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Doing Business as Certificates

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DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

4 U Siding & Roofing
605 Southwick St.
Dmitriy Bruskly

Agawam Wellness
430 Main St.
Nichole Hines

Custom Cabinet & Millwork Inc.
62 Suffield St.
Garrett Kimball

Tucano Applications
14 Mansion Woods
Leonardo D. Mascarenhas

Wargamers’ Terrain
73 Tobacco Farm Road
Joe Linares

AMHERST

Arise Pizzeria
28 Amity St.
Emily Wadham

Smoking Otter Furniture
13 Ridgecrest Road
Ben Paus-Weiler

CHICOPEE

Jonken Lawncare
1981 Memorial Dr.
Kevin Blanton

Kava Press
57 Springfield St.
Lyudmila Shumska

Knight Home Improvement
18 Mellen St.
Richard E. Knight Jr.

Renzo Services
70 Broadway St.
Carlos Carrero

Westover Tailor Shop
1512 Memorial Dr.
Cengiz Ihas

EASTHAMPTON

Brickyard Maintenance
142 Pleasant St.
James Wittmer II

Eastside Auto Recovery and Transport
3 West St.
Aneudi Bermudez

The Botaniste
101 Main St.
Corina Miller

Video 4 Good
116 Pleasant St.
Media Shower Productions

HADLEY

Interskate 91 North
367 Russell St.
William Hoeffer

Shaolin Kung Fu Center
231 Russell St.
Ryan Budny

Z Auto
105 East St.
Michael Zera

HOLYOKE

Dollar Rite
50 Holyoke St.
Sawkat Owali

Easy Pick Convenience
224 Lyman St.
Arfa Shaikh

NORTHAMPTON

Amulet Nine
225 Elm St.
Elisabeth Beller

Aqua View Design
16-20 Crafts Ave.
Yue Zhang

Harlowe Luggage
196 Main St.
Robert Murdick Jr.

Home Town Healthcare Store
142 North King St.
Heriberto Tapanes

Pho Vietnam
18 Main St.
Giang Nguyen

Sid Vantage
279 Main St.
Jill Boyce

The Laughing Tomato
20 Hampton Ave.
Armando Verea

Vend Magic
73 Bridge St.
Barbara Marsh

PALMER

Tenczar’s Food Store
2004 Main St.
Rejesh Patel

The Blue Veins Band
1028 School St.
Matthew Skowyra

SOUTHWICK

Conlin Interiors
17 Island Pond Road
Sonia Sube

Extreme Tree
9 Robin Road
Zachary Dougherty

Friends of the Southwick Rail Trail
454 College Highway
Roger Yargeau

Full Bobbin Quilting
27 Gargon Ter.
Catherine Barwikowski

Lunique Realm
160 Point Grove Road
Lynne Hartwell

SPRINGFIELD

Lil Divas Boutique
65 Sycamore St.
Elizabeth Matos

Lion Like it or Not
108 Yale St.
Sheldon Alexander

M.V.M. Balloon Design
172 Eastern Ave.
Benjamin Martinez

Mahigani Flava LLC
248 White St.
Yvette Anderson

Martin’s Barbershop
165 White St.
Martin Nieves

Mikey’s Pizza
89 Main St.
Mohammad M. Tajerha

One Stop Cuts
494 Central St.
Radalle Hubbard

P J & E Home Improvement
94 Draper St.
Paul Jeannenot

P.B. Remodeling
565 Riverside Road
Pedro Baez

Partnership Nest Egg Club
37 James St.
Tracey A. Maddix

PH Photography
115 Denwall St.
Anitra Brown

S & S Wholesale Corporation
90 Pinta Circle
Suraji S. Omar

Simply Divine Beauty Lounge
607 Dickinson St.
Kelly Rochelle

Small Repair / PC
45 Itendale St.
Fred L. Moskowitz

Something to Talk About
1500 Main St.
Diane Evans

Step in Styel
280 Oakland St.
Sean Brantley

Stop & Shop
415 Cooley St.
Stop & Shop

Sweet Start Family Childcare
36 Amanda St.
Germaris Pinero

Tamaz Inc.
32 Boston Road
Mazhar Iqbal

Universal Cuts
172 Eastern Ave.
Jossimarye Melendez

Velez Home Improvement
22 Wilmont St.
Evelio V. Garcia

Vessels of Silver and Gold
8 Navajo Rd.
Ingrid Ingram

War and Fantasy Games
20 Old Farm Road
Wayne Liggan

Xiuli Li Corporation
271 Belmont Ave.
Xiuli Li

Youth Logic
80 Congress St.
Experience Wellness

WESTFIELD

Complete Tax Service Inc.
85 Reservoir Ave.
Shelley LaCross

Design the Line Custom Clothing
246 Elm St.
Joshua Kelsey

Dine & Play Buffet
77 Mill St.
Michael Ventrice

Glitz, Glamour, N’Elegance
160 Elm St.
Stephanie L. Wesolowski

Westfield Vacuum Center
281 Notre Dame St.
Annette Barl

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Afterglow RV Auto Detailing
134 Orchard View St.
Michael J. Stefano

Cori’s K9 Clip
242 Elm St.
Cori Napolitan

Cornerstone Construction Co.
105 Hampden St.
Anatoliy Paliy

E. Scott Landscaping
320 Massachusetts Ave.
Eric Scott

Hale Channel Photography
124 Lincoln St.
Brian M. Hale

JJ’s Soft Serve & More
16 Chestnut St.
Montagna Enterprises Corporation

Lattitude
1338 Memorial Ave.
Inspirations Food

North Garden Chinese Restaurant
42 Myron St.
Raymond Kan

Peak Performance Exterior Home Improvement
103 Lower Beverly Hill
Eric Barkyoumb

Ready Motors
2405 Westfield Road
Victor Meyko

The Puppy Place
935 Riverdale St.
Richard Carty

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

Westside Checking
205 Elm St.
JMT Check Cashing Inc.

Incorporations

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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

Cross Logistics Inc., 135 Brien St., Agawam, MA 01001. Mohamad M. Borhot, same. Transportation services.

Ecotek Print Solutions Inc., 417 Springfield St., #203, Agawam, MA 01001. Abdallah Ghalayini , same. Digital signage equipment and services.

Angels Take Flight Inc., 103 Lealand Ave., Agawam, MA, 01001. Tamara J. Blake, 136 Rosewell St., Springfield, MA 01109. A non-profit organization that provides luggage and transitional items to local children in foster care placements, hospital settings, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, or other safe homes.

BELCHERTOWN

21st Century Green Homes Inc., 368 Turkey Hill Road, Belchertown, MA 01007. James F. Bachand Jr., same. Real estate purchases, sales, and construction of residential homes.

CHICOPEE

Donald J. Ruel Electric Inc., 72 Parenteau Ct., Chicopee, MA 01020. Donald J. Ruel, same. Licensed electrician.

Rusin Services Inc., 76 Cote Ave., Chicopee, MA, 01020. John Rusin, same. General cleaning and maintenance services.

EASTHAMPTON

Rsk Media Inc., 116 Pleasant St., Unit 325, Easthampton, MA, 01027. Matthew B Harrison, 6 Pepin Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027. Photo and video production.

FEEDING HILLS

Extreme Enterprice Inc., 371 South Westfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Danny Acevedo, 336 Tokeneke Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Auto body.

GREENFIELD

Roundabout Books Inc., 16 West St, Greenfield, MA 0130. Raymond Joseph Neal II, 16 West St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Used book sales.

HOLYOKE

Imagine Philanthropy Inc., 591 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Tuti B. Scott , 591 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040.

Umoja Now Inc., 17 Old Jarvis Ave. Holyoke, MA 01040. Pascal Kelvin Akimana, same. To prevent all forms of violence and heal its effects. To promote gender equality. To build sustainable peace in local communities across the African continent.

INDIAN ORCHARD

K&O Corp., 1295 Worcester St., Indian Orchard, MA 0115. Orlando Ovalles, same. Grocery store.

LEE

Hannn Lerner, P.C., 184 Main St., Lee MA 01238. Jeremia A. Pollard, same. Legal services.

LENOX

Massachusetts Equine Welfare Council Inc., 431 New Lenox Road, Lenox, MA, 01240. Barbara E. Kellogg, same. To provide assistance and education to equine owners and the public to ensure equine welfare; to foster and encourage and assist in the humane care and treatment of equines.

NORTHAMPTON

Wishbone Productions Incorporated Inc., 43 Warburton Way, Northampton, MA 01060. Matthew McCloghry, same. Fund raising, sales and marketing.

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Lockshop Inc., 24 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. David Hicks, same. Locksmith services.

R & A Bertolino Inc., 43 Bellmore Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Robert M Bertolino, same. Food services.

RUSSELL

Russell Enterprise Inc., 265 Dickinson Hill Road, Russell, MA 01071. Nadezhda Burkovskiy, same. Truck leasing.

SOUTHWICK

Paul Martin Construction Corp., 23 Berkshire Ave., Southwick, MA 01077. Paul Martin, same. Commercial construction and renovations.

SPRINGFIELD

Charlene’s Boutique Inc., 114 State St., Springfield, MA 01103. Charlene S. Naylor, same. Retail store-storefront; sales-clothing.

Easy Checks & Variety Inc., 494 Central St., Springfield, MA 01109. Rajesh R. Patel, 102 Sterling Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Check cashing.

Metropolitan Insurance Union Inc., 251 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01109. Lance D. Letourneau, same. Insurance center.

Goodness Outreach Ministries Inc., 145 Bay St., Springfield, MA 01109. Derrick Augustus Samms, 801 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01013. To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Re Green Springfield Inc., 1441 Main St., Suite 601, Springfield, MA 01108. Timothy J. Ryan, 72 Morningside Park, Springfield, MA 01108. The corporation is organized for charitable, scientific purposes, which include the development, creation and implementation of sustainable planting, caring and maintenance of trees and vegetation in the city of Springfield.

Iglesia Pentecostal Jesus La Rosa De Saroin Inc., 316 1/2 Belmont Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Mercedes Figueroa, 44 Allen Park Road, Springfield, MA 01118. Bible studies and religious studies related to the church.

STURBRIDGE

Bonneau Anesthesia Services Inc., 69 Mashapaug Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566. Jean-Paul Bonneau, same. Nurse anesthesia services.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Ar-Rahman Co. Inc, 470 Main St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Ulkadir Hussein, 3 Union St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Grocery store.

Car Development Inc., 122 Doty Circle, West Springfield, MA 01089. James E. Balise Jr., same. Financing and redevelopment of real estate.

WILBRAHAM

Lamontagne Auto Body Inc., 8 Fairview Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Glen Lamontagne, 8 Fairview Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Auto Body repairs.

Manny’s Olive Oil Inc., 1872 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Barbara J. Rovithis, 1872 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Manufacture, sales, and distribution of olive oil.

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook Departments

Hampden Bancorp Plans Cash Dividend
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Hampden Bank, recently announced it had a $624,000, or 246.6%, increase in net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012, to $877,000, as compared to $253,000 for the same period in 2011. The provision for loan losses decreased $575,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, due to decreases in delinquent loans, including non-accrual loans, declining impaired loans, and continued improvement in general economic conditions. In addition, the company’s total assets increased $37.8 million, or 6.6%, from $573.3 million at June 30, 2011 to $611.1 million at March 31, 2012. Securities increased $19.6 million, or 17.5%, to $131.5 million, and cash and cash equivalents increased $7.2 million, or 23.0%, to $38.3 million at March 31, 2012. Deposits increased $18.2 million, or 4.4%, to $435.4 million at March 31, 2012, from $417.3 million at June 30, 2011. The company has been focused more on obtaining core deposits than time deposits, according to Thomas R. Burton, CEO and vice chairman. “Economic conditions in our local economy continue to improve, as evidenced by a decline in delinquent and impaired loans as well as a nominal increase in loan growth,” he said. “We have reduced the provision for loan losses while continuing to maintain strong ratios related to our reserve coverage. Overall, we are pleased with the results but recognize that asset growth is necessary for continued financial improvement.” The board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per common share, payable on May 31, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 16.

WMECo Launches Mobile Web Site
SPRINGFIELD — Western Massachusetts Electric Co. (WMECo) recently launched a mobile Web site for customers who use smartphones. Using the new mobile site, customers can view their account, pay their bill, view current power outages, or report a new power outage, all from the specially designed Web site. “It’s important to us that our customers feel we are accessible,” said Peter Clarke, WMECo president and chief operating officer. “They have told us they want more and easier ways to manage their accounts and receive information from us, so this is a logical next step for us to deliver on that request.” The mobile Web site works with either an iPhone or Android device. When customers access wmeco.com from a smartphone, they will be automatically directed to the mobile-friendly Web site.  In addition, the mobile site puts customers one touch away from calling or e-mailing WMECo customer service and from accessing the company’s Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube pages. Customers may also click a link on the site to view the company’s full Web site. WMECo, a Northeast Utilities company, serves approximately 210,000 customers in 59 communities throughout Western Mass.

Whalley Selected for ITC47 Contract
SOUTHWICK — Whalley Computer Associates (WCA) was recently awarded the ITC47 contract, which will allow it to continue to sell technology products such as desktop computers, laptops, servers, storage devices, and numerous other related technology products to organizations that use the Massachusetts State Purchasing Contract as a purchasing tool. WCA, a leading supplier to Massachusetts K-12 schools, partners with 181 of the state’s 320 school systems to provide technology products, services, training, and consultation. WCA also works with 57 cities and towns, 36 law-enforcement departments, 19 public colleges and universities, and 12 state agencies. “I think the number of Massachusetts organizations that have selected us as their primary vendor validates our decision to remain a large, regional, locally owned business,” said Paul Whalley, vice president and a former elementary-school teacher. Whalley noted that WCA is the sixth-largest vendor of the prestigious Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium (MHEC) contract, which has 600 suppliers providing computers, books, vehicles, science materials, furniture, and nearly every other product required by public Massachusetts colleges and universities. “WCA is also unique in having an office in the western part of Massachusetts and another in Central and Eastern Mass.,” said Whalley. “This allows us to rapidly and easily service those organizations that have offices throughout the state.”

Tighe & Bond Ranked Among Top Design Firms
WESTFIELD — The Engineering News-Record (ENR) once again ranked Tighe & Bond among the top 500 design firms in the nation, according to David Pinsky, president. ENR ranks companies by the previous year’s gross revenue for providing design services to domestic and international markets. Tighe & Bond ranked 272 in ENR’s 2012 report, which exceeds last year’s ranking of 309 and reflects the firm’s 2011 annual gross revenue of $36 million. “Last year was a very successful and profitable year for us,” said Pinsky. “We saw growth in all of our primary business units and acquired a sixth office in Portsmouth, N.H., that enables us to better serve our clients in that state, Southeastern Maine, and Northeastern Mass. All of this is backed by our ongoing commitment to deliver the highest-quality services to our clients on time and within budget.” The Boston Business Journal also ranked Tighe & Bond as one of the largest engineering firms in Massachusetts, according to Pinsky. In its 2012 Book of Lists, the journal ranked the firm 12th out of 25 top-billing firms.

Columbia Gas Supports Link to Libraries
SPRINGFIELD — Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has given a grant to Link to Libraries to help promote literacy and donate books to public elementary schools and nonprofit organizations in Western Mass. The funds will be used to supply all children entering kindergarten in Holyoke and Springfield with literacy bookbags. “We are tremendously honored that the Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has decided to join us in our mission,” said Susan Jaye-Kaplan, Link to Libraries co-founder. “This grant will have substantial economic impact in our mission to enhance early literacy and promote that all youth be proficient readers by grade 4.” Steve Bryant, president of Columbia Gas, noted that “Columbia Gas, as well as our employees, is committed to supporting families in need. Helping to provide books to kindergarten children is just one way we can help ensure that children get started on the right path to become lifelong readers.” Since its inception in 2008, Link to Libraries has donated more than 50,000 new books to area youth.

Big Y Adds 41st Pharmacy
SPRINGFIELD — Big Y Foods Inc. recently opened its 41st pharmacy in the World Class Market at 700 Main St., Suite 2, in Great Barrington. Pharmacy Manager Helen Costello, R.Ph., will be working alongside pharmacist Julie Samale, R.Ph. and technician Raeven Fuller to bring added convenience to grocery shoppers in Southern Berkshire County. Pharmacy hours will be weekdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Big Y Pharmacies plan to conduct special wellness events throughout the next few months, including total cholesterol and blood-pressure screenings, glucose and body-fat-percentage testing, and skin analysis. Big Y currently operates pharmacies throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.

People On the Move

By
Denise V. Laizer
Departments People on the Move

Denise V. Laizer

Denise V. Laizer

Denise V. Laizer, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for Easthampton Savings Bank, has been named a Community Bank Hero for 2012 by Banker and Tradesman magazine. Readers of Banker & Tradesman were asked to nominate individuals who work in a Massachusetts community bank, are respected industry professionals who have made a significant impact on those around them, and make outstanding contributions to their institution. Criteria for candidates also included giving back to the community and the industry with time, energy, and resources through volunteerism, community service, and charity. Laizer, who was one of 16 selected, will be honored at a special awards ceremony in Boston on May 23.
•••••
Michael Ravosa was recently elected to the Board of Trustees at American International College in Springfield. He is the Vice President for Investment for the RBD Wealth Management Group, UBS Financial Services.
•••••
United Fresh Foundation’s Center for Leadership Excellence has chosen John Heon, Produce and Floral Sales Manager, Big Y World Class Market in Great Barrington, as an honoree for its 2012 awards. Heon was honored among 25 produce managers representing 20 supermarket chains, commissaries, and independent retail stores within the U.S. and Canada. Winners were selected by a team of produce experts who examined efforts to increase produce consumption through everyday excellence in merchandising, special displays and promotions, community service, and commitment to total customer satisfaction. Heon has been with Big Y for 31 years.
•••••
North Brookfield Savings Bank announced the following:
• Rick Egan has been named Assistant Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer. He is responsible for developing new and existing commercial-lending relationships, advising business customers on available lending products, and helping borrowers achieve their financing goals.
• Lillian Carlson has been named Loan Officer. She is responsible for creating and maintaining relationships with existing and prospective loan customers as well as assisting customers with the mortgage-lending process and helping them find financing solutions.
•••••
Kim Bushey

Kim Bushey

Santander Holdings USA Inc. and Sovereign Bank, N.A., wholly owned subsidiaries of Banco Santander, announced the appointment of Kim Bushey as Senior Vice President and Business Banking Executive for Connecticut and Western Mass. Bushey, based out of the West Hartford, Conn. office, will be responsible for serving the needs of local businesses with annual revenue of $3 million to $20 million.
•••••
Attorney Danielle I. Nicklas has joined Cooley Shrair in Springfield as Associate Legal Counsel. Nicklas focuses her practice on health law, including health care compliance, risk management, Stark law, and anti-kickback regulations.
•••••
James M. Lavelle, General Manager of the Holyoke Gas & Electric Department, will receive the 2012 Henry A. Fifield Award for Voluntary Service to the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. The late Henry Fifield was an Ampad executive who served the chamber in many capacities, including chairman of the board. Lavelle will be honored at the 122nd annual meeting of the Holyoke Chamber on May 30 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House. The award presentation and reception for Lavelle will be a highlight of the annual meeting, which will also include an election of officers and directors for the 2012-13 year.
•••••
David Fedor, an independent Financial Advisor affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and President of Fedor Financial Group in West Springfield, was named to Commonwealth’s Winners Circle. The distinction recognizes 167 out of Commonwealth’s 1,400 financial advisors nationwide.
•••••
The Hampden County Bar Assoc. announced the following:
• Attorney Kevin J. Claffey received the John M. Greaney Award during the association’s National Law Day Ceremony at Springfield District Court; and
• Noreen E. Nardi received the John M. Greaney Award during National Law Day. The annual awards are given to both an attorney and a non-attorney who are deemed outstanding citizens of the Hampden County legal community.
•••••
John Elder Robison was among 15 individuals recently selected to serve on the U.S. Health and Human Services Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. Robison is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elms College, Chicopee. He speaks publicly about his experience as a person on the autism spectrum, and is the author of Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s and Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian.
•••••
Tighe & Bond of Westfield announced the following:
• Stephen Seigal, P.E., BCEE, has joined the firm as a Vice President, and will work out of the Worcester office. A civil engineer with 36 years of regional experience in the wastewater industry, Seigal has planned, designed, and provided construction-phase engineering services for more than 24 wastewater treatment facilities throughout the region.
• David Loring, P.E., LEED AP, has been named Technical Practice Leader for the Civil Practice Group. In this role, he will coordinate and advance the firm’s civil-engineering capabilities, oversee the continual advancement of relevant technical skills, and promote professional development of key staff. He will also ensure that the Civil Practice Group stays abreast of local, state, and federal regulations that impact clients. Loring is a licensed civil engineer and construction supervisor in Massachusetts, as well as a LEED Accredited Professional.
•••••
American International College in Springfield has named Dr. Cesarina Thompson Dean of the School of Health Sciences. Thompson will begin her duties on July 1. She was inducted as a Fellow in the National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nursing Education for her research and scholarly activities focusing on advancing nursing education. She received a Ph.D. in Adult Education and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Connecticut, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Bridgeport.
•••••
The Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) announced the following election of directors and officers:
• Paul Robbins, Principal of Paul Robbins Associates and a gubernatorial appointee, was elected Chairman;
• Phillip W. Sweeney, Marblehead Municipal Light Department Commission Chairman, was elected to a two-year term on the board;
• Kevin P. Kelly, Groton Electric Light Department Manager, was elected to a three-year board term; and
• Peter D. Dion, General Manager of the Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department, was re-elected by the membership to his fourth one-year term as President of MMWEC.
Additional MMWEC officers for the coming year, as elected by the board, include:
• Ronald C. DeCurzio, CEO and Secretary;
•  Jeffrey B. Iafrati, Treasurer;
• Stephen J. Smith, Assistant Treasurer;
•  Nancy A. Brown, Assistant Secretary; and
•  Nicholas J. Scobbo Jr., General Counsel.
Other MMWEC directors, elected previously by the membership, include:
• Gary R. Babin, Director of the Mansfield Municipal Electric Department;
• Jeffrey R.  Cady, Manager of the Chicopee Muncipal Lighting Plant;
• Sean Hamilton, General Manager of the Sterling Municipal Light Department;
• Jonathan V. Fitch, Princeton Municipal Light Department Manager; and
• James M. Lavelle, Holyoke Gas & Electric Department Manager.
In addition to Robbins, Michael J. Flynn serves on the board as gubernatorial appointee. Flynn also represents the Town of Wilbraham on the board, with Luis Vitorino and John M. Flynn representing the towns of Ludlow and Hampden, respectively.
•••••
Big Y Foods Inc. of Springfield announced the following:
• Michael J. Galat has been named interim Senior Director of Employee Services. He will oversee the entire department, including employee policies and procedures, training and development, morale and engagement, recognition, progressive discipline, employee benefits, and wellness initiatives; and
• Sean S. Nimmons has been appointed a District Director for the eastern zone. He is responsible for managing all aspects of the 15-store zone, including employees, financial performance, merchandising, and operations.
•••••
Daniel R. Moriarty has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Monson Savings Bank. A member of the bank’s senior leadership team, he is responsible for leading the bank’s financial functions, operations, and reporting.

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Management Fundamentals Workshop
May 24: Lyne Kendall of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network will present “Business Plan Basics” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Amherst Town Hall, first floor meeting room, 4 Boltwood Walk. The workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing and business planning. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

State of the Region
June 5: The Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership (HSEP) will stage its 2012 State of the Region Conference, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Enfield-Springfield at One Bright Meadow Blvd. in Enfield. The event will have as its theme “State Collaboration and the Region’s Future.” Keynote speakers will be Catherine Smith, commissioner of the Conn. Department of Economic and Community Development, and Gregory Bialecki, Mass. secretary of Housing and Economic Development. Mary Ellen Jones, chair of the Connecticut Airport Authority, also will speak. There is no charge, but pre-registration is necessary.  For more information and to register, visit www.hartfordspringfield.com. The Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership is an interstate collaboration of regional economic-development, planning, business, tourism, and educational institutions that work together to advance the region’s economic progress.

YMCA CELEBRATION
June 18:  Given the YMCA of Greater Springfield’s history with the game of basketball, it is only fitting that a celebration of the organization’s 160th Anniversary will be staged at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The event, to start at 6 p.m., will feature a keynote address by successful sports and business leader Mannie Jackson and Boston Globe sportswriters and ESPN commentators, Jackie MacMullan and Bob Ryan. MacMullan and Ryan, both Basketball Hall of Fame Award winners, will together share with guests their thoughts and experiences covering the celebrated Boston sports teams, with a special concentration on the Boston Celtics. Jackson is a former player for the Harlem Globetrotters who, after a successful business career, purchased the Globetrotters from near bankruptcy and extinction, reinvigorating one of America’s most popular sports brands. Jackson will share stories and insights from his life beginning with literally being born in a railway boxcar, to becoming the first African American player at the University of Illinois, to becoming the president of a unit of Honeywell Corporation, and his ultimate purchase of the Globetrotters and his experiences around the world with the team. Jackson is now a philanthropist and author, who recently released a book called Boxcar to Boardrooms; My Memories and Travels, that chronicles his inspiring journey. The book is on sale now www.boxcarholding.com with all proceeds donated to cancer research and the I-LEAP Academic Scholarship Program. “We are extremely honored to be joined by these three amazingly talented sports icons,” says Kirk Smith, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Springfield. “I couldn’t ask for a better way to commemorate our 160th anniversary than with them at Center Court of the Basketball Hall of Fame.” Tickets to the June 18 celebration are available by contacting Peggy Graveline, Development assistant at the YMCA of Greater Springfield, at [email protected], or by calling (413) 739-6951, ext. 179. Tickets are $160/each, or $1,500 for a table of 10. All proceeds from the event will benefit the YMCA of Greater Springfield’s 2012 Annual Scholarship Campaign.

40 Under Forty
June 21: BusinessWest will present its sixth class of regional rising stars at its annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The gala will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Tickets are $60 per person, with tables of 10 available. Early registration is advised, as seating is limited. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or log onto www.businesswest.com.

WBOA 30th Anniversary
June 21: Chez Josef in Agawam will be the setting for the 30th anniversary celebration of the Women’s Business Owners Alliance of the Pioneer Valley (WBOA) at 6 p.m. The WBOA will recognize its 2012 Business Woman of the Year, as well as its 2012 Outstanding New Member, and will name its Top Women in Business in the Pioneer Valley. Renate Oliver, WBOA founder, will also be a featured speaker. The event will feature entertainment by Jeannie Pomeroy-Murphy, as well as a raffle fund-raiser. For more information or tickets, call (413) 525-7345 or visit www.wboa.org.

NYC Bus Trip
June 30: The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will host a bus trip to New York City, leaving the chamber parking lot at 7 a.m. and returning around 9:30 p.m. Participants are on their own for the day in New York City. Tickets are $45 per person. For more information, contact Lynn at (413) 594-2101.

Massachusetts Chamber Summit
Sept. 9-11: The Massachusetts Chamber board of directors will conduct its annual Business Summit and Awards Ceremony Sept. 9-11 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 Massachusetts 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.

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.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
• June 1: ERC5 Town Chamber Annual Meeting, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Country Club of Wilbraham. Cost: members, $20; non-members, $25.
• June 5: Springfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, noon-1:30 p.m., in the EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• June 6: ACCGS June Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Springfield College. Cost: members, $20; non-members, $30.
• June 8: ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee meeting, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.
• June 12: ACCGS Annual Meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center. Keynote speaker is state Attorney General Martha Coakley. Cost: members, $40; tables of eight, $300; non-members, $60.
• June 13: ACCGS After 5, at the Glass Room, Elegant Affairs, Springfield, Cost: members, $20; non-members, $30.
• June 20: ACCGS Ambassadors meeting, 4-5 p.m., in the EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• June 21: ACCGS Executive Committee meeting, noon-1 p.m., in the TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.
• June 27: Professional Women’s Chamber Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8-9 a.m. Hosted by the Professional Women’s Chamber.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101
• June 19: Health & Career Fair presented by Health New England, 8:30-11:30 a.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Calling all businesses in the health care industry. Be an exhibitor: $125 for members, $175 for non-members. If you are in the health care industry and have job openings, be a part of the job fair that will be at this event in the section “Corridor to Your Career.” The event is free to attend, and the public is welcome. Complimentary coffee, herbal tea, and sliced fresh fruit will be available until 9:30 a.m.
• June 27: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Grandview Estates, located off of Granby Road in Chicopee. Cost: $5 pre-registered members; $15 for non-members.
• June 30: Bus trip to New York City, a day on your own in the city. The bus leaves the chamber parking lot at 7 a.m. and returns around 9:30 p.m. Cost is $45 per person. Call (413) 594-2101 or sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463
• June 29: Annual Legislative Breakfast and Annual Meeting, 7:30-9 a.m. Attendees will be briefed on FY ’13 budget and business news from our delegation on Beacon Hill. Sponsored by People’s United Bank. Cost: $12 for members; $15 for non-members.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414
• June 14: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5-7 p.m. Network on Shop Row, Main Street, Easthampton. Sponsors: Daily Hampshire Gazette, Silver Spoon Restaurant, and Taylor Agency Real Estate. Hors d’ouevres, door prizes, host beer and wine. Tickets: $5 for members; $15 for future members.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900
• June 6: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Hosted by Pioneer Valley Landscapes at the Garden House at Look Park, Florence. Sponsored by Finck & Perras Insurance Agency, United Bank, and Verizon Wireless/Wireless Zone. Catered by Captain Jack’s. This event will also be accompanied by the band Changes in Latitude. V-1 Vodka will be on hand for a martini sampling, and there will be door prizes, including a handheld leaf blower and a professional line trimmer donated by Pioneer Landscapes, and an iPad donated by Verizon Wireless/Wireless Zone.
• June 21: New Member Info Session, 8-9 a.m. A chance to tell us more about your business and how the chamber can best serve you, meet other new members, and tell you how to make to the most of your chamber membership. A light breakfast will be served. RSVP to (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
• June 13: Looking to stand out in the crowd? The Northampton Area Young Professionals are looking to help. Join us for a unique opportunity to meet with more than 20 local nonprofit organizations with upcoming board-level openings who are looking for their next leaders. In addition, they’ll showcase their organizations an discuss other volunteer opportunities. The event will be staged from 5-8 p.m. in the Smith College Conference Center. The event is free to members of NAYP and the Greater Northampton, Greater Easthampton, and Amherst chambers of commerce; $5 entry for all others. For more information, contact [email protected].

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310
• June 7: Woman of the Year, honoring Attorney Ellen Freyman, 6-9 p.m., at the Springfield Sheraton. Cost is $55 per person.

SOUTH HADLEY/GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451
• June 13: Beyond Business, 5-7 p.m. Sponsors: Big Wide Smiles and Chicopee Savings Bank. Entertainment by Berkshire Hills Music Academy. Refreshments available. Cost: $5. Reservations are encouraged by June 6 by calling (413) 532-6451 or e-mailing [email protected].

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880
• June 5: Membership Committee meeting, 8-9 a.m., Westfield Bank, Agawam.
• June 6: Education Committee Meeting, 8-9 a.m. Hosted by Agawam High School and the Career Development Center, Agawam.
• June 6: Wicked Wednesday and Member Appreciation, 5-7 p.m., at the Hampton Inn of West Springfield. WRC invites you to join us on the first Wednesday of every month at businesses across Agawam and West Springfield. Get a little wicked with us and see what WRC is all about. These events are free for WRC members and $10 for non-members.
• June 7: Annual Breakfast Meeting, 7-9 a.m., at Chez Josef in Agawam. Tickets are $25 for WRC members, $35 for non-members. The WRC hosts Seth Mattison of BridgeWorks, an organization dedicated to helping businesses successfully bridge the generational gaps they face in their workforce, as it announces its 2012-13 chairman and board of directors. This event is sponsored in part by Development Associates and Westfield Bank.
• June 14: Programs Committee meeting, 7:30- 9 a.m., at Management Search Inc., West Springfield.
• June 15: Executive Committee meeting, 8-9 a.m., at Hampden Bank, West Springfield.
• June 21: Economic Development Committee meeting, 7:30- 8:30 a.m., at the Work Opportunity Center, Agawam.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
• June 8: June Chamber Breakfast, 7:15 a.m., at the Ranch Golf Club. Guest speaker is Richard K. Sullivan Jr., secretary of the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Platinum Sponsor is First Niagara; Gold Sponsors are United Bank and Westfield State University; Bronze Sponsor is AIM. Tickets are $25 for members; $30 for non-members. For more information or to register, contact Carrie Dearing at (413) 568-1618 or [email protected]. The Ranch Golf Club is offering a golf special for those who attend the breakfast; $75 for 18 holes with a cart. Call (413) 569-9333 to make a reservation.
• June 12: Chamber WestNet, 5-7 p.m., at Maple Brook Alpaca Farm. Sponsors are AIM and Wal-Mart. Featured speaker is Sarah Tanner of the United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc. Attend the WestNet for business-connection opportunities; bring your business cards. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information or to register, contact Carrie Dearing at (413) 568-1618 or [email protected].
• June 18: 51st Annual Golf Tournament, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., at East Mountain Country. Title Sponsor is Westfield Gas & Electric, Cart Sponsor is United Bank, and there are seven Eagle Sponsors: Air Compressor Engineering, Field Eddy Insurance, Peppermill Catering, Savage Arms, Wal-Mart, Westfield Bank, and the Westfield News Group. We are still accepting foursomes, sponsorships, and raffle prizes. Contact Kate Phelon at (413) 568-1618 or [email protected].

PictureThis

By
Departments Picture This

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

Continuing the Legacy

The Sisters of Providence Health System staged its eighth annual Continuing the Legacy luncheon on May 4 in the Springfield Sheraton ballroom. More than 500 people attended the annual fundraiser, at which guests are inspired by, and educated about, the SPHS mission, services and advancements. The event introduces the multi-year giving society, Providence Circle, and invites guests to provide financial or other support. From top, Judith Danek, of Chicopee, tells the gathering about her family’s positive experiences at Mercy Medical Center; John E. Sjoberg, SPHS trustee and SPHS Foundation Board chair, speaks to attendees; and Daniel P. Moen, President and CEO, SPHS, (standing) is surrounded by members of the Sisters of Providence congregation; seated (from left) are Sisters Mary McGrath, SP, Ruth McGoldrick, SP, Margaret McCleary, SP, and Elizabeth Oleksak, SP. Standing (from left) are Sisters Mary Martin de Porres, SP, Priscilla St. Pierre, Joan Manning, SP, and Ann Horgan, SP.














Art of the Matter

Students from the UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors College, none of whom are Fine Arts majors, showcased their artwork in a pre-concert gallery opening and reception in the lobby of One Financial Plaza on May 12. The students’ works were inspired by Gustav Holst’s The Planets, being performed that evening by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Top to bottom, exhibiting senior Rachel Mroz and guest Charlene Baiardi discuss a painting; parents Louise and Bernie Hartnett and Connoisseur Rosemary Tracy Woods view a recreation of Botticelli’s Primavera; James Vinick of Moors & Cabot Investments and Marjorie Koft contemplate an artist’s unique chimpanzee concept; Springfield City Councilor Timothy Rooke and Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt discuss the artists’ talent; and (from left) Professor John Simpson, Beverly Hill, Evan Plotkin, and Willie Hill Jr. celebrate the opening of the exhibit and gallery. The event was sponsored by UMass Amherst, NIA Plotkin, and Springfield Symphony Orchestra.





























Corridan Center Dedication

The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Technology Park dining commons courtyard was recently dedicated to Brian Q. Corridan, president and CEO of the investment firm Corridan & Co. Corridan was honored in recognition of his years of service to the STCC Board of Trustees, including several years as president, a lengthy tenure as chairman of the STCC Assistance Corporation Board of Directors, and strong record of community service. Top, Corridan (center) poses with former STCC President Andrew Scibelli and Gail Carberry, former STCC vice president and current president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. Below, Corridan with his family in front of the plaque inside the center.








Greaney Award Winners

On May 1, the fourth annual John M. Greaney Awards were given out during the Hampden County Bar Association’s National Law Day Ceremony in the Springfield District Court. The awards are given to both an attorney and non-attorney who are deemed outstanding citizens of the Hampden County legal community. Here, Greaney, center, is seen with this year’s winners, Kevin J. Claffey, Esq., and Noreen E. Nardi.

Editorial

By
Opinion
The Vast Power of Mentoring

The many benefits of mentoring have long been understood by those who partake in that important practice. Any time adults can use their knowledge, experience, and compassion to help guide young people through the challenges they’re facing — and will encounter in the years to come — good things usually happen.
But MassMutual is taking this time-honored tradition a big step further with a new and somewhat unique mentoring model that we believe has vast potential to become a blueprint for other companies to follow, as well as a method for keeping more of this region’s young talent in the 413 area code.
As explained in the story beginning on page 6, this model, part of the company’s broad Career Pathways program, takes a traditional mentoring initiative and adds an important career element to it. The initiative pairs young people from high schools literally across the street from MassMutual with successful professionals who can provide needed assistance with challenges ranging from the SATs to nailing an interview for a part-time summer job. Moreover, it introduces them one of the region’s largest employers — and a host of career opportunities.
The philosophy behind this program is fairly simple, but the implications are far-reaching. MassMutual employees donate their time, energy, and experience to the task of keeping talented young people on the right path through the challenging last three years of high school, and, in doing so, they are possibly grooming employees for the immediate future, a time when companies large and small will face the daunting task of replacing retiring Baby Boomers.
It looks good on paper — even if it’s not officially down on paper yet — and we’re confident it will look good in reality, although we really won’t know that for some time.
For now, all the signs are quite positive, and it appears that MassMutual has fashioned a program — carried out in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Springfield School System — that will likely have many long-term benefits for the company and the region as a whole. This is an initiative worth emulating for those who have the resources and inclination to do so.
Start with the mentoring component. As we said at the top, this is an all-important exercise in this region, especially in urban centers where young people may not have many — or any — adults in their lives who act as effective role models and push them to reach higher, graduate from high school, and attend college. Many companies in this region encourage their employees to act as mentors and provide them with the time and flexibility needed to carry out those duties, and we applaud them for their efforts.
The MassMutual model adds a career-development component that could be of great benefit to this region at a time when we keep hearing two phrases — ‘skills gap’ and ‘brain drain.’ The first is used by companies that are having a difficult time finding qualified employees to fill open positions, and the second is used by economic-development leaders as they lament the number of area college graduates who leave this area to pursue a career in their chosen field.
Through this kind of career-pathways mentoring, employers can introduce young people to their companies and future jobs, motivate them to do the hard work that’s needed to attain those careers, and perhaps help build a workforce for the future.
MassMutual’s mentoring program recently won an award from the Mass. Mentoring Partnership for its success — and its vast potential. If all goes as expected, there will be even greater rewards down the line.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

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

CHICOPEE

Curry Realty
769 Memorial Dr.
$285,000 — Renovations at Curry Honda

Memorial Drive Assoc., LLC
1956 Memorial Dr.
$372,000 — Replace roof system and interior alterations

GREENFIELD

Country Club of Greenfield
244 Country Club Road
$1,000,000 — Construct new country club

Cynthia Nims
465 Colrain Road
$17,500 — Remodel carriage house

Greenfield Acres, LLC
10 Congress St.
$85,000 — New fire-alarm system

Jordi Harold
27 Bank Row
$2,500 — Install a new kitchen hood fire system

HOLYOKE

Fiesta Café
305-307 Main St.
$7,000 — Construct dividing walls

Light of Restoration Ministries Inc.
149 Chestnut St.
$25,000 — Construct office space

NORTHAMPTON

Elsa Vitols
41 North Main St.
$3,000 — Rebuild rear egress

Main Street, LLC
207 Main St.
$8,000 — Removal of non-load bearing partitions on second and third floors

Mark Moggio
22 Dewey Court
$4,000 — Porch renovations

Patrick Malone
132 Federal St.
$8,500 — Bath and kitchen renovations

SOUTH HADLEY

South Hadley Landfill
12 Industrial Dr.
$175,000 — Install solar panels

Village Commons
17 College St.
$4,000 — Renovations

SPRINGFIELD

City of Springfield
46 Oakland St.
$34,244,000 — Interior renovations and roof overlay at school

Concord Heights, L.P.
22 Bayonne St.
$1,759,000 — Renovation to existing building

Concord Heights, L.P.
36 Saratoga St.
$5,000,000 — Construct new office building

Conklin Office Supply
162-168 Lyman St.
$30,000 — New roof

Hanna Kycherczyk
186 Main St.
$82,500 — Interior renovations to restaurant

Springfield Post Road Corp.
1420 Boston Road
$135,000 — Interior remodel of existing space

WESTFIELD

Appleby’s
441 East Main St.
$60,000 — Interior renovation

Jelly Belly Pool
77 Mill St.
$143,000 — Fire restoration

WEST SPRINGFIELD

1275, LLC
1275 Elm St.
$56,000 — Renovate 3,002 square feet of existing space

Emilie’s Bridal, LLC
219 Riverdale Road
$11,000 — Renovate space to become hypnosis center

Slavic Pentecostal Church
2611 Westfield St
$40,000 — Exterior renovation

Doing Business As Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

A.J. Precision Inc.
25 Century St.
Nicole Goyette

C & M Heating and Air Conditioning
28 Merrell Dr.
Mark Chevalier

Crestview Country Club
281 Shoemaker Lane
Greg Lindencuth

Evergreen Lawn Care
40 Tower Terrace
Eric Luccardi

J.B. Construction
83 Hope Farms Dr.
John Bishop

JRK Precision Machine, LLC
25 Century St.
John Baginski

Omega Mortgage
430 Main St.
Brad Salerno

Pioneer Valley Productions
43 South West St.
Joseph Paul

U.S. Lawns of Springfield
55 Halladay Dr.
Richard McCaslin

CHICOPEE
Angel Wings Couriers
19 Lark Dr.
Margaret Tichey

Connections Real Estate
78 Lyman Road
Daniel Stamborski

JJ Artwood
23 Tolpa Circle
Mark Chouinard

Pressure Tech
150 Deslauriers St.
Anthony Maschi

Western Mass Blower Door & Duct Testing
165 Front St.
John Kosak

Wireless Solution & Accessories
232 Exchange St.
David Hale

EAST LONGMEADOW

Coyne Tax
53 Wellington Dr.
Jonathan Coyne

Embroidered Images
22 Glynn Farms Dr.
Anne M. Drapalski

Events by Jackie M
19 Kelsey St.
Jacqueline Marlucci

Ojays
83 Elm St.
Jason Zalewski

Sharpline Construction & Remodeling
17 Cosgrove St.
Michael Parker

Studio Nails
30 Shaker Road
Jennifer Nguyen

The UPS Store
444 North Main St.
Lawrence M. Crasnick

GREENFIELD

Different Stuff Bakery
2 Fiske Ave.
Debbie Herrick

Family Vacuum Store
28 Chapman St.
Kellie Hemingway

Greenfield Auto Wrecking
392 Deerfield St.
Antonio Siano

Indoor Action Sports Center
1585 Bernardston Road
Jeff Coulston

Personal Touch Pilates
278 Main St.
Nadya Kostch

Presa Republic
25 Laurel St.
Jeremiah McLenithan

Tapestry Health
80 Sanderson St.
Leslie Laurie

The Home Depot
264 Mohawk Trail
Home Depot USA Inc.

Verlando
18 Pond St.
Todd Verlander

HOLYOKE

Aeropostale
50 Holyoke St.
Harry Axt

American Eagle
50 Holyoke St.
Jamie Frey

Western Mass Speech Therapy
56 Suffolk St.
Sean Bochman

LUDLOW

Brad Willard Professional Painters
89 Woodland Circle
Brad Willard

Culinary Cuisine Demonstrations
226 Chapin St.
Walter Grohs

Salon 345
345 Holyoke St.
Liz R. Ramos

PALMER

Elite DJ Services
1330 Ware St.
Robert A. Roy

Fitness With a Fab
159 Wilbraham St.
Fabio Alica

Palmer Coop Center
1239 South Main St.
Paul Vautour

Sam’s Food Store
1078 Park St.
Shakeel Ahmed

Tricia’s Techniques
8 Knox St.
Patricia Woffenden

SPRINGFIELD

Kaine Compton Consulting
20 West Canton Circle
Kaine K. Leanetta

Len-Mer Realty
1333 East Columbus Ave.
Leonard S. Michelman

Lozada’s Auto Repair
111 Farnham Ave.
Samuel Lozada

Magic Pizza
882 Sumner Ave.
Murat Atasoy

Millennium Nails Salon
1655 Boston Road
Anh T. Diep

MJ’s Auto Sales
32 David St.
Dory M. Harika

Morganti, Aquadro, & Cerru
19 Surrey Road
The Morganti Group

Northeast Distribution
467 Cottage St. ,
Ana M. Menendez

Perfectly Paired
123 Mayfair Ave.
Shawnique Mitchell

Photography By Jhun Ciano
30 Springfield St.
Rodolfo Guiterrez

Precanico Landscape Service
95 North Branch Pkwy.
Christopher George

Prestige Planning
73 Meadowbrook Road
Sheree A. Denson

Puerto Rico Restaurant
152 Rifle St.
Israel Rodriguez

Que Carter
183 Tyler St.
Kisha Johnson-Grant

Quick Sign Service
199 Acorn St.
Blas Rosa

R&M Remodeling and More
112 Avery St.
Miguel Homs

Rose Nails
752 Sumner Ave.
Kristen Nguyen

Salem Siding and Roofing
159 Boston Road
Helen J. Salem

The Best Handyman Service
53 Warrenton St.
Rolando Cruz

Thelma’s Creations
85 Edgeland St.
Thelma R. Behler

Touch of Class Fashions
82 Westford Ave.
Patricia Touset

Tropical African Market
810 Main St.
Kwabena H. Ahenkang

Viren Entertainment
70 East Alvord St.
Shawn G. Santanello

Zona Mobile Wireless Store
355 Belmont Ave.
Maria Alban

WESTFIELD

Alternative Generator
60 Old Stage Road
Christopher Robare

Angelic Stones
12 Blueberry Ridge
Lisa Wilson

DT Knights Landscaping
37 Summit Dr.
Daniel Knights

Greengrass Guys
491 Russellville Road
Michael Clendenin

Hardwarez Store
112 Dry Bridge Road
Timothy Taylor

Kitchens by Prestige
63 Meadow St.
David MacIver

Jiffy Lube
88 South Maple St.
Richard C. Smith

Nicholas Collins
38 Taylor Ave.
Nicholas Collins

Spark-A-Arc Sheet Metal
104 Mainline Dr.
Greg Duda

Supreme Lawn Care
33 Woodcliff Dr.
Grant Williams

Western Mass Solutions LLC
1006 Southampton Road
Brian Wagner

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Afterglow RV Auto Detailing
134 Orchard View St.
Michael J. Stefano

Accurate Accounts
193 Wolcott Ave.
Lyudmila Renkas

Cori’s K9 Clip
242 Elm St.
Cori Napolitan

JJ’s Soft Serve & More
16 Chestnut St.
Montagna Enterprises Corporation

Peak Performance Exterior
103 Lower Beverly Hill
Eric Barkyoumb

Pompeii Pizza
9 Norman St.
Elvan Ozcelik

Ready Motors
2405 Westfield Road
Victor Meyko

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church
23 Southworth St.
Brendan Crawley

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Wistariahurst Concert
May 13: The Chamber Music Society at Wistariahurst returns to Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke, with a Mother’s Day program of romantic music by Robert and Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms. The program includes selections from the “Soirées Musicales” of Clara Schumann, early piano works from her years as a prodigy-virtuoso, performed by Tanya Blaich; songs, duets, and a vocal quartet by Robert Schumann, performed by the Wistaria Vocal Ensemble accompanied by Blaich; Brahms’ “Clarinet Sonata in E-flat Major,” performed by special guest clarinetist Michael Sussman and pianist Monica Jakuc Leverett; and Robert Schumann’s “Piano Quartet in E-flat,” performed by Jakuc Leverett, violinist Sarah Briggs, violist Delores Thayer, and cellist Volcy Pelletier. Admission is $20 at the door. Mother’s Day special offer: bring your mother for a discounted ticket of $10. Reservations are suggested. For more information, call (413) 322-5660.

Small-business Seminar
May 16: Local business owners will talk about what they have done to stay ahead of the many demands on their time and at the same time adjust for the economic environment during a workshop titled “Adapt, Diversify, Reinvent & Grow” at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Presenters include Paul DiGrigoli of Digrigoli Salon & School of Cosmetology; Tara Tetreault of Jackson & Connor; Kate Vishnyakov of Kate Gray Inc., and Rick Ricard of Larien Products. The 9 to 11 a.m. session is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development  Center Network. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

40 Under Forty
June 21: BusinessWest will present its sixth class of regional rising stars at its annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The June 21 gala will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Tickets are $60 per person, with tables of 10 available. Early registration is advised, as seating is limited. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com.

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, or e-mail [email protected], or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

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.

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Faye Ferris v. Deerfield Academy
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of sidewalk, causing slip and fall: $157,500
Filed: 2/27/12

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Annmarie Lafreniere v. Wing Memorial Hospital
Allegation: Wrongful termination: $25,000+
Filed: 3/22/12

Beck Aluminum Corp. v. Diecast Realty Holdings, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $30,398.94
Filed: 3/28/12

James Marrin v. Tri-Lift Inc., Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. and Jungheinrich
Allegation: Negligence in the design and manufacture of a pallet truck, causing it to malfunction and cause severe operator injury: $15,894.15
Filed 3/28/12

S & A Supply Inc. v. Statewide Mechanical Contractors Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment on goods sold and delivered: $30,073.91
Filed: 3/22/12

Titan USA Enterprises Inc. v. RTS Cutting Tools Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and unfair and deceptive acts: $80,000
Filed: 3/21/12

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Raymond St. Hilaire v. C & L Restaurant Group
Allegation: Breach of duty of care and negligence in preparation and service of food, causing injury when plaintiff bit into an onion ring and fractured his tooth: $1,528
Filed: 2/1/12

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Capital One Bank v. Laura’s Cleaning
Allegation: Non-payment for credit advanced: $5,405.77
Filed: 3/5/12

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Berkshire Bank v. Quality Care Transportation, LLC and Hasapall Mohamed
Allegation: Default on small-business account: $10,304.79
Filed: 3/26/12

Constellation New Energy Inc. v. New Belmont Variety
Allegation: Breach of energy service agreement/price watch agreement and account annexed: $11,272.90
Filed: 3/29/12

Thomas Johnson v. Excellence Auto Exchange
Allegation: Breach of contract regarding the sale of a vehicle: $12,569.52
Filed: 3/2/12

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• May 9: After5, 5-7 p.m., Elegant Affairs/the Glass Room, 1380 Mai• St., Springfield. Enjoy a night of food, drink, great company, and fantastic networking. Cost is $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Registratio• may be done online at www.myonlinechamber.com, or  e-mail [email protected].

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
413-253-0700

• May 9: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Red Barn. Cost is $12 for members, $15 for non-members.
• May 22: Chamber After Five, 5-7 p.m., at the The Lord Jeffery Inn. Cost is $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

GREATER EASTHAMPTO• CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• May 10: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored by Easthampto• Savings Bank and hosted by Amy’s Place Bar & Grill, 80-82 Cottage St., Easthampton. This event features hors d’ouevres, door prizes, and a cash bar. Tickets: $5 for members, $15 for future members.
• May 18: Wine & Microbrew Tasting, 6-8:30 p.m., One Cottage Street (corner of Cottage and Unio• streets) i• Easthampton. Sample more tha• 50 wines and microbrews and enjoy fine food and a• extraordinary raffle. Major sponsor: Easthampto• Savings Bank. Event sponsor: Innovative Business Systems. Wine Sponsor: Westfield Spirit Shop. Microbrew sponsor: Big E’s Supermarket. Food Sponsor: Log Rolling at the Log Cabin/Delaney House. Benefactor: Finck & Perras Insurance Agency. Tickets are $30 i• advance, $35 at the door. To order tickets or for more information, call the chamber office at (413) 527-9414 or order online at www.easthamptonchamber.org.
• May 20: “For The Kids!” Easthampton’s 12th Annual Big Rig Day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rai• or shine), at the Easthampto• Municipal Building & Public Safety Complex, Payso• Avenue, Easthampton. See trucks of all sizes — constructio• equipment, safety vehicles, and specialty cars and trucks. Free admissio• and parking. For more information, visit www.bigrigday.com.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• May 16: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Simplicity Salon, 1735 Northampto• St., Holyoke. Sponsored by Girls Inc. of Holyoke and Girl Scouts of Central and Wester• Mass. Cost is $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members. A marketing table is $25. Joi• your friends and colleagues for this informal evening of networking. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 21: The 44th Annual Holyoke Chamber Golf Tournament at Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampto• Road, Holyoke. Registratio• and lunch at 11 a.m. Tee off at noo• (scramble format). Cost is $125 per player, which includes 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch, prizes, dinner buffet, gift bag, and foursome photo. Awards, cash prizes, and raffles will follow dinner, consisting of a• array of elaborate food stations. Call the Holyoke Chamber at (413) 534-3376 to sig• up, or register online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 30: Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, 4 p.m.,
at the Log Cabi• Banquet & Meeting House. Program followed by grand receptio• with assorted food stations. Sponsored by Goss & McLai• Insurance Agency; Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll; TD Bank; Dowd Insurance Agency Inc.; and PeoplesBank. Tickets are $25. Call  (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.

NORTHAMPTO• AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• May 10: May Networking Event, 5-8 p.m., at Ibiza Tapas i• Northampton. Free to NAYP members, $5 for guests. Visit www.thenayp.com for details.

SOUTH HADLEY/GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• May 18: Legislative Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Orchards Golf Club, South Hadley. Sponsors: South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce. Special guests: legislative representatives. Tickets are $15 at the door. RSVP at (413) 532-6451 by May 11. Seating is limited.
• May 21: South Hadley & Granby Day at the Orchards Golf Club. Tee times, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sponsor: South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce. Opportunity to wi• a foursome at the Orchards. Cost is $65 per person, lunch included. For tee times and details, call Tony Giannetti at (413) 533-1784, or e-mail [email protected].

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• May 10: Programs Committee Meeting, 7:30- 9 a.m., at Management Search Inc., West Springfield.
• May 17: Economic Development Committee Meeting, 7:30-8:30 a.m., at the Work Opportunity Center, Agawam.
• May 18: Executive Committee Meeting, 8-9 a.m., at Hampde• Bank, West Springfield.
• May 22: Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30- 8:30 a.m., at the Captai• Leonard House, Agawam.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• May 16: WestNet Plus 1, 5-7 p.m. Hosted by Pioneer Valley Railroad, Old Montgomery Road, Westfield. Our monthly networking event will be held o• the Pinsly Railroad Dining Car and Caboose with a• opportunity to check out a locomotive i• the shop. Our sponsor this month is Comcast. The featured speaker this month is Andrew Morehouse of the Food Bank of Wester• Massachusetts. It’s a great opportunity to make business connections, so bring your business cards. Cost is $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• May 17: 4th Annual Great Golf Escape, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., at Shaker Farms Country Club, Westfield. Non-member registrations opens April 1. Only 32 foursomes available.

Picture This

By
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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]

Entrepreneurship Initiative

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DSC_3430The 9th annual Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation Entrepreneurship Initiative Awards Ceremony and Banquet was staged April 25 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. More than 45 students from area colleges were recognized for their entrepreneurial contributions during the event, which featured an elevator-pitch competition sponsored by six area community banks, a tabletop competition, and the announcement of the Grinspoon, Garvey & Young Alumni Spirit Award. The participating schools are American International College, Amherst College, Bay Path College, Elms College, Greenfield Community College, Hampshire College, Holyoke Community College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Springfield College, Springfield Technical Community College, UMass, Western New England University, and Westfield State University. From top: Kissa Owens of Bay Path College with her son, Da’Din Davis, was one of three tabletop winners at the event for her venture, the Platinum Kids Health Center, which specializes in helping obese and overweight children; Zongfang Lin, a student at the UMass Isenberg School of Management and a tabletop winner for her company, KinVi Products, talks with Joe Bohan of SciDose LLC; elevator-pitch winner Abby Duncan explains her Daddy Go-To Kit; Katelyn Nadeau of Holyoke Community College holds up a sign for her venture, Razzle Dazzle.








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DSC_3527More scenes from the the 9th annual Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation Entrepreneurship Initiative Awards Ceremony and Banquet. Left, Mark Chamberlain addresses the audience of more than 500 people during the elevator-pitch competition. Middle, Sam Tulimat, a student at Mount Holyoke College, won a tabletop award for a venture he created, an online campus market business called Bizarit. Bottom, Harold Grinspoon, shares a laugh with UMass student Zongfang Lin.

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
Desiree K. Gibbons v. Zheng’s Garden, LLC
Allegation: Negligence in property maintenance causing slip and fall: $9,337.60
Filed: 2/14/12

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Kathleen Hunter v. The Bank of Canton
Allegation: Unfair and deceptive trade practices regarding foreclosure on home: $269,000
Filed: 3/23/12

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Meadow Village, LLC v. City of Westfield
Allegation: Eminent-domain damage assessment: $35,000
Filed: 4/2/12

Northgate Medical, P.C. v. PSS World Medical Inc. f/k/a Physician Sales & Services Inc. and James Milewski
Allegation: Defendants converted business property belonging to plaintiff: $33,519.16
Filed: 3/15/12

TD Bank, N.A. v. NSS Contracting Inc. and Michael Scyocurka
Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to pay: $26,071.71
Filed: 3/8/12

Varandas & Sons Contracting Inc. v. Geeleher Enterprises Inc. and Fidelity and Deposit Co. of Maryland
Allegation: Non-payment of labor and materials provided: $187,406.10
Filed: 3/13/12

Vulcraft of New York Inc. v. H.B.H. Steel Inc. d/b/a Metro West Steel
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $179,082
Filed: 4/2/12

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Tanya and Matthew Rogalski v. Gary Rome Hyundai Inc.
Allegation: The defendant failed to make the proper and required disclosures regarding the sale of an automobile: $22,907.89
Filed: 1/10/12

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Citibank N.A. v. Luzi’s Autobody Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment on business-loan account: $24,796.13
Filed: 3/23/12

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Abide Inc. v. J.L.B. Enterprises and James L. Bent
Allegation: Balance remaining for asbestos-removal services provided: $5,740.49
Filed: 3/2/12

Dashaunna Porter v. Car Credit 1st
Allegation: Defendant sold the plaintiff a defective vehicle: $12,259.73
Filed: 3/9/12

Liberty Insurance Co. v. Xambioa Painting and Cleaning and Ivone Regina Freitas
Allegation: Non-payment on two workers’ compensation policies: $8,965.64
Filed: 3/8/12

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

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

CHICOPEE

Burke’s Truck Rental
1125 Sheridan St.
$2,000 — Roof repair

Mesa Enterprises, LLC
716 Prospect St.
$8,000 — Strip and re-roof

GREENFIELD

AR Sandri Inc.
400 Chapman St.
$60,000 — Interior renovations

Franklin Associates
87-91 Main St.
$30,500 — New roof system

Girls Club of Greenfield
Oak Hill Road
$7,500 — Roof renovations

Greenfield Garden Cinemas
361 Main St.
$20,000 — To replace floor and install new seats

Town of Greenfield
Nashs Mill Road
$10,000 — Install commercial hood system into building at Greenfield swimming pool

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Mall Company, L.P.
50 Holyoke St.
$256,000 — Remodel Aeropostle store

Sacred Heart Parish
427 Maple St.
$4,000 — Construct pergola

NORTHAMPTON

548 Elm Street, LLC
548 Elm St.
$11,000 — Construct accessory building

Bally Bunion Realty, LLC
104 Main St.
$50,000 — Interior renovations

Cooley Dickinson Hospital
30 Locust St.
$108,000 — Replace slate roof on original building

Maplewood Shops Inc.
2 Conz St.
$14,000 — Install vinyl siding and trim

Perstorp Compounds, Inc.
238 Nonotuck St.
$39,000 — Install new roof

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
1 Park St.
$4,000 — Install insulation

Riverbend Village Condos
173 Riverbend Village Road
$17,000 — Renovations

SPRINGFIELD

C & W Realty Company, LLC
311 State St.
$8,000 — Exterior renovations to the front of the building

MD Trading Corp.
19 St. James Ave.
$16,500 — Interior renovation of retail space

Mercy Medical Center
300 Stafford St.
$1,314,000 — Build out of first floor including medical offices

Springfield VF, LLC
1057 Boston Road
$200,000 — Interior renovation for Sonic restaurant

Western New England University
1215 Wilbraham Road
$7,483,000 — Renovation to Herman Hall

Yukon Group, LLC
101 Wason Ave.
$1,700,000 — Construct building shell for new three-story medical office building

WESTFIELD

Dion Label
539 North Road
$44,000 — New roof

FRP Holdings
24 Main St.
$202,000 — Facade repairs

Pro Automotive
979 Southampton Road
$750,000 – Fire restoration

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Dean Sharpy
62 South Boulevard
$3,000 — Siding

Dr. Bob Salem
75 Van Deene st.
$55,000 — Renovate existing space

Kapstone Container
100 Palmer Ave.
$435,000 — 10,000-square-foot re-roof of commercial structure

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

Avery, Pamela J.
22 Elm St., Apt. #2
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Baker, Daniel M.
PO Box 187
Deerfield, MA 01342
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Barnes, Richard F.
95 Elm St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/12

Benjamin, Luz A.
28 Gerald Way, Apt. F
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Blasko, Roger F.
23 Spring St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Blavackas, Ilona E.
P.O. Box 486
South Barre, MA 01074
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/12

Bourcier, Mark A.
53 Weston St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/12

Buor, Alexander K.
a/k/a Buor, Kofi A.
67 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/27/12

Cannon, Lawrence Wright
Cannon, Malin V.
5 Hill Crest Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Challet, Edward A.
320 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Challet, Susan
7 Lewandowski Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Chekovsky, Robert D.
143 Point Grove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/26/12

Comiskey, Shawn C.
42 Stewart St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Connaughton, Dana L.
375 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Costello, Stephen J.
PO Box 124
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Cote, Garrett M.
97 Valier Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Coughlin, Steven J.
18 Yorkshire Place
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Cowles, Aden
Cowles, Kimberly
139 Root Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/12

Crabbe, Jenny Lee
9 Jackson St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Danoff, Linda H.
169 Main St., Unit 12
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Deco Painting
Rohan, Scott E.
274 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Desroches, Gerald E.
8 Valley View Court, Apt. 7
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/12

Diecast Realty Holdings
Diecast Connections Company
896 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 11
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Dilboy, Rebecca Jo
a/k/a Allard, Reecca Jo
105 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/12

Dotson, Delores
120 Sunrise Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Douglass, Michael R.
Douglass, Rachel R.
24 Searles St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/12

Dupuis, Gail
95 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/12

Duquette, Benjamin J.
875 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Dwyer, Susan Ellen
a/k/a Kelly, Susan Ellen
38 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/12

Edwards, Melissa H.
331 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Farquhar, James
4 North Lane
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Farrell, William P.
90 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Frady, Deborah C.
127 Edbert St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/12

Germain, Gary S.
Germain, Jennifer L.
a/k/a Cos, Jennifer L.
25 White St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/12

Goodrow, Mary Ellen
a/k/a Keinath, Mary Ellen
3 Greenacre Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/12

Gosselin, Philip H.
26 Hampshire St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/12

Gran, Karl E.
438 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Gray, Jonathan J.
186 West Meadowview Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/12

Harrington, Jessica
a/k/a Schopman, Jessica
111 School St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/12

Harrington, Kristie M.
12 Indian Park
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/12

InHome Handyman Services
Ahlstrom, Richard A.
Ahlstrom, Lisa M.
215 Madison West
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Jones News Room
Bouyea, Alan W.
81 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Kareh, Pierrot K.
48 1/2 Melrose St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Kearney, James Patrick
Kearney, Jaclyn Noelle
56 Beekman Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Kelley, Christopher D.
85 Nichols Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/12

Lacey, Mary Ann T.
79 Mervyn St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

LaPrad, Thomas P.
P.O. Box 618
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Lemieux, Helen J.
9 Peterson Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Leone, Lois A.
36 Merrell Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/12

Loop, Roger
126 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/12

Lopez, Edward F.
1162 Springfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Lopez, Juan Edwin
Rivera, Marily
63 Tina Lane
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/27/12

M&N Trucking
Merzoian, Jerier B.
31 Biltmore St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/22/12

M.D. Siebert Renovations
Siebert, Mark D.
37 Sterling Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/12

Manley, Joseph P.
Manley, Heather A.
64 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/26/12

Mann, Eugene
29 Church St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/12

Martin, Tammy L.
a/k/a Nardi, Tammy L.
37 Maynard St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/12

Massey, Joseph W.
Massey, Diane M.
120 Meadowview Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/12

Mastronardi, Stephen R.
30 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/19/12

McGaffigan, Richard
McGaffigan, Lisa K.
23 Pine St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/22/12

McWhinnie, Lauren
184 Daniel Shays Highway
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/12

Micheli, Melanie
25 Chataeugay St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/12

Mistalski, Michele
56 Church St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Moggio, David Allen
Moggio, Deborah Elizabeth
27 Phelps St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Morin, Armand A.
75 Michigan St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Morin, Sharon
19 Elm St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Nebedum, Archibald Ogugua
55 North Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Ness, Timothy Scott
71 Gothic St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/12

Nieves, Luz Z.
1451 Dwight St., Apt. 1
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Nogueira, Alvaro
Nogueira, Deolinda
420 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Oduro-Tandoh, Kwasi
48 Bamforth Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Paul, Gayle A.
375 Massachusetts Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Perez, Carlos
Perez, Margarita
414 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/16/12

Perkins, Mark L.
Perkins, Melissa R.
68 Spence St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/12

Poehler, Dorothy A.
36 Village Green
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Pouliot, Jeannine M.
875 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Provost, Justin
129 Reed St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/12

Putnam, David Robert
Putnam, Lois Ann
a/k/a Strucek, Lois Ann
2014 Hawley Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Quatrone, Nancy L.
62 Midway St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/12

Redmond, Carol A.
275 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/16/12

Renaud, Vincent L.
24 Coolidge Ave.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Reyes, Manuel D.
26 Edward Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/12

Riffenburg, Michael C.
Riffenburg, Rebecca T.
85 Ridgewood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/12

Rivera, Rosa M.
916 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Robidoux, Marc E.
28 Walnut St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Rosario, Victor M.
50 Old Lane Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Roy, Kimberly Marie
116 Mosier St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Rufo, Ronni-Anne
33 Wellington Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/12

Sam Leivry Transportation
AYAZ HOZIERY
Ahmad, Shahzad
693 Main St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Santa, Angel L.
Santa, Erin L
63 School St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Santiago, Evelyn
29 Belvidere Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/12

Signorelli, Mary Ann
55 Greenlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/12

Slater, Francis M.
Slater, Elaine G.
2 Hunter Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/12

Souder, William P.
43 Randall St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/16/12

Sprague, Peter G.
29 Mystic St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/12

Starzyk, Michelle L.
63 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Stone, Lissa J.
84 Riverview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/16/12

Strange, Roger W.
800R Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Thomas, Horace C.
70 Walnut St., Apt. 10
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Thompson, Whitney Taylor
a/k/a Hebert, Whitney Taylor
190 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Trexler, Ann Marie
44 Royal St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Trombly, Anthony J.
19 Anthony Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/12

Vareschi Plumbing & Heating
Vareschi, John A.
1151 Massachusetts Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/12

Volmar, Rosa Maria
1607 Main St. A519
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/12

Wall, Stephanie K.
80 Searle Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/12

Weise, John R.
99 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/23/12

Willor, Francis J.
455 State St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/21/12

Yell, Leonard W.
326 Main St., Apt D
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/12

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

A. Russo Concrete
76 Highland St.
Anthony Russo

Cars by Joseph
33 Portland St.
Joseph Rose

HBH Direct
42 Warren St.
Victoria Orlova

JBM Odds & Ends
475 Meadow St.
Brian Anderson

Law Office of Tyson Ence
100 Main St.
Tyson Ence

Legacy Realty Group
32 Losito Lane
Mario Maloni

Most Build General Contractors
113 Bridge St.
Jason Wolfe

Romel’s Furniture Repair
420 Main St.
Romel Lteif

The Decksperts
6 Hope Farms Dr.
Dwain Devine

CHICOPEE

Encores
30 Asselin St.
Ruth Niernasz

Ironclad Security Systems
57 Elm St.
Jason Boulet

John’s Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
23 Polaski Ave.
John Derosambeau

Kamy’s Food and Fuel Inc.
817 Front St.
Kamini Sanghui

Muse Salon & Spa
665 Prospect St.
Teresa Moran

South Side Renegades
45 Pearl St.
Emanuel Floyd

EAST LONGMEADOW

Beauty Time LLC
16 Maple St.
Lillian Lam

Ciao Bella Salon
128 Shaker Road
Christine M. O’Connell

Elite Therapeutic Massage
489 North Main St.
Jennifer Fijel

Peppas by the Slice Pizzeria
33 Harkness Ave.
Argira DeGuglielmo

Reliable Bookkeeping & Tax Services
674 North Main St.
Ming L. Tsang

Tickets for Groups Inc.
337 Pinehurst Dr.
Deborah S. Axtell

Visual Changes
35 Harkness Ave.
Laura Webb

GREENFIELD

Cowan’s Garage
93 Vernon St.
James Cowan

Dollar Tree
255 Mohawk Trail
Dollar Tree Stores Inc.

Nlitn Media Group
310 Chapman St.
David Browning

Peaceful Body Works
278 Main St.
Aleashia Pease

Scott’s Barber Shop
372 Federal St.
Scott Greaves

Stitch Lounge
30 Mohawk Trail
Jenna L. Smith

Unified Body Therapy
5 Park St.
Charles Cooper

V.O. Rell Enterprises
332 Deerfield St.
Dan Oros

Walgreens
329 Conway St.
Michael Felish

HOLYOKE

JRE Masonry
24 Thomas Ave.
Jerome R. Ezold

Juju’s Boutique
592 Dwight St.
Dilli Vassallo

Nobody Productions
27 Wolcott St.
Roberto Deza

South Summer Motor
525 South Summer St.
John A. Galivan

LUDLOW

9 to 5 Business Solutions
1 Swan Ave.
Carmina Fernandes

Compass Restoration Services, LLC
563 Center St.
Victor Rodrigues

Tony’s Auto Appraisal and Service
25 Joy St.
Fernando Barros

PALMER

Blatant Beer, LLC
101 Bishop St.
Blatant Brewery, LLC

Fordable Used Cars
1317 Main St.
Ivan Vlasyuk

Hollywood Cuts and Styles
1622 North Main St.
Naomi L. Mills

Jimmy’s Pizzaria
1365 Main St.
James Carvalho

Nesco Sales, Inc.
89 ½ State St.
Kevin Comstock

SPRINGFIELD

Alpha to Omega Painting
126 Barre St.
Augustine J. Stuetzel

Awesome Windows
30 Aeden St.
Richard Bianchi

Baystate Builders
28 Gilman St.
Gino Decesare

Brr Mix A-Lot
888 Sumner Ave.
Vu T. Nguyen

Bryant Northeast
467 Cottage St.
Carrier Enterprise

Buckle-Up #2
1655 Boston Road
Victor Davila

Checkerboard Panini
43 Glenmore St.
Charyl A. Ricapito

Chili Dogs
50 Sanderson St.
Eugene Pretlow

Common Good Builders
250 Albany St.
Robert Anthony

Compucell
1097 State St.
David J. Rodriguez

De la Rosa Lawn Sprinkler
306 St. James Ave.
Rigoberto De la Rosa

Eastfield Tire and Auto
1514 Boston Road
Holyoke Tire and Auto

Equitable Real Estate
175 State St.
Albert J. Beaumier

Europa Cleaning Service
1350 Main St.
Luisa Cardaropoli

Exclusive
79 Gold St.
Myriam Vega

Family Mini Market
234 Orange St.
Erica I. Nunez

Fashion Rite
625 Boston Road
Muhammed Waseem

First Step
29 Marble St.
Linda Colon

G & T Lawncare
67 Johnson St.
Thuy Lee

HB Collectibles
34 Leyfred Terr.
William F. Boyden

Hair Cuttery
1712 Boston Road
Creative

Homans Associates
467 Cottage St.
Carrier Enterprise

I Can Help You
57 David St.
Donald E. Freeman

Innovative Roomscapes
1105 Sumner Ave.
Christopher Phelps

WESTFIELD

Aguda Services Run Your Errands
163 Joseph Ave.
Melody Aguda

AMR Building & Remodeling
113 Westwood Dr.
Stuart Richter II

Appalachian Enterprises
97 Reservoir Ave.
Denise Atkinson

Charter Tree Service
5 Pearl St.
Allison Charter

Cusson Remodeling
64 Yeoman Ave.
Christopher Cusson

First Choice Real Estate
72 Mill St.
Eve M. Crampton

Good Choice Home Improvement
21 Paper St.
Igor Khomichuk

Legacy Funeral Home Inc.
4 Princeton St.
Joseph Kozikowski

Sherry Dvorchak
45 Meadow St.
Sherry Dvorchak

The Wright Pet Sitter
85 City View Boulevard
William Wright

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Cornerstone Construction Company
105 Hampden St.
Anatoliy Paliy

E. Scott Landscaping
320 Massachusetts Ave.
Eric Scott

Hale Channel Photography
124 Lincoln St.
Brian M. Hale

Lattitude
1338 Memorial Ave.
Jeffrey Daigneau

North Garden Chinese Restaurant
42 Myron St.
Raymond Kan

The Puppy Place
935 Riverdale St.
Richard Carty

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

Westside Checking
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.

AGAWAM

Gulf Horizons Property Services Inc., 335 Adams St., Agawam, MA 01001. Dennis Roberts, same. Residential remodeling.

BERNARDSTON

Dawndale Farm Wildlife Inc., 24 Library St., Bernardston, MA 01337. Nancy Bordewieck, same. Charitable organization designed to provide a place of rehabilitation for injured, ill, or orphaned wildlife.

CHICOPEE

ENP Inc., 44 Dwight St., Apt. 2R, Chicopee, MA 01013. Aristides Nunes, same. Bar and lounge.

DEERFIELD

Clarkdale Fruit Farms Land Corporation, 303 Upper Road, Deerfield, MA 01342. Thomas Clark, same. Farm.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Dorothy Day Institute for Social Justice Inc., 37 Old Farm Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Charles Alfano, 7 Meacham Dr., Enfield, CT 06082. Charitable organization designed to fund tax-exempt organizations.

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Spirit Inc., 17 East St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Kevin Perrier, same. Non-profit organization designed to promote community spirit through local events.

High and Mighty Brewing Co. Inc., 180 Pleasant St., Studio 30, Easthampton, MA 01027. Michael Michon, 101 Hopkins Place, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Micro-brewing company.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Arcmetra Inc., 39 Hollenbeck Ave., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Robyn Allen, same. Energy-related consultation services.

INDIAN ORCHARD

H & M Cabinets Inc., 64 Devens St., Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Howard Gabaree, same. Kitchen cabinetry sales and installation.

LEE

Berkshire Gateway Preservation Inc., 200 East St., Lee MA, 01238. Garth Elias Story Jr., 30 Highfield Drive, Lee, MA 01238. Non-profit organization designed to preserve the historical structure located at 25 Park Place in Lee, MA.

LONGMEADOW

Gift Baskets and More Inc., 34 Green Hill Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Brian Kimball, same. Gift baskets for special occasions.

LUDLOW

Campora Construction Co. Inc., 77 Stivens Dr., Ludlow, MA 01056. M ario Campora, same. Construction services.

First Sun Solar Co., 350 West St., #35, Ludlow, MA 01056. Joseph Monzillo, same. Sales and service of solar-energy products.

MONSON

Cambridge Executive Services Inc., 146 Bumstead Road, Monson, MA 01057. William Skillman, same. Executive-search services.

NORTH ADAMS

Diversified Energy Solutions Inc., 121 Union St., North Adams, MA 01247. Gustavo Giron Jr., 50 Hyden Hill, Clarksburg, MA 01247. Energy-consultation services.

SOUTHBRIDGE

Coops Scoops Corp., 204 Worcester St., Southbridge, MA 01550. Gail Robin Leclaire, same. Ice cream shop.

SOUTHWICK

Global Maintenance Management Consulting Inc., 160 Point Grove Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Russell Seegars, same. Computer maintenance, management, and consulting.

SPRINGFIELD

C2C Home Improvement Inc., 24 Barrison St., Springfield, MA 01109. Steven Buzzell, same. Home improvement and remodeling.

Colony Care at Home Inc., 74 Walnut St., Springfield, MA 01105. Ellen Freyman, same. Home care services.

El Concilio Pentecostal Missionera En Victoria Inc., 22 Bayonne St., Springfield, MA 01105. Place of worship.

HD Entertainment Inc., 108 Lawton St., Apt, 4 Springfield, MA 01109. Chris Howard Jr., same. Provide artist development and training.

STOCKBRIDGE

Astore Quarry Restoration Inc., 40 Albany Road, Unit #35, West Stockbridge, MA 01266. Charles Astore, same.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Code-Ace Inc., 694 Roger Ave, West Springfield, MA 01089. Carlos, Saloio, Jr. 375 Holyoke St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Development, marketing, and sales of software.

Community Hope Works Inc., 366 Prospect Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Gregg Marshall, same. Building individuals, families, and community through holistic practices of mind, body, and spirit.

GBS Brows Inc., 1313 Riverdale St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Binda Neupane, same. Beauty salon services.

WESTFIELD

Bradford & Bradford Property Management Services Inc., 4 Linden Ave., Westfield, MA 01085. Jeffrey Bradford, same. Property management and maintenance services.

DKS Music Inc., 107 Loomis Ridge, Westfield, MA 01085. Christine Kane, same.

WILBRAHAM

Creative Eyes, P.C., 223 Manchonis Road Ext., Wilbraham, MA 01095. Nissa Lempart, same. Optician.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

Youth Summer Jobs Campaign Underway
SPRINGFIELD — The Regional Employment Board (REB) of Hampden County Inc., in conjunction with the FutureWorks and CareerPoint one-stop career centers, is seeking summer-employment opportunities for youth between the ages of 14 and 21. “The demand for youth summer-employment opportunities is great, with so many young people in search of a chance to work, learn, earn, and possibly be mentored,” said Joseph Peters, chair of the REB board of directors, in a letter to area businesses on the Youth Summer Jobs Campaign 2012. There are three ways employers can help: hire a youth, donate money, or become a work site. All youths receive 10 hours of work-readiness skills training before employment. “Youths are referred to you, and you make the final selection,” noted Peters. Also, a minimum donation of $150 is welcome from organizations and businesses to help pay wages for one week for a youth working in a community-betterment project in a park, camp, or nonprofit agency. Peters added that businesses should consider being a work site, and the youth will be paid by the REB. “It’s another great way to cover for employee vacations,” he said. Last year, 205 employers were involved in putting more than 1,200 young people to work. “Your private dollars expand summer opportunities to youth who may not meet the eligibility requirements of government-funded summer-jobs programs, as well as to those with limited family income,” said Peters. For more information, call (413) 787-1547 or visit www.rebhc.org.

Community-wellness Grant Projects Launched
HOLYOKE — Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse recently joined several state legislators to celebrate the expansion of the Mass. Department of Public Health’s (MDPH) Mass in Motion Municipal Wellness and Leadership Program. There are now 53 municipalities across the state that participate in the program. The Hampshire Council of Governments was awarded the Mass in Motion grant in October and will be partnering with the SPIFFY Coalition to implement efforts around healthy eating, nutrition, and physical activity. The Tobacco-free Living Initiative will be the work of the Tobacco Free Community Partnership, a Hampshire Council of Governments’ program. Targeted communities for this grant are Amherst, Belchertown, Northampton, and Williamsburg. The expansion, funded by a Community Transformation Grant awarded to MDPH by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, adds Holyoke and communities from Franklin and Berkshire counties to the current Mass in Motion communities in Western Mass., which include Springfield, Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge. Through unique partnerships and cross-department collaboration, communities will work to develop and implement prevention-based policies, systems, and strategies to encourage healthy eating and active living to help reduce obesity and promote tobacco-free living. Collectively, these initiatives will work with local schools to improve walkability and bikeability to area schools; establish community-design standards to make streets safe for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and users of public transit; improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages served or available in schools; increase the accessibility, availability, affordability, and identification of healthful foods by working with local retailers to promote healthier food and beverage options; and adopt policies to increase the number of multi-unit properties that are smoke-free. For more information on participating in the project, call Todd Ford of the Hampshire Council of Governments at (413) 584-1300, ext. 121, or Sue Cairn of the Hampshire Education Collaborative at (413) 586-4998, ext. 114.

Service Group Funding Replacement of Trees
SPRINGFIELD — Service Group Inc., the primary Clean and Safe contractor for the Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID), will fund the replacement of 11 trees in the downtown area damaged by last June’s tornado. Service Group, based in Malvern, Pa., is offering the trees as a gift to thank the downtown Springfield property owners who fund the SBID. “We walked the tornado-damaged areas over the summer, and saw that the void left by the lack of trees was stunning,” said Service Group executive Nick Bendistis. “This gift is a pretty obvious way of giving back to a community that we care deeply about. We are an engaged partner in Springfield’s revitalization.” Eleven trees throughout the downtown that were either damaged or destroyed by the tornado have been selected for replacement. The first tree to be replaced is outside of Tower Square by the CVS entrance at 1500 Main St.

Opinion

By
Opinion
Crowdfunding Could Spur Startups

The Great Depression led to the adoption of a series of laws designed to prevent individual investors from being fleeced by unscrupulous and fraudulent ‘businessmen.’ These laws provided the framework of securities laws that have been navigated by countless entrepreneurs since the 1930s seeking legitimate investment in their fledgling businesses. Conversely, the Great Recession has pushed Congress to adopt the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, signed into law by President Obama on April 5, which fundamentally changes the rules of the investment game for businesses of all sizes.
Perhaps the most significant change is allowing startups to use ‘crowdfunding” to raise capital. There is significant potential for a flourishing of startups as this new flavor of capital comes online. There is also the opportunity for regular Americans to get the same opportunity angel investors have had for decades — the small chance to make a lot of money and a much larger chance of losing every penny — investing in startups.
Crowdfunding is the modernization of an old process — raising small amounts of money from a large number of people — using the power and scope of the Internet. Crowdfunding via the Internet already exists in many different forms. Independent journalists fund investigative journalism not funded by the mainstream media via Spot.us; Kickstarter.com allows inventors and artists to raise funding directly from (and sell to) people passionate about the product; and Kiva.org assists developing-world entrepreneurs to connect directly to individual philanthropists to secure microloans.
Here’s how it usually works. Entrepreneurs create a ‘pitch’ profile on a crowdfunding Web site. The crowdfunding site reviews the profile to be sure it is appropriate and not fraudulent (with varying levels of success). The crowdfunding sites have an incentive to list only honest, worthy companies — otherwise, the ‘crowd’ will migrate to an alternate crowdfunding Web site. If the application is approved, the entrepreneurs use social media to promote their pitch to communities of people likely to be receptive to the idea. People who take interest review the profile, often engage in an online discussion with the entrepreneurs, and may make a financial contribution through the crowdfunding site.
The SEC will be finalizing the rules and restrictions on crowdfunding over the next 270 days; however, the JOBS Act already contains significant limitations on both the investor and the company seeking investments through crowdfunding. Companies can raise only $1 million every 12 months through crowdfunding (however, these companies still can — and many will — raise additional funds pursuant to the current, more traditional private-placement rules). Depending on the predefined target that the company establishes for its fund-raising round, the company will need to prepare detailed financial statements (audited if the target is more than $500,000) and deliver these to any prospective investor. The company must also provide both the SEC and prospective investors indepth information about the company and the offering, including the company’s business plan, the risks of the investment, and information about the officers, directors, or managers of the company.
Although any American can participate in crowdfunding as an investor, each crowdfunder will be able to invest only a limited percentage of their annual income (5% for individuals with income under $100,000, 10% for those over this threshold) in any 12-month period. Additionally, the equity that these crowdfunders receive will be restricted stock — it cannot be transferred for 12 months, with few exceptions.
The legalization of crowdfunding will also lead to the launch of a new kind of company — the fund-raising portal — as any company raising funds through crowdfunding must use these portals to act as the conduit between the company and the investors. These portals will exist only on the Internet — there will be no bricks-and-mortar storefront for these portals. The portal will need to register with the SEC and take reasonable steps to ensure that all participating in crowdfunding have followed all of the SEC’s rules — essentially the SEC will be ‘deputizing’ the portals to enforce the SEC’s rules. Companies using a portal should expect to pay 6% to 10% of the total funds raised as a service fee.
Congress and the president hope crowdfunding will lead to more startups obtaining critical funding early in their development, which should lead to more small businesses getting off the ground. However, the individuals investing in these early-stage companies need to be aware of the risks of these investments and remember the golden rule of investing: “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Attorney Scott Foster, Esq. and Paul Silva are co-founders of Valley Venture Mentors.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• May 2: Business@Breakfast, 7:15 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke.  Breakfast Networking begins at 7:15. Panel discussion by Mayors Domenic Sarno of Springfield and Alex Morse of Holyoke. Jim Madigan of WGBY TV is the chief greeter and moderator. Sponsors include Freedom Credit Union, season ticket Sponsor; FastSigns, season sign sponsor; Verizon Wireless, coffee bar sponsor. Salutes go to MacDuffie School for 50 years of chamber membership, and Pioneer Valley Christian School on its 40th anniversary. Also, the Bell Ringers from the Pioneer Valley Christian School will be performing that morning. Cost is $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Register online at www.myonlinechamber.com or e-mail [email protected].
• May 9: After5, 5-7 p.m., Elegant Affairs/the Glass Room, 1380 Main St., Springfield. Enjoy a night of food, drink, great company, and fantastic networking. Cost is $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Registration may be done online at www.myonlinechamber.com, or  e-mail [email protected].

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
413-253-0700

• May 9: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Red Barn. Cost is $12 for members, $15 for non-members.
• May 22: Chamber After Five, 5-7 p.m., at the The Lord Jeffery Inn. Cost is $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• April 25: April Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at the Hampton Inn, Memorial Drive, Chicopee. Tickets are $5 for pre-registered members, $15 for non-members.
• April 18: April Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College. Tickets are $19 for members, $26 for non-members. Chairperson: Ron Proulx, Dave’s Truck Repair, Inc. Chief greeter: Jeffrey Hayden, Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College. Guest speaker: Trevor Smith, Laugh For No Reason Salutes: Ashland Water Technologies, 100-year anniversary; King Ward Coach Lines, 25-year anniversary; Marcotte Ford, 50-year anniversary; and Minuteman Press, new facility. Bows: the Arbors at Chicopee, 10-year anniversary; Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, five-year anniversary.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• May 5: Spring Recycling Day, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Dispose responsibly of your old computer, monitor, TV, stereo, and/or home or office appliance. Location: Valley Recycling, 245 Easthampton Road, Route 10, Northampton. Recycling services courtesy of Duseau Trucking, Hatfield. This event is open to the public. Contact the chamber office for recycling fees; 100% of fees benefit chamber community programs.
• May 10: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored by Easthampton Savings Bank and hosted by Amy’s Place Bar & Grill, 80-82 Cottage St., Easthampton. This event features hors d’ouevres, door prizes, and a cash bar. Tickets: $5 for members, $15 for future members.
• May 18: Wine & Microbrew Tasting, 6-8:30 p.m., One Cottage Street (corner of Cottage and Union streets) in Easthampton. Sample more than 50 wines and microbrews and enjoy fine food and an extraordinary raffle. Major sponsor: Easthampton Savings Bank. Event sponsor: Innovative Business Systems. Wine Sponsor: Westfield Spirit Shop. Microbrew sponsor: Big E’s Supermarket. Food Sponsor: Log Rolling at the Log Cabin/Delaney House. Benefactor: Finck & Perras Insurance Agency. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. To order tickets or for more information, call the chamber office at (413) 527-9414 or order online at www.easthamptonchamber.org.
• May 20: “For The Kids!” Easthampton’s 12th Annual Big Rig Day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain or shine), at the Easthampton Municipal Building & Public Safety Complex, Payson Avenue, Easthampton. See trucks of all sizes — construction equipment, safety vehicles, and specialty cars and trucks. Free admission and parking. For more information, visit www.bigrigday.com.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• April 24: Business Person of the Year Award Dinner, 6 p.m., at the Delaney House, Country Club Road, Holyoke. The Greater Holyoke Business Community will honor Joseph L. Peters of Universal Plastics Corp. as Business Person of the Year. To register or for more information, call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
• April 25: Beacon Hill Summit, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Members of area chambers, including Greater Holyoke, will participate in a one-day trip to the State House to meet with top leaders. Your payment of $180 covers coffee and danish, transportation to and from Beacon Hill, lunch with local legislators, a wrap-up reception, and legislative materials. Buses depart at 7 a.m. from the Plantation Inn at exit 6 off the Mass Pike and will return at 7 p.m. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376, or register online at holyokechamber.com
• May 16: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Simplicity Salon, 1735 Northampton St., Holyoke. Sponsored by Girls Inc. of Holyoke and Girl Scouts of Central and Western Mass. Cost is $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members. A marketing table is $25. Join your friends and colleagues for this informal evening of networking. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 21: The 44th Annual Holyoke Chamber Golf Tournament at Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and lunch at 11 a.m. Tee off at noon (scramble format). Cost is $125 per player, which includes 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch, prizes, dinner buffet, gift bag, and foursome photo. Awards, cash prizes, and raffles will follow dinner, consisting of an array of elaborate food stations. Call the Holyoke Chamber at (413) 534-3376 to sign up, or register online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 30: Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, 4 p.m.,
at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Program followed by grand reception with assorted food stations. Sponsored by Goss & McLain Insurance Agency; Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll; TD Bank; Dowd Insurance Agency Inc.; and PeoplesBank. Tickets are $25. Call  (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• April 27: Greater Northampton Chamber Auction, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center. Sponsored by Coca-Cola Refreshments. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door ($40 for donors). Bid to win your favorites from an inspired offering of more than 250 dining, shopping, travel, and entertaining choices. Visit www.explorenorthampton.com/auction for details. Dine all night long from an abundant, three-course meal of appetizers, mini-entrees, and desserts. Taste the season’s special V-One Vodka concoctions prepared by creator Paul Kozub. Sponsored by V-One Vodka and Eastside Grill.

• May 2: May Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at North Country Landscapes (Route 66, Westhampton). Sponsored by Czelusniak Funeral Home. Cost is $10 for chamber members, $20 for guests.

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• May 10: May Networking Event, 5-8 p.m., at Ibiza Tapas in Northampton. Free to NAYP members, $5 for guests. Visit www.thenayp.com for details.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• April 26: Professional Women’s Chocolate Affair, 6-9 p.m., at Chez Josef in Agawam. Event features elegant chocolate desserts, appetizers, cordials, and shopping at vendor booths. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. Proceeds will go to the Professional Women’s scholarship fund.

QUABOAG HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.qvcc.biz
(413) 283-2418

• April 27: Lasagna Dinner to benefit Elm Hill Center, 5-7 p.m., at
Brookfield Congregational Church, 8 Common St., Brookfield. Enjoy a lasagna dinner with a great crowd. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for children 12 years old and younger. The menu includes homemade lasagna, tossed salad, bread, beverages, and dessert. Make-your-own-sundaes will be available for a small additional cost. Take a chance in one of the great raffles. There is a family takeout meal deal for only $30. Proceeds will benefit therapeutic programming initiatives at Elm Hill Center. For more information, call Laurie Reynolds at (508) 347-8181, ext. 120.
n April 28: Volunteer Day at Elm Hill, 9:30 a.m-1:30 p.m., at the Elm Hill Center, 26 East Main St., Brookfield. Help at the spring cleanup of the Elm Hill grounds and mansion. Great for groups to work together. Refreshments will be available to thank all of the volunteers for their efforts in honor of National Volunteer Week. Proceeds will benefit therapeutic-programming initiatives at Elm Hill Center. For more information, call Ed LaPointe, (508) 347-8181, ext. 137, or visit www.rehabresourcesinc.org/elmhill/events.htm

SOUTH HADLEY/GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• May 18: Legislative Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Orchards Golf Club, South Hadley. Sponsors: South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce. Special guests: legislative representatives. Tickets are $15 at the door. RSVP at (413) 532-6451 by May 11. Seating is limited.
• May 21: South Hadley & Granby Day at the Orchards Golf Club. Tee times, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sponsor: South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce. Opportunity to win a foursome at the Orchards. Cost is $65 per person, lunch included. For tee times and details, call Tony Giannetti at (413) 533-1784, or e-mail [email protected].

THREE RIVERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.threeriverschamber.org
(413) 283-6425

• May 7: Chamber meeting, 7-8 p.m., at the chamber office, 2376 Main St., Three Rivers.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• May 2: Wicked Wednesday, 5- 7 p.m, at the Holiday Inn, Enfield. WRC invites you to join us on the first Wednesday of every month at businesses across Agawam and West Springfield. Get a little wicked with us and see what WRC is all about. These events are free for WRC members and $10 for non-members.
• April 24: Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30- 8:30 a.m., at the Captain Leonard’s House, Agawam.
• May 1: Membership Committee Meeting, 8-9 a.m., at Westfield Bank, Agawam.
• May 2: Education Committee Meeting, 8-9 a.m., at the Agawam High School Career Development Center, Agawam.
• May 10: Programs Committee Meeting, 7:30- 9 a.m., at Management Search Inc., West Springfield.
• May 17: Economic Development Committee Meeting, 7:30-8:30 a.m., at the Work Opportunity Center, Agawam.
• May 18: Executive Committee Meeting, 8-9 a.m., at Hampden Bank, West Springfield.
• May 22: Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30- 8:30 a.m., at the Captain Leonard House, Agawam.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• May 16: WestNet Plus 1, 5-7 p.m. Hosted by Pioneer Valley Railroad, Old Montgomery Road, Westfield. Our monthly networking event will be held on the Pinsly Railroad Dining Car and Caboose with an opportunity to check out a locomotive in the shop. Our sponsor this month is Comcast. The featured speaker this month is Andrew Morehouse of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. It’s a great opportunity to make business connections, so bring your business cards. Cost is $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• May 17: 4th Annual Great Golf Escape, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., at Shaker Farms Country Club, Westfield. Non-member registrations opens April 1. Only 32 foursomes available.

Editorial

By
Opinion
40 Reasons to Feel Good About the Future

When BusinessWest started its 40 Under Forty Program just over five years ago, there were expectations — and also some trepidation.
We knew we could identify some rising stars in the region’s business, nonprofit, and entrepreneurship realms, but there were always whispers — and sometimes loud doubts — about just how deep the talent pool was.
As we introduce the sixth class of 40 Under Forty winners, it’s clear that the pool is quite deep — and also very inspiring. For those looking for positive signs that this region will have the young leadership it will need to grow and take on the many challenges facing municipalities in this global, information-based economy, the profiles beginning on page A6 should provide them.
Each of these stories is unique, but there are many common denominators, especially the twin desires to excel and make a difference in the community. Here are just a few examples:
• Carla Cosenzi, the high scorer among the more then 100 nominees. In business, she and her brother, Thomas, are not only continuing the legacy established by their father in the automobile industry, but they’re building upon it with the addition of a Volkswagen dealership in Northampton. In the community, she’s continuing another tradition — the Thomas E. Cosenzi Driving for the Cure charity golf tournament (named after her father, who succumbed to cancer several years ago), which has to date raised more than $200,000 in support of brain-cancer research;
• Ben Einstein, the serial entrepreneur who is devoting considerable time and energy to the cause of helping others get businesses off the ground and to the next level though his involvement with the Idea Mill conference, which is likely to become an annual event in this region;
• Eric Hall, the Westfield police sergeant who became the first law-enforcement officer to join a 40 Under Forty class. His passions are fighting and preventing crime, and helping young people make smart choices. He can often be seen sharing lunch with elementary-school students, and is now chairman of the board at the city’s YMCA;
• Jason Tsitso, who has helped R&R Windows battle back from the rough patch resulting from the Great Recession and its crippling impact on the construction sector. In the community, he took his passion for bicycling and channeled it into a fun — and highly successful — fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity called Trails for Nails.
• State Sen. James Welch, one of the few public-sector leaders to become a 40 Under Forty winner. He has mastered the art and science of constituent service, especially in the wake of the June 1 tornado, the path of which closely approximates the district he represents.
• Sheila Moreau, who, with her mother, has helped shape MindWing Concepts into one of the more intriguing entrepreneurial success stories in recent years. What’s more, she’s making good on a commitment to serve the community in a number of ways, especially as a volunteer with the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day parade. She even sings the national anthem at sporting events and community gatherings.
The other 34 stories are equally compelling, but these are representative of this year’s class. You won’t find the word in every profile, but the trait these young men and women share is passion — to achieve excellence, to innovate, to help others within our community, and, most importantly, to lead.
After reading these stories, you should feel at least a little better about the future of this region. Thanks to them, it looks very bright.

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

MCDI Career Showcase
April 26: The Mass. Career Development Institute will host an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. to showcase its extensive training programs. The event, the MCDI Career Showcase, will take place at 140 Wilbraham Ave. in Springfield. Instructors and staff will provide demonstrations and information about job-placement assistance and financial-aid programs available. MCDI programs include culinary arts, nurse’s aide/home health aide, sheet-metal fabrication and welding, medical office professional, and precision machining and manufacturing. To register or for more information, call (413) 781-5640.

Walk of Champions
May 6: The Goodnough Dike area of the Quabbin Reservoir will be the setting for the seventh annual Walk of Champions in Ware. Participants walk in honor or in memory of loved ones affected by cancer, with the determination to make a difference in those affected by the disease. The event offers a five-mile or two-mile walk, with entertainment and refreshments along the route. For more information, visit www.baystatehealth.org/woc or e-mail Michelle Graci, manager of fund-raising events at Baystate Health at [email protected].

Small-business Seminar
May 16: Local business owners will talk about what they have done to keep ahead of the many demands on their time, and at the same time adjust for the economic environment, during a workshop titled “Adapt, Diversify, Reinvent & Grow” at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Presenters include Paul DiGrigoli of Digrigoli Salon & School of Cosmetology; Tara Tetreault of Jackson & Connor; Kate Vishnyakov of Kate Gray Inc.; and Rick Ricard of Larien Products. The 9 to 11 a.m. session is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Management Fundamentals Workshop
May 24: Lyne Kendall of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will present “Business Plan Basics” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Amherst Town Hall, first floor meeting room, 4 Boltwood Walk. The workshop will focus on management fundamentals from startup considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

NYC Bus Trip
June 30: The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will host a bus trip to New York City, leaving the chamber parking lot at 7 a.m. and returning around 9:30 p.m. Participants are on their own for the day in New York City. Tickets are $45 per person. For more information, contact Lynn at (413) 594-2101.

40 Under Forty
June 21: BusinessWest will present its sixth class of regional rising stars at its annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The June 21 gala will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Tickets are $60 per person, with tables of 10 available. Early registration is advised, as seating is limited. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com.

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, or e-mail [email protected], or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

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

AGAWAM

Bethany Assembly of God
580 Main St.
$7,000 — Repair water damage

O’Leary/Vincunas No. Two, LLC
200 Silver St.
$50,000 — New office construction

Six Flags New England
1623 Main St.
$20,000 — Form and pour concrete slab in new coaster area

Southgate Properties, LLC
820 Suffield St.
$250,000 — Remodel existing Hampden Bank

AMHERST

145 State Street Partners
145 State St.
$5,000 — Install 20 replacement windows

Jones Properties Limited Partnership
1 Pray St.
$91,000 — Renovation to create Olde Towne Tavern

South Congregational Church
1066 South East St.
$5,000 — Window replacement

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Savings Bank
229 Exchange St.
$14,000 — Strip and re-roof

City of Chicopee
617 Montgomery St.
$40,000 — Install teller line for credit union branch

Everson Distributing
280 New Ludlow Road
$39,000 — Metal roof replacement

Home Depot USA Inc.
655 Memorial Dr.
$292,000 — Remove and replace roof

MJP Realty LLC
152 Center St.
$73,000 — Re-roof

Nicholas Doup
526 Chicopee St.
$10,000 — Frame and finish an office

EASTHAMPTON

Bernard Gawle
112 Union St.
$280,000 — Construction of a new addition

Interland
180 Pleasant St.
$15,000 — Enclose equipment room

Williston Northampton School
15 Payson Ave.
$5,000 — Install 29 replacement windows

EAST LONGMEADOW

Lafiorentina Bakery
236 Shaker Road
$100,000 — Remodel

HOLYOKE

Bureau for Exceptional Children Inc.
555 Northampton St.
$15,000 — Construct storage building

Clear Channel Radio Inc.
410 County Road
$14,000 — Renovation of transmitter building

Sealed Air Corporation
2030 Homestead Ave.
$210,000 — Construct enclosure

LUDLOW

Doretta Lemieux
311 West St.
$32,000 — Re-shingle roof

Charlie Alfonso
11 Chmura St.
$9,000 — New siding

Halgas O’Donnell Realty
291-293 Moody St.
$45,500 — New roof

NORTHAMPTON

Boston and Maine Railroad
Bradfors St. Pump Station
$254,000 — New pump transfer station

Katherine M. Hicks
190 Nonotuck St.
$56,000 — Remove partitions and frame new walls in Building 1

Nonotuck Mills, LLC
296 Nonotuck St.
$77,000 — Interior renovations for offices

Northampton Brewery
11 Brewster St.
$45,000 — Remodel restrooms

Papa Gino’s Inc.
301 King St.
$30,000 — Replace roof

Roger Saloom
4 Center Ct.
$300,000 — Interior renovations

Smith College
44 College Lane
$3,112,000 — Renovate classrooms and labs

SOUTH HADLEY

Loomis Village
246 North Main St.
$4,300 — Addition

SPRINGFIELD

405 Armory Street, LLC
405 Armory St.
$32,000 — Interior renovations in a convenience store

Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut St.
$45,000 — Create additional entrance in family waiting room

Colvest/Spfld 1, LLC
793 B Boston Road
$29,000 — Renovation for a 1,000-square-foot tenant space

Nicolai Law Group, P.C.
146 Chestnut St.
$21,000 — Erect five new offices

Spring of Hope Church
35 Alden St.
$138,500 — Exterior repairs

The Association for Community Living
220 Brookdale St.
$77,000 — Installation of new roof

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Chris Zheng, DDR
935 Riverdale St.
$5,500 — Renovate existing space

Fibermark
101 Front St.
$68,000 — Construct five new offices within an existing space

Slavic Pentecostal Church
2611 Westfield St.
$7,000 — Enclose loading dock

The Laguercia Family
1362 Westfield St.
$10,000 — Renovate existing space for hair salon

Doing Business As Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

ELS / Spectrum Alliance
11 Almgren Dr.
Spectrum Analytical Inc.

HD Systems Integration Inc.
419 Springfield St.
Jayson LaCasse

JMS Mechanical
140 Autumn St.
Stephen Brown

Rosefundraising
22 Vernon St.
Dean Molta

Sandlin Consulting
90 Granger Dr.
Rosemary Sandlin

AMHERST

Miss Leticia Music
41 Blue Hills Road
Leticia Davies

Potwine Neighborhood Farm
216 Potwine Lane
Jesse Selman

Shortbord Marketing Group
65 Salem St.
James Frey

Wags n’ Wiggles
28 The Hollow
Meghan Waldron

CHICOPEE

Automotive Dealer Personnel
5 Nutmeg Circle
David Robison

Berzenski Flooring & Sanding
649 Prospect St.
Randy Berzenski

CL Construction
11 Falcon Circle
Chet Lokey Jr.

Defy Gravity
12 Center St.
Raul Roman

Liberty Tax Service
749 Memorial Dr.
Kristin Kicza

Master Designs
47 Lester St.
Nancy Hebert

The Pet House
1889 Memorial Dr.
Kelly Rouleau

West Street Market
108 West St.
Margarita Plagakis

EASTHAMPTON

Ambient Owl
17 Treehouse Circle
Terri O’Toole

BPM
15 Howard Ave.
Eric Peloquin

C.J. Auto Detailing
1 Loomis Way
Christopher Lebron

Fine Art Handling & Consulting
116 Pleasant St.
Daniel Farrell

Harper’s Ferry Software
69 Garfield Ave.
Peter Wagner

The Conscious Learner
32 Briggs St.
Mark Vecchio

The Zengineer
378 Main St.
Bucky Sparkle

HADLEY

East Coast Fragrance
367 Russell St.
Nashir Uddin

HOLYOKE

All Star Fashion
123 High St.
Javier Rosa

Clean Slate Centers
384 High St.
Ram Gopta

Friendly Variety Store
1373 Dwight St.
Olga Lopez

Mt. Tom Groom Shop
320 Easthampton Road
Linda Henderson

Mt. Tom Veterinary Services Inc.
320 Easthampton Road
Linda Henderson

Western Mass Pediatrics
18 Hospital Dr.
Hank J. Porter

NORTHAMPTON

B & B Ventures LLC
141 Damon Road
Bonnie Cueman

Bacon Wilson
31 Trumbull Road
Steven Krevalin

Foley Investigations
947 Burts Pit Road
Deborah Foley

Glamazon
5 East St.
Cassie MacColl

Krantz Wellness
92 Main St.
Stefanie Krantz

Murre Creative
30 North Maple St.
Maureen Scanlon

Northampton Reiki
16 Center St.
Primary Care Foundation Inc.

Paradise City Painting
57 Upland Road
Thomas Quinn

Starr’s Pizzeria & Restaurant
59 Main St.
Alexander Carballo-Diaz

Strong & Healthy Smiles
40 Main St.
Suzanne R. Keller

PALMER

Russo’s Lakeside Steak & Seafood
702 River St.
Todd Russo

Salon Trendz Etc.
1110 Park St.
Melissa Brodeur

Sun at Palmer
1426 Main St.
David A. Rome

SPRINGFIELD

Joslad & Associates
83 Superior Ave.
Joseph Aimua

Kickmass Lacrosse Club
1537 Main St.
Daniel L. McCreary

Law Office of Anthony J. Canata
244 Bridge St.
Anthony J. Canata

Lee’s Sports
47 Pearl St.
Dorothy Lee

Luxe Burger Bar
1200 Hall of Fame Blvd.
John Elkhay

M.G. Home Improvement
41 Devens St.
Marcin Gadziala

Mail Mall
53 Lester St.
Morning Santiago

Mar Music Group
42 Dewey St.
Emanuel Diaz

Masters At Custom
128 Hampden St.
Jermaine Jason

Maxim Lingerie Showroom
333 East Columbus Ave.
Quitman Boyce

Melissa’s Place
1555 Wilbraham Road
Melissa Chesbro

Millennium Nails Salon
1655 Boston Road
Kim Dang

Mundo Mobile
1104 Main St.
Rafael A. Dominguez

Northeastern Sheet Metal
75 Market Place
Thomas J. Messenger

Nuworld Entertainment
100 Whittier St.
Sam W. Bradley

Orchard Auto Sales
1307 Worcester St.
Richard Francis

P.J.B. Home Improvement
67 Lang St.
Paul J. Babiec

Papale & Bouvier Eye Center
1515 Allen St.
Center for Eye

Perfectly Polished Nail
181 Chestnut St.
Nia Francella

Plan B Springfield
1000 West Columbus Blvd.
Shawn M. Skehan

Progresso Auto Repair
1142 State St.
Jacinto Mendonga

Prospect Variety
51 Prospect St.
Martin E. Severino

Quick Stop Food Mart
889 Carew St.
Amtul S. Khoula

Reboot Electronics
1228 Main St.
Emmanuel Pena

Rockmore Painters
60 Oregon St.
Hugh O’Connor

Santana Flooring
268 Evergreen Road
Gabriel Antonio

Santiago Towing
546 Chestnut St.
Jose Santiago

Sissy’s Accessories
20 Maple St.
Sheryl A. Chase

Springfield Nails
682 Belmont Ave.
Thu H. Nguyen

Stepforward Production
71 Gates Ave.
Kevin A. Young

Stephanie Beth Photography
301 Plumtree Road
Stephanie B. Brown

Templo San Lazaro
718 Main St.
Zulma Mestres

The Boulevard Grill
668 Page Blvd.
Stephen A. Amato

Throneroom Enterprises
116 Florence St.
Steven R. Williams

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Baghdad Bakery
464 Main St.
Dheyaa Habeeb

Delto Affordable Construction
33 Birnie Ave.
Vladimir Garygun

DMS Enterprises
7 Upper Church St.
Dawn M. Spiegler

Gengras Motors Inc.
1712 Riverdale St.
Clayton Gengras

Jodoin Home Improvement II
22 Willard Ave.
Darrin T. Jodoin

John R. Sweeney Insurance Agency
56 Union St.
John R. Sweeney

Johnnie’s Distribution
23 Worthen St.
Johnnie Young

Mike Enterprizes
142 Nelson St.
Michael S. Blanchard

Niquette Studios
51 Ashley St.
Leslie Niquette

Ray Sweeney Insurance Agency
293 Elm St.
Ray Sweeney Agency

Riverdale Gold Exchange
1353 Riverdale St.
Norman A. Hannoush

Skin Spa Aesthetics
698 Westfield St.
Leah M. Hurlbut

Vlad’s Transportation
820 Union St.
Volodymyr Zhukovsky

Western Mass Hypnosis Center
201 Westfield St.
Thaddeus J. Muszynski

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Author Lecture on
Constitution Café
April 10: Author and philosopher Christopher Phillips’ latest book, Constitution Café, draws on the nation’s rebellious past to incite meaningful change today. He proposes that Americans revise the Constitution every so often, not just to reflect the changing times, but to revive and perpetuate the original revolutionary spirit. He will present a free lecture at 8 p.m. in the dining hall at Blake Student Commons, on the Bay Path College campus, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The lecture is part of the annual Kaleidoscope series. For more information, call (413) 565-1000 or visit www.baypath.edu.

Lecture on
Marketing Basics
April 11: The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will host a lecture titled “Marketing Basics” from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Dianne Doherty of the MSBDC Network will present the workshop that will focus on the basic disciplines of marketing, beginning with research (primary, secondary, qualitative, and quantitative). For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass. The cost is $40.

RetireSmart Seminar
April 11: MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division continues its web-based RetireSmart interactive participant education series with “Understanding Target-Date and Target-Risk Investments” at noon. The 30-minute presentation will cover taking charge of your retirement-investing strategy in today’s market environment; the ABCs of target-date and target-risk strategies, and how these investments may fit into your overall plan. Space for the live online seminar is prioritized to retirement-plan sponsors and participants on MassMutual’s platform. MassMutual retirement-plan clients can register by logging into their retirement-plan account at www.retiresmart.com or by visiting www.retiresmartseminars.com.

Slam Poet Lecture
April 13: Taylor Mali, a former high-school teacher who has emerged from the slam-poetry movement as one of its leaders, will discuss his performances at 10:10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. in Scibelli Hall Theater, as part of the Ovations series at Springfield Technical Community College. The talks are free and open to the public. For more information, call (413) 755-4233.

Christo to Keynote Riverscaping Conference
April 19-22: An international conference on the art, history, and science of the river will feature the celebrated artist Christo, whose latest project will be to install 5.9 miles of fabric over a stretch of the Arkansas River in Colorado. The Five College Riverscaping Conference also includes lectures, gallery openings, student poster sessions, and a two-day symposium opened by Jonathan Lash, Hampshire College’s new president and the former president of the World Resources Institute. The conference marks the conclusion of the 18-month Five College Riverscaping project, funded in large part by a grant from the American delegation to the European Union and in partnership with river experts from Hamburg, Germany. Aimed at developing sustainable approaches to reconnecting people with the river, the Riverscaping effort has brought together students, policy makers, artists, academics, entrepreneurs and environmentalists in a series of ‘laboratories.’ Centered around education, research, and design, the laboratories focus on Massachusetts’ stretch of the Connecticut River and the Elbe River in Hamburg. Christo’s address, at Smith College’s John M. Green Hall, will open the conference on April 19. He will discuss the two current projects that he and Jeanne-Claude (who died in 2009) have initiated: “Over the River” on the Arkansas River and “The Mastaba,” in the United Arab Emirates. The river installation, planned for the summer of 2015, will involve suspending nearly six miles of luminous fabric panels over a 42-mile stretch of the upper Arkansas River in Colorado. The project, while controversial, has received federal and state approval. Lash will open Saturday’s symposium sessions with his comments on “Why the River Matters.” Other highlights of the symposium on Friday and Saturday include papers by a wide range of designers, scientists, and scholars from around the world, including Jinnai Hidenobou of Hosei University in Tokyo, Johan Varekamp of Wesleyan University, and T.S. McMillin of Oberlin College, author of The Meaning of Rivers. A student session takes place on Friday evening, and a performance of music and readings will follow on Saturday. The entire conference, including Christo’s address, is free and open to the public, but online registration is required. Visit www.riverscaping.org to register for the Christo address and all the other events.

Comedy Night to
Benefit Charities
April 21: Smith & Wesson Corp. will host a benefit comedy show to support two local children’s charities, the Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Ronald McDonald House, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Cedars Banquet Hall, 419 Island Pond Road, Springfield. Tickets are $30 per person, and include the show, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres prior to the show, a cash bar, raffles, fund-raising, games, and music. Teddie Barrett of Teddie B. Comedy will emcee the event, featuring professional comedians Bill Campbell, Dan Crohn, and Stacy Yannetty Pema. For tickets or more information, contact Phyllis Settembro, Smith & Wesson, (413) 747-3597; Karen Motyka, Shriners Hospital, (413) 787-2032; or Jennifer Putnam, Ronald McDonald House, (413) 794-5683.

Supply Chain Strategies
April 24: Western Mass. APICS (the Association for Operations Management), will present a seminar called “Building and Sustaining Transformational Supply Chain Capabilities” at 5:30 p.m. at the Yankee Pedlar in Holyoke. The program will be presented by Edna Conway, Cisco Systems’ chief security strategist for customer value chain management. For more information or to make reservations, call (413) 527-2832, or visit www.wmass-apics.com.

Walk of Champions
May 6: The Goodnough Dike area of the Quabbin Reservoir will be the setting for the seventh annual Walk of Champions in Ware. Participants walk in honor or in memory of loved ones affected by cancer, with the determination to make a difference in those affected by the disease. The event offers a five-mile or two-mile walk, with entertainment and refreshments along the route. For more information, visit www.baystatehealth.org/woc or e-mail Michelle Graci, manager of fund-raising events at Baystate Health at [email protected].

Small-business Seminar
May 16: Local business owners will talk about what they have done to keep ahead of the many demands on their time, and at the same time adjust for the economic environment, during a workshop titled “Adapt, Diversify, Reinvent & Grow” at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Presenters include Paul DiGrigoli of Digrigoli Salon & School of Cosmetology; Tara Tetreault of Jackson & Connor; Kate Vishnyakov of Kate Gray Inc.; and Rick Ricard of Larien Products. The 9 to 11 a.m. session is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Management Fundamentals Workshop
May 24: Lyne Kendall of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will present “Business Plan Basics” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Amherst Town Hall, first floor meeting room, 4 Boltwood Walk. The workshop will focus on management fundamentals from startup considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

NYC Bus Trip
June 30: The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will host a bus trip to New York City, leaving the chamber parking lot at 7 a.m. and returning around 9:30 p.m. Participants are on their own for the day in New York City. Tickets are $45 per person. For more information, contact Lynn at (413) 594-2101.
40 Under Forty
June 21: BusinessWest will present its sixth class of regional rising stars at its annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The June 21 gala will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Tickets are $60 per person, with tables of 10 available. Early registration is advised, as seating is limited. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com.

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, or e-mail [email protected], or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

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
Airflyte Inc. v. Waltzing Matilda Aviation Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $77,523.21
Filed: 2/28/12

James Connif v. Andrew B. Chertoff M.D.
Allegation: Medical malpractice pertaining to the negligent treatment of a fracture: $3,544,229.19
Filed: 2/26/12

Michael Girard v. Pride Convenience Inc. and Robert Bolduc
Allegation: Wage, retaliation, and related claims: $60,000
Filed: 2/28/12

Tara Dunphy v. Aspen Dental Management Inc.
Allegation: Dental malpractice: $250,000.00
Filed: 3/5/12

William O’Brien v. Hurley’s Garage and The Traveler’s Indemnity Company
Allegation: Negligence in vehicle maintenance causing operator injury: $108,458.13
Filed: 3/1/12

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Pawnee Leasing Corporation v. Volkswagen of Northampton and Andrew Feuerstein
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $45,586.13
Filed: 1/30/12

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
American Express Bank v. Pittsinger Plumbing and Heating
Allegation: Breach of contract and monies owed: $10,051.68
Filed: 1/31/12

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
United Rentals Inc. v. Sullivan Commercial Painting, et al
Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $20,511.90
Filed: 2/10/12

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
American Express Bank, FSB v. Feman Steel, LLC and Edward Johnson
Allegation: Monies due for breach of contract: $5,153.64
Filed: 3/1/12

Greta Stone v. Planet Fitness
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of treadmill causing injury: $9,200
Filed: 3/6/12

Thomas Johnson v. Excellence Auto Exchange
Allegation: Breach of contract and breach of implied warranty of merchantability pertaining to the sale of a vehicle: $12,569.52
Filed: 3/2/12

United Rentals Inc. v. Environmental Fire Protection Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $11,000
Filed: 2/3/12

United Rentals Inc. v. Tuckerman Steel Fabricators Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $11,534.45
Filed: 3/6/12

PictureThis

By
Departments Picture This

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

Hometown Heroes





The American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter recently honored its 2012 Hometown Heroes. From top to bottom: regional Red Cross officials in attendance included, from left, Mark Brinkerhoff, Kate Leene, Kaitlyn Slattery, Rick Lee, Dawn Leaks, Rich Rubin, and Caitlin O’Hara. Hometown Hero Demetrious Faust, center, with his father, Lee Hutchins, and sister, Mishia Hutchins. From left, Sheila Doiron of presenting sponsor Columbia Gas with Fabiola Guerrero, Juan Guerrero, and Ibone Guerrero, the daughters and husband of Angelica Guerrero, who was named a Hometown Hero postumously. Center right: from left, Hometown Heroes Edward Rosienski Jr. and Edward Rosienski III, with Michael Lia, president of award sponsor Lia Auto Group. Bottom: Hometown Heroes and members of the Holyoke Police Department Narcotics/Vice Division, including Captain David Pratt, along with attorney Patrick McHugh of award sponsor Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley, P.C.






























Tackling Diabetes


Springfield-based Big Y Foods recently presented New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork with a check for $5,000 to support his quest to tackle diabetes in the New England area. To help build awareness and support Wilfork’s efforts, the Big Y World Class Market in Walpole, Mass. donated 50 cents from the purchase of each Superbird Rotisserie Chicken purchased from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5 to the Vince Wilfork Foundation. Seen at the check presentation are, from left: John Schnepp, director of Marketing at Big Y Foods; Store Director Michael Hanrahan; Wilfork; and Norm Vernadakis of Big Y Foods.

Celebrating 160 Years

Glenn Welch, Hampden Bank president and COO, looks over some of the many photos of Hampden Bank throughout its history, on the occasion of the bank’s 160th birthday, to be officially celebrated on April 13. Officially chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to serve the workers of the Western Railroad, the bank, which started in a rented office space in the basement of then-Agawam National Bank on the corner of Lyman and Main streets, has grown to 10 locations across Western Mass.

Opinion

By
Opinion
Sending a Mixed Message on Jobs

There are more mixed signals from the Obama administration on jobs: a craven capitulation on regulation in the name of job creation, and a surprisingly good speech by a top official on the importance of American manufacturing.
President Barack Obama will shortly sign the so-called bipartisan JOBS Act. The law is neither bipartisan nor about creating jobs. It exempts an estimated 80% of new publicly traded corporations from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) usual disclosure requirements for up to five years after their initial public offering (IPO). 
The law was promoted by investment bankers, venture-capital firms, and the Republican leadership, who were all alarmed that IPOs (not surprisingly) have declined in today’s distressed economy. The remedy? Gut investor protections, the better to promote new stocks. 
The premise is that, by facilitating new stock offerings, the law will create jobs. Mainly, it will create jobs for one set of lawyers working to exploit the loopholes and another representing ripped-off investors. 
The law is ‘bipartisan’ only to the extent that the administration, despite the opposition of SEC Chair Mary Schapiro, didn’t have the nerve to oppose it. This is what today’s bipartisanship looks like — take-no-prisoners Republicans intimidating Wall Street-oriented Democrats.
That’s the bad news. The good news is a terrific, little-noticed speech by the administration’s chief economic official, Gene Sperling, who heads the president’s National Economic Council. In the speech, delivered recently at the National Press Club to a conference on the renaissance of American manufacturing, Sperling made arguments that are standard in circles to the administration’s left, but are rarely embraced by centrist Democrats. “We do believe that, even if today only 12% of the U.S. private-sector workforce is employed in manufacturing, it is a sector that punches above its weight,” he said, “when you take into account the outsized role that manufacturing plays in innovation through R&D investment and patents, the tight linkage between innovation and manufacturing production, the higher-wage jobs it produces, its importance for exports, the spillover benefits that manufacturing facilities have on firms and communities around them, and the deeper economic harm that comes from allowing our manufacturing production capacity to be hollowed out.”
Well-put. Citing a number of studies that justify these conclusions, Sperling added, “more than any other industry, manufacturing firms account for a disproportionate share of innovative activity in the U.S. — 70% of private-sector R&D and over 90% of patents issued. As a country, it matters where these benefits occur.”
So what, exactly, is the administration doing to promote U.S. manufacturing, big time?
Well, Sperling touted the few billion dollars the administration has spent on advanced-manufacturing initiatives, its support for clean energy and related technologies, its efforts to give manufacturing firms tax breaks, its proposal for an $8 billion Community to Career Fund to train workers for high-skill manufacturing jobs, and recent complaints against China’s protectionism when it comes to export of ‘rare earths.’ The Administration also plans a new Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (to do what the office of the U.S. trade representative should have been doing all along.)
It’s a start, and an excellent case for a bolder industrial policy and a much tougher trade strategy against foreign mercantilism — neither of which the White House is pursuing. For the most part, our trade policy is on auto-pilot, promoting ‘free-trade’ deals that turn a blind eye to foreign subsidies and promote outsourcing of U.S. manufacturing jobs. The administration’s late manufacturing czar, Ron Bloom, got no staff and was not permitted to utter the words ‘industrial’ and ‘policy’ in the same sentence.
The challenge for Sperling is to persuade his boss to turn the welcome words of this fine speech into national policy. And to stop backing totally phony Republican ‘jobs’ measures like the JOBS Act.

Robert Kuttner is co-founder and co-editor of the American Prospect.

Editorial

By
Opinion
Maintaining Momentum at UMass Amherst

There were no real surprises at the elaborate press conference staged last week to introduce Kumble Subbaswamy as the chancellor-elect at UMass Amherst (see story, page 10).
The current provost at the University of Kentucky, due to assume his new post in July, said all the things that one would anticipate him saying — about taking the flagship campus to the proverbial next level, improving town-gown relations, maintaining and possibly expanding the school’s work within Greater Springfield, and striving to improve access to the university. In the course of doing all that, he used the words you would expect him to use: challenge, opportunity, relationships, partnerships, collaboration, communication, and transparency.
But he also used a word that some might not expect to hear — momentum. And he used it early and often, in phrases like ‘maintaining momentum,’ ‘building on the existing momentum,’ and others like it. And he was right to do so.
In the wake of what amounts to the ouster of Chancellor Robert Holub, it would be easy to forget or overlook the existence of a good deal of momentum at the flagship campus of the state university. Subbaswamy was wise to acknowledge it, and, more importantly, he understands that one of his primary goals is to sustain the current momentum, and in the many forms it takes.
In recent years, UMass has made great strides in its efforts to win more federal research dollars, and also in the broad and all-important category of fund-raising. Meanwhile, the many cranes operating on campus are a compelling sign of expansion and modernization.
But perhaps the most impressive gains, we feel, have come in the realm of economic development, or making the Amherst campus much more the ‘economic engine’ that area business and civic leaders have long desired — and expected — it to become.
Indeed, for years the phrase heard in the Greater Springfield area was, ‘why isn’t UMass doing more?’ And you heard it in reference to everything from a physical presence in downtown Springfield to job creation; from putting the vast resources at the Amherst campus to work helping individual businesses and economic sectors grow and thrive, to efforts to enable more area residents to attain four-year degrees. Even the football team’s ascension to the bowl subdivision connotes upward movement.
The fact that you don’t hear that phrase nearly as often indicates that the school has become far more involved in those initiatives and has created a good deal of that aforementioned momentum.
Examples abound, and include:
• Expansion efforts at the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, a collaborative effort with Baystate Health;
• The university’s lead role in making the Green High Performance Computing Center a reality in downtown Holyoke, where it is generating enthusiasm about bringing related businesses to that city;
• A project to move the university’s Design Center into one of the buildings in Springfield’s Court Square;
• The Precision Manufacturing Regional Alliance Project, or PMRAP, as it’s known, a project being undertaken with the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County and the National Tooling & Machining Assoc. to transfer technology from two departments at the university (Polymer Science and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) to area precision manufacturers; and
• An ongoing partnership with Springfield Technical Community College to reinvigorate the Scibelli Enterprise Center on the STCC campus and, in so doing, help more fledging business ventures get off the ground or to that next level.
Together, these initiatives and many others add up to progress and (here’s that word again) momentum, not only for the university, but for the region and especially its largest city.
Subbaswamy told the press that there are many aspects to his job description as chancellor — everything from promoting the university and strengthening its brand to making sure a host of constituencies, from lawmakers to alumni, understand its true value to the Commonwealth.
But he can put ‘maintaining momentum’ at the very top of his list, and, judging from his comments, he already has.

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

‘Music for the Eyes’
Through April 7: The artwork of Preston Trombly, host of Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s nationally broadcast Symphony Hall channel, titled “Music for the Eyes,” will be exhibited through April 7 at the Arno Maris Gallery in Ely Hall on the Westfield State University campus. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m., Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call (413) 572-4400 or visit www.westfield.ma.edu/galleries.

Author Lecture
March 28: Internationally acclaimed author Tom Perrotta will read from his upcoming novel, The Leftovers, at 10:10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. in Scibelli Hall Theater, as part of the Ovations series at Springfield Technical Community College. The talks are free and open to the public. Two of Perrotta’s books, Election and Little Children, have been made into movies, and five novels have been national bestsellers. For more information, call (413) 755-4233.

ADA, FMLA Workshop
March 29: Royal LLP, in conjunction with the Human Service Forum, will present a workshop at the Delaney House in Holyoke on the compliance issues involving the ADA and FMLA. The interactive workshop addresses some of the most common questions that upper management faces each day. Attendees will learn skills and strategies that can help reduce the risk of employment litigation. For more information on the 8:30 a.m. to noon event, contact Ann-Marie Marcil at (413) 586-2288 or visit www.humanserviceforum.org.

Not Just Business as Usual
April 5: Former NBA player and businessman Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman will be the guest speaker at the Springfield Technical Community College Foundation’s third annual Not Just Business as Usual event at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. A cocktail and networking reception is planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by the dinner program from 7 to 9 p.m. Bridgeman spent most of his 12-year NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks, but also played for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the current franchise owner of more than 160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s restaurants. The event encourages local businesses to come together for an evening to network, learn from one another, and support student success. Funds from the event will provide students access to opportunities through scholarships, technology, and career direction to be successful future employees and citizens. “It’s a time to celebrate innovations, change, and our region’s success,” said STCC Foundation Interim Director Robert LePage. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available, and individual tickets are $175 each. For more information, contact LePage at (413) 755-4477 or [email protected].

Constitution Café
April 10: Author and philosopher Christopher Phillips’ latest book, Constitution Café, draws on the nation’s rebellious past to incite meaningful change today. He proposes that Americans revise the Constitution every so often, not just to reflect the changing times, but to revive and perpetuate the original revolutionary spirit. He will present a free lecture at 8 p.m. in the dining hall at Blake Student Commons, on the Bay Path College campus, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The lecture is part of the annual Kaleidoscope series. For more information, call (413) 565-1000 or visit www.baypath.edu.

Marketing Basics Seminar
April 11: The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will host a lecture titled “Marketing Basics” from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Dianne Doherty of the MSBDC Network will present the workshop that will focus on the basic disciplines of marketing, beginning with research (primary, secondary, qualitative, and quantitative). For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass. The cost is $40.

RetireSmart Seminar
April 11: MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division continues its web-based RetireSmart interactive participant education series with “Understanding Target-Date and Target-Risk Investments” at noon. The 30-minute presentation will cover taking charge of your retirement-investing strategy in today’s market environment; the ABCs of target-date and target-risk strategies, and how these investments may fit into your overall plan. Space for the live online seminar is prioritized to retirement-plan sponsors and participants on MassMutual’s platform. MassMutual retirement-plan clients can register by logging into their retirement-plan account at www.retiresmart.com or by visiting www.retiresmartseminars.com.

Slam Poet Lecture
April 13: Taylor Mali, a former high-school teacher who has emerged from the slam-poetry movement as one of its leaders, will discuss his performances at 10:10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. in Scibelli Hall Theater, as part of the Ovations series at Springfield Technical Community College. The talks are free and open to the public. For more information, call (413) 755-4233.

Christo to Keynote Riverscaping Conference
April 19-22: An international conference on the art, history, and science of the river will feature the celebrated artist Christo, whose latest project will be to install 5.9 miles of fabric over a stretch of the Arkansas River in Colorado. The Five College Riverscaping Conference also includes lectures, gallery openings, student poster sessions, and a two-day symposium opened by Jonathan Lash, Hampshire College’s new president and the former president of the World Resources Institute. The conference marks the conclusion of the 18-month Five College Riverscaping project, funded in large part by a grant from the American delegation to the European Union and in partnership with river experts from Hamburg, Germany. Aimed at developing sustainable approaches to reconnecting people with the river, the Riverscaping effort has brought together students, policy makers, artists, academics, entrepreneurs and environmentalists in a series of ‘laboratories.’ Centered around education, research, and design, the laboratories focus on Massachusetts’ stretch of the Connecticut River and the Elbe River in Hamburg. Christo’s address, at Smith College’s John M. Green Hall, will open the conference on April 19. He will discuss the two current projects that he and Jeanne-Claude (who died in 2009) have initiated: “Over the River” on the Arkansas River and “The Mastaba,” in the United Arab Emirates. The river installation, planned for the summer of 2015, will involve suspending nearly six miles of luminous fabric panels over a 42-mile stretch of the upper Arkansas River in Colorado. The project, while controversial, has received federal and state approval. Lash will open Saturday’s symposium sessions with his comments on “Why the River Matters.” Other highlights of the symposium on Friday and Saturday include papers by a wide range of designers, scientists, and scholars from around the world, including Jinnai Hidenobou of Hosei University in Tokyo, Johan Varekamp of Wesleyan University, and T.S. McMillin of Oberlin College, author of The Meaning of Rivers. A student session takes place on Friday evening, and a performance of music and readings will follow on Saturday. The entire conference, including Christo’s address, is free and open to the public, but online registration is required. Visit www.riverscaping.org for a complete schedule and to register for the Christo address and all the other events.

Comedy Night to
Benefit Charities
April 21: Smith & Wesson Corp. will host a benefit comedy show to support two local children’s charities, the Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Ronald McDonald House, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Cedars Banquet Hall, 419 Island Pond Road, Springfield. Tickets are $30 per person, and include the show, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres prior to the show, a cash bar, raffles, fund-raising, games, and music. Teddie Barrett of Teddie B. Comedy will emcee the event, featuring professional comedians Bill Campbell, Dan Crohn, and Stacy Yannetty Pema. For tickets or more information, contact Phyllis Settembro, Smith & Wesson, (413) 747-3597; Karen Motyka, Shriners Hospital, (413) 787-2032; or Jennifer Putnam, Ronald McDonald House, (413) 794-5683.

‘Adapt, Diversify,
Reinvent & Grow’
May 16: Local business owners will talk about what they have done to keep ahead of the many demands on their time, and at the same time adjust for the economic environment, during a workshop titled “Adapt, Diversify, Reinvent & Grow” at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Presenters include Paul DiGrigoli of Digrigoli Salon & School of Cosmetology; Tara Tetreault of Jackson & Connor; Kate Vishnyakov of Kate Gray Inc.; and Rick Ricard of Larien Products. The 9 to 11 a.m. session is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

NYC Bus Trip
June 30: The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will host a bus trip to New York City, leaving the chamber parking lot at 7 a.m. and returning around 9:30 p.m. Participants are on their own for the day in New York City. Tickets are $45 per person. For more information, contact Lynn at (413) 594-2101.

40 Under Forty
June 21: BusinessWest will present its sixth class of regional rising stars at its annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The June 21 gala will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Tickets are $60 per person, with tables of 10 available. Early registration is advised, as seating is limited. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com.

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, or e-mail [email protected], or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

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
Complete Restoration Solutions Inc. v. Oak Tree Inn Corp. and Fernando F. Nogueira
Allegation: Balance due for repair and cleaning services rendered: $31,113.37
Filed: 2/28/12

Cynthia and Lester Hebert v. Valley Surgeons Inc., Bradford C. Gray, M.D., Ernest M. Mittelholzer, M.D., and Holyoke Radiologists
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $775,000
Filed: 3/1/12

L.L Klink & Sons Inc. v. Hampden Structural Systems Inc. d/b/a Private Garden Greenhouse Systems and Joseph Hickson
Allegation: Suit for enforcement of a previous judgment: $45,744.25
Filed: 3/5/12

Maria Consedine v. Home Goods Inc.
Allegation: Products stacked on a shelf fell on the plaintiff’s foot, causing a fracture: $3,356.55
Filed: 2/24/12

William Brock v. Pride Convenience Inc. and Robert Bolduc
Allegation: Non-payment of wages: $30,000
Filed: 2/28/12

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Unifirst Corp. v. Everything Sounds Custom
Allegation: Breach of contract: $14,186.75
Filed: 2/2/12

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
M and I Bank, FSB v. Easthampton Trading Co. Inc.
Allegation: Balance due on business line of credit: $40,019.43
Filed: 1/23/12

Tri-County Schools v. Mohawk Trail Regional School District
Allegation: Unpaid educational services provided: $19,755.16
Filed: 2/15/12

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Capital One Bank v. The Cheney Team
Allegation: Monies owed for credit advanced: $7,201.97
Filed: 1/20/12

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Acushnet Co. v. Hampden Realty Partners, LLC and William Tragakis and Domenic L. Cardinale
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $21,087.81
Filed: 1/24/12

Jason Payero v. TR Stone Trucking Co.
Allegation: Failure to pay wages: $10,873
Filed: 2/21/12

Pacific Southwest Industries v. Langone Pipeline and Utility
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $9,134.74
Filed: 1/24/12

Stanislav Vasilevski and Eugene Dubakov a/k/a Yavgeni Divakov v. Orchard Car Co. Inc.
Allegation: Common-law fraud and breach of contract for sale of a motor vehicle: $18,100
Filed: 2/10/12

United Rentals Inc. v. Bridges, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $11,915.24
Filed: 2/8/12

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS
OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• April 3: Springfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Directors meeting, noon to 1:30 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• April 4: ACCGS Business @ Breakfast, at the MassMutual Learning & Conference Center, Memorial Drive, Chicopee. Doors open at 7:15 a.m. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.
• April 11: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Get Set Marketing, 207 Worthington St., Springfield. Cost: $10 for members, $20 for non-members.
• April 13: ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.
• April 18: ERC Board of Directors meeting, 8- 9 a.m., at the Gardens of Wilbraham, Community Room, 2 Lodge Lane, Wilbraham.
• April 18: ACCGS Ambassadors Meeting, 4-5 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• April 19: ACCGS Executive Committee meeting, noon to 1 p.m., in the TD Bank Conference Room, Chamber Offices.
• April 25: Annual Beacon Hill Summit. Save the date for the ACCGS’ yearly State House visit. Details to follow soon.

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• March 28: Margarita Madness, 5-7 p.m., at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The public is invited. Cost: $25 per person, $40 per couple; chamber members are $20 per person. A margarita-tasting event will be featured;  sample 12 margaritas and vote for your favorites. Sponsored by MassLive.com, the Valley Advocate, Greenfield Savings Bank, Applewood at Amherst, Copycat Amherst, Encharter Insurance LLC, Hope & Feathers Framing, Johnny’s Tavern, Judie’s Restaurant, 30 Boltwood, Lit, the Pub, UMass Fine Arts Center, Your Promotional Consultant/NEPM, and more.
• April 11: Chamber breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Lord Jeffery Inn. Cost: $15 for non-members, $12 for members.
• April 17: Chamber Brown Bag: “Networking Secrets from an Ex-Wallflower,” 12:30-2 p.m., in the Jones Library large meeting room. Guest speaker: Val Nelson.
• April 25: Chamber After 5, 5- 7 p.m., event location to be announced. Cost: $10 for non-members, $5 for members.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• April 1: April Salute Breakfast, 7:15- 9 a.m., at the Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College. Cost: $19 for members, $26 for non-members.
• April 12: Business Executive Roundtables, 8:30-10:30 a.m. The CEO Roundtables program will match up to 15 business leaders from non-competitive companies based on company size and expectations. It is not an industry group. Participants come from companies in various fields to confidently share their unique perspectives, experience, business challenges, and lessons learned during regular monthly meetings that offer intellectual discussion and debate. Cost: $75 for members, $100 for non-members.
• April 25: April Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at the Hampton Inn in Chicopee. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• April 24: HCC non-credit course. Special chamber rate. Call the chamber for more information.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• April 4: Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by RK Miles, 24 West St., West Hatfield.  Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can; a casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Sponsored by Keiter Builders. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information about the event or to RSVP, call the chamber at (413) 584-1900, or e-mail [email protected].

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• April 3: Professional Women’s Chamber New Member Welcome Reception, 6-8 p.m., at the 350 Grill, Worthington St., Springfield. Free hors d’oeuvres; cash bar.
• April 11: Professional Women’s Chamber Roundtable, “Health and Wellness,” 11 a.m.-1 p.m., hosted by Max’s Tavern, MassMutual Room, Springfield. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.
• April 26: The Professional Women’s Chamber “Chocolate Affair,” 6- 9 p.m., at Chez Josef, Tivoli Room, Agawam. Featuring chocolate desserts, cordials, and shopping at vendor booths. Cost: $25 in advance, $40 at the door.
GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• March 28: WestNet Plus One!, 5-7 p.m., hosted by PeoplesBank, 281 East Main St., Westfield. Network with fellow chamber members and meet new members and businesses in the area. Guest speaker: Patrick Berry, President of the Westfield News. Cost: $10 for chamber members, $15 cash for non-members. Don’t forget your business cards. To register, call Carrie Dearing at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected].
• March 31: 2012 Spring Southwick Economic Development Commission (EDC) Home & Business Show, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Town Hall, 454 College Highway, Southwick. This tabletop exhibit of Southwick businesses is free to the public, and the EDC will be collecting non-perishable food items for the local Food Pantry. Several free seminars will be held. Please visit www.southwickma.info for more information.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF
GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• April 19: April Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Adolfo’s Ristorante, 254 Worthington St., Springfield.

PictureThis

By
Berkshire-Bank
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]

Taking Shape

0184
0199
197
0202
Members of the media had the opportunity to tour the inside of the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center on March 14. John Goodhue, executive director of the center (seen at top and second-from-top),  led a tour of the 90,000-square-foot, $168 million facility taking shape at the former Mastex Industries site in downtown Holyoke. Work on the center is expected to be completed at the end of this year. Partners in the center are the University of Massachusetts, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Northeastern University, EMC Corp., and Cisco Systems.




















St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast

Berkshire-Bank

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce staged its annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast on March 16. A number of city officials and state legislators took to the podium, and BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien delivered the keynote address. At top, a delegation from Berkshire Bank takes in the festivities, while below, representatives of Noble Hospital enjoy the day’s events. At bottom, the Westfield Colleen, Meagan Susan Casey (center), enjoys a bite of cake with her court, from left, Meaghan Kwarzinski, Ryan Hickson, Sinead Smith, and Connor Sheehan.

Opinion

By
Opinion
How to Reform Community Colleges

The current debate about the future of community colleges is nothing new. Their mission has always been contested.
Some see these open-admission, relatively inexpensive colleges as providing technical training focused on local workforce needs. Others say they provide the first two years of a baccalaureate degree and facilitate transfer to a four-year college or university. Still others see community colleges as providing a variety of non-credit courses and support for students needing to obtain a high-school equivalency degree, or simply advancing their personal or professional interests.
Some — including the Boston Foundation, whose report on community colleges seems to have been the model for the Patrick administration’s recent proposal — think the multiple missions of community colleges are a sign of confusion and inefficiency. Actually, they are the sign that they are doing their jobs.
Community colleges must continue to play their three roles. The question is simply one of balance. But the governor’s recent proposal would tilt the scale the other way, making community colleges little more than publicly funded workforce-training centers for private business. This is as bad for the Commonwealth as it is for community-college students.
A bachelor’s degree not only provides access to higher-paying jobs, but also emphasizes the broad liberal-arts education crucial to helping students deal with living in an increasingly complex global society. Community colleges must continue to play their transfer role while still providing access to immediate career programs. The governor’s emphasis on workplace education short-circuits the many students who aspire to a higher education. Furthermore, it effectively constitutes a tracking system for minority and working-class students, who are concentrated in community colleges.
Rather than throw out the invaluable, multiple missions of community colleges, how about some real reform?
First, we must create a foundation budget for each community college; all are woefully underfunded. Community colleges have traditionally had far less funding than the state universities, and have been hit especially hard by a decade of disinvestment. They do not generally have the capacity to do major fund-raising, recruit higher-paying out-of-state students, or charge the high fees that the UMass institutions do. A starting point would be to raise all community colleges’ budgets up to that of the college with the highest per-student budget.
Second, just as in K-12 education, the most important factor in the quality of education is the faculty hired to teach and do research. This is especially true for community colleges that consistently teach the most racially and ethnically diverse student body in the public higher-education system. This sector of our system deserves to have well-compensated faculty and staff. And yet, the situation is upside down.
Third, community colleges serve huge numbers of students, with a range of needs and interests. The need for support staff — in admissions, mentoring, advising, tutoring, financial aid, counseling, and libraries — is greater than ever. It is precisely these crucial positions that have been eliminated. Staff positions should be hired in proportion to admitting new students and hiring more faculty.
Finally, we must improve the affordability of community colleges so that students can afford to matriculate and are not strapped with debt upon graduation. The explosion of student debt threatens the role public higher education plays in providing a pathway into the middle class. We have to move beyond the ‘high tuition and high aid’ model that Massachusetts has unsuccessfully employed: as tuition and fees have skyrocketed, the state has failed to put money on the aid side of the equation, such that now the average state financial-aid grant covers less than 10% of the total cost of attending a state college.
One of the buzzwords of our politics today is ‘accountability.’ Before asking public colleges and universities, their students, faculty, and staff to do more counting, measuring, and testing, government leaders should be held accountable and provide adequate funding for our institutions to do their jobs. v

Max Page is a professor of Architecture at UMass Amherst and vice president of the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments
The following building permits were issued during the months of February and March 2012.

AGAWAM

Berkshire Power
36 Moylan Lane
$20,000 — Convert warehouse to locker room

Six Flags New England
1623 Main St.
$200,000 — Frame new entry to Big Ben’s building

William Deveno
45 Vassar Road
$15,000 — Office renovations

AMHERST

150 Fearing St., LLC
150 Fearing St.
$4,500 — Sub-divide office space

Amherst College
Converse Hall
$36,000 — New flooring

Amherst College
Frosting Library
$149,000 — Addition of café on first floor of library

Carex LLC
15 Research Dr.
$112,000 — Finish office in existing space

CHICOPEE

200 Tillary, LLC
165 Front St.
$17,500 — Renovations for a bathroom and utility room

Anaber LLC
720 Memorial Dr.
$28,000 – Strip and re-roof

City of Chicopee
115 Baskin Dr.
$447,000 — Roof replacement and masonry repairs at the D.P.W.

City of Chicopee
5 West Main St.
$804,000 — Demolish former Facemate buildings

Hershal, LLC
600 Memorial Dr.
$100,000 — First-floor lobby renovation and addition of fitness center and boardroom

EASTHAMPTON

Anup Sangar
29 Union St.
$4,000 — Minor renovations of existing space

Easthampton Savings Bank
241 Northampton St.
$5,841,000 — New three-story commercial bank

Mt. Tom Development
311 East St.
$63,000 — Complete interior of building

EAST LONGMEADOW

Riv Serrazina
382 North Main St.
$64,000 — New roof

HOLYOKE

Elmwood Towers Associate
485 South St.
$250,000 — Install new equipment building

Gail M. Sullivan
77 Locust St.
$6,000 — Install new roof at restaurant

Holyoke Hospital Inc.
6 Isabella St.
$12,000 — New roof

South Holyoke Apartments
529 South Bridge St.
$30,000 — Install new roof

LUDLOW

American Tower Corporation
31 Ravenwood Dr.
$15,000 — Cell tower antennas

David Lavoie
733 Chapin St.
$46,000 — Re-shingle roof

Lavoie Properties, LLC
394-402 Chapin St.
$1,500 — Replace doors

NORTHAMPTON

Atwood Drive LLC
8 Atwood Dr.
$3,070,000 – Construct 40,000-square-foot medical office building

Bally Bunion Realty, LLC
108 Main St.
$3,000 — Remove non-load bearing partitions

Frank Fournier III Trustee
376 Easthampton Road
$5,000 — Move stairs

James H. Graham
20 Ladd Ave.
$20,000 — Construct two walls in shop area

Service Properties Inc.
78 Conz St.
$15,000 — New roof

Smith College
30 Belmont Ave.
$95,000 — Office renovations on first and second floors

Smith College
102 Lower College Lane
$10,000 — Remove open stairway

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$7,000 — HVAC renovation

SPRINGFIELD

3 Pointer, LLC
643-649 Main St.
$45,000 — Interior renovations

1350 Main Street, LLC
1350 Main St.
$23,000 — Interior renovation to combine two suites

City of Springfield
36 Court St.
$120,000 — Interior finishes and removal of wall on the fourth floor

Cottage Hill Church
315 Cottage St.
$129,000 — Roof replacement

Helen & Joe Nowak
537 Main St.
$13,000 — Remodel existing restaurant

Hispanic Resources Inc.
364-366 Main St.
$6,500 — Renovations

State Street N.E. Development, LLC
1525 State St.
$464,000 — Renovate 12,566-square-feet for new retail tenant space

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health
40 Daggett Dr.
$12,000 — Renovate 892-square-feet of space for a doctor’s office

Dick Harty
1501 Elm St.
$2,000 — Renovate existing commercial kitchen

H & P Realty LLC
218 Memorial Dr.
$80,000 — Strip and re-roof

Paul Longtin
1268 Riverdale St.
$50,000 — Renovate exterior of restaurant

Editorial

By
Opinion
Continuing the Search for Answers

State Rep. Jim McGovern hit the nail on the head — repeatedly.
In his comments to attendees at a recent symposium titled “Digital Games: Playing in the Valley” (see story, page 17), he said that few industries “can project the growth characteristics of the game industry.” And he’s right. He then said that, to get the regional economy back on its feet, video games comprise “one of the answers.” Right again.
And notice the use of the plural, because it’s important.
Indeed, there are still many people in this region looking for the answer, or the next big thing. After decades of searching, one would think that they would know by now that there isn’t one answer to this region’s problems when it comes to vibrancy, job creation, and overall reinvention from its days as a manufacturing hub. And there won’t be one big thing, either.
It must be many things, or many answers. Which brings us back to the symposium at Hampshire College earlier this month. It was there that speaker after speaker — from college professors to elected officials like McGovern to people like Allan Blair, president of the Western Mass. Economic Development Council — talked about how this region could be a hub for video-game-related businesses, and how it should be.
Not all, but most of the active ingredients are there to make this happen, the various speakers said, listing everything from cost of living to a critical mass of young college students, to a quality of life sought by the younger generations. The challenge, they said, is to foster this young, still-growing industry, and to overcome the hurdles, such as the lack of a solid reputation in this industry and also the incomprehensible lack of high-speed Internet access in some of the more remote but still-desirable areas of this region.
The day’s events and speeches could be summed up as a call to action, an effort to raise awareness when it comes to the job potential of a still-misunderstood subsector of the economy, and an attempt to rally the necessary support to convert something that most consider a longshot into something doable.
We need more events like this in Western Mass. because we need to tap a number of wells when it comes to innovation and job creation, in fields like video games, green energy, the biosciences, medical-instrument manufacturing, and more.
The first step is to acknowledge and understand the full potential of some of these emerging industries or clusters — and many speakers admitted that they hadn’t previously had such an appreciation of the video-game sector — and then to be carefully aggressive in creating an environment in which such ventures can thrive.
‘Carefully aggressive’ might sound like an oxymoron, but it’s not. Cities, regions, and states must indeed be aggressive when it comes to supporting potential jobs — Rhode Island was when it gave former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s video-game business, 38 Studios, a $75 million loan to get to the next level in the Ocean State — but they must also be prudent. Massachusetts learned the lesson the hard way when it gave huge incentives to Evergreen Solar, not understanding that market forces would soon drive production of such systems overseas.
No one could have imagined 30 years ago that video games would be a course of study in college and a source of many thousands of jobs worldwide. Likewise, no one knows what we’ll be saying these same things about 30 years from now.
What we do know is that the region must be diligent in its search for answers — in the plural — because it will take many of them to create the solid jobs our communities will need moving forward.

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

Acevedo, Denise M.
107 Barre St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Alibozek, Michael J.
32 East Road
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Allen, Robert Q.
Allen, Catherine M.
14 Coakley Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/12

Barszewski, Joanne Mary
392 Montague Road #22
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Bass, Ingrid E.
359 Springfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Beaudry, Francis H.
P.O. Box 907
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Belisle, Penny M.
513 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Berthiaume, Nathan H.
413 Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/23/12

Brown, Robert A.
148 Hillsdale Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/23/12

Brunette, Steven P.
26 Chestnut St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Busbin, John R.
79 Evergreen Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Carmody, Julia M.
49 Enfield St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Carver, Jonathan David
52 Irene St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Cayer, David S.
105 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Chambers, Molly P.
85 Crescent St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Chasles-Snyder, Gigi M.
a/k/a Chasles Labbe, Gigi M.
48 Claverack Road
Whately, MA 01093
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/12

Cora, Crystal
a/k/a Mccarthy, Crystal
111 Malibu Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Crocker, Donna Haley
76 Hazelwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/22/12

Cumba, Jose Antonio
Cumba, Maria Mercedes
44 Webster St., 1st Fl.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Dargis, Tatiana
a/k/a Banari, Tatiana
1161 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Davila, Maria E.
66 Jenness St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Daye, Martin Oliver
24 East Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/12

Deblois, Normand P.
Deblois, Leona Rose
1157 Elm St., Apt 5
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Delnegro, Andrew F.
Delnegro, Judy A.
74 Mill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

DeMeyer, Tracy A.
25 Keegan Lane 8C
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/12

Desmond Landscaping
White, Desmond
17 Cloran St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Desousa, Ruy T.
97 Water St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Dialessi, Robert G.
Dialessi, Lynn P.
22 Reed St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/12

Dondey, Joseph P.
41 Newell St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Dondey, Torey L.
a/k/a Lheureux, Torey
41 Newell St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Dowers, Amy M.
PO Box 175
Chester, MA 01011
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Dumas, Eric Joseph
339 Grattan St.
Apartment 2
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Dyer, Tiffany L.
29 Quincy Ave., Apt 1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/12

Echevarria, Juan J.
17 Washington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Edwards, Phillip Arthur
Edwards, Nancy Ann
P.O. Box 205
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/12

Gautier, Jennifer V.
17 Halsey St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/12

Hebler, Todd M.
52 Newell St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Henderson, Jennifer G.
P.O. Box 751
Sheffield, MA 01257
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Hrycay, Kenneth
28 Horseshoe Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Jones, Edward A.
Jones, Gail A.
185 Pinegrove Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Joseph-James, Katrika N.
71 Whittier St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Kasperek, Christopher Paul
306 Barry St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Kazonis, Michael
62 Middle St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/12

Kennedy, Mary Ellen
20 Granby Heights
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/12

LaFrance, James A.
P.O. Box 344
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/12

Langlois, Theodore
418 Meadow St. #A9
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Lenkowski, Cara M.
10 Prospect St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Lovely, Michael S.
116 Polaski Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/12

Lussier, Keri A.
267 Ridge Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

MacKay, Bonnie L.
a/k/a MacKay-Vachula, Bonnie L.
42 Basket St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Macznik, Eric A.
Macznik, Claudia C.
52 Posner Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/23/12

Manning, William J.
18 Palmer Road Unit 17
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Manzoor, Muhammed T.
165 Lumae St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/24/12

Martell, Jan S.
Martell, Tammi A.
130 Bacon Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

MBS Enterprises
New Day Real Estate
Seward, Michael Brett
P.O. Box 829
Bondsville, MA 01009
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/12

McClintock, Saundra D.
443 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Melbourne, Mary E.
39 Agnes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/12

Michienzi, Audrey
106 Wilson Road
Barnardston, MA 01337
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Moore, Roberta F.
a/k/a Sczepanski, Roberta F.
95 Syrek St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Morales, Alberto M.
3 Carriage Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/12

Moriarty, Laura M.
66 Pleasant St., Apt. 3R
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Murray, Aaron P.
Warfield, Elizabeth A.
367 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Nalewanski, Rachael Leigh
19 Stone Path Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

O’Neil, Judith A.
87 East Road
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Oster, Tamara M.
30 Kenlee Gardens, Apt. 2R
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Ouimette, Tina L.
a/k/a Chaves, Tina L.
68 School St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Parenteau, Kenneth J.
Parenteau, Geraldine R.
a/k/a Parenteau, Dina R.
111 Glendale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Patel, Brijesh D.
112 Florence St.
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Patenaude, Dana R.
Patenaude, Tami E.
47 Cypress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/17/12

Poole, James
Poole, Carol Garden
847 New Braintree Road
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Pothier, Richard A.
250 Reed St.
West Warren, MA 01092
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Pothier, Sandra L.
250 Reed St.
West Warren, MA 01092
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

R.C.R. Enterprises, Inc.
Ruscio, Robert C.
Ruscio, Cheryl A.
52 Garden Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/12

Ramos, Gary L.
51 Howes St.
Springfield
MA, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Redman, Kerry-Ann
33 Ferris St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Richard, Ronald G.
Richard, Mary F.
a/k/a Newhouse, Mary F.
160 slumber Lane
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/12

Rivera, Roman
a/k/a Nieves/Rivera, Roman
Viera, Milagros
395 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/12

Roseberry, Rene
Roseberry, Lynn
222 Sheldon Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Sierra, Wilfredo
P.O. Box 3626
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Smith, Michael J.
Smith, Colleen M.
10 Longview Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/16/12

Spusta, Kimberlyanne
18 Howard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Stanger, Jesse J.
277 Main St.
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Starkey, Courtney L.
97 Congamond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Strickland, Christine C.
a/k/a Raddatz, Christine
221 Ventora St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Taylor, Richard W.
Taylor, Virginia A.
13 Charles Place
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Taylor, Steven J.
12 Crestview Dr.
PIttsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/12

Tyler, Lemart E.
Tyler, Anne M.
33 Michael Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/29/12

Winslow, David B.
41 C St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/21/12

Zhupikov, Dmitriy
Zhupikov, Yuliya
58 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/27/12

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the months of February and March 2012.

AGAWAM

1st Stop Café
369 Walnut St.
Jennifer Haile

Agawam Fruits and Vegetable Market
301 Springfield St.
Andrey Akimov

Cordi Truck LLC
470 Shoemaker Lane
Robert Arrington III

Security Consultant
37 Royal St.
Greg Norman

TNT Tent and Table Rentals
362 North St.
Anthony Boido

AMHERST

Boston Dance Challenge
200 West Pomeroy Lane
John Schimmel

Golden Booty Tanning
6 University Dr.
Kimberly Gomes

Markamusic
12 Charles Lane
Alfredo Chapelliguen

CHICOPEE

Ashley’s Fashion Place
342 Front St.
Victor Davila

Commercial Services
6 Stone Ave.
Mark Skrodzki

David’s Home Plans
188 Wildermere St.
David Dejordy

Keaton’s Kleaning Service
43 Juliette St.
Jason Keaton

The Fab Glam Boutique
148 Broadway St.
Isaiah Weldon

The Flyin Donkey
17 Barre Cir.
Garvin C. Headley Jr.

Top Dog Removal Services
340 Grattan St.
James Mcgourn

Western Mass RV Rental
376 Chicopee St.
Shawn-Ellen Krajcik

EASTHAMPTON

Dawson Home Health Assistance
2 Culdaff St.
Kobina Dawson

Hairy’s Pet Supply
155 Northampton St.
Scott Murray

Hero Watch Repair
4 Wilton Road
Avrey LaValley

New England Remodeling General Contractor
67 Division St.
Thomas M. Bacis

Pioneer Laptop Repair
19 Dartmouth St.
Derek Pevey

R & H Roofing, LLC
59 South St.
Charles Robertson

HADLEY

Aegis Chiropratic
241 Russell St.
Lisa Sanderson

HOLYOKE

Al’s Snack Shop
147 High St.
Natasha M. Correa

Fudge Puppy
56 Suffolk St.
Danielle Pikul

M & H Construction
635 Homestead Ave.
Mark Haradon

Seeds of Life
205 Bemis Ave.
Theresa Grisanti

Subway Restaurant
1506 Northampton St.
Rajendra Patel

Western Mass Ob/Gyn
15 Hospital Dr.
Hank J. Porter

NORTHAMPTON

7-Eleven
60 King St.
Kimberly Tasneem

AD Firearms Education and Training
92 ½ Maple St.
Andrew R. Davis

Andy’s Spacework
142 Riverdale Dr.
Ann E. Dollard

Antiques Corner
5 Market St.
Louis M. Farrick

Delap Real Estate LLC
158 North King St.
Dennis Delap

Fight for the Future Center for Rights
217 Pine St.
Tiffiny Cheng

Hinge
48 Main St.
Brian Aussant

Living Out Studio
219 Main St.
Scot P. Padgett

Orzel Tree & Logging
150 Federal St.
Justin Vezina

Root
11 William St.
Tanya Hart

The Foundrey
24 Main St.
Sally Noble

PALMER

Elite DJ Services
1330 Ware St.
Robert A. Roy

Hollywood Cuts and Styles
1622 North Main St.
Naomi L. Mills

The Yellow House Inc.
1479 North Main St.
Bonny Rathbone

SPRINGFIELD

7C’s Press
208 Main St.
Edward S. Kamuda

A.J. Electric, LLC
22 Rapalus St.
Nidal Adeid

Affordable Heating
12 Fairhaven Dr.
Wilfredo Cruz

Ahava Flora Inc.
81 Beacon Terrace
Juan C. Ocasio

American Lung Association
393 Maple St.
American Lung

Aqui Me Quedo 2
15 Locust St.
Jose DeJesus

Arce’s Print
2460 Main St.
Adrian Arce

Atlas Convenience Store
411-417 St. James Ave.
Aziz Ahmed

Audri’s Catering
47 Manor Court
Audri Lavern

Auntie Sue’s Cookies
48 Groton St.
Susan M. Byrne

Bettey Rips & Things
339 Boston Road
Betty Seibles

Boylan Overhead Door
90 Tapley St.
Sean A. Boylan

Captain Pizza
30 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Nelson Rivera

Chase and Sons Chainsaw
20 Maple St.
Sheryl A. Chase

Contractors Kitchen
88 Industry Ave.
Joseph A. Frye

Dallas & Co.
161 Laconia St.
Richard Anthony

Daly Appraisal Services
40 Bangor St.
James M. Daly

Discount Smoke & Groceries
431 White St.
Nafees Niazi

E.V. Translation Services
6 Temple St.
Edgar Vaskanyan

Eddie Moore Carpentry
40 Ionia St.
Eddie L. Moore

Emely Market
168 Eastern Ave.
Rony Almonte

Executive K9
87 Hanson Dr.
Michael Vincent

Executive Real Estate Inc.
535 Main St.
Amy F. Rio

Floor Maintenance Service
1655 Main St.
Ramon L. Rosado-Cruz

Gary Kennett
95 Forest Park Ave.
Gary Kennett

Geeta Foods Inc.
191 Berkshire Ave.
Mohammad N. Galani

Gentle Smiles LLC
1410 Carew St.
Annie Watson

Hess
453 Cooley St.
R.J. Lawlor

Hispanic Communications
133 Maple St.
Norma Rodriguez

Hollywood Tans
354 Cooley St.
Steven J. Corvin

International Barber Shop
13 Locust St.
Francis A. Rivera

J.T. Sound Factory
485 Central St.
John Feliciano

Tripticstar
298 Allen Park Road
Michelle Barnaby

Unlimited Pawn
1199 Sumner Ave.
Andrew Phan

Western Mass Warriors
335 Newbury St.
Junior S. Williams

WEST SPRINGFIELD

911 Expedited Trucking
82 Grove St.
Ellen F. Gregory

Aardvark Property Holdings LLC
1457 Riverdale St.
Arthur R. Doty

Advance Welding
47 Allston Ave.
Melinda Mitton

Carolina Bedding of Western Mass
1702 Riverdale St.
Daniel A. Wells

Elegant Nail Salon
1333 Westfield St.
Lien T. Tran

Freihoffer’s Baking Company
358 Park St.
Andrew Shulman

Goodhind, Harten, & Associates
1252 Elm St.
Alan R. Goodhind

Integrated Equity Services
975 Elm St.
Thomas P. Sweeney

Irizarry & Irizarry Consultant Services
183 Greystone Ave.
Jose H. Irizarry

J Squared
136 Nelson St.
James J. McMahon III

Michael Gousy Inc.
180 Westfield St.
Michael J. Gousy

Point Blank Paintball Inc.
1457 Riverdale St.
Arthur R. Doty

The Official Cuts Barber Shop
715 Main St.
Luis A. Marrero

Western Mass Services
208 Labelle St.
Leonard Cowles