Home Archive by category Departments (Page 81)

Departments

Company Notebook Departments

ESB Hits $1B in Assets
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Savings Bank (ESB) staged its quarterly director’s meeting recently, at which Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of ESB, reported that the bank’s total assets surpassed $1 billion at the end of 2013. “This past year was just the latest in a long string of years with terrific financial performance for the bank, and reaching the mark of $1 billion in assets was truly historic for us,” said Sosik. Bozena Dabek, senior vice president and CFO, reported that the bank’s assets were up $34.8 million from a year ago, an increase of 3.6%. “Easthampton Savings Bank continues to be one of the most highly capitalized banks in the area, with a capital ratio of 12.6%,” she added. Dabek noted that total loans increased $45.2 million over the last quarter. Total loans now stand at $726.1 million. She also noted that the bank’s deposits grew 4%, or $32.3 million, for the year and were up $15.4 million for the quarter. Total deposits are now $828.3 million.

Homewatch Caregivers Opens New Office in Franklin County
GREENFIELD — Homewatch CareGivers of West Springfield has opened a new office in Greenfield at 278 Main St. The owners, Peter and Judy Yaffe, have been in business for 11 years. The need for expanded home-care options in the Upper Pioneer Valley and Franklin County fit their plan of moving up the I-91 corridor from their Northampton office. “We can provide high-quality home-care options and special programs for people who want to remain in their own homes in the Greater Greenfield area,” said Judy Yaffe. “We have been working to continue the growth of our business, and in 2014, the need for our services has been affirmed. It’s time to make our vision a reality.” Homewatch CareGivers’ mission and goals encompass the philosophy of improving the quality of life for elders and their families by supporting a warm and supportive environment in the client’s home.

AIC Adds New iPad Lab, Tutoring Room
SPRINGFIELD — Flatscreen televisions and iPads may be common entertainment devices, but at American International College, students will now be using them as learning tools. Thanks in part to a Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant, the AIC Center for Academic Success has a new iPad lab and state-of-the-art tutoring room. The college celebrated the completion of the new tutoring room and iPad lab at a ceremony on Feb. 12 in Shea Library. “The newly completed tutoring room morphed from an old storage/work room up in the library into a permanent, state-of-the-art tutoring room, equipped with a 60-inch TV screen/computer and upgraded wi-fi,” said Lesley LaMarche, director of the Tutoring Program at AIC. “This allows tutors/tutees to interactively access blackboard assignments and PowerPoints during a tutoring session.” LaMarche said the room also has GoToMeeting software installed so that non-traditional and commuter students can now attend a live tutoring session from their home or elsewhere off campus and still receive access to the same information as traditional on-campus students. Susan Petrucelli, director of Developmental Education for AIC’s Center for Academic Success, said the new technology can potentially reach every student in need of academic help, regardless of their location. The new lab, funded by the Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant, is officially called the iPad Learning Lab. The Center for Academic Success through Developmental Education is the first department on campus to incorporate iPads into learning. “In addition to using this facility to engage students in developmental education, we want the iPad Learning Lab to be a resource to support learning and provide opportunities to enhance instruction,” said Petrucelli. The lab has 18 iPads that are secured to workstations. In addition, there is an Apple TV with a flatscreen monitor in front of the workstation area. There are two mobile iPads available for instructors or staff members to lead their discussions, workshops, or other scheduled events. “Although the iPad is traditionally a mobile device, for our purposes through the Title III grant, we are using this facility to demonstrate to students and faculty that technology is an important tool to transform education,” Petrucelli said. “Apple is one of the principal leaders in educational technology. The majority of the educational software used by the Developmental Education Department and other content areas at American International College will be mainstreaming toward the Apple iPad format by fall 2014.” Through the variety of applications and courses available through the Apple Store, students can receive additional support in their courses. For example, an application called Popplet helps developmental writers brainstorm ideas and organize writing through movable charts and graphs. Another application called Animated Anatomy and Physiology has the ability to provide 3-D, narrated information sessions for the different systems in the body for health science majors. “The iPads are learning tools to motivate students,” said Petrucelli. “Most students use some form of technology every day. The iPad Learning Lab has the potential to improve skill building in reading, math, and writing. It also can increase a students’ academic self-efficacy and help support their metacognitive skill development. Whether students work individually in the learning lab to increase their understanding or use the iPads as part of their course instruction, we want the students to feel excited about learning. Having access to the iPad through the Center for Academic Success, AIC students have the opportunity to work with a resource that can support their learning and be successful in college.”

Berkshire Health Systems Recognized for Breast Care
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems’ Comprehensive Breast Center has recently been recognized as a Certified Quality Breast Center in the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program. This honor represents a commitment to provide the highest level of quality breast healthcare to patients.
Measuring and comparing quality performance is essential in assessing patient care and allocating resources where improvement is desired. In today’s dynamic healthcare industry, breast centers are faced with providing quality care while simultaneously keeping costs under control. A center’s staff must not only be familiar with existing standards of care, but also be aware of new advances in technology. Berkshire Health System’s Comprehensive Breast Center combines imaging and diagnostic services with a full range of breast-health services provided by a team of expert specialists. With a focus on education and support, services include state-of-the-art technology for mammography, ultrasound, and bone-density tests, with results available to referring physicians within 24 hours.
At the time of a breast-cancer diagnosis, patients are linked to the Patient Navigation Program, which continues through all phases of care and follow-up. Education, support, and extensive resources are provided so that individuals are armed with the latest information to help make informed healthcare choices. Individual needs are assessed so that care is coordinated in a timely fashion, and barriers to care are addressed. This level of commitment and support can be an invaluable resource during a frightening time in a patient’s life. A weekly ‘breast conference’ brings together a multidisciplinary team of radiologists; pathologists; medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists; plastic surgeons; and other healthcare providers. At the conference, each case is thoroughly reviewed, and a plan of care is determined with input from physicians. The center has been designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by American College of Radiology’s (ACR) Commission on Quality and Safety.

Opinion
Cloud of Uncertainty Hangs Over Casinos

This should be a time of great anticipation and, yes, celebration for some players in the casino industry — and, likewise, in communities like Springfield, where there seems to be little that can prevent MGM Resorts International from winning a license to build and operate an $800 million resort facility in the city’s South End.

But it isn’t — at least to the extent that it could be.

That’s because there’s a very dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over gaming in Massachusetts, and it comes in the form of a lawsuit pending before the state Supreme Judicial Court. That suit was filed by the backers of efforts to repeal the state casino law passed in 2011. They gained enough signatures to place a referendum question on this November’s ballot, but then saw Attorney General Martha Coakley rule that the petition was unconstitutional because it would “impair the implied contracts between the [gaming] commission and gaming license applicants” and illegally “take” those contract rights without compensation.

Repeal backers then took their case — quite literally — to the SJC, which is slated to take up the matter in the late spring and render a decision by June or July. That should be a few months after the commission chooses the winning applicant for the lone slot-parlor license, and several weeks after it issues licenses for resort casinos in Boston (where there are two contenders) and Western Mass., where MGM is the only player standing.

Suffice it to say that, if all goes as expected and MGM wins this region’s license, most of the celebrating will be muted, if not postponed entirely, until the SJC settles what will be one of the most closely watched cases to come before it in years, and one where some experts are saying it’s hard to predict the outcome.

To say that there is a lot of stake would be a huge understatement. If the repeal backers win in court, and a majority of voters support their effort at the polls, then there will likely be no casino era in Massachusetts and, thus, no $800 stimulus to the Greater Springfield economy. And the millions, if not tens of millions, spent by the casino companies to bring their proposals to this stage would be wasted.

That explains why there is deep concern in the casino camps, and also why a coalition involving these players (including MGM) and the backers of casino gambling in this state has been formed to fight the repeal effort.

It is the coalition’s basic contention that the repeal initiative is, as Coakley ruled, unconstitutional, and amounts to the illegal taking of contract rights. In addition, they contend that the casino law passed in November 2011 is essentially working the way legislators intended it to, meaning that communities that don’t want a casino within their borders can vote such a proposal down (and many have), while residents who do support them can also control their fate at the ballot box, as voters in Springfield did.

Michael Mathis, head of the MGM’s so-called ‘Springfield initiative,’ summed things up nicely in recent comments to the press. “Our plan was endorsed by an overwhelming majority of voters,” he remarked. “It would be devastating to roll back all that has been accomplished and take away the promise of what it is to come.”

Citing a recent poll conducted by the Western New England University Polling Institute showing that 61% of Massachusetts adults support the establishment of casinos in the state (roughly the same number as in 2009 and 2010), some casino backers and gaming executives are confidently downplaying the likelihood that a repeal effort would succeed should it reach the ballot.

These individuals shouldn’t ever underestimate the ability of voters in this state to surprise them, or to attempt to rule by referendum. It happened with nuclear power plants, which were banned in 1988, and with dog tracks 20 years later.

It could happen with casino gambling, but we don’t believe the measure should come before the voters at all. It is our hope that the SJC concurs with Coakley and declares this bid unconstitional.

Unless or until it does, that dark cloud of uncertainty will continue to hover over the casino era in the Bay State.

Departments People on the Move

Michaelene Cronin

Michaelene Cronin

Michaelene Cronin has been named Executive Director of the Curtis Blake Center at American International College. Cronin will play a pivotal role in developing, solidifying, and expanding center services; serve as the liaison between the center and the college; and oversee the Curtis Blake Day School, Tutorial Services, AIC Supportive Learning Services, Diagnostic Services, and a summer instructional clinic. She will be responsible for designing and implementing new initiatives in order to broaden the center’s reach and enhance and strengthen its current programming. Cronin comes to AIC from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vt., where she served as the Associate Academic Dean for Undergraduate Studies. She earned her B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law. Cronin has been a member of the National Academic Advising Assoc., the Autism Society of America, and the Aspergers Assoc. of New England.
•••••
Easthampton Savings Bank announced the following promotions and additions:
Emily Drapeau

Emily Drapeau

Emily Drapeau has been promoted to Deposit Operations Officer. Drapeau joined the bank as a Teller in 1995 and was promoted to Customer Service Representative in 1997, Senior Teller in 2000, Deposit Operations Specialist in 2001, and Deposit Operations Supervisor in 2004 before being promoted to Deposit Operations Manager in 2011. She graduated from the New England School for Financial Studies in June 2012;






Stacey Laliberte

Stacey Laliberte

Stacey Laliberte has been promoted to Project Management Officer. Laliberte joined the bank as a Teller in 2001 and held the positions of Customer Service Assistant, Deposit Operations Assistant, Teller CSR, and Project Coordinator before being promoted to Project Manager in April 2011. She graduated with an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College and with honors from the New England School for Financial Studies in June 2012;






Michael Fitzgerald

Michael Fitzgerald

Michael Fitzgerald has been promoted to IT Officer. Fitzgerald started with the bank in 2004 as a Systems Administrator and was promoted to IT Manager in November 2011. He graduated from the Graduate School of Banking’s Bank Technology Management School in April 2013; and





Jeffrey Hutchins

Jeffrey Hutchins

Jeffrey Hutchins, who boasts more than 25 years of local banking and real-estate experience, has been hired as a mortgage originator. Hutchins opened Hutchins Realty in 1991, which later merged with Jones Town & Country to form Jones Group Realtors. Hutchins graduated from Babson College with a degree in Business Marketing. He also completed a Center for Financial Training Mortgage Training class. Hutchins is a member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley and Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System.
•••••



MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division recently announced the following additions to its sales and client management organization:
Jason Bouldin, based in Atlanta, joined MassMutual as Managing Director covering Alabama and Georgia. Bouldin brings more than 15 years of industry experience to the company and previously served with Great-West Financial and the Hartford;
John Cunningham

John Cunningham

John Cunningham, an 18-year veteran of MassMutual, has been appointed Regional Sales Director covering Western Mass., Vermont, and Eastern Upstate New York. Cunningham previously served the past nine years as Regional Sales Director focused on strengthening career agency sales across the Northeast;






Lauren Drapeau

Lauren Drapeau

Lauren Drapeau rejoined MassMutual as Regional Sales Director covering Connecticut (excluding Fairfield County). Drapeau has more than 13 years of industry experience and previously served as an Annuity Wholesaler with MassMutual before her most recent role with MetLife;




Jon Ogren

Jon Ogren

Jon Ogren has been named Regional Sales Director covering Kansas, Nebraska, and Western Missouri. Based in Overland Park, Kan., Ogren has more than 15 years of experience in the retirement-services industry, previously serveing with the Standard and Northwestern Mutual; and





Mary Kay Zoulek

Mary Kay Zoulek

Mary Kay Zoulek joined MassMutual as Regional Sales Director for Western Michigan. Based in Grand Rapids, Mich., Zoulek brings more than 12 years of industry experience to her new role, all of which was built serving advisors across Western Michigan. Before joining MassMutual, Zoulek served with John Hancock and Principal Financial Group.
•••••





Janice Mazzallo

Janice Mazzallo

PeoplesBank has announced the promotion of Janice Mazzallo to Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Mazzallo previously served the bank as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and has more than 30 years of human-capital-management experience, including serving as Second Vice President, Human Resources, at the Phoenix Companies in Hartford. Since joining PeoplesBank in 2005, she has partnered with management to drive change and develop strategies that achieve strong business results. She planned and directed the bank’s three-year strategic-planning process, developed human-resource programs that support a high-performance culture, and implemented a best-in-class Leadership Development Program that benchmarked Ritz Carlton Business Practices, as well as a Management Development Program. During Mazzallo’s tenure, PeoplesBank has been named a Top Place to Work by the Boston Globe on two occasions and was selected as an Employer of Choice by the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.
•••••
Dmitriy Mayboroda

Dmitriy Mayboroda

Dmitriy Mayboroda recently joined the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission as a Transportation Planner. Mayboroda holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UMass Amherst. Previously, he was a transportation intern at PVPC, working on traffic-data collection and various projects for the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority. Mayboroda will focus on assisting transportation staff with a variety of transportation-related congestion and safety-improvement projects.
•••••



Marc Richards

Marc Richards

Marc Richards has rejoined Tighe & Bond Inc. as the engineering firm’s newly appointed Vice President of Environmental Services. A Licensed Site Professional (LSP), Richards has more than 20 years of brownfields redevelopment, environmental assessment and cleanup, hazardous-building materials abatement and demolition design, and construction management experience. He offers both public- and private-sector clients tailored expertise and solutions for complex environmental challenges. Besides LSP and Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) services, Richards’ expertise includes oversight of environmental permitting, as well as above- and below-ground site cleanup, throughout the Northeast. His portfolio includes a wide variety of land-development projects where he has worked with stakeholders to advance improvements while protecting the environment and its natural resources. Richards earned his MS in environmental engineering from Tufts University and his BS in civil engineering from UMass Amherst. Richards is a licensed professional engineer in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and is active in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Licensed Site Professional Assoc., the Environmental Business Council, the National Assoc. for Industrial and Office Parks, and the National Demolition Assoc. Richards will work primarily out of Tighe & Bond’s Worcester office, but his involvement will be region-wide.

Opinion
Cost Report Creates False Impressions

By LYNN NICHOLAS

The state’s Health Policy Commission (HPC) just released its latest Cost Trends Report, in which it claims Massachusetts healthcare providers — primarily hospitals — waste somewhere on the order of $14.7 billion to $26.9 billion by providing ‘unnecessary’ medical care.

Some of the report’s concerns regarding unnecessary medical care are valid, but the report glosses over some of the non-hospital systemic problems that help drive unnecessary care, and many of the very real improvements that hospitals in Massachusetts have already achieved. Some of the report’s claims also foster misunderstanding about cost variations among different kinds of hospitals, which makes for provocative sound bites but ultimately fails to highlight the real issues.

Despite critics’ claims to the contrary, there are some valid and necessary reasons for higher costs at academic medical centers, though it’s also true that some of the cost disparities warrant much closer scrutiny and should require justification if they are to continue. That is all part of the reform that is underway in Massachusetts. Ultimately, what should guide the decision-making process is a commitment that each patient should receive the right care in the right setting.

It’s hard to keep a scorecard on the progress of healthcare reform in Massachusetts. This is partly because there is so much happening and because a lot of it is not yet visible to the public. Meanwhile, current data to measure progress is not available. Data from 2009, extensively relied upon in the HPC report, doesn’t fully reveal the hard work being done to improve the way care is delivered and paid for.

Most important is that, even as we at the Mass. Hospital Assoc. (MHA) study the report, hospitals are working collaboratively with each other, non-hospital providers, government, and other stakeholders to improve care while becoming even more cost-efficient, including in the areas identified in the HPC report as examples of wasteful spending.

For example, 10 Massachusetts hospitals have hosted an MHA educational program on ‘lean’ continuous-improvement techniques since 2010. As a result, more than 240 healthcare leaders have joined other lean experts in deploying these techniques in hospitals.

The Massachusetts hospital community has also been making quality and patient safety improvements on many fronts. The MHA’s board of trustees and all our member hospitals’ boards unanimously endorsed an association-wide initiative to make measurable, concrete improvements in hospitals’ performance, focusing on reducing readmissions and hospital-acquired infections. In addition, most Massachusetts hospitals are enrolled in a national quality-improvement collaborative aimed at improvements in 10 patient-safety areas. And the 29 Massachusetts hospitals that are enrolled in the MHA-coordinated Hospital Engagement Network have collectively experienced a 30% reduction in five adverse healthcare events: catheter-associated urinary-tract infections, central-line-associated bloodstream infections, pressure ulcers, ventilator-associated events, and early elective deliveries.

It is true that hospitals can become more efficient and improve the delivery of care — but that’s only one piece of the overall healthcare costs scenario, as hospitals comprise less than 40% of overall healthcare expenditures. There is ample evidence that underinvestment in behavioral-health issues adds to the cost of the overall healthcare system, with preventable readmissions being just one example.

The HPC report is correct in its conclusion that prime areas of opportunity for improvement moving forward include fostering a value-based market; promoting an efficient, high-quality healthcare delivery system; advancing alternative payment methods; and enhancing transparency and data availability.

But there are market practices that impede progress, like the broken behavioral-health system that takes such a toll on our families and communities. Its impact on cost can be seen in the number of patients readmitted to hospitals with behavioral-health diagnoses.

It’s important to realize that hospitals are already pursuing many of the strategies cited in the HPC report as opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency, although more certainly can and will be done. But cost isn’t solely a problem of providers, and not all cost differences among providers are wasteful.

Lynn Nicholas is president and CEO of the Mass. Hospital Assoc. This article first appeared on the MHA blog.

Chamber Corners Departments

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
• Feb. 24: ACCGS Outlook 2014, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. The annual event will feature Ed Henry, chief White House correspondent for Fox News. Reservations are $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Deadline for reservations is Feb. 17. Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, PeoplesBank, United Personnel, and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• March 5: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at La Quinta Inns and Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. The breakfast will feature the program The Economic Engine Called Tourism — a panel discussion with some of our region’s top contributors: Gene Cassidy, Eastern States Exposition, and Judy Matt, Spirit of Springfield. Reservations are $20 for members, $30 for general admission.  Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• March 12: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Crestview Country Club, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. “Get in the Swing of Things!” is the event’s theme. Reservations are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• March 25: ACCGS Pastries, Politics and Policy, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. This event is designed for the political and policy junkie, featuring a policy expert and member of the Patrick administration. Reservations are $15 for members, $25 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Feb. 26: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Cowls Building Supply, 125 Sunderland Road, Amherst. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• March 19: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Brown Bag Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Jones Library (Woodbury Room). Nationally renowned green architect Mary Kraus will give a presentation called “Net Zero: At Home with No Energy Bills.” Learn how to reduce your home’s energy usage so that all of the building’s energy needs — heat, hot water, ventilation, lighting, and appliances — can be served by a solar array on the roof. Outlining a practical, step-by-step approach to reaching net zero — a building which produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of the year — she will also show how this is a compelling opportunity with a strong return on investment. She will share many images illustrating examples from her practice, including both renovations and new homes. This lively presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Admission is free and open to the public
• March 27: Taste a variety of margaritas and vote for your favorites, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road Amherst. Step into the tropics and pretend you’re on a Caribbean island. This is a Division One competition between restaurant and business margaritas. Your votes will determine who will take home the coveted AACC trophies. Restaurant margaritas presented by  Hadley Farms Meeting House and Bridgeside Grille. Business Margaritas presented by Amherst Laser and Skin Care, New England Promotional Marketing, Scandihoovians, and Applewood at Amherst. Admission is $20 pre-paid, $25 at the door.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Feb. 26: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Elms College, 291 Springfield St. Chicopee. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• March 7: Shining Stars Banquet 2014, 6 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Honoring the Business of the Year, PeoplesBank; Citizen of the Year, Gail A. Sherman; and Chamber Volunteer of the Year, Corey Briere of Complete IT Solutions. Tickets are $60. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• March 19: March Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at La Quinta Inns & Suites. Tickets are $20 for members, $26 for non-members.
• March 25: 20th Annual Table Top Expo and Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Exhibitor cost: $125 for a table. Admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To register, contact the chamber at (413) 594-2101.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• March 13: March 2014 Networking by Night, 5 p.m. Stay tuned for more details on the March Networking by Night. If you are interested in sponsoring or hosting a networking event, call (413) 527-9414 or e-mail [email protected]. Admission is $5 for members, $15 for non-members.
• March 14: St. Patrick’s Day Annual Luncheon, noon at Southampton Country Club. Guest speaker: Easthampton Mayor Karen Cadieux. Honored guest: the 2014 Distinguished Young Woman of Greater Easthampton. Call (413) 527-9414 for more information. Additional details to follow.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Feb. 26: Holyoke Chamber Economic Development Breakfast, 8-10 a.m. Location to be determined. Cost is $26 for members, $35 for non-members. A buffet breakfast is included in the price. Call the chamber at (413) 543-3376 to register or visit holychamber.com to sign up. Hear about local projects and how they will affect local businesses.
• March 6: Chamber Table Top Workshop (postponed from Feb. 13), 8:30-10 a.m, at the chamber office, 177 High St. A no-nonsense informational session on how to set up your booth, how to add visual interest, and what to do to keep potential customers engaged. Admission: $10 for members, $20 for non-members.
• March 12: St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, 7:30-10 a.m. Event sponsors: PeoplesBank and the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• March 5: Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at Riverside Industries, One Cottage St., Easthampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• March 7: 2014 Annual Meeting and Luncheon, noon to 2 p.m., at the Hotel Northampton. A fun wrap-up of 2013 and preview of 2014. Tickets: $25 for members, $30 for guests/non-members. RSVP to the chamber at (413) 584-1900 or e-mail [email protected].
• March 18: 2014 Workshop: “Your Multi-channel Marketing Plan,” 8:30-9:30 a.m. Presented by Tina Stevens, principal of Stevens 470. Business growth requires an intelligent marketing plan that you can successfully execute. We will start this series by discussing marketing plans and how to best use them to reach your business goals. Utilizing a comprehensive plan will provide your business with the best return on your marketing investments. Your marketing plan should incorporate offline and online channels and include a detailed calendar of events and activities. We will go over the steps to create your plan and discuss how to build out your working calendar. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, visit [email protected].
• March 21: 2014 HIBU Marketing Seminar, 8-10:30 a.m., at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, One Atwood Drive, Northampton. Presented by HIBU in partnership with the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. Full breakfast will be served. Seating is limited, and registration is required. Topics include local online visibility, websites, search-engine optimization, social-media marketing and reputation management, local listings and maps, pay-per-click advertising, and mobile search. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, call (413) 584-1900 or e-mail [email protected].
• March 25: 20th Annual Table Top Expo and Business Networking Event, 4:30 -7 p.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Exhibitor cost: $125 for a table. Admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To register, call (413) 584-1900 or e-mail [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• March 3: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Genesis Health Center, 60 East Silver St., Westfield. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].
• March 12: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Nora’s Restaurant, 106 Point Grove Road, Southwick. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members; cash at the door. Your first After 5 is free. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].
• March 14: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Scanlon Hall at Westfield State University. Platinum sponsor: Noble Hospital; gold sponsor, Westfield Gas & Electric; silver sponsor, FieldEddy; coffee bar, Sunshine Village. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members in advance. To register, contact Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected]. More information to follow as event draws nearer.

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
• March 1: Springfield Symphony Orchestra “Bond and Beyond” Concert, 7:30 p.m., at Springfield Symphony Hall. Enjoy classic Bond music that spans generations. The SSO is offering NAYP members a deep discount on ticket prices. Visit the SSO website for more information. To redeem this discount, purchase through the SSO Box Office (in person or over the phone) and mention the discount code, BOND-NAYP.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• March 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Headline Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. The program will be “Three Professional Women: Three Lessons Learned,” featuring Maura McCaffrey of Health New England; Andrea Luppi of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts; and Anne Bruce of Smith & Wesson. Reservations are $25 for PWC members, $35 general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected]

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• Feb. 26: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Storrowton Tavern’s Carriage House, West Springfield. Cost: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com
• March 15: 2014 Young Professionals Cup Dodgeball Tournament, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Springfield College, Dana Gymnasium, 263 Alden St., Springfield. For more information, visit springfieldyps.com/2014-young-professionals-cup-dodgeball-tournament.

Departments Incorporations

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

BELCHERTOWN

Krunali Inc., 134 South St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Hemant Kumar Patel, same. Recycling services.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Lingualinks International Online Inc., 117 Millbrook Dr., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Katherine Delaney Chung, same. Internet-based program designed to teach world cultures and languages to children around the world.

GRANVILLE

Little Birch Inc., 33 South Lane, Granville, MA 01034. Susan L. Brzoska, same. Acquire, buy, own, maintain, lease, rent and sell real property.

MONSON

Metamorphosis Place Inc., 23 Munn Road, Monson, MA 01057. Judy A. Van De Geer, same. Non-profit organization designed to assist people to grow in mind, body and spirit.

NORTH ADAMS

Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative Inc., 43 Eagle St., North Adams, MA 01247. Food pantry.

NORTHAMPTON

Infusion Institute Inc., 40 Fort St., Apt. 1, Northampton, MA 01060. Dennis George Lomax, same. Non-profit organization designed exclusively for educational purposes.

Inner Imager Productions Inc., 45 Olander Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Peter Halperin, same. Multi-media entertainment business consultants.

Lange Chiropractic Inc., 300 Pleasant St., Suite 2, Northampton, MA 01060. Kimberly A. Lange, 7 Pheasant Lane, South Hadley, MA 01075. Chiropractic office.

Laurie E. Herzog, PH.D., P.C., 155 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. Laurie E. Herzog, 367 Prospect St., Northampton, MA 01060. Clinical social work services.

PITTSFIELD

M & T Auto Sales Inc., 376 Tyler St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Taylor Barlett,
56 Barlett Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Auto sales.

Mickle Electric Inc., 489 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Patrick W.
Mickle, 6 Park Dr., Lanesboro, MA 01237. Master electrician.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

It’s West Springfield Inc., 10 Central St., Ste 20, West Springfield, MA 01089. Roberta Page, 117 Upper Beverly Hills, West Springfield, MA 01090-0423. Non-profit organization designed to plan, encourage, support, establish and promote community activities and events.

J Shea Enterprises Inc., 95 Poplar Ave, West Springfield, MA 01089. James Shea, same. Barber shop.

JX2 Productions Inc., 80 Windsor St., Suite C, West Springfield, MA 01089. Event production services. Andrew P. Jensen, same.

Raising Hope Together Inc., 61 Upper Church St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Emil Farjo, 323 Rogers Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Established to provide for the needs of West Springfield residents who are affected by natural or man-made disasters.

WESTFIELD

Ray of Hope International Church, 15 Summer St., first Floor, Westfield, MA 01085-3104. Parlad Gurung, same. Church.

SPRINGFIELD

La Minita De Kelsey Inc., 84 Woodside Terrace, Springfield, MA 01108.
Eugenio Valdez, same. Grocery market.

Minot Peak Management Inc., 14 Larkspur St., Springfield, MA 01108.
Jennifer P. Metsch, same. Real estate acquisition, ownership, leasing and management.

Money Squared Inc., 97 Florence St, Apt. 2, Springfield, MA 01105. Daniel C. Becker, same. Manufacturing of digital currency.

Ramani Inc., 1534 State St., Springfield, MA 01109. Kiesha R. Edmondson, 206 Miller Way, Windsor, CT 06095. Restaurant and bar.

Rexco Inc., 1082 Page Boulevard, Springfield, MA 01104. Holly E. Ferris, same. Ownership and operation of a property.

Company Notebook Departments

Paragus IT Sets Up Shop Temporarily in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — The staff of Paragus IT is currently operating out of an office at Harrison Place in downtown Springfield while waiting for a new, state-of-the-art headquarters to be built in Hadley. “It’s great to be part of the vibrant business culture downtown,” said Paragus CEO Delcie Bean. “Many of our clients
and friends are here, and we’re always looking to connect and network with other area businesses.” Paragus brings a staff of more than 35 technicians and business professionals into the downtown economy, and takes on new hires every six to eight weeks.  For the past two years, the company was were named in Inc.’s annual ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing businesses. With a 546% growth rate since 2008, Paragus is the second-fastest-growing outsourced IT firm in New England. After eight years at its Russell Street headquarters in Hadley, Paragus will be moving to a new commercial office building, also in Hadley, later this year. The new space is 8,000 square feet, nearly four times the size of the former location. Bean has indicated that, if things go well downtown, he may consider maintaining a permanent satellite office there.

North Brookfield Savings Bank Named a Preferred Lender by SBA
NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank (NBSB) has been awarded status as a Preferred Lender for the Small Business Administration (SBA), which can mean faster loan approval for customers.
“To be awarded the SBA’s Preferred Lender status is a privilege, and we are proud to recognize North Brookfield Savings Bank for their lending performance and reputation,” said Massachusetts SBA Director Robert Nelson. “We look forward to working more closely with them and their customers now and in the years ahead.” As a member of the SBA’s Preferred Lender Program, NBSB has the authority to issue an SBA-guaranteed loan without prior SBA review and approval. Membership in the program is given only to financial institutions that have a proven capability and commitment to small-business lending, and strict adherence to SBA guidelines. “The SBA Preferred Lending designation gives us the ability to streamline our commercial-loan process, which in turn will allow us to approve and close SBA loans more efficiently,” said Anthony Piermarini, senior vice president and senior commercial loan officer. “We are proud of our membership in the Preferred Lender Program. The NBSB Commercial Lending team has worked diligently to provide loans to businesses in our community, and achieving this status demonstrates our commitment to small-business lending and our business community.” Rick Egan, NBSB vice president and commercial loan officer, will serve as the bank’s SBA loan specialist.

Briefcase Departments

Community Partnerships Created to Promote Health
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration recently announced more than $40 million in grants to nine community-based partnerships — including networks in Holyoke and Pittsfield — to help fight chronic illness and improve health outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Part of the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, this first-in-the-nation effort is part of a $60 million grant over four years created by the Legislature and administered by the Department of Public Health (DPH). “In Massachusetts, we believe that healthcare is a public good, and every resident deserves access to affordable, quality care. These grants will help us reach that goal by funding the intervention strategies proven to work,” Patrick said. The fund supports community-based partnerships in achieving measurable health goals through research-based interventions. Working together, municipalities, healthcare systems, community organizations, businesses, regional planning organizations, and schools design community-specific programs addressing issues such as hypertension, smoking, falls prevention among older adults, and pediatric asthma. As a condition of funding, each partnership must achieve specified health and cost-saving benchmarks on at least two of the four health issues prioritized by the trust. “As a registered nurse, I’ve seen the power of prevention in improving health outcomes, and the importance of local partnerships in driving change at the community level,” said DPH Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett. “These Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund grants will promote both of these worthy objectives in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.”  Funded partnerships will work to reduce rates of the most prevalent and preventable health conditions, advance healthy behaviors, increase the adoption of workplace wellness or health-management programs, and address health disparities. Each of the nine grantees will receive up to $250,000 for the first phase of their work. As grantees demonstrate their readiness to implement interventions in community and clinical settings, they will receive additional funding between $900,000 and $1.5 million for each of the next three years. The amount each partnership receives depends upon population covered and the number of conditions addressed. The two local coordinating organizations are Berkshire Medical Center (partnering with Berkshire County Boards of Health, Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire Public Health Alliance, Fairview Hospital, North Adams Regional Hospital, North Berkshire Community Coalition, and Tri-town Health Department District); and Holyoke Health Center (partnering with the city of Holyoke, Greater Holyoke YMCA, Holyoke Medical Center, River Valley Counseling Center, and Western Mass Physician Associates). For more information on the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, visit mass.gov/pwtf.

Markey, Warren Press for Release of Heating Assistance
WASHINGTON — With millions of families facing harsh weather and economic conditions and nearly $490 million still remaining this year for the nation’s low-income heating-assistance program following recent passage of the omnibus spending bill, U.S. Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren called on the Obama administration to immediately distribute those energy assistance benefits to Massachusetts residents. In a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the senators argue that budgetary certitude created by passing the 2014 appropriations bill allows the department to immediately distribute the almost $490 million remaining in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Temperatures have fallen in recent weeks to dangerous levels, but home heating prices have risen more than forecast. “A combination of frigid temperatures and higher than anticipated energy prices is creating a dire situation for many New England households,” according to the letter. “Releasing the nearly $490 million in remaining LIHEAP funds for this year as soon as possible is imperative to ensure that families who have already been stretched to the limit by these cuts can continue to pay their heating bills. We urge HHS to immediately release Massachusetts’ share of all remaining heating-assistance funds for the current year.” LIHEAP funding has also been cut by about one-third over the last four years, leading to a reduction in benefits and the number of families receiving assistance in many states. Markey and others have called for a restoration of full funding for the LIHEAP program to $5.1 billion per year.

Massachusetts Adds 10,300 Jobs in December; State’s GDP on Rise
BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) recently reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 10,300 jobs in December, and the total unemployment rate was 7.0%. Over the year, the unemployment rate was up 0.3% from the December 2012 rate of 6.7%. The private sector added 10,400 jobs in December as professional, scientific, and business services; trade, transportation, and utilities; leisure and hospitality; financial activities; and other services all added jobs. Over the year (December 2012 to December 2013), Massachusetts added 55,500 jobs in total, 54,500 of which were in the private sector. The December 2013 estimates show 3,237,600 Massachusetts residents were employed and 243,800 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,481,300. The December labor force decreased by 1,900 from 3,483,200 in November 2013, as 100 more residents were employed and 1,900 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force was an estimated 500 below the 3,481,800 December 2012 estimate, with 10,600 fewer residents employed and 10,300 more residents unemployed. Meanwhile, Massachusetts real gross domestic product grew at an estimated annual rate of 5.5% in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the MassBenchmarks Current Economic Index. MassBenchmarks is the journal of the Massachusetts economy published by the UMass Donahue Institute based in Hadley in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. It reports that the state’s economy is growing faster than the nation’s as a whole. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports national real gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 3.2% during the same period. In 2013, state economic growth outpaced that of the nation in three of four quarters, according to the report. “The Massachusetts economy appears to be benefiting from improving conditions in national and international economies, and by increasingly confident households who are demonstrating a willingness to spend,” writes Alan Clayton-Matthews, MassBenchmarks senior contributing editor and associate professor of economics and public policy at Northeastern University.

Departments People on the Move

Christopher Marini

Christopher Marini

Theresa Glod

Theresa Glod

Teresa Perkins

Teresa Perkins

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. recently hired two new Associates, Christopher Marini and Theresa Glod, and announced the promotion of Teresa Perkins. Marini and Glod will work closely with clients in the firm’s Accounting and Auditing department.  Before coming to MBK, Marini interned for two years at Pignatare and Sagan, LLC, Certified Public Accountants, and earned a BBA from UMass Isenberg School and Commonwealth Honors College. He is currently pursuing his MSA at UConn, and is a member of the Mass. Society of CPAs. Glod worked previously at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City, and holds a BBA in Accounting and an MS in Accounting from Western New England University. She is currently sitting for her CPA exam.  Perkins was promoted to Senior Associate in the Audit and Accounting division; she was previously a Staff Audit Associate and, before coming to MBK, was a staff accountant at Big Y Foods. Perkins is a graduate of Western New England University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2006 and an MS in Accounting in 2009. She is currently studying for the CPA exams.
•••••
Lori Gazzillo

Lori Gazzillo

Berkshire Bank recently announced that Lori Gazzillo has been promoted to Vice President and Director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. Gazzillo will oversee the bank’s two foundations, one of which provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the communities served by Berkshire Bank, and the other in which the foundation administers the bank’s extensive employee volunteer program and scholarship program. Gazzillo has served for the past year as the foundation’s Assistant Director and assumed the key leadership role with the retirement of Peter Lafayette as former director after eight years of service on Dec. 31, 2013. Lafayette will continue in an advisory capacity. Gazzillo joined Berkshire Bank in July 2011 from Legacy Banks after Berkshire Bank and Legacy merged. While at Legacy, she served as Vice President of Community Relations. Prior to her banking career, Gazzillo worked for nine years at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), overseeing the institution’s public relations. Currently she serves on the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Multicultural BRIDGE, and Berkshire Business and Professional Women. She holds a BA in Journalism from Keene State College and a M.Ed. from MCLA.
•••••
The Westfield-based engineering firm Tighe & Bond recently promoted five employees who have demonstrated exceptional performance, client service, and leadership. Three of the five have been promoted to Associate within the firm’s stock ownership program; they are:
Briony Angus

Briony Angus

• Briony Angus, AICP, a project manager who joined Tighe & Bond’s Westfield office in 2008. Angus is an environmental and land-use planner with 15 years of experience managing development projects that require approvals from local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. A certified land-use planner, Angus is a member of the American Planning Assoc., and Chair of the Amherst Conservation Commission. Angus has a BA from McGill University and a MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University;



Susan Guswa

Susan Guswa

Susan Guswa, P.E, a senior engineer who joined Tighe & Bond’s Westfield office in 2003. She has more than 18 years of experience, serves as a project manager and design engineer for major wastewater upgrades throughout New England, and is Tighe & Bond’s Wastewater Technical Practice Group Leader. Guswa holds a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Duke University and a MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. She is a member of the Water Environment Federation and the New England Water Environment Assoc., and



David Popielarczyk

David Popielarczyk

David Popielarczyk, P.E., a senior engineer who joined Tighe & Bond’s Westfield office in 1986, and has more than 27 years of experience in the planning, evaluation, design, and construction management of water resources and wastewater projects. Popielarczyk received his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Hartford, and a MS in Environmental Engineering from UMass Amherst.  He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the New England Water Works Assoc., the New England Water Environment Assoc., and the Water Environment Federation.
Also promoted into the stock ownership program were:
• Gary Roberts, an environmental scientist in the firm’s Westfield office; and
• Joseph Persechino, P.E., LEEP AP, a project manager in the firm’s Portsmouth, N.H. office.
•••••
The Springfield-based regional law firm of Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced the following:
Benjamin Coyle

Benjamin Coyle

Benjamin Coyle has been named a shareholder. He is a member of the firm’s business and corporate, estate planning and elder, litigation, municipal departments, and is a five-time recipient of the SuperLawyers Rising Stars distinction and a board member of the Western Mass. Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Coyle earned his J.D. from Western New England University School of Law and his B.S.B.A. from Western New England University.






Adam Basch

Adam Basch

Adam Basch has been named a shareholder of the firm. He is a member of the litigation department, practices in the areas of construction litigation, personal injury, general litigation, and commercial litigation. He is the former secretary of the Hampden County Bar Association, a six-time recipient of the SuperLawyers Rising Stars distinction, and serves as a member of the Wilbraham Planning Board and the United Way Allocation Committee. He teaches litigation and business law at Bay Path College and is the author of numerous construction and general litigation articles. Basch earned his J.D. from Western New England University School of Law and his B.A. from Union College.

Agenda Departments

YMCA Annual Dinner
Feb. 12: Community members will gather at Mill 1 at Open Square for the Greater Holyoke YMCA’s 2014 Annual Dinner. The dinner celebrates and honors those who give unselfish gifts of time and energy to the community. This year’s Louis F. Oldershaw Community Service Award recipient is Attorney Mark Beauregard. The Oldershaw Award is given to an individual who has made significant volunteer contributions to the community and emulates a high standard of excellence in his or her life, professional achievements, and community service. The Y will also recognize the generous volunteer contributions of Joanne and Scott Harper of South Hadley, recipients of the Y’s 2014 Distinguished Service Award. The Harpers have volunteered with the Y’s Viking Swim Team for many years and have been instrumental in the team’s success. The Annual Dinner is $40 per person. Those interested in attending may either call the Y to register at (413) 534-5631, ext. 126, or visit the Y’s website at www.holyokeymca.org to register and pay in advance.

ACCGS Outlook Luncheon
Feb. 24: Join the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield for the region’s largest legislative event, discussing the most pressing local, regional, and federal issues of the day. The luncheon is slated for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center. The keynote speaker is Ed Henry, White House correspondent for Fox News. Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, PeoplesBank, United Personnel, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., Chicopee Savings Bank, and Verizon, as well as reception sponsors Comcast, the Sisters of Providence Health System, and the Republican, Outlook typically attracts more than 700 guests. Area elected officials will also be in attendance to participate in this discussion of front-burner issues. Tickets are $50 for ACCGS members and $70 for general admission. Reserved tables of 10 are available. Reservations must be made in writing and in advance by Feb. 14. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com, by e-mailing Cecile Larose at [email protected], or by faxing a reservation request to (413) 755-1322.

Dark Dining Room House Concert Series
March 1, April 5, May 3: This winter and spring, Dark Dining Room brings the warmth and coziness of your living room to the grandeur of Wistariahurst. Concert curators Matthew Larsen and Greg Saulmon will serve up several courses of local and national musicians over the first Saturdays of March through May. While no dinner will be served, there will be light refreshments provided by Tony Jones Catering, as well as a cash bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. for all shows. Reservations are suggested. Tickets cost $18 ($15 for members) and can be purchased online at wistariahurst.org or by calling the museum at (413) 322-5660. The March 1 concert features Heather Maloney, who boasts influences and roots in adventurous folk. Rosary Beard, whose intricately intertwined acoustic guitars skate a thin line between melancholy reflection and uplifting release, will open the show. On April 5, Dark Dining Room introduces Colorway, a power trio fronted by Western Mass. native F. Alex Johnson. Introspective songsmith and acoustic guitarist Mark Schwaber opens the show. The final concert on May 3 features acoustic guitarist David Berkeley, a Santa Fe-based troubadour who brings his version of Americana to the stage. Matthew Larsen and the Documents open the show with introspective piano pop layered with careful instrumentation and thoughtful harmonies. For more information about the Dark Dining Room House Concert Series, go to darkdiningroom.com. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Difference Makers 2014
March 20: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, honoring the five individuals and organizations featured in the special section of this issue. More details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine, but tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Event sponsors include Baystate Medical Center, Health New England, First American Insurance, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Northwestern Mutual, Royal LLP, Sarat Ford, and Six-Point Creative. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
• Feb. 12: ACCGS Lunch ’n’ Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Lattitude, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. “Yabba Dabba Doo: the Art of the Brand.” The creative team at the full-service marketing and advertising agency of Andrews Associates will take attendees through a comprehensive look at branding, best practices to create an effective and compelling brand, and how to win customer loyalty through branding. Reservations are $20 for members, $30 for general admission, and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

• Feb. 24: ACCGS Outlook 2014, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Ed Henry, Fox News Channel’s chief White House correspondent. Reservations are $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Deadline for reservations is Feb. 17.  Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, PeoplesBank, United Personnel, and Western Massachusetts Electric Company. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Feb. 12: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Route 9, (in the Hampton Village Barn Shops). Sponsored by the Franklin Hampshire Career Center. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. To register, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 253-0700.
• Feb. 26: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Cowls Building Supply, 125 Sunderland Road, Amherst. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Feb: 19: February Salute Breakfast & Annual Meeting, 7:15-9 a.m., at the MassMutual Learning & Conference Center. Cost is $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Feb. 26: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at  Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Cost is $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Feb. 13: Chamber Table Top Workshop: “How to Get People’s Attention and Attract Them to Your Table,” 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the chamber conference room. A no-nonsense informational session on how to set up your booth, how to add visual interest, and what to do to keep potential customers engaged. Cost is $10 for members.
• Feb. 19: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke. Admission is $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.
• Feb. 26: Holyoke Chamber Economic Development Breakfast, 8-10 a.m. (Save the date. Location to be determined.) Hear about local projects and how they will affect local businesses. Cost is $26 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes a buffet breakfast. Call the chamber at (413) 543-3376 to register, or visit holychamber.com to sign up.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Feb. 12: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Armbrook Village, 551 North Road, Westfield. For tickets and more information, call the chamber at (413) 568-1618.
• Feb. 13: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, 6:30 p.m. Spend Valentine’s Eve at CityStage with your date — the chamber. Enjoy complimentary food and a cash bar in the CityStage Member’s Lounge, get great seats to the performance, and parking is free in the Columbus Center Parking Garage, all for the discounted price of $30 per ticket. Chamber reception, catered by Nora’s Restaurant of Southwick, begins at 6:30 in the CityStage Member’s Lounge. Show begins at 7:30. You can also take part in a drawing for a necklace, valued at $120, donated by Andrew Grant Diamond Center. Sponsored by Comcast Business and Andrew Grant Diamond Center. Thanks to our sponsors, 100% of the $30 ticket cost goes back to the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. For tickets, contact Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• Feb. 13: February Networking Social, 5 p.m., at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• Feb. 11: Professional Women’s Chamber Ladies Night, 5-7 p.m., at
Kate Gray Boutique, 749 Maple Road, Longmeadow. Seize an opportunity to network socially with other female professionals in a casual and unique setting. Reservations are required; contact Dawn Creighton at [email protected]. The Professional Women’s Chamber is an affiliate of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield.
WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• Feb. 26: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Storrowton Tavern’s Carriage House, West Springfield. Cost: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• Feb. 20: Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m., at Samuel’s at the Hall of Fame. This is one of our most well-attended Third Thursdays. Check out the restaurant’s recently revamped menu, which now offers 51 tapas dishes to choose from, at samuelssportsbar.com. Community spotlight: Voices from Inside. For 15 years, Voices from Inside (www.voicesfrominside.org) has been helping women who are or were incarcerated to find their voice, connect with the community, and become leaders. This event is open to everyone. Feel free to invite your friends by clicking ‘Select Guests to Invite’ in the top left corner of the event page. This event, as always, is free for YPS members and $10 for non-members, which includes food and a cash bar.

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Harold J. King Jr. v. Community Healthcare Inc. and Cynthia Wiere
Allegation: Violation of confidentiality and discrimination: $5,000
Filed: 12/30/13

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Stephanie Dudos v. Riteway, LLC
Allegation: Negligence in operation of a transit bus, causing damage to the plaintiff’s parked vehicle and personal injury: $24,999
Filed: 11/25/13

Thomas Drilling & Blasting v. Colrain Sand & Gravel Inc. and Orrin W. Isles
Allegation: Breach of contract for blasting and drilling services rendered: $22,605
Filed: 12/30/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Deborah Conners v. Pride Convenience Inc. and Robert Bolduc
Allegation: Employment discrimination: $30,000
Filed: 12/2/13

F & C, LLC v. Praise & Glory Church of God in Christ Inc.
Allegation: Defendant converted plaintiff’s personal property to its own use and breached covenant of good faith and fair dealing: $150,000
Filed: 10/1/13

John E. Smith v. Edwin Skowyra, Cumberland Farms Inc., and V.S.H. Realty Inc.
Allegation: Breach of duty of care to eliminate dangerous conditions when plaintiff was struck by a vehicle that hit the Cumberland Farms store: $170,000
Filed: 11/29/13

TD Bank v. Mobile Uniforms, LLC, Douglas H. Genaske, and Kathleen M. Genaske
Allegation: Breach of promissory notes: $35,104.54
Filed: 12/2/13

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Sheila Lagrenade v. Lincoln Financial Group
Allegation: Denial of benefits and unfair and deceptive trade practices: $30,000
Filed: 11/13/13

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
The Endorphin Group Inc. v. Edward L. Walulak d/b/a Ski Haus
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,411.11
Filed: 1/2/14

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Affordable Shoes, LTD v. Express Kitchens Holdings, LLC
Allegation: Violation of lease agreement: $56,925.45
Filed: 12/20/13

Beacon Sales Co. v. Steven Dimeo d/b/a Classical Details
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $11,926.53
Filed: 12/17/13

Reindeer Logistics Inc. v. Vitaliy’s Auto Sales Inc. d/b/a Vitaliy’s Auto Transportation
Allegation: Defendant breached contract to transport vehicle: $2,719.36
Filed: 12/18/13

Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to:  ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]


Meat and Greet

LuxeNEWLuxeBarLuxeRibbonCuttingThe former Springfield Visitors Center has been transformed into a meeting place for those who enjoy lavish burgers with ‘bling’ toppings and a bar menu that’s as extensive as the build-your-own food menu. The new, 186-seat Luxe Burger Bar, in its second month of business on the Connecticut Riverfront’s Hall of Fame Avenue, recently celebrated a formal ribbon cutting with representatives of Rhode Island-based Chow Fun Restaurant Group, which operates the original Luxe restaurant in Providence. From a top left: partners Richard Bready, CEO, Chow Fun Restaurant Group; Raipher Pellegrino, developer; and John Elkhay, restaurateur and senior food designer. The interior of the redesigned burger restaurant. Taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony are, from left, Bready; Kathleen Pellegrino, general contractor; Brian Conners, Springfield deputy director of Economic Development; Pellegrino; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; Elkhay; Orlando Ramos, city councilor; and state Sen. James Welch.

Top two photos courtesy of Atwater Studios

Opinion
An Opportunity for the EDC

Allan Blair, the long-time director of the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Western Mass., announced at a recent council board meeting that he will be retiring at the end of this year. Almost within minutes after that announcement, the board announced the appointment of a search committee to anoint Blair’s successor.
The juxtaposition of those events clearly indicates that Blair’s decision to step down wasn’t news to anyone, and it also makes it evident that the board had already made up its mind up to carry on in the same fashion that it has for the past 17 years.
We suggest that the board slow things down a bit, or more than a bit, take full advantage of the one year’s notice Blair gave (under different circumstances, this would be a little excessive), and decide first if this model is really working before simply starting to pore over résumés.
A thorough examination might well conclude that the current system — which has the EDC serving as an umbrella organization for a host of agencies, ranging from the Affiliated Chambers to Westmass; from the Regional Employment Board to the Convention and Visitors Bureau — is a model that works. But then again, it may also decide, as many have suggested, that the current system adds bureaucracy to the process of economic development, not real value.
And while examining its model, the EDC’s board should also address the agency’s purpose, and determine whether its mission has been properly, and specifically, defined — and communicated.
We say this because many business owners and managers — including some who sit on the EDC’s board — are not at all sure what this agency and its leaders do and how it is to be held accountable for what’s done, or not done, as the case may be.
And as the board uses the year Blair gave it to consider all these things, we would suggest they use the occasion of his departure to infuse some new blood, and some new energy, into the organization.
Blair has notched some notable accomplishments in his lengthy tenure — mostly in the realm of industrial-park development and creating what is known as the Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership — but this agency needs a shakeup and a fresh commitment to the many tenets of economic development.
For this reason, we suggest the search committee look outside the block of offices in the TD Bank Building to find a successor. While hiring from within — and, in this case, that’s a broad term — is often a prudent tack, in this instance we believe the EDC needs some new perspective and new sense of purpose, and it won’t get either unless it brings in dynamic new leadership.
Two names come immediately to mind. First is Richard Sullivan, the former mayor of Westfield and current secretary of the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. He knows this region, has a proven track record for getting things done, and knows how to work with people to set and meet or exceed goals.
Another is Greg Bialecki, currently state Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. While not from Western Mass., he has worked closely with Gov. Deval Patrick to help Springfield recover from the fiscal woes of a decade ago and recent weather calamities, especially the tornado of 2011. He understands the plight of the state’s Gateway Cities, and would bring some energy — not to mention state connections — to the process of revitalizing those in this region — Springfield, Holyoke, Westfield, and others.
It may be difficult to recruit either one because they will likely have a number of job opportunities when (and if) their tenure with the state ends soon. But they are examples of how this region needs to think big — and hire big — when it comes to filling this important position.
As we said, this is an opportunity for this area, and it should take full advantage of it.

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of January 2014.

AGAWAM

Dragon Paradise, LLC
90 Merrill Road
$37,500 — Build snack bar and interior renovations

Six Flags New England
1623 Main St.
$10,000 — Frame new building

CHICOPEE

JMDH Realty of Chicopee
132 First Ave.
$206,000 — Interior renovation

South Hadley Realty Trust
45-48 Dakota Ave.
$11,000 — Strip and re-roof

The Westmoreland Company
170 Lonczak Dr.
$2,640,000 — Office and warehouse addition to existing building

GREENFIELD

Center for Human Development
140 Montague City Road
$284,000 — Renovate building

Christopher Ethier
76 Hope St.
$10,000 — Rebuild roof over stairway

Girls and Boys Club
35 Pierce St.
$3,000 — Replace front door

Sander Greenfield LLC
367 Federal St.
$7,000 — Install fire alarm system

PALMER

AAH Corporation
1559 North Main St.
$12,000 — New roof

Maple Leaf Distribution Services
14 Third St.
$7,000 — Install concrete pad for a generator

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$22,000 — New ceilings in Clapp Hall

SPRINGFIELD

Armory Plaza
405 Armory St.
$15,000 — Split existing space into two

Colvest Springfield, LLC
1259 East Columbus Ave.
$15,000 — Interior renovations

DERF Realty
190 Carando Dr.
$600,000 — Renovations to expand police lab

WMECO
282 Cottage St.
$1,950,000 – A 12,980-square-foot solar module installation supported on a ground mount

WESTFIELD

BDMG, LLC
1134 Southampton Road
$570,000 — Construction of a new convenience store

Savage Arms Inc.
100 Springdale Road
$262,000 — Renovations for new offices

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Angelica Properties, LLC
646 Westfield St.
$8,000 — Renovate residential housing

Quality Inn
1150 Riverdale St.
$38,000 — Renovations on third floor

Opinion
Electricity Grid and Markets Need Fixing

By MARC BROWN

This has been a cold winter, and rate payers shouldn’t expect their electricity costs to thaw anytime soon. Wholesale electricity prices have exploded as frigid temperatures have driven up demand for natural gas for home heating purposes. This results in most natural-gas generators paying a premium for what little gas remains in the pipe. This in turn has led to an increase in expensive oil-fired generation just to keep the lights on.
How high have prices climbed? How about nearly 10 times last year’s average wholesale price for hours at a time — and weekly averages at three times the price over the last two months.  Incredibly, for the week of Jan. 20-26, the average wholesale price of electricity was $0.26 per kilowatt hour — seven times the average wholesale cost in 2012.
Unfortunately, the bad news is only going to get worse. Brayton Point, a generating plant with 1500 MW of capacity, has announced that it will close its doors in 2017 despite a determination by the New England Independent System Operator (ISO-NE) that the plant is needed to meet future electricity demand and ensure grid reliability. Brayton’s closing leaves New England’s generating capacity tenuous (at best) for the next forward-capacity auction (FCA).
One of the inherent flaws in the structure of New England’s electricity markets is that it encourages price volatility over stability — which in turn reduces incentives for new investment in base load power sources that our region desperately needs. In addition to market structure flaws, regional regulatory policies enacted by our legislatures have contributed to the shortsightedness of our grid. Renewable portfolio standards (RPS) force electric utility and competitive electricity suppliers to purchase a percentage of their electricity from politically preferred classes of renewables, creating markets for renewable-energy generators that wouldn’t exist if not for the grace of government.
Don’t be fooled when renewable advocates tout ‘zero fuel costs’ and ‘energy security’ when proclaiming that wind, solar, and other renewable resources are cost-effective. If they were cost-effective, they wouldn’t need an artificial market created by politicians to ensure their survival. Electricity suppliers don’t care from which resource they buy their power — they just want cheap, reliable power for their customers. If not for government requirements, they certainly wouldn’t be buying wind, solar, or biomass.
Recently, New England governors announced a plan to socialize the expansion of natural-gas pipelines into the region to take advantage of ‘cheap’ (be careful; the price has doubled since 2012) natural gas. Pipeline expansion is a worthy endeavor — one that should be undertaken by the private investment of pipeline companies based on capacity commitments from natural-gas generators and local distribution companies. What happens if we build the pipeline and the price of natural gas climbs to levels we saw as recently as 10 years ago? Then rate payers will get hit twice — once for the pipeline and again for the expensive electricity. If we have learned anything over the past decade, it is that government doesn’t make very good decisions when it comes to energy policy.
A better solution for our electricity problem would be for our leaders to create an environment that incentivizes private investment that would result in lower costs to consumers and an efficient, reliable grid. One idea would be for ISO to expand the FCA beyond three years. This would provide stability to existing generators so they would make long-term investments in both infrastructure and jobs, but wouldn’t block new, efficient, cost-effective resources from entering the market. If a plant isn’t receiving energy payments because it isn’t ‘in merit,’ and becomes uneconomical, the plant could sell its capacity payments at a discount to more efficient resources and retire.
An important question for elected officials and rate payers to consider (especially commercial and industrial customers) is, what kind of market structure would you prefer?  The current market — which provides lower prices in the short term, but high volatility that sends mixed signals to investors — or a more stable market, that keeps prices steady and, in the long run, may ultimately lower prices by spurring investment in new resources?

Marc Brown is executive director of the New England Ratepayers Assoc., a nonprofit dedicated to protecting rate payers in New England.

Departments Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

DEERFIELD

4 Industrial Dr. East
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Pro PEL East LLC
Seller: Bryson Realty Corp.
Date: 12/30/13

GREENFIELD

95 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Alex L. Kapitan
Seller: Barry E. Richer
Date: 01/10/14

58 Freeman Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $630,000
Buyer: PRB LLC
Seller: Freehigh LLC
Date: 12/30/13

65 Harrison Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Clark S. Mitchell RET
Seller: Birute A. Hanley
Date: 12/30/13

29 Norwood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Stuart P. Dusenberry
Seller: Erin J. Baldwin
Date: 12/31/13

MONTAGUE

61 4th St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $165,800
Buyer: Bayview Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: Matthew L. Robinson
Date: 01/09/14

161 Industrial Blvd.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Deerfield Valley Realty
Seller: Turbosteam LLC
Date: 01/10/14

4 Old Sunderland Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: David E. Reilly
Seller: Diane L. Andersen
Date: 01/07/14

NORTHFIELD

177 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Norman A. Miller
Seller: David A. Bonnett
Date: 01/09/14

181 School St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $486,720
Buyer: Edward H. Foster
Seller: Ross W. Smythe
Date: 01/06/14

SUNDERLAND

Bull Hill Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Delta Sand & Gravel Inc.
Seller: Stanton F. Brown
Date: 01/10/14

260 North Main St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Travis J. Lamothe
Seller: David G. Goodrich
Date: 12/30/13

50 South Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jason W. Shea
Seller: Marion C. Markwell
Date: 01/10/14

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

228 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: William D. Corbin
Seller: Patricia Greene
Date: 01/08/14

404 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Douglas E. Glenn
Seller: George F. Hagan
Date: 01/06/14

50 Herbert P. Almgren Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Sound Seal Inc.
Seller: F2B LLC
Date: 01/10/14

39 Ottawa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Benjamin P. Avery
Seller: Theodore F. Waterman
Date: 12/30/13

BLANDFORD

34 Nye Brook Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Erica E. Slayton
Seller: Josephine J. Taudel
Date: 01/08/14

BRIMFIELD

109 East Brimfield Holland
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Leanne M. Russo
Seller: Brian Jolin
Date: 01/02/14

CHICOPEE

187 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Hoda M. Hamdan
Seller: Abbas M. Hamdan
Date: 01/08/14

200 Exchange St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Peoples United Bank
Seller: Gene J. Demski
Date: 01/06/14

Frontenac St. #5
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Tiffanie C. Weaver
Seller: Edward C. Brunelle
Date: 01/10/14

88 McDonald Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Robert J. Lafrance
Seller: James C. Leonard
Date: 01/07/14

89 Oakwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Paul M. Stawasz
Seller: Joshua Kusnierz
Date: 12/30/13

518 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Christopher P. Zukowski
Seller: Waycon Inc.
Date: 01/07/14

781 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Douglas J. Karbouski
Seller: Bernard F. Deorocki
Date: 12/31/13

788 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Timdee Rainey Investment LLC
Seller: John M. Bardzik
Date: 01/02/14

10 Union St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Liam P. Reynolds
Seller: Christine Sullivan
Date: 01/06/14

18 Walnut St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: David Matias
Seller: Kevin Clement
Date: 01/09/14

EAST LONGMEADOW

1 Apple Blossom Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Joseph Chapdelaine & Sons
Seller: East Longmeadow Group Investment
Date: 12/30/13

38 Hillside Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Megan E. Bobianski
Seller: Kevin H. Morris
Date: 12/30/13

27 Skyline Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $409,000
Buyer: Teresa P. Demange
Seller: MC AC MC LLC
Date: 12/31/13

HAMPDEN

19 Fairfield Mannor
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Raymond C. Ung
Seller: Robert H. Sabbides
Date: 01/06/14

59 Meadow Brook Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: George A. Romano
Seller: Dieckmeyer, Hazel R., (Estate)
Date: 01/10/14

HOLYOKE

7 Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: 7 Franklin Street RT
Seller: Bayview Loan Servicing LLC
Date: 12/30/13

25 Grandview Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Diane L. Garvey
Seller: Judith A. Saraceno
Date: 01/06/14

1114 Hampden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Michael B. Tetreault
Seller: Vision Capital LLC
Date: 01/10/14

810 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Andrea White
Seller: FNMA
Date: 01/10/14

11 Linden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $139,000
Seller: Robert S. Killin
Date: 01/06/14

57 Longfellow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: Joseph P. Dutsar
Seller: Rhoades, Warren A., (Estate)
Date: 01/10/14

52 Suffolk St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Whiting Building LLC
Seller: Suffolk Realty Assocs.
Date: 01/08/14

56 Suffolk St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Whiting Building LLC
Seller: Suffolk Realty Assocs.
Date: 01/08/14

LONGMEADOW

116 Benedict Terrace
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Ean James
Seller: Jerome E. Noonan
Date: 01/06/14

609 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Jon Leander
Seller: Lawrence R. Fitzgerald
Date: 12/30/13

1142 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Dominick C. Braiotta
Seller: James B. Bright
Date: 12/30/13

LUDLOW

30 Brunelle St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Terri L. Jurkowski
Seller: Kevin Jurkowski
Date: 12/30/13

345 Holyoke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: So Cool Realty LLC
Seller: Joseph R. Malvinni
Date: 01/06/14

57 Kirkland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Mark A. Fernandes
Date: 01/09/14

190 Moody St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $940,500
Buyer: Croteau Realty LLC
Seller: Gary A. Barber
Date: 01/06/14

Rosewood Dr. #15
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Jendrysik
Seller: Rosewood Meadows Inc.
Date: 01/06/14

MONSON

39 Crest Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $163,900
Buyer: Joel A. Zera
Seller: WKB RT
Date: 01/10/14

PALMER

15 Alden St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $234,703
Buyer: PNC Bank
Seller: Lisandro Padua
Date: 01/09/14

298 Emery St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Kevin F. Joyce
Seller: Richard F. Kelleher
Date: 12/31/13

65 Robinson Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Carolyn I. Baldyga
Seller: Bradley, Patricia A., (Estate)
Date: 01/06/14

164 Stimson St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Scott A. Tourville
Seller: Edward Czech
Date: 12/30/13

SPRINGFIELD

25 Amore Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Robert Murphy
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 12/31/13

44 Burns Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $169,493
Buyer: MHFA
Seller: Gisele C. Nascimento
Date: 12/30/13

131 Clement St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Bao Vu
Seller: Thanh Nguyen
Date: 12/31/13

17 Dana St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Awilda McKinney
Seller: Michael P. Lavin
Date: 12/31/13

48 Donbray Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $185,091
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Julianne L. Proulx
Date: 12/31/13

43 Eckington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $166,500
Buyer: Kenneth D. Lafleche
Seller: Wilbraham Builders Inc.
Date: 12/30/13

40 Ellery St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jose A. Lopez
Seller: Michael Lasorsa
Date: 12/30/13

120 Entrybrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Rebecca A. Cabana
Seller: Jeffrey Schneider
Date: 01/10/14

30 Firglade Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Mildred J. Horensky
Seller: Paula M. Young
Date: 12/31/13

111 Goodwin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Talisha M. Moore
Seller: Irene Makuch
Date: 01/06/14

71 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Israel Lagos
Seller: Francesco A. Carrano
Date: 01/06/14

355 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Mark R. Clink
Seller: Gary S. Watson
Date: 01/10/14

80 Norman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Brian Phillips
Seller: Sapphire Property Development
Date: 01/09/14

10 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Alexander Hamilton
Seller: Cedar Investment Group LLC
Date: 01/06/14

264 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Amanda A. Sullivan
Seller: Gary G. Decoteau
Date: 12/31/13

146 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Mister Mister LLC
Seller: Raul G. Fraga
Date: 12/31/13

35 Lenox St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Luis M. Torres
Seller: Marta Leander
Date: 12/30/13

1078 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,800
Buyer: Nadine I. Allen
Seller: Carlos Rodriguez
Date: 12/31/13

22 Marchioness Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Michael Montanez
Seller: William J. Musiak
Date: 12/31/13

340 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Greater New Life Christ
Seller: Brenda E. Reyes
Date: 12/30/13

36 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Develop Springfield Corp.
Seller: Wayne Street LLC
Date: 12/31/13

29 Pelham St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Christopher D. Martinez
Seller: JNB Property Investment Inc.
Date: 12/31/13

94 Rochford Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: John R. Barbieri
Seller: Suzanne E. Clewes
Date: 01/09/14

1566 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: 1566 State Street LLC
Seller: New HB Acquisition
Date: 12/31/13

80 Tamarack Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Lindsay B. Hackett
Seller: Keith B. Lee
Date: 12/31/13

100 Tilton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $149,950
Buyer: Carlos J. Santini
Seller: Ivette Martinez
Date: 12/31/13

2132 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: RHL Properties LLC
Seller: Kenneth C. Wood
Date: 12/30/13

103 William St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
Seller: Louis F. Bonavita
Date: 12/30/13

167 Wrentham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Van H. Nguyen
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 12/31/13

SOUTHWICK

78 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Jonathan A. Letourneau
Seller: Sanford, Dexter E., (Estate)
Date: 12/30/13

7 Deer Run
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Nadia Grushetskiy
Seller: FNMA
Date: 01/10/14

17 Fernwood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $154,900
Buyer: Robert W. Ziemba
Seller: Marjorie J. Arnold
Date: 01/08/14

42 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Michael R. Burns
Seller: Italia M. Cecchini
Date: 12/31/13

16 Lakeview St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: CRA Holdings Inc.
Seller: JRSR Associates LLC
Date: 12/31/13

43 Lexington Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Peter E. Flynn
Seller: William F. Borecki
Date: 01/06/14

WESTFIELD

128 Crane Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Corey J. Hinckley
Seller: Edwin D. Bishop
Date: 01/07/14

11 Crescent Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $299,500
Buyer: Sean P. Young
Seller: James P. Pashko
Date: 12/31/13

3 Crown St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Richard E. Clark
Seller: Edward W. Laudato
Date: 12/30/13

26 Denise Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Marat Mkrtchian
Seller: Beatrice R. Mazut
Date: 01/06/14

163 Elizabeth Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Ralph E. Thresher
Seller: James M. Spavins
Date: 12/31/13

79 Glenwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Mohammed Najeeb
Seller: Lynn M. Poulin
Date: 01/09/14

29 Heritage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $376,500
Buyer: Leigh A. King
Seller: Vincenzo Tirone

708 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Michael J. Szewczhynski
Seller: Robert J. Lafrance
Date: 01/07/14

730 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Viktor Shokov
Seller: FNMA
Date: 12/31/13

333 Paper Mill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Ivy A. Beltrandi
Seller: Lynn D. Hastings
Date: 01/10/14

4 Putnam Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Leonard J. Latshaw
Seller: Marthajane Peck
Date: 12/30/13

5 Reservoir Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Robert Norton
Seller: Jennifer M. Simmons
Date: 12/30/13

124 Sunset Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Collingwood
Seller: Morris, Vernon H., (Estate)
Date: 12/30/13

5 Whispering Wind Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: James P. Pashko
Seller: Peter J. Luksas
Date: 12/31/13

WILBRAHAM

31 Brooklawn Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Anita E. Richard
Seller: FHLM
Date: 12/30/13

5 Brookmont Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Edward C. Hough
Seller: Whitney E. Harris
Date: 01/06/14

5 Danforth Farms Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $765,000
Buyer: Jennifer A. Thorn
Seller: Lise M. Boilard
Date: 01/09/14

17 Danforth Farms Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Nick V. Hastain
Seller: James M. Parrish
Date: 01/09/14

400 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Pacosa-McEvoy
Seller: E. A. Pacosa McEvoy RET
Date: 01/06/14

33 Mountainbrook Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Kevin H. Morris
Seller: Carol Forward
Date: 12/30/13

18 Wandering Meadows
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Hampden Bank
Seller: Linda R. Lata
Date: 01/02/14

6 Woodland Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Christopher Ryan
Seller: Martha A. Lyman
Date: 01/09/14

WEST SPRINGFIELD

56 Hillside Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Muzaffar Taksilov
Seller: Kevin J. Longo
Date: 12/30/13

24 Larivee Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Stanislav L. Nester
Seller: Brian F. Gendreau
Date: 12/30/13

194 Morton St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Emilio E. Olivo
Seller: Wright, Leon A., (Estate)
Date: 12/31/13

134 New Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Shakhmardan Shakirov
Seller: Viktor Shokov
Date: 12/31/13

334 Park St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: B&G Automotive Services
Seller: Sandri Realty Inc.
Date: 01/10/14

1267 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: 1267 Riverdale Street LLC
Seller: Pride Convenience Inc.
Date: 12/30/13

142 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Buyer: Shawn J. Smith
Seller: Ann M. Lollio
Date: 01/10/14

29 Webster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $156,058
Buyer: Timothy V. Flouton
Seller: Ivonne Ortiz
Date: 12/31/13

36 Worthen St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Duc Truong
Seller: Chapman, Justine J., (Estate)
Date: 12/31/13

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

Lindenridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Yuriy Brun
Seller: Tofino Associates LLC
Date: 01/06/14

22 Nutting Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $481,700
Buyer: Worcester Campus Corp.
Seller: Richard D. Waskiewicz RET
Date: 12/30/13

28 Nutting Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $481,700
Buyer: Worcester Campus Corp.
Seller: Richard D. Waskiewicz RET
Date: 12/30/13

65 Pine St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $251,500
Buyer: Susanne M. Michel
Seller: Laura B. Robinson
Date: 12/30/13

BELCHERTOWN

609 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Eileen R. Welly
Seller: Nancy J. Putnam
Date: 12/31/13

30 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: James A. Thiemann
Seller: Keith R. Michel
Date: 12/30/13

17 Moss Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $187,285
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Garry L. Young
Date: 01/10/14

45 West St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: John P. Budz
Seller: David J. Jagodowski
Date: 01/02/14

CHESTERFIELD

202 South St.
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Brett A. Carpowits
Seller: John B. Roberts
Date: 01/08/14

EASTHAMPTON

166 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Revampit LLC
Seller: Anne-Marie T. Rivest
Date: 01/10/14

4 Mckinley Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Garvey
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 01/08/14

9 Summer St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Thomas W. Brown
Seller: Easthampton Savings Bank
Date: 12/31/13

11 Summer St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Thomas W. Brown
Seller: Easthampton Savings Bank
Date: 12/31/13

GRANBY

235 Carver St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $354,000
Buyer: Joseph E. Clark
Seller: Howard B. McCready
Date: 12/31/13

HADLEY

3 Aqua Vitae Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Perrin Hendrick
Seller: Lesko, Stanley H., (Estate)
Date: 12/30/13

12 Highland Circle
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Colleen A. Coughlin
Seller: Thomas, Vernon, (Estate)
Date: 01/10/14

251 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Modestow LLC
Seller: Gush Realty LLC
Date: 12/30/13

424 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Pizza Hut of America Inc.
Seller: Alan 2 LLC
Date: 01/07/14

HATFIELD

104 Pantry Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $356,000
Buyer: Eliza R. Fischer
Seller: Norma R. Adler
Date: 01/10/14

NORTHAMPTON

9 Bancroft Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Aaron Knapp
Seller: Standick TR
Date: 01/09/14

14 Brierwood Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Anna A. Pertzoff
Seller: Bruce D. Sylvia
Date: 01/06/14

44 Cherry St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $318,750
Buyer: Chelsea S. Kline
Seller: Margot F. Zalkind
Date: 12/31/13

131 Chestnut St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Sass
Seller: Anna A. Pertzoff
Date: 01/06/14

10 Ford Xing
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $617,671
Buyer: Estate Kokosadze
Seller: Wright Builders Inc.
Date: 12/31/13

107 Franklin St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Mark W. Erba
Seller: Sven Huggins
Date: 01/06/14

16 Garfield Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Katherine J. McCusker
Seller: Connor FT
Date: 01/10/14

34 Hastings Heights
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Richard M. Quackenbush
Seller: Cynthia R. Stone
Date: 01/08/14

23 Hayes Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Lisa E. Orenstein
Seller: Michael W. Hogan
Date: 01/08/14

268 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $490,000
Seller: Nathaniel Y. Arai
Date: 01/10/14

278 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Stephanie A. Smith
Seller: Karen A. Sanguinet
Date: 01/06/14

11 School St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: 11 School Street LLC
Seller: John P. Mistark
Date: 01/09/14

63 Sheffield Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Lisa Chodos
Seller: Jonathan R. Sass
Date: 01/08/14

PELHAM

12 Shutesbury Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $194,732
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Phyllis E. Aldrich
Date: 01/08/14

SOUTH HADLEY

8 Berwyn St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Joshua R. Gelinas
Seller: Dean T. Sudyka
Date: 01/08/14

68 Columbia St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: MERS
Seller: USA VA
Date: 01/06/14

14 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Walter J. Selkirk
Seller: Sandra L. Selkirk
Date: 01/07/14

47 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Patrick Moynahan
Seller: Sal J. Canata
Date: 12/31/13

N/A
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Gurbinder Singh
Seller: Joshua R. Gelinas
Date: 01/08/14

12 Spring St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Dean T. Sudyka
Seller: Frank Bogdanovich
Date: 01/09/14

3 Wilson St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Meghan A. Campbell
Seller: Jean B. Campbell
Date: 12/31/13

SOUTHAMPTON

186 County Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Dennis P. Camolli-Simmons
Seller: Cheryl A. Bissonnette
Date: 12/30/13

38 Gunn Road Ext.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Harold R. Gilbert
Seller: Murphy, Helen J., (Estate)
Date: 01/08/14

26 Katelyn Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Leonard Goldberg
Seller: Linda E. Hiesiger
Date: 12/30/13

196 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Gregory R. Muttelman
Seller: Angela Barbar
Date: 12/31/13

WARE

96 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Joshua A. Kusnierz
Seller: Anita E. Richard
Date: 12/30/13

152 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Joseph Lanouette
Seller: Paul J. Beauregard
Date: 01/10/14

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Alba, Carlos A.
a/k/a Alba-Aguasvivas, Carlos A.
Henriquez, Daris M.
29 Allen St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/06/14

Ask Us Travel
One Of A Find Gifts
Kamenides, Michael Paul
Kamenides, Daphne Lynn
a/k/a Harvey, Daphne Lynn
143 East St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/14/14

Baez, Nelida
53 Bristol St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/14

Bluemer, Paul E.
Bluemer, Patricia A.
a/k/a Prefontaine, Patricia
a/k/a King, Patricia
275 Apremont Highway
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/10/14

Bowdridge, Todd M.
Bowdridge, Jennifer C.
1900 Main St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Briere, Paul R.
5 Wells Park Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/08/14

Chambers, Manuel
16 Hall St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/14/14

Chiusano, Nicholas J.
P.O. Box 420
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/14

Clark, John H.
PO Box 159
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Connelly, Michael J.
Connelly, Lori Jean
117 Hope St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/07/14

Cruz, William
100 River Boat Village Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/02/14

DeMotta, Carol A.
414 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/13/14

Dewinkeleer, Aaron M.
Dewinkeleer, Tanya L.
185 Vining Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Dimitropolis, Jesse R.
103 Commercial St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/14

Dostie, Philip P.
Dostie, Louise R.
5 Beekman Place
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/14

Doyle, Gerald S.
979 West St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/07/14

Dulude, Judith L.
30 Cottage St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/10/14

Edwards, Melissa C.
27 Winter St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/03/14

Faria, Bruce Alan
Faria, Holly Beth
19 Spring St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/06/14

Febus, Diana M.
70 Walnut St., Apt 502
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/10/14

Gajewski, David Michael
18 Wildermere St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/11/14

Gonzalez, Ruben
40 Erline St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/14

Hosek, Mark K.
36 Rivers Ave., Apt. 1L
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/06/14

Johnson, Steven T.
3168 Chestnut Hill Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Jones, Natasha Chistene
122 Chestnut St., Apt. #408
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Kennedy, John C.
24 East St., Apt. 1
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Kleszczynski, Matthew C.
9 Hillside Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/14/14

Lacross, Melanie L.
Lacross, Keith B.
168 Eastwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Langlois, Joseph P.
89 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/06/14

LaRoche, Marianne Frances
408A Bridge Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/03/14

Lozada, Neftali L.
a/k/a Otero, Neftali L.
Rivas, Ana I.
87 Wilbraham Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/10/14

Martino, Antonio
193 Millbrook Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/14/14

McComb, Robert King
McComb, Barbara Ann
74 Dole Road
Gill, MA 01354
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/08/14

McGregor, Stuart
McGregor, Jessica L.
156 Northwest St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/14/14

Morin, Paul J.
Morin, Carol
30 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/14

O’Connor, Catherine E.
54 Providence St., 3rd
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/13/14

Pastreck, Joseph T.
143 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/02/14

Punderson, Peter S.
191 Pease Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/11/14

Roy, Penny A.
576 Crescent St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Saia, Frank R.
a/k/a Saia, Francisco R.
502 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/13/14

Sharrow, Charles
Sharrow, Mary Ann
1530 Southampton Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/08/14

Sickler, Linda Grace
a/k/a Sickler-Richard, Linda Grace
184 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/08/14

Siniscalchi, Michelle M.
a/k/a Moore, Michelle M.
165 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/13

Son, Sothy S.
392 Paige Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/06/14

Walker, Linda A.
269 Stony Hill Road
Building G3, #101
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/06/14

Wheelock, Kenneth A.
54 South St.
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/15/14

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of January 2014.

AGAWAM

Kondreanu Family Promoter
19 Harding St.
G & D Kondreanu

S & H Daily Music
124 Main St.
Maria Duducal

Trend Sound Promoter
33 Valley St.
Vyacheslav Sholopa

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Urgent Care
1505 Memorial Dr.
Ahmed Elmogy

Concierge Enterprise
92 Stonina Dr.
Felix Maldonado

Lamode
619 McKinstry Ave.
Joslie Otero

GREENFIELD

Adam & Eve
18 Main St.
Scott McGregor

Alan’s Auto
10 Montague City Road
Alan Owseichik

Currie’s Lawn Care
104 High St.
Michael Currie

Extreme Styles
395 Federal St.
Linda Peters

Fitz, Vogt, & Associates
1 College Dr.
Mark Fortino

Hillside Woodworking
1173 Bernardston Road
Robert Callahan

New England Camper Repair
1399 Bernardston Road
Jeffrey Ennis

Prospective Planning
3 Grinnell St.
Wendy Marsden

HOLYOKE

City Pizza, LLC
420 High St.
Adam Kaplan

Coamo Fashion
343 High St.
Alberto Berrios

Westfield Wealth Management & Insurance Group
330 Whitney Ave.
Sean A. Torres

PALMER

2000 Food and Fuel
1239 Park St.
Muhammad Waseen

Chmura’s Bakery
1240 Park St.
Rocky Salundor

Cutting Corner Inc.
1372 Main St.
Carol Henriques

Des Woodworking
1132 Thorndike St.
Dustin Smith

Healing Hands for Body & Mind
54 South St.
Patricia Wheelock

SPRINGFIELD

Bay Street Bottles
836 Bay St.
Khanh H. Nguyen

Baystate Builders
44 Bither St.
Gino Decesare

Beyond Shoes & Accessories
10 Kendall St.
Vito C. Resto

Big Daddy Boomerangs
88 Coral Road
Jeffrey N. LeBeau

Bosslife Inc.
2383 Main St.
Rafael Nazario

CCNE
27 Carver St.
Monica J. Caldwell

Concentra Advanced
140 Carando Dr.
Joan O. Lenahan

Fragrant Elegance
13 Lawn St.
Malachi Tresch

Holyoke Nail II
471 Boston Road
Tho H. Nguyen

J. Horne Photography
143 Main St.
Jesse E. Horne

J.J. Knox Food Market
17 Knox St.
Jabir Khan

Jay Harland Corporation
504 St. James Ave.
Richard M. Black

Knots Indeed
63 Lakevilla Ave.
Rita F. Bartholomew

Lizet Land Photography
219 Gifford St.
Lizet Land

M.S.M. Enterprises Inc.
766 Liberty St.
Mark Flagg

WESTFIELD

Alla’s
3 Scarfo Dr.
Alla Y. Khivuk

Cadence Aerospace
35 Turnpike Industrial Road
Larry Resnik

EMN
19 Oakdale St.
Nadia Mocan

Genkas Trend Sound
33 Buschmann Ave.
Gennadiy Laba

KG Heating & Air Conditioning
44 Forest Ave.
Kenneth Garrett

iLab Trend Sound Promoter
30 Buschmann Ave.
Inna Laba

J. Shea Enterprises
243 Elm St.
J. Shea Enterprises

Lurii Covileac
21 Parkside Ave.
Lurii Covileac

Valentin Trend Sound
77 George St.
Valentin Bidyuk

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Akim Construction
455 Union St.
Timofiy Akimov

Bel-Air Inn
387 Riverdale St.
Richard Harty

Boosted Shades
193 Cayenne St.
Devan C. French

Bueno Y Sano
935 Riverdale St.
Robert A. Lowry

China Bodywork Center
2009 Riverdale St.
Xiuping Gao

Epco NBF Group
10 Central St.
James Marcus

La Prestiges Salon and Spa
553 Union St.
Tatyana Gitsman

Larry’s Painting
79 Lathrop St.
Lawrence P. Kelly

Make it Yours
237 Morton St.
Valentina Shyshla

Supreme Brass and Aluminum
210 Windsor St.
Domenico R. Rettura

YNS International
1521 Westfield St.
Yegor Stefanstsev

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Stephen Pinero v. 17 Sumner Avenue Associates Inc.
Allegation: Negligence in property maintenance causing injury: $2,335
Filed: 12/27/13

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Denis Menard v. Rick Ward d/b/a Quality Builders
Allegation: Breach of contract for failure to construct a roof in a good and workmanlike manner: $20,630
Filed: 11/12/13

Weslee Secard v. GE Capital Retail Bank
Allegation: Negligence in opening fraudulent charge account: $8,321.57
Filed: 11/20/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Clinton v. Carroll v. PAB Management Co., LLC and Hugo S. Bernal
Allegation: Breach of contract for property management: $75,000
Filed: 11/25/13

Jordan Picot ppa Gabriella Diaz and Andres Picot v. Jennifer Lemelin and Giggle Gardens Inc.
Allegation: Jennifer Lemelin, while in the course of her employment, physically abused Jordan, causing serious physical and emotional harm: $75,740.30
Filed: 12/10/13

Michael D. Goldberg and Mill Street Innovations Housing v. Morrill Stone Ring, Lauren Ring, Attorney David Farka, Attorney Alan Vanaria, and Gold & Vanaria, P.C.
Allegation: The defendants interfered with plaintiff’s existing contract with a reach and apply, causing contract to be terminated: $1.3 million
Filed: 12/20/13

Theresa Perrault v. BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. and True Innovations Inc.
Allegation: Plaintiff attempted to sit in a display chair, and the seat of the chair tipped, causing injuries: $500,000
Filed: 12/16/13

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
David Pinkham v. 11 South Gallery Workshop and Pamela Pieropan Adorro
Allegation: Plaintiff sustained personal injuries as a direct result of exposure to toxic fumes and exhaust from the use of ceramic kilns in his place of residence: $30,000+
Filed: 12/26/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Beacon Sales Co. v. Keith Hutchings d/b/a Old Harbor Homes, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $4,030.07
Filed: 12/18/13

Edna Tart v. Aqua-Matic Lawn Sprinkler & Irrigation Inc. and Steven McCombe
Allegation: Negligent operation of a motor vehicle: $7,795.15
Filed: 12/19/13

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. Ned G. Terault d/b/a NGT Carpentry
Allegation: Non-payment on workers’ compensation policy: $8,478.76
Filed: 11/27/13

Agenda Departments

Ad Club Luncheon
Jan. 29: In the toughest of times, smart marketing is a must. Join John Chandler, chief marketing officer of MassMutual Financial Group, for the Advertising Club of Western Mass. Luncheon, starting at 11:45 a.m. at the Springfield Sheraton, 1 Monarch Place. Learn how this Fortune 100 financial-services company has used a straightforward, results-driven marketing strategy to help create six straight years of record sales results and expand into new markets, all during the worst economic downturn in more than a half-century. Chandler will share the company’s marketing principles and examples of its work that are driving marketplace success.
Registration begins at 11:45 a.m., and the program runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members, and $15 for students. Parking is free in the Springfield Sheraton garage (bring your ticket or coin for validation). To reserve a seat, call (413) 736-2582 or e-mail [email protected] by Jan. 24.

DreamBuilder Workshop
Jan. 29: Would you like to discover your true dream or purpose in life; minimize fear, doubt, and worry; and move toward your goals with confidence and joy? Do you have a desire to increase your prosperity while staying in harmony with the core values, beliefs, and higher purpose to which you aspire? Are you working harder and spending longer hours, but would like to achieve greater results with more ease? Are you ready to let your creative self lead the way? Then join the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming Brown Bag Lunch with teacher, speaker, and certified DreamBuilder Transformational Coach Michele Cunningham. The event takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library in Amherst. Cunningham has been studying and applying the principles and strategies discussed in this workshop for more than 15 years. She helps individuals conquer their fears, build their dreams, create more fulfilling lives, and follow a proven path as they navigate the gap between the life they are living and the life they would love to live. During this interactive workshop, participants will have an opportunity to think about and envision their personal and business life through a fresh, creative lens, and entertain new levels of thinking and being. RSVP to [email protected].

Dark Dining Room House Concert Series
Feb. 1, March 1, April 5, May 3: This winter and spring, Dark Dining Room brings the warmth and coziness of your living room to the grandeur of Wistariahurst. Concert curators Matthew Larsen and Greg Saulmon will serve up several courses of local and national musicians over the first Saturdays of February through May. While no dinner will be served, there will be light refreshments provided by Tony Jones Catering, as well as a cash bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. for all shows. Reservations are suggested. Tickets cost $18 ($15 for members) and can be purchased online at wistariahurst.org or by calling the museum at (413) 322-5660. The first concert on Feb. 1 features Northampton-based Winterpills, who bring their melancholic male-female harmonies to the museum for a night of folk and chamber pop. Opening the show is Washington, D.C.-based Luray, creating banjo-inspired indie folk with warm vocals and lush instrumentation. The second concert on March 1 features Heather Maloney, who boasts influences and roots in adventurous folk. Rosary Beard, whose intricately intertwined acoustic guitars skate a thin line between melancholy reflection and uplifting release, will open the show. On April 5, Dark Dining Room introduces Colorway, a power trio fronted by Western Mass. native F. Alex Johnson. Introspective songsmith and acoustic guitarist Mark Schwaber opens the show. The final concert on May 3 features acoustic guitarist David Berkeley, a Santa Fe-based troubadour who brings his version of Americana to the stage. Matthew Larsen and the Documents open the show with introspective piano pop layered with careful instrumentation and thoughtful harmonies. For more information about the Dark Dining Room House Concert Series, go to darkdiningroom.com. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Difference Makers 2014
March 20: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. $60 per ticket, tables of 10 are available. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The class of 2014 has been chosen, and the winners will be announced in the Feb. 10 issue of BusinessWest. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
• Jan. 28: ACCGS Pastries, Politics, and Policy, 8-9 a.m., at the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, 1300 State St., Springfield. Join us for a roundtable discussion with Springfield Schools Superintendent Daniel Warwick. Reservations are $15 for members, $25 for general admission, which includes continental breakfast. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• Feb. 5: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Speed networking is a high-octane way to work the room. Attendees get 60 seconds to make their best elevator pitch in a round-robin format. This is a members-only event. No breakfast served after 7:45 a.m., and no admittance after 7:55 a.m. Reservations are $20 and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• Feb. 12: ACCGS Lunch ’n’ Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Lattitude, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. “Yabba Dabba Doo: the Art of the Brand.” The creative team at the full-service marketing and advertising agency of Andrews Associates will take attendees through a comprehensive look at branding, best practices to create an effective and compelling brand, and how to win customer loyalty through branding. Reservations are $20 for members, $30 for general admission, and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• Feb. 24: ACCGS Outlook 2014, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Ed Henry, Fox News Channel’s chief White House correspondent. Reservations are $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Deadline for reservations is Feb. 17.  Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, PeoplesBank, United Personnel, and Western Massachusetts Electric Company. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Feb. 12: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Route 9, (in the Hampton Village Barn Shops). Sponsored by the Franklin Hampshire Career Center. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. To register, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 253-0700.
• Feb. 26: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Cowls Building Supply, 125 Sunderland Road, Amherst. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Feb: 19: February Salute Breakfast & Annual Meeting, 7:15-9 a.m., at the MassMutual Learning & Conference Center. Cost is $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Feb. 26: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at  Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Cost is $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Feb. 4: GRIST (Get Real Individual Support Today) meeting, at 9 a.m. Are you a business of one? Are you a small-business owner without your own marketing department? Do you ever wish you had someone to toss around some ideas with about growing your business? GRIST is a new chamber member benefit, an ongoing small group for folks who want to meet regularly to share ideas and get advice on the daily challenges of running a successful business. Like the proverb ‘all is grist for the mill,’ we feel that any idea or word of advice that one business person can share with another is of potential value in helping each other’s business grow. Hosted by the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 33 Union St., Easthampton. RSVP to Fran Fahey at [email protected] or Derek Allard at [email protected] to join the group. Call Fahey at (413) 529-1189 or Allard at (413) 282-9957 to find out more.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Jan. 30: Marketing Roundtable Workshop, 8:30-10 a.m., at the chamber office. This unique roundtable event is designed to foster informative discussions among business owners and marketing professionals as well as brainstorm new ideas to help with revenue-producing initiatives. Cost is $10 for members, $20 for non-members. A continental breakfast is included in the price. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to register or visit holyokechamber.com to sign up.
• Feb. 13: Chamber Table Top Workshop: “How to Get People’s Attention and Attract Them to Your Table,” 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the chamber conference room. A no-nonsense informational session on how to set up your booth, how to add visual interest, and what to do to keep potential customers engaged. Cost is $10 for members.
• Feb. 19: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke. Admission is $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.
• Feb. 26: Holyoke Chamber Economic Development Breakfast, 8-10 a.m. (Save the date. Location to be determined.) Hear about local projects and how they will affect local businesses. Cost is $26 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes a buffet breakfast. Call the chamber at (413) 543-3376 to register, or visit holychamber.com to sign up.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Jan. 28: Nonprofit Marketing Roundtable 2014 Workshop, 8-9:30 a.m. at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by the Creative Marketing Group. Struggling to gain visibility with your target audience? Are your marketing materials producing tangible results? Are your best messaging ideas living only in your head? The chamber has help on the way. Three women business owners — Janice Beetle, Ruth Griggs, and Maureen Scanlon of the Creative, a marketing and communications collaboration in Northampton — will lead a nonprofit flash marketing workshop. They will meet with business owners, listen to your marketing and communications concerns, and help you brainstorm practical, professional solutions on the spot. Learn more about how to strategize, advertise, brand, and promote your business; reach the media; and maximize your message in person, in print, and online. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, contact Jasmin Tomic at (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].
• Feb. 18: Incite Information Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Delaney House, Grand Ballroom, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Hosted by the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by United Personnel.
Guest Speaker: Richard Davey, secretary and CEO of the Mass. Department of Transportation. Introduction by state Rep. Joseph Wagner, and moderated by Tony Cignoli. Cost is  $20 for members, $30 for non-members. RSVP to the chamber at (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Feb. 3: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Mestek, 260 North Elm St., Westfield. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 568-1618.
• Feb. 12: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Armbrook Village, 551 North Road, Westfield. For tickets and more information, call the chamber at (413) 568-1618.
• Feb. 13: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, 6:30 p.m. Spend Valentine’s Eve at CityStage with your date — the chamber. Enjoy complimentary food and a cash bar in the CityStage Member’s Lounge, get great seats to the performance, and parking is free in the Columbus Center Parking Garage, all for the discounted price of $30 per ticket. Chamber reception, catered by Nora’s Restaurant of Southwick, begins at 6:30 in the CityStage Member’s Lounge. Show begins at 7:30. You can also take part in a drawing for a necklace, valued at $120, donated by Andrew Grant Diamond Center. Sponsored by Comcast Business and Andrew Grant Diamond Center. Thanks to our sponsors, 100% of the $30 ticket cost goes back to the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. For tickets, contact Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• Feb. 13: February Networking Social, 5 p.m., at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• Feb. 11: Professional Women’s Chamber Ladies Night, 5-7 p.m., at
Kate Gray Boutique, 749 Maple Road, Longmeadow. Seize an opportunity to network socially with other female professionals in a casual and unique setting. Reservations are required; contact Dawn Creighton at [email protected]. The Professional Women’s Chamber is an affiliate of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• Jan. 28: West of the River Chamber of Commerce tour of West Springfield High School and coffee with Mayor Edward Sullivan. The tour starts at 7 a.m., and coffee with the mayor starts at 8 in the school’s cafeteria. Please join us to hear first-hand from Sullivan about key issues and to get an update on important projects. The mayor also welcomes any questions you may have.  Coffee with the mayor is free, informative, and open to the public.
• Feb. 5: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. at Crestview Country Club. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to network socially in a laid-back atmosphere. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. Event is open to the public, but non-members must pay at the door. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].
• Feb. 26: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Storrowton Tavern’s Carriage House, West Springfield. Cost: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• Feb. 20: Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m., at Samuel’s at the Hall of Fame. This is one of our most well-attended Third Thursdays. Check out the restaurant’s recently revamped menu, which now offers 51 tapas dishes to choose from, at samuelssportsbar.com. Community spotlight: Voices from Inside. For 15 years, Voices from Inside (www.voicesfrominside.org) has been helping women who are or were incarcerated to find their voice, connect with the community, and become leaders. This event is open to everyone. Feel free to invite your friends by clicking ‘Select Guests to Invite’ in the top left corner of the event page. This event, as always, is free for YPS members and $10 for non-members, which includes food and a cash bar.

Departments People on the Move

Dianne Fabrocini

Dianne Fabrocini

The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) announced that Dianne Fabrocini has joined the organization as Executive Director of the ACGCS affiliate, the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5).
Fabrocini will serve as the liaison between the ERC5 and the ACCGS and will be responsible for carrying out the direction set by the board of directors. She will also work with ACCGS staff in developing membership programs, benefits, and services; producing events; and enhancing municipal relations in the five communities served by the ERC5: East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, and Wilbraham. Fabrocini brings to the organization nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, public relations, and management. Most recently, she served as office manager for Vulcan Products Co. in Enfield, Conn. Prior to that, she owned Fabro & Associates, a professional sports-management company providing event planning, promotions, player representation, and contract negotiations to various clients throughout Western Mass., where she founded the Legends Celebrity Golf Classic and brought the first United Soccer League professional men’s soccer team to the region. Fabrocini also served as general manager and owner of the Springfield Sirens women’s soccer team, now known as the New England Mutiny, and held the position of regional director for the National Kidney Foundation. Fabrocini is a graduate of the University of Akron in Ohio.
•••••
The Board of Directors of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced new officers for 2014, led by second one-year-term president Larry Archey, Director of Facilities and Grounds at Hampshire College. Archey will be joined by Nancy Buffone, UMass Executive Director of External Affairs and University Events, as First Vice President, and Julie Marcus, Director of Marketing at New England Environmental, as Second Vice President. Other new board members include:
Mark Ellsworth, Center for Extended Care, treasurer;
Jerry Guidera, Spanish Studies Abroad, secretary; and
Jim Brassord, Amherst College, at large.
Kathryn Grandonico, Lincoln Real Estate, remains immediate past president. Returning board members include Aaron Jolly, the Pub; Meredith Schmidt, UMass Campus Center; Meghan Gregoire, PeoplesBank; Felicity Hardee, attorney; Niels la Cour, UMass Planning; Reza Rahmani, Lit and Moti; Barry Roberts, EV Realty Trust; G. Christopher Blauvelt, Innovara; John Kokoski, Mapleline Farm; and Youssef Fadel, New England Promotional Marketing. The appointments were effective Jan. 1 and formally ratified at the chamber’s annual meeting at the Lord Jeffery Inn on Jan. 15. The mission of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is to create, maintain, and promote a vital, thriving business climate throughout the Amherst area and to initiate and support the civic, educational, recreational, and economic well-being of the Amherst area.
•••••
AJBmediab&w
Benjamin Coyle

Benjamin Coyle

The Springfield-based regional law firm Bacon Wilson, P.C. recently announced that Adam Basch and Benjamin Coyle have been named shareholders of the firm. Basch, a member of the litigation department, practices in the areas of construction litigation, personal injury, general litigation, and commercial litigation. He is a former secretary of the Hampden County Bar Assoc., a six-time recipient of the SuperLawyers Rising Stars distinction, and serves as a member of the Wilbraham Planning Board and the United Way Allocation Committee. He teaches litigation and business law at Bay Path College and is the author of numerous construction and general litigation articles. Basch earned his JD from Western New England University School of Law and his B.A. from Union College. He is a member of the firm’s business and corporate, estate planning and elder, litigation, and municipal departments. He is a five-time recipient of the SuperLawyers Rising Stars distinction and a board member of the Western Mass. Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He earned his JD from Western New England University School of Law and his BSBA from Western New England University.
•••••
William Fontes

William Fontes

Easthampton Savings Bank announced that William Fontes has joined the bank as Vice President Commercial Lending. Fontes has more than 30 years of banking experience in commercial lending and most recently was senior vice president, commercial banking team leader at United Bank and, prior to that, a commercial banking team leader at People’s United Bank. Fontes earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Massachusetts and his MBA, majoring in finance, from Bryant University.
•••••



David Pinsky

David Pinsky

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts recently elected President and CEO David Pinsky to its board of directors. His three-year term, serving the nonprofit organization that has been fighting hunger in Western Mass. for more than 30 years, began this month. Pinsky, who serves as Tighe & Bond’s President and CEO, has worked at the engineering firm since 1988.  He also serves on the board of directors for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. A professional engineer for more than 25 years, Pinsky holds an MS in environmental engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a BS in civil engineering from the University of New Hampshire. He is also an active member of numerous professional societies and organizations in the engineering profession, such as the American Water Works Assoc., the Massachusetts Water Works Assoc., and the New England Water Works Assoc.
•••••
Thomas Dowling

Thomas Dowling

Thomas Dowling, CPA, MST, was recently hired by Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. for the position of Senior Associate, where he will be responsible for guiding staff-level accountants in their duties and helping to manage the day-to-day operations of engagements. Dowling has worked in various capacities at small to mid-sized CPA firms for four years. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor in accountancy degree from Bentley University and continued at Bentley to earn his master’s in taxation, graduating with high distinction. He is a member of AICPA, MSCPA, and the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society.
•••••



Lydia Martinez

Lydia Martinez

Sarah Williams

Sarah Williams

The YMCA of Greater Springfield recently announced the addition of Lydia Martinez, Assistant Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, to its corporate board of directors, and named Sarah Williams the new chairperson. Williams, the Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management at the Hartford Insurance, joined the YMCA of Greater Springfield board in 2011.
•••••



Dr. Junie Baldonado

Dr. Junie Baldonado

Dr. Junie Baldonado recently joined Ludlow Family Dentistry and doctors R. Carl Szarlan, Joseph Wegiel, Frank Mitera, and Michelle Roberts in providing general dentistry to the families of Ludlow and the surrounding towns. Baldonado is a graduate of Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in Riverside, Calif. He attended NYU for his undergraduate work and majored in fine arts, while completing the pre-med requirements for entrance into dental school. Baldonado had been practicing in the Sacramento, Calif. area prior to joining the Ludlow dental practice and is now accepting new patients and in all phases of dentistry.
•••••



M. Dale Janes

M. Dale Janes

Springfield-based NUVO Bank & Trust Co. recently announced that Chief Executive Officer M. Dale Janes was awarded the Sally Barnhart Leadership Award from the Assoc. for Community Living in appreciation for his voluntary leadership as president of the board of directors. Janes is the immediate past president and has been a member of the board of directors since 2006. He has also served on the finance and audit, investment, executive, and ad hoc committees, providing guidance throughout the purchase of a new headquarters, major renovations at the Inclusive Community Center located in Hadley, expansion of services for the medically challenged in Hampshire County, and developing a two-year strategic plan.
•••••
Christopher Boino

Christopher Boino

Christopher Boino was recently appointed President of Western Builders, a construction management and general contracting firm, a subsidiary company of the O’Connell Companies, headquartered in Granby. Joining Western Builders as a project manager in 2013, Boino brings more than 14 years of experience in the construction industry and is now responsible for the successful day-to-day operation of the company. Boino earned his MBA from Bentley University and a bachelor of science in Construction Management from Arizona State University’s Del Webb School of Construction. Boino is a LEED-accredited professional and is a certified project-management professional. He was previously employed in the Boston area with Shawmut Design & Construction and Cafco Construction. Western Builders was established in 1975 and has successfully completed new construction and renovation projects throughout New England in the areas of academics, healthcare, and housing.

Company Notebook Departments

FieldEddy Launches New Operating System
EAST LONGMEADOW — FieldEddy Insurance recently launched its new computer operating system, Applied Epic. The change in systems has been a 10-month, hands-on training process instituted as a way to better serve clients and optimize the day-to-day operations, said Timm Marini, president of FieldEddy Insurance, adding that Applied Epic is the insurance industry’s fastest-growing agency-management system, chosen by agencies to enhance business for growth and to build stronger client relationships. “About three years of planning comes to an end with the launch of the new Epic software,” said Marini. “The two systems that were used prior were becoming more outmoded and couldn’t seem to keep up with the level of growth and productivity that the agency is seeing. We knew it was time to research and institute a new system that would be a better fit and one that would generate high-performance results. We are happy and confident that Epic is the best and right choice for us.” All 79 employees have been expected to participate in detailed training sessions in order to be well-prepared and knowledgeable about the interface prior to the launch. The system will allow agents to streamline workflows and operational tasks, manage policies in a consistent manner to minimize risk, reduce operating expenses, and drive sustainable growth and profitability. Along with these benefits, employees in all four offices will now be using the same computer program. Prior to this, there were two different programs being used, both of which will now not be used with the implementation of Applied Epic. “It has been a significant financial investment, and I can’t wait to see the results,” Marini said. “Our focus has always been the customer, and this new program will certainly provide exceptional customer service.”

Valley Vodka Experiences Eighth Year of Growth with Record Sales
HADLEY — Valley Vodka Inc., a Western Mass.-based company founded by Paul Kozub, has experienced its eighth consecutive year of sales growth with record sales in 2013. The company’s sales increased more than 10% from 2012, said Kozub, adding that Valley Vodka also realized a 60% increase in net income for that period as it took back full distribution of all of its products. Previously, United Liquors in Braintree had distributed V-One Vodka. Valley Vodka is the parent company of the V-One Vodka brand, which was launched in 2005 with an initial shipment of 1,000 cases. Kozub started Valley Vodka with a $6,000 inheritance from his Polish grandfather. He began this journey at age 28 after leaving a successful career with TD Bank, where he was vice president of Small Business Loans. In 2010, V-One Vodka won the prestigious Double Gold medal at the World Spirit Competition in San Francisco, beating out some 256 other vodkas and adding the vodka to a list of other international honors. V-One has also won four other medals at the World Spirit Competition since 2007 and was awarded a prestigious 95 points by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology Honored
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Modern Salon has named the 2013 class of Excellence in Education honorees in its annual program recognizing leadership and best practices among cosmetology schools. DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, based in West Springfield, was chosen to represent excellence in the categories of school culture (unique programs offered to enhance the cosmetology-school experience and to foster the personal development and growth of students) and community involvement (participation in local and regional philanthropic activities that elevate a school’s position as a positive, professional contributor to the community). Hundreds of entries were submitted from cosmetology schools across North America, in eight categories ranging from marketing to placement to school culture. Honorees were determined based on school size or number of locations, with one overall honoree from all applicants named for each category. Modern Salon Publisher Steve Reiss announced the honorees during the American Assoc. of Cosmetology Schools 2013 convention in Las Vegas. Paul DiGrigoli, owner and CEO of DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, said, “I’m extremely proud of all of our instructors and students, who contributed toward us receiving these prestigious awards. We pride ourselves on having a culture of excellence for many reasons, but I believe that one of the most important of them is that our people not only get along, they look out for each other. We always share with our students how important it is to volunteer and to contribute to our community. They have done that so well within this past year. People often ask me what makes DiGrigoli different, and I always give the same answer: expectations. When our students’ learning ability and their expectations are consistent, it allows them to absorb information and to gain knowledge at the highest level.”

Briefcase Departments

EDC Head Blair to Step Down
SPRINGFIELD — Allan Blair will retire as president and CEO of the Western Mass. Economic Development Council at the end of 2014 after 18 years at the helm of the regional economic-development agency. A search committee, headed by Peter Straley, chairman and CEO of Health New England, will seek his replacement. The EDC provides support for companies looking to locate or grow in the region, through services including real-estate searches, workforce, manufacturing supply chain, data and demographics, incentives and financing, new market opportunities, service procurement, and academic research and development opportunities. The EDC also acts as an umbrella group for other business-oriented organizations, including the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Amherst Business Improvement District, the Westfield Business Improvement District, the Northampton Business Improvement District, the Springfield Business Improvement District, the Westmass Area Development Corp. and the Westover Metropolitan Airport and Westover Metropolitan Development Corp.

DevelopSpringfield Announces Grant for Façade Improvement
SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) development corporation, announced that it has awarded a $10,000 grant for façade improvements to the New England Farm Workers Council for renovations to the International Bier Garten located at 1600 Main St. The grant is made possible under the organization’s Corridor Storefront Improvement Program, which provides grants of up to $10,000 for exterior improvements to first-floor storefronts located on State and Main streets in Springfield. The recently awarded funds were used to revitalize and repair the existing façade to meet building-code and safety standards, and to comply with Springfield Historic Commission requirements. The grant is supporting more than $70,000 in improvements on the façade alone. The full project is a partnership between the New England Farm Workers Council and the Fort Restaurant and is a key component efforts toward revitalization in downtown Springfield. The project partners estimate that the project will bring more than $2 million annually in economic benefit to the community. They also hope the project will be an example of how economic revitalization can spur downtown Springfield’s renaissance and support the city’s transformation into a thriving cultural and entertainment hub for Western Mass. For more information on the Corridor Storefront Improvement Program, visit www.developspringfield.com and click on ‘programs,’ or contact Jay Minkarah, DevelopSpringfield president and CEO, at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

Construction Employment Declines in December
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Construction employment declined by 16,000 in December, but the industry unemployment rate fell to 11.4%, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the new employment data was likely impacted by cold weather, but also reflects underlying weakness in the construction sector. “Given the variability of weather, especially in winter, the downturn in December is not cause for alarm,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The data does show how uneven the recovery remains with residential construction doing very well, but the public sector remains weak, and private nonresidential construction is mixed.” Construction employment totaled 5,833,000 in December, an increase of 122,000 from a year earlier, Simonson noted. But while employment grew by 2.1% during the past year, construction employment remains nearly 1.9 million below the sector’s April 2006 peak. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for workers actively looking for jobs and last employed in construction declined from 13.5% in December 2012 to 11.4% last month. Non-residential construction firms lost 22,900 new jobs in December, while residential firms added 6,200 jobs. Non-residential specialty trade contractors lost 12,900 jobs for the month, the most of any segment, while heavy and civil engineering firms — which are most likely to perform federal construction work — lost 8,800 jobs. Meanwhile, residential building contractors added the most new jobs during the past month, with 4,800. The number of unemployed construction workers dropped from 1,105,000 in December 2012 to 958,000 in December 2013, a decline of 147,000. Yet the industry added only 122,000 new jobs during the same time frame. The shrinking pool of available construction workers may be one reason so many firms report having a hard time finding qualified workers, Simonson noted. Association officials said the outlook for construction could be helped by new investments in infrastructure and other construction programs. They urged Congress to finalize Water Resources Development Act legislation to invest in ports and other waterways. They also said Congress and the Obama administration should work together to find a way to pay for needed repairs to aging roads and bridges before the current transportation legislation expires at the end of September. “If the economy continues to expand and Washington can work together to make needed infrastructure investments, firms should be able to add significantly more jobs in 2014,” said Stephen Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “But Congress and the administration need to set aside partisan differences and find a way to work together in the interest of our economy.”

Holiday Retail Sales Down in Massachusetts
BOSTON — Holiday retail sales in Massachusetts fell short of analysts’ expectations in 2013. Sales in November and December climbed just 2% from the same period in 2012, well below the 3.5% jump expected by the Retailers Assoc. of Massachusetts. There was one less weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a snowstorm on the second weekend of December further limited the amount of time shoppers spent in stores and hurt impulse buying, which account for one-third of all department-store purchases. On the national level, the National Retail Federation said total U.S. holiday sales jumped 3.8% to $601.8 billion in November and December, up from a 3.5% increase recorded in the same two months of 2012. Meanwhile, the U.S. Commerce Department said retail sales, excluding auto purchases, climbed 3.7% in December over the same month in 2012. But department-store sales fell 3.3%, compared with December 2012.

New England Economy Showing Signs of Life
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The outlook for New England is “generally positive” as the economy continues to expand modestly and most industries report better sales and improving business conditions, according to a Federal Reserve survey. The report, known as the Beige Book, found manufacturers reporting increased sales, healthcare consulting booming as the industry grapples with the Affordable Care Act, and median prices for homes rising in most of the region. However, hiring remains subdued in most industries, and wage increases remain modest at best. Nationally, the survey found moderate or modest economic growth and increased hiring in most of the country. It noted that harsh winter weather in recent weeks had a minor impact on consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of the nation’s economic activity. Although home sales in New England were lower than a year ago, real-estate markets in the region experienced increased prices for single-family homes, according to the survey. The Fed said the small sales decline could be the result of low inventories, a pause after strong sales earlier in the year, or uncertainty among consumers following the partial government shutdown in October. But “New England realtors agree that 2013 has been a good year overall,” the report says, “and they remain optimistic about sales increases.” Commercial real-estate leasing remained steady, while construction activity increased, boosting building in health, education, life sciences, and commercial sectors. Manufacturers reported increased or steady sales, and retailers also reported solid performances.”

Berkshire Bank Awards Scholarships for Service
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank has announced it will honor 30 high-school seniors in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Southern Vermont through its annual Scholarship Awards Program. The program will award $45,000 in total scholarship dollars to students who have exemplified community service through their volunteer efforts, have been successful academically, and have a demonstrated financial need. Additionally, students must attend a school that is located in a community with a Berkshire Bank office. “Berkshire Bank believes that one of life’s most exciting moments is going to college, and we want to do our part to help make it more affordable for students in need, said Lori Gazzillo, director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “This program exemplifies our support of education and demonstrates our commitment to the communities we serve. Our employees rally around this program by serving as reviewers of all of the applications that we receive from so many well-deserving students.” Through the program, 30 $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to high-school seniors who will be attending a two- or four-year college in the fall. Applications will be evaluated based on demonstrated volunteerism in the community and through participation in extracurricular school activities. In addition, applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 and a financial need (total family income under $75,000). An independent panel of bank employee volunteers will review all applications and select this year’s winners. Students can apply online at www.berkshirebank.com/scholarships. To be considered, all applications must be submitted online by March 26 at 4 p.m. For additional information, contact the Berkshire Bank Foundation at [email protected].

Departments Incorporations

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

AMHERST

Haru Corp., 170 East Hadley Road, Unit 36, Amherst, MA 01002. Gumcheol Kang, same. Japanese cuisine restaurant.

BERNARDSTON

Bernardston Police Relief Association Inc., 256 South St., Bernardston, MA 01337. Jason Bassett, 667 Mt. Hermon Station Road, Northfield, MA 01360. Fostering good relations within the community and to promote the general welfare of its members.

CHICOPEE

First Oriental Grocery Inc., 149 Broadway St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Chunhee Lee, 46 Columbia St., #3A, Chicopee, MA 01020. Retail oriental grocery.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Commercial Appraisal Services Inc., 264 North Main St., Suite 2, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Beneedetto Simichele, 257 Westwood Ave., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Providing commercial appraisal services to individuals, businesses and lenders and all other lawful purposes.

EASTHAMPTON

Brierwood Property Management Inc., 18 Townhouse Dr., Easthampton, MA 01027. Jeffrey Pelinsky, 1139 Westfield St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Property management.

HOLYOKE

Hope For Kids Inc., 210 Allen Street, Hampden, MA 01036. Matthew Currier, same. Dedicated to helping the needy and at risk children find hope through physical nourishment and spiritual renewal.

Dam Café Inc., 2014 Northampton, Holyoke, MA 01040. Michael McMahon III, 13 Florence Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Café/restaurant.

NORTHAMPTON

Cleanslate Centers Inc., 244 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. Amanda Wilson, same. Administrative services.

SOUTH HADLEY

American Outlaws Western Mass Chapter Inc., 14 Bolton St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Jason Williams, 141 Boulay Circle, Chicopee, MA 01020. Corporation is to provide a social setting where fans of the United States national soccer teams can congregate in the Western Massachusetts area.

Cincinnatus Press Inc., One Hadley St., #814, South Hadley, MA 01075. Charles Sheehan-Miles, same. Publishing business.

SPRINGFIELD

Cadwell Inc., 1082 Page Boulevard, Springfield, MA 01104. Holly Elizabeth Ferris, same. Restaurant and lounge.

Friends of Springfield, Preparatory Charter School Inc., 1500 Main Street C/O Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP Springfield, MA 01115. Robin Olejarz, 209 Moore St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Charitable organization designed to provide development, improvement and expansion of educational opportunities, facilities and programs of a charter school in the city of Springfield known as the Springfield, Preparatory Charter School.

HNE Holding Corporation, One Monarch Place, Suite 1500, Springfield, MA 01144. Maura McCaffrey, same. Holding shares in subsidiary corporations.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Glendale Grill Inc., 59 Interstate Dr., West Springfield, MA 01095. Shannon Reichelt, same. Restaurant and bar.

WESTFIELD

Dine and Play Inc., 77 Mill St., Suite 150, Westfield, MA 01085. Michael Ventrice, same. Indoor playscape & restaurant.

WILBRAHAM

Friendly’s Ice Cream Holdings Corp., 1855 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. John MaGuire, same. Holding company.

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of January 2014.

AGAWAM

V & F Realty
7 Harding St.
$250,000 — 5,980-square-foot addition

CHICOPEE

Roy Fanti
1408 Memorial Dr.
$9,500 — Install exhaust hood system at Family Roaster

Sweeney Transportation
1 Airpark WY
$42,500 — Re-roof

GREENFIELD

Greenfield Housing Authority
1 Elm St.
$187,000 — Construct egress stair addition for basement offices

Habib Shahid
124 Conway St.
$13,000 — Exterior renovations

Patricia Wood
303 Wisdom WY
$214,000 — Construct two new self-storage buildings

Robar Inc.
237 Mohawk TL
$279,000 — Fit up space to serve as Table & Vine wine and beer sales

PALMER

Friendly’s Ice Cream
1519 North Main St.
$20,000 — Complete interior and exterior renovations

V & E Properties
1085 South Main St.
$120,000 — New storage building

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$20,000 — New ceilings in MacGregor Hall

SPRINGFIELD

American International College
1000 State St.
$440,000 – Renovate 4,000-square-foot auditorium on the second floor of the Campus Center

John Salema
278 Hancock St.
$21,500 — Cosmetic interior renovations at Dunkin Donuts

Mass Mutual
1500 Main St.
$25,000 — Replace existing panel antennas

Peter Lapointe
1259 Columbus Ave.
$91,000 — New tenant office fit-out

WESTFIELD

L & R Market Inc.
35 North Elm St.
$40,000 — Siding and masonry repair

Savage Arms, Inc.
100 Springdale Road
$60,000 — Additional bathroom facilities

SMC Investments, LLC
962 Southampton Road
$24,500 — Renovate existing space into showcase area

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Classic Burger
1261 Westfield St.
$30,000 — Renovate 2,550 square feet of existing restaurant

Marvin Larivee
380 Union St.
$8,000 — Tenant fit out for new restaurant

Departments Features Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest avail­able) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

439 Huckle Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $120,474
Buyer: Paul L. Volungis
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 12/17/13

34 School Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Christopher D. Rooney
Seller: John Sciandra RET
Date: 12/26/13

BUCKLAND

74 Upper St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Paul Bernier
Seller: Helene A. Smith
Date: 12/26/13

38 West Brown Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Christopher Seward
Seller: Erik Abend
Date: 12/26/13

CONWAY

136 South Shirkshire Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $203,500
Buyer: Ana Rueda-Hernandez
Seller: Richard B. Chandler
Date: 12/23/13

GREENFIELD

10 Carol Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $218,500
Buyer: Peter F.McLver
Seller: Kurkoski IRT
Date: 12/16/13

65 Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,900
Buyer: Daniel Christenson
Seller: Philip R. Allard
Date: 12/20/13

234 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Dawn A. Roske
Seller: Peter F. McIver
Date: 12/16/13

86 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Kevin J. O’Neil
Seller: Horan, James, (Estate)
Date: 12/24/13

104 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: 104 Silver Street LLC
Seller: Maxine M. Gunn
Date: 12/16/13

256 Wisdom Way
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Terry J. Kimball
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 12/19/13

LEVERETT

49 Long Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Benjamin D. Feeley
Date: 12/27/13

336 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Robart A. Weller
Seller: Pioneer Valley Red LLC
Date: 12/27/13

NEW SALEM

547 Daniel Shays Hwy.
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Shawn Chouinard
Seller: Marie Hess
Date: 12/16/13

ORANGE

95 Fairman Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Eric R. Amato
Seller: Jacos S. Balk
Date: 12/17/13

330 Sentinel Elm Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Joshuah C. Buell
Seller: Farm School Inc.
Date: 12/24/13

SHUTESBURY

14 Beechwood Lane
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Henry J. Allan
Seller: Mitchell D. Freund
Date: 12/20/13

SUNDERLAND

31 Garage Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $123,375
Buyer: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Seller: Robert W. Humphreys
Date: 12/23/13

19 Old Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Danica L. Messerli
Seller: William F. Snyder
Date: 12/16/13

WHATELY

14 Laurel Mountain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Erik Abend
Seller: Victor S. Lisewski
Date: 12/26/13

223 State Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $203,500
Buyer: Ronald Lavallee
Seller: Norman E. Young
Date: 12/19/13

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

70 Bailey St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Yelana Ivanov
Seller: Lorie L. Baker
Date: 12/23/13

52 Briarcliff Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Buyer: Michael J. Tufariello
Seller: Alexa C. McCabe
Date: 12/20/13

105 Butternut Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $207,750
Buyer: Kathryn M. Carmody
Seller: Michael F. McKenna
Date: 12/18/13

95 Christopher Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: David A. Wilkinson
Seller: Kathryn M. Carmody
Date: 12/18/13

46 Cottonwood Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Chester S. Wojcik
Seller: Gary E. Nardi
Date: 12/27/13

48 Liquori Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joshua J. Devine
Seller: Christopher J. Corriveau
Date: 12/20/13

1811 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Riverside Properties LLC
Seller: John Eisenbeiser LLC
Date: 12/20/13

152 Mallard Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Leslie A. Murphy
Seller: Laurie J. Vandergrift
Date: 12/20/13

386 Poplar St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Joshua D. Laporte
Seller: David W. Laporte
Date: 12/23/13

687 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Sandy Dollar LLC
Seller: Dorinne A. Rodriguez
Date: 12/18/13

134 Wagon Wheel Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Moriarty
Seller: William D. Corbin
Date: 12/18/13

CHESTER

93 Blandford Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Henry R. Frey
Seller: Kathryn Albanese
Date: 12/18/13

CHICOPEE

112 Academy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Christopher S. Baker
Seller: Catherine A. Deska
Date: 12/20/13

54 Armanella St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $116,025
Buyer: Kevin J. Czaplicki
Seller: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Date: 12/27/13

206 Champagne Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $144,906
Buyer: John A. Ruyffelaert
Seller: Donald R. Benoit
Date: 12/20/13

262 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kara A. Supczak
Seller: Tony Monteiro
Date: 12/20/13

72 Jamrog Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Boutin
Seller: Mary A. Freeman
Date: 12/16/13

88 Leo Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Mark W. Sims
Seller: Daniel M. Boutin
Date: 12/16/13

59 Pajak St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Ralph H. Avery
Seller: Andrew J. Craven
Date: 12/27/13

14 Parker St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Wilmary Labonte
Seller: Ellen J. Labonte
Date: 12/20/13

29 Sullivan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kathleen M. Gay
Seller: Joseph W. Gay
Date: 12/17/13

47 Veterans Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Amount: $1,123,500
Buyer: Chicopee Partners LLP
Seller: Willow LLC
Date: 12/19/13

18 West St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Daniel Branco
Seller: Brian P. Despard
Date: 12/24/13

1675 Westover Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $148,736
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Bobbie L. Teehan

153 Woodcrest Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Heather E. Locklin
Seller: Theodore L. Klekotka
Date: 12/19/13

EAST LONGMEADOW

43 Alpine Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Melissa Knott
Seller: Jeffrey A. Hastings
Date: 12/18/13

46 Highlandview Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Brian Palazzi
Seller: Teresa R. Frazier
Date: 12/27/13

30 Linden Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Dion Woods
Seller: Joseph J. Giannini
Date: 12/18/13

8 Melwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Amanda M. Kelly
Seller: Carl R. Swanson
Date: 12/19/13

18 Merriam St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Veronica P. Mickelson
Seller: Thomas F. Caldbeck
Date: 12/17/13

75 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: CTB Realty LLC
Seller: Barry M. Stephens
Date: 12/27/13

32 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Callan
Seller: Reanne A. Burke
Date: 12/23/13

HAMPDEN

32 Ames Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Thomas E. Sutherland
Seller: Evelyn M. Parent
Date: 12/23/13

205 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $198,229
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Michael K. Campbell
Date: 12/17/13

53 Meadow Brook Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $238,900
Buyer: Lauren E. Cusson
Seller: Timber Development LLC
Date: 12/20/13

211 South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Paula A. Savoie
Seller: Sherry Himmelstein
Date: 12/23/13

HOLLAND

77 East Brimfield Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Peter M. Drake
Seller: Normand J. Corriveau
Date: 12/19/13

HOLYOKE

58 Brookline Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Michelle Monett
Seller: Majkowski, Christine, (Estate)
Date: 12/18/13

1245 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Scott Family Props. LLC
Seller: Peluyera, Maximino, (Estate)
Date: 12/19/13

15 Ladd St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Rigoberto Serrano
Seller: Edward L. Senecal
Date: 12/24/13

37 Mountain Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Timblin Judy
Seller: Angela Perrotta
Date: 12/19/13

22 Orchard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Daniel W. Sullivan
Seller: Cathleen M. Bradlee
Date: 12/23/13

15 Prew Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $153,820
Buyer: Beneficial Mass. Inc.
Seller: Jose C. Alvarez
Date: 12/24/13

466 South St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Peter D. Hotz
Seller: Mark O. Bergeron
Date: 12/20/13

92 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Nancy K. Sachs
Seller: Tammy J. Daysh
Date: 12/20/13

35 Steiger Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: John S. Weathers
Seller: T. P. Kennedy
Date: 12/16/13

LONGMEADOW

36 Chatham Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Peter M. Payson
Seller: Frank J. Anzalotti
Date: 12/18/13

348 Emerson Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Gregory L. Burt
Seller: Douglas E. Burt
Date: 12/16/13

378 Emerson Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Douglas E. Burt
Seller: Gregory L. Burt
Date: 12/16/13

131 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Jason N. Tsitso
Seller: Stephen Foster
Date: 12/27/13

77 Massachusetts Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $167,066
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Robert C. Homon
Date: 12/23/13

62 Pinewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $394,000
Buyer: Anil Inamdar
Seller: Janet A. Weiss
Date: 12/16/13

97 Roseland Terrace
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Christopher V. Maglio
Seller: Mica LLC
Date: 12/16/13

148 Warren Terrace
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Rebecca G. Feinberg
Seller: Russell H. Webster
Date: 12/20/13

LUDLOW

35 Eden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $189,100
Buyer: Wendy M. Pereira
Seller: Benjamin M. Paquette
Date: 12/16/13

300 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Deidra M. Thompson
Seller: Andrea Silva
Date: 12/19/13

333 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Corrinne A. Mercier
Date: 12/19/13

MONSON

134 Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Steven D. Pelletier
Seller: Glenn R. Davey
Date: 12/16/13

164 Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Brown
Seller: Donald C. Demers
Date: 12/20/13

PALMER

1084 Central St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Ellithorpe
Seller: Bonny B. Rathbone
Date: 12/18/13

56 Edgewood St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Brian K. Sutherland
Seller: Donna L. Martin
Date: 12/23/13

1330 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: William M. Kinney
Seller: Robert A. Roy
Date: 12/17/13

SPRINGFIELD

70 Barrington Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Shoukat Hussain
Seller: Michael D. Akers
Date: 12/20/13

1274 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Amanda A. Staubin
Seller: Janina Czupryna
Date: 12/23/13

1780 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Marks Realty LLP
Seller: Colonial Pacific Leasing
Date: 12/20/13

48 Burdette St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Kristen M. Culver
Seller: Matthew A. Charpentier
Date: 12/20/13

Cadwell Dr. (WS)
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $975,000
Buyer: Palmer Paving Corp.
Seller: 8712 LLC
Date: 12/23/13

16 Calley St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Alan D. Cook
Seller: Suzie G. Ice
Date: 12/17/13

36 Calley St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ashlee Hyland
Seller: Tara Manzi
Date: 12/18/13

37 Chilson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Lisa S. Kane
Seller: Lynn Makara
Date: 12/24/13

100 Colorado St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $158,900
Buyer: Nicholas Melikian
Seller: Howard C. Eldridge
Date: 12/20/13

649 Cottage St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
Seller: H&S Truck Leasing Inc.
Date: 12/26/13

Cottage St (SS)
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
Seller: R. M. Sullivan Transportation Inc.
Date: 12/26/13

47 Denwall Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: William M. O’Malley
Seller: Omalley, Lillian M., (Estate)
Date: 12/27/13

116 Donbray Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Antonieta Ferreira
Seller: Tarpey, Philip J. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 12/20/13

59 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Sergey Kuropatkin
Seller: Wayne R. Bettinger
Date: 12/20/13

16 Eton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: David Ha
Seller: Lee Lepouttre
Date: 12/23/13

39 Fenway Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Jorge H. Bordonhos
Seller: Yen K. Lee
Date: 12/18/13

103 Fern St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: James G. Ndungu
Seller: James Mugwanja
Date: 12/17/13

137 Homestead Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Jacqueline E. Farrow
Seller: Eugene H. Marceau
Date: 12/24/13

41 Hyde Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Omar Almodovar
Seller: Ana L. Mattey
Date: 12/19/13

91 Jeffrey Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Abram Aviles
Seller: Brenda B. Forbes
Date: 12/17/13

28 Jennings St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: D. Callands-Robinson
Seller: JV Properties Inc.
Date: 12/20/13

87 Lloyd Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: David Nieto
Seller: Jason Balut
Date: 12/23/13

142 Merrimac Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jessica Berrios
Seller: Lois F. Zdroykowski
Date: 12/20/13

134 Monrovia St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Bret W. Biram
Seller: Olga Pineiro
Date: 12/24/13

133 Oklahoma St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,900
Buyer: Carly O. Eaton
Seller: David M. Kane
Date: 12/20/13

106 Packard Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Anthony T. Kelliher
Seller: Patrick J. Moriarty
Date: 12/18/13

740 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Sharroya Charles
Seller: AMP Real Estate Group LLC
Date: 12/20/13

524 Plainfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Nolava LLC
Seller: Kenneth L. Fitzgibbon
Date: 12/20/13

170 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Vicki Soditis-Blanchard
Seller: Diane M. Soditis
Date: 12/17/13

2001 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Polman Realty LLC
Seller: Envelope Product Group LLC
Date: 12/23/13

58 San Miguel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $129,700
Buyer: Maria L. Adorno
Seller: Ara Degray
Date: 12/19/13

16 Sedgewick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jessica W. Maury
Seller: Gerald Hamburg
Date: 12/27/13

68 Virginia St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Thyda Huynh
Seller: Richard C. Olson
Date: 12/19/13

68 Washington Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Harry D. Seymour
Seller: Paul J. Riendeau
Date: 12/18/13

2132 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Kenneth C. Wood
Seller: US Bank
Date: 12/24/13

66 Willowbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Latania Johnson
Seller: Keefe, Rosemary A., (Estate)
Date: 12/23/13

1138 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Janell S. Haulsey
Seller: Carlo J. Dilizia
Date: 12/19/13

SOUTHWICK

26 Pineywood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Roy A. Crockwell
Seller: Gary R. Allen
Date: 12/18/13

84 Point Grove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Michael T. Panella
Seller: Teresa R. Caronna
Date: 12/17/13

12 Renny Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $187,124
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Stuart R. Rowley
Date: 12/27/13

WEST Springfield

472 Brush Hill Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Garrity
Seller: Trisha Guiel
Date: 12/19/13

195 Falmouth Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Krok
Seller: Jason D. Favreau
Date: 12/16/13

36 George St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Budhiman Subedi
Seller: Dzemal Jusufbegovic
Date: 12/20/13

16 Jensen Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: John Bielanski
Seller: Vincent J. Brozini
Date: 12/18/13

1304 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: David Sutherland
Seller: Peter K. Fritz
Date: 12/17/13

84 Myron St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $615,000
Buyer: Salamon Realty LLC
Seller: Bruce D. Aldo
Date: 12/23/13

61 Pheasants Xing
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $469,900
Buyer: Jason D. Favreau
Seller: Donald R. Felix
Date: 12/16/13

102 Westwood Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Glenn Grabowski
Seller: Barbara A. Grabowski
Date: 12/27/13

WESTFIELD

100 Acres Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $135,133
Buyer: Stuart Arnold Real Estate
Seller: DA Farms LLC
Date: 12/17/13

26 Clinton Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Amber R. Sayer
Seller: Wallis, Marguerite P., (Estate)
Date: 12/19/13

28 Crown St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Romano
Seller: Mark A. Pires
Date: 12/20/13

316 Falley Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Christopher Mitchell
Seller: Ian C. Plakias
Date: 12/16/13

80 Knollwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $170,000
Seller: Deborah A. Ashton
Date: 12/23/13

170 Lockhouse Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $2,700,000
Buyer: Rail Realty Development
Seller: Ronald E. Schortmann
Date: 12/19/13

416 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Slater
Seller: Jean M. Parker
Date: 12/18/13

13 Spring St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Alexsander Bloom
Seller: Ralph C. Royland
Date: 12/16/13

95 Westwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $186,500
Buyer: Torry R. Gajda
Seller: Madeline T. Marshall
Date: 12/20/13

WILBRAHAM

4 Brainard Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Paul M. Pereira
Seller: Nermin Hodzic
Date: 12/17/13

971 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Joseph A. Moran
Seller: Jean-Guy Girard
Date: 12/19/13

28 Old Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Jose M. Martins
Seller: Kathryn P. Kogut
Date: 12/18/13

3 Pleasant View Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $206,500
Buyer: Gail Harris
Seller: Laura K. Syron
Date: 12/23/13

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

Gray St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Amherst Community Television
Seller: Barbara L. Guidera
Date: 12/19/13

29 Harris St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Diana C. Scriver
Seller: Debra L. Beturney
Date: 12/27/13

209 Rolling Ridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Lie Wang
Seller: Lawrence Orloff
Date: 12/23/13

652 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: RGC LLC
Seller: Greenfield Savings Bank
Date: 12/23/13

BELCHERTOWN

47 Cottage St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Charles W. True
Seller: Peter S. Landry
Date: 12/20/13

28 Emily Lane
Belchertown, MA 01002
Amount: $363,300
Buyer: David R. Boisjolie
Seller: JP Builders Inc.
Date: 12/20/13

56 N. Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Shannon M. Kurzeski
Seller: UMass Five College Credit Union
Date: 12/20/13

68 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Miloslava Waldman
Seller: Kevin P. Gustafson
Date: 12/23/13

43 Pondview Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $395,000
Seller: Brian K. Douglas
Date: 12/23/13

11 Rita Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Shoshana Y. Wirth
Seller: Gail M. Harris
Date: 12/20/13

CHESTERFIELD

72 Bray Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $228,500
Buyer: Cynthia J. Davis
Seller: Lisa C. Rollins
Date: 12/16/13

EASTHAMPTON

15 Cottage St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $328,000
Buyer: Cottage Square Apts. LP
Seller: Jefferson Development Partners LLC
Date: 12/17/13

62 Florence Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Joseph W. Simanis
Seller: Raymond & C. Lyman RT
Date: 12/20/13

33 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Briotta
Seller: Jonathan A. Letourneau
Date: 12/27/13

92 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $120,750
Buyer: Ashtons Acquisition LLC
Seller: Kevin P. Dostaler
Date: 12/23/13

253 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Maria S. Held
Seller: Julie M. Flahive
Date: 12/20/13

27 Paul St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $357,400
Buyer: Brad R. Bullough
Seller: David Garstka Builders LLC
Date: 12/19/13

51 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Robert L. Kwiatkowski
Seller: Debra A. Collins
Date: 12/17/13

35 Treehouse Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $338,095
Buyer: Jonathan Y. Loh
Seller: EH Homeownership LLC
Date: 12/20/13

GOSHEN

2 Washington Road South
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Michael A. Woolf
Seller: Peter J. Contuzzi
Date: 12/17/13

GRANBY

151 Carver St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Kevin D. Rolfe
Seller: Joseph V. Zwirko
Date: 12/18/13

144 Porter St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Michael T. Simpson
Seller: Eva M. Sartori
Date: 12/19/13

HADLEY

42 East St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $324,000
Seller: Marrion A. Waskiewicz
Date: 12/16/13

12 Farm Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: Katie A. Szelewicki
Seller: Kelly Anne Tedford
Date: 12/24/13

203 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Erin F. Doherty
Seller: Carol Ryan
Date: 12/18/13

HATFIELD

42 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Michael P. Laude
Seller: Chandler FT
Date: 12/20/13

HUNTINGTON

124 Goss Hill Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: James Stoudenmire
Seller: Wayne C. Englosh
Date: 12/18/13

NORTHAMPTON

93 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Robertson
Seller: N. P. Nangle
Date: 12/16/13

35 Chestnut Ave.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jesse C. Montgomery
Seller: Isabelle B. Himmelman
Date: 12/20/13

31 Elizabeth St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $295,500
Buyer: D. Murphy Properties LLC
Seller: Bizzy Street LLC
Date: 12/20/13

399 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Susan F. Rice
Seller: Kristen A. Cole
Date: 12/17/13

4 Ford Xing
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $601,659
Buyer: Sally H. Kahn
Seller: Wright Builders Inc.
Date: 12/20/13

9 Massasoit St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Harry Keith Johnson RET
Seller: Johnson Childrens GSTE TR
Date: 12/23/13

100 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $530,977
Buyer: Ranjan A. Mehta
Seller: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Date: 12/20/13

120 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $494,769
Buyer: Susan C. Breines
Seller: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Date: 12/27/13

202 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Robert G. Cromley
Seller: Bill & Marie G. Emerson RET
Date: 12/20/13

906 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Thomas E. Dawson-Greene
Seller: Cheryl A. Major
Date: 12/18/13

54 Sherman Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Ann J. Thomas
Seller: Samuel W. Craig
Date: 12/24/13

275 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Leclerc
Seller: Jan Janusz
Date: 12/23/13

17 Stilson Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $371,000
Buyer: Robyn B. Coady
Seller: Barbara F. Storper
Date: 12/18/13

83 Sylvester Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Rebel A. McKinley
Seller: Michelle L. Sauve
Date: 12/20/13

105 Turkey Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: John Fortier
Seller: David G. Cohen
Date: 12/20/13

134 Williams St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Matthew B. McConkey
Seller: Susan M. Nicastro
Date: 12/20/13

48 Willow St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Kate Lepore
Seller: Cathleen Lepore
Date: 12/23/13

SOUTH HADLEY

127 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Francis A. Diratanto
Seller: Victor J. Solano
Date: 12/20/13

68 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Sam S. Lemanski
Seller: Hilly A. Delphia
Date: 12/27/13

46 High St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Jeffrey C. Meon
Seller: David R. Masse
Date: 12/20/13

28 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Kathleen A. Reardon
Seller: Belliveau, Robert N., (Estate)
Date: 12/27/13

16 Pheasant Run
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Benjamin B. Morgan
Seller: Mary A. Kedzior
Date: 12/27/13

SOUTHAMPTON

139 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Maya L. Leiva
Seller: Richard Debonis
Date: 12/16/13

26 Fomer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Wendy Fournier
Seller: Jeffrey M. Golas
Date: 12/27/13

60 Gunn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: James R. Labrie
Seller: Adelia Derwiecki
Date: 12/20/13

84 Gunn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Walter J. Hudzikewicz
Seller: Mary A. Chicone
Date: 12/20/13

WARE

13 Cummings Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Jill E. Berthiaume
Seller: Country Bank For Savings
Date: 12/23/13

139 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Brendan T. O’Niel
Seller: Paul P. Benoit
Date: 12/20/13

61 Old Poor Farm Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $185,154
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Keith J. Bordeau
Date: 12/17/13

41 Pine St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $119,500
Seller: Luszcz, Ronald J., (Estate)
Date: 12/20/13

WESTHAMPTON

121 Kings Hwy.
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Barbara L. Brillon
Seller: Glenn A. Williams
Date: 12/27/13

348 Southampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Pedigo
Seller: Laurie E. Wilga
Date: 12/18/13

WILLIAMSBURG

61 South St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Julie A. Sylvester
Seller: C. C Neely
Date: 12/16/13

WORTHINGTON

140 Cudworth Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Val Production Ltd
Seller: Gerald L. Bartlett
Date: 12/18/13

496 Old Post Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Patricia A. Lapointe
Seller: Susan T. Romanowski
Date: 12/27/13

210 Williamsburg Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: James R. Bowles
Seller: Carol A. Wrobleski
Date: 12/16/13

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Baez, Juan
48 Day St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/18/2013

Bandoski, David M.
Bandoski, Benita P.
6 Tanglewood Lane
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 12/30/2013

Beamon, Juanita A.
57-59 McKnight St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 12/20/2013

Castro, Marangely
65 Lynch Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/17/2013

Dietz, Eric A.
174 Barton Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/22/2013

Farrington, Robert W.
63 Ludlow St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/20/2013

Felix, Darryl L.
Miller-Felix, Mara
48 Jefferson St., Apt #3
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/20/2013

Flaherty, Paul
PO Box 2177
Plainville, MA 02762
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/18/2013

Gardner, Darcey Andrew
39 Piedmont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/2013

Gore, Debra Ann
Kratovil, Debra A.
a/k/a Provencher, Debra A.
95 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/18/2013

Gouvan Susan M.
23 Margerie St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/30/2013

Green, Tina L.
a/k/a Dietz, Tina L.
174 Barton Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/22/2013

Grigas, Ann Heather
41 Everett Ave., Apt 27A
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/20/2013

Hebert, Eugene T.
1023 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/20/2013

Hernandez, Betzaida
Hernandez-Wilson, Betzaida
7 Laramee Green West
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/18/2013

Johnson, Lamar
27 Mary Louise St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/23/2013

Jones, John Michael
Jones, Sondra Marie
16 Helen St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/30/2013

Kelly, Christine Diane
54 North St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/23/2013

Kesler, Kim Jon
Kesler, Donna M.
a/k/a Land, Donna M.
138 Hartford Terrace
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/26/2013

Kowalczyk, Steven J.
Kowalczyk, Denise A.
24 Victoria Terrace
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/24/2013

Lacoste, Kelly A.
324 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/20/2013

Letourneau, Walter F.
113 River Road
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/27/2013

Loischild, Judith
10 Belleview Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/17/2013

McMahon, Debra Marie
21 Higland Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/17/2013

Miles, Stephen J.
57 Factory Hollow Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/23/2013

Murdock, Sally J.
343 Chicopee St. #21
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 12/30/2013

Ortiz, Jessica P.
220 Chapin Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/20/2013

Petroff, George A.
14D Standish Ct.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/2013

Pierog, Robert David
Pierog, Kathleen Marie
5 Barbara St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/24/2013

Pilot, Jr. Edward W.
611 State Road, Apt. 308
North Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/24/2013

Rodrigues, Zarre K.
Rodrigues, Lisa
47 Stephens St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/17/2013

Sammataro, David M.
4 Gwen Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/20/2013

Soule, Joshua L.
a/k/a Leclair, Joshua L.
249 New Boston Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/30/2013

Suarez, Mario D.
116 Townhouse Dr., Apt. C
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/17/2013

Tak Trucking
Lloyd, Norman J.
Lloyd, Linda M.
1029 Wilson Ave.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/30/2013

Tingley, Sean R.
Tingley, Lari Ann
71 Foster Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/2013

Turcotte, Jason A.
Turcotte, Lisa M.
a/k/a Morrissette, Lisa M.
6 Clifford Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/27/2013

Waugh, Steven T.
538 North Brookfield Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/24/2013

White, Joseph L.
White, Lisa M.
394 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/20/2103

Opinion
The Race to Pick MGM’s Pockets

As the process for awarding the only Western Mass. casino license moves into its final, critical stages, there is an interesting subplot emerging — area communities trying to swing generous deals from the presumptive winner of that contest, MGM Resorts International.
Many communities have already negotiated what are known as ‘surrounding-community mitigation agreements’ with the casino operator, winning both upfront payments and yearly awards, with both averaging something close to $100,000 per community. Holyoke, for example, recently struck an accord that calls for $50,000 upfront and an additional $1.275 million over the next 15 years, or $85,000 annually. Some cities and towns have negotiated more, others less.
Holyoke isn’t an abutter, and isn’t likely to be impacted much by the casino, but these payments essentially amount to compensation for having a casino in the same county, and many other communities have shamefully followed suit. MGM, understandably, has seemed more than willing to strike such deals, on the premise that they are a cost of doing business. Extracting dollars from MGM, or any other business for that matter, however, sets the wrong tone for doing business in the state.
Where things get interesting is with two communities — Longmeadow and Northampton — that are seeking large amounts of cash (or likely will). Longmeadow, one of the most prosperous towns in the Commonwealth, fears its community will be adversely affected by traffic to and from the South End casino, and is seeking $1 million upfront, followed by annual payments of $500,000, along with annual escalators. We hope MGM tells them enough is enough.
What will Longmeadow do with that money ? Widen Route 5? Build a flyover? Put in a monorail? No. It’s probably going to get a new fire truck or new snow-clearing equipment, acquisitions that won’t improve the commute from downtown Springfield. So what’s the point, other than to extort money from MGM, which seems to be the new parlor game?
Northampton, meanwhile, hasn’t specified an amount, but a petition submitted by the community after it failed to reach a settlement with MGM anticipates “grave and substantial impact on finances and local businesses due to the erosion of its status as the sole destination market in the Pioneer Valley.” In other words, officials and business owners in Paradise City fear that individuals and groups will choose the casino and its various attractions rather than their community’s restaurants, clubs, and cultural attractions.
Is this a logical fear? Is someone who frequently attends the Paradise City Arts Festival or the Iron Horse Music Hall going to ditch that in favor of a day at the slots or roulette wheel? Of course not. And if they do, so what? Isn’t that the way free enterprise is supposed to work? Yes, the casino will have shows, but those shows would likely not have come to Northampton.
It’s a ‘let’s get ours’ mentality, and even remote Hampden, three towns away from Springfield, is thinking about seeking some compensation. Who’s next, Goshen? West Brookfield? Why stop there? This sentiment is poisonous to all businesses, especially the ones thinking about locating here.
Indeed, while many are still wary about a casino and its potential impact on Springfield and surrounding communities, they should be more wary of a casino that opens and then struggles — or, far worse, fails.
A Western Mass. casino will face a number of challenges, including a still-tepid economy and intense competition from casinos in this state and others. MGM doesn’t need to be further challenged by unreasonable requests for compensation from area communities, many of which will not be directly impacted by the gaming complex.
Instead of trying to pick MGM’s pockets, area communities should be trying to work with the company to make sure that this nearly $1 billion project is one that starts strong and builds momentum. If that happens, maybe then nearby cities and towns, which will have a better understanding of the casino’s impact, can share in the wealth that resorts like MGM bring.

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of and January 2014.

AGAWAM

EZ Life Ideas
37 Overlook Dr.
Newton Vezina

My Dance Pants
471 Meadow St.
Lorrie A. Rousseau

Silver Linings Home Care
159 Main St.
Tania Spear

UBU Hair Design
322 Cooper St.
Sherri Laflamme

CHICOPEE

Cosgrove Remodeling
99 Grape St.
Thomas Hodsdon

Graphics Your Way
225 Tolpa Circle
Terry L. Messier

Paquette Construction
175 Montgomery St.
David Paquette

GREENFIELD

Alliance Group
13 Cedar St.
John Michelson

Big Y Foods Inc.
237 Mohawk Trail
Michael Gold

Child at Heart Art Gallery
54 Briar Way
Paul McDonough

China Gourmet
78 Mohawk Trail
Hsien F. Chang

Community 911 Training Inc.
38 Haywood St.
Matthew Wolkendreit

Greenfield Grille
40 Federal St.
Joseph Poirier Sr.

Radical Self-Care Now
34 Glenbrook Dr.
Katherine Golub

Synergy Transportation Service
25 Park Ave.
Jason Markwell

The Lunch Box
221 Main St.
Joseph Motika

HOLYOKE

Goodfellas Barbershop
665 High St.
Ferdinand Rivera

Holyoke Heating & Air
43 Woodland St.
Ronald Theriault

Oakdale Property Services
78 Calumet Road
Jonathan Hilchey

Portal Del Cielo
285 High St.
Lillian Calvo

PALMER

Country Corner Citgo Inc.
5 Springfield St.
Peter McKearney

Dominick’s Family Restaurant
2047 Main St.
Edward Glaszcz

Historical Nipmuc Tribe
189 Breckenridge St.
Tracy Riley

Miss Trans-America Pageant
1037 Pleasant St.
Christa Hilfers

Palmer Restaurant
1376 Main St.
Elias Poupopoulos

SPRINGFIELD

Mommy’s
324 Wilbraham Road
Henry B. Ogirri

Nicoletti & Brown
15 Colfax St.
James T. Brown

Oriental Gift and More
1714 Boston Road
Chun F. Yang

Plink Plunk Play
63 Lakevilla Ave.
Rita F. Bartholomew

Ray’s Auto Repair & Towing
3 Fountain St.
Ramon L. Rivas

S & S Renovation
127 Balfour Dr.
Stephanie L. Goggin

Serenev Affordable Tax
67 Suffolk St.
Angella D. Martin

Superior Home Health
83 Hazen St.
Shari Anglin

The Sports Shack
152 Main St.
Sandra A. Babbie

Tower Convenience Store
10 Chestnut St.
Zahid Farooqui

Tranquility Day Spa & Salon
1655 Boston Road
Charles Tran

Universal Caulking
42 Kimberly Ave.
Anthony M. Dewdney

Westside Pizza
1291 Boston Road
Vedat Kan

Wheeler’s Convenience
597 Dickinson St.
Faiz Rabbani

WESTFIELD

Aura Nails and Spa
261 East Main St.
Youngran Chang

Boss’ Business
19 Parkside Ave.
Petro M. Makarchuk

Dorsey Installations
25 State St.
Anthony Dorsey

Elite Tanning by Jennifer Amy Inc.
16 Union Ave.
Jennifer A. Pasterkiewicz

Florek Family Farm
840 Granville Road
Christopher J. Florek

Hickory Hill Farm
325 Montgomery Road
Dennis L. Bishop

Max Sound
50 Pleasant St.
Maxim Cravet

Vivid Hair Salon & Spa
99 Elm St.
Basia Belz

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Belar US
105 River St.
Michael Vasilyev

Metal Craft Manufacturing
54 Myron St.
Peter Urbanek

Morales Flooring
309 Park St.
Enis E. Morales

Music Sound
20 Labelle St.
Mikala Filistovich

Pizza Hut
1048 Riverdale St.
Pizza Hut of America

Promoter
38 Humphrey Lane
Aleksander Vasilyev

Rainbow Accessories
39 Rochelle St.
Sara Arshad

Ram Sia, LLC
1500 Riverdale St.
Dilip Rana

Superior Painting & Renovation
64 Prince Ave.
Sean Kearney

Trend Sound Promoter
457 Union St.
Mykhaylo Onulyak

Vilo
116 Almon Ave.
Vitali Loban

Opinion
Tackling the Innovation Deficit

By L. RAFAEL REIF
The long-term future of congressional support for research and development is being shaped right now, and the stakes are high. Those of us who see firsthand the power of scientific research can offer a simple message for U.S. policy makers: to help close the budget deficit, close the innovation deficit.
Last month, Congress passed a budget deal that eases some of the automatic spending cuts known as sequestration. For the next two years, discretionary spending will be cut less severely and indiscriminately than it has been since last March, when sequestration began.
This is good news for our nation’s research and development, since sequestration imposes cuts on all of the federal agencies that fund scientific research. The cuts set in March ranged from 5.1% to 7.3% and were scheduled to continue through 2021. Next month, it should become clearer what the gentler reductions under the new budget deal will be. Still, absent further legislation, in two years we’ll go back to the original sequestration plan.
That would be a mistake that would only compound a problem we already have: decades of declining investment in innovation. Federal R&D as a percentage of GDP — essentially, our societal commitment to research — has fallen from 1.3% in 1978 to 0.8% in 2013. Our competitors are going in the other direction.
Sequestration has hit Boston-area universities and hospitals hard: Massachusetts received $125 million less in federal funding for medical research in 2013 than it otherwise would have. Such cuts translate into lost jobs today and slow the process of innovation that produces future jobs.
Innovation is fueled by a long-time partnership between the federal government and the nation’s scientists and engineers. Since World War II, federal funding for science has led to important technological breakthroughs and contributed mightily to our national defense. Over the long term, as much as three-quarters of economic growth may be attributable to innovation and technological change.
This effect has shaped Greater Boston, particularly in recent years. For decades, this region has had great colleges, universities, and hospitals. But with today’s innovation economy, a place long admired for its educational excellence has branched out in exciting ways.
To see how federally funded research influences the future, consider three areas of innovation that now benefit greatly from sources other than the federal government, but were the downstream products of earlier federal funding of science and technology.
The first is online learning. A year and a half ago, MIT and Harvard launched edX, which offers online university courses to the world. This new platform for global learning is built on advances in computing that trace their roots to Defense Department research from the 1960s and 1970s that led to the Internet.
A second example comes from healthcare. One of the most important trends of our lifetime is the convergence of the life sciences with the engineering and physical sciences. It’s at the heart of the Ragon Institute, a collaboration of MIT, Harvard, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Engineers, mathematicians, and scientists are working with doctors to find a vaccine for the AIDS virus. The vaccines currently being developed would not be possible without long-time investment in research by the National Institutes of Health.
A third illustration is 3-D printing, a concept pioneered by MIT faculty members. The field developed rapidly from its beginnings in the 1980s and has changed the way big companies develop products. These technologies are now in the hands of home users and professionals alike. Researchers are even experimenting with ‘printing’ replacement human organs. How did it all begin? With funding from the National Science Foundation.
Greater Boston can be proud to serve as a model for the innovation economy — and as a reminder of what we could lose if we do not protect the public-private partnership that has made U.S. research the envy of the world.

L. Rafael Reif is president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an electrical engineer.

Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to:  ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]

Clowning Around
IMG_2609IMG_2486The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield recently invited members and business folk to ‘clown around’ at a recent After 5 networking event to highlight Shriners Hospitals for Children. The event, held at the Melha Shrine Center in Springfield and sponsored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, gave attendees an opportunity to network in a casual atmosphere as they enjoyed entertainment from the Shriners clowns. Left: Gary Spear (“Gilligan”) shares some laughs with Peg Daoust, branch manager of Hampden Bank on Boston Road in Springfield. At right: Jonathan George (“Dimples”) is flanked by Dawn Creighton, left, regional director for Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Jill Monson, CEO of Inspired Marketing.

City Talk
YPSlunchIn mid-January, the first edition of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield’s (YPS) monthly CEO Luncheon featured Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who spoke to an intimate group of 25 YPS members. Attendees listened to Sarno’s thoughts about the city’s strengths and challenges, and asked questions about a potential MGM Springfield casino, education in the city’s middle and high schools, public safety, and future downtown living for young professionals.

Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to:  ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]

Heartfelt Check

2013-Holyoke-HealthCare-CheckHolyoke HealthCare Center, a member of National HealthCare (NHC), and its philanthropic arm, the Foundation for Geriatric Education (TFGE), recently presented a check for $4,810 to Holyoke Medical Center to cover the cost a five-day ‘boot camp’ for participants who have been recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). Large-number bathroom scales can now be purchased for those with CHF to weigh themselves everyday, an important part of the self-management process. The camp is offered through the multi-agency ‘cross-continuum team’ consisting of Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke HealthCare Center, the Care Center, Holyoke Visiting Nurse Assoc., and Renaissance Manor. Pictured, from left, are HMC President and CEO Spiros Hatiras, HMC Education and Training Manager Carlene Bailey, HHCC Director of Nursing Mary Walas, HMC STAAR Program Manager Cherelyn Roberts, and HHCC Administrator Thomas Accomando.

OnCore Performance

Oncore-ManufacturingEmployees of Springfield-based OnCore Manufacturing donated gift bags and boxes filled with items to complete the wish lists of 30 elementary-school-aged children served through Square One’s after-school programs. OnCore, a provider of product- commercialization services to international blue-chip aerospace and defense, industrial, and medical companies, is a partner with Square One, a nonprofit that provides low-cost education and care programs, along with transportation, to encourage and support local children who will be the leaders of the future. Pictured, from left, are OnCore employees Nancy McDonough, Anne DeCillis, and Heather Ferreira.

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Capital One v. Walter E. Gazda, DMD
Allegation: Breach of credit agreement: $5,055.16
Filed: 12/3/13

David Pepin v. NCR Corp.
Allegation: Defendant failed to pay accrued vacation and personal pay: $5,786.84
Filed: 12/4/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Laura E. Gormally v. William F. Milbier, Northeast Grounds Management Inc., Donald F. Anderson, Markdon Realty, LLC, Anderson Services, LLC, and Hampden Bank
Allegation: Defendants Northeast Grounds and Milbier are in default on an $800,000 promissory note. All other defendants conspired with Milbier and Northeast Grounds to avoid paying amounts due under the note so as to enrich themselves at the plaintiff’s expense: $629,683.66
Filed: 11/27/13

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Amara Davis v. Karen Judge d/b/a Marche for Hair
Allegation: Negligence in property maintenance causing injury: $12,958.50
Filed: 12/9/13

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Easthampton Savings Bank v. Brian Burrows General Contracting & Home Improvement
Allegation: Breach of credit agreement: $10,567
Filed: 11/26/13

Jose Baez v. Beaudry Home Inspections
Allegation: Mold remediation to the basement of a home: $26,920.71
Filed: 10/25/13

TBF Financial v. Metal Mammoth Inc. d/b/a Heavy Metal
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $8,715.39
Filed: 10/22/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Jane A. Brooks v. West Springfield Fish and Game Club
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing trip and fall: $5,141.29
Filed: 11/12/13

Jaya Lodgings, LLC d/b/a Candlewood Suites v. Iron Horse Preservation Society Inc.
Allegation: Defendant owes for room charges for 392 nights at Candlewood Suites: $17,945.75
Filed: 12/2/13

Kasson & Keller v. Interstate Products
Allegation: Non-payment for services rendered: $20,097.36
Filed: 11/15/13

WGGB Inc. v. Donald D. Stowers Jr. d/b/a D&L Fence Co.
Allegation: Non-payment for advertising services rendered: $5,713.75
Filed: 11/19/13

Agenda Departments

Training for Real-estate Sales
Jan. 21: Springfield Technical Community College’s Workforce Development office will offer “Preparation for the Real Estate Exam,” a state-approved course for those interested in becoming licensed real-estate salespeople. This course is designed to acquaint the prospective real-estate salesperson, as well as the potential buyer or seller of a home or investment property, with the fundamentals of real-estate law and procedures in Massachusetts. The program begins on Jan. 21 and will convene on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Space is limited. To register, visit www.stcc.edu/wd or call (413) 755-4502.

Nonprofit Marketing Roundtable
Jan. 28: Struggling to gain visibility with your target audience? Are your marketing materials producing tangible results? Are your best messaging ideas living only in your head? The Nonprofit Marketing Roundtable 2014 Workshop will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Three women business owners — Janice Beetle, Ruth Griggs, and Maureen Scanlon of the Creative, a marketing and communications collaboration in Northampton — will lead a nonprofit Flash marketing workshop. They will meet with business owners, listen to your marketing and communications concerns, and help you brainstorm practical, professional solutions on the spot. Learn more about how to strategize, advertise, brand, and promote your business; reach the media; and maximize your message in person, in print, and online. The workshop, presented by the Creative Marketing Group, is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, contact Jasmin Tomic at (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].

Ad Club Luncheon
Jan. 29: In the toughest of times, smart marketing is a must. Join John Chandler, chief marketing officer of MassMutual Financial Group, for the Advertising Club of Western Mass. Luncheon, starting at 11:45 a.m. at the Springfield Sheraton, 1 Monarch Place. Learn how this Fortune 100 financial-services company has used a straightforward, results-driven marketing strategy to help create six straight years of record sales results and expand into new markets, all during the worst economic downturn in more than a half-century. Chandler will share the company’s marketing principles and examples of its work that are driving marketplace success.
Registration begins at 11:45 a.m., and the program runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members, and $15 for students. Parking is free in the Springfield Sheraton garage (bring your ticket or coin for validation). To reserve a seat, call (413) 736-2582 or e-mail [email protected] by Jan. 24.

Difference Makers 2014
March 20: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The editors and publishers of BusinessWest have examined this year’s stack of nominations and have chosen the class of 2014, and the winners will be announced in the magazine’s Feb. 10 issue. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Jan. 15: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Melha Shrine Temple, 133 Longhill St., Springfield. Come clown around with us at this after-hours networking event, presented by Shriners Hospital for Children and sponsored by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with support from Berkshire Bank and the Springfield Falcons. Reservations are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

• Jan. 28: ACCGS Pastries, Politics and Policy, 8-9 a.m., at the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, 1300 State St., Springfield. Join us for a roundtable discussion with Springfield Schools Superintendent Daniel Warwick. Cost is $15 for members, $25 for general admission, and includes continental breakfast. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Jan. 15: Chamber Annual Meeting and Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Lord Jeffery Inn. The chamber has a fantastic array of networking events lined up, but we need your ideas. The meeting will also feature the formal election of the 2014 chamber board of directors, including the installation of Lawrence Archey as board president for a second year. Sponsored by Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Amherst. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for guests.

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Jan. 15: January Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m. at Willits-Hallowell at Mt. Holyoke College. Tickets are $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Jan. 22: January Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at the Collegian Court, 89 Park St., Chicopee. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Feb. 19: February Salute Breakfast & Annual Meeting, 7:15-9 a.m., at the MassMutual Learning & Conference Center. Tickets are  $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Feb. 26: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• Jan. 24: FCCC Breakfast Series, 7:30-9 a.m., at Greenfield Corporate Center,101 Munson St., Greenfield. Sponsored by Franklin County Home Care Corp. and Gilmore & Farrell Insurance. The speaker will be U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, who represents the 2nd Congressional District in Massachusetts, covering many Franklin County towns. Since his election in 1996, McGovern has been widely recognized as a tenacious advocate for his district, a tireless crusader for change, and an unrivaled supporter for social justice and fundamental human rights. Over the past 17 years, he has consistently delivered millions of dollars for jobs, vital local and regional projects, small businesses, public safety, regional and mass transportation projects, and affordable housing around Massachusetts. He has authored important legislation to increase Pell Grant funding to allow more students access to higher education, to provide funds to preserve open space in urban and suburban communities, and to give tax credits to employers who pay the salaries of their employees when they are called up to active duty in the Guard and Reserves. A strong proponent of healthcare reform, his legislative efforts included reducing the cost of home healthcare and giving patients the dignity to be cared for in their own homes with the help of medical professionals. Currently serving his ninth term, McGovern serves as the second-ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for debate and amendments on most legislation, and is a member of the House Agriculture Committee. Cost: chamber members, $13 (prepaid or pay at door) or $14 (billed); non-members, $16. Reservations can be made online at www.franklincc.org or by calling (413) 773-5463.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Jan. 23: Big Raffle Drawing, 6 p.m. Only 300 tickets are for sale each year. Grand prize, $5,000; second prize, $500;
third prize, $200; fourth prize, $100; fifth prize, $50. The drawing takes place at the annual dinner meeting on Jan. 23, and you do not need to be present to win. For more information or to enter, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Jan. 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Homewood Suites, 375 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.
• Jan. 24: Legislative Coffee Hour, 7:45-9:15 a.m., at the Summit View Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Northampton St., Holyoke. The event will feature local legislators discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the Commonwealth, Holyoke, and local businesses in the months ahead. Cost: $26 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes a buffet breakfast.
• Jan. 30: Marketing Roundtable Workshop, 8:30-10 a.m. This unique roundtable event is designed to foster informative discussions among business owners and marketing professionals as well as brainstorm new ideas to help with revenue-producing initiatives. Cost: $10 for members, $20 for non-members. A continental breakfast is included in the price. Call (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokecham.com to register.
• Feb. 13: Chamber Table Top Workshop: “How to Get People’s Attention and Attract Them to Your Table,” 8:30-10:30 a.m., at the Chamber Conference Room. A no-nonsense informational session on how to set up your booth, how to add visual interest, and what to do to keep potential customers engaged. Cost: $10 for members.
• Feb. 19: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m. at Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.
• Feb. 26: Holyoke Chamber Economic Development Breakfast, 8-10 a.m., location to be announced. Hear about local projects and how they will affect businesses. Cost: $26 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes a buffet breakfast. Call (413) 543-3376 or visit holycham.com to register.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Jan. 28: Nonprofit Marketing Roundtable 2014 Workshop, 8-9:30 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by the Creative Marketing Group. Struggling to gain visibility with your target audience? Are your marketing materials producing tangible results? Are your best messaging ideas living only in your head? The  chamber has help on the way. Three women business owners — Janice Beetle, Ruth Griggs, and Maureen Scanlon of the Creative, a marketing and communications collaboration in Northampton — will lead a nonprofit Flash marketing workshop. They will meet with business owners, listen to your marketing and communications concerns, and help you brainstorm practical, professional solutions on the spot. Learn more about how to strategize, advertise, brand, and promote your business; reach the media; and maximize your message in person, in print, and online. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, contact Jasmin Tomic at (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Jan. 13: Health Care Symposium, time to be announced, at the Dever Stage, Parenzo Hall, Westfield State University. Presenter: Lynn Nichols, president of the Mass. Hospital Assoc. Sponsored by Noble Hospital. For more information or to register, contact Pam at (413) 568-1618.

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• Feb. 13: February Networking Social, 5 p.m., at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• Jan. 15: PWC Tabletop Business Expo/Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield. Showcase your product or service. For more information about the Professional Women’s Chamber, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1310 or [email protected].

THREE RIVERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.threeriverschamber.org
(413) 283-6425

• Feb. 3: Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce Monthly Meeting, 7-8 p.m., at the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce, 2376 Main St., Three Rivers.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
413-426-3880

• January: Coffee with Mayor Cohen, date, time, and location to be announced. Keep checking the website for updates, or email [email protected].
• Feb. 5: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., at Crestview Country Club, Agawam. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. Event is open to the public; attendees must pay at the door if they’re non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].
• Feb. 26: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at the Storrowton Tavern Carriage House, West Springfield. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• Jan. 16: January Third Thursday YPS Open House, 5-7 p.m., at the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to become more involved with the YPS. Complementary parking in the Tower Square garage with elevator access directly to the venue. YPS is a guest of the Colony Club for this event. We ask that you respect and follow their business-casual dress code; jeans will not be permitted. There will be a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. Invite your friends and bring plenty of business cards. Cost: free for YPS members, $10 for non-members, which includes food and a cash bar.

Departments People on the Move

Gomes, Dacruz & Tracy, a Ludlow-based certified public accounting firm, recently hired James Crabtree as a Tax Accountant. Crabtree has 10 years of accounting experience and is a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.
•••••
The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau recently hired two associates:

Leah MacPherson

Leah MacPherson

Luke Trahan

Luke Trahan

Leah MacPherson will serve as Hospitality and Sales Coordinator. She will fulfill hospitality requests for incoming convention and group tours to the Pioneer Valley, manage a 25-member volunteer group that provides assistance to GSCVB member events, and recruit teams of volunteers for incoming sports tournaments and events. MacPherson is a 2013 graduate of Saint Leo University and was previously employed by Embassy Suites Tampa Airport; and
Luke Trahan will serve as Sports Sales Manager for the newly developed Western Mass. Sports Commission. He will pursue and handle bookings for sports tournaments and events, in addition to conducting bid presentations and site inspections for sports-related business. Trahan is a graduate of the University of Hartford and was previously employed by Poyant, Brasseler USA Dental, and Expeditor Systems.
•••••

Jody Gross

Jody Gross

Health New England recently announced that Jody Gross will take the helm as Vice President of Sales and lead the regional health insurer in developing and executing its sales and retention strategy for its commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid lines of business. In addition, Gross will be Health New England’s key contact for government regulators from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Since 2004, Gross has served Health New England in various positions in finance and healthcare reform, first as Finance Manager and then as Director of Finance, where he provided strategic guidance for new products while ensuring profitability and marketability. As Director of Business Development, he led the design, implementation, and evaluation of products, benefits, new business lines, and value-added programs. Prior to his promotion, Gross served as Director of Government Programs, overseeing the implementation and operations of HNE’s fledgling Medicare and Medicaid lines of business, now entering their fifth and third years of service, respectively. Gross holds a BS in Finance from Bryant College, an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and Health Insurance Producers licenses in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. Prior to joining Health New England, he worked for United Health Group and Oxford Health Plans.
•••••
Maj. Darren Mudge has been named the new officer in charge of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Springfield. Mudge will oversee the center, which provides spiritual, social, and emotional assistance for men and women in a organization that is supervised by trained, commissioned officers who have undergone extensive two-year courses in residence at Salvation Army colleges throughout the U.S.
•••••
TD Bank has promoted Adam Lahti to Assistant Vice President and Manager of the Newton Street, South Hadley branch. Lahti is responsible for new business development, consumer and business lending, managing personnel, and overseeing day-to-day operations.

Opinion
Taking Time Off Just Makes Sense

Everyone wants time off from work, right? So why doesn’t everyone take it?
That’s the question many workforce observers are asking in the wake of a recent poll conducted by global workplace consultancy Right Management, showing that 69% of all workers surveyed do not take all their vacation time at work (see story, page 24). And it’s not a recent phenomenon; the firm’s previous surveys, in 2011 and 2012, showed a nearly identical figure of 70%. So we suppose the latest results are an improvement.
If so, they’re not much of one.
“Not taking time off regularly can lead to serious health problems,” notes Timi Gustafson, a registered dietitian, author, and blogger. “The results are comparable to chronic stress, when there is no reprieve not just from one’s workload but also from repetitive routines.”
Matt Norquist, general manager at Right Management, says that kind of health impact makes vacation essentially a productivity issue for businesses. In other words, it’s not just employees who benefit from vacations, but also their companies, because their workers are happier and more productive on the job when they’re occasionally able to step away from it.
And it’s not just mental health at stake; chronic stress takes its toll on the body’s ability to resist infections, maintain vital functions, and even avoid injuries, noted Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne, a professor of Psychology at UMass Amherst.
“When you’re stressed out and tired, you are more likely to become ill, your arteries take a beating, and you’re more likely to have an accident,” she writes in Psychology Today. “Your sleep will suffer, you won’t digest your food as well, and even the genetic material in the cells of your body may start to become altered in a bad way.”
In addition, she notes, “not only do you become more irritable, depressed, and anxious, but your memory will become worse, and you’ll make poorer decisions. You’ll also be less fun to be with, causing you to become more isolated, lonely, and depressed.”
Not exactly a recipe for success on the job — or a particularly pleasant workplace.
So why are many employees loath — or unable — to use the vacation time they’ve earned? Norquist suggests that working non-stop is considered a sort of ‘badge of honor’ in today’s hyper-competitive work world, while others simply feel they can’t get away, with staffs reduced and individual work loads increased in the wake of the Great Recession.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted for travel website Hotwire reveals that a lack of time and money have dissuaded many Americans from going away on vacation, so many just keep working, some banking more time than they’ll ever use. And even employees who do decide to get away often stay connected to their jobs through e-mail and smartphones — and never enjoy the full wellness benefits of completely disengaging from their careers for a time.
Recognizing the benefits of happy, de-stressed employees, some companies have taken steps like making a minimum number of vacation days mandatory, or forbidding workers to use their work e-mail or remote devices to stay on the clock in any way. Others, like MassMutual in Springfield, simply strive to create a culture where employees — and their managers — recognize the myriad benefits of taking a break.
“We don’t believe in making it mandatory,” said Richard Goldstein, MassMutual’s vice president of Benefits, adding quickly that, “as with anything in life, it’s all about balance.”
Let’s hope that philosophy of work-life balance creeps into more workplaces in Western Mass. in 2014. After all, a healthy economy starts with healthy employees — in mind, body, and spirit.

Company Notebook Departments

FamilyFirst Merging with North Brookfield Savings
NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank (NBSB) in North Brookfield and FamilyFirst Bank (FFB) in Ware have entered into a definitive agreement to combine into a single mutual savings bank. The combined bank will operate under the name and charter of North Brookfield Savings Bank. The transaction is subject to the approval of the corporators of NBSB and the shareholders of FFB as well as the approval of the banks’ regulators. FamilyFirst Bank operates three banking centers in Ware, Three Rivers, and East Brookfield. “These branch locations complement the North Brookfield branch system very well,” said NBSB President and CEO Donna Boulanger. NBSB operates four banking centers in North Brookfield, West Brookfield, Palmer, and Belchertown. All existing FamilyFirst branches will continue to operate, as will all North Brookfield Savings Bank branches. “FamilyFirst has created a customer-first culture with a strong focus on community, making this a natural fit for North Brookfield Savings Bank,” said Boulanger. “We look forward to introducing NBSB’s products and services to FamilyFirst’s customers and to supporting the local communities.” NBSB, founded in 1854, is a mutual savings bank with more than $200 million in assets. NBSB has received the highest Five Star Superior Bank rating from Bauer Financial for 74 consecutive quarters. The combined bank will have in excess of $260 million in assets. “I look forward to working with NBSB to complete this transaction for the benefit of FamilyFirst customers and employees. NBSB has a history of being committed to providing superior products and services delivered with a true personal touch,” said FamilyFirst President and CEO Michael Audette. Both banks use the same core technology providers, so the integration of the banks should be an easy transition for FamilyFirst customers. The transaction is anticipated to close in the late first quarter or early second quarter of 2014.

HMC Welcomes Donation from Holyoke HealthCare
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center announced a recent donation from Holyoke HealthCare Center in the amount of $4,810. The donation was made possible by the generosity of the center, a member of National HealthCare (NHC) and its philanthropic arm, the Foundation for Geriatric Education (TFGE). The donation will help participants in a five-day ‘boot camp’ for people recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) that will be offered through the multi-agency Cross Continuum Team consisting of Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke HealthCare Center, the Care Center, the Holyoke Visiting Nurse Assoc., and Renaissance Manor. The funding will provide boot-camp participants with large-number bathroom scales to weigh themselves every day. “Monitoring weight is a very important part of the self-management process for patients with CHF,” said Cherelyn Roberts, Holyoke Medical Center manager for the State Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations Program. “Any change in weight could signal the need for medical attention, so these scales are crucial and will help patients be a stronger partner in their care. The goal is to help people avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and stay at home, where they want to be.” Holyoke HealthCare Center Administrator Thomas Accomando explained that the funding provided by TFGE was raised locally through events such as car washes, bake sales, and tag sales held at Holyoke HealthCare Center, along with personal donations. “The teams here at Holyoke HealthCare Center and NHC are proud to assist in education-related projects for our community involving the care of our elders, thus continuing the philosophy of our founder, Dr. Carl Adams,” said Accomando. Funding was also provided to Holyoke Medical Center for the purchase of a Resusci Anne QCPR torso mannequin with wireless skill recorder and carrier, a special training IV arm for intravenous insertions into elderly patients with thinner skin, and video equipment for recording educational sessions provided to Cross Continuum Team partners.

Big Y Nets 126,000 Pounds of Food for Area Needy
SPRINGFIELD — In a chain-wide effort to help the hungry within their local communities, Big Y’s fourth annual Sack Hunger/Care to Share Program brought 15,741 bags of food to local charities. Sack Hunger bags are large, brown, reusable grocery bags filled with staple non-perishable food items for local food banks. Customers purchase a Sack Hunger bag of groceries for $10, and Big Y distributes the food to that region’s local food bank. In turn, the food banks distribute the filled sacks to area soup kitchens, food pantries, senior food programs, day-care centers, as well as many other member agencies. All of the donated sacks are distributed within the supermarket’s marketing area, so every donation stays within the local community. Since its inception four years ago, more than 55,000 bags have been donated to the area’s needy via the Sack Hunger Program. This year’s endeavor ran from Oct. 31 through Dec. 31. All five food banks within Big Y’s marketing area are participating in Sack Hunger. These food banks represent more than 2,100 member agencies throughout the region. They include the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Worcester County Food Bank, Foodshare of Greater Hartford, and the Connecticut Food Bank.