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Daily News

AGAWAM — OMG Roofing Products has hired Marianna Roy as a customer service representative and Jodi Giustina as a sales and marketing assistant.

In her new position, Roy is responsible for assisting customers in placing orders and in funneling customer inquiries to the organization. She is initially responsible for handling the Firestone account, the company’s Northeast Region, and a portion of the Mid-Atlantic Region. She reports to Karen Young, customer service manager.

Roy began her career at OMG Roofing Products as a temporary customer service representative in July 2020. Prior to joining OMG, she was with the Law Offices of John E. Miller. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University.

Giustina is responsible for a wide assortment of administrative duties to support the company’s sales and marketing team, customer service department, as well as key account managers. She reports to Monte Horst, vice president of sales and marketing.

Giustina joined OMG Roofing Products from PNC Business Credit, where she was a senior business development associate. Earlier, she held several positions with BKM, most recently as a project coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Simmons College in Boston.

Headquartered in Agawam, Mass., OMG Roofing Products, a division of OMG Inc., is a leading manufacturer of commercial roofing products, including specialty fasteners, insulation adhesives, drains, pipe supports, and productivity tools.

To accommodate continued growth and expansion, OMG Inc. has leased another 60,000 square feet of space in the Agawam Industrial Park at 320 Bowles Road. This brings OMG’s footprint in the industrial park to 480,000 square feet in six facilities on Bowles Road, Silver Street, and HP Almgren Drive. The new, 60,000-square-foot facility includes warehousing, assembly, and office space, as well as five shipping and receiving docks.

“We continue to see increased demand for our products,” said Hubert McGovern, president and CEO. “To accommodate this growth, and as part of our long-term strategic plan, we have expanded our capabilities, including finished-goods packing. Additionally, we are adding 25 new jobs for this operation.”

Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — Dr. Angela Sanguinetti, research environmental psychologist at the University of California, Davis, will give a talk titled “How Emissions Information Can Prompt Travelers to Purchase Greener Flights” as part of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) Green Living Seminar Series on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

The series continues on Wednesday, March 31 when Dr. Jason Seacat, professor of Psychology at Western New England University, will give a talk titled “Promoting Recycling Behaviors in Massachusetts.”

Green Living Seminar Series webinars are free and open to the public; community members can register for each lecture at mcla.edu/greenliving. Seminars take place weekly on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. through April 14.

Sanguinetti earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology, with an emphasis in behavior analysis, from CSU Stanislaus, and a PhD in planning, policy, and design, with an emphasis in design-behavior research, from UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology.

Her research interests center on how the design of the built environment, including communities, homes, and vehicles, impacts people’s behavior and well-being. She directs the Consumer Energy Interfaces Lab and brings her behavioral expertise to projects with the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Research Center, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program, Western Cooling Efficiency Center, Center for Water-Energy Efficiency, and Energy & Efficiency Insitute. She is also director of the Cohousing Research Network, which seeks to increase the impact of research establishing the personal, societal, and environmental benefits of living in collaborative neighborhoods. At UC Davis since 2014, she has worked on more than 20 research grants and authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal publications.

Seacat’s major program of research explores the interplay of negative social stereotypes, stigmatization, and personal health behaviors. As a social-health psychologist, he primarily seeks to understand how social interactions may impact the health behaviors and outcomes of stigmatized individuals. Additionally, he actively collaborates with researchers on issues pertaining to diet-related decision making and the consequences of mental-illness stigma on treatment-seeking behavior.

He also maintains an ongoing program of research examining psychosocial predictors of pro-environmental behavior. His current work examines the role of community-level factors in promoting recycling behaviors throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Every semester, MCLA’s Green Living Seminar Series hosts lectures by local, regional, and national experts organized around a central theme related to the environment and sustainability. The 2021 series theme is “Individual Actions and Environmental Sustainability.” The series is a presentation of the MCLA Environmental Studies Department and MCLA’s Berkshire Environmental Resource Center.

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital received a $30,000 gift from Thomson Financial Management to support the Childbirth Center project, which, when completed, will offer expanded services in a newly renovated space that includes an upgraded nursery, birthing tubs, and more home-like surroundings for moms and babies.

“We believe in access to quality healthcare and appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the birthing center at Cooley Dickinson,” said Renae Ransdell, senior vice president and wealth advisor at Thomson Financial Management. “I had two very different delivery experiences, and am immensely grateful for the care and support my children, myself, and even my spouse received on both occasions. Care for our community is one of our core values at Thomson Financial Management, and we hope our donation can contribute to the families of our community having experiences like the ones we are so grateful for.”

The renovation of the Childbirth Center includes refurbishing patient-care areas and support areas to make the space more comfortable for moms and babies, as well as creating a warmer, more home-like environment. In addition, the nursery will be upgraded to a Level 1B nursery to provide special newborns with extra care and attention. Once renovations are complete, Cooley Dickinson will be the only Level 1B nursery in Western Mass.

“This generous gift will help moms and babies right here in our community, providing access to safe, high-quality birthing services in an environment that wraps each family with warm, compassionate care,” said Diane Dukette, Cooley Dickinson’s chief Development officer. “Thomson Financial has brought our fundraising efforts for the Childbirth Center over the $2 million mark. Their support will inspire others in our community to come forward to help fund this project that is made possible from the generosity of our community.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Center for Service and Leadership and the Humanics in Action Club recently delivered more than 200 fire-safety kits to Rebecca M. Johnson Elementary School, and 100 incentive kits to both Elias Brookings Elementary School and William N. DeBerry Elementary School.

The fire-safety kits include washcloths, emergency whistles, water bottles, granola bars, a face mask, soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste, as well as donated items from the Springfield Fire Department, including a fire hat and a fire-safety booklet. The intention behind the fire-safety kits is that, in an emergency, the kids could grab the bag and have emergency supplies.

The incentive kits include an activity book, notebook, crayons, slime, DIY slap bracelets, positive notes, and erasers.

Throughout the spring semester, the Humanics in Action Club has been hosting Sip and Serve service project events in the Campus Union Café on Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The events have provided members of the campus community an opportunity to take part in service projects and demonstrate the college’s Humanics philosophy.

Nicole Coakley, assistant director of the Springfield College Center for Service and Leadership, and therapeutic recreation major Margaux Atkins have helped lead the Sip and Serve events, which consist of service projects being performed while enjoying hot chocolate provided by Harvest Table.

All of the items donated to the Springfield-area schools were produced by students who attended the Sip and Serve events, along with items donated by the Springfield Fire Department.

Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

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

Episode 57: March 22, 2021

George O’Brien talks with Mark Melnik, director of economic and public policy research at the UMass Donahue Institute in Amherst

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien talks with Mark Melnik, director of economic and public policy research at the UMass Donahue Institute in Amherst.  The two have a lively discussion about everything from recent data on how many people are leaving the state — and why — to the ongoing economic recovery, the shape it will take, and the many factors that will drive it. It’s must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local.

 

 

Also Available On

Daily News

BOSTON — Ten weeks after Senate President Karen Spilka promised swift action on COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a comprehensive bill that would guarantee five paid days off for every employee in the Commonwealth. The bill also seeks to stabilize the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund, provides tax relief to businesses and workers, and delays the state tax-filing deadline.

“In January, I declared that we must act quickly to provide our workers with COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave, and today the Senate has delivered on that promise,” Spilka said on Friday. “I am proud of the collaboration that brought about this agreement, which will provide needed relief for both businesses and workers.”

She added, “as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 emergency, these measures will provide stability to our economy and keep workers safe.”

To help protect employees on the front lines, and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the bill ensures that all workers in Massachusetts have access to paid leave if they are unable to work as a result of a COVID infection or a quarantine order. Significantly, given the state’s push to increase vaccination rates, employees will be able to use this paid leave time to take time off to receive the vaccine. In addition, the legislation provides for leave if the worker needs time to care for a family member unable to work because of COVID.

To align state tax deadlines with federal tax deadlines, the bill also extends the Commonwealth’s tax-filing deadline from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. This tax flexibility, similar to a delay authorized last year by the Legislature, will provide stability and ensure residents have time to prepare and file taxes as the state continues to weather the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have seen firsthand the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on businesses, families, and the economy in the Hampden District,” state Sen. Adam Gomez said. “This legislation will provide relief for business owners and individuals during tax-filing season. I hope that these provisions, as well as the extension of the tax-filing deadline, provide families in the state some breathing room so that they can get back on their feet.”

Under this legislation, employees are eligible for up to five days of paid leave, at their regular rate of pay, capped at $850 per week — which is the same maximum weekly benefit provided for in the Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave law. Employers covered by federal legislation providing for paid leave will have the cost of providing such leave paid for through the federal tax credit. For all other employers, the bill creates a $75 million COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Fund to reimburse eligible employers for providing their employees with emergency paid sick leave. The state requirement for paid leave would extend until Sept. 30, 2021 or until the fund is exhausted.

The bill also provides UI-related relief to businesses and employees. For businesses, the bill prevents increases in the UI rate schedule for 2021 and 2022, providing employers with stability and relief as the Commonwealth continues to recover. For unemployed workers, some navigating the UI system for the first time, the bill waives tax penalties on UI benefits in 2020 and 2021. It also mirrors federal tax provisions included in the recent American Rescue Plan and excludes $10,200 of unemployment compensation received by an individual with a household income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level from gross income for tax purposes, putting up to $500 into the hands of lower-income unemployed individuals. This would apply to individuals making $25,760 or under, or a total income of $53,000 for a family of four.

Further relief for businesses comes in the form of a change in state tax policy regarding PPP loans. In Massachusetts, corporate excise tax, but not personal income tax, is tied to the current federal Internal Revenue Code. As a result, Massachusetts’ tax law treats forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans differently depending on whether the recipient small business is organized as a pass-through entity or a C-corp. This bill conforms to federal law and ensures that all forgiven PPP loans, advance Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and payments made under the federal Small Business Debt Relief are excluded from gross income, regardless of how the business is organized.

“With the tax filing season upon us, the inclusion of language from my PPP loan-forgiveness bill will ensure that thousands of businesses won’t be hit hard with a significant, potentially insurmountable, tax burden amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” said state Sen. Eric Lesser, Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “Over 140,000 businesses across the Commonwealth have received Paycheck Protection Program loans from the Small Business Administration and have been asked to be patient, flexible, and resilient in order to keep their lights on. It’s unfair for our state to hit them with an unexpected tax. This is a critical measure for speedy economic recovery.”

The bill now goes to the House for further action.

Daily News

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College is joining other community colleges in the state in offering potential students a virtual way to learn about summer and fall offerings at the college.

Asnuntuck is offering multiple one-hour virtual information sessions to potential students and their parents. These small-group sessions include information regarding enrollment, registration process, and financial aid. Learn more about upcoming dates and register at asnuntuck.edu/admissions/how-to-enroll.

Asnuntuck will also participate in the inaugural Connecticut Community College Showcase. This open house and college-planning conference will take place on Thursday, April 1 in two sessions (9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. and 3 to 6:20 p.m.) via Webex. The event will include presentations from all 12 Connecticut community colleges and will highlight the system’s various degree programs and four-year transfer opportunities, including guaranteed-admission options, free early college programming, financial aid and scholarships, student support services, student experiences, and more. Visit www.ct.edu/showcase to learn more and register for a session.

Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — BFAIR announced the promotion of Michelle Baity to the position of senior vice president of Human Resources.

Baity joined BFAIR’s senior-management team three years ago and brought with her numerous years of experience in human resources as well as the human-services field. Since joining the team, she has formed a strong Human Resources department that has been invaluable with assisting the agency to manage the enormous challenges it has faced over the past year.

According to Ethel Altiery, BFAIR’s executive director, “Michelle has been with BFAIR for three years, and working closely with her has been a wonderful experience for me. She has brought my level of knowledge and experience in the world of human resources to a new level. I look forward to working with Michelle for many more years to come.”

Baity is directly responsible for crafting employee-benefit offerings and developing an educational-assistance policy to support skill development in pursuit of an organization focused on creating opportunities for advancement.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Since 2009, BusinessWest has been recognizing the work of individuals, groups, businesses, and institutions through a program called Difference Makers.

The 2021 Difference Makers include Kristin Carlson, president of Peerless Precision; EforAll Holyoke; Janine Fondon, founder of UnityFirst.com and professor at Bay Path University; Harold Grinspoon, philanthropist and founder of Aspen Square Management; Chad Moir, founder and owner of DopaFit Parkinson’s Movement Center; Bill Parks, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield; and Pete Westover, founder and partner at Conservation Works, LLC.

The 13th annual Difference Makers celebration will be a virtual event taking place on Thursday, April 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. This event, like our hugely successful Women of Impact celebration in January, be presented using the REMO platform, and will feature networking, videos of the event sponsors, introductions of the honorees, and comments from the Difference Makers themselves.

RSVP before March 30 by clicking here. For a helpful tutorial on working with REMO, click here. For more information and links to the stories about our honorees, click here.

The sponsors for this year’s program are Burkhart Pizzanelli, the Royal Law Firm, TommyCar Auto Group, and United Way of Pioneer Valley. The Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament is a nonprofit partner.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College’s (STCC) online business degree program was ranked as the second-most-popular in the New England region, according to Business Degree Central, an online resource for students.

The website ranked STCC’s program second out of 11 colleges in New England. The business program was also ranked second-most-popular in Massachusetts.

“Springfield Technical Community College is extremely proud to be ranked number two among the most popular online associate-degree programs in business administration within both Massachusetts and New England,” said Anthony Rondinelli, a business professor and graduate of the STCC program. “STCC offers a variety of online business degree programs and courses in the areas of accounting, finance, management, marketing, economics, and entrepreneurship, making higher education both easily accessible and very affordable for today’s busy student.”

STCC designed the online business program for students who want to earn a two-year associate degree before starting their own business or before transferring to a four-year college or university to continue on to a bachelor’s degree. Students in the program can take advantage of internship opportunities to earn money while they study and explore career options.

“We’re honored and delighted to be listed as having one of the most popular business programs in the area,” said Richard Greco, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. “I’m proud of our talented faculty, who show their commitment every day to supporting the success of the students. Our business program has been fully online since 2017. A lot of our business students work and have families, so they enjoy the flexibility of pursuing their degree online.”

Some of the students work in business and see the STCC degree as an affordable way to expand their potential growth within their company or industry.

Helder Serrazina, who went through the online program and transferred to the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, said it was the perfect program for him.

“There’s a lot of versatility and flexibility, so you can plan what you want to do and how many classes you want to take,” said Serrazina, who graduated in 2020 with an associate degree. “For me, it worked beautifully.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — In conjunction with the Springfield College Legacy Alumni of Color, the Springfield College community has set aside Thursday, March 25 for “A Day to Confront Racism,” featuring workshops and conversations to confront racism, power, privilege, and prejudice. This date also is the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade, the impetus for this day-long event.

At the conclusion of the four webinars, the campus community will transition to welcoming noted anti-racist scholar and bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi, and hearing about his anti-racism work as the featured speaker at the Springfield College Arts & Humanities Speaker Series lecture at 7 p.m.

The four webinars are titled “The Past is Present: How the Historical Legacies Revealed by the 1619 Project Impact Our Professions and Communities,” “John Brown: the City of Springfield Connection to this Abolitionist and Accomplice,” “A Moderated Dialogue with Members of the Legacy Alumni: Moving the Needle,” and “Campus Climate: A Moderated Conversation with Students.”

Click here for times, information about the presenters, and how to access the webinars.

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Turning Leaf Centers opened its doors on 261 King St. in Northampton this week. The dispensary features a ‘craft bar,’ experience, which will allow patrons to be educated on everything marijuana, have rolling parties, and participate in flower talk.

“We believe the large, curated space will allow people to have an experience nobody has seen with the craft bar, live music days, and seating areas,” said Stephanie McNair, co-owner and Western Mass. native. “Supporting our local community is something that is very important to us as a company. We are looking to display and promote local artists and have event demonstrations and educational seminars in our space.”

Turning Leaf Centers Northampton has cultivated an eclectic menu from every product category and price point for every type of cannabis consumer. Turning Leaf’s objective is to adapt and expand Massachusetts’s ever-changing cannabis market and continue to introduce new, innovative product lines. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced that Massachusetts will advance to step 1 of phase 4 of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan on Monday, March 22.

The administration continues to take steps to reopen the Commonwealth’s economy with public-health metrics continuing to trend in a positive direction. This includes drops in average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The administration also replaced the Massachusetts travel order originally issued in July 2020 with a travel advisory, also effective March 22.

Step 1 of phase 4 of the state’s reopening plan will open a range of previously closed business sectors under tight capacity restrictions that are expected to be adjusted over time if favorable trends in the public-health data continue. Indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas, and ballparks, as well as entertainment venues, will be permitted to operate at a strict 12% capacity limit after submitting a plan to the Department of Public Health.

Also effective on March 22, gathering limits for event venues and in public settings will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 25 people, with indoor house gatherings remaining at 10 people.

Additionally, dance floors will be permitted at weddings and certain other events, and overnight summer camps will be allowed to operate this summer. Exhibition and convention halls may also begin to operate, following gatherings limits and event protocols.

The new travel advisory will urge all people entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival if they have been out of the state for 24 hours or more.

The advisory does not apply to anyone in the following categories:

• Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after an absence of fewer than 24 hours;

• Travelers who have a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts;

• Workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) while they are commuting to or from or while at work; and

• Travelers who are fully vaccinated (having received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least 14 days or more ago and who do not have symptoms).

Travelers are additionally encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel.

Daily News

BOSTON — University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan announced he will recommend that the university’s board of trustees freeze tuition for in-state undergraduates for the academic year beginning in September. If approved by the UMass board, this would be the second straight year of a tuition freeze at the Commonwealth’s 75,000-student national public research university system.

Meehan made the tuition freeze announcement in his “State of the University” address on the one-year anniversary of UMass transitioning to online learning and work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The message, titled “Answering the Call,” also highlighted the university’s response to the pandemic and its role in supporting the post-pandemic economic recovery of Massachusetts.

“To lessen the financial burden on our students and their families, many of whom have suffered from job losses, business closures, and other impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, I intend to recommend to the UMass board of trustees that we freeze tuition for in-state undergraduate students for the second consecutive year,” Meehan said. “This is made possible by the support of the federal legislative delegation, which recently passed the American Rescue Plan, and our partners in both the state Legislature and Governor Baker’s administration.”

Robert Manning, who chairs the UMass board of trustees, added that “President Meehan’s recommendation reflects his recognition that our students and their families have been dealing with significant financial hardship throughout this pandemic. The board shares this concern, and also knows that the skilled management of the university by President Meehan and our five chancellors makes this freeze possible.”

The average pre-financial-aid in-state undergraduate tuition at UMass was $14,722 for academic years 2019-20 and 2020-21. UMass has the fifth-lowest tuition among the six New England public universities — University of Vermont ($19,062), University of New Hampshire ($18,938), University of Connecticut ($17,834), University of Rhode Island ($15,004), and the University of Maine ($11,712) — this academic year.

UMass awarded $971 million in federal, state, institutional and other financial aid in FY20. Since FY15, institutional aid — funds set aside by the university to decrease actual student costs — has increased 49% to $351 million per year.

Delivering his remarks from a research laboratory at UMass Medical School, Meehan began by acknowledging the pandemic’s impact and emphasizing how the university’s comprehensive response to COVID-19 exemplifies what the university means to Massachusetts.

“Never before has our mission been so perfectly crystallized in one momentous challenge,” he said. “In the darkest hours for Massachusetts, UMass was prepared to answer the call, and we did.”

After outlining the numerous contributions UMass campuses made in the fight against COVID-19, Meehan said the university is working toward “near-normal operations” in the fall, with most students returning to in-person classes, employees returning to work, and “all participating fully in the local economies of our host communities.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — After successfully holding classes primarily on campus under stringent COVID-19 safety protocols throughout the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021, Western New England University (WNEU) announced plans to return to unrestricted in-person learning for the fall of 2021.

The announcement was made by WNEU President Robert Johnson in a letter to the campus community on March 16. Of the roughly 3,000 colleges and universities tracked by the College Crisis Initiative, Western New England University was one of just 27% of schools nationwide that resumed primarily in-person teaching last fall that continued throughout the spring through careful adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols.

The letter describes the plan for all on-ground courses to be in classrooms without social-distancing restrictions in place.

“We must thrive in uncertainty by being well-informed, decisive, and extremely well-prepared,” Johnson said. “The decision to return to campus in this way has not been made lightly or without a great deal of planning.” He added that detailed feedback and support from university administration, along with guidance from state and national health experts, led to this decision.

He noted that, while the university will prepare for mostly on-ground, in-person, unrestricted classes to resume in the fall, detailed contingency plans are in place if WNEU needs to revert to classrooms with social distancing. “We will be ready to execute our plan in a quick and organized manner that will reduce class sizes and add more hybrid options to the course schedule.”

Johnson expressed to the community that he looks forward to a return to the close interaction with students that is a hallmark of a WNEU education. “I want to emphasize that university faculty and staff will be fully prepared to deal with whatever our situation may bring, as has been the case all along. I am both cautious and optimistic in all that we are planning for you.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) announced the appointments of Briana Wales as vice president for People and Culture, Emma Mesa-Melendez as director of Communications, Keith McKittrick as Development coordinator, and Ullapi Shrestha as program assistant. These appointments are the latest example of CFWM’s ongoing commitment to expand its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts internally and within the nonprofit sector.

In her new role, Wales will focus on a wide scope of DEI initiatives to guide both the foundation’s external and internal DEI work, training, and development of best practices. She has an extensive career in workforce development for youth and adults and has provided leadership in both nonprofit and quasi-public settings. In her efforts to serve communities, she has fostered partnerships and programming to increase equity and access for underrepresented or marginalized groups. She received her bachelor’s degree in social justice education from UMass Amherst and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College.

Mesa-Melendez will be responsible for CFWM’s communications strategy and will assist with DEI initiatives. In recent work, she has consulted in marketing and graphic design, and previously served as vice president for Community Relations, Human Resources, and Marketing Management for New Valley Bank & Trust. She received her MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and her bachelor’s degree in critical social thought from Mount Holyoke College. She has worked with several nonprofits as both a board member and volunteer, including the Minority Inclusion Project, Farmington Valley YMCA, Vet Air, and the Performance Project.

McKittrick comes to the foundation with 25 years of experience in philanthropy. He has held positions at UMass Amherst, Western New England University, and Holyoke Community College, where he has worked with donors to establish scholarships and fundraise for educational initiatives. He received his master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State University and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Westfield State University.

Shrestha has worked as an interpreter at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and as an intern at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She has volunteered with the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. She received her master’s degree in management from Saint Joseph College and her bachelor’s degree in business marketing from the Institute of Technology in Carlow, Ireland.

Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced the timeline for all remaining residents to be eligible for a vaccine. The administration also announced the weekly distribution of vaccine doses statewide for providers and a new $24.7 million investment in the administration’s Vaccine Equity Initiative.

On March 22, all residents age 60 and older, and certain workers, will be eligible. On April 5, residents age 55 and up, and residents with one among a list of certain medical conditions, will be eligible. On April 19, vaccines will be available to the general public age 16 and older.

The Commonwealth’s timeline adheres to the original timeline for the three phases announced in December. All residents can pre-register to book an appointment at a mass-vaccination site at mass.gov/covidvaccine.

Appointments will be offered based on eligibility and available appointments nearby. It is expected that more sites will come online as part of the preregistration process in April.

The administration has received assurances from the federal government that an increased vaccine supply will be available to states soon. Depending on supply, it could take weeks for people to be notified that an appointment is available at a mass-vaccination site.

This week, the state is receiving a modest increase in supply of first doses, approximately 170,000. This includes an unexpected 8,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In total, the Commonwealth will receive 316,000 first and second doses as part of the state allocation. These figures do not include doses provided to CVS Health sites through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program or to federally qualified health centers.

The administration also announced the release of $27.4 million in federal funds to increase trust, vaccine acceptance, and administration rates as part of its Vaccine Equity Initiative and to meet the needs of priority populations. Recognizing equity as a critical component of the state’s vaccine-distribution plan, the Department of Public Health (DPH) is working closely with 20 of the hardest-hit communities in Massachusetts as they identify their specific community needs, further building on existing support.

These federal funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) build upon current and past efforts supporting vaccination in these communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and includes partnerships with municipalities, local boards of health, community- and faith-based organizations, community health centers, and others to reduce barriers to vaccination. These funds also will provide direct vaccine administration to populations that are not effectively reached through existing vaccine supply channels.

The Vaccine Equity Initiative focuses on 20 cities and towns with the greatest COVID-19 case burden, taking into account social determinants of health and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations. These communities are Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Springfield, and Worcester.

40 Under 40 Class of 2021 Events

As our judges select the 2021 Class of 40 Under Forty, we encourage you to subscribe to BusinessWest so you may receive the May 12, 2021 issue of BusinessWest that will include the stories of our 40 amazing winners. Click HERE to subscribe! The event honoring the 2021 Class of 40 Under Forty is slated to take place on June 24, 2021. Stay tuned for more information about the event!

Meet This Year’s 40 Under Forty Judges

BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007 to recognize the area’s rising stars, and it has since become a coveted honor throughout Western Mass., shining a spotlight on individuals who have excelled professionally, but also in their service to the community.

The judges are hard at work evaluating 170 unique nominations — close to a record, and an indication that the pandemic has not slowed this program’s energy or importance to the region.

The class of 2020 — who will be profiled in the May 10 issue of BusinessWest and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala on June 24 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke — will, as usual, be chosen by five independent judges, who bring broad experience in entrepreneurship, business development, and civic engagement, among other traits. Here’s a quick look at each of them.

Kim Alli is a vice president and commercial loan officer at Greenfield Savings Bank and is also a member of the GSB PPP loan task force and the bank’s contributions committee. She serves on several community boards, including the Hospice of the Fisher Home, the United Way of Hampshire County community investment committee, and the Cooley Dickinson golf committee. She is also a member of the GCC Foundation campaign team, ambassador for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, and a Rotarian for Amherst and Northampton.

For the past two decades, Paul Bailey has been the executive director of Springfield Partners for Community Action, the federally designated community action agency serving the Springfield area. Previously, he worked at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development for 11 years, where he oversaw the state’s 252 public-housing authorities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMass Amherst and serves on the board of directors of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Hampden County Workforce Board.

For the past nine years, Pia Sareen Kumar has been co-owner and chief strategy officer of Universal Plastics Group, representing a family of plastics-manufacturing businesses headquartered in Holyoke and stretching into in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. She started her career as an investment banker at JPMorgan Chase and was a global director of strategic partnerships at American Express. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.

Lenny Underwood launched Underwood Photography in 2004, providing an array of services ranging from headshots, parties, and weddings to photo shoots, slideshows, and photo-booth rental. He is also a certified personal fitness trainer. He then founded Upscale Socks in 2016, which supports local nonprofits and schools with the Suit Your Soles campaign, which matches a sock donation for every purchase. He is a member of St. John’s Congregational Church, the Brianna Fund for Children with Physical Disabilities gospel concert planning committee, and the Way Finders board.

Peter Wirth

Born and raised in Germany, Peter Wirth started working for Mercedes-Benz straight out of college. After holding several positions in marketing and product management, her relocated to the U.S. and took a job with Mercedes-Benz USA. After successfully launching the SLR McLaren and the new C-Class for the U.S. market, he transitioned into retail and managed sales operations for two large New York Metro Mercedes-Benz dealers. In 2017, he and his wife, Michelle, started their own business and opened Mercedes-Benz of Springfield.

Presenting Sponsor

Sponsors

40 Under Forty Alumni Achievement Award

Nominate your choice for an outstanding BusinessWest 40 Under Forty Alum!

We are still taking nominations for the 2021 Alumni Achievement Award. Nominate a previous honoree who is continuing to go above and beyond in their field and making an impact in our region! Click HERE to find the nomination form. The deadline for nominations is April 23, 2021 at 5pm.

For your convenience, an online nomination can be found HERE.

About the nomination form:
• Candidates must be from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award, in this case, classes 2007-2020.
• Only nominations submitted to BusinessWest on this form will be considered.

2021 Alumni Achievement Award Presenting Sponsor

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Since 2009, BusinessWest has been recognizing the work of individuals, groups, businesses, and institutions through a program called Difference Makers.

The 2021 Difference Makers include Kristin Carlson, president of Peerless Precision; EforAll Holyoke; Janine Fondon, founder of UnityFirst.com and professor at Bay Path University; Harold Grinspoon, philanthropist and founder of Aspen Square Management; Chad Moir, founder and owner of DopaFit Parkinson’s Movement Center; Bill Parks, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield; and Pete Westover, founder and partner at Conservation Works, LLC.

The 13th annual Difference Makers celebration will be a virtual event taking place on Thursday, April 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. This event, like our hugely successful Women of Impact celebration in January, be presented using the REMO platform, and will feature networking, videos of the event sponsors, introductions of the honorees, and comments from the Difference Makers themselves.

RSVP before March 30 by clicking here. For a helpful tutorial on working with REMO, click here. For more information and links to the stories about our honorees, click here.

This year’s event includes a new, exciting, interactive wrinkle. Since the inception of this program, one of the goals in selecting our honorees has been to show the many ways one can make a difference within their community. The 2021 Difference Makers stories are all different, but the common thread is a passion exhibited by each honoree to improve the quality of life for those in this region and make it a better place to live, work, and conduct business. As we move toward celebrating our seven amazing honorees, we encourage you to submit a 20- to 30-second video of yourself, your organization, or others in our community that are making a difference.

Submit the video by posting it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, tagging BusinessWest (@BusinessWest413 on Facebook and Twitter or @BusinessWest_HCNews413 on Instagram), and using the hashtag #EverydayDifferenceMakers. Upon submitting your video on social media, e-mail the video to [email protected]. Your video will be reviewed by the associate publishers of BusinessWest and the Healthcare News, and could be one of five videos chosen by them to be aired during the Difference Makers virtual event. All videos must be submitted by Sunday, March 21 at 5 p.m. Tune in on April 1 to see if your video is featured.

The sponsors for this year’s program are Burkhart Pizzanelli, the Royal Law Firm, TommyCar Auto Group, and United Way of Pioneer Valley. The Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament is a nonprofit partner.

Daily News

HATFIELD — Today, March 17, starting at 9 a.m., two local electrical contractors are donating time and material to assist Hatfield resident and Korean War-era veteran George Emeny, 86, whose Hatfield home was deemed unsuitable by the Board of Health earlier this year.

M.L. Schmitt Inc. of Springfield and Palmeri Electric of Shelburne Falls are joining the Hatfield community to help Emeny keep his home and make it livable again.

“Working together with Palmeri Electric and members of the Hatfield community is an honor for us,” said Jean Pierre Crevier, owner and vice president of M.L. Schmitt Inc. “It’s important for us to help Mr. Emeny during his time of need.”

Emeny has been sleeping in his car each night, accompanied by his dog and cat, because his home is unfit for human habitation. Members of the Hatfield community stepped in to help. M.L. Schmitt Inc., and Palmeri Electric will see that all electrical needs are repaired and up to code.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley announced that its HERstory Trivia Night virtual event will take place on Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. This event will help Girls Inc. of the Valley celebrate Women’s History Month along with those in the community and raise $500 to support Girls Inc. programming.

Girls Inc. of the Valley and the Young Professional Society (YPS) of Greater Springfield will host this event, which will have three rounds of trivia celebrating the accomplishments of women past and present, and prizes for the top three finishers. The event requires a minimum donation of $10 to Girls Inc. of the Valley upon registration. Participants may register by clicking here.

“YPS is proud to partner on this unique event with Girls Inc. of the Valley to help make a positive impact for girls in our community and beyond with learning and leadership opportunities,” said Amie Miarecki, YPS president.

Girls Inc. of the Valley aims to inspire all girls to see themselves as leaders with the skills and capabilities to improve and influence their local communities.

“We have a lot of trivia fans on staff here at Girls Inc.,” said Suzanne Parker, the organization’s executive director. “We thought, ‘what better way to celebrate Women’s History Month than with some HERstory trivia?’ We are excited to welcome the community to this fun and interactive event.”

Daily News

WARE — Country Bank is partnering with PROSHRED Security for its annual Shred Day to allow the public to discard their documents safely and securely.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were 1.4 million identity theft reports in 2020, and that number continues to rise. Country Bank offers this free shredding service to the public because it understands the importance of helping consumers keep their identity safe. All visitors are asked to practice social distancing and will be required to wear a mask.

Country Bank’s free Community Shred Day will take place on Saturday, April 10 at the following Country Bank branch locations:

• 155 West Street, Ware, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.;

• 2379 Boston Road, Wilbraham, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.;

• 1084 Main St., Leicester, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; and

• 37 Worcester Road, Charlton, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Items to consider for shredding include old documents, tax returns, bank statements, receipts, bills, or anything that contains personal, identifiable information.

40 Under 40 Class of 2021

Meet This Year’s 40 Under Forty Judges

BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007 to recognize the area’s rising stars, and it has since become a coveted honor throughout Western Mass., shining a spotlight on individuals who have excelled professionally, but also in their service to the community.

Nominations for the 15th annual celebration have closed, and the judges are hard at work evaluating 170 unique nominations — close to a record, and an indication that the pandemic has not slowed this program’s energy or importance to the region.

The class of 2020 — who will be profiled in the May 10 issue of BusinessWest and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala on June 24 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke — will, as usual, be chosen by five independent judges, who bring broad experience in entrepreneurship, business development, and civic engagement, among other traits. Here’s a quick look at each of them.

Kim Alli is a vice president and commercial loan officer at Greenfield Savings Bank and is also a member of the GSB PPP loan task force and the bank’s contributions committee. She serves on several community boards, including the Hospice of the Fisher Home, the United Way of Hampshire County community investment committee, and the Cooley Dickinson golf committee. She is also a member of the GCC Foundation campaign team, ambassador for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, and a Rotarian for Amherst and Northampton.

For the past two decades, Paul Bailey has been the executive director of Springfield Partners for Community Action, the federally designated community action agency serving the Springfield area. Previously, he worked at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development for 11 years, where he oversaw the state’s 252 public-housing authorities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMass Amherst and serves on the board of directors of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Hampden County Workforce Board.

For the past nine years, Pia Sareen Kumar has been co-owner and chief strategy officer of Universal Plastics Group, representing a family of plastics-manufacturing businesses headquartered in Holyoke and stretching into in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. She started her career as an investment banker at JPMorgan Chase and was a global director of strategic partnerships at American Express. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.

Lenny Underwood launched Underwood Photography in 2004, providing an array of services ranging from headshots, parties, and weddings to photo shoots, slideshows, and photo-booth rental. He is also a certified personal fitness trainer. He then founded Upscale Socks in 2016, which supports local nonprofits and schools with the Suit Your Soles campaign, which matches a sock donation for every purchase. He is a member of St. John’s Congregational Church, the Brianna Fund for Children with Physical Disabilities gospel concert planning committee, and the Way Finders board.

Peter Wirth

Born and raised in Germany, Peter Wirth started working for Mercedes-Benz straight out of college. After holding several positions in marketing and product management, her relocated to the U.S. and took a job with Mercedes-Benz USA. After successfully launching the SLR McLaren and the new C-Class for the U.S. market, he transitioned into retail and managed sales operations for two large New York Metro Mercedes-Benz dealers. In 2017, he and his wife, Michelle, started their own business and opened Mercedes-Benz of Springfield.

Picture This

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


 

Supporting Students

Jane Schwartzberg and James Machia, advanced manufacturing and technology students at Asnuntuck Community College, were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship through a 3M grant. The scholarships are available to students entering or currently enrolled in programs in mechatronics, advanced manufacturing technology, robotics, or industrial maintenance. Schwartzberg and Machia are pictured standing behind the Festo Mechatronics Learning System that 3M donated to Asnuntuck.

 


 

Tackling Tough Issues

Springfield College doctor of physical therapy (DPT) student Xavier Gibson was selected as one of two finalists in the annual physical therapy essay contest co-sponsored by the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy Consortium for the Humanities, Ethics, and Professionalism and the Journal for Humanities in Rehabilitation. Gibson’s essay — which highlights his responsibilities and obligations as a DPT student of color, the only student of color in his cohort, to come to terms with addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in society and inequalities in healthcare — will be published in the JHR’s fall 2021 issue.

 


 

In the Bag

JGS Lifecare was selected as the nonprofit beneficiary of the Big Y Community Bag Program for the month of March at the Big Y located in Longmeadow. JGS Lifecare will receive a $1 donation every time the $2.50 reusable “Big Y Cares” Community Bag is purchased at this location during March, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the giving tag attached to the bag. “We are thrilled to receive the support of our local Big Y and our community,” said Susan Kimball Halpern, vice president of Development and Communications at JGS Lifecare (pictured).

 


 

Agenda

Pynchon Award Nominations

Through March 19: The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties for the Pynchon Award, which recognizes Western Mass. citizens who have rendered distinguished service to the community. To nominate an individual, submit a one-page letter explaining why the nominee should be considered. Include biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations in which the individual is or has been active, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon. Nominations must be submitted by March 19 to William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090-1022, or by e-mail to [email protected]. The 2021 recipients will be announced in June, with an awards ceremony tentatively scheduled for the fall.

 

Ubora, Ahadi Award Nominations

Through March 31: The Springfield Museums is seeking nominations for the annual Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award. These prestigious awards — conferred by the African Hall Subcommittee — are awarded to African-American people from Greater Springfield who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating commitment to the fields of community service, education, science, humanities, and/or the arts. The nomination deadline for both awards is March 31. The Ubora and Ahadi awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Springfield Museums in the fall. True to the Swahili word that comprises its name, the Ubora Award recognizes an adult of African heritage who exemplifies excellence in their commitment to creating a better community through service. Named for the Swahili word for promise, the Ahadi Youth Award is presented to a young African-American who excels in academics and performs admirable service to the Greater Springfield community. Eligible candidates must be age 19 or younger, live in or have strong ties to the Greater Springfield area, and be currently enrolled in grades 10, 11, or 12. Nomination forms can be downloaded by visiting springfieldmuseums.org/ubora. Nominations may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to African Hall Subcommittee, c/o Valerie Cavagni, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, MA 01103.

 

Fundraising Walk in Remembrance of Dave Stawasz

April: Western New England University (WNEU) faculty, colleagues, family members, and students are invited to participate in a commemorative event in memory of Assistant Vice President of Marketing Communications Dave Stawasz, who passed away peacefully on Jan. 28, surrounded by his family, after a courageous two-year battle with stage-4 colorectal cancer. Stawasz was a graduate of South Hadley High School and Syracuse University. His early career was as a news producer at WWLP and then later at WFSB. He joined the university in 2004. Steps for Stawasz is a virtual walk taking place throughout the month of April in his honor. Participants will log as many virtual steps as they can during the month by either walking or running while collecting donations along the way through friends and family sponsorships. By signing up, participants will receive a link to share on social media. From there, participants can create a personal giving page to collect donations and update progress. Details and instructions can be found at runsignup.com/race/ma/springfield/stawasz. Interested individuals can also make a direct donation on the website without participating in the walk. All proceeds will go directly to the Stawasz family.

 

Institute for Trustees

Starting April 7: Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) announced it is partnering with the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) in presenting the 2021 Institute for Trustees, an annual conference inviting nonprofit leaders to gather together for educational workshops and networking opportunities. Building on the success of BTCF’s 2018 Board Leadership Forum and designed for board leaders and executive directors, the event features 24 virtual workshops from leading nonprofit experts and opportunities to connect with hundreds of peers equally committed to their leadership roles. This partnership is part of a broader effort between BTCF and ECCF to leverage resources in support of building capacity and leadership within the nonprofit sector, given the challenges facing organizations due to the pandemic and its economic consequences. The Institute for Trustees kicks off on April 7 with a keynote address by Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, titled “Leading for Nonprofit Impact Amid Unprecedented Challenge.” Beginning April 9, workshops and opportunities to connect with fellow attendees through topic-driven, informal peer discussions will be spread over the course of four weeks. Workshop topics include racial equity, endowment building, crisis planning, governance, advocacy, finance, and much more. To register for the program, visit eccf.org/ift. Registrations will be accepted at a discounted early-bird rate of $110 until March 7. After that, registration will cost $130 and will close April 7.

 

Nominations for Ad Club Creative Awards

Through April 18: The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts invites the community to apply for its 2021 Creative Awards. The club has simplified the rules and eliminated physical entries entirely, due to COVID-19 restrictions. As always, Ad Club members will receive a discounted rate; members will receive a personalized discount code via e-mail. Participants will have the opportunity to virtually meet the agencies, marketing departments, and freelance artists behind the work. Award winners will be announced at the Ad Club’s Creative Awards show scheduled for Thursday, May 20. Categories that qualify participants for entry include advertising, copywriting, design, interactive and web media, photography, video and motion, and student work. Visit www.adclubwm.org/events/creativeawards2021 for the guidelines and application form, or contact the Ad Club at (413) 342-0533 or [email protected].

 

Alumni Achievement Award Nominations

Through April 23: When BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007, it did so to identify rising stars across our region — individuals who were excelling in business and through involvement within the community — and celebrate their accomplishments. In 2015, BusinessWest announced a new award, one that builds on the foundation upon which 40 Under Forty was created. It’s called the Alumni Achievement Award (formerly the Continued Excellence Award). As the name suggests, it is presented to the 40 Under Forty honoree who, in the eyes of an independent panel of judges, has most impressively continued and built upon his or her track record of accomplishment. To nominate someone for this award, visit businesswest.com/40-under-forty/40-under-forty-alumni-achievement-award. The deadline is Friday, April 23 at 5 p.m., no exceptions. The 2020 honoree will be announced at the 40 Under Forty gala in June. Candidates must be from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007 to 2020. A list of 40 Under Forty Alumni can be found at businesswest.com/40-under-forty/40-under-forty (scroll to the bottom). Past winners include: 2020: Carla Cosenzi, president, TommyCar Auto Group (40 Under Forty class of 2012), and Peter DePergola, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health (class of 2015); 2019: Cinda Jones, president, W.D. Cowls Inc. (class of 2007); 2018: Samalid Hogan, regional director, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (class of 2013); 2017: Scott Foster, attorney, Bulkley Richardson (class of 2011), and Nicole Griffin, owner, ManeHire (class of 2014); 2016: Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president, Allergy & Immunology Associates of New England (class of 2008); 2015: Delcie Bean, president, Paragus Strategic IT (class of 2008).

 

Springfield Partners for Community Action Scholarships

Through April 23: Springfield Partners for Community Action announced it will award a number of $1,000 scholarships that can help recipients with tuition and alleviate the cost of going back to school and investing in bettering themselves. All applicants must be Springfield residents, and income-eligibility guidelines may apply. Scholarships will be awarded to those attending accredited/licensed schools in Massachusetts. Applications must be received by April 23. Late entries will not be considered. If selected, recipients must be available to attend an awards event (most likely virtual) in June. Visit www.springfieldpartnersinc.com/whatwedo/scholarshipsprogram for the application form and information on how to apply.

 

VA Healthcare Virtual Summit

May 24-26: The Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA) announced plans for the IDGA VA Healthcare Summit. HCN is sponsoring this event, at which attendees will have the opportunity to meet with the leaders positioned to provide substantive change across the department, with a particular focus on advancing patient advocacy and experience, digital transformation, community and vendor engagement, e-learning, the VA’s innovation ecosystem, and more. IDGA’s summit will highlight these areas across the agenda, as well as include enabling VA initiatives currently underway to advance the most critical needs for veterans across the U.S. This year’s agenda, developed through indepth research by IDGA, covers a range of topics, including VHA innovation ecosystem initiatives, VA telehealth capabilities, financial management and business-transformation efforts, and a deep dive into clinical delivery. For more information and to view the agenda, visit www.idga.org/events-veteransaffairshealthcare-spring. To join and receive a 20% discount, register at bit.ly/3sts2FV and quote code VAH_HCN. All federal, state, and local government, as well as military and law enforcement, can attend at no cost.

 

People on the Move
Thomas Downey

Thomas Downey

Peter Moran

Michael Cardaropoli

Michael Cardaropoli

The law firm of Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan and Blakesley announced that attorneys Thomas Downey, Peter Moran, and Michael Cardaropoli have been made partners in the firm. Downey is a graduate of Norwich University. He holds both an MBA and a juris doctor degree from Western New England College. He is admitted to practice law in the state courts of Massachusetts and before the Social Security Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents. He has been with the firm since 2003. Moran obtained his bachelor’s degree at Boston College and his juris doctor degree at Boston University School of Law. For more than 30 years, he has focused his area of practice on workers’ compensation law, and has been with the firm since 2005. Cardaropoli joined the firm in 2008, concentrating his practice in workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and personal-injury litigation. He received his bachelor’s degree in business from American International College and his juris doctor degree from Western New England University. He is the vice chair of the MBA Workers’ Compensation Committee.

•••••

Lisa Carpenter

Lisa Carpenter

Bacon Wilson announced that Lisa Carpenter has joined the firm as the new executive director. She comes to Bacon Wilson with more than 20 years of experience in legal administration and management in the Kansas City area, with specialized skills and expertise in law-firm management and operations. She works directly with Bacon Wilson’s managing shareholder, Kenneth Albano, on all aspects of directing the firm’s five offices. Before joining Bacon Wilson, Carpenter served as office administrator for Littler Mendelson P.C.’s Global Service Center in Kansas City, Mo., as well as its Kansas City local practice office. Prior to that, Carpenter worked for 14 years in operations management at the Kansas City headquarters of Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP, a large international product litigation firm with more than 16 locations. Carpenter holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Friends University and is a member of the Assoc. of Legal Administrators (ALA), where she has published multiple articles.

•••••

Dr. David Brown

Dr. David Brown

Dr. David Brown has begun serving as the interim president and CEO at Cooley Dickinson Health Care. Brown steps in to lead the organization after Joanne Marqusee announced her resignation in January following seven years of service to Cooley Dickinson. Brown, chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), will serve in an interim capacity while a search is conducted for a permanent president and CEO. Brown will continue to oversee the MGH Department of Emergency Medicine as well as maintain his major administrative and committee roles at both MGH and Mass General Brigham. After receiving his undergraduate degree at Princeton and then his medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1989, Brown began his career in emergency medicine as an intern at MGH, later becoming vice chair, then department chair. He is the MGH trustees professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a diplomate of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine, and a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. He has also served for many years as the physician for the New England Patriots.

•••••

Jeremy Forgue

Jeremy Forgue

Jonathan Applefield

Jonathan Applefield

Tracy Belanger

Tracy Belanger

Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. recently welcomed attorney Jeremy Forgue and two paralegals, Jonathan Applefield and Tracy Belanger, to its team. Forgue received his law degree from Western New England University School of Law, where he was drawn to business and employment law and was the managing editor of the university’s Law Review. Prior to joining Skoler Abbott, he was a law clerk for the Massachusetts Housing Court. He enjoys preparing employers for new and changing laws to prevent compliance issues, such as reviewing existing policies for vulnerabilities and assisting in open-forum discussions. As a paralegal, Applefield provides broad administrative support to the attorneys and their clients. Before joining the firm, he worked for 16 years as a legal assistant in Manhattan, a job he held while earning graduate and postgraduate degrees in art history at Columbia University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College in Maine. Belanger, also a paralegal, earned her associate degree in administration of justice and a certificate of achievement with an emphasis on the law and public policy at Pasadena City College in California, where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma honor society. She then pursued her bachelor’s degree in criminology, law and society from the School of Social Ecology at the University of California Irvine, followed by completion of an ABA-accredited paralegal studies program and an externship at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

•••••

Morgan Stanley announced that John Pappas, a senior vice president and financial advisor in its Wealth Management office in Springfield, has been named to the firm’s prestigious Century Club, an elite group composed of the firm’s top financial advisors. The appointment recognizes his consistent creativity and excellence in providing a wide range of investment products and wealth-management services to his clients. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses, and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, cash management and lending products and services, annuities and insurance, and retirement and trust services.

•••••

Paul Shepardson

Paul Shepardson

Monson Savings Bank announced the promotion of Paul Shepardson to digital systems officer. In that role, he is responsible for overseeing Monson Savings Bank’s electronic banking services and support. Additionally, he is responsible for staying up to date on cutting-edge and convenient digital banking options that could be offered to the bank’s customers. Shepardson began his career in the banking industry with Monson Savings Bank 10 years ago. He initially worked as a customer service associate before being promoted to customer service representative. He later became the bank’s first business banking administrator and e-banking specialist. Since then, he has excelled in the electronic-banking department. He is a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies.

•••••

Kim Alli

Kim Alli

Andrew Bresciano

Andrew Bresciano

Tina Flagg

Tina Flagg

Panna Royal

Aleta Smith

Aleta Smith

Greenfield Savings Bank (GSB) announced the promotions of Kim Alli to vice president and commercial loan officer, Andrew Bresciano to first vice president and commercial loan officer, Tina Flagg to assistant vice president and commercial loan administration manager, Panna Royal to vice president and senior network administrator, and Aleta Smith to commercial lending assistant. Alli is responsible for meeting with local business customers to determine their financial needs and helping them with a wide range of commercial-loan products and services. Her position also includes developing new strategic relationships for business development, as well as establishing commercial account relationships with area small businesses and serving as an ambassador for the bank with the community. She is a member of the GSB PPP loan task force and the bank’s contributions committee. Bresciano is responsible for working with local business customers to assist them with their credit needs, including commercial credit lines, commercial real estate and development loans, operational and equipment loans, and inventory loans. Last year, he was appointed to the leadership team managing the bank’s PPP loan task force. Flagg is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the loan assistants and loan-servicing specialists in the bank’s Commercial Loan department to ensure quality customer service. In addition to monitoring the department workflow, she performs a broad variety of duties related to the documentation, regulatory-compliance requirements, and servicing of commercial loans throughout their life cycle and provides customer service and administrative support to commercial-loan customers and lenders. She is also a member of

Company Notebook

WNEU Center for Social Justice Receives HNE Mini-grant

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University (WNEU) School of Law’s Center for Social Justice was awarded a $6,000 DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) mini-grant from Health New England (HNE). The grant provides funding to local nonprofit organizations that are actively addressing racial health equity and disparities, and at least one of the CDC’s social determinants of health (SDOH). These are conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes; these include healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, social and community context, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment. The grant seeks to dismantle systemic racism in two ways. The project will first educate the WNEU community about the connection between racism and health disparities and the structural barriers to equity that exist across society, and then will work to facilitate racial healing and relationship building between the institution and the local community through healing-circle conversations. Since its launch in 2019, the Center for Social Justice has been a key stakeholder in the pursuit of social justice in its community and beyond. In the last year, the center has sponsored or hosted more than a dozen events, including various know-your-rights trainings and programming, panel discussions addressing the racial disparities of COVID-19, and lawyering in the time of Black Lives Matter, as well as speakers like Evan Wolfson, who is considered an architect of the marriage-equality movement. Its work is entirely grant-funded from supporters like HNE and MassMutual, as well as individual donors.

 

Visiting Angels West Springfield Wins Provider of Choice Award

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Visiting Angels West Springfield received the 2021 Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award, which is granted to the top-ranking home-care providers in North America according to Home Care Pulse. The Provider of Choice Award recognizes Visiting Angels’ dedication to client satisfaction and commitment to offering quality, affordable in-home care services. Visiting Angels West Springfield was established in 1999 and has served the elder population of Western Mass. for more than 20 years. It has grown to provide more than 70,000 hours of care annually by helping seniors to maintain a sense of independence, dignity, and quality of life in their own home. Visiting Angels strives to foster lasting client-caregiver relationships by offering family-like compassionate care and dependability.

AIC Named to 2021-22 Military Friendly Schools List

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) announced it has earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly School designation. Institutions earning this designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-22 survey, with 747 earning the designation. The 2021-22 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. Methodology and criteria were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly​ ​Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher-education and military-recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey response set and government/agency public data sources within a logic-based scoring assessment. The institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer), and loan-default rates for all students are measured.

 

Team 413 Moves to William Raveis Real Estate

EAST LONGMEADOW — Shawna Gutowski and Heidi Pafumi, founders of Team 413, announced their move to the East Longmeadow office of William Raveis Real Estate. Team 413 finished 2020 top five in sales volume for all real-estate transactions in Hampden County. When asked why they decided to move their team, Gutowski noted that, “as we quickly grew from two to 16 agents, we realized a partnership with a name and reputation like William Raveis was the next step. Using their structure, technology, and years of experience, we plan to continue to exponentially grow.” In the previous four years, Team 413 has consistently ranked in the top 1% of Hampden County teams, with more than 500 transactions and $100 million in closed volume. The team has sold homes in more than 30 towns across Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Team 413 prides itself on its cultural diversity, as well as its extensive resources, spanning from contractors to interior designers.

 

ACC Designated as 2021-22 Military Friendly School

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College announced that, for the 14th year, the college has earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly School designation. Institutions earning this designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-22 survey, with 747 earning the designation. Asnuntuck has had nearly 300 active-duty and/or veteran students enrolled during the last three years. The college offers a multitude of services to these students. Asnuntuck and other campuses in the North-West Region worked with Resilience Grows Here to each offer a “No Wrong Door” training at the campuses last year. Asnuntuck, in partnership with Tunxis Community College, has done community outreach by sponsoring the Hartford Yard Goats Military Family of the Game for each of the baseball team’s home games.

 

Holyoke Hummus Food Truck Comes to Resinate Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — Holyoke Hummus and Resinate Northampton recently announced a new partnership. The Holyoke Hummus food truck is now serving in the parking lot of Resinate at 110 Pleasant St. in Northampton and is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. Holyoke Hummus serves falafel, hummus, and other Middle Eastern treats. Delivery and online ordering are available at holyokehummus.com. The truck is also available for special events and catering.

 

Girls Inc. of the Valley Receives Amelia Peabody Grant

HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley received a $145,000 grant from the Amelia Peabody Foundation, which will enable the organization to further develop its virtual programming, help prepare for the time when in-person programs may resume, continue its Learning Pod collaboration with Holyoke Public Schools, and ultimately bring staff together in one building, fostering even greater creative and collaborative synergies. The foundation awarded $25,000 to Girls Inc.’s general program and $120,000 to its comprehensive campaign, “Her Future, Our Future.” This commitment will help Girls Inc. to establish a new, permanent home and provide the space, resources, and opportunities needed to enable more girls to participate in the transformative Girls Inc. experience. The grant will support both program planning and implementation; funds will be used for staffing, expanded outreach, and program supplies. Additionally, the grant will facilitate bringing all Girls Inc. staff together under one roof to create greater collaborative and economic efficiencies.

 

Christina’s House Gets a Hand with Giving a Hand Up

SPRINGFIELD — The Davis Foundation recently awarded Christina’s House with a $15,000 grant to do what it does best — giving a hand up to homeless and near-homeless women and their children. A largely underserved population, these women and their families will stay with Christina’s House for 18 months to two years while they establish healthy living habits, become employed, and earn a GED or job training for upward mobility in the workforce. Paul Belsito, executive director at the Davis Foundation, and Magnus Monroe, grants and project manager, met with the organization in early fall to better understand how the foundation could support Christina’s House. The Davis Foundation, long known in the community for its educational agenda, found a fit, and the board voted to approve and provide much-needed funds to help the organization through a tough year. Christina’s House provides transitional housing and social services for homeless or near-homeless mothers and children. It educates, embraces, and encourages families in the program with the life skills needed to become self-sufficient as they transition from homelessness to stable environments. The organization also helps each mother seek, obtain, and maintain employment once accepted into the program, and promotes occupational advancement through résumé writing and job-skills training.

 

Bradley International Airport Named in USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) announced that USA Today has named Bradley International Airport a winner in its 2021 10Best Readers’ Choice travel contest in the “Best Small Airport” category. Bradley placed seventh out of 15 airports that were selected by industry experts as the best across the nation. In response to COVID-19, the CAA has continued to enhance services at Bradley International Airport over the past year, aimed at providing a safe, clean, and comfortable travel experience. More information about the safety measures undertaken and what travelers can expect can be found at www.bdlcares.com. On its website, USA Today noted that Bradley International Airport “ranks as the second-busiest airport after Boston Logan, yet it remains a convenient option with on-site parking, lots of charging stations, free wi-fi, and proximity to both New York and Boston.” Bradley was chosen by a panel of industry experts for inclusion in the USA Today contest, which was followed by four weeks of public voting nationwide. This is the airport’s second national recognition within the year after placing as a top-10 airport in the 2020 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice survey.

 

DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of February 2021. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

DEERFIELD

Apothecary Inc.
4A Sugarloaf St.
Danielle Sullivan-Beck, Jaime Young

The Griffin Family Farm
225 Upper Road
Danielle Griffin, Robert Griffin

South Deerfield Veterinary Clinic
112 River Road
Samantha Clay

HADLEY

Famous Footwear #2388
335 Russell St.
Famous Footwear

Northern Creek Farm
54 Chmura Road
Elizabeth Pelis

Riverbend Animal Hospital
43 Russell St.
RB Riverbend AH, LLC

Valley Inn for Pets
320 Russell St.
Vetcor of Hadley, LLC

Valley Veterinary Hospital
320 Russell St.
Vetcor of Hadley, LLC

SOUTHWICK

Bitcoin Depot
587 College Highway
Lux Vending, LLC

Calabrese Farms, LLC
249 Feeding Hills Road
Thomas Calabrese

Delia’s Hair Studio
627 College Highway
Delia Bromley

Moon Snail Creations and Engraving, LLC
11 Great Brook Dr.
Erica Heng

WESTFIELD

Bill’s Repair Service Inc.
530 Pochassic Road
Bill’s Repair Service Inc.

D. Rossi Custom Pallet Service
264 Lockhouse Road
David Dolan

Ergonomic Collaboration Group
207 Munger Hill Road
Patrick Carley

Gabe’s 252
252 Elm St.
Krause, LLC

It Takes 2 Bakery
31 Elm St.
It Takes 2 Bakery

Jasmeine Moonsong
598 Granville Road
Brandy Latshaw

Just Like Home Daycare
26 Kellogg St.
Helena Drozaliev

MG Construction
19 Forest Ave.
Matthew Gavrilov

Quality View
344 Prospect St. Ext.
Noah Rivera

Santiago Family Restaurant
34 Franklin St.
I. Santiago

Tin Bridge Brewing Co.
487 East Main St.
Tin Bridge Brewing Co.

The Whip
287 North Elm St.
Whip City Patriot Inc.

YFC Construction
19 Forest Ave.
Y.M.D. Gavrilov

Yola’s Caring Touch Massage
10C Union Ave.
Jolanta Abramczyk

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Damoonweb
768 Main St.
Faruba Nujaeub

Dynamic Dock & Door Inc.
64 Lowell St.
Bret Leveillee

Expert Car Rental
1800 Riverdale St.
James Balise

Gen X Records
27 Squassick Road
Thomas Poulin

Great Clips
343 Memorial Ave.
Catie Laraway

The Pawsitive Look
865 Memorial Dr.
Doris Ruiz

Tip Top Nails
239 Memorial Ave.
Hoa Chi Thach

Toe-to-Toe Dance Center
1419 Westfield St.
Cherie Hodgdon

Welch Government & Public Relations
270 Christopher Ter.
James Welch

Bankruptcies

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

Anderson, Coralee
113 Andrews St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/13/2021

Benoit, William
McIntire-Benoit, Monica
a/k/a Lenz, Monica
140 Union St., Apt. 3
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/31/2021

Frederick, Robert
90 Highland Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/01/2021

Helms, Laura Dianne
a/k/a Radebaugh, Laura D.
191 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/04/2021

Longs, Isaiah A.
72 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/15/2021
Marcano, Gloria I.
156 Leyfred Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104|
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/08/2021

Ouellette, Yvette
a/k/a Duval, Yvette
a/k/a Hitchcock, Yvette Duval
a/k/a Nichols, Yvette
1449 County Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/01/2021

Pelkey, Donald R.
24 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/13/2021

Rapier, Mary Annette
43 Devens St., Apt. A
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/03/2021

Rosa, Luis F.
258 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/31/2021

Terrero, Ana F.
672 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/02/2021

Unterberger, Kevin M.
247 Onota St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/01/2021

Wontota, Richmond B.
13 Kendall St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/02/2021

Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

152-A John Ford Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jane Kaufman
Seller: Tatiana C. Berindei
Date: 02/08/21

BERNARDSTON

23 Center St.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $268,896
Buyer: Aaron C. Hunter
Seller: Leslie Hunter
Date: 02/09/21

308 Northfield Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $332,764
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: Janine Viencek
Date: 02/10/21

175 West Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Thomas B. Hamilton
Seller: Errol W. Caswell
Date: 02/08/21

BUCKLAND

7 South St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: David Gamelli
Seller: Gaffigan IRT
Date: 02/12/21

49-51 State St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Diego Sharon
Seller: Kelly A. Hanley
Date: 02/16/21

DEERFIELD

Elm Circle
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Clay RE Holdings LLC
Seller: Elizabeth A. Schmitt
Date: 02/19/21

30 Elm St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Clay RE Holdings LLC
Seller: Elizabeth A. Schmitt
Date: 02/19/21

7 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Mitchell
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/09/21

7 Thayer St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $199,155
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Marie Drozdal
Date: 02/19/21

GREENFIELD

80 Beech St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Benjamin Conrick
Seller: Christopher J. Edes
Date: 02/12/21

335 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Levi Kelley
Seller: Andrew Lively
Date: 02/10/21

333 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: White Mountain Realty Group LLC
Seller: Paul W. Allis
Date: 02/08/21

25 Frederick Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Jason Sadler
Seller: Paul J. Levasseur
Date: 02/12/21

24 Linwood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Daniel Littlefield
Seller: Michael Hutchinson
Date: 02/09/21

151 Montague City Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kristina N. Smyth
Seller: Christopher D. Sawyer
Date: 02/09/21

78 Peabody Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Min L. Lu
Seller: Eileen F. Brown
Date: 02/18/21

92-94 Peabody Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Adam Konner
Seller: Ricky Greenwald
Date: 02/12/21

32 Power Square
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $131,500
Buyer: Andrew R. Hutchison
Seller: Goodridge, George L., (Estate)
Date: 02/10/21

77 Verde Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $398,400
Buyer: Jamie Roberts
Seller: Greenfield KMW LLC
Date: 02/08/21

LEVERETT

49 Cave Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $406,405
Buyer: Eric J. Mulvihill
Seller: Frederick J. Bashour
Date: 02/16/21

MONROE

146 Main Road
Monroe, MA 01350
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Nathan H. Cote
Seller: Russell R. Oakes
Date: 02/12/21

MONTAGUE

22 Coolidge Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Crystal-Ann Hoffman
Seller: Lenois, Ronald R., (Estate)
Date: 02/10/21

107 Federal St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Denise D. Salmon-Shand
Seller: Michael McGrath
Date: 02/16/21

33 Union St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $315,250
Buyer: Jonathan R. Bray
Seller: Robert J. Bray
Date: 02/11/21

NEW SALEM

27 Stone Hill Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $236,500
Buyer: Dylan J. Matilainen
Seller: Christine C. Fannin
Date: 02/19/21

NORTHFIELD

153 School St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Yong-Zhi Mei
Seller: Douglas A. Baker
Date: 02/08/21

ORANGE

113 Congress St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Max Carrazana
Seller: Edgewater Construction Inc.
Date: 02/09/21

67 Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Tina Diaz
Seller: Daniel M. Kimball
Date: 02/08/21

95 New Athol Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $1,090,000
Buyer: Motor City Automotive Group
Seller: George H. Newcomb
Date: 02/11/21

38 Robin Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: James D. Hancock
Seller: Jignesh R. Patel
Date: 02/12/21

181 Wheeler Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Brent E. Sulham
Seller: Nathan E. Sulham
Date: 02/19/21

SHELBURNE

30 High St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Katherine Barr
Seller: Ricki Carroll
Date: 02/09/21

Patten Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $353,000
Buyer: MA Audubon Society Inc.
Seller: Patten Hill Farm TR
Date: 02/16/21

SHUTESBURY

527 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $274,500
Buyer: Skyway Properties LLC
Seller: Andrew L. Cook
Date: 02/16/21

SUNDERLAND

190 North Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Dennis O’Loughlin
Seller: J2K Realty LLC
Date: 02/19/21

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

114 Carr Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Alex Boyko
Seller: Laura L. Farrington
Date: 02/12/21

19 Hamilton Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Joanne Askins
Date: 02/10/21

16 Norris St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Tifany Inacio
Seller: Melissa Noonan
Date: 02/10/21

5 Red Oaks Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Ryan D. Sheehan
Seller: Laura J. Conant
Date: 02/11/21

43 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Sergey Dikan
Seller: Joann K. Chiaro
Date: 02/18/21

105 South Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $230,500
Buyer: Zeni L. Gushue
Seller: Russell P. Stetson
Date: 02/08/21

 

BLANDFORD

103 North Blandford Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $183,302
Buyer: Bl Ma Land LLC
Seller: Housatonic Solar 1 LLC
Date: 02/08/21

BLANDFORD

28 Blair Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Mia Hanlon
Seller: Emerald City Rentals LLC
Date: 02/19/21

CHESTER

104 North Chester Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $382,000
Buyer: David S. Muenzer
Seller: Christopher L. Towne
Date: 02/18/21

CHICOPEE

71 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Michael Croteau
Seller: Mark E. Slayton
Date: 02/17/21

1063 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Michele A. Lemieux
Seller: Connor S. Sormanti
Date: 02/17/21

621 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: Alyson E. Reid
Date: 02/16/21

61 Claire St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joshua J. Medero
Seller: Thomas P. Garvey
Date: 02/12/21

47 Conrad St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $231,500
Buyer: Joleen A. Ramos
Seller: Michael Jackewich
Date: 02/12/21

37 Eldridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: JBD Empire LLC
Seller: Natalia Trznadel
Date: 02/18/21

19 Emerson St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: RBT Enterprise LLC
Seller: MJT Properties LLC
Date: 02/18/21

10 Everett St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/16/21

101 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Colleen Bates
Seller: William M. Parker
Date: 02/09/21

90 Fernhill St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Seweryn W. Grabowski
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 02/12/21

11 Fisher St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Carlos M. Hernandez
Seller: Richard S. Fedak
Date: 02/16/21

81 Frink St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $227,900
Buyer: William M. Parker
Seller: Jeffrey P. Paquette
Date: 02/10/21

245 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Tony Tereso
Seller: Marc N. Turgeon
Date: 02/17/21

75 Greenpoint Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Scott T. Pirog
Seller: Elizabeth A. Forgue
Date: 02/12/21

49 Jean Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Yesenia R. Martinez
Seller: N. Riley Construction Inc.
Date: 02/17/21

17 Leslie St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Nicol D. Diaz-Rodriguez
Seller: Extremely Clean LLC
Date: 02/19/21

311 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Connor K. Kennedy
Seller: Roland N. Menard
Date: 02/11/21

8 Pleasantview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Antonio Valdez-Cabral
Seller: Meadowbrook Property Solutions
Date: 02/09/21

645 Shawinigan Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,162,050
Buyer: Western Mass. Emergency Communications
Seller: Shawinigan Drive LLC
Date: 02/16/21

151 Silvin Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jack Solock
Seller: Shannon L. Drake
Date: 02/18/21

385 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Seller: Antonio S. Francisco
Date: 02/12/21

2 West St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Juan A. Rosario
Seller: Blanco Electric LLC
Date: 02/12/21

EAST LONGMEADOW

Baldwin St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Purpose Storage E
Seller: Baldwin Street LLC
Date: 02/10/21

34 Brynmawr Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: MNB Builders LLC
Seller: FNMA
Date: 02/16/21

419 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Alexander Provoda
Seller: Diana Kumisca
Date: 02/12/21

5 Corning St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01108
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Hadley B. Pellegrino
Seller: Giancarlo Mei
Date: 02/19/21

68 Gerrard Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $290,900
Buyer: Brett Richard
Seller: Erick Arroyo
Date: 02/19/21

Glendale Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Purpose Storage E
Seller: Baldwin Street LLC
Date: 02/10/21

Grove Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Purpose Storage E
Seller: Baldwin Street LLC
Date: 02/10/21

27 Kingman Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: James N. Conlon
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/19/21

39 Lombard Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Timothy J. Becker
Seller: Robert J. Schroeter
Date: 02/17/21

55 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $234,500
Buyer: Bradford T. Mills
Seller: Brian Tondera
Date: 02/12/21

45 Scantic Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: James Bertier
Seller: Tracey L. Giard
Date: 02/12/21

HOLYOKE

71 Berkshire St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Anne M. Lisella
Seller: Westmass Apartments LLC
Date: 02/18/21

15 Clark St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Victoria M. Bonazoli
Seller: Albert Czupkiewicz
Date: 02/16/21

921 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Daniel Carrell
Seller: Gladysh Capital LLC
Date: 02/19/21

5 Gamelin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Holyoke Medical Properties
Seller: Mercy Hospital Inc.
Date: 02/17/21

1244 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Justin Tomasini
Seller: Greenvale Properties LLC
Date: 02/08/21

41-43 Mosher St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,250,000
Buyer: 556 South Bridge St LLC
Seller: Windsor Realty LLC
Date: 02/19/21

2060-2062 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Michael L. Davenport
Seller: NAR Realty LLC
Date: 02/12/21

17-19 Parker St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Shannon C. Dillard
Seller: Mario Tedeschi
Date: 02/12/21

430 Rock Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Michael D. Rabtor
Seller: Jennifer Wilda
Date: 02/12/21

556 South Bridge St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,250,000
Buyer: 556 S. Bridge St. LLC
Seller: Windsor Realty LLC
Date: 02/19/21

224 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jonathan Z. Glogower
Seller: Anna K. Rigali
Date: 02/18/21

50 West St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,250,000
Buyer: 556 South Bridge St. LLC
Seller: Windsor Realty LLC
Date: 02/19/21

52 West St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,250,000
Buyer: 556 S. Bridge St. LLC
Seller: Windsor Realty LLC
Date: 02/19/21

19 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Heidy L. Lanausse-Ramos
Seller: Alfred Shattelroe
Date: 02/08/21

272 Whitney Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Nicholas O. Rodriguez
Seller: Christopher M. Buell
Date: 02/17/21

LONGMEADOW

37 Captain Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Philip B. Jones
Seller: Michael Sullivan
Date: 02/10/21

1183 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Jaime Cabezas
Seller: Rajeev Kumar
Date: 02/17/21

73 Falmouth Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $376,000
Buyer: Katie Lynch
Seller: James B. Punderson
Date: 02/17/21

163 Hillcrest Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Kate E. Schoenberger
Seller: Jeffrey A. Beaulac
Date: 02/19/21

58 Shady Side Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $527,500
Buyer: James J. Manoussoff
Seller: Kim D. Tanzer
Date: 02/12/21

37 South Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Robert E. Kelley
Seller: Jaime F. Cabezas
Date: 02/17/21

LUDLOW

8 Autumn Ridge Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $532,000
Buyer: William E. Grise
Seller: Hemlock Ridge LLC
Date: 02/12/21

14 Bucknell St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Suzanne Middleton
Seller: Raev LLC
Date: 02/19/21

448 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Jonathan M. Cheria
Seller: Gerard J. Deslauriers
Date: 02/19/21

Marias Way #5
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Augusto G. Crespo
Seller: M&G Investors LLC
Date: 02/12/21

177 Overlook Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Khanh Nguyen
Seller: Patricia Coderre-Guyette
Date: 02/12/21

73 Ridgeview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alice G. English
Seller: Stoddard, Mary E., (Estate)
Date: 02/12/21

Sunset Ridge #7
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Danny Elias
Seller: Alex G. Kudla
Date: 02/19/21

Sunset Ridge #17
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Alina Leclaire
Seller: Baystate Developers Inc.
Date: 02/12/21

MONSON

28 Bethany Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Joanne P. Kelly
Seller: Sarah E. Danos
Date: 02/12/21

PALMER

11 Conant St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $243,480
Buyer: Kathleen A. Scarglia
Seller: Nathaniel Messier
Date: 02/19/21

4 Norbell St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Bolduc
Seller: Linda Thibeault
Date: 02/17/21

1570-1572 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Roger Parker
Seller: Stephen A. Mushenko
Date: 02/10/21

17 Old Farm Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Naomi R. Jackson
Seller: Doreen Cunningham
Date: 02/09/21

103-A&B South High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $287,600
Buyer: Joshua Banas
Seller: Glennair Executive Services
Date: 02/09/21

103-B South High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $287,600
Buyer: Joshua Banas
Seller: Glennair Executive Services
Date: 02/09/21

49 Springfield St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Anthony L. Fields
Seller: Rehab Home Buyers LLC
Date: 02/16/21

Wilbraham St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Jerzy Sajerda
Seller: Wilbraham Road LLC
Date: 02/10/21

RUSSELL

41 Westwood Dr.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Caio Veloso-Silva
Seller: Jay M. Smith
Date: 02/16/21

SOUTHWICK

3 Amberleaf Way
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Brian J. Laframboise
Seller: Seetharaman Raghuraman
Date: 02/17/21

681-R College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jaydub LLC
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 02/17/21

21 Ed Holcomb Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Barden
Seller: Harold A. Heap
Date: 02/16/21

71 Kline Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Steve Howes
Seller: Joan C. Morvidelli
Date: 02/19/21

21 Sterrett Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Randy Wessels
Seller: Frank T. Larson
Date: 02/11/21

19 Veteran St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $139,176
Buyer: Brian E. Kelley
Seller: Angelo S. Melloni
Date: 02/17/21

138 Vining Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $340,824
Buyer: William J. Kokocinski
Seller: Marc A. Pereira
Date: 02/12/21

SPRINGFIELD

139 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Amanda Pagan
Seller: Joseph A. Pietrocola
Date: 02/12/21

104 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Eileen Santiago
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 02/11/21

211 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alfonso Roman
Seller: Lydia E. Torres
Date: 02/12/21

27-29 Ames St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Luis R. Cintron-Amaro
Seller: Paul A. Dyrkacz
Date: 02/09/21

68-70 Appleton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Roosevelt Amanfo
Seller: Guillermo Negron
Date: 02/19/21

459-461 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Ching Chi Lee
Seller: Jonathan Lurie
Date: 02/11/21

18-20 Batavia St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Dennis D. Terron
Seller: Edwin Ortiz-Gonzalez
Date: 02/12/21

50 Beauregard St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $173,999
Buyer: Edgardo Garcia
Seller: MVP Partners RE LLC
Date: 02/12/21

992 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jonathan Vargas-Garcia
Seller: Bruce R. Buckley
Date: 02/12/21

292 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Hector M. Hernandez
Seller: Eagle Home Buyers LLC
Date: 02/18/21

5-9 Caldwell Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Purposefull Holdings LLC
Seller: Jose M. Goncalves
Date: 02/12/21

19 Carlton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Odayls Agosto-Flores
Seller: Francine Savoie
Date: 02/08/21

379 Central St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Santana Real Estate Inc.
Seller: Lionel Cruz
Date: 02/09/21

68 Cheyenne Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Nicholas D. Delnegro
Seller: Jason Bacis
Date: 02/12/21

28 Clarendon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Carlos Kuilan
Seller: Round 2 LLC
Date: 02/09/21

260 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Jesus M. Nieves
Seller: David P. Bergeron
Date: 02/19/21

122 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jazmin I. Martinez
Seller: Celestino Diaz
Date: 02/08/21

48 Driftwood Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Dallas Clark
Seller: Shalonda M. Edwards
Date: 02/11/21

93-95 Edgewood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Edwin M. Molina-Nunez
Seller: Jarineth Velez-Torres
Date: 02/09/21

153 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Upchurch
Seller: Kathleen A. Shaw
Date: 02/12/21

79 Eloise St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Joanna Rodriguez
Seller: Russell, Mary J., (Estate)
Date: 02/16/21

22 Florentine Gardens
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $314,900
Buyer: John J. Blackshear
Seller: James P. Hager
Date: 02/19/21

97 Francis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jevhan Velez
Seller: Lawrence F. Army
Date: 02/16/21

33 Fullerton St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Cyndia Gonzalez
Seller: Andrew C. Kalinyak
Date: 02/12/21

282 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $418,000
Buyer: Luz Martinez
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 02/12/21

762 Grayson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,400
Buyer: Marcio Freitas
Seller: Lydia Vega
Date: 02/11/21

22 Hobart St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Purposefull Holdings LLC
Seller: Jose M. Goncalves
Date: 02/12/21

80 Howes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Robert L. Gladden
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 02/10/21

208 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Donald Cushing
Seller: Guczek, Edward J. Sr., (Estate)
Date: 02/17/21

23 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $189,100
Buyer: Carmen B. Galarza-Colon
Seller: Brett R. Richard
Date: 02/19/21

121 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Sivakumar Jagadeesan
Seller: TL Bretta Realty LLC
Date: 02/12/21

144 Lamont St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Robert Chamberlain
Seller: Stacey Hildreth-Fortin
Date: 02/16/21

91 Lancaster St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Alexander Rohan
Seller: Matthew E. Donnellan
Date: 02/17/21

34-36 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Chazalyn Santa-Colon
Seller: Keith Blake
Date: 02/12/21

80-82 Leyfred Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Calisa Kennedy
Seller: Madison Property Investment LLC
Date: 02/19/21

40 Luden St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jacob J. Tagan
Seller: Noah B. Hatton
Date: 02/18/21

279-287 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $462,675
Buyer: Matthew D. Grunwald
Seller: 855 Liberty Springfield LLC
Date: 02/08/21

143 Marion St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Karelis Dejesus
Seller: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Date: 02/10/21

16 Marsden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Gilbert Santiago
Seller: Joejoe Properties LLC
Date: 02/16/21

33 Michigan St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Berthiaume
Seller: Ellen T. Moore
Date: 02/12/21

50 Montclair St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Kenny A. Martinez
Seller: Steven Lemoine
Date: 02/12/21

123-125 Mulberry St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jasper McCoy
Seller: Theocles, Charles A. (Estate)
Date: 02/11/21

737 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Zachary Edelman
Seller: Michael Sheltra
Date: 02/17/21

54 Newhall St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jaritza Rios
Seller: Kelly R. Holbrook
Date: 02/16/21

173 Oakland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Monica Rahall
Seller: Mister Mister LLC
Date: 02/17/21

988 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Reshawn Buckhannon
Seller: Jerome T. Weldon
Date: 02/19/21

210 Peekskill Ave.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Langevin
Seller: John Martin
Date: 02/10/21

18-20 Rifle St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $220,883
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Vanessa Johnson
Date: 02/17/21

27 Sherbrooke St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Michelle Stuart
Seller: Jose A. Rivera
Date: 02/08/21

70 Sherman St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $233,600
Buyer: Felix DeLaCruz
Seller: Orange Park Management LLC
Date: 02/12/21

905-909 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Patalano Property Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Anthony Patalano
Date: 02/16/21

147 Sunridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Abundio Cortes-Palacios
Seller: Michael J. Culhane
Date: 02/10/21

55 Tyler St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Shanice M. Torres
Seller: Allan Cumberbatch
Date: 02/18/21

331-333 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Latonya Hinds
Seller: H. P. Rum LLC
Date: 02/16/21

85-87 West Alvord St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Arielle Christian
Seller: David A. Springer
Date: 02/09/21

116 Wheeler Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Susan Cagan
Seller: Parker, Patricia G., (Estate)
Date: 02/19/21

901 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Michelle L. Giguere
Seller: Wayne G. Giguere
Date: 02/19/21

WESTFIELD

11 Bush St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Veteran Stan LLC
Seller: Joseph Busby
Date: 02/12/21

10 Cross St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jay M. Smith
Seller: Robert E. Kelley
Date: 02/17/21

1047 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: David Bagge
Seller: Barton, Hazel A., (Estate)
Date: 02/19/21

35 Grandview Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Benjamin R. Fischer
Seller: Jonathan Hawkins
Date: 02/19/21

8 Lincoln St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Lisa M. Kozik
Seller: Caio H. Veloso-Silva
Date: 02/16/21

10 Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: 10 Main WF LLC
Seller: Johnston Holding Co. Inc.
Date: 02/16/21

107 Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Luis A. Lopez
Seller: Eric Mancini
Date: 02/18/21

100 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Dmitriy Ryabichenko
Seller: Aleksandr Popov
Date: 02/12/21

11 Myrtle Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: John M. Phillips
Seller: LP4 LLC
Date: 02/12/21

45 Orange St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Arismendy Larancuent
Seller: Scott A. Machler
Date: 02/19/21

46 Orange St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Tyler J. French
Seller: Emmanuel N. Cheo
Date: 02/08/21

440 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: JAI Hanuman LLC
Seller: 440 Southampton Road Realty
Date: 02/17/21

31 Summit Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Isobel A. McMahon
Seller: Joanne A. Manley
Date: 02/11/21

160 Susan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Andrew K. Hall
Seller: Kurowski, Doris A., (Estate)
Date: 02/11/21

107 Tannery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Henry R. Talbot
Seller: Crawford, Carl J., (Estate)
Date: 02/11/21

WILBRAHAM

6 Birch St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Todd N. Ashford
Seller: Kathleen A. Scarglia
Date: 02/16/21

3155 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $124,500
Buyer: Jad Mourad
Seller: Maureen G. Christofori
Date: 02/17/21

11 Delmor Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Richard Hebert
Seller: Nicholas M. Brown
Date: 02/08/21

716 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Christine R. Augustine
Seller: Suzanne E. Middleton
Date: 02/19/21

843 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: William W. McElroy
Seller: Olga D. Vonflatern
Date: 02/09/21

12 Red Gap Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Nicole S. Gee
Seller: Charles E. Hatch
Date: 02/17/21

WEST SPRINGFIELD

422 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Allison K. Smith
Seller: Ellen M. Guimaraes
Date: 02/19/21

89 Edgewood Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: William J. Lyons
Seller: Martin C. Lyons
Date: 02/10/21

55 Fox St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Joseph Kot
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/12/21

82 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Kyle Marquez
Seller: Michele A. Dandy
Date: 02/08/21

48 Oakland St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Justin P. Hancock
Seller: Mark P. Skypeck
Date: 02/18/21

89 Pheasants Xing
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Thomas Permar
Seller: David J. Vickers
Date: 02/12/21

30 Ravenwood Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $417,000
Buyer: Dante R. Demaio
Seller: William T. Bostick
Date: 02/12/21

231 River St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: William G. Marchand
Seller: Maitri J. Patel
Date: 02/12/21

19 Rochelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,500
Buyer: Kevin Truong
Seller: Kevin Boyle
Date: 02/19/21

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

273 Amity St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: 273 Amity Street RT
Seller: 273 Amity Street RT
Date: 02/11/21

72 Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: Town of Amherst
Seller: Keith O. Kaneta RET
Date: 02/16/21

76 Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: Town of Amherst
Seller: Keith O. Kaneta RET
Date: 02/16/21

80 Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: Town of Amherst
Seller: Keith O. Kaneta RET
Date: 02/16/21

110 Henry St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: W. D. Cowls Inc.
Seller: Dinsmore-Spence TR
Date: 02/17/21

418 Shays St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Meredith E. Marvin
Seller: Lauder, Shirley L., (Estate)
Date: 02/11/21

51 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $482,000
Buyer: Katherine E. Tease
Seller: Kevin S. Mepham
Date: 02/12/21

23 Tracy Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Amherst Community Land Trust Inc.
Seller: Gesualdi, John J., (Estate)
Date: 02/18/21

19 Vista Ter.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $578,400
Buyer: R. J. McQuade Jr. 2011 T
Seller: Apple Brook West LLC
Date: 02/16/21

BELCHERTOWN

12 Autumn Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jean B. Bangoret
Seller: McCullough & Campora Enterprises LLC
Date: 02/08/21

150 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Phach T. Thach
Seller: Mark E. Suchecki
Date: 02/09/21

52 Magnolia Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $454,900
Buyer: Robert McGibeny
Seller: JN Duquette & Son Construction Inc.
Date: 02/19/21

57 South Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Zacharian Johnson
Seller: Jason J. Lafleur
Date: 02/16/21

CHESTERFIELD

108 East St.
Chesterfield, MA 01096
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Elizabeth H. Song
Seller: Andreas A. Gamborg
Date: 02/12/21

EASTHAMPTON

9 Admiral St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $159,790
Buyer: Jarrod A. Wesson
Seller: Laselle, John T., (Estate)
Date: 02/19/21

8 Plain St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Alison Kleppinger
Seller: Leo P. & Carol A. Dube IRT
Date: 02/10/21

62 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $630,000
Buyer: Garrett J. Wojcicki
Seller: David A. Hardy Contractor
Date: 02/19/21

HADLEY

8 Bayberry Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Summer Fetterman
Seller: Leonard W. Wierzbicki
Date: 02/12/21

5 Crystal Lane
Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $689,000
Buyer: David J. Gianatasio
Seller: Bercume Construction LLC
Date: 02/12/21

258 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Raquel F. Llera-Stern
Seller: Kevin M. Skelly
Date: 02/12/21

HATFIELD

322 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Virginia M. Martell
Seller: Vicki M. Arnould
Date: 02/09/21

HUNTINGTON

39 Basket St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Tariq Douglas
Seller: Steven W. Powers
Date: 02/19/21

NORTHAMPTON

Boggy Meadow Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: City of Northampton
Seller: Bruce A. Wilbur
Date: 02/09/21

127 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $332,500
Buyer: Amy Campbell
Seller: Budgar, Gerald, (Estate)
Date: 02/09/21

357 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $449,900
Buyer: Henri D. Langevin
Seller: Oak Ridge Custom Home Builders
Date: 02/10/21

415 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Scott Family Property LLC
Seller: Monaghan, George M., (Estate)
Date: 02/10/21

87 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Teresa A. Czepiel
Seller: Crossland, Timothy J., (Estate)
Date: 02/10/21

47 McKinley Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Benjamin R. Craig
Seller: Shane Adams
Date: 02/11/21

244 North Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $420,250
Buyer: Micah A. Winston
Seller: Debra J. Diemand
Date: 02/12/21

117 Olander Dr. #16B
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $363,497
Buyer: Engler LT
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 02/12/21

673 Park Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Caitlin M. Bunning
Seller: Gary F. Ciaschini
Date: 02/12/21

382 Pleasant St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Lisa Cassidy
Seller: Felix J. Grygorcewicz
Date: 02/11/21

386 Pleasant St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Lisa Cassidy
Seller: Felix J. Grygorcewicz
Date: 02/11/21

87 Pleasant St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Lisa Cassidy
Seller: Felix J. Grygorcewicz
Date: 02/11/21

237 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $427,000
Buyer: Congregation Bnai Israel
Seller: City Of Northampton
Date: 02/09/21

50 South St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Nancy Gingras
Seller: Andrew K. Griswold
Date: 02/09/21

Sylvester Road #1
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Christine Ohara
Seller: Judith L. Snyder
Date: 02/12/21

SOUTH HADLEY

12 Grant St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $225,040
Buyer: James T. Ouimet
Seller: Kaali Huang LLC
Date: 02/19/21

17 Red Bridge Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $537,500
Buyer: Carolyn Couture
Seller: Richard F. Cox
Date: 02/16/21

81 Richview Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Tamika Gagnon
Seller: Elizabeth A. Standen
Date: 02/19/21

54 Westbrook Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Ethan J. Conklin
Seller: Lynda M. Welch
Date: 02/12/21

164 Woodbridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: William J. Selkirk
Seller: Jill Swartwout
Date: 02/18/21

SOUTHAMPTON

250 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: 6 Bears Properties Inc.
Seller: William G. Pfau
Date: 02/18/21

81 Crooked Ledge Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $335,700
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Dynelle Longto
Date: 02/19/21

67 High St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Gary J. Baldwin
Seller: John & Claire Martin RET
Date: 02/12/21

7 Old County Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Joel P. Kupeyan
Seller: Garrett J. Wojcicki
Date: 02/19/21

WARE

114 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Merissa Titus-Abate
Seller: James V. Bourcier
Date: 02/19/21

17 Old Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Robin L. Foster
Seller: Carl F. Banas
Date: 02/19/21

174 Old Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Ryan Rocheford
Seller: Alyn M. Coler-Thayer
Date: 02/17/21

414 Palmer Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Alex Lanier
Seller: Renee M. Sinclair
Date: 02/12/21

83 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $182,800
Buyer: Miguel A. Carmona
Seller: Francis J. Soffen
Date: 02/08/21

WILLIAMSBURG

17 Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $409,000
Buyer: John T. Skinner
Seller: Linda K. Salguero LT
Date: 02/16/21

WORTHINGTON

112 Thayer Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $763,000
Buyer: Gabriel D. Unger
Seller: David Hurwith
Date: 02/12/21

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of February 2021. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

CHICOPEE

4 Perkins, LLC
165 Front St.
$55,000 — T-Mobile to replace eight antennas and eight remote radio heads, and add one power plant cabinet to existing wireless telecommunications facility on a smokestack

We 77 Champion, LLC
77 Champion Dr.
$200,000 — Wall infills, fire sprinklers, plumbing modifications, HVAC, and electric

LEE

Lee Premium Outlets
17 Premioum Outlets Blvd., Suite 200
$18,461 — Repair loading dock at Tommy Hilfiger Outlet

Montra II, LLC
51 Park St.
$2,475 — Install new wet chemical kitchen fire-suppression system

LENOX

439 Pittsfield Road, LLC
439 Pittsfield Road
$13,050 — Interior demolition at former Essential Day Spa space

Serge Paccaud
71 Church St.
$1,000 — Replace walk-in refrigerator

NORTHAMPTON

William Beetz
26 North King St.
$674,864 — Interior fit-out for marijuana retail dispensary

Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
30 Locust St.
$451,659 — Renovate MRI space

Northampton Holding, LP
180 North King St.
$2,950 — Illuminated wall sign for Subway in Walmart

Sheri Roxo
151 Main St.
$1,200 — Non-illuminated projecting sign for Prism

PALMER

Russell Baker
1702 Park St.
$2,400 — Reface existing sign for Baker’s Self Storage

CVS
1001 Thorndike St.
$3,400 — Install temporary COVID-19 testing kiosk structure

Double R Enterprises
8 First St.
$222,000 — Create gym space and employee lounge, and renovate bathrooms

PITTSFIELD

Allendale Shopping, LLC
5 Cheshire Road
$9,767 — Modify existing fire-sprinkler system coverage

City of Pittsfield
874 North St., Building 8
$59,535 — Roofing

El Gato Grande, LP
455 Dalton Ave.
$2,000 — Demolish walk-in coolers

Fourteen Fifty East Street, LLC
1450 East St.
$5,000 — Re-side half the front façade of building and left side of building

Insight Holdings II, LLC
47 North St.
$4,431 — Replace exit door on lower level

Insight Holdings II, LLC
47 North St.
$3,000 — Install seven emergency lights

Victor Latacela
20 Dalton Ave.
$10,000 — Install fire-alarm system

SPRINGFIELD

99 Guion Street Associates, LLC
99 Guion St.
$83,931 — Install solar panels on roof of North Star Pulp & Paper

276 Bridge, LLC
270 Bridge St.
$2,300 — Remove and replace drywall, remodel office into two booths and one changing room

C & W Breckwood Realty Co.
1060 Wilbraham Road
$35,000 — Remove and replace three antennas and three remote radio units on T-Mobile cell tower

C & W Breckwood Realty Co.
1060 Wilbraham Road
$35,000 — Remove and replace three antennas and three remote radio units on AT&T cell tower

Javier Cintron
128 Cambridge St.
$36,000 — Install 16 solar modules on existing garage roof

Zahid Farooqui
148 Fort Pleasant Ave.
$4,030.85 — Install five replacement windows on mosque

Michele Maruca, Janine Maruca
805 Main St.
$198,500 — Alter interior of Dunkin’ Donuts for store upgrades and modifications

MGM Springfield Redevelopment, LLC
12 MGM Way
$984,000 — Alter casino floor area for new sports betting venue, alter existing bowling/arcade area for a new TAP sports lounge area

Pradip Patel
78 Island Pond Road
$4,000 — Remove and replace siding on Murphy’s Pop Shop

Rehold Springfield, LLC
1522 Boston Road
$7,200 — Remodel cart storage area at Liquors 44 into office

The Republican Co.
1860 Main St.
$10,000 — Install temporary wall for demolition

Springfield Library and Museums Assoc.
220 State St.
$70,699 — Install solar panels on roof of Springfield Museums

Daily News

CHICOPEE — Florence Bank will open its third Hampden County branch at 705 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee on Monday, March 22, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for Wednesday, May 5.

“We’re very pleased to be expanding our presence in Hampden County,” said Kevin Day, Florence Bank’s president and CEO. “Our focus is on providing great customer service and helping to reinvigorate the community.”

A small number of bank employees, board members, and corporators will be present for the in-person, socially distanced ribbon cutting, along with Chicopee Mayor John Vieau.

The Chicopee branch has an open floor plan with two teller pods and innovative technology for quick cash handling. The location will also feature a drive-up ATM with SMART technology for easy depositing.

Kimberly Downing will serve as assistant vice president and branch manager for the new location. “Florence Bank is known for providing exceptional customer service, so of course I’m thrilled to be part of the team and represent the Florence Bank brand for people in Chicopee,” she said.

Downing attended Holyoke Community College and has 35 years of banking experience. She will manage the daily operations and growth of the branch. She serves as a committee member for McDonald’s Nature Preserve in Wilbraham.

“We are happy Kimberly chose to join the Florence Bank team,” Day said. “Her extensive banking experience and dedication to customer service will serve the Chicopee community well.”

Other employees who will staff the new location are Diane Afonso, assistant branch manager; Tracy Keefe, customer service representative and senior teller; Kiara Sonoda, teller operations manager; and Karen Willemain, senior teller.

In August 2017, Florence Bank opened its first branch in Hampden County at 1010 Union St. in West Springfield, and in December 2018, the bank opened its second location at 1444 Allen Street in Springfield.

“With the addition of a branch in Chicopee, our third in Hampden County, we can really say we’re here, and we’re going to be part of this community for a long time,” Day said.

Florence Bank has nearly 5,000 customers living in Hampden County, including 750 business customers, and Day said the bank looks forward to deepening its impact in the region and working with neighboring businesses.

Daily News

GREAT BARRINGTON — When Jake Hunker hung out his shingle for Jake’s Barber Shop at 87 Railroad St. in Great Barrington, it was, in many ways, a leap of faith. The shop where he had served customers for several years had closed abruptly, and he had to make a career decision. “I could have rented a chair at another shop,” he said, “but it was time. I was going to focus on the future and open my own shop. Big risk. Big dreams.”

As Jake’s Barber Shop commemorates the start of its fifth year in the community, Hunker is marking the moment by not only thanking his robust client list for giving shape and substance to that dream, but by being supportive of Railroad Street Youth Project, a local organization that encourages focus and commitment for others. RYSP is a Great Barrington not-for-profit organization that encourages community teenagers to meet, learn, talk, and focus on the future.

“For the week of Tuesday, March 30 through Saturday, April 3, we’ll donate $5 from each haircut to RSYP,” he said. “I am proud to support their mission … to support the youth of our community and help them explore their full potential and become equipped to meet the challenging transition to adulthood.”

Appointments for RSYP-benefiting haircuts from Hunker can be made online through booksy.com. Hunker noted that upwards of 80% of his bookings now come in online. Customers can also call (413) 717-4238 for an appointment.

Railroad Street Youth Project is a dynamic nonprofit organization helping young people bring their ideas and inspirations to fruition and discover their place in the world. Its services and programs have evolved to meet the changing needs of local young people. The Youth Operational Board continues to fund youth-inspired projects, run ongoing mentoring and apprenticeship programs, provide sexual-health programming through local schools, offer job training and career counseling, and staff an active drop-in center that provides counseling, mediation, referrals, and advocacy services for young people in need.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden County Bar Assoc. will hold a Legal Help Hotline on Thursday, March 25 from 3 to 6 pm.

Local and experienced attorneys will be available to provide legal advice on various topics, including divorce and family, bankruptcy, business, employment, landlord/tenant, and real estate. Individuals needing advice should call (413) 732-4648 to speak to a volunteer.

Daily News

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) is continuing its mission of supporting nonprofit organizations and the communities it serves by inviting both its members and the general public to take part in choosing the next round of winners for the credit union’s participatory funding program, Cash Back to the Community.

Entering its second year, AEFCU’s Cash Back to the Community program yielded $86,425 in total donations in 2020, providing assistance to financially strained nonprofits during the historic COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to its growing popularity and success in assisting organizations in need, the credit union announced in early January that the quarterly program would continue through 2021 and once again asked the public to nominate nonprofit and/or 501(c)(3) organizations that fit within the program’s qualifying guidelines for the next round of voting.

“When we kicked off Cash Back to the Community at the start of 2020, no one knew how challenging the coming year would be for nonprofit organizations,” said Dean Marchessault, president and CEO of AEFCU. “Each of our recipients make a difference in our members’ communities every single day, and we’re thrilled that we were able to support these deserving organizations and connect our members and the public to our philanthropic efforts. The response to this program has been overwhelming, and we hope that the amazing amount of participation we’ve experienced thus far continues in this latest round of voting.”

As in 2020, American Eagle’s Cash Back to the Community program will donate a portion of its credit- and debit-card interchange income to three organizations at the end of each quarter’s voting period this year. Funding for the program is generated each time its members use an American Eagle Financial Credit Union credit or debit card. At the end of each quarter, 1% of the total interchange income — the fee paid for credit- and debit-card transactions — will be distributed to the three top qualified nonprofits as voted on by a combination of the credit union’s members and the public.

The voting form and the list of nominated organizations for the latest installment of Cash Back to the Community can be found at americaneagle.org/cashbacktothecommunity. Voting ends on March 28, and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

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

Episode 56: March 15, 2021

George O’Brien talks with Vince Jackson, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce

Vincent Jackson

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien talks with Vince Jackson, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. The two have a lively discussion about the deep toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on Paradise City, and how that community’s strong, eclectic business community has responded with determination, imagination, and perseverance. The two also discuss how the pandemic has challenged all chambers, including his, while also changing their roles to some extent and making them even more vital to area small businesses. It’s must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local.

Also Available On

Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate for January was down 0.6 percentage points at 7.8%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 35,500 jobs in January. This follows last month’s revised loss of 8,700 jobs. Over the month, the private sector added 26,300 jobs as gains occurred across all sectors, led by education and health services and professional, scientific, and business services.

From January 2020 to January 2021, BLS estimates Massachusetts lost 334,200 jobs. Losses occurred in each of the private sectors with the exception of mining and logging, with the largest-percentage losses in leisure and hospitality, with 32.8% of jobs lost; other services, with 18.7% of jobs lost; and education and health services, with 8.7% of jobs lost.

The January unemployment rate was 1.5 percentage points higher than the national rate of 6.3% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The labor force increased by 3,600 from 3,753,100 in December, as 23,300 more residents were employed and 19,700 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up by five percentage points.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — remained unchanged at 66.5%. Compared to January 2020, the labor force participation rate is down one-tenth of a percentage point.

Annual year-end revisions show the unemployment rates were lower than the previously published estimates for May 2020 through September 2020. After the revisions, the highest unemployment rate during the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in April 2020 at 16.4%, which was 1.3 percentage points lower than the previously published highest rate of 17.7% in June 2020.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Serve Food, a new business in Holyoke, will host its grand opening on Tuesday, March 16 at 2 p.m. at its 112 High St. location.

Serve Food, a shared-use kitchen, is a certified commercial kitchen in which individuals or businesses prepare value-added food products and meals using a monthly membership. Because expenses are shared, the costs are significantly lower than if an entrepreneur started a kitchen on his or her own.

“We’re excited to bring this concept to Western Massachusetts,” said Matt Lillibridge, chef founder of Serve Food. “This gives aspiring restauranteurs, pastry chefs, food trucks, and product developers a turnkey chance to start their food business without the burden of a large overhead. All utilities, maintenance expenses, equipment repairs, sanitation, and cleaning supplies are included in the membership fees, allowing our members to focus on their product.”

According to a survey from restaurantowner.com, a 2,000-square- restaurant may cost $175,000 and still generate 0% profit. In order to be profitable, the median cost was $375,500 to build a profitable (5.5%) operation. With membership in the Serve Food kitchen, members can get access to a kitchen almost immediately at little to no risk or extra expense.

Members of Serve Food don’t only get a kitchen, they get a community, Lillibridge added. They’ll have an opportunity to learn and collaborate with other local chefs and food makers. Serve Food’s website, servema.com, also plans to sell members’ products on its website.

Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Division of Graduate and Continuing Education will present a virtual information session on Tuesday, March 23 at 4 p.m. for community members interested in learning about MCLA’s graduate and continuing-education programs, including bachelor’s-degree completion, master of business administration, master of education, teacher-licensure programs, and the MCLA Leadership Academy.

Community members seeking to advance their educational credentials by attaining a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or educator license to become a teacher, principal, or superintendent are encouraged to attend. This information session is free and open to the public, and representatives from each program will answer questions related to academics, the application process, education timelines, and more.

Visit mcla.edu/infosession to register. E-mail [email protected] or call (413) 662-5575 for more information.

Daily News

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) announced the debut of new, non-stop service from Bradley International Airport (BDL) to Miami International Airport (MIA) on JetBlue.

“Connecting customers in the Northeast and South Florida has been a hallmark of JetBlue’s success for more than 20 years, and offering our award-winning service and low fares between Hartford and Miami means we can attract new customers and grow in both regions,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning for JetBlue.”

JetBlue recently commenced new, non-stop service from Bradley to Cancun, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

“We welcome JetBlue’s expansion at Bradley International Airport and the addition of new, non-stop service to Miami. This new route, which follows JetBlue’s other recent route launches, is a significant vote of confidence in our airport and the market we serve,” CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon said. “We appreciate JetBlue’s continued investment in our region, and are confident that our strengthened partnership will provide major benefits for our travelers.”

The new, daily service to Miami will commence on June 24 and will operate year-round. Flights depart Bradley at 9:25 a.m. and land in Miami at 12:30 p.m. Return flights take off from Miami at 1:15 p.m. and land at Bradley at 4:10 p.m.