Here’s the Scoop: Rondeau’s Marks 70 Years
PALMER — Alvin Rondeau’s Dairy Bar, a Quaboag region institution, is this month celebrating its 70th birthday. It was on May 18, 1940 that Alvin “Mike” Rondeau opened his ice-cream shop, which has endured and now has fourth and fifth-generation members of the family carrying on the tradition. Indeed, Dick Rondeau, Alvin’s grandson, now works alongside his son, Dick, and grandson, Michael. The establishment, located on Route 32, specializes in hot dogs, hamburgers, fresh seafood, and, of course, ice cream. As in past years, Rondeau’s will mark its birthday celebration with a special. From May 18 to May 20, ice-cream cones, hot dogs, fries, and soda will all be 70 cents each.
Hampden Bank Turns 158, Is Named Sponsor of Jazz & Art Festival
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden Bank recently celebrated its 158th anniversary, an occasion the institution’s president, Tom Burton, marked by looking forward, not back. “Reaching this milestone on my watch is indeed a privilege. I couldn’t be more proud of our people, who we are, and what we’ve accomplished on behalf of those we serve,” he said. “As we move toward the end of the first decade of the 21st century, we will not rest on our laurels; we will continue to vigorously support our communities, and we will work tirelessly to brighten the days of our customers.” In other news, the bank announced that it is the named sponsor of the fourth annual Hoop City Jazz & Art Festival, partnering with presenting sponsor MassMutual and a host of other businesses and organizations. The event, to be staged July 9-11, is being moved to downtown Springfield at Court Square and the City Hall Esplanade.
Tiger Press Adds New Color Production System
NORTHAMPTON — Tiger Press announced that it has installed a new Ricoh C900 color production system at its manufacturing facility in Northampton. The system can produce more than 5,000 color impressions per hour on a variety of coated and uncoated stocks. Digital files are handled using the newest Fiery controller with built-in color calibration and imposition. “This new digital press enables us to offer color reproduction of short-run orders for a fraction of what our competitors are charging,” said Reza Shafii, president of Tiger Press. The C900 has a unique square-saddle-stitch capability that allows a spine for larger books, a special feature for customers in need of high-quality, short-run booklets with limited budget, he continued. In addition, Tiger Press has developed an advanced proofing technique for projects that will be produced on uncoated stock. Printing on recycled, uncoated paper is becoming more popular as companies strive to become more eco-friendly.
Curran & Berger Adds Location in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Curran & Berger, LLP, the Northampton-based immigration-law firm, has opened a satellite office at 1145 Main St. in Springfield. The new location will provide a convenient meeting space for legal staff to meet with its clients, said partners Joseph Curran and Dan Berger.
Friendly’s Restaurants Introduce New Salads
WILBRAHAM — In response to a desire among many adult Americans to eat healthier, Friendly’s has introduced a new selection of freshly made salads. Beginning in late March, more than 500 Friendly’s restaurants began offering seven new salads, including Southwest Chipotle Chicken Salad, Bleu Moon Sirloin Salad, and Apple Harvest Chicken Salad. In addition, Friendly’s has partnered with Healthy Dining, an organization that recommends dietician-approved menu items at restaurants. As part of the partnership, healthydiningfinder.com will highlight several the healthier options that are available at Friendly’s restaurants. These choices will be highlighted in Friendly’s menus. For more information on the new offerings, visit www.friendlys.com.
Mercy Medical’s EEG Lab Achieves Accreditation
SPRINGFIELD —- The Electroencephalographic (EEG) Lab at Mercy Medical Center has been awarded accreditation by the EEG Laboratory Accreditation Board of the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET), making it one of only two EEG labs in Massachusetts to achieve that distinction. The ABRET lab-accreditation process involves evaluation of technical standards, the quality of the laboratory’s output, and lab-management issues. According to ABRET, successful accreditation indicates that the EEG lab has met strict standards and is recognized for providing quality diagnostics. “The ABRET accreditation is another example of Mercy Medical Center’s success in providing outstanding patient care throughout our facility, and delivered daily by highly trained professionals using quality diagnostic tools,” said Sharon Adams, RN, vice president of Patient Care Services at Mercy Medical Center. “This independent, objective verification of quality management and policies also allows physicians and patients to choose the EEG Lab at Mercy with the confidence of knowing that they will receive quality diagnostics.” The EEG Lab at Mercy Medical Center provides testing for 540 patients each year, and the ABRET lab accreditation is effective through 2015. EEGs are used diagnostically for many neurological problems, including stroke, seizures, migraine headaches, tumors, headaches, and dizziness. With this accreditation, Mercy joins Children’s Hospital of Boston as one of only two facilities in Massachusetts with EEG labs that meet ABRET standards.
Mont Marie Scores Highest in Region in Survey
HOLYOKE — Family members rated the care that their loved ones receive at the Mont Marie Health Care Center as the best in Western Mass., according to a survey just released by the State Department of Public Health. The Mont Marie Health Care Center, a not-for-profit skilled-nursing facility owned and operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, was among 430 nursing homes surveyed by the state last fall. The center scored 4.79 in overall satisfaction, well above both the statewide average of 4.22 and the Western Mass average of 4.20 (on a scale of 1-5). When asked if they would recommend the Mont Marie Health Care Center to a friend or family member, 98% of the respondents said ‘yes.’ Commenting on the high score, center Administrator Sr. Elizabeth Sullivan said, “the numbers indicate the trust level and credibility that family members have in our staff, who respond to the needs of residents on a daily basis with compassion, respect, and diligence.” The survey collected detailed information about nursing-home staff, physical environment, activities, personal-care services, food and meals, and residents’ personal rights. It also asked respondents to rate overall satisfaction and ability to meet residents’ needs. Surveys were mailed to approximately 34,600 family members of nursing home residents across the state.
United Bank announced that Jennifer Boyle has been promoted to the position of Business Intelligence Officer, responsible for providing database systems management, analysis, and administration in support of the bank’s information-reporting needs. Boyle joined United in 2005 as electronic report writer with previous experience as a systems analyst with Senior Care Management Services in Pittsfield, a provider of nationwide long-term care management services. Through its Wealth Management Group and its partnership with NFP Securities Inc., United is able to offer access to a range of investment and insurance products and services, as well as financial, estate, and retirement strategies and products.
Susan Bellows is a sales strategist who helps businesses select and retain high-performing salespeople as well as determine whether and how underperformers can be turned around; (413) 566-3934; 
Dennis G. Egan Jr. is an associate with the regional law firm Bacon Wilson, P.C, who specializes in business and corporate law; (413) 781-0560; 
