who own five, six, seven investment properties, and they’re trying to figure out how to structure things to make their next move. So it can be basic or intricate.

“We consider ourselves their debt advisors,” she went on. “Financial advisors are managing the assets, and we’re trying to figure out how do you best structure this debt? Because a mortgage is usually attached to somebody’s biggest asset, but it’s probably their biggest debt, and they’ve got to be able to pay it, and it’s got to make sense and be comfortable.”

That’s another quality she said she absorbed from the way her father conducted business.

“I learned from my dad originally to give people the time of day, to sit down with them, meet them where they are, and just help them. And I think, through that mindset, we get repeat customers. People who worked with my dad before send their kids, even their grandkids now. And it’s really wonderful.

“It’s a great community,” she added. “We’re really fortunate to have a community that values supporting local folks. And we just stick to that mission of just doing good. Good business begets good business. And it just grows from there.”

Like her father, LaBonte is gratified when she comes home having helped someone secure a home in a region she’s clearly passionate about.

“I always ask homeowners, because I am curious, ‘why now? Why are you moving here? What’s the draw?’ And mostly what I hear is we kind of have the perfect area,” she told BusinessWest. “We have the Five Colleges system. We have great public schools. We have great hospitals. We have all these little downtown areas with great retail, great restaurants. People value that. Plus we have a good environment for hiking, biking, whatever outdoor activities that people like.

“So I do think it’s really a perfect landing place for a lot of folks,” she went on. “And that makes it trickier with our low supply and high demand of housing inventory. But that’s a whole other conversation.”

 

Success Stories

LaBonte has been a Banker & Tradesman top loan originator across the four Western Mass. counties for eight consecutive years, has been named among Scotsman Guide’s top 1% women originators nationally, and was featured in Mortgage Banking’s Powerful Women in Mortgage Banking in 2022.

“I think, when it comes down to it, those are just accolades, right? she said. “It’s the actual people that we’re helping who motivate me — making sure that we’re actually serving people’s best interests.”

When LaBonte was named to BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2018, she was asked what three words best describe her, and she replied, “goal-oriented, efficient, planner” — and judging from the recognition from the publications noted above, those traits have certainly served her well.

But she’s also personally evolved quite a bit since 2018.

“What’s that, seven years ago? That was before I was married, before kids, before I was actually managing my own group. My mindset was so much more individual — and you can see that in the words that I picked.

“So yes, I think that foundation definitely got me here, but I think I’ve also learned a lot more empathy and sympathy and leadership skills and everything else since then,” she went on. “And I have such an awesome team now. I’m thankful for that. So I think now it would be a lot more team-oriented.”

She’s also more grateful for each individual client success.

“It’s harder now, and it’s not just helping people get to the finish line of owning the home —that’s really the starting line. It’s everything we do after that to support people and the conversations we have and making sure that they’re continuously able to stay in their home. It’s got to be one of the coolest jobs.”

Anna Cook, Heidi Flanders Lead with Integrity

By
Anna Cook (left) and Heidi Flanders
Home Improvement Special Coverage

Nailing It

Anna Cook (left) and Heidi Flanders

Anna Cook (left) and Heidi Flanders

 

 

Both Heidi Flanders and Anna Cook described it as the best alternative to having to look for work.

That was their somewhat tongue-in-cheek way of explaining how and why they became co-owners of Integrity Development & Construction, a design-build firm based in North Amherst. Only they weren’t kidding.

It was 2012, and then-owner Peter Jessop was looking to retire, and was either going to find a buyer — preferably from among his staff — or close the doors, recalled Flanders, adding that she and Cook decided to step in and take that giant step from being employee to employer.

Beyond fear and loathing of the job market, there were other reasons for wanting to take that entrepreneurial leap of faith, primarily a comfort level with the business, the staff, the course the venture was on, and, especially, each other.

“We worked really well together as colleagues,” said Cook, co-owner and project manager, who started at Integrity as an unpaid intern from UMass Amherst in 2002. “By 2012, she was the only designer, I was the only project manager; we felt like the two of us were working hand-in-hand on every project.”

Flanders, co-owner and designer, agreed. She came to Integrity as a designer in 2008 and worked closely with Cook as the company weathered the Great Recession — becoming smaller and leaner in the process — and rebuilt from there. “We partnered up because we felt we were burning the midnight oil together anyway; we decided we’d rather do that than try to find jobs.”

“We partnered up because we felt we were burning the midnight oil together anyway; we decided we’d rather do that than try to find jobs.”

Over the past 13 years, they have kept Integrity on a course of steady growth, building a deep portfolio of residential, commercial, and institutional work that effectively conveys the diversity that has enabled it to withstand several downturns in the economy and other recent challenges ranging from workforce shortages to price and supply chain issues.

“We do a little bit of everything,” Flanders said. “That really helped us survive when commercial work was drying up; we could shift to other things.”

On the residential side, the company handles everything from new home design and construction to kitchen remodels; from porch, deck, and garage additions to aging-in-place design. On the commercial side, it specializes in office renovations, commercial storefront improvements, new office building design and construction, and more.

This Colonial home in Conway is one of many recent additions to the Integrity portfolio.

This Colonial home in Conway is one of many recent additions to the Integrity portfolio.

The kitchen in that new home in Conway.

The kitchen in that new home in Conway.

There is still demand for work in pretty much all those categories, said the partners, adding quickly that the unsettled nature of the economy and widespread uncertainty about what comes next has some clients, on both the residential and commercial sides, pumping the brakes.

“We’ll have a preliminary conversation with someone, and then they’ll come back to us and say, ‘we just want to let the dust settle for a few months — we’re not sure about the state of the economy,’” said Cook, adding that some who once thought their jobs were stable are now not quite so sure, especially in the higher education sector, which dominates the firm’s primary coverage area.

But, overall, the company has a considerable amount of work on the books, said Flanders, adding that 2024 was a very solid year, 2025 has been strong to date, and the simple plan moving forward is to continue building on solid word-of-mouth referrals and a pattern of smart growth.

“Our goal over the past 13 years has been to grow steadily — we don’t want to see large peaks and valleys in that growth,” she went on. “And we want to continue on that path moving forward.”

For this issue and its focus on home improvement, we talked at length with Flanders and Cook about what they’re building — both in the field and with their company — and where they want to take this venture.

 

Solid Foundation

Flanders told BusinessWest that her mother has run a mom-and-pop store for decades, and she learned a lot from her about all that’s involved with owning a business.

“I’ve watched her work every day, 12 hours a day, 364 days a year, so I know what it takes to go into something like that,” she told BusinessWest. “That piece of this — knowing that I would be working long hours and knowing that I would be doing just about anything on any given day — didn’t scare me.”

It didn’t scare Cook, either, which explains their willingness to take a risk in 2012 to acquire Integrity from Jessop, who would stay with the company in a type of advisor and mentor role for several years.

But they didn’t consider it a huge risk because of the solid foundation they, Jessop, and the rest of the team had built, and confidence in themselves.

There were some learning curves along the way, especially on the accounting and HR sides of the ledger, as there are with almost all small business owners, and COVID proved to be an anxiety-filled time. But the two knew the business and what it took to continue that pattern of steady growth, and they’ve been hitting their targets since taking ownership.

As for the current and recent portfolio, it includes, as noted earlier, projects across a wide spectrum, with most work undertaken in Amherst and surrounding communities, including Belchertown, Northampton, Conway, and others.

On the commercial side, the project list includes a law office renovation, a dental office, the Trolley Barn in North Amherst, some historic preservation work at Amherst College, as well as an intriguing project to convert a two-family home into a veterinary hospital in Turners Falls.

On the residential side, the company handles new home construction, both custom and modular homes, and has tackled many of both across the region. The bulk of its residential work, though, is renovations and additions, from one or two rooms to an entire house, as well as energy retrofits, which are in demand as area residents look to pare their energy costs by becoming more efficient and ‘green.’

“We’ll do as little as replacing a few windows and as much as the whole house, top to bottom,” said Cook, adding that the commercial side is dominated by small to mid-size projects, many of them renovations and fit-outs.

“There’s a lot of fear and uncertainty about pricing — questions about what’s happening with tariffs and how that will affect a project. The future is unknown.”

The residential side of the ledger is generally a mixed bag, with some new construction, but a great deal of work involving improvements to existing homes, noted Flanders, adding that many recent projects involve helping people stay in their homes as they age.

“We do get a good number of calls from Baby Boomers who are trying to stay in their homes,” she told BusinessWest. “They don’t want to wind up in a nursing home, so they’re proactive now to improve the home to ensure that they can stay in it long-term.”

Conversely, the firm is getting more calls from younger people who want to renovate or build an addition to a home to accommodate an aging parent.

Indeed, as more communities pass measures permitting in-law apartments, there has been a big uptick in interest in such accommodations, said the partners, adding that there is a learning curve for clients, especially with all that’s involved — and the price tag — with such facilities.

“There’s a big disconnect concerning this,” Cook said. “If we’re building a two-bedroom, one- or two-bath, small, detached space … for us, that’s a whole house; it needs all the things a house needs. But mentally, people think of this as an accessory to their house, so there’s a learning curve on the cost of things.”

 

Building Momentum

While work is steady and the pipeline is full of projects, there are challenges, said the partners, starting with some anxiety concerning the economy in general and prices for materials in particular.

“There’s a lot of fear and uncertainty about pricing — questions about what’s happening with tariffs and how that will affect a project,” Cook said. “The future is unknown.”

Flanders agreed, noting that there have been recent issues with price and availability of fixtures and other items due to tariffs on specific metals.

Meanwhile, there’s the economy and uncertainty about the future, especially in sectors like higher education, they noted, adding that, while it’s generally good to be based in a college town — or the Five College area, as the case may be — current conditions are not the norm.

“People are worried that jobs that were once considered stable may not be so stable anymore,” she noted. “If you’re on soft money and your grant got clawed back and your position is now in question, you may not want to go ahead with a project.”

Then are lingering workforce issues affecting the entire construction sector, said the partners, adding that, as long-time staff members retire — and several of them have in recent years — replacing them is becoming increasingly challenging.

And workforce is an issue at a company that self-performs much of its work as opposed to construction managing and subbing the work out to others, as Cook explained.

“We self-perform everything from demo to framing to painting, and we do that for quality control,” she noted. “We could sub things out more, and we could then do more projects and increase our capacity, but we feel like we would lose a handle on the quality. So the side effect of that is that we have to schedule things out a little farther.

“We want to staff the project with capable, skilled carpenters and the right helpers with them,” she went on, adding that staffers often get to work on a project from start to finish, rather than just take a small segment of the work.

Flanders noted the firm works with two schools — Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School and South Hadley High School — that have co-op programs, and they have introduced dozens of students to the field through those initiatives and gained several employees in the process.

“It’s proven to be a good pipeline … we currently have four current carpenters on our staff that have come through those programs over the years,” she noted, adding that, overall, finding skilled labor has been a stern challenge in recent years.

“We often joke here … where did the 30- to 50-year-olds go? We don’t know — they’re disappearing,” she said. “Getting people who actually have experience is pretty challenging. We’ve found a few over the past few years, which is great, but it’s few and far between.”

And workforce plays a huge role in both long-term plans for continued growth and shorter-term efforts to slot in a broad mix of projects large, small, and in between.

“We have a full pipeline of projects,” said Flanders, noting that some of these initiatives have been in the discussion stage for months or even years, and others just a few days or weeks, and they’re handled as quickly as workforce, materials, and other factors will allow. “Some people take their time and don’t move as fast; other people move fast, and then we have a backlog.”

Cook concurred. “Because we’re in a college town, we call it our ‘rolling admissions policy,’” she said. “When you’re ready to send the contract, you get the next spot on the schedule.”

To continue this use of higher-ed terminology, it’s fair to say Cook and Flanders have more than made the grade as business owners and key players in this challenging industry.

Westfield Finds Ways to Raise Its Profile

By
Mayor Michael McCabe
Community Spotlight Special Coverage

Community Spotlight

Mayor Michael McCabe

Mayor Michael McCabe says it’s important to expand the tax rolls with both new businesses and housing growth.

Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe is a believer in business growth — specifically, bringing new businesses to the city to boost the tax base and general vibrancy. But for every opportunity, there’s a challenge.

For example, “how do we balance the environment with new growth? Our north side pretty much all sits above an aquifer system, which has caused us some angst because most of the land that we have for economic development and growth is on the north side.

“So if you’re trying to be respectful of your aquifer and at the same time trying to figure out how you get new growth, it’s an interesting scenario,” he went on. “As you know, new growth is one of the things that actually funds the city. It’s where you get new tax revenue from, so you don’t have to tax your residents more.”

“Elm Street Plaza has really worked out beyond our expectations.”

That said, while this city — the region’s fourth-most populous and one of the largest geographically in the state — has seen new businesses lay down roots, from several new restaurants downtown to industrial businesses on the north side, what’s been happening at the municipal level has made the biggest news lately, including:

• The completion of the five-year Cowles Bridge replacement project on Routes 10 and 202, which should be finished by Sept. 25;

• A planned reimagining and redesign of Mass Pike exit 41 — funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation — that aims create a more motorist- and resident-friendly traffic pattern involving three roundabouts;

• A coming new Police Department headquarters on Union Street, expected to be open by the end of 2027; and

• Elm Street Plaza, a gathering and performance space that has not only drawn both city residents and visitors to Westfield’s downtown for events, but opened up much-needed parking for retail shop and restaurant owners;

“Elm Street Plaza has really worked out beyond our expectations,” McCabe said, “with the amount of events and the amount of use it gets, and the amount of free parking it has, so merchants can have customers in and out who don’t have to worry about trying to find parking.”

That development has coincided with a number of new restaurants downtown, offering culinary diversity to the central district, he added.

“If you’re looking for something to eat and you don’t want traditional America cuisine, you have Spanish, you have Italian, you have Turkish, you have Ukrainian, you have Slavic, you have Polish, you have Vietnamese … I mean, you have a pretty eclectic mix, all within a tenth of a mile.”

Amanda Waterfield

Amanda Waterfield says events in Westfield, from Friday night concerts to Starfires games, have a multiplier effect when visitors stay in the city to eat and drink.

The downtown will also play host to a welcome-back party for Westfield State University students, one way the city is trying to connect the school to its downtown, McCabe added. “I think there’s a realization that vibrancy begins with people walking around downtown.”

Amanda Waterfield, who has been executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce for just over two years, echoed the mayor’s focus on hospitality businesses, noting that the chamber is planning a Restaurant Week this Nov. 4-9, featuring menu specials, unique promos, and other activities aimed at raising the profile of participating eateries just before the start of the holiday retail season.

Noting about 70 restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, and other culinary businesses in Westfield and Southwick, Waterfield said she’d like to see at least a third of them participate, and then grow the event from there in subsequent years.

“And I really would like to reach out beyond Westfield,” she added. “I’d like everybody in the Valley to think of Westfield as a destination.”

 

On the Right Track

Westfield Gas & Electric (WG&E) adopts the same philosophy on the importance of growth, which partly explains its launch, a decade ago, of Whip City Fiber, which has now completed wiring the entire city for high-speed internet, and also serves 23 other communities, including the region’s hilltowns as well as East Longmeadow and, most recently, West Springfield, where it has begun to build out infrastructure.

That has brought in significant revenue, and the WG&E is using some of it — $15 million over 15 years, in fact — to pay the city’s bond (with interest) for an $11 million athletic complex at Westfield High School, which broke ground last month.

“My overall goal is to see downtown thrive. Restaurants are a wonderful draw, but we need more than just restaurants. We need more things for people to do when they come into town. I’d love there to be a little more retail to draw folks in and keep their dollars local.”

“It’s a stadium with a full collegiate track, lights, and turf fields,” said Tom Flaherty, general manager of WG&E, noting that the field will be used for football, men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse, field hockey, and more, while a second multi-purpose field, without lights, is being developed behind the school for overflow events; the softball field is being turfed as well.

“We’re really planning for the future with something all of Westfield can use — people of all ages, including senior citizens, who can walk on the track at night safely,” he noted. “I see that all the time in Southwick; a great deal of people use the track they put in about 10 years ago.”

In addition, Flaherty noted, “the fields are for everyone, from youth soccer and youth football all the way to potentially having a revenue stream for the school athletic department by leasing it out to private club teams.”

Westfield Gas & Electric

Westfield Gas & Electric hosted a groundbreaking last month for an $11 million athletic complex at Westfield High School.

McCabe agreed that the benefits of the project are many, and would include the potential of hosting regional tournaments on both the high school and collegiate levels, possibly working with Westfield State University — all of which would bring more visitors to the city, in the same way the Westfield Starfires, now winding down their seventh season of play in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, or the city’s 14 municipal pickleball courts, have done.

“The greater the exposure to Westfield, the greater commerce there is in the city,” the mayor added. “And it’s not all Westfield residents. People will stop by one of the cafés downtown, or have a drink with their friends afterward, and all of those things are very good, obviously, for the city. So that’s what we’re trying to embrace.”

Waterfield added that Elm Street Plaza has enhanced Westfield’s visibility as a cultural focal point; in fact, the city received a Massachusetts Cultural Council designation last fall.

That’s important, she said, because it brings in marketing dollars to organizations working collectively to raise the city’s profile. For example, an organization called Artworks Westfield puts on eight Friday nights concerts at the plaza during the summer, all free to the public.

Westfield at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1669
Population: 40,834
Area: 47.4 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $15.18
Commercial Tax Rate: $29.17
Median Household Income: $45,240
Median Family Income: $55,327
Type of Government: Mayor, City Council
Largest Employers: Westfield State University, Baystate Noble Hospital, Mestek Inc., Savage Arms Inc., Advance Manufacturing Co.
* Latest information available

“Those seem to be drawing folks in,” she said. “It’s just a good time on a Friday night — bring your lawn chair, there’s food trucks, there’s beer trucks. It’s very family-friendly. I see people with their dogs.”

The prevailing theme with many of these efforts is to get people to notice Westfield — and come back.

“I think if you’re from Westfield, you know what we have to offer here. There’s a lot here,” Waterfield said. “But people might think, ‘I’m from Longmeadow; am I going to make the trek to Westfield?’ Well, yes, actually, you should. You know, come on Thursday to the farmers market and then stay for dinner. Come on Friday and have dinner beforehand and then go to a concert. Go see a baseball game.”

What visitors find, she added, is that Westfield has numerous important elements that contribute to a robust community, from Westfield State University to Baystate Noble Hospital to Barnes Municipal Airport (and the Air National Guard’s 104th Tactical Fighter Group, which recently procured new F-35 fighter jets) to a river and a rail trail.

In addition, “I’m encouraged by the lack of crime downtown, which is wonderful,” she said. “And I give the big businesses downtown credit for being here. The banks, the Gas & Electric, they don’t have to be downtown, but they choose to support the community by having a really visible, meaningful presence here.”

McCabe also praised the Police Department’s work, not only in crime prevention, but being visible to residents, just one more factor in why Westfield has a strong housing market.

“People want to live here,” the mayor said, but, like virtually every town in Western Mass., Westfield needs more housing stock. “We’ve looked at two spaces on the north side for multi-use housing, and we’re hopeful that we were going to see some help from the state in terms of grant funding from the Massachusetts Housing and Livable Communities office.”

 

Local Focus

Waterfield said she’s made progress in her goal to engage more businesses with the chamber; membership was under 200 when she came on board, but is at 258 now, and her goal is 275 by year’s end.

“That’s partly what I hope Restaurant Week will do, give community members an idea that the chamber is here to support the businesses and ultimately improve the state of living in the city.”

She and her team also updated the chamber’s strategic plan last year, and moving the chamber offices to a downtown storefront has been a plus as well.

“My overall goal is to see downtown thrive. Restaurants are a wonderful draw, but we need more than just restaurants. We need more things for people to do when they come into town. I’d love there to be a little more retail to draw folks in and keep their dollars local,” she told BusinessWest.

The mayor was quick to run down why people might want to move to Westfield, from the ones already mentioned — the university, the community hospital — to recreation opportunities.

“We have Stanley Park, which is 225 acres of preserve. And there are plenty of venues to go to now where the kids can play. The parks have been brought back up to speed to where they’re supposed to be. Our municipal parks have pickleball and tennis courts and baseball fields and softball fields.

“And we have good service organizations — the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield do phenomenal work,” he added. “So I think we’re doing pretty well.”

SSO CEO Paul Lambert to Retire; Heather Caisse-Roberts to Assume Leadership

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Paul Lambert, president and CEO of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO), has announced his retirement, and the SSO board announced that Heather Caisse-Roberts, currently the organization’s chief operating officer, will assume leadership of the SSO. Lambert, whose retirement is effective Oct. 1, will stay on as a creative consultant to the SSO and to Caisse-Roberts.

Caisse-Roberts joined the orchestra in 2022, during its post-pandemic resurgence, and has since held a series of senior leadership roles — from Development and Grants associate to chief Development and Operations officer and, most recently, COO.

Paul Lambert

Lambert joined the SSO at the start of 2022 after serving for nearly 20 years in an executive position at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, initially as vice president of Guest Experience and Programming and then as vice president of Enshrinement Services & Community Engagement.

“I joined the SSO for what was to be a short-term position, first as interim executive director at a time when the orchestra was coming out of the pandemic and two years of no live SSO performances,” Lambert said. “Also at the time, we were without a labor agreement with our incredible musicians, and our brand had suffered from the inaction of two years. It is one of the great privileges of my life to have served as president and CEO of the organization and see the orchestra come back to life.”

Lambert will receive the distinguished William Pynchon Award in October, largely for his role in resurrecting the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and bringing dynamic new programming to the stage, building new and diverse connections in the community. Under Lambert’s leadership, two labor agreements with musicians were completed, and an annual Juneteenth concert was added to the symphony season.

Lambert and Beth Welty, president of Local 171 of the American Federation of Musicians, were jointly honored by BusinessWest as Difference Makers in 2024 for their efforts to achieve labor peace and grow the programming and impact of the SSO.

Heather Caisse-Roberts

In her previous roles with the SSO since 2022, Caisse-Roberts has played a pivotal role in driving the strategic growth and sustainability of the organization, overseeing development and grants, sponsorships, box office, office administration, and marketing. She fosters a patron-centric culture within the organization, ensuring that the needs of the internal structure are balanced effectively.

In a statement, the SSO board stated that “we deeply appreciate Paul’s service to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. When called upon in 2022 to serve in the — at the time — interim executive director position, Paul had happily retired from the Basketball Hall of Fame. He joined the SSO at a time when a collective bargaining agreement had yet to be achieved, and the SSO, like other live performance organizations, was recovering from the Symphony Hall stage being dark during the COVID pandemic. He then took on the new role of president and CEO in February 2023.

“From the first days of his employment and throughout his tenure, Paul has poured himself into the work — building relationships with our incredible musicians, launching new programming, and bringing innovation and new talent to our stage. He was instrumental in diversifying our programming, bringing many first-time attendees to the symphony and to Symphony Hall, and launched our first-ever Juneteenth concert celebration, a free concert for the community that has become an annual tradition.

“With Heather assuming leadership of the organization, we have someone with experience with the symphony. As Paul Lambert’s first hire at the SSO, Caisse-Roberts has since taken on a series of senior leadership roles,” the board’s statement continued. “Known for her energy, creativity, and collaborative spirit, she steps into this new chapter ready to lead with vision and purpose. As creative consultant, Lambert will support Caisse-Roberts and the SSO through the transition period. With an exciting new season ahead, the musicians, staff, and leadership are united in their commitment to build on recent momentum and bring world-class symphonic music to both loyal and new audiences.”

Prior to the SSO, Caisse-Roberts focused the past decade of her career on fundraising for community nonprofits in Western Mass. as senior director of Development at New England Public Media, where she focused on overseeing the nonprofit media organization’s fundraising efforts, including grants, on-air fundraising campaigns, and its planned and major giving programs, contributing to the organization’s overall budget of $10 million.

Caisse-Roberts also spent years at American International College (AIC) as executive director of Institutional Advancement. During her tenure there, she was an engine for growth, strengthening and expanding the college’s alumni engagement program on a national scale. Her stewardship work with alumni yielded remarkable growth in engagement of the alumni base and landed one of the largest-ever single donations made to AIC. She also worked closely in supporting the grant director to secure Title III funding and developing scholarship funds to help support AIC students continue their education.

In addition to her work with the SSO, Caisse-Roberts also served as Development director for the internationally acclaimed Young@Heart Chorus, reflecting her ongoing passion for music and its power to connect communities.

Tim Welch Memorial Golf Tournament to be Held Sept. 14

By
Daily News

WESTFIELD — The Tim Welch Memorial Golf Tournament, Tee Off for Tim, will be held Sunday, Sept. 14 at East Mountain Country Club in Westfield. Check-in starts at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon.

Tim Welch, a Holyoke native who died unexpectedly in November, was a project manager for Tandem Mechanical. He had been a plumber for 20 years and was known for mentoring apprentice plumbers.

Welch’s family is carrying on his legacy and paying tribute to his love of golf with a tournament that will raise funds for the Tim Welch Memorial Scholarship, to be awarded to a graduate of Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School who is pursuing a journeyman’s license in plumbing.

As part of the day’s activities, golfers can try their swing at the Pipe Wrench Putt, using Welch’s pipe wrench to try to sink the ball.

Sponsorships at all levels and raffle prizes are still being accepted. To donate or register a foursome, email [email protected] or visit the Tee Off for Tim Facebook page.

Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast Announces Fall Conference Events

By
Daily News

AGAWAM — The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced two upcoming conference events to support organizational learning in the New England region.

HR Connect: Leading Change in a New Era will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25 at MGM Springfield. This conference invites human resources professionals and business leaders to learn more about HR best practices, innovations in compensation and benefits, and the new skills required for creating compliant people policies. Plus, that will be National HR Professionals week, and EANE is celebrating the many talents and contributions of HR professionals across the region.

Safety Leadership for Your Workplace will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Marriott in Springfield. Attendees will experience a full day of presentations, including Dick Flynt from the National Safety Council, OSHA, certified safety professional Dan Williams, and the team from Protective Advanced Safety Services.

“At EANE, we are committed to providing timely and affordable educational opportunities for small and mid-sized organizations across New England through our conference events and training,” said Gary Dawson, director of Learning & Development. “Qualified Massachusetts employers can apply for reimbursement for conference fees using the MA Express Program.”

To learn more or register for these events, visit www.eane.org or email Allison Ebner at [email protected].

Glenmeadow Announces 2025 Age of Excellence Award Honorees

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Glenmeadow Inc., a provider of senior retirement lifestyle options, announced the nine recipients of the 2025 Age of Excellence Awards: Celebrating Success Over 60. The program honors remarkable individuals over age 60 who continue to make a profound impact in their communities. Launched in 2024, the Age of Excellence Awards were created to honor those who exemplify vitality, purpose, and leadership in what is often called the ‘third age’ of life.

Chosen from more than 30 nominations submitted this year, the 2025 honorees come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, yet all share a common thread: a commitment to living with intention and contributing meaningfully to the world around them.

“From community leaders and artists to educators, volunteers, and entrepreneurs, the recipients demonstrate that greatness truly knows no age limit,” said Kathy Martin, Glenmeadow president and CEO. “The Age of Excellence Awards shine a spotlight on those who are redefining aging and reshaping perceptions about what’s possible later in life.”

The nine individuals selected to receive the Age of Excellence Award for their outstanding contributions, relentless pursuit of new endeavors, and unwavering excellence are:

• Aaron Mendelson, who, after a successful career as a financial advisor, has emerged as a dynamic advocate for education and a powerful connector in Western Mass.;

• Beth Cardillo, a leading advocate for innovative and compassionate care for older adults, who embodies vitality, purpose, and inspiration;

• Betty Huckowicz, dean of the School of Continuing Education and dean of Student Success at Elms College, and also the founder of Meghan’s Light, an organization dedicated to supporting the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, established in memory of her daughter;

• John Delaney, founder and director of Ride to Remember Springfield, an annual cycling event honoring fallen first responders, whose passion and energy drive the event’s continued growth each year;

• Bob Perry, who, since retiring from Myers Brothers Kalicka, has devoted his energy and dedication to serving the Greater Springfield area through the nonprofit he co-founded, Friends on a Mission, and whose practical approach and genuine commitment have made a meaningful impact on the community;

• Ruth Griggs, the driving force behind the Northampton Jazz Festival, reflecting the broader impact she’s made since retiring from her marketing firm and her ability to turn vision into reality;

• Sabra Ramsdell, the driving force behind the Springfield Rescue Mission and a tireless advocate who sees the potential in everyone and serves with heart, grace, and unwavering commitment;

• The first caregiver recipient, Betty Alban, a devoted mother, grandmother, and caregiver to her 97-year-old mother, as well as a lifelong teacher, an unsung hero, and a story of resilience and strength; and

• Honorary recipient Rick Sullivan, chosen in recognition of his 11 years as president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council. Thanks to his leadership, the region is stronger, more stable, and a key player in the state’s economy.

The community is invited to celebrate these individuals at the Age of Excellence Awards ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at the Springfield Country Club. This evening will bring together honorees, their families, friends, supporters, and the wider community to honor and celebrate their achievements. To purchase tickets, visit glenmeadow.org/age-of-excellence-awards.

Picture This

By
Pictured, from left: Shawn Fleming and Megan Nolan of Enterprise and Dawn DiStefano and Kris Allard of Square One.
Picture This

Supporting Communities

The Enterprise Mobility Foundation recently donated $22,000 to Square One. The gift will support Square One’s commitment to high-quality early education and care programming in Greater Springfield. The foundation’s mission is to strengthen the communities where its team members live and work by supporting a range of charitable causes, such as the environment, health and human services, education, the military, and disaster relief. 

Pictured, from left: Shawn Fleming and Megan Nolan of Enterprise and Dawn DiStefano and Kris Allard of Square One.

Pictured, from left: Shawn Fleming and Megan Nolan of Enterprise and Dawn DiStefano and Kris Allard of Square One.

 

 

Empowering Girls

The YWCA of Western Massachusetts recently received $10,000 from Liberty Bank, to be used to help fund the YWCA’s Girls Count financial empowerment program. The grant will help girls and young adults learn to budget their money and create conditions of success for a more financially secure future.

Pictured, from left: Timothy Pereira of Liberty Bank; Elizabeth Dineen, CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts; Dawn Creighton, Robert Kain Sr., and Susan Fearn of Liberty Bank; and Tiera Wright of the YWCA.

Pictured, from left: Timothy Pereira of Liberty Bank; Elizabeth Dineen, CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts; Dawn Creighton, Robert Kain Sr., and Susan Fearn of Liberty Bank; and Tiera Wright of the YWCA.

 

Get with the Guidelines

Mercy Medical Center has received the Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Silver quality achievement award from the American Heart Assoc. for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get with the Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

Mercy Medical Center has received the Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Silver quality achievement award from the American Heart Assoc.

Mercy Medical Center has received the Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Silver quality achievement award from the American Heart Assoc.

Agenda

By
Agenda

A+ Award Nominations

Through Aug. 29: Nominations for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 A+ Awards are now open. Each year, the chamber bestows A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in education, business, and civic engagement across the area the chamber serves (Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland) and the Pioneer Valley as a whole. Nominations are welcome in six award categories: Legacy Award, Leader in Innovation Award, Leader in Sustainability Award, Young Professional Award, Community Service Award, and Chamber MVP. Nominations can be submitted online through the chamber’s nomination form at amherstarea.com/awards. The deadline is Friday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. Chamber membership is not necessary to nominate or be nominated for an A+ Award. There is no limit to the number of nominations a person can submit. Everyone who submits a nomination will be entered into a raffle to win one free ticket to the A+ Awards Dinner held on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the UMass Student Union Ballroom, presented by PeoplesBank. Anyone interested in learning more about the event or joining as a sponsor can visit www.amherstarea.com/awards or email Robinson at [email protected] for more details and sponsorship information.

 

 

Women of Impact Nominations

Through Sept. 4: BusinessWest is now accepting nominations for the eighth annual Women of Impact awards. Nominations for the Women of Impact class of 2025 are due by Thursday, Sept. 4. They can be submitted at businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nominations. In 2018, BusinessWest created the Women of Impact program as a way to honor women in the region who are making an impact and creating positive change. There are many different ways to do this. While nominees can hail from the world of business, they can also emerge from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, a combination of these — in short, the program recognizes inspirational women on any level. For more information, call Natasha Mercado-Santana, Marketing and Events Manager, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or email [email protected].

 

Discounted Big E Tickets

Through Sept. 10: Rocky’s Ace Hardware, one of the country’s largest family-owned Ace Hardware dealers with 50 locations in nine states, announced the return of its Big E ticket presale. Now through Sept. 10, customers can purchase one-day tickets to the Big E at discounted prices at select Rocky’s locations: $16 for adults and $10 for children. Beginning Sept. 11, tickets will still be available at participating stores, but at regular pricing. Participating locations include Agawam, East Longmeadow, Holden, Ludlow, Northborough, Palmer, South Hadley, Springfield, Westfield, and Worcester, as well as Stamford and Vernon, Conn.

 

Food Truck Friday

Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29: The town of West Springfield announced the launch of its inaugural Food Truck Friday series, inviting the entire community to the town common for food, local crafts, and family fun throughout August. This event series aims to bring residents together and support local businesses. Food Truck Friday will take place on the West Springfield town common on Park Street from 4 to 8 p.m. The series is sponsored by Titan Fence. Attendees can expect a diverse lineup of food and craft vendors. Parking will be available at the West Springfield Council on Aging. Confirmed participating trucks include Aqui Me Quedo, Macken’s Sliders, and Holyoke Ice Cream on Aug. 8; West Side Creamy Cones, the Saucy Mama, and Holyoke Ice Cream on Aug. 15; Macho Taco, Macken’s Sliders, and Holyoke Ice Cream on Aug. 22; and Macken’s Sliders, Lattitude 850 Degrees Artisan Wood Fired Pizza Truck, and Holyoke Ice Cream on Aug. 29. In addition to the vendors, various town departments will be present, including representatives from the Police Department, Fire Department, Veteran Services, Whip City Fiber, and more, offering an opportunity for community outreach and engagement. A handful of local craft vendors will also be featured on each date.

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Gregg Levante

Gregg Levante

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced the appointment of Gregg Levante as its new president. A lifelong resident of Berkshire County, Levante brings not only a wealth of banking experience, but an understanding of the community’s needs, values, and aspirations. Levante has more than 15 years of experience in the banking industry, previously holding leadership roles in commercial lending at Berkshire Bank and NBT Bank and known for championing employee development and economic growth. He will now lead Pittsfield Cooperative Bank’s strategic initiatives focused on advancing financial prosperity, strengthening local small businesses, and investing in the future of banking. Under Levante’s leadership, the bank will continue to invest in community-first programs, continue the advancement of its digital banking capabilities, and empower team members to lead with purpose.

•••••

Paul Duquette

Paul Duquette

Monson Savings Bank announced that Paul Duquette, a financial advisor with Osaic Institutions Inc., has joined the bank as a vice president. With more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Duquette brings a wealth of knowledge and a client-first philosophy to his new role. Duquette is based out of the bank’s East Longmeadow location at 61 North Main St. He is dedicated to helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals through thoughtful, personalized strategies. With a strong belief in acting solely in the best interests of his clients, he is not tied to any mutual fund or insurance provider, allowing him to offer truly objective advice. Duquette holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and maintains multiple securities licenses, including Series 6, 7, 26, 63, and 65, as well as a Connecticut life and health insurance producer license. His career includes leadership and advisory roles at institutions such as Wells Fargo, Citizens Securities, Santander Bank, and others, where he consistently demonstrated excellence in client relationship management and financial planning.

•••••

Thomas Donnelly

Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) recently welcomed Thomas Donnelly as assistant vice president, commercial loan officer. With a background in financial services, strategic business development, and client relationship management, Donnelly brings a dynamic and personal approach to business banking, rooted in strong client relationships and a deep understanding of commercial lending. He holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University and a master’s degree in education from Springfield College. He has also completed the Massachusetts Bankers Credit Training Program and the 2025 Lender Training Program. He is based out of PNCU’s Westfield Loan Center and looks forward to contributing to the credit union’s continued commercial lending growth.

•••••

bankESB recently announced the promotions of two longtime employees, Katherine Sordillo and Susanne deVillier, to vice president, regional branch manager. In this newly created position, deVillier and Sordillo will provide leadership and support to regions of bankESB’s retail banking network, working closely with retail branch staff in several communities to deliver exceptional customer service, drive performance, and uphold the bank’s commitment to community banking. They will also play a key role in supporting strategic initiatives focused on growth, operational excellence, and employee development. deVillier has more than 30 years of banking experience and has played a vital role in bankESB’s growth and success, particularly in Agawam, where she’s led the retail banking team at the Main Street, Agawam office since it opened in 2011. She joined bankESB in 2010 as a branch officer and over the years has been promoted to senior branch officer; assistant vice president, branch officer; and vice president, branch officer. As VP, she also served as retail sales coordinator, lending her leadership experience to other branch managers. In her new role, deVillier will oversee the bank’s Agawam, Amherst, Hadley, Northampton, Southampton, and Westfield branches, while maintaining a presence in the Agawam community, where she actively volunteers. Sordillo brings three decades of leadership experience in retail banking and customer relationship management to her new role. She joined bankESB in 2001 as branch officer of the Granby Road, South Hadley office and over her tenure has been promoted to senior branch manager; assistant vice president, branch manager; and vice president, branch officer and retail sales coordinator. She is a passionate community leader and has served as president of the South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce and chairperson for Loomis Communities. In her new role, Sordillo will oversee the bank’s Belchertown, Holyoke, South Hadley, and two Easthampton branches, as well as the retail branch float team, while maintaining a presence in South Hadley.

•••••

Lori Stickles

Lori Stickles

New Valley Bank & Trust announced the addition of Lori Stickles as vice president, Business Development and branch manager at the West Springfield office. She brings more than 30 years of banking experience, with a proven track record in retail banking, business development, and marketing leadership. Throughout her career, Stickles has led high-performing teams at several regional institutions, including United Bank, PeoplesBank, and Westfield Bank. She is widely recognized for her exceptional customer service, dedication to mentorship, and deep commitment to building lasting client relationships. She is also an active and engaged member of the community. Her current and past civic roles include trustee for the Eastern States Exposition, commissioner and chair of the Agawam Housing Authority, member of the Agawam Community Preservation Committee, and past commander of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.

•••••

Dani Garber-Letitia

Dani Garber-Letitia

Dietz & Company Architects Inc. announced that Senior Architect Dani Garber-Letitia has earned the credential of certified passive house consultant (CPHC) through Phius (Passive House Institute U.S.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to decarbonization and passive building. The Phius passive building certification standard is a rigorous energy standard that produces buildings that use 40% to 60% percent less energy than conventional structures. In order to achieve CPHC certification, Garber-Letitia completed a comprehensive training course and a rigorous multi-part exam to prove her knowledge. She joined Dietz & Company Architects in 2021 and has more than 15 years of experience as an architect and owner’s project manager for firms in Massachusetts. As a senior architect in the firm’s Cambridge office, she manages medium to large-size construction projects specializing in renovation and modernization for multi-family housing clients and work for public school districts. In addition to managing the Cambridge office, she also serves as a mentor for junior staff and has taken the lead on organizing in-house educational and training opportunities.

•••••

The Irish Cultural Center of Western New England (ICCWNE) announced several recent appointments to its board of directors to help to expand its programming and outreach in the community. The new board members are Lynn McCarthy, Rose Boyle, Sean Fitzgerald, and John McMahon. Established in 1999 to foster an appreciation of Irish culture in Western New England, ICCWNE aims to cultivate a connection with Ireland through the arts, culture, history, language, and heritage. McCarthy, Boyle, Fitzgerald, and McMahon are all committed to helping ICCWNE grow as a center of Irish culture and community in Western New England, including the completion of its new Community Performance Center.

•••••

Kayla Sheridan

Kayla Sheridan

Kayla Sheridan, Marketing director of TommyCar Auto Group, was named one of Automotive News’ 40 Under 40. This annual program honors 40 high achievers at new car dealerships who are under 40 years old. Automotive News received nominations from across the U.S. and identified outstanding performers in a large field of high-quality talent at dealerships. This year’s honorees are a diverse group with a broad range of titles and backgrounds. They were profiled in the July 14 issue of Automotive News, the leading news source for the global automotive industry. As Marketing director at TommyCar Auto Group, Sheridan has played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s voice, driving strategic campaigns, and deepening engagement with customers across Western Mass. and beyond.

•••••

After nearly a decade of leadership, Jane Ralph will step down as executive director of Construct effective Aug. 29. “This was not an easy decision,” she said. “My partner and I have called Berkshire County home for years now, and I am so proud of our work at Construct. However, the past year has been a time of reflection for us. After facing some family health challenges, and looking at where things stand in the world, we have decided that being close to relatives should be our main priority, so we are relocating to Madison, Wisconsin.” Since assuming the role in 2016, Ralph has led significant growth in Construct’s services, including support to help people remain in their homes, temporary housing for families, the development of new affordable housing at Forest Springs in Great Barrington, and the county’s first co-living workforce housing at the Windflower in Egremont. Under her leadership, Construct has also expanded its housing navigation services for individuals and families facing housing insecurity. Ralph will work closely with the executive committee in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and to ease the staff and board into the next phase. The board of directors has formed a search committee for a new leader and will soon post the position for potential candidates to apply.

•••••

Christian LaPlante

Christian LaPlante

Earlier this year, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Community Development Corp., and Franklin Regional Council of Governments secured funding to lead the Rural Downtown Revitalization Pilot Project, a one-year initiative through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development. The pilot is designed to strengthen economic and cultural vitality and is grounded in the findings of a 2023-24 study by the BSC Group, which identified a critical need for enhanced coordination and administrative capacity for the downtown areas of Northfield, Turners Falls, and Shelburne Falls. The hiring committee, representing the participating downtowns, has selected Christian LaPlante to serve as the inaugural downtown district coordinator. He brings deep Franklin County roots and a strong background in economic and community development, most recently through his work with the city of Greenfield. In previous roles, he has managed grant programs, led placemaking and signage projects, built downtown marketing campaigns, and worked extensively with small businesses, town boards, and local creatives. Over the next year, LaPlante will work weekly in all three downtowns, engaging with stakeholders and working alongside newly formed downtown working groups comprised of local business owners, town officials, nonprofit leaders, artists, and residents. Together, they’ll identify and implement two or three stakeholder-prioritized projects in each community, while tackling ‘quick wins’ and shaping a long-term vision for shared regional success.

•••••

Keshia Maxwell

Keshia Maxwell

Noella Moshi

Noella Moshi

Tech Foundry announced the hiring of two new staff members, Keshia Maxwell and Noella Moshi. Maxwell is serving as director of Tech Foundry’s new Tech Bridge program. She will develop and implement all facets of the project, including management of staff, daily operations, program design, and activities. Tech Bridge is a scholarship-based program that focuses on tech training, professional development, work experience, college exploration, and team-building, to bridge the gap between high school and future pathways. Maxwell brings nearly 10 years of experience as an educator, including several years as an elementary school math teacher. She is passionate about education and finds joy in helping students realize their true potential. She also brings 14 years of military service, including international humanitarian program management in Dakar, Senegal, where she served as a U.S. Army Bilateral Affairs officer. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Japanese language/literature and English from UMass Amherst, and a master’s degree in education from Springfield College. Moshi was hired as Tech Foundry’s new director of Engagement. She will spearhead new donor development in addition to amplifying donor, funder, and partner engagement. She has a professional background in strategy and program design. Born in Tanzania and having lived in eight countries, she brings a global perspective to her career in workforce development, including roles as an executive director and head of programs across multiple countries. Moshi holds a master’s degree in clinical science and immunology from the University of Cape Town and has completed a course in exponential fundraising at the Harvard Kennedy School. She speaks English and Swahili and serves on several boards she cares deeply about, including West Africa Vocational Education and the Livelihood Impact Fund.

•••••

Brendan Theroux

Brendan Theroux

KeyBank announced Brendan Theroux has been named relationship manager, Commercial Banking. He is responsible for providing tailored financial solutions to middle market clients and prospects across Connecticut and Massachusetts. He is based in KeyBank’s Hartford office, located at 225 Asylum St. Prior to joining KeyBank, Theroux served as first vice president, Commercial Lending, at PeoplesBank in West Hartford, Conn. He has also held leadership roles at M&T Bank, including vice president and assistant vice president of Commercial Relationship Management. He has more than 10 years of experience in commercial banking, with a strong background in relationship management, credit underwriting, and strategic business development. Theroux holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and has earned certifications from the Connecticut School of Finance and Management and M&T Bank’s Leadership Accelerator program. An active member of the community, he serves on the board of directors and finance committee for the 4-H Center at Auerfarm Inc. in Bloomfield, Conn.

•••••

Bay Path University announced the appointment of Megan Trinkle-Knotts as the new program director of the master of science in genetic counseling program, effective immediately. Trinkle-Knotts brings nearly 20 years of experience in clinical genetics and genetic counseling education to the role. She began her career at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, where she worked in both prenatal and pediatric practice for nearly a decade. During her tenure, she helped develop a statewide Perinatal Loss Evaluation Program, which provided customized evaluation services for families experiencing stillbirth, and she co-led a Cord Blood Collection/Genetics Consultation Initiative aimed at avoiding missed diagnostic opportunities in newborns with anomalies or life-threatening conditions. In 2015, she joined the Center for Genomic Advocacy at Indiana State University, where she played a foundational role in launching a new master’s in genetic counseling program and a Genetic Counseling Clinic focused on oncology and psychiatric genetics. In 2021, she joined Bay Path as assistant director and fieldwork coordinator, where she oversaw the development of clinical and fieldwork experiences for students nationwide. Trinkle-Knotts is an active contributor to the field through research, publications, and national leadership. She is involved with several professional organizations, including the Indiana Network of Genetic Counselors, the Genetic Counselor Educators Assoc., the National Society of Genetic Counselors, and the Indiana Maternal Mortality Review Committee. She earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Indiana University and her master’s degree in genetic counseling from the Indiana School of Medicine.

•••••

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) announced the appointment of new officers and several new members to its board of directors. Comprising leaders from across the region’s business, education, and nonprofit sectors, the new board brings fresh energy and strategic insight to advance JAWM’s mission of inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Returning board members include Terrell Joyner (chair), financial advisor at Charter Oak and founder of the Consulting Web; Lena Buteau (vice chair), vice president and Retail Administration officer at Monson Savings Bank; and Anthony Lorenzano (vice president), store manager at TD Bank. New board members include Angelo Fiore, financial advisor with St. Germain Investment Management; Robert Jones, senior vice president, Nonprofit Practice at USI; Maria LaPriore, real estate advisor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Professionals; Gregg Levante, president of Pittsfield Cooperative Bank; Stefan Sjoberg, attorney with Egan, Flanagan & Cohen; and Devan Summers, vice president, Member Services and Community Development with Luso Federal Credit Union. The board will support the organization’s mission and provide guidance in key initiatives, including financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship programming.

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook

Citizens Bank Opens New Holyoke Branch

HOLYOKE — Citizens Bank celebrated the grand opening of its new branch at 1575 Northampton St. in Holyoke with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on July 24. The branch, which has relocated from a previous in-store location at Stop & Shop, now resides in a standalone facility designed to enhance the customer experience. The new location features a larger footprint with multiple teller stations, three private offices, and a comfortable waiting area. One of its key highlights is the interactive teller machine (ITM), providing customers with real-time access to virtual banking assistants. The ITM is available in the drive-up area, ensuring accessibility for all. This new branch is expected to play a significant role in the local economy by providing streamlined access to mortgage, business banking, and financial management services. It also consolidates several in-store branches to offer a centralized hub of expertise, enhancing convenience for customers and fostering community growth.

 

Keiter Donates $25,000 for Fifth Year of Keiter Card

WEST SPRINGFIELD — For the fifth consecutive year, Keiter is supporting the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce with a $25,000 donation to fund the annual Keiter Card promotion. The initiative has generated $250,000 in direct economic impact on the Northampton community since its inception in 2021. The Keiter Card allows consumers to receive $50 in local spending power for $25, effectively doubling the impact on participating small businesses. The Northampton Chamber will contribute $5,000 to the campaign this year as well, increasing the benefit to the local economy to $60,000. The 2025 Keiter Card promotion launched on Aug. 4. Cards can be purchased exclusively at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Supplies are limited, and customers must request the Keiter Card at the time of purchase. The promotion applies only to $25 Northampton Gift Card purchases and is limited to one per customer, per transaction. The Northampton Gift Card is accepted at more than 131 local businesses, including restaurants, shops, services, and spas.

 

Florence Bank Breaks Ground on New Branch in Holyoke

FLORENCE — Florence Bank is taking the next step in its expansion into Hampden County this month, breaking ground on a 2,500-square-foot office at 1504 Northampton St. in Holyoke. The full-service Holyoke branch is expected to open in the spring of 2026 and will be the bank’s fourth in Hampden County. In August 2017, Florence Bank opened its first branch in the county in West Springfield, followed by a branch opening in Springfield early in 2019 and in Chicopee in the spring of 2021. An invitation-only ceremonial groundbreaking event is planned for Friday, August 22 at 10 a.m. at the site of the new branch. Garrity will address an audience that is expected to include bank employees, board members, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, and other community leaders and elected officials. The new branch, designed by HAI Architecture in Northampton, will provide a spacious lobby, traditional teller stations, five offices, a drive-up teller window, and a drive-up ATM. Six employees will staff the branch, where customers can be assisted by tellers, meet with a customer service representative, or apply for a mortgage or commercial loan. The bank’s Spanish-speaking mortgage originator will also be based in the new branch.

 

Ludlow Coffee Company Hosts Grand Opening

LUDLOW — The East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce hosted the grand opening of Ludlow Coffee Company at 135 East St., Ludlow on July 22. Ludlow Coffee Company is the brainchild of a young couple who grew up in Ludlow, pursued their education and careers in Boston, and have now returned to their roots to establish a business. “This event is not only a celebration of a new business, but also an opportunity to highlight the importance of community involvement and support for local entrepreneurs,” the chamber stated. “The Ludlow Coffee Company embodies the spirit of community with its inviting ambience, reminiscent of the classic coffee shops we love. It’s a place for friends to gather, share stories, and enjoy quality coffee sourced from George Howell. The couple’s vision is to create a space that fosters connections, creativity, and collaboration among community members.”

 

Pittsfield-based Synagex Acquires Professional Computer Associates

PITTSFIELD — Synagex, an IT and cybersecurity services company based in Pittsfield, announced the acquisition of Professional Computer Associates (PCA), an established IT services firm out of Red Hook, N.Y. This move marks an important milestone in Synagex’s ongoing effort to “grow smart, stay personal, and expand our ability to serve organizations throughout the Northeast,” ompany President John Sinopoli said. Founded in 1999, PCA has spent nearly three decades supporting businesses, local governments, and nonprofits across the Hudson Valley and Capital Region of New York. Synagex, launched in 2017, provides IT as a service. Combining strategy, automation, and connection, the company aims to helps clients simplify IT, stay secure, and stay focused on what they do best. For PCA clients, the transition will feel familiar because most things are staying the way they are. The same local team will continue to provide support, now backed by Synagex’s expanded cybersecurity capabilities, compliance expertise, and modern IT delivery model.

 

Elms College Ranked Highly by Niche.com in Several Categories

CHICOPEE — Elms College received significant recognition across multiple categories in Niche.com’s latest rankings. It has been named among the top colleges nationwide for its exceptional nursing program, strong Catholic identity, and value. In 21st place, Elms College is among the 25 best colleges in Massachusetts (MIT and Harvard rank first and second, respectively). Furthermore, Elms is ranked among the top 10 Colleges in Massachusetts in three categories: fourth best nursing school, third best Catholic college, and eighth for best value. Elms leads all other Western Mass. institutions in those three categories. The college’s strong showing as the fifth-best college in Western Mass. (behind Williams, Amherst, Smith, and Mount Holyoke) exemplifies how the institution lives up to its mission, rooted in the values of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The college fosters a supportive and inclusive community where students are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually, and personally. Elms also ranks 49th of the 159 Catholic colleges in the U.S.

 

MicroTek Inc. Unveils New Brand Identity, Website

CHICOPEE — MicroTek Inc., a leader in innovative technology solutions, announced the launch of its refreshed brand identity and new website. This milestone marks a significant step in the company’s evolution, aligning its digital presence with its forward-thinking mission and ever-expanding capabilities. MicroTek has introduced a revitalized brand identity, including a new logo, updated color palette, and refined messaging that better reflects the company’s commitment to innovation, reliability, and customer-centric solutions. The rebranding initiative is part of MicroTek’s broader strategy to enhance its digital footprint, improve client engagement, and support its growing portfolio of services across industries. Alongside the refreshed branding, MicroTek recently launched a new corporate website that features streamlined navigation and enhanced functionality, offering visitors a more intuitive and engaging experience.

 

Summerlin Floors Announces New Charitable Arm

AMHERST — Summerlin Floors, a woman- and family-owned flooring business based in Amherst, has launched Summerlin Supports, a dedicated branch of its business focusing on giving back through charitable initiatives, volunteer efforts, and monetary donations. Throughout the years, Summerlin Floors has supported a variety of local organizations and initiatives, making contributions in a variety of ways, from radiothons and fundraisers to scholarship donations and community events. These contributions laid the foundation for Summerlin Supports, which formalizes the company’s ongoing commitment to making a positive impact and uplifting the local community. Among the organizations and events Summerlin Floors — and now, Summerlin Supports — has supported and sponsored include Amherst Community Theater, Amherst Global Village Festival, Amherst Survival Center, Amherst WinterFest, Baystate Children’s Hospital, Empty Arms Bereavement, New England Public Media, Safe Passage, Granby Junior Senior High School, and Greenfield Community College (GCC).

 

Ventfort Hall Reclaims Historic Gardener’s Cottage

LENOX — Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion and Museum announced the acquisition of the original Gardener’s Cottage, known as the Huss House, once the residence of Gilded Age landscape architect John Huss. For the first time since the 1950s, the property is returning to the Ventfort Hall estate, restoring a vital piece of its original legacy. In June, Ventfort Hall was granted the right of first refusal for the off-market sale of the cottage, located on Walker Street just a short walk from the main mansion. The board of directors and staff acted swiftly to secure the property, with the official signing taking place on July 29. Ventfort Hall has developed a multi-phase plan for the restoration, maintenance, and reintegration of the Huss House into its operations. The vision includes transforming the property into a short-term vacation rental, allowing it to generate revenue for its own preservation while offering visitors an immersive, historically resonant experience.

 

Big Y Express Fresh Market Reopens in Tower Square

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y Foods announced the reopening of its Big Y Express Fresh Market location at Tower Square in downtown Springfield, following a brief closure of just over two weeks. The temporary closure allowed for a strategic refresh designed to better meet the evolving needs of busy customers. This update was driven directly by customer feedback, with shoppers expressing a desire for more grab-and-go and convenience-focused options. In response, the store has been reconfigured to feature an expanded selection of quick meal solutions, snacks, beverages, and everyday essentials. Shoppers will also find lottery tickets, greeting cards, balloons, gift cards, and more, all curated to support a fast, efficient shopping experience. The updated store hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

 

Liberty Bank Foundation Supports Revitalize CDC

SPRINGFIELD — Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC) announced a $10,000 grant from the Liberty Bank Foundation to support its annual #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild program. This investment underscores Liberty Bank’s ongoing commitment to building stronger, healthier communities throughout Western Mass. and Connecticut. The #GreenNFit program brings together volunteers, corporate partners, and community organizations to repair and rehabilitate homes for low-income families, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities, all in a single neighborhood over the course of one day. In addition to this financial contribution, Liberty Bank employees also roll up their sleeves and volunteer at #GreenNFit events, making a direct and lasting impact on the lives of local residents. In addition to Liberty’s support of Revitalize CDC, Dawn Creighton, Community Outreach officer at the bank, serves on Revitalize CDC’s board of directors.

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

Bob’s Big Ideas Inc., 105 Pondview Dr., Amherst, MA 01002. Robert Gustafson, same. Entertainment production and consulting.

BELCHERTOWN

The Kitchen Squad Inc., 641 Daniel Shays Highway, Belchertown, MA 01007. Anna Drost, 102 Oak Ridge Dr., Belchertown, MA 01007. Cabinet and countertop sales.

CHICOPEE

KDJ Trucking Inc., 45 Grant St., Apt. 3, Chicopee, MA 01013. Khalid Kareem, same. To transfer, carry, and transport goods, merchandise, and personal property from or to anywhere in the U.S.

EAST LONGMEADOW

D&W Asian Cuisine Inc., 31 Harkness Ave., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Min Dong, 143 Lakeview Ave., Ludlow, MA 01056.

EAST OTIS

Hilltown Consulting Inc., 724 Tolland Road, East Otis, MA 01029. Brian Palazzi, P.O. Box 311, East Otis, MA 01029. Consulting services for agriculture.

FEEDING HILLS

New England Electron Beam Inc., 37 Juniper Ridge Dr., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Danny McDonnell, same. Diagnosing, servicing, and repairing all types of welding machines.

GREENFIELD

Eriksen Industries Inc., 161 Smead Hill Road, Greenfield, MA 01301. Lucas Eriksen, same. Real estate.

LANESBOROUGH

R&R Wirtes Grain Inc., 705 North Main St., Lanesborough, MA 01237. Rebecca Belmont, same. Farming, specifically grain mill, hay producer, and agriculture feed store.

LONGMEADOW

Gambee Anesthesia Services Inc., 24 Meadowbrook Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Sarah Mounsey, same. Nursing anesthesia services.

Venn Collaborative Inc., 15 Belleclaire Ave., Longmeadow, MA 01106. James Woodell, same. Educational consulting.

NORTHAMPTON

New England Autonomy Movement Inc., 21 Brisson Dr., Northampton, MA 01062. Ethan Glass, 30 South Washington St., North Attleborough, MA 02760. To enhance the economic, social, and political prosperity of New England by fostering greater regional cooperation and autonomy.

PITTSFIELD

Anvil Solutions Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Naga Pasupuleti, same. IT personnel recruiting and consulting.

Deftx Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. James Akiba, 454 Hancock St., Unit 243, Quincy, MA 02171. Operates as a holding company for multiple brands, including but not limited to the design, manufacture, and sale of consumer products, including grills, pizza ovens, and automotive after-market parts.

Premier Drywall Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., #100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Kevin Perron, 497 Hooksett Road, #358, Manchester, NH 03104. Drywall installation and repairs.

Sibaritas Restaurant Inc., 27 Mckay St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Megan Gomez, 11 McAllister St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Full-service restaurant with liquor license.

SOUTH HADLEY

Spec Collective Ltd., 5 Hadley St., Apt. B5, South Hadley, MA 01075. Jennifer Thornquest, same. Performance arts and educational circus organization.

SPRINGFIELD

A Plus B Food Mart Inc., 1390 Allen St., Springfield, MA 01118. Nemyaka Aftab, 28 Catherine Dr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Gas station and convenience store.

New Leaf Inc., 152 Druid Hill Road, Springfield, MA 01129. Katherine Daoust, same. Nurse practitioner.

Stratum Dermatology Management Inc., 504 Cottage St., Springfield, MA 01104. David Fontaine, same. Small business management services.

Vim Global Bible Institute, 37 Lexington St., Springfield, MA 01107. Charles Humphrey Niapah Carboo, same. To train, educate and equip pastors and Christians to become effective in their Christian calling.

WEST HATFIELD

Therrien Premier Painting Inc., 58 Linseed Road, West Hatfield, MA 01088. Izabela Wasylik, same. Residential and commercial painting services, including interior and exterior painting.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Luo & Li Co., 12 Chestnut St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Qing Hua Luo, 50 Norman Terrace, Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Restaurant.

WILBRAHAM

Pietras Group Inc., 2703 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Michael Pietras, same. Real estate holdings and development.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of July 2025.

AMHERST

Braxton Quant
345 Lincoln Ave.
Levi Lang Pierce

Compassion Speech-Language Pathology
440 Southpoint Dr.
Melanie Bitely

Comprehensive Conservation Services
90 Justice Dr.
Andrew Vecchio

Cushman Market & Café
491 Pine St.
Peter Sylvan

The Drake
35 South Pleasant St.
Elizabeth Larson

Jessica Kittredge Photography
114 Fairview Way
Jessica Kittredge

Miss Leticia Music School
41 Blue Hills Road
Leticia Davies

Pioneer Valley Massage and Acupuncture Center
409 Main St., Room 212
Haiying Conover

Revolution Billing
494 Market Hill Road
Jillian Brevik

GREAT BARRINGTON

Berkshire Beauty Co.
22 Elm Court, Apt. 1
Michelle Carey

Buer Landscaping
75 Alford Road
Carson Buer

Coco’s Candy
288 Main St.
Elise Contarsy

Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires
396 Stockbridge Road, Unit 2
Mary Killeen

Honey Sharp Garden Design
296 Division St.
Honey Sharp Lippman

J. Tab Consulting
1084 Main St.
J. Tab Consulting

Juquilita Mini Market LLC
177 Main St.
Rolando Juarez Francisco

Movement Matters LLC
420 Stockbridge Road, Suite 5
Annabelle Coote

Optimal Holdings LLC
5 Railroad St.
Matthew Scott

Peak Cannabis Co.
325 Stockbridge Road
Christopher Lynch

Rob’s Records & Audio
70 Railroad St., #2
Robert Brannock

SERVPRO of Berkshire, Pittsfield
700 Main St., Suite 1
Robert Citranglo

Unci’s Natural Edge
20 Bentley Ave., #307B
Jonathan Trotta

Wingate Furniture Co. Ltd.
420 Stockbridge Road, Suite 1
Valerie Winig

HADLEY

Athleta
339 Russell St.
Kayla Collins

Cheesy Street Grill
367 Russell St.
John Oligino

College Surprise
22 Newton Lane
Shannon Burke

Creative Space/Shower
226R Russell St.
Timothy Markowski

Fasm Design & Builds
43A Hockanum Road
Fasm Homes LLC

Hadleaf
25 Russell St.
HIE Holding Group LLC

J.Crew Factory
327 Russell St.
HFD No. 55 Inc.

Julio Landscaping
87 Russell St.
Julio Castillo Canas

Riverside Fencing Club
162 Russell St.
Taro Yamashita

Simmons Masonry LLC
7 Norwottuck Dr.
Gregory Simmons

HOLYOKE

Calvary Social Media
16 Labrie Lane
John Neves

Fruity Bubble
50 Holyoke St.
Kelvin Zheng

Gene’s Ford & Chevrolet Service
103 North Bridge St.
Christopher Menzel

Gilbert Towing Co.
950 Main St.
Gilbert Negron

Key Food Marketplace
13 Cabot St.
Anthony Diaz

King Mart
494 Westfield Road
Vishnubhai Patel, Piyusha Patel

Lin’s Relax Station
50 Holyoke St.
Yeng Yang

Lolli Spa and Body Contouring
1312 Dwight St.
Migdalia Thomas

Mrs. Fields
50 Holyoke St.
Thompson Enterprise of MA LLC

Spradley Deluxe Coffee
8 Ross Road
Willie Spradley, Patricia Spradley

Star Dancers’ Unity
172 High St.
Alexcelin Saldana

NORTHAMPTON

Aviva Psychology Services
78 Main St., Suite 301
Alessandra Urbano

The Center for Healing Journeys
94 King St.
Peter Corbett

Constant Growth Marketing and Consulting
35 Pilgrim Dr.
Dee Dice

D’Angelo
388 King St.
Jim Poirier

EMBR by Phat Panda
144 King St.
Brian Horrigan

GNG Auto Consulting
150 Main St., Suite 28
Gregory Goff

The Gold Standard
342 Pleasant St.
Mark Kendall Jr.

Immigration Offices of New England
79 Masonic St.
Megan Kludt

Lilac Spoons
16 Forbes Ave.
Emily Gilbert

Nirvana
17 New South St., Suites 100, 104, 107
Kelsie Dwight

Pioneer Valley Photography
160 South St.
Kiah Crowley

Progression Brewing Co.
9 Pearl St.
Joshia Skowyra

Sam’s Food Store
198 Pine St.
Syed Tasneem

Serenity Walks and Pet Service
73 Bridge St., #7
Sarah Girouard

Solis Coaching
53 Warburton Way
Ivam Queiroz

Spaces for Rent
94 Industrial Dr.
Todd Marchefka

Spaces Life Sciences
94 Industrial Dr.
Todd Marchefka

United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region
71 King St.
Geoffrey Naunheim

Western Mass Educational Advocacy Services
85 Vernon St.
Alison Newitt Greene

Western Mass Periodontics & Implant Specialists
269 Locust St., Unit F1
Craig Saltzman

Yoga & Reiki Bliss
15 Nutting Ave.
Beth Tascione

SOUTHWICK

Family HVAC
119 Berkshire Ave.
Jeffrey Audet

Insurance Inspections
143 South Longyard Road
Hollie Hamelin

Rideout Builders
17 Powder Mill Road
Larry Rideout

Salon Amici
515 College Highway, Suite F
Susan D’Amours Allen

Tortoriello Repair and Service
66 South Loomis St.
Alan Tortoriello

WESTFIELD

Beautiful Beginnings Daycare
13 Cleveland Ave.
Kayla Neveu

Bomb Eclectic
77 Mill St., #011
Karen Pighetti

Civil 1 Inc.
43 Sherman Hill Road
Civil 1 Inc.

Diversify Junk Removal
205 Elm St., #3F
Omar Cox

Eden Riggs Therapy
5 Noble Ave.
Eden Riggs

For the Win 365
342 Southwick Road, #83
Amy Williams

G&G General Contracting LLC
18 Grandview Dr.
Geraldine Hui

Gigi’s Pizza
358 Southwick Road
L&J Food Corp.

Her Design by Jaideliz
32 Summer St.
Jaideliz Andorno

Jupe’s Vintage Things
77 Mill St., #011
Jeffrey Beattie

Massachusetts Medical Detox & Rehabilition
66 Broad St.
Samuel Rogatinsky

Mich Jamaican Jerk
19 Princeton St.
Michelle Johnson

NCLW Affordable Property Maintenance
20 Margerie St.
Corina Williams

Persistence Investigations
11 Lozier Ave.
Peggy Meyer-Ducheney

Pioneer Valuation
149 Yeoman Ave.
Christopher Keefe

Posh Petsby Perry
63 Bigwood Dr.
Lynn Perry

Ruby Lending
109 Apremont Way
Metro Apartments LLC

Smitty’s Switches, Splitters, and Stuff
1 Cortez St.
Charles Smith

Westfield Pet & Garden LLC
81 Springfield Road
Nabil Hannoush

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Basic Packaging Supply
136 Wayside Ave.
Carter-McLeod Paper and Packaging Co. Inc.

Forfa Home Repair
716 Union St.
Forfa Home Repair

Integrative Health and Wellness Center
1111 Elm St., Suite 17A
Integrative Health and Wellness Center

Nippon Grill & Seafood Buffet
935 Riverdale St., Unit F105-107
Nippon Grill & Seafood Buffet

One Stop Mart
636 Kings Highway
Mehar Awan Inc.

Salamon Realty LLC
103 Myron St.
Salamon Realty LLC

Sevan Juices
120 Westfield St.
Sevan Juices

Stevens Jewelers Inc.
1501 Elm St.
Stevens Jewelers Inc.

WRB Auto Sales
194 Baldwin St.
WRB Auto Sales

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Alger, Kristin Michelle
a/k/a LaForest, Kristen M.
66 Starrett Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/02/2025

Betterson, Ann Maria
a/k/a Lavender, Ann Maria
114 Lucerne Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/01/2025

Boivin, Giovanni L.
PO Box 342
West Stockbridge, MA 01266-0342
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/11/2025

Bryden, Laurie Ann
56 Clover Hill Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/11/2025

Carey, April L.
a/k/a Samkin, April L.
6 Waid Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/30/2025

Comfort Jr., William Thomas
155 Pleasant St., #403
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/11/2025

Cotto, Angel T.
a/k/a Cotto Rivera, Angel T.
101 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/14/2025

Dave Soares Landscaping
Soares, David
74 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/30/2025

Duval, Henry P.
Duval, Annette M.
81 Cherry St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/15/2025

Furman, Globus
20 Crestwood Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/15/2025

Gagne, Jason A.
32 Allen Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/30/2025

Holyoke Parkview Apartments LLC
183 High St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 11
Date: 07/08/2025

Hunt, Shaneika M.
38 Wells Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/07/2025

Huseynov, Orkhan
131 Ashley Ave., A3
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/30/2025

JAK Professional Service
Joseph, Tricia A.
11 Yale St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Date: 07/11/2025

James, Katera Shauntel
11 Hastings St., Apt. 1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/01/2025

Kasperowski, Todd J.
228 Bridge St.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/03/2025

Lee, Kenneth R.
Lee, Cathleen M.
a/k/a Meyer, Cathleen M.
238 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/30/2025

Lussier, John Raymond
87 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/11/2025

MacDonald, Christine D.
46 New Boston Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/03/2025

McGrath, Ashley
234 Old Lyman Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/07/2025

Nurse, Asia Amani
74 West Main St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/07/2025

Richards-Gonzalez, Erin
a/k/a Richards, Erin
a/k/a Sparrow-Richards, Erin
a/k/a Richards-Gonzalez, Delilah
a/k/a Gonzalez, Delilah
1607 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Date: 06/30/2025

Roberts, Ian C.
183 Woodcrest Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/15/2025
Rojas, Joel
a/k/a Rojas Rosa, Joel
57 Hollywood St., Apt 2
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Date: 06/30/2025

Tarantino, Arianna L.
439 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/03/2025

Tulloch, Matthew A.
3039 Pleasant St.
Bondsville, MA 01009
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/09/2025

Turk, Mutlu
18 Munsing Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/02/2025

Wheelden, John Edward
115 Union St., #1
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/02/2025

White Violet Property, LLC
358 Sewall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 11
Date: 07/14/2025

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

704 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Peter J. Klimoski
Seller: Mundie, Barbara H., (Estate)
Date: 07/14/25

65 Hillcrest Dr.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Zachary Swenson
Seller: Andrew Easton
Date: 07/15/25

 

BUCKLAND

6 Charlemont Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jacob D. Looman
Seller: Buckland Center Partners LLC
Date: 07/15/25

118 East Buckland Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Marshall K. Luther TR
Seller: Donald D. Cote
Date: 07/15/25

56 Upper St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Ursula Humphrey
Seller: Richard D. Wolff
Date: 07/16/25

COLRAIN

6 Dunnell Dr.
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Maria Stenzel
Seller: Ditullio INT
Date: 07/08/25

7 Dunnell Dr.
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jan Sturmann
Seller: Spiegelman INT
Date: 07/15/25

CONWAY

39 Boyden Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $655,000
Buyer: Blair Ruscitti
Seller: Elizabeth S. Lawton
Date: 07/18/25

378 Cricket Hill Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Benson W. Hyde Special INT
Seller: William M. Chester Jr. TR
Date: 07/14/25

ERVING

16 Mountain Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Marissa Marques
Seller: Nathan A. May
Date: 07/07/25

28 River St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Mark Bix
Seller: Virginia Newton
Date: 07/11/25

GILL

81 North Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: David Tricolici
Seller: Michael J. Sprague
Date: 07/08/25

GREENFIELD

38 Ferrante Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Nathan R. Altomare
Seller: Ryan Lavoie
Date: 07/17/25

18 Freeman Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Sarah Holt
Seller: Gail E. Therrien
Date: 07/09/25

29 Highland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $940,000
Buyer: Sophia Pastore
Seller: Alexa Beach
Date: 07/15/25

231 Hope St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $341,000
Buyer: Darren S. Schmidt
Seller: Congamond Management LLC
Date: 07/11/25

362 Log Plain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $460,600
Buyer: Claude C. Curtis
Seller: Claire S. Walsh
Date: 07/11/25

73 Maple St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: John Johanson
Seller: Kurt W. Schellenberg
Date: 07/09/25

10 Walnut St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Abigail R. Drury
Seller: Joseph M. Mirkin
Date: 07/15/25

LEVERETT

80 Amherst Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $712,690
Buyer: Jennifer Renehan
Seller: David Roach
Date: 07/11/25

MONTAGUE

104 3rd St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: William R. Crosby
Seller: Peter Quintana
Date: 07/17/25

84 East Taylor Hill Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Colin Adamo
Seller: Hynes Raymond RET
Date: 07/09/25

Federal St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Christina L. Williams
Seller: Edward G. Stone
Date: 07/17/25

18 Franklin St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Henry J. Burek
Seller: Cassaundra R. Lopez
Date: 07/15/25

NEW SALEM

16 Lovers Lane
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: George E. Colby
Seller: 37 South Main TR
Date: 07/16/25

51 South Main St.
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: 51 South Main RT
Seller: George E. Colby
Date: 07/16/25

NORTHFIELD

283 West Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Charles McGrevy
Seller: Susan A. Murray
Date: 07/15/25

ORANGE

133 Drew Blvd.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Anthony Saladini
Seller: D. J. Degara
Date: 07/16/25

SHELBURNE

16 North South Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Kurt H. Wilkins
Seller: Susan T. Flaccus
Date: 07/15/25

28 North South Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Kurt H. Wilkins
Seller: Susan T. Flaccus
Date: 07/15/25

SHUTESBURY

January Hills Road, Lot 4
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Charles D. Dana
Seller: Dolores M. Conway
Date: 07/09/25

SUNDERLAND

8 Valley View Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Rachel S. Shipman
Seller: Cullen Shipman
Date: 07/11/25

WHATELY

1 Chestnut Plain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Joseph F. Zaffarano
Seller: Christine P. Leamon
Date: 07/08/25

346 Haydenville Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Wendolowski FT
Seller: Gitsit Real Properties Bbplc1 LLC
Date: 07/11/25

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

15 Barbara Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: James R. Typrowicz
Seller: Clark Maynard
Date: 07/10/25

75 Candlewood Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Jacquelyn J. Day
Seller: Candlewood LLC
Date: 07/09/25

18 Deer Run Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Martin Murphy
Seller: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
Date: 07/15/25

12 Federal St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $478,000
Buyer: Nicholas Menzel
Seller: Jennifer White
Date: 07/11/25

14 Granger Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Skyspec LLC
Seller: Brian L. David
Date: 07/11/25

71 Harvey Johnson Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Garret Schenck
Seller: Laurie J. Wright
Date: 07/15/25

36 Memorial Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Vincent Fortini
Seller: David A. Chase
Date: 07/07/25

216 Pineview Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Zully Guvenc
Seller: Nicole Garabedian
Date: 07/15/25

167 Poplar St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: Clifton Medeiros
Seller: Jason Mann
Date: 07/11/25

1 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $785,000
Buyer: Umiya Group Realty LLC
Seller: Agawam Car Care Inc.
Date: 07/11/25

124 Robin Ridge Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Slawomir P. Madro
Seller: Christopher J. Harper
Date: 07/10/25

61 Warren St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Deepika Sundararaj
Seller: Vincent Serignese
Date: 07/11/25

BLANDFORD

Chester Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $1,565,000
Buyer: Nature Conservancy
Seller: Terry, Judith A., (Estate)
Date: 07/07/25

BRIMFIELD

37 7th St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Donna L. Benoit
Seller: Diane Lorraine Fraind LT
Date: 07/16/25

105 Allen Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $699,000
Buyer: Darius M. Taylor
Seller: Deborah C. Corriveau
Date: 07/09/25

54 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $126,321
Buyer: Arpc LLC
Seller: Gail A. Davis
Date: 07/15/25

65 Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $392,500
Buyer: Mountain Brook Traders LLC
Seller: Grand Trunk Holdings LLC
Date: 07/09/25

Shaw Road (rear)
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Andrew Comerford
Seller: David Cheney RET
Date: 07/07/25

CHESTER

300 Middlefield Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: James E. Zabik
Seller: Nathan E. Thies
Date: 07/18/25

CHICOPEE

14 America St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $2,800,000
Buyer: H. P. Rum LLC
Seller: Maplewood RT
Date: 07/07/25

34 Boileau Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Amanda Rossi
Seller: Barbara Wrzesinski
Date: 07/16/25

108 Boulay Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $401,000
Buyer: Amanda Bailey
Seller: Slawomir Jakubowski
Date: 07/18/25

48 Clairmont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jenna Richards
Seller: Michael Rohrbacher
Date: 07/17/25

162 Clarendon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Robert Murphy
Seller: Edwin E. Diaz
Date: 07/11/25

38 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $1,600,000
Buyer: 38 Front Street LLC
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 07/14/25

798 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Laila Issa
Seller: Abilio C. Albuquerque
Date: 07/14/25

215 Frontenac St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Patrick T. Ginley
Seller: Patrick Styckiewicz
Date: 07/10/25

112 Grape St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Richton & Wynne LLC
Seller: Tarka FT
Date: 07/09/25

57 Hafey St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Tyler E. Corliss
Seller: Regina R. Creeron
Date: 07/10/25

27 Janine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Samantha De Souza
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 07/16/25

69 Lafayette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Marcos Rodriguez
Seller: Andrew E. Rollings
Date: 07/11/25

79 Lauzier Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Andrew P. Lajoie
Seller: Jose E. Martinez
Date: 07/09/25

35 Lawndale St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $441,537
Buyer: Danny Hernandez
Seller: Diane T. Kowalski
Date: 07/18/25

1492 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Membos LLC
Seller: DW Com Prop LLC
Date: 07/16/25

88 Newell St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,500
Buyer: Jacob Saleh
Seller: Flagstar Bank
Date: 07/10/25

57 Parenteau Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Hayley King
Seller: Ashley Nesby
Date: 07/15/25

20 Rosemont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Gabrielle L. Ruggiero
Seller: Lynda M. St.Jean
Date: 07/10/25

46 Saint James Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Tihwdi LLC
Seller: Emma L. Jopson
Date: 07/15/25

34 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $770,000
Buyer: 346 Britton Street LLC
Seller: 34-38 Sheridan St LLC
Date: 07/10/25

25 Spring St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Christopher F. Steiner
Seller: Nres LLC
Date: 07/16/25

95 Thaddeus St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $342,500
Buyer: Jgar LLC
Seller: Thomas E. Duffy
Date: 07/11/25

EAST LONGMEADOW

199 Allen St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Christopher Jones
Seller: Matadormus LLC
Date: 07/18/25

2 Anna Marie Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Harpreet S. Wasan
Seller: Moltenbrey Builders LLC
Date: 07/14/25

36 Devonshire Ter.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $830,000
Buyer: Sidoryuk TR
Seller: Vaughn J. Wildfong
Date: 07/09/25

45 Donamor Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: William Kimball
Seller: Fancy, Phyllis A., (Estate)
Date: 07/10/25

32 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Heather L. Doe
Seller: James M. Chapdelaine
Date: 07/07/25

77 Indian Spring Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Jared Kustra
Seller: Nicholas A. Stafford
Date: 07/18/25

47 Mayfair St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jaime I. Thayer-Awoniyi
Seller: Ross Colette J., (Estate)
Date: 07/18/25

525 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Brennan
Seller: Michael Giuggio
Date: 07/07/25

33 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: E&s Ventures LLC
Seller: Center Square RT
Date: 07/09/25

232 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Gabriel Levine
Seller: Kimberly A. Kehoe
Date: 07/17/25

GRANVILLE

73 Barnard Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $680,000
Buyer: Shaun P. Terra
Seller: John F. Donatini
Date: 07/14/25

48 Dickinson Dr.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Samuel J. Houston
Seller: Joy C. Bryda
Date: 07/17/25

HOLLAND

12 Brandon St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Kevin McCleary
Seller: Nicole C. Holguin
Date: 07/18/25

11 Leisure Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $660,000
Buyer: Tyler Reilly
Seller: Mark E. Lund
Date: 07/11/25

47 Leno Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Amanda Lane
Seller: Peter C. Perez
Date: 07/11/25

59 Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Theresa Quinn
Seller: Nancy E. Lucier
Date: 07/16/25

HOLYOKE

107 Cross Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Koral Arzate
Seller: Kerry Kraft
Date: 07/16/25

453 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $378,500
Buyer: Benjamin Pion
Seller: Nancy L. Post
Date: 07/10/25

705 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $371,000
Buyer: Javier A. Rivera
Seller: David J. Duran
Date: 07/08/25

1083 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Narciso J. Vazquez
Seller: Duval, Marianne, (Estate)
Date: 07/17/25

38 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Tanya M. Ramsey
Seller: James G. Cartwright IRT
Date: 07/08/25

86 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Alyssa N. Sweeney
Seller: Andrey V. Okhrimenko
Date: 07/16/25

1066 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $328,000
Buyer: Romer Sullivan
Seller: Michael T. Yelle
Date: 07/14/25

1164 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $555,400
Buyer: Richard Wiley
Seller: Cameron Wiley
Date: 07/16/25

67 Park Slope
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Alexandra Adams
Seller: Whiting Betsy M., (Estate)
Date: 07/18/25

2-4 Rene Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Dwayne Fisher
Seller: Nelson R. Amalbert
Date: 07/08/25

258 Rock Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Onyx Investments LLC
Seller: Nina C. Cassidy
Date: 07/10/25

542 Rock Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Tina Moson
Seller: Michael Shepard
Date: 07/11/25

141 Saint Jerome Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Saje Home Services LLC
Seller: Carolyn D. Roberts
Date: 07/11/25

89 Sun Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Ashley Haskell
Seller: Talisa S. Bratt
Date: 07/11/25

66 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Reneeza Ramdeen
Seller: Lsrmf MH Master Participation Trust II
Date: 07/11/25

41 Vassar Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $271,750
Buyer: Lisa M. Echevarria
Seller: Flanagan, Gail C., (Estate)
Date: 07/18/25

272 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Chenevert Properties LLC
Seller: Della Ripa Real Estate LLC
Date: 07/18/25

272 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Ihi Wave LLC
Seller: Chenevert Properties LLC
Date: 07/18/25

299-301 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Katherine Colon
Seller: One Holyoke Community Development Corp.
Date: 07/18/25

LONGMEADOW

291 Bliss Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: John R. Lapierre
Seller: Kathleen M. McManus
Date: 07/11/25

20 Brittany Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $855,000
Buyer: Steven W. Hayes
Seller: Joanna Beachy
Date: 07/07/25

183 Concord Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $1,065,000
Buyer: Joseph Volk
Seller: Sojung K. Haag
Date: 07/15/25

98 Coventry Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Bengt T. Hyberg
Seller: Robert A. Walker RET
Date: 07/18/25

887 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Nicholas Bednaz
Seller: Frederick J. Steinman
Date: 07/18/25

230 Meadowlark Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Abiy A. Teshome
Seller: Kenneth J. Shusterman
Date: 07/08/25

166 Primrose Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Ericka Olson
Seller: Yana Stein
Date: 07/07/25

88 Redfern Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Andrea Triantafillou
Seller: Eric W. Pohlman
Date: 07/08/25

60 Roseland Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Caitlyn M. Davis
Seller: Rose A. Atwood
Date: 07/18/25

28 South Park Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $608,000
Buyer: William Carrick
Seller: Aurea L. Wenzel
Date: 07/15/25

51 Warwick St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Aniello J. Russo
Seller: Ina J. Herman
Date: 07/14/25

109 Wild Grove Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $935,000
Buyer: Indu B. Yadav
Seller: David Lipke
Date: 07/11/25

66 Woolworth St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Alexander L. Lonczak
Seller: Robert S. Richardson
Date: 07/17/25

LUDLOW

33 Briarwood Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Hasan Capkin
Seller: Carlos Fernandes
Date: 07/18/25

17 Brimfield St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $168,855
Buyer: David A. Carpenter
Seller: Michael T. Narey
Date: 07/10/25

32 Bristol St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Rebecca L. Clark
Seller: Nydia I. Ruiz
Date: 07/18/25

1150 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $552,500
Buyer: Douglas Blair
Seller: Andrzej Pielecha
Date: 07/08/25

Equinox Pass, Lot 91
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $177,900
Buyer: Hemlock Ridge LLC
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 07/11/25

132 James St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Shannon Leese
Seller: Christina R. Ridolfi
Date: 07/18/25

74 Knollwood Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: Debra M. Goeschel
Seller: 2014 Boney-Lasiter RET
Date: 07/09/25

Lyon St., Lot 5
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Michael G. Page
Seller: JLN Properties LLC
Date: 07/09/25

43 Pleasantview St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Yocasta Lara
Seller: Dowd, Kathleen A., (Estate)
Date: 07/18/25

469 Poole St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Iwasinski
Seller: Caryn L. Kostek
Date: 07/18/25

270 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Msam Real Estate LLC
Seller: 270 West Street Ludlow RT
Date: 07/11/25

675 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $440,500
Buyer: Jeremiah P. Gombos
Seller: Laura N. Stevens
Date: 07/07/25

MONSON

84 Bethany Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Residential Asset Securitization Trust 2006-E
Seller: Thomas K. Tighe
Date: 07/10/25

East Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Opacum Land Trust Inc.
Seller: Wayne A. Evans
Date: 07/18/25

1028 Maple St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $296,500
Buyer: Efrain Diaz
Seller: John J. Swistak
Date: 07/11/25

42 Margaret St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Lucas J. Czarniecki
Seller: Shelley Hughes RET
Date: 07/18/25

111 May Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $466,500
Buyer: Jeffrey D. Sterner
Seller: Darius M. Taylor
Date: 07/09/25

241 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Mike Krasnov
Seller: Kathleen E. Martinek
Date: 07/16/25

98 Town Farm Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $647,500
Buyer: Mackenzie A. Tozier
Seller: Frank Perez
Date: 07/10/25

142 Upper Hampden Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Jason Pascucci
Seller: 142 Upper Hampden Road NT
Date: 07/18/25

MONTGOMERY

56 North Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Emily Kassis
Seller: Anna K. Echtner
Date: 07/16/25

1631 Russell Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Roman Tikhonchuk
Seller: Jessica R. Grabowski
Date: 07/18/25

PALMER

55-69 Belanger St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Remlap Rentals LLC
Seller: C. K. Scott LLC
Date: 07/18/25

4415 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: WMass Residential LLC
Seller: Mileskie, Margaret A., (Estate)
Date: 07/16/25

114 Longview St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $479,500
Buyer: Morgan Hann
Seller: Kristine L. Somers
Date: 07/14/25

1341 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Adam J. Wawrzyk
Seller: Nelson B. Pease
Date: 07/17/25

1724 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Robert Fornaciari
Seller: Nicholas Lloyd
Date: 07/07/25

177 State St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Nathan Letner
Seller: Russell R. Letner
Date: 07/17/25

137 Thompson St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $598,000
Buyer: Tammy Barberio-Powell
Seller: Stoney Rt
Date: 07/14/25

SPRINGFIELD

32 Albert St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Matthew-David C. Gordon
Seller: Cynthia J. Ortell
Date: 07/08/25

842-844 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Dahiana J. De Crisotomo
Seller: Brooke E. Coughlin
Date: 07/08/25

3 Balboa Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Eduardo J. Monarca
Seller: Kirsyann Segarra
Date: 07/18/25

485-487 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Carrasquillo Management LLC
Seller: Teddy Guy
Date: 07/10/25

824-826 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Homeland Real Estate Investment Group LLC
Seller: Gladysh Capital LLC
Date: 07/18/25

896 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Scott Allison
Seller: Adam Amaral
Date: 07/10/25

28 Bog Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Lianexis D. Burgos
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 07/18/25

235 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Hossein M. Zadeh
Seller: Cig4 LLC
Date: 07/08/25

83 Buckingham St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $371,000
Buyer: Juan A. Rodriguez Baez
Seller: Naples Home Buyers TR
Date: 07/15/25

21 Chester St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Nelida R. Negron
Seller: Belton Sr., Percy R., (Estate)
Date: 07/17/25

33-35 Claremont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Chelsea Wilson
Seller: Posiadlosc LLC
Date: 07/18/25

11 Copeland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Dominic Riggio
Date: 07/15/25

24 Davis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $358,000
Buyer: RG Main & Oak LLC
Seller: Chrissy L. Ivas
Date: 07/16/25

459 Dwight St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Bar Belmont LLC
Seller: Lumpkin & Markarian Holdings
Date: 07/10/25

143 East Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Thomas F. Kissel
Seller: Angela C. Nannen
Date: 07/16/25

37 Eagle St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Rafael L. Polanco
Seller: Luis A. Villanueva
Date: 07/16/25

15 Entrybrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Elvin Vargas
Seller: Rose C. Majane
Date: 07/18/25

40 Fenimore Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $354,900
Buyer: Brigett Torres
Seller: Tracey Troung
Date: 07/15/25

103 Flint St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Ricky Santiago
Seller: Lisandra Zeno
Date: 07/11/25

181 Freeman Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $180,500
Buyer: Salim Abdoo
Seller: Gitsit Real Property Bbplc1 LLC
Date: 07/14/25

25 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $395,500
Buyer: Briana Torres-Ferrer
Seller: Clifton Medeiros
Date: 07/11/25

45 Greaney St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Alba H. Elias
Seller: Adrian M. Villalobos
Date: 07/09/25

145 Homestead Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $376,500
Buyer: Bobby Corona
Seller: Marilyn A. Larramee
Date: 07/16/25

124 Hudson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Anthony N. Stack
Seller: Veteran Stan LLC
Date: 07/18/25

195 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Olmsted Realty LLC
Seller: Mack NA Servicing TR
Date: 07/11/25

12-14 Kendall St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Shalimar Mejia
Seller: Cedar Investment Group LLC
Date: 07/18/25

855 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: Ije Properties LLC
Seller: 855 Liberty Springfield LLC
Date: 07/11/25

43 Longfellow Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Sean Kavanagh
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 07/15/25

111 Malibu Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $154,350
Buyer: Lumtri RT
Seller: Bryan G. McCarthy
Date: 07/15/25

42 North Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Rashad M. Evans
Seller: Gabrielle Ruggiero
Date: 07/10/25

128-130 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Jean B. Jean
Seller: Casa Trio LLC
Date: 07/10/25

362 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Patrick A. Ajunwa
Seller: Antonio G. Daniele
Date: 07/18/25

38 Palmer Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Allan E. Agueda-Martinez
Seller: Phyllis & Marc Jret
Date: 07/17/25

24 Pearl Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $426,000
Buyer: Laura McCarthy
Seller: Marshall G. Conklin
Date: 07/16/25

37 Revere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $274,500
Buyer: Katerina Valentine
Seller: Jessica S. Dillard-Wright
Date: 07/09/25

5 Rogers Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $437,537
Buyer: Chad J. O’Brien
Seller: Brvs LLC
Date: 07/10/25

6-8 Rosemont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Myrna Colon
Seller: Catherine W. MacGovern
Date: 07/18/25

205 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $123,500
Buyer: Chamber Investment Group LLC
Seller: Adister Pineda
Date: 07/18/25

229-231 Saint James Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Murtadha Noori
Seller: Bogdanow RT
Date: 07/10/25

125-127 Santa Barbara St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Moriah E. Coleman
Seller: Martany Cortes
Date: 07/16/25

165 Seymour Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Angilene S. Brown
Seller: Javier A. Rivera
Date: 07/08/25

56 Silas St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Yasser Mahdy
Seller: Oyola, Lisa Ann, (Estate)
Date: 07/15/25

102 Starling Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Rose Tran
Seller: Dipikaben R. Patel
Date: 07/11/25

68 Sunrise Ter.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Aldo Properties LLC
Seller: Nora A. Rooke RT
Date: 07/10/25

50 Switzer Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jaime Harris
Seller: Bho Realty LLC
Date: 07/18/25

140 Temby St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Virgilio Santos
Seller: Robin Scott
Date: 07/17/25

47 Van Buren Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Larinso Saunders
Seller: Heriberto Rivera
Date: 07/15/25

365-367 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Ray Peralta
Seller: Eddie Dairs
Date: 07/16/25

612-614 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $453,000
Buyer: Merinor Simelus
Seller: Jjj17 LLC
Date: 07/14/25

174 Wellington St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Bruce Cononico
Seller: Bobby Hall
Date: 07/11/25

2393 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Darrell Griffin
Seller: Michael A. Powers
Date: 07/11/25

342 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: Ramona I. Acevedo
Seller: House Hack Helpers LLC
Date: 07/10/25

19 Woodrow St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Roxanne Buckle
Seller: Alexander Perez
Date: 07/18/25

56 Yale St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Home Savers Group LLC
Seller: Brandon McCloud
Date: 07/14/25

48 Zephyr Lane
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Patricia Del Buono
Seller: John R. Lapierre
Date: 07/11/25

SOUTHWICK

269 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Fitzgerald Home Solutions LLC
Seller: Albert Plancon FT
Date: 07/16/25

5 Crescent Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Wes Properties LLC
Seller: Burhan Holdings One LLC
Date: 07/15/25

5 Honeybird Run
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $946,000
Buyer: Pamela A. Molennor TR
Seller: Denise Faircloth
Date: 07/09/25

8 Noble Steed Xing
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Vincent Serignese
Seller: Lyudmila A. Maksyuk
Date: 07/11/25

66 Powder Mill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Dennis Weaver
Seller: Jack E. Lamoureaux
Date: 07/15/25

WALES

12 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Michael Moran
Seller: Porfirio N. Espinosa
Date: 07/16/25

53 Hollow Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Russell J. Wigen
Seller: Steven Valle
Date: 07/18/25

WEST SPRINGFIELD

6 Albert St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Amanda Kamel
Seller: Gitsit Real Property LLC
Date: 07/11/25

70 Almon Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Molly Holt
Seller: Tamara Tsyganenko
Date: 07/10/25

36 Apple Ridge Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Nicholas Kraver
Seller: Ronald E. Johnson
Date: 07/17/25

136 Butternut Hollow Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Tae H. Kim
Seller: Joan S. Lewandowski
Date: 07/15/25

85 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: H&D Venture LLC
Seller: J. R. Real Estate LLC
Date: 07/15/25

63 Hale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $416,000
Buyer: Sarah J. Liquorman
Seller: Julie E. Dowd
Date: 07/16/25

134 Hampden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $339,900
Buyer: Travaughn Josey
Seller: McKenzie Brothers Realty LLC
Date: 07/14/25

29 Healy St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Micaelle Martin
Seller: Malia Homebuyers LLC
Date: 07/15/25

78 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Imv Motor LLC
Seller: Germani, Louis R., (Estate)
Date: 07/15/25

121 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Duane J. Paul
Seller: Mark J. Walachy
Date: 07/08/25

333 Massachusetts Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Bryanna Montalvo
Seller: Cornerstone Homebuying LLC
Date: 07/08/25

1146 Memorial Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: 1146 Memorial Drive LLC
Seller: SS Fund LLC
Date: 07/11/25

100 Nelson St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Andre Fillion
Seller: Holly Hitchcock
Date: 07/09/25

71 Park Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Park 71 LLC
Seller: 71 Park Ave. LLC
Date: 07/16/25

622 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Lake Rentals LLC
Seller: Seajay Group LLC
Date: 07/17/25

33 Wilder Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Werley T. Deoliveira
Seller: William J. Weckerly
Date: 07/18/25

168 Windsor St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Meredith Noyes
Seller: David F. Piangerelli
Date: 07/18/25

168 Wolcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Yam K. Ghalley
Seller: Gary E. Bailleul
Date: 07/18/25

WESTFIELD

131 Bates Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $705,000
Buyer: Ramage FT
Seller: Jarzabek LT
Date: 07/10/25

3 Bayberry Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Henry M. Bisbee
Seller: Roman Drobny
Date: 07/18/25

207 Belanger Road
Westfield, MA 01073
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Sylvia A. Ciborowski
Seller: Lindsey Litwak
Date: 07/15/25

20 Bennett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Krystina L. Trout
Seller: Camilla J. Bucko
Date: 07/16/25

41 Claremont St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Viktor Stepanchuk
Seller: WS & Sons Realty LLC
Date: 07/18/25

7 Day Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Fitzgerald Home Solutions LLC
Seller: David N. Fisk
Date: 07/10/25

East Mountain Road, Lot 5
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Vladimir Koshmar
Seller: Michael P. Dupuis
Date: 07/18/25

171 Munger Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $630,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Bracci
Seller: Christin L. Wilson
Date: 07/07/25

71 Hagan Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Joshua C. Towse
Seller: Richard A. Sanders
Date: 07/18/25

400 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Meagan Ray-Novak
Seller: Danylo Shmyglya
Date: 07/18/25

89 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Timofey P. Banar
Seller: Justin C. Wild
Date: 07/14/25

291 Russellville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Rose Majane
Seller: Leroy R. Clink
Date: 07/18/25

299 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Joselito Reyes
Seller: Mary L. Zanolli
Date: 07/15/25

13 Smith Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Wolak
Seller: Vitaliy P. Baranyuk
Date: 07/09/25

244 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: NZ Property LLC
Seller: Brian McDonald
Date: 07/09/25

3 Vernon St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Wilcox
Seller: Our Legacy LLC
Date: 07/11/25

120 West Silver St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Philip Stranathan
Seller: Maria C. Letasz
Date: 07/15/25

West Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Oleksandr O. Moshkivsky
Seller: Dana A. Lecrenski
Date: 07/14/25

12 Woodmont St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $352,000
Buyer: Richard Rodriguez
Seller: Jared M. Materas
Date: 07/18/25

45 Yankee Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Amanda Drees
Seller: Francis E. Blanchard RET
Date: 07/17/25

WILBRAHAM

2 Cedar Oak Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Andrew Flye
Seller: Mark A. Cloutier
Date: 07/14/25

5 Evergreen Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $584,000
Buyer: Janie L. Lizak
Seller: Kirby J. Howard
Date: 07/17/25

8 Evangeline Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Giavanna M. Colaccino
Seller: Zahi N. Haddad
Date: 07/09/25

4 Oakridge Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Steven J. Sasur
Seller: Kara L. Rice
Date: 07/18/25

20 Mountainbrook Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Kevin Grant
Seller: Robert L. Bustamante
Date: 07/08/25

56 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Giovanni Solivan-Lebron
Seller: Agerton, Marjorie N., (Estate)
Date: 07/16/25

35 Sunnyside Ter.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Ryan Spring
Seller: Kimberly A. Crevier
Date: 07/15/25

1032 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $344,500
Buyer: Suzanne Hangasky
Seller: Kenyon J. Porter
Date: 07/18/25

14 Wellfleet Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $805,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Pecoraro
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 07/11/25

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

78 Aubinwood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $714,900
Buyer: Stayabrota Das
Seller: Flavia T. Cunha
Date: 07/14/25

161 Farmington Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Troy P. Wixson
Seller: Tiesa M. Graf
Date: 07/16/25

41 Gray St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: James L. Beadle
Seller: East Pleasant St. Partners
Date: 07/09/25

88 High Point Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Vanessa Bergmann
Seller: Tammy L. Wilson
Date: 07/18/25

124 Lindenridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $990,000
Buyer: Allana N. Jackson
Seller: Jeong, Jeeyon, (Estate)
Date: 07/15/25

734 Main St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,050,000
Buyer: Newgen 1 LLC
Seller: John T. Wroblewski LT
Date: 07/16/25

89 Pondview Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Chelsea D. Lovley
Seller: Derek Lovley
Date: 07/18/25

24 Potwine Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Aimee Bida
Seller: Shing F. Shiao
Date: 07/10/25

17 Sacco Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Brent H. Freedland
Seller: Debora D. Ferreira
Date: 07/17/25

66 Stony Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Carol Y. Bailey
Seller: Hubbard M. Smith RET
Date: 07/09/25

275 Strong St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $496,000
Buyer: Hamed Zamani
Seller: Deborah Sampson
Date: 07/11/25

BELCHERTOWN

237 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Daniel T. Morse
Seller: Steven J. Roy
Date: 07/18/25

101 Chauncey Walker St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Jacob Snizek
Seller: Michele Snizek
Date: 07/09/25

105 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: David Fredenburgh
Seller: G&H Development LLC
Date: 07/09/25

65 Daniel Square
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Pacheco Properties Holdings LLC
Seller: Finance Of America Structured Securities
Date: 07/10/25

EASTHAMPTON

21 1st Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Betsy Hopkins
Seller: Linda M. Hopkins
Date: 07/11/25

9 Camelot Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Carla Drew-Moyer
Seller: Alan C. Borowski
Date: 07/18/25

242 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Sean Quinn
Seller: David F. Tyburski
Date: 07/18/25

116 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $501,000
Buyer: Joanne McTiernan
Seller: Robert E. Dragon
Date: 07/10/25

95 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Aleksandar Vasic
Seller: Iam M. Carrier
Date: 07/11/25

19 Keddy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Robert G. Nicholson
Seller: Adam Jaber
Date: 07/10/25

64 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Ian M. Carrier
Seller: Nader Saborough
Date: 07/11/25

GOSHEN

558 East St.
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Francis J. Burnett
Seller: Betsy L. Burnett
Date: 07/17/25

GRANBY

92 Aldrich St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $362,500
Buyer: Paul Piquette
Seller: Debra L. Lauder
Date: 07/18/25

52 Burnett St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $454,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Curtis
Seller: Brault Irt
Date: 07/17/25

9 North St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Anneka Lamb
Seller: Braierd, Mary F., (Estate)
Date: 07/08/25

2 Weszt State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $1,850,000
Buyer: Dash Realty Holdings LLC
Seller: Win Properties LLC
Date: 07/08/25

4 Wes State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $1,850,000
Buyer: Dash Realty Holdings LLC
Seller: Win Properties LLC
Date: 07/08/25

6 West State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $1,850,000
Buyer: Dash Realty Holdings LLC
Seller: Win Properties LLC
Date: 07/08/25

HADLEY

65 Hockanum Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Michelle A. Dean
Seller: Daneau, Suzanne B., (Estate)
Date: 07/18/25

13 Laurana Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $559,000
Buyer: Agnes Ting
Seller: Matthew Olszewski
Date: 07/17/25

8 Meadowbrook Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: William Hohreiter
Seller: Joseph J. Bye
Date: 07/14/25

HUNTINGTON

140 Pond Brook Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Jacob K. Ross
Seller: Travis Trout
Date: 07/16/25

NORTHAMPTON

47 Avis Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Travis S. Watson
Seller: Gary W. Keefe
Date: 07/07/25

14 Easthampton Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: 14 Easthampton Road LLC
Seller: James E. Bacon
Date: 07/09/25

228 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Mo Xu
Seller: Joseph Brooks
Date: 07/10/25

183 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $1,400,000
Buyer: Mass. Land Conservation Trust Inc.
Seller: Equinox Partners LLC
Date: 07/16/25

23 Prospect Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,055,000
Buyer: Rodney North
Seller: Fatima Kabba
Date: 07/08/25

22 Sherman Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Harry A. George
Seller: Robin T. Barry-King
Date: 07/17/25

54 Water St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $866,000
Buyer: Edward T. Kennedy
Seller: Annae Morehouse
Date: 07/09/25

140 Woodland Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Mohammad I. Shirzad
Seller: Pioneer Valley Habitat For Humanity
Date: 07/09/25

SOUTH HADLEY

151 Abbey St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Luiz A. Amaral
Seller: Ryan P. Sweeney
Date: 07/15/25

4 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $660,000
Buyer: Anniemac Private Equity
Seller: Tiffany Brunelle
Date: 07/15/25

27 Ashfield Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Michael A. Case
Seller: Allana N. Jackson
Date: 07/14/25

5 Bach Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Stephen Opalenik
Seller: Town Of South Hadley
Date: 07/07/25

59 Bridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Nrb Roof Professionals LLC
Seller: Robert J. Whelihan
Date: 07/16/25

13 Canal St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Chenevert Properties LLC
Seller: No Limit Assets LLC
Date: 07/18/25

11 Fairlawn St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Kimberly H. Cervantes
Seller: John A. Neveu
Date: 07/15/25

190 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Catherine Dube
Seller: Ryan P. Spring
Date: 07/15/25

405 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Joseph H. Ely
Seller: Roy Brindamour
Date: 07/14/25

10 Graves St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Samuel K. Kim
Seller: Naples Home Buyers TR
Date: 07/16/25

15 Lexington Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jillian Euvrard
Seller: Kirsti A. Morse
Date: 07/17/25

41 Red Bridge Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $810,000
Buyer: Padmini Das
Seller: Daniel R. Sharp
Date: 07/16/25

25 Saybrook Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Kathryn Barsevich
Seller: Cheryl A. Pringle
Date: 07/09/25

SOUTHAMPTON

42 Coleman Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Sarah Sypek
Seller: Jason S. Labrie
Date: 07/07/25

102 Gunn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Alan Borowksi
Seller: Kevin B. O’Donnell
Date: 07/10/25

6 Pine Meadow Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $765,000
Buyer: Jason Labrie
Seller: Bernard S. Borowski
Date: 07/07/25

5 Pomeroy Meadow Ext.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Alexander Smith
Seller: Fumi Realty Inc.
Date: 07/10/25

WARE

5 1st Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Kyle J. Champoux
Seller: Curylo Jr., John J., (Estate)
Date: 07/16/25

7 2nd Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Melissa Asikainen
Seller: Dorcas RT
Date: 07/15/25

53 Babcock Tavern Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $474,000
Buyer: Nicholas Lioyd
Seller: Matthew J. Graves
Date: 07/07/25

76 Beaver Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Sean P. Astle
Seller: 76 Beaver Road RT
Date: 07/18/25

250 Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Richard W. Brown
Seller: Joseph M. Mitko
Date: 07/15/25

84 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $599,000
Buyer: Gabriela Vieyra
Seller: Guy P. Beaulieu
Date: 07/11/25

32-34 East Court
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ney Q. Orozo
Seller: Eree LLC
Date: 07/17/25

130 Greenwich Plains Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Brian Errante
Seller: Edward R. Lynchwala
Date: 07/10/25

4 School St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Wicked Deals LLC
Seller: Mandolyn M. Piscioneri
Date: 07/11/25

WILLIAMSBURG

183 Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $1,400,000
Buyer: Mass. Land Conservation Trust Inc.
Seller: Equinox Partners LLC
Date: 07/16/25

96 Mountain St.
Williamsburg, MA 01062
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Douglas J. Warner
Seller: Kestrel Land Trust Inc.
Date: 07/11/25

21 Unquomonk Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $805,000
Buyer: Gunther J. Rohrer
Seller: Maclachlan, Patricia M., (Estate)
Date: 07/17/25

WESTHAMPTON

223 Main Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Courtney M. Ross
Seller: Rachel T. Goodman
Date: 07/09/25

356 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Michael Broussard
Seller: Simone Prystowski
Date: 07/15/25

105 Reservoir Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Eds Enterprises LLC
Seller: Creek FT
Date: 07/16/25

WORTHINGTON

370 Buffington Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Tyler Mattson
Seller: Jedadiah O. Henry
Date: 07/15/25

398 Old Post Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $888,100
Buyer: Ann M. Perrone
Seller: Mendelsohn, James W., (Estate)
Date: 07/18/25

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of July 2025.

CHICOPEE

Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$65,215 — Convert existing computer center in Mary Dooley Center lobby into student lounge, including removal of existing curved glass wall and door and installation of new flooring, finishes, and lighting

Jones Ferry Development LLC
326 Chicopee St.
$7,500 — Machine demolition of radio tower

EASTHAMPTON

Atomic Real Estate LLC
195 Northampton St.
$25,000 — Siding

MAPAM-1 LLC
179 Northampton St.
$43,745 — Air sealing, ventilation, and weather stripping

One Northampton Street Enterprises Inc.
1 Northampton St.
$24,845 — Install new fire alarm system and devices

LEE

Paul Face, Dawn Face
45 School St.
$12,500 — Remove damaged siding, framing, and sheetrock; replace storm door and exterior door; new framing and insulation; repair ceiling; repair sill; new trim to match existing

St. Mary’s Church Society
115 Orchard St.
$200,000 — Replace windows

LENOX

Church Street Holdings LLC
500 Pittsfield Road
$574,601 — Selective demolition, floors, walls, ceilings, new lighting

MHH Lenox 70 Operating LLC
25 Mollie Way
$5,000 — Swap out bathtub and shower in two separate units

NORTHAMPTON

69 Bridge Street LLC
69 Bridge St.
$30,729 — Replace front and rear entry doors

Ald Noho LLC
271 Main St.
$4,000 — Illuminated sign for Mala Pot & Grill

Big Y
138 North King St.
$9,650 — Six sign permits

City of Northampton
20 Florence St.
$262,335 — Install heat pumps in Leeds Elementary School

Lathrop Community Inc.
680 Bridge St.
$80,000 — Renovation, including new bathroom, mechanical room, storage, and office

Smith College
8 College Lane
$151,500 — Install sprinkler system

Smith College
2 Seelye Dr.
$886,600 — Roof repairs to Seelye Hall

Smith College
20 Elm St.
$44,471 — Alterations to entry reception at museum offices to create new office, alterations to Room T126

PITTSFIELD

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet
455 Dalton Ave.
$650,000 — Improvement of existing building for new mercantile tenant

Phoenix Merrill Road LLC
676 Merrill Road
$32,650 — Interior remodel including new store fixtures and finishes

Gary Roller
115 Elm St.
$52,400 — Repair storefront, new suspended ceiling, new laminate flooring

Coping with Tariffs

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

Maroun Hannoush doesn’t seem fazed by what some are describing as ‘trade wars’ and a rapidly changing scene when it comes to tariffs imposed on products from around the world.

Indeed, while Hannoush, CEO of the family-owned chain of jewelry stores and manufacturing facilities, acknowledged the 39% tariff rate imposed on products from Switzerland, including a wide array of watches sold in his stores, and some uncertainly about will happen with the price tags on those and other items, he was generally upbeat when he talked with BusinessWest.

He spoke of manufacturing moving to other countries, and especially this one, and, more generally, about how his industry (and others) will respond to this latest challenge with creative efforts to continue thriving, while also minimizing the impact on their customers.

“It’s exciting to see — there’s great potential for new jobs and new opportunities,” he said of already announced plans to move some manufacturing to this country, and the promise of more. “The United States has a great deal of untapped resources when it comes to making products like jewelry here.”

While most others are not as openly optimistic and upbeat, the general tone we’re sensing is that, yes, the tariffs are just another challenge to be overcome, and they are confident that they can make the needed adjustments, whether it’s steering wine lovers toward domestic labels or finding ways to absorb or offset some of the price increases.

As we talked with several other local business owners about tariffs, most said the full impact of these measures are still matters for the future tense.

Whether it’s Swiss watches, German beers, French wines, Japanese cars, or even some construction materials, there is mostly plenty of stock in warehouses that arrived well before the tariff rates were set in stone — if they’ve actually been set in stone — for the next several months.

Meanwhile, other factors, from attractive incentives on the sale and lease of new cars to falling prices on some construction materials amid a mild slowdown, are keeping the full effects from tariffs from being felt.

The question is, for how long? Actually, that’s just one of the questions being asked — questions for which there are no real answers at this point.

But amid these questions, there is a certain amount of confidence that many of these tariff issues can be minimized through the same creativity and diligence that has seen this business community endure through a Great Recession, a pandemic, an ongoing workforce crisis, and much more.

Maybe Hannoush is right. Perhaps these tariffs will generate more manufacturing in this country, equating to more jobs and more game-changing investments in communities across the country. Maybe the negotiations will continue, tariffs will fall, and important concessions will be gained as a result.

Maybe.

In the meantime, area businesses are responding as they always do — with imagination and determination.

Setting Workplace Expectations

By Contributor
Opinion

Opinion

By Allison Ebner

Let’s be honest — every generation entering the workforce faces a little heat, and today, Gen Z is in the spotlight.

Born between 1997 and 2012, this group is full of innovation, energy, and digital smarts. But employers are noticing something else: a lack of familiarity with basic workplace etiquette. Things like missing deadlines without notice, texting during meetings, or using overly casual tone in professional emails are showing up more frequently.

But here’s the catch: it’s not just Gen Z. The pandemic blurred the lines of professionalism for everyone. From remote veterans hopping on Zoom late to leaders shooting off short emails w ith no context, we’ve all let a few workplace habits slide.

Why does this matter? Etiquette isn’t just about manners — it’s about respect, clarity, and trust. These are cornerstones of great teams, no matter your role or age. It’s clear that, as employers and HR professionals, we need to hit the reset button on workplace etiquette expectations. Here are a few suggestions on how to get this started:

• Normalize etiquette refreshers. Take five minutes in a team meeting to review expectations — like when to respond to emails or how to participate in hybrid meetings. You really do have to state the obvious’and be very specific about expectations.

• Encourage mentorship (in both directions). Pair experienced employees with new hires and invite Gen Z to share insights on communication styles and digital tools. Create work teams across generational boundaries so they can share and learn from one another.

• Make sure your leaders are modeling good behavior. Nothing is less motivating than being told to behave one way and your boss does the exact opposite. You will never make progress if your people leaders aren’t demonstrating the behaviors you want from the team.

• Define your non-negotiables and discuss them often. Every organization has them — absolute rules that cannot be broken in the workplace. One example of this is fighting or loud arguments between co-workers in our workspace. Another might be no texting during team meetings. Be clear and communicate these frequently to your entire staff.

• Incorporate etiquette standards into your performance management process and your one-on-one meetings. To demonstrate how serious you are about professional standards, tie it to compensation. Creating consequences for failing to meet these expectations will help you hold people accountable to their behavior. You can also reward great behavior as it happens by incorporating a spot bonus program using gift cards or time off.

• Create a safe space for questions. Make it easy for anyone to ask, ‘what’s the norm here?’ without fear of sounding inexperienced.

The bottom line? Workplace etiquette isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being intentional. In today’s diverse, fast-moving work environment, getting back to basics is a win for everyone. Whether you’re just starting out or leading the team, it’s always the right time to sharpen your soft skills and create a culture of trust and inclusion.

 

Allison Ebner is president of the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. This article first appeared on the EANE blog; eane.org

Springfield Puerto Rican Parade Board to Host Inaugural Parade Breakfast

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Puerto Rican Parade board invites the community to its Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff Breakfast on Friday, Sept. 12 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Wyckoff Country Club, located at 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.

This celebratory breakfast gathering will honor the start of Hispanic Heritage Month with an uplifting morning of cultural pride, community connection, and inspirational messages. The event will include breakfast, music, a guest entertainment act, and an opportunity for networking among local leaders, professionals, and community members.

Guests will hear from Springfield Puerto Rican Parade board members Ed Nuñez and Wilfredo Lopez, local community leaders, and Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, who will offer remarks recognizing the importance of Puerto Rican heritage and the contributions of the broader Latino community in Western Mass.

“Our Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff is more than just an event,” said Jayne Astacio Melendez, Springfield Puerto Rican Parade board member. “It’s a moment for us to come together, reflect on our rich culture, and celebrate the strength and unity of our community.”

This kickoff sets the stage for the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 14 in downtown Springfield.

Admission is $40 per ticket, with sponsorship-level options. For more information or to RSVP, email Jayne Melendez at [email protected].

Javier Corrales to Discuss Authoritarianism in Venezuela at Instant Issues on Sept. 10

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present its first Instant Issues lunchtime discussion of the 2025-26 program year with Javier Corrales, Dwight W. Morrow 1895 professor of Political Science and department chair of Political Science at Amherst College.

He will present “Autocracy Rising: How Venezuela Transitioned to Authoritarianism” on Wednesday, Sept. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. at 1350 Main St., ninth floor gallery, in downtown Springfield.

Corrales, a frequent World Affairs Council speaker, coined the term ‘autocratic legalism’ in 2015 to explain how Venezuela transitioned to authoritarianism by using the legal system to impose autocracy. Corrales is the author of many publications; his most recent book is Autocracy Rising: How Venezuela Transitioned to Authoritarianism, published in 2022.

Admission is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Lunches can be reserved for $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Box lunches include a choice of sandwich (turkey, tuna, roast beef, or vegetarian), deli salad, cookie, chips, and soda or water. Attendees may bring their own lunch or choose not to eat.

Registration deadline for a lunch provided is Friday, Sept. 5. Click here to register.

Glenmeadow Promotes Kelsey McDonald, Kinga Guberow, Michele Alston

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Daily News

Kelsey McDonald

LONGMEADOW — Glenmeadow Inc., a provider of senior retirement lifestyle options, announced several key leadership promotions, effective Aug. 1, that align with its continued focus on wellness and person-centered care.

Kinga Guberow

Kelsey McDonald has been promoted to assistant vice president for Health and Wellness. In this expanded role, she will continue to lead Glenmeadow’s comprehensive wellness initiatives while also overseeing Health Services and Glenmeadow at Home. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s wellness vision, and this promotion reflects confidence from Glenmeadow leadership in her ability to foster even greater integration across health and wellness programs.

Michele Alston

Kinga Guberow has been named director of Wellness. She will continue to lead all aspects of wellness and remain a highly visible and valued presence in the state-of-the-art Vitality Hub, inspiring residents and staff alike.

Michele Alston has been promoted to director of Finance. Since joining the Glenmeadow team in 2022, she has played a critical role in supporting the organization’s ongoing financial strength. In her new role, she will lead essential projects such as the annual audit and purchasing, along with the day-to-day operational needs of the finance department.

“Glenmeadow is fortunate to benefit from the leadership and vision of these exceptional women,” said Kathy Martin, Glenmeadow’s president and CEO. “I warmly welcome them into their new roles and look forward to all they will accomplish.”

BusinessWest Accepting Nominations for Women of Impact Class of 2025

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is now accepting nominations for the eighth annual Women of Impact awards. Nominations for the Women of Impact class of 2025 are due by Thursday, Sept. 4. They can be submitted at businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nominations.

In 2018, BusinessWest created the Women of Impact program as a way to honor women in the region who are making an impact and creating positive change. There are many different ways to do this. While nominees can hail from the world of business, they can also emerge from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, a combination of these — in short, the program recognizes inspirational women on any level.

For more information, call Natasha Mercado-Santana, Marketing and Events Manager, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or email [email protected].

Country Bank Welcomes Christopher Stevens as First VP, Compliance & CRA Officer

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Daily News

WARE — Country Bank announced the appointment of Christopher Stevens as its new first vice president, Compliance & CRA officer. His extensive background in regulatory compliance and community reinvestment is expected to strengthen the bank’s commitment to integrity, customer trust, and community impact.

“We are excited to welcome Christopher to the Country Bank team,” said Miriam Siegel, chief Culture & Development officer. “His extensive knowledge and expertise in compliance and CRA are already making a meaningful impact, playing a pivotal role in supporting our continued growth and our commitment to responsible banking. With decades of experience and a proven ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, Christopher’s leadership aligns seamlessly with our dedication to the communities we serve and our core values of integrity, service, teamwork, excellence, and prosperity.”

Stevens brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including his most recent role as senior associate at KPMG in Boston. There, he assisted large financial institutions with their highest-priority consumer compliance initiatives, helping clients strengthen internal audits, monitoring and testing programs, lending reviews, and regulatory remediation.

His extensive professional background includes serving as a retail branch manager, a bank compliance examiner at both state and federal agencies, and a subject matter expert in compliance. He has led numerous compliance reviews covering the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Community Reinvestment Act, truth in lending, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Flood Protection Act, fair lending, and unfair deceptive acts and practices, among others.

“I am honored to join Country Bank and contribute to its longstanding commitment to its customers and communities,” Stevens said. “I look forward to working with the talented team here to ensure we maintain the highest standards of regulatory compliance and community reinvestment.”

Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy Announces Retirement, New Roles

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy, P.C. (DWPM) announced the retirement of longtime shareholder and managing partner W. Garth Janes. The firm has also announced that Jesse Belcher-Timme and Rebecca Thibault will jointly assume the roles of managing partners.

After starting his career in Washington, D.C. at a top global law firm, Janes joined DWPM in 1988, became a shareholder at the firm in 1994, and a managing partner in 2018. At DWPM, Janes built and nurtured close, professional relationships with his business clients and represented many small family businesses that are household names in the Western Mass. area, counseling them through challenges and successes.

According to a statement provided by DWPM, “Garth’s advice was thoughtful, measured, and always informed by his commitment to his clients’ best interest. Garth served DWPM as managing partner since 2018 with grace and skill, bringing the same level of attention and concern to the firm as he does for his clients. The firm grew stronger under Garth’s steadfast leadership and clear direction. All of us at DWPM are incredibly grateful for Garth’s commitment, mentorship, and support throughout his career at DWPM. As he embarks on his next adventure, we wish him the best.”

Belcher-Timme and Thibault jointly became managing partners as of July 1. According to Thibault, “Garth’s leadership has set a high bar, but DWPM has an extraordinarily talented and passionate team of attorneys and a professional staff who are well-positioned to ensure the continued growth and success of the firm and our clients. Jesse and I are poised to continue the positive momentum forward into the future.”

Belcher-Timme has been with DWPM since 2008 and has been a shareholder since 2017. His litigation practice includes business litigation, corporate disputes, and zoning appeals in state and federal courts throughout Massachusetts. He also represents various Western Mass. municipalities.

Thibault has been with the firm since 2014 and has been a shareholder since 2021. She concentrates her practice on representing and advising businesses and institutions in corporate and transactional matters. She counsels a broad range of clients, including educational institutions, nonprofit entities, and privately held businesses in various sectors and industries. She provides counsel on a variety of corporate matters, from entity formation and corporate governance to financing, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, environmental, and general contract negotiations.

Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin Named to ‘In the Lead: Legacy Law Firms’ List

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. announced its inclusion in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s first-ever “In the Lead: Legacy Law Firms” list, honoring firms that have thrived for 25 years or more while continuing to demonstrate excellence.

Founded in 1969 by former legal services attorneys, the firm has established a strong regional presence with 18 attorneys offering deep experience in business planning, estate planning, commercial and tax-exempt financing, real estate development and permitting, litigation, bankruptcy, and more.

“We’re honored to be recognized among such a respected group of long-standing firms,” attorney Michael Fenton said. “This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to client service, legal innovation, and community engagement, values that have guided us for more than five decades.”

Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin represents individuals, family enterprises, nonprofits, and multi-national businesses throughout Western New England and Eastern New York. Known for its practical, cost-effective approach, the firm frequently employs advanced legal strategies, such as grantor-retained annuity trusts and ESOP buyouts, to help clients achieve their long-term goals.

A hallmark of the firm has been its work in government-assisted housing programs, not-for-profit law, and other complex regulatory matters, along with a commitment to serving underserved communities. Each attorney actively contributes to charitable and economic development initiatives, reflecting the firm’s deep-rooted connection to the region it serves.

“This list highlights firms that have stood the test of time,” Fenton said. “We’re proud to be counted among them, and we look forward to continuing to serve our clients and communities with the same dedication that got us here.”

MassMutual Foundation Donates $275,000 to Nonprofit Organizations

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The MassMutual Foundation has awarded $275,000 to eligible nonprofit organizations across the U.S. through its annual Community Service Award (CSA) program. These charitable contributions — which include two $25,000 awards, 15 $10,000 awards, and 15 $5,000 awards — are given in honor of financial professionals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to nonprofit organizations in their local communities.

“Last year, participating financial professionals in our CSA program donated over 8,000 hours of service to nonprofit organizations across the country,” said Dennis Duquette, president and CEO of the MassMutual Foundation. “We are proud to recognize these individuals who are making a difference in their communities and demonstrating what it means to live mutual through their volunteer efforts and dedication to the causes they support.”

This year’s two $25,000 CSA donations are being awarded to Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts in honor of Jessica Holloway with the Jamrog Group, and the Rylee Grace Foundation in honor of Mike Clark with MassMutual Northern California.

At Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts, trained volunteer coaches lead dynamic, research-based programs that combine physical activity with critical life skill development. Through fun, interactive lessons, participants build confidence, set goals, and learn to manage emotions while forming healthy friendships, preparing them to thrive in school and beyond.

The Rylee Grace Foundation is committed to raising awareness of pediatric cancer and supporting families impacted by the disease. Through partnerships with the community, the foundation provides personalized gifts, fulfills meaningful wishes for young patients, and offers financial assistance for mental health services, bringing relief, hope, and dignity during their most challenging times.

Since the program’s inception in 1997, more than 400 donations totaling more than $4.2 million have been donated to nonprofit organizations through the Community Service Award program. The CSA program is just one of a variety of philanthropic programs sponsored by the MassMutual Foundation in support of nonprofit organizations that operate where financial professionals affiliated with MassMutual live and work.

Click here for details on all 32 grants.

Greater Holyoke Chamber Files Criminal Complaint Against Former Director

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce has filed a criminal complaint with the Holyoke Police Department and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office against former Executive Director Jordan Hart for the alleged theft and misappropriation of funds.

In November, chamber leadership identified financial irregularities and initiated an internal review, led by the executive committee, over the course of several months. The investigation determined that chamber funds had been used for personal expenses by the executive director and that certain grant funds designated for specific programs were instead diverted to other purposes. Hart’s employment with the chamber was terminated in January.

Following this review, the chamber submitted its complaint to the Holyoke Police Department, and it has since been referred to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. The chamber will continue to cooperate fully with both agencies throughout the investigation.

In response to this incident, the chamber has implemented new financial oversight protocols and will continue to strengthen procedures to ensure the highest standards of fiscal accountability.

“We recognize this alleged misappropriation of funds harms the reputation of our business association, and the good work we do, and we pledge to work diligently to follow this criminal complaint to its conclusion,” Harry Montalvo, president of the chamber’s board of directors, stated in a letter to chamber members. “We will work to correct and improve oversight going forward in order to earn your renewed trust in the organization.”

He added, “while this unfortunate and painful occurrence has harmed our reputation, we believe the Holyoke Chamber represents a vital institution worthy of support from our local businesses and the community at large. In the meantime, we will continue to offer our regular programming to our membership, and we look for your continued support and engagement.”

Polish National Credit Union President, CEO James Kelly Announces Retirement

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) announced that President and CEO James Kelly will retire effective May 31, 2026, concluding a 20-year tenure of leadership. This carefully planned transition follows five years of succession planning to ensure PNCU’s continued growth and commitment to its mission.

Under Kelly’s leadership, PNCU has achieved significant milestones, including substantial growth in membership and assets, the introduction of innovative financial services, and a steadfast dedication to community engagement.

“Leading PNCU has been the honor of my life,” he said. “I am immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished and confident in the strength of our team to carry this organization forward. Our culture and shared vision will continue to guide PNCU into its next chapter.”

The PNCU board of directors has reaffirmed its commitment to the organization’s culture by exclusively considering internal candidates for the next president and CEO. This decision reflects the depth of talent within PNCU and its dedication to remaining an independent, member-focused institution. Comprehensive succession planning across all departments has cultivated a capable management team ready to lead PNCU into its next chapter. Kelly will remain actively engaged through May 2026, supporting teams, mentoring future leaders, and ensuring a seamless transition.

Jacob’s Pillow Cancels Season Following Fatal Workplace Accident

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Daily News

BECKET — Jacob’s Pillow, a dance center in the Berkshires, announced it has canceled the rest of its summer festival, which was set to run through Aug. 24, following a workplace accident that killed production manager Kat Sirico.

“The Jacob’s Pillow board of trustees and institutional leadership has decided that Festival 2025 will not continue. We have come to this difficult decision following the tragic accident on our campus on August 1. Ticket buyers affected by the cancellations will receive refunds,” the organization stated. “For 93 years, Jacob’s Pillow has been a haven for dance and a community dedicated to its creation, presentation, education, and preservation. We look forward to welcoming audiences back to our campus.”

Attorney Paula Almgren Writes Rulebook on Eldercare

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Daily News

LENOX — Attorney Paula Almgren, founder of Berkshire Law Group, is the author of a new book, Eldercare the Rules — Navigating the Legal, Financial, Medical, Housing and Care Maze, published by Laurel Ridge Press.

More than 37 million Americans are providing unpaid eldercare for someone, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Almgren has not only seen it firsthand with her own clients as an estate planning, elder law and life care attorney, but lived it with own late mother, who died of Alzheimer’s disease. The experience so transformed her life and law practice she was inspired to write the rulebook on eldercare.

“There is so much misinformation out there when it comes to what families really need to know regarding legal, financial, medical, housing, and care issues, which in my book are all a part of the eldercare maze,” Almgren said. “On top of that, it can be an emotional, scary, and very confusing time for everyone involved.”

Berkshire Hills, Brookline Reveal New Name for Merged Bank

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Daily News

BOSTON — Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Brookline Bancorp announced their merged entity will operate as Beacon Financial Corp. and Beacon Bank following completion of their merger of equals expected in the third quarter of 2025.

The combined holding company will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol BBT. The legal name of the merged bank will be Beacon Bank & Trust, commonly referred to as Beacon Bank, according to the press release statement.

Paul Perrault, chairman and CEO of Brookline Bancorp, who will serve as CEO of the combined company, said the merger will create a financial institution with local roots and a broad footprint. David Brunelle, chairperson of Berkshire Hills Bancorp who will continue as chairperson of the combined entity’s board, added that the new name honors both legacy institutions while looking toward the future.

The merger remains subject to regulatory approvals and normal closing conditions. Berkshire Hills operates with $12.0 billion in assets and 83 branches, while Brookline Bancorp holds $11.6 billion in assets with locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York’s Lower Hudson Valley.

Following the merger’s completion, customers will continue to be served under the existing Berkshire Bank, Brookline Bank, Bank Rhode Island, and PCSB Bank brands operating as divisions of Beacon Bank & Trust. The companies plan a full transition to the Beacon Bank brand alongside banking systems integration in the first quarter of 2026.

Both companies’ boards of directors unanimously approved the Beacon Bank name and logo design, which incorporates navy and gold colors representing each institution’s legacy branding.

MP CPAs Promotes Tim LaFalam to Senior Tax Manager

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Daily News

Tim LaFalam

SPRINGFIELD — MP CPAs recently announced the promotion of Tim LaFalam to senior tax manager at the firm. He provides planning and tax solutions to a diverse group of clients including individuals, estates, trusts, corporations, and partnerships. He specializes in working closely with high-net-worth clients, as well as private equity firms and their owners.

LaFalam joined the firm as an intern in 2015 and started full-time in 2016. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Western New England University (WNE), and leads the firm’s efforts in continuing a mentoring and recruiting relationship with WNE. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

LaFalam is treasurer of Link to Libraries and has also taken the lead in many fundraising and community service activities in which MP CPAs participates, including coordinating the firm’s annual United Way pledge, South Park Inn program, and Children’s Study Home secret Santa.

New Valley Bank Welcomes Maureen Buxton to Sixteen Acres Office

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Daily News

Maureen Buxton

SPRINGFIELD — New Valley Bank & Trust announced the addition of Maureen Buxton to its team at the Sixteen Acres office. With more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry, she brings a strong track record of customer service and leadership within community banks throughout the region.

Throughout her career, Buxton has held both frontline and management positions, consistently demonstrating a commitment to providing exceptional service and building lasting relationships with customers. Her deep understanding of community banking and dedication to customer care make her a valuable addition to New Valley Bank & Trust as it continues its growth.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is a longtime community volunteer. Her current and past civic roles include treasurer of Cigars for Soldiers, member of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, chairperson of the Chicopee Parks and Recreation Commission, and member of the board of directors for the Chicopee Athletic Hall of Fame.

“We are excited to welcome Maureen to the New Valley Bank team,” said J. Jeffrey Sullivan, president of New Valley Bank & Trust. “Her experience, leadership, and community involvement embody the values the define our bank. We look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our customers and our team.”

HCC Welcomes Richard Tremblay as Assistant Vice President

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Daily News

Richard Tremblay

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Richard Tremblay as its assistant vice president of People and Talent.

In his new role, Tremblay oversees the office of People and Talent, formerly known as Human Resources, part of the division of People, Culture, and Equity.

He comes to HCC with more than two decades of experience in human resources, most recently as Human Resources manager for Prefere Melamines LLC in Springfield. Before that, he served as director of Human Resources at Helix Human Services, formerly the Children’s Study Home, in Springfield, and senior Human Resource administrator at Square One in Springfield. He has also taught psychology at American International College as an adjunct professor. He started his position at HCC on July 28.

“I’m passionate about education,” Tremblay said. “My background and my strengths are in training and professional development; working for an institution like HCC complements all of that. The opportunity to bring the many years of experience I have in the field to Holyoke Community College, honestly, is my ultimate dream job.”

Tremblay holds a master’s degree in human resource development from American International College and a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Northern Michigan University. He is also a certified life coach and recently completed training with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination in conducting internal investigations and handling discrimination complaints.

“Rick’s life mission is to create a culture of service, empowerment, leadership, and fun in the workplace,” said Marlowe Washington, HCC’s vice president of People, Culture, and Equity. “His new mantra in higher education is ‘happy employees equal happy students.’”

BusinessWest Accepting Nominations for Women of Impact Class of 2025

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is now accepting nominations for the eighth annual Women of Impact awards. Nominations for the Women of Impact class of 2025 are due by Thursday, Sept. 4. They can be submitted at businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nominations.

In 2018, BusinessWest created the Women of Impact program as a way to honor women in the region who are making an impact and creating positive change. There are many different ways to do this. While nominees can hail from the world of business, they can also emerge from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, a combination of these — in short, the program recognizes inspirational women on any level.

For more information, call Natasha Mercado-Santana, Marketing and Events Manager, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or email [email protected].

Attorney Daryl Johnson Joins Pullman & Comley’s Springfield Office

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Daily News

Daryl Johnson

SPRINGFIELD — Attorney Daryl Johnson has joined Pullman & Comley, LLC as an associate in the firm’s Real Estate and Business and Finance practices. She will be based in Pullman & Comley’s Springfield office.

Johnson has nearly a decade of experience in real estate and corporate law and has guided clients through complex property deals, contract negotiations, and corporate structuring.

Prior to joining Pullman & Comley, she was with the Western Mass. firm Fitzgerald Law, where she handled all aspects of commercial and residential real estate, including representation of buyers, sellers, borrowers, and lenders, including. but not limited to, private financing and lending, seller financing, refinances, 1031 exchanges, and SBA 504 debentures.

Johnson’s experience also includes drafting and reviewing purchase and sale agreements, leases, and corporate governance documents, as well as conducting title reviews and resolving title issues in collaboration with national title insurance underwriters.

Earlier in her career, she was an associate attorney at the Springfield firm Bacon Wilson, gaining valuable experience advising individuals, real estate investors, and commercial lenders on matters involving real estate transactions, corporate formation and governance, and selling and purchasing real estate from trusts and estates. She began her legal career serving as general counsel to Shelton Brothers Importers, a beer importer in Belchertown.

Johnson became a corporate board member of the YMCA of Greater Springfield in 2024 and was a trustee for the Springfield International Charter School from 2018 to 2024. She is also a participant and fundraiser for the annual Syrup Stampede, which benefits Empty Arms Bereavement.

She earned her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Elms College, and received her juris doctorate, cum laude, from UMass Law School.