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Departments

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Departments

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

AGAWAM

A-Type/Spencer Stamp
418 Meadow F-11
Judith Neylor

Agawam Mini Market
703 Main St.
Asif Ali

Cavallon Construction
165 Leonard St.
Gregory V. Cavallon

Diane Lyons-Frasco Registered Electrologist
795 Main St.
Diane Lyons- Frasco

Estate Furnishing Outlet
1015 Mill St.
Joann Halpy

Ferrentino’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
7 South End Bridge Circle
Frank Ferrentino

Kopchak Property Management
1085 North St.
Fedor Songorov

Savmore Citgo
650 Suffield St.
Muhammad Intiag

AMHERST

Home Yoga
70 Eames Ave.
Kristin Leutz

K. Chulo Bags
85 Mt. Holyoke Dr.
Kaye E. Dougan

Mustard Seed Press
263 Northampton Road
Melanie D. Krumrey

CHICOPEE

GIG
417 Chicopee St.
Anna Dugan

Springfield Real Estate Sales & Services
97 Woodcrest Circle
Sheila E. Spring

EASTHAMPTON

Sullivan Consolidation Inc.
122 Pleasant St.
Robert M. Sullivan, Jr.

Venom Custom Automotive
2 Hill Ave.
Mike Moise

EAST LONGMEADOW

Mapleshade General Contractor
153 Vineland Ave.
Patrick Hellyer

GREENFIELD

Classic Kitchens & Bath
1173 Bernardston Road
Erica M. Smith

Rent A Center
278 Mohawk Trail
Barry Perkins

The Cleaning Gal
150 Elm St.
Kelli M. DoBosz

Valley Mart
4 Mill St.
Mohammad Yasin

HADLEY

Bottlenose
108 Russell St.
William Carr

HOLYOKE

B-Connect
1375 Dwight St.
Julio Monge

B & V Automotive
101 North Bridge St.
Robert S. Vogel

Cajun Café & Grill
50 Holyoke St.
Koang Cheu Yam

Extreme Auto Body
170 Main St.
Angel M. Narvaez

Fini’s Ice Cream
3 Fini Road
Diane M. Sutherland Fini

Hair Place
103 Chapin St.
Ronald E. Holland

Lyman Laundry
228 Lyman St.
Pan Chi Ping

Mereciana Market
773 Dwight St.
Juvencio Ponce

Paper City Cuts
444 Appleton St.
Jose M. Lopez

Podmore & Sons Home Improvements
30 Clinton Ave.
Brian Podmore

LONGMEADOW

American Society of Interior Designs
1158 Williams St.
Jacqueline Moini

CRC Services LLC
813 Williams St.
David M. Soja

Essentials
811 Williams St.
Clifford Feen

Nittoli Golf
400 Shaker Road
James Nittoli

LUDLOW

Classic Site Solutions
70 Margaret Lane
Cheryl Sady

R.C.S. Diesel Services Inc.
566 Holyoke St.
Ronald Chiasson

Michael’s Party Rentals
409A West St.
Michael Linton

NORTHAMPTON

China Wok Express
150 King St.
Waisan Chan

Continuous Creations
123 Hawley St.
Cheryl Coltman

Robinson Real Estate
4 Conz St.
Steven J. Slezek

Standard Design
254 Prospect St.
Thomas Joseph Pappalardo

PALMER

Griswold Corporation
1184 Park St.
Jeffrey Griswold

MCI Investigations
3044 Main St.
William E. McCarthy

Rising Tide Consulting
320 Flynt St.
Brian Kraft


  

Steer-Rite Inc.
1350 Park St.
Ronald Pisciotta

SOUTH HADLEY

South Hadley Publishing
18 Maria Dr.
Price Van Ray

Insurance and Financial Associates
95 Granby Road
Luke Gelinas

People’s Bank
494 Newton St.
Jeannine M. Pelchat

SOUTHWICK

Gigi’s Pizza
108 Congamond Road
Matthew Roberts

SPRINGFIELD

Main Source
164 Main St.
Josue Rivera

Martinez Towing
99 Milford St.
Agapito Martinez

MDG Transport
37 Collins St.
Michael D. Guidry

Meade’s Trucking
137 Lebannon St.
Garry Meade

Mobile Services 4 U 2
23 Ambrose St.
Arlene L. Hallums

Most Excellent Collectibles
752 Sumner Ave.
Jimmie C. Smith

McCaffrey’s
1171 Main St.
1171 Main St., LLC

P.J. Computers International
95 Maplewood Terrace
Paul J. Ehiwele

Professional Advantage
181 Buckingham St.
Cynthia L. Jones

Quax Caricatures
12 Mattoon St.
Quincy Brown

Rent To Own Auto
201 Berkshire Ave.
Kelly Rooney

Saint James Management
350 St. James Ave.
Michael J. Begley

St. James Custom Auto Body
503 St. James Ave.
Cory A. Taylor

Sullivan Consolidation
311 Industry Ave.
Robert M. Sullivan

TNT Roofing
323 St. James Ave.
Thomas Lynch

Tas Logistics
524B Main St.
John James Boucher

The Pioneer
723 Belmont Ave.
Stephon Ulysses

Tierra Nostra Handyman
137 Undine Circle
Alex Anderson Nieves

Underground Movie Network
141 Gresham St.
Greg Ellerbee

Unity World
106 Edendale St.
Dion Byrd

Valley Vogue Collections
34 Front St.
Susan S. Cagan

Victor’s Café
298 Belmont Ave.
Mei Yu Chen

Vietnam Import & Export
434 Belmont Ave.
Benjamin Nguyen

Yoelis Hair Salon
465 Main St.
Yoelis Harris

WESTFIELD

A.M.R. Systech
5 High St.
Ali M. Rahal

Big Adventures
77 Mill St.
Michael Ventrice

Closet Carousel
26 North Elm St.
Monica Casal-Dapaixao

I Wireless
82 Main St.
Bao Ngoc Tong

Mindanao Fashion Imports
71 Steiger Dr.
Sean M. Fitzgerald

Ryan’s Package Store
31 Franklin St.
Bharat Trivedi

The Seat Weaver
1 Kipling Ave.
Alice Flyte

Top to Bottom Cleaning
23 Reservoir Road
Lynn Cornelius

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Capital Enterprises
172 Harwich Road
Arthur A. Arena

Fine Finish Handy Works
1029 Elm St.
Daniel G. Moody

Grass & Stuff
73 River St.
Keith N. Konz

Jerry Rome Nissan
500 Riverdale St.
Balise JRN Inc.

JMR Welding and Fabrication
33 Allston Ave.
Jason Robert Moore

Music Tuitions
66 Irving St.
Mera Goroshit

Ryno Network Service
30 Windsor St.
Nancy Bletz

Starlift Equipment Inc.
36 Roanoke Ave.
Raymond Picarillo

West Side Wiring
34 Kelly Dr.
Jar R. Farrell

Whitney Nameplate Company
1700 Riverdale St.
Douglas D. Taylor

By
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

Metric Solutions Inc., 6 University Dr., Suite 206-260, Amherst 01002. Alan Tomasko, 16 Sunrise Ave., Deerfield 01342. Design, manufacture, and sale of test/measurement equipment.

Mosaic Development Inc., 6 University Dr., Suite 206-200, Amherst 01002. Michael Helmstadter, same. Software engineering.

Sugarloaf Specialty Foods Inc., 305 Middle Road, Amherst 01002. John Rae, same. Food.

BELCHERTOWN

Prism Associates Unlimited Inc., 11 Canal Dr., Belchertown 01007. Faith G. Utley, same. E Commerce.

Sam Hicks Inc., 80 Shaw St., Belchertown 01007. Laura J. Hicks, same. E Commerce retail.

Station Salon Inc., 107 Pondview Dr., Belchertown 01007. Deborah A. Lowe, same. Cosmetology, manicuring and aesthetics.

BERNARDSTON

Abazl Inc., 30 Deane Road, Bernardston 01337. Abaz Cecunjanin, same. Innkeeper.

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Community Access Television Inc., 200 Park St., Easthampton 01027. Glafyra Ennis-Yentsch, 11 Water St., Leeds 01053. (Nonprofit) To provide a means for any person or group in the community to use communications media, including cable TV, make available video equipment, etc.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Palmer-Greater Springfield Economic Development Coalition Inc., 46 Center Square, East Longmeadow 01028. Timothy J. Murphy, 303 Soule Road, Wilbraham 01095. (Nonprofit) To act as a leading advocate for existing and proposed major economic development projects within the Palmer and Greater Springfield area, etc.

FEEDING HILLS

DSR & AMR Inc., 186 Clover Hill Dr., Feeding Hills 01030. Dale Rhodes, same. (Foreign corp; NY) Brokerage services.

FLORENCE

Smooth Movers Inc., 221 Pine St., Suite 358, Florence 01062. Melinda Beth Shaw, same. Moving and storage services.

The Fix: Restoration Inc., 320 Riverside Dr., Florence 01062. Krisen Day, 53 Clark Ave., #16, Northampton 01060. Athletic training and movement therapy.

HOLYOKE

Charity House Inc., 740 High St., Holyoke 01040. Gary Rehbein, 16 Jonathan Judd Circle, Southampton 01073. (Nonprofit) To raise funds for charity through the donation of appliances and old cars for auction/or resale.

Transportation Options Inc., 256 Maple St., Holyoke 01040. John A. Flley, Jr., 1308 Northampton St., Holyoke 01040. School transportation services.

HUBBARDSTON

Rural Glen Cemetery Association Inc., 9 Evergreen Road, Hubbardston 01452. Merriellen Moroney, 633 Main St., Shrewsbury 01545. To hold, preserve and maintain burial grounds in Hubbardston in existence since 1875, purchased then by the Association for this purpose.


  

INDIAN ORCHARD

Bry Corp., 36 Parker St., Right Floor, Indian Orchard 01151. Bryan David St. Amand, same. Manufacturing and fabrication of metal products.

PLAINFIELD

Silk Rapture Inc., 4 South Central St., Plainfield 01070. Kelly Clady, same. Import, export, sales of textile and wearing apparel, clothing, etc.

SOUTH DEERFIELD

Jawk Inc., 29 Straits Road, South Deerfield 01373. John T. Wroblewski, same. Acquisition, development, and sale of real estate.

SOUTHWICK

Animal Shelter Renovation Inc., 110 North Longyard Road, Southwick 01077. Kenneth Frazer, same. (Nonprofit) To build, equip, and maintain a ‘no-kill’ animal shelter, rescue and rehabilitate abused and abandoned animals, etc.

SPRINGFIELD

427 Market Inc., 427 State St., Springfield 01105. Pharoah Smalls, same. Convenience market selling snacks and other items.

Afffordable Tree Care Inc., 15 Ruthven St., Springfield 01128. Angel L. Munoz, same. A general tree service.

Atlantic Productions Inc., 1389-1393 Liberty St., Springfield 01104. Samuel Garcia, 23 Healey St., Indian Orchard 01151. To conduct a restaurant and nightclub business, etc.

National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Inc., 1 Federal St., Springfield 01105. Thomas A. Goodrow, 33 Cynthia Place, Feeding Hills 01030. (Nonprofit) To foster economic vitality for local communities through education programs of community colleges nation-wide, etc.

TURNER FALLS

2nd Street Baking Co. Inc., 69 Second St., Turners Falls 01376. Laura J.
Puchalski, 133 Federal St., Millers Falls 01349. Bakery/cafe retail and wholesale.

WESTFIELD

Autumn Land Solutions Inc., 60 Cardinal Lane, Westfield 01085. Richard A. Sypek, same. Real estate development and brokerage.

Richard’s Deli Restaurant Inc., 220 Prospect St., Westfield 01085. Brian T. Cleland, same. Restaurant.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Maniba Corp., 2041 Riverdale St., West Springfield 01089. Pravinbhai C. Patel, same. Ownership and operation of motels.

R & B Solutions Inc., 55 North Boulevard, West Springfield 01089. Ronald J. Yergeau, same. To own and operate a Subway sandwich franchise.

PEAJ Inc., 583 Birnie Ave., West Springfield 01089. Paul M. B’Shara, same. Restaurant, catering establishment.

Springfield Must Be Vigilant in the Fight Against Fear

By
Opinion

Springfield Police Commissioner Ed Flynn believes his department is winning the war against violent crime — or at least several key battles. The latest statistics, which show pronounced declines in such categories as rape, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft, would seem to bear this out.

But there is another fight his department is waging where the gains, which are impossible to accurately measure, are apparently less-pronounced. This would the fight against fear, which, as anyone in the business community knows, must be won, and decisively.

That’s because, in the larger scheme of things, while the law-abiding people who live, work, and play in Springfield are seemingly safe, at least in the commissioner’s estimation, many do not feel safe. And as long as that perception holds, this city will never enjoy the full economic recovery everyone is anxiously awaiting.

In a comprehensive profile of Flynn in this issue of BusinessWest, Springfield’s first police commissioner talked at length about fear and how it is impossible to understate the importance of controlling it when it comes to the economic health and vitality of not only this city but the region surrounding it.

If people are afraid to come to a community, then businesses across every sector will suffer to one degree or another. This is why public safety is at or near the top of every list of priorities for those involved with economic development.

But a community cannot will people to feel safe, and all the statistics in the world won’t get that job done, either. People will feel safe when they are convinced that they are. Such convincing will come only through one’s experiences, not from crime stat reports or press conferences.

And there has been progress made in this realm of experiences — one can see it in the city’s downtown. Those who have worked there for some time can, or should, notice a decline in the number of panholders and homeless people on the streets. Why? Because the police department has made such issues a priority in recent months, and the city has succeeded in moving many of the services created for such individuals, such as the homeless shelter that previously existed in the York Street Jail, out of the larger downtown area.

While some individuals who work on behalf of constituencies such as the homeless regarded the city’s actions as somewhat cruel and unnecessary, they were very necessary steps when one considers the general good of the business community and the city as a whole. Yes, the homeless have needs, and panhandlers are people, too. But the rights and wants of these individuals must be addressed in a thoughtful, intelligent manner that doesn’t jeopardize the community’s overall economic health and well-being. This is basic common sense.

There are still some homeless people to be seen downtown, and there are still panhandlers trolling for loose change. But we think it’s fair to say that most who work in downtown should feel better about walking down Main Street and State Street and should feel safe or at least safer.

Whether they do or not is another story, especially when area media outlets are still playing up violent crimes committed anywhere in the Valley, and especially in Springfield.

The bottom line is that Flynn, his department, and officials in City Hall and the Finance Control Board offices must continue to be vigilant in the fight against fear. There is simply too much at stake for the city and the region.

OPINION

By
Opinion
The Arts Mean Business

Every day, the nearly 100,000 nonprofit arts and culture organizations that populate the nation’s cities and towns are making their communities more desirable places to live and work. They provide inspiration and enjoyment to residents, beautify shared public places, and strengthen the social fabric. New research by Americans for the Arts provides further evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is an economic driver in those communities — a growth industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is a cornerstone of tourism.

Arts & Economic Prosperity III, the largest study of its kind ever conducted, shows that, nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity annually, a 24% increase over just the past five years. The economic benefits of this spending are significant. It supports 5.7 million full-time U.S. jobs, an increase of 850,000 jobs since the 2002 study. Furthermore, because arts and culture organizations are locally based, employing locally, purchasing locally, and generating local spending, these are jobs that necessarily remain local and are unlikely to be outsourced.

The industry also generates nearly $30 billion in revenue to local, state, and federal governments every year. By comparison, the three levels of government collectively spend less than $4 billion annually to support arts and culture — a remarkable 7:1 return on investment.

Arts & Economic Prosperity III features findings from 156 study regions (116 cities and counties, 35 multicounty regions, and 5 statewide studies). Data was collected from 6,080 nonprofit arts and culture organizations and 94,478 of their attendees across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The study uses four economic measures to define economic impact: employment, resident household income, and revenue generated to state and local governments. The study focuses solely on nonprofit organizations and their audiences. It does not include individual artists for the for-profit and entertainment sector. As a result, it is extremely conservative in how it measures the economic impact of the arts.

Nonprofit arts and culture organizations are active contributors to their business community. They are employers, producers, consumers, and members of the chamber of commerce as well as key partners in the marketing and promotion of their cities and regions. In 2005, their estimated total spending was $63.1 billion. This output supports 2.6 million U.S. jobs, provides $57.3 billion in household income, and generates $13.2 billion in total government revenue.

Arts and culture, unlike most industries, leverages a significant amount of event-related spending by its audiences. For example, when patrons attend an arts event, they may pay to park their car in a garage, purchase dinner at a restaurant, eat dessert after the show, and return home to pay the babysitter. This generates related commerce for local businesses such as restaurants, parking garages, hotels, and retail stores. Total event-related spending by nonprofit arts and culture audiences was $103.1 billion in 2005. This spending supports 3.1 million full-time jobs in the U.S., provides $46.9 billion in household income, and generates $16.4 billion in government revenue.

In addition to spending data, researchers asked each of the 94,478 survey respondents to provide their home zip codes. This enabled an analysis of event-related spending by local and nonlocal attendees. Previous economic and tourism research has shown that non-local attendees spend more than their local counterparts do. This study reflects those findings. Nationally, 39% of the respondents were non-local — evidence that arts and culture is a magnet that will draw people to your community.

Arts & Economic Prosperity III is great news for those whose daily task is to strengthen the economy and enrich quality of life. It lays to rest a common misconception: that communities support arts and culture at the expense of local economic development. In fact, they are investing in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is a cornerstone of tourism, and our local and national economies. This report shows what most of those in the know already understood — that the arts mean business.

Randy Cohen is vice president of Policy and Research for Americans for the Arts.

Time for the State to Go ‘All In’ on Casinos

By
Opinion

There is considerable speculation going on these days about who holds the cards — figuratively speaking — when it comes to casino gambling in the Commonwealth and the prospects for it becoming reality.

Is it Gov. Deval Patrick, who leaned against the concept of gambling as a candidate during last fall’s campaign, but may be may be more open to the concept now that he has an aggressive list of projects to advance and few revenue sources at his disposal? Or is it Attorney General Martha Coakley, who must set down the rules by which casino owners can operate and has cautioned that casinos are “not some pot of gold at the end of the rainbow”?

Most would say it’s House Speaker Sal DiMasi, an historically strong opponent of casinos who’s been quiet of late as the governor, AG, and seemingly everyone else in Boston awaits the results of several studies on gambling being conducted concurrently.

From our view, though, it’s the residents of the state that do, or should, hold the trump card in this highly combustible debate. None of those aforementioned elected leaders will stand against casinos if they’re convinced that the majority of voters and decision-makers are for them. Whether that majority exists is still a matter of opinion, but we believe it should.

Why? Because the debate has, in our opinion, shifted on casinos — from whether they’re a good thing for society in general (of course not) to what the state should do now that casino gambling is a firmly entrenched part of that same society.

In other words, the debate isn’t about revenues any longer, it’s about common sense. Can a state desperate for revenue to fund new ventures in education, transportation, and economic development — and with a real dearth of creative and/or politically attractive ideas for funding them —afford to lose out on perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue now going to neighboring states?

We believe the answer is ‘no.’

Our stance on casinos hasn’t changed in more than a decade. We view it as a less-than-ideal source of revenue and jobs, but one that should nonetheless be pursued because no one in this state seems to have a better idea, and no one wants to pay higher taxes. Cynics would consider casino gambling a tax — one that would disproportionately impact lower-income, less-educated residents — and it may be just that. But it would be a tax that could improve the lives of most state residents while directly impacting few.

We are perhaps more vocal in our support of casinos now because we have seen Patrick’s wish list and are intrigued by it. The list includes early childhood education for everyone, free tuition at community colleges, and proposals to build and repair college classrooms and laboratories, repair infrastructure, and spur economic development and new business sectors. We’d like to see these proposals funded, and without sinking the state deeper into debt in the process.

Opponents of casinos are right when they say these operations are not cure-alls, and they have a point when they observe that casino gambling will probably bring the state only between $150 million and $450 million annually — numbers that represent a tiny fraction of the state’s $26 billion budget.

But this is revenue that the state will probably not gain from any other sources beyond higher taxes, which are unlikely given the current political climate, and could advance some of the governor’s proposals.

And that’s why it’s time for the state — meaning its residents and elected officials — to go all in on casino gambling.-

OPINION

By
Opinion
The Drive Toward Fuel Economy

Over the past two decades, the automotive industry has been ablaze with innovation — from cars that park themselves to cars that ‘clean up’ after themselves. Literally, the automobile has grown smarter as technology has enabled manufacturers to rethink their old ways. Unfortunately, the foresight ends there.

Recently, two bills designed to increase fuel economy standards in the U.S. were introduced in the House of Representatives and promptly shot down. With them, the hope that industry standards would finally catch up with innovations in the field diminished as well. Indeed, Congress has dragged its feet for far too long in forcing automakers to improve fuel economy.

Unfortunately, this latest retreat in Congress is not the first time proposed changes — changes so minor they were not nearly enough to begin with — have hinted at improvement, only to fade rapidly. In his State of the Union speech in January, President Bush suggested a 4% annual increase in the fuel efficiency of cars and light trucks by 2017. His words did little to catalyze any concrete change. Later, a proposal to increase fuel economy standards by 4% annually from 2020 to 2031 died an early death in the House. In short, the U.S. is no better off today than it was 20 years ago as far as fuel efficiency is concerned.

Compare the U.S. to similar economies: European fleets already average 43 miles per gallon, and Japanese fleets are reaching 50 miles per gallon. While there are only two car models in the U.S. that achieve greater than 40 miles per gallon (both hybrid vehicles), there are more than 113 such vehicles in Europe.

The most astounding fact is that many of the European high-fuel-economy vehicles are produced by U.S. carmakers. How can the government let manufacturers continue to convince the nation that a fuel economy of more than 35 miles per gallon is difficult to achieve? Any rational person should not be willing to accept these manufacturers’ excuses.

If existing technology for vehicles with higher fuel economy has succeeded in Europe and parts of Asia in terms of both safety and commercial profit, why not implement policies to make similar vehicles more accessible in the U.S.? The success of the Toyota Prius and other hybrids across the U.S. shows that there is verifiable demand for more fuel-efficient cars.

Equally important is the fact that hybrid technology is not the only way to reach higher fuel economy; nearly 50% of the cars sold in Europe are clean diesel. Such models not only provide a much higher fuel economy than gasoline models, but also run faster and more efficiently and last longer.

A closer look at the diesel industry shows that innovations such as the nationwide availability of low-sulfur diesel and the commercial success of diesel particulate filters (which remove more than 99% of pollutants from diesel exhaust) have made clean diesels cleaner than other vehicles on the road. They also provide nearly 20% to 30% better fuel efficiency than gasoline engines, and low CO2 emissions.

Clearly, the barrier to improving U.S. fuel economy is not technological; the real obstacle is lack of political will. Automakers are demonstrating a remarkable ability to resist any changes in mileage standards, and instead are producing larger and heavier cars with unnecessary amenities, such as chilled glove boxes. A better way to improve fuel economy would be for the government to let market forces do the work, which is what Europe has done so successfully.

Like Europe, the U.S. should price fuel at its actual cost. It is estimated that the U.S. government subsidizes fuel at a cost of roughly $3 to $10 per gallon, if one considers all the tax breaks accorded to the oil companies as well as the costs associated with regulatory oversight, pollution cleanup, and liability. The real price of gasoline in the U.S., without the subsidies, would not differ much from the $6 per gallon in Europe.

What would you drive if you had to pay more than $100 the next time you filled up your tank? I know that I would look for better performance with higher fuel economy.

Bilal Zuberi is vice president at GEO2 Technologies Inc. of Woburn. This article first appeared in the Boston Globe.

By
Departments

Grant Writing Workshop

Sept. 6: The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast will present a free workshop titled Writing a Successful Workforce Training Grant from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The workshop is designed for individuals who have never written a grant. To register or for more information, contact Sue Miller, director of Training and Development, at (877) 662-6444, ext. 313, or visit www.eane.org. The Employers Association of the NorthEast is located at 67 Hunt St., Agawam.

Family Business Program

Sept. 20: Greg McCann, author of When Your Parents Sign Your Paycheck, will be the guest speaker at a dinner forum hosted by the UMass Family Business Center, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in Northampton. McCann works with family businesses in the areas of succession, communication, conflict resolution, gender issues, and development of the next generation. He will speak on what family business owners should be saying to the next generation about the company and their possible future with it — and when and how they should be saying it. To register, or for more information, contact Ira Bryck at the center; (413) 545-1537.

AIM Executive Forum

Sept. 28: The Associated Industries of Mass. Executive Forum will host Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi for a lively discussion of critical business issues facing the Legislature during the fourth quarter of 2007 at its breakfast and networking meeting. Registration, breakfast, and networking begins at 8 a.m. at the Westin Hotel, 70 Third Ave., Waltham. Speaker DiMasi’s presentation starts at 8:30. For registration information, call Julie Fazio at (617) 262-1180 or Chris Geehern at (617) 834-4414, or visit www.aimnet.org

Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame Dinner

Oct. 4: The Western Mass. Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame will honor its Class of 2007 at its Eighth Annual Induction and Banquet at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House. The event, one of the region’s largest networking events, will start with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 7. This year’s inductees are: the Bassett family (Bassett Boat Company), the Falcone family (Rocky’s Ace Hardware), Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), the Gordenstein family (Broadway Office Interiors), Charles and Merriam Webster, and Noah Webster (Merriam-Webster Inc.), and the Roberts family (F.L. Roberts). Tickets are $150 per person; tables of 10 are $1,500. For more information or to order tickets, call (413) 730-6157.

Six Flags CEO to Address AIM

Nov. 9: Marc Shapiro, president and CEO of Six Flags Inc., will outline his managing style for overseeing the world’s largest regional theme park company during the Associated Industries of Mass. Executive Forum meeting at the Westin Hotel, 70 Third Ave., Waltham. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m., followed by the program from 8 to 9:15. For registration information, call Julie Fazio at (617) 262-1180 or Chris Geehern at (617) 834-4414, or visit www.aimnet.org

Bright Nights Ball

Nov. 17: East Longmeadow-based Hasbro Games will be the sponsor of the 2007 City of Bright Nights Ball, which will take on a Monopoly theme. The event, the major fundraiser for the Spririt of Springfield, which puts on the annual holiday display in Forest Park known as Bright Nights, will take place in the ballroom of the Sheraton Springfield at Monarch Place. The black-tie event features a gourmet dinner, dancing, and the opportunity to win and purchase some fabulous items. Guests will be able to purchase Monopoly deeds, everything from Baltic Avenue to Boardwalk, and redeem them for prizes. Bidding on five showcase items will begin online in early November and be completed the evening of the gala. Other premium items will be sold in an online auction. Auction items will be announced at a later date. In addition to Hasbro Games, the City of Bright Nights Ball is being supported by Baystate Health, Health New England, MassMutual Financial Group, and Sheraton Springfield. Tickets to the 12th annual City of Bright Nights Ball are $500 per couple. Tables of 10 are available for $2,500. For more information, contact the Spirit of Springfield at (413) 733-3800.

By
Departments

Seven Proposals Received for Union Station

SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) has received seven proposals for transportation and redevelopment planning for Union Station, according to Mary MacInnes, PVTA administrator. MacInnes said the proposals show that the Union Station project “is back on track.” The next step in the process is a due diligence review by the Selection Committee to ensure submitted responses contain the information required from the request for qualifications (RFQ). The committee will review the proposals, rank them, and select at least three finalists who then may be interviewed, according to MacInnes. The finalists will be ranked in order of qualification, and the committee will present the ranking to MacInnes. Members of the selection committee include industry and business professionals from Amtrak, Greyhound, the New England Black Chamber of Commerce, the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and the PVTA. MacInnes expects the award to be made by the end of September. Firms submitting proposals were Lozano, Baskins & Associates, Watertown; HDR Architecture Inc., Boston; Finegold Alexander, Boston; SEA Consultants Inc., Cambridge; STV Inc., Boston; Nelson/ Nygard Consulting Associates, San Francisco, Calif.; and HR&A Advisors Inc., New York.

Near-term Home Sales Hold in Modest Range

WASHINGTON — The housing market will probably hold close to present levels in the months ahead, according to the latest forecast by the National Assoc. of Realtors. Existing-home sales are forecast at 6.04 million in 2007 and 6.38 million next year, below the 6.48 million recorded in 2006. New-home sales are expected to total 852,000 this year and 848,000 in 2008, down from 1.05 million in 2006. Housing starts, including multi-family units, are likely to total 1.43 million in 2007 and 1.40 million next year, below the 1.8 million units started in 2006. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is forecast to average 6.7% in the fourth quarter and then ease to the 6.5% range next year. The National Assoc. of Realtors represents more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

AIM’s Confidence Index Back Up in July

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose 3.4 points in July to 57.6, more than recouping June’s decline, according to Raymond G. Torto, co-chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors, and principal CBRE Torto Wheaton. Since April, the Index has followed an up-down-up pattern, with June’s loss virtually cancelling out May’s gain, and July’s rise returning to the higher level — above a year before (55.4), and close to the reading of July 2005 (57.8). However, the July survey was conducted before the new wave of uncertainties, particularly around the mortgage situation, that produced sharp drops in the equity markets, added Torto. Confidence levels were virtually identical in July among manufacturers (57.5, up 3.3) and non-manufacturers (57.8, up 3.6), with manufacturers more positive than others about conditions for their own firms and sales trends, but less so about recent hiring. A strong gain in confidence outside Greater Boston (+5.2) and a lesser rise within the metro area (+1.9) similarly left that split close to even (57.4-57.7). Larger firms were more optimistic than small and medium-sized employers.

Nominations Sought for ‘Super 60’

SPRINGFIELD — The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc. is seeking nominations for its annual Super 60 awards program. The aim of the program is to celebrate the success of the fastest-growing privately owned businesses in the region which continue to make significant contributions to the strength of the regional economy. Nomination forms are available at the Chamber offices, 1441 Main St., Suite 136. Completed nomination forms must be received at the Chamber offices by Aug. 31. The Super 60 awards will be presented at the annual luncheon and recognition program on Oct. 26 at Chez Josef in Agawam. For more information on the nomination process, call the chamber at (413) 787-1555.

Eatery Closes Downtown Location

SPRINGFIELD — Gus & Paul’s restaurant recently closed its doors after 10 years at Tower Square, while the original Gus & Paul’s Delicatessen and Bakery on Sumner Avenue remains open. Lee L. Weissman, a co-owner of the downtown eatery, expressed his regret in having to close the restaurant in a letter to the city, and noted he hoped to sell the business. Weissman added he has begun a new career as a professional fundraiser and found it difficult to also oversee the restaurant operations. More than 20 employees lost their jobs in the closing; however, Weissman said with his family’s connections in the restaurant business, he is anticipating helping most or all of them find new jobs. Fred G. Christensen, senior property manager of Tower Square for CB Richard Ellis, said he is optimistic a new tenant can be found in the near future to take over the Gus & Paul’s site.

Study: More Employees Working Remotely Today Than Five Years Ago

MENLO PARK, Calif. — The proliferation of wireless technologies and feature-rich Internet applications is making it easier for information technology (IT) professionals to work outside of the office. A new study by Robert Half Technology shows that telecommuting is becoming more commonplace among IT professionals. Nearly half (44%) of chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed said their companies’ IT workforce is telecommuting at a rate that is the same or higher than five years ago; only 3% said IT staff work remotely less frequently today than five years ago. Improved retention and morale and increased productivity were cited as the greatest benefits among firms that allow telecommuting. While telecommuting can benefit employers and employees alike, it’s important that companies have the appropriate infrastructure in place to facilitate staff working remotely. For example, nearly a third of CIO’s (31%) surveyed felt that telecommuting employees generate too many security risks because they need to access elements such as corporate networks, systems, and intellectual property off-site. The national poll includes responses from more than 1,400 CIOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees.

Ivanhoe Restaurant Closes

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Steve and Ron Abdow, owners of the Ivanhoe, recently announced the closing of the landmark restaurant on Riverdale Street. According to the Abdows, a recent decision by their abutter to no longer lease parking spaces to the Ivanhoe was the catalyst in the decision to close. Since its inception, the Ivanhoe had 113 parking spaces at its disposal; however, 62 spaces would soon no longer be available as the abutter plans for future development of its site. The Ivanhoe was opened in 1967, and the theme was based on the time of Sir Ivanhoe and the Knights of the Round Table, with gothic arches and features reflective of that period.

Small Business Applications Sought for Law and Business Clinic

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship is now accepting applications from entrepreneurs seeking law or graduate business students to serve as consultants for their business during the fall semester. The opportunity for this free service is limited to those businesses that need consultation regarding a discrete topic. This service does not include litigation needs. For more information, contact Aimee Munnings at the Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship at (413) 736-8462, or E-mail [email protected]

Survey: Companies Ineffective at Rewarding Good Performance

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Workers who feel their good work often goes unnoticed may have a case. More than one-third (35%) of professionals polled recently said businesses are ineffective at rewarding their employees’ strong performance. Meanwhile, 30% of managers surveyed agreed. Businesses need to make retention an ongoing priority, according to Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team. Rewarding employees for their accomplishments enhances productivity, reinforces positive behavior, and builds staff morale and loyalty, she added. Domeyer noted that firms that fail to reward great work risk losing employees to businesses that do invest in recognition programs. The surveys were developed by Office Team and reflect responses from 150 senior executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest companies, and 534 full- or part-time workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Agawam Auto Mall Inc.
825 Springfield St.
Matthew Falkowski

Aspen Global
41 Belmont Ave.
Len Matz

Canterbury Café
369 Walnut St.
Randy Bianchi

Custom Maid Etc
641 Springfield St.
Julie Demos

Integrated Wealth Strategies Group
62 Suffield St.
Mark Van Valkenburg

Look Clean Commercial Services
1 Belden Center
Trina Gomes

Michael Kelleher Graphic Design
67 Hunt St.
Michael Kelleher

National Entertainment Productions
27 E. Castle Hill Road
Brent S. DeSellier

AMHERST

Dixie Brown
52 Valley View Circle
Sarah D. Brown

Jenness & Company
97 Southpoint Dr.
Lindiwe Jenness

The Parsonage Bed & Breakfast
1170 North Pleasant St.
Linda Olf

CHICOPEE

JPV Design/Paint
380 East Main St.
Joseph Paul Viens

Nicole’s Transcription Service
87 Putting Lane
Nicole M. Boisvere

Sam’s Food Store
1031 Chicopee St.
Faisal R. Khan

EASTHAMPTON

CNA Trucking
49 Mt. Tom Ave.
Ryszard Marcinowski

Five Star Remodeling
17 East St.
Kevin Perrier

Good Ink
17 Center St.
Amy Brown

EAST LONGMEADOW

Added Attractions
2 North Main St.
Carol Kononitz

GREENFIELD

At Your Service Billing
81 Wisdom Way
Elizabeth Serrano

Balin Painting Co.
15 Summer St.
Petru Balan

Pioneer Valley DingDong
267 Main St.
Joanne Kostidos

Valley Homework
45 Russell St.
Todd B. Clark

HADLEY

Longview Farm
14 Barstow Lane
Steven N. Barstow

Norma’s Notions
16 East St.
Norma Kostec

HOLYOKE

American Red Cross, Pioneer Valley Chapter
45 Lower Westfield Road
Richard A. Lee

Dock’s Classics
31 Jackson St.
James D. Perry

Egito Cleaning Service
73 Woodland St.
George M. Lewis

Fitzgerald’s Inc. of Holyoke
224 Westfield Road
Michael J. Fitzgerald

Ken’s Auto Sales
921 Main St.
Kenneth M. Cushman

Kim’s Nail Salon
98 Lower Westfield Road
Tong To

Marinello & McKenna
1500 Northampton St.
Marita Marinello

Personal Touch Caterer
250 Whitney Ave.
Susan Peloquin

Solstice Marketing Concepts
50 Holyoke St.
John Judge

Quik & Clean Coin-op Laundry
337 Appleton St.
Jacquelyn Scarfo

LONGMEADOW

Carman Associates
541 Laurel St.
Tracy E. Carman

Decosmo Construction
49 Cobblestone Road
Ted J. Decosmo

The Associates
63 Porter Lake Dr.
Thomas H. Snelham

Winchester Auto School
180 Academy Dr.
Joseph Maruca

Yelena Kofman Nailcare
17 Pioneer Dr.
Yelena Kaufman

LUDLOW

Garand Building Maintenance
115 State St.
Richard Garand

Hair West Designs
322 West Ave.
Christine D. Peacey

NORTHAMPTON

Ink Solutions
12 Main St.
Serges LaRiviere

Principle of Prediction
93 South St.
Jackson R. Jones

Salon Maria @ Shear Extreme
4 Old South St.
Maria Amarosa

Sparky’s All American Food
241 Main St.
Brian A. Benavidez

PALMER

Dream Catchers
1438 Main St.
Charles L. Hood Jr.

Palmer Sales Co. Inc.
1158 Park St.
John Boone

Skura Welding & Fabrication
2 Skura Lane
Thomas L. Skura

  

SOUTH HADLEY

Offensive Tie Music Production and Publishing
29 Camden St.
Charles Sokol

Mane Tamers
6 Hadley St.
Kathleen M. Rogers

Volpe Nails
580 Newton St.
Wendy Mailhott

SOUTHWICK

BC Enterprises
3 Depot St.
Brian Coughlin

Delreo Home Improvement
131 North Lake Ave.
Gary Delcamp

SPRINGFIELD

A and A Auto Brokers
57 Marble St.
Rufino Perez

A Master Plan 4 U
43 Ferris St.
Denise Mari Stewart

Admark Transportation
786 Newberry St.
Rene Romero

Baystate Visiting Nurse
50 State St.
Ruth Odgren

Bellucci Salon
1498 Allen St.
Maria J. Serra

C & M Concrete
27 Continental St.
Steven W. Miller

Charming Designs
377 Belmont Ave.
Miry H. Correra

City Mini Mart
150 Belmont Ave.
Asad Mahmood

Cricket’s Corner
414 Chestnut St.
Christine M. Howe

Da Shop
21B Rutland St.
George Bell Jr.

Dambrov Appraisal Group
45 Weymouth St.
David Dambrov

Duane’s Power Washing
347 Newbury St.
Duane M. Dowd

Elegancia Barber Shop
234 Orange St.
Alexandra Torres

Gamehunters
511 Belmont Ave.
Vien Nguyen

Get Rite Home Improvement
104 Bristol St.
Gregory Dwayne Brown

Hancock St. Market
260 Hancock St.
Jorge Severino

Herks.com
87 Ingersoll Grove
Paul Anthony Nuckols

Illusions
884 Summer Ave.
Angelic Santiago

Indian Orchard Grill
89 Main St.
Kenneth W. DeMars

J. Lo Home Improvement
21 Standish St.
Jorge Ivan Lopez

Jao Technologies
214 Chapin St.
Javier A. Olivera

Kaezee Property Management
50 Campechi St.
Kurt Pinnock

Kevin’s Signature Towing
14 Lockwood Ave.
Kevin John Lizak

Life Supply
271 Carew St.
John Francis Margeson

M & M Consulting and Engineering
16 Marsden St.
Richard Samuel

Madeline Vazquez
35 Ledyard St.
Madeline Vazquez

WESTFIELD

A-1 Nolan Realty
350 Elm St.
Steven Rovithis

Campus Software Solutions
207 Munger Hill Road
Michael Merigan

David E. Kingsley Electric
28 Governor Dr.
David E. Kingsley

Father & Son’s Sport Cards
22 School St.
Robert Saunders

Jani-King
15 Scenic Road
Guy Larkins

J.L.R. Transcription
93 St. James Ave.
Julie Rucki

Mesmere’s Attic
71 Elm St.
Tanya Rogalski

Westfield Auto Mall
82 Springfield Road
Michael Merigian

West Poured Concrete
196 Russell Road
Raymond West

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Century Buffet
247 Memorial Ave.
Xue Ling Ye

Consolidated Edison Energy Massage
15 Agawam Ave.
Kim C. Marsili

Fireside Designs
1769 Riverdale St.
P&P Marketing

Geraldines
1519 Elm St.
Morse Hospitality

Ideas Marketing Services
191 North St.
General Services

Macadvocate
1267 Riverdale St.
Robert Gerald

Price Rite of West Springfield
1106 Union St.
PRRC Inc.

Royal Nailes
25 Riverdale St.
Hoang Vo

Russo Opticians Inc.
1025 Westfield St.
Karen Drudi

Westside Shearing & Demo
190 Day St.
Gregg J. Villenueve

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Chris Auto South Inc., 207 Main St., Agawam 01001. Mary Ellen Biscaldi, 115 Granville Road, Southwick 01077. Purchase, sale, and repair of used motor vehicles.

Gavel Homes Sales Inc., 13 Southbridge Dr., Agawam 01001. Michael Werman, 152 Whitaker Road, Westfield 01085. Real estate investment and sales.

AMHERST

Amherst Auto Express Inc., 118 South East St., Amherst 01002. Amir Mikhchi, 18 Foxglove Lane, Amherst 01002. To operate a motor vehicle repair business. sic

BRIMFIELD

Sharp Trucking Co. Inc., 52 East Hill Road, Brimfield 01010. Shane Michael Bravetti, same. Trucking company local freight delivery.

CHICOPEE

Sal’s Quality Stores Inc., 73 Oakwood St., Chicopee 01020. Shirley Lussier, same. E- commerce retail of general merchandise.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Cook Builders Supply Co. Inc., 6 Old Pasture Dr., East Longmeadow 01028. Michael J. Kane, same. Sales and leasing of building and landscaping supplies, materials, tools, etc.

FLORENCE

Therese Connor Nursing Education Inc., 7 Main St., 1st Floor Left, Florence 01062. Steven James Connor, 93 Allen St., Greenfield 01301. (Nonprofit) To provide scholarships to students pursing a nursing career and/or to already licensed nurses furthering their education, etc.

GRANVILLE

Home Improvement R Us Inc., 27 Blandford Road, Granville 01034. Scott A. Vogus, same. Home improvement, remodeling and construction.

HADLEY

Haber Brothers Inc., 47 Lawn St., Hadley 01075. James A. Haber, same. Road, bridge, site work, construction, etc.

HOLLAND

Cyber Forensics Security Investigation Inc., 293 Stafford Road, Holland 01521. Thomas Crouse, same. To provide security, forensic and investigative services for internet users, etc.

  

HOLYOKE

Sanctuary Animal Clinic Inc., 210 Linden St., Holyoke 01040. John Perdrizet, same. Veterinarian services.

HUBBARDSTON

Unique Materials Solutions Inc., 59 Brigham St., Hubbardston 01452. Thomas Colyer, same. Marketing representative for refractory materials.

LUDLOW

JOI Ride Limousine Service Inc., 58 Cady St., Ludlow 01056. Zorana L. Owens-Imbody, same. Limousine service.

MONTGOMERY

D & N Cormier Inc., 78 Pine Ridge Road, Montgomery 01085. Donald C. Cormier, same. Food service and real estate management.

NORTHAMPTON

Living City Properties Inc., 150 Main St., Suite 310, Northampton 01060. T. Wilson Flanders, 7 School St., Shelburne Falls 01370. Real estate ownership and management.

SPRINGFIELD

John B. Stewart, P.C., 126 Dwight Road, Springfield 01108. John B. Stewart, same. The general practice of law.

Top Notch Painters Plus Inc., 84 Commonwealth Ave., Apt. 1R, Springfield 01108. Kevin A. Stringer, same. Professional painting services, interior or exterior.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bertera Nissan Inc., 499 Riverdale St., West Springfield 01089. Aldo M. Bertera, 162 Forest Ridge Road, West Springfield 01089. The retail sale and service of new or used automobiles, trucks, etc.

Billy’s Malawi Project Inc., 152 Piper Road, West Springfield 01099. Timothy C. Allen, 141 Newton Road, Springfield 01118, (Nonprofit) To provide funds in support of the community of the Village of Cape Maclear (Chembe Village), Malawi, Africa, etc.

WILBRAHAM

Western Mass. Chapter of The Clinical Laboratory Management Association Inc., 111 Bartlett Ave., Wilbraham 01095. Beverly Miller, same. (Nonprofit) To empower laboratory professionals through forward-thinking education, networking and advocacy opportunities, etc.

By
Departments

Aldenville Credit Union has hired Diana M. Ramsey as Manager of its main office.

•••••

Deborah Falcon has been promoted to Vice President of Retail Banking at Greenfield Co-operative Bank.

•••••

A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. has promoted Marianne D. Bannan to Senior Registered Financial Associate in its Springfield office.

•••••


Mark Matteson

Mark Matteson has been named Administrator of the Transitional Care Center at Holyoke Medical Center.

•••••

Tighe & Bond of Westfield has relocated environmental scientist Russell Fleury to its Worcester office to expand its offerings there. Fleury is certified as a Hazardous Materials Manager.

•••••

Karen Gaughan-Blake has joined the Westfield office of Carlson GMAC as an Agent.

•••••

Karen J. Buell is now a Mortgage Consultant with PeoplesBank. She joined the bank in 2006 and completed its management development program before becoming Assistant Branch Manager in East Longmeadow.

•••••

UMass Amherst announced the following:
• Max Page, Associate Professor in the Art Department, has been awarded a Howard Foundation fellowship for the 2007-08 academic year;
• Anna Nagurney, the John F. Smith Memorial Professor at the Isenberg School of Management, is one of five new fellows elected by the Regional Science Assoc. International;
• Michael J. Constantino, Assistant Professor of Psychology, has been selected to receive the American Psychological Foundation’s Division 29 (Psychotherapy) 2007 Early Career Award;
• John Clark, Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in the department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, was elected a fellow of the American Chemical Society by the Division of Agrochemicals at the 233rd national meeting conducted this spring in Chicago;
• Susan Shapiro, Associate Professor in the department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, has been awarded the Master Visiting Professorship in Jewish Studies at the Pontifical Georgorian University in Rome, where she will teach ‘Post-Holocaust Philosophy and Theology’ during the spring 2008 semester;
• Mary Andrianopoulos, Associate Professor of Communication Disorders, gave an invited keynote address at the first annual Symposium on Voice and Swallowing and Their Disorders conducted this spring in Athens, Greece;
• Michael Carolan, a student in the school’s program for Poets and Writers, recently won second place in the Atlantic magazine’s writing contest, and
• Francoise N. Hamlin, Assistant Professor of History, was awarded the Charles Warren Faculty Fellowship in American History from Harvard University for the 2007-08 academic year.

•••••


Douglas K. Engebretson

Douglas K. Engebretson, FAIA, was recently elected President of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Engebretson is the President of Tessier Associates Inc. in Springfield.

•••••

The Bank of Western Massachusetts has promoted Brian C. Smith to Senior Vice President and Treasurer. Smith joined the bank in 1999.

•••••

Mark L. DeJackome has been promoted to Security Director for Holyoke Mall at Ingleside.

•••••

Keith McInnes has joined Savage Range Systems as Project Coordinator.

•••••

Greg Garabedian has been promoted to Vice President and General Manager for Charter Communications’ New England and New York operations. He will be headquartered in Worcester.

•••••

 


Cynthia R. Custeau

Neige D. White

Florence Savings Bank recently announced the following:
• Cynthia R. Custeau has been named Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for the Granby office, and
• Neige D. White has been named Operations Risk/Security Officer.

•••••

The Northampton Veterans Administration Medical Center has announced the following:
• Dr. Gonzalo H. Vera Jr. has been appointed Service Line Manager for Mental Health, and
• Dr. Daniel Levy has been named Local Service Line Manager, Primary Care and Specialty and Acute Care.

The Sky’s the Limit at Westover

By
Opinion

It’s way, way too early to speculate about what the arrival of the low-fare airline Skybus at Westover Metropolitan Airport in Chicopee will mean for that facility, the region’s tourism and hospitality sector, and the Western Mass. business community as a whole. But at this early juncture, it all looks good — very good.

There is a buzz at the airport each evening just before 7, as the inbound flight from Columbus, Ohio arrives, carrying an average of about 100 passengers. These are, by and large, people who wouldn’t be coming into the Pioneer Valley otherwise. They are taking advantage of the carrier’s low fares (some tickets sell for as little as $10) to fly into a stop labeled ‘Hartford’ on the Skybus map of its routes.

Many of those arriving in Chicopee are moving on to other destinations — Boston, Cape Cod, Albany, and others — while some are making the Valley their destination, which means they’ll be spending some money here.

It will take several weeks or perhaps months or even a full year to gauge just how much they’re spending and what the overall impact from the one daily flight will be, but early returns show that people are renting cars, staying in area hotels, eating at local restaurants, and visiting area attractions. Skybus isn’t transforming the local economy, certainly, but all signs show that it will provide a needed boost in the form of both awareness and actual spending.

This is what Westover officials envisioned when they first sat down with Skybus administrators more than two years ago, but it took quite some time and considerable negotiations to make the vision reality.

The success of Southwest Airlines, among others, would certainly indicate that low-fare carriers make travel (or more travel) feasible for many people. Thus, they make the cities they fly to more accessible. Any time a region is more accessible, it benefits economically — if it is positioned to take full advantage of its opportunity.

And here, the Valley has some work to do. It needs to step up marketing efforts in Columbus and perhaps other cities served by Skybus to keep the region visible and plant the seeds for more visits. Meanwhile, all those involved with tourism and hospitality in this region have to work together to generate positive experiences for visitors, stays that will prompt them to return and also offer positive reviews that will prompt others to come here.

Overall, what people have to remember is that the current Skybus service is a start. Eventually, there could be a different flight, one departing earlier — thus giving passengers better odds of making connecting flights the same day — or two daily flights. And perhaps there could eventually be more low-fare airlines operating out of the airport.

This is a start — but a very solid start.-

WGGB Acquired by BusinessWest Publisher

On July 31, BusinessWest publisher John Gormally entered into an agreement with the Sinclair Broadcasting Group to acquire substantially all the assets of WGGB Channel 40 in Springfield for $21.2 million.

Gormally, who founded BusinessWest in 1984, has created Gormally Broadcasting LLC, a venture that will now make ABC40 the only locally owned television station in the Greater Springfield market.

“I’m very excited about the prospects of returning local ownership to Channel 40, which has been a Springfield-area institution for more than a half-century,” said Gormally. “I look forward to working with the staff at the station and members of this community to make Channel 40 an even greater asset to our region.”

The sale of the station is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007.

OPINION

By
Opinion
Culture and History — a Platform for Growth

Springfield’s rich history, combined with the national surge in cultural tourism, can be a key element in the city’s economic renewal. Other Massachusetts cities using historical resources have successfully become tourist destinations: Salem explores its witchcraft trials; Lowell tells the human tale of its extensive mills.

Based on the recognition that historical assets are valuable for the economic future of communities, a new concept has emerged — cultural heritage tourism. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines cultural heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present,” and notes that “cultural heritage travelers stay longer and spend more money than other kinds of travelers. Good cultural heritage tourism improves the quality of life for residents, as well as serving visitors.”

Springfield has many assets to support this kind of tourism — an abundance of architecturally and historically significant buildings, a wealth of famous individuals associated with the city, a rich storehouse of records and artifacts in museums and libraries. Moreover, many events from Springfield’s past illustrate major themes in American history:

  • Springfield, founded by puritans in 1636, was greatly damaged by the Wampanoag Confederation in 1675 during King Philip’s War;
  • Daniel Shays’ rebellion in 1787 demonstrated the need for a strong federal constitution, and propelled the convening of the Constitutional Convention;
  • The technological innovations developed at Springfield Armory spread in a precision manufacturing corridor from Vermont to Connecticut, and made possible the mass production of goods;
  • The courageous involvement of Springfield’s citizens in the anti-slavery movement made the city a significant stop for the Underground Railroad;
  • Automobiles, motorcycles, and airplanes were partially invented or popularized here;
  • Weapons developed at Springfield Armory contributed to the outcomes of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II.
  • Springfield has already made a solid start in burnishing and presenting its past, through discovery tours, the growing Museum of Springfield History and the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, and other venues. However, more can and should be done to build Springfield into a major cultural destination.

To develop heritage tourism, the National Trust recommends that communities follow these principles:

  • Collaborate: Much more can be accomplished by working together than by working alone. Successful programs bring together partners who may not have worked together in the past;
  • Find the fit: Balancing the needs of residents and visitors is important to ensure that cultural heritage tourism benefits everyone. It is important to understand the kind and amount of tourism that a community can handle;
  • Make sites and programs come alive: Competition for time is fierce. To attract visitors, a community or region must be sure that the destination is worth the drive;
  • Focus on quality and authenticity: Quality is an essential ingredient for all cultural heritage tourism, and authenticity is critical whenever heritage or history is involved; and
  • Preserve and protect: A community’s cultural, historic, and natural resources are valuable and often irreplaceable.
    So, what are the next steps for Springfield?
  • Call together stakeholders to discuss the future of cultural heritage tourism in Springfield. Participants should include major institutional representatives and city officials, as well as other interested parties;
  • Take an inventory of the cultural and historical assets of the city — an important step necessary for further action. This inventory should be sent to the individuals and organizations of step one;
  • Examine successful cultural heritage efforts in small cities similar to Springfield. Much can be learned from their experiences; and
  • Develop a plan for collaboration and further activity. A critical issue will be leadership: who will provide that important ingredient that will lead to further progress?

Ira H. Rubenzahl is the president of Springfield Technical Community College;[email protected]; (413) 755-4424.

By
Departments

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

Alonso, Aurelia
23 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/27/07

Amos, Craig A.
PO Box 1671
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Anderson, John Everett
177 Marion St., 1st Fl.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Anglero, Alfonso
5A Summer St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/18/07

Arrington, Lucien
593 South Branch Parkway
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Atwell, Jennifer L.
522 Union St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/26/07

Axsmith, Kim Georgeanna
PO Box 575
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/25/07

Baldwin, Bernard L.
800 Washburn Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/22/07

Barber, Heather N.
125 Pearl St.
Gardner, MA 01440
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Bertera, Michael C.
P.O. Box 1062
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/18/07

Bisbee, Debbie J.
39 D St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Blanchet, Billy A.
59 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/24/07

Bouchard, Lawrence M.
Bouchard, Dawn M.
8 Second Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/18/07

Brunson, Dorothy G.
P.O. Box 90462
Springfield, MA 01139
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Canard, Jason Nicholas
2 Cadwell St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Case, Jonathan E.
Case, Susan M.
a/k/a Hawes, Susan M.
27 Pineywood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/22/07

Casey, Ellen A.
29 New Hampshire Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/25/07

Cassamas, Leslie Ann
Rougeau, Leslie Ann
31 Russell St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Castro, Basilio
33 Merrill Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Castro, Iris
1570 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Champion Childcare Inc.
PO Box 4493
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 11
Filing Date: 06/22/07

Clarke, Clyde M.
45 South Main St., Apt. 1
Gardner, MA 01440
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Colon, Lillian
1162 Springfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/19/07

DeMarco, Joseph William
DeMarco, Rita Delores
48 Brooklyn St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/22/07

Doolin, Demetra C.
70 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/19/07

Douglas, Lamont H.
73 Flint St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/26/07

Dubowski, Carl W.
Dubowski, Cecile M.
67 Lavender Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/25/07

Filiault, Tina C.
1256 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Girard, Sherry Ann
42 Chapin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/20/07

Grondin, Robert Joseph
Grondin, Jennifer Leigh
a/k/a Gladstone, Jennifer Leigh
a/k/a Allsop, Jennifer Leigh
86 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/26/07

Hamel, Gregory J.
2 Stratford Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Hann, Robert K.
4 Upper River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/20/07

Hawley, Erik A.
91 Baystate Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/26/07

Jaikissoon, Stephen A.
Jaikissoon, Jerelyn J.
55 Hawks Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/19/07

 

Kooblall, Mahash P.
Kooblall, Denise I.
9 Bray Park Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/24/07

LaPointe, Michelle J.
2 Stratford Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Lightcap, Thomas K.
Lightcap, Ellen J.
60 White Fox Road
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/20/07

Lyons, John J.
Lyons, Jane M.
100 Tallyho Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/27/07

McDonald, Jennifer Marie
66 Central Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/18/07

Medina, Maria M.
511 Whitney Ave. Apt. 2
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/25/07

Mnatsakanyan, Vatchagan
25 Grassy Meadow
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/29/07

Moseley, Felicia M.
189 St. James Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Moye, Mary A.
80 Rochelle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/26/07

Nataro, Tynia M.
a/k/a Scales, Tonia M.
19 Lake St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/26/07

Niquette, Joan A.
80 Damon Road, Unit 8103
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Padro, Roger F.
185 Dwight St., Apt. 1
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Pelletier, Timothy
198 Russell St.
Springfield, MA 01104-1427
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/23/07

Perez, Carmen V.
185 Dwight St., Apt 10
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Pioneer Valley Design Center
Robitaille, Denise Marie
37 Christopher St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Poor, Joseph A.
398 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/23/07

Powers, Karin A.
41 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/26/07

Psholka, Thelma Jean
PO Box 601
West Springfield, MA 01090
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Randall, Robert A.
740 Church St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/22/07

Ray’s Family Cafe
Iwanik, Karen M.
a/k/a Doolittle, Karen
248 Pearl St.
Gardner, MA 01440
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Regan, John Michael
43 Waterford Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/25/07

Richardson, Cheryl A.
65 Belmont Ave. Apt. 1-L
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Rosario, Francisco Manuel
Rosario, Angela Corrine
263 Tyler St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/27/07

Santana, Rolando
75 Congress St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/23/07

Santos, Lillian
68 Bremen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Santos, Orlando
P.O. Box 28
Feeding Hills, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Scorza, Mario J.
29 Buckingham Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/21/07

Sevene, William H.
172 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/22/07

Stewart, Denise
459 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/20/07

Suleski, Kelly C.
11 Palmer Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/22/07

Texidor, Haydee
a/k/a Natal, Haydee
PO Box 80155
Springfield, MA 01138
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/28/07

Vaz, Emma
a/k/a Barrett, Emma
45 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/18/07

Watkins, Samuel L.
PO Box 91001
Springfield, MA 01139
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/20/07

Wellspeak, Mark S.
14 Matthews Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/27/07

By
Departments

New Director Chosen for Control Board

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Finance Control Board voted last month to appoint Stephen Lisauskas as its executive director, succeeding Philip Puccia, who resigned, effective July 19, to take a job with JP Morgan Securities. Lisauskas had previously served as deputy director under Puccia.

Gov. Patrick Eyes Workforce Priorities for Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — The Patrick Administration recently announced its partnership with the City of Springfield and the Hampden County Regional Employment Board to assess the workforce needs of the city to bring about greater economic opportunity. The workforce assessment will bring together employers as well as local community and business organizations to prepare an inventory of existing workforce development programs and activities to assess what skill sets are needed to fill the jobs of today and in the future. The Patrick administration will also work with city officials to secure funding as part of this assessment process. End goals include addressing the basic literacy of the city’s workforce by increasing public and private resources; establishing growth areas in key sectors, and better aligning economic and workforce development strategies. Administration officials also recently announced that the state’s 16 workforce boards, including the Hampden County Regional Employment Board, will play a stronger role in the approval process of state Workforce Training Fund grant applications.

Investors Hoping for Steady Interest Rate

WASHINGTON — Both food and energy costs nationally retreated in June, which boosted wholesale inflation to better than expected readings, while homebuilders’ confidence dropped to the lowest level in 15 years as the housing slump continued, according to several national reports. All of the positive findings — including industrial production being on the upswing — is good news at the Federal Reserve, since it indicates the recent acceleration in inflation appears to be abating. Investors hope that the economy’s current performance will result in the Federal Reserve staying the course on unchanged interest rates, thus giving borrowers a break until 2008.

Adjustable-rate Mortgages, Predatory Lending Attributing to Foreclosures

SPRINGFIELD — A staggering number of foreclosures across the region are being attributed to a slumping real estate market, adjustable-rate mortgages, and predatory lenders, according to officials from the Hampshire County and Hampden County Registries of Deeds. In Hampden County, foreclosures have doubled, from 278 in fiscal 2006 to 529 in fiscal 2007, while in Hampshire County, foreclosures rose by 78.8% to 59 in the fiscal year that just ended June 30. In Franklin County, officials note that foreclosures have also doubled, from 26 in 2006 to 60 in fiscal 2007. Foreclosure filings noted at the registries of deeds are actual foreclosures in which a lender has repossessed a property.

GSCVB Awarded Grant for Web Site Enhancements

SPRINGFIELD — The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) was recently awarded a $11,000 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to enhance its Web site with additional information about cultural attractions in the region. The funds have been used to create a highly graphic landing page and add an electronic postcard component to the site. The site address is www.valleyvisitor.com.

First Five Floors of One Financial Plaza Sold

SPRINGFIELD — Eastco Realty Co. LCC recently purchased the bottom five floors of 1350 Main St., also known as One Financial Plaza, for $2.4 million, according to documents filed at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds. Daniel M. Eastman of Somers, Conn., is president of Enfield Enterprises, a construction firm based in the city, and is manager of Eastco Realty. The first five floors consist of approximately 103,000 square feet, and half is currently occupied by Sovereign Bank and offices. The top 12 floors were purchased earlier in the year by a group of local investors. The remaining floors comprise approximately 220,000 square feet. Both groups of investors expect to work together to bring in quality tenants.

By
Departments

The following Building Permits were issued during the months of June 2007.

AGAWAM

OMG Inc.
153 Bowles Road
$60,000 — 2,000-square-foot interior alterations

AMHERST

Amherst College Trustees
214 Main St.
$45,000 — Install a VESDA fire detection system

CHICOPEE

Avery Denison
One Better Way
$340,000 — Install eight overhead doors and nine lock levelers in existing building

CBL Management Inc.
601 Memorial Dr.
$2,000,000 — Renovation of Ocean State Job Lot

City of Chicopee
617 Montgomery St.
$150,000 — Construction of flagpole, equipment cabinets, and utility backboard on existing rooftop

Golden Mustard LLC
82 Rivers Ave.
$6,000 — Cut back roof overhang, remove front porch, and re-side existing

Golden Mustard LLC
88 Rivers Ave.
$6,000 — Cut back roof overhang, remove front porch, and re-side existing

Jeff Kozianowski
591 Memorial Dr.
$181,000 — Interior improvements to the Dollar Tree

M6 Limited Partnership
36 Johnny Cake Hollow Road
$70,000 — Remodel four guest rooms

Pasterczyk Welding Shop Inc.
1737 Donahue Road
$10,500 — Addition to existing building

EASTHAMPTON

Eastworks LLP
116 Pleasant St.
44,000 — Masonry repair

Robert Sullivan
122 Pleasant St.
$14,000 — New roof

Will Bundy
116 Pleasant St.
$26,000 — Expansion of Blue Moon Deli

EAST LONGMEADOW

Redstone Rehabilitation
135 Benton Drive
$45,000 — Alteration to an oxygen storage room at the nursing home

GREENFIELD

31 Ames St. LLC
31 Ames St.
$1,200 — Frame and drywall bathroom

Franklin County Community Development Corporation
324 Wells St.
$7,000 — Construct metal stud partitions

Knickerbockers Realty, LLC
95 Davis St.
$2,400 — Strip south side roof and re-shingle

Richard M. Katz
5 Traver Court
$47,000 — Renovations on first floor

HADLEY

Anthony Gleason
10 South Maple St.
$6,000 — 12 x 90 Overhang in front of building

LONGMEADOW

Interfaith Homes of Longmeadow
114 Emerson Road
$3,119,000 — Addition to elderly housing facility

  

Town of Longmeadow
34 Williams St.
46,000 — Re-roof

LUDLOW

St. John the Baptist Church
201 Hubbard St.
$1,328,000 — New commercial construction

NORTHAMPTON

Billmar Corporation
330 North King St.
$3,354,000 – Construction of pre-engineered metal building

Coolidge Northampton LLC
243 King St.
$102,000 — Install roofing

Ethan Kramer
73 Bridge St.
$6,500 — Insulate and drywall basement walls

PVTA
1 Roundhouse Plaza
$6,500 — Install roofing

Smith College
25 Prospect St.
$110,000 — Remodel four bathrooms in Talbot House

Smith College
36 Bedford Terrace
$60,000 — Repair exterior siding and paint

Smith College
110 Elm St.
$3,378,000 — Renovations to Haven House

Smith College
College Lane
$572,000 — Renovations & additions to Chapin Dining Hall

Smith College
100 Green St.
$44,000,000 — Construction of new science and engineering building

Trident Realty Corporation
15 Hawley St.
$9,000 — Interior partitions

SOUTHWICK

T.J. Welch
622 College Highway
$ NA — Construction of office building and garage

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health Inc.
89 Belmont St.
$35,000 — Interior renovations at My Sister’s House

Granite City Electric
95 Fisk Ave.
$38,000 — Interior renovations

Yukon Associates
95 Fisk Ave.
432,000 — Addition of two handicap accessible bathrooms

WESTFIELD

DevCon Shop LLC
431 East Main St.
$61,000 — Commercial renovation

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Billie’s Cream Puffs
Eastern States Exposition
$2,500 — Addition of partition walls for storage

Steve O’Toole
425 Union St.
$22,000 — Renovation of existing commercial office

By
Departments

Pride Purchases Inland Oil Stations

SPRINGFIELD — Pride Stations and Stores recently announced the purchase of three self-service gasoline stations in West Springfield, Westfield, and Southwick for an undisclosed amount. The Citgo-branded stations have been owned and operated by the Burek Oil Company, also known as Inland Oil, for more than 60 years. Plans include adding the sale of Massachusetts Lottery, and converting to the complete line of Pride renewable fuels. In other company news, Pride recently opened a station in Palmer, and has four sites under construction in Ludlow, Springfield, and Westfield.

WCA Places 251st on VARBusiness Top 500 List

SOUTHWICK — Whalley Computer Associates (WCA) was recently ranked by VARBusiness Magazine as the 251st largest computer reseller in North America. This designation places WCA in the top one-third of 1% of the more than 120,000 VARs throughout North America, according to Paul Whalley, vice president, WCA. “This year’s move for our company in ranking from 289th to 251st is a reflection of the investment we put this year into the number of customer service programs that we established,” he said.

Fuss & O’Neill Acquires ProActive

MANCHESTER, Conn. — ProActive, a New Haven-based network management firm, recently became part of Fuss & O’Neill Technologies, LLC of Manchester. ProActive provides managed services including IT infrastructure, security, and solutions. ProActive was founded by Brian Doyle and Frank Gesino, where they developed ProActive Management Services. Doyle will become vice president of business development, and Gesino will become vice president of professional services for Fuss & O’Neill Technologies. Fuss & O’Neill Technologies, LLC is part of the Fuss & O’Neill Inc. family. The firm’s practices include civil and environmental engineering, structural engineering, industrial plant services, building systems, manufacturing solutions, and design-build.

Baystate Offers Incisionless Stapled Anastomosis

SPRINGFIELD — A team of Baystate Medical Center physicians recently performed the world’s first reported stapled NOTES cyst-gastrostomy to successfully treat and save the life of a seriously ill patient who had been hospitalized for months with a chronic infected pancreatic pseudocyst — without the need of an abdominal incision. The emerging field of NOTES (natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery) is a cutting-edge surgical and gastroenterological approach which involves passing flexible surgical tools and a camera through the patient’s natural orifices to eliminate incisions, resulting in less pain and infection, and quicker recoveries. In addition, patients who are high-risk candidates for surgery may be able to be treated with this new, less-invasive surgical approach.

New Family Restaurant Opens in Chicopee

CHICOPEE — Cote’s Family Restaurant officially opened its second location in the city with a ribbon-cutting on July 25 at 582 Chicopee St., formerly LaCroix’s Market. The restaurant, boasting more booths and an ice cream counter, will offer a full menu including daily specials, homemade soups, homemade desserts, and monthly breakfast specials.

LiftTruck Celebrates 20th Anniversary

WEST SPRINGFIELD — LiftTruck Parts and Service Inc., a leader in the material handling industry, is celebrating its 20th year in business. The company is a full-service material-handling firm, with a wide range of specialties, including new and pre-owned fleet sales, service, parts, short- and long-term rentals, financing, on-site maintenance, and others. Founded by owner Mario Sotolotto, Lifttruck is an authoriuzed distributor for the material handling products of Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks and Komatsu Forklift USA Inc.

MassMutual Invests In NovaStar Financial

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual Capital Partners, LLC, a subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., and Jefferies Capital Partners are investing $48.4 million into troubled NovaStar Financial. Based in Kansas City, Mo., NovaStar specializes in single-family mortgages for borrowers who may have difficulty qualifying for loans under conventional standards. The agreement includes NovaStar’s board of directors being expanded from six to eight.

By
Departments

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

Adams, Stephen A.
Adams, Jennifer L.
a/k/a Ryznic, Jennifer L.
11 Elm St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/31/07

Bailey, Thomas C.
424 Elm St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/01/07

Barkyoumb, Timothy R.
Barkyoumb, Maria N.
73 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/15/07

Beachman, Ronald Bruce
65 Prospect St.
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/05/07

Beals, Elliott
3 Mill St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/15/07

Bernal, Mario Juan
101 High St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Bissonnette, Robert P.
Bissonnette, Carol Ann
115 Tavistock St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/06/07

Burdick, David M.
112 Main St., Apt G
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/31/07

Burgess, Kim J.
a/k/a Jones, Kim J.
12 West Laramee Green
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/04/07

Carey, Christine Olive
8 Turnpike Road
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Carrano, Alfonso Raffaele
Carrano, Antonietta Anna
41 Birch Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/02/07

Circosta, Theresa R.
22 Primrose St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/02/07

Cote, Denise T.
43 Cyran St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/04/07

Cruz, Dayssi Yanira
a/k/a Montpremier, Dayssi Y.
198 Harrington St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/01/07

Cullison, Kimberly A.
2018 Quabog St.
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Destromp, Ronald
Destromp, Ruth
423 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/05/07

Douglas, Jill J.
145 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/07/07

Hall, Allison Lucille
a/k/a Gagne, Allison L.,
Hawley, Allison L.
118 Danforth Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/04/07

Haller, Stephen Edward
Haller, Lisa Ann
a/k/a Booker, Lisa Ann
Accounting Advantage
35 Williams Street
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Heath, Paula M.
28 Thornfell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/07/07

Hohol, Laura Ann
19 Randall St.
Palmer, MA 01069-1327
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/15/07

Holt, Todd T.
124 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/13/07

Joanides, Christos
Joanides, Laura
a/k/a Giroux, Laura M.
277 Southwick St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/03/07

Keiderling, Travis
160 Pont Grove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/15/07

Kenney, Susan M.
72 Oak Ridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/15/07

Laizer, Robert J.
62 Farnsworth St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/03/07

Lamothe, Jeffrey J.
Lamothe, Jennifer G.
146 Redlands St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Lapa, Jessica
140 Joy St.
Chciopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/15/07

Larabee, Tammy Jean
216 Mohawk Forest
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/08/07

Lincoln, Sharon L.
92 Commercial St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/08/07

Lopez, Venancio
896 St. James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/15/07

Mango, Richard P.
21 Brentwood St.
Springfield, MA 01108-3305
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/15/07

  

Martindale, Enid E.
a/k/a Bennett, Enid E.,
Clayton, Enid E.
11-15 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/05/07

Maznick, Gary F.
23 Sherwin St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/14/07

McCann-Pawshuk, Joan M.
391 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Molina, Osvaldo
33 Mary St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/05/07

Occusafe Inc.
135 Mountain View Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/12/07

O’Connor, Kathleen
24 Fairmont St.
Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Omerhi, Omote
133 Bowles St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/14/07

Packard, Catherine M.
19 Anthony Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/12/07

Pinkney, Barbara
87 Duryea St.
Springfield, MA 01104-3105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/04/07

Prejsner, Thomas Eugene
179 Sandtrap Way
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/12/07

Rivera, Manuel P.
Rivera, Karen H.
61 O’Neil Road
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Robert, Chekovsky
Chick’s Carpentry
Chekovsky, Gail
143 Point Grove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/03/07

Robinson, James Matthew
Robinson, Lisa A.
30 Vadnais Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/08/07

Roby, Jocelyn A.
557 South St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/01/07

Romboletti, Carl F.
CFR Jr Designs & Models
34 Dragon Hill Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/31/07

Rosa, Brenda L.
a/k/a Rosa-Delgado, Brenda Liz
28 Austin St.
2nd Floor, Left
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/04/07

Rosa, Jose R.
68 Jefferson Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/05/07

Saydlowski, Paul J.
Saydlowski, Marie E.
23 Greenwich Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/04/07

Selzo, Michele A
a/k/a Holbrook, Michele A.
2230 Main St.
West Warren, MA 01092
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/12/07

Seymour, Cheryl Ann
77 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/01/07

Sicard, Wendy
118 Lumae St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/04/07

Soto, William
76 Bliss St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/05/07

Sullivan, Daniel G.
Sullivan, Leeann M.
95 Deer Run Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/11/07

Thompson, Darlene
64 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/14/07

Tucker, Carole F.
70 Mohawk Trail
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/12/07

Vega, Nestalz
19 Linden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/14/07

Walsh, Timothy M.
27 Wendell St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/05/07

Ware, Patricia A.
27 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/10/07

Webb, Luora Graves
207 Garvey Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/01/07

Wells, Michelle
143 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 06/08/07

White, Mary E.
643 Newton St., #13
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/04/07

Winds Transportation Inc.
P.O. Box 181
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 06/08/07

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

OMG Inc.
153 Bowles Road
$60,000 — 2,000-square-foot interior alterations

AMHERST

Amherst College Trustees
214 Main St.
$45,000 — Install a VESDA fire detection system

CHICOPEE

Avery Denison
One Better Way
$340,000 — Install eight overhead doors and nine lock levelers in existing building

CBL Management Inc.
601 Memorial Dr.
$2,000,000 — Renovation of Ocean State Job Lot

City of Chicopee
617 Montgomery St.
$150,000 — Construction of flagpole, equipment cabinets, and utility backboard on existing rooftop

Golden Mustard LLC
82 Rivers Ave.
$6,000 — Cut back roof overhang, remove front porch, and re-side existing

Golden Mustard LLC
88 Rivers Ave.
$6,000 — Cut back roof overhang, remove front porch, and re-side existing

Jeff Kozianowski
591 Memorial Dr.
$181,000 — Interior improvements to the Dollar Tree

M6 Limited Partnership
36 Johnny Cake Hollow Road
$70,000 — Remodel four guest rooms

Pasterczyk Welding Shop Inc.
1737 Donahue Road
$10,500 — Addition to existing building

EASTHAMPTON

Eastworks LLP
116 Pleasant St.
$44,000 — Masonry repair

Robert Sullivan
122 Pleasant St.
$14,000 — New roof

Will Bundy
116 Pleasant St.
$26,000 — Expansion of Blue Moon Deli

EAST LONGMEADOW

Redstone Rehabilitation
135 Benton Drroomive
$45,000 — Alteration to an oxygen storage at the nursing home

GREENFIELD

Franklin County Community Development Corporation
324 Wells St.
$7,000 — Construct metal stud partitions

Knickerbockers Realty, LLC
95 Davis St.
$2,400 — Strip south side roof and re-shingle

Richard M. Katz
5 Traver Court
$47,000 — Renovations on first floor

HADLEY

Anthony Gleason
10 South Maple St.
$6,000 — 12’ x 90’ overhang in front of building

LONGMEADOW

Interfaith Homes of Longmeadow
114 Emerson Road
$3,119,000 — Addition to elderly housing facility

  

Town of Longmeadow
34 Williams St.
$46,000 — Re-roof

LUDLOW

St. John the Baptist Church
201 Hubbard St.
$1,328,000 — New commercial construction

NORTHAMPTON

Billmar Corporation
330 North King St.
$3,354,000 – Construction of pre-engineered metal building

Coolidge Northampton LLC
243 King St.
$102,000 — Install roofing

Ethan Kramer
73 Bridge St.
$6,500 — Insulate and drywall basement walls

PVTA
1 Roundhouse Plaza
$6,500 — Install roofing

Smith College
25 Prospect St.
$110,000 — Remodel four bathrooms in Talbot House

Smith College
36 Bedford Terrace
$60,000 — Repair exterior siding and paint

Smith College
110 Elm St.
$3,378,000 — Renovations to Haven House

Smith College
College Lane
$572,000 — Renovations & additions to Chapin Dining Hall

Smith College
100 Green St.
$44,000,000 — Construction of new science and engineering building

Trident Realty Corporation
15 Hawley St.
$9,000 — Interior partitions

SOUTHWICK

T.J. Welch
622 College Highway
$ NA — Construction of office building and garage

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health Inc.
89 Belmont St.
$35,000 — Interior renovations at My Sister’s House

Granite City Electric
95 Fisk Ave.
$38,000 — Interior renovations

Yukon Associates
95 Fisk Ave.
$432,000 — Addition of two handicap accessible bathrooms

WESTFIELD

DevCon Shop LLC
431 East Main St.
$61,000 — Commercial renovation

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Billie’s Cream Puffs
Eastern States Exposition
$2,500 — Addition of partition walls for storage

Steve O’Toole
425 Union St.
$22,000 — Renovation of existing commercial office

The Greening of the Pioneer Valley

By
Opinion

It’s called ‘going green.’ That’s the simple term attached to the sometimes-complex process of incorporating environmentally sensitive thinking to a company’s operations, policies, and even office design.

In this issue of BusinessWest, we talked to a number of area businesses about what they’re doing to ‘go green.’ The answers were so varied and expansive that the stories took on lives of their own, and could very well lead to even more news in our pages about environmental efforts across Western Mass.

Several area businesses have a wide array of initiatives in place. At Baystate Medical Center, for example, antimicrobial mops are seen as just as important a part of the green process as obtaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification on new construction projects. Similarly, at Big Y, reusable grocery bags reduce plastic consumption, while energy-saving computer systems on coolers, freezers, and lights save enough electricity in a year to power 90 homes.

The breadth of those projects shows why Springfield was recently named the fourth-greenest community out of 200 in the U.S. by Country Home magazine, and among larger cities, the magazine rated the city number one. They also show that going green can be an incremental undertaking for businesses of all sizes, perhaps starting with smaller, more manageable initiatives and gradually expanding with a company’s knowledge and resources.

Going green isn’t an easy feat for any business. Putting new plans in place requires a substantial amount of knowledge of a given organization’s own energy and resource consumption and how it can be curtailed, and an understanding of federal and state regulations, especially if green initiatives are being implemented with the hope of garnering tax credits. Cost analyses must be completed to ensure that any program makes sense in the long run for a company, and won’t decimate the bottom line.

Laws surrounding green business are also constantly changing. A greater number of states are drafting more specific laws to conform with the changing face — and energy demands — of industry and commerce.

Many companies in the Bay State are taking a proactive approach to green initiatives regardless of formal rules or regulations. It’s likely that, in the coming years, these companies could avoid some costly and time-consuming regulatory hassles, while others play catch-up.

At the very least, every company should seriously consider going green. As our own research found, many business owners can identify some practices just by taking a look around. It could be that a cost-saving measure put in place last year also had a positive effect on the environment — things like long-lasting light bulbs, for instance, or the recycled paper in the copier.

The strong ranking in Country Home is not merely another feather in the region’s cap. Green cities also attract new blood and new jobs. More than ever, young professionals list a region’s environmental friendliness as one of the top deciding factors when relocating.

We admit to being surprised to find such enthusiasm for going green across Western Mass., but encouraged. It creates an excellent base from which to build, and will allow us to create and support further initiatives that could not only reduce the area’s impact on the environment, but save much-needed resources as it moves forward in challenging economic times.

Going green isn’t just about doing good anymore, though that should remain a primary driver behind the trend. Now, it’s another way this region can thrive, and position itself as a prime destination in which to live, play, and work.

Looking back 10, 20, or 50 years from now, we’d like to say we watched the Western Mass. business community rally together as part of the region’s rebirth, and to reach an objective that just made sense.-

By
Departments

Westfield Bank Opens New Branch, Adds Sunday Hours

WESTFIELD — Westfield Bank has created an updated model for banking that now includes hours on Sunday. To unveil this new approach, a grand opening with a hometown vintage baseball theme took place June 25 – complete with hot dogs, raffle drawings, and an appearance by former New York Yankees pitcher Jim Bouton. The new branch on East Main Street will be open seven days a week, with weekday hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Denise Begley will serve as the business development manager, while Stephanie Morales will be the new operations manager, and Mary Duclos will serve as the client relations manager.

Verizon Program Led by STCC Wins National Business Award

SPRINGFIELD — The Verizon/ CWA/IBEW Next Step Program, offered through 25 community colleges in New England and New York has won the Stevie® Award for ‘best human resources team in the 2007 American Business Awards. Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) is the lead college for the New England program, encompassing 10 colleges at 12 locations. The Next Step program, established in the mid-1990s through an agreement between Verizon (then NYNEX) and two of its principal unions, the Communications Workers of America, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, offers a specially-designed associate’s degree program in telecommunications technology for Verizon technicians. Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars.” the American Business Awards are the only national, all-encompassing awards program honoring exceptional performance in business. Nicknamed the Stevies from the Greek word for crowned, the awards were presented on June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. STCC has been the lead college in the New England Next Step program since it was established in 1995.

Flexa Kids Furniture Available at Fly By Night

NORTHAMPTON — Fly By Night’s new showroom now includes a “store in a store” with Flexa Kids Furniture. Flexa is uniquely designed and engineered in Denmark, but made in America of solid wood, according to Fly By Night President Richard Zafft. The Flexa concept is popular in Europe, but relatively new to the United States. Toddlers go from the crib right into a Flexa bed. As children grow, the original bed can be raised up to provide storage below. As time passes, the bed can be raised up higher to provide a loft with a desk below or turned into a bunk bed for siblings or guests. Zafft explained that today’s parents want a comprehensive solution to a child’s room – efficient use of space with a lot of well-organized storage, nontoxic finishes and chemical-free mattresses, and the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances without having to throw away what they’ve already purchased.

Stevens Design Studio Launches Multichannel Marketing Institute

WESTFIELD — Stevens Design Studio is launching the Multichannel Marketing Institute to help businesses understand the new role of marketing in today’s economy. The growth of technology has substantially increased the communication channels that consumers have available when researching and purchasing products and services. The Multichannel Marketing Institute will assist businesses in operating and marketing in this new environment. The mission of the Multichannel Marketing Institute is to expand the understanding of multichannel marketing throughout the business community. It will enable businesses of all sizes, including business-to-consumer and business-to-business, to effectively utilize all pertinent channels for branding, marketing, and business growth. The institute will also provide educational opportunities through brand reviews, marketing audits, Web site assessments, seminars, workshops, case studies, and other means of exchanging information. It will bring together business owners, managers, entrepreneurs, marketing experts, and technology professionals to discuss the challenges and opportunities of marketing in today’s competitive environment.

Big Y Awards More Than $200K in Scholarships

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y World Class Markets have selected more than 300 academically outstanding students from communities surrounding its stores to receive almost $250,000 in college scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year. Unlike most area scholarships, the awards are based on academic merit, regardless of financial need. Awards are given to students in the categories of high school graduate, undergraduate, community college, graduate, and non-traditional. There is also a special category within the program that honors dependents of law enforcement officers and firefighters. Scholarship applications for the 2008-2009 academic year will be available at all of Big Y’s 56 locations, including Table & Vine, from mid-October through January. Applications will also be available at school guidance offices within Big Y’s market area.

OPINION

By
Opinion
UMass System Needs Independent Campuses

The debate about governance at the University of Massachusetts, motivated by President Jack M. Wilson’s vision for “one university,” has paid scant attention to the history of state university systems. Across the nation are experiments that enable us to draw conclusions about the elements necessary to achieve the highest level of educational excellence.

Massachusetts has a less mature state university system than some other states. Undoubtedly because of the large number of outstanding private colleges and universities located here, Massachusetts created a state university system relatively recently, in 1991, several decades after such systems were created in places like California, New York, Texas, and Illinois.

The experience of those states demonstrates that systems need to give considerable independence to individual campuses to achieve the best results. The University of California is a case in point.

Arguably the best state system of higher education in the country, its 10 campuses are parts of a single university and substantially independent. By contrast, states in which a single individual serves as chancellor of the flagship campus and president of the system, like Michigan, tend to have single-university systems in which the other campuses are clearly subordinate branches.

The University of California has repeatedly given greater independence and authority to its campuses. The system began in a form that resembles Wilson’s vision; the entire university was governed from Berkeley — its medical campus in San Francisco, its agricultural experiment stations in Davis and Riverside, and the outpost, the Southern Division of the University of California, later known as UCLA.

In the early 1950s, Berkeley and UCLA assumed greater independence with the creation of chancellors for the two campuses. When Clark Kerr became president of the university in 1958, he worked to realize a vision of nine independent campuses, each distinctive and excellent. In the eight years in which he served as president, he gave more independence to existing campuses and created new ones to form the group of universities we know today.

Kerr recognized that the independence of the campuses was essential to both realizing excellence and shaping distinctive identity. Change in large organizations is inherently difficult; anything that reduces bureaucracy and levels of governance makes them more nimble in responding to problems and opportunities.

urthermore, university governance, by its very nature, is highly participatory; you cannot motivate and accomplish change without an immediate relationship with the faculty.

To build collaboration among campuses with strong leaders and distinctive identities, one needs to institutionalize regular communication at every organizational level. At the same time that the University of California gave authority to the chancellors, it created annual systemwide conferences of students and faculty to build stronger unity among the campuses. It built systemwide councils for chancellors, provosts, vice chancellors, and faculty senate leaders.

What, then, is the systemwide role? The system, in extensive consultation with the campuses, should develop policies for the entire university in matters such as intellectual property, tenure and promotion, construction financing, compensation, and benefits. It should build community among the campuses, lobby for them, and help them achieve excellence.

There are few more important questions than the future of public higher education in Massachusetts. The state lacks a master plan for higher education, and it needs one. Such a plan would better ensure educational opportunity for its students. Its development must be a highly public process, conducted by a body with broadly representative and respected membership.

Only in such a public conversation can we arrive at wise decisions and policies with the legitimacy to guide higher education for decades to come. –

Carol T. Christ, former executive vice chancellor of the University of California- Berkeley, is president of Smith College. This article first appeared in the Boston Globe.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Chris Auto South Inc., 207 Main St., Agawam 01001. Mary Ellen Biscaldi, 115 Granville Road, Southwick 01077. Purchase, sale, and repair of used motor vehicles.

Gavel Homes Sales Inc., 13 Southbridge Dr., Agawam 01001. Michael Werman, 152 Whitaker Road, Westfield 01085. Real estate investment and sales.

AMHERST

Amherst Auto Express Inc., 118 South East St., Amherst 01002. Amir Mikhchi, 18 Foxglove Lane, Amherst 01002. To operate a motor vehicle repair business.

BRIMFIELD

Sharp Trucking Co. Inc., 52 East Hill Road, Brimfield 01010. Shane Michael Bravetti, same. Trucking company local freight delivery.

CHICOPEE

Sal’s Quality Stores Inc., 73 Oakwood St., Chicopee 01020. Shirley Lussier, same. E-commerce retail of general merchandise.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Cook Builders Supply Co. Inc., 6 Old Pasture Dr., East Longmeadow 01028. Michael J. Kane, same. Sales and leasing of building and landscaping supplies, materials, tools, etc.

FLORENCE

Therese Connor Nursing Education Inc., 7 Main St., 1st Floor Left, Florence 01062. Steven James Connor, 93 Allen St., Greenfield 01301. (Nonprofit) To provide scholarships to students pursuing a nursing career and/or to already licensed nurses furthering their education, etc.

GRANVILLE

Home Improvement R Us Inc., 27 Blandford Road, Granville 01034. Scott A. Vogus, same. Home improvement, remodeling and construction.

HADLEY

Haber Brothers Inc., 47 Lawn St., Hadley 01075. James A. Haber, same. Road, bridge, site work, construction, etc.

HOLLAND

Cyber Forensics Security Investigation Inc., 293 Stafford Road, Holland 01521. Thomas Crouse, same. To provide security, forensic, and investigative services for internet users, etc.

  

HOLYOKE

Sanctuary Animal Clinic Inc., 210 Linden St., Holyoke 01040. John Perdrizet, same. Veterinarian services.

HUBBARDSTON

Unique Materials Solutions Inc., 59 Brigham St., Hubbardston 01452. Thomas Colyer, same. Marketing representative for refractory materials.

LUDLOW

JOI Ride Limousine Service Inc., 58 Cady St., Ludlow 01056. Zorana L. Owens-Imbody, same. Limousine service.

MONTGOMERY

D & N Cormier Inc., 78 Pine Ridge Road, Montgomery 01085. Donald C. Cormier, same. Food service and real estate management.

NORTHAMPTON

Living City Properties Inc., 150 Main St., Suite 310, Northampton 01060. T. Wilson Flanders, 7 School St., Shelburne Falls 01370. Real estate ownership and management.

SPRINGFIELD

John B. Stewart, P.C., 126 Dwight Road, Springfield 01108. John B. Stewart, same. The general practice of law.

Top Notch Painters Plus Inc., 84 Commonwealth Ave., Apt. 1R, Springfield 01108. Kevin A. Stringer, same. Professional painting services, interior or exterior.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bertera Nissan Inc., 499 Riverdale St., West Springfield 01089. Aldo M. Bertera, 162 Forest Ridge Road, West Springfield 01089. The retail sale and service of new or used automobiles, trucks, etc.

Billy’s Malawi Project Inc., 152 Piper Road, West Springfield 01099. Timothy C. Allen, 141 Newton Road, Springfield 01118, (Nonprofit) To provide funds in support of the community of the Village of Cape Maclear (Chembe Village), Malawi, Africa, etc.

WILBRAHAM

Western Mass. Chapter of The Clinical Laboratory Management Association Inc., 111 Bartlett Ave., Wilbraham 01095. Beverly Miller, same. (Nonprofit) To empower laboratory professionals through forward-thinking education, networking and advocacy opportunities, etc.

By
Departments

The University of Massachusetts recently announced two major leadership appointments:
• Michael F. Collins, M.D., to Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and Interim Chancellor of UMass Medical School, and
• J. Keith Motley, Ph.D., Chancellor of UMass Boston.
Collins and Motley began serving in their new positions on June 1, creating a revamped university leadership team that will include U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan, who became Chancellor of UMass Lowell on July 1.

•••••


David Winsper

David Winsper, Coordinator of the Honors Program, at Springfield Technical Community College, and English professor since 1979, was honored as Faculty Member of the Year at the college’s 40th commencement exercises. One member of the STCC faculty or professional staff has been singled out for this award each academic year since 1979.

 

•••••

Berkshire Insurance Group Inc., a Berkshire Bank company, recently announced the following:
• Jonathan S. Denmark has joined Reynolds, Barnes & Hebb Insurance Agency as a Commercial Lines Account Executive. Denmark is based in Pittsfield at the agency’s 166 East St. location and will be responsible for analyzing risk-protection plans for new businesses and providing solutions for business insurance needs, as well as maintaining and nurturing new and existing accounts;
• Patrick J. Ingoldsby has joined Reynolds, Barnes & Hebb Insurance Agency as a commercial lines account executive. Ingoldsby is based in Pittsfield at the agency’s 166 East St. location and will be responsible for analyzing risk-protection plans for new businesses and providing solutions for business insurance needs, as well as maintaining and nurturing new and existing accounts, and
• Rebecca M. Howard has been promoted to Commercial Lines Account Executive at MassOne Insurance Agency. Howard is based in Greenfield at the agency’s 117 Main St. location and will be responsible for analyzing risk-protection plans for new businesses and providing solutions for business insurance needs, as well as maintaining and nurturing new and existing accounts.

•••••

Big Y Foods Inc. in Springfield announced the following appointments as part of a reorganization of management roles:
• Antonio F. Gomes has been named Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Strategies;
• Phillip J. Schneider has been named Vice President of Sales;
• Michael P. D’Amour has been named Senior Director of Fresh Foods;
• Peter M. Dudis has been named Director of Grocery Sales;
• Mark L. Gaudette has been named Director of Loss Prevention, and
• Ann K. Wallenius has been named Director of Big Y brands.

•••••

Paul Steven Henry has been named Vice President of Product Development at MassMutual Retirement Services, part of the MassMutual Financial Group.

•••••

Carlene M. Shannon has joined Hampden Bank as a Mortgage Loan Originator.

•••••

Meyers Brothers Kalicka PC announced the following:
• Timothy D. Garstka has joined the firm as an Associate, and
• Ashley R. Lapointe has joined the firm as an Intern.
Both work in the Holyoke office.

•••••

Gina C. Birchall, a Vice President of Underwriting at Berkshire Life Insurance Co. of America, was one of four employees honored recently with the Berkshire Life Outstanding Community Service Award. A $1,000 check was made out in Birchall’s honor to the Elizabeth Freeman Center, where she serves on the board of directors.

•••••


Michael B. Katz

The regional law firm Bacon & Wilson announced that one of its partners, Michael B. Katz, was awarded the Mass. Bar Association’s Community Service Award at the Hampden County Bar Association’s annual meeting on June 21. The honor recognizes the various charitable and civic work that he does and is awarded annually to the person selected as the most outstanding community leader. Katz was cited for more than 30 years of service to the community, including participation as past president of the Jimmy Fund Council and Jewish Family Service, as a member of the Dana Farber Visiting Committee, and clerk of the United Way of Pioneer Valley, where he remains a current board member and this year’s campaign chairman.

•••••

 


Wayne M. Kapinos

The Insurance Center of New England Group announced that Wayne M. Kapinos has been appointed Account Executive. He will be responsible for sales and customer relationship management initiatives for the group’s Commercial Insurance Division, focusing on territories in Western Mass. and Southern Conn.

•••••

Christopher C. Cook has been promoted by Rugg Building Solutions to Chief Operating Officer. He had previously worked as Director of Finance and Administration.

•••••

Arthur R. Jackson, vice president for Student Affairs at Westfield State College, has been named vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is scheduled to begin his new position in August.

By
Departments

Seeing the Lighthouse

Debbie Calvanese, placement manager of Lighthouse in Spring-field, congratulates Paul Olson, senior director of ARAMARK, on its Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition ‘Employer of the Year’ award, presented last month. At left is Jeffrey Colby, a Lighthouse member. Lighthouse is one of four clubhouses operated by Springfield-based Human Resources Unlimited that provide job opportunities for those with physical and developmental disabilities. In just under a year, ARAMARK has given six Lighthouse members a chance to be productive in the workplace.

Upward Bound

Stakeholders pose around a poster announcing a $1 million Upward Bound grant to be shared by 13 applicants in Massachusetts. American International College is the only school in Western Mass. to receive the award. Upward Bound is a pre-college program for students who have the ability to complete a post-secondary education, but who may not achieve that goal due to constraints imposed by family income levels and the lack of knowledge about the college admissions process. The grant money awarded to AIC will help students at Springfield’s Central High School. From left are Gregory Schmutte, vice president for Academic Affairs; Jada Waters, AIC graduate student; AIC President Vince Maniaci; Central High School Principal Richard Stoddard; and Joseph Burke, Springfield superintendent of schools.


Cutting the Ribbon

Premiere Source Credit Union recently celebrated the move into its new main office on North Main Street in East Longmeadow. On hand for the ribbon-cutting were, from left, board member George Reich, operations manager Mary Pagliaro, CEO/Manager Bonnie Raymond, board member John Whalen, Chairman of the East Longmeadow Board of Selectmen Enrico Villamaino, East Longmeadow Police Chief Douglas Mellis, Clerk of Hampden County Superior Court Brian Lees, board member Brian Travers, board Chairman Dr. Richard Grabiec, and board members Joseph Francisco, Al Riberdy, and David Kruger.

The Young and the Networking

Young professionals gathered at the Springfield Art Museum on June 21 for the third free event staged by the Young Professional Society (YPS). Attendees mixed and mingled among the latest exhibit, “Seldom Seen: Contemporary Art from the Permanent Collection,” with paintings, sculpture, and lithographs by Picasso, Lichtenstein, and others. The YPS is a networking group launched by young professionals in the corporate, non-profit, cultural, and public arenas in order to initiate a dialogue on how young area professionals can get more involved in the community in which they live and work.

OPINION

By
Opinion
The Coming Crisis for Medicare

The trustees of the nation’s Medicare trust funds have released their 2007 annual report, and once again the news is grave. As the result of health care costs increasing at a much greater rate than wages, the hospital insurance trust fund is projected to be exhausted by 2019. Indeed, Medicare is in far worse shape than the Social Security trust funds, which are also ailing but are not projected to run dry until 2041.

The one glimmer of hope in this bleak picture is that a “Medicare funding warning” has been triggered for the first time by the numbers in the trustees’ report. This action will finally force Washington to address Medicare seriously, and fix a system that threatens to bring our economy to its knees not many years from now.

Medicare’s main source of money is supposed to be the dedicated revenues generated by premiums and payroll taxes. But because of the rapid growth of Medicare expenditures, program costs financed by general revenues are projected to exceed 45% in 2013.

Under the 2003 Medicare reform law, whenever a forecast says that the 45% threshold will be crossed within the next seven years, the trustees are to issue a determination of “excess general revenue Medicare funding.” That determination has now been made in two consecutive years, so a “Medicare funding warning” has now been declared.

The warning requires President Bush to propose legislation that responds to the alert by early February 2008. The law then requires Congress to consider the president’s proposals on an expedited basis.

No one can predict the outcome of this exercise. But it will at least focus lawmakers’ attention on an incontrovertible fact: Medicare is not just undercapitalized; it’s a severely flawed system. Revenues and spending are inherently mismatched.

Exacerbating the problem is the fact that over the past 40 years, medical costs have outstripped economic growth by 3% annually. Advances in medical technology and patient treatment have driven of this trend; while the benefits of these advances are obvious, the price tag is huge.

With this crisis looming, why have no serious efforts been made to treat the root of the Medicare problem? For one thing, there are few, if any, incentives to prudently control the cost of medical treatment. It is well-documented that retirees will undertake treatment as long as the value of that care is more than their co-payment. As for providers of medical care, such as doctors, nurses, and hospitals, any desire to restrain costs through cheaper treatment alternatives is often overridden by self-interest or the perception that more expensive treatments are in order.

Finally, politicians have virtually no short-term incentives to tackle the Medicare problem. The reason is clear: any change that leaves the elderly worse off than before will lead to swift condemnation and ballot-box reprisals by a large and vocal segment of the population. And pressure from much younger workers who fund Medicare is nearly non-existent.

However, more encouraging signs may come from individual states’ experiments with health care, particularly those of Massachusetts and California. If a state can build a comprehensive medical care solution, it can provide guidance and even encouragement for a national approach.

Given the magnitude of the problem, there is unlikely to be a silver bullet. To bring costs and benefits closer together, policies need to target the inequities caused by incentives that tend to increase costs at an alarming rate.

Even this may be insufficient. Increases in taxes, cuts in benefits, and possibly means-testing of beneficiaries may be needed. Implicit in such policy change is the realization that all stakeholders — not just the young — need to bear the burden of making Medicare sustainable. It may be tough medicine to swallow, but we can’t keep blindly passing Medicare’s costs on to future generations.-

Thomas J. Healey is a senior fellow at the Kennedy School of Government. This article first appeared in the Boston Globe.

There’s Nothing Wrong with Thinking Big

By
Opinion

You have to give Gov. Deval Patrick some credit. He’s been thinking big lately. Make that very big.

Universal preschool. All-day kindergarten. Free community college tuition and fees. A longer school day and year. A $1 billion life sciences commitment. Extension of a commuter rail line to New Bedford. Property tax breaks for low- to moderate-income homeowners. And perhaps as many as 1,000 new police officers. These are all things he’s put on the table over the past several weeks.

And in doing so, he’s drawn loud applause from educators, the tech sector, public safety administrators, and other constituencies. He’s also spawned some serious skepticism among legislators, conservative think tanks, and political analysts who are wondering out loud just how in the world he’s going to pay for all this.

Indeed, the growing consensus seems to be that Patrick will get only a few, if any, of these proposals funded at a time when there is still a budget deficit, and the chances of the Legislature raising taxes are slim and none.

So it seems to many that Patrick is simply getting people’s hopes up for things that won’t be funded, thus setting himself up for a big political fall when he fails to convert on any of these commitments to the Commonwealth.

Maybe, maybe not.

It is our hope that the doubts — as well-founded as they may be — do not stifle the needed serious discussions on these matters that may eventually lead to some of them becoming reality. That’s because many of these proposals make a good deal of sense.

Start with universal preschool. This has long been touted as a necessary ingredient in the daunting task of re-energizing struggling urban centers in the state, including Springfield and Holyoke, and local economic development leaders have put early childhood education at the top of their priority list for the region. Study after study has shown that when children are exposed to a regimented learning environment early on, they are less likely to drop out of school later in life. These statistics are contrasted against the state’s dramatic drop in the rankings concerning the number of children enrolled in pre-kindergarten; the Commonwealth has slipped to roughly 10% of its 4-year-olds in pre-K, which is about half the national average.

The problem is, universal preschool is expensive — a projected $600 million annually. Also expensive is lengthening the school day and year — $1.3 billion per year, according to some estimates — and free tuition at community colleges, nearly $200 million annually.

But both steps would certainly help Massachusetts remain competitive with other states and other countries at a time of intense fighting for those good jobs at good wages that every municipal leader wants. Community colleges have long been touted as one of the state’s most effective economic development resources because they provide skills that are needed in a modern, technology-driven economy, and graduating students tend to stay in the market in which they were educated.

Community colleges are relatively inexpensive — only a few thousand dollars per semester — but they are still out of the reach of some people of limited means. Free tuition would provide access to a college education for greater numbers of Bay State residents, and thus create skilled employees for companies screaming for qualified help.

Other components of the Patrick agenda are equally worthwhile, especially the investment in life sciences, which many believe will be the proverbial ‘next big thing’ for the state’s economy. But all of them come with steep price tags, and lawmakers show no inclination to raise taxes or create new sources of revenue, such as legalized casino gambling.

Not long after Patrick unveiled his 10-year vision for education in the Commonwealth, something he called “cradle to career,” he likened skeptics of his plan to those who challenged President John F. Kennedy’s mission to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s.

But the federal government backed up that bold pledge with what amounted to a blank check for NASA. Patrick won’t get a blank check, and he may not get any kind of check. But that shouldn’t stop him from thinking big — preferably, very big.-

By
Departments

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

Alexander, Marilyn
23 Riviera Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/18/07

Amato, Beverly D.
P.O. Box 1105
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/18/07

Bard, Bryan S.
19 Woronoco Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/31/07

Baronas, Lisa M.
P.O. Box 476
Ashfield, MA 01330
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Baysinger, Tina M.
210 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/23/07

Bloo Solutions
Beaudry, Jeremiah Andrew-Rene
63 Ludger Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/18/07

Borelli, David S.
P.O. Box 269
West Warren, MA 01092
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/07

Borelli-Huckins, Jennifer E.
57 Hillside Village
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/07

Bronson, David J.
60 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/24/07

Burke, Kathleen S.
224 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/18/07

Canuel, Joseph Robert
49 Maple St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/18/07

Christianson, Charles R.
Christianson, Ruth A.
1 Powers Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/24/07

Ciepiela, Jane Jennifer
25 Livingston Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/29/07

Circosta, Samuel R.
171 Morton St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/16/07

Crocker, Donald W.
Sierra Landscaping
20 Elm St.
P.O. Box 471
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Curtis, Cynthia L.
802 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Dauphinais, Anthony B.
125 Chapman St., Apt. #2
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/07

Gaffney, Tracy A.
a/k/a Schlichting, Tracy A.
350 Meadow St., Apt. 6
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/16/07

Gaines, Daniel L.
Gaines, Lori Ann
148 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/18/07

Gamelli, Linda L.
44 Elbert St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/16/07

Garcia, Aurora
97 Somerset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/16/07

Gariepy, Kelly P.
a/k/a St. Pierre, Kelly
184 Susan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Granger, Michael F.
25 Roanake St.
West Springfield, MA 01089-3711
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/28/07

Green, Paris Y.
a/k/a Green, Paris Yulonda
62 Corey Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/21/07

Hedblom, Tymythy H.
51 Edwards Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/16/07

Hudson, Kelly L.
a/k/a Heil Hudson, Kelly L
43 Sherman Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Hutchins Tool & Engineering Co. Inc.
1047 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/16/07

  

Koenig, Jeffrey M.
689 Elm St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/07

Kuczarski, Christopher F.
Kuczarski, Charlene H.
187 Winton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/29/07

Latour, Nathan A.
23 Washington St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Lefrancois, Harvey J.
Lefrancois, Jenny R.
a/k/a Noyes, Jenny R.
153 Freedom St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/07

Markol, Peter J.
Markol Custom Homes
Markol Builders
31 Dry Hill Road
Montague, MA 01351
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Martin, Michael
PO Box 238
Chester, MA 01011
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

McQuillan, Catherine M.
40 Oak Ridge St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/28/07

Niedlzielski, Robert John
24 Howard Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/31/07

Patnode, Roger C.
59 Mobile Home Way
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/21/07

Reed, Susan
P.O. Box 1004
Dennisport, MA 02639
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/18/07

Schrems, Stephen A.
7 Deerfield Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/07

Scott, Kenneth P.
Scott’s Heating Service
Scott’s Heating Fuel
36 Longview Dr.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Smith, Charles
Soldiers Home
110 Cherry St
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Smith, Donald A.
115 Birchland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/17/07

Soha, Matthew R.
31 Summer St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/25/07

Sprague, Theresa L.
125 April Lane
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/21/07

Stewart, Renee M.
5 Laramee Green West
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/25/07

Sullivan, John P.
2063 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/24/07

Sweet, Adam R.
708 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/23/07

Tobin, Jeanne Marie
D/B/A USborne Books
7 Deerfield Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/07

Tucker, Scott A.
211 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/24/07

Walas, Edward A.
50 Chestnut St. #10
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Wandrei, Jason R.
6 Smith St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/30/07

Watson, Lancelot V.
31 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/29/07

Wilson, Cynthia J.
1031 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/22/07

Wolfe, Jessica A.
86 Woodruff St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/29/07

Young, Donnette D.M.
26 Leonard St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/21/07

By
Departments

Friendly Sale Brings Showdown to an End

WILBRAHAM — The board of directors for Friendly Ice Cream Corp. has unanimously approved a sale of the chain to a division of the private equity firm Sun Capital Partners Inc., a move that will head off a proxy battle showdown and end a bitter lawsuit filed by the company’s cofounder that accused the current chairman of mismanagement. The $337 million deal was struck on June 17 and it is expected to close this year. The all-cash deal calls for payment of $15.50 per share, an 8.2% premium over the closing price of the company’s stock on the Friday before the sale was announced. The deal requires the resignation of all board members, except George Condos, who recently took over as president and CEO. While the long-term ramifications of selling Friendly’s to Sun Capital Partners, which has turned around such brands as Bruegger’s Bagels and Fazoli’s, a casual Italian restaurant chain, are not known, short-term, the move some relative peace to the company. In addition to the lawsuit filed by cofounder S. Prestley Blake against chairman Donald Smith, the company was also staring a potentially ugly proxy fight involving its largest shareholder, Sardar Biglari, who was offered a seat on the board, but demanded two.

Goyette Admits to Extortion

SPRINGFIELD — Former Chicopee Mayor Richard R. Goyette pled guilty to extortion in a public courtroom June 13 after watching two videotapes showing him taking bribes from Charles M. Swider, a local towing company owner, and Donald Szczebak, a real estate developer in Chicopee, another FBI informant. Goyette is charged with two counts of extorting $5,000 from contractors doing business with the city. Goyette faces up to 51 months in federal prison, and is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 3. He is the first Chicopee mayor to be indicted.

Mixed-use Project Planned for Palmer Parcel

PALMER — A mountainous 150-acre parcel off Route 32 is being considered for a mixed-use project that could include office and retail space as well as housing. The parcel, owned by Northeast Realty Associates of East Longmeadow, is adjacent to a Massachusetts Turnpike exit, which makes the site even more desirable for developers, according to company officials. The project is still in its infancy, but the first phase of the front 10 acres has already received Planning Board approval. Northeast recently received a one-year extension of its special permit for that phase that includes a fast-food eatery, a gas station-convenience store and bank, and two family-style restaurants. Northeast officials note that future plans could include a hotel, a residential component, and a casino if casino gambling becomes legal in the state.

Developer Pulls Out Of Westfield Hotel Project

WESTFIELD — Local businessman John E. Reed has walked away from a proposed downtown hotel and transit center venture with the city after considerable personal regret. At one time Reed considered the proposed 48-room hotel a legacy project of his; however, at this time he feels the project would be a losing proposition financially. Reed noted that considerable delays on the public side of the project, as well as a recent announcement of a new 86-room Holiday Inn Express near the Massachusetts Turnpike Interchange, led to his decision. Community Development Director James M. Boardman noted that the city will continue plans for the transit center portion of the project and will search for a new developer to create the hotel concept.

FDR Museum Selects Chicopee for New Home

CHICOPEE — The original historic Chicopee Public Library in Market Square will be transformed over the coming months to accommodate the Franklin D. Roosevelt American Heritage Center Museum (FDR Center Museum), which recently vacated Worcester’s Union Station. Dr. Joseph J. Plaud, president and founder of the museum, said the new space is significantly larger than the Worcester location, with greater potential for further development in the future. The FDR Center Museum will also become an active partner with Elms College in the establishment of a Roosevelt Public Policy Institute to teach students about the New Deal legacy, provide students with internships and other learning opportunities, and formulate and promote public policies based upon the principles of the New Deal. In addition, Plaud sees the museum as a centerpiece for downtown Chicopee cultural offerings to children, college students, area residents, and tourists interested in the history and culture of the generation that fought the Great Depression and World War II.

Survey: Orientation Programs Can Be Effective

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Although businesses want new staff to hit the ground running, some firms may be hindering employees by not offering enough resources during their first days on the job. According to a recent survey, one-third of workers said their employers offered no formal orientation program when they joined the company. This could be a missed opportunity — a large majority of respondents (87%) who received this type of training said it helped prepare them for success with the organization. To be effective, the orientation process must be an ongoing one, according to Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. He added that managers should consider assigning new staff a mentor who can provide guidance and answer questions. The survey was developed by Robert Half International, and includes responses from 492 full- or part-time workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments.

Pet Services Directory Available

NORTHAMPTON — A directory listing local pet care providers is now available thanks to the efforts of local businesswomen Elise Gouge and Alyssa B. Ward. The directory includes veterinarians, trainers, groomers, doggie day cares, kennels, pet sitters, and dog walkers. All providers have been evaluated to ensure they offer progressive, high-quality services for pet owners, according to Ward. The free directory is available at the offices of listed providers, and can also be viewed at www.petbehaviorsconsulting.com or at www.friendlypettraining.com.

SBA Launches Patriot Express Loan Initiative

BOSTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced the launch of a comprehensive initiative that focuses on the agency’s full range of financial, procurement, and technical assistance programs for the military community. The capstone of this initiative is a streamlined loan product based on the SBA Express loan program. The Patriot Express Initiative includes new and enhanced programs and services for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses. For more information, visit www.sba.gov.

New Center Seeks To Assist Low-Income Workers

SPRINGFIELD — A new worker center in the South End hopes to prevent the exploitation of hourly wage earners through its grassroots efforts. Formerly known as the Anti-Displacement Center, the Alliance to Develop Power Worker Center/Casa Obrera is an affiliate member of the Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council and member of the AFL-CIO. Members associated with the Anti-Displacement Center worked alongside unionized members on their own time to give the two-story building a major facelift. Supplies were subsidized through grants awarded by the Community Foundation of Western Mass. The center will focus its efforts on protecting the wages of workers in the region, and to expose contractors who violate the state’s prevailing wage laws.

Boomers Expected to Put Off Retirement

WASHINGTON — Baby Boomers are now easing into their 60s, and many expect to delay retirement longer than their parents and grandparents, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. Studies note that aging Boomers are better-educated with higher incomes and longer life expectancies than previous generations. Boomers also tend to have fewer children and are less likely to be married, leaving them with fewer options for assistance as they age. Researchers predict that, due to higher rates of divorce and separation, this trend could result in greater financial hardship for aging Baby Boomers. Researchers note that some Boomers will have to continue working because they can’t afford to retire, and some will continue working by choice. Presently, there are about 78 million Baby Boomers, those born from 1946 to 1964. The oldest will turn 62 next year, the age at which they become eligible for Social Security benefits.

CFO Survey: Integrity Most Desired Leadership Quality

MENLO PARK, Calif. — The mark of a good leader may lie in his or her ability to be honest and upstanding, a new survey suggests. Nearly one-third (31%) of chief financial officers (CFOs) polled said the most important quality for a business leader to possess is integrity. Experience and communication skills followed, each receiving 27% of the response. 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.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Agawam Bowl
359-363 Walnut St. Ext.
Frank Montagna

C. Fullam Electric
218 Adams St.
Chad Fullam

J.B. Home Improvement
161 Adams St.
Joe Bucalo

Main St. Deli
713 Main St.
Frank R. Locke

Odyssey II
339 North Westfield St.
Laurel Curran

Western Mass Business Women Monthly
27 Emerson Road
Denice L. Emery-Ferrero

AMHERST

Amherst Hairstylist
40 Main St.
Susan Carson

Amherst Hairstylist
40 Main St.
Heather McCory

Amherst Hairstylist
40 Main St.
David Yando

David Companic Construction
27 Southpoint Dr.
David M. Artiga

Salon Divine
15 Pray St.
Sara Overgaard

CHICOPEE

ENSERV
84 Bonner St.
Todd Edward Szydziak

Handy Info 4 Life
847 McKinstry Ave.
Michelle E. Blair

IMAG Investigations
28 Andover Road
Robert G. Spear

J&G Landskaping
17 Dwight St.
Jose M. Gonzalez

Neighborhood Pizza
159 Grove St.
Kenneth Omerhi

The Glass Miser
18 McKinley Ave.
Francis J. Czepiel

Versatile Networks Consulting
3 Carriage Road
Joseph Andrew Lorenzatti

EASTHAMPTON

Between Breath and Bone
14 High St.
Faith Jackson

Facteau Tree Farms
74 Lovefield St.
Richard Facteau

Wave Books
116 Pleasant St.
Lori Shine

EAST LONGMEADOW

Blanchard Drywall Services
70 Somers Road
James Donald Blanchard

Cabelo
51 Prospect St.
Lillian Buettner

Cabelo
51 Prospect St.
Collette Iampietro

Cabelo
51 Prospect St.
Donna L. Brayton

Centro Linguistico Italiano
444A North Main St.
Rocco A. Mesiti

Triad Therapeutic Massage
4 Crane Ave.
Beth Morin

GREENFIELD

Green River Yoga
158 Main St.
Jean Erlbaum

Interiors By Design
250 High St.
Elizabeth Feeley

Magical Child
134 Main St.
Mary Walsh-Martel

Palazzo’s Pizza
228 Federal St.
Joanne & Michale Marchand

Pretty Nails
209 Main St.
Thang Son

The Beancake Company, LLC
324 Wells St.
Francis Mozea Jr.

HADLEY

Country Nissan
151 Steepleview Dr.
Carla Cosenzi

HOLYOKE

Golden China
455 South St.
Chow Man Cheng

Kim Lee Nails
322 Appleton St.
Luy Thanh Nguyen

Ortiz Repair Towing
75 Clemente St.
Jose Ortiz

Pier One Imports
98 Lower Westfield Road
Marvin J. Girouard

Pool Tech
238 Linden St.
Richard J. Dupuis

LONGMEADOW

Consulting For Businesses
6 Elizabeth Circle
Tanya Garibian

Staged to Sell
86 Lincoln Road
Robert F. Chalero

LUDLOW

JL Massa Collision Inc.
287 Miller St.
John Massa

Michael Janeczek Photography
77 Rood St.
Michael Janeczek

Rutabaga Gallery
5 Sewall St.
Elizabethann Koscher

Subway of Ludlow
477 Center St.
Mark J. Devoto

Thompson & Bell
358 Sewall St.
James V. Thompson

West End Lock & Key
137 West Ave.
James Coxon

NORTHAMPTON

Affordable Used Cars
14 East St.
Raymond Learned

Cozy Home Performance
74 Lyman Road
Mark M. Lante

Life Grows On
3 Olive St.
Greg Sandler

Pajama’s
2 Conz St.
Christopher Halla

Paradise City Painting
173 State St.
Joshua John Perry

Rick’s Auto Repair & Sales
442 Elm St.
Richard Mott

Sam’s
235 Main St.
Samuel Harbey

  

The Collared Scholar
537 Easthampton Road
Debra Wysocki

Unit 7
16 Fort Hill Terrace
Erik Olsson

PALMER

Breckenridge Realty
111 Breckenridge St.
William G. Cutter

Burns Family Enterprise
3012 Grass St.
Hugh Burns, Jr.

Country Memorials
1303 Calkins Road
Judith A. Kane Zelek

Country Rose Florist
1182 Park St.
Patricia M. Kinner

Cutting Corner
1312 Main St.
Carol J. R. Henrigues

Deer Run Engineering
2146 Rear Main
Mark M. Bogacz

Diane & Company
1581 North Main St.
Diane St. Amand

Don’s Auto Detailing
6 Beech St.
Donald Ely

DW’s Fiberoptics
21 Wilbraham St.
Donald Smith

Aries Repair and Radiator
1281 South Main St.
Eric Gilbert

Fancy Nails
1035 Thorndike St.
Mot Nguyen

GAF Home Improvement
14-16 Harding St.
George Anthony Flagg

SOUTH HADLEY

Amanda Rodriguez Productions
12 Ranger St.
Amanda Rodriguez

G&P S&D Express
77 Riverboat Village Road
Patricia Fanska

Gentry Design
10 North Main St.
Mark Sherman

SOUTHWICK

Campbell Contractors
631 College Highway
Robin Campbell

Preferred Real Estate Services LLC
610 College Highway
Bobbie Jo Thibault

Virtual Assistant Solutions
130 Vining Hill Road
Judith Stevens Bernath

SPRINGFIELD

D & F Transportation
172 Lebanon St.
David Falley

A M Construction
23 East Hooker St.
Angel Maldonado

Academy of Mixed Martial Arts
1490 Allen St.
Walter J. Lysak Jr.

Ara Convenience
560 State St.
Mohammad R. Shaikh

Bob’s Pro Saltwater Pools
550 Alden St.
Robert C. Maurice

C.J.S.
66 Flint St.
Joel Cruz Sr.

Cathy’s Food Consulting Services
807 Worthington St.
Caterina Cardenuto

CLJ Electrical Services
16 Monson Ave.
Charley Lee Jackson

Clothing-Ect.com
59 Maryland St.
Barbara Stone

CQ
351 Bridge St.
Leonard Weitz

Dash Time
123 Kent Road
Nadhir Adbul-Wadud

Express Auto Detail
8 Harding St.
Eli Diaz

Family D. Stores
257 Edendale St.
Robert Joseph

Frachard Photography
53 Everett St.
Richard Santiago

J.R’s General Construction
185 Hampden St.
Jose M. Rodriguez

JK Subways, LLC
550 Sumner Ave.
Maryann Russo

Justin Mundell Construction
15 Phoenix St.
Justin Mundell

JVC Construction Services
9 Radner St.
Patricia Carbone

Kofi Fuah
45 Cambridge St.
Kofi Fuah

Lazy Valley Winery
34-40 Front St.
Scott D. Santaniello

Lopez Painting & Wood Flooring
873 Worthington St.
Eugenio Lopez

Los Cangri Barber Shop
737 Liberty St.
Basilio Castro

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Balise Collision Repair Center
1800 Riverdale St.
Balise Motor Sales Co.

Balise Honda
1371 Riverdale St.
Balise Motor Sales Company

Bob Johnson Enterprises
1967 Westfield St.
Robert J. Johnson

Dedicated Drywall
174 Main St.
David Joseph Whitlock

Point Staffing Services
425 Union St.
Paul Marc Associates

Reliable Home Improvement
10 Butternut Hollow
Vladimir Melnichuk

WESTFIELD

ABC Antiques & Crafts
658 Montgomery Road
Eloise Adair

Gifted Thoughts-N-Things
12 Glenwood Dr.
Deborah Niles

New England Property Maintenance
2071 East Mountain Road
Edmund L. Maloney

RTL Pet Supply
35 Schumann Dr.
Richard Simmons

Sullivan Flooring
39 Alquat St.
Michael Sullivan

Transcon Technologies Inc.
53 Mainline Dr.
Pablo Nyarady

VMD Construction
756 North Road
Viktor Davidenko

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

ADYS Mortgage Inc., 67 Hunt St., Agawam 01001. Adam J. Dubilo, 7 East Circle, East Longmeadow 01028. Mortgage broker.

TW Home Improvement Inc., 24 Dwight St., Agawam 01001. Timothy S. Wyckoff, same. Home improvement.

AMHERST

Financial Development Agency Inc., 49 South Pleasant St., Amherst 01002. Matthew Blumenfeld, 335 Middle St., Amherst 01002. To serve not-for-profit organizations with cost-effective grant writing, capital campaign and marketing services.

La Piazza Ristorante Inc., 30 Boltwood Walk, Amherst 01002. Mauro Aniello, 12 Lady Slipper Lane, Hadley 01035. Restaurant.

CHICOPEE

American Team Cleaning Services Inc., 94 Woodbridge Road, Chicopee 01022. Maggie O. van Zandt, same. Commercial cleaning service.

Cote’s Family Restaurant Inc., 582 Chicopee St., Chicopee 01013. Michael Cote, 31 Rowley St., Agawam 01001. Full-service family restaurant.

EASTHAMPTON

Mantis Graphics Inc., 1 Adams St., Easthampton 01027. Bradley J. Robbins, same. Graphic art production.

Stop and Wash Inc., 13 Matthew Dr., Easthampton 01018. Timothy McLane, same. To operate a laundromat.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Olympic Inc., 611 North Main St., East Longmeadow 01028. Chong T. Lee, 34 Tanglewood Dr., Longmeadow 01106. To instruct Tae-Twon-Do martial art, promote sportsmanship, etc.

Pattenaude Enterprises Inc., 191 Chestnut St., East Longmeadow 01028. Scott Pattenaude, same. Rent inflatables — sell spices wholesale and retail.

GRANBY

Digisoft Inc., 56 Morgan St., Granby 01033. Wayne P. Masse, same. To develop, manufacture, and sell computer software, operating systems, etc.

GREENFIELD

Cunill America Inc., 21 Mohawk Plaza, Suite 4, Greenfield 01301. Xavier Cunill, same. (Foreign corp; DE) Wholesale distribution of silver goods.

HADLEY

Mass Frenzy Inc., 2 Frallo Dr., Hadley 01035. Ralph W. Loos, same. (Nonprofit) To foster girls national amateur basketball competition, etc.

Valley Technology Outreach Inc., 84 Russell St., Hadley 01035. Delchie Bean, same. (Nonprofit) To collect technology equipment from schools, businesses, etc., to be refurbished and donated or sold to nonprofit organizations.

HAMPDEN

Hampden House Catering Inc., 128 Wilbraham Road, Hampden 01036. Dana R. Gahres, 131 Stony Hill Road, Hampden 01036. Catering business.

HOLYOKE

Angel Rivera Inc., 360 High St., #2, Holyoke 01040. Saiid Rivera, same. Retail.

Baystate Technology Solutions Inc., 199 Hillside Ave., Holyoke 01040. William P. Glover, same. Computer solutions.

HOLLAND

JJL Biomed Services Inc., 58 East Otter Dr., Holland 01034. Jeffrey J. Lafleur, same. To test biomedical patient related equipment in nursing and other health care facilities.

  

NORTHAMPTON

3 J Massad Inc., 54 Easthampton Road, Northampton 01060. Linda W. Massad, 63 Florence Road, Easthampton 01027. Gas station.

Main Street Motion Media Inc., 52 Olive St., Northampton 01060. Kathleen Evelyn Kamping, same. (Nonprofit) To educate and expand our community’s relationship to each other and the world through film and media arts, etc.

PALMER

Mangoes Inc., 233 Wilbraham Road, Palmer 01065. Felipe El Karim, 37 Brookfield Road, Brimfield 01010. Restaurant.

SOUTH HADLEY

Marlin Inc., 89 Amherst Road, South Hadley 01075. David Marlin, same. Computer software sales.

SOUTHWICK

Canterbury Lane Homeowners Assocation Inc., 106 Coes Hill Road, Southwick 01077. David W. Berry, same. (Nonprofit) To hold title to and maintain common areas in the Centerbury Lane, Westfield subdivision, etc.

SPRINGFIELD

44 Record Company Inc., 137 Undine Circle, Springfield 01109. Alex A. Nieves, same. Music recordings and promoter.

Andrew S. Jusko, M.D., P.C., 299 Carew St., Springfield 01104. Andrew S. Jusko, 1134 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow 01106. The practice of ophthalmology.

Angel Touch Cleaning Services Inc., 1655 Main St., Springfield 01103. Iris Enid Garcia Morales, 19 Arthur Picard Cir., Indian Orchard 01151. Cleaning and construction.

Brican Inc., 155 State St., Springfield 01103. Brian Gibbons, 80 Champlain Ave., Springfield 01151. General contractor; commercial construction.

Children Living with Aids Network-Kenya Inc., 1341 Sumner Ave., Springfield 01118. George Kasiligwa Kahi, 76 Ambrose St., Springfield 01109. (Nonprofit) To assist in caring for the orphans of the HIV/AIDES pandemic and affected children, etc.

Community Empowerment Services Corp., 736 State St., Springfield 01109. Linda Wellington, 20 Matthew St. Springfield 01128. Job placement, vocational evaluation, skill training.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bancroft Chrysler Jeep Inc., 499 Riverdale St., West Springfield 01089. Aldo M. Bertera, 162 Forest Ridge Road, West Springfield 01089. The retail sale and service of new or used automobiles, trucks, etc.

Racers Edge Performance Inc., 196 Baldwin St., West Springfield 01089. Anthony Stack, 618 Allen St., Springfield 01108. Sales/repairs.

WESTFIELD

G&F Custom Built Homes Inc., 419 Springdale Road, Westfield 01085. Shaun C. Giberson, 76 Wolcott Ave., West Springfield 01089. Real estate development and management business.

Morse Hospitality Concepts Inc., 19 Lockhouse Road, Apt. 9-1, Westfield 01085. Joshua Morse, 492 Federal St., Montague 01351. Hospitality.

WILBRAHAM

Madden Insurance Agency Inc., 132 River Road, Wilbraham 01095. Karen L. Madden, same. An insurance producer.

By
Departments


Karen Buell

PeoplesBank in Holyoke recently announced the appointment of Karen Buell as a Mortgage Consultant. She will focus on Internet-based lending for residential mortgage and home equity products in addition to managing and assisting customers.

•••••

Karen P. Cardoza, owner of Karen Cardoza Handcrafted Jewelry of East Longmeadow, has been named the 2007 Business Woman of the Year by the Women Business Owners Alliance. She designs and creates a wide range of jewelry using gems, freshwater pearls, and 14-carat gold and silver fill.

•••••

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in Springfield has announced it has elected Thomas C. Barry as the newest member of its Board of Directors. Barry is CEO and founder of Zephyr Management, L.P., a New York City-based specialized investment firm.

•••••

Alan Schneyer, Ph.D., has joined the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute in Springfield as a distinguished scientist. Schneyer’s research concerns the reproductive and metabolic roles of follistatin and follistatin like-3 proteins. Also, he recently received a research grant from the National Institutes of Health to support this work.

•••••

Angela M. Moorhouse has been promoted to Vice President of Direct Banking at TD Banknorth. She is in charge of the call centers in Springfield and in Lewiston, Me.

•••••

United Bank in West Springfield has hired Victoria Graffam as Security and Bank Secrecy Act Officer.

•••••

Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield has announced that Maura Kelly has been named Vice President of Cash Management. She is a certified treasury professional.

•••••

Century 21 Pioneer Valley Associates announced the following:
• Bruce Dearborn and Naomi Gendron have joined their firm, and
• Arthur Haskins III, Terry Bartus, and Erica Burns have completed the CREATE 21 New Agent Training Program.

•••••

Concetta Calitri has joined Ayre Real Estate in Agawam as an Associate.

•••••

American Rug in Holyoke has hired Diana L. Fitzpatrick as a Design Consultant.

•••••


Donna L. O’Shea

Health New England announced the following promotions:
• Dr. Donna L. O’Shea has been named Medical Director;

 

 

 


Julie Bodde

• Julie Bodde has been named Director of Finance;

 

 

 


Joanne Walton

• Joanne Walton-Bicknell has been named Reporting and Analysis Manager, and

 

 

 

 


Patrick O’Shea

• Patrick O’Shea has been appointed Statutory, Budget, and Tax Manager.

•••••

 

 

Peter Vecchiarelli, with Nutmeg Isuzu Trucks of West Springfield, has joined the Professional Landcare Network.

•••••

The board of directors of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce has appointed Patty Brandts as Executive Director of the Chamber.

•••••

Meyers Brothers Kalicka has hired Jamie L. Barber as a Senior Associate in the Holyoke office.

•••••

The Mass. Community Development Finance Corp. has named Charlene Golonka as its Lending Representative for Western Mass. Golonka will be responsible for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties.

•••••

Robert S. Wheten has been named Commercial Credit Officer at Easthampton Savings Bank.

•••••


Russell Fleury

Tighe & Bond of Westfield announced the following:
• Michael McManus has joined the firm as a Registered Professional Engineer;
• Michael Petrin has joined the firm as a Registered Professional Engineer, and
• Russell Fleury has relocated to the firm’s Worcester office. Fleury is an Environmental Scientist who provides regulatory compliance and permitting support to the firm’s client base.

•••••

The Springfield Business Improvement District has promoted Christopher J. Castellano to Operations Manager.

•••••

The members of the Mass. Alliance for Economic Development recently elected Directors for 2007. They include:
• William Hines, President and Chief Executive Officer of Interprint Inc.;
• Joe O’Leary, Senior Vice President and Regional Executive of Sovereign Bank;
• Rob Reilly, Vice President of Fidelity Real Estate Co., and
• Glenn Steiger, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co.
Re-elected Directors are:
• Carol Adey, Executive Director of CoreNet Global New England;
• Robert Brustlin, Chief Executive Officer and President of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin;
• Peter Corbett, Director of Foulston & Storrs, and
• Girard Sargent, Senior Vice President and Division Executive for middle-market commercial banking at Citizens Bank.
Directors elected as Officers include Michael DiGiano as Chairman, Girard Sargent as Vice Chairman, Tim Horan as Treasurer, and Robert Brustlin as Clerk.

•••••

The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce announced the following during its recent annual meeting:
• James M. Lavelle, General Manager of the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department, has been elected Chairman of the Board;
• Stephen Corrigan of Mountainview Landscape was awarded the Henry A. Fifield Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Chamber;
Officers elected included:
• Israel Schepps of Mastex Industries, First Vice Chairman;
• Stephen Corrigan of Mountainview Landscape, Second Vice Chairman;
• Deborah Buckley of Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Treasurer;
• Carol Katz of Loomis Communities, Assistant Treasurer;
• Atty. John Driscoll of Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll, Clerk, and
• Atty. John Ferriter of Ferriter & Ferriter, Past Chairman.
Elected to three-year terms on the Board of Directors were:
• Daniel O’Neill of Westfield Bank;
• Sheryl Quinn of Holyoke Geriatric Authority;
• James Sagalyn of Holyoke Machine Co., and
• Jeffrey Sullivan of United Bank.
Re-elected to three-year terms were:
• Douglas Bowen of PeoplesBank;
• Kathleen Buckley of Holyoke Medical Center, and
• Jorge Gomez of McDonald’s Restaurants.
Elected to two-year terms were:
• Wolfgang Schloesser of Ruwac Inc., and
• Joshua Vassallo of Country Inn & Suites.

•••••

Chicopee Savings Bank announced the following:
• Darlene M. Libiszewski will serve as Vice President of Information Technology;
• Jill D. Fox will serve as Vice President of Sales and Branch Administration, and
• Tammy L. Howe will serve as Assistant Vice President of Cash Management.

•••••

Veritech Corp. announced the following new members to its leadership team:
• David Sweeney has been named Vice President of Business Development & Operations. He will oversee all revenue growth, relationship building, and Veritech’s overall marketing and positioning;
• Carl Fortin, Chief Financial Officer, will oversee financial forecasting and the establishment of accounting policies and procedures, and
• Kimberly Mawaka-St. Marie, Comptroller, will oversee the day-to-day financial and accounting operations, financial reporting, and the company’s financial affairs.

•••••

Sherri L. Gagne has been named Media Director for the Momentum Group in East Longmeadow. Handling a wide variety of broadcast, print, and online media, Gagne will be responsible for research, planning, negotiation, implementation, and monitoring.

•••••

The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce recently announced its newly appointed board of directors members. They are:
• Vicki S. Donahue, Partner at Cain Hibbard Myers & Cook, P.C., where her practice focuses on corporate and real estate law;
• Joan Bancroft, President of Berkshire Life Insurance Co. of America, and
• Laura Cece, Director of Finance and Chief Procurement Officer for the City of North Adams.

•••••

Dr. Louis J. DeCaro, a South Deerfield podiatrist, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Podiatric Medical Society, an affiliate of the American Podiatric Medical Association. He is a staff member at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Baystate Franklin Medical Center.

•••••

Janelle Soucia has joined Country Bank as a Retail Mortgage Originator serving the Wilbraham area.

•••••

George R. Ditomassi, a Holyoke native and 1957 graduate of the UMass Amherst, has been elected to the college’s Foundation Board of Directors. In addition to earning his bachelor’s degree in Business from the college in 1957, Ditomassi served in the U.S. Army as a finance officer and was honored as a distinguished military graduate. In 1980 he graduated from the advance placement program at Harvard College.

By
Departments

Celebrating 60

Holyoke Community College staged a 60th anniversary gala on June 7, on the college campus. Hundreds of alumni, current and former faculty and staff, and assorted friends of the college turned out to celebrate six decades of perseverance and innovation.


Above, from left, Former Mass. Lt. Governor Donald Dwight, former HCC President David M. Bartley, and former Holyoke Mayor William Taupier share some memories.


Dwight, whose family published the former Holyoke Daily Transcript, shows one of the papers from the days after a spectacular fire leveled the college and the school was fighting for its life.

View of the Future

Springfield Technology Community College recently staged pinning ceremonies for students in its School of Health. These are the 15 graduates of the Radiography program, within the Diagnostic Medical Imaging department. Other students in that department specialized in Sonography and Nuclear Medicine.

Coming to a Head

Brewmasters Tavern recently staged ground-breaking ceremonies for its new brewery, formerly the Williams House at 4 Main St., Williamsburg. The O’Leary Company, a design-build general contractor to design and construct the 3,975 square-foot, two-story addition. This addition will have a historic New England barn design and will house the brewing equipment.

By
Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the months of May and June 2007.

AGAWAM

Affordable Cleaning
7 William St.
Yegeniy Kiforishin

Center Stage at Chez Josef
176 Shoemaker Lane
Chez Josef, Inc.

Chic Collections
337 Walnut St. Extension
Mary Ann Zicolella

Circle Cleaners
9 South End Bridge Circle
Brenton Blair

Ferrentino’s
7 South End Bridge Circle
Giovanni Ferrentino

Goodfellaz Grill & Brew
360 North Westfield St.
Richard J. Girard, Jr.

K.A.S. Courier Service
83 Kanawha Ave.
Kevin T. Barry

Mahe Lumber & Millwork
257 Garden St.
Claude Ward Horner

Maynard Builders
15 Agnoli Place
Paul Maynard

MD Photography Service
332 South St.
Michael F. Dialessi

National Home Inspection Company, LLC
27E Castle Hills Road
Gary Desellior

Nuts 4 Nuts LLC
8G Castle Hills Road
Joanne Attardi

Tahir Transport
181 Elm St.
Brenton Blair

Tattletails
111 Clover Hill Dr.
Joan Guernsey

The New England Relocation Group
723 Main St.
Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate LLC

The UPS Store
417 Springfield St.
Richard J. Tessier

RAH Roofing
79 Poinsettia St.
Robert Humes

Tolli’s Pizzeria
349 North Westfield St.
George P. Dulchinos

Waterfresh
53 Ramah Circle South
David Centracchio

Wow That Looks Good Landscaping
85 Peros Dr.
Christopher G. Bellerose

Y & V Products
7 Willliams St.
Yevgeniy Kiforishin

AMHERST

Birdsong Bed & Breakfast
815 South East St.
Carol Gray

Briggs Framing & Construction
7 Willow Lane
Brett Briggs

Greene Framing & Construction
170 East Hadley Road
Benjamin Greene

Haffey Center for Attention & Memory
433 West St.
Mark & Nancy Haffey

Kelli Salon Divine
15 Pray St.
Kelli Richardson

CHICOPEE

Berthold Enterprises
52 Falmouth Road
David C. Berthold

Carlson, Landry, Lyons, Stearns and Yerrall, GMAC Real Estate
1847 Memorial Dr.
Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate, LLC

Carlson GMAC Real Estate
1847 Memorial Dr.
Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate, LLC

GMAC Real Estate
1847 Memorial Dr.
Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate, LLC

New England Swirl, LLC
340 McKinstry Ave.
Eugene R. Lapierre

Repairs Plus
38 Northwood St.
Kelly Nadeau

The New England Relocation Group
1847 Memorial Dr.
Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate, LLC

EASTHAMPTON

ABC Dresses
116 Pleasant St.
Karen Andrade

Easthampton Concrete
40 Division St.
Steve Kolodziej

Henry Polissack Books
116 Pleasant St.
Henry Polissack

Little Monkey Studios
116 Pleasant St.
Edward Hougen

EAST LONGMEADOW

Blanchard Drywall Service
70 Somers Road
James Donald Blanchard

M & M Landscaping
275 Maple St.
Matthew Petlock

GREENFIELD

All About You
275 Main St.
Mark A. Eaton

Bill Sheckels Furniture
71 Madison Circle
William Sheckels

BioPlay Sports
2 Village Green
Frederick Bourassa

Don’s Clothes Washer/Dryer Service
31 Colrain St.
Patricia Spinelli

J & M Futon
108 Federal St.
Jeffrey Wayne

Mirling’s Bakery
100 Federal St.
Elizabeth Johnson

Nancy’s Nails
84 Norwood St.
Nancy Edwards

New Fortune Restaurant
249 Mohawk Trail
Lillian Do

PerfumeOnMe.com
55 Orchard St.
Andrey Agapov

HADLEY

Butterfly
48 Russell St.
Kam Chow Lau

J & N Realty
4 Sunrise Dr.
John & Nancy Mieczkowski

Off The Wall Games
41 Russell St.
Kevin Wall

HOLYOKE

Beeline’s Therapeutic Massage
1057 Main St.
Jacqueline E. Clayton

Evert Auto Repair
56 Jackson St.
Adalberto Bernal

Il Familia Ristorante and Pizzeria
420 High St.
Christian Nieves

La Plazita Market
341 Appleton St.
Ana D. Tavarez

Mazzu Landscaping & Painting
210 South St.
John Mazzu

Salida del Sol Paso
24 Jones Ferry Road
Jose F. Rubero

The Paper Route
50 Holyoke St.
Barbara Gallo

Thee Unctuarium
236 Lyman St.
Sheyda Liz Rodriguez

  

LONGMEADOW

Arnold Construction Services
196 Wimbleton Dr.
Bruce Arnold

A.F. Carosella Electrical Services
56 Cobblestone Road
Alexander F. Carosella

LUDLOW

Hairstyles by Helena
7 Sewall St.
Helena Ferreira

Hick-or-Rock Farm
312 Miller St.
Paul Cocchi

M & A Fresh Produce
4 White St.
Nil Atmaca

Princess Nails
6 Chestnut St.
Henry Hoang

NORTHAMPTON

Angela’s Cleaning Service
115 Williams St.
Angela Cash

Drong-Ba Western Tibit
106 Sandy Hill Road
Susan A. Kornacili

Ghippie Music
1 Bratton Court
Cinamon Blair

Hair Phanatix
241 Main St.
Regina Figueroa

Jerry Suejkovsky
241 Main St.
Jerry Suejkovsky

Kevin’s Haircuts
128 King St.
Kevin Ovitt

PALMER

Pereira Custom Golf Carts
17 Hobbs St.
John D. Perry

Rick’s Parkside Drive In
1189 Park St.
Frederick Giuliani

SOUTH HADLEY

Bluebird Airport Shuttle
19C Hadley Village
Richard A. Hunter

Hedgeway Herbals
10 Waite Ave.
Anthony Kelly-Niziolek

SOUTHWICK

EZ Tech Group Inc.
221 Klaus Anderson Road
Jason P. Gates

SPRINGFIELD

Jav Enterprises
1106 Carew St.
John A. Vaquez

JT Builders
278 Denver St.
Jack Tardy

Lopez Painting & Wood Flooring
873 Worthington St.
Eugenio Lopez

Lu’s Yaks
130 Fenwick St.
Linda M. Sheehan

Main St. Gulf
679 Main St.
Raney Shabaneh

Maple Mart
155 Maple St.
Shamim Qureshe

Mark Daniels
139 Acrebrook Road
Mark Robert Daniels

Mezzanotte
220 Worthington St.
Joyce Breault

New England Lab Systems
32 Van Buren Ave.
Fritz Bosquet

Patient Care Of Massachusetts
182 Sumner Ave.
Mavis Henry

Physician Hose Calls
96 Firglade Ave.
Gregg Wolff

R.L.M. Productions
141 Waldorf St.
Rich A. Morganstern

Rovirus Boutique
135 Boston Road
Iris Ward

Royal Seasons Restaurant
339 Boston Road
Fatima V. Tavares

Rudy Express
58 Chester St.
Rudy Bowden

Saigon Restaurant
398 Dickinson St.
May Cun

Saint James Mini Mart
328 St. James Ave.
Domingo Castillo

Sai Mai Video & Gift Shop
285 Belmont Ave.
Hanh Nguyen

Tom’s Copy Centre World
47 Kulig St.
Thomas Francais

Trash Removal
50 Silver St.
Angel Perez

Treadwell Enterprise
115 Garfield St.
James Roberts

Triskelion, Inc.
684 Belmont Ave.
Tony Navarro

Universal Landscaping
17 Governor St.
Brenda Vazquez

Unlimited Cuts
12 Orange St.
Roberto A. Melendez

Vazquez Auto
638 Worthington St.
Samuel Vaquez

Vine Motors
712-722 Boston Road
John Francis Vigneri

William Lee Electrician
41 Kipling St.
William Lee

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Direct Power Sports, LLC
409 Main St.
Gilbert Perez

Elm Market & Package Store
246 Elm St.
Walter A. Rickus

Hassan Enterprize, LLC
168 Birch Park Circle
Hamza Jan

Harbor Freight Tools
1150 Union St.
Steven Michael Segi

The Nail Nook
11 Pleasant St.
Cory Lynn Theobold

Wolf Brothers
32 Park Ave.
Yana Kolomoets

WESTFIELD

Arrow Gas
28 Arch Road
Bob Kowalchik

Asian Food Market
284 Southampton Road
Hyun Soo Kim

B & B Auto & Truck Repair
28 Mechanic St.
Benjamin J. Aspinall

D & A Services
1 Milton Ave.
Brian M. Demas

Debbie Reynolds Dance Academy
132 Elm St.
Debbie Reynolds

R & W Auto Body
946 Southampton Road
Walter Babbin

Zar Mart
121 North Elm St.
Sadia Gul

By
Departments

Designs on a Career

Christopher Zarlengo, vice president of Marketing for STCU Credit Union, and Amy McNeil, an intern from Springfield Technical Community College’s Graphic Arts Technology program, check proofs of the credit union’s annual report. McNeil, who recently graduated from STCC in the Commercial Arts program, was responsible for the design of the credit union’s annual report.


Open for Business

Owners of the newly opened Courtyard by Marriott hotel on Route 9 in Hadley recently staged a get-together for staff, contractors who built the facility, and friends of those involved with the venture. Above are many of the principals in the Hampshire Hospitality Group, which made the Marriott the latest addition to its roster of area hotels and inns: from left, Grazyna Vincunas, Ken Vincunas, Lynn Travers, Curt Shumway, COO of the Hampshire Hospitality Group, Bob Shumway and Ed O’Leary.

At right, from left, Ed Newalu, director of Food and Beverage for the Hampshire Hospitality Group; Sherri Willey, special projects coordinator for HHG; Sean Welch, general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott; and Michelle Boudreau, director of Sales and Marketing for HHG.

Groundbreaking Developments

A groundbreaking ceremony was on May 29 to signal the beginning of construction at Rivers Landing, a combination health club, entertainment, and dining venue that will be located at the site of the former Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The complex will feature L.A. Fitness, and is being developed by Springfield natives Peter Pappas, a real estate developer, and Dr. Michael Spagnoli, a chiropractor. From left to right are: Rivers Landing project consultant James Langone; State Rep. Rosemarie Sandlin (D-Agawam); Clerk of Courts Brian Lees; U.S. Rep. Richard Neal; Bill Horner, senior vice president of L.A. Fitness; Springfield Economic Development Director David Panagore; Pappas; Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan; Spagnoli; John Doleva, president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame; Gary Magnuson, an officer with Citizens Bank, which is financing the project; and Paul McDonald, chairman of the Springfield Riverfront Development Corp.

Ware-based FamilyFirst Bank recently broke ground for a new office on Route 9 in East Brookfield. The branch will offer a full range of banking products and services to families and businesses in Western Worcester County. On hand for the groundbreaking ceremony were members of the bank’s board of directors and executives. From left are, Michael Audette, president; Gail A. Piatek, chairman of the board; Charlie Miller, project manager of NES Group; Claire Bothwell and Louis Masse, directors of FamilyFirst Bank.

OPINION

By
Opinion
Hunger Does Not Discriminate

Recently, the nation observed National Hunger Awareness Day. The Food Bank of Western Mass. — the region’s hub of public emergency and privately donated foods — and local partners hosted public education events. This year’s theme was The Face of Hunger May Surprise You, and it was quite appropriate.

That’s because it regularly surprises me. Last month, a corporate volunteer at our 30,000-square-foot warehouse in Hatfield shared with me that when she was a child, her mom struggled to put food on the table. Or, I’ll never forget the time a successful businessman approached me after a presentation at a local civic club to confess that his wife secretly collected food stamps after he was laid off from work early in their marriage.

More and more Americans are vulnerable to income and, in turn, food insecurity due to job insecurity, stagnant wages relative to the rising cost of living, high levels of debt, divorce, or a sudden accident. One out of three households that receive food from the Food Bank has at least one working adult. Hunger does not discriminate.

The term “hunger” — the recurrent and involuntary access to food due to lack of resources — conjures up images of starving children in the Third World. Yet, 10 million people in the United States experienced “very low food security” in 2005 according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last fall. Hunger, simply put, has become a permanent feature in United States, despite our being one of the richest and most productive countries on the planet. Worse still, another 17 million people are food-insecure — at risk of hunger due to difficulties putting adequate food on the table on any given day.

The good news is that 3 million fewer people were food-insecure nationally in 2005. The bad news is that food insecurity has increased in many high-cost states like Massachusetts. This seemingly intractable feature of our societal landscape is both an urban and rural phenomenon.

Chronic food insecurity is on the rise as evidenced by a growing demand for emergency food from the Food Bank. Last year, almost 6 million pounds of food — or approximately 4.5 million meals — went to 400 frontline nonprofit programs: food pantries, meal sites, shelters, day care centers, after-school programs, and councils on aging. Half of this food travels to Hampden County.

Our economic system may not ensure that everyone is guaranteed adequate food. Our society should. It’s the right thing to do on moral and economic grounds. We know that food insecurity is a leading cause of poor health and educational achievement among children. Healthier, well-fed families are more productive on the job and at home.

The Food Bank is committed to making food available to those who need it now. We are equally committed to reducing the need for emergency food tomorrow. To do this, the public must embrace public policy that can achieve this end. Right now, Congress is considering the Feeding America’s Families Act (H.R. 2129), the nutrition title in the U.S. farm bill. Co-sponsored by Mass. Rep. Jim McGovern, this act, if approved, will improve access to food stamps and raise the minimum monthly household benefit level from $10 to $32, among other things. The unrealistic $10 benefit level was set decades ago, and today, the average benefit equals one dollar per person, per meal.

Just as food stamps assist families with accessing food by supplementing earned income, so, too, public policy can improve the quality of food available and the choices that families make about the food that they consume. Improved public health will reduce public costs elsewhere. On Beacon Hill, the Legislature is considering Protect our Children’s Health: An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition (H.B. 2168). Soda and junk food are feeding an epidemic of obesity and diabetes among our children. This bill will require public schools to provide nutritious food options to help children learn good eating habits and reduce the risk of health problems. Supporting these two public policies are crucial steps to ensuring a hunger-free Western Mass.

Andrew Morehouse is executive director of the Food Bank of Western Mass Inc.; (413) 247-0312.

By
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 Inc.
McGowan, Edward T.
39 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/30/07

Absolute Cleaning Inc.
Metayer, Gregory A.
708 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Aponte, Marta N.
1663 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Barry, Karen E.
a/k/a Howe, Karen E.
23 Doe Hollow Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Behne, Christian H.
Behne, Sandra L.
D4 Woodstream Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/16/07

Bhukal, Randy N.
58 North Alhambra Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Blake, Ryan A.
31 Highland Ter.
PO Box 545
Gilbertville, MA 01031
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/20/07

Camacho, Maribel
60 Pembroke Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/26/07

Cardaropoli, Joanne R.
P.O. Box 65
Greenfield, MA 01302
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Cardinale, Nicholas F.
Cardinale, Denise M.
51 Pine Grove St
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/18/07

Carter, Tara Kim
a/k/a Duquette, Tara K.
82 Mitchell Dr., Unit T
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Congelos, Joseph P.
Congelos, Sandra M.P.
P.O. Box 707
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/26/07

Cosimini, Ruth L.
102 Doane Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/24/07

Crespo, Fernando Luis
a/k/a Negron, Fernando Crespo
72 Acushnet Ave., Apt 1
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Cunningham, Edward J.
Cunningham, Ann Marie
53 Prospect St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/23/07

Delore, Holly M.
18 Summer St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/23/07

Duda, Diane E.
99 Nassau Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Eastwest Realty, Inc.
Hebert, Daniel V.
Hebert, Patricia Anne
a/k/a Aube, Patricia Anne
265 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Ellsworth, James E.
34 Howard St., 2nd Fl.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/07

Felix, John Paul
70 Franklin St.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/19/07

Figueiredo, Celso T.
Figueiredo, Soledade L.
50 Pond St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/20/07

Frisbie, Robert R.
15 Lavander Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/23/07

Gellert, Walter G.
Gellert, Jutima
88A Congamond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/07

Gent, John P.
Gent, Rebecca L.
a/k/a Flebotte, Rebecca L.
26 Ivan St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/20/07

Godburn, Mark R.
520 Sheffield Plain Road
Sheffield, MA 01257
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/25/07

Hagberg, Thomas
177 Birchland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/24/07

Holly, Marc T.
Holly, Ruth
111 Bemis Road
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Hutchins, Donald Clarke
1047 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/23/07

Jaaskelainen, Toivo W.
Jaaskelainen, Cecile M.
171 Thalia Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/07

Kum, Roger Olston
128 Benton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/30/07

Laguerra, Brenda Ivette
82 Mitchell Dr., Unit T
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Lambert, Linda J.
a/k/a Chahal, Linda J.
153 South St., Apt. 50
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/22/07

Langlois, Sharon A.
59 Pheasant Hill Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/07

Larese, Marion C.
33 Worthy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/07

  

LeBeau, Sandra Lee
20B Phins Hill Manor
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/07

Lemelin-Bliss, Keith D.
Lemelin-Bliss, Stephanie L.
105 Rosewell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/24/07

Lent, Diana M.
PO Box 165
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/26/07

Lignar, Joseph S.
PO Box 642
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/28/07

Liyanage, Gunadasa D.
1358 Main St., Apt 4
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/21/07

Makkiya, James
122 Barna St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/24/07

Malcolm, Jennifer Lynn
a/k/a Ciuk, Jennifer L.
71 Valley St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/07

Marcil, Howard R.
Marcil, Hazel
a/k/a Lugo, Hazel
44 Old Orchard Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Marsh, Renate M.T.
158 Piney Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/07

Mason, Christopher S.
Mason, Jamie D.
67 Robak Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/19/0

Molina, Rafael
Molina, Audeliz
59 Maple St., Apt. 6
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Morrison, Stephen
Morrison, Patricia L.
229-231 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/24/07

Picard, Thomas E.
49 Cottage Ave.
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/30/07

Poirier, Kathleen
56 Tokeneke Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/07

Poudrier, Jacques J.
1130 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020-4638
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/23/07

Richardson, Luzviminda
91 Horseshoe Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/07

Riopel, Sean Raphael
158 Skyridge St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/07

Roberts, Timothy J.
Roberts, Michelle P.
10 Gaylord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/24/07

Rodriquez, Brenda Iris
28 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/20/07

Russell, David M.
Russell, Corinne E.
197 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Russell, Laurie J.
a/k/a Weyers, Laurie J.
42 Cloverdale St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/07

Schack, Susan Ann
27 Fairfield Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/28/07

Serrano, Heather M.
73 Barrett St. #2091
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Smith, Joseph E.
31/33 Price St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Sullivan, Daniel P.
23 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/24/07

Sullivan, John F.
Sullivan, Sherry
a/k/a Nataro, Sherry
73 Carson St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/07

Talbot, Jean M.
132 Mayfair Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/25/07

Thornton, Christopher J.
94 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Vitali, Albert Vincent
Vitali, Marie Rose
10 Truehart Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/07

Welch, Jacqueline Ann
a/k/a Babiec, Jacqueline Ann
1583 Riverdale St., #2
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/23/07

White, William H.
14 Hanover St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/30/07

Williams, Arlene Laura
25 Collins St., Apt. C
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/07

Wilson, Theresa Mae
a/k/a Brown-Muritala, Theresa
14 Arbutus St., 2nd Fl.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/23/07

By
Departments

MassMutual Purchases Winmark Equipment Finance

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) recently announced its purchase of Winmark Equipment Finance (Winmark), which had become one of the nation’s leading equipment-lending-finance companies since its founding in 2004. Winmark will now operate under the name MassMutual Asset Finance and will become a member of the MassMutual Financial Group of companies. MassMutual was one of the founding partners of Winmark along with Boston-based CrossHarbor Capital Partners, with each providing 50% of the original equity. MassMutual purchased all the shares of Winmark that it did not already own as part of the transaction. Terms were not disclosed. The firm is headquartered in Foxborough.

Decorated Products Receives Business Excellence Award

WESTFIELD — Decorated Products was recently named one of the winners of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s Pioneer Valley Business Excellence Award. The award is based on the belief that quality management is the key to this country’s prosperity and long-term strength. Jeffrey Glaze, president of Decorated Products, said the company was able to reach the high expectations of the award because of his employees’ outstanding commitment to quality and excellence. The “Torch of Excellence” Award will be given to Glaze and his staff at the annual meeting and awards ceremony of the Chamber on June 21. Decorated Products specializes in the manufacturing of name plates, decals, roll labels, and signage.

Baystate Health Receives National Award

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health recently received a 2007 Environmental Leadership Award from Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E), a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the American Hospital Association. Baystate received the national award for developing programs that set industry wide benchmarks for environmental stewardship. Baystate, which has received awards from H2E for six years in a row, was also inducted into H2E’s Environmental Leadership Circle in recognition of its sustained commitment to environmental excellence.

Williams House to Become Brewery

WILLIAMSBURG — Brewmasters Tavern recently conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for a new brewery at the former Williams House on Main Street. Anthony Rizo, one of the owners of the Brewmasters Tavern, has hired The O’Leary Company to design and construct the 3,975-square-foot, two-story addition. The addition is expected to have a historic New England barn design and will house the brewing equipment.

Spalding Provides Curriculum To 1.1 Million Students

SPRINGFIELD — Spalding is spreading the word on the scientific principles of its popular NEVER FLAT basketball in classrooms across the country. “The Science of Basketball” curriculum, which provides more than 11,000 science teachers across the country with handouts and posters, began this spring and will be used as part of sports science curriculum for years to come. Spalding officials expect the materials to reach more than 1.1 million students. The plans and curriculum handouts include ‘Meet a Basketball Scientist,’ ‘The Way the Ball Bounces,’ ‘The Energy of the Game,’ and ‘The Science of the Shot.’ Spalding’s program is in partnership with Weekly Reader Corporation Custom Publishing.

AIM Mutual Insurance Companies Assigned A Rating

BURLINGTON — A.M. Best Company, the nationally recognized insurance rating organization, recently upgraded the financial strength rating for the AIM Mutual Insurance Companies to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent). At the same time, A.M. Best revised the Companies’ outlook to stable from positive. The A (Excellent) rating was assigned to the AIM Mutual Insurance Companies and its members, which consist of Associated Industries of Mass. Mutual Insurance Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Associated Employers Insurance Company. Similarly, Mass. Employers Insurance Company, an AIM Mutual subsidiary formed earlier this year, received a financial strength rating of A (Excellent) with a stable outlook. All companies are based in Burlington. In its report A.M. Best cited the companies’ excellent capitalization, strong operating performance and conservative reserving practices, as well as the inherent benefits derived from the group’s sponsor, Associated Industries of Mass., Inc.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Six Flags New England
$75,000 — Construction of Thomas the Tank Engine Roundhouse building
$25,000 — Form and pour concrete for foundation for Harold the Helicopter ride
$8,500 — Form and pour concrete for foundation for new gazebo in Thomas Town area
$120,000 — Form and pour concrete and set structural steel for new Thomas the Tank Train Station

AMHERST

Amherst College Trustees
Frost Library
$8,800 — Install a pad for an exterior chiller unit

Peter Grandonico
25 North Pleasant St.
$2,000 — Replace kitchen exhaust and repair exhaust duct at Rolando’s

Village Park Associates
$23,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 19-200
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 183-190
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 179-182
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 173-178
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 169-172
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 165-168
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units161-164
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 155-160
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 149-154
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 145-148
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 139-144
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 131-138
$21,000 — Install new vinyl siding and gutters on units 125-130

CHICOPEE

Appleton Management Company
105-110 Colonial Circle
$25,000 — Rebuild concrete stairs

Leoni Wire, Inc.
301 Griffith Road
$49,000 — Modify existing reception area and create new storage room

MGS Westover Realty
215 Griffith Road
$1,186,000 — Construction of warehouse distribution building with office

St. Patrick’s Church
319 Broadway
$95,000 — Strip and re-roof

EASTHAMPTON

Henry Androsco
51 Union St.
$8,800 — Construction of X-ray room

EAST LONGMEADOW

Pearson Systems Inc.
96 Shaker Road
$2,925,000 — Construction of a 25,000-square-foot office building

GREENFIELD

Guiding Star Building Associates, Inc.
401 Chapman St.
$10,000 — Strip and re-shingle roof

Mill House LTD Partnership
75 Wells St.
$233,000 — Installation of new PVC roofing system

R & D Vic Corp Inc.
204 Main St.
$13,000 — New roofing system

HADLEY

S.R. Weiner and Associates
327 Russell St.
$218,000 — Renovation of existing bakery at Whole Foods Market


  

HOLYOKE

Sisters of St. Joseph Mont Marie
34 Lowell Westfield Road
$7,833,000 — Renovate Building E to create 50 new senior housing units

LUDLOW

Gilbert Nogiera
161 State St.
$33,500 — Commercial alterations

NORTHAMPTON

David S. Turner
42 Maple St.
$10,000 — Convert interior office space to bar/restaurant

Forty Main St. Inc.
32 Main St.
$148,000 — Build out third floor for offices

Jonathan Wright
48 Bates St.
$57,000 — Build one story addition for three offices

Laurel Ridge Realty Associates
312 Hatfield St.
$19,000 — Construct five roof structures with rails in building 1
$7,700 — Construct five roof structures with rails in building 2
$7,700 — Construct five roof structures with rails in building 3
$7,700 — Construct two roof structures with rails in building 4
$7,700 — Construct two roof structures with rails in building 5
$11,500 — Construct three roof structures with rails in building 6
$7,700 — Construct two roof structures with rails in building 7

Northampton Holdings LLP
180 North King St.
$54,000 — Remodel existing customer rest rooms

World War II Veterans Association
50 Conz St.
$4,000 — Move vestibule from right side to left side

SPRINGFIELD

Laundramax
1291 Liberty St.
$120,000 — Interior renovations and equipment

Robert McNain
419 Main St.
$26,000 — Re-roof storage building

Tyke M. Greene
1279 Worcester St.
$80,000 — Interior renovations

Western Massachusetts Lifecare Corporation
807 Wilbraham Road
$226,000 — Convert large single apartment into three single units

WEST SPRINGFIELD

1150 Union St. Corporation
1150 Union St.
$10,000 — Interior renovations for retail store

Gary Distefano
1305 Memorial Drive
$12,000 — Install kitchen hood and exhaust system at “Captain Nemos”

WESTFIELD

Halle Corporation
64 Servicestar Industrial Way
$1,108,000 — Construction of new commercial building

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Beyond Housewares Outlet
301 Springfield St.
Paula Knapp

C & B Redemption
1226 Springfield St.
Russell Scalis

Carlson GMAC Real Estate
723 Main St.
Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate, LLC

Casual Male Hairstyling
472 Silver St.
Nancy M. West

Dion Construction Plus
791 Barry St.
Benoit L. Dion

G. Vignone Electrical Service
45 Christopher Lane
Gary G. Vignone

Grooming Dales of Feeding Hills
557 Springfield St.
Gary F. Roberts

GMAC Real Estate
723 Main St.
David Applegate

Hair Impressions
525 Springfield St.
Evelyn Pelley

Henna Tattoos and Trendsetters
1623 Main St.
Randee Fisher

Home Plates Sports Bar
827 Springfield St.
Alan Boucher

J & M Roofing
25 Hayes Ave.
Michael Grusko

Marty’s Auto
325 Main St.
Martin M. Radewick

Prime Road Trips
48 Reed St.
Fred Muzzy

New England Relocation Group
723 Main St.
David Applegate

Scentsational Gift Baskets
350 Meadow St.
David J. Girard

The Cutting Edge
28 Southwick St.
Denise LaPointe

Yogishwar Subway, LLC
291 Springfield St.
Navin Patel

AMHERST

DS Property Management
49 Fairfield St.
David Snedecor

Ecos del Valle
893 West St.
Kryzia Salgado

FactFinder Research
33 Oakwood Circle
Judith A. Karren

Gasmari Glass
211 Grantwood St.
Cristian H. Gazimari

CHICOPEE

Amy’s Landscaping
295 Chicopee St.
Clark Wojtowicz

Binis Nails
196 East St.
Karen Ho

Go Voice For Choice
42 Anderson Road
Mark Hugo Nasjleti

N. Riley Construction
64 Honeysuckle Dr.
Nicholas Riley

Richard Home Services
126 Lukasek St.
Richard Bleau

Sassafras Lane Boutique
283 Fuller Road
Rose Hooper

EASTHAMPTON

Agency Automation Consulting
3 Picard Circle
Sylvia Lucas

Frost Graphics
116 Pleasant St.
Jonathan D’ Frost

JM Precision Home Improvements
13 Richardson Court
Jusuf Mutevelic

Pok Trucking
36 Hampton Ter.
Veasna Pok

EAST LONGMEADOW

RB Landscaping
P.O. Box 117
Robert Black

GREENFIELD

Bart’s Homemade Franchising Inc.
80 School St.
Gary Shaefor

Bartis Café
286 Main St.
Alan C. Sax

Copy Cat Print Shop
180 Main St.
Reya Shafii

Carousel Corner
4 Woodard Road
S. Jonathan Howe

Greenfield High Alumni
169 Barton Road
Steven Lepore

Sherwin Williams
6 Arch St.
Michael Noyes

Tae Kwon Do Center Inc.
102 Federal St.
David Johnson

HADLEY

Catherine Rose Financial Services
4 Bay Road
Mary Catherine Clayton-Jones

Courtyard by Marriott
423 Russell Road
Kenneth P. Vincunas

Rivers Edge Landscaping & Maintenance
201 River Drive
Peter Andrew Black

Sundance Realty Corporation
195 Russell St.
Herbert Michelson

HOLYOKE

Arcangel Auto Repair
775 High St.
Arcangel Mattei Quinonez

Artisans Café
1 Open Square Way
Luis Agudelo

City Laundromat
148 High St.
Angel Luis Rivera

Gil’s Auto Repair & Performance
21 Hadley Mill Road
Gilberto Rivas

Mr. Smoothie
50 Holyoke St.
Hasmukh Gogri

Old Navy LLC
50 Holyoke St.
Michael Zientek

Safe Auto Repair & Detailing
65 Commercial St.
Carlos Cruz

Totally Pagoda
50 Holyoke St.
Mary Curington

Zales Jewelers
50 Holyoke St.
Mary Curington

LONGMEADOW

University Meal Deal of Springfield
45 Belle Claire Ave.
Jesse James Liska

LUDLOW

Baystate Painting Company
512 Miller St.
Donald Wojcik

Demone Electrical
39 Saw Mill Road
Gregory Demone

  

Deputy Dogs
22 Norwich St.
Kenneth Alves

Mikey’s Pizza & Restaurant
325 East St.
Mohammad Tajerhan

MJL Consulting
308 Howard St.
Michael Liebro

NORTHAMPTON

Alias Salon
58 Pleasant St.
Lisa Fusco

James Guggina Ceramics
908 Ryan St.
James Guggina

Marche for Hair
99 Market St.
Kristine Mallor

Salon Debbie Droy
99 Market St.
Deborah Stutz

The Canine Counselor
166 Grove St.
Susan M. Miller

Walgreens
70 Main St.
Gary M. Marlin

PALMER

Majestic Masonry
11 Pearl St.
Jacob Richard Gelhausen

Metamorphosis Massage & Body Work
1223 Thorndike St.
Kristie L. Nathanson

P & D Landscaping
3080 Pine St.
Paul M. Holcomb

SOUTH HADLEY

G&P S&D Express
77 Riverboat Village
Patricia Fanska

Gentry Design
10 North Main St.
Mark Sherman

SOUTHWICK

Flynn Farm
49 Mort Vining Road
Diana Flynn

REH, LLC
56 Sam West Road
Ronald E. Humason, Jr.

SPRINGFIELD

Accountemps
1 Monarch Place
Evelyn Crane Oliver

Action Maintenance
1106 Carew St.
John Vazquez

Amani Wear
973 Worcester St.
Baraka Y Baraka

Antonio’s Catering
195 Arnold Ave.
Antonio Polk

Aquarius Cleaning
59 Sylvester St.
David Rodney

Bee’s Express
114 Myrtle St.
Raheim Rumell

Braintree Multimedia Design
26 Vale Circle
Christopher C.

Clean All
66 Sycamore St.
Gloria Wilson

Computer Wizards
81 Fern St.
Theodore A.

Con Air Construction Company
20 Sterling St.
Gilberto Ortiz

Curb Quisine
33 Euclid Ave.
Benjamin Franklin

El Bincon Restaurant
1295 Worcester St.
Felipe Almonte

En’V Entertainment
96 Palmer Ave.
Vanessa Montero

Enoch Construction
118 Cornell St.
Clive Lester Ryan

Executive Construction
111 Bowles St.
Jesus Alberto

Flow Music
494 Central St.
Will Quarterman

Gallant #1
61 Cherry St.
Kenneth C. Gallant

H & L Construction Service
313 Eastern Ave.
Henry Washington

J & S Painting
101 Knollwood Ave.
Erel Blinn

J. Brown Real Estate
99 Balfour Dr.
Joseph E. Brown

St. Luke Drawing
307 Chestnut St.
Brother Joseph Andrew

St. Mark Poet
307 Chestnut St.
Brother Joseph Laterza

St. Corner Entertainment
340 Cooley St.
Calvin V. Cooper

Sunshine Studios
1060 Wilbraham Road
Jeffrey R. Armitage

Taylor & Taylor Inc.
487 St. James Ave.
Taylor Newton

The Dream Barbers
472 Bridge St.
Shirley Albizu

The Modern Maid Service
143 Cedar St.
Sable Brown

Tip Top Nails
818 Boston Road
Duyen Nguyen

WESTFIELD

Arbonne International
375 Springdale Road
Jennifer Wilkie

At The Waters Edge Inc.
1029 North Road
Frank C. Woodard

Myriad Realms
2 Provin Ter.
Robert VanWagner

PriceRite of Westfield
301C East Main St.
PRRC, Inc.

Tim’s Concrete Service
17 Maple St.
Timofey Pchelka

Wizard Cycle Supply
8 Schumann Dr.
Paul E. Jaeger

WEST SPRINGFIELD

5 Star Nails and Spa
935 Riverdale St.
Hoang M. Vo

A & A Furniture Repair
32 Partridge Lane
Alan Archambault

Chili’s Grill & Bar
1175 Riverdale St.
John Thomas McGlone

Debbie Wong Restaurant
874 Memorial Ave
Wong & Sons, Inc.

Express Repairs
10 Butternut Hollow
Vladimir Melnichuk

West Side Barber Shop
11 Pleasant St.
Edwin Martinez