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Massachusetts Should Embrace Biotech

For decades Massachusetts has been fertile ground for the life sciences. Our unique concentration of extraordinary universities, teaching hospitals, research facilities, venture capital, and talent, spurred by a tradition of entrepreneurialism, provides a strong foundation for growth in the biotech industry. These strengths have brought thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in life science investments to Massachusetts.

For us, that success is more than a commercial matter. Each family can speak poignantly about a family member or friend with a disease or debilitating illness. You cannot be in the company of someone you love, powerless to help them, without appreciating the vital importance of stem cell research and other biomedical breakthroughs. In many ways, the health of this industry and the health of our society are closely linked.

But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Competitor states and foreign nations are investing billions to attract our researchers, institutions, and industries. The University of Wisconsin-Madison outspends both Harvard and MIT in research and development. India and China, to say nothing of states such as California, are actively working to attract signature companies away from Massachusetts. At the same time, federal funding through the National Institutes of Health, of which Massachusetts typically receives a large share, is flat and likely to diminish. Politics, especially around stem cell research, impaired the innovation and calculated risk-taking that make breakthroughs possible. It is essential that the Commonwealth step up to maintain and extend our global leadership in the life sciences.

We are doing just that. Working with all sectors of the industry, we have developed the Massachusetts Life Science Initiative. This 10-year, $1 billion investment marks a new partnership between state government, industry, academic medical centers, and public and private higher education, and will accelerate statewide life sciences growth into high gear. We want to support this industry on the path from inspiration to commercialization, from ideas to cures.

That begins with support for new ideas and innovation. The rate of innovation in Massachusetts in recent years has been triple that of the national average and we have no intention of letting it slip. To bring the best and brightest to those facilities and others, we will offer life science grants to young, promising researchers who may not yet have attracted federal funding.

Playing to our world leadership in stem cell research, we will also create a Massachusetts Stem Cell Bank to be housed at UMass-Amherst. Once completed, the bank will hold the largest collection of stem cell lines in the world and make our rapidly growing catalog widely available to researchers. Already, a group of competitive institutions have agreed to contribute to the Stem Cell Bank, underscoring the spirit of collaboration so distinctive about our biotech supercluster.

The state will also develop innovation centers to provide industry and the academic community access to cutting-edge facilities and technology. These centers will serve as regional economic engines throughout the Commonwealth, as new companies and jobs open up in the cities and towns around them.

Finally, when an idea is ready to become reality, we will help guide it to the marketplace. Breakthroughs are often lost in investment gaps typical of the movement from early academic research to industry development. We will designate grants to translate discoveries into applications and support partnerships to move new ideas along. We will also work to help life science projects in Massachusetts win federal assistance. Job growth here in the industry is fueled, in part, by federal support, and our companies lead the nation in these awards per capita. Every new job created in the life sciences results in two additional jobs in support services for suppliers, vendors, and construction. What’s good for the life sciences and biotech is good for Massachusetts.-

Deval L. Patrick is governor of Massa-chusetts. Therese Murray is president of the Massachusetts Senate. This article first appeared in the Boston Globe.

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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

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Departments

Don’t Fuhgettaboutit!

May 17: You watch The Sopranos. You talk about the show. Sometimes you even find yourself humming the theme song. What you probably don’t do is think about what The Sopranos can teach you about improving your business. It’s time to start. Robinson Donovan’s speaking event series, That’s Your Business, will put the focus on how a concept that got turned down by every broadcast network ended up generating revenue in the hundreds of millions and helped turn HBO into a $1.5 billion cable TV juggernaut. Author, professor, business expert, and Sopranos expert Al Gini will explain how The Sopranos became a cultural phenomenon, and will discuss how taking risks, investing in quality, and generating buzz can pay off for you. And bring an appetite for Italian-American specialties, including Sopranos family favorites such as veal parm, baked ziti, and, of course, capicola (gabagool). The event will be at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting house, starting at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (413) 732-2301, ext. 403, or E-mail [email protected] by May 10.

World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast

May 19: The 2007 World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast will return to Main Street, Springfield, from 8 to 11 a.m. in celebration of the city’s 371st birthday. For the past two years, Springfield has celebrated its birthday with the annual flapjack feast on the grounds of the Eastfield Mall. Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for children. For details, visit www.spiritofspringfield.org or call the Spirit of Springfield office at (413) 733-3800.

eWomen Network

May 22: Ginny Wilmerding, business consultant and author of Smart Women and Small Business: How to Make the Leap from Corporate Careers to the Right Small Enterprise, will be the guest speaker at the eWomen Network accelerated networking dinner event from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The evening’s theme is “Be Your Own Boss and Thrive.” Area women in all areas of business are encouraged to attend to exchange ideas and resources, and make connections with other women in the region. The cost is $45 for guests, $35 for members. For more information, see www.ewomennetwork.com or contact Shana Ferrigan Bourcier at (413) 566-8443.

‘Springtime in Paradise’

May 26-28: The annual Paradise City Arts Show, featuring 250 competitively juried artists from 30 states, takes place at the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton. Show hours are May 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the show, a silent and live auction to benefit WGBY Public Television is planned, as well as an artful scavenger hunt, and hands-on weaving, doll-making, and quilting projects hosted by the Fiber Art Center. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for students. Children under 12 are admitted free. For more information, log onto www.paradisecityarts.com.

Solar Sprint Race

June 2: The Western New England College School of Engineering in Springfield will host the 14th annual West Central Mass. Junior Solar Sprint race from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Alumni Healthful Living Center parking lot. Seventh- and eighth-grade students will race solar-powered cars they designed and constructed. The cars will be judged for design and race on a 20-meter track. The event is free and open to the public. In the event of rain, the event will take place inside the center. Schools scheduled to participate include Amherst Regional Middle School; Chestnut Middle School in Springfield; John M. Lynch Middle School in Holyoke; Powder Mill Middle School in Southwick; and Wood Hill Middle School in Andover.

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Departments

Patrick Proposes $1 Billion Biotech Program

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick, in the most sweeping policy announcement of his new administration, has proposed that the state spend $1 billion on embryonic stem-cell research and biotechnology development. His 10-year initiative, which has won the endorsement of legislative leaders, would fund academic research and start-up companies, as well as create a stem cell bank at UMass-Amherst. “We want Massachusetts to provide the global platform for bringing your innovations from the drawing board to the market,” Patrick told attendees at an international biotech conference in Boston. “Researchers all over the world will be using stem cells that are truly made in Massachusetts.”

Business Confidence Index Down in April

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Mass. (AIM) Business Confidence Index lost eight-tenths of a point in April to 53.9, confirming the sharp drop (-4.5) recorded in March. After five declines in six months, the Index is now at its lowest level since October 2003 — also the last time the sub-index for conditions within the state was in negative ground (below 50) for two consecutive months. The decline in the April Index indicates that the March result was neither an artifact of timing nor a statistical outlier, according to Raymond Torto, co-chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors, and principal, CBRE Torto Wheaton. Employers from across the state expressed serious concerns about the direction of the Commonwealth’s business climate and did not foresee improvement in the general business climate of the state or the nation in the six months ahead, according to Torto. By type of employer, confidence was up slightly among manufacturers (+0.7 to 55.2, following a large drop in March) but down among other employers (-2.7 to 52.2) for a fifth consecutive month. Both groups were more confident than in February 2006. Large companies were more positive than medium or small employers on nearly all questions. The monthly Business Confidence Index is based on a survey of AIM member companies across the state, asking questions about current and prospective business conditions in the state and nation, as well as for their respective organizations.

Business Activity Nationwide at 56%

TEMPE, Ariz. — Business activity in the non-manufacturing sector went up at a faster rate in April, according to the nation’s purchasing and supply executives at the Institute for Supply Management. Business activity, new orders, and employment increased at a faster rate in April than in March. The Prices Index increased slightly in April to 63.5%. Thirteen non-manufacturing industries reported increased activity in April, including arts, entertainment, and recreation; accommodation and food services; transportation and warehousing; utilities; information; public administration; other services; retail trade; real estate, rental, and leasing; finance and insurance; construction; educational services; and health care and social assistance. The two industries reporting decreased activity from March to April were wholesale trade and professional, scientific, and technical services.

Jobless Claims on Decline

In the week ending April 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims was 305,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 326,000, according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The four-week moving average was 328,750, a decrease of 4,500 from the previous week’s revised average of 333,250. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.9% for the week ending April 21, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 2.0%. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 14 were in Alaska (4.6), Michigan (3.9), Pennsylvania (3.2), Wisconsin (3.1), New Jersey (3.0), Puerto Rico (3.0), Vermont (2.9), Rhode Island (2.8), California (2.6), Massachusetts (2.6), Minnesota (2.6), and Oregon (2.6). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending April 21 were in Massachusetts (+5,564), Michigan (+3,451), Connecticut (+2,783), North Carolina (+2,675), and Louisiana (+1,448), while the largest decreases were in New York (-13,569), New Jersey (-3,225), Wisconsin (-3,153), Ohio (-2,359), and Indiana (-1,805).

Uninsured Individuals Now Have More Health Plan Choices

BOSTON — The Commonwealth Health Connector recently launched its Commonwealth Choice health insurance plans, offering individuals unprecedented choice and affordability. The health plans, designed to help uninsured individuals get the health coverage they need, are now available for purchase by calling (877) MA-ENROLL. Information is also available at www.mass.gov/connector. The new Commonwealth Choice program offers health insurance plans from six carriers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Fallon Community Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Health New England, Neighborhood Health Plan, and Tufts Health Plan. Each of the carriers offers three levels of benefits: Gold, Silver, and Bronze, as well as Young Adult plans for individuals ages 19 to 26. Later this month, the Connector will unveil its advertising and marketing campaign. Postcards will soon be going out to almost 3 million Massachusetts taxpayers, informing them of the requirements of the new law and of new opportunities available through the Connector. A letter detailing requirements for employers will also be mailed to the state’s 193,000 businesses.

Survey: Internships Play Key Role in Hiring Decisions

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Most college graduates know that internships provide an advantage when pursuing their first post-college job. What they may not realize is just how beneficial this experience can be. Half of the chief financial officers (CFOs) polled recently said that, aside from functional knowledge, internships influence their hiring decision most when evaluating entry-level accounting and finance candidates. This response was cited more frequently than referrals (24%), college alma mater (8%), or grade point average (5%). One of the biggest challenges new graduates face is a lack of professional experience, according to Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. Students who complete internships appeal to prospective employers because they often require less training and can begin contributing immediately in their roles, said Messmer, adding that, in addition to the experience and knowledge gained by exposure to real-world business scenarios, internships showcase a student’s level of initiative and engagement in his or her chosen career. The survey was developed by Accountemps and includes responses from more than 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with more than 20 employees.

Cleanup Underway at Former Uniroyal Complex

CHICOPEE — A phased, $2 million cleanup at the former Uniroyal plant on Grove Street is now underway by Gannett Fleming Inc. of Princeton, N.J. Michelin North America Inc. hired the firm to oversee the cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the soil, concrete, and sediment on the 17-acre site, as well as treat any groundwater contamination. The cleanup is scheduled for completion by December 2008. Following the completion of cleanup efforts, the city plans to take the property and raze several buildings, which will allow for redevelopment. Facemate Corp. purchased the property in 1981 from Uniroyal and filed for bankruptcy in 2003. The city is still owed close to $2 million in back taxes and has filed suit to recover the funds.

New Members Planned for Control Board

BOSTON — Three state appointees to the Springfield Finance Control Board will soon be replaced by Gov. Deval L. Patrick. Thomas F. Gloster III, Michael J. Jacobson, and board Chairman Alan L. LeBovidge, who is commissioner of the state Department of Revenue, will soon be replaced by Patrick appointees. The five-member board was created in 2004 by former Gov. W. Mitt Romney and the state Legislature to improve Springfield’s finances. Springfield Mayor Charles V. Ryan and City Council President Kateri B. Walsh also serve on the board because of their positions.

Survey: Employers Form Opinions of Job Interviewees within 10 Minutes

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Hiring managers often know whether they might hire someone soon after the opening handshake and small talk, a new survey suggests. Executives recently polled said it takes them just 10 minutes to form an opinion of job seekers, despite meeting with staff-level applicants for 55 minutes and management-level candidates for 86 minutes, on average. The interview begins the moment job seekers arrive, so applicants need to project enthusiasm and confidence from the start, according to Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. The opening minutes of the conversation often set the tone for the rest of the discussion, making it wise to prepare especially well for the first few interview questions, added Messmer. Frequently asked questions include what you know about the firm, why you want to work for the firm, and why are you looking to leave your current position. The survey was developed by Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and includes responses from 150 senior executives with the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.

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Departments

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

AGAWAM

Cumberland Farms Inc.
839 Suffield St.
$400,000 — Construction of new car wash

AMHERST

Jones Properties LTD Partnership
201 North Pleasant St.
$6,000 — Remove block wall and install beam between two stores

Knights of Columbus
37 North Pleasant St.
$4,000 — Repair bathrooms and install flooring

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee
Jones Ferry
$36,000 — Strip and re-roof

City of Chicopee
Riverview Place
$12,000 — Strip and re-roof

City of Chicopee
Fuller Road
$25,000 — Strip and re-roof

City of Chicopee
Leslie St.
$12,000 — Strip and re-roof

City of Chicopee
Medira S. Grit Building # 1 & 2
$39,000 — Strip and re-roof

EASTHAMPTON

Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
35 Pleasant St.
$20,000 — Repair concrete stairs and replace handrail

EAST LONGMEADOW

Ochoa Day Spa
643 North Main St.
$10,800 — Re-roof

  

GREENFIELD

Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
133 Main St.
$8,300 — Replacement of four exterior doors

HOLYOKE

City of Holyoke Schools
1575 North St.
$123,000 — Replace ceiling tiles on first and second floors

LUDLOW

George Dupuis
185 Miller St.
$92,000 — Commercial addition

SPRINGFIELD

MRI
3640 Main St.
$760,000 — New office build-out

Springfield College
263 Alden St.
$1,100,000 — Renovate existing building for classroom and office use

Sunset Properties LLC
222 Pearl St.
$249,000 — New kitchens and baths plus cosmetic work

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Michael Zheng
1152 Riverdale St.
$45,000 —Renovate existing restaurant

Raymour & Flanagan
895 Riverdale St.
$6,600,000 — Construction of retail furniture store

WESTFIELD

Streamfield LLC
311 E. Main St.
$650,000 — Interior renovations

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Departments

HCC Named To NASA Space Grant Consortium

HOLYOKE — NASA’s Mass. Space Grant Consortium recently announced that Holyoke Community College (HCC) has been accepted as a member institution, a move that will enable eligible HCC students to participate in NASA-sponsored internships and research opportunities. HCC is the only community college in Western Mass. to join the consortium, which includes 15 educational institutions statewide. The consortium is one of 52 nationally that funds the development and use of space-related educational outreach activities. X. Ran Duan, HCC dean of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics, will serve as the campus liaison for the program. The consortium seeks to stimulate interest in the fields of aeronautics, engineering, and other scientific fields among college students.

Monson Savings Approved as SBA Express Lender

MONSON — The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently approved Monson Savings Bank as an SBA Express lender. The designation allows the bank to offer loans to small and medium-size businesses that include a 50% SBA loan guarantee and are designed to provide expeditious service on loan applications. In addition, the program allows loans up to $250,000 with fixed or variable interest rates that cannot exceed SBA maximums. Up to 50% of these loans will be guaranteed by the federal government through the SBA.

Charter Oak Insurance & Financial Services Co. Receives National Award

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual Financial Group recently announced that Charter Oak Insurance & Financial Services Co., a general agency of MassMutual, has earned the Chairman’s Trophy Gold Bowl Award for 2006. This marks the third consecutive Gold Bowl for the agency, led by General Agent Peter S. Novak, and the seventh such award in the last eight years. The competition is awarded to MassMutual’s top general agencies based on overall performance, including production, consistent growth, and new-agent development. Charter Oak Insurance & Financial Services serves clients throughout New England with offices in Springfield, Hadley, Westfield, and Boston, and in Farmington, New Haven, and Stamford, Conn. The firm specializes in risk management, consisting of life, disability income, and long-term care insurance, business services, and retirement and investment planning.

MassMutual Renews Membership in IMSA

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual has renewed its membership in the Insurance Marketplace Standards Assoc. (IMSA), the premier standards-setting organization for the life insurance marketplace. IMSA promotes high ethical standards in the sale and service of life insurance, annuity, and long-term care products. For insurers to maintain IMSA member status, they must demonstrate that their ongoing business operations abide by IMSA’s strict code of ethical market conduct. Every three years, insurers must undergo independent assessment of all business operations by an impartial third party. MassMutual recently completed the independent review of its marketing, sales, and compliance practices required to maintain IMSA qualification.

Hampden Bancorp Reports First-quarter Loss

SPRINGFIELD — A net loss of $2.5 million was reported by Hampden Bancorp in the first quarter, attributed largely to a one-time charitable donation to its Hampden Bank Charitable Foundation after its conversion to a publicly traded company. When the company went public in January, a one-time, $3.8 million donation was made to start its charitable foundation. Following the conversion, net proceeds of $73.4 million boosted the company with total assets of $510.8 million at the end of the first quarter.

Harvey Industries Chooses Chicopee

CHICOPEE — Harvey Industries, a manufacturer of windows and doors, recently purchased a 30-acre parcel in the Chicopee River Business Park for $1.8 million. Company officials are relocating their business from Cottage Street in Springfield since its lease expires in 2009. The manufacturer, the second tenant in the business park located off Robbins Road, expects construction of its 250,000-square-foot building to take about 15 months. Harvey Industries employs approximately 230 employees.

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Departments

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

AGAWAM

Chetcorp
22 Dover St.
Chester Sulborcki III

Esperanza Inc.
27 Grant St.
Dmitriy Bazukin

Housman Property Service
943 Suffield St.
Randall S. Housman

LHQ Danceforce
704 Springfield St.
Lynn Hadden-Quinn

Sliech Auto Body
700 Springfield St.
Linda M. Sliech

The Atrium at Cardinal Drive
153 Cardinal Dr.
B-VII New England

The Closet Guys
132 Valley Brook Dr.
Daniel Willett

The Garage
24 South St.
Steven Diduck

Valerie’s Cleaning Service
26 Perry Lane
Valerie Amato

AMHERST

David’s Construction Company
29 South Point Dr.
David Mateo Artiga

MVP Fitness
252 West St. #8
James M. Fitzgerald

O.M. Financial Services
233 North Pleasant St.
Omar O. Gayle

CHICOPEE

Arbonne International
34 Boivin Ter.
Kimberly Demers

Century 21
238 School St.
Joanne M. Alvarado

Divine Multimedia
61 Dickenson St.
Lister M. Lacen

Pioneer Valley Remodelers
591 East Main St.
Neil E. Masek

Ten Leaf Clover Productions
47 Goodhue Ave.
William M. Travernicht

EASTHAMPTON

Computer Breeze
239R Main St.
Philip Doyle

Pioneer Valley Web Design
68 Loudville Road
Erik Jones

EAST LONGMEADOW

All in One Cleaning
253 Maple St.
Philip Barr

East Coast Mercantile
88 East Circle Dr.
Jeffrey St. John

Nevaeh Wellness
280 North Main St.
Rosemarie Gay

GREENFIELD

Fitzgerald Real Estate
21 Mohawk Trail
Corinne A. Fitzgerald

Hair N’ Company
63 French King Highway
Dana Kubasek

Hope & Olive
44 Hope St.
Bottle of Bread Inc.

Massage Therapy – Outreach
18 Beech St.
Kendra Kuhn

Oasis 107
114 Wells St.
Margary Anadon

Olympia Sports
245 Mohawk Trail
John Lesniak

Police Officers Safety Association
64 East Cleveland St.
Ralph Mroz

HADLEY

Long Radio
30 Russell St.
Keith Imbriglio

QRSTUVR
71 Lawrence Plain Road
Christopher Gendron

RCI Electric
1 Lawrence Lane
Paul Miller

HOLYOKE

Advanced Action Air Purification
515 Beech St.
Efrain DeJesus

Cinderella Shoes
50 Holyoke St.
Tuan Danh

Polish Delicatessan
214 Lyman St.
Marta Pelka

Rock Valley Engineering
83 Evergreen Dr.
Dolchan Sirkissoon

Sports Authority
50 Holyoke St.
Thomas Wildenberg

LUDLOW

Lorraine’s
19 Prospect St.
Lorraine Carreira

NORTHAMPTON

Alias Salon
58 Pleasant St.
Lisa Fusco

Better Yet Vintage Clothing
15 Morley St.
Gail Morin

Keller Williams Realty
300 Pleasant St.
Laura A. Stevens

Northampton High Crew
Old Springfield Road
Northampton Youth and Community

  

Parenting Resource Directory LLC
241 Jackson St.
Lori B. Schmidt

Universal Kids
33 Hawley St.
Elizabeth Janel Cole

Yellow Sofa
24 Main St.
Gabriel Moushabeck

PALMER

LaRosa Drywall & Interior Finish Paint
34 Forest Lake Road
Alexander G. LaRosa

LG Tanning & Nails
1240 Park St.
Deborah J. Peterson

Looking Glass Hair Salon
1240 Park St.
Deborah J. Peterson

Quaboag Valley Power Wash
206 Ware St.
Michael Katsoulis

SOUTH HADLEY

Pages Automotive Inc.
1 Conti Dr.
Stephen Rehm

Personal Touch & Grounds
Sunset Avenue
David Mazurowski

Will’s Residential Repair & Remodeling
Sunset Avenue
William Patenaude

SPRINGFIELD

A Cut Above The Rest
12 Orange St.
Roberto Melendez

Abreu Beauty Supply
43 Oak St.
Noharis Feliciano

Aida’s Gourmet Catering
440 Tiffany St.
Luis Maravilha

Bee’s Express
114 Myrtle St.
Raheim Rumell

Boston Medical Center Health
354 Birnie Ave.
Edward J.

Clean All
66 Sycamore St.
Gloria Wilson

D & B Towing
143 Carver St.
Flor Torres

De Zigned Eventz
9 Oakwood Terrace
Elizabeth Allen

Esmail Professional Remodeling
158 Pineywood Ave.
Esmail Banisaide

Eventz by Dezign
9 Oakwood Ter.
Elizabeth Marcella

Orion Recovery
133 Oak St.
R. Scott Turner

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

Spic N Span Cleaning Company
59 Redlands St.
Alfa K. Gutierrez

Springfield Falcons Hockey
45 Falcons Way
City of Springfield

The Curve Hair Salon
607 Dickinson St.
Dawod Alfathely

Tip Top Nails
818 Boston Road
Duc Nguyen

Triple R Inc.
84-90 Worthington St.
Richard A. Janak

Wings on Wheels
86 Breckwood Boulevard
Robert Dwayne Ezell

WEST SPRINGFIELD

84 Lumber Company
38 Monterey Dr.
James Earle

Connecticut Valley Block Company Inc.
55 Circuit Ave.
James Delgrego

Lee’s Diagnostic Station
413 Main St.
Ali Kitchell

Odessa Auto Repair
141 Allston Ave.
Anton Ivanov

ServiceMaster of Greater Springfield
380 Union St.
Jeffrey P. Gavioli

The Friendly Barbershop
90 Elm St.
James A. Ryan

Tiffany Motors
44 Exposition Ave.
Robert E. Fitzgerald

Village Pizza
1164 Westfield St.
Eray Arslan

Workplace Solutions Incorporated
59 Interstate Dr.
Robert A. Sanguily

WESTFIELD

Earthscape Property Services
21 Mathers St.
Alan Pranka

Furniture Medic
32 Linda Dr.
Donald Burrage

P & D Limousine Scheduling Service
15 Old Farm Road
David Brzoska

Permagraphics
35 R. Orange St.
Paul Dawicki

Prospect Stone Works
1128 Western Ave.
James Waversak III

Roberts Renovation
55 Apple Orchard Heights
Keith Roberts

‘X’ Marks the Spot Here, Too

By
Opinion

There were many topics that came up time and again while we were interviewing the inaugural class of Forty Under 40 winners.

Work-life balance was a common theme. So were community service, professional development, philanthropy, volunteerism, health and fitness, and entrepreneurial thinking.

It’s not a surprise that these 40 individuals would be a well-rounded, grounded bunch. After all, these are business owners, people who’ve climbed the corporate ladder at stunning speed, and civic leaders. It’s to be expected that there would be many similarities from one success story to the next.

But when we look more closely at those topics, it becomes clear that balancing work, family, outside interests, and service to others isn’t just a trend among these people; it’s a trend that’s being seen across the country within the under-40 set.

There is a new definition of success emerging, which takes much more into account than earnings and titles. Rather, it’s the pursuit of a lifestyle — dare we say, the pursuit of happiness itself — that drives them. New, innovative business practices and dynamic results are born from that objective, and lately young professionals aren’t just thinking outside the box. They’re crushing the box, and leaving it out on the lawn for recycling.

Our winners also belong to Generation X — those born roughly between 1965 and 1980 (there’s still some debate on that) — and now making their own unique mark on the world. Next year, we’re likely to see some of the next generation break through.

But Gen X has received considerable attention of late, and BusinessWest’s first Forty Under 40 begins to explain why.

This is a group, recently touted as the ‘quality, not quantity’ generation, that is coming into its own within the professional world and finally getting some recognition. This demographic is sandwiched between America’s two largest generations — the Boomers and their children, Gen Y, also known as the Millennium Generation — and is used to getting lost in the shuffle of many, many feet.

But there’s another hurdle to clear. In the early 1990s, trends like grunge rock and films such as the cult classics Reality Bites and Singles helped Generation X members earn the collective title of slackers. So, perhaps reinvention is another driver behind success. Perhaps it’s a need to prove to the world — and maybe to moms and dads — that, ‘yes, we do things differently. But it works, and we’re going to prove it to you.’

If generational lingo doesn’t sell this message, however, let’s take a look at the numbers. Among the Forty Under 40 Class of ’07, there are 18 women and 22 men. Twelve are business owners. According to their nomination forms, 20 are previous award winners of some sort, and we suspect there may be more. Twenty-two are parents (and that number will soon rise), and 25 serve on civic and community boards.

Also noteworthy is the number of professions and business sectors represented by the ‘40.’ There are the expected marketing professionals, attorneys, and accountants, but each with their own specific specialties. There’s also a headmaster, a farmer, a multi-media producer, a publisher, a restaurant owner … the list goes on.

The diversity among the Forty Under 40 winners, both personally and professionally, speaks further to the notion that this is a group that follows intangible passions as much as innate skills as they move through life.

What’s more, 40 may have won the competition, but nearly 100 people were nominated, all with impressive lists of accomplishments. Unfortunately, ‘Forty Under 40’ is the brand, and we couldn’t include everyone.

As the region’s tallies its assets, it certainly must include these members of the ‘forgotten generation,’ another name that’s been given to the 30-somethings (and a few late-20-somethings). It was gratifying to prove that, but it will be even more rewarding to watch the so-called slackers continue to shrug off the preconceived notions of their generation, and multi-task their way to greatness.

By
Departments

Scenes from Market 2007


Bryan Kaye, business development officer with Freedom Credit Union, mans his booth at the Business Market Show staged May 2 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.


Craig Cote, chief marketing officer for American International College, laughs with a guest


Susan Walsh-Peterson and Christina Murphy of PepperBerry’s Flower Shoppe of Westfield share a light moment at their booth.


Stylists with DiGrigoli Salons offered free cuts to Market Show guests.

Lessons in Leadership


Actress Mia Farrow spoke to an overflow crowd at Bay Path College’s annual Women’s Professional Development Conference, held recently at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Farrow talked at length about her work in the impoverished region of Darfour in Sudan, which is currently experiencing one of the worst genocides in history.


Bay Path President Carol Leary applauds Dr. Maya Angelou as she takes the stage. Angelou relayed a number of personal experiences, ending with a poem she asked Leary to keep and share with future students.

Shaken and Stirred

The Fourth Annual Martini Magic fundraiser was staged May 3 at Max’s Tavern in Springfield. The event, which benefits the Ronald McDonald House, featured 16 different vendors, each serving two different varieties of martinis.


Dennis Desmarais, past president of Ronald McDonald House and his wife, Linda Desmarais, a professor at Springfield Technical Community College; Joel Weiss, president and CEO of United Way; Melissa Kozub and her husband Paul, owner of V1 Vodka.


Representing the Ronald McDonald House are, from left, Jerry Houle, board member; Stew Young (past president), Dan Flynn, board member; Ann Marie Harding, board member and event planner; Michael Favreau, president, and Ed Abraham, board member.


John Joyce, second from left, president of Joyce Insurance and Financial Services, a division of Northwestern Mutual, with his wife, Lisa; Brad Handy, of Lendia Insurance, and Gary Lamarche, owner of Lamarche Associates.

OPINION

By
Opinion

Transparency is the new watchword in government, but we continue to have a public pension system that puts obfuscation first.

Personally, I think we should pay the Commonwealth’s public servants more, not less. However, this payment should come in the form of current salary, not post-retirement benefits. Skewing compensation toward post-retirement benefits is bad for workers and bad for taxpayers, but it is inevitable as long as those benefits are less transparent than wages. By putting compensation into pensions and health benefits that are not transparent, local governments can look like they hold the line on salaries but still reward their workers.

The most natural way to fix this problem is for governments to follow the private sector out of defined-benefit plans and into defined-contribution plans akin to 401(k)s. The transparent nature of defined-contribution plans, in which employers pay regularly into workers’ retirement funds, reduces the incentive for governments and unions to skew compensation toward hard-to-measure post-retirement benefits.

Today, public employees have been promised almost $13 billion more in pension benefits than Massachusetts has set aside money to pay for. We owe another $13 billion for other post-retirement benefits to public workers. The average U.S. state funds 83% of its pension liability. The Commonwealth has funded only 73% of its debt, and a lot of cities of towns are in much worse shape. Quincy has funded only 58% of its pension liability; Springfield has funded less than half.

In any employment relationship, workers receive compensation in the form of salaries, pensions, and health benefits. Ideally, the tradeoff between these different forms of compensation reflects employer costs and employee desires. However, when firms are spending someone else’s money, then there is a strong tendency to load compensation toward non-transparent forms of payment.

In their heyday, Detroit’s Big Three automakers paid extraordinary benefits rather than salaries, so management could satisfy the shareholders by being tough on wages and still avoid being whipsawed by Walter Reuther and the United Auto Workers. Today, these firms are suffering from these debts. Our local governments have pensions that are too high and salaries that are too low, because everyone screams at the prospect of a public servant getting paid a decent wage, but no one who isn’t a CPA can figure out how much a benefits package is worth.

Why is this a problem? From the workers’ perspective, overloading pensions relative to salaries means that they are essentially lending money to municipal governments. That just makes no sense. Because much of their compensation comes only after decades of service, municipal workers have too little today to spend on housing, schooling, and food.

From the taxpayers’ perspective, the pension system’s unpredictability and lack of transparency means that cities and towns will continue to have regular fiscal crises when health and pension costs exceed expectations. Plus, the current system creates enormous incentives for people to game the system by pushing up their wages in their final years of service.

Moving to defined-contribution plans for new public employees would be a step in the right direction. In the private sector, defined-contribution plans are ubiquitous. They allow workers to move more readily across firms. They make payment more transparent and reduce the risks posed by unfunded liabilities. Defined-contribution plans for public employees would have the same benefits.

Contract negotiations would be restricted to the size of the employer’s contributions, and those payments would be transparent. This transparency would eliminate the artificial incentive to backload payment into pensions — a system that does no good for either taxpayers or our public servants.

Edward L. Glaeser, a professor of Economics at Harvard, is director of the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston. He is a guest columnist for the Boston Globe, where this article first appeared.

By
Departments

In Good Company

Michael Zasky, president of Zasko Productions, with his father, William Zasky, holds the hardware that comes with being named Business of the Year in Chicopee for 2006. The award was presented at the Chicopee Chamber’s recent Shining Stars event.

Making the Grade

Westfield resident Cori Marsh has been named the 2007 recipient of the Marjorie Green Scholarship by PeoplesBank. A Business Administration major at Holyoke Community College, Marsh received the $1,000 scholarship from PeoplesBank Executive Vice President Douglas Bowen. She will use the funds to continue her education at Bryant University this fall. The scholarship is named after Marjorie Green, who rose to the position of senior vice president of the bank during the 1960s.

Taking Stock

Peyton Patterson, chairman, president, and CEO of NewAlliance Bancshares, recently rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange with her executive team as the company marked its third anniversary of becoming a public company. Headquartered in New Haven, Conn., NewAlliance Bancshares is the parent company of NewAlliance Bank, which has 88 branches in Connecticut and Western Mass., and assets of approximately $8 billion.

Town Meeting

Springfield Technical Community College President Ira Rubenzahl, Student Goverment President Nelly Cruz, and Dr. Celeste Budd-Jackson, vice chair of the STCC Board of Trustees, join Governor Deval Patrick at a recent town meeting staged by the Patrick administration at STCC.

After 5

Jackie Keady, donor relations manager for the Sisters of Providence Health System, greets guests at a recent Chamber of Commerce After 5, held at Healthtrax in East Longmeadow.

By
Departments

Chamber After 5

May 9: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc. will host its “After 5” from 5 to 7 p.m. at Balise Toyota Scion, 1399 Riverdale St., West Springfield. The After 5 is an opportunity to meet business professionals in a casual setting. Participants are encouraged to bring business cards. Reservations can be made by signing up at www.myonlinechamber.com. Tickets are $10 for chamber members and $15 for non-members. For more information, call (413) 755-1313.

‘Not Just Business as Usual’

May 10: As part of ongoing celebrations marking its 40th anniversary, Springfield Technical Community College, in collaboration with Berkshire Bank, will host “Not Just Business as Usual,” a program highlighted by a presentation from business leader Larry Bossidy, at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The program will include a networking cocktail hour followed by a dinner catered by Max’s Tavern. Highlights of STCC’s first 40 years will be followed by the address from Bossidy, who will bring a wide range of experience to his presentation. Named CEO of the Year in 1994 by Financial World, and Chief Executive of the Year in 1998 by CEO magazine, Bossidy is a retired chairman and CEO of Honeywell International Inc., former chairman of Allied Signal, and is on the board of directors of Merck & Co., as well as an incorporated member of the Business Council and Business Roundtable. He is also a best-selling author whose book, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, details how business leaders can turn strategy into results. Sponsorships for the evening will benefit the STCC Foundation. For more information, call (413) 755-4477.

‘In the Driver’s Seat’

May 10: Study after study recognizes that women-led businesses outpace state and national averages in growth rate, and are becoming key drivers of the state’s revenue and employment. This is not coincidental. There are very specific strategies and management styles adopted by women business owners and executives that promote exceptional business growth. At this workshop, organized by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network, attendees can hear women business owners and leaders share their knowledge, experiences, and keys to success. The program, slated for 9 a.m. to noon (with an optional lunch), will be staged at the Country Club of Pittsfield, 639 South St. The speakers will include Allison Berglund, from the Mass. Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and Kathy Selvia, president of New England Promotional Marketing. For more information, call (413) 737-6712.

Don’t Fogettaboutit!

May 17: You watch The Sopranos. You talk about the show. Sometimes you even find yourself humming the theme song. What you probably don’t do is think about what The Sopranos can teach you about improving your business. It’s time to start. Robinson Donovan’s speaking event series, That’s Your Business, will put the focus on how a concept that got turned down by every broadcast network ended up generating revenue in the hundreds of millions and helped turn HBO into a $1.5 billion cable TV juggernaut. Author, professor, business expert, and Sopranos expert Al Gini will explain how The Sopranos became a cultural phenomenon and discuss how taking risks, investing in quality, and generating buzz can pay off for you. And bring an appetite for Italian-American specialties, including Sopranos family favorites such as veal parm, baked ziti and, of course, capicola (gabagool). The event will be at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting house, starting at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (413) 732-2301, ext. 403, or E-mail: [email protected] by May 10.

World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast

May 19: The 2007 World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast will return to Main Street, Springfield, from 8 to 11 a.m. in celebration of the city’s 371stbirthday. For the past two years, Springfield celebrated its birthday with the annual flapjack feast on the grounds of the Eastfield Mall. Tickets will be $3 for adults and $1 for children. For more information, visit www.spiritofspringfield.org or call the Spirit of Springfield office at (413) 733-3800.

eWomen Network

May 22: Ginny Wilmerding, business consultant and author of “Smart Women and Small Business: How to Make the Leap from Corporate Careers to the Right Small Enterprise,” will be the guest speaker at the eWomen Network accelerated networking dinner event from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The evening’s theme is “Be Your Own Boss and Thrive.” Area women in all areas of business are encouraged to attend to exchange ideas, resources and make connections with other women in the region. The cost is $45 for guests, $35 for members. For more information, visit www.ewomennetwork.com or contact Shana Ferrigan Bourcier at (413) 566-8443.

The Route of the Problems for the PVTA

By
Opinion

‘An agency in crisis.’

That’s how state Rep. Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee) and House chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation, described the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority at one in a series of press conferences he’s called over the past few weeks to blast away at the authority and its management.

The pronouncement was inspired by the death of a PVTA rider, a user of the authority’s paratransit service who fell after being dropped at the wrong location by the PVTA’s vendor, California-based MV Transportation. It had the desired effect — another front-page headline in the local paper for Wagner, and some more embarrassment for beleaguered PVTA Administrator Mary MacInnes and her staff, as well as the authority’s advisory board.

But Wagner was just getting warmed up. He was back in front of the media with more artillery a few weeks later, calling for the state inspector general’s office to investigate the PVTA’s hiring of a replacement for MV without seeking bids; McInnes would later say the matter would go to bid, but denied pressure from the state to do so.

Crisis? Maybe. Chaos? certainly. Politics? Lots of it. Indeed, while controversy continues over the van contract, Wagner keeps summoning the press to his office and PVTA Advisory Board Chairman Richard Theroux keeps accusing the state representative of ax-grinding, specifically resentment over the board’s hiring of former Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos as interim administrator more than a year ago.

Whether ‘crisis,’ an overused and often poorly used term, really applies to the PVTA can be debated, but what can’t is the fact that the PVTA’s oversight structure needs reform, and we hope Wagner, while calling press conferences, can also take a real role in bringing it about — he insists that this is his primary mission.

Perhaps the place to start is with that 24-member advisory board, the model for which is simply not working. For starters, while the board is staffed with well-meaning individuals, many of them have no idea how to oversee a transit system, and some were chosen for mostly political reasons. Meanwhile, this is a weighted system, almost Medieval in its structure, in which all the power goes to the more heavily populated communities, such as Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, and Northampton (which have more riders than smaller towns, obviously) and their representatives to the board.

Things are made worse by the fact that the mayors of those cities feel it necessary to come out of their corner offices when there is a big vote — like the one on a new administrator (MacInnis didn’t win a majority of votes, but got the ‘right’ ones), or an interim administrator, or the paratransit contract — and leave their representatives at home.

The move to award MV that contract was a classic case of these mayors trying to save a little money (MV was the low bidder, but the previous firm had years of experience handling the paratransit service) and thereby fix something that wasn’t broken, and thus really break it in the process. The PVTA’s administration didn’t handle matters with the new vendor very well, but the problem started with the advisory board vote.

It probably makes sense that Springfield’s vote on the advisory board weighs more than Williamsburg’s (maybe one bus reaches that Hampshire County community). But something needs to be done to take at least some of the politics out of the oversight of the PVTA and encourage more-responsible management of one of the region’s most important assets.

It will be difficult to orchestrate such change here and across the regional transit authority system, but it needs to happen, because while the PVTA may or may not in crisis, it has more than its share of problems — a van load of them.

By
Departments

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

Auston, Toy L.
261 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/08/2007

Baker, Barbara
217 Jamaica St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/07/2007

Bishop, Patricia L.
117 Beacon Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/15/2007

Boisvert, Normand Bertrand
Boisvert, Pamela Marie
12 Reimers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/11/2007

Brooks, Homer
Brooks, Joan
3082 High St.
PO Box 118
Bondsville, MA 01009
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/13/2007

Buchanan, Alan C.
Buchanan, Susan A.
54 Michael Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/15/2007

Bushey, Ronald W.
Bushey, Beverly L.
P.O. Box 1315
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/14/2007

Coakley, Nicole D.
495 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/13/2007

Collins, John C.
105 Massachusetts Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/15/2007

D’Ascoli, Gaetano
a/k/a Dascoli, Gaetano
79 Groveland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/13/2007

Dehoyos, Miguel A.
50 Hollywood St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/12/2007

Dorman, John R.
Dorman, Gail A.
40 Adams St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/12/2007

Helin, Robert A.
24 Dwight St., Apt. 26
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/12/2007

Housand, Paul R.
Housand, Ida M.
91 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/09/2007

Ingham, Beverly A.
a/k/a Hulse, Beverly A.
74 Margerie St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/13/2007

  

Inniss, Sean Erickson
Inniss, Irene Love
112 Beach St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/12/2007

Irving, Jerome M.
18 Dalton Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/09/2007

Lindley, James E.
216 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/09/2007

Marvell, Debra Anne
a/k/a Sciabarrasi, Debra A.
20 Bertha Ave.
Gardner, MA 01440
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/12/2007

Mulvey, Gerard B.
Mulvey, Jennifer
136 Main St. Apt. 2
Gardner, MA 01440
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/12/2007

Otis, Kim
117 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/12/2007

Pelletier, Lisa A.
121 North Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/12/2007

Remillard, Michael A
196 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/09/2007

Senape, Michael E.
78 West Housatonic St.,#2
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/07/2007

Sherman, Robert W.
18 Sherbrooke St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/13/2007

Sikes, Debra J.
53 Warrenton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/12/2007

Switzer, Rose B.
99 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/14/2007

Wagner, Shelley A.
7 Cranberry Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/14/2007

Wheeler, Christine A
115 Riviera Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/08/2007

Williams, Irene M.
134 Second St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/13/2007

By
Departments

Former Springfield Official Indicted On Tax Fraud Charges

SPRINGFIELD — Joseph McDowell, a former deputy director at the city’s Facilities Management Department, was recently indicted on five counts of tax evasion triggered by a multi-agency public corruption probe. A federal grand jury found McDowell guilty of failing to report almost $180,000 in outside income from his construction business to the Internal Revenue Service. His arraignment was scheduled for the week of April 23. If McDowell is convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.

Lowe’s Named as Major Tenant of Westfield Complex

WESTFIELD — A Lowe’s Home Improvement Center has been named as the first major tenant for a proposed $70 million retail complex planned on the North Side. National Realty and Development Corp. is the developer for the 812,900-square-foot Westfield Pavilion project. In addition to retail chains, the complex is also expected to include restaurants, a cinema, and 4,700 parking spaces. Traffic issues still need to be revisited by the developer and city planners.

GSCVB Produces 2007-2008 Tourism Guide

SPRINGFIELD — The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau is making its 2007-2008 Guide to Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley available free to potential visitors to the region. The four-color, 84-page, glossy, magazine-size publication features some of the region’s top attractions, accommodations, and restaurants, all of which are GSCVB members. The guide’s specific segments include “arts and entertainment,” “shopping,” “outdoor activities,” “nightlife,” and “what’s new.” To request a free copy of the guide, call (413) 755-1351 or E-mail [email protected].

Inflation Remains Stable

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was up 0.6% in March, the largest jump in 11 months, according to the Labor Department. Energy prices surged in March; however, other consumer costs eased, which provided relief from worries that inflation was spiraling out of hand. The Labor Department noted that the March increase was driven by a 5.9% spike in energy costs, with gasoline prices shooting up 10.6% and another big increase expected in April. Besides gasoline and other energy products, inflation was well-contained in March, according to the CPI report. Additionally, the CPI report noted that prices for the first three months of 2007 are rising at an annual rate of 4.7%, far above the 2.5% price increase for all of 2006, with the increase coming in large part from big gains in energy costs.

Site Selectors Can Benefit from New Database

HOLYOKE — The Connecticut Economic Research Center recently demonstrated the capabilities of EDDI, a program providing economic development data and general information about Western Mass. and Connecticut, to a group of local business leaders. The online database has 26 categories, ranging from demographics of the largest employers to contact names. Staff members of the research center, based in Rocky Hill, Conn., have been working alongside the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to enter data for Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. The goal of the software is to let site selectors compare communities when trying to locate the ideal location for a client.

Survey: Ability to Organize, Communicate Beats Technical Talent

MENLO PARK, Calif. — When hiring administrative staff, it’s tempting to focus on the technical expertise needed for the position, but a new survey shows that less tangible “soft” skills often are valued more. Nearly 70% of human resources managers recently polled by OfficeTeam, HR.com, and the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), said they would hire an applicant with strong soft skills whose technical abilities were lacking; only 9% would hire someone who had strong technical expertise but weak interpersonal skills. The overwhelming majority — 93% — of HR managers felt technical skills are easier to teach than soft skills. More than 300 administrative professionals and 400 HR managers took part in the study, which was released to coincide with Administrative Professionals Week, April 22-28. The full survey results are reported in Fitting In, Standing Out, and Building Remarkable Work Teams, a resource guide available from OfficeTeam. Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam, pointed out that, while administrative professionals frequently focus on building technical expertise to advance their careers, they also should look at how well they work with others. Domeyer stressed that the ability to collaborate and build consensus on projects distinguishes top performers. When asked which soft skills they would like to improve, IAAP members surveyed ranked analytical skills, verbal communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills above others.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Luigi Chiarelli
371 Westfield St.
$120,000 – Self-storage building

Ernest Denby KSD Limited Partnership
59 General Creighton Abrams Dr.
$5,000,000 – Addition to match existing building

AMHERST

Hampshire College
Enfield House 49 & 50
$151,000 – Abatement remediation of existing dorms

Mauro Aniello
59 Boltwood Walk B
$13,000 – Alter space to hairdressing salon

CHICOPEE

TJK LLC
896 Sheridan St.
$1,100,000 – Construction of office and manufacturing facility

Family Ford
60 Fuller Road
$32,000 – Re-roof showroom

EASTHAMPTON

City of Easthampton
50 Payson Avenue
$256,000 – Re-roof

Williston Northampton School
40-50 Park St.
$150,000 – Dining hall window replacement

EAST LONGMEADOW

Grace & Glory Church
93 Meadowbrook Road
$6,200 – Kitchen renovations

GREENFIELD

Argotec, Inc.
49 Greenfield St.
$196,500 – Remodel old offices and build new offices.

Greenfield Hotel, Inc.
17 Colrain Road
$932,500 – Construction of new restaurant

  

HADLEY

Paul Zahradnik
245 Russell St.
$5,200 – Interior renovations

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Farms LLC
Tokeneke Road
$61,500 – Expansion of police substation

LONGMEADOW

Biskit LLC
66 Dwight Road
$600,000 – Construction of new professional building

LUDLOW

Lokman & Harun-Oscars Yanbul
973 East St.
$25,000 – Interior alterations

NORTHAMPTON

Smith College
66 Green St.
$6,600 – Interior renovations

SPRINGFIELD

Andrew Cohen
Northgate Plaza Main St.
$95,000 – New scratch coat EIFS on existing brick and new column wraps

MacDuffie School
1 Ames Hill Dr. TIFFT House
$25,000 – Fire restoration

WEST SPRINGFIELD

SML Wagner Realty LLC
1720 Riverdale St.
$5,500,000 – Construction of new auto dealership

WESTFIELD

Scott Labonte
431 E. Main St.
$391,500 – Renovations to Friendly’s Restaurant

By
Departments

DVP Garners Advertising Award

EAST LONGMEADOW — Del Padre Visual Productions (DVP) of East Longmeadow is among the winners of the first tier of competition for this year’s ADDY Awards, presented by the American Advertising Federation. DVP Inc., a multi-media firm specializing in video production, interactive CD-ROM design, and high-end web design, garnered a Silver ADDY Award on March 29 in the Interactive Multimedia category for a CD-ROM produced for Proficient Audio, a manufacturer of home theater components in Riverside, Calif. The project created a resource disk for a new Proficient product — the M4 Audio Controller, used to interface with various audio systems throughout a home or business, according to Nino Del Padre, president and founder of DVP. ADDY Awards recognize creative excellence in advertising on a three-tier basis; tier-one entrants who are forwarded to the second tier compete against other winners in district competitions, and winners at that level move on to the final ADDY Awards competition, where they compete for gold and silver awards.

Bank of Western Mass. Announces Funding for Two Community Projects

SPRINGFIELD — In celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Bank of Western Massachusetts hosted a luncheon for some 300 founding shareholders, customers, and friends on April 20 at Chez Josef in Feeding Hills. As part of its festivities, the bank announced the commitment of an interest-free line of credit for Habitat of Humanity, which will be used to acquire property Habitat for Humanity designates within Springfield for the construction of single-family homes for low-to-moderate income families in the city. The bank has also committed $75,000 as a major sponsor of a joint project with the Hampden County Bar Association to establish a legal clinic to be operated by the bar association members. The grant will be used to fund the initial start-up and operating costs of the office, which will be staffed by Western New England College’s Law School students, who will donate their time to those who cannot afford legal counsel.

Monson Savings Approved as SBA Express Lender

MONSON — The Small Business Administration has approved Monson Savings Bank as an SBA Express lender. The approval process is extensive, requiring review by SBA personnel in Springfield, Boston, and Washington, D.C. The designation means that Monson Savings may now offer loans to small and medium-size businesses that include a 50% SBA loan guarantee and are designed to provide expeditious service on loan applications. The program allows loans up to $250,000 with fixed or variable interest rates that cannot exceed SBA maximums. Up to 50% of these loans will be guaranteed by the federal government through the SBA.

MassMutual Web Site Earns ‘Excellent’ Ranking

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has been awarded an “excellent” rating for its consumer web site by DALBAR Inc., a leading financial services market research and consulting firm. MassMutual was one of an elite group of financial services companies whose Web site — www.massmutual.com — was designated excellent by DALBAR (its highest designation) in DALBAR’s Life Insurance and Annuity WebMonitor Quarterly Trending and Rankings Report, issued in February. The user-friendly Web site for consumers provides easy access to product information, educational materials, customer service, and experienced financial professionals. In addition, the company’s Web site for financial professionals, FieldNet, has received an ‘excellent’ designation by DALBAR for 11 straight quarters, and earned first place for eight of those quarters, making it the top site in the industry during that time period.

Callaway Golf Estimates 10% Increase in Sales

Callaway Golf Company officials estimate that net sales for the first quarter ended March 31 would be between $330 million and $335 million, an estimated increase of approximately 10% when compared to net sales of $302 million during the same period last year.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Burgers Home Improvement
119 High St.
Michael Burgamaster

Capital Freedom
643 Suffield St.
Keith Crossman

Casa di Lisa Inc.
801 Springfield St.
Frank Bruno

D & R Contractors
64 Garden St.
David R. Dudley Sr.

Dave’s Drywall Complete
37 Highland Ave.
David Redlund

Delivery Dude Express
91 Broz Ter.
Steven M. Fong

Diane’s Designs LLC
86 Roberta Circle
Diane Goodman

Dr. Charles L. Ertel
2 South Bridge Dr.
Dr. Charles L. Ertel

JC Construction and Remodeling
45 Merrell Dr.
Jeff Christie

Santaniello Landscaping Inc.
63 Charest Lane
Barbara Santaniello

AMHERST

Auto Express
118 South East St.
Amir Mikhchi

Reflexology for Health
180 Mechanic St.
Edward Kaler

CHICOPEE

Danmark
46 Stedman St.
Mark Willemain

Gary’s Auto Sales Inc.
125 Broadway St.
Gary A. Lopuk

Jani King
18 Dwight St.
Ludimiria Fagundes

Olympia Sports
591 Memorial Dr.
John J. Lesniak, CFO

EASTHAMPTON

Chit Chats
116 Pleasant St. #140
Jerelyn Jaikissoon

Kommineni Art Glass
3B Industrial Parkway
Rajesh Kommineni

Time Machine Records and Books
20 Union St.
Greg Petrovato

EAST LONGMEADOW

1505 Photovisions
38 Cedarhill Road
Melissa Volker

Diane & Company
37 Prospect St.
Diane Gomes

Maybury Material Handling
90 Denslar Road
Maybury Association Inc.

GREENFIELD

Dan McGough Painting
30 Abbott St.
Dan McGough

Emerald City Coffee
38 Bank Row
Jason D. Smith

Frankin Property
92 Chapman St.
William Yenner

Hair by Kelley
41 Bank Row
Kelley Goddard

Harpor’s Package Store
404 Colrain Road
James M. Burke

L Salon
18 Miles St.
Lindsay Marie Siano

Wildlife Solutions
83 Pickett Lane
Rocky Fletcher

HADLEY

Arc Welding
71 Lawrence Plain Road
John S. Mieczkowski Jr.

Floormart Inc.
206 Russell St.
James A. Hoag

Sophia’s Praises
8 Railroad St.
Kristine Beaudry

HOLYOKE

Christin’s
330 Whitney Ave.
Nicholas Delbuono

New England Colors
356 Hillside Ave.
Neil Moreau

NTIL Radio
223 Maple St.
Dionisio Ruiz

Quick Stop Food Mart
172 Sargeant St.
Imran Raheel

Theory Skate Shop
50 Holyoke St.
Dan Dziuban

LONGMEADOW

International Business Company
9 Green Willow Dr.
John Mark Friedson

LUDLOW

A & P Machine Company
1189 East St.
Paul & Anne Guay

Landmark Realtors Inc.
488 Center St.
Maria Cacela

NORTHAMPTON

Achin Lawn & Landscaping
12 Hatfield St.
Brooks Achin

Get Lost
269 Main St.
Brian Paul Foote

Great Specs
15 Hawley St.
Epiphany Enterprises

  

Hampshire Frame & Art
90 King St.
Robin J. Smilie

Jack Speyer Art & Antiques
416 North Main St.
Jack Speyer

Positronic Design
140 Pine St.
David Caputo

PALMER

AAGGO
2039/2041 Bridge St.
Gerald N. Charette

Auto Automotive
11 Walnut St.
Bruce Baldyga

Emotion
4470 High St.
Rod Squier

SOUTH HADLEY

Amanda Rodriguez Productions
12 Ranger St.
Amanda Rodriguez

Crazy Moon Fashions
21 College St.
Joe Golio

House of Vacuum
23 Smith St.
Cindy Beer

Legrand Ice Audio
8 Roundelay Road
James Legrand

SPRINGFIELD

A & A Express
65 Rochelle St.
Andre Taylor

Arecibo Restaurant
248 Dickinson St.
Maria C. Lopez

China Blue
29 Montford St.
Natasha Carmita Perez

Diem’s Tailor & Alterations
434 Belmont Ave.
Tran Nguyen

G & P Construction
85 Goodwin St.
Manuel G. Pereira

Hanif Bacchas Associates
116 Allen St.
Hanif Bacchas

Kokomos
350 Worthington St.
Sherri-Lynn Via

Law Office of Jocelyn A. Roby
95 State St. Suite 715
Jocelyn A. Roby

Lil’s Diva Wear
6 Bremen St.
Lilia Rivera

Outhouse Craftsmen
44 Longview St.
Paul N. Decoteau

PC Serv-U
527 Main St.
Kevin L. Perrengill

Roberto’s Fashion and More
469 Main St.
Roberto Martinez

Rosario Home Décor
112 Washburn St.
Luis A. Rosario

Seven Seas Seafood
858 State St.
Patrice L. Housey

Spring Appraisal Company
76 Earl St.
Samuel Diai

Springfield Coed Softball
60 Hannon St.
Robert J. Paquette

Tony’s Home Improvement
18 Pomona St.
Julio A. Sepulveda

WWB Enterprises
192 Jasper St.
Wilfred Beckles

WEST SPRINGFIELD

C.T. Landscaping
41 Merrick St.
Christopher A. Torres

Caron Marketing Group
120 Hillcrest Ave.
Valerie J. Caron

Cooper Home Improvement
105 River St.
Serhiy Teplyuk

Just Blaze Barber Shop
411 Main St.
Miguel A. Perez Jr.

Precision Manufacturing
130 Allston Ave.
Peter Bogdan Urbanek

Respite (For Body & Spirit)
175 Labelle Ave.
Mary Hunt O’Connor

Russian Pharmacy Health
464 Main St.
Svetlana Gorbovets

Suzieq’s
30 Bobskill Dr.
Susan Tiffany Taylor

Theory Skate Shop
306 Westfield St.
Dan Dziuban

WESTFIELD

D.J. Landscaping
528 Southampton Road
Daniel Szafran

KDC Billing Services
34 Atwater St.
David Cichaski

New England Industrial
51 Hunt Glen Dr.
William C. Coughlen

RL Construction
289 Sackett Road
Bob LaMountain

S.S.S. Company
47 Janelle St.
Edwin Villareal

Transmissions Are Us
56 Wells Ave.
Martin Cuzzone Jr.

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.

CHESTER

Mobius Sciences Inc., 14 Main St., Chester 01011. Marc S. Newkirk, same. (Foreign corp.; DE) Destressing services and manufacture of distressed environments.

EAST LONGMEADOW

D & B Mechanical Inc., 631 North Main St., East Longmeadow 01028. Daniel B. Murray, 20 Colonial Road, Wilbraham 01095. Automobile repairs and sales.

FEEDING HILLS

F. J. Gaylor Photography Inc., 110 Forest Hill Road, Feeding Hills 01030. Fred Gaylor, same. Landscape photography.

Turnbull Electric Inc., 252 Northwest St., Feeding Hills 01030. Gary Turnbull, same. Electrical services and repairs.

FLORENCE

Drong-Ba Western Tibet Foundation Inc., 106 Sandy Hill Road, Florence 01062. Pema Tseyang Rangdol, same. (Nonprofit) Provide charitable and educational services in Western Tibet where needs arise, etc.

GRANBY

Western Mass Technology Associates Inc., 111 West St., Granby 01033. Eric J. Gagne, same. To provide information technology services and products.

HADLEY

The Workhorse Group Inc., 115 River Dr., Hadley 01035. R. Susan Woods, same. Building trades, real estate.

LEEDS

Sandy Flag Cars Inc., 182 Main St., Leeds 01053. Sandy Lee Ryan, same. Truck escort.

LUDLOW

MyBike Electric Inc., 393 East St., Ludlow 01056. Glen Jusczyk, same. To deal in electric bikes.

Putters Inc., 27 Amherst St., Ludlow 01056. William Kubinski, same. Restaurant and bar.

MILLERS FALLS

Sveikas Inc., 6 Bangs St., Millers Falls 01349. Jeffrey P. Warren-Pukis, same. Production and sale of fermented beverages.

MONSON

Monson Basketball Association Inc., 39 Crest Road, Monson 01057. Timothy Pascale, same. (Nonprofit) To foster interest in recreational and competitive basketball, etc.

NORTHAMPTON

Alter Ego Salon Inc., 58 Pleasant St., Northampton 01060. Lisa Fusco, 149 Elm St., Northampton 01060. To operate a hair salon and related activities.

  

Funtastic Venture Ltd., 33 Hawley St., Northampton 01060. Elizabeth J. Cole, same. Children’s recreation and education center.

K & H Transportation Center Inc., One Round House Plaza, Northampton 01060. Katherine E. Hogan, 486 Cold Spring Ave., West Springfield 01089. Transportation.

SKM Leasing Company Inc., 150 Main St., Ste. 310, Northampton 01060. Sharon K. Moynahan, 22 Conz St., Northampton 01060. Sale and leasing of real estate.

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Vascular Services Inc., 759 Chestnut St., Springfield 01199. Loring Flint, M.D., 174 Twin Hills Dr., Longmeadow 01199. (Nonprofit) Aiding and advancing the education and training of medical students, physicians in graduate medical education, other health care professions, etc.

Bellas Reptile Rescue Inc., 112 Surrey Road, Springfield 01116. Michael M. Dakin, 70 Surrey Road, Springfield 01116. (Nonprofit) To rescue, rehabilitate and find new homes for abandoned, injured and abused reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, etc.

Bemeg Inc., 1391 Main St., Ste. 600, Springfield 01103. Donald F. Cimini, 251 Mapleshade Ave., East Longmeadow 01028. To own and operate a package store.

Hampden Eye Physicians and Surgeons, P.C., 28 Yorktown Dr., Springfield 01108. Susan Batlan, same. Eye surgeon.

L & S Enclosures Inc., 906 Boston Road, Springfield 01118. Albert M. Leger, 165 Sawmill Road, Springfield 01118. Construction of sunroom enclosures.

WARE

Messer Power Systems Inc., 181 Monson Turnpike Road, Ware 01082. Charles K. Messer, same. Sales and service of power systems.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Soupy For Loopy Foundation Inc., 156 Woodbrook Terrace, West Springfield 01089. Sandra J. Kosko, same. (Nonprofit) To raise funds for the research of a cure for neuroblastona, etc.

WESTFIELD

American Paper & Pallet Inc., 866 East Mountain Road, Westfield 01085. Karen M. Corliss, same. Paper and pallet sales/brokerage.

Billie’s Baked Potatoes Inc., 264 Union St., Westfield 01085. George R. Martin, 19 West View Lane, Feeding Hills 01001. Sale of baked potatoes.

WILBRAHAM

Major & Major Inc., 4 Bridle Path Road, Wilbraham 01095. Anna M. Major, same. Tanning salon.

The Jeffery Thomas Kace NBD Foundation Inc., Wilbraham 01095. Charles Kace, II, same. (Nonprofit) Fundraising and charitable distribution

By
Departments


Ken Furst

The World Affairs Councils of America recently appointed Ken Furst, long-time member and president of the World Affairs Council of Western Mass., to the national board of directors.

 

•••••

Indrani K. Gallagher recently joined the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in West Springfield as Office Manager/Executive Assistant.

•••••

The Pioneer Valley chapter of BNI (Business Network International) recently elected a new slate of officers to its Leadership Team. Officers are:
• Ken Gotha, president, of Custom Furniture Design and Restoration of Agawam;
• Elaine Labbe, vice president, of Distinctive Marketing in Chicopee, and
• Eric Lubarsky, secretary/treasurer, of E & G Automotive of West Springfield.

•••••

Keller Williams Realty in Longmeadow announced the following:
• Donna L. Duval is working in the Longmeadow Market Center, specializing in estate properties, pre-foreclosure, and residential sales, and
• Kevin F. Moore is also working in the Longmeadow Market Center, where he is specializing in residential sales.

•••••

 

Greenfield Savings Bank announced the following:
• Shane P. Hammond has been elected Trustee;
• Regina Curtis has been named a Corporator;
• Bruce Lessels has been named a Corporator, and
• Jack Vadnais has been promoted to Assistant Vice President and Infinex Representative. His expertise lies in financial planning, investment, and risk management.

•••••

Michelle McAdaragh has been named Director of Real Estate Development for HAP Inc. in Springfield. She will work to increase production of affordable housing in Hampden and Hampshire counties and expand urban neighborhood revitalization efforts.

•••••

Savage Range Systems in Westfield has appointed Barry Witt to the newly created position of National Sales Manager.

•••••

Myra Marcellin recently received the 2007 Pride of First Pioneer Outstanding Citizenship Award from First Pioneer Farm Credit. She is a loan officer in First Pioneer’s Enfield office.

•••••

FamilyFirst Bank of Ware has promoted Dawn M. Swistak to Vice President and Treasurer. She formerly served as Assistant Treasurer.

••••

  

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Hartford campus recently announced the appointment of five full-time faculty members. They are:
• Darius Jal Sabavala, Ph.D., Professor, and Anupam Saraph, Ph.D., Professor, both in the Lally School of Management and Technology; and
• Brice N. Cassenti, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Engineering; Eugene Eberbach, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Computer Science; and Renaud Pawlak, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Computer Science, all in the Department of Engineering and Science.

•••••

ERA Laplante Real Estate has added Heather Law to its sales staff.

•••••


Teresa C. Utt

Teresa C. Utt has joined the executive sales staff of Andrew Associates in Enfield, Conn.

•••••

Polish National Credit Union has promoted the following individuals:
• Christine M. Janik, Senior Vice President of Human Resources;
• Anthony F. Ogonis, Senior Vice President of Operations;
• Joanne M. Page, Vice President of Lending;
• Celia Wolanin, Vice President of Retail Administration;
• Cynthia Mahoney, Compliance Officer;
• Ela Vickers, Branch Manager at the main office;
• Deborah Rivera, Assistant Manager at the main office, and
• Cynthia Houle, Assistant Manager at the Westfield office.

•••••

James A. Sandagato has been promoted to Commercial Lending and Services Officer for the Commercial Division of Southbridge Savings Bank. He previously served as a branch manager.

•••••

Springfield-based A. G. Edwards & Sons Inc. has promoted Mark W. Teed to Associate Vice President. He is Branch Manager and a Financial Consultant in the firm’s Springfield office.

•••••

Jonathan Pine has been named Vice President of Medical Specialty Services at Baystate Health. In his new role, Pine will oversee Diabetes and Endocrine Services, Neurosciences Services, Behavioral Health, Rehabilitation Services, Renal and Transplant Services, Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine Administrative Services, and several Baystate community health centers.

•••••

Kenneth R. Carter, Associate Director for Research at the UMass-Amherst Materials Research Science and Engineering Center on Polymers, won the Percy L. Julian Award for significant contributions in pure and applied research in chemistry. The award honors black chemist Percy L. Julian, who is known for work that led to the discovery of cortisone.

•••••

Dr. John F. Cardella has been appointed Chairman of the Department of Radiology at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

By
Departments

Marketing Research Workshop

April 17: The Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship has rescheduled a free workshop on marketing research for noon at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, One Federal St., Springfield. Originally scheduled for Feb. 14, the session was postponed due to snow. Workshop discussion will include how to make better business decisions by learning how to plan a market study, collect data, and interpret the results. For more information about the workshop, call (413) 736-8462 or visit www.law.wnec.edu/lawandbusiness.

Creating Healthy Conversations

April 18: Guillermo Cuellar, Ed.D., MBA faculty member, and MBA students discuss why it is so difficult to create and sustain genuine, collaborative, healthy conversations, even among people who have similar goals, as part of the Kaleidoscope series at Bay Path College in Longmeadow. The lecture is planned for 7 p.m. in Blake Student Commons and is free. The audience and facilitators will discuss opportunities to create a culture of collaboration, beginning with how mental models or strategies for behavior determine the process of our conversations. For more information, call (413) 565-1293 or visit www.baypath.edu.

Selecting a Legal Entity

April 18: The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will host a workshop, “Selecting the Right Legal Entity,” which will offer an overview of legal entities available when one is forming a new business. Discussion will focus on the benefits and drawbacks that must be considered when deciding to operate your business as a sole proprietorship, corporation, or limited liability company. The workshop will be conducted at the Florence Savings Bank Community Room, on Russell Street in Hadley, from 9 to 11 a.m. For more information, call (413) 737-6712.

Beacon Hill Summit

April 25: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc., the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce have planned a full day of learning and experiencing government firsthand at the State House for local business executives. Gov. Deval Patrick, Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi, and Senate President Robert Travaglini have all been invited to participate in the day’s events. A luncheon and reception with area legislators is also included in the package. The cost is $165 per person, and advance registration is required. For more information, contact Diane Swanson at [email protected].

Marketing to Multiple Generations

April 25: The Ad Club will present a half-day seminar titled “The Generational Imperative: Because It’s No Longer an Option” at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Chuck Underwood, founder and president of the Cincinnati-based consulting firm the Generational Imperative, will be the guest speaker. Underwood has been studying America’s generations for 20 years and will share his knowledge of how to market to multiple generations that can benefit small and large corporations. He provides consulting, research, and seminars to some of America’s largest corporations and organizations, including Procter & Gamble, Time Warner, Sony, Disney, and Coca-Cola. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast. The program starts at 8:30 and wraps up with a luncheon at noon. The cost is $85 for Ad Club members and $100 for nonmembers. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.adclubwm.org.

2007 Business Market Show

May 2: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc. (ACCGS) will host its 2007 Business Market Show from 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. The show will feature more than 225 booths offering products and services to help, enhance, and grow one’s business. Admission is free with a business card, and no registration is required. Special events include the ACCGS Breakfast Club meeting featuring guest speaker Wes Moss from The Apprentice, the Better Business Bureau luncheon, and 12 business seminars. In addition, a “Taste the Market” event is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. with local restaurants offering free samples from their menus, and a microbrew tasting rounds out the day’s highlights. For more information, visit www.businessmarketshow.com.

Go FIT Breakfast

May 3: Go FIT of Springfield will present Dr. Charles Steinberg, executive vice president of public affairs for the Boston Red Sox, as its keynote speaker at a 7:30 a.m. breakfast at Bay Path College in Longmeadow. Steinberg will focus his talk on how loyalty, creativity, and the love of the game are major themes that have driven him throughout his career. He will also explain how the organization engenders good will — and how that translates into good business — even through the smallest gestures. Go FIT will also present the Go FIT Champion Award to William A. Burke III, global president of Lenox/American Saw. Since the organization’s inception, Burke has been both a supporter and a resource who has made a tremendous impact for Go FIT. The breakfast is planned from 7:30 to 8:45 at the Blake Student Commons. Tickets can be ordered by calling Go FIT at (413) 796-9007. Pre-registration is required. Tickets are $25 per person. Go FIT is a non-profit organization that provides health and fitness opportunities to economically underprivileged and underserved youth and women in inner-city and rural settings.

The After 5

May 9: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, Inc. will host its “After 5” from 5 to 7 p.m. at Balise Toyota Scion, 1399 Riverdale St., West Springfield. The After 5 is an opportunity to meet business professionals in a casual setting. Participants are encouraged to bring business cards. Reservations can be made by signing up online at www.myonlinechamber.com. Tickets are $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. For more information, call (413) 755-1313.

‘Not Just Business as Usual’

May 10: As part of ongoing celebrations marking its 40th anniversary, Springfield Technical Community College, in collaboration with Berkshire Bank, will host “Not Just Business as Usual,” a program highlighted by a presentation from business leader Larry Bossidy, at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The program will include a networking cocktail hour followed by a dinner catered by Max’s Tavern. Highlights of STCC’s first 40 years will be followed by the address from Bossidy, who will bring a wide range of experience to his presentation. Named CEO of the Year in 1994 by Financial World, and Chief Executive of the Year in 1998 by CEO magazine, Bossidy is a retired chairman and CEO of Honeywell International Inc., former chairman of Allied Signal, and is on the board of directors of Merck & Co., as well as an incorporated member of the Business Council and Business Roundtable. He is also a best-selling author whose book, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, details how business leaders can turn strategy into results. Sponsorships for the evening will benefit the STCC Foundation. For more information, call (413) 755-4477.

‘In the Driver’s Seat’

May 10: Study after study recognizes that women-led businesses outpace state and national averages in growth rate, and are becoming key drivers of the state’s revenue and employment. This is not coincidental. There are very specific strategies and management styles adopted by women business owners and executives that promote exceptional business growth. At this workshop, organized by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network, attendees can hear women business owners and leaders share their knowledge, experiences, and keys to success. The program, slated for 9 a.m. to noon (with an optional lunch), will be staged at the Country Club of Pittsfield, 639 South St. Speakers will include Allison Berglund of the Mass. Office of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, and Kathy Selvia, president of New England Promotional Marketing. For more information, call (413) 737-6712.

The Voice of Fenway Park

April 19: The Valley Press Club will host a luncheon featuring Carl Beane, the so-called “voice of the Red Sox,” in Western New England College’s River Memorial Hall at noon. Beane, an Agawam native, has been uttering those famous words “Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, welcome to Fenway Park’ since 2003, when he became the club;s public address announcer. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For more information, call (413) 335-8551

By
Departments

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

Barnes, Denis A.
7 Highland Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/02/2007

Bennett, Martha P.
45 Willow St., Apt 311
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2007

Briggs, Steven M.
46 Pierce St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2007

Burnette,Mark Allen
Burnette, Karen Ruth
83 Lower Beverly Hills
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/27/2007

Chartier, James A.
Chartier, Theresa A.
57 Martha St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/06/2007

Christian, Walter
Christian, Lynda
34 Bristol St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/04/2007

Courchesne, Carl Edward
121 Hampton Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/07/2007

Crippa, Patrick J.
36 Washington St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/05/2007

Daly, A. M.
PO Box 265
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2007

Deily, Greg K .
10 Salem Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/01/2007

Douglas, Florence E.
73 Flint St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/28/2007

Hamblin, David P.
113 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/04/2007

Kellner, Jamie M.
118 Draper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2007

Kim, Sun Na
Jung In Duck
70 Broadway St., Apt 205
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/06/2007

Leblanc, Robert L.
Leblanc, Tanya E.
490 Vernon Ave.
South Barre, MA 01074
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/01/2007

Morris, Aaron K.
Martin, LeeAnne
195 Glenoak Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/04/2007

Morris-Rivard, Stephanie L.
782 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2007

Ndlovu, Felicia
59 Pine Grove St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/02/2007

Normandin, Christopher
Normandin, Monique C.
P.O. Box 210
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/03/2007

 

Peabody, Donna L.
71 Fenway Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/01/2007

Pikula, William E.
46 Charles St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/01/2007

Prevost, Tammy S.
119 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/27/2007

Puffer Logging, D. A.
Puffer, David A.
68 Strong Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2007

Rawson, Katherine Anne
a/k/a Blenk, Katherine Anne
350 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/27/2007

Refeen, Laurie A.
1B North Main St.
P.O. Box 1011
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/07/2007

Renaud, Gary A.
Renaud, Christine J.
15 Old Chester Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/03/2007

Rodriguez, Pablo
153 Knollwood St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/02/2007

Scannell, Jeremiah P.
501 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2007

Shean, Mary M.
2 Royal Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/27/2007

Solivan-Rodriguez, Beatrice G.
32 Edmund Wynn Circle, Apt. B
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/02/2007

Stanley, Charles E.
Stanley, Linda A.
35 Knox Street
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2007

The Sporting Edge
Guczek, Edward J.
183 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/02/2007

Tirozzi, Renee A.
92 Stockman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/06/2007

Walsh, Marjorie J.
112 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/27/2007

Williams, David Kevin
Williams,Melinda Lou
a/ka/a Spencer-Williams, Melinda Lou
151 Meadow Street
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/27/2007

Zlobicka, Katarzyna
170 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/27/2007

By
Departments

PVTA Ends Van Contract

SPRINGFIELD — In the wake of mounting complaints from users and the recent death of a passenger, an East Longmeadow man, the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority recently announced plans to cancel its contract with a California-based van contractor and have a replacement provider by the end of May. At an emergency meeting of the PVTA’s 24-member advisory board, Administrator Mary MacInnes announced that the three-year contract with MV Transportation would be ended. A spokesperson for the company said the decision was reached mutually. First Transit Inc., a Cincinnati-based chain now operating the PVTA’s bus fleet, will take over van service for elderly and disabled passengers by Memorial Day. Under the transition, First Transit will hire several smaller local companies to help run the van service, and will try to retain MV’s local drivers if possible.

Howdy Awards Finalists Chosen

SPRINGFIELD — The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau has chosen 31 people from across the Pioneer Valley’s hospitality industry as finalists for the 12th annual Howdy Awards. The finalists will be feted at a reception April 19 at the Delaney House in Holyoke. Winners will be announced at a dinner May 15 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The program recognizes hospitality industry employees who provide exceptional service and raises the community’s awareness of the industry’s contributions to the regional economy.

Businesses Nationwide Cautiously Optimistic

TEMPE, Ariz. — Business activity in the non-manufacturing sector increased at a slower rate in March, according to the nation’s purchasing and supply executives at the Institute for Supply Management. Non-manufacturing business activity increased for the 48th consecutive month in March, but business activity, orders, and employment increased at a slower rate in March than in February. Members’ comments in March indicate a concern with fuel costs, the economy, and the impact on business conditions. The overall indication in March is continued economic growth in the non-manufacturing sector, but at a slower pace than in February. Industries reporting growth in March included utilities, educational services, retail trade, finance and insurance, transportation and warehousing, health care and social assistance, public administration, and construction.

City To Hire Capital Staff

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Finance Control Board has recommended hiring a capital project director and two capital project analysts to oversee a myriad of city projects including the demolition of the former York Street jail and a new, $120 million school to replace the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High School. Capital projects that are also deemed a priority include demolition of the Chapman Valve factory in Indian Orchard and renovations to fire stations, the police station, and libraries. The new staff would be responsible for managing the financial aspects of the projects and ensuring contract compliance requirements are met. During a recent meeting of the Finance Control Board and Springfield city councilors, councilors were split on their feelings for the new positions. Control Board Executive Director Philip Puccia warned that mistakes in planning and managing capital projects can be costly to the city if they are not handled correctly. Puccia also noted that the financially strapped city is still on target for a balanced budget this year.

Survey: Longer Resumes Now More Acceptable

MENLO PARK, Calif. — The ‘keep your resume to one page’ rule may be on its way out, a new survey of executives suggests. While more than half (52%) of executives polled believe a single page is the ideal length for a staff-level resume, 44% said they prefer two pages. That compares to 25% polled a decade earlier who cited two pages as the optimal resume length; 73% of respondents preferred a single page at that time. Respondents also seemed more receptive to three-page resumes for executive roles, with nearly one-third (31%) citing this as the ideal length, compared to only 7% 10 years ago. Both national polls include responses from 150 senior executives with the nation’s 1,000 largest companies, and were developed by Accountemps. Many employers are willing to spend a little more time reviewing application materials so they can more easily determine who is most qualified and act quickly to secure interviews with these candidates, according to Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. Although employers may be willing to review longer resumes, job seekers shouldn’t go overboard, he added. Employers want to see that applicants can prioritize information and concisely convey the depth of their experience, said Messmer.

By
Departments

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

Agawam

Charles Calabrese
322 Meadow St.
$600,000 — Construction of a new apartment building

Crestview Country Club
281 Shoemaker Lane
$16,000 — Installation of an awning to cover a patio

Genesis Health Care
61 Cooper St.
$45,000 — Renovation of kitchen, new ceiling, and repair damaged walls

Panda Express
1623 Main St.
$400,000 — Renovate existing building into new restaurant on Six Flags location

Six Flags New England
1623 Main St.
$50,000 — Frame building for Big Red Car Ride

Amherst

Candace Talley
649 East Pleasant St.
$10,000 — Remodeling of first and second floors for a bed and breakfast

Mary Broll
493 Montague Road
$24,000 — Install new storefront glass

South Congregational Church
1066 South East St.
$150,000 — Install new basement floor plus repair and paint roof and steeple

Chicopee

Griffith Road Limited Partnership LLC
300 Griffith Road
$1,232,000 — Fit-out within existing building

Microtek
36 Justing Drive
$100,000 — Two new office spaces and storage in existing building

Greenfield

William Yenner
92-94 Chapman St.
$15,000 — Convert basement space to office space with bathroom

Holyoke

Arrow Construction Company, Inc.
39 Holyoke St.
$121,000 — Remodel Bed, Bath, & Beyond store

The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, Inc.
500 Easthampton Road
$26,000 — Placement of accessory structure to be used for sale of coffee

W.S. Kenney Company Inc.
400 Whitney Ave.
$405,000 — Make alterations

Northampton

Clarke School for the Deaf
84 Round Hill Road
$750,000 — Construct foundation

 

Chamisa Corporation
25 Main St.
$25,000 — Relocate partitions, update offices & waiting room

Eric Suher
84 Pleasant St.
$3,750 — Remodel bathroom

Moushabek Properties
22 Main St.
$19,500 — Renovate interior for bookstore and retail

Northeast Enterprises
19 Lyman Road
$12,500 — Finish third floor space, add bathroom and second floor cabinets

Patricia Butterfield
76 Pleasant St.
$103,000 — First floor interior renovation for skincare clinic

Smith College
126 West St.
$8,404,000 — Install gas turbine and other equipment in existing structure (Cogen)

Stephen Ferrarone
14 Strong Ave.
$2,200 — Repartition retail space

World War II Veterans Association
50 Conz St.
$67,000 — Add entrance to bar area and remodel bathrooms

Springfield

C & W Shopping Centers LLC
1951 Wilbraham Road
$50,000 — Exterior canopy alteration

John Margeson
299 Carew St.
$35,000 — Renovate existing office space

Peabody Properties
101 Lowell St.
$4,000 — Convert existing storage into office

Westfield

Jordan Phillips
485 E. Main St.
$19,000 — Renovation to retail store

Marika Theodorakis
121 North Elm St.
$36,000 — Interior renovation from laundromat to convenience store

West Springfield

1150 Union St. Corporation
1150 Union St.
$60,000 – Renovate commercial space

By
Departments

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

Agawam

C. J. L. Consulting
74 Glendale Road
Carla J. Lee

Clip Shop I Bargains Etc.
667 Springfield St.
Nancy Gentile

Frankie’s One Stop
91 Ramah Circle
Gianfranco Sciroccoo

Mass-Conn Inspections
99 Hendom Dr.
Sean Provost

Westfield Bank
655 Main St.
Westfield Savings Bank

Amherst

A Taste of Brooklyn
233 North Pleasant St.
Edna Richardson

Bresnahan Insurance Agency
231 Triangle St.
Terence Bresnahan

Chicopee

Custom Embroidery and Digitizing
1092 James St.
Nancy J. Perman

Dand L Home Improvement
16 Ducharme Ave.
Ralph E. Lussier

Monro Muffler Brake
461 Memorial Dr.
Mark Avery

Seibold Homes
75 Marble Ave.
Brian Seibold

Easthampton

Authentic Polish Pottery
68 Holyoke St.
Nora Bernier

Extreme Cleaning
27 Maple St.
Doug Beyer

Mt. Tom Soaps
5 Arthur St.
Cynthia Chamberland

Waxwing Design
59 Knipfer Ave.
Amy Bowes

Wheelchair & Senior Taxi
44 West St.
Bruce Cousineau

East Longmeadow

Money Management Associates
44 Harkness Ave.
Armand Arce

Villa Calabrese Inc.
162 Shaker Road
Antonio Fazio

Greenfield

Blue Blade Music
8 Prospect Ave.
Jeffrey Foucault

Flair for Hair
30 Chapman St.
Judith Ann Carter

Julia Grace Photography
60 Devens St.
Julia Grace Johns

Movie Gallery
68 Mohawk Trail
Lisa Carcione

Renfrew Real Estate
68 Mohawk Trail
Susan Renfrew

Second Chance
27 Chapman St.
Charlette Morin

The Arbors @ Greenfield
15 Meridian St.
Greenfield Assisted Living Limited Partnership

Hadley

Benjamin Zahradnik Systems
245 Russell St.
Benjamin Zahradnik

RCI Electric
1 Laurana Lane
Paul R. Miller

Secure Transportation
215 Russell St.
Norman Labonte

Holyoke

Techiemon
160 Suffolk St.
John Hanson

Theo Fadel Studio
95 St. James Ave.
Theodora Fadel

TNT Pizza
548 South St.
Anthony Favata

Who’s Next
273 Main St.
Eric Nieves

Longmeadow

Rick Forgay Leadership Institute
P.O. Box 60561
Richard E. Forgay II

RJB Real Estate
140 Hilltop Road
Richard J. Bellicchi

Tatyana Zak Apparel Group Inc.
226 Franklin Road
Tatyana Glukhovsky

Ludlow

East St. Variety
248 East St.
Lack Shah

Pioneer Realty
733 Chapin St.
Paul Miele

Turkish Soccer Club
305 East St.
Ahmet Citlak

Northampton

Custom Designs & Renovations
296 Turkey Hill Road
Tracy Sanyo

 

Exceptional Arts
213 Main St.
Bashir Ahamed

Pine St. Publishing
10 Pine St.
Fred Contrada

Sweeties Fine Chocolate
68 Main St.
Charles Burke

The Power Years
549 North Farm Road
Athleen Zimmerman

Palmer

The Concierge
90 Ware St.
Peter Gauthier

South Hadley

Dan Daniels & Your No Good Buddies
525 Hadley St.
Daniel Daniels

JZ Hair
491 Granby Road
Julie Zacharewicz

JustRight Masonry
582 Amherst Road
Gary Brissette

Solidarity for Families & Children’s Rights
7 Kendrick St.
Seth Diamond

Western Mass Cleaning Services
37 Lawn St.
Debra A. Kelly

Southwick

Clipshop Bargains Etc.
6 Judy Lane
Nancy Gentile

Sharon’s Errands
26 Granville Road
Sharon Tetreault

Springfield

B & A Produce Company
930 Bay St.
Loretta A Arillotta

Banks Carpet Cleaning
1129 St. James Ave.
Michael Sebastian

Cristianos Production
Wrentham Road
Emilio Pomales

Designs By Debi
77 Johnson St.
Debra A. Cappucci

Ed Pallets
44 Verge St.
Edwin Quinones

Ellary Associates
935 Main St.
Gary M. Heller

Gonzalez General Contract
100 Benton St.
Luis Gonzalez

Helpful Hands
35 Talmadge Dr.
Donna M. Waters

I Am Productions
18 Forest Park Ave.
Shariff Raheem Butler

Jack Casey’s Painting
5 Manor Court
Jack Casey

Journeys 1280
1655 Boston Road, SP 149
Michael Canterbury

K D Trucking
32 Clantoy St.
Kelvinson Ramon Duran

LaVallee Floors
221 Laurelton St.
Keith A. LaVallee

Mulberry Real Estate Group
40 Audubon St.
Jason Scott Donaldson

Sr. Productions
195 Worthington St.
Sergio Reodriguez

The Image Makers II
614 Carew St.
Malaquias Cortorreal

Tropical Food Mart
343 Wilbraham Road
Antonio Jimenez

West Springfield

ATC Systems
150 Grandview Ave.
Joseph Conti Jr.

Inter-Technologies, INC
451 Dewey St.
Yury Pshenichny

SGM Entertainment
74 Bosworth St.
Joseph Ross Jr.

The Super Washing Well Laundry
1126 Union St.
David Cortis

Westfield

Dena’s Petlane Products
64 Kane Brothers Circle
Dena Cavallon

Four Seasons Home Improvement
9 Spring St.
Michael J. Soto

Kirby of Western Massachusetts/DBA Saunders Distribution
108 Elm St.
Cynthia Saunders

North American Paper, Co.
61 Union St.
Robert Snyder

Stop & Go
35 Mill St.
Umair S. Farooqui

Swayger Plumbing and Heating
18 Llewellyn Dr.
Michael Swayger

Ticket Express
163 Barbara St.
Alan Metcalf

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

JL Construction Corp., 18B Mansion Woods Dr., Agawam 01001. Jason J. Larochelle, same. To provide development, excavation, construction and road work services.

Marasi Transportation Corp., 11 Horsham St., Agawam 01030. Steven Marasi, same. Motor transportation of all commodities.

R & A Schoolcraft Inc., 79 Corey St., Agawam 01001. Richard A. Schoolcraft, same. To operate a convenience/package store.

AMHERST

Personalized Pharmaceutical Systems Inc., 356 Middle St., Amherst 01002. Todd A. Hoover, MD, 822 Montomery Ave., #306, Narbeth, PA 19072. Paul Herscu, 356 Middle St., Amherst 01002, treasurer. Consulting.

CHICOPEE

Design Professionals Inc., 554 Grattan St., Chicopee 01020. Peter R. Demallie, 425 Sullivan Ave., So. Windsor, CT 06074. Robert J. Lefebre, Esq., 554 Grattan Ave., Chicopee 01020, registered agent. Civil engineering, urban planning, surveying.

Waris Inc., 241 Chicopee St., Chicopee 01013. Mian Zahoor, same. Fast food.

EAST LONGMEADOW

M. Scott Investment Services Inc., 51 Prospect St., East Longmeadow 01028. Michael Scott Poggi, 112 Nottingham Dr., East Longmeadow 01028. Consulting.

FEEDING HILLS

FMLB Inc., 801 Springfield St., Feeding Hills 01030. Frank Bruno, Jr., 953 Westfield St., Feeding Hills 01030. Restaurant/bar.

FLORENCE

Content Here Inc., 17 Fairfield Ave., Florence 01062. Seth G. Gottlieb, same. Strategic technology consulting and advising.

GREENFIELD

Addam Inc., 409 Chapman St., Greenfield 01301. Maytte Dusseau, same. (Nonprofit) To serve as a network of admissions marketing and business development professionals in child and adolescent residential services, etc.

HADLEY

Lawn Jockey Inc., 49 River Dr., Hadley 01035. Tory J. Chlanda, same. Landscaping design, construction and maintenance.

HOLYOKE

372 Source of New York City Inc., 372 High St., Holyoke 01040. Hoi Soon Kim, same, president and registered agent. To operate a retail apparel and accessory company.

JKZ Inc., 409 Homestead Ave., Holyoke 01040. John D. Zantouliadis, same. Restaurant.

INDIAN ORCHARD

DeVallis Realty Trust Inc., 797 Berkshire Ave., Indian Orchard 01151. Ruth Rodrigues, same. To acquire, develop and deal in real property, etc.

  

LONGMEADOW

NRG Real Estate Services Inc., 13 Williams St., Suite 211, Longmeadow 01106. Nikita R. Gelfand, 50 Bellevue Ave., Longmeadow 01106. IT technical consulting.

LUDLOW

Ever After Inc., 541 Winsor St., Ludlow 01056. Angelina F. Fragoso, 101 Pine St., Belchertown 01007. Event planning, sale and rental of bridal attire, etc.

MONTGOMERY

Alex Electrical Inc., 115 Carrington Road, Montgomery 01050. Aleksandr I. Dudukal, same. General electrical service.

SOUTH HADLEY

Millenium Investments Inc., 29 Upper River Road, South Hadley 01075. Daniel Muldoon, same. Real estate investments.

VP-Line Inc., 4 Eagle Dr., South Hadley 01075. Vladislay Pehlka, same. Logistics.

SOUTHWICK

Chasamy Inc., 236 Vining Hill Road, Southwick 01077. Amy V. Sfakios, same. Restaurant business.

SPRINGFIELD

Joy of Our Bodies Spa Inc., 20 Arnold St., Springfield 01119. Joy Danita Allen, 63 Edgewood St., Springfield 01109. To provide hair, nail and spa services.

Logic Realty Group Inc., 111 Wollaston St., Springfield 01119. Wilfredo Lopez, Jr., same. Real estate ventures and investment.

TURNERS FALLS

New England Koi and Pond Supply Inc., 81 Oakman St., Turners Falls 01376. Richard L. Walsh, same. Sale of Koi and related products.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Inter-Technologies Inc., 451 Dewey St., West Springfield 01089. Yury Pshenichnyy, same. Computer store, retail, printing service.

Michael J. Gousy, O.D. Inc., 7 Westfield St., West Springfield 01089. Dr. Michael J. Gousy, same. Optometry.

SSR Construction Inc., 84 Maple Terrace, West Springfield 01089. Peter Slivka, same. Construction and remodeling.

WESTFIELD

Geoffrion Inc., 380 Union St., Suite 312, Westfield 01085. Jeffrey P. Gavioli, 17 South Maple St., Westfield 01085. Disaster restoration and carpet cleaning.

WILBRAHAM

Sundance Leather International Inc., 10 Willoughby Lane, Wilbraham 01069. Patricia W. Degon, same. Manufacturing.

By
Departments

Twenty-three business professionals recently graduated from the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s Leadership Institute 2007. The program, sponsored by the MassMutual Financial Group, is presented in partnership with Western New England College to prepare participants to be effective leaders in service to the community and their workplaces. Participants are now encouraged to bring their expanded knowledge and skill base back to their place of employment, as well as to the non-profit sector through a variety of volunteer opportunities. The Leadership Institute Class of 2007 includes:

• Brent Bean, Westfield State College;
• Paul Beturne, Verizon;
• Carole Bolduc, the Bank of Western Massachusetts;
• Kellie J. Brown, Westfield Boys & Girls Club;
• Elizabeth Cardona, Springfield Public Schools;
• Janice Carmichael, Westfield State College;
• Elaine Charest, Shriners Hospital;
• Lori Ann Chaves, Holyoke/Chicopee/ Springfield Head Start;
• Danielle Cochran, United Bank;
• Edda Daniele-Johnson, Regional Employment Board;
• Nancy Fagan, Baystate Health;
• Jeffrey Fialky, Bacon & Wilson, PC;
• Christopher Gingras, Baystate Health;
• Meghan Hibner, Westfield Bank;
• Michelle Lindenmuth, the Bank of Western Massachusetts;
• Karen Martin, Greater Springfield Senior Services;
• Terry Powe, Springfield Public Schools;
• Todd Ratner, Bacon & Wilson, P.C.;
• Janet Ryan-Roman, Holyoke/ Chicopee/Springfield Head Start;
• David Stawasz, Western New England College;
• Angela Vatter, Hampden Bank;
• Cynthia Wage, J.M. O’Brien Company, and
• Tricia Walker, MassMutual Financial Group.

•••••

The Springfield Falcons recently announced that left wing Mitch Fritz has been named the team’s winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his contributions to the Springfield community during the 2006-07 season. Fritz helped organize the Falcons Family program and hosted his second annual blood drive, which tripled the quantity of blood the Red Cross normally collects on a regular day. Fritz was also an active participant in the Falcons visits to local hospitals, local youth hockey practices, and sled hockey appearances. Fritz is now one of 27 finalists for the AHL’s 2006-07 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year.

•••••


John M. Lilly

John M. Lilly has been elected by the alumni of Springfield Technical Community College to the college’s Board of Trustees. He will serve a five-year term. Lilly recently retired from Westbank Corporation in West Springfield, where he held the positions of executive vice president, treasurer, and chief financial officer. He is active in community service, serving as the chairman of the St. Thomas Church finance committee, and as trustee and past president of the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club, director for the Sisters of Saint Joseph, and committee member for the NCAA Division II national basketball championship. He also volunteers for the American Cancer Society, United Way, and area youth sport organizations.

•••••

Matthew Kullberg has joined Century 21 Pioneer Valley Associates in Northampton. He will concentrate on the Amherst, Belchertown, and Granby areas.

•••••

Kevin McNamara has been named Senior Director for Organization and Management Development at Friendly Ice Cream Corp. in Wilbraham. He will be responsible for management assessment and development, performance measurement, career development, human resource planning and management succession, and human resource-related services for franchisees.

•••••

  

John Klimas

John Klimas has been named Vice President of Lending for the STCU Credit Union in Springfield.

•••••

Heatbath/Park Metallurgical in Springfield has appointed Bob Barach as its Regional Sales Manager, covering Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Western Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida.

•••••

Steven Richter, founder, president, and CEO of Microtest Laboratories Inc. of Agawam, was recently named to serve on the Robert H. Goddard Council on STEM Education, a 27-member council which will advise the Mass. Board of Higher Education on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Pipeline Fund workforce development programs.

•••••

United Personnel Services has announced the following:
• Carole Parlengas has been promoted to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;
• Helio M. Duarte has been named Administrative Coordinator, and
• Tammy H. Chimi has been named Staffing Consultant.

•••••

Park Square Realty in Westfield has announced that Jodi L. Nylund and Marie T. Budreau have joined the Feeding Hills office as Sales Associates.

•••••

Allison DeLong is the latest Newsletter Director of the Board of the International Association of Business Communicators, Connecticut chapter.

•••••

Carlson GMAC Real Estate has announced the following:
• Marianne Dubois and Doreen Cunningham have joined the Wilbraham office;
• Craig M. Spooner has joined the Westfield office, and
• Suzanne Bleakley, Leslie O. Rodriguez, and Yaroslav Burkovsky have joined the Chicopee office.

•••••

Beth Brogle and Marcia Petri of Carlson GMAC Real Estate’s Holyoke office have received the GMAC Home Services’ Premier Service Diamond Award.

•••••

Bryan Fortier, an Associate in the Health Care Services Division of Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. in Holyoke, recently met with Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Bernard Sanders in Washington, D.C., on the importance of Upward Bound, a federal program that helps students from low- to moderate-income families prepare for and succeed at becoming the first generation in their families to get a college education. Fortier, who benefited from Upward Bound while growing up in Montpelier, Vt., joined an effort to persuade lawmakers to leave the program unaltered.

•••••

Margaret “Maggie” Rauh, CPA, of Moriarty & Primack, Certified Public Accountants, of Springfield, recently appeared as one of six witnesses to describe the personal effect of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) on her family. Prior to the hearing in Washington, D.C., Rauh and Managing Partner Jay Primack, CPA, met with Congressman Richard E. Neal on Capitol Hill to discuss the issues related to this tax. The primary focus of the public hearing before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue, chaired by Neal, focuses on the growing impact of the AMT on middle-class taxpayers.

By
Departments

Cutting the Ribbon

Cooley Dickinson Hospital President/CEO Craig Melin, fourth from left, helps to cut the ribbon in front of the New Patient Building, along with employees, donors, dignitaries and special guests, at ceremonies staged April 11. Members of the community cut their own commemorative ribbons, which hung to the right of the new building’s main entrance.

Policies, Not Public Appearances, Define ‘Commitment’

By
Opinion

Much has been said and written recently about Gov. Deval Patrick’s “commitment to Western Mass.” — whatever that is — and whether he will live up to it.
This happens every time there’s a new occupant of the governor’s office, an individual who, during the campaign for office, continually pledged his or her undying support for the region west of Worcester. There is rampant speculation during the first 100 days or so of the new administration about whether the individual in question will pay much attention to this part of the state, and then close scrutiny of everything said or done in search for clues to what will (or won’t) unfold.

The local media dissects such things as the number of people from the 413 area code placed on transition teams, advisory boards, or commissions; the number of visits to the region; and the general tone used when referring to this area. All this is a byproduct of the inferiority complex so rampant in this region, but also a very real feeling that, as some people have said for years, the Pioneer Valley would be better off if it tried to secede and become part of Vermont.

Usually, the governor-watching ends after the first few months in office, when there are more and better things to do with ink and air time, but sometimes it doesn’t; indeed, the local newspaper made sport of former Gov. Mitt Romney’s continued absence from the Big E years after he was elected.

From our vantage point, commitment to this region does not equate to speeches before area chambers of commerce (Patrick has done a lot of that), placing people from this area in state jobs and positions of authority (he’s trying), or even reopening the so-called Western Statehouse closed down by Romney. Patrick vowed to reopen an office in Springfield if the budget permits him to do so.

No, commitment, in our view, means contributing to real progress with the issues that impact this region most — poverty, high dropout rates in urban high schools, job-training programs needed to secure a better workforce, and, in the case of Springfield, programs and people that will help ensure that the city moves forward from its recent fiscal nightmare and doesn’t slide backward.

These are the things to be watching for, and it’s obviously much too early to formulate any opinion.

In our view, Patrick should be far less concerned about any “commitment” to Western Mass., real or imagined, and more focused on those issues stated above, because they impact every region of the state. Indeed, as much as we’d like to think that our problems are unique, they aren’t. High dropout rates are as much of an issue in Lawrence as they are in Holyoke, and workforce development is as big a concern in Fall River as it is in Springfield or Chicopee.

While being visible is important, and this region likes to feel connected — because in large part, it isn’t — programs and policies, and not public appearances, are what define commitment.

Aside from some effective appointments to the Finance Control Board, Romney didn’t honor his commitment to Western Mass. But, in the larger scheme of things, he didn’t honor his commitment to the state as a whole, and that is the bigger issue.

Moving forward, Patrick shouldn’t dwell on whether he opens offices in Springfield, Pittsfield, or anywhere else in this region — those are mostly symbolic gestures. Instead, he should focus on programs that will improve quality of life across the Commonwealth.

And we don’t really care if he comes to the Big E.-

By
Departments

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

Allgaier, Paul J.
Allgaier, Louise M.
103 Meadowbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/07

Ashe, Virginia D.
307 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/23/07

Basiner, Michael Sean
484 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/07

Burgess, Shelby J.
11 Wilfred St.
Rodriguez, Shelby J.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/20/07

Butler, Lisa Mae
768 Church St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/07

Clapper, Randall J
Clapper, Shayna M
331 North Brookfield Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/07

Colon, Noelia
567 S. Canal St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/07

Davis, Patrick D.
171 Leopold St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/07

Fennell, Halimah G.
131 Bloomfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/26/07

Fortunato, Ermelinda M.
28 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/21/07

Jacques, Anita B
23C Elm Ter.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/07

Lee, Kimberly H.
Lee, Hyeyoun
174 Wimbleton Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/26/07

Mayhew, Gerald L
43 Maple St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/07

Mousseau, Lori A.
Mousseau, William A.
116 South Main St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/20/07

Murray, Madeline Irene
118 Ave. A
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/07

 

Perez, Maira Y.
85 Amity St., 102
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/26/07

Pregozen, Neil
P.O. Box 252
Sheffield, MA 01257
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/07

Ramirez, German A.
600 Western Ave.
Lynn, MA 01904
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/25/07

Ricketts, Richard
34 Sterling St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/20/07

Rodriguez, Bladymir
58 Grand St., Apt. 2F
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/07

Salsbury, Roseanne Marie
945 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/19/07

Scott, Hilary
2052 Main St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/16/07

Smith, Joanne
70 Shumway St., A1
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/25/07

Snyder, Lisa M
PO Box 856
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/07

Stadig, Fritz C
88A Mount Herman Station
Northfield, MA 01360
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/19/07

Suckau, Carol Lynn
70 Broadway St., 104
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/23/07

Sullivan, Hazel F.
143 Davenport St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/16/07

Torres, Yumara
58 Grand St., Apt. 2F
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/22/07

Vautrin, Kenneth P.
30 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/20/07

Woodward, Star L.
15 Baglee Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/26/07

By
Departments

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

Agawam

Anthony Malone Investigator
324 Silver St.
Anthony Malone

O’Dyssey II
339 North Westfield St.
Deborah Carney

Online Computers Inc.
638 Springfield St.
Catherine Byrne

Overlook Home Improvement LLC
67 Hunt St.
Mark Simons

Studio 108
156 Suffield St. #109
Jennifer Cohen

Amherst

Fancy Fingers Nail & Skincare Salon
835 Main St.
Sandra Goss

Chicopee

A & H Service
376 Broadway
Joseph Rzeszutek

All American Drywall
94 Forest St.
Clifton D. Hall

European Goods Company
165 Front St.
Eugeniusz Wargulewski

EZ Mart
345A Chicopee St.
Zahoor Mian

Luz O Enterprise
62 Rivers Ave.
Luz M. Ortega

Easthampton

Continental Cleaning
41 Ridgewood Ter.
Raul Lopez

D.J. Thonsey
116 Pleasant St.
Thonsey Keopanya

Everything Retail
8 Beechwood Ave.
Joseph Rich

Jordin Chatterton Handcrafted Basketry
75I Parsons St.
Joyce Luciano

That’s a Wrap
2 Oliver St.
Mike Kerr

East Longmeadow

M. Scott Investments Inc.
51 Prospect St.
Michael S. Poggi

Shaker Road Animal Hospital
108 Shaker Road
Ryan Johnsen

Greenfield

Betty at Elizabeth Allison’s
54A School St.
Elizabeth A. Bellows

Doria’s at Wilson’s
258 Main St.
Doria Cotter

Gates Healing and Cooling
15 Sunset Square
John Michael Gates

Kim’s Upholstery
162 Federal St.
Kimberley Bonaiuto

Salon@Wilson’s
258 Main St.
Mariette Poginy

Styles by Beverly@Wilson’s
258 Main St.
Beverly Suchanek

ThatsOnMe.com
55 Orchard St.
Andrey Agapov

Hadley

Alabaster Financial Planning
4 Bay Road
Susan Wennemyr

Class Action
245 Russell St.
Felice Yestel

Long Radio
30 Russell Road
Keith & Matthew Imbriglio

Maple Farms Foods
10 South Maple St.
Steve Ozcelik

Holyoke

5-7-9
50 Holyoke St.
Fashion Gallery Inc.

Bluemoon Coffee Roasters
50 Holyoke St.
Daniel Higgins

Capital Motors
829 Main St.
Rolando O. Farrill

Safe Towing & Auto Sales
9 Avon Place
Myrna Cruz

Longmeadow

Caldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Real Estate School
136 Dwight Road
NRT New England Inc.

Curves For Women
791 Maple Road
Dinah Merchant

Home Styling Solutions
133 Elmwood Ave.
Carrie Burke

Travel Associates of Longmeadow
80 Ridge Road
Allen H. Grosnick

Ludlow

Advantage Tire
State St. Bldg. 120
Mark Bongiorni

D&C Gravel & Marble
100 State St.
Luis Serrazina

  

Genesis Massage Therapy
123 Center St.
Christine Pietrowski

Northampton

Big Buss Graphics
23 Ryan Road
Brad Edwin Bussler

Green Meadow Farms
131 Fair St. Ext.
William Karparis

Kristy’s Nails
137C Damon Road
Chi Kim Do

Personal Touch Pilates
33 Hawley St.
Nadya Kostek

Palmer

Mangos
233 Wilbraham Road
Cheryl Whitcomb

South Hadley

Crooked Rails
14B Main St.
Susan Smith

Cycle Stop
459 Granby Road
Ray Smith

Daniels Painting and Wallpaper
525 Hadley St.
Daniel Daniels

TSP Painting
54 Bridge St.
Todd St. Pierre

Southwick

Fox Vision Realty
135 Berkshire Ave.
Nicholas Boldyga

Springfield

Coast to Coast Janitorial
45 Collins St.
Clyde Ratcliff

Connections Transportation
687B State St.
Ayyub Abdul-Alim

D B Publishing
315 Bridge St.
Dennis Brown

Dillomart
118 Victoria St.
Keiko Ardolino

Downtown Convenience Store
160 Worthington St.
Nafees A. Chaudhary

George’s Auto Clinic
403 Walnut St.
Juan J. Gonzalez

Go Go Towing and Auto Repair
462 Central St.
Oscar Rodriguez

Helen Hairum
1500 Main St.
Helen D. Johnson

Junior Auto Repair and Towing
151 Pine St.
Catalino Maldonado

L G Gift Stop
69 Upland St.
Lois Gordon

LC3 Enterprises LLC
154 Kimberly Ave.
Leon Cosby III

MarcusMadeMeFit
59 Sterling St.
Marcus Austin

Patriot Fence
91 Pondview Dr.
Tonya Marie Simmons

R & R Construction
191 Lexington St.
Lazaro R. Riera

R.J.S. Enterprise
93 Grochmal Ave. Lot 13
Ronald H. Stager

That’s Hot Gift Shop
7 Noel St.
Leeshona Barr

Tony Russo Marketing
11 Howes St.
Thomas Angelo Raschi

Westfield

B. K. House Cleaning Services
20 Old Holyoke Road
Brad Kriekamp

Colo Consulting
51 Oakcrest Dr.
Peter Colo

Complete Home Inspections
330 Buck Pond Road
John R. Borges

General Dynamics Aviation Services
3 Elise St.
Gulfstream Aerospace Services

R & C Countertops & Installation
9 Bartlett St.
Randy Arkoette

Thingreen Computing
42 Dickens Dr.
Briand LaForest

V.P. Heating and Cooling, LLC
61 Prospect St.
Tomas Petrowick

West Springfield

Lynch Flooring
115 Frederick St.
Peter Lynch

R Page Electrical Service
67 Kings Highway
Robert Page

R.A. Foresi Associates
680 Westfield St.
Robert Foresi

The Olde Barn Property Services
20 Laurel Road
Robert Gallant

Keeping Young Talent in the Pioneer Valley

By
Opinion

When BusinessWest embarked on its recent mission to identify the Forty Under 40 — a compilation of the brightest lights in the local business galaxy — there was excitement, but also a little trepidation.

In short, we were not exactly sure what we’d find or how our list would look when done. After all, there has been considerable talk of a so-called brain drain in this region, and we didn’t know the full extent of the phenomenon.

Suffice it to say that we needn’t have worried. The impressive quantity and quality of nominations yielded more than enough evidence that there is, indeed, a large pool of young talent in this region, including several entrepreneurs who are getting businesses off the ground or taking them to that proverbial next level.

Still, as we prepare to reveal our Forty Under 40 to the community (watch for the May 14th edition of BusinessWest) we acknowledge that the brain drain is real, not just in the Pioneer Valley, but elsewhere in the state. And we’re justifiably concerned about how a Forty Under 40 list might look 10, 20, or 30 years from now and whether it will have the same overall quality.

The movement of young people out of the state or region (there are two migrations occurring) is happening for different reasons. People from, or educated in, Boston and the communities surrounding it are leaving Massachusetts in growing numbers because they simply can’t afford to live here — or at least in the style to which they believe their profession should allow them to. This movement has helped neighboring states like Rhode Island and New Hampshire, but it has also brought cost-of-living prices that are approaching those that prevail around Boston.

The drain from Boston isn’t helping Western Mass. as much — although there has been some movement here for the quality and price of life — in part because the area doesn’t have the depth of cultural attractions or nightlife that exists in most major metropolitan areas. But mostly, this region simply does not have enough good jobs, especially those in the technology sectors, that are attractive to young people today.

Creating more of these job opportunities is a challenging assignment — and efforts are already underway on a number of fronts — but it is critical work, because this region cannot develop a true technology-based economy without a large, talented workforce. And such a workforce is difficult to create if large numbers of talented young people who grew up here or went to one of the Valley’s many colleges wind up leaving for perceived greener pastures.

In nearly every edition of BusinessWest there is a story, or mention, of an individual who grew up the Valley, left because of a perceived need to do so to find professional fulfillment, and then returned years later to enjoy the quality of life found here. What the Valley needs to do is change that equation slightly, and find ways to keep more people from being tempted to leave.

This can only happen through efforts to promote entrepreneurship — several programs are in place at area schools including UMass, Springfield Technical Community College, Western New England College, and Bay Path College, and they need continued support — and steps to improve public education in area cities to ensure that the businesses created in the future have the workforce needed to keep them here.

Meanwhile, area economic development leaders need to work in concert with the state and area colleges, especially UMass, to help strengthen programs designed to covert work in the laboratory into jobs throughout the Pioneer Valley.

Such steps are needed to ensure that some of today’s high school and junior high school students do not wind up on some other region’s Forty Under 40 list someday. Each time that happens, the Valley’s business galaxy loses some of starlight.

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

Chase Enterprises Corp., 590 Meadow St., Agawam 01101. Donald R. Chase, 39 Timber Ridge, West Springfield 01089. Real estate holding.

Easterntronics Inc., 312 Springfield St., Agawam 01001. Dang Huynh, 166 Hancock St., Springfield 01009. Electronics repair and sales.

V&R Photography Designs Inc., 55 Rosie Lane, Agawam 01001. Vanessa Rossini, same. Wedding, special event, and portrait photography.

XLSpan Inc., 318 Leonard St., Agawam 01001. Benjamin N. Koenig, 32 West Main St., Westborough 01581. To offer telecommunications services to the commercial and residential markets.

CHICOPEE

BF Inc., 1271 Memorial Dr., Chicopee 01020. Frank Brooks, 282 Narragansett Blvd., Chicopee 01013. To sell a full line of shipping and packaging services.

Gary’s Auto Sales Inc., 125 Broadway, Chicopee 01020. Gary A. Lopuk, same. Purchase and sale of automobiles.

FLORENCE

O-Live Foundation Inc., 680 North Farms Road, Florence 01062. Steve Frank, same. (Nonprofit) To fund research leading to the prevention and cure of genetic cancers, etc.

GRANVILLE

Stopa Roofing Inc., 99 Reagan Road, Granville 01034. Travis Stopa, same. Roofing construction on homes.

GREENFIELD

Friends of the New England Peace Pagoda Inc., 98 Conway St., Suite 1, Greenfield 01301. Robert Lowry, 8 North Leverett Road, Leverett 01054. (Nonprofit) To help strengthen former community relationships and create new relationships toward building knowledge, understanding and support of Nipponzan Mychaji, Buddhist Religious Society-New England Sangha and the Peace Pagoda in Leverett, etc.

Tallk Inc., 23 Woodland Dr., P.O. Box 90, Greenfield 01302. Lisa M. Kovalski, same. To conduct a restaurant business.

HOLYOKE

JRE Masonry & Restoration Inc., 87 Pearl St., Holyoke 01040. Jerome Robert Ezold, same. Construction.

HAMPDEN

E-Scrap Removal and Recycling Inc., 42 North Monson Road, Hampden 01036. Chris Lomascolo, same. Recycling electric components.

HOLYOKE

Igl.Casa de Restauracion Levantando Al Caido (House of RestorationLifting TheFalling Inc. Luis A. Cortes, 70 David St., Holyoke 01040. (Nonprofit) To provide civic, social, and educational welfare for people in need of supportive services, etc.

HOLLAND

The Wicket Grounds Inc., 1043 Burt Hill Road, Holland 01034. Joseph Clark, III, same. To promote recreational and historical activities and property management, The Wicket Grounds Croquet Club and Rifle Range, airsoft military simulation games, and military reenactments.

HUNTINGTON

Word Alive Christian Fellowship Inc., 75 Worthington Road, Huntington 01050. Reverend Jeffrey Dean Adkins, same. (Nonprofit) To foster acts of charity, fellowship and other religious, educational, social and recreational activities as would enrich the lives of its members, etc.

  

LONGMEADOW

Character for Kids — Team Kids Inc., 96 Redfern Dr., Longmeadow 01106. Deborah S. Han, same. (Nonprofit) To promote, supervise the interest of the public in martial arts, etc.

LUDLOW

DeMone Electrical Inc., 39 Sawmill Road, Ludlow 01056. Gregory G. DeMone, same. To perform electrical installation, repairs services, etc.

MONTGOMERY

Sinigur Concrete Pumping Inc., 37 Main Road, Montgomery 01085. Victor Sinigur, same. To pump concrete.

MONSON

Viewsource Technogies Inc., 139 McBride Road, Monson 01057. Steven Curtis Howland, same. Internet services.

ORANGE

Athol-Orange Lodge #1837, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America Inc., 92 New Athol Road, Orange 01364. Clyde Woodbury, 581 Barre Road, Templeton 01468. (Nonprofit) To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity, enhance the welfare of its members, etc.

SOUTH HADLEY

Legrandice Audio Inc., 8 Roundelay Road, South Hadley 01075. James Carl Legrand, same. On location/studio audio recording.

SOUTHWICK

Bill’T Well MFG Inc., 23 Hudson Dr., Southwick 01077. William H. Vredenburg, same. Machine shop.

Gogri Family Inc., 3 Robin Road, Southwick 01077. Hasmukh Gogri, same. To sell food and fuel at retail.

SPRINGFIELD

Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services Co., 1500 Main St., Suite 1200, Springfield 01115. Peter S. Novak, 168 Colony Road, Longmeadow 01106. Insurance producer.

Everyday Electronics Inc., 75 Pilgrim Road, Springfield 01118. Kathryn Elizabeth Chianciola, same. Electronic sales.

Financial Answers Inc., 119 Maplewood Terrace, Springfield 01108. Charmaine White, same. Real estate investment, management and financial consulting.

Leahy & Brown Insurance & Realty Inc., 535 Allen St., Suite 1, Springfield 01118. Joseph P. Leahy, Jr., 83 Barrett St., Northampton 01060. Insurance agency and real estate broker.

New England Labsystems and Mobility Inc., 38 Van Buren Ave., Springfield 01104. Fritz Bosquet, same. Medical supplies and service.

SUNDERLAND

That’s My Carpenter Inc., 52 Kulessa Crossroad, Sunderland. Bruce Rondeau, same. Carpentry and construction.

WARE

Heat Pro Inc., 133 Greenwich Road, Ware 01082. Peter D. Harper, same. To provide heating and cooling services to the general public, etc.

WILBRAHAM

J & V Company Inc., 420 Monson Road, Wilbraham 01095. Metyu Chen, same. Restaurant and retailing business.

OPINION

By
Opinion
Health Care Costs are Everyone’s Concern

Suddenly, everyone is concerned about the cost of health insurance. Massachusetts municipalities are raising taxes, cutting services, and even contemplating bankruptcy because of the cost of employees’ coverage. The Commonwealth’s financial reports must soon reflect a $13 billion item for retiree health benefits, hitherto left off the books. Non-profit agencies are realizing that the new health insurance mandate applies to their employees, too. The state’s Health Care Connector Board is struggling to devise an ‘affordable’ health plan, in the face of protests about cost from future customers.

To which those in the business community can only say: “Welcome aboard.”

Employer-sponsored health insurance covers almost three-quarters of the non-elderly population of Massachusetts, and the rapid rise in insurance costs — at a rate that outpaces general inflation by a 3-to-1 margin, averaging 8.6% annually — has long been a principal issue for business owners. The high cost of health insurance, currently averaging $4,147 per year for individual coverage and $11,504 for a family plan, threatens the survival of ‘legacy’ companies (think of the automobile and airline industries) and is a major deterrent to the creation of new industries and jobs, particularly lower-skilled and entry-level positions.

If Massachusetts is serious about leading the nation on health care reform, we must expend as much effort on decreasing cost as on increasing access. The state’s new health insurance law does not take on costs directly, but by extending insurance coverage to every citizen it lays important groundwork for further steps. The individual mandate and concomitant employer responsibilities should eliminate “free riders” from the system, those who can afford health insurance but choose to go without. Fairer funding of free care provided by hospitals will reduce cost shifting and improve transparency. The anomalous tax treatment of health insurance is partially addressed. And, as we are seeing, the new law is giving the cost issue more public visibility.

It is a real, serious issue, and it is an issue for everyone. Those 8.6% average increases, with spurts into double digits, play havoc with the budgets of cities, states, non-profits, and households, as well as the budgets of businesses. There are things we ought not do to control cost, such as rationing — but there are things we can do, ranging from developing a rational health care delivery system with properly aligned incentives, transparency, and electronic medical records to tiered networks which encourage consumers to seek medical care in the most cost-effective settings.

At the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, where virtually all of our members provide the benefit, health care costs have been the number-one concern over the past 15 years. We are convening a group of the state’s leading employers to focus on cost containment, and we look forward to working with health care providers, hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, insurers, public officials, and fellow employers toward finding solutions. Failure to get this issue resolved has serious consequences, not just for the recently passed law, but also for our economic future and the well-being of our Commonwealth.

Thomas Wroe Jr. is chairman of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and chief executive officer of Sensata Technologies Inc. in Attleboro.

By
Departments

Everyday Heroism

The fifth annual Hometown Heroes breakfast, a program of the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter, was held recently at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield and catered by Max’s Tavern. Newscaster Sy Becker and recording artist Ashley Gearing co-hosted the event, which honored everyday people who performed heroic, selfless, and often life-saving actions this past year.


Frank Anderson, Red Cross board chair; Jack Robinson of Longmeadow; honoree Jared Bertuzzi, Robinson’s grandson, who cared for him after a stroke; and Gerry FitzGerald, Red Cross board member.


Wilbraham police officer Christopher Doyle, left, and honoree Bruce Westcott of East Longmeadow, who aided Doyle following a car accident.


Betti Boggis, left, one of the event’s Big Y volunteers and a 2005 honoree, with Dana Smolokoff, Westfield State College intern for the Pioneer Valley Chapter.

Going Digital

Nearly 100 people attended the March 14 open house for Wing Memorial Hospital’s digital mammography suite. Wing Memorial is the first hospital in the Quaboag Hills region to offer digital mammography. At the open house, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to dedicate the new mammography suite. As Elaine Anderson, second from right, a member of the Wing Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, cuts the ribbon, looking on are, from left, state Sen. Brian Lees; Hampden County Clerk of Courts Edward Noonan, chairman of the Wing Memorial Hospital Board of Directors; and Dr. Charles Cavagnaro III, president and CEO of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers.

Everything’s on the Table

Several area chambers of commerce recently collaborated to host the 13th annual Table Top Exposition, a business networking event, staged March 21 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. Several dozen area companies exhibited at the show, gaining needed exposure and new business leads. Some scenes from the event,


Carol Moore Cutting, president and general manager of radio station WEIB in Northampton

Chats with Melissa Hallock, sales coordinator at BusinessWest; Staffing the Marcotte Ford table are Christopher Rawson, Advertising and Marketing director, and Jasmine Rodriguez, rental consultant; the Puffer Printing table was well-represented, with owner Don Puffer and associates Kristin Salois, center, and Jessica Patterson; Joshua Vassallo, general manager, greets visitors to the table for the Country Inn & Suites in Holyoke.

By
Departments

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

AGAWAM

Gosselin Graphics
167 Elm St.
John Baginski

The Daily Grind
360 North Westfield St.
Paul Bshara

AMHERST

A Casual Affair Catering
71 North Pleasant St.
Dawn Soldan

Amherst Mini Mart
324 College St.
Zahoor Ul Haq

Shopping Solutions: Diamonds to Dinner
15 Bayberry Lane
Margie R. Carkhuff

The Refinery at Suite 59B
59B Boltwood Walk
Cynthia Apple

CHICOPEE

Happy Spirit Gift Shop
685 James St.
Glen Stuart Buckley

J.B. Home Improvement
48 Kendall St.
John James Batchelor

Shamrock Motors
1841 Memorial Dr.
Kevin J. Conway

The Good Dog Spot Inc.
40 Old James St.
Elizabeth Powers

EAST LONGMEADOW

Atlantic Promotions
34 Autumn Ridge
Michael Distasio

Dance Threadz
626 North Main St.
Andrea L. Donabed

David Williams
112 Pease Road
David L. Williams

First Step Nursery School Inc.
310 Maple St.
Gina & Kevin O’Connor

Meadows Driving School
143E Shaker Road
Geof Spear

People’s Bank
783 Williams St.
People’s Bank

Quick Tan
628 North Main St.
Mary Giubala

GREENFIELD

In Stitches
259 Federal St.
Kathleen McIntyre-Bernier

Pelligrino Family Chiropractic
83 Congress St.
Joseph M. Pelligrino

The Laundry
176 Federal St.
Alex Fiorey

HOLYOKE

David Tetrault, Private Detective
3 Claren Dr.
David Tetrault

Racing Mart
181 West Franklin St.
Bhikhabhai C. Patel

Ray’s Barber Shop
451 1/2 High St.
Edwin DeJesus

The Muse Custom Framing
220 South Water St.
Debra Luzny

Text Support
88 Westfield Road
Michael Trotman

Tramore Chip Shop
37 Myrtle Ave.
Gabriel Quaglia

LUDLOW

Classic Ceramic Door
329 East St.
Gustavo Bubbo

James St.
56 Main Boulevard
James St.

Marta Buskey
200 Center St.
Marta Buskey

Salon Accents
247 East St.
Christine Arillota

NORTHAMPTON

GraceOliver.com
221 Pine St.
Marpa Eager

Northampton Wireless
32 Pleasant St.
Jorge L. Alban

Outside Inn
50 Chapel St.
Gerard Sudano

Strings Attached
79 1/2 C Hawley St.
Madison Cripps

PALMER

Roy Croteau Electric
244 Burlingame Road
Raymond Croteau

SMR Trucking
18 Stimson St.
Steven M. Ruiz

Trackside Motors
1237 Park St.
William Davis

SOUTHWICK

Carfinders
797 College Highway
Michael Wermon

LT Sales
61 Berkshire Ave.
Linda Tersavich

Pioneer Valley Machine
20 Meadow Lane
Caroline Drake

  

Wees Landscaping and Property Services
12 Castle St.
Tara Buttress

SPRINGFIELD

Abreu Cleaning Services
34 Navajo Road
Antolin Abreu

Aztec Automotive
600 St. James Ave.
Floyd V. Collins

Blissful Beads
49 Hobson St.
Gail Marie Corliss

Botanica Congo ISU LLC
28 Lawn St.
Miguel Betancourt

Cool Stream Records
196 Locust St.
Paul A. Ball

Debs Fassions
196 Locust St.
Deborah Ann Barnes

Express Food
1655 Boston Road
Scott Edward Lubarsky

Everyday Electronics
75 Pilgrim Road
Brady D. Chianciola

Executive Body Fitness
57 Weaver Road
David Anthony

Fusion Wireless
1282 Parker St.
Erin Wyrostek

Jani King
40 Avon Place
David Grier

Jose Produce
30 Second St.
Jose R. Portorreal

Just Perfect LMT
137 Derryfield Ave.
Odell L. Daniel

Mike and Son Auto Repair
70 Union St.
Percida Morales

Now and Zen Yoga
34 Front St.
Ruth M. Giles

Orion Investigations
133 Oak St.
R. Scott Turner

Portorreal Investment
30 Second St.
Raul Portorreal

Pops Lawnmower Service
87 Michon St.
Leland Andrew Nadeau

Ram Enterprise
4 Langdon St.
Nathilda Ramirez

Rosario Scooter Racing
10 Chestnut St. AP
Hector M. Rosario

Spencer For Hire
32 Byron St.
Maurice Spencer

Spencer Property Management
32 Byron St.
Maurice Spencer

St. Image
163 White St.
Shaneka Morris

The Arts Project
89 Perkins St.
William Park Arnold

WESTFIELD

Adrienne’s Café
16 Union St.
Adrienne M. Medeiros

Asian Massage
26 North Elm St.
Xi Yun Yang

Colorpilot LLC
37 Ingersoll Dr.
George Pawle

Discount Uniform Shop
48 Elm St.
William F. Barry Jr.

Dust Bunnies Office Cleaning
25 Highland View St.
Katrina Senecal

Rainbow Nails
85 Main St.
Huy T. Vu

Stanley Laundromat
3 White St.
Patricia Lee

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Berninger & Associates
181 Park Ave.
Steven G. Berninger

Bertera Collision Repair Center
160 Westfield St.
Aldo Bertera

Charter Home Mortgage Company
171 Park Ave.
Eliot Chartrand

Iglesia Bet-El Concilio Peatelcosta
812 Union St.
Rafael C. Feliciano

New England Custom Home Builder
105 Hampden St.
Anatoliy Paliy

Northeast Security Solutions Inc.
33 Sylvan St.
George D. Condon III

Pizzeria Alforno
1130 Memorial Ave.
Abdurrahman Alici

Spartan Brake and Muffler Shops
865 Memorial Ave.
Nicholas M. Katsoulis

Survival and Rescue Training
33 Avondale Ave.
Paul E. Masters

WJB Enterprise
103 Cataumet Lane
William J. Buoniconti

By
Departments

Dialed In

Listeners pledged a record-breaking $200,500 during the sixth annual WMAS Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon last month, surpassing last year’s total of $192,000. The money will support Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield. Event sponsors Health New England and Patriot Home Improvement matched $15,000 and $13,000 in donations, respectively. Other sponsors included Teddy Bear Pools & Spas and the Baystate Medical Center Auxiliary.

Tim Laporte of Carrabba’s Italian Grill in West Springfield flips pork chops outside on the grill; the restaurant provided food throughout the radiothon.

Hospital patient Adam Wiatrowski takes in the radiothon events with his parents, Amy and Rick Wiatrowski.

WMAS DJs Rob Anthony, far left, and Paul Cannon, far right, interview hospital patient Tatyana Berrios; her mother, Virgen Berrios; and Baystate’s Dr. Harold Hoar.

OPINION

By
Opinion
Make an Investment in Human Capital

“An investment in knowledge,” Benjamin Franklin said, “pays the best interest.” 

In preschool classrooms across the region, our future workforce is in training.

Every day, thousands of children enrolled in quality education and care programs are developing the skills and tools they will need in order to succeed in school, the global workplace, and in life.

Studies have consistently shown that children who become early learners become better learners for life. Kids who experience all the benefits of early education get better grades, stay in school longer, and are more likely to go to college. They grow up to be better educated, more motivated, and more productive adults, which makes them better citizens of our community and better employees for the companies — your companies — that do business here.

The children currently in the care of organizations like Springfield Day Nursery will be the adults best suited to perform the most challenging jobs in years to come.

In conference rooms throughout the business community, public officials, strategists, and those responsible for economic development are talking about young children and early education. Why? Because they know the key to realizing business success and economic prosperity is through an early investment in human capital. The idea of early childhood education as an economic development strategy is gaining momentum as a number of influential business groups and companies, including MassMutual and Verizon, have stepped forward in support of new investments in early childhood education.

As the nature of our economy continues to shift to high-tech and biotech industries, better-educated and more highly skilled employees are needed. Preparing tomorrow’s workforce and positioning Massachusetts for future economic growth requires making substantial improvements in children’s early learning opportunities. If you want an advance look at the people who will comprise tomorrow’s workforce, pay a visit to an early childhood center.

But despite the growing volumes of research, statistics, and speeches on the economic and educational benefits of early childhood education, 6,000 Massachusetts children each day — 1,477 in Springfield — grow up without the preschool experience that will allow them to answer the school bell ready and able to learn.

We know all too well what happens when children enter kindergarten without the skills to learn — skills like listening, following directions, getting along with other children, knowing their letters, writing their names, and taking personal responsibility for their actions in the classroom. We know they fall behind their peers on day one and rarely, if ever, catch up. Imagine being five years old and already experiencing the defeating emotions of failure. And who will be to blame when that child someday joins a gang, grows up unemployable, and lives in poverty?

Right now in our community and across Massachusetts, there is a growing effort to spark and sustain economic development. Topping the list, which includes securing developable land for business, retaining graduates from our regional institutions of higher education, commuter rails, safe neighborhoods, and affordable housing, should be a quality public and private education system that includes preschool and all-day kindergarten.

Springfield’s renaissance does not rest solely in a balanced budget. It lies in the ability of forward-thinking adults who understand there is no future without prudent investments made today. When it comes to securing the workforce that will fuel our community’s health and well-being, quality, affordable, accessible early education and care for Springfield’s children is truly the little engine that could.

To learn about local initiatives supporting early education and care, including the George A. and Irene E. Davis Foundation’s Cherish Every Child and the Early Education for All Campaign, log ontowww.sdn.org

Joan Kagan is president and CEO of Springfield Day Nursery, the region’s largest non-profit provider of early education, care, and parenting support services.

By
Departments

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

Acevedo, Carmen D.
580 S. Summer St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/07

Buchachiy, Stepan P.
44 Craig Drive, Apt. M3
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/07

Chihai, Natalia
Monastyrev, Alexandre
P.O. Box 711
Becket, MA 01223
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/07

Clifford, JodyLee M.
11 Irving St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/07

Dejesus, Erick
55 Moxon St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/07

Dickerson, Charlene
142 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/07

Flores, Dennis
4 Liberty St., Apt. C
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/07

Foley Investigations
Foley, Deborah J.
947 Burts Pit Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/07

Kahara, Catherine N.
119 Ashley St., Apt. 2
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/07

Matz, Leonard
41 Belmont Ave.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/05/07

McAleer, Thomas J.
83 Gold St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/06/07

Murach, Jeffrey A.
194 Montgomery Ave. Ext.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/01/07

Nguyen, Sa P.
52 Orlando St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/07

Ortiz, Ramona
65 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/07

  

Parkinson Joshua R.
Parkinson Residential Construction
7 Ranch Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/07

Perman, Nancy A.
P.O. Box 493
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/07

Petcen, Kimberley J.
14 Oakdale Place
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/07

Pinette, Nelson J.
Pinette, Ann M.
103 Division St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/07

Rodriguez, Angela
896 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/02/07

Roman, Maria
688 High St., Apt. 2LB
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/07

Santana, Miguel A.
39 Ainsworth St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/02/07

Scagliarini, William C.
Scagliarini, Linda A.
84 Federal Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/07

Smith, John F.
Smith, Marlene
8 Cedar Woods Glen
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/07

Sullivan, Daniel P.
23 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/31/07

Tierney, Bryan
110 River Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/07

Townsley, Richard W.
350 Peckville Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/07

Vine, Michael Charles
Vine, Linda Josephine
111 Roosevelt Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/06/07

Don’t Let the Pendulum Swing Back Too Far

By
Opinion

Take in a public hearing on tax-rate classification in any local city with a split rate, and you will likely hear some long-time resident rise out of his or her chair and say, “raise the taxes for businesses … they can afford it.” Or something to that effect.

This is an attitude that also seems to prevail among many local office holders — who often have only the local chamber of commerce to offer a differing opinion and thousands of voting homeowners filling their ears — not to mention many in the Statehouse. They won’t use that language, or anything approximating it, but their actions often convey that basic belief.

This is part of the reason why ‘Taxachusetts’ came to be part of the lexicon, and we fear there may be good reason to start hearing it again after many years in which it didn’t apply as much as it has historically. It’s not one big thing that is causing alarm bells to start ringing, but lots of little things that, together, could add up to something big and troublesome.

The latest was Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposed changes that would ultimately raise the income tax burden paid by businesses by some $500 million a year. He calls it “closing loopholes,” but it amounts to a tax hike. The bottom line is that, if these proposals become reality, businesses will have additional expenses, and they will have to recover them through higher prices, smaller raises and reduced benefits for employees, or other steps.

That is the basic math, and it really can’t be argued.

But there’s more to this than adding a few cents to the cost of a loaf of bread or a microchip, increases that most consumers won’t notice and certainly won’t attribute to a governor closing tax loopholes. Indeed, if the small additions to the cost of doing business in this state keep coming, then eventually, companies will start going — to other states that have a more realistic take on how much businesses can afford.

Patrick’s initial response to early criticism of his tax proposals from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is to say that it is a minor increase in the overall corporate income tax burden, 4% by his administration’s estimates. He’s right, but he’s missing the larger point — that this hike comes on top of a larger loophole-closing tax-burden increase implemented by a Romney administration that, by and large, did little if anything to improve the business climate in this state, and, in fact, made it worse.

During his tenure, companies doing business in the Bay State were visited by increases in unemployment insurance levies and a new health care insurance program that will add tens of millions of dollars in additional burden for the business community. Add up all these small paper cuts, and it could amount to a fairly substantial wound, one that might give business owners thinking about coming to Massachusetts or expanding here some good reasons not to.

Like Romney before him, Patrick is faced with a difficult budget situation and choices to make about how to address it. And Romney, like most politicians, to be fair, veered away from the hard choices and chose those that were easier and more politically correct — like closing tax loopholes for businesses that, as everyone knows, can afford it.

But, also like Romney, Patrick was swept into office on the wings of rhetoric to the effect that he would strive to make the Commonwealth a more attractive place in which to do business, something that needs to be done in a state where job growth has been anemic, at best, since those robust times before 9/11.

A small increase in the income tax burden, by itself, is not a huge deal, but, when put in the context of other steps taken lately, it is another sign that the pendulum is swinging in the wrong direction.

Like that homeowner at the tax classification public hearing, the governor and all those on Beacon Hill should understand that there are limits to what businesses can afford — and this state simply cannot afford to ignore that.