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Opinion

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Opinion
Public Radio, TV Strengthen Communities

National Public Radio is only a small part of federal funding for public broadcasting. This year it will receive about $3 million in direct programming support through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It’s true that stations may use some or all of their federal money to pay for NPR programs, but what’s really at stake here is our ability to serve our local communities.
The real issue is that your local public broadcasting stations will be defunded.
At a time when WFCR/WNNZ is planning a major expansion into downtown Springfield — something the business community has embraced as another step toward downtown redevelopment (part of the UMass-Springfield Partnership reported in this publication) — and when WGBY has just successfully added Connecting Point, a new local program, to its lineup of many successful programs and community efforts over the years, this would be the worst possible time to eliminate funding that is vital to your local stations.
For many years, WFCR/WNNZ and WGBY have broadcast the national programs Marketplace and The Nightly Business Report, respectively, hardly a “haven for left-wing radical ideologues spewing out anti-business rhetoric,” as BusinessWest stated in its recent editorial. In fact, WGBY’s Connecting Point has regular segments dedicated to local economic development in the Knowledge Corridor, and a good deal of WFCR/WNNZ’s local reporting is about the area’s business community.
Public radio and television stations are important sources of information in our communities. This is all the more significant given the contraction in journalism. According to the 2010 Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism, 72% of Americans feel that “most news sources are biased in their coverage.” But they don’t feel that way about public broadcasting — among the most trusted news sources anywhere. In fact, according to an annual Roper poll, PBS has been named as the most trusted institution in America for six consecutive years.
Other surveys by GfK MRI (a leading producer of media and consumer research in the U.S.) found that most NPR listeners consistently identify themselves as “middle of the road” or “conservative.” Millions of conservatives choose NPR, even with powerful conservative alternatives on the radio.
And right here in Western Mass., it is clear that businesses and individuals care about public broadcasting. Underwriting dollars and listener support are by far the largest parts of our annual operating budgets. But if federal funding were eliminated, we would have to make up the remaining 10% to 15% locally or reduce our local services by that amount.
Commercial broadcasting in America receives billions of dollars each year in public subsidies in the form of free use of the public airwaves, which belong to the American people. The federal government gives them licenses to make profits that dwarf what it spends on public broadcasting. It also appropriates millions of tax dollars to branches of the government and to states, which are spent on commercial advertising.
From Springfield and Longmeadow to Amherst and Greenfield, we rely on government to fund public schools and public libraries, and the need remains to preserve a spot on our airwaves for media that matters. WFCR/WNNZ and WGBY add value to the quality of life in our communities. And we do this as a free service for everyone every day.
We live in one of the greatest places in our country, and it benefits from having citizens who are informed, inspired, and educated with high-quality, intelligent, and meaningful public media. It plays a vital role in supporting the foundation of our democracy and civil discourse in communities as diverse and different as Holyoke and Huntington. Indeed, our content is a springboard for critical thinking, inspires entrepreneurial endeavors, and even attracts new residents and businesses to invest their lives and livelihood in our region.
WGBY and WFCR/WNNZ strengthen communities and provide positive economic and cultural impact that we need — especially now.

Martin Miller is CEO and general manager of WFCR 88.5FM and WNNZ 91.7FM; Russell Peotter is general manager of WGBY 57.

Editorial

By
Opinion
Mentors Program Is a Big Step Forward

It’s way too early to even make an attempt at quantifying or qualifying the potential impact from a new program known as Valley Venture Mentors (VVM), but only a few months into the proceedings, this seems to be one of the best ideas — and most encouraging signs for progress in the broad realm of economic development — that we’ve seen in some time.
As the name suggests, VVM is about mentoring, specifically of young entrepreneurs who have ventures that — as the program’s CEO, Paul Silva, so eloquently put it — are “not quite ready for prime time.” It is the goal of the VVM to make them ready, or at least more ready. And if it succeeds, organizers say, it will help more companies over that initial hump and also keep more startups from leaving this region for Worcester, Boston, or other communities where more support systems exist.
But let’s back up a minute. The VVM was created to fill a critical need in this region, what Silva and others describe as a bridge between the classroom and the so-called real world. It’s an important bridge, a support structure that is paramount to building a stronger base of young companies that can potentially mature into major employers.
Over the past several years, UMass Amherst and several area colleges, including Springfield Technical Community College, Bay Path, Western New England, Elms, and others, have made great strides in not only teaching entrepreneurship, but fostering it as well. Indeed, these programs have not simply encouraged students to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career option — a thought that needs to be reinforced — and presented the basics (Entrepreneurship 101, if you will), they have also helped trigger some startup operations.
But then … well, there’s nothing between these programs and that aforementioned real world, which can be cruel and is always ultra-challenging. Without a support system in place to help them confront this world, young entrepreneurs often fail to advance their concepts, or, if they have the means to do so, they take their ideas to Boston or some other region where there is a support system.
Neither scenario is appealing for Western Mass., but they have become the norm, not the exception.
To reverse these trends — something that certainly won’t happen overnight — Silva and others have put the VVM in place. Meetings between mentors and selected ‘teams’ began in February and will continue on the fourth Wednesday of each month. After first getting a broad overview from each team, smaller groups of mentors have begun to drill down and address specific issues ranging from financing to protection of intellectual property; from building a business model to making an effective elevator pitch.
It would be wonderful to think that the formation of VVM is going to bring quick and profound change to the business landscape in Western Mass. Those who created this initiative know better. They understand that nothing will happen quickly and change will be incremental. Companies employing hundreds of people will not suddenly sprout up in Hadley, Hampden, and Holyoke because of monthly mentoring sessions in a law firm’s conference room in downtown Springfield.
But if things go as organizers project, that bridge now in place between the classroom and the real world will enable more young entrepreneurs to successfully make that journey from the former to the latter. And with those crossings will come jobs, more vibrancy, and, perhaps most important, a mindset that ideas can be developed in this region.
That’s why this concept is so promising.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of March 2011.

AGAWAM

Six Flags New England
1623 Main St.
$35,000 — Pour concrete sono-tubes and frame building

AMHERST

First Baptist Church
434 North Pleasant St.
$3,500 — Partial sprinkler system for shelter

Slobody Development Corporation
101 University Dr.
$207,000 — Build out for UMass Athletics football recruiting office

Summerlin Trust
9 East Pleasant St.
$2,200 — Construct three walls with doors in existing space

CHICOPEE

Ashok Patel
1508 Memorial Dr.
$6,500 — Replace windows

D & D Chicopee Realty, LLC
576 Chicopee St.
$5,000 — Remodel first floor

Life Point Church
603 New Ludlow Road
$30,000 — Fix roof

EAST LONGMEADOW

Medisize US Inc.
200 N. Main St.
$6,000 – Remodel break room

Shaffi Real Estate LLC
50 Industrial Dr.
$41,000 — Foundation only

GREENFIELD

Four Rivers Educational Foundation
248 Colrain Road
$13,918 — Insulate and air seal attic

Grace Consoli
98 Conway St.
$3,159 — Roof replacement

HADLEY

CBR Realty Corporation
195 Russell St.
$5,500 — Office build-out on the second floor

Kevin Michelson
8 Pine Hill Road
$14,250 — 16 x 16 waiting room for patients

HOLYOKE

South Street Plaza Associates, LLC
209-239 South St.
$9,300 — Facade renovations

SOUTHWICK

Edgewood
161 Sheep Pasture Road
$4,000 — Renovations for exterior

SPRINGFIELD

3640 Main Street, LLC
3640 Main St.
$167,000 — Office build-out

Baystate Medical Center
2 Medical Center Dr.
$40,000 — Renovation of existing space

Huang Corporation
135-137 Boston Road
$2,000 — Renovation

Klondike/Colebrook
354 Birnie Ave.
$4,500 — Renovation of suites 1 and 2

Veden LLC
370 Albany St.
$145,000 — Basic build-out and repairs

WESTFIELD

945 Southampton Road, LLC
945 Southampton Road
$40,000 — Framing out new walls in showroom

Devcon Shops, LLC
457 East Main St.
$120,000 — Remodel for new fitness center

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Kohl’s
935G Riverdale St.
$950,000 — Renovate 73,000 square feet of existing space

Appaloosa
411 Main St.
$2,000 — Re-occupancy of existing retail space

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of March 2011.

AGAWAM

Insurance Center of N.E.
1070 Suffield St.
David Florian

Knock Out Fitness
297 Springfield St.
Karen Ollari

Sarat Ford Lincoln
245 Springfield St.
John Sarat Jr.

W.C. Pet Care
604 South West St.
Corrine Messenger

AMHERST

Cherewatti Farm
572 North East St.
Ilona Cherewatti

M & M Links
28 Amity St.
Ronnie Abdullah

Studio 116
460 West St.
Daniel R. Cooper

Studio E Haircare
9 East Pleasant St.
Elizabeth Hunt

Swallow Farms Capital Management
9 Swallow Farms Road
William F. Lindsey

Thompson Business Solutions
232 North East St.
Sarah Thompson

CHICOPEE

Monro Muffler & Brake Inc.
451 Memorial Dr.
John N. Van Heel

Roman’s Automotive
524 Chicopee St.
Joseph Kruzel

EAST LONGMEADOW

Fit to Ride
80 Denslow Road
James Pelletier

GiVin Beauty
35 Harkness Ave.
Julie Palazzi

Golden Eon Productions
14 Alandale Dr.
Dyanne Puglia

Subway
24 Shaker Road
John Moylan

GREENFIELD

HGA International
72 Montagne City Road
Andrey Agapov

Tractor Supply Company
72 Newton St.
Scott Sloan

Valle Studio
14 Long Ave.
Kristen P. Valle

HADLEY

Dance the Divine Wedding
128 Bay Road
Tracy Vernon

Gardenscapes
43 East St.
Debra Windoloski

Kellogg Playschool
214 Moody Bridge
Barbara Kellogg

Long Radio
30 Russell St.
Keith Imriglio

New Age Marketing
115 West St.
D. T. Tonchette

Phillips 66
110 Russell St.
Gary Kaneb

HOLYOKE

High St. Liquors
648 High St.
Rajendra B. Pandit

Metras Income Tax
224 Lyman St.
Lena Gauthier

Pat’s Fine Foods
1693 Northampton St.
Sagheer Nawaz

Rack Room Shoes
50 Holyoke St.
Peter R. Barr

Today’s Nails
50 Holyoke St.
Charles P. Tran

LUDLOW

Bella Couture Salon & Day Spa
154 East St.
Michelle Ruark

Marta Law Offices
30 Chestnut St.
Paulo G. Marta

Voyik & Voyik LLC
409 West St.
Jennifer Voyik

NORTHAMPTON

Whole Family Chiropractic
144 Franklin St.
Jill E. Smith

PALMER

Gallagher Trackside Motors
1316 South Main St.
Peter Gallagher

Matrix
1363 Main St.
Manuel F. Esteves

Tony V. Entertainment
65 Springfield St.
Anthony Valley

SOUTHWICK

Allstar Mechanical
57 Granville Road
Scott Grunwald

PJC Property Service
1 Consolini Dr.
Peter Consolini

SPRINGFIELD

A Bica Bar & Grill
278 Main St.
Q & M Christys Inc.

ACC Business
361 Bridge St.
Karen Dionio

All Star Lounge
382 Dwight St.
Victor Bruno

Americacarparts.com
56 West Alvord St.
Wichai Sinpunpakd

Anderson Services LLC
1104 Bay St.
Mark D. Anderson

Antim LLC
32 Hancock St.
Lynn Bledsoe

Aqui Me Quedo Restaurant
15 Locust St.
Luis A. Mejia

Arce’s Tax Service
2460 Main St.
Awilda Hernandez

Ayala Excavating and Trucking
92 Clayton St.
Manuel Ayala

Bia Fitness
560 Nassau Dr.
Krystal M. Say

Celebrating Home
141 Wollaston St.
Yesenia Rodriguez

Chikiyadas Creations
23 Beech St.
Luis A. Torres

DJ Purcyse
30 Amanda St.
Jason L. Culp

Delgado’s Towing
100 Verge St.
Leonel Delgado

Flo Barber Shop
278 Oakland St.
Jason Arias

WESTFIELD

Angelo’s Market
3 Lewis St.
Angel Morales

Back Drop Junction
3 Logan Ave.
David Burgess

Great White Cleaning Company
10 Day Ave.
Scott Texeira

M & W Property Maintenance and Odd Job Service
404 Granville Road
Leslie White

Mount Tekoa Group LLC
254 Falley Dr.
Patricia Richardson

Royal Icings
68 Gary Dr.
Susan Forest

WEST SPRINGFIELD

American Laser Skincare
111 Elm St.
Steven R. Brown

Elm Street Flowers
82 Elm St.
Gail Kelly

Inter-Technologies Inc.
451 Dewey St.
Yury Psehnichny

Kelly Ross Photography
1346 Elm St.
Kelly A. Ross

Lynch Flooring
115 Frederick St.
Peter L. Lynch

R&S Oil
20 Roanoke Ave.
Laura Benoit

Richard’s Deli Restaurant Inc.
875 Memorial Ave.
Brian Cleland

Santiago’s Recycling
203 Circuit Ave.
Daniel Santiago

Scheer Enterprise LLC
14 Colony Road
Joseph Scheer

Super Washing Well Laundry
1126 Union St.
David S. Cortis

Taco Bell / Pizza Hut
298 Memorial Ave.
Taco Bell of America Inc.

Tomasko Electric
848 Elm St.
Richard Tomasko

BANKRUPTCIES

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

1880 House
LaBelle, Michelle R.
a/k/a Carr, Michelle R.
3704 South Athol Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/11

A & O Transport Services
Sluder, Ricky K.
Sluder, Kimberly A.
163 Main St., 2nd Fl.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/11

Aitighli, Rachid
126 Quabog St.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

AJ Norman Painting Contractors
Normoyle, James P.
11 Maiden Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Anderson, Laurel M.
56 Glenvale St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Baillargeon, Luke R.
72 Walnut St., Fl. 1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Bartlett, Amy Ann
58 New Hampshire Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Beach, Michelle Lee
a/k/a Heaton-Beach, Michelle
a/k/a Heaton-Beach, Michelle
29 Pilgrim Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Belba, Patricia A.
196 Center St.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Berkshire Stone Works
Doyle, Albert
Doyle, Jannine
81 Daytona St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Duong, Dennis Thanh
a/k/a Duong, Lam Thanh
668 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Boone, Jennifer L.
a/k/a Duda, Jennifer L.
6 McBride Road
Unit B
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Breault, Angela P.
142 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Bullens, Thomas J.
Bullens, Linda S.
31 Pauline Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Calkins, Nicholas C.
40 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Champagne, Luce M.
63 Watson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Cote, Douglas A.
Cote, Marya C.
370 Ridge Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/11

Coughlin, Hilary W.
107 Wenonah Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Crespo, Jose L.
Otero, Sonia N.
193 Santa Barbara St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Crochetiere, Diane Marie
55 Beaumont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Davies, Frank
310 Stafford St., Apt. 1303
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Dibrindisi, Dolores T.
60 Avis Circle
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Dicenzo, Michael J.
Dicenzo, Christine A.
P.O. Box 138
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

DNA Printworks
McCarthy, Daniel S.
478 Kings Highway
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Duquette, Ronald G.
Duquette, Debra M.
368 Holyoke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Dwyer, Carroll Henry
54 Bridge St., Apt. 54
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Dziadek, Bernard J.
437 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Edery, Armand
10 Keefe Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Ela, Richard B.
Ela, Cheryl A.
a/k/a Heinonen, Cheryl A.
40 Yankee Drummer Dr.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

Ezyk, Shane M.
12 Oakdale Place
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Farooqui, Amir A.
11 Eastwood Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

Fiorentino, Angelo M.
340 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Fontaine, Doreen F.
945 Jenks Road
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Fortes, Gregory E.
102 Memory Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Foss, Judith A.
98 Spadina Parkway
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Getto, Robert A.
34 Whitman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Girard, Andrew P.
76 Lakeview St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Godin-Conz, Jaclyn Marie
a/k/a Kraus, Jaclyn Marie
35 Ward Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Guyer, Jeffrey A.
Guyer, Amy J.
a/k/a Evangelisto, Amy J.
53 Yorkshire Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Hasperg, Nicole M.
119 Daniels Terrace
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Hirsch, Jeffrey A.
106 Inverness Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/05/11

Holby, Brenda
365 Main St., #7
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Holloway, Myron C.
858 Silver Lake St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/11

Hussain, Irum
11 Eastwood Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

Ilg, Priscilla M.
120 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Jaime, Janet
39 Hillside Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

James, Jade R.
18 Wandering Meadows
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Jenney, Debra L.
26 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Kibodya, Mohamed A.
54 Homestead Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

King, Sharon K.
P.O.Box 1145
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Knowlton, Richard J.
Knowlton, Ann M.
889 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Laramee-Santaniello, Patricia L.
76 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Lareau, David R.
138 St. James St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Latina, Dorothy Rose
3 Heritage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Leary, Frances J.
36 Crestwood St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Lehmann, Crystal M.
70 South John St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

Lemieux, Richard Alan
Lemieux, Carolyn Margaret
17 Fuller St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Lescarbeau, Joy P.
193 North St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/12/11

Link, Herbert
22 Lessey St. Apt 104
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Lord, Julie A.
30 Conway St.
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Maldonado, Sylvia
395 Tokeneke Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Maloney, James E.
Maloney, Angel M.
57 Richmond Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Manzi Fiorentino, Marie A.
72 Kathleen St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Marhoub, Chaibia
126 Quabog St.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Mastriani, Vincent
Mastriani, Donna
1050 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Matosky, Jessica M.
115 Sunridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Monday, Debra C.
a/k/a DeRose, Debra C.
P.O. Box 418
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Nicolazzo, Anthony Pasquale
751 Scott Road
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Nieves, Rhonda
70 Martel Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/11

Normandin, Jason M.
Normandin, Sandra E.
430 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Ortiz, Marcelino
82 Bridge St., Apt 6A
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Pearson, Maria C.
60 Ionia St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Precious Memories Childcare
LaFountain, Melissa L.
a/k/a Cucchi, Melissa L.
440 Fredette St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/11

Profit Valley Printing
Ostapovicz, Michael Aaron
391 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Richardson, Beulah Brooks
699 North Westfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Rivera, Roberto
500 Hancock St., Apt.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Robert, Michael A.
49 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Roberts, Francis M.
1460 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Rodriguez, Alicia
280 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Rodriguez, Julio A.
47 Grosvenor St
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Routhier, Kevin J.
Routhier, Susan C.
a/k/a Morris, Susan C.
a/k/a Paradysz, Susan C.
16 Exeter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Sadler, Christopher G.
P.O. Box 48
Russell, MA 01071
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Santiago, Carmen C.
15 Van Horn Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Schwarz, James T.
178 Woodlawn Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Smith, Dorothy J.
100 Edgemont St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Somes, Wendy K.
3 A Wildwood Lane
Goshen, MA 01032
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Sparrow, Michael
22 4th Ave.
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Sperry, Norman A.
430 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Stephenson, Sandra E.
P.O. Box 1426
Holyoke, MA 01041
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Stevens, Robert C.
81 Dartmouth St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Swan, Kevin S.
Swan, Laurie E.
1747 West Royalston Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Thompson, Barbara J.
437 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Tuttle, Mary A.
13A Highland Village
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Unique Designs
Malone, Christopher T.
Malone, Carol E.
a/k/a March-Malone, Carol E.
101 Upton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Wasuk, David M.
1 Jennifer St.
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Wasuk, Sue A.
1 Jennifer St.
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Watkins, Robert D.
376 King Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/11

Weber, Scott F.
80 Damon Road #7204
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Wells, Michael Robert
Wells, Lisa Ann
80 Wheeler Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Williams, Kimberly A.
22 Pinney St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Williams, William R.
11 Flynt Ave.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Wright, Keith M.
3 A Wildwood Lane
Goshen, MA 01032
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Wyman, William E.
218 Spring St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Zina, John F.
21 Wilson Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

1880 House
LaBelle, Michelle R.
a/k/a Carr, Michelle R.
3704 South Athol Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/11

A & O Transport Services
Sluder, Ricky K.
Sluder, Kimberly A.
163 Main St., 2nd Fl.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/11

Aitighli, Rachid
126 Quabog St.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

AJ Norman Painting Contractors
Normoyle, James P.
11 Maiden Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Anderson, Laurel M.
56 Glenvale St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Baillargeon, Luke R.
72 Walnut St., Fl. 1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Bartlett, Amy Ann
58 New Hampshire Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Beach, Michelle Lee
a/k/a Heaton-Beach, Michelle
a/k/a Heaton-Beach, Michelle
29 Pilgrim Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Belba, Patricia A.
196 Center St.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Berkshire Stone Works
Doyle, Albert
Doyle, Jannine
81 Daytona St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Duong, Dennis Thanh
a/k/a Duong, Lam Thanh
668 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Boone, Jennifer L.
a/k/a Duda, Jennifer L.
6 McBride Road
Unit B
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Breault, Angela P.
142 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Bullens, Thomas J.
Bullens, Linda S.
31 Pauline Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Calkins, Nicholas C.
40 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Champagne, Luce M.
63 Watson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Cote, Douglas A.
Cote, Marya C.
370 Ridge Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/11

Coughlin, Hilary W.
107 Wenonah Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Crespo, Jose L.
Otero, Sonia N.
193 Santa Barbara St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Crochetiere, Diane Marie
55 Beaumont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Davies, Frank
310 Stafford St., Apt. 1303
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Dibrindisi, Dolores T.
60 Avis Circle
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Dicenzo, Michael J.
Dicenzo, Christine A.
P.O. Box 138
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

DNA Printworks
McCarthy, Daniel S.
478 Kings Highway
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Duquette, Ronald G.
Duquette, Debra M.
368 Holyoke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Dwyer, Carroll Henry
54 Bridge St., Apt. 54
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Dziadek, Bernard J.
437 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Edery, Armand
10 Keefe Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Ela, Richard B.
Ela, Cheryl A.
a/k/a Heinonen, Cheryl A.
40 Yankee Drummer Dr.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

Ezyk, Shane M.
12 Oakdale Place
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Farooqui, Amir A.
11 Eastwood Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

Fiorentino, Angelo M.
340 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Fontaine, Doreen F.
945 Jenks Road
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Fortes, Gregory E.
102 Memory Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Foss, Judith A.
98 Spadina Parkway
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Getto, Robert A.
34 Whitman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Girard, Andrew P.
76 Lakeview St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Godin-Conz, Jaclyn Marie
a/k/a Kraus, Jaclyn Marie
35 Ward Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Guyer, Jeffrey A.
Guyer, Amy J.
a/k/a Evangelisto, Amy J.
53 Yorkshire Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Hasperg, Nicole M.
119 Daniels Terrace
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Hirsch, Jeffrey A.
106 Inverness Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/05/11

Holby, Brenda
365 Main St., #7
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Holloway, Myron C.
858 Silver Lake St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/28/11

Hussain, Irum
11 Eastwood Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

Ilg, Priscilla M.
120 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Jaime, Janet
39 Hillside Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

James, Jade R.
18 Wandering Meadows
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Jenney, Debra L.
26 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Kibodya, Mohamed A.
54 Homestead Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

King, Sharon K.
P.O.Box 1145
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Knowlton, Richard J.
Knowlton, Ann M.
889 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Laramee-Santaniello, Patricia L.
76 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Lareau, David R.
138 St. James St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Latina, Dorothy Rose
3 Heritage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Leary, Frances J.
36 Crestwood St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Lehmann, Crystal M.
70 South John St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/11

Lemieux, Richard Alan
Lemieux, Carolyn Margaret
17 Fuller St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Lescarbeau, Joy P.
193 North St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/12/11

Link, Herbert
22 Lessey St. Apt 104
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Lord, Julie A.
30 Conway St.
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Maldonado, Sylvia
395 Tokeneke Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Maloney, James E.
Maloney, Angel M.
57 Richmond Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Manzi Fiorentino, Marie A.
72 Kathleen St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Marhoub, Chaibia
126 Quabog St.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Mastriani, Vincent
Mastriani, Donna
1050 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Matosky, Jessica M.
115 Sunridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Monday, Debra C.
a/k/a DeRose, Debra C.
P.O. Box 418
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Nicolazzo, Anthony Pasquale
751 Scott Road
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Nieves, Rhonda
70 Martel Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/11

Normandin, Jason M.
Normandin, Sandra E.
430 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Ortiz, Marcelino
82 Bridge St., Apt 6A
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Pearson, Maria C.
60 Ionia St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Precious Memories Childcare
LaFountain, Melissa L.
a/k/a Cucchi, Melissa L.
440 Fredette St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/11

Profit Valley Printing
Ostapovicz, Michael Aaron
391 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Richardson, Beulah Brooks
699 North Westfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

Rivera, Roberto
500 Hancock St., Apt.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Robert, Michael A.
49 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/08/11

Roberts, Francis M.
1460 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Rodriguez, Alicia
280 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Rodriguez, Julio A.
47 Grosvenor St
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Routhier, Kevin J.
Routhier, Susan C.
a/k/a Morris, Susan C.
a/k/a Paradysz, Susan C.
16 Exeter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Sadler, Christopher G.
P.O. Box 48
Russell, MA 01071
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Santiago, Carmen C.
15 Van Horn Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Schwarz, James T.
178 Woodlawn Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Smith, Dorothy J.
100 Edgemont St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Somes, Wendy K.
3 A Wildwood Lane
Goshen, MA 01032
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Sparrow, Michael
22 4th Ave.
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Sperry, Norman A.
430 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Stephenson, Sandra E.
P.O. Box 1426
Holyoke, MA 01041
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Stevens, Robert C.
81 Dartmouth St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/10/11

Swan, Kevin S.
Swan, Laurie E.
1747 West Royalston Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Thompson, Barbara J.
437 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/11

Tuttle, Mary A.
13A Highland Village
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Unique Designs
Malone, Christopher T.
Malone, Carol E.
a/k/a March-Malone, Carol E.
101 Upton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Wasuk, David M.
1 Jennifer St.
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Wasuk, Sue A.
1 Jennifer St.
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/09/11

Watkins, Robert D.
376 King Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/11

Weber, Scott F.
80 Damon Road #7204
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/11

Wells, Michael Robert
Wells, Lisa Ann
80 Wheeler Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/02/11

Williams, Kimberly A.
22 Pinney St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Williams, William R.
11 Flynt Ave.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/04/11

Wright, Keith M.
3 A Wildwood Lane
Goshen, MA 01032
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/01/11

Wyman, William E.
218 Spring St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/07/11

Zina, John F.
21 Wilson Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/03/11

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.

BECKET

Ozzie’s Glass Inc., 71 Pill Dr., Becket, MA 01223. Michael Ozner, same. Manufacture and sale of blown glass

BRIMFIELD

Jesse Via Concrete Services Inc., 8 Governor Fairbanks Road, Brimfield, MA 01010. Jesse Via, same. Concrete services.

CHICOPEE

J.Kosiorek Inc., 769 Burnett Road, Chicopee, MA 01020. James Kosiorek, same. Restaurant.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Negotiation Works Inc., 27 High Meadow Circle, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Joshua Weiss, Ph.D., same. Negotiation training and consultation services.

Perron’s Automotive Inc., 14 Center Square, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Brian Perron, 186 Chestnut St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Automotive repair services.

Power Conservation Systems Inc., 12-14 Somers Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Christopher Duby, 56 Lawnwood St., Agawam, MA 01001. Energy conservation consultation services.

FEEDING HILLS

KLC Auto Sales Inc., 825 Springfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Francis Connor, 40 Woodbridge Dr., Suffield, CT 06078. Automobile sales.

LEE

Modern Motels Inc., 185 Stockbridge Road, Lee, MA 01238. Richard Proctor, same. Motel.

Otto’s Breakfast and Deli Inc., 85 Main St., Lee, MA 01238. Paul Face, same. Restaurant.

NORTH ADAMS

Monument Square Consulting Group Inc., 229 Corinth St., North Adams, MA 01247. John Barrett, same. Consultation services for public matters and private business.

NORTHAMPTON

Ink & Toner Solutions Inc., 12 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. Serges Lariviere, 47 West Pelham Road, Shutesbury, MA 02072. Own, operate, sell, service, and repair printers and copies.

PALMER

Kahm Transportation Corp., 20 Wilbraham St., Palmer, MA 01069. Eric Miller, 1900 Linden Blvd., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11207. Trucking services.

PITTSFIELD

Intradermal Designs Inc., 409 North St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Wesley Lamore, same. Tatoo and body piercing shop.

SOUTHWICK

Our Community Food Pantry Inc., 220 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077. Julie Cecchini, 366 North Loomis St., Southwick, MA 01077. Operate a food pantry for poor and needy residents of Southwick, Granville, and Tolland, MA.

SPRINGFIELD

Hoops 2 Build Hope Inc., 5 Barrington Dr., Springfield, MA 01129. Colin Tabb, same. Non-profit ministry aimed to bring excitement, love and hope through the development of basketball facilities and programs.

JPML Holdings Inc., 390 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108. Phung Minh Le, 390 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108. Phung Minh Le, 14 Crystal Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Wholesale and retail of cellular phones and electronics.

Laprise Inc., 1365 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Ronald Laprise, 6 Canterbury Lane, Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Chiropractic office.

NGC Industries Inc., 20 Maple St., Springfield, MA, 01103. Roland Berthiaume, 585 Cooley St., Springfield, MA 01128. Manufacture, promote, and sell spinal-traction devices.

The Law Offices of Michael D. Facchini, P.C., 824 Liberty St., Sprngfield, MA 01104. Michael Facchini, same. General law practice.

The Law Offices of Keith Minoff, P.C., 1350 Main St., Suite 1300, Springfield, MA, 01103. Keith Minoff, same. General law practice.

Mend Maddie’s Heart Inc., 151 Forest Park Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Cynthia Jean Sattal, same. Spread awareness of congenital heart defects.

STURBRIDGE

Ink Jet Tech Inc., 51 South Shore Dr., Sturbridge, MA 01566. Fred Neuenschwander, same.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Kazak Trucking Inc., 75 Irving St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Sergey Pirogov, same. Trucking services.

The Law Offices of Mary Paier Powers, P.C., 689 Westfield St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Mary Paier Powers, 25 Appaloosa Lane, West Springfield, MA 01089. General law practice.

Breifcase

By
Briefcase Departments

Applicants Sought for Leadership Institute
EASTHAMPTON — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts has created the Leadership Institute for Political Impact to develop future leaders in civic affairs. The institute is now accepting applications for the 2011-12 training cycle. The organization encourages women to think seriously about becoming more involved as civic leaders in their communities and running for office, according to Carla Oleska, CEO of the Women’s Fund. Focusing on areas such as community organizing, the legislative process and policy-making, fund-raising and campaigning, and running for office, the institute gives women the tools and confidence they need to become political leaders. At each training session, a woman working at the elected level presents her experiences. The initiative “perfectly links” the foundation’s emphasis on social change with leadership development, added Oleska in a statement. “We believe that a critical way to address the problems facing our communities is to engage the talents and the input of women at all levels and in all sectors of decision making.” The year-long commitment will begin for new members in September; however, applications are being accepted through June. Applications are available on the foundation’s Web site, www.womensfund.net.

Architect Chosen for Union Station Project
SPRINGFIELD — Boston-based HDR Architecture has been chosen to oversee designs for long-dormant Union Station, which is slated to be renovated into a multi-modal transportation center. The announcement was made at a press conference in Springfield City Hall on April 4. Donald Warner, senior vice president of the company, said construction work on the $70 million project is slated to begin in the summer of 2012 and be completed in 2015. Plans call for renovations to the 200,000-square-foot main terminal building and a refurbished passenger train platform. The existing freight building will be razed and replaced with a 23-bay bus terminal and parking garage.

Bankruptcy Filings Fall 6%
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of Americans filing for bankruptcy dropped 6% in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the previous year, two industry groups announced recently. Monday. The number of filings in the first three months of 2011 dropped to 340,012, down from 363,215 filings recorded in the first quarter of 2010, according to data from the American Bankruptcy Institute and the National Bankruptcy Research Center. “Though bankruptcy filings are still elevated, consumers continue to take steps to reduce debt levels and shore up their finances,”said ABI Executive Director Samuel Gerdano said in a statement. The bottom line is that the sharp increase in bankruptcy levels in recent years might be starting to level off, and perhaps even decrease. Personal bankruptcy filings had been climbing steadily since 2007, when the U.S. fell into a deep recession that left millions of Americans unemployed. In 2005 Congress amended the Bankruptcy Code, making it more difficult for Americans to file and sparking a rush to file by October 2005, when the amendments kicked in. In 2005, bankruptcy filings totaled more than 2 million.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

Tighe & Bond Plans ‘Centennial Project’
WESTFIELD — As part of its 100th-anniversary celebration in 2011, Tighe & Bond is lining up a series of events to give back to its communities, recognize its clients, appreciate its employees, and publish a book on the firm’s history. As part of the firm’s “Centennial Project,” two worthy projects for nonprofit agencies that are in need of Tighe & Bond’s services will each receive $50,000 worth of pro bono engineering services, according to Fran Hoey, senior vice president, who is overseeing the project. To identify potential projects for these services, Tighe & Bond has developed a request for proposals that nonprofit organizations can complete if they are interested. Tighe & Bond will be considering projects in the primary regions that it serves — Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Preferably these will be projects that are in the planning stages and have a targeted construction date. “Tighe & Bond is looking forward to giving back to the community at large in a significant and meaningful way,” said Hoey in a statement. “We have a passionate and generous staff that believes strongly in helping others in need, so this is only natural.” For more information on the nonprofit project, visit centennialproject.tighebond.com. Submittals are due by April 29.

Hampden Savings Bank Foundation Donates to Link to Libraries
The Hampden Savings Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hampden Bank, announced recently that it has awarded $1,500 to Link to Libraries Inc. Celebrating its third anniversary this May, Link to Libraries has thus far donated more than 26,000 books to area schools and nonprofits in Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Link to Libraries’ newest initiatives include the Link Senior Project with Loomis Communities and the Welcome to Kindergarten Project, which will supply Link to Libraries literacy packets (a book and bookbags) to 1,200 kindergarten children entering Springfield Public Schools this August on screening and testing day. “We are deeply grateful to Hampden Savings Foundation for their support to our mission.” said Susan Jaye-Kaplan, president and co-founder of Link to Libraries. “We are delighted this much needed assistance to our Read Aloud Programs is being made possible through the generosity of Hampden Bank.” Link to Libraries is a not-for-profit organization based in Western Mass. Its mission is to collect and distribute to public elementary schools and nonprofit organizations throughout Western Mass. and Northern Conn. new books to enhance reading, literacy, and language skills for children of all cultures.

Mahoney Place Construction Underway
HOLYOKE — A construction kick-off was held April 7 by Cunningham Equities, LLC for the development of Class A medical offices for the Sisters of Providence Prenatal Clinic and Tapestry Health at the former home of Charles Koegels & Sons Co. The manufacturing facility at 306 Race St. will be renovated to a first-class office building, with the first tenant, Sisters of Providence Prenatal Clinic, expected to take possession in June.

United Bank Foundation Pledges $83,500
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The United Bank Foundation recently awarded $83,500 to organizations and initiatives designed to benefit children, families, students, and schools in the Greater Springfield and Worcester regions, according to Dena Hall, foundation president. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County Inc. received a grant for $10,000 to support Chicopee youth in the community-based Mentoring Expansion Project. Also, a $25,000 grant was made to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield for its Raise the Roof Capital Campaign building expansion plans. Families will benefit from the foundation’s $4,500 award to the Community Music School of Springfield for a family concert Series. A grant of $10,000 to the Holyoke Community College Foundation will support the Community Technology Center located at the new Holyoke Transportation Center. In Ludlow, the Boys & Girls Club was awarded $5,000 to be used for scholarships and to provide access to subsidized child care for before- and after-school programs and summer camp for qualified families. Rebuilding Together Springfield was awarded a grant of $10,000 to support home repairs, modifications, and rehabilitations for low-income Springfield homeowners. The Western Mass. Council Inc., Boy Scouts of America received $5,000 for its Scoutreach Initiative for involving low-income urban youth in scouting. The YWCA of Western Massachusetts was awarded $5,000 to support renovations and the construction of additional rooms at its Clough Street facility. Also, Westfield Public Schools received a $2,000 grant. A $1,000 grant from the foundation to the Springfield Vietnamese American Citizens Assoc. will help the Family Empowerment Program provide educational support to Vietnamese students and families in Greater Springfield. With its $1,000 grant from the Foundation, Links to Libraries will provide new books to area preschools and elementary schools to promote language and reading skills. In Worcester, the foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to University of Massachusetts Medical School to support the UMass Labs Program for Worcester high school students. The foundation has awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants since it was established in 2005 as a permanent source of funding to benefit communities in United Bank’s market area.

Stitches & Ink Makes a Home at Fran Johnson’s Golf & Tennis
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Starting with embroidered hats and shirts, Tim and Rae Crary have built an apparel business into a growing offshoot of TC Sales. Calling on customers as a print broker, Tim Crary responded to customer requests to provide decorated apparel, and as the business grew, a decision was made to find a retail location. An open house was recently celebrated for Stitches & Ink at Fran Johnson’s Golf & Tennis on Riverdale Street. The new showroom includes two Brother 9100 embroidery machines, a Brother 782 digital garment printer, and a Logo Jet printer. Cindy Johnson, owner of Fran Johnson’s, noted that the opportunity for customers to get decorated apparel adds to the services already available at her store. “Customers can now get just about anything printed with their name, picture, or business,” said Johnson. “This now makes shopping for golf tournaments or special events even easier, and the no-minimum [policy] is significant.”

People on the Move

By
Ellen W. Freyman
Departments People on the Move

Beverly L. Herbert, Director of Development and External Communications for the Assoc. for Community Living in Springfield, was recently featured in Kaleidoscope magazine, discussing the fund-raising profession. Herbert, who has been active in fund-raising efforts for more than 35 years, has been with the association for more than 10 years.
•••••

JoMaria Velez

JoMaria Velez

JoMaria Velez has been appointed a Mortgage Consultant at PeoplesBank, based in Holyoke. She will be responsible for residential mortgage business in Springfield, Wilbraham, Monson, Palmer, and surrounding areas.
•••••
Robert F. Borawski has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Florence Savings Bank. Borawski is President of Borawski Insurance Co. He was elected a Corporator of Florence Savings in 1981 and a Director in 1992.
•••••
Roberta Hillenberg-Gang has been appointed Link Senior Project Coordinator for the Link to Libraries collaboration to offer read-aloud programs to area public elementary schools with Loomis Communities residents.
•••••
Monson Savings Bank announced the following:
John (Jack) W. Hibbard

John (Jack) W. Hibbard

• John (Jack) W. Hibbard has been promoted to Controller. He joined the Financial Department in 2004; and












Michele Ouhl

Michele Ouhl

• Michele Ouhl has been promoted to Branch Manager of the Monson branch. She joined the bank in 2010 as the Assistant Branch Manager of the Monson branch.

•••••
Attorney Robert Aronson has joined Royal LLP in Northampton. He has more than 35 years of litigation experience, and is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts in Massachusetts and New York.
•••••
Pierce R. Keefe has joined Aaron Smith of East Longmeadow as a Tax Manager. Keefe has more than 15 years of professional tax and accounting experience with manufacturing, construction, and closely held businesses.
•••••

Ellen W. Freyman

Ellen W. Freyman

Attorney Ellen W. Freyman has been named the 2011 winner of the Springfield Leadership Institute’s Community Service Award. The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc. and Western New England College School of Business made the announcement. The award is given annually to a member of Greater Springfield who exemplifies outstanding leadership and service to the community. Freyman joined Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. in 1988. She is active in several professional and civic organizations and most recently worked with the Springfield Planning Department to revise the Springfield Zoning Ordinance.
•••••
Denise C. Remillard has been named Manager of Human Resources at the Insurance Center of New England in Agawam. She brings more than 14 years of human-resources experience to her new position.
•••••
Brenda D. Cuoco has joined Real Living Realty Professionals in Wilbraham as a Sales Associate.
•••••
Dr. Pranay Parikh

Dr. Pranay Parikh

Dr. Pranay Parikh has joined the Medical Staff at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital in Ware. He earned his medical degree from Alpert Medical School – Brown University in Rhode Island. He completed his residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and his fellowship at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. He is a faculty member of the Tufts University School of Medicine, specializing in plastic surgery. He is also a member of Baystate Plastic Surgery.
•••••
Pam Hixon, a Hall of Fame field-hockey coach and player, has been named AstroTurf’s ambassador to the sport. Hixon earned eight varsity letters in field hockey, softball, and basketball at Springfield College, and played for the U.S. National Team for 10 years. She coached field hockey, lacrosse, and basketball at Springfield College, as well as field hockey and lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

 • April 13: ACCGS After 5, 5 to 7 p.m., Balise Lexus, Riverdale Road, West Springfield. Cost: members $10, non-members $20. 

• April 20: ERC Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8 to 9 a.m., the Gardens of Wilbraham, Community Room, 2 Lodge Lane, Wilbraham.

• April 20: ACCGS Ambassadors Meeting, 4 to 5 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.

• April 21: ACCGS Executive Committee Meeting, noon to 1 p.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield

www.springfieldyps.com
 
• April 21: Ice Breakers, 4 to 5 p.m., 350 Grill, Worthington Street, Springfield. YPS’ first networking workshop will show how to make a positive first impression at a networking event and how to take the first steps toward building relationships that produce referrals.
Cost: free to members of YPS, NAYP, and HYPE. $20 for non-members, which includes admission to both the session and the Third Thursday event that follows at Adolfo’s from 5 to 8 p.m. Free parking. Space is limited. To sign up, email Jack Toner at [email protected].
 
Chicopee Chamber of Commerce

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101
 
• April 20: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., Kittredge Center/PeoplesBank Conference Center, Holyoke Community College. Pre-registration cost: members $18, non-members $25.

• April 27: Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Marcotte Ford, Main Street, Holyoke. Pre-registration cost: members $5, non-members $15. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org
 
Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463
 
• April 16 and 17: Franklin County Home Show and Green Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franklin County Fairgrounds, Greenfield. Sponsors: Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Greenfield Business Assoc., Franklin Community Cooperative. Cost: $2 donation at the door.

• April 22: Monthly Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Greenfield Community College. Program TBD. Sponsored by Greenfield Savings Bank. Cost: members $12, non-members $15.
 
Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900
 
• April 29: 19th Annual Great Northampton Chamber Auction, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Pages Loft Restaurant and Events, Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Atwood Drive, Northampton. Sponsored by Coca-Cola Refreshments. Entertaining evening with food, a silent auction of more than 250 items, and a live auction. Cost: $45 in advance, $50 at the door.

Northampton Area Young Professional Society

www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
 
• April 14: Northampton Area Young Professionals Party with a Purpose, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Fitzwilly’s Restaurant & Bar, Main Street, Northampton. Cost: members free, non-members $5.
 
South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce

www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• April 25: Reception at MHC President’s House, 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by Mount Holyoke College. Special guests and speakers. Opportunity to talk with Lynn Pasquerella, president. Free.
 
Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
 
• April 14: WestNet, a business networking event, 5 to 7 p.m., the Ranch Golf Club, Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Cost: members $10, non-members $15. Table tops available for $25. Cash bar, free hors d’oeuvres. Walk-ins welcomed.

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
Phyllis R. Perry, executrix of the estate of Richard R. Perry v. John G. Savage Realty Corp. and James Fitzgibbons
Allegation: While performing work on property owned by John G. Savage Realty and contracted by James Fitzgibbons, the plaintiff fell through the roof deck to the cement floor below and died: $10,774.27
Filed: 1/19/11

HAMPDEN
SUPERIOR COURT
Bernadino Smith v. American International College
Allegation: Loss of college tuition and false inducement to sign Sallie Mae loan: $24,000+
Filed: 1/7/11

Jimbob Aviation Inc. v. Taylor Companies Inc.
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $145,000
Filed: 1/11/11

Seaboard Drilling v. Pappas Enterprises Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of labor and materials for sub-surface testing and environmental engineering: $45,836.88
Filed: 1/6/11

Woronoco Hydro, LLC v. Ocean State Jobbers Inc.
Allegation: Outstanding balance for electrical services: $95,000
Filed: 12/15/10

HAMPSHIRE
SUPERIOR COURT
Kaestle Boos Associates Inc. v. the Town of Granby, by and through the Granby Safety Committee
Allegation: Breach of contract by failing to pay for services rendered: $115,000
Filed: 2/23/11

Michelle Papineau v. Mount Holyoke College
Allegation: Employment discrimination: $25,000+
Filed: 2/7/11

NORTHAMPTON
DISTRICT COURT
Jane Doe v. Cooley Dickinson Hospital
Allegation: Breach of contract and HIPAA violation: $100,000
Filed: 2/11/11

Swan Associates Inc. v. Boulanger’s Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to pay: $17,876
Filed: 2/15/11

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Mactec Engineering & Consulting Inc. v. Sub-Surface Informational Surveys Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract by failing to confirm the location of all utilities and failing to reimburse the plaintiff remediation costs: $12,536.65
Filed: 1/4/11

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. Yanez Construction
Allegation: Non-payment of workers’ compensation policy: $32,326.34
Filed: 2/1/11

Linda Wortman v. Comcast of MA
Allegation: Negligent performance of work in plaintiff’s home, causing injury: $20,236.83
Filed: 1/31/11

NCMIC Finance Corp. v. Langlois Family Chiropractic Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment on judgment: $19,133.78
Filed: 2/1/11

Shirley Peaks v. Costco Wholesale Corp.
Allegation: Negligence in property maintenance, causing slip and fall: $5,183
Filed: 2/14/11

WESTFIELD
DISTRICT COURT
Pioneer Valley Winnelson Co. v. Eric’s Plumbing and Heating
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $16,028.58
Filed: 2/4/11

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

BUILDING PERMITS

The following building permits were issued during the month of March 2011.

AGAWAM

Fitness First
60 North Westfield St.
$45,000 — Repairs to damaged roof system

Western Mass Electric Company
198 Springfield St.
$200,000 — Construction of retaining walls

AMHERST

IAT Partnership LLC
49 Boltwood Walk
$7,500 — Foundation only for mixed-use commercial and residential building

Slobody Development Corporation
101 University Dr.
$9,300 — Alter existing lab space

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Housing Authority
94 Riverview Terrace
$56,000 — Restore unit from fire damage

News Corporation Dow Jones
200 Burnett Road
$4,500,000 — Construct addition and new interior layout

EAST LONGMEADOW

Town of East Longmeadow
124 Pease Road
$376,000 — Pump station upgrades

GREENFIELD

Homesavers Council of Greenfield
2 Pray Dr.
$11,000 — Construct reception area

Saga Communications of New England
81 Woodward Road
$9,315 — Re-shingle

HADLEY

Edward and Joseph Hardy
165 Russell St.
$80,450 — Interior wall build out

Chamisa Corporation
31 Campus Plaza Road
$15,948 — Interior renovations

HOLYOKE

MISZ Realty LLC
104 Whiting Farms Road
$426,000 — Construct new bakery

SOUTHWICK

Town of Southwick
661 College Highway
$3,600 — Site work improvements

SPRINGFIELD

Caring Health
1049-1063 Main St.
$9,500,000 — Renovate three buildings for use as a walk-in health care center

Cutting Edge Pizza, LLC
1762 Boston Road
$110,000 — Remodel of existing retail space

Springfield Center I Associates, LLC
1365 Liberty St.
$86,000 — Construct new space in existing Hollywood Video

Stop & Shop
1600 Boston Road
$5,000 — Install temporary office partitions

WESTFIELD

Centro Heritage SPE 6, LLC
231 East Main St.
$80,000 — Interior renovations to commercial retail space

Lower Mill Inc.
77 Mill St.
$564,000 — Office build out of existing first floor

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Rasim Ibrahimov
205 Allen Park Road
$6,000 — Re-occupy existing retail store

Town of West Springfield
200 Park St.
$107,000 — Replace 18 windows in public library

Editorial

By
Opinion
Time to Pull the Plug on NPR

While it may seem outwardly risky to support one’s argument with statements made by Ron Schiller — this is, after all, the man who described Tea Party members as “not just Islamaphobic, but xenophobic … seriously racist people” — we’re going to do it anyway.
While it was Schiller, National Public Radio’s now former senior vice president for development (he was abruptly fired for those comments and others exposed in a hidden video sting) who said NPR “would be better off in the long run without federal funding,” he’s certainly not the only one saying such things. And we agree wholeheartedly.
The rhetoric is picking up as the public broadcasting industry wages an all out, almost desperate, campaign to save its federal allowance, which amounts to about $430 million a year for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), of which NPR receives about $5 million. Schiller and others say that NPR can easily survive without the federal dollars. More to the point, it should.
Why? There are a host of reasons, not the least of which is paring the federal deficit, and there are myriad ways to allocate precious funds more responsibly than handing them over to those running public broadcasting facilities and earning six-figure salaries to boot. But those aren’t the best reasons.
Simply put, when government subsidizes the media, any media, it also exercises a measure of control, or influence, over that media, which is something Americans don’t want and don’t need. Over the years, NPR, and local public broadcasting in general, has become a haven for left-wing radical ideologues spewing out anti-business rhetoric.
Without public funding, NPR could operate, theoretically at least, without politics always being the elephant in the room. Looking at things another way, it wouldn’t have to spend time, money, and political capital every year to save its budget.
From our view, NPR, and public broadcasting as a whole, would be better off — much better off — without its public subsidies, but no one in that industry (save for Ron Shiller) will say that out loud.
Call it tough love if you will, but Congress has to cut public broadcasting loose and let it try to survive without its security blanket, our tax dollars. And it will survive, and do just fine, without federal money — and the scrutiny and cynicism that comes along with it.
And as for public television, people should be upset about facilities like Boston’s WGBH’s headquarters, an $85 million multi-media palace dubbed the “Taj Majal,” and the dozen people inside making more than $200,000 a year. Should our tax dollars be subsidizing these edifices of government-funded excesses? We think not.
To go back to where we started, Schiller is right on the money — not about Tea Party members, but about public broadcasting. It would be better off not being on the dole, and so would the people who watch and listen to it.
Will government cut the cord? We hope so.

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

AMHERST

Armstrong Educational Associates Inc., 7 Pomeroy Lane, Suite 5, Amherst, MA 01002. Stephen Armstrong, 113 Huntington Road, Hadley, MA 01036. Student tutorial services.

F40PH Preservation Society Inc., 130 Blackberry Lane, Amherst, MA 01002. Rowan Christopher De La Barre, same. Preservation, education.

CHESTER

Functional Art Inc., 7 Prospect St., Chester, MA 01011. Michele Klemaszewski, 33 Maple Ave., Chester, MA 01011. Manufacture and sales of window treatments.

CHICOPEE

733 Chicopee Street Inc., 733 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Timothy J Driscoll, 22 Scott Hollow Road, Hollow, MA 01040. Restaurant, bar, real estate.

Desmarais Plumbing & Heating Inc., 318 Springfield St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Robert E. Desmarais, same. Plumbing and heating.

Dynamic Network Solutions Inc., 31 Loveland Terrace, Chicopee, MA 01020. Michael Thomas Malley, same. Computer consultants.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Emporium Newsstand Inc., 444 North Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Rakeshkumar Patel, 2 Stadler St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Newsstand and smoke shop.

Chicopee Salty Dog Inc., 12 Chatham Circle, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Michael Buehrie, same. Bar.

FLORENCE

Franklin-Hampshire Counties VFW District 13, Department of Massachusetts Home Association Inc., 18 Meadows St., Florence, MA 01062. Joseph P. Grabon, 246 Chestnut St., Turner Falls, MA 01376. Fraternal, patriotic, historical, and educational comradeship for members.

Earth First Flooring Inc., 131 Main St., Florence, MA 01062. John K. Asselin, 56 West Pelham Road, Shutesbury, MA 01072. Flooring sales and installation.

GRANBY

Diamond Cut Straight Edge Inc., 547 Amherst Road, Granby, MA 01033. Tyler E. Scheinost, same. Retail Internet sales.

GREENFIELD

Five Fifty-Five LTD., 174 Conway St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Quillon Xylor Swane, same. Create and sell artwork.

HADLEY

Hadley Auto Express Inc., 210 Russell St. #212, Hadley, MA 01035. Amir Mikhchi, 18 Foxglove Lane, Amherst, MA 01002. Motor vehicle repair.

Flying Object Center for Independent Publishing, Art, & The Book, Inc., 42 West Str., Hadley, MA 01035. Emily Pettit, 104 South St., Apt. 2R, Northampton, MA 01060. Artistic and literary development and education to promote literacy, professional development in the arts, and to establish programs, workshops, forums, trainings, and public performances relevant to independent publishing, printing, art, and design.

HAMPDEN

Hampden Bagel Nook Inc., 34 Somers Road, Hampden, MA 01036. Samir Ahmad, 14 Rideway Road, Hampden, MA 01036. Sandwich and breakfast shop.

Graduate Pest Solutions Inc., 79 Martin Farms Road, Hampden, MA 01036. Brenda D. Olesuk, same. Pest control and extermination.

HOLYOKE

Alois Importing Co. Inc., 108 Cabot St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Aloyce C. Assenga, 71 Craig Dr., West Springfield, MA 01089. Importing of goods.

AW&T Auto Wholesale & Transport Inc., 395 Maple St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Oussama M. Awkal, 46 Ogden St., Springfield, MA 01151. Used auto sales and transport.

LENOX

Dunbar & Associates Inc., 188 East Dugway Road, Lenox, MA 01240. Stuart M. Dunbar, same. Create, sell, and promote computer development, system development, business analysis and software implementation.

LONGMEADOW

D&D Industries Corp., 95 Dunsany Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Brian John Danahey, same. Wholesale — adhesive products.

LUDLOW

East Street Deli Inc., 223 East St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Eric S. Boyer, 56 Cote Road, Monson, MA 01057. Deli restaurant with takeout and catering.

Dacruz Inc., 167 Center St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Rosa M. Dacruz, same. Real estate management.

NORTHAMPTON

Center for Biography and Social Art, Inc., 41 Hubbard Ave., Northampton, MA 01060. Signe Schaefer, 15 Hillside Ave., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Provide courses of instruction, public workshops, lectures and discussion groups on building community, human development, life phases, gender and to support research on life themes through conferences, publications, and Web sites.

NORTH ADAMS

Donna Thomas Realty Inc., 71 Quincy St., North Adams, MA 01247. Donna M. Thomas, same. Real estate broker.

PITTSFIELD

Alchemy Initiative Inc., 50 Melville St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jessica Conzo, same. Charitable, educational and literary.

Daddyo’s Inc., 511 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Lydia R. Kuzia, same. Restaurant.

Dolce Dental, P.C., 100 Wendall Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Nieca J. Faggiloi DMD, same. The practice of dentistry.

Enlightning Strikes Inc., 34 Kathy Way, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Donna M. Yerkes, same. Own and operate a liquor store.

Gemi Management Company Inc., 130 Pittsfield-Lenox Road, P.O. Box 3029, Pittsfield, MA 01201. George L. Haddad, 150 Blythwodo Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Automobile dealerships.

SOUTH HADLEY

Allen Media Inc., 21 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075. David Allen, same. Marketing, consulting, and advertising.

SPRINGFIELD

AK Wireless Inc., 455 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Ho J Han, 9 Kimbell CT. #811, Burlington, MA 01803. Retail wireless store.

All Waste Trash Management Inc., 181 Chestnut St., Springfield, MA 01103. Richard Barnes, 1187 Shaker Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Trash removal and asset management.

DB Wireless Inc., 1356 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Ho J Han, 9 Kimbell CT #811, Burlington, MA 01803. Retail wireless store.

D.F.S. International LTD., 29 Cadwell Dr., Springfield, MA 01104. Francesco A. Daniele, 47 Jamestown Dr., Springfield, MA 01108. Import and distribution of food products.

Green Street Logistics Inc., 216 Mount Holly Dr., Springfield, MA 01118. Gary Samuel Linsky, same. Provide green building technologies and training programs designed for persons involved in the criminal justice system.

SOUTH HADLEY

Dairy Market Inc., 54 Bridge St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Fardooq G. Shaikh, 34 Bridge St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Convenience and grocery food store.

SOUTHWICK

Good Scents Garden Corp., 17 Matthews Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Claire M. Kenna, same. Landscape design and maintenance.

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Dental Management Inc., 1795 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Kevin Coughlin, same. Professional management services for persons or entities performing dental services.

BH Wireless Inc., 1380 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Ho J Han, 9 Kimbell CT. #811, Burlington, MA 01803. Retail wireless store.

STURBRIDGE

Eclecticorp Inc., 14 Cedar Lake Dr., Sturbridge, MA 01566. William Jacob, same. Photography.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Andre’s West Side Sports Shop Inc., 645 Westfield St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Chad Andre, 40 Forest Ridge Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Sporting goods store.

Association of Slavic Immigrants of Massachusetts Inc., 801 Main St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Fedor Songorov, 1085 North St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Appointment transportation, interpreting service: Russian, Turkish, English, citizenship classes, basic computer classes, driver license test, family counseling services.

Colton Express Inc., 19 Colton Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Semen Shapovalov, same. Trucking.

Drisdelle Inc., 115 Morton St., West Springfield, MA 01089. John R. Drisdelle, same. General carpentry and home improvement.

Picture This

By
Hometown Hero Nate Lare
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

Hometown Hero Nate Lare

Hometown Hero Sirdeaner Walker

Stephen Bryant, president of Columbia Gas

The American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter held its ninth annual Hometown Heroes breakfast at the MassMutual Center earlier this month, honoring nine local residents who acted selflessly to change (and sometimes save) the lives of others. At top, Hometown Hero Nate Lare, who alerted residents when a fire gutted their apartment complex, shares a moment with his mother, Roberta Garabedian, after receiving his award. Middle, Hometown Hero Sirdeaner Walker, an advocate for safe schools who has become an effective anti-bullying voice in the wake of her son’s suicide, is presented with her award by Earlon Seeley of Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley, P.C., another event sponsor. At bottom, Stephen Bryant, president of Columbia Gas, the event’s presenting sponsor, addresses the audience at the MassMutual Center.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

Multiple Factors Drive Construction Prices Higher
WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the fifth consecutive month, prices for construction materials increased, rising 1.1% in February, according to the March 16 Producer Price Index (PPI) report by the Department of Labor. Year-over-year, construction materials prices are up 6.1%. A number of categories experienced significant increases in materials prices in February. Steel-mill product prices jumped 4.7% for the month and are up 13.3% year over year. Iron- and steel-producer prices were up 2.8% in February and are up 16.8% over the last 12 months. In addition, prepared asphalt, tar roofing, and siding increased in cost by 0.6% for the month and are up 2% over the past 12 months. Categories in which prices declined include softwood lumber, down 2.7% in February, but up 0.2% compared to the same time last year. Crude-energy prices increased 0.9% for the month and are unchanged from the same time last year. Overall, the nation’s wholesale prices jumped 1.6% in February, the largest increase since June 2009. Year over year, wholesale finished-goods prices are up 5.8%. Anirban Basu, chief economist at Associated Builders and Contractors, noted that the data reflects a weakening U.S. dollar, ongoing expansion in the global economy, and unrest in the Middle East. He added that the current data does not reflect the recent events in Japan.

Gender Gap
Widening in
Retirement Confidence
SPRINGFIELD — Retirement plan investors had a “good year overall”; however, it appears that economic uncertainty and market volatility have contributed to lower levels of investing confidence and generally more conservative investing behavior among participants. MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division conducted an online survey between Nov. 15, 2010 and Jan. 15, 2011 of 1,517 participants in retirement plans on the MassMutual platform. MassMutual’s data indicates that men believe the stock market will improve vs. decline in the next 12 months at a ratio twice that of women. Overall, only 37.3% of participants are confident in making their own investment decisions. However, women were significantly less confident in making their own investment decisions (25.9%) compared to men (44.1%). At the same time last year, the percentages were 32.8% for women and 47.8% for men. The survey indicates that anxiety about having adequate savings to retire is increasing. Among participants who made a change in their approach to investing in the last 12 months, 61.7% became more conservative compared to 38.3% who became more aggressive.
‘A Closer Look at the Berkshires’ Contest
PITTSFIELD — The Quality Printing Co. is once again sponsoring “A Closer Look at the Berkshires” photography and art contest. The 2012 full-color calendar will feature the top 12 winners of the contest. Application forms are available at most Berkshire County libraries, as well as area Chambers of Commerce, the Prime Outlets in Lee, the Berkshire Mall, the Berkshire Visitors Center in Adams, and numerous photo and framing-supply stores throughout the region. Full-color photos, transparencies, slides, paintings, and digital images with a horizontal format are being accepted. Cash prizes totaling $1,050 will be awarded, and all entrants will receive a 2012 calendar. The deadline for submissions is April 29. For more information, contact June Roy-Martin, manager of communications, at (413) 442-4166, ext. 119, or [email protected].

People On the Move

By
Benjamin A. Bristol
Departments People on the Move

PeoplesBank announced the following:

Tammy Bordeaux

Tammy Bordeaux

• Tammy Bordeaux has been appointed Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager. She joins PeoplesBank with more than 13 years of banking experience and is working at the North Main Street office in East Longmeadow. She is President of East of the River 5 Town Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors for the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield. She is also President of the East Longmeadow Rotary Memorial Scholarship Foundation and a member of the East Longmeadow Rotary Club; and





Amybeth Perry

Amybeth Perry

• Amybeth Perry has been appointed Branch Officer. She joins PeoplesBank with more than 10 years of banking experience and is working at the 610 Memorial Dr. office in Chicopee. Perry is the former President of the Westfield Rotary Club and currently serves on the Board of Directors. She is also serving on the membership committee of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and is on the Board of Directors for the Galaxy Community Council and Co-Chair of the Membership Committee.
•••••
Webber & Grinnell Insurance Agency of Northampton announced the following:
• Kevin Hart has joined the firm as an Account Executive and will develop new commercial-line accounts; and
• Adam Lafield has joined the firm as a Commercial Lines Assistant.
•••••
Nicholas P. Helides has joined United Bank, based in West Springfield, and will manage and be the lead lender of United’s new Loan Production Office at the Cummings Center in Beverly. In the newly created position, Helides will introduce the United Bank brand and the bank’s established commercial real-estate lending services to an expanded marketplace.
•••••
Michael Gregory Jr. has been promoted to Vice President, Financial Advisor, at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s wealth-management office in Springfield.
•••••
Anthony M. Sylvia, P.E., has joined Tighe & Bond Inc. of Westfield as a Project Manager for its water-resources and civil-engineering practice. He is slated to work primarily in the Pocasset office, reinforcing the firm’s continued growth and expansion in Eastern Mass., Cape Cod, and Rhode Island.
•••••
Joe Hoelzer has been named President and CEO at Süddekor LLC in Agawam. His areas of expertise include strategic planning and execution, profit planning and P&L management, organizational restructuring and leadership training and development, as well as continuous process improvements, multi-plan management, and Six Sigma/Lean implementation. He also specializes in executive management, change management, and turnaround management.
•••••
Community Enterprises Inc. of Northampton announced the following:

Benjamin A. Bristol

Benjamin A. Bristol

• Benjamin A. Bristol has been named to the Board of Directors. Bristol is an Associate Attorney at Royal and Klimczuk in Northampton;

Stephanie Burbine

Stephanie Burbine

• Stephanie Burbine has been named to the Board of Directors. Burbine is Vice President and Cash Management Officer at Florence Savings Bank;

Brittney Kelleher

Brittney Kelleher

• Brittney Kelleher has been named to the Board of Directors. Kelleher is a Commercial Loan Officer at Westfield Bank;

Gainer O’Brien

Gainer O’Brien

• Gainer O’Brien has been named to the Board of Directors. O’Brien is Co-creative Director of Darby O’Brien Advertising and Public Relations in South Hadley; and

Joseph D. Wendover

Joseph D. Wendover

• Joseph D. Wendover has been named to the Board of Directors. Wendover is Outreach Manager for the Walgreen’s Connecticut distribution center.
•••••

MaryLynn Murray

MaryLynn Murray

MaryLynn Murray has joined Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. of Chicopee as the head of New Business Development.
•••••
The Hampshire Council of Governments has named Lindsay Bennett-Jacobs the Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Hampshire and Franklin Counties. RSVP of Hampshire and Franklin Counties currently coordinates 700 volunteers, age 55 and older, providing support to area nonprofit organizations.
•••••
Sanderson MacLeod of Palmer announced the following:
• Mark N. Borsari has been named President. He joined the firm in 2007 as Vice President of Strategy & Development. During his four years as vice president, he maintained the company’s market leadership in manufacturing mascara brushes for the cosmetic industry while expanding the medical, industrial, general cleaning, and firearm markets. In addition, he led an enterprise-wide LEAN manufacturing initiative, achieved record-setting sales levels, and was the inventor and product-development leader of a patent-pending product, the Z-Tip, a new way of putting a protective tip on a twisted wire brush; and
• Jim Pascale has retired from the firm after serving a 46-year career in manufacturing, including 20 years as President of Sanderson MacLeod. During Pascale’s tenure, the firm experienced significant growth and developed into an international leader in the production of twisted wire brushes.
•••••
Janet Uthman has been named Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Comcast’s Western New England Region.
•••••
Dr. Robert V. Chircop has been appointed to the Cardiology Staff at Noble Hospital in Westfield. He completed his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He completed both his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.
•••••
Kevin O’Donnell has been appointed Assistant Vice President at Berkshire Bank, based in Pittsfield.
•••••
Michele Houghtaling has been promoted to Director of the Hampshire Council of Governments Tobacco Control Program. Her focus is in working with tenants and landlords to ensure smoke-free living environments.
•••••
Steven Lowell has been named President of Monson Savings Bank.
•••••
Nicholas Strom-Olsen has been named Assistant Vice President at Berkshire Bank, based in Pittsfield. He serves the Vermont market and works out of the trust offices in Manchester Center and Rutland, Vt.
•••••
Bulkley, Richardson & Gelinas of Springfield announced the following:
• Kelly A. Koch has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in the Domestic Relations Department;
• George W. Adams IV has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in the Business-Finance Department;
• Christopher J. Visser has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in the Litigation-Alternative Dispute Resolution Department; and
• Abena A. Mainoo has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in the Litigation-ADR Department.

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

‘Web Advertising’ Workshop
March 30: Derek Allard of Gravity Switch will present a workshop titled “Web Advertising” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The morning program is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC). Allard will discuss organic search-engine strategies, paid options to help attract visitors to your Web site, defining relevant keywords to target, the importance of Web-site content, building inbound links to your Web site, and paid advertising with Google AdWords and Facebook. The cost is $40. For more information, call the MSBDC at (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Financial Forum
March 31: Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. and the Council of Churches of Greater Springfield will host the “Hope, Faith, and Healing Financial Forum” beginning at 6 p.m. at Cambridge’s office at 67 Hunt St., Agawam. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. The educational summit will bring together financial experts, public officials, and clergy to discuss the financial challenges facing the region and opportunities to empower area residents. State legislators, lenders, and other community leaders will also be in attendance. For more information or to register, contact Thomas Fox, Cambridge’s community outreach director, at (413) 241-2362 or [email protected]. For more details on Cambridge Credit, visit
www.cambridgecredit.org.

Healthy Back Class
April 2, 9, 16, and 30: The YMCA of Greater Westfield Inc. on Court Street will sponsor a Healthy Back Class on Saturdays during April from 10 to 11 a.m. in the board room. Instructor Paul Warner, owner of Body Wise Physical Therapy, will teach the basics of back care that can make the difference between a healthy back and an aching one. The cost is $35 for YMCA members, $55 for non-members. For more information or to register, contact Charlene Call, member retention/wellness director, at (413) 568-8631, ext. 305.

USO Dinner Dance
April 2: U.S. Senator Scott Brown will be the keynote speaker for a 1940s-themed dinner dance titled “As Time Goes By” as the Pioneer Valley United Service Organization (USO) hosts its first formal event to mark its 70 years of service to local families of the Armed Forces. The event is planned from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Delaney House in Holyoke. Brown will speak at 8:30 p.m. The event for the local USO chapter, which operates out of the Westover Air Force Reserve Base in Chicopee, will also honor Checkwriters Payroll, Clear Channel/KIX 97.9, Big Y World Class Markets, and local heroes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to the Pioneer Valley USO Volunteer of the Year. The evening will begin with a welcome reception, followed by the dinner and program with Brown and the awards presentation. The evening will end with dancing to 1940s swing, R & B, and music from the era of Motown performed by the O-Tones. For tickets or more information, call Al Tracy at the USO Office, (413) 557-3290, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.pioneervalleyuso.org.

Workshop on Web Sites
April 6: Derek Allard of Gravity Switch will present a workshop titled “Making the Most of Your Web Site” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Allard will discuss defining goals for a Web site, elements of a good home page, writing content to pull people in, measuring success and failure, and common Web site mistakes to avoid. The cost is $40. The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC) is sponsoring the workshop. For more information, contact the MSBDC at (413) 737-6712 or www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Science Hoaxes Lecture
April 6: Richard Sanderson, curator of physical science for the Springfield Science Museum, will present a lecture titled “Believe It or Not: Science in the Age of Misinformation, Hoaxes, Bad Science, and Bad Astronomy” at 10:10 a.m. and again at 11:15 a.m. in Scibelli Hall at Springfield Technical Community College, Armory Square, Springfield. Sanderson’s appearance is presented by the Ovations Series, and the public is welcome to attend.

Chief Scott Roast
April 7: Dr. Bill Cosby will be among the dozen or so ‘inquisitors’ during Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott’s Retirement Roast at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner begins at 6, with a cash bar. Tickets are $40 per person or $375 for a table of 10. The menu includes salad, chicken breast with sweet sausage apple stuffing, red bliss potatoes, vegetable, dessert, coffee, and tea. For tickets, call Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn at (413) 736-4538, or the Holyoke Police Department, chief’s office, at (413) 322-6901.

Chamber’s ‘Shining Stars’
April 8: The Castle of Knights on Memorial Drive in Chicopee will be the setting for the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Shining Stars” event, which includes recognition of the Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year. For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 594-2101.

‘Performance Appraisals’ Workshop
April 12: Attorney Susan Fentin of Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., of Springfield, will present a workshop titled “Performance Appraisals: Rewards and (Yes) the Risks” at the Human Service Forum Nonprofit Risk Management Conference at the Clarion Hotel in Northampton. The daylong event includes breakfast and a keynote address, followed by workshops in which Fentin and participants will analyze the top risks facing human-service and nonprofit organizations. Other workshop topics include “For EDs/CEOs Only: Let’s Talk About Risk,” “Financial Risk Management,” and “Facilities/Property Management.” For more information on the program, visit www.skoler-abbott.com.

Mobile Tech Workshop
April 13: Chris Amato of Knectar Design and Jeff Hobbs of Advanced Internet will lead a workshop on the various critical aspects of the shift to a mobile-technology landscape from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The workshop is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC). Amato and Hobbs will discuss how mobile and smart-phone technology has surpassed expectations to become the leading communications and application technology platform for users in many market sectors. The cost is $40. For more information, contact the MSBDC at (413) 737-6712 or www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Public Health Series
April 13: Dr. Leonard Morse will be the keynote speaker as the Desmond Tutu Public Health Lecture Series continues at American International College, 1000
State St., Springfield. The 10 a.m. talk in Griswold Theatre will focus on education to address patterns of behavior that promote and preserve one’s health. The event is free and open to the public. A reception for Morse will follow in the west wing of the Sprague Cultural Arts Center. For more information, call (413) 205-3231.

Royal LLP Open House
April 14: Royal LLP will conduct an open house for the public from 5 to 8 p.m. to celebrate its new offices at 270 Pleasant St., Northampton. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Side Street Café. Anyone planning to attend should RSVP by April 4 to [email protected] or call (413) 586-2288.

Marketing Basics Workshop
April 20: A workshop led by Dianne Doherty of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC) will focus on the basic disciplines of marketing, beginning with research — primary, secondary, qualitative, and quantitative. Topics will include advertising, public relations, and the importance of developing a marketing plan. Doherty’s presentation is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. at the TD Bank community room, 175 Main St., Northampton. For more information, contact the MSBDC at (413) 737-6712 or www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Not Just Business as Usual
April 26: Al Verrecchia, retired CEO and chairman of the board of Hasbro Inc., will be the keynote speaker for a program titled Not Just Business as Usual, presented by the Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation. The STCC Foundation will capture the energy and excitement of the college’s past, present, and future at the unique affair to will be staged at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. In addition, two past Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame inductees, Balise Motor Sales and Smith & Wesson, will be honored for their continued success and contributions to the local community. A cocktail and networking reception is planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by a dinner program from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $175 each or $1,500 for a table of 10. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit STCC. For more information, visit www.notjustbusinessasusual.net.

CPA Workshop
April 26: Timothy Murphy, partner at Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., of Springfield, will present a workshop titled “Continuing Legal Education” to certified public accountants from 3 to 5:40 p.m. at the Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College, Homestead Avenue, Holyoke. For more details, visit www.skoler-abbott.com.

Understanding Financial Reports
April 27: Robb Morton of Boisselle, Morton & Associates will lead a workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on how to read financial statements. Following the presentation at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield, a lunch is planned as well as a question session. The program is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC). The cost is $40. For more information, contact the MSBDC at (413) 737-6712 or www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Cash-flow Workshop
May 4: Robb Morton of Boisselle, Morton & Associates will present a workshop on the basics of cash flow, how to improve cash flow, the timing of cash inflows and outflows, how cash flow is different from profit, and how to determine your company’s cash flow. The cost is $40. The 9 to 11 a.m. program is planned at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield, and is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC). For more information, contact the MSBDC at (413) 737-6712 or www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Online Tools Seminar
May 11: From FourSquare to YouTube, Yelp, Groupon, Facebook, Google Places, Twitter, MagCloud, and Issuu, there is an array of low-cost, easy-to-use online tools that allow small-business owners to attract new customers and enhance relationships with existing ones. Larri Cochran of Fresh Table, LLC will present a talk from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield, on who is using which tools so you can identify where your customers are online and which tools fit your business. The seminar goal is to create an integrated marketing strategy that maximizes returns for manageable efforts. The cost is $40. The program is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC). For more information, contact the MSBDC at (413) 737-6712 or www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Springfield 375th Parade
May 14: The Spirit of Springfield is seeking community involvement for the city’s 375th birthday celebration, which will include a parade that represents all that Springfield has to offer, its roots, and its future. If you have a business or group that would like to get involved in the festivities, call (413) 733-3800 or e-mail [email protected].

EASTEC 2011
May 17-19: EASTEC, the East Coast’s largest annual manufacturing event, will once again be staged at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. For exhibition or registration information, call (866) 635-4692 or visit www.easteconline.com.

Using New Media
May 18: Gretchen Siegchrist of Media Shower Productions and Robert Malin of Malin Productions will lead a presentation from 9 to 11 a.m. that will teach participants how they can use the new media to grow their social-media reach and influence. After an overview of different types of online videos for businesses, they will look at various platforms for sharing videos online, including YouTube. The cost is $40 for the presentation at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network is sponsoring the event. For more information, contact the MSBDC at (413) 737-6712 or www.msbdc.org/wmass.

40 Under Forty Gala
June 23: BusinessWest will present its 40 Under Forty, Class of 2011, at a not-to-be-missed gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, beginning at 5 p.m. The 40 Under Forty program, initiated in 2007, has become an early-summer tradition in the region. For more information on the event or to order tickets ($60 per person, with tables of 10 available) call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10; or visit www.businesswest.com.

Summer Business Summit
June 27-28: The Resort and Conference Center of Hyannis will be the setting for the Summer Business Summit, hosted by the Mass. Chamber of Business and Industry of Boston. Nominations are being accepted for the Massachusetts Chamber, Business of the Year, and Employer of Choice awards. The two-day conference will feature educational speakers, presentations by lawmakers, VIP receptions, and more. For more information, visit www.masscbi.com.

Western Mass
Business Expo
Oct. 18: Businesses from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties will come together for the premier trade show in the region, the Western Mass Business Expo. Formerly known as the Market Show, the event, produced by BusinessWest and staged at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, has been revamped and improved to provide exposure and business opportunities for area companies. The cost for a 10-by-10 booth is $700 for members of all area chambers and $750 for non-members; corner booths are $750 for all chamber members and $800 for non-members; and a 10-by-20 booth is $1,200 for all chamber members and $1,250 for non-members. For more information, log onto www.businesswest.com or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
 
• April 5: ERC5 Marketing/Membership Committee, 8 to 9 a.m., Reminder Publications, East Longmeadow.
• April 5: Springfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, 12 noon to 1 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• April 6: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., the Delaney House, Holyoke. Cost: members $20, non-members $30.
• April 8: ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee, 8 to 9 a.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.
• April 13: ACCGS After 5, 5 to 7 p.m., Balise Lexus, Riverdale Road, West Springfield. Cost: members $10, non-members $20. 
• April 20: ERC Board of Directors’ Meeting, 8 to 9 a.m., the Gardens of Wilbraham, Community Room, 2 Lodge Lane, Wilbraham.
• April 20: ACCGS Ambassadors Meeting, 4 to 5 p.m., EDC Conference Room, Springfield.
• April 21: ACCGS Executive Committee Meeting, noon to 1 p.m., TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com
 
• April 21: Ice Breakers, 4 to 5 p.m., 350 Grill, Worthington Street, Springfield. YPS’ first networking workshop will show how to make a positive first impression at a networking event and how to take the first steps toward building relationships that produce referrals.
Cost: free to members of YPS, NAYP, and HYPE. $20 for non-members, which includes admission to both the session and the Third Thursday event that follows at Adolfo’s from 5 to 8 p.m. Free parking. Space is limited. To sign up, email Jack Toner at [email protected].
 
Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101
 
• April 8: Shining Stars Banquet, 6:30 to 10 p.m., Castle of Knights, Memorial Drive, Chicopee. Honoring the Business of the Year, Chicopee Electric Light; Citizen of the Year, Jeff Sattler/NUVO Bank & Trust Co.; and Chamber Volunteer of the Year, Marie Laflamme/Centennial Insurance Agency Inc. Cost: $60.
• April 20: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., Kittredge Center/PeoplesBank Conference Center, Holyoke Community College. Pre-registration cost: members $18, non-members $25.
• April 27: Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Marcotte Ford, Main Street, Holyoke. Pre-registration cost: members $5, non-members $15. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org
 

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463
 
• April 1: Communities That Care Coalition Meeting, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Great Falls Discovery Center. 
• April 1: Green River Festival Performer Line-up Release Party, Bart’s Café, Main Street, Greenfield. 
• April 16 and 17: Franklin County Home Show and Green Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franklin County Fairgrounds, Greenfield. Sponsors: Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Greenfield Business Assoc., Franklin Community Cooperative. Cost: $2 donation at the door.
• April 22: Monthly Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Greenfield Community College. Program TBD. Sponsored by Greenfield Savings Bank. Cost: members $12, non-members $15.
 
Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900
 
• April 6: April Arrive @5, 5 to 7 p.m., sponsored and hosted by Lia Toyota, King Street, Northampton. Cost: members $10, non-members $15.
• April 29: 19th Annual Great Northampton Chamber Auction, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Pages Loft Restaurant and Events, Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Atwood Drive, Northampton. Sponsored by Coca-Cola Refreshments. Entertaining evening with food, a silent auction of more than 250 items, and a live auction. Cost: $45 in advance, $50 at the door.

Northampton Area Young Professional Society
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
 
• April 14: Northampton Area Young Professionals Party with a Purpose, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Fitzwilly’s Restaurant & Bar, Main Street, Northampton. Cost: members free, non-members $5.
 
South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce
www.shchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• April 25: Reception at MHC President’s House, 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by Mount Holyoke College. Special guests and speakers. Opportunity to talk with Lynn Pasquerella, president. Free.
 
Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
 
• April 14: WestNet, a business networking event, 5 to 7 p.m., the Ranch Golf Club, Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Cost: members $10, non-members $15. Table tops available for $25. Cash bar, free hors d’oeuvres. Walk-ins welcomed.

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

Allegrezza, Jon Joseph
40 Wood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/11

Amuso, Nancy L.
1232 East St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Andrews, Debbie L.
a/k/a Turner, Debbie L.
87 Elliot St., Apt. 1-B
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/11

Arroyo, Roberto
844 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/09/11

Azar, Amira T.
379 North St., Apt. 4Y
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Barnett, John M.
P.O. Box 904
1172A Main St.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Barnwell, Patricia A.
100 Lock House Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Baro, Beatrice
126 Hastings St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Beaumier, Glenn A.
Beaumier, Holly A.
232 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/11

Bristol, Michelle
22 Shaw Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/11

C. Allen Marketing
Allen, Catherine C.
122 Dunn Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Carusotto, Joseph Ronald
Carusotto, Michele Anne
68 Winesap Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Chretien, Scott M.
49 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Cinelli, Jeffrey C.
Cinelli, Kathleen M.
52 North Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/11

Cooley, Alana J.
a/k/a Warran, Alana J.
75 Central Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/11

Cote, Paul E.
12 Cote Blvd.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/11

Coughlin, Raymond E.
Coughlin, Patricia A.
78 Monrovia St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/11

Denniston, James L.
Denniston, Cheryl L.
319 Brainerd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Dionisi, Paul H.
Dionisi, Elaine E.
133 Entrybrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/11

Doyle, Sean C.
Doyle, Judith A.
39 Clydesdale Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/11

Edmonds, Hugh W.
149 Carver St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Eickhoff, Robert G.
P.O. Box 501
Northampton, MA 01061
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/11

Estrada, Daisy Y.
34-A William St
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/11

Fleischner, Lewis Rudolph
89 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/11

Fontanez, Olga Iris
89 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Gagne, Dana L.
21 Herman St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/02/11

Gonthier, Andrew W.
30 Fabyan St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/11

Gordon, Terry L.
390 Hardwick Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Graham, Robert J.
137 High St., J-86
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Harris, Joseph M.
Harris, Karyl J.
747 Southeast St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Henle, John R.
805 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/11

Hodgdon, Bradley P.
Hodgdon, Cherie A.
80 Cardinal Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Hughes, Jeannine M.
295 Britton St., 2nd Fl.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/07/11

Jakuboski, Steven L.
Jakuboski, Cindy L.
116 Old Stage Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Jones, Jacqueline L.
65 Fairfield Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

KA Realty Trust
Artist, Kim
37 Greene St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/11

Knechtel, Kristen M.
471 East River Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/11

Kosmider, Stephen J.
P.O.Box 471
Thorndike, MA 01079
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/11

LaBier, Christine L.
a/k/a Taylor, Christine L.
39 Hillside Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/11

LaBranche, Daniel James
LaBranche, Shannon Mabel
118 Ashley St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Laureano, Ivan
a/k/a Ortiz, Ivan Laureano
19-21 Lucretia Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/07/11

Lebeau, Patricia Z.
114 Joy St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Lebedinskaya, Olesya Y.
59 Pochassic St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

LeMay, Timothy A.
19 Marjorie Lane
Rutland, MA 01543
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/09/11

Lemieux, Christopher M.
70 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/11

Lively, Christina
3 Meadow View Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Lopez, Miguel A.
1554 North St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Marcotte, Michael A.
1 Corey St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/11

Menzone, Lisa M.
23A Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/11

Merritt, Emerson S.
103 Barbara St.
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Mertsch, Roland N.
8 Cherry St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/11

Miller, Brian J.
Miller, Tracy L.
13 Wentworth Ave.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/03/11

Otero, Delicia D.
a/k/a Diaz, Delicia D.
P.O. Box 1903
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/11

Page, Bruce Emerson
340 Dale St., Unit B
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Pelletier, Kenneth G.
1255 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/14/11

Peterson, Harvey G.
Peterson, Sheryl Ann
28 Springmeadow Lane
Apartment 28
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Purinton, Gina M.
5 Carpenter Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Rivera, Jaime
109-111 Melha Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Rodriguez, Orlando
470 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Rodriguez, Pamela
470 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Saez, Jose A.
70 Walnut St., Apt. 10
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Sanchez-Diaz, Carmen L.
61 Wentworth St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Santos, Eugenio V.
21 School St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/15/11

Sargent, Scott R.
15 Shannon Dr.
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/09/11

Scoville, Lawrence
143 Southeast St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Siciliano, Michael T.
65 Fairfield Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Smith, Cheryl A.
586 George Hannum Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Streeter, Gail Marie
51 Linden Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/11

Tracy, Raymond L.
Duffy-Tracy, Barbara A.
1022 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/11

Triulzi, Mary
13 Middle St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Upton, Shawn Steven
59 Eastern Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Via, Lori B.
a/k/a Swisher, Lori B.
16 Arbor Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/07/11

Vogel, Terry P.
42 Curtin Road
Peru, MA 01235
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/11

Volk, Clarke R.
148 Bliss Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/11

Warren, Peter Carl
Warren, Kelly Jean
a/k/a Tremble, Kelly J.
129 Sierra Vista Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Washington, Paul J.
55 Empire St., Unit 43
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Wegrzyn, John M.
792 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/11

Wessinger, Mark
123 Heywood Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/04/11

Westerman, Karen A.
189 River Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Wilcox, Harold J.
187 Stebbins Road
Otis, MA 01253
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/15/11

Yildirim, Adnan
P.O. Box 486
Chicopee, MA 01021
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/11

Zhao, Xiaoqiang
51 Pondview Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/11

Doing Business As Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of March 2011.

AGAWAM

Elite Systems
1075 Main St.
Jon-Paul Rodier

Family Bike of Agawam
270 Maple St.
Trevor Emond

Industrial Sandblasting
109 Ramah Circle
John Desrosiers

Mylocaline
301 Springfield St.
Usman Rashad

Noyes Accounting
65 Broz Ter.
Eric Noyes

WAN Associates
37 Dogwood Lane
Carol Nemes

CHICOPEE

Country Looks Designs Gift Baskets
68 Raylo St.
Lynne Robitaille

Life Path Solutions
381 Chicopee St.
Luzelessia Casanova

EASTHAMPTON

Captain Jack’s Roadside Shack
232 Northampton St.
Kevin Sahagian

Fleury’s Outdoor Power Equipment
126 Northampton St.
Stephen Fleury

Promark Graphics
10 O’Neill St.
Gregg Lambert

R & H Roofing Inc.
59 South St.
Henry Hopkins

EAST LONGMEADOW

Jennifer Guinipero @ JMG Salon
37 Maple St.
Jennifer Guinipero

Powerhouse Training LLC
80 Denslow Road
Jonathan Davis

GREENFIELD

Daily Nuggets
324 Wells St.
Robert Apteker

KDS Dance Supplies
49 Bank Row
Karen F. O’Hare

M.C.P. Development & Design
32 High St.
Peter Salryman

Spalding Affordable Custom Cleaning
256 Davis St.
William Spalding

HOLYOKE

7-Eleven
539 Pleasant St.
Mohinder Grewal

Cellarmaster Cases
1450 Northampton St.
Gordon Alexander

Custom Embroiderers
50 Holyoke St.
Clayton Chow

Sahara Gas & Snack LLC
582 South St.
Hatem Rajad

LUDLOW

Envision Wellness-Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
77 Winsor St.
Cristina Carreira

Ludlow Public Market
46 Birch St.
Isidoro Fernandez

Voyik & Voyik LLC
409 West St.
Jennifer Voyik

NORTHAMPTON

Boomerang Booksellers
139 Federal St.
Mark Brumberg

Eco-Renovations
90 Conz St.
David Gandner

Nuevva
117 Conz St.
The Fleet Excellence Network

Swing Graphics
36 Marker St.
Gregory Perham, Jr.

The Valley Swiac School
46 Round Hill Road
Craig R. Collins

SOUTHWICK

Debby-Debby Fitness
208 College Highway
Deborah Seyller

J Nine Fashion
549 College Highway
Tnuy Pham

Specialty Metal Products
23 Eagle St.
Steven Pulaski

SPRINGFIELD

Jack Chen Chinese Restaurant
1193 Sumner Ave.
Jin Q. Chen

Moriarty Law Firm
34 Mulberry St.
Marshall Theodore

My Mangu Restaurant
130 Walnut St.
Jose A. Javier-Vargas

New England Business Association
66 Industry Ave.
Jeannine Pavlak

New Era Barber Shop
902 Carew St.
Juan Santana

NightsTV
1156 Dwight St.
Eric Maldonado

Osaka Japanese Hibachi
1380 Boston Road
Wai T. Cheng

Pafumi’s State Inspection
354 Main St.
Joseph M. Pafumi

Paul’s Barber Shop
1597 Main St.
Pablo R. Torres

Peter Pan Bus Line
1776 Main St.
Brian R. Stefano

Reilly Property Management
95 State St.
Kevin Reilly

Roache Properties
82 Fargo St.
Don Roache

S & P Design and Construction
73 Kipling St.
James Santamaria

Scott’s Guitar Exchange
107 Enfield St.
Scott M. Urzedowski

Selion Management Service
169 White St.
Joseph Wanyonyi

Skit Records
40 Dubois St.
Frank Morales

Springfield Falcons Hockey
45 Falcons Way
N. Bruce Landon

Starchild Salon
1085 State St.
Pauline Morris

Telejobforce
73 Mobilehome Way
Edith I. Savoy

Zheng’s Garden II LLC
415 Cooley St.
Michael Zheng

WESTFIELD

Cornerstone-Good Goth
77 Mill St.
Marianne DelDolori

Country Store
518 Southampton Road
Taskeen H. Butt

Ezra’s Mercantile
34 Elm St.
Lou Sirois

Flowers by Joanne
1358 East Mountain Road
Joanne Janik

Coache Construction
15 Lozier Ave.
Gene Coache

J.M.C.
18 King St.
James J. Merati

Novix
202 Union St.
Anatoliy Novik

Roman Landscaping and Property Management
13 Furrow St.
Eric Roman

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Affordable Property Services
52 Ravenwood Lane
Todd Freeman

Avis Rent-a-Car System Inc.
2161 Riverdale St.
Matteo J. Rettura

Eger Associates
12 Royce Circle
Michael Eger

Friendly Car Wash
668 Westfield St.
James D. Porter

Simple Pleasures of Mind
1111 Elm St.
Mary-Anne Diblasio

Total Women’s Health Care Inc.
46 Daggett Dr.
Aleli L. Villanueva

The Travel Group Inc.
1111 Elm St.
Michael S. Egan

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
 
Ludlow Tool Inc., 46 Moylan Lane, Agawam, MA 01001. Jason Lucas, 370 Fuller St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Machine tool business.
 
BELCHERTOWN
 
Swift River Preservation Association Inc., 507 Cold Springs Road, Belchertown, MA 01007. Dennis Morin, same. Non-profit organization formed to educate and promote public awareness of the removal of the Bondsville Dam by the Belchertown Land Trust.
 
CHICOPEE
 
Rusin Inc., 76 Cote St., Chicopee, MA 01020. John Rusin, same. General cleaning and maintenance services.
 
FEEDING HILLS
 
Thibault Construction Inc., 536 Franklin St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Jean-Claude Thibault, same. Constuction services.
 
HOLYOKE

Holyoke for All Inc., (Holyoke Para Todos Inc.) 106 Northeast St., Apt. 1A, Holyoke, MA 01040. Nelson Rafael Roman, same. Corporation established to educate, support and advocate for Lesbian and Gay rights.

Holyoke Solar Cooperative, 99 Suffolk St., Holyoke, MA 01040. James Lavelle, 54 Pleasant St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Purchase, acquire, distribute, sell, resell, supply and provide any energy or energy related services.
 
New Horizons Family Community Center Inc., 189 Pine St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Felicita Lopez, same. Community services.
 
INDIAN ORCHARD
 
The Screen Print Express Inc., 36 Oak St., Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Scott Peterson, same. Screen printing services.
 
LONGMEADOW
Guideway Inc., 32 Homecrest St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Richard Golbert, 3170 South Ocean Blvd., Unit 504, North Palm Beach, FL 33480. Marketing and branding advertising services.
 
Jirah Fasteners Inc., 740 Maple St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Timothy Gould, same. Sale of automotive aftermarket parts.
 
Longmeadow Girls Lacrosse Association Inc., 215 Ellington Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. James Fitzpatrick, same. Provides a girls lacrosse program that fosters an appreciation of the game of lacrosse among players with a positive athletic experience.
 
NORTH ADAMS
 
The Sushi House Corp., 45 Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. Meng Wu Wang, 41 Cobbleview Road, Williamstown, MA 01267. Restaurant
 
PALMER
 
Nu-WAY Mobile Home Supplies Inc., 1124 Thorndike St., Palmer, MA 01069. Robert Jones, same. Sales of good, supplies, parts, and merchandise necessary or incidental to the sale, lease, repair and service of mobile homes.
 
PITTSFIELD
 
MT Inc., 18 Charisma Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Brian Arseneau, same. Restaurant.
Scalise Enterprises Inc., 2 Federico Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Tonia Scalise, 40 Commonwealth Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Life coaching.
 
SPRINGFIELD
 
Human Resource Crisis Center Inc., 44 Prospect St., Springfield, MA 01107. Charlene Naylor, 57 Wisteria St., Springfield, MA 01119. Nonprofit corporation to promote the relief of the poor, the distresses or the underprivileged.

JV Properties Inc., 120 Talbot Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Jose Velasquez, same. Real Estate.
 
Image Maker II, Beauty Salon Corp., 614 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104. Rosa Belliard, same. Beauty Salon.
 
Laprise Inc., 1365 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Ronald Laprise, 6 Canterbury Lane, Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Chiropractic treatment and services.
 
McVan Home Care Service Inc., 603 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Huethen Livingston, 99 Windsor St., Enfield, CT 06082. Home Health Care Service.
 
WESTFIELD
 
Help of Angels Inc., 21 Prospect St., Westfield, MA 01085. Lisa Smith, same. Provides basic needs services and financial assistance to families when a family member has a serious illness and/or financial hardship.
 
Premier Web Management Systems Inc., 191 Western Circle, Westfield, MA 01085. Christopher Whalley, same. Web site design, sales, and maintenance.

People on the Move

By
John J. Szczepanek
Departments People on the Move

John J. Szczepanek

John J. Szczepanek

John J. Szczepanek has been appointed Manager of the Laboratory at Holyoke Medical Center. He had formerly been Chemistry Supervisor at the facility.
•••••
John Murgatroyd has been named the Regional Sales Manager for the Small Business Administration (SBA) division of TD Bank. He will manage a team of business-development officers to originate SBA loans and enhance the TD brand within the northeast SBA business segment, including the Boston and Springfield-Hartford regions.
•••••






Victoria J. Noble, M.D.

Victoria J. Noble, M.D.

Victoria J. Noble, M.D., has joined the Medical Staff of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers, and is providing internal-medicine services at the Wing Medical Center in Wilbraham. Noble received her medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and completed her residency at Baystate Medical Center.
•••••
Marcos A. Marrero recently joined the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in Springfield as a Land Use and Environment Planner.
•••••






St. Germain Investment Management, with offices in Springfield and Hartford, Conn., announced the following:
Christine M. Andrzejewski

Christine M. Andrzejewski

• Christine M. Andrzejewski has joined the firm in the Client Services Group; and
























Tanya Longo

Tanya Longo

• Tanya Longo has joined the firm in the Client Services Group.
•••••
Sean T. Mitchell has joined Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton as Director of Major Gifts. He is responsible for increasing the number of donors and support for Cooley Dickinson at the level of $10,000 or more.
•••••














Stephen Greenberg, M.D.

Stephen Greenberg, M.D.

Stephen Greenberg, M.D. has been appointed Medical Director of Adult Services at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke. He is responsible for the overall supervision and direction of psychiatric care for Adult Psychiatric Services, including psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, and participation in team meetings. Board-certified in psychiatry, Greenberg earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y., and received fellowship training in clinical psychiatry at the New York Hospital, Westchester Division, in White Plains, N.Y.
•••••
Robert D. Hoyt recently received the 2010 George Warren Fuller Award from the New England Water Works Assoc., the region’s largest and oldest not-for-profit organization of water-works professionals. Hoyt has been Manager of the Worcester Department of Public Works water-filtration plant in Holden for 14 years.
•••••
Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP, with offices in Springfield, Amherst, and Boston, announced the following:
Kelly A. Koch

Kelly A. Koch

• Kelly A. Koch has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in the Domestic Relations Department. She handles matters relating to divorce, child custody, antenuptial agreements, post-divorce issues, guardianships and probate litigation;




















George W. Adams IV

George W. Adams IV

• George W. Adams IV has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in the Business/Finance Department. Adams focuses on general corporate and business matters;




















Christopher J. Visser

Christopher J. Visser

• Christopher J. Visser has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in the Litigation/Alternative Dispute Resolution Department. He focuses on medical malpractice litigation; and




















Abena A. Mainoo

Abena A. Mainoo

• Abena A. Mainoo has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in the Litigation/ADR Department. She handles commercial and corporate litigation matters, primarily for large financial institutions.
•••••
Kazimierz Borawski has joined United Bank in West Springfield as Vice President of Finance. He is responsible for coordinating all phases of financial planning and forecasting, reporting of financial results, analysis and reporting of profitability, asset-liability management reporting, and peer-group comparisons. He will also assist in preparation of materials for investors and analysts.
•••••
Steven M. Vitorino has joined TD Insurance Inc., a subsidiary of TD Bank, as a Vice President and Regional Market Producer for Surety Sales, with offices in West Springfield and Wethersfield, Conn. He is responsible for providing a range of surety services, including bond underwriting and claim handling, to contractors and business owners across the TD Bank footprint from Maine to Florida.
•••••
Carol Cloe Klyman

Carol Cloe Klyman

Carol Cloe Klyman has been appointed to the Professional Advisors Board of Mason-Wright Foundation. Klyman is an elder-law and estate-planning attorney with Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin.
•••••
For the fourth year in a row, Springfield Attorney Paul Nicolai has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America, cited for his expertise in commercial litigation. Nicolai founded Nicolai Law Group in 1988 after serving as Company Counsel and Assistant Clerk for Friendly Ice Cream Corp. More than 3 million confidential evaluations by 39,000 of the country’s leading attorneys help formulate the lists for the annual publication.
•••••
Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, P.C. of Springfield announced the following:
• John J. Egan has been named a New England Super Lawyer. Egan has had extensive trial experience in civil litigation for more than 40 years. His practice concentrates in civil litigation, including business and shareholder disputes, eminent-domain and land-valuation disputes, employment discrimination, personal injury, and First Amendment issues;
• Edward J. McDonough Jr. has been named a New England Super Lawyer. McDonough’s work covers a wide range of disputes, including accident and injury claims, insurance disputes, employment-discrimination litigation, product liability, medical malpractice, and civil-rights litigation;
• Maurice M. Cahillane has been named a New England Super Lawyer. His practice areas include litigation, labor and employment law, commercial law, age discrimination, administrative law, and municipal law;
• Katharine Pacella Costello has been named a Rising Star in Boston magazine. She specializes in employment litigation, including discrimination claims, contract disputes, wage-act claims, harassment claims, and non-competition agreements; and
• Joseph M. Pacella has been named a Rising Star in Boston magazine. He primarily practices in civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, and zoning and real-estate disputes.
•••••
Christel Harju of Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. has accepted positions on both the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. She has worked as a Senior Associate in the Audit Department since 2006.
•••••
W. F. Young Inc. announced the following:
• Steve Gootzeit has been appointed Director of Marketing;
• Tom Johnson has been named National Sales Manager for Animal Health Care Products;
• Laurie Klafeta has been named Export Sales Administrator; and
• Molly O’Brien has expanded her role as Advertising Supervisor with new responsibilities.
•••••
Paul V. Erwin has joined NUVO Bank & Trust Co. in Springfield as Chief Financial Officer.
•••••
Eric Taylor has joined the American Institute of Economic Research in Great Barrington as a Graphic Artist and Web Content Manager.
•••••
Suzette Fontaine Collins has announced the opening of Fontaine and Collins in Westfield. Collins is an experienced trust and estate-management advisor and will offer services as a personal trustee, as well as estate and trust administration, consulting, and estate settlement.
•••••
Anabela A. Blake has been promoted to Manager of the TD Bank branch at 52 East St. in Ludlow. An Assistant Vice President, she is responsible for new-business development, consumer and business lending, and managing personnel and day-to-day operations at the store serving customers throughout the region.
•••••
Bethany D. Hinton has been named Loan Servicing Officer for Florence Savings Bank.
•••••
Laurie A. Rosner has been appointed Executive in Residence in the Master in Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovative Practices program at Bay Path College in Longmeadow. Rosner is a Vice President of Marketing and Administrative Services Officer at Rockville Bank.
•••••
Hyde Tools of Southbridge announced the following:
• Robert B. Clemence has been promoted to a Vice President of Sales position; and
• Louis A. Oleksy Jr. has been promoted to a Vice President of Sales position.
•••••
Bozena Dabek has joined Easthampton Savings Bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

Average Starting Salary for Class of 2011 Up 3.5%
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — For the first time since 2008, a college class is beginning the year with an average starting salary offer that is on the rise, according to results of a new survey conducted by the National Assoc. of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The overall average salary offer to a class of 2011 bachelor’s-degree graduate is $50,034, up 3.5% over last year at this time, according to NACE’s Winter 2011 Salary Survey report. For the Class of 2011, this is the latest sign of improvement in the college job market. Employers responding to an earlier NACE study reported plans to increase their college hiring of the class of 2011 by 13.5% over the previous year, and monthly polls conducted by NACE show hiring remains in positive territory. While not all categories of majors posted increases to their average salary offers, the increases seen in the Winter 2011 Salary Survey report far outweigh the decreases. That’s a significant improvement over last year at this time. Currently, 67% of disciplines posting a change this year are showing an increase. Last year, the opposite was true, as 63% of disciplines indicating a change to staring salary offers were projecting them to be decreases. Among the disciplines in the Winter 2011 Salary Survey report, business majors fared the best; their average offer rose almost 2% to $48,089. Accounting majors saw their average salary offer rise 2.2% to $49,022, and the average offer to finance majors rose 1.9% to $50,535. Business administration/management graduates saw a slight decrease to their average starting salary offer, which fell 2.3% to $44,171. Meanwhile, the average offer to marketing majors dipped by 1.3% to $41,948. Among the technical disciplines, computer-science majors posted a small increase; their average salary offer rose almost 1% to $61,783. Salary offers to engineering graduates as a group remained nearly level — a 0.3% increase to $59,435 — but some of the individual majors fared far better. Electrical-engineering majors saw their average salary offer jump 4.4% to $61,690, while mechanical-engineering graduates also saw a healthy increase — 3.8% — for an average salary offer of $60,598. Conversely, chemical-engineering and civil-engineering majors saw their average salary offers fall. The average offer to chemical-engineering graduates dipped by 0.8% to $64,641. Meanwhile, civil-engineers fared worst among their engineering peers; their average offer dropped 7.1% to $48,885. Data is limited for liberal-arts majors, but, as a group, their average offer is up 9.5% to $35,633. This is in sharp contrast to last year, when they watched their average offer fall almost 11%. The Winter 2011 Salary Survey report is the first look at salaries for the Class of 2011. NACE will continue to monitor salary offers to the current class and will release its next salary report in April with the Spring 2011 Salary Survey.

Employers Needed for Youth Summer Jobs Campaign
SPRINGFIELD — The Regional Employment Board (REB) of Hampden County Inc., will host its fourth annual Employer Outreach Breakfast on March 25, 7:30 to 9 a.m., at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel, One Monarch Place. The event launches Youth Summer Jobs Campaign 2011, spearheaded by the REB, FutureWorks and CareerPoint one-stop career centers, and the YMCA of Greater Springfield. Last year 158 employers across Hampden County were involved in putting 1,100 youth to work, and organizers are hoping to broaden their base of employers this year. Businesses can get involved by hiring youth, donating money, or becoming a work site. Pre-registration is required for the free event that will outline how businesses can help a young person this summer. For more information, contact Kathryn Kirby at (413) 755-1359 or [email protected].

Agency Purchases Paramount Theater
SPRINGFIELD — The Paramount Theater, a historic Main Street property, has been purchased by the nonprofit New England Farm Workers Council. A check for $54,000 was recently delivered by Paramount co-owner Steven Stein to the city’s License Commission to pay off a delinquent tax bill, paving the way for the purchase of the building, according to Heriberto Flores, council president. Stein is co-owner with Michael Barrasso of Paramount Realty Investment LLC. With the sale now complete, both men will remain at Paramount for several months, ensuring a smooth transition, added Flores. Flores noted that the Paramount purchase was privately funded and did not involve public funding. Future development at the Paramount by the nonprofit agency includes touring stage productions and national musical acts, in addition to focusing more on local talent, added Flores.

February Jobs Growth Shows Some Strength 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report of a 192,000 February increase in payrolls shows employment has rebounded from a disappointing start to 2011, according to the Conference Board. The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. While the increase in employment continues to lag the pickup in the broader economy, the Conference Board notes it is “encouraging” to see the job numbers moving in the right direction. It was also noted that, once officials account for the recovery from January’s weather effect, February’s gains hardly suggest an acceleration relative to the slow trend of about 100,000 jobs per month during the second half of 2010. The Conference Board concluded that, assuming an aggregate productivity trend, including government, of about 1.5%, the economy would need to grow well beyond 3% in order to double the trend to an average of 200,000 jobs over the next couple of months. With a shrinking government, a stagnant construction sector, and a small manufacturing base, only consumer spending can generate that kind of improvement in hiring, the Conference Board added.

Improved Job Prospects Trump Rising Prices
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Consumer confidence rose to its highest level in three years in February, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment. Higher-income households were responsible for all of the February gain over the prior month. The Sentiment Index rose by 9.7% among households with incomes above $75,000, but fell by 1.4% among lower-income households. The difference was due to more-favorable job and income prospects among upper-income households. Also, news about recent economic developments was much more favorable than any time in the past six years. Greater job gains dominated the news, and consumers anticipated significant gains in employment during the year ahead. The favorable job news completely dominated rising concerns about higher food and fuel prices. The Sentiment Index was 77.5 in the February 2011 survey, up from 74.2 in January and last February’s 73.6. The February reading was the highest since 78.4 was recorded in January 2008. The February gains were concentrated in the Current Conditions Index, which rose to 86.9 from 81.8 in January and last February. The Expectations Index, a component of the Index of Leading Economic Indicators, rose to 71.6 in February from 69.3 in January and last February’s 68.4. The minimum monthly change required for significance at the 95% level in the Sentiment Index is 4.8 points; for the Current and Expectations Index, the minimum is 6.0 points.

Tax Cut Fails to Boost Economy In Early 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis recently released data on personal income and outlays for January, noting personal income increased 1.0%, exceeding private-sector expectations of a 0.4% rise. Wages and salaries, the largest component of income, rose 0.3%, perhaps hampered by more severe than usual weather in some parts of the country. Real consumer spending edged down 0.1% in January but has already risen 0.8% at an annual rate above its fourth-quarter average. U.S. Commerce Department Chief Economist Mark Doms noted that personal income surged in January, largely as a result of the Middle Class Tax Relief Act. Doms added that, by lowering employee contributions for Social Security, workers have more take-home pay. This increased spending capacity should boost the U.S. economy and employment in 2011, he added. In other news, the Commerce Department recently released the second estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2010. Real GDP grew 2.8% at an annual rate, less than expectations and revised down from the 3.2% advance estimate. The downward revision reflects a wider trade deficit, reduced state and local government spending, and lower personal consumption. Doms noted that the U.S. economy is continuing to expand, with increased growth at the end of 2010 and further strengthening expected in early 2011. Doms added that steps taken by the Obama administration to create jobs and help U.S. businesses grow, including the Middle Class Tax Relief Act, should encourage continued economic expansion.

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

‘Be the Authority’
March 16: Claudia Gere of Claudia Gere & Co. will present a lecture titled “Be the Authority & Attract More Customers” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The lecture is hosted by the Mass. Small Business Development Center. Gere will explain how to create written content to demonstrate your expertise, establish yourself as an authority, and create trust. Templates, formulas, and how-tos will be provided. The fee is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

The Price of Presenteeism
March 22: Presenteeism is the lost productivity that occurs when employees come to work but perform below expectations due to illness, low morale, or life-issue distractions. A 1999 study sponsored by the Employers Health Coalition calculated that lost productivity from presenteeism is 7.5 times greater that that from absenteeism. Learn how much presenteeism is costing your company and what you can do to improve employee productivity at a seminar, slated for 8 to 10:30 a.m., sponsored by the Associated Industries of Mass. (AIM) and the Economic Development Council of Western Mass. Panelists will include Patricia Guenette, vice president of Human Resources for Square One; Susan Moore, director of Sales and Marketing for the Loomis Communities; Bob Oldenburg, director of the Baystate Employee Assistance Program; Sandy Reynolds, executive vice president of the Employer’s Resource Group at AIM; and Dawn Creighton, regional membership director for AIM. Registration and a continental breakfast at 8 will be followed by the discussion. For more information or to register for this free event, call (413) 233-9850 e-mail [email protected].

‘High Performance Business Owner
March 23: Westfield Bank on Elm Street, Westfield, will host a lecture, “The High Performance Business Owner,” presented by Gerald Sherman of NorthStar Management Partners. The lecture, sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network, is planned from 9 a.m. to noon. The fee is $25. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Naturally 7 at STCC
March 23: Naturally 7 will bring its unique a capella style to Springfield Technical Community College for two free performances in the gymnasium, in Scibelli Hall, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Their voices are not only the melody, but also the ‘instruments.’ The group refers to this style as ‘vocal play,’ which goes well beyond beatboxing to create flute, horns, drums, and more. Naturally 7’s music has been called faith-infused, although it encompasses secular as well as religious melodies, and includes soul music, rap, rock, R&B, jazz, and folk, as well as their own compositions. Free parking for the performances is available in off-campus lots. Parking passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the STCC Human Resources office in Garvey Hall, room 249. For more information or to bring a group, contact Myra Smith at (413) 755-4414.

Cloud Computing
March 24: Kostin, Ruffkess & Co., LLC will host a workshop titled “No More Fluff: The Reality of Cloud Computing” from 9 to 11 a.m. in Farmington, Conn. ADNET Technologies, LLC will lead the workshop on cloud computing and will discuss how cloud services can help a firm plan for growth. The workshop is designed for business leaders, IT executives, and IT professionals. A complimentary continental breakfast will be served. Pre-registration is required by March 22. For more information, visit www.goadnet.com.

Difference Makers Gala
March 24: BusinessWest will salute its Difference Makers Class of 2011 at a gala slated to begin at 5 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. Initiated in 2009, the Difference Makers program recognizes individuals and groups making outstanding contributions to the Western Mass. community. You can read more about this event on page 14. For further information on the event or to order tickets ($50 per person, with tables of 10 available), call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or visit www.businesswest.com.

Independent Contractor Statute
March 25: Attorney Susan Fentin of Skoler, Abbott & Presser will discuss the amendment to the Mass. Independent Contractor statute in 2004, and how misclassification has caught the attention of the Department of Labor. Fentin will cover the amendment, how it applies to individuals in the workforce, and the steps an employer needs to ensure compliance. The fee is $10. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

‘Web Advertising’ Workshop
March 30: Derek Allard of Gravity Switch will present a workshop titled “Web Advertising” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The morning program is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. Allard will discuss organic search-engine strategies, paid options to help attract visitors to your Web site, defining relevant keywords to target, the importance of Web-site content, building inbound links to your Web site, and paid advertising with Google AdWords and Facebook. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

USO Dinner Dance
April 2: U.S. Sen. Scott Brown will be the keynote speaker for a 1940s-themed dinner dance titled “As Time Goes By” as the Pioneer Valley United Service Organization (USO) hosts its first formal event to mark its 70 years of service to local families of the Armed Forces. The event is planned from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Delaney House in Holyoke. Brown will speak at 8:30 p.m. The event for the local USO chapter, which operates out of the Westover Air Force Reserve Base in Chicopee, will also honor Checkwriters Payroll, Clear Channel/KIX 97.9, Big Y World Class Markets, and local heroes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to the Pioneer Valley USO Volunteer of the Year. The evening will begin with a welcome reception, followed by the dinner and program with Brown and the awards presentation. The evening will end with dancing to 1940s swing, R&B, and music from the era of Motown performed by the O-Tones. For tickets or more information, call Al Tracy at the USO Office, (413) 557-3290, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.pioneervalleyuso.org.

Workshop on Mobile Technology
April 13: Chris Amato of Knectar Design and Jeff Hobbs of Advanced Internet will lead a workshop on the various critical aspects of the shift to a mobile-technology landscape from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The workshop is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. Amato and Hobbs will discuss how mobile and smart-phone technology has surpassed expectations to become the leading communications and application technology platform for users in many market sectors. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Marketing Basics Workshop
April 20: A workshop led by Dianne Doherty of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network will focus on the basic disciplines of marketing, beginning with research – primary, secondary, qualitative and quantitative. Topics will include advertising, public relations, and the importance of developing a marketing plan. Doherty’s presentation is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. at the TD Bank community room, 175 Main St., Northampton. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

‘Not Just Business as
Usual’
April 26: Al Verrecchia, retired CEO and chairman of the board of Hasbro Inc., will be the keynote speaker for a program titled “Not Just Business As Usual,” presented by the Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation. The STCC Foundation will capture the energy and excitement of the college’s past, present, and future at the unique affair that will be staged at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. In addition, two past Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame inductees, Balise Motor Sales and Smith & Wesson, will be honored for their continued success and contributions to the local community. A cocktail and networking reception is planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by a dinner program from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $175 each or $1500 for a table of 10. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit STCC. For more information, visit www.notjustbusinessasusual.net.
Understanding Financial Reports
April 27: Robb Morton of Boisselle, Morton & Associates will lead a workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on how to read financial statements. Following the presentation at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield, a lunch is planned as well as a question session. The program is sponsored by the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Western Mass.
Business Expo
May 4: Businesses from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties will come together for the premier trade show in the region, the Western Mass. Business Expo. Formerly known as the Market Show, the event, produced by BusinessWest, and staged at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, has been revamped and improved to provide exposure and business opportunities for area companies. The cost for a 10-by-10 booth is $700 for members of all area chambers and $750 for non-members; corner booths are $750 for all chamber members and $800 for non-members, and a 10-by-20 booth is $1,200 for all chamber members and $1,250 for non-members.
For more information, log onto www.wmbexpo.com or www.businesswest.com, or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10.

Springfield 375th Parade
May 14: The Spirit of Springfield is seeking community involvement for the city’s 375th birthday celebration, which will include a parade that represents all that Springfield has to offer, its roots, and its future. If you have a business or group that would like to get involved in the festivities, call (413) 733-3800 or e-mail [email protected].

EASTEC 2011
May 17-19: EASTEC, the East Coast’s largest annual manufacturing event, will once again be staged at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. For exhibition or registration details, call (866) 635-4692 or visit www.easteconline.com.

40 Under Forty Gala
June 23: BusinessWest will present its Forty Under 40 class of 2011 at a gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, beginning at 5 p.m. The 40 Under Forty program, initiated in 2007, has become an early-summer tradition in the region. This year’s winners will be announced in April. For more information on the event or to order tickets ($60 per person, with tables of 10 available), call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or visit www.businesswest.com.

Using New Media
May 18: Gretchen Siegchrist of Media Shower Productions and Robert Malin of Malin Productions will lead a presentation from 9 to 11 a.m. that will teach participants how they can use the new media to grow their social media reach and influence. After an overview of different types of online videos for businesses, they will look at various platforms for sharing videos online including YouTube. The cost is $40 for the presentation at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network is sponsoring the event. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Summer Business Summit
June 27-28: The Resort and Conference Center of Hyannis will be the setting for the Summer Business Summit, hosted by the Massachusetts Chamber of Business and Industry. Nominations are being accepted for the Massachusetts Chamber, Business of the Year, and Employer of Choice awards. The two-day conference will feature educational speakers, presentations by lawmakers, VIP receptions, and more. For more information, visit www.masscbi.com.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

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

• March 16: Professional Women’s Chamber Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., MassMutual Room, Max’s Tavern at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Speaker: Libby Pidgeon, vice president of Human Resources for Big Y Foods Inc. Cost: members $25, non-members $35. To register, contact Lynn Johnson at (413) 755-1310 or e-mail [email protected].

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com

• March 16: After 5 joint event with Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 5 to 7 p.m., Magic Wings Conservatory and Garden, Deerfield. Sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank and Yankee Home Improvement. Cost: members $5, non-members $10.

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• March 16: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., MassMutual Learning & Conference Center, 350 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost: members $18, non-members $25.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• March 16: Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Magic Wings Conservatory and Garden, Deerfield. Co-hosting with Amherst Area Chamber of Comerce. Networking, refreshments, door prizes. Bring business cards. Cost: members $5, non-members $10.

• March 24: GBA Member Showcase, 5 to 9 p.m., Greenfield Grille, 30 Federal St., Greenfield. Refreshments, door prizes, tabletop displays. Cost: free for members of the Greenfield Business Assoc., $5 for the public.

• March 25: Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Deerfield Inn, Old Deerfield. Theme: “Taking the Risk Out of Business” with Henry Shterenberg, Step-Up Venture University. Music by the Academy at Charlemont. Sponsored by People’s United Bank and the Academy at Charlemont. Cost: members $12 members, non-members $15. Call (413) 773-5463 for reservations.

Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, 12 to 2 p.m., Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, One Atwood Dr., Northampton. Honored guest: Shealyn Berube, Greater Easthampton Jr. Miss. Sponsored by Easthampton Learning Foundation and Finck & Perras Insurance Agency. Cost: members $21.95, non-members $23.95.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• March 17: St. Pat’s Salute Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by PeoplesBank and Holyoke Mall. Cost: $20. Call (413) 534-3376 for reservations.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

• March 29: Table Top Expo, 5 to 6:30 p.m. (snow date: March 30), Holiday Inn, 245 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Ross Insurance Agency Inc. Social Media and Digital Marketing Seminar. Cost: members $15, non-members $20. Includes hot appetizers and cash bar. Call (413) 534-3376 to register, or register online at www.holyokechamber.com.

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Pages Loft Restaurant and Events at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 1 Atwood Dr., Northampton. Cost: $17 per person, $170 for a table of 10.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• March 18: Annual St. Patrick’s Day March Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Scanlon Hall, Westfield State University, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Sponsored by premium members Westfield Bank, Noble Health Systems, Westfield State University, and Westfield Gas and Electric. Cost: members $25, non-members $30. There are several different member chamber sponsorship levels available to have your company recognized. Contact Marie Quinn for more information, to reserve tickets, or if you have questions, at (413) 568-1618 or [email protected].

Court Dockets

By
Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Wilfred Tisdell v. AGE Institute of MA Inc.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of parking lot, causing trip and fall: $25,000+
Filed: 1/24/11

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Phyllis R. Perry, as executrix of the estate of Richard E. Perry v. John G. Savage Realty Corp. and James Fitzgibbons
Allegation: Failure to provide reasonable safety and negligence, causing wrongful death: $10,774.27
Filed: 1/19/11

Siliconezone, LLC v. Lamson & Goodnow, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $189,026.16
Filed: 2/8/11

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Raipher Pelligrino Associates, P.C. v. Roger A. Proulx Trust
Allegation: In an effort to avoid payment of legal services, the defendant fraudulently conveyed real estate into his trust: $55,761.50
Filed: 12/8/10

Scarfo Construction v. Shawn’s Lawns Inc., RIV Construction Group, and HD Westfield, MA Landlord, LLC
Allegation: Failure to pay under the terms of a construction agreement: $33,965.10
Filed: 12/8/10

Seaboard Drilling Inc. v. Environmental Associates Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of labor and materials on resurfacing test and environmental engineering services: $45,836.88
Filed: 1/6/11
Woronoco Hydro, LLC v. Woronoco Realty, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of electrical power supplied: $95,000
Filed: 12/15/10

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Bunker Hill Insurance Co., as subrogee of Amanda and Kathleen Wilson v. Richard’s Fuel & Heating Inc.
Allegation: Failure to make a timely delivery of heating oil, causing freeze-up of plumbing and heating systems: $51,823.23
Filed: 1/31/11

David Atwood, as administrator of the estate of Matthew Atwood v. Center for International Studies Inc.
Allegation: Negligence in supervision and care of study abroad student causing wrongful death: $2 million
Filed: 2/3/11

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Compound East, LLC v. Deerfield Woodworking
Allegation: Breach of agreement in which defendant agreed to leave premises in broom-clean condition and to remove all possessions: $4,832.71
Filed: 1/11/11

Wolfpac Technologies Inc. v. Neu Tradition Millwork Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment for goods sold and delivered: $18,331.12
Filed: 1/10/11

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Commonwealth of MA State Lottery Commission v. the Village General Store, Robert E. Jones, Stanley J. Ryes, and Judith M. Jones-Ryes
Allegation: Breach of written contract to forward commissions owed to the Commonwealth as lottery sales agents: $14,256.65
Filed: 1/13/11

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
John Deere Landscapes Inc. v. New England Landscapes & Irrigation and Paul D. Santucci
Allegation: Non-payment for goods sold and delivered: $4,711.97
Filed: 12/21/10

L & B Truck Services Inc. v. Autotech Repossession Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment for truck repairs: $10,234.26
Filed: 12/21/10

United Rentals Inc. v. Do Val Remodeling Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment for materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $5,207.84
Filed: 12/20/10

United Rentals Inc. v. New England Electrical Contracting Corp.
Allegation: Non-payment for materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $4,942.14
Filed: 12/20/10

United Rentals Inc. v. North Eastern Operations Contracting Group, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment for materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $5,299.48
Filed: 12/20/10

United Rentals Inc. v. Prism Developers Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment for materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $5,462.29
Filed: 12/28/10

United Rentals Inc. v. RLB Contracting Company, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment for materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $5,114.17
Filed: 12/20/10

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Everett J. Prescott Inc. v. Shawn’s Lawns Inc. and Patricia M. Wendell
Allegation: Non-payment for labor and materials supplied on a project: $9,603.72
Filed: 1/20/11

Picture This

By
Breaking New Ground
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]

Breaking New Ground

Breaking New GroundOfficials broke ground March 3 on Boltwood Place, a 12-unit market-rate housing project in downtown Amherst, behind Judie’s restaurant. The project, praised by officials as a way to bring more professionals, and even more vitality, into downtown Amherst, is slated to be ready for occupancy later this year. From left are: Jonathan Tucker, Amherst planning director; John Musante, Amherst town manager; Katie Day Eagan, Dave Williams, and Judie Terapulsky, owners of Boltwood Place; Stephanie O’Keefe, chair of the Amherst Select Board; and Kyle Wilson, principal, along with Williams, of Archipelago Investments, which is spearheading the project.

Link to Libraries

Link to LibrariesThe Monson Savings Bank Foundation recently announced that Link to Libraries of East Longmeadow is one of the recipients of the bank’s foundation awards for 2011. Seen here are, from left: Dodie Carpentier, Hampden branch manager; Susan Jaye-Kaplan, president, Link to Libraries; Monson Savings Bank President Roland Desrochers; Lynn Weiner, Link to Libraries Advisory Committee member; and Link to Libraries co-founder Janet Crimmins.

Editorial

By
Opinion
The Challenge Facing Our Chambers

The board of directors for the East of the River Chamber of Commerce voted late last month to continue its relationship with the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, a move that brought a dose of stability to an agency that sorely needed some.
The ACCGS, as it’s called, lost its long-time director, Russell Denver, in January, and soon thereafter saw a 40-year-long affiliation with the West of the River Chamber (Agawam and West Springfield) come to an abrupt, if not unpredicted, end.
This short but tumultuous chain of events brought with it no end of speculation about Denver’s departure, the future of the ACCGS, the apparently larger presence of the Massachusetts Chamber of Business and Industry (now managing the West of the River group), and the prospects for chambers as a whole.
The East of the River vote has calmed the waters somewhat, although there are still questions and some uncertainty about what happens next.
What we hope happens is some kind of workable balance between the need for regionalism, for the Western Mass. business community to speak with one voice, and also community pride and independence, in the form of chambers representing individual cities and towns across this area. This will be a difficult assignment for sure.
But let’s back up a minute. The ACCGS was formed to give the comparatively small chambers in this region (in communities like Ludlow, West Springfield, Agawam, Longmeadow, and East Longmeadow) a louder, stronger voice, and also an opportunity to better-serve members through services that the Affiliated Chambers could offer (like a dedicated legislative watchdog) and the smaller chambers couldn’t.
And, for the most part, it worked out. Just how well it worked depends on who gets asked that question.
Problems, if they can be called that, arose when the Holyoke and Chicopee Chambers were invited to join the ACCGS and further this concept of a regional chamber, and said, in essence, ‘thanks, but no thanks’ and remained independent. Meanwhile, Westfield, courted in a similar fashion, said ‘yes,’ tried it for a few years, and then went back to an independent state, claiming that something (mostly a degree of its business identity) was lost in the translation.
Things became more complicated after the economy turned south in a big way. Businesses pressed to keep the lights on and meet payroll shed many expenses they deemed non-vital, and, in many cases, that meant the chamber and, more specifically, the ACCGS.
The organization has struggled considerably over the past few years, and quality of service has been impacted, leaving affiliates exploring and, in the case of the West of the River Chamber, exercising other options.
Where does all this leave us? In a somewhat difficult spot, one where communities like Amherst, Easthampton, Westfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, and Northampton want and need a chamber to call their own, but the region needs a strong voice if it is to compete globally.
Can both goals be met? Perhaps, and it is in the best interests of all the chambers and their respective boards to try to find a way. There can be independence and a sense of identity (a chamber office on most cities’ Main Street) but also a larger, more powerful force that can have an impact on regional economic-development efforts. But this can only come through cooperation, not competition and territoriality.
The bottom line is that chambers exist, or should exist, for one reason and one reason only — to effectively serve their members and the business community (however broad or narrow that term is defined geographically) as a whole. Doing this is becoming increasingly difficult as chambers become smaller and resources thinner.
The challenge moving forward is to find new and better ways for chambers to keep their identities while also working together to better-serve members, attract many new ones, and thereby strengthen their organizations and the region. Maybe now that we’ve restored at least a sense of stability, there can be movement in this direction.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

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

• March 2: Business@Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Speakers: Sheriff Michael Ashe and Springfield Police Commissioner n William Fitchett. Cost: members $20, non-members $30. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313 or [email protected].

• March 9: After 5, 5 to 7 p.m., Café Lebanon, Shaker Road, East Longmeadow. Cost: members $10, non-members $20. For reservations, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313 or [email protected].

• March 16: Professional Women’s Chamber Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., MassMutual Room, Max’s Tavern at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Speaker: Libby Pidgeon, vice president of Human Resources for Big Y Foods Inc. Cost: members $25, non-members $35. To register, contact Lynn Johnson at (413) 755-1310 or e-mail [email protected].

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com

• March 16: After 5 joint event with Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 5 to 7 p.m., Magic Wings Conservatory and Garden, Deerfield. Sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank and Yankee Home Improvement. Cost: members $5, non-members $10.

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• March 16: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., MassMutual Learning & Conference Center, 350 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost: members $18, non-members $25.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• March 16: Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Magic Wings Conservatory and Garden, Deerfield. Co-hosting with Amherst Area Chamber of Comerce. Networking, refreshments, door prizes. Bring business cards. Cost: members $5, non-members $10.

• March 24: GBA Member Showcase, 5 to 9 p.m., Greenfield Grille, 30 Federal St., Greenfield. Refreshments, door prizes, tabletop displays. Cost: free for members of the Greenfield Business Assoc., $5 for the public.

• March 25: Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Deerfield Inn, Old Deerfield. Theme: “Taking the Risk Out of Business” with Henry Shterenberg, Step-Up Venture University. Music by the Academy at Charlemont. Sponsored by People’s United Bank and the Academy at Charlemont. Cost: members $12 members, non-members $15. Call (413) 773-5463 for reservations.

Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• March 10: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Venus & the Cellar Bar, 95 Main St., Easthampton. Door prizes, hors d’ouevres, cash bar. Cost: members $5, non-members $15.

• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, 12 to 2 p.m., Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, One Atwood Dr., Northampton. Honored guest: Shealyn Berube, Greater Easthampton Jr. Miss. Sponsored by Easthampton Learning Foundation and Finck & Perras Insurance Agency. Cost: members $21.95, non-members $23.95.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• March 4: Leadership Holyoke Program. Sponsored by PeoplesBank. Presented by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Holyoke Community College. Speakers, discussions, classroom time, and field trips are included in this 11-week session. Call (413) 534-3376 for details.

• March 4: Dance Your Way to Wellness, Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Holyoke and Chicopee chambers. Cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., dance program at 8:15 p.m. Cost: $50, includes dinner, show, and dancing. Call (413) 534-3376 for more information.

• March 17: St. Pat’s Salute Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by PeoplesBank and Holyoke Mall. Cost: $20. Call (413) 534-3376 for reservations.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

• March 29: Table Top Expo, 5 to 6:30 p.m. (snow date: March 30), Holiday Inn, 245 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Ross Insurance Agency Inc. Social Media and Digital Marketing Seminar. Cost: members $15, non-members $20. Includes hot appetizers and cash bar. Call (413) 534-3376 to register, or register online at www.holyokechamber.com.

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• March 2: March Arrive @5, 5 to 7 p.m., Pages Loft Restaurant and Events at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 1 Atwood Dr., Northampton. Cost: $10 for members.

• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Pages Loft Restaurant and Events at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 1 Atwood Dr., Northampton. Cost: $17 per person, $170 for a table of 10.

• March 23: 17th Annual Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, presented by the Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, and Greater Northampton chambers of commerce. Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. More than 175 exhibitors. Exhibitor table fee: $100 (members only). Attendee cost: $5 in advance, $10 at door. Contact above chambers for more information or tickets.

Northampton Area Young Professional Society
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• March 10: Party with a Purpose, 5 to 7 p.m., the University Club at UMass Amherst, 243 Stockbridge Road, Amherst. Sponsored by the UMass Fine Arts Center. Cost: members free, non-members $5. For information on the performance, see www.umass.edu/fac/calendar/centerseries/events/philadancodance.html.

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• March 9: March WestNet, 5 to 7 p.m., Westfield Care & Rehabilitation Center, 60 East Silver St., Westfield. Cost: members $10, non-members $15.

• March 18: Annual St. Patrick’s Day March Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Scanlon Hall, Westfield State University, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Sponsored by premium members Westfield Bank, Noble Health Systems, Westfield State University, and Westfield Gas and Electric. Cost: members $25, non-members $30. There are several different member chamber sponsorship levels available to have your company recognized. Contact Marie Quinn for more information, to reserve tickets, or if you have questions, at (413) 568-1618 or [email protected].

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

2011 AIM Global Trade Award Nominations Open
BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts International Business Council (AIM-IBC) has announced its call for nominations for the 16th annual Global Trade Awards, which recognize Massachusetts firms, institutions, and public agencies of all sizes that have demonstrated excellence in international trade. This year, a new award category will recognize a globally owned company that has positively impacted the Massachusetts economy. Kristen Rupert, executive director of AIM-IBC, noted in a statement that, “this year, we are focusing attention on the value of internationally owned companies, as their significant presence in the Commonwealth has led to the creation or retention of around 170,000 jobs.”Award winners will be honored at AIM’s Annual Meeting & Luncheon on May 13 at the Waltham Westin Hotel.  The deadline for nominations is March 18.  Entry forms are available online at www.aimnet.org/international. Since 1996, the Global Trade Awards have recognized more than 60 Massachusetts companies, institutions, and individuals. The AIM International Business Council helps Massachusetts employers engage in international trade and expand their global business activities. Through seminars, referrals, and e-newsletters, the AIM International Business Council provides companies with resources they need. For more information, visit www.aimnet.org/international.

UMass Research Spending Breaks $500M Mark
BOSTON — Research expenditures at the University of Massachusetts reached $536 million in fiscal year 2010, topping the $500 million mark for the first time in the school’s history, according to a statement by President Jack Wilson. Research spending increased by $47 million, rising from $489 million in fiscal year 2009 to $536 million in fiscal year 2010. The additional $47 million represents a 9.5% increase in research expenditures over the previous year. The research numbers, preliminary at this point, will be submitted to the National Science Foundation later this month. “Part of what makes the University of Massachusetts a world-class university is the sustained effort we have made in the past decade to increase research funding throughout all five of our campuses,” said Wilson. “The research work of our faculty is rocket fuel for the state’s innovation economy.  It is saving lives, cleaning the environment, and stoking economic development in Massachusetts. Our success in this area is the result of the hard work of the faculty, the leadership of the chancellors and their teams, and the encouragement and guidance we have received from our board of trustees.” With 9.5% growth in research spending, total research expenditures at UMass have been growing at a rate that exceeds the national average. Research expenditures have risen from $320 million in fiscal year 2003 to $536 million in fiscal year 2010. “Research activity at the University of Massachusetts has grown sharply over the past several years, and the Commonwealth and all of its citizens benefit from it,” added Wilson.  “The funding we have received creates new companies and new jobs in the state. It provides students with the kind of skills they need to be competitive in the workforce — and most of those students will stay here in Massachusetts to put that knowledge to work in the Commonwealth.” Most of the research that takes place on UMass campuses is externally funded, with the federal government providing research funding through the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies. According to the new report, preliminary fiscal year 2010 research expenditures by campus were: Amherst, $169 million; Boston, $51.3 million; Dartmouth, $26 million; Lowell, $57.4 million; and Worcester, $232 million. The university’s research-expenditure accomplishment comes on the heels of the recent announcement that UMass is now the eighth-ranked university in the nation in terms of income derived from the licensing of faculty discoveries and products. According to the Assoc. of University Technology Managers, UMass, with more than $71 million in income generated in 2009, was the top Massachusetts university in this ranking. Annual intellectual-property income rose from $20 million in fiscal year 2003 to $71 million during fiscal year 2009.

Personal-bankruptcy Filings Rise 8.5% in State
BOSTON — Personal-bankruptcy filings in Massachusetts jumped almost 9% in 2010, compared to 2009, according to a new report from the Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman. There were 17,496 Chapter 7 bankruptcies filed in Massachusetts last year, an 8.5% bump from the 16,118 filed in 2009, and a 45% hike from 12,034 in 2008. Chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy code is the most common option for individuals seeking debt relief, and accounted for 75% of Massachusetts’ bankruptcy filings last year. The fourth quarter saw the slowest quarterly bankruptcy pace of 2010, with 5,423 filers statewide seeking some kind of bankruptcy protection under Chapters 7, 11 and/or 13, compared to 5,350 in the fourth quarter of 2009. The second quarter experienced the most bankruptcy volume, with a combined 6,193 filings. Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings also accounted for almost 75% of all filings tracked by the Warren Group in the fourth quarter. Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings totaled 4,008 in the fourth quarter, a 4.8% decrease from 4,212 during the same period in 2009. People filing under Chapter 7 bankruptcy can eliminate most debt after non-exempt assets are used to pay off creditors. In contrast, Chapter 13 requires debtors to arrange for a three- or five-year debt-repayment plan. Filings under Chapter 13 of the U.S. bankruptcy code surged 52% to 5,392 in 2010, from 3,547 in 2009. The number of Chapter 13 filings rose 26.5% to 1,359 in the fourth quarter of 2010, up from 1,074 filings during the same period in 2009. Chapter 11 filings, which are used for business bankruptcies and restructuring, also rose in 2010; filings increased 10.2% to 237, up from 215 in 2009. Filings decreased in the fourth quarter, however. A total of 56 Chapter 11 bankruptcies were filed in the fourth quarter, down from 64 during the same period in 2009. A total of 23,125 filers statewide sought protection under Chapters 7, 11, and/or 13 of the U.S. bankruptcy code in 2010, up from 19,880 in 2009.

Small Grants Available for Connecticut River Improvement
SPRINGFIELD — Nonprofits, municipalities, and schools within the watershed of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts and Connecticut are invited to submit project proposals that will result in improved river-water quality, ecosystem health, public awareness, and recreational access to the Connecticut River. This project is a joint effort by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the Capitol Region Council of Governments, the Franklin Region Council of Governments, and the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency, which serve the towns in the Connecticut River watershed. Proposals are due March 18. For more information, visit www.pvpc.org. Funding for this project has been provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

UMass President Praises Obama Decision to Invest in Higher-Ed Innovation
BOSTON — UMass President Jack Wilson recently praised President Obama’s decision to propose the creation of a $123 million fund aimed at fostering reform and innovation in higher education. Wilson called the proposed “First in the World” fund a “farsighted effort to foster educational innovation and to set the stage for long-term national economic growth.” Wilson added that the proposal is consistent with the principles Obama enunciated in his State of the Union address when he said the U.S. must “win the future” by investing in education and by maximizing the capabilities of every student and citizen. Wilson serves as chairman of the National Board of the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). FIPSE’s mandate is to improve post-secondary-educational opportunities across a broad range of concerns. Through its various grant competitions, FIPSE seeks to support the implementation of innovative education-reform projects, to evaluate how well they work, and to share the findings with the larger education community. The funding for the higher-education-innovation fund, which also seeks to increase college-completion rates, was proposed when Obama unveiled his 2012 federal budget.

Smith & Wesson Receives Tax Break
SPRINGFIELD — With a commitment to add 225 full-time jobs and invest millions of dollars in its plant on Roosevelt Street, Smith & Wesson recently received tax incentives totaling $600,000 over a five-year period. The City Council approved the special tax agreement on a vote of 12-1. Councilor Timothy Rooke voted no because he felt the firm had not met hiring obligations in a financing agreement from 1995. John Judge, Springfield’s chief development officer, called the vote a “big win” for the city, adding that it would set the stage for “bigger and better things” from the company. Councilors noted that the new agreement outlines clearly the requirements that the firm must follow, and that reviews will be done to ensure that guidelines are met. John Dineen, vice president of finance for Smith & Wesson, noted during the council meeting that the firm looks forward to working with the city as it has for the past 159 years. Dineen added that Smith & Wesson will begin filling the new jobs within the next month.

State Businesses Report Record Exports in 2010
BOSTON — Global demand for technology products was good news for state businesses, as exports rebounded in 2010 to the highest level since 2008. High-tech instruments, machinery, and equipment rose 11.3% to more than $26 billion, according to the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER). WISER, based in Leverett, noted that only in 2008 did state firms sell more than $28 billion in overseas sales. Andre Mayer, senior vice president for research at Associated Industries of Massachusetts, noted that the state’s gains fell “far short” of national export growth. Mayer added that the state’s growth lagged behind the nation because its largest trading partners — Canada, Japan, and Europe — are nations recovering slowly from the global recession. The top export market for Massachusetts products in 2010 was the United Kingdom at $3.2 billion.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

Bank Employees Collect Items for Soldiers
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank conducted a company-wide care-package drive in mid-February through its employee-volunteer program to raise awareness of soldiers’ needs and show troops the support they have throughout Berkshire County, the Pioneer Valley, Eastern New York, and Southern Vermont. Bank officials partnered with local, service-connected organizations to distribute the care packages to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Customers and the public were invited to participate in the care package drive by donating non-perishable foods, travel-sized toiletries, games, and certain clothing items. Peter Lafayette, Berkshire Bank Foundation’s executive director, noted in a statement that the bank was “very proud” to again sponsor the drive to benefit soldiers from the region. Organizations partnering on the project with the bank were the USO of the Pioneer Valley and Blue Star Mothers of the Capital District.

Springfield Partners for Community Action Relocates Offices
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Partners for Community Action’s main office at 619 State St. and its weatherization office at 284 Main St., Indian Orchard, were moved the week of Feb. 14. Staff moved into renovated office space on the second floor of 721 State St., which houses Springfield Partners New Beginnings Childcare Center on its first floor. The main office phone number, (413) 263-6500, and staff extensions will not change. Weatherization staff can also be reached at this number. Visitors to the second floor of 721 State St. should park in the lot behind the building, which can be accessed from Monroe Street. For more information, visit www.springfieldpartnersinc.com.

Big Y Plans Store in Connecticut
SPRINGFIELD — Big Y Foods Inc. recently announced plans to open a World Class Market in Meriden, Conn. The company’s proposed 55,000-square-foot supermarket will be located in the 125,000-square-foot Townline Square shopping center on North Colony Road at its intersection with South Broad Street. Big Y intends to renovate the location vacated by ShopRite when it relocated to Wallingford in 2010. The Meriden Big Y will employ between 150 and 175 people. In other news, a Big Y World Class Market is under construction in Lee, and one in Franklin is scheduled to start construction later this year. Big Y has also announced plans to develop a Big Y World Class Market in the Foxfield Plaza in Foxborough. Big Y operates markets in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The Meriden market will represent Big Y’s investment of approximately $5 million into the community. In addition, the project will provide construction opportunities for local contractors during the renovation process. A late-spring opening is planned.

Authority Approves Baystate’s New ED Plan
SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Public Health Council recently approved Baystate Medical Center’s request to meet urgent community needs by expediting construction of a new emergency department as part of Baystate’s Hospital of the Future project now underway. The council of the Mass. Department of Public Health considers and approves or denies determination-of-need applications for health care building projects such as Baystate’s. The new ED, 70,000 square feet, nearly doubles the number of treatment areas, including a separate pediatric triage and treatment area, an urgent care center, eight rooms specifically designed for behavioral-health services, and an adjacent space for diagnostic imaging such as X-ray scanning. The new ED is scheduled to open by early fall of 2012, just a few months after the March 2012 opening of the first phase of the building project. For more information, visit www.baystatehealth.org/hospitalofthefuture.

UMass Spending on Financial Aid Rises to $130.5M
BOSTON — Illustrating its commitment to affordability, the University of Massachusetts is directing $130.5 million of its own funds to student financial aid this year, according to a recent report to the UMass Board of Trustees Committee on Administration and Finance. During the past eight years, UMass spending on financial aid has risen from $35.6 million to $130.5 million, an increase of 267%. In a statement, UMass President Jack Wilson noted that “we understand that higher education is the path to a better life for students and is critical to our future as a Commonwealth, and therefore the University of Massachusetts is doing everything it can to maintain access and affordability.” According to the report, 25,681, or 61%, of the university’s 41,947 in-state undergraduate students are receiving some amount of need-based financial aid this year.

Kindred Hospital Has Deficiency-free Survey
SPRINGFIELD — Kindred Hospital officials recently announced that its survey for Park View Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, a specialty neurobehavioral unit, was deficiency-free. The center, located within the hospital, provides services to individuals with acquired brain injuries, neuropsychiatric disorders, and other neurological/behavioral disorders. Massachusetts conducts on-site inspections that determine whether its nursing homes meet the minimum Medicare and Medicaid quality and performance standards. During the nursing-home inspection, a team evaluates whether the facility is meeting residents’ needs. Marcia B. Zimmer, executive director of the center, noted in a statement that she was “proud of the team of caregivers.” Zimmer added, “it’s an honor to have a deficiency-free survey, and I would like to thank the staff for their hard work in providing the quality care our residents deserve and expect.”

Baystate Home Infusion Opens Branch at Hospital
WARE — Baystate Home Infusion & Respiratory Services (BHI&RS) recently opened a second store at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital. Located on the first floor of the hospital, the firm offers a wide selection of medical equipment and is staffed by trained advisors. “A great advantage to the retail showroom is that customers can view many different personal-care items and also try out a wide range of medical products such as canes, walkers, crutches, hospital beds, wheelchairs, rollators, and transport chairs,” said Gisele Livingstone, customer service coordinator, in a statement. With trained Sigvaris fitters on staff, the store also offers a wide range of medically approved Sigvaris compression stockings, socks, and hosiery. The firm accepts most major insurances, and staff can work directly with customers to obtain coverage for products and services that qualify.

Easthampton Savings to Open New Loan Center
EASTHAMPTON — William Hogan Jr., president and CEO of Easthampton Savings Bank, announced that the bank will submit building plans to the city of Easthampton to construct a 28,000-square-foot loan center with a banking office at the corner of Northampton and O’Neill streets in town. This facility, which will be called the Easthampton Savings Bank Loan Center, will house the entire lending team and operations departments, as well as provide banking services with a new branch office. Thanks to the recent zone change by the city, there will be a drive-up window and a drive-up ATM at this location. The bank’s current drive-up ATM will be temporarily relocated across the street during construction. “With our expansion into this facility, we will be adding 14 new jobs in the community as well as generating approximately $60,000 annually in new tax revenue to the city,” Hogan said. “We will be constructing this building as green as possible and are currently exploring the feasibility of solar power. We will also provide bike racks to encourage customers to visit the bank from the nearby bike path.” The bank hopes to break ground this summer and be open for business in the spring of 2012. The bank’s main office is located at 36 Main St. in Easthampton.

People On the Move

By
Abby Mahoney
Departments People on the Move

Robert F. Borawski

Robert F. Borawski

Robert F. Borawski has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Florence Savings Bank. Borawski is President of Borawski Insurance Co. in Northampton. He is a Certified Insurance Counselor and a Licensed Insurance Advisor. Borawski was elected a Corporator of Florence Savings Bank in 1981 and a Director in 1992.
•••••
Abby Mahoney

Abby Mahoney

Abby Mahoney has been selected as Director of Career Services at American International College in Springfield. Mahoney will maintain the career library, Web site, database, and current job listings, as well as plan and conduct career days, job fairs and a majors fair. She will also design and deliver workshops, seminars, and fairs to assist students with job-search strategies such as interviewing, résumé writing, mock interviews, and other related supports. Mahoney will also contact, schedule, and arrange guest speakers from local businesses, the community, and alumni to present information about specific careers.
•••••
Roberta Hillenberg-Gang has been appointed Link Senior Project Coordinator for the Link to Libraries Inc.’s collaboration to offer read-aloud programs to area public elementary schools with Loomis Communities residents.
•••••
Pamela Simpson

Pamela Simpson

Pamela Simpson has been promoted to Commercial Banking Officer at United Bank. Working from United’s Northampton branch, Simpson’s primary responsibility will be business development in the Hampshire County marketplace.
•••••
Denise Remillard

Denise Remillard

Denise Remillard has joined the Insurance Center of New England in Agawam as Manager of Human Resources.
•••••
Mark A. Germain has been appointed Vice President and Partner in charge of technology at Gomes, DaCruz & Tracy. He will have overall responsibility for the development, implementation, and support of internal technology-related design and procedures as well as providing clients with technology consulting. He will also be responsible for providing accounting and tax services, focusing on the construction and manufacturing industries.
•••••
van Schouwen Associates in Longmeadow announced the following:
• Shannon Filippelli has been promoted to Director of Strategic Communications; and
• Staasi Heropoulos has been hired as Manager of Strategic Communications.
•••••
Kate Reagan has been hired by PeoplesBank as a Mortgage Consultant.
•••••
Attorney Danielle P. Ferrucci has been named a Partner at the law firm of Shipman & Goodwin in Hartford, Conn. Ferrucci’s practice encompasses the areas of estate planning, estate settlement, and trust administration. She also represents individual and corporate fiduciaries and beneficiaries in contested matters in probate courts throughout Connecticut.
•••••
The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce announced the following:
• Richard Kos of Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, P.C., has been named Incoming Chair of the Board of Directors;
• Tina Kuselias of BusinessWest has been named to the Board of Directors;
• Cid Inacio of Chicopee Savings Bank has been named to the Board of Directors;
• Corey Briere of Complete IT Solutions has been named to the Board of Directors;
• Ben Garvey of Insurance Center of New England Inc. has been named to the Board of Directors; and
• Lt. Col. James G. Bishop of Westover Air Reserve Base has been named to the Board of Directors.
•••••
Gregory B. Chiecko, Sales Director at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, has been elected to the International Assoc. of Fairs and Expositions’ Board of Directors and will serve as Chair of Zone 1 of the organization, which includes the Northeast U.S. as well as New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island in Canada.
•••••
Attorney William Hart, specializing in estate planning with the law firm of Bulkley, Richardson & Gelinas, has been appointed to the Professional Advisors Board of the Mason-Wright Foundation. The foundation provides housing and daily-living services to the elderly, regardless of their ability to pay.

Agenda

By
Agenda Departments

Business Plan Basics
March 3: The Mass. Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network will host a training session titled “Business Plan Basics” from 10 a.m. to noon at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 395 Main St., Greenfield. Allen Kronick, MSBDC, will present the workshop that focuses on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business-plan development. Topics include financing, marketing, and business planning. The fee is $35. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Dance Your Way to Wellness
March 4: The Chicopee and Greater Holyoke chambers of commerce will stage a fun night out called “Dance Your Way to Wellness” at the Castle of Knights on Memorial Drive in Chicopee, beginning at 6 p.m. The event will feature open dancing — as well as a dance production featuring award-winning dancers and student chamber members — all to the music of After All. Tickets are $40 per person for dinner and the dance production, and $20 for the production and open dancing (after 8 p.m.). For more information or to purchase tickets, call (413) 594-2101.

Transformational Leadership Forum
March 4: Randy Dobbs, author and protégé of General Electric’s legendary CEO Jack Welch, will be the keynote speaker for a forum titled “Transformational Leadership: a Blueprint for Organizational and Individual Success,” at the Western New England College (WNEC) Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship in Springfield. Hosted by WNEC and Springfield-based UnityFirst.com, the 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. event will offer insights on how individuals, organizations, and businesses can drive significant business improvement by adapting to change. Dobbs will share many tested concepts from his book, Transformational Leadership. Also, a panel of thought leaders will offer perspectives on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, marketplace, and community. Registration is required to attend the forum, which includes a copy of Dobbs’ book and lunch. To register, call (413) 221-7931 or e-mail [email protected].

National College Fair
March 6-7: The Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield is the setting for the Springfield National College Fair, slated from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 6 and from 9 a.m. to noon on March 7. Sponsored by the National Assoc. for College Admission Counseling, and hosted by the New England Assoc. for College Admission Counseling, the event is free and open to the public. The fair allows students and parents to meet one-on-one with admissions representatives from a wide range of national and international, public and private, two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Participants will learn about admission requirements, financial aid, course offerings, and campus environment, as well as other information pertinent to the college-selection process. Students can register at www.gotomyncf.com prior to attending the event to receive a printed, bar-coded confirmation to use on-site at the fair as an electronic ID.

Forum on Sales
March 9: The Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield, will be the setting for a program titled “Prospecting, Cold Calls, and Sales, Oh My!” from 9 to 11 a.m. The program, sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network, will be presented by Sheldon Snodgrass of SteadySales.com. Snodgrass will discuss ways to approach, qualify, and close prospects, as well as how to keep one’s ego and integrity intact. Additionally, Snodgrass will explain how to distinguish between a high- and low-probability prospect, how to get appointments with decision makers, and how to present who you are and what you do. A complete workbook is included. Fee is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

The Vision Project
March 10: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield will present “The Vision Project,” an event featuring Richard Freeland, Massachusetts commissioner of Higher Education, who will detail a new public higher-education agenda that has taken that name. The talk is slated for noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Springfield Sheraton. A box lunch will be provided. The master plan unites the work of the state’s community colleges, state universities, and the UMass system, while stressing accountability and aspirations for higher-education leadership. Freeland will detail why he believes Massachusetts needs “the best-educated citizenry and workforce in the nation,” and how the state can aspire to improve educational outcomes even in tough economic times. Tickets are $20 for ACCGS members and $30 for non-members. For more information or to order tickets, call (413) 755-1313 or visit www.myonlinechamber.com.

Be the Authority Lecture
March 16: Claudia Gere of Claudia Gere & Co. will present a lecture titled “Be the Authority and Attract More Customers” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The lecture is hosted by the Mass. Small Business Development Center (MSBDC). Gere will explain how to create written content to demonstrate your expertise, establish yourself as an authority, and create trust. Templates, formulas, and how-tos will be provided. The fee is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

U.S. Navy Band
Salutes City
March 18: The U.S. Navy Band will treat Springfield to an early birthday gift — a birthday concert — at 7 p.m. at Springfield Symphony Hall. The City of Springfield turns 375 years in May, and the band concert is just one of several events planned to mark the milestone. As the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy, the band will perform a wide range of marches, patriotic selections, orchestral transcriptions, and modern wind ensemble repertoire. Tickets are free and can be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the Spirit of Springfield/U.S. Navy Band, 101 State St., Suite 220, Springfield, MA 01103.

Difference Makers
March 24: BusinessWest will salute its Difference Makers Class of 2011 at a gala slated to begin at 5 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. Initiated in 2009, the Difference Makers program recognizes individuals and groups making outstanding contributions to the Western Mass. community. The 2011 winners — Tim Brennan, Lucia Giuggio Carvalho, Don Kozera, Robert Perry, and Anthony Scott — were profiled in the magazine’s Feb. 14 issue. For more information on the event or to order tickets ($50 per person, with tables of 10 available), call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10; or visit www.businesswest.com.

Lecture on Independent Contractor Statute
March 25: Attorney Susan Fentin of Skoler, Abbott & Presser will discuss the amendment to the Mass. Independent Contractor statute in 2004, and how misclassification has caught the attention of the Department of Labor. Fentin will cover the amendment, how it applies to individuals in the workforce, and the steps an employer needs to ensure compliance. The fee is $10. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Not Just Business as Usual
April 26: Al Verrecchia, retired CEO and chairman of the board of Hasbro Inc., will be the keynote speaker for a program titled “Not Just Business as Usual,” presented by the Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation. The STCC Foundation will capture the energy and excitement of the college’s past, present, and future at the unique affair that will be staged at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. In addition, two past Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame inductees, Balise Motor Sales and Smith & Wesson, will be honored for their continued success and contributions to the local community. A cocktail and networking reception is planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by a dinner program from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $175 each or $1,500 for a table of 10. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit STCC. For more information on the event, visit www.notjustbusinessasusual.net.

Western Mass.
Business Expo
May 4: Businesses from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties will come together for the premier trade show in the region, the Western Mass. Business Expo. Formerly known as the Market Show, the event, produced by BusinessWest, and staged at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, has been revamped and improved to provide exposure and business opportunities for area companies. The cost for a 10-by-10 booth is $700 for members of all area chambers and $750 for non-members; corner booths are $750 for all chamber members and $800 for non-members; and a 10-by-20 booth is $1,200 for all chamber members and $1,250 for non-members. For more information, log onto www.businesswest.com, or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10.

Springfield 375th Parade
May 14: The Spirit of Springfield is seeking community involvement for the city’s 375th birthday celebration, which will include a parade that represents all that Springfield has to offer, its roots, and its future. If you have a business or group that would like to get involved in the festivities, call (413) 733-3800 or e-mail a message to [email protected].

EASTEC 2011
May 17-19: EASTEC, the East Coast’s largest annual manufacturing event, will once again be staged at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. For exhibition or registration information, call (866) 635-4692 or visit www.easteconline.com.

40 Under Forty Gala
June 23: BusinessWest will present its 40 Under Forty class of 2011 at a not-to-be-missed gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, beginning at 5 p.m. The 40 Under Forty program, initiated in 2007, has become an early-summer tradition in the region. A team of five judges is currently scoring more than 100 nominations, and the winners will be announced in April. For more information on the event or to order tickets ($60 per person, with tables of 10 available), call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10; or visit www.businesswest.com.

Summer Business Summit
June 27-28: The Resort and Conference Center of Hyannis will be the setting for the Summer Business Summit, hosted by the Mass. Chamber of Business and Industry of Boston. Nominations are being accepted for the Massachusetts Chamber, Business of the Year, and Employer of Choice awards. The two-day conference will feature educational speakers, presentations by lawmakers, VIP receptions, and more. For more information, visit www.masscbi.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.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Brooke L. Langlais, ppa Victoria I. Morris v. Crickets Corner Learning Center Inc.
Allegation: While under the care of the defendant, the plaintiff was injured by a space heater left unattended: $5,500
Filed: 2/7/11
FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Rebecca Mae Higgins v. Hampden Custom Vision, Andrew Walkowiak, O.D., and John F. Warren, M.D.
Allegation: Negligence during the course of eye surgery causing permanent vision impairment: $25,000+
Filed: 1/6/11

Takisha Burton v. MA Dept. of State Police
Allegation: Negligence in the operation of a state police cruiser, causing injury: $57,608.61
Filed: 1/10/11
HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Commonwealth Packaging Corp. v. Daniel Fitzgerald and CCES, LLC
Allegation: Failure to perform work in timely manner: $51,702.58
Filed: 12/6/10

Edgar Guerra v. Farmland Foods Inc.
Allegation: Employee discrimination: $25,000+
Filed: 12/6/10

Jacquelynne M. Williams v. City of Holyoke, Robert Kane, and Michael J. Sullivan
Allegation: Claim against municipality for discrimination in the workplace: $248,000
Filed: 12/3/10

Shimizu Corp. v. Dow Roofing Systems Inc.
Allegation: Failure of a roof sold by the defendant: $1,000,000
Filed: 12/6/10

Thomas and Jean Despard v. Lumber Liquidators
Allegation: Breach of contract and warranties of sale: $80,000
Filed: 12/3/10

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Laurel Arel v. Wing Memorial Hospital and Andrew B. Chertoff, M.D.
Allegation: Failure to diagnose: $400,000
Filed: 1/28/11

Mitchell J. Fondakowski v. Bowditch, LLC
Allegation: Failure to pay wages: $25,000+
Filed: 1/18/11

Walter Warchut, executor of the estate of Sally Warchut v. M. Kubair Kareem, M.D. and Kimat Gul Khatak, M.D.
Allegation: Negligence in diagnosis, resulting in death: $25,000+
Filed: 1/14/11

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Daybreak Fast Freight Inc. v. New A.D.E. Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment for transportation services: $4,068.42
Filed: 1/18/11

Margaret Alexander v. Kmart Corporation
Allegation: Negligence in property maintenance, causing slip and fall: $6,000
Filed: 1/18/11

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Daily Hampshire Gazette Inc. v. Night Timez and William D. Bergren
Allegation: Non-payment of advertising services rendered: $11,174.86
Filed: 1/10/11

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Aydyn Clayton, a minor, ppa Nicole Clayton v. Eastfield Mall shopping center; Central Specialties, LTD; and Tubular Engineering & Supply Co.
Allegation: Negligence causing injury to minor. Two-year-old injured in a stroller offered for use by the Eastfield Mall: $27,810.54
Filed: 1/5/11

Bank of America, N.A. v. Compton Doors Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of a promissory note: $91,603.94
Filed: 12/16/10

Janet and Michael Young v. BSF Construction Inc.
Allegation: Breach of residential contract for services: $19,769.10
Filed: 1/5/11

The MVA Center for Rehabilitation Inc. v. The Premier Insurance Group
Allegation: Defendant was denied payment for reasonable and necessary medical bills and services rendered: $2,616.45
Filed: 12/13/10

United Rentals Inc. v. Tremont Caulking & Coating Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment for materials, equipment, and services on a construction project: $6,416.59
Filed: 1/6/11

Williams Distributing Corp. v. DEA Entertainment, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment for goods sold and delivered: $4,212.76
Filed: 1/13/11

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Accurate Mechanical Corp. v. J. Calabrese Farms, LLC
Allegation: Breach of service contract for plumbing and gas pipe work: $10,000
Filed: 1/3/11

Simplicity Engineering, N.E. Inc. v. First Financial Brokerage Inc.
Allegation: Failure to return deposit and breach of contract: $24,353.78
Filed: 1/20/11

PictureThis

By
Russell Denver
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]

Mary Ellen Scott, president of United Personnel

Mary Ellen Scott, president of United Personnel

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal

Russell Denver

Russell Denver, right, with PeoplesBank President and CEO Doug Bowen


Outlook 2011
The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield staged Outlook 2011 on Feb. 11. The event featured an address from Gov. Deval Patrick, at right, and remarks from U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (top right, with Patrick and Health New England President Peter Straley at the head table). HNE was the presenting sponsor. At top left, Mary Ellen Scott, president of United Personnel, presents the chamber’s legislative agenda. Above, Russell Denver (right, with PeoplesBank President and CEO Doug Bowen) is saluted as he winds up more than 15 years as ACCGS president.

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

420 Main St. Group, Inc.
420 Main St., Bldg. 4
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/24/11

Archambeau, Gene A.
Archambeau, Denise H.
157 Lower Beverly Hills
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/11

Atwater, James D.
Atwater, Theresa R.
133 Lindbergh Blvd.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/27/11

Auger, Raymond R.
P.O.Box 431
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/28/11

Bailey, Daniel B.
66 Lake Dr.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/28/11

Banas, Patricia A.
66 Lake Dr.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/28/11

Banash, Gary M.
47 Vladish Ave.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/20/11

Belliveau, Jean M.
868 Southampton Road #42
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Blatt, Cynthia A.
320 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/20/11

Boissonneault, Charles F.
Boissonneault, Sara E.
a/k/a Champagne, Sara E.
P.O.Box 172
Huntington, MA 01050
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Borkosky, David A.
1 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/11

Bourgeois, Lisa A.
Bourgeois, Wanda Bridget
145 Ventura St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/11

Boyle, Daniel P.
54 Claire Ave.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Broderick, Patrick W.
930 Main St.
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/20/11

Brunelle, John R.
Brunelle, Ellen D.
10 Ridge Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

C.L. Moran Mechanical Construction
Moran, Curtiss Lee
94 1/2 Old Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/26/11

Carleton, Philip John
Carleton, Barbara Mary
11 Amherst St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Clark, David S.
Clark, Hilary M.
20 Rockland Heights Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/26/11

Crosby, Russell G.
Crosby, Jette
P.O.Box 514
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/28/11

Daniel, Patricia P.
64 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/21/11

Dollase, Catharine J.
25 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/11

Dukette, Eric
P.O.Box 0934
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/11

Dulude, Joseph M.
70 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Ewing, Barbara D.
18 Cornell St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Flanagan, Michael
Flanagan, Miranda
13 Dexter St., Apt. #2
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/11

Fontaine, Donna A.
1661 Westover Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/11

Gates, Howard W.
Gates, Joan I.
P.O.Box 167
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/11

Gingras, David M.
891 West Housatonic St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/18/11

Gold Star Canine
Ahearn, Shawn P.
217 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Hartnett, Debra A.
a/k/a Garczynski, Debra A.
199 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Hussey, Donald J.
Hussey, Sandra L.
300 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/11

Kruzel, Joseph C.
Kruzel, Lottie T.
2 Margaret Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Kulvicius, Olga Michelle
27 Sylvan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/24/11

Lassiter, Leslie
15 Shaw St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/24/11

Laviolette, John Anthony
Laviolette, Theresa Ann
6 Melody Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/21/11

Legrand, Nicholas N.
17 Princeton St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/11

Lesperance, Thomas D.
5 Plainville Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/27/11

Liltbear’s Trading Post
Maloney, Paul J.
Maloney, Susan E.
79 Devens St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/20/11

Lussier, Kendra Lynn
a/k/a Kies, Kendra L.
20 Lawson Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Macksey, Randy J.
Macksey, Pamela M.
90 Liberty St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/11

Mailhott, Wendy A.
1 Dover Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/24/11

Marier, Raymond P.
678 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/24/11

Marini, Keith M.
87 West Akard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/11

Martin, Bridgitt L.
125 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

McDonnell, Kimberly F.
58 Magnolia Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/28/11

McGowan, John Robert
P.O. Box 591
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/20/11

McMordie, Cheryl A.
123 Honey Pot Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/19/11

Mendoza, Gloria I.
91 Oakwood Ter.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/11

Morin, Joseph A.
Morin, Lisa M.
60 Belmont Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/28/11

Nguyen, Nga T.
346 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/11

Pelkey, Donald R.
Pelkey, Patricia A.
36 Woodland Road
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/18/11

Phillips, Claude C.
122 Gralia Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/24/11

Reed, Lawrence E.
22 Lakeside Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Reynolds, Michael J.
74 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Roberts, Gail M.
Roberts, Wayne L.
P.O.Box 184
Blandford, MA 01008-0184
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/11

Roberts, Julianne
25 Woodbridge Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Rodriguez, Patricia
a/k/a Most, Patricia
450 Broadway St., #2
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Roman’s Automotive Inc.
534 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Rosa, Luz S.
22 Barton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/11

Saalfrank, Richard A.
Saalfrank, Louise T.
491 Bridge Road, Apt. #1001
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Saez, Angel L.
12 Volpe Dr., Apt. 65
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/24/11

Salame, Valarie L.
79 Woodmont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/11

Soucie, Todd A.
Soucie, Kimberly R.
232 Arlington St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Spinazola, William P.
235 Littleton Road #9
Chelmsford, MA 01824
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Sullivan, Kimberly J.
116 West Orange Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/11

Team Page
Page by Page Assisting
Page, David M.
a/k/a Charbonneau, David M.
Page, Christy L.
a/k/a Fisher, Christy L.
83 East Myrtle St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/11

Tirozzi, Michael Joseph
Tirozzi, Debra Lynn
37 Melba St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/11

Toole, Thomas E.
70 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/18/11

Tunnicliffe, Ruth
609 West St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/24/11

Vivenzio, Rachelle M.
a/k/a Persico, Rachelle
116 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Weagle, Jay F.
P.O. Box 651
West Warren, MA 01092
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/11

Wheeler, Richard
Wheeler, Kathleen
53 White Oaks Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Wolfram, David William
Lapinski, Mary H.
27 Hillside Road
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/19/11

Youmans, Roberta Louise
11 Delmore St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/11

Zavala, Rene
Rivera, Carmen L.
a/k/a Rivera-Zavala, Carmen L.
12 Isabel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/11

Zrakas, Denise J.
110 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/25/11

Opinion

By
Opinion
Business Needs Partnership with Education

A more comprehensive partnership between business and education could benefit both our student population and the economy. The need for expanded educational options, with more focus on career preparation, has been suggested in several recent studies and articles, and is becoming part of the national conversation.
And a new statewide vision can help us set that course.
We’ve read of states and cities with high unemployment where jobs are still unfilled due to a lack of potential employees with the necessary skill set. And according to a recent report, the National Skills Coalition has found that, by 2016, 38% of all job openings will require more than a high-school education.
Additionally, a new study conducted by the Harvard Graduate School of Education notes that, of the 47 million American jobs expected to be created by 2018, only one-third will require a bachelor’s degree. One solution, the report suggests, is to place stronger emphasis on career-focused education. The report also urges employers to expand opportunities for work-based learning by high-school students.
Over the past century, America moved ahead because of the widespread education of its workers. Now, that once-accepted education level has become inadequate, because many jobs previously available for a high-school graduate no longer exist, or at least not in this country.
With lower-skilled and lower-cost jobs moving abroad, could technically advanced products and processes lead to jobs that would be created and retained at home? Do the appropriate academic programs now exist, or can they be established in response to this need? Might the high-school dropout rate decrease if students could see a clear path through education to a useful and satisfying career?
One clear way to answer these questions in the affirmative is to strengthen partnerships — among educational institutions at different levels, and between education and business.
A pathway to progress in American education and jobs is being promoted by Richard Freeland, Massachusetts commissioner of Higher Education, in the Vision Project. This initiative asserts that Massachusetts will be a national leader, and will assess and report on five goals for our 29 public higher-education institutions. These goals include sending more Bay State high-school graduates to college, graduating them from college at a higher rate, measuring their academic achievement, aligning programs with the workforce needs of the state, and closing achievement gaps among different student population groups.
At Springfield Technical Community College, we have been working on these issues for some time, through a variety of means that include:
• Encouraging higher college-enrollment rates through outreach efforts to area high schools, and through scholarship and financial-aid support;
• Focusing on increasing student success through Achieving the Dream initiatives (STCC is the only Western Mass. college selected by the Lumina Foundation for this national, multi-year, grant-funded effort);
• Making sure our career programs lead to jobs in area businesses and organizations;
• Measuring student academic achievements, and comparing the results nationally; and
• Working to close the achievement gap among our varied student populations through focused advising and assistance toward student success.
One goal in the Vision Project — producing graduates that possess the skill sets demanded by business and industry — is the most relevant for this forum. Are we educating appropriately trained graduates for current and future jobs here in Western Mass.?
We believe so, partly because STCC career programs are advised by professionals in those specific industries. We are very grateful to the many businesses, banks, and foundations that have generously contributed toward these academic programs.
A few years ago, we conducted a series of studies in local industries from health care to financial services to manufacturing, and heard that we are, indeed, producing graduates with the requisite skills and knowledge.
We welcome a continued, ongoing discussion with industry leaders. What can we do better? Are there new academic areas that we should explore to assure a solid economic future not only for our graduates, but also for the potential employees needed to allow our regional industry to grow? We look toward an expanded, strengthened partnership between education and business to invigorate the economic vitality of our region.

Ira Rubenzahl is president of Springfield Technical Community College.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of February 2011.

AGAWAM

CES Logistics
335 Walnut St.
George Ammirato

Gonyeas Business Support
32 Wildflower Lane
Judith Gonyea

Hidden Treasures
143 Main St.
Laura Albano

Holly’s Consignment
1325 Springfield St.
Holly Kirby

Second Wind Yoga
327 Walnut St.
William Clark

TLC Transport LLC
91 Ramah Circle
Jo-Anne Candido

CHICOPEE

Great China Restaurant
690 Grattan St.
Li Q. Gao

LS Cleaning Services
954 Chicopee St.
Luciano C. Santos

EASTHAMPTON

Aaron’s Roll-Off Service
1 Loomis Way
Joel Keefe

All Things Relaxation
21 South St.
Jessica Berger

Skull Factory
12 Matthew Dr.
Eric Talbot

Three Posies
2 Franklin St.
Bronwen Hodgkinson

EAST LONGMEADOW

Landmark Realtors
60 North Main St.
Thomas Avezzie

Red Carpet Nails
424 North Main St.
Kwang Shin

Vanie’s Hair and Nails
613 North Main St.
Stephanie Le

GREENFIELD

D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches
68 Mohawk Trail
Land Corporation

Soucie Styles
94 Main St.
Amy Soucie

The Laundry
176 Federal St.
Alexander Fiorey

The Solar Express
120 Fox Hill Road
Alexander Fiorey

HOLYOKE

Diaz Auto Sales
829 Main St.
Jose R. Diaz

N.F. Creed Communications
2 Pheasant Dr.
Nancy F. Creed

Vin’s Car Wash
185 South St.
Paul J. Mazzariello

LUDLOW

All Day All Night Fitness
56 East St.
Carol J. Morello

Compass Professional Services
733 Chapen St.
Kathleen Duke

Warrior Nation Xtreme Fighters Alliance
885 East St.
Jess G. Camp

NORTHAMPTON

John Geryk Plumbing & Heating
20 Jackson St.
John T. Geryk

MIS Cleaning
377 Florence Road
Patricia Mizula

Northampton Cab
68 Bradford St.
Seemo Amzil

Paradise Food Group
139 Federal St.
Donna B. Lilborn

Rich Clothing For Men
22 Masonic St.
Nancy Donato

SOUTHWICK

Donna M. Houghton Licensed Massage Therapist
405 North Loomis St.
Donna M. Houghton

Hairsworks Salon
320 College Highway
Paula Zering

New England Academic Specialties
1 Cody Lane
Kristen Coccia

SPRINGFIELD

Ahisha’s Snow Removal
1303 Bay St.
Ahisha L. Fontanez

Anderson Home Improvement
777 St. James Ave.
Frederick C. Anderson

Appleby’s Neighborhood Grille
1349 Boston Road
Rebecca R. Tilden

Car-Venience
6 Lawton St.
Glen D. Porter

Clinton Nursery School
1590 Sumner Ave.
Karen L. Hachadourian

Conquest
351 Bridge St.
AT & T Corporation

Cumberland Farms
70 Parker St.
Cumberland Farms Inc.

CVS Pharmacy
1242 Parker St.
Isabel B. Amado

Doggy Dooz
1512 Allen St.
Paula L. Cox

Downtown Convenience
160 Worthington St.
Nafees Awan

Eternal Nail Salon Inc.
1195 Sumner Ave.
Nicole Chen

Fantastico Wraps and Salads
1500 Main St.
Nazario J. Settembre

Fresh Anointing Ministries
711 Dwight St.
Anthony Darryl

Healing Hands Ministries
158 Chestnut St.
Clive Ryan

Heavenly Essence
280 Oakland St.
Hamzah Latif

House of Tickets
340 Cooley St.
Bruce M. Cooper

Interior Motives Publishing
97 Lumae St.
Keith L. Walker

J. Methe Construction
34 Newport St.
Jeremy D. Methe

WESTFIELD

Gene Paulson Health & Happiness
31 Ridgeway St.
Eugene Paulson

GG’s Auto Repair Inc.
988 Southampton Road
John R. Gagnon

Greg Mastroianni Electrician
110 Joseph Ave.
Greg Mastroianni

Gulfstream
33 Elise St.
Gulfstream Aerospace

Household Handyman
130 Park Dr.
Edwin Pemberton

Leger’s Field Services
77 Valley View Dr.
Gary M. Leger

Lethe-Rasa Freelancing
12 Chestnut St.
Hunter Elliot

Ryan’s Package
31 Franklin St.
Edwin O. Anderson

Seasons for Gifting
19 Old Park Lane
Kathie Mazza

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Atwood Fire & Security
33 Sylvan St.
George Condon III

Coppa Law Group
1012 Memorial Ave.
Vittorio Coppa

Kevin T. Boyle Plumbing and Heating
19 Rochelle St.
Kevin T. Boyle

Long Radio
1102 Riverdale St.
W. T. Mitus Company Inc.

Lower Pioneer Valley Educational
174 Brush Hill Ave.
Anne S. McKenzie

Naatz Law Office
1012 Memorial Ave.
Carrie A. Naatz

New Image Décor N More.com
129 Apple Ridge Road
Linda M. Guiel

Shades of Jade
1138 Memorial Ave.
JB Studios Inc.

Editorial

By
Opinion
Smaller Manufacturing Sector Still Relevant

Tony Fernandez said that, when a long-time Springfield official came to visit him recently at Baystate Metal Solutions’ Armory Street plant, this individual confessed that he long believed the property in question was abandoned and unoccupied. In fact, it had been humming — sometimes at a faster pace than others — for nearly 40 years.
This episode could effectively serve as a metaphor for the region’s manufacturing sector as a whole. To many, this industry is like that property on Armory Street: people drive by, figuratively, look at it quickly, and think there’s nothing going on there — that its day has passed.
In defense of that Springfield official, it would be easy to think this property was abandoned. Once a stable of sorts for the horses in Springfield’s mounted police patrol, it had certainly seen better days and looked shuttered (some renovations are now in progress). And in defense of those who see the manufacturing sector as a once-proud but now rather insignificant part of the region’s economy — well, it might be easy to think that, as well.
But as in the case of the Baystate complex, with the manufacturing sector, one just needs to look a little more closely.
Indeed, as the stories in this issue of BusinessWest relate, there is still a thriving manufacturing sector in this region. In truth, it’s a fraction of its once-massive size, but there is still depth, diversity, jobs, and resilience.
As the stories on Baystate and Hazen Paper reveal, manufacturing companies in this region — and all others — must, even if they’ve been around for 85 years (Hazen) or since 1973 (Baystate), adapt, change, diversify, and create ways to be ever-more resilient.
At Hazen, the third-generation paper converter still counts basic laminating work as its bread and butter. But in recent years, it has created and expanded a holographic division that is doing exciting, cutting-edge work helping graphic artists and packagers use a host of high-tech designs to sell everything from golf balls to toothpaste to Elvis CDs.
Investments required to bring creation and production of these holographic originations were significant and came with considerable risk, but the company made them, because they were necessary, not for survival, but for the company to continue growing in Holyoke and now Berkshire County and Indiana.
At Baystate, meanwhile, new ownership is injecting life into a company that had been declining for several years. A metal fabricator, Baystate, formerly Ace, still creates cabinetry and other components for everything from television transmitters to first-response vehicles on the decks of aircraft carriers.
Baystate has made significant strides in just seven months since Fernandez arrived, but it needs help in the form of local and state grants to help acquire new equipment and bring processes in house.
We hope that this help is forthcoming, and, likewise, we hope that economic-development officials, area lenders, and local leaders will look a little more closely at the existing manufacturing sector — what might appear to be abandoned, vacant property. If they do, they’ll often discover that there’s life inside.
And while it’s critical to support new, sometimes-exotic avenues of job creation — from wind turbines to cellulosic ethanol — investments in a smaller but still-significant manufacturing sector are equally important for the future of this region.