Home Posts tagged Construction (Page 15)

Briefcase

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Briefcase Departments

Demolition of I-91 Viaduct Deck Underway

SPRINGFIELD — MassDOT’s contractor, the joint venture of White-Schiavone, began demolishing the I-91 viaduct’s reinforced concrete bridge deck on Feb. 10. The work will take place in the inner northbound lane of the viaduct along the median, which is currently closed. The contractor will work a day shift (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and a night shift (4 p.m. to midnight) on Mondays through Fridays. Demolition of the inner northbound lane deck is expected to continue through April 2017. Demolition of other portions of the viaduct deck will continue through summer 2017. White-Schiavone will use several noise mitigation techniques during demolition. It has proactively installed noise curtains along the work zone in noise-sensitive areas. Additional curtains may be installed as required once initial noise readings are taken after demolition activities have started. In addition, all heavy trucks and equipment have been retrofitted with self-adjusting backup alarms, which limit the sound to a set volume above the ambient (background) noise. The JV has also taken initial readings of ambient noise in the work zone to establish a baseline for comparison. All equipment has been tested to ensure it is operating within the manufacturer’s specification. Those traveling through the area should follow the reduced speed limits and use caution. MassDOT encourages drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes to minimize delays. For more information about the project, visit www.mass.gov/massdot/i91viaductrehab. To report issues or concerns, or with questions about construction, e-mail [email protected] or call (617) 454-1839.

Ouimet-Rooke Nominated as District Court Judge

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker has nominated Michele Ouimet-Rooke, an attorney with more than 17 years of experience in Western Mass. courts, to serve as a judge in Springfield District Court. “Michele Ouimet-Rooke offers the court a great combination of experience in both civil and criminal legal matters drawn from her career in public service and private practice in Western Massachusetts,” Baker said. “I am pleased to recommend an individual with such broad experience to the Governor’s Council for their consideration.” Added Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, “the first two District Court openings our administration has sought to fill are in Hampden County, and we are pleased to make this second nomination to the Springfield District Court. If confirmed, we know that Ms. Ouimet-Rooke will serve her hometown with distinction.” Ouimet-Rooke, a native and resident of Springfield, joined the practice of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy in 2002 as an associate representing plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of litigations, including employment and discrimination law, premise and product liability, insurance defense, landlord/tenant issues, criminal defense, and business litigation, becoming a partner in 2012. She began her career in the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office as a victim/witness advocate for eight years before becoming an assistant district attorney and chief prosecutor. She obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Springfield College and her juris doctor from Western New England College School of Law in 1999. The Governor’s Council held a hearing on the nomination on Feb. 17, and a confirmation vote is scheduled for Feb. 24. There are 62 district courts throughout the Commonwealth hearing a range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental-health, and other cases, including all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, misdemeanors, and violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. Springfield is located in Region 6, which includes courts in Chicopee, Eastern Hampshire, Greenfield, Holyoke, Northern Berkshire, Northampton, Orange, Palmer, Southern Berkshire, and Westfield.

Governor Signs Bill to Reduce Minors’ Risk for Skin Cancer

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation last week to reduce the risk of skin cancer among minors by increasing the minimum age for the use of tanning facilities to 18 years old. During consideration of the bill, medical associations including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, the Melanoma Foundation of New England, the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation, and the families of skin-cancer victims Glenna Kohl and Jay Farley testified in support of its passage. “With the number of minors diagnosed with skin cancer on the rise across Massachusetts and the nation, this legislation takes a critical step towards increasing awareness and protecting our most vulnerable,” Baker said. Added state Rep. Marjorie Decker, “this legislation is about protecting young people from carcinogenic UV rays that we know cause cancer. I am proud to have worked on legislation that will help save lives and want to thank Gov. Baker for signing this into law.”

People on the Move

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Departments People on the Move
Brandon Mitchell

Brandon Mitchell

Chris Marini

Chris Marini

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announced the promotion of Brandon Mitchell, CPA, MSA and Chris Marini, MSA, MOS to Senior Associate positions. Mitchell has been with MBK since 2013 and brings a strong technical skill set to his work, as well as a background in sales. “Brandon has demonstrated a strong understanding of our clients and their industries in his time with our firm,” said MBK partner Howard Cheney. “He is resourceful and often takes the initiative to educate himself on his clients beyond the scope of his technical work, allowing him to enhance his relationship with our client base and deliver an even higher level of client service.” Mitchell earned his MSA from Westfield State University. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. For more than two years, Marini has demonstrated a dedicated work ethic to both clients and the firm. He is a team leader within the not-for-profit, HUD, and pension-audit niches. “Since the very beginning, Chris has worked hard and demonstrated a commitment to growth and education,” Cheney said. “He is also an instrumental resource for computer and technology matters here at the firm, helping to spearhead a number of projects and initiatives as we continue to take our cloud-based computer environment to the next level. This has resulted in efficiencies which we are able to pass on to our clients.” Marini holds a BBA with a concentration in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and earned his MSA from the University of Connecticut. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the board of trustees for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and serves as a mentor for the Westfield State University Accounting Club.

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PeoplesBank announced the following:

Beverly Farnham

Beverly Farnham

Amos McLeod III

Amos McLeod III

Nancy Robinson

Nancy Robinson

• Beverly Farnham has been promoted to Loan Service Officer. She possesses close to two decades of financial and banking experience. She first joined the bank in 1996 and previously served as loan service specialist. She has earned diplomas for financial services operations and consumer lending from the Center of Financial Training. She has been volunteering for the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race for more than a decade;
• Amos McLeod III has been appointed Senior Credit Analyst Officer. He brings more than a decade of banking experience to his new position. He will be responsible for understanding and managing the credit risk and loan quality of the bank’s commercial real-estate and loan portfolios. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Springfield College and is a graduate of the School of Commercial Lending Program at Babson College. He serves as treasurer of Friends of the Huntington Public Library and volunteers for the United Way of Pioneer Valley; and
• Nancy Robinson has been promoted to Internal Audit Officer. She possesses more than a decade of banking and financial experience. She first joined the bank in 2012 and previously served as financial analyst. She holds a master’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University. She serves on the board of the Connecticut River Valley Golden Retriever Club. She also volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and Children’s Study Home.

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Jean Deliso

Jean Deliso

Jean Deliso, CFP, from the Connecticut Valley General Office of New York Life, is now authorized to offer AARP-branded life insurance and lifetime-income annuity products to AARP members. It is the first time these group-life-insurance products are offered by authorized-to-offer agents. Deliso is among a select group of New York Life agents who became authorized to offer her clients AARP Guaranteed Acceptance Life, AARP Level Benefit Term, and AARP Permanent Life Insurance, all from New York Life and New York Life’s Guaranteed Lifetime Income Annuity. She is a licensed insurance agent and passed courses specific to AARP. Deliso has been a New York Life agent since 1995. She serves on many boards in her community, including the Baystate Health Foundation and Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse, and is chairman of the board of the Community Music School of Springfield. She is past chairman of the board of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, past board member of AAA Pioneer Valley, and past trustee of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the advisory council at Bay Path University. Since 1994, AARP group-life products from New York Life have been available via direct mail to AARP members. The company has also been the provider of group lifetime-income annuities to AARP members since 2006.

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The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts announced that Liz Feeley was named Director of Philanthropy. She brings a wealth of blended experience in education and philanthropy to the organization. Feeley received her bachelor’s degree in English from Lehigh University. After spending 21 years coaching intercollegiate women’s basketball at institutions such as Smith College, Princeton University, the University of Notre Dame, and Holy Cross College, Feeley took her penchant for building relationships into the field of philanthropy. She brings a background in strategic planning, team building, volunteer management, and designing sustainable programs to the Women’s Fund. Feeley’s work at both Smith College and Stoneleigh-Burnham School, a day-boarding school for girls in Greenfield, brought to the forefront of her consciousness issues that girls and women face each day. She looks forward to building relationships around the Women’s Fund’s mission of creating economic and social equality for women and girls in Western Mass. through philanthropy. Prior to arriving at the Women’s Fund, Feeley served as director of Development at Amherst Montessori School. Previously, as director of Development and Alumnae Relations at Stoneleigh-Burnham, she led a team that increased fund-raising by 133% and alumni participation in the annual fund by 50% in three years. As director of Development, she also launched an initiative that increased the number of major-gift donors by 35% in two years. In five years, her team took fund-raising at the school to an unprecedented level by implementing a strategy based on stewardship, cultivating relationships, brand identity, creating sustainable programs, social media, and in-person visits across the country and in Asia. While at Stoneleigh-Burnham, Feeley was instrumental in the planning and implementation of a $1.2 million two-year campaign. Her team coordinated and hosted a Leadership Symposium and Gala to launch the campaign that successfully raised money for a new student-center complex. She partnered with volunteer groups of parents, alumni, faculty, students, trustees, and others in an effort to advance the mission of the institution.

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Keith G. Roy Construction Inc., a construction and contracting company serving Massachusetts and Connecticut since 1946, announced that Joshua David Roy has been appointed Vice President. “Joshua is continuing a legacy of leadership at a local family-owned and -operated company,” said President Keith G. Roy. Joshua developed his expertise by working side-by-side with both his grandfather, David, and his father, Keith, since his teenage years. He oversees and personally works on projects that include roofing; exterior builds, including decks and siding; as well as interior construction, including kitchens and baths. “I take particular pride in training our crew, project supervision, and customer service,” he said. For more information about the company, visit kgroyconstruction.com.

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The Gove Law Office announced that attorney Jaclyn Packard has joined the firm, focusing her practice on civil and criminal litigation and trials, real-estate transactions, and estate planning. “Jaclyn Packard is a wonderful addition to our growing law firm of professionals who represent the diverse practice areas Gove Law offers clients within the firm’s Litigation, Real Estate, and Estate Planning departments,” said Michael Gove, founding partner of Gove Law Office. Having graduated cum laude from the Florida Coastal School of Law, Packard holds a license to practice law in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Florida. In addition to being a practicing attorney, she is an active supporter of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event and a volunteer with the Lawyer for a Day program. The Gove Law Office, with offices in Ludlow and Northampton, is a bilingual firm with attorneys who provide guidance to clients in the areas of business representation, criminal and civil litigation, personal-injury law, commercial lending, residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, immigration, and bankruptcy.

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Rob Poole

Rob Poole

Rob Poole has been named Director of Business Programs at American International College. He will oversee the undergraduate and graduate business administration programs. As part of his responsibilities, Poole will lead the faculty in upgrading the curriculum and managing internship opportunities. The internship program will integrate with the business community to create placements that are mutually beneficial to the industry, students, and the college. In addition, he will focus the MBA program for the non-business major. “Acquiring a technical area of knowledge as an undergraduate, while layering and applying business experience, significantly expands career opportunities,” he said. Poole’s areas of expertise include accreditation, assessment, and internship programs. In addition to working as a private consultant, he has served as an assistant professor at Richard Stockton College and Bellarmine University. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in economics, then received his master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and a PhD in production operations management from the University of North Texas.

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Milly Parzychowski

Milly Parzychowski

United Bank announced the winners of its 2015 Mortgage Loan Officer (MLO) Sales Contest, the bank’s second annual internal awards program that recognizes its bankers for achieving excellence in mortgage production, and a local mortgage loan originator, Milly Parzychowski, is among the honorees. The final standings are based on the number of units and volume closed in 2015. Depending on an MLO’s production for a given year, they can be recognized in three categories: Chairman’s Club (including Chairman’s Club Champion), President’s Club, or Vice President’s Club. Parzychowski was named to the Vice President’s Club. Parzychowski, who joined United Bank in 2011, is based at the Westfield branch and covers Western Mass. Her more than 40 years in banking and mortgage origination included loan officer roles at Mortgage Master Inc. and Family Choice Mortgage Corp. Parzychowski was also a branch manager at American Home Mortgage and at CNI National Mortgage, a loan originator with National City and Source One, and started her banking career as a teller at Valley Bank in Springfield. She is currently an MBA candidate at Bay Path University.

Chamber Corners

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Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• March 31: Margarita Madness 2016, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at TD Bank on Triangle Street or Greenfield Savings Bank on University Drive, as well as the chamber office. You must be over the age of 21 to participate. If you are interested in participating or sponsoring, contact the chamber office at (413) 253-0700.

 

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• March 4: Shining Stars Gala, 6:30-10 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Honoring the following: Business of the Year – Marois Construction Co. Inc.; Citizen of the Year – Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.; Chamber Volunteer of the Year – David Malloy, United Personnel; Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Sunshine Village. This event is sponsored by presenting sponsor Zasco Productions, LLC; diamond sponsor Chicopee Savings Bank; platinum sponsors A. Crane Construction Co. and N. Riley Construction Co.; gold sponsors Elms College, Hampton Inn – Chicopee, Health New England, the Homebuilders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Massachusetts, and Polish National Credit Union; and silver sponsor NUVO Bank & Trust Co. Cost: $60 per person.

• March 9: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• March 10: VIP Networking, 6-9 p.m., at Yankee Candle, 25 Deerfield Road, South Deerfield, co-sponsored by the Greater Easthampton and Amherst Area chambers. Enjoy an evening at Yankee Candle and take advantage of 25% off of your total purchases (excluding Alex & Ani, Pandora, and currently discounted merchandise). The evening includes cooking demos, scavenger-hunt appetizers, music, and cheer. Beverage sponsor: Hangar Pub & Grill. Menu sponsor: Chandler’s. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

• March 18: St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon 2016, noon-2 p.m., at Southampton Country Club. Join us for a feast of corned beef and cabbage as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Mayor Karen Cadieux joins us as our keynote speaker. We honor the Greater Easthampton Parade Committee Grand Marshal Coreen Foote. Congratulations also to: Sylvia Gallagher, Gallagher Walker Award; Erin Kelly and Anna Morrissey, Scholarship Award; and Kim Bush, Shamrock Award.  Mihn Sullivan will be the guest of honor as the 2016 Distinguished Young Woman of Greater Easthampton. Event Sponsors: Finck & Perras Insurance Agency Inc., Taylor Real Estate, Easthampton Savings Bank, and Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members.

 

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• March 16: St. Pat’s Business Breakfast 2016, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by PeoplesBank, Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, and Hadley Printing. Tables reserved for groups of eight or 10 people. Join us as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Parade Committee award winners, the colleen and her court, and the following new chamber members: Creaciones Jahhai Boutique, Mr. Gio, Cultivate & Nest Inc., Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Underwood Photography, Hot Oven Cookies, NeWave Hydrographics, and Studio 20 Salon. Cost: $30 for members, $40 for non-members. Deadline to register: March 14 at noon. No walk-ins, please.

• March 23: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m. Hosted and sponsored by Marcotte Ford, 1025 Main St., Holyoke. Food, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 if you would like to bring a door prize or if you’re interested in a marketing table for $25.

 

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• March 2: Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at Rockridge Retirement Community, 25 and 37 Coles Meadow Road, Northampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Sponsors: Pro Terra Design Group, LLC, Highview of Northampton, and the Northampton St. Patrick’s Assoc. Friends of Forbes Library. Cost: $10 for members.

• March 10: Workshop, “Introduction to Google Docs and Google Drive,” 9-11 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. The class is an introduction to Google Docs and Google Drive, the online storage location for Google Docs. Since this software is available at no cost, many organizations are using it extensively for collaboration purposes and to supplement Microsoft Office. In this two-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to set up a local Google Drive folder, create new documents in the Google Docs format, work with Word documents in Google Docs, and convert Word documents to the Google Docs format. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, e-mail [email protected]. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

• March 17: 36th annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Hotel Northampton Grand Ballroom. A parade to Fitzwilly’s follows the breakfast. Cost: $25 per person; tables of 10 are also available for $250.

• March 24: Workshop, “Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts in Microsoft Excel,” 9-11 a.m., at Greenfield Savings Bank, 325A King St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will present our favorite tips, tricks, and shortcuts that we have collected and developed over 15 years of teaching and using Microsoft Excel. Topics will include shortcuts for selecting ranges, using Autofill to create a series of dates or numbers, setting the print area, using page-break preview, adding headers and footers, using page-layout view, grouping spreadsheets in the same workbook in order to type or format more than one sheet at the same time, and creating 3-D formulas that calculate across several spreadsheets in the same workbook. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. To register, e-mail [email protected]. Admission: $35 for members, $45 for non-members.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• March 7: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Westfield News Group, 62 School St., Westfield. To register, call Pam at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• March 9: Chamber After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m. at Alternative Health, 208 College Highway, Southwick. To register, call Pam at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• March 14: Workshop, “A Purpose-driven Website,” 8:30 a.m., at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Presented by Bob Burch of Bright Cloud Studios. Registration is at 8:30 a.m., with networking from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Cost: free to chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• March 18: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Westfield State University, 333 Western Ave., Westfield. To register, call Pam at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• March 22: Small Business Legal Clinic, noon to 4 p.m., at the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, 16 North Elm St., Westfield. Sponsored by the Western Mass. regional office of the MSBDC. The event is free, but limited to chamber members only. Seating is limited. To register, call Lynn Shedd at (413) 737-6712, ext 100.

• March 25: Legislative Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., at Tekoa Country Club. Attendees will include state Sens. Don Humason and Ben Downing, and state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, Peter Kocot, William Pignatelli, and John Velis. Cost: $30 for chamber members, $40 for the public (paid in advance). For more information and to register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

 

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• March 16: Professional Women’s Chamber Headline Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Storrowton Tavern, Carriage House, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Featuring literary agent and national culinary talent agent Lisa Ekus. Cost: $30 for chamber members, $40 for general admission.

 

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• March 2: Business @ Breakfast, 7:15a.m.- 9 a.m., at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Featuring 9/11 survivor Mike Jaffe. At the time of the attacks, Jaffe was vice president of Marketing at Marsh & McLennan Cos., an insurance and risk-management firm headquartered in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Today, Jaffe is a well-known speaker with a story to tell of how Sept. 11, 2001 and the days leading up to and after the terrorist attacks would change his life forever, referring to it as the “Human Wakeup Call.” Sponsored by United Personnel. Cost: $20 for members in advance ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• March 16: March Madness After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 Hall of Fame Ave., Springfield. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• March 22: Pastries, Politics, and Policy 2016, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Attorney General Maura Healey. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

 

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• March 2: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at V&F Auto, 443 Springfield St., Feeding Hills. Cost: free for chamber members $10 for non-members. Event is open to the public, but non-members must pay at the door. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

• March 17: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., at Lattitude in West Springfield. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while social networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately the day of the event. Please note, we cannot invoice you for these events. The only cost to attend is the cost of your lunch. You must be a member or guest of a member to attend. 
For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

Court Dockets

By
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

Juan Ortiz v. Campagnari Construction, LLC
Allegation: No handrails on stairway causing fall: $3,793.32
Filed: 12/15/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Christy Real Estate, LLC v. YRC Inc.
Allegation: Breach of real-estate purchase and sale agreement: $60,000
Filed: 1/14/16

Concilio International de Iglesias Hora Zero, WLHZ 107.9, and Casa de Esperanza v. Baystate Gas Co. d/b/a Columbia Gas
Allegation: Gas explosion causing property damage: $1,500,000
Filed: 1/12/16

James Bruno v. Toyota Motor Credit Corp.
Allegation: Consumer claim for wrongful repossession: $9,200
Filed: 1/21/16

Kevin Augustino v. Subaru of America
Allegation: Breach of contract: $27,979.63
Filed: 12/30/15

Paul Giza v. Duravent Simpson Manufacturing
Allegation: Product liability causing property damage: $350,000
Filed: 1/6/16

Piano Distributors of Florida Inc. v. Falcetti Music Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered and services rendered: $555,335.71
Filed: 1/7/16

Sage Engineering and Contracting Inc. d/b/a Furrow Engineering v. Athena Healthcare Associates Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of services, labor, and materials: $68,114.83
Filed: 1/11/16

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Alberto Morales and Yaniris Fernandez v. Wyndham Hotel and Resorts, LLC
Allegation: Bedbug bites: $46,000
Filed: 1/6/16

Federated Capital Corp. v. Transmission and Engine Tech and Mark T. MacDonald
Allegation: Complaint to enforce judgment: $108,103
Filed: 12/17/15

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

Travelers Insurance Co. v. East Baking Co. Inc. and David Serra
Allegation: unjust enrichment and conversion: $18,170.04
Filed: 1-21-16

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Blackwood Associates Inc. v. Five Star Building Corp.
Allegation: Non-payment for recruiting services: $24,222.64
Filed: 1/25/16

Marie Higgins v. Quynh Nguyen and Lien Luong d/b/a Nail Pro
Allegation: Negligent application of material during pedicure causing scarring and nerve damage: $1,620+
Filed: 1/29/16

Rexel Inc. v. Jeff O’Connor Electric
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $5,416.10
Filed: 1/29/16

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

American Express Bank v. Red Bridge Bait and Richard Rubner
Allegation: Breach of contract: $5,375.60
Filed: 1/4/16

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Century Center, LLC v. Karoun Yoga Inc.
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $7,990.23
Filed: 1/27/16

City Council Approves MGM Springfield’s Revised Design

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council approved MGM Springfield’s revised site plan Monday, voting 12-1 in favor of the $950 million casino project and changes that include the elimination of a 25-story hotel tower. Council President Michael Fenton was the sole vote against the altered proposal.

MGM will replace the initially planned 25-story hotel tower on State Street with a six-story, 250-room hotel on Main Street. In another change, MGM’s host-community agreement with Springfield allows MGM to move about 54 proposed market-rate apartments from the casino grounds to a location near the casino.

MGM Springfield has begun demolition and site preparation for the casino development, which is expected to open in September 2018 and bring thousands of construction and casino jobs to the city.

Commercial Projects Coming to Fruition in Palmer

By
Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

From left, Linda Leduc, John Rahkonen, and Charlie Blanchard

From left, Linda Leduc, John Rahkonen, and Charlie Blanchard say Northern Construction’s new, $1 million office building contains cutting-edge technology that will help the company stay competitive.

The scope of economic development in Palmer is so diverse that Charlie Blanchard had to make a list to ensure he didn’t forget any major projects when he spoke about them with BusinessWest.

“We have a lot of commercial activity taking place. There has also been an increase in high-tech manufacturing; new medical office space is being developed, and we have a new recreational motorsports raceway,” said the town manager. “Progress continues in Three Rivers, and we are working to revitalize the Thorndike Mills.”

Linda Leduc, the town’s planner and economic development director, added that projects that were permitted years ago are coming to fruition, and commercial properties that sat on the market for years are finally being purchased.

“I’ve seen a 180-degree turnaround this year, and it has brought a multitude of new jobs to Palmer,” said Leduc, who attributes recent growth to a resurgence in the economy.

And, as she noted, change and progress is taking place in all parts of the community, including the Palmer Industrial Park in Bondsville.

Blanchard said Detector Technology Inc. needed room to expand and purchased a building from Wayne Buxton, who was using it to house his ShedWorks Inc. business.

“Wayne needed to downsize but wanted to stay in Palmer, so he kept half the lot and built a new, smaller structure on it,” Blanchard noted.

The decision reflects a trend he and Leduc are seeing: businesses are choosing to stay in Palmer, whether they are downsizing or expanding, if they can find appropriate space — a pattern town officials believe is based on the town’s location, competitive tax rate, good school system, and excellent municipal services.

“We’re right on the Mass Pike, which is ideal for businesses and for their customers coming from the east and west,” Blanchard said, adding that interviews with owners and executives of 16 companies showcased in a 2014 promotional video titled “Industry Alive in Palmer: An Inside Look at Local Businesses” showed they are happy with the educated workforce in the area and have dedicated, exemplary employees.

Growth is also occurring in the downtown area known as Depot Village, which is the first commercial district travelers encounter after they exit the Turnpike. It’s a prime commercial area and the place where O’Reilly Auto Parts chose to expand their New England presence.

“They purchased a vacant building on 1569 North Main St. that had been an eyesore for years,” Blanchard said. The old structure was demolished, and a new, state-of-the art distribution center has been built on the lot.

In addition, the American Legion building on 1010 Thorndike St. was purchased by Fire Service Group two days after it went on the market last May; the company was located in a smaller building in town but wanted to expand.

Meanwhile, Michael’s Party Rentals is moving from Ludlow into the former home of Baldyga’s Auto and RV Sales Inc. on 1221 South Main St. Company President Michael Linton said he purchased the 20,000-square-foot building in early January, and it is undergoing a substantial renovation.

“We’re building a showroom and design center so that we have a dedicated space where wedding planners, brides and grooms, and corporate clients can see our inventory and design capabilities,” he noted. “We’re also adding office space, as there wasn’t any in the building, and plan to install a $60,000, state-of-the-art tent-washing machine which will allow us to clean the tents we rent with less labor.”

The cost of the building, renovation, and new machine are expected to total about $712,000, and Linton anticipates moving in May or June when it is complete.

“My entire staff is excited. We are extremely cramped in our current location and looked for a building for two years,” he continued. “A combination of factors led to the decision to relocate in Palmer: the price of the building, its access to the Mass Pike, Palmer’s commercial tax rate, and the proximity to my home in Sturbridge.”

For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest looks at the many reasons why development is occurring in Palmer, and the various forms it is taking.

Progress Report

While Baldyga’s sold its property for the Michael’s relocation, the business didn’t leave Palmer; Blanchard said the owner purchased an empty lot on Park Street and has plans to construct a new, smaller building on the site, which is in the permitting stage.

In addition, a former Knights of Columbus hall was purchased last fall by Joe Kelley of Angelica Properties. It sits on the corner of Route 32 and River Road and had been for sale for more than a year; it is currently in the permitting stage, and the plan is to renovate it and turn it into state-of-the art medical office space.

Meanwhile, Northern Construction Service Inc. is another company that has chosen to expand in Palmer. About three years ago, owner John Rahkonen purchased a lot adjacent to the business that contained a mini-golf course and batting cages. They were demolished, and a new, state-of-the-art, 7,400-square-foot building, which cost about $1 million, opened in early February.

The company has grown from a $2.5 million operation in 1994 to a $45 million to $50 million business today, and although Rahkonen has two other locations, the new office space, which features skylights and advanced technology, was critical to continued success.

Today, the business occupies about 12 acres, but Rahkonen wishes there were more space available in Palmer so he could continue to expand there.

“I could use another 10 acres,” he told BusinessWest, adding that he agrees with town officials that Palmer’s location is ideal due to its access to key roadways. “We’re in the middle of the state, an hour from Boston and the New York border, and 40 minutes from Hartford. Interstate 91 is around the corner, the Mass Pike is here, and I-84 is 20 minutes down the road.” The company’s work requires moving heavy machinery all over New England, up to the Canadian border, and as far away as White Plains, N.Y., as well as to Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard, so access to a multitude of roadways is helpful.

The town also boasts a new recreational facility called Palmer Motorsports Park. It opened last May on a 500-acre tract of land, and since that time, Road & Track magazine has named it as one of the top 10 racetracks to drive on in North America.

However, it was one of the aforementioned projects that didn’t get off the ground for years due to the flagging economy.

“The Sports Car Club of America permitted the site for a sports motorpark in 2007 because they wanted a track in the Northeast,” Blanchard explained. But the land was not developed until 2012 when club member and private investor Fred Ferguson built the multi-million-dollar recreational facility with its 2.3-mile track, which has since brought new people to Palmer and had a beneficial impact on businesses in the north end of town.

As noted earlier, it is just another of a slew of projects that is expanding and diversifying the economy of a community that just three years ago was pinning its hopes on a resort casino.

New Initiatives

Efforts to revitalize the Thorndike Mills, situated north of Depot Village, are another example of continued progress.

The property consists of seven linked mill buildings that contain 90,000 square feet and sit on 15 acres. They were once home to the thriving Diamond Cascade Manufacturing Co. but have been vacant since 2000, although a hydropower turbine operation has been installed at the site.

“The hydro units are under the floors because the canal runs beneath the buildings,” Leduc said, noting that some units are also located near the dams. But, despite the fact that she has worked with the mill owners for more than a decade to find new uses for the property, they couldn’t seem to make any progress.

However, new hope was generated last fall, thanks to state Sen. Anne Gobi, who was instrumental in introducing them to the Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC), whose work includes revitalizing the Warren Mill in West Warren, the Hardwick Knitters Mill in Hardwick, the Holland Road Mill in Sturbridge, and now, Palmer’s Thorndike Mill.

Leduc said a tour of the properties was conducted last fall as part of a larger project that includes the Jefferson Mill in Holden.

“We’re working with the CMRPC, MassDevelopment, and the Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development,” she noted. “It’s an interesting and important collaboration because these mills are significant historic structures. Our mill was once the center of Thorndike Village.”

The Center for Economic Development at UMass Amherst is also involved, and will hold a conference titled “The Future of the Massachusetts Mill Community” on April 12 in the campus center. In addition, UMass Professor of Planning John Mullin and a group of his students are working to identify common themes shared by these mills.

“We were on our own for years, so it’s wonderful to have this support,” Leduc said.

Growth is also occurring in Three Rivers, and collaborative efforts to revitalize Main Street are coming to fruition, thanks to work by the consortium On the Right TRACK (the acronym stands for Three Rivers Arts Community Knowledge).

Partners include North Brookfield Savings Bank, Palmer officials, the Palmer Historical and Cultural Center, the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce, the Palmer Redevelopment Authority, and the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp., all of which have been working to build a cultural and creative economy that will attract visitors.

Alice Davey, the town’s community development director, noted that the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. was successful in its bid to win a $13,500 Adams Art Grant for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and the town completed a market-assessment and business-recruitment tool as well as a feasibility study showing that a building on 2032 Main St. obtained through the tax-title process has potential for redevelopment.

In addition, Davey said, “Palmer also signed a Community Compact agreement with the Commonwealth which will provide us with assistance. We’re taking positive steps forward, and many things are in the planning stages.”

The town also boasts five solar farms, and permits for four new ones have been issued. The newest operations include a five-megawatt farm on the grounds of the former Palmer Metropolitan Airfield that went online last February. It was built by Borrego Solar and is financed, owned, and operated by Syncarpha Capital.

In addition, a 4.8-megawatt operation on Baptist Hill Road, which was developed by Blue Wave Capital and is owned by Sun Edison, went online earlier this month. Blanchard said the town will purchase 2.8 megawatts of the generated electricity, which will meet 100% of its municipal needs and should result in a 20% to 30% savings on its electric bill.

Positive Outlook

Overall, officials expect growth in Palmer to continue. “There is so much going on here, and we are touching so many areas of the economy that are growing,” Blanchard said.

As a result, optimism is running high as new ideas to revitalize the Thorndike Mills are brought forward, and the creative economy in Three Rivers, the new racetrack, and a host of other growing enterprises attract people to “the town of seven railroads” from many different roadways.

 

Palmer at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1775
Population: 11,049 (2015)
Area: 32.14 square miles
County: Hampden
Tax Rate (Residential and Commercial): Palmer, $21.27; Three Rivers, $22.19; Bondsville, $22.13; Thorndike, $22.30
Median Household Income: $50,050
Family Household Income: $58,110
Type of government: Town Manager; Town Council
Largest Employers: Baystate Wing Hospital; Camp Ramah of New England; Big Y World Class Markets

* Latest information available

 

 

The Need for Cyber-liability Insurance Keeps Rising

By
CyberInsurance
Insurance Sections

Everyone’s a Target

HackInsurance

While major data breaches in the world of retail make the splashiest headlines — understandable, when, like the 2013 Target hack, they compromise the records of tens of millions of customers — the truth is, the vast majority of cybercrime incidents are aimed at businesses with fewer than 100 employees. That’s where cyber-liability insurance comes in — products that not only protect companies from the myriad financial effects of a breach, but help them understand where their risks may lie, and how they can close the more dangerous gaps.

Bill Grinnell said he recently spoke with the owner of a construction-related business who was hit with a malicious program that froze his company’s computers and followed up with an extortion demand.

“More hacks are happening every day,” said Grinnell, president of Webber & Grinnell Insurance in Northampton. “You wouldn’t think of him as the type of business that might traditionally need cyber-liability insurance, and now he’s facing all these costs — having a company come in to get the computers up and running, potential lost business income if they can’t perform their jobs without what’s stored on the computers, then the cost of the extortion and potentially notifying people, all the customer-relations issues.

“That was eye-opening to me,” he went on. “Any business out there that has any type of sensitive records critical to the running of the business potentially needs this type of coverage.”

The good news, Grinnell said, is that businesses are more aware than ever about the threats that lurk behind seemingly safe computer screens.

Bill Grinnell

Bill Grinnell says cyber-liability insurance used to be a hot topic only in certain industries, like financial services, healthcare, and retail — but that’s changing.

“It’s a relatively new insurance coverage, and it’s still evolving. We certainly talk a fair amount about it with clients interested in purchasing coverage, and demand is definitely increasing,” he went on, noting that, until recently, cyber liability wasn’t a hot topic outside of the retail, medical, and financial-services industries, but it’s becoming clearer that many other types of enterprise are at risk.

In a recent article on its website, Ross Insurance Agency in Holyoke noted that incidents like the Target breach in 2013 (70 million customer records exposed) and the Neiman Marcus breach around the same time (1 million customers affected) won plenty of headlines, yet a 2012 Verizon study revealed that 71% of breaches occur in businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Meanwhile, according to cybersecurity company McAfee, almost 90% of small and medium-sized U.S. businesses don’t use any form of data protection.

“This is one of the most forefront issues we have, something we talk about all the time,” Kevin Ross, vice president of Ross Insurance, told BusinessWest. “Coverage is becoming more widely available and broader in scope. We have not experienced any losses here with our clients, but we do know it’s a serious threat that can cause serious financial harm. Just because you haven’t had a fire doesn’t mean fire insurance isn’t important. We protect the financial integrity of clients from loss, and those losses could be severe.”

Indeed, cybercrime costs American businesses more than $100 billion per year, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“Lack of an incident can breed complacency. Companies think they’re OK, but lack of an event doesn’t mean they’re OK; it doesn’t mean they’ve done a good job,” said Bill Trudeau, president of the Insurance Center of New England (ICNE) in Agawam, adding that, while certain organizations have more to lose because of their customer exposure, almost all companies save employee data digitally.

Bill Trudeau

Bill Trudeau says hackers are always thinking up new ways to breach systems, and employers have to be prepared.

“Even in a small company, one that makes widgets and gets paid with checks, you could have some data-breach exposure with your employees, so it’s worth reviewing what kind of access you have,” he said. “If it happens to your 200 employees, it’s not going to be a heartwarming experience for you and your employees. You need to take a hard look at your computers and how you transmit information.”

Hefty Cost

According to the Ponemon Institute, which has been reporting on the cost of cybercrimes for the past several years, the cost to a company that falls victim to a data breach is $188 per record breached. Yet, business- and property-insurance policies typically exclude data risks from their terms, which has contributed to the emergence of cybersecurity insurance as a separate, standalone line of coverage.

That coverage typically protects against a wide range of losses that businesses may suffer directly or cause to others, and these come in two forms: first-party and third-party losses. Grinnell explained that third-party losses involve regulatory fines and lawsuits brought by affected customers, while first-party losses are what the business itself incurs up front, such as business-income loss, data-retrieval services, downtime, and notification of customers, to name a few. On average, first-party losses average about one-third of a breached company’s expenses.

“In a lot of small data breaches, say in a small store or a doctors’ office with 10 doctors, most costs are first-party costs,” Trudeau explained. “Then, later, you’re going to have liability claims because maybe someone did get injured, their identify got stolen, you may owe them compensation, or they could end up suing you, despite all your efforts. So a good cyber policy or data-breach policy has both coverage for first-party costs and a liability component that pays for these different injuries that have occurred.”

Some cybersecurity-insurance carriers pose a long series of questions on their application forms about the details of a company’s exposure to data risk, Trudeau said, and if the underwriter isn’t satisfied with the answers, they may not write the policy until certain practices have been changed and safeguards put in place.

Go HERE to download a PDF chart of the region’s Insurance Companies

“When it comes to a data breach which has occurred, a lot of what you do to take action up front can reduce your liability. If you self-report to authorities and if you have a turn-key response to it, that’s good,” he went on, noting that carriers that specialize in this type of coverage, like Beazley and Chubb, have turn-key response operations as part of the policy. “They’ve got forensic computer analysts that get into the system and see what went wrong, public-relations people who understand this issue — it’s not their first time trying to calm customers and the public as to what went wrong with your organization — and they also have third-party notification operations.”

Trudeau recommends that businesses hire a third party to poke around their computer systems and challenge their operations when necessary.

“People get used to their own surroundings and don’t know what they don’t know,” he said. “Just because you think your business isn’t super attractive to hackers doesn’t mean they’re not going to pick you. I think it’s important that people are always challenging their IT department or IT vendor, saying, ‘is this the best form of firewall?’

In fact, he added, ICNE works with a company that will provide an ethical hacker, which is someone not out to steal data, but to break into a system and then show the business what they found and how they got in.

“There has to be a discussion with the client about what they’re doing, how they’re identifying threats,” Ross added. “Everyone needs to be aware of it. Any time you’re dealing with any type of customer information, especially dealing with credit cards, Internet sales, anything that has to do with the web in any form or fashion, you could be exposed to liability should you be hacked and clients’ information be exposed. That’s the threat.”

Knowledge Is Power

The impact on businesses can be severe and long-term, the report noted, citing an Economist Intelligence Unit consumer survey conducted in 2013. It found that 18% of respondents had been a victim of a data breach, and, of those individuals, 38% said they no longer did business with the organization because of the breach. Meanwhile, 46% said they advised friends and family to be careful of sharing data with the breached company.

However, data breaches don’t always have malicious origins. According to the data breaches it serviced in 2013 and 2014, Beazley reported that the two most common sources of breaches are unintended disclosure, such as misdirected e-mails and faxes (31%), and the physical loss of paper records (24%), which is particularly prevalent among healthcare organizations.

Breaches due to malware or spyware represented only 11% of breaches in 2013 and 2014, but they have been increasing, the firm reported, with the total number of breaches in this category growing by 20% between 2013 and 2014. Due to heavy forensics costs — money spent to find out exactly how the breach occurred — these breaches are on average almost five times times more costly than unintended disclosure.

Still, considering the sheer number of cases of accidental data exposure, employers can take steps to prevent data theft, Ross noted. These include protecting every computer connected to the Internet or the internal network with anti-virus and anti-spyware software (including any laptops that connect wirelessly); installing security-software updates promptly to stay ahead of hackers; securing the company’s wi-fi network by requiring passwords or even configuring the wireless access point or router to hide the network name; securing computers and network components and requiring log-on passwords for all employees; and continually educating employees on security guidelines for computer, network, database, e-mail, and Internet usage, as well as penalties for violating those guidelines.

“The bad guys are always thinking up new things. It’s important to stay on top of it,” Trudeau added, noting that data breaches may not be doubling or tripling in frequency year over year, but they are rising slowly. The financial industry alone saw 642 incidents in 2014.

As a result, “the  number of people willing to buy data-breach insurance continues to increase year after year, as more customers start seeing it as something that should be part of their insurance portfolio,” he went on. “You need to be vigilant of the fact that someone may have come up with some way to hurt your organization that you’re not aware of yet.”

Grinnell told BusinessWest that there’s still too many holes out there, due to nothing more complicated than complacency.

“A lot of people think it it’s big businesses getting hacked — ‘they won’t get me.’ I think that’s beginning to change, but there’s a long way to go,” he said. “We need to get the word out and let people know the exposures that lurk out there and help them address them, both through insurance means and making sure they have the proper firewalls in place to prevent attacks as much as possible.”

In other words, anyone can be a Target, and there’s ample evidence that some common-sense precautions — and perhaps a well-written insurance policy — can go a long way.

Joseph Bednar can be reached a  [email protected]

Bounce! Provides a Lift for Old Cinema Complex

By
Commercial Real Estate Sections

Getting a Jump on the Competition

Bill Merrill, center, with fellow managing partners Rob Doty (left) and Greg Morgan

Bill Merrill, center, with fellow managing partners Rob Doty (left) and Greg Morgan, expect things to be hopping at Bounce!

It was property basically slated to go dark. That was the fate awaiting the closed cinema complex at the Springfield Plaza … until a group of entrepreneurs with some imagination commenced a process to make it a part of a new wave in business and recreation — trampoline sports. Early returns suggest the facility known as Bounce! was a leap worth taking.

Bill Merrill couldn’t help himself.

When asked how many young people — and some maybe not so young — he expects to see at his new venture, Bounce! Trampoline Sports, on a given day, week, or month, he started by saying, “well, when the place is hopping…’” in a voice that would indicate that he’s used the pun many times before.

Which he probably has. In fact, Merrill would be considered a veteran in this still very young business of trampoline sports — this is his second franchise with the firm Bounce! — and that experience helps explain why he endeavored to bring this concept to Springfield.

And it certainly helped him answer that earlier question. Indeed, Merrill would go on to do that math a little later — he’s anticipating perhaps 150,000 to 200,000 ‘jumpers,’ as they’re called, on an annual basis. In the meantime, he speculated that this establishment, carved out of roughly half the old cinema complex at the Springfield Plaza, will in fact be hopping.

That’s because there isn’t a facility like it in Western Mass., and there are only a few within a 50-mile radius. Meanwhile, a detailed demographic analysis revealed that the Greater Springfield area has the requisite large population of individuals ages 6-18 to make something like this work.

So the $1.5 million investment Merrill and several partners made was not exactly a huge leap from an entrepreneurial standpoint — pun fully intended.

However, it was, and is, a highly imaginative and rather involved reuse of some underperforming commercial real estate, and a gambit that became reality soon enough to keep the competition from … well, jumping in ahead of him.

Merrill, who is also a franchisee with the third Bounce! location, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., told BusinessWest that trampoline sports — another of those entrepreneurial trends that has moved from the West Coast to the Northeast — had been gaining considerable steam in New York and New England over the past several years. And he certainly wasn’t the only one scouting sites in the Springfield area, which was among the largest metropolitan areas in the Northeast that did have such a facility at the time.

Those searches were essentially called off, though, when Merrill and his partners went public with their plans at the closing on the lease last June.

Go HERE to find a listing of available commercial properties in Western Mass.

That was just as preliminary design work at the site was beginning, to be followed by extensive interior demolition and new construction that commenced in August and took five months to complete. Bounce! opened its doors on Jan. 29 and staged a grand opening a week later.

Early returns have been solid, and when he talked with BusinessWest, Merrill was looking ahead to the February school vacation as an effective barometer when it comes to whether his math — and his instincts — were right.

He thinks they’re on the money — literally and also figuratively — and he believes the Springfield complex has the facilities, location, and demographic footprint to be among the most successful trampoline centers in the country.

“I can say that because I’ve been to a lot of these parks,” he said. “This one is truly exceptional.”

For this issue and its focus on commercial real estate, BusinessWest takes a look at this different kind of business and how it has brought new life to a piece of property that was slated to go dark and sit idle.

Predicting an Early Spring

Bill Low, a broker with the Springfield-based commercial real-estate firm NAI Plotkin, said Merrill first approached him about finding a location for a trampoline-sports facility more than a year ago.

He didn’t appreciate then just how difficult it would be to secure a home for such a business, but it didn’t take him long to grasp the magnitude of the challenge.

It would come in several parts, but center on three main ingredients — location (that’s a priority for any retail business), parking, and finding the requisite open spaces and, especially, high ceilings — at least 20 feet is required.

“You need a specific type of property for this,” he noted. “And we launched an extensive search across this area. But there just weren’t many locations that fit the profile.”

Obstacle course at Bounce!

Obstacle course at Bounce!

In other parts of the country, and even Eastern Mass., warehouses have been successfully transformed into trampoline centers, said Merrill, and a few of those were considered in this region.

But, generally, they either lacked the proper dimensions, were located in out-of-the-way industrial areas, had insufficient parking, or a combination of the above. Other than that, they were ideal.

Other types of facilities were considered, such as the former Circuit City location at the corner of Parker Street and Boston Road in Springfield, as was the prospect of building to suit, said Merrill, adding that none of the apparent options on the table were very attractive, pricewise and otherwise. And that’s when another alternative emerged, seemingly from out of nowhere.

Actually, it emerged in the view out the window of the 99 Restaurant at the Springfield Plaza, where the various players in the bid to bring Bounce! to Springfield were having lunch and discussing various options, including the possibility of building a facility on a pad site at the plaza across the street from the restaurant.

That’s when the subject of the cinema complex came up, with Merrill soon learning it had just been acquired by Cinemark, owner of the theater complex on Riverdale Street in West Springfield and others in the region, with plans to place a deed restriction on it to essentially keep additional competition from entering the market.

“They told me the plan was to have that building go dark, and my jaw dropped,” said Merrill, adding that he was dismayed at the prospect of opening a new business next door to such a dormant hulk.

Fast-forwarding a little, the discussion shifted to perhaps leasing a portion of the former theater complex, which, with this use in mind, was eventually sold back to Springfield Plaza owners the Davenport Companies and Albany Road Real Estate as a site for Bounce!

Working with Shelburne Falls-based architect Joe Mattei, Merrill and fellow managing partners Rob Dory and Greg Morgan soon took their concept from their imaginations to the drawing board, and then to the big screen — well, nine of them, actually, comprising roughly 35,000 square feet of jumping space.

That’s how many of the old theaters were leveled, in every sense of that construction term, to make way for a host of different experiences for those aforementioned jumpers.

There are several party rooms, for example, which, as that name implies, are smaller rooms designed to host birthday parties — a few dozen have already been booked — and other gatherings. There are also larger, general bouncing rooms, carved out of the larger theaters, including one with three basketball hoops set at various heights to test those who can now dunk thanks to a lift from a trampoline.

There is a room for younger children, complete with a bounce house, and two so-called Xtreme rooms. There, visitors can find American Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses of varying levels of difficulty. There are also spaces for dodgeball games on trampolines, an activity that is growing in popularity, said Merrill.

The Springfield location hopes to draw from a wide area ranging from Northern Connecticut to New Hampshire; from the Berkshires to the western fringes of Worcester County, he went on, adding that, while young people and families comprise the primary target audiences, the facility is also hoping to draw students from the many colleges and universities across the area.

He notes that both geographic location and the quality of the venue are factors that will play into those expectations.

“Bounce! is really the Cadillac of this business,” he said. “There are several people doing this now, but these facilities set the standard.”

Uplifting Experience

Whether that standard will translate into business success remains to be seen, but all signs seem to indicate that this facility will indeed be hopping.

And if that’s the case, then it will mean a much different fate for a location that had seen the lights go out and was looking at a fairly dark future.

George O’Brien can reached at [email protected]

Mercedes Dealership Planned for Site Off Turnpike in Chicopee

By
Commercial Real Estate Sections

At a Crossroads

Mercedes LogoWhen Peter Wirth and his business partner, Rich Hesse, commenced their search for a site to locate a Mercedes dealership that would serve Western Mass. and Northern Conn., they started, well, where one might think they would start — Riverdale Street in West Springfield.

There are more than a half-dozen dealerships already on that stretch for a reason — actually several reasons, he told BusinessWest, listing everything from traffic counts to accessibility (I-91 and the Mass Pike both have exits on or just off that road) to the fact that the bevy of brands there acts as a magnet for car shoppers.

But while their search started on that throughfare, it didn’t end there. Indeed, upon riding up and down Riverdale Street a few times, the partners came away unimpressed with available options and disenchanted by obvious challenges — from holiday-season bottlenecks to the long drives needed to turn around and get on the desired side of the street.

So they turned their attention elsewhere, and eventually found a site far less obvious, but with all or most of those aforementioned amenities found in West Side.

Indeed, Wirth and Hesse will soon close on the property just off Turnpike exit 6 and at the tail end of Route 291, which has been home to hotels with a succession of names, most recently the Plantation Inn, which closed several years ago. This is the site known to many as the long-time home of white statue known colloquially, and simply, as the ‘Country Ford guy,’ because it previously graced that dealership for many years.

By June, the partners expect to complete demolition and then start construction of a 35,000-square-foot facility that will bring a Mercedes dealership back to Western Mass. for the first time in more than a decade.

This is an $11.8 million undertaking when one factors in the purchase of the property, demolition, and new construction, Wirth — co-owner, with Hesse, of Mercedes Benz of Nanuet, N.Y. — told BusinessWest, adding that he believes this constitutes a sound investment.

And the location they eventually chose is a big reason why.

“It’s at the intersection of two highways, and it couldn’t be any easier to get to,” he said, adding that the site is convenient for most everyone living or working in the dealership’s large territory — from just west of Worcester to the New York line; from the Vermont border into the Northern Conn. region.

Wirth told BusinessWest that he and Hesse were approached by Mercedes about bringing the brand back to the 413 area code — the closest dealership is in Hartford — and the partners, after some research, concluded this was a market in which they and the German carmaker could thrive.

“Mercedes recognized that the Western Mass. and Northern Connecticut markets were somewhat underserved, and that there is an opportunity there for the brand,” he explained. “They asked us to partner with them to bring the brand back to the area.”

Those talks started roughly 18 months ago, he went on, adding that the search for a location commenced soon afterward, and it took most of 2015 to seal a deal. There were several priorities involved with that search, he said, adding that the dealership requires a minimum of four acres (the Plantation Inn site has six). Accessibility is also a major factor, as well as visibility, which this location also possesses.

It doesn’t have any other dealerships, he observed, adding that Mercedes is such a powerful brand, it doesn’t need help from other makes to draw people to the door.

“We decided fairly early on that we didn’t need to be there, and that there were actually several advantages to not being there,” he said of what amounts to an auto mile on Riverdale Street. “The Mercedes brand has enough attraction, enough pull, so that you don’t have to be where everyone else is.”

Wirth said the timetable, as currently constituted, calls for having the dealership open for business by the second quarter of 2017, and maybe the first quarter if everything falls into place smoothly.

As for the Country Ford guy, Wirth said it was still in residence on the property when the partners first looked at it, and they actually considered making it a part of the dealership.

But it now has a new owner, forever, and this Mercedes store will need a different identifier.

Wirth believes the Mercedes sign that adorns the property will be more than enough.

— George O’Brien

Keith G. Roy Construction Appoints Joshua David Roy Vice President

By
Daily News

WESTFIELD — Keith G. Roy Construction Inc., a construction and contracting company serving Massachusetts and Connecticut since 1946, announced that Joshua David Roy has been appointed vice president.

“Joshua is continuing a legacy of leadership at a local family-owned and -operated company,” said President Keith G. Roy.

Joshua developed his expertise by working side-by-side with both his grandfather, David, and his father, Keith, since his teenage years. He oversees and personally works on projects that include roofing; exterior builds, including decks and siding; as well as interior construction, including kitchens and baths. “I take particular pride in training our crew, project supervision, and customer service,” he said.

For more information about the company, visit kgroyconstruction.com.

Tenacity, Talent Help Women Navigate the Road of Auto Sales

By
Autos Sections

A Subtle Edge

Bonnie Nieroda

Bonnie Nieroda says she encountered a “boy’s club” when she first started selling cars, but times have changed in some respects.

When Carol Buker started selling Fords 42 years ago, it wasn’t unusual for her to encounter blatant sexism. Some male customers refused to talk to her, while others didn’t believe a word she said.

“I remember one man who came to the dealership wanting to know about trucks; he told me, ‘I am not about to talk to you,’” said Buker, a sales and leasing consultant for Toyota of Greenfield, adding that the roles of men and women had been set in stone and many people didn’t feel a female had any credibility or belonged on the sales lot.

Bonnie Nieroda faced similar challenges that were exacerbated by male co-workers who wanted to drive her out of the business.

“It was a tough industry, and selling cars was a boy’s club,” she said, citing memories of a finance manager who refused to process her deals because the salesmen didn’t want her there. “They conspired against me and took bets on how long I would last. They gave me a month.”

She not only beat their predictions, but outlasted most of them, became a success, and has been happily employed as a master certified sales consultant at Marcotte Ford in Holyoke for seven years.

Barbara Spear expected to confront discrimination when she was hired as a salesperson at Balise Lexus because she had encountered it during her previous job as general manager of a construction company. However she didn’t anticipate cynicism from other females, and was shocked by a friend’s response when she told her about her new job.

“She asked me why they would even consider hiring a woman,” Spear said, admitting, “I knew nothing about cars and had never even pumped my own gas when I took this job. But I had spent my whole life in sales, knew I could sell anything, and am a people person who really loves making my customers happy.”

Today, she numbers among an elite group of females who excel in a male-dominated industry. In fact, only 7% of auto salespeople are female, despite the fact that women play a leading role in 85% of auto purchases.

“It’s not an easy job. You have to shovel and brush snow off cars in the winter and deal with the heat in the summer,” Buker said. “You miss out on a lot with your family due to the long hours, but you also gain a lot.”

Those gains include close relationships that females tend to form with customers who share stories about deaths, divorces, illnesses, and family problems with them. There are also financial rewards because it can be a very lucrative career, and these women say they couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“It gets into your blood,” said Jodi Colter, a sales manager for Fathers & Sons Volkswagen in West Springfield. “I took a two-year break when a family member became ill, but I always return. I like my staff, enjoy coaching people, and love the daily challenge of trying to make sales.”

Barbara Spear

Barbara Spear says selling cars isn’t easy, and doing it well means time spent away from family. But there are many rewards as well.

Spear concurred. “This business is about making new friends and continuing the relationships. I am a workaholic and tend to be here seven days a week to accommodate customers, but I compete against myself and do very well,” she noted.

These women, in other words, are willing to go above and beyond to make prospective buyers happy.

For example, Nieroda had a female client who had her drive two different cars to the graveyard where her father was buried because she felt he would give her a sign as to which vehicle she should purchase.

“I just sat in the car while she got out,” she explained.

Bumpy Road

Some women find jobs in auto sales by happenstance, while others enter the field dreaming of autonomy and economic sufficiency. But the substantial sacrifices required to travel down such a road cause many to drive away from the futures they projected for themselves.

Colter’s career began after she was hired as a receptionist by Balise Motor Sales in 1996. She took the job to pay for college, and “became enchanted by the sales process” when she worked with the sales team.

Since that time, she has seen many female sales associates come and go, and said one of the toughest obstacles they face is balancing family life with the demands of a job that can require them to work six or seven days a week, plus holidays.

“I have a 4-year-old and a 14-year-old, but I also have a nanny; I’ve seen many single parents quit because of the hours,” she told BusinessWest. “Every mom wants to be home with her kids, and although it’s important to guys, they may be geared a little bit differently. Throughout the history of time, men have always been away from home working.”

But Colter and other saleswomen said that, if their peers are lucky enough to have family to help with children, or choose to make the sacrifices required to perform this work, they quickly discover their innate ability to communicate gives them a subtle — or maybe not-so-subtle — edge over male co-workers.

“When customers see me come out of my office, there is always an element of surprise,” Colter noted. “But then they seem to let their guard down … they joke with me and say, ‘so you’re the boss?’”

She takes such comments in stride. “You have to have a thick skin in this business, and I don’t get the objections some males do when they start to discuss numbers,” she went on. “Seeing a woman’s face can be refreshing, and some female buyers are more comfortable dealing with another woman. And if someone only wants to deal with a man, you can’t take it personally.”

Jodi Colter

Jodi Colter says selling cars “gets into your blood.”


Buker says things have improved dramatically over the years and agrees that women have an advantage that comes to them naturally: their ability to listen empathetically and form bonds with people quickly.

She recalled one woman who purchased a car, then came back and sat at her desk and sobbed because her husband was very sick and she knew Buker would be sympathetic.

“I interact with my customers as if they are my friends. It’s just how I am,” she said, explaining that she knows many people have felt intimidated by auto salespeople and believe buying a vehicle is a confrontational experience.

She fell into the job after graduating from college and has never regretted it.

“I really love being able to help people,” she said. “Sometimes they don’t know what they want, have a problem with the website, or don’t know whether to repair their vehicle or buy a new one. I give them advice and have taken them into our service department if I feel it’s necessary because I want them to feel comfortable with their decision.”

Indeed, feeling respected is a critical factor in the profession, but saleswomen have heard stories from women about how they were insulted by salesmen.

“Women have told me they felt as if they have been talked down to,” Nieroda said. “But nine times out of 10, the woman in the family is the one who controls the sale. If she feels it’s not a good value, the answer will be ‘no.’”

Still, the stories abound. One woman told Spear she picked out a car, and when she was ready to purchase it, the salesman told her he would not discuss price unless she returned with her husband. Meanwhile, she recalled, another woman sat in the parking lot and sent her husband inside to buy a car until Spear coaxed her out of her car and listened to stories about bad experiences she had had in the past.

“I think women tend to be softer and a little more compassionate when it comes to sales. I tell my customers it’s their money, so it needs to be their decision; there shouldn’t be any pressure,” she said.

Changing Field

The Internet has had a dramatic affect on the way vehicles are sold.

“It has opened up the doors to the world,” Spear said.

But there are pros and cons: dealers lose sales because a car doesn’t have the exact specifications someone is looking for, but gain them if they have it in stock, even when the buyer lives in a distant state.

“I’ve shipped cars to Nigeria, Texas, Washington State, and California,” Spear said, noting that it’s not uncommon for people to purchase a certified auto via the Internet without ever test-driving it because they know it has gone through a 161-point inspection and is under warranty.

However, some still want the experience of seeing the vehicle, sitting in it, or taking it for a test drive, and will drive long distances or fly to the dealership, then make the purchase and drive their new auto home.

However, this can lead to less personal interaction, and although Buker applauds the research people do in advance of a purchase, she misses the ties that are forged when both parties work together to find a vehicle that fits their needs.

Other changes in the industry include the fact that advertising is being geared more toward advances in technology than improvements in the vehicles.

“We used to sell cars, but now we are selling technology — cars that can park themselves, radar that lights up when another automobile is passing, power lifts, and all types of sensors,” Nieroda said.

Buker agrees. “When I was a kid, it was a big thing when a new car was introduced to the market. People would line up in front of a dealership to see it, but today everything is online, and people can find what they want there.”

That includes prices for new vehicles advertised on general websites, which can become problematic because they don’t include docking and destination fees, CARFAX reports, or the cost of certifying a vehicle.

“Some people expect dealers to function without making any profit at all,” Nieroda said, citing another challenge.

She thinks sexism still exists in the auto-sales industry, although it definitely has lessened.

“I sell more trucks than the guys here, but you still don’t see many women in this business, and I imagine some people think I’m an anomaly,” she said. “The industry continues to be dominated by males, but it’s a lucrative field and women are not only smart, we probably have an edge because some people are more comfortable dealing with us. I can’t tell you how wonderful people are; I’ve gotten cards and flowers, and it really is a wonderful feeling to sell to one generation, then the next.”

Colter agrees. “If you love automobiles, this is a great field, and seeing a woman’s face can be refreshing. We’re compassionate and good listeners, so even men drop their guard and talk to us. But you do have to have thick skin, and you can’t take things personally.”

These women have conquered these challenges and others they have faced, and focus on the positive aspects of their business as they navigate the road to success using skills — both natural and honed — to help people purchase the perfect vehicle.

Real Estate Transactions

By
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

BERNARDSTON

91 West Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $260,831
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Mark Healy
Date: 01/04/16

BUCKLAND

4 Clement St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jesus Salgado
Seller: Patricia A. Donohue
Date: 01/06/16

2 Laurel St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Friedman
Seller: Pamela E. Parker
Date: 12/30/15

27 Orcutt Hill Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: John R. Holden
Seller: Ruth M. Bosch
Date: 01/07/16

36 State St.
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Donald T. Dodge
Seller: Phillips B. Sherburne
Date: 12/31/15

CHARLEMONT

71 West Oxbow Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Elizabeth J. Gonzalez
Seller: Henry Dymerski
Date: 12/28/15

CONWAY

59 Shelburne Falls Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Gregory D. Smith
Seller: James Boehmer
Date: 01/08/16

DEERFIELD

5 Industrial Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $1,916,250
Buyer: Deerfield Industrial LLC
Seller: CMLT 2008 LSI Ind. 5 LLC
Date: 12/29/15

ERVING

28 Forest St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $151,270
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: James Sicard
Date: 12/29/15

143 North St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Joshua D. Hodges
Seller: Shawn D. Conway
Date: 12/29/15

8 Union St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Chase
Seller: Jason T. Liimatainen
Date: 01/05/16

GREENFIELD

7 Alden St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $223,348
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: John Snide
Date: 12/30/15

9 Carol Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Christopher Kimball
Date: 12/28/15

26 Congress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Christopher V. Mason
Seller: Frances T. Cassidy
Date: 12/30/15

30-32 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Grinnell Properties LLC
Seller: Greenfield Savings Bank
Date: 01/06/16

55 White Birch Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $131,500
Buyer: Darlene A. Holland
Seller: US Bank
Date: 01/04/16

HAWLEY

28 West Hawley Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Tedd F. White
Seller: Lisa A. Turner
Date: 12/28/15

LEVERETT

79 Hemenway Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Patrick R. Jernigan
Seller: Roberts, Doris H., (Estate)
Date: 01/08/16

MONTAGUE

82 Montague St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Timothy A. Broga
Seller: Shelley M. May
Date: 12/29/15

75 Turnpike Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $146,100
Buyer: Frances C. Macphail
Seller: US Bank
Date: 12/31/15

NEW SALEM

12 East Eagleville Lane
New Salem, MA 01331
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Christopher A. Kingsbury
Seller: Parker B. Edson
Date: 12/31/15

ORANGE

504 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Erwin H. Merrifield
Seller: Steven T. Canning
Date: 12/30/15

117 Hayden St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Richard A. Jones
Seller: Logan Reid Ventures LLC
Date: 12/29/15

558 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $257,900
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Richard J. Delrossi
Date: 12/30/15

SUNDERLAND

258 River Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Benjamin J. Snyder
Seller: Martha G. Bushey
Date: 12/30/15

WARWICK

315 Wendell Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $136,500
Buyer: Stone Financing LLC
Seller: Kirk S. Valentine
Date: 12/31/15

WHATELY

223 River Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Timothy Viens
Seller: Mindy T. Thach
Date: 01/04/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

262 Cooper St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Riccardo A. Panaia
Seller: Timothy F. Sugrue
Date: 12/29/15

138 Elmar Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Gina G. Daniele
Seller: Eric J. Vieu
Date: 01/06/16

69 Randall St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Robert H. Greany
Seller: Thelma U. Troie
Date: 01/08/16

19-21 Hope Farms Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kevin D. Ghareeb
Seller: Kristin E. Bistany
Date: 12/30/15

48 Howard St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Ellen Mwapaura
Seller: Daglio, Gloria L., (Estate)
Date: 12/29/15

321 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Marcon Investments LLC
Seller: O’Connell Oil Associates
Date: 12/30/15

1004 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: 1004 Springfield St. LLC
Seller: Ellsworth W. Smith
Date: 01/08/16

650 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Yash RT
Seller: Donald A. Scott
Date: 12/28/15

43 Witheridge St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Vernon P. Farmer
Seller: Kylee C. Granfield
Date: 12/30/15

BLANDFORD

9 Woronoco Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Turrell
Seller: Francis Zak
Date: 12/30/15

BRIMFIELD

185 Old Sturbridge Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $168,900
Buyer: Mark R. Bastien
Seller: Jason P. Foskett
Date: 12/31/15

CHICOPEE

119 Artisan St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Jonathan Robert
Seller: Mitchel M. Plamondon
Date: 12/31/15

95 Deslauriers St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $192,900
Buyer: Kevin St. Georges
Seller: G. F. Bergeron-Chartier
Date: 12/31/15

342 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: NAP Properties LLC
Seller: K&A LLC
Date: 01/05/16

53 Green St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Michael Kruzel
Seller: Eleanor R. Kapinos
Date: 12/29/15

14 Guerin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Patrick A. Ganieany
Seller: Karen A. Kosoirek
Date: 12/30/15

101 Holyoke Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Sydney J. Roy
Seller: Nathan T. Baker
Date: 01/08/16

15 Nadeau Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Gordafreed D. Gardin
Seller: Joseph M. Kokoszka
Date: 12/31/15

65 Pondview Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $139,500
Buyer: Maura M. Livingstone
Seller: Mary L. Coalson
Date: 01/06/16

42 Sandra Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,500
Buyer: Robert L. Scribner
Seller: Michael A. Scribner
Date: 12/31/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

75 Alpine Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $156,900
Buyer: Nicholas L. Scholtz
Seller: Joseph A. Panzetti
Date: 12/29/15

76 Brookhaven Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Melanie Bliss
Seller: Antonio Truoiolo
Date: 01/08/16

115 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Anthony Hernandez
Seller: FNMA
Date: 12/28/15

231 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Maritza L. Zavala
Seller: Paul M. Foley
Date: 12/30/15

520 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Cafe CT LLC
Seller: Antonio Coelho
Date: 01/06/16

7 Odion St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $218,900
Buyer: German Garcia
Seller: Kevin M. Reed
Date: 01/06/16

21 Oxford Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Antonio Truoiolo
Seller: Thomas P. Hanifan
Date: 01/08/16

Pondview Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Custom Homes Development Group
Seller: Joseph Chapdelaine & Sons
Date: 01/07/16

746 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Yaw Sarpong
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 12/30/15

470 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Robert J. Mazur
Seller: Kenneth A. Richard
Date: 12/30/15

56 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Heather M. Locklear
Seller: Vincent A. Vaicekauskas
Date: 12/28/15

71 Stonehill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Timothy Shea
Seller: Gary T. Lloyd
Date: 12/31/15

GRANVILLE

272 Silver St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: John P. Yeakley
Seller: Travis A. Gaffey
Date: 01/08/16

552 South Lane
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: William H. Adair
Seller: John A. Cosmus
Date: 12/30/15

HAMPDEN

11 Maple Grove Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $378,500
Buyer: Mark Tobias
Seller: Jerry Ago
Date: 01/04/16

365 South Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $338,900
Buyer: Robert Vanwart
Seller: James K. Quackenbush
Date: 01/07/16

146 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Fletcher & Maple LLC
Seller: Timothy S. Shea
Date: 12/29/15

66 Woodland Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Mary Persaud
Seller: O’Donnell, William J., (Estate)

HOLLAND

10 Julia Ann Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: David A. Lopez
Seller: Christian D. Lund
Date: 12/29/15

HOLYOKE

91 Bemis Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Paul J. Maiolo
Seller: Ian Lafond
Date: 12/29/15

173-175 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Angel L. Rodriguez
Seller: Raymond F. Turgeon
Date: 01/04/16

393 Cherry St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Thomas W. Dziok
Seller: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Date: 12/29/15

1093 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Edwin Gonzalez
Seller: Bogumil Kazmierczak
Date: 12/30/15

205-207 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Hunter Allen
Seller: Saray Kon
Date: 12/31/15

7 Thorpe Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Yarland Properties LLC
Seller: Hilltop Garden Apartments
Date: 01/08/16

31 Valley Heights
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Corbin A. Lavertu
Seller: Roy, Robert H., (Estate)
Date: 12/30/15

222 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Marisol Figueroa
Seller: Elizabeth Rivera
Date: 01/06/16

230 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Melvin Pagan
Seller: Reynardo J. Nazario
Date: 12/30/15

330 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $128,284
Buyer: Miriam Villa-Ayala
Seller: Jeffrey Ocampo
Date: 01/07/16

LONGMEADOW

275 Burbank Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $268,250
Buyer: Brendan Fitzgerald
Seller: David Trenkner
Date: 01/05/16

429 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Yisroel Gesin
Seller: Joseph A. Garofalo
Date: 01/04/16

1069 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $319,900
Buyer: Douglas Ferro
Seller: Ira Smolowitz
Date: 01/08/16

57 Maplewood St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Esther M. Kim
Seller: Carl W. Janovsky
Date: 01/05/16

97 Tecumseh Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Buyer: Shambhu Rana
Seller: Sodi Inc.
Date: 01/04/16

35 Twin Brook Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Christopher P. Hayes
Seller: Natasha A. Reid
Date: 12/28/15

LUDLOW

163 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Fernando L. Ribeiro
Seller: Arthur A. Flanagan
Date: 01/08/16

91 Chapin Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Jettie C. McCullough
Seller: Edward C. Bryant
Date: 12/31/15

110 James St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Anna Vargas
Seller: Amelia Santos-Dias
Date: 12/28/15

219 Kendall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: John Carvalho
Seller: Jimmy Canoa
Date: 12/29/15

70-72 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Beau Stjacques
Seller: Paulo C. Ramos
Date: 12/30/15

68 Ray St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Nicole L. White
Seller: Laura L. Poehler
Date: 12/28/15

221 Wedgewood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: David M. Garcia
Seller: Kevin Czaplicki
Date: 12/30/15

137 West Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: James R. Soffen
Seller: Brian Liberty
Date: 12/31/15

343 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: 341-343 Winsor Street LLC
Seller: Macs LLC
Date: 12/31/15

MONSON

35 Elm St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Erica M. Brunell
Seller: Bayview Loan Servicing
Date: 01/06/16

24 Old Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Keith M. Ostrander
Seller: William J. O’Neil
Date: 01/05/16

PALMER

24 Breton St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $170,300
Buyer: Jessy I. Salsbury
Seller: Barnes, Joyce M., (Estate)
Date: 01/06/16

N/A
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Brad F. Brothers
Seller: Paul J. Demers
Date: 12/29/15

1060 Overlook Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Kimberly Bailey
Seller: Ryan M. McMullen
Date: 01/06/16

2118-2120 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Alyson Hann
Seller: James F. Shea
Date: 01/04/16

RUSSELL

160 Timberidge Dr.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Gregory J. Pascale
Seller: Brian C. Ober
Date: 12/28/15

121 Westwood Dr.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Steven M. Zayac
Seller: Mary A. Carlson
Date: 12/30/15

SOUTHWICK

162 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Patrice N. Stearley
Seller: Michael J. Zalucki
Date: 12/28/15

300 College Highway
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: TSC Enterprises LLC
Seller: David B. Spillane
Date: 01/08/16

194 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Dale T. Lafayette
Seller: Lynn K. McMullin
Date: 01/08/16

9 Industrial Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: TSC Enterprises LLC
Seller: 9 Industrial Road LLC
Date: 12/31/15

12 Maple St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: David W. Hamel
Seller: Vernon P. Famer
Date: 12/30/15

285 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Rebecca M. Joslin
Seller: Dale T. Lafayette
Date: 01/08/16

181 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jose Canini
Seller: Timothy J. Mannion
Date: 12/30/15

SPRINGFIELD

1800 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $915,649
Buyer: Blue Hills Fuels LLC
Seller: Cumberland Farms Inc.
Date: 12/31/15

68 Birchland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Debra A. Gomes
Seller: Penniman, Mildred M., (Estate)
Date: 01/08/16

97 Bremen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $146,400
Buyer: Bernadette Davis
Seller: Jay Weissman
Date: 12/31/15

26 Burnside Terrace
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jolene Alexander
Seller: Jackson H. Williams
Date: 01/07/16

837-839 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jeauvon L. Garcia
Seller: Gloria Turner
Date: 12/30/15

19 Chalfonte Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $169,500
Buyer: Lauren Dembek
Seller: Robert M. Wood
Date: 01/06/16

14 Chesterfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Denault
Seller: William Raleigh
Date: 01/07/16

7 Dana St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Sergul Durdu
Seller: George S. Elias
Date: 01/07/16

26 Delano Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Christina Dacruz
Seller: Timothy Clark
Date: 01/08/16

63 Farnsworth St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Cesar C. Acevedo
Seller: Cesar Acevedo
Date: 12/30/15

108-110 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Karla M. Rivera
Seller: Gustavo E. Bautista
Date: 12/30/15

30 Gold St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Fernando A. Suero
Date: 12/31/15

217 Hanson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Lee Dutil
Seller: Deborah Tracy
Date: 01/06/16

67 Jordan St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Aaron R. Goncalves
Seller: Pszczyna RT
Date: 01/07/16

36 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $154,500
Buyer: Torena C. Webb-Thomas
Seller: Asbel Nunez
Date: 12/30/15

42 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $154,500
Buyer: Torena C. Webb-Thomas
Seller: Asbel Nunez
Date: 12/30/15

32 Larkspur St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Babette Pellechia-Reyes
Seller: Danielle C. Armstrong
Date: 12/29/15

236 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,650
Buyer: Luis M. Ovalle
Seller: Anthony Carnevale
Date: 12/30/15

112 Maybrook Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Eugene Ortiz-Reyes
Seller: Merlo Associates Inc.
Date: 12/29/15

9 Montcalm St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $198,700
Buyer: Yekaterina A. Alekseyeva
Seller: KAC Properties LLC
Date: 12/28/15

53 Murray Hill Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $147,300
Buyer: Richard R. Wilkins
Seller: Robert J. Smith
Date: 01/05/16

59 Pinevale St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Raddy O. Nunez
Seller: KEM Management LLC
Date: 01/07/16

117 Portulaca Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Tamari J. Martinez
Seller: Nathaniel M. Murray
Date: 01/05/16

163-165 Prospect St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Yeison Ramirez
Seller: Begaina Lopez
Date: 01/08/16

15 Rollins St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $142,383
Buyer: Sergey Savonin
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 01/05/16

50 Rollins St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Cassandra Martinez
Seller: Jonathan K. Willoughby
Date: 01/05/16

2025 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $2,090,000
Buyer: WD 2025 Roosevelt LLC
Seller: Bay State Gas Co.
Date: 12/29/15

68 Somerset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Neil Bridgman
Seller: Michael J. Martino
Date: 12/29/15

428-430 Springfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Norse Properties LLC
Seller: Croken, Edward D., (Estate)
Date: 12/31/15

159 Stapleton Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Andy Ocasio
Seller: Maria L. Perez
Date: 12/29/15

515 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Thanh Huynh
Seller: David G. Stevens
Date: 12/29/15

68 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Johnny F. Izquierdo
Seller: Anwar Properties LLC
Date: 12/29/15

68 Whittier St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Holly Alvarez-Savageau
Seller: Diep Lam
Date: 12/31/15

2163 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $151,871
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Sammie L. Smith
Date: 12/30/15

WALES

18 Lynch Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Robert C. Milne
Seller: Theresa M. Smart
Date: 12/30/15

25 Lynch Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: John S. Griswold
Seller: Judith M. Chisholm
Date: 12/31/15

39 Stafford Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Jason Prokowiew
Seller: Stephen M. Dennis
Date: 12/30/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

103 Herrman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Stephanie R. Dowers
Seller: Freshour, John H., (Estate)
Date: 01/04/16

39 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: John R. Bowers
Seller: Ann E. Phaneuf
Date: 01/08/16

106 Lincoln St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,722
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Tracy L. Hartshorn
Date: 12/29/15

811 Memorial Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Central Chevrolet Inc.
Seller: William R. Bayton
Date: 12/31/15

44 Morningside Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Mandy C. Chan
Seller: Donald Pomeroy
Date: 01/08/16

39 Mulcahy Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $424,900
Buyer: Hassen M. Borhot
Seller: Francis Wheeler Construction
Date: 01/07/16

294 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $189,900
Seller: Raymond M. Dutkiewicz
Date: 01/07/16

22 Prospect St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Battista & Sons Property Mgmt.
Seller: Paula A. Remington
Date: 12/29/15

885 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $2,050,000
Buyer: 66 West Springfeild Realty
Seller: Veerji LLC
Date: 01/07/16

75 Sagamore Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,500
Buyer: Gary P. Acebuche
Seller: Terence J. Hurlbut
Date: 01/06/16

30 Vincent Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $194,900
Seller: Flagstone Properties Inc.
Date: 12/29/15

2482 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Keith D. Cosimini
Seller: Jan C. Trudell
Date: 12/29/15

William Frank Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $364,875
Buyer: MWF Realty Realty LLC
Seller: Klondike Investment Group
Date: 12/29/15

WESTFIELD

39 Crane Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Nadezhda Shlykova
Seller: Ruth M. Minkus
Date: 01/07/16

78 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $357,920
Buyer: Jeffrey V. Cormier
Seller: Granville Road LLC
Date: 01/08/16

19 Hancock St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Boris Kuklin
Seller: Benjamin Solokhin
Date: 12/28/15

41 Heritage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Jason Worrell
Seller: David A. Amanti
Date: 12/30/15

113 Lindbergh Blvd.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Michael P. Daly
Seller: Robert K. Walker
Date: 01/05/16

35 Northwest Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $194,500
Buyer: Amanda M. Leclair
Seller: Wanda L. Lafogg
Date: 01/04/16

57 Orchard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Routhier
Seller: Sitler, Helen E., (Estate)
Date: 12/30/15

16 Phillip Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Thomson
Seller: Nancy A. Smith
Date: 12/28/15

22 Phillip Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Quinn
Seller: Craig A. Thomas
Date: 12/29/15

39 Riverside Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: David D. Duda
Seller: Anna D. Dalikas
Date: 12/30/15

136 Shannon Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Philip Chabot
Seller: Rene Chabot
Date: 12/31/15

46 Vadnais St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $126,500
Buyer: Aaron M. Kline
Seller: Steve N. Spelman
Date: 01/05/16

WILBRAHAM

36 Longview Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Rebecca C. Gay
Seller: Phyllis A. Murphy
Date: 12/28/15

123 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: James J. Charles
Seller: Corrine E. Sawyer
Date: 12/30/15

25 Pleasant View Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $378,000
Buyer: Derek Fergus
Seller: Michael F. Ware
Date: 12/31/15

Stonington Dr. #14
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Peter D. Martins
Seller: Silo Farm Associates LLC
Date: 01/08/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

BELCHERTOWN

66 Chadbourne Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Carleen S. Sullivan
Seller: Deborah L. Dunbar
Date: 01/04/16

95 Enoch Sanford Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Deirdre Marley
Seller: Elizabeth B. Holtzman
Date: 12/31/15

Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Lori A. Alves
Seller: David A. Ladizki
Date: 12/28/15

25 Lexington Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Norman B. Veroneau
Seller: Jeannine B. Daskam
Date: 12/29/15

205 Orchard St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Sara B. Trowbridge
Seller: L. P. Audette Builders Inc.
Date: 01/05/16

47 Sargent St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $150,700
Buyer: Christopher M. Johnson
Seller: Karen A. Utley
Date: 12/29/15

141 Sargent St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Erik Gay
Seller: Linda T. Gay
Date: 12/31/15

131 Warner St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Loretta W. Lyons
Seller: Michele F. Critelli
Date: 01/04/16

CUMMINGTON

16 Jordan Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $246,500
Buyer: Nathan Buckhout
Seller: Gregory A. Jordan
Date: 01/04/16

EASTHAMPTON

10 Alden St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $208,500
Buyer: Jacqueline B. Siller
Seller: Brousseau, Barbara A., (Estate)
Date: 01/04/16

7 Allen St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Ruth A. Barrett IRT
Seller: Rita L. Bartlett
Date: 01/08/16

396 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $221,500
Buyer: Peter E. Jalbert
Seller: Linda L. McDonald
Date: 12/31/15

12 Emily Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $321,900
Buyer: Ryan M. Jones
Seller: Michael A. Jurkowski
Date: 12/30/15

51 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Wilson G. Buri
Seller: Mark T. McDowell
Date: 12/30/15

49 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Maureen L. Belliveau
Seller: Michael D. Thibault
Date: 12/30/15

4 Knight Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Ralph S. Robitaille
Seller: Fletcher S. Smith
Date: 12/30/15

65 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: David P. Lang
Seller: Richard W. Koloszyc
Date: 01/08/16

90-92 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Alan Verson
Seller: William J. Schalk
Date: 12/31/15

89 Northampton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $224,800
Buyer: Danielle Martineau
Seller: Charles E. Yates
Date: 12/29/15

107 Plain St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Robert C. Fedor
Seller: Linda A. Keyes
Date: 12/30/15

30 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Michael J. O’Connor
Seller: Herbert A. Peterson
Date: 01/08/16

119 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: John A. Deiling
Seller: Nancy F. MacDonald RET
Date: 01/05/16

GRANBY

242 Amherst St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Emily D. Souza
Seller: Robert L. Gould
Date: 12/30/15

109 Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Mark B. Paul
Seller: Derek R. Mercure
Date: 12/31/15

HADLEY

121 Huntington Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Earle Shumway
Seller: Gerard P. Goodsell
Date: 01/06/16

36 Stockbridge Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Joan Zaskey
Seller: Zaskey Frank, (Estate)
Date: 01/04/16

HUNTINGTON

3 Lowell Lane
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Randy J. Lemire
Seller: Joseph E. Kellam
Date: 12/30/15

99 Searle Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $202,500
Buyer: Kellie E. Riel
Seller: Stephan W. Manley
Date: 01/08/16

NORTHAMPTON

21 5th Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Karine Roesch
Seller: John H. Fagan
Date: 12/30/15

6 Beaver Brook Loop
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Steven P. McDonough
Seller: Beaver Brook NT
Date: 12/29/15

1345 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: J. Laurel Pelis
Seller: John L. McKenna
Date: 12/31/15

133 Crescent St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Michael C. Sanders
Seller: Valerie J. Dahl
Date: 12/30/15

37 Henshaw Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $599,000
Buyer: Andrew M. Batchelor
Seller: Mary J. Price
Date: 12/29/15

401 Kennedy Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Jakob Palches
Seller: Gougeon, Norman A., (Estate)
Date: 12/30/15

53 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $159,500
Buyer: Kathryn Collins
Seller: Jeremy Winstead
Date: 12/31/15

52 Laurel St.
Amount: $306,250
Buyer: Carrie M. Banks
Seller: Scott W. Remick
Date: 12/28/15

97 Locust St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jaynjane LLC
Seller: 97 Locust Street RT
Date: 01/06/16

65 Maple Ridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Louise L. Lopman
Seller: Stephanie B. Kelly
Date: 12/31/15

239 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Mary J. Price
Seller: Evelyn S. Berman
Date: 01/08/16

181 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: David I. Rosenfield
Seller: Charles T. Canalizo
Date: 01/08/16

PELHAM

137-B Packardville Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $134,500
Buyer: Wesley K. Couture
Seller: Barbara E. Deguise
Date: 12/31/15

SOUTH HADLEY

31 Riverlodge Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $363,366
Buyer: Robert E. Chouinard
Seller: Homes By Leblanc Inc.
Date: 12/28/15

10 Spring Meadows
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Erin K. Regan
Seller: Joseph R. Marchetti
Date: 01/06/16

SOUTHAMPTON

40 Coleman Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Michelle L. Swift
Seller: Kelly Cline
Date: 01/08/16

20 Gilbert Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Aaron G. Gay
Seller: Martin J. Sawyer
Date: 12/29/15

5 Miller Ave.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $261,261
Buyer: Martin J. Sawyer
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 12/29/15

WARE

76 Beaver Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Jay H. Frolick
Seller: Rosemarie T. Acquista
Date: 12/31/15

14 Laurel Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Clayton F. Jedziniak
Seller: Angela J. Lawrence
Date: 01/04/16

110 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Laura E. Gilmore
Seller: Scott Fershleiser
Date: 01/08/16

WILLIAMSBURG

1 Kellogg Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Poverty Mountain LLP
Seller: Charles H. Edwards
Date: 01/07/16

142 Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: American Dream Realty LLC
Seller: Berkshire Bank
Date: 01/07/16

10 Mountain St.
Williamsburg, MA 01062
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Michael Whalen
Seller: Pandora C. Redwin
Date: 01/05/16

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

• PeoplesBank announced the promotions and appointments of nine associates.
• Matthew Bannister has been appointed to Vice President, Corporate Responsibility. He possesses more than 30 years of brand management and corporate social-responsibility experience. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from UMass Amherst. His prior experience includes advertising, public relations, and event marketing for top advertising agencies and major nonprofit organizations;
• Paul Hillsburg has been promoted to Vice President, PeoplesFinancial and Insurance Services. With more than three decades of financial, sales, and business-development experience, he first joined the bank in 2008 and previously served as assistant vice president, PeoplesFinancial and Insurance Services. He holds an associate degree in business management from Springfield Technical Community College. He holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.
• Kristen Hua has been promoted to Vice President, Secondary Market. She possesses more than a decade of banking experience. She first joined the bank in May 2001 and previously served as assistant vice president, secondary market. She holds an MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and a bachelor’s degree from Providence College. She also is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies;
• Craig Kaylor has been appointed to Vice President, Compliance. He brings more than a decade of banking and financial experience to his new position, where he will be responsible for overseeing all compliance regulations and policies. He holds a juris doctor degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany, SUNY;
• Denise Lamory has been promoted to Vice President, Commercial Loan Administration. She possesses close to four decades of banking experience. She first joined the bank in August 1976 and previously served as assistant vice president, commercial loan administration. She holds several business and financial certificates from the Western Massachusetts Institute of Management Education Inc. and Holyoke Community College;
• Trisha Leary has been promoted to Vice President, Internal Control. She possesses more than a decade of financial experience. She first joined the bank in 2013 and previously served as risk oversight officer. She holds a master’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.
• Karen Sinopoli has been appointed to Vice President, Controller. She brings a decade of banking and audit experience to her new position, where she will be responsible for maintaining and supervising the financial record of the bank in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. She holds a master’s degree in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at the UMass Amherst and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pennsylvania State University;
• Donna Wiley has been promoted to Vice President, Regional Manager. She possesses close to four decades of banking experience. She first joined the bank in 1979 and previously served as assistant vice president, regional manager. She holds an associate degree in business administration from Holyoke Community College and graduated with honors from the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. School for Financial Studies; and
• Brian Rheaume has been promoted to assistant vice president, information technology. He possesses more than a decade of information-technology experience. He first joined the bank in 2002 and previously served as information technology officer supervisor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Westfield State University and is an A+ certified professional IT technician.
•••••
Kathleen McCormick and Peter Mirante have been appointed to the Berkshire Community College board of trustees. McCormick is a partner with McCormick, Murtagh & Marcus, a law firm in Great Barrington. She joined the firm in 2004 and was named partner in 2009. Her focus is on residential and commercial real estate, land use and permitting, construction law, business law, and estate planning. She previously clerked for First Justice David Kopleman in the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court and later served as an associate with the litigation firm Herlihy, Thursby & Herlihy in Boston. She has worked for well-known companies such as the Boston Celtics, the Jane Blalock Co., and Reebok International. McCormick holds a juris doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Assoc., the Berkshire County Bar Assoc., and the Real Estate Bar Assoc. of Massachusetts. She is dedicated to enriching the lives of disadvantaged youth and is an active community member serving on boards of numerous charitable organizations. Mirante, who has worked in the banking industry for more than 20 years, is senior vice president of Branch Administration at Greylock Federal Credit Union in Pittsfield. He joined Greylock in 1998 and has served in numerous management positions. Prior to joining Greylock, he worked for Patten Corp. and then Berkshire Bank.
Mirante holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the former North Adams State College. He has a long history of community service and currently serves on the boards of the Northern Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Family & Individual Resources, Berkshire Compact for Education, and North Adams Parks & Recreation. Darlene Rodowicz, who was recently reappointed board chair by Gov. Charlie Baker, noted that “the new board members bring a wealth of knowledge from their respective roles in the community. We are happy to have them join the BCC board of trustees as we continue to advance the mission of the college.”
•••••
Local law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. announced that attorney Steven Schwartz is the recipient of the Distinguished Advisor in Philanthropy Award. The award is presented annually by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts in partnership with the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County and the Pioneer Valley Estate Planning Council. Each year, the award’s recipient may recommend a Hampden, Hampshire, or Franklin county charity of their choice to receive a $1,000 grant. This year, Schwartz has decided to recommend the grant be made to the Children’s Study Home in recognition of its 150 anniversary. Schwartz concentrates his practice in the areas of family-business planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and estate planning. His practice involves representation of principals in family-business planning (including exit planning for business owners), representation of individuals and corporations in the purchase and sale of business enterprises, strategic planning for the future of clients’ businesses, and providing advice on alternatives in financing through loans and venture capital.
•••••
Pope Francis High School announced that John Goda, Athletic Director for Holyoke Catholic High School, has been appointed to the Athletic Director position for Pope Francis High School. The creation of Pope Francis High School was announced in 2015 when Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski revealed that Cathedral High School and Holyoke Catholic High School would merge into a new school, named in honor of the current Pope. While the official merger will take place to coincide with the next academic year, 2016-17, there has already been a joining together of the athletic programs. Goda, a 1987 graduate of Cathedral, started his career with Holyoke Catholic as a teacher in 1994, and took over as athletic director in 2003. Since the merger of Cathedral and Holyoke Catholic was announced, Goda has worked alongside Cathedral Athletic Director Joe Hegarty to oversee the combined athletic programs for Pope Francis High School. Hegarty recently vacated his position at Cathedral, and Goda will assume the role.
•••••
Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) announced the appointment of Phillip Candito to the position of Vice President of Business Development, where he is leading marketing and development efforts and focused on growing the organization. Candito worked as director of Business Development at the Eastern Connecticut Health Network in Manchester, Conn. for 10 years before coming to HMC. Previously, he served St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Conn. as director of Rehabilitation Services and Occupational Medicine, and as a physical therapist. Earlier, he earned a degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut; worked in television, video, and stage production for 10 years in Connecticut and New York City; re-enrolled at UConn and earned a degree in physical therapy, which he practiced for 10 years; then attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to earn his graduate degree.
•••••
TD Bank has named Karl Mirke assistant vice president, store manager of the location at 90 Main St. in North Adams. He is responsible for new-business development, consumer and business lending, managing personnel, and overseeing the day-to-day operations at the store, serving customers in Berkshire County, including North Adams, Clarksburg, Adams, Cheshire, Stamford, and Readsboro. Mirke has 11 years of retail banking experience. Prior to joining TD Bank, he served as assistant branch manager at Citizens Bank in Pittsfield. He is a 2003 graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams.
•••••
Aaron Smith, P.C., a certified public accounting firm, announced that certified public accountant Bernard “Buzz” Travers III will assume the role of managing director. In that role, Travers will provide leadership and direction to achieve the goals of the firm. He will oversee day-to-day management and will continue to cultivate the talents of all accountants and staff at Aaron Smith. Travers joined the firm in 1999 as a tax specialist. He is a certified public accountant in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. His areas of expertise include corporate, individual and fiduciary income tax; state and local income and sales and use taxation; federal and state tax audits; mergers and acquisitions; estate and gift taxation; nonprofit taxes; and bankruptcy taxation. In addition, he has assisted numerous business owners in the sale and purchase of businesses. He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bentley University and his juris doctor from Western New England University School of Law. He is past president of the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County Inc., past president of the Field Club of Longmeadow Inc., an officer and director of the Sportsmen’s National Land Trust Inc., and past treasurer of the Longmeadow High School hockey and lacrosse booster clubs.
•••••
Bob Barna has joined Whalley Computer Associates (WCA) as a consulting architect. Barna was employed by VMWare as a senior consultant for the last 16 months and has 19 years of experience in the IT industry. He spent 17 of those years as the senior systems engineer at Competitive Computing. He has earned numerous VMware certifications and has extensive experience in design enablement, developing business requirements and identifying use cases, architecture design, environment build, product pilot, documentations and knowledge transfer, and more. Barna joins a team at WCA that also includes another former VMWare employee, Dan Sullivan, who joined VMWare shortly after it was founded and, in his seven years there, served customers all over New England and New York as a VMware systems engineer, VMware account executive, and partner business manager. Sullivan, who now holds the role of senior solution architect at WCA, is a 39-year veteran of the IT industry, with a background that combines technical expertise and sales skills.
•••••
EMA Dental announced that Dr. Colleen Chambers has joined the practice as its newest associate. Chambers completed her undergraduate degree in biological sciences at the University of Connecticut and went on to earn her DMD at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. She was awarded the School of Dental Medicine Alumni Research Fellowship for her research with alveolar bone and implant integration using rh-PDGF-BB. She completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she focused on esthetics, general dentistry, and complex implant dental treatment. Chambers is proud to have had the opportunity to provide dental care to underserved communities at the CT Mission of Mercy, Remote Area Medical Services in Wise County, Va., and as part of a dental service trip to Honduras. She is a member of the American Dental Assoc., the Massachusetts Dental Society, and the Valley District Society.
•••••
Caroline Gear has been named executive director of the International Language Institute (ILI) of Massachusetts, located in Northampton. Gear joined ILI in 1986 as a Spanish and ESOL instructor, and in 1989, she became the school’s director of programs. In that capacity, she has been ILI’s primary coordinator with numerous partners, including area businesses, partner colleges and universities, the U.S. State Department, the Fulbright Scholars program, and the U.S. Commercial Service. She has written several articles on assessment and evaluation and regularly presents on teacher training and supervision, both regionally and nationally. Gear earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from State University of New York at Potsdam and her masters’ degree in Spanish literature from Michigan State University. In addition to her years at ILI, she has worked in Peru, Mexico, and Spain.
•••••
Lee Bank announced that Wendy Healey has been named to the position of Senior Vice President, Community Banking, and David Harrington has been named to the position of Vice President, Commercial Lending. Healey joins Lee Bank with experience in both the retail-banking and financial-technology sectors. She most recently served as senior vice president in charge of retail, sales, and marketing at Torrington Savings Bank. Prior to that, she was an independent financial services consultant while pursuing an MBA, and has held senior management roles at COCC Inc., a lead provider in core technology to the financial industry; Sovereign/Santander Bank; and People’s United Bank in Connecticut. As senior vice president in charge of community banking, Healey’s focus will be on existing and new customer relationships, as well as the design and fulfillment of new products and packages of services to meet customer needs. She will oversee policies, future business planning, and long-range strategic goals for her department and is responsible for the overall administration of compliance, including policy and procedures, monitoring, review, training, and board reporting. Harrington brings more than 18 years of experience in product and operations management. He most recently served as multi-life new business operations manager at Guardian Life Insurance Co. in Pittsfield. Prior to that, he was employed as product and project manager, U.S. Insurance Group, MassMutual Financial Group, and senior product line manager, disability and long-term-care insurance at Berkshire Life Insurance Co. As vice president of commercial lending, Harrington is responsible for developing and maintaining Lee Bank’s commercial-lending activities and expanding existing customer relationships in conjunction with the bank’s strategic goals.
•••••
Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) recently welcomed three new members to its board of trustees: Steven Grande, Franklin Quigley, and Macarthur Starks Jr. Grande is president of Meridian Industrial Group, LLC in Holyoke and Springfield. He also serves on the Holyoke Taxpayers Assoc. is vice chair of the advisory committee at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, chairs the Mayor’s Industrial Development Advisory Council, serves on board of directors for the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, is a member of the advisory board for William J. Dean Technical High School; and is president of the board of directors for the Western Massachusetts National Tooling and Machining Assoc. Grande holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice from American International College. Quigley, an STCC alumnus, serves on the STCC foundation board and is a member of the presidential search committee. He is the president of FD Quigley and Associates, an organization specializing in providing project-management services to commercial retail developers; is a member of the state board of directors for Special Olympics; and is a retired referee of the American Hockey League. Starks, a senior finance and leadership professional, is an assistant vice president/change agent at MassMutual Way Center of Excellence, at MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Starks also serves as board chair and treasurer of FutureWorks Career Center in Springfield. A graduate of STCC (‘88), Starks received a master’s in management information systems and a bachelor of arts in accounting from Western New England University.

Court Dockets

By
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.

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Holly K. Michaelson, M.D. v. Kellogg Co. and U.S. Foods
Allegation: Plaintiff suffered oral lacerations, internal bleeding, abdominal pain, and bowel trauma after ingesting Kellogg cereal containing shards of glass: $25,000+
Filed: 10/20/15

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Burek Brothers Construction v. A.C.E. Coatings Unlimited Inc. and Bernard Woodard
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $12,550
Filed: 12/11/15

Morais Concrete Service Inc. v. Town of Orange
Allegation: Breach of a public construction contract: $20,188.11
Filed: 11/20/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Ryder Transportation Services v. Vision Beyond Transportation Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract: $187,979.76
Filed: 12/15/15

Specialty Bolt & Screw Inc. v. Crosby Queenin Properties, LLC
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $130,000+
Filed: 12/18/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

J. Polep Distribution Services v. D Market and Sohrab Khan
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,398.09
Filed: 12/22/15

Mohawk Factoring Inc. v. Rainbow Carpet and John P. Casey
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $9,068.49
Filed: 12/24/15

Sage Engineering and Contracting Inc. v. 134 Capital Drive, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of services and materials in renovation of building: $135,602
Filed: 12/23/15

U.S. Foodservices Inc. v. West Springfield Adult Care, LLC and John Bersani
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $7,939.69
Filed: 12/21/15

Zakiyyah Lybieddin v. Leominster Credit Union and Metro Auto Sales and Services Inc.
Allegation: Defendant Leominster acted unfairly by refusing to respond to plaintiff regarding a rescission of a lease agreement with Metro: $20,620
Filed: 12/30/15

Demolition of I-91 Viaduct Deck Begins Feb. 10

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MassDOT’s contractor, the joint venture of White-Schiavone, will begin demolishing the I-91 viaduct’s reinforced concrete bridge deck on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The work will take place in the inner northbound lane of the viaduct along the median, which is currently closed. The contractor will work a day shift (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and a night shift (4 p.m. to midnight) on Mondays through Fridays.

Demolition of the inner northbound lane deck is expected to continue through April 2017. Demolition of other portions of the viaduct deck will continue through summer 2017.

White-Schiavone will use several noise mitigation techniques during demolition. It has proactively installed noise curtains along the work zone in noise-sensitive areas. Additional curtains may be installed as required once initial noise readings are taken after demolition activities have started. In addition, all heavy trucks and equipment have been retrofitted with self-adjusting backup alarms, which limit the sound to a set volume above the ambient (background) noise. The JV has also taken initial readings of ambient noise in the work zone to establish a baseline for comparison. All equipment has been tested to ensure it is operating within the manufacturer’s specification.

Those traveling through the area should follow the reduced speed limits and use caution. MassDOT encourages drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes to minimize delays.

For more information about the project, visit www.mass.gov/massdot/i91viaductrehab. To report issues or concerns, or with questions related to construction, e-mail [email protected] or call (617) 454-1839.

Berkshire Community College Welcomes Two New Trustees

By
Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Kathleen McCormick and Peter Mirante have been appointed to the Berkshire Community College board of trustees.

McCormick is a partner with McCormick, Murtagh & Marcus, a law firm in Great Barrington. She joined the firm in 2004 and was named partner in 2009. Her focus is on residential and commercial real estate, land use and permitting, construction law, business law, and estate planning. She previously clerked for First Justice David Kopleman in the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court and later served as an associate with the litigation firm Herlihy, Thursby & Herlihy in Boston. She has worked for well-known companies such as the Boston Celtics, the Jane Blalock Co., and Reebok International.

McCormick holds a juris doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Assoc., the Berkshire County Bar Assoc., and the Real Estate Bar Assoc. of Massachusetts. She is dedicated to enriching the lives of disadvantaged youth and is an active community member serving on boards of numerous charitable organizations.

Mirante, who has worked in the banking industry for more than 20 years, is senior vice president of Branch Administration at Greylock Federal Credit Union in Pittsfield. He joined Greylock in 1998 and has served in numerous management positions. Prior to joining Greylock, he worked for Patten Corp. and then Berkshire Bank.

Mirante holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the former North Adams State College. He has a long history of community service and currently serves on the boards of the Northern Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Family & Individual Resources, Berkshire Compact for Education, and North Adams Parks & Recreation.

Darlene Rodowicz, who was recently reappointed board chair by Gov. Charlie Baker, noted that “the new board members bring a wealth of knowledge from their respective roles in the community. We are happy to have them join the BCC board of trustees as we continue to advance the mission of the college.”

Doing Business As Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of January 2016.

AGAWAM

ARK Builders
32 Marlene Dr.
ARK Builders

Henry & Sons Landscaping
15 Melrose Place
Matthew Henry

M.F. Bay
47 Kensington St.
Thomas Supinski

Next Fitness
491 Springfield St.
Anthony Liquori

Sultan Family
270 Maple St.
Javat Azizov

GREENFIELD

Elle T. Photography
45 Congress St.
LMN Enterprises, LLC

Jim’s Tree Service
275 Wells St.
James Elwell

Shaws Mart
239 Main St.
Nafees Niazi

Sigda Flowers & Gifts
284 High St.
Sarah Reloj

HOLYOKE

3 Brothers Auto Sales & Repair
522 Maple St.
Elisandro Cuevas

Friendly Variety Store
1373 Dwight St.
Olga Lopez

Holyoke Deli & Butcher
502 Westfield Road
Matthew Frazier

Hot Oven Cookies
92 Race St.
David Coon

SPRINGFIELD

EG Home Improvement
100 Wait St.
Kelvin Lopez

EWS Masonry
57 Leavitt St.
Eric Swett

Fabulous Cuts Barber Shop
373 Worthington St.
Joe Long

Family Mart, LLC
253 Pasco Road
Asad Mahmood

Gonzalez Family Transport
80 Vail St.
Edgar A. Gonzalez

Grounded Services
91 Pinevale St.
Charley L. Jackson

Jani King
104 Yale St.
Johnas Wilborn

Jericho Commercial Construction
90 Waldorf St.
Tonya Hall

KB Construction Service
274 Abbott St.
Kenneth Bisi

Latina’s Nails
178 Euclid Ave.
Rose Ortiz

Little Eagle Cleaning
35 Upland St.
Carmen Lindsay

Main Street Convenience
469 Main St.
Emmanuel K. Owusu

Mema’s Learning Center
57 School St.
Lakisha Marie

Mia Cafe
394 Dickinson St.
Hai Hong

Nice Cars, LLC
523 St. James Ave.
Daniel Daigle

Omnia Build
933 Boston Road
Tamara Hill

Royal Cuts
494 Central St.
Ivan Deleon

Sara, LLC
679 Main St.
Zahoor Haq

Silly Goose Photography
51 Garland St.
Denise Bouchard

Superior Tax and Accounting
1593 Main St.
William Lefebvre

Tax Smart Enterprise
667 Dickinson St.
Huy Le

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Agri-Mark Inc.
958 Riverdale St.
Alan Dibenedetto

ANV Boutique
753 Union St.
ANV Family Boutique

Berkshire Janitorial
1000 Riverdale St.
Denise Langevin

Casino Designs
1084 Memorial Ave.
Paula Costanza

David’s Bridal Inc.
953 Riverdale St.
David’s Bridal

Delisioso Latin Restaurant
903 Main St.
Horaida Cardona

George Photography
110 Christine Dr.
Daniel George

Graphical Computers
7 Upper Church St.
Miguel Hill

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

Grinspoon, Big Y Call for Farm Awards Applicants

WEST SPRINGFIELD — In partnership with Big Y, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation (HGCF) announced the second year of the Farm Awards, a program to support local farmers with projects that will help improve their farm businesses. The awards are for equipment and physical farm improvements. “Big Y has been supporting local farmers since we began 80 years ago,” said Charles D’Amour, president and COO of Big Y. “Through our partnership with the Grinspoon Foundation, we are providing one more way to help the local growers to thrive in our community.” In an effort to have the widest impact, the individual award recipients will be given up to a maximum of $2,500 per award, for a grand total of $100,000. Realizing the importance of local farms in the region, Grinspoon launched these awards last year. The 2015 awards were distributed to 33 of the 88 applicants. The two regional Buy Local farm advocates, Berkshire Grown and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), will continue to provide insight and assistance, which was essential to the successful launch of the program in 2015. “We are so pleased to continue to work with everyone involved in this unique Farm Awards program to support the vital role family farms play in our communities,” said Philip Korman, executive director of CISA. Added Barbara Zheutlin, executive director of Berkshire Grown, “we’re thrilled about the continuation of these financial awards for farmers in Western Massachusetts to strengthen their farm businesses. This helps build the local food economy in our region.” The deadline for applying is Jan. 31. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit www.hgf.org/farm-awards for more information.

 

MGM Springfield Begins Major Demolition

SPRINGFIELD — With a permit from the city of Springfield in hand, MGM Springfield began demolition of the Zanetti School on Jan. 12. This sign of construction progress follows the project’s recent state and city environmental and zoning approvals. The former elementary school suffered some of the worst damage caused by the 2011 tornado that tore through Springfield’s South End, and last year served as the backdrop for MGM Springfield’s groundbreaking. Demolition is expected to last up to several weeks. MGM Springfield, a more than $950 million resort, is slated for 14.5 acres of land between Union and State streets, and between Columbus Avenue and Main Street. For more information, visit www.mgmspringfield.com.

 

State to Issue $700,000 in Naloxone Grants for First Responders

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and the Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that $700,000 will be awarded to police and fire departments in 40 communities heavily impacted by the Commonwealth’s opioid epidemic, facilitating the purchasing, carrying, and administering of the opioid-overdose-reversal drug naloxone. “This grant will help save more lives as our administration continues to pursue new and wide-ranging tools to combat the opioid epidemic, including the ability for medical personnel to intervene with those who have overdosed,” Baker said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature to pass meaningful reforms, and are pleased to support our first responders’ access to immediate, life-saving resources.” Last year, the administration established a bulk purchasing fund allowing first responders in municipal entities to access the state rate for naloxone purchases and, when available, receive an additional discount. Baker has also filed legislation to provide medical personnel with the power to intervene with patients suffering from addiction, control the spread of addictive prescription opioids, and increase education about substance-use disorder for providers and in the community. “Today’s announcement, along with the creation of the bulk purchasing fund, will increase the amount of naloxone available in hot-spot communities where it is needed most,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “These resources will help ease the costs of medication, enabling our firefighters and police officers to save more lives.” Grants for $10,000 to $50,000 are being awarded to the following communities: Attleboro, Barnstable, Beverly, Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Medford, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Peabody, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Somerville, Springfield, Stoughton, Taunton, Waltham, Wareham, Westfield, Weymouth, Winthrop, Woburn, and Worcester. “There is no faster and more effective way to reverse an opioid overdose than to administer naloxone,” said state Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “It is imperative we do everything we can to counteract the epidemic of opioid addiction by providing as many first responders as possible the opportunity to use this life-saving medication.”

 

State Launches $30M Solar Loan Program

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration recently announced the launch of a $30 million residential solar loan program, which will support Massachusetts lenders in providing loans between $3,000 and $60,000 with low, fixed-interest rates to homeowners across the state. The program is expected to deliver approximately $100 million in savings to residents who take advantage of it. “Massachusetts is a national leader in solar energy, and this program provides another way for residents to access solar energy while diversifying the Commonwealth’s energy portfolio and reducing our overall carbon footprint,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. For residents, Mass Solar Loan widens the range of energy financing available via low-interest solar loans and by making those loans also accessible to borrowers with lower credit scores or incomes. For local lenders, Mass Solar Loan opens up new lending opportunities. For solar installers, the program provides a long-term financing program for customers. Direct solar ownership of solar electricity keeps more energy dollars in Massachusetts, while keeping energy generation local and helping to achieve the Commonwealth’s goal of 1,600 megawatts of solar by 2020. “Helping residents own their own solar generation will expand the Massachusetts solar industry and help local lenders grow their business while moving Massachusetts closer to its statewide energy and environmental goals,” said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton. Mass Solar Loan is a program run in partnership by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). It is available for solar installations on single-family homes and residential buildings up to three units, with all lenders offering loans between $3,000 and $35,000 and some lenders offering loans up to $60,000. The program provides funding to Massachusetts banks and credit unions to incentivize lenders to make solar lending a part of their portfolios and to make solar loans available to borrowers with lower incomes or credit scores. To date, Bank Five, First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union, North Brookfield Savings Bank, Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union, UMassFive College Federal Credit Union, and Weymouth Bank offer Mass Solar Loans, with more due to begin participating over the coming weeks. “Residential solar has been a key component in the Commonwealth’s efforts to meet our ambitious clean energy goals,” said DOER Commissioner Judith Judson. “The Mass Solar Loan program will lower costs and increase the options for Massachusetts residents to benefit from owning solar.” Residents can visit www.masscec.com/programs/mass-solar-loan for a list of participating solar installers and lenders, tips on how to select a solar installer, and the steps for participating in the program. They may also call (617) 712-1121 for more information. Interested lenders or installers may contact MassCEC to participate in the program.

 

Sheriff Michael Ashe Joins Mental-illness Anti-stigma Effort

SPRINGFIELD — Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe is known across the Commonwealth as a leader and innovator in law enforcement. Now, he’s become the first sheriff in Massachusetts to join the NAMI Mass CEOs Against Stigma campaign, pledging to create a mentally healthier work environment for the employees of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. “As sheriff of Hampden County for over 41 years, with 900-plus employees and over 1,500 inmates in our custody, I know all too well the stigma surrounding mental illness,” Ashe said. “My staff is committed to treating these afflictions and removing the stigma that surrounds this critical issue in the workplace as well as in the community.” The campaign is designed to put an end to stigma in the workplace, employing top-down leadership to change misconceptions about mental-health disorders and encouraging people to open up and speak freely about the conditions that affect them and their immediate families. Mental-health disorders affect one in five adults and are the single greatest cause of lost productivity at work. “We all know the stigma surrounding mental-health issues prevents many from seeking treatment,” Ashe said. “That is why I’m committed to this effort.” Bernice Drumheller, president of NAMI Western Mass., noted that, “unlike physical conditions, mental illness is often not discussed in the workplace. Sheriff Ashe understands the importance and positive impact that the CEOs Against Stigma campaign brings to the work environment.” By signing the CEOs Against Stigma pledge, Ashe makes the commitment to open up dialogue about mental-health conditions without fear of disclosure as well as making employees aware of the benefits available to them. He will also bring into his workplace NAMI’s In Our Own Voice presentations, an effective anti-stigma program. The goal of CEOs Against Stigma is to have 250 chief executives — including elected officials — join the campaign and to reach a half-million employees. Any Massachusetts company or organization with at least 50 employees can take part. For more information about CEOs Against Stigma, visit ceos.namimass.org. To contact NAMI Western Mass., call (413) 786-9139.

 

Employers Assoc. Releases Business Trends Survey

AGAWAM — With close to 900 members concentrated in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) unveiled the regional findings from the 2016 National Business Trends Survey conducted by the Employer Associations of America. Results from this comprehensive survey of 1,242 organizations, covering 2,814 employer locations and 45 U.S. states, indicate that the majority of executives surveyed remain optimistic for 2016, are confident they will award pay increases, will provide a heightened emphasis on recruiting, and plan to increase training budgets that focus on developing their existing employees. “Here in the Northeast, we certainly understand that regulatory compliance is a concern, and we are heartened to see more companies looking to increase staff,” said Meredith Wise, president of the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. “We are also encouraged by the commitment of businesses in the Northeast to technology, processes, and people.” The top three distinctions for the Northeast from the findings appear to be:
• Regulatory compliance is a bigger concern. In comparison to the national average, Northeast companies view the cost of regulatory compliance as a greater challenge, both in the short and long term. The data shows 32% of the Northeast regional responses expressing concern in the short term versus 27% of the national responses. On a long-term basis, 42% of the Northeast regional responses see regulatory compliance as a serious challenge, whereas nationally the average checks in at 34%.
• There appears to be a greater consensus on the part of Northeastern business to invest in technology equipment, lean and other process improvements, and training. All measures were responded to more favorably and at a higher rate than in comparison to the national norms. Overall, 70% of executives surveyed in the Northeast said they would be making new investments in people, facilities, and/or equipment in 2016 versus only 62% nationally.
• More companies are looking to add staff. While the majority of surveyed executives indicated that they would be increasing staff in 2016, a greater percentage of Northeastern executives — 59% — plan on adding staff when compared to the national norm of 52%.

 

Massachusetts Launches Digital-health Initiative

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and executives from the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership (MACP) joined leaders from across state government, healthcare, and the technology sector at Boston Children’s Hospital this week to announce a comprehensive public-private partnership designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the Commonwealth’s digital healthcare industry. “Our administration is committed to making Massachusetts a national leader in digital health by partnering with private industry, convening key stakeholders, and addressing market gaps,” Baker said. “This emerging industry cluster has the potential to become a powerful driver of job creation across the Commonwealth, while also unlocking new advances in improving patient care and lowering health care costs.” Digital health, or eHealth, is a rapidly growing sector at the intersection of healthcare and information technology and, according to a report by Goldman Sachs, represents an approximately $32 billion market opportunity over the next decade. The sector spans a variety of technologies including electronic health records, consumer wearable devices, care systems, payment management, big-data analytics, and telemedicine, among others, and has close connections to the state’s technology and life-sciences sectors. Massachusetts is well-positioned for success in digital health as host to world-class healthcare and academic institutions, a strong startup culture, significant venture-capital investment, a healthy life-sciences sector, and roughly 250 existing digital-health companies. The initiative will bring public, private, academic, and healthcare leaders together to build a stronger and more connected statewide digital-health ecosystem. To support digital health startups, the city of Boston, Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech, and MACP announced the establishment of a digital-health-innovation hub. The initiative will provide space, programming, and a strong industry network for digital health startups and will serve as a Boston hub for the industry. Programming through the hub will be managed and operated by MassChallenge. MACP also announced several private industry-led initiatives that will help accelerate growth in the digital health sector, including innovative approaches to provide private funds for digital healthcare companies that are starting up in, located in, or planning to re-locate to Massachusetts. MACP also facilitated the development of standardized software, technology, and sponsored research agreements and user guides to make it easier for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and the private sector to do business with academic institutions, including the UMass system, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, and Partners HealthCare. MACP will also host a second year of its Mentorship Speaker Series, with a focus on digital health, connecting high-level, experienced industry leaders across the state with entrepreneurs of emerging companies to discuss how to start and grow a successful tech business in Massachusetts. “The innovation economy comprised of the life-sciences and digital-technology sectors is the future growth engine of our Commonwealth,” said Dr. Jeffrey Leiden, who led the Digital Health Initiative on behalf of MACP. “It has been a privilege for me to lead this outstanding group of public- and private-sector partners toward our shared goal of accelerating the growth of the digital-healthcare industry in Massachusetts. With the strengths of our universities, academic medical centers, and life-sciences companies, Massachusetts is uniquely positioned to succeed in digital healthcare, and I’m thrilled to be part of the team that will make it happen.”

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

Baystate Health recently announced changes and consolidations in leadership positions in its Eastern Region:
• Effective Jan. 29, Michael Moran will become the interim president and chief administrative officer for the Baystate Health Eastern Region. Moran has been at Baystate Health for 14 years and currently serves as the organization’s Vice President for Clinical, Facilities and Guest Services. Moran’s new role combines the responsibilities of two current positions in the region, the president and the chief operating officer;
• The region’s current president, Dr. Charles Cavagnaro III, will depart Baystate Health to pursue other opportunities. Before joining Baystate Health, Cavagnaro served as president and CEO of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers for 15 years;
• The region’s current chief operating officer, Dr. M. Shafeeq Ahmed, will return to practicing medicine full-time at Baystate Health. Ahmed has been a physician-leader at Baystate Health since 2003;
• Dr. David McGuire will become the region’s chief medical officer.
“Our goal, in considering these changes, is to ensure that our Eastern Region can successfully deliver care that matters to the community in a responsible and sustainable way,” said Nancy Shendell-Falik, Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations for Baystate Health. “To survive and thrive in the contemporary world of healthcare, we continue to make changes that ensure long-term stabilization, system integration, and a consistent model for delivering quality, safety, patient experience, and value.”
Added Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, “Drs. Cavagnaro and Ahmed have made major contributions to the integration of Wing into Baystate Health and to our organization as a whole. We thank them for their leadership, and we wish them the very best.” Three other management positions in the region are being eliminated and their work consolidated into other positions. At Baystate Health, Moran has been responsible for a broad spectrum of services including cancer, behavioral health, neurosciences and rehabilitation, food and nutrition, facilities, and more. Moran is known for building high-performing teams, fostering engagement, and serving as executive leader for Baystate Medical Center’s complex heart and vascular and emergency-room expansion projects. He led the building of the orthopedic surgery and cancer centers in Springfield and the surgical center under construction at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. He has co-led the health system’s largest and most complex Lean project, which saved more than $5 million and improved patient flow at Baystate Medical Center.

•••••

PeoplesBank has announced the promotions and appointments of four associates:

Brian Canina

Brian Canina

• Brian Canina has been promoted to senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. He possesses more than 16 years of financial experience and first joined PeoplesBank in 2009. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bryant College and is a certified public accountant. He is also a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking and is a recipient of the Wharton Leadership Certificate. Canina is president of the Finance and Accounting Society of New England and an officer of the Financial Managers Society, Boston Chapter. He serves on the boards of directors for the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and the Children’s Study Home;

Stacy Sutton

Stacy Sutton

• Stacy Sutton has been promoted to senior vice president, retail administration. Boasting more than two decades of banking experience, she joined the bank in 1992 and previously served as first vice president, retail administration. She holds an associate degree in accounting from Springfield Technical Community College and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. School for Financial Studies. She serves on the board of directors for Springfield Partners;

Joseph Zazzaro

Joseph Zazzaro

• Joseph Zazzaro has been promoted to senior vice president and chief information officer. He possesses more than three decades of information technology experience with a focus in financial services. He joined the bank in 2006 and previously served as first vice president, information technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems from the University of Phoenix and an associate degree in management information systems from Holyoke Community College. He also is a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies. Zazzaro was a 14-year member of the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club board of directors and continues to volunteer to provide technical support for the club. He has also volunteered his technical and leadership skills at other local organizations, such as the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, the Red Cross, and the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club; and

Russell Fontaine

Russell Fontaine

• Russell Fontaine has been promoted to first vice president, retail sales. Boasting more than a decade of financial experience, he first joined the bank in 2009 and previously served as vice president, sales and service manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State University and a certificate from the Wharton School of Business Leadership at the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He serves on the board of the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity.

•••••

 

John Dowd Jr

John Dowd Jr

The Dowd Insurance Agencies announced that John Dowd Jr., president and CEO of the Dowd Insurance Agencies, was selected to serve on the board of directors for the Massachusetts Assoc. of Insurance Agents (MAIA). Membership in the MAIA is open to independent, licensed insurance agencies doing business as individuals, partnerships, corporations, or other forms of business organizations in Massachusetts. With 1,300 agency members, MAIA is one of the largest state and regional associations of independent insurance agents in the country. The new board of directors began their term on Jan. 1. The board as a whole establishes positions on various industry issues and advocates for the agency community before government bodies. Individual members of the board of directors are the official representatives of the MAIA members in their geographical areas. “The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents has a long track record for consistent support for the insurance-agency community,” Dowd said. “I am very pleased to serve among this group of dedicated insurance professionals.” A 1980 graduate of St. Michael’s College, Dowd is an accredited advisor in insurance (AAI) and a licensed insurance advisor (LIA). He began his career as an underwriter for the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. and joined Dowd Insurance Agency in 1982.

•••••

 

L. Alexandra Hogan

L. Alexandra Hogan

Local law firm, Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. announced that attorney L. Alexandra Hogan was selected to serve on the emerging insolvency professionals subcommittee of the American Bankruptcy Institute. “Alex has quickly become a rising star in our bankruptcy department. She is dedicated and is already helping other professionals establish themselves in the insolvency field,” said attorney Steve Weiss, supervisor of the firm’s bankruptcy division. As a new member of the emerging insolvency professionals subcommittee, Hogan will help bankruptcy professionals find different avenues to network and develop as experts. The mission of this new subcommittee is to create a forum for developing leaders to exchange ideas to better aid clients and further cultivate the insolvency field. Hogan graduated in 2008 with cum laude honors from Western New England University School of Law, where she was also appointed assistant editor and became a published author of the Western New England Law Review. She graduated from Bay Path University with summa cum laude honors in 1996. She has been selected by Super Lawyers to the Rising Stars list and as a Top Women Attorney (2011-15). Hogan concentrates her practice primarily in business, litigation, and bankruptcy law. She has an extensive bankruptcy practice that includes both debtor and creditor representation in individual and business cases, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 11. Additionally, she acts as counsel to Chapter 7 trustee Steven Weiss in bankruptcy litigation advanced in adversary proceedings. “I am honored to be a member of this new committee,” Hogan said. “It is very important for developing professionals to find ways to network with insolvency experts and to discuss emerging trends in the bankruptcy field.”

•••••

Richard Venne, president and CEO of Community Enterprises Inc., announced the election of new officers to one-year terms at the recent board of directors meeting. Elected to officer positions for one-year terms are William Donohue, Chair, Children and Family Law, Springfield; Donald Miner, Vice Chair, Loomis Communities, South Hadley; Joanne Carlisle, Clerk/Secretary, Stop & Shop Inc., Springfield; and Brittney Kelleher, Treasurer, Westfield Bank, Springfield. Deborah Omasta-Mokrzecki, Amherst College, was elected as a new member for a three-year term. Existing members elected to additional three-year terms include Donohue; Carlisle; Miner; Mary Beth Davidson, Travelers, Hartford, Conn.; Kate LaMay-Miller, Multi-Media Impact, Hadley; and Albert Lognin, HARC, Hartford, Conn. Community Enterprises is a human-service organization that provides employment, education, housing supports, and day supports for people with disabilities. It is headquartered in Northampton and maintains 27 service locations throughout the U.S.

•••••

Lou Mayo has been installed as president of the 1,700-member Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. Mayo, a Realtor since 1997, is the office manager with Real Living Realty Professionals, LLC in Wilbraham. As president, he will oversee the association’s activities and operations, including meetings of the board of directors, and act as a liaison to the association’s various committees. He is the official spokesperson of the association on issues related to the real-estate industry and the regional housing market. The other 2016 officers are Richard Sawicki Jr., president-elect; Edward Alford, treasurer; Susan Drumm, secretary; and Dawn Henry, immediate past president. Directors include Elias Acuna, Kelly Bowman, Shawn Bowman, Suzi Buzzee, Janise Fitzpatrick, Raymond Hoess-Brooks, Susan Rheaume, and Russell Sabadosa.

Court Dockets

By
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.

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Town of Montague v. Penta Corp.
Allegation: Costs incurred for correction of defects in construction at wastewater-treatment plant: $100,000
Filed: 10/9/15

Dovi, LLC v. Verizon Online, LLC
Allegation: Incidental claim for damages, lost rent, and utility costs: $3,000
Filed: 10/30/15

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Daniel Hammock v. Clarkdale Fruit Farms Inc. and Bostley Sanitary Services Inc.
Allegation: Negligence, carelessness, and breach of duty in maintenance of porta-potties, causing the plaintiff to be trapped inside when a porta-potty tipped and fell over, dumping human waste onto the plaintiff: $24,999.99
Filed: 12/28/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Colony Hills Capital Residential Fund, LLC v. Riverchase Holding, LLC and UC Riverchase, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contractual obligations and breach of fiduciary duties: $500,000
Filed: 12/9/15

Intercity Lines Inc. v. Ferris Auto Transport and Christopher Ferris
Allegation: Breach of a contractor non-disclosure agreement and non-compete provision: $75,000+
Filed: 12/10/15

Plimpton & Hills Corp. v. Dependable Heating and Cooling Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $45,666.39
Filed: 12/4/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

J. Polep Distribution Services v. Washington Square Package Store and Joseph Lobo
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $11,263.54
Filed: 12/17/15

J. Polep Distribution Services v. Star 50 Convenience and Sohrab Khan
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,410.63
Filed: 12/17/15

Janet Webster v. Aeropostale Inc.
Allegation: Over-filled display rack fell on plaintiff, causing injury: $24,999.99
Filed: 12/30/15

Kelley Robles v. Clinical Support Options Inc.
Allegation: HIPAA violation, causing emotional distress: $24,999.99
Filed: 12/30/15

Elms College Programs Keep Pace with Community Needs

By
ElmsCollegeFeature
Education Sections

In Perfect Alignment

Sr. Mary Reap

Elms College President Sr. Mary Reap

When Sr. Mary Reap took the helm at Elms College in 2009, she arrived with a reputation for identifying needs and building the partnerships necessary to meet them. She has done all that and more at Elms, launching a number of new degree programs, expanding enrollment and employment at the Chicopee institution, and maintaining the service- and community-oriented character that its students have long valued.

Some might regard Sr. Mary Reap’s inauguration as president of Elms College in Chicopee as, well, a godsend.

After all, the former president of Marywood University in Pennsylvania had retired after serving at the first Catholic women’s university from 1988 to 2007 and establishing a wide variety of new programs at every level, including majors in physician’s assistant, art therapy, aviation management, biotechnology, information sciences, sports nutrition, and exercise science.

She came out of retirement to take the helm at Elms amid expectations that she could, and would, do the same for that Chicopee institution.

Indeed, soon after her 2009 arrival, Reap began to initiate positive change. But at that point seven years ago — as well as today — she simply viewed the position as an opportunity to put her honed skills to work.

“I arrived just in time; when I took office, Elms needed some updates, including new programs and structural work to the facilities,” Reap told BusinessWest. “Nineteen years of experience allows you to see things that can be changed, and the college was not only ready, they trusted me.”

From the first day she set foot on the Chicopee campus, she was highly impressed by the integrity of the staff and faculty and their willingness to do whatever it takes to help students succeed. In fact, it was one area where no improvements were needed.

“I viewed the job as a wonderful opportunity to take a very dedicated, caring group of individuals and move forward,” Reap said. “Our faculty is really dedicated to student success; we have a high retention rate, and it really amazes me to hear stories of what people here have done,” she continued, citing examples that include faculty members who have purchased books for students who could not afford them, cafeteria and housekeeping staff who know every student by name and give them “a little hug when they need it or make special food for them,” and others who have shouldered the expense of clothing needed by graduates for job interviews when they couldn’t afford it themselves.

Reap said these acts of kindness are done quietly behind the scenes, and she hears about them from grateful students. She attributes the altruism to an attitude that pervades the campus and its many new satellite locations and is passed from staff to students, infusing them with the desire to make an impact.

“Our students often begin their Elms careers with a passion for positive change and leave with the tools necessary to make change happen,” she said.

Her initial goal was to help individuals and the community by making it possible for more people to earn a four-year-degree in subjects that met the requirements of employers who were recruiting outside the area due to a lack of qualified local candidates.

“I looked at the demographics and found that less than 20% of the population in Western Mass. has a four-year degree,” she recalled.

These goals were bolstered by Reap’s belief that it is critical for her to be a good steward of the college and its resources — a commitment she takes seriously.

Her efforts to increase the numbers of graduates with bachelor’s degrees has been successful, and today, enrollment has increased by 400 students. Every building on the Elms campus has undergone renovations to keep up with the changing face of education, and 40 new jobs have been created, thanks to new programs at every level that resulted from collaborations and meetings with business owners, healthcare providers, representatives from the state’s community colleges, and data culled from the government and surveys that have been conducted in the community.

“Every new program has filled a need,” Reap said, using a word that surfaced repeatedly throughout the interview. For this issue’s focus on education, BusinessWest takes a look at the expansion that has occurred at Elms since Reap’s inauguration and how new collaborations have led to success.

New Programs

Reap said that, after she arrived in Chicopee, she met with Holyoke Community College President Bill Messner and was pleased to discover he shared her vision of helping more HCC graduates earn a four-year degree.

“We formed a partnership in 2010-11 and launched our first completion program in the fall of 2010 in psychology, management, and accounting,” Reap recalled. “It’s a cohort model in which students start together and finish together on their own campuses. Classes are held on Saturdays, which makes things easier, and since that time, the program has expanded into other community colleges across the state.”

It is a popular program, and more than 90% of students who enroll graduate. “Right now, 230 students are enrolled, and we believe we have done a great service by making it possible for so many people to complete degrees, which enhances the workforce and puts graduates in line for job promotions,” Reap said.

Another new program instituted after Reap arrived at Elms allows registered nurses who are working in the field to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The RN-BS degree-completion program came about as a result of a partnership with Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) in Pittsfield, and was launched in 2007. Classes are held on the hospital ’s Hillcrest Campus.

Reap said more than 100 people have received their four-year degrees, enhancing the level of care patients receive, and since 2007, RN-BS programs have expanded and are in place at four community colleges.

Reap noted that the baccalaureate program at BHS led to a master’s program, then a doctor of nursing practice program that was launched in the fall of 2014. Students can choose from two tracks and become a family nurse practitioner or adult gerontology acute-care practitioner.

Center for Natural and Health Sciences

Sr. Mary Reap says the new Center for Natural and Health Sciences was built in response to needs for more graduates with science and nursing degrees.

The inaugural class included nine students from BHS and and nine from Baystate Medical Center, whose tuition was underwritten by the hospitals, and 22 additional students.

“We have helped fill the need for nurses with advanced degrees in a number of local hospitals,” Reap explained. “It was a natural area to grow, especially since the population here is aging. And these programs have an added value as many of the students are bilingual. It’s a great asset as there are so many Spanish-speaking people in the area.”

She noted that Elms received a $650,000 Health Resources and Services Administration grant to provide undergraduate scholarships for deserving, financially eligible Hispanic nursing students.

“We gave out eight awards last year, and 16 students will receive them this year in addition to other help they receive. It’s a wonderful way to meet the needs of the community,” she continued. “Last fall, we also began offering an undergraduate degree in Ethical Healthcare Management, which can be completed online or at some of our satellite sites.”

Elms College has also focused on expanding its science programs. “We know that more young people are needed today in these careers,” Reap said, adding that this knowledge spurred the construction of a new, $13 million Center for Natural and Health Sciences, which contains classrooms and laboratories.

And three years ago, the college responded to another need with a new post-baccalaureate science program for students who want to apply to medical or dental school. It can be completed in one or two years, depending on the student, and Reap said it attracts candidates from around the world in need of additional coursework.

“We’re drawing graduates from Ivy League schools, and they have been getting accepted at the best medical and dental schools in the country,” she noted. “It’s another area that was underserved where we think we are adding value.”

The needs of employers in the business community have also been addressed, and three years ago Elms launched an MBA program. Fifty students are enrolled this year, and they are taking classes on campus and online, which allows them the flexibility to work and earn a degree simultaneously. And, thanks to a generous gift from a benefactor, Elms is in the process of launching a new business center that will provide entrepreneurial and leadership programs at the certificate and degree level. Reap said the center will open officially next fall.

Download a PDF chart of the region’s colleges HERE

“There are many small businesses in the area, and more open every day, and we were getting requests from them for workshops,” she told BusinessWest, adding that slots in the MBA program filled quickly and the school felt it was important to provide other types of education to business owners and employees working in an entrepreneurial environment.

Elms has always had a strong social-work program, and in the spring of 2012, it launched a bachelor’s-degree program in criminal justice. It was created in response to requests from students and an increased need for people to fill crimina-justice positions in the area.

“We work closely with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, local law-enforcement agencies, and the governor’s office, and have a nice relationship with the Soldier On program in the Berkshires,” Reap said, noting that Elms also has a strong legal-studies program and takes an interdisciplinary approach to these fields of study.

“The need is increasing for homeland security, and there are new approaches to criminal justice,” she continued. “Our emphasis is on helping to lower the recidivism rate of people released from prison, and the programs were driven by our mission to have a system of education with our philosophy and values. Respect for the individual is paramount, and it’s important to teach these people how to gain dignity as well as the skill sets they need to enter society again.”

Mirroring the Community

Reap said the student body at Elms and its satellite locations is representative of the community. About 20% of their students are Hispanic, and close to the same number are African-American.

“We also have a lot of religious diversity on campus, and most women feel very comfortable here because it’s a place where they feel safe and respected; plus, they like the idea of coming to a school with a value system similar to their own,” Reap said. “And we have been very entrepreneurial and flexible in adapting, maintaining, and enhancing our reputation for quality and excellence.”

Core values at Elms include faith, community, justice, and excellence, and part of the college’s mission is to educate students and inspire them to help others. It’s a practice that starts at the top and filters down to students who absorb the value, then pay it forward.

“Staff members take turns providing meals for students who can’t go home for the holidays or come back to campus early; I’ve had them in my own home on Thanksgiving,” Reap said, citing just one example of the support the students receive.

“It’s part of our culture, our expectation, and our environment, and we have nursing students who volunteered to use their spring break to serve the poorest of the poor in Jamaica rather than going somewhere like Florida,” she said, noting that they will pay their own travel costs.

In fact, community outreach is such an integral part of the Elms nursing curriculum that, in January 2013, a new program to serve the homeless was launched by Br. Michael Duffy, an assistant clinical professor in the School of Nursing.

It’s called the Elms caRe vaN, and free healthcare services are administered by students in the bachelor’s-degree program out of a 32-foot van that contains two treatment stations, a full exam room, and a five seat-waiting area, which doubles as a warming area. The care is offered in conjunction with St. Stanislaus Basilica’s Sandwich Ministry in Chicopee, and free lunches are distributed every week during the van’s stop in Chicopee Center. In addition, traditional undergraduate nursing students work with Duffy at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry every Tuesday.

Reap said the majority of majors at Elms College are service-oriented in keeping with the school’s tradition. For example, its communication sciences disorders program is very strong and was designed to serve the increasing number of children who are diagnosed on the autism spectrum or have speech-language problems.

“Every program we offer was developed in response to need,” Reap repeated. “Before we started our nursing-degree programs, Berkshire Medical Center was going to other states to recruit qualified nurses. We wanted to prepare young people who grow up here to take higher-level positions and raise their own standard of living, while meeting job requirements in the area.

“And we plan to add more flexible programs and formats,” she went on. “We will also continue to gather information from the Department of Labor and conduct needs assessments, surveys, roundtables, and talk to people, not only at the community colleges, but in the business world and at the Economic Development Council, which has been very helpful.”

Moving Forward

In short, Elms has done a good job keeping up with the times.

“We know where we are going, and I am confident that whatever we do will be done well and successfully because of our staff and the strong ethical and value-based approach to education that the college provides,” Reap said. “We continually seek out scholarships and grants for disadvantaged students as they comprise the majority of the population in our community; 90% of our student body gets some type of financial aid, and we’re always looking for assistance to help students, many of whom have financial challenges.”

She told BusinessWest that, when she asks students what makes Elms special, the answer is always the same. “It’s the strong sense of community we have here. Commencement can be difficult because this is a place they call home, and it’s hard to walk away from such a supportive setting.”

So, as Reap enters the spring semester of her seventh year at Elms, she feels satisfied with the growth that has occurred. It has aligned perfectly with her own goals, and she is confident that need-based growth will continue.

Which is, indeed, a true godsend to students seeking the education they need to get a job that pays well — and has helped establish a pipeline of new, local, well-educated graduates for employers.

Developers Ramp Up Plans at Historic Court Square Building

By
Commercial Real Estate Sections

A Changing Vision

13-31 Elm St.Long touted as the potential site of a boutique hotel, the historic building at 13-31 Elm St., bordering Springfield’s Court Square, is now the focus of a different vision, due to MGM Springfield’s own hotel plans. Peter Picknelly’s OPAL Real Estate Group now sees the property as a mixed-use center for retail, office space, and market-rate housing, and is working with the city to make the $40 million project a reality — and yet another key element to Springfield’s downtown revival.

When Kevin Kennedy talks about the potential of the long-vacant building on Elm Street, across Court Square from City Hall, he doesn’t consider it in a vacuum, but as one more complementary piece in the evolving story of Springfield’s downtown.

“What’s important about downtown, if you look at a three- to five-year window, you should have a really vibrant, entertainment-centric complex with MGM Springfield, more market-rate housing, along with a first-class intermodal transportation complex at Union Station, and hopefully new east-west rail at some point. We’re really talking about a completely different dynamic downtown,” said Kennedy, the city’s chief development officer.

He was speaking specifically of how a planned rehabilitation of 13-31 Elm St. into a mixed-use center for retail, office space, and residential units will create added vibrancy in a central business district which will be anchored by Union Station to the north and MGM to the South.

“This is a key project in the city,” said Chris Moskal, executive director of the Springfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA), which owns the building. “When you look at Union Station and its reputation, and this building and its reputation, they’re amazing anchors to both sides. We’re moving forward, but we’ve got to put together a tremendous amount of financing in order to accomplish what will be a $40 million project.”

OPAL Real Estate Group, which has been the SRA’s preferred developer on the project since the summer of 2011, had originally wanted to convert the property to a boutique hotel, a project OPAL President Peter Picknelly’s father had advocated before his death in 2004.

But MGM Springfield changed its casino design four months ago, nixing a planned, 25-story hotel at 73 State St. and replacing it with a six-story hotel at Main and Howard streets — a location the casino operator had planned to develop market-rate housing, a requirement of its host-community agreement with Springfield.

So MGM was forced to look off site to develop market-rate housing, and has since been in talks with OPAL about some kind of partnership at the 13-31 Elm St. property. The plan that has emerged calls for retail space on the ground floor, office space on the second floor, and 56 units of market-rate housing on the top four floors.

“For the past four years, OPAL has done due diligence in terms of structural analysis and historical analysis of both buildings, and also a hazardous review based on age, asbestos, lead paint — all those issues have already been addressed professionally,” Moskal said. “They’ve looked at what kind of scenarios might work, not only financially but in terms of fitting into the downtown.”

Chris Moskal, left, and Kevin Kennedy

Chris Moskal, left, and Kevin Kennedy say 13-31 Elm St. can be as much of an anchor for Springfield’s downtown as Union Station a few blocks north.

In his conversations with the SRA, Picknelly has said he wants to complement what’s already happening downtown,” Moskal relayed. “He sees the value of having the retail on the first floor; there was a unique mix there before — a snack bar, a barber shop, a jewelry shop on the corner. He feels those first two floors of retail and office space are an easy sell. And he also feels that 56 units of market-rate housing will have some charm and appeal for people.”

Those might include older people looking to downsize or young professionals drawn to the possibility of living in an entertainment center. The units will be rentals, not condos, because of requirements involved in using historic or new-market credits.

“We think they have some great ideas,” Moskal added, “and, again, it’s going to complement what we already have and not duplicate what’s across the street.”

Life and Work

As part of its mission, the SRA acquires buildings bedeviled by urban blight and sells them to developers looking to bring them back to life.

In 2009, Springfield took ownership of 13-31 Elm over delinquent taxes and called for requests for proposals, eventually awarding preferred-developer status to OPAL in July 2011. Since proposing the market-rate-housing piece, OPAL has partnered with Winn Development, one of the region’s leaders in housing development, to move the effort forward. That’s a positive, Moskal said, “given their history, not only with residential rehabilitation, but for using historic types of buildings in their projects.”

The property also includes the adjoining 3-7 Elm St., the oldest mercantile building in the city. The estimated $40 million development cost would include no new parking structure, just surface parking behind the buildings.

“They’ve been talking to MGM to contribute to the project,” Moskal said of OPAL. In addition, they have, over the past four years, already secured money in tax credits. They’ve qualified the property for $8 million in federal tax credits and already received $2.6 million in state historic tax credits. They are moving toward this year, applying for new-market tax credits, which, in a project of this magnitude and complexity, they feel they need. In addition, further down the line, [Picknelly] would like to talk to the city about tax-increment financing while under development.”

Click HERE to download a PDF listing of area commercial properties

Kennedy compares the effort to the city’s $88.5 million project to overhaul the long-dormant Union Station into an intermodal transportation center that will, hopefully, revitalize the area surrounding Springfield’s famous Arch. This multi-phase endeavor entails both new construction — especially a six-level parking garage and adjacent bus terminal — and historic renovation of both the station’s interior and exterior.

“In some ways, I compare [Elm Street] to Union Station in terms of the difficulty of rehabbing an old, historical building,” Kennedy said. “I would also compare it to the importance of Union Station in a sense, right in the city of Springfield’s town square and across the street from the $950 million MGM complex.”

This rendering shows OPAL’s vision

This rendering shows OPAL’s vision for converting 13-31 Elm St. into a bustling, mixed-use complex.

However, it also comes with the same complexities Union Station has, he added. “It’s very difficult to do a rehab of that building that age, but you have to stay with it because it’s so important. With a mix of 35,000 square feet of commercial space, that’s really good for the downtown. It doesn’t dramatically affect the supply of commercial space downtown in terms of putting too much commercial space in. But it does finish a large swath of the central business district.”

City on the Rise

Kennedy said Picknelly believes the market-rate units will be an easy sell at this time in Springfield’s history.

“And we agree with him,” he went on. “We also recognize it will take a while to put all the tax credits together necessary for the project.”

When MGM announced last fall that a skyline-level hotel would no longer be part of its project, city officials were taken aback, and some residents felt like the company was scaling back its commitment to the city. But MGM Springfield President has since made an effective argument that bringing the hotel — with fewer stories but the same number of rooms — closer to the casino will be a net positive. Moving market-rate housing to 13-31 Elm may turn out to be another plus, Kennedy said.

“We would really like to position ourselves as an entertainment capital of Western Massachusetts at least, and also an innovation center for Western Massachusetts,” he said, positioning the city center as a destination where people will want to live and start businesses, and Court Square project fits into that vision. “Springfield’s host-community agreement with MGM also contains new policing strategy downtown, 15 new police officers, cruisers, surveillance cameras, new lighting downtown … we’re moving on all of this in a holistic, strategic way.

“The hard part,” Kennedy added, “is that all these fairly complex moving pieces have to work in relation with each other.”

If Union Station can come to life, Moskal added, there’s no reason why 13-31 Elm St. shouldn’t do the same.

“We started Union Station with $3 million, and have been begging, applying, doing anything we can get to where it is today, finally underway,” he told BusinessWest. “I see [Elm Street] as a private-sector Union Station project.”

In short, he concluded, “this is the right time for this project. Coming at the end of Union Station, we are thrilled with it.”

 

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Downtown Investments Spark Growth in Chicopee

By
Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Mayor Richard Kos (right) and Mike Vedovelli

Mayor Richard Kos (right) and Mike Vedovelli say Chicopee has issued an RFP for the old library building adjacent to City Hall.

Mayor Richard Kos says Chicopee is well-poised for growth, thanks to what he called a multi-faceted approach to economic development.

“We’re trying to address the city as a whole to make sure we strengthen any areas where there are weaknesses,” he told BusinessWest a few days after being sworn into office for the second consecutive term and sixth term overall. “Although any urban environment has challenges, Chicopee has a great track record of addressing infrastructure needs in conjunction with development opportunities, and we continue to build on this in one of the strongest financial communities in the state.”

To that end, biweekly meetings are held to assess projects that are underway or on the drawing board. And there are several in those categories, as developers convert space in old mills and buildings downtown and a variety of neighborhoods for housing, business, or industrial use.

In turn, the city has done its part; in addition to initiating infrastructure improvements that encourage growth, it has a new middle school, is focused on improving its network of parks, and stays closely aligned with Westover Air Reserve Base, which has a significant economic impact on the city and region.

Revitalization is taking place in Chicopee Center, and Kos said two high-profile projects show that significant investments are being made downtown. The first is a $6 million conversion of the former John R. Lyman Mill building at the lower end of Front Street, situated next to the Chicopee River Canal, that has been vacant for several years.

A developer has purchased it and plans to convert the space into 80 market-rate live/work/loft apartments, Kos noted, adding that a groundbreaking ceremony is expected for March.

The second project is a $7 million renovation of the Kendall Building at 4 Springfield St., which has been purchased by Valley Opportunity Council. That agency plans to convert it into 39 apartments with $3.1 million in help from the state, Kos explained.

A request for proposals was also issued last month for Chicopee’s old library, which sits adjacent to City Hall.

“We’re looking to see what the private sector wants to do with the property,” Kos said, adding that the city secured a number of grants that allowed it to undertake selective remediation and resolve contamination issues in the building.

“Marketing this building is part of the emphasis we’re placing on our downtown,” he went on, noting that security cameras were installed downtown last year to help make it “a safe, secure, and convenient place to live.”

Michael Vedovelli said the city is fortunate to be working with developers in the old mills, and received a $2.6 million MassWorks grant to make utility, water, and sewer infrastructure improvements in the canal area.

“It’s a very competitive process, and they are difficult to obtain; there were 110 grant applicants, and only 37 were awarded,” said the director of Community and Economic Development. “But we constantly do all we can to create a vibrant downtown, and the projects in Chicopee Center are moving forward and will generate more activity.”

Tom Haberlin, the city’s Economic Development manager, agreed, saying these are the first investments that have been made in the area since 40 new apartments opened last year at Ames Privilege, a former mill and downtown complex that is home to several businesses and 120 apartments.

“When these projects are finished, the bookends [of the mills] will be complete, which leaves the middle of the sandwich to be developed, and we are hopeful that the owners of the mills will ramp up their plans,” he told BusinessWest, explaining that Ames Privilege and the Lyman building sit on opposite ends of the mill area that flanks the canal.

Private investment is being matched by public investments, and the city has demolished a six-family property on 296 Front St. that it plans to turn into a parking lot.

Kos said adding parking space is part of an effort to make City Hall more accessible, and earlier this month the City Council voted to fund an analysis of the building in hopes of turning the antiquated third-floor auditorium into a community meeting center. The council also allocated $500,000 to preserve stained-glass windows in the building that had deteriorated.

The well-known Munich Haus restaurant downtown is also making improvements, which include enlarging its parking area. Its owners purchased the former Ferris parking lot downtown and are awaiting final approval to reconstruct it, Kos said. The new lot will contain more than 50 spaces to complement the businesses’ beer garden and restaurant, and 15 will be designated as free public parking sites.

“Chicopee is one of the largest cities in the area that provides substantial free parking, which is part of the comfort and ease of getting into our downtown,” Kos noted, adding that Munich Haus also purchased the former Bank of Boston building and continues to invest in Chicopee.

Multitude of Projects

As Kos mentioned earlier, there are a host of economic-development initiatives taking place across Chicopee.

Cleanup efforts continue on the 27-acre Uniroyal property, for example, and last year the city not only secured a $200,000 grant to make improvements to the six-story historic administration building on the site, the City Council approved adding $186,000 to weatherproof and preserve it for the future.

The former Facemate site is also being addressed, and several acres are out for bid.

“We anticipate interest in building senior living there,” Kos said, explaining that the acreage abuts the new $10 million RiverMills Senior Center that opened in September 2014.

Progress is also taking place at the former Schine Inn. It was built in 1960 and decades later became the Plantation Inn, known for its 30-foot waving mascot that greeted travelers coming off Exit 6 on the Mass Pike. Kos said 194 motel units on the site have been demolished so a luxury auto dealer can fulfill plans to build a dealership there.

Developments are also taking place in Aldenville, and the former Racing Oil Service Center at 181 Front St., which has remained vacant since 2004 due to contamination issues, will be cleaned up, thanks to a $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The city also welcomed coffee-maker manufacturer Chemex to a location off James Street after the business moved from its Pittsfield location to Chicopee, said Kos, noting that many businesses move to or expand in Chicopee due to its accessible location. In fact, it has been marketed as the ‘Crossroads of New England’ because of its easy access to I-91, I-391, and the Pike.

Education ranks high on the list of Chicopee’s assets, and last year the 90-year-old former Chicopee High School building on Front Street reopened as the 1st Sgt. Kevin Dupont Middle School after undergoing a $38 million renovation. The building boasts a television production room and a number of new science laboratories, and Kos says half of the city’s middle-school students attend the new school.

Work on the city’s network of parks is ongoing, and last year, a $20,000 KaBOOM! grant paid for new playground equipment at Nash Park with the help of volunteer labor. And although the public outdoor pools were found in need of extensive repairs, the city was able to reopen the Rivers Park pool last summer after it received a $400,000 state grant to do needed work. And earlier this month, the City Council accepted another state grant that will pay for 70% of the cost of replacing Ray Ash Park pool located in the city’s center, Kos said.

Westover Air Reserve Base is a major entity that adds to the city’s economy, and the 2015 Air Show proved to be of its most successful public events. Nearly 375,000 people attended, and an economic-impact study estimated the air show had an $11.5 million economic impact in the area, Kos said, explaining that more than $9 million was spent on hotel stays, meals, gas, and other items. Meanwhile, he added, the fact that base commander Col. Albert Lupenski was recently promoted to general shows his leadership has captured attention in Washington, D.C.

In addition, eight of Westover’s C5-As are being retrofitted with the “quietest engines in the industry and will become C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft,” Kos noted.

Many military installations across the country have closed due to budget cuts, but the city has an innovative plan to help Westover remain open. Kos said 69 multi-family units of military housing on 26 acres that were purchased from the U.S. Navy in 2011 are being demolished to make way for a three-megawatt solar farm on the property with the aim of reducing Westover’s utility bills.

MassDevelopment agreed to provide $1 million to fund the project, and that grant was matched by $1 million from the state.

The base uses approximately $2 million of electricity each year, so this step will save the facility $100,000 annually, which equates to a 5% reduction, Kos said.

“The solar farm will also be a plus for the city because we are clearing up a long-abandoned property and developing it into a taxpaying entity; it will benefit Chicopee, Westover, and the neighborhood,” he noted, noting that roughly 70% of the acreage will contain the solar farm, while the remainder will be preserved for future development because it is contiguous with Westover AirPark North.

The park contains the former Avery Dennison Corp. building, which was purchased by investors after the plant closed two years ago. Yankee Candle now occupies 289,000 square feet of the building, Kos noted, adding that the company opened a distribution operation there.

Haberlin said the number of available commercial and industrial buildings in the city is one of its strengths because many communities lack the space that businesses need to expand. “Chicopee continues to have a supply of large industrial buildings that are being reabsorbed and reused. The cost is typically about $30 per square foot, which is 30 to 40% less than the cost of new construction.”

Celebrating Continued Success

The city is divided into distinct neighborhoods that include Chicopee Center, Chicopee Falls, Willimansett, Fairview, the Burnett Road area, and Aldenville, and last September the city held its first block party downtown.

“We received a $7,500 grant from MassDevelopment and had help from local businesses,” Kos said. “The streets were closed from noon to 10 p.m., and more than 7,000 people attended the family-friendly event that showcased food, entertainment, and the convenient assets of our city in a way that multiple generations could enjoy. We also have a Halloween event downtown which 3,000 families attended last October, and our annual Christmas-tree lighting that more than 1,000 people turned out to see. We are a substantial city that still has a small-town atmosphere and sense of community.”

Haberlin agreed. “Our neighborhoods complement each other and give the city its unique flavor,” he said, “making it a great place to live, work, play, and call home.”

 

Chicopee at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1848
Population: 55,795
Area: 23.9 square miles
County: Hampshire
Residential Tax Rate: $16.91
Commercial Tax Rate: $31.17
Median Household Income: $45,763
Family Household Income: $58,118
Type of government: Mayor, City Council
Largest employers: Westover Air Reserve Base; Chicopee City Hall; Ethos Energy; J. Polep Distribution Services

* Latest information available

 

 

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of January 2016.

AMHERST

Town of Amherst
70 Boltwood Walk
$103,000 — Bathroom renovations on the first floor

Yu Mei
485 West St.
$7,000 — Build vestibule entryway

CHICOPEE

333 Memorial Dr., LLC
333 Memorial Dr.
$22,000 — Roof repair

North Harlow, LLC
50 Linden St.
$16,000 — New roof

GREENFIELD

Baystate Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$4,000 — New ceiling in closet room

Baystate Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$57,000 — Renovate second-floor doctors’ suite for heart and vascular practice

Community Action of Franklin Regions Inc.
393 Main St.
$70,000 — Renovate flooring and walls in office 1 & 2

Lisa Alber
33 Riddell St.
$12,000 — Remodel of doctors offices

Salvation Army of Mass Inc.
72 Chapman St.
$30,000 — New roof

LUDLOW

John Pires
160-162 East St.
$5,000 — Alterations

Pride, LLC
478 Center St.
$7,000 — Commercial alterations

SOUTH HADLEY

Berkshire Hills Music
48 Woodbridge St.
$250,000 — Re-roof

GG’s Realty, LLC
785 New London Road
$125,000 — Renovations

Loomis Village Inc.
246 North Main St.
$18,500 — Install new deck

The Moynihan Realty
548 New Ludlow Road
$990,000 — New construction

Town of South Hadley
20 Woodbridge St.
$3,000 — Renovations

SPRINGFIELD

CHS Headstart
30 Madison Ave.
$30,000 — Second-floor conference room remodel

City of Springfield
1170 Carew St.
$6,000 — Interior renovations

Mass Development
1550 Main St.
$16,000 — Office renovations

Real Estate Transactions

By
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

BERNARDSTON

808 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Clifford C. Spatcher
Seller: Jordan G. Brechenser
Date: 12/11/15

92 River St.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jordan G. Brechenser
Seller: James P. Petrin
Date: 12/11/15

206 River St.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Edith H. Riddle
Seller: William B. Deane
Date: 12/16/15

431 West Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Jeffrey K. Hubbard
Seller: Mary B. Whiton
Date: 12/15/15

BUCKLAND

45 Conway St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Lamson Properties LLC
Seller: Lamson & Goodnow Mfg. Co.
Date: 12/18/15

COLRAIN

331 Adamsville Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Timothy S. Daniels
Seller: Laurence P. Binney
Date: 12/18/15

DEERFIELD

13 Lee Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Lisa M. Eugin
Seller: Debora Lichtenberg
Date: 12/15/15

105 North Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $176,850
Buyer: Rachel Jackson
Seller: Paula Mcnee
Date: 12/18/15

38 Thayer St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Matthew F. Woods
Seller: Kevin L. Kruk
Date: 12/21/15

ERVING

10 Maple Ave.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Greenfield Savings Bank
Seller: Penny J. Hanks
Date: 12/17/15

GILL

401 Main Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $204,500
Buyer: David G. Cormier
Seller: Sarah E. Rury
Date: 12/11/15

GREENFIELD

242 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Alvaro Millan
Seller: Wayne L. Elie
Date: 12/21/15

11 East Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Andrea G. Curtis
Seller: Peter G. Sullivan
Date: 12/23/15

15 East Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Todd L. Draper
Seller: Paul Rotkiewicz
Date: 12/22/15

9 Ester Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alexandr Bocharnikov
Seller: Johnson RET
Date: 12/17/15

30-44 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Howie RT
Seller: Federal Street Dining LLC
Date: 12/23/15

28-30 Lincoln St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: James Merrigan
Seller: Roger B. Cummings
Date: 12/22/15

27 Linden Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $143,550
Buyer: Derrick Rawson
Seller: Edward E. Rawson
Date: 12/16/15

16 Lovers Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Degen
Seller: Jeffrey Doak
Date: 12/21/15

10 Monroe Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Karl J. Mutchler
Seller: Ethel May Case TR
Date: 12/11/15

32 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $121,800
Buyer: Greenfield Savings Bank
Seller: Tina F. Kelley
Date: 12/17/15

28 Sunset Square
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Lindsey J. Pelc
Seller: James W. Taylor
Date: 12/18/15

HEATH

20 Knott Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: James Thane
Date: 12/11/15

MONTAGUE

166 Avenue A
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Tabbat Inc.
Seller: Stage 2 Enterprises Inc.
Date: 12/10/15

171 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: David A. Johnson
Seller: James E. Newcombe
Date: 12/11/15

34 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $150,847
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Mary Lovett
Date: 12/16/15

NORTHFIELD

12 Highland Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Sarah M. Leonard
Seller: Starmer INT
Date: 12/18/15

234 Old Wendell Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Michael F. Goesch
Seller: Bernice H. Tuttle
Date: 12/11/15

ORANGE

415 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Andrew M. Cloutier
Seller: Edward G. Day
Date: 12/21/15

SHELBURNE

130 Bridge St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Elizabeth C. Heck TR
Seller: Eugene A. Clark RET
Date: 12/11/15

Halligan Ave.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Perry INT
Seller: Doris C. Perry INT
Date: 12/23/15

SHUTESBURY

155 High Point Dr.
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Robin Swados
Seller: Cameron, Mary, (Estate)
Date: 12/21/15

SUNDERLAND

162 Hadley Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: 162 Hadley Road RT
Seller: Greenfield Savings Bank
Date: 12/23/15

WHATELY

24 Grey Oak Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $353,280
Buyer: Gregory W. Payeur
Seller: William F. Lemon
Date: 12/23/15

180 River Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Michael F. Clark
Seller: Myron C. Orloski
Date: 12/23/15

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

123 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $160,797
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Elizabeth A. Harrington
Date: 12/22/15

137 Colemore St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Rebecca Stone
Seller: Richard J. Marcheselli
Date: 12/18/15

262 Colemore St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $172,283
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lyli E. Stacy
Date: 12/22/15

476 Corey St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jason A. Larocque
Seller: Andrea Machia
Date: 12/18/15

108 Hastings St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Yuriy Vovk
Seller: Kenneth L. Vermes
Date: 12/14/15

66 Liberty St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Double D. Investments LLC
Seller: James H. Powell
Date: 12/21/15

122 Monroe St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $272,500
Seller: Todd V. Ruby
Date: 12/11/15

1056 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Casey S. Fuller
Seller: Judy A. Koralik
Date: 12/22/15

644 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $184,500
Buyer: Ryan Fields
Seller: Andrew M. Morrison
Date: 12/18/15

309 Poplar St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Andrey Nemchinsky
Seller: Joseph M. Parslow
Date: 12/17/15

83 Valley Brook Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $197,412
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Todd L. Bousquet
Date: 12/23/15

BLANDFORD

27 South St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Joseph Domingos
Date: 12/11/15

BRIMFIELD

1237 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Bernard L. Parker
Seller: Robert R. Runge
Date: 12/15/15

21 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Ryan D. Metterville
Seller: Joseph M. Beer
Date: 12/21/15

75 Monson Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Sarah J. Buzanowski
Seller: Jennifer Elmore
Date: 12/17/15

CHESTER

66 Lyon Hill Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Adrianne C. Johnson
Seller: Thomas L. Brisson
Date: 12/22/15

276 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Greener
Seller: Albert H. Reale
Date: 12/11/15

CHICOPEE

2 Access Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,771
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Ricky E. Weaver
Date: 12/16/15

70 Arlmont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: David Deslauriers
Seller: Barbara A. Deslauriers
Date: 12/17/15

84 Bell St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Eric P. Alicea
Seller: Ronald Gagne
Date: 12/18/15

63 Bemis Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Maryjane Kopie
Seller: Sara L. Raymond
Date: 12/21/15

16 Bolduc Lane
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Matthew 1128 Church Of God
Seller: Chrissys Corner LLC
Date: 12/16/15

36 Catherine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $119,273
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Kathleen E. Moore
Date: 12/22/15

25 Gelinas Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $181,500
Buyer: Mary L. Laprade
Seller: Clayton J. Tomlinson
Date: 12/22/15

56 Longwood Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Christopher D. Sawa
Seller: Magdalene N. Eboso
Date: 12/17/15

107 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kris C. Wojtowicz
Seller: Tran, Oanh N., (Estate)
Date: 12/18/15

151 Mayflower Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: David Lemieux
Seller: Raymond P. Authier
Date: 12/22/15

505 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Synergic Solutions Inc.
Seller: Jayanth Pasupleti
Date: 12/21/15

202 Old Lyman Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: DGL Properties LLC
Seller: Vevier, Robert W., (Estate)
Date: 12/16/15

7 Tardy Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,500
Buyer: David A. Bucalo
Seller: Carol A. Gomes
Date: 12/11/15

131 Ward St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jesus A. Andino
Seller: Jose Goncalves
Date: 12/11/15

49 Washington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Nicole M. Beaupre
Seller: Robert E. McQueen
Date: 12/11/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

Canterbury Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Priscilla R. Diaz
Seller: Kevin P. Asher
Date: 12/11/15

11 Dawes St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Sammy Guilbe
Seller: Robert A. Gagne
Date: 12/18/15

106 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Mitchell R. Galaszka
Seller: Leon Jangrow
Date: 12/21/15

42 Holland Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Gino Trolio
Seller: Mya Realty LLC
Date: 12/21/15

150 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Carla Lomangino
Seller: Laura J. Rollins
Date: 12/14/15

89 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Kerry L. Valley
Seller: Emme G. Kuhn
Date: 12/21/15

241 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Christine Sousa
Seller: Mary A. Thibault
Date: 12/10/15

42 Pease Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $213,500
Buyer: Laura Stevens
Seller: FNMA
Date: 12/11/15

Peachtree Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Carlos
Seller: Cabot Real Estate LLC
Date: 12/18/15

45 Sturbridge Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Robert-Thomas Construction LLC
Seller: Danny S. Larochelle
Date: 12/18/15

4 Veranda Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Saad Abduljabbar
Seller: Robert J. Villeneuve
Date: 12/18/15

HAMPDEN

210 Allen St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: New Life International
Seller: Bethlehem Baptist Church
Date: 12/18/15

216 Allen St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: New Life International
Seller: Bethlehem Baptist Church
Date: 12/18/15

62 Mountain Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: Derek M. Gray
Seller: Timothy R. Connors
Date: 12/16/15

47 Old Coach Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Random Properties Acquisition Corp. 3
Seller: Clifford E. Keeney
Date: 12/17/15

113 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Donny Adorno
Seller: Derek M. Gray
Date: 12/16/15

HOLLAND

78 Hisgen Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Kevin P. Koslowski
Seller: Gerald J. Germaine
Date: 12/17/15

22 Union Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Robert S. Sheldon
Seller: Ryan J. Mulcahy
Date: 12/15/15

88 Vinton Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $171,500
Buyer: Cassie Leslie
Seller: Darell L. Mitchell
Date: 12/11/15

42 Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Carolyn Morrison
Seller: Howard A. Fife
Date: 12/21/15

HOLYOKE

11 Anderson Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Rachel M. Davini
Seller: Shanahan, Kara E., (Estate)
Date: 12/21/15

357 Apremont Hwy.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Jose A. Hernandez
Date: 12/16/15

73 Carlton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Alexander A. Wanczyk
Seller: Karen D. Warren
Date: 12/11/15

133 Central Park Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: James O’Brien
Seller: Lawrence V. Lajoie
Date: 12/18/15

80-94 Commercial St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Gandara Mental Health Center
Seller: 80 Commercial Street LLC
Date: 12/11/15

17 Hickory St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: David M. Picchi
Seller: Nora Mackay
Date: 12/15/15

23 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Elizabeth J. Scheurer
Seller: John H. Chwalek
Date: 12/15/15

233 Huron Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: John E. McMahon
Seller: James O’Brien
Date: 12/11/15

131-133 Locust St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Best4u RT
Seller: Lester L. Zyla
Date: 12/11/15

107 Meadowbrook Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Linda M. Beauregard
Seller: Richard D. Chartier
Date: 12/17/15

53 Mueller Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Dana B. Potter
Seller: Zachary R. Vozella
Date: 12/10/15

244 Oak St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Sarah B. Albright
Seller: Scott Tundermann
Date: 12/15/15

29 Orchard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Patrick O. Britton
Seller: Matthew J. Craven
Date: 12/14/15

11 Ross Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: James R. Murphy
Seller: David P. Peloquin
Date: 12/21/15

25 Stanford St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $229,950
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: David J. Fitz
Date: 12/23/15

LONGMEADOW

215 Ellington Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $655,000
Buyer: Michael D. Caban
Seller: James Fitzpatrick
Date: 12/10/15

64 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $195,500
Buyer: Ehdaa A. Tahoun
Seller: Katherine T. Duclos
Date: 12/18/15

33 Harwich Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Christopher R. Glass
Seller: Lloyd Mendes
Date: 12/15/15

117 Shaker Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $374,900
Buyer: Christopher J. Morgan
Seller: Charles N. Brinkmann
Date: 12/15/15

240 Shaker Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Cary D. Rubman
Seller: Priscilla R. Diaz
Date: 12/11/15

LUDLOW

3 Auburn St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Laura Green
Date: 12/24/15

77 Elizabeth Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $371,500
Buyer: Christopher C. Arsenault
Seller: Antonio J. Bastos
Date: 12/21/15

N/A
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $121,777
Buyer: Cheryl A. Couture
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 12/11/15

95 Oakridge St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Evan W. Giana
Seller: Brett D. Bernardo
Date: 12/10/15

146 Piney Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: PNC Bank
Seller: Jamison A. Bolduc
Date: 12/17/15

63 Pond St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Alicia M. Moorhouse
Seller: Anne Norton
Date: 12/11/15

163 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jill M. Eskett
Seller: Diana M. Pires-Murphy
Date: 12/21/15

MONSON

400 Lower Hampden Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Ronald J. Gagne
Seller: Robert G. Horacek
Date: 12/18/15

11 Pine St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Thomas C. Brooks
Seller: Hashim, Amene, (Estate)
Date: 12/18/15

PALMER

46-48 Converse St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Skowyra
Seller: Lorraine T. Samson
Date: 12/11/15

14 Memory Lane
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Howard A. Fife
Seller: Kyle M. Converse
Date: 12/21/15

166 Peterson Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $432,000
Buyer: Timothy Bedard
Seller: Carolyn Morrison
Date: 12/21/15

3051 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Michael B. Atwood
Date: 12/24/15

14 State St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $136,450
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Laura A. Hebert
Date: 12/24/15

SOUTHWICK

164 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Paul R. Vezina
Seller: Richard Saracin
Date: 12/11/15

27 Buckingham Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $175,900
Buyer: Eugene Petit
Seller: Christine A. Longo
Date: 12/14/15

36 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Brianna Lovechio-Rua
Seller: FNMA
Date: 12/11/15

11 Foster Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $249,500
Buyer: Brian J. Morrissey
Seller: Ricky L. Disanto
Date: 12/21/15

139 Fred Jackson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $323,000
Buyer: Renee L. Steese
Seller: Marc A. Wrobleski
Date: 12/16/15

SPRINGFIELD

27-29 Allison Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Gandara Mental Health Center
Seller: James A. Pafumi
Date: 12/16/15

114 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Melinda Barry
Seller: Eleanor Vanhorne
Date: 12/18/15

208 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Tara M. Parrish
Seller: Amber Soto
Date: 12/11/15

34 Boyd St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Abdou Mourad
Seller: Joseph V. Costa
Date: 12/14/15

830-832 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jonathan Rodriguez
Seller: Itevaldo Cunha
Date: 12/15/15

175 Chalmers St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Vilenti D. Tulloch
Seller: Frank Garaughty
Date: 12/18/15

184 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Dimitrius Fox
Seller: James Manferdini
Date: 12/15/15

81 Fair Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Joyce G. Braithwaite
Date: 12/21/15

132 Garland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $124,500
Buyer: Amanda C. Ledwith
Seller: Mary L. Koch
Date: 12/21/15

282 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Brenda A. Flores-Carrion
Seller: Gregory A. Granger
Date: 12/10/15

356 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $118,600
Buyer: Thomas Murphy
Seller: Kathryn Hewitt
Date: 12/18/15

77 Jerilis Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Marialie Maldonado
Seller: Raymond J. Larose
Date: 12/21/15

18-20 Leonard St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Fancy Living LLC
Date: 12/11/15

62 Lindsay Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Devenna Groves
Seller: Roberta T. Bennett
Date: 12/21/15

149 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $149,390
Buyer: Zachary D. Stambovsky
Seller: Lisa Santaniello
Date: 12/15/15

308 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $143,960
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Beverly Edwards
Date: 12/16/15

15 Merritt St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Natasha Nixon-Nekeisha
Seller: Carol E. Smith
Date: 12/10/15

14 Midway St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $123,600
Buyer: Diego L. Arvelo
Seller: Joanna Smigiel
Date: 12/21/15

115 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: David Gralton
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 12/10/15

253 Osborne Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Randy B. Haskins
Seller: William N. Daniel
Date: 12/21/15

100 Olmsted Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jonathan S. Edelson
Seller: Roberta L. Smith
Date: 12/10/15

64 Plumtree Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Ashley L. Baker
Seller: Exultant RT
Date: 12/18/15

521 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: David B. Bazer
Seller: Christian E. Faustmann
Date: 12/18/15

172 Redlands St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Magda Sepulveda
Seller: Nathan R. Plumb
Date: 12/18/15

571 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Tania M. Barber
Seller: Paul A. Hudson
Date: 12/22/15

153 Rosemary Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $125,500
Buyer: Shauna Anderson
Seller: Richard S. Harty
Date: 12/14/15

197 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Francisco Ramos
Seller: Brendan J. Kavanagh
Date: 12/11/15

80 Seneca St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Mark A. Rodriguez
Seller: John W. Riley
Date: 12/14/15

38 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Zelideth Tejeda
Seller: Sammy Guilbe
Date: 12/18/15

15 Sparrow Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $118,500
Buyer: Demetrios F. Sotiropoulos
Seller: Inge Plummer
Date: 12/10/15

26 Stuart St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $119,273
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jennifer Torres
Date: 12/21/15

1093-1095 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Fitzroy D. Fearing
Seller: Ronald G. Lavoie
Date: 12/15/15

101 Sunapee St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Clarissa Borrero
Seller: Robyn Peloquin
Date: 12/15/15

168 Sunrise Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Christopher Reardon
Seller: Sarah L. Stein
Date: 12/11/15

56 Suzanne St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $136,900
Buyer: Zoraida Velazquez
Seller: Keem LLC
Date: 12/15/15

38-40 Sylvan St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Dexter Ainsley
Seller: Livingstone LLC
Date: 12/15/15

15 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Sasha O. Figueroa
Seller: Bourgeois Properties LLC
Date: 12/15/15

54 West Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Devine
Seller: Marybeth Meservey
Date: 12/11/15

37 Wells St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Victor R. Amaro
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 12/11/15

166 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Chicopee Savings Bank
Seller: Harry Borrelli
Date: 12/15/15

71 Willard Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Lasasha R. Lemons-Taylor
Seller: J&M Property & Development
Date: 12/22/15

78 Wilmington St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Richard Rivera
Seller: Peter K. Sacuta
Date: 12/18/15

TOLLAND

470 Colebrook River Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Shawn J. Eriole
Seller: Bryan J. Perry
Date: 12/10/15

WALES

44 Fountain Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $413,000
Buyer: Barbara Baratz RET
Seller: Kenneth J. Cook
Date: 12/18/15

8 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Thomas R. Black
Seller: Marc H. Colcombe
Date: 12/18/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

105 Albert St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $134,000
Seller: F. William Maroni
Date: 12/16/15

420 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Joseph McCarthy
Seller: Steven M. Forni
Date: 12/16/15

89 Burke Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Naura C. Lutat
Seller: Jeffrey A. Brannkarr
Date: 12/18/15

49 Chester St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Anvar Bayramov
Seller: Prashanth P. Prabhakar
Date: 12/11/15

149 Circle Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $173,800
Buyer: Maureen T. Moriarty
Seller: Martyn G. Green
Date: 12/21/15

15 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Mor Services Inc.
Seller: Adolf O. Kastel
Date: 12/11/15

39 Dion St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Crystal Boakye-Yiadom
Seller: Palka, Robert, (Estate)
Date: 12/18/15

45 Lynne Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Kristen L. Wanczyk
Seller: Pasquale A. Sterlacci
Date: 12/18/15

7 Park Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Toni B. Pudlo
Date: 12/14/15

414 Park St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: VTC Realty LLC
Seller: Lynn Ugolini
Date: 12/22/15

61 Peachstone Glenn
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Amberose L. Soto
Seller: Robert J. Goldberg
Date: 12/15/15

57 Summit St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Summit Group Properties
Seller: Smith, David W., (Estate)
Date: 12/11/15

Tiara Lane #4
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Anthony Deven
Seller: Kolodziej Enterprises LLC
Date: 12/18/15

Tiara Lane #8
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Korey J. Bell
Seller: Kolodziej Enterprises LLC
Date: 12/11/15

36 West St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $158,500
Buyer: Tara A. Barber
Seller: Kenneth B. Hedges
Date: 12/21/15

39 Wilder Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,500
Buyer: Allison Mercier
Seller: John D. Madrid
Date: 12/18/15

38 York St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $178,580
Buyer: Jamison J. Quist
Seller: Linda J. Anghilante
Date: 12/11/15

WESTFIELD

109 Apple Blossom Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Keith A. Goulet
Seller: Kathleen Mastromatteo
Date: 12/11/15

5 Ellsworth St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Michael S. Garwacki
Date: 12/14/15

37 Feeding Hills Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $4,230,000
Buyer: Westfield Gardens Holdings
Seller: CPL LLC
Date: 12/18/15

1130 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Nadezhda Karapunarly
Seller: Andrei Katykhin
Date: 12/14/15

22 Jefferson St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $183,500
Buyer: Thomas P. Flaherty
Seller: Brett A. Ralph
Date: 12/11/15

7 Kellogg St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Joseph C. Sampson
Seller: FNMA
Date: 12/11/15

21 Lindbergh Blvd.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Rachael P. Bovat
Seller: Vaughn J. Willis
Date: 12/10/15

247 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $352,500
Buyer: David J. McManus
Seller: Bent Tree Development LLC
Date: 12/10/15

8 Noble St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Lori M. Moriarty
Date: 12/18/15

33 Noble St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Barry Gadbois
Seller: Nathan A. Cowles
Date: 12/14/15

29 Oak Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Christopher S. Ringer
Seller: Mary K. Johnson
Date: 12/18/15

10 Smith Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $133,070
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Vitaliy Gumenyuk
Date: 12/17/15

509 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: 509 Southwick Road LLC
Seller: LMP Realty Partnership
Date: 12/17/15

WILBRAHAM

43 Bennett Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Randy P. Pascale
Seller: Julia L. Richmond
Date: 12/21/15

99 Bennett Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Laura Rollins
Seller: Robert C. Milne
Date: 12/14/15

14 Joan St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Kristin Szpakowski
Seller: Kathleen Alves
Date: 12/14/15

5 Kensington Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $545,400
Buyer: Josephine Iannelli
Seller: Gino Trolio
Date: 12/21/15

369 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Xueqing Wang
Seller: James A. Pafumi
Date: 12/11/15

548 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jason L. Dumke
Seller: Warren J. Rothschild
Date: 12/24/15

6 North Hills Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $387,500
Buyer: Jessica P. Coffey
Seller: Boston Road Properties LLC
Date: 12/18/15

396 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Luke E. Rottman
Seller: Sturbridge Development LLC
Date: 12/18/15

747 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Nicholas N. Dasilva
Seller: Michael T. Hassett
Date: 12/18/15

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

615 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $248,500
Buyer: Deep K. Chinappa
Seller: Thomas Ricci
Date: 12/18/15

53 Country Corners Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Ari Gnepp
Seller: Christine Denison-Bloom
Date: 12/18/15

35 Farmington Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $301,800
Buyer: Joel A. Ouellette
Seller: KSCBJ Properties LLC
Date: 12/18/15

60-62 Fearing St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $441,500
Buyer: John L. Hosp
Seller: Donna M. VanBoom RET
Date: 12/21/15

Henry St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: CIL Realty Of Mass. Inc.
Seller: RGC LLC
Date: 12/10/15

10 Laurel Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: 5M Properties LLC
Seller: James A. Rosen
Date: 12/21/15

97 Logtown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Nathan D. Daman
Seller: Michael S. Lococo
Date: 12/11/15

828 Main St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Douglas B. Macmillan
Seller: Deep Chinappa
Date: 12/18/15

Middle St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: David R. Sofield
Seller: Matthew W. Richardson
Date: 12/11/15

136 Old Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $133,300
Buyer: Kevin P. Divoll
Seller: Ventus Properties LLC
Date: 12/18/15

320 Pelham Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Thomas O’Brien
Seller: James L. Lobik
Date: 12/22/15

677 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Patrick H. Shannon
Seller: Eric S. Kaufmann
Date: 12/22/15

87 Stony Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Eric M. Cave
Seller: Karl S. Allen
Date: 12/21/15

392 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Guo Bai
Seller: Timothy Tucker
Date: 12/11/15

BELCHERTOWN

531 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Jared A. Lavalle
Seller: Thiago Garcia
Date: 12/17/15

8 Carol Ann Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Edward J. Collette
Seller: Chin C. Liang
Date: 12/22/15

34 Emily Lane
Belchertown, MA 01002
Amount: $388,442
Buyer: Jeffrey R. St. Germaine
Seller: Homes By Leblanc Inc.
Date: 12/11/15

54 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $388,500
Buyer: Steven D. Rose
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 12/24/15

32 Jensen St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Roy
Seller: Dennis G. Rex
Date: 12/10/15

375 Warren Wright Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Nancy E. Skeels
Seller: Daniel R. Bernashe
Date: 12/16/15

CUMMINGTON

West Cummington Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Vanessa A. Lewis
Seller: Franklin Woods Investments LLC
Date: 12/15/15

EASTHAMPTON

14 Broad St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: W. Marek Inc.
Seller: Brian J. Campedelli
Date: 12/16/15

26 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Picam Real Estate LLC
Seller: Carla Lecompte
Date: 12/11/15

16 Kingsberry Way
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $379,900
Buyer: Carol D. Tudor
Seller: Crown Meadow Corp.
Date: 12/22/15

335 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $219,500
Buyer: Stephen G. Fortin
Seller: Patricia C. Parent
Date: 12/18/15

29 Mutter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Diane C. Rossini
Seller: John A. Provost
Date: 12/18/15

152 Northampton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: ANK LLC
Seller: Frederick K. & F. E. Fedor FT
Date: 12/17/15

132 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Sarah V. Carlton
Seller: Barton, Virginia M., (Estate)
Date: 12/18/15

51 Park Hill Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Gene M. Friedlander
Seller: Barbara W. Spalding
Date: 12/11/15

25 Paul St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Ryna Russell
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 12/21/15

7 Sterling Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: John A. Provost
Seller: Richard T. Stein
Date: 12/18/15

9 Water Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brian J. Campedelli
Seller: Paul A. Martinbeault
Date: 12/17/15

GOSHEN

106 Sears Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Kelly A. Sturtveant
Seller: Carol A. Douglass
Date: 12/18/15

GRANBY

185 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jillian G. Barnard
Seller: Dayle M. Barnard
Date: 12/18/15

18 Deerbrook Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Richard E. Wojtczak
Seller: Patricia M. Faginski
Date: 12/15/15

17 Lynn Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Wendy A. Richard
Seller: Dana Ritter
Date: 12/11/15

HADLEY

6 Isabel Court
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Tenzin Gyaltsen
Seller: John A. Konieczny
Date: 12/23/15

HATFIELD

83 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Timothy D. Boudreau
Seller: Joseph A. Lavallee
Date: 12/18/15

27 Prospect St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Stanley Atwood
Seller: Carl G. Burwick
Date: 12/21/15

18 Scotland Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $652,700
Buyer: Adele M. Stiles
Seller: Mitchell A. Matusiewicz
Date: 12/18/15

HUNTINGTON

6 Bromley Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Chad S. Groeber
Seller: Nancy L. Winn
Date: 12/11/15

MIDDLEFIELD

24 Alderman Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Cody P. Paschal
Seller: George J. Bedard
Date: 12/18/15

108 Town Hill Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $161,500
Buyer: William R. Dowd
Seller: Stephen J. Bouffard
Date: 12/14/15

NORTHAMPTON

55 Arlington St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Robert W. Schrader
Seller: Alice J. Baceski
Date: 12/21/15

20 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $380,230
Buyer: Thomas B. Gaudreau
Seller: Bridge Road LLC
Date: 12/22/15

10 Claire Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Craig B. Zaehring
Seller: Adriana M. Brown
Date: 12/23/15

43 Fair St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Joseph W. Jasinski
Seller: Marissa L. Elkins
Date: 12/17/15

757 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $203,500
Buyer: Jose A. Cornejo
Seller: El H. Assab
Date: 12/11/15

23 Gleason Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: John H. Gordon
Seller: Charlotte Richards-Morse
Date: 12/21/15

26 Hatfield St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: McCutcheon Development
Seller: Betsy P. MacDonald RET
Date: 12/21/15

31 Mary Jane Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $225,500
Buyer: Thomas I. Michel
Seller: Donald E. Buford
Date: 12/18/15

28 Myrtle St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Eli S. Dwight
Seller: San, Yulin, (Estate)
Date: 12/15/15

118 North Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Michael W. Flanary
Seller: Margaret Adams-Groesbeck
Date: 12/18/15

130 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Timothy Mathers
Seller: 130 North Main St. NT
Date: 12/11/15

26 Summer St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: CK Charlie LLC
Seller: Kathleen L. Richards
Date: 12/15/15

50 Washington Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $680,000
Buyer: Marissa Elkins
Seller: Richard K. Winnick
Date: 12/21/15

PELHAM

11 Enfield Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Grace E. Nauman
Seller: Robert E. Stratton
Date: 12/23/15

SOUTH HADLEY

100 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Sandra M. Roy
Seller: Jeffrey Swenson
Date: 12/15/15

6 Edison Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Carol A. Richard
Seller: Kristen L. McNeish
Date: 12/23/15

146 Ferry St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jennifer Lester
Seller: Andrea K. Lacey
Date: 12/21/15

28 Grandview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Patricia G. Johnson
Seller: John R. Hagberg
Date: 12/18/15

15 Kimberly Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $230,688
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: James P. Nolan
Date: 12/21/15

14 Lloyd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Stephanie A. Gibson
Seller: Jeffrey Labrecque
Date: 12/10/15

89 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $116,250
Buyer: Michael J. Poreda
Seller: USA VA
Date: 12/24/15

129 Newton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Eric C. Capponcelli
Seller: Emma M. Connor
Date: 12/23/15

8 Ralph Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Aleksandr Verbetsky
Seller: Belisle, Gerard R., (Estate)
Date: 12/18/15

SOUTHAMPTON

26 Maple St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: William A. Fuller
Seller: Barbara M. Gauthier IRT
Date: 12/11/15

WARE

30 Beach Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Anliker IRT
Seller: Klem FT
Date: 12/10/15

35 Beaver Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Anne A. Stout
Seller: Michael Nallen
Date: 12/18/15

105 Gilbertville Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: James R. Robbins
Seller: Susan K. Demore
Date: 12/23/15

65 South St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,500
Buyer: Shelley A. VanEtten
Seller: Kenneth R. Massey
Date: 12/17/15

WILLIAMSBURG

1 Briar Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Paul C. Vidich
Seller: Crotty IRT
Date: 12/18/15

37 Hemenway Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Paul C. Vidich
Seller: Crotty IRT
Date: 12/18/15

WORTHINGTON

8 Harvey Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Laurin
Seller: Chrisoula Roumeliotis
Date: 12/15/15

Baystate Health Announces Leadership Changes in Eastern Region

By
Daily News

PALMER, WARE — Baystate Health announced changes and consolidations in leadership positions in its Eastern Region.

Effective Jan. 29, Michael Moran will become the interim president and chief administrative officer for the Baystate Health Eastern Region. Moran has been at Baystate Health for 14 years and currently serves as the organization’s vice president for Clinical, Facilities and Guest Services.

Moran’s new role combines the responsibilities of two current positions in the region, the president and the chief operating officer. The region’s current president, Dr. Charles Cavagnaro III, will depart Baystate Health to pursue other opportunities. Before joining Baystate Health, Cavagnaro served as president and CEO of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers for 15 years.

The region’s current chief operating officer, Dr. M. Shafeeq Ahmed, will return to practicing medicine full-time at Baystate Health. Ahmed has been a physician-leader at Baystate Health since 2003. Dr. David McGuire will become the region’s chief medical officer.

“Our goal, in considering these changes, is to ensure that our Eastern Region can successfully deliver care that matters to the community in a responsible and sustainable way,” said Nancy Shendell-Falik, senior vice president of Hospital Operations for Baystate Health. “To survive and thrive in the contemporary world of healthcare, we continue to make changes that ensure long-term stabilization, system integration, and a consistent model for delivering quality, safety, patient experience, and value.”

Added Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, “Drs. Cavagnaro and Ahmed have made major contributions to the integration of Wing into Baystate Health and to our organization as a whole. We thank them for their leadership, and we wish them the very best.”

Three other management positions in the region are being eliminated and their work consolidated into other positions.

“As we continue our efforts to integrate our Eastern Region for the greatest safety, efficiency, and effectiveness in care, these changes in leadership structure keep us aligned with national best practices,” said Shendell-Falik.

At Baystate Health, Moran has been responsible for a broad spectrum of services including cancer, behavioral health, neurosciences and rehabilitation, food and nutrition, facilities, and more. Moran is known for building high-performing teams, fostering engagement, and serving as executive leader for Baystate Medical Center’s complex heart and vascular and emergency-room expansion projects. He led the building of the orthopedic surgery and cancer centers in Springfield and the surgical center under construction at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. He has co-led the health system’s largest and most complex Lean project, which saved more than $5 million and improved patient flow at Baystate Medical Center.

Moran brings 27 years of experience in multiple industries, including the military, recreation, hospitality, education, and healthcare. His community involvement includes service to several boards and committees throughout Western Mass.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to lead our team in the Eastern Region,” said Moran. “I’m looking forward to engaging with our caregivers and with our community as we take on the challenges of the current healthcare environment, and continue our efforts to further improve the quality and value of our care across the Eastern Region.”

Partnerships Spur Development in Amherst

By
Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

David Ziomek

David Ziomek at the recently opened Kendrick Place, which houses the MassMutual Data Science Center and 34 luxury apartments.

As the new year begins, Amherst officials point to a number of current and planned projects that will improve quality of life and make 2016 a memorable year in terms of economic development.

Construction is underway on multi-use buildings, infrastructure work is planned, the town has hired its first economic development director, and officials are involved in collaborations and partnerships aimed at fueling economic development.

“We’re well-poised to move forward, thanks to the vision and work done by Town Manager John Musante,” said David Ziomek, the interim holder of that title, as he spoke about the well-loved and respected official who died last September. “He really focused on building strong relationships between the town, UMass, Amherst College, and Hampshire College, which is important because our futures and success are intertwined; the colleges are critical economic drivers, not only for our downtown, but for our real-estate and housing market.”

These strong bonds led to the creation of a University-Town of Amherst Collaborative (UTAC) last fall, co-chaired by Ziomek and Nancy Buffone, associate vice chancellor for Community Affairs at UMass Amherst. The group’s first meeting was conducted in October with the goal of examining town/gown relations to discover opportunities for growth and what can be done to capitalize on them.

Ziomek said the panel is focusing on three areas: economic development; housing; and culture, arts, and living.

Economic-development efforts will begin by looking at the availability of space to house spinoff companies from UMass. “Some of them are going to Boston,” Ziomek noted, adding that, although Amherst offers high quality of life, as well as access to a skilled pool of potential employees, research facilities, a large student population, and a full roster of college and university faculty and staff, it can be a challenge for young companies to find suitable space for their needs.

The town has also made a commitment to expand housing, and a market study has been undertaken to determine whether what is needed has been completed. As a result, the town has a strategic plan in place, said Ziomek, explaining that it includes providing more housing for the growing number of retirees who are attracted to Amherst’s walkable downtown and other amenities, as well as more choices for students and people in the workforce.

“We need housing in almost every category, and want to make it as affordable as possible for everyone,” he continued, touting additional reasons why people want to live in Amherst, such as its 3,000 acres of conservation land intersected by hiking trails. Amherst has won awards for agricultural and land preservation, and has four Community Supported Agriculture farms that people buy shares in, Ziomek told BusinessWest.

The third focus on ‘culture, arts, and living’ is an area in which Amherst already excels but still seeks improvement. “We have award-winning plays and performances at the UMass Fine Arts Center and at Amherst College; games played by collegiate sports teams; the Mead Art Museum and Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College; the Amherst Cinema Center, which shows first-run films in a number of genres; and the historic Emily Dickinson Museum,” Ziomek said.

In addition, the Hitchcock Center for the Environment is erecting a ‘living building’ in South Amherst, slated to open next September on the Hampshire College campus. “It will produce all of its own water and energy and will be a wonderful educational and tourist destination,” he explained.

“UTAC has committees and subcommittees made up of citizen volunteers and UMass faculty and staff who are going to look at what we can and do offer,” he went on, “and at what can be done to make our downtown more vibrant, and how we can enrich and promote all of these attractions.”

In this, the first Community Spotlight of 2016, BusinessWest looks at how one of the region’s most vibrant and most livable communities is working hard to become even more of both.

More Than a College Town

There’s a building boom taking place in Amherst. Indeed, ground has been broken for seven major construction projects. However, Ziomek said the most exciting new build is Kendrick Place, a 54,000-square-foot, four-story building on 57 East Pleasant St. that contains 26 luxury apartments and 10,204 square feet of commercial space.

“The apartments are within walking distance of downtown,” he noted. “And they not only have incredible views … there are Zipcars in the garage for residents who don’t own a vehicle and want to use one.”

He added that MassMutual occupies the entire first floor, which it has turned into a data science center staffed by a dozen new employees.

Kendrick Place was built by Archipelago Investments LLC, which has plans for a second development called One East Pleasant Street a short distance away. An old motel will be razed to make way for the multi-use building that will contain 84 units of housing and 6,000 square feet of commercial space.

Archipelago is also building Olympia Place, a privately owned student-housing project with 75 units that is under construction in the fraternity-sorority park on Olympia Drive. Work on the 98,400-square-foot building began in the fall of 2014 and is expected to be completed this summer.

Progress is also occurring in North Amherst, thanks to two major projects, and officials are happy to see revitalization taking place in what is now called the Mill District.

The first new build was the Trolley Barn, which was completed early last year. “It contains four residential units, and the commercial space has become home to a spa and wonderful restaurant called Bread and Butter,” Ziomek said.

In addition, Atkins Farms built a new, 6,600-square-foot satellite retail store called Atkins Farms North across the street from the Trolley Barn that opened last September.

“These projects have been embraced by residents and are bringing new life to North Amherst,” Ziomek said, noting that there is still plenty of space available for redevelopment in the district.

North Amherst also gained 54 new units of housing when the Presidential Apartments opened in September. Some units aren’t finished yet, but they have all been spoken for, and five are earmarked as affordable housing, he told BusinessWest.

Other activity on the housing front includes a three-story, mixed-use building called 417 West Street that opened last October in Pomeroy Village Center in South Amherst. “It has solar panels on the roof and contains 11,628 square feet of commercial space as well as the residential units, which are all occupied,” Ziomek said.

The town works closely with developers, and infrastructure improvements are often planned to enhance their success.

The town recently paved Pine Street and Cowls Road, two of the arteries for accessing North Amherst Village Center, Ziomek said, adding that it also completed $3.2 million worth of water and sewer improvements in advance of the two major projects there.

In addition, town officials took a proactive stance when Archipelago was in the permitting process for Kendrick Place and One East Pleasant Street by applying for and receiving a $1.5 million MassWorks grant to bury utility lines and install new sidewalks and streetscape amenities adjacent to Kendrick Place.

Enhanced parking is also on the drawing board, and the town just held its final forum to get input from business owners and residents, said Ziomek, adding that officials came away with a plan that will include installing new banners pointing out private and public parking spaces.

Officials know they need additional parking, and plan to address that by hiring a consultant to gather data about parking needs on peak weekends. In the meantime, the town plans to spend $1 million redoing the two parking lots outside Town Hall and in front of Jones Library, Ziomek noted.

Amherst is also addressing its energy use, and recently announced plans to build two large solar facilities on the old landfill, which will provide enough electricity for all the municipal buildings.

Access to health and dental care for people in low and moderate income brackets is another area of concern that led officials to form a new partnership.

“We have known for a number of years that there are residents on MassHealth in Amherst whose healthcare needs are falling through the cracks,” said Ziomek. “The nearest place for them to get dental care is in Holyoke, and although some people ride the bus, it takes an hour and 45 minutes to get there. So by the time they get a checkup and return, it uses up almost a whole day.”

This reality led town officials to form a partnership with Hilltown Health Center, giving that facility 4,000 square feet to build a medical and dental clinic in Bangs Community Center. Construction is slated to begin this summer, and the new facility will be named the John P. Musante Health Center in honor of the late town manager.

An active partnership also exists between the Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.

“They held a block party last fall that was attended by more than 7,000 people, and do all they can to attract new businesses and restaurants, as well as promoting the ones that are already here,” Ziomek noted, adding that the BID is also funding a $35,000 fiber-optic feasibility study for the downtown area, as only a few buildings have this service.

Looking Ahead

Ziomek says Amherst’s focus on collaborative efforts will help the town become a better place to live, work, and play.

“We have the ability to concentrate growth where we would like it to be,” he noted, adding that the state Legislature passed a bill last month to incentivize more units of affordable housing.

Amherst’s first economic development director, Geoff Kravitz, was hired recently and began work Jan. 4. His job will include creating an economic development plan, helping to staff UTAC, and continuing to build on the strong relationships forged between the town, UMass, and the colleges.

“We’re very grateful to the private developers who have chosen to invest here and will continue working to secure millions of dollars in local and state funding to help them leverage private reinvestments in our community,” Ziomek said. “Collaboration is key in Amherst.”

 

Amherst at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1759
Population: 37,819 (2010)
Area: 27.8 square miles
County: Hampshire
Residential Tax Rate: $21.22
Commercial Tax Rate: $21.22
Median Household Income: $48,038 (2015)
Family Household Income: $75,469 (2015)
Type of government: Select Board; Town Manager; Town Meeting
Largest employers: UMass Amherst; Amherst College; Delivery Express; Hampshire College
* Latest information available

 

 

 

Jobs Will Be Top Local Story for 2016

By
Opinion

Opinion

By Jeffrey Ciuffreda

 

Jobs are coming our way, but are we ready? And what about the jobs already here?

As we start the new year, it is time to ask these questions and, more importantly, answer them. Actually, the process of doing so got off to a good beginning in 2015. However, there is much more to be done in 2016.

CNR Changchun Rail Vehicle Co. is coming to Springfield with between 150 and 300 jobs, many requiring skilled engineers and machinists. MGM Springfield is finally underway with construction, requiring 3,000 jobs upon its planned 2018 opening, and efforts are already underway to be sure that the vast majority of those workers will come from this region, an effort that requires training programs to be up and running soon.

These are the jobs we know are coming our way, and with these two internationally known companies coming here, you can be sure other companies will become more focused on our region and, therefore, its workforce.

The Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce is pleased to be working with the EDC of Western Massachusetts and the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, along with our community colleges and others, to help ensure that we not only have a trained workforce ready to fill these positions, but that we have enough of those trained in the workforce to fill them and other positions that might be vacated by those moving from existing employers.

At the same time, we must acknowledge that far too many of our area resident, for one reason or another, do not have the skills necessary to take advantage of certain opportunities, but might have abilities suited for other types of jobs. What are those jobs?

The Springfield Regional Chamber is proud to have joined with a few other organizations in and around Springfield to hire an internationally known consulting firm to look at this specific area — not only what types of jobs we should try to attract, but what skill sets might already exist so that we could readily entertain specific businesses to locate here. While we will always strive to do better and attract higher-wage jobs, we should not overlook any opportunity to bring any employment to the area. The results of this study will be an invaluable tool for our future growth.

Speaking of the jobs that are already here, let us never overlook the fact that so many of our long-time businesses in this area have been here not only for years, but for decades. Let us also not overlook that many of those companies are small businesses, and by small I mean under 25 employees and in many instances under 10. These are the businesses that we count on year after year after year to employ our residents and that continually add jobs.

These are the same businesses that often get caught up in new legislation and new regulations ranging from mandating certain benefits to setting wages to regulating how they operate. While I am not saying every piece of legislation and regulation is bad, I am saying that these small businesses often struggle to comply with one, and then, just as they adapt, they find they are faced with another new one, two, or three new measures with which to cope.
Special efforts should be undertaken to ensure that no harm is done to these small businesses, which have been, and quite frankly always will be, the backbone of our economy.

The year ahead will be a time of growth as new businesses prepare to enter our market, but it should also be a year when great care is taken to not only not harm the businesses we already have here, but also take steps to assist them in their efforts to stay and expand here.

We all can do our part by supporting local businesses and products as well as our local teams and venues.

Jeff Ciuffreda is president of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce; (413) 787-1555.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of December 2015.

AMHERST

Autozone Parts Inc.
373 Northampton Road
$574,000 — Construct a 7,381-square-foot structure

PCJ Riverside Partners, LLC
15 Montague Road
$88,000 — Remove old and install new roof

Summerlin Trust
11 East Pleasant St.
$3,500 — Commercial installation of a hood-exhaust system

Town of Amherst School Department
70 Southeast St.
$36,000 — Remove old roof and install new

William Russell
18 Main St.
$18,500 — Install roof, fascia, chimney, gutters

CHICOPEE

Sunshine Village
75 Litwin Lane
$70,000 — Metal retrofit for roof

WE 77 Champion Dr., LLC
77 Champion Dr.
$50,000 — Install 19 replacement windows

Whisperwood Realty, LLC
41-53 Lemuel Ave.
$25,500 — Install a fire sprinkler system

HADLEY

Advanced Auto
346 Russell St.
$25,000 — Install shelving and fixtures

Elements Massage
379 Russell St.
$40,000 — Interior renovation

Texas Roadhouse
282 Russell St.
$1,118,000 — Construction of a 7,163-square-foot restaurant

LUDLOW

Chapin Greene Condo Association
66 Chapin Greene Dr.
$1,400,000 — Commercial alterations

Ludlow Police Department
612 Chapin St.
$685,000 — Roof replacement

SML Industries
15 Dana Way
$134,500 — Roof replacement

Westover Golf Course
West St.
$685,000 — Roof replacement

NORTHAMPTON

Mananto Holdings, LLP
36 King St.
$8,000 — Replace cafe entry doors

Manhan Narrow, LLC
196 Pleasant St.
$10,000 — Install office-replacement windows

Pioneer Valley Photovoltaic
49 Gothic St.
$47,000 — Install roof-mounted solar array

Unitarian Church
220 Main St.
$12,000 — Strip south side of roof and install new metal roof

PALMER

James D. Smith
1384 Main St.
$8,500 — Remodel new location for spa

Little Rest Remodeling Company
2001 Calkins Road
$5,000 — Seal and wrap insulation

Mapleleaf Distribution Services
14 Third St.
$9,000 — Exterior renovations

Phillips B. Carpenter
1239 Park St.
$17,000 — New roof

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health
3350 Main St.
$18,000 — Interior renovation to create office

Dan Rosow
1244 Boston Road
$10,000 — New roof

Opus Duram, LLC
1043 Sumner Ave.
$157,000 — Interior renovations

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Mark Patel
50 Morgan Road
$51,000 — Re-roof

Scaper, LLC
120 Interstate Dr.
$20,000 — Add three antennas

Doing Business As Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of December 2015.

AGAWAM

Abella’s Skin & Nail
159 Main St.
Jennifer Mallalieu

The Sharper Edge
99 Maple St.
Russell Scalise

AMHERST

Amherst Community Solar
326 Pelham Road
Lucas Krupinski

Amherst Hairstylists
15 Pray St.
Caren Bisbee

Amherst Healing Arts
409 Main St.
Karen Kerin

MT Taqueria Mexican
31 Boltwood Walk
Marleny Amaya

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Jiffy Lube
2017 Memorial Dr.
Steven Roberts

Daigle’s Truck Master
57 Fuller Road
Jeffrey Daigle

Elegance Salon & Spa
974 Chicopee St.
Myriam Vega

Krystle Kleen Inc.
235 Meadow St.
Michael Robare

Monro Muffler & Brakes
461 Memorial Dr.
Joshua Morrison

Tony’s Flooring
14 Simard Dr.
Anthony Lasorsa

HADLEY

JC Mattress Company
8 River Dr.
Justin Carlson

Leon’s Auto Sales
64 East St.
Leon Szymborn

Marshall’s
325 Russell St.
Marshalls of MA Inc.

Mobile Robotics
110 North Maple St.
Charles Brown

Old Navy
339 Russell St.
Old Navy

Texas Roadhouse
280 Russell St.
Texas Roadhouse

TJ Maxx
454 Russell St.
TJX, Inc.

HOLYOKE

B & B Real Estate
59 Cherry St.
Edward Brunelle

Barbieri Express
12 Crescent St.
Kevin Barbieri

KW Property Management
97 Locust St.
Kenrick Williams

Western Mass College Nights
920 Main St.
Ryan Spence

NORTHAMPTON

Chasa Cafe Inc.
159 Main St.
Thondup Tsering

Happy Valley Auto Restoration
40 Williams St.
Gregory Goff

L & R Cleaning Services
21 Wilson Ave.
Richard Tucci

PALMER

Coin Pal
69 East Palmer Park Dr.
Edward Goodfield

Helping Hands
60 Randall St.
Paula Haley

Mayberry’s Portable Welding
229 Peterson Road
Peter Mayberry

Pioneer Stump Grinding & Plowing
1113 Thorndike St.
Kyle Tassineri

SPRINGFIELD

Ace of Blades Barber
932 Boston Road
Evangelo Gonzalez

Action Management
70 Monticello Ave.
Gary Michael

Always Drywall
199 Cabinet St.
Michael Sares

Amiracle Construction
225 Durant St.
Jonathan Hall

Baystate Home Infusion
211 Carando Dr.
Brian Simonds

Bealfire Stone
67 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Dashay Miles

Bhakta Pradan
33 Ruskin St.
Bhakta Pradan

Big City Builders
42 Arbutus St.
Steven J. Brantley

Breakthrough Fitness
481 Breckwood Blvd.
Shosana Porter

Busy Bee Store
494 Central St.
Mohammad Tanvir

Cardicci Couture
1 Allen St.
Craig Williams

Crafted in Style
96 Albermarle St.
Naomi Howard

Crystal Clear Home Cleaners
2141 Main St.
Ed Kostyuko

Evins Brantley Construction
91 Dunmoreland St.
Evins C. Brantley

Racing Mart
1037 St. James Ave.
Abbas Younes

Ron’s Oil Burner Service
97 Groton St.
Robert Alan

SISS
67 Wollaston St.
Alexander Buor

Spotless Office Cleaning
26 Lafayette St.
Juliet Davis

Springfield Auto Service
731 Liberty St.
Boris Altman

Truong Nguyen Cafe
392 Dickinson St.
Son Nguyen

Z Tech Towing
18 Kenwood Park
Rafael Zayas

WESTFIELD

Home Access Solutions
352 Shaker Road
Chadwick Berndt

Miha Welding
57 Tannery Road
Artem Girich

WEST SPRINGFIELD

AAA Xtreme Paintball
683 Westfield St.
Joseph O’Malley

AC Motor Express, LLC
339 Bliss St.
John Nekitopoulos

Cost Klippers
2260 Westfield St.
Kalie Kopezynski

Crayata, LLC
70 Windsor St.
Tammy L. Pierson

Gabriel Gladiator Training
130 Myron St.
Gabriel Goncalves

Toch Supply Company
104 Hillcrest Ave.
Aric Nunes

Incorporations

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Departments Incorporations

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

ADAMS

CT Plunkett PTG Inc., 14 Commercial St., Adams, MA 01220. Erin Mucci, 37 Upton St., Adams, MA 01220. Charitable and educational purposes; bring together persons interested in welfare of CT Plunkett Elementary School of Adams students; promote free-flow of ideas by teachers, parents, and children; assist teachers in programs for children to become good citizens; use meeting forum for suggestions or ideas by parents, teachers, and students to develop potential of children, community, and the school; support educational and arts enrichment activities and programs for the school and community.

AMHERST

Woodside Daycare Center Inc., 155 Woodside Ave, Amherst, MA 01102. Catherine Epstein, 90 Spring St., Amherst, MA 01002. Charitable and educational purposes to provide day care, nursery, child care, and related educational services in the greater Amherst area.

BRIMFIELD

Laser Converting Concepts Inc., 109 Brookfield Road, Brimfield, MA 01010. Gregory Flamand, same. Laser manufacturing.
CHICOPEE

Templo Misionero El Buen Smaritano, 48-C Riverview Terrace, Chicopee, MA 01013. Teresa Martinez, same. Preach the word of God; reach to those in need; teach the gospel.

CLARKSBURG

North County Church of the Rebellion Inc., 28 Cross Road, Clarksburg, MA 01247. Jesse Leydet, 17 Phelps Ave., North Adams, MA 01247. Printing, publishing, designing, creation, assembly and shipping of merchandise.

HOLYOKE

The Miracle League of Western Massachusetts Inc., 106 Chapin St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Ernest Fitzell Jr., same. Provide special needs children a chance to play baseball and other sports.

SHELBURNE FALLS

Charlemont Historical Society Inc., 7 Avery Brook Road, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370. Beth Bandy, 7 Avery Brook Road, Charlemont, MA 01370. Collect, preserve, and display objects, records, and folklore of historic significance of Charlemont’s earliest habitation, and maintain a museum for these artifacts; provide organization for those interested in preserving, researching, and maintain local history of Charlemont; familiarize citizens with Charlemont’s history, and increase interest in local history and traditions through exhibits, educational programs, publications, and historical records.

SPRINGFIELD

Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley Inc., 1500 Main St., Suite 2700 Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP, Springfield, MA 01115. Ira Bryck, 255 Strong St., Amherst, MA 01002. Charitable and educational purposes to provide educational programs for family and closely held businesses and opportunities for educational interaction among such business owners, and related charitable and educational purposes.

Real Estate Rehab Inc., 408 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Gerald Beaulieu, same. Commercial and residential construction.

United Professional Horsemen’s Association Chapter 14 Inc., 1500 Main St., Suite 2700 Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP, Springfield, MA 01115. John Lampropolous, 99 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858. Non-Profit organization to better the conditions of those engaged in the pursuit of equine related activities; support research to improve horses; promote development of higher degree of efficiency for its members in their efforts to improve general conditions of the show horse industry.

WARE

Your Deal Source Inc., 277 Palmer Road, Ware, MA 01082. Matthew Woodward, 20 Beach Dr., West Brookfield, MA 01585. Retail store.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

The Sangria Shack Inc., 15 Sagamore Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Anthony Martone, same. Wine production.

WILLIAMSBURG

Girls on the Run of Western MA Inc., 10 North St., Williamsburg, MA 01096. Alison Berman, same. Religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook Departments

Adam Quenneville Replaces Roof for Boy Scouts of America

SOUTH HADLEY — Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding and Windows had the honor of replacing a roof for the Boy Scouts of America at the Moses Scout Reservation in Russell. Once the summer home of Horace Moses, the Manor House and the 1,200 acres of property were donated to the Boy Scouts of America Western Massachusetts Council in 1945, after its previous campsite was destroyed by a hurricane. The building is about 100 years old and is one of many buildings on the property. “The Manor House has not been used in about eight years,” said David Kruse, scout executive and CEO. “Thanks to Adam Quenneville and his team, we are excited to get it back up and running for this year’s summer camp.” The Manor House is just one of the many buildings on the Boy Scout property in need of repairs. With the help of community and volunteer donations for supplies, Quenneville — owner of Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding, and Windows — was able to do his part by donating the labor to replace the roof. “As a father of three, two of which are young boys, this project was very important to me,” he said. “The Boy Scouts teach boys self-confidence, ethics, and leadership skills, which I believe are the foundation for great leaders.”

Elms College Athletics to Add Men’s, Women’s Outdoor Track Teams

CHICOPEE — The Athletics Department at Elms College will add men’s and women’s outdoor track teams in 2017. “I’m excited about the prospect of adding this new sport to the 15 other men’s and women’s sports we already sponsor,” said Ellen McEwen, director of Athletics at Elms. “This addition to our Athletics Department can be very successful in this geographical area, especially under the leadership of our cross-country coach, Matt Dyer, who has a very strong background in the area of track. He put together the program proposal for us, and will be coaching both the men’s and women’s teams.” The team will be about more than sport, according to Dyer. “We really care about giving back and carrying out the mission of Elms College and the Sisters of St. Joseph,” he said. “Our cross-country team does a multi-day, overnight service trip each fall, and I’m sure we will continue some similar mission and service work with our track programs. We really love and enjoy the process of working hard and growing together not only as students and athletes, but as people trying to serve a higher cause.” Dyer has just completed his fourth season as head coach of the men’s and women’s cross-country programs at Elms. Hired in August 2012, he has helped direct both teams to successful finishes in the New England Collegiate Conference; the women’s team came in second in 2013 and 2014, and the men’s team was third in 2015. He was named NECC Women’s Coach of the Year in 2013.

WNEU Engineering Students Finish Strong in Solar Decathlon

SPRINGFIELD — Engineering students from Western New England University (WNEU) traveled to the campus of the University del Valle in Cali, Colombia, in late November to complete construction of team PANAMASS’ 800-square-foot, fully solar-powered home, as part of the inaugural Solar Decathlon Latin America and Caribbean 2015 competition. Team PANAMASS’ entry is called the SMART house, which is based on five characteristics in its design: sustainable, modular, recyclable, aesthetic, and tropical. After 10 days of intense evaluation by a several panels of judges, the SMART house was awarded first place in Energy Efficiency and third place in Energy Balance. This competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Colombian government, challenges university student teams around the world to design and build sustainable houses based on innovation and clean-energy technologies. Team PANAMASS is a partnership made up of students and faculty from Western New England University and Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. There were 15 teams representing nine countries, including Panama, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Spain, Germany, England, and the U.S. WNEU was the only participant representing the U.S. Five Western New England University students and Engineering Professor Kenneth Lee were in Colombia for the construction phase of the house. Students include civil engineering senior Andres Otero and juniors Brian Wodecki, Jhonatan Escobar, Gabby Fosdick, and Katrina DiGloria. This competition provided the students with a unique international experience to work alongside with faculty and students from Tecnológica de Panamá and to experience Colombian culture for two weeks. This solar decathlon embraced a theme of social-justice housing and encouraged designs built for tropical climates in high-density urban locations, and the use of recycled materials, affordability, optimal energy production, and maximum efficiency. The SMART house is built with recycled shipping containers and includes three bedrooms and one bathroom.

DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology Honored by Modern Salon

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Modern Salon has named the 2015 class of Excellence in Education honorees in its sixth annual program recognizing leadership and best practices among cosmetology schools. DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology was chosen to represent excellence in the category of Community Involvement, Marketing Innovation, School Culture. “We received applications from cosmetology schools across the country and look forward to celebrating all the 2015 Excellence in Education honorees and sharing their stories. It is truly a great time to pursue a beauty education and career, and the program at DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology exemplifies that fact,” said Modern Salon Editorial Director Michele Musgrove. Paul DiGrigoli, president and CEO of the DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, added, “I’m so grateful to have such a stellar faculty and team. They have supported and created an environment of positivity and energy that constantly and continuously helps take our students’ minds and careers to another altitude. I am proud to say that the future professionals who graduate from the DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology have received jobs from some of the best salons in our area. We will continue to reach for greater heights to provide all of our students with higher education, and we are so honored to be receiving this prestigious award for the fourth year in a row.”

MGM Springfield to Begin Major Demolition

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — With a permit from the city of Springfield in hand, MGM Springfield is set to begin demolition of the Zanetti School this week. This sign of construction progress follows the project’s recent state and city environmental and zoning approvals.

The former elementary school suffered some of the worst damage caused by the 2011 tornado that tore through Springfield’s South End, and last year served as the backdrop for MGM Springfield’s groundbreaking.

Final site preparations will begin today and include moving in construction equipment, reinforcing safety protocols, and general site set-up. On Tuesday, demolition will commence and is expected to last up to several weeks. Abutters received notice last week of the pending activity on the site.

MGM Springfield, a more than $950 million resort, is slated for 14.5 acres of land between Union and State streets, and between Columbus Avenue and Main Street. For more information, visit www.mgmspringfield.com.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

MGM Springfield Wins Final License Approval

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield announced it has received its final state license approval from the Mass. Gaming Commission (MGC), clearing the way to begin construction. The MGC specifically found that all feasible measures have been taken to avoid or minimize impacts of the project and damage to the environment. “We are grateful to the MGC commissioners for their detailed deliberations and patience with this process,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “This comprehensive review has helped MGM Springfield evolve into the most community-facing and integrated property MGM Resorts has ever built.” Separately, the proposed design changes must still be approved by the city and the MGC. Updated MGM Springfield design plans were made public in September, and company executives appeared at a public presentation in Springfield in November to outline the design plan, highlighting changes that allowed for both design and cost efficiencies, as well as to provide a new project cost estimate of more than $950 million. “This approval has been a year in the making,” Mathis said. “We are eager to bring this back to Springfield and work with the city to get final signoff for impactful demolition and construction.” The Springfield City Council is expected to discuss and vote on a casino overlay district on Monday, Dec. 21. MGM Springfield representatives will be at the meeting. The new year will be busy for MGM with the commencement of active construction. MGM Springfield construction-management representatives will host ongoing information sessions with interested minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses, and the opening of the relocated MGM Springfield Community Office.

Massachusetts to See Income-tax Decrease

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced that the final economic trigger was met in order to lower the state’s income tax from 5.15% to 5.10%. The income-tax cut for all Massachusetts residents will become effective on Jan. 1. “Meeting the requirements needed to reduce the income-tax rate is a sign that the Massachusetts economy remains strong,” Baker said. “Allowing citizens across the Commonwealth to keep more money in their pockets will allow the state’s economy to continue growing in 2016.” Added Polito, “the will of the voters has persevered. It’s been 15 years since the voters first made this decision, and every chance we get to provide more discretionary income is a good day for the Commonwealth and the taxpayers.” Kristen Lepore, secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, noted that “the fiscal year 2016 budget revenue assumed effects of the lower tax rate to 5.10% and has been accounted for in the balance sheet. This is good news for the taxpayers with no new impact on the state’s fiscal outlook.” A ballot initiative passed in 2000 called for the state’s income tax to be reduced to 5% over time. Legislation was passed in 2002 that tied reducing the tax rate by 0.05% each tax year (until the Part B income tax rate is 5%) to certain economic triggers. First, the inflation adjusted growth in baseline tax revenues for the preceding fiscal year has to exceed 2.5%. The second trigger, completed on the 15th of each month between September and December, certifies that the inflation-adjusted growth in baseline tax revenues over the previous three months of the current calendar year compared to the same periods of the prior calendar year is greater than zero. Once the statutory triggers are met, the rate is lowered by 0.05% until it reaches 5% percent. The charitable deduction will be restored the year after the tax rate is lowered to 5%. The last time all growth thresholds were met was in 2014.

DevelopSpringfield Issues Grants for Façade Improvements

SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield recently awarded several façade-improvement grants through the Corridor Storefront Improvement Program (CSIP), which provides grants of up to $10,000 per storefront for exterior improvements to first-floor businesses located on State and Main streets in Springfield. A grant of $30,000 was provided to Boynton Property Group for work related to its rehabilitation of the shopping plaza located at 666 State St. in the city’s Mason Square area. Funds provided were allocated toward new signage, enhanced lighting, and new windows to the plaza, home to a restaurant and beauty salon. Silverbrick Group has been making major renovations to the former Morgan Square property at 1593-1607 Main St. The project includes redevelopment of the apartments, creating Silverbrick Lofts as well as renovations to first-floor commercial space. A grant of $60,000 was provided to support installation of new, energy-efficient windows and doors for six units on the ground floor. This contribution augmented the substantial investment by the project’s developers which, in addition to the newly refurbished apartments, also includes major repairs to masonry work on the upper stories of the property. Silverbrick is located in Springfield’s downtown Innovation District, a priority redevelopment area. Finally, as a part of Nadim’s Mediterranean Grill’s recent redesign, DevelopSpringfield provided a $10,000 grant to aid in the façade enhancement, including new windows, signage, and awning. The restaurant, located at 1380-1390 Main St., has undergone a major redesign inside and out. Nadim’s made further investments to improve the inside dining room as well as the patio dining experience. “DevelopSpringfield is pleased to support these Springfield businesses in their efforts to make lasting improvements, which impact not only their own activities, but also benefit neighboring businesses as well,” said Jay Minkarah, president and CEO of DevelopSpringfield. “We are proud to be among the partners working to support and strengthen longtime and new business ventures in our city.” DevelopSpringfield’s Corridor Storefront Improvement Program was established in 2009 with the support of the city of Springfield and other private funders, to enhance the visual appeal of State and Main streets while providing assistance to businesses making investments in these two key corridors within the city. For more information on CSIP, visit www.developspringfield.com and click on ‘programs,’ or contact Minkarah at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

More Than 140 Become U.S. Citizens at Ceremony in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently presented more than 140 candidates for naturalization to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson administered the Oath of Allegiance to America’s newest citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the UMass Center at Springfield. Guests and speakers included Robertson; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; Daniel Montagna, director of Operations at the UMass Center at Springfield; and Luis Chaves, director of the USCIS Lawrence Field Office. The citizenship candidates originate from the following 44 countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Somalia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov.

State Legislation Establishes Workforce Investment Board

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed legislation establishing the Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board to improve the public workforce system and enhance regional economies around the Commonwealth by focusing on employers’ growing need for skilled workers. “With changes to the federal workforce-investment laws, we now have an opportunity as a state to redefine and reimagine how we create skill-building programs,” Baker said. “Creating strong regional economies by designing programs that meet the demands of workers and businesses in each region is important to driving economic growth and new job opportunities for our residents.” Required by federal law and currently defined by state statute, the Massachusetts Workforce Development Board advises the governor and the secretary of Labor and Workforce Development with the mission to build a strong workforce system aligned with state education policies and economic-development goals. “To help people find good jobs, we are flipping the model to be demand-driven for employers, which, in turn, will help more people find jobs that suit their skill sets,” Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Ronald Walker II said. “We need to create a system that better meets the needs of employers who struggle to find talented workers.” The legislation, “An Act Establishing a State Workforce Development Board,” is based on a bill introduced Baker in June reconstituting the state’s Workforce Investment Board, reducing its membership from 65 members to 33, and ensuring the makeup of its membership continues to comply with federal requirements under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA was signed into law by President Obama on July 22, 2014, reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 after more than a decade to transform the nation’s workforce system, and to invest in a skilled workforce. The Workforce Development Board is charged with developing plans and policies, which are approved by the governor, to coordinate services through one-stop career centers and workforce boards. The board also issues policy recommendations to align the public workforce system and improve performance accountability, and will develop strategies to promote workforce participation of women, people of color, veterans, and people with disabilities across industry sectors.

Unemployment Rates Down in Massachusetts

BOSTON — Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates are down in all labor markets in the state, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics compared to October 2014, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. During the month of October, seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates went down in eight labor market areas, increased in six areas, and remained the same in 10 other areas of the state. Twelve areas added jobs over the month, with the largest gains in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Springfield, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, and Worcester areas. The Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford area had no change in its jobs level over the month, while seasonal losses occurred in the Barnstable and Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead areas. In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for October remained at 4.5%. Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6% for the month of October. The unemployment rate is down 0.9% over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed an 11,000-job gain in October and an over-the-year gain of 80,600 jobs. Meanwhile, the New England Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released New England and state unemployment numbers for October 2015. The New England unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6% in October. One year ago, the New England jobless rate was higher, at 5.6%. The U.S. jobless rate was essentially unchanged from September (5.0%).

People on the Move

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Departments People on the Move
Christopher Casale

Christopher Casale

Chicopee Savings Bank recently welcomed Christopher Casale to its Financial Services Center as an investment services sales associate. Casale has been advising clients on investments and insurance as a registered representative for more than 30 years. In 1982, he started his career with E.F. Hutton & Co. and most recently worked at United Bank, where he served as a personal banker and assistant vice president of investments. Casale has earned his Series 7, 63, and Investment Advisor Representative designation through LPL Financial as well as his license in life, accident, and health insurance. He graduated in 1982 from American International College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

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John O’Rourke III has been appointed to the position of controller at Bay Path University. O’Rourke will work closely with Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services Michael Giampietro and the staff of the university’s Business Office to account for and manage its financial assets. His responsibilities include overseeing payroll, accounting, receivables and payables, grant accounting and compliance, and the Bursar’s Office. “John O’Rourke is highly skilled in financial analysis, auditing, and strategic planning,” Giampietro said. “We are excited to have him join the university staff.” O’Rourke brings to the university more than 15 years of experience in finance and accounting. Prior to joining the Bay Path staff, he served as comptroller for Holyoke Community College, and has additional experience as an investment accountant for MassMutual Financial Group and staff accountant for Lester Halpern & Co. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from UMass Amherst.

•••••

The Gray House recently inducted five new board members to three-year terms.
• Jan Rodriguez Denney is director of Elder Affairs for the city of Springfield. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from UMass and a master’s degree in human resources development from American International College. She serves on the board of Partners for a Healthier Community, Springfield Food Policy Council, Regional Employment Board, YWCA, Incorporated Emerson Wright Foundation, Greater Senior Services Inc., and Springfield College Board.
• Sean Ditto is a project executive with Consigli Construction Co. in Hartford, Conn. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Norwich University.
• Karen Garcia is a family specialist with the New England Farm Workers Council. She works with the homeless to help them address their issues so they are able to sustain affordable housing.
• Sr. Catherine Homrok is one of the founders of the Gray House. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1959 after graduation from St. Jerome High School in Holyoke. She received her bachelor’s degree from Elms College and her master’s degree from Emerson College. Currently, she serves the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield as its director of Pastoral Ministries.
• Tina-Marie Quagliato is director of disaster recovery and compliance for the city of Springfield. She has been employed by the city for almost 11 years, with varying roles in housing, community development, and neighborhood stabilization. She is on the board of trustees for the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence in Springfield and the board of directors for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, Emergency Food and Shelter Program. She has volunteered with Keep Springfield Beautiful, Habitat for Humanity, Open Pantry, and the Mattoon Street Arts Festival.
The Gray House is a small, neighborhood human-service agency located at 22 Sheldon St. in the North End of Springfield. Its mission is to help neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment. For more information, visit www.grayhouse.org.

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Corina Belle-Isle has joined Gage-Wiley & Co. Inc. in a dual role, serving as a financial advisor and also holding a new position the investment firm recently created: director of business development. In her leadership position, Belle-Isle will work with President Christopher Milne to set firm and wide objectives and identify methods to reach these goals. She also will have a responsibility to develop, coordinate, and implement plans designed to increase existing business and capture new opportunities. “Creating this new leadership position represents one more incremental step in our long-term goal of advancing Gage-Wiley as a comprehensive boutique wealth-management firm mand ensuring we are well-positioned to support the growing and complex needs of our clients,” Milne said. Belle-Isle’s varied background includes experience in financial services, real estate, corporate sales and marketing, small-business ownership, and nonprofit development. Rounding out her business knowledge and experience are her creative pursuits; last year, she served as the principal and curator of the Quinn Marin Gallery Project in Rockport. “The common thread among all her experiences is a demonstrated success in business development and building strong relationships,” Milne said.

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Berkshire Bank announced that Kathryn Dube has joined the bank as first vice president and wealth business development leader. Dube brings more than 30 years of banking and financial-management experience to her new role. She has held progressively responsible positions in retail banking and wealth management in the Western Mass. and Connecticut markets. Prior to joining Berkshire Bank, she served as senior vice president of private banking at TD Bank, where she was responsible for sales of wealth products and services and generating new assets. She served as senior vice president, regional retail market manager for TD Bank as well, managing a network of 35 stores and $2 billion in deposits. Dube holds Series 7 and 66 FINRA licenses. She attended the University of Connecticut, New England College of Finance, and Bryant College. Involved in numerous community endeavors, she is the current chair of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council in the Pioneer Valley, a member of the organization’s board of directors, and co-chair of the Endowment Committee for the United Way. Having previously served as chair and vice chair for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, she was selected as the organization’s Volunteer of the Year in 2014.

•••••

Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. announced that account executive Sam Fortsch has earned the prestigious accredited adviser in insurance (AAI) designation. This degree was earned after he successfully completed the Liberty Mutual Commercial Lines Producers School, an intensive, six-month training program that included multiple classes and nine exams. Fortsch joined Phillips Insurance in July 2014 after four years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army. He left the Army as a captain after two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass. Fortsch has developed a strong expertise in the energy, automotive, technology, and craft-brewing industries in a short time, said Joseph Phillips, president of Phillips Insurance. “The same level of commitment that he brought to serving his country, he has brought to serving his clients.” Fortsch is servicing existing clients and cultivating new business opportunities throughout New England. Phillips Insurance Agency, established in 1953, is a full-service risk-management firm with a staff of 23 professionals. The agency handles the personal and commercial insurance needs for thousands of individuals and businesses throughout New England.

•••••

Richard Venne, president and CEO of Community Enterprises Inc., announced the appointment of Gary Daniele as director of Greenfield Community Employment and Training Programs. He is responsible for the effective management of all aspects of employment and training services in Greenfield, and will implement the organization’s mission and values by supporting individuals to make positive changes in their lives. Daniele was previously employed by the state of Oregon as a branch manager for vocational rehabilitation. He has more than 25 years of experience in employment, vocational, and residential supports for individuals with disabilities, and was awarded the Department of Human Services Director’s Excellence Award in 2014. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Roger Williams University. Community Enterprises is a human-service organization that provides employment, education, housing supports, and day supports for people with disabilities. Headquartered in Northampton, it maintains 27 service locations throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Kentucky. The Massachusetts offices include Springfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Worcester, Salem, Gloucester, and Somerville. The nonprofit organization, which started as a small program at Northampton State Hospital, has grown to a $22.5 million business.

•••••

Yvonne Diaz

Yvonne Diaz

Ramon Financial Services announced that Yvonne Diaz is joining the company as a benefits consultant. She will design and service employee-benefit programs for new and existing clients. Diaz brings 16 years of industry experience, including 10 years as an account executive at Health New England. She received her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Bay Path College and is currently a member of Leadership Pioneer Valley’s Class of 2016.

•••••

AFC Doctors Express announced the appointment of Dr. Vincent Meoli as regional medical director. With 10 years of experience, Meoli will be responsible for developing clinical guidelines for treatment of patients, assisting in recruitment of new medical staff, coordinating patient care with administrators and medical assistants, and developing ongoing teaching programs for all medical staff. “I am thrilled to join AFC Doctors Express as the new regional medical director,” Meoli said. “I have seen the company develop over the past few years as a leading healthcare resource, and I am excited to bring my passion for patient-oriented healthcare to this emerging source of collaborative medicine.” Meoli completed his emergency-medicine residency program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2006 and received his doctor of medicine degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 2002. He is an active member in the American College of Emergency Physicians, an organization that works to promote high-quality emergency care and continuing-education opportunities. Meoli is also involved in the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, a program that promotes access to superior emergency care by emergency-care specialists. “Our mission is to deliver high-quality healthcare and provide an exceptional experience for patients who are sick, injured, or who just need to see a doctor,” said Rick Crews, president of Medvest, LLC. “After a long search, we have found the best candidate that not only shares in our dedication to patients, but is also talented.”

Court Dockets

By
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.

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Coyote Realty LLC v. Total Wellness Center d/b/a Clean Slate
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $220,000
Filed: 10/9/15

Vincent P. Traina Jr. v. People’s United Bank, Jill DeSouza, and Anthony Ferraro
Allegation: Defamation and slander: $1,300,000
Filed: 11/10/15

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Building Specialties/Architectural Hardware Inc. v. James J. Welch & Co. Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of services, labor, and materials: $86,450
Filed: 10/28/15

Catherine O’Neill v. Quik Foods Inc., d/b/a Burger King
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing personal injury: $14,294.10
Filed: 11/18/15

Dietz Construction Co. v. James J. Welch & Co. Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $102,392.98
Filed: 11/16/15

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Ernesto Jaimes, by his mother Omayra Gonzalez v. Motor Realty Co., d/b/a Townline Motel
Allegation: Bedbug infestation causing personal injury: $5,000
Filed: 12/9/15

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Alexis Levesque v. Horizon’s Restaurant & Bar
Allegations: The plaintiff bit into a plastic object in her sandwich causing painful oral and dental injuries: $5,000+
Filed: 12/10/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Estelle Moses v. Columbia Gas of MA
Allegation: Breach of duty of care and negligence causing personal injury: $11,780.50
Filed: 11/18/15

Jamy and Teresa Lazarack v. Warren Truck and Auto Repair
Allegation: Fraud and unfair and deceptive trade practices: $3,937.61
Filed: 12/3/15

Luz Lazala v. Columbia Gas of MA
Allegation: Negligence causing explosion and loss of rental income: $23,000
Filed: 11/17/15

New England Industrial Uniform Rental Service v. Siemon Co.
Allegation: Breach of contract for rental and cleaning of industrial garments: $9,685.33
Filed: 12/8/15

TDI Fellow Laura Masulis Is Laser-focused on Springfield

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CoverFeatureBW1215b
Cover Story

Assignment: Springfield

Laura Masulis

Laura Masulis says working on initiatives to increase foot traffic downtown is among her goals.

Before last spring, about all Laura Masulis knew of Springfield was what she could see off I-91 as she drove back and forth to Wesleyan. But when she was chosen as one of MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative fellows, and the city was selected to be granted such an individual, she got off the highway, took a much closer look, and became intrigued, to say the least. A match was made, and now she’s heavily involved in all efforts to make downtown a destination.

Laura Masulis grew up in Nashville, which is known worldwide for its music industry and, in recent decades, a burgeoning healthcare sector. But for most of her adult life, she’s had what she called a soft spot for “old industrial cities.”

That sentiment helps explain why she considers her current assignment, as a so-called Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) fellow working in Springfield for MassDevelopment, a “match made in heaven.”

Indeed, Springfield’s long history as a manufacturing hub and current work to reinvent itself certainly resonated with Masulis as she was rating potential landing spots within the statewide TDI program as part of a matching process similar to the one experienced by graduating medical-school students.

“We rate them, and they rate us,” said Masulis, 28, as she talked about how she interviewed in Springfield, Lynn, and Haverhill, and officials in those communities ranked the various candidates as much as the candidates ranked potential destinations. “I ranked Springfield first, and they ranked me first, so it was pretty simple.”

But there was more than an industrial heritage that convinced Masulis that she wanted Springfield to be her home, figuratively and quite literally — she recently purchased a home in the Forest park neighborhood — for at least the three-year duration of her assignment.

There was also its many forms of diversity — Masulis majored in Latin American studies and economics in college — as well as the architecture downtown, cultural attractions, and, most importantly, vast potential for improvement.

“I was amazed by how visually beautiful the city was, in both the downtown and the neighborhoods — that surprised me,” she noted. “I was moved by the architecture, excited about the diversity of the community, and intrigued by all that’s happening; it’s definitely an exciting time for this city.”

Her general assignment is Springfield, but, more specifically, it’s a several-block area downtown that it is now called the Innovation District — a name that is slowly working its way into the lexicon but is still used almost exclusively by elected officials and development leaders. Perhaps more importantly, it has been designated by MassDevelopment as a TDI District, with the focus squarely on the first two words in that acronym — ‘transformative’ and ‘development.’

MassDevelopment literature outlining the TDI initiative defines that phrase this way: “transformative development is redevelopment on a scale and character capable of catalyzing significant follow-on private investment, leading over time to transformation of an entire downtown or urban neighborhood, and consistent with local plans.”

There are 10 TDI projects in various stages of progression across the Commonwealth, including those focused on the so-called TOD District in Holyoke, the Tyler Street District in Pittsfield, the One Lynn District in Lynn, the Merrimac Street Transformative District in Haverhill, the North River Neighborhood in Peabody, Downtown Gateway in Brockton, and the Theater District in Worcester.

In Springfield, the TDI District stretches, for the most part, from Main Street to just east of Chestnut Street, and from Bridge Street to Lyman Street. It includes the city’s entertainment district, Apremont Triangle, Stearns Square, the park located on the former Steiger’s site (now known as Center Square), and the so-called ‘blast zone,’ those blocks heavily damaged by the November 2012 natural-gas explosion.

As part of efforts to transform the identified districts, the Gateway cities can apply for what’s known as a ‘mid-career fellow’ to help develop and implement strategic initiatives. Springfield, Lynn, and Haverhill prevailed in the spirited competition for the first three fellows to be funded by MassDevelopment (three more will be assigned in 2016), and that brings us back to Masulis and that matching process.

Her assignment, which started in May, dictates that she works closely with several local development-focused agencies, including the city’s Economic Development Department, the Springfield Business Improvement District, DevelopSpringfield, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and others, and thus she’s been involved in a number of recent initiatives.

These include everything from movie nights at Stearns Square over the summer (The Princess Bride was among the films shown) to the recent pop-up Downtown Springfield Holiday Market; from Valley Venture Mentors workshops to public stakeholder meetings (the latest was on Dec. 17); from a project at Market Place involving UMass landscape architecture students (see related story, page 41) to the recent City2City trip to Chattanooga, Tenn. (her thoughts on that excursion later).

She said much has been accomplished, but much more obviously needs to be done to transform the district into a place people will not only want to visit, but also live in and start a business in.

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Masulis about her assignment, the TDI District, and her thoughts on what the future might bring for the City of Homes — now her own home.

Developing Story

Masulis did her undergraduate work at Wesleyan University in suburban Middletown, Conn. But she’s spent the past several years working and going to school in Boston (she earned a certificate in nonprofit management and leadership at Boston University), and, as mentioned earlier, she grew up in Nashville.

So she’s used to streets teeming with people, and is thus well-acquainted with the energy — as well as the sense of security — that such a critical mass provides.

And those are two of the things she noticed were largely missing during her visits here early on — and are still missing, for the most part. She noted that the clubs along Worthington Street can be crowded — and parking spots hard to find throughout the entertainment district — on weekend nights, but her impression is that the streets are seemingly, and somewhat alarmingly, empty too much of the time.

“I was moved by the fact that there was so little foot traffic,” she told BusinessWest. “At night, you only feel unsafe because there’s no one around. That was sort of an eerie thing to experience when I first got here.”

It’s not officially written into her job description, but doing something about that quiet on the streets, the lack of foot traffic, is a very big part of why she’s here.

And that goal has been at the forefront of many of those efforts described earlier, from the movies in the park to the holiday market. But there is obviously much more to this assignment than announcing such events with chalk on downtown sidewalks, as Masulis could often be seen doing over the past several months.

Indeed, the work involves strategic planning, developing partnerships to carry out initiatives identified in those plans, meeting with the key stakeholders, and, overall, creating and maintaining a buzz about downtown and, more specifically, the TDI District.

Springfield’s Transformative Development Initiative District

Springfield’s Transformative Development Initiative District encompasses several blocks in the city’s entertainment district and so-called ‘blast zone.’

Masulis brings to these various duties a diverse background that includes work with social-service agencies and small businesses. She’s served as a program assistant for the Center for Women and Enterprise and as a business analyst for the Public Consulting Group, and also co-founded the still-operating Lawrence BiciCocina, a community bike and board workshop in Lawrence (another of those old industrial cities) to promote healthy lifestyles, sustainable and low-cost transportation, youth leadership development, and job training.

Most recently, she’s been a senior project manager for Interise, the Boston-based venture that stimulates economic growth in lower-income communities by helping established small-business owners grow and expand their ventures.

She said this background meshed effectively with what Springfield and its TDI District perhaps most needed — small-business recruitment, retention, and development efforts — and this contributed to those ‘match made in heaven’ sentiments.

Masulis admitted that, prior to last spring, about all she knew of Springfield was what she could see from I-91 as she traveled on that road to get to Wesleyan nearly a decade ago. When the city became one of the finalists to be assigned a fellow, she said she got off the highway for a weekend visit that focused on the downtown and the TDI District itself.

As she mentioned, she was somewhat unnerved by the lack of foot traffic — “sort of creepy” was another of the phrases she used to describe it — but looked past it to its many attributes and considerable growth potential, something she says many of those who live and work in the city have a much harder time doing.

“People from the outside can often appreciate the many assets of a city more than the people who are there every day,” she explained. “And I definitely experienced that with Springfield.”

What’s in Store?

As she talked about her assignment, Masulis said it is unique, in many respects, with regard to others within the broad realms of economic development and urban planning. Getting more specific, she said that, while there are certainly many meetings to attend — she didn’t attempt to guesstimate how many she’s been part of since arriving — her work mostly involves implementation, which is what she likes most about it.

And there is plenty of implementation to do, considering the various initiatives taking place in the city and the many partner agencies she works with. Which means that the calendar is full and each day is different.

“It’s an interesting role because I’m doing 15 things at once,” she explained. “I’m working with projects involving the Pioneer Planning Commission on the walkability of downtown and signage and pedestrian infrastructure. And the next meeting I’m at, we’re talking about recruiting restaurants for the district, and at the next meeting, I’m talking with property owners about improvements that need to be made and how they’re going to finance those.

“I’m meeting with residents who are talking about how they wish there was better lighting on their street,” she went on. “It’s a broad spectrum of issues and initiatives, and every day is a complete mix of things. And while geographically I’m very focused on this one district of downtown, all the issues are interconnected to the city and the region, so I wind up being part of these broader initiatives and conversations.”

As for the TDI District itself, Masulis said the basic mission is to make it a destination — or much more of a destination — for a wide array of constituencies. These include people looking for a place — or places — at which to spend a night out, individuals who want to do some shopping, entrepreneurs looking for a location to launch or relocate a hospitality-related enterprise, and people looking for a place to live. And she’s working with the various partner agencies to anticipate and meet the needs of those and other groups.

“This is an entertaining, dining, innovation district that has seen a couple of major investments made, but a lot of it has yet to be built out,” she said, citing the stunning transformation of the Fuller Block as an example of the type of development that could — and hopefully will — happen at dozens of buildings and vacant lots within the district.

“That’s a perfect model for what could happen to buildings across the district,” she said of the property, which now houses National Public Radio, the Dennis Group (an engineering company), and a host of other tenants. “And there have been others that have not been rehabbed, including those in the blast zone, on the extreme end.”

One of the keys to making such redevelopment happen is successful recruitment of new businesses, she said, adding that such work represents just one component of her work involving small businesses. Another is working with those that are already located within the district, she noted, adding that, while attracting new ventures is critical, so too is making sure existing ventures can thrive and thus serve as models for others.

“I’m doing on-the-ground work with the established businesses there — making sure they know what’s going on and have awareness of the various resources available to them,” she said. “And there’s also the work of recruiting businesses from around the region who could potentially open another location in Springfield.

“But I’m also part of the conversation about building out the small business and entrepreneurship pipeline in the region,” she went on, “and for filling in the gaps and having a more cohesive umbrella regarding all the resources available. We need to pull those together more tightly and in a more user-friendly way than what’s currently in place.”

The Right Place and Time

Still another factor that made Springfield a desirable landing spot, said Masulis, was the fact that her three-year assignment — which could go much longer — coincides with an obviously intriguing chapter in the city’s history and reinvention process.

one of 10 across the state

Springfield’s TDI District is one of 10 across the state identified by MassDevelopment.

Beyond the elephant in the room — the $900 million MGM Springfield, which is scheduled to open its doors around the time Masulis’ three-year tenure wraps up — there are other initiatives, including the redevelopment of Union Station, the construction of a subway-car manufacturing plant in the east side of the city, a wave of entrepreneurial energy that manifests itself in the form of the various Valley Venture Mentors initiatives, the new innovation center downtown, and much more.

And Masulis feels privileged to be in a position to not just watch it happen, but play a role in how events transpire, especially with regard to the entrepreneurial piece of the puzzle.

“I feel very lucky to be coming in at this point,” she told BusinessWest. “I definitely recognize that there’s been a huge amount of work and sweat equity already put in to developing this entrepreneurship culture; I’m just here to provide some additional capacity to help keep it moving forward.”

As for the bigger picture — and where Springfield and its TDI District might be three years from now, or 10, or 20 — Masulis, acknowledging that she was taking that outsider’s perspective, even with eight months of work downtown under her belt, takes a decidedly optimistic view.

“Regardless of what happens with MGM, there is already a lot of positive energy in the city, and that includes the innovation and dining space,” she said, referring to the real estate within the TDI District that comprises her primary focus. “There’s a lot of momentum when it comes to the anchors that are already in place that we really want to build upon; what we want to do is fill storefronts with positive activity.”

The pop-up Downtown Springfield Holiday Market was an example of this, she said, adding that the initiative, based in the ground-floor space of the building most still know as Harrison Place, was designed to increase foot traffic while also giving retailers, who take on temporary, or pop-up space, a chance to try on downtown Springfield and see if the shoe might fit.

“That’s one strategy to get more retailers to come downtown and try it out,” she explained. “For us, the plan is to then transition them into longer-term leases in more permanent locations. In five years, we want to see a lot more foot traffic on the street, not just on workdays, but also at night and on weekends. The goal is fewer vacant storefronts and more people utilizing the green spaces that are already there.”

Masulis said she’s heard all about how vibrant Tower Square was decades ago, and also about Johnson’s Bookstore, Forbes & Wallace, Steiger’s, and all the other retail now relegated to the past tense. She said the goal moving forward isn’t about restoring the past, but creating something different, equally vibrant, and more reflective of the changes that have taken place over the past four decades.

“We have a very different community than we had 30 years ago,” she noted. “What’s going to be in the future is not going to be a perfect replication of what was.”

She acknowledged that the task of getting more people to live and do business downtown is a complicated process — people won’t live in the area until there are things to, and there won’t be things to do unless there are people living in and coming to the area. But she believes progress will come on both fronts, and this will generate continued progress.

“You need to work on both things at the same time,” she said of the commercial and residential aspects of the equation. “And you have to find a couple of risk takers who are willing to come out early before the proven model.”

She said the Chattanooga trip, while energizing, certainly, provided ample evidence of how much work remains to be done, but also how much progress Springfield has already made, especially with regard to creating opportunities and closing the gap between the haves and the have-nots, something Chattanooga has not done as well.

When asked if Springfield could host a similar program now, or when it might be able to do so, Masulis said that, in many respects, she believes the city is already there, but that, in a few years, it will have many more success stories to put on display.

“In five years, Springfield will look very different, and I really hope that we’ll be in a position where people want to visit this city and we’re able to show that not only do we have these flashy projects that have been very successful, but we’ve made real strides in reducing inequality as well.”

At Home with the Idea

Those words ‘we’ll’ and ‘we’re,’ while seemingly innocuous, are rather telling when it comes to this fellowship and how Masulis looks upon it.

She’s not just someone working in Springfield on a project funded by MassDevelopment. OK, she is, but rather quickly, she’s become an integral part of the multi-faceted effort to revitalize and reinvent one of the old industrial cities she’s so fond of. And she’s using words like ‘we’re’ and ‘we’ll.’

More than that, she’s already talking about how that house in Forest Park may be home for much longer than three years.

In the meantime, she’s in the middle of something special — a match, as she said, that was seemingly made in heaven.

 

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

HCC Plans $43.5 Million Renovation of Campus Center

By
Education Sections

A New Front Door

Bill Fogarty

Bill Fogarty shows off the water-collection apparatus in G-313.

The number outside the door is G-313. But everyone knows it as the ‘digital video studio.’

It’s a well-equipped facility — done over as part of a $2 million renovation of the media center in Holyoke Community College’s campus center in 2008 — and, in most respects, it looks like a modern classroom.

Except for the black tarpaulin positioned just below the ceiling near the middle of the room.

This is an elaborate apparatus, actually, with the tarp hung so that the water leaking from the ceiling flows down and to the center, where it then passes into a hose that empties into a five-gallon bucket sitting on the floor.

“Pretty attractive, huh?” asked Bill Fogarty, HCC’s vice president of Administration and Finance as he offered a tour of the campus center, something he’s done quite often lately, but not for the reason he’d like.

Indeed, he’s certainly not showing off the facility, also known as Building G, hence G-313. Instead, he’s pointing out what the HCC community has had to put up with since … well, pretty much since the day the sloping, concrete facility opened its doors in 1980.

Fogarty’s not sure what month or day that was, but from what he’s heard anecdotally, the building has leaked since just after the ceremonial ribbon was cut — or at least the first day it rained.

Efforts to remediate the problem have continued for the past 35 years, mostly with stopgap measures like those in G-313. Funding for a permanent solution has come only after innumerable tours offered by Fogarty and others and countless “dog-and-pony shows,” as he called them, featuring color photos of the digital video center and several other facilities with water-collection systems of varying levels of sophistication.

The wait (for funding, anyway) finally ended last summer, when the state announced it was awarding $2.5 million for a massive renovation effort, the final monetary piece needed for what will be a $43.5 million project that will — in 30 months or so, according to current estimates — lead to tours of a much different kind.

When it’s over, the project to square off the campus center, thus eliminating the angles contributing to the water-damage problems, and add roughly 8,000 square feet will yield a facility that is in many ways state-of-the-art, student-friendly, and doesn’t leak.

It will in many ways give the school a new feel — and entry point, said its long-time president, Bill Messner.

“This will allow for a front door, which is something we’ve never had before,” he explained, adding that, despite its importance, the campus center is accessible only from a series of stairs leading down from the Frost Building, the main administration building, or from the adjoining Kittredge Center for Business & Workforce Development.

Plans call for an elaborate makeover of the dining-services facilities; a new home for the campus bookstore, which is currently housed in cramped, and, yes, leaking space on the ground floor; a new admissions office; and improved traffic flow to all those facilities.

The renovation project will create some headaches and logistical challenges — books will be sold only online for the length of the construction project, and dining facilities will be temporarily relocated to the already-crowded Frost Building next door, for example.

But the end result will be a facility that will certainly help the college as it works to attract students — HCC competes across many programs with Springfield Technical Community College, only eight miles away — and greatly enhance the experience for those who choose to attend.

Leaking Information

The campus-center project is the latest in a number of projects over the past decade or so that have in many ways transformed an HCC campus that first opened in the mid-’70s, and has been showing its age in many respects.

The 57,000-square-foot Kittredge Center, which opened in 2006, was a major addition to the campus, as was the new Center for Health Education, which opened its doors this past fall in the former Grynn & Barrett Studios building on Jarvis Avenue, just a few hundred yards from the campus (see story, page 22).

In the planning stages is a major renovation of the Marieb Building, which will house the HCC Center for Life Sciences on its first floor.

These and other projects have been undertaken to improve the student experience, create new learning opportunities, and improve student-recruitment efforts, said Messner, adding that the campus-center renovations were blueprinted for all the same reasons.

But at its core, this project was undertaken — and it’s been years, if not decades in the making — to eliminate design flaws, and thus water-infiltration issues and resulting building-material failures, that have plagued the building literally since the day it opened.

Indeed, as he offered his tour of the campus center, the last of what’s considered the “original” buildings on the campus, Fogarty showed BusinessWest several facilities with leaks and various forms of water-collection equipment, including other classrooms, the storage area in the bookstore, and a room just off the dining-services facility which, because of persistent leaks, has been used only for storage over the past several years.

“It’s been a chamber of horrors,” said Fogarty, adding that the college community has essentially had to live with the problem. And in recent years, that became increasingly difficult, creating a sense of urgency that culminated in more of those dog-and-pony shows, which helped prompt the state to include $2.5 million for the project as part of a larger package for capital projects. The balance of the cost is being funded through state bonds.

In a nutshell, the project calls for, well, building a new nutshell.

Holyoke Community College

Officials at Holyoke Community College say the campus center has leaked since the day it opened in 1980.

“To solve the problem, we’ve explored a number of options,” Fogarty explained. “And it’s been determined that the best way to approach this is not to simply over-clad the building, but to square it off — to actually build a new exterior of the building.

“The idea is to square it off and have it look more like the Kittredge Building,” he went on. “That’s because the campus center is not a very attractive building. And while it’s more consistent with the rest of the campus, it’s the building that’s in the worst shape.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2017, and it will require closing down the structure for the duration of the project. That reality will force some imaginative responses, said Fogarty, because the campus is already cramped.

But the end product will be well worth the inconveniences, he went on, because it will give the college a campus center that is far more welcoming, student-friendly, and easy to access.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for new students and new families coming to the campus to find this parking lot and then have a straight shot to admissions,” said Fogarty, citing just one example of how the renovated Building G will represent a substantial improvement over existing conditions.

Messner agreed. “Admissions is currently buried down on the second floor of this building [Frost, the main administration facility], and it’s a very unappealing situation,” he explained, “particularly when you’re trying to attract and impress and serve potential new students.

“So this is not only going to be much more attractive and conducive to a welcoming environment,” he went on, “it’s also going to cluster an array of services around admissions that lend themselves to serving potential new students — the testing, the advising, and more.”

Another example would be the plans for the new bookstore, to be relocated from its current basement home.

“Right now, you have to make an effort to find the bookstore; it’s just not conveniently located,” said Fogarty. “What we want to do is bring the bookstore to the second floor, and have that facility, the dining services, and the student-activity services all on the same floor, and all opening up to a common corridor.”

Dry Subject Matter

Fogarty said he’s essentially done giving tours of the campus center — at least for the next two and half years or so.

But he expects he’ll doing a lot of them afterward, showing off a facility that will be modern, accessible, easy to use, and, best of all, dry.

Indeed, G-313 will look like a modern classroom — without the water-collection apparatus.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Architecture EL Brings Passion to Its Myriad Projects

By
Architecture Sections

Purposeful Design

Kevin Rothschild-Shea

Kevin Rothschild-Shea at a residential project site.

Kevin Rothschild-Shea launched his architecture firm seven years ago, just as the economy was starting to sour. But, though a combination of diversity, flexibility, and a commitment to service, he has seen his business not only survive, but grow. It helps that he’s got a number of what he calls “socially responsible” jobs under his belt, as he has a passion for working with clients who serve people in need.

Kevin Rothschild-Shea has designed buildings for a wide variety of residential and commercial clients, but he takes particular pride in projects with a social benefit.

Take the child-care center his firm, Architecture EL, designed in Chicopee for the Valley Opportunity Council. “They’re very excited to see a new building replacing a very small, old, out-of-date structure,” he said of the partially state-funded project. “For us, it’s a nice little job, but for them, it’s a big project that’s been a long time coming.

“It involved creating a space that’s bright and clean — not just a room, but a room that creates an opportunity for learning and positive experiences,” he went on. “For some of these kids, it’s the nicest place they’ll get to go all day.”

He also cited the E. Henry Twiggs Estates, a 75-unit affordable-housing project in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield. The client, Home City Housing, is a “great organization with the goal of maintaining affordable housing for people in the area. That’s a really significant project that we’ll be drawing through the wintertime, and we hope to start construction in late spring or early summer.”

Meanwhile, “we did some work with the Community Survival Center in Indian Orchard — space planning, space analysis,” Rothschild-Shea explained. “They’re an organization that continues to grow and provides a great service to people in need. I feel fortunate I’ve been able to work with them.”

Rothschild-Shea uses the word ‘fortunate’ often, occasionally applying it to the success of his own company, which he launched in 2008, into the teeth of an economic meltdown, followed by a lengthy recession. But he says he’s happy to be very busy today.

“The economy is typical of Western Massachusetts — there seem to be hot spots,” he said. “I’ve been busy while other people have been slow, and I’ve been slow while I’ve seen others swamped. It’s hard to get a read on it. So maybe I should just keep working.”

That said, “we’ve been pretty fortunate. We’ve had a good variety of work and great clients, and we were fortunate to survive the recession, and not only survive, but we managed to grow,” he went on, noting that the company has expanded from a two-person operation in 2013 to five employees today, and recently moved into new offices that effectively doubled its physical space. “That’s a good sign of our growth and the work we have on our plate.”

Bold Beginnings

Rothschild-Shea has told the story of how he loved helping out around the house as a child, which inspired him to pursue a creative, hands-on career. After graduating from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, he took a job with a small architecture firm for 18 years before deciding to strike out on his own. “I just jumped in feet first and said, ‘let’s get to work.’”

A rendering of the new Valley Opportunity Council early-education center in Chicopee.

A rendering of the new Valley Opportunity Council early-education center in Chicopee.

Architecure EL — the acronym stands for Environment Life — was built on the idea of direct design. It’s more common than ever, in fact, to partner with owners and contractors in the design and construction of a building, whereas, a decade ago, those elements were bid separately. “The construction-management type of partnership atmosphere is much more common than we saw in the past.”

Setting up shop in East Longmeadow, he said, many customers assume the EL is an acronym for the town, “but the reality is, we want to be environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and design the best space we can that’s comfortable to work and live in.”

Meanwhile, the industry — reflected in both customer demands and Massachusetts codes — is increasingly making green-friendly building the standard, not the rule, he said. “The codes require pretty high-performing buildings as a baseline. But from there, we always want to do better.

“When we were starting out, our simple approach was to do good design that was responsive to our environment, sensitive to the world we live in, whether that means making homes energy-efficient or salvaging materials and recycling building products.”

That’s the ‘E’ in a nutshell. The ‘L’ stands for life, and is a more amorphous idea, but just as important. “That’s the whole experience — making a space comfortable, whether it’s your house or office or truck-repair center. The core is making it rewarding to work or live in that space.”

Rothschild-Shea has weathered varying economic climates, he said, by focusing on personal service — working closely with clients from design conception through construction and occupancy — but also on flexibility and diversity, taking on most any type of proposal.

Download a PDF chart of area architecture firms HERE

“We are pretty diverse for a small practice — everything from small studies and accessibility projects and single-family additions and renovations right on up to significantly scaled commercial and residential work,” he said.

For example, this past year saw the completion of Marcotte Ford’s commercial truck center in Holyoke, a 17,000-square-foot, 160-bay facility unlike any in Western Mass., he noted. “It can handle pretty much any vehicle — a lot of municipal and police work, SWAT vehicles, ambulances, right on up to big transport vehicles like retirement homes have.”

As part of the Ford’s ‘landmark design’ program, Rothschild-Shea’s firm will also handle Marcotte’s next job, which is giving its main showroom a facelift, expanding some office space, and completely renovating the service center.

“We’re also continuing to do small office improvements for the Insurance Center of New England,” he noted. “We worked with their Agawam branch a year or so ago, and now we’re doing some improvements at an office in Gardner.”

A rendering of one of the affordable-housing units

A rendering of one of the affordable-housing units at the E. Henry Twiggs Estates, a Springfield project set to begin construction in 2016.

Architecture EL also designed Hatfield’s town offices, with an opportunity to bid on additional work coming up in the next year or two. The firm designs plenty of residential work as well, including a recent project on the Connecticut River for a retired couple, replacing a small cottage.

Whatever the job, Rothschild-Shea said, “the core of it is good service. Being small, we’re able to be responsive and efficient and more economical with our time than perhaps a larger company.”

Problem Solver

When asked what drives him the most, Rothschild-Shea paused for a moment before answering simply, “the problem solving.”

“For me, whether I’m designing a house or a service center, success lies in coming up with solutions — whether it’s creating an economical space, or one that’s energy-efficient, creative, comfortable, whatever. It’s taking the physical constraints and the site constraints and massaging that into a successful solution.

“That’s the core of what we do,” he went on. “All the imagery and design and final product are byproducts of solving a problem. That’s the core of good service — understanding the problem and solving it in a creative architectural fashion.”

It’s easier to focus that passion on each job now that the economy has improved, the construction industry is warming up, and architects are focused on more than survival.

“We’re seeing some great municipal work happening recently — maybe not as many schools as before, but there’s a fair amount of public work out there,” he said. “The economy seems to be strong and moving, and we’re looking forward to more of that socially responsible work we’ve been fortunate enough to do. We’re certainly looking forward to expanding on that, whether it’s affordable housing or things like the Survival Center.”

Meanwhile, phase two of the Twiggs project is coming online as well — just one more opportunity for Rothschild-Shea to do well for clients that are doing good.

“I’m fortunate I get to jump on board with these organizations that existed long before I did, and help support their missions,” he told BusinessWest. “There are still a lot of gaps in the economy, and so many people continue to struggle, and it’s nice to help fill in those gaps.”

After all, “people have to live and work in what we draw,” he went on. “So it’s a responsibility on a lot of levels; it’s not just a contract, per se. It is a nice feeling, like we’re making a difference.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of December 2015.

AMHERST

78 Old Sunderland Road, LLP
78 Old Sunderland Road
$2,500 — Repair front of building

Claudette Beaudreau
534 Main St.
$17,000 — Remove and replace shingles

Railroad Street Partners, LLC
55 N. Pleasant St.
$13,000 — New roof

Slobody Development Corporation
101 University Dr. Suite B6
$130,000 — Office alteration

Vestry of Grace Church
14-18 Boltwood Ave.
$14,000 — Repair lightening damage to chimney

CHICOPEE

CDB Realty, LLC
49 Dwight St.
$20,500 — Remove and re-lay brick veneer

Petros Mirisis
456 Front St.
$69,000 — Renovations to convert space to an ice cream shop

Tunstall Corporation
118 Exchange St.
$13,000 — Strip and re-roof

HADLEY

Andre Laflamme
75 River Dr.
$20,000 — 20’ x 62’ addition to existing building

F.L. Roberts, Inc.
456 Russell St.
$58,000 — New one story addition to rear of building

Town of Hadley
100 Middle St.
$100,000 — New roof

LUDLOW

Burger King
419 Center St.
$115,000 — Commercial alterations

Colvest Wilbraham, LLC
450 Center St.
$264,000 — New construction

DPW
198 Sportsmen Road
$685,000 — Roof replacement

Steve McDaniel
534 Center St.
$4,500 — Re-shingle roof

NORTHAMPTON

Coolidge Northampton, LLC
241 King St.
$55,000 — Convert one unit into two spaces

Smith College
Mendenhall Center
$92,000 — Renovation to women’s faculty locker rooms

Smith College
49 College Lane
$93,000 —  Rebuild the deck at the Conference Center

Smith College
25 Henshaw Ave.
$140,000 — Renovate lobby, classroom, corridor at Capen House Annex

PALMER

J. Stolar Insurance Agency
2001 Calkins Road
$110,000 — Renovate office space

Roger Parker
89 State St.
$32,000 — Re-frame and re-roof building

SBA Network Services
Wilbraham Street
$15,000 — New antenna

Collins Crochiere Construction Services, LLC
1010 Thorndike St.
$243,000 — Office renovation

SPRINGFIELD

CBRE New England
1355 Liberty St.
$575,000 — New roof

Falvey Linen Supply
100 Brookdale Sr.
$30,000 — Interior demo for future build out

Liberty Medical Building
125 Liberty St.
$42,000 — Renovations for a medical office

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Fathers & Sons Audi
434 Memorial Ave.
$5,827,000 — Two-story automotive and sales facility

Normandeau Realty
41 Hayes Ave.
$25,500 — Re-roof