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Gov. Charlie Baker Signs $16 Billion Transportation Bond Bill

By
Daily News

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and acting MassDOT Secretary of Transportation Jamey Tesler joined legislators, municipal leaders, and other stakeholders Wednesday in a virtual ceremonial signing of the $16 billion transportation bond bill. This legislation was signed into law on Jan. 15 and authorizes funding across all modes of transportation to support and facilitate the ongoing continual efforts of MassDOT and the MBTA to invest in and modernize the Commonwealth’s transportation system.

“The transportation bond bill builds upon our administration’s ongoing commitment to create a 21st-century mobility infrastructure that will prepare the Commonwealth to capitalize on emerging changes in transportation technology and behavior,” Baker said. “MassDOT and the MBTA have continued to implement widespread improvements throughout the transportation system, and this new bond authorization will further support capital investment planning to rebuild, modernize, and expand the capacity of the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure.”

The legislation includes nearly $5.1 billion to continue modernizing the MBTA, $100 million to improve the pavement condition on state-numbered municipal roads, and $50 million to ensure municipalities have resources needed to continue efforts to build Complete Streets infrastructure to encourage the public to travel more on foot and by bicycle. The bill also includes $70 million for the Municipal Small Bridge Program and expands the use of designated bus lanes and transit signal priority through two new grant programs. Additionally, the bill authorizes the MBTA to use well-established procurement methods such as job-order contracting for smaller projects.

“The Transportation Bond Bill supports our efforts to rebuild, modernize, and expand the capacity of the Commonwealth’s transportation system,” Tesler said. “We are grateful to the members of the Legislature and the advocates who worked so hard to get this bill approved.”

Highlights of the Transportation Bond Bill are as follows:

• $4.4 billion to fund highway federal aid projects;

• $3 billion for transit-system modernization investments (MBTA);

• $1.25 billion in non-federal aid for use as funding in highway projects that are not eligible for federal funding;

• $1.25 billion for the new Next Generation Bridge Program;

• $70 million for the popular Municipal Small Bridge Program;

• $50 million for the popular Complete Streets Program;

• $20 million for ‘public realm’ COVID-related Shared Streets and Spaces Program;

• $100 million for a new municipal pavement program for pavement projects on locally owned but state-numbered roads;

• $100 million in four new programs to provide financial assistance for municipalities seeking to improve infrastructure, such as bus lanes or bus-signal prioritization projects, and connectivity;

• $350 million for the Cape Cod bridges approaches project;

• $825 million for South Coast rail;

• $595 million for Green Line extension;

• $89 million for the Aeronautics Division;

• $760 million to support the regional transit authorities and rail and transit’s Mobility Assistance Program and rail improvements; and

• Construction-zone speed limits allowing the posting of speed limits in construction zones and doubling speeding fines for violations.

State Announces Vaccine Appointment Booking Now Available for Certain Groups

By
Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced that individuals age 65 and over and those with two or more certain medical conditions, including asthma, can visit www.mass.gov/covidvaccine to start booking an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. With this announcement, almost 1 million individuals are newly eligible for the vaccine.

Due to extremely high demand for appointments and limited vaccine supply, it could take more than a month for all eligible individuals to secure an available appointment, unless federal supply significantly increases. Recently, Massachusetts has been receiving approximately 110,000 first doses per week from the federal government. Residents are encouraged to keep checking the website as appointments are added on a rolling basis.

Newly eligible groups include individuals 65 and over, including residents and staff of low-income and affordable public and private senior housing, and individuals age 16 and older with two or more of the following medical conditions: asthma (moderate to severe), cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Down syndrome, heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies), immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, obesity and severe obesity (body mass index of 30 or higher), pregnancy, sickle-cell disease, smoking, and type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Details for booking appointments can be found via the COVID-19 Vaccine Finder, which enables residents to search for a vaccination location and view appointment availability before scheduling. The tool can be accessed via the state’s vaccination website at www.mass.gov/covidvaccine or directly at vaxfinder.mass.gov.

Individuals who are unable to access appointments via the internet can call 211 and follow the prompts for vaccine appointments.

Health Partners New England Acquires Providence Behavioral Health Hospital

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Mercy Medical Center has long collaborated with other hospitals, organizations, and agencies to offer new and more integrated, sustainable pathways to behavioral healthcare. Such collaborative planning, the health system notes, is essential in developing creative and effective ways of matching patient needs with available resources.

As part of ongoing efforts to help patients access timely, appropriate psychiatric care, Mercy has been engaged with Health Partners New England (HPNE) to develop an opportunity that will further serve the needs of these patients and the local community. On Feb. 16, Mercy announced it has sold Providence Behavioral Health Hospital to HPNE, which will operate the facility under the name MiraVista Behavioral Health and resume operations of the Acute Treatment Service (detoxification), Clinical Stabilization Service (post-detoxification), and outpatient services, including the Intensive Outpatient Program, court-ordered services, and the Opioid Treatment Program without interruption of service.

Additionally, HPNE plans to establish inpatient psychiatric services at the facility, and is currently working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to acquire licensure to provide up to 84 inpatient beds. The timeline for the opening of these inpatient beds is still being determined.

Mercy Medical Center will assist colleagues who are affected by the sale, where possible, with Trinity transfers, statutory benefits for employment loss, referrals for alternative employment, and further educational opportunities, and through cooperation with MiraVista for those seeking employment with the new owner.

Brightside for Families and Children will continue to provide services to the Western Mass. community under the umbrella of Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health Of New England. Offices will remain in the former Providence Behavioral Health Hospital building under a lease agreement with HPNE.

This marks a return to the facility and these services for HPNE, which provided certain management services at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital for a three-year period beginning in 2011. In assuming ownership of behavioral-health services at this campus, HPNE brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in behavioral-health service delivery, as well as a record of accomplishment in managing hospital inpatient and outpatient behavioral-health units, programs, and services.

Margaret Mack Joins Bulkley Richardson’s Real-estate Practice

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Margaret Mack has joined Bulkley Richardson as a member of the law firm’s real-estate practice group.

Mack earned her juris doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School in 2019 and a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from the Catholic University of America in 2016.

Prior to joining Bulkley Richardson, she was an attorney at the Global 200 law firm of Fragomen, Del Ray, Bernsen, and Lowey in New York City and a law clerk at Seyfarth Shaw in Boston, ranked 75th and 74th, respectively, among all law firms globally. She was also a research assistant for Suffolk University Law School and a legal associate at Integreon, a global provider of alternative legal solutions to leading law firms, corporations, and professional service firms.

“Our real-estate practice continues to thrive, and Maggie’s interpersonal and analytical skills will make her an excellent addition to our team,” said Kathy Bernardo, chair of Bulkley Richardson’s real-estate practice group. “She brings with her the legal experience from exceptional firms, plus a rounded education that includes travel abroad, giving her the perspective and discipline to excel at our firm.”

It’s Time to Nominate Someone for the 40 Under Forty Class of 2021

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for the 40 Under Forty class of 2021. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 26.

Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be as detailed and thorough as possible, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form.

Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges, and the selected individuals will be profiled in BusinessWest in May and honored at the 40 Under Forty event in late June. Event sponsorship opportunities are available.

S. Prestley Blake: the (Sometimes) Quiet Philanthropist

By
Daily News

By George O’Brien

I found myself heading to the local Friendly’s over the holiday weekend and ordering myself a Jim Dandy.

I’ve always loved Jim Dandies. They are the quintessential ice-cream sundae, a banana split on steroids, if you will, and ordering one always brings me back to my youth. It’s a blast from the past, and it remains unchanged from more than a half-century ago, in my case. Except … I used to be able to finish one in a single sitting. Now, although I could do so if I really, really felt like it, I consider it more prudent to take it over two nights — although you have to eat the banana the first night; once it freezes, you can’t do anything with it.

On this occasion, I dedicated my Jim Dandy to Friendly’s co-founder S. Prestley Blake, who passed away last week, and I couldn’t get him out of my mind as I plowed through the whipped cream, nuts, and eventually the cherry, which wasn’t on top for some reason, but more toward the middle.

Some people get to live a full, rich life. And then, there’s Pres Blake. He lived to 106 and filled every day of every one of those years with adventure. He never, ever stopped coming up with ideas and intriguing projects — like building a replica of Monticello when he was 100. And, according to all accounts, he was still driving right up until near the end — probably in one of his Rolls-Royces.

Likewise, some people leave their mark on a community and a region. And then, there’s Pres Blake. He gave us the Jim Dandy, the Fribble — I lived on Fribbles the summer before I went off to college, and that’s barely an exaggeration — and the patty melt. But far more important than that, he shared his wealth with the community in a way that is truly profound. And for those lucky enough to get to know him, he shared his considerable knowledge and insight, as well.

Carol Leary, the now-retired president of Bay Path University, is one so fortunate. I called her in Florida and asked her to talk about Blake, whom she came to know on a number of levels, and her remarks help put his remarkable life, career, and contributions to the region in their proper perspective.

Over the course of 25 years, she said, they became strong friends, and he became a mentor to her as she was working hard to take Bay Path to heights that could not have been imagined when she arrived in 1994.

She started by talking about the advice he gave her during early get-to-know-each-other meetings. She was the new president of a college he had served as a board member for 20 years and had donated money to in generous fashion.

“He started as a mentor to me; he gave me some key advice that I kept as part of my presidency until the day I left. And I shared it with others, because I thought it was valuable,” she recalled. “The first thing he said was, ‘you must be, above all else, ethical — keep that as one of your values throughout your presidency; don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t take money. Whatever you do, you must remain ethical.’

“He also told me to watch my finances and not take on any debt if I could do it, watch enrollment — every time we got together, he asked me what our enrollment numbers were — and don’t be lavish, don’t drive a Cadillac; he thought that would be inappropriate for a college president,” she went on, adding that she listened, and instead drove a Buick and then a series of Toyotas.

The best advice he gave, though, was to make sure she always had a strong board. And like those other pearls of wisdom, she followed that one religiously.

When the subject turned to philanthropy and Blake’s many gifts to preschools, colleges, and universities across the region, including Springfield College, Western New England University, Bay Path University, Springfield Technical Community College, American International College, Northfield Mount Hermon, and many more, Leary said his generosity stemmed from a basic philosophy.

“He always believed in opportunity,” she explained. “He was a self-made businessman — he left Trinity College after one year and started the business with his brother — but I think he understood that, for the everyday person who couldn’t afford to start their own business, an education was absolutely essential.”

And while the Blake name is on buildings and scholarships at several of these institutions, including Bay Path, what Leary says she remembers more is what she called his “quiet philanthropy,” the acts few know about, but that have profound impact and say a lot about the man.

She recalled a few instances, one involving a young woman he met sitting on a bench while vising India in the early 1960s.

“He met this woman and her father, and he asked her what her dreams were,” Leary recalled. “And she told him she would love to go to school, and he talked about Bay Path, because he was on the board. Through that meeting, he made it possible for that young woman to come to Bay Path. She eventually returned to India, but visited Mr. and Mrs. Blake almost every year after she became an adult with her husband and small children — and they became very close.”

There are countless stories like that, she said, adding that most people don’t know about this quiet philanthropy and the way it changed the lives of so many people.

And Carol Leary is certainly not the only one telling stories like this these days.

“We were saddened to learn of Pres Blake’s passing,” Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper said. “He was a great friend of Springfield College, and his philanthropy enriched and opened possibilities for thousands of students. While we accept this news with sadness, we also acknowledge a life very well-lived with immense gratitude that we were a part of it.”

Clearly, Blake inspired many in this region with his philanthropy, his words of wisdom, and certainly his zest for life and adventure.

All that, and the Jim Dandy to boot.

This was, indeed, a life well-lived, and he was an individual who helped countless others to live well. That’s what we should be celebrating as we look back on 106 remarkable years.

George O’Brien is editor and associate publisher of BusinessWest.

On the Move Forum to Advance Women Slated for March 8

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — In honor of Women’s History Month in March and International Women’s Day on March 8, Bay Path University, Springfield Museums, and UnityFirst will present the fifth annual On the Move Forum to Advance Women on Monday, March 8 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

This year’s theme, “Women in Leadership: This Is What Change Looks Like — Past, Present, and Future,” offers virtual attendees an intergenerational, cross-cultural, gender-inclusive, and history-infused conversation focused on women. Now in its fifth year, the event has engaged more than 1,000 women in community conversations and presentations on women’s history, empowerment, and advancement.

This year’s event aligns with the priority theme of the 65th session of the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World.” According to Catalyst, in 2020, women of color represented only 18% of entry-level positions, and few advanced to leadership positions. While white women held almost one-third (32.8%) of total management positions in the U.S. in 2020, Asian women (2.2%), black women (4.1%), and Hispanic women (4.5%) held a much smaller share.

The 2021 On the Move Forum  will feature an opening perspective by Ariana Curtis, director of Content: Race, Community, and Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past at the Smithsonian Institution. The keynote presentation will be given by On the Move’s inaugural scholar, Laura Lovett, associate professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh and author of With Her Fist Raised: Dorothy Pitman Hughes and the Transformative Power of Black Activism. Her book is the first biography about Pitman Hughes, a trailblazing black feminist activist whose work made children, race, and welfare rights central to the 1970s women’s movement.

Lovett is currently co-editing a collection of essays on African-American women leaders who helped frame the U.S. answer to the call by the United Nations to identify a nationwide agenda for International Women’s Year. That book — It’s Our Movement Now: Black Women’s Politics and the 1977 National Women’s Conference — was co-edited by Kelly Giles, a sociology professor at UMass, and Rachel Daniel of Massasoit Community College, and features a chapter by On the Move founder Janine Fondon, chair of Undergraduate Communications and assistant professor at Bay Path University.

“As a college dedicated to the advancement of women, On the Move is a signature event that brings the community together to discover and learn about the women who have and are paving the way for all women,” said Sandra Doran, president of Bay Path University. “In addition, the event creates an opportunity to have safe, meaningful conversations about change, allowing all voices to be heard and all individuals to feel they belong.”

Kay Simpson, president and CEO of Springfield Museums, added that “the Museums, historically known as the People’s College, are proud to be a part of the conversation orchestrated by the On the Move Forum. As a gathering place for curious people, the Museums strongly support collaborative efforts to help us all engage through authentic educational and social experiences that foster connection.”

This event is free and open to the public and is hosted in collaboration with a range of organizations, including Springfield Museums, Women Innovators and Trailblazers, the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, Girls Inc. of the Valley, Arise for Social Justice, the African American Female Professors Assoc., NAMIC New England, Creative Futures, LLC, and others.

Registration is required. To register, visit baypath.edu/onthemove.

Napatree Capital Names Matt Landon Partner, Opens New Office in Longmeadow

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Jeff Liguori, co-founder and chief investment officer at Napatree Capital, announced the addition of Matt Landon as a partner.

With more than 26 years of broad investment experience, Landon began his investment career at MassMutual Financial Group, rising to the role of managing director after a series of promotions. He was later recruited to senior positions at investment-industry leaders Fidelity Investments and T. Rowe Price. He also founded Intelligent Portfolio Services, an early mover in the robo advisor space. Most recently, he held senior advisor roles at Commonwealth Financial Network and LPL Financial, helping families and business owners pursue their financial goals.

Landon has earned a reputation as a skilled investment practitioner and trusted advisor to his clients. As a dedicated student of the financial markets and lifelong learner, he has been awarded the prestigious chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation.

Locally, he serves as a trustee at Veritas Prep Charter School and is a member of its finance and investment committees. As a lacrosse fan and enthusiast, he also serves on the board of the Longmeadow Boys’ Lacrosse Assoc. and still suits up for an occasional over-40 lacrosse game.

Napatree Capital, with flagship locations in Providence and Westerly, R.I. and now at the Brewer-Young Mansion in Longmeadow, is an independent, client-centric investment-management boutique with a depth of experience in wealth advisory and investing.

Girls Inc. of the Valley to Receive Proceeds from Sen. Warren’s New Children’s Book

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced that a portion of the proceeds from Pinkie Promises, her new children’s book debuting this fall, will go to Girls Inc. of the Valley, as well as several other Girls Inc. chapters in Massachusetts. The book features illustrations by Charlene Chua.

“We are completely blown away by this incredible act of generosity from Senator Warren,” said Suzanne Parker, Girls Inc. of the Valley’s executive director. “For the senator to think of Girls Inc. in this way is so special, and we are humbled to be among the Massachusetts Girls Inc. affiliates to receive this honor.”

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.

Celebrating the 2021 Difference Makers

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Class of 2021 Cover Story Difference Makers Event Galleries

Did you miss our 2021 Difference Makers event?

View the virtual event recording!

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 Difference Makers! Thank you to our sponsors and everyone who helped to make this event possible. We appreciate you all!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the #EverydayDifferenceMakers social media campaign. We had an overwhelming number of submissions and are extremely excited to share the good work being done in #the413 during our Difference Makers event!

View the BusinessWest 2021 Difference Makers Section

Photos by Leah Martin Photography

View the 2021 Difference Maker Honoree Videos:

The 2021 Difference Makers

Kristin Carlson
President, Peerless Precision

Janine Fondon
Founder, UnityFirst.com; Professor, Bay Path University

Harold Grinspoon
Philanthropist; Founder, Aspen Square Management

 

Chad Moir
Founder and Owner, DopaFit Parkinson’s Movement Center

Bill Parks
CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield

Pete Westover
Founder and Partner, Conservation Works, LLC

EforAll Holyoke

Presented by:

Royal Logo
UnitedWay100

Non-profit Partner:

TomCosenziGolf

Media Partner:

Sponsor Videos

Agenda

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Agenda

Virtual Town Hall to Discuss Baystate Mary Lane Closure

Feb. 23: Baystate Health will hold a virtual town hall at 5 p.m. to discuss the closure of the Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware and future plans for patient care. All are welcome to attend. Baystate Health’s goal over the next several months is to work collaboratively with the Baystate Mary Lane team and engage with the community in developing an orderly transition plan for programs and services to Baystate Wing. In June, the emergency facility will close, and cancer care services will be transitioned to the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care. Over the next two years, imaging/3D mammography and rehabilitation services, as well as ob/gyn and pediatric medical practices, will relocate to Baystate Wing. Cancer patients who receive care at Baystate Mary Lane will be offered transportation at no charge following the transition of care to Springfield. To support access to outpatient appointments at Baystate Wing Hospital when the two Baystate medical practices at Baystate Mary Lane transition over the next two years, Baystate will look to the foundation it has built with the Quaboag Connector and, if feasible, will further invest in this resource. More information will be forthcoming as needs, services, and transportation options are evaluated. To register for the virtual town hall, visit baystatehealth.org/easternregion.

 

40 Under Forty Nominations

Through Feb. 26: BusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for the 40 Under Forty class of 2021. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 26. Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be as detailed and thorough as possible, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form. Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges, and the selected individuals will be profiled in BusinessWest in May and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala in late June. Event sponsorship opportunities are available.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Saluting the Women of Impact

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Event Galleries Women of Impact Women of Impact 2020

Late last month, BusinessWest staged its annual celebration of the Women of Impact, a recognition program launched in 2018. This was a virtual celebration because of the pandemic, but the eight honorees were certainly celebrated in style, with live virtual networking, lively chat during the presentation, poignant introductions of the honorees, and inspiring remarks from the Women of Impact themselves. The virtual program featured videos of and welcoming remarks from presenting sponsors Country Bank, Health New England, and TommyCar Auto Group. Other sponsors and partners include Comcast Business, WWLP 22 News/CW Springfield, and Chikmedia.

The honorees for 2020 are :

Carol Campbell, president of Chicopee Industrial Contractors; Andrea Harrington, Berkshire County district attorney; Tania Barber, president and CEO of Caring Health Center; Helen Caulton-Harris, Health and Human Services commissioner for the city of Springfield; Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College; Toni Hendrix, director of Human Resources at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing; Sue Stubbs, president and CEO of ServiceNet; and Pattie Hallberg, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts.

Carol Campbell, president of Chicopee Industrial Contractors

Carol Campbell, president of Chicopee Industrial Contractors

 

Andrea Harrington, Berkshire County district attorney

Andrea Harrington, Berkshire County district attorney

 

 

Tania Barber, president and CEO of Caring Health Center

Tania Barber, president and CEO of Caring Health Center

 

Helen Caulton-Harris, Health and Human Services commissioner for the city of Springfield

Helen Caulton-Harris, Health and Human Services commissioner for the city of Springfield

 

 

Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College

Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College

 

 

Toni Hendrix, director of Human Resources at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing

Toni Hendrix, director of Human Resources at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing

Sue Stubbs, president and CEO of ServiceNet

Sue Stubbs, president and CEO of ServiceNet

 

Pattie Hallberg, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts

Pattie Hallberg, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts

 

 

 

Picture This

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Picture This

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

 

 

We’ll Drink to That

Ed Sunter, president of the Hampden County Estate Planning Council of Springfield; Julie Quink, treasurer; and John Arnold, past president, recently presented a check for $1,400 to Terry Maxey, executive director of Open Pantry of Springfield. In the second annual fundraiser, council members were invited to participate in a wine and beer tasting sponsored by Baystate Brewing Co. of Sturbridge, Progression Brewery of Northampton, White Lion Brewery of Springfield, and  Hardwick Winery.  Members enjoyed beer and wine samples in their homes and offices. Pictured, from left: Sunter, Arnold, and Maxey.

 

 

Investment in the Future

The Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program at Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) has received $15,000 in grant funding from the Gene Haas Foundation to use for student scholarships for tuition and books. The scholarship will be managed by the ACC Foundation, and awards will be given based on need and merit. Pictured, from left, are students Nina Rattray, Emma Mack, and Jonathan Paskewitz.

 

 

 

Young Woman of Impact

BusinessWest Editor and Associate Publisher George O’Brien and Sales Manager and Associate Publisher Kate Campiti recently presented Evelyn Humphries, a student at Longmeadow High School, with a plaque recognizing her as the inaugural People’s Choice Young Woman of Impact. The public chose Humphries from among five deserving nominees, honoring her impressive track record of service to the community, especially during the pandemic. The social-media-driven program was a popular addition to this year’s Women of Impact celebration, held on Jan. 28. Below: Humphries with her mother, Gina

 

 

 

Special Delivery

On Jan. 28, the Rotary Club of Springfield distributed 6,000 disposable personal protective masks to the city of Springfield. Mayor Domenic Sarno joined with Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris and John Perez, president of the Rotary Club of Springfield, on the front steps of City Hall for the PPE distribution. In total, 20,000 masks were donated to organizations serving Springfield’s residents, including the Gray House, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Open Pantry Community Services, the MLK Community Center, the New North Citizens Council, Square One, and Gandara Mental Services of Springfield.

 

 

People on the Move

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People on the Move
Javier Padilla

Javier Padilla

Javier Padilla, a human-resources and talent manager with almost 20 years of human-resources experience and more than 10 years in management and leadership roles, has been named assistant vice president and director of Human Resources at Bay Path University. Padilla, who most recently served as the chief Human Resources/Talent officer for Norwalk (Conn.) Public Schools, assumed his duties in December. Padilla brings many strengths to the position, including experience in change management, workforce planning, customer service, employee benefits and compensation, employee relations, contract negotiations, talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, and HR analytics and technology, among others. In his career, he has worked in the fields of education, healthcare, industry, and insurance. In his new role, he will lead the Human Resources division in fostering collaborations and partnerships with departments and areas across the university in support of Bay Path’s mission and strategic plan. He will also implement HR policies, practices, and technologies; enhance customer service; support employee engagement; and build a diverse workforce. Padilla holds a juris doctorate from Western New England School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from the University of Connecticut. A member of the Society for Human Resource Management, he is also a certified professional co-active coach, accredited by the International Coach Federation, and a certified strategic workforce planner, accredited by the Human Capital Institute.

•••••

Nicole Coakley

Nicole Coakley

Springfield College announced that Nicole Coakley has been named the Springfield College Center for Service and Leadership assistant director following a national search. Coakley has more than 20 years of experience in community-service programming, collaboration, leadership training, budgeting, and supervision. A native of Springfield, Coakley is the current administrator for the Springfield Police Department Mason Square C3 community-policing program. In addition, she has been a lead organizer of Unity in the Community, a local program helping to bridge the gap between youth in the community and law enforcement. Coakley’s involvement and dedication to the community includes work as program director at Morris Professional Child Care Services in Springfield, collaborator for the Side by Side initiative, program director with Digital Boombox Networks/DBN Access, a member of both Leadership Pioneer Valley Inc. and the Gun Violence Elimination Alliance, and a contributor to the Neighbor 2 Neighbor program. Coakley serves on the board of directors for Easterseals Massachusetts and is also a volunteer disaster action team supervisor and community volunteer leader with the American Red Cross, a member of Chicopee Women of the Moose, and a clerk for the nonprofit organization Morris Open Pantry.

•••••

Rose Colon

Rose Colon

John Garvey

John Garvey

Dr. Allison Sullivan

Dr. Allison Sullivan

Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services Inc. (MLKFS) announced the addition of three new members — Rose Colon, John Garvey, and Dr. Allison Sullivan — to its board of directors. Colon is a criminal-defense and personal-injury attorney based in Springfield. She engages in all aspects of criminal-defense and civil personal-injury litigation. She earned her paralegal certificate from the American Bar Assoc., earned a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in legal studies at Bay Path University, and earned her juris doctorate at Western New England University. Garvey is the founder of Garvey Communication Associates Inc., a Springfield-based digital public-relations and marketing agency. He is a graduate of Marquette University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences with honors, and of American International College, where he earned a master’s degree in organizational development with an emphasis on strategic planning. He is a volunteer at Wild Care Cape Cod, a former board member of Valley Venture Mentors, and a past mentor for the startup accelerators MassChallenge and SparkHolyoke/EforAll. Sullivan is lead faculty for the Occupational Therapy doctorate program at American International College. As an occupational therapist and educator, she has dedicated her 27-year career to improving the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan, working in day-habilitation services, school-based occupational therapy, and residential settings. She is the chair of the MAOT Western Massachusetts Mental Health Special Interest Group, a certified group-exercise and yoga instructor, and the co-founder and leader of #OTalk2US, a Twitter chat for occupational therapists with tens of millions of views of tweets carrying this tag. Sullivan earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Amherst College, a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Springfield College, and a doctorate in occupational therapy from Temple University. She currently volunteers as an advisory board member for Lighthouse and a board member and social media committee chair for Allen Cognitive Network, and serves on the human rights committee for Viability.

•••••

Katherine Amato

Katherine Amato

Robinson Donovan, P.C., a full-service law firm, announced it has named attorney Katherine Amato a partner in the firm. Amato focuses her practice on all aspects of family law, including divorce; custody; representing children, parents, and guardians in guardianship of minors proceedings; and appellate work. She received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law after completing a bachelor’s degree at Springfield College. She was selected to the Massachusetts Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers in 2018-20, and is a member of the BusinessWest 40 Under Forty class of 2016.

•••••

Western New England University (WNEU) announced that Dr. John Pezzuto, dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, has been recognized in Stanford University’s recently released list of “Top 2% of Scientists in the World.” The list names an elite group of scientists with criteria based on the citation impact of their publications. In the overall category of career impact, Pezzuto is ranked in the top 4% of the top 2% of scientists. His placement is even more remarkable in the discipline-specific ranking of medicinal and biomolecular chemistry, where he is placed 21st among 80,622 researchers in that field — the top 0.02% of the top 2%. Pezzuto joined Western New England University in August 2020 as professor and dean. Over the years, he has investigated natural products as drugs, with special emphasis on cancer therapy and prevention. He is well-known for his pioneering work concerning resveratrol, a component of grapes and grape products, that has been shown to mediate a raft of biological responses. His work on investigating the effect of grapes on health and longevity continues at WNEU.

•••••

Pioneer Cold Logistics Services named Joseph McMahon executive vice president. He will be responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s operations as it continues to build upon Pioneer’s 70-year history of providing cold-chain warehouse and logistic service to food producers marketing in the Northeast. McMahon has 20 years of corporate experience in increasingly impactful roles. He began his career as an auditor at State Street Bank and furthered his accounting skills with Pricewaterhouse Coopers. He expanded his executive skill set at Bain & Co. before accepting management positions at CFGI, the nation’s largest non-audit business-advisory firm, and later Cloudant, an IBM company. He joined Pioneer in 2017, serving on the executive team in his most recent position as chief financial officer and controller. McMahon is an active member of his community, serving as a mentor for EforAll, a nonprofit that partners with communities nationwide to help under-represented individuals successfully start a business. He is a CPA and graduate of Bentley University in Waltham.

•••••

Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc., the parent company of Berkshire Bank, announced that the joint board of directors of the company and the bank has appointed Nitin Mhatre as president and CEO of the company and CEO of the bank, effective Jan. 29. Mhatre will also serve as a member of the board. Sean Gray, who has served as acting CEO since Aug. 10, has been and will continue to be president and chief operating officer of the bank. Mhatre is a senior banking executive with 25 years of community and global banking experience. Most recently, as executive vice president, Community Banking at Webster Bank, he was a member of Webster’s executive team and led its consumer and business banking businesses. In this role, he was responsible for profitable growth of the Community Banking segment at the $31 billion bank and led a diverse team of more than 1,500 employees. Previously, he spent more than 13 years at Citi Group in various leadership roles across consumer-related businesses globally. Mhatre served on the board of the Consumer Bankers Assoc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., since 2014 and was chairman of the board from 2019 to 2020. He also serves on the board of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, headquartered in Hartford, Conn.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

Bay Path Recognized for Supporting Students Throughout Pandemic

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announce it was selected as a winner of the Virtual Innovation Awards: Excellence in Delivering Virtual Student Services hosted by NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Bay Path is among 10 schools recognized across the nation for exemplary virtual student support services, and one of only three schools to receive the top award of $50,000. The award highlights the effectiveness of the work being done to support both Bay Path’s traditional undergraduates and adult students enrolled in its online undergraduate degree program, the American Women’s College. These best practices will serve as case studies to inform the field at large. As Bay Path’s online program for adult women, the American Women’s College has been continually developing and enhancing its virtual support services since 2013. At the onset of the pandemic, university staff were able to put these supports into overdrive to ensure campus-based undergraduate students could easily access services despite the abrupt move to remote. Some of the virtual services that have allowed Bay Path University to be responsive to its diverse student body, whether in person or online, include a virtual career-services hub; UWill, a telecounseling service; and Tutor.com, which provides access to online tutoring services 24/7. Similarly, programming related to orientation, peer-to-peer engagement, community building, and multi-cultural affairs was provided by a support team that was able to quickly pivot to virtual platforms and social-media tools.

 

 

STCC to Reinstate Five Programs

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will restore five programs that were discontinued last year in response to projected budget shortfalls brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The STCC board of trustees voted to support biomedical engineering technology, biotechnology, civil engineering technology, dental assisting, and landscape design and management. STCC President John Cook said the college will work to reinstate programs after open, transparent, and public conversations with college stakeholders about needs and resources. In June, the college announced the discontinuation of seven programs as part of a broad set of cost-saving measures. Trustees established a committee to examine these programs, including costs, enrollment, facilities and equipment needs, and to consider questions of sustainability. Beyond the five programs, at a future time, trustees will continue the examination of two programs: automotive technology and cosmetology. STCC will work to relaunch the five programs in fall 2021, and the gross annual operating cost of these programs is approximately $500,000.

 

United Personnel Services Wins ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Award

SPRINGFIELD — United Personnel Services was recently honored in the Best of Staffing Client, Employee, and Talent Awards from ClearlyRated, in recognition of high levels of satisfaction from customers, job seekers, and employees. Winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and staff. Focused on helping to connect people with the right job opportunities, United Personnel Services received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 90.9% of clients and 78% of placed job candidates, significantly higher than industry averages. These ratings led to United Personnel’s fourth consecutive year of recognition as a Best of Staffing company from ClearlyRated.

 

Holyoke-based Startup Aims to Spark Non-alcoholic Beer Revolution

HOLYOKE — New to the beer and brewing industry, Ezra Bleau is introducing his business, Na Brews, with the launch of a Kickstarter campaign, “Na Brews (Nah Brooz) – Craft Beer for All People, for All Occasions.” This campaign will raise money for his mobile de-alcoholization production plan, increasing access to social, healthy alternatives nationwide. The main draw of the campaign is a $20 pledge to be part of the “world’s largest non-alcoholic beer collaboration, which he intends to do during a livestreamed interactive event with his brewer. The company has been in contact with the Guinness Book of World Records and is working on certifying the event. Participants will be a part of this new craft beer every step of the way, selecting everything from style, grains, and hops to label design. With their $20 pledge, each participant’s name will be included in the collaboration can label for a future keepsake, and they will also be sent a can for their enjoyment and have exclusivity to purchase more before it is opened up to the general public. NA Brews currently is an e-commerce operation based in Holyoke, offering online retail sales of non-alcoholic beer, spirits, and wine selections, including specialty boxes and subscription services for others to enjoy in the comfort of their own home or any social setting. Bleau also has a manufacturing and full alcohol-free production plan, partnering with independent breweries in surrounding communities to produce quality craft non-alcoholic beer.

 

Berkshire Bank Foundation Supports MCLA’s Summer STEM Academy

NORTH ADAMS — The Berkshire Bank Foundation awarded Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) $20,000 to fund the Berkshire Bank STEM Academy, which accepts up to 20 incoming first-year students enrolled in a STEM major or who have expressed interest in STEM fields. Designed to introduce incoming students to careers in STEM, the residential, five-day academy includes opportunities to network with STEM faculty, students, and staff in the interest of developing a deeper relationship with those involved in STEM careers in the Berkshires. The program’s ultimate goal is to encourage more students to secure jobs in the Berkshires and remain here after graduation. This summer will mark the ninth year of the Berkshire Bank STEM Academy. Alumni of the program, which was developed to serve low-income and first-generation college students, have gone on to be leaders at MCLA as residential advisors, tutors, and supplemental instructors. Graduates have gone on to have careers at Raytheon, General Dynamics, Edge Pharma, and as public-school teachers. Students are selected based on their responses to surveys taken upon their acceptance to the college. Interested students should e-mail program director Dr. Sara Steele, assistant professor of Psychology, at [email protected] to have their name prioritized in the selection process.

 

Country Bank Reports $1.3 Million in Community Philanthropy in 2020

WARE — Country Bank reported that its donations and sponsorships for 2020 totaled $1.3 million. Through the bank’s philanthropic efforts, it provided support to local nonprofits throughout the communities it serves; in 2020, more than 400 of these organizations received donations. The pandemic has left businesses and individuals facing continued looming uncertainties. Many nonprofits struggled from the economic fallout, and they looked to community partners like Country Bank for assistance. Country Bank donated more than $500,000 to area hospitals and first-responder housing efforts to provide the financial and tangible emergency resources needed to support their mission during the pandemic. Organizations receiving support included the Baystate Health Foundation, Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp., Christina’s House, Springfield Rescue Mission, Ronald McDonald House, and Behavioral Health Network Inc. Recognizing the importance and overwhelming need to help organizations that address hunger, Country Bank also provided monetary donations to food programs throughout the region that exceeded $100,000. The recipients of these funds included Friends of the Homeless, Rachel’s Table, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and many local food pantries.

 

Meyers Brothers Kalicka Unveils New Website

HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announced a new website, mbkcpa.com, this week. The primary goal during the redesign process was to create a more user-friendly and valuable resource for clients and community alike. More specifically, the firm wanted users to easily locate information about accounting services, industries it serves, the firm’s story and team members, career opportunities, and community support. The website also features an active blog with articles about taxation, accounting, advisory, news, and community. Additionally, the firm offers free newsletters centered around taxation, business, not-for-profits, and healthcare. These newsletters help readers stay informed on recent provisions and guidance, access articles, get invitations to special webinars or podcasts, and gain industry knowledge. You can subscribe to any or all of these newsletters for free by adding your e-mail address into the ‘subscribe’ feature located in the footer of the new website.

 

Community Comes Through to Help Amherst Survival Center Families

AMHERST — Hannah Rechtschaffen, director of Placemaking for the Mill District, and Andy Haase of Cowls Building Supply recently delivered more than 400 games purchased by W.D. Cowls Inc. to the Amherst Survival Center, augmenting dozens of community donations already collected and delivered from North Amherst Motors, the Toy Box, North Square Apartments in the Mill District, and Cowls Building Supply. In December, Lev Ben-Ezra, executive director of the Amherst Survival Center, outlined to Cinda Jones, president of W.D. Cowls, how the community could help her cause this winter. Ben-Ezra explained that the center was looking for ways to brighten the winter for families stuck at home, including craft kits, valentines, and other fun activities. Her hope for February was to distribute more than 400 games and puzzles to local families, and she asked the Mill District for help generating donations. Now, with more than 500 games donated in January, the Amherst Survival Center is providing families with games and activities along with groceries in February. Community members who want to help the Amherst Survival Center serve more families can donate online at amherstsurvival.org/donate.

 

WNEU Offers Free Graduate Courses to Current Students

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University announced that all current students (class of 2021 to class of 2024) will be offered two graduate courses free of charge with acceptance to a WNEU master’s-degree program upon completion of their bachelor’s degree. “As our undergraduates consider next steps, especially with the current economic climate, we want to help provide them with the opportunity to advance their credentials in what could prove to be a difficult time as the nation returns to post-COVID normalcy,” said Matt Fox, executive director of Graduate Admissions. According to the NACE Job Outlook Survey, 2021 hiring will be “more positive than expected given that the pandemic shut down the economy, plummeted the stock market, and raised the unemployment rate.” Nearly 17% of organizations responding to the NACE survey plan to increase their hiring levels of 2021 graduates, compared to 2020 graduates, and about 53% plan to maintain their level of hiring. Fox outlined the many benefits this opportunity offers, including improving employment and future advancement opportunities, deferred undergraduate loan payment, and what essentially equates to a 20% reduction in graduate tuition. For more information, visit www1.wne.edu/admissions/graduate/two-grad-courses.cfm.

 

Ludlow Elks Supports Program at Scantic Valley YMCA

LUDLOW — The Ludlow Elks awarded the Scantic Valley YMCA a $2,000 Beacon Grant from the Elks National Foundation to help the Y launch MOVE2Function, a movement-disorder fitness program. The Ludlow Elks have provided financial and in-person support for the Scantic Valley YMCA’s healthful-living programs. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA supports those impacted by cancer. The latest program to receive the Ludlow Elks support is MOVE2Function, offering those impacted by movement disorders evidence-based functional fitness programming to support them in making changes to support and improve all aspects of their health. Movement disorders include Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and essential tremor. In 2019 and 2020, the Ludlow Elks supported the Interactive Health Fair at the Scantic Valley YMCA, which was open to the public. With previous funding, the Ludlow Elks provided the food along with preparing and serving it. Attendees enjoyed a healthy meal while interacting with company representatives, YMCA staff, and college students to learn about such topics as nutrition, heart health, fitness, balance programming, blood pressure, and eye screenings.

 

UMassFive Directs $4,000 to Local Survival Centers

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union announced it has directed $4,000 in donations to local survival centers in Amherst and Northampton. The donations were made possible thanks to UMassFive winning a Credit Union Give Back Sweepstakes held by its credit-card servicer, PSCU. This sweepstakes selected 25 credit unions from across the country to receive $4,000 to donate to local charitable organizations of their choice. UMassFive chose to direct donations of $2,000 each to the Amherst Survival Center and the Northampton Survival Center in support of the extra cost burden that 2020 placed on the organizations. Both organizations had to pivot operations quickly to meet the most pressing needs of their communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and have seen more need than ever before.

 

Country Bank Supports Quaboag Valley CDC

WARE — Country Bank announced a $25,000 donation to the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. (QVCDC) to support various programs to help local communities in the region. A portion of the donation will be used toward a matching grant for a senior-citizen outreach program. This project was funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development, Massachusetts CDBG Program. Projects are developed and administered by local officials with the assistance of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Services for the outreach program include grocery shopping and prescription pickups for low-income seniors in Ware, Hardwick, Belchertown, and Warren. The QVCDC also offers various programs to assist businesses in the region with navigating these unchartered times. One of the latest programs includes companies with up to five employees that could be eligible to receive up to $10,000 in grant funding through a Microenterprise Assistance Grant.

 

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

LENOX

Pizzeria Boema Inc., 84 Main St. Lenox, MA 01240. Molly B. Lyon, 65 Blythewood Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Restaurant.

LUDLOW

Sakura LI Inc., 456 Center St., Suite B, Ludlow, MA 01056. Xiao Xia Li, same. Restaurant – food service.

NORTHAMPTON

Viola Aesthetics and Day Spa Inc., 140 Main St. Northampton, MA 11060. Wioleta Guberow, 49 Elizabeth St. Palmer, MA 01069. Beauty spa services.

PITTSFIELD

Rock Business Solutions Inc., 346 North St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Rocco R. Errichettoe III, 715 North St. Windsor, MA 01270. Business equipment and systems.

Variable Standards (Varstan) Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. George Varimezov, same. Bookkeeping services.

SOUTH HADLEY

Paylessforoil.com Inc., 95 Main St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Christopher J. Chase, 29 Thomas St. Windsor Locks, CT 06096. Home fuel delivery.

Ray Rose Enterprises Inc., 125 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Scott Moore, same. Food concession.

SPRINGFIELD

Precise Transportation, Corp., 3 Fox Den Lane Springfield, MA 01109. Luis Rijo Morales, 3 Fox Den Lane, North Salem, NY 10560. Car transport.

Safe Royal Delivery Inc., 211 Starling Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Yevhen Marmura, 188 South Westfield St. Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Trucking.

Sami International Inc., 1212 Main St., Springfield, MA 01069. Iftikhar Ahmed Raja, 112 Main St., Apt. A Agawam, MA 01001. Trading, contracting, import export, real estate.

United Transmission of Springfield Inc., 33 Winter St. Springfield, MA 01103. Lester A. Deauseault, 819 Britton St. Chicopee, MA 01020. Automotive and truck repairs.

WESTHAMPTON

Trust, Auer, Rocque Inc., 213 Northwest Road, Westhampton, MA 01027. Farming and production of maple products.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Parker Acoustics Inc., 31 Pearson Way Suite 1 West Springfield, MA 01089. John W. Parker Jr., 111 Berkshire Ave. Southwick, MA 01077. Installation, replacement, and manufacturing acoustics.

Pharmacy Amanecer, 96 Cedar Woods Glen, West Springfield, MA 01089. Adnan Dahdul Ma, same. Pharmacy and retail sales.

Realigned Design Inc., 67 Hunt St., Suite 107 Agawam, MA 01001. Gregory Kishko, 88R Bosworth St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Design & construction.

WILBRAHAM

ROP Consulting Inc., 19 Brookmont Dr. Wilbraham, MA 01095. Ricky O. Pollard, same. Consulting.

WILLIAMSBURG

Williamsburg Market Inc., 7 Old Goshen Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096. Stephen Denny Smith, same. Retail food market.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

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

DEERFIELD

All One Massage
235 Greenfield Road
Melanie Phillips

Get It Together
26 Pleasant St.
Jenelle Wilkins, Marion MacMunn

Natural Stone Creations
3B Meadow Oak Lane
Ross Finch
Revisions Candles
175 North Main St.
Jaimie Allen

NORTHAMPTON

Amy Dawn Kotel Productions
56 Dunphy Dr.
Amy Dawn Kotel

High-Five
41 Strong Ave.
Christos Christodoulou

Honey & Wine
150 North Main St.
Alana Daviann Traub

The Institute for Emerging Adulthood
25 Main St., Suite 218
Jaycelle Monsanto Pequet

Lime Red Teahouse
11 Pleasant St.
Joe Deng

Milestone Farm
Valley Field Road
Angela Plassmann

Pig Pug Press
535 North Farms Road
Travis Norsen

Silent Source, LLC
58 Nonotuck St.
Harry Winton Ridabock II

Solana James Design
29 Cahillane Terrace
Solana Thais James

SOUTHAMPTON

A-Z Exterior Repairs
258 Hillside Road
Maksim Vovk

JRG Real Estate & Auction Services, LLC
68 Will Palmer Road
Tiffany Jacquier

WESTFIELD

Atlantic Travel
120 Steiger Dr.
Avis Lemire

Chrissy G’s Cakes
9 Michael Dr.
Christine Gustafson

Complete Excavating
16 Murray Ave., #3
William Kafanov

Distinct Impressions, LLC
4 Columbia St.
Angela Cooley

Franklin Auto Body
11 Dwight St.
Paul Mancino

Greater Springfield PAL
28 West Silver St.
Boys & Girls Club

John & Ariana, LLC
108 Wild Flower Circle
Anna Blanco

MDN Consulting, LLC
66 Flynn Meadow Road
Jason McDonald

Meeting House Commons Condominium Trust
138 Main St.
Brian Houser

Ravenwood Investigations
57 Jaeger Dr.
C. Lee Bennett

Red Cardinal
265 Union St.
RC Retail Westfield, LLC

Uplifting Art
6 Coleman Ave.
Tracey Miller

Veteran to Veteran Support & Assistance
14 Lowell Ave.
Peter Dehey IV

Zoey Management Service
76 Gary Dr.
Zhong Chen

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Allegiance Lease & Rental
268 Park St.
Michael Sirignano

Angelo Bertelli’s Liquor Mart
726 Main St.
Michael Passerini

Club Fitness
1452 Memorial Ave.
Steven Suschana

Costco Liquors
119 Daggett Dr.
Gail Tsuboi

Dean Auto Sales
6 River St.
Richard Rindels

Eddie Shore Enterprises Inc.
1305 Memorial Ave.
Catherine Pokorny

Huntington Creative Commercial Photography
132 Myron St.
David Michalak

IHOP
640 Riverdale St.
Timothy Mulson

Massage Envy
935 Riverdale St.
Mark Sarrazin

Mattress Firm
935 Riverdale St.
Vernon Holguin

Parashute
1095 Westfield St.
Yousuf Jaafar

Rafa Transportation, LLC
203 Circuit Ave.
Rafael Mkanga

Riverdale Imports
1497 Riverdale St.
Joseph Spano

Subway
1329 Riverdale St.
Umeshkumar Patel

Victory International Store Inc.
573 Union St.
Andrey Kolesnichenko

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Alexander, Robert Bruce
811 East St., Apt. 8
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/08/2021

Andre, Lenna
137 Vienna Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/08/2021

Benoit, Tricia M.
18 Helm St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/15/2021

Bliss, Donna Allene
47 Haywood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/14/2021

Bouchard, Michelle A.
22 Meadowbrook Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/14/2021

Brink, Harold
Brink, Barbara A.
316 State Road – Apt. C10
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/02/2021

Chalke, Sheryl Ann
150 Athol Road
Phillipston, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/06/2021

Dunbar, Lawrence B.
Dunbar, Jeanette
a/k/a Zupkofska, Jeanette
14 Editha Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/04/2021

Lamontagne, Philip
103 Doverbrook Road
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/31/2020

McNaney, Patrick Francis
McNaney, Deborah Jean
a/k/a Novak, Deborah
41 South St., Unit 68
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/06/2021

Rivera, Wanda I.
a/k/a Rivera-Colon, Wanda I.
a/k/a Hernandez, Wanda I.
70 Harrison Ave., Apt. 701
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/13/2021

Sawyer, Cheryl Lynne
5 Miller Ave.
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/06/2021

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

177 Brown Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $511,000
Buyer: John A. Kleber
Seller: Keith H. Snow
Date: 01/19/21

462 John Ford Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $328,000
Buyer: 462 John Ford Road LLC
Seller: Seymour W. Itzkoff
Date: 01/13/21

BERNARDSTON

924 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Chester A. Phillips
Seller: Gardener F. Merritt
Date: 01/22/21

631 Fox Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Kristie M. Timberlake
Seller: Michael J. Holden
Date: 01/22/21

BUCKLAND

2 Charlemont Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $517,000
Buyer: Scott L. MacMillan
Seller: Dennis F. Patterson
Date: 01/22/21

CHARLEMONT

400 Legate Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Issac N. Sisum
Seller: Timothy J. Fazio
Date: 01/22/21

COLRAIN

4 Avery Hill Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Lisa J. Genetelli
Seller: Heather E. Garey
Date: 01/22/21

318 North Green River Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Cynthia M. Weeks
Seller: Wells NT
Date: 01/22/21

CONWAY

805 East Guinea Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Keith Heberlein
Seller: MC AC & MC LLC
Date: 01/13/21

54 Maple St.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: David Clark
Seller: Ellen Macleish-Zale
Date: 01/22/21

GILL

46 Mountain Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: John F. Waite
Seller: Kristie M. Timberlake
Date: 01/22/21

18 Walnut St.
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Heather Lawton
Seller: Trombley IRT
Date: 01/15/21

GREENFIELD

110 Beech St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Michael C. Stempel
Seller: Daniel J. Trenholm
Date: 01/13/21

30 Canada Hill
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Tricia M. Guerino
Seller: John G. Organ
Date: 01/15/21

148 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $207,500
Buyer: Tammy C. Jezek
Seller: John Burek
Date: 01/14/21

104 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Rebecca Snow-Kowal
Seller: Heather L. Tencza
Date: 01/15/21

30 River St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $246,500
Buyer: Jorge A. Quintanilla
Seller: Christopher H. Martenson
Date: 01/22/21

HEATH

198 Hosmer Road East
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Justin F. Quinn
Seller: Charles E. Denmark
Date: 01/14/21

MONTAGUE

4 Church St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Craig Bryant
Seller: Derian M. Neyra
Date: 01/20/21

14 Morris Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Jason Edson
Seller: Jacob S. Dlugosz
Date: 01/19/21

94 Turnpike Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Katie R. Sabourin
Seller: William J. Doyle
Date: 01/21/21

NEW SALEM

21 Stone Hill Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Timothy J. Fazio
Seller: Barbara L. Hawley
Date: 01/22/21

NORTHFIELD

105 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Community Bible Church
Seller: Norway Spruce RT
Date: 01/22/21

173 4 Mile Brook Road
Northfield, MA 01354
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Justin M. Kickery
Seller: Robert T. Duby RET
Date: 01/15/21

196 Millers Falls Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joelle E. Fabrizio
Seller: William R. Chaney
Date: 01/15/21

665 Millers Falls Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $125,400
Buyer: John V. Bellenoit
Seller: Arthur James
Date: 01/14/21

SHELBURNE

1204 Mohawk Trail
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Todd M. Gerry
Seller: Joyce E. Root
Date: 01/15/21

SHUTESBURY

73 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Ariel Pliskin
Seller: Jason P. Zabko
Date: 01/14/21

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

32 Federal St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Vilai Sivongxai
Seller: Martin M. Downey
Date: 01/22/21

127-129 High St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Daniel C. Erickson
Seller: V&A Realty LLC
Date: 01/15/21

11 Liberty Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jason L. Elder
Seller: Ryan M. Scott
Date: 01/12/21

49 North St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: 716 Spring Valley LLC
Seller: Mark D. Olson
Date: 01/15/21

31 Ottawa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Tyrell Smith
Seller: Daniel L. O’Connor
Date: 01/14/21

459 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Michael J. Pisano
Seller: James C. Stellato
Date: 01/14/21

92-94 Royal St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jason R. Sinay
Seller: Ruslan Kuzmenko
Date: 01/21/21

301 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Ivanov NT
Seller: MS Homes LLC
Date: 01/20/21

32 Shoemaker Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Beach Mountain LLC
Seller: Irish Nugget RT
Date: 01/19/21

Shoemaker Lane (rear)
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Beach Mountain LLC
Seller: Irish Nugget RT
Date: 01/19/21

49 Woodside Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Dianne Robare
Seller: Edwards, Nancy A., (Estate)
Date: 01/21/21

BLANDFORD

2 Russell Stage Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Brittney Stuck
Seller: Adrian Z. Bruening
Date: 01/22/21

BRIMFIELD

111 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Kelly M. Carroll
Seller: Porter, Carolyn J., (Estate)
Date: 01/11/21

16 East Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $439,000
Buyer: Kyle T. Hill
Seller: Mark G. Saloio
Date: 01/15/21

CHICOPEE

109 Arcade St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $178,250
Buyer: Nicholas Adams
Seller: Carlisle, Andra H., (Estate)
Date: 01/19/21

36 Artisan St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: MDDO LLC
Seller: 855 Liberty Springfield LLC
Date: 01/22/21

36 Bostwick Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Viankie Pagan-Bonilla
Seller: Cecelia M. Roy
Date: 01/20/21

61 Chester St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Steven P. Gray
Seller: Mary M. Lamica
Date: 01/22/21

25 Dayton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $171,500
Buyer: Juan A. Santana
Seller: Jorge Garcia
Date: 01/11/21

1466 Donohue Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Martin Thomas
Seller: Smuk, Josephine B., (Estate)
Date: 01/21/21

102 Felix St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Center For Human Developmen Inc.
Seller: Toth John, (Estate)
Date: 01/13/21

42 Forest St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Aguasvivas Realty LLC
Seller: Hebert, Paula L., (Estate)
Date: 01/15/21

92 Freedom St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $129,554
Buyer: E&G Joint Venture NT
Seller: Stevens, Doris A., (Estate)
Date: 01/20/21

52 Gladdu Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: NG Chicopee Realty LLC
Seller: Janet D. Mandeville
Date: 01/20/21

20 Glendale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Thomas W. Adasiewicz
Seller: Lori A. Norton
Date: 01/21/21

1057 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Marta Ayala
Seller: Kulig, Ruth Mary, (Estate)
Date: 01/14/21

47 Greenleaf St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Mac Phail
Seller: Phuong T. Ly
Date: 01/13/21

5 Grise Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Aimee L. Diliberto
Seller: William E. Grise
Date: 01/12/21

332 Grove St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Nelson Alicea
Seller: Christine A. Morando
Date: 01/20/21

29 Jennings St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Alex M. Koval
Seller: Michael J. Klaus
Date: 01/13/21

81 Lord Ter. North
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Evaristo Almonte
Seller: Ryan S. Kumiega
Date: 01/11/21

82 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jessica Campos
Seller: Dunne, Fleurette J., (Estate)
Date: 01/21/21

708 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Roy & Shirley Fanti LLC
Seller: Fanti Roy, (Estate)
Date: 01/15/21

14 Paderewski Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Barbara Baymon
Seller: Walter A. Medianero
Date: 01/19/21

52 Percy St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Tyler W. Judicki
Seller: Sandra M. Leese
Date: 01/13/21

130 Rimmon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Maria M. Sierra
Seller: Remillard, Irene T., (Estate)
Date: 01/11/21

53 Saratoga Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jose O. Morales
Seller: Gayle M. Moson
Date: 01/20/21

EAST LONGMEADOW

43 Breezy Knoll Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $479,900
Buyer: Alanna Lenahan
Seller: Steven J. Lussier
Date: 01/19/21

116 Colony Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $337,500
Buyer: Janene M. Kane
Seller: James M. Lentz
Date: 01/22/21

94 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $273,800
Buyer: Toni K. Coombs
Seller: Marco A. Scibelli
Date: 01/20/21

9 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Nicholas Milluzzo
Seller: Joseph A. Blais
Date: 01/12/21

2 Harvest Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 01/20/21

41 Helen Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Lynda S. Azar
Seller: David G. Chapdeliane
Date: 01/15/21

14 High St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Marvin Quentel-Newkirk
Seller: John A. Robinson
Date: 01/22/21

60 John St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $136,500
Buyer: Etabav RT
Seller: Christina L. Johnson
Date: 01/14/21

128 Lasalle St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jacob A. Levine
Seller: Sheila F. Brainerd
Date: 01/15/21

40 Linden Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Marjorie L. Hanks
Date: 01/13/21

101 Nottingham Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: James M. Lentz
Seller: Conor M. Long
Date: 01/22/21

41 Rural Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $397,000
Buyer: Timothy Giguere
Seller: Paul Giguere
Date: 01/12/21

GRANVILLE

126 Barnard Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $308,500
Buyer: Andrew J. Richardson
Seller: Joseph F. Walsh
Date: 01/12/21

HAMPDEN

77 Old Orchard Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Thomas E. Young
Seller: Michael Bavaro
Date: 01/14/21

HOLLAND

10 Old County Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Brian D. Breen
Seller: Michael R. Vieira
Date: 01/19/21

11 Vinton Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Lynn Elmy
Seller: Gregory L. Morsbach
Date: 01/13/21

HOLYOKE

24 Ashley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $223,500
Buyer: Robert C. Daniell RET
Seller: Conor J. Bevan
Date: 01/20/21

23 Brenan St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $269,999
Buyer: Sarah M. Gray
Seller: Laura E. Carmody
Date: 01/20/21

67-69 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Alexander A. Almonte
Seller: Evaristo Almonte
Date: 01/11/21

93 Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,014
Buyer: Sonia E. Salgado
Seller: Paul M. Bourbeau
Date: 01/22/21

25 Hickory St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Tambria Pioggia
Seller: Christopher W. Butler
Date: 01/20/21

94 Hillview Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Michael J. O’Connor
Seller: Joseph A. Deleva LT
Date: 01/21/21

20 Longwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Atlas Inspires LLC
Seller: Yankee Home Improvement Inc.
Date: 01/20/21

4 Loomis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Joan E. Jackson
Seller: Whisperwood LLC
Date: 01/15/21

90 Lyman St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Carlos A. Millayes
Seller: John Sadowski
Date: 01/15/21

47 North Summer St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Ale Ventures LLC
Seller: Rafael Fernandez
Date: 01/20/21

37 Princeton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jesse Stasinos
Seller: Andrew S. Lape
Date: 01/22/21

36 Queen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Caroline Pinto
Seller: Jamie M. Cardoza
Date: 01/22/21

16 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Eva R. Jaffe
Seller: Gail A. Hornstein
Date: 01/20/21

19 Village Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Duclos
Seller: Deborah E. Parent
Date: 01/14/21

246 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Miguel Colon
Seller: Jahjan LLC
Date: 01/15/21

LONGMEADOW

104 Barclay St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Carolyn Palmer-Wallace
Seller: CIG 2 LLC
Date: 01/11/21

69 Drury Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Paul R. Stevens
Seller: Eleanore C. Stevens
Date: 01/21/21

193 Edgewood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Harry Miller
Seller: Donald R. Einck
Date: 01/14/21

27 Fairfield Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Robert M. Mack
Seller: Baiqing Li
Date: 01/15/21

73 Herbert St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $259,500
Buyer: Debra D. Zimmerman
Seller: Elizabeth A. Williams
Date: 01/11/21

103 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $319,900
Buyer: Kelly Freeman
Seller: Maxwell D. Sullivan
Date: 01/19/21

27 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Joshua Vinocour
Seller: Derek Upson
Date: 01/14/21

66 Morningside Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $507,500
Buyer: 2019 Shenoy FT
Seller: Meadows RE LLC
Date: 01/11/21

131 Yarmouth St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Quercus Properties LLC
Seller: Charles F. Baatz
Date: 01/15/21

LUDLOW

35 Harvest Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Nicholas A. Zucco
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 01/22/21

32 Lower Whitney St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Cecile Bryant
Seller: Theodore A. Bryant
Date: 01/21/21

121 Prokop Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Richard Nguyen
Seller: Antonio G. Silva
Date: 01/22/21

24 Ridgeview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Dolores Rodrigues
Seller: Ormeche, Gloria, (Estate)
Date: 01/20/21

Sunset Ridge
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Alex G. Kudla
Seller: Baystate Developers Inc.
Date: 01/22/21

MONSON

13 Paradise Lake Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Gary D. Suter
Seller: Billy W. Pope
Date: 01/14/21

MONTGOMERY

22 Pineridge Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $148,500
Buyer: June Wright
Seller: David A. Wright
Date: 01/21/21

PALMER

260 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Carlton B. Martin
Seller: Steven J. Desmarais
Date: 01/22/21

19 Colonial St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Lauren Meister
Seller: Paul J. Les
Date: 01/12/21

10 Fieldstone Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Siyang Song
Seller: Mark T. Baldyga
Date: 01/13/21

54 Mechanic St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Martin
Seller: Steven P. Skaza
Date: 01/15/21

1246 Park St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. Martowski
Seller: Linda M. Swift
Date: 01/15/21

3 Salem St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Mary E. Dembkowski
Seller: Susan Monat
Date: 01/13/21

RUSSELL

55 Cedar Ter.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Joshua Bush
Seller: Brittany E. Cox
Date: 01/22/21

75 Dickinson Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Paul J. Girard
Seller: Margaret A. Kurtz
Date: 01/20/21

SPRINGFIELD

11-15 Alsace St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jayleen A. Rivera
Seller: Susan G. St.Onge
Date: 01/14/21

70 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Vanessa J. Zurita
Seller: Christopher M. Lemieux
Date: 01/22/21

213 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Janet Namono
Seller: Phaneuf, Arthur N., (Estate)
Date: 01/11/21

147-149 Arnold Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Roland Nkwanyuo
Seller: John P. Goodwin
Date: 01/14/21

51 Atwater Road
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Declan O’Connor-St.Pierre
Seller: Carlos Morales
Date: 01/19/21

101 Avery St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Daneiry Velez
Seller: Keena S. Clarke-Guillaume
Date: 01/15/21

176 Barrington Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Juan E. Espinosa
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 01/15/21

18 Beaven St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Glenmary Ortiz-Alvarado
Seller: Casiano Ramos
Date: 01/11/21

17 Bellevue Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Lana Adero
Seller: Barbara M. Robillard
Date: 01/15/21

49 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $571,161
Buyer: Springfield Portfolio Holdings
Seller: Belmont State LLC
Date: 01/19/21

710-712 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Sineade Sokolskiy
Seller: Nancy Figueroa
Date: 01/12/21

1195 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Pedro Diaz-Almenas
Seller: Jennifer L. Flynn
Date: 01/20/21

181 Bowdoin St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Angie O. Obomanu
Seller: Sovereign Properties Inc.
Date: 01/22/21

12 Burns Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Rachel Elliott
Seller: Michelle D. White
Date: 01/14/21

83 Catalina Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Willis E. Glidden
Seller: Dorothy A. Gloster
Date: 01/15/21

24 Cleveland St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Taiye M. Ologunro
Seller: Evelyn S. Lopez
Date: 01/22/21

59 Corey Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Jill C. Nelson
Seller: Anthony S. Diliberto
Date: 01/12/21

189-191 Corthell St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Brandon A. Ford
Seller: Dylan A. Chasse
Date: 01/14/21

24 Crest St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Santana Real Estate Inc.
Seller: William Rivera
Date: 01/20/21

186 Davis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $122,250
Buyer: Equity T. Co.
Seller: Fettes, James W., (Estate)
Date: 01/22/21

42-44 Dubois St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $224,500
Buyer: Robert Arnett
Seller: Walter S. Czepiel
Date: 01/15/21

16 East Canton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Oksana L. Gonzalez
Seller: Michele A. Ouimet-Rooke
Date: 01/15/21

48 Enfield St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jonathan DosSantos
Seller: Paul J. Lizak
Date: 01/13/21

17 Euclid Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Julisa Rosado
Seller: Mark Robbins
Date: 01/15/21

224 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Felixavier Fuentes-Colon
Seller: Ryan, Mary F., (Estate)
Date: 01/22/21

230 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Deepak Limbu
Seller: Marc A. Hertz
Date: 01/15/21

149 Glenoak Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Rosabel Andrillon
Seller: Value Properties LLC
Date: 01/11/21

46 Grand St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Melissa Magnan
Seller: VDS Properties LLC
Date: 01/13/21

68 Grandview St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Yolonda Pearson
Seller: Nicole A. Rodriguez
Date: 01/14/21

152 Grayson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Thomas Cloarec
Seller: Ryan W. Kalriess
Date: 01/15/21

8 Hartford Ter.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Meaghan E. Murphy
Seller: City View Property Services LLC
Date: 01/15/21

22-24 Highland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Miriam Medina
Seller: Ferdinand Gonzalez
Date: 01/13/21

40 Ingersoll Grove
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Joshua H. Rando
Seller: Cory B. Coleman
Date: 01/12/21

72 Jean Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Lisa M. Bobbitt
Seller: Angela J. Murray
Date: 01/22/21

172 Keddy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Luxiana Property LLC
Seller: Susan E. Jones
Date: 01/15/21

90 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Yanming Wang
Seller: Hernan A. Fabian
Date: 01/11/21

35 Knollwood St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Ann Saez
Seller: Nicholas S. Manolarakis
Date: 01/15/21

135 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Sundari Kishore
Seller: TL Bretta Realty LLC
Date: 01/12/21

41 Ladd St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Lischey M. Correa
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 01/21/21

18 Larkspur St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Lorna Rickord
Seller: Larkspur LLC
Date: 01/15/21

4-8 Leyfred Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $571,161
Buyer: Springfield Portfolio Holdings
Seller: Belmont State LLC
Date: 01/19/21

99 Leyfred Ter.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Frederick Afranie
Seller: Brico Properties LLC
Date: 01/21/21

29-31 Mansfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Melvin Malave
Seller: Willie E. Glidden
Date: 01/12/21

220 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Emily Le
Seller: Courtemanche, D. A. 2nd, (Estate)
Date: 01/15/21

400 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $499,000
Buyer: Quinfield Realty Investors LLC
Seller: Brandon Donnelly
Date: 01/22/21

83-85 Mayfair Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: KTHP Realty LLC
Seller: Christopher J. Gamble
Date: 01/15/21

15 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Fannie J. Loadholt
Seller: Tamara L. Brown
Date: 01/15/21

339 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $173,400
Buyer: Elizabeth Maisonet
Seller: Iris Valentin
Date: 01/15/21

80 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Dennis Vasquez
Seller: Alycar Investments LLC
Date: 01/11/21

49 Nutmeg Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Gina Bartolo
Seller: Lindsey M. Knodler
Date: 01/22/21

22 O’Connell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Michael F. Lipinsky
Seller: MacDonald, Martha C., (Estate)
Date: 01/20/21

247 Osborne Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $193,500
Buyer: Daniel C. Hernandez
Seller: Nicholas J. Laporte
Date: 01/15/21

111-113 Parallel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Patrick Thomas
Seller: Joshua M. Cedeno
Date: 01/15/21

138 Park Dr.
Springfield, MA 01106
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Mark M. Suazo
Seller: Linda C. Kinsley
Date: 01/15/21

208-212 Pearl St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $571,161
Buyer: Springfield Portfolio Holdings
Seller: Belmont State LLC
Date: 01/19/21

112 Penrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Aimee L. Gladden
Seller: Melva Martinez
Date: 01/15/21

88-90 Phillips Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Luis G. Valcarcel
Seller: Rose Ngigi
Date: 01/15/21

Pondview Dr.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Patricia S. Reilly
Seller: Sheehan, Rita H., (Estate)
Date: 01/15/21

27 Preston St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $152,900
Buyer: Brizeida D. Ayala
Seller: Blodgett, Richard A., (Estate)
Date: 01/13/21

51 Pulaski St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: John J. Paquin
Seller: Barbara Potter
Date: 01/13/21

8 Putnam St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Seller: Manyra A. Starrjohnson
Date: 01/19/21

72-74 Rittenhouse Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $259,700
Buyer: Belki Tejeda
Seller: Elisandro Cuevas
Date: 01/19/21

49 Sherman St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Framary Maldonado-Resto
Seller: Jonathan Cruz
Date: 01/15/21

3 Silver St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Chizoba Okoye
Seller: Radwan Zaitoun
Date: 01/13/21

80-82 Silver St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Diplomat Property Manager LLC
Seller: Springfield City Code Housings
Date: 01/21/21

683-685 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $571,161
Buyer: Springfield Portfolio Holdings
Seller: Belmont State LLC
Date: 01/19/21

83-85 Sterling St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Johnson
Seller: Marowski, Robert, (Estate)
Date: 01/15/21

53 Talmadge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Crystal Velez
Seller: Damaris Morales
Date: 01/20/21

59 Terrence St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: MCN New Wave LLC
Seller: Olga L. Orbe
Date: 01/11/21

195 Tyler St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Nurys Rodriguez-DeCruz
Seller: Robby A. Thomas
Date: 01/22/21

19-21 Victoria St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Tracy C. Bradford
Seller: Jamie Kiniry
Date: 01/20/21

153 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Quetty C. Jean-Ebian
Seller: William Warner
Date: 01/22/21

169 Wheeler Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Annemarie Doyle
Seller: Loomis, Mary J., (Estate)
Date: 01/20/21

758 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Nahiomi Pagan
Seller: Samantha Thompson
Date: 01/12/21

59 Wilmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Vananh Nguyen
Seller: Son Vo
Date: 01/21/21

164-166 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $255,200
Buyer: Robert Monegro
Seller: Oanh Ngoc-Phan
Date: 01/11/21

1422-1424 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Kameron Wilson
Seller: Joaquim C. Martins
Date: 01/14/21

SOUTHWICK

193 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Laura O’Neill
Seller: Louis J. Evans
Date: 01/22/21

54 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Frank Bogdanovich
Seller: Kevin P. Brennan
Date: 01/22/21

796 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $392,500
Buyer: Southwick Care LLC
Seller: Gerald M. Pohner
Date: 01/20/21

1 Lexington Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Michael J. Pellerin
Seller: Eric W. Lottermoser
Date: 01/15/21

51 Pineywood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Aaron Bryant
Seller: Sarah E. Barton
Date: 01/15/21

WEST SPRINGFIELD

47 Angeline St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Bawichin Sung
Seller: Mykola Persanov
Date: 01/15/21

38 Clarence St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Carmagnola Realty LLC
Seller: Donald Felix
Date: 01/21/21

63 Elm Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Johany Narvaez
Seller: Minas Alitbi
Date: 01/15/21

40 Fairview Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Elenilton Oliveira
Seller: Nelya Mecher
Date: 01/14/21

21 Lyman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Jose Gonzalez
Seller: JBD Empire LLC
Date: 01/22/21

20-22 Merrick St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Aleksandr Katykhin
Seller: Yuriy Sychev
Date: 01/19/21

353 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Lakshmi S. Mudumba
Seller: Angel R. Villar
Date: 01/11/21

62 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Anthony J. Ruffule
Seller: John E. Prenosil
Date: 01/22/21

5 Wilder Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Jacquelyn D. Gordon
Seller: Jeffrey W. Dean
Date: 01/21/21

135 Wilder Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Matthew T. Maratea
Seller: Rodney J. Dole
Date: 01/15/21

WESTFIELD

6 Apple Orchard Heights
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Matthew T. Howard
Seller: Catherine B. Shannon
Date: 01/22/21

7 Atwater St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $232,200
Buyer: David F. Burgoyne
Seller: Jennifer Balukonis
Date: 01/15/21

53 Bailey Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $449,000
Buyer: Jason Pressey
Seller: Sruti M. Brahmbhatt
Date: 01/15/21

111 Birch Bluffs Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Adam D. Orth
Seller: Polaski, James W., (Estate)
Date: 01/15/21

6 Brenda Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Jessica M. Luczynska
Seller: Richard Girard
Date: 01/22/21

2 Lewis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: 358 Mlc LLC
Seller: M&C Real Estate LLC
Date: 01/20/21

95 Lindbergh Blvd.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Bridgette T. Mulville
Seller: CIG 2 LLC
Date: 01/15/21

13 Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Maksim Martynyuk
Seller: Igor I. Popov
Date: 01/22/21

76 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: John Joyce
Seller: Kristy L. Johnston
Date: 01/12/21

48 Pleasant St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Sandra Atkins-Jason
Seller: Johanna L. Lamb
Date: 01/22/21

3 Powdermill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Christine Ciollaro
Seller: David P. Crichton
Date: 01/14/21

121 Ridgecrest Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Travis Brenner
Seller: Renkowicz, Linda, (Estate)
Date: 01/20/21

48 Ridgeway St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Durocher
Seller: Mary Mahan
Date: 01/15/21

91 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Bridget A. Barber
Seller: April M. Lewis-Krol
Date: 01/13/21

4 Shepard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Arshik A. Samad
Seller: Mario Santaniello
Date: 01/14/21

11 Violet Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $410,500
Buyer: Joseph N. Zurheide
Seller: Francis Wheeler Construction
Date: 01/12/21

26 William St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Gennadiy Laba
Seller: Vitaliy Lukin
Date: 01/22/21

WILBRAHAM

24 Dumaine St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: IJN Equities LLC
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 01/11/21

130 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Collette Haskell
Seller: Nathan D. Torretti
Date: 01/22/21

3 Patriot Ridge Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $619,900
Buyer: James J. Pignatiello
Seller: Richard J. Fraziero
Date: 01/13/21

547 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $273,900
Buyer: Daniel R. Jusler
Seller: Thomas Young
Date: 01/14/21

791 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Taina Vargas
Seller: Paul J. Robbins
Date: 01/12/21

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

473 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Darrell Hunter
Seller: Laurie J. St.Amand
Date: 01/22/21

830 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Ertugrul Tonak
Seller: Norman S. Holland
Date: 01/20/21

77 North Whitney St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $562,500
Buyer: Joel M. Greenbaum
Seller: Richard L. Shumway RT
Date: 01/15/21

BELCHERTOWN

42 Clark St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Shane Hollenbeck
Seller: Christopher C. Phelps
Date: 01/12/21

1035 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Kenneth Eggleston
Seller: William B. Keedy
Date: 01/21/21

85 Jackson St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Justin Ritter
Seller: Nicole A. Miner
Date: 01/15/21

138 Kennedy Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Michael J. Stacy
Seller: Benjamin B. Mattingly
Date: 01/20/21

6 Pine St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Christopher Anciello
Seller: Blanco Realty LLC
Date: 01/19/21

18 Pine St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $472,609
Buyer: Matthew R. Ridenour
Seller: Robert A. Morra
Date: 01/15/21

37 Pine Brook Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Alyssa Puia
Seller: NJRE Property Group LLC
Date: 01/15/21

232 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Jordan Ross
Seller: Charles J. Forest
Date: 01/12/21

111 Warner St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Ashley Gallagher
Seller: Dean A. Marshall
Date: 01/15/21

EASTHAMPTON

217 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $344,000
Buyer: Stephen T. Hyde
Seller: Thomas Bacis
Date: 01/15/21

10 John St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Scott A. Smith
Seller: Blanchette, Robert L., (Estate)
Date: 01/11/21

108 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: W. Marek Inc.
Seller: Edna M. Bresnahan LT
Date: 01/12/21

30 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: David Marek
Seller: Michael J. O’Connor
Date: 01/20/21

GOSHEN

104 Ball Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Andrew B. Watt
Seller: Nordic Real Estate LLC
Date: 01/15/21

26 Westshore Dr.
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Hosea Baskin
Seller: Rainer Noess
Date: 01/11/21

GRANBY

169 Chicopee St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jolene N. Brennan
Seller: Jose Lopez
Date: 01/21/21

52 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $527,500
Buyer: Adam D. Corcoran
Seller: Roberta M. Green
Date: 01/12/21

HADLEY

9 Hillside Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Barry M. Sponder
Seller: Thomas F. Quinlan
Date: 01/20/21

5 Nikkis Way
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $729,000
Buyer: Norman S. Holland
Seller: Bercume Construction LLC
Date: 01/21/21

108 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $489,000
Buyer: Richard A. Walton
Seller: Bruce D. Montague
Date: 01/15/21

HATFIELD

87 School St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $987,000
Buyer: Old Mill Enterprises LLC
Seller: Carl G. Burwick
Date: 01/12/21

NORTHAMPTON

53 Acrebrook Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $326,388
Buyer: Breanna K. Lynch
Seller: Morin, Anna G., (Estate)
Date: 01/11/21

20 Bates St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $340,800
Buyer: Janixa M. Tercero-Parker
Seller: Alexia Manin
Date: 01/12/21

186 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Horan
Seller: Michele L. Kirouac
Date: 01/15/21

1261 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Roger L. Friedel
Seller: Homestead Connections LLC
Date: 01/15/21

25 Elizabeth St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Justin Smith
Seller: J. M. Hart RET
Date: 01/14/21

19 Ellington Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Michael L. Matuszek
Seller: Matthew Motamedi
Date: 01/15/21

137 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: David Morse
Seller: Rosemund LLC
Date: 01/13/21

34 Fruit St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Leah King
Seller: Bruce A. Gibbs
Date: 01/12/21

47 Higgins Way
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Allison Snow
Seller: Sturbridge Development LLC
Date: 01/15/21

8 King Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: William S. Hogan
Seller: John E. Mahoney
Date: 01/13/21

56 Laurel St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $376,000
Buyer: Kay Canavino
Seller: Jacquelyn Duda
Date: 01/15/21

Maynard Road #2
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Martin Sexton
Seller: Kerry Dinh
Date: 01/21/21

117 Olander Dr. #15
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $590,078
Buyer: Karen Clay
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 01/15/21

117 Olander Dr. #18A
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $371,058
Buyer: Craig Meck-Machado
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 01/11/21

5 Orchard St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Carol Pineda
Seller: Melissa J. Lampron
Date: 01/21/21

109 Overlook Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Leigh K. Shippee
Seller: Ahearn, Neal T., (Estate)
Date: 01/21/21

30 Park St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Corinne Butler-Guest
Seller: Frances V. Krumpholz
Date: 01/11/21

567 Sylvester Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Nathan Moczulewski
Seller: Philip Moczulewski
Date: 01/22/21

35 Westwood Ter.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Roger W. Salloom
Seller: Wells, Joan R., (Estate)
Date: 01/19/21

PLAINFIELD

Liberty St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $169,717
Buyer: Maud Geng
Seller: Tomkat International Corp.
Date: 01/14/21

SOUTH HADLEY

23 Chestnut Hill Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: David G. Morris
Seller: Ceasar P. Fernandes
Date: 01/22/21

108 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Joe Villanueva
Seller: Laplante Construction Inc.
Date: 01/22/21

16 Columbia St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Evan P. Warner
Seller: Jay D. Beaulieu
Date: 01/19/21

57 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Kevin A. Trousdale
Seller: Ethan L. Bagg
Date: 01/15/21

8 Hollywood St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $228,900
Buyer: Karina Linares
Seller: Marilyn M. Halliday
Date: 01/22/21

77 Judd Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Cody A. Griswold
Seller: Wildman, James M., (Estate)
Date: 01/21/21

12 Plainville Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Geoffrey Falade
Seller: Joanne Walton-Bicknell
Date: 01/22/21

24 Tampa St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Phyllis A. Leach
Seller: David G. Morris
Date: 01/22/21

 

23 The Knolls
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Amanda J. Shallcross
Seller: Leslie A. Dickinson LT
Date: 01/12/21

SOUTHAMPTON

Fitch Farm Way #1
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $138,500
Buyer: David Garstka Builders LLC
Seller: RGB Industries Inc.
Date: 01/15/21

WARE

64 Eagle St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Niki J. Vaughan
Seller: Jill Gravel-Combs
Date: 01/22/21

259 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Lynn E. Ruwet
Seller: Daniel J. Luksha
Date: 01/22/21

25-27 Grove St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $247,300
Buyer: Scott Lunt
Seller: Marth-E LLC
Date: 01/14/21

73 Hardwick Pond Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Mark E. Hausser
Seller: Mary A. Beeman
Date: 01/19/21

19 High St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Erika R. Lima
Seller: Nasser Zebian
Date: 01/22/21

5 Maple St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: David Warren
Seller: Dudek, May, (Estate)
Date: 01/15/21

29 Pinecrest Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Greg Robbins
Seller: Normand T. Mathieu
Date: 01/22/21

24 Sherwin St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Debra A. Valois
Seller: Jason McBride
Date: 01/15/21

WESTHAMPTON

112 Kings Hwy.
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Conar Myers
Seller: Christopher M. Tautznik
Date: 01/13/21

WILLIAMSBURG

81 South St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Terry D. Dawson
Seller: Shane L. Lashway
Date: 01/20/21

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of February 2021

AMHERST

Mary Ellen Pappas Barden
76 North Pleasant St.
$31,000 — Replace two existing rear doors with auto bi-parting doors, other repairs

CHICOPEE

DKRV Commercial Properties, LLC
1247 East Main St.
$20,000 — Roofing

RK Chicopee, LLC
591 Memorial Dr.
$10,887 — Install customer-access gates

LEE

Lee Premium Outlets
17 Premium Outlets Blvd.
$12,629 — Replace two gas-fired rooftop units

LENOX

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
55 Lee Road
$455,000 — Construct new deck off Wyndhurst Mansion ballroom, including stairs, door access, and minor interior modifications

Sharon Walker
10 Richmond Mountain Road
$5,950 — Remove and dispose of exterior metal fire escape

NORTHAMPTON

City of Northampton
North Maple Street
$31,194 — Replace seven sheds at Arcanium Field

Saqib Tasneem, Kimberly Tasneem
242 King St.
$1,500 — Reface illuminated ground sign

Saqib Tasneem, Kimberly Tasneem
242 King St.
$1,500 — Reface illuminated wall sign

Tandem Bagel
3 North Main St.
$10,000 — Remove non-structural wall and add wall

PITTSFIELD

Allendale Shopping, LLC
5 Cheshire Road
$39,115 — Interior demolition for proposed renovation

City of Pittsfield
874 North St.
$4,000 — Install two windows

Louis Costi
1315 East St.
$57,000 — Alterations for retail cannabis store, including creation of five rooms, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and finishes

Mark Mancari
31 Lakecrest Dr.
$23,500 — Construct small three-season porch on existing deck

Wohrles Inc.
1619 East St.
$56,850 — Roofing

SPRINGFIELD

447 State Street, LLC
447 State St.
$17,000 — Repair rear deck, stairways, and railings

Baystate Medical Center Inc.
759 Chestnut St.
$15,323,888 — Infrastructure upgrades related to surgery expansion on second floor, install new elevators and elevator rooftop machine room, new electrical substations and two new generators

Baystate Medical Center Inc.
759 Chestnut St.
$1,073,000 — Alter interior space on sixth floor for adolescent/pediatric psychiatric care unit

Center for Human Development
1985 Main St.
$8,000 — Install fire-alarm system at CHD training center

City of Springfield
255 Plainfield St.
$5,856,100 — Install fire-alarm system at Brightwood Elementary School

East Springfield Industrial Buildings Corporated
225 Carando Dr.
$4,835,785 — Alter former warehouse space for educational use at Veritas Preparatory Charter School

Financial Plaza Trust
1350 Main St.
$10,855 — Alter interior space on 10th floor for subdivision of existing suite into two suites

Icarian Real Estate Advisors, LLC
77 Mill St.
$12,000 — Add insulation to basement walls

Pearson Liberty Development
300 Birnie Ave.
$65,300 — Remodel interior space at New England Orthopedics

Rise and Walk Ministry
379 Oak St.
$12,000 — Roofing

Springfield 3550 Medical Properties, LLC
3550 Main St.
$100,150 — Remodel interior medical office at Valley Women’s Health

Opinion: Momentum Builds for a New Soldiers’ Home

By
Daily News

Make no mistake about it, when it comes to the tragic COVID-related deaths at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke almost a year ago, there are no silver linings. There is nothing that can fill the void left by lost loved ones, and nothing that can relieve the anguish visited upon staff members who had to endure that catastrophic sequence of events that led to the deaths of at least 76 veterans.

But sometimes, such tragedies eventually lead to progress, to improvements, to new and better ways of doing things. And it appears that this may well be the case with the Soldiers’ Home.

Indeed, out of the ashes of the calamity of last spring have emerged plans for a new, eight-story Holyoke Soldiers’ Home that will replace the 70-year-old facility that is, in many ways, inadequate and obsolete. Last week, the Baker-Polito administration filed a $400 million bond bill to move forward with the construction of the new home, the next big step in the process of making a new facility reality.

While the need for a new Soldiers’ Home has long been understood and embraced, there is no doubt that the events of last spring — when the virus overran the facility amid a series of questionable decisions that ultimately led to resignations and, later, indictments for criminal neglect — have helped pave the way for a proper, modern, 235-bed facility that will serve veterans for generations to come.

This project still has a long way to go before it becomes reality. There are stern deadlines to meet and more important votes to take place in the state Legislature. But there certainly appears to be sufficient momentum to see this initiative to the finish line. It has been generated by caring people who want to do right by future generations of veterans — but also, we believe, by a deep desire to “make things right” for the families of those who died last spring and the for the staff members who have long endured inadequate facilities, said the chairman of a coalition of former Soldiers’ Home administrators, families, and veterans advocates who have embraced plans for a new home.

Truthfully, nothing will really make things right. But this is huge step in the right direction.

Bradley International Airport Recognized in USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards

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Daily News

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.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by our passengers and industry experts as being among the best of the best,” said Kevin Dillon, executive director of the CAA. “I believe this speaks volumes of our entire airport community’s commitment to our passengers and providing an exceptional customer experience even amidst some of the most challenging times in our industry.”

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.

HCC Women’s Leadership Series Continues on Feb. 24

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Business coach and strategist Lynn Turner of Clear Alliance Inc. and Moe Belliveau, executive director of the Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, will give a presentation titled “Maintaining Power and Grace While Glass Ceilings Are Being Shattered” as the Holyoke Community College (HCC) Spring Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series continues on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

The luncheon series takes place over Zoom on the last Wednesdays of January, February, March, April, and May from noon to 1:15 p.m.

Each month, participants join a group of women leaders to discuss current issues and ideas to help their leadership development. They will also have the opportunity to form a supportive network of women leaders to help navigate their careers.

Each lunchtime event features two presenters leading discussions on different topics. Future topics include:

March 31: “Women’s Leadership from a Male Perspective” (presenters to be determined);

April 28: “Courageous Actions,” with Dr. Sarah Perez McAdoo, population health capstone director at UMass Medical School, and Jessica Collins, executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts; and

May 26: “Leading Through Change,” with Margaret Tantillo, executive director of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts, and Jess Roncarati-Howe, the organization’s program director.

The first session on Jan. 27 focused on “Compassion Fatigue,” with presenters Luz Lopez, executive director of MetroCare of Springfield, and Annamarie Golden, director of Community Relations for Baystate Health.

Sessions cost $20 each or $50 for the full series. Space is limited, and advance registration is required. To register, visit hcc.edu/leadership-luncheons.

Valley Blue Sox Sign New Head Coach

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox announced that an alumnus of their 2016 season, Hezekiah (Hez) Randolph, will take over for John Raiola as head coach.

Randolph, 25, of Baton Rouge, La., has had a successful career in both high-school and collegiate baseball. He was a designated hitter and second baseman for the University of New Orleans Privateers, where he was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in his freshman year and All-Louisiana First Team during his senior year.

Randolph joined the Blue Sox as a player in the summer of 2016, where he was selected for the New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game, in addition to earning second-team honors. He then went on to join the Blue Sox coaching staff as a hitting coach in 2018.

“I think everyone’s goal is to one day fill the position of head coach, so I am first thrilled to take on this role,” said Randolph. “The dynamic [from being an assistant coach to a head coach] is different. The players feel like they can be a little more comfortable with you.”

Randolph added that he looks forward to navigating the position of head coach by connecting with his players and motivating the team to be the best players they can be. “This opportunity pretty much changed my life.”

BusinessTalk with Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority

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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 52: February 15, 2021

George O’Brien talks with Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees Bradley International Airport

Kevin Dillon

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien talks with Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees Bradley International Airport. The two discuss the profound impact the pandemic has had on passenger volume and revenue at the airport, and what the outlook is for the short and long term. The two also discuss the airport’s ongoing efforts to improve service and effectively compete against both larger and smaller airports both in this region and across the country for planes and routes. It’s must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local.

 

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State Files $400 Million Bond Bill for Capital Project to Rebuild Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Baker-Polito administration filed “An Act Financing the Reconstruction of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke,” which would provide $400 million in capital authorization for a major project to reconstruct the long-term-care facility at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

This bill provides the capital authorization that would allow the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) to construct a new facility on the site of the current Soldiers’ Home that would meet the needs of the veterans of Western Mass. and their families.

The capital project is on an expedited timeline, necessitated by the April 15 deadline for the VA State Home Construction Grant Program, which would provide 65% matching federal funds. To meet that deadline, DCAMM must have this authorization available by April 1, which requires this bond bill to be enacted by mid-March, with a terms bill filed and enacted soon afterwards. The design-development phase must be completed by Aug. 1 to be eligible for this cycle of the grant program.

“Building a new, state-of-the-art long-term-care facility at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke will ensure we can continue providing quality care for current veterans residing at the home, as well as future residents,” Gov. Charlie Baker said. “I look forward to working with our partners in the Legislature to pass this bill so that we can transform the future of the home, meet the next major deadline in the capital project, and continue to secure funding from our federal partners at the Veterans’ Administration.”

The current Holyoke Soldiers’ Home was constructed before modern design standards for medical facilities, said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, “and the administration has taken immediate steps to address urgent capital and infection-control needs, but it is clear that a major reconstruction of the campus is necessary for the safety, health, and comfort of future generations of veterans and staff. We are pleased that the planning process involved significant opportunity for community and stakeholder input into the plan’s development to date.”

Massachusetts National Guard Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, who chairs the board of trustees for the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, added that “I have been pleased by the rapid planning process and the Baker-Polito administration’s commitment to hearing and responding to the views and concerns of the veteran residents, families, and staff on a wide range of priorities, including bed capacity. This is a great example of how we can achieve positive outcomes for our Western Massachusetts veterans, and we look forward to serving them in this beautiful new facility.”

Friendly’s Co-founder S. Prestley Blake Dies at 106

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Daily News

SOMERS, Conn. — S. Prestley Blake, co-founder of Friendly’s, died Thursday at age 106, the Republican reported. His niece, Holly Thrasher Schroeder, announced the passing on Facebook:

“Our family could use your prayers now … my dear Uncle Pres just passed 2 hours ago, at age 106. The end of a legend! Co-founder of Friendly Ice Cream, along with his brother, my Uncle Curt, who we lost in May 2019, he will be sorely missed! We love you, Uncle Pres! Godspeed and please give Gram and Grandfather and Uncle Curt a HUGE hug and kiss for me! Until we get there, take care of them for us!!!”

Brothers Curtis and S. Prestley Blake built Friendly’s from a single ice-cream shop in Springfield’s Pine Point neighborhood into a chain with 850 restaurants at its height. Curtis died in 2019 at age 102.

Holyoke Medical Center, Valley Health Systems Welcome New Chief Financial Officer

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems, announced the appointment of Dean Vitarisi as chief financial officer (CFO) at Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems.

“We are proud to welcome Dean to our leadership team here at Holyoke Medical Center and the affiliates of Valley Health Systems. He brings with him over 20 years of hospital finance experience and will play an integral part in the financial management of our organization,” Hatiras said.

Vitarisi’s prior experience included executive-level finance positions with Essen Health Care, Trinity Health Of New England, Yale New Haven Health, St. Mary’s Health System, and St. Raphael Healthcare System. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Bryant University. He then completed an MBA from Quinnipiac University, followed by a master certificate in healthcare leadership from Cornell University School of Human Ecology.

“I am excited to join this organization, with its strong culture and commitment in providing the highest standards of quality, safety, and cost-effective care for all patients,” Vitarisi said. “One of my first goals will be to focus on the revenue cycle and reimbursement strategies, which are ever-changing due to legislation, regulation, and marketplace reform.”

MGM Springfield to Reopen Hotel & TAP Sports Bar on March 5

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield will reopen its hotel and TAP Sports Bar on Friday, March 5. The hotel will reopen in a limited capacity to invited casino guests only for the immediate future. TAP Sports Bar will be open Friday through Sunday.

Other dining options at MGM Springfield, as of March 5, include the Chandler Steakhouse, Friday and Saturday; and South End Market, featuring Bill’s Diner, Wicked Noodles, and Jack’s Lobster Shack (all open every day) and Gelato & Espresso (Friday and Saturday).

All guests and employees are required to wear masks everywhere on property. Visit mgmspringfield.com for current hours of operation.

Fundraising Walk Planned in Remembrance of WNEU’s Dave Stawasz

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — 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.

“During his cancer battle, Dave taught us so much about courage, perseverance, and love, all of which were pinnacles of who Dave was,” said Bryan Gross, vice president for Enrollment Management and Marketing. “As a beloved member of our university family, we want to honor his distinguished memory as well as support his wife and daughters, who meant everything to him.”

Stawasz was a loving family man and committed husband to his wife of 25 years, Lisa, and the proud father of his two daughters, Paige and Kristen, both of whom are currently enrolled as undergraduate students at colleges in the New England region.

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 by clicking here.

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.

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. Announces Two New Hires

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) recently welcomed Brendan Cawley and Garrett Welker to the firm.

Cawley is a senior associate in the firm’s Taxation department. Prior to MBK, he worked on a variety of clients and industries as a manager at one of the Big Four national firms. He brings to MBK nearly 10 years of public accounting experience and a strong commitment to helping clients. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Boston College and is an enrolled agent with the Internal Revenue Service.

“I am dedicated to providing a high-quality work product with as little hassle to the client as possible,” Cawley said. “I strive to stay well-informed on changes to the tax code and share that information with my clients.”

Welker is an associate in the Assurance department. He served for seven years in the U.S. Air Force and went on to become a finance manager at a privately held business in Western Mass. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in accounting from Westfield State University.

As an associate, Welker attributes his ability to bring fresh perspective, integrity, and attention to detail to his diverse background. “My approach to customer service is to always be positive and professional. My goal is to always go above and beyond my customers’ expectations and make the experience as enjoyable as possible.”

Ad Club of Western Massachusetts Opens Submissions for Annual Scholarship

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Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts invites the community to apply for its annual merit-based scholarship, and applications are now available online.

This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to one deserving Western Mass. high-school graduate going to college to study communication arts. High-school seniors who plan to attend an accredited college or technical school to study advertising, communications, marketing, or graphic arts and will be attending this fall are encouraged to apply. The scholarship must be applied against tuition and fees at the school.

Candidates will be judged on academic performance; extracurricular activities; community service and/or work experience; a demonstrated interest in advertising, communications, marketing, or graphic design; personal recommendations; and a letter of introduction outlining future plans. Scholarship decisions will be made by the scholarship committee of the Ad Club, and are considered final. The scholarship will be awarded at the Ad Club’s Creative Awards show in May.

Completed scholarship applications and all support materials must be submitted or postmarked by March 31. Applicants can find the guidelines and application form by clicking here or can contact the Ad Club at (413) 342-0533 or [email protected].

“Over the years, the Ad Club has been pleased to award scholarships to graduating seniors throughout the four Western Mass. counties,” said Matt Audette, Ad Club scholarship chair. “Many of these students have, indeed, gone on to careers in marketing, graphic design, advertising and communications.”

Monson Savings Bank Welcomes Caitlin O’Connor as VP, Marketing Officer

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Daily News

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank announced the hire of Caitlin O’Connor as vice president and marketing officer in the bank’s Marketing department.

“Caitlin’s extensive background in community-bank marketing is incredibly valuable to our customers and our entire team at Monson Savings Bank. She is invested in our customer- and community-focused approach as a local bank working to serve the financial needs of our area,” said Dan Moriarty, president of Monson Savings Bank. “I know she will be effective in communicating our high-quality customer service, our many product and services, and our convenient technology and tools. She is a great fit for the Monson Savings Bank culture, and we are happy to have her here.”

In her new role, O’Connor will oversee all aspects of the bank’s brand and business-line marketing, advertising, public relations, and communications efforts. She will also be responsible for establishing and implementing an effective, innovative, and comprehensive marketing plan that aligns with the bank’s vision, mission, values, and strategic goals.

O’Connor has been in the banking industry for 13 years and has 17 years of experience in the marketing and design industry. She is a graduate of Mount Ida College in Newton, now a campus of UMass Amherst. Prior to joining Monson Savings Bank, she held the role of vice president and marketing manager of North Brookfield Savings Bank.

“I am incredibly happy and proud to join Monson Savings Bank and continue my career with such a great community bank,” O’Connor said. “They have such a positive and elevating employee culture here that really is very special. They genuinely care about the well-being of their customers and the communities they serve and continually prove this through the attention, service, and support provided every day. I look forward to continuing to get to know the Monson Savings Bank team and exploring new ways we can help our customers throughout every life stage of their financial journey.”

An Appreciation: Remembering Chris Thibault

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Daily News

Filmmakers are storytellers. That’s what they do. They tell stories, and they help others tell their stories.

That’s what Chris Thibault did, and he was very good at it. He started Chris Teebo Films, and he worked with businesses and institutions across this area — from Spirit of Springfield to BusinessWest and its many award recipients, to Mercedes-Benz of Springfield — to help them communicate and get their messages across.

In recent years, though, the most compelling story Chris told was his own — specifically his long and difficult battle with cancer, which ended this week when he died at age 38. Starting from when he was first diagnosed with breast cancer, Chris used his talents and his desire to help others to take his battle public, through short films, blog posts — including one titled “How to Run a Production Company While Living (or Dying) of Stage 4 Cancer” — and more.

In the course of doing so, he became an inspiration to many, and in a number of ways. It was more than Jim Valvano’s famous ‘don’t give up, don’t ever give up’ messaging — although there was some of that. His message was more along the lines of never letting cancer run his life or tell him what he could or couldn’t do.

And there was still more to this story. Indeed, even though he was dealt a very bad hand and had every reason to say ‘why me?’ or bemoan his fate, he didn’t. He accepted what was happening to his body, and he never stopped trying to be upbeat, optimistic, and even humorous.

Indeed, when he talked with BusinessWest about that aforementioned blog post and the subject matter involved, he said simply, “I haven’t figured that one out yet … and to be honest, I wrote the title to get your attention so you would actually start reading the thing.”

Like all good filmmakers, he did grab your attention, and he held it.

His story certainly did not end the way he or all those who loved and admired him wanted, but it was one that left us even more thankful for the time we had with him — and more appreciative of the time we have on this planet. Period.

We thank him for that, and we thank him for the way he inspired us to live life to the fullest, even when serious roadblocks are put in front of us.

The best story he told was his own.

Country Bank Welcomes New Senior Vice President of Innovation & Technology

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Daily News

WARE — Country Bank announced that Peter Morales has joined its Innovation & Technology Division as senior vice president. Morales has held several technical leadership positions, most recently as vice president and chief information officer for an international educational organization supporting more than 45,000 students in more than 40 countries worldwide. He also held positions at New York University, (leading technology at the Law and Engineering schools), and the New York and American stock exchanges.

Morales began his career developing diagnostic systems for the F18, the jet the Blue Angels currently fly. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a master’s degree in engineering management, and a doctorate in computer science and information systems. He continues to teach in two master’s programs at NYU and is on the board of directors for several incubator startups and nonprofits.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Dr. Morales to our leadership team,” said Miriam Siegel, senior vice president of Human Resources at Country Bank. “His extensive background as a senior technology leader in a variety of industries brings an exciting level of strategic thought and direction to the Country Bank brand of community banking. His commitment to technology development, high-performing teams, and experience as an educator aligns with our iSTEP corporate values of integrity, service, teamwork, excellence, and prosperity. We are proud that Peter has chosen Country Bank to be his employer of choice.”

Pearson Wallace Insurance Promotes Alex Bennett to Partner

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Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Pearson Wallace Insurance (PWI), with offices in Pittsfield, Amherst, and Boston, announced that Alex Bennett has been promoted to partner within the agency.

Bennett has been with PWI from the beginning, most recently holding the position of vice president of Sales. He will continue to spearhead the growth of sales as well as become involved in the day-to-day operations of the business.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., and started his insurance career at Liberty Mutual in personal-lines direct sales in the Greater Boston area.

United Ways Across Massachusetts to Celebrate Mass2-1-1 Day Virtually

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Every year on Feb. 11, United Way organizations in Massachusetts and across the country celebrate 2-1-1 Day to raise awareness of this important public service. Everyone knows the three-digit number to call in an emergency, but some Bay Staters may not be aware of the simple number they can dial for health and human-service assistance.

Mass2-1-1 provides telephone and web information and referral service for residents of the Commonwealth 24/7/365. Trained 2-1-1 information and referral specialists connect callers to thousands of human-service organizations, including providers for food programs, housing and emergency shelter, elder care, physical and mental-health services, childcare resources, drug and alcohol services, utility assistance, and victim services. It is also activated when needed for emergencies and disasters.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mass2-1-1 Day celebration will be held virtually on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 2:11 p.m. The public is invited to attend and can do so by clicking this link to attend virtually via Zoom. The meeting ID is 972 0171 7774, and the passcode is 257168.

Several notable attendees and long-time supporters of Mass2-1-1 will be in attendance, including Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, state Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, Mass2-1-1 Executive Director Paul Mina, Mass2-1-1 Vice President and Call2Talk Director Eileen Davis, as well as Mass2-1-1 board members and Call2Talk volunteer call takers.

“Dialing 2-1-1 from a landline or cell phone provides residents of Massachusetts with free, confidential referral services and is easy to use,” Davis said. “Mass2-1-1 is available in all 14 counties across the state and offers translation in over 150 languages. This is a critical service every day, but moreso now while the pandemic continues to impact every aspect of our daily lives.”

Added Mina, “our Mass2-1-1 team, in partnership with MEMA and the Department of Public Health, have done an outstanding job answering calls non-stop since the Governor’s Command Center activated Mass2-1-1 to answer COVID-19 calls last March. More than 200,000 COVID-19 calls have been answered from across Massachusetts since that time, while close to a thousand calls continue to come in daily. When people need up-to-date, accurate information, they can count on Mass2-1-1 to be there.”

Call2Talk, the mental-health helpline of Mass2-1-1, is also celebrating the grand opening of its new call center, located at the United Way of Pioneer Valley offices in Springfield. The office, which began taking calls in mid-September, is open to assist residents within the 413 area code. Trained volunteer call takers help callers move from a place of emotional crisis to a calmer state by providing non-judgmental listening, comfort, and encouragement. Sarno and Cooper will join the United Way and Mass2-1-1 leadership to cut the ribbon to officially launch the new call center.

“The new Call2Talk call center will better serve the local community and expand capacity by providing resources, 24/7, for those going through troubling times,” Davis said.

Call2Talk answers calls through the Mass2-1-1 statewide platform as well as answering calls from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained volunteers answer calls and provide confidential and often life-saving support to people experiencing emotional distress or potential suicidal ideation and have nowhere else to turn. Call2Talk also works in partnership with Crisis Text Line to provide support by text for those uncomfortable with speaking to a call taker. Anyone needing emotional support can call Call2Talk directly at (413) 505-5111.

It’s Time to Nominate Someone for the 40 Under Forty Class of 2021

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for the 40 Under Forty class of 2021. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 26.

Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be as detailed and thorough as possible, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form. Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges, and the selected individuals will be profiled in BusinessWest in May and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala in late June. Event sponsorship opportunities are available.

Employer Confidence Creeps into Optimistic Territory

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Daily News

BOSTON — Massachusetts employers began 2021 by turning optimistic for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down large swaths of the state and national economies last spring.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index climbed to 52.4 during January, surpassing the 50 mark that denotes an optimistic view of the economy. The reading was 14 points higher than its 2020 nadir in April, but still almost 10 points below where it was in January 2020.

The confidence report comes as Massachusetts continues a halting and uneven economic recovery. The good news is that the state grew at a 7.9% annual rate in the fourth quarter, double the national pace. The sobering news is that the Massachusetts unemployment rate surged to 7.4% during December.

“Massachusetts companies continue to be optimistic about their own prospects, especially at a time when COVID-19 vaccines have arrived and the state appears to be making modest progress moderating the spread of the virus,” said Raymond Torto, professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and chair of the AIM Board of Economic Advisors (BEA).

“We are really looking at two economies — one dominated by finance, manufacturing, and technology that continues to grow, and a second made up of travel, tourism and other public-facing industries that are likely to struggle for some time to come.”

The AIM Index, based on a survey of more than 140 Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative.

The constituent indicators that make up the Business Confidence Index were all higher during January. Employers’ confidence in their own companies rose for a fourth consecutive month, increasing 1.6 points to 54.7. The Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth also crossed into optimistic territory, gaining 1.9 points to 50.3. The U.S. Index measuring conditions nationally surged 8.7 points to 47.7.

The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, was up 3 points to 48.4. The Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, rose 3.1 points to 56.4, still 6.4 points below its reading a year earlier.

The Employment Index gained 3.1 points to 52.6, suggesting that cautious employers may be looking to expand payrolls as soon as pandemic-driven restrictions are eased. Many employers that have operated throughout the COVID-19 crisis as essential business have reported challenges with hiring skilled workers.

Confidence among manufacturing companies was virtually flat at 51.1. The manufacturing index has dropped 11 points during the past 12 months.

Medium-sized companies (53.2) were more bullish than large companies (52.3) or small companies (51.2). Companies in Eastern Mass. (53.0) have a brighter outlook than those in Western Mass. (51.4).

Edward Pendergast, managing director of Dunn Rush & Co. and a BEA member, said the fact that the outlook for conditions six months from now is a full eight points higher than the assessment of current conditions sends a strong signal about the potential for economic recovery. “The hope is that employer confidence in their own company prospects continues to strengthen and drives decisions to increase investment moving forward.”

AIM President and CEO John Regan, also a BEA member, noted that the economy remains fragile as officials continue to wrestle with the public-health crisis.

“Hundreds of thousands of our friends and neighbors in Massachusetts remain out of work because of the pandemic. Many have left the workforce altogether. And the number of small businesses operating in Massachusetts during November was 37% less than in January 2020,” Regan said. “The watchword for policymakers in Massachusetts remains caution. The Baker administration and the Massachusetts Legislature have a unique opportunity to maintain the kind of business conditions that will encourage economic recovery and stability in 2021.”

Amherst Extends Capacity Limits, Early Closures Due to COVID-19 Spike

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Daily News

AMHERST — The Amherst Board of Health issued an emergency order that will continue the mandatory early-closing order and continue certain sector capacity limits, both of which were set to expire on Feb. 8.

The order to extend the 25% capacity ceiling and the 9:30 p.m. closing time for many industries indefinitely was adopted on Sunday, just as UMass Amherst officials raised the university’s risk level and shuttered in-person activities in the face of more than 400 active cases of COVID-19.

The town has been in close communication with officials from the towns of Hadley and Sunderland, which are considering similar measures.

“This is not the direction that we, as a town, nor our businesses, want to go, but it is imperative that the town take decisive action immediately to address this increase in cases,” Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman said.

Added Public Health Director Emma Dragon, “it is in the interest of the health of our entire community that we continue the restrictions that are currently in place. Never has it been more important to follow those key public-health protocols of wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining social distance.”