Home Archive by category Departments (Page 124)

Departments

By
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

Capital One Bank v. Ace Industrial Cleaning Co.
Allegation: Monies owed for credit advanced: $2,466.21
Filed: 10/29/09

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Larry G. Cushing & Sons Inc. v. Atlantic Ground Source
Allegation: Non-payment of well drilling services rendered: $43,075.70
Filed: 10/30/09

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Gary Wing v. Westside Finishing Inc. and John Roth
Allegation: The defendant negligently unloaded a steel box, causing the box to strike the plaintiff: $363,167.02
Filed: 9/24/09

Karen L. Melikian, administratrix of the estate of Mary Ann Charter, v. Life Care Center of Wilbraham
Allegation: Wrongful death caused by a cerebrovascular accident, after the decedent was negligently dislodged from a wheelchair and struck her head: $350,000
Filed: 10/21/09

Prime Plywood & Panel Inc. v. Formica Corp.
Allegation: Price discrimination and unfair and deceptive trade practices: $600,000
Filed: 10/29/09

Velma Chase v. Wing Memorial Hospital Corp.
Allegation: Medical malpractice; patient described as being at high risk for fall was left unattended for an extended period of time, fell, and suffered personal injuries: $140,000
Filed: 10/22/09

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

DeForche Construction, N.V. v. Hampden Structural Systems d/b/a Private Garden Greenhouse Systems and Joseph Hickson
Allegation: Breach of contracts and failure to pay subcontractor for materials and services rendered: $1,109,702
Filed: 10/22/09

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

Utica Mutual Insurance Co., subrogee of NEFCO Corp. v. Commercial Auto Service and Rafael de la Cruz
Allegation: Defendant’s customer negligently operated his motor vehicle, causing damage to building: $3,010.27
Filed: 10/14/09

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

First Bank – Mt. Pleasant v. Classical 5-Element Acupuncture and Margaret Gold, M.D.
Allegation: Non-payment of judgment: $13,907.13
Filed: 11/5/09

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

ABC Supply Co. Inc. v. BB Roofing
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $2,746.89
Filed: 10/21/09

Bank of America, N.A. v. Ribbery Sports Bar & Grill
Allegation: Non-payment of monies loaned: $18,642.42
Filed: 10/14/09

Comcast Spotlight Inc. v. Premier Club Enterprises Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of advertising services rendered: $1,947.02
Filed: 10/13/09

Johanna Rosario v. Springfield Area Transit Authority
Allegation: Pedestrian struck by PVTA bus, sustaining multiple injuries: $4,168.76
Filed: 10/20/09

Karen L. Myrade v. Ames Design Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of accounting services rendered: $5,983.70
Filed: 10/09/09

Lifting Gear Hire Corp. v. Global Demolition & Recycling, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of rental equipment provided: $25,220.99
Filed: 10/14/09

Whitney Building Products Inc. v. Tetreault Masonry Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $6,687.68
Filed: 10/19/09

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Leanne Barrett v. Century 21 A-1 Nolan Realty, LLC
Allegation: Breach of real-estate agreement and failure to return deposit: $5,000
Filed: 10/30/09

By
Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of November 2009.

AGAWAM

Pleasures & Treasures
610 Springfield St.
Deborah Sullivan

Shear Techniques
711 Main St.
Diane Palazzi

Shoulder Your Style
33 Cypress Terr.
Catherine M. Gionet

Traveling Admin.
179 School St.
Jacqueline M. Brusa

AMHERST

Caizan Home Improvement
171 Colonial Village
Juan Caizan

GranAuto
171 Colonial Village
Juan Caizan

Harchik AARP Associates, LLC
239 Aubinwood Road
Alan Harchik

Okapi Cab
534 Main St.
Dieudo Etinde

CHICOPEE

Dunkin Donuts
820 Memorial Dr.
Ana Capela

Miami Nails
591 Memorial Dr.
Alphonso Can

Myeties.com
87 Baystate Road
Scott A. Bieda

New Image Siding & Windows
17 High St.
Jeremy Dion

Perfect Fit Dental Lab
210 Exchange St.
Vitaliy Trachenko

Stephanie’s Painting Service
1226 Montgomery St.
Stephanie Tardif

The Sheffield Cartage Co.
340 McKinstry Ave.
James Royce

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Art School
150 Pleasant St.
Marilyn Sturgill

Hinkie Pinkie
62 Briggs St.
Audrey Hyronen

Papa Georges Pizza
135 Northampton St.
John Tsishakis

Quality Carpentry
180 Northampton St.
Said Lmaalem

Wild Sky Farm
4 Kingsherry Way
Kristen Wilmer

EAST LONGMEADOW

Apex Underwriting Solutions
115 Canterbury Circle
Gregg R. Secor

Jeffrey Schiff
354 Elm St.
Jeffrey Schiff

GREENFIELD

Baystate Health Ambulance
338 High St.
Keith McLean–Shinaman

Garden Gate Recordings
140 Davis St.
Robert LaMountain

GCB Financial Services
277 Federal St.
Eric A. Marsh

Goodies Restaurant
256 Federal St.
Goodies Restaurant, Inc.

Green River Auto
144 Shelburne Road
Richard Andrew

Help Around the House
406 Country Side
Robert S. Page Jr.

Lapine Multimedia
14 Farren St.
William & Kathy White

Liebenon Auto Body
163 Wells St.
Robert Liebenon

The Beancake Factory
324 Wells St.
Francis Mozea

V.O. Rell Institute of Real Estate
38 Bank Road
Dan Viorel Oros

HADLEY

Aaron Transportation
58 Russell St.
Scott Bellemore

HOLYOKE

Rack Room Shoes Inc.
50 Holyoke St.
Peter R. Barr

Sturbridge Yankee Peddlar
50 Holyoke St.
Michael Slate

LUDLOW

Community Counseling Solutions
733 Chapin St.
Janice Loboda

Grey Nook Flowers
343 Winsor St.
Allan Floyd

Reptiles Crossing & Shagg’s Pets
204 West St.
James Maciag

Walgreen’s
54 East St.
Walgreen Eastern Co.

NORTHAMPTON

Pleasant Auto Detail
297 Pleasant St.
Omar de Jesus

Strom Remodeling
144 North Maple St.
Richard Strom

Vegamica
245 Main St.
Derek Goodwin

  

PALMER

Alternative Marketing Concepts
12 Vernon St.
Walter Haggerty

Tri Town Flea Market
1311 Park St.
Jennie Grimaldi

SOUTHWICK

Back In Balance
10 Gloria Dr.
Donna Davis

Dewey Landlord
14 Hunters Ridge
Nadia Martin

Don’s Chocolates
168 Berkshire Road
Donald H. Roy

SPRINGFIELD

A & D Appraisals
46 Crittenden St.
Donald R. Bailleul

A.O. Wash Innovations
61 Wollaston St.
Arenzo O. Washington

Amato Catering
1127 Main St.
Joseph R. Amato

Apremont Productions
125 Main St.
Robert H. Ryan

Arcadis U.S. Inc.
51 Taylor St.
Steven J. Niparko

Around the Clock
130 Fenwick St.
Linda M. Sheehan

Beacon Sales Company
75 Cadwell Dr.
Ross D. Cooper

Branford Hall Career Institute
112 Industry Ave.
William Anjos

C and C Cleaning Service
239 Senator St.
Glenn W. Cole

City Line Café
9-11 Rimmon Ave.
Joseph Vecchiarelli

Congregation B’Nai Torah
2 Bunice Dr.
Kenneth Abrahams

CPR Prompt Corporation
114 Marengo Park
Donald Clarke

Custom Travel Concepts
72 East Alvord St.
Charlene Corris

DCD Consulting LLC
1 Federal St.
Dennis Driscoll

Dexom Mobile Corporation
383 Belmont Ave.
Hai V. Le

E-Globalliiquidators.net
73 Mobile Home Way
Edith I. Savoy

Energizing N’ Touch Massage
529 Main St.
Hermenia Grayson

Eram Enterprises Inc.
766 Liberty St.
Mark Flagg

Finish Line Trucking Inc.
43 School St.
Karl V. Flash

Grez Automotive
604 Boston Road
Walter Joseph

Impoco’s Poultry Market
468 Walnut St.
Anthony J. Impoco

Irizarry’s Towing
72 Elijah St.
Emmanuel Lewis

J.V. Services
44 Calhoun St.
Juan Vazquez, Jr.

JTK Arts
85 Trafton Road
Justin Timothy

WESTFIELD

Bills Repair Service Inc.
530 Pochassic Road
William A. Sorel

Diamonds Cut
246 Elm St.
Pete Nales

Low Key Auto
174 Main St.
Brandon Furches

Pyrofax Propane
28 Arch Road
Timothy Casey

Redline Action Hobbies
53 North Elm St.
Libia Marco

Timberline Tree Service
760 Montgomery Road
Edwin C. Rafus

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Fran’s Transcription Service
100 Virginia Ave.
Frances Demont

Integrated Marketing Communications
117 Upper Beverly Hill
Page One Product, LLC

It’s a Lucy Life
92 Cataumet Lane
Catherine R. Hedges

Keuco Group of Bernardston Inc.
1299 Riverdale St.
Kevin Pernice

R & T Handyman Services
23 Elmdale St.
Richard C. Allen

Rossen & Sons Landscaping
37 Squassick Road
Ronald O. Rossen

Siano’s Plumbing Repair
145 Poplar Ave.
William L. Siano III

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Mehar Inc., 308 Suffield St., Agawam, MA 01001. Rashad Rauf, 41 Royal St., Agawam, MA 01001.

AMHERST

Vita Nova Inc., 55 North Pleasant St., Amherst. MA 01002. Scott Hsu, 15 New Ludlow Road Apt 10, Chicopee, MA 01020. A corporation organized entirely for religious purposes, and with the goal of teaching, preaching, and spreading the gospel of Christ and ministering to the local and worldwide community in the name of Christ Jesus and through The Holy Spirit.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Bertelli Holdings Inc., 328 Parker St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Brent Bertelli, same. To purchase, operate, and control other companies.

Meadows Dental Group Inc., 100 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Thomasz A. Chrzan, 89 Pendleton Lane, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Rendering professional dental services.

EASTHAMPTON

Art Bar Café Inc., 1 Northampton St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Alexei Levine, 81 Pine Grove, Amherst, MA 01040. Café bar.

FLORENCE

Liberty St. Global Enterprises Inc., 56 Liberty St., Florence, MA 01062. Gretchen J. Hendricks, same. eCommerce.

GRANBY

TLJ Realty Corp., 72 Pleasant St., Granby, MA 01033. William E. Johnson, 79 Amherst St., Granby, MA 01033. Retail management of own real estate.

  

HOLYOKE

M.J. Norton Security Inc., 25 Pinehurst Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Robert Allen, Same. Security company.

Runway Corp Inc., 50 Holyoke St., D258, Holyoke, MA 01040. Kenneth Michael Dupuy, 12 Greenfield Ave., Waterbury, CT 06708. Retail clothing chain.

LUDLOW

S. Landscaping Inc., 37 Highland Ave., Ludlow, MA 01056. Vania M. Silva. Same. Landscaping, retaining walls.

SOUTHAMPTON

Truehart Inc., 23 College Highway, Southampton, MA 01073. Paul E. Truhart, same. Ownership, development, and management of commercial real estate.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Allied Drywall Inc., 900 Riverdale St., P.O. Box 146, West Springfield, MA 01089. Geraldine A. Pelc, 17 Forest Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. Residential and non-residential construction including ceilings and walls.

WESTFIELD

Pioneer Valley Volleyball Academy Inc., 549 Russell Road Unit 11B, Westfield, MA 01085. George Robert Mulry, same. Organized and operated to offer competitive volleyball team play for all youth age groups and skill levels.

By
Departments

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock announced that Darcy Rogers has joined the resort’s conference sales team as Sales Manager. In her new position, Rogers will be responsible for soliciting new business, managing existing accounts, and working with other departments at the resort to offer high-quality conference and meeting services to clients. She works with clients in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with a particular emphasis on the Albany area.

•••••

Fuss & O’Neill, an engineering firm with offices in Springfield and several other locations, announced the following changes in senior management:
• Jeffrey Heidtman has been elected CEO and Chairman of the Board, and is stepping down as President;
• Peter Grose, PE will be assuming the duties of President. He is a 30-year Fuss & O’Neill employee who has directed some of the firm’s largest design and construction services programs;
• Michael Curtis, PhD, PE has been promoted to the newly created position of Director of Strategic Initiatives; and
• James Parry, PE has been promoted to Director of Business Development and Marketing.

•••••

TSM Design in Springfield announced the following:
• Janet Bennet has joined the firm as an Account Executive. She will develop clients’ marketing communications strategies as well as manage day-to-day account activity; and
•Michael Sjostedt has joined the firm as a Copywriter. He will be responsible for generating copy for clients’ communications.

•••••

Andrea Comstock-Tague has joined the staff of United Bank as a Human Resources Officer. In her new position, she will be responsible for the daily management of the bank’s human-resources functions, with an emphasis on training and development.

•••••

J.M. O’Brien & Co., P.B., with offices in Springfield and Easthampton, announced the following:
• Ryan Sabin has joined the firm; and
• Natalya Zubenko has joined the firm.

•••••

Karen King of the Karen King Group, Re/Max Prestige Realty in Wilbraham, has been accepted into the Allen Hainge CyberStars group, an invitation-only group of 200 top real-estate agents from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the Bahamas. King is the only representative selected from Western Mass.

•••••

Elizabeth Howell has joined the All About Women Midwifery practice as a certified Nurse Midwife with the Baystate Ob-Gyn Group.

•••••

Anthony J. Worden recently joined Greenfield Co-operative Bank as Vice President for Commercial Lending.

•••••

Deborah Duncan, Senior Program Manager for the Day Treatment Program at Behavioral Health Network in Springfield, was recently awarded the Moe Armstrong Award for adult peer leadership for her contribution to strengthening the role of consumers in the mental-health and substance-abuse treatment systems by the Assoc. for Behavioral Healthcare.

•••••

Tighe & Bond of Westfield announced the following:
• Elizabeth G. Baldwin has been promoted to Project Manager. Her experience lies in water resources and wastewater projects;
• Marc J. Richards, a professional Engineer and licensed site professional specializing in environmental assessment and remediation projects, has been promoted; and
• Antonio J. daCruz, with more than 16 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering, has been promoted.

•••••

James Haughey of the Behavioral Health Network in Springfield has been recognized with the Innovation Practice Award by the Assoc. for Behavioral Healthcare.

•••••

The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed seven new officers and members to its Board of Directors. They are:
• John Doleva, of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, to serve as Vice Chairman;
• Anthony Frasco of the Williams Distributing Corp.;
• Joanne Gadoury of the MassMutual Financial Group;
• Michael Jonnes of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra;
• Bruce Lessels of Zoar Outdoor;
• Anthony Maroulis of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce; and
• Remo Pizzichemi of the Hampton Inn in West Springfield.
Officers nominated to serve a two-year term include:
• Michael Hurwitz of the American Restaurant Corp., to serve as Vice Chairman; and
• Kathleen Anderson of the Holyoke Office of Planning and Development, to serve as Treasurer.
Continuing as officers with terms expiring in 2010 are:
• Greg Chiecko of the Eastern States Exposition to serve as Chairman; and
• Robert Schwarz of Peter Pan Bus Lines as Secretary.
Members of the board nominated to serve an additional two-year term include:
• Bill Hess of the Springfield Marriott;
• John Hesslein of CBS-3;
• Matt Hollander of the MassMutual Center;
• Shardool Parmar of the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group; and
• Rod Warnick of the Hospitality Tourism Management Department at UMass Amherst.
Other board members include:
• Joseph Carvalho of the Springfield Museums Assoc.;
• Carolyn Edwards of Prime Outlets;
• Debra Flynn of Eastside Grill;
• Robert Gilbert of Dowd Insurance;
• Stuart Hurwitz of Rein’s Deli;
• Harlan Kent of Yankee Candle Co.;
• Larry Litton of Six Flags New England;
• Bruce Nable of SER Expo Services;
• Christina Pappas of Open the Door Communications;
• William Rogolski of the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside;
• Peter Rosskothen of The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House and The Delaney House; and
• Daniel Walsh of the Columbus Hotel Group.

•••••

SS&C SummerWind Performing Arts Center announced the appointment of insurance executive Michael D. Rabbett to chair its Development Committee. Rabbett is owner of Rabbett Insurance in Windsor, Conn., recipient of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce 2008 Business of the Year Award, and a member of the Professional Insurance Agents and Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut.

•••••

Kate Putnam, president of Package Machinery Co. Inc. in West Springfield, has been named a Top Woman Entrepreneur for 2009 by Work Life Matters magazine. She will be honored at a breakfast on Dec. 14 at Club 101 in New York City. Package Machinery Co. is a manufacturer of wrapping machinery for consumer products. Putnam has been president since the company’s inception in 1996.

•••••

Bacon Wilson, P.C. of Springfield announced that the following lawyers were named “New England SuperLawyers” in the November issue of Boston magazine:
• Paul R. Salvage, Co-Chairman of the Insolvency Department;
• Gary L. Fialky, Chairman of the Corporate Department;
• Michael B. Katz, Co-Chairman of the Bankruptcy Department;
• Paul H. Rothschild, Chairman of the Litigation Department;
• Stephen N. Krevalin, Managing Partner;
• Hyman G. Darling, Chairman of the Estate Planning and Elder Law Departments;
• Francis R. Mirkin; and
• Stephen B. Monsein.
Also, in the same issue, the following Bacon Wilson lawyers were named “Rising Stars”:
• Justin H. Dion;
• Adam J. Basch;
• Todd C. Ratner;
• Mark A. Tanner; and
• Kevin V. Maltby.

By
Departments

Legislative Reception

The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield staged their annual Legislative Reception on Nov. 19 at the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern. Hundreds of area business leaders networked with local and state elected leaders. Clockwise, from right: Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno talks with West Springfield Mayor Edward Gibson, while in the background is Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Samuel D. Plotkin & Associates; Rodney Scott of Sovereign Bank and chair of the ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee shares the ACCGS legislative agenda with attendees; Amy Rist, left, project coordinator at Baystate Health, chats with Rexene Picard, director of FutureWorks, a one-stop career center in Springfield.

Pynchon Dinner

The Advertising Club of Western Mass. staged its annual Pynchon Awards Dinner on Nov. 19, recognizing individuals who have given back to the community. Above are the three winners for 2009, from left, Marie Stebbins, Gary Fialky, and Susan Jaye-Kaplan. At right, guests network prior to the dinner.

Having a Ball

More than 450 people turned out at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House recently for the annual Noble Ball. The event raised more than $125,000 to benefit the hospital’s Emergency Department renovation project. Clockwise from below right: Dr. Craig Schacher, an emergency room physician at Noble, with his mother, Diana; from left, Barbara and Joe Trant, and Lisa McMahon, executive director of the Westfield Business Improvement District, share a moment; Al Ferst (seated), a philanthropist and loyal friend of the hospital, chats with Noble’s interim President and CEO, Robert Perry, and his wife, Karen; event chairs Dena and Eric Hall (on right end) take a break and pose for pictures with Dena’s parents, Frank and Margaret Petrangelo, and sister, Danielle Petrangelo.

By
Departments

Ten Points About : Efective marketing

By DENNIS KUNKLER

Effective marketing is all about communicating a well-defined brand. A well-defined brand is the result of well-executed positioning. Growth comes when a brand is focused on the right customers about the things that are most important to them, letting them know exactly what they get when they make a purchase, and then giving them such compelling reasons to do so that they wouldn’t think of going elsewhere.

The very first rule in branding is that it’s not about you. The above statement does not include I, me, we, us, our, or any company names because customers only care about what they get.

When a company understands and enforces their positioning and branding, they will already have the answers to the following questions:

1. Why is it important to really understand what we are selling?

2.How do we avoid running ineffective ‘nobody cares’ ads and promotions?
3. How do we make sure we’re speaking to the right audience?
4. Why do we need a marketing strategy that all key players have agreed to?

5. Why should we have certain core principles and focus in our marketing?

6. How do we attract the right kind of business?
7. What’s ‘ego’ advertising, and how do we avoid creating it?
8. Why is it important that we understand and define our brand?
9. Why should we know the purpose of an ad or brochure before designing it?

10. Why is our advertising constantly re-inventing the wheel?

Hint: All the answers are in the first paragraph.

Dennis Kunkler, a 30-year creative veteran of high-profile brands, is a partner with Grow My Company, a brand consultancy that defines brands for service professionals and other entities; [email protected]

OPINION

By
Opinion
Keep the Engine of Small Business Humming

In 1982 as an MBA student at The Ohio State University, I read Dr. Michael Porter’s book Competitive Strategies. Fast-forward to the mid-1990s when I attended Porter’s presentation in Springfield about the importance of businesses locating in the urban core. My then-business partner and I took the bait. Within a year, TSM Design was located in the heart of downtown on Bridge Street, where we remain today.

Recently I received an e-mail from Porter’s brainchild, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. The ICIC’s mission is “to promote economic prosperity in America’s inner cities through private-sector engagement that leads to jobs, income, and wealth creation for local residents.” Given my long history with Porter, I decided to attend the ICIC summit in Washington, D.C. titled “Growing Businesses in the Inner City: Building Capacity and Creating Impact.”

Featured at the two-day event was Porter’s presentation of 10 years of data collected among 600 successful urban enterprises. He focused on the following factors influencing the growth of inner-city firms: financing, the inner-city business environment, company revenue sources, and leadership and human capital.

Some of Porter’s findings are as you might expect. Inner-city firms generally use personal assets for startup funds and bank loans for growth. The vast majority (76%) indicate limited access to growth capital. Yet these financing statistics yield an interestingly low failure rate among the studied inner-city businesses.

Among the sectors represented, 3% of distributors, 3% of manufacturers, and 4% of service businesses have closed their doors during the 10-year study. None of the retailers have gone out of business.

Included in the summit were presentations from Karen Mills, the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, speaking about national policy and the Obama administration’s commitment to growing the small business sector, and Rob Walsh, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, who spoke in detail about best practices of a business-friendly city government.

Of particular interest to me was a panel discussion on how large companies use their procurement dollars to grow the inner-city economy, and a case study involving New England Blue Cross Blue Shield and one its small local vendors. BCBS and the vendor split the cost of hiring NextStreet Financial to mentor and grow the vendor into a more robust supplier. The vendor happens to be a communications firm specializing in diverse audiences. The net result is a vendor with increased capacity with more opportunities — both within BCBS as well as other companies.

All in all, this summit was personally affirming to me as a small-business owner in Springfield. Intuitively I’ve known we made the right decision 14 years ago to move the business out of the suburbs and into the center of the city. There are some discernable fringe benefits. For one, a downtown address has considerably more gravitas than a suburban one. Visibility is another factor. I can walk down the street and see dozens of current or potential clients and colleagues. Also, most of my civic involvements are within walking distance from my office. Lunchtime also yields far more interesting menu options.

The conference raised the bar for my expectations of the opportunities for my business and those of my peers. My eyes were opened to what other cities are doing to increase opportunities for small businesses. Even more importantly, I now know there are large corporations that both walk the walk as well as talk the economic-development talk. They make a point of doing business with local small businesses.

One eye-opening fact presented during the conference: 70% of all U.S. workers either work for or own a small business. The SBA definition of a small business is fewer than 500 employees. In Springfield, there are only 35 employers with more than 500 employees. So the thousands of businesses that comprise this city’s economy are small, like mine. If Springfield is going to regain its economic health, it’s time we develop a comprehensive strategy to keep this dynamic little engine going.

Nancy Urbchat is owner of Springfield-based TSM Design; (413) 731-7600.

By
Departments

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

EASTHAMPTON

Kaya Now Inc., 57 Ward Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027. Susan Zahorak, same. eCommerce.

HOLYOKE

Andrew Gagnon Construction Co. Inc., 236 Southampton Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Andrew M. Gagnon, same. Remodeling contractor for residential and commercial buildings.

INDIAN ORCHARD

Strength N Honor Inc., 34 Ashwood St., Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Gerald S. Seaback, same. eCommerce activities.

LONGMEADOW

Dovetail Training Corporation, 53 Pendleton Lane, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Edward Borowsky, same. Corporate training.

Godin’s Garden Inc., 54 Nevins Ave., Longmeadow, MA 01106. William Godin, same. To operate a tree and plant nursery.

LHC Restaurant Corp. 923 Shaker Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Michael Chen, 80 Lynnwood Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. To own and operate food-service businesses

SOUTHAMPTON

Deniliva Inc., 10 David St., Southampton, MA 01073. Steven Kowalski, same. Tax- preparation service.

  

SOUTHWICK

Joanie’s Inc., 134 Point Grove Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Jennifer Nolasco, 52 Wendover Road, Suffield, CT 06078. Bar and restaurant.

SPRINGFIELD

Hampden VHP Repair Inc., 25 Virginia Street, Suite 1, Springfield, MA 01108. Vu H. Phan, 111 Brunswick St. Springfield, MA 01108. Repair sewing and appliance machinery.

Marinesi Inc., 16 Sachem Street, Springfield, MA 01108. Filippo Marinesi, Same. Restaurant/Bar.

Pioneer Data Service Corporation, 50 Washington Street, Springfield, MA 01108. Bao N. Tong, 21 Laurel Ave., Westfield, MA 01085 Program and repair computer networks and services.

We Are The People Inc., 1191 Tinkham Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Jamal Rob Chickakly, same. This is a charitable corporation that will be defending human and civil rights secured by law.

By
Departments

United Personnel employee Jim Kervick was awarded the Massachusetts Staffing Assoc. Employee of the Year Award for 2009 at the MSA’s annual awards dinner at the Harvard Club in Boston. The prestigious honor, awarded to one staffing employee in Massachusetts, is given to an employee who exemplifies the five main reasons to consider temporary staffing as an employment option — jobs, flexibility, bridge, choice, and training. In his role as an On-Site Manager at two of United’s larger-volume clients, Kervick is responsible for the day-to-day communication with the on-site temporary staff and for assuring that performance standards, policies, and procedures are met. United Personnel is headquartered in Springfield, with a satellite office in Easthampton.

•••••

James M. Buker has joined the Insurance Center of New England as a Senior Account Executive in the Group Employee Benefits Department.

•••••

Springfield resident David Ewen recently released his third edition of Let’s Make It Simple, which simplifies the complexities of book publishing and marketing into easily understood steps for new and experienced authors. Ewen is an author, speaker, and college instructor. The book is available at amazon.com.

•••••

Attorneys Ann I. Weber and Michele J. Feinstein, Shareholders of Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., recently spoke on “Planning for Long-Term Care: New Laws and Regulations” at the Visiting Nurse Assoc. The intensive workshop focused on a multitude of issues individuals face when planning for long-term care. Their law firm has offices in Springfield, Northampton, and Albany, N.Y.

•••••

Liz Washer has joined UMass Amherst as Director of External Relations, College of Humanities and Fine Arts. In this role, Washer will provide leadership for promoting the college’s ideas, events, and initiatives to advance its strategic goals, and will support and coordinate similar efforts within the academic departments and programs that report to the Dean.

•••••

Rob Scoble has been named the top Operational Officer for Hyde Tools Inc. of Southbridge. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, he will oversee Hyde’s professional products and industrial blade divisions.

•••••

Brittney Kelleher has been promoted to Commercial Loan Officer at Westfield Bank.

•••••

Samuel A. Smith has joined TD Bank as Manager of its location at 178 Main St., Sturbridge. He is responsible for managing day-to-day operations at the branch, and developing and overseeing small business loans, deposit accounts, consumer lending, investments, and insurance services.

•••••

Bacon Wilson, P.C. of Springfield has announced that Partner Hyman G. Darling has been selected to serve as a volunteer member of the American Cancer Society’s new Nationwide Gift Planning Advisory Council. The council will be an active source of expert planned-giving and estate-planning consultation, will assist in the development of promotional strategies, and will serve as a resource for the society’s marketplace introduction to potential donors. Darling will serve a two-year advisory council term, providing guidance in estate planning law, tax, investment and wealth management, real estate, insurance, personal financial planning, and marketing. Darling is Chairman of the Estate Planning and Elder Law departments at Bacon Wilson, P.C.

•••••

Michael J. Schrader has joined the engineering firm of Hoyle, Tanner & Associates of Manchester, N.H. Schrader’s expertise in wastewater, water, stormwater and site-civil projects will play a key role in expanding the firm’s presence in southern New England.

•••••

The Mass. Society for Medical Research has recognized the following individuals for their contributions to biomedical research and education in the state and region. They are:
• State Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti, D-West Springfield;
• Angela Avery, recently retired Superintendent-Director of the Norfolk County Agricultural High School;
• Terry McGuire, Co-Founder and General Partner of Polaris Ventures; and
• Robert Langer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The society is a nonprofit educational and research support organization whose members are biotechnology firms, colleges and universities, hospitals and institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and others that support research.

•••••

Jeffrey Folkins has been promoted to Vice President of Sales at Classic Coil Co. in Bristol, Conn. He was previously the national sales manager.

•••••

Jill Senecal was recently named Graduate Admissions Counselor for the Office of Graduate Admissions at American International College in Springfield. Senecal will be responsible in helping the office recruit prospective students and increase enrollment.

•••••

Daniel J. Barrieau, Director of Respiratory Care at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, was among 45 health care professionals from across Massachusetts who recently received the Rx for Excellence Award in a Boston ceremony.

•••••

Qteros announced the following:
• Kevin F. McLaughlin has been named to the Leadership Team. McLaughlin brings 30 years of financial and operating management experience from the high-tech, biotech, and education industries; and
• Ralph M. Lerner has been named to the Leadership Team. Lerner has industry experience in general management, business development, and strategy development and implementation in the global petrochemical and energy industry, with companies including Amoco and BP.

•••••

Diane France of the Karen King Group at RE/MAX Prestige in Wilbraham has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert designation, having completed training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales.

By
Departments

Giving Back

The Boston Business Journal recently named PeoplesBank a top charitable contributor and number 2 in the category of ‘Companies with the Highest Volunteer Hours.’ The bank has contributed approximately $700,000 to charitable and civic causes and employees donated 6,700 volunteer hours over the past year. Here, James Morton, left, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, and Douglas Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank, discuss the bank’s recent support of Camp Weber and Camp Fun City.

Victory Celebration

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno (second from left) was re-elected to a second term on Nov. 3. Seen with him on election night is the marketing team that coordinated his campaign: from left, Janet Casey, president of West Springfield-based Marketing Doctor; David Horgan, president of Horgan Associates; and Ed Brown, a videographer with New York Sound and Motion.

Human Center

The Center for Human Development staged its annual meeting on Nov. 10 at the MassMutual Center. Attendees heard updates on CHD programs, watched the presentation of several awards, and heard addresses from Health New England CEO Peter Straley and Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker, former CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, on the subject of national health care reform. At left, Straley (left) chats with Hank Drapalski, CHD’s vice president of Development. Above, the Rick Moriarty Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to Gene Sullivan, right, a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteer. With him is Keith Hedlund (left), director of the CASA program, and Alex Medina, Sullivan’s CASA child.

 

Having a Ball

More than 400 people gathered at the Sheraton in downtown Springfield on Nov. 14 for the annual Brights Night Ball, staged to support the Bright Nights holiday lighting display in Forest Park and other events staged by the Spirit of Springfield. The ball featured a social hour, several speeches by area elected officials, dinner, dancing, and an auction with prizes ranging from commercial time on local TV stations to a guitar signed by Bruce Springsteen and members of the E Street Band. Clockwise from left, Judy Matt, president of the Spirit of Springfield, with David Cuoco, left, and Joseph Tobin, longtime Springfield Parks Department employees who have led work to install the Bright Nights displays for 15 years; Roger Crandall, COO of MassMutual and chairman of the Bright Nights Ball, addresses the crowd; from the PeoplesBank table are, from left, President Doug Bowen, his wife, Anna, Susan Wilson, vice president of Marketing and Communications for the bank, and her husband, Craig; Health New England President Peter Straley with his wife, Donna Ross, an executive with Baystate Health; and Mark Tolosky, president and CEO of Baystate Health.

By
Departments

Ten Points About : Expansion of family and Medical Leave Act Coverage

By AMY B. ROYAL, Esq.

1. On Oct. 28, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act which included provisions that further expanded the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for military families.

2. FMLA leave to military families was first extended in January 2008 in another defense authorization bill that President Bush signed into law.
3. That law amended the FMLA by creating two entirely new categories of FMLA leave specifically for military families.
4. The first category of military family leave created by the January 2008 amendment allowed employees to take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave in a 12-month period if they experienced a ‘qualifying exigency’ when their covered family member was on, or called up to, active duty in the Reserves or National Guard.

5. With the recent expansion, employees who have a covered family member on active duty in the armed forces are now entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave for a qualifying exigency.

6. Qualifying exigencies are defined in the regulations issued by the Department of Labor earlier this year as follows: short-notice deployment, military events and related activities, child care and school activities, financial and legal arrangements, counseling sessions, rest and recuperation, and post-deployment activities.
7. The second category of military family leave created by the January 2008 amendment allowed employees to take up to 26 weeks of FMLA leave to care for a service member who has a serious illness or injury incurred in the line of duty for which the service member is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy.
8. With the recent expansion, employees are now entitled to take 26 weeks of FMLA leave to care for a veteran of the armed forces, including the National Guard or Reserves, who is undergoing medical treatment or therapy for or recuperating from a serious injury or illness at any time during the five-year period preceding the date of treatment, therapy, or recuperation. Previously, this type of leave did not allow family members to care for a service member whose injury or illness manifested itself sometime after the service member became a veteran.
9. The FMLA expansions are effective immediately.

10 Employers should amend their FMLA policies to reflect these expansions.

Amy B. Royal, Esq. is a partner in the law firm of Royal & Klimczuk, LLC. She specializes in management-side labor and employment law;
(413) 586-2288; [email protected]

By
Departments

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

Adams, Shane M.
Adams, Theresa
11 Main Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/04/09

Agin, Tammy Lynn
18 Ellen St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/14/09

Anderson, Gregory
a/k/a Branch, India L.
Anderson, India L.
29 Waldorf St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/07/09

Armstrong, Roxell
a/k/a Geoffrion, Roxell M.
10 Central Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Arsenault, David
17 Carpenter St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Audio Video Design
HBS Stereo
Loveless, John K.
140 Dalton Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/18/09

Avalone, James M.
Avalone, Elizabeth
471 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Baker, Todd M.
82 Barton Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/04/09

Barnes, Sheldon Orlando
151 Allen St., Apt. F
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Barrett, Debbie L.
116 Sandrah Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/23/09

Barrus, James A.
Barrus, Belinda J.
29 Pioneer Way
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Befford, Susan S.
1743 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Bennett, Frank E.
Bennett, Lynn A.
599 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/23/09

Bennett, Mark
Poole, Angela Denise
109 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/09

Biddle, Rita M.
645 Warren Wright Road
P.O. Box 1008
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Bisceglia, Christopher
Bisceglia, Heather M.
a/k/a Monahan, Heather
88 Burrill Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Bledsoe, Dina L.
19 Home St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Bleu, Jeffrey R.
64 Notch Road
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Bob’s Carpentry
Gonzalez-Pho, Thao P.
Gonzalez, Robert
143 Little Mohawk Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

Bolibok, Barbara
20 Hampton Ave., Apt. # 507
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Bonacker, Erin L.
254 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028-1310
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Boudreau, David A.
418 Meadow St., D7
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Boudreau, William L.
189 Glendale Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/18/09

Brault, Alan D.
87 Lafayette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Broman, James E.
1368 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Burns, Joseph Robert
Burns, Carol Ann
a/k/a Wheeler-Burns, Carol
PO Box 786
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Burt, John Henry
98 North St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Button, Michael J.
Button, Lisa M.
10 Old South Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Carrasquillo, Carmen
134 Peer St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Carrigan, William A.
89 Robbins Ave., Apt. #1
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Castagna, James
176 Columbus Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Chambers, Karlene
25 Fairhaven Dr.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/13/09

Charron, Christine Anne
9 Granby Heights
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/21/09

Chase, Clifton R.
Chase, Linda L.
519 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Chase, Clifton R.
Chase, Linda L.
519 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Cheria, Manuel F.
Cheria, Donna M.
12 Rood St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/09

Chesanek, Michael A.
217 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/21/09

Chouinard, Bruce R.
Chouinard, Cynthia A.
1885 Main St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Ciampi, David Francis
33 Cherryvale Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/09

Clement, Kevin J.
511 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Cockshaw, David A.
Cockshaw, Kimberly A.
201 River St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Coe, Janet Rose
119 White Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Coffey, Charles Edward
Demeo, Sharron Marie
804 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

Colon, Roberto
Colon, Carmen M.
13 Algonquin Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Cooper, Jacqueline
549 Watson Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Costa, Francisco J.
36 Ridgehill Ave.
Malden, MA 02148
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Coushaine, Mary Elizabeth
a/k/a Lesiege, Mary E.
79 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/09

Cousineau, Jared J.
Cousineau, Maggie B.
a/k/a Egan, Maggie B.
9 Landers St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Coutu, William J.
Coutu, Christine A.
4 Norman St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Creamer, Guillermo David
1 Ladd Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/21/09

Croteau, Laurie L.
a/k/a Albee, Laurie L.
268 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

D’Amore, Darcy D.
2322 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/14/09

D’Angelo, Frank J.
117 Corey Colonial
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Davis, Paul E.
282 Bolton St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/07/09

Dawson, Martin H.
68 New Boston Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

Delgado, Mary
7 Eastern Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Demott, Michael O.
65 Narragansett Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/09

Desjeans, Francis L.
Desjeans, Elaine R.
53 Gladdu Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/09

Desroches, Dorothy M.
11 Grouse Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/09

Diaz, Jose
Emerson, Rebecca L.
3 Collins St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

Dickson, Len H.
Dickson, Jodie A.
182 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Dimatteo, Amedeo
P.O. Box 419
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Driscoll, Timothy J.
22 Scott Hollow Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

DuBoff, Christy T.
7 Dubois St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Dudek, Agnieszka E.
35-37 Devens St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Durant, John
Durant, Sherri
3321 Pinenook Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/04/09

Dziedzic, Agnieszka A.
a/k/a Nowak, Agnieszka A.
590 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Early, Jane M.
a/k/a Bassler, Jayn M.
124 South St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Evangelisto, Thomas
Evangelisto, Sabrina
220 Karen Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

Farber, Amy E.
36C Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/17/09

Faria, Rui D.
c/o Cidalia Vital
971 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/13/09

Fiorentino, Rita L.
71 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/21/09

Fleury, Mary Elizabeth
70 Dogwood Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/27/09

Frazer, Dawn
18 Drew Ct.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/21/09

Gagnon, Susan Marie
a/k/a Drinkwine, Susan Marie
5 Riverview Ter., 2nd
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Gama, Denise G.
a/k/a Bickel, Denise G.
96 Glenwood St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Gay, Gloria
55 Celebration Cir.
Chicopee, MA 01020-2870
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Getty, Raymond Douglas
265 New Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/09

Godfrey, Bernard E.
66 Plymouth St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/19/09

Godfrey, Catharine A.
72 Plymouth St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/19/09

Goodwin’s Home Repair
Goodwin, Steven J.
Goodwin, Sandra L.
44 Ridge Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Gosselin, Wendy Marie
76 Wilmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Graham, Monica Y.
292 Centre St. #1R
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Greene, Steven L.
155 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028-2722
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Gryszkiewicz, James
53 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Guerette, Sharon Ann
93 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Gutowski, Mark E.
480 Dipping Hole Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Haire, Lee Allen
Haire, Elizabeth Ann
5 Berard Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Halpin, David P.
2 Stone Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

Hannum, Gregg H.
Hannum, Karen L.
a/k/a Rosenberg, Karen L.
549 Russell Road, Apt. 1B
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/27/09

Hardaker, Donald L.
13 Apache Dr.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/12/09

Harpin, Pamela J.
56 Juniper Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119-2109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Hawkins, Carol A.
12 Creamery Road
Gilbertville, MA 01031
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

Heady, Ryan W.
81 Laurence Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Helgoe, Calvin L.
131A Colonial Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/07/09

Hornsby, Monique A.L.
Brumfield, Monique A.
69 State St. Ter.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Jackson, Eileen L.
406 River St. #1
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Jacques, Donald J.
1343 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

Jenkins, Janice M.
72 Curve St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Jensen, Dale M.
223 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Jesionowski, Henry E.
75 Christopher Lane
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Johansson, Glenn E.
242 Church St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/23/09

Johns, Eric C.
285 State St., Apt. 2
Ludlow, MA 01056-3430
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Jones, John Thomas
85 Boylston St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Jones, Matthew Steven
20 Woronoco Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/18/09

Jordan, Dolores A.
36 Devens St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/09

Kaigle, Kenneth H.
Kaigle, Chrystal H.
2 Kerr Ave.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

Karwowski, John M.
Karwowski, Jamie
123 Mountain View St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Keane, Stephen T.
59 New Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Kidrick, Kristen M.
1488 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Kilgarvan Communications
Sullivan, John Jeremiah
Sullivan, Nancy Elizabeth
270 Morgan St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/17/09


 

King, Bruce L.
King, Sharlene L.
15 Glendale St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Kingsbury, James R.
7 Sefton Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077-9746
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Knight, Richard Charles
P.O. Box 114
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/17/09

Krzanowski, Kathryn M.
a/k/a Laurin, Kathryn M.
393 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Labonte, Edward L.
1139 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Labonte, Jason David
Labonte, Amy Lynn
9 Clairmont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/05/09

LaPete, Anthony M.
LaPete, Amanda L.
4 Barnes St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/12/09

Levin, Laura M.
8 Fred Ruel Road
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/19/09

Lewis, Gassawallice
Lewis, Marsha J.
1495 West Royalston Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Lillis, Michael J.
13 Harrington Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/07/09

Lowney, Erik R.
108 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/09

Lynn, Sarah J.
Lynn, Dennis M.
51 Cromwell Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/18/09

Major, Robert S.
Major, Susan E.
4 Memory Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Malave, Herminia
15 Arion Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/23/09

Maleckas Therapeutic Massage
Maleckas, Sheila C.
24 Maple Crest Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/23/09

Maloney, Colin J.
13 Fairdel St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Marrero, Felix L.
42 Brookline Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Martin, Ann M.
1 Church St.
Colrain, MA 01340
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/04/09

Martinez, Hector L.
Martinez, Denise A.
18 Ringgold St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/17/09

Mattioli, Christopher D.
Mattioli, Barbara A.
47 Breakneck Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Mawdsley, Richard James
Mawdsley, Cheryl Marie
98 Mashapaug Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/14/09

McAlary, David C.
31 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Mercier, Kristopher Bruce
Mercier, Jessica Jean
a/k/a Popec, Jessica Jean
1 Gr
en Willow Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Merrill Auto Imports
Merrill, Douglas Brian
Merrill, Lisa Joy
a/k/a Mercure, Lisa J.
25 Collegeview Heights
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/09

Meyrick, Steven J.
Meyrick, Lisa A.
26 Thompson St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Michon, Cynthia L.
699 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/14/09

Miller, Clarence L.
Miller, Patricia A.
135 Methuen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

Miller, William F.
Miller, Shirley L.
150 Pondview Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Moore, David N.
272 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Morehardt, Bruce Clark
29 Dartmouth Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/09

Morris, Catherine Elaine
Morris, John Stanton
51 Van Deene Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/09

Mrozinski, Joann M.
119 Oakridge St
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Murphy, Thomas M.
134 College Highway, Apt. C4
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/09

Murray, John Michael
143 Robinson Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Newton, John G.
Newton, Cheryl L.
1470 White Pond Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

Nicoli, Mark A.
PO Box 633
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Nixon, Eric D.
P.O. Box 143
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/09

Normandin, Tammy L.
88 Springfield St.
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

O’Connor, Nekeisha N.
52 Pearl St., Apt. #4-B
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Oliver, Noman
Cruz, Maria
377 St. James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Ortiz, Augusto
121 Roberto Clemente St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

Paniagua, Lara
a/k/a Paniagua-Dix, Lara
163 Lamont St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Parker, David R.
Parker, Debra L.
17 Jennings St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Persip, Valerie J.
161 Jason St., Apt. 4
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/14/09

Petrizzi-Geller, Lisa M.
11 Parsons Walk
Berkley, MA 02779
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Pittsinger, Lorrie E.
158 Bumstead Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Pizarro, Zurma
491 Bridge St., Apt. 433
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Pleppo, Carol L.
82-84 Davis St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/13/09

Prader, Gina C.
17 Moulton Road
Southborough, MA 01772
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Prendergast, Jacqueline
10 Valley St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Presley, Stevan R.
Jette Presley, Donna M.
P.O. Box 1148
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Princess Gift Shop
Rodriguez, Wilfredo
PO Box 6538
Holyoke, MA 01041
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Quick, Paulette
20 Hampton Court, #214
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/05/09

Qureshi, Irfan
243 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/13/09

Radomski, Michael W.
Radomski, Lou Ann
P.O. Box 123
Chicopee, MA 01014
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Raymond, Mark J.
Raymond, Tina M.
PO Box 944
Bernardston, MA 01337
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/19/09

Rheaume, Allan Alfred
Rheaume, Delores Ada
17 Mitchell Dr., Unit R10
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Ricardo, Paulo L.
Ricardo, Anabela M.
16 Riverpark Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Rittenoure, Catherine C.
a/k/a Marhefka, Catherine C.
243 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Rivet, Richard A.
209 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/01/09

Rodriguez, Angel L.
30 Thornton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/21/09

Rodriguez, Maria Magdalena
a/k/a Oquendo, Maria Magdalena
193 Walnut St., Apt. 2
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Rodriguez, Ramona
33 Cabinet St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/21/09

Rosario, Delio L.
83 Jackson St., Apt 1R
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

Ross, Florence E.
101 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Rossi, Alfred M.
Rossi, Debra A.
477 Kings Highway
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

Rubin, Tina Sheryl
80 King Philip Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/14/09

Rzewski, Marc Theodore
42 Truby St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

S&S Laundry
Boulette, Scott C.
Boulette, Holly A.
a/k/a Streeter, Holly A.
91 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/12/09

Salerno, Philip T.
P.O. Box 1215
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/18/09

Salzman, Julianne S.
41 Orchard St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/09

Santerre, Jennifer Marie
a/k/a Clark, Jennifer M.
31 Maple St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Santos, Edwin
21 Wachusetts St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Scyocurka, Anne L.
113 Ely Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Shar, Mark J.
P.O. Box 4494
Holyoke, MA 01041
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Social Marketing Evolution
Merz, Sabine Nicole
15 Glendale Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Stacy, Janice Lee
184 Wellington St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Stone, Carla M.
11 Russell Stage Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Strom, Nathan E.
Strom, Pamela I.
a/k/a Fowler, Pamela I.
3 Maple St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/14/09

Sullivan, Barbara J.
101 Putnam St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Sweeney, Barbara L.
17 Glenwood Ave., Box A2
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Szczur, Charles S.
21 Fanjoy Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/07/09

Tagle, Edward J.
Tagle, Jessica C.
10 Mellinger Lane
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Tenczar, Brian A.
49 Spring Road
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Tessier, Kathreen M.
41 West Summit St., #63
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Tetreault, Jane M.
113 Fenton Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Textiles By Garth J.
Shepp, Garth J.
PO Box 2222
Amherst, MA 01004
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/25/09

Thayer, Justin C.
43 Magnolia Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Thompson, Adam G.
21 River Road #3
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/24/09

Thompson, John K.
Thompson, Tina M.
6 Summer Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/09

Tracy, Kevin Robert
146 Laurel St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/09

Turner, Ashley
43 Plunkett St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/18/09

Tuthill, Raymond W.
Tuthill, Katherine P.
4 Mercy Anderson Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Vandervoort, Audrey S.
45 Stockbridge Road
Box 225
West Stockbridge, MA 01266
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/23/09

Vargas, Emely
105 School St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Vazquez, Maria A.
195 Suffolk St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

Vincente, Gloria M.
81 Conz St., Apt. 327
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/09

Watras, Jane Alice
370 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Wayne, Derek Henry
61 Calley St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/09

Weaver, Jennifer L.
56 Maple St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Weinstein, Randy F.
684 Main St.
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/28/09

Weissman, Stuart D.
Tobin, Jocelyn D.
38 Pineywoods Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/29/09

Whaley, Leslie H.
52 Lombard Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

White, Shamis Ann
a/k/a Ferriter, Shamis Ann
399 Springdale Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Williamson, James J.
Williamson, Lauralee G.
a/k/a Sousa, Lauralee G.
27 Newhall St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/18/09

Wine Styles
DeJesus, Paulita
a/k/a DeJesus-Aponte, Paulita
12231 Bay Dr.
Westford, MA 01886
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/09

Yanni, Philip J.
Yanni, Kathleen M.
12 Alden St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/17/09

Zachery, Kathy A.
a/k/a Griffith, Kathy A.
20 Schuyler St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/12/09

Zolendziewski, David Thomas
Zolendziewski, Linda S.
42 Catalina Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/22/09

Zwinski, Theodore J.
Zwinski, Kimberlee A.
a/k/a Venne, Kimberlee A.
153 Cedar St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/16/09

By
Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of November 2009.

AGAWAM

V&F Realty Partnership
443 Springfield St.
$3,000 — Install metal roof

CHICOPEE

Padgette St., LLC and S.M.A. Frank, LLC
150 Padgette St.
$655,000 — Tenant fit-out of 8,000 square feet

Padgette St., LLC and S.M.A. Frank, LLC
150 Padgette St.
$150,000 — Construct office and warehouse space

GREENFIELD

Great APT, LLC
24 Franklin St.
$171,000 — Replacement windows

Peter & Sandra Ruggeri
51 High St.
$5,000 — Exterior renovations

Michael Mendyk
136 Conway St.
$10,000 — Interior renovations

Western Mass Electric Company
215 Shelburne Road
$17,000 — Interior renovations

HADLEY

Bed Bath & Beyond
337-357 Russell St.
$974,000 — Interior renovation and new store front

Edens & Avant
454-460 Russell St.
$150,000 — Remodel interior spaces to include fitting rooms and customer service

HOLYOKE

City Cooperative Bank
1830 Northampton St.
$28,000 — Repair & paint damaged exterior

H.I.F., LLC
206 Maple St.
$3,169,000 — Renovation of the former fire station to a new bus station

PBHQ
330 Whitney Ave.
$453,000 — Construction of new IT department and mailroom

NORTHAMPTON

City of Northampton
42 Gothic St.
$86,000 — Installation of photovoltaic systems on roof

Bowles Enterprises, LLC
15 Fruit St.
$10,500 — Install siding and replacement windows

Dunkin Brands Inc.
132 King St.
$92,000 — Interior renovations

  

Kollmorgen Electro Optical
50 Prince St.
$16,000,000 — Construct new two-story commercial building

Messer Investments Inc.
39 Carlon Dr.
$165,000 — Create new medical offices

Meadowbrook Preservation Associates
491 Bridge Road
$16,000 — Sheetrock and insulate building

Pride Convenience Inc.
375 King St.
$44,000 — Interior renovations at Dunkin Donuts

St. John’s Episcopal Church
48 Elm St.
$22,500 — Renovate bathroom

SOUTH HADLEY

Mt. Holyoke College
27 Abbey Lane
$6,000 — Interior renovations

South Hadley Housing
69 Lathrop St.
$153,000 — New roof

SPRINGFIELD

America Lung Association
393 Maple St.
$6,000 — Interior renovations

Antonio Palazzesi
100 Verge St.
$30,000 — Interior renovations

United Baptist Church
649 State St.
$84,000 — New roof

Wachogue Community Church
136 Whittum Ave.
$42,000 — Re-roof

WESTFIELD

Lewis Gonet
110 Airport Road
$40,000 — Construction of a hangar

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Christy Real Estate
339 Bliss St.
$31,000 – Strip and re-roof

General Electric
1226 Union St.
$19,500 – Roof repair

By
Departments

Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield
(413) 787-1555
www.myonlinechamber.com

Dec. 2: ACCGS Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., hosted by Sheraton Springfield. Speaker panel: James Morton, YMCA of Greater Springfield; Dora Robinson, United Way of Pioneer Valley; Garrett McCarthy, Springfield Boys & Girls Club; and Mary Reardon Johnson, YWCA of Western Mass. Tickets: $30 general admission, $20 members.

Dec. 9: ACCGS After 5/WRC, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by the Lexington Group, 380 Union St., West Springfield. Tickets: $20 general admission, $10 members.
Dec. 11: East of the River 5 Town Chamber Holiday Breakfast, 7 to 9 a.m., hosted by  Elmcrest Country Club, East Longmeadow. Speaker: Dr. John Glick, the Humor Doctor. Tickets: $25 general admission, $20 members.

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com

Dec. 2: Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., location TBA, sponsored by Stavros. Program: Hot Holiday Trends. 

Dec. 4: Merry Maple Celebration of Lights,  4:15 to 6:30 p.m.,  Amherst Town Hall and Amherst Town Common. 

Dec. 16: After 5/Holiday Party, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted and sponsored by PeoplesBank, Amherst.

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

Please see Web site for upcoming events.

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

Dec. 22: Holiday Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Recorder Citizen of the Year Award, Deerfield Academy. Music, gifts, and great food. Tickets: members $23, non-members $25.

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

Dec. 4: Holiday Stroll and Visit from Santa, 7 p.m., Maple Street School. Stroll and carol through downtown Easthamp-ton to Pulaski Park and help Santa light the green with thousands of twinkling lights. Visit with Santa in the gazebo. Cocoa and cookies for the kids. No cost.

Dec. 17: Holiday Dinner Dance, 6 to 11 p.m., hosted by Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, Holyoke. An evening of friends and holiday spirit, including the chamber’s annual awards. Big raffle with $5,000 drawing, butlered hors d’oeuvres, multi-station entrees, Viennese dessert table, cash martini and full-service bar, music provided by Michael J Productions. Public invited. Excellent business party opportunity. Group reservations available. Tickets: $45 inclusive.

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

Dec. 9: Holiday Salute Breakfast, doors open at 7:30 a.m., hosted by the Delaney House, Holyoke. Tickets: $20.

Dec. 16: Chamber Holiday After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by the Delaney House, Holyoke. Tickets: $5 members, $10 cash non-members.

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

Dec. 1: Mass Privacy Law Seminar, 8 to 9:30 a.m., Clarion Hotel & Conference Center. Tickets: $15 for members. RSVP at [email protected].

Dec. 2: Arrive@5, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by Spare Time Family Fun Center. Tickets: $10 members, $15 guests.

Dec. 9: Northampton Area Young Professionals Party with a Purpose, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted by Silverscape Designs. Free for members, $5 for guests.

Dec. 11: New Member Breakfast, 8 to 9:30 a.m., hosted by the chamber. Free for members.

Dec. 15: Meet & Eat, 7:30 to 9 a.m., hosted by the Delaney House, Holyoke. Sponsored by Easthampton Savings Bank. Tickets: $15 members, $20 guests.

Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce
(413) 283-2418
www.qvcc.biz

Please see Web site for upcoming events.

South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce
(413) 532-6451
www.shchamber.com

Please see Web site for upcoming events.

Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce
(413) 283-6425
www.threeriverschamber.org

Please see Web site for upcoming events.

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

Dec. 11: Annual Holiday Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., hosted by Shaker Farms Country Club, Westfield. Santa will appear, and the Westfield High School Concert Chorale, under the direction of Kory Bruno, will provide musical entertainment. Premier members: Westfield Gas and Electric, Westfield Bank, and Easthampton Savings Bank. Tickets: $20 members, $25 non-members. Deadline for Reservations is December 8. All reservations after this date will be billed at $25 per person. To register, call Marcia at (413) 568-1618, e-mail [email protected] , or log onto www.westfieldbiz.org . Please bring an unwrapped toy for the Salvation Army, and also bring a door prize to highlight your business.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com

Dec. 9: For December, we will not hold a Third Thursday, but instead will join the ACCGS After 5 on Dec. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lexington Group, 380 Union St., West Springfield. In the spirit of the holiday season, we encourage everyone to bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to the children of the Children’s Study Home. For non-members, a toy will be accepted in lieu of the $5 entrance fee.

Dec. 19: Ring the Red Kettles, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in front of Macy’s inside the Eastfield Mall. We ask that you donate two hours of your time for this worthy cause. If interested, e-mail Maureen Pick-nally at [email protected] .

Stern Challenges Await Area’s New Mayors

By
Opinion
Stern Challenges Await Area’s New Mayors

This fall’s elections brought changes at the top for many area communities. Indeed, there will be many new mayors settling into office in January, and many will face immediate — and stern — challenges.

We wish them the best because, while Springfield is the unofficial capital of the Pioneer Valley and the focus of much attention in light of its recent struggles, the continued health and well-being of other large communities is a key factor in the overall success of this region.

The challenges facing the new mayors vary, but the common denominator is that the communities need strong leadership, and they need it now.

Let’s start in Agawam, where the survivor (that’s the best word for it) in this fall’s election is Richard Cohen, the former mayor and now mayor-elect. His immediate challenge is to restore a sense of honor and pride in this community. The off-duty exploits of outgoing Mayor Susan Dawson and the recent mayoral election — which included no less than seven candidates, more than half of whom had absolutely no business seeking this seat — has made Agawam the butt of seemingly unending jokes.

The embarrassing election is over, and it’s now incumbent upon Cohen to make people sit up and take notice of Agawam for other reasons, particularly economic development. There hasn’t been much of this lately, due largely to a lack of a clear vision about what this community wants to be and how it needs to get there.

Cohen’s first priority is to assemble some land on which businesses can locate, and then drive new development. All eyes have been focused on the so-called FoodMart Plaza, now known as Agawan Town Center, which was vacant for years and is now vacant again after the Steve & Barry’s fiasco, but there are other problems as well. There is no retail, and a crippling lack of commercially zoned property. Cohen can start with the town’s PR crisis, but his bigger assignment is growing the tax base.

Westfield has done well in that regard in recent years, and it is incumbent upon incoming Mayor Dan Knapik to continue to create opportunities for growth. While Agawam is land-poor, Westfield has plenty, and it has a turnpike exit and a municipal airport as attractive assets.

The biggest challenge for Knapik and his community is downtown, which has struggled for decades now. Outgoing Mayor Michael Boulanger and Westfield State College President Evan Dobelle have made some significant strides over the past few years in taking an overlooked and underappreciated asset (the college) and making it into a force for economic development.

Knapik has a lot on his plate, but building on the momentum gained with regard to WSC is priority one. Westfield will never be a true college town, like Amherst or Northampton, but it can be more of a college town, and it must become one.

While Agawam and Westfield confront challenge and opportunity, perhaps no city in the region is at more of a critical crossroad than Holyoke, and this is the situation facing Mayor-elect Elaine Pluta.

For starters, the city will soon be hiring a new police chief and a new school superintendent, meaning that there will be key leadership changes across the board, which are always daunting. But the elephant in the room is the planned high-performance computing center being developed by UMass, MIT, Harvard, and a host of other players.

The center will almost certainly become reality, though the facility itself will not generate tax revenue and will only create a few dozen jobs to start. What isn’t known is what kind of economic development can follow in the wake of such a facility. There is speculation (see story, page 6) that such a center can eventually attract government agencies conducting specific research initiatives, institutions of higher learning, private businesses that want or need to be near such a facility, and support businesses ranging from restaurants to copying centers.

Holyoke should strive for all of the above, and to do this, it must be bold and imaginative in the creation of incentives that will bring businesses and institutions to the city. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this former mill city to reinvent itself as a city defined by innovation.

Politics has a way of getting in the way of progress in Holyoke. Pluta, a veteran city councilor, can’t let that happen. She must forge the partnerships needed to enable this once-proud city to take full advantage of the opportunity that is presenting itself.

By
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.

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Adams Direct Mail Services v. International Profit Associates
Allegation: Fraudulent practices on small business: $4,640
Filed: 10/22/09

Leader Home Center Inc. v. A.D. George Construction Co.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods and services rendered: $28,417.66
Filed: 10/21/09

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Holyoke Mall, LP v. Sadie’s, LLC
Allegation: Default under a written lease: $1,472,485.67
Filed: 10/2/09

Michelle Boutin v. Hess Corporation
Allegation: Employee discrimination: $25,000+
Filed: 9/17/09

Roman Radkovets v. Balise Motor Sales Co.
Allegation: Breach of employment contract and non-payment of commissions: $39,626.10
Filed: 10/6/09

Susan Cole v. Geriatric Authority of Holyoke
Allegation: Employee discrimination: $25,000+
Filed: 9/17/09

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Commerce Insurance Co., as subrogee of Paul M. Struthers v. Cernak Fuel Corp. and Richards Fuel Inc.
Allegation: Negligence causing damage: $392,011.34
Filed: 10/2/09

Leaklena Som v. Millitech Inc.
Allegation: Employment discrimination: $25,000+
Filed: 9/15/09

PMC Contracting v. CAP Development Inc. & Trak Petroleum, LLC
Allegation: Failure to pay under the terms of a construction agreement: $8,603.48
Filed: 9/29/09

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

City of Holyoke v. Western Mass Blitzin Bears Inc.
Allegation: Failure to pay for use of Roberts Sports Complex: $2,190
Filed: 9/28/09

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

One Communications Corp. v. Atalasoft Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $7,843.23
Filed: 10/15/09

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Elizabeth Matthieson & Robert Vandernoot v. Sequoia Properties, LLC
Allegation: Violation of purchase-and-sale agreement and refusal to return deposit: $24,450
Filed: 9/29/09

Yellowbook Sales & Distribution Company Inc. v. BSF Construction
Allegation: Non-payment of advertising services rendered: $11,353
Filed: 8/21/09

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Bank of America v. JGC Specials
Allegation: Non-payment of monies loaned: $25,886.93
Filed: 10/7/09

Francis Teta v. Bell-Carter Olive Co.
Allegation: Defective product, causing injury: $22,438
Filed: 10/8/09

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. JCE Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of workers’ compensation policies: $16,793.19
Filed: 10/8/09

Regina Haines v. Northern Educational Services Inc.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property, causing injury: $19,383.47
Filed: 10/8/09

Rosanna Langlois v. Educlean
Allegation: Negligence in cleaning services, causing a slip and fall: $7,350
Filed: 10/2/09

By
Departments

‘Phantom of the Country Opera’

Nov. 13, 14, 15: The Bay Path College Performing Arts Department will present Phantom of the Country Opera in Mills Theatre, Carr Hall, as part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. The production promises irreverent wit, painful punning, sly contemporary references, and more than a touch of the absurd. Bay Path College is located at 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. For more information on show times and tickets, call (413) 565-1307 or visit www.baypath.edu.

Pynchon Award Dinner

Nov. 19: Recipients of the 2009 William Pynchon Award will be honored by the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts from 6 to 9 p.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam. Candidates to be inducted into the Order of William Pynchon during the 95th annual program are Gary Fialky, Esq., chairman of Bacon Wilson’s corporate department; Susan Jaye-Kaplan, co-founder of Link to Libraries, founder of Go FIT Inc., and founder of Pioneer Valley Women’s Running Club; and Marie Stebbins, community advocate and former teacher. The awards program includes a cocktail hour from 6 to 7 p.m. Seating costs $65 per person, and tables of 10 are available. To make a reservation by Nov. 5, call (413) 736-2582, or e-mail [email protected].

Parade of the Big Balloons

Nov. 27: Mass. National Guard Adjutant General, Major General Joseph C. Carter, is this year’s parade marshal for the annual Tower Square Parade of the Big Balloons in Springfield. Joining Carter during the parade will be an impressive array of equipment, including a military all-terrain, six-wheel vehicle that will deliver Santa Claus to downtown Springfield. Other pieces of equipment include a military ambulance, tanker, and transport vehicles. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. at Main and Lyman streets and ends at Locust Street. Bringing the holiday beat to the parade will be the East Windsor High School Band, Holyoke High School Band, and the Springfield Kiltie Band. After Santa makes his way through the holiday revelers along Main Street, he will take his place of honor in Tower Square to pose for photographs and listen to holiday wish lists. For more information on the fun-filled day, visit www.spiritofspringfield.org.

Book and Print Signing

Dec, 3: For the past 32 years, Easthampton resident Ruth Sanderson has illustrated 75 books for children of all ages and retold and illustrated many fairytales, including her latest project, Mother Goose and Friends. Sanderson will present a free lecture titled “The Story of a Book” at 7 p.m. in Breck Suite, Wright Hall, at Bay Path College, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, as part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. Slides and examples of her detailed sketches and paintings from her award-winning books will be shown. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

Winterfest

Dec. 9: The Bay Path College Performing Arts Department will celebrate the themes of light, hope, goodwill, and peace for all people during its annual Winterfest program as part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. The free event begins at 7:30 p.m. in Mills Theatre, Carr Hall, on the Bay Path campus, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

YPS New Year’s Celebration

Dec. 31: The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield has once again chosen downtown Springfield for its New Year’s Eve celebration. Only 300 tickets will be available for the affair at the Marriott Hotel in Tower Square. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsorship of the event should visit www.springfieldyps.com for more details. For ticket information, call Jill Monson of YPS at (413) 219-9692.

Women’s Professional Development Conference

April 30, 2010: Bay Path College will host its 15th annual Women’s Professional Development Conference at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For more information, call (413) 565-1000 or visit www.baypath.edu.

By
Departments

FloDesign Wins Funding for Wind Turbine Development

WILBRAHAM — The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced major funding for 37 ambitious research projects — including some that could allow intermittent energy sources like wind and solar to provide a steady flow of power, or use bacteria to produce automotive fuel from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. Among the firms nationwide to receive funding is FloDesign Wind Turbine Corp. of Wilbraham, developer of a compact wind turbine that resembles a jet engine. Flo design will receive $8 million. The funding is being awarded through the department’s recently formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), which was originally established under the America Competes Act of 2007. In April of this year, President Obama announced $400 million in initial funding for ARPA-E through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ARPA-E’s mission is to develop nimble, creative, and inventive approaches to transforming the global energy landscape while advancing America’s technology leadership. FloDesign will develop a new shrouded, axial-flow wind turbine known as the Mixer Ejector Wind Turbine, which is capable of delivering significantly more energy per unit-swept area with greatly reduced rotor loading, as compared to existing horizontal axis wind turbines. Prototypes will be built and tested, demonstrating the advantages of lightweight materials and a protective shroud that will reduce noise and safety concerns, and accelerate distributed wind applications. In announcing the selections, Energy Secretary Steven Chu noted that, after World War II, America was the “unrivaled leader in basic and applied sciences,” adding that this leadership led to enormous technological advances. Chu sees ARPA-E as a crucial part of the new effort by the U.S. to spur the next Industrial Revolution in clean energy technologies, creating thousands of new jobs and helping to cut carbon pollution. Chu added that grants will go to projects with lead researchers in 17 states. Of the lead recipients, including FloDesign, 43% are small businesses, 35% are educational institutions, and 19% are large corporations.

UMass Design Center to Open in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Domenic Sarno announced that UMass Chancellor Robert Holub has committed to establish an Urban Design Center at 3-7 Elm St. at Court Square. The new center will be open Feb. 1, 2010 and provide a variety of programs in architecture, landscape architecture, conservation, and regional planning. “We are thrilled with the UMass decision to move into downtown.The new Urban Design Center will provide a great resource to the City of Springfield and help us to continue to advance our economic development efforts,” Sarno said.“UMass has been working with the city of Springfield’s Development Services Division to establish this center to further assist in the economic revitalization of the city. This is the first step in a multi-pronged commitment by the university to partner with the city.” John Mullin, dean of the graduate schools at UMass, noted that “Chancellor Holub is extremely pleased to announce the opening of the Urban Design Center. This is one of our commitments to the city on economic development and will build a platform for an ongoing, expanded relationship with the city of Springfield.We are grateful to the mayor and his staff for their help. The Urban Design Center is part of our long-term relationship with the city.” Holub said his staff will continue to work with Springfield to ascertain next steps in a broader commitment that will include fostering UMass-related business spinoffs in Springfield, expanding the number of Springfield students attending UMass, and examining the placement of UMass back-off functions into a larger development next door at 31 Elm St.

Confidence Index Declines in October

NEW YORK — The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined in September, deteriorated further in October. The Index now stands at 47.7 (1985=100), down from 53.4 in September. The Present Situation Index decreased to 20.7 from 23.0 last month. The Expectations Index declined to 65.7 from 73.7 in September. The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for the Conference Board by TNS, a custom research company. The cutoff date for October’s preliminary results was Oct. 21. Consumers’ assessment of current conditions worsened in October. Those claiming business conditions are ‘bad’ increased to 47.1% from 46.3%, while those claiming conditions are ‘good’ decreased to 7.7% from 8.6%. Consumers’ appraisal of the labor market was also bleaker. Those claiming jobs are ‘hard to get’ increased to 49.6% from 47.0%, while those claiming jobs are ‘plentiful’ decreased to 3.4% from 3.6%.  Consumers’ short-term outlook grew more pessimistic in October. Those anticipating an improvement in business conditions over the next six months decreased to 20.8% from 21.3%, while those expecting conditions to worsen increased to 18.3% from 14.6%. The labor-market outlook was also more negative. The percentage of consumers expecting more jobs in the months ahead declined to 16.3% from 18.0%, while those expecting fewer jobs increased to 26.6% from 22.9%. The proportion of consumers expecting an increase in their incomes decreased to 10.3% from 11.2%.

Gross Domestic Product Grows in Third Quarter

NEW YORK — Real gross domestic product — the output of goods and services produced by labor and property in the U.S. — increased at an annual rate of 3.5% in the third quarter of 2009, according to the advance estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP decreased 0.7%. The Bureau emphasized that the third-quarter advance estimate recently released is based on source data that is incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency. The second estimate for the third quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on Nov. 24. The increase in real GDP in the third quarter primarily reflects positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), exports, private inventory investment, federal government spending, and residential fixed investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased. The upturn in real GDP in the third quarter primarily reflected upturns in PCE, private inventory investment, exports, residential fixed investment, and a smaller decrease in non-residential fixed investment, and were partly offset by an upturn in imports, a downturn in state and local government spending, and a deceleration in federal government spending. Motor-vehicle output added 1.66 percentage points to the third-quarter change in real GDP after adding 0.19 percentage point to the second-quarter change. Final sales of computers subtracted 0.11 percentage point from the third-quarter change in real GDP after subtracting 0.04 percentage point from the second-quarter change.

By
Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2009.

AGAWAM

Frank Ferrentino
1676 Main St.
$10,500 — Re-roof

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Savings Bank
70 Center St.
$59,000 — New roof

Chicopee Savings Bank
70 Center St.
$90,000 — Construction of a new drive-up teller

Dunkin Donuts
820 Memorial Dr.
$188,000 — Remodel interior and new roof

GREENFIELD

AR Sandri Inc.
400 Chapman St.
$20,000 — Pour a concrete pad to support a 27-foot-high silo

Robert Cohn
117 Main St.
$5,500 — Installation of a new roof

Segundo Spike, LLC
3 Bank Row
$27,500 — Renovation of structure

Segundo Spike, LLC
3 Bank Row
$37,000 — Installation of a wet fire sprinkler system

Town of Greenfield
321 High St.
$126,000 — Removal of existing roof and installation of new one

HADLEY

Home Depot, USA
348 Russell St.
$326,000 — Construction of a Taco Bell Restaurant

Pyramid Mall of Hadley Newco, LLC
367 Russell St.
$5,000 — Construction of fitting rooms in retail establishment

Rocco Falcone
249 Russell St.
$41,800 — Interior renovations

HOLYOKE

Carline J. McCarthy
1593 Northampton St.
$11,000 — Install new walls for second-floor tenant

Carline J. McCarthy
1593 Northampton St.
$4,000 — Install door, deck, & stairs

Holyoke Mall Company, L.P.
50 Holyoke St.
$110,000 — Remodel existing Teavana store

Racing Oil, LLC
330 Main St.
$555,000 — Proposed filling station with car wash and retail building

LUDLOW

Ludlow Community T.V.
500 Chapin St.
$260,000 — Alterations

  

NORTHAMPTON

Coolidge Park Condos
50 Union St.
$204,000 — New roof

Jagdish Singh
57 Main St.
$6,000 — Replacement windows

James Mailloux
55 Main St.
$3,000 — Reconfigure first-floor office spaces

Jeffrey Lipston
108 Main St.
$12,000 — Renovation of the second floor

Hampshire Regional Young Men’s Christian Association
286 Prospect St.
$200,000 — Rebuild second-floor, fire-damaged women’s locker room

Hampshire Regional Young Men’s Christian Association
286 Prospect St.
$100,000 — Rebuild second-floor, fire-damaged men’s locker room

SOUTH HADLEY

South Hadley Housing
27 Abbey Lane
$345,000 — New roof and siding

SPRINGFIELD

A.I.C.
963 State St.
$50,000 — New roof

City of Springfield
285 Tiffany St.
$517,000 — Roof replacement

Helmet Lederer
1912 Wilbraham Road
$28,000 — Repair wall damaged by auto

Key Program Inc.
576 State St.
$9,500 — Staircase renovation

Temple Beth EL
979 Dickinson St.
$17,500 — Re-roof

WESTFIELD

Neil Phillips
45 Washington St.
$85,000 — Commercial alteration

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Costco Wholesale
119 Daggett Dr.
$7,500 — Interior renovations to break room

Fred Aaron
1680 Riverdale St.
$10,000 — Renovate retail furniture sales area

By
Departments

Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield
(413) 787-1555
www.myonlinechamber.com

Nov. 19: ACCGS Government Reception, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield. Tickets: $55, general admission; $45 for members.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com

Nov. 19: YPS Third Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted by the Museum of Springfield History, 21 Edwards St., Springfield. View museum exhibits that describe Springfield’s development as a manufacturing center, the city’s role in transportation history, the many inventions and firsts that were generated here, the growth of downtown as the region’s commercial center, the effects of urbanization and suburbanization, and the stories of Springfield’s diverse populations. Corporate sponsor: Baystate Medical Practices, part of Baystate Health. Sound and entertainment provided by Jx2 Productions.

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

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

Nov. 18: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., hosted by MassMutual Learning & Conference Center, 350 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Tickets: $18 for members; $25 for non-members. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org .

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

Nov. 20: FCCC Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., hosted by Bella Notte, Huckle Hill Road, Bernardston. Program: Engaging an Audience and the Community in New Media. Guest speaker: Jon Abbott, president and CED of WGBH in Boston, a broadcaster with multiple TV and radio services, known for its iconic programming (Nova, Masterpiece, Frontline, Antiques Roadshow, Curious George, The World, etc.). Sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank. Tickets: $12 for members; $14 for non-members. For reservations, call (413) 773-5463 or e-mail
[email protected]  by Nov. 13.

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

Nov. 12: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by Northeast Center for Youth & Families, 203 East St., Easthampton. Door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. Tickets: $5 for members; $15 for non-members.

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

Nov. 18: Chamber After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by Eighty Jarvis Restaurant, 80 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke. Tickets: $5 for members; $10 cash for non-members.

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

Nov. 12: Northampton Area Young Professionals Party with a Purpose, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted by Mama Iguana’s. Free for members; $5 for guests.
Nov. 13: Northampton Chamber Information Session, 8 to 9:30 a.m., 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Free for those considering membership in the chamber.

Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce
(413) 283-2418;
www.qvcc.biz

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce
(413) 532-6451; www.shchamber.com

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce
413-283-6425
www.threeriverschamber.org

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

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

Nov. 12: 2009 Annual Meeting and Awards, 6 to 9 p.m., location and cost TBA. For more details, call (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] .

By
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

Titan Roofing Inc. v. Berkshire Roofing and Siding Co.
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $9,600
Filed: 9/29/09

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Leader Home Center Inc. v. Marchefka & Associates, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods and services rendered: $5,672.95
Filed: 10/21/09

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Smith & Wesson Corp. v. Law Enforcement Associates
Allegation: Breach of agreement by failing to pay required royalty payments: $150,000
Filed: 9/28/09

T.D. Banknorth, N.A. v. KC Countertops Inc.
Allegation: Default on promissory notes: $41,204.47
Filed: 9/28/09

T.D. Banknorth, N.A. v. T.B.’s Custom Woodworking Inc.
Allegation: Default on promissory note: $162,347.73
Filed: 9/27/09

The Bank of Western Massachusetts v. Points East Lounge
Allegation: Default of promissory note: $170,045.68
Filed: 10/16/09

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Elizabeth Le, administratrix of the estate of Paul Le v. Isaac Bromberg, M.D. and Francis Ansa, M.D.
Allegation: Failure to diagnose and treat medical condition, causing death: $25,000+
Filed: 10/16/09

Pun Family, LLC v. American Medical Products and George McKay
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement and non-payment: $35,700
Filed: 10/22/09

Tetrault et al v. Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, et al
Allegation: Operator of a bus negligently drove too close to a horse-drawn carriage, spooking the horses and causing injury: $116,000
Filed: 10/19/09

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

Berkshire Westwood Graphics Inc. v. Henry N. Sawyer Company Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $20,761.41
Filed: 9/8/09

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Plimpton & Hills Corp. v. Vadnais Builders of Springfield
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $5,189.77
Filed: 9/29/09

Scott Diskin v. Somatic Systems Institute Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and non-payment of monies loaned: $9,050
Filed: 9/25/09

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC v. Springfield Limo & Airport Car
Allegation: Breach of retail installment sales agreement: $8,214.67
Filed: 9/25/09

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Bank of America v. Ortiz Professional Services
Allegation: Non-payment of monies loaned: $5,596.29
Filed: 9/30/09

JL Construction Corp. v. W&I Construction Inc. and Tiny Bull, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of materials and labor provided: $42,076.66
Filed: 9/30/09

TD Banknorth, N.A. v. Wide Range Investment
Allegation: Non-payment of promissory notes: $24,239.18
Filed: 9/29/09

United Rentals v. CEI Boston, LLC and Peter C. Banks
Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and services provided on a construction project: $11,465
Filed: 10/2/09

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Agawam Massage Therapy Inc., 1 South Bridge Dr., Agawam, MA 01001. Zhanshi Jin, 36-18 195th St. #1, Flushing, NY 11358. Professional massage therapy.

CHICOPEE

N. Riley Construction Inc., 77 Mass. Ave., Chicopee, MA 01013. Nicholas J. Riley, Same. Construction.

Oak River Development Corp., 169 Grove St., Monson, MA 01057. Erik T. Kaiser, 15 Mechanic St., Monson, MA 01057. Real estate development.

EASTHAMPTON

H. King Rug & Home Inc., 36 Cottage St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Jared Quinn, 20 Zabek Dr., Easthampton, MA 01027. Sale of rugs and home accessories.

KAYA NOW INC., 57 ? Ward Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027. Susan Zahorak, same. E-commerce.

HOLYOKE

The International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association Inc., 30 Morgan St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Elisa Cotroneo, 105 Luther Road, East Greenbush, N.Y. 12061. To promote somatic movement education and therapy and maintain a registry of professional practitioners.

SOUTHWICK

Joanie’s Inc., 134 Point Grove Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Jennifer Nolasco, 52 Wendover Road, Suffield, CT 06078. Bar and restaurant.

  

SPRINGFIELD

Fidelity Land Development Corporation, 1380 Main St. Suite 301, Springfield, MA 01103. Eithan Ezra Pava, 770 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108. Land development.

WESTFIELD

Affordable Flooring Inc., 172 Meadow St., Westfield, MA 01085. David Minchuk, same. Floor covering.

M & H Properties Inc., 11 Robinson Dr., Westfield, MA 01085. Michael Leblanc, Same. Real estate ownership and development.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bella Fortuna Inc., 28 Timber Brook Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Richard
Flak, same. E-commerce

LA Contractor Supply Inc., 32 Wishing Well Way, West Springfield, MA 01089. Rose Rousseau, same. Sales of materials and supplies to the construction industry.

WILBRAHAM

Frankie B’s Inc., 1071 Glendale Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Laurie Bongiorni, same. Billiards and sports bar.

By
Departments

Super 60

Clockwise from top left: at the recent Super 60 gathering, Paul Whalley (center), vice president of Walley Computer Associates, receives his #1 Revenue Award from Peter Straley (left), CEO of presenting sponsor Health New England, and Glenn Welch of platinum sponsor Hampden Bank; Above, keynote speaker Dennis Snow shares his secrets of excellent customer service with the crowd of 600 people; At left, Bruce Robinovitz (center), president of R & R Industries, receives his #1 Growth Award from Straley (right) and Gordon Quinn of platinum sponsor Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn.

Rays of Hope

More than 15,000 walkers in Springfield and Greenfield participated in the annual Rays of Hope – A Walk Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer on Oct. 25, raising more than $900,000 for the care and treatment of breast-cancer patients and cancer research in Western Mass. For the first time, breast-cancer survivors, their relatives, friends, and supporters participated in simultaneous walks in Forest Park in Springfield and Energy Park in Greenfield. More than 190,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Many of the programs funded by the walk are geared toward early detection and breast-cancer awareness.

New Life at Reed’s Landing

Carol Katz, CEO of the Loomis Communities, chats with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno at the recent rededication of Reed’s Landing, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and was purchased by Loomis. None of the resident contracts have been affected by the change in ownership.

Pieces Starting to Fall in Place for Downtown

By
Opinion
Pieces Starting to Fall in Place for Downtown

UMass Amherst officials announced recently that they will be locating one of the university’s programs — an urban design center — in one of the buildings in Springfield’s Court Square early next year.

That was the good news.

The even better news is that UMass officials who discussed the venture said, in different ways and with different terms, that the university was really just getting started in its efforts to help stimulate economic development in the region’s largest city, located a good 20 miles from the Amherst campus.

They hinted strongly that there will be more initiatives in the future, including other potential developments in the long-vacant six-story office complex at 13-31 Elm Street, which has been identified as one of the most important, if not the most important, building blocks to a more-vibrant downtown Springfield.

The initial UMass move is not large in scope — it involves the small, three-story building at 3-7 Elm St., and will not include large numbers of staff, students, and faculty to start. But it could be the beginning of an initiative that will have huge implications for downtown, which, as we’ve said for some time, is in need of a spark, or several sparks — and this could be one of them.

And while we’ve said on many occasions that what downtown really needs is private-sector development efforts, sometimes a push from the public sector will get the ball rolling. Let’s hope that’s the case here.

Taking a step back and looking at the broad picture downtown, it appears that several pieces to what has been a frustrating puzzle are starting to fall into place. Beyond the UMass project, there’s movement at the old federal building in the heart of downtown. When federal court employees and other government offices moved into the new federal courthouse on State Street, the city was faced with the prospect of something it really can’t afford — to have a large, prominent building on Main Street go dark for an extended period of time.

Instead, a mix of public and private investment will keep the lights on at what is now known colloquially as 1550 Main St. Indeed, the city of Springfield will move its School Department offices into the building, while Baystate Health will move several offices there, and the General Services Administration will occupy some square footage. The sum of these moves will put hundreds of additional workers downtown, providing a potential — that’s potential — boost for current and future retail operations, support businesses, restaurants, and other hospitality-related ventures.

Meanwhile, a new restaurant, Hot Table, has located in the former Gus & Paul’s location in Tower Square, bringing a much-needed dose of vibrancy to Tower Square and supplying another reason for workers downtown to get out of their offices and venture out to Main Street.

In another development, an NBA Development League, or ‘D League,’ team, the Springfield Armor (see story, page 6), will start playing games at the MassMutual Center, providing, along with the AHL’s Falcons and other shows at the complex, more reasons to visit Springfield at night and on weekends.

And now, UMass will establish a small presence — again, to start — in the central business district. The Urban Design Center, which will provide a variety of programs in architecture, landscape architecture, conservation, and regional planning, will being more bodies downtown and is expected to become a resource for the city as it continues to reinvent itself.

Put all this together, and it adds up to a few big steps forward in the ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown. There is a long way to go — Tower Square remains a shell of the vibrant retail center it once was, and there remains a distinct lack of market-rate housing that everyone knows is needed to lure professionals into the CBD — but there are signs of progress.

Full recovery won’t come overnight or even in several years, but it will happen if city and economic-development leaders take it one piece at a time, and manage to have some of those pieces fall into place.

By
Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of October 2009.

AGAWAM

Anderson Contractors
325 Adams St.
Trina Gomes

A. P. Rogers Associates
24 Eastview Dr.
Alan Rogers

Lana Stationery
56 Corey Colonial
Lana Casiello-Boyle

Northeast Training and Consulting
456 North Westfield St.
Dorothy Circosta

T. C. Captioning Services
114 Valley Brook Road
Thomas Costa

Wright’s Cleaning
24 Dwight St.
Willie Wright

AMHERST

Localocracy
553 Main St.
Conor White-Sullivan

Rock Mongrel Designs
23 Lessey St.
Richard Raymond

The Cajun Queen
233 North Pleasant St.
Gwendolyn Swan

The Loose Goose Café
233 North Pleasant St.
J.L. Gourmet Inc.

CHICOPEE

Matroni’s
140 Exchange St.
Corina Frocier

Royal Real Estate Service
31 Devlin Dr.
Gerard Roy

Sweetheart Home Care
30 Melvin St.
Natalia Vasilenko

EAST LONGMEADOW

Charli’s Country
275 Kibbe Road
Charlene Miller

Colorful Creations
128 Shaker Road
Deanna Hanson

Fitzgerald Burglary
50 Gerard Ave.
Michael Fitzgerald

Martin Appraisal Co.
192 North Main St.
Martin Grudgen

Wheelhouse Strategy
83 Hanward Hill
James T. Fitzgerald

GREENFIELD

Days Inn
21 Colrain Road
Vidhyadhar Mitta

Franklin Adult Day Health Center
60 Wells St.
William C. Jones

KT’s Lawncare
126 Oakland St.
Thomas Newcomb

Lit’l Bears Den
200 Main St.
Susan Maloney

Synergy Transportation Services
25 Park Ave.
Jason Markwell

Vehicle Inspection Center
188 Federal St.
Nell Lorenz

HADLEY

Candy Stand
367 Russell St.
Syed Javed Ali

Center for Retirement Planning
245 Russell St.
Robert Burke

Trans World Food Mart
50 Russell St.
Johnny Binh Tran

HOLYOKE

Contractor Computer Services
323 Walnut St.
Mabeline Arzola

Farms Auto
200 Whiting Farms Road
James Lavelle

Fashion Club
348 High St.
Yu Sun Sim

Grandma’s Attic Thrift Store
1976 Northampton St.
Sharyna Kazunas

Los Master Social Club
65 Commercial St.
Crispin Matos

Marinello & McKenna
1500 Northampton St.
Marita Marinello

Project 13 Inc.
50 Holyoke St.
John Foley

LONGMEADOW

Highland Medical Transcription
26 Homecrest St.
Donna Ingalls

Longmeadow Healing Arts
167 Dwight Road
Maureen Quinn

Pollack Playhouse
P.O. Box 60812
Jay Pollack

Students Helping Students
60 Tecumseh Dr.
Michael Fein

NORTHAMPTON

21st Century Etiquette
88 Hockanum Road
Amelia Mosley

Barton’s Angels Inc.
15 Conz St.
Nancy B. Whittey

Burgundy Rose Salon
21 Locust St.
Virginia L. Chaffee-Deiling

Finding Earth Works
29 Columbus Ave.
Alezandra Schroeder

Hampshire Dermatology & Skin Health Center
39A Carlon Dr.
Katherine L. White, M.D.

Pelorian Digital
1 Front St.
Richard Rasa

PALMER

Burgandy Brook Farms
3090 Palmer Road
MaryAnn & Thomas Roberts

Kopec’s Auto & Truck Service
1219 Thorndike St.
Christopher Kopec

Quabbin Real Estate Solutions
82 Ware St.
Andrew Willis

Tadpoles
1371 Main St.
Sherry Kennedy

Vinny’s Pizza
1112 Park St.
Vincenzo Manzi

  

SOUTHWICK

JEP Distribution
71 Berkshire Ave.
James Phelps

Pathways to Healing by Aimee
627 College Highway
Aimee Sawyer

Right Way Repair, LLC
168 South Longyard Road
Richard Mannion

SPRINGFIELD

Acupuncture and Chinese
1502 Allen St.
Stanley Baker

Alan Epstein Photography
50 Ingersoll Grove
Alan Epstein

Angie and Blanca Ceramic
36 Winnipeg St.
Angela Rodriguez

Asher’s Trucking Service
195 Hickory St.
Katrika Joseph-James

Bell Bros Sneaker Plus
80 State St.
George A. Bell, Jr.

Bert Hills Express Inc.
225 Orange St.
Kenneth G. Dulude, Jr.

Better Air Quality
175 Oak Grove Ave.
Ralph McKinley Ward

Bliss Graphics
29 Leitch St.
Trevis M. Wray

Bryan’s Roofing
39 Gardens Dr.
Bryan Trombley

Bryant’s Auto Solutions
87 Washburn St.
Bryant James

Builders Home Remodelers
185 Mill St.
Vincent Guiel

Comfort Zone Heating
180 Laurelton St.
Richard Charles Barry

Concentra Medical Centers
140 Carando Dr.
Eleanor J. Thompson

Curves
1916 Wilbraham Road
Linda L. Scott

Deal Man Dave
76 Palo Alto Road
Dave Behnk

Design Plus Simulation
1140 Main St.
Yergeniy Norkin

Diamond Cut Barber Shop
616 Belmont Ave.
Osagie Ekhorytomwen

Dwight Convenience Store
135 Dwight St.
Lack Shah

The Firm
450 Main St.
William McCarthy

Future Comp
2077 Roosevelt Ave.
Joseph Fico

Impressions
35 Braywood Circle
Nina Marie Olmeda

J & G Transportation Service
304 Belmont Ave.
John J. Rajab

JC Variety
190 Orange St.
William M. McCarthy

Jefferson Management
1418 Berkshire Ave.
Michael Jefferson

Jose Stripping and Transportation
927 Worthington St.
Jose A. Santiago

WESTFIELD

B’s Gym
76 Elm St.
Brian Cook

BJS Associate
55 Arnold St.
Francis Janisieski

Bluesky Information Systems
48 Blue Sky Dr.
Nicholas B. Meszaros

EB Surf and Ski
86 Hawks Circle
Eric Blackwelder

Nails 2000
275 Elm St.
Tam Thanh Huynh

Northeast Valve & Actuation
170 Lockhouse Road
Brian Howard

Tatro’s Mobile Mechanic Services Inc.
16 George St.
Gregg Tatro

Union Mart
420 Union St.
Kimat G. Khatak

Westfield State College Bookstore
577 Western Ave.
Barnes & Noble College

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bob’s Auto
622 Union St.
Philip Auto LLC

Comfort Inn and Suites
106 Capital Dr.
Nataver Inc.

Demoracski Painting
76 Partridge Lane
Mark A. Demorcaski

Edwin Quality Services
18 Kings Highway
Edwin R. Colon

Hair Cuttery
343 Memorial Ave.
Hair Cuttery of Greater Boston, LLC

Hunter’s Computer Services
283 Elm St.
Deborah M. Burt

Painting Unlimited
38 West School St.
Adam Farnum

Performance Rehabilitation
124 Myron St.
Performance Rehabilitation of Western New England

Rescore America
134 Main St.
GSC Credit Service Inc.

Roche-Realty & Associates
425 Union St.
Cassie Roche

Scheer Construction
14 Colony Road
Arthur Barry Scheer

Springfield Country Club
1375 Elm St.
Denis Lucy

St. Joseph’s Family Dental, LLC
258 Main St.
Susana R. Aguero

Tri County Contractors Supply Inc.
154 Wayside Ave.
Robert H. Clark Jr.

Your Hearts Content
900 Riverdale St.
Deborah-Ann Geng

By
Departments

Monson Savings Bank announced the following:
• Michael Rouette has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending;
• Nancy Dahlen has been promoted to Vice President, Residential & Consumer Lending;
• Dan Moriarty has been promoted to Vice President, CFO; and
• Terri Fox has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Retail Administration.

•••••

Springfield Armor has announced that:
• Nicole Hoffman has been named Director of Marketing and Public Relations; and
• Greg Noonan has been promoted to Account Executive.

•••••

Attorney Kristen L. Miller has joined Cooley, Shrair P.C. of Springfield as Associate Legal Counsel. Most recently, Miller served as Clerk in the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts, Western Division. Her practice areas include bankruptcy law and non-bankruptcy law.

•••••

Ronald Briggs, an experienced financial services expert, has opened the Horizon Investment Management Group in East Longmeadow. The firm provides a full line of financial services and products, personalized to fit the needs of individual investors, corporations, and institutions.

•••••

John Simeone has been promoted to Vice President of Technical Operations for the Western New England Region for Comcast. In his expanded role, Simeone will drive the continued adoption of the new tools, technologies, and practices that are powering Comcast’s proactive approach to customer service. He will oversee field operations for the region, including technical and workforce operations, as well as the company’s service centers. He will also focus on maintaining and developing a skilled, diverse, and motivated workforce.

•••••

Laurette Bishop has been promoted to Manager of the Springfield office of Kostin, Ruffkess & Company, LLC, based in Farmington, Conn.

•••••

Benjamin Fitts has been hired as a Web and Software Engineer at van Schouwen Associates in Longmeadow. He is responsible for developing and managing a range of Web site design projects, including e-commerce, interactive, and social-media applications for clients throughout the U.S.

•••••

Charles Urquhart has been named Associate Director for Museum Advancement at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge.

•••••

Sharon Shumway, a Family Nurse Practitioner, has joined Dr. Mark Bigda and Leah Carrasquillo, also a Family Nurse Practitioner, at Nashawannuck Internal Medicine in Southampton.

•••••

Attorney Carol Cioe Klyman, Shareholder of Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. of Springfield, has been named to the Editorial Board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Journal. The NAELA Journal is a peer-reviewed, scholarly publication of articles on elder- and special-needs-law topics, and is published twice a year. Klyman specializes in elder law, estate planning, guardianships, special-needs planning, and probate litigation.

•••••

Jeffrey Siegel has joined the United Wealth Management Group as Vice President of Estate Planning. It is part of United Bank, based in West Springfield.

•••••

The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley announced the following:
• Robert Cohn, Broker-Owner of Cohn & Co. Real Estate Agency in Greenfield, received the 2009 Good Neighbor Award. Cohn was nominated for his commitment to Greenfield Community College as a member of the college’s campaign leadership team and an honorary member of the Greenfield Community College Foundation Board;
• Lisa Kraus of Bank of America Home Loans in West Springfield, received the 2009 Good Neighbor Award. Kraus was recognized for the dedication she has shown in helping the Realtor association achieve its outreach goals in the region;
• Ben Scranton has been named Executive Vice President of the association; and
• Mary-Leah Assad has been named Communications Coordinator.

•••••

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce will recognize the following area residents during its Nov. 12 Annual Meeting:
• Michael Stolpinski of Westfield Electroplating Company will be named Businessman of the Year;
• Dawn Carignan Thomas of Instrument Technology Inc. will be named Businesswoman of the Year; and
• Barbara Braem will receive the Don Blair Community Service Award.

 

By
Departments

Ten Points About : Cobra Insurance

By KRISTINA DRZAL HOUGHTON, CPA, MST

1. Effective March 1, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 changed the COBRA provisions.


2. Employees who lose coverage due to involuntary loss of employment from 9/01/08 to 12/31/09 are eligible for a 65% subsidy of their COBRA premiums under the act. This percentage applies whether or not the employer pays for a lesser portion of the costs for active employees.
3. The subsidy for COBRA continuation premiums applies for up to nine months for workers who have involuntarily terminated, and for their families. This period terminates sooner should the former employee become eligible for other group coverage.
4. The employer recovers the cost of the subsidy on their quarterly Form 941 filings.

5. The subsidy applies to group health plans that are subject to the federal COBRA continuation rules.

6. Typically, the amount of the subsidy is excluded from the recipient’s gross income. However, for individuals with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $125,000 or $250,000 for married filed jointly, amounts will be includable in income based upon a phase-in calculation. Regardless, the individual is still eligible for the subsidy.
7. COBRA subsidy applies to continuation coverage of any group health plan except a flexible spending arrangement. This includes vision-only or dental-only plans and ‘mini-med plans,’ whether or not the employer pays for a portion of the costs for active employees.
8. Individuals who became eligible for COBRA between 2/17/09 and 12/31/09 must be notified of the new subsidy in the normal course of their COBRA notification. Special provisions applied to individuals who became eligible between 9/01/08 and 2/16/09.
9. Notice must be given to each qualified terminated employee, not just covered employees, who experience a qualifying event during the covered period.

10 The IRS published Notice 2009-27 covers many examples of specific situations. This notice is available at www.irs.gov . The full version of Model Notices are available at www.dol.gov/ ebsa/cobramodelnotice.html.

Kristina Drzal Houghton, CPA, MST is the partner in charge of Taxation at Meyers Brothers Kalicka in Holyoke; (413) 536-8510.

By
Departments

Nazi Propaganda Discussion

Oct. 28: Ann Millin, Ph.D., special assistant to the director of leadership programs and historian in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s National Institute for Holocaust Education, will present a free lecture titled “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda” at 7 p.m. in Breck Suite, Wright Hall, Bay Path College, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The museum’s new exhibition, State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda, reveals how over two decades Nazi leaders showed the world new ways of using this weapon. Millin’s presentation will examine how the Nazis employed propaganda to acquire power and create a climate of hatred, suspicion, and indifference. The event is part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

‘Women and American Politics’ Discussion

Oct. 29: Robin Leeds, senior political strategist, organizer, and advocate with more than 30 years of work in the government, labor, business, and nonprofit sectors, will lead a discussion titled “Where Are We Now? Women and American Politics” at 5 p.m. at the Five College Women’s Research Center, 83 College St., South Hadley. As the Obama Administration pushes for women’s rights internationally under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Leeds will assess the situation for women in the U.S. and present her assessment of the current administration’s actions. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (413) 538-2275 or visit www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/fcwsrc.

Dance and Brunch

Nov. 1: The Over the Top Ballroom Dance Project, hosted by Bay Path College in Longmeadow, will host a South American Dance and Brunch beginning at 11 a.m. in the Blake Dining Commons, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The event is part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. Brunch begins at 11, with the dance performance and lessons starting at noon. Tickets for the brunch cost $6.50 each for adults and children. The performance and lessons are free and open to the public. Brunch reservations are required before Oct. 27. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

‘Economics of Peace’ Talk

Nov. 2: Mary Ellen Cohane, Five College Women’s Studies Research Associate from the Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts, will give a talk titled “Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Economics of Peace” at 3:30 p.m. at the Five College Women’s Studies Research Center, 83 College St., South Hadley. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (413) 538-2275 or visit www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/fcwsrc.  

Sustainability Seminars

Nov. 4, 10: Whalley Computer Associates, based in Southwick, will team up with EMC, HP, Xerox, and Synnex to host free sustainability seminars for businesses in the Springfield area. The seminars will offer actionable ideas that will help lower business IT costs, improve the performance of networks, and reduce the impact on the environment. Seminars are slated Nov. 4 and 10 from 9 a.m. to noon at 1 Whalley Way, Southwick. Xerox and EMC will co-host the Nov. 4 session, while Synnex and HP will co-host the Nov. 10 session. A filet steak luncheon is also planned during the Nov. 10 event. For more information, visit www.wca.com    

WNEC Speaker Series

Nov. 5: David Bullock, co-author of Barack 2.0, will present “Effectively Leveraging New Media For Profitable Business Development” at noon as part of the Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship’s speaker series. Bullock, of the White Bullock Group, helps businesses drive sales, and his method is to view social media as tools that can bring measurable results. He is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer and provides coaching and consulting services to businesses. Bullock’s presentation, slated at the Law School Commons, is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. The center is located at 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. For more information, call (413) 796-2030.

‘Phantom of the Country Opera’

Nov. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15: The Bay Path College Performing Arts Department will present Phantom of the Country Opera in Mills Theatre, Carr Hall, as part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. The production promises irreverent wit, painful punning, sly contemporary references, and more than a touch of the absurd. Bay Path College is located at 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. For more information on showtimes and tickets, call (413) 565-1307 or visit www.baypath.edu.

World Affairs Council Lecture

Dec. 2: International consultant Jonathan Sperling will present “A View from Khyber Pass: Conflict Origins, Observations, and Expectations for the Border Region of Pakistan and Afghanistan” as part of the World Affairs Council’s Fall Instant Issues series. Sperling has 28 years experience in the planning, design, evaluation, and negotiation of development programs in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans, and the former Soviet Union for the U.S. Agency for International Development. He was in Islamabad, Pakistan in May during the Swat attacks. The lecture begins at noon in the third floor Community Room of One Financial Plaza (Sovereign Bank building), 1350 Main St., Springfield. The cost is $5 for council members without lunch, $15 with a lunch provided, $10 for non-members without a lunch, and $20 with a lunch provided. To make reservations, call (413) 733-0110.

Book, Print Signing

Dec. 3: For the past 32 years, Easthampton resident Ruth Sanderson has illustrated 75 books for children of all ages and retold and illustrated many fairytales, including her latest project, Mother Goose and Friends. Sanderson will present a free lecture titled “The Story of a Book” at 7 p.m. in Breck Suite, Wright Hall, at Bay Path College, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, as part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. Slides and examples of her detailed sketches and paintings from her award-winning books will be shown. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

Bay Path Winterfest

Dec. 9: The Bay Path College Performing Arts Department will celebrate the themes of light, hope, goodwill, and peace for all people during its annual Winterfest program as part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. The free event begins at 7:30 p.m. in Mills Theatre, Carr Hall, on the Bay Path campus, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

YPS New Year’s Celebration

Dec. 31: The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield has once again chosen downtown Springfield for its New Year’s Eve celebration. Only 300 tickets will be available for the affair at the Marriott Hotel in Tower Square. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsorship of the event should visit www.springfieldyps.com for more details. For ticket information, call Jill Monson of YPS at (413) 219-9692.

Women’s Professional Development Conference

April 30, 2010: Bay Path College will host its 15th annual Women’s Professional Development Conference at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For more information, call (413) 565-1000 or visit www.baypath.edu.

Springfield’s Question 1 Is All About Continuity

By
Opinion

Question 1 on the election ballot in Springfield this fall asks voters if they want to lengthen the term of the mayor from two to four years. That’s the official wording, more or less.

But the question could very easily be phrased in other ways. Such as ‘do you want to bring more continuity to the management of the largest community in Western Mass.?’ or ‘do you want to facilitate economic-development efforts in the city?’ or ‘do you want to make it easier to recruit top talent to important positions in city government?’

The answer to all those questions is ‘yes, obviously.’ And that should be how people respond to Question 1 as well.

This ballot initiative, which would take effect beginning with the 2011 regular city election, is essentially a no-brainer, and we urge voters to strongly support it. It is simply hard to find a downside to giving future mayors a four-year term in office. In fact, we hope that other communities across the region that have mayors will look to do the same, and soon.

Why? There are several reasons, starting with the fact that cities like Springfield can’t afford to have their mayors running for office every two years. Such frequency means that corner-office holders spend one year governing the city and the next year running for re-election and raising money. It’s hard to govern and run an election campaign at the same time.

In fact, it would be fair to say that two-year office holders are constantly running for re-election, and this certainly impacts the way they govern. If an individual is always staring at another election, he or she is almost certain to be far less willing to take the kinds of risks that are often necessary to achieve real progress, especially in a city like Springfield, an older industrial city that must in many ways reinvent itself.

As for newly elected mayors, two years is simply not enough time to put together an agenda and even begin the process of carrying it out. Before an individual has had a chance to do much of anything regarding economic development, schools, public safety, and other matters, he or she must go back to the stump and get re-elected.

There are other reasons to support Question 1, including the broad subject of continuity when it comes to how a community is governed. Developers look for it when they consider where and what to build, and it’s hard to achieve continuity when mayors — and the professionals they choose to help manage their communities — are constantly changing.

There is also the simple matter of recruitment. Many top office holders in a city, including the director of economic development and, to a lesser extent, the school superintendent, serve at the whim of the mayor. Would talented individuals want to put themselves in the position of taking a job they might be able to keep for only two years? Probably not.

Recognizing all of this, many cities in the Bay State have lengthened the mayor’s term in office from two to four years. That list includes Boston, Lawrence, Lynn, Newton, Malden, Melrose, and others, and Springfield should join it, as soon as possible.

This ballot question isn’t about the current mayor, or who might be mayor in January 2012. Instead, it’s about all future mayors and giving them more of a chance to govern the city effectively. It’s about continuity and stability and time to get things done and done the right way.

Question 1 makes good sense for Springfield, and voters should give it their support.

By
Departments

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

Aiken, Adam H.
Moriarty, Dawn P.
81 Emerson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Alici, Abdurrahman
251 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Alvord, George Browning
25 Maryland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/09

Armata, Chantelle Lynn
a/k/a Larmata, Chantelle L.
27 Dartmouth St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Augello, Nicholas V.
30 Meadow St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Bachelder, Stephanie L.
958 South Main St., Apt. 4
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Balsamo, Tanya Ann
8 Hawk St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Barnes, Joseph C.
Barnes, Anita J.
9 Leonard Ave., 1st Fl.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Bass-Miller, Yolanda R.
15 Hadley Court
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/15/09

Bellarosa, John D.
Bellarosa, Amanda L.
11 Columbia Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Berube, Paul M.
Berube, Janet L.
a/k/a Torres, Janet L.
18 County Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Bradley, Stephen J.
15 South Main St.
Haydenville, MA 01039
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Bronson, Robert E.
Bronson, Phyllis J.
33 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Burggren, Kevin F.
Burggren, Penny K.
86 West Main St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/09

Carpino, Raymond F.
16 Maple Heights
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/09

Colon, Manuel Jose
Colon, Mery Esther
a/k/a Vazquez, Mery
a/k/a Sanchez, Mery
13 Algonquin Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/09

Colon-Cunha, Victoria L.
29 Briarcliff Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Croteau, Molly K.
a/k/a Burke, Molly K.
88 Highlandview St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/12/09

Dahlgren, Debra Lee
12 Beaver Dr.
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/14/09

Dang, Minh Kim
51 South Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Devens, Sean M.
Devens, Tina M.
48 Taft St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/07/09

Dodson, Mildred Viola
106 Elmore Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/10/09

Eddington, Joseph Anthony
60 Wing St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/07/09

Egan, Diane M.
90 Harris St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Elgendy, Hazem Moustafa
60 Riveria Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/09

Elliott-Curtin, Margaret R.
a/k/a Curtin, Margaret R.
115 Park Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Elsafti, Mohamed Mahmoud
78 Riviera Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/09

Feliciano, Nelvin G.
19 North Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Gagne, Alan A.
80 East Longmeadow Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/09

Garcia, Miguel Angel
286 Lexington St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Gardner, Ronald D.
223 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Guyer-Joyce, Rebecca L.
452 Cold Spring Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Hawley, Donald R.
16 Carriage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Hess, Daniel J.
Lewis-Hess, Nancy J.
14 Greenleaf St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/09

Hess, Ralph F.
46 Wayside St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/09

Hitchcock, David Edward
41 Marian Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Hollingworth, Lynn A.
1154 Main St.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/02/09

Hotte, Michael J.
Hotte, Denise P.
70 Paderewski St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Hull, Lori Jean
123 Boston Road, Rt. 67
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/09

  

Jackson, Sherann Kamilah
36 Lynebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/09/09

Jefferson, Linda J.
50 Grove St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Jillson, Jr., Erwin L.
Jillson, Julie A.
176 Wilson Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/04/09

Johnson, Terrance
330 Cold Spring Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/09

Jones, Steven Andrew
Jones, Laurel Aislinn
a/k/a Heron, Laurel Aislinn
Jones, Laurel A.
82 Lincoln Park
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Liebert, Eric Gregory
51 Village Hill Road #206
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/09

Lisee, Christopher A.
Lisee, Michele L.
530 Lane Road South
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Lloyd, Jerome C.
Lloyd, Denise C.
56 Shepard Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/09

Longan, William M.
157 Carver St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/09

Lord, Errol
7 Pomona St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/02/09

Martin, Garnett
87 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/09

Mayfield, Jeffrey N.
56 New Boston Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/14/09

Melbourne, Daniel F.
109 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/09

Meuse, Aaron C.
46 Clark St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/14/09

Minto, John J.
534 Southwest St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/08/09

Morrissette, Rhea
176 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/09

Murray, Susan M.
342 Southwick Road, Apt. C9
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/09

Negron, Felix A.
Agron, Daisy
65 Broadway St., Apt 6
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/02/09

O’Donnell, Richard F.
O’Donnell, Pauline M.
32 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Oakes, George C.
Oakes, Dina L.
20 Nancy Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/09

O’Brien, Daniel W.
17 Gold St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/09

Padua, Yolanda
220 Norfolk St., 2nd Fl.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/09

Paquette, Kathleen M.
58 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/09

Phelps, Christine T.
36 Monrovia St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Pond, Arthur N.
16 Robert St.
Southbridge, MA 01550
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/09

Preye, William A.
Preye, Kristin T.
a/k/a Fearn, Kristin T.
66 Lasalle St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028-1927
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/09

Santos, Eric Scott
27 Dartmouth St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Scott, Randy J.
65 Pitroff Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/09

Shaw, Glen A.
Shaw, Cheryl J.
837 State St. #435
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/14/09

Sinopoli, Kristen Elise
47 Oak Hill Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/09

Solzak, Jody K.
Solzak, Merlita B.
38 Westbook Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/09

Starrett, Mark Harold
Starrett, Sherry Ann
a/k/a Mlynarski, Sherry A.
412 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/09

Three Men & A Machine
Barsalou, Gregg Peter
Barsalou, Tammy Jean
a/k/a Gray, Tammy
89 Woodcrest Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/09

Treadwell, Courtney A.
7 Wallace Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/09

Tymkowiche, Catherine Ann
12B Phins Hill Manor
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/09

Walsh, Jeffrey D.
30 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001-3207
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/09

Ward, William P.
Ward, Mary E.
63 Spring Hill Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/13/09

OPINION

By
Opinion
It’s Time for the State to Fund All Hospitals Equitably

There has been a great deal of national debate about health care lately. Here in Massachusetts, many of our hospitals are facing a crisis that is every bit as critical.

Holyoke Medical Center is one of the hospitals that is most affected.

Though Holyoke Medical Center, formerly Holyoke Hospital, has been a vital component in taking care of the region’s most needy patients ever since it opened in 1893, we are witnessing an unparalleled crisis in state funding. For many years millions of dollars in state funding have flowed to facilities such as Boston Medical Center because, like us, they take care of the poor. There is no doubt that they do. And there is also no doubt that, thanks to state funding, Boston Medical Center, a fellow nonprofit facility, finished fiscal year 2008 with a profit of nearly $55 million. During the same period, Holyoke Medical Center, which also treats tens of thousands of poor people each year, lost $951,000. Something is not right with the system.

There are 14 community hospitals in Massachusetts designated as ‘disproportionate-share hospitals,’ each of which serves a large population of the poor and medically needy. A hospital is designated as a disproportionate-share hospital if more than 63% of the care it provides is reimbursable by public payers — Medicaid, Medicare, and Commonwealth Care. It is not just the poor who are served by such hospitals, but also people at risk of being underserved due to age, culture, or disability, or who lack the resources, insurance, education, or ability to travel for care. These hospitals — including Holyoke Medical Center — serve the most needy and vulnerable populations in cities that are struggling to provide services. Others are located in rural areas with challenged economies like the Berkshires and Cape Cod.

Each year, Holyoke Medical Center treats more than 40,000 patients in its Emergency Department alone. Additional services extend its reach to hundreds of thousands of patients. But many of the patients who come to the ER seeking care cannot afford to pay. We’ve never turned anyone away based on their income level, nor would we. The fact that we take care of this population is just one reason we are essential to this community and to this state.

And all we ask is that we are compensated fairly for this invaluable service, on par with hospitals in the Boston area.

It’s quite likely you know someone, a friend or a family member, who works at Holyoke Medical Center. HMC and its affiliates employ more than 1,800 people, and as the largest non-public employer in Holyoke,we pump more than $300 million in direct and indirect spending back into the local economy each year.

Our nurses and other professionals deserve to be compensated on par with those in Boston. Our patients deserve access to the same state-of-the-art medical equipment that Boston patients can access because their hospitals are adequately reimbursed for caring for the poor. The issues facing our hospital are no less pressing than the issues facing Boston Medical Center or Cambridge.

Western Mass. patients deserve better. You deserve better.

There is a growing gap between critical health care dollars being spent in Boston and elsewhere in Massachusetts. Hospitals such as Holyoke Medical Center are severely underfunded, and if the budget shortfalls continue, then the caring that has gone on at this facility and others for generations will be in severe jeopardy.

Supporting our community safety-net hospitals is critical to the health and strength of the towns and cities that depend on them for jobs, to stimulate the economy, and to care for the residents of our communities, including those most in need. In the end, what we ask for is fair and equitable support to fulfill this mission.

Please express your concerns on this issue to the Commonwealth’s administration and legislators.

Hank Porten is president of Holyoke Medical Center.

By
Departments

UMass May Again Pursue Law School

BOSTON — Saying that it seeks to preserve its “historic mission” and its commitment to legal education excellence and diversity, Southern New England School of Law has offered to enter into discussions that could lead to the donation of its assets to UMass Dartmouth. The donation offer was conveyed in an Oct. 5, 2009 letter from Southern New England School of Law Board of Trustees Chair Margaret D. Xifaras to UMass President Jack M. Wilson. Under the terms of the possible donation, UMass would receive cash assets and the campus that now houses the 235-student Southern New England School of Law in Dartmouth — with the total value of the offer estimated at $22.6 million. Wilson thanked officials at Southern New England School of Law for making “a very generous offer” and said UMass would launch a comprehensive review process. UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack described the potential donation offer as “extraordinarily generous,” noting that “we have a wonderful chance to expand higher-education opportunity in Massachusetts by accepting this historic donation and building an innovative public law school that offers an excellent and affordable education for students.” President Wilson said he has asked officials at UMass Dartmouth to review the relevant academic, financial, and legal issues and to put forward a proposal based on Southern New England School of Law’s donation letter. President Wilson said UMass system officials would then engage in an extensive due-diligence review process. In her letter, Xifaras wrote that “our aspiration and objective is to resource and empower the university to carry forward with our historic mission and commitment to provide affordable, accessible, and excellent legal education to a diverse group of students who might not otherwise have this opportunity.” Four years ago, UMass had pushed for a public law school, but its efforts were rejected by the state Board of Higher Education. As part of the new proposal, the school would return a portion of tuition to the state and would add an elective curriculum that could bolster the state’s southern economy by creating programs in maritime and environmental law.

Jobless Claims Drop

WASHINGTON — In the week ending Oct. 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 514,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 524,000. The four-week moving average was 531,500, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week’s revised average of 540,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.5% for the week ending Oct. 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week’s revised rate of 4.6%. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Oct. 3 was 5,992,000, a decrease of 75,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 6,067,000. The four-week moving average was 6,082,750, a decrease of 68,250 from the preceding week’s revised average of 6,151,000. The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 503,973 in the week ending Oct. 10, an increase of 51,919 from the previous week. There were 454,065 initial claims in the comparable week in 2008. Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending Sept. 26. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Sept. 26 were in Puerto Rico (7.1%), Oregon (5.3%), Nevada (5.2%), Pennsylvania (5.0%), California (4.7%), Michigan (4.6%), North Carolina (4.6%), Wisconsin (4.6%), Arkansas (4.5%), and South Carolina (4.5%). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Oct. 3 were in Pennsylvania (+3,618), Washington (+1,857), Wisconsin (+1,629), Missouri (+1,441), and Texas (+1,291), while the largest decreases were in Florida (-5,178), California (-3,911), Tennessee (-683), Illinois (-682), and Arkansas (-589).

Retail Stores See Small Spending Increase

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Commerce Department’s Census Bureau recently released retail sales for September, noting that they fell 1.5%, primarily reflecting a 10.4% decline in motor-vehicle sales. The drop in total sales was smaller than the decrease of 2.1% expected by private analysts. Gasoline sales rose 1.1%, and sales excluding motor vehicles and gasoline increased 0.4%. In the third quarter as a whole, total retail sales rose 6.4% at an annual rate, and sales excluding the volatile motor-vehicle and gasoline components rose 0.6%. “Retail sales in the third quarter saw its strongest gain in almost two years, due to the successful Cash for Clunkers program,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “The healthy increase in sales excluding motor vehicles and gasoline over the past two months indicates that consumers are gaining confidence and spending.”

Foreclosures Hit Record High

NEW YORK — RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed homes, recently released statistics that show the number of foreclosure filings hit a record high in the third quarter. Rick Sharga, spokesperson for RealtyTrac, noted “they were the worst three months of all time.” According to RealtyTrac, 937,840 homes received a foreclosure letter — whether a default notice, auction notice, or bank repossession — during that time. Nevada continued to be the worst-hit state, with one filing for every 23 households. Also striking, Vermonters saw foreclosure filings jump nearly 170% compared with the third quarter of 2008.

By
Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2009.

AGAWAM

HP Hood, LLC
233 Main St.
$100,000 — Installation of a 25,000-gallon milk storage silo on existing pad

HP Hood, LLC
233 Main St
$170,000 — Replacement of a 25,000-gallon milk storage silo with a 40,000-gallon milk storage silo on existing pad

AMHERST

Clark House Associates
22 Lessey St.
$38,000 — Addition of cell phone antenna on roof

Hampshire College
Women’s Center
$8,000 — Construction of a handicap ramp

Paul C. Jones
23 Montague Road
$89,500 — Relocate transaction counter and reconfigure sales floor area

CHICOPEE

Pioneer Valley Church of Christ
85 Montcalm St.
$2,500 — Interior renovations

Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
7 Belcher St.
$167,500 — Strip and re-roof

EAST LONGMEADOW

Faith Tabernacle Church
15 Kibbe Road
$37,000 — Interior renovations

G-Laz Realty, LLC
138 Denslow Road
$118,000 — Office build-out

GREENFIELD

Hobo Enterprise, LLC
8-16 Federal St.
$16,000 — Renovate second floor for Yoga studio

Rosenberg Property, LLC
311 Wells St.
$67,000 — Interior renovations

Quality Realty Partners II, LLP
55 Federal St.
$6,000 — Interior renovations for two offices

HOLYOKE

New England Etching and Plating
23 Spring St.
$18,000 — Roof repair

Peoples Savings Bank
314 High St.
$49,000 — Third-floor interior build out

Sisters of St. Joseph
34 Lower Westfield Road
$5,575,000 — Construction of a new residential facility with 31 units

LUDLOW

Our Lady of Fatima Church
450 Windsor St.
$718,000 — Alterations

NORTHAMPTON

CFP Properties, LLC
320 Riverside Dr.
$49,000 — Renovate interior for Amedisys Home Health

  

Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
30 Locust St.
$1,295,000 — Renovate woodchip plant

Hampshire Regional Young Men’s Christian Association
286 Prospect St.
$200,000 — Interior demolition from fire

Nonotuck Mills LLC
296 Nonotuck St.
$95,000 — Renovate portion of first floor for DAX transportation office

Pride Convenience Inc.
375 King St.
$10,000 — Replace acoustical ceiling

Smith College Office of the Treasurer
42 West St.
$25,000 — Strip & shingle roof

PALMER

Pathfinder Regional
240 Sykes St.
$368,000 — Addition of horticulture classroom

Town of Palmer
1029 Central St.
$615,000 — Renovations to Memorial Hall

SOUTH HADLEY

SH limited Partnership
493 Newton St.
$18,000 — Renovations

SPRINGFIELD

Atlas Property Management
107 Kensington St.
$12,000 — Exterior renovations

City of Springfield
474 Armory St.
$216,000 — Remove old roof and install new

Costa Dourountoudakis
248 Dickinson St.
$80,000 — Addition of new cooler for store

Mercy Medical Center
271 Carew St.
$410,000 — Construction of an addition to install MRI machine

Springfield Diocese
37 Alderman St.
$126,000 – Construction of addition and handicap lift

WESTFIELD

Domus Inc.
180 Main St.
$1,008,000 — New construction

Ghanskyam N. Patel
39 Southampton Road
$7,000 — New roof

Plumrose Realty Trust
93 White St.
$20,000 — Interior renovations

WEST SPRINGFIELD

George Martin
57 Norman St.
$250,000 — Construction of a 4,134-square-foot commercial building

By
Departments

Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield
(413) 787-1555
www.myonlinechamber.com

Nov. 4: ACCGS Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., hosted by the Cedars, Island Pond Road, Springfield. Tickets: $30, general admission; $20 for members.
Nov. 4: ACCGS After 5, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield. Tickets: $20, general admission; $10 for members.
Nov. 5: WRC 3rd Annual Food Fest West, 5 to 7:30 p.m., hosted by the Clarion Hotel, West Springfield. Tickets: $25, general admission; $20 for members.
Nov. 19: ACCGS Government Reception, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield. Tickets: $55, general admission; $45 for members.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com

Nov. 6: November’s installment of the CEO Luncheon Series, hosted by Health New England. Guest speaker: Peter Straley, president and CEO of Health New England.
Nov. 19: YPS Third Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted by the Museum of Springfield History, 21 Edwards St., Springfield. View museum exhibits that describe Springfield’s development as a manufacturing center, the city’s role in transportation history, the many inventions and firsts that were generated here, the growth of downtown as the region’s commercial center, the effects of urbanization and suburbanization, and the stories of Springfield’s diverse populations. Corporate sponsor: Baystate Medical Practices, part of Baystate Health. Sound and entertainment provided by Jx2 Productions.

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

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

Nov. 18: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., hosted by MassMutual Learning & Conference Center, 350 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Tickets: $18 for members; $25 for non-members. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

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

Nov. 7-8: Cider Days. Marketplace and workshops in Shelburne Falls and specific locations on Saturday; Cider salon and harvest dinner in Old Deerfield on Saturday; tasting and pairings at Deerfield Inn on Sunday; orchard tours in Deerfield, Colrain, and New Salem both days. Some activities require tickets. Information and tickets available at www.ciderdays.com .
Nov. 20: FCCC Breakfast Series, 7:30 to 9 a.m., hosted by Bella Notte, Huckle Hill Road, Bernardston. Program: Engaging an Audience and the Community in New Media. Guest speaker: Jon Abbott, president and CED of WGBH in Boston, a broadcaster with multiple TV and radio services, known for its iconic programming (Nova, Masterpiece, Frontline, Antiques Roadshow, Curious George, The World, etc.). Sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank. Tickets: $12 for members; $14 for non-members. For reservations, call (413) 773-5463 or e-mail
[email protected]  by Nov. 13.

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

Nov. 7: Holiday Lights Bowl-a-thon, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., hosted by Canal Bowling Lanes, 74 College Highway, Route 10, Southampton. Two sessions of candlepin bowling to raise funds for the chamber’s downtown holiday lighting program. Sponsored by Greater Easthampton Chamber holiday spirit committee. Entry fee: $100 per five-member team. Prizes, raffles, free pizza for bowlers. For more information or to enter, call (413) 527-9414.
Nov. 12: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Northeast Center for Youth & Families, 203 East St., Easthampton. Door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. Tickets: $5 for members; $15 for non-members.

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

Nov. 18: Chamber After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by Eighty Jarvis Restaurant, 80 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke. Tickets: $5 for members; $10 cash for non-members.

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
(413) 584-1900
www.explorenorthampton.com
Nov. 4: Arrive@5, 5 to 7 p.m., the United Way of Hampshire County, hosted by Danish Inspirations, sponsored by Dietz & Company Architects Inc. and Applied Mortgage Services Corp. Tickets: $10 for members; $15 for guests.
Nov. 12: Northampton Area Young Professionals Party with a Purpose, 5 to 8 p.m., hosted by Mama Iguana’s. Free for members; $5 for guests.
Nov. 13: Northampton Chamber Information Session, 8 to 9:30 a.m., hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Free for those considering membership in the chamber.

Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce
(413) 283-2418; www.qvcc.biz

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce
(413) 532-6451; www.shchamber.com

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce
413-283-6425
www.threeriverschamber.org

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

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

Nov. 12: 2009 Annual Meeting and Awards, 6 to 9 p.m., location and cost TBA. For more details, call (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected] .

By
Departments

Concert at Bay Path

Oct. 22: Pianist Wendy Chen and cellist Andrés Díaz will present an evening of music to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Bay Path College’s One-Day-A-Week Saturday program and celebrate the women who have transformed their lives through education in Mills Theatre, Carr Hall, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The event, slated to begin at 8 p.m., is part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. Attendance to the concert is free, however, attendees will be welcome to make a donation to the Scholarship Fund for Bay Path’s One-Day-A-Week Saturday students. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

Ghost Hunter Lecture

Oct. 23: Ghost hunter John Zaffis will present a lecture on his more than 30 years of experience studying and investigating the paranormal at 8 p.m. at Bay Path College, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The free event is part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. At press time, the lecture location was undetermined. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu

‘Restoring Prosperity’ Talk

Oct. 26: HAPHousing in Springfield will sponsor a half-day conference titled “Restoring Prosperity: Housing’s Role in a Western Massachusetts Economic Recovery” from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton St., Holyoke. Congressman John Olver will present the opening remarks, and the keynote speaker will be Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution. Given the critical role housing played in the current recession, this informative conference will examine the housing market’s vital importance in the economic recovery and revitalization of the Pioneer Valley. For more information, call (413) 233-1727 or visit www.haphousing.org.

Valuing Your Employees Lecture

Oct. 28: Learn how to find, hire, and retain workers during a lecture titled “Maximizing Your Most Valuable Business Asset: Employees” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network is sponsoring the training program, which will be led by Angela Lussier of 365 Degrees Consulting, and Steve Cosenke, canvass manager, Yellowbook, and founder, Border Busters. The fee is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712, or visit www.msbdc.org.

Nazi Propaganda Discussion

Oct. 28: Ann Millin, Ph.D., special assistant to the director of leadership programs and historian in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s National Institute for Holocaust Education, will present a free lecture titled “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda” at 7 p.m. in Breck Suite, Wright Hall, Bay Path College, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The museum’s new exhibition, State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda, reveals how over two decades Nazi leaders showed the world new ways of using this weapon. Millin’s presentation will examine how the Nazis employed propaganda to acquire power and create a climate of hatred, suspicion, and indifference. The event is part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

‘Women and American Politics’ Discussion

Oct. 29: Robin Leeds, senior political strategist, organizer, and advocate with more than 30 years of work in the government, labor, business, and nonprofit sectors, will lead a discussion titled “Where Are We Now? Women and American Politics” at 5 p.m. at the Five College Women’s Research Center, 83 College St., South Hadley. As the Obama Administration pushes for women’s rights internationally under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Leeds will assess the situation for women in the U.S. and present her assessment of the current administration’s actions. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (413) 538-2275 or visit www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/fcwsrc.

Dance and Brunch

Nov. 1: The Over the Top Ballroom Dance Project, hosted by Bay Path College in Longmeadow, will host a South American Dance and Brunch beginning at 11 a.m. in the Blake Dining Commons, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The event is part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. Brunch begins at 11, with the dance performance and lessons starting at noon. Tickets for the brunch cost $6.50 each for adults and children. The performance and lessons are free and open to the public. Brunch reservations are required before Oct. 27. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu.

A New Economics of Peace
Nov. 2: Mary Ellen Cohane, Five College Women’s Studies Research Associate from the Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts, will give a talk titled “Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Economics of Peace” at 3:30 p.m. at the Five College Women’s Studies Research Center, 83 College St., South Hadley. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (413) 538-2275 or visit www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/fcwsrc .

Marketing Strategies Workshop

Nov. 4: Ravi Kulkarni and Lynn Whitney Turner of Clear Vision Alliance LLC will present a workshop titled “Marketing Strategies for Sustainability & Growth in the World of Constant Disruptions” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The interactive workshop will focus on factors that are changing one’s business, how to see what is not yet visible, and how to develop marketing strategies for growth and sustainability into the future. The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network is sponsoring the event. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org.

WMEF Annual Meeting

Nov. 5: “A Catalyst for Economic Development” will be the theme of the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund Inc., of Holyoke, from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton St., Holyoke. Several awards will also be given during the event, including: Micro Enterprise of the Year Award, Small Business of the Year Award, Community Partner of the Year Award, and Local Business Product and Service Displays. For more information on the event, contact Laurie Arruda at (413) 420-0183, ext. 100. RSVP must be made by Oct. 23.

Employment Law and HR Practices Conference

Nov. 5: Managing employees and doing business in today’s world is becoming increasingly complex, as employers face economic hard times, legislative and administrative changes to employment law, layoffs, and more. To assist employers and managers, the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) will stage its annual Employment Law and HY Practices Conference, during which it will present practical solutions and valuable information. The event will be conducted at the Holiday Inn in Holyoke from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to register, call the EANE at (877) 662-6444.

Phantom of the Country Opera

Nov. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15: The Bay Path College Performing Arts Department will present Phantom of the Country Opera in Mills Theatre, Carr Hall, as part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. The production promises irreverent wit, painful punning, sly contemporary references, and more than a touch of the absurd. Bay Path College is located at 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. For more information on show times and tickets, call (413) 565-1307 or visit www.baypath.edu.

‘Cash Flow Lecture

Nov. 12: Robb Morton of Boisselle, Morton & Associates, LLP will present a program titled “Cash Flow” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Morton will cover the basics of cash flow, the timing of cash inflows and outflows, how to determine your company’s cash flow, how to improve cash flow, and how cash flow is different from profit. The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network is sponsoring the event. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org .

Book, Print Signing

Dec. 3: For the past 32 years, Easthampton resident Ruth Sanderson has illustrated 75 books for children of all ages and retold and illustrated many fairytales, including her latest project, Mother Goose and Friends. Sanderson will present a free lecture titled “The Story of a Book” at 7 p.m. in Breck Suite, Wright Hall, at Bay Path College, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, as part of the fall Kaleidoscope Series. Slides and examples of her detailed sketches and paintings from her award-winning books will be shown. For more information, call (413) 565-1066 or visit www.baypath.edu .

YPS New Year’s Celebration

Dec. 31: The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield has again chosen downtown Springfield for its New Year’s Eve celebration. Only 300 tickets will be available for the affair at the Marriott Hotel in Tower Square. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsorship of the event should visit www.springfieldyps.com for more details. For ticket information, call Jill Monson of YPS at (413) 219-9692.

Women’s Professional Development Conference

April 30, 2010: Bay Path College will host its 15th annual Women’s Professional Development Conference at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For more information, call (413) 565-1000 or visit www.baypath.edu.  

By
Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of September 2009.

AGAWAM

Dunkin Donuts
12 Springfield St.
$50,000 — Interior cosmetic remodel

Frank Pignatore’s Auto Service Center
395 Main St.
$10,000 — Exterior renovations

AMHERST

Alpha Tau Gamma Inc.
118 Sunset Ave.
$6,000 — Install new bathroom in existing space

Cumberland Farms Inc.
33 Belchertown Road
$89,500 — Interior alterations

Immanuel Lutheran Church
867 North Pleasant St.
$100,000 — Replace roof and skylights

CHICOPEE

Main Street Property Management, LLC
340 McKinstry Ave.
$9,500 — Create new tenant space

Westover Metropolitan Airport
227 Lonczak St.
$86,500 — Alterations at Hanger II

EAST LONGMEADOW

American Legion
3 Legion Court
$1,000 — Alterations

Aspen Dental
434 North Main St.
$25,000 — Alterations

KSK Properties
382 N. Main St.
$329,000 — Alteration of office

GREENFIELD

Edgar W. Martin
6 Arch St.
$28,000 — Replacement of four HVAC units

Franklin County Dial Self Inc.
196 Federal St.
$27,000 — Installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system

Greenfield Health Camp, Inc.
Leyden Road
$2,500 — Installation of a fire alarm system

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Health Center
230-234 Maple St.
$30,000 — Alterations to pediatric unit, second floor

Holyoke Mall Company, LP
50 Holyoke St.
$245,000 — Remodel existing Deichmann store

Mitul Coporation
671 Northampton St.
$18,500 — Install new roof at hotel

LUDLOW

Big Y Trust
433 Center St.
$72,500 — Commercial alterations

NORTHAMPTON

Village at Hospital Hill II, LLC
Village Hill Road
$178,000 — Strip and re-shingle roof

  

Equity Builders Realty Trust
225 Nonotuck St.
$440,000 — Construction of new multi-family housing

Hampshire Regional Young Men’s Christian Association
286 Prospect St.
$2,500 — Construct two-hour fire partition for new electrical service room

M & S Holdings Limited Partnership
8 Easthampton Road
$124,000 — Rebuild 1,996-square-foot building

Maplewood Shops Inc.
2 Conz St.
$6,500 — Replace rear rotted stairs and front porch

The Brush Works, LLC
221 Pine St.
$3,000 — Construct partition walls in studio

PALMER

Raymond Roy
7 Third St.
$450,000 — Addition to industrial building

Town of Palmer
3 Walnut St.
$15,000 — Expansion of out building

SOUTH HADLEY

Beers & Story
646 Newton St.
$50,000 — Demolition & Repairs

The Consortium
79 Granby Road
$16,000 — Remodel

SPRINGFIELD

Arch Properties, LLC
144 White St.
$18,500 — Remodel kitchens

Beacon Communities, LLC
401 North Branch Pkwy
$60,800 — Fire damage repair at Colonial Estates

Bharat Patel
668 Liberty St.
$100,000 — Interior renovations

Mass Convention Center Authority
1277 Main St.
$25,000 — Façade repairs at seven locations

Mercy Medical Center
271 Carew St.
$70,445 — Erection of partitions to create new offices

WESTFIELD

Larolo Realty
100 Servicestar Way
$26,000 — Re-roof

Neil Phillips
45 Washington St.
$85,000 — Commercial alterations

Westfield Athenaeum
6 Elm St.
$15,000 — Renovations

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Pearson Limited Partners
61 Century Way
$10,000 — Remodel existing bathrooms

By
Departments

Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield
(413) 787-1555
www.myonlinechamber.com

Oct. 14: ACCGS After 5 Table Top Exhibit, hosted by the MassMutual Center in Springfield, 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets: $125 for members, $175 for non-members.

Oct. 15: West of the River Legislative Breakfast, hosted by Chez Josef in Agawam, 7:15 to 9 a.m. Guest speaker is Dolores Mitchell, executive director of the Group Insurance Commission. Tickets: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.

Oct. 23: Super 60, hosted by Chez Josef in Agawam, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets: $45 for members, $65 for non-members.

Oct. 27: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, hosted by Captain Charles Leonard House, 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Oct. 28:  Executive Power Networking, hosted by TD Banknorth Conference Center,7:30 to 9 a.m. Tickets: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com  

Oct. 15: Third Thursday, hosted by Hofbrauhaus restaurant in West Springfield.

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

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

Oct. 27: 12th Annual Table Top Meeting, hosted by Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Presented by South Hadley/Granby, Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, and Greater Westfield chambers of commerce. Exhibitor tables cost $90; reserve online at www.chicopeechamber.org or call (413) 594-2101. Admission; $5 for members, $10 non-members

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

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

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

Oct. 14: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange , hosted by Nini’s Ristorante, 124 Cottage St., Easthampton, 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by Greater Easthampton Jr. Miss Program. Event will include door prizes, hors d’ouevres, and a cash bar. Tickets: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

Oct. 14: Fall Salute Breakfast, hosted by the Delaney House, Country Club Road, Holyoke, 7:45 a.m. Sponsored by Holyoke Medical Center. Tickets are $18. Tables reserved for parties of eight.

Oct. 21: Chamber After Hours, hosted by Holiday Inn, 245 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke, 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by Yellowbook. Admission: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. 

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

Oct. 16: Chamber Information Session, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 12 noon to 1 p.m. Considering membership? Come to an information session.

Northampton Area Young Professionals
www.thenayp.com

Oct. 8: October’s Party with a Purpose, hosted by dani. fine photography in the Eastworks building in Easthampton.

Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce
(413) 283-2418
www.qvcc.biz

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce
(413) 532-6451
www.shchamber.com

Oct. 20: Beyond Business, hosted and sponsored by Olde Hadleigh House & Patio, 5 to 7 p.m. No guest speaker. Cost: $5 members, $10 for general public, who are welcome. RSVP at (413) 532 6451 by Oct. 16.

Oct. 27: 12th Annual Table Top Meeting, hosted by Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Presented by South Hadley/Granby, Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, and Greater Westfield chambers of commerce. Cost: $5. To reserve a table, call (413) 532-6451.

Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce
(413) 283-6425
www.threeriverschamber.org

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

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

Oct. 21: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce WestNet After Hours Networking, hosted by East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield, sponsored by Sovereign Bank. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For reservations, call (413) 568-1618, e-mail [email protected], or register at www.westfieldbiz.org.

Oct. 27: 12th Annual Table Top Meeting, hosted by Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Presented by South Hadley/Granby, Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, and Greater Westfield chambers of commerce. Display tables cost $90 for members. For reservations, call (413) 568-1618, e-mail [email protected] , or register at www.westfieldbiz.org.

By
Departments

MassMutual Honored for Benefits to Working Moms

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has been named one of the 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies, a recognition of its commitment to provide programs and services to help ensure the retention and advancement of working mothers. The Working Mother 100 Best Companies is a 24-year-old research initiative by Working Mother Media that has become one of the most important benchmarks for work-life practices in corporate America. Profiles of the 100 Best Companies are in the October issue of Working Mother magazine and will be available at workingmother.com. Companies were selected based on an extensive application with more than 500 questions on workforce, compensation, child care, flexibility programs, leave policies, and more. For this year’s 100 Best, particular weight was given to benefits, flexibility, and parental leave. According to Working Mother Media, MassMutual and the other companies on the list are leading the way in pioneering programs that support families, with 100% of the companies on the list offering flex time, on-site lactation areas, and telecommuting; and 98% offering job-sharing and wellness programs. Financial programs — including tuition reimbursement, retirement planning, and pre-tax flexible spending accounts for child care — available to employees of the 100 Best are on the rise, a much-needed boost for families in today’s economy, according to Working Mother Media.

Atlantic Fasteners Receives STAR Award

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Lockheed Martin-Electronic Systems formally presented the STAR Supplier Award recently to officials at Atlantic Fasteners. The award recognizes high-performing suppliers of electronic systems and Lockheed’s other three business areas. Atlantic Fasteners met the quality, delivery, and other business requirements set and evaluated by Electronic Systems for at least 12 months. Of the Lockheed division’s 4,625 vendors, only 36 received the award, placing Atlantic Fasteners in the top 1% of suppliers. Companies are re-evaluated annually to ensure they remain worthy of keeping the STAR Supplier status. Marc Dionne, military-aerospace division leader at Atlantic Fasteners, noted that the award is an honor and a great motivator for all employees in the aerospace division. Atlantic Fasteners is a worldwide, ISO 9001:2000-certified supplier of commercial and military-aerospace fasteners.

Foundation Awards $80,000

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The United Bank Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $79,535 to a variety of initiatives designed to enrich life in communities served by the bank. Several of the awards were directed to education-related endeavors, including a $5,000 grant to Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts to fund economic education and financial literacy programs for youngsters in East Longmeadow, Agawam, and Northampton; and $5,000 to the Science, Math and Reading Tutoring (SMART) program offered by the Springfield School Volunteers. Holyoke Community College received $10,000 for its ENLACE program, which promotes the increase of high-school-graduation and college-enrollment rates among Latino students in Holyoke. Also, education services provided by the Gray House Inc. in Springfield for adults living in poverty will benefit from a $7,500 grant. The Foundation awarded $2,000 to Westfield High School for the high school and middle school science fair, and $1,000 to Homework House Inc. for tutoring low-income families in Holyoke. The Foundation also supported efforts underway to improve the physical infrastructure of organizations that deliver vital services in the community. A $10,000 grant was made to American International College for capital improvements to the Schwartz Campus Center and renovation of the school’s athletic stadium and fields. Forum House, Human Resources Unlimited Inc.’s Westfield-based program for adults with mental illness, will use its $5,000 award to install new, energy-efficient windows and lighting. A $15,000 award to support renovations in the Emergency Department of Noble Hospital will be made over the course of two years.

Bay Path Ranks in Top Tier of Report

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path College earned the #31 spot among Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the North in the 2010 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. This is the sixth year in a row that Bay Path has been included in the top tier. The exclusive rankings were published in the magazine’s September issue. The annual rankings represent the most comprehensive look at how schools stack up based on a set of 15 indicators, and help consumers evaluate and compare data compiled from more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools. For more information on the magazine’s rankings, visit www.usnews.com/sections/rankings..

By
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

New Horizon Communication v. Suffield Oxygen Supply
Allegation: Failure to pay for services rendered: $7,909.78
Filed: 8/25/09

Perry Auto Parts v. Kustom Performanz
Allegation: Non- payment of goods received: $21,898
Filed: 9/15/09

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

FM Kusmekus Inc. v. American Defenders of Pittsfield Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to pay for use of services: $7,898.79
Filed: 8/27/09

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Cost Recovery Associates Inc. v. Catuogno Court Reporting and Sten-Tel Transcription Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract: $169,200
Filed: 9/01/09

Lindsay Wieland v. Baystate Medical Center
Allegation: Negligent administration of an epidural injection: $22,000
Filed: 8/28/09

Nancy Drury v. Lowe’s Home Center Inc. and High Tech Laboratories Inc.
Allegation: Product liability and negligence causing severe and disabling personal injuries: $1,200,000
Filed: 8/28/09

Peter Kantos v. Sunnyside Corporation
Allegation: Oil spill clean up costs: $41,000
Filed: 8/28/09

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Albert R. Santopietro v. Robert I. White, M.D. and Pioneer Valley Urology, P.C.
Allegation: Metastasis of cancer due to negligent failure to diagnose: $226,701.29
Filed: 9/2/09

Morse & Erin Bradford v. D.D.P.S.R. Inc. & David Parker
Allegation: Negligence in construction project: $200,000
Filed: 8/27/09

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Carol Ryan v. Northampton Ford Inc.
Allegation: Breach of Lemon Law and breach of warranty: $22,500
Filed: 9/2/09

Marmot Mountain v. Mass Outfitters Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $6,030.95
Filed: 9/18/09

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Howlett Lumber, LLC v. Pheasant Hills Estates, LLC and Donald Zucco
Allegation: Breach of contract and statement on account for supply of materials to defendant in construction project: $20,624.81
Filed: 9/4/09

Killingly Building Products Inc. v. Lee Margadonna Plastering and Ann Marie & Charles T. Kuss
Allegation: Non-payment of materials supplied: $5,194.72
Filed: 8/21/09

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Affordable Property Services, LLC v. Boston Billiards Club Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of landscaping services rendered: $3,520
Filed: 9/10/09

Andree Michelle Petigny v. J.E. Robison Service Company Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and unfair and deceptive trade practices: $9,000
Filed: 9/11/09

Gilbert & Sons Insulation Inc. v. The Auction House
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $3,400.85
Filed: 9/11/09

United Rentals v. JVO Corporation
Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and services for a construction project: $20,612.98
Filed: 9/08/09

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Capital One Bank, N.A. v. The Clip Shop
Allegation: Non-payment of goods and services charged on a credit card: $7,137.92
Filed: 7/28/09

Jennifer M. Cook Company v. A.J. Virgilio Construction Inc.
Allegation: Breach of agreement and non-payment of land clearing services rendered: $13,903.31
Filed: 8/6/09

By
Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of September 2009.

AGAWAM

APEX Energy Efficiency Consultants Inc.
157 Cambridge St.
Jonathan Wollmerhauser

Norm’s Courier Business
238 River Road
Norman Gaboury

Specialized Reo Services LLC
229 Pineview Circle
Sean Walsh

The Cookieman
42 Stony Hill Road
William Faust

The Pink Elephant LLC
981 River Road
Robert G. Webb

U.S. Energy
316 Regency Park Dr.
Todd Joseph Bard

AMHERST

A Personal Touch Painting & Landscaping
10 Gatehouse Road
Shawn Rivard

Citadel Studios
161 Thatcher Way
Thomas Quinn

Persona
236 North Pleasant St.
Doreen St. John

Salon Divine
189 North Pleasant St.
Kelli Richardson

CHICOPEE

GB Cleaning Service
36 St. James Ave.
Geraldo Borges

Oquendo Driving School
527 Grattan St.
Jorge Oquendo

Source Diamonds
15 Carriage Road
Christopher Plewa

EAST LONGMEADOW

American Martial Arts Academy
15 Benton Dr.
Nathan Nadeau

Carlson Roofing Company
176 Porter Road
Robert Carlson Jr.

Impressions
43 Maple St.
Richard Remillard

Martin Roofing, LLC
85 Lee St.
Robert Martin

Pioneer Valley Painting
149 Braeburn Road
Vincent Settembre

GREENFIELD

Albee Hearing Services
489 Bernardston Road
Lisa Alber

Alotta Hoopla
30 Robbins Road
Shenandoah Sluter

C.A.B. Transportation
76 Vernon St.
Cynthia Aldrich

House of Lawrence
20 Mohawk Trail
Loreen Flockerzie

Pizza is a Grillin
18 Princeton Terrace
Lori Seymour

The Monkey Tree
250 Main St.
Carrie Timberlake

HADLEY

Barnes & Noble
335 Russell St.
Leonard Riggio

Ecuador Andino
206 Russell St.
Antolin Garay

Full of Grace Farm
105 Stockbridge Road
JoAnne Huff

HOLYOKE

Chamberlain Consulting
50 Holy Family Road
Susan Chamberlain

Hartig Associates
11 Grant St.
Carl F. Hartig

Main Street Subway
636 Main St.
Taha Kidwai

Master Heo’s Tae Kwon Do
225 South St.
Hoon Heo

Perennial Solutions
145 Brown Ave.
Eric Toensmier

Pops Café
191 High St.
Elysia Pete

LONGMEADOW

Balanced Books
435 Converse St.
Virginia McCabe

Comprehensive Consulting
144 Cooley Dr.
Joseph Zimakas

Computer Tech
153 Inverness Lane
Zeev Dragon

Homestead Realty
149 Homestead Blvd.
Tzupin Shih

Ishops
145 Kenmore Dr.
Stephanie Neveu

NORTHAMPTON

All Cordless
43 Murphy Ter.
Francis St. Germain II

Banana Watercolor
87 Water St.
Christopher Gentes

Manna Yoga & Creative Arts
58 Belmont Ave.
Malia C. Werle

Mill River Films
8 Nonotuck St.
O. Stan Freeman

Village Antiques
7 Main St.
Gordon Murphy

Zoe Designs
181 Main St.
Zoe Pappenheimer

PALMER

A+Coach
3205 Main St.
Abigail Dudda

AAAA Snow Removal
120 River St.
Mark Newhouse

ESDA, LLC
2 Wilbraham St.
Eric Sanderson

Oakridge Building & Remodeling
4 Laurel Road
Justin Kania

On 3 Photography
9 Carriage Dr.
Mary Ellyn Roche

Outpost Psychotheraphy
1622 North Main St.
Michael Ramone Devine

  

SOUTHWICK

Environment 1st Pest Management
174 South Loomis St.
Brian Morrissey

Jericho Builders
6 Hidden Place
Bernard Berard

Vintage Finds
691 College Highway
MaryBeth Sherbo

SPRINGFIELD

KDM Accessories
1535 Wilbraham Road
Kridtoffer Manalokon

Kinder Rides Transportation
65 Morgan St.
Deona L. Rivera

Kostin Ruffkess Themistos
1 Monarch Place
Richard Y. Kretz

Latin Mark
1655 Main St.
Rene Romero

Lids
1655 Boston Road
Robert Dennis

M & MB Express
164 Jeffrey Road
Edwin Milton McCray

Malone-Howard Cleaning Service
67 Suffolk St.
Erica Frances Howard

Metindu
225 Rosewell St.
Bryan D. St. Amand

Navarro Enterprises
1655 Boston Road
Alberto Navarro

New Faith Convenience
115 Chestnut St.
Umar F. Bhatti

NLB Appraisal Services
36 Sunapee St.
Christopher Bertelli

No. 1 Chinese Restaurant
2946 Main St.
Yong Kang Lui

Photo Technique
30 Montgomery St.
Marek Tracz

Precious Commodity Transport
480 Hancock St.
Dorothy E. Jacobs

Project 100 Youth at Home
29 Anawon St.
Desilynn Gladden

R & B Auto Service
380 Bay St.
Richard L. Ricketts

Scope Spot 2
451 State St.
Francis K. Okyere

Smoothie Delight
1535 Wilbraham Road
Kristoffer Manalokon

Stan’s and Fran’s Flooring
5 Paramount St.
Michael Burelle

Stevenson Electric
53 Wilbraham Road
Charles Stevenson

Stunin Records
1655 Main St.
Virgen Lopez

Tony’s Place
739 Liberty St.
Hector H. Diaz

Victor Figueroa Communications
145 Nassau Dr.
Victor Figueroa

Walnut Soda and More
136 Walnut St.
Maxwell Phan

Wilson’s Leather
1655 Boston Road
Stacy Kruse

WESTFIELD

Cadence Creations
53 Bristol St.
Evelyn Dean Casey

European Headlines
420 Union St.
Tatiana Lazareva

David E. Kingsley Electric
168 Root Road
David E. Kingsley

Edge Restoration
8 Sunrise Ter.
John J. Cepiel

European Fashion
264 Elm St.
Sergio Paliy

Heaven Scent Cleaning
126 City View Road
Carisa Beauregard

Here to There Photography
3 Logan Ave.
David Owen Burgess

Pauline’s
45 Meadow St.
Pauline Thomas-Wright

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Absolute Clean Sweep
164 Windsor St.
Leilah Cortis

Brothers Covers
239 Western Ave.
Kenneth LaBelle

Carrabba’s Italian Grill
955 Riverdale St.
Carrabba’s Ltd.

Distinctive Works
31 Lowell St.
Realm Mercier

Expo Liquors
1122 Memorial Ave.
Dadson Inc.

Grosso Chiropractic P.C.
615 Westfield St.
Cynthia R. Grosso

Hair By Claire
1027 Westfield St.
Claire D. Charland

Mass Veterinary Cardiology Service
148 River St.
Nancy Morris

Panera Bread
935 Riverdale St.
PR Restaurants, LLC

Photo-A-Gogo
65 Clyde Ave.
Nicholas Bissette

RG Management
425 Union St.
Robert H. Guarente

Salamon Flooring Inc.
103 Myron St.
Mitchell Salamon

TBR Auto Reconditioning
21 Sumner St.
Anthony P. Cecchetelli

Twins II Hairstyling Salon
1421 Westfield St.
Lois M. Olearcek

Unique Landscaping
10 Sheridan Ave.
Carlos E. Santiago

Venetian Bakery
90 Baldwin St.
Mark Maniscalchi