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Year: 2025

bankESB Hires Christopher Scott as Vice President, Commercial Lending

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Daily News

Christopher Scott

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently hired Christopher Scott as vice president, Commercial Lending, based at its 241 Northampton St., Easthampton office.

Scott has 12 years of banking experience. He was previously commercial lender at PeoplesBank and, before that, credit analyst at TD Bank. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of commercial lending relationships. He will work closely with businesses to understand their financial needs, structure customized lending solutions, and provide expert guidance on credit and banking services. He will play a key role in driving business development, fostering community relationships, and contributing to the overall growth strategy at bankESB.

Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from UMass Amherst. He also earned a certificate in credit analysis from TD Bank University and attended the Leadership Institute through the Springfield Regional Chamber. He is currently a board member of the American Cancer Society’s Massachusetts Golf Classic.

Bulkley Richardson Welcomes Three Summer Associates

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Bulkley Richardson recently welcomed three law students to its 2025 Summer Associate Program. The robust program introduces law students to the inner workings of a law firm, where they receive mentorship from lawyers ranging from firm leaders and retired judges all the way through the ranks to junior associates, and gain exposure to real-life legal matters.

Sylvia Labbe is currently attending Suffolk University Law School as a trustee academic scholar, where she serves as a senior staffer on the Transnational Law Review, as well as executive board member of the Labor & Employment Assoc. (treasurer) and Intellectual Property Law Assoc. (treasurer). She was a 2024 summer associate at a Boston-area law firm. This past winter, she was honored with the title of Best Oral Advocate at the Transnational Law Review Moot Court. Labbe earned a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and political science from UMass Amherst.

Gabriela Peterson, currently attending Vermont Law & Graduate School, is Head Notes Editor of the Vermont Law Review and a member of the Williams Institute moot court team on gender and sexuality law. She has held the positions of legal intern at an independent news organization and 2024 summer associate at a law firm, both in Washington, D.C. Peterson earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and political science from Monmouth College, where she received several honors for academic excellence.

Devan Ravino, currently attending the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, is a Daniel Webster scholar and member of the Moot Court, Trademarks Team, and Women’s Student Law Assoc. She interned at the Civil Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. Ravino majored in art history and economics, magna cum laude, at Mount Holyoke College.

“Bulkley Richardson’s Summer Associate Program has introduced the firm to stellar associate candidates over recent years, and this year’s class is no exception,” said Mike Roundy, chair of the firm’s hiring committee. “We have three exceptional law students who have already demonstrated their passion for the law, and we look forward to contributing to their legal careers as they take shape.”

Pickleball Tournament on July 20 to Benefit Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity

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Daily News

WESTFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) announced a pickleball tournament open to players of all skill levels on Sunday, July 20 at the Picklr, 415 East Main St., in the Westfield Shops.

From noon to 4 p.m., seasoned players and rookies alike will play ‘king of the court’ three-person-style. Tickets cost $40 each, which includes prizes, snacks and refreshments, and swag bags. All are welcome to participate or spectate. To purchase tickets, visit habitatspringfield.org.

“We are excited to be hosting this event,” said Aimee Giroux, GSHFH executive director. “The staff at the Picklr has been educating us on all things pickleball and helping us to ensure a fun and lively event while raising awareness and supporting our construction programs.”

MicroTek Inc. Awarded Grant for ESOL Classes

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — MicroTek Inc., a nonprofit wire component manufacturer that provides employment support to individuals with disabilities, was awarded a Workforce Training Fund grant to provide workplace classes in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) to its employees.

The ESOL training will directly support the company’s mission to foster an inclusive and empowering work environment. These courses will equip employees with the English communication skills needed to excel in their roles, contributing to the production of high-quality, cutting-edge cable and assembly work for industries around the world.

By enhancing understanding of workplace-specific vocabulary, including safety protocols, machinery, products, and procedures, the training ensures all employees can meet the company’s high standards while feeling confident and valued in their contributions. Aligned with MicroTek’s vision of creating an inclusive society, this training emphasizes building employees’ confidence to communicate openly with peers, managers, vendors, and customers. Participants will be better prepared to share their ideas, provide feedback, and take on leadership opportunities, furthering MicroTek’s commitment to respect, responsibility, and meaningful employment for all.

This project is funded by a Workforce Training Fund grant from Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The grant program is administered by Commonwealth Corp. MicroTek partnered with English for New Bostonians and Valley Opportunity Council for the training program design and execution, including initial assessment of the employees’ English language levels, delivery of the English classes, and achievement of the training goals.

BusinessTalk with Amy Royal, CEO, the Royal Law Firm

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Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

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

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 235: May 26, 2025

BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Amy Royal, CEO, the Royal Law Firm

Employers are dealing with plenty of changes these days, whether it’s mandates from the state or policy shifts at the federal level, impacting everything from disability and leave to discrimination and DEI efforts. Employment lawyers have an even greater challenge: processing those changes and helping their business clients craft policies that both keep them out of trouble and build positive, healthy workplace cultures. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Amy Royal, CEO of the Royal Law Firm, talks with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about the many shapes these changes and challenges take, and why it’s gratifying to help clients navigate these shifting tides and grow their operations. It’s must listening, so tune into BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.

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GZA GeoEnvironmental Professionals Earn New Wildlife Biology Certifications

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc., a multi-disciplinary firm providing geotechnical, environmental, ecological, water, and construction management services, announced that two staff professionals have earned premier wildlife biology credentials that will bolster GZA’s ability to support clients with a wide range of ecological capabilities.

GZA Senior Biologist Robin Casioppo recently became a certified wildlife biologist (CWB), and Ecologist Susanna Sousa became an associate wildlife biologist (AWB), certifications overseen and awarded by the Wildlife Society. Both are based in GZA’s Springfield office and serve clients throughout New England and the nation.

The CWB and AWB certifications document that the credential holders have met the society’s standards for professional experience, ethical standards, and educational attainment. The society has qualified a total of 1,900 CWBs and 400 AWBs throughout the U.S.

“On behalf of all of their colleagues, I want to congratulate Robin and Susanna for all the work they have done to earn these prestigious credentials,” GZA Springfield District Office Manager Guy Dalton said. “They will help GZA provide specialized support to our clients by evaluating the impact of projects on wildlife populations, identifying rare and threatened species native to project sites, and supporting compliance with applicable laws and regulations, designing and implementing habitat protection and restoration projects, and much more.”

Casioppo, who earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from Plymouth State University and a master’s degree in environmental studies with a concentration in conservation biology from Antioch New England University, is a professional wetland scientist. Sousa earned a bachelor’s degree in conservation in wildlife management from Delaware Valley University, a master’s degree in environmental studies with a concentration in conservation biology from Antioch New England University, and a certified ecologist professional certification from the Ecological Society of America.

Springfield Thunderbirds Announce Four Staff Hires, Promotions

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds announced new front office hires to the team’s award-winning staff heading into the 2025-26 AHL season.

Joe Manning and Lorenzo Stisser have been promoted to account executives in the team’s ticket sales department, while Nina Liquori and Brianna Carroll have joined the organization as inside sales specialists.

Manning is entering his second season in the organization after serving as an inside sales specialist during the 2024-25 season. He also interned for the team in the 2023-24 season in the team’s sales and communications departments. He is a 2024 graduate of Springfield College, where he played three seasons for the school’s club hockey program.

Stisser joins the organization full-time after serving on the team’s game night staff and the inside sales department over the past two seasons. He graduated from Springfield College this month and was a member of the school’s men’s gymnastics program.

Liquori joins the Thunderbirds as an inside sales specialist after graduating from Southern New Hampshire University, where she played on the school’s women’s lacrosse team.

Carroll also joins as an inside sales specialist after graduating this month from Western New England University, where she played on WNE’s women’s soccer team.

PeoplesBank Awards $10,000 to Springfield Library Summer Reading Program

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Library Foundation and PeoplesBank announced a $10,000 grant from the bank to support the Springfield City Library’s Summer Reading Program.

Thanks to this grant, this year’s program, called Level Up at Your Library, will feature greatly expanded activities for children and other users throughout the city of Springfield at the library’s nine locations as well as with other community partners.

“We are very grateful to PeoplesBank for their stalwart support of the library,” said Matt Blumenfeld, executive director of the Springfield Library Foundation. “PeoplesBank’s investment matches funds that come directly from the Library Foundation and will provide the City Library with critical resources to expand outreach and impact of this vital and fun program.”

Added Rachel Gravel, the library’s manager of Adult & Youth Information Services, “this summer, our mantra is ‘one million reading minutes.’ We have set an ambitious goal and want to increase participation in the program to 3,000 children, youth, and adults this summer.”

Matt Bannister, PeoplesBank’s senior vice president of Corporate Responsibility, formally presented the grant to the Springfield Library Foundation.

“Our commitment to the community is demonstrated through volunteerism and financial support, and we see this grant as an investment in encouraging and inspiring new generations of lifelong learners and readers,” he said. “We are proud to support the Library Foundation and, in turn, the City Library to expand their reach and impact.”

The Summer Reading Program will host all-ages kickoff events throughout June, with a system-wide Adult Summer Reading Kick-off party on Thursday, June 12 at the Mason Square Branch. The program will conclude with a big all-ages, city-wide End of Summer Celebration on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Among the many activities made possible by PeoplesBank’s grant will be music classes, musical petting zoos, story city series, mobile arcade, VR experiences, RPG and board game clubs, bingo, and escape rooms. Children and teens will get a free book of their choice with sign-up, and there will be weekly prizes and celebrations throughout the summer as participants track minutes read to reach the one million minutes goal. All participation is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.springfieldlibrary.org.

Monson Savings Bank Supports Salvation Army Housing Assistance Program

By
Daily News

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank continued giving back to the communities it serves by donating $5,000 to the Salvation Army’s Ware/Monson Area Housing Assistance Program. This contribution will directly assist local individuals and families experiencing housing instability, helping them stay in their homes and avoid homelessness.

The donation was presented by Dan Moriarty, Monson Savings Bank’s president and CEO, and Heather Arbour, vice president BSA/Fraud officer and Compliance manager and longtime Salvation Army volunteer, to Wilfred Leslie, Service Extension director for the Salvation Army’s Massachusetts Division. The funds will be used to support residents in the bank’s communities by providing assistance with rent, utilities, and emergency housing needs.

“At Monson Savings Bank, we are deeply committed to helping our neighbors in need,” Moriarty said. “We understand how important it is to feel safe and secure in your home. Through this donation, we’re proud to help ease the burden for individuals and families who are facing financial hardships. The Salvation Army is a critical partner in these efforts, and we are honored to support the meaningful work they do.”

Leslie expressed his sincere appreciation to the bank. “This support from Monson Savings Bank allows us to do more for the people who need it most. This donation will go a long way in helping families stay in their homes during times of crisis. We are grateful for the bank’s dedication to community well-being and for being an ally in our mission.”

North Star Technology Leadership Demystifies IT for Clients

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Michael Weber says he eases anxiety around AI while giving businesses real tools and strategies to use it.
Features

A Whole New World

 

Michael Weber says he eases anxiety around AI while giving businesses real tools and strategies to use it.

Michael Weber says he eases anxiety around AI while giving businesses real tools and strategies to use it.

 

After 20 years building a successful commercial printing business, Michael Weber stopped the presses and took a step into his future — both his own and that of the changing role of business IT.

The printing story begins around 2004, when Weber and his wife, Lindsey, who were living in Boston at the time, had the opportunity to buy Minuteman Press in Enfield, Conn. So they moved to this region and began to grow that business, eventually expanding it to two more locations in Springfield and Brattleboro, Vt., with numerous employees at all three sites.

When Weber received an offer to sell the company in late 2023, he was intrigued.

“The business had changed a lot over 20 years, and I thought it was an interesting opportunity and an interesting time to do something new. So that’s what we did,” he told BusinessWest. “We accepted the offer and took some time off. We traveled with the kids and tried to enjoy life the best we could for a little while — knowing that I needed to get back to work at some point.”

Before his two decades in the printing world, Weber earned a degree in management information systems at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and built a career as a middleware engineer, and had kept his finger on the pulse of IT since. His idea for a second career was to become a fractional chief technology officer (CTO), someone who offers technology leadership and expertise to client companies on a contract basis.

That’s how his current enterprise, North Star Technology Leadership, was born.

“I have a unique skill set in the sense that I understand technology, but I also understand business. So I can talk to business owners about their technology in a way that’s very different than most technology people can,” he explained. “Most technology people are so focused on the bits and the bytes and those kinds of things, but the business people just want the technology to work right. As somebody who’s been on both sides, I feel like I can bring that to the table more clearly than so many other technology companies.”

He chose the name of his firm purposefully. “I wanted to make it clear that I’m not competing with those other technology companies, those managed service providers that come in to fix your computer. I don’t want to do that. I could fix your computer if that’s what I needed to do, but I’m trying to provide leadership and an understanding of technology.

“I have a unique skill set in the sense that I understand technology, but I also understand business. So I can talk to business owners about their technology in a way that’s very different than most technology people can.”

“I felt like part of doing that meant I had to be sitting next to the CEO of the company and not across the table, and the only way I can do that is if I don’t sell anything other than myself,” he went on. “So I don’t sell any products, and I don’t accept commissions. I’m not competing with that MSP who’s already selling hardware and software to the client.”

But the needs Weber does meet are significant, particularly for companies that don’t have a CTO. North Star’s services fall into a few broad buckets, including technology leadership and management; technology roadmap and alignment with business objectives; technology staff and vendor management; and risk, security, and compliance management.

One example of a specific service is a technology stack review. “That’s just understanding what do they have, and is it working, or is it not working? Often, they’ve been doing a process for 15 or 20 years because that’s how they’ve always done it, and nobody’s ever looked at it and said, ‘this is not the efficient way to do it.’

“One of my clients was doing a payroll export from their payroll software into Microsoft Excel and then manipulating that data file for about two hours every payroll period to get it into a format they needed. I was able to automate that task and turn it into, like, 25 seconds. That’s a huge savings,” he explained. “That’s not uncommon, and it’s not his fault that he didn’t know how to make those changes because he’s not a technology person.”

 

Mindset Shift

One major focus with clients lately — and for the foreseeable future — is the role of artificial intelligence in myriad businesses and industries.

“The biggest concern seems to be understanding the data policy and what is happening with their data. You have employees who are scared of AI as a concept. You have a lot of business owners who don’t understand it, but want to understand it, and they don’t know who to turn to. So I’m providing that level of knowledge and guidance for them,” Weber explained.

“In terms of using AI, the easy ways are using it to rewrite your email to make it more clear and concise, or using it to build your PowerPoint presentation deck that you need to pass off to a client, or using it for data analytics. All those things are really low-hanging fruit, and we can show their staff how to actually engage and use these things in a productive manner that doesn’t have gigantic bills behind it, and is just there to make their day easier and more efficient.”

“You have employees who are scared of AI as a concept. You have a lot of business owners who don’t understand it, but want to understand it, and they don’t know who to turn to. So I’m providing that level of knowledge and guidance for them.”

After he conducts presentations on current uses of AI in the workplace, he noted, “they’re understanding it better, and they’re saying, ‘oh that’s not so scary,’ or ‘yes I can do that better.’ Because it is an amazing technology, and it’s a whole mindset shift in how you’re using it because it’s not just a Google search window. There’s so much more to it and so much more feedback it can provide to you — if you understand the right questions to ask and how to use it.”

Whatever the issue, Weber says he has found a niche in a landscape where many mid-sized businesses — he typically works with firms between $5 million and $50 million in annual revenue, in a wide range of sectors — don’t have this expertise in-house.

“It has to be companies that are interested in growth because you’re not going to bring in somebody as a fractional CTO if you’re just kind of plodding along and doing OK. You’re interested in growing your company, and now you’re looking for those efficiencies to make everything work better. That’s the space I’m filling.”

Since opening North Star last September, Weber has seen a steady influx of clients. He noted that the field isn’t as competitive as one might think.

“There are a lot of fractional CFOs,” he said, referring to the financial side of a business. “Companies will go, ‘accounting is important, and I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, and I need a guy.’ So they bring in a person to fill that role. So a fractional CFO is a very common thing.

“A fractional CTO is very uncommon,” he went on. “I don’t think I’ve met another one in this area. Again, I think I’m unique by bringing the technology and the business sense together, which creates a unique situation.”

 

Change Agent

Weber also appreciates that he’s able to lessen anxiety — for both business owners and employees — around the changing face of IT, and especially AI.

“Obviously, people get scared whenever there’s change, and that is understandable,” he said, while noting that today’s students may be preparing for high-tech jobs that don’t exist yet, while other careers will fade away. “People need to be aware of both those sides. I mean, if I was a young person today and I was graduating high school or college, I would want to know what’s not going to exist and what is still going to exist in a period of years.

“I was doing an AI presentation the other day, and a woman was talking, and she has a son who’s in high school, and he wants to be a plumber. His job is safe for now. That’s not going anywhere anytime soon,” he noted. “For somebody like him, AI is just an asset because it can help answer questions and provide guidance, but the actual work of a plumber is still going to be done by a human. It’s not being replaced by AI anytime soon.”

For many other jobs and industries, the outlook is less certain, but Weber is optimistic that he can steer clients toward growth and opportunity as they grapple with all the coming changes.

“I owned a small business for a long time, with employees and multiple locations. And now I have the opportunity to help businesses in different manner,” he said. “I’m having a lot of fun, and my clients seem to be really enjoying engaging with me and having this conversation. So it’s working out really well.”

At the end of the day, Weber added, he loves helping and teaching people, demystifying the role of IT, and seeing the impact he can make on a growing pool of clients.

“It’s like I was saying before — I’m kind of a unicorn in the sense that I can talk about technology in a way that regular people understand. And that is rare. You find a lot of really smart IT people that you wouldn’t want to have a coffee with because you couldn’t understand them. And you find a lot of amazing business people that don’t know anything about their technology, but they need to. So I can bridge that gap for them, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Ted Hebert Reflects on 50 Years of Teddy Bear Pools & Spas

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Ted Hebert says his story has been one of being knocked down and always getting back up.
Features

Deep Dive

Ted Hebert says his story has been one of being knocked down and always getting back up.

Ted Hebert says his story has been one of being knocked down and always getting back up.

 

As Teddy Bear Pools & Spas marks its 50th anniversary this year, it’s safe to say most in the business community have read — in this publication and others over the years — Ted Hebert’s story of humble beginnings, perseverance through severe challenges, and current status as not only one of the region’s venerable business owners, but a strong supporter of area nonprofits.

But ask him what the milestone means, and he says, “I don’t see the significance of 50 years.”

That’s not because he lacks gratitude or perspective on his career — he certainly has both — but for him, when he thinks about the work itself, he’s actually been doing it for closer to 60 years, starting as a gofer at a pool store at age 14.

“That developed over about three years. I started to become a pool installer. The above-ground pool would be dropped off at someone’s house, and my late friend Kenny and I would go and build a pool. Back then, we used to hand-dig the above-ground pool. We used to wheelbarrow the dirt into the backyard. We’d even do two pools a day. We’d work from maybe 6, 7 in the morning to 8, 9, 10 at night. I remember working on pools in the dark.”

His own work is, obviously, much less physically strenuous now, but those early years gave Hebert an appreciation for his employees that he’s quick to express.

“I guess I don’t realize the reality of 50 years because I don’t have a job. This isn’t work for me. I mean it sincerely. My employees are my extended family,” he said, noting that some have been with him for decades, and some are second-generation team members.

“Many times, people will say to me, ‘I can’t wait to retire.’ But I do not work — I love what I do. I’m not here for the money. Teddy Bear Pools is my home away from home. I get enough free time, but in May and June, I try to be here almost seven days a week because I want to see my customers.

“I’ve achieved every goal that I could ever think of. I’ve achieved fantasies. I’ve been on top of the mountain. But I’ve also been on the very bottom, with betrayal by close friends, people that I trusted, people in my wedding party. I’ve had a lot of really low points in my life.”

“I built someone’s pool 30, 40, 50 years ago, and now their kids are coming in,” he added. “I call every customer that buys an above ground-pool, a spa, or even a liner, and I call to thank them personally.”

That gratitude extends to his own journey, which has seen both highs and lows (more on that later), but has also been marked by hard work, dogged persistence, and faith.

“I’m a survivor,” he said. “I think, being in business, you need to be a survivor. A lot of people can’t. It’s a challenge, but if you’re up to the challenge, it’s going to be very exciting.”

 

Into the Deep End

Hebert has told the story of how he wanted to become a doctor, but didn’t have the money for medical school, so he eventually started his own pool company from the carport of his parents’ home. Although the original name he chose for his business was Custom Pools by Ted, his mother suggested he use his childhood nickname of ‘Teddy Bear,’ a play on the French pronunciation of Ted Hebert.

By 1976, Teddy Bear had grown enough to allow Hebert to rent a former car-wash bay on Memorial Drive in Chicopee and turn it into a storefront. When the property was foreclosed upon three years later, he purchased a run-down former car dealership in a dilapidated building on East Street in Chicopee, which remains his address today.

The East Street store wasn’t always surrounded by display pools, as this photo from around 1980 shows.

The East Street store wasn’t always surrounded by display pools, as this photo from around 1980 shows.

In the early years, the business grew steadily, but he suffered two major setbacks during the 1980s in the form of employee betrayal and mismanagement. The first event occurred in 1986 when an audit undercovered $1.2 million of money and goods not accounted for, and the second took place while he was on his honeymoon in 1987. When he returned, he found an additional $200,000 of money and goods missing.

“I’ve been embezzled twice, but I never went bankrupt,” he recalled. “I went back to church, and I prayed to God to help me through this. I worked seven days a week, living at home with my mom. I was like 35. It took me a few years, but I paid off everybody.”

Those times have instilled in him an appreciation for the success that followed.

“I’ve achieved every goal that I could ever think of. I’ve achieved fantasies. I’ve been on top of the mountain. But I’ve also been on the very bottom, with betrayal by close friends, people that I trusted, people in my wedding party. I’ve had a lot of really low points in my life.”

And with that appreciation of his journey, Hebert was even more determined to redirect his own success back on his community. In 2022, he was honored by BusinessWest as a Difference Maker, for his many years of giving back to the community, not just by writing checks to nonprofits (though he does a lot of that), but by sitting on boards and volunteering at fundraising events.

He and his wife, Barbara — who, it should be noted, is an equal partner in all this community service — give time and money to many different types of organizations, but have a special place in their hearts for animal welfare. For example, as a longtime supporter of Second Chance Animal Services (whose CEO, Sheryl Blancato, was also named a Difference Maker this year), Teddy Bear hosts two rabies and parvo vaccination clinics each year for the nonprofit, helping hundreds of pet owners access free or very low-cost services.

Barbara Hebert said some of their civic work hits close to home, as with their support of Camp Words Unspoken, a program for kids who stutter — an issue Ted overcame in his youth, and that Barbara still sometimes struggles with.

“We’re not saying that you have to do as much as us, but if everybody gave a little bit, it would make the world a better place.”

“Between the company and our personal ability, it’s nice to just give back,” she said. “We’re not saying that you have to do as much as us, but if everybody gave a little bit, it would make the world a better place. There are people we know that don’t take the time. They say they’re too busy. We are too, but we make time.”

Ted said his mother, who grew up humbly in the Great Depression, instilled in him a love for identifying needs and meeting them.

“It feels great to give. Whether it be money or time. I can’t explain it. I just love giving to people. So we have the opportunity to sponsor teams, sponsor golf tournaments, be involved in local charities, award scholarships for different programs.”

In recent years, the couple established Ted and Barbara Hebert Charitable Ventures, a 501(c)(3) entity, through which they also give to charity.

“We want to give away our money to help others — furry friends and people young and old — while we’re alive,” Ted said. “It’s not like we have millions of dollars, but we have more money than the average person. So we’re very blessed and very humbled to give some of that money away while we’re alive. We love it.”

 

A Story Worth Telling

Hebert has also done plenty of motivational speaking over the years — again, quite the accomplishment for someone who once fought a stutter — though he likes to use the term ‘inspirational speaking’ instead.

“I cannot motivate you. In my opinion, motivation is from within,” he said. “But I want to inspire you. If I can inspire you, that motivation may come awake. When I used to do speaking, people would say, ‘you’re an inspirational speaker. You inspired me to do things.’

“And that’s my goal in life: to inspire people to do better for all people, all living creatures, to make this a better world — starting with your family, then in your community, your country, and the world. Because time is infinite. I don’t know when it started or when it’s going to end. My life on this earth is a speck of time. And I’m hoping to make it a better place. Because I will die, and I hope I have more pluses than minuses.”

Teddy Bear Pools & Spas has certainly experienced more of the former, despite challenges ranging from the aforementioned employee betrayals to a number of economic downturns that tend to dampen the sales outlook for luxury items, including pools.

“If you’re going to be in business, you’d better have thick skin, you’ve got to have perseverance, and you’ve got to plan ahead,” Hebert said. “I’ve always put money away for rainy days in the business.

“But I’ve been very blessed and lucky,” he added. “It’s like a boxer getting knocked down. I won a lot of championships. But I’ve been knocked down many times, and instead of quitting or throwing in the towel, I got back up.”

These days, he still shows up in the ring — er, the store — most days, simply because he enjoys running this business that has defined his life, and he enjoys helping customers and supporting employees.

“I’m only as good as my employees; they’re your greatest asset or your greatest liability,” he said. “I know it sounds common, but I try to treat people like I want to be treated. And I’ve been blessed.”

Lessons from Our First Year Owning a Car Wash

By Contributor
Clean Queen Car Wash owners Nicole and Rich Sherwood.
Autos

Progress Report

By Nicole Sherwood and Rich Sherwood

Clean Queen Car Wash owners Nicole and Rich Sherwood.

Clean Queen Car Wash owners Nicole and Rich Sherwood.

When we took over Clean Queen Car Wash in Holyoke a year ago, we knew we were in for an adventure. We had the skills — Rich, with his deep experience in automotive repair, and me, with my background in customer success and business operations. But no amount of preparation fully equips you for the real experience of running a business together as a couple.

Reflecting on our first year, we’ve seen incredible growth, faced unexpected challenges, and learned more than we could have imagined. Here are five things we did well — and five things we wish we had done better.

 

Five Things We Did Well

Customer Experience First. From day one, we prioritized a high-quality wash and detailing service. We listened to customer feedback and made adjustments to improve efficiency and satisfaction. The result? A growing base of loyal customers. We also introduced additional services, like family pricing and express interior detailing, to create long-term value and repeat business.

Investing in the Right Equipment. We quickly realized that outdated or poorly maintained equipment leads to inefficiencies and downtime. Investing in high-quality tools, staying on top of repairs, and proactively maintaining the machinery have minimized disruptions. A single breakdown can cost us hundreds in lost revenue, so preventive maintenance has been a key factor in keeping things running smoothly.

“A single breakdown can cost us hundreds in lost revenue, so preventive maintenance has been a key factor in keeping things running smoothly.”

Marketing and Social Media Presence. We made a strong push on social media with promotions, giveaways, and engaging content. This helped us gain traction in the community and bring in new customers, especially through targeted Facebook ads and seasonal campaigns. Our fall-themed ads and winter promotions helped drive membership sales and increase awareness of the dangers of salt buildup on vehicles.

Building Community Relationships. Hosting fundraisers, supporting local organizations, and engaging with the community has strengthened our brand and built goodwill. One of our proudest moments was raising $500 for Holyoke Youth Football. We’ve also worked with local businesses for cross-promotions, helping expand our reach while supporting others in the area.

Learning Every Aspect of the Business. Rich made it his mission to understand the ins and outs of the car wash. From mechanical repairs to customer service, knowing every aspect has allowed us to be hands-on owners and troubleshoot problems quickly. I focused on streamlining operations, improving customer retention strategies, and refining our service offerings. This hands-on approach has allowed us to stay lean and maximize profitability.

 

Five Things We Wish We Did Better

Work-life Balance. Running a business as a couple means work follows you home. We often found ourselves discussing operations at dinner or on weekends, which led to burnout at times. Setting clear work-life boundaries earlier — such as designated ‘no-business’ hours — would have helped us recharge and avoid unnecessary stress.

Financial Planning for Unexpected Costs. While we had a budget, unexpected repairs and maintenance issues caught us off guard. For example, when a major piece of equipment broke down unexpectedly, we had to scramble to cover the repair costs. A larger emergency fund from the start would have reduced financial stress and allowed us to handle surprises more smoothly.

Hiring and Delegation. We took on too much ourselves in the beginning. Trying to manage every detail left us stretched thin. Learning to delegate and trust employees sooner would have helped us focus on growth rather than just daily operations. We now understand the importance of hiring the right people and providing clear training to ensure the business runs smoothly without us having to be there 24/7.

“We took on too much ourselves in the beginning. Trying to manage every detail left us stretched thin. Learning to delegate and trust employees sooner would have helped us focus on growth rather than just daily operations.”

Better Systems for Membership and Promotions. Our unlimited membership program is a great value, but in the early months, we struggled with managing renewals, tracking customer accounts, and efficiently promoting it. Implementing a more robust system from the start would have saved us headaches and provided a better experience for our customers.

Clearer Communication as Business Partners. Running a business together is different from a personal relationship. We had to learn to separate emotions from business decisions and communicate more effectively about expectations and responsibilities. Early on, miscommunications sometimes led to frustration, but over time, we developed a clearer structure for dividing tasks and making decisions together.

 

Looking Ahead

Our first year was full of lessons, and while we’ve made mistakes, we’ve also built something we’re incredibly proud of. We’ve increased our customer base, established a strong local presence, and created a business that continues to grow. As we move into our second year, we’re focusing on scaling, refining our processes, and continuing to provide top-notch service to our customers in Holyoke and beyond.

To fellow entrepreneurs — especially couples diving into business together — our advice is simple: plan for the unexpected, communicate openly, and celebrate the wins (big and small) along the way.

Here’s to another year of growth, learning, and cleaner cars!

 

Nicole and Rich Sherwood are the owners of Clean Queen Car Wash in Holyoke.

Steps to Building an Effective Relationship in the Workplace

By Contributor
Workforce Development

Mindfulness and Mentorship

By Chelsea Russell and Mia McDonald

 

Chelsea Russell

Chelsea Russell

Mia McDonald

Mia McDonald

Mentorship is essential in every career to help foster personal and professional growth among employees. These relationships are instrumental in developing the culture of your business by improving performance, increasing productivity, and encouraging continued learning.

Thoughtfully and strategically pairing individuals together to build a strong and successful connection is a win all around. For both parties to obtain the most benefit out of the mentor-mentee relationship, there are four main mental-health and mindfulness practices that can be utilized: visualization, goal setting, reflection, and gratitude.

 

Visualization

The first key in building a strong mentor-mentee relationship is visualization. This mindfulness technique is a practice that, even when informally used, can ensure that the mentor and mentee are on the same page when it comes to what they are each looking to get out of the collaboration. The mentor and mentee must come to the table with their own intrinsic motivation and determination to succeed.

Visualization can help each person regularly see their end outcome and plan out the processes that will help them get to their desired outcome. This practice can also be used to manage stress and everyday obstacles by reminding everyone that every step and obstacle is another day closer to the future and their vision.

 

“Establishing and setting goals creates purpose and provides a baseline for an ongoing, supportive relationship, with measurable benchmarks to continually gauge progress.”

 

Goal Setting

While visualization builds confidence and encourages forward thinking about what the future could hold, goal setting takes the next step by making those visions tangible. Mentors can offer invaluable help and guidance in setting and measuring short and long-term goals; therefore, this should be a collaborative process. Establishing and setting goals creates purpose and provides a baseline for an ongoing, supportive relationship, with measurable benchmarks to continually gauge progress.

Mentorship is about sharing and building on experiences to help define and refine meaningful objectives. Therefore, a best practice to build accountability in the mentorship would be to set up monthly check-ins to measure goal progression.

Goals can be fluid, as life happens and sometimes gets in the way of targets. However, having a mentor champion your goals with you can help determine where goals can be adjusted or what additional resources may be beneficial. Throughout the mentorship, always remember to celebrate the accomplishments and benchmarks along the way, no matter how big or small.

 

Reflection

An important part of goal setting and personal growth is reflecting on the outcome and the journey. The mentor and mentee should have open communication and provide regular feedback in a timely manner. When goals are completed, the mentor and mentee should reflect on what went well or what could have gone better, and then determine areas for growth.

During the mentorship, each person should reflect on their own progress individually and then discuss what they can do to improve or how they can provide better support for each other. Regular evaluation throughout the span of the relationship will create the most value.

 

Gratitude

Gratitude is something we all take for granted. As important as it is to continue looking for ways to improve, it is equally, if not more, important to slow down and practice regular gratitude — for each other and for the process. Being able to appreciate all the positive aspects and milestones of navigating the workforce and life will create more joy and improve overall well-being.

Expressing gratitude can be as simple as writing down what you are thankful for or telling a co-worker you are thankful for their guidance and support. This practice enhances the trust, mutual respect, and open communication that guides these meaningful relationships between the mentor and mentee.

When there is a sense of appreciation for each other and the process of mentorship, each person will grow, learn, and collaborate more effectively. Every challenge encountered is a building block toward the end goal and vision, so remember to be grateful for the learning opportunities provided and the continued growth.

 

Bottom Line

Achieving any success in the workplace is a measure of time, effort, and dedication. Success cannot be achieved alone; it is dependent on the help and support of others. Embracing the uncomfortable to push for new challenges and embracing ways to incorporate individuality will make any mentor-mentee relationship the most successful.

 

Chelsea Russell is a senior manager, and Mia McDonald a senior associate, at the Holyoke-based accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

 

Franklin County Chamber to Lead Downtown Revitalization Project

By
Commercial Real Estate

Designs on Growth

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council recently announced that it has been awarded the contract to spearhead the Rural Downtown Redevelopment Project, an initiative aimed at revitalizing the downtowns of Northfield, Turners Falls, and Shelburne Falls/Buckland.

The project, administered by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) and funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development, aims to bolster economic growth and develop a sustainable regional model for rural downtown management. 

The year-long pilot project builds upon a 2023-24 study conducted by the BSC Group, which identified the need for enhanced coordination and administrative capacity to support rural downtowns. The Rural Downtown District Project aims to strengthen economic growth and improve collaboration between business owners, municipal leaders, and community stakeholders to boost local economies and improve overall downtown vibrancy, and pilot a regional downtown coordination model that, if successful, may be replicated throughout Franklin County and other rural areas. 

Project organizers say the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, serving as the county’s only regional chamber and state-designated regional tourism council, is well-positioned to lead the effort. With more than a century of experience supporting local businesses, promoting economic development, and marketing Franklin County locally and regionally, the chamber looks to improve collaboration and leverage existing resources to maximize the pilot’s success. 

“This project is an exciting opportunity to plug in additional administrative capacity to enhance regional collaboration and downtown vibrancy and test a replicable regional model for economic growth.”

“After a robust planning process, we are excited about the opportunity to work with the chamber on this pilot phase of the Rural Downtown Redevelopment Project,” said Ted Harvey, senior economic development planner at FRCOG. “At its core, this project is about building capacity and supporting our communities to grow their local economies sustainably. Given the chamber’s strong local partnerships and its success as a regional dot connector, the chamber is well-positioned to bring this program to life in the three downtown districts.” 

Harvey explained that each of the three pilot communities prioritized enhanced coordination in their local rapid recovery plans, making them ideal starter locations to pilot this new approach. 

He said the Franklin County Chamber will collaborate closely with the Franklin County Community Development Corp. (FCCDC), FRCOG, municipal officials, and local leaders to launch the pilot. A key part of the project will include hiring a downtown district coordinator to convene working groups in each community. These downtown working groups (DWGs) — comprised of business owners, residents, nonprofit leaders, arts and culture representatives, property owners, and town officials — will identify two or three priority projects in each district, help guide the downtown district coordinator, and inform long-term planning. 

“This project is an exciting opportunity to plug in additional administrative capacity to enhance regional collaboration and downtown vibrancy and test a replicable regional model for economic growth,” said Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council. “This is a great, low-risk opportunity to pilot a regional coordination model and give our downtowns a measurable boost.”

Deane said the downtown district coordinator’s work will be guided by input from local stakeholders to ensure that projects reflect each community’s unique vision and needs. The DWGs will also help determine how to best leverage available resources and identify new opportunities for funding downtown projects. 

“The Franklin County CDC is excited to work with the chamber and FRCOG on this project. We work one-on-one with many businesses in the area to strengthen their business plans and work with them on marketing, operations, and finances. We provide capital when appropriate,” said John Waite, executive director of the FCCDC. “We also know that each individual business is stronger when the other neighboring businesses are stronger. This project will help businesses and vested stakeholders work together and use their various strengths to make each downtown greater than the sum of its parts.”

Mary McGovern Elected to Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. Board of Directors

By
Daily News

WARE — Mary McGovern, president and CEO of Country Bank, was elected to the board of directors of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. (MBA) at its annual meeting in May. Founded in 1905, the MBA is the only association representing FDIC-insured community, regional, and nationwide banks serving consumer and business clients across the Commonwealth.

“As a dynamic industry, it is crucial for the association to incorporate the insights of banking leaders like Mary,” MBA President and CEO Kathleen Murphy said. “Their expertise and experience empower us to fulfill our priorities of delivering exceptional resources, advocacy, and thought leadership to our members, thereby strengthening their ability to serve their clients and communities. The market knowledge that Mary contributes allows the association to anticipate and address emerging banking needs and economic trends, supporting our members as they cater to a vast consumer and business footprint across the Commonwealth.”

Added McGovern, “I am excited to share my election to the board of directors for our industry’s association, which has successfully served banks for 120 years. Serving on the board allows me to work alongside fellow banking leaders to help shape the future of our industry while advocating for policies and initiatives that support Massachusetts banks. This role aligns perfectly with Country Bank’s mission to make a difference in the lives of employees, customers, and communities. By contributing to the broader banking landscape, we are better positioned to deliver innovative and responsible solutions that strengthen the local economies we serve with pride.”

MicroTek Promotes Ellie Labonte, Luz Fernandez, Erin Miller

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — MicroTek Inc., a nonprofit wire component manufacturer that provides employment support to individuals with disabilities, announced the promotion of Ellie Labonte to the position of sales representative.

Labonte began her career with MicroTek in 2017 as an assembler and progressed to a sales coordinator position, where she managed sales activities by supporting customers and coordinating production with the manufacturing floor. As a sales rep, she will focus on strengthening customer relationships and developing new opportunities.

MicroTek also announced the promotion of Luz Fernandez and Erin Miller to sales coordinator roles. Both employees have significant product knowledge gained from on-the-floor experience as a production supervisor and tooling technician, respectively.

“MicroTek is committed to providing professional development and advancement opportunities to its employees,” the company stated. “This next generation of sales professionals is well-positioned for success.”

Westfield Bank Promotes Nicole Pepin to Assistant Branch Manager

By
Daily News

Nicole Pepin

WESTFIELD — James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced that Nicole Pepin has been appointed assistant branch manager at the bank’s Park Street location in West Springfield. She will assist in managing all areas of the branch, including customer service, retail and business product sales, employee development, and general operations.

Pepin began working for Westfield Bank 26 years ago as a teller in its Agawam location. She has worked in many of the bank’s communities, as both a teller and better banking specialist, before advancing to her current role. She graduated from Holyoke Community College with an associate degree in business administration.

“Nicole is extremely hardworking and has a large customer base due to her commitment to customer service,” said Heather Zielenski, vice president, branch manager. “She not only goes above and beyond for her customers, but for her team as well.”

Freedom Credit Union Supports ‘Back to Square One’ Capital Campaign

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — In keeping with its community-minded approach to business, Freedom Credit Union recently announced its support for Square One’s “Back to Square One” capital campaign for its new campus. The credit union pledged $7,500 for the project.

“This gift represents Freedom Credit Union’s strong support for our mission and vision for the future of the families who live and work here,” said Kristine Allard, Square One’s vice president of Development & Communication. “We know that our new campus will play a vital role in positioning our region’s young children for long-term success. We are so grateful to our friends at Freedom Credit Union and everyone who has supported our campaign.”

In March of 2023, Square One formally announced plans to expand access to its high-quality early learning and care for the region’s children and families. Since that time, the campaign has succeeded in securing more than $13 million to build a new early learning and family support center in Springfield’s South End, at the same location where Square One once stood prior to the 2011 tornado. The building is slated to open next month.

“We are proud to support the important work Square One does every day to help children and families in our community grow and thrive,” Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch said. “Their vision to effect meaningful change that results in more promising futures for children, families, and our community closely reflects our own cooperative spirit.”

For Nonprofits, It’s a Time of Challenge, High Anxiety

By
Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start
Cover Story

Mission: Imperiled

Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start

Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start

 

Nicole Blais was troubled when she clicked the link.

Forwarded to her by her the executive director of the Massachusetts Head Start Assoc., it led to an April 14 U.S. News & World Report article stating that the Trump administration was considering an FY 2026 budget that would zero out funding for Head Start.

Overall, the piece confirmed what Blais, CEO of Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start, already knew about the federal budget and this $12 billion line item — that a presidential budget is essentially a wish list, only Congress can allocate federal funding, and Head Start enjoys support on both sides of the aisle.

But she wasn’t in any mood to be complacent.

Indeed, within days, she had penned an op-ed for area media outlets, stating, “HCS Head Start is more than just a program; it is a lifeline that connects families to vital resources. The looming threats of federal funding cuts — especially to programs that safeguard the health and well-being of our children and families — is an issue affecting more than just those we serve.”

On May 2, said Blais, the president unveiled what’s known as a ‘skinny budget,’ which did not list Head Start as a program to be eliminated. But, as with that April 14 article, this latest report, while reassuring, is by no means final.

“That budget is just a proposal that’s sent to Congress. That was a good sign, but we’re still waiting to see the budget that Congress puts together before we exhale.”

“That budget is just a proposal that’s sent to Congress,” she said. “That was a good sign, but we’re still waiting to see the budget that Congress puts together before we exhale.”

There are many nonprofit managers and board members holding their collecting breath these days, including Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, who said proposed cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funding and Medicaid would dramatically increase demand for the agency’s services at a time when demand is already soaring due to inflation and a softening jobs market.

“For the fiscal year October of 2023 to September 2024, we saw a 30% increase, and since then, we’ve seen a 10% increase,” he said, adding that this number will likely increase due to tariffs and other forms of pressure on consumers.

Meanwhile, several grants for area programs and initiatives have already been terminated, including:

• A $20 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to Springfield that was slated for home energy retrofits, air pollution monitoring, and de-leading of homes, an initiative involving several area nonprofits;

• A $1 million EPA grant to address asthma in Western Mass. through in-home environmental remediations, such as mold removal and improved ventilation, in Chicopee, Holyoke, and Springfield;

• A $50,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant to MASSMoCA in support of Jeffrey Gibson’s “Power Full Because We’re Different” exhibition;

• A $400,000 funding package from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the Food Bank for the fiscal year ending in August; and

• A $20,000 grant from the NEA to Amherst Cinema for its Bellwether series, which promotes “creative, thoughtful, and inventive approaches to non-fiction cinema,” according to a statement from the theater.

That list, and it is certainly just a partial list, shows that the cuts have come across the broad spectrum of nonprofits, agencies in categories ranging from the arts to public health to food security.

Common denominators, aside from language from the Trump administration stating that the programs in question fall outside the administration’s priorities, are actions to appeal the cuts while also looking for other ways to fund them — when possible.

Andrew Morehouse says looming cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid could greatly increase demand for services provided by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Andrew Morehouse says looming cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid could greatly increase demand for services provided by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

That’s not possible with a $20 million grant or even a $1 million grant, but it is with the NEA’s grant to the Amherst Cinema, for example, and also with the cut to the Food Bank’s budget, and both agencies are appealing to the public.

Meanwhile, at least one nonprofit, the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, is considering the launch of a capital campaign to sustain programs that are funded by federal grants that are mostly no longer available (more on this later). And many nonprofits are reaching out to area foundations, not only with appeals for funding, but for support with efforts to find ways to collaborate with other agencies to meet needs within the community and keep their agencies active and financially stable.

“People are reaching out, and not just with appeals for direct funding; we’ve been in conversations with our current grantees and others in the nonprofit ecosystem, and we’ve been having conversations about how else we can be of service in these challenging times,” said Denise Hurst, vice president of Community Impact and Partnerships with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. “They’re asking about opportunities to partner with one another, share ideas, and collaborate in real time to navigate these difficult times.

“There’s still domestic violence going on, there’s still child abuse going on, there’s still sex trafficking going on, there’s still human trafficking going on, and there’s still stalking going on. And that means that the nonprofits in that arena that do that work are being stripped of the funding, and the survivors aren’t able to get the services they need.”

“We’re just four months into this new administration, and we’re really thinking about stabilization and sustainability of the nonprofit ecosystem,” she went on, adding that the region’s nonprofits not only meet critical needs, but they are an important pillar in the Western Mass. economy, providing not only jobs but critical services that benefit employers and their workforces.

For this issue, BusinessWest examines this time of challenge and high anxiety for nonprofits, what’s at stake, and how these agencies are responding.

 

Waiting to Exhale

As she talked about the plight of her agency, Liz Dineen, CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, shared information concerning grants from the Department of Justice for programs to assist those the agency serves.

They fall into various categories, such as transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; grants to improve the criminal justice response program; the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam hiring and training program; and others, she said, adding that she and her staff continuously peruse the DOJ website, and, specifically, the Office of Violence Against Women, for notices of funding opportunities and apply to whatever is available.

Colleen Shanley-Loveless

Colleen Shanley-Loveless

“Private funding is not going to have the impact of some of these larger grants, and the state can’t make up for all of it.”

But starting in January and the start of the Trump administration, there has been very little available. Indeed, the DOJ recently terminated more than 360 victims’ services grants, which stripped hundreds of millions of dollars away from programs that promote public safety and provide victims and survivors with access to safety, security, and justice.

“Traditionally, at the beginning of February, there’s a bunch of new grants that are posted; they posted several new grants at the beginning of February, and then they pulled every one of them,” she explained. “There were no federal grants at all available for us to pursue.”

Recently, there were a few grants posted, one for Indian tribes and the other for rural areas, which meant this particular YWCA is ineligible for both, she went on, adding that the one program the agency could apply for had just 19 grants for the entire country.

“In the past, we might have had an opportunity to look at 30 to 35 grants; now we’re looking at one,” she said, adding that she’s found it difficult to even talk with anyone at the DOJ to get some direction on what’s happening — or not happening. “There’s a real dearth of opportunities out there right now.”

This reality prompted Dineen to consider a capital campaign so that the agency may continue to provide its services. A feasibility study is now underway, she noted, adding that the question isn’t whether there will be a campaign, but what the monetary goal should be.

“We’re trying to gauge what funders and foundations will be able to give us,” she said, acknowledging that, in most campaigns of this nature, funding is sought for capital projects such as a new building, but in this case, it’s to continue programming for which the agency can no longer secure grant funding.

“There’s still domestic violence going on, there’s still child abuse going on, there’s still sex trafficking going on, there’s still human trafficking going on, and there’s still stalking going on,” she said. “And that means that the nonprofits in that arena that do that work are being stripped of the funding, and the survivors aren’t able to get the services they need.”

What Dineen is experiencing — and her response, in terms of both action to keep programs running and strong words about what will happen if they are curtailed or eliminated — is being repeated across the region, at dozens of nonprofits.

Including Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC), where President and CEO Colleen Shanley-Loveless is responding to the termination of that $1 million grant to combat asthma as well as a $1.5 million stake in the EPA grant to Springfield that was terminated.

The former went to the state Department of Public Health, she said, adding that roughly $900,000 was left to be spent on the Healthy Homes program and initiatives that have been successful in bringing the rates of asthma down in this region.

“Indoor air quality in housing is impacted by gas stoves, older housing stock with leaky roofs, poor ventilation, etc.,” she said. “We piloted healthy homes work with Revitalize CDC and the city of Springfield. The work to address housing needs is critical to keep people healthy; these are proven interventions to help folks control asthma.”

Elaborating, she said funds have been terminated, or are in limbo, for several air-quality-related initiatives, including an EPA grant to the Hitchcock Center in Amherst and Springfield’s $20 million EPA Community Challenge grant, and the impact from these cuts could be devastating, with area health officials projecting increases in asthma hospitalizations and the cost of that care, as well as higher morbidity and mortality rates.

Jessica Collins

Jessica Collins

“We were being set up for a decade’s work to engage, educate, and inform people of how climate impacts health, but also to work with partners like the city of Springfield to literally change policy and infrastructure. And now, all of that will be paused.”

Shanley-Loveless said her agency has diverse funding streams and some public support, but nothing that can make up for the loss of millions of dollars in federal grants.

“Private funding is not going to have the impact of some of these larger grants, and the state can’t make up for all of it,” she explained. “And that’s the challenging part; $1.5 million is a large amount — if we apply to a foundation for $50,000, that’s a good amount, but it doesn’t come close to the amount and the impact of those federal grants.”

 

Clearing the Air — or Not

Jessica Collins, executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, agreed, adding that, while nonprofits of all kinds are under duress, the Trump administration seems to be “piling on” when it comes to those involved with public health.

She has some theories about why, including lingering resentment over how the COVID crisis was handled. But the ‘why’ isn’t as important as the ‘what,’ she noted.

“The attack on climate change is really devastating,” said Collins, adding that her agency was to be a major subcontractor to Springfield to help the city carry out strategies related to that $20 million EPA grant, just one initiative in the broad realm of climate change her agency was slated to be involved in.

“We were being set up for a decade’s work to engage, educate, and inform people of how climate impacts health, but also to work with partners like the city of Springfield to literally change policy and infrastructure,” she said. “And now, all of that will be paused.”

There will be appeals to lawmakers to restore the funds and, in many cases, lawsuits to accomplish that same end, said Collins and others we spoke with, but nonprofits are bracing for the possibility, if not the probability, that they will have to move on without that funding.

And that has implications for individual nonprofits as they look to maintain staff and carry out missions, as well as their various partners in various initiatives.

“Last year, our budget was $4 million, but more than $1 million went out to 35 different organizations in subcontracts,” she explained. “So when we take a hit, everyone else kind of takes a hit as well because we’re seen as a convener and a lot of the funding we get is collaborative.”

And while shoes have already dropped for many nonprofits, others are bracing for the possibility that they might be impacted as well, while hoping they’re not — while at the same time acknowledging that hope is not a strategy.

That’s certainly the case at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, where the threat of cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid loom large over the agency and all those food pantries and survival centers that it supports.

“To the extent that those programs are cut, more people will turn to their local food pantry, meal site, and, ultimately, the Food Bank for more food,” said Morehouse, adding that a 20% cut in SNAP benefits has been proposed, which, if it becomes reality, would result in the loss of 19 million meals in Western Mass.

“That’s more than the Food Bank provides in a whole year, our entire inventory,” he went on, adding that there are nearly 200,000 people in the four counties of Western Mass. that receive SNAP benefits totaling $35 million a month. “That’s a lot of food, and it would, at the very least, result in a tremendous increase in demand for food assistance to make up for that loss. This would be a devastating blow.”

The same sentiment prevails at HCS Head Start, where Blais is optimistic that Head Start will remain in the federal budget, but not complacent given what’s at stake.

“At a time when the early-education world is rebounding from COVID and we’ve been so focused on providing access, this would be a ginormous step in the wrong direction,” she said, adding that Head Starts are “making noise” locally and nationally about how cuts to the agency would impact young people, families, and businesses still struggling to maintain workforces. “It’s like that ripple on a pond. Head Start reaches so many people; it’s not just families and children in the classroom.”

In the wake of cuts (and possible cuts), area nonprofit leaders are responding in many different ways — from hard looks at other sources of funding to educating the public and elected leaders alike on what’s at stake with these cuts, to looking at ways to collaborate to provide needed services.

Hurst told BusinessWest that the Community Foundation has received calls from nonprofits across a broad spectrum — including public health, the arts, environmental justice, and higher education — about cuts, what they mean, and how their broad impact can be mitigated.

“We’re doing a lot of deep listening, learning, and connecting them with resources,” she said. “We’re connecting them with other organizations so they can think about resource sharing and partnering with other organizations that are also trying to figure out next steps and strategy around culturing some of these funding losses as well as stabilizing internal operations.

“We’re there to listen, and thinking about ways to use that information that we’re gathering to influence and inform how we move forward,” Hurst went on, adding that the discussions are far more about strategies for meeting needs than plugging gaps in funding — because the gaps are too large to plug.

“We’re having discussions and conversations with donors about the importance of giving locally and regionally,” she said, “and how to be more strategic and intentional with their giving, both in the current and the long term.”

Fast Pace of Change Clouds Projections for Auto Industry

By
Autos Special Coverage

Too Many Moving Parts

 

‘Fascinating.’

That’s the first word Ben Sullivan, chief operating officer at Balise Motor Sales, used to describe the current landscape for the auto industry, and especially dealers, as tariffs of some kind, involving some countries and some products, loom over the sector.

He would use many others, especially ‘uncertainty’ and ‘volatility,’ terms that explain why, by and large, the large Balise stable of dealerships across Western Mass., Connecticut, and Cape Cod isn’t really doing much of anything at this point in response to what’s happening and is conducting what could be described business as usual.

That includes refraining from use of ‘beat the tariffs prices’ advertisements and similar messages that many others have deployed — although they’ve been discussed.

“We just didn’t think we had enough clarity to do that,” Sullivan said, hitting on just how much uncertainty exists today. “If we’re going to say something to our customers, we have to make sure that we’re on solid ground. We absolutely stayed away from creating any kind of frenzy around these things because we just don’t know if it’s true or not.”

But while it’s business as usual in some respects, dealers are certainly doing more business than usual for this time of year.

“Consumers are getting smart when it comes to how to manipulate the market and take advantage of the best opportunity and time to upgrade their vehicle and learning how to really maximize their equity.”

Indeed, while Sullivan said sales in March and April were up 24% over that same period a year ago, Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar Auto Group, which has five dealerships in Hampshire County, put the number at more than 30% across all brands, with Hyundai and Volkswagen leading the way.

“We’ve seen a surge in consumer urgency — they’re trying to get ahead of the potential tariffs,” she said. “And, right now, incentives are still good — there are a lot of low APRs available for consumers across the board — and their trade values are worth more than now than they were a month ago or two months ago. That combination is driving a sense of urgency.”

Other impacts include:

• An increase in leasing, as consumers in need of a new car survey the situation and see that option as a way to get a decent price and buy themselves some time until there is more clarity on what will happen long-term, or at least longer-term;

• With uncertainty about new cars, marked growth in demand for used cars, with prices holding generally steady, at least for now, said Cosenzi, adding that this demand translates into those higher trade-in values she mentioned; and

• A similar increase in demand for service contracts as consumers read and hear about how the prices of parts might be soaring as well due to tariffs.

“Consumers are getting smart when it comes to how to manipulate the market and take advantage of the best opportunity and time to upgrade their vehicle and learning how to really maximize their equity,” said Cosenzi as she surveyed the landscape and what’s she’s seeing from her front-row seat regarding all of the above.

Ben Sullivan says there are too many variables and unknowns to say with any kind of certainty what the short and long term look like for auto dealers.

Ben Sullivan says there are too many variables and unknowns to say with any kind of certainty what the short and long term look like for auto dealers.

As for what comes next … well, that’s where uncertainty takes over, especially with headlines changing seemingly every week, or even every day, on the levels of tariffs, possible exemptions, new deals with countries — such as the 90-day truce recently struck with China — and possibly individual manufacturers, and more.

“Nobody’s making major adjustments — the manufacturers are not making wild swings in what they’re doing because the landscape is changing almost by the day,” said Sullivan, who drew a parallel to the recent run on iPhones, a surge that quickly abated when it was announced that there would be exemptions on those products, but then picked up again when it was announced that the chips inside them would not be exempt.

“Overall, I don’t believe the tariff news will end up being as bad as we fear or as good as we hope,” said Sullivan as he summed things up, adding that it is simply too soon to know what will happen in the months and years to come.

Cosenzi agreed, noting that, beyond prices, inventory will be something to watch. Availability will likely become more limited, she said, adding that the great unknowns are when and to what degree this will happen.

“It’s too soon to really know, and it depends on the brand, but we’re starting to see that slowdown with brands like Volvo and VW,” she noted, adding that she doesn’t know if these cars are still in Europe or at the dock waiting for the smoke to clear. “It’s really complicated right now, and it’s very gray, so it’s hard for us to give consumers a clear picture.”

‘Fascinating.’ ‘Complicated.’ ‘Volatile.’ ‘Gray.’ These are the adjectives that describe the current state of the auto sales market, and it appears they will prevail for some time.

 

Driving Forces

March and April are traditionally not big months in the auto industry, said those we spoke with. They’re not bad months, necessarily, but they’re not like February (the real start of the sales season), end of year, or even some summer months, when there are usually deals to be had.

But this year was, of course, different.

With the coming of President Trump’s Liberation Day and news reports of car prices rising several thousand dollars as a result of traiffs, consumers took the initiative and found not only locked-in prices, but some incentives as well, said Cosenzi, adding that demand has been steady across the board, brand-wise, with small to mid-sized SUVs still dominating sales. Overall, the trend continues even as the rhetoric on tariffs continues to soften.

“When you back it up and look into an industry like ours with a truly global supply chain, it is nearly impossible right now to determine all of the impacts.”

Some of these buyers needed a new car, she said, but most were trying to beat the clock when it comes to expected price hikes and reduced availability.

“They may not necessarily be in the market for a new car, but they’re saying, ‘I might as well take advantage of the market conditions and upgrade sooner rather than later,” she explained, adding that this surge speaks to still-high levels of confidence in the economy.

Meanwhile, some manufacturers are price-protecting until the end of May and June in some cases, which provides even more incentive to buy now.

“If someone is in the market for a new car or coming up to be in the market, this is the perfect time to purchase,” said Cosenzi, adding that, while no one has a crystal ball and can say what the landscape will look like in six months or even six weeks, it is unlikely that it will look as good as it does now for consumers.

So, for now, it is still business as usual, and more of it. The overriding question is for how long. And no one really knows.

There are too many variables, especially when it comes to the impact on the thousands of parts that go into a vehicle, how many times these parts cross boundaries, and, thus, how many times they may be subject to a tariff.

“When you back it up and look into an industry like ours with a truly global supply chain, it is nearly impossible right now to determine all of the impacts,” Sullivan said. “A car might be assembled in Alabama, but there are parts from all over the world. And some of those things start as a small part, get put into an assembly, they cross the country border, get into the next stage of development … some of these assemblies might cross a country border seven times. So, if the tariffs become stackable, it would be devastating to consumers.”

Which explains the surge in new-car and used-car buying in March and April, but also the increases in leasing and service contracts as consumers digest the news and look to beat some worst-case scenarios with regard to both pricing and availability.

“With the tariffs, inventories will start to tighten, and consumers want to get ahead of that,” Cosenzi said. “They don’t want to be in a situation like the one they were in with COVID, where if they wanted a car, they really had to sacrifice what they were looking for in terms of color or trim.”

Carla Cosenzi says March and April were much busier than normal amid tariff and inventory concerns, and that trend is continuing.

Carla Cosenzi says March and April were much busier than normal amid tariff and inventory concerns, and that trend is continuing.

While this is certainly a good time to buy, and many consumers are, Sullivan said Balise has been reluctant to encourage consumers to buy now because of the high levels of uncertainty and the pace at which the landscape is changing.

“Most industry analysts say the average car price could go up by between $4,000 and $15,000 if all this comes to pass,” he noted. “There will certainly be some cost increase, but I don’t think it will be as severe as people fear at this point. But there is so much that is not known.”

Dealers are already seeing swings in consumer activity, he went on, adding that, while April was a very strong month for Balise, by late April, as the headlines started to reflect a softening of tone on tariffs, the pace of sales eased accordingly.

He drew some parallels to the early months of COVID, when news of shortages of paper towels and toilet paper sent consumers into stores for what amounted to panic buying.

It’s not quite like that with auto sales, but there was a similar knee-jerk reaction, Sullivan said, adding that the frenzy, if it can be called that, is already abating.

 

Bottom Line

Returning to his analogy with iPhones, Sullivan said it provides some appropriate context for any conjecture on what might happen next in his industry.

“You go to bed one night assuming that your iPhone is going to cost $2,000, and the next morning, it’s still going to be $800 to $900 for the top-end models that it was the day before,” he said, adding that the same is likely — not definite, but likely — to be the case with all those mid-sized SUVs on the market today.

But no one really knows.

So dealers have to be ready, willing, and able to adjust on the fly and absorb whatever comes at them, Cosenzi said, adding that, over the past several years, they’ve had plenty of practice at pivoting.

“This is a really challenging industry anyway, so dealers have to be resilient to be able to be in this business,” she explained. “We know how to pivot quickly and adjust to whatever the customers’ needs and demands are, and that’s what we’re doing in these unsettled times.”

That’s what’s needed when there are so many moving parts, literally and figuratively.

Collaborative for Educational Services Emphasizes Lifelong Learning

By
Executive Director Todd Gazda
Special Coverage Workforce Development

Focus on the Future

Executive Director Todd Gazda

Executive Director Todd Gazda

“Everyone is a learner.”

Those are the words used on marketing materials for the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), one of 24 such collaboratives in Massachusetts and arguably the most robust when it comes to programming.

“We’re kind of different than the other 23,” Executive Director Todd Gazda told BusinessWest. “The other 23 collaboratives really focus on special education and direct services to students — autism programs or behavior programs or programs for students with developmental delays, situations where their regular public school district doesn’t have the capacity to effectively meet their needs and they are looking an out-of-district placement.

“What happens is the districts get together and form a collaborative to pool resources and work in a manner that supports maximizing resources,” he explained. “One school district may be too small to apply for a grant, but if the collaborative pulls together three or four or five districts, then they can help coordinate what happens.”

CES does some of that too, and also runs two programs that provide direct services to students: HEC Academy, a special education school in Northampton, and Mount Tom Academy on the Holyoke Community College campus, which serves non-traditional students who, for whatever reason, are having difficulty succeeding in a regular public school setting and need more personalized instruction and support.

“We’ve seen incredible success for the students who attend both of those programs,” Gazda noted.

That said, he added, the Collaborative for Educational Services is much broader than that. For one thing, it runs statewide programs; as one example, for the past 15 years, it has provided all educational programming for the Department of Youth Services (DYS).

“So, for every youth lock-up in the state of Massachusetts, we run the schools. We hire the teachers, we do the curriculum, and it’s just like a regular public school setting.”

CES also provides special education in institutional settings, from DYS to Department of Mental Health programs to county houses of correction. Other statewide services include the Massachusetts Migrant Education Program, which connects migrant youth and their families with services and supports, and the Special Education Surrogate Parent Program, which connects special-education advocates with students whose parents, for whatever reason, aren’t in the picture.

“One of the areas that we’ve really gotten into recently is AI — how do we support districts as they seek to kind of adapt to AI and its use in schools and its use in instruction, and how do we effectively utilize it to support learning in the classroom?”

CES also does a lot of consulting and professional-development work statewide for teachers, schools, and districts, running the gamut from curriculum development to strategic planning.

“One of the areas that we’ve really gotten into recently is AI — how do we support districts as they seek to kind of adapt to AI and its use in schools and its use in instruction, and how do we effectively utilize it to support learning in the classroom?” Gazda explained. “That’s been a big area of growth for us.

“We’ve also done quite a bit of work helping districts navigate difficult conversations. There may be an incident in a school district that creates an emotionally charged atmosphere; we’ll go in and facilitate listening sessions and focus groups and pull people together to help bridge those differences so that people can have thoughtful conversations about their differences. We’ve been doing that work across the Commonwealth as well.”

CES also has an Early Childhood division that serves students “from cradle to career,” Gazda said — from pre-K education all the way up through internship programs to help link them to careers.

“Early Childhood, again, works statewide with school districts, helping them build more robust preschool programs and provide good services to their preschool students,” he explained, adding that other CES programs deal in community wellness, local food policy, and substance-abuse awareness and prevention.

 

Career Goals

One particularly robust element of the collaborative’s services is its workforce development programs.

“We partner with school districts, and they plan and implement a variety of workforce and career development programs for students — skills trainings, career development, helping students create and refine résumés, interviewing skills,” Gazda said. “These are all things we work on with our member districts to help students so, as they look to go into the workforce or prepare for a career, they have this skill set.”

One of those initiatives has been a paid STEM internship program, helping students prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Since 2018, the program has placed 265 students in good-paying internships across 28 Western Mass. school districts.

“These are high-school kids who literally get paid to do work in businesses. It’s a leg up for the kids, but it’s also a leg up for local businesses, particularly those in the STEM fields, because it gives them an opportunity to train these students and generate a future workforce for them. It’s a win for everybody.”

While providing support for students in its local districts, as all such collaboratives do, CES also runs statewide programs.

While providing support for students in its local districts, as all such collaboratives do, CES also runs statewide programs.

Placements, typically for between 100 and 270 hours, are typically done over the summer when students have more time and opportunity. The fields include biomedical engineering, molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, polymer science, neuroscience, oncology, nursing, and other fields within the STEM realm.

“They have paid stipends at the state minimum hourly wage or higher,” Gazda noted. “And they get training and support in researching, communicating, interview preparation, cover letter and résumé writing, and internship performance reviews. They gain professional and scientific experience, and they gain references to support college applications and job applications.”

The STEM program has grown from serving 30 students in 2018 to 69 last year, and 98% of participants complete their internships. Those results aren’t a matter of luck, Gazda said.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into matching the student with the employer in the correct field to get that kind of a completion rate. So it’s a good fit,” he noted, adding that, since 2018, the program has served 28 school districts in Western Mass., with 60 employers hosting student interns.

Funding has come from a variety of sources, but the biggest and longest supporter is the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), which supports internships of up to 270 hours.

“We can coordinate with MLSC to pay for 19 placements at UMass Amherst,” he said. “In 2024, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education’s STEM-focused internship program funded 47 internships and a portion of our director’s salary. Community partners supported three internships, and a private donor in Hadley supported three internships. And we were able to secure private donor funding to support 41 students this summer with paid internships.”

Finding the finances to support this work is always a challenge, Gazda said.

“The problem is uncertainty at the federal level, which is leading to changes in state funding priorities,” he noted. “The Executive Office of Education is no longer offering funding under the STEM internship program, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is reducing its support for student stipends as well. So this is where we find ourselves — in kind of a state of flux, funding-wise.”

CES, founded in 1974 and now the largest collaborative in Massachusetts by membership, geographic size, and revenue — around $39 million last year — gets funding from grants, contracts, and fees for service. But much of its money filters through the state or federal government in some way, meaning it’s vulnerable to the spending cuts happening in Washington`.

“If we run short, I can’t go back to a town and say, ‘we need more money.’ It just doesn’t work that way. We’ve got to earn and raise and generate revenue to support all of the different programming that we do to support our districts,” Gazda said.

“These are high-school kids who literally get paid to do work in businesses. It’s a leg up for the kids, but it’s also a leg up for local businesses, particularly those in the STEM fields, because it gives them an opportunity to train these students and generate a future workforce for them. It’s a win for everybody.”

“Typically, when you have a lot of grant-funded programs, there’s always a certain amount of trepidation about when that grant is going to end. Will you get another one? Will it be extended? And now, that’s kind of heightened by that additional question regarding anything directly from the federal government: are they going to cut it off with no warning?”

He certainly hopes not, noting that the internship programs have no real downside, for either the students or the businesses.

“The employer business partners who host school STEM interns enjoy the re-energizing benefits of mentorship and the additional support to complete certain projects. Employers are given a seat at the table in creating a pipeline of future researchers and workers,” he told BusinessWest. “Having an educated workforce is critical for our business community to thrive, and this is one vehicle whereby we can help make it happen.”

 

Revenue Questions

Gazda was superintendent of schools in Ludlow for nine years and has been working for 24 years in public education. Before that, he was an attorney, doing corporate litigation in New York City.

“I just came to the realization that wasn’t the job I wanted or the life I wanted to live. So I moved back home to Western Mass. and became an eighth-grade history teacher,” he recalled. “It was a little scary making that switch, but I’ve never regretted it once.”

The Ludlow district belongs to the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, the only other collaborative in Western Mass. It primarily runs special education programs, as well as a vocational school. “So it’s a slightly different type of collaborative and more in line with the other collaboratives across the state.”

At CES, Gazda has broadened his focus, applying lessons from the classroom and public school administration to an agency that is doing impactful work across a much wider playing field.

“It is a lot, and trying to keep all those moving parts going, particularly in this fiscal environment, has created challenges for the organization,” he noted, adding that the financial challenges aren’t new. “The pandemic really shook things up, and we’re seeing the results of uncertain finances in districts across the state where they’re being forced to adjust to declining student populations, less revenues, and increased expenses. So there’s a ripple effect that creates the system that we have to work within.”

Still, he remains optimistic, and focused on the work. “We continue to monitor the situation in order to be ready to respond to whatever happens to come next.”

In other words, keep on learning, always with an eye on the future.

USA Ninja Challenge Eyes Expansion into Western Mass.

By
Commercial Real Estate Special Coverage

Warrior Mentality

Richard Knight says USA Ninja Challenge not only develops core strength, agility, and flexibility, but offers a positive, supportive environment to get in shape.

 

Richard Knight said the idea for a business that now boasts dozens of franchises across the U.S. — and will soon come to Western Mass. — has its roots in a video found on the internet.

Twelve years ago, he recalled, he was sitting at a luncheon with his friend, Dale Grant, who owned a gymnastics studio in Concord, N.H. with his wife.

“A friend sent a video to him of a child going over homemade obstacles, and we were sitting there saying, ‘that’s just like the TV show American Ninja Warrior,’” Knight recalled.

The child’s enthusiasm was infectious — and the show, which poses a series of challenges along a grueling obstacle course, was peaking in popularity around that time.

At the same time, Grant was lamenting the fact that boys were dropping out of gymnastics — it was becoming harder to keep them engaged as they got older — and he and Knight began talking about opening a different kind of gym. Knight had sold a business in 2008 and was looking for a different opportunity, and in 2015, the pair launched the first USA Ninja Challenge facility in Manchester, N.H.

“The kids see it as variety, working on cool new obstacles. What they’re doing is working different muscle groups — but don’t tell the kids that. They’re having a great time doing something different every week.”

“It’s an interesting model,” said Knight, a New Hampshire native and now the company’s CEO. “We took the basics of our backgrounds from gymnastics and CrossFit and built a curriculum for training children. It’s a different lesson plan every week. The kids see it as variety, working on cool new obstacles. What they’re doing is working different muscle groups — but don’t tell the kids that. They’re having a great time doing something different every week. The variety makes it exciting for them.”

Seven years ago, after a second site opened in Concord, USA Ninja Challenge opened its first franchised location in South Windsor, Conn. Since then, the company has opened — or is in the process of opening — about 50 such locations across the U.S., including three now operating in Massachusetts: in Andover, Marlborough, and, most recently, Norton.

And now Knight and Grant have Western Mass. on their radar. They have researched communities including Northampton, Holyoke, Southampton, and others, and are looking to open up to five locations in and around the Pioneer Valley, with the first expected to open during the first half of 2026.

“All our gyms are doing great in the Massachusetts market, and we’re looking to expand our footprint,” Knight said, before talking about why the company’s franchise model is attractive. “We’ve been able to get 60% of our gym owners to go cash-flow positive in the first month. That’s huge when you start a business — to get to that break-even point. That’s the first hurdle for any business owner. After that, you’re adding kids every month to the program.”

He said USA Ninja Challenge looks for locations within a short driving distance from at least 15,000 to 20,000 people, a quality the Valley has in spades. The sites will ideally have between 3,500 and 8,000 square feet of space.

“It takes about six months to find the right location. We’re looking for light industrial space, flex space — we don’t need retail, similar to a gymnastics studio. That’s what we’re targeting,” he explained. “Once we find a location and sign a lease, it’s 13 weeks to open. It’s highly automated, highly structured, from that point.”

With ambitious plans taking shape, Knight talked with BusinessWest for this issue’s focus on commercial real estate about what USA Ninja Challenge does for kids — and what it can bring to this region.

 

Fit and Focused

Open to boys and girls aged 2 to 17, USA Ninja Challenge is a year-round obstacle-course training program that combines basic skill sets from gymnastics, climbing, cross training, and track and field. The program features six levels to master with a wide variety of progressions, drills, and challenges, including rings, balance obstacles, tumbling surfaces, cargo nets, traverse walls, slack lines, ropes, ladders, and warped walls.

Ninjas that demonstrate their mastery of skills advance to the next level of training, and each participant progresses according to their own ability. Essentially, Knight said, the program aims to build children’s self-esteem, confidence, and sense of accomplishment, one obstacle at a time.

“When I put my stepson in the program, he was probably 20 to 30 pounds overweight and didn’t like school sports, and six months later, he was doing 10 good push-ups and holding a plank. At the end of the year, he was doing 100. Now he’s 21 years old, and he’s a fit young man.

“Traditional sports never worked for him. He didn’t like football, soccer, or basketball. Ninja gives kids of all abilities the chance to be challenged and get in shape, and we can also take top athletes and elevate them even further,” he went on. “The program helps develop core strength, agility, and flexibility for kids. You develop the upper body as well. It really helps in other sports because, if you have a strong core, that helps you with everything you do in life.”

Kids can enroll in memberships for one, two, or three visits a week, and those classes are supplemented with events like birthday parties, camps, and competitions, he added.

“What sets us apart from other franchises is a focus on families and community give-back,” Knight went on. “People we attract as owners are people that want to work with children and develop long-term relationships with families. It’s about helping kids get fit and feeling good about themselves, and putting kids and families first.”

He called the sport a “positive positive,” then explained what that means.

“We’ve been able to get 60% of our gym owners to go cash-flow positive in the first month. That’s huge when you start a business — to get to that break-even point. That’s the first hurdle for any business owner. After that, you’re adding kids every month to the program.”

“Say you go to a basketball game. People in the stands are booing kids, booing players, booing referees, and they’re cheering their own kids as well. In ninja, when we have a competitive event, you cheer for every athlete. There’s no booing. There’s no ‘oh, ref, you’re terrible.’ There’s none of that. The kids get exposed to an environment that’s all about themselves in a very positive environment.

“From a sports standpoint, that is huge with our kids,” he added. “There’s a lot going on in society today, and here, children can be in a very positive environment and feel good about themselves and grow. And that’s very good for us as parents, too.”

As for the community element, franchises have become involved, through fundraisers and other activities, with organizations like school PTAs and PTOs, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, 4-H, the American Cancer Society, Best Buddies, and many more.

“It’s really part of our nature to do those things on a regular basis,” Knight said. “So people who tend to be owners really like the family aspect of it, working with children, and the local give-back. That’s what’s unique about our business model, unlike a fast-food restaurant where you can make good money, but may not make the same kinds of relationships.”

 

Olympic Dreams

The latest development that has Knight and Grant excited is the elevation of obstacle course racing to the Summer Olympics, starting in 2028 in Los Angeles.

Specifically, it’s now part of the pentathlon, replacing equestrian show jumping. A few years ago, the International Olympic Committee evaluated a whopping 62 proposals to replace that event before deciding on a ninja-style obstacle course. The other four pentathlon events remain swimming, fencing, pistol shooting, and running.

Knight and Grant both believe this development will further legitimize the sport, providing both opportunities for kids to get fit — particularly those who don’t enjoy traditional youth sports — while boosting the profile of USA Ninja Challenge. Knight expects the number of franchises to reach around 90 within a year.

USA Ninja Challenge is looking to open up to five locations in Western Mass., starting in 2026.

USA Ninja Challenge is looking to open up to five locations in Western Mass., starting in 2026.

“We have a partnership with U.S. Olympics,” he told BusinessWest. “We run competitions for our kids, and top athletes get to train with Olympic coaches in the summer. We’re the only one that has a program like that because we have a curriculum that’s all about progression training for kids.”

“People we attract as owners are people that want to work with children and develop long-term relationships with families.”

The company has also been involved with the Junior Olympics program, offering ideas to help create a pathway for kids to compete for the Olympics in this sport. And it is growing worldwide. The Ultimate Ninja Athlete Assoc. saw about 10,000 kids from 23 countries at its championship in Anaheim, Calif. last year — a tenfold increase from 2023.

And when the Olympics added the sport to its pentathlon, 160 countries immediately signed on — the biggest adoption of any sport introduced to the Olympics, Knight said.

He’s equally excited about the potential of this growing youth activity to get kids active and in shape, a particular concern in this era of copious screen time. An article on the USA Ninja Challenge website touts several studies linking youth fitness to better performance at school as well.

In short, he said, the benefits are manifold, and for Western Mass., they will also include that community element he spoke of, as well as job creation.

“We need people to work with kids and provide kids with a positive, safe environment to develop,” he told BusinessWest, adding that there will be a need for coaches, managers, and other positions at the new gyms when they start to open up in this region next year. “It’s remarkable the positive impact this can have on the community.”

Great Barrington Is a True Destination

By
The Daniel Arts Center is one of many individual pieces on the Bard College of Simon’s Rock campus that have caught the attention of developers.
Community Spotlight Special Coverage

Community Spotlight

 

The Daniel Arts Center is one of many individual pieces on the Bard College of Simon’s Rock campus that have caught the attention of developers.

The Daniel Arts Center is one of many individual pieces on the Bard College of Simon’s Rock campus that have caught the attention of developers.

John Weinstein said the phones started ringing seemingly within hours after the news broke last November.

This was the official announcement that Bard College at Simon’s Rock, an institution in Great Barrington for 60 years, would be closing its campus there and relocating programs to Bard College’s main campus in New York for the start of fall classes.

The phone calls were — and are (they’re still coming at a good clip) — from those interested in acquiring and developing all or a piece of the 280-acre campus, with a wide range of specific intentions, including housing.

“The inquiries have ranged from totality to the very granular,” said Weinstein, the school’s vice president and provost, meaning everything from the entire campus to individual buildings to specific pieces of equipment.

Interest in those pieces picked up in intensity with passage of an overlay zone at the recent town meeting, one that will permit many different uses beyond education, said Weinstein, adding that some uses — cannabis facilities and an amusement park, for example — are still not allowed.

The fate of the Bard campus and the prospect of losing such a large contributor to the Great Barrington economy are at the top of a long list of storylines involving this picturesque Southern Berkshires community and its mostly tourism-driven business community.

“The inquiries have ranged from totality to the very granular.”

“This will have an impact on the town in multiple ways,” said Betsy Andrus, executive director of the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, based in Great Barrington. “We won’t have the influx of students coming into the town for shopping and eating, and you also have teachers and staff, an athletic center, and the Daniel Arts Center; it’s certainly a loss for this area.”

A loss that is in many ways balanced by anticipation about what might come next.

As for other storylines, they include everything from new ownership for several downtown properties — and reshaping of those properties for retail and office use (including a new home for the chamber) as well as residential units — to lingering housing concerns, especially a shortage of affordable, or ‘workforce,’ units, putting a burden on both business owners and their employees.

“This whole area needs more workforce housing; our employees can find places to live, but often at a fairly substantial commute,” said Janis Martinson, executive director of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. “It’s a real challenge; people are coming a long way to get to work because they don’t have a choice.”

Janis Martinson says the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center will open a second facility later this year, one of many efforts to connect the community to the arts.

Janis Martinson says the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center will open a second facility later this year, one of many efforts to connect the community to the arts.

On another note (pun intended), this is shaping up to be a big year for the Mahaiwe, built in 1905, which has a full slate of performances on tap — from classic movies like Casablanca, shown on Valentine’s Day, and Sabrina, which aired May 23, to a Brian Cox tribute to opera, comedy, and a wide variety of musical performances — and is set to open an accessory venue in the town’s former fire station.

“A group of businesspeople have restored the firehouse, and they’re leasing us a portion of the first floor,” said Martinson, adding that the building is roughly the same age as the Mahaiwe. “We’re using that as an intimate, flexible performance venue and a concession space.”

The Mahaiwe is one of many key contribitors to a vibrant downtown that has made a near-complete recovery from COVID and extensive infrastructure work in the central business district, said Martinson, adding that, while Great Barrington once had slow times of the year — most of September, for example — it is now vibrant year-round.

“I think the town has grown a little younger,” she said. “And while there used to be some times when it would be pretty sleepy, it’s not like that anymore; this is a 12-month-a-year busy town.”

Andrus agreed, noting that the investments made in several downtown properties will bring more people, and more vibrancy, to the area, with some new businesses and several existing ones with new mailing addresses.

“I think the town has grown a little younger. And while there used to be some times when it would be pretty sleepy, it’s not like that anymore; this is a 12-month-a-year busy town.”

“Change is always a positive thing,” she said, noting that several existing businesses have or will find new and better spots. Meanwhile, new housing units equate to more people living in the central business district — and more opportunities for some workers to shorten their commute.

For this latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at Great Barrington and the many developing stories in this destination community.

 

A Loss — and an Opportunity

Weinstein said the decision to close Bard College’s Great Barrington campus and relocate its various programs — early college and some high-school offerings — came down to numbers.

Getting more specific, he said it was the number of students that would make sustaining that campus feasible. That number is at least 450 and preferably much higher, he noted, adding that the school hasn’t been able to reach that threshold, and with current demographic shifts — specifically fewer high-school-age people — it wasn’t going to get there anytime soon.

So the decision was made to move the school and its programs to the main Bard campus, where economies of scale will make this operation much more sustainable, said Weinstein, adding quickly that, while this move represents a loss for the community, the campus as a whole and its individual parts present a unique development opportunity.

And the zoning overlay district certainly helps in this redevelopment, said Weinstein and others we spoke with, noting that it will permit operation of an athletic center and performing-arts center — those are just two examples — without a school being attached.

“Those most interested in the future of the property did that shift,” said Weinstein, noting that the redevelopment of the campus will afford the town an opportunity to address some of its pressing needs and challenges, a list that certainly includes housing.

Great Barrington at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1761
Population: 7,172
Area: 45.8 square miles
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $13.79
Commercial Tax Rate: $13.79
Median Household Income: $95,490
Median Family Income: $103,135
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Largest Employers: Fairview Hospital; Iredale Mineral Cosmetics; Prairie Whale
* Latest information available

Andrus agreed, noting, as Martinson did, that businesses and their employees are impacted by the current lack of affordable housing.

Many of these businesses are in the broad tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors, said Andrus, noting that Great Barrington draws visitors from nearby New York, other communities within the Berkshires, and well beyond. Meanwhile, its population increases threefold in the summer, from 7,000 to 21,000, as snowbirds and those with second homes in the area return.

“With that influx of people, even going to the grocery store can be chaotic,” she noted, adding that the town’s character changes as its population swells, especially the central business district.

Residents and visitors alike enjoy a very walkable downtown that features attractions like the Mahaiwe, a diverse lineup of restaurants, and unique arts-related programs such as Berkshire Busk — organized street entertainment (everything from singers and flamenco dancers to poets and aerialists) that runs on Railroad Street and other parts of the downtown on Friday and Saturday nights from early July to Labor Day.

There have been some changes within this downtown, and more are on the way, as some aging properties have changed hands, said Andrus, adding that this list includes the so-called Mahaiwe Block, the Marble Block, and other properties.

“All these buildings have changed hands to younger, probably more energetic people,” she said, adding that these landmarks are being renovated and, in some cases, reimagined, with mixes of retail, office, and much-needed housing.

The chamber’s new home at 343 Main St., across from Town Hall, is a good example. The property there, acquired and redeveloped by the Alander Group, will house the chamber’s offices as well as an enlarged visitors’ center, as well as other retail, 15 apartments, and a wine bar, said Andrus, noting that, prior to its move, the chamber was in two locations, a small visitors’ booth in front of CVS and a business office on Railroad Street, a situation that was less than ideal.

“It was like working in a cave — it was hard to find; it wasn’t easily accessible,” she said of the Railroad Street location. “Now, we’ve combined the business office and visitors center, and it’s a real improvement.”

The Alander Group also owns the Mahaiwe Block, which houses the performing arts center, she said, adding that it also features retail and housing units.

Meanwhile, at the Marble Block on Main Street, the former Gorham & Norton grocery store, a fixture for generations, is being remade into Robbie’s Community Market, said Andrus, adding that the property will soon feature several apartments as well. As for the market, it will be a collective, including a coffee bar, pizza oven, sandwich shop, and more, combining the past — this was a soda counter decades ago — with the present.

 

Taking Center Stage

These investments, as well as the new or relocated businesses and residents they bring to the area, will create more vibrancy in the downtown, said Andrus, adding that, overall, the downtown continues to thrive and build on its status as a destination.

Martinson agreed. She took the reins as executive director of the Mahaiwe in January 2020, just two months before COVID arrived and essentially shut down its scheduled season.

But the facility survived that challenge by getting creative, she recalled, adding that one of first initiatives that year was to partner with Bard College at Simon’s Rock to create a drive-in movie theater in one of its parking lots.

“They had a parking lot outside their performing arts center that happened to be tiered down a hillside, so we could have all the cars facing in one direction and put the screen at the bottom of the hill,” she recalled, adding that the schedule included a few of the Star Wars movies, American Graffiti, The Princess Bride, and other family stalwarts.

“That’s how we got through summer,” she went on, adding that the Mahaiwe partnered with other performing arts nonprofits in the area to record concerts from its stage in efforts that were more about the arts than revenues. “We managed to stay in touch with our community throughout the pandemic, and that’s really the point — to bring people together, and bring them together around the performing arts.”

This creative spirit continues today, she said, adding that the facility hosted more than 125 individual events last year and will grow that number this year, especially with the opening of the new space in the renovated former fire station.

“We’ll be able to do much more intimate performances there — things that are a little more niche and involving emerging artists and more local artists,” Martinson told BusinessWest. “And we’ll be able to rent that space out to local performing arts organizations.

“We’re really excited about that coming online,” she went on, adding that there have been some ‘sneak previews,’ with a planned opening for later in the year, probably the fall.

The auxiliary theater is part of a broader five-year strategic plan now in year two, said Martinson, adding that, in simple terms, the plan calls for bringing more performing arts than it already brings to its main stage and “reaching further into our community.”

That community includes Great Barrington residents, but also visitors from a wide radius, she said, adding that this town is a true destination, one that has made its way all the way back from the dark days of COVID.

And one that is looking to turn the loss of Bard College at Simon’s Rock into new opportunities.

Forest Park Zoo to Host Wine Safari on May 31

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Some like to have cheese with their wine, but the Zoo in Forest Park is pairing wine with animal encounters at its annual Wine Safari on Saturday, May 31 from 2 to 6 p.m. Guests will be guided on an adventure around the world as they sample wine from different countries while meeting and learning about animals native to that region.

“How often do you get to drink wine for a good cause?” said Gabry Tyson, assistant executive director at the Zoo in Forest Park. “Wine Safari is a unique way to support our animals’ care, as many cannot survive in the wild for reasons related to injury, illness, permanent disability, or habituation to humans.”

Guests must be age 21 or older to attend. The $55 ticket includes wine samples from 2 to 6 p.m. (while supplies last), a reusable glass courtesy of MGM Springfield, food provided by Jersey Mike’s Longmeadow, and animal encounters and keeper talks from members of the Zoo’s animal care and education teams.

Advanced tickets are required to attend, and all IDs will be checked at the door. Tickets are limited and are on sale now at www.forestparkzoo.org/wine-safari.

The zoo will be open to the general public on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., but promptly at 1 p.m., it will close to the public to allow staff to prepare for Wine Safari.

Polish National Credit Union Promotes Shane Hall to Vice President of Marketing

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) announced the promotion of Shane Hall to vice president of Marketing.

Hall began his career with PNCU as a summer intern in 2016 and joined the team full-time in 2018 after completing his master’s degree. He will continue to lead the Marketing department and oversee all facets of marketing strategy, communications, and community engagement.

“Shane’s leadership and creative energy have elevated our brand presence across all platforms,” said James Kelly, president and CEO. “He brings a strong combination of marketing expertise, community focus, and professionalism to the role, and we’re excited for what’s ahead with Shane leading our marketing efforts.”

In his new role, Hall will continue to manage the marketing department and is responsible for the credit union’s digital marketing, advertising, sponsorships, and event coordination. He is known for his engaging public speaking style and active involvement in the community through hosting seminars, luncheons, and civic events on behalf of the credit union.

A graduate of Merrimack College, Hall holds both a master’s degree in management and a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in political science. He serves on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee and is also a board member for Providence Ministries.

He is also an Eagle Scout and an active member of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, where he currently serves on the budget & audit committee, as well as a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians James A. Curran Division 1 in Holyoke.

Holyoke Mall Begins Center Enhancement Project

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall announced the start of its Center Enhancement Project to revitalize and refresh the property with a number of improvements.

Over the next several months, customers will see enhancements including repaving lots and replacing curbs, updating landscaping, and painting the exterior of the mall. During this time, traffic patterns and available parking areas will be subject to change, and traffic will be redirected as needed.

While work is ongoing, the PVTA bus stop has been temporarily relocated. The stop located in the yellow lot near JCPenney has moved to the lower green lot near Best Buy and the outer ring road. This relocation will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

“We’re excited for this refresh and committed to making investments in the property,” said Kristen Hinckley, Marketing director. “We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as we work to enhance their shopping experience.”

United Way of Pioneer Valley to Host Board Retention, Recruitment Training Workshop

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) will host a facilitated workshop focused on board retention, recruitment, and finding the right board members for one’s nonprofit. It will be held on Thursday, May 29 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the TD Bank Conference Room at 1441 Main St., Springfield.

The discussion will be co-led by Rebecca Coolong of Human Service Forum and Sarah Tanner of Financial Development Agency. The roundtable discussion will center on exploring and sharing successful approaches toward attracting the right fit of individuals to an organization and how to keep them engaged and productive. Participants are encouraged to come with specific challenges to discuss and best practices to share with the group.

To register, visit onboard-workshop.eventbrite.com.

Picture This

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On April 21, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s ninth annual Hoop Up Springfield Basketball Tournament & Summer Job Fair brought together more than 150 attendees from across Hampden County for a day of athletic competition, career exploration, and community connection at American International College
Picture This

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

 

Shoot, Score, Get a Job

On April 21, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s ninth annual Hoop Up Springfield Basketball Tournament & Summer Job Fair brought together more than 150 attendees from across Hampden County for a day of athletic competition, career exploration, and community connection at American International College. Youth basketball teams competed in a fast-paced 3-on-3 tournament, while others participated in a cheerleading clinic led by local professionals. At the job fair, more than a dozen local employers offered summer job opportunities to high-school students.

On April 21, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s ninth annual Hoop Up Springfield Basketball Tournament & Summer Job Fair brought together more than 150 attendees from across Hampden County for a day of athletic competition, career exploration, and community connection at American International College

On April 21, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s ninth annual Hoop Up Springfield Basketball Tournament & Summer Job Fair brought together more than 150 attendees from across Hampden County for a day of athletic competition, career exploration, and community connection at American International College

 

 

Rebuilding Healthy Neighborhoods

Monson Savings Bank recently donated $10,000 to Revitalize Community Development Corp. in support of its 33rd #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild event on April 26 at Calhoun Park in Springfield. #GreenNFit brings together hundreds of volunteers to transform multiple homes in a single day. This year, more than 20 Monson Savings Bank team members rolled up their sleeves to work alongside more than 700 community volunteers on the project, which impacted 11 homes, the Miracle House, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, and the park itself.

Monson Savings Bank recently donated $10,000 to Revitalize Community Development Corp. in support of its 33rd #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild event on April 26 at Calhoun Park in Springfield.

Monson Savings Bank recently donated $10,000 to Revitalize Community Development Corp. in support of its 33rd #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild event on April 26 at Calhoun Park in Springfield.

 

New Space, Same Mission

On May 1, Girls Inc. of the Valley unveiled its newly renovated program space to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of all girls and alumni leading up to Girls Inc. Week 2025 and Girls Inc. Together – Day of Giving. Girls Inc. of the Valley is encouraging the community to support it in addressing a critical issue facing youth today: mental health. Guests at the event also heard from award-winning children’s book author and keynote speaker Lesléa Newman.

Pictured: Girls Inc. of the Valley Executive Director Suzanne Parker (back row, center) and members of the board of directors. (Photo by Hillary Lynn Photography)

Pictured: Girls Inc. of the Valley Executive Director Suzanne Parker (back row, center) and members of the board of directors. (Photo by Hillary Lynn Photography)

 

Foster Care Awareness

In recognition of Foster Care Awareness Month in May, All Our Kids Inc. (AOK) launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by foster families and the state of foster care in Western Mass. As part of those efforts, All Our Kids hosted an open house on May 7. Marianna Litovich (pictured second from right, with AOK board members) founded the nonprofit and has grown it over the past decade as an organization dedicated to building community, providing resources, and increasing public awareness of the foster care system while encouraging active community involvement. (Photo by Hillary Lynn Photography)

All Our Kids hosted an open house on May 7. Marianna Litovich (pictured second from right, with AOK board members) founded the nonprofit and has grown it over the past decade as an organization dedicated to building community, providing resources, and increasing public awareness of the foster care system while encouraging active community involvement. (Photo by Hillary Lynn Photography)

All Our Kids hosted an open house on May 7. Marianna Litovich (pictured second from right, with AOK board members) founded the nonprofit and has grown it over the past decade as an organization dedicated to building community, providing resources, and increasing public awareness of the foster care system while encouraging active community involvement. (Photo by Hillary Lynn Photography)

 

 

Honoring a Community Champion

Springfield Partners for Community Action honored Paul Bailey for his 24-year tenure as the organization’s leader on May 3 at the Sheraton in Springfield. Bailey officially retired on Jan. 31. Under his leadership, Springfield Partners increased revenue and funding by more than $4 million, and he oversaw the development and implementation of many new services. In 2024, Springfield Partners celebrated 60 years of serving more than 7,000 area residents each year through its various programs, which include home and energy services, income tax assistance, money management, transportation, veterans’ services, and scholarships.

Springfield Partners for Community Action honored Paul Bailey for his 24-year tenure as the organization’s leader on May 3 at the Sheraton in Springfield

Springfield Partners for Community Action honored Paul Bailey for his 24-year tenure as the organization’s leader on May 3 at the Sheraton in Springfield

 

 

Agenda

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Agenda

For more events, or to submit your upcoming events, visit BusinessWest’s event calendar online: https://businesswest.com/eventcalendar

 

Free Music Fridays

b Summer in New England starts early this year as live music returns to MGM Springfield with the Free Music Fridays Concert Series. Every Friday through Sept. 5, some of the area’s most popular bands and national artists will perform on the Plaza at MGM Springfield in the city’s South End, starting at 7:30 p.m. (weather permitting), with the exception of the July 4 performance, which will begin at 6 p.m. Local favorites such as Trailer Trash, Back in Black, Malado!, and Aquanett will return to the stage, along with newcomers including Neon 90’s, Green Day tribute Dookie, the music of Billy Joel and Elton John with Billy and the Jets, and Springsteen rockers Tramps Like Us. MGM Springfield will continue its partnership with White Lion Brewing to provide guests with a wide selection of craft beer during each Free Music Fridays concert. The series will also feature local food trucks, including Dev’s Mac N Eats, Batch Ice Cream, Wake the Dead Donuts, Jeannie’s Weenies, and the return of MGM Springfield’s Guac This Way.

 

Walk to Cure Arthritis

June 1: The Arthritis Foundation announced that the Western Massachusetts Walk to Cure Arthritis will take place at Stanley Park in Westfield. Funds raised through donations to the Walk to Cure Arthritis will support the foundation’s ability to fund scientific research and continue to provide services and resources to the arthritis community. Walk to Cure Arthritis celebrates the community of arthritis patients of all ages, their caregivers, and everyone in the movement to conquer the disease. Ashley Scott is this year’s young adult walk honoree. She will be celebrated for her perseverance in her battle with arthritis and her strong support of the foundation’s mission. In addition, the following people will be honored: Grace Malave, juvenile idiopathic arthritis youth honoree, and Bill Squires, rheumatoid arthritis adult honoree. Residents can register and begin fundraising for the Western Massachusetts Walk to Cure Arthritis and learn more about the event by visiting www.walktocurearthritis.org/westernma or calling Hannah Hergenrather at (781) 312-9635.

 

Holyoke Paper Festival

June 7: The inaugural Holyoke Paper Festival is set to bring a one-day celebration of art, paper, and place to downtown Holyoke at the De La Luz Soundstage, 114 Race St. This new event celebrates Holyoke’s unique identity as the Paper City, once producing an estimated 80% of the writing paper used in the U.S. during the late 1800s. Today, artists and community members continue to be inspired by Holyoke’s history of innovation, its vibrant arts scene, and its powerful connection to the Connecticut River and the land of the Pocomtuc, Agawam, and Nonotuck peoples. Festival attendees can look forward to a full day of programming including a fine art exhibition, interactive workshops, guest speakers, local tours, and more, all highlighting the legacy and future of paper as a creative medium. Entries to the art exhibition have been received from artists across the country, underscoring Holyoke’s national significance in paper and printmaking culture. The Holyoke Paper Festival is made possible by support from MassDevelopment, the Holyoke Local Cultural Council, Holyoke Community College, and local business and property owners. To learn more about the festival or to get involved as a sponsor, volunteer, or donor, visit www.holyokepaperfestival.com for the latest updates and details.

 

Melinda Rosenblatt Lecture

June 8: The Yiddish Book Center will host its annual Melinda Rosenblatt Lecture at 2 p.m., featuring Aaron Lansky, the center’s founder and longtime president. In what will be his final public talk as president, Lansky will reflect on the improbable beginnings of the center, its evolution over 45 years, and his hopes for the future under the direction of longtime executive director Susan Bronson. The lecture will be followed by a celebratory reception. It is free and open to the public, with both in-person and livestream viewing options available. For more information and to register, visit yiddishbookcenter.org/rosenblatt. Lansky founded the Yiddish Book Center in 1980, when he took what he thought would be a two-year leave of absence from graduate school to recover endangered Yiddish books. Through the years, the Yiddish Book Center has evolved into an internationally renowned cultural and educational center, sharing Yiddish language, literature, and culture with new audiences. Noteworthy initiatives include educational programs for learners of all ages, fellowship programs, an oral history project, a publishing imprint, and a textbook that has transformed Yiddish-language learning. Lansky’s talk on June 8 will be a culmination of his decades of work building and leading the center and a chance to reflect on the journey with the community that has supported it.

 

40 Under Forty

June 19: BusinessWest will celebrate the 19th annual 40 Under Forty Gala at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The class of 2025 is profiled in the April 28 issue and at businesswest.com. The presenting sponsor of this year’s 40 Under Forty is PeoplesBank. Partner sponsors include Live Nation Premium, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, and the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Health New England is the presenting sponsor of the Alumni Achievement Award, the winner of which will be announced at the gala. Tickets cost $125. If they are not sold out, they may be purchased at businesswest.com/eventcalendar/40-under-forty-event-gala.

 

Hooplandia 2025

June 20-22: Registration is now open for Hooplandia, the third annual 3-on-3 basketball tourney and festival, at hooplandia.com. The event will take place at Eastern States Exposition (ESE) and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Games will be played at the ESE complex, with special games held at the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2024, 75 basketball courts allowed accommodation for more than 650 games played by approximately 2,100 participants of all ages. Diverse divisions include young girls and boys, women, men, high-school ages, college level, OGs, veterans, and more. Fees range according to age. Players in the Special Olympics and Unified division can look forward to free registration, and those in the Hoops & Heroes division, such as active and retired first responders and military personnel, have access to discounted registration. Players are invited to build teams of four, create their own unique team name, design their uniforms, and register at hooplandia.com.

 

Feed the Kids Charity Golf Tournament

July 14: Feed the Kids, a local nonprofit focused on fighting childhood hunger, is seeking sponsors and donated auction items for its eighth annual Feed the Kids Charity Golf Tournament at Springfield Country Club. The event, which will include an online auction open to all, benefits local organizations that work to ensure children do not go hungry, including Square One, the Holyoke Weekend Backpack Program, Pioneer Valley Powerpacks, and Team No Kid Hungry. Local individuals and businesses can also support the cause by donating items or services for the silent auction portion of the event. The online auction will be open to the community for bids beginning on July 1 and will end on July 14, the day of the golf tournament. For more information or to sponsor the event, visit feedthekidsgolf.com and click ‘Register Now.’ To donation auction items, email Kadushin at [email protected].

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Nicolle Cestero

Nicolle Cestero

The American International College (AIC) board of trustees announced that Nicolle Cestero has been unanimously selected as the 13th president of the 140-year-old institution. She began serving as interim president in March 2024, following her tenure as executive vice president, chief operating officer, and chief of staff. As interim president, Cestero led the launch of Pathway to Progress, a wide-ranging business plan introduced in November 2024 to guide the college’s direction in the coming years. The plan outlines significant updates to AIC’s operations, including a revised academic portfolio, expanded degree offerings, new enrollment strategies, and streamlined athletic programming. In tandem with this work, she provided focused leadership on long-term financial sustainability, strengthened donor engagement, and initiatives that enhance the student experience through access, inclusion, and academic success. During her time as chief operating officer, Cestero managed the day-to-day operations of the college, served as a senior advisor to the president, and played a key role in implementing AIC’s strategic plan. She oversaw legal affairs, supported institutional initiatives, and was a member of the president’s cabinet and all board committees. Before joining AIC in 2011, she began her professional career in New York City at the Council on Foreign Relations, a leading non-partisan think tank focused on global affairs. She holds an MBA from AIC, a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of West Florida, and bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College. She is certified as a professional in human resources and holds the certified professional designation from the Society for Human Resource Management. Cestero’s appointment, effective July 1, 2025, marks the first time a woman has been named president of AIC since its founding in 1885. She is the second woman to serve as interim president; the first was Edith Scott Magna in 1946.

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Brian Mathes

Brian Mathes

Corey Moquin

Corey Moquin

bankESB announced the addition of two new professionals to strengthen financial strategy and digital engagement. Brian Mathes was recently hired as vice president, ALM officer. Mathes will support all banks within the Hometown Financial Group family of banks, including bankESB, bankHometown, North Shore Bank, and Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank, as well as Hometown Mortgage. He will be based at bankESB’s 36 Main St., Easthampton office as well as bankHometown’s 31 Sutton Ave., Oxford office. Mathes has 25 years of banking experience. Before joining bankESB, he was vice president at Main Street Bank and, before that, vice president at State Street Corp. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the bank’s asset liability management strategy, optimizing balance sheet performance, and supporting long-term financial planning and risk management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Tulane University and a master’s degree in business administration from Boston University. Corey Moquin has been appointed social media manager, based at bankESB’s 36 Main St., Easthampton office. Moquin earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from UMass Amherst. He joins the bank from Western Mass News, where he was senior marketing producer. In this new role, he will manage social media accounts for all of Hometown Financial Group.

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Country Bank announced that Cristina Consalvo has been named assistant vice president of Marketing. She brings more than 13 years of diverse marketing experience to the bank, with a background spanning the financial services, insurance, and cannabis industries. Her expertise includes marketing communications, digital strategy, media planning, website management, and event coordination. Most recently, she was the marketing director for three brands simultaneously in a corporate B2B setting, overseeing everything from lead generation and public relations to website redesigns and advertising campaigns. Consalvo holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in management from Quinnipiac University. She was recently recognized as the 2024 Marketer of the Year by the ADCANN Cannabis Advertising Awards, an honor awarded to just one individual across the country. She serves as a strategic advisor and board member of TeeHC Open, a non-traditional networking event in the cannabis industry that brings more than 500 professionals together annually. She has also been a brand partner with Young Living Essential Oils, sharing her passion for living a clean, non-toxic lifestyle for the last four years.

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Brandon Okezie

Brandon Okezie

Baystate Health announced the appointment of Brandon Okezie as the new president and chief operating officer of Baystate Noble Hospital, effective May 5. Okezie brings a dynamic leadership style grounded in relationship building, results-oriented strategy, and a deep commitment to patient-centered care. With a strong track record in quality improvement, operational excellence, and service line development, he is well-positioned to lead Baystate Noble Hospital into its next chapter of growth and innovation. Most recently, Okezie served as associate administrator at the George Washington University Hospital, a 385-bed, tertiary care, academic medical center in Washington, D.C., which includes a level I trauma center and level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In this role, he oversaw operations for multiple support and ancillary services, including rehabilitation, food and nutrition, environmental services, security, plant operations, and biomedical engineering. He also led key hospital-wide initiatives focused on service line growth, physician alignment, and operational efficiency. Prior to his tenure at George Washington, Okezie held several progressive leadership roles within Centura Health, notably serving as director of Hospital Operations at St. Anthony North Hospital in Westminster, Colo. There, he played a pivotal role in managing the development of an $89 million patient-care tower and a $27 million cancer center. Okezie earned a bachelor of healthcare administration degree from Texas State University and a master of health administration degree from Cornell University. He is a Next Generation Leaders fellow with the American Hospital Assoc. and holds active memberships in both the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Assoc. of Health Services Executives.

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Nathan Dion

Nathan Dion

Nathan Dion, a digital public relations analyst for Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAi), earned several new digital marketing certifications from LinkedIn and Meta. Dion worked for two years under the supervision of Los Angeles-based James Garvey, vice president of Digital Marketing for GCAi, before taking over specific client accounts. His new certifications include LinkedIn Advertising Fundamentals (launching successful LinkedIn advertising campaigns, optimizing targeting and reporting), LinkedIn Advertising Marketing Strategy (full-funnel marketing strategy and using LinkedIn for brand awareness and lead generation), and Meta Digital Marketing Associate (campaign creation, management, and reporting through Meta Ads Manager). Dion is also an experienced video producer and has worked on video productions for automotive, financial services, and retail clients, managing the film crew and working in the GCAi edit suite. Some of his most recent work includes pro bono videos for Square One, Tech Foundry, and Helix Human Services. Dion is a Westfield State University graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in communication with a dual concentration in media arts and analysis and public relations, while minoring in graphic design.

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Berkshire Bank announced that Heather Hans, vice president, consumer lending compliance officer, has been named its 2025 Volunteer of the Year. Hans, who donated more than 400 hours last year to volunteering, was selected based on the number of hours she volunteered and because she volunteers with a variety of organizations and actively participates in both company-sponsored events as well as personal activities. Another 19 employees have been named to the company’s 2025 Volunteer Honor Roll for each having volunteered more than 150 hours in 2024. Collectively, Berkshire Bank employees achieved a milestone in 2024: 100% volunteered in their communities. That included more than 250 company-sponsored projects with more than 11,500 hours of service across Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, as well as thousands more hours volunteering as individuals in their hometown communities.

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Kate Blackwell

Kate Blackwell

Monson Savings Bank announced the promotion of Kate Blackwell to assistant branch manager of the bank’s Ware branch. In this new role, Blackwell will support branch operations, ensure exceptional customer service, guide staff development, and continue to grow strong banking relationships with new and existing customers. Blackwell joined Monson Savings Bank nearly six years ago. Before starting her career in banking, she owned and operated her own massage therapy business for five years, where she developed a strong foundation in customer service and small business management. Since joining MSB, she has continued to build on that experience, culminating in being named the bank’s first-ever President’s Award winner for her outstanding performance.

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Ashley Benson

Ashley Benson

Matthew Lauro

Matthew Lauro

Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced the election of Ashley Benson, founder and owner of Optimal Healing, LLC, and Matthew Lauro, senior vice president and Western Massachusetts commercial team leader at MountainOne Bank, to the BHS board of trustees. Benson is a psychotherapist, consultant, and clinical supervisor. A dedicated mental-health professional with over two decades of experience in social work and clinical practice, she founded her practice in 2019 to provide holistic health resources to the community and formally established Optimal Healing in 2022. She specializes in trauma-focused care and the treatment of children, adolescents and families. Benson earned her undergraduate degree from Berkshire Community College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, followed by a master’s degree in social work from Smith College. Committed to continuous learning and leadership in the field, she holds two post-graduate certifications: advanced clinical social work supervision from the Smith College School for Social Work and advanced practice with children & adolescents from Springfield College. Lauro is responsible for managing existing portfolio risk, loan growth, and a team of commercial bankers at MountainOne. He is active in the community as a board member for Berkshire Education and Correction in Pittsfield, former national council member of the Avon Old Farms School for Boys in Avon, Conn., and former trustee of the Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust. He received his bachelor’s degree in business management from the Lally School of Business Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. Departing the BHS board of trustees are Timothy Burke, Barton Raser, and Dr. John Loiodice, who provided leadership and service to Berkshire Health Systems for many years.

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Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GSB) recently announced five promotions. Brandon Lively has been promoted to executive vice president, chief technology officer. He started at GSB as a teller more than 25 years ago and has progressively advanced through various roles. For many years, he has led the bank’s IT initiatives and will now continue to drive technological advancements in his new role. Jackie Charron has been promoted to executive vice president, chief banking officer. Joining GCB in 2024, she brought with her more than 40 years of experience in the community banking sector. Victor Rodriguez Sr. has been promoted to vice president, community engagement mortgage officer. Since joining GCB in 2024, Rodriguez has demonstrated an unwavering passion for the community, backed by more than 20 years of banking experience. Matthew Donovan has been promoted to commercial lending officer. He joined GCB in 2023, bringing several years of credit experience. He previouly served as a senior credit analyst and most recently as a commercial associate lender. Ethan McCandless has been promoted to collections officer. McCandless has been with GCB since 2020, initially joining as a residential loan closer. Over the past five years, he has worked within both the residential and commercial lending departments, most recently as a credit analyst.

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Jon Kostek

Jon Kostek

The Chamber of Greater Easthampton recently welcomed Jon Kostek as its new executive director. He is a lifelong resident of Western Mass., raised in Hampshire County, with a deep-rooted commitment to helping the local community flourish. Kostek began his professional journey in retail management and buying, eventually bringing his leadership and strategic insight to USTA New England, where he spent the past 20 years. He is known for building strong, long-term relationships and is passionate about partnership development, membership growth, and meaningful community engagement. Actively involved in local governance, he serves on several town committees.

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Amanda Constantilos

Amanda Constantilos

Florence Bank announced that Amanda Constantilos has been promoted to manager of the bank’s King Street branch in Northampton. Constantilos joined the bank’s team in 2016 as a senior teller, and since, she has served as a teller operations manager at the Granby branch and as a customer service representative and assistant branch manager in Hadley. She has 19 years of experience in the banking industry and is skilled in customer service, teamwork, communication, problem solving, and employee development. In her new role, which she assumed in May, Constantilos is responsible for leadership and team development, decision making, and community engagement.

•••••

Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. announced three new staff additions. Kim Vadnais is joining the firm as director of Employee Benefits. She comes to Phillips Insurance after a 24-year career at Complete Benefit Solutions, where she handled benefit plan designs for larger employers throughout New England. She is a licensed benefits agent and brings senior-level expertise to benefit administration. Telisha Marshall has joined Phillips as a Commercial Lines account manager. A graduate of the University of Florida, she has more than 10 years of experience in commercial insurance. She is a licensed broker and most recently worked at a publicly traded national broker handling complex accounts. Kelly Kuenzel has joined Phillips as a Personal Lines account manager. She has several years of insurance expertise and has earned her insurance brokerage license. She will work with individuals in personal insurance plan design.

•••••

Country Bank announced the appointment of Kevin Hamel, CISM, to its board of trustees. Hamel brings more than 30 years of experience managing information technology, cybersecurity, and risk management in the financial and healthcare sectors. With more than 15 years of direct board interaction at the executive level, he has cultivated a deep understanding of the strategic and operational challenges of today’s organizations.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

V-One Vodka Celebrates 20 Years in Business

HADLEY — V-One Vodka, the Polish vodka brand founded by Paul Kozub, is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025. From humble beginnings in Kozub’s Massachusetts basement to becoming internationally recognized, V-One has remained committed to crafting the finest vodka using 100% organic spelt grain. Over two decades, the brand has expanded its reach across New England and beyond, earning numerous awards and accolades for its innovative flavors and dedication to quality. The milestone highlights V-One’s journey from selling its first cases in 2005 to establishing a state-of-the-art distillery in Kamień, Poland, which enables full control over production and a capacity to scale up to 1 million cases annually. As part of its commitment to growth, V-One plans to continue expanding into new states and countries, with a focus on sharing its story and products with more consumers worldwide. To mark the 20th anniversary, V-One Vodka will host celebratory events across its key markets later this year, featuring exclusive tastings of its award-winning vodka flavors and opportunities for attendees to learn about the brand’s rich history and innovative production process. In addition, Kozub is targeting new markets, such as Florida and New York, in the coming months.

 

Mill Town Capital Drives $132 Million in Economic Impact

PITTSFIELD — Impact investment platform Mill Town Capital has delivered a total economic impact of $132 million across Berkshire County from 2017 to 2023, according to a new independent analysis by the UMass Donahue Institute (UMDI). The study highlights how Mill Town’s investments in local businesses, real estate, and infrastructure, along with philanthropic programming, are generating lasting economic impact and revitalization in the region. Mill Town, founded in 2016 by Dave Mixer, strives to improve quality of life in the community through sustainable projects and investments. Using the IMPLAN economic modeling system, UMDI quantified the direct, indirect, and induced effects of Mill Town’s activity. Key findings include $132 million in total economic impact, with $107.3 million (81%) in Pittsfield alone; an economic multiplier of 1.42, with every $100 generated by Mill Town spurring an additional $42 in local economic activity; 672 workers connected to Mill Town activity in 2023, up from just three in 2017; and $5.1 million in local tax revenues driven by investment and job creation.

 

NextLevel Cowork Opens New Space in Agawam

AGAWAM — NextLevel Cowork, a cutting-edge co-working space, announced the opening of its new co-working community. Located in the Industrial Park in Agawam, NextLevel Cowork offers a range of flexible workspaces designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and growth for freelancers, entrepreneurs, startups, and remote teams interested in elevating their work experience. NextLevel Cowork offers a variety of membership options, from open desks to private offices, each thoughtfully designed to create an optimal work environment that nurtures productivity and well-being. Features include workspaces equipped with high-speed internet, ergonomic furniture, modern meeting rooms, and fully equipped conference areas and training rooms; community engagement opportunities including member networking events, workshops, and seminars designed to cultivate connection and professional growth; and flexible membership plans tailored to meet the needs of both individuals and teams, with no long-term commitment required.

 

Lee Bank Foundation Awards $69,800 in Latest Grant Cycle

LEE — The Lee Bank Foundation awarded $69,800 in grant funding to 13 Berkshire-based nonprofits as part of its first funding cycle of 2025. This investment underscores the foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting programs that meet vital community needs and promote equity and opportunity across the region. Grants range from $2,500 to $10,000 and support initiatives across a variety of sectors, including education, economic development, health services, and the arts. The 2025 first-round grant recipients are Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Berkshire Community Diaper Project, Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, Berkshire Innovation Center, Berkshire Nursing Families, Community Recreation Assoc., Construct, Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Assoc., Hilltown Village Inc. d/b/a It Takes a Village, Literacy Network of South Berkshire, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Sonrisas, and the Railroad Street Youth Project.

 

Florence Bank Supports #GreenNFit Rebuild

FLORENCE — Florence Bank supported Revitalize CDC’s 2025 #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild event on April 26 with a $10,000 block sponsorship and a record number of bank volunteers lending a hand. For several years, the bank and its employees have supported the organization and its mission to improve homes, neighborhoods, and lives through preservation, education, and community involvement. Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer Joe Kulig, a Revitalize CDC board member for more than 25 years, and Nikki Gleason, vice president and manager of the West Springfield branch, are house captains for the bank’s project, inspiring other bank employees to take part. On April 26, hundreds of community volunteers made critical repairs and modifications to the homes of low-income families with children, elderly, military veterans, and people with special needs in the Calhoun Park area of Springfield’s North End. Fifteen Florence Bank employees took part. Work included yard cleanup, exterior painting, and fixing decks and stairs. Revitalize CDC was founded in 1992 as an all-volunteer agency that raised roughly $40,000 each year and assisted about five families annually. Today, it serves more than 800 families a year with a $5 million annual budget. Revitalize CDC serves Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, with its primary reach in Holyoke, Chicopee, and Springfield. The goal of #GreenNFit is to make homes more energy-efficient, safe, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing.

 

Freedom Credit Union Donations Support Nonprofits

SPRINGFIELD — Every month, Freedom Credit Union collects donations for different charities as part of its Month of Giving campaign. This year, Freedom asked its members to nominate their favorite charities as beneficiaries. During January, February, and March, Freedom Credit Union collected and donated more than $2,738 to three local organizations. In January, nearly $703 was raised for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. In February, donations added up to more than $1,091 for the Foundation for TJO Animals in Springfield and the Franklin County Regional Dog Shelter in Turners Falls. In March, more than $944 went to Shriners Children’s New England in Springfield. Money collected through the end of May will support A Bed for Every Child, an organization that provides beds for children who don’t have appropriate sleeping arrangements.

 

bankESB Supports Riverside Industry’s Annual Auction

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB announced its sponsorship of the Riverside Industries annual auction, which took place on May 2. As part of a $15,000, multi-year commitment to support Riverside’s mission of empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, bankESB recently met with representatives from Riverside to present them with this year’s contribution. Riverside Industries’ annual auction is a cornerstone fundraising event that directly supports essential services, vocational training, and community programs that help individuals live more independent and fulfilling lives. bankESB’s ongoing commitment underscores its dedication to strengthening the communities it serves. This year’s auction brought the community together for an evening of celebration, generosity, and connection, all while raising critical funds for a meaningful cause.

 

Helix Human Services Celebrates 160 Years

SPRINGFIELD — Helix Human Services, formerly known as the Children’s Study Home, is celebrating 160 years of dedication to individuals and families affected by trauma. Founded on April 27, 1865 in the wake of the Civil War, Helix stands today as one of the state’s oldest human services organizations and as Springfield’s oldest nonprofit, anchored by its enduring mission to help people find strength in the face of adversity. From its beginnings as the Springfield Home for Friendless Women and Children, Helix was established by a visionary group of women who saw the urgent need to support young women emerging from incarceration and children orphaned by war. What began as temporary shelter became a lasting commitment to care — one that grew with the help of community leaders and continues to evolve with the times. Today, Helix Human Services provides a continuum of trauma-informed care for children, youth, adults, and families across Massachusetts. With core locations in Springfield, Holyoke, Richmond, and Hyannis, Helix is best known for supporting children and youth referred by state agencies, while also expanding its impact to include community-based adult and family programs.

 

Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start Marks 60 Years

SPRINGFIELD — This month marks 60 years since the inception of Head Start, the nation’s most comprehensive early-childhood education program. Since the organization’s founding in 1965, Head Start has helped more than 37 million children across the U.S. prepare for school and build strong foundations for lifelong learning and well-being, while also providing resources for families and caregivers. Locally, Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start (HCS Head Start) has been a proud part of this 60-year legacy, serving thousands of children and families in neighborhoods across Western Mass. With a mission to provide every child with the opportunity to thrive, HCS Head Start continues to serve as a cornerstone of high-quality early education, comprehensive services, and holistic family support. To mark the 60-year milestone, HCS Head Start hosted birthday-themed activities across its sites throughout May to honor the impact of Head Start in area communities, from classroom celebrations to staff appreciation events.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Mutti Insurance Services Inc., 418 Meadow St., Unit A2, Agawam, MA 01001. Kyle Mutti, same. Insurance services.

AMHERST

M&J Oriental Flavor Inc., 25 South Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01002. Jianwei Gao, same. Restaurant.

CHICOPEE

ABA Ventures Inc., 143 Hampden St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Anatolii Barbaniahra, same. Long-distance transportation.

Just Us Movement Inc., 45 Theroux Dr., Apt. L, Chicopee, MA 01020. Zeno Temple, 210 Pine St., Manchester, CT 06040. Nonprofit organization empowering communities by providing accessible legal advocacy, educational resources, and health initiatives that promote justice, equity, and public safety.

EAST LONGMEADOW

JR Shafii Inc., 79 Old Farm Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Reza Shafii, same. Offset printing, copying, and duplicating services to include, but not limited to, typing, typesetting, and offset printing for the production of flyers, mailers, posters, brochures, and stationery.

FEEDING HILLS

Pacific Horizon Trade Inc., 71 Depalma St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Omar Aljarrah, same. General trade import and export of goods and auto parts.

HOLYOKE

Reset Health Inc., 1767 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Ramon Lorenzi, same. Mental health services.

LONGMEADOW

Ever Green Logistics Inc., 84 South Brook Road East, Longmeadow, MA 01028. Spurgeon Wamala, same. Real estate management, transportation services, and home healthcare services.

NORTHAMPTON

Evero Inc., 167 Emerson Way, Northampton, MA 01062. Amy Church McDonough, same. Real estate holding and to own, buy, sell, manage, develop, lease, and otherwise operate real property.

PITTSFIELD

Alder Lane Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Tessa Steiniche, same. Online and in-store retail sales.

Aspen Creek Wealth Strategies Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Julie Morrow, same. Insurance agency.

Eleventh House Africa Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Tessa Steiniche, same. Charitable organization for the making of distributions to similar organizations that qualify as tax-exempt organizations under the federal tax code.

Kairos Alianza Global Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Juan Rosario González, same. Creates a positive and transformative impact at the local, state, and federal levels through the organization and execution of diverse events, and fostering social, spiritual, and community development through concerts, conferences, workshops, festivals, leadership forums, mission trips, and cultural gatherings.

Nashoba Valley Pride Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jael Gorham, same. Nonprofit organization providing support for the local LGBTQ+ community.

Reinforcement Learning Conference Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Phil Thomas, same. Nonprofit organization focused on organizing a series of professional meetings and the publication of its proceedings.

Soul Space Community Inc., 23 Alma St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Holly Benzenhafer, same. Nonprofit organization established to host events, workshops, guest speakers, performances, and artists inspired by sacred spiritual practices from various wisdom traditions, religions, and cultures.

SHEFFIELD

Ponte Restaurant Berkshires Inc., 650 North Main St., Sheffield, MA 01257. Michael Smith, same. Restaurant.

SOUTH HADLEY

Saigon Chef Inc., 481 Newton St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Men Lam, 219 Oakland St., Apt D, Manchester, CT 06042. Vietnamese restaurant.

SPRINGFIELD

Farrova Forren Inc., 62 Berkshire St., Springfield, MA 02141. Autumn Hines, same. Buying and renovating homes to resell them.

Petra Hookah Lounge Inc., 270 Worthington St., Springfield, MA 01103. Kamil Agayev, same. Restaurant and hookah lounge.

Royal Market Inc., 1003 Saint James St., Springfield, MA 01104. Mahmoud Alkwakneh, same. Sales of general merchandise.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Able Property Management Corp., 150 Front St., #1B, West Springfield, MA 01089. Johanna Rivera, 777 Springfield St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Real estate property management and maintenance service.

Pioneer Valley Doula Collaborative Inc., 9 Albert St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Jennifer Walts, same. Nonprofit organization providing professional development programs for a diverse group of local doulas to make their work more sustainable in the community.

WILBRAHAM

ASE Enterprises Inc., 751 Main St., Wilbraham, MA 01095. Anthony Maloni, same. Real estate development, purchase, and rental.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

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

AMHERST

Allegra Leadership Ventures
60 Country Corners Road
Allegra Sandak

BK Plumbing
86 Bridge St.
William Kimball III

Centered Vessel
70 Red Gate Lane
Maxine Oland

Coaching with Janet
171 State St.
Janet Bucciarelli

Conductive Futures Consulting
75 Larkspur Dr.
Ionel Halaciuga

Edwards Realty
1449 South East St.
John Edwards

Mammoth Swim LLC
266 South Pleasant St.
Lianne McCluskey

Red Black Blues Hour
24 Greenleaves Dr., #412
Joyce Vincent

Renaissance School Inc.
867 North Pleasant St.
Dorothy Meyer

Waterwheel Design
4 Clifton Ave.
Patrick Hall

BELCHERTOWN

Atlas Marketplace & Delivery LLC
44 Depot St.
Colleen Maimaron

JP Maggi Paint & Construction
442B State St.
Joseph Maggi

Michael Pobieglo
620 Federal St.
Michael Pobieglo

Moonlit Honey Handmade Goods
403 East St.
Kathryn Workman

GREAT BARRINGTON

Frederic Gallery
33 Railroad St., #2
Emily Schwartz

Johnny M. Creations
7 Hart St.
John Mercer

Pixie Boulangerie LLC
198 Main St., Unit 1
Patrizia Barbagallo

Pleasant & Main
1063 Main St.
Craig Bero

Shaw Entertainment Group
70 Hollenback Ave.
Simon Shaw

Western MA Graphic Novels
152 Main St.
Andrew Sanders

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

HADLEY

AT&T Mobility
355 Russell St.
New Cingular Wireless PCS

Balise Subaru of Hadley
315 Russell St.
Balise SLS LLC

Barney Max Crafts
14 Lawrence Plain Road
Norma Kostek

Energy Unwinding
234 Russell St., #201
Energy Unwinding LLC

Galvin & Sons Masonry
87 Rocky Hill Road
Jason Galvin

Kellogg Builders
123 Huntington Road
Larry Kellogg

Kendrick Property Management
2 Bay Road, #100
Golec Properties LLC

M. Jolly Trucking
45 Knightly Road
Matthew Jolly

Northern Creek Farm
54 Chmura Road
Elizabeth Pelis

Pet Hotel Hadley
155 Russell St.
Every Pet’s Dream Inc.

PetSmart
367 Russell St.
Ken Hicks

WESTFIELD

Bloom & Bake
153 Russell Road
Bloom & Bake

H&T Tax Service
94 North Elm St.
Halina Czerniejewski

J + Landscaping
45 Cross St.
Tyler Beluzo

Luma Spa
160 Elm St.
Yunzhi Cotton

Power Global
1251 East Mountain Road
Jin Kwon

Readings by Brandy
69 Southwick Road
Readings by Brandy

Sage Engineering & Contracting Inc.
199 Servistar Industrial Way, #2
Frank DeMarinins

SRC Testing Laboratory
1 Arch Road, #12
Shawn Czepiel

Tool & Home Corp.
94 Meadow St.
Sajjad Ibrahim

Xander’s Spot Barber Shop
24 Elm St., #6
Eddie Assad

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Beauty Nails
201 Elm St.
Beauty Nails

Café Tamra
1440 Westfield St.
Café Tamra

Diamond Gold Inc.
389 Park St.
Diamond Gold Inc.

Graze Craze of West Springfield
777 Riverdale St.
Graze Craze of West Springfield

New Hope Bookworks
26 Gilbert St.
New Hope Bookworks

Powerhouse Gym
1452 Memorial Ave.
Club Camel Inc.

Red and Fred’s Auto Cleaning Service
44 Mulberry St.
Red and Fred’s Auto Cleaning Service

Roundabout Restaurant
164 Elm St.
Roundabout Restaurant

Savers
135 Memorial Ave.
TVI Inc.

Sunny Side Up Breakfast and Lunch LLC
46 Morgan Road
Sunny Side Up Breakfast and Lunch LLC

Taylor Tucker Facilitation and Design
30 Druids Lane
Taylor Tucker Facilitation and Design

USA Medical Supply
1779 Riverdale St.
USA Medical Supply

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

DEERFIELD

55 Eastern Ave.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Manohar Lalchandani
Seller: Jeremy Ober
Date: 04/18/25

70 North Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Paul Nicklin
Seller: Nunez, David J., (Estate)
Date: 04/18/25

ERVING

19 Swamp Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Maria Pedroso
Seller: Curtis R. Brunelle
Date: 04/18/25

GREENFIELD

84 Birch St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $365,100
Buyer: Florence MacGregor
Seller: Douglas J. Mahon
Date: 04/25/25

216 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Jon Bander
Seller: Pioneer Valley Redevelopment LLC
Date: 04/16/25

178 Fairview St., W
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Waldy Felipe
Seller: Tad J. Bassingthwaite
Date: 04/17/25

200 Mohawk Trail
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,950,000
Buyer: Paap Equities Inc.
Seller: Orion Pro Friend KP LLC
Date: 04/17/25

198 Wells St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Bryan Bertram
Seller: Richard P. Ely
Date: 04/16/25

LEVERETT

111 Amherst Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $505,050
Buyer: Paul K. Kipps
Seller: Arthur E. Carlisle RET
Date: 04/15/25

36 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Michele Miller
Seller: David T. Keenan
Date: 04/17/25

MONTAGUE

334 Federal St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Christopher S. Brooks
Seller: Diane Sirum LT
Date: 04/18/25

31 West St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $576,500
Buyer: Richard R. Sanford
Seller: Watroba, Marilyn C., (Estate)
Date: 04/25/25

NORTHFIELD

637 Mount Hermon Station Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Sarah Greenwood
Seller: Douglas W. Greenwood
Date: 04/16/25

ORANGE

81 Adams St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Owen King
Seller: Ann-Kristina Hartjens
Date: 04/23/25

64 Briggs St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $512,000
Buyer: Stephanie A. Smith
Seller: Bryan J. Long
Date: 04/18/25

212 Dana Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $354,000
Buyer: David Duncanson
Seller: Joyce A. Stevens
Date: 04/16/25

250 Holtshire Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Nancy F. Miniter
Seller: Dennis Piragis
Date: 04/15/25

15 Jones St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Deyanira Fernandez
Seller: Frizax Investments LLC
Date: 04/24/25

136 New Athol Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Orange Oz LLC
Seller: Quiddlers LLC
Date: 04/15/25

SHUTESBURY

42 Pelham Hill Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Meredith Pustell
Seller: Aaron W. Kaiser
Date: 04/25/25

25 Stowell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Madeleine E. Aronson
Seller: Julia M. Connor
Date: 04/23/25

564 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01002
Amount: $431,000
Buyer: Jonathan M. Jamroga
Seller: Arpc LLC
Date: 04/14/25

 

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

133 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: John Panaia
Seller: Cynthia A. Joyal
Date: 04/18/25

37 Brookline Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Caleb G. Ritter
Seller: Angela M. Dance
Date: 04/18/25

41 Channell Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Aldo Properties LLC
Seller: Naples Home Buyers TR
Date: 04/25/25

85 Edgewater Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Douglas G. Bliss
Seller: Scott R. Cormier
Date: 04/17/25

23 Edgewood Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Troy Gallerani
Seller: Lydia A. Sorel TR
Date: 04/15/25

38 High Meadow Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Michael Reed
Seller: Euliano, Susan Y., (Estate)
Date: 04/14/25

769 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Khalid Dhahir
Seller: Darren G. Longo
Date: 04/25/25

907 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Lee J. Poggi
Seller: Kurtz, Steven R., (Estate)
Date: 04/15/25

942-944 Shoemaker Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Florin Condorachi
Seller: James D. Roberts-Manning
Date: 04/17/25

945 Shoemaker Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Manchester Enterprises LLC
Seller: Robert E. Cardwell
Date: 04/25/25

230 Valley Brook Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Carmino Mineo
Seller: David Zuev
Date: 04/18/25

232 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Patricia Torres
Seller: Paul E. Illouz
Date: 04/16/25

BLANDFORD

124 Chester Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Elisha T. Jameson
Seller: Barbara J. Gliniak
Date: 04/25/25

CHICOPEE

62 America St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: David Geary
Seller: Johnny K. Ng
Date: 04/23/25

546 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Willimansett Holdings LLC
Seller: Willimansett Center West Real Estate
Date: 04/24/25

106 Columba St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Tara Stolki
Seller: Bradford K. Landry
Date: 04/23/25

6 Garrity St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Anthony Chonmany
Seller: E. M. Pray FT
Date: 04/14/25

671 James St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Bruce Engel
Seller: Gaudrault, Robert J., (Estate)
Date: 04/22/25

26 Lagadia St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Nathan Beaulieu
Seller: Ogrodnik, Joan Lily, (Estate)
Date: 04/25/25

43 Lorimer St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Cameron Sanderson
Seller: Debra M. Burdeau
Date: 04/25/25

9 Massachusetts Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Christian Andris
Seller: Koda Penny Realty LLC
Date: 04/23/25

91 Norman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Kathleen E. Germaine
Date: 04/25/25

584 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Paul J. Vincelette
Seller: Paul J. Vincelette
Date: 04/23/25

11 Saint Anthony St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Willimansett Holdings LLC
Seller: Willimansett Center East
Date: 04/24/25

246 Slate Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: 246 Slate Road LLC
Seller: Boron, Adolf, (Estate)
Date: 04/14/25

50 Taylor St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Pioneer Provence TR
Seller: Mary H. Maciaszek
Date: 04/25/25

47 Walter St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ericka Rivera
Seller: Tammie M. Finnell
Date: 04/22/25

52 Wellington Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Stazia Blair
Seller: Varakas RT
Date: 04/23/25

EAST LONGMEADOW

17 Day Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Pro Olive LLC
Seller: Margaret C. Byrne
Date: 04/18/25

23 Day Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $270,290
Buyer: Rmtp Trust Series 2021 Cottage
Seller: Cariel Wilkinson
Date: 04/15/25

182 Patterson Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brent Houle
Seller: Michael J. Trombley
Date: 04/24/25

HOLLAND

4 Lakeridge Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Jessica Hudson
Seller: Kevin M. Shaw
Date: 04/16/25

HOLYOKE

151 Allyn St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $421,909
Buyer: Avinash Sharma
Seller: Smart, Mary Kathleen, (Estate)
Date: 04/25/25

11 Claren Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: Segundo M. Chimborazo
Seller: Kristen A. Picard
Date: 04/17/25

70 Dupuis Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Ronny W. Authier
Seller: Pasternak, Alice C., (Estate)
Date: 04/14/25

1412 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: TY Realty LLC
Seller: Legacy Property Investment Group LLC
Date: 04/23/25

12 George Frost Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Hannah Pelkey
Seller: Ruth S. Rauluk
Date: 04/17/25

173 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Patrick Cahill
Seller: Robert L. Peltier
Date: 04/18/25

309 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Libby Coyner
Seller: Margaret A. Becker
Date: 04/25/25

12 Holyoke St.
Holyoke, MA 01027
Amount: $6,800,000
Buyer: Atlantic Cap Holyoke RETa
Seller: Holyoke Landing LLC
Date: 04/25/25

40-44 Holyoke St.
Holyoke, MA 01027
Amount: $6,800,000
Buyer: Atlantic Capital Holyoke RET
Seller: Holyoke Landing LLC
Date: 04/25/25

107 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Catrina S. Kim
Seller: Garrett J. Lavoie
Date: 04/24/25

2 Montgomery Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Angela M. Tissi-Gassoway
Seller: Kathryn A. Tremblay
Date: 04/17/25

43-45 Portland St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Our Legacy LLC
Seller: Susan S. Muyiggwa
Date: 04/15/25

16 Quinn Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Veronica E. Laurenitis
Seller: Mary L. Falcetti
Date: 04/16/25

31 South Mayer Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Mark B. Sampson
Seller: Thomas C. Wilhelmi
Date: 04/23/25

444 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Edwin R. Colon
Seller: Gurnider S. Dhaliwal
Date: 04/17/25

LONGMEADOW

109 Bel Air Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Jaime Margolis
Seller: Mark B. Sampson
Date: 04/23/25

70 Ferncroft St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: On The Mark LLC
Seller: George D. Armstrong RET
Date: 04/18/25

292 Pinewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: Mohammad E. Ramadan
Seller: Tara S. Wolman RET
Date: 04/16/25

116 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Ashley Smith
Seller: Collins, Louise M., (Estate)
Date: 04/15/25

134 Wimbleton Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Brenda Clevenger
Seller: Catherine M. Bussolari
Date: 04/15/25

LUDLOW

41 Barrett St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Tiana Lambert
Seller: Gitsit Real Property Bbplc1 LLC
Date: 04/23/25

162 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Megan A. Leone
Seller: Michael L. Roberts
Date: 04/23/25

345 Holyoke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Onpointe Holdings LLC
Seller: So Cool Realty LLC
Date: 04/25/25

1388 Lyon St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Kyle R. Nadeau
Seller: David J. Gabanelli
Date: 04/15/25

183 Reynolds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Samantha M. Dion
Seller: Eric A. Rucki
Date: 04/24/25

MONSON

84 Cote Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Megan C. Shaw
Seller: Langevin, Dorothy H., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/25

13-A Oak St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jomeysha T. Matrow
Seller: Paul Matrow
Date: 04/22/25

165 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Timothy P. Shea
Seller: Christopher J. Aubin
Date: 04/22/25

368 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: B&C Acres Farm LLC
Seller: Peter J. Lloyd
Date: 04/14/25

PALMER

280 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Randy Barnes
Seller: R-A-C-E Inc.
Date: 04/14/25

295 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Ryan C. Cobb
Seller: Samuel T. Gay
Date: 04/16/25

15 Maple Ter.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Barbara M. Schultz
Seller: Nathan Mumblo
Date: 04/16/25

2140 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Wicked Deals LLC
Seller: Regin A. Gagne
Date: 04/17/25

5 Ruggles St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Antonio A. Hernandez
Seller: Daniel R. Biegner
Date: 04/24/25

SPRINGFIELD

136 Albemarle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Betty Y. Hernandez
Seller: Coalie RT
Date: 04/18/25

138 Ardmore St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Joanne Barr
Seller: Sareen Properties LLC
Date: 04/14/25

128 Avery St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Mairym Hernandez
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 04/22/25

65 Bangor St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Zachary Zina
Seller: Luke Perry
Date: 04/17/25

63 Blueberry Hill St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $291,500
Buyer: Cali Kacoyannakis
Seller: Stephen A. Collins
Date: 04/25/25

770-800 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $8,579,044
Buyer: Rcg-Springfield PM LLC
Seller: Arg Bcsprma001 LLC
Date: 04/01/25

85 Braddock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $283,500
Buyer: Javier Santiago
Seller: Malia Homebuyers LLC
Date: 04/15/25

33 Brewster St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Robert W. Tongue
Seller: Erik J. Brennan
Date: 04/23/25

490 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $374,000
Buyer: Misael Gonzalez
Seller: Angel R. Villar
Date: 04/14/25

274 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Lyna T. Dao
Seller: Phoenix Development Inc.
Date: 04/25/25

292 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Erica Torrellas
Seller: Thuy Fuda
Date: 04/24/25

732 Cottage St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: JW Real Estate Holdings LLC
Seller: Ddmns Realty LLC
Date: 04/23/25

50 Drumlin Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Tracy Belanger
Seller: Lucia Milbier
Date: 04/18/25

30 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Widy Pena
Seller: Joejoe Properties LLC
Date: 04/18/25

51 East St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Dylan Rios
Seller: Margaret M. Hagopian
Date: 04/22/25

88 Fisher St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Betsy I. Torres
Seller: Abdel Velazquez
Date: 04/17/25

133-135 Fountain St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $229,600
Buyer: Cristhian B. Vasquez
Seller: David Neigher
Date: 04/15/25

452 Franklin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jermel Jacobs
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 04/22/25

26 Gates Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $422,000
Buyer: Anthony H. Nguyen
Seller: Paul E. Lietz
Date: 04/16/25

44 Hollywood St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $466,000
Buyer: Jony Fernandes
Seller: 44hollywood RT
Date: 04/17/25

23 Homestead Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Anthony D. Montalvo
Seller: Krisq & Johnnyb LLC
Date: 04/18/25

430 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Orlando R. Carrucini
Seller: Shoshana M. Porter
Date: 04/15/25

182 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Roberto Salinas
Seller: Aldo Properties LLC
Date: 04/15/25

305 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Nres LLC
Seller: India N. Tucker-Ross
Date: 04/23/25

74 Loretta St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Avery C. Orszulak
Seller: Celeste R. Orszulak
Date: 04/24/25

112 Lyons St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Kenneth Krzykowski
Seller: Madeline Cortes
Date: 04/18/25

297 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Elvis R. Leiva
Seller: Sanky Properties LLC
Date: 04/22/25

924-934 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: 924-934 Main St. Realty
Seller: J. & K. Real Estate Investments LLC
Date: 04/22/25

171 Massasoit St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Hanniel Victorino-Mejia
Seller: Ericka G. Carrillo
Date: 04/24/25

182 Massasoit St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Neftali Cortes-Alicea
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 04/16/25

42 Merrimac Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Aramis O. Colon
Seller: Orlando R. Carrucini
Date: 04/15/25

117 Monrovia St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $295,900
Buyer: Dazel A. Tapper
Seller: Mpr Properties LLC
Date: 04/25/25

19 Normandy Road
Springfield, MA 01106
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Livingwater Capital LLC
Seller: Xiuyu Ma
Date: 04/15/25

74 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Richard Dejesus
Seller: Gilmar Realty LLC
Date: 04/16/25

191 Pheland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: John S. Colondres
Seller: Nola Management LLC
Date: 04/22/25

191 Pheland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Nola Management LLC
Seller: Henshaw, Judith Ann, (Estate)
Date: 04/22/25

35 Pinta Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Pinta Empire RT
Seller: 35 Pinta Circle RT
Date: 04/14/25

14 Rittenhouse Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Georges Charles
Seller: Michael Visneau
Date: 04/25/25

281 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Eddie D. Acevedo
Seller: Luis E. Santiago
Date: 04/16/25

234 Roy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: William T. King
Seller: West Side Lending LLC
Date: 04/17/25

255-257 Roy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Omar Santiago-Feliciano
Seller: Ajax TR
Date: 04/23/25

32 Ruby Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Carrie Dudley
Seller: Thomas W. Lewis
Date: 04/16/25

453-455 State St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $363,800
Buyer: Abdelkader Madani
Seller: Redemption Gate Mission
Date: 04/23/25

36 Sunbrier Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Victoria Tsongalis
Seller: Jeanette M. Monette
Date: 04/18/25

73 Timber Lane
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Wilson, Steven Paul, (Estate)
Date: 04/22/25

18-20 Wareham St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $431,000
Buyer: Aneda J. Octave
Seller: Emmanuel Massenat
Date: 04/24/25

24 Warriner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Ian Ireland
Seller: Moises R. Fernandez
Date: 04/17/25

540-542 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Titus Madu
Seller: Genaro Vargas
Date: 04/23/25

119 Wilber St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: John Dupre
Seller: Stephen Grimes
Date: 04/23/25

50 Wilton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $429,900
Buyer: Cynthia Colon
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 04/15/25

519-523 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Dpj Autohaus & Living LLC
Seller: Luis Rivera
Date: 04/17/25

SOUTHWICK

32 Beach Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $382,000
Buyer: Suzanne F. Gravel
Seller: Sherman FT
Date: 04/22/25

11 Crystal Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Bruce Le
Seller: Charles E. Alaconis
Date: 04/18/25

176 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Frederick J. Dearden
Seller: Diane L. Hodges
Date: 04/17/25

34 Grove St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $1,150,000
Buyer: Daniel Kombert
Seller: Carla L. Hoffman
Date: 04/25/25

50 Mort Vining Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $701,000
Buyer: Mark S. Schroeder
Seller: Oak Ridge Custom Home Builders
Date: 04/18/25

14 Southwick Hill
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Rita P. Hannoush-Lukomski
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 04/15/25

TOLLAND

201 Fox Den Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Dennis J. Bein
Seller: Veronica H. Kulig
Date: 04/18/25

WALES

75 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $313,000
Buyer: Caroline Awebwa
Seller: Nathan R. Quattrocelli
Date: 04/18/25

198 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $363,188
Buyer: Rcf2 Acquistion TR
Seller: Norman L. Whitman
Date: 04/23/25

WESTFIELD

54 Court St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Dong L. Zou
Seller: Century Properties LLC
Date: 04/25/25

202 Falley Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Robert Apple
Seller: Barnes, Lois M., (Estate)
Date: 04/22/25

78 Heggie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $366,000
Buyer: Edward J. Kralles
Seller: Farrelly FT
Date: 04/22/25

16 Holland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Deanna Evans
Seller: Vantage Home Buyers LLC
Date: 04/17/25

20 McKinley Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Nighthawk Realty LLC
Seller: David G. Moquin
Date: 04/15/25

35 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: East Longmeadow Properties LLC
Seller: Joseph G. Bonkowski
Date: 04/14/25

39 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: East Longmeadow Properties LLC
Seller: Joseph G. Bonkowski
Date: 04/14/25

57 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Adam Boggs
Seller: 358 MLC LLC
Date: 04/25/25

113 New Broadway
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Erica B. Erb
Seller: Megliola Realty LLC
Date: 04/18/25

51 Robinson Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Andrew P. Tobias
Seller: Daley Int
Date: 04/16/25

19 Simmons Brook Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Brandi L. Church
Seller: Kenneth J. Kordana
Date: 04/22/25

19 Tow Path Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Yauqoob Liyaudeen
Seller: George J. Sobczyk
Date: 04/24/25

48 Washington St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Wsuliving LLC
Seller: US Dept. of Housing & Urban Dev.
Date: 04/18/25

WILBRAHAM

57 Beebe Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Michael Marion
Seller: John A. Hubbard
Date: 04/18/25

200 Crane Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Hampden Homesbuyres LLC
Seller: Alice L. Dawson
Date: 04/24/25

11 Millbrook Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Ty C. Trebbe
Seller: Richard A. Dowling
Date: 04/14/25

155 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Timothy Hutchins
Seller: Joseph T. Dilk
Date: 04/23/25

6 Old Carriage Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $487,000
Buyer: Erik J. Brennan
Seller: Lewis Riopelle
Date: 04/23/25

WEST SPRINGFIELD

67 Bliss St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Sarita Oli
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 04/22/25

370 Brush Hill Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $273,284
Buyer: Charles E. Mokrzecki
Seller: Orchard Holdings LLC
Date: 04/17/25

31 Fox St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Manchester Ent. LLC
Seller: Gloria J. Paape
Date: 04/22/25

54 Hill St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: 3-D Home Improvement LLC
Seller: Michael K. Kennedy
Date: 04/22/25

116 Hillside Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Benjamin Rousseau
Seller: Claude Rousseau
Date: 04/15/25

19 Norman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: JW Real Estate Holdings LLC
Seller: Thomas W. Adamczyk
Date: 04/23/25

54 Oakland St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Karna Gurung
Seller: Angela M. Foley
Date: 04/16/25

22 Primrose St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Hugo L. Hernandez
Seller: Manchester Ent. LLC
Date: 04/25/25

68 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: DDM Property Group LLC
Seller: Laguercia Family LP
Date: 04/18/25

100 Wolcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Marc Tancrati
Seller: Tuyen T. Le
Date: 04/15/25

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

74 East Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $749,000
Buyer: Jessica Tarka
Seller: Yuqing Guo
Date: 04/18/25

235 Lincoln Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $755,000
Buyer: Shira Epstein
Seller: Allison B. Henry
Date: 04/23/25

185 Middle St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Jonathan Henry
Seller: Martha Spiegelman RET
Date: 04/23/25

Rolling Ridge Road, Lot 72
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Cappello FT
Seller: Peter M. Perchak
Date: 04/15/25

BELCHERTOWN

72 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Carlos M. Otero
Seller: Marian T. Goodhind
Date: 04/18/25

16 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Audrey Piubeni
Seller: George Sutherland
Date: 04/25/25

127 Boardman St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Michael Thompson
Seller: Edinelson C. Tejo
Date: 04/16/25

15 Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: David Fredenburgh
Seller: Dpr Legacy Ent. LLC
Date: 04/18/25

240 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $429,000
Buyer: Matthew Bailey
Seller: Peter J. Klimoski
Date: 04/15/25

50 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Ruthann I. Sterling
Seller: Joshua M. Smyth
Date: 04/15/25

41 Oasis Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $589,000
Buyer: Nicholas Drost
Seller: Timothy Drost
Date: 04/16/25

507 South Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Brandon M. Brozek
Seller: Gary G. Decoteau
Date: 04/18/25

292 Ware Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Neumia R. Monteiro
Seller: Judith M. Leone
Date: 04/18/25

CHESTERFIELD

419 Main Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Daniel Cooper
Seller: Todd F. Sunderland
Date: 04/22/25

CUMMINGTON

85 Nash Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Eric W. Pohlman
Seller: 85 Nash Road NT
Date: 04/25/25

EASTHAMPTON

23 East Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Lutz K. Grossmann
Seller: Leah Morton
Date: 04/18/25

2 Fox Run
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $900,000
Buyer: Denise Hersey
Seller: Norwich Properties LLC
Date: 04/24/25

13 Golden Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Alkame Projects LLC
Seller: Carrie Dudle
Date: 04/15/25

230 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $886,000
Buyer: Alan W. Tseng
Seller: Norwich Properties LLC
Date: 04/24/25

100 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Brett J. Cumming
Seller: Michael K. Gelineau
Date: 04/25/25

83 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $378,572
Buyer: Chad O. Grabowski
Seller: Robert J. Misner
Date: 04/25/25

11 Kania St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $434,500
Buyer: Kristen A. Picard
Seller: Songer, Larry, (Estate)
Date: 04/17/25

16 Oliver St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $391,000
Buyer: Hans J. Hansen
Seller: Rebecca T. O’Connor
Date: 04/25/25

1 Westview Ter.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Emily H. Atkinson
Seller: Peter A. Elsea
Date: 04/23/25

24 Williston Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Kathryn Solomon
Seller: Marc Ferrante
Date: 04/15/25

GRANBY

81 East St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Cavia Tipple
Seller: Blaise P. Berthiaume
Date: 04/17/25

54 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $570,082
Buyer: Isaac Eddy
Seller: James Dean
Date: 04/16/25

HADLEY

18 Highland Circle
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Jason J. Lorusso
Seller: Geroge E. F. Urch FT
Date: 04/25/25

HATFIELD

49 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Hing E. Seng
Seller: Osley Pauline, (Estate)
Date: 04/18/25

NORTHAMPTON

40 Elizabeth St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Jill E. Foley
Seller: Richard P. Marsh
Date: 04/18/25

70 Overlook Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Kiley Perrone
Seller: Maidment, Jean M., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/25

67 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01063
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Christian Bratina
Seller: Ding-Djung Yang RET
Date: 04/24/25

PELHAM

94 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Arwen Lowbridge
Seller: Steven S. Wolf
Date: 04/15/25

121 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $474,227
Buyer: FI Properties LLC
Seller: Ola LLC
Date: 04/25/25

SOUTH HADLEY

7 Brittany Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Omally Martinez
Seller: Julie S. Moreau
Date: 04/15/25

13 Canal St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: No Limit Assets LLC
Seller: Russell L. Yvon
Date: 04/14/25

281 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: James Jones
Seller: Robin D. Giroux
Date: 04/18/25

6 Leahey Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Tilman Freitag
Seller: Dupre FT
Date: 04/25/25

127 Newton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Connor Beaulieu
Seller: Glenn P. Courtney
Date: 04/17/25

50 Pine St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Noah Kosciusko
Date: 04/17/25

5 Steven Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $472,500
Buyer: Steven D. West
Seller: Mackenzie, Catherine A., (Estate)
Date: 04/15/25

SOUTHAMPTON

Pomeroy Meadow Road (rear)
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Robert Fletcher
Seller: R. B. & Johna U. Merritt FT
Date: 04/15/25

WARE

3 Aspen Court
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC
Seller: Manomednet LLC
Date: 04/18/25

16 Cottage St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $223,562
Buyer: Carrington Mortgage Services LLC
Seller: Charles T. Thresher
Date: 04/18/25

132 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $133,333
Buyer: Garrett J. Moulton
Seller: Jonathan W. Moulton
Date: 04/16/25

52 Pulaski St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: VN Logan House LLC
Seller: Scott H. Hartwell
Date: 04/15/25

76 South St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Jacqueline M. Gallant
Seller: Vicente E. Acevedo
Date: 04/23/25

84 West St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Pamela R. Dionne
Seller: Rahab RT
Date: 04/22/25

WILLIAMSBURG

90 Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Susan Fortgang
Seller: Estes FT
Date: 04/16/25

74 Village Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Kmh & Dzs LLC
Seller: Thomas C. Hodgkins
Date: 04/15/25

WESTHAMPTON

342 Southampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: David W. Kelley
Seller: Keith D. Saltmarsh
Date: 04/18/25

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

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

CHICOPEE

44 New Lombard Road LLC
44 New Lombard Road
$66,463 — Remove and replace two concrete ramps

Colvest/Wilbraham LLC
1284 Memorial Dr.
$5,500 — Replace back door of Burger King restaurant

Kaali Huang LLC
1979 Memorial Dr.
$65,000 — Remove wall, change location of bathroom, sheetrock, install counters, new flooring, new ceiling tiles, paint, lighting

Progress Drive LLC
717 Fuller Road
$70,000 — Install shelving and racking units, replace garage doors

Superior Capital LLC
70 North Chicopee St.
$81,995 — Roofing

 

HADLEY

63 East Realty LLC
63 East St.
N/A — Remove non-bearing wall

Bar Hadley LLC
315 Russell St.
N/A — Install fire protection system

Bar Hadley LLC
315 Russell St.
N/A — Install seven packaged rooftop units

Montgomery Rose LLC
319 River Dr.
N/A — Install fire-alarm system

Town of Hadley
46 Middle St.
N/A — Install indoor ceiling

LEE

CTSB Corp.
40 Limestone Road
$21,000 — Dig and pour foundation for new communications tower

Ponds Assoc.
852 Summer St.
$23,400 — Repair and replace rotting siding and trim

LENOX

Boston University
45 West St.
$14,500 — Repair siding, replace window, and repair outside stairs in Lively Stones building

Boston University
45 West St.
$7,500 — Repair existing siding in West Street Theatre

Boston University
45 West St.
$4,000 — Siding repairs, new door, and replace window at Little Red Schoolhouse

GSA IV LLC
90 Pittsfield Road
$10,000 — T-Mobile to install microwave dish and ancillary equipment on existing mount

St. Ann’s Church
132 Main St.
$10,000 — Replace existing landing outside exterior door with new set of stairs

NORTHAMPTON

Colvest/Northampton LLC
303 King St.
$308,000 — Tenant fit-out for Jersey Mike’s

Grow Food Northampton Inc.
140 Meadow St.
$125,750 — Install pavilion

Oxbow Professional Park LLC
22 Atwood Dr.
$50,000 — Modifications including replacing nine antennas

Reliance Holdings Corp.
159 Pine St.
$5,050 — Replace interior sheetrock and one window

Seven Sisters Land LLC
74 Maple St.
$147,344 — Install roof-mounted solar system with structural upgrades

Smith College
25 Henshaw Ave.
$40,000 — Repair fire escape staircase

Smith College
2 Seelye Dr.
$504,650 — Interior renovation to classroom

Smith College
2 Seelye Dr.
$344,650 — Interior renovation to classroom

SPRINGFIELD

45 Lyman Investor LLC
45 Lyman St.
$26,863 — Add addressable fire system, intercom, and security systems in O’Dell Women’s Center

51-59 Taylor St LLC
51 Taylor St.
$12,000 — Demolish non-structural walls

1695 Main Street LLC
1695 Main St.
$14,909 — Insulate attic space

Christian Life Center of Springfield Mass. Inc.
1590 Sumner Ave.
$11,588 — Insulate attic space

City of Springfield
70 Tapley St.
$350,000 — Remove and replace rooftop HVAC unit, plus roof framing structural modification as needed, at Department of Public Works municipal operations center

Brian Dixon
90 Berkshire Ave.
$130,000 — Alter interior space for change of use to afterschool care facility

Evangelical Covenant Church
915 Plumtree Road
$62,980 — Roofing

Five Town Station LLC
358 Cooley St.
$63,500 — Alter interior tenant space in Unit 17 for JB Suites

Isla Associates I LLC
2460 Main St.
$11,000 — Alter existing store in Suite 118 into new Total Wireless store, erect partition wall with door

Mason Wright Senior Living Inc.
74 Walnut St.
$166,780 — Add three bathrooms, install two windows, partition wall in lower level, and retaining wall for new windows

Onyx Springfield Crossing LLC
1655 Boston Road
$383,310 — Alter interior space in Unit 830 for tenant fit-up for Carter’s/OshKosh

Salmar Realty LLC
568 Belmont Ave.
$231,500 — Alter interior space for updates and upgrades to Dunkin’ store

Shiloh Church of God in Christ
91 Jasper St.
$14,000 — Attic insulation

Spanish Christian Church – Assemblies of God
551 Chestnut St.
$112,472 — Demolish and rebuild bathrooms

Springfield Redevelopment Authority
113 State St.
$597,707 — Demolish select ceilings and flooring, remove old pub

Vcare LLC
254 Bridge St.
$225,000 — Remodel interior space for new adult daycare

Nonprofits Need to Be Resilient

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

In many respects, the timing could not be worse.

Indeed, the sharp cutbacks — and threatened cutbacks — for programs provided by area nonprofits comes at a time when needs are rising.

There’s increased need for food provided by area pantries and soup kitchens because of inflation, workforce reductions at several area companies, and the soaring costs of other necessities, like housing and healthcare.

There’s rising need for behavioral health services as people young and old continue to grapple with the lingering effects of COVID, the isolation it created, and other side effects.

Need is also rising for programs to assist the victims of domestic violence, child abuse, stalking, and related issues because of a worsening economy and the pressures it puts on families.

These are just some of the many programs and initiatives that are being threatened by cuts or the threat of cuts in federal funding to everything from early childhood education to SNAP benefits; clean air programs to the arts.

As the story on page 4 reveals, these are extremely challenging times for the area’s nonprofits, who are seeing cuts large and small involving programs that, in one way or another, impact quality of life in Western Mass.

These nonprofits are responding, as they always do, with determination and a strong desire to find ways to carry out their missions and continue to provide some of the services mentioned above. They’re looking at alternative sources of funding — from appeals to the public and area foundations to, in the case of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, a capital campaign, not to build a building, but to keep programs operating.

At the same time, nonprofits are exploring ways to collaborate with other agencies so that vital needs can be met.

In some cases, as with a terminated $1 million grant for programs to address asthma in area cities, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find other sources of funding and continue initiatives that have yielded progress on this important front.

Overall, many nonprofits are fighting, not necessarily for survival, but for the ability to retain their talented workforces and carry on their critical missions. And it’s an important fight, for the reasons mentioned at the top, but also because our nonprofits are a large — much larger than many people realize — and very important cog in this region’s economy. And not just because of the tens of thousands of jobs they provide, but because of the services they offer that help strengthen families and enable people to work and thrive in this economy.

If there is one adjective that could best describe this region’s nonprofit ecosystem — and it is exactly that, an ecosystem — it’s resilience.

Indeed, nonprofits have weathered recessions, workforce challenges, and, most recently, a pandemic that forced many of them to find new and different ways to carry out their missions.

They will need similar resilience, and much of it, in these ultra-challenging times, and we are quite confident they will find it — because there’s simply too much at stake.

Community Colleges Change Lives

By Contributor
Opinion

Opinion

By Michelle Schutt

We recently celebrated National Community College Month in April, a great time to reflect on what makes Greenfield Community College — and all community colleges — so special.

Did you know that 46% of all college students in Massachusetts attend community college? This remarkable statistic shows just how powerful community colleges are in helping students attain goals otherwise not possible, changing the trajectory of their careers and lives. Here are just a few of the ways GCC is supporting our region and beyond.

Graduates of community colleges increase their earnings significantly, with the average graduate earning nearly $10,000 more per year than their peers without a degree. Community colleges also serve as an onramp to higher-level degrees for many students, and particularly for the most demographically and socioeconomically diverse students. Approximately 45% of GCC graduates go on to subsequent education, illustrating the college’s effectiveness in providing further education pathways, better career outcomes, and more prosperity throughout our region and beyond.

Our graduates help build a highly educated and skilled workforce, which in turn contributes to stronger local economies and vibrant, resilient communities. As a primary educational institution for healthcare professionals, first responders, educators, business owners, tradespeople, and public servants, our skilled graduates provide essential services that we all count on. And by training more than 400 individuals per year through our workforce development programs, we are meeting workforce needs of many large and small employers throughout the region.

GCC also serves as a hub for community engagement and intergenerational initiatives in Franklin County, hosting close to 100 events each year, including workshops, cultural programs, and public lectures. These activities foster community involvement and promote lifelong learning among residents. Participants bring diverse perspectives and experiences to their communities, contributing to cultural enrichment and fostering a greater appreciation for the arts, sciences, and civic discourse.

Everywhere I go, I am told by current and former students that choosing to go to GCC has been one of the best decisions they ever made. And now, thanks to Massachusetts’ new free community college programs, enrollment has increased 31% since 2022.

We are nonpartisan in our mission to provide accessible, affordable education that can transform lives. The threads of Greenfield Community College run through every corner of our community — whether it’s businesses that are thriving because of our students and employees, the families whose lives are being uplifted, or the connections we’re making every day. We’re all in this together, and that’s something we can be incredibly proud of.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the work of the staff, faculty, and students who help change family trees and build brighter futures for everyone.

 

Michelle Schutt is president of Greenfield Community College.

Tandem Bagel to Open Sixth Location in Ludlow on May 23

By
Daily News

LUDLOW — Tandem Bagel Co. announced the opening of its sixth location in Western Mass. along the riverwalk in Ludlow, in the newly redeveloped mill buildings. The location offers views of the Chicopee River and is within walking distance of the historic downtown and new housing development, the Residences at Mill 8 & 10. Tandem Bagel was established with the mission to support local producers and contribute to the economy.

“When we learned about the opportunities at the Ludlow Mills, we knew this was the right place for us to grow,” owner Chris Zawacki said. “This space has allowed us to continue our commitment to sustainability and fostering economic development. The renovation at Ludlow was a significant project; we strongly believed it was a valuable resource that, with some attention, could revitalize a space that had been underutilized.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 44 Riverside Dr. in Ludlow on Friday, May 23 at 8:30 a.m. with the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce to commemorate the opening. Afterward, guests will be invited inside to order food and beverages and tour the new space.

Jason Cote Joins Westfield Bank as Branch Manager

By
Daily News

Jason Cote

WESTFIELD — James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced that Jason Cote has been appointed Retail Banking officer, branch manager at the bank’s 300 Southampton Road location in Westfield. He will be responsible for overseeing customer service, retail and business product sales, business development, and community outreach. Other responsibilities include managing general operations and employee development within the branch.

Cote joins Westfield Bank with 12 years of prior banking experience in multiple roles, including vice president, senior branch manager. Active within his community, he serves as a committee member for the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee Black Tie and Sneaker Gala.

“I am pleased to welcome Jason Cote to our Westfield Bank team,” said Kelly Pignatare, vice president, regional manager. “Jason’s many years of banking experience, coupled with his strength in business development, will continue to strengthen, develop, and build the North Side market.”