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Departments

By BusinessWest Staff January 21, 2008

Departments

University Without Walls

Feb. 2, 12, 23: University Without Walls (UWW), an adult bachelor’s degree completion program at UMass Amherst, is conducting information sessions this winter for individuals interested in applying. Classes are offered on campus, online, and in blended format (mostly online, with a few live meetings). Information sessions run approximately 90 minutes and are conducted at the UWW office, 100 Venture Way, Room 229A, Hadley. For more information on dates and times, visit www.umass.edu/uww or call (413) 545-1378.

Camera Classes

Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 6: Iris Photo & Digital of Northampton will offer several digital point-and-shoot camera classes this winter, including “Intermediate Camera Class” on Jan. 23, “Advanced Camera Class” on Jan. 30, and “Basic Photo Editing Class” on Feb. 6. Classes run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the shop at 164 Main St. For more information, call (413) 586-8417 or visit www.iris-photo.com.

De-clutter Workshops

Jan. 24, 28, 29, 30: Professional organizer Carleen Eve Fisher Hoffman, also known as ‘The Clutter Doctor,’ has teamed up with two financial services professionals from Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services, Ann Sapelli and Judith Luddy, to host free seminars titled “Organize Your Financial Fitness: Uncover Your Assets and Improve Your Bottom Line.” Participants will learn various methodologies for organizing their financial papers and documents. Sessions are planned Jan. 24 at the Palmer Library; Jan. 28, Monson Library; Jan. 29, Belchertown Library; and Jan. 30, Northampton Library. All sessions are planned from 6 to 7 p.m. For more information, call (413) 525-7345.

Lessons from the Real Pepsi Challenge

Jan. 29: Stephanie Capparell, a journalist, author, and filmmaker based in New York City, will present “Innovation & Diversity: Lessons from the Real Pepsi Challenge” at noon as part of the Western New England College Law & Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship’s speaker series. Her most recent book, The Real Pepsi Challenge: The Inspirational Story of Breaking the Color Barrier in American Business, is a case study of Pepsi-Cola’s groundbreaking all-black sales division (1940-1951), and tells the story of some of the first African-Americans in corporate America. Her lecture is planned in S. Prestley Blake Law Center on the Springfield campus, and is free and open to the public. For more information, call (413) 736-8462 or visit www.law.wnec.edu/lawandbusiness.

Clio Awards

Jan. 30: The Ad Club of Western Massachusetts will screen the 2007 Clio Award winners from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Rivers Memorial at Western New England College, Springfield, as part of a luncheon affair. Reservations must be made by Jan. 25. Tickets are $25 for members; $35 for future members, and $15 for students. For more information, call (413) 736-2582 or visit www.adclubwm.org.

Amherst Chamber Luncheon

Jan. 31: Interim UMass Chancellor Thomas W. Cole Jr. and UMass President Jack Wilson will address the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott. The event is open to the public, but reservations are required by calling (413) 253-0700 or E-mailing [email protected]. Tickets are $25 per person.

‘Outlook 2008’

Feb. 1: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield will present “Outlook 2008” with keynote speaker John Zogby, a national pollster and political analyst, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam. In addition to Zogby’s presentation, Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan will present the regional outlook as the District One representative of the Mass. Mayors’ Assoc. Tickets are $45 per person and $65 for nonmembers. For more information, contact Diane Swanson, events manager, at (413) 787-1555, or visit www.myonlinechamber.com.

By BusinessWest Staff January 21, 2008

Departments

Hasbro Games Set to Eliminate 200 Jobs

EAST LONGMEADOW — As early as February, 200 local residents will lose their jobs at Hasbro Games as the company retools its manufacturing processes to remain competitive in the games business. The company is currently in negotiations with Local 224 of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union of the United Food and Commercial Workers to hammer out an agreement on changes to some work practices. The reduction in force includes 180 manufacturing jobs and approximately 20 non-union office jobs, according to Wayne S. Charness, senior vice president for communications at Pawtucket, R.I.-based Hasbro. At press time, Hasbro officials and union representatives were negotiating severance packages and ways to change work practices that are in the best interests of both the employees and Hasbro. If Hasbro can secure the changes it proposes, the company will invest $10 million immediately in the plant, and as much as $40 million over the next few years, added Charness. Hasbro and the union are currently operating under a three-year contract signed in 2007.

WP Requests ‘Woman of the Year’ Nominations

SPRINGFIELD — The Women’s Partnership, a division of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc., is seeking nominees for its annual Woman of the Year Award, given to a businesswoman in the Greater Springfield area. The nominee should best exemplify ideals of outstanding leadership, accomplishments, and service to the community. Services can be rendered over a lifetime or for more recent achievements. In either case, her leadership and accomplishments are regarded as a model for the Greater Springfield community. Nomination forms can be requested by calling (413) 543-8000, via E-mail at [email protected], or at the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield office, 1441 Main St. The deadline for nomination documents is Jan. 31.

Picknelly Joins Development Team on Casino Proposals

EAST LONGMEADOW — Peter A. Picknelly, president of Peter Pan Bus Lines, has joined the development team as an investor in the proposed development of a 150-acre tract in Palmer and a 35-acre waterfront site in New Bedford into destination sites, possibly to include resort casinos. Picknelly is investing in the proposed projects through the Northeast Group, owner of the land in Palmer off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike and the entity that has site control of a waterfront tract in New Bedford off Exit 16 of Route 195. Both communities have passed local referenda in favor of legalized gaming, and both represent potential sites for a resort casino and retail complex. Should gaming be legalized by the Legislature, Commonwealth-approved resort casino operators could develop either or both sites. Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed the development of three resort casinos statewide as a means of stimulating economic development and raising revenue for the state. Northeast also recently announced it has hired the Suffolk Group LLC and lead lobbyist William F. Cass of Boston to represent their interests on Beacon Hill, and Paul Robbins Associates Inc. of Wilbraham to assist on communications regarding the real estate development and tourist potential for the Palmer and New Bedford properties.

Survey: Workplaces Safer in 2006

BOSTON — The state Division of Occupational Safety (DOS) recently announced that the rate of workplace-related non-fatal injuries and illnesses in Massachusetts dropped by more than 7% from 2005 to 2006, according to the annual Occupational Injury and Illness Survey of private-sector workers. The number of workplace fatalities dropped by more than 13% over the same period. The rate of workplace illness and injuries continues to be below the national average, and by far the lowest rate among all New England states, according to Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne M. Bump, who oversees DOS. Bump added that under the Patrick administration, Massachusetts will survey public-sector workers for the first time this year. The state formerly collected data on private-sector employers only. The survey covers 10 ‘super sectors,’ ranging from manufacturing, education, and health services to natural resources and mining. The only super sector to show an increase in injuries and illnesses was natural resources and mining, where the number of injuries (300) remained unchanged while employment dropped. The entire report is available online at www.mass.gov/eolwd

Survey: Spouse Remains Chief Career Advisor

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Those considering a job change seek many resources of guidance, but the opinion they value most often comes from the person closest to them. Nearly half (46%) of executives polled said they turn first to spouses or significant others for advice when evaluating a potential job change, up from 42% in 2002.

By BusinessWest Staff January 21, 2008

Departments

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

CHICOPEE

Appleton Corporation
Colonial Circle
$36,000 — Replace concrete stairs

Riverbend Medical Group
444 Montgomery St.
$575,000 — Reconstruct gastroenterology department suites

EASTHAMPTON

BB Property Inc.
52 O’Neill St.
$3,000 — New roof

EAST LONGMEADOW

Hampden County Physicians
98 Shaker Road
$357,000 — Interior build-out

Troon Realty
175 Benton Dr.
$240,000 — Addition of office space

United Bank
94 Shaker Road
$73,000 — Interior renovations

GREENFIELD

Somerset Long Term Care LLC
359 High St.
$42,388 — Re-roof

HOLYOKE

Soldiers Memorial Commission
310 Appleton St.
$262,000 — HVAC & electrical improvements to the auditorium

LUDLOW

Ludlow Industrial Realties Inc.
100 State St.
$5,000 — Minor alterations

NORTHAMPTON

Laurel Ridge Realty Associates
312 Hatfield St.
$13,418 — Install guardrails and handrails on porches

Paul H. D’Amour, et al
158 North King St.
$55,000 — Real estate office build out

The Northampton Historical Society
66 Bridge St.
$2,000 — Replace exterior door

Trustees of Smith College
53 West St.
$13,500 — Interior remodel

Trustees of Smith College
Cushing & Emerson Houses
$259,000 — Renovate dining rooms

SOUTH HADLEY

Village Commons
17 College St.
$47,500 — Renovations

WESTFIELD

Robert Wilcox
75 Broad St.
$71,000 – Office Build Out

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Ashley Avenue Associates
73 State St.
$35,000 — Renovate 6,604 square feet of existing office space

Sullivan Paper Co. Inc.
42 Progress Ave.
$150,000 — Raise roof structure to accommodate printing press

Andrew Kolesnichenko
573 Union St.
$25,000 — Erect structure connecting main building to warehouse

By BusinessWest Staff January 21, 2008

Departments

Go FIT Acquired by Square One

SPRINGFIELD — Square One, formerly Springfield Day Nursery, recently announced its acquisition of Go FIT, a program that promotes active, healthy lifestyles for today’s youth while also providing education and mentoring to at-risk families on issues of health, fitness, and safety. “By adding Go FIT to our daily lesson planning, Square One is integrating health, nutrition and food, fitness, and personal safety into the daily learning experiences of our children,” said Square One President and CEO Joan Kagan. “We believe that getting children off to a good start and establishing healthy routines early in life will help them in the long run.” In the few months that it has been formally affiliated with Go FIT, Square One has started work on developing a comprehensive and well-integrated plan to incorporate partners such as Springfield College, Partners for a Healthier Community, and the Food Bank of Western Mass. as a means to address the interrelatedness of childhood obesity, food security, access to affordable and nutritious food, physical fitness training, exercise curricula, and establishing a healthy habits lifestyle early in life, said Kagan. “We will dedicate ourselves to the continuation of the Go FIT mission and build upon its accomplishments,” she continued, “carrying forward all of the principles, practices, and fitness strategies that have made this program a stellar success.”

Old Sturbridge Village Raises $1.83M

STURBRIDGE — Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) President and CEO James E. Donahue recently announced that, after a successful two-year fund-raising effort, more than $1.83 million has been generated for the museum. Donahue noted that $834,000 was raised in new donations, which in turn qualified it for an additional $1 million matching grant from an anonymous donor. As an incentive to spur fund-raising efforts, in October 2006 an anonymous OSV trustee offered a $1 million challenge grant designed to increase the museum’s endowment and annual fund. Under terms of the challenge, all new and increased gifts would be matched by the grant, up to $1 million. Donahue added that the ‘Village Challenge’ donations came from hundreds of individuals and museum members, as well as from foundations and corporations. “We have a tremendously loyal base of supporters, and this success is a real testament to their faith in this institution,” said Donahue. OSV is one of the country’s oldest living-history museums, and recreates life in a working farm village from 1790 to 1840. For more information, visit www.osv.org.

MassMutual Named One of ‘America’s Greatest Brands’

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual Financial Group is currently being featured in America’s Greatest Brands, a large-format book that annually recognizes the strongest and most trusted brand icons. Now in its sixth edition, America’s Greatest Brands profiles the strongest and most valuable brands in the world from a unique brand-marketing perspective. Selection of companies is made by the American Brands Council, comprising some of the most respected marketing and communications professionals in America.

WCA Awards $20,000 in Equipment

SOUTHWICK — CareerPoint of Holyoke was the winner of Whalley Computer Associates’ recent Technology Makeover Contest. CareerPoint will receive $20,000 of computer equipment and services based upon its presentation of need. More than 150 organizations entered the competition, and the top 10 were given an opportunity to make a presentation to a WCA panel during a technology fair conducted in December.

GoNOMAD.com Will Exhibit At NYC Travel Show
SOUTH DEERFIELD — GoNOMAD. com, a local travel Web site, will be among the more than 500 exhibitors at the annual New York Times Travel Show in New York City in late February. GoNOMAD.com Editor Max Hartshorne will present a seminar at the show about travel writing, inviting show visitors to learn how to break into the business, with tips on markets, ideas, and the Internet travel-publishing marketplace. For more information on the show, visit www.nyttravelshow.com.

Biochemist Receives $308,000 Grant

AMHERST — Alejandro P. Heuck, a biochemist at UMass Amherst, has received a four-year, $308,000 grant from the American Heart Association (AHA) to develop molecular probes capable of measuring cholesterol levels in the membranes of individual cells. The grant, which began Jan. 1, is an AHA Scientist Development Grant to support highly promising beginning scientists. The program encourages and adequately funds research projects that bridge the gap between completion of research training and readiness for successful competition as an independent investigator.

By BusinessWest Staff January 21, 2008

Departments

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

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Francis Cassidy v. Stop & Shop Supermarket, LLC
Allegation: Negligent property maintenance causing injury: $42,115.85
Filed: 12/17/07

Lake Hitchcock Development v. Blue Heron Realty
Allegation: Breach of contract: $40,000
Filed: 12/11/07

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Godwin Pumps of America Inc. v. Hydross, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract: $46,077.82
Filed: 12/7/07

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

John C. Manni v. Eastern States Exposition & Equine Affaire Inc.
Allegation: Negligent property maintenance causing injury: $49,250
Filed: 11/4/07

Hampden Zimmerman Electrical Supply v. MDR Electric Inc.
Allegation: Unpaid balance for goods and services sold: $188,463.45
Filed: 10/30/07

Michael Alan Crooker v. Con Agra Foods Inc.
Allegation: Product liability causing injury: $100,000
Filed: 10/23/07

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Emily Belanger, Paul Belanger Jr., as parent and legal guardian of Emily Belanger v. David Quail Trucking
Allegation: Negligence while operating motor vehicle: $6,458.83
Filed: 11/14/07

Fred S. Kania v. AT&T

Allegation: Failure to follow regulations of Department of Telecommunications: $5,000
Filed: 11/21/07

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Pantea Azari v. Cars “R” Us
Allegation: Breach of contract, fraud, and violation of Mass. General Laws 93A: $10,000+
Filed: 12/5/07

Stanley Ciszewski v. Patriot Home Improvement
Allegation: Unfair and deceptive practices: $25,000
Filed: 12/3/07

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

PDQ Billing Services v. Springfield Optometric Associates Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $10,224.77
Filed: 11/29/07

Thomas M. Ferris v. Romito & Sons Inc.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing injury: $3,600
Filed: 11/20/07

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

A. Boillard & Sons Inc. v. Advoulos Builders Inc.
Allegation: Unpaid goods sold and delivered: $30,405.41
Filed: 11/14/07

Bradco Supply Corp. v. New Castle Development Corp.
Allegation: Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $4,186
Filed: 11/5/07

Brewers Supply Group Inc. v. The Paper City Brewery Company
Allegation: Unpaid goods sold and delivered: $3,937.10
Filed: 11/16/07

Citadel Broadcasting Company v. Alycat Inc. d/b/a Diamond & Gold Connection
Allegation: Unpaid services rendered: $9,975.00
Filed: 11/7/07

ComData Network Inc. v. VK Transport Inc.
Allegation: unpaid services rendered: $25,812.50
Filed: 11/8/07

FedEx Customer Information Services v. BelAir Motel
Allegation: Unpaid transportation services rendered: $6,820.83
Filed: 11/15/07

Lambert Plumbing & Heating Inc. v. CDE Remodeling
Allegation: Unpaid balance on goods sold and delivered and plumbing services: $11,530.53
Filed: 11/20/07

Martindale-Hubbell Inc. v. George F. Kelley
Allegation: Failure to pay for services rendered: $8,190.00
Filed: 11/5/07

Mariluz Vargas v. Lia Kia
Allegation: Breach of sales contract: $24,999.99
Filed: 11/14/07

United Rentals Inc. v. All State Construction Services
Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and construction services: $16,723.03
Filed: 11/20/07

By BusinessWest Staff January 21, 2008

Departments

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

AGAWAM

Algra Media
77 Edward St.
Allan Grassetti

Agawamtech.com
12 Lakeview Circle
Vagn Scott

Angelina Rose Photography
8G Mansion Wood Dr.
Angela Simpson

Hec’s Auto Detailers
85-87 Ramah Circle
Maria Valego

Hollands Home and Heart Crafts
201 Adams St.
Julie Hollands

AMHERST

A Step Forward Message
96 N. Pleasant St.
Breten K. Burger

Chao Designs
45 Westwood Ave.
Maria Chao

River Shark Café
17B Montague Road
Robert Pollak

Tana Productions
310 West St.
Santo Ine Alers

Welcome Home Amherst Veterans
260 Leverett Road
James D. Pitts

CHICOPEE

YNS International
6 Fitzpatrick Lane
Yegor Stefantsen

EASTHAMPTON

White Crane Renovations
1 Cottage St.
Glenn D. Leonard

EAST LONGMEADOW

Spa Europa
60 Shaker Road
Kelly Laviolette

GREENFIELD

Green Tree Services
32 Sumner St.
Jeffrey J. Koshinsky

Klondike Sound Company
37 Silvio Conte Dr.
John T. Koehler Jr.

Ozzie’s Auto Body & Paint Shop
328 High St.
Tamas L. Herkner

Satyriasis Solutions
P.O. Box 942
Jorge Luis Gonzalez

The Country Jeweler
220 Main St.
The Country Jeweler Inc.

HADLEY

Barnes & Noble
335 Russell St.
Leonard Riggio

Gauthier Automotive
251 Russell St.
Christopher Gush

The Hadleigh Collection
31 Huntington Road
Frederick Wilda

HOLYOKE

Free Professional
1895 Northampton St.
John Martin

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
2267 Northampton St.
Edward Weinstein

Massachusetts National Guard
50 Holyoke St.
James D. Laudato

NORTHAMPTON

DH Infrastructure
25 Main St.
Denzel James Hankinson

Food For Thought Vending
91 Woodlawn Ave.
Jean S. Tracey

Hair By Patrick
56 Main St.
Patrick Mansfield

Misty River Ballooning
82 Bliss St.
Donald LaFountain

Praying Mantis Kung-Fu
20 Hampton Ave.
Aurelio Pagan

Salon Evolve
4 Old South St.
Andrea Coller

Simply Hair
2 Conz St.
Melissa C. Kelly

Zoom Auto Sales
245A North King St.
John Hunter

PALMER

Mark Gilbert Auto Repairs
24 Orchard St.
Mark Thomas Gilbert

SOUTH HADLEY

Allery’s Package Store
314 Newton St.
Cesare Ferrari

SOUTHWICK

Hart’s Garage
53 Congamond Road
Francis Hart

SPRINGFIELD

Life Champions Through MA
1490 Allen St.
Walton Lamar Moore

Lteif Taxi Service, LLC
32 Lancashire Road
Nadim F. Lteif

Maxim Seamless Gutters
21 Cluster Circle
Maxim Barabolkin

Miranda Auto Body
289-291 Mill St.
Ricardo Miranda

Moonlight Fashion
63 Jordan St.
Windy Chak

Nails #1
929 Belmont Ave.
Thuy Thu Vo

Oz
377-399 Dwight St.
William Santaniello

Premier Caulking & Restoration
42 Kimberly Ave.
Anthony M. Dewdney

Ray Auto Electrical Tech
20 Montgomery St.
Reynaldo Rios

S & H Boston Road Fuels
32 Boston Road
Bhikha-Bhai C.

S & H St. James Fuel Inc.
1037 St. James Ave.
Bhikhabhai C. Patel

Simply Divine Beauty Lounge
607 Dickinson St.
Kelly Rochelle

Spring St. Super Grocery
121 Spring St.
Jose Miguel Rijo

Star Nails
1130 State St.
Ngoc Van Nguyen

Super Starz
253 Bay St.
Carlene Marsh

Vega Baja Men’s Wear
31 Oswego St.
Eliezer Gaetan

WESTFIELD

Angel Cleaners
305 Edward St.
Vladimir Garbuz

Clean Sweep
69 Michael Dr.
Debra A. Post

Elizabeth Cotnoir Designs
17 Stephen Lane
Mary Elizabeth Cotnoir

Little Black Dog Gallery
16 Union Ave.
Jackie French Koller

Westfield Tae Kwon Do Services
52 Knollwood Dr.
Richard E. Talevi

Z & Z Tool Manufacturing
41 Jefferson St.
David J. Zering

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Diamond Gold Connection
389 Park St.
GX Corporation

East Coast Granite And Flooring
174 Althea St.
Andrey Lisovskiy

Giovannis Pizzeria & Restaurant
88 Westfield Road
Chars Incorporated

Mitchell’s Formal Wear
1321 Riverdale St.
Claudia Pruitt

The Crop Shop
338 Westfield St.
Nancy R. Jamrog

OPINION

By BusinessWest Staff January 21, 2008

Opinion

Working for the Union Label

The Nevada caucuses are over, following on the heels of the Michigan primaries. This schedule calls to the mind the striking contrast between the way Detroit greets air travelers and the way Las Vegas does it. If you fly into Detroit Metro Airport and catch a ride east toward the city itself, you have to go a stretch before a gigantic tire welcomes you to the Motor City. But far be it from Las Vegas to show such reserve. At its airport, just after you exit the jetway, slot machines greet you in the terminal.

As different as it is from Detroit, however, Vegas has imitated it in one respect: Detroit used to be a place where a person with little education could still get a good-paying job. With the contraction of the auto industry in Michigan, and the expansion of the gambling business in Nevada, Vegas has become the town that beckons with this opportunity.

In Nevada, the average hourly wage of a worker with no more than a high school diploma is $23.30, the highest of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. On this count, Michigan is now 10th.

Nevada isn’t on top by accident. It’s there because the vast majority of the state’s workers hold jobs in the Las Vegas area and, though Nevada is a right-to-work state, Las Vegas is nonetheless a union town. In fact, as Hal Rothman reports in Neon Metropolis, his insightful book on Vegas, it is now “the most unionized city in the United States.”

Its largest local union is Culinary Workers Union Local 226. This is the 60,000-member local that endorsed Barack Obama last week. Caucuses aside, though, this union is also a possible model for the future.

The typical hourly wage of a 2008 worker with at least a four-year degree is higher than the typical hourly wage of a 1973 worker with a four-year degree — but the typical wage of a 2008 worker without a degree is lower than the typical wage of a 1973 worker without a degree. Moreover, two of three of today’s workers do not have a degree.

One reason why the non-college jobs of today don’t pay as well as the non-college jobs of 35 years ago, it has been claimed, is that a lot of the 1973 jobs were in manufacturing, and a lot of the 2008 jobs are in the service sector — and rank-and-file work in the service sector, unlike such work in the manufacturing sector, is inherently low-wage work.

But the paychecks of the Culinary Workers Union members rebut this claim. As working stiffs in the gambling industry — hotel maids and fry cooks, busboys and cocktail waitresses, laundry workers and card dealers — they do menial work in the service sector. But they do not have to do it for menial pay. In part, this has to be because unionization has given them some leverage.

To be sure, the pay levels for rank-and-file workers in manufacturing have been higher than those for such workers in the service sector. But this isn’t because there is something in the nature of manufacturing itself that makes for higher pay. It’s because it has been more unionized. An old issue of Life magazine tells the story of a steel worker whose pay jumped by 260% in 10 years. This was chiefly because, at the beginning of the 10-year-period, the steel workers across the country unionized.

Much of the workforce can be divided into two groups. One group is the workers who can build a brand for themselves as individuals, such as the best-known real estate agent in a small town. Because such workers stand out from the crowd, they hold bargaining power as individuals, and get paid well.

The other group is the crowd: the workers who are generic. They have little or no bargaining power as individuals. In the way of pay, they often must take what the job market offers to workers like them. If they want to earn more, they can try to brand themselves. Or they can bargain not as individuals, but en masse. It worked that way in Cadillac plants. It works that way in resort hotels.

Ralph Whitehead Jr. is a professor of Journalism at UMass Amherst.

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Departments

University Without Walls

Jan. 8, 19, 23, Feb. 2, 12, 23: University Without Walls (UWW), an adult bachelor’s degree completion program at the UMass Amherst, is conducting information sessions this winter for individuals interested in applying. Classes are offered on campus, online, and in blended format (mostly online, with a few live meetings). Information sessions run approximately 90 minutes and are conducted at the UWW office, 100 Venture Way, Room 229A, Hadley. For more information on dates and times, visit www.umass.edu/uww or call (413) 545-1378.

Communications Conference

Jan. 9: Western New England College and the Valley Press Club will offer professionals a chance to hone their communication skills and learn about the latest technology during the fifth annual communications conference from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on WNEC’s main campus. “Getting Noticed in the 21st Century” is the theme for the daylong event which is intended for business professionals, staff of nonprofit organizations, and students looking to communicate more effectively. Participants will have the chance to choose from 14 workshops designed to sharpen skills, explore new technologies, and provide interaction with reporters and editors from local media outlets. Roundtable discussions with members of mainstream and alternative media outlets are also planned, as well as a special panel discussion on promoting Western Mass. as a place to live and work. During the conference luncheon, the Valley Press Club will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to broadcaster Keith Silver. For conference fees and more information, visit www.wnec.edu/communications.

Camera Classes:

Jan. 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6: Iris Photo & Digital of Northampton will offer several digital point-and-shoot camera classes this winter, including “Basic Camera Class” on Jan. 16, “Intermediate Camera Class,” on Jan. 23, “Advanced Camera Class,” on Jan. 30, and “Basic Photo Editing Class” on Feb. 6. Classes run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the shop at 164 Main St. Classes are $35, and individuals can save $20 when attending all four sessions. For more information, call (413) 586-8417 or visit www.iris-photo.com.

Construction Forecast Series

Jan. 18: The Construction Institute will sponsor an I-91 Corridor Regional Construction Forecast titled “Moving Forward … A Roadmap for the Future” from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Registration begins at 7:45. The regional outlook will feature an economic overview, as well as highlight and define ongoing and future projects that are being developed along the I-91 Corridor, with particular focus on the Greater Hartford and Springfield areas. Construction Institute members are encouraged to invite nonmember guests to the program free of charge. For more information, call (860) 768-4459, or visit www.construction.org.

MTEL Prep Course

Feb. 9, 16, 23, March 1: Elms College in Chicopee will offer the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) communication and literacy prep course this winter for candidates seeking teaching licenses in Massachusetts. The 12-hour prep course will be offered on four consecutive Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon in the Springfield Room, lower level of the Mary Dooley College Center. The cost is $100 for Elm students and alums; $150 for the general public. For registration information, call the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at (413) 265-2445.

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Departments

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

A to Z Home Improvement
McGowan, Edward T.
39 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Akers, Maureen K.
98 Hinckley St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Alvarado, Aida G.
130 Darling St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Alvarado, Maria E.
688 High St., Apt. 2L
Holyoke, MA 01040-4724
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/06

Avgoustakis, Tsambikos E.
66 Sikes Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089-2045
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/06

Barcomb, Robert M.
14 Sylvan St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Barnaby, Terri Lee
Rte. 44 Wabasso St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Benoit, Jennifer A.
a/k/a Pula, Jennifer
14 Davis St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Boinay, Thomas J.
Boinay, Donna C.
19 East Pike Road
Sheffield, MA 01257
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Bozego Valley Enterprise
Lakota, Stanley J.
PO Box 8
Whatley, MA 01093
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Briggs, Gerald H.
51 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Bryant, Theresa M.
65 Washburn St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Burns, Dale Randall
1084 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Burns, Stephen D.
57 Decorie Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Clark, George H.
80 Stewart St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Clark, Mavis
P.O. Box 2942
Amherst, MA 01004
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Coady, John R.
29 Golden Court
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Corbisiero, Sandra M.
686 Beacon Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Costa, Ann
93 Grocmal Ave., Lot 145
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Crabb, Gillian Michele
37A Mountain St.
Haydenville, MA 01039
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Deeley, Jeffrey J.
39 Temple St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Franklin, Arthur A.
1159 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Gendreau, Denice M.
59 North Branch Parkway
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Glancy, John J.
178 Northampton St., Apt. R
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Hayden, Tracy Robert
Hayden, Christyana Ruth
99 Stage Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Jacikas, Bernard F.
69 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Jarvais, Wilfred L.
3 Woodland Heights
P.O. Box 295
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Lavallee, Michael A.
185 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Leger, Gary Michael
77 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Lekov, Colleen Marie
79 Donna Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Luu, Hoa N.
19 Niles St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/17/06

Malloy, James A.
880 Hubbardston Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Melendez, Juan R.
Melendez, Norma I.
33 Margaret St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Miles, Deborah
138 Wheatland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Moore, Michelle B.
297 East Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Norman, Jeannette A.
79 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Olenick, Michael L
17 Stivens Ter.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Pinkham, Randy Charles
Pinkham, Patricia Jayne
11 Stanley St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Pinkney, Michael J.
34 Berkeley St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Pleau, Richard Alan
38 Springside Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/06

Pratz-Diaz, Mayra
45 Willow St. #325
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/06

Randolph, LaShanda
153 Bowles St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Rennix, Bobbie L.
57 Lynebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Rickard, Roy L.
Rickard, Kathy J.
a/k/a Grace, Kathy J.
379 North Westfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/06

Riopelle, Christine M.
142 Canon Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Rios, Ramon
170 Corthell St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Rivera, Angel L.
799 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Selvy, Rae E.
114 Emerson RD, PT D104
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Seymour, Desiree Frances
52 Lebanon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Simulynas, Scott
Simulynas, Kelly A.
125 Glendale Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Smith, Eleanor D.
70B Stillwater Road
South Deerfield, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Smith, Lorrie A.
a/k/a Ledoux, Lorrie A.
112 Barber St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Stewart, Renee M.
36 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Tersavich, Richard E.
7 Deer Run
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Topic, Meliha
170 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Vazquez, Nelida
53 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Volff, James Henry
Volff, Charlene Judith
8 Phillips Hill
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Woodward, Steven
Woodward, Darlene
129 Pinegrove St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Departments

The following Building Permits were issued during the month of December 2007.

AGAWAM

Charles A. Calabrese
322 Meadow St.
$500,000 — New commercial construction

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee
59 Jones Ferry Road
14,300,000 — Construction of new public utility building

Hawthorne Services, Inc.
93 Main St.
$20,000 — Re-roof

Memorial Drive LLC
650 Memorial Dr.
$3,350 — Interior renovations at Mesirow Financial

EASTHAMPTON

Williston Northampton School
194 Main St.
$3,600,000 — Addition

EAST LONGMEADOW

Care One LLC
135 Benton Dr.
$260,000 — New roof

Field, Eddy, & Buckley
96 Shaker Road
$217,000 – Interior Build Out

GREENFIELD

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
393 Main St.
$34,250 — Re-roof

WTE Recycling Inc.
62 Montague City Road
$80,000 — Construction of covered building for metal separation

HOLYOKE

Maverick Management Inc.
275 High St.
$7,550 — Repair existing parapet wall

LUDLOW

Gindom Realty
82 Cady St.
$50,000 — Interior alterations

NORTHAMPTON

Coolidge Northampton LLC
243 King St.
$30,000 — Interior alterations

Gretna Green Development Corp.
118 Conz St.
$15,000 — Repair car damage to building

Hospital Hill Development LLC
209 Earle St.
$1,525,000 – Construct 21,000-square-foot commercial building

Northeast Enterprise
19 Lyman Road
$8,300 — Interior renovations

SOUTH HADLEY

Ebenezer Choo’s
60 Bridge St.
$20,000 — New fire sprinkler system

SOUTHWICK

Summer House
552 College Hwy.
$399,000 — Addition to restaurant

SPRINGFIELD

City of Springfield
70 Tapley St.
$17,500 — New mechanical room next to stockroom for garage masonry

WESTFIELD

Advance Manufacturing Company Inc.
8 Turnpike Road
$188,000 — Addition

Domus Inc.
330 Elm St.
$3,223,000 — Commercial building renovation

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Dr. Swenson
288 Westfield St.
$22,000 — Change all doors and windows to newer

Robyn C. Taylor LLC
255 Interstate Dr.
$55,000 — Interior renovations

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Departments

Berkshire Hills Announces 300,000-share Repurchase Program

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Bancorp recently announced a new stock repurchase program that authorizing the company to repurchase up to 300,000 shares, or approximately 2.85% of its outstanding common stock. The repurchases, which will be conducted through open market purchases or privately negotiated purchases, will be made from time to time, subject to market conditions, at the discretion of company management. In addition to this new program, the company has approximately 30,000 shares remaining available for purchase under the previously approved stock repurchase program. The company intends to hold the shares repurchased as treasury shares. The company may use such shares to fund any stock benefit or compensation plan or for any other purpose the Board of Directors deems advisable in compliance with applicable law.

Resort Developer Hires Lobbying Firm

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Northeast Group, owner of a 150-acre-plus tract of land in Palmer off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike, has hired The Suffolk Group LLC and lead lobbyist William F. Cass of Boston to represent their interests on Beacon Hill. The Northeast Group also has site control of a 35-acre waterfront tract in New Bedford off Exit 16 of Route 195. Both could be potential sites for a resort casino and retail complex, according to company officials. The Suffolk Group will provide government relations and public affairs services to Northeast as the debate over the future of casinos takes place at the State House. Cass is a former member of the Massachusetts Legislature. In a related development, Northeast has also engaged Paul Robbins Associates Inc. of Wilbraham to assist The Northeast Group in strategic planning and communications regarding the developer’s interests relating to the Palmer and New Bedford properties and their potential as tourist destination sites.

Longmeadow Flowers Marks 50th

LONGMEADOW — Three weeks of celebrations in December marked the 50th anniversary for Longmeadow Flowers. Longmeadow Flowers has two locations, its headquarters at 789 Williams St., and a satellite store at Tower Square in Springfield. Founded in 1957 by Bradford O. Parker Sr., the shop started out with two employees in a small space on Longmeadow Street. In 1961, Bradford O. Parker Jr. bought the business from his father and gradually turned it into a “community pillar,” he noted. Longmeadow Flowers is best known for its fresh flowers, arrangements and unique gift items.

Offer Made For Kittredge Building

SPRINGFIELD — A bid of just over $400,000 from an unidentified bidder has attracted the attention of Sidney Kittredge, George Kittredge and Ruth Webber, owners of the 83,000-square-foot Kittredge Building on East Columbus Avenue. At press time a deal was not finalized for the building that had housed Kittredge Equipment Co. That company recently moved its operations to Bowles Road in Agawam. The recent auction attracted approximately 20 people and four to five active bidders.

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Departments

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Amanda Wrobel, a minor, by her parents v. Avis Rent-A-Car & Kelley Curson
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence causing injury: $20,000
Filed: 12/11/07

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Karen Markert v. McDermott’s Inc.
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence: $33,010.41
Filed: 12/19/07

Merrill Wesson v. Dick’s Auto Repair
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence: $15,130.80
Filed: 12/6/07

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Concetta Viviano v. Jewish Geriatric Services Inc.
Allegation: Wage and hour dispute: 50,000
Filed: 11/1/07

International Communications Inc. v. The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House
Allegation: Enforcement of previous judgment: $32,243.79
Filed: 11/2/07

Murphy, Hesse, Toomey, & Lehane, LLP v. Jelly Belly Pools & Spas Inc.
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence: $207,106.73
Filed: 11/2/07

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Holbrook Lumber Company v. Eastern Lumber & Millwork
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $29,507.16
Filed: 12/3/07

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

Berkshire Westwood Graphics Group Inc. v. Atlantic Digital Imaging Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods: $8,308.00
Filed: 10/18/07

Broadcast Music Inc. v. Iron Horse Music Hall
Allegation: Default on contract: $3,107.97
Filed: 10/11/07

National Credit Acceptance Inc. v. New England X-ray Supply Inc.
Allegation: Breach of credit contract: $23,048.61
Filed: 11/8/07

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Baker & Taylor Inc. v. Anime Ink
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,569.91
Filed: 12/10/07

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Kristen Arbour v. Frito-Lay Inc.
Allegation: Defective product causing injury: $4,098.14
Filed: 11/28/07

Sysco Food Services of CT. v. Finn Maccools
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,726.00
Filed: 11/7/07

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Agar Supply Company v. The Bury
Allegation: Unpaid goods sold and delivered: $9,164.47
Filed: 11/27/07

Bernard & Bridgett Barrett v. Manganaro Home Builders
Allegation: Expenses incurred while correcting a defective leach field constructed by defendants: $7,094.50
Filed: 11/19/07

Laura Figueroa, Elda Campos, Ramualdo Perez v. Cumberland Farms Inc.
Allegation: Negligent property maintenance causing injury: $24,000.00
Filed: 12/5/07

Louis Michaelson & Sons Inc. v. S&G Bakery Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for produce, dairy, and dried foodstuffs: $27,111.91
Filed: 12/4/07

Louis Michaelson & Sons Inc. v. Sonoma Bar & Grille
Allegation: Breach of contract for produce, dairy, and dried foodstuffs: $6,916.37
Filed: 12/4/07

Louis Michaelson & Sons Inc. v. Let’s Go Bakery, Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for purchase of foodstuffs: $15,420.15
Filed: 12/4/07

Sunshine Art Studio, Inc. v. Judith M. Fowler d/b/a Cardsmart
Allegation: Unpaid goods sold and delivered: $9,037.22
Filed: 11/27/07

United Rentals Inc. v. P.V. Construction Corp.
Allegation: Failure to pay for materials, equipment and construction services: $15,355
Filed: 12/5/07

United Rentals, Inc. v. Olympic Painting & Roofing Company
Allegation: Failure to pay for materials, equipment and construction services: $128,027.90
Filed: 12/5/07

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of December 2007.

AGAWAM

Amised Express
418 Meadow St.
Rubmod Pesima

Clarke Collectibles
550 Southwick St.
Ronnie Clarke

Ghedi Property Maintenance
7 Family Lane
Bryan M. Ghedi

The Daily Grind
360 North Westfield St.
Brian O’Shea

AMHERST

Baron Jeff Corporation
30 Boltwood Ave.
Richard Trahan

Bueno y Sano
1 Boltwood Walk
Robert Lowry

JNK Enterprises
37-39 Boltwood Walk
Jin Hee Lee

Pizza Shark Plus
17B Montague Road
Robert Pollak

Townhouse Management Associates
50 Meadow St.
Patrick D. Kamins II

Visual Concepts 123
170 East Hadley Road
Yvonne Mendez

CHICOPEE

Pine Tree Janitorial
220 Beauchamp Terrace
Christopher Nadeau

EASTHAMPTON

Custom Carpentry & Restoration
47 Chapin St.
Ben Greene

Massachusetts 4 Sale By Owner
2 Mechanic St.
Elizabeth Provo

EAST LONGMEADOW

The Meadows Insurance Agency
250 North Main St.
Jeff Smith

GREENFIELD

A New Face Skin Care & Body Wash
335 Federal St.
Penny Reid

Network Chiropractic of the Pioneer Valley
158 Main St.
Ellen J. Mitnowsky

One True Water Therapeutic Touch
29 Beech St.
Scott M. Belanger

Paquin’s Piano Sales & Service
285 Conway St.
Leo Paquin

Valley Mart
4 Mill St.
Muhammad Yasin

HADLEY

Mountainview Auto Sales
71 Lawrence Plain Road
Patricia McCarthy

The Wedding You Imagine
301 Russell St.
James Falcone

HOLYOKE

Kool Smiles, PC
217 South Street
Dr. Tu Tran

Lotion Melts & More
473 Homestead Avenue
Joanne O’Rourke

MacPherson Pizza LLC
1534 Dwight St.
Chris MacPherson

Moon Shine Café
191 High St.
Jose Millan

NORTHAMPTON

A Step Forward Massage & Body Work
26 Market St.
Bretten K. Burger

Dracone’s Partners
70 Massasoit St.
Todd Kempner Thompson

Georgia @ The Salon
99B Market St.
Georgia Wingblade

Just Up The Road Skin Care & Waxing
16 Meadow St.
Diana Cerutti

O’Rourkes Auto School
122 Federal St.
Donna C. Hoering

Rick Mott’s Auto Repair
442 Elm St.
Ljubica Mott

Sam Brumbaugh
48 Ward Avenue
Sam Brumbaugh

Smith & Reynold’s
22 Edwards Square
Matthew Reynolds

PALMER

AB Hauling & Removal
1330 Ware Road
Justin Alan Gregorie

Burgundy Brook Country Store
3090 Palmer Road
Cathy Jo Champagne — Hill

SOUTH HADLEY

Ronald D. Stevenson Jr. Journeyman Electrician
77 Alvord St.
Ronald D. Stevenson Jr.

SOUTHWICK

Tastefully Tanned
610 College Highway
Angela Rivera

SPRINGFIELD

ACN
21 Hillmont St.
Virginia Lyons

Aero Streams Wind Energy
22 Trillium St.
Herve Pierre Jacques

Asian Market
19 Pamona St.
Truong Nguyen

Beautiful “U”
520 Main St.
Tanya M. Burke

Bonau Market
276 Oakland St.
Juan C. Rodriguez

Bourdeau Associates
1695 Main St., Suite 300
David E. Bourdeau

C & C Contractors, LLC
570 Cottage St.
Reginald L.C. Cole

Cabos Flava Fashions
795 Liberty St.
Edwin Acevedo

Can U Game?
701 B Sumner Ave.
Collin Charles

Felix’s Family Ristorante
218 Dickinson St.
Rocco Terriaca

Figures-And-Collectibles
40 Dubois St.
Frank J. Morales

Gina P. Allen Typing Services
120 Westminster St.
Gina P. Allen

Hasan Drywall and Home Improvement
19 Hillcrest St.
Ronald A. Watt

I.A.T.S.E. Stagehand
34 Court St.
Valentino Larese

JK Subway, LLC
718 State St.
Kim McCarthy

WESTFIELD

David B. Bogusiewski
255 Pochassic Road
David B. Bogusiewski

Eastern Vehicle Recycling
88 Neck Road
Donald George

Greens Lake Properties
288 Honey Pot Road
Robert Cheney

Kerri S. Reed CPA
104 Old Stage Road
Kerri Reed

Palmer Dedicated Logistics, LLC
39 South Broad St.
Robert M. Sullivan Jr.

Town Coupons
11 Shadow Lane
Roy Federer

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Cruise Center
1285 Riverdale St.
Gorecki Enterprises

East Coast Athletics
150 Ohio Ave.
Stephen F. Conca

N.E. Relief Parcels
1285 Riverdale St.
Gorecki Enterprises

My Dad’s Landscape
201 Great Plains Road
John A. Suckav

OPINION

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Opinion

We Need to Invest in Education

When Gov. Deval Patrick recently filed a $2 billion capital bond bill to finance infrastructure improvements at all 29 of Massachusetts’ public college and universities, he declared it to be an “emergency law,” meaning that it would go into effect immediately upon passage by the Legislature and his signing.

Little did the governor or anyone else know how apropos that designation would be.

A few days after the filing, Salem State College officials made the difficult decision to close that college’s library based on concerns raised over the structural soundness of the 35-year-old building.

As serious as the situation is at Salem State, this capital bill is not just about some falling bricks and cracked mortar. The reality is that our public colleges and university system are being asked to educate the talent for the emerging industries of the new economy in laboratories and classrooms that are sometimes more than 40 years old.

Investment in our public higher education system is long overdue. Massachusetts devotes only 2.8% of its capital expenditures to public higher education, while other states invest 12.5% on average.

At the campus level this pattern of state disinvestment in its public higher education system has resulted in a backlog of more than $5.5 billion in unfunded capital projects and necessitated that campuses tap already-tight operating budgets and increase student charges to pay for deferred maintenance.

At the state level, this pattern has resulted in Massachusetts falling woefully behind its chief economic competitors in supporting its public higher education system. In fiscal 2006, Connecticut invested more than four times what Massachusetts did on the capital needs of its public colleges and university system, North Carolina approximately seven times, and New York nearly eight times.

With two-thirds of our high school graduates who attend college in Massachusetts going to a public institution — up from only 58% a decade ago — our economic future depends on having public colleges and a university with best-in-class labs, equipment, and technology.

Patrick’s bond bill recognizes these competitive implications by emphasizing investments that contribute to the medium to long term competitiveness of our state economy.

The bill would fund new science centers at four Massachusetts state colleges where existing science facilities are 30 to 50 years old. These buildings lack the labs to conduct some of today’s sophisticated experiments in chemistry and biology and the space to meet current equipment, fabrication, and technology needs in physics.

These shortcomings undermine our ability to attract top faculty and retain students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math in Massachusetts. First-rate facilities will promote teaching and learning in these fields, help fill the talent pipeline needed to support regional industries, and meet the demands of our public schools for the finest science and math teachers.

At the state’s 15 community colleges, the bond bill will fund construction of new allied health buildings on four campuses as well as the complete modernization and rehabilitation of science and general academic buildings on most of the remaining campuses. New allied health facilities will strengthen these colleges’ capacity to respond directly to changing workforce needs by enhancing the training of more nurses, medical technicians, and health care professionals — jobs that are in tremendous demand.

The effects of state disinvestment in our public colleges and university are not as visible to the public as lack of investment in our transportation networks, but they are every bit as critical to our long-term competitiveness. As the Legislature considers the bond bill, the question is not whether we can afford to pay for these investments, but whether we can afford not to.

Robert V. Antonucci is president of Fitchburg State College. Terrence A. Gomes is president of Roxbury Community College. This article first appeared in the Boston Globe.

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Departments

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

AMHERST

Black Arts Inc., The, 10 Pleasant Court, Amherst 01002. Theodor Black, same. Writing, illustration & design.

CHICOPEE

D and S Tax Associates Inc., 252 Columba St., Chicopee 01020. Susan Birkner, 1181 Amostown Road, West Springfield 01089. Tax-preparation services for individuals and businesses, etc.

High Impact Cleaning Inc., 38 Dorrance St., Chicopee 01013. Eric Lebeau, same. Cleaning and janitorial services.

Honeyman Inc., 78 Main St., Chicopee 01020. Andrew Caires, 23 Ashley Circle, Easthampton 01027. (Nonprofit) To provide housing facilities for very low-income adults with disabilities, provide supportive services to meet their needs, etc.

Rachael’s Food Corp., 705 Meadow St., Chicopee 01013. Rachael Polep Kramer, 273 Deepwoods Dr., Longmeadow 01106. Food products manufacture and wholesale distribution.

EASTHAMPTON

Stevens Urethane Corp., 412 Main St., Easthampton 01037. Michael L. Fulbright, 55 Beattie Place, Suite 1510, Greeenville, SC 29601. Tony Burns, 412 Main St., Easthampton 01027, registered agent. (Foreign corp.; DE) Manufacturing.

GREENFIELD

Country Hyundai Inc., 45 Colrain Road, Greenfield 01301. Carla J. Cosenzi, same. New and used vehicles and related services.

INDIAN ORCHARD

Alsen Realty Corp., 176 Main St., 3 Front, Indian Orchard 01151. Lesly A. Ramirez, same. Real estate.

SPRINGFIELD

Calhoun Properties Inc., 108 Calhoun St., Springfield 01107. David V. Torres, same. Real estate investment and management.

Felix’s Family Ristorante Inc., 214-216 Dickinson St., Springfield 01108. Nicola DeCesare, same. To operate a restaurant.

Hampden Bancorp Inc., 19 Harrison Ave., Springfield 01102. Thomas R. Burton, same. (Foreign corp.; DE) Holding company for financial institution offering banking services.

House Max Inc., 555 State St., Springfield 01109. Abdur R. Salimi, 46 Ravenwood Lane, West Springfield 01089. Retail variety merchandise.

Spring Street Super Grocery & Variety Corp., 121 Spring St., Springfield 01108. Jose Miguel Rijo, 98 Blaine St., Springfield 01108. Retail, grocery.

Vietnam Quoc Maul Linh Tu — Vietnamese National Mother Goddesses Temple Inc., 334 Saint James Ave., Springfield 01109. Thang Van Cao, same. (Nonprofit) To pay respect and gratitude to the ancestors, the heroes and heroines of Vietnam, etc.

WESTFIELD

Westfield Museum Inc., 176 Tannery Road, Westfield 01085. Robert Dewey, same. (Nonprofit) To provide a venue for the display of collected historical artifacts for the citizens of Greater Westfield, etc.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Beech Hill Development Inc., 84 Cedar Woods Glen, West Springfield 01089. Kathleen H. Sweeney, same. Real estate development.

All We Are Saying: Give Manufacturing a Chance

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Opinion

Across Western Mass., we hear about the need for new business opportunities daily, and the pressures facing the region in this regard.

There are a number of ideas on the table to strengthen the economy and the profile of Western Mass. as a player in the Commonwealth and even the nation, ranging from bringing the ‘hidden tech’ sector out of the shadows to entering the life sciences race.

While the region has a long history in manufacturing of all types, it’s a piece of the economic landscape that is often buried under headlines touting new endeavors and tainted by stories of layoffs, company relocations, and plant closings. However, the manufacturing sector in Western Mass. is one in which we’ve noticed a steady undercurrent of progress lately.

True, manufacturing is not exactly enjoying a new heyday; companies have continued to close or relocate to other parts of the globe in recent years.

In the Pioneer Valley, American Pad and Paper Co., Ludlow Textiles, and Holyoke Card Co. have all disappeared. Danaher Tool, which manufactured wrenches in Springfield for more than 100 years, closed its doors in 2006 to relocate operations in Texas and Arkansas, and last year, Springfield Wire phased out its local operations and eliminated 180 jobs in the region.

Berkshire County also said goodbye to some long-standing manufacturing operations in 2007: MeadWestvaco closed one of its two Lee mills, eliminating 70 jobs; Neenah Paper of Alpharetta, Ga., laid off 137 workers after it purchased the former Fox River Paper in Housatonic; and Schweitzer-Mauduit announced that it would begin to close four mills in Lee in 2008, eliminating 165 jobs.

Adding insult to injury, there are still too few skilled workers to fill those positions that are available. Technology marches on, and appropriate training has become a dire necessity.

But perhaps more than any other sector, the manufacturing industry of Western Mass. is one that quietly soldiers on. Just as there have been closings, there have been expansions — AM Lithography, for example, a printing and packaging outfit based in Chicopee, just opened a second location in Holyoke to accommodate its expanding operations.

And Microtest Labs in Agawam, a medical testing and manufacturing facility, is currently seeking $7 million in funding to expand its ‘fill and finish’ division as it concurrently seeks new opportunities in stem cell research.

New educational initiatives are also surfacing to train a new workforce, and innovative arrangements are being made in cities and towns to woo new businesses and keep them here.

For example, five Western Mass. companies are benefiting from a $19.4 million financing program for expansions and renovations announced in November (bonds provided by MassDevelopment are being purchased by several area banks), aimed at strengthening the manufacturing base. Funding has been awarded to Hazen Paper of Holyoke, Argotec of Greenfield, Petricca Industries of Pittsfield, Universal Plastics of Holyoke, and VCA Incorporated of Northampton, and the project is expected to help create 84 new jobs.

And just last month, the Hampden County Regional Employment Board announced the creation of the E. Herbert Burk Fund, established with a $600,000 gift from Burk’s family, to award scholarships and programs to increase interest and job training in the precision machine and tooling industry.

Burk’s story was one of hard work and perseverance paying off, and one that his family, the REB, and others want to see replicated. But more importantly, they want people to understand that it can be replicated.

Industry in Western Mass. is often looked at as the region’s legacy of years gone by. But a point often missed when discussing manufacturing is that it does not stand alone, but rather stands primed and ready to serve as a feeder to countless other promising industries, including biotechnology and life sciences, which received $1 billion worth of attention from Gov. Deval Patrick in 2007.

As we enter a new year, it’s important to remember that manufacturing is not just a part of our past. It’s a key piece of the present, and of the future.

By BusinessWest Staff January 7, 2008

Departments

Precision Timing

A $600,000 gift to establish a scholarship fund to train a new workforce for the precision machining industry of Western Mass. was made recently by the family of the late E. Herbert Burk, former senior vice president of Mestek Inc. in Westfield. The fund will be managed by the Community Foundation of Western Mass., and the Hampden County Regional Employment Board (REB) will serve as lead adviser in disseminating these funds to individuals and organizations. The gift was recognized and celebrated last month in Springfield by a group that consisted of several Western Mass. business leaders and economic development representatives. Pictured here, the REB presents members of Burk’s family with an award of recognition. From left to right: Mike Nziolek, senior vice president at Hasbro Games, and chair of the REB; Alfred Materas II, Burk’s son-in-law; Judith Materas and Jacky Yiznitsky, Burk’s daughters; Mass. Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne Bump; David Cruise, director of the REB’s precision machining project; and Kent Faerber, director of the Community Foundation of Western Mass.

Insuring for the Future

OneBeacon Insurance recently made a $2,500 donation to the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter as part of the company’s charitable trust. The gift was presented by OneBeacon executives recently. Left to right: John Scroope, Regional President, OneBeacon; Dean Florian, President, Insurance Center of New England (ICNE); William Trudeau, Jr., Chief Operating Officer, ICNE and newly elected Pioneer Valley Chapter Board President; Brian Cadigan, Business Development Manager, OneBeacon; and Rick Lee, Pioneer Valley Chapter Executive Director.

Upper Crust

The Atrium at Cardinal Drive delivered homemade pies (baked by Chef Mellissa Hathorne) to service professionals in Agawam and surrounding communities. One of the first stops was the Agawam Fire Department, where Judy Bourgeois, director of Community Relations for the Atrium, presented Deputy Fire Chief Michael Mercadante with a pecan pie and Lt. Jim Demming with a pumpkin pie. This was the beginning of two very busy days of deliveries.

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

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

Amo, Christine P.
Amo, David M.
72 Fairway Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/07

Babula, Marcin
23 Primrose St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/07

Bernard, Michelle L.
18 East Main St., Apt. 4
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Blair, Christine M.
16 Edward St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/05/07

Brodeur, Sidney J.
1937 East St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/06/07

Brown, Lennox L.
71 Gates Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Bruno, G. Stephen
a/k/a Bruno, George S.
209 East Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/01/07

Casasnovas, Jorge L.
28 Federal St., Apt. A
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/14/07

Clark, Jenniffer Michelle
Clark, David Gregory
38 Greenleaf St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/07

Clark, Lewis
Clark, Doris M.
179 Albemarle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/06/07

Connors, Carl J.
150 Morton St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/08/07

D’Agostino, Thomas
D’Agostino, Nancy V.
172 Cedar Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Domnarski, Amber E.
56 Olney Road
Palmer, MA 01069-9876
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/14/07

Dupuis, James F.
15 Covel St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/08/07

Ficara, Paul C.
Ficara, Sarah C.
7 Wilbraview Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/07

Gahres, Diane Patricia
P.O. Box 71
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/07

Garrett, Melissa A.
44 Forest Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/01/07

Gedminas, Russell P.
Gedminas, Barbara G.
34 Phillip Ave
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Germaine, Ronald J.
137 Sierra Vista Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Greenglow Inc.
TruePresence
Green, Daniel Michael
498 South Gulf Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Grundy, Dawn Elizabeth
65 Shawnigan Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Guimond, Denise M.
a/k/a Carpenter, Denise M.
a/k/a Lang, Denise M.
132 East Brimfield Hollan
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Harnden, Brian Steven
Harnden, Jennifer Lyn
263 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/07

Hart, Melody M.
47 Sunnymeade Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/07

Hreschuk, Sandra M.
146 Horseshoe Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Kardisco, Robert P.
Beeler-Kardisco, Angela M.
61 State St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/06/07

Kim, Hue Ly
a/k/a Kim, Vana
86 Balfour Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Laplante, Kevin M.
Laplante, Charlene M.
71 Hathorne St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/07

LaRoche, Philip A.
9 Yorktowne Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/07

Lillie, Cheryl A.
338 West Main St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/12/07

Lombardo, Angelo
195 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/14/07

Lopez, Irma L.
62 Locust St., #1
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Marrocco, Scott A.
Marrocco, Suzanne L.
17 Michael St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Maruca, Michael J.
Maruca, Melissa J.
39 Jenness St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/01/07

Maynard, Kerri E.
14 Stratford Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

McIntire, Monica A.
McIntire, Ian K
10 Dubois St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Monte, Scott
Monte, Carol
58 Hunt St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/07

Morra, Thomas A.
51 Pine St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/08/07

Murray, Grace G.
129 Olmsted Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/08/07

Nye, Gregory William
Nye, Robyn Leslie
188 Pleasant St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/14/07

Ortiz, Myriam Ivette
140 Wellington St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Papineau, Diane M.
P.O. Box 1155
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/01/07

Parris, Linda M.
100 Moreland St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/01/07

Plasse, Christina N.
92 North Main St.
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Prouty, Deborah Therese
12 Greenpoint Cir.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Rosenberg, Merton I.
556 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/07

Russo, James Anthony
Monette-Russo, Tina Anne
63 Meredian St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Shults, Geri Ellen
657 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Sluder, Joseph A.
Sluder, Elise M.
a/k/a Boudreau, Elise
35 Stone Valley Road, Apt. C1
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Smith, Malcolm F. E.
9 South Maple St., Apt. 3
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/07

Sobolewski, Marek
Sobolewski, Danuta D.
11 Sherman St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/05/07

St. Germain, Donald M.
170 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/07

T.A. Woodworking
Asimakopoulos, Athnasios
510 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/07

Tanon, Kristine N.
123 Lowell St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/01/07

Tebo, Ronald J.
Tebo, Sandra L.
864 Cronin Road
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/07

The Old Travelers Restaurant
Buelow, Mark D.
Buelow, Cindy T.
a/k/a Leblanc, Cindy T
99 Graham St.
Gardner, MA 01440
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Tillman, Maurice Page
16 Kay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/06/07

Truong, Jacky
646 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Valdes, Ivelisse
38 Brentwood St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/07

Veroneau, Thomas A.
Veroneau, Mari R.
6 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/07

Wassung, Robert G.
92 West St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/07

White, Charles E.
49 Ionia St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/07

White, Claire P.
53 West Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/07

Whitsett, Bryant K.
242 Pheland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/08/07

Whitsett, Sherri
242 Pheland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/08/07

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

Booming Job Market Expected for Region

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield-area employers expect to hire at a bullish pace during the first quarter of 2008, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. Among survey participants, the region’s employment outlook is expected to be the 10th strongest in the nation. From January to March, 53% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 7% expect to reduce their payrolls, according to Manpower spokesperson Cathy Paige of the Springfield office. Another 40% expect to maintain their current staff levels. For the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in non-durable goods manufacturing, wholesale/retail trade, finance/insurance/ real estate, services, and public administration. Employers in durable goods manufacturing voice mixed hiring intentions, while hiring in construction, transportation/public utilities, and education is expected to remain unchanged. After seasonal adjustments have been applied to the survey results, U.S. employers foresee a solid start to 2008 and expect to maintain a steady hiring pace. Of the 14,000 U.S. employers surveyed, 22% expect to add to their payrolls during the first quarter of 2008, while 12% expect to reduce staff levels. Another 60% expect no change in the hiring pace, and 6% are undecided about their January-March hiring plans.

People’s Virtual Magazine Features Bright Nights

SPRINGFIELD — Bright Nights at Forest Park is being showcased alongside nine other holiday attractions from across the country on www.people.com/holidayfun. Attractions also included on the Web site include Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Disney World in Orlando, Fla., the Fountains of the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, Calif. There is also Colonial Williamsburg, Chicago’s holiday tree, San Antonio’s Paseo Del Rio Holiday Festival, and the River of Lights in Albuquerque, N.M. Under the Springfield icon, there is an image of the Seuss Land arch and a short video. Bright Nights was selected by researchers at People magazine when they discovered the holiday lighting experience via the Internet. For more information on Bright Nights, visit www.brightnights.org or call the Spirit of Springfield at (413) 733-3800.

AIM’s Business Confidence Index Off in November

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index dropped 1.6 points in November to 53.6 as concern grew among state employers that a spreading financial crisis and declining home prices could signal a significant economic slowdown if not an outright economic recession. Survey respondents’ ratings of business conditions in Massachusetts and nationally tipped to marginally negative from marginally positive in October, although assessments of their own companies’ situations remained more favorable, according to Raymond G. Torto, co-chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors and principal, Torto Wheaton. The decline, he noted, is the third in four months and leaves the index at its lowest point since June 2006, and 5.9 points below its level of last November. The monthly Index is based on a survey of AIM-member companies across the state, asking questions about current and prospective business conditions in the state and the nation, as well as for their respective organizations.

Survey: Corporate Support Consistent For Social Responsibility Programs

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Corporate social responsibility programs have been in the public spotlight in recent years, but a new survey suggests these initiatives have long been popular with companies. Almost three-quarters (73%) of chief financial officers recently polled said programs that support charitable giving or community involvement are important to their organizations. The results mirror a similar survey conducted in 2002. Even though businesses have long recognized the importance of giving back to the communities they serve, growing interest in corporate responsibility efforts may be prompting firms to become more sophisticated at communicating their good works to employees and the larger business community, according to Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources, developer of the survey. McDonald added that charitable initiatives help businesses attract and retain an engaged workforce by establishing an emotional tie between employees and the company. Active social responsibility programs enhance a firm’s reputation among clients, customers, and community partners, noted McDonald.

Chamber’s Tap Program Grants Assist Small Businesses

SPRINGFIELD — The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc. (ACCGS) has announced the availability of state grant funds through two programs that are targeted to assist small businesses in the city. The first program for technology assistance provides grants of up to $2,500 to qualified applicants to improve their knowledge on Quick Books, inventory control programs and/or the creation of Web sites to promote their businesses. The second program provides grants of up to $5,000 for certain service costs incurred when a business moves into a vacant storefront in the city. For details on eligibility, applicants should contact Russell Denver, president, ACCGS, at (413) 755-1304 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Existing-home Sales to Trend Up in 2008

WASHINGTON — Existing-home sales are projected to trend up in 2008, with pending home sales showing a slight near-term rise, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®. However, a recovery for new-home sales is unlikely before 2009. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the worst part of the credit crunch has already worked its way through the data. “The unusual mortgage disruptions that peaked in August were clearly seen in lower home sales that were finalized in September and October, so the market was underperforming,” he said. “Now that mortgage conditions have improved, some postponed activity should turn up in existing-home sales over the next couple of months, and I expect sales at fairly stable to slightly higher levels.” The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in October, increased 0.6% to an index of 87.2 from an upwardly revised reading of 86.7 in September. It was the second consecutive monthly gain, but remained 18.4% below the October 2006 index of 106.8. “The broad trend over the coming year will be a gradual rise in existing-home sales, but because sales are exceptionally low in the final months of 2007, total sales for 2008 will be only modestly higher than 2007,” Yun said. The PHSI in the Northeast jumped 16.0% in October to 80.6 but is 11.1% below a year ago. In the West, the index rose 8.4% to 87.3 but is 16.9% lower than October 2006. The index in the Midwest slipped 1.4% in October to 85.5 and is 11.7% below a year ago. In the South, the index dropped 7.8% in October to 91.6 and is 25.3% below October 2006. Existing-home sales are likely to total 5.67 million this year, the fifth highest on record, rising to 5.70 million in 2008, in contrast with 6.48 million in 2006. Existing-home prices should be down 1.9% to a median of $217,600 for all of 2007, and then rise 0.3% to $218,300 in 2008. New-home sales are forecast at 788,000 this year and 693,000 in 2008, down from 1.05 million 2006; no sustained improvement is seen for new homes until 2009. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is estimated to rise slowly to the 6.4% range by the end of 2008, with additional cuts in the Fed funds rate lowering short-term interest rates.

OPINION

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Opinion

Building a Better Springfield

Thirty years ago, all of Massachusetts was caught in the economic maelstrom that followed the exodus of manufacturers from New England. Since then, Greater Boston’s economy of ideas has turned Massachusetts into America’s fifth-richest state, while some of our cities, like Springfield, remain mired in poverty.

What should we do about the vast gulf that separates thriving Boston from faltering Springfield? Good urban policies put people ahead of place. The Springfield region has a chance for rebirth by focusing on the quality-of-life policies that attract smart, entrepreneurial people.

But revitalization is far less important than a brighter future for Springfield’s children. If we can deliver that brighter future, even if those children eventually move far from Springfield, then we shouldn’t worry if the city itself keeps shrinking.

Manufacturers once located in Springfield because of transportation advantages, including the Connecticut River and a junction of two major rail lines. Springfield’s edge in moving goods made it a center for rifles and Rolls-Royces, gas pumps and motorcycles. Urban clusters of smart people produce innovation; Springfield gave us basketball and America’s first gasoline-powered car.

As the cost of moving goods plummeted, manufacturing left New England for cheaper climes, and Springfield fell into decline. While older, colder cities with a strong skill base switched from making goods to making ideas, only 16% of Springfield’s adults have a college degree. The city hasn’t reinvented itself. Today, one-fifth of Springfield’s families are poor.

The most important response to such poverty is to invest in schools and safety. Unfortunately, most declining cities have neither the funds nor the leadership to revamp their schools.

In a move that brings great credit to both men, Gov. Deval Patrick put former rival Chris Gabrieli in charge of Springfield’s external Finance Control Board. Gabrieli combines a passion for schools with a reputation for independent competence. Perhaps he can persuade others that more spending on such troubled school districts as Springfield can be a wise investment.

Increased spending on Springfield’s schools should be tied to performance and innovation. Troubled school districts, like Springfield, must try new approaches, including embracing competition from charter schools and incentives for students and teachers.

While good regional policies for Springfield can go beyond schools, they should still focus on the human capital that is the real engine of local economies. Some people see salvation in a light rail line between Hartford and Springfield. But the era in which rail can make a city is long past. Today, the Springfield region’s modest densities make new rail lines inappropriate. Can it possibly make sense to spend hundreds of millions of dollars — money that could go toward Springfield’s children — on a rail line?

Good regional economic policy also shouldn’t try to micromanage industrial decisions. Neither I nor state officials can tell whether Springfield should invest in biotech or bikes. A better approach is to turn Springfield into a consumer city that will attract entrepreneurs who want to live there. It should follow the Providence model: attract well-educated people who are tired of high Boston prices.

Springfield has a beautiful housing stock and a region crammed with great educational institutions. If Greater Boston persists in making its housing unaffordable, then Springfield can provide an alternative. Indeed, Springfield’s future looks almost bright when we consider how unlikely it is that Greater Boston will build enough housing to meet demand.

I am rooting for Springfield, but there is no shame in decline. The region should try to revitalize itself by improving its quality of life. But it should also remember that taking good care of a smaller and smaller population is far better than chasing an unattainable return to former glory.

Edward L. Glaeser, a professor of Economics at Harvard, is director of the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston.

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of December 2007.

AGAWAM

Shoemaker Self-Storage LLC
444 Shoemaker Lane
$45,000 — Build 42 self-storage units

St. Anne’s Country Club Partnership
781 Shoemaker Lane
$125,000 — Construction of a wireless telecommunication center

CHICOPEE

CBL Associate Properties, Inc.
601D Memorial Dr.
$90,000 — Interior fit out of existing space for Radio Shack

Chris Von Pechman
601B Memorial Dr.
$117,000 — Interior fit out of existing space for SuperCuts

Thomas Sweeney
1469 Memorial Dr.
$198,500 — Construction of a coffee shop

EASTHAMPTON

City of Easthampton
43 Main St.
$100,000 — Renovations to cell tower

Florence Savings Bank
5 Main St.
$4,500 — Replace damaged front entry

Sullivan Easthampton LLC
136-148 Pleasant St.
$28,600 — Installation of three-level mechanical conveyor

GREENFIELD

Greenfield Housing Authority
1 Elm St.
$53,000 — Repair fire damage

John E. Michael
46 Forest Ave.
$2,000 — Minor repairs

Judith Stein
70 Federal St.
$5,700 — Renovate existing bathrooms to handicap accessible

Susan M. Renfrew
64 Mohawk Trail
$3,000 — Strip and re-roof

HOLYOKE

Sullivan Holyoke Property Associates, Inc.
11 Berkshire St.
$5,000 — Framing and siding of existing windows

NORTHAMPTON

Hospital Hill Development LLC
209 Earle St.
$1,525,000 — Construct 21,000-square-foot building

Linda J. Corley
525 Pleasant St.
$42,000 — Move cooler and enlarge bar countertop

Northampton Historical Society
66 Bridge St.
$2,000 — Replace exterior door

St. John’s Episcopal Church
48 Elm St.
$95,000 — Strip & shingle roof

SOUTH HADLEY

Anthony’s
500 New Ludlow Road
$53,000 — Install sprinklers

Fire District #1
Industrial Dr.
$175,000 — Install Communications Tower

SPRINGFIELD

City of Springfield
70 Tapley St.
$8,000 — Alter office space from storage to Community Development Department offices

Joseph Pafumi
354 Main St.
$129,700 — Repair fire damage

Mass Mutual Insurance
1500 Main St.
$27,500 — Revise office partitions in Suite 222 Tower Square

Related Springfield Associates
185 Dwight St.
$99,000 — Renovation of existing building and installation of new roof

Wassan Avenue Partners
116 Wasson Ave.
$83,000 — Construct an 18-by-36-foot pump & treatment center

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Developers Diversified
3300 Enterprise Pkwy.
$179,000 — Renovate 5,400 square feet of existing commercial space

Pugliano Realty
1020 Memorial Ave.
$90,000 — Renovate 9,412 square feet of commercial space

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Katherine M. L. Jones – For the estate of Susan E. Jones v. Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Allegation: Malpractice and wrongful death: $1,000,000+
Filed: 10/31/07

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

John Clark v. Chez Josef Inc.
Allegation: Injury due to negligent maintenance of piano bench: $21,069.45
Filed: 10/26/07

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Atlantic Polymers, Inc. v. Hydross, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract and non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $71,180.18
Filed: 11/21/07

BBS Treated Lumber of New England v. Eastern Lumber & Millwork Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold & delivered: $48,015.98
Filed: 11/27/07

Riverside Industries v. The City of Holyoke acting through its Public School Systems
Allegation: Breach of contract: $770,261.75
Filed: 11/07/07

Universal Electric Company v. Anderson Builders Inc. and Basada Realty LLC
Allegation: Failure to pay under the terms of a construction contract: $69,625.21
Filed: 11/23/07

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

Nebraskaland Inc. v. La Segunda Food Corp.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $15,384.30
Filed: 10/30/07

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Yankee Printing Group Inc. v. Presstek Inc.
Allegation: Lost business revenue: $6,260.00
Filed: 11/19/07

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Caitlin E. O’Connor v. Agnoli Sign Company
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence: $14,000.00
Filed: 10/15/07

Ideal Kitchens Home Improvement v. Blake & Associates Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods and services sold: $7,487.00
Filed: 10/12/07

J. Norbert Properties LLC v. J.T. Murray Real Estate
Allegation: Breach of real estate contract: $7,500.00
Filed: 10/24/07

Joseph Wayne Simpson v. Ames Design Inc.
Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $20,000.00
Filed: 10/11/07

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Erik Jackson v. Liacos Landscaping
Allegation: Improperly installed retaining wall: $2,000.00
Filed: 11/01/07

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of December 2007.

Bear Auto
517 Springfield St.
John G. Kudlic

Clarke Collectibles
550 Southwick St.
Ronnie Clarke

Endless Creativity
94 Wagon Wheel Dr.
Jenna K. Hollon

Motor City Car Co.
91 Ramah Cir.
Richard J. Conlon

Nails 2000
1325 Springfield St.
Timmy Agugen

New England Therapeutic
27 Howard St.
Joy Poggi

The End Results
667 Springfield St.
Catherine A. Marble

Tuffie MacQueen
111 Clover Hill Dr.
Joan Guernsey

CHICOPEE

Advance Tax
32 Montgomery St.
Andrew J. Fox

Apatar Inc.
195 Meadow St.
Renat R. Khasanshyn

Apaxys Global Ventures
195 Meadow St.
Renat R. Khasanshyn

Brunelle Funeral Home
811 Chicopee St.
Carriage Funeral Holdings Inc.

Chuck’s Auto Sales
78 West St.
Paul M. Torpey

Don Roy’s Auto Body & Appearance Center
1416 Granby Road
Donald J. Roy

Eagle Eyes Painting
160 South St.
Evelyn Andrade

East Street Auto Center
245 East St.
DonDav Enterprises Inc.

Economy Transmission Repair
955 Meadow St.
Albert Timothy Tetrault

King Ward Coach Lines
70 Justin Dr.
Dennis King

Santos Cleaning Service
41 Sullivan St.
William P. Santos

Spirit Staffing
48 Newbury St.
Craig Skorupski

SuperCuts
601 Memorial Dr.
Christopher Von Pechman

EASTHAMPTON

Back on the Rack
121 Main St.
Rachel & Jillian Tarr

Cherry Picked Books
101 Main St.
Tammie Bannon

Peter Pan Café
46 Pleasant St.
Sandra Wheeler

EAST LONGMEADOW

Associate Plumbing & Heating
30 Benjamin St.
Adriano Puis

Bardelli’s Florist
178 North Main St.
Debbi Bordelli

Hafey Funeral Service
120 Shaker Road
Carriage Funeral Holdings Inc.

GREENFIELD

Bacci Yarn Shop
114 Wells St.
Debra Mathey

Casey Storage Solutions
1135 Bernardston Road
Stile’s Lake Investments III

Fim Salon
395 Deerfield St.
Herdis Eriksson

Gregg Mullins DDS
40 School St.
Gregg Kent Mullins

Kimplin’s Auto Repair
144 Shelburn Road
Darryl Allen Kimplin

HADLEY

Bay Road Firewood
35 Lawrence Plain Road
Kenneth Koehler

Beynons Beehive
Hampshire Mall
Chris Beynon

HOLYOKE

Borders
50 Holyoke St.
Edward J. Jackson

Gold Star Service
11 Lincoln St.
Michael J. Lempke

Magicland Preschool & Childcare Center
251 Appleton St.
Virgen Lopez

Michael J’s Service Center
11 Lincoln St.
Michaels J. Lempke

Momo Food Mart
78 Cabot St.
Syed Ansar Ali

Victoria’s Secret
50 Holyoke St.
Robert Stecki

LUDLOW

Arena
79 East St.
Gabriel Gonzga Nogueira

LONGMEADOW

GDF Home Improvement
100 Westmore Lane
Glenn D. Friedrich

PALMER

Fuller Floors
2281 Baptist Hill Road
Connie Fuller

American Fiber Sales
21 Wilbraham Road
Susan Corbets

SOUTHWICK

B & E Aircraft Components
10 Hudson Dr.
John A. Wilander

Cammisa Courier
142 Berkshire Ave.
Eric G. Cammisa

SPRINGFIELD

Moe’s Vintage
172 Eastern Ave.
Frank Callender

Mundo Mobile
1104 Main Street
Maria Alban

Orthodontics & Prosthetics
300 Birnie Ave.
Salvatore Labella

Pets Inns Of America
100 Verge St.
Laura M. Pozzuto

Pipetek
49 Judson St.
Graham J. Boggis

Puerto Rico Restaurant
152 Rifled St.
Dilenia Almonte

Roberts
67 Liberty St.
Michael L. Jiles

Saigon Restaurant LLC
398-400 Dickinson St.
May Cun

Super Starz
253 Bay St.
Carlene Marsh

T G I M C
74 Kenyon St.
Anthony B. Gillylan

Watch Repair PRO
1655 Boston Road
Jesus Navarro

Zibby Home Improvement
182 Wollaston St.
Zbigiview Kiedos

WESTFIELD

Automation New England
19 Waterford Dr.
Gerhard Tepley

Little Black Dog Gallery
16 Union Ave.
Jackie French Koller

Main Games
2 Main St.
John Krok

Reed Tile Contractors
10 Washington St.
Daniel C. Reed

Skyline Services
292 Lockhouse Road
Robert Iacovelli

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Beauty Gate Salon and Day Spa
1646 Riverdale St.
Elzbieta Chmiel

Century Auto Service
1615 Riverdale St.
Peter Platanitis

Felix Contracting
61 Pheasant Crossing
Andrew Felix

Home Staff
1111 Elm St.
Massachusetts Health Corporation

Longhorn Steakhouse
1105 Riverdale St.
Rare Hospitality Inc.

Nicole Joseph’s Air Brush Tanning
11 Pleasant St.
Beatrice Thibault

Precision Auto Repair
179 Bosworth St.
James Stephenson

Speedy Quick Delivery
17 Fairview Ave.
Sergey Kolomoets

V.N. Construction
1103 Morgan Dr.
Vladimir Nakhabenko

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

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

AMHERST

Depalma Salon Inc., 6 University Dr., Amherst 01002. Felice Depalma, 26 Hatter Hill Road, Medfield 02052. Hairdressing, manicuring, beauty shop, health, and beauty spa business.

CHICOPEE

Craniosacral and Massage Center Inc., 101 East St., Suite 201, Chicopee 01020. Gina Welch, 16 Anniversary St., Springfield 01104. Massage and therapy salon.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Accomplished Associates Inc., 36 Elm St., East Longmeadow 01028. Laura A. Stevens, same. Real estate sales, brokerage and development.

Goprok Ambulance Service Inc., 82 Birch Ave., East Longmeadow 01028. Ibrahim Folorunso, same. Ambulance service (routine and emergency).

HOLYOKE

Currant Group Corp., 4 Open Square Way, Suite 319, Holyoke 01040. Hamenth Swaminathan, same. (Foreign corp; DE) Providing goods and services in the information technology industry.

JAF Carpet Installations Corp., 341 Walnut St., Holyoke 01040. Jose Quizhpe, same. Floor installation.

LONGMEADOW

Belleclaire Holdings Inc., 126 Belleclaire Ave., Longmeadow 01106. Michael J. Barbieri, same. Energy conservation audits, insulation, contracting.

Forest Park Fine Homes Inc., 87 Forest Glen Road, Longmeadow 01106. Leslie Clement, same. Real estate development.

LUDLOW

Santos Family Chiropractic Inc., 239 East St., Ludlow 01056. Helena Santos, 175 Tinkham Road, Springfield 01129. To render chiropratic care and rehabilitation services.

MONTAGUE

Tibetan Yung Drung Bon Arts Inc., 27 North Leverett Road, Montague 01351. Judy Ellen Marz, same. Retail Tibetan art.

NORTHAMPTON

Legacy Financial Solutions Inc., 10 Coram Farm Road, Northhampton 01532. Sean R. McCann, same. Financial services.

SPRINGFIELD

Latino Radio Broadcasting Network Corp., 190 Commonwealth Ave., Springfield 01108. Guillermo R. Negron, same. Radio and television live performance and agent.

The Law Offices of Daniel D. Kelly Inc., 115 State St., Suite 300, Springfield 01103. Daniel D. Kelly, same. Law office.

Tong Tong Beauty Center Corp., 127 Parkside St., Springfield 01104. Tong
Wang, same. Body work.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Northeast Consulting Concepts Inc., 680 Westfield St., West Springfield 01089. Susan J. Brenelle, 33 Woodcliff, Westfield 01085. Mortgage services.

WILBRAHAM

Flodesign Wind Turnbine Corp., 380 Main St., Wilbraham 01095. Stanley Kowalsksi, III, same. Engineering, design, manufacture, sale of wind turbines.

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

Dr. Michael J. Spink has joined the practice of Facial Cosmetic & Maxillofacial Surgery, P.C., and the office of Dr. Richard J. Fraziero in East Longmeadow.

•••••

Karen Desjeans has been appointed Staff Assistant to Holyoke Community College President William Messner; she will serve alongside fellow Staff Assistant Colleen Cameron.

•••••

Ace Fire & Water Restoration Inc. in West Springfield has announced the following:
• Nicole M. Sorel has been appointed head of its newly formed Cleaning and Packout Department, and
• Linda M. St. Marie has been named Office Manager.

•••••

The American Tree Farm System, along with BASF Corp., has named Cinda Jones of Cowls Land and Lumber Co. in North Amherst as the winner of the BASF Outstanding Achievements in Sustainable Forestry Award for 2007.

•••••

Human Resources Unlimited Inc. announced the following:
• Patrick Leary, Partner of Moriarty & Primack, P.C., has been named to its Board of Directors;
• Joel Morse, Sales and Marketing Manager of Marcus Printing, has been named to its Board of Directors, and
• Charlene Smolkowicz, Commercial Credit Analyst of Bank of Western Massachusetts, has been named to its Board of Directors.

•••••

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture announced the following:
• Jessica Cook has joined the staff as a Program Coordinator. She will oversee CISA’s efforts to study and develop salad greens and meat-processing options that will help more local farmers to get their products to market, and
• Allison Neher has joined the staff as a Program Assistant.

•••••

Cooley Dickinson Hospital-affiliated surgeons Drs. Christopher Marvelli, Holly Michaelson, and Timothy O’Brien have created a new name for their general surgery practice — Hampshire Surgical Care at 76A Carlon Dr. Marvelli, Michaelson, and O’Brien are all board-certified general surgeons, and specialize in advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgery, including surgeries of the colon and gastrointestinal tract as well as breast surgery.

•••••

Leonard Pansa, Vice President of Human Resources for the Sisters of Providence Health System, has met the criteria to advance to Fellow status at the American College of Healthcare Executives and is board-certified in health care management. Pansa received Fellow status as a result of his continued achievement in meeting high standards of professional development, excellence, and leadership as a health care executive.

•••••

Joel Anderson has joined Viega, LLC, a Kansas-based plumbing and radiant heating supplier, as District Sales Manager for Western Mass. In his new role, Anderson will be the face of Viega to area commercial contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers.

•••••

Clara M. Elliot

Clara M. Elliot has been named Dean of Human Resources at Holyoke Community College.

•••••

Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity announced the following staff appointments:
• Jennifer Schimmel has been named Executive Director;
• Sean T. Mitchell has been named Director of Development, and
• Lise M. LeTellier has been named Volunteer Coordinator.

•••••

Ric Skinner has joined Tighe & Bond in Westfield as Director of Geographic Information Systems. He is a certified GIS professional with 20 years of experience.

•••••

Anna Brandenburg has been named Program Coordinator and Training Librarian for the Springfield City Library.

•••••

Adam Novitt has been named Director of Pelham Library. He also works at the Forbes Library in Northampton.

•••••

Hope Kelley, head professional at The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, has been named the 2007 PGA Merchandiser of the Year at a Public Golf Course by the Connecticut Section of the PGA of America. The award recognizes excellence in business and merchandising at private, public, and resort golf facilities. Kelley is a 12-year member of the PGA and has overseen the golf operations at the Ranch since 2004.

•••••

Gary F. O’Grady has joined Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. as Municipal Banking Officer. He has offices at 24 North St., Pittsfield, and 31 Court St., Westfield. O’Grady will oversee the Government Banking Department, which specializes in banking services for municipalities and other governmental entities and agencies.

•••••

Motivational speaker, educator, and humorist Dr. Steve Sobel has been asked to address 100 top student-athletes at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Feb. 3. He will speak on “Leadership, Motivation, and Teambuilding.” Sobel’s practice is based in Longmeadow.

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

Taking the Oath

On Dec. 7, a total of 66 new lawyers, including 26 Western New England College School of Law graduates, were sworn in during a pair of formal sessions of the Supreme Judicial Court held in School of Law’s Moot Courtroom.

Below, new lawyers are sworn in before Supreme Judicial Court Justice John M. Greaney. At left, Greaney congratulates WNEC School of Law graduate Alyson Krauss of Palmer.

Cutting the Ribbon

City and state dignitaries officially opened Raymour & Flanigan’s newly constructed, 61,500-square-foot, two-story showroom at 895 Riverdale Street in West Springfield, Nov. 30. Doing the honors are, from left, Mickey Grabner, regional sales manager of Raymour & Flanigan; state Rep. James Welch; state Sen. Stephen Buoniconti; Dave Redekas, vice president of Sales for Raymour & Flanigan; Edward Gibson, West Springfield Mayor; Pamela Langlois, West Springfield store manager; Ben Orbach, vice president of Operations of Raymour & Flanigan; Ken Moss, vice president, Real Estate Development for Raymour & Flanigan; Vicky D’Agostino, director of Communications for Raymour & Flanigan; and Linda Neal, regional trainer for Raymour & Flanigan.

Check This Out

Jennifer Gabriel, assistant vice president and Public Affairs officer at TD Banknorth, presents a check for $50,000 to Springfield Technical Community College President Ira Rubenzahl for the college’s major gifts campaign. The largest single contribution made by the bank’s charitable foundation, the gift will assist STCC in maintaining state-of-the-art technology and labs campus-wide.

Branching Out in the Orchard

With an official ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local political and business leaders, Hampden Bank opened its Indian Orchard office at 187 Main St. on Dec. 12. The facility marks the bank’s eighth full-service office location in Hampden County. Shown at the ceremony are, left to right, Thomas R. Burton, president and CEO of Hampden Bank; Russ Denver, president of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield; Springfield Mayor-elect Domenic Sarno; Susan Craven, president of the Indian Orchard Citizen’s Council; Luis Rivera, assistant manager; and Nicole Dionne, office manager.

Contract Claus

Santa’s best friend at the South Hadley Chamber of Commerce’s’ Holiday Stroll on Dec. 7 was Bill Schenker, who greeted more than 200 youngsters and heard their Christmas wishes. The Michael E. Smith Middle School Singers led by Marilyn Steele serenaded the crowd with holiday songs, along with five other musical groups.

Our Workforce Is a Work in Progress

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Opinion

As he talked with BusinessWest about regional economic development and the prospects for 2008, Allan Blair said the region was due — make that overdue — for a “big hit.”

By that, Blair, director of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., meant the arrival or relocation to the Pioneer Valley of a major employer, creating several hundred new, hopefully well-paying, jobs. And he’s right, the Valley hasn’t seen such a ‘hit’ for a while now.

And while it’s possible we may see one in the year ahead — as Blair explained, there is still movement among corporations even in economic downturns, one of which is expected for 2008 — this is not the shape economic development is likely to take for the near future.

Even though Western Mass. still has comparatively ample amounts of developable land (the Chicopee River Business Park, for instance) and boasts a much lower cost of doing business than Boston and other areas of the state and the country, major manufacturers are simply not coming to the Northeast and the Pioneer Valley. In fact, this region is struggling just to hold onto what’s here.

Meanwhile, ‘big hits,’ what few there are, in biotech, are occurring in Worcester or Cambridge, which have established clusters of companies in that sector.

Which means that, unless something unexpected happens, growth is going to come organically, from new-business development and growth of companies that have already planted roots in the Valley.

For this to happen, economic development leaders have to put renewed emphasis on workforce development and close a wide skills gap that is preventing many area companies — from hospitals to machine shops; public school systems to paper makers — from filling existing vacancies.

This is not a breaking news story — employers up and down the Valley have been complaining for years about not being able to find enough qualified workers — but the problem is becoming acute, and it is in many ways stifling growth (meaning economic development) in the area.

Thus, we’re pleased to see that a comprehensive action plan will be prepared early next year to address workforce-development issues. This plan will be demand-driven, says Bill Ward, director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, and must be, because the economy won’t grow and companies can’t reach their full potential if those who comprise the region’s workforce don’t possess the specific skills that employers need.

Baystate Health can’t fill hundreds of current vacancies — and it has a $239 million expansion project on the drawing board that will probably add hundreds if not thousands of new positions over the next decade. Meanwhile, other health care providers struggle to find nurses, technicians, and other personnel; school systems tax their resources and imaginations to find teachers; machine shops have to turn down millions of dollars worth of work because they don’t have enough qualified people; and area pre-schools are staffed largely by people without college degrees.

All this leads people like Russ Denver, president of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, to wonder out loud, “where are we going to find all these workers?”

The challenge for 2008 and beyond is to find ways to stop asking that question and instead develop a real, long-term strategy for answering it.

Such a strategy, or plan, might not fit the working definition of “big hit,” but it would provide a big boost to a region that knows only too well that workforce development is indeed economic development.

By BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007

Departments

Cambridge College Open House

Jan. 5: The Cambridge College Springfield Regional Center will host an enrollment open house beginning at 9 a.m. Prospective students will be able to meet with admissions counselors, financial aid representatives, program coordinators, and faculty members to ask questions about the application process, licensures, and the Cambridge College adult learning model. For more information, contact Meaghan Prendergast at (800) 829-4723, ext. 6623, or at [email protected].

University Without Walls

Jan. 8, 19, 23; Feb. 2, 12, 23: University Without Walls (UWW), an adult bachelor’s degree completion program at UMass Amherst, is conducting information sessions this winter for individuals interested in applying. Classes are offered on campus, online, and in blended format (mostly online, with a few live meetings). Information sessions run approximately 90 minutes and are conducted at the UWW office, 100 Venture Way, Room 229A, Hadley. For more information on dates and times, visit www.umass.edu/uww or call (413) 545-1378.

Communications Conference

Jan. 9: Western New England College and the Valley Press Club will offer professionals a chance to hone their communication skills and learn about the latest technology during the fifth annual communications conference from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on WNEC’s main campus. Getting Noticed in the 21st Century is the theme for the day-long event which is intended for business professionals, staff of nonprofit organizations, and students looking to communicate more effectively. Participants will have the chance to choose from 14 workshops designed to sharpen skills, explore new technologies, and provide interaction with reporters and editors from local media outlets. Roundtable discussions with members of mainstream and alternative media outlets are also planned, as well as a special panel discussion on promoting Western Mass. as a place to live and work. During the conference luncheon, the Valley Press Club will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to broadcaster Keith Silver. For conference fees and more information, visit www.wnec.edu/communications.

Camera Classes

Jan. 16, 23, 30; Feb. 6: Iris Photo & Digital of Northampton will offer several digital point-and-shoot camera classes this winter, including “Basic Camera Class” on Jan. 16, “Intermediate Camera Class” on Jan. 23, “Advanced Camera Class” on Jan. 30, and “Basic Photo Editing Class” on Feb. 6. Classes run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the shop at 164 Main St. Classes cost $35, and individuals can save $20 when attending all four. For more information, call (413) 586-8417 or visit www.iris-photo.com.

Howdy University

Jan. 30: The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) will present Howdy University, a half-day hospitality-training seminar at the Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College. The keynote speaker will be Doug Price, author of License to Serve, one of the premier ‘how-to’ books in the hospitality-training industry. Price is senior vice president of professional development for Destination Marketing Assoc. Intl. in Washington, D.C. The seminar, which will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at noon, is designed to train front-line hospitality professionals who interact with customers on a daily basis. Suggestions will be offered to help workers deal with unruly customers and successfully resolve customer complaints and issues. In addition, attendees will be given a copy of License to Serve. The cost to attend Howdy University is $50 for GSCVB members, $75 for non-members, and $25 for full-time college students. For additional information or to reserve a space, contact Aimee Tryba at (413) 755-1343 or [email protected].

MTEL Prep Course

Feb. 9, 16, 23; March 1: Elms College in Chicopee will offer the Mass. Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) communication and literacy prep course this winter for candidates seeking teaching licenses in Massachusetts. The 12-hour prep course will be offered on four consecutive Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon in the Springfield Room, lower level of the Mary Dooley College Center. The cost is $100 for Elms students and alums, and $150 for the general public. For registration information, call the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at (413) 265-2445.

The Challenge — and Opportunity — for Domenic Sarno

By BusinessWest Staff December 10, 2007

Opinion

Charles Ryan is living proof that being mayor of a city under the auspices of a finance control board doesn’t insulate one from the intricacies of politics.

Ryan didn’t invent the city’s controversial trash fee in his basement, and he didn’t recruit Ed Flynn to apply to be police commissioner, implore him to take the job, or go seek the Milwaukee police chief’s position just over a year after coming to Springfield.

But Ryan was saddled with all that, and this is part of the reason why, come mid-January, he will once again be ‘former’ mayor of Springfield. Domenic Sarno, who defeated Ryan last month, should take note of all this, but we’re not exactly sure just what the lessons are — other than, as we said, the control board’s presence doesn’t make an elected mayor Teflon-coated.

Still, the board does provide a sort of buffer zone between the mayor and the voting public, in that the board takes most of the heat from the citizenry for things like the trash fee — or at least it should — and that the panel is, in effect, running the city. Thus, Sarno doesn’t face the usual pressure that newly elected officials encounter when it comes to making good on campaign promises.

For example, Sarno can lobby to remove the trash fee, and if the control board does, he’s a hero. If not, well, at least he tried. The same goes for public safety issues, a widely supported call to give the police commissioner’s job directly to Deputy Chief William Fitchet (Sarno backed that plan, but the board voted 3-2 for an open search), and other matters.

So Sarno is in a somewhat enviable position as he takes on what is a rather large challenge — getting Springfield ready for a return to self-governance. We have some advice for him and his transition team in that regard.

First, keep the control board right where it is. We’ve said this a thousand times, and we’ll say it again: everyone wants Springfield to be self-governed, but it is not yet ready for that step. There is still work to be done on public safety, education, economic development, and institutionalizing changes in how things are done here. The individuals who have achieved progress in these areas should be allowed to continue their work (it won’t ever really be finished).
Avoid cronyism and the influence peddlers. Perhaps the best thing about the control board’s influence is that a good measure of cronyism has been removed, and there is, or should be, more confidence that those running Springfield are appointing people because of what they know, not who they know or who they supported in the mayoral race. Likewise, there should be more confidence that steps are being taken because they are in the best interests of the city, not because they benefit one group or individual. There can be no backsliding on this matter.
Follow the ULI blueprint: Considerable time, effort, and money went into the Urban Land Institute’s report on Springfield, which identified some immediate priorities, including re-use of the federal building downtown, revitalizing the Court Square area, sparking investments in the South End, and finding new uses for the old York Street Jail and Chapman Valve properties. These are worthwhile undertakings, and the city should maintain focus on them.
Support the proposed change to how Springfield is governed. Why wouldn’t he? The plan calls for lengthening the mayor’s term from two to four years and hiking the salary to $150,000 (a 50% raise). But it also calls for appointment of a chief administrative officer, and this means sharing power. This can be done, and we believe it should be done.
Continue to accentuate the positive. All is far from being right with Springfield, but the picture is brighter than it was a few years ago, and it’s time to let the world know that. Money is tight, but some should be found to aggressively market Springfield, and continue the work undertaken over the past few months to put a positive spin on the City of Homes and convince many different audiences that this is a great place to live, work, and operate a business.

These are just a few suggestions for Sarno and his team, which, as we said, faces a stern set of challenges — but also has a great opportunity to move Springfield forward.</

By BusinessWest Staff December 10, 2007

Departments

Bright Nights

Through Jan. 1: Bright Nights at Forest Park in Springfield opened Nov. 21 and runs Wednesdays through Sundays until Dec. 9. Bright Nights will then be open nightly from Dec. 12 through Jan. 1. Buses run nightly from 5 to 6 p.m., and cars from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays. For more information on admission, call (413) 733-3800 or visit www.brightnights.org.

UMass Dinner Forum

Dec. 11: The UMass Family Business Dinner Forum will host two topics, “The Starbucks Experience: Lessons in Leadership to Spark You and Your Business to Unimaginable Success,” and “Should We Grow Our Business by Acquisition?” Registration is required. For more information and to register, contact Ira Bryck at (413) 545-1537 or via e-mail at [email protected].

The After 5

Dec. 12: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc. will host its next After 5 networking social from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place. Persons attending the event are asked to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to local charities. The After 5 is an opportunity for business professionals to network with more than 250 other professionals in a casual setting. The cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members, and all reservations must be in writing. To sign up, visit www.myonlinechamber.com or call (413) 733-1313 for more information.

Boston Wine Festival

Jan. 11-April 4: Hosted by the Boston Harbor Hotel on Rowes Wharf, Boston, the 19th annual Boston Wine Festival will conduct its grand opening events on Jan. 11. This year’s events will include a variety of evening receptions, wine seminars, dinners, and themed brunches. For a complete schedule, visit www.bostonwinefestival.net.

By BusinessWest Staff December 10, 2007

Departments

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

Acevedo, Hector L.
Dominguez, Myriam
566 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/07

Aroyo, Ramon A.
80 Parkside St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/16/07

Bell, Eleanor C.
287 Osborn Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/17/07

Benard, Richard Edward
Benard, Juliette Marie
17 Whitin Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/25/07

Boivin, Lynn A.
a/k/a Brunelle, Lynn A.
100 East Street
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/25/07

Bourgeoise, Edward Richard
326 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/07

Boyd, Mary R.
a/k/a Donahue, Mary R.
633 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/07

Brunelle, James C.
112 Stebbins St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/19/07

Bullard, Frank Henry
Bullard, Lillian Arlene
108 Fisherdick Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/25/07

Cappelli, James T.
29 January Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/07

Casey, Donna G.
53 Chauncey St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/19/07

Castonguay, Paul T.
49 Rest Way
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Chalue, Phyllis M.
1 Willow Circle
C/O Meadowbrook Acres
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/07

Chenevert, Thomas E.
Chenevert, Tammie L.
62 Shepard Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Conti, John P.
1 Springfield St., Apt. A-204
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/19/07

Critelli, Ralph A.
19A Veazie St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/17/07

Dead Goat Motorsports
Bonzek, Brent Paul
120 Green St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/07

DeBarge, Mark E.
DeBarge, Marie A.
32 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Dube, Etienne S.
Jereczek-Dube, Kelly Ann
204 Papermill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/07

Dube, Pamela J.
36 Lyman Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Everett, Catherine U.
400 Britton St., Apt.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/17/07

Feliciano, Manuel P.
Feliciano, Isabel M.
8 McKeag Ave. 1st Fl.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/07

Flores, Ramona
262 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/29/07

Fontaine, Paula K.
a/k/a Easton, Paula K.
79 Guertin Avenue
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/16/07

Frazier, George H.
Frazier, Tammy A
8 Cambridge St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/07

Galeziowski, Eugene Anthony
63 Beekman Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Grazia, Adelina
6 Druids Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/25/07

Grogan, Michael R.
102 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Grogan, Noreen A.
P.O. Box 1035
Greenfield, MA 01302
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/27/07

Haas, Jeffrey A.
Haas, Sandra J.
58 Green St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/16/07

Handfield, Joseph R
410 Meadow St. Apt. 31
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/24/07

Haugabook-Jordan, Lisa M.
4 Priscilla Street
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/16/07

Hochreich, Herman B.
a/k/a Hochreich, Skip
272 Garden Hill Street
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/26/07

Housey, Tramesa D.
58 Burr St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/22/07

Humiston, Sally Leigh
PO Box 240
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/25/07

Jette, Eric Arthur
Jette, Theresa Courchane
a/k/a LeMay, Theresa Courchane
968 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Jordan, Anthony L.
459 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/19/07

Jovan, Alexander
165 Clarendon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/26/07

Kelly, Pamela L.
136 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/16/07

Kilian, Darcey M.
P.O. Box 12
South Barre, MA 01074
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/07

LeBlanc, Gary M.
95 Sumner Ave., Unit 3
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/07

Loudfoot, Gina I
16 Conifer Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/07

Mack, Christina
54 Holden St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/07

Manfredi, Maria Felicita
309 Chapin Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/26/07

Marshall, Justin
46 Park St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/16/07

Martin, Carole E.
49 Rest Way
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Mastey, Richard S.
51 Hastings St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/07

Mecham, Elizabeth D.
50 Sunridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/07

Miranda, Gabriel E.
115 Eddy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/07

Njoku, Lynda C.
a/k/a Anyiam-Dyson, Lynda C.
44 Daviston Street
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/25/07

Nolan, Jessica Marie
31 FIeld St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/07

Nondo’s Mass Inspection
Bongiorni, Mark Joseph
Bongiorni, Ann Barbara
10 Bronson Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/26/07

O’Neil, Michael J.
14 Weaver Road
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/07

Palazzi, Gabriel R.
Palazzi, Sherran
35 High Meadow Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/07

Parker, Elijah
91 Margerie St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/07

Pasini, Robert M.
111 Lumae St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/19/07

Pettograsso, Ralph J.
Pettograsso, Michelle D.
115 McArthur St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Proffitt, Casey
24 Aspen St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/30/07

Rivera, Angelo
P. O. Box 1785
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/07

Rivera, Lisa
P. O. Box 1785
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/07

Roberts, Alan D.
93 Regency Park Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/07

Roth, Adrienne
a/k/a Dastoli, Adrienne C.
11 Church Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/17/07

Thompson, Woodrow W.
64 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/25/07

Tran, Fredrique
14 Walden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Walker, Colette
305 Greenaway Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Weissman, Lee L.
Weissman, Allison
445 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/07

Willette, Steven J.
925 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/07

Williams, Casey
a/k/a Demers, Casey A.
57 Davis St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/27/07

Williams, Robert
57 Davis St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/27/07

Wilson, Mark S.
Wilson, Amanda J.
119 Firglade St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/07

Zhirnova, Inna A.
101 Pine St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/07

By BusinessWest Staff December 10, 2007

Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2007.

AGAWAM

Agawam Plaza, LLC
79 Springfield St.
$150,000 — Interior renovation for new Steve & Barry’s retail store

BGM Realty LLC
237-241 South Westfield St.
$450,000 — Construction of single-story, 550-square-foot bank and retail building

Ellen – Dave LLC
151 Springfield St.
$30,000 — Create administrative offices within existing space

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee Parks and Recreation Department
Aldenville Common
$50,000 — Construction of gazebo

David Truong
591 Memorial Ave.
$8,000 — Install nail salon inside Wal-Mart

FPS Inc.
1284 Memorial Ave.
$420,000 — Construction of Burger King restaurant

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Savings Bank
36 Main St.
$108,000 — 28 replacement windows

John Dunphy
49-53 Union St.
$1,800 — Interior renovations

Williston Northampton School
20 Greenwood Ct.
$182,600 — Replace guard system around perimeter of rink

GREENFIELD

Franklin County Community Development
9 Bank St.
$100,000 — Remove and replace windows and entry door. Remove interior vestibule glass.

Key Program Inc.
139 Shelburne Road
$34,000 — Replace two fire escapes

One Arch Place Inc.
5 Arch St.
$10,500 — Re-roof

St. James Episcopal Church
8 Church St.
$3,900 — Rebuild chimney from roofline

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Mall Company, LP
50 Holyoke St.
$250,000 — Remodel existing Charlotte Russe retail store

Holyoke Mall Company, LP
50 Holyoke St.
$279,000 — Remodel existing Sephora retail store

NORTHAMPTON

HS Gere & Son’s Inc.
115 Conz St.
$2,614,884 — Renovate and construct 6,669-square-foot addition

Kissell, Inc.
168 Industrial Dr. Suite 4
$125,000 — Fabricate 3 rooms and replace HVAC system

Paul H. D’Amour
158 North King St.
$102,078 — Fit up shell for real estate offices

Smith College
4 Nielson Dr. — Dewey House
$29,000 — Replace front porch stairs, decking, and trim boards

SOUTH HADLEY

Verizon Wireless
99 East River Dr.
$3,000 — Install communications tower

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Medical Center
3601 Main St.
$1,645,000 — Interior fit out of third-floor office space and addition of elevator

Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut St.
$226,000 — Renovation to existing Simulation Center

Jorge L. Colon
130 Carew St.
$4,000 — Build a handicap ramp

New England Funeral & Cremation Center LLC
25 Mill St.
$6,500 — Interior renovations

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Cantanopoli’s Restaurant
261 Union St.
$25,000 — Renovate interior of existing restaurant

Costco Wholesale
119 Daggett Dr.
$50,000 — Convert retail space

By BusinessWest Staff December 10, 2007

Departments

United Financial Completes Second-step Conversion

WEST SPRINGFIELD — United Financial Bancorp Inc., the proposed Maryland holding company for United Bank and the successor company for United Financial Bancorp Inc., recently completed the syndicated offering portion of its second-step conversion. Orders for a total of 6,464,968 shares at a purchase price of $10 per share have been accepted in the syndicated offering, for which Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. acted as lead manager. The company also received orders for 3,097,532 shares in the subscription offering and the community offering portion of its second-step conversion, including 753,834 shares to be issued to the employee stock ownership plan. As a result, the company anticipates that 9,562,500 shares will be sold in the subscription offering, community offering, and syndicated offering combined. In addition, upon the completion of the conversion and stock offering, each public stockholder of United Financial-Federal will receive 1.04056 shares of the company’s common stock in exchange for each of his or her shares of United Financial-Federal common stock. The company has also received the regulatory, stockholder, and depositor approvals necessary to complete the second-step conversion. The transaction is scheduled to close Dec. 3, at which time United Mutual Holding Company will cease to exist.

Hasbro Launches Annual Children’s Giving Tree Program

EAST LONGMEADOW — Hasbro Inc. recently launched its 23rd annual Hasbro Children’s Giving Tree, providing toys and games, as well as food over the holidays, to underprivileged children in the Springfield area. The initiative runs through Dec. 14 and is located at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield. As part of the program, Hasbro will donate toys and games through the United Way of Pioneer Valley and the Salvation Army of the Greater Springfield area. Hasbro officials encourage community members to donate nonperishable food items at the Eastfield Mall, which will be distributed to Rachel’s Table in Springfield. Food donations can be dropped off Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. In addition, area residents are welcome to display ‘Acts of Kindness’ messages, which will be displayed on the Giving Tree through the duration of the program. ‘Acts of Kindness’ forms are available at www.hasbro.org under ‘special programs,’ and on site at the Giving Tree.

Falcons Charities Tops $400,000 Mark in Giving

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Falcons Hockey Club and its related charitable organization, Springfield Falcons Charities, recently announced it has donated $400,000 over 12 years throughout the Pioneer Valley and also Northern Conn. Organizations that have benefited from the charitable program over the years include Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield, the Springfield Sliders Sled Hockey Program, the Springfield School Volunteers – Time Out for Reading Program, the New England Junior Falcons Hockey Program, the YMCA, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, and the Baystate Health Foundation. For more information on Springfield Falcons Charities, contact Carole Appleton, vice president of Falcons Charities, at (413) 739-3344, ext. 112.

Warfield House Inn Undergoing Renovations

CHARLEMONT — John Warfield Glaze, owner of the Warfield House Inn at Valley View Farm, has several changes in store for his restaurant business. In October, he closed the Warfield House Restaurant and will reopen it in the spring as a full-service banquet facility, catering to group tours, weddings, and special events. The restaurant originally opened in 1997 with one service bar and two small dining rooms, and over the years a pub was added for additional seating. The banquet facility will seat 130 guests and will boast a bridal suite. In addition, the pavilion, which seats 200 guests, also features a bridal suite. Glaze also noted that the 12-room bed and breakfast will remain open throughout the year and will feature a fresh new look for the spring. For more information, visit www.warfieldhouseinn.com.

HRU Honors Businesses, Supporters

SPRINGFIELD — Human Resources Unlimited (HRU) recently recognized three area businesses and one outstanding volunteer during its third annual Stakeholders Meeting. HRU awarded its prestigious Sheldon B. Brooks Award to Papa Gino’s on Boston Road in Springfield. The award, named after a longtime HRU board member, is given to a company that has a track record of employing individuals with disabilities for at least 10 years. The Rookie of the Year Award was presented to the Springfield Public Library. This award is given to a business partner that has worked with HRU for less than a year and a half and that demonstrates a commitment to hiring individuals with disabilities. Also, the Employer of the Year Award was presented to the Newman Center Cafeteria at UMass Amherst. The award is given to a company that has worked with a HRU program for more than one year and that shows a strong commitment to employing individuals with disabilities. Lastly, HRU presented the Armand Tourangeau Volunteer of the Year Award to Betty Lou Shepard for her volunteer services in support of HRU’s Forum House in Westfield. She was nominated due to her advocacy on behalf of those with mental illness.

Peebles Opens in Southampton

SOUTHAMPTON — Stage Stores Inc. recently brought its brand-name apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and footwear for the entire family to town. The company operates under the Peebles name throughout New England, as well as the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern, and Midwestern regions, and under the Bealls, Palais Royal, and Stage names throughout the South Central states. The company touts its unique retailing concept and niche by offering a broad range of nationally recognized brand-name merchandise with a high level of customer service. The local store employs approximately 18 people and is located at 10 College Highway. The company opened 47 stores this year, and expects to open 70 in 2008.

UMass To Host National Fuel Cell Research Center

AMHERST — The UMass Amherst will create a new research center focused on the cutting edge of hydrogen fuel cell science, the National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced, awarding a three-year, $1.5 million grant to the Fueling the Future Chemical Bonding Center. The center is one of only three in the nation funded through the NSF’s chemistry program that focuses on renewable energy, providing UMass Amherst a prominent role in the effort to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. The award also positions the campus to garner $30 million in additional funding, according to the NSF. The initial $1.5 million award is for a three-year period; centers that demonstrate “high potential” then will be eligible for $15 million in additional funding over five years, and another $15 million after that. The center will also have extensive education and outreach at all levels, playing a key role in addressing the human resources needed for the rapidly growing area of renewable energy technology. The center will also have a Web-based interactive network that acts as a public portal where educators, students, and the public can get accurate information on chemical energy topics.

FDIC Relocating Regional Office

SPRINGFIELD — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will move its regional field office to 1350 Main St. on Dec. 15, citing the need to meet federal government code requirements. For 15 years, the FDIC’s offices have been located at 489 Whitney Ave., Holyoke, but the current building does not meet the federal government’s seismic requirements. The new office space, for 32 staffers, will feature 6,000 square feet in the Sovereign Bank building.

Physician Opens Venture Focused on Memory Disorders

SPRINGFIELD — Emily Grandey, MD recently opened a venture, called Memory Wellness, that is a specialized psychiatry practice for patients with memory disorders. Grandey will offer consultation and follow-up for patients who have memory problems ranging from mild impairments in daily functioning to all stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. She will offer complete differential diagnostic evaluations of such patients, along with the most current interventions available to slow down or stop the progression of these illnesses.

By BusinessWest Staff December 10, 2007

Departments

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Michael Elbery v. Lincoln Logs LTD et al
Allegation: Breach of contract: $260,500.00
Filed: 11/26/07

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Jean Dwight v. R.A.C Builders Inc.
Allegation: Medical expenses and lost wages due to noxious fumes in the workplace: $10,000
Filed: 10/31/07

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Claire Kida v. Acres Medical Associates Inc.
Allegation: Negligence and personal injury due to fall: $135,000+
Filed: 10/23/07

Cynthia Williams v. Cumberland Farms Inc.
Allegation: Negligence and personal injury: $31,880
Filed: 11/08/07

Diamond Water Systems Inc. v. Falcetti and Clark Electrical Supply Company
Allegation: Damages caused by defective parts sold by defendant: $33,000
Filed: 10/23/07

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Arcadia Insurance v. East Coast Construction Services
Allegation: Property damage due to negligent plumbing work: $10,940.77
Filed: 11/01/07

Christian Fitzgerald v. Ian Schein, M.D.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $22,191.20
Filed: 10/12/07

Daniel R. Cooper v. Burrows Company
Allegation: Breach of contract: $56,601.20
Filed: 9/13/07

Rena Ducharme v. Big Y Foods Inc.
Allegation: Fall due to negligence: $143,663
Filed: 11/27/07
Tiger Press v. Connecticut Valley Bindery Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract: $105,444
Filed: 10/10/07

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

Daytech LLC v. Seasonal Décor
Allegation: Unpaid rent and utilities: $15,642.23
Filed: 10/30/07

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Northampton Lumber Company v. Northampton Rehabilitation
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $9,241.04
Filed: 10/31/07

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Mary Mirski v. D’Angelos Sandwich Shop
Allegation: Negligence and personal injury: $6,039
Filed: 10/16/07

Richard Thompson v. West Springfield Auto Parts
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence: $6,608.66; Filed: 10/07/07

Terry Macharia v. Bertera Metro-Jeep Chrysler Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract: $15,000
Filed: 10/11/07

United Rentals Inc. v. BTR Framing, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of construction goods and services: $127,043.43
Filed: 10/07/07

Waxcessories v. Country Candle Company Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $15,480.62
Filed: 10/09/07

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Ruth Ohayon v. Patrick Kelley Roofing and Siding
Allegation: Damage caused by improperly installed roof: $2,000
Filed: 10/18/07

Superior Car Care v. Elmwood Auto
Allegation: Negligence causing property damage: $10,601.44
Filed: 10/30/07

By BusinessWest Staff December 10, 2007

Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of November 2007.

AGAWAM

Bob Johnson Enterprises
425 Meadow St.
Robert Johnson

Hydraulics Unlimited
1211 Springfield St.
William Granfield

Main Street Deli
713 Main St.
Frank R. Locke

Pearly Whites LLC
29 Avalon Place
Vladimir Ruha

Sebastian I
333 Walnut St. Ext.
Paul A. Sandlin

Shear Pizzazz
833-835 Springfield St.
E. Linda Mills-Audette

St. Anne’s Country Club Partnership
781 Shoemaker Lane
Paul Napolitan

Yuriy’s Finish Carpentry
529 Mill St.
Yuriy Gavridov

CHICOPEE

A-Certive Removal Services
72 Arcade St.
Justin D. Dansereau

City Tire Company Inc.
1885 Memorial Dr.
Peter Greenberg

CranioSacral and Massage Center
105 East St.
Gina Welch

Dragon House Designs
374 East Main St.
RoseAnn Caputo

Helping Hands
29 Forest St.
Charlotte M. Rich

Journey Communications
28 Mettinger Lane
Mahendra D. Thomas

Kumiegg’s Auto
397 Hampden St.
Anthony L. Kumiegg

Smart Looks II
1512 Memorial Dr.
Brenda Lee Fortin

The Brass Tap
66 Cabot St.
Melissa A. Laurin

Tony’s Auto Repair
341 Chicopee St.
Antonio M. Fonseca

Westside Carpenters
1 A Gardener Road
Viktor Gorobinskiy

EASTHAMPTON

SBNI
63 Clark St.
Scott Brown

Snak Connection
P.O. Box 44
Diane Fry

Tunnel 7
82 Maple St.
Derek Allara

EAST LONGMEADOW

Ernest Financial Group
180 Denslow Road
John J. Ernest

The UPS Store
444A North Main St.
Lawrence M. Crasnick

TRM Marketing LLC
286 Millbrook Dr.
Trupti Mali

GREENFIELD

Account Store
124 Log Plan Road
Joseph Easton

Beauty Bears and Baubles
39 Washburn Ave.
Caroline Abercrombie

Gallery Morgan
192 Main St.
Laura Morgan

The Break Place
95 Wildwood Ave.
John Daignault

Yankee Self Storage
74 Mohawk Trail
Cheryl Ingersoll

HADLEY

All That’s Natural
367 Russell St.
Gual Guez

Whole Foods Market Group
327 Russell St.
Roberta Lang

HOLYOKE

Chris’s Cut & Design
910 Hampden St.
Christine M. Blair

Hilda’s Consulting Firm
267 West Franklin St.
Hilda Colon

Holyoke Tower Associates
582 Pleasant St.
James N. Sullivan

PHA LLC
41 Chestnut St.
Dennis Fitzpatrick

Toys & More
50 Holyoke St.
James Dent

LUDLOW

Esteem Skin Care
733 Chapin St.
Carol Santini

LONGMEADOW

Christopher M. Kelly — Electrician
79 Hillcrest Ave.
Christopher M. Kelly

Talbot’s
672 Bliss Road
The Talbot’s Inc.

PALMER

Belchertown Bridals
4400 High St.
Kathleen Mailhot

Mark Gilbert’s Auto Repair
24 Orchard St.
Mark Gilbert

SG Anderson
1 McDowell Dr.
Scott G. Anderson

SOUTHWICK

Marks Realty
389 North Loomis St.
Nora Marks

Jimmy’s Pizza
81 Point Grove Road
James Stellato

Three Lakes Kitchens
92 Bungalow St.
Jeffrey Paul Murphy

SPRINGFIELD

2-N-1 Grocery
74 Eastern Ave.
Dilcia Rodriguez

Bakana Express Courier
5 Harbour Road
Joe Amoakah

Baystate Home Infusion
211 Carando Dr.
Brian Simonds

Darnell Mallard
177 Walnut St.
Darnell Mallard

El Rincon Café Restaurant
137 Chestnut St.
Pedro Gonzalez

Ethica Unlimited
2924 Main St.
Fermin Galarza

Figures-And-Collectibles
40 Dubois St.
Frank J. Morales

Flow Barber Shop
278 Oakland St.
Radames Perez

Freetricity of Western MA
56 Bessemer St.
Scott Franklin

Gemini-Camelot
125 Main St.
Valerie Paul

Kenny Travel & Tours
510 Armory St.
Quenides N. Urabaez

WESTFIELD

Donaly Designs
47 Wood Road
Donna Tougas

Robert’s Fence Co.
11 Church St.
Mark A. Roberts

Sullivan & Sons
919 Southampton Road
Rachel Sullivan

Westfield Equipment Services
11 Airport Dr.
Josh Toomey

Westfield Vacuum Center
281 Notre Dame St.
Annette Burl

WEST SPRINGFIELD

EID Store
22 Crestview Dr.
Salim Ibrahim

Firestone Complete Auto Care
501 Memorial Ave.
BFRC Corporation

Infinity Auto Rental Inc.
52 Baldwin St.
Joseph Gallo

K&G
1150 Union St.
Claudia Pruitt

Olympia Ice Center
125 Capital Dr.
Massachusetts Skating Corporation

Subway LLC
356 Memorial Ave.
Navin Patel

Sil Pada Designs
735 Amostown Road
Diane L. Stawiarz

Storrowton Tavern
1305 Memorial Ave.
Vintage Inc.

Titan U.S.A.
140 Baldwin St.
Ralph S. Colby

By BusinessWest Staff December 10, 2007

Departments

Present and Accounted For

Michael Niziolek of Hasbro Games applauds after Jacob Colson, a student at the Montessori School of West Springfield, hangs his ‘Act of Kindness’ slip on the Hasbro Children’s Giving Tree at the Eastfield Mall, and then shares his ‘act’ with audience members and bystanders by talking about it over the microphone. In the foreground are some of the toys and games that will be donated by Hasbro to underprivileged children in the Springfield area through the Giving Tree program.

In Good Company

Human Resources Unlimited recently recognized several area businesses and one outstanding volunteer during its third annual Stakeholders Meeting. HRU awarded its prestigious Sheldon B. Brooks Award, given to a company that has a track record of employing individuals with disabilities for at least 10 years, to Papa Gino’s on Boston Road in Springfield. At below, Papa Gino’s District Manager Ted David accepts the award.

Above, a baseball bat, symbolizing the HRU Rookie of the Year Award, is accepted by Judy C’Mero, manager of Borrowers Services at the Springfield Public Library, in recognition of her organization’s support of employment for individuals with disabilities.

Steps in the Right Direction

Crew members from Kurtz Construction in Westfield pause briefly during recent work rebuilding stairs at Holyoke Community College: front row, from left, Tito Cruz, Joe Stryker, Gene Kurtz, Mikhail Mokan, and Max Fletcher; back row, from left, Vitaly Denisyuk, Pat Martin, Ralph Mastello, and Ivan Biley.

Pychon Winners Celebrated

The Advertising Club of Western Mass. recently staged its annual Pynchon Awards dinner at Chez Josef in Agawam. At right are this year’s recipients: from left, Dan Roulier, president of Dan Roulier & Associates; Carol Leary, president of Bay Path College; and Al Zippin, of the Springfield School Department. At left, Leary accepts her award from Ad Club President Alta Stark and Joel Morse, a member of this year’s selection committee.

The $250 Martini

Hannoush Jewelers and Max’s Tavern are partnering with the YMCA of Greater Springfield in a unique fund-raising venture for the Y. It’s called the Pandora Martini, which was unveiled on Nov. 21. This martini sells for $250, but it comes with a Pandora charm bracelet (retail value $170), that features three sterling-silver charms and two Murano beads. Hannoush is donating the Y charm, and Max’s is donating the martini, enabling the YMCA to receive $100 from each martini sold. These donations will be used to help the Y in its efforts to provide financial assistance to hundreds of children and families in need of affordable before- and after-school programs, summer camp, youth and teen drop-in centers, and youth fitness centers. At the Nov. 21 event are, from left, Mary Gancarz, district manager for Hannoush; James Morton, president and CEO of the Y; AnnMarie Harding, director of Public Relations for Max’s; and John Thomas, general manager of Max’s.

By BusinessWest Staff November 26, 2007

Departments

State Gives Go-ahead for Massive Baystate Expansion

SPRINGFIELD — The state’s Public Health Council has given Baystate Health the green light to proceed on a $239.3 million expansion project. After hearing testimony from hospital administrators and civic and business leaders, the board voted unanimously to approve Baystate’s application for the project, which will add 48 beds to the 653-bed facility. Baystate President and CEO Mark Tolosky said he expects construction to begin in the summer of 2009, and that the facility will be open in 2012. Mercy Medical Center had initially opposed the expansion plans, but later dropped that opposition when state analysts clarified themselves and said the space will not be used for additional beds, but to supplant existing beds.

Center Untangling Wireless Communication Challenges

AMHERST — A new research center that will address far-reaching problems in wireless communication will be established at UMass Amherst, thanks to a $200,000 start-up grant from the UMass President’s Science and Technology Initiatives Fund and the President’s Creative Economy Fund. The Center of Excellence in Wireless Communications should lead to broad new capabilities in areas from emergency preparedness and homeland security to health care, education, and entertainment. Led by Dennis Goeckel, the new center will bring together more than 15 researchers from the fields of networking, communication systems, electromagnetics, and circuits to tackle the challenges that arise in an increasingly interconnected world. The UMass Amherst campus is providing an additional $40,000 in funding.

Study: Health Insurance Mandates Hurt Low-income Employees

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new study presented as part of a Cornell University symposium finds that ‘Pay or Play’ laws, which require employers to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a fine, will reduce employment for the least-skilled members of the workforce. The study, sponsored by the Employment Policies Institute and authored by Cornell University economists Richard Burkhauser and Kosali Simon, uses federal Current Population Survey data to calculate that for every 100 newly insured employees resulting from a Pay or Play law, 10 low-wage employees will lose their jobs. For a copy of the study, titled “Who Gets What From Employer ‘Pay or Play’ Mandates,” visit epionline.org. The Employment Policies Institute is a noprofit research organization dedicated to studying public-policy issues surrounding entry-level employment.

AIM Applauds Introduction of Comprehensive Energy Bill

BOSTON — The Green Communities Act of 2007, previewed at a press conference recently by Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi, will, when enacted, place an improved focus on cost-saving energy-efficiency programs and renewable energy for both citizens and business owners throughout the Commonwealth, according to Richard Lord, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Mass. (AIM). AIM is a nonpartisan, nonprofit employer association of more than 7,000 state businesses and institutes. AIM applauds those representatives from business, energy, and environmental groups for coming together to develop an energy-reform package designed to control costs by enhancing existing energy efficiency programs in Massachusetts and encouraging the development of additional cost-effective sources of alternative energy. Last summer, AIM issued a statement that called for the reinvigorating of state energy programs, in light of the fact that Massachusetts consumers face some of the nation’s highest costs for electricity. Most recently, AIM conducted several briefings across the state outlining the results of a member survey detailing the impact of high costs of electricity on businesses. While nothing in the short term can lower the cost of electricity to the level in some other states, the Green Communities Act should serve to ensure a more efficient use of current resources as a first step to more stable rates for electricity in the future, according to Lord.

Family Businesses Face Future Risks

SPRINGFIELD — Family businesses are optimistic about growth but not immune to future challenges, according to a survey sponsored by MassMutual, the Family Firm Institute, and the Cox Family Enterprise Center at the Kennesaw State University Coles College of Business. Increasingly led by women and driven by strong ethical and family-oriented values, family businesses are most at risk for financial troubles centered on the lack of formal succession planning and preparation, and the personal financial issues of family business owners, according to the study.

2008 Woman of the Year Nominees Sought

SPRINGFIELD — The Women’s Partnership, a division of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc., is once again seeking nominees for its Woman of the Year Award. This is one of the highest regarded awards by citizens and is recognized as the top citation earned locally. Women in the Pioneer Valley are eligible for nomination and a Chamber affiliation is not required. The nominee should best exemplify ideals of outstanding leadership, accomplishments, and service to the community. Services can be rendered over a lifetime or for more recent achievements. Nomination forms can be requested by calling (413) 543-8000, via E-mail to [email protected], or at the Affiliated Chamber of Commerce of Greater Springfield office, 1441 Main St., Springfield. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 9.

Survey: Firms Pursuing Technology Upgrades

MENLO PARK, Calif. — When asked what initiatives were top of mind for their firms over the next two years, chief financial officers (CFOs) surveyed most often cited technology upgrades (53%) and business process improvement measures (50%). Companies are focused on shoring up their infrastructures to create greater efficiencies and control costs, according to Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources. McDonald added that technology upgrades allow firms to boost critical network security, facilitate global collaboration and enable easier interaction with customers. The survey was developed by Robert Half Management Resources and includes responses from 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.

Create a UMass Presence That Will Have a Real Impact in Springfield

By BusinessWest Staff November 26, 2007

Opinion

It’s been talked about for years, but there now appears to be some real movement in the efforts to give UMass a physical presence in downtown Springfield, and perhaps elsewhere in this region.

Looking for ways to help spark Springfield’s recovery, and also to spread the economic development wealth that the university holds, at least potentially, Gov. Deval Patrick and his administration are talking with greater urgency about creating some kind of “UMass presence” in Springfield — perhaps as part of the broad State Street corridor development/redevelopment effort.

No one knows what such a development might look like, but the parties — Patrick and his secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Daniel O’Connell; UMass administrators; and Springfield officials — have agreed that this is worth at least talking seriously about.

We concur, but would advise that all these parties perform some real due diligence and mastermind a strategy that would make a UMass presence here a long-term asset and not a quick fix designed to make it look like the Patrick camp was doing something to help Springfield. Meanwhile, this UMass presence mustn’t threaten other institutions of higher learning that have been in Springfield for decades; instead, it should complement what one or more of these schools may be doing and inspire other partnerships down the road.

Here’s one idea, actually taken from the governor’s so-called Springfield Partnership. Under the category of ‘potential future investments,’ the document lists a possible feasibility study on the development of a renewable-energy research center. If we assume for the moment that such a study reveals that this research center is indeed feasible, then it seems logical that UMass, working in concert with Springfield Technical Community College and perhaps other schools in the city, could be a catalyst for such a center.

STCC and its Technology Park (which sports a photovoltaic installation on its roof) have identified renewable energy as not merely the focus of a potential degree program, but as a very real economic-development strategy for the region, one that could, that’s could, bring large numbers of jobs to Greater Springfield — not tomorrow or next year, but over the next few decades.

It is only a matter of time, and probably not much of it, before there is an aggressive regional and national push to bring renewable energy sources to the marketplace. If the dire predictions about soaring prices for gasoline and heating oil in the coming months become reality, and the economy suffers greatly, then there will be a louder cry for alternative fuels like wind power, solar power, and others.

And just as Worcester has become a center for development in the broad biosciences field, Western Mass., and specifically Springfield, could become the hub for renewable energy research and product development.

Worcester’s base of biotechnology-related businesses wasn’t built overnight — and it’s certainly still in the early stages of development. It started with research at colleges located in and near the city, research that eventually led to jobs and, for Worcester, a reputation as a place where such businesses can get started and eventually grow.

The same can happen here, and renewable energy is just one example of how the university can help spawn some real, long-term economic development in the Greater Springfield area.

To establish a UMass presence in Springfield merely to help fill space in one or more commercial properties — the old Technical High School, for example — or maybe to help some downtown businesses by increasing foot traffic, isn’t the kind of big thinking that’s needed here.

Those at the university, the Statehouse, and Springfield City Hall need to start a dialogue about the ways UMass can make some major contributions to the local economy in a meaningful way, and for decades to come.

By BusinessWest Staff November 26, 2007

Departments

Panera Bread Opens in Chicopee

CHICOPEE — Panera Bread opened its 4,500-square-foot bakery/café on Memorial Drive on Nov. 23, featuring intimate seating areas, comfortable chairs, a fireplace, a community table, and free WiFi Internet access. Panera Bread offers a variety of artisan breads and other specialty breads, along with bagels, pastries, baked goods, and hot and cold espresso beverages. Chicopee’s site is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering hand-tossed salads, signature sandwiches, and hearty soups served in edible sourdough bread bowls. Panera Bread also operates bakery/cafés in West Springfield, Hadley, and East Longmeadow.

Big Y Celebrates Grand Opening

NORTHAMPTON — The D’Amour family celebrated the grand-opening celebration of its Big Y World Class Market on North King Street on Nov. 8 with a cake-cutting ceremony.

HCC Recognized By National Council

HOLYOKE — Region I of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations recently announced that Holyoke Community College (HCC) has been chosen to receive five first-place (Gold) and two third-place (Bronze) Medallion Awards for its public-relations efforts. HCC was recognized for its success in feature and news story placement, writing, event and publication marketing, transportation advertising, and publication design. The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations represents marketing and PR professionals at 600 community and technical colleges in the United States, Canada, and Scotland.

Hatch Mott MacDonald Relocates

HOLYOKE — Hatch Mott MacDonald, a consulting engineering firm, has moved its offices to 150 Lower Westfield Road. The firm provides engineering services in the transportation, tunnels, water, wastewater, environmental, pipeline, and utility markets.

Researcher Awarded $737,000 NIH Grant

SPRINGFIELD — Alan Schneyer, a scientist at the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI), has been awarded a research grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. The grant, titled “Physiologic Roles of Activin and Myostatin Antagonists,” provides Schneyer with $737,000 to conduct research into diabetes over the next three years. He recently joined PVLSI from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Schneyer noted that his research will focus on looking for hormones that “lead to more and better-functioning insulin-producing cells.” In particular, the grant will fund studies on a protein called Follistatin, which plays an important role in normal development and appears to cause proliferation of insulin-producing cells.

Bay Path Receives Foundation Grant

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path College is the recipient of a $30,000 grant from the Berkshire Bank Foundation – Pioneer Valley, which establishes an endowed scholarship fund to support adult women who are earning their college degree through Bay Path’s One-day-a-week Saturday program. Michael Oleksak, president of the Berkshire Bank Foundation – Pioneer Valley, noted that it chose Bay Path’s innovative program since education is one of its main priorities.

Square One Adds Go FIT Program to Curriculum

SPRINGFIELD — Square One, formerly Springfield Day Nursery, recently announced the incorporation of the Go FIT program into its curriculum. Square One operates day-care and after-school programs in several locations serving more than 1,000 children daily in Greater Springfield and Holyoke. The ultimate goal of the collaboration, which includes partners like Springfield College, Partners for a Healthier Community, and the Food Bank of Western Mass., is to improve the overall health and well-being of families and children in the local communities.

Berkshire Hills Assets Climb

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Bancorp, parent company of Berkshire Bank, recently reported 2007 third-quarter core income of $4.4 million. Core income increased by $0.01 per share before one-time items and Berkshire’s investment in new branches. Third-quarter core 2006 income was $4.7 million. Last year’s results included a $0.03 per-share one-time catch-up dividend received from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. Berkshire’s investment in de novo branches increased expenses by $0.03 per share to $0.07 per share in this year’s third quarter, compared to $0.04 per share in 2006 (all per-share numbers are after-tax).

MassMutual Has Record Payout

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual recently announced it has approved the payment of about $1.38 billion in dividends to eligible participating policyholders in 2008 — an 11.2% increase over the approved payout for 2007 and the largest ever for the company since it was founded in 1851. The total approved payout for 2008 reflects a dividend interest rate of 7.9% on most of its eligible participating policies, the company’s highest rate in five years. The previous record amount was the 2007 approved dividend payout of $1.25 billion.

City Contractor Achieves Firestone Award

SPRINGFIELD — Firestone Building Products Company recently named Morris Roofing & Sheet Metal Corp. a recipient of the 2007 Partner in Quality Award. The award recognizes the company for its commitment to installing quality roofing systems. The award recognizes contractors who installed a minimum of four warranteed Firestone roofs in each of the past five years, maintained at least 1 million square feet of Firestone roofs under warranty, and achieved an annual Quality Incidence Rating (QIR) of 2.0 or less. The Firestone QIR measures each contractor’s quality performance based on warranty repair incidences per million square feet under warranty.

Stuff a Stocking Receives Help From Baystate Rug

CHICOPEE — Stuff a Stocking’s campaign is underway, and Baystate Rug and Flooring has made a corporate donation to the local organization to kick off the holiday season. Stuff a Stocking tries to contribute at least two or three toys and food certificates to needy families in the city during the holidays. Stuff a Stocking organizers will host a breakfast buffet on Dec. 9 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Moose Family Center on Fuller Road to raise funds for its cause. For more information, contact Jorge Morgado at (413) 237-5316.

Business Weaving with Bread Bags

SPRINGFIELD — Valley Vogue Collections, a small business based in Indian Orchard Mills, has introduced a new series of bags that are woven from bread bags collected from Palmer’s Converse Middle School cafeteria. Dubbed the “Bread Bag,” the lunch bag is not only strong and durable, but can be rinsed and dried in time for the following day. Valley Vogue Collections plans to debut the lunch bag at a series of fairs and shows this holiday season.

All About You, LLC Debuts

WESTFIELD — Marge Pietras and Holly Proulx have opened All About You, LLC, a professional home-care company servicing clients and families in Hampden and Hampshire counties. The company specializes in case management, personal care, home management, and skilled nursing services. Both women are professional nurses who, combined, have more than 50 years of skilled nursing and administrative experience.

W.F. Young Purchases S.C. Firm

EAST LONGMEADOW — W. F. Young Inc. recently announced the acquisition of Equine America Inc., a South Carolina company that sells horse care products. Equine America product lines’ sales and marketing will be headquartered here. Tyler Young, president of W. F. Young, noted that the purchase of Equine America represents a significant step to broaden its product line and expand its market share within the equine health care industry. W. F. Young is best known for its Absorbine line of horse care products and the Absorbine Jr. line of consumer health care products.

OPINION

By BusinessWest Staff November 26, 2007

Opinion

A Winning Game Plan for Life Sciences

A championship team is built by investing in a nucleus of talented people and focusing that talent on achieving a common goal. This approach has been the foundation of the success of the New England Patriots.

We believe it is also the formula necessary to sustain Massachusetts’ leadership in the life sciences.

A vision, a game plan, and prudent investment are necessary elements in assuring that the Commonwealth maintains its competitive edge in the life sciences. This is the reason that we support Gov. Deval Patrick’s Life Sciences Initiative.

We have all the fundamentals in this region to elevate our position in the international life sciences community. We are home to the world’s best medical and research facilities and the best and brightest scientists, technicians, and medical practitioners. Many of the world’s leading biopharma and medical-device companies are based here. We have consistently led the nation in per-capita NIH funding, biomedical venture capital investments, and life science PhDs. This success also makes us a target — a target for every other state and international competitor for life-sciences business and talent.

When the Patriots were at risk of leaving for St. Louis in the early 1990s, we made a significant but calculated investment to purchase the team and keep it in New England. Patrick has now stepped forward to do the same with our life-sciences supercluster. It comes at a critical time.

California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Singapore, and others are aggressively investing billions of dollars to attract our top scientists and companies through lucrative grants, tax credits, and facilities. We remember how the high-tech industry all but disappeared in this region a couple of decades ago and the dramatic impact it had in terms of lost jobs and tax revenues. We cannot afford to let that happen with life sciences.

Life-sciences research and industry have a major economic impact on the region. It is growing significantly faster than other sectors, providing millions in tax revenues and thousands of high-paying jobs. These jobs expand beyond research science and PhDs. The Kraft Group’s core businesses are in paper and packaging manufacturing and distribution. These industries and many others, like information technology, software, advanced materials, and construction, benefit significantly from the growth of life sciences companies and facilities.

A recent study by the Milken Institute underscores this ripple effect, concluding that for every direct job in life sciences, 3.6 indirect jobs are created. Combine this economic activity with the fact that Patrick’s initiative also calls for life-sciences workforce and training programs, and we have a game plan that assures the best chance of success.

Massachusetts is at the cutting edge of developing cures and therapies that save millions of lives throughout the world. Over the years we have been major supporters of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and other institutions, and we have seen first-hand how the science developed has helped in the treatment of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.

Whether it is addressing serious injuries from sports or aiding the recovery of children from cancer through breakthrough technologies, we are indebted to this research and cannot risk a loss of it to other regions of the nation or the world.

A few years ago, we invested our resources in keeping the Patriots in Massachusetts. It is an investment that we believe will continue to benefit the New England community for generations to come.

Now we must keep life sciences here, and we support the leadership and wise commitment of our friends in the Legislature, the business community, and the governor to maintain our excellence in scientific and medical research and industry and to maintain and grow our significant lead in the life sciences.

Robert Kraft is chairman and chief executive of the Kraft Group. Jonathan Kraft is president and chief operating officer of the Kraft Group. This article first appeared in the Boston Globe.

Departments

OPINION

Working for the Union Label

OPINION

We Need to Invest in Education

All We Are Saying: Give Manufacturing a Chance

OPINION

Building a Better Springfield

Our Workforce Is a Work in Progress

The Challenge — and Opportunity — for Domenic Sarno

Create a UMass Presence That Will Have a Real Impact in Springfield

OPINION

A Winning Game Plan for Life Sciences

Daily News

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Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Awards Eight Conrad Bernier Memorial Scholarships

Mallory Nurse Promoted to Senior Interior Designer and Senior Project Manager

Square One CEO Issues Statement on End to Union Strike

Six Sites, Including West Springfield, Chosen for Rapid EV Charging Infrastructure

‘Building & Sustaining Livable Communities’ Event Slated for June 29

Eversource Braces for Potential Heat Wave

Sen. Gómez Applauds Passage of Outdoor Dining, Extended Last Call Legislation

Easthampton Receives $191,718 Grant to Complete Municipal Fiber Loop

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