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Instinctive Leadership Workshop

Oct. 28: Ravi Kulkarni and Lynn Whitney of Clear Vision Alliance will present a workshop on “Instinctive Leadership” from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Baystate Reference Labs conference center, 361 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. The session will focus on understanding and adapting communication styles to connect effectively with others, as well delve into the correlation between good parenting skills and good leadership skills. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call (413) 283-7091 or E-mail [email protected]. Kulkarni and Whitney will also present a Nov. 11 workshop on inspiring and motivating others to take responsibility for their own actions, and a Dec. 9 workshop will explain how to empower others to develop the skills necessary to become future leaders.

Creating Business Plans

Oct. 30: The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will present “Your First Business Plan” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 395 Main St., Greenfield. The workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. The cost is $35. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

Estate Planning Talk

Oct. 30: Hyman Darling, JD, of Bacon Wilson, P.C. will discuss “Personalizing Your Legacy” during a free talk in the dining room at Loomis House, 298 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke, beginning at 7 p.m. Darling will discuss ethical wills, provisions for a child or grandchild with special needs, charitable bequests, and gift annuities. For more information, contact Carol Constant, director of development for the Loomis Communities, at (413) 532-5325, ext. 184.

Fusion Marketing

Nov. 6: The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will present a workshop that delivers the essential elements necessary to boost customer visits and sales through what is known as fusion marketing. This concept can also be described as ‘tie-ins,’ ‘joint ventures,’ ‘strategic alliances,’ and ‘cross-promotions.’ Participants will take away a simple system, action plan, and accountability mechanism that will help them cultivate multiple fusion-marketing partners. The program from 9 to 11 a.m. includes a 20-page workbook. The session is planned at the Andrew M. Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

MHA Workforce Summit

Nov. 7: The Mass. Hospital Association will present “Hospitals as Employers of Choice: Maintaining a Competitive Edge by Being the Best of the Best” from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Conference Center at Waltham Woods in Waltham. The eighth annual workforce summit will highlight many of the best practices that are helping hospitals recruit and retain a strong workforce. Topics scheduled for discussion include: “Planning for the Future to Heal the Health Care Staffing Shortage,” “Creating an Engaged Workplace at all Levels,” “Mentoring as a Health Care Workforce Retention Tool,” and “Massachusetts’ Top-Rated Hospitals Share Retention Strategies.” For registration information, call (781) 262-6059 or visit www.mhalink.org.

Using the Internet To Grow Business

Nov. 12: Hidden Tech and the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will host “Using the Internet to Grow Your Business” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Andrew M. Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Meet the valley’s Web service resources — the people and companies that can help businesses start, improve, or expand their Web presence. The cost is $10. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org.

‘Your First Business Plan’

Nov. 13: The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will co-sponsor “Your First Business Plan” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network at the Amherst Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Walk. The workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. The cost is $35. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org.

WMEF Annual Meeting

Nov. 14: Western Mass. Enterprise Fund Inc. will host its annual meeting from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton St., Holyoke, with a focus on helping to create economic resilience. As part of the annual event, several awards will be presented, including “Micro Enterprise of the Year,” “Small Business of the Year,” and “Community Partner of the Year.” Local business product and service displays are also planned. For more information, contact Lee Reiner at (413) 420-0183, ext. 100. Attendees must RSVP via E-mail to [email protected] by Oct. 31.

City of Bright Nights Ball

Nov. 15: A Japanese Garden setting — complete with Tea House — will set the mood for the 2008 City of Bright Nights Ball in the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton Springfield-Monarch Place. The event is the largest fund-raiser of the year for the Spirit of Springfield. The black-tie event features a gourmet dinner with the flavors of Japan, dancing, and the chance to win and purchase a variety of gift items. Tickets are $500 per couple, and tables of 10 are available for $2,500. For more information, visit www.spiritofspringfield.org or call (413) 733-3800.

Understanding the Basics of Cash Flow

Nov. 19: Representatives of Boiselle, Morton & Associates, LLP will present a workshop to help individuals understand the basics of cash flow, the timing of cash inflows and outflows, how to determine the company’s cash flow, how to improve cash flow, and how cash flow is different from profit. The program is an offering of the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org.

Clean-energy Conference

Nov. 22: Robert Pollin, an economics professor at UMass Amherst, will discuss results of his recent study on the outlook for green jobs and working toward a low-carbon economy at the Clean Energy Connections Conference from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Pollin will identify sectors where new jobs and growth might be expected. The keynote speaker will be Bracken Hendricks, a founder of the national nonprofit Apollo Alliance, and co-author of Apollo’s Fire: Igniting America’s Clean Energy Economy. Hendricks and Pollin collaborated on a national “Green Recovery” study produced by the Center for American Progress, which determined that a $100 billion national investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy would create at least 2 million jobs nationwide and more than 42,000 jobs in Massachusetts alone. Other featured speakers are State Sen. Benjamin Downing; State Rep. Daniel Bosley; Phil Giudice, a commissioner of the Mass. Department of Energy Resources; and Chris Kilfoyle, president of Berkshire Photovoltaics Corp. The conference is intended to be a forum for individuals and organizations accelerating the growth of the clean-energy economy in Massachusetts and those seeking clean-energy career information. Pre-registration is required. For more information, visit www.umass.edu/green or call (413) 545-2706.

The Creative Economy

December 9: The Studio Arts Building at UMass Amherst will be the setting for an informative program on how the ‘creative economy’ plays an increasingly important role in Western Mass. in job creation, revenue growth, and quality of life. Speakers will be artists Josh Simpson and Scott Prior, who will speak about their work and their marketing efforts, beginning at 6 p.m. The cost is $25. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org.

By
Departments

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

Acosta, Luz Maria
3 Southern Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/08

Ahlberg, Paul E.
Ahlberg, Ashley L.
50 Thompson St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/12/08

Allen, Corey T.
Allen, Christina
a/k/a Lakavich, Christina
625 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/08

Argueta, German A.
a/k/a Argueta, Alex
46 Bartlett St., #1
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/11/08

Arroyo, Ivan E.
Arroyo, Jessica L.
a/k/a Gonzalez, Jessica L.
723 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Augusto, Ashley Marie
80 Vienna Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/08

Barboza, Heidi A.
82 Quabog Valley Co-Op
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/08

Bennefield, Andrea T.
204 / 206 Albemarle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/10/08

Brown, Charles K.
Brown, Tami S.
286 Ridge Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Burgess, Luke M.
134 College Highway
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/08

Burkovsky, Peter F.
Burkovsky, Liliya P.
P. O. Box 177
Chicopee, MA 01021
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Burnett, Marshall
46 Blandford Stage Road
Russell, MA 01071
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Canty, David Luke
58 Ridge Way
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/08

Craven, Gary A.
20 Rochford Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Cruz, Ruben
Cruz, Lillian
5 Pinelawn Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/02/08

Cusson, Albert R.
Cusson, Mona T.
3 Nelligan Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/12/08

Desy, Steve B.
Desy, Susan E.
33 St. George St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/08

Devine, Glenn Alan
Devine, Linda Marie
784 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/10/08

Devlin, Gail K.
P. O. Box 385
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Dugan-Murphy, Jennifer L.
145 Sumner Ave., Apt. 1
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/08

Dunn, Raymond J.
P.O. Box 273
Sheffield, MA 01257
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/08

Edwards, Lloyd N.
56 Alsace St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/10/08

Egbert, Theresa-Jo
160 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/05/08

Eldridge, Heather A.
465 Main St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/08

Farrin, Irene L.
1324 Massachusetts Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/08

Flores, Moises
30 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/08

Gervickas, Shawn M.
16 Dallaire Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/08

Gilmore, Kathleen E.
16 Worthy Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/08

Godfrey, Paula B.
71 Nutmeg Lane
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/08

Gonzalez, Erasmito
Gonzalez, Alba Rosalia
399 Eastern Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/05/08

Gosselin, Robert L.
PO Box 5038
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/12/08

Goulette, Kimberly A.
33 Bluemer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/04/08

Grady, Robert W.
205 Silver Lake St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/08

 

  

Grandview Farms Inc.
45 Grandview St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 12
Filing Date: 09/02/08

Grant, Dolores M.
380 Riverglade Dr., Apt. #G
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/08

Guyer, Michael Robert
Guyer, Christina Maria
27 Woodhill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/10/08

Hadley, David M.
65 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/08

Hicks-Grady, Nicole L.
205 Silver Lake St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/08

Krupa, Rita C.
99 Yorktown Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/13/08

Lemieux, Coreen A.
c/o Law Offices
1350 Main St., 15th F
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/08

Loffredo, James L.
Loffredo, Sonya M.
244 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/10/08

Madigan, Mary Lou
633 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/08

Mathers, Sean W.
Packard-Mathers, Amber M.
12 Laurie Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/10/08

McCarthy, Nancy C.
29 Canal St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/08

McGrath, William M.
52 Longview Dr.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/09/08

McNamara, Thomas J.
124 North Blvd.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Moretz, Mark
Moretz, Renee
68 Sessions Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/08

Nereida, Lopez
1022 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/08

Nimchick, Susan J.
362 James St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/08

Olson, Mark A.
Olson, Doreen A.
524 S. Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/02/08

O’Neill, Christine A.
O’Neill, Patrick J.
39 Theodore St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/08

Page Construction
Page, Leroy F.
Page, Theresa A.
104 West Oxbow Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Palmer, Harold D.
30 Myron St., Apt. 34
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/08

Pleva, Raymond Frances
201 Southwick St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/10/08

Smith, Eugene David
15 Kaveney St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/11/08

Stec, Karl L.
155 Nutmeg Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/08

Stevenson, Roger K.
P. O. Box 216
Chicopee, MA 01021
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/08

Szczawinski, Zygmont J.
Szczawinski, Marguerite A.
59 Morningside Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/10/08

Teddy Bear Daycare
Burgess, Amy M.
1 Droy Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/08

Tedford, Chad E.
114 Thrower Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/02/08

Torres, Dalma M.
30 Davenport St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/02/08

Walker, Delicia M.
66 Irving St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/08

Williams, Gary W.
50 Ashfield St.
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/12/08

Woodard, Daniel P.
214 Winchester Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/04/08

By
Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2008.

AGAWAM

Edward O’Leary
200 Silver St.
$80,000 — Interior walls for office space

Elizabeth Manor Apartments
238 Maple St.
$30,000 — Strip and re-roof

MICE, LLC
850 Springfield St.
$18,500 — Strip and re-roof dental office

CHICOPEE

Padgette Street LLC
150 Padgette St.
$1,687,000 — Construction of a weather-tight shell building

Padgette Street LLC
140 Padgette St.
$2,062,000 — Construction of a weather-tight shell building

Sunshine Village
75 Litwin Lane
$16,000 — Strip and re-roof

EASTHAMPTON

Eastern Hampshire Development
238 Northampton St.
$3,980,000 — New 34,187-square-foot two-story medical office building

Eastworks LLP
116 Pleasant St.
$8,500 — Install new section of fire escape

Williston Northampton School
19 Payson Ave.
$2,900 — Alteration of office spaces

EAST LONGMEADOW

Bernard & Stephanie Reid
489 North Main St.
$190,000 — Rework existing Elite Image

Korean Massage
611 North Main St.
$12,000 — Privacy partitions

GREENFIELD

AR Sandri Inc.
400 Chapman St.
$110,000 — Roof repair

Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$44,800 — Expansion of sleep studies area

Leo P. LaChance CEO
487-489 Bernardston Rd.
$99,000 — Tenant fit-up for dental office

SS Baker Realty Co. LLC
378 Federal St.
$200,000 — Interior remodel and new drive-thru

Town Of Greenfield
125 Federal St.
$64,000 — Roof repair

HADLEY

Amherst Development Association
329 Russell St.
$50,000 — Install three panel antennae

Pearson Hadley LLC
380 Russell St.
$355,000 — Interior buildout of tenant space

Whole Foods Market
327 Russell St.
$300,000 — Interior build-out

  

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Property Corp.
49-51 Garfield St.
$17,400 — Install steel stud walls and ceiling

Open Square Properties LLC
110 Lyman St.
$128,500 — Construct new offices and common bathrooms

LUDLOW

Austin Auto Body
162 Booth St.
$16,000 — New roof

NORTHAMPTON

Atwood Drive LLC
23 Atwood Dr.
$6,000 – Replace portion of roof

Figaro Realty Co. LLC
122 Main St.
$16,000 — Interior renovations

Figaro Realty Co. LLC
122 Main St.
$20,000 — Install heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Mark Hatch
267 Locust St.
$3,000 — Install replacement windows

Northampton Terminal Associate
One Roundhouse Plaza
$3,200 — Cosmetic changes to third floor

Phillip Greco
316 King St.
$4,900 — Repair block wall and install replacement door

PowerTenInTwo LLC
21 Conz St.
$26,000 — Replace roof

Thorne’s Marketplace, LLC
150 Main St.
$29,600 – Construct second-floor store buildout

Thorne’s Marketplace, LLC
150 Main St.
$5,000 — First-floor renovation

SOUTH HADLEY

Mt. Holyoke Masonic
15 N. Main St.
$25,000 — Install new windows

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health
759 Main St.
$103,000 — Floor re-enforcement for MRI

Derf Realty
170 Carando Dr.
$82,000 — Renovation for new tenant

MassMutual
1500 Main St.
$91,000 — Renovate 2,600 square feet in Suite 2020

WESTFIELD

Equity Westfield
11 Southampton Road
$18,000 — Access buildings

Lucier Development
139 Union St.
$450,000 — New apartment units

Tarig Mahmood
54 Union St.
$60,000 — Renovation

By
Departments

Health New England Recognized for Outstanding Customer Service

SPRINGFIELD — According to a report released by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Health New England (HNE) achieved the highest rating in customer service among 160 commercial HMO/POS health plans surveyed in the U.S. In the Quality Compass 2008 report, HNE achieved the highest ratings in the country in the ‘Customer Service’ composite measure. HNE scored 93.46, which means 93.46% of the respondents answered ‘Always’ or ‘Usually’ to questions such as: “in the past 12 months, how often did your health plan’s customer service give you the information or help you needed?” and “in the past 12 months, how often did your health plan’s customer-service staff treat you with courtesy and respect?” The NCQA publicly reports comparative results of health plans regionally and nationally in its annual Quality Compass report. NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. It accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes physicians in key clinical areas.

Berkshire Hills Completes Stock Offering

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. has raised $36 million through its public stock offering and has issued 1.5 million shares of common stock. The company expects to record net proceeds from the offering of approximately $33.5 million. Additionally, the underwriters have an unexercised 30-day over-allotment option to purchase an additional 225,000 shares. Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. acted as lead book-running manager, and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. was a co-manager for the offering. Due to strong investor demand, the company increased the amount of the offering by 20%, according to Michael P. Daly, president and CEO.

Three Local Companies Win Impact Awards

WELLESLEY — Three Springfield companies were among a host of businesses across the state recently recognized by the Mass. Alliance for Economic Development for their “outstanding contributions” to the state economy. The state organization recently announced the winners in preparation for its Nov. 25 awards luncheon at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Solutia received a Gold Impact Award, while Liberty Mutual received a Silver Impact Award, and the Court Square Group received a Bronze Impact Award. The winning companies were selected after a reception with their competitors and judges at an event at the University of Massachusetts Club, hosted by UMass President Jack Wilson. The reception enabled representatives from the companies to present their attributes in the categories of job growth, facility expansion, investment, and community involvement since Jan. 1, 2007. For more information on the Nov. 25 luncheon, visit www.massecon.com.

Eastfield Mall Adds Electric Security Vehicle

SPRINGFIELD — Eastfield Mall recently purchased a three-wheeled electric vehicle, the T-3, which assists security officers patrolling the mall’s parking lots. On days with appropriate weather, the T-3 will replace one of the two trucks that would normally patrol the lots, according to Arlene Putnam, general manager of Eastfield Mall. The T-3 can go up to 20 mph and has a nine-inch platform to give the officer enhanced visibility over parked cars and crowds. The vehicle is also equipped with a horn, siren, headlights, and emergency lights. The T-3 uses rechargeable batteries, and the cost of running it is under 10 cents per day, added Putnam. Made by T-3 Motion, the environmentally friendly vehicle is a zero-emissions vehicle and gets the equivalent of more than 500 miles per gallon. Putnam noted that the T-3 purchase is the largest investment that mall management has made in taking steps to lessen the impact of the mall on the environment.

Stevens Design Studio Changes Name

WESTFIELD — Owner Tina Stevens recently announced that Stevens Design Studio at 470 Southampton Road has changed its name to Stevens 470 to better represent its current business model for delivering marketing expertise and creative solutions. Stevens 470 references its studio location and serves as an invitation to visit and exchange information and ideas on marketing, design, and technology. Stevens added that her team of marketing strategists, designers, and Web developers provide comprehensive programs for marketing products and services.

Banco Santander To Acquire Sovereign Bancorp

NEW YORK — Banco Santander, S.A. and Sovereign Bancorp Inc., the parent company of Sovereign Bank, recently announced that Banco Santander will acquire Sovereign in a stock-for-stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Sovereign shareholders will receive 0.2924 Banco Santander American Depository Shares for every one share of Sovereign common stock they own. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including bank regulatory approvals in the U.S. and Spain and approval by both companies’ shareholders. Sovereign Bancorp is a financial institution with principal markets in the Northeastern U.S. Banco Santander, S.A., the largest financial group in Spain and Latin America, is the largest bank in the euro zone by market capitalization and was fifth in the world by profit in 2007. For more information, visit www.santander.com.

United Financial Posts Strong Third-quarter Numbers

WEST SPRINGFIELD — United Financial Bancorp, the holding company for United Bank, reported net income of $2.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008 compared to net income of $1.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the corresponding period in 2007. The company’s improved results were due largely to a significant increase in net interest income, driven by net interest margin expansion and growth in average earning assets, and, to a lesser extent, growth in non-interest income. The company also announced a quarterly cash dividend of 7 cents per share, payable on Dec. 1, 2008 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 6, 2008. As for other third-quarter results: total assets increased $155.8 million, or 14.4%, to $1.2 billion at Sept. 30, 2008, from $1.1 billion at year-end 2007, reflecting growth of $111.2 million, or 55.2%, in securities for sale and $38.5 million, or 4.7%, in total loans, Balance sheet expansion was funded by increases of $42.2 million, or 5.9%, in total deposits and $118 million, or 109.4%, in Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

By
Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of October 2008.

AGAWAM

Dean’s Landscaping
349 Barry St.
John-Michael Dean

Favor Home Remodeling
106 Columbia Dr.
Mark St. Laurent

Northern Snow Removal
31 Maple St.
Nicholas Pandolfi

AMHERST

Hybrid Fire
38 Lessey St.
Aaron Soules

Levsco
370 Potwine Lane
Peter Levy

CHICOPEE

Bernat’s Polish Meat Products & Deli
895 Meadow St.
Gregory & Edward Bernat

Bulldog Jakes
64 Olea St.
Gayle Marie Davignon

Chicopee Windows
36 Mercedes St.
Robin Campbell

Secure Solutions
213 Dayton St.
Robert Morgan

Squeaky Clean Inc.
48 Center St.
James Michael Thomson

EASTHAMPTON

Home Town Painting
17 Harrison Ave.
Karlene Foster

JMW Construction
14 Plymouth Ave.
James Wildman

Roy Chiropractic & Wellness Center
132B Cottage St.
Dr. Norman G. Roy

GREENFIELD

El Greco Café
233 Main St.
Kosta Pitaridis

Jacqui’s Cleaning Service
91 Norwood St.
Jacqueline L. Wilkins

Lucky Nails
130 Main St.
Tai H. Hunh

Moonlight Auto Reconditioning
1110 Bernardston Road
John Woods

HOLYOKE

Executive Flooring
30 Lynwood Ave.
Raymond J. Mansfield

Health Power
50 Holyoke St.
Yong Qiang Li

LONGMEADOW

ABC Home Daycare
361 Wolf Swamp Road
Cheryl Cochi

Counsel & Gynecology Group, P.C.
175 Dwight Road
Max Chorowski, M.D.

JR Enterprises
192 Captain Road
Ronald Mack

Prospect Group
43 Benedict Terrace
Michael Green

NORTHAMPTON

Bistro 186
186 Main St.
Robert B. Lowney

Chameleon’s Hair Salon
2 Conz St.
Teri Woodland

Ostrander Law Office
36 Service Center Road
David W. Ostrander

Pillow Casey
30B Avis Circle
Pamela D. Estes

Valley DBT & CBT
32 Masonic St.
Rosemary Roy

Queen Nail Salon
138 King St.
Khanh N. Tran

PALMER

Pathways
1085 Park St.
Victor Acquista

Premier Communications
11 Hobbs St.
Robert Lucier

Ray’s Towing & Repair
1205 South Main
Raymond LaBonte, Jr.

  

SOUTH HADLEY

Nailz by Jennifer
135 College St.
Jennifer Deleon

Russ Foisy Electrical Service
16 Lathrop St.
Russell R. Foisy

Nathan Abraham & Associates
158 Riverboat Village Road
Nathan Abraham

SOUTHWICK

MLS Services Co.
68 Granville Road
Michael Shea

Passion in Performing Arts
627 College Highway
Theresa Dellamarco

Southeastern Financial Group
603 College Highway
Keith Deyo

SPRINGFIELD

MYM Services
197 Florida St.
Yasir Osman

New York Nails
1368 Allen St.
Jennifer Thu Costa

Pentecostal Church
155 Chestnut St.
Julio Edwards

Perfect Cuts Barber
472 Bridge St.
Frankie C. Pileggi

Princess Nails
368 Cooley St.
Michael Cao

Prolase
933 Belmont Ave.
Maria Bianchi

Riverbend Medical Group
305 Bicentennial Highway
Robert L. Lounsbury

Rubet Commercial Cleaning
17 Fairhaven Dr.
Luis Rubet

Seabrooks Cleaning Service
73 Edgewood St.
Ulysses Seabrooks

Studs Only National Scene
135 Boston Road
Yolanda R. Cancel

T3WP
69 Anne St.
Richard J. Blake

Tenants & Landlords
1655 Main St.
Castillo Castle LLC

This & That Collectible
98 Carver St.
Sara Louise Bechta

U Know Tech
892 Main St.
Ronald Lopez

Universal Real Estate
115 State St.
Daniel D. Kelly

WESTFIELD

D & D Design
48 Marla Circle
Diane Strattner

Sweet Reveal
1 Overlook Dr.
Carla Kone

Westfield Community News.com
20 Perkins St.
Sally Memole

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Closet Factory
266 Cold Spring Ave.
David Townsend

Fathers & Sons
989 Memorial Ave.
Damon S. Cartelli

Kia of West Springfield
468 Memorial Ave.
Damon S. Cartelli

Mind, Body, & Skin
117 River St.
Jennifer Pruitte

Nut House Designs
80 Windsor St.
Roy D. Bessette

Richard’s Grinders
875 Memorial Ave.
Brian Cleland

Sherwin-Williams
126 Baldwin St.
Joseph Ward

Wood Stock Mills Inc.
266 Cold Spring Ave.
David W. Townsend

By
Departments

Reality Store

Area high-school seniors learned the financial facts of life at the Reality Store event hosted at Springfield Technical Community College on Oct. 17. Tables represented categories such as housing, transportation, clothing, furniture, child care, groceries, insurance, and financial institutions, and were staffed by local business volunteers. Each student was handed a card with a life scenario, including a fictitious age, salary, education level, marital status, number of children, employment history, etc. They were given a check register and had to allocate their funds to provide necessities of life; if they ran out of money, they were steered to the part-time job table to see if there were any jobs available for which they would qualify. The students came from Chicopee High School, Chicopee Comprehensive High School, Enfield High School, Enrico Fermi High School, and West Hartford High School. The financial-literacy event is held annually by the Enfield Public Schools, based on a national model pioneered by the Indiana chapter of the Business and Professional Women Assoc. At top right is Barbara Lyon, transition coordinator for the Enfield Public Schools, who has organized the Reality Store event for students in this area for the past five years.

Driving Force

All States Transport Inc. (AST) recently celebrated the official opening of its national headquarters at 1067 East Columbus Ave. in Springfield. Founded in 1985, AST is a freight-brokerage company with offices in Texas, Florida, and Wisconsin, and it moves customer freight via road, rail, water, and air. From left are Pam Okeefe, an employee of AST; Angie Florian, a representative of the South End Citizens Council (SECC); Chris Kingston, AST; Leo Florian, SECC; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; Billy Kingston, president of AST; and Jennifer Irwin, Phil Ierasi, Mary Dinas, and Natalia Wichowsky, all employees of AST.

County Strengths Dialogues

Hampden County leaders gathered recently to discuss the strengths of the county and their vision for change. The luncheon at the Delaney House was part of the Women’s Fund of Western Mass. “County Strengths Dialogues” in each of the counties of Western Mass. From left are Carla Oleska, CEO of the Women’s Fund of Western Mass.; Carol Klyman and Ellen Freyman of Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin; and Joan Kagan, CEO of Square One.

OPINION

By
Opinion
Fostering the Development of a ‘Smart Grid’

New England states have laid out an ambitious agenda to slow the growth in electricity use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop renewable resources, maintain power-system reliability, and lower costs. The sometimes-conflicting nature of these goals makes it difficult to align them.

Indeed, this is a critical juncture for New England. For decades, the region has faced formidable energy challenges, from a lack of indigenous fuel sources to historically high costs, a weak transmission system, and growing consumer demand. The introduction of competitive electricity markets a decade ago has provided a solid foundation for progress: almost $10 billion in private investment in new power plants has boosted supply by more than 30%, and $3 billion of long-overdue transmission investment with about $5 billion more being planned will result in a more-efficient flow of power throughout the region.

The next steps can be achieved by developing solutions that accommodate and harness recent technological innovations to improve the efficiency of the power grid — in other words, to foster the development of a ‘smart grid.’

This ‘smart grid’ means far more than the use of technology. It means establishing ‘smart’ policies that will bring new technology to all corners of the power system to optimize supply, transmission, and conservation. It also means being smart about resource choices in the long term, so that the region can diversify its fuel sources and lessen its reliance on natural gas and oil to produce electricity.

On the regional level, smart-grid technology has been incorporated into New England’s power system operations so that grid conditions both inside and outside the region can be monitored. Moreover, ISO New England is committing funds for the development of an ‘Advanced Grid Simulator’ that will help determine how the grid will operate with the addition of intermittent alternative energy resources such as wind.

New electricity markets were recently implemented to expand the types of resources used to meet consumer demand. New England’s markets now procure in advance not just traditional supply such as power plants, but also conservation resources that reduce electricity use and have never been included in the marketplace before.

This fall, the ISO began a pilot program designed to test alternative energy resources, including energy storage, as a way to instantaneously balance electricity supply and demand. At the state level, policies are being implemented that will maximize the potential of these innovations and encourage their continued development. The state recently enacted the Green Communities Act that promotes the development of renewable resources and energy-efficiency programs.

Meanwhile, the state of Connecticut passed energy legislation that promotes conservation and reduced demand to limit the growth in electricity use. Connecticut has become a leader in demand response, which provides financial incentives for customers to lower their electricity use during tight supply periods. And energy efficiency programs are giving consumers tools to better manage their energy use.

Some New England states are either considering the adoption of smart meters or have already introduced pilot programs. Such technologies would provide consumers with real-time price information to enable them to better manage their use and lower their bills.

The goals that have been set for renewable resources, conservation, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are ambitious, but feasible if industry and government continue to build on progress. Technology transformed the region’s economy in the 1980s and ’90s, and fostered improvements in productivity and efficiency in industries around the world. New England can be at the center of another technological revolution in power delivery and use — automating the system to make it more efficient and bringing the economic, environmental, and energy needs of the region into closer alignment.-

Gordon van Welie is president and CEO of Holyoke-based ISO New England Inc.

Union Station: It Still Doesn’t Make Sense

By
Opinion

They’re calling it ‘Union Station II.’

That’s the name some officials and observers have attached to the latest plan to revitalize the long-idle train station in Springfield. The ‘II’ fits if one considers this to be the sequel to a plan that was conceived more than a decade ago — one that never really got off the ground, for many good reasons — but the reality is that this is more like Union Station IV, V, or VI.

That’s how many proposals, formal and informal, have been forwarded for this white elephant since the mid-’70s, and none of them have gotten off the ground.

And speaking of reality, that’s what Union Station II (OK, we’ll call it that) is supposedly grounded in. At least it’s more realistic that Union Station I, say those involved with piecing this together. But that’s not saying much.

Indeed, the plan first conceived in the mid-’90s and then formalized at the start of this decade included an intermodal transportation center, but also grandiose plans for everything from a high-end restaurant to an IMAX movie theater to Class A office spaces that would offer lease rates about half again what was being charged in the downtown office towers. Springfield was going to recreate what happened with Washington’s Union Station and Boston’s North Station, both huge success stories.

But there was no real market for any of this, and the plan was ultimately scrapped while the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority sorted out a huge internal mess that ultimately led to the firing of its director.

Now, we have Union Station II, new, improved, scaled down, more realistic — all of that. But this plan still doesn’t make a great deal of sense for Springfield and still seems like a desperate attempt to salvage a building that no one under the age of 60 can probably remember well or with any fondness.

Apparently, the main reason it is being redeveloped is because the city has secured tens of millions in federal funding to do so. This money can’t be applied somewhere else, and if we don’t use it, we lose it, as the saying goes. But that’s not enough reason to go ahead with this project, as we see it.

There are plans — again, formal and informal — to move organizations ranging from the PVTA to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) to Square One into Union Station, thus filling a large chunk of the available office space there. Meanwhile, an intermodal transit center would be created to handle Amtrak service as well as inter- and intra-city bus services. A large parking garage is also in the mix.

It’s not a bad plan overall, but one has to ask whether it’s needed or even wanted.

There are probably dozens of privately and publicly owned office buildings in downtown Springfield alone that could easily meet the needs of the PVPC (currently located in West Springfield Town Hall), PVTA (administration-wise, anyway), and Square One, and would love the opportunity to do so. The federal building is vacant, Tower Square’s lower level is a ghost town, One Financial Plaza has more than 100,000 square feet of dark space … the list goes on. Meanwhile, the PVTA already has administrative offices, and there is a functioning intermodal transportation center (Peter Pan’s facilities) on the other side of Main Street.

Economic development does not mean picking up existing businesses and organizations and moving them a few blocks or a few miles — thus creating vacancies in a host of other buildings. Rather, it means attracting new businesses and new jobs. Aside from construction jobs, this Union Station plan doesn’t accomplish that.

As we said, Union Station II is more plausible, more realistic than Union Station I. But from our view, it still amounts to little more than an effort to force the issue — in this case restoration of a landmark that most have forgotten and that some simply don’t want to forget.

Union Station is an intriguing link to Springfield’s past. There is history and a touch of romance there. But bringing the old train station back to life has to be about more than nostalgia and spending federal dollars that no one wants to give back.

It all has to make sense. And Union Station II, or whatever number we’re up to, is still lacking in that department.-

By
Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of September 2008.

AGAWAM

Hillside Development Corp.
959-967 Springfield St.
$200,000 — Renovation of existing building

Litron, Inc.
207 Bowles Rd.
$70,000 — Install steel support beams to relocate HVAC unit on roof

CHICOPEE

Adams & Ruxton Construction Co.
124 Cabot St.
$41,500 — Make improvements to teller stations

JK Harbey LLC
55 West St.
$25,000 — Renovate kitchen

JK Harbey LLC
59 West St.
$50,000 — Renovate kitchen

EASTHAMPTON

George R. Dion
141 Northampton St.
$19,300 — New roof

John Moriarty
77-87 Main St.
$39,000 — Construct new means of egress in rear of building

Mai Stoddard
24-26 Northampton St.
$21,000 — Replace roof covering

EAST LONGMEADOW

BCHP Partners LLC
98 Shaker Road
$20,000 — Interior renovation

First Baptist Church
50 Parker St.
$2,973,000 — Construction of new fellowship building

GREENFIELD

Bete Inc.
50 Greenfield St.
$47,000 — Erect a 42x14x45 storage building

Dimitriou Panagiotis
256 Federal St.
$10,000 — Renovate interior of existing structure

Erin Miner
469 Bernardston Road
$2,000 — Remove a non-bearing wall

Mary Calagione
285 High St.
$4,000 — Office renovations

Town of Greenfield
Nashs Mill Road
$5,000 — Rebuild new first aid room

HADLEY

Pyramid Mall of Hadley, LLC
367 Russell St.
$36,500 — Renovation of two mall restrooms

Steve Lewis
184 Russell St.
$11,000 — Re-roof

Whole Foods Market
327 Russell St.
$20,000 — Install new customer service booth and new express checkouts

HOLYOKE

O’C Ingleside LLC
361 Whitney Ave.
$200,000 — Build expansion to the Baystate Health Data Center

  

Windship Enterprises Inc.
366-372 High St.
$7,000 — Reline chimney with UL listed stainless steel

LUDLOW

Aubie Precision Tool
54 Moody St.
$20,000 — New roof

NORTHAMPTON

Alan Berkenwald
38 Mulberry St.
$5,000 — Construct roof over building walkway

Coolidge Northampton LLC
241 King St.
$6,100 — Create a handicap bathroom

Gerald & Sandra LaFrance
29 North Maple St.
$10,000 — Strip and shingle roof

LHIC INC
34 North Maple St.
$5,000 — Buildout for woodworking shop

Paul A. Sereo
63 Center St.
$19,500 — Remodel unit #1

Pride Convenience Inc.
17 Damon Road
$3,500 — Remove and repair concrete floor

Robert S. Berniche
5 Audubon Road
$2,000 — Construct second-floor means of egress

Smith College
17 Prospect St.
$8,700 — Repair exterior ramp and railings

WAM LLC
115 Industrial Dr.
$672,000 — Construct 16,969-square-foot addition and renovation

SPRINGFIELD

3640 Main Street LLP
3640 Main St.
$124,000 — New build-out of phlebotomy space

Garden Park Management Company
15 Temple St.
$14,000 — Repair fire damage

Picknelly Family Partners
1414 Main St.
$86,000 — Build-out for Sinclair Insurance

Sanjo LLC
150 Taylor St.
$12,000 — roof renovation

WESTFIELD

AeroServistar LLC
76 Service Star Industrial Way
$1,550,000 — New distribution center

Pasquale Cardento
278-288 Elm St.
$17,000 — Addition

Sullivan West Property Group LLC
39 South Broad St.
$5,000 — Commercial renovation

OPINION

By
Opinion
Question 1 Is Reckless and Irresponsible

Question 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot, if passed, would eliminate the Massachusetts personal income tax.

The Economic Development Council of Western Mass. opposes Question 1 because it is bad for business — and education, infrastructure, public safety, and our overall quality of life.

The initiative’s proponents are hoping to sway voters by stating that, on average, taxpayers will annually retain $3,600 each. But it is what they are not saying that is of greater concern to the EDC and its affiliate economic development entities. Here are some facts that support the EDC’s opposition:

  • Throughout the last fiscal year, the state collected a total of $21 billion from all sources of revenue;
  • The portion of the $21 billion that comes from the personal income tax is slightly over $12 billion, totaling 57% of that amount; and
  • The state’s entire budget is approximately $32 billion, including federal funds. Therefore, the decrease to the entire budget will be 38%.

    • Proponents are not saying how the state will continue to provide vital services in the wake of such a dramatic revenue loss. A state budget reduction of 40%, if done across the board, would dramatically impact the services that we see every day: the education of our children, safety of our streets, fire protection, safe roads and bridges, and more.

    The EDC strives to foster the economic development of this region by assisting the region’s current businesses, while also encouraging new businesses to locate in the Pioneer Valley, bringing new jobs and opportunities.

    We have long known that the region’s roads and bridges are aging, worsened by overdue repairs. We realize that, as some workers lose their jobs, they must be retrained with new skills for new jobs. Western Mass. already has workers waiting for placement into job-training programs, waiting because of the lack of adequate funds.

    The EDC has also always recognized the value of our public colleges and universities. These institutions prepare our young people, the region’s future workforce that our businesses are relying on to sustain their growth. Many of those students are dependent on the state’s financial-assistance programs — which would be financially devastated by a 38% cut in state revenue.

    The EDC is also proud to work closely with all nine mayors of the Pioneer Valley. Businesses do not locate to the ‘state of Massachusetts,’ but rather to a very specific location, where our cities and towns provide basic services, including police and fire protection, to ensure a safe community in which those companies’ employees can work and raise a family.

    With that in mind, the EDC has consistently maintained that cities and towns require more state financial aid, especially over the past few years, as cities and towns have become more reliant on the local property-tax stream.

    After assessing these needs and conducting a very careful analysis of the state’s current financial situation, the EDC believes that a 40% reduction in state revenues would be extremely detrimental to all economic efforts and would greatly impact our quality of life.

    Overall, the EDC believes that expressing frustration with the government by supporting initiatives such as Question 1 is the wrong approach.

    Question 1, if passed, will do nothing to sustain a safe and sound Pioneer Valley for our residents and businesses. The cost of replacing the services that will have to be cut will far outweigh the savings estimated to be achieved by eliminating the income tax.

    For all those reasons, the EDC has taken a strong position opposing Question 1 — and encourages others to do so as well.-

    Allan Blair is president of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass.

    By
    Departments

    HNE Achieves High Rating on Customer Service

    SPRINGFIELD — Health New England (HNE) recently achieved the highest rating in customer service among 160 commercial HMO/POS health plans surveyed in the U.S., according to a report released by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). In the Quality Compass 2008 report, HNE achieved the highest ratings in the country in the ‘customer service’ composite measure. HNE scored 93.46, acknowledging that 93.46% of the respondents answered ‘always’ or ‘usually’ to questions including, “in the past 12 months, how often did your health plan’s customer service give you the information or help you needed?” HNE is a managed-care organization with a service area covering Franklin, Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and parts of Worcester counties. NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality, and publicly reports comparative results of health plans regionally and nationally in its annual Quality Compass report.

    United Bank Opens Express Branch in Northampton

    NORTHAMPTON — United Financial Bancorp Inc., the holding company for United Bank, has opened its Express Branch, its second Northampton location and the 16th banking office in the network. Located near Interstate 91, the Express Branch offers both walk-in and drive-up banking with a drive-up ATM, drive-up teller window, and a night depository, as well as lobby teller service for account opening and routine banking transactions. The downtown office opened in June 2006.

    Aucella & Associates Wins National Award

    WESTFIELD — Aucella & Associates has won an American Graphic Design Award for its 2008 Pilgrim Candle catalog from Graphic Design USA. The catalog was recognized for meeting a difficult design challenge, according to Phil Aucella, president. Aucella noted that he found a “visually interesting way” to differentiate Pilgrim from its competition. Overall design elements encourage the reader to learn more about the products while featuring each item in a manner that highlights the entire line, he added. For more information on the catalog, visit www.aucellainc.com.

    Renz Marks 30 Years in Region

    AGAWAM — On the heels of Renz’s 100th anniversary in Germany, Renz America celebrated its 30th anniversary locally on Sept. 26 with a tour of its facility in the Industrial Park. Company President Peter Renz opened the 48,000-square-foot facility for tours to local dignitaries, customers, and vendors. Renz America, which employs 27 in town and more than 200 worldwide, manufactures punching and binding equipment for Ring-Wire wire-comb binding, plastic-spiral or ‘coil’ binding, and plastic-comb binding. The company also produces Ring-Wire and plastic-spiral-binding supplies. Additionally, covers are made in a variety of styles, materials, and textures. For more information on the company, visit www.renz.com.

    BMC’s Cardiac Care Work Recognized

    SPRINGFIELD — Masspro has recognized Baystate Medical Center for leadership in the areas of acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care. Masspro monitors and promotes health care quality in Massachusetts on behalf of the federal government. The award acknowledges Baystate’s work as part of a federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services project to set benchmarks for high-quality health care in hospitals. In participating in the project and sharing best practices, Baystate has helped establish applicable standards for excellence in patient safety and the overall quality of care in the state and around the country. Baystate was also cited by Masspro for its frequent mentorship of Massachusetts hospitals in caring for heart attacks and heart failure, and for surgical care. Baystate is one of only two hospitals in the state to be recognized in that area.

    Cartelli Named President of Fathers & Sons

    WEST SPRINGFIELD — Damon S. Cartelli, son of former Fathers & Sons Inc. president and founder Robert T. Cartelli, assumed full ownership of the dealership last month. Since 1974, Fathers & Sons has grown into a multi-franchise dealership representing six car manufacturers at three locations in town — Porsche, Audi, Volvo, and Saab at Fathers & Sons Collection, 989 Memorial Ave.; Volkswagen at Fathers & Sons Volkswagen, 434 Memorial Ave.; and Kia at Kia of West Springfield, 468 Memorial Ave. Cartelli began working for his father when he was 14, performing a variety of duties ranging from managing the lot to washing cars and working in the service department. After graduating from Boston College in 1994, he joined his father selling cars and honing his skills to be the successor in the family business. He received a diploma from the National Automobile Dealers Assoc. (NADA) Dealer Candidate Academy in 1998, and was named general manager in 2001, overseeing 120 employees. Cartelli is a member of several business and trade organizations including NADA.

    Big Y Supports Breast Cancer Awareness

    SPRINGFIELD — Big Y Supermarkets are raising awareness and funds for breast cancer in October by donating proceeds from its produce department as well as select products to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Last year, the chain raised more than $85,000 and hopes to top that amount with this fall’s campaign. The program is called “Partners of Hope” to reflect the partnership, commitment, and support of breast-cancer awareness and research. In addition to partnering with many manufacturers to procure pink-labeled products with funding toward breast-cancer research and awareness, Big Y will be selling pink T-shirts, pink-frosted cupcakes, pink travel mugs, water bottles, and more. Pink paper ribbons will also be available for a $1 donation and will be posted in each supermarket. For information on additional programs, visit www.bigy.com.

    River Valley Market Celebrates in Style

    NORTHAMPTON — More than 10 years of effort to build a green grocery in the Valley was marked by a grand opening party on Oct. 1 which was attended by more than 750 member-owners and staff of the River Valley Market on North King Street. The community-based market specializes in fresh, local, and organically grown foods with an emphasis on supporting regional farmers in their quest to care for the land and supply foods that the community can trust. Throughout October, there will be a host of free activities, cooking tests, specials, door prizes, and food demonstrations to celebrate the grand opening. River Valley Market is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. For events and specials, visit www.rivervalleymarket.com.

    Coldwell Banker Employees Donate $25,000

    SPRINGFIELD — Through the efforts of sales associates and employees of the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices, the fund-raising arm of the firm recently donated $25,000 to benefit the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. The funds raised will enable the organization to complete the 171 Cabot St. project this fall. Offices participating in the efforts included those in Belchertown, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, and Westfield. Additionally, employees have been supporting the local Habitat for Humanity through a variety of fund-raising initiatives and volunteering, according to Mary Leahey, regional vice president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Leahey noted that the foundation of the business is providing homes, so the partnership with Habitat for Humanity “emphasizes our sincere dedication to all families and achieving their homeownership dreams.”

    Cooley Dickinson to Join New Alliance

    NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Health Care Corp. recently announced it will join New England Alliance for Health (NEAH), a health care alliance that will be formed to include hospitals in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont on Jan. 1, 2009. This change is coming as the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Alliance (DHA) plans a restructuring that includes dissolving the current DHA on Dec. 31, 2008. Craig Melin, president and CEO of Cooley Dickinson, noted that ,through membership in DHA, the hospital realized savings through the coordination of equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and insurance-coverage purchases. Melin added that the alliance also provided for improved productivity and efficiencies in contract management and information systems. Melin noted that he expects Cooley Dickinson to achieve similar benefits through NEAH.

    SPHS Capital Campaign Gets $400,000 Boost

    SPRINGFIELD — The Sisters of Providence Health System’s capital campaign has received contributions totaling $400,000 from two prominent businesses — Big Y World Class Markets and the MassMutual Financial Group. The Hope and Healing Capital Campaign supports Mercy Medical Center’s construction of the new Mary E. Davis Intensive Care Unit and renovation of the Ambulatory Surgical Center. Big Y World Class Markets contributed $250,000 to the campaign, and MassMutual Financial Group has donated $150,000 to the campaign. Officials from both businesses were recognized at a special reception at Mercy Medical Center on Sept. 16. Additionally, health system employee donors have contributed almost $500,000 to the fund-raising effort over the past two years. The capital campaign is on track to raise $6 million by the end of the year, according to Mercy officials..

    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

    Belmont Laundry Inc. v. Prospect Lawn
    Allegation: Breach of contract: $7,043.40
    Filed: 9/10/08

    GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

    Janine Boudreau Health Care Inc. v. Anchorage Nursing Home
    Allegation: Non-payment of billing services rendered: $12,000
    Filed: 9/23/08

    HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

    Darlene Marchand v. Thomas Kaye M.D., Catherine Dutton R.N., Patricia Kress S.T., Judith Stacy R.N., & Valley Neurological Surgery, P.C.
    Allegation: Medical malpractice: $25,000
    Filed: 8/28/08

    Dr. Vijai B. Pandey v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
    Allegation: Breach of contract: $250,000
    Filed: 9/11/08

    Ludlow Construction Co. Inc. v. City of Marlborough
    Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $31,319.30
    Filed: 8/21/08

    Tom Ferreira v. Stop & Shop Supermarket, LLC
    Allegation: Slip and fall: $38,571.94
    Filed: 9/23/08

    HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

    Darren D. Powell and Paul S. Bargreen v. Russell St. Realty Corp.
    Allegation: Breach of settlement agreement: $200,000
    Filed: 9/15/08

    Matthew & Jennifer Massengil, as parents of Ellinor Massengil v. Joseph E. Lellman M.D., New England Orthopedic Surgeons, and Charles L. Bernstein M.D.
    Allegation: Misdiagnosis of hip dysplasia requiring corrective surgery: $135,000
    Filed: 9/29/08

    NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

    Berkshire Design Group Inc. v. Valley Planning Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment of professional services rendered: $23,769.36
    Filed: 9/23/08

    Berkshire Design Group Inc. v. Tomlinson Builders
    Allegation: Non-payment of professional services rendered: $12,214.87
    Filed: 9/23/08

    Krisen Day v. Fraternal Order of Eagles of Northampton Inc.
    Allegation: Plaintiff seeks return of real-estate deposit because of title defect: $20,000
    Filed: 9/29/08

    PALMER DISTRICT COURT

    Kathy Lucas v. BNC Countertops Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of contract in counter installation: $4,643.63
    Filed: 8/28/08

    SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

    Arch Aluminum & Glass Company Inc. v. Hampden Structural Systems d/b/a Private Garden, Joseph and Katherine Hickson
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $7,981.15
    Filed: 9/16/08

    Palazzesi Realty v. Pet Resorts International, LLC
    Allegation: Failure to pay rent: $6,600
    Filed: 9/19/08

    By
    Departments

    The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of September 2008.

    AGAWAM

    Mutti’s Sheet Metal
    224 North St.
    Gary Mutti

    Northern Electric
    31 Sylvan Lane
    Craig Little

    Sparveri’s Contracting Services
    16 Federal Ave.
    Sean Sparveri

    AMHERST

    Amherst Babycakes
    15 Blue Hills Road
    Elizabeth Hyers

    Umass Bicycle Racing Club
    1057 North Pleasant St.
    Jeffrey Elio

    CHICOPEE

    D & J’s Handyman
    22 Bullens St.
    Jonathan Q. Lamberty

    Da-Vi Nails
    591 Memorial Ave.
    Trinh-Thu-Pham

    Johnny B’s Auto Works
    P.O. Box 4505
    John F. Boryczka Jr.

    PO’s Chinese Restaurant
    480 Burnett Road
    Wai Po Wong

    Social Strikers
    29 Burnett Road
    Linda C. Fitzgerald

    EASTHAMPTON

    Conserve Through Insulation
    7 Kimberly Lane
    Jason Robare

    Full Tilt Auto Body
    69 Ferry St.
    Carlo S. Vega

    GREENFIELD

    Deerfield Valley Heating & Cooling
    301 Wells St.
    Deerfield Valley Heating & Cooling Inc.

    Memorial Banner
    251 Briar Way
    Betty Guetti

    Mt. View Auto Repair
    109 Mohawk Trail
    Bryce Dupsee

    Paroxysm Design
    366 Davis St.
    Jesse Nichols

    HOLYOKE

    Pralines Ice Cream
    50 Holyoke St.
    Serozan Amroliwalla

    Route 5 Motors
    280 Ingleside St.
    Steven B. Vlohiotis

    Spirit Halloween Superstores, LLC
    50 Holyoke St.
    Timothy C. Viechez

    LONGMEADOW

    BOC Construction & Remodeling
    85 Mill Road
    Barry E. O’Connor

    Family Appliance Service
    51 Barrington Road
    Jonathan F. Hastings

    Legacy Property Investments, LLC
    505 Pinewood Dr.
    John Anderson

    Northeast Food Safety
    31 Brookwood Dr.
    David Steinberg

    NORTHAMPTON

    Bottlenose
    40 Main St.
    William Carr

    Fifty Percent Crunchy
    54 Sherman Ave.
    Sam Craig

    Hampden Hearing Center East
    200 North Main St.
    Susan B. Chunyk

    Okapi Imprint Press
    177 Prospect St.
    Jacob Ditkouski

    Top Vision
    2 Water St.
    Mamadou Ndiaye

    VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Inc.
    168 Industrial Dr.
    Ann C. Careaur

    PALMER

    J Home Improvements
    4 Maple Ter.
    Josef Nicpon

    J.E.M. Services
    58 Quaboag Valley
    Jerry E. Mange Jr.

    Local Building & Remodeling
    4212 Church St.
    Anthony M. Robitaille Sr.

    NRK Books
    1164 Ware Road
    Nancy R. Kerigan

    		  

    SOUTH HADLEY

    Da Athletic Development, LLC
    18 Kimberly Dr.
    David Allen

    Greensolarsystems.com
    303 River Road
    Michael Wallace

    Top Hat Chimney
    26 College View Heights
    Dale Smith

    SOUTHWICK

    Dubl-Jay Farm
    26 College Highway
    Jack Feldman

    Hart Interiors
    304 Granville Road
    Rebecca Hart

    Malin Cannon
    515 College Highway
    Malin Cannon

    SPRINGFIELD

    A & J Enterprises
    25 Armory St.
    Angel M. Navedo

    Banchs Towing
    149 Rocus St.
    Lillian Banchs

    C & R Auto Glass
    50 Leete St.
    Carlos Colon

    Children of Light Learning
    430 Island Pond Road
    Shoshana Malone

    Cross-Spectrum Laboratories
    114 Sunnybrook Road
    Herbert Singleton Jr.

    Essentials Clothing
    357 Cottage St.
    James A. Mabry

    Exodus Entertainment, LLC
    15 Starling Road
    Maurice Rowtham

    Fab & Fash Boutique
    121 Glenmore St.
    Reagan Ali

    Finishing Touch Painting
    39 Sierra Vista Road
    Joseph Caracciolo Jr.

    From the Ground Up Entertainment
    1655 Main St.
    Ty Jermaine Ingarm

    HL Cleaning Services
    536 Union St.
    Herth L. South

    Ill Skillz Entertainment
    744 Bradley Road
    Desmond O. Walters

    J.T. Home Improvement
    109 West Alvord St.
    John Thornton

    Joakin Auto Glass & Towing
    24 Park St.
    Joaquin Rodriguez

    Khoury Photography
    34 Front St.
    Joe Khoury

    Linda & Alax General Services
    318 Eastern Ave.
    Linda June

    Moe’s Lawns
    11 Highland St.
    Anthony Stewart

    WESTFIELD

    B & D’s Collectible & Sports
    79 Main St.
    David Herrick

    CFB’s Farrier Service
    189 Honey Pot Road
    Cary F. Bedor

    I Wireless
    82 Main St.
    Thanh Ngoc Tong

    Q & T’s Dependable Cleaning
    780 Montgomery Road
    Tia Boisseau

    WEST SPRINGFIELD

    Aaron Associates
    38 Clyde Ave.
    Richard Galarneau

    Chavez Construction
    43 Roanoke Ave.
    Andres Chavez

    Cooper Works Services
    93 Charles St.
    Ricky R. Cooper

    Manny’s Wireless
    1380 Elm St.
    JMC Wireless LLC

    Michael’s Tree Service Inc.
    720 Memorial Ave.
    Michael Christoblous

    Platinum All-Stars
    47 Nonotuck Road
    Amy Ruelle

    RC & Associates
    2003 Riverdale St.
    Casey Roncalli

    Sullivan Services LLC
    351 Morgan St.
    John Sullivan

    By
    Departments

    Breakfast of Champions

    State legislators and early-education advocates joined with Mass. Department of Early Education Acting Commissioner Amy Kershaw in celebrating the state’s recent passage of ‘An Act Relative to Early Care and Education’ on Sept. 26 at the Springfield YMCA. Pictured with local preschoolers is leading early-education advocate Margaret Blood, founder and president of Strategies for Children Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Boston. Breakfast cereal boxes featuring legislators who supported the early-education law — Champions for Early Childhood — were distributed at the event. Other participants included representatives of Cherish Every Child, the Pioneer Valley Plan for Progress Pre-K and Early Education Strategy Team, and the Western Mass. early-childhood community. A representative of Gov. Deval Patrick’s office also attended. The new law formally establishes the universal pre-K program in the Commonwealth and supports strategies encouraging the early-education workforce to further their education. The act will also overhaul regulations of early-education programs and sites setting health, safety, and quality standards. Cherish Every Child is an initiative of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation and is working to realize the goal for every child entering kindergarten to be ready for school, healthy, and fully prepared for learning success.

    Capitol Ideas

    Last month, 45 area business owners and managers, elected officials and economic-development leaders attended a three-day symposium in Washington, D.C. coordinated by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield and hosted by U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal. Attendees heard from several speakers, including U.S. Rep. Barney Frank; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Charles Rangel, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee; and nationally known columnist and commentator Mark Shields.

    A Big Check, on the House

    Through the efforts of sales associates and employees of the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices in Belchertown, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, and Westfield, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares, the fundraising arm of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, donated $25,000 to benefit Habitat for Humanity. The funds enabled the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity to complete the 171 Cabot St. project. Additionally, the brokerage offices have been supporting the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity through a variety of fundraising initiatives and volunteering. Last year, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares donated nearly $67,000 to the organization.

    Celebrating Entrepreneurship

    Springfield Technical Community College staged its 9th annual Western Mass. Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame induction banquet on Oct. 2 at the Log Cabin, and announced the launch of the Web site www.eshiphall.org. The event celebrated entrepreneurship in many ways, from videos about the inductees to presentation of the Hall of Fame’s County Achievement Awards, to BusinessWest’s formal presentation of its Top Entrepreneur Award. Above, members of the Class of 2008 pose with the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame awards: from left, Mark Tolosky, president and CEO of Baystate Health; Esther and Art Jacobson of OMG Inc.; the Samble family of Belmont Laundry; the Sherff family of the Student Prince Restaurant; and the Young family of W.F. Young Co. Below left, BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien, left, presents the BusinessWest Top Entrepreneur Award to John Maybury, president of Maybury Material Handling Company. Below right, County Achievement Award recipients, from left, are William Kristensen Sr. of Hi-Tech Mold and Tool (Berkshire County), Martha Borawski of Pioneer Valley Travel (Hampshire County), Dean Cycon of Dean’s Beans (Franklin County), and Steven Richter of Microtest Labs (Hampden County).

    By
    Departments

    Dinner Lecture

    Oct. 14: Author Joel Barker will present “You Can and Should Shape Your Own Future, Because If You Don’t, Someone Else Surely Will” from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The dinner forum is hosted by the UMass Amherst Family Business Center. Barker will explain how to create ‘extreme’ partnerships to transform your company and product; how your senior leaders can continuously explore trends, innovations, and paradigm shifts; and how to better anticipate and deal with the effects of change. In addition to Barker’s presentation, an educational talk on how to be a savvier user of expert advisors will be presented by the law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP. For more information, call Ira Bryck at (413) 545-1537, or E-mail [email protected].

    WNEC Seminar

    Oct. 15: Western New England College in Springfield will host “Planning for Retirement Benefits: A Morning with Natalie Choate” from 8:30 a.m. to noon in Rivers Memorial Hall. The seminar is aimed at legal, accounting, and financial services professionals, exploring developments and trends in retirement benefits, trusts, and estate planning. Choate is a Boston-based estate-planning lawyer and the author of Life and Death Planning for Retirement Benefits and The QPRT Manual. The program qualifies for three CLE and CPE credits and costs $75. For more information or to register, call (413) 796-2260 or (800) 325-1122, ext. 2260.

    Managing Business in a Down Economy

    Oct. 16: A workshop for business owners titled “Managing Your Business in a Down Economy” will be offered from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Andrew M. Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The workshop, presented by a panel of experts from various business segments, is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. The cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

    Entrepreneurship Conference

    Oct. 17: “Entrepreneurship in a Global Economy” will be presented by the Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship of Western New England College, Springfield, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the S. Prestley Blake Law Center, Room D. The cost is $50 per person. The discussion topics will include “Environmentalism & Entrepreneurship,” “Globalization & Entrepreneurship,” “Finance & Entrepreneurship,” and “Politics and Entrepreneurship.” Dean Cycon, owner of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, will be the luncheon keynote speaker. Cycon is a leader of the American fair trade coffee movement. For more information or to register, contact Aimee Griffin Munnings at (413) 796-2030 or via E-mail to [email protected].

    Women’s Movement Discussion

    Oct. 23: L. Kay Wilson, attorney, coach, and motivational speaker, will moderate a discussion titled “Women, Power & Influence: Do We Still Need a Women’s Movement?” at 2 p.m. in Mills Theatre, Carr Hall, Bay Path College, Longmeadow. The program is part of the Kaleidoscope series at Bay Path. Panel members will discuss the roots of the women’s movement, the perspective of young women today, and next steps for expanding the influence of women in our communities, companies, and government. Panelists are: Dr. Regina Barreca, professor of English at UConn, best-selling author, and nationally recognized feminist comedienne; Dr. Carol Leary, president, Bay Path College; Laurie Rosner, senior vice president, Rockville Bank of Connecticut; and Ann Young-Jaffe, program manager, Aetna’s consumer segment. The program is free to the public.

    Meet the Authors

    Oct. 23: The Women’s Partnership, a division of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc., will host its annual scholarship fund-raising event, Meet the Authors, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Elms College campus in Chicopee. Tickets are $10. Authors will include Joseph J. Ellis, Corinne Demas, Suzanne Strempek-Shea, and Lesléa Newman. Jane Dyer, an illustrator of numerous books for children, will also be on hand to sign books. For more information, contact Diane Swanson at (413) 755-1313. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Women’s Partnership Scholarship Fund.

    Super 60 Award Luncheon

    Oct. 24: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc. will fete its winners of the annual Super 60 Award in the categories of revenue growth and total revenue beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam. William Rand Kenan Jr., professor and director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, will deliver the keynote address. For more information, call (413) 755-1316 or visit www.myonlinechamber.com.

    Creating Business Plans

    Oct. 30: The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will present “Your First Business Plan” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 395 Main St., Greenfield. The workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. The cost to attend the workshop is $35. For more information on the event, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

    Building Entrepreneurs

    Nov. 7: Titled “Empowering a New Generation of Entrepreneurs,” the fourth annual Grinspoon, Garvey & Young Entrepreneur Conference for college students in the Pioneer Valley will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MassMutual Convention Center in Springfield. Coordinated by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, the event will feature an entrepreneurship and resource exhibit and interactive breakout sessions on the following topics: “Chronicles of a New Entrepreneur: the Early Days,” “The Art of the Pitch,” “Start, Grow, Succeed … with the Help of the SBA,” “The Next Big Idea,” and “Invention to Venture: the Making of a Technology Company.” The conference fee is $150, and scholarships are available. To register or for more information, contact Brenda Wishart at (413) 454-3109, or by E-mail at [email protected].

    City of Bright Nights Ball

    Nov. 15: A Japanese garden setting — complete with tea house — will set the mood for the 2008 City of Bright Nights Ball in the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton Springfield-Monarch Place. The black-tie event features a gourmet dinner with the flavors of Japan, dancing, and the chance to win and purchase a variety of gift items. Tickets are $500 per couple, and tables of 10 are available for $2,500. For more information, visit www.spiritofspringfield.org or call (413) 733-3800.

    YPS: A Group with a Purpose — and a Future

    By
    Opinion

    They call it the ‘brain drain.’

    This is one of those contrived terms, in this case used to describe the flight of young people out of a region to find jobs, opportunities, fulfillment … in short, something better than what they had, or thought they could get, where they were before.

    The extent and uniqueness of the brain drain in the Pioneer Valley — which has a number of colleges but keeps only a small percentage of graduates (especially from the private schools) in this region — can be debated. What can’t be debated, though, is the importance of young professionals to the vitality and economic health of this or any other region.

    Which is why we’re enthusiastic about the early success and enormous promise of a group called the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, or YPS. Created about 18 months ago, it is off to what can only be described as a phenomenal start in its efforts to — and these are the words right in the mission statement — engage, involve, and educate people under the age of 40.

    As it does so, it is helping to keep young people in this region by giving them more reasons to feel better about their presence here, but it’s also preparing them to be better leaders and contributors to the community if, and for however long, they do stay.

    But let’s back up a minute. Current officers say the concept of YPS was born mostly out of curiosity. To make a long story somewhat short, some young people were wondering out loud where all their contemporaries were, what they were doing, what they were thinking, whether they liked it here, whether they fully appreciated all there is to do here, and if they could use help getting connected to the region and its assets.

    So they scheduled a get-together and invited virtually everyone they could connect with via the Internet. They were hoping for 30 people and got five times that number.

    Besides counting heads, organizers listened and learned, and what they came away with was the clear impression that young people, as a group, needed an organization that could help them network, grow professionally and personally, become involved in the community, and develop leadership skills.

    So they created one.

    And then they developed some programming to define it. These initiatives include what are called Third Thursdays, get-togethers that take place on those dates on the calendar, at which attendees can network and socialize. There’s also the CEO Luncheon, which, as the name suggests, involves an area CEO hosting lunch for 20 or 30 YPS members and discussing a wide range of topics involving business, the community, and life in general.

    There’s also a strong focus on the arts and getting people involved with those institutions, and even a New Year’s Eve gala on the slate for this year.

    Put it all together, and we have a group that could make — and is in many respects already making — a very positive impact on this region and its business community.

    By getting young people engaged and involved, YPS is making the region a better place to live, work, and play. At the same time, it is giving these same young people more reasons to enjoy their time in the Valley, and perhaps prompting more to stay. Meanwhile, with its focus on education, YPS is helping to groom a more-informed, more-capable group of future business owners, managers, employees, nonprofit board members, and public servants.

    This a noble and important mission, one that already has the backing of a number of a number of area corporations, and could use more of the same from other businesses and business organizations that all face the daunting challenge of finding talented help for today and especially tomorrow.

    YPS is a group with a purpose and a real future — that’s because it’s this region’s future at stake.-

    By
    Departments

    Green Buildings Open House

    October 4: The Northeast Sustainable Energy Assoc. (NESEA) invites the public to visit local sustainable buildings across the state and to talk with energy-saving experts during the 2008 Green Buildings Open House. NESEA’s open house, part of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour, offers area residents a first-hand look at how to incorporate green elements to help reduce heating costs, increase energy conservation, and generate surplus clean energy. A complete list of open-house sites and events is available at www.nesea.org/buildings/openhouse. NESEA also recommends that individuals visit www.dsireusa.org for information on tax credits, grants, rebates and discount utility rates, and www.energystar.gov for federal tax-credit information on qualified appliances and products.

    Business Owners Initiative

    Oct. 9: “Seven Things CEOs of Breakthrough Companies Know That You Don’t” will be presented from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in West Springfield, sponsored by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield and Hampden Bank. During the session, attendees will be introduced to the Breakthrough Executive Board, which is comprised of local business owners who have joined together to promote the growth and management of their companies. Prior registration for the program is required due to limited seating. For more information, call (413) 583-3653 or E-mail [email protected].

    Dinner Lecture

    Oct. 14: Author Joel Barker will present “You Can and Should Shape Your Own Future, Because If You Don’t, Someone Else Surely Will” from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The dinner forum is hosted by the UMass Amherst Family Business Center. Barker will explain how to create extreme partnerships to transform your company and product; how your senior leaders can continuously explore trends, innovations, and paradigm shifts; and how to better anticipate and deal with the effects of change. In addition to Barker’s presentation, an educational talk on how to be a savvier user of expert advisors will be presented by the law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP. For more information, call Ira Bryck, director of the Family Business Center, at (413) 545-1537, or E-mail [email protected].

    Women’s Movement Discussion

    Oct. 23: L. Kay Wilson, attorney, coach, and motivational speaker, will moderate a discussion titled “Women, Power & Influence: Do We Still Need a Women’s Movement?” at 2 p.m. in Mills Theatre, Carr Hall, Bay Path College, Longmeadow. The program is part of the Kaleidoscope series at Bay Path. Panel members will discuss the roots of the women’s movement, the perspective of young women today, and next steps for expanding the influence of women in communities, companies, and government. Panelists are: Dr. Regina R. Barreca, professor of English at UConn, bestselling author, and nationally recognized feminist comedienne; Dr. Carol Leary, president, Bay Path College; Laurie Rosner, senior vice president, Rockville Bank of Connecticut; and Ann Young-Jaffe, program manager, Aetna’s consumer segment. The program is free and open to the public.

    By
    Departments

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

    Arroyo, April Lynnette
    54 Berbay Circle
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Arventos, Anthony E.
    321 Wilbraham St.
    Palmer, MA 01069
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/30/08

    Avery, Jill M.
    P O Box 821
    Greenfield, MA 01302
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/02/08

    Barzousky, Kristine M.
    155 Draper Ave.
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Bilodeau & Son Roofing
    Bilodeau, Normand L.
    Bilodeau, Rose M.
    29 Fisherdick Road
    Ware, MA 01082
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Bird, Bill E.
    Bird, Cynthia H.
    68 Valley St.
    Adams, MA 01220
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/29/08

    Blake, Madelyn Louise
    Blake, Nigel Alan
    Blake, Lyn L
    1 Miller St.
    Ludlow, MA 01056
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Canning, Jessica L.
    a/k/a Truehart, Jessica L.
    a/k/a Ivehart, Jessica L.
    175 Lake St.
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/29/08

    Carey, Jaclyn M.
    105 South Royalston Road
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Carey, Wayne C.
    105 South Royalston Road
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Carriveau, Richard A.
    Carriveau, Debra A.
    25 Madison St.
    Chicopee, MA 01020
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/04/08

    Cityline Nails
    Nguyen, Maihuong Thi
    a/k/a Nguyen, Mai Huong
    10 Crystal Ave.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Davis, Mary B .
    a/k/a Kelley, Mary B.
    21 Audley Road
    Springfield, MA 01118
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/04/08

    Diaz, Jose L.
    31 Hisgen Ave.
    Easthampton, MA 01027
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/30/08

    Dubreuil, Todd Leon
    Dubreuil, Julie Colleen
    a/k/a Wheeler, Julie C.
    P.O. Box 473
    Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Flores, Hector
    8 Derby Dingle St.
    Springfield, MA 01107
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/30/08

    Foley, Erin Ann
    33 Parkin St.
    Springfield, MA 01104
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/28/08

    French, Colleen P.
    52 Janet St.
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/04/08

    French, Donald M.
    52 Janet St.
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/04/08

    Gray, Stephen P.
    86 Bowdoin St.
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/28/08

    Grimes, Johnnie Lee
    168 Marion St.
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/28/08

    Holmes, Valerie Janet
    35 Amherst St.
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Johnson, Jeremy Lawrence
    Johnson, Heather Marie
    a/k/a Bowers, Heather
    164 Bay Road
    Hadley, MA 01035
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/30/08

    Johnson, Jessica M.
    a/k/a Parker, Jessica M.
    437 East Main St., 2nd
    North Adams, MA 01247
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/01/08

    Kim, Sunny K.
    40 Laurel St.
    Springfield, MA 01107
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 08/01/08

    Kuenzel, Renee Marie
    149 Summit Ave.
    Chicopee, MA 01020
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/30/08

    		  

    Lacasse, David P.
    187 Stebbins Road
    Otis, MA 01253
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/01/08

    Larson, Vera A.
    12 Woodland St.
    Southbridge, MA 01550
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/29/08

    Leduc, Shannon Sabrina
    205 Orange St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Martin, Darcy J.
    20 Simard Dr.
    Apartment 4
    Chicopee, MA 01013
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/29/08

    Mendoza, Milagros
    a/k/a Mendina, Milagros
    112 Belvidere St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/01/08

    Morrissey, Paul
    32 Wands St.
    Springfield, MA 01118
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Murray, Lisa M.
    130 Montgomery Road
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Ottomaniello, John
    Ottomaniello, Lisa R.
    1847 Roosevelt Ave.
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/04/08

    Plourde, Michel
    1335 Worcester St.
    Indian Orchard, MA 01151
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/29/08

    Prendergast, Louis J.
    Prendergast, Melissa M.
    1285 Burnett Road
    Chicopee, MA 01020
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Radwilowicz, Jacqueline
    545 Chapin St.
    Ludlow, MA 01056
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Rideout, Ethan
    Rideout, Teresa
    44 Morgan St.
    Granby, MA 01033
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/01/08

    Sakowicz, Michael S.
    80 Old Belchertown Road
    Ware, MA 01082
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/01/08

    Santiago, Arlene
    34 Cecelia Ter.
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/30/08

    Schecker, Suzanne Brita
    8 Treehouse Circle
    Easthampton, MA 01027
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Schroder, Lynn A.
    90 County Road
    Holyoke, MA 01040
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/04/08

    Servant, Marc R.
    Servant, Lynne Mary
    a/k/a Connors, Lynne M.
    72 Shelburne Center Road
    Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 08/01/08

    Shepherd, Timothy Flynn
    Shepherd, Donna Marie
    PO Box 327
    Wales, MA 01081
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Shettles, Alice Ann Marie
    a/k/a Clark, Alice Ann Marie
    Shettles, Abbie
    127 High St.
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/28/08

    Shively, Mark Edward
    73 Amherst Ave.
    Feeding Hills, MA 01030
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Sims, Craig
    69 Ramblewood Dr.
    Springfield, MA 01118
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 08/01/08

    Theroux, Peter E.
    105 Fowler St.
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 08/04/08

    Upton, Patrick W.
    Upton, Kristine M.
    190 Mapleshade Ave.
    East Longmeadow, MA 01028
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Weiss, Gary H.
    Weiss, Gail L.
    276 Millers Falls Road
    Northfield, MA 01360
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    Wright, Elizabeth Jane
    a/k/a Gooch, Elizabeth J.
    364 Suffield St.
    Agawam, MA 01001
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/31/08

    By
    Departments

    The following building permits were issued during the month of September 2008.

    AGAWAM

    Town of Agawam
    760 Cooper St.
    $76,000 — Classroom renovation

    AMHERST

    Amherst College Trustees
    Merrill Science Building
    $53,000 — New roof

    CHICOPEE

    Chicopee Savings Bank
    219 Exchange St.
    $600,000 — Construct new offices, bathrooms, and break area

    GREENFIELD

    Greenfield Corporate Center
    143 Munson St.
    $1,174,000 — Construct a 22,400-square-foot addition to existing building

    Kangel, LLC
    99 Elm St.
    $4,000 — New loading dock

    Main Street Realty Trust
    74 Main St.
    $31,000 — Remodel existing office area

    Molly & Van Wood
    19 Butternut St.
    $3,500 — Add solar panels on roof

    New England Telephone
    11 Church St.
    $166,000 — Installation of new AC unit

    So. Worcester Company Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
    55 Forgeys Way
    $922,000 — New adult day care facility


    		  

    William D. Jones
    14 Miner St.
    $28,000 — Interior renovations

    HADLEY

    317 Hadley, LLC
    321 Russell St.
    $31,000 — Change recreation areas into classrooms

    Peter Grandonico
    108 Russell St.
    $4,000 — Construct wall for office

    Research Park Limited Partnership, LLC
    100 Venture Way
    $75,000 — Tenant separation revisions

    HOLYOKE

    Holyoke Mall, LP
    50 Holyoke St.
    $184,000 — Remodel existing Swarowski store

    Holyoke Crossing Limited Partnership II
    7-45 Holyoke St.
    $37,000 — Interior fit-up at Sleepy’s store

    Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
    56 Cabot St.
    4137,000 — Install new roof

    LUDLOW

    First Church of Ludlow
    859 Center St.
    $17,000 — Reshingle

    By
    Departments

    Fuss & O’Neill Acquires UPLINC

    WEST SPRINGFIELD — Fuss & O’Neill Technologies (Fandotech), a multidiscipline engineering firm, recently acquired the assets of UPLINC. With the firm’s newest addition, Fuss & O’Neill now has more than 34 professionals in Western Mass. Fandotech is a regional IT company that provides a full range of managed IT services from multiple data centers to supporting each client’s desktop. Products include OFFSITE data centers, Managed IT, 360IT, 180IT, GIS, Community Explorer Online (CEO), Mooring tracker, Applications Solutions Development, Business Continuity, Boomerang data backup, and restoration. Fandotech provides IT services to medical, industrial, education, and municipal clients across New England.

    Bank Offers Energy Relief Program

    SPRINGFIELD — For the fourth consecutive year, Hampden Bank is offering its mortgage customers the opportunity to participate in its Energy Relief Program that allows customers to make smaller, interest-only payments on their mortgages for the duration of the heating season. Senior Vice President Robert Michel noted that the program is simple, but the savings can be “profound.” For example, a $150,000 loan balance with a 20-year remaining term at an average of 6.5% interest rate would yield a savings of almost $250 per month. After the heating season ends in April, the borrower’s loan would be recast to amortize the new loan balance. In the example, the recast payment would increase the monthly payment on the loan by about $14 per month. “As a local community bank, we have the ability to react quickly to the needs of our customers,” said Michel. “This program will help people when they need it most. That’s what makes a bank like Hampden Bank in tune with the community it serves.”

    Landon Extends Contract with Falcons

    SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Falcons President and General Manager Bruce Landon has agreed to extend his employment agreement for three years with the American Hockey League team. Landon is entering his 31st season in hockey management, the 15th season as president of the Falcons, and his 25th campaign as general manager in Springfield. The Springfield Pro Hockey, LLC ownership group noted that, over the past several months, the organization led by Landon has gained significant, positive momentum in its efforts to sell more season tickets with the goal of re-establishing its strong franchise presence in the Springfield region. The ownership group also acknowledges that “much work still needs to be done” in the process of stabilizing the professional sports franchise. Generating the necessary revenues from season-ticket sales and advertising sponsorships remains one of Landon’s top goals in order to stay at levels consistent with other upper echelon and successful AHL teams, according to the ownership group.

    PeoplesBank Opens Office, Makes Donations

    HOLYOKE — Seven charitable and civic organizations in Springfield recently benefited from donations totaling $113,200 by PeoplesBank. Bank officials made the donation announcement at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 8 at its second Springfield office at 1240 Sumner Ave. PeoplesBank President and CEO Douglas A. Bowen said financial commitments were made to American International College for $50,000; Rachel’s Table, $15,000; ReStore Home Improvement Center, $10,000; Springfield Falcons, $11,200; Springfield Public Forum, $4,000; Springfield Symphony, $8,000, and the Urban League of Springfield, $15,000. As a community bank, he noted, PeoplesBank is focused on the needs of its customers and the cities and towns it serves — which include the area’s charitable and civic organizations. Bowen added that, in addition to the bank’s financial commitment, he encourages his employees to volunteer their time and leadership skills to “some of these same organizations to ensure that their important work will continue.” PeoplesBank offers a full range of personal and commercial financial products and services. Locally based since 1885, the bank has offices and ATM locations in Amherst, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Feeding Hills, Granby, Hadley, Holyoke, Long-meadow, Northampton, South Hadley, Springfield, and Westfield.

    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

    Czar Distributing Inc. v. Creative Design Custom Homes
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods and services rendered: $1,060
    Filed: 8/13/08

    Tony Canty v. Gemini Property Services
    Allegation: Failure to complete bathroom remodeling project: $2,000
    Filed: 8/18/08

    FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

    Ryan J. Holmgren v. Dunkin Donuts Inc.
    Allegation: Plaintiff sustained personal injury when he sat on a needle: $2,504
    Filed: 8/14/08

    HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

    Corey Hebert ppa Mark Hebert v. Dick’s Sporting Goods
    Allegation: Negligence and product liability causing injury: $62,900
    Filed: 8/06/08

    Kimberly Gauthier v. Pride Plazas Inc.
    Allegation: Negligence in placement of air compressor causing injury: $650,000
    Filed: 8/07/08

    Kimberlee Estrella v. T.D. Banknorth, N.A.
    Allegation: Employment discrimination: $25,000+
    Filed: 8/07/08

    Melinda Tillman v. the Mercy Hospital Inc.
    Allegation: Employment discrimination: $25,000+
    Filed: 8/07/08

    T.D. Banknorth, N.A. v. Tremblay Electric
    Allegation: Non-payment of debt: $66,634.90
    Filed: 8/21/08

    HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

    Christopher Martin v. Hampshire, Franklin, & Hampden Agricultural Society
    Allegation: Poor maintenance of racetrack causing injury to rider: $750,000
    Filed: 9/02/08

    Leonard E. Belcher v. Bishop Burner Service
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $104,000
    Filed: 8/28/08

    NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

    Meade G. Burrows v. Pioneer Valley Roofing
    Allegation: Failure to fulfill terms of contract: $4,000
    Filed: 8/07/08

    PALMER DISTRICT COURT

    The Bell/Simons Companies v. Monson Heating
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $8,118.08
    Filed: 7/18/08

    SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

    Agar Supply Company v. Spark Fish and Steven Parrot
    Allegation: Non-payment on judgment: $17,298.10
    Filed: 8/04/08

    Christopher F. Fava v. Yellow Book USA Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of advertising contract: $24,860
    Filed: 8/13/08

    Stephen & Jeanne Kuchyt v. Sentry Fence
    Allegation: Breach of contract and deceptive business practices: $8,081
    Filed: 8/19/08

    WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

    Christine Impoco v. Hartley Brothers Landscaping Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of contract pertaining to drainage work: $5,145.88
    Filed: 7/15/08

    David Williams v. Allen Lawnmower Company
    Allegation: Plaintiff seeks damages caused by defendant: $2,000
    Filed: 7/18/08

    By
    Departments

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

    AGAWAM

    Fusion Bath & Kitchen Inc., 56 Beekman Dr., Agawam 01001. James Kearney, Jr., same. To operate a kitchen and bathroom modeling and repairing company.

    AMHERST

    Dream Book Inc., #721 Keefe Campus Center, Amherst 01002. Melissa Lauren Atmadia, 4075 View Park Dr., Yorba Linda, CA 92886. Justin Park, #721 Keefe Campus Center, Amherst 01002, resident agent. (Nonprofit) To promote the resolution between the arts and sciences in the field of medicine, etc.

    BRIMFIELD

    Fairview Farms, JJC, Ltd., 121 Haynes Hill Road, Brimfield 01010. James J. Corkery, 159 Woodwind Dr., Rock Hill, SC 29732. Krystone O’Connor, 121 Hanes Hill Road, Brimfield 01010, registered agent. Equestrian boarding and activities.

    CHICOPEE

    Assembleia de Deus Ministerio Na Uncao, 419 Montcalm St., #214M, Chicopee 01020. Wellington de Brito Corraim, same. (Nonprofit) Church.

    Western Mass Export Inc., 269 Chicopee St., Suite 12, Chicopee 01013. Vlad Bezruthchenko, same. To import and export auto parts and automobiles.

    EAST LONGMEADOW

    Link To Libraries Inc., 45 Rockingham Circle, East Longmeadow 01028. Susan Jaye-Kaplan, 35 Bluegrass Circle, East Longmeadow 01028. (Nonprofit) To enhance language and literacy skills of children of all cultural backgrounds, enabling them to learn about their world through reading.

    RWG Paralegal Group Inc., 26 Yorkshire Place, East Longmeadow 01028. Richard W. Gebo, Sr., same. Paralegal services.

    FLORENCE

    Chemitorp Inc., 238 Nonotuck St., Florence 01062. Gabriel Munck, same. (Foreign corp; DE) Manufacture of maiamioa and urea molding compounds.

    HOLYOKE

    Joe Francis Inc., 514 South East St., Holyoke 01040. Joseph Francis, same.
    To renovate and manage rental properties.

    HADLEY

    CBR Realty Corp., 87 Russell St., Hadley 01035. Daniel J. Regish, same. Real estate.

    HAMPDEN

    Houghton Business Systems Inc., 511 Main St., Hampden 01036. Scott Wentworth Houghton, same. Information technology consulting.

    HOLLAND

    Grasshopper Learning Solutions Inc., 236 Stafford Road, Holland 01521. Heather Briere, same. Health education services.

    HOLYOKE

    Ministerio de Misiones Uniendo Fuerzas Para Vencer Inc., 21 View St., Holyoke 01040. Wilma Rodriguez, same. (Nonprofit) To establish a good relationship with the community, bring help to the children in Central America, etc.

    Western Massachusetts Catholic Homeschoolers, 74 Pearl St., Holyoke 01040. Mary V. Brazeau, same. (Nonprofit) Learning Bible and apologetics studies for adults and children, etc.

    LONGMEADOW

    Crestal Health Periodontics, P.C., 218 Pinewood Dr., Longmeadow 01106. Daniel B. Stiefel, same. To engage in the practice of dentistry, specializing in periodontics.

    OTR International Inc., 785 Williams St., #214, Longmeadow 01106. Firangiz Ismailova Orel, 67 Broadway Lane, West Yarmouth 02673. Sale of tires, trucks, and related products.

    LUDLOW

    Environmental Safety Training Inc., 212 Clearwater Circle, Ludlow 01056. Carolyn Scyocurka, same. U.S. EPA approved asbestos training provider.

    MONSON

    CS Solutions Inc., 138 Wales Road, Monson 01057. Patricia L. Kustra, same. Customer service.

    MONTAGUE

    Northeast Toyota Crawlers Inc., 60 Randall Road, Montague 01351. Robert L. Tracey, 123 Western Pkwy., Schenectady, NY 12304. Cody Savinski, 60 Randall Road, Montague 01351, resident agent. (Nonprofit) To provide social, educational, and recreational activities for its membership, promote safe operation of our stock of modified 4-x-4 vehicles on and off road, etc.

    		  

    NORTHAMPTON

    Diploma Plus Inc., 75 Gothic St., Northampton 01060. Ephraim Weisstein, 6 Watertown St., Lexington 02421. (Nonprofit) To develop innovative educational approaches to improve outcomes for youths formerly failed by traditional schools.

    Mo Willems Studio Inc., 75 Lyman Road, Northampton 01060. Maurice Willems, same. (Foreign corp; NY) Author — children’s books.

    NORTHFIELD

    The Eco School Inc., 1046 Millers Falls Road, Northfield 01360. Danielle Lejnieks, same. (Nonprofit) Educational facility for the underprivileged.

    PALMER

    1241 Park Street Realty Inc., 1241 Park St., Palmer 01069. Giampiero Borgovono, IV Novemkbre Merate 23807 ITA. Frank Fitzgerald, P.C., 46 Center Square, East Longmeadow 01028. To deal in real estate and personal property.

    Al’s Heating & Cooling Inc., 37 Stimson St., Palmer 01069. Alan Nateau, same. Installation of heating and cooling systems.

    SOUTH HADLEY

    Corner Construction Inc., 18 Main St., Suite 2B, South Hadley 01075. Nasrullah Khan, same. Construction.

    The Central Massachusetts Academy Inc., 9 College St., South Hadley 01075. James Levine, Ph.D, same. (Nonprofit) Exclusively for educational purposes.

    Witman Properties Inc., 26 Camden St., South Hadley 01075. Anthony Witman, same. To deal in commercial and residential real properties.

    SPRINGFIELD

    BAC Foundation Inc., 15 Ruthven St., Springfield 01128. Cordell Valentine Rogers II, same, registered agent. To develop and sustain holistically healthy communities, etc.

    Euro Marketing Group Inc., 934 Main St., Springfield 01103. Carmino Bonavita, 118 Southbrook Road, East Longmeadow 01028. Marketing and origination of commercial and residential mortgages.

    Frodema Appraisal Inc., 50 Cherryvale Ave., Springfield 01108. Thomas P. Frodema, same. Real estate appraisal services.

    Greenleaf Holdings Inc., 1655 Main St., Suite 201, Springfield 01103. Alex Aviles, same. Real estate.

    KJR Commercial Cleaning Inc., 24 Stony Brook Road,
    Springfield 01118. Kelly J. Raleigh, same. Commercial cleaning.

    Zhen Bo House Inc., 762 Boston Road, Springfield 01119. Wei Dong Lin, 765 FDR Dr., #9G, New York 10009; Wei Dong Lin, 762 Boston Road, Springfield 01119, registered agent. Restuarant.

    THREE RIVERS

    VFR Inc., 2004 Main St., Three Rivers 01080. Rakeshkumar V. Patel, 1922 Wilbraham Road, Springfield 01129. To operate a supermarket.

    TURNERS FALLS

    Divine Mercy Academy Inc., 84K St., Turners Falls 01376. Lawrence Filiault, 297 Mountain Rd., Gill 01354. (Nonprofit) To provide a comprehensive liberal arts education in the Catholic classical tradition.

    WESTFIELD

    Gary Olszewski & Company, PC Inc., 94 North Elm St., Westfield 01085. Gary S. Olszewski, same. Public accountancy services.

    WILBRAHAM

    Burke Technology Inc., 35 Brookside Dr., Wilbraham 01095. Patrick D. Burke, same. Implement and maintain technology solutions.

    WEST SPRINGFIELD

    Lift Truck Parts & Service II Inc., 20 Parkside Ave., West Springfield 01089. Mario A. Sotolotto, 290 Rogers Ave., West Springfield 01089. To deal in industrial equipment for lift trucks, etc.

    River Street Spirits Inc., 20 D River St., West Springfield 01089. Louis F. Bonavita, 67 Alexander Dr., Agawam 01001. To own and operate a package store.

    By
    Departments

    Blast from the Past

    A series of events were staged Sept. 12 and 13 to launch the Web site ‘Shays’ Rebellion and the Making of a Nation’ at Springfield Technical Community College. The Web site project was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities for STCC in partnership with the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. and the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. Clockwise, from above, Shays’ Rebellion project manager Dr. Lynne Spichiger and Web site designer Juliet Jacobson demonstrate the Web site; artist Bryant White at the gallery reception for his paintings for the Shays’ Rebellion Web site; answering questions following the symposium on Shays’ Rebellion, from left, Dr. Kevin Sweeney of Amherst College, Dr. Leonard Richards of UMass Amherst, and Dr. Robert Gross of UConn.

    ‘Latinos in Schools’ Initiative

    Comcast was on hand to show its support and sponsorship of the ‘Latinos in Schools’ initiative at a recent sponsorship event staged at Springfield Central High School. Comcast contributed funds that will be utilized to help provide school uniforms for children who are unable to afford them in the Springfield school system. Pictured are: back row, left to right, Juan Gerena of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center Inc., Comcast’s Dan Glanville, Brad Palazzo, and Steve Fitzgibbons; middle row, left to right, Dr. Denise L. Pagan-Vega of Springfield Public Schools, Univision character la Profesora Anacleta, Jesus Arce from Mayor Domenic Sarno’s office with (front row) Springfield schoolchildren.

    By
    Departments

    PeoplesBank Opens Second Springfield Office

    SPRINGFIELD — PeoplesBank has opened a second full-service office at 1240 Sumner Ave. PeoplesBank also has a city location at 1900 Wilbraham Road, as well as offices in Amherst, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Hadley, Holyoke, Longmeadow, South Hadley and Westfield.

    Employment Supports Program Opens

    AGAWAM — The Work Opportunity Center Inc. recently conducted a grand opening of its Employment Supports Program at 1666 Main St., Springfield. The program’s primary focus will be to assist individuals in Hampden County to find gainful and meaningful employment. The new facility will provide a greater variety of computer skills training, especially in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher, as well as computer basics and Internet navigation. Consumers in the Employment Supports Program are referred primarily by the Department of Mental Retardation, the Department of Transitional Assistance, and the Mass. Rehabilitation Commission. Since 1969, the Work Opportunity Center has been assisting adults with developmental disabilities to secure training and employment.

    ACCGS, Hampden Bank Sponsor Initiative for Business Growth

    SPRINGFIELD — The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) and Hampden Bank recently announced a sponsorship to support the efforts of local small and mid-sized business owners to participate in a successful organization that has helped many local business owners to profitably grow their businesses. The ACCGS will become a sponsor and supporter of the Breakthrough Executive Board, which is comprised of a group of local business owners who have joined together to promote the growth and management of their companies. Both organizations will be inviting local business owners to attend an executive briefing session titled “Seven Things CEOs of Breakthrough Companies Know That You Don’t” on Sept. 24 and Oct. 9 at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in West Springfield, 8 to 10:30 a.m. For registration information, call (413) 583-3653 or E-mail [email protected]. Financial assistance for Board membership is supported by the State Workforce Development Fund, and discounted fees are available to ACCGS members and Hampden Bank business-banking customers.

    SPHS Awarded Commonwealth Corps Grant

    SPRINGFIELD — Commonwealth Corps volunteers will join the ranks of the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS), thanks to a $131,000 grant from the Mass. Service Alliance in partnership with Commonwealth Corps. Under the grant program, volunteers will work with nonprofit organizations to provide direct services for unmet community needs and recruit new volunteers to encourage continuation of such service. The Mercy Healthy Communities Corps Team will be in place for one year and will serve in various programs and departments throughout SPHS. In addition to recruiting volunteers for the Volunteer Services Department at Mercy Medical Center, the new corps members will assist with Project Homeless Connect and Dress for Success through the Healthcare for the Homeless Department, provide health care education and support at MercyCare-Forest Park and Providence Prenatal Center of Holyoke, and offer mentoring services to children at Brightside for Families and Children. Corps members will receive a living stipend and completion bonus. For more information, contact Colleen Condon, director of volunteer services at Mercy Medical Center, at (413) 748-9078.

    $9.2M Hotel Renovation Underway at UMass

    AMHERST — For the first time since the Campus Center Hotel at UMass Amherst opened its doors in 1970, the facility is undergoing a complete renovation of its guest rooms, lobby, and adjoining areas. Instead of one-bedroom and two-bedroom junior suites, the refurbished hotel will offer a mix of room types with new king, queen, or double beds. In addition, each room will be outfitted with new desks with ergonomic chairs, dressers, coffee makers, hair dryers, plasma televisions, and high-speed Internet connections. Closets with glass doors will be constructed, and in the bathrooms, bathtubs will be removed and replaced with walk-in glass showers. The room doors will be refinished to a dark walnut color, according to Meredith Schmidt, director of the Campus Center/Student Union complex. The remodeling will be completed two floors at a time so that the hotel can remain open and accommodate guests during construction. The tentative completion date is April 2009. The Boston office of the international architectural firm Gensler is overseeing the renovation. Schmidt said the firm’s renovation plans reflect a conscious respect for Bauhaus architect and influential modernist Marcel Breuer, who designed the Campus Center with his associate, Herbert Beckhard. Eastern General Contractors Inc. of Springfield is carrying out the modernization project.

    MMWEC Requests Federal Probe

    LUDLOW — Massachusetts and six other states receiving hydroelectric power from New York are seeking a federal investigation into the causes of multi-million-dollar increases in the cost of delivering the power across New York’s electric transmission system. Allegations of potential illegal activity and abuse of power-market rules have surfaced in calls for a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission investigation into alleged manipulative practices that by one estimate have cost consumers more than $450 million since January 2008. Forty Massachusetts municipal utilities receive a 53-megawatt allocation of low-cost, hydroelectric power generated at the Niagara Hydroelectric Project in Western New York. While the cost of generating the power has remained relatively stable at around 3 cents per kilowatt hour, the cost of delivering the power to the Massachusetts border has nearly tripled in recent months, to approximately $3 million. Massachusetts is represented in the case by the Mass. Municipal Wholesale Electric Co., which manages the state’s allocation of New York power through an agreement with the state Department of Public Utilities. Under federal law, Massachusetts is entitled to a share of the Niagara Project power, which is delivered to the residential customers of the state’s municipal utilities. Other states receiving a share of the power are Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

    Loomis Communities Support Alzheimer’s Association

    Residents and staff of the Loomis Communities have joined forces this year to raise $7,000 to support the Alzheimer’s Association. Activities have ranged from a bridge marathon that raised $2,440, to sales of blueberry muffins, forget-me-nots, and Alzheimer’s Assoc. bracelets. Additionally, residents and their family members and staff will walk in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk on Sept. 21 at Stanley Park in Westfield. The Loomis Communities consists of three not-for-profit continuing-care retirement communities in the Pioneer Valley, including Applewood at Amherst, Loomis House in Holyoke, and Loomis Village in South Hadley. For more information on any of the Loomis Communities’ projects, contact Rob Claflin at (413) 253-9833.

    $40 Million in Improvements, Repairs Undertaken at UMass

    AMHERST — As work on several major building projects continued this summer at the UMass Amherst, more than $40 million in safety, building, and infrastructure improvements and repairs were also in progress across the campus. Safety-related projects included the installation of sprinkler systems and upgraded emergency lighting and fire alarms in several residence halls and other campus buildings, according to Jim Cahill, director of facilities and campus planning. The work was in addition to major projects, including the construction of the central heating plant, Integrated Sciences building, and the Recreation Center, as well as the renovation of Skinner Hall. Other improvements ranged from laboratory renovations and repairs and building facades to roof replacements, the reconstruction of a parking lot, and overhauls of classrooms. The projects were supported by state and federal funds, the UMass Building Authority, and campus monies.

    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

    Krissy Lemke v. Photo Memories
    Allegation: Breach of contract for photo services: $2,000
    Filed: 8/12/08

    Peter Jeffrey Curtin v. HSBC Retail Services Inc. & HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A.
    Allegation: Breach of contract, violation of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: $10,000
    Filed: 7/22/08

    Tony’s Auto Repair v. G. Tech Systems Communications Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods and services rendered: $2,000
    Filed: 7/29/08

    FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

    Alan Stone v. HSIA, LLC d/b/a Seven O’s
    Allegation: Dram shop negligence causing personal injury: $23,311
    Filed: 8/25/08

    GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

    Edward Dorshow & Lynne Mclandsborough v. Ford Motor Co.
    Allegation: Breach of contract: $27,663.23
    Filed: 8/14/08

    HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

    A.J. Virgilio Construction Inc. v. Kowal General Contracting
    Allegation: Improper roof installment causing damages: $50,000
    Filed: 8/06/08

    All Points Capital Corp. v. G.W. Transport Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of equipment financing agreement: $44,540.96
    Filed: 7/23/08

    Amos Umezuruike v. Wal-Mart Stores, East
    Allegation: Employment discrimination: $1,300,000
    Filed: 7/28/08

    Holyoke Mall Company LP v. Sadie’s LLC
    Allegation: Defendant defaulted on written lease: $1,469,146.56
    Filed: 7/29/08

    JoAnna Strange v. Isac L. Bloch M.D. & E.N.T. Of Western New England, LLC
    Allegation: Removal of excess cartilage resulting in deformity: $500,000
    Filed: 8/11/08

    Luis Garcia v. Mass. State Lottery Commission
    Allegation: Employment discrimination: 760,000
    Filed: 7/27/08

    Luther Alexander v. Commerce Insurance
    Allegation: Failure to make reasonable offer of settlement: $17,083.57
    Filed: 7/11/08

    Mary Lou Sanborn v. Edward W. Drew, Electrician
    Allegation: Balance due for goods sold and delivered: $34,906.09
    Filed: 8/22/08

    Maura A. Halloran v. Alla Z. Chesky M.D. et al.
    Allegation: Medical malpractice: $200,000
    Filed: 7/24/08

    Pioneer Valley Concrete Services v. Norman B. Keddy Construction Co.
    Allegation: Failure to pay for labor and materials on three construction projects: $45,235.10
    Filed: 7/16/08

    Rosemary Pagios v. NK First Corp. & Nadim Kashouh
    Allegation: Breach of a commercial lease: $35,000
    Filed: 7/25/08

    TD Banknorth N.A. v. Tremblay Electric
    Allegation: Default on promissory note: $66,634.90
    Filed: 7/16/08

    Wells Fargo Equipment v. G.W. Transport Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of contract: $90,360.24
    Filed: 8/01/08

    HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

    Grefory & Sylvia Zakrzewski v. Extreme Marine
    Allegation: Misrepresentation in sale of boat: $25,000.00
    Filed: 8/15/08

    HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

    Fed Ex Ground Inc. v. Real Fragrances
    Allegation: Breach of contract and non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $5,923.88
    Filed: 7/14/08

    John Ferriter v. R.C.R. Enterprises Inc.
    Allegation: Bounced check and legal fees: $7,250; Filed: 8/08/08

    NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

    Dr. Peter G. Dayton v. Overlook Industries Inc.
    Allegation: Failure to pay on promissory note: $15,000; Filed: 8/18/08

    F.W. Webb Company v. Salvatore’s Plumbing & Heating
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $7,438.52; Filed: 7/09/08

    Ravenwood Greenhouses v. Laflammes’s Garden Center Inc. & Auctioneer Phil Jacquier Inc.
    Allegation: Negligently failed to ensure that successful bid was honored: $16,000
    Filed: 7/14/08

    PALMER DISTRICT COURT

    EMSL Analytical Inc. v. All Clean Mold Service
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $2,450.81
    Filed: 7-28-08

    Gilbert & Son Insulation Inc. v. Metro Builders
    Allegation: Non-payment of insulation services rendered: $2,506.19; Filed: 7/18/08

    The Bell/Simons Company v. Reliable Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $6,257.52; Filed: 7/18/08

    SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

    Biermann Services Inc. v. ARA Convenience
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $23,844.60; Filed: 5/23/08

    Comdata Network Inc. v. A & A Transport Logistics
    Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $10,002.12; Filed: 5/08/08

    Gilbert & Son Insulation Inc. v. McElligott Construction, LLC
    Allegation: Non-payment for insulation services: $12,484.84; Filed: 5/21/08

    J.D. Contracting Inc. v. Newfield Construction Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of contract and money damages: $6,434; Filed: 8/15/08

    Mary Lou Sanborn v. Portelada Electric Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment on account: $13,402.88
    Filed: 5/27/08

    Moriarty & Primack, P.C. v. Dorchester Industries Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment for tax return services: $3,659.53
    Filed: 8/03/08

    Tyler Enterprises v. Grandview Farms Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $8,914.53
    Filed: 8/08/08

    United Rentals Inc. v. Heller & Smith Corp.
    Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and services for various construction projects: $34,105.83
    Filed: 5/08/08

    WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

    Clark Paint & Varnish Co. v. Gerry’s Painting
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods: $1,292.02
    Filed: 8/04/08

    Ivey Industries Inc. v. New England Equipment Repair, LLC
    Allegation: Non-payment on rental, lease, and purchase of equipment: $2,000
    Filed: 8/01/08

    By
    Departments

    Robert A. Plasse has been named Assistant to the President for Communications at Westfield State College. Plasse is the founding member, president, and director of programs for Westfield on Weekends, and most recently served as Assistant Professor in the Human Services Department at Holyoke Community College.

    •••••

    Chuck Breidenbach has joined Mountain Development Corp., owner and manager of the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, as Managing Director of the MDC Retail Properties Group. He will oversee the retail business operations incorporating his wide variety of experience including development, leasing, management, marketing, and construction of both enclosed and open-air retail facilities. His background in new development, turnarounds, and expansions will help facilitate Mountain Development’s continued growth.

    •••••

    Carolyne Hannan has been named Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Comcast in Western Mass., Connecticut, and New York. In this role, Hannan will oversee all marketing and sales initiatives in the 128 communities that comprise the region. Hannan has 15 years of experience in the communications industry, including four years with Comcast.

    •••••

    Witalisz & Associates Inc. of Westfield announced the following:
    • Bernadette Bain joins the firm as a Realtor/ Consultant;
    • Grace Sullivan joins the firm as a Broker/Realtor, and
    • Barbara Petrucelli joins the firm as a Broker/Realtor.

    •••••

    Mark Grumoli has been named Senior Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer at Greenfield Savings Bank. He brings more than 17 years of sales, commercial-banking, and management experience to his new position.

    •••••

    Maryann Lombardi, who for the past year has served as acting Director of Creative Economy for the UMass Amherst division of University Outreach, has been named to become the first full-time director for that office. In this role she also serves as Managing Director of the Sankofa Dance Project, which celebrates African roots in American dance through intensive summer study, choreographic residencies, performances, and events. She brings extensive directing and production experience to the new Outreach position, having served almost 10 years as producer, general manager, and resident director for boulevard arts, inc., and as artistic producer and resident director for the Leopold Project.

    •••••

    Edward J. Garbacik has been elected Vice President, Investment Executive of Financial Services of Florence Savings Bank. He has more than 20 years of financial services experience, having worked previously for UBS Financial Service Inc.

    •••••

    William E. Templeton has joined Berkshire Bank as AVP/Mortgage Loan Manager for the Pioneer Valley. He will concentrate his efforts on developing mortgage business in the Greater Springfield area.

    •••••

    Hogan Communications in Easthampton announced the following:
    • Jenna Gable has joined the firm in the Accounting Department. She is creating policies and procedures that will further enhance the company’s customer service.
    • Krystal Ayala has joined the firm as a Customer Advocate, specializing in increasing customer satisfaction.

    •••••

    UMass Amherst faculty and staff members have received recognition for their work in recent weeks:
    • Fergus M. Clydesdale, Distinguished Professor and head of the Food Science Department, presented the 2008 Sterling B. Hendricks Memorial Lecture on Aug. 19 at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia;
    • Ashoke Ganguli, Director of Auxiliary Services, received the Pinnacle Award from the (OS1) Users Group Aug. 18 in recognition of his “outstanding contributions to the cleaning industry and the (OS1) program”;
    • Eliot Moss, Professor of Computer Science, shared an award for the most influential paper at the International Symposium on Computer Architecture June 21-25 in Beijing; and
    • Brian D. Bunk, visiting Assistant Professor of History, co-edited Nation and Conflict in Modern Spain: Essays in Honor of Stanley G. Payne, published in August by the Parallel Press of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Co-edited by Sasha Pack and Carl Gustaf-Scott, the book is a collection of original scholarship and reflective essays written by students and colleagues of the distinguished Hispanist.

    •••••

    Pat French has been named SCORE Community Outreach Coordinator for the Western Mass, division at H&R Block.

    •••••

    FieldEddy has appointed Wendy L. Fitzgerald and Dina N. Rehbein as Personal Line Account Managers. Both are licensed property and casualty insurance agents in Massachusetts.

    •••••

    Andrew Ross has been promoted at Scottrade’s Springfield branch office at 1441 Main St. Ross is responsible for branch operations, managing personnel, and providing customer service.

    •••••

    Kristina Lavigne has been promoted to Personal Insurance Manager for Insurance Center of New England in West Springfield.

    •••••

    GCB Financial Services division in Greenfield announces the addition of Sharon A. Connery as a Financial Services Representative.

    •••••

    UMass Five College Federal Credit Union announced that Craig Layman, a registered representative affiliated with broker-dealer and registered investment adviser CUSO Financial Services, was a recent recipient of the CFS 2007 Bronze Pacesetter Award at the annual conference in San Diego. The award honors the top-producing registered representatives among 100-plus credit union programs. UMass Five serves UMass as well as the Five College System and other select employee groups.

    •••••

    Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley President-Elect Mark Abramson and Executive Vice President Edward M. Moore recently attended the 2008 National Association of Realtors Leadership Summit in Chicago.

    •••••

    Donna Huff, Minimum Data Set Coordinator for Jewish Geriatric Services, was recently awarded Minimum Data Set (MDS) certification granted by the National Assoc. of Subacute/Post Acute Care. MDS, a uniform set of elements for assessing the functional capacity of residents of long-term care facilities, is required for communication with designated state agencies as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid programs.

    •••••

    Bill Blair recently joined ERA Laplante Realty of South Hadley.

    •••••

    Peter Spedero, a Senior Analyst for Unemployment Tax Control Associates in Springfield, recently celebrated his five-year anniversary with the firm. Spedero services the multi-state accounts division, including the US Air-America West and Sovereign Bank accounts.

    •••••

    Terrie Edson recently joined Franklin County Home Care as Program Director of the Men’s Health Partnership and Women’s Health Network.

    An Important Lesson in Teamwork

    By
    Opinion

    They call them ‘soft’ skills.

    That’s the term applied to most non-technical skills associated with employment situations. These include communications, teamwork-building capabilities, listening, even dress and punctuality.

    These are often overlooked at a time when employers are struggling to find people who have the requisite technical skills to run today’s high-tech manufacturing equipment or read an X-ray. But those soft skills are critical in every job and for every business, and like those aforementioned hard skills they are often missing from the equation among those seeking employment in the Pioneer Valley.

    Which is why we’re encouraged by programs like that created by Junior Achievement of Western Mass. Inc. for area high school students, but also the companies that may employ them someday. Called the Workforce Readiness & Career Preparation Project, the initiative (see story, page 35) has a number of different components. Together, they address concerns and issues ranging from awareness of career opportunities at area businesses to the importance of education in seizing those opportunities, to those aforementioned soft skills.

    The program, now in its second year and involving more than 1,300 students at two Springfield high schools, is a good example of how the business community can work together with groups like JA to help improve the quality and quantity of this region’s workforce — and must do so if this all-important economic development issue is to be addressed.

    As we’ve said before, workforce development is a broad, complex, often-frustrating issue that, to be properly addressed, requires some vision and patience — in equal doses. That’s because the answers, and the solutions, don’t some quickly or easily. In some cases, steps taken today may not yield results for five, 10, or even 20 years down the road. But they still have to be taken.

    Which brings us to the JA workforce-readiness program, which continues a tradition that the organizations started nearly 90 years ago to “teach kids how business works.” In years past, this assignment traditionally involved going into a high school and setting up a company making night lights or some other product.

    This exercise would provide lessons in everything from budgeting to marketing; management to sales. JA still conducts such programs within the area, but recently, it was informed that it had more work to do.

    Indeed, after querying area business owners about the problems and issues confronting them — and about how JA might address them — administrators in the Springfield office heard that young (and some not-so-young) people lacked many of those soft skills, some as apparently simple as showing up for work on time.

    Discussions with business owners revealed that these matters were in no way simple, and that some requisite skills and attitudes needed to succeed in business and in life — matters once taken for granted — were now getting lost; the lessons were not being imparted in the home or classroom.

    Using funds amassed through a challenge grant from MassMutual, the JA program is addressing these issues through in-class presentations, board games, and a job-shadowing program that gets young people out of the classroom and into the workplace. Through these initiatives, students learn about everything from credit and how to manage it to what an underwriter does and why one has to stay in school to become one.

    It’s far too early gauge just how successful the JA program will be in addressing the concerns of area business owners. But this much we know already: workforce development is all-encompassing matter for this region, and that the process of improving quality and quantity will require that the business community and groups like JA practice teamwork — and not simply try to teach it.

    This Workforce Readiness & Career Preparation Project provides some momentum to build upon.-

    By
    Departments

    A Day of Caring

    On Sept. 5, the United Way of the Pioneer Valley staged its Annual Day of Caring. More than 16,000 volunteers from 48 businesses and organizations across the region fanned out to clean playgrounds, spruce up parks and school grounds, and assist groups like Square One. Above, at the ribbon cutting ceremony at River Front Park in Springfield, United Way President Joel Weiss, right, and Mayor Dominic Sarno help do the honors. Also pictured is Sally Fuller of the Cherish Every Child Initiative and Beatrice Geary-Martone (cutting the ribbon). On the facing page, clockwise, from bottom, children from the Arbors Kids at Mason Wright in Springfield romp at Barrows Park; cleanup efforts at Kenefick Park were sponsored by Baystate Children’s Hospital; employees at Peter Pan Bus Lines volunteered to spruce up Forest Park in Springfield (Peter Picknelly Jr., who served as co-chair of the event along with his wife, Melissa, is seen in the background).

    Privatization That Protects Taxpayer Interests

    By
    Opinion

    The Mass. Turnpike Authority is broke, and state taxpayers are partially on the hook if it can’t pay the bills. Bridges are in woeful condition; the Commonwealth just agreed to borrow $3 billion to fix the nearly 600 of them categorized as “structurally deficient.”

    Nationally, the Highway Trust Fund, which provides money for road and bridge projects, is tapped out. One recent proposal to keep it afloat would transfer billions from the deficit-ridden federal treasury.

    Clearly, the days of funding highway projects with proceeds from state and federal gas taxes have come and gone. Higher-mileage vehicles, increasing use of alternative fuels, and reluctance to periodically raise gas taxes to keep up with inflation have produced an unsustainable system.

    And if the nation is serious about renewable energy, independence from foreign oil, and reducing emissions, does it really want a funding system based on fossil fuels?

    Governments have long looked to the private sector to fill funding gaps. Highway privatization can replace public debt with private capital, accelerate construction, and find innovative ways to reduce costs.

    The most recent wave of privatization involves the long-term lease of a toll road to a private entity in return for a large up-front payment. The idea behind these so-called concessions is to give the private sector ‘skin in the game’ by creating an incentive to perform the maintenance on which government often skimps. Maximizing toll revenue, and recouping the initial payment, requires a well-maintained roadway.

    When properly structured, concession deals can work for taxpayers. Indiana is investing all of the $3.85 billion it received for a 75-year lease of its 157-mile toll road in transportation infrastructure projects that will promote long-term growth, not using it to plug holes and go on a short-term spending spree. Privatization has been floated as an option to address the Turnpike’s financial woes. But there may be an even better way than the concession deals that are currently the rage.

    A smaller up-front payment could be combined with annual payments to state or local government. Unless they get permission from their government partner, concessionaires would be prohibited from selling their equity in the transaction the way a financial institution might sell a mortgage. By giving taxpayers a seat at the table when decisions are being made, these changes would require the private sector to keep skin in the game for the length of the lease and discourage self-dealing and artificially inflated short-term profits.

    This joint ownership model can be taken even further. Government is interested in providing maximum service for minimal cost; that gets people re-elected.

    Business owes a fiduciary duty to its investors to maximize profits by collecting as much toll revenue as possible. Spending on maintenance and improvements, such as installing electronic tolling to cut travel times, is cost-effective only to the degree that it increases revenue.

    If government wants service on the cheap and business wants profit, introducing a third class of road owners whose interest is in quality transportation — such as trucking and logistics companies and motorists — could balance the competing interests of government and private investors.

    By themselves, new ownership models won’t solve our highway funding problems. We must create a system of user fees that relies on technology to collect revenue and manage demand.

    Clearly, a system funded by gas taxes is neither sustainable nor desirable in the 21st century. Throughout the nation’s history, the private sector has played a critical role in the construction and maintenance of transportation assets. The time has come to forge new partnerships that serve a changing public interest.

    Joseph M. Giglio is a professor of Strategic Management at Northeastern University’s College of Business Adminis-tration. Charles Chieppo is the principal of Chieppo Strategies, a public-policy writing and advocacy firm.

    By
    Departments

    The Big E Gets Under Way

    Through Sept. 28: The 2008 edition of The Big E in West Springfield will present more than $1.7 million in free entertainment, ticketed concerts featuring Natasha Bedingfield, Sugarland, and Fergie, as well as new exhibits, the Mardi Gras Parade, rides, crafts, food, animals, and the best of the old and new that fairgoers have come to expect and enjoy. Notable highlights throughout the fair will include: the Big E Super Circus, the Circus Museum, Sea Lion Splash, and the Harvest New England Kitchen Theater. The Big E’s roots are in agriculture, and that tradition continues by hosting competitions for prize-winning animals from across the country in the largest livestock show in the East. The Big E also offers a wide variety of outdoor and farm exhibits. Whether in Farm-A-Rama or along the Avenue of Agriculture, animal lovers will observe cows, pigs, sheep, llamas, a chick-hatching exhibit, and a rabbit exhibit, among many other animals. Another Big E tradition is the Avenue of States, where each New England state capitol is represented by a replica of the original. Each building contains the native foods, products, crafts, and tourist information of each state. Big E hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Storrowton Village Gift Shop and the Yankee Candle Shop are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Village Craft Area is open until 10 p.m. The North American Midway is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Avenue of States hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For tickets, show times and other detailed information, visit www.thebige.com.

    Dinner Forum on Love, Work, and Boundaries

    September 16: The UMass Amherst Family Business Center will host a dinner forum titled “Boundary Issues in Love and Work” from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in Northampton. Author Jane Adams will offer techniques and tools that can enable business owners to regulate their personal and professional relationships to get more of what they want and less of what they don’t in all their dealings with other family members, partners, friends, and colleagues. The evening will also feature a talk by Rick Giombetti and Paul Alves of Giombetti Associates titled “What It Takes To Be A Good Follower.” Their presentation will discuss how to recognize someone who can take your lead, pick up the ball and run, understand your vision, and make it real. For more information, call Ira Bryck, director of the Family Business Center, at (413) 545-1537, or E-mail [email protected].

    Bridge of Flowers Is 100

    Sept. 20: A Centennial Birthday Party is planned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the 1908 Trolley Bridge, best known as the Bridge of Flowers, in Shelburne Falls. The concrete arch bridge was constructed for the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway as a means for the electric street railway to cross the Deerfield River and connect with major steam railroads. The railway was used for almost 20 years before car and truck competition made electric operations unprofitable. After the last trolley crossed the bridge in November 1927, the rails were lifted, and a town decision was made to plant flowers on the bridge as a way to improve its aesthetics. During the birthday party, visitors may visit the site, as well as ride on Car Number Ten, the restored trolley that once ran across the Bridge of Flowers. For complete details on events throughout the day, visit www.sftm.org.

    Instinctive Leadership Series

    Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 28, Nov. 11, Dec. 9: Clear Vision Alliance presents an Instinctive Leadership Workshop Series beginning Sept. 23 at the Baystate Reference Labs Conference Center, 361 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. The topics for the series are: Sept. 23, “Instinctive Leadership Overview”; Oct. 7, “Relate”; Oct. 28, “Connect”; Nov. 11, “Inspire”; and Dec. 9, “Empower.” Throughout the series, participants will share their own childhood and parenting experiences and will discuss the skills and knowledge of good parenting and relate them to leadership skills that are needed at one’s workplace and in life in general. The cost for one workshop is $65 or $250 for the series. For more information on the series, call (413) 283-7091, or E-mail [email protected]. Space is limited, and early registration is advised.

    Ad Club Luncheon

    Sept. 24: New York City designer, editor and publisher Josh Rubin will present a lecture titled “Triad of Technology” during the 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. luncheon of the Ad Club of Western Mass. in Scibelli Hall at Springfield Technical Community College. Believing there are no new ideas, just great executions, Rubin will discuss “cool high-tech” information that anyone can act on in their everyday life. The cost is $25 for Ad Club members, $35 for non-members, and $15 for students. The deadline to register is Sept. 19. For more information, visit www.adclubwm.org.

    Dinner Lecture

    October 14: Author Joel Barker will present “You Can and Should Shape Your Own Future, Because If You Don’t, Someone Else Surely Will” from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The dinner forum is hosted by the UMass Amherst Family Business Center. Barker will explain how to create ‘extreme’ partnerships to transform your company and product; how your senior leaders can continuously explore trends, innovations, and paradigm shifts; and how to better anticipate and deal with the effects of change. In addition to Barker’s presentation, an educational talk on how to be a savvier user of expert advisors will be presented by the law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP. For more information, call Ira Bryck, director of the Family Business Center, at (413) 545-1537, or E-mail [email protected].

    By
    Departments

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

    Akanour, Lahoussine
    241 Jackson St., Apt. 5D
    Northampton, MA 01060
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/18/2008

    Beaulieu-Brace, Michele E.
    126 Plunkett St.
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/18/2008

    Brutskiy, Dmitriy Y.
    Brutskaya, Vita
    a/k/a Manerskaite, Vita
    34 Laurelwood Lane
    Springfield, MA 01118
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Cadarette, Brian J.
    62 Green River Road
    Greenfield, MA 01301
    c/o P.O. Box 147
    Turners Falls, MA 01376
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Caggiano, Rosanne C.
    Caggiano, Anthony J.
    124 Southampton Road
    Westhampton, MA 01027
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/21/2008

    Castro, Jose M.
    21 Bowers St., Apt. 613
    Holyoke, MA 01040
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/24/2008

    Clear, Craig A.
    Clear, Lisa C.
    7 Brainard Road
    Wilbraham, MA 01095
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/25/2008

    Cortes, Wilfredo
    Colon, Wilfredo Cortes
    48 Beauchamp St.
    Springfield, MA 01107
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/17/2008

    Dostal, Emma M.
    1 Bridge Lane
    Hatfield, MA 01038
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/18/2008

    Dufresne, Ernestine Nilla
    210 Johnson Road, Apt 1
    Chicopee, MA 01022
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/17/2008

    Ellingwood, Jay D.
    Ellingwood, Barbara A.
    177-179 Silver Lake St.
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/18/2008

    Estrada, Serena M.
    a/k/a Olson, Serena M.
    39 Guy Place
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Evans, Mark E.
    Evans, Denise D.
    77 Elizabeth Dr.
    Ludlow, MA 01056
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/16/2008

    Fontanez, Gladys
    P.O. Box 2033
    Springfield, MA 01101
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/18/2008

    Gammons, George T.
    Gammons, Carolyn H. O’Connell Rd.
    Holyoke, MA 01040
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/21/2008

    Gibson, Gregg A.
    Gibson, Patricia S.
    278 Ely Ave.
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/16/2008

    Gibson, Paulette D.
    136 Malibu Dr.
    Springfield, MA 01128
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Greene, James
    45 Ringgold St.
    Springfield, MA 01107
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/24/2008

    Harris, Roney
    615 White St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/21/2008

    Howell, Michael John
    433 Amherst Road, Apt. 4
    Belchertown, MA 01007
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/18/2008

    Iglesias, Jeanene D.
    183 Berkshire Ave.
    Southwick, MA 01077
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/21/2008

    Jarmolowicz, Sharon L.
    34 Elm St.
    South Deerfield, MA 01373
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/16/2008

    King, Kenneth J.
    King, June A.
    15 Richard Eger Dr.
    Holyoke, MA 01040
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/25/2008

    Koscielniak, Amy L.
    101 Edward Ave.
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/23/2008

    		  

    Kustra, Penelope S.
    58 Celestine St.
    Chicopee, MA 01013
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/16/2008

    Latour, Joan M.
    22C Phins Hill Manor
    Granby, MA 01033
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/21/2008

    Lemieux, Jr., Joseph P.
    31 Woodland Ridge
    Southwick, MA 01077
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/22/2008

    Lester, Colleen M.
    33 Chatham St.
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/24/2008

    Masic, Nedzad
    Masic, Fatima
    a/k/a Marit, Fatima
    60 Worcester St.
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/17/2008

    McHugh, Bernard Joseph
    McHugh, Roxanne Vivian
    587 Pleasant St.
    Barre, MA 01005
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/18/2008

    Merced, Patricia
    63 Eleanor Road
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/16/2008

    Napoli, Stephen Domenic
    154 Pleasantview Ave.
    Longmeadow, MA 01106
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/21/2008

    O’Hare, Gladys R.
    519 East River St., Lot 43
    Orange, MA 01364
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/16/2008

    Olson, Dawn Marie
    19 Humphrey Lane
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Pelletier, Wayne John
    16 Ridge Hill Road
    Sturbridge, MA 01566
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Place, Deborah A.
    125 Bulat Dr.
    Springfield, MA 01129
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/24/2008

    Rogers, Charles E.
    18-20 Church St.
    Gilbertville, MA 01031
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/17/2008

    Roy, Donald A.
    25 Jefferson Ave.
    Chicopee, MA 01020
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/17/2008

    Saladyga, Danuta Zofia
    24 Hillside Village
    Ware, MA 01082
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Salsbury, Roseanne Marie
    PO Box 6085
    Springfield, MA 01101
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/24/2008

    Speranzo, Carol L.
    a/k/a Roosa, Carol L.
    a/k/a Adriance, Carol L.
    34 Lakewood Circle
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/22/2008

    Squires, Peter M.
    33 Draper St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 13
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Todd, Holly J.
    25 Wheeler Ave.
    Orange, MA 01364
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/19/2008

    Trenary, Bart J.
    26 Pomeroy St.
    Easthampton, MA 01027
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/23/2008

    Tropical Gardens Pet Center
    Blair, Terri L.
    3 Chase Hill
    North Adams, MA 01247
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/24/2008

    Wilkey, Kenneth Howard
    66 Maple St.
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/17/2008

    Will, Mary-Beth
    50 Brunelle St.
    Ludlow, MA 01056
    Chapter: 7
    Date: 07/18/2008

    By
    Departments

    State Regulators Deny Permit to Russell Biomass

    RUSSELL — The state Department of Public Utilities recently rejected plans for a 50-megawatt, $200 million wood-burning power plant, citing “significant, disrupting, and lasting” impacts on the town. Russell Biomass had requested that the department exempt the company’s proposed generating project from compliance with the town of Russell’s zoning requirements. To grant such an exemption, the department had to determine if the public benefits of the project would outweigh its local impacts. The department had found that the proposed facility would have clear public benefits. In particular, the proposed facility would have the potential to provide energy benefits for Massachusetts, in that development of the facility could: supply added renewable energy resources; help meet electricity demand in a manner that at least initially provides carbon-control benefits consistent with the state’s mandate to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases over time; contribute to maintaining the reliability of the bulk power system and potentially lower wholesale prices in some hours; and help provide a more diverse electricity supply, which may provide a measure of protection against possible fuel-supply disruption. The department also found that the proposed facility would come with significant local impacts. Primarily because Main Street in Russell is the sole means of vehicular access to the proposed facility, the project would have significant local traffic, traffic-safety, and noise impacts. Operation of the facility would require an average of 150 to 160, and up to 240, trips daily by tractor-trailer trucks delivering wood fuel, significantly increasing the size and volume of the vehicles that currently travel on Main Street, and significantly increasing noise above existing levels for a period of up to 11.5 hours each weekday. As a result, ease and safety of local residents’ access to their homes and to municipal services, including emergency services, could be compromised, and in some circumstances precluded. In addition, the existing character and aesthetic of the town and Main Street would be degraded. Department officials said they fully support the development of renewable energy resources in the Commonwealth, particularly those that have the potential to assist in reducing the carbon impact of Massachusetts power supply, and has acted in consideration of this viewpoint. The department notes that the project as currently proposed differs from the project originally approved by the town of Russell not only in the increased volume of daily truck traffic, but in the type of fuel to be used and in construction scheduling. The department added it is not denying the siting, construction, or operation of the proposed Russell Biomass facility. Instead, in weighing the public benefits of the proposed facility against local impacts, they concluded they could not approve the company’s request that the department provide an exemption from the local zoning bylaws of the town of Russell.

    Grant Ensures Continuation of TAP Program

    SPRINGFIELD — The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) recently announced a $250,000 grant from the state to continue its Technical Assistance Program. TAP, as it’s called, provides funding to businesses that move into vacant storefronts in the city. In the three years since its inception, the ACCGS has assisted more than 100 businesses to move into vacant storefronts throughout the city, according to Russell Denver, president of the ACCGS. Denver noted that the program has proven itself to be a benefit to chamber members who are not located in Springfield, as many have been used for the services rendered in connection with the TAP grants. The businesses that are the recipients of the grants can choose the vendors they wish to contract with, and the vendor in turn is paid directly by the chamber. Denver said this program is a “win-win” for everyone involved. Businesspersons interested in more information about the TAP program should call the ACCGS at (413) 787-1555.

    State Foreclosure Deeds Push Past 2007 Level

    BOSTON — Foreclosure deeds in Massachusetts jumped 34% in July from a year ago but declined slightly from the prior month, according to a new report by the Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman. A total of 1,097 foreclosure deeds were filed in July, up from 819 in July 2007. July’s foreclosure deeds were 3% lower than June, when 1,131 deeds were recorded. Foreclosure activity has doubled so far this year, with 7,804 deeds filed through July 2008 compared to 3,902 during the same period in 2007. The number of foreclosure deeds from January through July has already exceeded the total number recorded for all of 2007, when there were 7,653 deeds. The most foreclosure deeds in July were recorded in Worcester with 68; Springfield, 61; Brockton, 46; Dorchester, 46; and Lynn, 46. Petitions to foreclose, which is the first step in the foreclosure process, rose 43.4% to 502 in July from 350 in June. But petitions to foreclose fell 79.8% from July 2007, when lenders filed 2,485 foreclosure petitions. The sharp dropoff is connected to a law that took effect in May that requires lenders intending to foreclose to give borrowers 90 days to pay off loan defaults. Auction announcements in July climbed 5% to 1,354 from 1,289 a year earlier. Year-to-date auction announcements jumped 34.7% to 11,932 from 8,859.

    GDF SUEZ Acquires FirstLight Power Enterprises

    HOLYOKE — GDF SUEZ Energy International, through its North American subsidiary, recently announced the signing of an agreement to acquire FirstLight Power Enterprises Inc. FirstLight owns and operates a unique portfolio of 15 power-generation plants — primarily pumped storage and traditional hydro facilities — and has a state-of-the-art natural-gas-peaking facility under construction. Together, these 16 facilities — including the Mount Tom Station on Route 5 near Northampton — have a combined capacity of 1,538 MW located in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Dirk Beeuwsaert, CEO of GDF SUEZ, noted in a press statement that the acquisition of FirstLight solidifies the company’s presence in a sizable and growing electricity and gas market. New England, with a population of 14 million and 31,000 MW of electric-generation capacity, is a core market for GDF SUEZ in North America, added Beeuwsaert. The company currently owns six renewable and natural-gas-fired power generation assets in the region; it sells electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and natural gas to nearly every gas utility in New England through its liquefied natural gas business. GDF SUEZ has not indicated how much it offered to purchase FirstLight.

    Major Retailers See Sales Drop

    NEW YORK — Several major retailers including JCPenney, Kohl’s, and American Eagle Outfitters, posted lower August sales on weaker back-to-school spending, but the declines were not as dire as Wall Street investors had feared. In contrast, Costco’s sales rose 9% due to bargains on gasoline and food, although that increase was weaker than expected. JCPenney officials also expect sales in September to fall in the mid- to high single digits, compared with 2007’s 3.7% decline. Kohl’s, which reported a 5.8% decline in August sales, said its stores continued to experience weakness in southern and southwest states. At American Eagle, sales fell 5%, hurt by continued weakness in its young women’s business.

    By
    Departments

    The following building permits were issued during the month of September 2008.

    AGAWAM

    City of Agawam
    689 Main St.
    $22,000 — Installation of play structure at Phelp’s School

    Cumberland Farms
    837 Suffield St.
    $2,500 — Installation of handicap ramp

    AMHERST

    Amherst College Trustees
    Merrill Science Building
    $52,750 — New roof

    CHICOPEE

    Elm’s College
    291 Springfield St.
    $6,800 — Renovate existing offices

    MC OP-CO
    1460 Memorial Dr.
    $55,000 — Renovate 100 square feet for a coffee service

    EASTHAMPTON

    Bary Nasir
    36-40 Union St.
    $20,000 — Renovate space for Kennedy Fried Chicken take-out service

    GREENFIELD

    Alliance Church
    385 Chapman St.
    $6,000 — New roof

    CFM Buckley North LLC
    95 Laurel St.
    $17,000 — Installation of a concrete outdoor patio area

    HADLEY

    Ann McEwen & David Thompson
    43 Russell St.
    $132,000 — 12-by-40 single-story addition on west side of hospital

    David Viola
    367 Russell St.
    $28,000 — Mobiletron/Verizon 10-by-15 kiosk modular construction

    Hopkins Academy
    131 Russell St.
    $34,000 — Remove ceilings and floors and replace with new

    HOLYOKE

    City of Holyoke Schools
    401 Jarvis Ave.
    $19,000 — Install new canopies

    City of Holyoke Schools
    75 Kane Road
    $19,000 — Install new canopies

    Holyoke Crossing Limited Partnership II
    15 Holyoke St.
    $28,000 — Interior renovation

    LONGMEADOW

    Summa Venture Realty Trust
    916 Shaker Road
    $193,000 — Bank alterations

    LUDLOW

    Viter Inc.
    305 Moody St.
    $390,000 — Commercial addition

    		  

    NORTHAMPTON

    Suher Properties LLC
    50 Main St.
    $7,000 — Interior renovations

    SOUTH HADLEY

    Mt. Holyoke College
    50 College St.
    $111,000 — Dwight Hall renovations

    Mt. Holyoke College
    25 Morgan St.
    $196,000 — Gorse Hall renovations

    Mt. Holyoke College
    47 Morgan St.
    $10,000 — Alterations to the Oscar C. Koehler building

    SPRINGFIELD

    American International College
    191-193 Acorn St.
    $570,000 — Alterations to eight dormitory units

    American International College
    1000 State St.
    $6,000 — Create new area for print shop in Schwartz Campus Center

    American International College
    170-192 Wilbraham Road
    $3,500 — Create new dorm room

    Baystate Health Inc.
    759 Chestnut St.
    $227,000 — Relocation of existing lab

    L&W Realty
    310 State St.
    $2,000 — Installing new door for secondary egress

    SIS
    1441 Main St.
    $29,000 — Interior renovations to create new offices

    WESTFIELD

    Bank of America
    10 Main St.
    $42,000 — Interior renovations

    Lawry Freight
    138 Apremont Way
    $54,000 — Commercial renovation

    WEST SPRINGFIELD

    C&G Realty Trust
    11 Park Ave.
    $41,000 — New roof

    Century Investment Company
    73 State St.
    $496,000 — Renovate existing storefront facade

    Raymour & Flanagan
    1406 Elm St.
    $284,000 — Strip and re-roof

    U.P.S.
    120 Wayside Ave.
    $50,000 — Install sprinkler-fire-suppression system

    By
    Departments

    ACCGS Breakfast Club

    Sept. 3: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield will conduct its first Breakfast Club for the 2008-09 season at 7:15 a.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. William M. Pepin, vice president and general manager of WWLP TV22, will present “Digital Television Transition and How It Will Affect You and Your Business.” Additionally, Allan W. Blair, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., will present an “Economic Snapshot Look at the Regional Economy.” For reservations and more information, call Diane Swanson, events manager, at (413) 755-1313, or via E-mail at [email protected].

    WP Program

    Sept. 10: Speaker Sasha ZeBryk will present “3 Wicked Ways to Win Over an Audience” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel in West Springfield, sponsored by the Women’s Partnership, an affiliate of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. The event is open to the public with advance registration required. The cost is $25. For reservations and more information, call Diane Swanson, events manager, at (413) 755-1313, or via E-mail at [email protected].

    Book Signing, Free Power-coaching Sessions

    Sept. 10: Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach J. Sheldon Snodgrass, MBA, one of the featured authors in the new book, Guerrilla Marketing on the Front Lines: 35 World Class Strategies to Send Your Profits Soaring, will be signing books and explaining how local business owners can apply the same low-cost methods presented in the book to overcome their most vexing marketing challenges. Sheldon will lead free, 45-minute power-coaching sessions at the Northampton Chamber of Commerce office for eight businesses at a time, from 9 to 11 a.m., and again from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, call Snodgrass at (413) 244-2294.

    Big E

    Sept. 12-28: The 2008 edition of The Big E in West Springfield will present more than $1.7 million in free entertainment; ticketed concerts featuring Natasha Bedingfield, Sugarland, and Fergie; as well as new exhibits, the Mardi Gras Parade, rides, crafts, tantalizing treats, animals, and the best of the old and new that fairgoers have come to expect and enjoy. The Fair opens Sept. 12, honoring the men and women of the armed services with Military Appreciation Day. All military personnel, immediate families, and veterans with ID will be admitted free on opening day. Notable highlights throughout the fair will include: the Big E Super Circus, the Circus Museum, Sea Lion Splash, and the Harvest New England Kitchen Theater. Also, Cultura 2008, planned on Sept. 14, is a day dedicated to celebrating the many aspects of Hispanic culture, from food and art to music and dance. Musical performances by Latin artists will take place throughout the day at the Food Court. Salsa lessons and dance demonstrations will also be presented. Of course, the Big E’s roots are in agriculture, and that tradition continues by hosting competitions for prize-winning animals from across the country in the largest livestock show in the East. From milking cows to picking pumpkins, the Big E offers a wide variety of farm and outdoor exhibits. Whether in Farm-A-Rama or along the Avenue of Agriculture, animal lovers will observe cows, pigs, sheep, llamas, a chick-hatching exhibit, and a rabbit exhibit, among many other animals. Another Big E tradition is the Avenue of States, where each New England state capitol is represented by a replica of the original. Each building contains the native foods, products, crafts, and tourist information of each state. Big E hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Storrowton Village Gift Shop and the Yankee Candle Shop are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Village Craft Area is open until 10 p.m. The North American Midway is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Avenue of States hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For tickets, show times, and other information, visit www.thebige.com.

    Dinner Forum

    Sept. 16: The UMass Amherst Family Business Center will host a dinner forum titled “Boundary Issues in Love and Work” from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in Northampton. Author Jane Adams will offer techniques and tools that can enable business owners to regulate their personal and professional relationships to get more of what they want and less of what they don’t in all their dealings with other family members, partners, friends, and colleagues. The evening will also feature a talk by Rick Giombetti and Paul Alves of Giombetti Associates titled “What It Takes to Be a Good Follower.” Their presentation will discuss how to recognize someone who can take your lead, pick up the ball and run, understand your vision, and make it real. For more information, call Ira Bryck, director of the Family Business Center, at (413) 545-1537, or E-mail [email protected].

    Instinctive Leadership Series

    Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 28, Nov. 11, Dec. 9: Clear Vision Alliance presents an Instinctive Leadership Workshop Series beginning Sept. 23 at the Baystate Reference Labs Conference Center, 361 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. The topics for the series are: Sept. 23, “Instinctive Leadership Overview”; Oct. 7, “Relate”; Oct. 28, “Connect”; Nov. 11, “Inspire”; and Dec. 9, “Empower.” Throughout the series, participants will share their own childhood and parenting experiences and will discuss the skills and knowledge of good parenting and relate them to leadership skills that are needed at one’s workplace and in life in general. The cost for one workshop is $65 or $250 for the entire series. For more information, call (413) 283-7091, or E-mail [email protected]. Space is limited and early registration is advised.

    Step-Up-for-Kids Day

    Sept. 16: Every Child Matters Education Fund (ECMEF), a nonprofit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C, whose mission is to make children a national political priority, is working to organize a Step-Up-For-Kids event on the capitol steps of all 50 states on Sept. 16. HCS Head Start Inc. will coordinate a Greater Springfield Step-Up-For-Kids event scheduled for that date on the steps of Springfield City Hall. This event will bring people together in the Greater Springfield area to show widespread public support for new investments in children and families. The desired outcomes of Step-Up-for-Kids Day are to raise public awareness of the needs of children in the Greater Springfield area and across the country and to make children a priority. For more information, call (413) 788-6522; [email protected].

    Dinner Lecture

    October 14: Author Joel Barker will present “You Can and Should Shape Your Own Future, Because If You Don’t, Someone Else Surely Will” from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The dinner forum is hosted by the UMass Amherst Family Business Center. Barker will explain how to create extreme partnerships to transform your company and product; how senior leaders can continuously explore trends, innovations, and paradigm shifts; and how to better anticipate and deal with the effects of change. In addition to Barker’s presentation, the law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP will present an educational talk on how to be a savvier user of expert advisers. For more information, call Ira Bryck, director of the Family Business Center, at (413) 545-1537, or E-mail [email protected].

    OPINION

    By
    Opinion
    Creating a State of Diversity in Massachusetts

    ‘Inclusion Incorporated’ is an excellent phrase for the new world of hiring and workforce development being faced by corporations and other organizations throughout New England every day.

    The cover story with that title in the July 21 edition of BusinessWest focuses tellingly on the many factors that make diversity an economic imperative — a subject that is now urgently discussed in business schools and boardrooms, and would be even if it weren’t so prominent on the political pages.

    As Lorie Valle-Yanez of MassMutual pointed out in that story, with Baby Boomers beginning to retire, organizations will need to find large numbers of new employees in the next few years, and they will be recruiting from a pool that is much more diverse than the group checking out. Workplaces that give a cold shoulder to employees of color will soon find themselves short of talent.

    One big problem for Massachusetts is its reputation as a place that doesn’t welcome diversity. College recruiters, corporate human-resources directors, and others repeatedly find that talented people of color from other parts of the country are reluctant to locate here. The problem reached its peak during the bitter court-ordered busing conflicts in Boston in the 1970s, but it was simmering for decades before that. And it persists.

    Commonwealth Compact, a statewide program, was launched earlier this year to face the problem squarely and turn it around. The stated goal is to make Massachusetts a location of choice for people of color. This is no small ambition, we know. But the response has been so positive, so broad, and so fast that we are encouraged to hope real progress can be made.

    Driving our project is the belief that diversity is more than a moral or social issue. Real inclusion of all kinds of people, at all levels of organizations, is absolutely crucial if they hope to thrive in our shrinking world.

    Together with a group of more than 50 advisors from all segments of the community, and with the support of Gov. Patrick, the group’s creators agreed to confront honestly the question of how much of the state’s poor reputation is a leftover from busing and how much is still deserved; build on the work of other groups in the field, collaborating to expand their efforts and not competing; and rally a statewide community response.

    One first step was a survey by the McCormack School last year of more than 300 boards of directors. It found that 95% of members were white and 87 male in corporations, with numbers only slightly better for non-profit organizations. Other indicators were also discouraging: for instance, in paired tests of couples seeking housing, nearly half of those of color received fewer options or inferior financing.

    Commonwealth Compact’s Bench-marks Initiative seeks to encourage organizations of all kinds to respond with individual actions that could be very powerful collectively.

    Specifically, organizations are asked to measure annually their own diversity on a detailed list of 25 benchmarks, ranging from board membership through the workforce — including retention and promotion rates vs. white males — to policies relating to customers and suppliers. Individual information is confidential, but the data will be aggregated and reports issued. The object is improvement over time. To date, 125 organizations have signed on, including Staples, Raytheon, John Hancock, Harvard, MIT, UMass, Partners Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

    This strong response shows an enormous and heartening appetite to make real progress. To build further, Commonwealth Compact is preparing an online talent database of people of color, and a clearinghouse to connect people with ongoing agencies, programs, and events.

    We encourage organizations from all over the state to join the effort, so that inclusion really can be incorporated.-

    Robert Turner is the director of the Commonwealth Compact; (617) 287-5579.

    By
    Departments

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

    Allen, Timothy L.
    Po Box 748
    Chicopee, MA 01021
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/01/08

    Antonellis, Carl J.
    106 Northridge Road
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/15/08

    Arcidiacono, Shawn R.
    7 Homecrest Ave.
    Ware, MA 01082
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/01/08

    Arnot, Jane P.
    174 Butterworth Road
    Orange, MA 01364
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Augustino, Christina R.
    103 Gilman St
    Springfield, MA 01118
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 06/30/08

    Banks, Michael Anthony
    9 Silver St.
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Bernier, Richard P.
    Bernier, Christina A.
    61 Prospect St.
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/01/08

    Bonilla, Osiris L.
    143 Kimberly Ave.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Brantley, Tyrone S.
    Brantley, Sabrena M.
    126 West Alvord St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/07/08

    Bushnik, Jennifer A.
    28 Sumner Ave.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/15/08

    Clarke, Nancy A.
    69 Lathrop St.
    South Hadley, MA 01075
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/02/08

    Colwell, Richard Owen
    Colwell, Louraine Doris
    a/k/a Brunt, Louraine D.
    17 Callender Ave.
    East Longmeadow, MA 01028
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 06/30/08

    Currier, Jeremy L.
    57 Cottage St.
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/02/08

    David, Derek J.
    173 S. Main St.
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 06/30/08

    Dearborn, Paula A.
    104 Granby St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Dudley, Destiny Louise
    108 Victoria St.
    Springfield, MA 01104
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/14/08

    Farrell, Vanessa R.
    80 Damon Road
    Northampton, MA 01060
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/14/08

    Flores, Jasmine Anna
    605 Northampton St.
    Holyoke, MA 01040
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/07/08

    Flowers, Larry G.
    470 Memorial Dr., Apt.
    Chicopee, MA 01020
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/15/08

    Fowler, Eric
    17 Vail St.
    Springfield, MA 01118
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Frazier, Ernest W.
    116 King St.
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/10/08

    Gautreau, Phillip R.
    222 Chapman St.
    Greenfield, MA 01301
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/02/08

    Gentile, Michael M.
    Gentile, Calli A.
    27 Shirley St.
    Wilbraham, MA 01095
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/10/08

    Gerasimchuk, Nikolay
    Gerasimchuk, Nadezda
    a/k/a Gerasimchuk, Nadezhola
    54 Grenier Dr.
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/02/08

    Gerber, Stuart M.
    20G Halifax Court
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Grout, Kathryn J.
    39 East Mrytle St.
    Orange, MA 01364
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/05/08

    Gullage, Linda A.
    312 Adams Dr.
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 06/30/08

    Hernandez, Antonio
    Hernandez, Lizette
    137 Kimberly Ave.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/09/08

    Higgins, Elliott
    Higgins, Debbie
    519 East River St.
    Orange, MA 01364
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/09/08

    Hopkins, Bruce D.
    Hopkins, Lori L.
    3618 Chestnut Hill Ave.
    Athol, MA 01331
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Hopkins, Wayne T.
    330 North Brookfield Road
    Barre, MA 01005
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/09/08

    Houle, Travis J.
    Houle, Teresa B.
    a/k/a Kozlakowski, Teresa B.
    5 Raymond Ave.
    Hatfield, MA 01038
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/07/08

    Hunkins, Jeff A.
    P. O. Box 489
    Warren, MA 01083
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/12/08

    Hurwitz, Michael E.
    20 Elizabeth Circle
    Longmeadow, MA 01106
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Inserra, Tammy Josephine
    131 Ashley Ave.
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Izyk, Richard J.
    48 Biela St.
    Springfield, MA 01104
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/01/08

    Kreuzer, Sharon A.
    a/k/a Dionne, Sharon
    47 Warren St.
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 06/30/08

    Kuntz, Lawrence G.
    173 Pine Grove Dr.
    South Hadley, MA 01075
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/01/08

    		  

    Lajeunesse, Bruce D.
    46 Palmyra St.
    Springfield, MA 01118
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Lalumiere, Mark E.
    147 Beesley Ave.
    Chicopee, MA 01013
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Lamagdeleine, Darryl
    91 Orange St.
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/09/08

    Lillie, Mark K.
    195 Dalton Ave.
    Pittsfield, MA 01201
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/09/08

    Lizana, Ora C.
    a/k/a Huddleston, Ora
    a/k/a Lizana, Ora B.
    52 Pheland St.
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/09/08

    Longo, Barbara Ann
    85 Doane Ave.
    Agawam, MA 01001
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/15/08

    Lopez, Wilfredo
    111 Wollaston St.
    Springfield, MA 01119
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Loughran, Catherine M.
    a/k/a Grosse, Catherine M.
    95 Park Ave. Court #19
    West Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/07/08

    Mahoney, Ramona M.
    4 Phelps Ave., Apt. 3
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Maloney, Mary C.
    11 Maplelawn Dr.
    Monson, MA 01057
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/10/08

    Mullen, Meghan P.
    110 Draper St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/15/08

    Olson, Eric W.
    Olson, Jane
    98 Pleasant Hill Dr.
    Feeding Hills, MA 01030
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/10/08

    O’Neill, Edward H.
    O’Neill, Nancy A.
    20 Miner St.
    North Adams, MA 01247
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/10/08

    O’Quinn, Aaron M.
    O’Quinn, Marie C.
    a/k/a Garcia, Marie C.
    813 Berkshire Ave.
    Indian Orchard, MA 01151
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/01/08

    Parkin Design
    Parkin, Karan E.
    56 Harvard St.
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Pasini, Robert M.
    111 Lumae St.
    Springfield, MA 01119
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/08/08

    Pettibone, Cindy L.
    a/k/a Foote, Cindy L.
    1057 North Westfield St.
    Feeding Hills, MA 01030
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 06/30/08

    Ramirez, Pedro R.
    Ramirez, Nathilda
    4 Langdon St.
    Springfield, MA 01104
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 06/30/08

    Robinson, Richard Allan
    Robinson, Patricia Anne
    119 Connecticut Ave.
    W. Springfield, MA 01089
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/07/08

    Rodriguez, Miriam
    100 Commonwealth Ave.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/08/08

    Rondeau, Thomas P.
    52 Kenwood Park
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/03/08

    Rusciano, Joseph R.
    Rusciano, Keri A.
    1068 James St.
    Chicopee, MA 01022
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/07/08

    Santiago, Maria C.
    34 Osgood St.
    Springfield, MA 01107
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Sawyer, Jennifer C. G.
    a/k/a Tibbo, Jennifer C.
    10 Dewey Court
    Northampton, MA 01060
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/01/08

    Simmons, Aretha
    192 Kirk Dr.
    Springfield, MA 01109
    Chapter: 13
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Soriano, Narcisa
    215 Suffolk St.
    Holyoke, MA 01040
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/01/08

    St. Lawrence, Ronald H.
    382 Southampton Road
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/15/08

    Stratford, Richard James
    30 Greenleaves Dr.
    Hadley, MA 01035
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/02/08

    Tallis, Karen C.
    276 Prospect St Extension
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Thivierge, Michael R.
    140 Union St., Unit 49
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/02/08

    Torrey, Jason A.
    Torrey, Tricia A.
    19 Congress St.
    Greenfield, MA 01301
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/05/08

    Vega, Alfredo
    55 Horace St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/02/08

    Williams, Barrington
    Williams, Peggy A.
    26 Claremeont St.
    Springfield, MA 01108
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/11/08

    Williams, David E.
    31 Bryant St.
    Springfield, MA 01104
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/15/08

    Woodruff, Joseph M.
    Woodruff, Melissa B.
    149 Elizabeth Ave.
    Westfield, MA 01085
    Chapter: 7
    Filing Date: 07/08/08

    Workforce Plan Is Ambitious — but Achievable

    By
    Opinion

    We’ve said this before, but it bears repeating.

    The most significant economic development initiative taking place in the City of Homes — and this region, for that matter — isn’t riverfront development in Springfield. It’s not the former York Street Jail site or the Court Square project. It’s not South End revitalization or the so-called State Street Corridor project. It’s not the new industrial park at Smith & Wesson, nor is it Union Station. It’s not the ongoing marketing of the Knowledge Corridor, and it’s not the work to create so-called ‘green-collar’ jobs — although all those efforts are important.

    No, the most critical economic development work happening at the moment is a multi-faceted undertaking called Building a Better Workforce — Closing the Skills Gap on the Road to Economic Resurgence, and if it doesn’t make the headway its planners anticipate, then none of those other projects really matter.

    That’s because workforce quality and quantity are the most pressing issues facing Greater Springfield today. Improvement in both is absolutely necessary if existing companies are going to be able to grow and prosper, if new businesses can be attracted to this region, and if new industry clusters, such as sustainable energy and the biosciences, can be developed here.

    Knowing this, area civic and economic development leaders came together late last year with a mission to craft a strategic plan to stabilize and improve the workforce for today and, especially, tomorrow. The first steps in this ambitious initiative were announced late last month, and by all accounts they appear destined to do what the plan’s authors want — create some quasi-immediate results while also generating much-needed momentum for what will be a massive undertaking.

    Building a Better Workforce has four main strategic initiatives: establishing universal pre-kindergarten; improving youth education proficiency and career awareness; increasing adult literacy education services; and increasing technical training in high-growth/high-demand industry sectors. The initial steps announced last month address all four, and include a project within the health care sector to increase career pathways for both incumbent workers and external candidates; an endeavor to create opportunities for education and training for those involved with early-childhood education or looking to enter that field; internships, mentoring, and year-round learning opportunities for disadvantaged students (a project funded by several area companies), and efforts to improve adult basic education.

    These first steps are being taken out of an awareness that most of Springfield’s workforce-related problems stem directly from high poverty rates and equally high drop-out rates at the city’s high schools. Breaking the cycle of poverty and keeping people in school are the primary directives.

    Building a Better Workforce organizers have identified projects that will help bolster early-childhood-education programs — a recognized ingredient in the broader effort to develop learning skills that will enable individuals to compete in a global economy — and also help clear some of those ‘career pathways’ mentioned by all those involved.

    The health care initiative, for example, is designed to enroll some lower-skilled workers, such as housekeepers and food-service employees, in a training program to become certified nursing assistants in an acute-care setting. This step up the career ladder is intended to give those individuals involved some confidence, as well as exposure to higher-paying health care positions they will hopefully aspire to.

    It all looks good on paper — as do the other first steps in this three-year, $13 million program. As they talked about this plan and its components, those gathered at a recent City Hall press conference used words like ‘ambitious,’ ‘aggressive,’ and ‘critical’ to describe it. But they also used the terms ‘realistic’ and ‘achievable.’

    Let’s hope they’re right, because, as Bill Ward, director of the Regional Employ-ment Board of Hampden County, told BusinessWest, Springfield is at a “tipping point” in terms of economic health and vitality. Steps must be taken to ensure that it tips the right way, and Building a Better Workforce appears to be off to a solid start toward accomplishing that mission.

    By
    Departments

    New Workforce- development Plan Launched

    SPRINGFIELD — Highlighting a continued commitment by the Patrick Administration to help revitalize Springfield, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne M. Bump recently joined city officials to launch a new comprehensive Workforce Development Plan. Bump announced $1.275 million in new workforce-development funding, $750,000 of which directly targets the city of Springfield in support of its workforce plan. The funding includes a $475,000 Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund grant to Baystate Medical Center to increase pathways for lower-skilled incumbent workers by providing certified-nursing-assistant and acute-care training to 10 incumbent workers and 45 external candidates. Additionally, $475,000 in Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund grant money will be given to the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County to provide 185 participants with access to education and training in early-childhood education with a focus on helping women, minority, non-English-speaking, and economically disadvantaged candidates. In related news, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno will present a proposal to the Springfield Financial Control Board to consider expanding job opportunities to East Longmeadow’s Garden Industrial Park. The control board will make the final decision on the proposal.

    State Labor Market Report Reveals Springfield Lags State in Job Growth

    BOSTON — The state’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development recently reported that preliminary estimates show lower unemployment rates over the month in 11 of 22 Massachusetts labor market areas. Strong seasonal hiring resulted in the largest unemployment-rate declines in the Barnstable, Pittsfield, Tisbury, and Nantucket labor market areas. Over-the-year gains were seen in the Framingham, Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, and Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner areas, with the Framingham labor market area recording the largest annual rate of growth. Job levels were off in the remaining labor areas, with the Springfield labor market seeing the largest job declines over the year. Statewide, the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate edged down to 5.2% in July from 5.3% in June. Mirroring state and larger national trends, this rate is up from 4.7% one year ago. All 22 labor market areas recorded higher unemployment rates in July 2008 than in July 2007.

    Gaming Report Addresses Economic Impacts, Employment

    BOSTON — Spectrum Gaming Group recently presented an independent and comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of expanded gaming in the state, following Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposal last September to authorize up to three destination resort casinos in Massachusetts. The study noted that each casino would create 3,000 construction jobs and 4,377 permanent jobs, and would add about $2 billion in goods and services to the state each year. Additionally, the study suggests that the casinos would hurt sales from the state lottery in the short term only. The study also noted that the effects of casinos on other businesses will be felt on merchants a relatively short distance from casinos, and would generate $596.7 million a year in total government revenues. Key facts from the study also suggest that the destination casinos could create serious demands on local police. The Mass. Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development is currently reviewing the gaming analysis.

    Holyoke To Benefit From Implementation Grant

    HOLYOKE — Mayor Michael J. Sullivan and City Historian Kate N. Thibodeau recently announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded a grant of $399,950 to the City of Holyoke and Wistariahurst Museum to develop a city-wide exhibit and heritage tourism plan called Creating Holyoke. Thibodeau noted that the grant also encompasses collaboration with Holyoke Heritage State Park, the Children’s Museum at Holyoke, the Holyoke History Room of the Holyoke Public Library, and Enchanted Circle Theater. Creating Holyoke’s total budget of $692,970 will allow Wistariahurst Museum and partner organizations to finalize collaboration with humanities scholars and advisers, finish design and fabrication of long-term museum exhibits in three locations, install walking/driving tour panels and way-finding signs, develop teacher guides and curriculum materials, develop a website portal, and implement community programs in the humanities. For more information, contact Thibodeau at (413) 322-5660, or e-mail [email protected].

    Initiative to Improve Connecticut River Underway

    WEST SPRINGFIELD — Five partner organizations in three states — Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont — recently kicked off a multi-year, $1.4 million project to improve the Connecticut River by addressing bacterial-pollution problems, storm water, combined sewer overflows, riverbank erosion, agricultural runoff, and pollution from growth and development. The project is funded by a $953,000 Targeted Watershed Initiative grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, matched by $458,000 in local funding commitments. The project is led by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and major partner organizations include the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, UMass Water Resources Research Center, and U.S. Geological Survey, as well as 18 other cooperating partners.

    PPC Headquarters Moves

    SPRINGFIELD — The Paperboard Packaging Council recently relocated its national headquarters to the Sovereign Bank building at 1350 Main St. The trade group closed its former offices in Alexandria, Va., on Aug. 11. As part of the transition, PPC is integrating its management, marketing, communications, data, and industry-analysis operations. For more information, visit www.ppcnet.org.

    Venture-capital Investment Holds Steady at $7.4 Billion

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Venture capitalists invested $7.4 billion in 990 deals in the second quarter of 2008, according to the MoneyTree Report from Pricewater-houseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Assoc., based on data provided by Thomson Reuters. Quarterly investment activity was essentially flat compared to the first quarter of 2008, when $7.5 billion was invested in 977 deals. Growth in the clean-technology and Internet-specific sectors contributed to the solid level of investing seen in the quarter. The software industry gained top billing as the number-one industry sector in terms of deals and dollars in the second quarter with $1.25 billion going into 219 deals. The number of deals is nearly double the next-highest sector, which was biotech, with 111 deals for the quarter. Industrial/energy companies captured the second-highest level of funding in the second quarter with $1.2 billion being invested in the industry, pushing biotechnology out of the top two for the first time since the second quarter of 2003. The life-sciences sector (biotechnology and medical devices combined) saw a 14% drop in venture-capital investing in the second quarter with $1.9 billion going into 209 deals, a 9% drop in deals from the first quarter of 2008. In related news, U.S.-based venture capitalists invested $583 million into 47 deals in China, nearly doubling investment from the first quarter, when $296 million went into 34 deals. Investments into India by U.S. venture capitalists also jumped, rising 27% to $473 million going into 40 deals, compared to the $373.3 million going into 40 deals in the first quarter.

    Newsrooms Change with Times

    NEW YORK — The American daily newspaper of 2008 has fewer pages than three years ago, the paper stock is thinner, and the stories are shorter, according to a study recently released by the Project for Excellence in Journalism. Titled “The Changing Newsroom: What Is Being Gained and What Is Being Lost in America’s Daily Newspapers,” the report stresses that there is less foreign and national news, and less space devoted to science, the arts, features, and a range of specialized subjects. Additionally, business coverage is either packaged in an increasingly thin stand-alone section or collapsed into another part of the paper. The study also noted that while the crossword puzzle has shrunk and the TV listings and stock tables may have disappeared, coverage of some local issues has strengthened, and investigative reporting remains highly valued. Despite an image of decline, more people today in more places read the content produced in the newsrooms of American daily newspapers than at any time in years. The study notes that, as revenues continue to tumble, editors expect the financial picture only to worsen, and they have little confidence that they know what their papers will look like in five years. The study captures an industry in the grip of two powerful, but contradictory, forces. On one hand, financial pressures sap its strength and threaten its survival. On the other, the rise of the Web boosts its competitiveness, opens up innovative new forms of journalism, builds new bridges to readers, and offers enormous potential for the future. Amid the concerns and cutbacks, the study found that editors still sense their product is improving, not worsening, with more than 56% of editors reporting their news product is better than it was three years earlier.

    By
    Departments

    Willie Ross School Undergoing Enhancements

    LONGMEADOW — The Willie Ross School for the Deaf is undergoing major enhancements on campus that will include $125,000 in new computers and related technology for its classrooms, the installation of energy-efficient windows, and new playground equipment. School administrators are also in negotiations to purchase approximately 37,000 square feet of land behind its campus, which would be used as an educational tool for students. Louis E. Abbate, executive director, noted that the entire project should be completed by 2010, and notes that the school anticipates raising most of the money needed on its own.

    Florence Savings Reaches $1 Billion in Assets

    FLORENCE — John F. Heaps Jr., president of Florence Savings Bank, recently reported that the bank has reached a milestone, surpassing $1 billion in assets for the first time in its 135-year history. The bank’s total assets on June 30 stood at $1.1 billion, up $120 million or 12.4% from the corresponding period last year. The asset growth was the result of continued growth in the bank’s loan portfolio. Additionally, total loans ended the quarter at $671.1 million, up $62 million or 10.2% from June 2007 levels. The loan growth was spurred by residential mortgage loans which increased $48.5 million or 12.2%, and commercial loans that grew $16.7 million or 13.0% in the year-to-year comparison, according to Heaps. Total deposits were $742 million at the end of June, up $71.5 million or 10.7% from June 2007 levels. Heaps credits the deposit growth to the success of its Rewards Checking program, which accounted for $63.2 million of the deposit growth. Since its inception in March 2007, the bank has paid $4.5 million in interest to its Rewards Checking customers.

    The Nut Lady Opens Store

    AGAWAM — Joanne Attardi, founder and CEO of the Nut Lady, LLC, recently moved her business to a large commercial facility at 303 Springfield St. The store is open Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. Attardi founded her company in 1997 from one of her grandmother’s old recipes, and today she has expanded her offerings to include sugar and salt-free nuts. Attardi also notes that all of her products are gluten-free. For more information, contact Attardi at (413) 335-0126 or [email protected], or check out her vendor space at the upcoming Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.

    Burlington Coat Factory Partners with Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

    SPRINGFIELD — Employees of the Burlington Coat Factory in the city are joining with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in a company-wide initiative to help raise money for the organization that promotes blood-cancer research and awareness. The initiative, Light the Night Walk, runs through Nov. 28, and encourages shoppers to purchase a balloon icon to support the cause, according to Regina Nyman, store manager of the Burlington Coat Factory at 390 Cooley St. In addition, the store’s employees and local members of the community will be invited to join the Burlington Coat Factory team in a local Light the Night community walk. The balloon icons cost a minimum of $1 each. For more information about the company’s fund-raising efforts, contact Nyman at (413) 426-9327.

    Century Center Is Putting on a Fresh Look

    WEST SPRINGFIELD — Century Shopping Center has launched a comprehensive facelift project that includes façade and signage renovations to the 285,000-square-foot retail site. The project was undertaken to keep the site looking “fresh and up-to-date,” according to Century owner Andrew M. Cohen. He noted that the last renovation to the retail site was in 1988. Century tenants include T.J. Maxx, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Big Y, CVS, McDonald’s, Pet Supplies Plus, Bank of America, AutoZone, Party Warehouse, Casual Male, Rainbow Shops, Dot’s, and Payless Shoe. Cohen added that the renovations “will keep us at the top of our game in the face of the economic challenges now confronting the national economy.” The entire project, which will be completed in stages, is expected to take 90 days.

    Big Y Opens in Wilbraham

    SPRINGFIELD — A Big Y World Class Market opened June 26 at 2035 Boston Road in Wilbraham. New England Retail Properties Inc. of Wethersfield, Conn., is leasing the 63,850-square-foot site to Big Y. In this transaction, Matthew Halprin of New England Retail Properties, Inc. was the sole broker. Based in Springfield, Big Y employs more than 9,800 people in its stores, warehouses, and support centers.

    Paychex Sponsors National Payroll Week

    WEST SPRINGFIELD — Paychex Inc., a national provider of payroll and human-resource services with offices in the city, is once again a major sponsor of National Payroll Week, Sept. 1-5. Founded by the American Payroll Assoc., the annual event celebrates the relationship among millions of U.S. workers, their companies, and the payroll professionals who ensure that workers are paid accurately and on time. Paychex is also celebrating 401(k) Day on Sept. 5, which spotlights the importance of employer-sponsored profit-sharing and 401(k) plans.

    Foundation Changes Name

    SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Home for the Elderly, one of the city’s oldest nonprofits, has changed its name to Mason-Wright Foundation. The donor-supported foundation operates the Mason-Wright Retirement Community, with a mission to serve low-income elderly men and women. The community on Walnut Street supports 118 assisted-living, dementia-care and independent-living units. For information, visit www.masonwrightfoundation.org.

    Epstein Financial Moves Offices to Holyoke

    HOLYOKE — At Epstein Financial Group, they’re not “fretting” over a short-term economic slowdown, according to Charlie Epstein, CLU, ChFC, AIF. In fact, Epstein notes that the firm is “confident” about what the future holds. Epstein added that the firm is growing and adding new staff, and recently moved to a larger space in the People’s Bank building at 330 Whitney Ave. For more information, visit www.epsteinfinancial.com.

    Associates Receive National Awards

    EAST LONGMEADOW — The culture at East Village Place centers on creating a community where residents can express themselves to fully experience and celebrate life. Recently, Watermark Retirement Communities recognized five associates from East Village Place, as well as the community itself, with “express your Self” awards, the Director of the Year Award, and the Principle Award, for their dedication, leadership, and creative efforts in fostering this philosophy. Wanda Isales, care attendant, received an award for express your Creativity. Annetta Webley, care attendant, received an award for express your Joy. The new “express” awards are part of Watermark’s express your Self program, which encourages both residents and associates to express their true selves. The awards are presented to associates who, by expressing their passion for creativity, leadership, compassion, and more, are acknowledged for their contribution to the East Village Place community. Bob Sheets, maintenance director, and Jessica Szczepanek, marketing director, received awards for Director of the Year, awarded to the director who has demonstrated leadership excellence by leading his or her community through a successful year. Lastly, Liz Davila, business office manager, has been awarded the Principle Award. The award is given to one individual in the entire Watermark company for his or her “supreme dedication” to upholding the Watermark operating principles.

    FamilyFirst Bank Supports EQLT

    WARE — FamilyFirst Bank’s community commitment to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s special programs for community investment in New England recently resulted in the award of a $1,000 grant to the East Quabbin Land Trust Inc. (EQLT). The program was established to recognize the importance of developing successful community-investment initiatives within partnerships between member institutions and community-based nonprofit organizations, according to FamilyFirst Bank President Michael Audette. Focused on the communities of Barre, Hardwick, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Petersham, Ware, and West Brookfield, the EQLT is a local, not-for-profit group that works to permanently protect open space, including farms, fields, woodlands, and riverways, ensuring a high quality of life for generations to come. EQLT Executive Director Cynthia Henshaw said she is grateful for the recognition from FamilyFirst Bank of the important role that land conservation and stewardship play in supporting local communities. “Keeping farmland and forests open are tremendous boosts to our quality of life,” she said.

    Southbridge Savings Closes Branches

    SOUTHBRIDGE — Southbridge Sav-ings Bank announced recently that it is closing its branches in Amherst and West Springfield as a part of a strategic plan to focus on its core market area in Central Mass. The branch in Amherst is located in the Big Y Supermarket at 175 University Dr., while the West Springfield branch is located in the Big Y at 503 Memorial Ave. The bank’s branch in Palmer will remain open.

    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

    United Rentals Inc. v. Titan Roofing Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and negligence: $7,924.80
    Filed: 7/24/08

    HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

    Advance Foam Recycling v. Advance Wire Solutions & Equipment
    Allegation: Non-payment of judgment rendered: $50,685
    Filed: 7/11/08

    Charles Winston v. Commerce Insurance Co.
    Allegation: Breach of insurance contract: $43,000
    Filed: 7/15/08

    Heather Carpenter v. Francis Cannizzo, M.D.
    Allegation: Medical malpractice: 180,000+
    Filed: 7/10/08
    Jeane Raudensky v. JGS Family Medical Care
    Allegation: Medical malpractice: $104,423+
    Filed: 7/09/08

    Jeanette Rivera v. Chrysler LLC & Hampden Dodge Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of contract and violation of consumer protection act: $17,000
    Filed: 7/11/08

    NAPA Auto Parts v. Midas-Ludlow
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $124,720.22
    Filed: 7/11/08

    William Moran v. City of Holyoke, Holyoke Fire Department, and David Lafond
    Allegation: Discrimination: 100,000
    Filed: 7/11/08

    HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

    Elizabeth Tap v. Holyoke Medical Center Inc.
    Allegation: Negligence in leaving patient unattended in wheelchair while waiting for transportation, causing injury: $11,493.87
    Filed: 7/16/08

    NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

    Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. v. Superior Mechanical Contractors Inc.
    Allegation: Breach of equipment-lease agreement: $4,481.24
    Filed: 7/22/08

    Zap Electric Inc. v. Valley Home Improvement Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment of electric services rendered: $4,484.49
    Filed: 7/31/08

    PALMER DISTRICT COURT

    A & A Transport v. Nieroda Transport Inc.
    Allegation: Damages stemming from defendant’s conversion of plaintiff’s trailer: $14,278.42
    Filed: 6/27/08

    Northwave America v. Ski In Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $8,611.44
    Filed: 7/16/08

    SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

    Autoline Marketing Group, LLC v. Sarat Ford
    Allegation: Breach of contract: $2,659.88
    Filed: 5/08/08

    Integrated Illumination Systems Inc. v. Ledlight Illuminated Signs, LLC
    Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $9,964.44
    Filed: 7/23/08

    Michael St. Andre v. Commerce Insurance Co.
    Allegation: Breach of insurance contract: $18,000
    Filed: 5/07/08

    Royal Harvest Foods v. Wellshire Farms Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $8,353.97
    Filed: 5/08/08

    Springfield Chiropractic Sports Rehab Center, LLP v. Premiere Insurance Co. of Mass.
    Allegation: Failure to pay personal injury protection: $4,207
    Filed: 5/08/08

    United Rentals Inc. v. the Coastline Co. Inc.
    Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and services for various construction projects: $5,216.04
    Filed: 5/08/08