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Providence Ministries Services to Continue Through Coronavirus

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COVID-19 Daily News

HOLYOKE — Providence Ministries will continue to offer essential support services to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, Executive Director Shannon Rudder shared precautions being made to ensure continuity of services while protecting program participants.

Effective immediately, the following program shifts will occur: Kate’s Community Kitchen will provide warm, nutritious takeout meals; dining-room services will be suspended until further notice. Margaret’s Pantry will continue to welcome those in need of supplemental groceries to enjoy its community services. This includes both monthly guests along with anyone impacted by loss of work or simply realizing greater need at this time. Make an appointment by calling Brenda at (413) 536-9109, ext. 119. St. Jude’s Clothing Center will be closed until further notice to contain exposure, while the foodWorks culinary-training program will suspend current classes until further notice; the April 1 graduation will be rescheduled.

Providence is taking every precaution to ensure its single-room-occupancy recovery housing spaces maintain cleanliness and overall health. It is difficult to ensure a true quarantine due to shared spaces, such as bathrooms and kitchens. At Loreto House, residents will suspend weekend passes and all planned workshops, no general public will be allowed entrance, a daily temperature check has been instituted, and any resident presenting symptoms and fever will be sent to the hospital or their primary-care provider. At both Broderick House and McCleary Manor, no outside visitors or overnight guests are permitted. No new residents will be admitted to any of these houses during this time. Each home has adequate cleaning products and hand soaps. Volunteers are asked to exercise caution and use their best judgement to continue in their service.

Big Brothers Big Sisters to Host Virtual Daffodil Run amid Coronavirus Concerns

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COVID-19 Daily News

AMHERST — Adhering to recommendations made by Gov. Charlie Baker, Big Brothers Big Sisters will host the 10th annual Daffodil 5K Run/Walk and 10K Run as a virtual event on Sunday, April 26, instead of the Amherst Town Common, its original location. Still a festive, family-friendly event, registrants will choose their own 5K or 10K course, document their participation, and tune in for a celebratory livestream broadcast from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the date of the event.

“The response from the community since the announcement of a virtual event has been overwhelmingly heartwarming. And now, people across the country are signing up to participate,” said Jessie Cooley, director of CHD’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County (BBBSHC).

The Daffodil Run is the largest annual fundraiser for CHD’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County and provides vital funds for its mentoring programs. “BBBSHC inspires resilience and leadership among the youth we serve,” said Claudia Pazmany, advisory board president and executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. “Going digital with this year’s 10th annual Daffodil Run, a cherished Amherst tradition, inspires the same in all of us at a time when we need to be in community the most. Our 150 big/little matches are depending on you in the midst of this global emergency.”

For more information and to register for the race, visit www.daffodilrun.com.

Holyoke Medical Center Welcomes 40 Soldiers’ Home Residents

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COVID-19 Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) has welcomed 40 Holyoke Soldiers’ Home residents in response to a request for assistance from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. In order to accommodate this request, the Birthing Center and the outpatient Cardiovascular Center at HMC have been converted to house these residents.

Holyoke Medical Center maternity patients will temporarily be delivering at the Family Life Center at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. The outpatient Cardiovascular Center has also been temporarily relocated to 2 Hospital Dr., Suite 203, Holyoke.

“We were asked if we could accommodate Soldiers’ Home residents in our facility and are responding to the request to assist in any way we possibly can,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems. “These are unprecedented times, and we have a duty to help any and all that need our assistance and an additional level of duty to assist our veterans.”

The Soldiers’ Home residents transferred to Holyoke Medical Center have screened negative for COVID-19.

“This request has been an opportunity for the staff at Holyoke Medical Center to once again shine,” Hatiras added. “I am incredibly proud of their efficiency and dedication to rise to any occasion, including their ability to convert two patient units within hours, accommodating 40 people to receive care.”

The Holyoke Medical Group obstetrics doctors and certified nurse midwives will be closely coordinating with their colleagues at Mercy Medical Center to maintain continuity of care for their patients while temporarily delivering at this alternate location.

Questions regarding labor and delivery through the Birthing Center can be directed to the outpatient office, Holyoke Medical Group Women’s Services, at (413) 534-2826. For questions regarding the Family Life Center at Mercy Medical Center, call (413) 748-7400.

COVID-19 – Marketing Through a Pandemic

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Marketing Tips

Courtesy of https://www.atomicdc.com/

Marketing during a pandemic? Permission to adapt and proceed. Now is not the time to go silent. Online engagement is surging with social distancing in place. More people are spending more time on social media and accessing web-based resources than ever before. There’s a great opportunity to reach your audience and provide them with information, interaction, positive thoughts, and relevant resources.

They need to know if you’re still operational, what services you’re now offering, how you’re adjusting (it’s okay to be human), and how you can help. They need to be reassured that if they interact with your company or employees, appropriate cautions are in place.

What you CAN & SHOULD do:
Now is the time to emphasize any online products, pre-sales (think gift certificates or vouchers), or delivery services you offer. People are also looking for great resources and activities to stay productive and positive.

Update customers on changes in your operations.
Communicate any hours, service, safety protocols, or operation updates that have been made via:
Your website
Email lists
Social media accounts
Post updates to your Google My Business listing! (VERY important)
Online directories such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, Angie’s List, etc.

Read more

 

Northampton Survival Center Updates Public on Available Services

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — While concern for staff, client, and volunteer health during the COVID-19 pandemic recently forced Northampton Survival Center to temporarily stop client visits to pick up food, the center anticipates resuming modified operations as soon as possible. In the meantime, even though the building is closed, the work continues, with new community partnerships and initiatives springing into action, said Heidi Nortonsmith, executive director.

The center has teamed up with Community Action Pioneer Valley to begin distributing food out of Jackson Street School, a nearby location with ample, circular parking and cafeteria and refrigeration capabilities. Beginning on April 6, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, food will be delivered by the Survival Center to the school, where a team of trained personnel will be able to create pre-bagged packages of nutritious food while maintaining safe distancing and other health precautions. On those same afternoons, bags will be carted outdoors under a tent, for quick drive-up intake and food transfer to clients safely in their cars.

Another initiative between the Northampton Survival Center and Grow Food Northampton will begin on April 7, with fresh produce and groceries being delivered every Tuesday to high-need sites including Hampshire Heights, Florence Heights, Meadowbrook, and the Lumber Yard on Pleasant Street. Food distribution at all four sites will work in tandem with the Northampton public-school system and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School’s new meal-delivery program for children, in order to amplify each other’s efforts to keep children and their entire families fed. Shelf-stable groceries will be paired with fresh produce purchased directly from local farms, as well as produce and other goods purchased from distributors via River Valley Co-op.

With this partnership, in the words of Grow Food Northampton Executive Director Alisa Klein, “we are floating all boats higher and doing exactly what just, successful food systems should do — make the connection between local farmers and the people who need fresh, healthy food the most because of a lack of access, financially and otherwise.”

To serve clients in the hilltowns, food is being brought from the Hilltown Pantry and Northampton Survival Center to the various Councils on Aging that serve the region. COAs in Chesterfield, Worthington, and Goshen have already begun distributing this food from their sites, and further outreach is being coordinated with the Hilltown Community Health Center and the Hilltown Community Development Corp. The center is exploring using a school classroom in Worthington as a mini-pantry, and fresh produce has been shared with the Maples senior housing in Worthington.

Eggs from Northampton Survival Center have been shared with the MANNA hot meal program, and fresh produce and retail donations of bread and other items usually reserved for the center are now being shared with other food pantries in the area, via the center’s partners at the Food Bank.

“These are just a few of the first directions taking shape,” Nortonsmith said. “Please know that we continue to work on the front lines of providing food security to our neighbors in need. The form will be different for a while, as so much around the world has been turned on its head. But our hearts and hands are still in this, and we’re working with great and good leaders across the Valley to do our part. Thank you for being part of our team and cheering us on.”

Women Empowered Makes $2,500 Donation to Girls Inc. of the Valley

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Women Empowered, a group that strives to promote body positivity and acceptance for both adult women and future generations of girls, has donated $2,500 in proceeds of its Women Empowered calendar sales to Girls Inc. of the Valley. The receipt of this gift will support Girls Inc. of the Valley’s current research-based program offerings designed to empower girls, and will provide a boost in its annual fundraising efforts.

“The mission of Women Empowered is to help expand and challenge our society’s limited standards of beauty,” said Michelle Crean, founder of Women Empowered. “We have chosen to have all proceeds from the sale of the calendars go to Girls Inc. of the Valley because their mission of making all girls strong, smart, and bold aligns with our mission.”

The Women Empowered calendar features a diverse group of everyday women who have embraced their uniqueness, have overcome physical and mental obstacles, celebrate their bodies, and want to share their story to inspire others. This calendar provides the chance to send a message of body positivity and acceptance in order to teach other women and future generations to embrace the totality of who they are, and use their gifts, their beauty, and their stories to change the world. Everyone involved with the production of the calendar and all sponsors are women-owned businesses.

Monson Savings Bank Donates $25,000 to Baystate Health’s Greatest Needs Fund

By
COVID-19 Daily News

MONSON — Baystate Health has just completed construction of a rapid-response triage area outside of the Baystate Medical Center Emergency Department, allowing the hospital to better protect patients and medical staff from exposure to the virus as patients are being screened and tested.

This new triage area is just one of the many large, unplanned expenses this health emergency has created. Additionally, the exploding demand for personal protection equipment for staff and myriad other needs to fight this outbreak are stretching resources and finances to the limit.

Monson Savings Bank has donated $25,000 to Baystate’s Greatest Needs Fund. This gift will directly support resources needed at Baystate Health as it continues to address and prepare for the care the community needs during this worldwide pandemic.

“At a time like this, our hearts go out to the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff who are the front line in our fight against this terrible virus,” bank President Steve Lowell said. “We hope that this donation will help them and show that our community thanks them for their valiant efforts.”

JGS Lifecare Updates Community on Response to COVID-19 in Nursing Home

By
COVID-19 Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Adam Berman, president of JGS Lifecare, issued a statement to update the community regarding COVID-19, which has infected 29 residents of Leavitt Family Jewish Home.

“JGS Lifecare is committed to doing everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our residents and staff,” he said. “We strictly maintain and follow effective infection control procedures as mandated by state and federal regulations and have made many additional changes, including institutng a no-visitor policy to reduce the risk of infection.

“Up until early this week, we had a few isolated cases in which residents and staff members tested positive for COVID-19 in the Jewish Nursing Home. In all cases, we took aggressive steps to quarantine anyone with close contact. Residents who tested positive were transferred to an isolation unit and cared for by a separate and dedicated care team. Staff members with symptoms were asked to remain at home and self-quarantine.

“Beginning this week, we proactively began the process of testing our residents throughout the facility. Late last night and early this morning, we were notified by the lab that we have 29 residents in our facility who tested positive with COVID-19. Some are experiencing only mild symptoms, and many more are stable and showing signs of recovery.

“We are working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Longmeadow Fire Department, and other local authorities to take all possible actions to protect our residents, staff, and community. Any resident with a confirmed case of COVID-19 is being moved into our isolation unit and treated by a designated COVID care team. We will also continue to perform tests on all our residents until we feel confident we have firm control of the situation.

“To help our clinical staff remain focused on taking care of our residents, we have created a robust communications team. This team has been directly contacting the families of all our residents several times a week to keep them informed. To protect resident confidentiality, we are only able to speak to designated family members and have asked them to more broadly communicate with other interested parties if appropriate.

“We understand that this is a stressful time for everyone,” Berman concluded. “We will continue to work hard to serve our mission of providing the best-quality care for our residents and full support for all our families.”

How to Communicate With Empathy During the Coronavirus Crisis

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Marketing Tips

Courtesy of https://www.klaviyo.com/

It’s been a tough few weeks for, well, the world as we navigate a new normal amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

From a personal standpoint, many of us are practicing social distancing by staying inside, canceling plans, and avoiding crowded spaces. 

Professionally, most of us are working from home with an indefinite timeline of when we’ll be returning to our offices. If you’re working in ecommerce, you’re likely experiencing interruptions to your day-to-day operations due to supply chain issues, changes in demand, and retail closures, to name just a few of the many challenges businesses are currently facing. 

During this time, there are many questions that arise around how you should move forward—do you continue marketing as normal? Should you address the situation at hand? Do you communicate the measures you’re taking as a brand or make yourself scarce in the inbox? Should you push off that large announcement or new product release? How much communication is enough and how much is too much?

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LinkedIn Shares Tips on What to Post During COVID-19 Lockdowns

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Marketing Tips

Courtesy of https://www.socialmediatoday.com

Like every social platform, LinkedIn has seen an influx in user activity over the past two weeks. 

With people around the world staying home to limit the spread of COVID-19, professionals have been logging on to LinkedIn to stay informed, and to keep updated as to how other businesses are handling the situation, in order to inform their own approach.

LinkedIn engagement has been increasing for some time, so it’s not surprising to see more people turning to the platform for professional advice. And this week, LinkedIn has provided some tips on how people can make best use of its platform to better connect and engage with their networks.

First off, LinkedIn has provided some more general posting tips, beyond the COVID-19 situation alone, which could help you improve your posting strategies for the platform.

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Department of Labor Issues Temporary Rule on Families First Coronavirus Response Act

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COVID-19 Daily News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) took effect Wednesday, and the Department of Labor has released a temporary rule intended to shed some light on the trickier pieces of the law, such as calculating the total number of employees at a company, calculating ‘partial pay,’ and the application of the small-employer exemption. The temporary rule will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2020.

According to the attorneys at Royal, P.C., the FFCRA created two new emergency paid-leave requirements: the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act requires covered employers to provide up to 80 hours of sick leave to employees at full pay for qualifying reasons. The Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of expanded FMLA, 10 of which are paid at partial pay. A covered employer is an employer that employs fewer than 500 employees. Employers may avail themselves of certain tax reimbursements under the law through refundable tax credits.

Small employers (under 50 employees) may be eligible for an exemption from having to provide an employee with paid sick leave and expanded family medical leave when the leave would be to care for the employee’s child whose school or place of care is closed. This limited exemption is applicable only if the employer can demonstrate that such leave would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.

While the new regulations are intended to provide guidance on the law, many of the components of its application (calculations of pay, tax credits, the counting of employees, and the possible exemptions) are quite complex, and there still are many gray areas.

If you have any questions about navigating the requirements of the FFCRA and its regulations, contact attorney Amy Royal at [email protected], (413) 586-2288, or (413) 695-1075. Attorney Fred Royal is also available to answer any questions, including tax questions related to these issues; he can be reached at (413) 586-2288 or (413) 552-7029.

Governor Announces Attorney Mark Pearlstein to Investigate Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

By
COVID-19 Daily News

HOLYOKE — Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Wednesday that the Governor’s Office has hired attorney Mark Pearlstein to conduct an independent investigation of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and the events that led to the recent and ongoing deaths from COVID-19 within that facility.

The investigation will focus both on the events inside the facility that led to the deaths of veterans in the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, and on management and organizational oversight of the COVID-19 response in the facility.

The state announced the deaths of two additional veterans at the Soldiers’ Home on Wednesday, bringing the total deaths of veteran residents to 15. Six of the deceased have been confirmed with COVID-19 so far, with other tests pending. In addition, 11 other veteran residents and seven staff members have tested positive.

Pearlstein has substantial experience in the investigation and trial of complex white-collar criminal cases and other government enforcement matters. He practiced as a federal prosecutor in Boston’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he served as chief of the office’s Economic Crimes Unit from 1994 to 1996, and was the first assistant U.S. attorney from 1996 until 2000, where he supervised the Civil and Criminal divisions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Currently, Pearlstein is a partner at McDermott, Will & Emery, where he concentrates his practice on white-collar criminal defense, defense of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission actions, complex commercial litigation, arbitration, and internal investigations.

Glenmeadow Resident Tests Positive for COVID-19

By
COVID-19 Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Glenmeadow President and CEO Anne Thomas announced on Wednesday that a resident has tested positive for COVID-19, representing the first case of the disease on site.

Thomas said the resident was symptomatic and was visited by her primary-care physician on March 27. Based on her pre-existing health status and on-site assessment, the resident was tested and directed to isolate in her apartment pending the results.

“The results came back positive early this morning, and we were notified shortly thereafter,” Thomas said. “As always, we want to make sure we are keeping the community informed, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. We are taking every step possible to protect our residents, our staff, and the community.”

Thomas said Glenmeadow staff are taking direction from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Longmeadow Emergency Management personnel.

In accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), she noted, Glenmeadow has instituted enhanced protocols, in addition to those it instituted roughly three weeks ago, when building access was restricted to residents and essential personnel only.

Thomas said the resident is being isolated in the bedroom/bathroom of the apartment, and the private aide she employs will continue to provide support and will be the only caregiver quarantined with her in the apartment.

Any Glenmeadow staff member who has entered the apartment within the last two weeks is being evaluated, and will be sent home to self-quarantine if appropriate. Also, per CDC guidelines, the apartment will be cleaned by a person wearing personal protective equipment.

“The health and wellness of those we serve and employ remains our priority,” Thomas said, noting that Glenmeadow will continue existing protocols that have been in place since the beginning of March. These include:

• Glenmeadow’s management team meets daily by conference call to review updates by local, state, and federal agencies. This learning has been used to update policies, procedures, and communication with all Glenmeadow audiences;

• Access to the building at 24 Tabor Crossing is restricted to residents and essential personnel only, and a screening procedure is in place at the entrance;

• Glenmeadow’s visiting physicians, Drs. May Awkal and Suzanne Jorey, will continue to see their patients in resident apartments at the life-plan community;

• Glenmeadow’s licensed nursing staff is in the building 24/7, and staff are tracking all resident illnesses; and

• Life-enrichment programs are being offered on Glenmeadow’s in-house TV channel, 918.

For further news and alerts from Glenmeadow, visit its blog at glenmeadow.org/blog, which it has been updating daily since March 11.

UMassFive College Credit Union Offers Financial Resources, Community Support

By
COVID-19 Daily News

HADLEY — As a local nonprofit financial cooperative, UMassFive College Federal Credit Union (UMassFive) is known for playing an active role in supporting and educating members and local communities. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UMassFive has launched a number of initiatives to continue supporting its membership and people in the local community.

For example, UMassFive has joined forces with Log Rolling Catering to donate 350 meals to individuals and families in need, as well as those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. The Amherst Survival Center will receive 150 prepared meals for distribution to those in need, and another 200 meals will go to the ER staff at both Mercy Medical Center in Springfield and UMass Medical Center in Worcester.

In addition, UMassFive has pledged $1,000 to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and donated another $1,000 to the local farming nonprofit Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, which will use the funds as part of its campaign to raise $50,000 for emergency loans to local farms.

Credit-union members can also participate by making charitable donations in support of their local community through the UMassFive Buzz Points program, including options benefiting the Food Bank and the Amherst Survival Center

UMassFive is committed to answering questions and providing financial guidance to its members throughout this ongoing time of economic uncertainty. Members are encouraged to reach out for one-on-one phone consultations with credit union staff to better understand what options are available to them at this time.

For instance, UMassFive is offering loan-payment deferral for up to three months on all qualified consumer loans. Members can visit www.umassfive.coop/emergency-relief to learn which loans qualify and to submit their emergency-relief payment-deferral requests through an easy-to-fill-out web form.

As a way to make things a little easier for qualified borrowers who decide to take on some short-term debt to address their current needs, UMassFive has temporarily lowered the rate of all new personal loans to 5.99% APR for amounts of $2,000 or less. New and existing members can apply for this loan online at www.umassfive.coop/personalloan. After signing up (for new users) or logging in, applicants should select ‘fixed-term loan,’ then ‘loan special,’ and continue filling out the form until fully submitted. The credit union strongly encourages seeking alternative options before taking on additional debt.

“We want our members and communities to know we are here for you — especially in times of crisis,” said Craig Boivin, vice president of Marketing at UMassFive. “If you’re experiencing hardship and need someone to talk to about your financial situation, or even know someone who could use the help, UMassFive is a resource you can count on.”

For more information and resources, and to stay up to date with UMassFive’s operational hours and branch schedule, visit www.umassfive.coop/covid-19.

Country Bank Donates $250,000 to Four Local Hospitals

By
COVID-19 Daily News

WARE — Country Bank announced it has donated $250,000 to four local hospitals to help assist with the work they are doing for patients as they fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospitals receiving donations include Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, and Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester.

“We are so grateful to Country Bank for its most generous support and appreciate its continued partnership during this unprecedented time. This gift will directly support resources needed at Baystate Health as we continue to address and prepare for the care our community needs as we face this worldwide pandemic,” said Scott Berg, vice president of Philanthropy, Baystate Health, and executive director, Baystate Health Foundation.

Paul Scully, president and CEO at Country Bank, noted that “these are challenging and ever-evolving times as we face uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. As a community partner, we care deeply about our communities, and we wanted to support our local hospitals to help ease their financial burden as they continue to offer exceptional care to our friends and neighbors in the region.”

12 Expert Tips For Optimizing Your Online Marketing Strategy

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Marketing Tips

Courtesy of https://www.klaviyo.com/

Day by day, the coronavirus crisis continues to change the way we shop, as consumers, and change the way we conduct business, as marketers. For many companies, this means reevaluating a direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategy and relying more heavily on ecommerce or building out an online store for the first time.

As you begin to adjust your marketing strategy, the most effective tactics will be the small, iterative changes you can make to your current setup—and who better to provide tips other than the marketing agencies that are implementing them for their clients every day?

Read more

Death Toll, Questions Mount at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

By
COVID-19 Daily News

HOLYOKE — The death toll at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home is up to 13 veteran residents in the past week, at least six from COVID-19, while another 10 residents have tested positive for coronavirus, and 25 more are waiting for test results.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse called the situation at the Soldiers’ Home “unacceptable” and “a disservice to everyone who lives there.” 

In a statement, he noted that, “while I am grateful that the state is now taking swift action to ensure residents and staff get necessary care and treatment, I am grief-stricken for those we have already lost, and my heart goes out to their families and friends.”

Meanwhile U.S. Rep. Richard Neal is calling for accountability for what happened, noting that he has spoken to Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders and the Massachusetts Nurses Assoc. to share his concerns about the conditions at the home and to learn more about their plans to move forward.

“I am heartbroken by the sudden loss of life,” Neal said when the first 11 deaths were reported earlier this week. “While the Commonwealth of Massachusetts manages the healthcare facility, I have always worked hard to secure federal assistance for the home because of the importance of their mission. The residents of the Soldiers’ Home have served their country with honor and distinction, and their health and safety, along with that of the staff, has always been top priority. This is even more personal to me because I have an uncle who is a full-time resident there. I was shocked to learn of these deaths.”

Bennett Walsh, the home’s superintendent, has been placed on leave, and Val Liptak, CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital, has assumed responsibility for the administration of the facility. The state also assembled an on-site clinical command team comprised of medical, epidemiological, and operational experts responsible for rapid response to the outbreak.

State Extends Non-essential Business Closures to May 4

By
COVID-19 Daily News

BOSTON — On Tuesday, the Baker-Polito administration announced several updates related to the COVID-19 outbreak, including extending the non-essential business emergency order until May 4. The Department of Public Health’s (DPH) stay-at-home advisory remains in effect.

Businesses and organizations not on the list of ‘COVID-19 essential services’ are encouraged to continue operations through remote means that do not require workers, customers, or the public to enter or appear at the brick-and-mortar premises closed by the order. This order also prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people until May 4.

The administration also updated the essential-services list, which is based on federal guidance updated earlier this week. While these businesses are designated as essential, they are urged to follow social-distancing protocols for workers in accordance with guidance from DPH. The updates to the essential-services list include clarity around the supply chain that supports other essential services, adds healthcare providers like chiropractors and optometrists, and expands the types of workers providing disinfectant and sanitation services.

Last week, Gov. Charlie Baker directed DPH to issue a stay-at-home advisory, and the governor announced Tuesday that the advisory will remain in effect. Residents are advised to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel and other unnecessary person-to-person contact during this time period. Residents who are considered at high risk when exposed to COVID-19 should limit social interactions with other people as much as possible.

In other news, the Commonwealth, through MEMA, has requested and received approval for a field nedical station that will provide additional medical-care capacity as the state plans for a surge in cases. The federal Strategic National Stockpile has approved a 250-bed field medical station that will be deployed to the DCU Center in Worcester this week. This temporary facility will be managed by UMass Memorial Medical Center and staffed by a partnership including the city of Worcester and others. The temporary field medical center will be used to treat lower-acuity patients who still need monitoring.

The Commonwealth is also implementing a pilot project that allows for safe, on-site testing of symptomatic residents of nursing and rest homes with a quick turnaround. The pilot will operate under the auspices of the Massachusetts National Guard in partnership with DPH and Broad Institute of Cambridge, and samples will be collected by trained personnel from the Massachusetts National Guard. Prior to this launch, the only way for nursing-home residents to be tested would be to be transported to a hospital or physician’s office.

Free Groceries from Perlman Family Feed the Spirit of JGS Staff

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Thanks to a generous donation from the Perlman family, owners of Ocean State Job Lots, the staff at JGS Lifecare were treated to free groceries in an expression of gratitude for their commitment to the care of our frail elders, especially in these unprecedented times.

Over the course of the past few days, all JGS Lifecare employees have been invited to stop in a temporary grocery store and farmers’ market located in the Nirenberg Administration Building and its adjacent parking lot, on the JGS Lifecare campus. Each staff member filled three bags of dry goods and two bags of fresh produce to take home to their families. Staff selected from tall displays of peanuts, peanut butter, chicken broth, stuffing, turkey gravy, sweet and spicy baked beans, canned pineapple, and boxes loaded with organic lettuces and tomatoes, tangerines, bananas, avocados, zucchini, apples, grapes, grapefruit, asparagus, potatoes, and onions.

Ellie Riberio, a nurse at the Leavitt Family Jewish Home for four years, said that, “when I got the text last night that JGS was giving us five bags of groceries, I was in shock. I so much appreciate it. It helps me and my family out tremendously. The staff here has been wonderful throughout this ordeal that we’re going through. I cannot express how grateful I am for all that they’re doing to help us.”

“Our staff is remarkable,” added Adam Berman, president of JGS Lifecare. “They come to work each and every day to care for our most vulnerable seniors, many leaving their children at home with the additional costs of child care. Their kids are snacking all day, so we know that this free food will be of great benefit to them, and it is a wonderful way for us to express our appreciation for all that they are doing for our residents. We are continually seeking ways to show our gratitude and support during these trying times. We are indebted to the Perlman family for making this possible.”

SBA Issues Guidance on Paycheck Protection Program

By
COVID-19 Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — With record-breaking speed, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has begun providing guidance on how the recently created Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will work in practice, attorneys at Bulkley Richardson note.

The PPP is one of the new programs created by the CARES Act, the more than $2 trillion emergency relief package fast-tracked through Congress in less than a week. The PPP is designed to encourage employers to keep employees on the payroll throughout the coronavirus crisis.

The SBA is starting to publish its guidance and sample forms. Click here for more information.

Perhaps the most important guidance is that “lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020,” which is this Friday — a week after the CARES Act was signed into law by President Trump.

Some of the guidance is at odds with the CARES Act. The guidance states that PPP loans have a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 0.5% while the CARES Act states that the PPP loans would bear interest at 4% and have a maximum maturity of 10 years. The guidance confirms that “any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution” can make a PPP loan, in addition to the existing SBA 7(a) approved lenders. This greatly expands the universe of potential lenders, which is important since all PPP loans need to be originated and closed by June 30, 2020.

The first sample form (available by clicking here) is the proposed application for the PPP loans, which reveals several details that are either not addressed in the CARES Act or are directly contrary to the language in the CARES Act. For example, the CARES Act provides that the maximum PPP loan amount is based on “payroll costs incurred during the one-year period before the date on which the loan is made.” The proposed application’s instructions instead direct applicants to “use the average monthly payroll for 2019.” In each case, the maximum loan amount is 2.5 times this average monthly payroll.

Another discrepancy affects the amount of the loan that can be forgiven. The CARES Act simply provides that the forgiveness amount cannot exceed the sum of the following costs incurred by the business in the eight-week period immediately following the closing of the loan: payroll costs; any payment of interest on any covered mortgage obligation (which shall not include any prepayment or payment of principal on a covered mortgage obligation); any payment on any covered rent obligation; or any covered utility payment.

While the application does state that “loan forgiveness will be provided for the sum of documented payroll costs, covered mortgage interest payments, covered rent payments, and covered utilities,” the application also requires the business to certify that, “due to likely high subscription, it is anticipated that not more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for non-payroll costs.”

The sample form also confirms that applicants and any individual owning 20% or more of an applicant must be able to certify that each of them are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (so any businesses where 20% of more is owned by an undocumented immigrant or a foreign citizen may not apply for or receive a PPP loan); and that none of them are “presently subject to an indictment, criminal information, arraignment, or other means by which formal criminal charges are brought in any jurisdiction, or presently incarcerated, or probation, or parole.” The breadth of that last provision is striking, in that anyone merely accused of a crime may not apply for or receive a PPP loan.

Visit bulkley.com for more resources from Bulkley Richardson’s COVID-19 Response Team.

United Way of Pioneer Valley Donates 5,000 Meals to Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

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COVID-19 Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The United Way of Pioneer Valley has donated 5,000 frozen meals to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. The transfer took place at Springfield City Hall earlier this week, with Mayor Domenic Sarno and United Way President and CEO Paul Mina in attendance.

With the economic effects of COVID-19 causing many area businesses to close, the Food Bank and the food pantries it serves have seen a dramatic increase in area needs. This donation was a part of the Western Mass. United Ways’ combined efforts to provide COVID-19 relief.

More information about these efforts and how you can donate is available at uwpv.org/covid19.

6 Strategies for Facebook and Instagram Advertising During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Marketing Tips

Courtesy of https://www.wordstream.com/

The COVID-19 outbreak is having a significant impact on daily business and consumer behavior, and as a result, these are times when small business owners and advertisers need to find opportunities that will help them build personalized and lasting relationships with their audiences from a safe distance. Unprecedented times call for adjustments to your online advertising, and we can help.

We’ve compiled six strategies for running Facebook and Instagram ads effectively during the pandemic:

  1. Stay consistent and extend your high-performing ads
  2. Build brand awareness with your online audience
  3. Find new leads and build your email marketing list with lead ads
  4. Focus on remarketing campaigns
  5. Test new ad creative and audiences
  6. Try Facebook and Instagram Live

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Eleven Dead at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in March, at Least Five Due to COVID-19

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COVID-19 Daily News

HOLYOKE — Eleven veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home have died between March 1 and March 30, at least five due to COVID-19. Eleven other veterans and five staff have tested positive for the virus, and 25 veterans are awaiting test results. Bennett Walsh, the home’s superintendent, has been placed on leave.

“It is imperative that the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home provide a safe environment for the veteran residents and the dedicated staff who serve them,” Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Dan Tsai said on Monday. “Superintendent Bennett Walsh has been placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately. Val Liptak, RN, currently the CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital, will assume responsibility for the administration of the Soldiers’ Home at this time.

“We have also implemented an on-site clinical command team comprised of medical, epidemiological, and operational experts responsible for the comprehensive and rapid response to the outbreak of COVID-19,” Tsai added. “All of these enhancements will build upon the existing protocols and work that align with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidance. Today’s actions underscore the state’s commitment to our veterans and frontline healthcare employees during this unprecedented public-health crisis.”

In a tweet Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker said that, “as someone who has visited the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home on many occasions to catch up with staff and residents, I am heartbroken by today’s news. The loss of these residents to COVID-19 is a shuddering loss for us all.”

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse issued a statement as well, noting that “this is a difficult day for our city, and it is almost certain that more difficult days will follow. Today is a painful reminder that, while many people will experience mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, there are those among us who are at much higher risk, and we must be vigilant in our care for ourselves to ensure the safety of all. I call on all Holyokers to consider your actions, to be sure to follow social distancing to the best of your abilities, to contact your friends and loved ones, and to take care of yourselves both physically and mentally. While we need distance from each other now, we are in this fight together.”

He added that Holyoke is receiving frequent updates from state health officals as the situation at the Soldiers’ Home unfolds, and he will continue to update the public with what he learns.

“It is in large part thanks to the outreach of staff from the state-run facility to my office on Saturday that I was alerted to the growing issues at the Soldiers’ Home,” Morse added. “I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Polito and Secretary of Health and Human Services [Marylou] Sudders for taking immediate action upon my request, but, most importantly, thank you to the nurses and staff at the Soldiers’ Home who cared for those whom we have lost, and who continue to care for those in need.”

HCC President Christina Royal Pledges $10,000 to ‘Together HCC’ Campaign

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) President Christina Royal has issued a personal $10,000 challenge gift toward a new HCC campaign that is as much about building moral support in a time of great uncertainty as it is about raising money for students experiencing financial distress.

On Monday, the HCC Foundation launched “Together HCC — A Campaign for Caring.” As part of that campaign, students, staff, faculty, alumni, relatives, and friends are being asked to use the hashtag #TogetherHCC to share stories and images on social media that show the strength of the college community in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Royal’s $10,000 challenge is not just a financial one. Instead, the goal is to gather 1,000 contributions of any kind toward the #TogetherHCC campaign. That includes monetary donations as well as social-media posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as e-mail submissions that describe an inspirational tale or messages of encouragement relating to the ongoing pandemic.

“This is an unprecedented time in our history that can only be navigated if we work together,” Royal said. “Our campaign for caring enables members of our community to offer encouragement to one another and provide inspiration. The financial investments and kind words offered through this campaign are vitally important to our students’ success and to the well-being of every member of our community.”

Besides scholarships, the HCC Foundation manages several funds that directly support students facing financial emergencies as well as those experiencing food and housing insecurity. These include the President’s Student Emergency Fund, which was established by Royal, and another that supports HCC’s Thrive Student Resource Center, which manages the HCC Food Pantry. 

“This has been, and continues to be, a stressful and challenging time for everyone,” said Amanda Sbriscia, HCC vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation, the college’s nonprofit fundraising corporation. “The COVID-19 crisis has turned the world upside down, and amidst this uncertainty, we still need to do everything we can to provide our students with the education and support they deserve. Meanwhile, our students are facing all kinds of challenges in their own lives. Together, HCC isn’t just about providing financial support for them, it’s also about providing moral support. Through this campaign, we want to let our students and other members of the college community know that it’s going to be okay and that we are all in this together.”

Girls Inc. of the Valley to Receive Grant from Baystate Health

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley will receive a community-benefits discretionary grant of $5,000 from Baystate Health to Girls Inc. of the Valley’s “Informed and In Charge” program, which is designed to teach healthy sexuality.

Through “Informed and In Charge,” girls acquire the knowledge and skills for taking charge of and making informed decisions about their sexual health. Exploring values, practicing responses in different situations, and thinking about their futures helps girls identify ways and reasons to avoid early pregnancy and prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. 

“This wonderful grant from Baystate Health speaks to their commitment to the health and wellness of girls in the Valley,” said Suzanne Parker, executive director of Girls Inc. of the Valley. “During these challenging times, it is more crucial than ever to invest in girls, and Baystate Health’s support of our ‘Informed and In Charge’ program is so impactful.” 

As an integrated health system, the advancement of knowledge is a major component of Baystate Health’s mission, aligning with that of Girls Inc. of the Valley. Baystate Health aims to educate and train current and future caregivers through supporting community-based organizations and advancing early interventions in wellness and nutrition.

3 Ways to Keep Your Most Valuable Customers Engaged When Consumer Confidence is Low

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Marketing Tips

*This article is a contribution from Fiona Stevens, head of marketing at LoyaltyLion. It’s part of a series that explores the impact the coronavirus crisis is having on the world of ecommerce. Here are additional resources to help you navigate your marketing strategy during this time.

When crisis hits and consumer confidence is low, cash flow and stock levels can become all-encompassing concerns. Ecommerce merchants are left with two options. The first is to keep plowing money into acquisition strategies in the hope that mud might still stick somewhere. The second is to double down and find cost-effective ways to retain those customers that you already have relationships with. 

Across the globe, COVID-19 has undoubtedly left us in a state of crisis. Yet this particular dark cloud has a silver lining. Despite social distancing and isolation, relationships are strengthening and communities are forming—from the gyms that are hosting free online workout classes, to the neighbors who are offering to go to the store for those who cannot get out and about.  

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Picture This

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Tammy Walunas of the Smith Vocational High School PTO chats
Picture This

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

Customers’ Choice

$1,221 award

Florence Bank President Kevin Day presents Nikki Lewis, coalition coordinator of first-time grant award winner West Springfield CARE Coalition, with a $1,221 award.

 

Tammy Walunas of the Smith Vocational High School PTO chats

From left, Tammy Walunas of the Smith Vocational High School PTO chats with It Takes a Village volunteer Sierra-Rae Bottum and Mollie Hartford, co-executive director

Florence Bank gave $100,000 to 57 area nonprofits on March 10 at its annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program celebration at the Garden House at Look Memorial Park, putting the program over the $1.2 million mark in grants made to community nonprofits over almost two decades. The recipients each garnered at least 50 votes from bank customers in 2019, and the bank also awarded $500 each to six organizations that received between 40 and 49 votes.

 

Grand Tour

Grand Tour

From left, John LaFrancis, chair, Mechanical Engineering Technology; STCC President John Cook; state Rep. Jeffrey Roy; state Sen. Anne Gobi; state Rep. Stephan Hay; STCC graduate Elizabeth Ryan; state Rep. Mindy Domb; and state Rep. Aaron Vega

 

Student trustee Yanira Aviles

Student trustee Yanira Aviles

From the patient simulation center to the mechanical engineering technology lab, state lawmakers toured Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) last month to get a better understanding how it is preparing students for careers and boosting the economic vitality of the region. STCC was the 25th stop for the Joint Committee on Higher Education, which plans to visit all 29 Massachusetts public colleges and universities.

 

 

People on the Move

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People on the Move

Tony Worden

Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB), announced that Tony Worden was elected by the board to the new position of chief operating officer (COO). This will be in addition to his duties as executive vice president & senior commercial loan officer. As COO, Worden will be taking over some of Tucker’s day-to-day duties and direct reports to ensure GCB maintains continuity in its leadership ranks. And during a stressful period such as now with the COVID-19, the move gives the board the peace of mind of knowing that, should Tucker be unavailable for whatever reason, Worden will be available for major decisions. Worden has more than 21 years of experience in commercial lending and has been with GCB since 2008. He is a 1996 graduate of UMass with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and received his MBA from UMass Amherst in 2005. He is also a 2017 graduate of the Stonier School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania. He is active in the community as a board member of United Way of Franklin County and a member of the town of Greenfield Cable Advisory Committee and the Turners Falls Downtown Working Group.

•••••

Michael Crawford

Andrea Holden

Andrea Holden

Pablo Madera

Pablo Madera

Elms College announced the appointment of three directors to its staff: Michael Crawford, director of Diversity and Inclusion; Andrea Holden, director of Alumni Relations; and Pablo Madera, director of Public Safety. As director of Diversity and Inclusion, Crawford is committed to the holistic development of students within and beyond the classroom via empowerment, education, support, and advocacy. He has experience in diversity programming and academic support in higher education at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, the University of Connecticut, nonprofit organizations, and as an independent consultant. Most recently, he was a research associate in a culture and mental-health-disparities lab at the University of Connecticut. He also has extensive experience with various social-justice and college-preparation initiatives for vulnerable populations, first-generation and low-income students, and diverse populations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Haverford College and a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Connecticut. He also earned a certificate in college instruction and a master’s degree in adult learning from the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. As director of Alumni Relations, Holden develops initiatives that increase alumni engagement and also advance the goals of the college. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, serving in a variety of roles within student affairs, including campus programs, campus-center management, new-student programs, leadership, and residential life. Most recently, she was a student-engagement specialist for the dean of students at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, R.I., and the director of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership at Wheaton College in Norton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Worcester State College and a master’s degree in marketing from Webster University. As director of Public Safety, Madera manages the safety measures for the entire campus, as well as the administration of safety policies and protocols. He is a 37-year veteran of the Ludlow Police Department, where he progressed from patrolman to sergeant to lieutenant and, for the past seven years, served as the department’s chief of Police. He served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Western New England University (WNEU) for 23 years and also spent time consulting on multicultural-awareness issues and policing. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University and his master’s degree in criminal justice administration from WNEU. In addition, he graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

•••••

Cheryl Smith

Western New England University (WNEU) General Counsel Cheryl Smith was honored at the 15th annual “Leaders in the Law” event presented by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. The event was held on March 5 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Smith was chosen from a field of nominees across the Commonwealth for the 2020 In-House Leader Award. Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Leader Awards recognize general counsel and staff attorneys who are nominated by their colleagues, clients, and other legal professionals for being leaders in the community and forward thinkers. For the past two decades, Smith had managed all litigation commenced against WNEU. She also supervised the legal and contractual aspects of a complex new ERP for the university. Additionally, for the past two years, she has served as the Title IX coordinator. Smith began her academic career at Wellesley College and concluded at Western New England School of Law in 1983. At WNEU, she is a senior lecturer for “Human Resource Management,” “Legal Aspects of Human Resources,” “Business Law,” and “Business Communication.”

•••••

Brittany Bird

Brittany Bird

Sarah Rose Stack

Sarah Rose Stack

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) recently promoted Brittany Bird and welcomed Sarah Rose Stack to the firm. Bird was promoted to senior associate. She holds an associate degree in business administration and management from Holyoke Community College, where she was one of the school’s valedictorians, and a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. During her time at the firm, she earned the MBK Thought Leader 2019 Award for published articles on behalf of the firm. Prior to working at MBK, she worked in the customer-service industry. Stack is the firm’s new Marketing & Recruiting manager. MBK recently embarked on a rebrand, which included a new logo, interior design, and mission and vision statement. Stack will help bring this new mission to maturity and will implement a variety of new strategies and connections to actualize the firm’s vision. With 15 years of digital marketing, design, and communications experience, she will bring a fresh perspective to the firm’s social-media strategy, revamped digital presence, community involvement, thought leadership, and more. Stack studied music education at UMass Amherst, and has worked in website development and marketing on myriad products and services since 2005. She is a member of the Assoc. for Accountant Marketing.

•••••

Dale Brown

Dale Brown

Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Dale Brown as its assistant director of Public Safety. Brown comes to HCC with more than two decades of law-enforcement experience, both as a military officer and as a civilian. He most recently worked for the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office in Northampton, where he was a deputy sheriff and corrections officer in the Hampshire County corrections system, while also serving in part-time positions at Greenfield Community College as a special state police officer and as a patrol officer in Sunderland. At HCC, Brown serves as second in command to campus Police Chief Laura Lefebvre, the director of Public Safety. He started in his new job in January. Brown is a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served in military law enforcement as a master sergeant, technical sergeant, staff sergeant, senior airman, and airman. During his service, he experienced multiple overseas deployments, including during operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Brown earned his associate degree in criminal justice from the Community College of the Air Force and his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from American Military University. He also holds a third-degree black belt in taekwondo.

•••••

Marco Morgado

Marco Morgado

Pilot Precision Products, the parent company of duMONT Minute Man Industrial Broaches and Hassay Savage broaching tools, and the exclusive American distributor of Magafor and GMauvaisUSATM products, announced that Marco Morgado has joined the team in the role of the director of National Business Development. In his position, Morgado is responsible for directing marketing, sales operations, management of the company’s independent sales representatives, and leading the business’ growth strategy. He brings more than two decades of experience to his new role, gleaned from previous positions at Atlantic Fasteners, Kennametal, and other industry players. Educated at Westfield State University in business management, Morgado is the recipient of business leadership awards from the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and others.

•••••

Debra Mainolfi

Debra Mainolfi

Freedom Credit Union announced that Debra Mainolfi has been hired as branch officer at its West Springfield location. Mainolfi began her finance career as a licensed agent for major national insurance providers, working closely with businesses and families to design retirement and succession plans through both insurance and mutual funds. Following her later roles in banking, she joined Freedom in 2019. As part of her long commitment to community service, she serves on the executive board of directors for Unify Against Bullying, an organization working to end bullying through the celebration of diversity. In addition to serving on other boards, she previously facilitated a financial-literacy program at Sunshine Village and collaborated on a similar program for refugees with Catholic Charities and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

•••••

Nicole Fregeau

Nicole Fregeau

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) announced that Nicole Fregeau has joined the organization as program manager. In her new role, Fregeau builds program expansion through strategic planning and presentations designed to recruit and renew commitments of teachers, schools, local businesses, and volunteers. To increase public awareness of JAWM programs, she creates departmental plans and develops and executes volunteer orientation programs. She coordinates the Business and Entrepreneurial Exploration (BEE) summer program as well. Prior to joining JAWM, Fregeau spent a year in Thailand teaching students at various levels to speak, read, and write in English. In addition, she screened candidates for open positions and consulted with potential students during the enrollment process, edited curriculum, and participated in school programs like English Camp and Scout Camp. As an established Junior Achievement volunteer in the U.S., Fregeau also taught JA’s “More than Money” program to sixth-grade students in Thailand. Fregeau is a graduate of Elms College with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She participated in Elms College campus ministry service trips to Nicaragua, where she worked on clean-water and education projects.

•••••

Michael Bovino

Michael Bovino

UniTech Services Group, a subsidiary of UniFirst Corp., recently announced that Michael Bovino was promoted to vice president, bringing 35 years of contamination-control and management experience to the leadership role. Over the past 23 years, Bovino has climbed the UniFirst management ranks from general manager to division general manager, and ultimately now to vice president of UniTech. He most recently served as division general manager for UniClean, a fellow UniFirst subsidiary, where he was responsible for profit and loss, while overseeing all facets of the business. The new vice president’s career began with Public Service Electric & Gas of New Jersey, where he acted as technical manager at various nuclear power stations for several years. He then joined UniTech in 1990, playing a vital role in the company’s success as manager of Health Physics and Engineering for six years before pursuing more senior management roles within UniFirst. Bovino holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental public health from SUNY Cortland, with minors in biology and geology; a master’s degree in environmental and nuclear engineering concentrated in health physics from the University of Florida; a prior certification by the American Board of Health Physics; and an MBA concentrated in business management and financial accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Since 2018, he has also served as a voting member of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Assoc. board of directors, as well as the board’s finance and Park Alumni House committees. Bovino replaces the newly retired George Bakevich, who served as vice president for 36 years. During Bakevich’s tenure, he oversaw major company expansions throughout the U.S., Europe, and Canada, including recent acquisitions in the area of radioactive-waste processing to support power-plant-decommissioning projects.

•••••

Geoff Medeiros

Geoff Medeiros

As part of previously announced organizational changes by OMG Inc. to accelerate growth, the company has named Geoff Medeiros vice president of Sales and Marketing for the Roofing Products Division. In this role, Medeiros is responsible for developing and executing the division’s overall sales and marketing strategy to support its three business units: Fasteners, Adhesives & Solar, and Metal Accessories, which includes Edge Metal. In addition, he is responsible for overseeing the company’s Marketing Communications and Customer Service departments. He reports to Peter Coyne, senior vice president and general manager of OMG Roofing Products. Medeiros joins OMG from Welch’s, where he was general manager, responsible for strategic growth and marketing for the company’s core product lines. Prior to joining Welch’s, he was vice president of Brand Management and Product Development with the Yankee Candle Co. He started his career at Nestle before becoming a brand manager for Hasbro. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Providence College and an MBA in international business from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Court Dockets

By
Court Dockets

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

HAMPDEN DISTRICT COURT

Micah Butler v. Big Y Foods Inc.

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $9,438.50

Filed: 2/24/20

 

Augusta Sportswear Inc. v. Bolduc’s Apparel, LLC

Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $7.715.46

Filed: 2/25/20

 

McLaughlin Paper Co. Inc. v. Panel Solutions Inc.

Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $31,709.03

Filed: 2/26/20

 

Performance Food Group Inc. d/b/a Performance Foodservice v. Veracruz Foods Inc. and Martin G. Carrera

Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $46,796.22

Filed: 3/2/20

 

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Jezare Lopez v. Super Brush, LLC and Luis Rodriguez

Allegation: Employment discrimination: $25,000+

Filed: 2/7/20

 

Barbara Motley v. Walgreens Eastern Co. Inc.; Walgreens of Massachusetts, LLC; Walgreens family of companies; Ferrandino & Sons Inc.; Christopher A. Siniscalchi d/b/a CS Services; and Christopher Siniscalchi individually

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $122,260.91

Filed: 2/10/20

 

Kevin A. Chisholm v. Surge Home Concepts, LLC and David James Woelper d/b/a Surge Home Concepts

Allegation: Breach of contract, breach of implied warranty of good and workmanlike services, misrepresentation, negligent supervision: $40,000

Filed: 2/11/20

 

Sheila Mulholland v. Springfield Water & Sewer Commission and city of Springfield

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $93,880.21

Filed: 2/13/20

 

Peter Chlebus v. Harvey Industries Inc., Harvey Industries Inc. d/b/a Harvey Parent Corp., Harvey Parent Corp., and the Hanover Insurance Co.

Allegation: Negligence causing property damage; unfair methods of competition and unfair deceptive acts and practices in the business of insurance: $70,680

Filed: 2/14/20

 

Richard Pelchar as personal representative of the estate of Diane Pelchar v. 135 Benton Drive Operating Co., LLC; Shakema Ali, RN; Rebecca Hebert, RN; and Mark Berte, RN

Allegation: Medical malpractice, wrongful death: $1,500,000

Filed: 2/19/20

 

Victor Lopez-Robles v. J.H.O.C. Inc. d/b/a Premier Transportation

Allegation: Negligence; falling pallet causing personal injury: $92,069.04

Filed: 2/20/20

 

David Kennedy v. the city of Westfield and Albert J. Masciadrelli, Patrick Olearcek, Carlo Bonavita, C. Lee Bennett, and Jeffrey Siegel, as they constitute the Westfield Fire Commission, past and present

Allegation: Employment discrimination: $15,000+

Filed: 2/21/20

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook

Community Foundation Gives $341,000 Through Innovation Grant Program

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ (CFWM) Innovation Grant Program has awarded a total of $341,000 to three change-making nonprofit organizations to continue creating innovative solutions around critical issues facing the region. CFWM’s Innovation Grant Program was launched in 2016 to encourage nonprofits to develop and execute novel ideas in partnership with other entities, as well as allow organizations to construct inventive solutions with measurable impact. In January 2018, CFWM awarded first-year funding to Five Colleges Inc., the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity to implement innovative projects that were refined and tested during a planning period in 2017. Now entering their third year of funding, these grantees are seeing the tangible impact of their work. Twenty paraprofessionals of color are making their way toward receiving their licensure to become a full-fledged teachers, food-insecure patients are being identified and referred to healthy-food opportunities, and small homes have been built and are being occupied by first-time homebuyers. Five Colleges Inc. will continue to develop its “Paradigm Shift” initiative and bring in new partners. This initiative is focused on creating a more diverse teacher workforce in Western Mass. by helping para-educators of color overcome obstacles to obtaining licensure to become teachers in area schools. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will spend its third year expanding and analyzing the impact of its Food Insecurity Screening and Referral Initiative that conducts and tracks food insecurity screening and social-service referrals at the Holyoke Health Center and its Chicopee location. Additionally, it will partner with WestMass ElderCare and Springfield Senior Services to address the food needs of patients who screen positive for food insecurity and have a specific medical condition. Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity will continue with a third year of its “Big Enough: the Small Home Revolution in Western Mass.” initiative, which aims to launch more individuals and families into the middle class by empowering them to become first-time owners of small, simple, affordable, energy-efficient homes.

MBK Donates $10,000 to MHA for Crisis-intervention Training

SPRINGFIELD — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., (MBK) recently made a $10,000 donation to the Mental Health Assoc. Inc. (MHA) to fund non-violent crisis-intervention training for MHA’s direct-care staff. “To train in non-violent crisis intervention is an important professional-development opportunity for MHA staff,” said Cheryl Fasano, president and CEO of MHA Inc. “MHA does not use physical restraint in any form, so our staff members need skills to safely de-escalate and manage challenging behaviors in a non-violent manner. Our training curriculum from the Crisis Prevention Institute goes further by also helping better equip our staff to prevent difficult situations from escalating.” The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is an international training organization committed to best practices and safe behavior-management methods that focus on prevention. Since 1980, more than 10 million professionals around the world have participated in CPI training programs.

HCC Extends Scholarship Application Deadline

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) has extended by two weeks the deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year. The new application deadline is Wednesday, April 8. Students must be currently enrolled at HCC or have been accepted for the upcoming academic year to be eligible for scholarships, which are awarded through the HCC Foundation, HCC’s nonprofit fundraising corporation. Awards totaling more than $200,000 are available for incoming, continuing, and transferring HCC students. Applicants need only to fill out a single online form to be automatically matched with the scholarships they are most qualified to receive. There are scholarships for new students, current students and students transferring to other institutions, scholarships based on financial need, scholarships for students in specific majors, scholarships for residents of certain communities, and scholarships that recognize academic achievement. For the 2019-20 academic year, the HCC Foundation awarded $223,000 in scholarships to 231 students. To begin the application process, visit www.hcc.edu/scholarships. Questions should be directed to the HCC Foundation office at (413) 552-2182 or Donahue 170 on the HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave.

PTK Honor Society Presents ACC with Awards During Virtual Ceremony

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College’s Alpha Lambda Zeta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society was recognized as being the Most Distinguished Chapter for the New England Region during a virtual awards ceremony held last weekend. The chapter and its members were awarded other honors during its first-ever virtual ceremony. These awards included Distinguished College Project Award and Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award. The chapter elected to do its Honors in Action project within a Politics of Identity theme. Working with various departments at the college, as well as outside agencies, including the Jordan Porco Foundation, the students concentrated on the issue of mental-health awareness. They also established an interactive exhibit on mental-health issues at Asnuntuck, with a digitized version, titled “Art|Mind,” available for those who could not make it to campus. The college project focused on getting information into the hands of students through campus brochures and during the college’s orientation. Asnuntuck student Victoria Orifice was awarded first-place honors for being the Distinguished Chapter Officer.

Beta Gamma Sigma at WNEU Earns Highest Chapter Recognition

SPRINGFIELD — For the third consecutive year, the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) Chapter at Western New England University earned the “highest honors” designation for its campus engagement and programming for the 2018-19 academic year. According to Beta Gamma Sigma CEO Chris Carosella, earning highest honors “is indicative of a campus where academic excellence is highly valued and where the faculty and chapter leaders work diligently to enhance Beta Gamma Sigma’s stature on campus.” One indicator of this engagement is participation at the annual Global Leadership Summit (GLS), which chapter President Tessa Wood and Secretary Kathryn Wells attended last year. The GLS enables delegates to participate in professional-development workshops and share best practices with student leaders from other BGS chapters worldwide.

Junior Achievement of Western Mass. Receives Five Star Award

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts has been awarded one of Junior Achievement USA’s highest honors: the Five Star Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize staff and boards of JA areas that meet Junior Achievement’s national standards in operational efficiency and through strong representation of the JA brand. Recipients must demonstrate growth in student impact and superior fiscal performance. Achievement against these criteria is certified through JA USA and audited financial statements. Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, which serves more than 13,000 students throughout Western Mass. and Vermont, will be presented with the award in July at Junior Achievement USA’s National Leadership Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Robinson Donovan Moves to Expanded Northampton Location

NORTHAMPTON — Robinson Donovan, P.C., a full-service law firm, announced it has moved from its previous Northampton office to a more expansive location at 351 Pleasant St. The firm’s phone number, (413) 732-2301, remains the same. “We wanted to make things as convenient as possible for our growing list of clients in Hampshire County,” Partner Michael Simolo said. “We can now meet with them more comfortably. The response from clients has been very positive.” Partner Jeffrey Trapani, added that “our new office in Northampton has plenty of meeting space, free parking, and easier access. Quite a few of our attorneys live in Hampshire County, so having an expanded office in Northampton makes sense for us operationally as well and helps us better serve our clients throughout the Pioneer Valley.”

Behavioral Health Network Receives $15,000 Grant from Country Bank

SPRINGFIELD — Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN) has been awarded a $15,000 grant from Country Bank, which will fund direct services for BHN’s domestic-violence programs in Ware. Country Bank’s grant to BHN will be used for innovative support and advocacy services for domestic-violence survivors, which includes partnering with Country Bank employees in offering the economic-freedom initiative known as Money School. BHN’s Money School program is an award-winning, trauma-informed financial-independence initiative designed to create long-term safety and economic security for survivors of domestic violence. The grant will also be used to provide prevention-education work in local schools, and for interruption and prevention services for perpetrators of domestic violence.

Springfield WORKS Programs to Benefit from State Grant

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield WORKS leads local employers, educators, community leaders, and job seekers in developing innovative solutions to meet the economic needs of area residents and local businesses. A founding member in the Springfield WORKS collaboration, Springfield Partners for Community Action, recently received a second $50,000 award from the Baker-Polito Community Services Block Grant Special Projects Fund to support Springfield WORKS financial-wellness strategies. This award comes on the heels of a recent $100,000 Baker-Polito Urban Agenda Grant to Springfield WORKS and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. The funds will enable families to achieve economic stability as they navigate workforce-development training into a career pathway.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

AMHERST

Common Wealth Mural Collaborative Inc., 315 Lincoln Ave., Amherst, MA 01002. Brigitte Ruhe, same. Promote public art and provide opportunities for education, events, and installation of public art.

BARRE

Attached Track Club Inc., 292 Farrington Road, Barre, MA 01005. Greg Bourque, same. Track club is established to unite, organize, motivate, and support competitors of all ages in track and field. The club is open to people interested in the sport of track and field and running

BRIMFIELD

Brimfield Rugs Inc., 1 Warren Road, Brimfield, MA 01010. Mark Zofcin, same. Buying and selling rugs.

CHICOPEE

Church of God Matthew 11:28, 16 Bolduc Lane, Chicopee, MA 01013. Rosa A. Lopez, 247 Sargeant St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Religious services.

HOLYOKE

Champion Atheltics Global Inc., 15 Mclellan Dr., Holyoke, MA 01040. Blaine T. Scott, same. To share the message of love, grace, and salvation brought through Jesus Christ.

NORTHAMPTON

Climb for The Kids Inc., 175 North Elm St., Northampton, MA 01060. Kyle O’Connell, same. Providing logistical services for worldwide climbing and trekking trips to benefit educational scholarships.

PITTSFIELD

Bellas Mentoring Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Sabra Davison, P. O. Box 1083, Jericho, VT 05465. A mountain bike organization, whose goal is to help young women reach their fullest potential.

SPRINGFIELD

CMJ Paving & Landscaping Inc., 117 Quincy St., Springfield, MA 01109. Clinton Mitchell, same. Paving and landscaping.

Cool Beans Production Inc., 451 Eastern Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Janice Brown, same. Real estate.

Axia Group Insurance Services Inc., 933 East Columbus Ave., Springfield, MA 01105. Michael R. Long, 1 Geer Hill Rd., Williamsburg, MA 01096. Building company.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Calyx & Pistils Inc., 283 Forest Glen Rd., West Springfield, MA 01089. William John Fontaine, same. Operating agricultural facility.

WEST STOCKBRIDGE

Bau-Da Design Lab Inc., 126 E. Alford Rd., West Stockbridge, MA 01266. Paul R. Brown, same. Graphic design, editing, photography.

WESTFIELD

Bourwine Inc., 1029 North Rd., Unit IA Hampton Ponds Plaza, Westfield, MA 01085. Robert J. Guiel, 115 Lincoln Ave., South Hadley, MA 01075. Integrative health & fitness.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Berkshire Innovations Inc., 63 Spring St. #402, Williamstown, MA 01267. Michael W. Taylor, same. Development, sales and servicing of electronic products.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the month of March 2020.

BELCHERTOWN

Alice Moran, Court Reporter
49 Shea Ave.
Alice Moran

Ciesiuk Property Maintenance
667 North Washington St.
Melanie Maggi

Contemporary Woodcraft
11 Town Beach Road
Robert Rivard

Flo-Rite Seamless Gutters
295 Turkey Hill Road
Joseph Fazio

GDM
80 Oakridge Dr.
William DeSantis

Ginnybrook Farm
226 Turkey Hill Road
Ken Hislop

Hunters Ridge Development
8 Warner St.
Richard Greene

Lone Birch Farm
630 George Hannum St.
Kirk Stephens

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, LLC
44 New Lombard Road
Akiva Horowitz

Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty
1421 Granby Road
NRT New England, LLC

Fiona’s Spa
1888 Memorial Dr.
Meijuan Zhou

SPRINGFIELD

Banquet Hall
111 Chestnut St.
Jason Perez

Beverly Paige + Healthcare
34 Pineywoods Ave.
Beverly Paige

Blue Wheel Transportation
48 Montgomery St.
Kelly Reeves

Blushtan
673 White St.
Maria Serra

Boston Road Auto Mall
712 Boston Road
Miguel Betancourt

Gary’s Auto Repair
1800 Allen St.
Gary Leyden

H. Bonney Enterprise
243 Naismith St.
Harry Bonney

Hair 2000
459 Main St.
Carol Marnelakis

Health New England Inc.
1 Monarch Place, Suite 150
Health New England

Likkle Jamaican Cuisine
664 Page Blvd.
Dawn Summerville-Simon

Martinez Catering
82 Harvey St.
Jacqueline Martinez

Metrocare of Springfield
125 Liberty St.
Luz Lopez

Modento Group, LLC
606 Sumner Ave.
Maninder Singh Sidhu

Mutebi Home Improvement
62 Fern St.
Andrew Mutebi

Old School Pizzeria
770 Boston Road
Asif Sikander

Pacific Residential Mortgage
933 East Columbus Ave.
Pacific Residential

Peachtree Realty
49 Cadwell Dr.
Kathleen Sweeney

Peter Paradise Photography
158 Forest Park Ave.
Peter Paradise

Pick Up Games
35 Westminster St.
Justin Cotton Jr.

Preferred Behavioral Health
125 Liberty St.
Luz Lopez

Prospect Variety
51 Prospect St.
Martin Severino

WESTFIELD

Ames Plumbing Service, LLC
130 Joseph Ave.
Patrick Ames

Coldwell Banker NRT
75 Broad St., Unit B
NRT New England, LLC

Coldwell Banker Realty
75 Broad St., Unit B
NRT New England, LLC

Customized Solutions
129 Otis St.
Deborah Schultz

Hannah Josephine Photography
3 Brimfield Way
Hannah Sarat

Lucky Nails & Spa
303 East Main St.
Tai Nails, LLC

Salon Cabellos
4 Franklin St.
Albertina Guzman-Picot

Steve’s Motor Works Supply
20 Lisa Lane
Steven Cipriani

Studio 20 Salon & Spa
1029 North Road
Jennifer Venn

The Wellness Center at Crane Pond
77 Mill St.
Dawn Whitehill

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Atwood Fire & Security
33 Sylvan St.
George Condon IV

Bottega Cucina
46 Morgan Road
Philip Hillenbrand

Broken Edge Deburring Inc.
42 Norman St.
Kevin Williams

Custom Gutters
2385 Westfield St.
Sergey Tokarev

Dynamork Security Centers
31-33 Sylvan St.
George Condon III

Landry Lock and Alarm
33 Sylvan St.
George Condon IV

Maria Mystique
86 Maple Terrace
Dana Canary

MK Flowers
88 Bosworth St.
Marina Kishko

MPS Solutions
1702 Riverdale St.
Christopher Decoteau

Munro Wireless
44 Park St.
Alfredo Garib

Raymour & Flanigan Furniture
1406 Elm St.
Neil Goldberg

Richard’s Grinders
875 Memorial Ave.
Brian Cleland

Bankruptcies

By
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.

Almazan, Francisco
a/k/a Almazan-Arcos, Francisco
P.O. Box 611
Chicopee, MA 01021
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Basile, Michael A.
31 Virginia Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Benard, Richard S.
Benard, Nichole M.
a/k/a Wright, Nichole M.
113 Cooley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Caplette, Nancy M.
359 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/18/20

Casaldi, William Joseph
Casaldi, Cynthia Ann
281 Chauncy Walker St., Lot 121C
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/20

Cincone, Heidi H.
46 Dudley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Crocker, Stephanie Jo
a/k/a Herk, Stephanie Jo
19 Essex St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Gorecki, Michael J.
608 Westfield St., Apt. #12
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Hallowell, Lynn L.
76 Temple St., Apt. #1
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Hansen, Ellen Mary
72 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Henry Blanchard Electric
Blanchard, Henry L.
10 South St.
Stockbridge, MA 01262
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

JM Homelife
Manning, Jodi-Lyn
51 Oxford St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Kerr, Samuel
93 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

Killeen, William M.
34 Greenleaves Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

Lindquist, Rebecca L.
a/k/a Miller, Rebecca L.
83 Williamsville Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Maunsell, Judith A.
25 1st Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

McComb, Joshua K.
1 George Ave.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Monarca, Edward M.
a/k/a Monarca, Edwardo M.
a/k/a Monarca Monserrati, Eduardo
34 Willow St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/26/20

O’Hearn’s Tavern
O’Hearn, Tiffany A.
486 Corey St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/18/20

Pizzimenti, Gary Batista
45 Denton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Plumley, Allison
325 North Lane
Granville, MA 01034
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/20

Remedy Aesthetic Distribution
Ohlund, Robert N.
51 Fiske Hill Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Retynsky, Victor
269 Stoney Hill Road, Apt. G1
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Rivera, Geraldine E.
a/k/a Reyes, Geraldine E.
421 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/19/20

Schanck, Gwendolyn M.
a/k/a Godbolt, Gwendolyn M.
23 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/20

Surge Home Concepts, LLC
Woelper, David J.
115 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/20

Walz, Frederick David
33 Miller St., Unit 2
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/20

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BUCKLAND

43 Green St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Matthew Dougherty
Seller: Clinton W. Phillips
Date: 03/10/20

COLRAIN

25 Stranahan Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kylie R. Brunner
Seller: Sasha J. Rasid
Date: 02/28/20

CONWAY

731 Shelburne Falls Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Amy E. Lashley
Seller: Gabrielle T. Sabella
Date: 02/28/20

DEERFIELD

119 Old Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $1,120,000
Buyer: 1302 Conti LLC
Seller: Hadley Palmer
Date: 02/27/20

ERVING

26 Lillians Way
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Nikita T. Shamrock
Seller: Arsenault, Paul A., (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

GREENFIELD

46 Adams Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Nicholas W. Lacoy
Seller: Howard N. Stone
Date: 03/02/20

17-1/2 Congress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: PRB LLC
Seller: Timothy F. Washburn
Date: 02/28/20

73 Crescent St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Jared B. Sharpe
Seller: Ann L. Hamilton
Date: 03/06/20

69 Hastings St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Ramesh J. Rajballie
Seller: Carol C. Wandeloski
Date: 02/28/20

142 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jessica A. Pearlman
Seller: Angela T. Ruggeri
Date: 02/28/20

7 Wunsch Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: James E. Clark
Seller: Michael N. Skawski
Date: 03/10/20

HEATH

11 Ledge Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Chelsea B. Jordan-Makely
Seller: Andrew J. Royer
Date: 02/28/20

LEVERETT

475 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Hong T. Cai
Seller: Joseph Williams
Date: 02/28/20

295 Shutesbury Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Frederic P. Hartwell
Seller: Barbara J. Raymond
Date: 03/10/20

LEYDEN

646 Greenfield Road
Leyden, MA 01301
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Marie M. Gens
Seller: Natacha E. Casale
Date: 03/10/20

MONTAGUE

69 Dell St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $221,500
Buyer: Christie A. Lemerise
Seller: Michelle C. Cloutier
Date: 03/02/20

ORANGE

110 Drew Blvd.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Kasey E. Teixeira
Seller: Adam Stacey
Date: 02/28/20

77 Royalston Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Kevin E. Smith
Seller: Thompson, Stephen G., (Estate)
Date: 03/03/20

147 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Joseph O. Paoletti
Seller: Maria C. Paoletti
Date: 03/04/20

SHUTESBURY

409 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Bradford Spry
Seller: Weaver, Elaine J., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/20

WHATELY

297 Haydenville Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Stephanie Sanderson
Seller: Virginia L. Cowles
Date: 03/02/20

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

49 Barney St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Christopher Greany
Seller: Christopher Malloy
Date: 02/28/20

71 Federal Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Gerald W. Novick
Seller: Maryann Majewski
Date: 02/28/20

33 High St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $122,850
Buyer: Agawam Rentals LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/27/20

64 Line St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Kyle A. Perry
Seller: Elina O’Ganyan
Date: 02/28/20

118 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Gilroy Property Renewal
Seller: Benoit, Claire B., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/20

256 South Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $248,400
Buyer: Josue E. Diaz
Seller: Gary Wickland
Date: 02/27/20

1260 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Ameco-Jar LLC
Seller: 1260 Suffield Inc.
Date: 02/28/20

1347-1349 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Satter Ahmed
Seller: Eduardo Santaniello
Date: 03/06/20

30 Tom St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $172,749
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Norman St.Pierre
Date: 03/02/20

204 Valley Brook Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Steven Ewing
Seller: Garry W. Meyers
Date: 03/06/20

BRIMFIELD

126 Haynes Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Geoffrey Steil
Seller: Citibank
Date: 03/03/20

294 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: James M. Korman
Seller: Cynthia Niemczyk-Hodges
Date: 03/10/20

CHESTER

20 William St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Dillon Serrao-Durrence
Seller: Luke Casebolt
Date: 02/26/20

CHICOPEE

22 Austin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Elzbieta Kalisz
Seller: Bonnie Lemanski
Date: 03/04/20

33 Beesley Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Joanne Pease
Seller: Sandra J. Podolak
Date: 02/28/20

42 Casey Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Richard Negrin
Seller: Karen M. Genetelli
Date: 03/06/20

138 Cobb Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Letendre
Seller: Jane A. Sosnicki
Date: 02/26/20

138 Delaney Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Nikiah O. Stadtlander
Seller: Kevin M. Candon
Date: 02/26/20

68 Dunn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Christos Tsandilas
Seller: John Tsandilas
Date: 03/06/20

220 Exchange St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Shiva RT
Seller: Emery Street LLC
Date: 02/27/20

28 Frontenac St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Christian Thompson
Seller: Juan Santana
Date: 02/28/20

599 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Bethany York-Rudzik
Seller: Josephine Mercik
Date: 03/06/20

17 High St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jeremy G. Dion
Seller: Shannon M. Dion
Date: 03/06/20

51 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Christopher Culpepper
Seller: Carol S. Ingram
Date: 03/05/20

44 Kowal Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jonathan P. Veillette
Seller: Eugene J. Przybylowicz
Date: 02/28/20

45 Lombard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Jason L. Pride
Seller: Stella P. Doray
Date: 03/05/20

390 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: HCP Group LLC
Seller: Ashley K. Brodeur
Date: 03/04/20

405 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Susan Keenan
Seller: Jeremy A. Keough
Date: 03/06/20

22 Mount Vernon Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Melendez
Seller: Phillip E. Russ
Date: 03/06/20

225 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,200
Buyer: Rafael Nazario
Seller: Mark E. Hiersche
Date: 02/26/20

741 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Jean C. Santiago-Reyes
Seller: Samantha Britt
Date: 03/09/20

25 Providence St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Damian J. Santiago
Seller: Charles A. Bennis
Date: 02/28/20

63 Ruskin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jesus Martinez
Seller: David A. Corliss
Date: 02/27/20

40 Shirley St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Peter D. Marcotte
Seller: Marsha Henry
Date: 03/03/20

39 Stockbridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01103
Amount: $377,700
Buyer: Daniel L. Desjeans
Seller: Waycon Inc.
Date: 03/02/20

EAST LONGMEADOW

Bella Vista Dr. #11
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Grace McCarthy
Seller: Bella Vista Holdings RT
Date: 02/27/20

389 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: JJJ 17 LLC
Seller: Robert C. Harris
Date: 03/06/20

22 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Erik M. Wellhoff
Seller: CIG 4 LLC
Date: 02/26/20

126 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Trevor C. Kirk
Seller: Jonathan Schroeder
Date: 02/28/20

9 North St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Christopher Davis
Seller: Scott F. Davis
Date: 02/27/20

120 Old Farm Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Laura A. Stevens
Seller: Louis A. Aveyard
Date: 02/27/20

HAMPDEN

556 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Michael Sienkiewicz
Seller: Mitchell J. Drozdowski
Date: 02/28/20

160 Mill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $344,000
Buyer: Gary R. Barnett
Seller: Robert H. Wogatske
Date: 02/27/20

84 Oak Knoll Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Matthew R. Galica
Seller: Michael A. Ciecko
Date: 03/02/20

15 Wehr Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Jacob J. Boudreau
Seller: James J. Pisarcik
Date: 02/28/20

HOLLAND

11 Old Acres Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $125,659
Buyer: Melonie J. Pitisci
Seller: USA VA
Date: 03/06/20

HOLYOKE

5 Appleton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $1,130,000
Buyer: Mao Moon LLC
Seller: Benz Holdings LLC
Date: 02/28/20

348 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $116,355
Buyer: Vivian G. Rodriguez
Seller: Moises Ortiz
Date: 02/28/20

22 Holly Meadow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Teresa Donnelly
Seller: Alan C. Lesiege
Date: 03/04/20

1632 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: WTF Realty LLC
Seller: Galieo Way LLC
Date: 02/28/20

99 Saint James Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Bina M. Batchelder
Seller: Ronny Sinn
Date: 03/04/20

16 Willow St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: David J. Bones-Estrada
Seller: G&H Homes LLC
Date: 02/27/20

LONGMEADOW

40 Barbara Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Valerie E. Oksendahl
Seller: Michael P. Leavitt
Date: 02/26/20

25 Chatham Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Silvia I. Scott
Seller: Julius S. Brecht
Date: 03/04/20

128 Meadowbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $321,400
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Chris C. Decker
Date: 03/02/20

260 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Rachael A. Lamson
Seller: Diolinda Dasilva
Date: 03/05/20

LUDLOW

38 Barna St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $187,400
Buyer: Leda A. Adams
Seller: Frances Prescott
Date: 03/06/20

36 Hampden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Shamina M. Evans
Seller: MNB Builders LLC
Date: 03/06/20

Jerad Dr. #18
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ana H. Borges
Seller: Ralph E. Connelly
Date: 03/09/20

Jerad Dr. #119
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ana H. Borges
Seller: Ralph E. Connelly
Date: 03/09/20

33 Lazarz St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jessica M. Vazquez
Seller: Amy Maschi
Date: 03/06/20

154 Stevens St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Gail Carneiro
Seller: Joaquim A. Carneiro
Date: 03/06/20

27 Watson Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Walid Fathi-Ahmed
Seller: Daniel J. Pires
Date: 02/28/20

554 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Robert S. Duffy
Seller: Dianne Fabrocini
Date: 03/06/20

MONSON

227 Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Noelle R. Venne
Seller: Timothy E. Wells
Date: 03/10/20

129 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $183,577
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Zoe A. Riley
Date: 03/02/20

MONTGOMERY

78 Pomeroy Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Renee Kiendzior
Seller: Frank A. Demarinis
Date: 03/06/20

PALMER

21 Commercial St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Nicholas Strange
Seller: Jennifer M. Toelken
Date: 03/05/20

2041-2043 High St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Xing G. Wang
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 03/04/20

2042 Pleasant St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $157,300
Buyer: Frederick M. Dyer
Seller: WMass Residential LLC
Date: 02/28/20

4011 School St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $166,650
Buyer: Dawn J. Campelo
Seller: Deborah Lawrie
Date: 02/28/20

127 Springfield St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Justin K. Cordeiro
Seller: Desmarais, Monica, (Estate)
Date: 03/02/20

RUSSELL

90 Highland Ave.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Craig R. Maryea
Seller: Joan M. Deacon
Date: 03/03/20

42 West Main St.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Peyton J. O’Connor
Seller: Alan J. Kochanek
Date: 02/28/20

52 West Main St.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Abigail Tompkins
Seller: William S. Russell
Date: 03/02/20

SPRINGFIELD

22 Albee St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $135,500
Buyer: Anthony Santaniello
Seller: DLJ Mortgage Capital Inc.
Date: 02/26/20

145 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Onix Ocasio
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 03/05/20

136 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Sasha M. McCann
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 02/26/20

252 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Sean J. Kavanagh
Seller: Patricia A. Mineo
Date: 02/28/20

66 Aspen Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Sabrina Santiago
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 03/06/20

1 Bairdcrest Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Chandra Nepal
Seller: Gabriela V. Rivero
Date: 03/03/20

139 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: Wei Q. Ni
Date: 02/28/20

40 Bissell St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,599
Buyer: Paul L. Gauthier
Seller: Flagstar Bank
Date: 02/27/20

1465 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: NPN Realty LLC
Seller: Donald W. Obitz
Date: 02/27/20

60 Braddock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Gladys E. Gaskin
Date: 02/27/20

41-43 Bryant St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Paula Dominguez
Seller: Aida I. Lisboa
Date: 02/28/20

26-28 Calhoun St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

60 Carew Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $116,500
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Ken C. Supersad
Date: 03/02/20

42 Carroll St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Deborah Cary
Seller: Roberta L. Federici
Date: 02/28/20

85 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Bruce Dimm
Seller: Elba M. Mendez
Date: 03/04/20

81 Clearbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Peter Trase
Seller: Nicholas L. Connors
Date: 02/28/20

112 College St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Josue M. Muniz
Seller: Joseph O. Garcia
Date: 02/26/20

44 Colorado St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Timothy A. Raimer
Seller: David M. Trehey
Date: 03/05/20

669 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Tamara Betancourt
Seller: Minerva Rivera
Date: 02/28/20

17-19 Crown St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Helen Al-Mahrwuth
Seller: Mohammed Alkhabi
Date: 03/06/20

83 Dartmouth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Michelle L. Brown
Seller: Victor A. Deangelo
Date: 03/05/20

305 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $158,340
Buyer: Citizens Bank
Seller: Nilda M. Colon
Date: 03/05/20

88 Duggan Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Olivia A. Pepe
Seller: Pepe, Patrick J., (Estate)
Date: 03/10/20

43-45 Eagle St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Selwyn R. Maraj
Seller: Steven Al-Husseini
Date: 02/27/20

24 Elizabeth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: Darrell L. Smith
Date: 02/28/20

8 Ellery St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Pedro L. Morales
Seller: Malynda M. Torres
Date: 02/28/20

104 Farnsworth St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sashoy P. Bailey
Seller: RT Property Management
Date: 02/28/20

253 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Nicolas A. Napolitano
Seller: Gabrielle M. Morgan
Date: 02/27/20

59-61 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $166,500
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Okey U. Ikewibe
Date: 03/02/20

12-14 Foster St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

107 Front St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $643,000
Buyer: NPN Realty LLC
Seller: Orchard Realty Inc.
Date: 02/27/20

110 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $178,500
Buyer: Yesenia Gorham
Seller: Emerald City Rentals LLC
Date: 03/09/20

91 Gary Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Carmen E. Pizarro
Seller: Podworski, Searyn A., (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

90-92 Grover St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: Pedro J. Cruz
Date: 03/09/20

71 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Ryan McDowell
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 02/26/20

44 Holly Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Sandra A. Snape
Seller: Lukas J. Baudin
Date: 02/28/20

37 Inglewood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Simone A. Macario-Rosa
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 02/28/20

58 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Sarah Stoddard
Seller: K&S Holdings LLC
Date: 03/09/20

18 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Kenneth Narvaez
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 03/03/20

29 Kenwood Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,300
Buyer: Citimortgage Inc.
Seller: Ethlyn Williams
Date: 03/05/20

17 Lakevilla Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Jezouit
Seller: Tameka W. Daley
Date: 02/28/20

15 Lamont St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Debora Colon
Seller: Jennifer Bennett
Date: 03/05/20

99 Lehigh St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Abdel Dejesus-Cortes
Seller: Castle Headquarters Inc.
Date: 02/28/20

42-44 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Yanira Rentas-Maldonado
Seller: Angel M. Fernandez
Date: 02/27/20

28 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Darwin Calderon
Seller: Fernando Collazo
Date: 02/28/20

78-80 Maryland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: John T. Riley
Seller: Bernard J. Drewnowski
Date: 02/28/20

139-141 Moxon St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $129,150
Buyer: Manuel A. Cardona
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/02/20

28-30 Nelson Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: NI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

60 Newhall St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Zenaida Rodriguez
Seller: Paul L. Blanton
Date: 02/28/20

91-93 Noel St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Rafael Mendrell
Seller: JJJ 17 LLC
Date: 03/04/20

20 Norman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Carlos A. Fuentes
Seller: Norma Maldonado
Date: 02/28/20

56 Norman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: April Menard
Seller: Feliciano Associates LLC
Date: 02/28/20

87 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

207 Oak Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Karin E. Willett
Seller: Michael M. Hastie
Date: 03/03/20

79 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

295 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

35 Orpheum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Aida I. Lisboa
Seller: Dylan McDonald
Date: 02/28/20

110 Pasadena St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Guilherme DeSouza-Sales
Seller: K&S Holdings LLC
Date: 02/28/20

57 Pelham St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $166,500
Buyer: Mariah Miller
Seller: Rachel M. Craig
Date: 03/04/20

30-32 Pembroke St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Justin Robles
Seller: Jodi Shaw
Date: 02/28/20

140 Pendleton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Alex Roque
Seller: Jose R. Abreu
Date: 03/10/20

40 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Erudite RT
Seller: Home Point Financial Corp.
Date: 02/26/20

35 Quincy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Green Apple Manor Properties
Seller: Anhs Inc.
Date: 03/10/20

95 Rhinebeck Ave.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Kevin A. Nunes
Seller: Richard E. Laflamme
Date: 03/06/20

176 Savoy Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jose M. Guzman
Seller: Good Homes LLC
Date: 02/27/20

17 Skyridge Lane
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jason Pressey
Seller: Rosanna Greening
Date: 03/02/20

447-451 State St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Napolitano Investments
Seller: Chris Kozaczka
Date: 02/27/20

535 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Colvest & State Street LLC
Seller: Sparkle 3 LP
Date: 03/04/20

52 Stratford Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Delsie Parker
Seller: Fumi Realty Inc.
Date: 03/05/20

68-70 Suffolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: BRVSSA Associates LLC
Seller: MEI Management LLC
Date: 02/28/20

24 Vincent St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Humboldt Realty LLC
Seller: MTGLQ Investors LP
Date: 03/09/20

100-102 Wait St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Joel Gonzalez
Seller: David Givans
Date: 02/28/20

292 Walnut St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $133,900
Buyer: Candida Santos
Seller: Aquarius Real Estate LLC
Date: 02/27/20

79 Westbank Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Mayshell C. Mora-Cyrus
Seller: Green Light Homes LLC
Date: 02/28/20

163 Winterset Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Basile Realty LLC
Seller: Loretta A. Tupek
Date: 03/04/20

81 Woodrow St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $334,900
Buyer: Ram K. Sanyasi
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 03/02/20

536-542 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: 536 Worthington St LLC
Seller: Ale House Inc.
Date: 03/06/20

SOUTHWICK

41 Birchwood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: C. W. Vedovelli-Peterson
Seller: George E. Whitty
Date: 02/27/20

44 Buckingham Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Andrea N. Prokop
Seller: John T. Rock
Date: 03/06/20

14 Castle St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Eric A. Jackson
Seller: Robert J. Goulette
Date: 03/02/20

35 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Michael G. McIntyre
Seller: Michael F. Albro
Date: 03/05/20

15 Gargon Ter.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: James Joubert
Seller: James Y. Joubert
Date: 03/06/20

12 Matthews Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $243,500
Buyer: Sarah M. Herbert
Seller: John Devine
Date: 03/09/20

10 Woodside Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Thurston Properties LLC
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 03/06/20

WESTFIELD

7 Birch Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Robert Bellamy
Seller: Cinda S. McKinney
Date: 03/03/20

Breighly Way #12M
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Settle
Seller: DDLP Development LLC
Date: 03/04/20

15 City View Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Martha B. Halperin TR
Seller: Brian M. Torpey
Date: 03/02/20

42 Daniel Ridge
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Jay D. Beaulieu
Seller: Heather L. Ankstitus
Date: 02/28/20

1062 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Aimee-Jeanne Welch
Seller: Ryan A. Lawson
Date: 03/02/20

51 Furrowtown Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Genevieve M. Broderick
Seller: G&F Custom Built Homes
Date: 03/09/20

17 Gold St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Charlene M. Leinonen
Seller: Joanne M. Sampson
Date: 03/03/20

21 Gold St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Charlene M. Leinonen
Seller: Joanne M. Sampson
Date: 03/03/20

4 King St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $159,016
Buyer: Assemblies Of God
Seller: Christ Church New Jerusalem
Date: 03/09/20

6 King St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $159,016
Buyer: Assemblies Of God
Seller: Christ Church New Jerusalem
Date: 03/09/20

438 Little River Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Tabitha C. Dintzner
Seller: Puskey, Nancy A., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/20

126 Long Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: John R. Holton
Seller: Edward J. Robitaille
Date: 03/06/20

567 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Derek M. Stevens
Seller: Craig R. Maryea
Date: 03/03/20

155 Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $196,500
Buyer: Aleksandr Kozodoy
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 02/28/20

11 Maple Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Danielle Pioggia
Seller: Anthony J. Collins
Date: 02/28/20

138 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Benjamin M. Abert
Seller: C&K Blue Sky Properties
Date: 02/28/20

7 Meadowbrook Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Robert M. Rickson
Seller: Tallage Adams LLC
Date: 02/28/20

18 Mill St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,664
Buyer: Yun Zheng
Seller: Hugh G. Cullen
Date: 02/26/20

481 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $436,500
Buyer: Pedro L. Colon
Seller: James A. Angelos
Date: 03/09/20

81 Overlook Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $395,900
Buyer: Sharon Delaine-Francis
Seller: Robert Bellamy
Date: 03/03/20

5 Princeton St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: CIG 4 LLC
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 03/05/20

91 Riverside Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Kevin F. Grimsley
Seller: Daniel J. Coffey
Date: 02/28/20

73 Russell Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jesus Maldonado
Seller: Ernesta O. Taylor
Date: 02/26/20

403 West Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Marcus Rhatigan
Seller: Mark J. Strasfeld
Date: 03/09/20

WILBRAHAM

12 Blacksmith Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Nicholas L. Connors
Seller: Custom Homes Development Group
Date: 02/28/20

9 Butler Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Robert Jackson
Seller: Antonio Pereira
Date: 02/28/20

2 Evangeline Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Piotr Rakowski
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 03/05/20

5 Evergreen Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Kendra Howard
Seller: BGRS Relocation Inc.
Date: 03/06/20

15 Leemond St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Sean P. Garvey
Seller: Anthony Rossi
Date: 02/27/20

455 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: VPR Capital Partners LLC
Seller: NEP LLC
Date: 02/28/20

78 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $124,100
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Mark W. Gallagher
Date: 03/10/20

56 Oakland St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Dana L. Delaunay
Seller: Jennifer Lacasse
Date: 03/06/20

WEST SPRINGFIELD

37 Beacon Hill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Theodore J. Pinkerman
Seller: Kathleen A. Collins
Date: 02/28/20

75 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $242,900
Buyer: James W. Connor
Seller: William M. Gray
Date: 03/03/20

454 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $288,500
Buyer: Chad W. Chapman
Seller: Hey Lama LLC
Date: 03/06/20

15 Cottage St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Sai Aye
Seller: Vladimir Sergeychik
Date: 02/28/20

40-42 Gay Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: JMW Realty LLC
Seller: Pari L. Hoxha
Date: 02/27/20

56 Jeffrey Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Jared M. Longley
Seller: Michael Martone
Date: 02/28/20

600 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,010
Buyer: Kaydoke RT
Seller: Raymond R. Marquis
Date: 03/03/20

137 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $203,922
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lawrence E. Bergeron
Date: 03/06/20

186 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: David J. Lane
Seller: Henry Tenzar
Date: 02/28/20

618 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Kelly Kadlewicz
Seller: Brett A. Smith
Date: 02/28/20

1067 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Daniba LLC
Seller: Donald W. Obitz
Date: 02/27/20

28 Talcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Mario C. Sotolotto
Seller: US Bank
Date: 02/27/20

63 Worthen St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Mikhail Titar
Seller: Victor Titar
Date: 02/27/20

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

11 Allen St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: 11 Allen Street LLC
Seller: Natalie E. Drake
Date: 03/10/20

East Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $638,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: W. D. Cowls Inc.
Date: 02/27/20

64 Greenwich Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: David B. Ruderman
Seller: Ferguson, Jeffrey D., (Estate)
Date: 03/06/20

48 Longmeadow Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Sylvia C. Torres
Seller: Berkshire Land Co. LLC
Date: 02/26/20

Market Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $638,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: W. D. Cowls Inc.
Date: 02/27/20

320 Potwine Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Zlogar FT
Seller: Simpkins, David J., (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

38 South Orchard Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $447,900
Buyer: Risha Hess
Seller: Jason G. Irizarry
Date: 02/28/20

Vista Ter. #8
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Colleen Osten
Seller: Apple Brook West LLC
Date: 02/28/20

BELCHERTOWN

128 Boardman St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Yuyan Jiang
Seller: Constance A. Canuel
Date: 03/06/20

685 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $153,800
Buyer: GJL RNL NT
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 03/04/20

22 Meadow Pond Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: David T. Stanton
Seller: Amanda K. Kuzontkoski
Date: 03/10/20

11 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Huiping Lian
Seller: Robert L. Buehler
Date: 03/06/20

271 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Antonelli
Seller: Evan M. Iannoli
Date: 03/10/20

325 Turkey Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Cheryl Metz
Seller: Gavoni, Nancy J., (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

CUMMINGTON

84 Berkshire Trail
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Aaron M. Loux
Seller: Scout Properties LLP
Date: 02/28/20

EASTHAMPTON

100-106 Cottage St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Elena Candelario
Seller: Sangar Realty LLC
Date: 03/09/20

40 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Kristen A. Richardson RET
Seller: Lawrence G. Paquette
Date: 03/10/20

55 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Nicholas D. Duprey
Seller: Gary F. Vincent
Date: 02/28/20

7 Knight Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Gilson S. Hogan
Seller: Joseph A. Baron
Date: 03/05/20

5-7 Liberty St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Christopher Thompson
Seller: Bixby, Thomas P., (Estate)
Date: 02/27/20

8 Louise Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Christie S. Peterson
Seller: 8 Louise Avenue LLC
Date: 02/28/20

35 Lovefield St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Jayohm Inc.
Seller: D&H Property Management
Date: 02/28/20

93 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Starcun
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 02/28/20

6 Rabideau Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Kellie A. Hutton
Seller: Daniel J. Costigan
Date: 03/05/20

1 Westview Ter.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Peter A. Elsea
Seller: Eric D. Althoff
Date: 02/28/20

HADLEY

15 Morning Star Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $343,500
Buyer: Alan Vieu
Seller: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Date: 02/28/20

42 North St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $347,000
Buyer: Robert Wilson
Seller: RFP 42 North LLC
Date: 03/10/20

35 Pantry Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Coligny Baldwin
Seller: USA VA
Date: 03/06/20

HUNTINGTON

24 Allen Coit Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $197,345
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Paulson, Barbara C., (Estate)
Date: 03/05/20

46 Basket St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Robert Osterman
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/04/20

10 Lowell Lane
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $312,308
Buyer: Stephen C. Trombulak
Seller: Richard V. Hendricks
Date: 02/28/20

14 Sampson Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Warren P. Donnelly
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/09/20

MIDDLEFIELD

69 Chipman Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Daniel E. Boudreau
Seller: Joaquim M. Henriques
Date: 03/03/20

NORTHAMPTON

70 Birch Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $522,000
Buyer: Kevin E. Boucher
Seller: June A. Gardner
Date: 03/02/20

15 Brierwood Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Timothy Nguyen
Seller: SA Capital Group LLC
Date: 02/28/20

Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Tamara J. Bourgeois
Seller: Myette, Claire, (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

1300 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Kaitlyn E. Dorman
Seller: Mark A. Blais
Date: 03/02/20

26 Corticelli St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Angie Hauser
Seller: S. Kelton-Roberts
Date: 03/04/20

190 Crescent St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $432,000
Buyer: Liza M. Styles
Seller: Flora C. Majumder
Date: 02/28/20

90 Fox Farms Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Stephen Kaplan
Date: 03/06/20

52 Longview Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Tofuri
Seller: Virginia M. Kelly
Date: 03/09/20

61 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01039
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: John T. Geryk
Seller: 61 Main Street RET
Date: 03/05/20

91 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Emily Dodge-Goodwin
Seller: Michele A. McHale
Date: 03/02/20

Old Wilson Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: City Of Northampton
Seller: Gil F. Verrillo
Date: 02/28/20

6 Service Center Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Jo Landers
Seller: Perry Smith
Date: 03/04/20

46 Sovereign Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $815,000
Buyer: Brian W. Smith
Seller: Amanda L. Wilson
Date: 02/28/20

67 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Andrew Hahn
Seller: Harold M. Portner
Date: 03/05/20

19 Winchester Ter.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Tamara J. Bourgeois
Seller: Myette, Claire, (Estate)
Date: 02/28/20

PELHAM

120 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $224,250
Buyer: Alexander Schimelpfenig
Seller: Biederman RT
Date: 02/28/20

SOUTH HADLEY

60 Old Lyman Road
South Hadley, MA 01020
Amount: $403,500
Buyer: Edward S. Wolowicz
Seller: Premier Home Builders Inc.
Date: 02/28/20

68 School St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Melanie Navarro
Seller: Laurels RT
Date: 03/06/20

SOUTHAMPTON

1 Beccari Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $563,563
Buyer: Steven L. Webb
Seller: Demelbauer, Leonhard, (Estate)
Date: 03/09/20

55 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: James F. Boyle
Seller: John Gwosch
Date: 03/05/20

20 Thomas Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Nathan A. Boutilier
Seller: Audrey M. Dodge LT
Date: 02/28/20

WARE

120 Bacon Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Terrien
Seller: Douglas J. Fry
Date: 02/27/20

6 Prospect St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. King
Seller: Derek R. Remy
Date: 02/28/20

20 Spring St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Greg Miner
Seller: Mary E. Harder
Date: 02/28/20

WESTHAMPTON

326 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Michael J. Burke
Seller: Grygorcewicz, Joseph P., (Estate)
Date: 03/06/20

WILLIAMSBURG

26 South Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Justin M. Prairie
Seller: Doris J. Shallcross RET
Date: 02/28/20

WORTHINGTON

14 Fisk Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Kimberly Levesque
Seller: James A. Ryan
Date: 02/28/20

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

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

AMHERST

Bell Atlantic Mobile of Massachusetts
531 Pulpit Hill Road
$90,000 — Addition of wireless telecommunication antennas and radios

UDrive, LLC
40 University Dr.
$8,900 — Install fire-alarm system

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee
725 Front St.
$72,700 — Extend wet and dry sprinkler system into renovation area

Dino Facente
520 East St.
$56,000 — Building repairs, alterations, and Massachusetts code upgrades for food sales; transform bike shop into bakery

Fandave, LLC
1514 Memorial Dr.
$9,458 — Replace 12 windows

Solenis, LLC
1111 Grattan St.
$21,450 — Roofing

LEE

Paul Abderhalden
360 East St.
$12,200 — Roofing

Robert Healey Jr., Olga Healey
199 Main St.
$30,000 — Roofing

South Lee Assoc., LLC
501 Pleasant St.
$1,325 — Replace painted sprinkler heads

LENOX

Church Street Inn, LLC
16 Church St.
$52,000 — Install fire-alarm system

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
Lee Road
$12,000 — Remove wall between entrance and coatroom, remove two wing walls, other cosmetic improvements

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
Lee Road
$10,100 — Minor renovations to men’s locker room, document-storage room, and liquor-storage room; new finishes, fixtures, and insulation

Trinity Church
88 Walker St.
$150,000 — Install new handicap-accessible egress

PALMER

Wellman Realty
250 Shearer St.
$1,580 — Sign for Palmer Healthcare

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Medical Center Inc.
759 Chestnut St.
$58,000 — Alter existing covered Emergency Department drop-off area for temporary use as emergency triage containment area

Keino Henry
32 Beaumont Terrace
$9,000 — Commercial grid-tied roof-mounted solar power system

McDonald’s Corp.
386 Main St.
$10,000 — Install fire-alarm system

MGM Springfield Redevelopment, LLC
1028 Main St.
$1,541,000 — Alter space for complete fit-out of new Wahlburgers restaurant

Poly-Metal Finishing Inc.
1 Allen St.
$35,000 — Remove and replace three roof-mounted antennas and nine remote radio units, remove three remote radio units and install three diplexers

Stavros Center for Independent Living Inc.
227 Berkshire Ave.
$183,398 — Alter space for use as additional office space

As an Economic Shutdown Deepens, Some Relief Emerges

By
Coronavirus Sections Special Coverage

A New Reality

The massive federal stimulus that took shape last week brought some clarity to how the government would address troubling impact of COVID-19 and the large-scale economic shutdown that has emerged in response to this public-health crisis. Other efforts on the state and local levels aim to help businesses and families struggling with job loss and the suspension of livelihoods. Of course, the true relief will come when this viral threat subsides and businesses ramp back up. But no one knows exactly when that will be.

The news came in quickly — and landed hard.

Last Thursday morning, the Department of Labor issued its first unemployment-claims report since much of the country began implementing, in various ways and at various speeds, some form of economic shutdown to slow the spread of coronavirus and the respiratory illness it causes, known as COVID-19.

The news was not good. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits skyrocketed to a record-breaking 3.28 million for the week ended March 21 — nearly doubling expectations of 1.64 million claims. The previous record was 695,000 claims filed during October 1982.

It’s a big problem — and sometimes, big problems require big solutions. Which is why lawmakers in Washington spent much of last week hammering out a $2 trillion stimulus package aimed at helping families facing sudden job loss, small-business owners trying to survive, and entire battered industries ride out what is increasingly looking like a severe disruption to America’s economic way of life.

“Business owners … will be receiving a lifeline from the federal government that is unprecedented in scope, speed, and breadth,” Scott Foster, a partner with Bulkley Richardson, said the morning after details of the stimulus became known.

Among its many provisions, the Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act appears to apply to every for-profit business with fewer than 500 employees, including sole proprietors, Foster noted. The act would allow these businesses to obtain a loan — at 4% interest with a 10-year repayment term — to cover payroll costs, including healthcare premiums and paid time off, rent, utilities, mortgage payments (interest, not principal), and interest on other pre-existing loans for any eight-week period falling between Feb. 15 and June 30.

“To summarize, if you are a business and are willing to keep your employees on the payroll, pay your rent or mortgage, and stay in business, the federal government is prepared to pay your rent, your utilities, and your payroll — for employees making under $100,000 annually — for eight weeks, and the payment is tax-free,” Foster said. “It sounds too good to be true, but the public policy is sound — the easiest and best way to get financial support to the most Americans is through their employers.”

Unlike most other loans, this one will be forgiven in an amount equal to the sum of payroll costs, payments of interest on any covered mortgage, payments on any covered rent obligations, and covered utility payments. And to encourage businesses to retain their employees, the amount to be forgiven would be reduced if the business reduces its workforce.

“Business owners … will be receiving a lifeline from the federal government that is unprecedented in scope, speed, and breadth.”

Families will receive a simpler but shorter-term fix — a tax rebate totaling $1,200 for most adults and $500 for each child — which will be distributed as checks in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, states will get help in the form of a $150 billion grant fund, to be distributed proportional to population size, with a minimum of $1.25 billion for states with the smallest populations.

For many of the impacted, it’s a start, at a time of unprecedented anxiety — after all, the country has never voluntarily shut down activity on a massive scale due to a health threat, or for any other reason. This issue of BusinessWest details many of the ways businesses and families are coping, and plenty of advice from local professionals on the best ways to do so. It’s a story that changes by the day, but read on for a snapshot of where we are now.

Targeted Assistance

For many, the COVID-19 threat really hit home the morning — March 23, to be exact — when Gov. Charlie Baker issued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 essential services” to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers, and the public at least until April 7, while continuing to operate remotely when possible.

Those ‘essential’ businesses include healthcare and public health; law enforcement, public safety, and first responders; food and agriculture; critical manufacturing; transportation; energy; water and wastewater; public works; communications and information technology; financial services; defense industry base; chemical manufacturing and hazardous materials; and news media.

Everyone else is being asked to work at home, and most area companies were already moving in that direction before Baker’s mandate. The Springfield Regional Chamber polled its members last week about how the order impacted their operations. Almost two-thirds — 62% — said their employees were already working remotely, 27% said they began remote work after March 23, and 11% said they temporarily closed all operations because they cannot work remotely.

The threat of a longer shutdown looms, and may be foreshadowed by the governor’s order last week to keep all schools and most childcare programs closed at least until May 4, while requesting that educators gear up for the long haul by developing and enhancing online-learning capabilities.

“It sounds too good to be true, but the public policy is sound — the easiest and best way to get financial support to the most Americans is through their employers.”

In the meantime, a number of relief efforts have popped up at the federal, state, and local levels. For example, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer low-interest federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans for working capital to Massachusetts small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. Applicants may apply online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

This week, the Baker-Polito administration also announced economic support for Massachusetts small businesses with the Small Business Recovery Loan Fund, a $10 million fund that will provide emergency capital up to $75,000 to Massachusetts-based businesses impacted by COVID-19 with under 50 full- and part-time employees, including nonprofits. The application is at empoweringsmallbusiness.org.

Meanwhile, Common Capital offers a Fast Track Loan Program to address the needs of local businesses that need quick access to capital. Applicants seeking funding from the program to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic can contact Kim Gaughan, loan fund manager, at (413) 233-1684 or [email protected] for more information.

The Baker-Polito administration also announced steps last week to keep vulnerable families in their homes, preserve the health and safety of low-income renters and homeowners, and prevent homelessness due to reduced or lost income. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will temporarily suspend terminations of federal and state rental vouchers under its purview, while MassHousing is transferring $5 million to the DHCD for a COVID-19 Rental Assistance for Families in Transition fund to assist families facing rent insecurity.

In addition, the state Division of Banks has issued new guidance to financial institutions and lenders urging them to provide relief for borrowers — several banks have already committed to do so — and will advocate for a 60-day stay on behalf of all homeowners facing imminent foreclosure on their homes. Finally, affordable-housing operators are being urged to suspend non-essential evictions for loss of income or employment circumstances resulting in a tenant’s inability to make rent.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts will delay the collection of sales tax, meals tax, and room-occupancy taxes in the restaurant and hospitality sector for up to three months, while waiving all penalties and interest. And, of course, the IRS has informed all taxpayers that this year’s filing deadline has been moved forward three months to July 15.

Nonprofits are being squeezed by the crisis as well. In response, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) established the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley with a lead gift of $1 million from MassMutual and contributions from a number of area businesses. The fund will provide resources to Pioneer Valley nonprofits serving populations most impacted by the crisis, such as the elderly, those without stable housing, families needing food, and those with health vulnerabilities. To make a gift, visit communityfoundation.org/coronavirus-donations or e-mail [email protected].

Meanwhile, Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation have established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Berkshire County to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations as they respond to the impact of the coronavirus in Berkshire County. Numerous corporate funders have already emerged. To donate, visit berkshireunitedway.org/donate. Nonprofits can request funds at berkshireunitedway.org.

Finally, to help individuals in need, the United Way of Pioneer Valley established the COVID-19 Recovery and Relief Fund to provide aid and resources to those affected by the current public-health emergency. Funds collected will help families and individuals impacted by the pandemic to meet their basic, childcare, housing and financial needs. Visit www.uwpv.org for more information.

Hunkering Down

Resources such as these are critical because there’s really no telling when the region and country can return to some semblance of economic normalcy. Judging by what the medical community knows about how aggressively coronavirus spreads, the health costs of emerging from this collective cocoon too soon are too great — the healthcare system would simply be overrun. That’s why ‘flattening the curve; has become the watchword of the day.

Unfortunately, many businesses feel overrun in a different way. The Springfield Regional Chamber conducted a different poll recently, asking members what level of impact they expect the COVID-19 crisis have on their business.

More than four-fifths have major concerns; 34% say the crisis may put them out of business, while 47% say it will significantly impact their financials. Another 15% say they’ll be impacted financially but expect to weather the storm, while 4% say it’s too early to know.

In many ways, it’s too early to predict many things related to COVID-19 and its impact. Meanwhile, a nation increasingly shelters in place, seeking relief and solutions where they can find them, and hoping for the best.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

5 Ways to Do Smart & Responsible Marketing During COVID-19

By
Marketing Tips Uncategorized

Courtesy of https://www.business2community.com/

In everything we do as brands, context matters. Beyond the basic actions taken to protect employees and businesses during a crisis, brands can either help or hinder our collective experience. So when a cultural moment shifts as dramatically as it has in the face of COVID-19, it’s important that brands address the issue with tact, empathy, and mindful marketing.

That said, when it comes to current and planned campaigns, marketing teams face unique challenges during a crisis. While it’s still early in the quarantine, we’ve already been asked to help our clients adjust their communication approaches. Thus, we thought it might be useful to share some of our general guidelines for marketing protocol during these challenging times.

How to Do Empathetic Marketing During a Crisis
Here, we’ve assembled our top tips for addressing your marketing approach during a crisis.

While every brand is different, we see this as a basic action plan that can help brands of all sizes make the right choices and avoid serious mistakes.

Of course, we’re always open to more ideas about how to address sensitive times thoughtfully. If you have more tips or thoughts, please share them in the comments. Otherwise, we hope you find these tips helpful.

Read more

Community Foundation Makes Grants of $700,000 Through COVID-19 Response Fund

By
COVID-19 Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) announced the release of its first grants, totaling $700,000, to community organizations and nonprofits from its recently-established COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley.

The fund has raised $2,480,000 from local philanthropic and business organizations and over 50 individuals. The first round of funding to support local response to the crisis includes $190,000 to distribute food through the region’s system of food pantries; $120,000 to address the needs of vulnerable elders, including home-delivered meals; $120,000 to provide critical health services and outreach through the Valley’s federally designated Community Health Centers; $150,000 to provide shelter for those without homes and those impacted by domestic violence; and $120,000 to provide flexible supports to the region’s lowest-income families and individuals.

Organizations receiving funding include Caring Health Center, Catholic Charities Agency – Diocese of Springfield, Center for Human Development, Community Action Pioneer Valley, Community Health Center of Franklin County, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Friends of the Homeless (Clinical & Support Options), Greater Springfield Senior Services, Highland Valley Elder Services, Hilltown Community Health Center, Holyoke Health Center, LifePath, New England Learning Center for Women in Transition, Safe Passage, ServiceNet, Springfield Partners for Community Action, Springfield Rescue Mission, Valley Opportunity Council, WestMass ElderCare, Womanshelter Companeras, and YWCA of Western Massachusetts.

According to Katie Allan Zobel, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, more grants are expected to be announced and released this week to respond to emerging needs.

“These initial grants will support urgent and immediate needs of those most vulnerable and adversely affected by this unprecedented crisis and those who have been most impacted by inequity,” she said. “Through the generosity of our community and the establishment of this response fund, we are helping those in need living in the 69 cities and towns that make up Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.”

Zobel said next week’s round of grants will likely include health services to organizations serving those with particular health vulnerabilities due to factors such as mental illness, compromised immune systems, or addiction. 

Given the long-term impact of the crisis and the evolving community needs, CFWM and its partners will continue to raise funds and make grants over the next several months. “We are encouraging our business community and individuals to consider contributing to the fund as the urgent needs for support continues to grow,” Zobel said.

Entities contributing to the fund thus far include bankESB; Berkshire Bank; Beveridge Family Foundation; Big Y; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation; Dietz & Co. Architects; Greenfield Cooperative Bank/Northampton Cooperative Bank; Keady, Foard, Montemagni, UBS Wealth Management; MassMutual; PeoplesBank; TD Charitable Foundation; and Westfield Bank.

In subsequent phases, grants will be made to address needs of nonprofit organizations that have been financially impacted by the crisis.

The Community Foundation welcomes additional donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley. Gifts can be made online at communityfoundation.org/coronavirus-donations.

“The COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley is designed to pool community giving and apply the Community Foundation’s expertise and experience to make grants that help our community effectively respond to the crisis” Zobel said. “During this time, we also encourage our community members to give directly to those nonprofits you know and trust that are being impacted now or that are responding to the COVID-19 crisis.”

Elms College Welcomes Antoinette Candia-Bailey

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — Elms College has named accomplished higher-education executive Antoinette Candia-Bailey the college’s first vice president of Student Affairs and chief Diversity officer. Reporting directly to the president, Candia-Bailey, who will join Elms College on April 1, will be responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the college’s Student Affairs and Diversity and Inclusion offices.

Candia-Bailey is joining Elms from the University of Wisconsin Madison (UWM), where she currently serves as senior project coordinator to the deputy vice chancellor for Diversity & Inclusion. Prior to that, she was associate dean of students and Student Life at UWM. 

Abiding by the college’s social-distancing policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, she will be working remotely at the start of her tenure.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Candia-Bailey to Elms College,” said Elms College President Harry Dumay. “The fact that she is joining the college in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic highlights the strategic importance of this position to the college. She brings a wealth of experience in both student-affairs administration and diversity and inclusion, and has served in multiple roles within each discipline. I look forward to having her join my cabinet and collaborating with her on the strategic direction of the college.”

The position of vice president of Student Affairs and chief Diversity officer is a new one for the college. Candia-Bailey will be responsible for providing leadership, management, and supervision to the director of Diversity and Inclusion, the dean of students, the director of Campus Ministry, and the director of Athletics. She will advise the president and other members of the executive leadership team on all student-affairs and diversity matters.

Candia-Bailey has more than 20 years of progressive experience in student affairs and diversity and inclusion at higher-education institutions, including North Carolina State University, Towson University in Maryland, and North Carolina A&T State University. She holds a doctoral degree in leadership studies from North Carolina A&T State University, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and disability studies from Michigan State University, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Lincoln University in Missouri.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to join the Elms College Cabinet, led by President Harry E. Dumay,” Candia-Bailey said. “I look forward to playing a role in promoting and advocating the success of all of our students. I am excited to contribute to the strategic goals, mission, and vision by being a student-centered advocate.”