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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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

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

Drawing Inspiration from the Past

By
Opinion

History museums have many functions, from educating visitors to holding up a mirror to society. But mostly, they explain to us how things once were.

The new Museum of Springfield History does just that, but we hope that it can also inspire us with regard to the way things can be — again.

The new facility, which opened its doors this past weekend, is a real gem. It is a sparkling addition to the collection of museums and attractions at the Quadrangle, and it holds considerable promise as a drawing card for visitors from across the region and perhaps well beyond.

But the museum, with its collections of Indian Motocycles, two Rolls Royces built right here in Springfield, Gee-Bee airplanes (one real, one a replica), and countless other symbols of the region’s proud industrial past, can potentially do much more than be a mere tourist attraction.

Indeed, the displays on the walls and in the cases reflect a time when Springfield was thriving, when its streets were teeming with activity, when its factories were employing tens of thousands, and when the community was known across the country as a center of innovation.

It can be all of that again. At least, that’s what we hope visitors come away thinking.

There is much to inspire people at the new history museum, starting with the products that were once produced here. The list includes automobiles, motorcycles (or motocycles, as they were then called), trolley cars, guns (starting at the Springfield Armory and then at Smith & Wesson and other shops), wrenches, toys, and the first practical ice skate, among many others.

With each display of a product there is usually a corresponding photo of the plant at which it was produced. There’s Everett Barney’s ice-skate-making facility in Springfield’s South End, the massive Indian Motocycle plant in what is now Mason Square, and a complex of buildings along the river in the North End where trolley cars were made and shipped to every corner of the country.

But what might also inspire people are some of the other pictures on the walls. Two, for example, show a similar scene — the corner of Main and Bridge streets in Springfield — a quarter-century apart, 1916 and 1940.

They show changed styles in clothing and hats, dramatic evolution in both the automobile and the trolley, and brave police officers directing traffic from the middle of a busy intersection. But they show something else: sidewalks clogged with pedestrians, more women than men, making their way to and from a collection of fine department stores, theaters, restaurants, and other destinations.

If one didn’t know this was Springfield, they might have guessed it was a section of New York City.

It would easy to say that things can never again be the way they were in these photos, because that is the logical way of looking at the short- and long-term future not only in Springfield but in other former industrial centers.

The manufacturing sector in this region will likely never thrive as it did 100 or 200 years ago. Competition is now global, and it simply doesn’t make much economic sense to build large plants in the Northeast sector of the U.S. Meanwhile, retail remains sparse in the nation’s urban centers, having moved years or decades ago to suburban malls, located right off the highways, where parking is plentiful. Now, the sidewalks of Springfield are all but empty. Downtown just isn’t the place to be anymore.

We can’t turn back the clock and make Springfield and other area cities thrive as they did a century or more ago. But we can, and must, gain inspiration from the past and work to make Springfield and this region more like it was then.

Downtown in the City of Homes will never look like it did in 1916, but it can, once again, be a place for more people to live, work, and play. As for industry, well, the landscape won’t look like it did in those pictures, but this can once again be a center for innovation in everything from renewable energy to medical device making.

As we said, the new history museum will likely provide a real spark for the region’s tourism business. But it can, and hopefully will, do much more.

It could inspire progress for the future with a stunning look at the past.

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

OPINION

By
Opinion
How We Can Fix Beacon Hill

In the past several months Massachusetts citizens have witnessed the indictment of their third consecutive speaker of the House, learned of decades of pension system abuse, observed numerous lobbying scandals, and watched a senator allegedly stuff a bribe into her bra. It doesn’t take much digging to discover that issues such as these are not unique to this legislative session, but are merely symptoms of the broader disease — the absence of deliberative, representative democracy in the Legislature.

How did it get this way? Sixty years of single-party domination has allowed a slow, steady, incremental accumulation of power within the office of the House speaker and Senate president. Today, these two people control all leadership and committee chair appointments, thereby controlling the extra pay these positions receive.

They also control all committee appointments, drafting of their chamber’s rules, the daily schedule, when (and if) bills come out of committee, and whether a bill ever sees a vote on the floor. When a bill does make it to the floor for a vote, it often happens within hours after it is reported out of committee.

As a result, no legislators, regardless of their work ethic or staff size, can possibly review what’s in the legislation upon which they are being asked to vote.

As if all this were not enough, the speaker and president control members’ office assignments, budgets and staff size, where members sit in the chamber, where they park, how much party PAC money they receive, and so on. If legislators do not ‘go along to get along,’ they find themselves, quite literally, in the basement, enduring the retribution that comes with failing to follow their chamber’s leader.

Over the past five decades there have been several attempts to change the way the Legislature operates, including the efforts of Gov. Dukakis and Rep. Barney Frank in the 1960s, and Rep. George Kevarian’s floor revolt in 1983 when Speaker Tom McGee was overthrown. These efforts had a minor impact for a short period. Ultimately, though, the Legislature writes its rules, waives them as it sees fit, and exempts itself from the laws that would make members act otherwise.

So how do we restore the Legislature to the deliberative, representative, democratic institution that the framers of the world’s oldest continuously functioning constitution intended?

Last month, a citizen-driven petition for a constitutional amendment was certified by the Massachusetts attorney general, and a gras-roots signature drive, organized by FixBeaconHill.com, is now underway.

The proposed amendment seeks to reform the Legislature by requiring the speaker of the House and Senate president to be elected by secret ballot, just as all legislators are elected by us; allowing the speaker and the Senate president to each appoint four leadership positions; requiring both bodies to elect, by secret ballot, a Committee on Committees, which serves to assign committee membership, establish rules for the chamber, establish a consistent formula for members’ budgets, and assign members’ offices; requiring all committees to elect their own chairman, keep minutes, record all votes, and make such records available to the public; precluding the Legislature from exempting itself from the Massachusetts Open Meeting Laws; and requiring the House and Senate to produce and publish line-item budgets for the operation of their respective chambers.

Too often, hardworking and committed lawmakers are unable to effect change because of the concentration of power at the top. This amendment would allow all 200 legislators to speak their minds in the best interest of their constituents and the entire Commonwealth, without fear of retribution.

Isn’t it time to fix Beacon Hill?

Chris McKeown is founder ofFixBeaconHill.com

By
Departments

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

CHICOPEE

D-N-D Construction Inc., 299 Columbia St., Chicopee, MA 01020. George E. Doup, same. Construction.

HOLYOKE

Rogers Fuel Inc, 181 West Franklin St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Roger Harfoush, 288 West Franklin St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Gas mini mart.

LUDLOW

NANAMARK TEK INC, 787 East St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Grace E. Queros, same. Asbestos abatement and removal.

SOUTHAMPTON

Passion For Snacks Vending Inc., 25 Noreen Dr. Southampton, MA 01073. Teresa L. Harwood, same. Vending services.

TLC Trucking Inc., 10 Gunn Road, Southampton, MA 01073. Jonathan J. Levin, same. Providing trucking services to businesses and members of the general public.

SPRINGFIELD

1700 Main Street Inc., 1694 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Steven C. Stein, 359 Pease Road, East Longmeadow, MA. Theater-function facility-bar-restaurant.

ARGO Express Inc, 419 Taylor St., Springfield, MA 01105. Vadim Romanchenko, 14 Leyfred Terrace, Springfield, MA 01108. To engage in the business of operating specialty and dedicated services of transporting foods, commercial goods, vehicles, general freight and other commodities

  

Ava’s Construction Inc, 59 Fox Hill Road, Springfield, MA 01118. Linda Fieldhouse, same. Construction.

Blessed Travel Plus Inc., 29 Rush St., Springfield, MA 01109. Diane G Johnson, Same. Transportation services.

Capture The Moment Studios Inc., 1655 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Danny Rosa, 66 Norman St., Springfield, MA 01104. Photography services and sales.

SOUTHWICK

Campari’s Inc, 784 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077. Tracy V. Mountain, 35 Woodland Way, Russell, MA 01071. Restaurant.

WESTFIELD

Compusultts Inc, 12 Winding Ridge Lane, Westfield, MA 01085. Norman Wroblewski, Same. Database consulting, maintenance and management.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

General Contracting Solutions Inc, 61 Forris St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Thomas E. Beaulieu, 50 Labelle St., West Springfield, MA 01089. General contracting and home improvements.

Lynch Flooring Inc, 115 Frederick St.,West Springfield, MA 01089. Peter Lynch, same. Carpentry and floor installations.

By
Departments

Juliet Locke of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. has earned her professional Traffic Operations Engineer Certification. Locke is a Transportation Engineer in the firm’s Springfield office. The certification demonstrates knowledge, skill, and ability in the specialized application of traffic operations engineering.

•••••

Westfield State College recently welcomed three new members of its Board of Trustees. They are:
• Judge Terry M. Craven of Milford. An associate justice for the Suffolk County Juvenile Court, she is a 1973 graduate from Westfield State with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the college in 2008 for her service in juvenile justice. She received her juris doctor degree from New England School of Law in 1987. She is known as an expert in juvenile and family law. Besides being founding director and co-clerk of the Juvenile Bar Assoc., she has served on its board of directors for more than a decade. She designed and implemented the first diversion program for female offenders at Boston Juvenile Court. Other honors she has received include citations from both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate for her work with delinquent children and their families, and she was the 2006 recipient of the Juvenile Bar Association’s Judge Leo Lydon Award.
• Christel Ford Berry of Hartford, who has been the head of Ford Berry Associates in Hartford for more than 25 years as part of her successful career as an attorney and financial planner. She previously was an associate attorney with the Hartford law firms Hebb & Gitlin and Shipman & Goodwin. She has also been active in professional and civic organizations. She is a board member of the Hartford Courant Foundation, treasurer and board member of Connecticut Landmarks, and a member of the Hartford Assoc. for Women Attorneys. She is also on the Board of Trustees of Friends of Elizabeth Park, a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum, and an incorporator of the Hartford Seminary in Hartford and the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford. She has a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and a juris doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
• Berry Meersman, a sophomore at Westfield State majoring in History and Secondary Education. A 2008 graduate of Shepherd Hill Regional High School, he became active in college life as a freshman, being selected as all-college representative for the Student Government Assoc. He was elected by the student body last spring to represent them on the Board of Trustees. “I hope I will be a good voice on the board for the students and hope to bring the student voice to any decision that has to be made for the school,” he said. Meersman praised his high-school history teachers for inspiring him to study history in college, and said he is happy with his decision to come to Westfield State.

•••••

Dr. Gargi Kundu has joined Hampden County Physician Associates’ new Springfield office at 300 Stafford St. on the Mercy Medical Center campus. She will establish her primary care practice in internal medicine. Kundu earned her medical degree from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India, and completed her internship in internal medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, Pa., and her fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

•••••

Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas in Springfield announced the following:
• Mary Jo Kennedy will serve as a Regional Delegate in the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. House of Delegates for the next year, representing Hampden County; and
• Attorney David R. Roulston will serve as a Regional Delegate in the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. House of Delegates for the next year, representing Franklin, Hampshire, and Berkshire counties.

•••••

The National Priorities Project of Northampton has hired Christopher Hellman as its Director of Research.

•••••

Richard S. Keating has been named Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at the Centers for Internationalization and Academic Initiatives at Western New England College in Springfield. In his new position, Keating will improve the ability of WNEC to anticipate and respond quickly to emerging opportunities, particularly in the areas of developing undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as non-credit and certificate programs, and the international recruitment of students.

•••••

Dr. Lanceford M. Chong has joined the staff at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. Chong received his medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco Board of Medicine. He joins the cancer care-radiation oncology program as a Radiation Oncologist.

•••••

Michael J. Akey has joined Berkshire Bank as a Mortgage Loan Originator in the Pioneer Valley. He will concentrate his efforts on home loans in Franklin and Hampshire counties from his office at MassOne Insurance Agency, a Berkshire Bank affiliate, 117 Main St., Greenfield.

•••••

Samuel Johansson has joined the firm of Aaron Smith, P.C., public accountants, in East Longmeadow. He is a recent graduate of Western New England College in Springfield with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He worked as an intern with Aaron Smith in the spring.

•••••

Jim Kervick, an employee of United Personnel, was recently awarded the Massachusetts Staffing Assoc. Employee of the Year Award for 2009. The prestigious honor, awarded to one staffing employee in the state of 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. Kervick was selected as the winner over 14 other finalists from across the state. 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 United’s (and the client’s) performance standards, policies, and procedures are being met. United Personnel has offices in Springfield and Easthampton.

•••••

Emma R. Dias has been hired at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton as an Interpreter to provide on-site services for non-English-speaking patients.

•••••

Attorney Lori Rittman Clark has been named to the SS&C SummerWind Performing Arts Center Board of Directors. The arts facility is a 5,000-seat outdoor performing center in Windsor, Conn. Clark is a Partner in the Hartford office of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, where her practice is in the area of employment law.

•••••

Ellen Hatzakis has been named Chief Operating Officer for HAP Housing in Springfield. She has been with HAP Housing for 30 years, most recently as Associate Executive Director for Finance and Administration. She started her career as a Housing Counselor.

•••••

Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., of Springfield announced that the following attorneys had been named to the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers:
• Stephen A. Shatz, specializing in banking law, corporate law, and real estate law;
• Timothy P. Mulhern, specializing in corporate law and tax law;
• Steven Weiss, specializing in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law;
• Ann I. Weber, specializing in elder law; and
• Carol Cioe Klyman, specializing in elder law.

•••••

Gordon G. Dinsmore Jr. has been appointed President of Berkshire Life Insurance Co. in Pittsfield. He will be responsible for managing the risk and product portfolio for the two product lines Berkshire issues on behalf of the Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America — disability insurance and long-term care insurance. Berkshire Life Insurance Co. is a wholly owned stock subsidiary of the Guardian Life Insurance Co. of New York.

•••••

Attorney Franklin L. Baxley has joined the Springfield law firm Robinson Donovan. Baxley specializes in employment law counseling and litigation.

•••••

Drs. Richard Moser, Frederik Pennings, and Julie Pilitsis have joined the medical staff at Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Palmer. The three board-certified Neurosurgeons are from the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. The physicians conduct neurosurgical evaluations for pediatric and adult patients with spinal disorders, cerebrovascular disease, movement disorders, brain tumors, and other disorders of the spine and brain. Moser earned his medical degree from Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at the University of Minnesota. Pennings is a graduate of the University of Leyden Medical School in the Netherlands, and completed his surgical residency at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam. Pilitsis earned her medical degree from Albany Medical School and completed her surgical residency from Wayne State University in Michigan.

By
Departments

Speed Sales

On Oct. 1, the Holyoke and Chicopee chambers of commerce staged their second annual Speed Sales event, which this year was sponsored by BusinessWest. Twenty-five companies sent both a salesperson and a decision-maker for five-minute one-to-one sessions designed to generate leads, build awareness of area businesses, and, hopefully grow sales. Clockwise from above, Brenda Olesuk, decision-maker for Graduate Pest Solutions, a Hampden-based company owned by her husband, Glenn, talks with Iraida Delgado, business account representative for Holyoke Community College, who served as that institution’s salesperson for Speed Sales; BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien, the company’s decision-maker for the afternoon, chats with Jenny McNulty, independent executive senior sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics; Bruce Westcott, left, the decision-maker for Peter Pan Bus Lines, greets Jeffrey Sullivan, executive vice president and chief lending officer for United Bank and the company’s salesperson for the event; Paul DiGrigoli, left, owner of DiGrigoli Salons, who delivered a motivational talk before the event kicked off, talks with Steve Cosenke, district sales manager with YellowBook USA, and that company’s decision-maker for the day.

Literacy Summit

On Oct. 4, the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, in conjunction with several other organizations, including the Springfield Public School System and the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, staged a Literacy Summit at the Basketball Hall of Fame to draw attention to the broad issues of literacy and education. The keynote speaker was Chris Matthews (top left), host of MSNBC’s Hardball, but there were many who shared the stage and the spotlight. Among them were Congressman Richard Neal (center) and several young students (above) who offered their “hopes and dreams” for the future. Among them was Destiny Baker, at left. The event drew more than 400 people, many of whom addressed questions and comments to Matthews and Springfield School Superintendent Alan Ingram, and implored those in the audience to get involved with a host of area literacy programs.

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.

OPINION

By
Opinion
A Step to Manage Health Costs

Massachusetts’ managed care organizations lead the nation in quality of care and consumer satisfaction. So it is no surprise that the percentage of people in the Commonwealth’s private health insurance market who use managed care is the highest in the nation.

But 325,000 of the 750,000 Massachusetts residents receiving full benefits under the federal Medicaid program are not enrolled in managed care plans. These individuals are enrolled in a fee-for-service plan, called the Primary Care Clinician plan. Moving enrollees from the Primary Care Clinician plan into managed care plans would achieve two important outcomes: improve their care and, according to three recent studies, save the Commonwealth anywhere from $600 million to $1 billion over five years, easing the fiscal pressures of paying for health care reform.

Medicaid will cost the Commonwealth $8.6 billion this year, and the costs are increasing much faster than either economic or overall budget growth. Between 2001 and 2006, costs grew at an average of 8 percent annually. The result was that 35 cents of every new tax dollar went to pay for Medicaid. Clearly, the status quo is unsustainable.

With a deep recession making new revenue a pipe dream, Massachusetts faces a clear choice. We must either find a way to make Medicaid more efficient, or choose from among a slate of unappealing options like eliminating coverage for some, limiting services or cutting provider reimbursements.

Under the Commonwealth’s landmark 2006 health care reform law, almost 240,000 formerly uninsured residents have signed up for state-subsidized health insurance, either through Medicaid or the Commonwealth Care program. Finding a way to pay for that coverage makes the need to improve the efficiency of Medicaid service delivery even more urgent.

Managed care provides efficient, high-quality care by aligning financial incentives with clinical outcomes. It combines prevention and wellness services with programs to help individuals address specific conditions like obesity, diabetes, asthma and smoking that drive up health care costs. Patient outcomes are carefully tracked.

Massachusetts organizations have proven adept at combining access to quality care and cost control. Their quality outcomes are among the best in the nation as measured by prevention data, patient satisfaction and outcomes. In 2007 and 2008, Fallon Community Health Plan was rated the country’s top Medicaid health plan by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Despite high quality and the overall acceptance of managed care, Massachusetts has lower managed care penetration among Medicaid recipients than most other states do.

Eliminating the Medicaid PCC plan would yield an additional $40 million in savings over two years by foregoing the cost of infrastructure and program enhancements needed to bring the plan up to par with existing managed care programs. It suffers from limited accountability and lacks a reliable mechanism for ensuring coordination among various providers. It also would appear to support the efforts of the Commonwealth’s Payment Reform Commission to move away from fee-for-service reimbursement arrangements.

Savings wouldn’t come at the cost of patient care, as the Commonwealth’s Medicaid Managed Care providers consistently outperform the fee for service plan on many quality of care measures.

Massachusetts’ goal of universal coverage requires that we maximize the efficiency of services offered under Medicaid. Dismantling the Commonwealth’s fee-for-service Primary Care Clinician plan and moving all recipients of full Medicaid benefits to a managed care model would do just that. Even more importantly, it would improve the quality of care for some of our most vulnerable citizens.

Eric Schultz is president and chief executive officer of Fallon Community Health Plan. Jim Stergios is executive director of Pioneer Institute.

By
Departments

Ten Points About : The Newly Amended Identity Theft Regulations

By AMY B. ROYAL, Esq.

1. On August 17, the state Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations announced a new round of revisions to the identity theft regulations that are intended to be less onerous on smaller businesses and more consistent with federal law.

2. The regulation’s new effective date is March 1, 2010. This is the third time that these regulations have been extended.
3. The most dramatic change to the newest proposed set of regulations is the adoption of a “risk-based” approach to information security.
4. With the new risk-based approach, size matters. Under this new approach, businesses are permitted to take into account their particular size, scope, amount of resources, nature and quantity of data collected or stored and the need for security when creating and implementing their information-security program.

5. The changes in the regulations are especially important to small businesses that do not handle and store large amounts of personal information.

6. The regulations soften the requirements for businesses that only store personal employee information as opposed to those businesses that also store personal customer information.
7. The regulations clarify that they apply to “those engaged in commerce,” meaning those who collect and retain personal information in connection with the provision of goods and services or for the purpose of employment.
8. The computer security requirements of the new regulations apply to a business if they are technically feasible. This means that if there is a reasonable means through technology to accomplish the required result, then those reasonable means must be used.
9. Whether your business is small or large, your information security program must be in writing.

10. The regulations require encryption of portable devices where it is reasonable and technically feasible. The definition of encryption has been amended to make it technology neutral.

Although the regulations have again been delayed, it is still important to begin planning for compliance now, especially since the information security program must be developed, written and implemented, which includes training employees in the program, by March 1, 2010.

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 or [email protected].

By
Departments

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

Ablicki, Jonathan S.
Ablicki, Jennifer L.
PO Box 177
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/09

Algozer, Lorraine
99 3rd St. #1
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/27/09

Andrews, James J.
Andrews, Debra S.
42 Homestead Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/01/09

Arena, Luis A.
Arena, Carmen L.
75 Lyman St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Arnold, Gary B.
Arnold, Linda D.
a/k/a Lewis, Linda D.
847 South West St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/09

Atayan, Svetlana
a/k/a Mnatsakanyan, Svetlana
67 Manor Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

Auto Test World
LaPorte, Judy M.
LaPorte, John J.
30 Westbrook Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/09

Axas, Theodore D.
47 Oakwood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Bailey, Lisa M.
482 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Bauer, Robert B.
11 Anderson Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Bergeron, Adam J.
36 Charles St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/01/09

Bergeron, Jeremy D.
32 Lewis St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/09

Bergeron, Kyle E.
89 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Berry Construction
Berry Transportation
Berry, David W.
106 Coes Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 11
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Bird, Deborah A.
323 East St., Apt. E
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Blais, Eric C.
Blais, Tracy L.
340 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Boothe, Barbara A.
a/k/a Ruelle, Barbara A.
297 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Bouchard, James A.
Bouchard, Karla A.
586 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Bourdeau, Gyslain M.
Bourdeau, Sheila M.
20 Sterling St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Bowers, James L.
Bowers, Tammy A.
a/k/a McDonald, Tammy A.
79 Laurel St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Boyd, Christopher Stephen
Brown-Boyd, Roxanne
831 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Boyd, Tracie H.
60 Allen Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Brown, Eric
16 West Summit St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/03/09

Brozo, Nancy Jean
154 Cutler Road
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Bruno, Arianna Koren
11 Katelyn Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Buah-Miezah, Lydia
a/k/a Ampong, Lydia
17 Berkshire Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/09

Calderon, Celines
115 Ranney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

Calkins, Jennifer L.
a/k/a Platt, Jennifer L.
146 Reynolds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Camilleri, Richard P.
14 Upland Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Carlson, Paul
Carlson, Doris L.
137 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/09

Carmon, Paul M.
Carmon, Michelle L.
a/k/a Strauch, Michelle
58 Euclid Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Carnahan-Gavin, Prudence A.
182 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Carrasquillo, Jr., Roberto
8 Eddy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Carrero, Seleida
a/k/a Candelaria, Seleida
70 Broadway St., Apt.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Cassella, Albert J.
172 Windsor St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Castro, Luis A.
Santiago, Ruth I.
a/k/a Castro, Ruth I.
18 Leyfred Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Cat, Buff Charlie
Kowaleck, Elizabeth A.
a/k/a Kowaleck, Becky A.
42 Park Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/09

Cavanaugh, Dawn M.
224 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/27/09

Chandler, Ruth E.
18 Duclos Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Charbonneau, Ruthann C.
8 Ruel St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Choinski, Stanley R.
145 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Clapp, Susan Emerson
Clapp, Brian E.
109 Pixley Road
Great Barrington, MA 01245
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Clark, Walter L.
179 Wells St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/09

CMiel, Jason Luke
245 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Coburn, Kathleen
102 Ohio Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/09

Coffey, Ginger
a/k/a Silva, Ginger
31 Grove St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Comiskey, Michael P.
43 Dickinson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Connor, Lisa M.
PO Box 118
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Courchesne, Alan M.
8 Chudy St.
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/25/09

Cox, Bernard
PO Box 91211
Springfield, MA 01139
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Creamer, Guillermo David
1 Ladd Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/09

Cuesta, Ricardo
140 Union St., Apt. D64
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/09

Cuevas, Eligio L.
Cuevas, Aida
9 Bradford Dr., Apt. B9
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/09

Cusson, Kathleen Ann
a/k/a Parrott, Kathleen A.
156 Old Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Cusson, Paul Edward
156 Old Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Damato, Carlo P.
826 East St., Unit #13
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Davila, Nelson
44 Governor St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Dawkins, Ann M.
a/k/a Forrester, Ann M.
23 Miller St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

DeFlumere, Gloria L.
125 Silvin Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/27/09

Dellagiustina, Sharon
253 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Dolinski, Steven
Dolinski, Jane
57 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Doney, Michael George
Doney, Lisa Ellen
109 Cottage St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Doyle Trucking
Doyle, Dennis Shawn
Doyle, April Dawn
a/k/a Houle, April D.
1282 1/2 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Duprey, Matthew R.
Duprey, Laura M.
114 Brainard St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Duquette, William G.
91 Mulberry St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Dyer, Dana R.
a/k/a Dyer, Dana Ross
Dyer, Saramarie H.
390 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/09

Elfman, Jeremy J.
833 Riceville Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/18/09

Ellis, Donald W.
Ellis, Roxann
2 Greystone Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/18/09

Elmer, Jennifer L.
25 Westerly Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Emken, Jeffrey
146 North Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Emken, Julie
32 Denise Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Ercolino, Richard Joseph
1139 Westfield St., Apt. 23
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Fabbri, Julie Anne
108 Washington Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Fellows, Michael J.
205 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Finch, Henrietta M.
21 Bringham St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Gagne, Gerard L.
Gagne, Linda L.
36 Josephine St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/09

Gamble-Eddington, Brandi
42 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Garbiel, Michael J.
Garbiel, Brenda L.
28 Newcomb Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/27/09

Garcia, Heriberto
760 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Garcia, Tammie J.
760 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Gaudreault, Jeffrey M.
Gaudreault, Lisa A.
147 Central St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Germain, Robert E.
410 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Gignac, Maryanne E.
283 Whitney Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/09

Godere, Tara M.
15 Felix St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Goodreau, Beth Anne
1391 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Goyette, Wallace A.
Goyette, Loretta T.
582 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Green, Shanard M.
Cordeira, Carlie
a/k/a Green, Carlie
a/k/a Cordeira, Carlie A.
342 Southwick Road #85
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

Greene, James R.
43-45 Ringgold St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Grogan, Doreen Ann
a/k/a Mallett, Doreen A.
185 Call Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Hahn, Petrina E.
c/o George R. Hahn
34 Jefferson St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/09

Hall, Nancy Norwood
383 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Hamdan, Sonya Ree
23 N. River Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Hanssen, Elizabeth S.
9 Winter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Hart, Francis J.
Hart, Cheryl L.
936 South Athol Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/18/09

Hastings, Jon P.
3 Mineral Springs Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Hennessey, Michael W.
140 Chestnut St., Apt. 602
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Hickling, Linda A.
a/k/a Rosazza, Linda Anne
321 Wolf Swamp Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/09

Hodges, Donna J.
a/k/a Martin, Donna J.
61 South Westfield St., Apt. 30
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Hoffman, Yael
214 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Houle, Sandra I.
1439 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

Howard, Matthew A.
Howard, Tammy J.
3 Pine Meadow Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

Hurley, David J.
282 Beauchamp Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Ingersoll, Michael R.
Ingersoll, Melissa L.
229 B Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Jackson, James R.
Kuzmeski-Jackson, Joanne M
PO Box 1463
Belchertown, MA 01007-1463
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/03/09

James, Kate Theresa
2 Childs Cross Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Jeff’s Lawn & Landscaping
Bellefleur, Jeffrey A.
Bellefleur, Donna A.
340 Poplar St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/27/09

Jessie’s Roofing & Siding
Vazquez, Efrain
83 Prospect St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/09

JIT Manufacturing, Inc.
Croteau, Paul Francis
Croteau, Elizabeth G.
517 Ideal Lane, Unit 306
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Joubert, Richard H.
110 Saffron Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/23/09

Juda, Thomas E.
Juda, Mellissa R.
1085 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Kacoyannakis, Kenneth J.
Kacoyannakis, Susan A.
292 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/09

Kampew Trucking
Kampew, Jean-Claude
4 Cypress Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Kampew, Albertine T.
a/k/a Mwandjombi, Albertine T.
4 Cypress Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Kassel, Elizabeth A.
1450 North St., #404
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/09

Keaton, Amy Theresa
43 Juliette St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Kendall, Scott M.
a/k/a Kittredge, Scott M.
Kendall, Tiffanie V.
195 Oakham Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Kenney, John J.
Kenney, Eleanor M.
43 Plinn St., Apt. #2
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Kibler, Anthony John
Kibler, Tammy Ann
2358 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

King, Sherrie A.
573 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Kingsley, Shawn J.
Kingsley, Tiffany A.
1055 Fairview St.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

  

Kostanski, Brenda E.
36 Fabyan St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Kristek, Stephen P.
66 Lapa Farm Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/09

Kustra Real Estate Trust
Kustra, Walter E.
Kustra, Cynthia L.
121 Washburn Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/15/09

Landry, Bonnie
16 Roy St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Landry, Paul H.
Landry, Wanda L.
17 Sunrise Ter.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Langevin, Robert A.
64 Shepard Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

LaPlante, Roberta J.
169 Bates Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/09

Le, John B.
88 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Levesque, Philip J.
Bosques-Levesque, Nancy
653 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Lewis, Randy J.
26 1/2 Crown St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/09

MacKinnon, William Gordon
MacKinnon, Maureen Margar
t
a/k/a Faust, Maureen M.
46 Brittany Road
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Maher, William M.
73 Donna Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/09

Mailloux, Robert J.
645 Warren Wright St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Maio, Ernesto Manuel
Maio, Christine Marie
Maid, Christine M.
Burne, Christine
9 Clover Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Marini, Heather E.
87 West Akard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Martinez, Jennifer A.
105 West Main St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

McAuliffe, William T.
18 Water Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/09

McCorkindale, Jeffrey C.
McCorkindale, Carrie L.
18 Wareham St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

McCormack, Edward J.
McCormack, Mary R.
57 Old Farm Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

McCoy, Sarah L.
a/k/a Kunda, Sarah L.
6 David St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

McCullough, Lori A.
a/k/a Webster, Lori A.
42 Day St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

McDonough, Paul E.
McDonough, Karen A.
208 E. Quincy St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/28/09

McNaughton, Howard D.
McNaughton, JoAnn
203 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/09

Mcneice, Joseph F.
Mcneice, Jennifer B.
a/k/a Mangano, Jennifer
110 Columbia St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/09

Mello, Kimberly I.
71 Lincoln Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/09

Mendel, Mark H.
Mendel, Jennifer A.
26 Reuter Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Mercier, Rachel M.
PO Box 1125
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Messer, Bart Douglas
Messer, Laurie Marie
341 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/09

Mills, Joshua C.
52 Lindsay Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Moreno, Denise L.
a/k/a Jemenez, Denise
181 South St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Moresi, Robin T.
47 Forest Place, Apt. 4
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Murphy, Kevin W.
Murphy, Patricia A.
49 Field St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Nee, Patrick J.
Nee, Patricia L.
26 Greensleaves Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/09

Nicoletti, Nicholas T.
Nicoletti, Kathleen S.
a/k/a Coleman, Kathleen S.
54 West. River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Nunes, Thomas J.
54 Saint James Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040-2321
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/09

Ocasio, Gilbert Michael
Ocasio, Candy Lynn
98 Turkey Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/28/09

O’Donnell, Peter K.
O’Donnell, Nancy E.
32 Chickering St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/09

On the House Builders
Van Iderstine, Bruce
176 Hawk Hill Road
Charlemont
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/09

Opalenik, Daniel
108 Camden St.
S. Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Pagan, Alba N.
112 Marble St.
Springfiled, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/09

Palmer, Christofer A.
Palmer, Cynthia M.
a/k/a Palmer, Cindy M.
a/k/a Marinello, Cynthia
32 Birch St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/09

Pape, Kathleen H.
74 Common St.
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/09

Parker, Jeremiah J.
Parker, Debra E.
20 Michigan Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Peirce, Herbert J.
152 East Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Pereira, Candace Ann
a/k/a Driscoll, Candace Ann
639 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Perez, Lena A.
Perez, Hector L.
12 Longwood Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Peterson, Kurt E.
473 Wilder Hill Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/09

Peterson, Kurt Ernest
473 Wilder Hill Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Phommasith, Bounleung
1448 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Pickard, Elizabeth
59 Factory St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Placanico, Anthony J.
131 Breckinridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/03/09

Place, Ransom Y.
94 Summer Dr.
Southwick, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Powell, Russell M.
Powell, Jennifer L.
1954 Main St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Preston, David
1159 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Quick Tan
Gubala, Mary M.
311 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Rachmaciej, Deborah J.
a/k/a Hatt, Deborah Jean
170 Rocky Hill Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Raines, Patricia A.
424 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Rapport, Pamela I.
a/k/a Sutowski, Pamela I.
10 Sumner Ave.
Apt. 17
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Rarick, David F.
Rarick, Grayce E.
1 Mark Lane
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/09

Raymond, James M.
3 Cypress Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Reynolds, Courtney T.
95 Creamery Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Richards, Donna M.
21 Chantilly Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Riether, Cathy J.
59 Mandaley Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Rivas, Herlyn Jessica
a/k/a Simon, Herlyn Jessica
35 Hadley Road, #205
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Rizzo, Georgina
6 Crestwood St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Robert, Danielle M.
176 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Roberts, Delmore A.
31A Church St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/09

Robinson, Craig M.
142 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Rock, Michael J.
34 Olmsted Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

Rodriguez, Elier
124 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Rood, Thomas J.
Rood, Diane L.
41 West Silver St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Rosa, George J.
805 East Guinea Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Roy, Brett G.
299 Grattan St., #3
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Rupprecht, Delia
92 Cummings Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Rutherford, Joseph W.
Rutherford, Marylouise
202 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Rydzak, John P.
Rydzak, Linda L.
13 Edward Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Sakowicz, Jeffrey M.
Sakowicz, Angela M.
350 River Bend St., Unit 8
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/18/09

Santos, Luz B.
40 Summit St., Apt. 6
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Saulsberry, Leslie A.
990 North Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Shaughnessy, Patrick J.
170 West King St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/09

Shephard, Paul James
Shephard, Stephanie Marie
31 Eldridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/09

Sierra, Gladys
112 Pembroke St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Skowera, Paul C.
28 Riverside Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/10/09

Smith, Diane K.
155 Marble St., Apt 47
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Sousse, Heidi Lynn
a/k/a Kellogg, Heidi L.
81 Conz St. #628
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Spence, Katherine M.
22 Lessey St., Apt 102
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Spong, Elizabeth A.
10 Trumbull Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Staton, Phoebe Cherrie
100 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/07/09

Stephenson, Henry H.
Stephenson, Kathleen A.
a/k/a Davenport, Kathleen A.
26 Westview Ter.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Stibolt, Kirsten J.
36 Buena Vista Plaza
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/09

Styckiewicz, Sheri L.B.
955 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/18/09

Sunnyside Up Restaurant
Nunes, Gerald E.
Nunes, Karen A.
179 Carver St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/09

Swanner, James M.
Swanner, April M.
37 Apremont St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Talbot, Vanessa D.
549 Russell Road, Unit 11-C
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Thompson, Barry S.
Thompson, Carolyn A.
46 McClellan Farm Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/09

Thornton, Carol D.
45 Washington St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/09

Toporowski, Kenneth Lee
30 Old Holyoke Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/04/09

Torres, Jose E.
Vazquez, Mariel
80 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/09

Torres, Rosa
117 Sanderson St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Truong, Thuy
88 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/09

Vacirca, Joseph W.
Vacirca, Marsha Y.
29 Carlton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/03/09

Vega, Richard
21 Cyman Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Vennert, Daniel D.
316 South Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/09

Vera, Jose A.
421 Nottingham St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/09

Wadman, Carol L.
510 South Barre Road, Apt. 1
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/09

Washburn, Trinity Marie
Washburn, Shimon
104 Dunphy Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/09

Waters, Mary A.
109 Oak Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Watkins, Mark A.
221 Cloverdale St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201-8526
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/09

Weaver, Minette C.
245 Main St.
PO Box 202
Ashfield, MA 01330
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Wentworth, Dennis E.
Wentworth, Kathleen N.
7 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Weselovs, Shannon Leigh
7 Eddy St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/09

White, Bertha L.
47 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/09

Whittaker, Karen S.
a/k/a Bergeron, Karen S.
77 Overlook Dr.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/09

Wilde Bonzek, Jeffrey
Wilde Bonzek, Andreya
16 Juckett Hil Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Willhite, Gary
Willhite, Candace
440 Twichell St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/16/09

Wood, Eric S.
Wood, Elizabeth L.
a/k/a Popp, Elizabeth L.
219 Saratoga Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/09

Woodward, Cynthia I.
124 Washington Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/09

Wright, Regina
117D Ashley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/09

Yacovone, Leia C.
28 Orange St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/09

By
Departments

Health Insurers Expect to Raise Rates by 10%

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose to $13,375 annually for family coverage this year — with employees on average paying $3,515 and employers paying $9,860, according to the benchmark 2009 Employer Health Benefits Survey recently released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET). Family premiums rose about 5% this year, which is much more than general inflation (which fell 0.7% during the same period, mostly due to falling energy prices). Workers’ wages went up 3.1% during the same period.  Since 1999, premiums have gone up a total of 131%, far more rapidly than workers’ wages (up 38% since 1999) or inflation (up 28% since 1999). For the past few years, the annual rise in premiums has been more moderate than the double-digit growth experienced earlier this decade. As Congress considers health reforms building on the existing employment-based system, the annual Kaiser/HRET survey provides a detailed picture of private health insurance coverage and costs. The survey found that 60% of firms offer health benefits to any of their workers this year. As in the past, the smaller the firm, the less likely it is to offer health benefits — with fewer than half (46%) of the smallest employers (three to nine workers) offering health benefits. Among those firms offering benefits, 21% report they reduced the scope of health benefits or increased cost sharing due to the economic downturn, and 15% report they increased the worker share of the premium. The survey also reveals that a growing number of workers who are covered by their employer are facing high deductibles in their plans in addition to contributing to the premiums for their coverage. In 2009, 22% of covered workers must pay at least $1,000 out of pocket annually for single coverage before their plan generally will start to pay a share of their health care bills, up from 18% last year and 10% in 2006.

Retail Sales Top Expectations

WASHINGTON — The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that retail sales rose 2.7% in August, well above the increase of 2.0% private analysts had expected. Motor vehicle sales jumped 10.6%, while sales excluding motor vehicles increased 1.1%, and sales excluding motor vehicles and gasoline rose 0.6%. Also, the Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for August, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $351.4 billion, an increase of 2.7% from the previous month, but 5.3% below August 2008. Total sales for the June-through-August 2009 period were down 7.6% from the same period a year ago.

Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease

NEW YORK — In the week ending Sept. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 545,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 557,000. The four-week moving average was 563,000, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 571,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7% for the week ending Sept. 5, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 4.6%. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Sept. 5 was 6,230,000, an increase of 129,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 6,101,000. The four-week moving average was 6,180,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 6,185,750. The fiscal year-to-date average for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for all programs is 5.636 million. Extended benefits were available in several states, including Massachusetts. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Aug. 29 were in Puerto Rico (6.8%), Oregon (5.7%), Pennsylvania (5.7%), Nevada (5.5%), Michigan (5.2%), Connecticut (5.1%), New Jersey (5.1%), California (5.0%), Wisconsin (5.0%), North Carolina (4.8%), and Rhode Island (4.8%). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Sept. 5 were in Washington (+2,620), Pennsylvania (+2,573), Massachusetts (+1,565), North Carolina (+1,332), and Illinois (+1,218), while the largest decreases were in California (-2,751), New York (-2,479), Wisconsin (-1,149), Texas (-809), and New Jersey (-700).

Holyoke Establishes Energy Committee

HOLYOKE — As the city pursues its goal of reduced reliance on fossil fuels, a new Holyoke Energy Committee will work together with Mayor Michael J. Sullivan to further the efforts being done to capitalize on Holyoke’s green assets. A primary goal will be to reduce the energy consumption of the municipality as well as improve the overall level of sustainability of Holyoke through programs to encourage residents and businesses to be more green on a day-to-day basis. Committee members serving on the new board are William Fuqua, superintendent of public works; James Lavelle, director, Holyoke Gas & Electric; Kathleen Anderson, Office of Planning & Development; Fire Chief David Lafond; Melinda Lane, Police Department; and Whitney Anderson, maintenance administrator, Holyoke School Department. The first task of the committee will be to satisfy the requirements of the state’s Green Communities Act to be considered a Green Community. The city was recently awarded a Green Communities Technical Assistance Grant from the Mass. Department of Energy Resources, Green Communities Division, to assist in the completion of these requirements. Once considered a Green Community, Holyoke will qualify for portions of a $10 million grant and have higher priority in some grant rounds in the state.

Output Figures Give Economists Bright Outlook

WASHINGTON — Industrial output rose 0.8% in August, following an upwardly revised increase of 1.0% in July. Production in manufacturing expanded 0.6% in August, and the index excluding motor vehicles and parts increased 0.4%. The gain in July for manufacturing was revised up 0.4 percentage point, to 1.4%; in addition, factory output for April through June is now somewhat less weak than reported previously. Production at mines moved up 0.5% in August. The output of utilities gained 1.9%, as temperatures swung from an unseasonably mild July to a slightly warmer-than-usual August. At 97.4% of its 2002 average, total industrial production was 10.7% below its level of a year earlier. In August, the capacity utilization rate for total industry advanced to 69.6%, a level 11.3 percentage points below its average for the period 1972 through 2008.

Bernanke Sees Difficult Challenges Ahead

WASHINGTON — A year ago, the expression “systemic risk” became the new clarion call for policy-makers and regulators as they took unprecedented steps to avoid a collapse of the global financial system. On Sept. 15, one year after the Lehman Brothers collapse, the Brookings Institution hosted a forum to explore the tumultuous events of last September, where financial markets stand today and the status of regulatory reforms to prevent the next financial crisis. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave the keynote address, noting that during the past year the world has “been through the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression.” Bernanke added that the crisis in turn sparked a deep global recession from which we are now only beginning to emerge. He noted that although the country has avoided the worst, “difficult challenges” still lie ahead. Bernanke said we must work together to build on the gains already made to secure a sustained economic recovery, as well as to build a new financial regulatory framework that will reflect the lessons of the crisis and prevent an occurrence of the events in the past two years. He concluded that he “hopes and expects” after reviewing developments a year from now, the country will be able to claim substantial progress toward both objectives.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Frank Ferrentino
1676 Main St.
$14,000 — Install 4-foot foundation under existing cement pad

Riverbend Medical, LLC
230 Main St.
$32,000 — General renovations to expand IT/telephone and data room

Town of Agawam
760 Cooper St.
$7,000 — Renovations to the high school

AMHERST

Jones Properties, LTD
15A Pray St.
$8,000 — Renovate interior of hair salon

CHICOPEE

AHH Inc.
10 David St.
$20,000 — Interior renovations

Daniel O’Connell’s Sons Inc.
275 Meadow St.
$175,000 — Replace existing shed

LTL, LLC
14 Duncan St.
$10,000 — Repair porch, exterior doors, and windows

EAST LONGMEADOW

Berg Family Trust
130 Shaker Road
$25,000 — Renovate office space

Meadowbrook School
607 Parker St.
$61,000 — Install new alarm system

GREENFIELD

Fair Business, LLC
74 Fairview St.
$52,000 — New roof

Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$13,000 — Installation of two-hour fire separation partition and ’90-minute’ doors

Roman Catholic Church
221 Federal St.
$7,000 — Roof renovations

Town Of Greenfield
1 Lenox St.
$4,500 — Remove and replace existing guard/hand rails at high school

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Machine Inc
514-522 Main St.
$21,000 — New roof and insulation

O’C Ingleside LLC
361 Whitney Ave.
$719,000 — Construction of new laboratory for Baystate Health

LUDLOW

Big Y Trust
433 Center St.
$54,000 — Partitions

  

NORTHAMPTON

Crocker Building Company Inc.
296 Nonotuck St.
$30,000 — Install metal siding by loading dock

John Scott
52 Round Hill Road
$35,000 — Interior renovations at Clarke School

Sackrey Construction
30 Crafts Ave.
$114,000 — Construction of handicap ramp and bathrooms

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Medical Center
471 Chestnut St.
$12,000 — Reline chimney

Block Realty
504 St. James Ave.
$9,000 — New roof

Diocese of Springfield
155 Eddywood St.
$240,000 — Minor classroom renovations and construction of new vestibule enclosure

Falcon Management
One Monarch Place
$100,000 — 8th-floor build out

Hampden County Physicians
300 Stafford St.
$259,000 — Interior renovation of 3,000 square feet of space for doctor’s office

Holyname Parish
37 Alderman St.
$153,000 — Interior renovations

Javal, Inc.
1801 Page Blvd.
$39,500 — New roof

O’Connell Oil
570 Sumner Ave.
$41,000 — Remodel existing building

Yellow Brick Property
270-272 Center St.
$30,000 — Repair front and side porches

SOUTH HADLEY

PVPA School
15 Mulligan Dr.
$57,000 — Renovations

WESTFIELD

Berkshire Bank
31 Court St.
$370,000 — Interior renovations

WEST SPRINGFIELD

SUK Realty Trust
1144 Elm St.
$18,000 — Re-roof apartment building

By
Departments

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

Oct. 2: Hampden/Wilbraham Golf Classic, hosted by the Country Club of Wilbraham. Registration at 10 a.m., lunch at 11 a.m., shotgun start at 12:00 noon. Tickets: $110 for golf entry, $440 for a golf foursome. Sponsorships available.

Oct. 7:  ACCGS Breakfast, hosted by the Springfield Marriott, 7:15 to 9 a.m. Tickets: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.

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. 4: Hike for Habitat, Mt. Tom, Holyoke, 10 a.m. Join the YPS team for the annual Hike for Habitat to benefit Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. The hike features two courses: a leisurely, 90-minute hike, or a more difficult, three-hour route to the summit. To register, hikers must raise a minimum of $25 per person, due on the day of the hike. To join the YPS team, contact Maureen Picknally at [email protected]  or Nicole Williamson at (413) 739-5503 or [email protected].

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. 1: BusinessWest Speed Sales, hosted by the Bartley Center at Holyoke Community College, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Program Sponsors include the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., Kittredge Center, HCC, Marcotte Ford, and First American Insurance Agency Inc. Cost: $350 for members, $450 for non-members.

Oct. 7: CheckPoint ’09, hosted by Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee, 12 noon to 2 p.m. Keynote speaker is  Robert A. DeLeo, speaker of the state House of Representatives. Sponsors include Our Dentist, Future Works, Westmass Area Development Corp., and Health New England. Tickets: $30 for members, $35 for non-members; tables of 8: $200 for members, $240 for non-members.

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. 1: BusinessWest Speed Sales Business Event, hosted by the Bartley Center at Holyoke Community College, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by BusinessWest, First American Insurance Agency Inc., Holyoke Community College, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., Log Cabin and Delaney House, and Marcotte Ford.

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. 7: Arrive@5 Open House at the Chamber, 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by Crocker Communications Inc., Innovative Business Systems Inc., and Pioneer Training. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for guests.

Oct. 8: Northampton Area Young Professionals Party with a Purpose, hosted by dani. fine photography in the Eastworks building in Easthampton, 5 to 8 p.m. Cost: free for members, $5 for guests.

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. 9: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce Annual Fall Breakfast, hosted by the 104th Fighter Wing, Dining Hall, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield. Guest speaker will be  Rick Forgay, president of the Rich Forgay Leadership Institute. Sponsors include Noble Health Systems, Westfield Gas & Electric, NewAlliance Bank, FieldEddy Insurance, and the Carson Center for Human Services Inc. Cost:  $20 for members, $25 for non-members. For reservations, call (413) 568-1618, e-mail [email protected] , or register at www.westfieldbiz.org . The deadline for reservations is Oct. 5.

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

Springfield College Receives $1.6M AmeriCorps Grant

SPRINGFIELD — A new AmeriCorps grant of $1,606,527 will enable Springfield College to continue to help Greater Springfield schools and nonprofit organizations meet human needs for the next three years. The grant will support 85 students per year who become AmeriCorps members, with each contributing 900 hours of community service. Mostly graduate students, they will provide services consistent with their fields of study that are targeted to community needs. Their services will help school children, individuals, and families receiving physical and mental health services, and organizations recruiting, training, and managing volunteers. Springfield College AmeriCorps services for school children include academic coaching for 600 students; counseling, advising, and outreach for 300 students; and out-of-school leadership development programs for 185 youth. Springfield educational sites served include the four city high schools; William N. DeBerry, German Gerena, and White Street elementary schools; Duggan and Van Sickle middle schools; the Renaissance School; and the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence. AmeriCorps members assigned to health counseling and case management also will provide health screenings and wellness guidance. They serve 2,500 individuals and families annually at Sisters of Providence Health System, Mercy Medical Center, Baystate Medical Center, Square One, Behavioral Health Network, and other sites. The new grant will also allow the Springfield College AmeriCorps Program to expand services to organizations outside of Springfield that serve Springfield residents. AmeriCorps was created in 1993 as part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency.

‘Outstanding’ Ratings Achieved by Hospital

WARE — Baystate Mary Lane Hospital has received ‘outstanding’ scores in recent H-CAHPS (Hospital-Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey results. The surveys, required by the federal government, gauge how well physicians and nurses communicate, whether patients believe they received help in a timely manner, and whether they would recommend a hospital to others. Christine Shirtcliff, president, noted that the hospital received outstanding scores in several categories including overall quality, communication with doctors and nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, communication about medicine, and discharge information.

Mohawk Communications Partners with Falcons

SPRINGFIELD — Mohawk Communications has become the official communications provider of the Springfield Falcons for the 2009-10 season, according to Falcons Vice President of Business Development Chris Thompson. As part of the partnership, Mohawk Communications will receive maximum exposure inside of the MassMutual Center for all 40 Falcons’ home games, including in-ice signage, a corporate ticket package and web site exposure on www.falconsahl.com. In other news, the Falcons are currently accepting deposits on full and partial ticket packages for the 2009-10 season. For more information, call the Falcons office at (413) 739-3344.

Westfield Bank Opens New Branch

AGAWAM — A New Orleans-style grand opening recently ushered in the latest Westfield Bank branch at 241 South Westfield St. The Feeding Hills location is the bank’s 11th branch and has 15 employees. Westfield Bank also has branches in Westfield, Agawam, East Longmeadow, Holyoke, Springfield, Southwick, and West Springfield.

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

Allied Fire Protection Inc. v. Delancey Clinton Associates, L.P.
Allegation: Non-payment for services rendered: $5,900
Filed: 8/10/09

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

The Yankee Candle Co. Inc. v. Changing Paradigms, LLC et al
Allegation: Breach of agreements relating to electric fragrance diffuser products, conversion of property, and unfair and deceptive conduct: $200,000+
Filed: 8/10/09

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Country Oil Inc. v. River Maple Farm Inc.
Allegation: Balance due on heating oil and service delivery: $5,685.75
Filed: 8/12/09

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Dorene M. Vadnais v. Karen E. Kupner, M.D., Chanel G. Bouchereau, M.D., and Mercy Medical Center
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $2,080,000
Filed: 8/19/09

Lutron Electronics v. Bottaro-Skolnick, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $29,927.05
Filed: 8/7/09

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Ace Fire and Water Restoration Inc. v. Village at Hospital Hill, LLC and The Community Builders Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of restoration and repair services rendered: $36,820.37
Filed: 8/18/09

Kemper Insurance Cos. v. Five Colleges Inc.
Allegation: Action for insurance premiums unpaid by defendant: $356,304.04
Filed: 8/7/09

Mark L. and Pamela Linnehan v. Caracas Construction Corp. and Luis P. Gomes
Allegation: Police officer struck by excavator, while on duty, resulting in head trauma: $10,586.31
Filed: 8/10/09

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

TBF Financial LLC, assignee of GE Capital Corporate v. Somatic Systems Institute Inc.
Allegation: Damages for lease of a business lease agreement: $8,149.47
Filed: 7/22/09

The Darcy Co. v. Northampton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
Allegation: Non-payment of refrigeration goods and services rendered: $4,844.87
Filed: 7/27/09

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Fetch Logistics Inc. v. Quaboag Transfer Inc.
Allegation: Failure to pay freight charges for transportation of goods: $5,825
Filed: 7/21/09

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Bradco Supply Co. v. Copperworks Inc. and Ronald McGowan
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $5,115.60
Filed: 8/5/09

Capital One Bank, N.A. v. Ty Lucia Plumbing and Heating, LLC
Allegation: Monies owed for credit advanced: $5,020.22
Filed: 7/28/09

Carrier Sales & Distribution, LLC v. All Phases Mechanical and Yvette & Paul Tucci
Allegation: Non-payment of freight services rendered: $15,564
Filed: 8/13/09

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Beaver Camper Service
721 Springfield St.
Thomas L. Beaver

Gurukrupa’s Subway, LLC
840 Suffield St.
Navin Patel

Hair Spectrum
303A Springfield St.
Eloise Anderson

Poggi Transport
27 Howard St.
Lee J. Poggi

Smart Start Pre-School
21 North Westfield St.
Robin Jensen

Stellato Brothers Inc.
19 Losito Lane
James Stellato

AMHERST

Amherst Nails
9 East Pleasant St.
Thu T. Hoang

Citadel Studios
161 Thatcher Way
Thomas Quinn

One Metaverse Engineering
401 Main St.
James Triplett

Persona
236 N. Pleasant St.
Doreen St. John

CHICOPEE

Fiona’s Spa
1888 Memorial Dr.
Fenghua Yu

HSF Cleaning
20 Park St.
Hugo Ferreira

Just Windows
36 Mercedes St.
Robin Campbell

Sport It Now
74 Skeele St.
Joel Rios

EASTHAMPTON

Bermudez Auto Repossession & Transport
3 West St.
Aneudi Bermudez

EAST LONGMEADOW

Ciao Bella Salon
128 Shaker Road
Deanna Hansen

Vanle’s Hair & Nails
613 North Main St.
Mina Tran

GREENFIELD

MetLife Home Loans
22 Mohawk Trail
Clayton J. Herbert

HADLEY

Befit
245 Russell St.
Holly Leonard

Readings by Margurite
249 Russell St.
Margurite Miller

S & M Builders
75 Lawrence Plain Road
Carl Johnson

HOLYOKE

ABC Sales and Services
621 S. Canal St.
Rober J. Celi

Button It
540 County Road
Terry A. Paquin

CCO Investment Services Inc.
28 Lincoln St.
Xiomara Corral

Massachusetts Academy of Ballet
4 Open Square Way
Charles Flachs

Pet Pillows
50 Holyoke St.
Shashi Sharma

Tic Toc Jewelry and Watch Repair
50 Holyoke St.
Diane Oliveras

NORTHAMPTON

Amedisys Home Health
320 Riverside Dr.
Celeste Peiffer

Dolphin Daycare
33 Hawley St.
Elizabeth Cole

Overlook @ Northampton
222 River Road
Pamela Jones

  

National
72 King St.
Mary K. DeLassus

Studio 112
9A Bankroft Road
Ethel Poindexter

The Mirage Group
16 Market St.
Mirage Management Inc.

Universal Kids
33 Hawley St.
Elizabeth Cole

PALMER

Fire Fighting Equipment
2146 North Main St.
Alan P. Fateux

American Ecological Services
124 River St.
Kal Thiphavong

Paramount Pizza
1620 North Main St.
Aydin Oflu

The Retro
3031 Main St.
Damon Johnson

SPRINGFIELD

Jam Tock Restaurant
17A Rutland St.
Michael R. Marshall

Mackenzie Landesign
30 Carroll St.
Joel Mackenzie

Miracle
187 Monrovia St.
Miguel A. Cruz

Pioneer Valley Yard Service
332 Naismith St.
Zachary Macutkiewicz

Pure Freedom
55 Meadow St.
Daniel J. Kudla

Solunas Communications
101 Mulberry St.
Patricia A. Truitt

Springfield’s Finest Cuts
427 State St.
Angel Luis Castillo

Stanpak Company
19 Forbes Circle
Mohammed Tanvir

Sullivan’s Pool Service
387 Main St.
Brian Glenn Sullivan

Technical Certification
125 Paridon St.
Wayne P. Liggan

The Tag Sale Store
157 Main St.
Tracey B. Hines

WESTFIELD

Countryview Primitives
71 Elm St.
Tanya Rogalski

Izzy’s Barber Shop
243 Elm St.
Isidro Acosta

Party Patrol Rental
869 North Road
Daniel M. Gagnon

Pignatare & Sagan, LLC
6 Main St.
Andrew J. Pignatare

Westfield Computer
24 Old Holyoke Road
Michael Patton

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bart Truck Equipment Company Inc.
358 River St.
Martin Tourtelotte

Bay State Instrument Repair
248 Elm St.
Carl Ippolito

C-Mac
136 Riverdale St.
Craig McCarthy

Kia M. Brokos, L.M.T.
425 Union St.
Kia Marie Brokos

Lubanski Construction Company
57 Hill St.
Brandon Lubanski

Mamma Mia’s Pizzeria
60 Park St.
Maria Alfarone

Pioneer Valley Hobbies Inc.
54 Myron St.
Dennis A. Gamelli

By
Departments

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

AMHERST

People’s Acupuncture Clinic Inc., 228 Triangle St., Amherst, MA 01002. Benjamin F. Feeley, 222 East St., Amherst, MA 01002. Acupuncture and other health issues.

CHICOPEE

Complete Restoration Solutions Inc., 165 Front St., 4th floor, Chicopee, MA 01013. Joseph M Gillette, 6 Shady Lane, West Simsbury, CT 06092. Fire restoration.

D-N-D Construction Inc., 299 Columba St., Chicopee, MA 01020. George E. Doup, same. Construction.

SMV Construction Inc., 148 Labelle Dr., Chicopee, MA 01020. Stephen M. Vitorino, Same. General contracting and residential home improvements.

EAST LONGMEADOW

New England Mezzanine Inc., 100 Denslow Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. John Maybury, 215 Prospect St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Manufacturing and construction of office parts fabricated from steel or other material.

GRANBY

The Granby Firefighter’s Association Inc., 250 State St., Granby, MA 01033. Matthew Bail, 10 Summit Road, Belchertown, MA 01007. To provide entertainment.

HOLYOKE

A&B Tax and Bookkeeping Service Inc., 326 Appleton St., Suite 10, Holyoke, MA 01040. Armando Santiago, 80 West St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Tax and bookkeeping services.

Applied Light Manufacturing Inc., 48 Commercial St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Kathleen M. Macy, same. Manufacturing laser job shop-equipment fabrication.

NORTHAMPTON

16 Main Street Inc., 16 Main St., Unit 2, Northampton, MA 01060. Thomas Chow, same. To own and lease rental property and manage real estate.

  

Daley Clinical Research Consulting Inc., 34 Warburton Way, Northampton, MA 01060. Charles Daley, same. Consulting.

SOUTH HADLEY

Gestation Miracles Corporation, 62 McKinley Ave., Apt 1 RT, South Hadley, MA 01075. Kelly Marie Mojica-Pozo, Same. To provide financial assistance for in-Vitro Fertilization and certain necessary medications to couples, families, and individuals through the United States.

SOUTHWICK

Campari’s Inc., 784 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077. Tracy V. Mountain, 35 Woodlawn Way, Russell, MA 01071. Restaurant.

SPRINGFIELD

El Probocon Restaurant Corporation, 152 Rifle St., Springfield, MA 01105. Maria Celeste Pacheco, 4 Langdong St., Springfield, MA 01104. Selling cooked food, specializing in fried chicken.

Meche Beauty Salon & Spa Inc., 894 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Ana M. Cortes, 104 Melha Ave., Springfield, MA 01104. Beauty Salon.

TNM Enterprises Inc., 1038 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA 01109. Mark Bajek, 118 Lincoln Park, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Retail sales of beer, wine, and spirits.

WESTFIELD

Bandjo Enterprises Inc., 571 Granville Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Brian D. Cook, Same. Personal fitness training.

WILBRAHAM

Gravel Partners Company, 2660 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Nancy Schechterle, 14 Rice Dr., Wilbraham MA 01095. Truck and equipment leasing.

By
Departments

Cradles to Crayons

Comcast’s Western New England Region is a lead sponsor of the Cradles to Crayons (C2C) Backpack program. Through Comcast’s support, C2C delivers back-to-school backpacks throughout Western Mass. to children in key communities. C2C volunteers were recently in Springfield for a drop-off event at Square One’s Faith Church Children’s Center. Following a short speaking program, Comcast and C2C volunteers presented 140 backpacks to children. At left, Doug Guthrie, senior vice president of the Western New England Region, and Joan Kagan, president and CEO of Square One, are presented with a thank-you gift from the children at Faith Church, Elizabeth Diaz (left) and Karaun Taylor. Above, everyone is all smiles as Jen White, director of development for Cradles to Crayons, shows Quah’mar Hazel Todman, left, and Christina Brazoban their new backpacks.

Memory Stroll

A purple pathway of balloons framed a parade of 90 seniors, caregivers, volunteers, and staff led by Jewish Geriatric Services Board of Directors Chairman Michael Hurwitz on the recent JGS Alzheimer’s Memory Stroll around the JGS campus. Hurwitz was the grand marshal of the Third Annual Stroll and is pictured here with Ginny Sinkoski of the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts. The Memory Stroll is held to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and generate support for the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk later this month.

Putting a Plug in the Brain Drain

By
Opinion

It’s encouraging to see the state and this region taking such a keen interest in young people these days. Among the many other pressing matters at hand, elected officials and economic-development leaders have made the younger populations — and the challenge of keeping them within the confines of the Bay State — a top priority.

Which is good, because as we’ve said many times, they are one of the keys to the relative health and well-being of both Western Mass. and the state as a whole.

The focus on young people has manifested itself in a numbers of ways — from a video produced earlier this year to promote this region (it touts everything from the low cost of living to a high quality of life), to a new Web site— www.massitsallhere — that trumpets the Commonwealth and all it offers, to a series of forums designed to pick the brains of young people to find out what they like and don’t like about this state.

The first of these forums was staged in Springfield last week, and a small group of area young people turned out to listen and offer some feedback.

All this, as we said, is well and good, but the efforts to date seem to be focusing almost exclusively on marketing — putting a good face on both this region and state and reminding everyone of all the good things we have in Massachusetts, from fine colleges and culture to mountains and the seashore, separated by only a few hours.

Marketing is important, but from our perspective, the way to plug or at least control the brain drain in this state comes down to one simple thing: jobs.

It’s a fact that people don’t stay where they grew up like they did a generation or two ago, but the reason for this isn’t necessarily the cost of living or the quality of life (although those certainly play a role), Rather, it comes down mostly to job opportunities.

People don’t flock to North Carolina for the weather or the school systems or the golf courses or the beaches or the health care facilities. They go there because that’s currently where the jobs are. People aren’t leaving places like Boston or Buffalo, or many other older industrial cities (yes, like Springfield and Holyoke) because they don’t like it there. They’re leaving because there are fewer opportunities.

This is the message that people in government and economic development need to hear, and they’re not going to hear it from people who have decided to stay. That’s why they need to talk to the people who are leaving, as well.

And they need to borrow a page or two from the script followed by North Carolina and other states that are seeing their populations increase, not decrease. They need to find ways to make this state and this region more business-friendly and create more opportunities.

There are some opportunities in several fields, from health care to the biosciences, from education to sustainable energy, but simply not enough of them, and not across the broad spectrum of education and training levels.

The proposed high-performance computer center, a decision on which is due from state and Holyoke officials in a few weeks, is an example of the type of job-creation work that the state needs to see more of in the years to come if it is keep more of its vital resource — young talent — within the Commonwealth.

In the final analysis, marketing is good, and it’s no doubt a necessary part of this equation, but marketing won’t keep young people here or attract them to the Bay State from other regions.

Only good, solid job opportunities can do that.

By
Departments

Identity-theft Seminars

Sept. 22, Oct. 13: Representatives of Royal & Klimczuk, LLC, of Northampton and Springfield, in conjunction with Whalley Computer Associates, will present several seminars on revisions to the identity-theft regulations that will impact businesses. The regulations will be effective March 1, 2010, according to the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. The most dramatic change to the new regulations is its adoption of a ‘risk-based approach’ to information security. Both seminars will be held at Whalley headquarters, One Whalley Way, Southwick. For more information on registration, call (413) 586-2288 or e-mail at [email protected].

Exhibition Opening and Reception

Sept. 14-Oct. 2: The Augusta Savage Gallery at UMass Amherst will host an art exhibition titled “My Journey Through Line: Paintings and Drawings by Carolyn Mae Lassiter,” beginning with an opening reception Sept. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. Lassiter, a self-taught Santa Fe artist, was inspired by the art she observed in the early 1970s while living in Mexico with a family of indigenous Nahuatl artists. Her current works include recurring themes of soulful and thoughtful female energy, as well as of dreams, spirituality, life in the country, family, and animals. The Augusta Savage Gallery is located at 101 New Africa House, 180 Infirmary Way. For more information, call (413) 545-5177. The event is free and open to the public.

Dinner Forum

Sept. 15: For individuals feeling trapped in a family business, a lecture planned by the UMass Family Business Center may be the answer. The lecture will be presented as part of a dinner forum from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in Northampton. For complete details, visit www.umass.edu/fambiz  or call (413) 545-1537.

Lecture on Debt as Venture Capital

Sept. 22: Darian Ibrahim, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, will launch the fall speaker series at the Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship on Wilbraham Road, Springfield, at noon. Ibrahim specializes in corporate and securities law and its application to entrepreneurial activity. He is interested in the legal and economic issues involved in financing rapid-growth start-up companies, which he examines in recent work on angel investors, venture debt, and the geography of entrepreneurship. Ibrahim teaches courses in business associations, securities regulation, law and entrepreneurship, and corporate governance. The lecture is free and open to the public; lunch will be provided. For more information, call (413) 796-2030 or e-mail [email protected]. For details on upcoming programs, visit www.law.wnec.edu/lawandbusiness.

Breakthrough Executive Board Luncheon

Sept. 24: Noah Berger, executive director of the Mass. Budget and Policy Center, will be the speaker at the quarterly business luncheon of the Breakthrough Executive Board. The meeting is planned from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Red Rose Restaurant in downtown Springfield. Berger will address issues concerning the state budget, including an overview of the state fiscal crisis, the role of federal stimulus funding in Massachusetts, and state budget transparency. The fee for the luncheon is $20 per person, payable at the door. All members and sponsors can invite guests to attend the luncheon.

Charity Auction

Oct. 2: The fifth annual Charity Auction to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee is planned at the club’s gymnasium at 580 Meadow St. Festivities get underway at 6 p.m. with both a silent and live auction. Admission is free. New this fall is an online auction feature at www.bgcchicopee.cmarket.com. The event will also showcase a mini Taste of Chicopee with local restaurants highlighting signature dishes. Items available for bid include gift certificates to area restaurants, sporting event tickets, jewelry, golfers’ packages, fitness club memberships, and much more. The Chicopee Savings Charitable Foundation is the auction’s presenting sponsor. Donations are still being accepted, and a variety of sponsorship levels are available. For more details, call (413) 206-4110.

Realtor Assoc. Trade Show

Oct. 14: The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley Inc. will host its 16th annual Education Fair & Trade Show from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Springfield Sheraton. The annual affair combines educational opportunities and a trade show for realtors and affiliates. Highlights include speakers on real estate education, a continental breakfast and luncheon, networking opportunities, and a wine and cheese party. For more information, contact Catherine V. Hannum at (413) 785-1328.

Oktoberfest

Oct. 14: An After 5 & Tabletop Expo is planned from 4 to 7 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, sponsored by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield. Exhibitors are still sought for the business-to-business event. The general price to exhibit is $175, $100 for Chamber members. Parking is $5 at the MassMutual Center Garage. General admission is $20 and $10 for Chamber members. For complete details, visit www.myonlinechamber.com.

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.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Bob Wilcox
1100 Springfield St.
$246,000 — Renovate existing site for a new insurance office

AMHERST

Jones Property LTD Partnership
553 Main St.
$8,900 — Take off and replace roof

Town of Amherst
603 East Pleasant St.
$18,900 — Relocate one overhead bay door at town hall

CHICOPEE

Waycon Inc.
28 Ward St.
$60,000 — Renovations

GREENFIELD

Edward Wierzbowski
285-291 Main St.
$59,500 — Installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system

Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$11,000 — Installation of lead lined drywall and lead-lined door

HADLEY

48 Bay Road LLC
48 Bay Road
$15,000 — Replace siding

220 Russell Street LLC
220 Russell St.
$4,700 — New roof

Jennifer Snyder
216 Russell St.
$40,000 — Interior and exterior renovations

LaComb Holdings
189-191 Russell St.
$10,500 — Tenant build-out for new curtain shop

Leon Markowski
226 Russell St.
$73,000 — Convert part of building to show room, office and shop

Peter Grandonico
102 Russell St.
$1,000 – Repair existing ramp

Steve Volpe
291 Russell St.
$5,800 — New vinyl siding

HOLYOKE

City of Holyoke Schools
596 South Bridge St.
$7,000 — Fill in sunken areas with concrete

Dennis Walsh
195 High St.
$10,000 — Repoint brick and repair cornice

Holyoke Public Library
335 Maple St.
$25,000 — Install protection fence from falling limestone panels

McDonald’s USA, LLC
2194 Northampton St.
$15,000 — Install new arches and fascias

PBHQ Whitney Inc.
330 Whitney Ave.
$15,500 — Upgrade finishes and fixtures

  

LUDLOW

Town Of Wilbraham
558 Miller St.
$600,000 — New construction

Walter S. Wood, LLC
32 East St.
$39,750 — New roofing system

NORTHAMPTON

College Church Inc.
58 Pomeroy Ter.
$6,000 — Rebuild existing 7-by-12 porch

Lawrence & Mary Cadorette
417 Westhampton Road
$14,000 — Install vinyl siding

Mauro & Claire Aniello
96 Main St.
$1,500 — Install three rear replacement windows

Northampton Brewery
11 Brewster Court
$4,500 — Re roof

William & Evelyn Mock
108 Damon Road
$7,000 — Install vinyl siding

SOUTH HADLEY

All Saints Church
14 North Sycamore Knolls
$10,000 — New windows and siding

Mt. Holyoke College
50 College St.
$2,000 — Fire suppression

SPRINGFIELD

American International College
963 State St.
$202,000 — Create computer lab and offices

Baystate Medical Center
3300 Main St.
$26,000 — Create two new exam rooms

City of Homes Association
908 Wilbraham Road
$9,500 — New roof

Salvation Army
840 Boston Road
$219,000 — Miscellaneous repairs

Springfield Day Nursery
947 Main St.
$25,000 — New roof

WESTFIELD

Ron Schortmann
170 Lockhouse Road
$25,500 — Renovations

Roots Youth Facility
209 Root Ave.
$331,000 — Commercial addition

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Century Park, LLC
171 Park Ave.
$12,650 — New roof

By
Departments

Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield
www.myonlinechamber.com

 Sept. 14: Ludlow Golf for Kids, hosted by Ludlow Country Club. Registration and lunch from noon to 1 p.m.; shotgun/four-person scramble at 1 p.m. The cost is $110 per person or $400 for a foursome. Sponsorships are available.

Sept. 22: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, 7:30 to 9 a.m., hosted by Captain Charles Leonard House in Agawam.

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
www.amherstarea.com

Sept. 23: Chamber After Five, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by the Emily Dickinson Museum, sponsored by Amherst Insurance Agency/The Nathan Agencies. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for guests.

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce
www.chicopeechamber.org

Sept. 16: Salute Breakfast, 7:15 to 9 a.m., hosted by the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. The cost is $18 for members and $25 for non-members. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
www.franklincc.org

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce
www.easthamptonchamber.org

Sept. 18 and 19: Electronic Recycling Collection, hosted by Red Rock Shops, College Highway, Rte. 10, Southampton. Sponsored by Duseau Trucking LLC, Autumn Properties, and Greater Easthampton Chamber. Event allows people to responsibly dispose of their old computers, monitors, TVs, stereos, and small home and office appliances.

Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce
www.holycham.com

Sept. 16: Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Annual Outing, 5 to 7:30 p.m., hosted by Holyoke Country Club, Country Club Road, Holyoke. Featuring a chance to win $1,000. Tickets cost $25. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 for tickets or to become a sponsor, or visit www.holycham.com for more information.

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
www.explorenorthampton.com

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce
www.qvcc.biz

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

South Hadley/Granby Chamber Of Commerce
www.shchamber.com

Sept. 22: Premier Beyond Business, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by the Sycamores. The guest speaker will be Ken Williamson of the South Hadley Historical Society, who will speak on the Sycamores’ history and renovations. Sponsored by Premier members Berkshire Bank, Chicopee Savings Bank, Easthampton Savings Bank, Florence Savings Bank, Jubinville Insurance Group, PeoplesBank, and Private Financial Design. The cost is $10 at the door for chamber members. Reservations are necessary; RSVP at (413) 532-2480 by Sept. 18.

Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce
www.threeriverschamber.org

Visit the chamber online to learn more about upcoming events.

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce
www.westfieldbiz.org

Sept. 19: 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, 5 p.m. to midnight, hosted by Tekoa Country Club, Route 20, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Berkshire Bank. The theme for the evening is ’50s Diner. A Cruise Night will be set up in the parking lot. Bands include the Drifters and Corey and the Knightsmen. Tickets cost $35 through September 13, and $45 thereafter. For reservations, call (413) 568-1618, E-mail [email protected],  or sign up at www.westfieldbiz.org.

Sept. 23: Mini Trade Show, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted by Westfield State College, Ely Campus Center, Main Lounge Area, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. The event aims to acquaint the college community, faculty, and students with local businesses and their goods. Call (413) 568-1618 with any questions, or E-mail [email protected].

Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com   

Sept. 17: Third Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by Café Lebanon in Springfield. Relax after work and socialize with other area young professionals.