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Class of 2016 Has Its Priorities in Order

By
Opinion

Editorial

When the judges chosen by BusinessWest to score the nominations for the 40 Under Forty program (roughly 150 or so annually in recent years) complete their assignment and e-mail those scores back, they will usually send along a few editorial comments as well.

‘That took longer than I thought it would’ is a common refrain, as is ‘I wish some of those nominations were more detailed’ — a strong bit of advice to those thinking about nominating someone they know next year (and nomination forms for 2017 are available at businesswest.com). And there’s usually at least one or two along these lines — ‘that was a lot of fun; thanks for allowing me to be a part of it.’

But invariably, at least one judge will also say something like ‘I feel a little (or a lot) better about this region and its future having read about all those young people and what they’re doing.’

This year was no exception, and with good reason. Like other recent groups, the class of 2016 is not only excelling in the workplace and in the broad theater of community involvement, but in perhaps the most important realm of all — work/life balance.

Indeed, this class does a very good job of reflecting the priorities of the young people now becoming leaders in communities across the four counties of Western Mass., and increasingly, the top priority is family, which is more critical to the future of this region than having been named assistant vice president of a department at their bank or that they’re involved with the local Boys & Girls Club — although those are vitally important as well.

A look at the pictures of our winners this year  reveals what is important to them. Yes, there are images that reflect their day jobs and what they like to do on weekends, but for the most part, it’s family.

And in the words that accompany those photos, family once again takes center stage. Comments offered by Andrew Anderlonis, president of Rediker Software in Hampden, sum things up nicely.

“One of the big reasons I left the Navy was that I wanted to be around to see my child grow and up and be there for him,” he told BusinessWest, referring to 2-year-old Tyler.

There are many similar comments to this effect from young people who make it clear that, while they are ambitious and intend to succeed in their fields while also giving back to the community, home is where their attention lies.

And this is reason enough to feel a little better about this region and its prospects moving forward.

Indeed, at BusinessWest’s annual Difference Makers gala on March 31, Carol Leary, who never minces words and has a way of drilling down and getting to the heart of the matter in question, said that, while she was flattered to be honored as she was, she knows the real difference makers in this world are parents.

Or, to be more specific, parents who take the myriad responsibilities that come with that job at least as seriously as those in their work on the job and in the community.

This class of 40 Under Forty winners seems to have that part down. Thus, we should all feel a little (or a lot) better about the future.

Employers Oppose Marijuana Legalization

By
Opinion

 By CHRISTOPHER GEEHERN

Massachusetts employers oppose by a wide margin a pending ballot question that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the Commonwealth.

Sixty-two percent of 180 employers responding to the special question on the March Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index survey said they would vote ‘no’ on the pot-legalization referendum due to appear on the Nov. 1 ballot. Thirty-eight percent were in favor.

The proposed ballot law would authorize individuals 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana outside of their home and up to 10 ounces of marijuana in their residences. It calls for taxes on marijuana sales and creates a Cannabis Control Commission to handle regulation and licensing. If approved, the new law would take effect on December 15.

AIM opposes the question because the legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts would create considerable uncertainty for employers relative to their legal rights and obligations, particularly with workplace drug policies. These employers would operate in an environment in which state law permits private use of marijuana, while federal law, which is often the overriding jurisdiction in employment scenarios, prohibits marijuana use.

“We’re not surprised by the poll results given the concerns being expressed to us by member employers,” said John Regan, AIM’s executive vice president of Government Affairs. “How will an employer respond to a worker operating heavy equipment on a job site under the influence of marijuana? Many jobs, particularly those in safety-sensitive fields like transportation or manufacturing, must adhere to federal regulations that still prohibit the use of any substance that creates impairment.”

Another issue is that many companies receive favorable workers’ compensation insurance rates by declaring themselves to be drug-free workplaces. That status may be substantiated only through drug-testing employees. Even if employees are, on their personal time, using drugs legal in their state, if those drugs are indicated on their drug tests, their workplace would lose those favorable insurance rates.

Recent surveys have indicated an increase in general marijuana use when states approve the legalization of marijuana. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, between 2012 and 2013 (when marijuana was legalized but states had yet to implement a regulatory framework), the percentage of adults who reported using marijuana jumped by more than 20% in Washington and Colorado.

Marijuana legalization is among a handful of November ballot questions with implications for employers. AIM favors a proposal to lift the cap on charter schools and opposes questions that would end the use of Common Core educational standards and impose de-facto government price controls on hospitals. AIM also opposes a proposed constitutional amendment, which could reach the ballot by 2018, that would impose a 4% surtax on income of more than $1 million.

Christopher Geehern is executive vice president of Marketing & Communication at Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

It’s Time to Spell Out the Costs of Being Lazy and Careless

By
Features

Bad Writing Inc.

By JOEL SAMBERG

Good writing in corporate America is dead.

Well, not really, at least not entirely. But with a considerable number of e-mails, press releases, newsletters, advertorials, and other forms of internal and external communications showing signs of carelessness, it’s not exactly the picture of health, either.

While there is plenty of accomplished writing coming out of Springfield-area businesses and organizations (some generated in-house and some provided by skilled marketing communications agencies), too often it is the sloppy, nominal work that stands out. Through indifference, good writing has been devaluated in corporate America. That needs to be reversed.

It’s bad enough when you receive a poorly written e-mail from the human resources department (after all, they’re the ones who should know all about the skill sets needed to grow business); it’s even worse when a white paper prepared by the corporate communications department has misspellings and misplaced modifiers.

The promotional merits of good, effective writing must never be underestimated. Too many executives and managers fail to recognize that whatever is written on behalf of their products, services, and projects — including hiring efforts and networking ventures — can end up as archival material that represents their companies for years to come, even if that’s not the intention.

This includes websites, brochures, e-newsletters, advertorials, company-wide e-blasts, and much more. In today’s cyber world, anything can show up anywhere and last forever. That’s just the way it is. Rambling, boring, ostentatious, cliché-ridden, or grammatically challenged writing can easily come back to haunt. Good writing from the start pays off.

Unfortunately, fewer people seem willing to take the time. Most employees claim they are overworked to begin with; who has time to reread something twice before sending it out?

E-mail is one of the biggest victims, from subject lines to body copy. How often have you received an e-mail that has absolutely nothing to do with what the subject line indicates? The subject line might say “Kittens & Puppies,” for example, and because of that you may decide to wait until the next afternoon to open it. But it could, in fact, be from your biggest client asking you to meet him early in the morning for an important discussion that concerns an income-earning opportunity.

Your client simply hit ‘respond’ on your last e-mail — the one in which you presented a promotional idea tying in to a local pet shelter — and wrote a new e-mail without bothering to change the subject line. That income-earning opportunity would have been missed simply because the subject line on an e-mail wasn’t changed.

I received a corporate e-mail the other day for which the subject line read “Re,” followed by body copy that said, “Tomorrow is fine my bad for not getting back to you sooner.” The fact is that e-mail is fast and easy — too fast and easy. It empowers us, making us feel as if we are dynamic skippers on the information superhighway with no need for self-evaluation, and certainly none for criticism or even assistance.

Many companies rely on their own employees to provide content for business communications, including websites. Often it’s a budgetary decision: why hire a communications firm or reputable freelancer when writing is a fundamental skill we have all learned in school? I believe that’s one of the reasons why professional writing is not always seen as a valuable corporate commodity.

But here’s the problem: yes, we can all write, but we can all add, subtract, multiply, and divide, too, yet would you want to use just any employee to run your accounting department? Good writing is actually a specialized skill. Fewer people are willing to acknowledge that fact.

Here’s an actual line from a website I recently reviewed: “The owners of the company have made a commitment to continue to provide the excellent service and expertise which has lead to the success of these firms through the years.”

The owners may have a commitment to service, but evidently not to syntax or spelling.

Thousands of press releases are generated every day. When deciding which ones to save and which to discard, editors won’t be charitable to the ones that are weak and unconvincing. Here’s an actual selection from a release issued by a nonprofit organization: “On March 4, three planes loaded with thousands of pounds of emergency resources and supplies delivered much-needed goods to the local orphanage. ‘When we approached the orphanage to see what we could do to help them, we were simply doing what all of us do every day,’ the organization’s president said.”

Does the president’s comment do anything to truly set him and his organization apart?

I took the liberty of pulling together a few simple suggestions to help put an emphasis back on good, effective writing, particularly for the in-house crowd for whom corporate communications may not be a primary job description.

• Reread everything several times before deeming it final — at least once for the sole purpose of eliminating as many words and phrases as possible;

• Avoid clichés like a pandemic;

• Simple words and phrases are always better than those that try to impress;

• Know your audience;

• Recognize that your audience is as stressed and as cautious as you are, and will find it easy to dismiss what they read if it doesn’t grab them right away; and

• Get a second pair of eyes to read all material — preferably someone who isn’t already familiar with the topic. Beg for their honest opinion. Listen to them.

Help might actually be just a water cooler away, because most companies have people on staff with a proven facility for writing and editing who can provide a little bit of editorial support. They may appreciate being asked to help because they, too, may very well wish to keep good writing alive.

So go ahead and send out an internal e-mail to find the right person to provide a fresh pair of eyes. But be careful: in the subject line, please do not write “Fresh Pair.” You’d probably get a nasty e-mail back from HR. You don’t want that — even if it’s well-written. n

Joel Samberg is a freelancer who offers time-efficient, cost-effective corporate writing and editing for businesses, organizations, and individuals. In addition to press releases and newsletters, he also helps out with white papers, advertorials, speeches, brochures, websites, presentations, slogans, special projects, and more; joelthewriter.com; [email protected]

The Berkshires Beckon Year-round Visitors Looking to Get Up, Out, and Away

By
Berkshires
Sections Travel and Tourism

The Great Escape

The Berkshire region

The Berkshire region has become known for its outdoors and foodie tourism.

By JACLYN C. STEVENSON

The Berkshires have always been a haven for tourists and a region in many ways dependent on the dollars those tourists spend. And throughout history, this has been largely a summer phenomenon. But in recent years, the state’s westernmost county has been devoted to making itself a year-round destination, with those efforts yielding solid results.

In the late 1800s, society’s well-to-do waved farewell to ‘the season’ in the Berkshires — the summer months — with elaborate parades, featuring horse-drawn carriages.

In the 1910s and 1920s, vacationers returned in the warmer months to venues like the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, for a chance to see the stars — Ethel Barrymore, Al Jolson, and Sarah Bernhard, to name a few — basking in the glow of General Electric’s newfangled footlights.

And in the 30s, the first picnickers began flocking to Tanglewood’s grounds, bringing increasingly over-the-top spreads with them to listen to music outside and engage in a bit of neighborly competition.

Today, all of these attractions — even GE’s switch-board-operated footlights, though not in operation — still help define a vibrant summer and early-fall season that offers a number of historic cultural opportunities. Across Berkshire County, however, leaders of destinations of all kinds agree that year-round development is the key to continued success. To that end, they’re allocating dollars, developing partnerships, and highlighting hidden talents, with the common goal of welcoming visitors during all seasons, not just ‘the season.’

Dinner and a Show

Lindsey Schmid, director of Marketing at 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Visitors Bureau, said this includes calling attention to all the area’s specific strengths: farm-to-table culinary experiences, year-round outdoor recreation, and several different types of lodging opportunities, from bed and breakfasts to boutique inns to large hotels.

“The Berkshires will always be a cultural mecca, but the rolling hills and open space not filled with cars is part of that culture,” Schmid said. “More and more people are viewing us as a year-round escape, and we’re working to call attention to the different things visitors are escaping to.”

That includes a rich ‘foodie’ culture that extends from fine dining to locally produced niche items, such as spirits from Berkshire Mountain Distillers, cheese from Cricket Creek Farm, craft beer from Big Elm Brewing and Wandering Star Brewery, and bread from Berkshire Mountain Bakery.

1Berkshire staff

1Berkshire staff pose with #intheberkshires signs — just one aspect of a larger effort to brand the region as a year-round destination for travelers of all ages.

The Berkshire theater scene, often thought of in terms of summer stock, has evolved to offer readings of plays in progress, musical-theater labs, and new works that have started at venues such as Barrington Stage Co. in Pittsfield, Shakespeare and Co. in Lenox, and WAM Theatre, a professional company that produces plays and events across Berkshire County with a focus on female theater artists and stories of women and girls.

“There’s so much to do all year round, we often remind even local residents of the value that is in their backyard,” said Schmid. “Many theater productions that got their start here have gone on to present off- and on-Broadway following successful showings in the Berkshires. That’s a point of pride for us.”

For instance, Schmid called WAM Theatre (the acronym stands for Where Arts and Activism Meet) “a start-up that also brings a new level of theater” to the Berkshires. Now in its seventh year in business, WAM continues to find new ways to extend its influence — and its season. Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven announced plans for the company’s 2016 season in February — including performances and events scheduled from February into October and a new collaboration with the Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG), an organization created in 2010 by the merger of two of Berkshire County’s oldest cultural organizations: Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928 in Stockbridge, and the Colonial Theatre, built in 1903 in Pittsfield.

Click HERE for a chart of the region’s tourist attractions

“I’m delighted to announce the programming we’ve planned for WAM Theatre’s seventh season,” said van Ginhoven. “We have a dynamic lineup of events that fulfill our vision of creating opportunity for women and girls.”

She will direct WAM’s main-stage production, the American premiere of The Bakelite Masterpiece by Kate Cayley, in September and October this year, outside of the more traditional summer season. The play will be co-produced with BTG and performed at the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge.

“The play came to me via a close colleague in Canada who acted in the original production,” she noted. “I immediately envisioned it at the Unicorn and approached Kate Maguire [Berkshire Theatre Group artistic director and CEO], who loved the play. WAM Theatre is very excited that the Berkshire Theatre Group has opened their doors to make this a co-production.”

A Walk in the Woods

Schmid noted that she’s seen the region’s marketing dollars spreading across the entire calendar more and more in this way — traditional seasons lengthening, the ‘off-season’ shortening, and an overall, collaborative effort afoot to position the Berkshires as an escape for all types of travelers, rather than simply an historic or cultural destination.

“In the past, there’s been a lot of marketing of the summer and fall, because that’s when we had traffic. In the last couple of years in particular, though, we’ve focused more branding dollars on the shoulder seasons,” she said, adding that the tourism industry on the whole is seeing a trend toward travelers looking for unique outdoor experiences, and that’s something on which Berkshire County can capitalize.

“It’s not just taking a hike outdoors — there are adventure opportunities like aerial parks, as well as things designed to make nature feel more accessible to people who aren’t used to it,” she said, listing mountain biking, white-water rafting, mountain coasters — including North America’s longest, the Thunderbolt at Berkshire East in Charlemont — and the burgeoning trend of forest bathing, through which groups are guided through the woods, traveling short distances but taking in the scenery, among the options.

Lindsey Schmid

Lindsey Schmid says the region’s farm-to-table culinary experiences, outdoor recreation, and lodging opportunities make it a year-round destination.

“The outdoor activity message in the Berkshires is allowing us to talk to a slightly younger audience,” she said, “but also to address other hurdles, like museum fatigue among group tours. That’s something so many cultural facilities are experiencing … and here, they can stay outdoors, experiencing the natural beauty and enjoying a cultural experience at the same time; that sets us apart.”

Indeed, Berkshire County is home to several outdoor cultural venues. In addition to Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home in Lenox, Jacob’s Pillow in Becket offers world-class dance performances outside on a 220-acre parcel of land that is also a national historic landmark. The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge includes 36 acres of largely walkable space, as does adjacent Chesterwood — once the summer home of sculptor Daniel Chester French — which regularly offers modern sculpture walks on its campus.

Conversely, the region’s outdoor destinations, including its mountain resorts — among them Berkshire East, Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, Jiminy Peak in Hancock, and Bousquet Mountain in Pittsfield — have taken a page from the cultural venues, offering a greater variety of things to do throughout the year. Now in its 15th year, the Berkshires Arts Festival is hosted at Ski Butternut in July. Jiminy Peak has had some late-autumn success with its 13 Nights of Jiminy haunted attraction, and Berkshire East opened Thunder Mountain Bike Park just last year.

Sherry Roberts, who owns Bousquet, noted that a number of upgrades have been made at the mountain in recent years, all with an eye toward year-round operation.

“We’ve made a lot of renovations to our banquet space, allowing us to open the lodge up for private functions,” she said. “We’re contacting schools and booking them now for summer adventure camp, as well as different parks and recreation groups.”

Roberts said the adventure-camp business, along with other offerings such as a waterslide, adventure park, zipline, and go-karts, serve Bousquet Mountain well — necessitating a full-time office staff during the summer months as well as ski, snowboarding, and tubing season.

“We do try to book most of the summer,” said Roberts, noting that the mountain resort community feels the importance of year-round business acutely, especially following a particularly slushy winter ski season that never quite guaranteed even a full week of strong sales. “When you have a group coming at a specific time and date, there are no surprises — not like opening the doors in January and seeing pouring rain.”

With all of New England seeing record warmth, Roberts said this season was particularly short.

“There were no snowstorms in the forecast, so we were very careful with the money we spent on snow making,” she said. “But we continued right to the end of the season, and I have a tremendous staff that is young and full of ideas. Whether it’s private functions, groups, or what we offer to the public, we’re always trying to build on it.”

All for One

Continuing to build on the idea of cooperation across all types of tourism outfits in the Berkshires, Schmid said 1Berkshire is working more and more with its members to create group opportunities such as cooperative ad buys, sponsorships, and other member benefits that help stretch the marketing budget across 12 months. To woo a younger audience, the region has also taken to putting its many attractions under one social-media umbrella: #intheberkshires, which is added to everything from billboards to Facebook updates.

“We’re branding all year round, and we’re better honed in than ever on specific messages about what our members offer,” she said. “The overall push is that, whoever you are, you can imagine yourself in the Berkshires.”

While that daydream might include a late-season picnic at Tanglewood, a night at the theater, and a farewell to the season with flower-festooned carriages, it can also include a modern meal, an arts walk, or even a high-wire zipline. Whatever the season, the Berkshires are open for business.

Brimfield Shows Attract Buyers, Sellers from Around the Globe

By
Sections Travel and Tourism

Treasure Trove

Shows are held in May, July, and September

Shows are held in May, July, and September, and unusual statues are among the many items for sale.

Patricia Schultz’s New York Times bestseller 1,000 Places to See Before You Die includes the Brimfield Outdoor Antiques Show, and, as a result, the world-renowned event has been put on many people’s bucket lists.

“I had a lady call from Michigan last week who is coming in May just for that reason,” said Lenny Weake, president of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, which fields an untold number of calls every year about the show that began 57 years ago and features about 6,000 vendors on 1,200 acres of privately owned property that stretch along a one-mile strip of Route 20.

The event is held three times a year, and the first show of 2016 will take place May 10-15. Many people make reservations a year in advance, and local hotels and motels from Springfield to Sturbridge take bookings from all over the U.S. and as far away as England, France, and Korea.

“Anything you could ever dream of can be found here,” Weake said. “It’s not just small items and trinkets. There are life-size statues, vintage ice-cream stools and counters, all types of period furniture, antique signs, toys, clocks, trains, jewelry, old magazines, movie posters, and buttons so intricate you need a magnifying glass to see the mosaics on them.”

But he admits it can be a test of endurance when a dedicated collector is in search of a specific item because vendors are not grouped by the type of merchandise they sell or the fields where they are located. In fact, there is no map to help locate a particular vendor, which makes it especially important for people to get receipts with names and phone numbers when they make a purchase, in case they want to return to the booth.

It takes days to walk the properties, and Weake advises people to dress comfortably and bring a backpack or wagon to hold their purchases because their vehicle may be parked six fields away from where they find what they want.

Some fields are open only on selected days, and because there is an endless bounty of things to see, many shoppers browse Wednesday through Sunday, including avid antique enthusiasts and collectors determined to be among the first on hand when a new field opens.

Over 1 million people attend the three annual outdoor showcases, which will be held this year May 10-15, July 12-17, and Sept. 6-11. However, the May show typically contains the most merchandise because dealers buy pieces all winter and often bring so much, they need to rent more than one spot to put it on display.

David Lamberto began helping the owner of Hertan’s Antique Show 25 years ago. That’s the name of the field he eventually purchased and runs today. He explained that the words ‘field’ and ‘show’ are used interchangeably, but the reality is that each show is its own entity and run by the person who owns the property.

The town of Brimfield is not involved with the event, although property owners must get permits, and Massachusetts state tax is collected on purchased items.

Vendors plan for the events far in advance, and many have been returning for decades, setting up their wares in booths next to their friends.

“They regard it as more than an opportunity to sell things,” Lamberto noted. “They also come to buy and network. It’s almost like a convention of antique dealers from all over the country.”

Expanding Horizon

Auctioneer Gordon Reid staged the first notable Brimfield antique show in 1959 after he purchased a piece of property on Route 20. It featured 67 dealers, attracted about 300 people, and was so successful he held a second one the same year.

Lenny Weakes

Lenny Weakes says people come from all over the world to buy and sell at the Brimfield Outdoor Antiques Show.

By the time Reid died in 1974, the 25 acres dedicated to his show had become home to about 800 vendors, and many marked the annual events on their calendars. After he passed away, his daughters, Jill Lukesh and Judy Mathieu, took over and changed his business name from the Gordon Reid Company to J & J Promotions.

Word spread about Gordon’s success, and when they began turning dealers away due to lack of space, many started knocking on neighbors’ doors, and the show expanded as owners of adjoining properties cashed in on the opportunity.

Every show or field charges for parking, and a few, including J & J, charge the first day they open, but many have no admission charge. In addition, a plethora of food vendors are spread out over the mile-long strip so visitors don’t have to worry about where to eat. Most dealers have porters that can help with large, bulky items.

And although the Brimfield Outdoor Antique Show is a venue unto itself, local businesses including restaurants, gas stations, hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfast operations benefit from each seasonal show and have come to rely on it for part of their annual revenue.

The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce receives endless calls about where to stay and what there is to do in the area, since families and spouses often attend together, but not everyone likes to shop. Weake and his staff work hard to educate them, promote their members, and tell callers about area historical or tourist attractions they might enjoy.

He added that transportation is often a critical part of a discussion because many visitors arrive at Bradley International Airport or on Amtrak and need to rent a vehicle. “People from places like New York City can’t envision what the show is like or the geography of it is like,” Weake explained. “They’re flabbergasted when I tell them there is no public transportation or taxi service in Brimfield.”

But the event is definitely an economic driver for the area, and Weake’s goal is to get people to stay at least an extra day. Many do, and visit attractions that range from the Basketball Hall of Fame and Springfield Museums to Yankee Candle and Old Sturbridge Village, while others drive to see historic sites, such as the 14 milestones Benjamin Franklin erected in 1767 when he was assistant postmaster general of the U.S. and mail was delivered to towns along the Old Boston Post Road.

The owners of properties who rent space formed the Brimfield Show Promoters Assoc. some time ago and advertise the event via the Internet, TV, and print media. They also belong to a number of different chambers and visitors and convention bureaus that help to spread the word. And some, including J & J Promotions, do their own advertising.

Social media has also helped raise awareness, and five years ago, Gretchen Aubuchon of Aubuchon Hardware started a tent for designers at Hertan’s by advertising it on Twitter. It was well-received, and for three years, busloads of designers from across the country gathered in a beautifully decorated private tent outfitted with chandeliers and a bar where they relaxed, compared notes, and stopped to rest during shopping sprees.

The tent ceased to exist two years ago after Aubuchon moved to a different job, but designers still band together, and last week Lamberto received a call from a Chicago group that will attend the May event. There are also celebrities and buyers from many different places, including local antique shops that rely on the show to boost their inventory of sought-after items.

“Ralph Polo sends a team to find things to decorate their stores, and we see people like Barbra Streisland and Martha Stewart every year,” he told BusinessWest.

The popular TV show Flea Market Flip usually stages a taping in Brimfield at least once a season, and Weake said the newest, most-sought-after items include repurposed furniture and building materials that have been transformed into lights, wine racks, and other one-of-a-kind pieces.

Collecting Memories

When eBay first became popular, business decreased slightly, and although people still use their cell phones to compare prices and haggle, there is nothing like the joy of finding something unexpected, being able to touch it, and bringing it home that same day.

“Our father was a visionary. He pioneered the show, did beautifully with it, and we hope we are making him proud,” Lukesh said.

Leake is happy it draws so much attention to the Quaboag region and also benefits area businesses.

“It’s the place to be, and people come here from all over the U.S. as well as from other countries,” he said. “We want them to have a good time, and they do. It’s a beautiful area and a treasure hunt; there is everything under the sun, and you never know what you will find.”

Landscape Designers Ride Momentum from Early Spring

By
Landscape
Landscape Design Sections

Going Yard

Amherst Landscape & Design Associates

One of Amherst Landscape & Design Associates’ many hardscape projects.

After several lean years during the recession, followed by the slow revival of the home-building and commercial-construction sectors, landscape designers are finally feeling like their industry is surging, with customers jumping on trends ranging from outdoor kitchens to landscape lighting to sustainable elements. A mild winter meant an early start for these professionals, who are optimistic the brisk business will continue throughout 2016.

It’s a simple question, just four words. But it speaks volumes about the optimism area landscape designers feel about the 2016 season.

“The golden question we’re hearing is, ‘when can you start?’ Not ‘let me get back to you,’ but ‘when can you start?’” said Stephen Roberts, president of Stephen A. Roberts Landscape Architecture & Construction in Springfield. “We haven’t heard those words much the last eight years, but we’re starting to hear them. People want to pull the trigger and go.”

That’s not to say the last few years haven’t been positive. Since the lean times caused by the Great Recession, the landscape-design business, like other construction trades, has been on an upward arc. But something seems different — even more positive — this year, Roberts said.

“We’ve seen an uptick in calls coming in, contracts have been signed already, and the backlog is stacking up,” he noted. “It seems stronger than the past few years.”

He admits the unseasonable winter — one in which the Pioneer Valley totaled well under two feet of snow and bare lawns, not mounds of snow, dotted the landscape throughout much of January and February — had something to do with that.

“Of course, we had the mild winter; last year, there was still plenty of snow on the ground at this time, and people weren’t thinking about landscaping,” he said when he spoke with BusinessWest at the start of April. “This year, with hardly any snow, people have been looking at their dreary landscape all winter and thinking about what to do.”

The warm weather also allowed for an early start to work, Roberts said. “We were able to get out much earlier because the ground wasn’t frozen; we could start excavating and preparing for construction. And because we got out into the community earlier, people saw the trucks, and that generated even more action.”

Steve Prothers, president of Amherst Landscape & Design Associates, senses similar optimism in the air.

“It’s exciting. There’s a lot of energy out there, a lot of excitement for the new season,” he said. “Of course, that’s true after every winter, regardless of the severity; come spring, people are excited to be outdoors, and they look to landscaping to make their property a beautiful and desirable place to hang out.”

Still, the mild winter and early onset of warm weather — give or take a couple late-season accumulations that melted quickly — gave landscapers about a four-week start on the time they usually start cranking up, which is typically mid-April.

“From what I can tell, this is going to be a very busy year,” he said. “That shows there’s a lot of construction going on. Landscaping is always the result of a lot of physical building and remodeling, and it’s kind of a snowball effect. We can’t help but benefit. As they go, we go. When they’re down in flow, so are we. I’ve been doing this for 37 years, and maybe we’re a little insulated in this region, but we’re still affected by the ups and downs of the national and local economy.”

Roberts agreed that a strong flow of work among both commercial contractors and home builders over the past few years has definitely trickled down to landscapers.

“A lot of new construction is getting ready for landscaping,” he explained. “When the engineers are first getting busy, we’re usually two years out from them. But you’re seeing contracts being signed now for the landscape phase.”

At Home Outdoors

As a specialist in hardscaping, Prothers is in a good spot these days, as that aspect of landscape design has been on an upward track since the recession began to fade and people began reinvesting in their homes in earnest.

“We’re seeing a lot of landscape construction from people who are remodeling or expanding and want to expand their outdoor living rooms, using walkways, patios, gazebos, pergolas … anything that makes the space more inviting to hang out or entertain.”

Click HERE for a chart of area landscape design companies

He said water features and outdoor firepits have become especially popular with customers, not to mention kitchen areas where families can cook and dine outdoors — in some cases, poolside. Others are hardscaping around hot tubs and better connecting the poolside experience to the overall landscape — in both cases, making pools and hot tubs part of the entire outdoor-living experience, rather than standalone spots to enjoy a dip or a soak. “People want to feel like they’re spending vacation time in their backyard.”

Roberts agreed that demand remains strong for outdoor living rooms, cooking areas, and firepits. “Those are still high up on the want list for a lot of customers. And the trend is more toward gas features, which are easier to operate.”

Beyond the cooking aspects, he added, homeowners have moved well beyond lawn chairs and favor durable and weatherproof outdoor furniture. “They want to create comfortable, casual spaces. They want to gather and relax in a little more upscale environment than what they’ve had in the past.”

Steve Roberts and his dog, Max

Steve Roberts and his dog, Max, enjoy a moment at the firepit on the Elms College quadrangle, which his company gave a significant makeover recently.

They’re also increasingly looking to install artistic landscape lighting, also known as architectural lighting, a niche popular in the South that is coming into its own in the Northeast. As opposed to powerful floodlights, landscape lighting uses a variety of smaller accent lights to highlight the features of a home and yard.

“Outdoor lighting is being requested a lot more, with the LED lights available now,” Roberts said. “Those are more energy-efficient, and more people are gravitating toward them than in the past. They’re coming up earlier in the conversation, instead of something being added on in the future; people are asking for lighting up front.”

All these features reflect national landscaping trends, according to Corinne Gangloff, media relations director for the Freedonia Group, which studies landscaping trends. She writes that, “as part of the outdoor living trend, homeowners create outside kitchens and living rooms, and businesses extend outdoor areas to expand their seating space. Urban communities increasingly create ‘parklets,’ small green spaces that may feature flower beds, container gardens, walking paths, water features, seating, bird-watching opportunities, and statuary. Some communities have used these parks as a way to address the issue of abandoned homes in blighted neighborhoods, tearing down the structures and replacing them with this type of public green space.”

Other trends in this $6.3 billion industry, according to the organization’s 2016 survey, include heating elements, pavers, and environmental concerns, driving the popularity of solar-powered features, water conservation, and recycled materials.

“Sustainability is a growing concern and desire for homeowners,” writes Jill Odom, associate editor of Total Landscape Care. “As houses get renovated to conserve energy, yards will be redesigned to conserve water. There are plenty of design options that can be used to achieve this, but the two main options will be low-water-use plant material and better irrigation systems.”

Practical features are popular too, Roberts noted. “A lot of people want to add gardens and grow vegetables and fruit. I think there’s definitely a trend toward having some type of edible landscape aspects to their properties, even if it’s just an herb garden, just to have something to pick and throw on a salad. We see that as kind of a trend.”

Heating Up

While the hot choices in landscaping features might vary from customer to customer, Prothers told BusinessWest, the professionals working in the field report similar levels of enthusiasm for what the spring and summer of 2016 will bring after that remarkably mild winter.

“If it’s not overwhelming, it’s certainly steady work,” he said, noting that customers are starting to think about their spring plans sooner — as in the previous winter or even fall — and booking their projects instead of waiting, as they might have in past years. “They realize these jobs have a schedule, so they want to lock them in, and they’re thinking in advance.”

There are plenty of reasons for that, he added, but in general, people have a little more money to spend right now, and they want to invest it in their homes — specifically, in extending their homes outside. “There are a lot of larger renovation jobs taking place, which is great, but also a lot of older landscapes that were installed 30, 40 years ago, and are tired and need a little attention. People want something that’ll go the rest of distance they’re in their homes — or help them resell their homes.”

The almost complete lack of snow this year, while a relief for the average Massachusetts homeowner weary of long, harsh winters, did pose some stress to landscapers — Roberts included — who turn to snow removal during the cold months. But he’s not complaining about the flip side.

“We rely on that winter income for our overhead, and to give us a little cash going into the spring, and that money wasn’t there this year,” he said. “But, luckily, things are on the upswing now.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Flowers, Shrubs, Trees Can Bring Definition to a Property

By
Landscape Design Sections

Deep-rooted Concepts

This landscape design by David Paine

This landscape design by David Paine uses plants to create privacy as the steps behind this home lead to a hot tub.

Bill St. Clair likes to compare the plantings around a home to a frame chosen for an expensive piece of artwork.

It takes time and care to select the right frame — or, in this case, plants for a landscape design — but doing so is well worth the cost because it enhances the beauty and increases its value.

“Plants can transform a beautiful home into a picture,” said the owner of St. Clair Landscaping and Nursery in Hampden. “I tell people all the time they are the frame around a house.”

Andy Grondalski agrees and says plants can also be used to create outdoor living space. “Some people frame outdoor rooms with plants, while others use them on patios or along winding paths that lead to areas with a bench or pond or that open up into a field,” said the nursery manager from Sixteen Acres Garden Center in Springfield. “Annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees can be used to define space and create a garden, and people can plant them with roses, hydrangeas, or different varieties of day lilies.

“But it’s important to find the right plants for the right place,” he continued, adding that he has measured out 20-foot spots at the nursery and had people place plants alongside each other before they buy them to make sure they like how they look from a distance.

“You may prefer something ornate, while other people want something simpler, but plants are an investment, so it’s important to be sure what you are getting is something you really like,” he noted.

Andy Grondalski

Andy Grondalski says people can have color in their yards year-round with the right mix of plants.

Local experts say it’s also critical to use plants with a USDA Hardiness Zone 5 rating because they can withstand the harsh New England climate. The zones are based on average annual extreme minimum temperatures over a 30-year period, and although some people purchase plants rated for Zone 4 and Zone 6, they are less likely to survive when the weather turns cold.

Although everyone wants plants that don’t require much maintenance, with the exception of mature trees and shrubs, they all need watering, and some require deadheading, pruning, trimming, repotting, and other work.

“Plants are alive, and anything alive has to be cared for,” Grondolski said.

David Paine, owner of Plan It Green in Northampton, advises people to use native plants as often as possible. “They are more apt to survive because they’ve lived here for thousands of years,” said the licensed landscape architect. “They also benefit the environment.”

For example, white oak trees produce acorns, while serviceberry trees, blueberry bushes, and various varieties of holly produce berries that birds eat.

Paine said some people shy away from oaks because they views acorns as messy or worry they’ll dent their vehicles when they fall, but oak trees provide incredible habitats; more than 300 wildlife species are known to use or make their home in oaks, including dozens of types of birds.

Flowering plants that attract bees and butterflies are also important and beneficial.

“We would lose many of our food sources if we didn’t have bees to pollinate plants, and although some people are afraid of them, they are far more interested in the nectar on flowers than human beings,” Paine said.

As the number of people concerned about the environment increases, those who love the look of a lush lawn are turning to varieties that are hardier and more drought-tolerant.

“Everyone wants their place to look nice, but Kentucky bluegrass needs two inches of water a week, so it’s almost irresponsible to plant it,” Paine said, adding that replacing turf grass with ground cover is also a growing trend.

Variety of Settings

Today, many landscapers use plants to define a space or create privacy around an outdoor living area. “We put Japanese painted ferns in 24-inch pots around a outdoor room in a Longmeadow home that has a fireplace and TV,” St. Clair told BusinessWest, adding that they are 18 to 24 inches in height and 36 inches wide.

The use of ornamental grasses is also on the rise because they reach heights of five to seven feet and provide privacy and interest, as well as a soothing sound when the wind ruffles through them.

The grasses need to be cut back six to 12 inches from the ground in the fall, although some people leave them standing until the spring because they like the way they look when they are covered with snow. They don’t begin growing again until late May or June, but can reach their mature height in two months.

“They came into popularity over the past decade, are relatively easy to care for, and provide a different aesthetic,” Paine explained.

People love colorful plantings, which can add beauty or create warmth in almost any area, and experts say color can be maintained year-round with a mixture of spring, summer, and fall perennials as well as bushes, including green or gold evergreens or holly, which are known for their glossy green leaves and bright red berries.

“You can also achieve year-round color by using only shrubs and trees, as there are so many interesting textures of foliage and bark,” Grondolski said. “Red twig dogwood shows up really nicely in the snow, and paperback maples have cinnamon-colored bark that peels off like birch bark. Their fall foliage is phenomenal in the fall, and when it comes to color, it’s definitely a multi-season tree.”

He added that reblooming hydrangea is one of the most popular bushes, and it’s possible to change the color of the plant’s flowers from blue to pink or purple by changing the soil composition and making it more acidic or more alkaline.

Filling large pots with plants can also add interest to a landscape, especially when they are placed on each side of the front door of a home or business. St. Clair has clients who like the look of these pots and have him change the flowers in them each season.

Others prefer a more permanent plant and opt for dwarf Alberta spruce trees in pots, as they do well year-round and can be decorated with lights during the Christmas season. They reach a height of three to four feet and can be sprayed in the fall with anti-desiccant oil that prevents the moisture from escaping so they don’t dry out during the winter, although they do need to be watered until the pot freezes.

The market for trees is also growing, and popular choices include varieties of Japanese maples with dome-shaped foliage that looks like an upright umbrella, Kousa dogwoods, Bradford pears, thundercloud plums, and apple trees.

“People can have a small orchard in a 50-by-50-foot space if they plant dwarf varieties. They are the easiest trees to grow, and you don’t need a huge area or have to climb a ladder to harvest the fruit,” Paine said.

Sixteen Acres Garden Center sold out of fruit trees last year, and Grondolski said people are still replacing trees that were downed during the tornado and freak October snowstorm several years ago. In addition to aesthetics, they are beneficial to the environment and reduce heating and cooling bills because they provide shade in summer and block the wind in the winter.

Choosing a plant or tree can be daunting, however, as growers continue to offer an array of new varieties. Some, such as the Kousa dogwood, are disease-resistant, while hollies have been genetically engineered; until about five years ago, a holly plant would not produce red berries unless there were a male and female shrub within 100 feet of each other. “But today, growers have propagated a holly that has the male and female in the same plant,” St. Clair noted.

Helping Plants Thrive

Plants are an investment, and knowledge is required to make sure they not only survive, but thrive.

Sixteen Acres Garden Center guarantees its plants for a year, and the majority that are returned have failed because of the way they were planted.

“Many people make the mistake of putting soil too high around the stem, which causes rot and kills the plant. Or they place the plant too deep in the soil,” Grondolski said, adding that mulch around plants or trees should be tapered inward, and there shouldn’t be any about three fingers away from the base.

“If you want to ring a tree with mulch, you should create a bowl near the base that catches water and can be filled with a hose,” he told BusinessWest.

Paine said another mistake people make is not checking to find out how large something will grow. “A Colorado blue spruce is cute when it is young, but it will grow 70 feet tall and 35 feet wide,” he noted, adding that most plants eventually have to be moved or removed.

However, many don’t require the trimming needed years ago when most homes had a row of yews planted in front of them.

“Things in this profession keep evolving,” St. Clair said, explaining that, when he started out in business 40 years ago, most trimming was done with hand shears. That changed when gas hedge trimmers hit the market, but today, hand trimming has made a comeback.

“Gas trimmers aren’t selective,” he said. “For example, you can’t bring in a canopy on a maple tree with them, so more is being done today by hand, as people want a natural appearance.”

Another thing that has changed is the practice of planting yews in front of a home, which were occasionally punctuated by an azalea plant.

Paine said the idea of putting shrubs in front of a home originated in Victorian times because the multi-storied homes with steep staircases that were being built at the time didn’t look like they were anchored to the ground.

“So, people started planting shrubs around them to create a visual anchor. The nursery business developed as a result, and they tried to sell foundation plants to every homeowner,” he said. “But capes and small ranches don’t really need them, and in a lot of cases, they are out of scale with the house.”

Today, landscapers tend to put accent plants in key locations such as the corners of a home, on either side of the front door, or along the front walkway.

The amount of space people have to work with makes a decided difference, and Grondolski said people who have only eight to 10 feet in front of their home often choose to tier plants of different heights to add interest.

“But plant material won’t perform well unless it’s in the right location,” he cautioned. “If it needs a lot of sun and is in the shade, the growth will be stunted, and it will drop leaves or needles as it stretches to grow toward the light.”

Peace of Mind

St. Clair said many people with demanding jobs don’t want to spend time caring for the plants on their property. As a result, a growing number of clients have him maintain their plantings, and if they do their own maintenance, they make sure someone waters their plants when they are away during the summer.

“Protecting their investment is very important,” he said.

And, indeed, the reasons surpass aesthetics and money spent on them. “Many people find plants and gardens therapeutic, whether they are sitting on a bench and admiring them or down on their hands and knees working,” Grondolski said.

So, with longer days and warmer weather on the horizon, it’s an ideal time to look  online and make careful choices about plants that can be used to frame a property, enhance it, and increase its value.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of March 2016.

AGAWAM

Allied Flooring and Paint
350 Main St.
$116,000 — Install rooftop solar voltaic array

Primos Pizza
1623 Main St.
$107,000 — New storefront

Sultan Restaurant
2170 Maple St.
$3,000 — New fire suppression system

AMHERST

One East Pleasant Street, LLC
1 East Pleasant St.
$14,408,000 — Construct new five-story mixed-use building

HADLEY

Berkshire Hills Music
48 Woodbridge St.
$2,624,000 — New 8,000-square-foot building

The Moynihan Realty
548 New Ludlow Road
$4,000 — Install new fire alarm system

LUDLOW

Silvestre Gama
165-167 East St.
$11,000 — Alterations

Starbuck’s Coffee
456 Center St.
$165,000 — New construction

NORTHAMPTON

Coolidge Northampton, LLC
225 King St.
$363,000 — Renovate former restaurant to UMass credit union

Hampshire Hospitality Group
259 Elm St.
$10,000 — Repair to rooms

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
54 Industrial Dr.
$601,650 — New roof

Smith College
8 Paradise Road
$379,500 — Install replacement windows

Smith College
11 Arnold Ave.
$13,000 — Exterior repairs to fire escapes and porches

Smith College
12 Arnold Ave.
$13,000 — Exterior repairs to fire escapes and porches

Smith College
43 West St.
$13,000 — Exterior repairs to fire escapes and porches

PALMER

Converse Middle School
24 Converse St.
$3,000 — Air seal attic and weather stripping

Johnson Home Improvement
2193 Palmer St.
$15,700 — Construct 8’ x 29’ square foot office area

SOUTH HADLEY

Francis Conforti
41 West Summit St.
$47,000 — Re-roof

GG’s Realty, LLC
785 New Ludlow Road
$33,000 — Install new sprinkler system

Town of South Hadley Football Field
Lincoln Ave.
$4,000 — Re-roof

SPRINGFIELD

City of Springfield
474 Armory St.
$14,000 — Repair glass door

City of Springfield
1170 Carew St.
$7,000 — Construct glass storefront

CNR Springfield, LLC
655 Page Blvd.
$2,138,000 — 10,720 square feet of alterations

Garrett Lumsden
1304 Worcester St.
$13,000 — Build new sales office

MGM
95 State St.
$925,000 — Interior alterations

Premier Education
189 Brookdale Ave.
$100,000 — Interior education

Super Worcester, LLC
800 Worcester St.
$1,212,000 — Construct 9,975-square-foot addition

WEST SPRINGFIELD

380 Union Street, LLC
380 Union St.
$16,000 — Interior renovations for new office

Aspen Square Management
1139 Westfield St.
$8,000 — Strip and re-roof

DDR Corporation
935 Riverdale St.
$16,500 — Interior build-out for tenant

Fred Aaron
134D Capital Dr.
$9,000 — Interior renovations

Real Estate Transactions

By
Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

1620 Cape St.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Christopher E. Roberts
Seller: Anne E. Porter
Date: 03/15/16

CONWAY

522 Hoosac Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $298,500
Buyer: Michael R. McDowell
Seller: Tammy J. Dubuque
Date: 03/16/16

DEERFIELD

230 Stillwater Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Michael S. Didonna
Seller: Beatrice Young-Blain
Date: 03/18/16

GILL

280 West Gill Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $115,250
Buyer: Brooke Hastings
Seller: John L. Dubay
Date: 03/16/16

GREENFIELD

68 Devens St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Crista R. Dericco
Seller: Nicholas Blackmer
Date: 03/14/16

272 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Drew Taylor-Pogue
Seller: FHLM
Date: 03/14/16

126 Oakland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $171,300
Buyer: Gerard M. Keim
Seller: Thomas D. Newcomb
Date: 03/08/16

LEVERETT

102 Juggler Meadow Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Joshua W. Wallace
Seller: Woodland NT
Date: 03/15/16

247 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $289,500
Buyer: Patrick J. Geryk
Seller: Peter R. Heronemus
Date: 03/15/16

MONROE

Davis Road
Monroe, MA 01350
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Todd M. St.Jacques
Seller: Todd M. St.Jacques
Date: 03/07/16

MONTAGUE

154 Montague City Road
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Katie M. Boudreau
Seller: Thomas J. Demers
Date: 03/11/16

NORTHFIELD

204 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Kristin S. Graves
Seller: Sherry K. Tychsen
Date: 03/11/16

66 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Deutsche Band
Seller: Jonathan R. Christopher
Date: 03/08/16

6 Pine St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Melissa K. Heckman
Seller: Gay A. Roberts LT
Date: 03/11/16

ORANGE

349 Tully Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Christopher S. Cote
Date: 03/07/16

ROWE

43 Middletown Hill Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $132,439
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Barbara A. Stickney
Date: 03/17/16

SHELBURNE

101 Mechanic St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Clayton L. Connor
Seller: Bonita Bobowiec
Date: 03/16/16

SUNDERLAND

18 Howard Hepburn Dr.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Melinda J. Martin
Seller: Michael E. Sweeney
Date: 03/11/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

50 Harding St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $173,900
Buyer: Glenn Vreeland
Seller: Antonio J. Pezzimenti
Date: 03/11/16

7 Marla Place
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Brendan S. Hartt
Seller: Christopher J. Strycharz
Date: 03/07/16

15 Memorial Park
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Petr Melnik
Seller: Kierkla, Maria, (Estate)
Date: 03/18/16

27 Merrill Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $138,801
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: James M. Turnberg
Date: 03/10/16

14 Reed St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $206,836
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: John D. Foster
Date: 03/07/16

21-23 Scherpa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Bryan Mruk
Seller: Diane M. Mercier
Date: 03/11/16

300 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: S&H Goodies Realty LLC
Seller: Mark Cornelius
Date: 03/18/16

325-327 Walnut St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: OSC Property LLC
Seller: Raymond Kuselias
Date: 03/17/16

CHICOPEE

88 7th Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Joshua J. Vadakin
Seller: Ivan Panasyuk
Date: 03/11/16

65 Dayton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. Breton
Seller: Gerald A. Lavallee
Date: 03/16/16

165 Deslauriers St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Wrecker LLC
Seller: Debra J. O’Connor
Date: 03/07/16

429 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $143,100
Buyer: Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: Margaret Taylor
Date: 03/15/16

369 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Luke Vicente
Seller: FNMA

New Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: MSJ USA LLC
Seller: Ronald R. Barthelette
Date: 03/08/16

38 Nye St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Mark V. Bartosz
Seller: Paul C. Poreda
Date: 03/14/16

572 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Lindsay A. Drobnak
Seller: Krzysztof B. Janczar
Date: 03/11/16

161 Vadnais St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Evan M. Mann
Seller: Keem LLC
Date: 03/18/16

42 Valier Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Rachael M. Pignatare
Seller: Mildred M. Hayward
Date: 03/18/16

33 William St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Tyler S. Austin
Seller: Christopher J. Plewa
Date: 03/14/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

462 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $244,900
Buyer: Sheila R. Heady
Seller: Camilo J. Catarino
Date: 03/10/16

322 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Steven A. Clines
Seller: Eleanore A. Kennedy
Date: 03/18/16

37 Frankwyn St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Emily Link
Seller: Laura A. Stevens
Date: 03/09/16

10 Judy Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Erica Donnelly
Seller: Mark R. Carnevale
Date: 03/18/16

193 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Steve Congelos
Seller: Kelly Binnall
Date: 03/11/16

11 Oak Brook Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $219,100
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: James L. Bowen
Date: 03/08/16

566 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Couture Partners LLC
Seller: S&C Homebuyers LLC
Date: 03/10/16

119 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Tina L. Girhiny
Seller: Brenda J. Anderson
Date: 03/18/16

310 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Mark R. Carnevale
Seller: Jeffrey M. Cabral
Date: 03/18/16

21 Scantic Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Rebecca Ouellette
Seller: Theresa Ouellette
Date: 03/15/16

HAMPDEN

260 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Christopher P. Turnberg
Seller: Clifton R. Graves
Date: 03/08/16

30 Brookside Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $141,135
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Barbara A. Olend
Date: 03/17/16

39 Brookside Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Buyer: Kelli D. Kefalas
Seller: Timothy D. Johnson
Date: 03/10/16

91 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $211,500
Buyer: Jerry Ago
Seller: Thomas M. Rosati
Date: 03/10/16

126 Steepleview Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: James M. Quinn
Seller: Jennifer M. O’Connor
Date: 03/18/16

HOLYOKE

21 Arthur St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jonathan M. Westbrooks
Seller: 3 Palms LLC
Date: 03/18/16

51-53 Belvidere Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Corey J. Potvin
Seller: Kristen Mone
Date: 03/16/16

25 Central Park Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $266,500
Buyer: Tracy A. Caisse
Seller: Pamela St.Jean
Date: 03/18/16

2-6 Day Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Michele L. Richardson
Seller: Shemaya Laurel
Date: 03/07/16

75-77 Longwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Sandra I. Santiago
Date: 03/08/16

167 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Daniel Bones
Seller: Mark D. Bodah
Date: 03/11/16

2-4 Saint Jerome Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $156,976
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Elmis A. Collado
Date: 03/07/16

LONGMEADOW

79 Chiswick St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Kearney
Seller: Tusk RT
Date: 03/18/16

123 Dwight Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $1,450,000
Buyer: LPC Realty LLC
Seller: Longmeadow Professional Center LLP
Date: 03/18/16

97 Homestead Blvd.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Kyle J. Dufault
Seller: Paul C. Sabec
Date: 03/14/16

69 Western Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Ghulam Sheraz
Seller: Andrew M. Aronson
Date: 03/11/16

LUDLOW

28 Dale St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Manuel Duarte
Seller: Carlos Ribeiro
Date: 03/11/16

92 Laroche St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Amandio D. Ferreira
Seller: Domingos F. Afonso
Date: 03/09/16

36 Newbury St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Anotonio Carvalho
Seller: Reeves, Dorilla M., (Estate)
Date: 03/07/16

138 Ridgeview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $147,900
Buyer: Nelson G. Duarte
Seller: Karen Larocque
Date: 03/18/16

49 West Akard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Andrew Connor
Seller: Thomas J. Russo
Date: 03/09/16

MONSON

261 Wilbraham Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $432,500
Buyer: Clifton R. Graves
Seller: James P. Kelley
Date: 03/08/16

35 Zuell Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $252,500
Buyer: Brian K. Brennan
Seller: Michael S. Carter
Date: 03/07/16

PALMER

26 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $187,900
Buyer: Scott C. Miller
Seller: Wrubel, Enes E., (Estate)
Date: 03/08/16

56 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: John D. Alexander
Seller: FHLM
Date: 03/16/16

12-16 East Palmer Park Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Baldyga Realty LLC
Seller: Susan Monat
Date: 03/14/16

19 Emelda St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $165,900
Buyer: Caitlin A. Lamoureux
Seller: Rafael A. Sierra
Date: 03/14/16

3041 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Debra J. O’Connor
Seller: Barbara A. Spear
Date: 03/09/16

360 Park St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Baldyga Realty LLC
Seller: Susan Monat
Date: 03/14/16

SPRINGFIELD

13 Amity Court
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $119,500
Buyer: Olmstead RT
Seller: MNL Management LLC
Date: 03/17/16

48 Bevier St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Tamara D. Williams
Seller: Carol J. Flouton
Date: 03/11/16

145 Bowles St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Johanna Maldonado
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 03/08/16

107-109 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Ricardo Merced
Seller: Wilbraham Builders Inc.
Date: 03/08/16

384 Central St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Rosa K. Parra
Seller: North End Housing Initiative
Date: 03/16/16

75 Fox Woods Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Crescenza Dobiecki
Seller: Erica M. Marsh
Date: 03/10/16

4 Garfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Straitway To Heaven COGIC
Seller: First Park Memorial Baptist
Date: 03/16/16

94 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Lahoussine Akanour
Seller: John R. Lyons
Date: 03/11/16

478-480 Grayson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $140,000
Seller: Ronald J. McClements
Date: 03/17/16

245 Gresham St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Yvette Heredia
Seller: Devon S. Boreland
Date: 03/11/16

24 Ionia St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Angelica J. Cruz
Seller: Shawn Carleton
Date: 03/11/16

91 Jeffrey Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Kristy Yacovone
Seller: Abram Aviles
Date: 03/10/16

45 Larkspur St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $126,500
Buyer: Joseph C. Pollard
Seller: Lee C. Chua
Date: 03/18/16

58 Leete St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $153,295
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Madelyne M. Robbins
Date: 03/09/16

18-20 Leonard St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Omar Yousef
Seller: Fancy Living LLC
Date: 03/11/16

54 Luden St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $124,500
Buyer: Joni Rhone
Seller: Beverly J. Wilander
Date: 03/09/16

57 Lyons St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Tanya S. Boacas-Martins
Seller: Pogman Realty LLC
Date: 03/07/16

470 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Bar S. Land Holdings LLC
Seller: Carolyn A. Racicot
Date: 03/16/16

472 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Bar S. Land Holdings LLC
Seller: Carolyn A. Racicot
Date: 03/16/16

64 Marlborough St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Kimberly S. Williams
Seller: NI Management LLC
Date: 03/14/16

175 Marmon St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Adam L. Weber
Seller: Patricia A. Demers
Date: 03/15/16

66-68 Montclair St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Christina Henry
Seller: Olaolu O. Odewole
Date: 03/18/16

261 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Better Homes Inc.
Seller: Lugrone L. Handford
Date: 03/11/16

22-24 Ozark St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Olmsted RT
Seller: WN Management LLC
Date: 03/17/16

134-136 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Antonio Ferreira
Seller: Francisco F. Fandinga
Date: 03/14/16

191 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Luz Lopez
Seller: Viviana Council
Date: 03/07/16

1553 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Michael Morrison
Seller: Richard M. McKeever
Date: 03/17/16

143-149 Putnam Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Ricky B. Wallace
Seller: Tang Realty LLC
Date: 03/10/16

111 Ramblewood Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Mario E. Martinez
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 03/07/16

229 Ramblewood Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $156,900
Buyer: Ru J. Zhao
Seller: Paul R. Chartier
Date: 03/18/16

13 Raymond Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Lisandra Zeno
Seller: Global Homes Properties
Date: 03/15/16

179 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: JJS Capital Investment
Seller: Cabot Realty LLC
Date: 03/09/16

204 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: JJS Capital Investment
Seller: Cabot Realty LLC
Date: 03/09/16

213 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $124,250
Buyer: Albert C. Crepeau
Seller: Evelyn A. Such
Date: 03/08/16

1207 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Christian A. Palma
Seller: Gloria G. Weissman
Date: 03/14/16

51-59 Taylor St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: City Church
Seller: 51-59 Taylor Street Inc.
Date: 03/11/16

33 Thorndyke St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Lennox A. James
Seller: Robert J. Tudryn
Date: 03/18/16

48 Undine Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Ellen T. Moorhouse
Seller: Gail M. Lonis
Date: 03/14/16

52 Wachusett St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Tomasz Szal
Seller: Hugh K. Martin
Date: 03/18/16

26 Warner St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $211,270
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Kelly Reyes
Date: 03/09/16

166 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: JJS Capital Investment
Seller: Cabot Realty LLC
Date: 03/09/16

179 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: JJS Capital Investment
Seller: Cabot Realty LLC
Date: 03/09/16

180 Whittum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Irina Vidomanets
Seller: Alexander Vidomanets
Date: 03/11/16

126 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $239,500
Buyer: Kwaku Agyei-Yeboah
Seller: Nu Way Homes Inc.
Date: 03/18/16

15 Wood End Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: James F. Ware
Seller: Jason S. Balut
Date: 03/18/16

SOUTHWICK

118 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Mark Mikaelian
Seller: Steven R. Legault
Date: 03/15/16

68 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Calvin J. Arnold
Seller: Daniel O’Sullivan
Date: 03/18/16

6 Great Brook Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Cemil Erdem
Seller: Tracy M. Calvanese
Date: 03/11/16

29 Lauren Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kevin K. Yarrows
Seller: Pine Knoll Inc.
Date: 03/10/16

7 Liquori Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $457,500
Buyer: Karl R. Schmidt
Seller: Paul E. Cesan
Date: 03/11/16

106 Summer Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Erin M. Larson
Seller: New England Remodeling & Restoration
Date: 03/17/16

40 Woodside Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Emily J. Bryant
Seller: Lynn N. Fiana
Date: 03/18/16

WESTFIELD

31 Alquat St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Thomas I. McLain
Date: 03/08/16

72 Cardinal Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Gary L. Gover
Seller: Roger L. Ringenbach
Date: 03/14/16

71 Franklin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $400,000
Seller: 71 Franklin Street LLC
Date: 03/07/16

22 Harold Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Bridget A. Stearns
Seller: Robert P. Williamson
Date: 03/11/16

46 Holland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $121,200
Buyer: Big Buck Properties LLP
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 03/09/16

12 Leaview Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Gregory F. Vescio
Seller: Eric P. Leduc
Date: 03/16/16

18 Llewellyn Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,187
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Robert F. Swayger
Date: 03/08/16

44 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Brian A. Kuchachik
Seller: Burlingame, Carol A., (Estate)
Date: 03/11/16

225 Pontoosic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Stephen R. Walbridge
Seller: Henry J. Bannish
Date: 03/14/16

18 Rosedell Dr. Ext.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Mellissa Leduc
Seller: Thomas Scott-Smith
Date: 03/16/16

69 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Anthony R. King
Seller: Kylah M. Murdock
Date: 03/09/16

123 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $162,250
Buyer: Justin B. Guilmette
Seller: Phillip B. Prather
Date: 03/11/16

36 Sherwood Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Montini
Seller: Brandon F. Giordanolanza
Date: 03/15/16

10 Smith Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Anotoliy Ovdlychuk
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/10/16

179 Tannery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $252,500
Buyer: Chad Brodeur
Seller: Lynn M. Boudreau
Date: 03/11/16

229 Western Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Robert L. Knapp
Seller: Joanne M. Brochetti
Date: 03/09/16

WILBRAHAM

6 Bradlind Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $133,900
Buyer: Michael S. Gloster
Seller: Cheryl Wooster
Date: 03/15/16

485 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: David G. Mitchell
Seller: Joseph G. Lafreniere
Date: 03/17/16

603 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: David J. Izatt
Seller: Donald R. Bennett
Date: 03/07/16

1 Meadowview Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Richard F. Steng
Seller: Luisa M. Tavares
Date: 03/07/16

11 Tracy Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Brick Road Properties LLC
Seller: Rivest, Robert F. Jr, (Estate)
Date: 03/14/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

107 Althea St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,109
Buyer: Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: K. Sukhumbaadthaneai
Date: 03/18/16

220 Ashley St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Robert A. Foresi
Seller: Nancy E. Dellaquila
Date: 03/11/16

409 Brush Hill Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Rodney H. Dupuis
Seller: Carol A. Clark
Date: 03/10/16

125 Craiwell Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $266,500
Buyer: Brett Gazaille
Seller: Linda L. Crean
Date: 03/07/16

55 Cooper St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Kurt M. Davis
Seller: Nancy A. Kingsbury
Date: 03/18/16

292 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Dean H. Hoppe
Seller: Rose M. Danoff
Date: 03/10/16

104 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $202,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: George Colon
Date: 03/07/16

17 Lotus Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Linda L. Crean
Seller: Adam L. Dasso
Date: 03/07/16

N/A
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $226,500
Buyer: Toralben Patel
Seller: Robert A. Foresi
Date: 03/11/16

35 Ridgeview Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Jessica E. Hagerman
Seller: Michael Macutkiewicz
Date: 03/14/16

91 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Bhim Gurung
Seller: Gheorghe Seremet
Date: 03/17/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

195 Heatherstone Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Flaherty
Seller: Killough RT
Date: 03/18/16

32 Hitchcock Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Martha Merrill-Umphrey
Seller: Amherst College
Date: 03/09/16

Meadow St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $361,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Czajkowski
Seller: W. D. Cowls Inc.
Date: 03/07/16

Old Farm Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: Sabrina Realty LP
Date: 03/07/16

BELCHERTOWN

689 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $157,049
Buyer: Vision Investment Properties
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/09/16

37 Jackson St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $278,200
Buyer: Amy M. Lavoie FT
Seller: Michael Edreich
Date: 03/17/16

6 South Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $167,700
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jason Zdrojkowski
Date: 03/08/16

132 Springfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Kelly B. Edreich
Seller: David G. Mitchell
Date: 03/17/16

25 Trillium Way
Belchertown, MA 01002
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: James C. Pijar
Seller: Mark G. Jackson
Date: 03/07/16

EASTHAMPTON

16 Beyer Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Sarai Kon
Seller: Edward P. Dickson
Date: 03/18/16

15 Gaugh St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $187,088
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Ibro Duric
Date: 03/18/16

33-R Maine Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Sweeney
Seller: Dailee E. Joyce
Date: 03/18/16

2 Schumikowski St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Laura Routhier
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/11/16

GRANBY

435 East State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $202,500
Buyer: Steven Stimpson
Seller: Eunice Y. Quinlan
Date: 03/18/16

51 Lyman St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Brian Marsh
Seller: Charles A. Bennis
Date: 03/10/16

HADLEY

2 Hawks Meadow
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $527,000
Buyer: Emily J. Cowden
Seller: Countryside Home Builders
Date: 03/14/16

HUNTINGTON

19 Blandford Hill Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Alisha Hanlon
Seller: Kyle F. Pero
Date: 03/11/16

NORTHAMPTON

5 Calvin Ter.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Asaf Pollin-Galay
Seller: Candace P. Curran

120 Chestnut St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Michael Stephens
Seller: Etavab RT
Date: 03/16/16

Easthampton Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: City Of Northampton
Seller: RWZ LLC
Date: 03/16/16

123 Meadow St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Jacqueline G. Leighton
Seller: Nooni Hammarlund
Date: 03/11/16

N/A
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Alan T. Dorman
Seller: Brian J. Campedelli
Date: 03/08/16

751 Park Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $347,500
Buyer: Clifford Madru
Seller: Alan T. Dorman
Date: 03/08/16

SOUTH HADLEY

14 Apple Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Rudolph J. Hall
Seller: Craig J. Sypek
Date: 03/09/16

10 Forest Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Ryan C. Bowler
Seller: Matthew Bruton
Date: 03/11/16

12 Harvard St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Dubois
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/10/16

40 Lathrop St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Robert L. Oldershaw
Seller: Anthony L. Stevens
Date: 03/07/16

SOUTHAMPTON

27 Helen Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Brian J. Binnall
Seller: Anthony Fedirko
Date: 03/11/16

WARE

178 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Elmer L. Grant
Seller: Talbot, Lillian M., (Estate)
Date: 03/17/16

WORTHINGTON

118 Scott Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Neil K. Keen
Seller: Jeffrey C. Johnson
Date: 03/15/16

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.
 
Beecher, Joseph, A.
Beecher, Donna, M.
a/k/a Pastore, Donna, M.
40 Sioux Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/09/2016

DeMusis, Robert, P.
DeMusis, Maria, Katina
33 Colorado St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/14/2016

Dunham, Allen, R.
31 Railroad Ave.
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/15/2016

Gingersnaps Vending
Simone, Mark, R.
Simone, Ginger, P.
350 West St., Lot 41
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/14/2016

Jackson, Heather
PO Box 1924
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/09/2016

Jandro, Edward, J.
Jandro, Beverly, D.
102 Tanner St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/10/2016

Kurzman, Colleen A.
31 Railroad Ave.
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/15/2016

Perez, Carmen, Amanda
1682 Memorial Dr. 2R
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/10/2016

Rakaska, William, R.
1612 Westover Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/09/2016

Rostick, Lesline, G.
a/k/a Ainsley, Lesline, G.
12 Hamlin St., Apt. D
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/10/2016

Stone, Eric, K.
22 Bonair Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/15/2016

Szynkaruk, Jacek
Szynkaruk, Gina, B.
6 Taylor Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/09/2016

Williams, Susan, L.
1932 Page Blvd.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/15/2016

Doing Business As Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of April 2016.

AGAWAM

Brittany Shields Photography
327 North West St.
Bradford Tilden

Feeding Hills Wellness Center
567 Springfield St.
Nancy Griswold

Gallagher A/S
81 Ramah Circle
Gianfranco Scirocco

R & G Remodel
94 Witheridge St.
Roman Gurskil

Titan Trading
15 Plumtree Way
Michael Pelletier

The Garlington House
322 Meadow St.
Larry Garlington

Tobedo
59 South Westfield St.
Wanda Torres

V & G Quality Home Improvement
32 White Fox Road
Vasiliy Grigorchuk

Victor Snacks
19 River St.
Victor Suarez

HOLYOKE

Aeropostale
50 Holyoke St.
Harry Axt

Convenience Plus
225 Whiting Farms Road
Andrw Slifka

Hampden County Cardiovascular Associates
230 Maple St.
James Arcoleo

Merrell
50 Holyoke St.
Ronald Balk

SG Renovations
294 Pleasant St.
SG Renovations

NORTHAMPTON

Antique Corner
5 Market St.
Louis Farrick

Barefoot Gardening
8 Aldrich St.
Courtney Gilligan

CAC Maintenance
65 Reservoir Road
Joseph Murphy

Heartcore Writing
28 North Maple St.
Elizabeth Solomon

Muscular Therapy Center
5 Strong Ave.
Catherine Carija

Northampton Doula
15 Nonotuck St.
Sara Rachlin

PALMER

One Stop Liquors
1458 North Main St.
Jeegar Patel

Roof Maintenance Management & Materials
111 Breckenridge St.
David Giordano

The Barn Cat
2136 Baptist Hill St.
Deborah Kelder

SPRINGFIELD

A Touch of Heaven
770 Carew St.
Tanya Martinez

Abuelita’s Kitchen
17 Rutland St.
Peter RiDubois

Alpha & Omega Construction
132 Croyden Terrace
Stefan Tshihotsky

AMC Childcare
799 Sumner Ave.
Victor Allder

Annette Marie Laroche
156 Jeffrey Road
Annette Laroche

Axiom Insurance
251 Boston Road
Lance Letourneau

Belle
68 James St.
Lynell Gasque-Davis

Beneath the Beauty
567 Carew St.
Stephanie Edwards

Da Li Mo and Company
9 Temple St.
Sandra Cotten

De Todos Market
306 Belmont Ave.
Ana Marte

Gifted Tones
1655 Boston Road
Alberto Navarro

Team Strength
23 Paridon St.
Lauren Corthell

Teo’s Finest T-Print
28 Preston St.
Teifilo Aponte

The Legends Barbershop
2388 Worthington St.
Luis A. Baez

Tripticstar
298 Allen Park Road
Michelle Barnaby

VSJ Productions
15 Barber St.
Veronica Shippy-Josey

WLHZ La Hora Zero
470 Main St.
Evelyn Edwards

Young Urban Engineering
815 State St.
Greg Ellerbee

Youthful Expressions
1 Allen St.
Zena R. Murray

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Lattitude Restaurant
1338 Memorial Ave.
Jeffrey Daigeneau

M.D. Transportation
198 Heywood Ave.
Maria Duducal

Navone News
35 Albert St.
Jennifer Navone

Peak Performance Exterior
103 Upper Beverly Hills
Eric Barkyoumb

Ready Motors
2405 Westfield Road
Victor Meyko

Scattered Seeds Foundations
908 Morgan Road
Maryanne Pacitti

Shawna’s Solutions
26 Duke St.
Shawna McDaniel

Sprint Spectrum
233 Memorial Dr.
Terrence Frederick

The Pawsitive Look
865 Memorial Dr.
Doris Ruiz

The Puppy Place
935 Riverdale St.
Richard Carty

Van Deene Medical Building
75 Van Deene Ave.
Jonathan C. Sudal

Western Mass Hypnosis Centers
201 Westfield St.
Thaddeus Muszynski

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

C & N Renovations Inc. 410 Meadow St., Apt. 30, Agawam, MA 01001. Christopher Guyette, 174 Birnie Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Residential Remodeling.
 
AMHERST

Action Interaction Inc. 145 University Drive, #3612, Amherst, MA 01004. Robert Price, same. Provides assistance with conducting events, workshops and performances, and all other lawful business.
 
CHESTERFIELD

Ajility Chico Corporation, 173 South St., Chesterfield, MA 01012. Gauis Brandt Slosser, same. Health care personnel staffing.
 
EAST LONGMEADOW

Ceramoptec Industries Inc., 515 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Damian Pange. To acquire and dispose of real estate or personal property of any kind; and to purchase, mortgage, rent or lease, real estate or personal property of any kind.
 
GREAT BARRINGTON

Berkshire Community Land Trust Inc., 140 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Billie Best, 16 White’s Hill Road, Alford, MA 01230. Education, research, and the promotion of and appreciation for community access to land and other natural resources in Berkshire County and environs for sustainable: 1. Affordable housing, 2. Farming, 3. Economic diversity, and 4. Open space for recreation. B. Enhancement of the community by acquiring by gift or purchase land and interests in land in Berkshire County.
 
Barlow Landscaping, Excavation, Paving and Construction Corp., 77 Davis St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Bryan Barlow, same. Landscaping, excavation, paving and construction and any other lawful business or activity.
 
HAMPDEN

BAF Auto Sales Inc., 482 Main St., Hampden MA 01036. Bilal Mhanna, 48 Agnes St., Springfield MA 01118. Used car dealer.
 
HOLYOKE

Colegio Biblico Camino De Emaus Inc., 349 High St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Juan Fernandez, 210 Mountain View Dr., Holyoke, MA 01040.
 
LEE

Berkshire Hills Youth Soccer Inc., 325 Marble St., Lee, MA 01238. Matthew Naventi, same. Organize and administer youth soccer teams and leagues in Southern Berkshire County of Western Massachusetts.
 
PITTSFIELD

123 Up and Adam Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Manuel Arcangel Martinez. 1123 Rockdale Ave., New Bedford, MA 02740. A nonprofit organization established to assist cross-disability, community-based agency that practices consumer-control. The non-profit corporation shall provide aid and relief services, to homeless disabled persons in Massachusetts.

Carlow and Zepka Construction Inc., 7 Park Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01220. Construction services.
 
WEST SPRINGFIELD

All for Christ Deliverance Outreach Ministries, 73 Hillside Village, Ware, MA 01082-0916. Marineusa Portugal Brown, 204 Pearl Street, Springfield, MA 01108. The ministry will serve its purpose by reaching out to Springfield and other communities throughout Massachusetts. We so endeavor to win souls for the kingdom of God. We desire to edify and to bring about positive change for the lives of many by teaching the Bible and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
 
WILBRAHAM

Confluent Sciences Consulting Inc., 255 Burleigh Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Frederick Haibach, same. Consulting practice and small-scale manufacturing of instrumentation. The services provided are in proof-of-concept chemical measurements, instrumentation development, evaluation and methods for interfacing instruments to the measurement all the way to the supervisory control and data acquisition system and training. Small- scale instrument manufacturing of limited-run prototypes or prototyping instruments.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

Leadership 2016 Lauds 22 Graduates

SPRINGFIELD — Twenty-two business professionals graduated from the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Leadership 2016 in a ceremony on April 14 at the Springfield Sheraton. Sponsored by the MassMutual Financial Group with scholarship support from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the program is a collaboration between the Springfield Regional Chamber and Western New England University to teach middle- and upper-level managers the crucial thinking and problem-solving skills needed to prepare participants to be effective leaders in service to the community and their workplaces. This year’s program, “Leadership Skills: For Personal, Organizational, and Community Development,” included an emphasis on strategies and techniques designed to create high-energy and high-involvement leadership, focusing on problem solving, learning to ask the right questions, and implementing creative and innovative solutions for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. “Notwithstanding the learning component, the Leadership program is unique in that it brings together people from different business backgrounds, providing an opportunity to view the various learning topics from different points of view, giving participants a greater appreciation of the lessons,” said 2016 graduate Youssef Fadel of New England Promotional Marketing. “The setting is casual and friendly, making it conducive to developing an atmosphere where one wants to learn and observe. You get to appreciate many aspects of leadership and come out with a specific plan for your own leadership journey. You can use what you learned in your professional, volunteer, or personal life.” Working alongside Western New England University professors, participants actively explored best practices of leaders; analyzed their own leadership, learning, and problem-solving styles; were challenged to think in new ways and to analyze their own strengths and organizational challenges within a dynamic economy; and explored task and interpersonal focus, negotiation orientation, and emotional intelligence, supplemented by self-diagnostics, experiential activities, and case studies. “The Leadership Institute offers a wonderful refresher on various leadership frameworks such as planning and problem solving. It helps you to stretch your mind to explore ways you can use your influence to help others. If you get the opportunity to participate in the Leadership Institute, I highly recommend it,” said 2016 graduate Gillian Palmer, business development and group sales coordinator with the Eastern States Exposition. Sessions included “Each Person’s Behavior Makes Perfectly Good Sense to Them: We Are All Different,” which explored how individuals differ in the ways they learn, communicate, lead, and follow, and “Leadership Who Get Things Done: The Power of Influence,” which focused on influence skills such as reading other people and adapting the message so it will be better-understood, understanding the six universal forms of influence, and developing political savvy. Since 1982, more than 900 area leaders have graduated from the institute. “TD Bank’s focus on continued development of our rising talent goes hand in hand with the goals of the Leadership program,” said Christine Moran, senior vice president and market commercial credit manager for TD Bank, who has sponsored many of these area leaders. “Year over year, we have seen our employees develop increased confidence and gain negotiation and influential skills to become stronger team members. These accomplishments keep us committed to the program, as we continually grow our next generation of leaders.” Members of this year’s class include: Bill Raimondi and Christopher Savenko, Baystate Health; Sean Nimmons, Big Y Foods Inc.; Gillian Palmer, Eastern States Exposition; Abby Getman, Food Bank of Western Mass.; Mahera Chiarizio, Ryan Howard, Terri Lombardo, Naida Lopez, and Shawn Teece, HCS Headstart Inc.; Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, Healing Racism Institute of the Pioneer Valley; Steven Facchetti and Tina Whitney, MassMutual Financial Group; Melissa Nelson, Medvest LLC (Doctors Express); Youssef Fadel, New England Promotional Marketing; Latora Godbolt, Ormsby Insurance Agency; Vickie Dempesy, Shriners Hospital for Children; Michael Ehmke and Christopher Scott, TD Bank; Julie Fregeau, the Republican; Marlene Johnson, United Personnel; and Mike Murray, Western New England University.

Employer Confidence Strengthens in March

BOSTON — Massachusetts employers grew more confident during March as turbulence in China and other key global markets subsided. At the same time, a significant gap has developed between the bullish outlook of service companies and a less optimistic view among manufacturers that is also reflective of national developments. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose 1.4 points to 56.5 last month, its highest level since November and well above the 50 mark that denotes a positive economic outlook. The index for service companies and other non-manufacturers increased to 61.3, while the manufacturing index fell to 54.8, down 7.1 points from its level in March 2015. The results come a week after the state announced that the unemployment rate dropped to 4.5% during February and that employers added 14,400 jobs during the first two months of the year. “The good news is that the Massachusetts and U.S. economies have proven remarkably resilient in the face of weak growth globally that unsettled financial markets at the beginning of the year,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “What happens next? Employers here in Massachusetts appear to be generally optimistic about their prospects during the next six months, though the outlook among manufacturers remains muted by global uncertainty, weakening corporate earnings, the strength of the dollar, and rising credit risk.” The AIM Business Confidence Index, based on a survey of Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative.

Law Reduces Barriers for People Convicted of Drug Offenses

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker signed bipartisan legislation passed unanimously by both branches of the Legislature to ease the transition for those convicted of drug offenses to re-enter society, hold employment, and care for their families by repealing the automatic suspension of drivers licenses and a subsequent $500 reinstatement fee for all drug convictions. “As the Commonwealth takes important steps to battle substance abuse and re-examine our criminal-justice system, I am pleased to sign legislation providing opportunities for those convicted of drug offenses and who have served their time to re-enter society, find and keep a job, and support their families,” Baker said. “Removing this significant barrier to re-entry reduces the prospects of recidivism as individuals continue treatment or recovery and gives them a better chance at getting back on their feet.” The legislation provides certain exceptions for drug-trafficking convictions and takes effect immediately. “We are proud to support this legislation that would ensure those who have paid their debts to society for drug offenses have the means to be productive citizens, capable of supporting themselves and their loved ones,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “I’m proud of our administration’s efforts and collaboration with the Legislature to counter opioid addiction, and ending the automatic license suspension is a reform that will help put people on a path that keeps them out of our criminal-justice system.”

Meehan Praises Baker, Legislature for Backing UMass Funding

BOSTON — UMass President Marty Meehan praised Gov. Baker and the state Legislature for approving funding to the system. “The support we are receiving from Gov. Charlie Baker and from the House and Senate will help to fuel our progress and success — and will have a real impact on the Commonwealth’s future,” Meehan said. A $158 million supplemental budget approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor includes $10.9 million for UMass. The funding, which relates to labor contracts, will be used for workforce purposes and will also fund $7 million in student scholarships, in addition to aiding the university’s overall pursuit of quality and excellence. Meehan praised Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, saying, “I am grateful to our state leaders for their commitment to UMass and to the cause of high-quality public higher education — a cause that is so critical to the Commonwealth and its citizens and will remain so for generations to come.” The Legislature’s action comes at a time when UMass is enjoying successes on many fronts, with its endowment, enrollment, and research output reaching record levels. Additionally, UMass has been named the top public university in New England, one of the best 20 public universities in the nation, and among the top 100 in the world, according to the 2015 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings.

Springfield Named Among Best Cities for African-Americans

SPRINGFIELD — The City of Springfield has been named one of the “10 Best Cities for African-Americans, 2016” by Livability.com. The cities were selected based on basic indicators of livability including cost of living, healthcare availability, economic equality, commute time, access to parks, and safety. Editors looked for cities with higher-than-average and growing African-American populations, and where they are succeeding in terms of income, academic achievement, and home ownership.
Springfield is cited for its diverse economy and recovery from the financial recession of 2008, as well as ongoing economic development. Also noted are the strong presence of corporate headquarters, which offer employment opportunities and commitments to workforce diversity. Local nonprofit organizations are noted for leveling the educational and economic playing field for African-Americans through after-school programs for children, mentoring, housing, and parenting-skills training.
Livability.com notes that African-Americans are the ethnic group most likely to stress the importance of a college education, and Springfield and the surrounding area is home to more than two dozen colleges and universities.
“In this age of reality TV, where negativity sells with some media outlets, especially in how they depict our urban American cities, it’s nice to know that our Springfield does and will continue to make good lists, too,” Mayor Domenic Sarno said. “We’ve always believed there is plenty of good that our diverse city has to offer.”

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

Westfield Bank, Chicopee Savings Bank to Merge

WESTFIELD — Westfield Financial Inc., the holding company for Westfield Bank, and Chicopee Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Chicopee Savings Bank, announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement. The merger will create the largest locally managed bank in Hampden County and the second-largest bank in terms of deposit market share in the county. The combined company will have total assets of $2.1 billion, tangible equity of over $215 million, and 21 branch locations serving customers throughout Western Mass. and Northern Conn. “We are excited to combine with such a strong partner as Chicopee,” said James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank. “As we have gotten to know Bill Wagner and his team over time, we have been pleased at the commonality of our cultures, operating models, and the customer-service focus of our two institutions. Although headquartered in the same county, we currently serve two distinct customer bases, which, when combined, will complement each other tremendously. A merger of our two banks will be extremely favorable for the shareholders, customers, employees, and communities of both institutions.” Following completion of the transaction, Hagan will be president and CEO of the combined company, and Donald Williams will be chairman of the Board. William Wagner, chairman, president, and CEO of Chicopee, will join the executive management team of Westfield, and will become vice chairman of the board of directors. Four additional board members of Chicopee will also join the board of Westfield. Following closing, the combined bank will do business under the Westfield Bank name, with the holding company to be renamed Western New England Bancorp. The Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation will remain in place with its original philanthropic mission in the Greater Chicopee area unchanged. “Westfield is the ideal partner for Chicopee,” Wagner said. “This is the first in-market merger our community has seen in over 25 years and, as such, will not result in a significant outflow of resources or shift the focus of our franchise elsewhere, but rather will intensify and strengthen our combined ability to serve our local markets, consumers, and businesses that make both Westfield and Chicopee successful. I look forward to our future together as a combined institution and to the substantial impact our bank will have in Western New England.” The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both Westfield and Chicopee. Closing is anticipated to occur during the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to approval by the shareholders of both companies, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions. “Westfield has a strong reputation in commercial business lending to large-scale customers that will enhance our lending platform and ability,” Wagner said. “Moreover, the larger lending limit, breadth of product mix, and deep and sophisticated support functions will allow our bank to be a major competitor in Western New England for years to come.”

UMass Amherst Joins Advanced Fibers Initiative

AMHERST — UMass Amherst is a research partner in Advanced Functional Fibers of America (AFFOA), a new, $317 million public-private partnership announced by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. UMass Amherst is the only public university in New England participating in the MIT-led partnership, which includes 31 universities, 16 industry partners, 72 manufacturing entities, and 26 startup incubators across 28 states. The partnership won a national competition for federal funding to create the nation’s eighth Manufacturing Innovation Institute. It is designed to accelerate innovation in high-tech, U.S.-based manufacturing involving fibers and textiles. UMass Amherst’s involvement in AFFOA draws on research expertise in its departments of polymer science and engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and the College of Information and Computer Sciences. “Through the combination of our polymer science, roll-to-roll nano-manufacturing, and electrical-engineering expertise, UMass Amherst is well-equipped to make important contributions to the development of new functional fabrics as part of the AFFOA team,” says Mike Malone, vice chancellor for Research and Engagement. “We expect to conduct research in a range of areas that have important military and commercial applications, including fiber-integrated sensors, energy generation and storage systems, thermal camouflage, optical and photonic components or fibers, fiber-integrated antennas, fiber/fabric surface modifications, and the incorporation of chemical, biological, and physical functionality onto woven fabrics and non-woven and flexible substrates.” As part of the initiative, the university is committing up to $1 million in matching funds to support AFFOA projects, process development, and education and workforce training over the first five years of operation.

Gove Law Office Relocates Northampton Office

NORTHAMPTON — Gove Law Office announced it has moved its Northampton office into larger space at the historic Old School Commons Building located at the corner of New South Street and Main Street in Northampton. “With this move to the Old School Commons, Gove Law gains an office identity that reflects our strong Hampshire County presence and accommodates our recent and future growth plans,” said Michael Gove, founder and owner of Gove Law Office. “Both geographically and architecturally, this stunning new space supports the firm’s leading practice areas.” Gove Law Office, with offices in Northampton and Ludlow, is a bilingual firm with attorneys who provide guidance to clients in the areas of business representation, commercial lending, residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, probate and family law, criminal and civil litigation, personal-injury law, and bankruptcy.  For more information, visit www.govelawoffice.com.

Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Opens at Elms

CHICOPEE — Elms College announced the launch of its new Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) to expand business-education offerings at the college through a hands-on, real-world approach. “In this time of a rapidly emerging entrepreneurial society, we need to create a flexible structure to accommodate not only degree work but also certificate programs, workshops, consulting services, and other assistance needed to make sure that entrepreneurs are equipped not only to start a business but, more importantly, to sustain it over time,” said Elms College President Sr. Mary Reap. The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership was developed with that goal in mind. Reap and Elms faculty have worked closely with focus groups comprised of area businesses and officials to assess the specific needs of the local business community. Amanda Garcia, assistant professor of Accounting, was appointed director of the CEL in January. “We have an opportunity to provide hands-on learning experience,” Garcia said. “That was one of the major things that came out of the focus groups: ‘we need it to be real, and we need it to be hands-on.’” To that end, the CEL will incorporate Lean Launchpad, a startup methodology in which new businesses receive immediate feedback from customers in the marketplace during the business launch. “We know that the majority of businesses fail in the first five years, and a big cause of that is due to not understanding specific core business concepts or the marketplace needs,” Garcia noted. The Lean Launchpad model allows startup owners to learn as they grow their businesses and react to market demands. The CEL’s academic offerings will include an interdisciplinary undergraduate minor in entrepreneurship, which will launch this fall. “We also plan to integrate it into an entrepreneurship track in our MBA,” Garcia said, “and we will explore the needs in the marketplace around business-growth strategies and programming related to business growth and mergers and acquisitions.” The entrepreneurship track will join existing accounting, healthcare leadership, and management tracks in the Elms MBA program. “Elms College also has a mission to give back to the community,” Garcia said. “We know that economic development and entrepreneurship is a big part of making our community better, so we’re planning to offer workshops and Lean Launchpad boot camps on weekends, to help people flesh out their ideas. We are also planning programming to help them learn what to do once they flesh out those ideas.” The CEL will also partner with the college’s nursing and science programs. “I see great opportunity in collaborating with the Elms Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership in the development of an interdisciplinary healthcare leadership program for master’s-prepared and certified nurse practitioners, as well as master’s-prepared clinical nurse leaders who seek the doctor of nursing practice,” said Dr. Kathleen Scoble, dean of the School of Nursing. “We believe that the Lean Launchpad is an excellent methodology, well-matched for nursing and healthcare, and an extraordinary learning opportunity for these advanced nursing students.” Added Garcia, “for our biomedical technology program, we’re looking to incorporate Lean Launchpad in bringing research to commercialization. It’s one thing to have research, and it’s another thing to commercialize it and make money off of it.”

Tighe & Bond Secures Award for Excellence

WESTFIELD — The American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts presented Tighe & Bond and Borrego Solar Systems with a Silver Award for the 3.5-megawatt North Adams E Street solar photovoltaic (PV) system during its 2016 Engineering Excellence and Awards Gala. Held on March 16 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, this annual competition and event recognizes recent engineering achievements that demonstrate the highest degree of merit, ingenuity, complexity, and client satisfaction. Tighe & Bond, a New England leader in civil and environmental engineering, teamed with Borrego Solar Systems to develop a solar PV system on top of the closed E Street landfill in North Adams. Completed last year, the new solar system is one of the largest of its kind in Western Mass. Its output, when combined with power being purchased from two other nearby PV sites, makes the city 100% solar-powered. All of its municipal buildings and facilities are running on clean, renewable energy. Borrego Solar Systems estimates that the array offsets 2,989 tons of carbon annually, the equivalent of removing 630 cars from the road or the amount sequestered by 2,450 acres of U.S. forests in a year. Tighe & Bond provided site design, permitting, and construction administration for this project that sits on approximately 11.7 acres of the 31-acre capped landfill. Additional project features included the construction of access roads and the installation of ballast trays with concrete blocks to support the photovoltaic panel racks and solar panels. It also included equipment pads for the inverters and transformers, as well as a variety of other electrical infrastructure and support features. Borrego Solar Systems was the developer of the solar system, and Syncarpha Capital is the system owner.

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move
Michael Houff

Michael Houff

Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center, announced the appointment of Michael Houff as director of Physician Services for HMC Specialty Practices as well as Western Massachusetts Physician Associates. Houff brings more than 20 years of extensive healthcare leadership experience in executive-level physician-group management, project consulting, revenue-cycle management, hospital outpatient operations, managed-care payer and provider operations, and IT implementations. He most recently served Meridian Medical Management in Windsor, Conn. as director of operations and, previously, Hampden County Physician Associates, LLC in Springfield as chief operating officer, vice president of operations, and director of operations. “Mike brings the leadership necessary to help Holyoke Medical Center and Western Mass Physician Associates provide the highest levels of patient care and satisfaction,” said Hatiras. “His experience in managing physician services will be an asset to ensuring that our providers and office staff continue to deliver high-quality and compassionate care to our patients.” Houff graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and received a master’s degree in general administration health care management from the University of Maryland in 1996. From 1988 to 1992, he served as active duty combat arms officer in the U.S. Army and then worked for Kaiser Permanente in Rocky Hill, Conn., Tulane University Hospital and Clinic in New Orleans, and GE Healthcare. “I really wanted to get back to the patient-care-delivery side of the business of healthcare,” said Houff of choosing to work at HMC. “It’s a much more meaningful mission to know that what you’re doing every day in outpatient operations has a real impact on people’s lives — helping people who are going through very difficult times with their health issues and being able to help them have one good day among many bad ones is a really good motivation.”

•••••

The Hampshire Mall management team recently welcomed Lynn Gray as general manager. Gray has extensive knowledge of the shopping-center industry. She is a graduate of Holyoke Community College with an associate degree in business administration. She returns to Hampshire Mall after holding the positions of marketing assistant, assistant marketing director, and marketing director within Pyramid Management Group from 1995 to 2005. Prior to her return, she held various roles within General Growth Management over the past 10 years, most recently as director of field marketing for the East Region. During her time there, she received the MAXI Award for innovative contributions made to Natick Mall. She is a lifelong resident of the Western Mass. area and actively involved with several community and nonprofit organizations, including Alex Scafuri’s Benefit Fund, Harper Yucka Benefit Fund, Chicopee Youth Football Assoc., and CHERUBS. “We are pleased to have Lynn return to Pyramid Management Group,” said Joe Castaldo, Pyramid Management Group’s director of Shopping Center Management. “With her vast experience in the shopping-center industry, she will be a tremendous asset in the development of Hampshire Mall.”

•••••

Melissa Provost

Melissa Provost

HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, announced that Melissa Provost has joined HUB International New England as a personal lines account manager, responsible for assisting clients with their home, auto, and personal-liability umbrella coverages. She will be based in the South Hadley office. Provost joins HUB International with several years of customer service experience in the insurance industry, and has held previous positions with Liberty Mutual Insurance, most recently as a senior customer service representative. At HUB International, her role includes assisting in the day-to-day needs of clients, handling client requests, preparing quotes, reviewing and updating policies and certificates, maintaining existing client relationships, generating new business, and keeping abreast of the changing market. “Over the past few months, we have hired several talented individuals as we continue to expand into one of the largest agencies throughout New England,” said Timm Marini, president of HUB International New England. “Melissa is a perfect fit for our agency as she is clearly a ‘people person’ who will focus on providing extraordinary customer service.”

•••••

Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) announced that Bob Perry — a donor, volunteer, partner, and friend who has supported the organization for more than 15 years — will join the team as the new volunteer donor relations manager. “Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to be able to welcome back Bob Perry as our new volunteer donor relations manager,” said Jennifer Schimmel, the organization’s executive director. “Even with his new title, he’ll still be known by many as Habitat’s chief hugging officer!” Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is a housing ministry dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through home ownership and home-preservation opportunities. This is accomplished by working in partnership with diverse people, from all walks of life, to build and repair simple, decent, affordable housing. GSHFH has helped 70 local families, as well as 90 international families, over the past 27 years.

Chamber Corners

By
Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

• May 11: After 5, 5-7 p.m., Amherst Golf Club, 365 South Pleasant St., Amherst. The club will be running some fun-filled activities that evening, including a 50/50 putting contest, and attendees will receive a voucher for a free round of golf. Established in 1900, the semi-private Amherst Golf Club is owned by Amherst College and run independently by an incorporated community group of dedicated golfers. The 9-hole layout, which tests all skill levels, was designed by Walter Hatch, an assistant of the famed Donald Ross, and later renovated by Geoffrey Cornish. Cost: $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members.

EAST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.erc5.com

(413) 575-7230

• April 19: ERC5 Feast in the East, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow. Come sample dishes from area restaurants and have a chance to vote in for the coveted People Choice award. There will be ample time to mingle and network in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Silver spoon sponsor: the Republican. Restaurant Sponsors: CMD Technology Group Inc., Freedom Credit Union, the Gaudreau Group, Glenmeadow Retirement Community, JGS Lifecare, Life Care Center of Wilbraham, NUVO Bank & Trust Co., and Robert Charles Photography. Cost: $25.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• April 20: April Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members.

• April 21: Mornings with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., Polish National Credit Union, 46 Main St., Chicopee. Free for all chamber members.

• May 18: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members.

• May 20: Golf Tournament at Chicopee Country Club, 10 a.m. start. Cost: $125 per golfer, $600 corporate green sponsorship includes a foursome and exclusive green sponsorship.

• May 21: New York City bus trip. A day on your own in the city. Bus leaves at 7 a.m. and returns at 9:30 p.m. Cost: $55 per person.

• May 25: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Loomis House, 298 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members pre-registered, $15 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

• April 29: Legislative Luncheon on Tourism, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton St., Holyoke. The Greater Holyoke and the Greater Easthampton chambers are teaming up to present an opportunity to discuss local tourism with keynote speakers Mary Kay Wydra, president, Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau; MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis; and Seth Stratton, vide president and general council, MGM Springfield. State Sen. Eric Lesser, chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Culture Development, will speak to what’s happening at the state level. Sponsored by Resnic, Beauregard, Waite and Driscoll. Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes lunch. To register, call (413) 527-9414 or visit www.easthamptonchamber.com.

• May 7: Downtown Cleanup Day, 8 a.m. to noon. General cleanup of downtown, the Rail Trail, Cottage Street municipal parking lot, the banks of the Nashawannuck Pond, and more. Volunteers are needed. No experience is necessary. Volunteers will meet at the Easthampton Chamber of Commerce to receive their assignments. Register at (413) 527-9414.

• May 12: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., Amy’s Place. To register, call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• May 19: Medallion Speaker Forum, noon to 1:30 p.m. “The Affordable Care Act: The Legal Twists & Turns.” Attorney Eilin Gaynor of Health New England helps employers, business owners, and entrepreneurs navigate the legalities of this important piece of legislation. Complete Payroll Services shares what it means from an accounting perspective. Space is limited for this member exclusive opportunity. Cost: $20, which includes a boxed lunch. For more information, call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holyokechamber.com

(413) 534-3376

• April 29: Legislative Luncheon on Tourism, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton St., Holyoke. The Greater Holyoke and the Greater Easthampton chambers are teaming up to present an opportunity to discuss local tourism with keynote speakers Mary Kay Wydra, president, Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau; MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis; and Seth Stratton, vide president and general council, MGM Springfield. State Sen. Eric Lesser, chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Culture Development, will speak to what’s happening at the state level. Sponsored by Resnic, Beauregard, Waite and Driscoll. Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes lunch. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com.

• May 16: Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament celebrating the chamber’s 125th anniversary, Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and lunch at 10:30 a.m., tee off at noon (scramble format), dinner following game with assorted food stations. Cost: $125 per player includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, cart, and dinner. Dinner only: $25. Awards, raffles, and cash prizes follow dinner. Corporate sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Loomis Communities, Marcotte Ford, Mountain View Landscapes, Northeast IT Systems Inc., Holyoke Medical Center, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. For reservations or sponsorships, call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com.

• May 18: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Quality Life Adult Day Services, 18 Elm St., Holyoke (behind the South Street Shopping Center). Join friends and colleagues for this fun and casual evening of networking. Tours of the new facility will be available. Cost: $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members and walk-ins.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

• April 22: Workshop: “Waste Reduction & Energy Efficiency,” 9:30-11 a.m., Center for EcoTechnology, 320 Riverside Dr., Northampton. Waste reduction and energy-efficiency upgrades can save your business money. This workshop will cover incentives, benefits, and options to green your business. Learn from case studies of other local businesses that have started waste-diversion programs or installed energy-efficiency improvements. RSVP required, and space is limited. To register, contact Cate Foley at [email protected] or (413) 586-7350, ext. 240.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

• April 18: “The Painkiller Epidemic: Legal Implications of Prescription Drug Use in the Workplace,” 8:30-10 a.m., Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Prescription drug use in the workplace is on the rise. From an employer’s perspective, employees who are abusing prescription medication tend to be less productive, less reliable, prone to absenteeism, a greater safety risk, and create unnecessary costs, burdens, and liabilities to the company. Royal, P.C. will present an informational seminar that will address some of the most common areas employers express uncertainty and concern about, including maintaining a safe workplace, enforcing drug-free workplace policies and conducting drug testing, and the risk of disability-discrimination claims. Light refreshments will be served. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members.

• April 26: Sixth annual Southwick Home & Business Show, 4:30-7 p.m., Southwick Town Hall, 454 College Highway. The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce is once again partnering with the Southwick Economic Development Commission on this tabletop event to promote Southwick businesses. Cost to display: $25 per business (Southwick businesses only). Registration form and payment due by April 11. The event is free and open to the public. Questions can be e-mailed to [email protected], or leave a message at (413) 304-6100.

• May 2: Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Mayor Brian Sullivan, the Arbors Assisted Living Residential Communities, 40 Court St., Westfield. Event is free and open to the public. To register or for more information, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• May 9: Workshop: “What to Save and What to Shred?” at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Registration and networking at 8:30 a.m., followed by workshop from 9 to 10 a.m. Attorney Karina Schrengohst of Royal, P.C. will present an informational seminar providing an overview of state and federal record-keeping requirements. The discussion will cover which records must be saved, where records must be kept, and how long records must be retained pursuant to a variety of employment laws. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• May 11: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., Bella Medspa, 3 Court St., Westfield. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to network, and bring your business cards. Refreshments will be served. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• May 23: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce 55th annual Golf Tournament, East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield. Registration and lunch, 10 a.m.; shotgun start, 11 a.m.; cocktail hour, 4 p.m.; dinner, 5 p.m. Cost: $500 for a foursome with dinner, or register a single player for $125. Title sponsor: Alternative Health Inc. Premium gift sponsor: Westfield Gas and Electric. Ball sponsor: Westfield Gas and Electric. Cart sponsor: Westfield Bank. Goody-bag sponsor: Liptak Emergency Water Removal. Register by calling the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mailing [email protected]. Consider donating a raffle prize or a gift for the wine and spirit table raffle.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• April 27: Beacon Hill Summit, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Massachusetts State House. Co-hosted by state Sen. James Welch and state Rep. Angelo Puppolo Jr. Day-long opportunity to meet with members of the Baker-Polito administration and the Massachusetts delegation. Sponsored by Comcast and WWLP-TV 22, presented in partnership with the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce, and supported by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $180 per person, which includes continental breakfast, transportation, lunch, reception, and all materials. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• May 4: Springfield Regional Chamber Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Natural History, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield. “The Creative Economy” panel discussion with Helena Fruscio, deputy assistant secretary of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology; and Jeffrey Bianchine, Holyoke Creative Economy coordinator. Sponsored by United Personnel and the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. Cost: $20 for members in advance ($25 at the door), $30 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• May 11: Springfield Regional Chamber Economic Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., MassMutual Center, 1277 State St., Springfield. “Creating a Western Massachusetts Renaissance” discussion with John Traynor, People’s United Bank; Rick Sullivan, Western Mass. Economic Development Council; and Dr. Mark Keroack, Baystate Health, moderated by David Hobert, People’s United Bank. Panelists will discuss the Massachusetts economy, how communities across the Commonwealth can work together to create a broader and more robust economy, local economic-development initiatives at work in Western Mass., how the region can capitalize on its existing assets and develop its growth engines, and the important role the healthcare sector plays in developing centers of excellence for future growth. Sponsored by People’s United Bank. Cost: $35. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

May 18: Springfield Regional Chamber Kick Off to Summer After 5, 5-7 p.m., Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. Informal, after-hours networking. Sponsored by Wolf & Company, P.C. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• May 24: Springfield Regional Chamber Pastries, Politics & Policy, 9-10 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring state Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

• May 4: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Park Square Realty 470 Westfield St., West Springfield. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 at the door for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

• May 10: Coffee with Mayor Reichelt, 8-9:30 a.m., West Springfield Senior Center, 128 Park St. Join us for a cup of coffee and a town update from Mayor Will Reichelt. Q&A will immediately follow. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

• May 19: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., Cal’s Wood Fired Grill, 1068 Riverdale St., West Springfield. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while networking with fellow chamber members. You must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. The only cost to attend is the cost of your lunch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately the day of the event. We cannot invoice you for these events.
 For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

‘Wolf to Woof’ Exhibit

Through May 12: In today’s society, dogs enhance the lives of millions of people in countless ways, but they are also some of our oldest friends. Ancient clues like cave paintings and burials reveal that dogs and people have lived together for thousands of years. But why have humans formed such close relationships with dogs, and not cows or chickens? “Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs” is the largest and most comprehensive traveling exhibition ever created on the history, biology, and evolution of dogs. The exhibit, on view at the Springfield Science Museum through May 12, attempts to sniff out the facts on dogs and explore what makes the human/dog relationship so unique. It uses the familiarity and love of these four-legged friends to explore science and biological concepts. The exhibit has four themed sections including multi-media displays, artifacts, photo murals, and dioramas of taxidermied wild canines and sculpted modern dog breeds. Additionally, interactive, hands-on components demonstrate key exhibit concepts. For example, visitors can enter a ‘howling area’ and guess what dogs are saying, test their nose against a dog’s great sense of smell, and examine fossil and genetic evidence of how modern-day dogs are descended from wolves.

‘125 Years Of Memories’ at Academy of Music

April 21: The Academy of Music Theatre will host a “125 Years of Memories” benefit at 6:30 p.m. in the theater. In the late 19th century, Edward H.R. Lyman, a philanthropist and Northampton native, had a vision for a new venue for culture and theater in his hometown. On May 23, 1891, the 800-seat Academy of Music Theatre opened its doors to the public for the first time, and it quickly became a favorite stop on tours of leading troupes and big-name performers. Today, the 800-seat Academy of Music has been renovated and reclaimed as a venue for live theater, as well as dance, film, music, and performing-arts education. The “125 Years of Memories” benefit will begin with a cash bar reception in the lobby, where guests will mingle and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, craft beer, and wine. In addition, silent-auction items donated by local businesses and artists will be on display. At 6:30 p.m., guests will move into the theater for a brief program, paying tribute to the Academy through the decades. Following the production, attendees will be invited onstage for the party, with musical accompaniment by jazz pianist Jerry Noble, appetizers from River Valley Market, craft beer, and wine provided by Black Birch Vineyard. Tickets for the event are $50, and can be purchased online at www.aomtheatre.com. For those who prefer to pay by check, tickets are available at the Academy of Music Theatre box office, Tuesday through Friday, from 3 to 6 p.m. Any questions can be directed to Development Coordinator Kathryn Slater at (413) 584-9032, ext. 101, or [email protected].

Spring Sip & Shop

April 28: The Arbors at Chicopee will host a Spring Sip & Shop event in honor of Mother’s Day on Thursday, April 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. at 929 Memorial Dr. More than 15 vendors will gather and display their products for sale. Items include scarves, jewelry, totes, bags, makeup, homemade lotions and soaps, and much more. The event is sponsored by Tastefully Simple, and all proceeds will go toward the Alzheimer’s Assoc. The event will feature a silent auction, raffle, passed hors d’ouvres, and complimentary sangria. The suggested donation upon admission is $5. RSVP by calling Noelle at (413) 593-0088 or e-mailing [email protected]. Walk-ins are welcome.

‘A Night of Laughter’

April 30: Smith & Wesson will host its annual live comedy show, “A Night of Laughter,” to support two local children’s charities, Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Ronald McDonald House. The event will be held at the Cedars Banquet Facility, 419 Island Pond Road in Springfield. The show will feature two comedians, Chris Zito and Tony V. Zito is a mainstay of the Boston comedy scene and made appearances on Comedy Central, USA, A&E, and NESN. He has been heard on New England radio for more than 20 years, and currently “Zito and Kera” can be heard on weekday mornings on Mix 93.1. Tony V started his comedy career in 1982 in Boston. In 1986, he was named “Funniest Person in Massachusetts” by Showtime. He has also appeared on HBO, A&E, Comedy Central, and MTV. His big-screen performances include State and Main, Celtic Pride, Housesitter, One Crazy Summer, and Shakes the Clown. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the comedy will begin at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person and include an evening of laughs, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, raffles, and more. Tickets are now available at eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Elaine Stellato at (413) 747-3371 or [email protected].

Community Enterprises 40-Year Luncheon

May 12: Richard Venne, president and CEO, invites the public to join Community Enterprises Inc. in celebrating 40 years of empowering individuals with disabilities to live, learn, work, and thrive in the community. A luncheon will be held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $50 per person, a reserved table for eight is $400, and tickets for clients and staff of Community Enterprise are $30. For more information about tickets, sponsoring the event, or placing an ad in the program, e-mail Krystle Bernier at [email protected] or call (413) 584-1460, ext. 120.

‘Maximize Your Website for Business Growth’

May 13, 20, 27: MarketingWorks, a series of educational programs for business owners, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs hosted by Stevens 470 in Westfield, announced an upcoming program called “Maximize Your Website for Business Growth.” It meets weekly for three Friday mornings, May 13, 20, and 27. Customers, prospects, and associates make an immediate assessment of a business based on the content of its website. Participants in this group program will evaluate their current website and clarify the steps needed to make it the company’s most valuable marketing channel. For program details, visit www.stevens470.com/educational-programs.html or call Tina Stevens at (413) 568-2660.

Youth Mental-health First-aid Training

May 13, 20: Funded by a three-year grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) through the White House’s “Now is The Time” initiative, Clinical & Support Options Inc. is now offering free youth mental-health first-aid trainings to the community. The free, two-day training will be held at CSO’s administrative offices in Northampton; attendance both days is required. Youth mental-health first aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis. The training is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental-health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders. Registration is required; e-mail [email protected] for a registration form. CSO is also available to bring this training on site to local agencies and businesses that wish to have a group of people trained for free. For more information on bringing this training to your agency or business, contact Allison Garriss, director, Business Development and Projects at Clinical & Support Options, at (413) 773-1314, ext. 5502 or [email protected].

‘Grieving the Death of a Child’ Workshop

May 14: The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens announced a free workshop, “Grieving the Death of a Child,” from 12:30 to 4 p.m. The workshop is open to adult parents and caregivers who have experienced the death of a child. The workshop will include a screening of the video “Helping Parents Grieve: Finding New Life After the Death of a Child,” which was produced by Paraclete Press and features real stories about families who have lost a child. The video has five parts, including knowing you are not alone, loss of hopes and dreams, death of a baby, families, and honoring and remembering. Following each section there will be a break for discussion and an activity. Parents and caregivers who have experienced the death of a child are welcome, and there are no limits on how, where, or when the child died. The workshop is for appropriate for adults only and is open to the public. It will be held at the Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton. The event is free, but registration is required. For more information, contact Shelly Bathe Lenn, coordinator at the Garden, at (413) 582 5312, or [email protected].

Mental Health and Wellness Fair

May 18: In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, Clinical & Support Options Inc. (CSO) will host its 14th annual Mental Health and Wellness Fair at the Energy Park in Greenfield from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring CSO’s Green River House and Quabbin House Clubhouse members, the fair will be an afternoon of music, singing, poetry, and testimonials by members to highlight mental-health illness, wellness, and recovery. The fair started in 2002 in an effort to bring awareness and information to the community about mental-health illness and recovery. The event is an opportunity to dispel the stigma around mental-health illness, encourage people to seek support, and spotlight agencies available to assist. This year, the theme is “Mental Health Matters.” Local mental-health and wellness providers are welcome to present their materials and programming for free by registering for a table by calling the Green River House at (413) 772-2181. In addition to local community providers sharing information, there will be live music, a food vendor, and raffles, and WHAI will be on site doing a live broadcast. For more information, call the Green River House at (413) 772-2181.

40 Under Forty

June 16: The 10th annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old. An independent panel of judges has chosen the winners, and their stories are told in the pages of this issue. The event is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual (presenting sponsor), Paragus Strategic IT (presenting sponsor), EMA Dental, Health New England, the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, Moriarty & Primack P.C., United Bank, and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield.

Court Dockets

By
Court Dockets Departments

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.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

FedEx Techconnect Inc. v. Spectrum Crafts Inc. f/d/b/a The Jannlyn Corp.
Allegation: Non-payment for shipping services: $11,520.28
Filed: 2/22/16

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Christopher Lopez v. Sonic Velocity and Ali Ozan Koseoglu
Allegation: Misclassification as independent contractor and non-payment for services: $25,000+
Filed: 2/22/16

Dominic Santiniello, a minor, by and through his mother as next friend, Lori Santiniello v. Longmeadow High School
Allegation: Wrongful suspension of student: $25,000
Filed: 2/24/16

Red Technologies v. Safe Environment of America Inc
Allegation: Non-payment of waste-removal services: $48,667.94
Filed: 2/22/16

United Bank v. Hilltop Holding, LLC and Thomas Engwer, III
Allegation: Default on loan payment: $70,412
Filed: 2/24/16

Valerie Greene v. Fathima, LLC d/b/a Corner Convenience and Gas and Zahoor Haq
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of premises causing ankle fracture: $2,946.94
Filed: 3/11/16

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Gustafson Electric Inc. v. O’Leary Group Inc., American River Inc., and TwoThree27, LLC
Allegation: Breach of third-party beneficiary contract and unjust enrichment: $127,614.85
Filed: 3/16/16

Valley Home Improvement Inc. v. SunEdison, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment for services rendered: $37,771.69
Filed: 3/18/16

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

United Bank v. Grow, LLC and Jodie Castanza
Allegation: Breach of promissory note: $10,379.74
Filed: 2/22/16

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Aramsco Inc. v. Accutech Insulation and Contracting Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $14,088.23
Filed: 3/25/16

Picture This

By
Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to:  ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]

 

‘A Night of Passion’

Link-to-Libraries_016Link to Libraries hosted “A Night of Passion” on April 5 at the Log Cabin, promoting childhood literacy with an evening of fine food and beverages. A host of area celebrities and business leaders — including Mike Mathis, MGM Springfield president and COO; Kevin Rhodes, Springfield Symphony Orchestra conductor; Spiros Hatiras, Holyoke Medical Center president and CEO; Delcie Bean, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT; Mick Corduff, executive chef and co-owner of the Log Cabin; and Amy Royal, founding partner of Royal, P.C., among others — served up their favorite food or drink, all donated by the Log Cabin and its owner, Peter Rosskothen (left, with Link to Libraries co-founder Susan Jaye-Kaplan). More than 500 people attended Link to Libraries’ biennial fund-raiser, which benefits the organization and celebrates what it has accomplished since 2008, including the donation of nearly 500,000 books to area schools and organizations, and how it intends to expand its mission in the years to come.

 

Link-to-Libraries_014Link-to-Libraries_119Link-to-Libraries_079Link-to-Libraries_119

PeoplesBank To Jump Start Gardening Season With Free Earth Day Events

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank, a leader in corporate environmental sustainability, has announced its 2016 Earth Day events. The bank will give away flowers and vegetable garden seeds to the public on Earth Day, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

  • 300 King St., Northampton, a LEED® gold-certified office;
  • 1051 St. James Ave., Springfield, a LEED® silver-certified office;
  • 1240 Sumner Ave., Springfield; and
  • 547 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, a LEED® Gold certified office

The events will be open to the public. Quantities are limited and will be distributed while supplies last, and only at the designated PeoplesBank offices.

Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts Seeks Pynchon Award Nominations

By
Daily News

The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations from the four Western Massachusetts counties for the 101st annual William Pynchon Award, the area’s oldest community service award.

Established in 1915, the award honors individuals from all walks of life who go beyond the call of duty to enhance the quality of life here in our Western Mass community. Past recipients have included social activists, teachers, philanthropists, historians, clergy, volunteers, physicians, journalists, and business leaders, a diverse group with one thing in common — a drive to make our region a better place for all who live here.

To nominate an individual, submit a one-page letter explaining why the nominee should be considered. Please include brief biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon.

All nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon Trustees, comprised of past and present presidents of the Advertising Club. Nominations must be submitted by April 30 to: William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090-1022 or by e-mail to [email protected]

Jean Deliso Joins Select Group Helping AARP Members Secure Their Futures

By
Daily News

AGAWAM — Jean M. Deliso, CFP, from the CT Valley General Office of New York Life, recently joined a select group of agents who are authorized to offer AARP members a range of financial solutions through AARP life insurance, annuity and long-term care options from New York Life. To become part of this group of agents, Deliso followed a certification process established by New York Life, which includes extensive training on products and regulations, education on evaluating client needs, state licensing and a commitment to service.

AARP Services, AARP’s for-profit subsidiary, provides quality control over the certification process and training.

Deliso, is president/owner of Deliso Financial and Insurance Services, a firm focusing in comprehensive planning designed to help position clients for a solid financial future. Her extensive experience in several areas has helped lead to a reputation for certain specializations, such as assisting people in planning for their financial future, particularly in preparation for retirement as well as in times of transition such as divorce or widowhood.

After graduating from Bentley University, Deliso spent seven years in the public accounting profession before transitioning to Financial Services in which she has been working for more than 20 years.

New York Life has been offering AARP-branded products to AARP members since 1994. Since then, the relationship has grown to include a portfolio of annuity products (added in 2006) and now most recently long-term care options in [2016].

Professional Women’s Chamber Announces Arlene Rodriguez as 2016 Woman of the Year

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Professional Women’s Chamber (PWC) has announced that Arlene Rodriguez, vice president of academic affairs for Springfield Technical Community College has been named the PWC 2016 Woman of the Year.

The Woman of the Year is presented to a woman in the Western Mass. area who exemplifies outstanding leadership, professional accomplishment, and service to the community.

This award has been given annually since 1954 and is publically recognized as one of the most prestigious honors given to any citizen for distinguished service and selfless giving.

“We’re thrilled with this year’s honoree — a truly inspiring and accomplished woman like Dr. Rodriguez,” said PWC Board President Janet Casey. “She is a trailblazer amongst women and a staunch advocate for education, empowerment and advancement and her passion to help young people succeed is unparalleled.”

A celebration in her honor will be held on May 24, at 5:30 p.m. at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.  Reservations are $55 and may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by contacting Kara Cavanaugh at [email protected]. At STCC, Rodriguez oversees all faculty in the academic schools at the college, and formerly was the school’s dean of the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. She has also served as the Honors College coordinator and professor at the college, and is the first Latina vice president of academic affairs at the College.

Rodríguez grew up in New York City, spending each of her summers in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, a rural mountain town where her parents’ roots grow deep. Life in New York taught her an appreciation for an expansive, fast-paced city life with all peoples, cultures, and languages, while Aibonito showed her the importance of family, neighbors, and their stories.

Born in The Bronx to parents who never finished high school, Rodriguez, the youngest of four, learned to read by reading articles aloud from the newspaper to her mother as she cooked breakfast every morning. At a young age she developed a love for the written word devouring everything from newspapers to magazines and classic literature.

Rodríguez speaks English and Spanish, and longs to add Italian to that list. Her love of literature led her to earn three degrees in English, including her undergraduate one from Fordham University, a master’s from Lehigh University, and her doctorate from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Rodríguez has been a journalist and a short-fiction writer. For more than 10 years, she taught English at Springfield Technical Community College. She has served as the college’s dean of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences from 2005-2015, when she was then promoted to vice president of academic affairs, the first Latina to serve in that position.

She was recently honored with the Springfield Women’s Commission Unsung Heroine Award, was named a 2007 BusinessWest 40 Under 40, and was honored with the STCC Anthony Scibelli Endowed Chair in 2005.

She is a member of the YWCA Board of Directors, and serves on Springfield’s Rosa Parks Organizing Committee, Springfield Ward 7 Democratic City Committee, Springfield Armory Council and the WGBY Board of Tribunes and Latino Advisory Board.

BusinessWest Seeks Nominations for Continued Excellence Award

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — As part of its 10th annual 40 Under Forty program, BusinessWest is taking nominations for its second annual Continued Excellence Award, the winner of which will be unveiled at the 40 Under Forty gala on June 16. The nomination deadline has been extended to May 2 at 5 p.m. Last year, BusinessWest inaugurated the award to recognize past 40 Under Forty honorees who had significantly built on their achievements since they were honored. The five finalists for that award last year were Kamari Collins, Jeff Fialky, Cinda Jones, Kristin Leutz, and the eventual winner, Delcie Bean IV. “So many 40 Under Forty honorees have refused to rest on their laurels,” said Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest. “We wanted to honor those who continue to build upon their strong records of service in business, within the community, and as regional leaders. Last year’s five finalists have certainly done that, and we expect this year’s nominees to be equally inspiring.” Candidates must hail from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award, in this case, classes 2007-15. The nomination form is available HERE. For your convenience, a list of the past nine 40 Under Forty classes may be found at HERE.

Springfield College Announces Commencement Speakers

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, and Mark Keroack, president and chief executive officer for Baystate Health, Baystate Medical Center, and chair of the board directors for Health New England, will deliver the commencement addresses and receive honorary degrees at the Springfield College 2016 commencement ceremonies.
Shriver will address students at the undergraduate ceremony on May 15, at 9:30 a.m., at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Keroack will speak at the graduate commencement ceremony on May 14, at 9:30 a.m., on the College’s Naismith Green.

Shriver has served as an advocate at the national and international levels to accumulate support for issues of concern to the Special Olympics Community. He has done the same thing in the film world, co-producing Disney Studios’ The Loretta Claiborne Story, and serving as executive producer of the films The Ringer and Front of the Class. In this pursuit, Shriver also wrote a book detailing his experiences working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, and how they have inspired him, titled Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most.

Prior to becoming part of the Special Olympics team, Shriver co-founded, and still serves as chair for, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, a leading research organization dedicated to the field of social and emotional learning.

Shriver has earned numerous awards for his labor, including the Medal of the City of Athens, Greece; the U.S. Surgeon General’s Medallion; the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award; and the Children’s Hospital Health System’s Friend of Children Award. He also was recognized, in 2011, by The Huffington Post as one of the top 100 Game Changers.
Shriver received an undergraduate degree from Yale University, a master’s degree from Catholic University, and a doctorate from the University of Connecticut.

As part of the undergraduate ceremony, long-time Springfield College Trustee Douglass L. Coupe will receive an honorary degree from the College.
The graduate ceremony speaker, Keroack, has seen many facets of the medical and health care industry during his career. In his current position, he provides strategic, financial, and operation oversight for the clinical delivery system for Baystate Medical Center, the tertiary care academic medical center for western Massachusetts, four community hospitals in the area, the 942 providers in 90 practices across the region that make up Baystate Medical Practices, Baystate’s research and educational programs, VNA and hospice, and other ventures.

Prior to his current role, Keroack served as the president and CEO of Baystate Medical Center, the system chief operating officer, and then as the chief physician executive and president for Baystate Medical practices.

Keroack earned a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College, medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and a master’s degree from Boston University. He was a resident in internal medicine and infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

W.D. Cowls, Beacon Communities to Partner on Third Phase of Mill District

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Daily News

NORTH AMHERST — W.D. Cowls Inc. announced the start of Phase Three of its Mill District development, with a preliminarily agreement with Beacon Communities, the award-winning, locally established, multi-family-housing development, management, and investment company based in Boston.

Mollye Lockwood, W.D. Cowls’ Vice President for Real Estate and Community Development, initiated a relationship with Beacon Communities for what she expects will be the next phase of The Mill District.

Beacon is envisioning a development that will feature mixed-income, rental housing and first floor commercial/retail space for lease, all to be located on the south side of Cowls Road, across the street from the Trolley Barn; between Atkins – Your Local Market and Cowls Building Supply. The project is still in its initial stages of site due diligence, community engagement, and concept brainstorming.

With the redevelopment of The Mill District, Cowls seeks to “bring back community” in our less personally connected Internet age. “So many people today don’t belong to sporting clubs, fraternal organizations, or churches like they used to. Shopping malls and huge grocery emporiums on highways have taken away community interactions that were once naturally organic,” said Lockwood. “The Mill District seeks to bring back community by creating a sense of place through a mixed-use destination, where people live; dine; recreate; buy things better bought at a store rather than on the Internet; and enjoy services such as salons and health clubs.”

For several years Cowls has been looking for the opportunity to create a mixed-income rental community in The Mill District and has heard from its neighbors and the Amherst community that this much-needed housing would be welcomed. “I’ve worked with the impressive principals of Beacon Communities in the past,” said Lockwood, “and the Town of Amherst has admired this Massachusetts company for stepping forward to protect the town’s affordable housing inventory by purchasing and soundly managing Rolling Green Apartments.”
“We have heard and responded to the wishes of our neighbors,” said Lockwood, “Our goal is to create a high- quality community that serves a diverse income range and offers housing options that will appeal to young professionals, young families, and those who are down-sizing their homes.”

While Beacon will own and professionally manage all apartments, as its does with all of its properties, the first floor commercial/retail space will be controlled by Cowls in order to provide and ensure diverse community gathering space with a balanced mix of restaurants, shops, and services.

Florence Bank promotes Kurt Shouse to IT Post

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Daily News

FLORENCE — Florence Bank, a mutually owned savings bank serving the Pioneer Valley through nine branch locations, has promoted Kurt Shouse of to the position of information security officer/cyber security administrator.

Shouse joined Florence Bank in 2014 as a cyber security administrator. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst, as well as a master’s in Cybersecurity, with a concentration in computer forensics and cyber operations. He also has earned a Global Essentials Security Certification.

Florence Bank President and CEO John F. Heaps, Jr., said, “we’re pleased to promote Kurt to this expanded role with our bank. We take a very pro-active stance where security and information security is concerned and Kurt is someone whose expertise will continue to be of great value to our bank and our customers.”

PVCICS Seeks Reconsideration of Enrollment-expansion Request

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Daily News

HADLEY — The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) is asking the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to reconsider Commissioner Mitchell Chester’s decision to deny the expansion of its authorized enrollment to 968 students.

“Currently we are serving 430 students in grades K through 11, and we will be expanding into the 12th grade next year,” said PVCICS Executive Director Richard Alcorn. “We need authorization now to provide planning time to find and develop a facility suitable for a robust and economically sustainable high-school experience for our students.”

PVCICS is offering all its students the two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in 11th and 12th grades. PVCICS wants to build a high school similar in scale to other academically and economically successful Eastern Mass. IB charter high schools with a variety of course offerings and extracurricular options.

Opened in 2007, PVCICS is the state’s first and only Chinese-language-immersion public charter school. It serves a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse student body. Nationally, language immersion programs are gaining in popularity and demonstrating educational success.

Alcorn recently testified before the state Joint Committee on Education telling lawmakers that Massachusetts — and the New England region — are behind the national curve in adopting language-immersion programs. “State law should reflect the fact there is no single school model that is the best for all students, and it should support innovation and choice with a variety of quality alternatives.”

Alcorn submitted specific requests for changes to the charter-school law to Senate President Stanley Rosenberg for consideration by the Senate charter school working group, including authorizing charter schools to create special-education and two-way language-immersion schools. He also plans to reach out to Gov. Charlie Baker to solicit support.

Last fall, PVCICS was named the top-performing high school among public schools by the Boston Business Journal. In December, the school received the 2015 Confucius Classrooms of the Year Award, which is presented to 10 schools across the world for excellence in teaching and learning, curriculum, cultural richness, community engagement, and extracurricular activities. Only three schools in the U.S. received the award.

Celebrate Holyoke Announces New Director, Seeks Vendors

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — With planning for Celebrate Holyoke well underway, the committee announced its new executive director, Jenna Weingarten, who will lead the efforts to coordinate this August’s three-day festival. In addition, the committee welcomes applications from local food, alcohol, and other vendors, including artisans and community organizations.

A 2011 Hampshire College graduate, Weingarten has been involved in the Pioneer Valley art scene on many different levels. She has operated several galleries in Western Mass., hosting a wide variety of artistic exhibitions. She serves as project manager for the ARTery project based out of the Holyoke Creative Art Center that provides development resources for Western Mass. creatives. She also teaches the business of art at the recently opened Lighthouse Center for Teens in downtown Holyoke and serves on the city’s Local Cultural Council. She was heavily involved in Celebrate Holyoke this past year, running the Holyoke Arts Bazaar that took place along the Canal Walk.

Celebrate Holyoke is a three-day festival that made its return last August after a 10-year hiatus, drawing an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people downtown over the course of the weekend. This year’s festival is scheduled for August 26-28 and will include live musical performances, food and beverages from local restaurants, and goods from local artists and makers. Back by popular demand is Slide the City, which will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27.

The planning committee is seeking alcohol distributors, food trucks, restaurateurs, artisans, nonprofits, and community organizations interested in joining this downtown Holyoke event. Applications are available in person at the mayor’s office or online at www.celebrateholyokemass.com/#!vendors/c1lxs. In addition, volunteers are needed both before and during Celebrate Holyoke to help promote, plan, and run the three-day event. For more information, visit www.celebrateholyokemass.com.

Elms College Dance Team to Host Cancer Fund-raiser Concert

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — The Elms College dance team will hold a dance concert in celebration of life and love on Sunday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Veritas Auditorium. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the We Love Riley Fan Club, an organization that promotes childhood cancer awareness and research, and provides assistance to children and families living with this disease.

This is the fourth year the dance team has organized this event in partnership with the organization — named for 8-year-old Riley Román of South Hadley, who died of pediatric brain cancer in 2012 — which also raises money to donate Starlight Fun Center Mobile Entertainment Units to hospital departments serving children with brain cancer and brain tumors.

The concert will feature a variety of dance styles, from hip-hop to contemporary. “We will have dancers of all different ages and experiences, from beginners to professionals, from all over Massachusetts,” said Justine Butler, the dance team’s co-captain with Kendal Cassada. Many of the dancers will come from Elms, but some will come from other area colleges, such as Bay Path University, or local dance studios.

The show will last approximately 90 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission during which raffle prizes will be announced, and refreshments and baked goods will be sold. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for students. Attendees may reserve tickets online at bit.ly/1WnxAxG — this option guarantees the student price for all tickets reserved. Payments accepted by cash or check only; checks may be made payable to the Elms College Dance Team. Additional donations are also welcome.

“This event should bring the community together as advocates for change and awareness while enjoying and appreciating the arts,” Butler said.

The Elms College Dance Team is a club sport with 15 members. The advisor is Maureen Holland, and coach Noel St. Jean-Chevalier runs practices and choreographs routines.

“Participating in these events allows us students to reach beyond our academic potential and see the change that we can make in our community,” Butler said. “College isn’t just about growing as a student with the hopes of graduating with a career — it is about growing in character and faith to ultimately reach our fullest potential, so that we can thrive in our ever-changing world. Dance, academics, and community events allow us to become well-rounded and passionate individuals. They enable students to become leaders and advocates for their passions and desires — to make a difference.”

Balise Kia Dealership Opens in West Springfield

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Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The new Balise Kia in West Springfield, located on Riverdale Street next to Balise Mazda, opened on Thursday, April 14.

The completely renovated, 15,000-square-foot dealership replaces the Balise-owned Mighty Auto Parts warehouse, which has been relocated to a nearby facility. The new Kia building features a customer-friendly showroom and comfortable waiting area with free WiFi. The dealership also offers a covered service drive-up for customer convenience.

Bill Peffer, president and COO of Balise Motor Sales, said he’s excited to welcome a rapidly growing brand to the Balise family.

“The addition of Kia, one of the fastest-growing brands in the United States, aligns perfectly with the Balise philosophy of putting the customer first,” he said. “With numerous accolades in the areas of quality, safety, and sustainability, we’re thrilled to continue serving Kia customers throughout Western Massachusetts with a high-quality product.”

Construction and renovation of the facility was completed by Associated Builders of South Hadley. This is the first Kia dealership for the Balise group and will be the only Kia Motors America franchise in the Springfield Metro area.

Spectrum Business to Host Discussion on Network Security, IT Trends

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Spectrum Business Enterprise Solutions will host a free panel discussion on network security and IT trends for area businesses on Thursday, April 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. A complimentary lunch and tour of the Basketball Hall of Fame following the event are included.

“Network security past and present, along with risks moving to the cloud, are increasing concerns for businesses of any size,” said Mark Holbrook, director of Spectrum Business Sales Engineering. “Participants who attend will learn more about IT trends and how taking the right network security measures can make a huge difference in the way they do business.”

The panel of experts includes Gunnar Peters, director of emerging network products, Spectrum Business; Mark Holbrook, director of sales engineering, Spectrum Business; James Baker, lead information security consultant, Peritus Security Partners; and Joe Connolly, strategic account director, Fortinet. Topics include the latest security and detection and IT trends, network security present and future, security risks moving to the cloud, and business continuity and network diversity.

Space is limited. Register before Tuesday, April 26 at go.enterprise.spectrum.com/experts.in.tech.html or call Robert DeMaria at (774) 239-7018.

Todd Lucht Joins Team at van Schouwen Associates

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Daily News

LONGMEADOW — van Schouwen Associates, LLC (vSA) announced the addition of Todd Lucht as art director and web developer for its business-to-business marketing team.

Lucht adds extensive graphic and interactive design and creative software engineering to vSA. As the head of creative for Sounds True, a Colorado-based multi-media publisher, Lucht most recently oversaw that firm’s art direction and brand management. Previously, he supervised the art department for mortgage broker Urban Lending Group and worked with Florida-based ad agency Provident Creative.

“Todd’s interactive development and design skills will enhance our programs for our many business-to-business clients,” said Michelle van Schouwen, vSA president. “His experience producing digital assets will appeal to our clients as B2B and launch marketing rapidly continue to expand.”

Lucht has a master’s degree in technology management from the University of Denver and a bachelor’s degree from International Fine Arts College. He has developed asset-management websites and applications, motion graphics, and online catalogs. In addition to his work in the creative and marketing industry, Lucht played professional hockey in Russia for four years.

Springfield Regional Chamber, EDC to Discuss Region’s Renaissance

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Regional Chamber, in partnership with the Western Mass. Economic Development Council (EDC), will present a panel discussion, “Creating a Western Massachusetts Renaissance,” on Wednesday, May 11 from 7:15 to 9 a.m. at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield, sponsored by People’s United Bank.

Panelists will discuss the Massachusetts economy and how communities across the Commonwealth can work together to create a broader and more robust economy. Panelists will also outline local economic-development initiatives at work in Western Mass. and how the region can capitalize on its existing assets and develop its growth engines, and the important role the healthcare sector plays in developing centers of excellence for future growth.

Panelists will include John Traynor, executive vice president and chief investment officer at People’s United Bank; Rick Sullivan, EDC president; and Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, and the discussion will be moderated by David Hobert, the bank’s regional president.

Reservations for the breakfast event are $35 and may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by e-mailing Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].

Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.4% in March

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Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate dropped to 4.4% in March from the February rate of 4.5%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts continues to gain jobs, with 6,900 added in March.

The March gain follows upward revisions for February, with total job gains of 13,900. Preliminary February estimates indicated the state added 13,300 jobs over the month. Massachusetts has added 22,000 jobs year-to-date from March 2015 to March 2016.

In March, over-the-month job gains occurred in the construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; other services; information; education and health services; and government sectors.

“We are very pleased to see the unemployment rate continues to drop and the labor force is increasing,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker said. “We see continued job growth in many of the state’s strongest sectors, including health services and education, and professional, scientific, and business services.”

The March state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 5.0% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

State Leaders Recognize 10-year Anniversary of Universal Healthcare

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Daily News

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Stan Rosenberg issued statements this week in recognition of the 10-year anniversary of universal access to healthcare in Massachusetts.

“Ten years ago, Massachusetts led the country by creating a landmark healthcare coverage law, and today we are pleased that 96.4% of the state’s population is insured,” Baker said. “Through our state-based marketplace, individuals and families have the ability to choose their best coverage options, and while there is still more work to be done to increase accessibility and transparency for consumers, we have taken many steps in the right direction.”

Added DeLeo, “at the time, I think everyone in the Legislature knew that bill would be a big deal. But it’s amazing to look back at it 10 years later and think about how in hindsight our efforts became the model for the country’s universal healthcare law. In Massachusetts, we often say that we lead the way for the rest of the nation. This bill is proof of that notion.”

Rosenberg noted that “healthcare reform began in Massachusetts 10 years ago and has increased access to high-quality healthcare for our residents. The evolution of its passage serves as a reminder of how cooperation between political parties can produce meaningful public policy that makes a real difference in the lives of millions of people. It now serves as the model for our national healthcare law, which is bringing people, some for the first time in their lives, access to healthcare across the country. As we move forward, our focus now is to bring down costs and produce better outcomes for our residents.”

Joan Hunter Joins Berkshire Museum Board of Trustees

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Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Joan Hunter has joined the Berkshire Museum board of trustees as its newest member. Hunter brings a wealth of experience as a dedicated volunteer in the cultural community in the Berkshires as well as her professional expertise in the field of education.

The trustees and staff of the museum are currently engaged in a long-range strategic master-planning process. The goals of the master plan are to create a sustainable, relevant institution that continues to provide high-quality experiences for its participants in the 21st century.

“Growing up in Pittsfield, Joan Hunter has long had a deep understanding of what the Berkshire Museum means to our community. With her experience and skills, we are confident she will make a strong contribution to our organization as we work to determine how best to fulfill the museum’s mission and serve the people of the Berkshires,” said Bill Hines, board president. “Through our master-planning process, Joan and her fellow trustees are participating in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the course of our future.”

Hunter is a former special-education teacher in Pittsfield. While raising a family, she and her husband, James, owned and operated the House of Walsh in Williamstown. She has been a member of the board of directors at Jacob’s Pillow Dance in Becket since 2001 and served as chair from 2009 to 2014. She has volunteered extensively in the Williamstown community, including serving as co-chair for the capital campaign to build the Milne Public Library. Past board service includes Williamstown Elementary School, Pine Cobble School, Williamstown Public Library, Child Care of the Berkshires, Williamstown Chamber Concerts, Williamstown Film Festival, and Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Located in downtown Pittsfield, Berkshire Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $13 for adults, $6 for children, and free for museum members and children age 3 and under. For more information, visit www.berkshiremuseum.org or call (413) 443-7171.

Tres Chic Ladies Brunch Celebrates Sisterhood, Empowerment

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Swanson Meetings & Event Planning will present the Tres Chic Ladies Brunch on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at LaQuinta Inn and Suites in Springfield.

The brunch will feature mistress of ceremonies Alysia Cutting, media personality and performer. During the brunch, attendees will hear from several powerful business ladies, including Brenda’s Child, author and educator; Crystal Senter-Brown, author and performer; Natasha Clark, entrepreneur; and Lynnette Johnson, author and poet.

Tickets are $28 in advance and $35 at the door. To purchase tickets, make checks payable to Swanson Meetings & Event Planning, LLC and mail to 3 Peer St., Springfield, MA 01109, or fax (413) 342-4963 with credit-card information.

Vendors will be available with products and services to browse and purchase; vendor tables are $50. For ticket and vendor-table information, contact Diane Swanson at [email protected] or (413) 886-2325.

Leadership Pioneer Valley Seeks Applications for Class of 2017

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) is now accepting applications for enrollment in its class of 2017. The regional leadership-development program begins in September.

LPV utilizes a 10-month, topically relevant, ever-changing curriculum designed to challenge and engage emerging leaders from all sectors of the community within the Pioneer Valley region. The curriculum consists of both classroom and hands-on, experiential learning through retreats, day-long seminars, field experiences, and team projects. To date, more than 180 individuals representing more than 82 companies, organizations, and municipalities have participated.

LPV is seeking applicants from nonprofits, businesses, and government who are eager to increase their leadership skills and take action to better the region. Applicants are considered in a competitive application process that prioritizes diversity by employment sector, geography, race, gender, and sexual orientation. Emerging leaders, mid-career professionals with leadership potential, and those looking to better the Pioneer Valley should consider applying.

In its five years running, the program has filled a critical need for a leadership program that builds a network of emerging leaders to address the challenges and opportunities of the region. Fifty-three percent of alumni have a new leadership role at work, 64% have joined a new board of directors, and 99% made new, meaningful connections.

The deadline for LPV class of 2017 applications is July 1. Applications and further information can be found at www.leadershippv.org.

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