BusinessWest Staff, Author at BusinessWest

Whittlesey Achieves Blue Partner Status with Datto

By BusinessWest Staff May 29, 2020

Daily News

HARTFORD, Conn. — Whittlesey announced it has achieved exclusive Blue partner status with Datto, the world’s leading provider of IT solutions delivered through managed service providers (MSPs). Datto Blue status represents the top 5% of the company’s partners worldwide.

“We’ve been partnered with Datto since 2014,” said Mark Torello, partner in charge of Whittlesey Technology. “We’ve been growing with them as they’ve branched out from data backup and recovery products to networking, cloud continuity, and device management. The reliability of their products and services and outstanding customer and technical support have been consistently top‐notch and provided us the resources to accelerate our business growth. It’s an honor to be acknowledged for putting these products and tools to use and demonstrating success.”

Whittlesey has exceeded high standards of performance to qualify for Blue status within Datto’s Global Partner Program, the highest classification provided by Datto. Blue status includes many exclusive programs and benefits designed to support further enablement and business growth.

“We are thrilled to recognize Whittlesey as a Blue partner,” said Rob Rae, vice president of Business Development for Datto. “We are committed to providing Whittlesey and all of our partners with the necessary capabilities to develop deep relationships with their customers and keep growing their brands and businesses. We look forward to more success from Whittlesey in 2020 as we continue to roll out new partner services.”

Vanessa Otero Named Interim Director of Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley

By BusinessWest Staff May 28, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The board of directors of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley (HRIPV) announced that former board member Vanessa Otero has been named interim director through the end of the year to support and move forward the work of the institute.

The institute also announced it has become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As part of that move, the HRIPV board has appointed Baystate Health executive and longtime social-justice advocate Frank Robinson as the organization’s first president.

Otero is among the co-founders of HRIPV that grew out of a City2City Pioneer Valley visit to Grand Rapids, Mich. in 2011, where a Healing Racism Institute was formed and housed at the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. Grand Rapids has also established institutes in its community’s faith and higher-education sectors.

“This work began for me after a trip to Grand Rapids with other community leaders,” Otero said. “I remember stopping John Davis, another founder of the initiative, in the hallway to tell him I wanted to be part of his effort to address racism in our region. Since then, even when my participation waned, I believed in the importance of this work and the impact it has on participants.

“The pandemic provides a moment in time where I can be of help in anticipation of hiring a permanent director,” she added. “This is not a full-time position, but is as important as any work I have done for the greater good.”

Otero is currently director of Smith College’s Urban Education Initiative. She has deep roots in the community, serving on state and regional boards, including being appointed to the Governor’s Latino Advisory Commission. She is also the chair of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. Mostly recently, Otero was asked to join the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Health Equity Advisory Group, advising Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel and DPH on health-equity issues related to and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing suggestions on solutions to be implemented at all levels.

Otero graduated from Smith College as an Ada Comstock Scholar. She has a master’s degree in public policy administration from UMass Amherst.

HRIPV’s transition to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is a result of the institute’s growth in size and scope in recent years, performing work that has engaged more than 800 individuals, more than 200 organizations, and nearly 20 sectors. The work has also expanded into the metro Boston area. The nonprofit organization status will help as the organization formalizes resource development and expands its offerings beyond its signature two-day Healing Racism seminar.

Nationwide Unemployment Scam Targets Massachusetts Claimants

By BusinessWest Staff May 28, 2020

Daily News

BOSTON — Criminal enterprises in possession of stolen personal information from earlier national data breaches have been attempting to file large amounts of illegitimate unemployment claims through the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) system. This is part of a national unemployment-fraud scheme.

The DUA has begun implementing additional identity-verification measures that will temporarily delay the payment time frame for many unemployment claims in Massachusetts. As a result of these measures, certain unemployment claimants may be asked to provide additional identity information in order to verify the validity of their claim.

“Protecting the integrity of the unemployment system and ensuring benefits are going only to valid claimants is a top priority of the Department of Unemployment Assistance,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “While the program-integrity measures we are taking will unfortunately mean that some claimants will experience temporary delays in payment, we believe these steps are necessary to respond to this unemployment scam. We are working rapidly to respond to this scheme and urge individuals who may have had a false unemployment claim filed in their name to contact the department.”

Individuals who believe they may have had a false unemployment claim filed using their identity are urged to utilize the Department of Unemployment Assistance fraud contact form at mass.gov/unemployment-fraud or call DUA customer service at (877) 626-6800.

Additional updates related to this criminal activity will be posted at mass.gov/unemployment as soon as they are available.

MBK to Host Free Webinar on PPP Loan Forgiveness

By BusinessWest Staff May 28, 2020

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan may have seemed like a difficult task, but the more complex journey may lie ahead.

MBK will host a free webinar on Monday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to noon for small businesses. Kristina Drzal Houghton and Jim Krupienski will review the latest guidance from the U.S. Treasury and Small Business Administration on completing the required loan-forgiveness application.

The two-hour event will take a dive into what qualifies for loan forgiveness, what employment thresholds must be reached to obtain full forgiveness, what happens if the requirements are not met, and an example of the calculation.

Registration is required, and seating is limited. To register, click here.

Bay Path University Launches Certificate in Narrative Medicine

By BusinessWest Staff May 28, 2020

Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University is joining a growing movement that uses storytelling to strengthen the connection between the clinical and emotional facets of healthcare with the launch of a certificate in Narrative Medicine, offered through its master’s in Creative Nonfiction program.

Through reflections on the giving and receiving of treatment; interactions with practitioners, patients, and agencies; and the journey of illness and recovery, the medical community has embraced the sharing of stories as a way to bring a depth of humanity to what’s so often experienced as an impersonal transaction.

“This new offering draws on the most recent research into the connections between medicine, the humanities, and literature,” said Suzanne Strempek-Shea, faculty member in Bay Path’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction program and author of the cancer memoir Songs from a Lead-Lined Room. “Students will not only develop empathy but also build skills in creative writing, critical analysis of literature, workshop design, teaching and facilitating, and active listening that can be applied to patient/client settings, and beyond.”

Coursework will focus on coping with illness and trauma and explore how inequities in access to medical care and exposure to trauma influence the experiences and outcomes for people of color, women, poor people, and immigrants and undocumented residents, in addition to other marginalized groups.

An internship will give students the opportunity to apply creative and critical thinking, people skills, flexibility, and communications skills in a real-world setting, while contributing meaningfully to their communities.

Launching in January 2021, the certificate in Narrative Medicine will require no academic prerequisites, and will be available to a wide array of professionals within the healthcare field: physicians and physician assistants, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, and trauma and addiction specialists, as well as to writers with a personal illness or trauma story. The certificate courses will also be available to MFA students as a specialized track within Bay Path’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction, currently the only MFA in the country with a Narrative Medicine certificate option.

“We find that a significant number of students in our MFA in Creative Nonfiction — many with backgrounds in social work, nursing, teaching, and other related fields — are interested in writing narratives based on medical, physical, and psychological trauma,” said MFA Director Leanna James Blackwell. “Whether it be healing from cancer, recovering from addictions, surviving abuse, healing from grief, or reckoning with the real-world costs of navigating the world as a woman, person of color, and/or member of the LGBTQ community, they have important stories to tell. In addition to helping these students tell their stories, the program prepares them to pursue post-graduate careers as teachers and writing workshop leaders, who are specifically qualified to help others wanting tell their own healing stories.”

On June 1, Bay Path will offer a glimpse into the power of medical storytelling at a free online discussion, webinar, and Q & A session with Strempek-Shea and Meredith O’Brien, MFA graduate and author of the new medical memoir Uncomfortably Numb, which details her multiple sclerosis diagnosis and her struggle to maintain her life as a journalist, teacher, and mother. For more information about the event, click here.

For more information on the certificate in Narrative Medicine, click here.

Bacon Wilson Donates $10,000 to YMCA of Greater Springfield

By BusinessWest Staff May 27, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson announced that the firm has recently completed a $10,000 contribution to the capital campaign for the YMCA of Greater Springfield. The pledge originated in the fall of 2019, as Bacon Wilson supported the YMCA’s transition from the former Chestnut Street location to the new Tower Square facility in downtown Springfield.

“My partners and I are very pleased to be able to support the Springfield YMCA at this critical moment,” said attorney Kenneth Albano, Bacon Wilson’s managing partner. “Bacon Wilson is pleased to know our contribution will boost the mission and continuing good works of the YMCA of Greater Springfield.”

Rising Food Insecurity Prompts Big Y to Make Second Round of Donations

By BusinessWest Staff May 27, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — With regional food banks experiencing unprecedented demand, Big Y is providing an additional $125,000 in support to address the rise in food insecurity.

With the donations made in March, Big Y has provided $250,000 in financial assistance to area food banks in addition to the healthy surplus food it provides to them on a weekly basis. Using the estimate that every dollar donated provides four meals, the Big Y financial assistance amounts to 1 million meals.

“Our goal, our mission, is to feed families,” said Charlie D’Amour, president and CEO of Big Y. “We have people in our communities that are really struggling to get food on their table. The role of food banks serving local neighborhoods has never been more important.”

The donation will be split equally by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Worcester County Food Bank, and the Greater Boston Food Bank in Massachusetts, as well as Foodshare and the Connecticut Food Bank in Connecticut. As part of its commitment to hunger relief in its neighborhoods and ongoing partnerships with regional food banks, Big Y provided an estimated $11.5 million of healthy surplus food to these organizations in 2019. This food donation amounts to an estimated 5.7 million meals, two-thirds of which include donations of meat and fresh produce as well as bakery and non-perishable grocery items. Frozen food and dairy products account for one-third of the annual donation.

“Local feeding sites are receiving new patrons from the ranks of the recently unemployed who have never sought food assistance before,” said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. “The coronavirus poses an even greater threat to vulnerable households at risk of hunger.”

Girls Inc. Launches Project Red to Provide Girls with Essential Wellness Supplies

By BusinessWest Staff May 27, 2020

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley is looking to the community for support as it launches Project Red on Menstrual Hygiene Day, Thursday, May 28, to collect donations of essential wellness supplies that will benefit girls in the Pioneer Valley. Project Red’s mission is to supply 500 girls in the Valley with a four-month supply of menstrual products.

Access to essential menstrual products has been challenging due to COVID-19, as many girls relied on schools or after-school programs for their menstrual-product needs. Many families are having to choose between purchasing these products or purchasing food. Girls Inc. of the Valley is looking to the community to help lead the charge in supporting girls in the community by encouraging the creation of fundraising pages, donations of supplies, and help spreading the word across social platforms. Girls Inc. will accept donations of a variety of new and unopened products: toothpaste, body wash, bars of soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, menstrual pads with wings, and monetary gifts. It has received support for Project Red in the form of a $1,500 grant from Health New England.

Donations will be accepted at the Girls Inc. of the Valley headquarters at 6 Open Square Way in Holyoke on May 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. Contactless, curbside dropoff will be offered.

A monetary donation or creation of a fundraising page can be made by following these simple steps: visit www.givegab.com/campaigns/project-red, select ‘make a donation’ or ‘start fundraising,’ and follow the step-by-step instructions to create a fundraising page.

“As Girls Inc. of the Valley staff members continued to reach out to our girls, the need for menstrual products became abundantly clear,” Executive Director Suzanne Parker said. “We are launching Project Red to ensure girls in the Valley have access to these essential products, and we invite the community to join us in our efforts. Health New England, an amazing community partner, has already stepped up to provide a $1,500 grant to support Project Red.”

Project Red is an initiative that directly aligns with Girls Inc. of the Valley’s healthy sexuality curriculum and mission to inspire and prepare all girls to develop and achieve their full potential, and that begins with putting their wellness needs first. All partners understand how important it is for Girls Inc. to be there for girls right now, especially during trying times due to COVID-19.

It’s Time to Nominate an Outstanding 40 Under Forty Alum

By BusinessWest Staff May 27, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — When BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007, it did so to identify rising stars across our region — individuals who were excelling in business and through involvement within the community — and celebrate their accomplishments.

In 2015, BusinessWest announced a new award, one that builds on the foundation upon which 40 Under Forty was created. It’s called the Alumni Achievement Award (formerly the Continued Excellence Award). As the name suggests, it is presented to the 40 Under Forty honoree who, in the eyes of an independent panel of judges, has most impressively continued and built upon his or her track record of accomplishment.

To nominate someone for this award, click here. Only nominations submitted to BusinessWest on this form will be considered. The deadline is Friday, June 12 at 5 p.m. No exceptions.

Candidates must be from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007 to 2019. For a list of 40 Under Forty alumni, click here.

Past winners include: 2019: Cinda Jones, president, W.D. Cowls Inc. (40 Under Forty class of 2007); 2018: Samalid Hogan, regional director, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (class of 2013); 2017: Scott Foster, attorney, Bulkley Richardson (class of 2011), and Nicole Griffin, owner, ManeHire (class of 2014); 2016: Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president, Allergy & Immunology Associates of New England (class of 2008); 2015: Delcie Bean, president, Paragus Strategic IT (class of 2008).

The 2020 honoree will be announced at the 40 Under Forty gala later this year. The presenting sponsor of the Alumni Achievement Award is Health New England.

bankESB Gives $5,000 to Easthampton Community Center for Kid’s Bag Pantry

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently donated $5,000 to the Easthampton Community Center to help cover additional costs of the Kid’s Bag Pantry program resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kid’s Bag Pantry Program typically provides each child up to age 18 with a bag of food monthly during the school year and weekly during the summer months. This year, the weekly program began in March due to the area’s school closures. The program will run through August and will serve approximately 800 children from 22 cities and towns across Western Mass.

According to Executive Director Robin Bialecki, the cost to run the program is approximately $10,000 per month. In addition to incurring three additional months of services, the organization is experiencing a funding shortfall because its annual fundraising golf tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Food insecurity, especially among children, is sadly prevalent and even moreso without our schools in session,” said bankESB President and CEO Matthew Sosik. “This program is a wonderful example of communities coming together to help feed our children, and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

Massachusetts Unemployment Tops 15% in April

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s April total unemployment rate was up 12.3% from March at 15.1%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts lost 623,000 jobs in April. This follows last month’s revised loss of 43,800 jobs. The monthly change in the job estimates reflects the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the month, the private sector lost 597,100 jobs as losses occurred in all sectors, the largest of which occurred in leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; construction; and other services. Government lost jobs over the month.

From April 2019 to April 2020, BLS estimates Massachusetts lost 638,000 jobs.

The only private-sector job gain over the year was in information. The remaining private sectors lost jobs over the year, with the largest percentage losses in leisure and hospitality; other services; construction; and trade, transportation, and utilities.

The April unemployment rate was four-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 14.7% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The labor force decreased by 364,700 from 3,772,000 in March, as 773,500 fewer residents were employed and 408,700 more residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by 12.1%.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents age 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — dropped to 60.3%. Compared to April 2019, the labor-force participation rate is down by 7.2%.

MCLA Gallery 51 Announces Virtual Artist Series

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — MCLA Gallery 51 announced that its new online program, the G51 Virtual Artist Series, will be held live on Zoom, at noon on alternating Saturdays. Local, regional, national, and international artists will give virtual tours of their studios and discuss their practices. Discussions with the artists will also be recorded for later viewing.

The series kicked off on May 16, with North Adams-based painter Galen Cheney. The gallery’s full spring programming schedule is available by clicking here.

“We are excited to have these incredible artists join us and give us access to their practice,” said Gallery 51 Manager Veronica Preciado. “It is a wonderful opportunity for people to meet and interact with artists across the globe, no matter their physical location.”

Future events in the G51 Virtual Artist Series are as follows:

• Saturday, May 30: Gerald Sheffield, whose work explores the margins of representation regarding national identity, cultural heritage, and western art history as it relates to everyday life in the U.S.;

• Saturday, June 13: Gladys Kalichini, who is known for paintings, digital work, and installations that explore history and the marginalization of certain groups;

• Saturday, June 27: Todd Elliott, a multi-disciplinary artist whose work is inspired by shapes and forms used in architectural motifs, transpiration design, typography, and logos;

• Saturday, July 11: Sula Bermudez-Silverman, whose conceptual work intertwines multiple issues, investigating and critiquing the issues of race, gender, and economics;

• Saturday, July 25: Kim Faler, a local, multi-disciplinary artist working in painting, drawing, installation, sculpture, and photography, whose art practice unpacks the emotional weight found within everyday objects and architecture; and

• Saturday, Aug. 8: Anina Major, who works with topics of identity, slavery, the female body, Bahamian culture, and more. She considers her creative practice to be a response to continuous erasure and a culture that is constantly being oversimplified.

New Genetic Markers of Type 2 Diabetes Identified in East Asians

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Daily News

AMHERST — In the largest study of its kind in any non-European population, an international team of researchers, including a UMass Amherst genetic epidemiologist, has identified new genetic links with type 2 diabetes among 433,540 East Asian individuals.

The findings, published in Nature, “provide additional insight into the biological basis of type 2 diabetes,” said co-lead author and statistician Cassandra Spracklen, assistant professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology in the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences.

Spracklen served as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the research. “How diabetes comes about in different populations can occasionally vary in subtle but significant ways,” she says. “With studies like these, we are able to come at that question a little better.”

Ultimately, the goal is to identify potential genetic targets to treat or even cure the chronic metabolic disorder that affects and sometimes debilitates more than 400 million adults worldwide, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

The international team of more than 100 researchers was led by scientists at five institutions in Singapore, the U.S., South Korea, the U.K., and Japan. The research was funded by more than 30 governmental sources and foundations.

“Such a large-scale study would never have been possible without the commitment and dedication to collaboration among so many scientists around the world, especially in Asia,” said Karen Mohlke, professor of Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and one of the study’s senior authors. “The data this team collected and analyzed has provided the research community with much-needed new information about the biological underpinnings of diabetes.”

The other senior authors are Xueling Sim of the National University of Singapore, Dr. Bong-Jo Kim of the National Institute of Health in Cheongjusi, South Korea; Robin Walters of the University of Oxford, U.K.; and Dr. Takashi Kadowaki of the University of Tokyo, Japan.

Commercial Real Estate

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Commercial Real Estate

For Sale, for Lease

A listing of available commercial real estate

May 2020

Download the PDF HERE

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Picture This

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

Celebrating Carol Leary

On May 17, what would have been Bay Path University’s 123rd commencement celebrating the class of 2020, President Carol Leary and her husband, Noel, were treated to a surprise drive-by parade commemorating Carol’s retirement after 25 years. For 20 minutes, more than 200 cars snaked down Route 5 in Longmeadow blasting their horns. Headed by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, the decorated cars featured a giant teddy bear, an inflated flamingo raft tied to a car roof, numerous signs expressing ‘carpe diem’— the official school motto — and, of course, balloons. While maintaining their social distance, the parade of alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends shouted their thanks and well wishes to the Learys. (Photos by Leah Martin)

Election Protection

Scott Rote, president of Wheeler & Taylor Insurance, recently called Charles Burger, director of the Southern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee, wanting to donate 2,000 surgical masks. Then the agency went a step further, procuring foam, elastic strapping material, and 200 sheets of polycarbonate plastic and constructing face shields to be used by poll workers in upcoming elections. Burger will allocate the personal protective equipment to the 12 towns in Southern Berkshire County. After the face shields are used for elections, they will be cleaned and repurposed.

Project Toybox

The United Way of Pioneer Valley recently partnered with numerous community organizations to deliver more than 1,000 educational, age-appropriate to families hit hard by COVID-19. Thanks to its partnership with Good360, the toys arrived at the United Way’s office on May 13 and are being distributed to the following organizations who will pass them along to children in need: Boys & Girls Clubs of West Springfield, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Westfield, Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Holyoke, YMCA of Greater Springfield, and Holyoke Housing Authority. Pictured: the United Way’s Joe Mina moves a pallet of donated toys.

Sign and Drive

Bulkley Richardson trusts and estates attorneys have been coordinating parking-lot and driveway signings for higher-risk clients in need of executing legal documents. Keeping the health and wellness of clients a top priority, these arrangements, and others, are made so that an office visit is not required.

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

People on the Move

Elisa Speranza

Daniel Rukakoski

Tighe & Bond Inc. recently appointed two new members — Elisa Speranza and Daniel Rukakoski — to its board of directors for three-year terms. “Both Elisa and Dan bring substantial industry experience and leadership to Tighe & Bond that will be an asset to our strategic and growth initiatives,” said Robert Belitz, president and CEO. “Elisa’s fresh external perspective and Dan’s professional successes at our firm will complement our existing board of directors.” Speranza brings many years of industry experience from her various leadership roles. As a business-line president and senior executive and corporate director at global project-management firm CH2M (acquired by Jacobs in 2017), she led the implementation of transformative policies regarding corporate social responsibility and award-winning global-sustainability programs. Prior to her career in the private sector, she served in project manager and director roles at the Boston Water and Sewer Commission and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. She has been an active board member, volunteer, and officer with industry organizations such as the U.S. Water Alliance, the American Water Works Assoc., the New England Water Works Assoc., and the Water Environment Federation, and is a past president of the Massachusetts Water Works Assoc. Speranza has helped guide strategy, brand, communications, and governance decisions for several companies, water utilities, and nonprofit organizations, including for the global, non-governmental organization Water for People, where she served as board chair. She is also a university instructor and has authored water-industry reference works on sustainable financing, communications, asset management, and leadership. Rukakoski has more than 24 years of experience in environmental consulting, including environmental and energy permitting, wetland delineation, sediment evaluations, regulatory negotiations, site assessment, and environmental construction observation. As a project director and client services manager, he regularly leads the environmental permitting efforts for municipal, commercial, and public utility projects throughout the Northeast. He often provides senior technical guidance on dam removal, dam repair, and dredging projects. Most recently, Rukakoski has served as a technical director in Tighe & Bond’s Environmental Business line and serves on numerous corporate committees. Speranza and Rukakoski join five other Tighe & Bond board members: Belitz, Peter Grabowski, Tiffany Labrie, Bradlee Mezquita, and Patrick McCann.

•••••

Darcey Kemp

Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) has named a higher-education administrator from New York as vice president of Student Affairs. Darcey Kemp began her new post on April 27. She had served as the assistant vice president for Student Development, Leadership, and Completion Initiatives at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y. since 2015. In her leadership role, Kemp will oversee the division at STCC charged with providing support that extends the classroom experience, including student governance and clubs, athletics, tutoring, advising, and student health and wellness. From admissions to graduation, Students Affairs enhances opportunities for student development, involvement, and transformation at an institution known for degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), signature health programs, and a highly diverse student body. STCC President John Cook called Kemp an outstanding leader who made an impression on the search committee. “Throughout the search process, Ms. Kemp demonstrated she has the qualities we were looking for in a vice president of Student Affairs,” he said. “I look forward to her serving as part of our team at STCC.” Kemp said she was honored to accept the new role at STCC. “I am committed to fostering an inclusive and engaged community that puts students first. I look forward to getting to know the faculty and staff and building strong relationships with students to help them achieve success.” Prior to serving at the College of Saint Rose, Kemp spent nearly a decade at Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. She served, respectively, as dean of students for the North East campus and as director of the Center for Student Engagement & Leadership Development at the Erie campus. Kemp holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.

•••••

Anthony (Tony) Franco

Arrha Credit Union President and CEO Michael Ostrowski recently welcomed Anthony (Tony) Franco as the new vice president of Commercial Lending. Franco has more than 25 years of banking experience and been recognized throughout his banking-industry career for outstanding member service. Recently he was the vice president of Special Assets at United Bank. “It is with great excitement that we welcome Tony to the Arrha team and begin offering commercial products and services. Arrha now has a complete array of all commercial deposit products and lending services,” Ostrowski said. “Tony is known for helping area businesses achieve their goals and direct them to what works best for them. He lives local and believes in the power of local business.” Added Franco, “I am excited to be part of the Arrha Credit Union family and launch the Commercial Lending area to serve local businesses and its members. I look forward to providing caring service, offering rewarding business-membership benefits to existing and new members, and growing these relationships.”

•••••

PeoplesBank announced the appointment of Jennifer DeBarge as assistant vice president of Marketing. She has more than 22 years of financial-services and marketing experience. In her new position, she will provide strategic direction and execution for various marketing projects, supporting the lines of business and brand. “Jennifer is an asset to our team and brings a tremendous depth of bank marketing experience,” said Matthew Bannister, first vice president, Marketing and Corporate Responsibility at PeoplesBank. “We are looking forward to her contributions as she will be helping us communicate and connect with our customers and communities.” DeBarge earned an MBA in entrepreneurial and innovative thinking from Bay Path University and a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University. She also received a certificate from the ABA School of Marketing & Management. She has a history of community service and currently serves on the board of directors for the Westfield Boys & Girls Club.

•••••

Matthew Pittenger

Florence Bank announced that Matthew Pittenger was recently selected as a recipient of its President’s Award. The President’s Award was established by the bank in 1995, affording employees the annual opportunity to nominate their peers for this prestigious honor that recognizes outstanding performance, customer service, and overall contribution to Florence Bank. Pittenger was nominated by numerous colleagues. Pittenger is the senior information technology specialist at the main headquarters in Florence and has worked at Florence Bank for six years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from UMass Amherst. Pittenger also holds a Comptia A+ certification, which is the industry standard for establishing careers in information technology and the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and operational roles. “Matt is a perfect example of how hard work and determination truly pays off,” said Kevin Day, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “His peers have praised his dedication, enthusiasm, and the impressive skill set that he brings to the job each day. We’re happy to have Matt as part of our team, and the President’s Award is the perfect milestone to showcase his service to the bank.”

•••••

Gina Maroni

Alexis Miarecki

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union announced the recent promotion of two employees. Gina Maroni has been promoted to vice president of Finance and chief financial officer. She has taken on the responsibility of financial oversight, strategizing, and budgeting for the credit union, and previously served as UMassFive’s assistant vice president of Finance and controller for 18 months. Prior to joining UMassFive, she was the senior vice president of Finance and chief financial officer at Athol Credit Union. Alexis Miarecki has been promoted to manager of Marketing. Transitioning from her former role as graphic designer, she is now responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Marketing department, including oversight of the marketing team, creative direction, and developing and executing all marketing and promotional plans for UMassFive in collaboration with the vice president of Marketing.

•••••

Jennifer Beineke has been named the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award at Western New England University (WNEU). She is a professor of Mathematics in the university’s College of Arts and Sciences. Winners of this prestigious award are nominated by students, faculty, and administrators for outstanding contributions as educators and advisors. During the review process, current and former students praised Beineke as somebody who “made me see the beauty of mathematics” and “always pushed us to be our best.” Another added, “when I walked out of her classroom for the final time, I knew I was a different student and person than the one who had walked in.” Faculty members describe Beineke as having “a natural gift for explaining challenging concepts,” and “using a variety of methods to engage students in thinking about and solving problems.” Beineke, who has been teaching at WNEU since 2001, received undergraduate degrees in mathematics and French from Purdue University, and earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA. Her research is in the area of analytic number theory. In conjunction with the National Museum of Mathematics, she recently co-edited the three-volume series The Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Company Notebook

Country Bank Donates $75,000 as Part of ‘Neighbors in Need’ Program

WARE — As the pandemic continues to disrupt business activities both nationally and in Massachusetts, Country Bank announced a $75,000 series of donations designed to assist organizations on the front lines. As the latest installment in a string of recent financial support, the bank will be facilitating donations to select organizations throughout its market from Springfield to Worcester. The Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts will each receive $25,000 to provide additional grant funding for critical-needs programs. These programs offer support for vulnerable seniors, those without stable housing, with limited English proficiency, and with compromised health conditions, including mental health and drug addiction. Other programs receiving a contribution include: Springfield Rescue Mission and Friends of the Homeless in Springfield; and Abby’s House, Saint John’s Food Pantry, and the Boys and Girls Club in Worcester. These donations will assist in continuing to meet the ever-changing needs in their communities. Many nonprofit organizations are not only combating reduced financial support as many businesses are closed, but also face a lack of volunteers, and have to continually evolve how they support their clients while keeping everyone safe on a limited budget and with limited resources. “This is an uncharted time for our bank, our customers, and our local business community. As part of our effort to assist those most affected by COVID-19, Country Bank has already donated $400,000 to help local hospitals, first-responder recovery centers, food pantries, homeless shelters, veterans, children, and community foundations,” said Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank. “We continually look for opportunities where we can help make a difference in the health and well-being of the people in our communities.”

Westfield Bank Future Fund Announces 2019 Giving Totals

WESTFIELD — Westfield Bank announced that the Future Fund, a philanthropic endeavor dedicated to supporting local 501(c)(3) organizations that have a positive impact on the region’s educational, recreational, cultural, and social well-being, awarded more than $300,000 to more than 40 organizations in Western Mass. and Northern Conn. in 2019. Grant recipients included the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, Domus Inc., Farmington Valley YMCA, Friends of the Holyoke Soldiers Home, Girls Inc. of the Valley, the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Spirit of Springfield, and the YMCA of Greater Westfield. According to James Hagan, and CEO of Westfield Bank, the Future Fund awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants each year to qualifying organizations whose applications are accepted. “There are so many people and groups in our communities that have devoted themselves to making life better for all of us, and especially the young people who represent our future, and we know that supplying needed services presents financial and logistical challenges that grow with each passing year,” he said. “The Future Fund, and Westfield Bank, are dedicated to providing needed support to worthy organizations that enrich and define life in the towns and cities we serve.” In addition to the Future Fund grants, Westfield Bank contributed more than $400,000 to help sponsor community and performing-arts events, youth sports teams, fundraisers, and more. The bank also donated more than $500,000 to local organizations via the Chicopee Savings Charitable Foundation, an affiliate of Westfield Bank. In total, Westfield Bank provided more than $1.2 million in local and regional philanthropic support in 2019.

Springfield College AmeriCorps, Parent Villages Begin Mask Project

SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Springfield College AmeriCorps program are partnering with Parent Villages Inc. and other local nonprofits to lead the Village Engagement Matters initiative, a program committed to providing community members with face masks at no cost to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The initial distribution of protective facemasks took place on May 12 at three meal-distribution sites located at Springfield elementary schools. Springfield College AmeriCorps members have been assisting with the production of the masks, and also helping with the planning of the distribution efforts. “Giving back to our community is always something we have done in our family, and we are committed to helping with this project,” said Springfield College AmeriCorps member and social-work student Molly Glynn. “My mom and I started making masks for our family members, but that quickly has turned into helping our community as well. What I like about the Olson mask pattern we are using is, it provides a pattern to make masks for both adults and kids, and the pattern also allows for a pocket on the inside for a micron filter to help those individuals who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.” Added Parent Villages Inc. CEO Lakisha Coppedge, “the Parent Villages organization always tries to stay in touch and learn about items that community members really need, and obviously right now the masks are at a high demand. Springfield College stepped up to the plate to help, and we can’t thank the college enough to make this project a reality, and always being there to help our community members.” During these challenging times of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, Springfield College AmeriCorps members continue to seek opportunities to serve the Greater Springfield area, including volunteering their time making sure the Village Engagement Matters initiative is a success. “It really means a lot to have AmeriCorps members finding ways to support others,” said Springfield College AmeriCorps Director LaTonia Naylor. “We continue to live our Humanics mission at Springfield College of educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership and service to others. It brings me so much joy to watch people step up and show love and support for our community members.”

United Way of Pioneer Valley Announces EFSP Grant Funding

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) has been appointed administrator for Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) grant funding from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, which appropriated supplemental funding in the amount of $194,555 for Phase 37 and $277,380 for CARES grants. With a board comprised of local community leaders, UWPV will determine funding allocation through a competitive application process. These funds will be used to supplement existing food and shelter services, and cannot be given to start new programs. Funding for Phase 37 and CARES-funded grants is now available. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that serve Hampden County, South Hadley, or Granby may apply. Allocations are to be applied toward supplementing existing food and shelter services. Applications are due by Friday, May 22 at noon. For information or to apply, contact Nicole Young, manager of Community Investments, at [email protected].

Vann Group Becomes Licensed Practioner of Predictable Success

SPRINGFIELD — The Vann Group, LLC announced that Michael Vann has recently become a licensed practioner of the Predictable Success, a business-growth methodology that over the last 30 years has been used to scale hundreds of businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Widely recognized as one of the most powerful organizational growth models available, Predictable Success was developed by Les McKeown, a successful entrepreneur and business-growth advisor. McKeown is the author of the bestselling book Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track and Keeping It There, as well as the companion book, The Synergist: How to Lead Your Team to Predictable Success. Until recently, access to the full model was available only through McKeown. Michael Vann is part of the first cohort of licensed practioners. “I’ve been working with growth models for the past 20 years but have never come across one as powerful as Predictable Success. It isn’t an academic model or a hypothetical theory; it’s a proven, real-world process that enables any organization to scale successfully,” Vann said. “What I find really valuable about Predictable Success is its ability to get to the root cause of an organization’s issues rather than trying to solve symptoms. It integrates very well with our core methodology and tool set. It has been a great addition for our clients that are looking to grow and build value.” Les McKeown, the founder and CEO of Predictable Success, noted that “I’m absolutely delighted to have Michael join our growing group of licensed practitioners. Michael’s background as a trusted advisor and consultant makes him a stellar addition to our group, and I know his existing client base will benefit enormously from his access to the Predictable Success growth model, especially in these precarious times.” The Predictable Success model is intuitive and non-complex and can easily be implemented with the completion of a workshop. In conjunction with the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund, the Vann Group has several Predictable Success workshops approved under the Express Grant Program. The program will reimburse eligible businesses for up to 50% of the actual cost of training. Contact the Vann Group for additional information.

Pioneer Valley College Students Recognized for Entrepreneurship

AGAWAM — Eighty-six students from 14 local colleges and universities recently received awards for their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, with 55 unique businesses and business concepts represented. News of the 2020 Grinspoon Entrepreneurship Initiative (EI) Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards came at about the same time as participating students’ semesters were disrupted by COVID-19. Soon thereafter, the annual entrepreneurship banquet, where more than 450 people were scheduled to attend to celebrate these students, was canceled. The Grinspoon EI class of 2020 received their award checks of up to $1,000 by mail, and they and continue to be mentored by their Grinspoon EI faculty advisors. This year’s entrepreneurial class represents many diverse concepts and businesses. Some examples include:

• Bac-Be-Gone, bacteriocin-based cleaning products (Hadley Beauregard, Hailey Charest, and Bryanna Lexus Freitas, UMass Amherst);

• Keifer Games, a clever tabletop game for creative thinkers (Matthew Kiefer, UMass Amherst);

• Nashion, a new material for salon gel nails (Sona Kim, Amherst College);

• PAL, a prosthetic airliner medical device (Courtney Carlson, Kelsey Hastings, and Olivia Truenow, Western New England University); and

• Slacktyde, eco-art and eco-friendly clothing (Camila Mirow, Mount Holyoke College).

Mary Schoonmaker, Grinspoon EI faculty advisor and assistant professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Western New England University, noted that “the Grinspoon Foundation Spirit Awards are foundational to building entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Past and present recipients have appreciated the confidence building and encouragement to advance their innovations.” This year’s Grinspoon, Garvey & Young Alumni Award went to Justin Park, founder and CEO of QL Gaming Group, a direct-to-consumer sports-betting data and iGaming affiliate platform. This annual award is given to a former Entrepreneurial Spirit Award winner who has advanced their entrepreneurial endeavors. It is named after Grinspoon’s original business partners, Tom Garvey and Bill Young. “The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation has provided me with encouragement since 2012 to pursue my passion in entrepreneurship,” Park said.

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Incorporations

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

ADAMS

Chehar Corp., 60 Commercial St., Adams, MA 01220. Ankit Patel, same. Package store.

AGAWAM

Ava Acquisition Corporation, 11 Bowles Road, Agawam, MA 01001. Alan Wosky, 210 Pleasant St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Design, engineer, manufacture belts, and pulleys.

BELCHERTOWN

Banyan Properties Inc., 51 Oasis Dr., Belchertown, MA 01007. Lindsey Matarazzo, same. Property management.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Arman Shree Inc., 334 Somers Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Anil Patel, 42 Lee St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Convenience store.

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Neighbors Inc., C/O Easthampton Council on Aging, 19 Union St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Stephanie Kelly, 11 Fox Run, Easthampton, MA 01027. Organized to help seniors and others stay in their homes as long as possible by providing appropriate services through volunteers, by helping senior and others find acceptable vendors to provide services.

FLORENCE

Dwellings Arts Inc., 98 Hinckley St., Florence, MA 01001. Caroline O’Leary, 216 Homestead Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Community arts organization with values of inclusive and intentional booking practices, ethical treatment of artists, community collaboration and engagement.

GREENFIELD

Danny J. Haselton Inc., 413 Adams Road, Greenfield, MA 01301. Danny J. Haselton, same. Electrician.

HOUSANTONIC

Barrington Public Theater Inc., 26 Kirk St., #551, Housatonic, MA 01236. Jim Fangione, same. Readings, workshops, and productions of new plays, writer and performed with a focus on local artists.

LANESBORO

Berkshire Short Film Festival Inc., 163 Balance Rock Road, Lanesboro, MA 01237. Jennifer Cathryn Lyon, same. Organize and screen short films from local and worldwide filmmakers.

PELHAM

Creative Collective for Issue Advocacy Inc., 98 Arnold Road, Pelham, MA 01002. Daniel Giat, same. Produce and distribute public service announcements concerning critical issues of public interest, for the purpose of advocating for progressive legislation and candidates for public office.

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Family Practice Associates PC, 20 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jonathan B. Grenoble, 1991 Dublin Road, Richmond, MA 01254. Medical services.

SOUTH HADLEY

Craft Beauty Inc., 4 Dickinson Farm Road, South Hadley, MA 01075. Ann E. Boyden, same. Hair styling and beauty services.

SOUTHWICK

Cain’s Industries Inc., 15 Liquori Dr., Southwick, MA 01077. John Cain, same. Construction.

SPRINGFIELD

Arrow Transport Inc., 237 Memorial Dr., Springfield, MA 01101. John D. Debarge, 132 Erin Lane, Ludlow, MA 01056. Transpiration services.

Chess Angels Promotions. Sometimes Referred To As “Cap” Inc., 38 Lakeside St., Springfield, MA 01109. Richard Johnson, same. Provides a vast pool of talent and entertainment to local cities and communities. Services include singers, dancers, musicians, poets, and visual artists.

WESTFIELD

Asian Food Market Inc., 284 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Sun Kyung Kim, 66 Washington Ave., South Hadley, MA 01075. Grocery store.

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Bankruptcies

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court (bankruptcy petitions omitted from our last are include hereunder). Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Brosseau, Aaron George
21 H St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Carpio, Junabel D.
PO Box 96
Bondsville, MA 01009
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Chapin, Yolanda R.
P.O. Box 233
West Warren, MA 01092
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Chabot, John L.
Chabot, Jean L.
23 Fairview Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/23/2020

Concepcion, Juan Jose
22 Amanda St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Custom Maid, Etc.
Demos, Julie Suzanne
641 Springfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/21/2020

Daviau, David
238 Maple St., Apt. D3
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/20/2020

Dixon, Mia L.
160 Maple St., Apt. L
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/25/2020

Faniel, Stephen D.
171 East Longmeadow Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/23/2020

Green Carlie A.
75 Zephyr Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Gwozdzik, Ashley Lyn
23 Wilson Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/17/2020

Jackson, Janine L.
98 Pine St., Apt. 1L
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Kenney, Paula Marie
26 Putting Green Circle
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Lopez, Jabet
a/k/a Lopez, Yabet
49 Washington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Nickerson, Tara Elizabeth
a/k/a Nickerson, Tee
38 Maryland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/30/2020

Roberts, Angela E.
87 Grover St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/20/2020

Smith, Joseph T.
2 Shepherds Hollow Road
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Woodall, Linda Jo
24 East Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/28/2020

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

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

Bailey Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: 3 Peaks Land Stewardship
Seller: Edward Myles-Davis
Date: 04/30/20

1280 Hawley Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Georgiana Greenough
Seller: Cari Pazmino
Date: 05/01/20

CONWAY

80 Baptist Hill Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Dennis Anderson
Seller: Benneth G. Phelps
Date: 04/30/20

DEERFIELD

38 Pleasant St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ralph J. Gould
Seller: Francis J. Naida
Date: 04/30/20

365 River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Dana Schwab
Seller: Joseph W. Bysiewski
Date: 04/22/20

GILL

74 Mountain Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $307,500
Buyer: Justin D. Simpson
Seller: John J. Zywna
Date: 04/30/20

GREENFIELD

64 Adams Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $14,163,000
Buyer: Derossi Commercial Greenfield
Seller: G&I 9 Apollo SWM LLC
Date: 04/24/20

109 Beacon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: 109 Beacon Street TR
Seller: Carla A. Bernier
Date: 05/01/20

62 Burnham Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Michael A. Koncal
Seller: Hawkins, Richard M., (Estate)
Date: 04/28/20

11 East Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Megan L. Parker
Seller: Andrea G. McGeoghan
Date: 04/23/20

46 Greenfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $14,163,000
Buyer: Derossi Commercial Greenfield
Seller: G&I 9 Apollo SWM LLC
Date: 04/24/20

49 Greenfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $14,163,000
Buyer: Derossi Commercial Greenfield
Seller: G&I 9 Apollo SWM LLC
Date: 04/24/20

10 Harrison Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Sokhang B. Dong
Seller: Glenn W. Johnson
Date: 05/05/20

54 James St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Anna Webber
Seller: Sefton Codling
Date: 05/01/20

711 Lampblack Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $483,000
Buyer: Robert Herrick
Seller: William Vranos
Date: 05/01/20

42 Linden Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $231,500
Buyer: Edith M. Pullen
Seller: PDV Inc.
Date: 04/27/20

28-B Old Albany Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Sara J. Schofield
Seller: Alexander M. Gilbert
Date: 05/01/20

253 Shelburne Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Joshua A. Levin
Seller: John M. Shanahan
Date: 04/30/20

53 Silvio O. Conte Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $14,163,000
Buyer: Derossi Commercial Greenfield
Seller: G&I 9 Apollo SWM LLC
Date: 04/24/20

MONTAGUE

6 Chester St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $231,950
Buyer: Cecile Celotto
Seller: Karl R. Lapan
Date: 04/24/20

6 Henry Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Alexander N. Iverson
Seller: Grimard, Paul N., (Estate)
Date: 04/24/20

NEW SALEM

193 Neilson Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Alex Acosta
Seller: Rudolph, Nathan H., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

NORTHFIELD

68 East St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Tyler Mankowsky
Seller: Paula B. Johnson
Date: 05/01/20

ORANGE

13 Dewey Conrad Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $179,805
Buyer: Frances Deluca-Hadsel
Seller: Eric N. Druzbicki
Date: 04/27/20

145 Fryeville Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Robert H. Heigh
Date: 04/29/20

210 Oxbow Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Robert D. Bergquist
Seller: BHR Properties LLC
Date: 04/24/20

550 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $299,450
Buyer: Andrew J. Smith
Seller: Lee M. Rowe
Date: 04/24/20

SHELBURNE

441 Mohawk Trail
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $422,000
Buyer: Amie M. Redeker
Seller: Butler INT
Date: 04/27/20

SHUTESBURY

81 January Hills Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $390,400
Buyer: 10 Pine NT
Seller: Beth Goldberg-Shaine
Date: 05/01/20

379 Leverett Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Serge Fedorovsky
Seller: Thomas R. Zeller
Date: 04/22/20

174 Locks Pond Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Courtney A. Kinney
Seller: Mark T. Olszewski
Date: 04/29/20

12 Merrill Dr.
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Susan L. Goldberg
Seller: Frederic P. Hartwell
Date: 05/04/20

12 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $378,000
Buyer: Ian T. Burr
Seller: D. Joseph Jerry
Date: 05/01/20

SUNDERLAND

45 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: KDD Properties LLC
Seller: Jeffrey C. Mish
Date: 04/30/20

Cross Mountain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Kestrel Land TR
Seller: Raymond R. Samson
Date: 04/27/20

158 North Main St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Benneth Phelps
Seller: Martha E. Lorantos
Date: 04/30/20

17 North Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Ronald W. Ward
Seller: Robert H. Adair
Date: 04/28/20

154 North Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $229,500
Buyer: Anthony F. Ciak
Seller: Courtney A. Kinney
Date: 04/29/20

22 South Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Ernest Washington
Seller: Strycharz, R. W. Sr., (Estate)
Date: 05/05/20

WHATELY

129 Christian Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $689,000
Buyer: Sarah T. Xiques
Seller: Richard Pedersen
Date: 04/28/20

23 Conway Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Nicholas M. Wojcik
Seller: Duda, Robert M., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

24 Grey Oak Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jeffrey P. Zilch
Seller: Gregory W. Payeur
Date: 05/01/20

219 River Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Keith R. Bohonowicz
Seller: Joanne Pliska
Date: 04/24/20

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

97 Brien St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Richard M. Askew
Seller: Theresa N. Ciarmatori
Date: 04/24/20

35 Colonial Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Derek J. Lottermoser
Seller: Eric W. Lottermoser
Date: 05/01/20

40 Hearthstone Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $364,900
Buyer: Nikolay Zhupikov
Seller: Mark A. Sullivan
Date: 05/05/20

15 High Meadow Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Sigmund C. Barnes
Seller: Yuriy Sarkisyan
Date: 04/24/20

96 Moore St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Gary E. Traver
Seller: Lawrence S. Phelps
Date: 04/24/20

North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Claire M. Conway
Seller: Charles J. Sienkiewicz
Date: 05/01/20

352 Poplar St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Matthew Foley
Seller: Poplar Development LLC
Date: 04/30/20

24 Portland St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Mathew-Ryan M. Simpson
Seller: Eggleston, Raymond L., (Estate)
Date: 04/22/20

267 Rowley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Manuel T. Reyes
Seller: Haynes, Patricia A., (Estate)
Date: 05/01/20

73 Stony Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Shawn P. Haubner
Seller: Daniel P. Tobias
Date: 04/23/20

30 Washington Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: James B. Burgos
Seller: Timothy R. Kendrick
Date: 04/24/20

25 Westford Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Carrie Mayer
Seller: Vladmi Ivanovich-Duducal
Date: 05/05/20

39 Wilbert Ter.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Patrick Denault
Seller: Tracey Daniels-Pullen
Date: 04/30/20

BRIMFIELD

97 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $164,120
Buyer: MTGLQ Investors LP
Seller: Roy H. King
Date: 05/05/20

50 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $429,500
Buyer: Neil B. Glazebrook
Seller: Timothy D. O’Brien
Date: 05/04/20

CHICOPEE

58 Ames Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Jordyn M. Conway
Seller: Fallah Razzak
Date: 05/01/20

7 Ann St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Evelis Gonzalez
Seller: Kyle E. Mrozinski
Date: 05/05/20

38 Basil Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $349,902
Buyer: Jennifer E. Carr
Seller: Jonathan P. Damours
Date: 04/24/20

1073 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Adam F. Rice
Seller: Nico Facchini
Date: 04/22/20

6 Captain Mac St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Solimar R. Cruz
Seller: Michael W. Radomski
Date: 04/22/20

77 Debra Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Debbie Griggs
Seller: Deshaies, Lawrence, (Estate)
Date: 05/04/20

58 Edbert St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $258,400
Buyer: Sonia I. Soto
Seller: Premier Home Builders Inc.
Date: 04/24/20

95 Edgewood Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,100
Buyer: Oswald Grajales
Seller: Gary P. Picard
Date: 04/27/20

Highland Ave. #103
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: Partyka Partners LP
Date: 04/30/20

Highland Ave. #104
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: Partyka Partners LP
Date: 04/30/20

Highland Ave. #105
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: Partyka Partners LP
Date: 04/30/20

145 Jacob St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Cristobal Ortiz
Seller: Donna J. Wiley
Date: 04/30/20

45 Linden St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $217,400
Buyer: Adriana Vazquez
Seller: Brian P. Leduc
Date: 05/01/20

79 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $191,200
Buyer: Muhammad J. Akbar
Seller: Maslak, Ruth M., (Estate)
Date: 05/01/20

50 Mount Carmel Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Valley Opportunity Council
Seller: Barbara M. Dorval
Date: 04/28/20

54 Olko Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $173,079
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Brian K. Connors
Date: 05/01/20

164 Rimmon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Wilson
Seller: Donna Mason
Date: 05/04/20

43 Saint Anthony St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: James Fitzgerald
Seller: Kristin Newell
Date: 04/24/20

68 Van Horn St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Alexander N. Theroux
Seller: Jeffrey Janik
Date: 04/24/20

26 Wintworth St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Katherine Paul
Seller: Laura A. Paul
Date: 05/01/20

51 Woodcrest Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Benjamyn M. Poli
Seller: Daryl R. Kirby
Date: 04/30/20

140 Woodlawn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Tynisa Mateo
Seller: Melinda Barnes
Date: 05/01/20

EAST LONGMEADOW

259 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $212,200
Buyer: Shanna L. Morin
Seller: Mary E. Fish
Date: 04/24/20

157 Dwight Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Taylor M. Durost
Seller: Shanna L. Morin
Date: 04/24/20

100 Franconia Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Paul Fydenkevez
Seller: Ryan T. Morton
Date: 04/29/20

10 Judy Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ashley Cava
Seller: Tyler Donnelly
Date: 05/01/20

7 Odion St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $181,740
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Servicing
Seller: Ronette Garcia
Date: 04/28/20

434 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Chaisson
Seller: Dennis M. Goldrick
Date: 05/01/20

20 Redstone Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Nash
Seller: Stephen T. Varelas
Date: 04/30/20

76 Scantic Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Antonio Fonseca
Seller: Govin, Karen A., (Estate)
Date: 05/05/20

214 Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Hong T. Le
Seller: Garrett E. Goguen
Date: 04/24/20

141 Tanglewood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $426,000
Buyer: Kelly M. Cieboter
Seller: Bruce O. Desilets
Date: 04/30/20

HAMPDEN

33 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Stephen T. Varelas
Seller: Robert T. Olejarz
Date: 04/30/20

80 Rock A. Dundee Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Andrii Tverdokhlib
Seller: Olesya Cherkashin
Date: 04/27/20

150 Rock A. Dundee Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Garrett E. Goguen
Seller: Country Bank For Savings
Date: 04/24/20

86 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Steven Barthen
Seller: Conor M. Berry
Date: 04/30/20

408 South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jennifer Johnston
Seller: Brian D. Dussault
Date: 04/24/20

HOLLAND

64 Leno Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Brian W. Healey
Seller: Michael C. Lifson
Date: 04/29/20

HOLYOKE

71 Berkshire St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Westmass Apartments LLC
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 05/01/20

62 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Amber Lavallee
Seller: Mark D. Trial
Date: 04/30/20

57 Calumet Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
mount: $217,000
Buyer: Shae B. Blaisdell
Seller: Amy E. Verla
Date: 04/24/20

35-37 Columbus Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Kevin Dansereau
Seller: Alan R. Huff
Date: 04/23/20

4 Crestwood St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Jose A. Morales
Seller: Julie M. Kleszczynski
Date: 04/24/20

122 Jarvis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $145,999
Buyer: Barh RET
Seller: NRZ REO 10 LLC
Date: 04/29/20

6 Jeane Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Marisol Cartagena
Seller: Antonio Ferreira
Date: 04/22/20

69 Lexington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Marvin Thang
Seller: Michael Cavanaugh
Date: 05/01/20

Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Jillian Strycharz
Seller: Christina M. Grass
Date: 04/28/20

124 Vermont St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $293,500
Buyer: Thomas Reynolds
Seller: Veasna Pok
Date: 04/30/20

149 Whiting Farms Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Jacquelin Calderon
Seller: FM Financial Services Inc.
Date: 04/28/20

LONGMEADOW

226 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Schlemmer
Seller: David B. Appleman
Date: 05/01/20

498 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Daniel S. Regan
Seller: Stephen Geanacopoulos
Date: 04/30/20

34 Cooley Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Steven W. Groccia
Seller: Steven L. Groccia
Date: 04/27/20

5 Crescent Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Benjamin Jakubowski
Seller: Ryan R. Whitney
Date: 05/04/20

21 Homecrest St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $321,000
Buyer: Morgan J. Spencer
Seller: Donna B. McMahon
Date: 04/24/20

249 Lynnwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Roy FT
Seller: Jennifer D. Santos
Date: 05/01/20

117 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $319,900
Buyer: Jon W. Gronbach
Seller: Christopher M. Carr
Date: 04/24/20

LUDLOW

136 Cedar St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Bertolasio
Seller: Sandra Fidalgo
Date: 04/27/20

236 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Ludlow Housing Authority
Seller: Adelino D. Palatino
Date: 04/30/20

33 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $1,355,000
Buyer: Elmogys LLC
Seller: SPP Citizens NLREF 5 LLC
Date: 04/30/20

Cottage Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $2,066,500
Buyer: Dichotomy Collins Hydro
Seller: Ampersand Collins Hydro
Date: 05/01/20

43 Elaine Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Mark D. Miller
Seller: Maria J. Holley
Date: 04/30/20

23 Helena St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Dwain P. Devine
Seller: Carol C. Heath
Date: 05/05/20

242 Kendall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $385,900
Buyer: Nico A. Facchini
Seller: David A. Watts
Date: 04/22/20

85 Lakeview Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Nina M. Leclerc
Seller: Todd A. Santos
Date: 04/22/20

Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $2,066,500
Buyer: Dichotomy Collins Hydro
Seller: Ampersand Collins Hydro
Date: 05/01/20

233 Munsing St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Denise M. Pascale
Seller: Carlos A. Bastos
Date: 05/01/20

138 Piney Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Francisco J. Najera
Seller: William E. Peacey
Date: 05/04/20

620 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $245,999
Buyer: Robert B. Cunningham
Seller: Hines, Lorraine, (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

234 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Xiaoqin Zhou
Seller: Elsa D. Barros
Date: 05/04/20

124 Yale St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Cari A. Breault
Seller: Ryan Gagne
Date: 04/29/20

MONSON

Boston Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St. RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

102 Lakeside Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Angelique Peloquin
Seller: John H. Dunn
Date: 04/24/20

PALMER

Baptist Hill Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

Boston Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St. RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

100 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Gerald G. Beliveau
Seller: Dnepro Properties LLC
Date: 05/04/20

29 Gay St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $154,965
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Justin D. Torrey
Date: 04/23/20

17 Homestead St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Tomasz Marszalek
Seller: David E. Petit
Date: 05/04/20

2018 Oak St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Patrick R. Jessop
Seller: Bernice A. Fusco
Date: 05/01/20

68 Rondeau St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jerod R. Laflamme
Seller: Shawn P. Haubner
Date: 04/23/20

156 Shearer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Kyle T. Meyer
Seller: Michelle M. Dunfield
Date: 05/04/20

150-A Wilbraham St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

159 Wilbraham St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

230 Wilbraham St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Palmer Wilbraham St. RET
Seller: Transform Operating Stores
Date: 04/24/20

SPRINGFIELD

191 Albemarle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Donovan Huggett
Seller: Ferdinand Gonzalez
Date: 04/24/20

146 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,400
Buyer: Alan Rosario
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 04/24/20

152 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $258,900
Buyer: Carolyne R. Flowers
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 04/29/20

19 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jesse W. Chasteen
Seller: Kelly M. Cieboter
Date: 04/30/20

167 Atherton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Moises Maldonado-Medina
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/01/20

40 Ballard Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Godswill T. Andrew-Jaja
Seller: Carl D. Prairie
Date: 04/24/20

136 Barrington Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: Anthony T. Torres
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 05/01/20

81 Berkshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Ronald G. Hokanson
Seller: Wallace F. Ebner
Date: 04/28/20

1525 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $4,400,000
Buyer: Springfield Boston Road RET
Seller: TF Springfield MA LLC
Date: 04/24/20

236 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Fransheska D. Robles
Seller: Pszczyna RT
Date: 05/05/20

4 Brittany Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Keysta L. Vanasse
Seller: CIG 4 LLC
Date: 05/01/20

44 Campechi St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Errol S. Green
Seller: Devonne T. Johnson
Date: 04/30/20

731 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Cig 4 LLC
Seller: Roberto Serrano
Date: 04/27/20

28-30 Carlisle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Stephan Maldonado
Seller: Do Duong Family LLC
Date: 04/24/20

73 Catalina Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Revampit LLC
Seller: Joseph F. Miazga
Date: 05/01/20

180 Cherokee Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Kaila Rodriguez
Seller: Caroline L. Ellison
Date: 04/29/20

546 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Osvaldo A. Martir-Solano
Seller: Freya G. Baez
Date: 04/29/20

151 Cooper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: John Govoni
Seller: Ingram, Harry E., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

297 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Basil Henry
Seller: Alex Cowley
Date: 04/29/20

662-664 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Dominga Pujols
Seller: Sarno, Alfonso, (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

232 East St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Bailey Brunelle
Seller: Wolfpack Realty Corp.
Date: 04/29/20

195 El Paso St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Bianca I. Gardner
Seller: Debra L. Cauley
Date: 04/30/20

18 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Adela Colon
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/27/20

42 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Rodolfo Arismendy-Parra
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/27/20

66 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Corey Connaughton
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/30/20

285 Ellendale Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: David C. Coburn
Seller: Andrea M. Strom
Date: 04/23/20

20 Fallston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Nicole D. Vezina
Seller: Catherine A. Hartley
Date: 04/29/20

68 Feltham Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jacob Grant
Seller: Tarra M. Devine
Date: 05/01/20

17 Gertrude St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Roberto Soto
Seller: Emmanuel Pena
Date: 04/27/20

463 Gifford St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Michael W. Belmarce
Seller: Elizabeth Mortenson
Date: 04/30/20

70 Grenada Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,130,000
Buyer: Grenada Property LLC
Seller: Grenada LLC
Date: 04/24/20

74 Grenada Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,130,000
Buyer: Grenada Property LLC
Seller: Grenada LLC
Date: 04/24/20

8 Healey St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Samuel R. Shaw
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 04/24/20

92 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Maralaisy Gil
Seller: Leonard A. Cowles
Date: 05/01/20

99 Jonquil Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Ryan S. Patrick
Seller: Richard F. Bedard
Date: 04/24/20

4-6 Joseph St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Eric L. Allen
Seller: T. L. Bretta Realty LLC
Date: 04/30/20

56 Kathleen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Patricia N. Rosemond
Seller: Eric D. Rohan
Date: 04/30/20

41 Kipling St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Tyler Donnelly
Seller: Pedro Martinez
Date: 05/01/20

79 Knox St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: SLC Associates LLC
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 05/01/20

170 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: John Martin
Seller: Andie Gedeon
Date: 04/29/20

35-37 Longfellow Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,769
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Julio C. Feliciano
Date: 04/28/20

146 Lumae St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Equity T. Co.
Seller: MTGLQ Investors LP
Date: 04/28/20

97 Marion St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Melvin Otero-Davila
Seller: Daniel Carthon
Date: 05/01/20

139-141 Maynard St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Camilla J. Miller
Seller: Manfred Karori
Date: 05/01/20

40-42 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Bria L. Brantley
Seller: KEC Properties LLC
Date: 05/01/20

19 Meredith St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Edwin J. Figueroa
Seller: JJJ 17 LLC
Date: 04/24/20

45 Meredith St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jose G. Pagan-Ortiz
Seller: Minh T. Chau
Date: 04/24/20

190 Mildred Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Winnarath Son
Seller: Justin T. Tomasini
Date: 04/29/20

62 Miller St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Omaris Gonzalez
Seller: Alex O. Owusu
Date: 04/28/20

12 Montclair St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Viverston Gallimore
Seller: Amarilis Rodriguez
Date: 04/24/20

99 Monticello Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Omayra L. Figueroa-Gomez
Seller: LE & Associates LLC
Date: 05/05/20

188 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: Amarilis Rodriguez
Seller: Chiang H. Swei
Date: 04/24/20

40 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Luis Rodriguez
Seller: Christopher D. Foley
Date: 04/30/20

155 Old Farm Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Leonard Geshan
Seller: Melro Associates Inc.
Date: 04/28/20

1715 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Champion Mortgage Co.
Date: 04/23/20

1715 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Monika Lipert
Seller: FNMA
Date: 04/30/20

83 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $196,500
Buyer: Jason D. Choiniere
Seller: Craig S. Gohn
Date: 04/30/20

74 Perkins St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Alicia L. Gapen
Seller: Sarah J. Szczebak
Date: 05/01/20

27 Pidgeon Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Darren C. Duke
Seller: James A. Lapierre
Date: 04/30/20

60 Pinecrest Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Hoang N. Le
Seller: Luis Nevarez
Date: 04/24/20

199 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Luis A. Rivera
Seller: John P. Cadigan
Date: 04/22/20

154 Prouty St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Marsha Ivey
Seller: Ann S. Ward
Date: 04/22/20

61-63 Quebec St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Patrick A. Roach
Seller: Alejandro H. Rodriguez
Date: 04/30/20

69 Ramblewood Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Latisha A. Williams
Seller: Olmsted Realty LLC
Date: 05/01/20

132 Regal St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Tawiah A. Buor
Seller: Nicholas A. Malafronte
Date: 04/28/20

82 Rosemary Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Juan J. Lopez
Seller: Hilda Greene
Date: 04/30/20

104-106 Samuel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Fernando Rosa
Seller: Louis W. Rimondi
Date: 04/29/20

47 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Meghan Bull
Seller: Anthony M. Santaniello
Date: 04/23/20

73 Talmadge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Erica A. Batalha
Seller: Rosa I. Torres
Date: 05/04/20

269 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: John S. Robinson-Woodgett
Seller: Pete M. Decuir
Date: 04/29/20

20 West Canton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Julie Sanchez
Seller: Kaine K. Compton
Date: 04/27/20

1412 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $169,320
Buyer: Daniel Jaracz
Seller: Marsha M. Ivey
Date: 04/22/20

107-109 Wolcott St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Bjorn R. Miller
Seller: Lydia Miringu
Date: 04/28/20

143 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Angel Peroza
Seller: Alan Rosario
Date: 04/24/20

71 Yale St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Home Equity Assets Realty
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 04/28/20

SOUTHWICK

15 Crystal Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Lawrence N. Fuller
Seller: Bailey, Joseph J., (Estate)
Date: 04/30/20

99 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $496,250
Buyer: Brenda M. Leduc
Seller: Anna Frazier
Date: 05/01/20

18 Ferrin Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Aminda I. Scott
Seller: Dean C. Miller
Date: 04/30/20

8 Field St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Kenneth S. Nielsen
Seller: Kim A. Phillips
Date: 04/30/20

26 Lakeview St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Michelle M. Duncan
Seller: Kelly Duncan-Smith
Date: 04/30/20

399 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Zachary I. Kuzon
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 04/30/20

13 Ridgeview Ter.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: Julie Hyde
Seller: Brenda M. Leduc
Date: 05/01/20

WALES

91 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Brandon J. Kroll
Seller: John T. Lussier
Date: 04/24/20

WESTFIELD

98 Berkshire Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Kayla J. Reno
Seller: Donald J. McClellan
Date: 05/01/20

137 Cabot Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Witold J. Urban
Seller: Andrew T. Oleksak
Date: 04/22/20

12 Cross St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Shane Coakley
Seller: Pavel Kulyak
Date: 05/05/20

40 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $316,500
Buyer: Kathryn M. Weglarz
Seller: Bruce Scott
Date: 04/30/20

949 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $599,900
Buyer: Thomas F. Daly
Seller: Mark S. Santangelo
Date: 05/01/20

36 Janelle Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Paul E. Ancelli
Seller: Thomas F. Daly
Date: 05/01/20

6 Maria Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Carlin Tabb
Seller: Andrew K. Hall
Date: 04/27/20

20 Pheasant Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Delugan
Seller: Tyler G. Moore
Date: 05/01/20

170 Prospect St., Ext.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Peter A. Negosanti
Seller: Tammie B. Waversak
Date: 04/29/20

21 Ridgecrest Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Henry M. Koegel
Seller: Freddy Roy
Date: 05/01/20

242 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $271,900
Buyer: Michael J. McFadden
Seller: Jeffrey R. McNamara
Date: 05/05/20

WILBRAHAM

6 Apple Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: David E. Petit
Seller: Nancy B. Piecuch
Date: 05/01/20

13 Colonial Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Andrew Donermeyer
Seller: Ronald G. Hokanson
Date: 04/28/20

Devonshire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Nicholas D. Rau
Seller: Christopher V. Bovino
Date: 04/30/20

5 Jewell Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Blake A. McCoy
Seller: Lavelle, Edward J., (Estate)
Date: 04/27/20

33 Stonegate Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $416,000
Buyer: Kyle C. Abrahamson
Seller: Jeffrey P. Zilch
Date: 05/01/20

4 Wildwood Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $422,775
Buyer: Matthew S. Matroni
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 04/22/20

WEST SPRINGFIELD

79-81 Baldwin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Lachenauer LLC
Seller: Mlaguzi Inc.
Date: 04/29/20

111 Forest Ridge Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Dominic N. Hannoush
Seller: Carmen D. Ortiz
Date: 04/30/20

102 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Mindy N. Phan
Seller: David W. Ostrander
Date: 04/22/20

291 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Angel L. Feliciano-Cruz
Seller: Kumar Sunchuri
Date: 04/24/20

42 Murray Place
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Janais E. Faust
Seller: Cindy S. White
Date: 04/27/20

22 Prospect St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Luke Battista
Seller: Battista & Sons Property Mgmt.
Date: 04/23/20

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

244 Amity St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $501,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Friedman
Seller: Matthew Mone
Date: 05/05/20

763 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $389,900
Buyer: Hannah E. Hunter-Parker
Seller: Alison B. Ellis
Date: 04/30/20

228 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $244,500
Buyer: Maple Leaf Capital Reserve
Seller: Mark A. Snow
Date: 05/05/20

29 Hartman Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Aaron E. James
Seller: Aaron Arcello
Date: 05/01/20

16 Heatherstone Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Melisa Bok
Seller: Alexandria A. Price
Date: 04/27/20

214 Iduna Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $596,000
Buyer: W. Bruce Croft
Seller: Trinity Construction Group
Date: 04/30/20

143 Lincoln Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Thomas L. Bernardin
Seller: William P. Wear
Date: 04/29/20

212 North East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Julius Menn & D. Sagner TR
Seller: Brian J. Berling
Date: 04/27/20

27 Palley Village Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $449,900
Buyer: Justin H. Smith
Seller: Woo FT
Date: 04/30/20

715 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Spenser C. Lanier
Seller: Julius Menn & D. Sagner TR
Date: 04/30/20

205 South Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Amherst College
Seller: Jonathan R. Friedman
Date: 05/01/20

35 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Emily Stout
Seller: Ampar Heritage RT
Date: 05/01/20

38 Trillium Way
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Diane C. McNamara
Seller: Niels Christiansen
Date: 05/01/20

BELCHERTOWN

46 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $295,250
Buyer: Nicholas A. Friscia
Seller: Ashley Sheffield
Date: 04/24/20

62 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Ian Albert
Seller: Chocorua Realty Investments
Date: 04/30/20

631 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $366,000
Buyer: Anne O’Connor
Seller: Lenox Homes LLC
Date: 05/01/20

8 Old Farm Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $264,900
Buyer: Megan E. Millette
Seller: Mark D. Watson
Date: 04/22/20

101 Pine St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $549,900
Buyer: Jennifer L. Dupuis-Krause
Seller: James Stanczak
Date: 04/29/20

152 Sargent St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Kyle Mrozinski
Seller: Sabrina Caballero
Date: 05/05/20

297 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $424,900
Buyer: Lauren Paschall
Seller: Kimberly A. Chaisson
Date: 05/01/20

150 Warner St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Ryan Gagne
Seller: Michael G. Aliberti
Date: 04/29/20

CHESTERFIELD

24 Bisbee Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Thea M. Post
Seller: Wayne A. Hennemann
Date: 04/30/20

CUMMINGTON

525 Berkshire Trail
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $392,500
Buyer: Thomas Kane
Seller: Keith A. Jenkins
Date: 05/04/20

1 Honey Hill Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Bonnie A. Hunt
Seller: Edward S. Konieczny
Date: 05/01/20

EASTHAMPTON

112 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Richard Pedersen
Seller: Crossroads Property Investors
Date: 04/28/20

172 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Jacob Burnstein
Seller: Spear, Frank A., (Estate)
Date: 05/01/20

2-6 Hisgen Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Betty L. Duprey
Seller: D&H Property Management
Date: 05/01/20

10 Howard Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $415,500
Buyer: Peter Dwight-Sax
Seller: Paul A. Donah
Date: 05/05/20

22 Lawler Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Karen M. Roberts
Seller: Peter D. Sax
Date: 05/05/20

1 Mayher St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Betty L. Duprey
Seller: D&H Property Management
Date: 05/01/20

22 Monska Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Robert E. Ross
Seller: Doris C. Ducharme
Date: 04/30/20

13 Oliver St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $244,540
Buyer: Jonathan A. Santiago
Seller: Ted J. Pietraszkiewicz
Date: 04/27/20

106 Parsons St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Betty L. Duprey
Seller: D&H Property Management
Date: 05/01/20

89 Plain St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Gene P. Ethier
Seller: William C. Ethier
Date: 04/29/20

21 Plaza Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,900
Buyer: Zachary T. Birmingham
Seller: William J. Halford
Date: 04/29/20

30 Sandra Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $361,500
Buyer: Terry S. Hersey
Seller: Richard & Sandra Tufts LT
Date: 04/30/20

GRANBY

545 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Joseph L. Delbove
Seller: Leanne A. Becker
Date: 04/23/20

241 Chicopee St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $184,280
Buyer: Pamela Elvira Cox TR
Seller: Joseph C. Cox
Date: 04/30/20

21 Lyn Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Roxana Alequin
Seller: Robert D. Butler
Date: 05/05/20

106 Maximilian Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Laurence J. Vincent
Seller: Michael Novak
Date: 04/30/20

HADLEY

6 Shattuck Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Andrew D. Stephens
Seller: Jeffrey Wood RET
Date: 05/01/20

HATFIELD

118 Old Stage Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $447,000
Buyer: Sherri J. Wehr
Seller: Janet Nuccio
Date: 04/24/20

72 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Joseph S. Barker
Seller: Adam J. Barker
Date: 04/28/20

HUNTINGTON

23 Goss Hill Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Krason
Seller: John J. Montesi
Date: 04/22/20

14 Stanton Ave.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $215,500
Buyer: Lindsey L. Bellamy
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 04/30/20

MIDDLEFIELD

142 W. Hill Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $338,000
Buyer: Deborah A. O’Brien
Seller: E. Roberts NT
Date: 05/04/20

NORTHAMPTON

257 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Flynn
Seller: Norwich Properties LLC
Date: 04/24/20

78 Coles Meadow Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $610,000
Buyer: Gerald A. Hinkle
Seller: Joan E. Dalin RET
Date: 05/01/20

235 Coles Meadow Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Alex C. Petith
Seller: Joseph S. Barker
Date: 04/28/20

19 Ellington Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Matthew Motamedi
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 04/27/20

184 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Renuart LT
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 04/24/20

31 Loudville Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Hillary M. Sackett-Taylor
Seller: Julie E. Steiner
Date: 04/30/20

11 Verona St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Augustus H. Muller
Seller: Jason Mark
Date: 04/23/20

PELHAM

53 Harkness Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Roberley A. Bell
Seller: Judith Pierce
Date: 04/30/20

SOUTH HADLEY

545 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: South Hadley Electric Light
Seller: Holyoke Hospital Inc.
Date: 05/05/20

35 Hillside Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Christopher M. Shea
Seller: Catherine M. Vieira
Date: 04/30/20

16 Lorraine Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Mark T. Yost
Seller: Gail C. Bekier
Date: 04/29/20

211 Mosier St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Derek P. Swistak
Seller: Susan K. Narey
Date: 04/24/20

10 Plainville Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $477,000
Buyer: Candice E. Demers
Seller: Michael Lucchesi
Date: 05/01/20

3 Pleasant St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Lambert
Seller: Sheila D. Pennell
Date: 04/24/20

33 Tampa St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Pecia
Seller: John T. Pecia
Date: 04/29/20

SOUTHAMPTON

3 Beccari Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Marica J. Misiorski
Seller: Alphonse Venskus
Date: 04/28/20

80 Crooked Ledge Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Jason Lavallee
Seller: Denise L. Dupelle
Date: 04/29/20

6 Hillside Meadows Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Scott R. VanderVeen
Seller: Christopher J. Abbott
Date: 05/01/20

54 Line St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $310,500
Buyer: Samuel J. Verla
Seller: Robert F. Zemba
Date: 04/24/20

7 Noreen Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Philip J. Corbeil
Seller: Norma C. Gosselin
Date: 04/24/20

6 Parsons Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Benoit J. Lamontagne
Seller: Rosemarie Osmers LT
Date: 04/30/20

117 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Andrea L. Looney
Seller: Jacob J. Belanger
Date: 04/30/20

74 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Tobias K. Davis
Seller: Wade Loud
Date: 05/05/20

110 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $455,900
Buyer: Veasna Pok
Seller: Jill Thurman
Date: 04/30/20

WARE

10 Coldbrook Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: David L. Bassett
Seller: Benchmark Custom Homes
Date: 05/05/20

WILLIAMSBURG

19 Valley View Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $454,000
Buyer: Ryan L. Clark
Seller: Jeffrey Gillis
Date: 04/24/20

WESTHAMPTON

9 Tipping Rock Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: David M. St.John
Seller: Shirley K. Smith
Date: 04/28/20

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff May 26, 2020

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of March 2020.

AMHERST

Amherst College
151 College St.
$76,000 — Verizon Wireless antenna modifications on existing smokestack

CHICOPEE

Bernashe Realty Trust
749 James St.
$7,645.69 — Remove leaking sunroom windows, frame half-walls, install new windows

Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$141,129 — Renovate existing locker room; demolish existing showers, remove two doors, add one door, new finishes

LEE

Berkshire Corporate Realty, LLC
480 Pleasant St.
$7,000 — Interior infill framing of two new office spaces

Chapel River Inc.
1370 Pleasant St.
$1,700 — Install chimney liner kit for oil appliance with cleanout

Thomas Touponce
1160 Pleasant St.
$4,200 — Replace wind-damaged shingles on front storage building

LENOX

Peter Alcorn
81 Church St.
$5,000 — Remove jewelry-store displays and cabinetry, remove sheetrock on first floor

Allegrone Real Estate, LLC
150 Pittsfield Road
$45,000 — Complete finishes in tenant spaces

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
55 Lee Road
$26,000 — Renovate existing golf pro shop; finishes, lighting modifications, casework, minor space reconfiguration

SPRINGFIELD

Matthew Katz
1795 Main St.
$37,500 — Alter medical tenant office space in Suite 108

Mason Wright Senior Living Inc.
74 Walnut St.
$2,600 — Build wall to divide classroom at Bright Futures Early Learning Center

MGM Springfield Redevelopment, LLC
1 MGM Way
Install new pony wall between promenade and gaming floor on south side of casino

Pilar 2, LLC
165 Liberty St.
$425,600 — Install two new ADA-compliant bathrooms in YMCA office, install new ceiling tiles, paint and flooring throughout

Springfield’s Union Station Gathers Memories of Service for Memorial Day

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Throughout its history, Union Station has served as a place of departure and coming home. To members of the military and their families, the memory of leaving to serve and returning home through Union Station endures. As highlighted in the memories gathered by Union Station recently, some brought the war home with them, while, as loved ones noted, others did not return at all.

In order to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country as well as all of those who served many times, putting their lives on the line, Union Station asked area residents to share their memories of leaving and returning related to military service.

“Memorial Day is a time to remember,” stated Nicole Sweeney, Marketing manager for Union Station. “We want to help individuals and families bring memories of service and sacrifice to life.”

Over the course of a few days, numerous memories were posted on Union Station’s Facebook page. “I remember leaving from the old Union Station for boot camp headed to Vietnam, the song ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ was playing,” a man named John wrote. Another man, Richard, recalled “my Uncle George leaving, was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, WWII.”

These responses highlight memories of leaving, returning, and loss over 80 years and several different wars, including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Union Station Memorial Day memories can be viewed here. Additional Union Station memories can be viewed here.

Massachusetts Implements Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2020

COVID-19 Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced that Massachusetts residents who are eligible for the federal CARES Act and qualify for having exhausted their regular unemployment compensation may now receive the new Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). The launch of this program marks the third and final benefit available for the Commonwealth through the CARES Act.

PEUC provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits to an individual who has exhausted all rights to any regular unemployment compensation and who meets other eligibility requirements of the CARES Act. PEUC will automatically begin for individuals who have been receiving regular standard unemployment benefits on an active claim and those benefits are exhausted, and those individuals do not have to take any further action.

If an individual’s standard unemployment claim has expired, they must file a new standard claim. If the individual is monetarily eligible on the new standard claim, regardless of the benefit rate amount, they will receive benefits from that new claim. Otherwise, the individual will be eligible for PEUC on the prior claim, and it will be automatically implemented.

Individuals who exhausted their standard benefits but were receiving benefits through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) must apply to claim weekly benefits. Residents should apply through the standard unemployment-benefits portal available here.

Those receiving PEUC will also receive $600 weekly through the week ending July 25, provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program established by the CARES Act.

The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, established the PEUC, PUA, and FPUC public benefit programs that expand unemployment eligibility, temporarily increase weekly benefits for all claimants, and allow additional categories of people to claim unemployment benefits. This is the largest expansion of assistance for the Commonwealth’s workforce since the Great Depression.

More information about Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation can be found at mass.gov/peuc.

Bay Path Launches New Master’s Program in Learning, Design, and Technology

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2020

Daily News

LONGMEADOW — As an onslaught of complex challenges, and the urgency to develop innovative solutions to meet them, promise to reshape higher education, Bay Path University announces the launch of a new master’s program in Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) this fall.

The fully online program will tap into Bay Path’s long-standing position as a leader in the use of emerging technologies, creative curricula, and learning analytics to train professionals looking to shape the ongoing evolution of higher education by applying technology to the development of innovative, accessible, and impactful learning processes.

Designed by a broadly representative team of Bay Path faculty and staff, the LDT program was launched to give students a students a deep foundation in the tools and theory of learning design, technology innovation, learning analytics, and higher-education leadership, a foundation on which they can create engaging and innovative learning experiences for all students. Students will also have the opportunity to enroll jointly in Bay Path’s doctoral program in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies (HELOS) and carry out applied, real-world learning design projects.

“While there are hundreds of graduate programs currently preparing individuals for careers in the educational technology field, the Bay Path MS in LDT uniquely pulls together several essential threads that are especially important in today’s environment for reimagining higher education,” said Melissa Morriss-Olson, Bay Path’s outgoing provost and the architect of the HELOS degree.

While the launch comes at a time when the coronavirus has transformed campuses, Bay Path has used technology to pioneer unique teaching and learning formats and offer flexible, dynamic, and personalized educational experiences for 20 years. The university’s diverse student population includes its traditional on-campus undergraduates, online graduate students, and online adult learners obtaining bachelor’s degrees through the American Women’s College.

“Given Bay Path’s long-standing, successful track record in educating higher education professionals … and in applying innovative learning solutions across the university,” Morriss-Olson said, “it is logical that we should position ourselves as a leader in educating digital learning professionals for this emerging, inter-disciplinary, and in-demand career field.”

To learn more about this program, click here.

Monson Savings Bank Delays Branch Reopenings

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2020

Daily News

MONSON — Although several governments are allowing some businesses to reopen, leaders at Monson Savings Bank feel it is important to keep their employees and customers safe, so, for the health and safety of everyone, the bank’s lobbies will remain closed.

Monson Savings Bank will continue to meet the needs of customers with drive-up locations, ATMs, online banking, mobile check deposit, and night drop. Curbside banking and safe deposit are available by appointment at (413) 267-4646.

“We will continue to watch as the situation changes and decide when we feel it is safe for us to open the doors to our branches again,” bank President and CEO Steve Lowell said. “We truly appreciate your patience and understanding in the face of these challenges and hope that you and your loved ones are in good spirits during these unprecedented times.”

Family Business Center Shutting Down After Quarter-century of Programming

By BusinessWest Staff May 21, 2020

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — After almost 26 years of providing a learning environment for business leaders of Western Mass., the Family Business Center (FBC) of Pioneer Valley is closing its doors, effective immediately, and no further programming will be provided, according to a statement from its board of directors, Charlie Epstein, Ross Giombetti, Howard Cheney, and Jim Young.

Started as an outreach program at UMass Amherst Continuing & Professional Education, the program evolved into a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and a forum for entrepreneurs to develop personally and professionally.

“Over the years, FBC was a thought leader globally, and proud to serve several hundred family businesses in Western Mass. and the Pioneer Valley,” the board noted.

Under the leadership of Ira Bryck for 25 years, and most recently Jessi Kirley, and with the support of expert advisory and service firms, the FBC produced a series of dinner forums, morning workshops, peer-advisory groups, custom consulting, and a network of Western Mass entrepreneurs.

“The changing business environment, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has proven to be too much to overcome financially,” the statement continued. “We believe the spirit of the Family Business Center will live on in the legacy of the businesses it served so well. We are grateful for the support of our business community that was our lifeblood.”

Questions should be directed to Kirley at [email protected].

UMass President to Propose Tuition Freeze for Upcoming Academic Year

By BusinessWest Staff May 21, 2020

Daily News

AMHERST — Pointing to the financial hardships that many Massachusetts families are facing and in consultation with campus chancellors, UMass President Marty Meehan said he will recommend a tuition freeze for the university’s nearly 50,000 in-state undergraduate students during the upcoming academic year.

“During this time of stress and uncertainty for our students and their families, we need to keep our high-quality programs and the benefits of a UMass degree as accessible and affordable as possible,” said Meehan, who will formally propose the freeze when the board of trustees meets next month. “In addition to keeping tuition at current levels, we are taking steps to ensure that those students facing the steepest financial challenges will not see their dream of earning a UMass degree cut short.”

“President Meehan’s recommended tuition freeze demonstrates his concern for our students and their families and the financial hardships many are facing during these unprecedented times,” said Robert Manning, chairman of the UMass board of trustees. “This is a concern that our chancellors and members of the board of trustees share. At this critical moment, we need to keep the path to opportunity and economic recovery open and accessible, and I commend Marty for proposing this tuition freeze.”

UMass also expects to continue its practice of directing significant amounts of its own funds to direct grant aid for students in the upcoming academic year. During the 2019-20 academic year, UMass projects it will direct $395 million in financial aid to students — an increase of $124 million, or 46%, over five years. UMass students received nearly $1 billion in federal, state, private, and institutional financial aid in FY20.

The board of trustees committee on administration and finance is due to set student charges at its June 10 meeting with a full board vote on June 17.

Meehan noted that he is asking the board of trustees to freeze tuition for in-state undergraduates at a time when UMass is also grappling with major pandemic-related financial challenges, but said the proposed freeze was “the appropriate course and the right thing to do.”

Paragus IT Named to Forbes ‘Small Giants’ List

By BusinessWest Staff May 21, 2020

Daily News

HADLEY — Every year, Forbes publishes its “Small Giants” list highlighting 25 businesses “whose commitment to greatness over fast growth has enabled them to best serve their customers, employees, and communities.”

This year, Paragus IT was recognized as an innovator in the small-business world, with Forbes citing the Hadley-based firm’s employee-ownership structure and mission to make IT fun, among other features.

“It’s an honor to be included on such a diverse and amazing list of other small businesses around the country,” said Delcie Bean, CEO of Paragus IT. “And it’s great that a magazine as prestigious as Forbes is committed to appreciating what makes small businesses great. As an employee-owned company, our employees, or partners, as we call them, were so excited to be recognized for our passion for making IT fun.”

Asnuntuck to Offer Online Summer Sessions

By BusinessWest Staff May 21, 2020

Daily News

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College will offer six- and eight-week online summer sessions. The six-week session will run from June 3 to July 14, while the eight-week session will run from June 3 to July 28. Registered medical-assisting classes will begin on May 26, with most classes completed by July 16.

Students from other institutions interested in transferring credits from these courses back to their home institution are advised to check with their institution prior to registering. Course topics include many disciplines, including art, accounting, biology, business, communications, early childhood, computer information systems technology, economics, English, history, human development, human services, medical assisting, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Asnuntuck continues to offer admissions and financial-aid virtual information sessions to assist students interested in learning about the college’s affordable fall-semester opportunities. The semester begins on August 26.

Upcoming sessions include Tuesday, May 26 at 5 p.m. and Thursday, May 28 at 3 p.m. Potential students need only attend one of the sessions. Participants will be able to learn about admissions, the financial-aid process, and information regarding Pledge to Advance Connecticut (PACT) during the 60-minute sessions, which will also include question-and answer time.

Register for the session and learn more about summer and fall options by visiting asnuntuck.edu/admissions/how-to-enroll. For information regarding academic advising, visit www.asnuntuck.edu/advising.

BusinessWest, HCN Will Honor the Heroes of COVID-19

By BusinessWest Staff May 21, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Since the phrase COVID-19 came into our lexicon, those working in the broad healthcare field have emerged as the true heroes during a pandemic that has changed every facet of life as we know it.

And over the past several months, the world has paid tribute to these heroes, and in all kinds of ways — from applauding in unison from apartment-complex windows to bringing hot meals to hospital and nursing-home workers; from donating much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to people putting hearts on their front lawns and mailboxes to thank first responders, healthcare workers, postal workers, and others.

BusinessWest and its sister publication, the Healthcare News, will pay tribute in their own way, by dedicating their annual Healthcare Heroes program in 2020 to those who are have emerged as true heroes during this crisis.

Healthcare Heroes was launched by the two publications in 2017 to recognize those working in this all-important sector of the region’s economy, many of whom are overlooked when it comes to traditional recognition programs. Over the years, the program has recognized providers, administrators, emerging leaders, innovators, and collaborators.

For 2020, the program will shift its focus somewhat to the COVID-19 pandemic and all those who are working in the healthcare field or helping to assist it at this trying time. All manner of heroes have emerged this year, and we invite you to nominate one — or several — for what has become a very prestigious honor in Western Mass.: the Healthcare Heroes award.

Here are some examples of those who have become real heroes:

• Doctors and nurses;

• Emergency-room personnel, including doctors, nurses, orderlies, techs, triage, receptionists, and others;

• EMTs;

• Police and firefighters;

• Nursing-home personnel, everyone from frontline providers to administrators;

• End-of-life care providers;

• Administrators leading the efforts to battle the pandemic;

• Behavioral-health practitioners helping people and families navigate this crisis;

• Individuals and groups from our community who have stepped up to help healthcare workers with everything from hot meals to PPE;

• Companies that have pivoted and commenced production of materials such as PPE to help those in healthcare confront the pandemic;

• Scientists working behind the scenes to develop a vaccine or new types of PPE; and

• Truck drivers delivering supplies to hospitals and other providers.

These are just a few examples, and there are myriad others. In truth, everyone who goes to work in a hospital, nursing home, assisted-living facility, or other healthcare facility, thereby risking their own health, and perhaps their life, is a hero.

In many respects, all these heroes will be honored at the Healthcare Heroes event, now scheduled for this fall at the Springfield Sheraton. And to honor all of them, we want to bring to the podium a number of individuals and groups that represent everyone who has become a hero in these trying times.

To assist those thinking of nominating someone for this honor, we are simplifying the process. All we desire is a 400- to 500-word essay and/or two-minute video entry explaining why the group or individual stands out as an inspiration, and a truly bright star in a galaxy of healthcare heroes. These nominations will be carefully considered by a panel of independent judges, who will select the class of 2020.

The deadline for nominations is July 1. For more information on how to nominate someone for the Healthcare Heroes class of 2020, click here. Videos can be sent via dropbox to [email protected].

Davis Foundation Names Paul Belsito New Executive Director

By BusinessWest Staff May 20, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The directors of the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation announced the appointment of Paul Belsito as executive director of the foundation, succeeding Mary Walachy, who has served in the position for the past 23 years. Belsito will begin his new role on June 1.

Belsito most recently worked for the Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester, where he served as president of the Hanover Insurance Group Foundation and assistant vice president for Community Relations. In his nearly eight years at Hanover, Belsito led charitable giving, community relations, and employee giving and service in the company’s efforts to improve the lives of Worcester’s youth.

The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation places special emphasis on programs designed to strengthen schools and propel youth to higher levels of success. One of Belsito’s signature initiatives was supporting the Advancement Via Individualized Determination college readiness program in Worcester Public Schools.

During her tenure, Walachy guided the foundation in establishing several signature initiatives, including Cherish Every Child, the nationally-recognized Reading Success by 4th Grade initiative, the 413families/familias community texting initiative, and the advocacy group Springfield Business Leaders for Education. Most recently, she led the effort to establish and build the innovative Educare Springfield early-education center, which opened in the fall of 2019 near the campus of Springfield College and Brookings Elementary School.

Walachy will continue to represent the Davis Foundation in its role as philanthropic lead for Educare Springfield, the 24th Educare in the country and the first in Massachusetts, through the end of 2020.

“I am honored to join the Davis Foundation to advance our shared goals of improving the lives of children and families in Hampden County,” Belsito said. “In our present time, the commitment of the Davis family has never been more important, and I am excited to expand on the great foundation that Mary and the board have established. The legacy of Irene and George Davis remains vital as we rethink and reimagine how our community can best meet the needs of all of its residents. I am excited to listen, to learn, and build on this legacy in partnership with the board.”

A native of Worcester, Belsito has long been deeply involved in his community, serving on numerous nonprofit boards, including corporator of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, associate trustee of the Nativity School of Worcester, and presently as chair of the board of the EcoTarium. In the last few months, he co-led the city of Worcester’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in support of COVID-19 pandemic response.

Belsito brings a diversity of professional experiences across higher education, politics, and government to the Davis Foundation in addition to his significant experience in philanthropy and community engagement. Prior to joining Hanover, he served in the Office of the President at Assumption College as executive assistant for Government and Community Relations, and as a district director in the Massachusetts State Senate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management and an MBA, both from Assumption College.

First Round of Grants Announced for Amherst Businesses

By BusinessWest Staff May 20, 2020

Daily News

AMHERST — The Downtown Amherst Foundation’s grant review committee has selected the successful applicants from the first grant-giving cycle with businesses representative of several sectors, including restaurants and cafés, bars and pubs, retail establishments, and services. Nearly $150,000 was awarded to businesses in amounts up to $10,000.

Recipients included Amherst Coffee, Bistro 63, Crazy Noodles, Cushman Market, El Comalito, Fresh Side, La Veracruzana, LimeRed Teahouse, Miss Saigon, McMurphy’s Uptown Tavern, the Moan and Dove, Pita Pockets, Sibie’s, and Stackers for restaurants and bars; Amherst Books, Fretted Instrument, J. Austin Jewelers, M&M Links, the Bower Studio, the Toy Box, and Zanna for retailers; Cheryl Nina Salon, Matt’s Barbershop, Sei Bella Salon, Styles by Deborah, and the Lift Salon for salon/barbershop services; and Amherst Fitness, Amherst Inn, Center Dance Studio, Collective Copies/Levellers Press, Hope & Feathers Framing, the Laundry Club, and the Yoga Center Amherst for other services.

Contributions to the fund include donations from Amherst Insurance Agency, bankESB, Bueno y Sano, C&H Architects, Encharter Insurance, Felicity Hardee Law Practice, First Church Amherst, Greenfield Northampton Cooperative Bank, Howard E. Stark Charitable Foundation, Mom’s House Chinese Food Market, PeoplesBank, Stakeholders Capital, UMassFive College Credit Union, and the Amherst Business Improvement District. Donors helped the foundation reach half its $500,000 goal in only three weeks.

The Downtown Amherst Foundation anticipates another round of grants and plans on a more concrete announcement in coming weeks regarding this second round. That announcement will include information on eligibility, as well as timing and size offered in this grant cycle. With the Commonwealth’s announcement of a phased reopening strategy on May 18, these grants will be focused on helping businesses get up and running. Anyone who has an interest in maintaining a vibrant Amherst environment and business culture is invited to contribute to the fund at www.downtownamherstfoundation.org.

Sixth Annual Local Farmer Awards Fund 70 New Infrastructure Projects

By BusinessWest Staff May 20, 2020

Daily News

AGAWAM — At an essential time for local farmers, a group of community philanthropic leaders and businesses have come together to fund the Local Farmer Awards for the sixth year in a row. More than 70 farmers in Western Mass. received checks of up to $2,500 for farm infrastructure improvements and equipment. In all, this year’s Local Farmer Awards totaled $157,500.

Over the past five years, the Local Farmer Awards have provided nearly $750,000 to support local growers, helping farmers expand their businesses, compete in the marketplace, and continue to provide the health and environmental benefits of local farming. As COVID-19 causes farmers to lose large customers such as restaurants and schools, the need for assistance is greater than ever.

“We are excited and honored to receive this award, and we are committed to growing healthy, organic food for our community,” said Casey Steinberg of Old Friends Farm. “People say that it takes a village to raise a child. Similarly, it takes a community to raise a farm and grow a vibrant local food system. We are honored and humbled by the outpouring of support from our customers and all the ways we are held and embraced.”

Local Farmer Award funders have come together because they recognize the importance of investing in local farms. They include the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation in partnership with Big Y along with Ann and Steve Davis, Charles and Elizabeth D’Amour, HP Hood LLC, Farm Credit East, PeoplesBank, Baystate Health, Eastern States Exposition, and others.

“Now more than ever, our local farmers and their farms are an intrinsic and crucial part of our communities. We recognize their growing need for assistance,” said Big Y President and CEO Charles D’Amour. “For nearly 85 years, Big Y has been proud to support hardworking farmers and their families, and during this time we are pleased to partner with the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation to provide one more way to help our local growers thrive.”

The Local Farmer Awards team notes that farmers are showing creativity and resilience in these challenging times by shifting how and where they sell their products. Director Cari Carpenter noted that “we have many great options for purchasing local farm products, and we can support our farmers by buying their products whenever and wherever we can.”

Berkshire Grown and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, both advocates for farming and agriculture, have provided guidance for this program since its inception. A farmer celebration event will be held in late fall to recognize all applicants and promote local agriculture.

UMass Amherst Physicist, Global Team Advance Ventilator Device for COVID-19

By BusinessWest Staff May 20, 2020

COVID-19 Daily News

AMHERST — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the Mechanical Ventilator Milano (MVM) is safe for use in the U.S. under the FDA’s emergency-use authorization, which helps support public health during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

An international team of physicists and engineers, including physicist Andrea Pocar at UMass Amherst, brought a simplified ventilator from concept to approval in just six weeks, from March 19 to May 1. It was conceived by physicist Cristian Galbiati of Princeton University and the Gran Sasso Science Institute in L’Aquila, Italy, who was in Italy when the pandemic hit that country.

Galbiati, Pocar’s long-time friend and fellow researcher on the DarkSide-20k project recalls, “the sense of crisis was palpable. It was clear that many patients would need respiratory assistance.”

Moved to help, Galbiati reached out to fellow researchers from the DarkSide-20k dark-matter experiment to develop a ventilator with minimal components that could be quickly produced using commonly available parts. Dark-matter researchers have extensive experience designing and using sophisticated gas-handling systems and complex control systems, the same capabilities required for mechanical ventilators.

Pocar noted that particle physicists “build our own stuff, one-of-a-kind instruments, and we have experience in developing unique electronics and software for our experiments.”

Soon engineers and physicists in nine countries, particularly in Italy, the U.S., and Canada, jumped in to help. Steve Brice, the head of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermilab Neutrino Division, noted that “there’s a huge benefit we’ve gained from the way particle-physics collaborations work. The structure already in place has large, international, multi-disciplinary groups. We can retask that structure to work on something different, and you can move much more quickly.”

The MVM is inspired by the Manley ventilator built in the 1960s. Its design is simple, cheap, compact, and requires only compressed oxygen or medical air and a source of electrical power. The team updated the electronics and control system. Stephen Pordes, a member of DarkSide stationed at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), noted that “we’re concentrating on the software and letting the hardware be as minimal as it can be.”

The team also worked with doctors, medical-device manufacturers, and regulators to make sure they were making something valuable and easy for medical staff to use, with a robust supply chain, and which could be quickly produced. Doctors tested the MVM prototypes on breathing simulators. Anesthesiologists from COVID-19 wards in a hard-hit region in Italy also offered detailed guidance on the design, the MVM team reported.

“MVM demonstrates that international cooperation that advances intellectual and technological innovation is possible not only in the academic arena, but also in areas where basic research impacts society and political decisions,” Pocar said, adding that the next step will be to facilitate the development of devices based on the open-source MVM in other countries, and to “try to facilitate as much as possible the seeding of entrepreneurship around this device. The intellectual property behind it would come for free for whoever wants to use it.”

MassCEO Launches Keep the Doors Open Business Resilience Program

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2020

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — The Massachusetts Center for Employee Ownership (MassCEO) recently launched Keep the Doors Open, a resilience program for businesses in Massachusetts impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program supports businesses facing an unprecedented risk of closure by transitioning them to employee ownership — helping to preserve jobs, build community wealth, and preserve owners’ retirement savings.

One in five Americans have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, and the pandemic is expected to exacerbate the silver tsunami, the looming wave of business owners 55 and older facing retirement that currently own 77% of closely held businesses. When faced with the choice to take on more debt or close their doors, business owners that likely would have retired in five to 10 years may instead close in five to 10 weeks. Owners of all ages will also likely close their doors when the Paycheck Protection Program and other forgivable loans and grants dry up.

Keep the Doors Open is designed to prevent businesses from closing or laying off their workers, helping owners secure a fair price and successfully retire without taking on additional debt. The program provides businesses with professional advising and financing assistance, legal and operational support, business tools, and workforce training.
Businesses in any industry in Massachusetts that employ seven or more people are eligible to apply to the program. Businesses in Gateway Cities, historically marginalized neighborhoods, and those owned or staffed by people of color, women, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

Business owners interested in applying to MassCEO’s Keep the Doors Open Business Resilience Program should submit an application by Monday, June 1. More information is available at www.massceo.org.

Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards Presented to 113 Educators

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — School districts across the region participated in a rigorous process to select the winners of the 2020 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards. The program, which is in its 18th year, celebrates outstanding educators who make a significant impact on their colleagues and school community. This past winter, the announcements were made in surprise visits — accompanied by balloons, flowers, and music — to the classrooms of 113 recipients across 30 school districts.

As plans were being finalized for the gala banquet to publicly honor this year’s winners, COVID-19 forced school closings and the cancellation of events statewide. Nevertheless, the award program partners — the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation — took steps in this unprecedented year to ensure that 2020 winners were lauded and celebrated.

In early May, 96 teachers received prize checks of $500 each, and another 17 in the new-teacher category (those with up to three years of full-time experience) received $250. In July, each winner will receive an engraved plaque, free memberships to a local YMCA and the Springfield Jewish Community Center, and tuition-waiver certificates for graduate study at seven colleges and universities in the region, including a $10,000 scholarship toward a master’s degree at Mount Holyoke College. Other participating higher-education institutions include Elms College, Bay Path University, Springfield College, Western New England University, Westfield State University, and UMass Amherst.

“These wonderful teachers deliver truly superlative experiences to their lucky students each and every day,” philanthropist Harold Grinspoon said. “Our communities need role models and heroes more than ever right now, and each recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award has proven that they display ideals in and out of the classroom that we can all be proud of.”

In addition, winning teachers were encouraged to submit plans for creative curriculum-related initiatives to carry out with their students, ones that adhered to the principles of project-based learning. In March, WGBH Boston and WGBY Springfield presented an expert-led webinar for Excellence in Teaching Award winners on the topic. From the many project submissions, 10 teachers were selected for an additional Classroom Innovator Prize of $250: Kayleigh Berger (Holyoke), Jillian Cook (Springfield), Karen Cree (Agawam), Michael Haas (Palmer), Qiana Johnson (Springfield), Samantha Morin (Holyoke), Victoria Munroe (Amherst), Angela Schatz (Mohawk Trail/Hawlemont), Sharon St. Pierre (Chicopee), and Joanne Weiser (Hampden-Wilbraham).

Additional supporters of the Excellence in Teaching Awards are Arrha Credit Union, Country Bank, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Monson Savings Bank, and American International College, as well as the Springfield Jewish Community Center, the YMCA of Greater Springfield, and its five affiliate regional locations.

For more information about the 2020 Excellence in Teaching Awards and a complete list of winners, visit hgcf.org.

Beauty Batlles Lounge Launches the Hero Project to Give Back

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2020

COVID-19 Daily News

CHICOPEE — Beauty Batlles Lounge is looking to the community to support a virtual fundraiser, the Hero Project. The funds raised from the Hero Project will be used to provide complimentary self-care services at Beauty Batlles Lounge, to treat the healthcare workers and first responders of the community with some self-care once this COVID-19 pandemic ends.

With a goal of thanking those on the front lines for the seemingly endless, emotional, and heartbreaking days they have had to endure during the pandemic, Beauty Batlles Lounge is hopeful the community will show their support by donating and helping raise funds for the Hero Project. The total funds raised will be reserved and used to provide complimentary self-care services for those real-life heroes at Beauty Batlles Lounge, located at 661 Front St., Suite B, in Chicopee. Each service provided from Beauty Batlles Lounge’ special Hero Project menu will be deducted from the balance until the amount is depleted. The funds raised will be available for use by healthcare professionals, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and employees of sheriffs’ departments.

“My husband is a corrections officer who, along with many others, reports into work with the stress of potentially bringing this virus to work or bringing it home,” said Ashley Batlle, founder of Beauty Batlles Lounge and creator of the Hero Project.

Beauty Batlles Lounge is looking to the community to encourage donations to the Hero Project fundraising page and spread the word across social platforms. Fundraising pages are suggested to be made personal, by letting donors know why you’re fundraising and passionate about the Hero Project. Batlle is asking that, along with contributions to the fund, individuals also share their COVID-19 experience as an essential employee or as someone with an essential employee in their life.

The steps to donate and/or share the fundraising page are simple: visit www.beautybatlles.com/about.html, click on ‘the Hero Project’ in the header, and then click on ‘share’ or ‘donate now.’

A common theme across social-media platforms today is a continuous news feed of ‘mask looks,’ stories of COVID-19 experiences, and constant reminders for the general public to stay home and stay away. For many, this pandemic hits close to home as medical professionals, EMTs, police officers, and others are living in a constant state of stress because of this invisible, silent threat.

“We live in a world where self-care is so important,” Batlle said. “If we are not taking care of ourselves, how can we take care of others? I believe that the Hero Project will give our medical professionals and first responders a light at the end of this craziness.

“We all have had to deal with our own life changes during this pandemic,” she added, “but I believe that we should celebrate those that are fighting to keep us alive and safe at this moment.”

Go Fresh Mobile Farmer’s Market Pivots to Emergency Food Distribution

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2020

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Go Fresh Mobile Farmer’s Market project has pivoted to providing free fresh-produce boxes to older adults at housing and senior-center locations in Springfield.

Funded by the Trinity Health Transforming Communities Initiative, Tufts Health Plan Foundation, Beveridge Family Foundation, and Health New England, the Go Fresh emergency food-distribution program is a collaboration with Wellspring Cooperative, which helped get this program up and running by providing a location to store and sort the produce.

Additional community partners include Mass Senior Action Springfield Chapter, the Baystate Geriatrics House Calls Program, and the Springfield Healthy Homes Asthma Program. The project delivers produce boxes twice a month for two months to 200 older adults in Springfield. In addition, they will receive a social-isolation kit including toiletries, masks and gloves, arts and crafts, and cognitive puzzles and games.

Baystate Geriatrics reports that one team member commented that it brought tears to her eyes when one of her patients blew kisses of thanks from her doorway. The next day, another patient called the office and left the following message: “I just called to thank you guys. You came to my house and left me some vegetables. And I appreciate that. Thank you for caring.”

Gov. Charlie Baker Details First Phase of Economic Reopening

By BusinessWest Staff May 18, 2020

Coronavirus

BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito administration released “Reopening Massachusetts,” the Reopening Advisory Board’s report, which details a four-phased strategy to responsibly reopen businesses and activities while continuing to fight COVID-19.

The Administration also released a new “Safer at Home” advisory, which instructs residents to stay at home unless engaging with newly opened activities, as a way to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Who Can Open Now

Starting today, based on current public health data and trends, Massachusetts will begin Phase 1 of a cautious reopening, and workplaces that are permitted to open are required to follow new safety protocols and guidance.

Each phase of the reopening will be guided by public-health data and key indicators that will be continually monitored for progress and used to determine advancement to future phases. Industries, sectors, and activities that present less risk will open in earlier phases. Those that present more risk will open in later phases.

Based on the public health metrics, manufacturing facilities and construction sites may open effective today with applicable guidelines (more on those later). Places of worship will be able to open with guidelines that require social distancing, and they are encouraged to hold services outdoors.

Hospitals and community health centers that attest to specific public-health and safety standards can begin to provide high-priority preventive care, pediatric care, and treatment for high risk patients.

Who Can Open on May 25

Starting Monday, May 25, other businesses may reopen, including lab space; office space; limited personal services, including hair salons, pet grooming, and car washes; retail, with remote fulfillment and curbside pickup only; beaches and parks; drive-in movie theaters; select athletic fields and courts; many outdoor adventure activities; most fishing, hunting, and boating; and outdoor gardens, zoos, reserves, and public installations.

Additional sectors expected to open on June 1 as part of Phase 1 include office spaces in the city of Boston with applicable guidelines.

The goal of this phased reopening plan is to methodically allow businesses, services, and activities to resume, while avoiding a resurgence of COVID-19 that could overwhelm the state’s healthcare system and erase the progress made so far.

Each phase will last a minimum of three weeks and could last longer before moving to the next phase. If public-health data trends are negative, specific industries, regions, and/or the entire Commonwealth may need to return to an earlier phase.

The Commonwealth will partner with industries to draft sector-specific protocols in advance of future phases (for example, restaurant-specific protocols will be drafted in advance of Phase 2).

Success in earlier phases will refine criteria for future phases, including travel, sizes of gatherings, as well as additional retail openings, lodging and accommodations, arts, entertainment, fitness centers, museums, restaurants, youth sports, and other activities.

‘Safer at Home’

Effective today, the Department of Public Health also updated its stay-at-home advisory, replacing it with a new “Safer at Home” advisory, which instructs everyone to stay home unless they are headed to a newly opened facility or activity. It also advises those over age 65 and those with underlying health conditions to stay home with the exception of trips required for healthcare, groceries, or that are otherwise absolutely necessary. All residents must continue to wear a face covering in public when social distancing is not possible, and individuals are advised to wash their hands frequently and be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms. Restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people remain in effect.

Protocols for Reopening

Businesses are not required to reopen, and may not do so if they are unable to follow safety protocols. Materials for the sectors eligible to open in the first phase of reopening are included on the mass.gov/reopening website. Guidance for sectors opening in later phases will be posted online in advance of those phases.

In order to reopen, businesses must develop a written COVID-19 control plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. Required materials are located on mass.gov/reopening, and include detailed sector-specific circulars and checklists to facilitate compliance.

Required materials for businesses to self-certify are located on mass.gov/reopening, and include a COVID-19 control-plan template, which must be retained on premises and provided in the event of an inspection; a compliance-attestation poster to be posted in a location visible to employees and visitors, indicating a completed COVID-19 control plan; and other posters and signs describing rules for maintaining social distancing, hygiene protocols, as well as cleaning and disinfecting.

Businesses providing essential services, as defined in the governor’s March 23 executive order and updated on March 31, April 28, and May 15, may remain open and have until May 25 to comply with the general workplace-safety standards, as well as their industry’s sector-specific protocols.

Healthcare

Effective today, hospitals and community health centers that attest to meeting specific capacity criteria and public health and safety standards will be allowed to resume a limited set of in-person preventative, diagnostic, and treatment services.

Effective May 25, other healthcare providers who attest to meeting these standards may resume limited in-person services.

Services that may be performed are limited, based on the provider’s clinical judgment to high-priority preventive services, including pediatric care, immunizations, and chronic disease care for high-risk patients, and urgent procedures that cannot be delivered remotely and would lead to high risk or significant worsening of the patient’s condition if deferred.

Before the phased in-hospital expansion and non-hospital reopening, the following statewide metrics must be met: 30% of hospital ICU beds (including staffed surge capacity) must be available; and 30% of total hospital beds (including staffed surge capacity) must be available.

In order to reopen or expand services, healthcare providers must attest to public-health standards and specific guidelines; ensure adequate personal protective equipment is on hand and a reliable supply chain and other supplies and policies are in place; maintain infection-control readiness (workflow, cleaning, social distancing, etc.); and institute workforce and patient screening and testing protocols. Also, hospitals must have at least 25% ICU and total bed capacity and must reopen pediatric ICU and psychiatric beds if they had been repurposed for surge capacity.

Childcare

Childcare and summer recreation camps will reopen in a phased approach. The state departments of Early Education and Care (EEC) and Public Health are developing guidelines that balance families’ need for childcare with health and safety. The initial reopening plan will focus on families who have no safe alternative to group care by increasing emergency childcare capacity. EEC will also partner with industries returning to work to develop options specific to their workplaces.

In March, the Baker-Polito administration stood up an emergency childcare system to support children of essential workers and vulnerable families with extra virus-mitigation protocols. During Phase 1, the emergency childcare system already in place will be utilized to meet the needs of people with no alternatives for care. Currently, only 35% of the 10,000-child emergency childcare capacity is occupied, and the system has the ability to serve more families to provide care options as more sectors come back online.

Transit

The MBTA has been and will continue to implement measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 across the system to keep employees and riders safer.

Riders are required to wear face coverings and must make efforts to distance. Riders are asked to avoid riding transit if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Employers are encouraged to stagger schedules and implement work-from-home policies to reduce demand, especially during rush hours.

The MBTA will continue to take protective and preventative measures such as frequently disinfecting and cleaning vehicles and stations and providing protective supplies to workers.

To mitigate risk while providing appropriate levels of service, the MBTA will support the transit needs of essential workers and those returning to the workplace in Phase 1 while continuing with limited service to maximize employee and rider safety. It will ramp up to a modified version of full service by Phase 3, although social-distancing efforts will limit effective capacity on vehicles even after full-service schedules are restored.

The MBTA will also actively communicate public-health guidance and schedule adjustments in-station, online, and over social media.

Supplies

In order to operate, all Massachusetts businesses will need to meet the mandatory workplace-safety standards and relevant sector-specific protocols published by the state. To support businesses, the state has developed a guide to educate business owners on what supplies are needed to return to workplaces, and a portal to connect businesses with manufacturers and distributors. These are now available to business owners at mass.gov/reopening.

Educational materials will be provided to define how an employer should prepare their workspaces to reopen and what products are appropriate for employees to protect themselves at work. While face coverings are critical, medical-grade face coverings are not necessary for non-healthcare workers.

Schools and Higher Education

As previously announced, Massachusetts’ K-12 school buildings will remain closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year, with remote teaching and learning in place. Schools will continue offering essential non-educational services to their communities. Plans are being made for summer learning programs and 2020-21 school year, and will be shared with the public in the weeks to come.

Massachusetts’ diverse higher-education institutions continue to foster teaching, learning, student support, and essential research remotely throughout this time. They are working together and in partnership with the state to ensure a safe and gradual return to campus life. In the upcoming weeks, institutions will develop customized reopening plans with safety of their communities in mind.

About the Reopening Advisory Board

The 17-member Reopening Advisory Board, co-chaired by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, consists of public-health experts, municipal leaders, and members of the business community representing many facets of the Massachusetts economy. Since its formation on April 28, the board met with a total of 75 stakeholder groups including industry associations, regional chambers of commerce, community coalitions, and labor organizations, representing over 112,000 different businesses and more than 2 million workers across the Commonwealth. The Reopening Advisory Board also considered written comments from more than 4,500 employers, organizations, and individuals in the development of its plan.

Gov. Charlie Baker to Detail Reopening Plan Today

By BusinessWest Staff May 18, 2020

COVID-19 Daily News

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to detail his four-phase plan to begin reopening the state today.

The first phase of the plan will allow places of worship, as well as the construction and manufacturing industries, to resume operations with safety measures in place, according to an e-mail sent to local officials obtained by various media outlets.

While specifics of the reopening plan were still being finalized by the COVID-19 Reopening Advisory Board over the weekend, Baker announced last week that he will take a four-phase approach to reopening the Massachusetts economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to methodically allow certain businesses, services, and activities to resume, while protecting public health and limiting a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases.

• Phase 1 will be ‘start’: limited industries resume operations with severe restrictions.

• Phase 2 will be ‘cautious’: additional industries resume operations with restrictions and capacity limits.

• Phase 3 will be ‘vigilant’: additional industries resume operations with guidance.

• Phase 4 will be the ‘new normal’: development of a vaccine and/or therapy enables careful resumption of full activity.

Businesses and activities that provided ‘COVID-19 essential services,’ per Gov. Charlie Baker’s March 23 order, will continue to operate. Certain businesses and activities with a lower risk of COVID-19 transmission will open in earlier phases. Decisions and timing will be influenced by public-health metrics for when the first phase of reopening begins, as well as when it is safe to move into concurrent phases. If public health metrics worsen, the state may need to return to an earlier phase.

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