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Family-owned Lupa Zoo Offers Exhibits, Education

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Sections Travel and Tourism

Walk on the Wild Side

Joan Lupa shows off a baby two-toed sloth

Joan Lupa shows off a baby two-toed sloth, one of many exotic animals that have found a home at Lupa Zoo.

It’s early in the morning at Lupa Zoo.

And while visitors have yet to arrive, the creatures that live there are doing all they can to make their presence known.

Laughing kookaburras have been screeching since 4 a.m. to announce a new day, macaws are squawking loudly, monkeys chatter excitedly as they execute gracious leaps in their cages, and the braying of donkeys echoes throughout the entire 15-acre park.

But the sounds don’t penetrate into the community; although the sanctuary houses more than 300 species that include a giraffe, llamas, two camels, a menagerie of monkeys, a black leopard, a large reindeer, a zebra, arctic foxes, bears, and oddities such as capybaras (large rodents from South America), it’s a hidden treasure that cannot be seen or heard from the front gate on Nash Hill Road in Ludlow.

When visitors pass through the gate, they travel along a long driveway that leads to a spacious parking lot. The roadway is peppered with cages that house strutting ostriches and other animals, and when they leave their vehicles, guests enter an exotic world created by Henry Lupa and his wife Joan, who painstakingly carved out a habitat for animals in the deep woods behind their home with enclosures that mimic what each creature would find in its natural environment.

Joan glows as she talks about their venture into the unknown and its success, and is tearful when her late husband Henry is mentioned.

They were married for 48 years before his passing two years ago, and the zoo was a dream he nurtured for years before they brought it to reality in a way that exceeded their wildest imaginations. “Henry wanted to create a natural habitat for animals that would serve the community,” Joan recalled, as she spoke about her husband’s living legacy, adding that it’s a very good place for children as well as adults, who stroll along the shaded brick walkways and relax on benches as they watch the animals and learn about species from all over the world.

Her pride in and passion for the venture is evident as she talks about the school groups it hosts and the excitement the zoo generates in visitors, how her son brings some of the animals into inner-city schools and nursing homes to educate people and make them happy, and how the family does everything possible to keep entrance fees affordable so the zoo is accessible to everyone.

It’s no easy feat, because the annual operating costs for the privately owned operation are $400,000, which doesn’t include the cost of snowplowing and other services provided by the family’s company, N.L. Construction, which started out as Henry’s landscaping business and morphed into a larger entity, thanks to hard work by him and Joan, who always played a major role in the business.

That same company, which specializes in commercial projects, including schools, fire stations, and other municipal buildings, provided the bulk of the money needed to build the zoo and the funds needed to maintain it.

And although Joan refers to it as a “hobby,” much of the endless labor required to keep the zoo open is donated by family members who don’t earn a salary. They include Joan; the couple’s son Wally, who is a veterinary assistant; his wife Ewa, who does the bookkeeping; and Joan’s two grandsons.

“Our son Stanley is the only family member who gets paid,” Joan said, explaining that he’s in charge of educational programs and oversees personnel, which include a zookeeper and two staff members. “But everything else is accomplished by a great staff of volunteers, an annual fund-raiser, and grants, which have made a significant difference.”

The business community also plays a small role in the upkeep: some companies sponsor an animal, while others send volunteers to do much-needed work.

“Last year, 30 volunteers from Keller Williams Realty painted the cages, benches, tables, and entranceway and did a fabulous job,” said Joan. “And this year, volunteers from Big Y in Ludlow helped us plant flowers in all of our gardens; it was a huge help.”

For this issue and its focus on travel and tourism, BusinessWest looks at how Henry Lupa’s dream became reality, and how his family continues to keep that dream alive.

Near and Deer

Joan and Henry grew up on small farms in Poland that were self-sustaining. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1964, married a year later, purchased a 32-acre parcel in Ludlow in 1976, then bought their house and an additional three acres when the adjacent parcel became available, then added 13 more adjoining acres in 1991.

They had grown up with animals, and by the ’70s, Henry was raising pheasants and miniature horses.

“They were our pets, and he did it for our family’s enjoyment,” Joan said, noting that, by the ’90s, the neighborhood children and their sons’ friends made a habit of visiting frequently to see their small menagerie.

After Henry emigrated, he started a landscaping company, which he grew into the highly successful N.L. Construction business, in which Joan played an active role. They were very busy with their business, home, and family, so she was shocked one day when he told her he wanted to open a zoo.

Lupa Zoo’s giraffe enjoys some branches fed to him by Joan Lupa

Lupa Zoo’s giraffe enjoys some branches fed to him by Joan Lupa, who stands on a high platform built so guests can enjoy the experience.

“I thought he was off the wall,” Joan recalled. But she agreed to try it, since the initial application was inexpensive, and before they knew it, they were deep into the complex licensing and permitting process. “It was a challenge to put everything together, but we wanted to serve the community, and in 1996 we received a license from the Mass. Wildlife and Fisheries Department and the United States Department of Agriculture, and starting buying exotic animals. The rest is history.”

It’s a storied history well worth recounting, as the couple turned an idea that seemed … well, nearly impossible, at least to Joan, into a reality that grew beyond anything they envisioned. “You start something, and when you come to the point where it is well-received by the community, you just can’t stop and go back. You have keep going,” Joan said. So, although the construction company continued to thrive, after Henry retired due to health issues, he devoted himself entirely to the zoo, and Joan continues to work there year-round.

But talking about the past takes away from the excitement of the zoo, so she jumps up, eager to show off its occupants.

Her first stop is inside one of their two heated barns, which are backed up by generators and used to house many of the animals during the winter. She heads straight for her newest favorites, twin baby two-toed sloths.

“I’m going to take the female out; the male tends to bite,” she said as she reached inside and removed a baby who stuck its head out, then buried it in the towel she held beneath it.

A short distance away, she stopped at a cage containing squirrel monkeys which leapt from bar to bar to get close to her as she called out to them. “They think I’m going to give them a banana,” she laughed, explaining that this is something she does in the evening. “They recognize me, but it’s all about the food.”

Joan told BusinessWest that visitors are allowed to feed the hoof stock with compressed hay and grain they buy on the premises and place in tubes, but no one is allowed to have direct contact with any of the animals. However, an exception is made for their most famous resident — a 20-foot-tall giraffe they’ve owned for 15 years.

A special staircase was created so patrons can climb to see its face and feed it carrots and branches from nearby trees, and it takes his time and chews slowly as Joan offers it a handful of food.

Paws for Effect

After leaving the giraffe’s enclosure, she pointed out other animals, providing details about their personalities.

She knows them all, and even though the zoo houses many endangered species, every creature in it was carefully chosen. “You have to study where it comes from to figure out the kind of environment it will need and the size of its cage; we do whatever we can to make our animals comfortable, and we do it for all the right reasons,” Joan explained, adding that their exhibits mimic the species’ natural environments.

Since the ability to hide is important to the health and well-being of many of the creatures, sometimes visitors have to take time to look closely to discover where they are.

The zoo’s newest additions are a pair of Asian river otters. “We got them this spring, and they’re very, very playful,” Joan said as she stood near their enclosure and watched them roll over and over near a fast-moving water slide.

She told BusinessWest that the upkeep of the zoo and maintenance of the facility is never-ending. But the work the family has done and continues to do is a labor of love and has less to do with meeting government regulations than ensuring that the animals and patrons are happy.

But she admits it’s not easy to comply with the USDA codes required for different animals, and they are closely monitored. “We’re also inspected several times each year by the Board of Health; they keep an eye on all exhibitors,” Joan said. “We’re doing a very good job, but the government wants to be sure that animals are taken care of according to their needs.”

As she walked, she added that the cost of building the zoo was mitigated in part by the fact that the family’s construction company used recycled materials it obtained when it demolished old structures to build it. Joan pointed them out during the tour; they ranged from bricks used to create the walkways to large boulders inside cages, to a railing taken from the grounds of a school in the Berkshires.

“We used all of our resources, and instead of throwing away lumber, we recycled it; most of the fencing comes from job sites, and a lot of it was donated by local contractors,” she noted.

Many of the extras in the zoo are paid for by grants, such as the signs outside each cage that contain the name of the animal inside, a map showing its natural habitat, and printed information about its lifestyle and habits.

“We bought them with a grant we received seven years ago from the Community Foundation,” Joan explained. “They’ve had to be replaced since then, but they are important so children can identify each animal and where it comes from by looking at its name, a picture of it, and the map.”

State grants distributed between the Commonwealth’s three zoos also help; last year Lupa Zoo received $60,000, and this year it was given $46,000.

“We really hope Governor Baker doesn’t cut these funds because they help us keep the admission price low. It’s only $6 for each child in a school group as well as their chaperones, and we do everything in our power to keep it affordable because many of the students who come here are from low-income families,” she noted.

Living Legacy

Joan and her family are happy the zoo has flourished and hope it will serve the community for generations to come. It contains a playground that was added six years ago and is bordered by a beautiful raised garden; an area with fiberglass animals that children can sit on and have their photos taken; and also a concession stand, gift shop, educational center, and two large pavilions with picnic benches where people can relax and enjoy a snack in the shade.

There is also a replica of a blacksmith’s shop because Henry’s father was a blacksmith in Poland, and a small area with a miniature merry-go-round and other pint-sized rides.

But the main attraction is the animals, which is exactly what Henry hoped for, and the entire zoo is a living legacy that continues to grow.

The success of the endeavor has been astonishing, especially to Joan.

“In my wildest dreams, I never thought this would become such a popular place. The initial permitting process was difficult, but it you are determined to do something and have a good intention, you can get it done,” she said. “Henry’s dream is a reality, and we will do our best to keep it going as the patrons who come here really enjoy it.

“The chores will always be there,” she added, “but we made the right choice, and we hope the zoo will be here for many, many years to come.”

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of July 2015

AMHERST

Friends of Hospice House Inc.
1165 North Pleasant St.
$25,904 — New roof

CHICOPEE

Bill Stetson
103 Main St.
$26,000 — Re-roof Falls Pizza

Cory Briere
14 Center St.
$5,000 — Frame interior walls and section off store

Joyce Lacaprucia
129 Church St.
$12,000 — Interior remodel

GREENFIELD

Baystate Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$160,000 — New sprinkler system

CHD Watershed Project
148 Montague City Road
$31,500 — New roof

Franklin Associates
87-91 Main St.
$9,000 — Interior alterations for two offices

Greenfield Center School
61 Montague City Road
$57,000 — New roof

Kennametal Inc.
34 Sanderson St.
$49,000 — Renovate existing bathrooms on west side of shop area

Lawrence Pfeffer
220-228 Main St.
$18,000 — New roof system

Paul Viens
302 Main St.
$16,000 — Add four interior offices

William Wong
431 Deerfield St.
$104,500 — Install new roof system

LUDLOW

Iron Duke Brewing
100 State St.
$15,000 — Alterations

Uncle Bob’s General Store
967 East St.
$26,500 — Commercial addition

NORTHAMPTON

Athena Health Care Systems
222 River Road
$6,000 — Install cross-corridor doors

Leeds Grammar School
20 Florence St.
$401,550 — Install new membrane roof

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

ERVING

8 East Main St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Laura H. Pepper
Seller: Ellen M. Hastings
Date: 06/29/15

14 Ridge Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $241,742
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Steven Whiteman
Date: 07/08/15

GILL

8 South Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Joe E. Otto
Seller: Joseph A. Bailey
Date: 06/30/15

GREENFIELD

774 Bernardston Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Kathleen M. Olson
Seller: Melinda A. Boudreau-Price
Date: 06/30/15

340 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Winker LLC
Seller: Comfort Mechanical Inc.
Date: 07/09/15

4 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Jebco Realty Assocs. LLC
Seller: Pushkin LLC
Date: 07/02/15

67 Ferrante Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Melpomeni Floratos
Seller: Diane M. Killeen
Date: 06/29/15

50 Linden Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $148,500
Buyer: Rebecca J. Beauregard
Seller: Angela J. Mass
Date: 06/30/15

285-291 Main St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Jebco Realty Assocs. LLC
Seller: Arts Block LLC
Date: 07/02/15

332 Main St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Jebco Realty Assocs. LLC
Seller: Pushkin LLC
Date: 07/02/15

47 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $146,965
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Robert F. Barron
Date: 07/07/15

51 River St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Breakaway Real Estate LLC
Seller: Emanuel D. Rovithis
Date: 06/29/15

32 Shattuck St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: James M. Adam
Seller: Edward H. Letourneau
Date: 07/01/15

LEVERETT

268 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Tracey L. Field
Seller: John R. Field
Date: 07/01/15

MONTAGUE

94-98 2nd St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Ginger S. Robinson
Seller: Turners Falls RT
Date: 07/08/15

470 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Tammy R. Sachse
Seller: NJT LLC
Date: 07/01/15

105 Montague St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Leonard C. Currier
Seller: Richard B. Gates
Date: 06/29/15

306 Montague City Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Jacob S. Dlugosz
Seller: Rodney J. Demers
Date: 06/30/15

26 North Leverett Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: American Classic Properties
Seller: Bellinger RT
Date: 07/07/15

49 O St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $123,386
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Denise B. Dunbar
Date: 07/07/15

36 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $150,300
Buyer: Kimberly A. Macdonald
Seller: Burke, Kenneth J., (Estate)
Date: 06/30/15

NEW SALEM

10 Hunt Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Parker
Seller: Lisa M. Sihvonen-Binder
Date: 07/07/15

66 North Prescott Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Nancy E. Slator
Seller: Ernest J. Nemeth
Date: 07/02/15

ORANGE

62 Chase St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Gretchen Turner
Date: 07/09/15

160 Oaklawn Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Anthony R. Cravatta
Seller: Timothy J. Nelson
Date: 07/10/15

196 West Orange Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Sarah L. Nolan
Seller: Mary E. Ziemba
Date: 07/01/15

ROWE

64 Dell Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: James Lively
Seller: Corarito INT
Date: 07/08/15

SHELBURNE

72 Mechanic St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Elizabeth J. Bukolsky RET
Seller: Irene L. Cronk RET
Date: 06/30/15

SHELBURNE

72 Shelburne Center Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Wanda Pacheco
Seller: Marc R. Servant
Date: 07/10/15

SHUTESBURY

226 Montague Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Reil
Seller: Susan Hanna
Date: 06/29/15

SUNDERLAND

36 Country Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Matthew P. Martin
Seller: Jeffrey B. Smith
Date: 06/30/15

12 Garage Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Stephanie B. Motamedi
Seller: Greenfield Pilgrim 1 LLC
Date: 07/07/15

154 North Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Courtney A. Kinney
Seller: Matthew P. Martin
Date: 06/30/15

239 River Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Moon-Kie Jung
Seller: Pamela C. Peterson
Date: 07/10/15

33 Russell St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Tyler Tomlinson
Seller: US Bank
Date: 07/10/15

WENDELL

127 Montague Road
Wendell, MA 01380
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Mara Bright
Seller: Yvette L. Segal
Date: 06/29/15

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

30 Barry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: George M. Palanjian
Seller: Andrew C. Campbell
Date: 06/29/15

158 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Satoshi Yamaji
Seller: Adrien J. Boucher

24 Dwight St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $2,080,000
Buyer: Dwight Group LLC
Seller: Hallmark Partners LLC
Date: 06/30/15

65 Federal St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Filipa F. Filipe
Seller: Patrick D. Armstrong
Date: 07/10/15

29 Giffin Place
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: John E. Fellion
Seller: Daponde, Yolanda M., (Estate)
Date: 07/01/15

108 Norris St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Lori A. Mountain
Seller: Sharon K. Lange
Date: 06/30/15

39 Oriole Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $302,750
Buyer: Michael A. Curto
Seller: Paul E. Lussier
Date: 07/02/15

541 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: James Parent
Seller: John L. Mondella
Date: 07/07/15

825 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: PEM RT
Seller: Agawam Auto Mall Inc.
Date: 07/08/15

378-384 Walnut St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $311,989
Buyer: F. Fiore LLC
Seller: Azon Realty LLC
Date: 06/30/15

48 Wilbert Terrace
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Diana L. Papadakis
Seller: Adriano Bocchino
Date: 07/06/15

BLANDFORD

14 Russell Stage Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Kyle A. Lewkowicz
Seller: Angela M. Mikuski
Date: 07/06/15

BRIMFIELD

32 7th St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $266,950
Buyer: Dmitriy S. Gotlib
Seller: Clifford A. Madru
Date: 06/30/15

105 Cubles Dr.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Beverly F. Clark
Seller: Dorothy E. Perman IRT
Date: 07/08/15

50 Mill Lane
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Sandra J. Arsenault
Seller: Jeanne H. Davis
Date: 07/02/15

CHICOPEE

35 Barre Circle
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: National Res. Nominee Services
Seller: Sheree C. Cardin-Rae
Date: 06/30/15

67 Beverly St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Gilberto Ortiz
Seller: Chicopee Neighborhood Development
Date: 07/10/15

77 Carpenter Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Buyer: Robina Carestia
Seller: Angela J. Agostino
Date: 06/30/15

167 Carriage Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Duane A. Recchia
Seller: Ann E. Velthouse
Date: 06/30/15

490 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Robert D. Manning
Seller: Daniel F. Pragosa
Date: 07/01/15

4 Dobek Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Dennis Pelletier
Seller: Household Finance Corp. 2
Date: 07/10/15

35 Dresser Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Rachel M. Farley
Seller: Ryan J. Loring
Date: 06/29/15

30 Edmund St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Jessica Batiz-Orengo
Seller: Edward E. Elie
Date: 06/29/15

69 Gagne St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Baystate Restoration Group
Seller: Dean G. Spencer
Date: 07/01/15

263 Grove St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Eric A. Froebel
Seller: David Lengieza
Date: 07/02/15

52 Hendrick St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Brent A. Dillard
Seller: William D. Morris
Date: 06/30/15

105 Hendrick St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Nuno M. Inacio
Seller: Artur C. Inacio
Date: 07/07/15

39 Labelle Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Andrew Santo
Seller: Christine R. Bennett
Date: 07/08/15

Lemay St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Baystate Restoration Group
Seller: Dean G. Spencer
Date: 07/01/15

24 Leo Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Michael J. Brennan
Seller: Alison M. Cienciwa
Date: 06/30/15

23 Lombard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: William Dinguis
Seller: Raymond P. Gaumond
Date: 06/29/15

74 Mary St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: JWK Real Estate LLC
Seller: Michael Donskoy
Date: 07/10/15

617 Mckinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Frederick J. Sabbs
Seller: Ryszard J. Marcinowski
Date: 07/10/15

97 Rivers Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Lake Rentals LLC
Seller: Paul L. Gauthier
Date: 07/07/15

73 School St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Bayview Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: Kazimiera Dorobisz
Date: 06/30/15

73 Sesame Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Robert K. Andersen
Seller: Robert K. Andersen
Date: 06/29/15

145 Trilby Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Mark A. Morin
Seller: Barbara A. Bielizna
Date: 07/06/15

60 Trilby Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: N. Riley Realty LLC
Seller: Alma V. Bourbeau
Date: 07/08/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

42 Braeburn Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Olan A. Johnston
Seller: Patricia A. Lamontagne
Date: 07/06/15

30 Brook St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Kathryn Barney
Seller: Alice J. Goodrich
Date: 06/29/15

71 Brookhaven Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $306,500
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Galarneau
Seller: Jeremy T. Shurtleff
Date: 06/30/15

57 Brynmawr Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: David Leblanc
Seller: Ronald J. Oliveri
Date: 07/08/15

36 Granby St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $148,900
Buyer: William Purcell
Seller: Granby St Associates LLC
Date: 07/01/15

244 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Keith J. Fitzgerald
Seller: Neil R. Pomeroy
Date: 07/08/15

27 Meadow Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $367,000
Buyer: Gerard Sprofera
Seller: John E. Labrie
Date: 07/01/15

41 Merriam St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Robbin D. Jones
Seller: Jeanne R. Dufault
Date: 07/01/15

116 Millbrook Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Zoltowski
Seller: Douglas G. Mcadoo
Date: 07/08/15

Pondview Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Craig L. Gay
Seller: Joseph Chapdelaine & Sons
Date: 07/03/15

154 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $259,800
Buyer: Laura M. Pixley
Seller: Robert T. Liucci
Date: 07/08/15

GRANVILLE

231 Old Westfield Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: City Of Westfield
Seller: Paul D. Jensen
Date: 06/29/15

HAMPDEN

31 Crestwood Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Philip A. Tarsi
Seller: Brenda M. Little
Date: 06/29/15

521 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: C. A. Gagliarducci
Seller: Maureen O’Sullivan
Date: 07/01/15

27 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Andrew R. Tsitso
Seller: Cynthia L. Fiore
Date: 07/06/15

HOLLAND

4 Ames Trail
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Douglas Cayer
Seller: Patrick M. King
Date: 07/02/15

9 Park Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Chadwick E. Carter
Seller: Karen L. Essex
Date: 07/10/15

18 Pine Tree Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Michael Chadwick
Seller: Beverly J. Page
Date: 07/01/15

107 Sandy Beach Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Peter M. Faria
Seller: Shaun Dyson
Date: 07/09/15

HOLYOKE

5 Appleton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Benz Holdings LLC
Seller: Ralph Thompson
Date: 07/08/15

352 Apremont Hwy.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Moises Rosario
Seller: Gravel, Constance D., (Estate)
Date: 07/10/15

80 Beacon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Hui Yan
Seller: Sean M. Dugre
Date: 07/06/15

405 Mountain Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: John J. O’Connell
Seller: Dina Levesque
Date: 07/10/15

447 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Michael M. Lalchandani
Seller: Cynthia Rivera
Date: 06/30/15

47 Cherry Hill
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michael T. Bellingham
Seller: Suzanne M. Cole
Date: 06/30/15

27 Concord Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Celia E. Overby
Seller: Tina M. Wildhagen
Date: 06/29/15

5 Evergreen Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: 5 Evergreen Drive Land TR
Seller: Glenn J. Nadeau
Date: 06/29/15

28 Grandview Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $134,305
Buyer: Stephen J. Miller
Seller: FNMA
Date: 06/29/15

80 Hitchcock St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Shane T. Jackson
Seller: William T. Lyle
Date: 07/02/15

236 Lower Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Loring
Seller: Scott D. Beliveau
Date: 06/29/15

611 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Josyln Larson
Seller: Timothy J. Brunelle
Date: 07/09/15

1215 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Theresa Meckel
Seller: Maryellen Dinn
Date: 07/02/15

437 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Roque Sanchez
Seller: Anibal Rivas
Date: 06/30/15

Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Dara N. Sullivan
Seller: Marjorie P. Stark
Date: 07/01/15

6 Shepard Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Disanto
Seller: Levin, David, (Estate)
Date: 06/30/15

35 Temple St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Irma Lopez
Seller: Mary E. Trudeau
Date: 07/01/15

44 Vassar Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Matilda Friedrich
Seller: 3F Properties LLC
Date: 07/01/15

39 View St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Jose M. Rivera
Seller: Nancy D. Ayers
Date: 07/02/15

38 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: David K. Bartley
Seller: Jeanne Bartley
Date: 07/01/15

LONGMEADOW

76 Blokland Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $421,800
Buyer: Ana Muriel
Seller: Celeste Benoit
Date: 07/10/15

168 Blueberry Hill Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $470,100
Buyer: Varaha S. Gopisetti
Seller: Harry R. Auerbach
Date: 06/29/15

43 Briarcliff Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Eric G. Gorenstein
Seller: Eileen R. Fountaine
Date: 06/30/15

17 Canterbury Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Nadia Furqan
Seller: Ellen R. Shapiro
Date: 07/01/15

175 Cedar Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Jimmy Chang
Seller: Jeffrey Vedovelli
Date: 06/30/15

31 Cherry Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $375,625
Buyer: Yuebiao Feng
Seller: Daniel Karpman
Date: 07/10/15

75 Churchill Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Kevin K. Labrie
Seller: Anne W. Mackenzie
Date: 07/02/15

95 Dover Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: James V. Barilaro
Seller: William D. Keen
Date: 07/01/15

30 Fernleaf Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $352,000
Buyer: David S. Culver
Seller: James Neveu
Date: 06/30/15

592 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Martin J. Lobik
Seller: Chad S. White
Date: 07/08/15

25 Highland St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: William D. Keen
Seller: Alfonso D. Via
Date: 07/01/15

45 Kenmore Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $248,100
Buyer: Amy L. Cairy
Seller: Walsh, Rita J., (Estate)
Date: 06/30/15

89 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Robert J. Khoury
Seller: Peter M. Gerard
Date: 06/30/15

67 Maplewood St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $253,921
Buyer: Guidewire Inc.
Seller: Venture Community Services
Date: 06/30/15

103 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: John R. Koegel
Seller: Susan L. Greco
Date: 07/02/15

61 Twin Hills Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Tyler Saremi
Seller: Harry A. Klug
Date: 06/30/15

40 West Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Ricardo Malave
Seller: Jagodowski, Eleanor E., (Estate)
Date: 06/30/15

43 Wildwood Glen
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $378,450
Buyer: Tammy R. Rex
Seller: Kenneth R. Holt
Date: 06/29/15

LUDLOW

53 Blanchard Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $250,500
Buyer: Leah T. Kaira
Seller: Claire A. Burgess
Date: 07/10/15

382 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Michael J. Desimone
Seller: James P. Kane
Date: 07/01/15

36 Prospect Gardens
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Mary E. Racicot
Seller: Dorothy C. Saletnik
Date: 06/30/15

74 Sunbriar Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Richard N. Belanger
Seller: Robina Carestia
Date: 06/30/15

MONSON

490 Boston Road West
Monson, MA 01095
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: JW Realty LLC
Seller: Paul A. Bouchard
Date: 07/10/15

77 Bradway Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: William H. Rawleigh
Seller: Joshua A. Vassallo
Date: 07/01/15

30 Butler Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Richard A. Cordner
Seller: Nicholas J. Gasperini
Date: 07/10/15

50 East Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: 27 East Hill Road RT
Seller: Matthew H. Macfarlane
Date: 07/02/15

3 Heritage Lane
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $308,500
Buyer: Kyle Williams
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 06/30/15

4 Lincoln St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Derrick A. Talbot
Seller: Dapri Rentals LLC
Date: 07/10/15

138 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Richard C. Machado
Seller: Jaciow, Susan A., (Estate)
Date: 06/29/15

MONTGOMERY

217 Pitcher St.
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: David W. Tourville
Seller: Renee Pecor
Date: 07/02/15

PALMER

141 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Travis J. Richer
Seller: Sherry A. Kennedy
Date: 06/29/15

141 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Raymond A. Blanchette
Seller: Flynnanita, E., (Estate)
Date: 07/10/15

10-12 Fox St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $169,574
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Ronald C. Lawrence
Date: 06/29/15

38 Harvey St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $245,265
Buyer: Kelsey K. Sheehan
Seller: Lorraine Novak
Date: 06/30/15

3141-3143 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Louise L. Hickenbottom
Seller: Daniel B. Rhodes
Date: 07/08/15

57 Riverview Pkwy.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Stephen M. Keegan
Seller: Peter D. Hull
Date: 06/30/15

315 Shearer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Nicole A. Sherman
Seller: Martin F. Maloney
Date: 07/07/15

1001 Thorndike St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $4,842,875
Buyer: MA Svc. LLC
Seller: Merchant Palmer LLC
Date: 06/29/15

RUSSELL

37 General Knox Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Kim M. Morgan
Seller: Robert M. Gardner
Date: 06/30/15

170 Timberidge Dr.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Bruce D. Bosworth
Date: 07/08/15

SPRINGFIELD

2020 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Ruben Flores-Marzan
Seller: Thomas M. Gordon
Date: 07/01/15

95 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Linda M. Owens
Seller: Michael A. Chelkonas
Date: 07/08/15

239 Ashland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Synthia Perrin
Seller: Thomas J. Sliney
Date: 06/30/15

28-30 Battery St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Luis E. Soto
Seller: Richard Muise
Date: 06/30/15

137 Bellevue Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $191,200
Buyer: David C. Melrose
Seller: Don B. David
Date: 06/30/15

335 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Vietnamese Buddhist Asscociation
Seller: Pine Point Community Council
Date: 06/30/15

35 Bruce St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Nicole K. Bertera
Seller: Erik J. Allis
Date: 07/03/15

126 Caseland St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $186,375
Buyer: Loleta Collins
Seller: Gary M. Chase
Date: 07/01/15

131-133 Davenport St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Eric Newkirk
Seller: Randall M. Stebbins
Date: 06/30/15

14 Dennis St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Robyn L. Sheehan
Seller: Reid C. Hunter
Date: 07/10/15

111 Duggan Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Peter H. Christensen
Seller: Justin M. Reynolds
Date: 07/10/15

199 Eddy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $150,500
Buyer: Christina M. Joyce
Seller: Gelson D. Laguerre
Date: 06/30/15

155 Fargo St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Arelis Whitaker
Seller: Kim Bress
Date: 06/30/15

124 Gillette Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Jo Anne A. Evans IRT
Seller: James M. Santamaria
Date: 06/30/15

24 Glenoak Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Bryce C. Buchanan
Seller: Erica L. Rossini
Date: 06/30/15

17 Groton St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $117,900
Buyer: Russell V. Jenkins
Seller: Lisa R. Crouser
Date: 06/30/15

16 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Tina Forbes
Seller: Jason M. Bienvenue
Date: 07/08/15

23 Hudson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Carmen T. Velazquez
Seller: Charles J. Scalia
Date: 07/09/15

320 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $139,325
Buyer: Michael K. Dagger
Seller: Suzanne E. Larue
Date: 06/29/15

101 Jeanne Marie St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Amanda M. Fortune
Seller: Leighton L. Stewart
Date: 07/02/15

306 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Tawana Davis
Seller: Theresa Harris
Date: 06/29/15

410 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,911
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Wayne Street LLC
Date: 07/02/15

208 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Dennis P. Duquette
Seller: John B. Murray
Date: 06/30/15

111 Manchester Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Robert C. Washington
Seller: Andrew M. Knight
Date: 07/06/15

38 Martha St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Johnathan Nguyen
Seller: Rachel A. Bazile
Date: 07/10/15

88 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Leonard A. Lindsay
Seller: Victoria M. Gruneiro
Date: 07/07/15

129 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Peter W. Otiende
Seller: Anna Danilewicz
Date: 07/10/15

143 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Eduardo Valentin
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 07/08/15

52-54 Narragansett St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $129,500
Buyer: Alexis Javier-Breton
Seller: Marlin Investments LLC
Date: 07/01/15

81-83 Noel St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Luis J. Espejo
Seller: Mattie L. Robinson
Date: 07/02/15

11 Peer St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Damarys Lopez
Seller: Lorenzo Ezell
Date: 07/10/15

73 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Elizabeth M. McFarlin
Seller: Labruzzo, Debra L., (Estate)
Date: 06/30/15

111 Quaker Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Orville L. Williams
Seller: Sean F. Smith
Date: 07/10/15

33-35 Ruskin St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Sha Pradhan
Seller: David Leblanc
Date: 07/02/15

935 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,900
Buyer: Wilmarie Rodriguez
Seller: Danny P. Rebelo
Date: 07/06/15

6 Sedgewick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Omar Colon-Perez
Seller: Samuel E. & F. I. Johnson LT
Date: 07/08/15

127 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Emanuel Class
Seller: Edward J. Janik
Date: 06/30/15

100 Webber St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Lisa L. Jubinville
Seller: Heather Echevarria
Date: 06/30/15

SOUTHWICK

124 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Karen L. Deyo
Seller: Donald R. Dubuc
Date: 06/30/15

26 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Paul J. Boyne
Seller: Jay A. Pelley
Date: 06/30/15

157 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Dege LLC
Seller: Geofrank LLC
Date: 07/02/15

1 Hummingbird Hollow
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $405,900
Buyer: Patrick D. Armstrong
Seller: Randy R. Shaver
Date: 07/10/15

350 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Luis S. Vazquez
Seller: Joan Bannish
Date: 06/30/15

23 Pine Knoll
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Lilia Mereshko
Seller: David Reipold
Date: 06/30/15

23 Rails End Road #23
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $324,500
Buyer: Paul E. Lussier
Seller: 20 Depot Square LLC
Date: 07/02/15

40 Sam West Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Flex Properties LLC
Seller: John A. Litwak
Date: 07/10/15

WESTFIELD

141 Bates Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $308,500
Buyer: Michael J. Csekovsky
Seller: Deanne M. Grant
Date: 06/29/15

6 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Edmund G. Apostle
Seller: Tina L. Liquori-Cody
Date: 07/10/15

13 Carriage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jeffrey P. Casey
Seller: Elizabeth A. Wood
Date: 07/10/15

68 Crescent Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: James D. Corker
Seller: Jason L. Hoffman
Date: 06/30/15

11 Dwight St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Mancino Enterprises Inc.
Seller: Bruce C. Neumann
Date: 06/29/15

28 Fawn Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $317,800
Buyer: Patrick P. Nay
Seller: Anthony R. Lapinski
Date: 06/30/15

10 Frederick St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Catherine Acevedo
Seller: JJS Capital Investment
Date: 07/10/15

193 Holyoke Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: John P. Sorrentino
Seller: Earl W. Slate
Date: 07/03/15

15 Hunters Slope
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $376,000
Buyer: Jason L. Hoffman
Seller: Daniel J. Harris
Date: 06/30/15

3 Laurel Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Christopher Mullen
Seller: Michael J. Csekovsky
Date: 06/29/15

21 Leaview Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Richard T. Fohlbrook
Seller: Robert P. Scott
Date: 07/02/15

340 Lockhouse Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $133,750
Buyer: Michael P. Stolpinski
Seller: Alma I. Fisher
Date: 06/30/15

70 Mill St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Courtney A. Gearing
Seller: Richard T. Fohlbrook
Date: 07/02/15

117 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $204,900
Buyer: Anne Norton-Graffum
Seller: Lucille R. Sobczyk
Date: 06/30/15

306 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Arthur J. Laramee
Seller: Britton, Pauline C., (Estate)
Date: 07/10/15

14 Phelps Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Joanne Ouimette
Seller: Julie Parsons
Date: 06/30/15

106 Ridgecrest Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Bryan F. Grabowski
Seller: Jeffrey Arps
Date: 06/30/15

Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Stephen J. Oleksak
Seller: Northwest Realty LLC
Date: 07/08/15

61 School St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: School St Property LLC
Seller: Thomas J. Rockwal
Date: 06/30/15

20 Sherwood Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: 20 Sheroood Avenue Land TR
Seller: Mark A. Baron

1120 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Dennis Bolduc
Seller: Home Loan Investment Bank
Date: 07/01/15

431 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kenneth M. Liberty
Seller: Liberty, Margaret J., (Estate)
Date: 07/06/15

199 Susan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Jason T. Edwards
Seller: Stephen A. Foster
Date: 06/30/15

229 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Sady
Seller: Kevin R. Queenin
Date: 07/10/15

WILBRAHAM

48 Beebe Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $362,700
Buyer: Benjamin J. Strobridge
Seller: William W. Blanchard
Date: 07/06/15

3 Bridle Path
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $589,900
Buyer: Craig R. Lareau
Seller: William D. Metzger
Date: 07/02/15

4 Chestnut Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Ryan Visneau
Seller: Neil W. Bennett
Date: 07/02/15

97 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $221,500
Buyer: Jaime Masse
Seller: Ann Robillard
Date: 07/03/15

22 Overlook Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $522,000
Buyer: Atu O. White
Seller: Matthew P. Natcharian
Date: 07/01/15

4 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Martin
Seller: Marjorie N. Agerton
Date: 07/01/15

10-1/2 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Marc L. Stimpson
Seller: Sharmaine Barone
Date: 07/10/15

25-27 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Veronica Machuca
Seller: Raymond J. Alberici
Date: 07/01/15

1222 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $234,900
Buyer: Darren C. Elwell
Seller: Sok H. Cho
Date: 07/10/15

30 Sunnyside Terrace
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Leighton L. Stewart
Seller: Changheon Choi
Date: 07/02/15

16 Tall Timber Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Pierce
Seller: Kara A. Arcidiacono
Date: 06/30/15

7 Woodland Dell Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $344,900
Buyer: Lauren S. Stanley
Seller: Maureen A. Rooney
Date: 06/30/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

262 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Puspa L. Dhimal
Seller: Lynne M. Sullivan
Date: 07/08/15

32 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Robert Hill
Seller: Mary J. Flaherty
Date: 06/29/15

97 Havenhurst Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Mary A. Flaherty
Seller: James S. Wachala
Date: 06/30/15

47 Hewitt St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Sean P. Riley
Seller: Barto, Anthony J., (Estate)
Date: 06/30/15

14 High Meadow Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Angela J. Agostino
Seller: William J. Viecelli
Date: 06/30/15

59 Interstate Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $2,100,000
Buyer: 73 State Street LLC
Seller: 59 Interstate Drive LLC
Date: 06/30/15

181 Jeffrey Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Adam N. Rochon
Seller: Alison S. Danalis
Date: 06/30/15

264 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Kevin A. Cady
Seller: Paul M. Rossmeisl
Date: 07/02/15

94 Nonotuck Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $332,500
Buyer: Cindy A. Shippee
Seller: Edward A. Pacitti
Date: 06/29/15

15 North St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,950
Buyer: Shannon Kumiega
Seller: Jefferey J. Vallee
Date: 07/10/15

63 Therese Marie Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Tejash R. Patel
Seller: Michael J. Halpy
Date: 06/30/15

30 Vincent Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Flagstone Properties Inc.
Seller: Dorothy Krieger
Date: 06/30/15

131 Westwood Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: John V. Roth
Seller: Richard R. Germano
Date: 07/08/15

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

115 Blackberry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Huanye Hu
Seller: Aytac Camdeviren
Date: 07/07/15

1 Dwight Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $314,900
Buyer: Stefan J. Antonowicz
Seller: Daniel J. Stering
Date: 07/08/15

15 Farmington Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Sarah B. Thompson
Seller: Christopher G. Potts
Date: 07/10/15

850 Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $441,000
Buyer: Nuray Ozcelik
Seller: Benjamin J. Zahradnik
Date: 06/30/15

6 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Catrine E. Tudor-Locke
Seller: Marese Hutchinson
Date: 06/29/15

66 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $232,050
Buyer: Bank of New York
Seller: Glenn M. Jackson
Date: 06/29/15

66 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Norman D. Brown
Seller: Bank of New York
Date: 07/09/15

108 Harlow Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Timothy A. Binkert
Seller: Sousa, Helen R. G., (Estate)
Date: 07/06/15

7 Laurel Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $321,900
Buyer: Zac Early
Seller: Hampshire Property Mgmt.
Date: 07/06/15

18 Lilac Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $469,900
Buyer: David M. Kawall
Seller: David R. Crowe
Date: 07/03/15

31 Longmeadow Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Hesham Ahmed
Seller: Kathleen Fahey
Date: 06/30/15

44 South Mount Holyoke Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $314,520
Buyer: Xin Li
Seller: Tien D. Pham
Date: 06/30/15

8 Weaver Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Matt Robison
Seller: Jennifer L. Parker
Date: 07/07/15

320 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $264,500
Buyer: Johnny B. Tran
Seller: Brian S. Ertel
Date: 07/07/15

BELCHERTOWN

12 Barrett St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $267,600
Buyer: Harvey A. Sansoucy
Date: 06/30/15

3 Barrett St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: John D. Sansoucy
Seller: Harvey A. Sansoucy
Date: 06/30/15

91 Canal Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Harris
Seller: Richard W. Noble
Date: 07/01/15

555 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: CJB T. 2
Seller: Robert Johnson
Date: 07/01/15

21 Dogwood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $381,200
Buyer: Rosemary E. Defronzo
Seller: Benchmark Custom Homes
Date: 07/01/15

18 Forest Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Anne Mistivar
Seller: Shaysreb LLC
Date: 07/01/15

10 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Christopher Lukes
Seller: Kevin R. O’Brien
Date: 06/29/15

288 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Thomas R. Orszulak
Seller: Andrew G. Cavanaugh
Date: 07/08/15

26 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $397,900
Buyer: Nancy Brill
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 06/30/15

17 Lloyd Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Douglas A. Cahill
Seller: Susan A. Detorrice
Date: 06/30/15

90 Ludlow St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Shawn C. Leblanc
Seller: Daniel R. McDonald
Date: 07/09/15

155 Oakridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: Thomas J. Barker
Seller: Michael A. Henson
Date: 07/01/15

27 River St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Lynne M. Sullivan
Seller: Paul R. Richard
Date: 07/08/15

413 South Gulf Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: James & Margaret Tibbitt LT
Seller: Morando Defronzo
Date: 07/01/15

317 Warren Wright Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Daniel C. Ingraham
Seller: Gilbert M. Bouchard
Date: 06/30/15

433 Warren Wright Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Chaitra Gopalappa
Seller: David F. Teague
Date: 07/07/15

243 West St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Norman E. Olmstead
Seller: Sharon R. Leblanc
Date: 07/01/15

18 Westview Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jason W. Aller
Seller: Christopher A. Dorval
Date: 07/08/15

CHESTERFIELD

Bofat Hill Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Seller: Nature Conservancy
Date: 06/30/15

EASTHAMPTON

15 Duda Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $259,500
Buyer: Robert Baceski
Seller: Anne M. Lynes
Date: 07/02/15

30 Everett St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Bryan J. Emond
Seller: Elizabeth A. Bower
Date: 07/02/15

175 Pleasant St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: San K. Chhung
Seller: Marcella Severance
Date: 07/08/15

131 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Ilene Berezin
Seller: Norman H. Cabana
Date: 07/07/15

7 Valley Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: E. Smith Sinnigen TR
Seller: Karen D. Carswell
Date: 06/29/15

GOSHEN

20 Pond Hill Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Paul A. Sihvonen-Binder
Seller: Christine E. Kubacki
Date: 07/07/15

GRANBY

32 Amherst St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Benjamin Rosenthal
Seller: Holly P. Barton-Lopez
Date: 07/10/15

529 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: George F. Hicks
Seller: Thomas Pittsley
Date: 07/01/15

5 Greystone Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $117,900
Buyer: David R. Laplante
Seller: PNC Bank
Date: 06/30/15

7 Jackielyn Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Jason A. Laprade
Seller: Jorge L. Casasnovas
Date: 06/30/15

51 Kendall St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $198,800
Buyer: OCWEN Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: Todd M. Morehouse
Date: 06/29/15

107 Maximilian Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $418,000
Buyer: Frank L. Bradfield
Seller: Peter J. Giroux
Date: 07/01/15

18 New Ludlow Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Hector Crespo
Seller: Jason W. Aller
Date: 07/02/15

8 Ridge Path
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Commonwealth Of Massachusetts
Seller: Evelyn S. Slater
Date: 06/30/15

HADLEY

6 Cold Springs Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Cynthia A. Therrien
Seller: Jacqueline B. Price
Date: 07/10/15

3 Indian Pipe Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $611,700
Buyer: Shiyue Cheng
Seller: Bercume Construction LLC
Date: 07/10/15

349 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Dale M. Jones
Seller: Cendrowski, Victor J., (Estate)
Date: 07/09/15

Russell St. #C
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Russell LLC
Seller: Lowes Home Centers LLC
Date: 07/02/15

172 South Maple St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Marion F. Grader
Seller: Nancy J. Podolak
Date: 07/07/15

HATFIELD

3 Clay Hill Way
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Steven D. Hoyt
Seller: William E. Dowd
Date: 06/30/15

450 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $288,011
Buyer: Erik Pardee
Seller: Mt. Tom Properties LLC
Date: 07/07/15

28 Pleasant View Dr.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $379,500
Seller: Stephen D. Hoyt
Date: 06/30/15

HUNTINGTON

25 Montgomery Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Philip W. Boisseau
Seller: Jeffrey S. Fisk
Date: 07/10/15

MIDDLEFIELD

123 Clark Wright Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Donald C. Trask
Seller: Ellen M. Rubenstein
Date: 07/01/15

17 Harry Pease Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Aaron P. Allen
Seller: Laurie E. Wehman
Date: 07/10/15

NORTHAMPTON

228 Audubon Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $242,600
Buyer: Jesse M. Adams
Seller: Susan A. Warga

36 Beacon St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Karen Carswell
Seller: Charles P. Gleason
Date: 06/29/15

153 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Gregory Schweitzer
Seller: Michael L. Shaughnessy
Date: 07/06/15

251 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $204,500
Buyer: Katherine M. Fabel
Seller: Jordana M. Rosenberg
Date: 06/29/15

239 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Gordon M. Meadows
Seller: Roque Sanchez
Date: 06/30/15

87 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01039
Amount: $362,500
Buyer: Winterberry LLC
Seller: Donald M. Shaw
Date: 07/02/15

1136 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Susan M. Nykorchuk
Seller: Ruth Fogg
Date: 07/02/15

69 Day Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: W. M. Goggins
Seller: Kathleen F. Malynoski
Date: 07/01/15

15 Fair St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $198,750
Buyer: Jennifer M. Nery
Seller: James S. Founds
Date: 07/08/15

317 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $227,200
Buyer: Glenda G. Neely
Seller: Theresa Meckel
Date: 07/02/15

142 Franklin St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Cheryl E. Mathein
Seller: Donna Ann Park RET
Date: 07/06/15

144 Franklin St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Christopher W. Hayhurst
Seller: Roger Salloom
Date: 06/30/15

37 Kensington Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: William Wimsatt
Seller: Janice M. Irvine
Date: 07/03/15

67 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Laura M. Pravitz
Seller: Jonathan G. Westphal
Date: 07/01/15

15 Laurel St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $407,900
Buyer: Heather J. Dysert
Seller: Transformations Inc.
Date: 07/02/15

10 Madison Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Natalie M. Brady
Seller: Michael J. Maginnis RET
Date: 07/10/15

223 Maple Ridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $696,800
Buyer: Wayne H. Duke
Seller: Judith G. Steinberg
Date: 06/29/15

N/A
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Christian Hawkins
Seller: George T. Barrett
Date: 06/29/15

185 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Carol J. Gray
Seller: Patricia A. Kopka LT
Date: 07/10/15

164 North Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Caroline B. Theoharides
Seller: Steven P. McDonough
Date: 06/30/15

5 Pomeroy Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $362,500
Buyer: Winterberry LLC
Seller: Donald M. Shaw
Date: 07/02/15

193 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $309,900
Buyer: Noa Milman
Seller: Ravya Taghavi
Date: 06/30/15

347 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Sandra J. Staub
Seller: Ricardo S. Malave
Date: 07/09/15

292 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Corinne M. Chandless
Seller: Shaila Chowdhury
Date: 06/30/15

73 Vernon St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: William S. Cutler
Seller: Martha J. Beckwith
Date: 07/09/15

46 Whittier St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $387,000
Buyer: Thomas S. Underwood
Seller: Joseph M. Ustaitis
Date: 06/29/15

SOUTH HADLEY

7 Country Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Julie-Anne G. Stebbins
Seller: Jonathan H. Aseltine
Date: 06/29/15

53 Dartmouth St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Rebecca A. Ciecko
Seller: Mark C. Robinson
Date: 06/29/15

309 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: David J. Malek
Seller: Thomas A. Spring
Date: 07/10/15

36 Ludlow Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Adam Lukomski
Seller: Linda L. Drozdowski
Date: 07/01/15

156 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: David C. Leiman
Seller: George Kansas
Date: 06/29/15

89 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $140,330
Buyer: Veterans Affairs
Seller: Karl Hathaway
Date: 07/10/15

71 Sunset Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Naim Mayer
Seller: Alicia L. Boyer
Date: 07/07/15

10 Sycamore Knolls
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Lachapelle
Seller: Jason M. Clifford
Date: 06/30/15

SOUTHAMPTON

Bissonnette Circle #28A
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Florida Corp.
Seller: Joseph C. Sampson
Date: 07/09/15

32 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $451,500
Buyer: Kelly A. Winkler
Seller: Florida Corp.
Date: 06/30/15

10 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01085
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Marta Golasinski
Seller: W. Marek Inc.
Date: 07/07/15

201 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Lise M. Lemeland
Seller: Jeffrey S. Smith
Date: 07/06/15

WARE

38 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Stephen J. Orszulak
Seller: Garretson FT
Date: 06/30/15

142 Eagle St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Gerald F. Skaza
Seller: Joseph F. Kelley
Date: 07/02/15

19 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jessica A. Pajonk
Seller: Quink, Paul J., (Estate)
Date: 06/29/15

239 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Bressette
Seller: Peter M. Faria
Date: 07/09/15

204 Upper Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Paul R. Richard
Seller: Louis J. Albano
Date: 07/08/15

WESTHAMPTON

52 Chesterfield Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $358,500
Buyer: Katharine P. Nelson
Seller: Celia M. Jeffries
Date: 07/09/15

179 Easthampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $610,000
Buyer: Nabil A. Hannoush
Seller: Karen S. Alexander
Date: 06/30/15

18 Hathaway Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Suzanne M. Krafft
Seller: Frederick W. Krafft
Date: 07/09/15

WILLIAMSBURG

11 Cole Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $417,000
Buyer: Virginia D. Golay
Seller: Schweickhard E. Goeler
Date: 07/07/15

25-1/2 Hyde Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $422,500
Buyer: Michael A. Henson
Seller: Meghann L. Parkinson
Date: 07/01/15

46 Hyde Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $260,925
Buyer: Thomas A. Raschi
Seller: US Bank
Date: 07/10/15

86 South St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Brian R. McGill
Seller: Mary W. Foster IRT
Date: 07/09/15

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

Allyn, Ryan M.
16 Memorial Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/09/15

Appliance Plus Gift Shop
616 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Baczek, Joan
114 Lincoln St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Barsalou, Paul F.
Barsalou, Wendy E.
93 Grochmal Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/01/15

Black, Melanie I.
21 Bowers St., Apt. #2
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/02/15

Bliss, Annamarie
63 Hampden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/14/15

Brandon Kelly Trucking LLC
Kelly, Brandon J.
35 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/02/15

Campbell, Lori D.
75 Mulberry St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/08/15

Daniele-Doyl, Ann C.
69 Mohegan Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/06/15

DeVoie, Nathan
DeVoie, Missy M.
a/k/a Cayo, Missy M.
62 Hampden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/30/15

Dominique, Mona M.
780 Moore St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/09/15

Dunn, Frederick C.
Dunn, Elaine G.
30 Meadow Wood Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Flynn, Judith A.
13 Harris Court
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Garcia, Edward J.
Garcia, Nancy N.
56 Clayton St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/09/15

Glasgow, Sharon Kieras
47 Farview Way
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/14/15

Gregoire, Stephanie D.
290 Sumner Ave., Apt. 4
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/09/15

Guiel-Demaio, Ina Renee
27 Hilltop St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/06/15

Hodecker, Edward P.
1307 North St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/01/15

Kazimierczak, Maria
10 Nadeau Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Kempesty, Timothy J.
Kempesty, Sarah E.
13 Grattan St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Kielbasa-Richardson, LuAnn J.
190 West Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Lavalley, Eric W.
72 Reservation Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/06/15

Lavigne, Sonja B.
33 Gillette Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Maurer, Mark C.
Maurer, Cathy A.
484 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/09/15

McKenzie, Timika
36 Pidgeon Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/06/15

McLean, Korienne L.
862 North Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/15/15

Mendez, Jorge Y.
90 Strong St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/02/15

Moran, Elizabeth
121 Waite Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/06/15

Morey, Craig L.
99 Valley Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/06/15

Mularski, Annette T.
65 Center St., Apt. 4
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/09/15

Murray, John Logan
Murray, Sandra Jean
87 Shadow Brook Estate
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/13/15

Nikonczyk, Teddy
Nikonczyk, Deanna M.
765 Florence Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/02/15

Novak, Gary Joseph
Novak, Carol Rose
a/k/a Siegel, Carol R.
14 Beverly St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/08/15

Otero, Angel M.
50 Beacon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/14/15

Ottey, Rhonda Maureen
132 Mill St. #2R
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/02/15

Peralta, Thomas
450 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/02/15

Rivera, Zaida I.
49 Massachusetts Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/09/15

Sambor, Marc V.
14 Brookfield St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/15/15

Smith, Manda D.
162 1/2 Main St. Apt 1
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/08/15

Stafford, Joan C.
1242 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/30/15

Stafinski, Mark A.
Stafinski, Christina M.
a/k/a McCray, Christina M.
16 Ferry St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Stefanelli, Maryanne
244 Brainerd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/02/15

Strader, Patricia R.
41 Franklin St., #2
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/15/15

Wickedhoule Creations
Houle, Victoria A.
1165 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/15/15

Wojnarowski, David J.
Wojnarowski, Sheryl L.
40 Joffre Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/10/15

Wood, David A.
Wood, Amy L.
102 Wilbraham Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/12/15

Yerrick, Paul W.
Yerrick, Beverly L.
65 Columbus Ave.
Apartment 609
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/03/15

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of July 2015

AGAWAM

Dan Orszulak
16 School St.
Dan Orszulak

GG’s United Transmission
247 Elm St.
GG’s United Transmission

Riverside Contracting
77 Mill St.
Riverside Productions, LLC

CHICOPEE

Brodeur Contracting
1541 Donohue Road
Richard Brodeur

Gorobuilders
4 Coolidge Road
Timothy Gorobinsky

Jim Buddy’s Vape Shop
1271 Memorial Dr.
James Robinson

Jim’s Custom Hats
82 Center St.
James Ramah

New World Weatherization
59 Homer Ave.
Michael Desilets

Sarah’s Place
930 Chicopee St.
Sarah Bennis

The Little Pup Salon
525 Grattan St.
Erin Croteau

GREENFIELD

Rite Aid
107 Main St.
Maxi Drug, Inc.

Shine Nail Spa
54 School St.
Kelly Stevens

Vision Works
14 Chapman St.
Dick McLeester

HOLYOKE

Auto Zone
2231 Northampton St.
Stephanie Forbes

Brad Matthews Jewelers
2225 Northampton St.
Brad DiMiero

Lyman Laundry
228 Lyman St.
Bonnie Pan

PM Food Center Inc.
753 Dwight St.
Oqui Pena Melo

PNY Consulting
58 Ashley Road
Pamela Young

PALMER

Shah Food N’ Fuel, LLC
1239 Park St.
Iftikhar Shah

Thorndike Mills & Martin Importing
25 Ware St.
Anna Garabedian

SPRINGFIELD

3 Sisters Beauty Salon
901 Carew St.
Elisandro Cuevas

Baystate Visiting Nurse
50 Maple St.
Maura Queeney

Bumpy’s Corner Store
542 Page Blvd.
Derryl Gibbs

Carlos Professional Delivery
15 Merida St.
Carlos Cosme

Domari Marketing
218 Pearl St.
Taisha Ceus

Family Remodeling
34 Grant St.
Annette O’Farril

Father & Son Door to Door
34 Francis St.
Marc D. Leon-Fils

Gebo’s Glass Creations
250 Albany St.
Brian D. Gebo

Horizon
34 Goodwin St.
Glenroy Bristol

Interstate Threading Spa
475 Sumner Ave.
Mena Tiwari

Irie Design Custom Silk
80 Sunset Dr.
Paul A. Wilson

J. Lo Home Improvement
21 Standish St.
Jorge I. Lopez

JRS Distribution
250 Verge St.
Robert Hendrickson

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Balise Honda
400 Riverdale St.
Balise Motor Sales

Capital Enterprises
172 Harwich Road
Arthur A. Arena

Devoie Framing
62 Hampden St.
Nathan A. Devoie

Discount Medical Depot
70 Windsor St.
Tammy Pierson

Music Tuitions
66 Irving St.
Mera Gorosit

Paper Delivery Services
41 Irving St.
Yelisei Rabuhenko

Sparky’s
173 Elm St.
Sanjay Patel

Strategic Analysis
181 Park Ave.
George W. David

The Friendly Barbershop
90 Elm St.
Daniel V. Dineen

Vitos Office Cleaning
89 Worcester St.
Vitaliy Karapysh

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

AMHERST

81 January Inc., 81 January Hills Road, Amherst, MA 01002. William Shaine, same. Sales of vintage watch accessories.

Gem Show Live Inc., 248 Flat Hills Road, Amherst, MA 01002. Joseph D. Chenelle, same. Live online coverage of gem shows.

BELCHERTOWN

E. T. Construction Corp., 46 Shea Avenue, Belchertown, MA 01007. Eric T. Scalise, same. All phases of construction.

Shree Manki Inc., 2 Stadler St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Ramesh Patel, 305 Bullard St., Fairfield, CT 06825. Retail convenience and liquor store.

DEERFIELD

Blazing Light Photography Inc., 19 Kelleher Dr., Deerfield, MA 01373. Richard F. Logan, same. Professional photography. 

EASTHAMPTON

Hallapoolooza Inc., 35 West St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Kelly L. Hall, 35 West St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Billiards franchise.

GREENFIELD

Pioneer Valley Pediatric Dentistry, P.C., 51 Church St., Greenfield, MA 01302. Ashish Parameswaran, 48 Holy Family Road, Springfield, MA 01040. Dentist offices.

HOLYOKE

Sexton Roofing & Siding Inc., 102 Pine St., Holyoke, MA 01041. Everett J. Sexton Sr., same. Roofing and siding.

Vet Air Inc., 82 Nonotuck St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Jesus M. Pereira, same. To transport veterans via general aviation aircraft to medical appointments.

PITTSFIELD

GHI Greenhouse Initiative Inc., 800 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Marcus McGuire, 16 Maiden Lane, Chatham, NY 12037. Providing sustainability training related to food production and alternative energy independence.

Global Education Institute of America Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Ste 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Henry Muliono, 3045 22 nd Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132. Supporting international student exchange programs at the high school and university levels.

SPRINGFIELD

Luis Deli Grocery Corp., 74 Eastern Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Luis R. Carrasco Nunez, same. Grocery store and deli.

Metaneo Teleois Ministry Inc., 10 Commonwealth Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Nathan A. Daniels, same. Church organizations.

Paint Sip Fun Inc., C/O 33 State St., Springfield, MA 01103. Erin Rhindress, same. Operate painting instructional events.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

State Economy Expands Robustly in Q2, UMass Journal Reports

AMHERST — Massachusetts real gross domestic product grew at an estimated annual rate of 5.4% in the second quarter of 2015 according to the MassBenchmarks Current Economic Index, released today by MassBenchmarks, the journal of the Massachusetts economy published by the UMass Donahue Institute in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. U.S. real gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 2.3%, according to the advance estimate of the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Based on the latest available information, it’s estimated that, in the first quarter of 2015, the state economy expanded at a 2.1% annualized rate while the nation grew at a 0.6% annualized rate. In the second quarter, the state’s economy rebounded strongly from the weather-induced slowdown of the first quarter, with robust growth in employment and spending. Massachusetts payroll employment expanded at a 3.1% annual rate in the second quarter, nearly twice as fast as in the first quarter, when employment grew at a 1.7% annualized rate. Nationally, payroll employment grew at a 1.7% annual rate in the second quarter, down from 2.2% in the first quarter. The state’s unemployment rate fell from 4.8% in March to 4.6% in June, while the U.S. unemployment rate fell from 5.5% to 5.3% during the same period. The state’s unemployment rate has reached pre-recession levels. “The rising tide appears to finally be lifting the boats of the long-term unemployed, even though conditions for these workers remain difficult,” noted Dr. Alan Clayton-Matthews, MassBenchmarks senior contributing editor and associate professor of Economics and Public Policy at Northeastern University, who compiles and analyzes the Current and Leading Indexes. The broader U-6 measure of unemployment, which includes part-time workers who want full-time work and those who are unemployed but marginally attached to the labor force, declined significantly in the second quarter. “For the 12-month period ending in June, the Massachusetts U-6 rate fell to 10.4%, a 0.6-percentage-point drop from the 12-month period ending in March,” he noted. “In June, Current Population Survey-based estimates put the Massachusetts U-6 rate at 9.7%. The corresponding U.S. rate in June was 10.5%.” Massachusetts income and spending growth was also very strong in the second quarter. Based on withholding tax revenues, state wage and salary income in the second quarter grew at a 4.8% annual rate, following growth of 4.8% in the first quarter. Consumer and business spending on goods subject to the state’s regular sales and motor-vehicle sales tax increased dramatically in the aftermath of the snowiest winter on record. In the second quarter, spending grew at a whopping 19.3% annual rate, following 1.8% growth in the first quarter. The ability and willingness of households and businesses to spend reflects the underlying strength of the state economy and bodes well for future growth, the report asserts. The MassBenchmarks Leading Economic Index for June is 4.8%, and the three-month average for April through June is 5.0%. The leading index is a forecast of the growth in the current index over the next six months, expressed as an annual rate. Thus, it indicates that the economy is expected to grow at an annualized rate of 4.8% over the next six months (through December 2015), suggesting that the state’s solid economic performance will continue through the rest of the year. It is projecting real state gross-product growth of 5.1% in the third quarter and 4.8% in the fourth quarter. However, while the state economy appears to be in the midst of a solid economic expansion that positions the Commonwealth for solid future growth, risks to the outlook remain. Weak international economic conditions and geopolitical uncertainty continue to weigh heavily on the economic outlook for Massachusetts and the nation. The strong dollar, combined with sluggish growth in Europe and slowing growth in China, has had a significant impact on state and national exports. For the first five months of this year, Massachusetts merchandise exports are down 14.0% as compared to the first five months of 2014, while U.S. merchandise exports are down 5.2% during the same time period.

Markey, Delegation Call for Greater Access to Opioid Overdose Prevention Treatment

WASHINGTON — In a letter sent Wednesday to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and eight members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation called on the agency to take action to support broader access to the opioid-overdose-prevention treatment naloxone. There has been much documented success preventing fatalities with the use of naloxone by medical professionals and first responders, and there has been a recent movement to expand access to the overdose treatment for use by trained community and family members, who are most likely to be present during an opioid overdose. More than 1,000 people died of an opioid overdose last year in Massachusetts. The Mass. Department of Public Health (MDPH), which collects rescue reports on episodes where non-medical bystanders and community members use naloxone supplied by MDPH, has documented 5,000 rescues, with more than 1,000 of them reported in 2015 so far. Joining Markey on the letter are U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Reps. Michael Capuano, Katherine Clark, Jim McGovern, Seth Moulton, William Keating, Joe Kennedy, and Richard Neal. “The routine practice of distributing naloxone or co-prescribing naloxone with prescriptions for opioid painkillers may help to get naloxone into households that may otherwise not have easy access to this life-saving antidote,” write the lawmakers in the letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell. “Thousands of Americans who are currently taking prescription opioid painkillers, whether legitimately for the treatment of pain or illicitly without doctor supervision, could potentially be saved from accidental overdose by having wider access to naloxone.” In the letter, the lawmakers call on HHS to explore issuing recommendations that could be used to institute best practices for co-prescribing naloxone with opioid painkillers and examine establishing demonstration programs, encouraging federally funded health centers to adopt policies for co-prescribing, and reducing payment barriers for naloxone coverage and reimbursement.

Home Sales Rise in June in Pioneer Valley

SPRINGFIELD — The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley reported that single-family home sales in June were up 4.9% compared to the same time last year. The median price, meanwhile, dropped 1.5%, from $204,000 last year at this time to $201,000 this year, as first-time buyers continue to come into the market. The association reported that, across the Pioneer Valley, sales in June 2015 totaled 552, compared to 526 a year ago. In Hampden County, sales were up 11.4% over the same month last year (370 in 2015 and 332 in 2014), with the median price down 2.2%. In Hampshire County, meanwhile, sales remained the same (135 both years), with the median price down 4.6%. In Franklin County, though, sales were down 22% (42 in 2015 and 54 in 2014), and median prices were up 8.8%.

Unemployment Rates Rise in Most Areas

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) reported that seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates went down in two areas during the month of June and increased in 22 areas in the state. According to data from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Nantucket and Vineyard Haven were the two areas where unadjusted unemployment rates dropped in June. Eleven of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in June, with the largest gains in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Barnstable, Framingham, Pittsfield, and Lawrence-Methuen, as well as Salem, N.H. Compared to June 2014, unemployment rates are down in all labor markets measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The EOLWD also reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.6% for the second consecutive month. The unemployment rate is down 1.1% over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 10,500-job gain in June and an over-the-year gain of 72,700 jobs.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

Westfield Financial Posts Solid Second Quarter

WESTFIELD — Westfield Financial Inc., the holding company for Westfield Bank, reported net income of $1.4 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, compared to $1.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, net income was $2.7 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to $3.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the same period in 2014. Among other selected financial highlights for second quarter of 2015:
• Total loans increased $73.3 million, or 10.7%, to $759.4 million at June 30, 2015 compared to $686.1 million at June 30, 2014. This was primarily due to increases in residential loans of $47.3 million, commercial and industrial loans of $23.4 million, and commercial real-estate loans of $2.1 million.
• Securities increased $20.7 million, or 4.2%, to $516.7 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $496.0 million at June 30, 2014. On a sequential-quarter basis, securities were relatively flat at June 30, 2015, compared to $515.2 million at March 31, 2015.
• Net interest and dividend income increased $78,000 to $7.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 compared to $7.7 million for the comparable 2014 period. On a sequential-quarter basis, net interest and dividend income increased $189,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2015.
• The bank prepaid $10 million in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings with a weighted average rate of 2.77% and incurred a pre-payment expense of $278,000 in the second quarter of 2015 in order to eliminate a higher-cost liability. Net gains on the sales of securities of $276,000 were used to partially offset the pre-payment expense.
• Non-interest expense increased $334,000 to $6.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014. On a sequential-quarter basis, non-interest expense increased by $154,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, compared to $6.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The efficiency ratio, excluding non-core items, was 76.1% for the second quarter of 2015, compared to 78.1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.
“Over the past twelve months, we have seen significant momentum in our efforts to grow both the loan portfolio and our deposit base. With loans increasing 10.7% year over year, we are demonstrating our commitment to growing our core customer franchise,” said President and CEO James Hagan. “We are also pleased to announce that Christopher Fager, assistant vice president, Commercial Lending, has recently joined Westfield Bank’s commercial team. Christopher brings more than six years of banking experience and is based in our commercial-lending office in downtown Springfield, which was established in August 2014.” Finally, Hagan noted, “we continue to see success in Westfield Bank’s recent market expansion into Northern Connecticut. Our two Connecticut offices now have over $36.6 million in deposits. The Granby, Connecticut office has been open just over two years, and Enfield, Connecticut opened in November 2014. The customer base in the Connecticut market is very receptive to our brand of banking, and our objective is to continue to develop loan and deposit relationships.”

Fallon Health Expands Services in Region

WORCESTER — Fallon Health, a not-for-profit healthcare-services organization, announced it is strengthening its commitment to the people it serves in Western Mass. Members of its NaviCare program — a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan and Senior Care Options program — now have access to Baycare Health Partners, a physician-hospital organization serving five Baystate Health hospitals and more than 200 medical practices in the Pioneer Valley. Fallon members enrolled in the plan’s NaviCare program are able to access Baycare’s participating facilities and physicians including Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Noble Hospital, and Baystate Wing Hospital. “Fallon has a high regard for Baycare Health Partners’ commitment to improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and sustainability of healthcare in the community,” said Patrick Hughes, president and CEO of Fallon Health. “We’re pleased to partner with them to increase accessibility to high-quality healthcare for one of the most vulnerable populations we serve — frail elders with complex care needs.” NaviCare is a unique product for adults age 65 and over. It combines in one package all Medicare and Medicaid benefits, plus additional benefits and services designed to promote independence and quality of life. NaviCare is available to those ages 65 and over who are enrolled in MassHealth Standard. For those who qualify, NaviCare is available at a $0 premium with $0 co-payments. All healthcare is coordinated by a team of doctors, specialists, nurses, and social workers who develop a plan of care specific to each member. “For more than 25 years, Fallon has remained committed to helping older adults with complex care needs to live as independently as possible in the communities in which they are comfortable,” said Richard Burke, president of Senior Care Services and Government Programs. “Each time we expand our NaviCare network, we’re able to provide more options that can have a positive impact on the health and well-being of older adults and their families.” In addition to NaviCare, Fallon offers other products and programs for Medicare beneficiaries in Western Mass. and throughout the state, including a variety of plan choices for its Medicare Advantage product, called Fallon Senior Plan. Fallon also offers a Program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, called Summit ElderCare.

BCC, Elms Create Unique Weekend Program

Berkshire Community College (BCC) and Elms College in Chicopee have signed a memorandum of understanding allowing qualified BCC human services graduates, as well as graduates with associate degrees from other accredited institutions, to complete Elms College’s bachelor’s-degree program in social work at BCC’s main campus on West Street in Pittsfield. BCC President Ellen Kennedy and Elms College President Mary Reap originally signed an agreement regarding the off-campus program for social work in May 2013. Classes previously offered in Lee will shift to BCC’s main campus starting next month. Students will work with BCC advisors as they complete their associate degrees at BCC and then with Elms advisors as they transition into the bachelor’s-degree completion programs. “We know that students are the most successful when they have the flexibility to balance studies with work and personal commitments,” Kennedy said. “Having top-notch educators from Elms College at our campus offering weekend classes will most certainly benefit students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in social work close to home.” Added Reap, “social work is a growing, vitally important field with expanding job opportunities for Western Massachusetts. We’re pleased to partner with Berkshire Community College to set students on the path to bachelor’s degrees leading to rewarding careers, empowering them to change lives for the better in the Berkshire community.” In addition to social work, Elms will also offer two online degree-completion programs as part of the memorandum of understanding, including a bachelor’s degree in speech language pathology assistant and a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management. Classes taught by Elms College faculty will be held at BCC on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Students who complete coursework in 10 eight-week sessions over a 20-month period will be awarded a bachelor of science degree in social work. Two cohorts, consisting of new and returning students, will begin classes Aug. 29. To qualify for transfer to Elms or enrollment into the off-campus program, BCC students must have earned an associate degree and have a minimum grade-point average of 2.5. The two institutions originally signed an articulation agreement for social work majors in 2004. The first off-campus social work cohort launched in August 2013 and graduated this past May. BCC currently has approximately 50 transfer-articulation agreements with colleges and universities throughout the country, including Clarkson University, Colorado State University, Union College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Russell Sage College, Southern Vermont College, the University at Albany, the College of Saint Rose, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. BCC also has MassTransfer agreements with all Massachusetts state colleges and universities, including UMass Amherst and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In addition to BCC, Elms College has a number off-campus agreements with institutions — including Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, Mount Wachusett Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, and Springfield Technical Community College — in dozens of programs, including early care and education, management and marketing, social work, nursing, accounting, and psychology. For more information about BCC’s human-services program, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/humanservices or e-mail Audrey Ringer at [email protected]. For information about Elms College’s social work program, e-mail Maureen Holland at [email protected]. For information about Elms College’s social work degree-completion program, contact Wanda Banks at [email protected] or (413) 313-4287.

Baystate Noble Cited for Financial Improvement

WESTFIELD — Baystate Noble Hospital recently accepted the 2014 Financial Improvement Performance award at the 2015 MedAssets Healthcare Business Summit. Every year, this award is presented to a healthcare organization that achieved significant financial improvement and realized substantial cash acceleration in 2014. MedAssets is a performance-improving company that focuses on helping providers understand financial and operational gains so they can effectively serve the needs of their community. Its main focus is the healthcare industry and its core values include compassion, character, confidence, and commitment. MedAssets values people who are committed to supporting their clients in upholding their cherished healthcare missions. They have a passion to improve healthcare and find it essential to value relationships with organizations such as Baystate Noble Hospital. “This award helps to validate all the hard work we have put into it and that we are on the right track,” said Cristina Fialho, revenue coordinator at Baystate Noble Hospital.

PVRR Among Railroads to Receive Grants

WESTFIELD — MassDOT recently announced the awarding of five grants totaling more than $2 million for industrial rail projects as part of the 2015 Industrial Rail Access Program (IRAP). Among the grants awarded is $175,045 to Pioneer Valley Railroad for installation of new rail siding at Railroad Distribution Services facility in Westfield. The IRAP funding for the five projects is being matched by more than $1.7 million in private-sector funds for a total $3.7 million investment in freight-rail improvements in the third year of the IRAP program. Created as part of the 2012 Transportation Bond Bill, IRAP provides grants to railroads, rail shippers, and municipalities that identify a public benefit gained through improved rail transportation usage or economic growth that would be realized through improved access to rail assets. The five 2015 IRAP recipients represent a variety of projects meeting the program objective of improving the rail network while boosting economic growth.

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

Local news hires, promotions, awards, and appointments August 10, 2015

Kathy Tobin

Kathy Tobin

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts announced the appointment of Kathy Tobin as its new director of Development and Marketing. In this role, she will oversee all fund-raising and marketing activities for the Food Bank, including special events, individual donor cultivation, communications, corporate relations, grants, and education outreach. She will assume her position on Aug. 31. “We’re very excited to have Kathy joining our organization,” said Food Bank Executive Director Andrew Morehouse. “She brings with her a breadth of knowledge and experience from her current role at Friends of the Homeless in Springfield — a member agency that receives food from us — as well as her career in media.  We are confident that her proven track record for leadership and creativity will be a tremendous asset in forwarding the mission of the Food Bank.” Since 2009, Tobin has served as the director of Program Development for Friends of the Homeless, where she increased visibility for the nonprofit and helped more community partners learn about the critical role it plays in meeting the needs of homeless in the region. Under her direction, it established a formalized annual appeal, expanded corporate outreach, coordinated volunteer engagement, and held an annual donor event. In addition, she oversaw the establishment of the Friends of the Homeless Store, providing people with access to free personal-care items and clothing. Tobin will continue in her current position at Friends of the Homeless through the end of August. “Her talents will certainly be missed,” said Bill Miller, executive director of Friends of the Homeless. “I know I speak for our board, our staff, and our clients in acknowledging her efforts to initiate and sustain a development program for the organization. We will build upon the foundation Kathy helped us establish as we expand the support required to meet the needs of our homeless population.” Moving forward, Friends of the Homeless will be seeking someone to assume the responsibility of development and community outreach and will formalize a search process to identify someone who can continue to build on its established programs, Miller said. Prior to joining Friends of the Homeless, Tobin enjoyed a 30-year career as a television news journalist with WGGB ABC40 in Springfield, where she was honored with a number of awards for news coverage, including the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award. Among the many issues she covered during her television career were the plight of area homeless and the community campaign and planning which led to the development and construction of the Friends of the Homeless Resource Center on the organization’s Worthington Street campus. Tobin is also involved with a number of community organizations. She serves as a trustee for Elms College in Chicopee, a director of Spirit of Springfield, a director of the Women’s Commission in Springfield, and a scholarship committee member for the Valley Press Club.

•••••

Cristina Perez

Cristina Perez

Tighe & Bond, an environmental engineering and consulting firm, recently hired Cristina Perez to lead and expand its asset-management services for the firm’s clients. A civil and environmental engineer with more than 15 years of consulting experience, she has more than nine years of experience with infrastructure asset management, capital-improvement planning, and geographic information systems (GIS). Perez will work primarily out of Tighe & Bond’s new Westwood, Mass. office. Perez has consulted with numerous public and private clients on asset-management, GIS, facilities-management, pavement-management, sustainability, and climate-change projects. She leverages her background in civil engineering for designing and architecting targeted asset-management solutions for her clients. “We are happy to welcome Cris to our growing team of experts,” said David Pinsky, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond. “Her expertise will benefit our communities and clients greatly as they become increasingly focused on asset management to prioritize and properly budget improvements within the constraints of limited funding.” Perez earned her master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Tufts University. She received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

•••••

Robert Accorsi

Robert Accorsi

Springfield College has named Robert Accorsi its faculty athletic representative to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Appointed by Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, Accorsi is currently an associate professor of Sport Management and Recreation at the College. He succeeds immediate past Dean and Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Sports Studies Charles Redmond, who retired following this past academic year. As faculty athletic representative, Accorsi will represent the college to the NCAA, the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and all other athletic conferences and associations. Accorsi will oversee that academic integrity, institutional control of intercollegiate athletics, and enhancement of student-athletes’ experience are college priorities. Accorsi will also advise the college president, director of athletics, faculty, students, and other constituencies on intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, he will monitor student-athletes’ eligibility, academic progress, and graduation rates, and support their nominations for various awards. Student-athletes may discuss any aspect of their student-athlete experience with him, and he will consult with NCAA legislative services for interpretations. “I am delighted that Bob has agreed to serve in this critical position for the college. His deep understanding of sport and the needs of our student-athletes make him a perfect fit for assuming this leadership role,” Cooper said. “I look forward to working with him in this capacity. He is more than qualified to represent and advise Springfield College on intercollegiate athletics.”

•••••

Doreen Fadus

Doreen Fadus

Doreen Fadus, executive director of Community Benefit and Health at Mercy Medical Center, has been tapped to serve as president of the board for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a network of more than 10,000 doctors, nurses, social workers, patients, and advocates who work to eliminate homelessness by ensuring comprehensive healthcare and secure housing for all. In this role, Fadus serves as the council’s lead representative on the national stage for advocacy issues such as the Accountable Care Act, Medicaid reimbursements, and housing and health collaboration. “Doreen personifies our mission to serve as a transforming, healing presence. She is a tremendous advocate for the local homeless community, and her selection to this national position will allow her dedication and talent to benefit a greater number of individuals,” said Yvonne Boudreau, senior vice president of Mission Services for the Sisters of Providence Health System. As Mercy’s executive director of Community Benefit and Health, Fadus oversees the hospital’s community health programs, including Health Care for the Homeless, which works in partnership with the city of Springfield and Open Pantry to provide primary-care services at 23 homeless shelters, soup kitchens, job-placement sites, and transitional programs. These services are delivered to more than 2,200 people each year in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. She also oversees Mercy’s Vietnamese Health Project, Faith Community Nursing, High End Utilizer Program, and Community Benefit. Fadus began her career at Mercy Medical Center as director of Health Care for the Homeless in 2001, and she has an extensive background in community service. She currently serves as co-chair of the Western Mass. Network to End Homelessness; an advisory board member of the Hampden County Continuum of Care Board, the Catholic Charities Diocesan Board, and the Western Mass. Task Force on Homelessness; and a member of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. The founder and past president of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts, Fadus also serves on the board of Friends of the Homeless. “The National Health Care for the Homeless Council works with government agencies and private institutions to foster collaboration on the varied and complex problems associated with homelessness,” said Fadus. “These remarkable individuals have dedicated their lives to this important cause, and it is an honor to serve as their leader.”

Agenda

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Agenda Departments

Valley Fest

Aug. 29: White Lion Brewing Co. announced that it will host its inaugural beer festival, called Valley Fest, at Court Square in downtown Springfield. MGM Springfield will be the presenting sponsor. The festival is poised to be White Lion’s signature annual event, introducing the young brand to craft-beer enthusiasts throughout New England and beyond. White Lion Brewing Co., the city of Springfield’s only brewery, launched in October 2014. Founder Ray Berry and brewmaster Mike Yates have released three selections under the White Lion brand and have been busy promoting their efforts in venues all over Massachusetts and other New England states. “Valley Fest will have the best of the best local, regional, and national beer and hard cider brands,” Berry said. “Even in our inaugural year, Valley Fest will be the largest one-day beer festival in Western Massachusetts. We expect to draw up to 2,000 enthusiasts from throughout New England. We are very excited to showcase the fourth-largest city in New England and all of its amenities.” Berry anticipates that more than 50 breweries and several local food vendors will converge on Court Square for two sessions. Enthusiasts will have an opportunity to sample more than 100 varieties of beer and hard cider alongside pairing selections by local chefs. A portion of Valley Fest proceeds will support the American Cancer Society and Dakin Humane Society. For more information, visit www.valleybrewfest.com.

Williamstown Film Festival Presents Wind-Up Fest

Oct. 15-18: The annual Williamstown Film Festival (WFF), now in its 17th year, welcomes big changes with new faces, a new name, and new programming focus. Slated for Oct. 15-18, WFF Presents: Wind-Up Fest is a nonfiction festival with documentary film as its backbone. Other forms of nonfiction will be in conversation with documentaries, including long-form journalism, radio podcasts, photography, and social-practice art. The event’s new artistic director, Paul Sturtz, is also the co-director at the True/False Film Fest in Columbia, Mo., and its new managing director, Sandra Thomas, is the former executive director of Images Cinema in Williamstown. “Our aim is to provide a unique, distinctive event for North Adams and Williamstown while serving as a destination festival for lovers of nonfiction. We are living in a time when nonfiction storytelling is offering one of the most vital, urgent ways forward,” Sturtz said. The festival will be curated by Sturtz, who was selected (along with his True/False co-director David Wilson) as one of 40 people in the inaugural Indiewire Influencers list, described as “visionaries that are changing the course of film.” “I’m excited to work with Paul to make his creative vision a reality,” said Thomas. “Working in partnership with the community, engaging a broad audience, and strengthening the festival’s presence are all important elements of the fest.” With the addition of Sturtz and return of Thomas, the board of directors announced the retirement of festival Executive Director Steve Lawson. “It’s been an exhilarating ride, but after 15 seasons as executive director, I felt it was time to pass the torch,” said Lawson. “This seemed like the right moment to segue to new voices and directions. Paul and Sandra have exciting plans in store for the festival which promise to build on all that we’ve achieved so far. Here’s hoping the first 16 years of WFF will prove to be the prelude to a dazzling future.” The festival has offices in North Adams and Williamstown and can reached at [email protected] or (413) 458-9700.

Noble Ball

Oct. 17: Baystate Noble Hospital is preparing for the 51st Anniversary Noble Ball co-chaired by the Queenin family: Kevin, Barbara, Jay, Janine, Jon and Lisa. “Magic of Motown – Motor City Review” will take place the MassMutual Center in Springfield. More than 800 guests are expected to attend the black-tie event, which will feature live entertainment, silent and live auctions, formal dinner, cocktails, dancing, and more. Since the first ball in 1959, the Hospital has used this signature event to raise money for operating funds, building improvements, equipment purchases, and more. Proceeds from this year’s ball will be added to last year’s funds and used to enhance Baystate Noble’s entrance and reception area to provide updated ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) access. “Our goal is to make Baystate Noble easily accessible for all,” said Allison Gearing-Kalill, vice president of Community Development. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.baystatenoblehospital.org/ball or e-mail [email protected].

Western Mass. Business Expo

Nov. 4: Comcast Business will present the fifth annual Western Mass. Business Expo at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, produced by BusinessWest and the Healthcare News in partnership with Go Graphix and Rider Productions. The business-to-business show will feature more than 100 booths, seminars and Show Floor Theater presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and a day-capping Expo Social. Details about specific events, programs, and featured speakers will be printed in future issues of BusinessWest. Current sponsors include Comcast Business, presenting sponsor; the Isenberg School of Business at UMass Amherst, education sponsor; Johnson & Hill and Health New England, director level sponsors; and 94.7 WMAS, media sponsor. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $750. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

Western Massachusetts Chambers of Commerce events August 10, 2015

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Sept. 2: ACCGS September Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place. The program will be “Vision 2017 Dream Big: The Future of Springfield,” featuring Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s chief development officer. Commuters traveling via high-speed rail … fans packing a baseball stadium … sunbathers lounging at the urban beachfront.  Can you dream that big? For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $20 for members in advance, $25 for members at the door, $30 for non-members.

• Sept. 16: ACCGS September 2015 Speed Networking, 3:30-5 p.m. at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, 807 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Network in a fast-paced, round-robin format, then stay for the After 5. Speed Networking admission includes admission to the After 5. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $20 for members in advance), $25 for members at the door, $25 for non-members.

• Sept. 16: ACCGS September 2015 After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, 807 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Say goodbye to summer at the lake. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

• Sept. 22: ACCGS September 2015 Pastries, Politics, and Policies, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring state Sen. Benjamin Downing, chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members.

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• August  12: Chamber After 5 Lady Bea Riverboat Cruise, 5-7 p.m., at Brunelle’s Marina, 1 Alvord St., South Hadley. Come take a cruise on the Lady Bea Riverboat at our August After 5 networking event. The Lady Bea features both inside seating and outside sun decks that attendees can explore while spending an evening on the Connecticut River. Sponsored by Alden Credit Union. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for guests.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• August 20: Mornings with The Mayor, 8-9 a.m., at Porter & Chester Institute, 134 Dulong Circle, Chicopee. Coffee and light refreshments will be served while Mayor Richard Kos provides updates about what’s happening in Chicopee and other topics that impact the Greater Chicopee area. If there’s a particular issue on which you’d like the mayor to speak, submit your questions by Aug. 17 to [email protected]. This event is for chamber members only and is free, but registration is required so that the host business knows how many will be attending.

• Sept. 10: Auction/Beer & Wine Tasting, 6-9 p.m., at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke.

• Sept. 16: September Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at LifePoint Baptist Church, 603 New Ludlow Road, Chicopee.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• August  10: Monday Morning with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., at A-Z Storage & Properties, 165 Northampton Street, Easthampton. This is your opportunity to bring your questions to Mayor Karen Cadieux for casual conversation and direct answers. This event is free and open to the public.

• August  13: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., at Freedom Credit Union, 422B Main St., Easthampton. Join us along with our hosts, Freedom Credit Union & Wireless Zone of Easthampton, for a night of networking and meeting new friends. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Sept. 16: Annual Clambake 2015, 5-7 p.m., at Holyoke Country Club, One Country Club Road. Treat your client to golf or make this your employee appreciation dinner. Purchase Clambake tickets in advance and play golf (with cart) for $15. Jazz on the patio by Simmer Music. Prize packages auction; win a chance to enter a hole-in-one putting contest to win $1,000. Cost: $35 per ticket, with a 10% discount for seven or more tickets.

• Sept. 17: Leadership Holyoke 2015-16, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., city tour. Meet at Holyoke Community College, and
tour the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center. Get an overview of community demographics and history, and meet community leaders. A series of seven days comprise Leadership Holyoke 2015-16. Faculty members from HCC will participate as instructors and facilitators. Community leaders will participate as speakers and discussion leaders. Program locations subject to change. Objectives include developing a pool of emerging leaders, supporting individuals to increase their potential by acquiring new skills, and networking with community and business leaders. The program will teach participants to apply skills in an organizational setting, expand the individual’s problem-solving methods, skills, and strategies for achieving change; explore leadership styles that are critical to the effective service of potential volunteers; and give participants an in-depth look at the community’s resources, assets, challenges, and opportunities. For business people learning to become community leaders, tuition is $595, due at the start of the course. The fee also covers continental breakfasts, the graduation luncheon, and a trip to the State House in Boston.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Sept. 9: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at the Academy of Music. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Sponsored by Thornes Marketplace, Johnson & Hill Staffing Service, and BusinessWest. Cost: $10 for members.

• Sept. 15: 2015 Workshop: “Spicing up Your PowerPoint Presentations,” 9-11 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will focus on using PowerPoint features to take a presentation beyond a simple set of bulleted slides. You’ll learn to how to change slide layouts and designs easily and how to add tables, Smart Art, graphic effects, sound effects, and video to your presentation. You’ll also learn to work with master slides to make global changes to a presentation easily. The workshop will also focus on adding animations to text and objects on slides, as well as adding transitions between slides. You’ll learn how to rehearse the presentation and keep track of timing, how to annotate slides during a presentation, and a variety of handy shortcuts to use while giving a presentation. The workshop will also cover the options for printing a presentation, including how to print notes pages for the presenter and workshop participants. You’ll also learn how to add charts to a presentation, as well as a series of do’s and don’ts  for effective presentation design. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. RSVP is required, and space is limited. To register, e-mail [email protected]

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Sept. 9: September After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.

• Sept. 14: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m. Join us for our monthly Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik, hosted by Mestek. This event is free and open to the public. Call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register for this event so we may give our host a head count.

• Sept. 18: September Chamber Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at the 104th Fighter Wing ANG, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield. Platinum sponsor: Baystate Noble Hospital. Gold sponsor: United Bank. Silver sponsor: United Way of Pioneer Valley. For more information or to donate a raffle item, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• August 17: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament at the Ranch Golf Course, Southwick. Schedule: 11:30 a.m.: registration; noon: lunch; 1p.m.: shotgun start/scramble format. Cost: golf and dinner, $125. For more information and tickets, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected]

• Sept. 2: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Cutting Edge Salon, Feeding Hills. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information and tickets, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected]

• Sept. 17: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., at Crestview Country Club in Agawam. Must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. The only cost to attend is the cost of lunch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately the day of the event. Please note, we cannot invoice you for these events. For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected]

• Sept. 24: Breakfast Seminar, 7-9 a.m., at Oakridge Country Club, Feeding Hills. Admission: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information and tickets, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

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

James Sikora v. Leisure Getaways Inc. and Timeshare Trade-Ins, LLC
Allegation: Breach of timeshare sales contract: $15,175
Filed: 5/14/15

Merz Aesthetics Inc. v. Allure Med-Spa, LLC, f/d/b/a Devlin Dermal, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $11,346.09
Filed: 5/26/15

The Law Offices of Michael D. Facchini v. Karyn Wesch and Premier Fighting Championship, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to perform four MMA fights within an allotted timeframe: $2,000
Filed: 7/10/15

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

 
Donald Fugere v. Urban Power USA Inc. and Mark Maynard
Allegation: Breach of wind-turbine and installation agreement: $158,974.75
Filed: 6/23/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Kamco Supply Corp. of New England v. Allen & Burke Construction, LLC and John Burke
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $25,525.46
Filed: 7/10/15

Owen McLaughlin v. O’Donnell Paving & Landscaping Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for installation of asphalt driveway: $64,072.89
Filed: 6/30/15

PNC Equipment Finance, LLC v. Accountable Care Associates Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of services, labor, and materials: $66,765.48
Filed: 7/15/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

James A. McEwan v. Elmcrest Country Club
Allegation: Non-payment of legal services provided: $13,797.25
Filed: 6/4/15

Latasha Summers v. J.D. Byrider of Springfield
Allegation: Concealing and failing to disclose vehicle accident history: $5,328.24
Filed: 5/11/15

Western Mass. Electric Co. v. GEG Construction Inc.
Allegation: Negligent installation of drainage pipe causing damage: $16,509.50
Filed: 6/25/15

Picture This

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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]

Open for Business

MedExpressOpeningMedExpress Urgent Care opened a new office in Chicopee on July 14. The facility, located at 1505 Memorial Dr., offers a wide range of medical services, including X-rays, minor surgery, occupational health, physicals, immunizations, medical evaluations, and treatment of colds, flu, infections, breaks, sprains, cuts, allergic reactions, and other conditions. On hand for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremonies were Chicopee Mayor Rich Kos and Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Director Eileen Drumm (center); Elizabeth Toner, aide to state Sen. Jim Welch; Ernesto Cruz, aide to state Rep. Jose Tosado; and Richard Kosiaka from Citizens Bank, as well as a host of MedExpress employees, including Becca Deleporte, Viktoriya Gladysh, Angela Faulkner, Amy Biela, Ashleigh Ouimette, Mindi Richardson, Sandy Cyr, Zuleyka Dube, Kristine Laurin, Sarah Moses, Kristina Hawley, Ed Casaldi, and Dr. Dheeraj Taranath.

Banking on College Success

2015-CSB-ScholarshipThe Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation recently announced its ninth annual scholarship award program. This program replaced the Chicopee Savings Bank Medallion Scholarship Program, which was established in 1976 in conjunction with the nation’s bicentennial celebration. This year, the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Scholarship Program awarded seven scholarships, each in the amount of $3,000, to graduating seniors from high schools within the bank’s market area. Pictured here with William Wagner, president of Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, at the presentation ceremonies on July 23 are, from left, Juliana Vadnais, Ware Junior/Senior High School; Emily Doiron, Chicopee Comprehensive High School; Taylor Guertin, South Hadley High School; Krystian Jurkowski, Chicopee High School; Samantha Cross, Cathedral High School; Emily Sevigne, Ludlow High School; and Mihaela Sousa, Ware Junior/Senior High School.

TommyCar Auto Group Donates Used Vehicle for Fire-rescue Training

By
Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen recently provided a used vehicle to the Northampton Fire Department for rescue training.

Firefighters spend countless hours training and honing their skills to ensure they are prepared for any emergency. The vehicle will be put to work in upcoming training exercises in which firefighters will utilize their extrication equipment on the vehicles, also known as the Hurst Tool or the Jaws of Life.

“Ensuring firefighters have the latest training is critical to the safety of this community,” said Carla Cosenzi, president of Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen, two dealerships in the TommyCar Auto Group chain. “We’re proud to be able to help in such a meaningful way, knowing so many people will ultimately benefit.”

Added Bill Schuetze, captain and training officer for the Northampton Fire Department, “we really want to thank Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen for the generous contribution. We will get a lot of use out of this car to train our firefighters on rescue efforts.”

Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen hope to have an ongoing relationship with the Northampton Fire Department and be able to offer more vehicles in the future.

Springfield Falcons Announce Front-office Promotions

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Falcons President Sarah Pompea recently announced five front-office staff promotions.

The organization has promoted Chris Thompson to senior vice president, Cortney Hersom to vice president, Andy Zilch to manager of Communications/Broadcasting, Marija Ward to manager of Ticket Operations, and Luke Pawlak to manager of Game Operations/Creative Services.

Thompson will continue to oversee the team’s corporate sales with an expanded focus on driving ticket sales. In his new role, he will be working closely with Pompea in the day-to-day operations of the organization.

Hersom is currently responsible for all Falcons financials and human resources. In addition, she will take a stronger lead in the daily operations of the office.

Zilch, the Falcons’ play-by-play broadcaster, also has responsibilities in ticket and corporate sales. He will oversee the team’s communications and community-relations efforts and act as the primary media contact for the Falcons.

Ward oversees all aspects of the organization’s ticket operations and serves as the box-office liaison. She has been tasked with streamlining the ticket department, increasing efficiency, and enhancing the fan experience.

Pawlak spearheads all creative aspects for the organization and will also be able to utilize new technology this season to enhance the fan experience. He has cultivated a positive leadership role with the team’s game-night staff.

Cynthia Squires Joins HUB International New England

By
Daily News

EAST LONGMEADOW — HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, a leading global insurance-brokerage, risk-advisory, and employee-benefits firm, announced that Cynthia Squires has joined HUB International New England as manager of Select Business for small to medium-sized business accounts in the Commercial Lines department.

Squires will be responsible for the day-to-day management and servicing of small-business accounts, providing oversight and direction to commercial-lines staff, leading quality-control and product-analysis processes, managing departmental retention and acquiring new-business goals, keeping abreast of the latest industry changes and trends, while providing the highest level of service standards and value to clients. She will be based in the East Longmeadow office.

Most recently, Cynthia served as a Commercial Lines account executive for Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, where she had worked for almost 30 years. She started her career in the Personal Lines department as a customer-service representative, then worked her way up the ranks to Personal Lines manager and Marketing manager. She then switched over to the Commercial Lines department, where she worked for five years on small and medium-sized accounts.

“HUB International New England is dedicated to building a team of experts with local market specialization and industry experience,” said Timm Marini, president of HUB International New England, formerly FieldEddy. “Cynthia brings a wealth of insurance knowledge with her, which will synergize well with our Commercial Lines team. Her extensive knowledge of the insurance industry and leadership skills will provide our clients with value-added solutions and innovative products that are specific to this market.”

Paragus IT Acquires Applied Software Technologies

By
Daily News

HADLEY — Paragus IT has continued its pattern of active growth with its first acquisition: West Springfield-based Applied Software Technologies. Prior to the acquisition, AST provided IT services to businesses in the region and beyond for more than 20 years.

“We are very happy to welcome the staff and clients of Applied Software Technologies into the Paragus family,” says Paragus CEO Delcie Bean. “They are a great company, and we’re excited that we will be able to give their clients the opportunity to maintain their relationships with the people they know while also having access to the resources we are able to offer as the largest IT provider in Western Massachusetts.”

The acquisition of AST is the latest in a strong trend of growth for Paragus. Since CEO Delcie Bean founded the company at age 13, Paragus has grown from a one-man operation to a regional leader in business computer service, consulting, and information-technology support.

Inc. Magazine has ranked Paragus as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. for four years running. With a 650% growth rate over seven years, Paragus is the second-fastest-growing outsourced IT firm in New England.

“We have every intention of acquiring more businesses as we continue to expand our market and services, but it has to be the right deal,” Bean said. “What matters to us is that the customers, both our current ones and the ones being acquired, are always benefited by the transaction. We refuse to compromise on quality and service. Second-best just isn’t good enough.”

Foundation for TJO Animals Hosts ‘Ride Like an Animal’ Event

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Foundation for TJO Animals will host the seventh annual “Ride Like an Animal” Motorcycle Ride and Poker Run to benefit the animals at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center. All proceeds from this event will provide much-needed medical care and training to the many animals that call the adoption center their temporary home.

The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 15, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-registration and kick off festivities — at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, 627 Cottage St., Springfield — will include special guests Jonathan Hall and his famous cat, Toto the Tornado Kitten.

Registration opens at 8 a.m., with kickstands up at 10:15 a.m. and the ride leaving at 10:30 a.m. About 300 bikes are expected to depart the shelter for a scenic ride through Western Mass., ending at the Ludlow Elks Lodge, 69 Chapin St., Ludlow. Riders and guests will enjoy a post-ride party featuring food, live music by the Varlets, raffles, and more.

Registration is $25 per adult rider and free for children under 7. For those individuals who would like to attend the after party only, post-ride party tickets are available for $15 per person.

The event is sponsored by Chicopee Savings Bank, Colonial Tire and Brake Center, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Florence Bank, Freedom Credit Union, Performance Kars Unlimited, Southampton Harley Davidson, Teddy Bear Pools and Spas, Thrivent Financial, Wizard Auto Body, and the Foundation for TJO Animals board of directors. Special thanks to the members of the Iron Order International Motorcycle Club for their help organizing this event.

The Foundation for TJO Animals is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and enhances medical services and enrichment programs for the animals at Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center. For more information about the foundation, call (413) 306-5161 or e-mail [email protected].

Kingdom Master Jewelers Opens in Holyoke

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Kingdom Master Jewelers, is a family-run business operated by Gabriel Serrano and Idoel Ortiz Jr., opened its doors today at 2020 Northampton St. in Holyoke.

Previously a Hadley-based business since 2012, Serrano and Ortiz have become specialists in buying precious metals such as gold, diamonds, and silver, and have more tham 25 years of experience in custom-making one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. Kingdom Master Jewelers formally ran jewelry gallery repair shops for Kay, Hannoush, Jared, and many other jewelers in the area.

Business hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monson Savings Bank Announces New ‘Back to Banking’ Program

By
Daily News

MONSON — As part of its ongoing efforts to improve financial literacy and capability, Monson Savings Bank (MSB) has introduced Fresh Start Checking accounts. These accounts are designed for people who might not otherwise be able to open a bank account based on their prior banking history.

At the same time, MSB understands that life happens, and there are times when maintaining financial soundness may be difficult. Through the use of the Fresh Start Checking account, the “Back to Banking” program is designed to educate customers on money management, how to maintain accounts in good standing, and work toward paying off any unpaid account balances at other banks.

As part of the program, free education materials are provided to customers through the National Endowment for Financial Education. The education modules include “Money Management – Control your Cash Flow,” “Borrowing – Use, Don’t Abuse,” “Earning Power – More Than a Paycheck,” Investing – Money Working for You,” “Financial Services – Care for Your Cash,” and “Insurance – Protect What You Have.”

Another benefit of this program is a pay-as-you-bank option, which is designed to help customers pay down prior financial debts. With a companion savings account, funds can be set up to automatically transfer from checking to savings on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis.

According to President and CEO Steve Lowell, “at Monson Savings Bank, we have become increasingly concerned about financial literacy and the fact that many people lack the money-management knowledge and skills they need to ensure long-term stability for themselves. Our new “Back to Banking” program is another way in which we help individuals within our communities become more financially secure.”

Monson Savings Bank can assist with answering financial questions at any time during branch lobby hours or by calling (413) 267-4646.

Deadline Nearing for Super 60 Nominations

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) is seeking nominations for its annual Super 60 awards program, sponsored by Berkshire Bank and WWLP-TV 22. All nominations must be received by the ACCGS no later than midnight on Friday, Aug. 14.

Now in its 26th year, the awards program celebrates the success of the fastest-growing privately owned businesses in the region, which continue to make significant contributions to the strength of the regional economy. Each year, the program identifies the top-performing companies in revenue growth and total revenue.

Last year, total-revenue winners combined for revenues of more than $1 billion with average revenue of more than $35 million. One-third of the winners in the revenue-growth category experienced growth in excess of 50%, with the average growth of all the honorees in that category at more than 49%.

To be considered, companies must be based in Hampden or Hampshire county or be a member of the ACCGS, have produced revenues of at least $1 million in the last fiscal year, be an independent and privately owned company, and have been in business for at least three full years. Companies are selected based on their percentage of revenue growth over a full three-year period or total revenues for the latest fiscal year.

Companies may be nominated by financial institutions, attorneys, or accountants, or be self-nominated. Companies must submit a nomination form and provide net-operating-revenue figures for the last three full fiscal years, signed and verified by an independent auditor. All financial information must be reported under generally accepted accounting principles and will be held and considered confidential and not released without prior approval.

Nomination forms are available by contacting Kara Cavanaugh at [email protected] or (413) 755-1310.

The Super 60 awards will be presented at the annual luncheon and recognition program on Oct. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam.

Report: America’s Economy in Good, but Not Great, Shape

By
Daily News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy added 215,000 jobs in July after economists surveyed by CNNMoney predicted the economy would add 216,000 jobs. Anything above 200,000 is considered very solid. The unemployment rate stayed the same at 5.3%, which is its lowest point since April 2008.

Wage growth — the missing piece to America’s economic progress — remained sluggish in July, the report notes. Average hourly earnings only rose 2.1% compared to the prior year. Wage growth is the reason many Americans haven’t felt the benefits of the economy’s recovery. The Federal Reserve wants to see annual wage growth closer to 3.5%.

The jobs report is especially important now because the Fed is close to raising its key interest rate for the first time in over nine years. The Fed has said it will hike rates only if it believes the economy is healthy enough, especially for workers. A rate increase would be a good sign for how far the economy’s health has come since the recession ended.

Although the Fed wants to see better wage growth before raising rates, wage growth isn’t a requirement. The Fed raised its key interest rate in June 2004 when average weekly earnings were 1.7% compared to the prior year. Average weekly earnings in July were 2.4%.

Economic growth has been solid this year, though weaker than in 2014. Last year, the economy added 240,000 jobs a month on average between January and July. This year, that figure is 178,000. However, CNNMoney reports, many experts believe the current jobs report is strong enough to justify the Fed’s first rate hike taking place in September.

OnBoard Encourages Nonprofits to Take Part in Networking Event

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — OnBoard, a Springfield-based nonprofit organization that matches qualified individuals and area boards of directors, is inviting local organizations and businesses to participate or become a sponsor in the “Get On Board!” event in October.

The event, to be held Thursday, Oct. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will connect local organizations with individuals looking to increase their community involvement.

OnBoard was founded in the mid-’90s by attorney Ellen Freyman of Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C. The group’s mission is to help organizations expand their governance diversity by enlisting women, people of color, and other under-represented populations to their boards of directors/trustees, committees, and advisory groups. OnBoard has been connecting qualified people in the Greater Springfield area with organizations seeking leadership that reflects the diversity of the region.

“Our goal with ‘Get On Board!’ is to facilitate an introduction of new talent and organizations around Greater Springfield,” said Freyman. “Diversifying your board of directors by recruiting members of under-represented populations can provide you with insight into different ways to engage with the community at large. Our goal is to create new relationships for both the individuals and the organizations who will benefit from each other’s resources and experience.”

The cost for organizations to register to participate in the event is $100 before Aug. 31 and $125 if submitted after Aug. 31.

As a nonprofit organization itself, OnBoard relies on the support of local businesses in order to hold ‘Get On Board.’ A number of funding options are available to local businesses who are interested in contributing to the event, including a $500 community-partner sponsorship and a $1,000 general-sponsorship opportunity.

“We encourage local nonprofits and businesses to help us make this a successful networking and recruiting event,” said Freyman. “We have a history of connecting qualified people in the Greater Springfield area with organizations seeking leadership that reflects our region’s diversity, but we wouldn’t be able to do so without our supporting sponsors.”

To register or become a business sponsor, visit www.diversityonboard.org.

Governor Signs State Sales-tax Holiday into Law

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Daily News

BOSTON — State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr joined Gov. Charlie Baker and several business leaders at a State House bill-signing ceremony to create a weekend-long suspension of the state sales tax on items less than $2,500 for the days of Aug. 15-16. This marks the 11th time that the tax holiday has been granted to consumers since 2004.

Jon Hurst, executive director of the Retailers Assoc. of Massachusetts; Jerome Murphy, Treasurer of M. Steinert & Sons; and Harold Tubman of Circle Furniture attended the signing of the bill, which originated from legislation offered by Tarr.

“This weekend serves as a great opportunity for everybody in our communities to support our retailers and business of all sizes,” said Baker. “Our administration is committed to growing the economy and creating jobs across the Commonwealth, and this is a great example of an opportunity for all of us to take advantage of this weekend and do something for those businesses in our community that mean so much to us.”

Tarr praised consumers and retail shop owners for supporting the bill. “While we need to continue to pursue more lasting sales tax relief, this two-day holiday offers a chance for consumers to get a break while supporting local businesses we need to sustain and grow the Massachusetts economy. Having Gov. Baker’s support will generate hundreds of millions of dollars of sales in-state that might otherwise have gone over the border on online.”

The Retailers Assoc. of Massachusetts reports that retail sales were down 49% during a four-week period this past winter. The retail sector, which employs an additional 600 workers as a result of the tax holiday, expects that consumer spending will rise significantly in Massachusetts during the tax holiday. According to a recent Beacon Hill Institute survey, 72% of respondents say they are more likely to shop nearby and keep spending local as a result of the tax break.

Square One Announces Two Additions to Senior Leadership Team

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — One of the region’s largest nonprofit providers of early learning and family services, Square One, announced the addition of two senior-level individuals to its leadership team.

Joining the organization as vice president of Development is Kristine Allard. Allard will oversee the nearly $10 million organization’s fund raising, communications, and program development. She comes to Square One from the YMCA of Greater Springfield, where she led the fund-development and communications team, as well as family-center operations. In addition to fund raising, grant writing, and special-event planning, she has an extensive background in marketing and media relations. Allard is active on a number of community boards and committees, including Leadership Pioneer Valley and the Baystate Academy Charter School.

“We are very pleased to welcome Kris to Square One,” said Joan Kagan, president and CEO. “She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and talent to our organization. Her enthusiasm, positive energy, and team spirit are contagious, making her a great addition to our team. Kris is a true asset to Square One, and we are fortunate that she has joined us.”

Also joining the Square One team is Frank Tate III. As food-service director, Tate will develop menus and oversee daily food preparation for the organization’s 400 preschool and after-school program participants, assuring compliance with government regulations and Square One’s commitment to encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Tate comes to Square One following senior-level positions at YSET Academy in Springfield and the Early Childhood Centers of Greater Springfield.

“We know that proper nutrition is a critical part of every child’s ability to succeed academically, physically, emotionally, and socially,” said Kagan. “Frank’s extensive experience and expertise make him a perfect fit to help fulfill our mission. Not only does he bring knowledge, creativity, and a diversity of nutritious food to our kitchen, but also a cheerful disposition that our staff and families have come to embrace.”

MGM Springfield Wins One-year Delay in Casino Opening

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Daily News

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, receptive to arguments regarding the impact of a major highway reconstruction on I-91, agreed to allow MGM Springfield to push the opening of its $800 million resort casino to September 2018. It was originally expected to open in the fall of 2017.

MGM Springfield officials said the state’s reconstruction of the I-91 viaduct through downtown Springfield — a project expected to begin this year and end by August 2018, although financial incentives to finish by 2017 are in play — must be complete before MGM Springfield can open.

The highway project includes ramp closures next to the casino site, and severe traffic congestion would keep visitors away and inconvenience those who do show up, said MGM officials, who still need the city’s approval to push back the opening date.

Dinner Forum to Focus on Effective Business Decision Making

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — The UMass Amherst Family Business Center will present a dinner forum on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Northampton. The program is called “Effective Business Decision Making in the Fast-changing Environment of the 21st Century.”

How many decisions do you make in the course of each business day? How often are they based on a gut feeling, versus measurable, relevant data? How accurate is your gut, and how well can you really tune into it? And how do you know which data is accurate, not to mention relevant? How can you be sure you’re considering all the consequences? Are you reaching for solutions that worked before, not sure they’re what is needed for more complex dilemmas? Are you influenced by biases you’re not even aware of? This presentation could help you, by exploring the practical aspects of the latest research on effective decision making and how family and closely held businesses are using it to create success.

Presenters include Vana Nespor, chief learning officer and dean of Online and Adult Studies at Bay Path University, and Tom Loper, associate provost and dean of Bay Path’s graduate Business program.

Call Ira Bryck, Family Business Center director, at (413) 545-4545 for more information.

ACCGS Kicks Off Season with September Business@Breakfast

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — “Vision 2017: Dream Big — The Future of Springfield” will be the focus of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s (ACCGS) September Business@Breakfast on Wednesday, September 2 at 7:15 a.m. at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place, Springfield, sponsored by breakfast series sponsor United Personnel and speaker sponsor the Republican.

With nearly $3 billion in investment in the city of Springfield, close to $150 million in completed projects just since last March, and $1.8 billion in investment underway, this gateway city is heading in the right direction, said Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s chief development officer. He will discuss the city’s plans for the future, the results of a recent public survey on future investments in the city, and how residents, business owners, community leaders, and local officials can dream big to make the city’s potential opportunities a reality.

The breakfast will also honor the Realtor Assoc. of the Pioneer Valley on its 100th anniversary.

Reservations are $20 in advance for ACCGS members ($25 for member walk-in registration) and $30 for general admission. Reservations are suggested and can be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com. ACCGS members can purchase a season pass in advance of the breakfast. Season passes are a convenient way for members to save time and money and provides access to all Business@Breakfast events in the 2015-16 chamber season.

Volunteers Needed for Source to Sea River Cleanup This Fall

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Daily News

GREENFIELD — The Connecticut River Watershed Council’s (CRWC) 19th annual Source to Sea Cleanup will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26.

The annual, two-day event is coordinated by CRWC in all four states of the 410-mile Connecticut River basin. Each fall, thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities head out to clean the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat. Volunteers remove trash along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, trails, and more.

“Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have worked hard to combat litter and illegally dumped trash,” said Alicea Charamut, CRWC river steward and organizer of the cleanup. “Their hard work and dedication is impressive and inspiring.”

In 2014, more than 2,000 volunteers hauled over 47 tons of trash from riverbanks and waterways in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut. Volunteers use human power and sometimes heavy equipment to pull out everything from recyclables, fishing equipment, and food waste to tires, televisions, refrigerators, and junk cars. To date, volunteers have prevented more than 897 tons of trash from polluting area rivers.

There are three ways to get involved in the cleanup: report a trash site in need of cleaning, find a cleanup group near you to join, or organize and register your own local cleanup group. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.ctriver.org/cleanup.

“If your group wants to get involved but needs a cleanup site, contact us to learn about reported trash sites that may be near you,” said Charamut. Anyone with questions or trash tips can contact Charamut at [email protected] or (860) 704-0057.

“Generous financial support from lead sponsors — NRG’s Middletown Generating Station, Pratt & Whitney, and TransCanada — enables us to organize the thousands of volunteers who participate in the cleanup, and to take on complex projects that require the use of heavy equipment, scuba divers, and other professionals to get those really trashed places cleaned up,” said CRWC Executive Director Andrew Fisk. CRWC plans to continue efforts on cleaning up the tire dump along the Deerfield River in Greenfield, as well as removing an abandoned exposed pipe in the Connecticut River in Holyoke and a number of fuel tanks in various rivers in New Hampshire and Vermont.

The Connecticut River Watershed Council works to protect the watershed from source to sea. To learn more about CRWC, or to join the effort and help protect local rivers, visit www.ctriver.org.

Shriners to Host Sixth Annual Walk for Love Walkathon and Barbecue

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Come celebrate the 90th anniversary of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield at the sixth annual Walk for Love Walkathon and Barbecue on Saturday, Sept. 12.

This easy, three-mile walk begins at the hospital and continues through Van Horn Park and back to the hospital for a barbecue. The day of family fun includes Shrine clowns, Zoo on the Go, K-9s for Kids, face painting, a photo booth, music, food, and more.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the walk begins at 10 a.m.The barbecue and entertainment run from 11 a.m. to 1:30 
p.m. The event will be held rain or shine.

Registration fee for walkers and non-walkers alike is $25 per person,
$5 for children 12 and under, and $40 per family. A waiver must be signed to participate in the walkathon. No pets are allowed, except for service animals. Free parking will be available at the Boys and Girls Club located directly across from Shriners Hospital on Carew Street.
 All proceeds from this event benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield.

Register online at www.walkforlove.org. Forms will also be available on the day of the walk. For additional information, contact Lee Roberts, the hospital’s public relations specialist, at (413) 755-2307 or [email protected].

Irish Cultural Center Announces New Name, Location

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Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Irish Cultural Center (ICC) announced its new location at 429 Morgan Road in West Springfield, the former home of the Elks Lodge. The center has signed a 20-year lease with the city of West Springfield and will soon move to its new location.

ICC President Sean Cahillane said the Irish cultural organization is thrilled to have a new home with room to hold lectures and concerts, sports events, meetings, as well as an ICC museum and library. Since it began in 1999, the ICC has been based out of Elms College in Chicopee, hosting events there and at various other locations, and recently struggling for space as the college continues its own expansion.

“The West Springfield property is the perfect space for us. We have been looking for some time for a suitable property that we can call home, and that can meet all of our needs,” Cahillane said. “This is clearly it. We’re happy to be working with the city of West Springfield on our new location.”

The lease on the property, which includes a two-story building and 27 acres with parking lots and ballfields, is the culmination of an extensive search of dozens of alternative sites examined over the course of the last 12 months.

“This location will allow the ICC to offer a collaborative, unique space where people can come together to celebrate and promote the Irish culture and heritage,” said Rose Baker, an ICC board member who lives in West Springfield. “The city provides an extremely supportive community that embraces the development of long-term relationships.”

The ICC’s name is also changing to the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England, to reflect the broadened scope of its mission and membership. The new facility and name change are the culmination of two years of strategic planning.

The center will soon launch a capital campaign to raise funds for the refurbishment of the building. During this process, the ICC will move forward, expanding event offerings, community outreach, and member benefits, thus fulfilling the promise of keeping the Irish arts alive.

The Irish Cultural Center was established in 1999 to foster an appreciation of Irish culture in Western New England. The mission of the ICC is to cultivate a connection with Ireland through the arts, culture, history, language, and heritage. The center offers opportunities to engage in educational, travel, and social events that promote Irish culture.

CSB Charitable Foundation Awards $21,000 in Scholarships

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — The Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation announced the beneficiaries of its ninth annual scholarship award program. The program awarded seven scholarships, each in the amount of $3,000, to eligible high-school students attending participating high schools within the bank’s market area.

William Wagner, president of Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, presented six general scholarship awards during a ceremony at the Munich Haus Restaurant on July 23 to Krystian Jurkowski, graduate of Chicopee High School; Samantha Cross, graduate of Cathedral High School; Emily Doiron, graduate of Chicopee Comprehensive High School; Emily Sevigne, graduate of Ludlow High School; Taylor Guertin, graduate of South Hadley High School; and Mihaela Sousa, graduate of Ware Junior/Senior High School; and presented the business-major scholarship award to Julianna Vadnais, graduate of Ware Junior/Senior High School.

Business Confidence Up in July on Strong Current Conditions

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Daily News

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index added 2.9 points in July to 59.2, ending a string of three consecutive monthly losses.

“Bouncing back from its dip in the second quarter, confidence among Massachusetts employers is fairly strong,” said Raymond Torto, Chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “The AIM Index is up three points from last July and, apart from its recent crest in February and March, is at its highest level since December 2006.”

Torto noted that the Index’s recent performance extends a pattern that has prevailed for much of the post-Great Recession period. “Like the economy itself, the Index has followed a long-term trend of improvement, but the upward course has been longer and bumpier than most past recoveries.”

AIM’s Business Confidence Index has been issued monthly since July 1991 under the oversight of the Board of Economic Advisors. Presented on a 100-point scale on which 50 is neutral, the Index attained a historical high of 68.5 in 1997 and 1998; its all-time low was 33.3 in February 2009.

The sub-indices based on selected questions or respondent characteristics all rose from June to July, and most were up from a year before.

The U.S. Index assessing national business conditions gained 2.5 points to 50.1, and Massachusetts Index of conditions within the Commonwealth rose six-tenths to 57.5.

“The domestic economy, after a weak first quarter, is experiencing solid expansion, and Massachusetts continues to perform well in the national context,” said BEA member Sara Johnson, senior research director of Global Economics at IHS Global Insight. “Growth in international trade, however, has been disappointing, as improving conditions in Europe have been more than offset by the slowdown in Asia.”

The Current Index, tracking employers’ assessment of existing business conditions, was up 3.5 to 59.7, while the Future Index, measuring expectations for the next six months, added 2.2 to 58.6.

“The rating of current conditions is the best we have seen since the same reading in October 2006,” Johnson said. “The slightly lower future expectations probably reflect the Federal Reserve Board’s expressed intent to raise interest rates.”

The three sub-indices related to survey respondents’ own companies were all well ahead in July. The Company Index, which assesses the overall situations of their operations, was up 3.7 points to 61.7; the Sales Index rose 5.3 to 63.2; and the Employment Index added 2.5 to 57.2.

“The Company and Sales indicators are at their highest levels since 2006, and the Employment Index is also in its pre-recession range,” noted Elliot Winer, chief economist at Northeast Economic Analysis Group LLC, a BEA member. “These results are consistent with survey respondents’ favorable appraisal of prevailing business conditions and with recent state employment reports.”

In July, confidence remained higher among employers within Greater Boston (61.3, up 3.9) than among those outside the metropolitan area (55.8, up 1.1). Manufacturers continued to be less confident (55.7, up 3.1) than other employers (62.9, up 2.9).

“Massachusetts manufacturers, many of them in the central and western parts of the state, are seeing exports suffer because of the strong dollar and difficult conditions in key markets,” Winer said. “The indicators from the manufacturing sector and for the state outside Greater Boston are the only sub-indices that have lost ground, though less than a point each, over the past year.” There was little variation in confidence between small, medium-size, and larger employers.

Commenting on the July Business Confidence Index survey results, Richard Lord, AIM’s president and CEO and a BEA member, stressed the positive assessment of business conditions among respondents.

“Over the previous three months, we saw that confidence can be damaged by uncertainty, even in peripheral areas like the Greek crisis,” he said. “In July, we see that, as such concerns fade, the underlying strength of the economy, and of confidence among Massachusetts employers, comes to the fore again.”

Lord noted, however, that the results included contrasting views of the state’s business climate. “There is a 10-point regional gap in how respondents rate Massachusetts conditions — very positive within Greater Boston, barely positive elsewhere. This reminds us that good economic analysis and policy must take account of the broad range of industries and communities.”

By employer size, Lord added, the smallest firms, up to 25 employees, rated in-state conditions higher than mid-sized and larger employers.

“Here we see a significant turnaround compared to the recent past,” he said. “Along with a stronger economy, these small employers — who often feel vulnerable to government mandates — are encouraged by a sense that Beacon Hill recognizes their concerns on issues ranging from MBTA reform to smooth implementation of the paid-sick-leave law.”

Dress for Success Pop-up Sale Slated for Aug. 27-31; Volunteers Needed

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dress For Success (DFS) Western Massachusetts is holding its annual pop-up tag sale, featuring new and gently used professional clothing and accessories, at the Eastfield Mall the week of Aug. 27-31 during mall operating hours. The public is invited to fill a bag for just $25.

According to Dawn Creighton, Dress for Success president, “this event is important in so many ways. Thanks to generous donation of a retail store by Eastfield Mall management, we will be able to raise awareness of our work in the community and raise much-needed funds. Naturally, we will need many dozens of volunteers to make this event successful.”

Volunteers will be needed to stock and straighten shelves and racks throughout the event. The public is also invited to take advantage of the opportunity to do some closet cleaning; Dress for Success will accept donations of new clothing to be included in the sale.

For more information about volunteering for the pop-up tag sale or to make a donation, contact Creighton at (413) 233-9850 or [email protected].

Finalists Announced for Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards

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Daily News

WATERTOWN — Twenty-one companies from across the state, including three from Western Mass., have been selected as finalists for the 2015 Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards, awarded annually by MassEcon.

These finalists, representing companies from Boston to the Berkshires, will present one-minute elevator pitches describing their growth in the Bay State to a panel of judges and business leaders on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Nutter McLennen & Fish LLP in Boston. Katie Stebbins, assistant secretary for Technology and Innovation at the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development, will be the featured guest at the event.

The awards celebrate companies that have made an outstanding contribution to the Massachusetts economy. The winners from each of the five regions will be announced in October and recognized at an awards luncheon on Nov. 24 in Boston. The west region finalists include Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing in Lee, Kennametal in Greenfield, and Mohawk Fine Papers in South Hadley.

The finalist companies range in size and are drawn from different industries, including manufacturing, life sciences, hospitality, technology, and food and beverage. MassEcon selected the finalists based on their job growth, facility expansion, and investment since Jan. 1, 2014, as well as other criteria, including community involvement. Together, this year’s 21 finalists have added more than 1,600 jobs to the Commonwealth, invested more than $403 million, and expanded their facilities by nearly 2 million square feet since the start of 2014.

“We are delighted to recognize the businesses in Massachusetts that contribute so much to our state’s success, said Susan Houston, executive director of MassEcon. “The diverse set of industries and regions represented by this impressive group of companies demonstrates the overall strength of our Commonwealth.”

Banker & Tradesman Honors Dena Hall with Women of FIRE Award

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Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — William Crawford IV, CEO of United Financial Bancorp Inc. and United Bank of Glastonbury, Conn., announced that Dena Hall, United Bank’s Western Mass. regional president, was selected by Banker & Tradesman among its 2015 Women of FIRE award winners.

Banker & Tradesman presents the Women of FIRE award to the most talented, ambitious, innovative, and philanthropic women in finance, insurance, and real estate. A panel of judges and magazine staff selected 15 women this year from Massachusetts who are achieving excellence and making a difference in these traditionally male-dominated business sectors.

Hall and the 2015 class of Women of FIRE recipients were honored during a luncheon at the Courtyard Marriott Boston Downtown on July 28.

In addition to her executive position as Western Mass. regional president, Hall is the chief marketing officer and president of the bank’s two charitable foundations that cover Massachusetts and Connecticut. She has been with United Bank since 2005. Previously, she was assistant vice president, Marketing for Woronoco Savings Bank (now Berkshire Bank) and executive director of that bank’s charitable foundation.

“I want to thank Banker & Tradesman for selecting Dena for this award,” Crawford said. “We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Dena’s talent and reputation in the Massachusetts banking industry on the United team. She is admired for her business acumen, tireless volunteerism, and strategic mindset, which have all been instrumental in helping us build the strongest community-banking team in the Greater Springfield market. She is certainly one of our go-to leaders in Massachusetts who employees, customers, and community leaders can always trust and count on.”

Hall, whose career in banking spans nearly two decades, has received other professional accolades, including being named among the Springfield region’s top young business and community leaders by BusinessWest magazine in its 40 Under Forty in 2007 and the Business Woman of the Year by the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, she was named one of the Top 25 Women in Business by Western Mass Women magazine.

Hall is also active in the Greater Springfield region, where she is a member of the board of trustees for the Baystate Health Foundation and actively involved in the Westfield Redevelopment Authority, the Western Mass. Corporate Funder’s Forum, and the Capital Campaign Scheduling Committee of Greater Springfield.

She graduated from UMass Amherst as well the Mass. Bankers Assoc. School for Financial Studies and the National School of Banking and Finance at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

Applied Industrial Technologies Acquires Atlantic Fasteners

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Daily News

AGAWAM — Cleveland-based Applied Industrial Technologies announced it has acquired Atlantic Fasteners, a distributor of C-class consumables located in Agawam. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

“Atlantic Fasteners provides the market presence, products, and capabilities to further enhance our applied maintenance supplies and solutions (applied MSSSM) offering to a broad array of industrial customers,” said Neil Schrimsher, president and CEO of Applied. “They are an ideal fit with our business strategy and growth plans.”

Founded in 1981, Atlantic Fasteners and its 48 associates serve the New England region with industrial fasteners and related industrial supplies. The company also specializes in vendor-managed inventory systems.

Added Todd Barlett, Applied’s vice president, Acquisitions and Global Business Development, “we are pleased to welcome Atlantic Fasteners to Applied and are excited about the opportunities and success we can realize together.”

Founded in 1923, Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading industrial distributor that offers more than 5 million parts to serve the needs of MRO and OEM customers in virtually every industry. In addition, Applied provides engineering, design, and systems integration for industrial and fluid power applications, as well as customized mechanical, fabricated rubber, and fluid power shop services. Applied also offers maintenance-training and inventory-management solutions that provide added value to its customers. For more information, visit www.applied.com.

REB Receives Grant from PeoplesBank to Support Talk/Read/Succeed

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Regional Employment Board of Hampden County (REB) received a $2,500 grant award from PeoplesBank to support the work of the Talk/Read/ Succeed (TRS) program.

Talk/Read/Succeed is a place-based holistic program and currently serves 150 low- to moderate-income families at two Springfield Housing Authority (SHA) developments in Springfield. The goal of TRS is to have all children enter kindergarten ready to learn and go on to read proficiently by fourth grade.

The $2,500 grant award is part of PeoplesBank’s Community Care Program and will be used to support parent-education programs at the SHA sites that will focus on how to support children in reaching critical developmental milestones, family health and wellness, adult education and career exploration, and financial literacy.

In announcing the award, Susan Wilson, first vice president of PeoplesBank, indicated that, “at Peoples Bank, we welcome the opportunity to help others. As part of your community, we take an active interest in supporting programs that promote academic excellence for our youth.”

David Cruise, REB president and CEO, noted that “this award from PeoplesBank allows the REB and its partners to strengthen our parenting-education and school-engagement programming to support parents as active partners in our work to accelerate student achievement.”

Added William Abrashkin, executive director of the SHA, added that “building community support is vital to the success of Talk/Read/Succeed and its families and children. In particular, it is so important that PeoplesBank, a key member of the business community, has chosen to provide its support. We all know that, without an educated workforce, businesses cannot grow and create wealth, and the most effective way to create an educated workforce is to reach families when their children are very young to help ensure that the children are brought up with positive values, including a love of reading, learning, and achievement. That is what TRS is all about, making this a win-win for both the business community and the families we serve.”

Goodwill Partners with Dave’s Soda and Pet City to Collect Donations

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dave’s Soda and Pet City will have a Goodwill donation box at each of its Massachusetts stores on Aug. 3-15. Gently used clothing and household items are welcome.

Donations will be accepted at 151 Springfield St. in Agawam, 335 Russell St. in Hadley, 433 Center St. in Ludlow, 142 North King St. in Northampton, 1330 Carew St. in Springfield, and 140 West St. in Ware.

“We are grateful for the chance to be in each of the six Massachusetts stores and can only say that everyone’s donation will be put to the best of uses — helping disadvantaged and disabled people find jobs,” said Steve Mundahl, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley. “All donations are weighed, sorted, and sold in one of our nine stores in Hampden and Hampshire counties.”

Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley offers employment and training programs, adult foster care, and community-based day services in addition to operating nine retail stores throughout the Pioneer Valley.

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