| A.I.M. Creates HR Resource Center Planning Board Assistance Program Offered Lees Won’t Seek Re-election Developer Interested in Danaher Site State Moves Toward Stricter Emission Rules Firm Receives Grant For Engine Prototype State Economic Picture Flat |
Departments
| The following building permits were issued during the month of January 2006. | |
| AMHERST Amherst Cinema Theatre NORTHAMPTON Children’s Aid & Family Service Florence Congregational Church Hampden County PA LLC Silkmill Associates Smith College Smith College 293 Northampton Realty LLC Wal—Mart Stores East Inc.
| SPRINGFIELD Coffee Roaster Inc. Eastfield Management Laundry Capital Mercy Medical Center New Colony Court Picknelly Family Sovereign Bank WESTFIELD Joseph Flahive |
Mercy Receives Grant To Improve Access to Health Care
SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center recently was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation to improve access to health care for uninsured and low-income residents. The “Connecting Consumers To Care” grant will target services to the local homeless population and Vietnamese residents. The grant will support assistance with eligibility, enrollment, primary care provider selection, and post-enrollment services. The funds will also be used to provide case management for preventative, medical and behavioral health services. In administering the grant, Mercy Medical Center will collaborate with the Mental Health Association of Greater Springfield, Vietnamese American Civic Association, and Friends of the Homeless, Inc.
Hudson United Bancorp, TD Banknorth Shareholders Approve Merger
PORTLAND, Maine — TD Banknorth Inc. shareholders recently voted at a special meeting to approve the acquisition of Hudson United Bancorp. More than 99% of the votes cast were voted in favor of the transaction. In a separate meeting in Mahwah, N.J., the shareholders of Hudson United Bancorp also voted heavily in favor of sale to TD Banknorth. More than 98% of the votes cast by Hudson United shareholders were in favor of the transaction. Pending approval by the Federal Reserve, the transaction is expected to close later in the first quarter of 2006. On a pro forma basis, the transaction creates a regional financial services company with approximately 590 branches, 751 ATMs and more than $26 billion in deposits across eight northeastern states. In other TD Banknorth news, bank officials recently said that fourth-quarter earnings per share will be 62 cents, 2 cents lower than analysts’ projections. Company officials cited the lower earnings per share because of declining net interest margins. TD Banknorth will release its fourth-quarter and year-end earnings report on Jan. 23.
Virginia Police Purchase Smith & Wesson Pistol
SPRINGFIELD — The sheriff’s department of Patrick County, Va., recently signed a deal to purchase 32 of Smith & Wesson’s new M&P 40 pistol – the first sale for the new military firearm. The new gun’s safety features, low recoil, and ease of handling were reasons cited by Patrick County Sheriff David E. Hubbard regarding the purchase. The M&P models load .40-caliber ammunition. Smith & Wesson also recently announced that the company plans to add more versions of the gun in the coming weeks. For example, new models will fire .357-caliber SIG rounds as well as 9 mm ammunition. The new handgun, with a retail price of $695, will also be available to individual customers through retail outlets.
Center For Teaching Receives High Marks
AMHERST — The Center for Teaching at UMass, Amherst has been recognized in a national survey as one of the top faculty- development programs in the United States and Canada. Nearly 500 faculty developers at 300 higher education institutions responded to the survey, which is part of a recently published study, “Creating the Future of Faculty Development: Learning from the Past, Understanding the Present.” The survey identified faculty development programs at UMass, Amherst, University of Michigan, University of Delaware and Miami University of Ohio as the four best in the U.S. and Canada. The Center For Teaching also had the distinction of being named most often as a ‘model program’ that guided best practices by developers across every institutional type – from community colleges to research universities. The survey was sent to 1,000 members of the Professional and Organizational Development Network, the oldest and largest professional association of faculty development scholars and practitioners.
Schools Benefit From Civic Action Program
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Savings Bank’s Civic Action accounts raised $10,000 in its first nine months for 11 participating school districts, according to Joan Cramer, Vice President and Marketing Officer. Launched last March, the unique civic action bank accounts give back to schools in Franklin County and in Amherst. Bank customers participating in the program use their Greenfield Savings Bank card to swipe and sign – for everything from groceries to gas. “It all adds up,” said Cramer. All revenues are spent by school districts as they deem appropriate. Participating school districts include Amherst-Pelham, Franklin County Technical, Frontier Regional, Gill-Montague, Greenfield, Mahar Regional, Mohawk Trail Regional, Orange, Pioneer Valley Regional, Four Rivers Charter and Union 28. Union 28 serves the elementary schools of Erving, Leverett, New Salem, Shutesbury and Wendell.
Insurance, LLC Becomes Encharter Insurance Group
AMHERST — Neighborhood Insurance, LLC recently changed its name to Encharter Insurance Group. Blair, Cutting & Smith Insurance, the local office of Encharter Insurance Group, will continue to be known by its local name. As a member of Encharter’s group of agencies, Blair, Cutting & Smith Insurance will continue to improve its technology, and support its staff members’ increased involvement in community service projects. Both insurance agencies offer security against loss and financial services.
With cold and flu season upon us, some interesting challenges for employers and employees alike arise. ‘Presenteeism,’ a newly coined term which means being present at work while sick or for some other reason disengaged from your assigned work, can be extremely detrimental to organizations and their workforce.
Traditionally, the focus of most organizations has been on absenteeism and the opportunities lost when an employee isn’t at work. This focus, however, assumes that when people are at work they are productive. Unfortunately, many times, this is simply an illusion.
According to a recent survey by OfficeTeam, a staffing service based in Menlo Park, Calif., 80% of employees polled frequently show up to work while sick; with only a mere 8% of the respondents reporting they never come into the office when ill. Performance levels of sick individuals are rarely at peak or even at an acceptable level.
In fact, employees who come to work when they are ill may be costing employers more in lost productivity than their employers pay for sick days and other medical and disability benefits. In 2004, Cornell University cited in WebMD that presenteeism may account for up to 60% of employer health costs, and found that up to 60% of the total cost of employee illnesses come from people who continue to work despite illnesses that reduce their productivity.
Morale and contagion are also concerns associated with ‘presenteeism.’ Being in contact with contagious individuals jeopardizes the health and productivity of all employees. According to CCH Inc., a division of Wolters Kluwer, a provider of employment law information and software, organizations with already-low employee morale are at even greater risk of sick workers on the job, with 52% of companies with poor or fair morale reporting presenteeism as a problem.
But presenteeism isn’t just limited to physical illness such as allergies, headaches, colds, or flu. Burnout, stress, and depression from work/life or work-related conflicts also contribute to loss of productivity while on the job. These causes may include emotional problems, family issues, elder or child care concerns, employee vs. employer distrust, overwork, or workplace distractions ranging from heat, light, or air quality, communication breakdowns, lack of training, and many other variables.
Curing the Problem
Employers can take steps to discourage presenteeism and enhance productivity. During cold and flu season, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends individuals to stay home when they are sick. It also provides helpful tips and posters that can be displayed within the workplace. Employers can also create guidelines to help the workforce understand the conditions for staying home, when it is safe to return to work, and when to re-evaluate a company’s absenteeism policies.
The single most common absence-control program utilized by 91% of organizations surveyed by CCH is disciplinary action. This approach is counterproductive to helping sick workers stay home when they are ill, especially when one considers that most of these programs allow five sick days per year and one bad cold or flu can wipe an individual out for that same amount of time or longer.
An alternative to traditional sick day policies is paid leave banks, also known as Paid Time Off (PTO) programs. Under a PTO program, personal, sick, and vacation days are combined into a single bank of days that the employee can use in any way he or she needs; allowing the employee to have more control.
Employers can also work to foster a healthy work environment and set a good example. A 2005 Workplace Productivity Survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) states that poor management is the number-one factor hurting employee productivity. Therefore, managers need to be aware of how not only their words but their actions are being interpreted by employees. Are your employees comfortable in asking for time off when ill or for other necessary reasons?
What message are you sending when you come to work sick, injured, or distracted?
Employers should be sure to keep communication open with employees. With many companies experiencing lay-offs, relocation, and expecting employees to do more with less, job insecurity and overwork may compel employees to put in excessive work hours, many unproductive. This can then lead to stress, burnout, or illness.
Executive and business coaching programs can be very valuable in establishing effective communication throughout organizations and creating engaged and resilient workforces. Coaches work with management and staff to enhance performance, morale and productivity.
Besides coaching, employee assistance programs (EAPs), and other wellness or work/life balance programs offer employees assistance beyond cold and flu season by helping them maintain focus on work while at work. EAPs provide confidential 24/7 counseling to employees and their families helping them to manage both physical and emotional concerns ranging from addictions to loss and grief.
Wellness programs, such as flu clinics, blood drives with free cholesterol screenings, etc., create opportunities for workers to receive preventative health benefits while at work. Something they may not otherwise take the time to do on their own and thus maintaining their health and welfare. Because of busy schedules, many work/life balance programs have been initiated that make services and/or resources easily accessible to employees so they can spend their time on work while at work. Child care, elder care, and financial concerns are among the myriad of issues addressed through these programs. Many times these work/life balance offerings can be provided at no cost to the organization.
Multiple Remedies
Just as there are many causes for presenteeism, there is no one solution.
Each organization and its workforce has different needs and requirements. These needs may shift with time, so it is important to re-evaluate your programs periodically. Get employees involved and ask for their input. No one enjoys being unproductive. Adopt healthy, flexible, positive work environments that meet the multitude of personal and professional challenges faced by employees. Investing in your employees will help alleviate this drain on your people, profits, and productivity.
Lynn Turner is an executive coach and owner of Ironweed Business Alliance, a coaching and consulting firm specializing in leadership development, team building and work/life balance strategies. She is also the host and producer of a local radio talk show/Web site Business Link Radio (www.businesslinkradio.com); (413) 283-7091.
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Competitive Kitchen Designs Inc. v. Deer Hill Builders Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $18,015.15
Date Filed: Dec. 5
HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
C & S Distributors Inc. v. Michelson Properties Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $40,692.98
Date Filed: Dec. 15
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
New Penn Motor Express v. Randolph Products Co. a/k/a Randolph Products
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $9,954.35
Date Filed: Dec. 15
Thales Broadcast & Multimedia Inc. f/k/a Thomcast Communications Inc.
Ozark Wireless TV Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for services: $24,233.25
Date Filed: Dec. 19
O.K. Baker Supply Co. Inc. v. Jean M. Gendreau d/b/a Home Town Bakery
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $14,577.13
Date Filed: Dec. 19
PFG Springfield Corp.
Michael Selicious d/b/a Michael’s Catering d/b/a Jitterz
Allegation: Breach of contract – Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $7,757.36
Date Filed: Dec. 28
It’s not uncommon for property owners to face significant capital gains (and the consequential tax) in the sale of real estate, either through accumulated depreciation or appreciating asset value, or the combination of both. Rather than pay the capital gain tax and reinvest the difference in another property, the 1031 Exchange allows the taxpayer to replace the property with an ‘exchange’ into another ‘like-kind’ property and essentially defer the payment of the capital gain tax by adjusting the basis of the newly acquired property.
Just over 15 years ago, the Internal Revenue Service instituted the long-awaited rules on deferred exchanges. Section 1.1031 of the Internal Revenue Code details the procedure for turning a sale/purchase transaction into an exchange. The opportunity to defer the payment of capital gains tax is available to owners of investment real estate if the owner intends to re-invest the equity of the sale of another real estate investment.
This deferment results in more equity to invest in the new property and allows the taxpayer to acquire a more substantial investment than had the original property been sold, and the capital gain tax paid.
How it Works
A properly structured 1031 exchange allows an investor (1) to sell a property; (2) reinvest the proceeds in another property; and (3) defer the capital gain taxes. This procedure allows for real estate portfolio growth while protecting the investor from capital gain taxes. Let’s say that an investor incurs $70,000 in combined taxes (depreciation recapture, federal capital gain tax) on a $200,000 capital gain. The investor has two choices:
• The investor incurs the $70,000 tax burden and reinvests the remaining $130,000. Assuming a 20% down payment and an 80% loan-to-value ratio the investor can purchase a property up to $650,000;
• With the 1031 exchange, the same investor can transfer all of the $200,000 in equity. Assuming the same loan constraints, the investor is able to purchase up to $1,000,000 in real estate.
When using this strategy, the taxpayer acquires the new property with a reduced basis, which results in the ‘deferred’ tax being due when the investor eventually cashes out. However, in estate planning, if the taxpayer/investor wills his property to his heirs, they will receive the property at the value at time of death and the deferred tax may be avoided altogether. Thus the 1031 Exchange can be a powerful tool in equity-building for the investor and his estate.
Of course, as with any investment strategy, the advice of tax attorneys, accountants, and real estate brokers familiar with these procedures is critical to compliance with the tax code and the enjoyment of the tax-deferral strategy.
Know When to Say ‘When’
Sound good? How do investors know if they are candidates for an exchange?
First, any investor completing a sale should have his or her tax advisors calculate the federal capital gains tax that would be due should the property be sold at the anticipated sale price to determine how much actual tax ‘savings’/ ‘deferment’ is at stake.
Then the investor must identify a ‘like-kind’ property to acquire. There are rules as to what is like kind, so be careful. The rovision for real property is broad and includes land, rental, and business property. Alas, no, you cannot exchange investment property for a personal residence for your retirement home.
Know Which Exchange is Best
There are various types of exchanges such as simultaneous, delayed, reverse, and an improvement exchange. Often, there is need for an ‘intermediary’ to hold title for either acquired property or the relinquished property to satisfy the rules. There are firms that specialize in providing such a service and can be thought of as an escrow agent for titles. They are known as ‘qualified intermediaries.’ They provide the safe harbor for title.
Various exchange arrangements call for different time limits for acquiring and relinquishing title to the involved properties. Also, the identification of the replacement property can be made several different ways.
Again, it is imperative to engage experienced professionals to ensure compliance and a valid transaction.
If an investor is facing a relatively significant capital gain tax in the sale of property, and desires to defer the tax burden, then it would be worthwhile to investigate and evaluate the 1031 Exchange opportunity.
Bob Greeley is owner of R.J. Greeley Company, LLC, a full-service real estate firm with extensive experience across the spectrum of commercial, industrial and telecommunication real estate transactions; (413) 734-7923
| The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of January 2006. |
| AGAWAM Country Estates of Agawam D.A.M. Vending K.D.C. Landscaping & Snow Plowing R&M Distributors Inc. Twisty’s Old Fashion Restaurant Win Restaurant AMHERST The Acupuncture Works 1-800-Granola.com Tupotech CHICOPEE Dimson’s Siding Flynn’s Seamless Gutters Joy to the World Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen Northern Design EAST LONGMEADOW G & A Import Auto Repair Inc. Meadows Lawn Care HOLYOKE The Corner Store K & S Gifts & More Taylor Rental LONGMEADOW AZZ Hypnotherapy Woods Financial Group NORTHAMPTON Mike Florio Welding & Repair SPRINGFIELD All Stars Mechanical Andrew L. Hepburn Assoc. Barr Enterprises Colin Photography Craftman’s Corner F & L Oil Burners The Healthy Connection J.C. Services JXZ Productions KAT Transport Services Manilla Snach Machines Melissa’s Place Perfect Peace Ministry Precious Transport Sabor Hispano Super Auto Sales WEST SPRINGFIELD Ask for Success Advertising Bryant General Contracting & Construction C.H.I. Design Dependable Trustee Services Finishing Touch Home Improvements Good Dog University J.M. Snow Plowing LHQ Dance Force Unlimited M.G. Consultants Microtech Computer Services New Life Solutions Page One Productions LLC Rein’s New York Style Deli Welker’s Exxon WESTFIELD Axis Precision Inc. Cooper Excavating Gauntlet Games Inc. Starbucks Under Mountain Farm Trucking |
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| Renaissance Manor in Holyoke announced the following: •••••
• William Steplar has joined the Investment Services Department of Easthampton Savings Bank. He will work out of the 21 Locust St., Northampton, office. ••••• Sonya Williams has joined the Agawam office of Carlson GMAC Real Estate as a Sales Agent. •••••
• Chicopee Savings Bank announced the following: •••••
• Jeanmarie Deliso, owner of Deliso Financial and Insurance Services in Springfield, has been elected to New York Life Insurance Co.’s Agents Advisory Council. She has been a New York Life agent for 10 years. •••••
• Gregory M. Schmidt has been named an Associate at Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy, P.C. in Springfield. Schmidt’s practice includes general bank, commercial and real estate law. ••••• The Mass. Association of Realtors in Waltham announced the following:
• Corinne Fitzgerald, a partner with Key 100 Real Estate in Greenfield, has been appointed Vice President of Business Development for the second consecutive term. Fitzgerald is responsible for coordinating the initiatives of the organization’s business plan relative to research and business development, standard forms, and electronic information services;
• Charles Sawyer, broker with Dayspring Inc. Realtors in Pittsfield, has been elected Western Region Vice President. Sawyer will coordinate objectives and activities within the Berkshire County Board of Realtors and Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley, and meet regularly with local and regional leadership to discuss real estate industry issues of statewide importance, and
• Susan Renfrew, broker and co-owner of Renfrew Real Estate in Greenfield, has been appointed Vice President of Professional Development. Renfrew is responsible for coordinating the association’s internal and external communications programs and its educational outreach efforts to realtors. | ••••• John B. Hesslein has been named Station Manager at WSHM, Springfield’s CBS affiliate. He will oversee the daily operations of the station. ••••• Mass. State Rep. Daniel F. Keenan has been named Vice President, Government Relations, for the Sisters of Providence Health System, based in Springfield. Keenan currently represents residents in the Third Hampden District. He assumes his new role in February. ••••• The Hotel Northampton in Northampton announced the following: ••••• Robert Cartelli, President of Fathers & Sons Inc. in West Springfield, has been named Chair of the American Heart Association’s 2006 Greater Pioneer Valley Heart Ball. The event is planned March 3 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke and raises funds to fight heart disease and stroke. •••••
PeoplesBank in Holyoke announced the following: ••••• Francis D. Dibble Jr., a Partner at Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, was recently inducted as a Fellow into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. ••••• Kimberly A. Andrews has been elected President and Chief Executive of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Connecticut. ••••• William C. Jones, Executive Vice President of Berkshire Healthcare Systems in Springfield, has been elected Chairman of the Massachusetts Extended Care Federation. ••••• Dr. John Frangie of the NorthEast Laser Center in West Springfield is among the first physicians in Western Massachusetts to receive an IntraLase Luminary Award for his commitment in refining the surgical techniques used with IntraLase-initiated LASIK. ••••• Dr. William Smith recently opened an adult medicine practice at 170 University Dr., Amherst. He has practiced medicine in Hampshire County for 18 years. ••••• Bernadette Harrigan was named a Shareholder of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy. ••••• David M. Clark has joined Berkshire Bank as Assistant Vice President and Mortgage Origination Officer in the Westfield and Springfield areas.
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| Speed Thrills
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| The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden and Hampshire counties, and are the latest available. They are listed by community. |
| AMHERST BELCHERTOWN Belchertown Family Center Inc. CHICOPEE FEEDING HILLS HOLYOKE LUDLOW NORTHAMPTON SOUTH HADLEY SPRINGFIELD Cotanak Inc., Rukmini S. Kenia, M.D., P.C., WESTFIELD H.F.P., Fire Sprinkler Inc., K’s Restaurant Inc., WEST SPRINGFIELD |
| Dr. William P. Ferris, Western New England College Professor of Management, has been appointed Associate Editor of the Journal of Management Education. Ferris is an expert in teambuilding, leadership, and management education. In addition to his appointment as an associate editor, Ferris was recently named the Editorial Board Member of the Year for the Academy of Management and Learning, the educational journal of the national Academy of Management. ••••• The Spirit of Springfield announced that Lawrence Goldberg, President and General Manager for Springfield Rock Radio Group, has accepted the position as Chairman, and Arlene Putnam, General Manager, Eastfield Mall, Springfield, will serve as Vice Chair. Board members also include Treasurer, Kristina Houghton, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, PC; Clerk, Attorney Charles Casartello, Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley, PC, and Directors, Romola Rigali, The Republican; Douglas McKell, Connecticut Surgical Group, and Daniel M. Glanville, Director of Government and Community Affairs for Comcast. ••••• PeoplesBank in Holyoke announced the following:
••••• Arthur M. Haselkorn, a commercial loan officer for Berkshire Bank, recently relocated to the 31 Court St., Westfield branch office. •••••
•••••
| ••••• Beth Larrow has been named Executive Administrative Assistant at the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce in Pittsfield. ••••• Denise M. Beaulieu has been named Marketing Manager for the Loomis Village in South Hadley. Loomis Village is a part of the Loomis Communities. ••••• Christopher C. Desmarais, Senior Vice President of Gamco Asset Management Co., has been appointed to the Dolan Advisory Council for Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business. ••••• Rich Mathews has been named Vice President of Marketing for Lenox in East Longmeadow. ••••• Katherine K. Coolidge, a Law Librarian at Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas in Springfield, will serve on the Board of Directors of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers in Palmer. ••••• Trinidad Andino has been named a Mortgage Loan Officer at TD Banknorth Mortgage Group in Springfield. ••••• Julie Makris has joined Carlson GMAC Real Estate as a Sales Agent in the Longmeadow office. ••••• Suzanne Smith has been named Director of Health Services of Tapestry Health in Florence. She will direct the agency’s 11 family planning and community health services offices. ••••• Gretchen O’Neil has joined the Belchertown office of ERA Laplante Real Estate as a Sales Associate. ••••• Former Springfield Mayor Theodore DiMauro has joined the Springfield-based law firm Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley. ••••• Bacon & Wilson, PC of Springfield announced the following: Other Bacon & Wilson attorneys named Super Lawyers were: ••••• Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP in Springfield announced that Francis D. Dibble, Jr., Commercial Litigation, has been inducted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. ••••• North Brookfield Savings Bank announced the following: ••••• The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in West Springfield announced the following: ••••• Andrew E. Markowski was named Counsel at Elizabeth Gara & Associates, a lobbying firm based in Hartford, Conn. He will focus on energy law and legislation as well as consumer protection issues. ••••• Kent Pecoy Construction announced the following: |
| The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court. | |
| Angy’s Food Products Inc. | Laureano, Maria D. |
Lenox Recertified With OSHA ‘Star’
EAST LONGMEADOW — Lenox’s American Saw & Manufacturing Co. has been recertified for an additional five-year membership in the prestigious ‘Star’ Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) of the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The plant, which employs 646 workers, manufactures saw blades and hand tools, including band saws, hack saws, tubing cutters, and utility knives. With its “Star” recertification, it continues as part of an elite corps of about 1,370 workplaces nationwide that have earned VPP recognition. The latest recertification came after an OSHA team’s thorough on-site review of the plant’s safety and health programs, interviews with employees, and a tour of the work site. The plant was first certified as a ‘Star’ site in June 1997 and re-certified in September 2000. The latest review of the plant’s safety and health management programs found that Lenox remains consistent with the high quality of VPP programs, according to Marthe Kent, OSHA’s New England regional administrator. In addition, the plant’s illness and injury rates remain well below the industry average for saw blade manufacturing, added Kent.
Firm Adds Three Clients at Year’s End
HOLYOKE — Bauzá & Associates closed out the year by landing three major accounts – Manny’s TV & Appliances, Williams Distributing, and Economy Insurance, Inc. Hector Bauzá, founder and CEO, said the firm had a “stellar year in 2005” by adding three clients who understand the importance of marketing to Hispanics as a prudent business objective. The firm’s main focus for these companies will be to develop strategic marketing platforms and media campaigns aimed at the Hispanic market, according to Bauzá.
TD Banknorth Massachusetts Ranked #2 in Small Business Lending
WORCESTER — TD Banknorth Massachusetts, a division of TD Banknorth, N.A., recently announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has ranked it the state’s second-largest lender in terms of dollar volume of SBA-backed loans, and fifth in terms of the number of loans made. For the year ending Sept. 30, TD Banknorth Massachusetts made 131 7 (a) SBA loans for more than $19 million, marking the fourth year in which the bank has ranked among the state’s top- 10 small business lenders. SBA loans, which are guaranteed by the SBA, help banks lend to small businesses that might not otherwise qualify for a loan. TD Banknorth, which is an SBA Preferred Lender, works in partnership with small business clients and supports them with loan decisions that are made locally.
Yankee Candle Exec Assumes New Duties
DEERFIELD — Harlan M. Kent, President of Yankee Candle Co., recently added the title of chief operating officer to his role. The COO position did not exist prior to Kent’s promotion. With his new duties, Kent will also oversee the company’s manufacturing and finance areas. He joined Yankee Candle in 2001 as senior vice president for the wholesale division, and was promoted to president in 2004.
Maryland Company Purchases Computer Services Firm
SPRINGFIELD — TEKsystems of Hanover, Md., recently purchased CSA-Tobin, a computer services company, for an undisclosed price. CSA-Tobin was created in 2004 by a merger of Tobin Systems, based in Springfield, and Computer Staffing Associates, based in Connecticut. Approximately 200 technical professionals are employed at the company, which specializes in creating custom programming and offering contract programmers for companies. The Farmington, Conn.-based firm has offices in Springfield, Stamford, Conn., and Tampa, Fla. TEKsystems offers temporary staffing for the computer industry, as well as provides project services to information technology companies.
Big Y Education Express Program Extended
SPRINGFIELD — Due to an overwhelming response from almost 2,000 participating schools, Big Y Foods has extended the fourth round of its Education Express Program to June 28. Education Express is a program in which Big Y shoppers purchase money saving products featured with the Big Y Express Savings Club electronic discount card to earn merchandise points for the school of their choice. Schools redeem these points for free equipment and supplies including computers, software, textbooks and sports equipment. Since the program started in 1994, Big Y has awarded more than $7.5 million in free teaching materials and classroom equipment to more than 1,900 schools in its market area. In this fourth round alone, schools have accumulated more than $2 million in Education Express points.
Bay Path to Offer Criminal Justice Major on Saturdays
LONGMEADOW — Bay Path College will expand the degree offerings available in its accelerated One-Day-A-Week Saturday College for women by adding a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice to its curriculum in January. The B.S. degree for One-Day students, with specializations in either fraud investigation or counseling, will prepare them for a career in the criminal justice field. For more information, call (413) 565-1273, (800) 782-7284, ext. 273, or visit www.baypath.edu.
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
The Binding Source LLC v. Etchell’s Technology Corp.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $25,000
Date Filed: Dec. 5
HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
C & S Distributors Inc. v. Michelson Properties Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $40,692.98
Date Filed: Dec. 15
HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Broadcast Music Inc. v. Pearl St. Night Club Inc. a/k/a-d/b/a Pearl Street
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for services: $10,333.92
Date Filed: Nov. 25
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Valley Industries Inc. v. Todd Hanks d/b/a New England Cap & Hitch
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $8,880.91
Date Filed: Dec. 6
Project Graphics Inc. v. Prodigy Sign Innovations LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $5,970.15
Date Filed: Dec. 12
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. Autumn Rose Corp.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for workers’ comp insurance: $5,139
Date Filed: Dec. 12
WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Industrial Technical Services Inc. v. Delray Contracting Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for services: $8,319.91
Date Filed: Nov. 21
| The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of November and December 2005. | |
| AGAWAM Gemini Massage Mason & More Mortgage Processing Services Suspension Shack Wicked Teez AMHERST A.R.M. Chao’s Consultant Supply from China CHICOPEE Arbour Cuts Family Chiropractic Jack’s Styling Salon Knoller Translation Services Mook Media EAST LONGMEADOW Charter Communications J & B Landscape Polish American Memorial HADLEY HOLYOKE Sunglass Hut LONGMEADOW Footcare Zone NORTHAMPTON Never Another Death SPRINGFIELD Ambassador Auto Sales BM Home Improvements Blades of Steel Remodeling | Edwin Auto Repair Full Service Real Estate Indu Streetz Magazine Inc. JC Xpressions Johnyna’s Creations Loving Care Kennels Mario Cosentini Landscaping Paint’n the Town Pioneer Valley Plantscapes Quick Stop Food Mart Signs by Bob Smith Vincent’s Beauty Salon WEST SPRINGFIELD ATC Systems B’Shara’s Restaurant Connecticut Valley Block Elm Market & Package Store Five Star Towing and Hardy’s Home Décor J.M.S. Towing Liberty’s Shell Magnolias Miguel Coamo Barber Shop Olde English Style Chimney River Inn Motel WESTFIELD Blackberry Lane Fantasy Frogs.com P & M Detailing Top Gunz Paintball |
| Angy’s Food Products Inc. Brunelle, Timothy W. Buchanan, Amy Buchanan, William L. Delvalle, Jose M. Demers, Alicia E. DiCarlo, Jeanne A. Fortier, Milca R. | Gonzalez, Maribel Holloway, Angela J. Johnston, William Larrivee, Steven R. Laureano, Maria D. McWhinnie, David J. Melendez, Tricia Dawn
| Merceri, Darrell Shane Mestres, Francisco J. Nero, Walter J. O’Brien, Donna Marie Pike, Jeffrey D. Poplawski, Kathryn Marie Smart, Laura H. Thompson, Philamena M. |
Local Jobs Outlook Positive
SPRINGFIELD — A new survey suggests that employers in the Greater Springfield area are poised to hire staff during the first quarter of 2006. Manpower
Inc.’s quarterly survey for Western Mass. is very positive, according to Cathy-Ann Paige, Northeastern vice president for Manpower. Paige acknowledged that hiring has not gone as fast as it has in the past, particularly because there are fewer prospective employees with the right skill sets for the jobs available. She added that survey results indicate businesses remain cautious when making hiring decisions, however, if the right person comes along, they will be hired. Paige estimates that 47% of area businesses interviewed expect to add jobs in the first quarter. Manpower surveys approximately 16,000 employers nationwide for its quarterly report.
CFOs: Financial Incentives to Hold Steady in ’06
MENLO PARK, Calif. — The majority of the nation’s employees are not expected to receive larger raises and bonuses in 2006 than they did in 2005, a recent survey finds. Less than one-third (29%) of chief financial officers (CFOs) recently polled said they will give higher salary increases in the coming year, and just 20% anticipate boosting bonus amounts. The survey was developed by Robert Half International Inc. and was conducted by an independent research firm that includes responses from more than 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees. CFOs who said they expected to increase raises and bonuses in 2006 were asked by what percentage these forms of compensation would rise. The mean responses were 5% for raises and 7% for bonuses. Many companies may be hesitant to increase employee compensation because of other expenses impacting the business, including rising health care and energy costs, according to Max Messmer, Chairman and CEO of Robert Half International Inc. Messmer added that being overly cautious can be detrimental, particularly as the competition for top candidates intensifies. Firms that fail to reward good performance risk losing their best talent, he added.
MassMutual Cites Harassment by Galvin
SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual Financial Group recently filed papers in Suffolk Superior Court accusing Secretary of State William F. Galvin with making “baseless, inflammatory and harassing public statements” that are causing harm to the company. Galvin is quoted as saying in a Nov. 23 Reuters dispatch that MassMutual continues to “stonewall the process at every turn.” Galvin has made several legal attempts over the past few months to force MassMutual to turn over
documents that involve the dismissal of Chairman and CEO Robert J. O’Connell last summer. MassMutual contends it has provided all relevant documents to Galvin, and would include two internal reports on O’Connell’s dismissal if Galvin agrees to keep the reports confidential. On numerous occasions, Galvin has refused to promise confidentiality since the reports come under the state’s public access law. MassMutual has also provided the internal reports to the state Division of Insurance and the attorney general’s office, which are continuing their inquiries. Galvin, as the state’s chief securities regulator, has jurisdiction over fraud in the sale or purchase of securities or in advising people on the purchase of securities. However, MassMutual contends that the information Galvin seeks involves only alleged violations of nepotism and company policy, not securities fraud.
WNEC Announces Admissions Agreements With STCC and HCC
SPRINGFIELD – Western New England College President Dr. Anthony Caprio, Springfield Technical Community College President Ira Rubenzahl, and Holyoke Community College President William Messner announced today that WNEC will offer HCC and STCC students dual admission under a new joint admissions program. The agreement will allow students accepted to HCC and STCC to also be accepted at WNEC. It also provides for academic support for students at WNEC while they attend one of the two community colleges. The agreement between the college and the two community college will emphasize collaborative communication and jointly supported advisement of students, and students who take advantage of the joint admissions option will be encouraged to use the WNEC library and support programs, engage in frequent contact with faculty and advisors, and to attend campus events. Students will also be eligible for scholarships at WNEC.
| The following building permits were issued during the month of December 2005. | |
|
AMHERST Amherst Commer. Assoc. LTD Amherst Shopping Center Association D.M.P Trust Eric Perkins NORTHAMPTON Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc. Joe-Mae Realty Associates Smith College SPRINGFIELD Baystate Medical Center | Beth El Temple Jon Goff Mercy Medical Center Price Cutter Inc. St. Johns Church WEST SPRINGFIELD F.L. Roberts & Co. Inc. Mike Kravitz Pioneer Spine & Sport WESTFIELD Brooks Pharmacy Mark Greenbers Westfield Women’s Club |
Süddekor Honored for Economic Development
AGAWAM — Süddekor LCC recently received honorable mention from the Mass. Alliance for Economic Development for its impact on economic development in the western part of the state. The company received recognition for opening a $20 million, 108,000-square-foot paper-treating plant in East Longmeadow, which added 37 jobs to the region’s economy. With the addition of the new treating plant, Süddekor will add capacity for impregnation of the papers prior to laminating. The company’s new facility is located on 22 acres, which will provide space for expansion of up to 300,000 square feet. Süddekor
LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Süddekor Printer GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Laichingen, Germany. The company started production in Agawam in 2000.
Solutia Plant Earns OSHA ‘Star’
SPRINGFIELD — Solutia Inc.’s Indian Orchard plant has been recertified for an
additional five-year membership in the prestigious ‘Star’ Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) of the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The manufacturer of plastic sheeting, which employs 560 workers at the Indian Orchard plant, continues as part of an elite corps of approximately 1,370 workplaces nationwide that have earned VPP recognition. The ‘Star’ recertification came after an OSHA team’s thorough on-site review of the plant’s safety and health programs, interviews with employees, and a tour of the work site. The plant was first certified as a ‘Star’ site in February 1997 and recertified in September 2000. VPP companies achieve average injury rates 50% lower than other companies in their industry.
Kanzaki Gets Green Light for Expansion WARE — The town’s planning board recently approved a special permit for Kanzaki Specialty Papers Inc. to build a 44,000-square-foot addition to its existing building. The company manufactures coated papers that are used in inkjet printing as well as other paper products. The expansion plans will also add 13 jobs to the local economy, according to company officials. The permit was approved with stipulations ranging from a new traffic plan to assurances there would not be an increase of effluent to the town sewer system.
UMass Dining Commons Set for $10M Renovation
AMHERST — Starting in January, the Berkshire Dining Commons at UMass Amherst will undergo a $10 million renovation to improve students’ dining experience. The renovation project is expected to be completed by August, according to Ken Toong, director of dining services. Toong said the expanded 26,000-square-foot facility in the Southwest residential area will have 800 seats, an increase of 120. When completed, the new space will feature a stand-alone vegetarian and vegan station, expansive salad, fruit, and soup bar, hot food stations with rotating cuisine, and a made-to-order Pan Asian station. In addition, grill and pasta stations are planned, as well as an on-site bake shop and a separate grab-and-go takeout area. Students will be able to dine from 7 a.m. to midnight. During the renovation, said Toong, the university will make special arrangements to reduce inconvenience for students, including expanded shuttle service to other dining areas on campus.
UMass Researchers to Study Geohazards.
AMHERST — UMass Amherst scientists are part of a collaborative project that recently received nearly $2.4 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop worldwide protocols for identifying and studying offshore geohazards, including earthquakes that can trigger tsunamis. In addition to helping engineers, geologists, and geophysicists understand the nature of geohazards and identify where they might occur, protocols established by the project will also help governments and regulatory agencies make moreinformed decisions about shoreline development, building codes, and international agreements related to populations located in harm’s way, according to Don DeGroot, civil and environmental engineering. The protocols will be designed to offset or minimize the damage from incidents such as the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami of December 2004, which killed more than 283,000 people and displaced some 1.1 million others in 10 countries throughout South Asia and East Africa. Collaborators in the project include Tufts University, Northeastern University, Vassar College, the University of California Davis, the International Centre for Geohazards at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, and the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems at the University of Western Australia.
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations.
These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Select Energy Inc. v. Olde Hadleigh Grill
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for goods and services: $6,925.89
Date Filed: Nov. 21
HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Guard Insurance Group v. Quality Looseleaf Co. Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for workmen’s comp insurance:
$2,606.00
Date Filed: Nov. 10
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Select Energy Inc. v. Orlando Alban Jr.
d/b/a Mason Food Market
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for goods or services: $6,097.03
Date Filed: Oct. 26
CACV v. Gary E. Dion and Chicopee
Concrete Services Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for services: $2,699.24
Date Filed: Nov. 18
Acme Site Work Inc. v. Sentry Services Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for goods and services: $10,435.73
Date Filed: Nov. 22
| The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden and Hampshire counties, and are the latest available. They are listed by community. | |
| EASTHAMPTON HADLEY LONGMEADOW NORTHAMPTON Agency Inc., SOUTHAMPTON SPRINGFIELD | Champion Foods Inc. Management Inc., 1365 WESTFIELD WEST SPRINGFIELD Positive Pregnancy Solutions of Western Massachusetts |
| Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP in Springfield announced the following:
• Daniel J. Blake has been named Counsel. He is a member of the Litigation/ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Department and
• Gastón de los Reyes has been named an Associate. He is a member of the Litigation/ADR Department;
• Jennifer K. Cannon has been named an Associate. She is a member of the Litigation/ADR Department;
• Daniel A. Leonardo has been named an Associate. He is anew Associate in the Boston office and a member of the Litigation/ADR Department, and
• Seth M. Wilson has been named an
••••• Meyers Brothers Kalicka of Holyoke and Greenfield announced the following: ••••• Western New England College Professor of Management Dr. William P. Ferris has been appointed Associate Editor of the Journal of Management Education. Ferris is an expert in team-building, leadership, and management education. It is his second stint as associate editor, having previously served from 1999-2002. In addition to this appointment, Ferris was recently named the Editorial Board Member of the Year for the Academy of Management and Learning, the educational journal of the National Academy of Management. | Edward J. Terault, President of Reil ••••• Tereza Perez-Morale recently joined the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in West Springfield as a Secretary. ••••• Junior Achievement of Western Mass., based in Springfield, announced that the following individuals have been elected to the Board of Directors: ••••• PeoplesBank in Holyoke announced the following: ••••• Hampden Bank announced the following: ••••• Two MassMutual Financial Group executives were recently elected to posts in industry associations: |
The headline in the local newspaper read, ‘Springfield Mulls Garage Sale,’ or something to that effect. Given the current sad state of fiscal affairs here, one might have given that a quick look and proceeded to conjure up images of a giant tag sale staged to help raise some revenue to pay teachers or keep the lights on.
Reading further, however, we come to learn that Springfield officials, including members of the Finance Control Board, are in preliminary talks with the state about a possible sale of one of the parking garages run by the Springfield Parking Authority to the Mass. Convention Center Authority, which runs the recently opened MassMutual Center.
The theory goes that the convention authority can benefit from owning and operating the 1,300-space Civic Center Parking Garage, located across East Court Street from the MassMutual Center, thus gaining a steady source of parking for events. Meanwhile, the cash-strapped city could pocket some much-needed revenue.
While all this might sound good, such a transaction would ultimately make as much sense as that other kind of garage sale.
Yes, Springfield needs the revenue. But what it doesn’t need to do is start messing with one of the few real assets it has left in its efforts to draw businesses and consumers to its downtown: accessible, affordable parking.
Selling the Civic Center garage to the state will, we believe, create fewer parking opportunities downtown, which will inevitably drive up the cost of the spaces still in the inventory, which will eventually impact a wide array of businesses in the downtown area.
Which is why we hope these ‘preliminary’ talks don’t go any further.
Before we elaborate, let’s return to the subject of parking in Springfield. For some, it’s a sore subject, but in reality, car owners and business owners have it better here than they have it in any other large city in the Northeast.
Most don’t see it that way, but this stems from the notion that people tend to regard Springfield, and the region as a whole, as a place where people shouldn’t have to pay to park. When the Big E started charging people to park, for example, area residents got angry. When the price at the Big E went from $3 to $5, people went ballistic.
That’s because they have no perspective — unless they’ve attended a Red Sox game recently. Only then can they fully understand the true meaning of paying to park.
These individuals also understand that a parking lot or garage is a business, and it can be a very good business.
In Springfield, we’re fortunate. There is an ample supply of parking, some of it convenient to downtown businesses and some of it less so, and at rates — generally $40 to $90 a month — that would make people in Boston, Hartford, or Providence laugh. In general, these lots are secure, clean, and well-managed by the city’s parking authority. They should be considered assets, not buildings to be sold off to raise cash.
As we said, these are challenging times for downtown Springfield and companies doing business there. Incidents of violent crime have increased; one shop owner on Main Street was recently shot in broad daylight, and there was a mugging outside the TD Banknorth building. Business owners and those working downtown don’t need another reason to start thinking seriously about taking their act to the suburbs — the land of free parking.
They would have one if the Civic Center garage were to be sold to the convention authority. Such a transaction would adversely impact inventory and the price of remaining spaces.
If the city wants to raise revenue, it does have some properties that can be sold. Union Station comes to mind. Nothing is happening with the long-vacant train station and it appears that nothing is likely to happen anytime soon. The old jail is also available — although no one seems to want it — and there are other surplus buildings to be had.
What this struggling city doesn’t need is a garage sale — of any kind.
There are growing concerns that Massachusetts is losing its competitive edge to other states and countries.
More of our students, and future workforce, are looking to Massachusetts public colleges and universities to build their futures. In 2002, 67% of Massachusetts natives who entered college in state went to a public college or university — up from 59% in 1996.
Our private higher education institutions are also a tremendous asset, in that they recruit many students from out of state. We must work with those institutions in developing strategies for keeping talented out-of-state students here.
But our public colleges and universities are already playing a vital role in retaining educated workers, and in a state with anemic population growth, more than 85% of the 800,000 UMass alumni and our state and community colleges are living, working, raising families, and paying taxes in the Commonwealth.
Our public colleges and universities also are highly responsive to local and statewide needs, interests, and industries:
- The 15 community colleges have provided direct training this year for more than 500 Bay State companies, from Analog Devices to Yankee Candle Co.;
- The nine state colleges have adopted innovative programs for meeting the growing need for K-12 math and science teachers; and
- UMass has become a national leader in technology transfer, helping to fuel the life sciences, nanotechnology, marine sciences, and information technology industries statewide.
After several years of cuts to operating budgets and foregone capital investment, the state has taken some initial steps toward addressing funding gaps in public higher education. But a bolder leap is necessary to ensure that we retain our competitive edge.
We need to seriously address the critical capital needs of our public colleges and universities, which have been conservatively estimated at $2.9 billion for the 29 public campuses. We must make sure that our buildings are safe, that our students are learning in the most modern laboratories and classrooms, and that our researchers have state-of-the art equipment and technology.
By any standard, Massachusetts’ capital investment has been woefully inadequate. In 2004, Massachusetts invested only $43 million, far less than any of the states against which we compete for investment and jobs, including Connecticut, at $175 million; New York, $269 million; and North Carolina, $617 million.
The $286 million public higher education capital bond bill that is currently being considered barely makes a dent in the need, although many of the proposed projects would make a direct contribution to the economic competitiveness of our state, including an allied health building at North Shore Community College to train muchneeded nurses, a life sciences R&D facility at UMass Medical to bolster the biotechnology sector, or a design center at MassArt to help keep Massachusetts among the nation’s leading centers of design.
Further, the Legislature should adopt a series of reforms championed by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, which will provide public colleges and university with greater management flexibility to employ these funds more effectively and efficiently.
To remain competitive economically, our Commonwealth must get many things right: the cost of doing business, public school quality, health care policy and energy supply, among others. Strategic state investments in our public higher education system are a key part of ensuring our future prosperity.
Richard Lord is the president and CEO of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts;www.aimnet.org. William H. Guenther is the president of the Mass. Insight Corporation;www.massinsight.com.
| The Fifth Annual Festival of Trees to benefit the Springfield Boys and Girls Club was made possible by dozens of Western Mass. businesses, organizations, and individuals that donated fully decorated trees for the event. The trees, many of which also included a number of gifts and surprises, were put on display for thousands of visitors who could vote on their favorites as well as take a chance at winning one of the festive creations through a raffle. |
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| BusinessWest’s own entry into the event included a bevy of Christmas treats, including a chocolate fountain, a missionstyle coffee table decorated with Santas, reindeer, and candles, and issues of BusinessWest Magazine and its sister publication, The Healthcare News. |
Dianne Mitchell, chair of the Festival of Trees event for 2005, poses with the tree she decorated and donated to the event.
| The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court. | |
| Adon, Sergio E. Alderman, Laura B. Alderman, William N. Almodovar, Rosemary Attanasio, David Paul Attanasio, Pamela Jean Barabolkin, Dmitriy Barabolkin, Marie Ellen Bashaw, Gerald. J. Bauer, Karen L. Beauchene, Meghan M. Beyer, Jill Boothby, Mary Ann Boucher, Sandra A. Brow, Elizabeth M. Buoniconti, Theresa Cannamela, Audrey J. Capaccio, Mary E. Capaccio, Pasquale Cardona, Willy J. Carosello, Richard Cayon, James M. Ceccarini, Bridget Lynn Conley, Kenneth George
Dana, Scott D. Dana, Stephanie B. Davieu, Charles R. Doyle-Workman, John Charles Ducharme, Esther Figueroa, Wanda I. Flowers, Daniel Fogarty, Kelly Nicole Ford, Gary T. Ford, Gary T. Frenier, Margaret Gordon, Richard E. Gouvin, Bernice R. Griggs, Jeffrey L. Gubula, Matthew P. Gubula, Shana A. Hamre, Elizabeth A. Harris, Isaiah L. Heimsath, Steven M. Howland, Pamela J. Keller, Joan Kolosewicz, Loretta Jean Larkin, Thomas Francis Le, Hong Thi Le, Viet The Lee, Patricia A Lee, Xiong Chue Leigh, Denise A | Lewis, Jason E Littlejohn, Mark Maguire, Edward J. Messenger, Susan Diane Miller-Baker, Maryanne Morgan, Gordon Samuel Mularski, Peter J. Murphy, Ellen M. Nestor, Melissa Nevue, Thomas M. Newsky, Victoria B. O’Keefe, Edward F. Ortiz, Janet Otis, Lisette J. Paton, Christopher L. Paton, Katherine W. Perry, Russell D. Pixley, Sandra J. Provost, Anelda A. Punderson, Todd Breck Racine, Lori-Ann Renaud, Richard E. Renaud, Rosemary Rivera, Josue Robbins, Lori Jean Robbins, Mattie B. Rosado, Hector L. Rzonca, Daniel M. Sanchez, Betsy Santiago, Enrique Santiago, Rose M. Sargis, Thelma Celeste Sayers, Robin L. Schell, Yong S. Snyder, Lisa M. Sollecito, Andrew P. Stevenson-Mitchell, Sullivan, David W. Sullivan, Robert A. Taylor, Earlene V. Thomas, Karen A. Tucker, Catrese Shubrick Vega, Onelia Veloz, Rene Vicki, LaBonte Wallace, Joanne Wallace, LeRoy Wallis, Guy C Walz, Dawn Marie Walz, Glen Richard Wilkinson, Melissa Anne Young, Grace A. Morin, George C. |
| AGAWAM | Mass Mutual WEST SPRINGFIELD |
As 2005 winds to a close, economic analysts are focusing their attention on the year ahead and what it might bring. For the most part, the forecasters arent very hopeful.
Indeed, they look at the recent surge in energy prices, the prospects for higher interest rates, and continued losses of population and innovative talent in the Bay State, and generally conclude that 06 will be a time of slow and unspectacular growth.
Thats one way of looking at things. From a regional perspective, and without discounting what the scholarly analysts have to say, BusinessWest looks more positively toward the year ahead. In some ways, we have to; considering what the past few years have brought Springfield and the surrounding region, things can only get better.
But with a less cynical eye, we can say that the City of Homes, and, to a lesser extent, the entire region, are turning a page. If nothing else, many people feel comfortable saying that the worst is now behind us.
Granted, there is a long way to go, and if Judge Constance Sweeneys ruling that the Albano administration improperly froze teachers wages is upheld, then the city will be faced with an even deeper budget crisis. But there are some signs of progress:
The MassMutual Center is open for business:Granted, we have yet to see any of the big conventions and shows weve been promised, but the center is big, bold, and it has people talking. Better still, it is providing people with new and different reasons to come downtown from chamber trade shows to the Bright Nights Ball and this can only help Springfield in the long run.
Some Movement on the Riverfront:After years of talk, we have a formal, approved plan for development of the old Basketball Hall of Fame. Its a $9 million sports and fitness complex that the developers and the Springfield Riverfront Development Commission (SRDC) believe will effectively complement the new Hall, its tenants, and neighbors. If theyre right (work is expected to be completed in 12-15 months) then the city will gain some valuable momentum in its efforts to make the riverfront a true destination spot. Thats good, because another development team is looking at a hotel proposal for Riverfront Park, several options for the York Street Jail, and some other parcels along West Columbus Avenue.
Progress on the Smith& Wesson Property:This is another project that has been years in the making, and the fact that the city is close (or at least much closer) to landing tenants for the property, is a positive sign. Springfield needs many things, but at the top of the list are tax revenues and jobs. The property at Smith & Wesson holds promise for both.
Strength in the Suburbs:As weve noted many times before, other cities and towns in the region are thriving.
Northampton is enjoying explosive growth, and more lies ahead due in part to the longawaited redevelopment of the former Northampton State Hospital site. Westfield is on the verge of adding hundreds of new jobs in the distribution sector, and has an industrial park primed for development. In Chicopee, a city rocked by the indictment of its sitting mayor on extortion charges seems poised to put that sad episode behind and move forward.
Eds and Meds:Two pillars of the regions economy education and health care are positioned for continued growth. As the Baby Boom generation nears retirement, the already steady health care sector will continue to add jobs across a wide spectrum. Meanwhile, the areas colleges and universities are continuously adding new programs and services to bolster the economy. From the Virtual Hospital at STCC to the soon-to-open Kittredge Business Center at Holyoke Community College, the schools are developing new ways to spur entrepreneurship and train people for the jobs of tomorrow.
This optimism must be tempered somewhat by the recent ruling on the Springfield teachers contract, which might ultimately wind up costing the city $30 million, undoing all of the budget progress made by the Control Board. Meanwhile, the ongoing epidemic of crime in Springfield must be curbed if the city is to move forward.
If Springfield can manage to somehow navigate that whitewater and that is a big if, then there is reason to believe that 2006 holds the promise of better times.
Florence Savings Bank Reports Continued Strong Growth
FLORENCE — Florence Savings Bank recently reported third-quarter results that indicate a continuation of the bank’s strong growth trend, according to President John F. Heaps Jr. The bank’s total assets at the end of September stood at $865.8 million, an increase of $70.2 million, or 8.8% from the corresponding period last year. Growth in the bank’s loan portfolio was the primary source of the asset growth, with total loans up $66.4 million or 15% from the prior year. The loan growth was spread across the portfolio as residential real estate loans ended the quarter at $348.7 million, up $40.5 million or 13.1% from the prior year. Equity loans increased $17.1 million or 38.5% from September 2004 levels, and commercial loans grew $12.6 million or 15.6% over the same period. Deposit growth was also strong as total deposits ended the quarter at $619.6 million, up $26.0 million or 4.4% from September 2004 levels.
Federal Funding Will Benefit STCC Commuter Student Transportation
SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal recently secured federal funds to
support Springfield Technical Community College’s effort to resolve student transportation challenges. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) will receive the funding and will provide additional bus service to the campus. The transportation and parking project will help make the college more accessible throughout the region. Congressman Neal secured the funds through the FY ’06
Transportation Appropriations bill.
AIC Receives Foundation Grant
SPRINGFIELD — American International College recently received a $138,400 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation of Falmouth, Maine that will be used to establish a division of Institutional Research to assist with strategic planning. The grant will improve data assessment on campus which will enable better institutional, operational, programmatic, curriculum and enrollment planning and management, according to John T. Short, Jr., vice president for Development and Alumni Relations. AIC officials applied for the grant in September and received approval following a site visit by trustees in October and
review of the application.
TD Banknorth Provides Springfield Museums with Grant
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums recently received a $10,000 grant from TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation for the museums’ Weekend Family Fun series of educational programs. Weekend Family
Fun programs highlight holidays, special exhibitions, cultural traditions
and topics with family appeal. Each program includes a performance, art
demonstrations, science activities and hands-on craft workshops. TD Banknorth,
through its charitable giving arm, the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation, supports programs and organizations which have proven records of arts and cultural enrichment programs.
UMass Film Library Honored in Berlin
AMHERST — The DEFA Film Library at UMass Amherst was recently awarded a 5,000-euro Program Prize at the Kino Babylon: Mitte in Berlin, Germany. The
award recognizes the library for “Rebels With A Cause: The Cinema of East
Germany,” a retrospective of 22 films presented in October at the Museum of
Modern Art in New York. The library was selected for the program prize by the DEFA Foundation in Berlin to acknowledge the archive’s efforts to extend the boundaries of scholarly work on DEFA films and postunification German cinema and developing an international network of filmmakers and film scholars. Starting in January, the Rebels With A Cause will tour the United States and Germany, including exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. In collaboration with partners in this country and Germany, the DEFA Film Library has worked for more than 10 years
to make the cinema of East Germany available and known in the United States and Canada. The film library is directed by Barton Byg, professor of Germanic languages and literatures at UMass Amherst.
Employee Benefits Firm Expands Operations
NORTHAMPTON — American Benefits Group recently reached a mile-
C O M P A N Y N O T E B O O K www.BusinessWest.com 6 1 D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 0 5stone by acquiring its 100th employer client for its flexible spending administrative services, and by opening an Eastern Massachusetts office in Topsfield. The firm has been based in Northampton since 1987, and specializes in employee benefits consulting. Longtime clients include Amherst
College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College and Florence Savings Bank, and its current national employer clients include Ferrari and Mazerati of
North America, Apogen Technologies, Jupiter Medical Center and Healthtrax
International. Robert L. Cummings, the firm’s founder and CEO, said that the
administration business is adding an average of one new employer client each week, having growth the business 100% in the past year alone. Cummings added that he expects the company to double its client base again in 2006. Flexible spending accounts allow employees to pay for unreimbursed medical, dental and vision expenses, as well as work related child care expenses, with pre-tax dollars.
Japanese Manufacturer Set to Acquire Local Plant
AGAWAM — Marubeni Citizen- Cincom of Japan is expected to purchase Brookdale Associates in early 2006. Brookdale owners Jim and Patricia Sasanecki started the company in Springfield 15 years ago. The company services, sells, and makes accessories for machine tool equipment. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. As part of the deal, Jim Sasanecki will serve as vice president of Engineering when the business transaction is complete. Marubeni Citizen- Cincom is a joint venture between Citizen Machinery Co. Ltd. and Marubeni Corp. The firm will continue operations in Agawam with the same staff.
Easthampton Savings Assets Continue to Grow
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Savings Bank saw its assets grow by $8 million during the third quarter, an increase of $28 million over the previous 12 months. The bank ended its third quarter with assets of $656 million. William S. Hogan Jr., president, said the bank’s loan portfolio showed robust growth during the third quarter. Also, the bank’s total loan portfolio grew by $7.7 million or 6%, to stand at $482 million. Lastly, deposits grew by $13.1 million or 3%, over the year, to $511 million. In other bank news, an automated teller machine was recently installed at the intersection of Routes 10 and 202 in Westfield, the bank’s first location in Hampden County.
Edible Arrangements Receives Award
WILBRAHAM — Pam and Greg Clark of Edible Arrangements recently received
the 2005 Best New Boston Road Business award by the Boston Road Business
Association. The award is given to the business with the most votes cast by customers. Arrangements include fresh cut fruit in the form of floral bouquets that can be accented by gourmet chocolate-dipped strawberries or Granny Smith apples, a Mylar balloon, a jar of gourmet fudge, a Blue Mountain greeting card or a Russ teddy bear.
Smith & Wesson Debuts M&P Pistol
SPRINGFIELD — Smith & Wesson has launched a new part-plastic gun, the M&P Pistol, it hopes will win back some of the law enforcement market it haslost over the ears to competitor Glock. The M&P Pistol was designed specifically for law enforcement personnel, however, it will also be available for retail sale. The list price of the pistol is $695. The new gun will also supplement Smith & Wesson’s model 1911 and SW99. In addition, the company also resells some pistols manufactured by Walther of Germany.
HCC Receives $100,000 Grant From MassMutual
HOLYOKE — The MassMutual Financial Group recently approved a $100,000 grant for Holyoke Community College’s The Gift of Opportunity campaign to support the college’s efforts to provide necessary resources for Springfield students to attain a quality education. The grant allows the college to support the capital needs of its Center for Academic and Program Support, where tutoring and mentoring services take place, and the adjacent library information instruction lab where students learn vital research skills. The campaign seeks to raise $4 million over the next five years and is the largest endeavor in the college’s history.
For more information on the campaign,
contact Joe April at (413) 552-2746; [email protected]
New Plant Ready to Recycle
WARE — It was a six-year struggle but Richard C. O’Riley persevered and the
town now has a state-of-the-art demolition materials recycling facility and 25 new jobs. ABC&D Recycling, Inc., a 21,000-squarefoot facility on Route 9, will soon be processing asphalt, brick, concrete and demolition materials, according to O’Riley. Central to the operation are an 80-ton grinder and a 60-ton shredder, which will digest construction materials. O’Riley anticipates recycling up to 80% of the materials that are sent for processing. Customers will include construction companies, contractors, private customers and hauling firms.
Massachusetts stands at a crucial point in the push for health care reform. Gov. Romney and the state Legislature are in agreement about passing health care legislation to extend care to more of the 750,000 uninsured in Massachusetts. A driving force for reform is retaining current federal funding for Medicaid; Massachusetts stands to lose significant federal funding if legislation to cover more of the uninsured is not in place by June 2006.
As a result, the government is tinkering with the health care insurance system to try to cover more patients who do not have insurance.
Romney, Senate President Travaglini, and House Speaker DiMasi have each proposed their ideas for this reform, and the Legislature will hammer out the details.
Meanwhile, everyone is ignoring the elephant in the room. That would be the private health insurance industry, which siphons off a huge percentage of the health care budget. In fact, the United States would save $200 billion per year if this elephant were eliminated.
Private health insurance through employer-based plans, which all three of these Massachusetts legislative proposals would perpetuate, funds only 19% of the health care in the United States. The other 81% comes from taxpayer-funded public programs and private spending. Yet our legislators choose to support and take care of the private insurance companies, rather than the citizens of the Commonwealth.
For example, the nations largest private health insurer, Wellpoint, more than doubled its earnings in the third quarter of this year. Our state and national policies have been designed, and are continuing to be fashioned right now in Massachusetts, to protect and nurture the private health insurance industry, even though more and more burdens are being placed on employers, towns, patients, doctors, and hospitals.
Employment-based health coverage segregates a large sector of primarily healthy working individuals, and places them in a low-cost and low-risk pool for the insurance companies, while the state and federal governments pick up the costs of those with significant health care needs.
And what do we get for all the money that is funneled into the private health insurance industry? We get high administrative costs and exorbitant insurance company profits, while the price of insurance keeps going up and up, and patients are required to share more of the costs of their health care. (For example, the CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts earned more than $3 million in salary and benefits in 2002).
Why dont we extend government insurance coverage to everyone, and eliminate the middlemen? Why should administrative expenses consume 30% of the health care dollar, when a government program like Medicare takes only 3%?
Single-payer health care is the name for government-funded and administered health insurance; instead of many insurance companies, the government is the single payer. The legislation for single-payer health care in our state, The Massachusetts Health Care Trust, Senate Bill 755 (S.755), would cover everyone in the Commonwealth. But S.755 is not even on the negotiating table in this go-around for health care reform in the Legislature.
This affordable and comprehensive bill is the only one that meets the five criteria of the Institute of Medicine for coverage that is (1) universal (covers everyone), (2) continuous (not tied to a job), (3) affordable for individuals and families, (4) affordable for society, and (5) equitable and patient-centered (choice of doctors and hospitals). Yet single-payer legislation is being ignored by Romney and the state Legislature.
The insurance company elephant looms large; many politicians are ignoring it. Towns can do something about their out-ofcontrol costs, and citizens can create a grassroots movement to influence their politicians to legislate real health care reform. Suzanne L. King is a practicing physician and health care reform activist based in Lenox.
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and
organizations.
These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Quality Care Nurse Staffing Agency v. Poets
Seat Healthcare Center
Allegation: Breach of
contract — Failure to
pay for nursing services:
$18,486.85
Date Filed: Nov. 7
HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
George Weston Bakeries Inc. v. La Sequnda Food Corp.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for goods sold and delivered: $7,575
Date Filed: Nov. 9
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Dion Label Printing Co. v. Paper City
Brewery Co. Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for goods sold and delivered:
$4,486.49
Date Filed: Oct. 26
Delta Dental Plan of MA v. Specialty Looseleaf Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for insurance coverage: $6,850.17
Date Filed: Oct. 31
Abide Inc. v. Barrett Co. Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for asbestos removal: $4,550.00
Date Filed: Nov. 21
WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Southwick Couriers Inc., John Autonuzzo a/k/a
John Rosario Autonuzzo, Sr.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay money loaned by way of Retail Installment Sale Agreement: $8,068.70
Date Filed: Nov. 10
| The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of November and December 2005. | |
| AGAWAM K.G. Home Improvements | Maxim Seamless Gutters Park View Rehabilitation & Rent-A-Geek Computer Services A to Z Moving and Storage Inc. |
| The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden and Hampshire counties, and are the latest available. They are listed by community. | |
| CHICOPEE Fearn Electric Inc., 159 Granby Road, Chicopee 01013. Scott A. Fearn, 65 Mandalay Road, Springfield 01118. Electrical contracting, installations and repair services. EAST LONGMEADOW East Side Pub Inc., 67 Favorite Lane, East Longmeadow 01028. Michael T. Katsounakis, same. To own and operate an eating and drinking establishment. HUNTINGTON CWK Inc., 3 East Main St., Huntington 01050. Charles W. Kinloch, same. To operate a restaurant. NORTHAMPTON Health in Harmony Inc. , 341 Prospect St., Northampton 01060. Julia Riseman, same. (Nonprofit) To support programs in Indonesia, etc., that provide medical care, training, and a healthy natural environment, etc. K-7 Realty Inc., 210 Florence Road, Northampton 01062. Kevin A. Kochapski, 1195 Westhampton Road, Northampton 01062. Holding real estate. RUSSELL The Russell Elementary School Parent Teachers Organization Inc., 155 Highland Ave., Russell 01071. Andrea D. Smart, 289 Woodland Way, Russell 01071. (Nonprofit) To support the health, safety, welfare and education of the Russell Elementary schools students, etc. SPRINGFIELD D-Soto Corp., 77 Ogden St., Springfield 01151. Daniel A. Soto, same. Sewing household, industrial and other commercial business. House of Refuge Inc., 15 Rochelle St., Springfield 01109. Ryan O’Neal Walker, 56 Mapledell St., Springfield 01109. (Nonprofit) To proclaim the Gospel, minister to the needs of the people of God, etc. | Second Stage Inc., Springfield Veterans WESTFIELD |
PeoplesBank announced the following:
•••••
••••• Attorney Brian Ladouceur Jr. of Nicolai Law Group P.C. in Springfield, was recently sworn into the Massachusetts Bar. He was previously admitted to the Connecticut Bar.••••• Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. of Pittsfield announced the following:• Thomas C. Crowley, an Albany-area banker, has been named President-New York Region for a separate business unit in downtown Albany, N.Y., and • Joseph P. Richardson, an Albany commercial banker, has been named Director of Business Development-New York Region for the Albany, N.Y. office. ••••• UMass Amherst announced the following:• William J. Gerace, professor of physics and director of the Scientific Reasoning Research Institute at the university, has been awarded a Fulbright grant to South Africa, where he will work with educators to improve physical science instruction. During his six-month term at the University of Fort Hare, Gerace and Professor Yaliwe Jiya of the faculty of Education will collaborate on a research study to define the needs and barriers faced by rural in-service teachers, and deliver workshops and visit rural schools to help address these needs. Other UMass faculty members awarded Fulbright grants this year are Joyce Avrech Berkman, history; Eduardo H. Cattani, mathematics and statistics, and Robert L. Wick, plant, soil and insect sciences. • Faculty member Lynne Baker, Philosophy, has been named a Distinguished Professor, and • Faculty member Vincent Rotello has been named to the Charles A. Goessmann Chair in Chemistry. The designations recognize Baker and Rotello for outstanding academic distinction. ••••• Patricia Hurteau has joined Century 21 Pioneer Valley Associates in Northampton as a Sales Person.••••• Berkshire Bank of Pittsfield announced the following:• Susan L. Bettis has been appointed Mortgage Administration Officer; • Susan Bianchi-Smith has been appointed Mortgage Originator in the Great Barrington office; • Sally A. Angers has been appointed Security Officer; • Michael T. Macy has been appointed Assistant Treasurer, and • Patricia N. Sinclair has been appointed Credit Officer in the Commercial Department. ••••• Michael Poggi, a Registered Representative with Morgan Stanley in Springfield, has earned membership in the Leadership Council of PLANCO, a subsidiary of Hartford Life Inc., and a wholesaler of investment and insurance products for The Hartford.••••• Betty Ann Learned, Assistant Vice President for Administration and Finance at Springfield Technical Community College, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Educational and Institutional Cooperative Services Inc., a North American higher education purchasing organization. | ••••• G. Patrick Leary has been admitted as a shareholder of Moriarty & Primack P.C., and was recently elected Vice President and Director. Leary is the partner in charge of the firm’s audit division. The firm has offices in Holyoke and Springfield.•••••
••••• Anna Nagurney of the Isenberg School of Management at the UMass Amherst is the leader of a team that has translated a 1968 paper on the Braess paradox that states within some types of transportation networks, the addition of a new road may not improve travel time, and instead may make the area worse off. The original article that was published in German appeared in the November issue of the journal Transportation Science.••••• Wolf & Company P.C., with offices in Springfield and Boston, announced the
••••• The law firm Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP in Springfield announced |
| The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court. | |
| Adon, Sergio E. Alderman, Laura B. Alderman, William N. Almodovar, Rosemary Attanasio, David Paul Attanasio, Pamela Jean Barabolkin, Dmitriy Barabolkin, Marie Ellen Bashaw, Gerald. J. Bauer, Karen L. Beauchene, Meghan M. Beyer, Jill Boothby, Mary Ann Boucher, Sandra A. Brow, Elizabeth M. Buoniconti, Theresa Cannamela, Audrey J. Capaccio, Mary E. Capaccio, Pasquale Cardona, Willy J. Carosello, Richard Cayon, James M. Ceccarini, Bridget Lynn Conley, Kenneth George Cyranowski-Grimaldi, Jane C. Dana, Scott D. Dana, Stephanie B. Davieu, Charles R. Doyle-Workman, John Charles Ducharme, Esther Figueroa, Wanda I. Flowers, Daniel Fogarty, Kelly Nicole Ford, Gary T. Ford, Gary T. Frenier, Margaret Gordon, Richard E. Gouvin, Bernice R. Griggs, Jeffrey L. Gubula, Matthew P. Gubula, Shana A. Hamre, Elizabeth A. Harris, Isaiah L. Heimsath, Steven M. Howland, Pamela J. Keller, Joan Kolosewicz, Loretta Jean Larkin, Thomas Francis Le, Hong Thi Le, Viet The Lee, Patricia A Lee, Xiong Chue Leigh, Denise A | Lewis, Jason E Littlejohn, Mark Maguire, Edward J. Messenger, Susan Diane Miller-Baker, Maryanne Morgan, Gordon Samuel Mularski, Peter J. Murphy, Ellen M. Nestor, Melissa Nevue, Thomas M. Newsky, Victoria B. O’Keefe, Edward F. Ortiz, Janet Otis, Lisette J. Paton, Christopher L. Paton, Katherine W. Perry, Russell D. Pixley, Sandra J. Provost, Anelda A. Punderson, Todd Breck Racine, Lori-Ann Renaud, Richard E. Renaud, Rosemary Rivera, Josue Robbins, Lori Jean Robbins, Mattie B. Rosado, Hector L. Rzonca, Daniel M. Sanchez, Betsy Santiago, Enrique Santiago, Rose M. Sargis, Thelma Celeste Sayers, Robin L. Schell, Yong S. Snyder, Lisa M. Sollecito, Andrew P. Stevenson-Mitchell, Sullivan, David W. Sullivan, Robert A. Taylor, Earlene V. Thomas, Karen A. Tucker, Catrese Shubrick Vega, Onelia Veloz, Rene Vicki, LaBonte Wallace, Joanne Wallace, LeRoy Wallis, Guy C Walz, Dawn Marie Walz, Glen Richard Wilkinson, Melissa Anne Young, Grace A. Morin, George C. |
Bank Named Philanthropic Corporation
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Savings Bank was recently recognized by the Western Mass. Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the 2005 Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation of Western Mass. In other company news, the bank continued to experience steady growth in assets, deposits, loans, and capital during the third quarter, according to William S. Hogan, Jr., President and CEO. The bank’s total assets increased $28 million from a year ago, and an increase of $8 million over the last quarter. Also, total assets now stand at $656 million. The loan portfolio totaled $482 million at the end of September, an increase of $7.7 million or 6% for the quarter and $23.1 million or a 5% increase since the end of September last year. The bank also experienced a deposit gain of $13.1 million from a year ago. Advertising Club Sports New Logo SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Mass. has a new logo, created by Lilly Pereira of Bidwell ID in Florence. The logo was selected from more than 40 submissions sent to the Ad Club in response to a design contest last February. The Ad Club, celebrating its 90th anniversary, called for designs that would update as well as reflect the image and mission statement of the club. As the contest winner, Pereira will receive a one-year Ad Club membership and her logo will be entered into the 2006 Ad Club awards competition. Fair Trade Coffee Served At UMass AMHERST — UMass Amherst has joined the Fair Trade coffee movement by adopting Pura Vida, a fair trade coffee provider, as one of its coffee suppliers in the dining commons and other retail outlets on campus. Pura Vida Coffee sells Fair Trade, organic coffee throughout the United States. It was founded by John Sage and Chris Dearnley, and is based in Seattle, Wash. The partners actively promote a business model based on more humane capitalism built on economic fairness, environmental sustainability, and philanthropy. The mission of Pura Vida is to use capitalism to empower producers, motivate consumers, inspire business leaders, and ultimately serve the poor. The Dining services Department completed extensive market research that indicated that 59% of students agreed they would like to see Fair Trade coffee provided on campus. In addition to Pura Vida, dining services will still provide coffee from other suppliers, including local coffee from Rao’s, an Amherst coffee shop, New England Coffee and Starbucks. MassMutual To Pay $1.2B Dividend SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual Financial Group recently announced the distribution of nearly $1.2 billion to eligible participating policyholders under the dividend payout for 2006 – a double-digit increase over the 2005 dividend payout. Nearly all traditional life insurance policyholders will receive a 2006 dividend larger than or equal to the dividend they received in 2005. More specifically, more than 89% of traditional life insurance policyholders will receive a 2006 dividend at least 10% larger than they received in 2005, and 54% will receive a 2006 dividend at least 20% larger than they received in 2005. Dividends for a given policy are influenced by factors including policy series, issue age, policy duration, policy loan rate and changes in experience. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com. WNEC Named Employer of the Year; College of Distinction SPRINGFIELD — Western New England College (WNEC) has been honored as “Employer of the Year” by the Employers Assoc. of the Northeast in the nonprofit/over 100 employees category. Awards are based on several criteria, including effective communication, fostering employee input and feedback, encouraging professional development, fostering work/life balance, and promoting a positive, professional culture while valuing diversity and individuality. In presenting the award, the Employers Association saluted WNEC as an organization that values and respects its employees’ commitment to the organization. In other campus news, WNEC will be featured in Colleges of Distinction, a new college guide and Web site profiling some of America’s best bets in higher education. Based on the opinions of guidance counselors, educators and admissions professionals, Colleges of Distinction honors colleges that excel in key areas of educational quality. In order to qualify for inclusion, WNEC was evaluated for its performance in the Four Distinctions: “Engaged Students,” “Great Teaching,” “Vibrant Communities” and “Successful Outcomes.” Guidance counselors and admissions professionals around the country recommended WNEC in every category. WNEC was also noted for its active student body, devoted faculty, and academic programs based on developing collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. WNEC will also be profiled in the forthcoming book, Colleges of Distinction, which will be published in 2006.The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law.
Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Todd Campbell d/b/a Millenium Painting v. Haydenville Woodworking & Design Inc. Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods and services: $11,500 Date Filed: Oct. 14
HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
The Street Lumber Co. v. Steven R. Wolf a/k/a Steven Wolf a/k/a Steve Wolf d/b/a Steve Wolf General Contractor Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $26,428.56 Date Filed: Oct. 28
HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Marken Properties Inc. v. Millar Elevator Service Co. and Schindler Elevator Corp. Allegation: Breach of contract — Nonpayment of deposits on cancelled contracts and refund of monthly service charges on elevators that did not work: $21,008.65 Date Filed: Oct. 17
Hamel’s Creative Catering v. Hampshire Community Action Commission Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for services: $3,103.68 Date Filed: Oct. 24
CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Accutech Insulation & Contracting Inc. v. Target Restoration Inc. Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for services: $4,860 Date Filed: Oct. 21
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Liberty Mutual Insurance v. Properties of Elmwood Cemetery Inc. Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $8,656.90 Date Filed: Oct. 6
Bradco Supply Co. v. Ellsworth, Allen & Anthony Inc. and Gregory K. Coons a/k/a Greg Coons Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $3,226.24 Date Filed: Oct. 7
Clear Channel Communications v. Randy Sefton d/b/a Automotive Restylers of N.E. Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for advertising: $9,345 Date Filed: Oct. 11
Everett J. Prescott Inc. v. J. D. Contracting Inc. Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for supplies: $16,582.24 Date Filed: Oct. 13
Associated Rubber Co. v. Paul-Martin Rubber Corp. Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $5,217.44 Date Filed: Oct. 13
WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Tri-State Industrial Laundries Inc. v. Air Compressor Engineering Co. Inc. Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $10,472.38 Date Filed: Oct. 8
| The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of November 2005. | |
| AGAWAM | Inspirit Common Sprint Nextel Holyoke Pallet Co. M & J Painting |
| The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden and Hampshire counties, and are the latest available. They are listed by community. |
| AGAWAM |
