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City Issues RFQ/RFP for Casino; Consultant Cleared

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield has issued its Phase I request for qualifications/request for proposals for a proposed destination casino resort development to be located in the city. Through this RFQ/RFP process, the city seeks to pre-qualify enterprises desirous of participating in the city’s Phase II process, the purpose of which will be to select one or more enterprises with whom the city will negotiate a host-community agreement for the development, construction, and operation of a destination casino resort project. Upon the successful conclusion of those negotiations, targeted for the end of April 2013, the final host-community agreement or agreements will be submitted to the City Council for approval and then to the city’s voters. Once approved in this manner, the host-community agreement must be provided to the Mass. Gaming Commission by any applicant for a gaming license.  The RFQ/RFP can be downloaded at www.springfield-ma.gov/casino. “We are excited to formally launch the casino selection process,” said Mayor Domenic Sarno. “We look forward to a robust competition which will determine the company or companies with whom we will enter into a host community agreement. This is an important first step that we anticipate will result in the largest economic-development project in the city’s history, bringing thousands of good-paying jobs to our great city, along with significant opportunities for our business community and sustainable economic benefits for our residents for many years to come.” In other developments, the state Ethics Commission cleared Springfield’s casino consultant of a possible conflict of interest. The chairman of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission had questioned whether that Shefsky & Froelich — a registered lobbyist in Illinois for Penn National Gaming and MGM Resorts, two of the companies seeking a casino license in the city — could be objective in advising Springfield. “We are pleased with the Ethics Commission’s opinion and thank the commission for its time and consideration of this very important matter,” said Cezar Froelich, chairman of the firm, in a statement. “By filing the disclosure forms required by Massachusetts law, we believe we have fully complied with such law in a manner that allows us to provide unbiased advice to the city.”

 

UMass Awarded $308,000 for Life Sciences Project

AMHERST — The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) announced the approval of a $308,000 capital grant to support a research project at UMass Amherst titled “Life Sciences Research & Innovation: Growth Strategy for UMass Amherst in the Massachusetts Bioeconomy.” The project is a formal study of opportunities to catalyze life sciences and life sciences-related economic development in Western Mass. The $308,000 grant will enable UMass Amherst to increase the breadth and depth of industry collaborations; enhance access of other stakeholders to assets at UMass Amherst and in the Pioneer Valley, such as the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI) in Springfield; serve as a connector to the UMass system, the Commonwealth, and beyond; and catalyze the Western Mass. innovation ecosystem, especially in the life sciences. The MLSC is the agency charged with implementing the state’s 10-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative, proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2007 and approved by the Legislature in 2008. The Life Sciences Initiative targets $95 million in capital funding for UMass Amherst to construct an additional building within its new life-sciences complex, in which the school has already invested $270 million in recent years. The data collected during the project will inform UMass Amherst’s and the center’s future life-science-related investment plans in the region, including the building that is targeted for funding in the Initiative. “Gov. Patrick and I want to see positive development within the life-sciences industry for Western Mass.,” said Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray. “With this planning grant, the information gathered will inform our strategy for life-sciences growth in the region and further strengthen our state’s global leadership in this important field.” Added Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, president and CEO of the MLSC, “as we pursue our mission of accelerating growth in Massachusetts’ thriving life-sciences supercluster, we are very focused on making investments across the entire Commonwealth, including the western part of the state. UMass Amherst is an important partner in that effort, and we are pleased to award this funding to support their forward-looking plans for life sciences growth in the region.”

 

Leadership Pioneer Valley Announces 2012-13 Class

CHICOPEE — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) officially kicked off the 2012-13 leadership development class of 40 emerging and established leaders. Leadership Pioneer Valley is addressing the need to build a diverse network of leaders who aspire to work together across traditional barriers to strengthen the region. The new class members will take part in a 10-month program of experiential learning that will take place at locations across the Valley. The field-based and challenge-based curriculum is specifically designed to help the class members refine their leadership skills, gain connections, and develop a greater commitment to community stewardship and cultural competency. “The curriculum builds on the strong feedback from our inaugural class with some adjustments to make this an even stronger program,” explains Leadership Pioneer Valley Director Lora Wondolowski. “The program is divided equally between seminar-style days that will focus on advanced leadership skills and field experiences, where participants will get a hands-on view of communities throughout the Valley. The program also features small-team projects, where class members will address a regional need.” The 2012-13 class members are: Jessica Atwood, Franklin Regional Council of Governments; Jeff Bagg, Town of Amherst; Krista Benoit, Dietz & Co. Architects Inc.; Suzanne Bowles, Alliance to Develop Power/ADP; Nancy Buffone, UMass Amherst; Nicolle Cestero, American International College; Kristin Cole, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce; Ayanna Crawford, YMCA of Greater Springfield; Nicholas Criscitelli, MassMutual Financial Group; Laurie Davison, Westfield Bank; Charity Day, Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority; Roshonda DeGraffenreid, Baystate Health; Kyle Kate Dudley, Drama Studio Inc.; Julie Federman, Town of Amherst; Tony Franco, United Bank; Julie Gentile, Hampden Bank; Jeannette Gordon, New England Farm Workers’ Council; Erica Johnson, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; Lori Kerwood, Cooley Dickinson Hospital; Dawn Koloszyc, Cooley Dickinson Hospital; Ljuba Marsh, Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School; Dr. Julio Martinez-Silvestrini, Baystate Health; Irma Medina, Holyoke Community College; Donald Mitchell, Western Mass. Development Collaborative Inc.; Georgia Moore, Cooley Dickinson Health Care Corp.; Benjamin Murphy, United Way of Hampshire County; Glenn Posey, Western Massachusetts Electric Co.; Jon Queenin, Specialty Bolt; Jason Randall, Peter Pan Bus Lines; Lidya Rivera, Springfield Housing Authority; Debra Roussel, Town of Amherst; Alfonso Santaniello, the Creative Strategy Agency; Mark Sayre, MassMutual Financial Group; Sarah Schatz, Sarah’s Pet Services LLC; Maureen Trafford, Community Foundation of Western Mass.; Emmanuel Vera, MassMutual Financial Group; Janice Watson, YMCA of Greater Springfield; Tracye Whitfield, City of Springfield; Danielle Williams, GADA; and Anthony Wilson, City of Springfield.

 

MGM Casino Plan

Includes Union Station

SPRINGFIELD —  MGM Resorts International announced that it will include a plan to integrate a revitalized Union Station into its hotel, casino, and entertainment district proposal for downtown Springfield. The newest piece of MGM’s $800 million dining, retail, and entertainment district proposal is in response to the city of Springfield’s initiative to restore the historic Union Station to its full potential. As part of its plan, MGM would locate its regional corporate office and its regional training institute for new employees to Union Station. “Our project isn’t just about one neighborhood or community or interest group,” explained Bill Hornbuckle, MGM’s chief marketing officer and president of MGM Springfield. “It is about helping to create a better future for an entire city, and tying in Union Station is just one example of how we intend to leverage the global strength of MGM to attract new opportunities, growth, and prosperity to every corner of Springfield.” MGM has been meeting with city officials, community leaders, and residents in neighborhoods across the city to discuss MGM Springfield, which was first announced on Aug. 22. Over the course of those conversations, it became clear to the MGM team that restoring Union Station to its former glory was a top priority and major focus for the City of Springfield. “The vision Springfield’s elected leaders and city officials have put forward for Union Station is truly inspiring,” said Hornbuckle. “We’ve heard loud and clear that restoring this landmark is a key priority, and we want to play a leading role in making this a reality.” Hornbuckle said he has personally toured Union Station on multiple occasions, along with Jim Murren, MGM’s chairman and CEO. “The minute we first set foot in that building, we knew this was a place where we had to be,” said Hornbuckle. “We fell in love with the history and architecture, as well as the opportunity to help revitalize passenger rail service in Springfield.”

 

BCBS Names Leaders in Healthcare Access

BOSTON — Eighteen emerging leaders in healthcare access have been named to the seventh class of the Mass. Institute for Community Health Leadership (MICHL), a leadership-development program designed to help high-potential professionals increase their personal impact and enhance their health organization’s influence in the community and the healthcare system. The 18-day educational program takes place over the course of nine months, offering a highly experiential curriculum that includes classroom work, peer-to-peer exchanges, and collaborative learning.  During the program, students develop and implement a project that addresses a healthcare issue impacting low-income and vulnerable people in Massachusetts. MICHL engages participants in exploring the leadership challenges facing healthcare organizations in Massachusetts, identifying and building the capacities and competencies leaders will need to meet the challenges, and fostering collaboration among private nonprofits, public agencies, and academic institutions. The 2012-13 class includes: Rebecca Balder, Health Safety Net director, Division of Health Care Finance & Policy; Melinda Burri, director of Operations, Windsor Street Health Center; Paulette Renault-Caragianes, director, City of Somerville Health Department; Marta Chadwick, director, Violence Intervention & Prevention Program, Brigham & Women’s Hospital; Kevin Coughlin, executive director, Greater Lowell Health Alliance; Holle Garvey, nurse practitioner, Sisters of Providence Health System; Katherine Howitt, senior policy analyst, Community Catalyst; Jacqueline Johnson, chief operations officer, Caring Health Center; Stacey King, director, Community Health & Wellness Program, Cambridge Public Health Department; Joanna Kreil, quality initiatives manager, Mass. League of Community Health Centers; Nancy Mahan, senior vice president, Program Services, Bay Cove Human Services Inc.; Matthew McCall, senior consultant, the Home for Little Wanderers; Anne McHugh, director, Chronic Disease Prevention & Control, Boston Public Health Commission; Lenore Tsikitas, health access and promotion coordinator, Mass. Department of Public Health; Rossana Valencia, clinical policy analyst, UMass Medical School; Jennifer Valenzuela, national director of program, Health Leads; Alyssa Vangeli, policy analyst, Health Care for All; and Cathy Wirth, project manager, Healthy Kids, Healthy Future.

 

Job Gains Remain Elusive in Region, Commonwealth

BOSTON —The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported that the August 2012 seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in Massachusetts were down in 17 labor areas, unchanged in three areas, and up in two areas over the month. Over the year, the rates are down in all 22 labor areas. Statewide, the August seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 6.4%, down 0.2% from July. Over the year, the statewide unadjusted rate was down 0.8% from the August 2011 unadjusted rate of 7.2%. In August, the Greater Springfield area, which includes most of Hampden County and parts of Hampshire County, saw unemployment fall to 7.8% from 8% in July, and from 8.4% in August 2011. However, the seasonally adjusted statewide August unemployment rate, released on Sept. 20, was 6.3%, an increase of 0.2% over the July figure, and down 1.1% from the 7.4% rate recorded in August 2011. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 4,800 job loss over the month. The national unemployment average, adjusted for seasonality, was 8.1% in August.

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook Departments

Balise Ford in Wilbraham to Expand

WILBRAHAM — Balise Ford in Wilbraham has relocated temporarily just down Boston Road to the former Medieros Chevrolet location, the company announced. Construction for the all-new Balise Ford of Wilbraham is underway on its permanent site at the corner of Boston Road and Stony Hill Road. The new dealership will include 27,000 square feet. The state-of-the-art building will feature a large, customer-friendly showroom and a customer lounge with flatscreen TV and free wi-fi. The construction will also implement many green features, such as LED lighting, throughout. “This new Ford store has been a long time coming,” said company President Jeb Balise. “Our customers need and deserve a more spacious building. The new dealership will give our customers a bigger selection of new and used vehicles, as well as some customer amenities that we have long wanted to include. We’re excited about what this new dealership means to our customers and the communities it serves.” The service area will be improved by an indoor service drive and write-up area, 16 service bays, and the area’s largest Ford truck-service facility. A new Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center will offer full service and everyday low prices for all makes and models. Construction of the new site will be handled by Associated Builders of South Hadley. The new dealership will open for business before Memorial Day 2013.

 

Bay Path Receives

$3 Million in Grants

for Programs

LONGMEADOW — In recent weeks, Bay Path College has college has received nearly $3 million in federal funding for two programs. School officials and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal announced first that the college has been awarded a five-year grant for $999,841 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the Physician Assistant Training in Primary Care Program. A few weeks later, it was announced that the school would receive $1.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education for several initiatives, including further development of its Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders program, which all undergraduate students must complete. Money will also be directed toward efforts to help students make it to graduation, and for new technology as well. In 2012, only 12 grants were distributed nationwide by HRSA in a highly competitive process, and Bay Path’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies was the only program in New England to receive this award. The focus of the grant is to increase the number of primary-care practitioners, particularly for underserved areas; provide opportunities for physician assistants in community partnerships with the program to have a dual role as clinical faculty; and facilitate the recruitment and retention of minorities and veterans. Currently, Hampden County is ranked last among the 14 counties in Massachusetts for its poor health statistics and outcomes. A similar trend in poor health outcomes is also evident in nearby Berkshire County. Bay Path’s Physician Assistant Studies Program was selected in part because of its partnerships with area healthcare providers, including Baystate Health Center, Caring Health Center, Hampden County Physician Associates, Tapestry Health, and Berkshire Health Systems, in their collaborative efforts to focus on providing accessible and quality healthcare for the underserved in these regions. “The master of science in Physician Assistant Studies is a direct result of the college’s Vision 2013 master plan,” said Bay Path President Carol Leary. “There is a tremendous need for physician assistants. This demand, combined with our investment in our science facilities and academic initiatives over the past several years, led us to launch this highly successful program. We are honored to have been recognized by HRSA, and it is a strong endorsement of the good work of our board of trustees, faculty, and staff.”

Bradley Airport Opens

Cell-phone Waiting Lot

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) and Bradley International Airport (BDL) have announced the opening of a cell-phone waiting lot at the airport. This waiting area is equipped with a sign with a QR (quick response) code that allows customers to use their smartphones to scan the code and be connected directly to Bradley’s latest flight-arrival information. It is located on Light Lane, which runs parallel to Route 75 (Ella T. Grasso Turnpike), near the intersection of Route 75 and Schoephoester Road. This secure, lighted location is a two- to three-minute drive to the BDL arrivals area. Motorists should follow the posted signs on Schoephoester Road, which will direct them to the cell-phone waiting lot. “The opening of this cell-phone waiting lot is in direct response to our customers’ requests,” said CAA Chair Mary Ellen Jones. “We are committed to enhancing our stakeholders’ total travel experience at Bradley International Airport.” Said CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon, “over the next few months, airport staff will be closely monitoring this new customer amenity here at Bradley; we have heard and will continue to respond to the traveling public in order to fulfill the state of Connecticut’s commitment to total quality customer satisfaction at BDL.”

 

Liberty Mutual Employees Pitch In for Square One

SPRINGFIELD — Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Springfield Customer Response Center staged a recent school-supply drive to assist Square One’s afterschool and out-of-school programming. More than 700 items were collected. “During a recent meeting with the good folks at Liberty Mutual Insurance, we were describing the needs of the many children and families who are living in area hotels,” said Kimberley Lee, vice president of Advancement for Square One. “The company responded immediately by organizing a school-supply drive, and the outpouring of employee support was overwhelming. More than 700 items were donated, including notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons, colored markers, writing paper, rulers, folders, binders, staplers and more. To think that there are children unable to do their schoolwork or participate in class because they are without the necessary school supplies was both unacceptable and unimaginable. These employees really came through, as they always do, and have made an immediate impact in the lives of so many school-age children.”

 

High-performing Culture Earns PeoplesBank Honors

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank recently was named an Employer of Choice by the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and a Top Corporate Charitable Contributor by the Boston Business Journal. The designation came after a rigorous evaluation that analyzed the bank’s culture, training and development, communication, employee-recognition programs and rewards, as well as life-work balance. According to Janice Mazzallo, senior vice president of Human Resources, PeoplesBank has been implementing a culture shift for several years. “Studies have shown that employers who focus on creating a strong culture and a high level of employee engagement also have strong financial performance. It is sort of a win-win.” Mazzallo noted that the management-development program, in-house learning center, employee-led think tanks, and efforts at creating an optimal life-work balance are just a few of the efforts that PeoplesBank has put into place to enable and support that culture shift. A record-setting $1 million in annual charitable contributions set the stage for the Boston Business Journal naming PeoplesBank a Top Corporate Charitable Contributor for the fifth year in a row. The bank’s employees have also been historically ranked in the top 10 by the publication for volunteer hours and individual charitable contributions. During the past year, PeoplesBank made substantial contributions toward tornado relief and regreening in impacted areas of Western Mass., supported the construction of a greenhouse at an elementary school so students could learn about growing their own healthy food, and helped fund new library construction in several communities.

Opinion

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Opinion
United Way: 90 Years of Meeting Needs

On occasion, we are asked, “why give to the United Way and not simply make a direct contribution to my agency of choice?” This is a very important question for all of us at the United Way, and here are a few answers.

The United Way is a volunteer-driven organization committed to addressing the most critical needs in our community. We determine those needs by researching and analyzing the prevalence of a social problem and the critical needs in the communities we serve. After gathering the data, we look for opportunities where an investment of funding will yield a measurable return on the investment.

We are no longer simply reporting the number of people served, but also focusing on the outcomes of the service provided. This no easy feat given the reality that it often takes years to change behaviors and achieve tangible outcomes and results, but we know we are making an impact based on benchmarks and regular reports. We are also implementing and supporting science-based and results-oriented approaches and service-delivery models that have demonstrated positive outcomes in communities like ours. We are holding the organizations (funded through a competitive grant-making process) accountable, and we are holding ourselves accountable to the thousand of donors and investors.

United Way of Pioneer Valley has embarked on its celebration of 90 years of service in the Pioneer Valley. Over the past decade, UWPV has distributed more than $50 million dollars to nonprofits serving children, families, elders, and individuals with special needs and circumstances. The dollars help support those services that feed the hungry and offer emergency housing and assistance for victims of domestic violence, homelessness, and fires. Critical funding is also dedicated to improving high-school graduation rates, early-childhood education, reading by grade 4 in Holyoke and Greater Springfield, and youth development and prevention services.

We recently launched a regional initiative to address income disparities, workforce development, and the financial stability of low-income and working families. These efforts will not only strengthen families, but will impact quality of life and economic development throughout the Pioneer Valley. Over the last three years, we have also committed resources to help nonprofits build greater capacity through partnerships and collaborations, so limited resources can provide expanded services to youth and families; every dollar invested leverages additional dollars from other funding sources.

Additionally, our financial support of Mass 211, an information and referral system, provides an immediate response to individuals searching for social services in their respective communities. Residents in our service area (Hampden County, South Hadley, and Granby) are the second-highest users of Mass 211 in the Commonwealth. What an amazing resource financed through contributions made to the United Way. These are examples of investments for the common good, and we will all benefit.

Our 90th anniversary has provided an opportunity to reflect, rejuvenate, and rejoice. We would like to thank our corporate, business, and social-service partners for hosting annual workplace campaigns, and our donors who make online contributions or send a check in the mail. Special thanks to the board of directors and our volunteer leaders, campaign coordinators, and local, regional, and statewide supporters. Your contributions of time, talent, and money truly make a difference.

Our resolve is to continue the rich tradition and history of this organization and do more to address the escalating social needs and conditions confronting our communities. How can we do more? Through the generosity and investment of individuals who believe they have a responsibility and desire to contribute to the common good of all. These people remain essential to our efforts. Please join us in celebrating our 90th anniversary. Visit our website (www.uwpv.org) for information about how you, too, can Live United … Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

Dora Robinson is the president and CEO of the United Way of Pioneer Valley.

PictureThis

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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]

Swing of Support

The YMCA of Greater Springfield recently honored a longtime community supporter, David Demos, and welcomed sports celebrities to the 20th Annual Scantic Valley YMCA Golf Outing. The event was held at both the Country Club of Wilbraham and the new Cold Springs Country Club in Belchertown. From top, Kirk Smith, YMCA president and CEO; Jules Gaudreau of the Gaudreau Group and a corporate board member; Demos, honorary co-chair; Jim Rice, Red Sox Hall of Famer; and “Coach” Willie Maye of the Boston Celtics. At top: Chris Ott (left), YMCA personal trainer, and Paul McConnell, YMCA member, wait their turn on the greens. Smith (center) stands with Barry and Kim Sanborn of ProShred. Maye (far left) and Rice (center) pose with Day of Caring volunteers from MassMutual.

































Common Ground

The historic Cooper’s Commons in Agawam recently celebrated the grand opening of a new marketplace of distinctive shops and services. The complex contains Cooper’s Gifts & Curtains and unique businesses in the former Country Squire Furniture Shop. The recent renovations complete phase 1 of two phases; phase 2 is expected to be completed in 2013. Surrounded by area supporters at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, above center, is Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen, and to his right is Kate Gourde, second-generation owner of Cooper’s Commons and Cooper’s Gifts and Curtains. Right, state representative Nick Boldyga, 3rd Hampden District, presents Gourde with a proclamation from the State House.

 

Family Business

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. recently invited Dr. Michael Klein to speak to a group of family-business owners as part of an educational family-business event. Klein, at left at the head of the conference table, authored the recently published book, Trapped in the Family Business.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of September 2012.

 

AGAWAM

 

Benchmark Senior

153 Cardinal Dr.

$8,000 — Repair water damage

 

Mr. Shower

646 Springfield St.

$50,000 — New roof

 

AMHERST

 

Amherst Montessori School

27 Pomeroy Lane

$2,092,000 — Construction of a two-story addition

 

Filion Leasing Inc.

150 College St.

$10,000 — New roof

 

Jones Library Inc.

43 Amity St.

$108,000 — Install new flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting in the Woodbury Room

 

Northland Boulders, LLC

188 East Hadley Road

$116,000 — New roof

 

Town of Amherst Recreation

205 Triangle St.

$298,000 — Pool repairs and upgrades

 

CHICOPEE

 

Demayo-Chicopee Square, LLC

516 Montgomery St.

$38,000 — HVAC duct system

 

John Rusin

16 Bolduc Lane

$6,000 — Interior renovation at the Den

 

EASTHAMPTON

 

Bernard Gawle

90 Union St.

$37,000 — New roof

 

City of Easthampton

Lovefield St.

$10,000 — New roof

 

The Phillips Manufacturing Co.

17 Ward Ave.

$21,000 — New roof

 

HOLYOKE

 

92 Race Street, LLC

92 Race St.

$710,000 — Interior renovations

 

Holyoke Mall Company, LP

50 Holyoke St.

$323,000 — Renovate Old Navy store

 

Michael Ciolek S-H-R Trust

494 Appleton St.

$306,000 — Construct new masonry walls

 

NORTHAMPTON

 

Bridge Street LLC

82 Bridge St.

$10,500 — Exterior repairs

 

Smith College

12 Bedford Terrace

$4,000 — Repair porch

 

Smith College

50 Elm St.

$22,000 — Exterior repairs at Clark Hall

 

SOUTH HADLEY

 

Northeastern Sheet Metal

50 College St.

$58,000 — Sheet-metal work

 

SPRINGFIELD

 

A.I.C.

125 Cartland St.

$30,000 — Build three offices

 

Derf Realty

170 Carando Dr.

$120,000 — Renovate 2,800 square feet to expand existing tenant

 

John Salema

1218 State St.

$55,000 — Interior cosmetic renovation to office space

 

No Limit Investment Inc.

489-493 Worthington St.

$8,500 — Exterior renovation

 

Sanjay Patel

182 Boston Road

$106,000 — 1,860 square feet of space added to existing building

 

Walmart

1105 Boston Road

$500,000 — Install solar array on existing roof

 

WEST SPRINGFIELD

 

Balise Automotive

635 Riverdale St.

$10,000 — Remodel restrooms

 

Lattitude Realty, LLC

1338 Memorial Ave.

$200,000 — Renovate 2,600 square feet of commercial space

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

 

Ackerman, Robert M.

a/k/a Mejias, Gail T.

90 Garfield St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Amancio, Dawn M.

7 Main St.

Sturbrdge, MA 01566

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Atkinson, Brenda S.

P.O.Box 375

West Springfield, MA 01090-0375

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/20/12

 

Beckwith, Mary Ellen

a/k/a Tsavidis, Mary E.

a/k/a Humaston, Mary E.

114 Cross Road

Granville, MA 01034

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Bell, Jonathan Matthew

60 Grantwood Dr.

Amherst, MA 01002

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/26/12

 

Bernacki, Irene C.

15 Wilder Lane

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/01/12

 

Bernier, Robert L.

Bernier, Michele M.

12 Cedar Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Berthiaume, Nathan H.

413 Belchertown Road

Ware, MA 01082

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/01/12

 

Bessette, Brenden Michael

56 Edgemont St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Beyond Green Construction

Jeffords, Sean R.

13 Terrace View

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Bibbo, Kevin J.

Bibbo, Marcy

a/k/a Bohacik, Marcy J.

316 Silver St.

Monson, MA 01057

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/14/12

 

Blackburn, Jolene M.

71 Jordan St.

Springfield, MA 01129

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/14/12

 

Braun, Lenore M.

a/k/a Salvas, Lenore M.

164 Fox Hill Lane

Enfield, CT 06082

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Brennan, Brian P.

44 Murray Lane

Becket, MA 01223

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/24/12

 

Buck, Elizabeth V.

a/k/a Rodriguez Salas, Elizabeth

306 Zoar Road

Rowe, MA 01367

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Budrow, Stephen D.

1182 North Hoosac Road

Williamstown, MA 01267

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Butler, Sheila A.

193 El Bernon Ave.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Cahill, Gary B.

21 Riverboat Village Road

South Hadley, MA 01075

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/29/12

 

Calderon, Carmen I.

38 Columbia Terrace

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/29/12

 

Campo, John Cruzan

Campo, Donna Marie

20 Second St.

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/28/12

 

Castine, Kimberly M.

30 Oaklawn Ave.

Orange, MA 01364

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Chrostowski, Lester

8 Lawrence Road

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/24/12

 

Clarke, Stephen R.

172 Grattan St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Collazo, Richard O.

P.O. Box 4218

Springfield, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/29/12

 

Colon, Santa

30 Sedgelia St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/06/12

 

Cordero, Jose

4505 Silver St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/25/12

 

Costa, Christina Marie

200 Hillside Road

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Cranshaw, Arthur C.

Cranshaw, Gail M.

717 Northampton St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/13/12

 

Cravish, Peter J.

100 Stearns Ave.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/15/12

 

Cribben, Maureen S.

PO Box 60154

Florence, MA 01062

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/07/12

 

Crocker, Chad L.

Crocker, Maureen E.

96 Arnold St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/23/12

 

Cruz-Guzman, Jose A.

307 Chestnut St., Apt. 220

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/15/12

 

Day, Robert E.

Day, Darlene M.

PO Box 615

Barre, MA 01005

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/10/12

 

DelBuono, Angela Diane

a/k/a Hersey, Angela D.

64 Honey Pot Road

Southwick, MA 01077

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Delgado, Israel

21 Florence St.

Springfield, MA 01105

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Dempster, Beverly F.

6 Coache St.

Three Rivers, MA 01080

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Dias, Andrea M.

145 Chapin St

Ludlow, MA 01056

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/01/12

 

Diehl, Andrew Preston

Diehl, Jessica Lynn

a/k/a Craft, Jessica Lynn

120 Union St., Apt. 2

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/16/12

 

DiNicola, Rae Ann E.

56 Marian Ave.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/13/12

 

Duerr, Christine D.

125 Granville Road

Southwick, MA 01077

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/06/12

 

Eckman, Harry A.

8 Colony Road

West Springfield, MA 01089

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/08/12

 

Edwards, Angela M.

72 Canterbury Circle

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/07/12

 

Ellman, Leslie Dale

a/k/a Magier, Leslie Dale

81 Northumberland Road

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Ethier, Peter M.

88 Edgewood Ave.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/27/12

 

Expert Garage

DeCosmo Construction

DeCosmo, Ted J.

DeCosmo, Jacquelyn F.

49 Cobblestone Road

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/08/12

 

Fernandes, Jose C.

208 Osborne Terrace

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/17/12

 

Fessenden, Craig E.

Fessenden, Jacqueline D.

362 Pleasant St.

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Fitzgerald, Tricia Ann

a/k/a Gzimalowski, Tricia

103 Merrimac Ave.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/15/12

 

Fitzpatrick, Kimberly A.

98 San Miguel St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/13/12

 

Flebotte, Richard A.

Flebotte, Digna

70 Nathaniel St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/07/12

 

Forbes, Jean Leslie

a/k/a Gonzales, Jean L.

41 Off Lariviere Ave.

Three Rivers, MA 01080

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/07/12

 

Fosty, Cara

a/k/a Bernardo, Cara

202 Franklin St.

North Adams, MA 01247

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/08/12

 

Fregeau, William C.

Fregeau, Janice M.

1350 Pleasant St.

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/20/12

 

Fronc, Jennifer N.

15 North Prospect St.

Amherst, MA 01002

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/26/12

 

Garcia, German Jr.

186 Joseph Ave.

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/20/12

 

Garcia, Ronette T.

150 Lincoln Road

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/20/12

 

Gibbs, Derryl D.

Gibbs, Shelia

21 Fair Oak Road

Springfield, MA 01128

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/25/12

 

Giroux, Walter S.

42 Parkin St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/01/12

 

Gloster, Richard P.

Gloster, Linda M.

590 Suffield St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/18/12

 

Grover, David A.

PO Box 190

W. Stockbridge, MA 01266

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/26/12

 

GR’s Automotive Forms

Robare, George N.

P.O. Box 243

Chicopee, MA 01014

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Gryszowka, Michael J.

Gryszowka, Victoria A.

a/k/a Govoni, Victoria A.

79 Line St.

Feeding Hills, MA 01030

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Haecker, April L.

a/k/a Neal, April L

a/k/a Miles, April L

794 West Housatonic St.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Haecker, Steven J.

794 West Housatonic St.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Hall, Kristin T.

600 Station Road

Amherst, MA 01002

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/20/12

 

Handy, Benjamin P.

Handy, Mara

a/k/a Moskowitz, Mara

P.O. Box 766

Stockbridge, MA 01262

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/15/12

 

Harrington, Henry W.

118 Church St., Apt. A

Williamstown, MA 01267

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/16/12

 

Harris, Mary A.

50 Red Brook Lane, Apt 6G

Orange, MA 01364

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Herd, Daniel M.

47 Keith Ave.

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/13/12

 

Hernandez, Antonio

PO Box 4702

Chicopee, MA 01014

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/17/12

 

Hicks, Arthur D.

Hicks, Jacqueline H.

a/k/a Sutton, Jacqueline H.

a/k/a Henderson, Jacqueline L.

519 East River St.

Orange, MA 01364

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Hodgdon, Carmela R.

31 Elm St.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/15/12

 

Hodge, Liz

59 Kenwood Park #2

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/14/12

 

Holloway, Terry J.

Holloway, Lisa Jean

39 Lawnwood St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/20/12

 

Hunt, Matthew J.

522 West Shaft Road Unit

North Adams, MA 01247

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Ireland, Patrick M.

36 Belleclaire Ave.

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/07/12

 

Jean Claude Hardwood Floors

Koffi, Jean-Claude Didier

9 Pearl St.

Adams, MA 01220

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/17/12

 

Johnson, Mary Lou

44 Jenks St.

Amherst, MA 01002

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/12/12

 

Kansanen, Jorma K.

10 Summer St.

Amherst, MA 01002

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/25/12

 

Keenan, Marc Edward

27 Montague Road, Apt. 31

Amherst, MA 01002

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/25/12

 

Klein, Teresa

a/k/a Guz, Teresa A.

201 Windemere St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/24/12

 

Krstyen, Nicole L.

283 Bennett Road

Hampden, MA 01036

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/28/12

 

Lamp, Kelly A.

8 Standish Court

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/05/12

 

LaRochelle, Todd M.

25 East St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/13/12

 

Lawton, David Edward

5 Nichols Road

Williamsburg, MA 01096

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/17/12

 

Lebeau, Carla M.

12 Gross Lane

Eathampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/26/12

 

Lee, Walker P.

Lee, Donna L.

450 Main St.

Hatfield, MA 01038

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/23/12

 

Lepage, Rudolph C.

Lepage, Erna J.

58 Kon Tiki Circle

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/15/12

 

Lepak, Dawn M.

62 Water St.

Granville, MA 01034

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/06/12

 

Little Lambs Daycare

Mathurin, Michael P.

Mathurin, Jillian M.

26 Hayden St.

Orange, MA 01364

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/26/12

 

Log Home Restoration of Mass.

Woods, Walter L.

Woods, Lisa K.

50 Shepherd St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/13/12

 

Loring, Jason E.

342 Southwick Road

Apt. A9

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/07/12

 

Lusty, Kevin J.

218 West St.

Ludlow, MA 01056

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/26/12

 

Lyons, John Raymond

2 Phillips St.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/06/12

 

Machnik, Mark J.

Machnik, Simone A.

110 Breckenridge St.

Palmer, MA 01069

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Mann, Cheryl L.

a/k/a Courville, Cheryl L.

PO Box 544

Belchertown, MA 01007

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Martinez, Orlando

1309 St. James Ave.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Mazeika, Sarah A.

26 Chestnut Hill Road

Hampden, MA 01036

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/29/12

 

McFaden, Edward L.

675 Woods Road

Oakham, MA 01068

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/18/12

 

McKnight, John R.

McKnight, Kathryn J.

20 Murphy Place

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Mendenhall, Karen S.

124 Bristol St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/02/12

 

Messer, Charles

Messer, Dawn M.

181 Monson Turnpike Road

Ware, MA 01082

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/10/12

 

Michelson, Kevin B.

Michelson, Savida K.

18 Grand Oak Farms Road

Hadley, MA 01035

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Miller, Ronald P.

Miller, Susie A.

16 Briarwood Place

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/10/12

 

Miller, Toby A.

33 Eddy St.

Ware, MA 01082

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Morgan, Gail M.

7 Nancy Dr.

Rutland, MA 01543

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Motyka, Ann

375 Belchertown Road

Ware, MA 01082

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/10/12

 

Murray, Patricia J.

71 Kennebunk St.

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/14/12

 

Musa, Diane M.

66 Kanawha Ave.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/23/12

 

Normand, Faith Marie

a/k/a Goulette, Faith M.

3 Griswold Circle

Granby, MA 01033

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/13/12

 

Novo, Mark

130 Parkside Ave.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/18/12

 

O’Brien, Nancy M.

50 Warren Road

Brimfield, MA 01010

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Ortiz, Antonio

192 Hamburg St.

Springfield, MA 01107

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/23/12

 

Pac, Anna

a/k/a Lavoie, Anna

110 Valley Road

Southampton, MA 01073

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/15/12

 

Pasterczyk, Joel H.

350 Meadow St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/26/12

 

Payne, Michael T.

14 Penncastle St.

Springfield, MA 01129

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/02/12

 

Pellerin-Duck, Melinda A.

3 McClelland Farm Road

Deerfield, MA 01342

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Perez, Melvin

87 Phoenix Terrace

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/08/12

 

Phillips, Tawnya Marie

76 Oakman St.

Turners Falls, MA 01376

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/24/12

 

Pinches, Roger G.

a/k/a Pinches, Boomer

35 Orchard St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/08/12

 

Pizarro, Odessa Marie

a/k/a Covington, Odessa

197 Westford Ave.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/01/12

 

Poreda, Paul C.

Poreda, Shelley L.

38 Nye St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Price, Rebecca R.

80 Barrett St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/23/12

 

Przybyla, Joseph J.

104 Stedman St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/23/12

 

Quintana, Luz M.

26 Princeton St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Ramos, Nelson

Davila Ramos, Julisa

323 Tinkham Road

Springfield, MA 01129

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Reeves, Teresa E.

35A Linden St.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/18/12

 

Reyes, Nereida

74-76 Newland St.

Springfield, MA 01107

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/02/12

 

Richard, Shawn L

Richard, Pamela J.

a/k/a Paces, Pamela J.

360 North Main St.

Orange, MA 01364

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Richardson, Kelli M.

151 Smead Hill Road

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/23/12

 

Richardson-Wright, Kena Lee

a/k/a Stanley, Kena Lee

63 Harvard Ave.

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/01/12

 

Rivera, Elsa M.

a/k/a Rivera Hernandez, Elsa M.

604 Dickinson St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Robinson, Ted R.

P.O. Box 386

East Otis, MA 01029

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/02/12

 

Roche, Todd Michael

P.O. Box 245

Bernardston, MA 01337

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/20/12

 

Rodriguez, Jeanette T.

81 Senator Ave.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Rosario, Diosdada

532 South Summer St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Rovezzi, Tracy L.

28 Maple St.

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Royal, Jason Scott

Royal, Emily R.

a/k/a Vanbrocklin, Emily

64 Mystery Lane

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Ruiz, Nereyda

159 Eddy St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/09/12

 

Ryan, Thomas H.

Ryan, Amie F.

15 Lasalle St.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Scarpa, Amy K.

130 Rachael Terrace

Westfield, MA 01085-1881

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/30/12

 

Schlemmer, Irene Elizabeth

42 Emerson Road

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/26/12

 

Smus, Robert A.

5 Ballard St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/20/12

 

Sokoloski, Joseph Bernard

39 Highland Ave.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Solano, Victor J.

127 Granby Road

South Hadley, MA 01075

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/16/12

 

Sousa’s Fine Floors

Sousa, Steven Wayne

151 Taylor St.

Granby, MA 01033

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/17/12

 

Stanhope, Adam E.

25 Podunk Road

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/01/12

 

Stasio, Mark A.

5 Pearl Dr.

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/18/12

 

Stevens, Marilyn J.

PO Box 271

Barre, MA 01005

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/24/12

 

Tascon, Mario J.

249 Cooley St.

Springfield, MA 01128

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/24/12

 

Tesini, Gary J.

Tesini, Karen N.

71 Bradway Road

Monson, MA 01057

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/14/12

 

Tessa Distributing,

Labrie, Paul J.

139 Jeanne Dr.

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Theriault, Gregory S.

185 Sikes Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Theriault, Melissa H.

68 Redwood Dr.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Trenholm, Michael E.

171 North Warger Road

Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/08/12

 

Tucker, Reggie

31 Oak Grove Ave.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Tuttle, Anthony J.

19 Merriam St.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/08/12

 

Varnum, Daniel A.

324 Spring St.

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/14/12

 

Vone, Elizabeth A.

80 Colonial Circle

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/28/12

 

Voyevodin, Aleksey N.

5 Woodlawn St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Warner, Shirley J.

93 Adams Road

Haydenville, MA 01039

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 08/03/12

 

Weaver, Karen

87 Belleclaire Ave.

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/17/12

 

Wedlake, Mark Nicholas

a/k/a Garoppolo, Mark John

193 Worthington St., Apt. 501

Springfield, MA 01103

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/19/12

 

White, Scott E.

White, Sheri L.

3 West St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/21/12

 

Young, Joseph

26 Colfax St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/31/12

 

Zarichak, Peter C.

348 Granville Road

Southwick, MA 01077

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 08/07/12

 

Ziter, Christina Maria

9 Pearl St.

Adams, MA 01220

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/17/12

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

Big Y Relaunches Education Express

WILBRAHAM — Citing a passion for education and a belief that strong schools build strong communities Big Y World Class Markets recently announced the return of the Big Y Education Express Program beginning Oct. 4. Through the program, shoppers help schools receive supplies such as new computers, software, books, math and science materials, sports equipment, and other items. Shoppers can sign up to support the school of their choice beginning Sept. 6, and points will accumulate from Oct. 4 through Jan. 1, 2014. Sign up is available online at bigy.com/educationexpress, through Facebook, or by filling out a form at the customer-service desk or any register at a Big Y store. When shoppers purchase participating products, marked with a school-bus logo on the shelf sign, and present their Big Y Express Savings Club or Silver Savings Club card, they earn points for the school of their choice. Schools can then redeem the points for free educational supplies. Customers can track individual contributions online, and schools receive point updates weekly and can redeem points at any time during the program. Since 1993, Education Express has awarded more than $13 million worth of teaching materials and classroom equipment to more than 2,000 schools in Big Y’s market area.

 

HCC Foundation Awarded Grant

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Community College Foundation has been awarded a $200,000 grant from Urban Research Park CDE, LLC, to launch a technology career pathways program in partnership with Dean Technical High School and the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC). The collaborative project, called Career Pathways in Technology for Holyoke, is designed to enhance technology education for Holyoke and area residents by establishing a CISCO Academy at HCC and Dean Tech while leveraging educational opportunities through the MGHPCC. CISCO, a corporate sponsor of the MGHPCC, licenses its CISCO Academy curriculum to offer training and professional certifications in the latest technology to help prepare students to fill the global demand for networking professionals. The three-year grant will serve at least 150 students, 25 a year at Dean and 25 a year at HCC. Classes are expected to begin in January 2013, with the program in full operation at both Dean and HCC by September 2013. Career Pathways in Technology for Holyoke will offer both non-credit and credit courses. Non-credit courses will offer certifications that can lead to job placement and are expected to serve the region’s current workers seeking entry-level jobs or job advancement. Dean students will also have the opportunity to enroll in credit classes at HCC in Computer Information Systems to obtain a certificate or associate degree. “One of the goals is to create an educational pathway from Dean Tech to both the credit and non-credit opportunities available at HCC and ultimately into the workforce or toward further educational opportunities,” said Jeffrey Hayden, vice president for Business and Community Service at HCC.

 

Impressions Academy of Dance Performs at WDW

FEEDING HILLS — Members of The Impressions Academy of Dance recently traveled to Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to take part in a Disney Performing Arts Program. Dance groups, choirs, ensembles, and marching bands from around the world apply to perform each year as part of Disney Performing Arts at both Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World. Once selected, groups are given the opportunity to perform at the resort for an international audience of theme-park guests. Millions of performers have graced the stages of the Disney parks in the more-than-25-year history of the program. Disney Performing Arts offers band, choral, dance, and auxiliary performers the opportunity to learn, perform, and compete at the Disney World resort.

 

Springfield College Ranked by Magazine

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College was recently ranked in the top tier of the Best Regional Universities – North Region category in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 edition of “Best Colleges.” The ratings are based on such variables as peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, student selectivity, class size, alumni giving, and student-faculty ratio. “We take pride in this recognition,” said SC President Richard Flynn. “Springfield College is committed not only to academic excellence, but to providing an affordable private education. This latest ranking again confirms that our outstanding faculty and staff remain committed to providing a top-notch education for our students.”

 

Tighe & Bond Awards Scholarships

WESTFIELD — Through the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Tighe & Bond Inc. recently awarded its yearly scholarships to three local college students pursuing engineering degrees. According to David Pinsky, president of the civil- and environmental-engineering firm, “Tighe & Bond firmly believes in the importance of higher education for promising students who have the desire to pursue degrees in engineering. It also offers us a tangible way to support the future of the engineering practice which is essential to problem solving and the well-being of our society.”

Recipients include Johnniel Gomez, a 2012 graduate of Roger L. Putnam Vocational High School, who will attend UMass Dartmouth and study Civil Engineering and received the Philip W. Sheridan – Tighe & Bond Scholarship; Jason Arble, a 2012 graduate of Holyoke High School, who plans to study Electrical Engineering at UMass Amherst and is the recipient of the Edward J. Bayon Memorial Scholarship; and Aaron Sabbs, a 2009 graduate of South Hadley High School, who will be a senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he is majoring in Civil Engineering, and is a recipient of the George H. McDonnell Scholarship for the fourth year running. All of the scholarships awarded are in memory of past Tighe & Bond presidents.

 

Winstanley Partners Revamps Race Website

LENOX — Winstanley Partners recently revamped the website for the annual Josh Billings Run Aground Triathlon, also simply known as the Josh, which occurred on Sept. 16. Founded in 1976, the race draws more than 500 teams, from weekend warriors to full-fledged Ironmen and Ironwomen, who converge at the Stockbridge Bowl with bicycles, kayaks or canoes, and running shoes. Phil Cohen, project manager at Winstanley Partners, explained that the agency worked in tandem with Race Director Patty Spector to switch joshbillings.com over to the WordPress content-management system, which makes additions and updates simpler and allows race coordinators and the all-volunteer staff to revise information throughout the year. The new site will also keep race enthusiasts informed and attract more athletes and spectators who routinely check race locations, routes, and results.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

Nonprofits Work Together to Beautify Zoo Grounds

SPRINGFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) and the Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center joined together recently to improve the public grounds at the zoo during a volunteer event titled “Habitat Goes to the Zoo!” “Our primary mission is to provide decent, affordable housing to families, usually human families,” said Jennifer Schimmel, executive director of GSHFH. “Although this project falls outside of our typical mission, we are Springfield neighbors with the zoo, and the animals that live there need a little help with their housing as well. GSHFH is very adept at mobilizing and managing volunteers, and we are glad to be leveraging that talent on behalf of the zoo.” John Lewis, executive director of the Zoo in Forest Park, added, “we have spent much of this season recovering from big property damage from the storms of last year. We are so grateful that we were able to connect with Greater Springfield Habitat to put the finishing touches on many of our exhibits.” Habitat volunteers focused on painting 14 wooden buildings and animal sheds, he noted.

 

Blue Cross Blue Shield Awards $75,000 in Grants

BOSTON — To recognize Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts’ (BCBSMA) 75th anniversary, four not-for-profits each received a $75,000 grant to promote nutrition education and access to healthy foods. The BCBSMA 75th Anniversary Grants were awarded to the Holyoke Food and Fitness Policy Council, the Urban Food Initiative, Project Bread in partnership with Lynn Economic Opportunity Inc., and Boston Natural Areas Network. “For 75 years, Blue Cross has maintained a deep commitment to improving health outcomes and the quality of life for residents of the Commonwealth,” said Andrew Dreyfus, president and CEO of BCBSMA. “Many families continue to face financial hardship as a result of the economic downturn. With growing demand and shrinking resources, the safety-net services they turn to are severely strained. The BCBSMA 75th Anniversary Grants will help advance critical programs in the communities at greatest risk.” The four not-for-profit organizations were selected after a competitive process challenging them to develop programs to improve the lives of struggling families with children school-aged or younger in Massachusetts. Each organization takes a unique approach to advancing the health and nutrition of families facing economic hardship throughout the state. Locally, the Holyoke Food and Fitness Policy Council will implement a comprehensive nutrition education program geared towards influencing the eating habits of nearly 200 kindergarten students and their families located in three critical need elementary schools in Holyoke. The program provides education about eating and growing fresh produce, and includes field trips to local area farms. “Blue Cross’ support makes the Holyoke Kindergarten Initiative possible,” said Anne Cody, Kindergarten Initiative coordinator for the Holyoke Food and Fitness Policy Council. “Here in Holyoke, there is a large Latino population with strong preferences for culturally familiar produce. Thanks to Blue Cross, we can tie the students’ cultural backgrounds to local farming and healthy eating, which is an excellent approach to real and meaningful dietary preferences. We can’t thank Blue Cross enough for making the Holyoke Kindergarten Initiative a full, delicious adventure in local food and farming. Kids learn better when they eat better.”

 

Berkshire Money Management Named

Lead Sponsor of Artswalk

PITTSFIELD — First Fridays Artswalk, which began as the idea of local businesswoman Mary McGinnis and local artist Leo Mazzeo earlier this year, will become the first year-round monthly collaborative arts event in the Berkshires, thanks to a new lead sponsor. The local investment firm Berkshire Money Management has stepped up to the plate to support First Fridays Artswalk, enabling the initiative to continue into the winter and 2013. Berkshire Money Management President and Chief Investment Officer Allen Harris was impressed with the success of First Fridays Artswalk and saw an opportunity to help. “As a business owner, I see the incredible value of the arts and culture for the local economy and for our quality of life,” he said. “When I looked at the early success of the Artswalk and its positive impact for downtown businesses, it was clear to me that this needs to continue throughout the year.” He encouraged other local companies to also step up to the plate and support the event. Ferrin Gallery, who hosted the press conference announcing the new sponsor, was inspired by Harris to donate 15% of any sales made that day to First Fridays Artswalk. The events are held the first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Pittsfield, featuring art shows in more than two dozen galleries, shops, and restaurants, often featuring artist receptions, artist talks, and other special events. McGinnis, owner of Gallery 25 and Mary’s Carrot Cake, has been measuring the direct economic impact in just the first four months of Artswalks. So far, she has documented more than $40,000 in sales of artwork and other items, and she’s not finished contacting businesses. Berkshire Money Management joins other major sponsors of First Fridays Artswalk, including Gallery 25, the Massachusetts Cultural Council/Cultural Pittsfield, and the Berkshire Art Assoc., along with the Berkshire Bank Foundation, Berkshire Heath Systems, Berkshire Theatre Group, and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Downtown Artswalk partners include Empty Set Projects, Miller Supply, Berkshire Museum, Crowne Plaza, Brix Wine Bar, Marketplace Café, Downtown Pittsfield Inc., the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pateez Boutique, Brenda & Co., Bagels Too, Berkshire Carousel Gallery, Steven Valenti Clothing for Men, Berkshire Community College Intermodal Gallery, Paul Rich  Sons, Spice Dragon, Alchemy Initiative, Art.On.No, Treehouse, Gallery 25, Mad Macs, BINGO!, Wild Sage, Aerus Electrolux, Y Bar, Ferrin Gallery, Circa, the Lantern, West Side Clock Shop, and Berkshire Medical Center. For more information, visit www.firstfridaysartwalk.com.

 

Construction Unemployment Falls

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The nation’s construction industry added 1,000 jobs in August, lowering the unemployment rate in the sector from 12.3% in July to 11.3% last month, according to the Sept. 7 employment report by the U.S. Labor Department. Year over year, the construction industry added 17,000 jobs, or 0.3%, rendering it among America’s slowest-expanding industries. The non-residential building-construction sector lost 2,400 jobs for the month and 4,900 jobs, or 0.7%, compared to one year ago. August employment in the sector stood at 653,200 jobs. Employment in the residential building-construction sector slipped by 1,100 jobs in August, but increased by 5,200 jobs, or 0.9%, during the past 12 months. Residential building-construction employment in August stood at 564,000 jobs. Non-residential specialty-trade contractor employment declined by 6,400 jobs in August and is down by 18,900 jobs, or 0.9%, from same time last year. In contrast, residential specialty-trade contractors added 8,200 jobs for the month and gained 18,700 jobs, or 1.3%, from one year ago. The heavy and civil-engineering construction sector gained 2,800 jobs in August and added 17,400 jobs, or 2.1%, since August 2011. Across all industries, the nation added 96,000 jobs as the private sector expanded by 103,000 jobs and the public sector shrank by 7,000 jobs. Year over year, the nation added 1,808,000 jobs, or 1.4%. The nation’s unemployment rate in August fell to 8.1%, down from 8.3% in July. “The fact that the construction-industry unemployment rate in August declined to 11.3% — the lowest level since October 2008 — seemed to be a pleasant surprise,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “But under further examination, this is largely due to former construction workers moving to other industries or leaving the workforce altogether. On a national level, the Labor Department reports a record-high 88,921,000 Americans are not in the civilian workforce. What is more discouraging, 368,000 people simply dropped out of the labor force last month and did not even look for a job. In the non-residential construction category, the news is similar. The sector lost additional employment in August, is down on a year-over-year basis, and posted negative job growth in six of the past seven months.” Basu noted that investors remain concerned by rising energy prices, America’s ‘fiscal cliff’ regarding year-end tax-cut expirations, the November elections, and impending policy decisions regarding interest rates and money supply. “Until at least some of this uncertainty is resolved, the non-residential construction labor market will continue to underperform.”

 

Business Confidence Index Continues to Rebound

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index added three points in August to 55.2, continuing its recuperation from an 8.5-point plunge in June to 48.3. “What we have seen in the past few months encapsulates the overall course of this economic recovery,” said Raymond Torto, global chief economist at CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. and chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors. “We are beset by persistent uncertainties — the June survey took place at a time of disturbing news from Europe, and of course there are domestic concerns as well — while, at the same time, the recovery is consolidating and prevailing business conditions are generally positive.” Torto noted that midyear drops in both 2010 and 2011 lasted longer than this year’s single month of decline. “We’re already most of the way back to May’s level. The Index is up six points from last August and 7.5 over two years. For the AIM Index as for the economy, progress since mid-2010 has been slow and bumpy, but the overall trend is upward.” The AIM Index, which has appeared since July 1991, is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The Index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009.

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Photographers Click at Westfield State

Through Oct. 20: Westfield State University’s Arno Maris Campus Gallery is hosting “Through the Iris, the Photographic Perspective,” an exhibit featuring the work of local photographers Betsy Feick, Elizabeth Garcia, Bill Hughes, and Dan Minicucci. Feick’s collection, “The Meadows,” highlights local rustic scenery from Northampton. “My specialized infrared camera captures a part of the light spectrum invisible to our human eyes,” she said. “My slightly distorting wide-angle lenses put the viewer right in the picture and add an unearthly quality to the photos.” Garcia’s “Nebulous” is an abstract collection of photographs described as “science fiction-like.” There is a lack of clarity in terms of what subject matter the images are conveying and a slight level of confusion about how they were conceived. The collection “has cohesively morphed my visual aesthetics in painting and photography into an abstract world of suspension,” she said. “The ability to initiate imagination and pondering in the minds of others is an admirable gift that inspires me and sustains my intrinsic visual engagement as an artist and viewer.” Meanwhile, Hughes’ “Dream Sketches,” she said, “are pictures which explore visual possibilities that may exist when time, space, and motion are allowed to accumulate through the lens of a camera and be recorded. Finally, Minicucci’s photos reflect the more than 15 years he has spent documenting the flora, fauna, and scenery of the Westfield River Watershed. There will be an artist’s reception on Oct. 4 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with live music and refreshments. Normal gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 2 to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. The gallery is located in WSU’s Ely Campus Center.

 

World Affairs Council Annual Meeting

Oct. 10: Hampshire College President Jonathan Lash will speak at the World Affairs Council of Western Mass. Annual Meeting & Dinner in the Mahogany Room of the Springfield Sheraton Hotel in downtown Springfield. More details will be forthcoming. Lash is an internationally recognized expert on practical solutions to global sustainability and development challenges. Before he became president of Hampshire College in 2011, he served as president of World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental think tank with offices in eight countries and partners in more than 50 countries. WRI is an international leader on issues ranging from low-carbon development to sustainable transportation. From 1993 to 1999, Lash was co-chair of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, a group of government, business, labor, civil-rights, and environmental leaders appointed by Bill Clinton that developed visionary recommendations for strategies to promote sustainable development. He played a key role in the creation and success of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, which in 2007 issued the highly influential “Call to Action” on global warming. Prior to WRI, Lash held posts as director of Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Center, Vermont secretary of Natural Resources, and Vermont commissioner of Environmental Conservation, as well as a federal prosecutor. For more information on the event, call (413) 733-0110.

 

Brown, Warren to Debate

Oct. 10: Massachusetts citizens will soon cast ballots for U.S. senator in a nationally followed race. On behalf of the Western Mass. U.S. Senate Debate Consortium, the Springfield Public Forum will serve as coordinator of one of the debates between Republican Sen. Scott Brown and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. Slated for Symphony Hall, this will be the only debate between the candidates held in Western Mass. Tickets are required, but are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis at various locations in the area, including the Economic Development Council, 1441 Main St., Springfield, as well as from event partners Mass Live, New England Public Radio, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the Republican, UMass Amherst, the Amherst Valley Press Club, Western New England University, WGBY, WGGB (abc40 and Fox 6), WSHM (CBS 3), and WWLP (NBC 22). Tickets are general admission only.

 

Western Mass.

Business Expo

Oct. 11: BusinessWest will again present the Western Mass. Business Expo. The event, which made its debut last fall at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, will feature more than 180 exhibitors, seminars, special presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and the year’s most extensive networking opportunity. Comcast Business Class will again be the presenting sponsor of the event. Details, including breakfast and lunch agendas, seminar topics, and featured speakers, will be printed in the pages of BusinessWest over the coming months. For more information or to purchase a booth, call (413) 781-8600, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

 

Novelist, Playwright to Speak at STCC

Oct. 12: Andrea Hairston, novelist and playwright, will visit the region as part of the Ovations series, sponsored by the Chicopee Savings Bank Endowment for Academic Excellence, the STCC Office of Academic Affairs, and the STCC Honors Program. There will two performances, at 10:10 and 11:15 a.m., in Scibelli Hall. Both are free and open to the public. Hairston is the Artistic Director of Chrysalis Theatre. For more than 30 years, Hairston has created original music, dance, and mask productions. In 1997, Hairston turned her interest to science fiction and wrote a sci-fi theatre jam, Archangels of Funk. She also published her first sci-fi novel, Mindscape, which won the Carl Brandon Parallax Award. Tony Award winning playwright Pearl Cleage said, “Andrea Hairston’s Mindscape starts with a vision of the way things ought to be and then takes us along on the amazing journey that must be undertaken to make that vision a reality.” Hairston has spent her career exploring the links between arts and science. This multi-faceted presentation will feature readings, music, and performance. For additional information about the Ovations series, contact Philip O’Donoghue at (413) 755-4233 or [email protected].

 

An Evening of

Classical Music

Oct. 19: The New England Farm Workers’ Council, the North End Educational Development Fund, the Student Prince & Fort Restaurant, and the Puerto Rican/Latino Leadership Council will present “Diversecity,” an evening at Springfield’s Symphony Hall with the internationally renowned Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring 70 musicians and guest singers. The symphony will be conducted by Maestro Rafael Enrique Irizarry III, with special guest Kevin Rhodes. The event, starting at 7:30 p.m. and hosted by Bax & O’Brien of Rock 102, is intended to bring local residents together in celebration of the strength, diversity, and cultural richness of this region and its people. Tickets may be purchased at symphonyhall.com or ticketmaster.com.

 

Writer, Essayist to Speak

Nov. 5: Anne Fadiman, a writer, essayist, and author whose first book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, won her a National Critics Book Circle Award, will visit the region as part of the Ovations series, sponsored by the Chicopee Savings Bank Endowment for Academic Excellence, the STCC Office of Academic Affairs, and the STCC Honors Program. There will two performances, at 10:10 and 11:15 a.m., in Scibelli Hall. Both are free and open to the public. The Washington Post called Fadiman’s book “an intriguing, spirit-lifting, extraordinary exploration.” The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down tells the story of Lia Lee, the daughter of Hmong immigrants from Laos, who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1981. What follows is the story of a clash of cultures as well as an examination of the U.S. healthcare system. The book is often taught in university literary journalism courses across the country and serves as a casebook for cross-cultural sensitivity. Fadiman also is the author of Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader and At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays. She currently resides in Whately and is a professor of English and writing mentor at Yale University. For additional information about the Ovations series, contact Philip O’Donoghue at (413) 755-4233 or [email protected].

 

40 Under Forty Reunion

Nov. 8: BusinessWest will stage a reunion featuring the first six classes of its 40 Under Forty program. Details on the event will be forthcoming. What is known is that it will be staged at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, and will be open only to 40 Under Forty winners, sponsors, and their guests, as well as judges of the first six contests. For more information on the event, call (413) 781-8600, or e-mail [email protected].

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

 

• Oct. 2: Rake in the Business Tabletop Showcase, 4:30-7 p.m., 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. The ACCGS has joined the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, and Westfield chambers of commerce to bring members an affordable way to market their business. Platinum Sponsors: Charter Business, PeoplesBank, and Westfield Bank. Gold Sponsors: BusinessWest, First Niagara Bank, the Westfield News, and Harrington Insurance. Tables cost $100 and include table covering, skirt, and electricity (if needed). This opportunity is open to chamber members only. Make table reservations online at www.myonlinechamber.com, by calling CecileLarose at (413) 755-1313, or e-mailing larose@myonlinechamber. You may also fax your form to (413) 755-1322. The cost to attend the event is $5 if pre-registered, $10 at the door.

• Oct. 11: The Western Mass Business Expo, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., MassMutual Center, Springfield. The ACCGS is partnering with BusinessWest on the event, which starts with the Chamber Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in the ballroom, where Commissioner of Higher Education Richard Freeland will release the report “Time to Lead: the Need for Excellence in Massachusetts Public Higher Education.” Also planned are brief comments by area college presidents. Tickets cost $25 per person for breakfast and $45 per person for lunch. For reservations to the breakfast or lunch, contact Cecile Larose at [email protected], or register online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

• Oct. 17: Business After 5, 5-7 p.m., Six Flags New England, Agawam. Come join the chamber as Six Flags offers an inside look at the Looney Tunes characters and how they prepare to meet the public. Sponsorships are still available for this event. The Chamber has reduced the price of its After 5 this season to $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Reservations are accepted at www.myonlinechamber.com or by emailing Cecile Larose at [email protected]. There will be food and a cash bar.

• Oct. 26: Super 60 Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. This annual chamber event recognizes the top 60 companies in both revenue and growth. Presenting sponsor is Health New England. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available. Guest speakers are Stanley Kowalski III, owner and founder of FloDesign Inc., and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki, who will show how government and private industry can work together successfully in this environment. Cost is $50 for members, $70 for non-members. Reservations can be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by emailing Cecile Larose at [email protected].

 

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

 

• Oct. 4: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner, 5:30-9 p.m., Lord Jeffery Inn. Annual Awards Dinner presented by PeoplesBank. Emceed by Monte Belmonte of 93.9 FM. This year’s A+ Awards recipients are the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Legacy Award for Environmental Leadership; Ray Shafie, former owner of Copy Cat Print Shop, Lifetime Achievement in Business; Chris Riddle, retired architect and founder of Kuhn Riddle Architects, Lifetime Achievement in Business; Youssef Fadel, New England Promotional Marketing, Chamber MVP. Additional sponsors: Health New England, J.F. Conlon & Associates.

• Oct. 12: Chamber Legislative Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Lord Jeffery Inn. Cost: $15 for non-members, $12 for members.

 

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

www.franklincc.org

(413) 773-5463

 

• Oct. 12-13: Brick & Mortar International Video Arts Festival, 4-10 p.m., downtown Greenfield. A walking tour of video art. Free admission. See www.greenfieldvideofest.org for more information.

• Oct. 19: Breakfast Series Program, 7:30-9 a.m., Bella Notte Restaurant, Huckle Hill Road, Bernardston. Thank you to U.S. Rep. John Olver. Sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank and the Academy at Charlemont. Cost: $12 for members, $15 for non-members. Call (413) 773-5463 for reservations.

 

Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• Oct. 6: Casino Night, 6-11 p.m., One Cottage St., Easthampton. Come try your luck at an array of gaming tables. Lucky winners will win prizes. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash beer and wine bar throughout the evening. Major Sponsors: Easthampton Savings Bank, Finck & Perras Insurance Agency. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For more information, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org.

• Oct. 11: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5-7 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Cooley Dickinson Southampton, Rehabilitation & Outpatient Services, Big Y Plaza, College Highway, Southampton. Hors d’oeuvres and door prizes. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

• Oct. 22: Celebrity Bartenders Night, 6-9 p.m., Opa-Opa Steakhouse & Brewery, 169 College Highway, Southampton. Join us for a night of fun with local celebrities mixing drinks. Your tips benefit the chamber’s holiday-lighting fund. Raffles and fun. Free admission.

 

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce

www.holyokechamber.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Oct. 2: Rake in the Business Table Top Showcase, 5-7:30 p.m., Chicopee Castle of Knights. Four area chambers — Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield, and ACCGS — are getting together to present a tabletop mini-trade show. Tables cost $100. Call (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at www.holyokechamber.com.

• Oct. 3: Sales Training Breakfast, 7:45-9 a.m., the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. “How to Close the Sale in the New Economy,” Marc Wayshak, author of two books on sales and leadership, shares his revolutionary selling system for salespeople, entrepreneurs, and companies alike. Cost: $25 for members, $30 at the door and for non-members. Call (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at www.holyokechamber.com.

• Oct. 10: Autumn Business Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by the Republican and Holyoke Medical Center. Recognizing new members, business milestones, and networking breakfast meeting. Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $30 for non-members. Call (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at www.holyokechamber.com.

• Oct. 17: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., the Pioneer Valley Railroad train at Holyoke Heritage Park. Business networking event to take place on a train car and caboose, including a 50/50 raffle, a variety of door prize, and complimentary appetizers and beverages. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Call (413) 534-3376 to register, or sign up online at www.holyokechamber.com.

• Oct. 22: “Building a Small Business” Seminar, the PeoplesBank Conference Center at the Kittredge Business Center. Reception at 5 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. panel discussion on “Writing a Business Plan, Sales, Marketing, Networking, and Adapting to a Changing Economy.” Free admission. Call Joanna Brown at (413) 552-2253.

 

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Oct. 3: Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Sponsored by Innovative Business Systems, Crocker Communications, and Pioneer Training. Cost: $10 for members.

Professional Women’s Chamber

www.professionalwomenschamber.com

(413) 755-1310

 

• Nov. 14: November Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Max’s Tavern, MassMutual Room, Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield. Guest Speaker: Lynn Ostrowski of Health New England. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

 

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Oct. 2: Rake in the Business Table Top Showcase, Castle of Knights, Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Westfield, and Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield. Exhibitor tables cost $100.00 (Westfield’s new members get a 50% discount), and each receive six extra passes to the show. Cost: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Each ticket is entered into a drawing for a Kindle Touch with a leather case. Platinum Sponsors are Westfield Bank, PeoplesBank, and Charter Business; Gold Sponsors are BusinessWest, the Westfield News, First Niagara, and Harrington Insurance Agency Inc. Call Pam at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] to register.

• Oct. 17: WestNet Oktoberfest, 5-7 p.m., East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield. Sponsors: Comcast and Frosted Swirl Cupcakes. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members. Your first WestNet is always complimentary. Call Pam at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] to register.

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.

 

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Alexander C. Richardson v. HSBC Bank, USA National Assoc., as trustee for Wells Fargo Home Equity Assets Backed Securities

Allegation: Chapter 93A damages for wrongful foreclosure without following statute: $100,000

Filed: 8/13/12

 

David Walczak v. Mass Central Railroad Corp.

Allegation: Negligent maintenance of railroad track causing plaintiff to be thrown from his bike: $35,509.91

Filed: 8/13/12

 

Norman Lloyd Jr. v. Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding Inc.

Allegation: Failure to pay earned commission: $40,000

Filed: 8/20/12

 

Rachel L. Beiermeister v. Crackel Barrel Old Country Store Inc.

Allegation: Employment discrimination: $2,003,000

Filed: 7/31/12

 

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Amhad Development Corp. v. Amherst Assoc. Development Inc.

Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $50,000

Filed: 7/12/12

 

Felix Perez v. Anthony’s Dance Club Inc., et al

Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $40,000+

Filed: 7/27/12

 

R.E. Laplante Construction Inc. v. Harold L. Eaton Associates Inc.

Allegation: Breach of contract to supply accurate land survey: $25,000+

Filed: 7/2/12

 

Ruth M. Braman v. Ian Modesto, D.M.D

Allegation: Negligence in extraction of 22 teeth: $100,000+

Filed: 7/13/12

 

Western Mass Recycled Metals v. ABC&D Recycling Inc.

Allegation: Breach of management and operation agreement: $125,000+

Filed: 8/3/12

 

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. Avery Investment Properties, LLC

Allegation: Balance due on workers’ compensation insurance policy: $43,272

Filed: 8/10/12

 

Polygon US Corp. v. Simard’s Family Restaurant

Allegation: Non-payment of labor and materials provided for water-damage restoration: $4,006.38

Filed: 8/10/12

 

West Springfield Auto Parts v. Brake King

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $97,929.35

Filed: 8/14/12

 

West Springfield Auto Parts v. Rycorp Inc.

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $51,565.21

Filed: 8/14/12

 

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Tighe & Bond Inc. v. Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse Inc.

Allegation: Breach of contract and balance due for engineering services rendered: $36,513.89

Filed: 8/9/12

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.

 

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Easthampton Savings Bank v. JRE Masonry & Restoration Inc. and Amanda and Jerome Ezold

Allegation: Failure to make payment on a revolving line of credit: $74,711.84

Filed: 7/17/12

 

Forish Construction Co. v. Dallaswhite Corp. and DeNardo Realty, LLC

Allegation: Defendant has failed to pay for services rendered and materials supplied: $132,329

Filed: 8/9/12

 

J.D. Contracting Inc. v. Seaver Construction Inc. and Berkley Surety Group, LLC

Allegation: Breach of contract for services, labor, and materials: $439,163.54

Filed: 7/31/12

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Akiva Cahn-Lipman v. Smith College

Allegation: Breach of employment contract: $86,293.92

Filed: 8/2/12

 

DGA Realty, LLC v. University Motors, LLC

Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $100,000

Filed: 7/12/12

 

M.J. Moran Inc. v. Standard Builders Inc., Amherst Inn Owner, LLC, and Amherst Inn Co.

Allegation: Breach of contract on construction project: $703,754.55

Filed: 7/16/16

 

Safe Environment of America Inc. v. G.V.W. Inc. and Berkley Regional Insurance Agency

Allegation: Failure to pay for asbestos and other environmental services provided: $600,000

Filed: 7/10/12

 

Collins Electric Co. Inc. v. Standard Builders Inc., Amherst Inn Owner, LLC, and Amherst Inn Co.

Allegation: Breach of construction-project contract: $811,503.44

Filed: 7/16/12

 

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Easthampton Savings Bank v. Core Chiropratic Clinic

Allegation: Default on revolving business credit note: $12,014.66

Filed: 7/6/12

 

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Dolliff & Co. Inc. v. Hampden Structural Systems Inc.

Allegation: Balance due for brokerage Services provided: $8,424.32

Filed: 8/9/12

 

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. Performing Arts Building and Renovation

Allegation: Non-payment on workers’ compensation policy: $6,442.04

Filed: 8/10/12

 

Patmar Supply Inc. v. Duziem Laboratories

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $6,375.16

Filed: 8/7/12

 

TD Banknorth, N.A. v. Vins Inc. and James Rothera Jr.

Allegation: Default on promissory note: $20,098.34

Filed: 8/6/12

 

United Rentals v. Hergon Design Inc.

Allegation: Non-payment for materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $10,240.40

Filed: 8/14/12

 

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Tighe & Bond Inc. v. Fortis Property Group, LLC

Allegation: Breach of contract and balance due for engineering services rendered: $12,435.91

Filed: 8/9/12

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of August 2012.

 

AGAWAM

 

Coyote Realty, LLC

1340 Springfield St.

$750,000 — Construct new Wendy’s restaurant

 

Polish American Club

139 Southwick St.

$54,000 — Repair damaged roof trusses

 

AMHERST

 

Amherst College

Seligman Dorm

$35,000 — Renovations

 

Guidera Realty Trust

446 Main St.

$7,000 — New roof

 

Hampshire College

Lemelson Art Building

$55,000 — Renovation of existing office space

 

Holyoke Property Management

160 Old Farm Road

$70,000 — Install two new generators

 

CHICOPEE

 

Chicopee Crossing, LLC

536 Memorial Dr.

$38,000 — T-Mobile fit-out

 

D&D Chicopee Realty, LLC

49 Highland Ave.

$17,000 — Interior renovation

 

EASTHAMPTON

 

Interland Real Estate, LLC

180 Pleasant St.

$40,000 — Repairs for second-floor AC system

 

Jeanne Moore

69 Ferry St.

$25,000 — Install three antennas

 

Williston Northampton School

11 Payson Ave.

$10,000 — Exterior repairs

 

HOLYOKE

 

Baystate Health

361 Whitney Ave.

$72,000 — Tenant fit-out

 

Daughters of the Heart of Mary

1365 Northampton St.

$13,000 — Renovate existing chapel

 

Suffolk Realty Associates, LLC

56-58 Suffolk St.

$40,000 — Install three new wireless antennas

 

NORTHAMPTON

 

Robert Defresne

155 Industrial Dr.

$115,000 — Renovate office and enlarge break room

 

Smith College

44 College Lane

$290,000 — Reconstruct stairs and ramps

 

Smith College

Green St.

$101,000 — Divide classroom into four offices

 

SOUTH HADLEY

 

Integrity Development and Construction

216 Pearl St.

$83,000 — Construct garage

 

SOUTHWICK

 

Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin PC

22 Industrial Park

$1,500 — Three upgraded antennas

 

SPRINGFIELD

 

Briarwood Seven, LLC

11-31 Park St.

$230,000 — Exterior renovations

 

Buckley, Richardson and Gelinas

1500 Main St.

$1,161,000 — Office renovations on the 26th and 27th floors

 

CBRE

1316 Carew St.

$30,000 — Convert drive-thru teller to ATM

 

Paperchine

40 Progress Ave.

$113,000 — Renovation of an office and addition of a conference room

 

Ronald McDonald House

34 Chapin Terrace

$162,000 — Renovate kitchen

 

TD Banknorth

1360 Carew St.

$57,000 — Renovation of ATM room

 

Valley Psychiatric Services

505 East Columbus Ave.

$108,000 — New office space and break room

 

WEST SPRINGFIELD

 

Costco Wholesale

119 Daggett Dr.

$779,000 — Erect 2,995-square-foot addition to the northwest corner of existing commercial building

 

John Salema

95 Memorial Ave.

$70,000 — Renovate donut shop sales area

 

Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies

3925 East Broadway

$120,000 — Renovate 3,556 square feet of existing space

Doing business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of August 2012.

 

AMHERST

 

ADG Contracting

18 Edgehill Place

Douglas Olsen

 

Cat and Dog Housecall Practice

760 Station Road

Christine Massaro

 

Clearpoint Communications

72 Pelham Road

Eddy Goldberg

 

Gamer Geek Heroes

34 Pomeroy Lane

Phillip Lanson

 

Hawkins Meadow

370 Northampton Road

Lucy Carlson

Quantum Breakthrough

401 Main St.

Deborah Maclin

 

Voice Male Magazine

44 North Pleasant St.

Emily Danielle

 

CHICOPEE

 

Precisions Barbershop

97 Main St.

Benjamin F. Lester III

 

Renewed Strength

222 Langevin St.

Dawn Jarrell

 

Re-Threads

246 Montcalm St.

Kelly Bicket

 

EASTHAMPTON

 

One Match Films

1 Cottage St.

Jeff Derose

 

Paint and Pixel

12 Fox Run

Margrette Twardowski

 

HADLEY

 

Comfort Inn

237 Russell St.

Laxman Parmar

 

ECO ATM Inc.

367 Russell St.

Drew Spayenta

 

Hartsbrook School

193 Bay Rd.

Stephen Volkmann

 

HOLYOKE

 

Belden Jewelers

50 Holyoke St.

George Frankovich

 

China House

322 Appleton St.

Hong Z. Wang

 

Kay Jewelers

50 Holyoke St.

George Frankovich

 

M.J. Transcriptions

20 Easthampton Road

Katie Jones

 

Patalarga Auto Repair

63 Commerical St.

Pablo Guerrero

 

NORTHAMPTON

 

Alexis Design

5 Strong Ave.

Alexis Neubert

 

Blue Ox Greenscapes

11 Franklin St.

Michael Felbeck

 

Easthampton Pet Sitting

726 Park Hill Road

Anne Pilewsky

 

Great Specs

15 Hawley St.

Jeffrey Bostian

 

JB Auto

605 North King St.

Joseph Barker

 

Local Lead Solutions

45 Maple St.

Garrett Fitzgerald

 

Lovelight Designs

44 Ridgewood Terrace

Joseph Sandler

 

Robinson Real Estate

35 State St.

Steven Slezek

 

Tech Cavalry

355 Bridge St.

Brian Scanlon

 

PALMER

 

Ken Wheelock Painting

54 South St.

Kenneth Wheelock

 

Lazy Lady Farm

60 Olney Road

Paul Lukaskiewicz

 

Milltown Inc.

3033 Main St.

Lance Ferrell

 

P-Madrid Human Services

44 Squire St.

Margaret Warrington

 

Palmer Package Store

1015 North Main St.

Jorge Martins

 

Pawhead Produce

3090 Palmer St.

Robert Schoonover

 

POS

51 Squire St.

Jay Heinicke

 

The NR Group

43 French Dr.

Nathan Olson

 

SPRINGFIELD

 

Short Line Track Inspection

5 Louis Road

James Anthony

 

A Touch of Class Remodeling

760 Sumner Ave.

Eddie Alicea

 

Aaron’s

1275 Liberty St.

Ray Simmons

 

Acorn Learning Center

62 Noel St.

Rita Panasian

 

Action Center

1 Armory Square

Bob Giannino-Racine

 

Ambassador Car Wash

1095 State St.

Jaime Rodriguez

 

BBP & Fast Transport

17 Olmsted Dr.

Ricky D. Boone

 

Bamboo House

676 Belmont Ave.

Hieu Le

 

Bezalel Prophetic Art

1676 Carew St.

Triny E. Vargas

 

Calvin Auto Repairing

170 Massachusetts Ave.

Calvin Fearing

 

Chestnut Transport

238 Rear Chestnut St.

Christopher J. Ortega

 

Color Your World Painting

2207 Page Blvd.

Johnson H. Lamont

 

CS-MA LLC

34 Rocus St.

Shawn P. Carroll

 

Delicias Caribenas

127 Stafford St.

Otero A. Luis

 

Ermosa Hair Design

20 Arnold St.

Carmen M. Silva

 

Ferrero Plumbing & Heating

200 Abbott St.

Jason M Ferrero

 

Gold Pizza

459 Main St.

Turkmen Tayfun

 

Gugies Trucking

36 Beauregard St.

Steven A. Gugenberger

 

IBS Electronics

225 Armory St.

Jonathan J. Waitt

 

International Health Services

604 Cottage St.

Margarita Blanter

 

J3T Set Design Group

108 Upton St.

James Frances

 

JBL Construction Company

100 Progress Ave.

Teixeira Carlos

 

WESTFIELD

 

Hair by Julie

34 School St.

Julie Ryan

 

JEP Distributing

18 Gladwin Dr.

James Schiep

 

Southern States Cooperative Inc.

323 Lockhouse Road

Wayne Sine

 

Westfield School of Music

347 Elm St.

Isabelle Boggs

 

WEST SPRINGFIELD

 

Colmatt Associates

50 Wishing Well Way

Sandra M. Fletcher

 

El Safi Supermarket

532 Main St.

Ashraf M. Galal

 

Haireast Inc.

8 Chestnut St.

Jennifer Gamelli

 

Metamorphosis Massage

201 Westfield St.

Kathleen A. Cullinan

 

NTB

400 Memorial Ave.

Orland Wolford

 

Park Street Convenience Store

54 Park St.

Pravinbhai Patel

 

Rehab Resolutions Inc.

1111 Elm St.

Sofia Zanzarella

 

Stop & Save

2011 Riverdale St.

Alqaim, Inc.

 

The Courtyards

1139 Westfield St.

Mass Courtyards

 

Westside Aikido

452 Main St.

Lorraine Dianne

 

Wingate at West Springfield

42 Prospect Ave.

Michael S. Benjamin

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

STCC, Eastern States Exposition Partner on Internship Program

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and the Eastern States Exposition (ESE) recently announced a scholarship that creates internship opportunities for STCC students in the Civil Engineering Technology program. Through a donation from Eastern States Exposition, the college created the STCC Civil Engineering Excellence Fund this past June to support a Civil Engineering Learning Laboratory at the exposition facilities. The laboratory will provide STCC students with the opportunity to apply classroom skills outside the campus in a working environment. The partnership between STCC and the ESE will provide a unique learning opportunity to STCC students. Selected interns will receive a scholarship and be recognized at the annual STCC scholarship and awards ceremony. Students will develop project organization, management, and communication plans; catalog, review, and digitally archive historical blueprints and engineering documents; interview and gather facility development history; locate the exposition site’s structural, sewer, electrical, and roadway systems; provide updated digital schematics and renderings of the site using industry-standard software; and recommend areas for consideration for future analysis and verification. “It’s a unique opportunity for our students because it allows them to have a historical perspective of what they are working on,” said STCC Foundation Interim Director Robert LePage. “It’s a really great hands-on learning experience.” STCC student Carlos Cruz is the first student to participate in the program and began work this summer. Under the supervision of STCC Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering Technology Robert Vetrano, Cruz already has scanned more than 600 of the exposition’s drawings, converted them into TIF format, cleaned the images, and finally converted them into PDF format. Next summer, LePage said he hopes to have at least three or four additional interns to help with the project, and credits the Eastern States Exposition with stepping forward to become the first local organization to support the scholarship program. “It’s an interesting project,” said LePage. “And it’s nice to support and partner with an organization like the Eastern States Exposition, with such a strong mission and focus on education.” LePage noted that, while the ESE is the first organization to step forward to contribute to the STCC Civil Engineering Excellence Fund, there are opportunities for other area businesses to get involved.

 

Colony Hills Capital Announces Acquisition

WILBRAHAM — Colony Hills Capital, LLC (CHC), a Wilbraham-based real-estate-investment firm, recently closed on the $14 million purchase of Wynthrope Forest Apartments, a 270-unit, garden-style community located in Riverdale, Ga. Wynthrope Forest, built in 2000, occupies 28 acres of land. “Because Wynthrope Forest was an REO, we were able to acquire this tremendous asset at an excellent cost basis and significantly below replacement cost,” said David Kaufman, vice president with CHC. “With minor capital improvements and instituting best-in-class management disciplines, I believe our investors will be rewarded with strong risk-adjusted returns.” CHC was joined by equity partners Plymouth Opportunity REIT and Redwood Real Estate Partners in the investment, as well as Morgan Stanley, which provided the mortgage financing on the property.

 

Big Y Opens Latest Store

in Franklin

SPRINGFIELD —  Big Y recently opened its newest World Class Market at 348  East Central St. in Franklin. The 56,866- square-foot market boasts many new innovations both inside and outside of the store. Bowdoin Construction Corp. served as the general contractor for this location, in conjunction with several local subcontractors, such as Tom Gioloso Construction Inc., for the completion of this $14.5 million investment that began in September 2011. “All of us at Big Y are excited to offer the Franklin community with a brand-new shopping experience and a new option for their grocery and lifestyle needs,” said Big Y’s president and chief operating officer, Charles D’Amour.

 

AJE Financial Services Moves into New Quarters

LUDLOW — AJE Financial Services in Ludlow recently moved into new offices at 588 Center St. in Ludlow. Previously located on 364 East St. in Ludlow, the company had outgrown its former location. Owner and President Robin Wdowiak said he is pleased to be able to keep the business in town. “AJE Financial Services has been a part of the Ludlow business community for 17 years, and we are thrilled that we were able to find a  suitable location right here in town,” said Wdowiak. “I grew up in Ludlow and know many of the residents here, so there is always a neighbor-helping-neighbor feeling to the services that we provide.” The company staged an open house on Sept. 6.

People On the Move

By
Allison Ebner
Departments People on the Move

Allison Ebner

Allison Ebner

FIT Solutions, a Springfield-based information-technology staffing firm, announced the appointment of Allison Ebner as Director of Recruiting. Ebner has worked in staffing and recruiting for more than 15 years previously, serving as a vice president for United Personnel. Since earning her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Ithaca College, she has provided resources to a variety of industries, including the marketing, manufacturing, retail-distribution, and healthcare sectors. Ebner is experienced in managing large-volume staffing projects and has assisted client companies in planning for their annual strategic staffing initiatives.

•••••

MassMutual Retirement Services Division recently announced the addition of Christopher Stout as Sales Director to support its growing presence in the Southeast region. Stout joined the division on Aug. 1 and will be responsible for business development and sales support of MassMutual’s third-party and dedicated distribution channels focusing on retirement plans in the small-plan market.

•••••

Todd Kirton

Todd Kirton

Tighe & Bond announced that Todd Kirton, a Senior Hydrogeologist with the firm for 17 years, has earned his Licensed Site Professional credential. Experienced in the cleanup of oil and hazardous-material contamination, he will also be responsible for developing and executing services for clients that satisfy the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection requirements.

•••••

Sean West has been promoted to Manager of Ticket Sales for the Springfield Falcons, an AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. West was initially hired by the Falcons as an account executive following the 2011-12 season. He will oversee the ticket department, working closely with team staff and the local community to increase both season and group ticket sales.

•••••

Suzanne Beck, Executive Director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and the interim director for the emerging regional Hampshire County Chamber of Commerce, and the founding directors of that new organization recently announced the addition of two additional new Founding Directors:

Molly Keegan

Molly Keegan

• Molly Keegan, a Financial Planner with the Davis Financial Group of Hadley and a board member of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce; and

Ruth Constantine

Ruth Constantine

• Ruth Constantine, Vice President for Finance and Administration at Smith College.

Both will offer increased geographical representation as well as a voice for the area’s local chambers and its colleges and universities. The formation of the regional chamber was announced in March, and founding directors and regional organizations have invested over one-third of the $400,000 needed over two years to bring the concept to fruition.

•••••

The Sisters of Providence Health System recently named Dr. Mary Tarail Chief Medical Officer for Providence Behavioral Health Hospital. Tarail, who previously served as the Associate Medical Director of Geriatric Psychiatry at Providence, will now be responsible for the medical leadership at the facility, including the coordination of all patient care and safety, quality assessment, risk management, patient satisfaction, and improvement in health care programs, and will serve as a liaison between the medical staff and administration. Previously, Tarail served as the Inpatient Unit Chief for Geriatric Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York and was also the Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Clinic at the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital. She is fellowship-trained in the psychiatric treatment of older adults and is sub-specialty board-certified.

•••••

FieldEddy Insurance recently appointed Michael Collura as Account Executive, Commercial Lines. Collura, a Certified Insurance Service Representative in Massachusetts, will advise new and existing clients on insurance risk-management techniques.

•••••

Hospice Services of Western Mass. announced that David McDougall, D.O. has become the Medical Director for its Feeding Hills office. McDougall graduated from the University of Osteopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa in 1995. His post-graduate training was done at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, New York followed by a residency with Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He is board-eligible in internal medicine and is a member of the Long-Term and Sub-Acute Team at Hampden County Physician Associates caring for patients in local skilled-nursing facilities.

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Auction and Wine, Beer & Spirit Tasting

Sept. 13: Wine tasting is a spirited, thirst-quenching and good-natured adventure. And when it is the annual Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Auction & Wine, Beer & Spirit Tasting Event, it is also a fund-raiser for a not-for-profit community resource that supports local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and the overall development of the region. Chicopee Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor of this year’s event, to be held at the Log Cabin from 6 to 9 p.m. William Wagner, president of Chicopee Savings Bank, and John Baran, station manager of WWLP-22 News, will serve as emcees. The event will include gourmet food stations. and wine, beer, and spirit samples will be available from Berkshire Brewing, Commercial Distributing, Commonwealth Wines & Spirits, Opa-Opa, V1 Vodka, and Williams Distributing. The event will also feature a silent auction, and the Eric Bascom Jazz Trio will also provide music. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. The general public is invited. To reserve tickets, contact the chamber at (413) 594-2101 or www.chicopeechamber.org.

 

The Big E

Sept. 14-30: From live music and parades to sea lions and a circus, there’s something for everyone at the Big E. Country music artist Rodney Atkins will play a concert at the outdoor Comcast Arena Stage on Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The Big E’s Mardi Gras Parade returns to the fair with eight custom-made floats specially designed and built by the Kern Companies of New Orleans. The Big E Super Circus features aerial daredevils the Marinofs, the wonder dogs of David Rosaire’s Perky Pekes, the equilibristic ability of Dany Daniels and Edina, comedy, and more. In addition, the Big E will feature a show with the Peking Acrobats, horse shows, the U.S. Freestyle Motocross National Championship series, hypnotist Catherine Hickland, the Sea Lion Splash show, and much more. Look for details and show times at www.thebige.com. Gates open each day at 8 a.m., and building exhibits are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Avenue of States is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Storrowton Village is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Craft Common is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the Midway is open Sunday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

 

Reading and Book Signing

Sept. 17: Author and education advocate Jonathan Kozol will read from his latest book on at 7 p.m. in the Leslie Phillips Theater at Holyoke Community College. The event is free and open to the public. After the reading, Kozol will discuss and sign copies of Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-five Years Among the Poorest Children in America. He is an author and educational activist known for his non-fiction books on public education in inner-city schools, beginning with Death at an Early Age in 1967, which he wrote after working as a teacher in the Boston public-school system where he was fired for teaching a poem by Langston Hughes. The book won a National Book Award. In Fire in the Ashes, Kozol revisits the schools and children he first wrote about in his books Amazing Grace and Rachel and her Children. For more information, contact Liz Golen, HCC Student Activities coordinator, at (413) 552-2418 or [email protected].

 

‘All Souls’ Author

to Discuss Memoir

Sept. 21: As part of the Ovations series, sponsored by the Chicopee Savings Bank Endowment for Academic Excellence, the STCC Office of Academic Affairs, and the STCC Honors Program, Michael Patrick McDonald will discuss his coming-of-age memoir All Souls. There will be two performances, at 10:10 and 11:15 a.m., in Scibelli Hall. Both are free and open to the public. All Souls is an account of McDonald’s upbringing in South Boston during the turbulent 1970s. MacDonald, the ninth child in a family of 11, was raised by his mother. Four of his siblings died tragically, two of whom were associated with Whitey Bulger, the notorious crime czar of South Boston. Much of All Souls deals with the power Bulger held over South Boston and the tragic effects that had on MacDonald’s family. MacDonald will return to STCC, where he captivated the audience three years ago, to talk about Whitey Bulger and the legacy Bulger leaves behind. USA Today calls MacDonald “a born rabble-rouser whose emotional power numbs the reader’s reason.” For additional information about the Ovations series, contact Philip O’Donoghue at (413) 755-4233 or [email protected].

 

World Affairs Council Annual Meeting

Oct. 10: Hampshire College President Jonathan Lash will speak at the World Affairs Council of Western Mass. Annual Meeting & Dinner in the Mahogany Room of the Springfield Sheraton Hotel in downtown Springfield. More details will be forthcoming. Lash is an internationally recognized expert on practical solutions to global sustainability and development challenges. Before he became president of Hampshire College in 2011, he served as president of World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental think tank with offices in eight countries and partners in more than 50 countries. WRI is an international leader on issues ranging from low-carbon development to sustainable transportation. From 1993 to 1999, Lash was co-chair of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, a group of government, business, labor, civil-rights, and environmental leaders appointed by Bill Clinton that developed visionary recommendations for strategies to promote sustainable development. He played a key role in the creation and success of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, which in 2007 issued the highly influential “Call to Action” on global warming. Prior to WRI, Lash held posts as director of Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Center, Vermont secretary of Natural Resources, and Vermont commissioner of Environmental Conservation, as well as a federal prosecutor. For more information on the event, call (413) 733-0110.

 

Western Mass.

Business Expo

Oct. 11: BusinessWest will again present the Western Mass. Business Expo. The event, which made its debut last fall at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, will feature more than 180 exhibitors, seminars, special presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and the year’s most extensive networking opportunity. Comcast Business Class will again be the presenting sponsor of the event. Details, including breakfast and lunch agendas, seminar topics, and featured speakers, will be printed in the pages of BusinessWest over the coming months. For more information or to purchase a booth, call (413) 781-8600, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

 

Novelist, Playwright

to Speak at STCC

Oct. 12: Andrea Hairston, novelist and playwright, will visit the region as part of the Ovations series, sponsored by the Chicopee Savings Bank Endowment for Academic Excellence, the STCC Office of Academic Affairs, and the STCC Honors Program. There will two performances, at 10:10 and 11:15 a.m., in Scibelli Hall. Both are free and open to the public. Hairston is the Artistic Director of Chrysalis Theatre. For more than 30 years, Hairston has created original music, dance, and mask productions. In 1997, Hairston turned her interest to science fiction and wrote a sci-fi theatre jam, Archangels of Funk. She also published her first sci-fi novel, Mindscape, which won the Carl Brandon Parallax Award. Tony Award winning playwright Pearl Cleage said, “Andrea Hairston’s Mindscape starts with a vision of the way things ought to be and then takes us along on the amazing journey that must be undertaken to make that vision a reality.” Hairston has spent her career exploring the links between arts and science. This multi-faceted presentation will feature readings, music, and performance. For additional information about the Ovations series, contact Philip O’Donoghue at (413) 755-4233 or [email protected].
An Evening of

Classical Music

Oct. 19: The New England Farm Workers’ Council, the North End Educational Development Fund, the Student Prince & Fort Restaurant, and the Puerto Rican/Latino Leadership Council will present “Diversecity,” an evening at Springfield’s Symphony Hall with the internationally renowned Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring 70 musicians and guest singers. The symphony will be conducted by Maestro Rafael Enrique Irizarry III, with special guest Kevin Rhodes. The event, starting at 7:30 p.m. and hosted by Bax & O’Brien of Rock 102, is intended to bring local residents together in celebration of the strength, diversity, and cultural richness of this region and its people. Tickets may be purchased at symphonyhall.com or ticketmaster.com.

 

Writer, Essayist to Speak

Nov. 5: Anne Fadiman, a writer, essayist, and author whose first book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, won her a National Critics Book Circle Award, will visit the region as part of the Ovations series, sponsored by the Chicopee Savings Bank Endowment for Academic Excellence, the STCC Office of Academic Affairs, and the STCC Honors Program. There will two performances, at 10:10 and 11:15 a.m., in Scibelli Hall. Both are free and open to the public. The Washington Post called Fadiman’s book “an intriguing, spirit-lifting, extraordinary exploration.” The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down tells the story of Lia Lee, the daughter of Hmong immigrants from Laos, who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1981. What follows is the story of a clash of cultures as well as an examination of the U.S. healthcare system. The book is often taught in university literary journalism courses across the country and serves as a casebook for cross-cultural sensitivity. Fadiman also is the author of Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader and At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays. She currently resides in Whately and is a professor of English and writing mentor at Yale University. For additional information about the Ovations series, contact Philip O’Donoghue at (413) 755-4233 or [email protected].

 

40 Under Forty Reunion

Nov. 8: BusinessWest will stage a reunion featuring the first six classes of its 40 Under Forty program. Details on the event will be forthcoming. What is known is that it will be staged at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, and will be open only to 40 Under Forty winners, sponsors, and their guests, as well as judges of the first six contests. For more information on the event, call (413) 781-8600, or e-mail [email protected].

Editorial

By
Opinion
It’s Time to Be Very Smart About Things

We were encouraged to read recently that Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno has backed off on his stance that only one casino proposal involving the city would be forwarded to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for consideration.
“I have instructed our city departments and our consultants to conduct an open, fair, and robust competitive process that will allow me to choose the project or projects that best meet the city’s selection criteria,” said the mayor in a prepared statement issued a few weeks ago, one that used the words that should define this process until it is concluded: open, fair, and robust.
And it is with those words in mind that we applaud that decision and offer another strong reminder that, given the gravity of the situation, city officials must be extremely diligent in every decision made involving this matter, because mistakes can be costly, and in a number of ways.
And there is already ample evidence that the city hasn’t done that kind of diligence before making some rather critical decisions involving the casino issue.
But first, regarding the mayor’s decision to allow casino proposals, in the plural, to move on to the Gaming Commission: this makes all the sense in the world, because it heightens the competition, improves the city’s odds of eventually landing a casino within its borders, and brings a much higher level of integrity to the process.
Indeed, singling out one proposal would put too much power in the hands of the Springfield Casino Site Committee — when it belongs with the state Gaming Commission — and raise questions about the overall integrity of the process, given that this panel was selected by city councilors that have more than a passing interest in where the casino goes.
Initially limiting the Springfield casino sweepstakes to one horse is one of those decisions that apparently were not thought through by those who have been making them. And there are more examples of this.
Such as the hiring of the Chicago-based law firm now consulting for the city on the casino matter. That firm, Shefsky & Froelich, is a lobbyist in Illinois for MGM Resorts and Penn National Gaming, two of the casino companies vying to place a facility in the City of Homes.
Officials with Ameristar Casinos, another company that wants to build in the city, have raised questions about whether the consultant’s relationship with its competitors indicates a possible lack of neutrality on the matter, and they are right to do so. Shefsky & Froelich is now asking for a ruling on the matter from the state Ethics Commission, and Stephen Crosby, chairman of the state Gaming Commission, has gone so far as to ask Sarno to postpone the process for selecting a casino until the matter of a potential conflict of interest is resolved.
It seems logical that these questions should have been answered before the firm was hired, because failure to do so raises more questions about competence and integrity.
Meanwhile, there are questions about the Springfield Casino Site Committee itself, mainly about why the general manager of a local television station (Bill Pepin, of WWLP-TV 22) is a part of that mix.
MGM Resorts has already spent thousands of dollars with the station, and other players will likely do the same, creating what would by all accounts be a huge conflict of interest. Pepin is a very intelligent, thoughtful individual who has done a lot for Springfield over the years, but he simply shouldn’t be on this committee and accepting advertising dollars from casino companies at the same time.
In defense of those who have made these decisions over the past several months, they are maneuvering through uncharted waters; the state and this city have never gone through a process like this before. Meanwhile, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find an individual or company that doesn’t have some stake in the outcome of this casino contest.
That said, though, it’s critical that all those involved with this matter be extremely thorough, fair, and transparent in everything they do in order to ensure a process that is above reproach.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

 

• Sept. 13: ACCGS Board of Directors Meeting, 8-9 a.m. Location TBD.

• Sept. 14: ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee, 8-9 a.m. at the TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

• Sept. 19: ERC Board of Directors Meeting, 8-9 a.m. at the Gardens of Wilbraham.

• Sept. 28: ERC5 Chamber Annual Golf Classic, at the Country Club of Wilbraham. Registration is at 11:30 a.m., with a 12:15 shotgun start. Cost is $110 for golfers. To register and for sponsor information, contact Roberto Nieves at (413) 755-1318.

 

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

 

• Sept. 25: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m. at the Lord Jeffery Inn, 30 Boltwood Ave., Amherst. Introducing UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, who assumed his role on July 1. He is the 11th chancellor of the flagship campus. Tickets are $12 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

 

• Sept. 13: The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Annual Auction and Wine, Beer & Spirit Tasting, 6-9 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Music by the Eric Bascom Jazz Trio. Bid on great auction items including Red Sox tickets, restaurant gift certificates, golf clubs, massages, gift baskets, and more. Sample wine, beer, and spirits from Berkshire Brewing, Commercial Distributing, Commonwealth Wine & Spirits, Opa-Opa, V1 Vodka, and Williams Distributing. Discounted tickets at $35 must be purchased in advance by calling (413) 594-2101 or online at www.chicopeechamber.org. Tickets will be $40 at the door.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.franklincc.org

(413) 773-5463

 

• Sept. 21: Chamber Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., at the Franklin County Tech School, Turners Falls.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• Sept. 13: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange “Fall Fling,” 5-7 p.m. at Opa-Opa Steakhouse & Brewery, 169 College Highway, Southampton. Sponsored by All About You, LLC. Door prizes, Hors d’ouevres. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

• Sept. 14: Karrin Allyson & Amherst Jazz Orchestra Bear Fest 2012 Concert, 7 p.m. at the White Brook Middle School, 200 Park St., Easthampton. Sponsored by the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $15 for general admission. For tickets and more Bear Fest info, visit www.easthamptonbearfest.com

 

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www. holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Sept. 12: Legislative Coffee Hour, 7:45-9:15 a.m. at the Summit View, 555 Northampton St. Sponsored by Dowd Insurance Agency and Loomis Communities.
Featuring local elected officials discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the Commonwealth, Holyoke, and our businesses in the months ahead. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Call Wanda Zabawa at (413) 534-3376 for reservations, or register online at holyokechamber.com.

• Sept. 19: Holyoke Chamber Clambake, 5-7:30 p.m. at Holyoke Country Club
Presented by United Water and sponsored by Holyoke Gas & Electric and Westfield Bank, this seafood feast features lobster, steamers, clam chowder, make-your-own strawberry shortcake bar, and much more. Raffle prizes; $1,000 cash prize putting contest; and 50/50 Raffle. Get ninne holes of golf and a cart for only $15. Tickets are $30. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to reserve tickets, or register online at holyokechamber.com.

 

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Sept. 12: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m. at the Northampton Athletic Club, 306 King St., Northampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Sponsored by United Bank, United Personnel, and Dietz & Co. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY

www.thenayp.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Sept. 13: September Networking Social. Location TBD.

 

PROFESSSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com

(413) 755-1310

 

• Sept. 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m, at the MassMutual Room at Max’s Tavern. Keynote Speaker is Carla Oleska, CEO of the Women’s Fund. Tickets are $25 for PWC members, $35 for non-members.

 

QUABOAG HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.qvcc.biz

(413) 283-2418

 

• Sept. 14: 2012 QHCC Annual Golf Tournament, at Cold Spring Country Club, 336 Chauncey Walker St., Belchertown. Sponsored by Monson Savings Bank. Please consider sponsoring this event early. Enjoy a relaxing day of golf at the newest golf course in the area. Registration is at 10 a.m., shotgun start at 11. Dinner is at approximately 4 p.m. To register, contact [email protected], or call (413) 283-2418 for more information. Win this tournament, and your team can display the first QHCC championship trophy.

 

SOUTH HADLEY/GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.shchamber.com

(413) 532-6451

 

• Sept. 18: Beyond Business, 5-7 p.m., at the the Old Firehouse Museum, 4 North Main St., South Hadley. Honor our premier members. Invitations will follow with details.

 

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

 

• Sept. 13: Programs Committee Meeting. Committee meets to discuss and develop WRC’s membership meetings, events, and promotions. If you would like to join this committee, e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• Sept. 13: Economic Development Committee Meeting. Committee meets to address how WRC can enhance the economic development of Agawam and West Springfield. If you would like to join this committee, e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• Sept. 20: Economic Development Committee Meeting.

• Sept. 21: Executive Committee Meeting. A closed committee meeting of the chairman of the board, vice chairman, previous chairman, secretary, and treasurer. If you have something you would like addressed at this meeting, e-mail [email protected].

• Sept. 25: Board of Directors Retreat. A closed meeting of the board of directors. If you have something you would like to see addressed at this meeting, e-mail [email protected], and your comments and questions will be forwarded appropriately.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Sept. 13: Downtown Comes to Campus, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Westfield State University will showcase 18 downtown vendors in the Tim & Jeanne’s Dining Commons to students, staff and faculty. The event is free. There will be giveaways, raffle prizes, and demonstrations. Contact Pam Bussell at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• Sept. 14: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce September Breakfast. Registration is at 7:15 a.m., and the program begins at 7:50. Hosted by the  104th  Fighter Wing, Air National Guard Base, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield. Sponsors: Platinum Sponsor, Westfield Bank; Silver Sponsors: Easthampton Savings Bank, Field Eddy Insurance, Noble Hospital, United Way, Walmart, and Westfield Gas & Electric; Bronze Sponsors: Expert Tire and Renaissance Manor. Speaker: Brian Barnes, Airport Manager, Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. Tickets are $25 for chamber members, $30 cash for non-members. Contact Pam Bussell at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] for tickets or for more information.

• Sept. 19: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce WestNet After 5 Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Stevens 470 Marketing & Creative, 470 Southampton Road, Westfield. Speaker: Karen Rubin, executive director, Amelia Park Children’s Museum. Tickets: chamber members, $10, non-members $15 cash. Contact Pam Bussell at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] for tickets or for more information.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of August 2012.

 

AGAWAM

 

Agawam Dogworks, LLC

860 Suffield St.

$50,000 — Interior renovations

 

Coopers Commons, LLC

159 Main St.

$10,000 — Renovation of existing space into restaurant

 

Crown Castle

628 Meadow St.

$15,000 — Upgrade antenna panels

 

CHICOPEE

 

200 Tillary, LLC

165 Front St.

$8,000 — Re-roof

 

First Central Baptist Church

50 Broadway St.

$7,000 — Interior renovation for chairlift

 

One Putt Inc.

1469 Granby Road

$12,000 — Addition at Soft Touch Auto Wash

 

Gotpac, LLC

13 Center St.

$15,000 — Outdoor bar pavilion foundation

 

GREENFIELD

 

American Tower Corp.

1385 Bernardston Road

$15,000 — Antenna upgrade

 

 

American Tower Corp.

180 Country Club Road

$15,000 — Antenna upgrade

 

Apple New England, LLC

141 Mohawk Trail

$35,000 — Perform cosmetic changes to the interior of existing Appleby’s

 

Baystate Franklin Medical Center

164 High St.

$10,000 — Construct north building separation

 

Baystate Franklin Medical Center

164 High St

$4,200 — Install new fire-rated door

 

Joel Tognarelli

85 Pierce St.

$12,000 — Office renovations

 

Leo P. Lachance

487-489 Bernardston Road

$36,000 — Change layout of rental space for new tenant

 

William Goly

286 Federal St.

$23,000 — New addition

 

LUDLOW

 

Aristides Nunes

387 East St.

$4,300 — Alterations

 

St. Paul Church

115-123 Hubbard St.

$21,000 — Reshingle

 

SOUTH HADLEY

 

2nd Baptist Church

589 Granby Road

$15,000 — Remodel

 

R.E. Reynolds

480 Granby Road

$20,000 — New roof

 

SOUTHWICK

 

O’Leary Group Inc.

9 Sam West St.

$253,000 — New building

 

SPRINGFIELD

 

AIC

963 Main St.

$71,000 — 900-square-foot bathroom renovation

 

AIC

1067 State St.

$101,000 — 3,500-square-foot renovation at Cournioles Hall

 

C&W Real Estate Company

1200 Main St.

$100,000 — Renovation of second-floor suite

 

Picknelly Family Limited

One Monarch Place

$188,000 — Renovation of the 13th floor

 

WESTFIELD

 

7 B’s

1159 Southampton Road

$50,000 — Interior renovation for restaurant

 

Arrow Drug Store

427 North Elm St.

$23,000 — New roof

 

Mark Katz

587 East Main St.

$20,000 — Renovations for new tenants

 

New Corner Variety

2 Crown St.

$6,000 — Renovations for new deli center

 

St. Mary’s School

30 Bartlett St.

$25,000 — New roof over entrance

 

WEST SPRINGFIELD

 

Audrey Pelielko

751 Union St.

$10,000 — Renovate space into hair salon

 

CB Richard Ellis

225 Memorial Dr.

$28,500 — Install drive-thru ATM

 

ACMX Realty

622 Union St.

$48,000 — 3,000-square-foot renovation

 

Calabrese LLC

60 Chilson St.

$13,000 — 234-square-foot renovation to convenience store

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

 

 

Bass, Ronald R.

Bass, Joyce A.

137 Cloran St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/03/12

 

Beaudin, Paula J.

a/k/a Boyajian, Paula J.

374 West St.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

Bedinger, Linda S.

96 Ridge Ave.

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/29/12

 

Bell, Andrea Lee

a/k/a Gross, Andrea Lee

280 Elm St., 3rd Fl.

Northampton, MA 01060

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

Berry, Patricia A.

187 Conway St.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/13/12

 

Blavackas, Ilona E.

P.O. Box 486

South Barre, MA 01074

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/11/12

 

Boulter, Richard A.

56 Meadow Lane

Ashfield, MA 01330

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/03/12

 

Bourassa, Gene A.

a/k/a Bourassa, Eugene A.

80 Housatonic St.

Lee, MA 01238

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/13/12

 

Brito, Nazario Elias

27 Cleveland St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/09/12

 

Carter, Leslie A.

30 Middle St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/09/12

 

Chapin, Justin C.

43 Depot St.

P.O. Box 36

Bernardston, MA 01337

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

Choiniere, Robert Michael

342 Green River Road

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

Christofori, William H.

1554 Memorial Ave., Apt 2

West Springfield, MA 01089

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/06/12

 

Claing, Francis L.

11 Butler Road

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/09/12

 

Coffin, Kimberley F.

8 Cold Spring Road

Southampton, MA 01073

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Colon, Jackeline

10 Chestnut St.

Springfield, MA 01103

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Cooper, Odessa

140 Chestnut St. #815

Springfield, MA 01103

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

Cooter, Susan A.

49 Crow Lane

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/13/12

 

Cranston, Laurie A.

a/k/a Barbeau, Laurie A.

263 Federal St.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/30/12

 

Creamer, Guillermo D.

1 Ladd Road

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/03/12

 

Daunais, Jeremy L.

55 Royal Lane

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Day, Joann

59 Nora Lane

Ludlow, MA 01056

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/05/12

 

DePaola, Mark A.

DePaola, Deborah S.

180 Highland Ave.

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Forsyth, Curtis L.

54 Overland Road

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/11/12

 

Francisquini, Milagros

335 Beech St., Apt 2L

Holyoke, MA 01040

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/05/12

 

Garrity, Francis

P O Box 9

South Lee, MA 01260

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/11/12

 

Hall, Patricia Ann

582 Pleasant St., Apt. 2F

Holyoke, MA 01040

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Hallums, Johnny R.

791 Armory St.

Springfield, MA 01107

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/11/12

 

Harnden, Brian S.

263 Granville Road

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/02/12

 

Henderson, William

4 Knight Ave.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

Hoppe, Peter M.P.

Hoppe, Jennifer A.

21 Pond Brook Road

Huntington, MA 01050

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/29/12

 

Jarvis, Mark D.

20 Clement St., Apt. B

Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/13/12

 

Johnson, Allen

8 Grout Circle, Apt. 1

Millers Falls, MA 01349

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/30/12

 

King, Christina M.

a/k/a Fillion, Christina M.

P.O. Box 224

Gilbertville, MA 01031

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/09/12

 

Lacaprucia, William C.

158 Overlook Dr.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Laliberte, Donna M.

a/k/a Laliberte Arcoite, Donna M.

8 Birch St.

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/02/12

 

Lapalm, Julita

a/k/a Kalinowski, Julita

72 Corey Road

Springfield, MA 01128

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/29/12

 

Long, Tanya E.

171 Higher Brook Dr.

Ludlow, MA 01056

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Madzunovic, Judy Ann

18 Cherry St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

McCaleb, Mark Spencer

4 Gross Lane

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/03/12

 

McCaughey, Donald M.

McCaughey, Flavia H.

56 Fiske Hill Road

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/30/12

 

McCormack, Kerry H.

57 Old Farm Road

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/09/12

 

McHugh, Jama L.

5 Russell St.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/13/12

 

Mestre, Monica

PO Box 495

Ludlow, MA 01056

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Miller, Michael J.

a/k/a Paradis-Miller, Kimberly G.

265 Prospect St. Ext.

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/06/12

 

Monahan, James F.

Monahan, Susan C.

72 Merrick Ave.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/05/12

 

Nordquist, Michael J.

Nordquist, Brenda S.

24 Converse St

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

O’Neill, Roy F.

664 East Main St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/13/12

 

Palmer, Robert E.

Palmer, Charlene A.

109 Railroad Ave.

Great Barrington, MA 01230

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/30/12

 

Pananas, Leonidas

Pananas, Carol J.

1673 Suffield St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/03/12

 

Penna, Christopher M.

16 America St., Apt E

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Pinero, Amarilys C.

44 Colony Road

West Springfield, MA 01089

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Pitchford, Amanda J.

23 3rd St.

Turners Falls, MA 01376

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 07/03/12

 

Ranney-Blake, Robert S.

139 Sandgully Road

South Deerfield, MA 01373

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/30/12

 

Ranney-Blake, Timothy E.

139 Sand Gully Road

South Deerfield, MA 01373

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/30/12

 

RHP Subcontract Services

Patriquin, Richard H.

52 Plastics Ave.

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

Rys, Robert M.

Rys, Priscilla A.

155 Ventura St.

Ludlow, MA 01056

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/11/12

 

Shaw, Robert A.

Shaw, Barbara A.

127 Burma Road

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/29/12

 

Shipp, Michelle D.

a/k/a Morton, Michelle D.

120 Moreland St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/12/12

 

Skillings, Travis Carl

118 College Hwy.

Southampton, MA 01073

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Smith, Randolph Mark

PO Box 1105

Chicopee, MA 01021

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Smith, Rebecca Anne

20 Union St., Apt. 4

Northampton, MA 01060

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/03/12

 

Stovall, Delana J.

15 Prince St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/11/12

 

Sullivan, Terry-Ray L.

Sullivan, Mary T.

PO Box 32

Colrain, MA 01340

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/06/12

 

Swiecanski, Edith Helen

a/k/a Miller, Edith Helen

a/k/a Durrell, Edith Helen

a/k/a Bastardi, Edith Helen

157 Riverboat Village Road

South Hadley, MA 01075

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Valle, Jo Ann

193 B North Main St.

South Deerfield, MA 01373

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/10/12

 

Walsh-Lopez, Lynn Ann

413 Batchelor St.

Granby, MA 01033

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/30/12

 

Weeden, Paul M.

Weeden, Lynn M.

224 Conway St.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 07/06/12

 

Lopez-Gonzalez, Ada Iris

310 Stafford St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/29/12

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of August 2012.

 

AGAWAM

 

Country Manor

59 South Westfield St.

Mass Country Manor LTD

 

JBC Homes

54 Roberta Circle

Johnny D. Boucher

 

Popoli Motor Sports

55 Ramah Circle

Jason Kodess

 

Spotless Cleaning Services

109 Regency Park Dr.

M. Diejuste

 

Squire’s Bistro

111 Cottonwood Lane

Frederick Withee

 

 

CHICOPEE

 

Affordable Classes

183 Baystate Road

Anthony Yacuzzo

 

On-Site PC Repair & Games

342 Front St.

Jose Aguilari Jr.

 

Spotless Cleaning Service

52 Dillon St.

Vyacheslav Paliy

 

Stop N’ Go

643 Prospect St.

Amir Paracha

 

EAST LONGMEADOW

 

AB Consultants for Education

300 Pease Road

Ann Marie D’Arco

 

MA Cheer Zone

80 Denslow Road

Catherine Reynolds

 

Punderson Landscaping

191 Pease Road

Bryan W. Punderson

 

GREENFIELD

 

Andrews Painting

46 Canada Hill Road

Michael Q. Andrews

 

Jason Cusimano Bath Fitter

1175 Bernardston Road

Jason Cusimano

 

Drop Zone

10 Fiske Ave.

Maureen Johnson

 

Greenfield Veterinary Clinic

18 French King Highway

Cindy A. Cole

 

Left Bank Consulting

278 Main St.

Joseph White

 

Mighty Clean Mutt

52 French King Highway

Megan Edson

 

The Junk Trunk

14 Chapman St.

Christopher Stevens

 

Thompson Excavating

366 Leyden Road

Milo M. Thompson Jr.

 

Valley Vintage Goods

322 Deerfield St.

Susan Jamison

 

HOLYOKE

 

Fiscal Training Solutions

4 Open Square Way

Amy Grabowski

 

Greensfield Stamp Coin

1 Martin St.

David Heffron

 

In Home Remodeling

903 Hampden St.

Richard Ahlstrom

 

Mass Discount Inc.

116 High St.

Muhammad Sabir

 

Smoke & Pipe Deals

1504 Northampton St.

Syed R. Mobeen

 

Suffolk Tailors Shop

358 High St.

Irma Gourde

 

LUDLOW

 

Core Fitness

433 Center St.

John St. Sauveur

 

Expressions Salon

271 East St.

Ilda Rosa

 

PALMER

 

Lazy Lady Farm

60 Olney Road

Paul Lukaskiewicz

 

Panhead Produce

3090 Palmer St.

Robert Schoonover

 

PDS

51 Squire St.

Jay Heinicke

 

Poetry and Paint

157 Summer St.

Denise Fontaine-Pincince

 

Robin’s Auto Body

1780 North Main St.

Robin C. Lamica

 

Spraycraft International

21 Wilbraham St.

John C. Becker IV

 

The NR Group

43 French Dr.

Nathan Olson

 

Tyburski’s Countryside Bakery

4175 Pleasant St.

Thomas J. Tyburski

 

Yield Management Corp.

21 Wilbraham St.

Robert W. Brown

 

SOUTHWICK

 

Ablon Technologies

18 Sheep Pasture Road

John Parker

 

SPRINGFIELD

 

Acres Dental Care

1954 Wilbraham Road

James E. Maslowski

 

Altisimo Barber Shop

12 Orange St.

Omar Soto

 

Bautista Grocery

306 Belmont Ave.

Gustavo Bautista

 

Bethania’s Market

2595 Main St.

Julio C. Rodriguez

 

Brother’s Market

106 Oak Grove Ave.

Christian Jimenez

 

Bytes Knight Technology

68 Cleveland St.

Irma I. Alvarado

 

Cedar Auto Sales LLC

173 Spring St.

Ali Mourad

 

 

Chabela’s Beauty Salon

158 Chesnut St.

Lucrecia Martinez

 

Chestnut Package Store

95 Chestnut St.

Ghassoub Mouneimneh

 

Cody DeCesare

140 Chestnut St.

Cody G. DeCesare

 

Cumberland Farms

798 Carew St.

John Daly

 

Dakin Pioneer Valley

171 Union St.

Valere J. Dahl

 

David Stansbury Photography

162 Chestnut St.

David A. Stansbury

 

Deb’s Jewelry Designs

35 Chalfonte Dr.

Deborah A. Morrissey

 

Devine Home Improvement

38 Louis Road

Shawn P. Devine

 

Dogg Shop Music Spot

463 State St.

Harry Valentin

 

DiLaura Soap Company

245 Roosevelt Ave.

Tunzala Eynula

 

El Caribeno Restaurant

858 State St.

Ramon E. Lopez

 

Fancy Nail

1655 Boston Road

Thi M. Tai

 

Fed Ex Office

1383 Main St.

Lady J. Swift

 

Fennix

397 Main St.

Manuel B. Ofonso

 

Forest Park Pet Sitters

151 Sumner Ave.

Jennifer Vose

 

Great Masonry

87 Tylor St.

Windell Westbrook

 

WESTFIELD

 

Kathy’s Nails Salon & Spa

85 Main St.

Katheryne H. Bernier

 

Northside Creamery

519 Southampton Road

Joseph Mancino

 

WEST SPRINGFIELD

 

Bargain Cellular

667 Westfield St.

Swostik R. Magar

 

Performance Rehabilitation of W.N.

124 Myron St.

James Biron

 

Pintus Indian Palace

25 Park Ave.

Sarabjit Chawla

 

Rent a Center

895 Riverdale St.

Ricardo Cordon

 

Speech & Language Center

171 Interstate Dr.

Deborah Mode

 

Westside Check Cashing

205 Elm St.

JMT Check Cashing Inc.

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

 

Amherst Baseball Inc., 21 Sacco Dr. Amherst, MA 01002. Stanley Ziomek, 180 Montague Road, Amherst, MA 01002. To support, organize, and promote youth baseball programs in the town of Amherst.

 

CHICOPEE

 

DX Express Inc., 172 Prospect St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Dmitriy Kudrya, same.

 

Powerclean Fitness Inc., 585 Sheridan St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Michael Zoliewicz, same. Provide services in the areas of personal and group training, exercise, and physical fitness for clients and the public.

 

Qualconcepts Inc., 1059 James St., Chicopee, MA 01022. Ariel Castro-Toro, same.

 

EAST LONGMEADOW

 

Western Mass Pest Services Inc., 30 High Meadow Circle, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Jeffrey C. McCorkindale, same. Pest-control-services business.

 

GREENFIELD

 

Northwestern Juvenile Fire Intervention, Response, Education, and Safety Partenership Inc., 412 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Michael Winn, 67 West Mountain Road, Bernardston, MA 01337. Also known as “nofires” is organized exclusively to protect our youth, their families, and communities from dangerous and sometimes fatal juvenile fire-related behavior. Also provides fire-related and life-safety assessment, prevention, education, and intervention services

 

HADLEY

 

Connecticut River Valley Dentists, PC, 138 Russel St., Hadley, MA 01035. Ambreen Bawa DDS, same. General dental practice.

 

LUDLOW

 

Danmar Inc., 288 Woodland Circle, Ludlow, MA 01056. Daniel Dias, same. Real estate holding company.

 

NORTH ADAMS

 

Berkshire Organizing Project Inc., 61 Main St., Suite 218, North Adams, MA 01105. Wendy Krom, 45 Willow Lane, Cheshire, MA 01225. Established to unite religious, labor, and community organizations rooted in faith and democratic values; to strengthen their voice in decisions that shape the communities of the Berkshire region of Massachusetts.

 

NORTHAMPTON

 

Icon Wheelchairs Inc., 115 Bridge St., Northampton, MA 01060. Jeffrey Adams, same. Manufacturing and sales of wheelchairs

 

The Young Scholars Fund Inc., 92 Marian St., C/O David Cohen, Northampton, MA 01060. David Cohen, same. To provide incentive and continued support for selected school children to complete their education through college.

 

PITTSFIELD

 

Christophers Family Restaurant Inc., 256 Robbins Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Anthony Vito Maffuccio, same. Restaurant.

 

SPRINGFIELD

 

Bertelli Realty Group Inc., 838 Main St., Springfield, MA 01105. Brent J Bertelli, Same. Real estate.

 

Derribando Fronteras Con Canticos & Alabanzas Inc., 414 Chestnut St., Springfield, MA 01104. Fernando Hernandez, same. Non-profit religious ministry.

 

Globus Dental Care Springfield, PC., 1795 Main St., Suite 101, Springfield, MA 01103. Ranganayaki Chirumamilla, same. Dental care services.

 

Grind Life Music Inc., 182 Daviston St., Springfield, MA 01108. Chris Howard Jr., same. Promote the development of professional artists within the community and the Commonwealth.

 

Radhakrishna Enterprises Inc., 340 Cooley St., Springfield, MA 01128. Bipinkumar Patel, same. Dry cleaning and retail garment sales.

 

Rose Fashion Gallery Inc., 1655 Boston Road, Suite 128 Eastfield Mall, Springfield, MA 01129. Koon Kim, same. Retail sales of women’s accessories.

 

Whatarmy Inc., 819 Worcester St., Sprinfield, MA 01151. Christopher Merrill, 10 Balsam Dr., Bedford, MA 01730. Internet and IT services for small businesses.

 

SOUTH HADLEY

 

DJC Builders Inc., 21 Mountain View St., South Hadley, MA 01075. David J. Capriati, same. General contractor

 

SOUTH DEERFIELD

 

Playonbrother Inc., 2-B Duncan Dr., South Deerfield, MA 01373. Alan Evans, same. Music and entertainment touring company.

 

STURBRIDGE

 

Rousseau & Marino, P.C., 49 Main St., Sturbridge, MA 01566. Matthew S. Rousseau, 10 Governor Fairbanks Road, Brimfield, MA 01010. General law practice.

 

ORANGE

 

Dana Despres Construction Inc., 33 Summit St, Orange, MA 01364. Dana Despres, same. Construction services.

 

WARE

 

Growing a New Heart Inc., 97 Church St., Ware, MA 01082. Judith A Patrissi, same. Consulting with designing and facilitating victim-service projects.

 

WEST SPRINGFIELD

 

John P. Frangie, M.D., P.C., 1132 Westfield St., West Springfield, MA 01089. John P. Frangie, same. Ophthalmology and eye-care services and treatments.

 

La Prestiges Inc., 553 Union St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Yelena Ivanov, same. Beauty salon.

 

WINCHESTER

 

ISearch Systems Inc., 11 Charles Road, Winchester, MA 01890. Arpit Laddha, same. Staffing services.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

GSCVB Touts Discounts in Updated WOW Value Book

SPRINGFIELD — The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) has produced a new edition of the WOW Value Book, a collection of discount coupons for several of the Pioneer Valley’s leading attractions, restaurants, shops, and more. Offers include discounted admission prices, free restaurant items with the purchase of entrée selections, and shopping discounts. More than 12,500 copies of the dollar-bill-sized book have been printed. Each of the offers highlighted in the coupon book are also available online by visiting www.valleyvisitor.com and clicking “Download WOW Values.” The book offers more than $100 in total savings. According to GSCVB President Mary Kay Wydra, “we got a terrific response to the earlier edition of the WOW Value Book that we released several months ago, and it was our plan to have subsequent editions to allow our seasonal attractions to participate. We created the book for people who came to the region to attend conventions and meetings, to encourage them to visit our restaurants, shops, and attractions in their free time. It also came in handy for people who couldn’t download and print the coupons on our Web site.” Pioneer Valley residents who would like a copy of the WOW Value Book should email [email protected] and provide their name and mailing address, or call (413) 787-1548. The book’s participants include: Adolfo’s Ristorante, Artist Square Group Art Gallery, Bright Nights at Forest Park, CityStage and Symphony Hall, Frigo’s Foods, the Handbag Outlet, La Fiorentina Pastry Shop, Mana Iguana’s, Nadim’s Mediterranean Grill, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Petra Hookah Lounge, Springfield Museums, the Student Prince Café and the Fort Dining Room, Zonin’s Deli, and the Zoo in Forest Park, all in Springfield; the Pizza Guy and Six Flags New England in Agawam; the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the White Hut in Amherst; Lee Premium Outlets in Lee; the Loft Restaurant & Lounge in Northampton; Renew.calm, Storrowtown Tavern & Carriage House, and the White Hut in West Springfield; Horizons Restaurant & Bar in Wilbraham; the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford; and Friendly’s locations throughout the Pioneer Valley.

 

Survey: Employers Increase Health and Wellness Benefits

ATLANTA — More employers are offering benefits that encourage employees to improve their health, according to a survey released by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) at its 2012 Annual Conference and Exposition in Atlanta. Over the past five years, benefits that reward employees for improving their health have jumped — a sign that organizations are looking for ways to cut business costs and recognize that employees value these benefits. For example, the percentage of employers offering health and lifestyle coaching jumped from 33% in 2008 to 45% in 2012, and rewards or bonuses for completing a health and wellness program increased from 23% in 2008 to 35% in 2012. “Employers recognize that providing employees with the opportunity to improve their health can increase morale, confidence, and productivity,” said Mark Schmit, vice president of research at SHRM. “Organizations continue to look for ways to manage costs as the economy slowly improves. Benefits that encourage healthier behavior are a cost-effective way to keep up employee morale, while healthier employees also help decrease health care costs to employers and employees.” SHRM’s 2012 Employee Benefits Survey found that, while most employee benefits stabilized this year, 73% of HR professionals reported that the economic downtown negatively impacted employee-benefit offerings (11% to a large extent and 62% to some extent). This is more or less the same as in 2011, when 77% said the economy negatively affected benefits to some or a large extent. Because of the economy and recent employment-related legislation, many employers have switched to benefits that shift primary responsibility and control to employees. For example, more employers offer defined-contribution retirement-savings plans (92%) than defined-benefit pension plans (21%) in 2012, putting the impetus on employees to manage their own retirement savings instead of relying on employer-provided pensions. “By shifting primary responsibility in controlling certain health care and financial benefits, employers are recognizing a shift in workplace culture,” said Schmit. “The new plans allow employees have more control over how they save for retirement and manage their health, while reducing costs for employers. These plans are also more flexible, and thus more attractive, to employees who will likely not spend an entire career with one organization.” Employer spending on benefits remained stable this year, with organizations spending, on average, 19% of an employee’s annual salary on voluntary benefits, 18% on mandatory benefits, and 10% on pay for time employees did not work. Paid-time-off plans have become more  popular; more than half of organizations (51%) provide paid-time-off plans, a combination of traditional vacation time, sick leave, and personal days in one plan, up from 42% in 2009. For more survey data, visit shrm.org/surveys.

 

 

Construction Backlog Bounces Back in

Second Quarter

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) rose 4.3% in the second quarter of 2012 after declining the two previous quarters. Despite the quarterly expansion, CBI is 0.3 months, or 4.2%, below the second quarter of 2011, and progress in the Northeast region of the U.S remains sluggish. CBI is a forward-looking economic indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future. “The CBI accurately predicted both the broader economic softness experienced during the first half of 2012, as well as a flattening of the nation’s non-residential construction recovery,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The latest CBI data is now projecting gradual acceleration in non-residential construction spending, and perhaps a slight increase in the overall pace of construction activity going forward. Unfortunately, any improvement in non-residential construction activity is likely to remain modest given the ongoing uncertainty regarding America’s fiscal cliff — a number of tax increases and spending cuts that take effect at the end of the year — as well as European sovereign-debt issues and increasingly volatile energy prices. While there is pent-up demand for new construction in the power, manufacturing, and infrastructure segments, the level of economic and political uncertainty remains far too elevated to permit more aggressive non-residential-construction spending recovery in the near term.” During the second quarter of 2012, the Northeast had the smallest gain in construction backlog at 0.05 months for the quarter, and is now at 7.28 months. Across the U.S. average construction backlog rose for all monitored industry segments after declining the two previous quarters. The infrastructure segment registered the largest quarter-to-quarter construction backlog increase, up 1.4 months to more than 10 months — the first time infrastructure backlog has been above 10 months since the second quarter of 2010. Construction backlog in the heavy-industrial category is at its highest level since the first quarter of 2011, but at the lowest level of all the industry segments at 5.92 months. Construction backlog in the commercial and institutional segment is 0.85 months lower than one year ago, and now stands at 7.78 months.

 

Prices of Construction Materials Decline Again

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Prices of construction materials declined 0.7% in July, according to the Aug. 14 Producer Price Index report released by the U.S. Department of Labor. On a yearly basis, construction materials prices are down 0.6% — the first year-over-year decline since November 2009, when non-residential construction spending was at its lowest point. Non-residential construction materials prices also are down, falling 0.9% for the month and 1.2% for the year. Prices for iron and steel dropped 3.7% for the month and are 9.7% lower on a yearly basis. Softwood lumber prices fell 3.7% in July, but are still 5.9% higher than in July 2011. Steel-mill product prices decreased 2.8% for the month and are down 5.9% year over year. Prices for fabricated structural metal products slipped 1% for the month and are up 0.1% during the past 12 months. Prices for prepared asphalt, tar roofing, and siding surged 5.4% for the month, but are still down 3.8% year over year. Non-ferrous wire and cable prices increased 0.5% for the month, but are down 8.9% from July 2011. Prices for concrete products are up 0.3% for the month and are 1.8% higher year over year. Prices for plumbing fixtures and fittings inched up 0.1% in July and are 1.2% more expensive than one year ago. Crude-energy-material prices increased 0.6% in July, the first monthly increase since February 2012. Year over year, crude-energy-material prices are down 19.1%. Overall, the nation’s wholesale-goods prices increased 0.3% for the month and are 0.5% higher than in July 2011. The report “should be viewed by the non-residential construction industry as good news,” said Anirban Basu, chief economist at Associated Builders and Contractors. “Prices of a number of key inputs declined significantly last month, including steel-mill products, iron and steel, and softwood lumber. Lower construction materials prices translate into more attractive project pro-formas, which in turn make it more likely that a project will be financed and move forward. While it is true that last month’s decline in materials prices is a reflection of a still-sluggish economic environment, there are reasons for growing optimism. For example, much of the economy’s lackluster performance can be attributed to ongoing uncertainty emerging from Washington, D.C., including the looming fiscal cliff. If Congress acts soon to create greater certainty around federal budgetary and taxation issues, the level of business certainty would increase meaningfully. That would result in the availability of more risk-seeking capital to finance projects. Anecdotal and survey information indicate that bankers are becoming more aggressive in their lending. Lower and more stable materials prices are associated with less risky construction, and permanent loans and are more likely to attract capital to construction projects. This means that, for the first time in several months, more robust recovery in non-residential construction spending is conceivable. However, Congress and the administration still must act appropriately before capital becomes sufficiently risk-seeking.”

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

Sip, Clip & Go! Coffee Launched

SOUTH HADLEY — Karen Lynn, a South Hadley resident, recently announced the launch of  Sip, Clip & Go! Coffee,  a niche brand of coffee geared specifically for the cycling community. The coffee is 100% fair-trade and organic. Additionally, Lynn pledges that 1% of all coffee profits will be donated to Bikes Belong, a nonprofit organization that helps build bicycle-friendly communities. “I created Sip, Clip & Go! Coffee to cater specifically to the cycling community” said Lynn, an avid cyclist for 12 years and long-time coffee lover. “There is an intrinsic cultural link between coffee and cycling. I think part of it is that coffee and cycling accomplish the same thing — they inspire conversation, collaboration, and connection.  I’ve always enjoyed the sense of shared community that cycling has brought into my life, and Sip Clip & Go! Coffee seeks to pay homage and contribute back to that very community.” Lynn works with local roasters in the Pioneer Valley to create the various blends of Sip Clip and Go! Three blends are currently being offered, all with cycling-centric names: Crank Set, Off the Chain, and Carbon-Free Commuter. Additionally, ceramic mugs and stainless-steel tumblers are available to order on the Web site. Sip Clip & Go! Coffee is available for sale primarily through the Web site. Plans to place the coffee into bicycle shops are Lynn’s next step. “I’ll be reaching out to local bike shops over the coming weeks; after establishing the product locally, I’ll branch out from there.” The coffee retails for $12.99 for a 12 oz. bag of whole-bean or ground coffee, and Lynn plans to utilize social-media outlets like Twitter and Facebook to announce online coupons or promotional discounts. For additional information, or to inquire about carrying Sip, Clip & Go! Coffee in sport and bike shops, e-mail [email protected].

 

Springfield Museums Awarded $150,000 Grant

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums have been awarded a highly competitive Museums for America grant of $150,000 from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) toward the creation and installation of “The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss,” an interactive, literacy-based exhibit for children. The 3,200-square-foot, bilingual exhibition is designed to instill a love of reading and introduce children and their families to the stories of Springfield-born author Theodor Seuss Geisel. “The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss” will provide opportunities to explore new vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking. Upgrades to a companion Web site, www.catinthehat.org, will provide interactive games for children as well as educational resources for teachers. When fund-raising for the project has been completed, the new exhibit will be installed on the first floor of the Pynchon Building, formerly the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The grants are awarded through competitive peer review. Out of 470 applicants to the Museums for America program, fewer than one-third were funded. “The projects selected represent a wide spectrum of activities that will help museums serve their communities better through exhibitions and community-outreach programs, collections-management activities, and behind-the-scenes projects,” said IMLS Director Susan Hildreth. The Springfield Museums is a nonprofit organization that includes the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, the Springfield Science Museum, the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the Pynchon Building, and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden.

 

Hampden Bank

Reports 130% Increase

in Net Income

SPRINGFIELD — Hampden Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Hampden Bank, recently announced the results of operations for the three and 12 months ended June 30. The company had an $882,000 increase in net income for the three months ended June 30, to $909,000, or $0.16 per fully diluted share, as compared to $27,000, or $0.00 per fully diluted share, for the same period in 2011. The company had a $1.7 million, or 129.5%, increase in net income for the year ended June 30, 2012 to $3.0 million, or $0.51 per fully diluted share, as compared to $1.3 million, or $0.21 per fully diluted share, for the same period in 2011. The company’s total assets increased $42.6 million, or 7.4%, from $573.3 million at June 30, 2011 to $616.0 million at June 30, 2012. Securities increased $31.9 million, or 28.5%, to $143.9 million. Net loans, including loans held for sale, increased $9.2 million, or 2.3%, to $407.3 million at June 30, 2012. Due to interest-rate risk, the company has decided to sell the majority of its current originations of long-term fixed-rate mortgages and has sold $23.2 million of fixed-rate mortgages during the year ended June 30, 2012. Non-performing assets totaled $4.1 million, or 0.67% of total assets, at June 30, 2012 compared to $7.5 million, or 1.30% of total assets, at June 30, 2011. Total non-performing assets included $2.3 million of non-performing loans and $1.8 million of other real estate owned. From June 30, 2011 to June 30, 2012, commercial real-estate non-performing loans decreased $1.5 million, residential mortgage non-performing loans decreased $1.4 million, commercial non-performing loans decreased $769,000, and consumer — including home-equity and manufactured homes — non-performing loans decreased $294,000. Deposits increased $17.6 million, or 4.2%, to $434.8 million at June 30, 2012 from $417.3 million at June 30, 2011. Savings accounts increased $12.3 million, demand deposits increased $8.8 million, money-market accounts increased $7.7 million, and NOW accounts increased $4.5 million. Certificates of deposits decreased $15.7 million. During the year ended June 30, 2012, the company purchased 812,750 shares of company stock for $10.2 million, at an average price of $12.52 per share, pursuant to the company’s previously announced stock repurchase programs.

 

3 Area Companies Named Employers of Choice

EAST LONGMEADOW — Four Massachusetts businesses, including three from Western Mass., have been selected as Employer of Choice Award recipients by the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. The winners — People’s Bank of Holyoke, Sanderson-MacLeod Inc. of Palmer, Savage Arms of

Westfield, and Seven Hills Foundation of Worcester — will receive their awards at the chamber’s Business Summit in September at the Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis. Recognition as an Employer of Choice provides statewide visibility for companies that have developed a culture for transforming and rewarding employee performance. The categories of focus are company culture, training and development, communication, job, recognition/rewards, life-work balance, and Employer-of-Choice-related results. Debra Boronski, president of the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, said the three-step process ensures that only the best companies are selected. “After an initial application with basic questions relating to Employer of Choice, we select semifinalists and submit additional, more-detailed, questions. We narrow that down to a smaller group and conduct on-site interviews with all the finalists to verify and ultimately select the winners.” Employers who have been in business for at least three years and have a minimum of 25 employees are eligible to participate. The size of a company and its resources are taken into consideration in the screening and selection process. Awards are given in two sectors: Manufacturing and Non-manufacturing/Service. The Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce’s annual Business Summit is a three-day gathering (Sept. 9-11) of business professionals from across the state, as well as state and local elected officials and representatives from the Mass. Office of Economic Development. This year, the summit will feature relevant panel discussions on health care cost containment, how to leverage social media, and an employer’s legal responsibilities. For more information and to register for the summit, contact Boronski at (617) 512-9667 or (413) 426-3850, or visit www.massachusettschamberofcommerce.com.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

 

• Sept.  5: Business@Breakfast, 7:15 a.m. – 9 a.m. at the Springfield Sheraton. Guest speaker will be George O’Brien, editor of BusinessWest magazine. Cost is $20 for members, $30 for non-members.

• Sept. 13: ACCGS Board of Directors Meeting, 8-9 a.m. Location TBD.

• Sept. 14: ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee, 8-9 a.m. at the TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

• Sept. 19: ERC Board of Directors Meeting, 8-9 a.m. at the Gardens of Wilbraham.

• Sept. 28: ERC5 Chamber Annual Golf Classic, at the Country Club of Wilbraham. Registration is at 11:30 a.m., with a 12:15 shotgun start. Cost is $110 for golfers. To register and for sponsor information, contact Roberto Nieves at (413) 755-1318.

 

AMHERST AREA

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

 

• Sept. 25: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m. at the Lord Jeffery Inn, 30 Boltwood Ave., Amherst. Introducing UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, who assumed his role on July 1. He is the 11th chancellor of the flagship campus. Tickets are $12 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

 

• Sept. 13: The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Annual Auction and Wine, Beer & Spirit Tasting, 6-9 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Music by the Eric Bascom Jazz Trio. Bid on great auction items including Red Sox tickets, restaurant gift certificates, golf clubs, massages, gift baskets, and more. Sample wine, beer, and spirits from Berkshire Brewing, Commercial Distributing, Commonwealth Wine & Spirits, Opa-Opa, V1 Vodka, and Williams Distributing. Discounted tickets at $35 must be purchased in advance by calling (413) 594-2101 or online at www.chicopeechamber.org. Tickets will be $40 at the door.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.franklincc.org

(413) 773-5463

 

• Sept. 21: Chamber Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., at the Franklin County Tech School, Turners Falls.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

 

• Sept. 13: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange “Fall Fling,” 5-7 p.m. at Opa-Opa Steakhouse & Brewery, 169 College Highway, Southampton. Sponsored by All About You, LLC. Door prizes, Hors d’ouevres. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

• Sept. 14: Karrin Allyson & Amherst Jazz Orchestra Bear Fest 2012 Concert, 7 p.m. at the White Brook Middle School, 200 Park St., Easthampton. Sponsored by the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $15 for general admission. For tickets and more Bear Fest info, visit www.easthamptonbearfest.com

 

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce

www. holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

 

• Sept. 12: Legislative Coffee Hour, 7:45-9:15 a.m. at the Summit View, 555 Northampton St. Sponsored by Dowd Insurance Agency and Loomis Communities.
Featuring local elected officials discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the Commonwealth, Holyoke, and our businesses in the months ahead. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Call Wanda Zabawa at (413) 534-3376 for reservations, or register online at holyokechamber.com.

 

• Sept. 19: Holyoke Chamber Clambake, 5-7:30 p.m. at Holyoke Country Club
Presented by United Water and sponsored by Holyoke Gas & Electric and Westfield Bank, this seafood feast features lobster, steamers, clam chowder, make-your-own strawberry shortcake bar, and much more. Raffle prizes; $1,000 cash prize putting contest; and 50/50 Raffle. Get ninne holes of golf and a cart for only $15. Tickets are $30. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to reserve tickets, or register online at holyokechamber.com.

 

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Sept. 10: New Member Info Session, noon to 1 p.m. This is the chance to tell us more about your business and how the chamber can best serve you, meet other new members and learn how to make to the most of your chamber membership. A light lunch will be served. RSVP to (413) 584-1900 or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.explorenorthampton.com.

• Sept. 12: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m. at the Northampton Athletic Club, 306 King St., Northampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Sponsored by United Bank, United Personnel, and Dietz & Co. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

 

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY

www.thenayp.com

(413) 584-1900

 

• Sept. 13: September Networking Social. Location TBD.

 

PROFESSSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com

(413) 755-1310

 

• Sept. 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m, at the MassMutual Room at Max’s Tavern. Keynote Speaker is Carla Oleska, CEO of the Women’s Fund. Tickets are $25 for PWC members, $35 for non-members.

 

QUABOAG HILLS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.qvcc.biz

(413) 283-2418

 

• Sept. 14: 2012 QHCC Annual Golf Tournament, at Cold Spring Country Club, 336 Chauncey Walker St., Belchertown. Sponsored by Monson Savings Bank. Please consider sponsoring this event early. Enjoy a relaxing day of golf at the newest golf course in the area. Registration is at 10 a.m., shotgun start at 11. Dinner is at approximately 4 p.m. To register, contact [email protected], or call (413) 283-2418 for more information. Win this tournament, and your team can display the first QHCC championship trophy.

 

SOUTH HADLEY/GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.shchamber.com

(413) 532-6451

 

• Sept. 18: Beyond Business, 5-7 p.m., at the the Old Firehouse Museum, 4 North Main St., South Hadley. Honor our premier members. Invitations will follow with details.

 

THREE RIVERS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.threeriverschamber.org

(413) 283-6425

 

• Sept. 3: Chamber meeting, 7- 8 p.m., at the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce Office, 2376 Main St., Three Rivers.

 

WEST OF THE RIVER

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

 

• Sept. 4: Membership Committee Meeting. Monthly committee meeting to dicsuss membership recruitment, retention, and incentive programs. If you would like to join this committee, e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• Sept. 5: Education Committee Meeting. Committee meets to address how the WRC will support and promote educational activities within Agawam and West Springfield. If you would like to join this committee, e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• Sept. 13: Programs Committee Meeting. Committee meets to discuss and develop WRC’s membership meetings, events, and promotions. If you would like to join this committee, e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• Sept. 13: Economic Development Committee Meeting. Committee meets to address how WRC can enhance the economic development of Agawam and West Springfield. If you would like to join this committee, e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• Sept. 20: Economic Development Committee Meeting.

• Sept. 21: Executive Committee Meeting. A closed committee meeting of the chairman of the board, vice chairman, previous chairman, secretary, and treasurer. If you have something you would like addressed at this meeting, e-mail [email protected].

• Sept. 25: Board of Directors Retreat. A closed meeting of the board of directors. If you have something you would like to see addressed at this meeting, e-mail [email protected], and your comments and questions will be forwarded appropriately.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

 

• Sept. 10: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m. at Tim & Jeanne’s Dining Commons, Westfield State University, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. The guest speaker will be Mayor Knapik, who will bring chamber members and guests up to date on the city of Westfield. The event is free, but a full-service breakfast and coffee is available for $3.50 cash (no debit or credit cards accepted) in the dining commons. The event is open to the public. Contact Pam Bussell at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] to register or for more information.

• Sept. 13: Downtown Comes to Campus, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Westfield State University will showcase 18 downtown vendors in the Tim & Jeanne’s Dining Commons to students, staff and faculty. The event is free. There will be giveaways, raffle prizes, and demonstrations. Contact Pam Bussell at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• Sept. 14: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce September Breakfast. Registration is at 7:15 a.m., and the program begins at 7:50. Hosted by the  104th  Fighter Wing, Air National Guard Base, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield. Sponsors: Platinum Sponsor, Westfield Bank; Silver Sponsors: Easthampton Savings Bank, Field Eddy Insurance, Noble Hospital, United Way, Walmart, and Westfield Gas & Electric; Bronze Sponsors: Expert Tire and Renaissance Manor. Speaker: Brian Barnes, Airport Manager, Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. Tickets are $25 for chamber members, $30 cash for non-members. Contact Pam Bussell at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] for tickets or for more information.

• Sept. 19: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce WestNet After 5 Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Stevens 470 Marketing & Creative, 470 Southampton Road,

Westfield. Speaker: Karen Rubin, executive director, Amelia Park Children’s Museum. Tickets: chamber members, $10, non-members $15 cash. Contact Pam Bussell at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] for tickets or for more information.

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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]

Air Show Breakfast

Top, supporters fill one of the hangars of the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee for the Great New England Air Show Kick-off Breakfast on Aug. 3. Middle, Bud Shuback, right, president of the Galaxy Community Council, presents a framed, commemorative show poster as recognition for air-show contributions to Jim Uliano, vice president of Marketing for Town Fair Tire. Bottom, Shuback presents a poster to Melissa Serra, promotions coordinator for Big Y World Class Markets, who also sang the National Anthem.







































Artistic Statement

On August 20, a 36-foot metal sculpture called “Birdicus Gigantium,” created by artist James Kitchen, was unveiled in the courtyard next to One Financial Plaza. The massive piece is one of more than 30 created by Kitchen now on display in downtown Springfield, as part of a collaborative effort involving the artist, NAI Plotkin, the Springfield Business Improvement District, and WGBY. At top, Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Plotkin, speaks at the unveiling. At center, Kitchen holds up a map showing where each of his 32 sculptures is located in a 26-block art installation.

Editorial

By
Opinion
Moving Beyond the Pretty Pictures

MGM Resorts International staged a lavish press event at the MassMutual Center last week to announce its plans to build a casino and entertainment complex in Springfield’s South End. There was an overflow crowd, music, high-tech imagery, performers from Cirque du Soleil, and a full complement of media.

Springfield hadn’t seen anything quite like it before, but it will see something like it again, and probably very soon. Indeed, with the MGM event, the casino era in Western Mass. entered a new and intriguing phase. Let’s call it the ‘pretty pictures stage.’

Actually, they’re architect’s renderings, and there were a few on display in the packets being handed out at the MassMutual Center. They showed a South End teeming with people, lights, and vibrancy, a stark contrast to what exists now. Older buildings and properties damaged by last year’s tornado had been replaced by storefronts, restaurants, and attractive buildings for market-rate housing.

And along with the pictures came promises, in this case to connect the casino complex with downtown entertainment venues, such as the MassMutual Center, via a pedestrian walkway, thus eliminating one of the major complaints about casinos — that they keep people inside their walls and don’t spread the wealth. There were also pledges to incorporate existing downtown buildings, such as the former MassMutual headquarters at the corner of State and Main streets, and existing businesses, such as the Red Rose pizzeria, into the MGM complex.

There will be more of these press events, renderings, and promises in the weeks and months to come. There are casino plans unfolding for the North End of Springfield, involving the Republican building and other parcels, as well as the old Westinghouse complex in East Springfield, and perhaps another for a site in the middle of the central business district.

The trouble with these images, however, is that they tend to blind people, create expectations, and, in many ways, distract them from any other form of economic development and urban revitalization.

Indeed, with the start of the pretty pictures stage, it is quite evident that Springfield, and this region as a whole, needs some form of resolution to the question of where the casino is going to go — and the sooner the better. That’s because nothing is going to get done until that $64,000 question is answered.

Look at what has happened in Palmer. Mohegan Sun started putting out pretty pictures of what a casino on the hill just off the turnpike exit would look like, and the town has been in what amounts to a trance since. Granted, there is nothing approaching a Plan B for job creation and overall economic development in that community, but nothing else will even be considered until the casino matter is resolved.

In Springfield, we’re starting to see signs of the same thing. The phrase ‘tornado reconstruction’ seems old and passé. The matter of rebuilding the battered South End is on the back burner, and it will stay there until the winner of the Springfield casino sweepstakes is announced.

The same is true for other areas of the city, including the North End and the center of downtown. Almost everything now seems to hinge on where the casino will go — if Springfield lands one at all — and what the plan entails.

So it is incumbent upon those who will be making the decisions locally and then on a statewide basis to be diligent, thoughtful — this could be, after all, the biggest development in Springfield since the building of the Armory more than 200 years ago — but also expeditious.

There are currently about as many casino plans for Springfield as there are for the rest of the state combined, and the longer we have to look at the pretty pictures, consider the possibilities, and speculate, the longer it will be before we can move this city forward.

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

Gary Lefebvre v. Lucky Strike Restaurant Inc.

Allegation: Negligence in property maintenance, causing slip and fall: $18,295

Filed: 7/23/12

 

Theresa Moran and Alison Berry v. Polished A Salon and Marisol Figueroa

Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $6,472

Filed: 7/18/12

 

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Summit Distributing, LLC v. B.G. Dupree Enterprises Inc. and Bryce G. Dupree

Allegation: Breach of promissory note and distribution agreement, and failure to make lease payments: $270,000

Filed: 6/19/12

 

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Coyote Realty, LLC v. Sprocket Realty, LLC, Spero Phillips, and Law Offices of Moir and Ross

Allegation: Slander of title: $200,000

Filed: 6/29/12

 

Constellation Newenergy Inc. v. Spring Street Super Grocery and Variety Corp.

Allegation: Non-payment of energy services provided: $28,791.18

Filed: 6/26/12

 

Dallaswhite Corp. v. John Carlo Woodworking Inc. and Clifton Street, LLC

Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $50,204.83

Filed: 7/9/12

 

Dallaswhite Corp. v. Pro Automotive Repair Inc. and Denardo Realty

Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $216,713.23

Filed: 7/6/12

 

Marilyn Wilson v. Gomes Construction Co. Inc.

Allegation: Plaintiff fell over a string used for framing a sidewalk: $500,000

Filed: 7/9/12

 

Roland Fils v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Allegation: Wrongful incarceration: $1,270,000

Filed: 7/13/12

 

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

A D Tool Co. v. Diecast Realty Holdings, LLC

Allegation: Failure to pay for products and services provided by the plaintiff: $15,741

Filed: 6/27/12

 

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Amy Santana v. Skyplex

Allegation: Negligence in facility maintenance, causing slip and fall: $4,840.69

Filed: 6/13/12

 

Cach, LLC v. East Coast Terminal Inc. and Daniel T. Rowe

Allegation: Breach of credit-card agreement: $17,008.09

Filed: 5/25/12

 

Capital One Bank v. Chez Josef Inc. and Linda J. Skole

Allegation: Breach of credit-card agreement: $9,524.59

Filed: 5/21/12

 

Hart Supply Co. Inc. v. The Griswold Corp.

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,314.73

Filed: 6/27/12

 

J & M Property Management v. Allied Waste Services of Springfield

Allegation: Negligence, causing property damage: $5,650

Filed: 6/11/12

 

Keystone Automotive Industries Inc. v. Tirrell Radiator Inc.

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $18,325.15

Filed: 5/21/12

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Massachusetts Chamber Business Summit

Sept. 9-11: The Massachusetts Chamber board of directors will conduct its annual Business Summit and Awards Ceremony at the Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. The two-day meeting allows participants to meet with business professionals from across the state, as well as listen to state and local elected officials who will discuss the future of business in Massachusetts. Additionally, representatives from the Mass. Office of Economic Development will discuss loans, grants, and tax incentives available to business owners. Industry experts will also be on hand to discuss topics such as leveraging social media, search-engine optimization, and health care cost containment. The winners of the Business of the Year Award and the Employer of Choice Award will also be announced during the summit. For more information, call (617) 512-9667 or visit www.masscbi.com.

 

The Big E

Sept. 14-30: From live music and parades to sea lions and a circus, there’s something for everyone at the Big E. Country music artist Rodney Atkins will play a concert at the outdoor Comcast Arena Stage on Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The Big E’s Mardi Gras Parade returns to the fair with eight custom-made floats specially designed and built by the Kern Companies of New Orleans. The Big E Super Circus features aerial daredevils the Marinofs, the wonder dogs of David Rosaire’s Perky Pekes, the equilibristic ability of Dany Daniels and Edina, comedy, and more. In addition, the Big E will feature a show with the Peking Acrobats, horse shows, the U.S. Freestyle Motocross National Championship series, hypnotist Catherine Hickland, the Sea Lion Splash show, and much more. Look for details and show times at www.thebige.com. Gates open each day at 8 a.m., and building exhibits are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Avenue of States is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Storrowton Village is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Craft Common is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the Midway is open Sunday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

 

World Affairs Council Annual Meeting

Oct. 10: Hampshire College President Jonathan Lash will speak at the World Affairs Council of Western Mass. Annual Meeting & Dinner in the Mahogany Room of the Springfield Sheraton Hotel in downtown Springfield. More details will be forthcoming. Lash is an internationally recognized expert on practical solutions to global sustainability and development challenges. Before he became president of Hampshire College in 2011, he served as president of World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental think tank with offices in eight countries and partners in more than 50 countries. WRI is an international leader on issues ranging from low-carbon development to sustainable transportation. From 1993 to 1999, Lash was co-chair of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, a group of government, business, labor, civil-rights, and environmental leaders appointed by Bill Clinton that developed visionary recommendations for strategies to promote sustainable development. He played a key role in the creation and success of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, which in 2007 issued the highly influential “Call to Action” on global warming. Prior to WRI, Lash held posts as director of Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Center, Vermont secretary of Natural Resources, and Vermont commissioner of Environmental Conservation, as well as a federal prosecutor. For more information on the event, call (413) 733-0110.

 

Western Mass.

Business Expo

Oct. 11: BusinessWest will again present the Western Mass. Business Expo. The event, which made its debut last fall at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, will feature more than 180 exhibitors, seminars, special presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and the year’s most extensive networking opportunity. Comcast Business Class will again be the presenting sponsor of the event. Details, including breakfast and lunch agendas, seminar topics, and featured speakers, will be printed in the pages of BusinessWest over the coming months. For more information or to purchase a booth, call (413) 781-8600, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

 

40 Under Forty Reunion

Nov. 8: BusinessWest will stage a reunion featuring the first six classes of its 40 Under Forty program. Details on the event will be forthcoming. What is known is that it will be staged at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, and will be open only to 40 Under Forty winners, sponsors, and their guests, as well as judges of the first six contests. For more information on the event, call (413) 781-8600, or e-mail [email protected].

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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]

Gold Standard

Douglas Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank, and Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, chair of the U.S. Green Building Council, Massachusetts Chapter – West Branch, display the LEED Gold certification for the bank’s year-old branch at 547 Memorial Ave. in West Springfield, which was constructed, and operates, in an environmentally friendly manner. It is the second PeoplesBank branch to receive LEED certification, the first building to be awarded a LEED certification in the town, and one of only two community banks in Massachusetts that has achieved LEED Gold status.

















Check, Please

Max Burger, the second upscale burger restaurant and ninth restaurant of the Hartford-based Max Restaurant Group, celebrated a grand opening in late July at its 684 Bliss Road location in Longmeadow. A portion of the evening’s proceeds, totaling $9,025, were presented a week later to the Longmeadow Excellence in Education Foundation (LEEF), a private, volunteer, nonprofit educational foundation that was created to enrich and enhance the quality of education in Longmeadow public schools. Pictured, from left, are Justin Dion, president of LEEF; Tim Taillefer, managing partner of Max Burger; and Todd Ratner, LEEF board member.





Dream Car

Mike Balise (far left), vice president of Balise Motor Sales, shows off a Lexus LFA (sticker price: $454,000) at an unveiling celebration at the Lexus showroom on July 26. This model is one of only 500 (the 349th, to be exact) in the world, and one of only 50 with the specialty ‘Nürburgring package.’ The car, which has a V-10 engine, was tested at the famous German Nürburgring track and set the 10th-fastest time ever for a production vehicle. The orange racecar will be viewable at Balise Lexus and various promotional events in the New England area.

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
Air Distribution Corporation v. Curry Realty, LLC and Curry Automotive, LLC
Allegation: Plaintiff asserts its mechanics lien rights for materials provided in a construction project owned/leased by the defendants: $20,330
Filed: 7/25/12

Lisa Pereira v. Hampton Inn
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing slip and fall: $3,343.12
Filed: 7/19/12

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Donald K. Carew v. Riverside Industries Inc. and Carolyn M. Dineen
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence and personal injury: $45,906.85
Filed: 6/13/12

LaMountain Brothers Inc. v. Pan Am Southern, LLC
Allegation: Action to enforce a mechanics lien upon the property of the defendant: $91,733.33
Filed: 6/17/12

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Carol and John Walsh v. New Tradition Millwork Inc.
Allegation: Breach of construction agreement: $29,692
Filed: 6/21/12

Edward and Joan Haley v. Verizon New England Inc.
Allegation: Placement of utility poles without owner’s consent: $2,800
Filed: 6/28/12

Hampden Bank v. Patient Edu, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of promissory note: $1,175,000
Filed: 6/25/12

Isabel and Jose Sanchez v. Hani Haddad, M.D. and Valley Women’s Health Group, LLV
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $25,000+
Filed: 6/25/12

Lillian Colon, as administratrix of the estate of Jose Colon v. The Mardi Gras
Allegation: Negligence in security causing wrongful death when the decedent was shot and killed by another patron of the Mardi Gras: $1,000,000+
Filed: 6/26/12

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Camerota Truck Parts v. L.J.R. Trucking, Inc. and Robert Levesque
Allegation: Failure to pay for goods provided and breach of contract: $10,299.95
Filed: 7/6/12

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
A-Tech Commercial Parts & Service Inc. v. Kentucky Fried Chicken
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $7,483.22
Filed: 6/21/12

Baystate Elevator Company v. Western New England University
Allegation: Non-payment of labor and materials for repair and maintenance of elevators: $8,760.00
Filed: 7/31/12

Bradco Supply v. C.S. Alexander Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment on promissory note: $3,910
Filed: 7/6/12

Perkins Paper Inc. v. Chez Josef Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $4,075.64
Filed: 6/25/12

Sesac Inc. v. Skyplex
Allegation: Breach of performance license agreement: $6,160.07
Filed: 7/5/12

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

NEBA Golf Tournament
Aug. 26: New England Business Associates (NEBA) will host a golf tournament on at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit NEBA’s skills-training, supported-employment, academic-achievement, and self-employment programs for individuals with disabilities. The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m., and an awards and dinner ceremony will follow the finish. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and all golfers will have an opportunity to participate in contests and win prizes. To participate in the tournament and/or become an event sponsor, visit neba.eventbrite.com or contact David Parkinson, tournament director, at (413) 821-9200, ext. 145, or [email protected].

Massachusetts Chamber Business Summit
Sept. 9-11: The Massachusetts Chamber board of directors will conduct its annual Business Summit and Awards Ceremony at the Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. The two-day meeting allows participants to meet with business professionals from across the state, as well as listen to state and local elected officials who will discuss the future of business in Massachusetts. Additionally, representatives from the Mass. Office of Economic Development will discuss loans, grants, and tax incentives available to business owners. Industry experts will also be on hand to discuss topics such as leveraging social media, search-engine optimization, and health care cost containment. The winners of the Business of the Year Award and the Employer of Choice Award will also be announced during the summit. For more information, call (617) 512-9667 or visit www.masscbi.com.

World Affairs Council Annual Meeting
Oct. 10: Hampshire College President Jonathan Lash will speak at the World Affairs Council of Western Mass. Annual Meeting & Dinner in the Mahogany Room of the Springfield Sheraton Hotel in downtown Springfield. More details will be forthcoming. Lash is an internationally recognized expert on practical solutions to global sustainability and development challenges. Before he became president of Hampshire College in 2011, he served as president of World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental think tank with offices in eight countries and partners in more than 50 countries. WRI is an international leader on issues ranging from low-carbon development to sustainable transportation. From 1993 to 1999, Lash was co-chair of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, a group of government, business, labor, civil-rights, and environmental leaders appointed by Bill Clinton that developed visionary recommendations for strategies to promote sustainable development. He played a key role in the creation and success of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, which in 2007 issued the highly influential “Call to Action” on global warming. Prior to WRI, Lash held posts as director of Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Center, Vermont secretary of Natural Resources, and Vermont commissioner of Environmental Conservation, as well as as a federal prosecutor. For more information on the event, call (413) 733-0110.

Western Mass.
Business Expo
Oct. 11: BusinessWest will again present the Western Mass. Business Expo. The event, which made its debut last fall at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, will feature more than 180 exhibitors, seminars, special presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and the year’s most extensive networking opportunity. Comcast Business Class will again be the presenting sponsor of the event. Details, including breakfast and lunch agendas, seminar topics, and featured speakers, will be printed in the pages of BusinessWest over the coming months. For more information or to purchase a booth, call (413) 781-8600, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

40 Under Forty Reunion
Nov. 8: BusinessWest will stage a reunion featuring the first six classes of its 40 Under Forty program. Details on the event will be forthcoming. What is known is that it will be staged at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, and will be open only to 40 Under Forty winners, sponsors, and their guests, as well as judges of the first six contests. For more information on the event, call (413) 781-8600, or e-mail [email protected].

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
413-253-0700
• Aug. 15: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Amherst Brewing Co, 10 University Dr., Amherst. Joi• us for the debut of Live United 365 brew. Help the United Way of Hampshire County and network with chamber members at the same time. Admission: $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376
• Aug. 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m. Hosted and sponsored by Hamel’s Creative Catering at the Summit View Banquet and Meeting House, 555 Northampto• St., Holyoke. Admissio• is $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.
• Aug. 22: Summer Salute Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampto• St., Holyoke. Cost is $20 i• advance, $25 at the door.

QUABOAG HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.qvcc.biz
(413) 283-2418
 • Aug. 25: Community Celebratio• 2012, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Joi• Life’s Memories & More and the Collaborative for Community Health for a day of community celebration. Crafters, artisans, and vendors will be o• hand with a bounty of great items to view and purchase. Enjoy musical entertainment. Get a henna tattoo or treat yourself to one of the collaborative services like chair acupuncture, chair massage, or Reiki, and try some delicious food. For more information, contact [email protected] or call (413) 283-4448.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com  
(413) 426-3880
 • Aug. 20: 9th Annual Golf Tournament at Springfield Country Club. Proceeds will go toward the WRC Educational Fund, which supports the Business Educatio• Grant Program and student scholarships for Agawam and West Springfield Students. To register or for more information, contact the chamber at (413) 426-3880 or at www.ourwrc.com.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

$21 Million Approved for Union Station and PVTA
SPRINGFIELD — Congressman Richard Neal recently announced that nearly $21 million in federal funding has been formally approved for the planned renovation of Springfield’s Union Station, a historic landmark, and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA). Of the $21 million, $17 million will help support the renovation of Union Station into a regional transportation center, which is estimated to cost $45 million. The remaining $3.9 million will be directed to the PVTA to help underwrite maintenance of the local public-transportation system. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Raymond LaHood visited Springfield in late July to tour the historic train station and meet with local officials to discuss the redevelopment project. Neal, who has spearheaded this project since the late 1980s, expressed his satisfaction with the recent funding approval and thanked LaHood for his attention and assistance. “I have been determined to turn Union Station into a modern intermodal transportation center for many years,” said Neal. “Restoring this historic structure and turning it into a thriving 21st-century transportation center has been a top priority of mine going back to my days as mayor of Springfield. I remain convinced that the successful renovation of Union Station can literally transform the northern blocks of downtown Springfield. The renewal of this local treasure has been confirmed with this announcement, and a new generation of travelers will soon be passing though its doors.” Neal reported that $72 million in federal funding is being used to renovate the Connecticut River rail line and bring high-speed rail to Western New England, and more than $100 million is being invested in the local infrastructure. The Springfield Redevelopment Authority owns Union Station, built in 1926. Demolition of a portion of the building will commence late this year, with construction for the new renovations expected in the spring of 2013.

Pro Springfield Media Launches Web Publication
SPRINGFIELD — Pro Springfield Media, a nonprofit organization that was established in 2011 with a campaign to encourage area residents to “say something nice about their city,” recently launched an online publication called Speaking of Springfield. The publication will feature good news about the city — upbeat, up-close, and uplifting stories about residents, businesses, and neighborhoods. A section entitled “Sensations” features city sights, sounds, and signs as part of the editorial content. The publication is being managed and produced by TSM Design with support from local writers, photographers, and videographers. Speaking of Springfield is a free public medium and is funded through the support of corporations, foundations, and individuals through grants, underwriting, and donations. Individuals are encouraged to subscribe to the e-zine in order to be notified when articles are posted by logging onto www.speakingofspringfield.org.

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Squires Bistro Inc., 161 Main St., Agawam, MA 01001. Frederick C. Withee, 111 Cottonwood Lane, Agawam, MA 01001. Bistro/restaurant.
 
ATHOL

North Quabbin Trails Association Inc., 100 Main St., Athol, MA 01331. Robert Curley, 329 Bearsden Road, Athol, MA 01331. To sustain and work toward outdoor trail development, maintenance, and improvements, and to create stewardship with other
outdoor organizations, groups, and individuals to further this goal.

CHICOPEE

Out of Wood Inc., 291 Burnette Road, Chicopee, MA 01020. Phil Karwonski Jr.,
55 Yvette St., Chicopee, MA 01020. To engage in the sale and service of bowling equipment and supplies.

Yankee Auto Sales Inc., 162 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Russel R. Foisy, 16 Lathrop St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Used auto sales.

GREENFIELD

Smith Ventures Inc., 73 River St., First Floor, Greenfield, MA 01301. Tyler S. Smith, same. E-commerce.

HOLYOKE

Gilburg Global Enterprises Inc., 88 Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Karen L. Gilburg, same. E-commerce.

LEE

Genesis of Lee Inc., 980 Pleasant St., Lee, MA 01238. Khandubhai Patel, same. Hotel.

LUDLOW

HK Collections Inc., 78 Glenwood St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Hanil Kang, same. The operation of a debt-collection agency.

LONGMEADOW

Goldsmith, Katz & Argenio, PC., 1350 Main St., Suite 1505, Springfield, MA 01103. Jonathan R. Goldsmith, 104 Fairhill Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Law practice.
 
 
NORTHAMPTON

Igualidad as Friends of the Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School Inc., 67 Woodlawn Ave., Northampton, MA 01060. Janet M. Sheppard, same. To provide educational and financial support to the children at the Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School.

PITTSFIELD

J. Allen’s Clubhouse Grille Inc., 15 Marcella Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. David Powell, same. Restaurant.

SOUTHAMPTON

The Greater Easthampton St. Patrick’s Day Committee Inc., 22 Pomeroy Meadow Road, Unit 1, Southampton, MA 01073. Nancy L. Lech, same.

SPRINGFIELD

Accountable Care Clinical Services, P.C., 354 Birnie Ave., Springfield, MA 01107. Phillip F. Gaziano M.D.,16 Peak Road, Wilbraham, MA 01085. Practice medicine.

Campus Neighbors of Springfield MA Inc., 15 Birchalnd Ave., Springfield, MA 01119. Shawn Corbitt, 69 Ashland Ave, Springfield, MA 01119. Nonprofit corporation.

CHC Realty Manager Inc., 1145 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103. Elizabeth Glenn. 664 Roosevelt Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Domestic profit corporation.

Hampden Investment Corporation II, 19 Harrison Ave., Springfield, MA 0110. Glenn S. Welch, 55 Rosewood Dr., Suffield, CT 06078. Security corporation status under Massachusetts general laws.

Hidden Capitol Group Inc., 1350 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Christopher Lessard, same.

Iglesia Pentecostal Jehova-Jireh Inc., 712 Dwight St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Jaqueline Villanueva, 1375 Dwight St., Springfield, MA 01109. Church.

Keep Youth Dreaming and Striving Inc., 1498 Plumtree Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Latoya Bosworth, 43 Pearl St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Charitable organization dedicated to making contributions to tax exempt 501(c)3 organizations.

Naranjan Inc., 55 Briarwood Ave., Springfield, MA 01118. Sukhbrir Kaur, 22 Hopkins Dr., New Haven, CT 06512. Restaurant.

One Source General Contractors Inc., 36 Colonial Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Dennis Forbes, same. General contractor.

SOUTH HADLEY

IQRA Inc., 24 Michael Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. Amir Paracha, same.
 
LBLeasing Inc., 27 Hadley St., outh Hadley, MA 01075. Carol D. White, Same. Leasing of vehicles.

TURNERS FALLS

Humphrey Garden Design and Landscape Inc., 8 Burnett St., Turners Falls, MA 01376. Kevin Humphrey, same. Landscaping service.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

1st Stop Café Inc., 369 Walnut St. Ext., Agawam, MA 01001. Jennifer K. Haile, 55 Irving St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Coffee shop and restaurant.

F.T.N. Realty Inc., 1424 Piper Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Thomas J. Nault, same. Own, rent, lease, and manage real estate.

WESTFIELD

Bahre’s Cure Cancer Concerts, Corp., 40 Pinewood Lane, Westfield, MA 01085. Jason E. Bahre Sr., same. Non-profit organization established to host public concerts to raise money/donations, which will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Complete Tax Service Inc., 85 Reservior Ave., Westfield, MA 01085. Shelley Hope Lacross, same. Bookkeeping and tax-preparation services.

Mancino Farms Inc., 354 North Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Joeseph A Mancino, Same. Farming with retail sales.

TCIS Inc., 83 Ridgecrest Dr., Westfield, MA 01085. James C Tierney, Same. Private investigation services.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of July 2012.

AGAWAM

Advantage Insulation Group
1057 Main St.
Rhiannon Eiffort

Crazy for Charms
409 River Road
Barbara Cross

Handyman Cleaning Services
204 Brookfield Lane
Helen Schuler

Patriot Auto School
301 Springfield St.
Anthony Spear

Smiling Stars Photography
569 Springfield St.
Matthew Hanlon

CHICOPEE

BCN Mechanical
100 Lawndale St.
Benjamin Nyzio

Jan’s Novelty Gift Shop
38 Oriole Dr.
Janice E. O’Connor

KNS Construction
83 Ingham St.
Keith Robitaille

Strong Backs Moving & Hauling
54 Warwick Road
Keith Godek

EAST LONGMEADOW

Dollar Tree
406 North Main St.
Rosalie Beaugard-Lee

Pride Market
13 North Main St.
Robert Bolduc

White Dog Services
191 Maple St.
Robert Nowak

GREENFIELD

Barlow Tree Landscaping & Excavation Inc.
77 Davis St.
Bryan Barlow

Floral Affairs
324 Deerfield St.
Rebecca Guyer

Goly’s Garage
286 Federal St.
James Byrne Jr.

Heart Boats Music Therapy
76 Hastings St.
Michael Williams-Russell

Metals Plus
23 Woodard Road
Lawrence Foster

Pale Circus
24 Franklin St.
Alexander Phillips

Shaw’s Mart
239 Main St.
NaxMart LLC

HOLYOKE

A-1 Nolan Realty LLC
580 Appleton St.
Patrick S. Nolan

Claire’s
50 Holyoke St.
Sonia Tejada

G & P, Inc.
50 Holyoke St.
Rajat Ghosh

Hillside Holdings Inc.
80 Jarvis Ave.
Jeffrey S. Aldrich

Holyoke Towers Associates
582 Pleasant St.
James N. Sullivan

Milkman & Co. Inc.
16 Arden St.
Terril L. Mancuso

Sephora USA Inc.
50 Holyoke St.
Sherman Hoo

LUDLOW

Bridge Premedia
45 Tyburski Road
Ann Lukasik

PALMER

Accu-Siding and Home Improvement
P.O. Box 127
Wayne Quinn

Awsstores.com
1581 North Main St.
Brian Green

Azaya Inc.
1059 North Main St.
Jitendra Changela

Baldyga Inc.
1221 South Main St.
Mark T. Baldyga

Buddy’s Cities Service
1150 Park St.
Arthur D. Tripp, Jr.

Dream Catchers
1440 North Main St.
Charles L. Hood, III

Flamingo Racing
2 Wilbraham St.
Eric W. Sanderson

Floormax Coating
21 Wilbraham St.
John C. Becker, IV

Friendly’s Ice Cream
1519 North Main St.
Shanna Rhoades

SOUTHWICK

Jericho Builders
6 Hidden Place
Bernard Berard

SUP Lake Congamond
49 Mort Vining Road
Diana M. Flynn

SPRINGFIELD

Griffin Consulting Firm
1592 Plumtree Road
Nicole Griffin

Heavenly Air
83 Kathleen St.
Michael R. Rock

Heavenly Essence
588 Carew St.
Hamzah A. Latif

Johnny’s Janitorial Service
51 Nelson Ave.
Johnny M. Kyles

Jupiter Consulting Group
97 Overlook Dr.
Moira Catherine

Kitchen Counsel
270 Maple St.
Michael L. Talmadge

Lamontagne Auto Body Inc.
33 Stafford St.
Glen Robert

Lyndale Garage Inc.
87 Warehouse St.
David E. Vedovelli

Mexico Money Express
2766 Main St.
Ady N. Rosario

N.Y.C. Variety
195 Pine St.
Johnnie Young

Nayab Enterprises LLC
273 Hancock St.
Muhammad Imtiaz

New England Export and Import
764 Main St.
Riswan Raufdeen

OSB and Services
346 Page Blvd.
Carlos E. Martinez

Platinum Image Luxury
57 Haskin St.
Tamika McKenzie

Real Talk Tee’s
34 Clarendon St.
Evelyn Bethea

Robert Valenti Design
25 Hilltop St.
Robert A. Valenti

Roberto’s Bar & Grill Inc.
80 Worthington St.
Paul Ramesh

Saigon Springfield LLC
398 Dickinson St.
Thomas Vuong

Silver Shield Security
185 Belmont St.
Gary L. Berte

TD Bank
1800 Boston Road
Diane Ryan

Vito’s Barber Shop
654 Page Blvd.
Ciro Ricciardi

Wingate at Springfield
215 Bicentennial Highway
Sec Springfield Inc.

Wolfetones Gaelic Football
33 Progress Ave.
John B. O’Reilly

Xtraordinary Recording
2 Chestnut St.
Tony A. Mebane

WESTFIELD

Sandy L. Design
39 Magnolia Terrace
Sandra Fiedler

Timber Ridge Tree Expert
217 Lockhouse Road
Christopher Rafus

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Flowers by Webster LLC
82 Elm St.
Gail Kelly

Friendly’s
1094 Riverdale St.
BDL Restaurant Inc.

K Brothers Construction
1111 Westfield St.
Yuriy Krasnov

Knightly Billing
126 Maple St.
Paul M. Corey

Mind, Body & Skin
117 River St.
Kelly L. Rondeau

Paul H. Boudo & Associates
519 Gooseberry Road
Paul H. Boudo

Power Washing
29 Neptune Ave.
Thomas M. Bienia