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Doing Business As Certificates

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DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of December 2015.

AGAWAM

Servpro of Springfield
71 Ramah Circle
Olga Gold

AMHERST

Next Wave Power Technologies
131 Middle St.
Michael Biron

Round the Corner Brownie Company
3 Laurel Lane
Dawn Lepere

Solarpunk Press
58 North East St.
Faith Gregory

Visual Concepts
170 East Hadley Road
Yvonne Mendez

CHICOPEE

Connie’s Cuts
104 Lauzier Terrace
Connie Mendes

ELB Realty
239 Naragansett Blvd.
Bruce Topa

Harmony House
66 View St.
Judith Trudell

Odor is Gone
57 Clarendon Ave.
Oksara Bukansova

Royal Coach Sales, LLC
658 Fuller Road
John Garcia

The Ticket Master
28 Myrtle St.
Luke Vincente

HADLEY

63 East Realty, LLC
63 East Realty, LLC
Babak Gojgini

Advance Auto Parts
346 Russell St.
Michael Norona

Affordable Autos of Hadley
11 Railroad St.
Norman Wilber

Elements Massage
379 Russell St.
Marmich, LLC

Hadley Hops
83 Rocky Hill Road
David Moskin

Hadley Tax
229 Russell St.
Robert Lowney

Kentucky Fried Chicken
3 South Maple St.
Michael Houston

HOLYOKE

Dunkin Donuts
225 Whiting St.
Lori Martins

Heritage Auto Transport
49 Laurel St.
Nathan Charette

Jackson Law
573 Northampton St.
Karen Jackson

Paper City Tattoo
1735 Northampton St.
James D. Riddle

Shammas Pizza
172 Sargeant St.
Joseph Ortiz

NORTHAMPTON

Sage & Cedar Landscaping Home Improvement
284 Spring St.
Brian Eaton

The Research Group
51 Day Ave.
Nancy Mihevc

Urban Exchange
233 Main St.
Silvia Namburgev

PALMER

Fredette Construction
3 Fairfield Dr.
Andrew Fredette

M.G. Janitorial Services
405 Springfield St.
Margaret Guberous

Rogue Chocolatier
2022 Bridge St.
Colin Gasko

S.V. Cleaning
1084 Pleasant St.
Sergey Ukranets

SPRINGFIELD

Fraternity of Grace
1 Federal St.
Robert J. Greeley

Fresh Cut
56 St. James Ave.
Ernesto Padilla

Gentiva Health
2069 Roosevelt Ave.
Kim Hill

Hanna’s Diner
184 Main St.
Hanna Kucharzyk

Hiraldo Transport
244 Sumner Ave.
Miguel Hiraldo

Honor Foods
207 Liberty St.
Burris Springfield

JKJM Studios
115 State St.
Jamarri Kwame

LW Development, LLC
104 Dunmoreland St.
Lancelot Watson

MW Kitchen
81 Ranney St.
William Sanchez

Maxim Seamless Gutters
21 Cluster Circle
Maksim Barabolkin

Moda Lola
86 Renee Circle
Alice Gonzalez

O’Connell Care at Home
1 Federal St.
Francis P. O’Connell

Phenomenal Beauty
10 Orange St.
Ysabel Santana

Pipetek
49 Judson St.
Graham J. Boggis

Plus One Convenience
907 Carew St.
Sageer Nawaz

Presto Digital Transfer
472 Main St.
Christopher David

Primus Mason Credit Union
815 State St.
Greg Ellerbee

WESTFIELD

Direct Home Improvement
71 Wyben Road
Mark Sychev

SmokedBear Industreez
1 Crown St.
Kyle Thomas Smith

The Hairport
148 Elm St.
Mike’s Barber Shop

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Century Auto Service
1615 Riverdale St.
Peter Plantatis

Diamond Gold Connection
389 Park St.
Corporation GX

Maxim Healthcare Services
25 Capital Dr.
Centrus Premier Home Healthcare

S.T.A.N.
791 Piper Road
Stanley Zalewski

Storrowton Tavern
1305 Memorial Ave.
Vintage Inc.

True Crew
204 Baldwin St.
Jeffrey Gil

Wholesome Barn
78 Highland Ave.
Maksim Zhuk

Briefcase

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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%).

WNEU Engineering Students Finish Strong in Solar Decathlon 


By
Daily News

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.

Gray House Inducts Five New Board Members

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — 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.

MGM Springfield Receives Final State License Approval

By
Daily News

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.

Some Things We’d Like to See in 2016

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Opinion

Editorial

As 2015 draws to a close, it’s time to look back, and ahead, with some thoughts on what we would like to see happen — and need to see happen — in 2016.
This past year was supposed to be one in which the landscape in Springfield and its downtown was supposed to change and the many signs of progress would become evident. We saw some of that — work progressed at Union Station, though the parking garage has still to take shape; work has begun on I-91, and the Route 5 rotary project is nearing completion; and ground was broken for the subway-car manufacturing facility in East Springfield — but not as much as expected.
Hopefully, 2016 will be the year when cranes start filling the skies and, more importantly, the construction job growth that everyone has anticipated becomes reality.
Here are some other things we want to see in 2016:

• A normalizing of relations with MGM: It was a trying, frustrating year for the company, and, as its president told BusinessWest see story, page 6), much of the pain was self-inflicted, primarily because MGM didn’t anticipate the level of public scrutiny that comes in a state, and city, new to the casino industry, and thus didn’t communicate plan changes early enough or with the proper sensitivity.
Mike Mathis said changes such as a scrapping of the hotel tower in favor of a different design would be a “non-event” in Las Vegas or Macau. The company knew that wouldn’t be the case here, but it still badly underestimated the scope of the reaction. The same was the case when the overall size of the footprint was reduced.
Still, and we’ve said this before, the company is one of the most prolific casino builders in the world, and it deserves to get the benefit of the doubt in such matters.
We hope that MGM receives such a response in the years to come.

• A continued focus on entrepreneurship: It will be some time before the current focus on inspiring and facilitating entrepreneurship generates real results in the form of good-paying jobs. Indeed, most of the companies now involved in such programs are very small and have only limited potential to get much bigger.
But that doesn’t mean this initiative is not important. The current renaissance in entrepreneurship has several potential benefits — from new jobs to filling office and old mill space in a host of area cities; from sparking a rebirth in interest in downtown Springfield to keeping emerging companies in the 413 area code.
Such ventures are not something we can base an economy on, to be sure, but they can be — and will be — an important piece of the puzzle.

• More work to close the skills gap: You hear it now from business owners in every sector of the economy: ‘We need help, we have job openings, but we can’t find the right people.’
It’s not merely a problem, it’s an epidemic, and it’s only going to get worse in the years to come as Baby Boomers head into retirement.
A few years ago, it seemed that many business owners and economic-development leaders were in denial on this issue and didn’t recognize it for what it was. We think that threshold has been passed, and people are now taking it seriously. What’s needed is a comprehensive action plan involving employers, area colleges and universities, and other key stakeholders, to not only make sure individuals have the needed skills, but that they don’t take them to another state.

• Renewed efforts to bolster the region’s manufacturing base: The subway-car plant has put manufacturing in this region front and center once again in terms of perception and pride. But the reality is that the manufacturing sector — though certainly smaller than it was decades ago — has always been a vital part of the economy.
And it can be a source of growth, even with those workforce issues cited above. This region has a number of assets, and one that is often overlooked or taken for granted is the skilled precision-manufacturing workforce.
It’s a saleable commodity, and the EDC needs to be more aggressive in its efforts to sell it. Yes, money is tight when it comes to marketing this area, and competition for manufacturing jobs is immense and global.
But this is one of the region’s strengths, and it should be exploited.

Builders Benefit from a Boom in Auto-dealership Construction

By
Construction Sections

Driving Force

The new Balise Hyundai in Springfield.

The new Balise Hyundai in Springfield.

Contractors who have made inroads in auto-dealership construction are finding these to be good times indeed, as area dealers, from solo stores to large chains, engage in what can only be described as a building boom. The reasons are myriad, from an improving economy to demands from car makers that showrooms have a consistent look, to changes in the way cars are purchased and serviced today, and how 21st-century dealership design reflects those shifts.

If there’s one driving force behind all the auto-dealership construction and expansion over the past few years, Bill Peffer noted, it is, quite simply, a growing economy.

“The reason you’re seeing dealerships around the country refurbish is because the economy is really good, and a good economy drives good sales of new cars, trucks, and SUVs,” said Peffer, president and chief operating officer of the multi-state Balise Auto Group, which boasts several dealerships, focusing on different brands, in the Greater Springfield region. “More dealerships mean more points to sell the products — although dealers are finding the competition is pretty strong as well.”

Balise has been renovating and expanding in the area, most recently with a new Hyundai dealership on Columbus Avenue in Springfield, but with several new facilities over the past decade. Meanwhile, the Lia Auto Group has built and renovated new stores across the Pioneer Valley, as have TommyCar Auto Group in Hampshire and Franklin counties, Sarat Ford Lincoln in Agawam, Marcotte Ford in Holyoke, and Fathers & Sons in West Springfield, just to name a few.

“Part of it is the growth of the industry,” added Eric Forish, president of Forish Construction in Westfield, one of the region’s leading builders of auto dealerships, a tradition that started with his father in the 1940s. “Most dealers in our area have multiple locations, multiple brands, multiple facilities. That’s the nature of how they operate in their industry. And the volume of activity at each location often requires growth in the size of the facility.”

Indeed, according to MiBiz, a Michigan-based business website, the facility, training, and technology expenses required to run a modern dealership favor larger dealer groups that can share back-office resources and spread out narrow margins over higher sales volumes.

Balise — which contracts with South Hadley-based Associated Builders on its Western Mass. construction and renovation — is certainly one of those large players. But more dealerships also means more challenges to stay on top of current trends.

Click HERE to download a chart of the region’s general contractors

“They want to have more inventory, so parking areas get larger,” Forish said. “They want to be green-friendly, so they update their lighting fixtures in the parking lots; LED fixtures return tremendous savings from conserving energy. Then there’s the energy efficiency of the buildings themselves. There are a multitude of ways dealers try to stay current. Their products are new, and they want their facilities to be new facilities.

“Even on the service side,” he went on, “the technicians’ tools are way beyond anything they used to have. In the repair area, it’s all computerized. Their equipment is state of the art. Even the lifts themselves are very much different than the lifts of years ago. The whole operation is much more modern. Many types of businesses have to keep up with technology, and it’s no different in auto dealerships.”

But while area dealers focus on drawing in new business, manufacturers have their own ideas about what constitutes an ideal showroom and service center — and those changes are also helping to drive the current building boom.

Consistent Look

The trend among car makers is to standardize, to some degree, the look and feel of showrooms that sell their brands, and they are in some cases providing incentives — and in others, simply issuing mandates — to renovate and modernize their showrooms.

“Most brands in the U.S. are well-established brands, with few new players over the past 25 or 30 years,” Peffer said. “As those brands mature, they develop touch points unique to the brand to differentiate from the next brand.”

These mandates can encompass everything from the exterior façade to the colors of the interior walls to the furniture where customers wait for service.

“What’s driving the process now is that manufacturers are requiring their dealers to upgrade to a new image,” Forish said. “These design programs are similar to chain restaurants, where you have to have a consistent national image. Car dealerships need to do the same in terms of exterior exposure and interior finishes.”

Forish should know, having tackled dozens of projects for auto dealers — most recently multiple projects for Curry in Chicopee, Sarat in Agawam, and the New York-based Lia Auto Group. “We’ve done probably a dozen facilities for them,” he said of Lia. “We must be doing something right because they keep bringing us back.”

Other dealers have tapped Forish’s niche experience as well, from Marcotte Ford, which chose the company to build its new truck center in Holyoke, the only one of its kind in the region, to facilities for Steve Lewis Subaru in Hadley and Cernak Buick in Easthampton. “The names go on and on. We certainly have deep roots with the auto dealerships.”

Marcotte Ford

Marcotte Ford’s new commercial truck center in Holyoke.

As a partner with many different manufacturers, Peffer said, Balise is well aware of the demands they’re placing on dealers. For instance, the chain’s new Hyundai dealership on Columbus Avenue in Springfield boasts a six-bay express service element for customers who want to get in and out quickly, a separate cash-wash facility, and a ready-credit used-car space, all in separate buildings on the same grounds.

“That illustrates the Hyundai global brand identity,” he told BusinessWest. “This is the direction you’ll see Hyundai dealerships around the country move to.”

Meanwhile, Fathers & Sons is currently building a dedicated showroom in West Springfield for Audi because that maker, like others, wants dealers to move away from the old ‘auto mall’ facility that sells many different nameplates under one roof, to reduce the chance of a customer driving away with another maker’s product. Audi has also provided direction on the new facility’s design, what it calls a ‘terminal’ concept with an aesthetic dominated by glass and metal.

Although car makers are increasingly asking for specific design elements, Peffer said, dealer groups can bring consistency as well. “Balise Toyota, Honda, and Ford all have a well-lit, spacious, drive-up service lane where you’re met by the assistant service manager.”

These areas are typically marked with signage explaining the pricing for a range of basic services, another attempt to be transparent with customers who have likely already done their homework on the Internet.

“The nature of doing business as an auto dealer has changed, as well as the type of service they offer and the nature of customer-service relationships,” Forish added. “If you’ve taken your vehicle in for service at a newer dealership recently, you realize that, at most of these places, you drive into a building and are greeted by the service writer that reviews the scope of repairs or maintenance you’re going to receive. Then you go relax in these wonderful customer lounges, which have high-definition TV, wireless access for your devices, and play areas for the kids.

“It’s all about the experience for the customer,” he went on. “And the dealerships — especially if they have some age to them — need to get to these current standards to be part of a brand.”

Shifting Tides

As manufacturers ramp up mandates for standardization in their showrooms, MiBiz notes, some dealer groups have resisted the change. A 2013 study by auto-industry consultant Glen Mercer found that, while expansion of showrooms and service departments can pay off on the bottom line, other modernization efforts bring little return on investment.

Still, customers appreciate changes aimed at improving their experience, Peffer said.

“More and more people start shopping for prices online, and by the time they get to the dealership to make the purchase, they’re there to buy, as opposed to just kicking the tires,” he told BusinessWest. “They get all their information online, and by the time they hit the showroom floor, they’re looking for a good experience.

“That’s what differentiates a dealer from another dealer,” he went on. “And the facility makes the experience. How convenient is it? How inviting is it? Is there ample parking? Is there a delivery area for new cars? The footprint for dealerships has really changed to amplify the experience. They’re not just big boxes with a bunch of inventory.”

In short, he said, the modern dealership reflects what customers want, and the list is a simple one. “They want greater transparency with the advent of the Internet. And you have to provide convenience and a logical flow to how their car is serviced.”

On those points and others, too many dealerships built decades ago simply fall short. That, in turn, should continue to provide plenty of opportunity for contractors looking for a hot niche to drive new business.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at  [email protected]

Next Phase of Viaduct Project Will Usher in Traffic Congestion

By
Construction Sections

Slowdown on I-91

I-91 viaduct

After 45 years, the I-91 viaduct needs much more than a series of patches.

At a recent public meeting about the massive, ongoing I-91 viaduct project, attendees were able to view a yellowed page from the Springfield Daily News featuring an aerial shot of the viaduct slicing through the downtown in 1970. The headline: “I-91 Linkup Provides Access to a Bright City Future.”

That was a long time ago, said Richard Masse, acting director for Mass. Department of Transportation (DOT) Region 2.

“It’s been 45 years,” he told BusinessWest. “We’re way beyond the road being reliable. We shouldn’t have to come out and patch holes, but we’ve been doing that on a regular basis.”

The original construction of Springfield’s portion of I-91, including the raised viaduct, cost just north of $50 million, while the current project — which, over the next three-plus years, will replace the viaduct deck, repair and replace the structural steel, and include other improvements — will cost $148 million, the bid submitted by Framingham-based JF White-Schiavone.

It will also be a significant inconvenience to commuters and businesses traveling to, from, and through Springfield’s downtown.

“There’s no way we can do this project on I-91 without causing some traffic congestion and delay, but we do want to provide information so people know what’s going on,” Masse said, explaining that the recent installation of cameras, sensors, and message boards along the mile-long stretch of raised highway to help motorists deal with the long-term effects of the lane and ramp closures beginning this month. Information will also be posted online for those who want to check out conditions before leaving home.

The elevated viaduct through Springfield carries about 75,000 vehicles per day. Essentially a concrete deck slab supported by steel girders — which are in turn supported by steel pier caps, column piers, and footings with pile foundations — the structure has undergone several rehabilitation projects over the past quarter-century, but nothing approaching a total deck replacement.

“The viaduct deck is in horrible condition, and we’re here to fix it, to give it life for the next 20 to 30 years,” said Ralph Romano, a MassDOT engineer, by way of explaining what the project — which stretches from the Interstate 291 interchange to around State Street — entails.

Now and Later

The first stage of the project, known as stage 1A, is coming to a close, and included pre-emptive repairs to the bridge deck to prepare the two outer lanes of I-91 to handle traffic while rehabilitation of the inner lanes is taking place.

In addition, some local roads were reconfigured to prepare for increased traffic volume due to upcoming detours, including construction of the West Columbus Avenue Extension to help improve traffic flow, and construction of a temporary off-ramp from I-91 south at Birnie Avenue (to be called exit 6-7) to carry traffic onto downtown streets.

Stage 1B, beginning this month and lasting through next fall, will see the inner lanes of I-91 north and south along the median closed for deck reconstruction. All traffic will be shifted to the right, using the shoulder and breakdown lanes. Speed limits have been reduced through the work area and will be enforced with doubled fines, Romano said.

During this phase, JF White-Schiavone will demolish and replace the deck along the median and high-speed lanes of I-91, along with the I-291 on-ramp to I-91 south and the left side of the I-291 off-ramp from I-91 north, in phases. Access to I-291 will be maintained at all times, with the possible exception of overnight closures where detours will be implemented.

The DOT has been testing ramp closures and detours over the past few months while crews performed preliminary deck work, mostly at night. The Birnie Avenue connector onto the interstate has been closed since October, and this month will see the closing of southbound exits 6 and 7, on-ramps from Union and State streets onto I-91 north, and the Route 20 connector into I-91 south.

Detours involving East and West Columbus Avenue, Hall of Fame Avenue, and other roads — details and maps are available online at www.massdot.state.ma.us/i91viaductrehab/traffic.aspx — will be well-marked, Romano said, while I-291 will be accessible through downtown using Liberty and Dwight streets.

“A lot of thought went into this,” Romano said of the traffic-management plan, “but traffic engineering is not an exact science. It relies on human behavior sometimes, so there’s only so much we can do. But we do try to respond to anything that’s not quite right, and we will be doing that throughout the project.”

Stage 2 of the project, slated for late fall 2016 through late fall 2017, won’t see any ramp reopenings, but traffic in both directions will shift to the center, newly constructed lanes, while construction shifts to the low-speed travel lanes and the shoulders, along with the I-91 northbound on-ramp to I-291 east, which will be constructed in two phases.

Additionally, the exit 9 off-ramp from I-91 north to Route 20 will be closed for the first part of stage 2. Again, access from I-91 north to I-291 east will be maintained at all times, except for possible overnight closures. By late fall 2017, commuters will have full use of I-91 in both directions. The temporary exist 6-7 will be removed, along with the West Columbus Avenue Extension.

Then the project moves to a punch-list phase, as workers paint the structural steel, install municipal street lighting where necessary, complete final paving and traffic markings on local streets, and restore all disturbed areas. By the time the contract ends in February 2019, the completed viaduct will feature slightly wider shoulders, new lighting, and stormwater improvements to help protect local water quality.

Throughout the project, the contractors are responsible for controlling construction-related dust emissions, using a combination of sprinklers and sprayers, wind screens, and wind barriers will also be used to control the spread of dust between sidewalks and the work zone.

Bracing for Impact

For most Springfield workers and commuters, though, dust is far down the list of concerns. Traffic is typically at the top.

Taylor Rock, a worksite outreach coordinator with MassRides, was on hand at the public meeting to encourage the public to carpool, either on their own or with the help of a ‘matching program’ they can access online through her agency. MassRides also provides emergency rides home for people whose carpool partners have to leave work early.

Rock cited a study noting that 96% of people driving to work downtown do so alone. Meanwhile, 40% of them have access to flexible work hours. By carpooling and avoiding using the highway during peak rush hours, she said, motorists can make a dent in the traffic hassles that are bound to come.

“We’re not telling people to take their cars off the road, but just look at some alternate ways of traveling,” she said. “You may be able to counter some of the effects of the traffic congestion that will come with this project.”

Masse agreed.

“There will be only one lane open in each direction, and during peak commuting hours, early morning and late afternoon, these lanes will be pushed to their capacity, so the more vehicles we can get off that path by carpooling, vanpooling, and shifting work hours, the better,” he said. “The more people that take advantage of those solutions, the more we can help the situation up on the highway.”

A second ‘bright future’ for I-91 in Springfield, to quote that old newspaper headline, may seem far away once traffic slows to a crawl. But, as Masse noted, the days of patching are over as a more permanent fix begins.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at  [email protected]

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

13 Bald Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jason A. Bassett
Seller: Troy M. Santerre
Date: 11/02/15

764 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: Angela R. Marguet
Seller: FHLM
Date: 11/04/15

CHARLEMONT

184 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Jeffrey VanIderstine
Seller: Rebecca VanIderstine
Date: 11/05/15

DEERFIELD

12 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Paul C. Roud
Seller: James D. Whitney
Date: 11/06/15

13 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $232,230
Buyer: UmassFive College FCU
Seller: Robyn Parent
Date: 11/03/15

9 North Hillside Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: John W. Stacey
Seller: Mariellen Hayre
Date: 11/02/15

GILL

9 West Gill Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Mark R. Theriault
Seller: Aaron J. Lapointe
Date: 11/06/15

GREENFIELD

140 Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Stanislav Rukhman
Seller: Vladimir Agapov
Date: 11/09/15

LEVERETT

40 Juggler Meadow Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Stowell
Date: 11/06/15

78 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $149,730
Buyer: Matthew R. Lorenz
Seller: Abbott, Herschel G., (Estate)
Date: 11/02/15

LEYDEN

155 Frizzell Hill Road
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Carol L. Lutz RET
Seller: George J. Lutz IRT
Date: 11/10/15

NORTHFIELD

18 Gill Center Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Northfield Mount Hermon School
Seller: Eugene A. Rice
Date: 11/04/15

Lyman Road
Northfield, MA 01354
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Richard S. Hebble
Seller: Daniel F. Emery
Date: 11/06/15

ORANGE

16 Lake Mattawa Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Roger C. Andrews
Seller: Ronald A. Niedzwiecki
Date: 11/02/15

ROWE

36 Old Cyrus Stage Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Michael W. Kuehl
Seller: Edward V. Keeney
Date: 11/09/15

SHUTESBURY

231 Baker Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Michael E. Miller
Seller: Carroll, Martina, (Estate)
Date: 11/06/15

244 Baker Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Ethan Todras-Whitehill
Seller: Robert B. Hayes
Date: 11/09/15

SUNDERLAND

Montague Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Franklin Land Trust Inc.
Seller: Stephen F. Gunn
Date: 11/06/15

WHATELY

Long Plain Road (WS)
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Marc-Alan Labreque
Seller: Walter R. Thayer
Date: 11/05/15

111 North St.
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $215,000
Seller: Jenna Knox-Daniels
Date: 11/06/15

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

204 Elm St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $322,150
Buyer: Citimortgage Inc.
Seller: Gary L. Gordon
Date: 11/09/15

32 Fordham Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Michael P. Bachini
Seller: Scott G. Monson
Date: 11/06/15

42 Hall St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Agostino F. Demaio
Seller: Cestari, Victor P., (Estate)
Date: 11/02/15

840 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Susan K. Douglas
Seller: Christopher B. Garrity
Date: 11/06/15

67 Reed St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Karen B. Legace
Seller: Robert S. Ferrier
Date: 11/10/15

5 Silver Lake Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Shawn R. Dominik
Seller: Ernest R. Silkey RET
Date: 11/06/15

BRIMFIELD

152 Wales Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Jeffrey Macphee
Seller: James A. Coulter
Date: 11/06/15

CHICOPEE

113 Beauchamp Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Tamrah Stepien
Seller: Michael A. Monopoli
Date: 11/06/15

39 Bemis Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: G. Rodrigues-DeAraujo
Seller: McGrath, Mary B., (Estate)
Date: 11/06/15

44 Bonner St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $123,750
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Michael A. Jones
Date: 11/06/15

82 Borys Circle
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Samantha Wong
Seller: Mark J. Botelho
Date: 11/04/15

52 Boucher Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,566
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Nelson Walton
Date: 11/05/15

35 Center St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Center Group LLC
Seller: 35 Center St. LLC
Date: 11/04/15

57 Garland St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Barnes
Seller: Richard M. Fugere
Date: 11/06/15

1003 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Jeffrey W. Kane
Seller: Stanislaw Beben
Date: 11/06/15

26 Park St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Orquidia C. Davila
Seller: Alda M. Carreira
Date: 11/02/15

94 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $449,000
Buyer: Maddox Realty LLC
Seller: 94 Prospect Street LLC
Date: 11/10/15

25 Randall St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Roy J. Gladu
Seller: Nancy M. Benard
Date: 11/06/15

14 Richelieu St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Kassandra O’Connor
Seller: McDonald, Mary L., (Estate)
Date: 11/03/15

70 Stearns Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $135,650
Buyer: Jessica Reyes
Seller: Justin P. O’Connor
Date: 11/03/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

28 Edmund St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $307,500
Buyer: Thomas R. Nipps
Seller: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Date: 11/03/15

319 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jason T. Dalessio
Seller: Robert W. Chapin
Date: 11/03/15

39 Favorite Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $549,000
Buyer: Charles N. Brinkmann
Seller: Mark J. Miller
Date: 11/05/15

24 Fraser Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Gilles A. Grenier
Seller: Elizabeth Franceschelli
Date: 11/06/15

4 Panama St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Khanh Nguyen
Seller: Kevin Wong
Date: 11/06/15

90 Pease Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Janet S. Rowe
Seller: Barbara J. Stachowiak
Date: 11/05/15

198 Tanglewood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Steven Vigneault
Seller: Corey Turer
Date: 11/06/15

53 Tanglewood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Adriano Bocchino
Seller: Webster Bank
Date: 11/06/15

54 Thompkins Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $207,500
Buyer: Vinhhoa T. Nguyen
Seller: James E. Murray
Date: 11/02/15

34 Westernview Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Jacqueline M. Chapdelaine
Seller: Paul S. Dunkerley
Date: 11/02/15

GRANVILLE

484 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Matthew K. Berndt
Seller: Matthew S. Jones
Date: 11/04/15

HOLLAND

231 Brimfield Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Chelsea Tavernier
Seller: Gregory N. Morin
Date: 11/05/15

HOLYOKE

30 Anderson Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Rachelle Encarnacion
Seller: Rosalie G. Hobert
Date: 11/06/15

39 Dillon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Rafael A. Roca
Seller: Kirk R. Krause
Date: 11/04/15

6 Hendel Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $195,400
Buyer: David J. Beauregard
Seller: Valerie B. Ennis
Date: 11/04/15

283 Linden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,400
Buyer: Michael Siciliano
Seller: Audra E. Smith
Date: 11/04/15

5 Michelle Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $403,000
Buyer: Jacob T. Waah
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 11/04/15

LONGMEADOW

19 Edgemont St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Moochul Shin
Seller: Linda L. Bernard
Date: 11/03/15

67 Longview Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: James H. Stewart
Seller: David C. Berube
Date: 11/06/15

37 Massachusetts Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Michael F. Nothe
Seller: Kevin D. Hebert
Date: 11/09/15

104 Tecumseh Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Lauren K. Young
Seller: Kristy M. Hemond
Date: 11/02/15

119 Yarmouth St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $233,500
Buyer: Pao L. Wu
Seller: Irving Slitzky
Date: 11/04/15

28 Yarmouth St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Eric Chrabascz
Seller: Kevin P. McKenna
Date: 11/06/15

LUDLOW

33 Ampere Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: David J. Vakalis
Seller: Julie A. Cass
Date: 11/05/15

255 Elizabeth Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $383,957
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jose Franco
Date: 11/04/15

156 Erin Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Domingos F. Afonso
Seller: Marilyn E. Wheelock
Date: 11/05/15

75-79 Howard St.
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Mark J. Botelho
Seller: Delfina A. Carvalho
Date: 11/05/15

263 Westerly Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Abbas Younes
Seller: Helmut K. Marosits
Date: 11/06/15

MONSON

104 Stebbins Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $129,200
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Albert Sherman
Date: 11/03/15

68 Wilbraham Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Kenneth A. Villamarin
Seller: Linda Dill-Johnson
Date: 11/04/15

PALMER

43 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Bryan P. Forrette
Seller: Joyce A. Piechota
Date: 11/05/15

20 Orchard St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Kermen Cedeno
Seller: Sandra L. Topor
Date: 11/10/15

1192 Thorndike St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Heather M. McIntire
Seller: Carolyn J. Bedard
Date: 11/05/15

RUSSELL

171 Main St.
Russell, MA 01008
Amount: $128,780
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Laurie A. Hoppe
Date: 11/06/15

SPRINGFIELD

90 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Caitlin A. Welz
Seller: Donna B. Lopez
Date: 11/02/15

1122 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Markdon Realty LLC
Seller: B&D Petroleum Sales Inc.
Date: 11/03/15

49 Bellamy Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Western New England University
Seller: Stefan Hluschewskyj
Date: 11/05/15

157 Bowles Park
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Stephen G. Laplante
Seller: Rita L. Banks
Date: 11/10/15

1189 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $154,900
Buyer: Anthony L. Kumiega
Seller: Steven E. Lee
Date: 11/09/15

190 Emerson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Eric R. Rosado
Seller: Jason T. Dalessio
Date: 11/03/15

90 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Korzec
Seller: Vincent Mazzariello
Date: 11/03/15

167 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,500
Buyer: Peiwei Li
Seller: Rachel J. Kuhn
Date: 11/04/15

155-157 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Steven A. Monteiro
Seller: PAS Development Inc.
Date: 11/09/15

237 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Christopher E. Dancy
Seller: H. Douglas Barnshaw
Date: 11/04/15

27 Margerie St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Madeline Vargas
Seller: MBC Properties LLC
Date: 11/06/15

34 Mark St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $127,133
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Nicholas Korniotes
Date: 11/06/15

101 Martel Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Darby J. McLaughlin
Seller: Robert M. Zanolli
Date: 11/03/15

126-128 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Miladys A. Marte
Seller: Jonathan Horning
Date: 11/05/15

20 Paramount St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Lizenia Montanez
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 11/06/15

343 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Clifford P. Jensen
Seller: Michael W. Heiligmann
Date: 11/06/15

637 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Lisa M. Rivera
Seller: Sara J. Jacobsen
Date: 11/05/15

146 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: April C. McLain
Seller: Darby McLaughlin
Date: 11/03/15

15 Rogers Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Rafel Marte
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 11/10/15

58 Shawmut St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $118,450
Buyer: Jose Suarez
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 11/06/15

509 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Lynhq A. B. LT
Seller: Craig J. Difranco
Date: 11/10/15

129-131 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Chandra Tamang
Seller: Trevor Crichlow
Date: 11/09/15

33 Worthy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Dejesus
Seller: Oussama Awkal
Date: 11/10/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

20 Connecticut Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: KSC Holdings LLC
Seller: Exhaust Services LLC
Date: 11/10/15

537 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Robert J. Benoit
Seller: Shawn R. Dominik
Date: 11/06/15

25 Mulcahy Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $130,000
Seller: Francis Wheeler Construction
Date: 11/04/15

87 Tatham Hill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Guidewire Inc.
Seller: Robert E. Hosmer
Date: 11/05/15

19 Wayside Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Joseph Spano
Seller: Valle Machine Knife Corp.
Date: 11/02/15

152 Wilder Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: C. Francoeur-Weckerly
Seller: Amy E. Schaetzer
Date: 11/04/15

WESTFIELD

19 Grenier Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Jared C. Lent
Seller: David A. Rose
Date: 11/05/15

23 Harrison Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: David A. Rose
Seller: Charles J. Bull
Date: 11/05/15

11 King Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $186,250
Buyer: Double D Investments LLC
Seller: Laura M. Richardson
Date: 11/05/15

62 Kittredge Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Steven M. Mielke
Seller: Steven C. Clark
Date: 11/05/15

67 Murray Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $129,600
Buyer: Citimortgage Inc.
Seller: Gerald D. Regan
Date: 11/09/15

5 Northridge Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Richard A. Labonte
Seller: Kathryn V. Roberts
Date: 11/09/15

130 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Joseph Spano
Seller: John Spano
Date: 11/03/15

151 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $197,700
Buyer: Chad E. Sico
Seller: Gary C. Sico
Date: 11/05/15

4 Smith Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Wesley Sobczyk
Seller: Bonnie E. Miller
Date: 11/10/15

432 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $248,500
Buyer: Abdulsalam Alsaleh
Seller: Florence L. Buzzee
Date: 11/10/15

2 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: James McGowan
Seller: Carolyn M. Clini
Date: 11/06/15

WILBRAHAM

181 Burleigh Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Robert N. Massaro
Seller: Jennifer T. Thayer
Date: 11/04/15

461-465 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Sushilaben H. Patel
Seller: Louis & Clark Realty LLC
Date: 11/05/15

29 Pineywood Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Logan Gumlaw
Seller: William J. Laporte
Date: 11/06/15

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

23 Flintlock Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Robert G. Jackson
Seller: Grace H. Glueck
Date: 11/02/15

285 Lincoln Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Christine F. Pilsner
Seller: Judith C. Sechrest
Date: 11/06/15

1100 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Burt W. Ewart
Seller: Paul T. Gorman
Date: 11/09/15

150 University Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $13,000,000
Buyer: Amherst LLC
Seller: Amherst Nursing Home Inc.
Date: 11/03/15

332 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Huong C. Chow
Seller: Mary A. Steigner
Date: 11/06/15

BELCHERTOWN

11 Depot St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: David R. Sharrow
Seller: Michael P. Kowal
Date: 11/06/15

181 Warner St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Patrick C. Barnes
Seller: Richard Steiner
Date: 11/02/15

605 Warren Wright Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Stephen A. Rondeau
Seller: Susan L. Surner
Date: 11/06/15

EASTHAMPTON

10 Elliot St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Kristin L. Ploski
Seller: Carmine C. Russo
Date: 11/05/15

15 Kenneth Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Sarah A. Dean
Seller: Amy R. Reesman
Date: 11/06/15

7-11 Norton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Darshan Gencarelle
Seller: Jeffrey W. Ketcham
Date: 11/05/15

22 Plymouth Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: James E. Coughlin
Seller: Laprade, Robert M., (Estate)
Date: 11/06/15

24 Summer St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $265,875
Buyer: ARC Investments LLC
Seller: Paula J. Gunn
Date: 11/03/15

GRANBY

164 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Edward Gavel
Seller: Scribner, William R. Sr., (Estate)
Date: 11/09/15

96 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Beaulieu
Seller: Harris, Charles W. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/15

HADLEY

9 Ladyslipper Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Boudway
Seller: Leo P. Tassinari
Date: 11/04/15

NORTHAMPTON

40 Arlington St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Barry D. Sarvet
Seller: Frances C. Volkmann
Date: 11/02/15

266 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Andrew T. Perrier
Seller: HSBC Bank
Date: 11/03/15

376 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Deborah L. Kehne
Seller: Mizula, Rosalie Sally, (Estate)
Date: 11/06/15

57 Ford Xing
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Seller: Hospital Hill Development
Date: 11/05/15

61 Ford Xing
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Seller: Hospital Hill Development
Date: 11/05/15

200 Grove St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $319,300
Buyer: Evan R. Horton
Seller: Mark J. Moran
Date: 11/04/15

119 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Seller: Hospital Hill Development
Date: 11/05/15

78 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Seller: Hospital Hill Development
Date: 11/05/15

363 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Virginia H. Hoener
Seller: Melanie A. Gulow
Date: 11/09/15

SOUTH HADLEY

11 Landers St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Dennis Hogan
Seller: Woinarowski, Walter S., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/15

SOUTHAMPTON

42 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $414,900
Buyer: Amy R. Reesman
Seller: Robert P. Korpela
Date: 11/06/15

9 Glendale Woods Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Justin Tilton
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/03/15

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Sow Inc., 1185 Suffield St., Agawam, MA 01001. Andrew Osgood, same. Sale and installation of window treatments.

Wiktor Transport Inc., 195 Leonard St., Agawam, MA 01001. Vladimir Stebenkov, same. Trucking.

AMHERST

Roger L. Wallace Excellence in Teaching Award Foundation Inc., 64 Carriage Lane, Amherst, MA 01002. Patricia Romney, same. Charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes to encourage excellence in teaching among Amherst elementary school educators or other school systems under operation of the same superintendent; annual award includes onetime stipend from Ann Ualaward will.

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.

BELCHERTOWN

RT’s Welding, Fabrication & Auto Repair Inc., 120 Federal St., Bays 3 and 4, Belchertown, MA 01007. Randy Letourneau, 570 Amherst Road, Belchertown, MA 01007. Welding, fabrication, and auto repairs.

CHICOPEE

CJC Mobile Homes Inc., 246 Murphy Lane, Chicopee, MA 01020. Jennifer Picard, same. Purchase and sale of mobile homes.

Viktant Transport Inc., 36 Melvin St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Victor Antonov, same. Trucking.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Talbot Home Services Corp, 526 Parker St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Elizabeth Ann Talbot, same. Home Services and maintenance.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Van Buren Legacy Inc., 4 Knob Hill Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Dan Ruderman, same. Media company.

GREENFIELD

New 2 U Dog Rescue Inc., 22 Conway Dr., Greenfield, MA 01301. Dawn-Marie Conway, same. Provide shelter and rehabilitation and find adoptive homes for canines.

HADLEY

Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation Inc., 438 River Dr., Hadley, MA 01035. Kathleen Tudryn, same. Charitable and educational purposes for enriching the educational experiences of students in the Hadley, Massachusetts Public Schools.

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Deli and Butcher Inc., 502 Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Matt Frazier, 63 Squawfield Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Delicatessen and butcher shop.

Virk’s International Inc., 8-10 Green St., Holyoke, MA 01060. Saadatza Virk MR., 1029 Elm St. Apt # 3B, West Springfield, MA 01089. Retail Convenience.

NORTHAMPTON

Royal Talens North America Inc., 30 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Roelof Buldo Benning, Sophlalaan 46, P.O. Box 7300AA, Apaldoorn, The Netherlands. Sale of artistic paint, brushes, canvasses, color pencils, and stationary.

Sew Rite Inc., 137D Damon Road, Northampton, MA 01060. Kichun Park, same. Alteration store.

PITTSFIELD

Linden St. Gas Station Corp., 185 Linden St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jitendra Patel, 34 Green Place, Brockton, MA 02301. Gas station and convenience store.

SPRINGFIELD

Alfred Powell Construction Corporation, 11 Preston St., Springfield, MA 01109. Alfred Powell, same. Light construction.
JEPMAC Springfield MA Inc., 436 Parker Street, Springfield, MA 01129. Jean Pierre-Victor, 8232 S Christiana Ave., Chicago, IL 60652. Buffett restaurant, catering SVC.

Ministerio Vencedores Para Cristo Inc., 843 Beacon Circle, Springfield, MA 01119. Sylkia Rivera, same. Non-profit organization spreading the word of God in the area; feeding hungry and bring hope to needy.

Re-Anagen Inc., 76 Florida St., Springfield, MA 01109. Jerome Jason Whittington, same. Fund and pursue cure and reversal of hair loss through scientific research.

Smithfield Packaged Meat Sales Corp., 20 Carando Dr., Springfield, MA 01104. Sales.

Springfield Vietnamese Cultural Association Inc., 1 Lyndale St., Springfield, MA 01108. Anton Cai, same. Charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes to promote and raise funds for Vietnamese community cultural events; preserve history of Vietnamese population, language, music, and traditions.

Team Zolo Auto Club Inc., 116 Michon St., Springfield, MA 0115. Anthony Baez, 464 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108. Uphold car show events to raise money for different non-profit organizations.

The Ecumenical Church, 32 Hampden St., Springfield, MA 01103. Reverend Timothy Paul, same. Charitable, religious, and religious-educational purposes.

WESTFIELD

Reliable Motion Inc., 27B Sycamore St., Westfield, MA 01085. Volodymyr Pylypiv, same. Transportation of motor vehicles.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Balise K2 Inc., 122 Doty Circle, West Springfield, MA 01089. James Balise Jr., same. Automobile sales and service.

Technocare Inc., 12 Royce CT Apt. E6, West Springfield, MA 01089. Hetal Vaidya, same. Computer services and web designing.

US1 Express Inc., 533 Main St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Dildar Usmanov, same. Trucking.

WILBRAHAM

2ND2NoneBall Inc., 3 Sylvan Dr., Wilbraham, MA 01095. Anthony Bergeron, same. Basketball training, camps, clinics, programs.

Wilbraham Amisha Corporation, 461-465 Main St., Wilbraham, MA 01095. Sushilaben Patel, same. Convenience store.

WILLIAMSTOWM

American Land Partners Inc., 665 Simonds Road, Williamstown, MA 01267. Harry Patten, same. Manage real estate holdings of NLP Finance, LLC.

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

Horizons Engineering Inc. v. Chicopee Inn Inc., d/b/a Econo Lodge and Dinesh Patel
Allegation: Non-payment for services rendered: $16,350.50
Filed: 9/30/15

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

West County Equipment Rentals, LLC v. Sugarloaf Nurseries and David and Charlotte Smith
Allegation: Breach of agreement for rental agreement: $7,771.88
Filed: 10/5/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Ciocca Construction Corp. v. Baystate Co. d/b/a Columbia Gas
Allegation: Negligence causing massive explosion, personal injury, and property damage: $590,000+
Filed: 10/7/15

Coyote Realty, LLC v. Total Wellness Center, d/b/a CleanSlate
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $220,000
Filed: 10/9/15

Earl and Stacy Lannon v. Kadant Black Clawson Inc.
Allegation: Product liability causing permanent personal injury: $286,743.16
Filed: 10/28/15

Kate Dunne, PPA Tara Dunne and Michael Dunne v. Baystate Ob-Gyn Inc., Debra J. Junnila, M.D. and Julie M. Bell, C.N.M.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $1,100,000+
Filed: 10/5/15

New England Family Dentistry, P.C. v. Supreeth Veevanna and Children’s Dentistry of Chicopee, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract: $60,000+
Filed: 10/14/15

Pablo Torres v. The Silverbrick Group and 15 Taylor, LLC
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $25,000+
Filed: 11/2/15

 

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Brett Fongemie v. Champion Steel, LLC,  Mark E. Gervais, and Bruce B. Bouchard
Allegation: Non-payment of wages: $25,000
Filed: 9/22/15

Miriam Rivera v. Joe Dias d/b/a Care Improvement Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for home-improvement services: $10/13/15

Perkins Paper LLC v. Fiore’s Bakery, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $8,986.25
Filed: 10/20/15

MGM’s Mike Mathis Believes Problems, Doubts Are in the Past

By
MGMfeature1215a
Features

Questions and Answers

RENDERING_-View-of-Main-and-Howard-Street-Rendering

design for MGM Springfield

These two renderings, one from 2013 (top) and the other from this fall (bottom), show the dramatic change in design for MGM Springfield, which has been a source of recent controversy.

It’s been an interesting, and in many ways frustrating, year for MGM and its project in Springfield’s South End. Ground was broken in March, but soon after, a decision was made to move the scheduled opening back, from 2017 to 2018, to coincide with conclusion of the I-91 viaduct project. Later, amid announced changes to the design, including the scrapping of the planned hotel tower and a reduction in the overall size of the footprint, there were questions about the company’s commitment to the Springfield project — and hastily called press conferences to confirm that commitment. Mike Mathis, president of MGM Springfield, admits that the company made some mistakes over the past several months, but he also admits that he was surprised by, and in some ways unnerved by, a perceived lack of trust in the company to keep its word and build a first-class facility in Springfield. He believes those doubts are now in the past, and in this wide-ranging Q&A, he explains why, and also why he believes 2016 will be a year of movement and much-needed momentum.

BusinessWest: Back in March, MGM staged an elaborate groundbreaking ceremony in the South End. There were several hundred people there, lots of excitement, and great anticipation that this project was going to start changing the landscape. That hasn’t happened, obviously. Can you talk about what appears to be a false start, why the South End looks the same as it did nine months ago, and why the timetable has been pushed back to late 2018?

Mathis: “We certainly expected that the groundbreaking in the spring would roll into demolition of the Zenetti School, which was the backdrop for the groundbreaking, and then new construction. But shortly thereafter, we started to hear rumblings about the viaduct project and the new timelines related to that. We heard the rumblings that it would be delayed past our late September [2017] opening, to the tune of 12 months or so.

“As a result of that, we started thinking about our own schedule over the spring and summer of 2015. There’s an inner relationship between the viaduct project and our project; I have to be careful with percentages, but about 90% of our arrivals will come off 91, so the viaduct is a crucial part of our business plan. When we realized that project would be delayed past our opening, we spent a good deal of the spring and summer trying to understand the new schedule, the performance history of the contractor, and the nature of MassDOT’s history on delivering on projects.

“And, no matter how good you felt about their ability to do it, we wanted to build in a little bit of conservatism. For a very long time, the project showed a late-2017 completion, and in many ways that made us nervous because there wasn’t much opportunity for slippage … we heard that there might be a new timeline associated with letting that contract out by the state, and we just reacted to it.”

BusinessWest: As it turned out, that change in your schedule was just the beginning when it came to emerging doubt about MGM’s commitment to Springfield and this project, which culminated in several press conferences and project updates this fall, where you and others with the company reaffirmed that commitment. Can you talk about what transpired and why?

Mike Mathis

Mike Mathis says he believes MGM has put concerns about the company’s commitment to Springfield and the South End project in the past.

Mathis: “I’m not sure how it happened, frankly. It was a combination of factors, and I think it was a perfect storm of events in terms of what was perceived as bad news upon bad news. And there may have been a little too much radio silence from us.

“I personally made the decision, and it was supported by the local team, that it’s a mistake to continually deny something that has no rationale in it. So we went quiet when people were saying ‘this is a signal’ and started talking about MGM’s lack of commitment. That void allowed some of the naysayers to get out there and talk about how this was the first shoe to drop, whether it be the schedule extension or the proposed design changes.

“When you really talk to a lot of people who were concerned, it was less about those specific items or the substance of those specific items; it was concern that it was the beginning of something else.”

BusinessWest: What has been the basic strategy when it comes to quelling these concerns, with both the public and elected officials?

Mathis: “Just getting information out to people, information that we believe shows that we are committed to Springfield.

“It didn’t help that some of this news dropped during the last six weeks of a municipal election cycle, because I think everyone’s looking for their issue to rally around, and for whatever reason, painting MGM as the bad guys that were going to be held to their promises was something that certain elected officials thought was a rallying call for their constituents. I didn’t understand it, I still don’t understand it, but I like to think we’re past it.”

BusinessWest: Certainly part of that perfect storm you described was the decision to scrap the hotel tower in favor of a six-story facility. Can you talk about that decision and why you think it became such a lightning rod for criticism and doubt?

Mathis: “Personally, I knew the tower was significant visually, because we touted it in a lot of our materials. So I expected to have a dialogue about it, I expected people to ask questions, and we were prepared to answer those questions. Early on, we had the support of the mayor, and his architectural consultant called the change brilliant, said it energized Main Street, and was more consistent with what we were doing with the rest of the project.

“We knew people would feel strongly about the tower, and some people would feel strongly in favor of what we were doing. But I think we were expecting a little more deference as the world-class developer to the changes we proposed. What surprised me and what surprised the team was the lack of trust that some of the public had in our expertise in this area.”

BusinessWest: Does the lack of a tower put MGM Springfield at any kind of competitive disadvantage, in your opinion?

Mathis: “We really don’t believe the tower is a competitive factor. Part of this road show I’ve been on explaining all these changes is explaining to people that the tower is the least compelling part of our project. And some of the comments we got during the evaluation process, by both the city and the state, back that up; the tower was actually called out, and analysts said it was the least attractive part of the project in terms of what we’re trying to do downtown.

“One of the things I’ve been saying to people is that ‘you can’t see the tower from Hartford.’ The power of our project is the MGM brand, the marketing, the outreach, the programming you put at the MassMutual Center in terms of entertainment. In multiple-jurisdiction markets, you have the competition of the neon across the street; it’s the ‘hey, look at me’ factor. So you need something very visual.

“Foxwoods has a tower, Mohegan has a tower, but a tower doesn’t distinguish the project. If anything, the low-rise we’re proposing is a cooler feature; being on Main Street is a more unique experience.”

six-story facility

Mike Mathis says MGM does not believe that scrapping the hotel tower for a six-story facility will present a competitive disadvantage.

BusinessWest: Let’s talk for a moment about this project and doing business in Massachusetts and Springfield, a state and a city that are new to the casino industry and therefore new to the process of building a casino. What has that been like, and how it is different from — and more challenging than — building in Las Vegas, for example, and how has this played a role in the public-relations troubles and trust issues that emerged over the summer and fall?

Mathis: “What’s unique about Massachusetts and the Springfield project is that we’re doing it under so much public scrutiny. So much of it is in different venues, be it the city or the Gaming Commission. And we knew coming into this opportunity that this was a privileged license, and as a result, the public feels, and rightfully so, that they have an ownership stake in the project.

“I can’t think of anything in the MGM portfolio where we’ve come into a process like this; in Las Vegas or Macau, and in multiple-license jurisdictions in general, they tend to be more pro-development, and it’s development as a right, as I describe it. And because of that, we joke around in the office these days to never take for granted the days when we could go down to Clark County, which is the jurisdictional body in Las Vegas, and pull a permit; you pull a permit, and three years later we see you at the grand opening. That’s oversimplifying it, because they do have some control over some of the program and design, but generally it’s development as a right.”

BusinessWest: So has this been a learning process in some respects?

Mathis: “It has been. For MGM, this has been a pretty unique, sort of sole-license jurisdiction bid, and I don’t think we were quite ready for the kind of scrutiny that came with this.

“But in fairness to the public and some of the folks we’ve been dealing with through this process, much of this has been self-inflicted by MGM because we made some significant changes in the design, and but for those changes, I think we’d be well on our way — not from a scheduling standpoint, because that was outside of our control, from our view, but from a design and momentum standpoint, we feel we’d be in a different position if we didn’t need to make some of the changes we proposed.

“But this isn’t unique. We make some of those kinds of changes with our other projects all the time, and you wouldn’t notice, much less feel it from the public like we have. Things are exponentially simpler in Las Vegas and some of the other jurisdictions we’ve worked in because there’s already an established procedure for these kinds of projects. They care about parking, and they care about certain architectural elements — how far is the building set back, what are the heights, some really objective criteria. And once you check those boxes, you’re generally good to go.”

BusinessWest: How close is MGM to being good to go with its Springfield project? Do you believe you’ve put doubts about the company’s commitment to Springfield and this project behind you?

Mathis: “The quick answer is ‘yes.’ If we hadn’t earned trust back in 2012, 2013, or 2014, I think we earned it with this last round of discussions. What I’m hoping is that, if or when there’s an issue, next time we get a little more of a benefit of the doubt from the public.

“I hope there’s a sentiment that we’re not leaving town, we’ve made a substantial commitment, and every day that goes by, our commitment grows. And I hope that elected officials give us the time to work through an issue, knowing that we have the best interests of the city in mind.”

BusinessWest: Certainly the doubts about MGM’s commitment to Springfield have been fueled by the rumors that Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, with the support of the state, will be building another Connecticut casino close to the border with Massachusetts. If that third casino becomes reality, how does that impact your plans for MGM Springfield?

Mathis: “If that competition comes, and it comes across the state line — which is not the best thing for Connecticut or Massachusetts, because there are other opportunities in Connecticut that aren’t in our backyard that would be better for MGM but also better for Connecticut — it won’t impact our project other than to potentially increase the investment we’re going to make.

“That’s because we’re going to have to be that much more attractive a destination. From what I’ve understand, what they’re talking about in Connecticut is a slots facility, $300 million or so, which represents about a third of what we’re investing here. It’s tailored to the convenience gambler, and on the edges that will hurt our business, but what I think will be really important in my mind, as leader of this venture, is that it will simply raise the bar for what we have to do in Springfield and make it that much more worth it to go the extra 20 minutes to get to our facility.”

BusinessWest: Looking back over the past nine months or so, what could, and what should, MGM have done differently?

Mathis: “That whole process of going from where we had a large amount of support from the public to having things devolve into putting out fire after fire is one of those situations where the more you refute something, the more you legitimize it, and that’s something we tried to avoid early on when some of the naysayers came out and questioned our commitment. I don’t know if there’s ever a right way to handle something like that because it’s not completely rational.

“We’ve done what feels like a postmortem on the past six months, trying to think about how, if we had to deal with some of these same issues again, we might do things differently, we might handle them differently. I think part of the challenge we’re always going to have is being transparent with the public in sort of real time. And that doesn’t lend itself to perfect or full information.

“We’re always going to err on communicating a problem and then finding the solution. Maybe we could have done a better job of letting people know that ‘this is the problem, and we’re working on a solution.’”

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Economic Outlook 2016

By
MixedSignalsCover1215a
Cover Story Economic Outlook Sections

Questions About Sustainability Cloud the Picture for 2016

Outlook 2016

By most accounts, the state’s economy — and area businesses — had a solid 2015. Performance didn’t match pre-recession levels, but it was an improvement over the previous three or four years. The question looming over 2016 is whether that performance can be sustained, and there are enough doubts, or reservations — created by everything from a stronger dollar to still-falling oil prices to uncertainty about who will win the White House next November — to keep confidence in check.

Dan Flynn calls it “soft confidence.”

That simple, two-word phrase goes a long way toward explaining the current state of the local and national economy and the general attitude concerning it among business owners.

Elaborating, Flynn, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Wholesale Banking for West Springfield-based United Bank, said many of the institution’s commercial clients are doing well — not as well as before the so-called Great Recession that started in 2008, but performance has been solid. Some even recorded their proverbial ‘best year ever’ in 2015, he noted, adding that most saw at least improvement over 2014.

Dan Flynn says many area businesses had a solid 2015

Dan Flynn says many area businesses had a solid 2015, but the question moving forward is whether that performance can be sustained.

But — and this is an important ‘but’ — these business owners are not at all sure that such performance is sustainable given a host of factors that are almost all well beyond their control. These range from global and domestic violence to still-spiraling healthcare insurance costs to extreme uncertainty about who will prevail in the 2016 presidential election — and what he or she might do after getting elected.

Thus, existing confidence is, well, soft.

“For most business owners, their inventory backlog or their job backlog is building, but they don’t have the confidence that this will sustain itself in 2016 or 2017,” Flynn explained. “They think it will, but it’s not like that flat-out ‘we’re confident, we’re going to hire a couple of extra people, we’re going to add a second shift.’ They’re not that confident.”

John Patrick agreed. The CEO of Farmington Bank, which recently made a foray into the Western Mass. market with locations in West Springfield and then East Longmeadow, said there is some optimism about the year ahead, but there are also serious doubts, enough to keep confidence from becoming deep or profound.

“The economy, especially the local economy, is all about confidence,” he noted. “And I wouldn’t say there is strong confidence in the marketplace relative to everything that’s happening around them.”

And by ‘everything,’ he meant factors ranging from terrorism in Paris and California to the ever-rising cost of health insurance.

Bob Nakosteen concurred, summoning another word to describe the current picture and outlook for 2016: ‘fuzzy.’

He would go into much greater detail, obviously, but Nakosteen, professor of Economics at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and co-editor of MassBenchmarks, the quarterly publication devoted to analysis of the Bay State economy, said that one word pretty much does the job.

Indeed, the outlook is fuzzy, as in not sharp, not clear, and, for the most part, not predictable.

“The picture is fuzzy, and through the fuzziness, we see a lot of positives, but we also see some risk,” he explained. “There’s a lot of internal strength in the U.S. economy, and it is going to overcome various weaknesses, and that means this state is going to do well. It’s a mixed picture, but the overall trend is positive. But do I have 100% confidence in what I just said? Absolutely not.”

That’s soft confidence personified.

“We’re in the middle of a slowdown … it’s not anywhere near a recession, but we’re definitely seeing some slowing,” Nakosteen went on. “The economy has been growing at 2% or a little less, and that’s not vibrant.”

John Patrick

John Patrick says a number of area manufacturers have seen exports impacted by the weakening of many foreign currencies.

Moving beyond ‘fuzzy,’ Nakosteen, like Flynn and others we spoke with, said there are a number of factors impacting the state and national economy — everything from a weak Canadian dollar, which is hurting exports to that country, to the fact that most Americans are not putting the money they’re saving at the gas pump back into the economy, to impressive job growth in the Commonwealth (if not Greater Springfield). Together, they make predicting what will come next an even more difficult assignment than it generally is.

Most observers are expecting growth to remain right around that 2% level, but it could go higher or lower depending on how matters evolve, especially that critical confidence level among business owners.

Money Matters

As he talked with BusinessWest about 2015 and what will likely happen in the year ahead, Nakosteen said there are certainly plenty of reasons to look at the glass and declare it at least half-full.

“Within the lack of clarity that we’re seeing, there lies a solid core of economic strength,” he explained, adding that the Bay State continues to match or outperform the nation overall, but it is very much dependent on the relative health of this country, as well as international markets, for its success.

As evidence, he cited some recent data showing that Massachusetts is experiencing an economic expansion in many ways reminiscent of the late ’90s, though without the impetus of the tech bubble that drove that cycle, meaning that this one is more well-rounded.

Gross state product is growing robustly, he went on — 7.1% for the second quarter compared to national GDP growth of 3.7% — and employment growth is steady, although limited geographically. The unemployment rate remains low by historical standards, and has been below the national rate since — and even before — the Great Recession.

“The current expansion appears to be on firm footing — the economy in the state has slowed down recently, but it’s still been a really good year,” he said while offering the global view.

“We’re expecting strong growth over the year or so,” he went on, using ‘we’ to mean the editors at MassBenchmarks. “It might be as strong as what we had up to the second quarter of this year, but pretty solid growth. How much of it makes its way out to the western part of the state remains to be seen.”

Flynn agreed.

“Overall, clients performed better over the past 12 months than the previous three to four years,” he said while generalizing the comments of business owners within the bank’s portfolio. “As a whole, they’re not seeing the same rate of return as before the recession, but they’re doing better than they were a year ago.

“And it’s across the board,” he went on. “You can take retail, manufacturing, wholesalers … generally, companies are performing better than they had.”

Given all that, though, the question looming over 2016 is whether that performance — by individual companies and the economy as a whole — can be sustained. And strong doubts about whether it can have led to heavy use of phrases such as ‘soft confidence,’ ‘fuzzy picture,’ ‘mixed signals,’ and the always-popular ‘cautiously optimistic,’ which Flynn said he’s heard repeatedly.

That’s because most all of the factors that will decide the fate of 2016 come complete with ‘ifs,’ ‘buts,’ question marks, and both points and counterpoints.

Take the jobs picture, for example. The nation’s economy added another 211,000 jobs in November after a gain of nearly 300,000 in October, a solid boost by most accounts that exceeded almost all expectations and propelled the stock market to a more than 2% gain the day the figures were released.

Click HERE to download a PDF chart listing the region’s largest employers

But do those numbers and the stated 5% national unemployment rate reflect real progress in what’s happening locally? The short answer is ‘no’ or ‘probably not.’

“I was in New York recently, and I heard a nationally respected economist who said that, if you really take a look at the numbers, unemployment on a normalized basis is closer to 9% when you take into consideration all the people who are unemployed and those working part-time who would prefer to be working full time,” said Patrick.

Like others, he noted that, overall, many employers have not yet reached — and likely won’t reach for some time — that threshold of confidence needed to add back some of those employees trimmed during extensive efforts during and after the recession to become more efficient and rightsize.

“Businesses are a little apprehensive about continuing to make significant investments in people, technology, and franchise, because they’re just unsure about what’s going to happen,” Patrick told BusinessWest. “And there many businesses that, because of the cost of healthcare, don’t want to go over that 50-employee number, and they’re trying to manage their business accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Nakosteen said, despite the start of work on the Springfield casino and a host of other construction projects across Western Mass., the employment needle has “barely budged” in the city of Springfield, meaning the jobless rate is still hovering around 9%, in sharp contrast to what’s happening elsewhere in the Commonwealth.

Bob Nakosteen says the Bay State added jobs at an impressive clip in 2015

Bob Nakosteen says the Bay State added jobs at an impressive clip in 2015, but by and large, those gains did not extend to Western Mass.

“Employment in the state has really grown at an amazingly fast clip over the past year to 18 months, but it’s not the same in Western Mass., as is usually the case,” he explained, adding that the Bay State has added 50,000 to 60,000 jobs over the past year, most of them in technology-related sectors, although healthcare and education remain solid contributors to such growth.

“A different picture emerges out here,” he went on, talking from his office on the UMass Amherst campus. “Springfield has added a few jobs but not many — at least it hasn’t gone down. The picture is better in the larger metropolitan area, but all the construction is in Springfield, so that’s where it should be recorded, but so far we’re not seeing it.”

Dollars and Sense

Another factor that is contributing to uncertainty is the stronger U.S. dollar. It certainly benefits those traveling overseas and has provided a huge boost for airlines and cruise lines, but overall, a strong dollar hurts exporters, including the many precision manufacturers that call the Knowledge Corridor home.

“I think many of the manufacturers in this region got off to a good start in 2015 and had good backlogs,” said Patrick, referring to companies on both sides of the border. “But companies within that corridor are usually producing a product that has export potential, and because of the strong dollar internationally, they’ve seen a lot of the orders slow down and some of them put on hold, with the buyer saying, ‘what we’ll do is wait for the dollar to drive down in value a bit.’”

There was some movement in that direction in early December, he noted, but overall, the dollar remains quite strong against all other currencies, and until a pattern of weakness occurs, exports will continue to suffer.

Nakosteen agreed, and said one country often overlooked when it comes to currency rates is Canada. It is a big trading partner, and at the moment that country’s dollar, also known as the ‘loonie,’ is in a hard spiral fueled by a host of factors, including falling energy prices and questionable monetary policy.

“Canada is our most important trade partner; a year ago, it was about one U.S. dollar to one Canadian dollar; now, a Canadian dollar is worth about 70 cents,” he explained. “What that means is for Candians, U.S. products are much more expensive, and you can see it in the export numbers — they’ve really dropped over the past year.”

As for falling oil prices, which analysts say will remain low for the foreseeable future, they are not producing a surge in consumer spending, as some had predicted, and in the meantime, they are taking a hard toll on the energy industry, which is having a ripple effect, in this country and elsewhere.

“We have not seen the surplus from lower gas prices turn into consumer spending — it’s going into savings or to reduce debt,” Nakosteen said. “It has not created the bump that was expected by everyone, including me.

“From everything I’m reading in the energy industry, low gas prices are here for a while,” he went on. “So it will be interesting to see if, over time, consumers start behaving a little differently and take this surplus and spend it.”

Still another factor is interest rates, which, after that strong November jobs report, are almost certain to rise after roughly seven years of stagnancy. The projected 0.25% increase, though minor, will finally bring some measure of relief to investors who have focused on low-risk options, such as bonds, which have yielded marginal returns. But the hike will also make borrowing more expensive, and this may slow the economy somewhat.

Cliff Noreen, president of Springfield-based Babson Capital, told Bloomberg News Radio recently that he welcomed the U.S. interest rate hike — “I think it’s about time; it’s been seven years, and we’ve been living with manipulated rates for that long, and we should go back to a more normal rate environment.”

“I think the biggest victims today are retirees — they retired with the assumption five or 10 years ago that they would earn a risk-free rate of 4%, 5%, or 6%; now, the risk-free rate is zero,” he told Bloomberg. “So they have to take more risk to make their return to live on, and they’ve been forced to invest in higher-risk assets like high-yield bonds and stocks, and they’ve had to adjust their asset allocation to make up for the zero-percent rate environment we’re in globally.”

CurrenciesChartCommoditiesChartOverall, Noreen said there were several surprises in 2015 — from falling commodities prices to spiraling foreign currencies (see charts) to gasoline prices that could have fallen further than they did — and all signs point to these conditions (and the negative impact and uncertainty they bring) continuing into 2016.

“We expect lower-than-normal investment returns for all asset classes,” he noted, “and slow economic growth globally, although things have been stabilizing, and continued very, very low interest rates that are in the process of rising.”

And there are still other factors to consider looking ahead, said Noreen, listing everything from a slowing of the growth rate in China to slowing corporate-profit growth in this country, and historically low yields on bonds, with many European countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, gaining status in what Noreen called the “negative-rate club.”

As for the upcoming presidential election, Nakosteen noted that, while elections themselves typically don’t have an impact on the economy and individual presidents don’t often dictate fiscal policy, elections do generate anxiety, which has its own trickle-down effect.

Bottom Line

Speaking from experience, Patrick agreed, noting that the one commodity business owners dislike the most is uncertainty.

And because there is no lack of it at the moment — not just because of the election but all those other issues mentioned above — there is a corresponding shortage of perhaps the most important element for at least the short-term health of the regional and national economy: confidence.

There is confidence that the progress measured in 2015 can be sustained, but, as Flynn noted, it is soft confidence.

And as long as that condition remains, the picture for 2016 will remain fuzzy.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Healthy Pattern of Growth Continues in Hadley

By
Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

David Nixon says Texas Roadhouse expects to open soon on Route 9

David Nixon says Texas Roadhouse expects to open soon on Route 9, one of several new businesses that went through with their plans even after a moratorium on new natural-gas hookups.

Officials in Hadley recently met with a developer to go over some technical zoning issues for a new retail establishment he hopes to build in town.

Town Administrator David Nixon said it’s one of many projects that are underway or on the drawing board, and a combination of factors make Hadley a great place for a business to grow and flourish.

“We have low property taxes, a stable single tax rate, affordable water and sewer utilities, appropriate zoning, and good access to transportation,” he told BusinessWest. “The town is in a strong financial position and has a AA+ rating from Standard & Poor’s, so as a package Hadley is an attractive place for businesses.”

However, last spring Berkshire Gas issued a moratorium on new or expanded service in Hampshire and Franklin counties due to a lack of pipeline capacity, which led town officials to become concerned that the decision would impact economic-development potential, not to mention a number of projects that had been started but were not complete.

Nixon said he took a proactive stance and voiced his concerns when he met with Berkshire Gas representatives as well as state Rep. John Scibak, chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, and state Sen. Stanley Rosenberg to talk about possible consequences of the moratorium.

“You don’t know what will happen when a major energy provider tells you, ‘sorry, there is no more,’” Nixon said, adding that the decision affects all towns in both counties. “But we have been very pleased that it hasn’t caused a slowdown in economic development in Hadley. Companies are continuing to build here; they are using propane instead of natural gas.”

Indeed, Bob Bolduc said the lack of the energy source did not hinder progress on a new, $6 million Super Pride station and 6,000-square-foot convenience store being built on Route 9 that can be seen immediately upon crossing the Calvin Coolidge Bridge into Hadley.

“Route 9 has a high traffic count, and the visibility of the site is excellent,” Bolduc said, explaining that Pride accumulated 4.5 acres of the choice property over a period of several years and nine structures, including the former Aqua Vitae restaurant and several houses being demolished to make way for the new facility that will occupy two acres.

“Although we were disappointed that we couldn’t have natural gas, a large propane tank will be satisfactory because it’s what we have in Southwick, Belchertown, and Palmer,” he noted.

Other commercial construction projects that have moved forward since the moratorium include a new, 7,163-square-foot Texas Roadhouse which is nearly finished; a 6,192-square-foot Advanced Auto Parts store; a new, 10,000-square-foot mall containing five storefronts that will be known as Mill Valley Commons, which is expected to open in February or March; and American River Nutrition, a manufacturing firm that makes vitamin E and is building a 24,192-square-foot plant on Venture Way, expected to open sometime in the near future.

“They had all planned to heat with natural gas, but switched to propane,” said Building Commissioner Tim Neyhart, explaining that piping designed for natural gas has been modified accordingly.

Development of East Street Commons, which consists of 32 new, affordable, and energy-efficient single-story homes for people 55 and older, was also affected by the moratorium. “They had to decide whether to continue building, and it drastically slowed down the project because the developer has to change every unit,” Neyhart said, adding that natural gas pipes do exist on East Street, and if the moratorium is lifted, people could tie into them in the future.

For this, the latest installment in its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest looks at how neither the natural-gas moratorium nor anything else has failed to slow the pace of progress in this farming community turned retail mecca situated strategically between Northampton and Amherst.

What’s in Store?

Bolduc told BusinessWest that navigating the state permitting process for his project has taken took two years and cost $200,000, which is typical for a new gas station on a state highway because a bevy of environmental and traffic studies must be undertaken to ensure the facility won’t affect endangered plants, endangered species, or their natural habitats.

But it is finally complete, and although construction will not begin until spring, when it is complete, the new Pride complex will be among the largest in the region, with a drive-up window for coffee and a Subway restaurant with a seating area inside.

“We’ve applied for a license to sell beer and wine, which Pride does in five other stores,” Bolduc continued, adding that the company is working closely with the UMass Campus and Community Coalition to Reduce High Risk Drinking. The organization’s efforts are highlighted on a billboard that went up in late October near the Calvin Coolidge Bridge that bears the group’s website and the message “Working Together to Prevent Underage and Dangerous Drinking.”

“It’s an impressive group, and they have a lot of good ideas about where to place alcohol in the store, as well as the signage for it, and the optimal hours of operation,” said Bolduc. “We will be their poster child; it’s a first for a business to roll up their sleeves and do proactive work based on their recommendations.”

The Pride complex is one of many initiatives underway or in the planning stages, said Nixon, adding that the town is taking a proactive stance to reduce energy costs and officials are supporting projects related to alternative energy.

They include a new solar farm on Mill River Road built by Nexamp that is expected to be operational by the end of the month. He said the town offered Nexamp the option of making payments in lieu of taxes over a period of 20 years, which will increase by about 2% annually.

“It helps everyone avoid a roller-coaster ride. If we collected taxes right away, we would get a lot of money up front before they started making much, but as their property and equipment depreciated, we would get a lot less,” Nixon explained, adding that another solar farm that was completed by Nexamp about two years ago subsidizes 70% of the town’s municipal power at a 21% discount and Nexamp has agreed to subsidize the remaining 30% at a 16% discount.

“The town spends $225,000 annually on electricity, so it will be a significant savings,” he noted.

In addition, Hampshire College plans to build a solar farm in Hadley to power its buildings, and town officials are working out a pilot agreement with the institution.

“We also partnered with the Hampshire Council of Governments and were able to get a three-year extension on a fixed rate for municipal electricity. So we are looking at a stable cost that will be discounted by the two solar farms, above and beyond any conservation measures we take,” Nixon continued.

In other news, the Municipal Building Committee is working to renovate old structures, and progress has been made on that front. Asbestos flooring in Town Hall was removed and replaced during the summer, and lighting in the building was improved.

Nixon said Town Hall operations were moved to the public-safety complex during the six weeks it took to complete the project.

“We used the temporary move as an exercise related to our emergency-management plan,” he noted. “Outside of a few technical issues, it went very smoothly, and the issues were documented so know what works, what doesn’t, and what changes we need to made for a real emergency.”

There are also plans to install new front doors on the facility and new roofs on the three buildings — the senior center, public-safety complex, and garage used by the Department of Public Works — which is all being paid for with local funding.

And although cutting costs, making improvements to municipal buildings, and fostering economic growth is important, Hadley has no plans to ignore its agricultural history. In fact, the town recently implemented a Farmland Preservation Agreement, and is working to transfer property-development rights to preserve farmland that is put up for sale.

“We’re in the process of buying 100 acres through a partnership with the state,” Nixon said, adding that this land will be protected from development. “Hadley leads the Commonwealth in open-space preservation; we have 3,000 acres of preserved land, not counting state forests, which speaks to food security and natural-habitat preservation. It’s important because farming is a lifeway and part of our heritage.”

Hadley has also done millions of dollars of infrastructure work over the past year. “We’ve been working on culverts, bridges, roads, and sewer and water lines. Two existing pumping stations were refurbished at a cost of $1.86 million, in addition to $182,000 spent on the design and engineering,” Nixon said. “And we’re working on a state-funded culvert project that will cost $900,000, and replacing water and sewer lines at a cost of $377,000 and $240,000.”

Moving Forward

Hadley is doing well in terms of economic growth, and the prospects for more in the year ahead look good.

“I’m seeing solid growth,” Nixon said. “There is still commercial land left to build on and places that can be rebuilt, which is what Pride is doing on the land near the bridge. About 21,000 vehicles travel along Route 9 every day, and businesses there provide employment as well as goods and services that people want and need: food, entertainment, gardening centers, movie theaters, dining facilities, a pet motel, and commodities that range from sporting goods to electronics. Overall, Hadley is an attractive place to do business.”

The town’s master plan is being updated, and surveys, focus groups, and public hearings have been held to get public input. “It should be completed in another year and will have a lot to say about housing, zoning, roads, population, and land preservation,” Nixon noted.

Which will all add up to change that officials believe will make Hadley an even more vibrant town in the years to come.

 

Hadley at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1661
Population: 5,013  (2011)
Area: 24.7 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $11.15
Commercial Tax Rate: $11.15
Median Household Income: $51,851 (2010)
Family Household Income: $61,897 (2010)
Type of government: Open Town Meeting, Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Super Stop & Shop; Evaluation Systems Group Pearson; Elaine Center at Hadley; Home Depot; Lowe’s Home Improvement
* Latest information available

Stockbridge Addresses Change in Myriad Initiatives

By
Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight: Stockbridge

Leslie and Stephen Shatz

Leslie and Stephen Shatz stand outside the historic Stockbridge Library, which is undergoing a major renovation.

Stockbridge became known for its quintessential New England charm after it was depicted by artist Norman Rockwell in a masterpiece titled “Main Street.”

The town is also known for its cultural offerings, which include Tanglewood, and Stockbridge has become a destination for people who appreciate its unique character. But, despite the fact that hotel-room occupancy was up 5.3% this summer, cell-phone service is extremely limited and available in just a few locations.

In fact, Selectman Stephen Shatz said it’s not unusual for him to be asked by tourists who are shopping downtown where they can go to use their phones. “They come here with the expectation that they will have cell-phone service, and you can see them on the streets hunting for a place where they can find it,” he told BusinessWest.

That problem will soon be solved, as Verizon is in the process of installing a cell-phone tower on the town’s capped landfill.

“We’ve completed the local part of the permitting process,” Shatz said, explaining that, two years ago, the Board of Selectmen proposed a zoning bylaw to permit the tower to be erected, which received a favorable vote at a town meeting last year. He added that town officials were quite pleased to have the well-known, licensed FCC carrier win the bid because the law requires the company to provide up to four co-locations for other cell-phone companies. “We also negotiated the right to put up municipal public-safety antennas on the tower, although there are no plans to do that at the moment,” he noted.

Preliminary work is expected to begin in March, which will involve installing electricity and a landline at the site. Construction of the actual tower will start next summer, and “by this time next year we should have cell service in town,” Shatz said.

It’s one of a number of measures officials are taking to keep pace with changes in society and allow the town that always appears frozen in time to be anything but.

“Many people have an image of Stockbridge that is immutable. They think of it like the Norman Rockwell portrait, but change does occur, even when you do nothing,” Shatz said.

He explained that, in addition to advances in technology, which require infrastructure to support them, the town’s population has grown smaller and considerably older, which presents a number of intriguing challenges.

“The town has changed. Between 1996 and 2010, our population decreased by almost 20%, and the median age went from 31 to 55,” he told BusinessWest. “Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life in Berkshire County, and even though we don’t have all of the tools we need to respond, we are trying.”

Three years ago, Shatz also came up with the idea to take a new look at other measures that will help the town move into the future and meet the needs of residents and tourists, who are vital to its economy. To that end, a committee has been formed for a Visionary Project that could lead to a master-planning process.

“The last master plan was completed in 1996, and although it was supposed to be looked at every five years, that never happened,” Shatz explained.

One of the first steps will be to initiate a discussion with residents about services they need and want and how the town can provide them. “About 60% of our residences belong to second-home owners. It’s pretty significant because we get income from the taxes they pay, but these people aren’t actively involved in the community. They participate in our cultural and community activities, but they can’t vote, and we are trying to find ways to involve them in our ad hoc committees,” Shatz said.

Since their input is critical to the Visionary Project, the 10-person committee, chaired by Shatz, includes two second-home owners as well as people born in Stockbridge and those who moved there recently.

“We need a different model and want to increase public awareness about our challenges,” he said, adding that the town appropriated $25,000 to fund the initial phase of the project.

Capital Ideas

Leslie Shatz (Stephen’s wife) is a trustee of the Stockbridge Library Assoc., head of its development committee, and a member of its capital campaign steering committee, which was formed four years ago to raise funds to renovate and revitalize the town’s private, nonprofit library and museum. “It contains more than 500 artifacts along with artwork and detailed records of the town’s history,” she said, adding that the renovations were prompted by the need to install an elevator to make the library’s three floors handicapped-accessible because the historic building had been untouched since its last renovation in 1937.

Library Director Katherine O’Neil said that, right after she was hired in June 2011, the library received a $6,000 grant for a code review of the building. The following month, Center Line Architects from Vermont was selected to do the work, which included preliminary design schematics. In addition, a consultant was hired to determine whether it was realistic to raise the funds needed for a major renovation. The result was positive, and a capital campaign kicked off in 2013, right after Thanksgiving.

“By the end of January 2014, we had raised $1 million in pledges and contributions,” Leslie Shatz said, adding that they included some “magnificent leadership gifts.”

The John and Jane Fitzpatrick Fund, headed by Nancy and Ann Fitzpatrick-Brown, contributed $500,000, and an equal amount was donated by sisters Mary Stokes Waller and Carol Fremont-Smith in memory of their mother and grandmother.

Revenue raised to date includes a grant of $600,000, $500,000 in historic tax credits, and $200,000 from the town. As a result, the renovation is well underway and the committee is close to wrapping up its $4 million fund-raising goal.

“The library is essential to the community life of Stockbridge. It opened in 1862 during the darkest days of the Civil War and was launched by a group of public-spirited men who believed a library was central to the life of the town,” Leslie Shatz said.

“They put up the money needed to build the structure on donated land and challenged the townspeople to raise enough to buy books. It was a community endeavor,” she continued, adding that the first librarian was the sister of a Supreme Court Justice, and the library was only one of five built in the U.S. during the war.

The new building will retain the majority of its historical elements, but square footage has been added for the elevator. Space has also been repurposed in the attic, the roofline has been raised, and skylights are being installed.

In addition to updating the electrical, plumbing, and heating and air-conditioning systems, a new multi-purpose room will accommodate up to 35 people in the main area of the building.

“It will give us the option of holding more library programs as well as allowing groups in the community to use the space,” Leslie Shatz said.

O’Neil said a strategic plan for new programming was created for 2012-17 after input was received from focus groups and community surveys, which resulted in an expansion of existing programs and a plethora of new ones, including a financial-literary program for teens and their parents that will be conducted by second-home owner Jon Budish.

“The renovation has been a wonderful project to be part of, and we are looking forward to letting patrons see the renovated space and using it to better serve their needs and interests,” O’Neil said.

The work is slated to be completed in January, and the building will open after the books are shelved and the museum artifacts are put into place.

“We have been exceptionally gratified by the support we have received for the project,” Leslie Shatz said. “We are all very excited about opening the doors and welcoming the community into the building.”

While the library project draws to a close, there are other initiatives taking shape in this picturesque community.

One of the primary challenges the town faces is providing ambulance, police, and fire protection, since the population increases by 7,000 on summer weekends.

To lower operating costs and take advantage of underutilized sites, the Board of Selectmen has taken a proactive stance, and in addition to the cell phone tower, it plans to establish a solar farm on the landfill. The board is in the process of selecting a provider, but the project cannot begin until it receives permission from the state.

“If we’re successful, it will cover the cost of almost 100% of the electricity used to power the town’s buildings,” Shatz said. “The landfill has the potential to be a real income generator because we will receive rent from Verizon which could amount to $30,000 annually. It’s real money to a small town.”

Moving Forward

Stephen Shatz said Stockbridge is a great place to live, but lacks the type of jobs needed to retain and attract young people. So he hopes the Visionary Project, coupled with a new cell-phone tower, solar farm, major renovations to the library, and efforts to get second-home owners more involved will help Stockbridge solve the challenges it faces.

“The Visionary Project is related to finances and services,” he said. “One of the only things we can do is provide a regulatory framework conducive to smart growth.”

Indeed, that is in line with the change occurring on many levels in a town so picturesque that it attracts tourists from all over the world.

Stockbridge at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1739
Population: 2,065
Area: 23.7 square miles
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $8.67
Commercial Tax Rate: $8.67
Median Household Income: $65,323 (2013)
Family Household Income: $79,144 (2013)
Type of government: Town Administrator/Board of Selectmen/Open Town Meeting
Largest Employers: Austen Riggs Center; Berkshire Theater Festival; Red Lion Inn
* Latest information available

Limits Needed in World of Fantasy Sports

By
Opinion

Editorial

Some might be tempted to call Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s proposed rules, or limits, for daily sports businesses half a loaf.

The full loaf, of course, would be what New York, Nevada, and other states have done, and that’s declare that operations like DraftKings, FanDuel, and others like them are gambling houses — which they are — and thus need to be banned or licensed.

Healey’s not going that far, and is instead proposing regulations, such as a ban on players under 21, measures to prevent sophisticated contestants (the so-called ‘sharks’) from dominating games, and changes in these companies’ advertising practices.

We’re not sure why she won’t go further — perhaps because DraftKings is based in Boston and is one of the state’s most intriguing technology startups, or because Gov. Charlie Baker is a fan of these sites, or because Patriots owner Robert Kraft is a huge investor in DraftKings, and is also partnering with Healey in a joint initiative to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault.

Whatever the reason, we have half a loaf — but half, as they say, is better than none, and something certainly needs to be done to regulate this industry. That’s not just because everyone is totally numb to those endless radio and TV commercials, with more than two months of the NFL season still to be played.

Indeed, most people are getting quite tired of hearing how people have invested only $20 or $30 in the one-day competitions and won millions with only a few mouse clicks. But obviously misleading ads are only a small part of the fantasy-sports story now.

The bigger story is the movement by states who are viewing these sites as gambling operations, and responding accordingly by either moving to ban them (because gambling is illegal in said states) or licensing them, because gambling operations require licensing. That latter step is tantamount to shutting down the sites in those states, because the owners would rather not do business in them than admit that their operations are gambling and get a license.

The controversy stems in large part from two points of argument — only, there really isn’t an argument in either case. First, does fantasy sports constitute gambling? And, second, should individual states be trying to regulate or license such activity?

The answer is a ridiculously obvious ‘yes’ in both cases.

The argument proffered by DraftKings and FanDuel is that fantasy sports isn’t gambling because it’s a game of skill. While there is some skill involved, obviously, there are always huge amounts of luck at play as well (after all, Drew Brees might get hurt in the first quarter and not play the rest of the game). And even if you buy into that argument, the fact that this is mostly skill does not mean it’s not gambling. Where do those millions in payouts come from, the DraftKings scholarship fund? Of course not — they come from the money put down by others who think they’ve got the best fantasy lineup for that week. It seems ‘put down’ is not the same as ‘gamble’ or ‘risk.’

As for states wanting to regulate or license this? Some equate such actions to a giant shakedown, a ‘you-can-run-your-business-but-we-want a cut’ mentality. Others say states like Nevada and others are simply trying to stem the flow of money away from their lotteries and casinos and into the pockets of the fantasy-sports operations.

Both assessments are right on the money, figuratively as well as literally, but those states can’t, or shouldn’t, be blamed for adopting such stances.

Yes, fantasy sports is free enterprise. But every free enterprise — whether it’s in financial services, healthcare, or construction — has to play by some rules when it comes to regulations and licensing, and this industry should not be an exception.

Healey is proposing regulations, and we would certainly welcome them. The TV ads are misleading, to say the least; we don’t need college students devoting limited time and money to putting together fantasy lineups; the sharks should be kept in deep water, perhaps competing only with each other; and other steps, such as a $1,000-per-month deposit limit and a ban on college sports contests, also make sense.

Moving to regulate or license fantasy sports sites is not an anti-business step, nor is it necessarily anti-gambling — although Healey has campaigned as someone opposed to gambling.

Instead, it would be a simple, common-sense step, one she should go ahead and take.

Yes, fantasy sports are fun. But that doesn’t mean that this industry shouldn’t be regulated.

Taylor Street Dental Revitalizes Historic Stacy Building

By
Commercial Real Estate Sections

Reason to Smile

Stacy Building

Stacy Building

The new logo for Taylor Street Dental doesn’t picture anything, well, dental. No mouth, no teeth, no dental chair or examination equipment.

It’s a building. An important building, said Dr. David Peck.

“We wanted to meld this old, historic building with our dental practice — meld them together, old and new,” he said of the logo, but also of his practice itself, which for 30 years had been known simply as David I. Peck, DMD and been housed in a storefront on Worthington Street, in downtown Springfield’s club district.

But he was looking to move, and became intrigued by the Stacy Building a block away — its striking architecture, solid bones, and storied history, but also its proximity to where he had been treating patients for three decades.

“I knew I wanted to move the practice into another building, to expand and gain more space,” Peck told BusinessWest. “I started looking in the city. I could have gone to the suburbs — Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham — but I’ve been downtown 30 years, and I really believe my success is due to the city of Springfield — due to all my patients, past and present, who had no problem coming to downtown Springfield. I felt like it was time to pay it forward by building them an office where they’re comfortable and happy and feel great about the surroundings.”

He found it in the Stacy Building on Taylor Street, which he bought in 2013 from Plotkin Associates and now houses 3,700 square feet of dental space on the fourth floor — a striking top-level office boasting plenty of exposed brick, chestnut beams and columns, skylights, and barn-style sliding doors.

“We wanted to keep all the old parts of the building that are so beautiful — the large windows, the wood beams and columns,” he explained. “Construction always takes longer than you expect, but we finally moved in this past August.”

One aspect of the project that caused delays was making sure the building was completely handicapped-accessible, including installation of a new, larger elevator cab that opens to both the lobby of the building and at ground level; previously, the lobby was accessible by stairs only.

“We wanted to make sure all my patients, young and old, could get from the ground floor to the fourth-floor office,” Peck said. “We now have handicapped accessibility to all four floors.”

Dr. David Peck

Dr. David Peck, owner of Taylor Street Dental and, now, the Stacy Building that houses it.

That’s just one element that pleases him about the building, which still houses NAI Plotkin on the first floor and two marketing agencies on the second. The third floor has 2,500 square feet of space yet to be leased, in addition to some conference space for Taylor Street Dental.

“The building looks as good as it does because of the hard work of Laplante Construction in East Longmeadow,” Peck said. “They were pivotal in the design and construction and successful outcome of this building. We owe them a debt of gratitude for doing such an amazing job.”

Old and New

The Stacy Building is best-known as the place where brothers Charles and Frank Duryea built the first American gasoline-powered car in 1893. Within a few years, they were making 13 cars a year there.

“The building was in good condition, but I knew I wanted the dental office on the fourth floor, which was small offices, so we demoed the third and fourth floor, modernized it, sandblasted the brick to keep the aesthetics of the brick, kept the beams and the wood columns, and cleaned up the molding around the large windows.”

The space now boasts nine treatment areas, up from five on Worthington Street, and Peck is looking to add staff — he currently employs 11, including two other dentists — to make use of the additional space.

“We renovated all new — we didn’t even bring any of our existing equipment over,” he said, referring to state-of-the-art devices like CT scanners, medical lasers for treatment of soft tissue, and movie-projecting goggles for patients to wear during their procedures. “We wanted all brand-new equipment.”

The construction work isn’t totally complete, however, as exterior façade work will continue in the spring. But the Stacy Building has taken a big step into the 21st century, with a new, more efficient HVAC system, a new fire-alarm system, and new lighting.

“We totally converted the entire building to LED lighting. My daughter, a civil engineer, said, ‘Dad, you’ve got to go LED and be as green as you can.’ So, as a tribute to my daughter, I changed out all the fluorescent lights in the whole building.”

Peck’s patients have already expressed approval of the new office.

“Let me tell you — when patients come here, their mouths drop open. They love it. They say, ‘as comfortable as I felt with you in the other office, Dr. Peck, I’m so much more comfortable here in the new office.’ They say when they come in, they feel even more relaxed, more comfortable, more at peace. When you go to the dentist, you’re nervous, but they feel like they’ve come into a spa environment; their anxiety and nervousness is at a much lower level. They come in and say, ‘it’s just like a spa. I want to sit here and never leave.’”

Those are compliments he relishes.

“It’s just a nice feeling. That’s what I want to do. With any business establishment, you want to provide the very best for your patrons, customers, patients,” he said, adding, “my wife, Susan, was very much involved in helping me design this. We have a partnership; we’ve been married for 35 years, and we just love designing together. I thank my wife for helping me make this place such a success, and something that’s so beautiful for my patients.”

exposed brick and beam features

Dr. David Peck wanted to keep the exposed brick and beam features of the Stacy Building.

Those patients visit Peck for a full range of general, cosmetic, and implant dentistry, he explained, adding that he designed his practice as a one-stop site for dental needs — and, now, a coffee bar with USB chargers.

Those are the sort of funky touches that appeal to a downtown Springfield clientele, one that doesn’t necessarily need a storefront window to draw them in. Parking is plentiful, he added, from validation at a neighboring parking garage to on-street spaces to a small lot dedicated to Taylor Street Dental. “We try to give patients every reason to come to us.

“I bought this place because I wanted to stay in Springfield,” he went on. “It’s a gorgeous building. Just look at it from the outside — I love the way the building looks in springtime, when the trees bloom. It is an absolutely gorgeous building, and with the architecture, the way the brick is laid, the façade, and even the windows, I fell in love with the building.”

Positive Story

Peck’s clear affection for his location explains the logo. “This melding of the dental practice with the historic building creates — as corny as it sounds — a marriage made in heaven,” he told BusinessWest. “It feels great when I come in here. It’s amazing, the beauty they were able to build into it back then, without the heavy machinery we have now. I love coming in here every day.”

The Duryea Historical Society sent Peck a plaque for the office, and when he schedules a grand-opening celebration, he’s going to try to get some Duryea descendants to join in, if only to celebrate another success story in a city seeing more of them these days.

“There’s a perception that Springfield is unsafe. But I’ve been here 30 years; I’ve walked out at 12, 1 in the morning. I’ve never had a problem,” he said. “I love Springfield, and Springfield loves us. I think about times when people felt more positive about the city they work and live in, but they should appreciate what they have here in Springfield. We have museums at the Quadrangle, the Basketball Hall of Fame, MGM wants to come in … these are all positive things. It’s a beautiful city, so let’s start appreciating what we have and stop bashing it.”

That’s why he refuses to discount the City of Homes, but rather continue to support it — with a highly visible investment in the future of its downtown.

“I’ve seen other business around downtown Springfield that had no interest in staying, but not Taylor Street Dental,” he said. “We’re here to stay for the long term.”


Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of November 2015.

CHICOPEE

Authier Inc.
12 Dalliere Ave.
$6,500 — Exterior renovations

Chicopee Auto Farm Inc.
980 East Main St.
$16,000 — Addition to existing building

Electric Light Department
725 Front St.
$25,000 — Strip and re-roof

F.L. Roberts and Company
520 Montgomery  St.
$60,500 — Build 20-x-22 addition for car wash

Homestyle Cafe
1780 Westover Road
$10,000 — Install kitchen exhaust fan

Our Lady of the Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$33,000 — Office remodel

Paul Langlois
627 Memorial Dr.
$3,500 — Exterior repairs

Reesg Properties, LLC
1600 Memorial Dr.
$630,000 — Expand existing Price Rite

WMDC
227 Lonczak Dr.
$42,000 — Install pre-fab modular office

GREENFIELD

Argotec Inc.
46 Greenfield St.
$21,000 — Relocate exterior safety storage building

Haddleton Associates
37 Butternut St.
$20,000 — Replace antennas

Indoor Action
1385 Bernardston Road
$264,000 — Install new fabric structure and cable system

Northeast Biodiesel Company
179 Silvio O Conte Dr.
$498,000 — Interior renovations

Rosenberg Property, LLC
311 Wells St.
$45,000 — Subdivide existing space into office area

Salvation Army
72 Chapman St.
$113,000 — Interior renovations

Sander Greenfield, LLC
367 Federal St.
$51,000 — Install new sprinkler system

Sandri Realty, Inc.
295 Federal St.
$403,000 — Remodel gas station addition

Sore, LTD
192-200 Main St.
$5,000 — Replace leaking section of roof

LUDLOW

Burger King
419 Center St.
$100,000 — Alterations

Ludlow Self Storage
148 Carmelinas Circle
$149,000 — New commercial construction

Riverside Dental
433 Center St.
$101,000 — Alteration

SPRINGFIELD

Bridge Hillman, LLC
289 & 293 Bridge St.
$298,000 — Alterations of first and second floor for new tenant

Derrick Hatwood
50 Chapel St.
$40,000 — Add three antennas

Dwight Station, LLC
95 Frank B. Murray St.
$1,250,000 — Renovate facade and construct new interior partitions for new office spaces

Guidewire
551 Columbus Ave.
$3,000 — Create storage room

Isla Associates I, LLC
21 Bancroft St.
$20,000 — Replace 62 windows

Lion’s Den
40 Front St.
$8,000 — Handicap restroom

Peter Martins
1190 Boston Road
$122,000 — Renovate building

Pierre St. Paul
716 Belmont Ave.
$6,000 — Exterior renovations

Winn Companies
259 Fernbank Road
$14,000 — New roof

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.

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

41 Dartmouth St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Stephanie Wynne
Seller: Nicholas J. Marchetti
Date: 10/28/15

58 Edgewater Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Pokorny
Seller: Evans, Ernest D., (Estate)
Date: 10/29/15

110 Edgewater Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Chester M. Clark
Seller: Sepanek, Maxine D., (Estate)
Date: 10/28/15

174 Edgewater Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Vicki Benson
Seller: Michael P. Sullivan
Date: 10/23/15

25 Farmington Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Buyer: Vincenzo Tirone
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/26/15

15 Keller Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: John H. Houle
Seller: Robert C. Anziano
Date: 10/29/15

228 Leonard St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: John A. Jedziniak
Seller: Geoffrey Nichols
Date: 10/29/15

110 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Justin Barber
Seller: Robert R. Rossmeisl
Date: 10/23/15

580 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Aden Ismail
Seller: Adrienne B. Alvigini
Date: 10/26/15

1149 North St. Ext
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Blerina Bacaj
Seller: Arthur E. Howe
Date: 10/23/15

535 North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Christian Ellsworth
Seller: Brian K. Dutton
Date: 10/22/15

1057 North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Kathleen J. Hanson
Seller: Cindy L. Foote
Date: 10/27/15

521 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Rayonia Motors LLC
Seller: William H. Douglas
Date: 10/29/15

16 Scherpa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Xueling L. Tang
Seller: Jeffrey R. Plante
Date: 10/21/15

379 Southwick St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: John T. Leydon
Seller: Remillard, Aime J., (Estate)
Date: 10/29/15

959-967 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $3,700,000
Buyer: Coyote Realty LLC
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/30/15

975 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $3,700,000
Buyer: Coyote Realty LLC
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/30/15

1154-1156 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $3,700,000
Buyer: Coyote Realty LLC
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/30/15

106 Valentine St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Bajrush Hasani
Seller: Woods, Michael G., (Estate)
Date: 10/26/15

333-339 Walnut St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Tres Chic Realty LLC
Seller: Lawrence A. White
Date: 10/29/15

15 Walter Way
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Todd P. Rowley
Seller: Janis Oles
Date: 10/30/15

6 Yorkshire Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Robert C. Anziano
Seller: Qianyun Ye
Date: 10/29/15

BLANDFORD

31 North St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Susan Bynack-Bolduc
Seller: Steven M. Zayac
Date: 10/19/15

BRIMFIELD

111 5 Bridge Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Walter K. Twarowski
Seller: Thomas F. Curry
Date: 10/22/15

1141 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael A. Fuller RET
Seller: Judith A. Stearns
Date: 10/23/15

193 Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Dennis M. Moynahan
Seller: Alice J. Benoit
Date: 10/27/15

148 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $170,088
Buyer: FNLM
Seller: Kerri M. Chalmers
Date: 10/28/15

CHESTER

6 Main St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $134,317
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Debra G. Salvhus
Date: 10/23/15

24 Middlefield Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Joey Saalfrank
Seller: Marc J. Civitarese
Date: 10/23/15

180 Route 20
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $120,100
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Richard J. Laurie
Date: 10/30/15

CHICOPEE

39 Baltimore Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Khalid N. Khalid
Seller: Patricia A. Tessier
Date: 10/21/15

5 Bourbeau St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $145,353
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Jamie T. Kasulinous
Date: 10/22/15

275 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Pioneer Housing LLC
Seller: Daniel R. Roy
Date: 10/30/15

108 Casino Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Robert E. Watson
Seller: Cinq-Mars, Lawrence, (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

162 Cochran St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Paul C. Ethier
Seller: Jeffrey E. Goss
Date: 10/30/15

259 Dale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Nancy Hernandez
Seller: Riverbend 2 Properties
Date: 10/26/15

60 Francis St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Lucjan Dzierzgowski
Seller: Denise M. Moroney
Date: 10/30/15

1245 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $5,630,000
Buyer: Townhouse Court Apts. LLC
Seller: Townhouse Court LP
Date: 10/30/15

247 Langevin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Megan A. Grygorcewicz
Seller: Janina Chung
Date: 10/30/15

175 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jennifer M. Watson
Seller: Scott R. Sanderson
Date: 10/20/15

31 Pearl St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Jose D. Ramirez
Seller: Patricia E. Ryan
Date: 10/21/15

514 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: John R. Flynn
Seller: Waycon Inc.
Date: 10/28/15

85 Quartus St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jaren A. Lutenegger
Seller: Kathleen Jackson
Date: 10/30/15

18 Saint Anthony St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brian M. Butterfield
Seller: Mirta I. Diamond
Date: 10/29/15

25 Scott Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Robert Liston
Seller: Irene L. Lavalley
Date: 10/30/15

93 Shepherd St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Alexander Houle
Seller: Sandra A. Kos
Date: 10/30/15

448 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Ambiorix A. Quezada
Seller: Hal R. Cooney
Date: 10/28/15

78 Summit Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Vilma O. Ortiz
Date: 10/27/15

110 Sunflower Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Rigali
Seller: Brian W. Scott
Date: 10/30/15

35 Walsh St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alyson E. Reid
Seller: Thomas F. Kane
Date: 10/22/15

44 White Birch Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Tammy Fydenkevez
Seller: Gary S. Pelter
Date: 10/29/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

29 Allen St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $344,900
Buyer: Charles P. Drago
Seller: Bedrock Financial LLC
Date: 10/30/15

35 Dorset St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $122,900
Buyer: Anthony Santaniello
Seller: US Bank
Date: 10/22/15

99 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Donna M. Santaniello
Seller: Paul A. Rosati
Date: 10/28/15

82 Lee St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $342,500
Buyer: Glenn E. Provencher
Seller: Michael F. Torcia
Date: 10/30/15

26 Mayfair St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Julie M. Olmos
Seller: Jeffrey P. Crum
Date: 10/23/15

71 Old Farm Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $518,000
Buyer: Elizabeth C. Rappaport
Seller: Jane K. Gallagher
Date: 10/30/15

185 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Gisell Guidara
Seller: Bouvher, Lorraine C., (Estate)
Date: 10/29/15

167 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Sara Nunez
Seller: Michael V. Pellegrino
Date: 10/27/15

17 Savoy Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Sandra L. Berte
Seller: Michelle C. McNamara
Date: 10/23/15

298 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Richard C. Hottin
Seller: F. A. Sincere
Date: 10/27/15

820 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Melissa Karwoski
Seller: Mondoux, Norman P., (Estate)
Date: 10/26/15

10 Windham Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $391,000
Buyer: Michael V. Pellegrino
Seller: Neil J. Ripston
Date: 10/27/15

HAMPDEN

357 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Christopher W. Biron
Seller: Domingos Lamas
Date: 10/23/15

412 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Martin P. Kollar
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/29/15

100 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Tara L. Dias
Seller: Virginia Y. Accardo
Date: 10/23/15

252 Scantic Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $535,000
Seller: Joanne M. Bongiorni
Date: 10/20/15

222 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Matthew T. Bedard
Seller: William E. Crowley
Date: 10/22/15

17 Wehr Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Jeremy B. Hill
Seller: David H. Damours
Date: 10/21/15

HOLLAND

5 Big Tree Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Evan R. Turkington
Seller: Jamie A. Batista
Date: 10/28/15

11 Lakeshore Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Jamie A. Batista
Seller: Harold A. Keller
Date: 10/28/15

221 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Richard W. Wijangco
Seller: Tracy L. Libretto
Date: 10/23/15

97 Sandy Beach Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $245,900
Buyer: Michael S. Melville
Seller: Richard Brodeur
Date: 10/30/15

HOLYOKE

200 Apremont Hwy.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Sean P. Cahill
Seller: Lucy T. Katz
Date: 10/23/15

123-125 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Rolf N. Nazario
Seller: Demaris R. Torres
Date: 10/21/15

36 Fairfield Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Tara A. Moser
Seller: John A. Egelhofer
Date: 10/30/15

49 Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Megan E. Porter
Seller: Sonia C. Barrera
Date: 10/30/15

29 Laura Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Chelsey M. Craig
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 10/30/15

85 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Kyle Chambers
Seller: Thomas M. Cadigan
Date: 10/30/15

24 Longfellow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Joseph B. McMahon
Seller: Brian G. Duke
Date: 10/27/15

2133 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Adam J. Braunschweig
Seller: Debbie-Jo Wiley
Date: 10/30/15

313 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Michelle R. Stegall
Seller: Kenneth E. Becker
Date: 10/19/15

9 View St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Marisela Diaz
Seller: Anthony M. Rigali
Date: 10/30/15

20 View St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Ignacio Cotto
Seller: Gary Goubout
Date: 10/21/15

54 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jill M. Beyer
Seller: Patrick C. Barnes
Date: 10/30/15

3 Wayne Court
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Amy E. Anselment
Seller: Donald N. Dietrich
Date: 10/30/15

LONGMEADOW

101 Barbara Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Matthew T. Smith
Seller: Richard S. Pelosi
Date: 10/28/15

87 Barclay St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Scott J. Ganhao
Seller: Jeannette M. Ensor
Date: 10/27/15

17 Barrington Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Nora K. Mackay
Seller: Gary Millas
Date: 10/28/15

111 Colton Place
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Sophie A. Sadosky
Seller: Jeffrey R. Kirkpatrick
Date: 10/29/15

133 Elmwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Paul S. Szulak
Seller: Eric C. Fistler
Date: 10/30/15

94 Farmington Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Jason C. Jacob
Seller: Robert Aronson
Date: 10/30/15

192 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $327,500
Buyer: Marc A. Strange
Seller: John F. Shallbetter
Date: 10/30/15

95 Greenmeadow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: George A. Petrakis
Seller: Horvath, Szilvia, (Estate)
Date: 10/21/15

80 Primrose Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Jeffrey N. Schneider
Seller: Leigh A. Lloyd
Date: 10/29/15

LUDLOW

267 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $181,250
Buyer: Neri D. Teo
Seller: Michelle Evanich
Date: 10/30/15

27 Eden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Danielle Bailly
Seller: Edwin W. Lewicki
Date: 10/28/15

111 Fox Run Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $372,500
Buyer: Jason P. Hewes
Seller: Stanley P. Ryczek
Date: 10/23/15

61 Greenwich St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $179,150
Buyer: Jhon R. Wielblad
Seller: Nadia Grushetskiy
Date: 10/27/15

57 Kirkland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Kathleen D. Goller
Seller: Bout&Mart LLC
Date: 10/30/15

54 Nash Hill Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Kaitlin M. Lalor
Seller: Sherry A. Bessette
Date: 10/23/15

Parker Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jeffrey B. O’Connor
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 10/23/15

178 Reynolds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Lee Roque
Seller: Scott A. Thomas
Date: 10/23/15

23 Salli Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Malave
Seller: David Fernandes
Date: 10/28/15

161 Stivens Terrace
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Anthony P. Serra
Seller: Jettie C. McCollough
Date: 10/23/15

43 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Allie T. Paquette
Seller: Philip A. Brousseau
Date: 10/30/15

37 Wyndermere Place
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Dodge
Seller: Adelia Pedro
Date: 10/28/15

MONSON

84 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Planpow Realty Corp.
Seller: Ann L. Fenton-Clough
Date: 10/22/15

191 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Gregory D. Crowley
Seller: Robert G. Simpkiss
Date: 10/23/15

22 Washington St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Wegiel
Seller: Robert H. Keith
Date: 10/21/15

PALMER

1 Aspen Circle
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Jocelyne Bolduc
Seller: James R. Paull
Date: 10/19/15

56 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $154,189
Buyer: FNLM
Seller: Adam Lachance
Date: 10/30/15

3 Fieldstone Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Stephen C. Connors
Seller: Rory D. Miller
Date: 10/30/15

20 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Joseph Verallis
Seller: Robert J. Ring
Date: 10/30/15

45 French Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Corey H. Lomas
Seller: David S. Desroches
Date: 10/29/15

66 Mason St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Kenneth Towsley
Seller: Louis F. Valley
Date: 10/23/15

2146 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: BJC RT
Seller: Triangle Casting Inc.
Date: 10/29/15

2186-2188 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Whitney M. Russo
Seller: Jennifer K. Duda
Date: 10/30/15

2020 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Robert A. Motyka
Seller: Jason A. Rogers
Date: 10/28/15

133 Springfield St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $164,750
Buyer: Max H. Kaplan
Seller: Brian P. Mcnally
Date: 10/30/15

1403 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $184,500
Buyer: Karen Bouffard
Seller: Eric M. Brothers
Date: 10/23/15

RUSSELL

124 Highland Ave.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $185,900
Buyer: Robert J. Holmes
Seller: Herbert L. Disanto
Date: 10/30/15

275 Woodland Way
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Beverly J. Wilander
Seller: Cynthia J. Valliere
Date: 10/30/15

SOUTHWICK

2 Arcadia Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Wesley Dittrich
Seller: Arthur G. King
Date: 10/28/15

151 Fred Jackson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Jacquelyn R. Kimball
Seller: Alla Chesky
Date: 10/23/15

22 Grove St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Tyler D. Seibert
Seller: Scott D. Cowles
Date: 10/20/15

15 North Pond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Evergreen Way Realty LLC
Seller: Margaret L. Hart
Date: 10/30/15
SPRINGFIELD

349 Albany St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Albany Casco LLC
Seller: B&M Realty Corp.
Date: 10/28/15

969 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Steve Minichiello
Seller: Kerry M. Jackson
Date: 10/27/15

3 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Maurice Baker
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 10/30/15

53 Barrison St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Borgy LLC
Seller: Kevin Czaplicki
Date: 10/23/15

30 Bellevue Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Tracy W. Chappel
Seller: William W. Bowdren
Date: 10/19/15

890 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Carlos A. Aviles
Seller: Suzanne M. Collins
Date: 10/29/15

21 Bruce St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $115,353
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Andrew Martin
Date: 10/30/15

59 Burton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Canise C. Atkinson
Seller: Global Homes Properties
Date: 10/26/15

76-78 Cobb St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Timothy G. Williams
Seller: Jean M. Leduc
Date: 10/22/15

62 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Eddy Correa
Seller: Jose Ortiz
Date: 10/30/15

126 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jimmy Arias
Seller: Alice G. Poirier
Date: 10/19/15

389 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Melissa L. Curtis
Seller: Lisa I. Robie
Date: 10/20/15

24 Elwood Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,800
Buyer: Adam L. Oyola
Seller: Thomas M. Quinn
Date: 10/30/15

8 Emerson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Louis F. Valley
Seller: Carl A. Nelson
Date: 10/30/15

158 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Peter P. Michaels
Seller: Henry W. Putnum
Date: 10/26/15

17 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Darryl Cole
Seller: David J. Szpakowski
Date: 10/20/15

43 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Janet B. Takishita
Seller: Jonathan W. Zanetti
Date: 10/30/15

28-30 Governor St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Miguel A. Vasquez
Seller: Jose B. Rodriguez
Date: 10/27/15

138 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $179,500
Buyer: Juan Veguilla
Seller: Robert R. Lynch
Date: 10/20/15

128 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Saw Construction LLC
Seller: City View Property Services
Date: 10/26/15

96 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $134,379
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Timothy M. Belliveau
Date: 10/23/15

325 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $118,050
Buyer: Katie E. Kalinko
Seller: Nadia R. Garvey
Date: 10/23/15

193 Jewett St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Vineecia A. Harvey
Seller: Demetria E. Walter
Date: 10/30/15

17 Kenwood Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: JJJ 17 LLC
Seller: Joseph Eadie
Date: 10/27/15

14 Lancashire Road
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $117,235
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Stacey M. Bond
Date: 10/23/15

27-29 Laurel St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 10/22/15

9-11 Los Angeles St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Cristina Cintron
Seller: Gertrude, Lillian, (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

38 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Elena S. Borges
Seller: Victor M. Knust-Graichen
Date: 10/30/15

180 Marion St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellow Brick Property LLC
Date: 10/20/15

77 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Virginia Accardo
Seller: Sandra L. Berte
Date: 10/23/15

107 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $141,900
Buyer: Herman C. Frick
Seller: Ellen L. Rosner
Date: 10/19/15

31 Moore St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Cynthia E. Ramos
Seller: Roberto Chacon
Date: 10/26/15

153 Moss Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Tien Q. Huynh
Seller: MHFA
Date: 10/30/15

151 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Nicholas J. Tranghese
Seller: Jacqueline A. Pashko
Date: 10/29/15

17 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $163,550
Buyer: Luke A. Perry
Seller: Clara Y. Gonzalez
Date: 10/19/15

110 Palo Alto Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Arthur E. Howe
Seller: Richard J. Iwanicki
Date: 10/19/15

10 Ridgeway Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Sonia E. Dinnall
Seller: Robert A. Brennan
Date: 10/19/15

421 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Colin J. Hetzko
Seller: James J. Damour
Date: 10/22/15

579-589 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Onota Realty LLC
Seller: Horrigan, Thomas G., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

1350 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $257,500
Buyer: Michael Cote
Seller: Jonathon A. Godbout
Date: 10/30/15

232 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Shameika Moore
Seller: Bailey, Bernice L., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/15

161 Starling Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Kevin MaClellan
Seller: Charles C. Baldwin
Date: 10/26/15

8-12 Stearns Sq
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Massachusetts Dev Finance
Seller: International Communion Holy Christ
Date: 10/30/15

291 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Liane Ledger
Seller: Jane E. Jordan
Date: 10/29/15

22 Wendell Place
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $275,725
Buyer: Wilmington Trust
Seller: Luis Arroyo
Date: 10/21/15

109 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $147,382
Buyer: FNLM
Seller: Doris A. Chapman
Date: 10/29/15

137 Wildwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Angel M. Narvaez
Seller: James Guzman
Date: 10/23/15

172 Winterset Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Kristen M. Gates
Seller: Nikki R. Stoia
Date: 10/30/15

107 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Richard B. James
Seller: Richard C. Hottin
Date: 10/27/15

28 Wood End Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Juan J. Cabrera
Seller: Mary E. Warwick
Date: 10/30/15

TOLLAND

1448 Burt Hill Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Dean W. Winters
Seller: Ruth E. Strattman
Date: 10/19/15

462 East Otis Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Claire S. Riley
Seller: CVK & Associates LLC
Date: 10/21/15

WALES

86 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Andrea Spohr
Seller: Debra A. Gagner
Date: 10/28/15

116 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: David C. Dumas
Seller: Charles R. Letendre
Date: 10/26/15

WESTFIELD

31 Bristol St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Robert L. Brueno
Seller: Paul E. Romani
Date: 10/30/15

81 Carroll Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Deborah J. Margarites
Seller: Valerie K. Dulude
Date: 10/30/15

554 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Angelo N. Tangredi
Seller: Vincent T. Bovino
Date: 10/23/15

1725 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Elouise M. Moore
Seller: Susan M. Czuchra
Date: 10/30/15

172 Elizabeth Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Consedine
Seller: Mark E. Slayton
Date: 10/23/15

297 Falley Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Anthony E. Breglio
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/26/15

22 Feeding Hills Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Louisa Vanoostveen RET
Seller: Oostveen, Gerrit V., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/15

93 George St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Brian Duggan
Seller: Robert G. Tessier
Date: 10/22/15

69 Janis Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Janis R. Oles
Seller: Cardinal Homes Inc.
Date: 10/29/15

27 Pinehurst St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Craig V. Whittaker
Seller: Adrianne Johnson
Date: 10/27/15

50 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $384,900
Buyer: James E. Fallon
Seller: Christopher M. Wilkie
Date: 10/27/15

55 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Elizabeth C. Wheelock
Seller: Timothy J. Bolduc
Date: 10/30/15

16 Saint Dennis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Nar Darjee
Seller: Leblanc, Frances L., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/15

2 Sylvan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Denardo
Seller: Louise Cook
Date: 10/30/15

11 Victoria Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: Philip J. Naworski
Seller: Corey J. Mackey
Date: 10/30/15

42 Westwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Ronald Pioggia
Seller: Arthur T. Lichtenberger
Date: 10/30/15

WILBRAHAM

15 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $452,846
Buyer: Sally R. Benninger
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 10/26/15

436 Dipping Hole Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kevin C. Johnson
Seller: Heidi L. Gregoire
Date: 10/23/15

150 East Longmeadow Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Cornelius W. Phillips
Seller: Smail, Patricia A., (Estate)
Date: 10/26/15

28 Lake Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Danielle G. Paige
Seller: Dennis Quinn
Date: 10/26/15

8 Maiden Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jorge R. Figueroa
Seller: Manomednet LLC
Date: 10/26/15

375 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Nicholas R. Barone
Seller: Susan M. Barone
Date: 10/20/15

9 Rice Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Stanislaw Wos
Seller: Gina L. Pelkey
Date: 10/30/15

9 Squire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Brian A. Pryor
Seller: Sean D. Halbrook
Date: 10/26/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

257 Bear Hole Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Kelly L. Company
Seller: Jonathan B. Carter
Date: 10/30/15

79 Bear Hole Road
Amount: $292,900
Buyer: William Lyons
Seller: James E. Fallon
Date: 10/27/15

137 Christopher Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Anthony A. Hannoush
Seller: Robert R. Simpson
Date: 10/30/15

31 Exeter St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Samija Omerovic
Seller: USA VA
Date: 10/26/15

17 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Kara M. Zolendziewski
Seller: Gregory E. Gebo
Date: 10/30/15

55 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Tek Gautam
Seller: Til B. Chuwan
Date: 10/19/15

10 Houston Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Joseph Shea
Seller: Michelle M. Ducharme
Date: 10/29/15

36 Houston Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Samantha J. Landry
Seller: Catherine A. Moretti
Date: 10/30/15

58 Kerry Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Mostafa Noury
Seller: Rose Remavich
Date: 10/29/15

401 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Margaret E. Caplette
Seller: Jason Rivera
Date: 10/30/15

1072 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Ravshan Agayev
Seller: Amy L. Mickel
Date: 10/23/15

62 Prince Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Alison S. Danalis
Seller: Joseph C. Kelley
Date: 10/30/15

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

24 Applewood Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Alec R. Nelson
Seller: Linda S. Bartis
Date: 10/26/15

20 Bridle Path
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $337,500
Buyer: Shawn M. Fortin
Seller: Christopher Eveleigh
Date: 10/29/15

24 Dennis Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Matthew B. Dalton
Seller: Martin J. Broga
Date: 10/23/15

11 Indian Pipe Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $439,050
Buyer: Stuart Fiedel
Seller: Iris Greene
Date: 10/30/15

9 McClure St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Judith Rathbone
Seller: Little, Elyria R., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

373 Northampton Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Autozone Parts Inc.
Seller: F. L. Roberts & Co. Inc.
Date: 10/22/15

BELCHERTOWN

10 Brandywine Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Nicholas W. Pucel
Seller: John E. Monast
Date: 10/29/15

7 Cadwell Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Amy S. Wagaman
Seller: Renate C. Robinson
Date: 10/29/15

41 Doe Hollow
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Lee J. Robinson
Seller: Kenneth J. Riley
Date: 10/29/15

Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: S&M Equipment LLC
Seller: Northborough Realty Holdings
Date: 10/30/15

479 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Kara F. Kirchherr
Seller: Roxanne J. Tubolino
Date: 10/19/15

21 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Eric M. Brothers
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 10/23/15

20 Jensen St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: David H. Axton
Seller: Christopher M. Uliana
Date: 10/26/15

13 Juckett Hill Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $349,000
Seller: Andrew K. Carey
Date: 10/28/15

4 Metacomet Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Miguel Turgeon
Seller: Paul W. Witherell
Date: 10/28/15

39 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $189,500
Buyer: Randy M. Thomas
Seller: Andrea Dibenedetto
Date: 10/29/15

371 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Paul Keyes
Seller: Jeffrey M. Almeida
Date: 10/30/15

160 Sabin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Debra M. Strempek
Seller: Richard W. Goldstein
Date: 10/30/15

15 Shaw St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joshua J. Deforge
Seller: Craig Lassiter
Date: 10/30/15

EASTHAMPTON

22-24 Arlington St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Joseph B. Murphy
Date: 10/20/15

14 Broad St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Brian J. Campedelli
Seller: Kapinos, Julian E., (Estate)
Date: 10/27/15

54 Campbell Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Cathie A. Schweitzer
Seller: Vincent E. Perrotta
Date: 10/28/15

21 Clark St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Jason L. Litto
Seller: Anne M. Bourbeau
Date: 10/19/15

4 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Brett I. Constantine
Seller: Zbiginiew J. Kosior
Date: 10/30/15

28 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sabina Lerch
Seller: Andrew M. Dunn
Date: 10/21/15

89 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Linda J. Berry
Seller: US Bank
Date: 10/23/15

258 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $246,500
Buyer: Samuel Scheiner
Seller: Barbara N. Tessier
Date: 10/30/15

5 Monska Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Cory A. Staples
Seller: Ronald J. Mondok
Date: 10/28/15

15 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Zachary D. Quirk
Seller: Richard W. Venne
Date: 10/19/15

5 Robin Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Kelly F. Brown
Seller: Thomas W. Brown
Date: 10/21/15

36 Torrey St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Barbara K. Sprague
Seller: Robert A. Canon
Date: 10/21/15

9 Williams St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Morganne R. Crouser
Seller: Jeanine R. Montgomery
Date: 10/23/15

16 Zabek Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $195,700
Buyer: Alan E. Taylor
Seller: Thomas W. Gallenstein
Date: 10/30/15

GOSHEN

116 Spruce Corner Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $264,888
Buyer: Jennifer L. Thomas
Seller: Eric Light
Date: 10/30/15

143 West St.
Goshen, MA 01026
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Mark C. George
Seller: Jennifer L. Thomas
Date: 10/30/15

GRANBY

164 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Edward Gavel
Seller: Scribner, William R., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/15

161 Burnett St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $438,125
Buyer: S. R. SaVille
Seller: Russell H. Ducharme
Date: 10/27/15

14 Pinebrook Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Scott A. McCray
Seller: Brian W. Parent
Date: 10/29/15

169 Taylor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Gwendolyn Heaner
Seller: Jason P. Hewes
Date: 10/23/15

HATFIELD

1 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Anna M. Holhut
Seller: Mary C. Proulx
Date: 10/29/15

120 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Adam C. Sullivan
Seller: E. P. Ghazey-Bates
Date: 10/30/15

112 Old Stage Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Rebecca L. Gazzillo
Seller: Phillips, Patrick E., (Estate)
Date: 10/20/15

HUNTINGTON

41 Allen Coit Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Adam R. Platt
Seller: Robert A. & A. L. Heath IRT
Date: 10/20/15

MIDDLEFIELD

14 Arthur Pease Road Ext.
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Lynn Farrar
Seller: Charles H. Winn
Date: 10/26/15

NORTHAMPTON

260 Acrebrook Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Kerry Braman
Seller: Lydia E. Rivera
Date: 10/23/15

6 Allison St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: George & Dolores Houck LT
Seller: Thomas J. Gleason
Date: 10/30/15

38 Barrett St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Peter J. Feitner Funding TR
Seller: Sara Elkins
Date: 10/22/15

263 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Kyaw N. Thu
Seller: Basamania, Paul W., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

771 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Frank R. Julian
Seller: Miriam W. Esber
Date: 10/20/15

8 Crestview Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $159,448
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Deana M. Williams
Date: 10/27/15

1006 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Gregory C. Marotta
Seller: Matthias Kaindl
Date: 10/19/15

228 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joseph E. Brooks
Seller: Robert E. Watson
Date: 10/23/15

39 Golden Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Frederick A. Johnson
Seller: Annmarie Osowski
Date: 10/29/15

23 Highland Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Douglas Thayer
Seller: Mary E. Cove
Date: 10/23/15

121 Hinckley St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Thomas H. Friedman
Seller: Goodin, Adelard J. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 10/26/15

68 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Sarah M. Warren
Seller: Donald S. Bianchi
Date: 10/29/15

N/A
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Kristopher T. Pease
Seller: Richard J. Tremaine
Date: 10/30/15

239 North St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Mark J. Tenekjian
Seller: Brian R. Boyer
Date: 10/30/15

51 Phillips Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $379,000
Buyer: Adam C. Miller
Seller: Phillips Place LLC
Date: 10/23/15

342 Pleasant St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jay Fleitman
Seller: Wendell Pennell
Date: 10/19/15

210 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Nili Simhai
Seller: Mary L. Connor
Date: 10/19/15

93 Vernon St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Cheryl J. Cross
Seller: Debra B. Truskinoff
Date: 10/22/15

22 West Center St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Scott M. Brown
Seller: Alexander M. Simon
Date: 10/19/15

PELHAM

13 Enfield Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Brion C. Dulac
Seller: Richard R. Sawicki
Date: 10/30/15

PLAINFIELD

100 North Union St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Loredana Homes
Seller: David L. Matusko
Date: 10/29/15

SOUTH HADLEY

2 Chatham Way
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Courtney T. Mattingly
Seller: Stephen Doyle
Date: 10/22/15

61 Columbia St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Bryan A. Russell
Seller: Kelly L. Company
Date: 10/30/15

110 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Thomas W. Wortelboer
Seller: Charles D. Carroll
Date: 10/29/15

15 Edison Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Colin J. Lacey
Seller: Kenneth J. McKenna
Date: 10/29/15

6 Gaylord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Seller: David A. Weise
Date: 10/20/15

7 Helm St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Kathryn Blanchard
Seller: Marion, Diane M., (Estate)
Date: 10/29/15

43 Laurie Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Pamela A. Bourgeois
Seller: Carol A. Roberts
Date: 10/30/15

78 Laurie Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $193,500
Buyer: Oleg Topic
Seller: Elizabeth A. Murphy
Date: 10/27/15

8 Paul St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Allen G. Croteau
Seller: Joseph A. Karam
Date: 10/30/15

15 Richview Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Melissa M. Croteau
Seller: Stephen A. Foster
Date: 10/30/15

164 Woodbridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jill Swartwout
Seller: William McClelland
Date: 10/20/15

SOUTHAMPTON

College Hwy. #1
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Christ Community Of Hampshire County
Seller: Andrew W. Skorupski
Date: 10/23/15

85 Glendale Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jeremy Powers
Seller: Cathleen C. Grady
Date: 10/27/15

4 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $488,900
Buyer: Thomas A. Bergan
Seller: James F. Boyle
Date: 10/22/15

170 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Leakhena Som
Seller: Edward L. Howard
Date: 10/21/15

WARE

45 Babcock Tavern Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: John Rivera
Seller: Joseph H. Desantis
Date: 10/29/15

81 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $250,321
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Patricia Norman-Simpson
Date: 10/29/15

15 Kingsberry Lane
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Molly A. Pulchtopek
Seller: Bonnie Mastroianni
Date: 10/26/15

39 Marjorie St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Melissa K. Donahue
Seller: Jason S. Qualkenbush
Date: 10/30/15

49 Old Gilbertville Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Johnathan R. Dedon
Seller: Joseph H. Longtin
Date: 10/26/15

61 Old Poor Farm Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Michael R. Rebeiro
Seller: Vision Investment Properties
Date: 10/23/15

94 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Douglas J. Swanson
Seller: Bruce A. Chelkonas
Date: 10/27/15

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of November 2015.

AGAWAM

Beautiful Treasures
270 Main St.
Rosemary Woods

Mega Nutrients
503 Silver St.
Tatiana DiDonato

JCD Designs
86 Roberta Circle
Diana Goodman

CHICOPEE

A Cut Above Florist
1193 Memorial Dr.
Timothy Cummings

Boost Construction
52 Dillon St.
Vyacheslav Paliy

Champion Overhead Doors
244 Fairview Ave.
Clifton Hall

Chicopee Scrap & Auto Recycling
2 Mill St.
Hemant Patel

Maxx Vapors
1519 Memorial Dr.
Jeffrey Dean

GREENFIELD

Old Deerfield Productions
102 Highland Ave.
Linda McInnery

The Bridal and Tux Boutique
281 Main St.
Danielle Hagen

The Country Granola Company
401 Chapman St.
Shammah White

Western Mass. Radio Group
81 Woodland Road
Samuel Bust

Yankee Realty
74 Mohawk Trail
Cheryl Ingersoll

Yankee Self Storage & Moving
160 Laurel St.
Cheryl Ingersoll

HOLYOKE

Dock’s Classics
31 Jackson St.
James Perry

Great Clips
98 Lower Westfield Road
Inpachevian Vithanathan

Honeyland Farms
636 Main St.
Wahab Bari

Neighborhood
328 Appleton St.
Reda Shabanet

Royal Barbers
50 Holyoke St.
Dominico Rega

Shamma’s Pizza
172 Sargeant St.
Jose Lopez

Valley Clippers, LLC
98 Lower Westfield Road
Edward Barowsky

LUDLOW

Balance Professional
77 East St.
Lori Miller

International Produce, LLC
4 White St.
Haci Bayran

Lavoie Family Chiropractic
733 Chapin St.
Christopher Lavoie

Mastermind Hair Studio
8 Chestnut St.
Shanna Smith

RCS Diesel Services Inc.
566 Holyoke St.
Ronald Chiasson

Santos Family Hair Center
350 East St.
Joseph Santos

Seamlessly Krafty
5 Sewall St.
Melissa Moquin

SPRINGFIELD

15 Taylor Fashion Jewelry
1607 Main St.
Colleen Monroe

2 Curls 1 Mission
7 Bucholz St.
Dynasty Harris

Advanced Vein Care Center
3640 Main St.
Kihan Lee

Affordable Drain Cleaning
290 Page Blvd.
Ramon Rivera

All Waste Management, LLC
181 Chestnut St.
Talal Sofan

Auto Glass Hero, LLC
11 Merwin St.
Wilson Rosario

Bari Family Inc.
393 Belmont Ave.
Waham Bari

Baystate Dyno
160 Rocust St.
Harry Nieves

Beacon Hospice
815 Worcester St.
Celeste Peiffer

Bentley’s Barbershop
1142 Berkshire Ave.
Evan R. Nyman

BQ Courier Service
50 Bulat Dr.
William Quinn

Bridge Street Mini Mart
468 Bridge St.
Davone Mullen

Cabo Fashion Footwear
795 Liberty St.
Juan L. Bermudez

Chapin Center
200 Kendall St.
Northeast Health

Cindy’s Bath
24 Sara Lynn Dr.
Cynthia A. Parenteau

Cost Cutters
370 Cooley St.
Regis Corporation

Crossfit Gridlock
29 First St.
Jisselle Assad

Dee’s Food Mart
760 Boston Road
Dipen Nandu

Denis LaBonte Construction
867 Chestnut St.
Denis LaBonte

Eden’s Sweet Temptation
143 Dwight St.
Milvisette Figueroa

El Caribeno Restaurant
858 State St.
Cesar A. Mejia

Empire Auto
47 Colton St.
Elezer Garcia

Epic Health Services
2095 Roosevelt Ave.
Adventure Inc.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Balise Kia
603 Riverdale St.
James Balise

Becker Mechanical Service
203 Circuit Ave.
Anthony Becker

Device Doctor
1639 Riverdale St.
Cellore, LLC

Eastern Electronics
540 Main St.
Richard Porfilio

MP Consulting Inc.
311 Elm St.
Michael Price

Pavel Water Filtration
70 Windsor St.
Henry Pavel

Shri Ghanshyam Subway, LLC
346 Memorial Ave.
Navin Patel

Titan U.S.A.
140 Baldwin St.
Ralph Colby

Smiles & Faces
232 Park St.
Robert Matthews

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

CHICOPEE

Jimbuddys Inc., 1271 Memorial Dr., Chicopee, MA 01020. James M. Robinson, 30 Vadnais St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Nicotine delivery services.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Accurate Real Estate Appraisals Inc., 2 Athens St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Christopher Bertelli, same. Real estate appraisal.

Mario’s Café Ambiance Inc., 60 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Carol Bernazki, 102 Ondrick Dr., Chicopee, MA 01020. Restaurant.

HOLYOKE

Moore Realty Development Corp., 11 Hampshire St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Shadeed Mahdi, same. Real estate development and management.

Neighborhood Mart Inc., 328 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Reda Shabaneh, 34 Webber St., Springfield, MA 01108. Convenience store, no gas.

NORTHFIELD

The Moody Center Inc., 231 Main St., Northfield, MA 01360. Kevin Belmonte, 3 Snowshoe Spring Road, York, ME 03909. Charitable organization.

Tree Fellers Timber Harvesting Inc., 703 Gulf Road, Northfield, MA 01360. Eric P. Remillard, same. Logging.

PITTSFIELD

Philadelphia Bus Inc., 10 Wendell Ave. Ext. 2FL Suite 2, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Yun Zhou Wu, 1025 Kerper St., Philadelphia, PA 19111. Bus charters for vacation.

The Herbal Way Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Kim Granatell, 206 Strokes Farm Road, Franklin, N.J. 07417. Non-profit organization.

SOUTH HADLEY

LaLiberte Builders Inc., 11 Berwyn St. Ext., South Hadley, MA 01075. Jamie LaLiberte, same. General construction.

Marino Enterprises Inc., 31A Hillcrest Park, South Hadley, MA 01075. David S. Marino, same. Driving educational school.

SPRINGFIELD

JNK International Travel & Tours Inc., 99A Mill St., Suite #91J, Springfield, MA 01108. Ya Zhen Chen, same. Travel and tours.

Levesque Chiropractic, P.C., 916 Belmont Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Norman Levesque, 144 Senator St., Springfield, MA 01129. Chiropractic services.

WESTFIELD

Victory Transportation Inc., 8 Fowler St., Westfield, MA 01085. Victoria Kostenko, same. Trucking company.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

G.V.C. Transportation Inc., 203 Circuit Ave., Office 131, West Springfield, MA 01089. Guan Hua Chen, same. Transportation.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

MGM Springfield Outlines Evolving Plans for Casino Design

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts recently detailed how and why the MGM Springfield design has evolved over the last four months. In a public presentation at CityStage in downtown Springfield, MGM executives, led by President Bill Hornbuckle, walked hundreds of attendees through the enhanced design plan, highlighting changes that allow for both design and operational efficiencies. The late-afternoon forum was hosted by Mayor Domenic Sarno and his economic-development team, led by Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy. “We are very proud of MGM Springfield’s improved design,” Hornbuckle said. “Our commitment to the city of Springfield, the region, and the Commonwealth has never wavered. Today, I am hopeful that people will see it has only gotten stronger. We are as ready as we have ever been to help return downtown Springfield to its glory days.” The MGM team presented a detailed comparison of commitments in the May 2013 host-community agreement and the new design plan, with an amenity layout resulting in a less than 1% adjustment in square footage to be experienced by customers. While some amenities, such as the child-care facility and retail, have grown in size, other operational and back-of-the-house spaces were reduced through design efficiencies. A redesign was made public earlier this fall when MGM Springfield announced it was moving the 250-room hotel along Main Street and market-rate apartments off-site. With the changes, MGM hopes to further engage Main Street while promoting ancillary development opportunities with off-site market-rate apartments. MGM is currently negotiating the purchase of 195 State St., the former Springfield School Department headquarters, to move forward with a housing redevelopment at that property. Brian Packer, MGM’s vice president of construction and development, joined Hornbuckle on stage, giving a construction update. Packer said that the company already has spent more than $23 million on MGM Springfield construction and employed 675 construction workers. Many of those workers were involved in the renovation of the new Mission on Mill Street, providing an updated, secure facility that will house a rehabilitation program, giveaway center, and business offices. Additionally, Packer laid out a sequence of construction events that will lead up to the September 2018 opening. The company estimates it will now cost more than $950 million to open MGM Springfield. Original estimates were expected to exceed $860 million, including capitalized interest and land-related costs. “MGM Springfield is not only the largest development project Western Massachusetts has ever seen, it is starting to rival the investment of the most-talked-about about development projects in the Commonwealth,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “We developed this presentation to provide transparency on our process. The people of Western Massachusetts want to be excited about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is MGM Springfield. We know maintaining a level of positive energy is our responsibility. Major demolition, large contract awards, and exciting opportunities to get involved are all part of the next phase, which will start very soon.” MGM is scheduled to present a comprehensive cost and design analysis to the Mass. Gaming Commission on Dec. 3. The mayor and City Council must still approve the updated site plans before MGM can go forward with its design-approval process.

Massachusetts Gains 11,000 Jobs in October

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 4.6% in October, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday. The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts added 11,000 jobs in October. The largest over-the-month job gains occurred in the education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; and other services sectors. Year-to-date, Massachusetts has added 62,800 jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised preliminary job estimates for September that originally indicated Massachusetts lost 7,100 jobs. BLS revised estimates for September show the state lost 2,200 jobs. The October preliminary estimates show 3,396,900 Massachusetts residents were employed during the month, and 164,000 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,560,900. The labor force decreased by 8,700 from 3,569,600 in September, as 9,600 fewer residents were employed and 900 more residents were unemployed over the month. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.9% from 5.5% in October 2014. There were 32,000 fewer unemployed persons over the year compared to October 2014. The October state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 5.0% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Massachusetts continues to add jobs, and the labor market is strong. We frequently hear from employers that they have jobs to fill, which is a good position for the state to be in,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said. The state’s labor-force-participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — decreased 0.2% point to 64.7% over the month. The labor-force-participation rate over the year has decreased 0.8% compared to October 2014. The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in professional, scientific, and business services; construction; other services; leisure and hospitality; and education and health services.

Unemployment Stable as Massachusetts Gains 11,000 Jobs in October

By
Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 4.6% in October, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday.

The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts added 11,000 jobs in October. The largest over-the-month job gains occurred in the education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; and other services sectors. Year-to-date, Massachusetts has added 62,800 jobs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised preliminary job estimates for September that originally indicated Massachusetts lost 7,100 jobs. BLS revised estimates for September show the state lost 2,200 jobs.

The October preliminary estimates show 3,396,900 Massachusetts residents were employed during the month, and 164,000 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,560,900.

The labor force decreased by 8,700 from 3,569,600 in September, as 9,600 fewer residents were employed and 900 more residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.9% from 5.5% in October 2014. There were 32,000 fewer unemployed persons over the year compared to October 2014. The October state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 5.0% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Massachusetts continues to add jobs, and the labor market is strong. We frequently hear from employers that they have jobs to fill, which is a good position for the state to be in,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said.

The state’s labor-force-participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — decreased 0.2% point to 64.7% over the month. The labor-force-participation rate over the year has decreased 0.8% compared to October 2014.

The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in professional, scientific, and business services; construction; other services; leisure and hospitality; and education and health services.

MGM Springfield’s Evolving Design Outlined at Public Forum

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts detailed on Wednesday how and why the MGM Springfield design has evolved over the last four months. In a public presentation at CityStage in downtown Springfield, MGM executives, led by President Bill Hornbuckle, walked hundreds of attendees through the enhanced design plan, highlighting changes that allow for both design and operational efficiencies. The late-afternoon forum was hosted by Mayor Domenic Sarno and his economic-development team, led by Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy.

UpdatedRenderingMGM111915“We are very proud of MGM Springfield’s improved design,” Hornbuckle said. “Our commitment to the city of Springfield, the region, and the Commonwealth has never wavered. Today, I am hopeful that people will see it has only gotten stronger. We are as ready as we have ever been to help return downtown Springfield to its glory days.”

The MGM team presented a detailed comparison of commitments in the May 2013 host-community qgreement and the new design plan, with an amenity layout resulting in a less than 1% adjustment in square footage to be experienced by customers. While some amenities, such as the child-care facility and retail, have grown in size, other operational and back-of-the-house spaces were reduced through design efficiencies.

A redesign was made public earlier this fall when MGM Springfield announced it was moving the 250-room hotel along Main Street and market-rate apartments off-site. With the changes, MGM hopes to further engage Main Street while promoting ancillary development opportunities with off-site market-rate apartments. MGM is currently negotiating the purchase of 195 State St., the former Springfield School Department headquarters, to move forward with a housing redevelopment at that property.

Brian Packer, MGM’s vice president of construction and development, joined Hornbuckle on stage, giving a construction update. Packer said that the company already has spent more than $23 million on MGM Springfield construction and employed 675 construction workers. Many of those workers were involved in the renovation of the new Mission on Mill Street, providing an updated, secure facility that will house a rehabilitation program, giveaway center, and business offices. Additionally, Packer laid out a sequence of construction events that will lead up to the September 2018 opening.

The company estimates it will now cost more than $950 million to open MGM Springfield. Original estimates were expected to exceed $860 million, including capitalized interest and land-related costs.

“MGM Springfield is not only the largest development project Western Massachusetts has ever seen, it is starting to rival the investment of the most-talked-about about development projects in the Commonwealth,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “We developed this presentation to provide transparency on our process. The people of Western Massachusetts want to be excited about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is MGM Springfield. We know maintaining a level of positive energy is our responsibility. Major demolition, large contract awards, and exciting opportunities to get involved are all part of the next phase, which will start very soon.”

MGM is scheduled to present a comprehensive cost and design analysis to the Mass. Gaming Commission on Dec. 3. The mayor and City Council must still approve the updated site plans before MGM can go forward with its design-approval process.

Mental Health Assoc. to Cut Ribbon at Magazine Commons Nov. 23

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Mental Health Assoc. (MHA) will hold a ribbon cutting and opening reception at Magazine Commons, located at 143 Magazine St. in Springfield, on Monday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m.

Magazine Commons is a 16-unit affordable-housing development that was constructed as a replacement for housing at 145 Union St. which was destroyed by the 2011 tornado. MHA worked with the city of Springfield to acquire the land along Magazine Street to create this new facility.

Magazine Commons was designed by Studio One Inc. of Springfield, and N.L. Construction of Ludlow is the general contractor. The project is as an architecturally compatible addition to the neighboring McKnight Historic District that aligns with the city’s revitalization efforts. Magazine Commons represents a significant investment in the Magazine and Worthington neighborhood, including sidewalks, lighting, neighborhood stabilization, and brownfields development.

“MHA is incredibly proud of this project,” said Joan Ingersoll, MHA’s president and CEO. “It has been a joy and a privilege to participate in the creation of such exceptional housing. Magazine Commons will be a new beginning for 16 people who are filled with enthusiasm about their new residence. This opening represents the culmination of a lengthy process that required the investment and dedication of many people and partners. MHA is grateful to the city of Springfield and the state of Massachusetts for their ongoing collaboration and support.”

Magazine Commons, which is a HUD 202 project for people with disabilities, received funding and support from the following partners: the city of Springfield, the Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development, the Mass. Community Development Assistance Corp., the Mass. Department of Mental Health, the Mass. Development Authority, the Affordable Housing Program of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and People’s United Bank.

MHA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing residential and support services that promote independence, community engagement, and wellness for people impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, homelessness, and other challenges. It was founded in 1960 and serves more than 400 people annually throughout Greater Springfield.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

MassMutual Reports Record $1.7 Billion Dividend Payout

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual’s board of directors approved an estimated dividend payout of $1.7 billion for 2016 to its eligible participating policyowners — a nearly $100 million increase over 2015, and the fourth consecutive year it has reached a new record. The 2016 payout also reflects a competitive dividend interest rate of 7.1% for eligible participating life and annuity blocks of business, maintaining the same rate as both 2014 and 2015.  “Today is a special day where the commitment we’ve made our policyowners is brought to life through our annual dividend payout,” said Roger Crandall, MassMutual’s chairman, president, and CEO. “Through nearly our entire history, our policyowners have received an annual dividend regardless of what is happening in our world — whether it’s through world wars, pandemics, market crashes, and most recently, a historically low interest-rate environment where even three-month Treasury bills are yielding zero percent.” While dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has consistently paid them to eligible participating policyowners since the 1860s. The 2016 dividend marks nearly two decades that the company has consecutively announced an estimated dividend payout exceeding $1 billion. “As a mutual company, operating for the benefit of our policyowners and members, we are thrilled to share our collective and cooperative success,” Crandall said. “Our consistent payment of dividends is proof of the enduring financial strength and stability we provide, as well as the resiliency of our long-term strategy.” Among the key contributors to MassMutual’s dividend payout are its retirement-services and international insurance businesses, as well as its asset-management subsidiaries, such as Babson Capital Management LLC, Baring Asset Management Limited, Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, and OppenheimerFunds Inc. The estimated payout also occurs at a time when the company’s financial-strength ratings are among the highest in the industry and its total adjusted capital as of June 30, 2015 — a key indicator of overall financial stability — surpassed $17 billion for the first time in the company’s history. Of the estimated $1.7 billion dividend payout, an estimated $1.65 billion has been approved for eligible participating policyowners who have purchased whole life insurance. MassMutual had its ninth consecutive record year of growth in whole-life policy sales in 2014 with $418 million, and sales of whole life continue to be strong through the first three quarters of 2015. In addition to receiving the dividend payouts in cash, other ways whole-life insurance policyowners may use the dividends include paying premiums, buying additional insurance coverage, accumulating at interest, or repaying policy loans and policy-loan interest. “Whole life insurance enables people to plan for both the expected and unexpected events in their lives, whether it’s leaving a legacy for loved ones or using cash value to help fund a college education or fill an income gap in retirement,” said Michael Fanning, executive vice president and head of MassMutual’s U.S. Insurance Group. “We have provided millions of people with financial resources they can use to chart a course through these turbulent times, further proof that, whether bulls or bears are driving the market, policyowners have received their dividend payout from MassMutual.”

Bacon Wilson Selected Among U.S. News Ranking of Best Law Firms

SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson announced the firm’s inclusion in the 2016 “Best Law Firms” rankings published by U.S. News – Best Lawyers. The full-service firm has been recognized with a Tier 1 Metropolitan designation for Springfield. Firms are selected for professional excellence, with tier rankings based on a meticulous assessment process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations as well as peer reviews from leading attorneys in their fields. Achieving a Tier 1 ranking indicates both quality law practice and expansive legal knowledge. This marks the sixth consecutive such honor for Bacon Wilson. Additionally, in August, four partners were named to the Best Lawyers in America 2016 list: Paul Rothschild, Stephen Krevalin, Michael Katz, and Jeff Fialky. Bacon Wilson’s managing partner, Stephen Krevalin, noted that the latest award is “among the most significant in our field. We are pleased and gratified to be counted among the 2016 Best Law Firms. For me, Bacon Wilson’s inclusion in this publication highlights the outstanding skills of our attorneys.” Bacon Wilson, P.C. is one of the largest firms in Western Massachusetts, with a total of 42 lawyers and approximately 60 paralegals, administrative assistants, and support staff. The firm’s main office is located in Springfield, with regional offices in Northampton, Amherst, and Westfield.

Holyoke Medical Center Breaks Ground on New ED, Office Building

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) broke ground recently on construction for a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department that, when completed, will expand the current space from 8,500 square feet to approximately 22,000 square feet, as wel as a new, 16,000-square-foot medical office building. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2017. The Emergency Department will feature a new Crisis Center for Psychiatric Services, 40 treatment areas, multi-patient trauma rooms, advanced life-saving equipment, and a patient-navigation service. This will allow HMC to treat patients in a more efficient and dignified way. The medical office building will house a host of new services, including a comprehensive weight-loss center, sleep-apnea clinic, and other multi-specialty physician practices. These expanded services will address the current and emerging community health needs of Hampden County, including the sharp rise in obesity and diabetes rates, while also creating new jobs in Holyoke. “Today’s groundbreaking represents our strong commitment to providing tens of thousands of patients in the Pioneer Valley with access to convenient and compassionate life-saving care,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems Inc. “HMC’s new Emergency Department and medical office building will offer the latest in medical technology, a broader range of emergency services, and highly skilled clinicians dedicated to serving our community.” Funding for the project is provided partially by the Commonwealth’s Health Policy Commission (HPC), through Phase 2 of the Community Hospital Acceleration, Revitalization, and Transformation Investment Program, also known as CHART, which aims to promote care coordination, integration, and delivery transformation to enhance Massachusetts community hospitals’ delivery of efficient and effective care. The $3.9 million grant supports the integration of new behavioral-health services in the Emergency Department. “Our partnership with community hospitals is a critical part of HPC’s efforts to achieve the Commonwealth’s cost-containment and quality-improvement goals,” said David Seltz, executive director of HPC. “CHART hospitals were issued a challenge: propose initiatives that will put you on a path of transformation, while meeting the critical health care needs of your community. Today, I’m pleased to report that HMC exceeded that challenge. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Holyoke community to build a more coordinated and affordable healthcare system.” HMC’s award was the highest award for a single hospital in CHART Phase 2. HMC will leverage an innovative, multi-disciplinary high-risk-care team, known as the Behavioral Health Emergency Care Service, to support all patients with behavioral-health conditions in the Emergency Department. At the same time, this coordinated initiative will introduce robust care navigation in partnership with community-based organizations to ensure that patients receive targeted interventions, including those necessary to address the high incidence of complex, challenging social issues, and are referred to the right services for successful follow-through on individualized care plans. A portion of this investment will also support HMC’s efforts to redesign its Emergency Department, and will create a separate healing and therapeutic behavioral-health space in the emergency room designed to reduce patient anxiety, streamline patient flow, and improve overall quality of care in a safe and secure environment. Additional financing partners for the total project budget of $22.8 million include Valley Health Systems, MassDevelopment, People’s United Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and A.I. Wainwright. Last year, more than 42,500 patients visited Holyoke Medical Center’s Emergency Department, and the department will continue to serve the Greater Holyoke community throughout the construction phase of the project.

Country Bank Supports Local Senior Centers

WARE — Country Bank has been assisting local senior centers since 2011 with an annual donation of $2,000 each. This gift assists them with some of the expenses that may not be covered within their regular budget. A total of $166,000 has been donated over the last five years to local senior centers. “We have heard stories of our gifts helping to fund events such as veterans breakfasts, helping to put in a new floor, or, most recently, to assist with transportation costs to out-of-town medical appointments,” said Shelley Regin, senior vice president. “One director explained that many seniors may forgo important medical appointments due to the difficulties involved with public transportation or their fear of driving in unfamiliar areas such as Springfield. We are so pleased that we can help in this way.” Country Bank serves Central and Western Mass. with 15 offices.

HAPHousing Recognized as NeighborWorks Green Organization

SPRINGFIELD — HAPHousing has been recognized as a NeighborWorks Green Organization for its comprehensive commitment to sustainable operations. To achieve this designation, HAP was required to demonstrate adherence to a set of green business practices across its operations and all of its program areas.
This is the fourth consecutive year that NeighborWorks America has recognized member organizations for their efforts to create healthier, energy-efficient environments for homeowners, renters, community residents and employees. To date, 81 of the 240 organizations in the NeighborWorks network have achieved this designation. HAPHousing’s green initiatives and programs include ensuring that its housing developments and offices are energy efficient, and distribution of information on energy conservation to clients, residents, employees, and the public. According to Peter Gagliardi, President and CEO of HAPHousing, “An increasingly vital part of our work in developing affordable housing in the region is the building and maintaining of sustainable projects and practices that are environmentally friendly. We take this designation seriously and with pride in our mission to build healthy communities where people thrive.”

STCC to Offer Certified Fiber Optics Technician Courses starting Dec. 7

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Workforce Development office will offer three Certified Fiber Optics Technician Courses starting Dec. 7.
The courses will cover a variety of topics for both those new to the field and experienced technicians. The Fiber Optic Training class combines theory and hands-on activities to prepare students to take the Certified Fiber Optic Technician exam sanctioned by the Fiber Optics Association. The exam is administered and graded during the final class.
Students will learn how to identify fiber types; recognize various connectors used in fiber installation; and install, terminate, splice, and properly test installed fiber cable to existing standards. The program explores the history and future of fiber optics and fiber optics capabilities, and basic testing and troubleshooting.
Anyone interested in becoming a Certified Fiber Optics Technician is highly encouraged to sign up. The course fee includes study materials and text book, a CD, exam fees, plus a one year membership to Fiber Optics Association. In addition, STCC will offer Certified Fiber Optic Specialist Outside Plant (CFOS/O), Certified Fiber Optics Splicing Specialist Course (CFOS/S) and Certified Fiber Optics Specialist in Testing & Maintenance (CFOS/T).

Court Dockets

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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

CJM Services Inc. v. Fontaine Brothers Inc. and Federal Insurance Agency
Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $300,000
Filed: 9/25/15

Gerald and Elizabeth Sulewski v. Menard Construction and Design
Allegation: Negligence in deck installation: $40,943
Filed: 8/24/15

Northern Land Clearing Inc. v. Taylor Oil Northeast Inc. and Construct Oil Northeast Inc.
Allegation: Defendant negligently drove a vehicle onto a gas line causing damages and personal injury: $30,000
Filed: 9/23/15

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Atlantis Comfort System Corp. v. James J. Welch & Co. and Cottage Square Apts., LTD, and Berkeley Regional Insurance Co.
Allegation: Breach of construction contract and claim on bond: $105,529.44
Filed: 8/27/15

Boulanger’s Plumbing and Heating Inc. v. James J. Welch & Co. and Cottage Square Apts., LTD
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $145,218.10
Filed: 8/12/15

G&M Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Mr. Gutter v. James J. Welch & Co. and Cottage Square Apts., LTD and Berkeley Regional Insurance Co. $16,418.19
Filed: 9/2/15

John and Donna Lastowski v. Kaufco-BH Inc. and John Doe
Allegation: Breach of contract and chapter 93A violation: $21,000
Filed: 8/10/15

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Commonwealth Capital Inc. v. Long Plain, LLC and Scott Hutkowski
Allegation: Non-payment of promissory note: $11,678.89
Filed: 9/28/15

Randall G. Baker Jr. v. Eddie Benton and ICC Trucking, LLC
Allegation: Negligence causing damage to plaintiff’s truck resulting in lost wages: $42,000
Filed: 9/18/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Domingo Diaz v. Vesuvio, LLC, Mark Laramie, and Lisa Mackechnie
Allegation: Breach of employment contract: $3,190
Filed: 9/18/15

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Carmen Burgos v. Silverman Realty Group, Split Excavating Inc., and Stop and Shop Supermarket
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property: $8,306.77
Filed: 9/23/15

Colleges Are Generating Energy, Vibrancy Downtown

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Education Hub Cover Feature
Cover Story Education Sections

Building an Education Hub

Downtown Colleges

It all started three years ago, when Cambridge College, after surveying a number of potential sites for its regional campus, settled on some former retail space on the ground floor of Tower Square. Now there are four colleges and universities with what could be called a presence in the central business district. That constitutes a “hub,” according to many we talked to about this development, one that has the ability to bring additional energy and vibrancy to the downtown area.

When Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke at the MassMutual Center on Sept. 9 as part of the 2015 Springfield Public Forum series, there were more than 2,500 people in the hall.

A good number of them represented the area’s many colleges and universities, including students, faculty members, administrators, distinguished alums, and supporters. Springfield College, for example, had roughly 40 people in attendance, and prior to Sotomayor’s talk, most of them were gathered at a reception in unique community space set aside for tenants and their guests on the third floor of 1350 Main St., just across the street from the convention center.

The college wasn’t officially in the building yet, said its president, Mary-Beth Cooper, but lease papers had been signed for space on the second floor just a few days before Sotomayor came to Springfield, so the school took full advantage of a huge opportunity.

Mary-Beth Cooper

Mary-Beth Cooper says Springfield College leaders wanted to be part of the downtown revitalization in the city, so an address in the central business district made sense.

“I called and asked if we could we use that space,” said Cooper. “There’s a deck, it’s right across the street … we had a nice reception.”

Gaining the ability to host such a party wasn’t the reason why Springfield College became the fourth area institution of higher learning to add a downtown Springfield mailing address over the past few years.

But it may well have been one of the reasons.

There are myriad others, said Cooper, who told BusinessWest that, to make a somewhat long story short, the college wanted to support the city it is named after, and, perhaps more importantly, it wanted to be part of what’s happening downtown — be that a revitalization, comeback, renaissance, or whatever term may be deemed appropriate.

Thus, Springfield College is now part of what would have to be called a movement involving higher education and Springfield’s central business district.

It all started in 2012, when Cambridge College, looking for a replacement for tired and insufficient facilities for its Springfield Regional Center in an industrial building on Cottage Street, settled on long-vacant retail space on the ground floor of Tower Square. Two years later, Bay Path College, bursting at the seams on its Longmeadow campus and in search of a home for its American Women’s College, chose the spacious seventh floor of 1350 Main St. from several appealing options.

And in September of 2014, The University of Massachusetts opened the UMass Center at Springfield, a 26,000-square-foot facility on the mezzanine level of Tower Square that is now hosting classes involving roughly 700 students this fall.

By comparison to those other facilities, Springfield College’s investment is small by any measure — its offices total less than 2,000 square feet, and only a few people are actually in those offices at any given time.

But there is room for growth, and in the meantime, this latest addition only adds to what Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno called an infusion of “positive energy and brainpower.”

“Eds and meds are an important part of economic development,” he said, using the term to connote the education and healthcare sectors. “And when you couple what’s happening with the colleges downtown with efforts to promote entrepreneurship, the innovation district we’re building, and the efforts of groups like Valley Venture Mentors, it generates additional momentum.

“Years ago, people laughed at us when we said we were going to bring colleges and universities into the downtown,” he went on, adding that no one is laughing anymore.

Instead, they’re undertaking some speculation and analysis — on the impact of all this proliferation of colleges along Main Street, and about how and in what ways this momentum can be built upon.

Lynn Griesemer, assistant vice president of Economic Development at UMass and executive director of the UMass Donohue Institute, has been doing some analysis herself. She told BusinessWest that what’s developing downtown could certainly be termed an “education hub,” one that has the potential to attract additional businesses, non-profits, people, and vibrancy to the area.

“It’s starting to create a magnet,” she said, emphasizing those words ‘starting to.’ “With patience and ongoing support from the community, the city, and the state, I think that you could see this magnet growing into something that brings a lot more vitality into the downtown.”

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest looks at how this hub, or magnet, came to be, and also at what its potential forces of attraction might become.

Course of Events

Hot Table restaurant on the ground floor at Tower Square is now open until 8 p.m. on weekdays, several hours later than its old closing time.

Teresa Forte, director of Cambridge College’s Springfield Regional Center, located just a few dozen feet away, knows that prodding from her and many of the students who attend classes into the early evening played a big part in that decision.

Overall, she believes that’s only one relatively small example of the impact that Cambridge and the other colleges are having downtown, an influence she described with the same phrase Greisemer summoned.

“Whether we call it that or not, the downtown is becoming an educational hub for Springfield,” she told BusinessWest. “I’m proud that Cambridge College started the trend; the true benefactors are the students who can now use downtown as a one-stop shopping zone when they are considering educational opportunities.”

Looking back over how this hub came together, it becomes clear that, while the schools involved had somewhat different motivations and goals behind their respective decisions, the common denominator is that they reached a decision that they wanted — and in many respects needed — to be downtown.

Retracing the steps that led to Cambridge becoming urban pioneers, if you will, or at least next-generation pioneers, Forte said the school looked at a number of options as it went about the task of replacing the Cottage Street facilities, which it called home for more than 20 years.

At the time, the school wasn’t really focused on being part of a revitalization effort — although that was certainly part of the equation — as much as it was centered on making a move that simply made sense from the perspectives of visibility and convenience for all constituencies involved, and would enable the school to ultimately grow enrollment, she explained.

“I described us as the best-kept secret in higher education in Springfield — even our sign didn’t light up,” she said of the Cottage Street facility. “Our lease was up, and the decision was made to search for a new, upgraded location. After many months and many visits to locations all over Springfield, it became clear that the best options for us were in downtown.

“It would not only provide us with better transportation options for our students — on a bus line and close to 91 — but also give us an opportunity to become a stronger contributor to the Springfield community,” she went on. “The search was narrowed to three locations in downtown, and Tower Square was chosen for a few very important reasons. First, it had the street-level site available, which was important for signage. Second, it was one of the most secure locations in all of downtown.”

Elaborating, she said Tower Square has a very responsive security staff which conducts patrols on the hour both inside the mall and outside the perimeter of the building, and there are also cameras everywhere, including the garage.  Meanwhile, in terms of parking, students are given the option to park in the Tower Square garage, meaning they can take the elevator to class.

With that package of amenities, Cambridge thought it could grow its Springfield Regional Center, she continued, and in reality, that’s exactly what has happened.

Teresa Forte

Teresa Forte says Cambridge College’s location in Tower Square — which offers students solid security, parking, and transportation amenities — has spurred an increase in enrollment.

“Cambridge College has a very unique mission — we cater to a diverse population of students for whom educational opportunities may have been limited or denied; we were one of the first colleges to specialize in assisting non-traditional students,” she explained. “And the interesting trend that has happened since we moved downtown is that we seem to be attracting a larger number of traditional students who have never been to college before. We’ve been in downtown for almost three years, and our enrollment in Springfield has been steadily rising for the past five years.”

For UMass, meanwhile, its arrival downtown, while certainly part of ongoing efforts to become more of a factor in Greater Springfield economic-development efforts, was actually sparked by a statewide study of potential growth opportunities for the university apart from its five campuses, said Griesemer.

That analysis identified several such locations, she went on, including Brockton, Southeastern Mass., Springfield, and the Marlboro area in the eastern part of the Commonwealth.

“There is a whole wedge in that area that has no higher-ed institutions — it’s between Routes 128, 495, 2, and 90,” she said of what amounts to Greater Marlboro, adding that most of the sites identified were in so-called Gateway cities (many of its existing campuses are in different ones) such as Springfield, and the university decided, after an in-depth market research study, to first pursue a project in the City of Homes.

What eventually emerged was the UMass Center at Springfield, which was announced in the fall if 2013 and opened less than a year later. It now hosts classes for several UMass Amherst programs, including the College of Nursing, the Isenberg School of Management’s part-time MBA program, the University Without Walls, and others. It also hosts programs offered by or in conjunction with UMass Boston, Springfield Technical Community College, Holyoke Community College, and Westfield State University.

Griesemer didn’t have a specific number when asked how many people are at the Springfield facility on a given day, but pegged student enrollment alone at between 600 and 700, a number that has gone up each semester.

Schools of Thought

As for Bay Path, its move downtown in the fall if 2013 was generated by a basic need for additional space for the online American Women’s College, said President Carol Leary.

“We spent a good amount of time looking at various locations, but Springfield was at the top of our list because we have our roots there going back to 1897,” she said, adding that school administrators fell in love with the culture at 1350 Main St.

And by culture, she meant everything from its focus on the arts — there are several galleries there — to its eatery to its eclectic mix of tenants.

“You have a feel, when you enter this place, that it’s more than an office building,” she explained, adding that the 11,805 square feet now in use hosts roughly 40 full-time employees.

And they are certainly contributing to the health of the local economy, said Leary, who attended college in Boston, understands and appreciates how higher education adds vibrancy to a city, and enjoys being part of that equation locally.

“I love the energy of a city, so I’ve enjoyed it, and our staff enjoys it,” she noted. “And we’re definitely pumping some money into the economy.”

Cooper said Springfield College’s ties to the City of Homes obviously run even deeper, and they certainly played a part in the school’s decision to lease some space at 1350 Main St.

She said she was having lunch downtown with trustee vice chair Jim Ross, when the discussion turned to the city, it’s central business district, and the many things happening there. “We talked about MGM, the rebirth of the city, transportation … everything,” she recalled, adding that the conversation eventually evolved into a discussion about if and how to become part of it — or a bigger part.

Actually, Cooper says she’s been asked several times since she arrived in the fall of 2013 about the school establishing a presence downtown. She was intrigued by the questions, in part because, in many ways, she thought the school was already downtown.

It is only a few miles as the crow flies from Main Street, she acknowledged, adding quickly that, through her lunch talk with Ross, she came to the conclusion that a direct presence in the CBD was an appropriate step.

Bay Path University President Carol Leary

Bay Path University President Carol Leary says the school’s space at 1350 Main St. has plenty of room for expansion.

Fast-forwarding a little, Ross and the college are now essentially sharing space on 1350’s second floor. The former conference room for a bank has been converted into a conference room and two offices, one for Cooper and one for Ross.

It’s not a big presence, certainly, and its specific uses have yet to be determined, but the college is now a part of what is becoming an increasingly larger and more impactful whole, said Cooper, who, when asked what she has in mind for the space besides receptions, told BusinessWest the same thing she told her board.

“I want people to think about the possibilities,” she said, listing everything from candidate interviews to leadership team sessions to subcommittee meetings involving the many boards she’s on.

But she wants that’s phrase ‘think about the possibilities’ to extend well beyond how the school’s physical space may be used.

Indeed, she said the expanding higher-ed presence downtown may well inspire and facilitate additional collaborative efforts involving a host of area schools, and eventually generate more opportunities to pair area students with downtown businesses through internships and other programs.

“Part of my agenda is to facilitate a move toward collaboration between the colleges and universities,” she said. “I think that would be good for individual schools, better for all our students, and better for the community.”

Class Acts

As she gave BusinessWest  a quick tour of the Bay Path suite of offices, Leary, who spends two full days a week downtown, stopped at the spacious kitchen. It is very well-stocked and outfitted with every necessary appliance.

There are also several round tables and chairs arranged café-style. They get a decent amount of use, said Leary, but many of those working at the downtown location prefer to eat out, and do so quite regularly.

Many are also members of the gym upstairs, she went on, adding that membership was paid by the landlord the first year (another perk of tenantship), but several employees are staying on even though the cost has shifted to them.

Meanwhile, Hot Table’s hours have expanded; the store that UMass operates on the ground floor at Tower Square, the UMass Marketplace, has expanded its food offerings; and Griesemer said there have been more than a few conversations lately about the lines at most downtown eateries getting longer — and how that’s a good thing.

But the more serious talk is about how the proliferation of colleges downtown will have a much deeper impact than a bottom-line bounce for downtown dining establishments.

Indeed, those we spoke with talked about the potential for more and deeper collaborations and of that aforementioned ‘magnet effect.’

Griesemer relayed some recent discussions that more than suggested that the schools are helping to foster an environment that may draw more draw more employers — and employees — to the central business district.

“We’ve had a few nonprofits say to us, ‘we’re interested in moving into downtown Springfield because you have,’” she said. “There are already several in the tower and room for many more.”

Sarno agreed, and noted that the critical mass of students, employees, and administrators created by the movement of higher education into the downtown area will only facilitate efforts to create more market-rate housing there, which is considered one of the keys to generating more vibrancy and additional retail.

“I think this will help in our push for market-rate housing,” he explained. “And the more pedestrian traffic you can have matriculating from the North End to the South End, the more beneficial it will be to bringing in spin-off businesses.”

When asked if there was a model for a larger, more sophisticated education hub that Springfield could aspire to, she said there are several, including Phoenix.

“There are examples of places where you had a single higher-education institution put down a footprint and others followed, like Arizona State,” Griesemer explained. “There is still room for considerable growth in Springfield when it comes to this hub.”

While the current picture is one defined by enthusiasm, and there is considerable optimism about what might come next, the immediate forecast is at least somewhat clouded by two concurrent, and massive, construction projects that will certainly impact access to the downtown — MGM’s South End casino and reconstruction of the I-91 viaduct.

“We absolutely are concerned about that,” said Forte, noting that accessibility is a key factor in the success of the downtown location. “But we’re also hopeful that the city and highway department will be considerate of our population and create traffic alternatives that will not cause great impact for us.”

Sarno said the city — not to mention the contractor handling the I-91 work — is certainly incentivized to do just that, and also get the project done on time.

“So far, so good — communication has been great, and they’re ahead of schedule … and there are 9 million reasons why this contractor wants to get phase one done ahead of time,” said the mayor, citing the bonus put in place by the state for accomplishing that feat. “This had to be done, and we’re hoping to keep the disruption to a minimum.”

Study in Possibilities

As she wrapped up her tour of Bay Path’s facilities, Leary spent a few moments in the cluttered, currently unused space on the seventh floor into which the school could, and likely will, expand.

“I can see us filling all of this someday,” she said, sweeping her arm across the area. “We’re not done yet down here.”

With those sentiments, she spoke for seemingly everyone that is now part of this education hub in the central business district.

In fact, by almost all accounts, those within this key sector are just getting started.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Town Builds on Momentum from Ludlow Mills

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Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Carmina Fernandes and Douglas Stefancik

Carmina Fernandes and Douglas Stefancik say the redevelopment of Ludlow Mills will preserve the town’s history while providing opportunities for economic growth.

Town Planner Douglas Stefancik calls it “the crown jewel of the mills.”

He was referring to the recently completed HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts, the first new structure to be built on the Ludlow Mills property, owned and being redeveloped by Westmass Area Development Corp.

The $28.5 million, 74,000-square-foot hospital has 53 private rooms and a state-of-the-art physical therapy center, said Stefancik, adding that the project received the prestigious national Sustainability Impact Award at the Redevelopment and Renewal Awards Ceremony in Chicago.

“It is serving as a model for other HealthSouth facilities, and our intent was for it to become a catalyst to other growth and development on the Ludlow Mills site,” he went on. “Fortunately, we’re seeing that come to fruition.”

Indeed, officials are happy to have HealthSouth in the mill district and are looking forward to another exciting project.

“The HealthSouth building is historically accurate, and the second jewel will soon be built,” said Stefancik, referring to the town’s decision on Oct. 8 to grant Winn Development and Westmass the approvals needed to transform what’s known as Mill #10 into a senior-housing development.

The four-story structure will be converted into 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments; 66 will be affordable, and the rest will be rented at market rate.

“It’s fantastic because it will preserve the whole building and help continue revitalization of the downtown area,” said Stefancik. “There will be new landscaping surrounding the parking lot, traffic islands with seating areas, and a patio, which will help it to become a nice residential community.”

Westmass President and CEO Kenn Delude said the plans were approved in 17 days, which is highly unusual, because it typically takes months for a project of this magnitude. “We’re proud because the town found these plans consistent with their master plan,” he told BusinessWest. “It shows how strong the partnership is between WestMass, Winn Development, and the town.”

Westmass will sell Winn three acres of the mill property, with closing anticipated to take place at the end of December. The work should start in February, and the units should be complete and occupied by June 2017, Delude said, adding that the town has a backlog of 150 seniors seeking affordable housing, and this will help fill the gap.

“Winn will spend $19 million in 14 months, and we anticipate 300 new construction jobs; we’re pretty proud of this,” he continued.

In addition, the first phase of a 1.5 mile Riverwalk is complete and just opened to the public. It runs behind the mill property along the Chicopee River, features beautiful overlooks, and was a private project; HealthSouth contributed $600,000, and WestMass did the engineering, permitting, and other necessary work.

“We’re excited about the redevelopment of the mills and the partnership with the town, as well as the shared vision for the preservation of some of the buildings,” Delude said. “We’re on our way, and although the project is not near completion, $74 million has been invested in Ludlow Mills over the last four years. It’s a great start, and we hope to work with other developers to preserve things like the historic clock tower.”

But while Ludlow Mills continues to be the story in this community of 21,000, it is far from the only news.

There is a solid mix of residential and commercial development taking place, said Stefancik, adding that the town has a number of attractive selling points, including its reputation as a safe community, a relatively low tax rate, and many amenities, such as free limited trash pickup, a free van service for seniors, and its own ambulance service, which people can subscribe to for $40 annually and use as often as they need.

Together, these attributes make this an attractive community in which to live, work, and do business, its leaders say. For this latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest looks at how Ludlow intends to build on a current wave of momentum.

A Developing Story

Carmina Fernandes, chair of the Board of Selectmen, said the mills were the heartbeat of the town in their heyday, and the redevelopment is encouraging reinvestment within the community.

“The Iron Duke Brewing microbrewery moved into a mill building two years ago and is already expanding; they want to put in an outdoor patio near the Riverwalk,” she said, adding that the former Montelegre Restaurant on State Street, located across the street from HealthSouth, is under new ownership and has been renamed the Com e Cala-Te Restaurant. It’s owned by Pedro and Joe Fernandes (Carmina’s brothers), and since it reopened two months ago, it has been booked solid on weekend nights.

Those are are just a few of the many signs of progress in the community. Indeed, Stefancik said, additional residential development is taking place, and the town is continuing to grow in every respect.

Last year, HAPHousing completed a $7.4 million conversion of the Stevens Memorial Building into 28 affordable rental apartments for seniors. The three-story 23,760-square-foot building at 12 Chestnut St. was built in 1906 by the Ludlow Manufacturing Co. as a recreation facility for its employees. The town acquired it in 1949, and it was home to the Ludlow Boys & Girls Club until 2005.

“It’s a great project because it’s across from the senior center and near restaurants, the library, shops, the post office, and a number of mom-and-pop stores,” Stefancik said.

He added that, in addition to affordable housing, there has also been an uptick in the number of proposed subdivisions. Roughly 40 single-family lots were approved earlier this year as the second phase of a Parker Lane Extension project, with an estimated infrastructure cost of $1.5 million; a 19-lot subdivision extension on Cislak Drive with an infrastructure cost of $780,000 was just approved; and a definitive plan is expected late this month for 14 lots across the street from Cislak Drive on Maria’s Way.

“These homes will bring in additional tax dollars to the community,” Stefancik said. “It’s a positive sign when this much building is going on.”

However, commercial growth is also taking place.

The Cumberland Farms store on West Street is undergoing a $500,000 renovation, and the Planning Board approved a site plan and special permit for the East Street store, which will result in a new building that will help to further revitalize the street, Fernandes said.

Stefancik explained that the company purchased a former bar with two parking lots on East Street next to the existing store, which will be knocked down to make way for a new building.

It’s a project that was planned with community feedback, and is in line with the Board of Selectmen’s request that businesses seek input from neighbors when making changes. In this instance, the feedback led to an agreement to install a fence to block views of the store, additional landscaping, noise deflectors on the air-conditioning units, and glare-free lighting.

In addition, the Colvest Group has begun work on the former Mobil station property at 450-456 Center St. across from CVS. The firm received approval for two commercial buildings in April; one will have a drive-thru, and both can house up to three suites.

Growth is also taking place on Holyoke Street, where Black Diamond Development LLC just completed work on a new medical building.

Commercial investments are definitely on the rise, but Fernandes says town officials strive to balance residential and commercial growth. Still, the town is doing everything it can to make it easy to open a new business. Its permitting process went online in the last year, which helps the growing number of home-based firms.

“In the past, people had to go before the Planning Board, but we have eliminated that step,” Fernandes told BusinessWest. There is also a new computer screen outside the entrance to the Building Department which allows people to access information if they are closed, and Ludlow Community Television installed new technology on their website that allows viewers to look at presentations put before the Board of Selectmen.

Continued Progress

Everything being done falls in line with Ludlow’s master plan, which was approved last year.

“Ludlow is a great place to own a business, live, and play. It’s a vibrant town, and we were recently selected to be on Terry Bradshaw’s Communities of Distinction TV show because of our economic development and quality of life,” Fernandes said.

The hope is that Ludlow Mills will become the heart of the community once again as redevelopment efforts transform the property. “It’s in an ideal location and will become vibrant because it’s within walking distance of restaurants, storefronts, hairdressers, and many other businesses on the intersecting streets,” Fernandes said. “But the most wonderful thing is the symbiotic relationships that are being created with the town. There are a lot of things in the pipeline that are very exciting.”

Delude agreed. “We are proud of this project,” he said, “and it’s important to the community.”

 

Ludlow at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1774
Population: 21,103
Area: 28.2 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $17.29
Commercial Tax Rate: $17.29
Median Household Income: $57,803
Family Household Income: $71,601
Type of government: Town Administrator; Board of Selectmen; Open Town Meeting
Largest Employers: Hampden County House of Correction; Ludlow Public Schools; R & C Floral Inc.; Town of Ludlow; HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital
* Latest information available

Moving Forward from Chattanooga

By
Opinion

Editorial

Ron Littlefield, the former mayor of Chattanooga, said municipal leaders in Tennessee’s fourth-largest city haven’t been too proud to listen to others’ ideas — and steal them.

For example, in 1981, before launching a decades-long revitalization plan, Littlefield — then a city planner — and other officials visited Indianapolis to talk economic development, but also found inspiration in the recreational activities taking place along Indy’s White River. Once back at home, they launched efforts to promote recreation — kayakers, regattas, and the like — on the Tennessee River.

They weren’t done. A visit to Baltimore spurred the construction of the Tennessee Aquarium. The Creative Discovery Museum was inspired by children’s museums in Charlotte and Birmingham. And so on.

“We shamelessly stole things from all over, and we’re proud of it,” Littlefield said. “We tried to do it better than they did.”

That spirit of sharing — or stealing, as the case may be — is the driver behind City2City Pioneer Valley, a program that, every year or two, brings a host of Springfield-area leaders to a city with similar demographics and challenges; Chattanooga was the fourth such stop after visits, over the past several years, to Grand Rapids, Mich.; Winston-Salem/Greensboro, N.C.; and Allentown/Bethlehem, Pa.

And Chattanooga certainly had no shortage of ideas to chew on (see story, page 6), from its high-speed broadband network, which has drawn a number of high-tech businesses the city, to the way its public, private, and nonprofit sectors work closely together to fund projects; from its riverfront revitalization to its ambitious efforts to cultivate innovative startups. All have parallels to challenges the Pioneer Valley is facing.

So, what happens now?

That’s the big question, and one that has dogged the City2City program since its inception. The only initiative launched in Western Mass. as a direct result of a City2City visit is the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, a Springfield-based program modeled after a similar initiative in Grand Rapids.

That’s about it. There has been plenty of talk about what Greater Springfield can do better, but little in the way of tangible changes based on these trips. That’s not to say the education, inspiration, and idea sharing that participants experience isn’t valuable; it certainly is. But what’s the next step?

After all, Springfield today has an underutilized riverfront, a waterway far cleaner than the polluted Tennessee River of the 1960s and 1970s, when efforts began to connect Chattanooga’s riverfront with its downtown district. Springfield faces the same type of manufacturing skills gap Chattanooga does, as well as similar challenges graduating students from underperforming schools.

To be fair, there are some lessons Chattanooga could take from Springfield, should their leaders ever come here. Connections between our region’s colleges and workforce-training organizations seem more robust than in Chattanooga, for instance. Leaders in Chattanooga seem hesitant to fully discuss the racial gentrification issues that beset their downtown neighborhoods. And healthcare drives economic development in far deeper ways in the Pioneer Valley than they do in Southeastern Tennessee.

It’s probably most accurate to say both cities have something to learn from each other. The challenge now, in Springfield and its environs, is to put into action what we’ve learned, and get to work turning this region into a destination officials from other cities will want to visit — and steal from.

In some respects, it’s already there.

R.A. McCullough Builds Custom Homes to Match Lifestyles

By
Luxury Living Sections

Personal Space

Rick McCullough

Rick McCullough learned plenty of lessons from his father, who launched what is now a second-generation home-construction business 60 years ago — among them hard work, integrity, and an emphasis on personal relationships. It’s that hands-on quality of his work that McCullough counts among the most enjoyable aspects of his job — not to mention an economy that has shed some lean years and is roaring with new life as families once again invest in high-end, custom homes.

Richard McCullough runs a successful home-building company, but he still refers to it as “my dad’s business.”

That’s because he grew up around R.A. McCullough Inc. — the construction firm launched by his father during the 1950s — and, along the way, picked up plenty of inspiration and lessons for his future career as the second-generation president of this Longmeadow-based family business.

“He first sold houses for other builders as a Realtor, and as he looked at what people were building, he said, ‘I can do this, and I can do it better,’” McCullough told BusinessWest. “So he purchased some raw pieces of land and developed them, and just built the company from there over the decades.”

After he graduated from college in 1995, he went into his father’s business full-time.

“Before that, I was out in the field, doing the grunt work, but after college, I graduated to the office,” he said — a decision that wasn’t always set in stone. “My dad was this amazing businessman, builder, and developer, but I didn’t seriously consider it until I got older. During my college years, I began to see [construction] as a natural fit for me.”

As one of the region’s most prominent builders of high-end and custom residences — typically 3,000 square feet and up — McCullough says he enjoys the hands-on aspect of dealing with clients and helping them turn their design visions into reality.

“I love helping them make decisions around building custom homes,” he said. “And I find there’s less miscommunication when I’m hands-on. I don’t get that phone call saying, ‘so-and-so didn’t call me back; what’s going on?’ There are fewer surprises that way. But I really do enjoy every aspect of this business, everything that’s involved in building homes, from the design through the end result.”

For this issue’s focus on luxury living, McCullough talks with BusinessWest about the changing nature of what a custom home is — and why he enjoys keeping up with those changes.

Beyond the Floor Plan

Make no mistake, he explained — ‘custom’ has meant different things over the decades.

“For example, in the ’80s, bigger was better, and customizing didn’t mean quite what it does nowadays. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, there wasn’t a whole lot of custom millwork, for example, unless it was in the ultra-high end. People today are less concerned about size and more about quality, what goes into it, the finishes.”

Today’s home buyers seem more educated and sure of the touches they desire in a home. As he walked along Bridle Path Ridge in Somers, Conn., a small development of high-end homes his company developed, he explained that, while the exteriors reflect a consistent — but not copycat — look, the interiors are very different, based on their buyers’ preferences.

“The houses’ architecture matches — you can tell it’s the same builder — but they’re very different from each other,” he said. “I love the challenge of creating something different. Sometimes they’ll see a house next door to where they want one built, and they’ll say, ‘that’s what I want.’ Well, we can do that floor layout, but let’s do something unique and something that won’t be a carbon copy of your neighbor.”

Those differences encompass everything from materials to finishes to subtle stylistic changes. “We can mix it up a little bit without going crazy — we’re not going to build a contemporary next to a colonial. It’s a different flavor while staying in the same realm of style.”

As for interior layout, customization today is largely a reflection of the family’s lifestyle.

“It’s really about customizing to an owner’s needs,” he said. “Where is the focus? It’s normally still through the kitchen, through the family room, areas where you spend the vast majority of the time, for ease of entertaining. Or you might want areas for a child to be close to the main part of the house, but have their own separate area.”

Home buyers are always going to focus on price — a home is likely their biggest investment — but McCullough said square footage doesn’t tell the whole story.

“Plenty of people say, ‘what’s the price per square foot,’ but what’s in the house? People think going from 3,500 to 2,500 square feet translates very easily from a cost-per-square-foot standpoint, but if you’re spending, say, 175 per square foot on a 3,500-square-foot home and you want to go to a smaller footprint, you’ll probably have the same size kitchen, same number of bathrooms, same finishes — so you’re going to spend more money per square foot.”

Particularly in the high-end housing market, he added, it’s important to keep an eye on a home’s future marketability. “You say you want only three bedrooms. Well, at least leave space to have a fourth bedroom — over the garage, unfinished. Marketability-wise, that adds a little value for the next person who’s going to buy it down the road.”

Priorities have shifted somewhat for homeowners in the realm of energy efficiency, McCullough said, noting that airtight construction and energy options like geothermal heating are becoming more popular.

He also noted that technology has impacted the features that high-end homebuyers are looking for today — and not just in the realm of home entertainment.

“People want things to be automated now; they want their lighting systems working off their smartphones. Controlling your heating and cooling from outside your home — that’s a relatively new thing in our industry, and you can’t underestimate that part of the business and how much that will grow.”

Bridle Path Ridge in Somers, Conn

Bridle Path Ridge in Somers, Conn. is one of McCullough’s recent developments of high-end, custom homes.

That goes for retrofitting existing homes as well, he added, a process made easier these days by the emergence of wireless technology.

“Cable companies are offering security systems — 20 years ago, you wouldn’t have guessed that would be happening. We have complete home automation … lights, thermostat, cameras you can view on a smartphone,” he went on. “There are so many apps, so many security systems. And it’s evolving so fast. Once you get these systems installed, things will change even more. It happens quickly.”

Ups and Downs

With the homebuilding industry on the upswing, McCullough is happy the recession years are well behind.

“That was an incredible challenge, and something that definitely left a mark on every developer, builder, and remodeler. Some fared better than others, but it was a rough recession,” he said, adding that it was difficult to tell when the tough times would end, challenging developers who wanted to time their investments.

“If a developer saved money throughout the recession, they might have been able to pick up properties, be opportunistic as they prepared for a turnaround, but the turnaround took longer than we thought. Developers were thinking, ‘we’ll have another year or two of this,’ but it lasted a little longer,” he explained. “There’s no book to go to on how to play it. It changed our industry somewhat, and hopefully we don’t forget the lessons of what we went through.”

As a recent past president of the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Mass. — an organization that advocates for contractors on the legislative level and educates consumers about companies and services — McCullough was in regular contact with builders during the extended downturn and came away impressed by their resilience.

“Everyone kept their heads up, even though it was obviously tough,” he said. “It’s a tough industry. We all know it. But our membership has significantly increased recently, which tells you where the economy is.”

The word he chose to describe the current mood? “Euphoric.”

“The market hasn’t fully recovered; we may not reach the level of the early to mid-2000s, when things were flying. But it was so bad for so long, and everything is good right now, in my mind — everything from existing home sales to remodeling to new construction.”

That’s partly because many potential buyers were just waiting out the storm but never ditched their plans for a new residence.

“A lot of people doing that work now had the money to do it, but had a lot of uncertainty — ‘will I get my investment back if I spend a premium on a major remodel or a new home?’ You don’t do that unless you have some view of the future that’s positive. It’s been great getting back into the swing of things after so long a downturn.”

The year has been so positive for the industry, in fact, that even the cold months will be productive in many corners.

“I normally see the vendors and the subcontractors I work with go into seasonal adjustments, down periods heading into winter,” McCullough said. “But people are staying busy through the holidays. Not everyone believes contractors work through the holidays because of the frozen ground, and they wonder whether that’s a good time to have something done. But it’s busier now than it’s been in years.”

Two Hats

McCullough’s father continued to work in real estate in the ’70s, at a good-sized brokerage firm called McCullough & Taft Realty — a tradition the junior McCullough continues today as a real-estate agent at Keller Williams Realty in Longmeadow.

“I’ve been a real-estate agent, where I’m helping a client negotiate with a builder, and I look over the specifics of the contract. It’s an interesting perspective, being more on the outside.”

But there’s something special about being on the construction side.

“I love being hands-on and engaged in every aspect of the project; that’s something I enjoy,” he said, noting that, even though the company has fluctuated in size over the years, he’s always stayed closely involved in projects — an emphasis on relationships he learned from his father.

“My dad was so honest and straightforward,” McCullough said. “I’ve told people he was no rocket scientist, but he worked hard, and his integrity was at the forefront of everything he did. And that’s the way I choose to follow. In the old days, everything was done on a handshake, and it’s nice to feel like we can do that in certain circumstances.”

That’s why he tells people R.A. McCullough is his father’s business.

“To me, it’s more about maintaining the same standards he had. That definitely builds the passion with me — wanting people to be happy, wanting people to have a good experience. It’s definitely not about the money. It’s about everything my dad stood for.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Communicating IT

By
Sections Technology

How Come the Message So Often Gets Lost in Translation?

By STEVE SHAW

 

Steve Shaw

Steve Shaw

Most companies and organizations do an admirable job when it comes to communicating with employees. That rumored merger, those pending layoffs, a change in leadership, or implementation  of a new health plan are the classic reasons for reaching out and touching someone in the cubicle down the hall.

So, how come the message from the IT department often gets lost in translation?

Technology can be a scary thing, and oftentimes, it’s treated that way. The IT department is happy to be left alone to its bits and bytes, while the communications department says, “just let us know when we’re going to be down for maintenance or need to teach people how to use that new software.”

That way of thinking is no longer valid in today’s technology-driven economy.

According to the global professional services company Towers Watson, companies with highly effective internal communications had 47% higher total returns to shareholders versus companies with the least effective internal communications programs over the last five years.

A Gallup poll says 70% of U.S. employees are not engaged and that disengaged employees cost our economy $450 to $550 billion a year in lost productivity. The Work Foundation, a U.K.-based, nonprofit think tank, says organizations that increase practices related to engagement by just 10% increase profits by an average of $2,400 per employee per year. Do I have your attention now?

One of our healthcare clients, a mid-sized hospital system with 12,000 employees, is implementing a new hyper-converged infrastructure, totally revamping its approach to networking, data storage, and computing. This two-year effort comes at a time when hospitals, mandated by the federal government to adopt expensive electronic health record (EHR) systems, are asked to do more with fewer resources.

The new infrastructure will do that, cutting datacenter construction costs by millions and allowing the IT department to become faster and more efficient. They’ll even be able to monetize their new technology investments by offering services to the outside world. But that’s what’s in it for IT. What about the doctors, nurses, and administrators who just want to be able to access their work data from any device, anytime, from anywhere?

We recommend beginning the communications process by putting yourself in your customer’s head. They want the software they depend on to do their jobs to be available whenever they need it. They have little sympathy for outages, maintenance windows, and the availability of a technician to fix an issue when it arises. In most cases, they have little concern for operating systems, storage hardware and software, or data-center design.

Go HERE for a chart of area telecom/voice/data providers

In that case, IT communications to an organization should come down to answering three basic questions.

• What are you doing and why? Use metaphors and real-life examples to put the answer into an easily relatable context. Try something like this: “why are we implementing a new network infrastructure? Think about how much data we all produce, share, and store each year. If you printed it all out, the paper alone would fill an 80,000-seat football stadium. Now, think about the secure network needed to handle that information, the machines needed to store it safely, and the system needed to protect it all in the event of a natural disaster. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

• How does the technology directly benefit the ability of people to do their jobs? Eliminate the jargon. The people who know the difference between ESX and Hyper-V will seek you out if they want to get technical. Your message? “Our new network will practically eliminate outages, support service times will improve dramatically, maintenance windows will go away, and if a piece of hardware fails, our backup kicks in immediately with virtually no interruption.” People generally don’t need to know how it works. They just want to know how it affects them. Resist the temptation to explain further.

• What do I need to do now? Be specific, but be reassuring. People customize their desktops and develop their own unique way of working. They also feel that, just when they finally get the handle on how to access the ‘E’ drive and navigate to where their data is stored, someone in IT decides to perform an upgrade that has them throwing a shoe at their computer screen. Sympathize. Produce easy-to-read checklists, develop logical implementation schedules, and communicate on a regular basis when things change. A single e-mail won’t do the trick.

The bottom line when it comes to communicating IT initiatives is this: you’re asking people to change (sometimes in a big way). There’s natural resistance to it, and it takes time. Don’t just tell them what, when, and why. How it will make their life easier is most important. Don’t be afraid to ask for input. You know what you want people to do. You just want to get them to think it was their idea.

You can’t communicate too much if the message is relevant and substantial. You can communicate too much if it’s overly technical and isn’t easy to internalize. Finally, choose your vehicle wisely. A one-time e-mail or fancy newsletter may find its way to the “I’ll read it later” file. Be creative. A mixture of written communication, live events, and interactive forums are critical for long-term buy-in.

Remember, IT is highly technical, but it’s not rocket science. Don’t confuse communicating the end result with a need to tell people how you got there.

Steve Shaw has spent more than three decades in the marketing and communications industries as a television reporter, production agency founder, and multi-media network executive. He is the vice president of Marketing and Communications for Holyoke-based VertitechIT, a business and healthcare IT networking and consulting firm; [email protected]

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

ASHFIELD

83 Bird Hill Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $517,500
Buyer: Joan L. Gemme
Seller: Olaf J. Thorp
Date: 10/14/15

BERNARDSTON

6 Burrows Tpke.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $127,900
Buyer: Anthony E. Demarco
Seller: Rath, Helen M., (Estate)
Date: 10/09/15

84 Church St.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Johan D. Livingstone
Seller: Olsen, George, (Estate)
Date: 10/08/15

535 Fox Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Gary A. Hanson
Seller: Christopher Roberts
Date: 10/01/15

40 Shedd Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Roger Hughs
Seller: Jonathan M. Kopera
Date: 10/02/15

BUCKLAND

104 Ashfield Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $468,332
Buyer: Benjamin J. Hay
Seller: Joseph G. Schmidt
Date: 10/16/15

CONWAY

197 Williamsburg Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $142,800
Buyer: Nancy Goldsmith
Seller: Robert D. Herfurth
Date: 10/13/15

284 Williamsburg Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Brian W. Culver
Seller: Harry Culver
Date: 10/16/15

DEERFIELD

47 Sawmill Plain Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Dennis C. Lake
Seller: Chuen U. Chu
Date: 10/01/15

GREENFIELD

50 Allen St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Alden H. Dreyer
Seller: Thomas H. Dion
Date: 10/09/15

36 Brookside Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Kimberly A. Storey
Seller: David R. Norris
Date: 10/16/15

52 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: PRB LLC
Seller: Mohawk Properties LLC
Date: 10/01/15

92 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Clifford W. Andrew
Seller: Roger Hughs
Date: 10/02/15

24 Leyden Woods Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $9,454,551
Buyer: New Leyden Woods 1 LP
Seller: TCB Leyden Woods LP
Date: 10/16/15

14 Oak St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Linda J. Blake
Seller: Pamela S. Kelly FT
Date: 10/09/15

93 Sanderson St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Jonah A. Keane
Seller: Larry S. Sherman
Date: 10/16/15

259 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Shawn S. Kelsey
Seller: Henry S. Hardy
Date: 10/16/15

155 Wells St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: James C. Rae
Seller: Robert P. Bourke
Date: 10/05/15

LEVERETT

53 Amherst Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Ashley E. Starsiak
Seller: Jane W. Taupier
Date: 10/09/15

331 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Jennifer Thornton
Seller: Kelly Norris
Date: 10/14/15

LEYDEN

22 Stephen Lane
Leyden, MA 01301
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Brannon D. Pratt
Seller: Johan D. Livingstone
Date: 10/08/15

MONTAGUE

16 Bridge St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Element Properties LLC
Seller: D. C. Curcija
Date: 10/01/15

483 Federal St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $136,500
Buyer: William Aubrey
Seller: Debra L. Franklin
Date: 10/05/15

18 Highland St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $192,900
Buyer: Jonathan M. Kopera
Seller: Joel C. Tognarelli
Date: 10/02/15

262 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $2,060,000
Buyer: Hillside Plastics Inc.
Seller: Richard G. Haas RET
Date: 10/15/15

268 Montague City Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Scott A. Keldun
Seller: Robert A. Depalma
Date: 10/09/15

8 Norman Circle
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $208,500
Buyer: Stanley S. Gochinski
Seller: Patricia A. Pelletier
Date: 10/01/15

75 Turnpike Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $164,679
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Terry G. Lovett
Date: 10/14/15

ORANGE

9 Adams St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Eric M. Isrow
Seller: John Tulloch
Date: 10/02/15

45 Fountain St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Joseph A. Leduc
Seller: William M. Golding
Date: 10/02/15

15 Oaklawn Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Leo P. Melanson
Seller: Lawton, Elwyn T., (Estate)
Date: 10/15/15

SHELBURNE

16 Main St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Peter R. Allard
Seller: Philip Kass
Date: 10/08/15

42 South Maple St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sweetheart Realty LLC
Seller: Mauricia Alvarez RET
Date: 10/05/15

SHUTESBURY

473 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Debra L. Blakeman
Seller: Patricia A. Dempsey
Date: 10/09/15

SUNDERLAND

49 Garage Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Daniel Scott
Seller: Bryant E. Benson
Date: 10/08/15

WARWICK

1055 Orange Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Robert Rivers
Seller: Edwin R. Witherell
Date: 10/15/15

WHATELY

17 Laurel Mountain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Paul Duga
Seller: William S. Laidlaw
Date: 10/15/15

305 Long Plain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $208,500
Buyer: Walter A. Piekarski
Seller: Stephen Pielock
Date: 10/01/15

4 Sandy Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $810,000
Buyer: Town Of Whately
Seller: Western Massachusetts Regional Library System
Date: 10/05/15

424-C State Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $720,000
Buyer: Old State Road LLC
Seller: CCMS Development Co. LP
Date: 10/16/15

1 Sugarloaf St. Ext.
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Maureen S. Heon LT
Seller: Kathleen A. Dunn
Date: 10/09/15

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

15 Allison Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Nadia R. Garvey
Seller: Richard J. Zina
Date: 10/16/15

51 Belvidere Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Patricia L. Tencati
Date: 10/07/15

80 Bradford Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $237,797
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Michelle M. Bryant
Date: 10/13/15

62 Carmen Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Brian T. Beaver
Seller: Anthony S. Grasso
Date: 10/15/15

36 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Joel D. Barlar
Seller: George T. Hudson
Date: 10/02/15

11 Herbert P. Almgren Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Eurofins Spectrum Analytics
Seller: Spectrum Analytical Inc.
Date: 10/07/15

551 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Zahoor U. Haq
Seller: Timothy Driscoll
Date: 10/15/15

17 Merrill Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Nicholas M. Preston
Seller: Hazel A. Egan
Date: 10/16/15

85 Monroe St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Jacob G. Dushane
Seller: Sandra E. Urbanski
Date: 10/08/15

57 Riverview Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: John P. Kilpatrick
Seller: Timothy J. Murphy
Date: 10/06/15

22 Scherpa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $151,900
Buyer: Dmitri Constantinov
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/09/15

830 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Eurofins Spectrum Analytics
Seller: Spectrum Analytical Inc.
Date: 10/07/15

56 Tom St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Steven A. Montagna
Seller: Karen R. Mezzetti
Date: 10/14/15

20 Westview Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Shannon L. Church
Seller: Deborah A. Marini
Date: 10/01/15

BRIMFIELD

35 3rd St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Tammy L. Chase
Seller: Warren H. Kenyon
Date: 10/16/15

90 Oakwood Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $182,017
Buyer: Bank of America
Seller: John L. Hastings
Date: 10/14/15

CHICOPEE

14 Bardon St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Israel Vargas
Seller: CRA Holdings Inc.
Date: 10/02/15

54 Beaudry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Valerie I. Laplante
Seller: Paul E. Brissette

17 Cambridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Matthew S. Valentine
Seller: Denis, Lillian B., (Estate)
Date: 10/05/15

61 Chester St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $279,668
Buyer: Bank Of New York
Seller: Mark A. Soto
Date: 10/06/15

223 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Lindsey S. Quinones
Seller: Fallon M. Saldo
Date: 10/09/15

295 College St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Roger A. Laplante
Date: 10/02/15

19 Debra Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $207,500
Buyer: Ethem Ozturk
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/14/15

27 Frink St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Dawn Presz
Seller: Denis D. St.Laurent
Date: 10/01/15

29 Grove Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $885,000
Buyer: 91 East Park Inc.
Seller: 18 Piece Chicopee LLC
Date: 10/07/15

120 Labelle Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Marek Skora
Seller: Linda A. Boucher
Date: 10/02/15

24 Langevin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Alexander T. Devik
Seller: Ronald J. Cormier
Date: 10/09/15

41 Lawndale St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Michael D. Winnie
Seller: Peter J. Lawrence
Date: 10/05/15

118 Leona Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Muriel J. Leone
Seller: Robert W. Gruszczynski
Date: 10/08/15

264 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jamie M. Buiso
Date: 10/01/15

89 Mathieu Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Zahra Younes
Seller: Robert J. Jolicoeur
Date: 10/07/15

175 Murphy Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,500
Buyer: Scott K. Larose
Seller: Michael A. Blake
Date: 10/16/15

28 Oakwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Martin
Seller: Andrew T. Grybko
Date: 10/13/15

70 Orchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $885,000
Buyer: 91 East Park Inc.
Seller: 18 Piece Chicopee LLC
Date: 10/07/15

75 Quartus St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Philippe G. Tobin
Seller: Martin S. Niemiro
Date: 10/08/15

126 Royal St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Erin Bishop
Seller: MHFA
Date: 10/01/15

500 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Mark J. Dion
Seller: Stephen G. Theroux
Date: 10/08/15

143 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $151,250
Buyer: CIG 2 LLC
Seller: Alan R. Kwasnik
Date: 10/09/15

210 Stebbins St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $885,000
Buyer: 91 East Park Inc.
Seller: 18 Piece Chicopee LLC
Date: 10/07/15

102 Winthrop St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Albert Adomako
Date: 10/02/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

11 Betterly Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Mark Suse
Seller: Aaron J. Gilbert
Date: 10/02/15

169 Brookhaven Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Brendan Kavanagh
Seller: Dana R. Bean
Date: 10/02/15

78 Colony Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Rudolf J. Wengjen
Seller: Louis F. Arborio
Date: 10/07/15

48 Glynn Farms Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $400,700
Buyer: Kevin G. Wood
Seller: David J. Nadeau
Date: 10/09/15

41 Rural Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Paul Giguere
Seller: Longtin, Doreen D., (Estate)
Date: 10/16/15

GRANVILLE

157 Hartland Hollow Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Elizabeth J. Gouthier
Seller: Richard C. Hasko
Date: 10/09/15

HAMPDEN

379 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Andrew H. Pillard
Seller: Tippett, Thomas M., (Estate)
Date: 10/07/15

93 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $151,203
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Steven B. Roulier
Date: 10/09/15

HOLLAND

257 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: John I. Mitchell
Seller: Francis A. Laplante
Date: 10/09/15

5 Pine Tree Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Jendrysik
Seller: Brian Cameron
Date: 10/13/15

2 Sandy Beach Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Kenneth Safft
Seller: Edward R. Dailey
Date: 10/16/15

95 Union Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Michael McKnight
Seller: Robert A. Bergeron
Date: 10/02/15

HOLYOKE

194 Allyn St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Heather A. King
Seller: Emily F. Larocque
Date: 10/02/15

42 Clayton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Kenneth M. Sicard
Seller: Maurice Laverdiere
Date: 10/01/15

2 Deer Run
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $531,000
Buyer: Robert F. Borawski
Seller: Eric M. Curran
Date: 10/16/15

1395-1397 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Dacasty D. Pena
Seller: Ariceli Medina
Date: 10/01/15

24 Gary Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $167,750
Buyer: Kathryn T. Brunelle
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 10/16/15

755 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $191,900
Buyer: Gregory A. Westcott
Seller: Margaret J. Averill
Date: 10/08/15

939 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Gladys A. Beltran
Seller: Barry W. Robinson
Date: 10/02/15

74 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Felicia Sloin
Seller: Melissa A. Broomfield
Date: 10/14/15

45 Lexington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $272,600
Buyer: Balbina Szalkucki
Seller: Kasprzynski, V. C., (Estate)
Date: 10/16/15

9 McMahon Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Roger M. Reidy
Seller: Michele A. Wright
Date: 10/01/15

4 Michelle Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Nieves
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 10/15/15

14 Old Rock Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Lynn A. Border
Seller: Terry T. Border
Date: 10/07/15

147-149 Suffolk St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Carmen J. Martinez
Seller: Eduvino Cruz
Date: 10/14/15

LONGMEADOW

73 Allen Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: John Perenick
Seller: Robert F. Brunette
Date: 10/06/15

129 Brookwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Marcel D. Carcea
Seller: Paul J. Rivard
Date: 10/09/15

79 Chiswick St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Tusk RT
Seller: Karolina Kearney
Date: 10/01/15

49 Eunice Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $366,500
Buyer: Claudia J. Kokaz-Muslu
Seller: Jeffrey S. Goodless
Date: 10/06/15

4 Hillcrest Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Richard J. Ward
Seller: Jay S. Therrien
Date: 10/14/15

110 Hopkins Place
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Richard P. Alvord
Seller: Jeffrey S. Alvis
Date: 10/15/15

28 Lexington Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Megan A. Fettes
Seller: Maria Neris
Date: 10/16/15

180 Pinewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $494,000
Buyer: Jay Therrien
Seller: Mo-Chun C. Yu
Date: 10/14/15

178 Westmoreland Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Douglas J. Janik
Seller: Nolan W. Pratt
Date: 10/06/15

7 Woodland Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Ann M. Zito
Seller: Wilkinson, Charles H., (Estate)
Date: 10/02/15

95 York Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jay M. Talbert
Seller: Cornelius K. Sutton
Date: 10/15/15

LUDLOW

209 Alden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Scott H. Kozak
Seller: Cheryl A. Misterka
Date: 10/07/15

41 Brookfield St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Antonio Sebastio
Seller: Nathan R. Witherow
Date: 10/06/15

12 Carmelinas Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $875,000
Buyer: MW RT
Seller: Lower Pioneer Valley Education
Date: 10/01/15

199 Clearwater Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Maureen T. Fitzgerald
Seller: John K. Ollson
Date: 10/16/15

768 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Vieira Family Properties
Seller: Genevieve L. Ziemian
Date: 10/07/15

150 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Michelle Elliot
Seller: Mark Cassesse
Date: 10/08/15

16 Noel St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $243,500
Buyer: Michael Swiatlowski
Seller: Michael D. Mertzic
Date: 10/07/15

50 Poole St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: William H. Leab
Seller: Amber A. Hiersche
Date: 10/02/15

43 Prospect St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Nelson S. Goncalves
Seller: Baltazar A. Costa
Date: 10/02/15

MONSON

47 Thompson St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $157,500
Seller: Philip C. Chaffee
Date: 10/08/15

23 Woodridge Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Curtis A. Jones
Seller: Valerie L. Young
Date: 10/07/15

PALMER

2015 Chestnut St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $169,700
Buyer: Christopher A. Davis
Seller: Norman W. Mackinnon
Date: 10/02/15

8 Summit Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $141,459
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Michael N. Burgess
Date: 10/15/15

300 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $159,500
Buyer: David Hickenbottom
Seller: Ranner, Gerald A., (Estate)
Date: 10/02/15

RUSSELL

122 Blandford Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $136,660
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Date: 10/15/15

SOUTHWICK

8 2nd St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Madiera
Seller: Robert D. Morgan
Date: 10/13/15

SPRINGFIELD

18-20 Biella St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Mohamed Elhadi-Haya
Seller: Bruce L. Morin
Date: 10/14/15

99 Bowles Park
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Michael D. Rancitelli
Seller: Megan A. Fettes
Date: 10/16/15

34 Brewster St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Samantha Laporte
Seller: Roy L. Arcand
Date: 10/06/15

58 Brewster St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Aisha A. Pizarro
Seller: David J. Broska
Date: 10/16/15

65 Bruce St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Sean T. Govoni
Seller: Nilsa Molina
Date: 10/09/15

36 Buick St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Random Properties Acquisition
Seller: Thomas J. Kelly
Date: 10/07/15

29 Burnside Terrace
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Caitlin M. Hanley
Seller: Greta D. Oakley
Date: 10/08/15

145 Carr St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Jason S. Young
Seller: Brian S. Kingsley
Date: 10/06/15

229 Chalmers St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $149,500
Buyer: Paul S. Minto
Seller: Jennifer M. Elkas
Date: 10/14/15

47 Colton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Eliezer Garcia
Seller: Tyburski, Davis, (Estate)
Date: 10/01/15

77 Derryfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,500
Buyer: Emily A. Walsh
Seller: Neil T. Childs
Date: 10/07/15

6 Dianna Dr.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Steven W. August
Seller: Sodi Inc.
Date: 10/16/15

38 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Luigi Liquori
Date: 10/09/15

172 East Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Tara Adhikari
Seller: Janice E. Hills
Date: 10/02/15

34 East Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,473
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Evelyn A. Bosfield
Date: 10/15/15

26-28 Eddywood St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Nikia M. Verdejo
Seller: Martin Nystrom
Date: 10/14/15

90 El Paso St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Deborah L. Allsop
Seller: Jane S. Best
Date: 10/01/15

74 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Melissa Rodriguez
Seller: Mya Realty LLC
Date: 10/08/15

28-30 Glenham St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Charlie S. Melo-Perez
Seller: Sergey Savonin
Date: 10/01/15

854 Grayson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Carol A. Dubilo
Seller: Joseph C. Lombardi
Date: 10/16/15

142 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Living Water Church God
Seller: City View Property Services
Date: 10/08/15

198 Hanson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Bradley Walker
Seller: Nicholas A. Raimer
Date: 10/02/15

173 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Krista Gale
Seller: Daniel M. Moran
Date: 10/08/15

113 Haskin St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Angel C. Aviles
Seller: US Bank
Date: 10/15/15

20 Hatch St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Rebecca S. Odell
Seller: Natalie Solaroli
Date: 10/07/15

64 Hillside Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Boucher
Seller: Mary E. Johnson
Date: 10/09/15

4 Jean Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Alison M. Weckerly
Seller: Bob Costa
Date: 10/07/15

220 Jeffrey Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Brett Winston
Seller: Jami B. Chrzanowski
Date: 10/01/15

35 Jonquil Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jo-Ann St.Jean
Seller: James M. Niedbala
Date: 10/08/15

232 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Laconia Enterprises LLC
Seller: Allegro Realty Inc.
Date: 10/09/15

5 Mandalay Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Kharga B. Gurung
Seller: Mary F. Palazzo
Date: 10/09/15

12 Maplewood Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $189,500
Buyer: Humberto J. Caro
Seller: Julie A. Rousseau
Date: 10/13/15

25 Marengo Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,500
Buyer: Wanda I. Martinez
Seller: Legacy Strategic Investments
Date: 10/06/15

18 Mary Coburn Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Joyce R. Cadiuex
Seller: Roger E. Petit
Date: 10/08/15

N/A
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Pierre U. Solon
Date: 10/07/15

273 Newhouse St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Anna V. Scala
Seller: Joseph Cardaropoli
Date: 10/13/15

149-151 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Home Equity Assets Realty
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 10/02/15

42 Olmsted Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Efrain Diaz
Seller: Oscar Velazquez
Date: 10/07/15

32 Osborne Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Lamoureux LLC
Seller: Michael D. Rancitelli
Date: 10/16/15

138 Packard Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,500
Buyer: Jason D. Beston
Seller: Jayson Fernandez
Date: 10/16/15

22 Palo Alto Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Paul M. Foley
Seller: Antonio M. Martins
Date: 10/13/15

20 Paramount St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Anibal Rosado
Date: 10/07/15

1357 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Henry Mercado
Seller: Sherry A. Marchessault
Date: 10/07/15

2064 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Steve Ramos
Seller: Gail M. Anderson
Date: 10/07/15

46 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $137,900
Buyer: Alice A. Jumba
Seller: Mark E. Lemire
Date: 10/06/15

25 Patricia Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $127,900
Buyer: Irina Ovchinnikova
Seller: US Bank
Date: 10/01/15

Pendleton Ave. (NS)
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Living Water Church God
Seller: City View Property Services
Date: 10/08/15

14-16 Pequot St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Home Equity Assets Realty
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 10/02/15

35 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Ernest J. Nemeth
Seller: Victoria A. Vermette
Date: 10/16/15

105-107 Shawmut St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Kenny B. Nguyen
Seller: Susan Finerman-Bierly
Date: 10/09/15

17 Shirley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Brian S. Kingsley
Seller: Shirley Park Realty LLC
Date: 10/06/15

131 Sunbrier Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Christopher Skora
Seller: Kenneth R. Knodler
Date: 10/09/15

87 Sunnybrook Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Luz Diaz
Seller: Mello, Charles A., (Estate)
Date: 10/16/15

Tremont St. (NS) #229
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Angel L. Lafargue
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 10/02/15

49 Varney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Christopher R. McMaster
Seller: Richard P. Alvord
Date: 10/15/15

67 Winding Lane
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: David G. Luthi
Seller: Anna V. Scala
Date: 10/13/15

WALES

32 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Michael Mariettos
Seller: Kelly Crowley
Date: 10/14/15

112 Stafford Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Misterka
Seller: Kenneth L. Nolin
Date: 10/07/15

WESTFIELD

1095 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Susan M. Zemba
Seller: Valeriy Gumenyuk
Date: 10/09/15

78 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $482,943
Buyer: Walter G. Gummelt
Date: 10/05/15

21 Highland View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Tina D. Avery
Seller: Constance M. Cramton
Date: 10/16/15

22 Janelle Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: John D. Daniels
Seller: Andrea Spohr
Date: 10/16/15

10 Heggie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: John O. Brettman
Date: 10/09/15

35 Jeanne Marie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Ivan Panasyuk
Seller: Marc A. Yacovone
Date: 10/08/15

16 Knollwood Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Irina Girich
Seller: Michaelian, Vahe, (Estate)
Date: 10/07/15

26 Lady Slipper Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Tamal K. Galustov
Seller: Caroline M. Murray
Date: 10/09/15

32 Laflin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Dellea
Seller: Pavel V. Banari
Date: 10/16/15

86 Ridgecrest Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Robert G. Gordon
Seller: Pierce, Charles P., (Estate)
Date: 10/14/15

402 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: 410 Southampton Road LLC
Seller: DC Cycle Accessories & Services
Date: 10/09/15

459-R Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Carol C. Blanchard
Seller: Jo-Ann St.Jean
Date: 10/08/15

12 Toledo Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Markt
Seller: Henry C. Begin
Date: 10/15/15

88 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Pepperbug Real Estate Investment
Seller: Kathy Kim
Date: 10/07/15

40 Vadnais St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Hawkins
Seller: Leveille, Lorraine M., (Estate)
Date: 10/01/15

23 Whispering Wind Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Michael D. Charland
Seller: Carol C. Blanchard
Date: 10/07/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

61 Avondale Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Faiz Rabbani
Seller: Michael B. Fournier
Date: 10/09/15

54 Blossom Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Patrick J. Lynch
Seller: Leonard W. Anair
Date: 10/15/15

40 Bonair Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Saif M. Aljabi
Seller: Susan L. McCarthy
Date: 10/01/15

46 Boulevard Place
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $143,435
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Thomas J. Inserra
Date: 10/15/15

51 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $156,950
Buyer: Jennifer Miarecki
Seller: August Martinelli
Date: 10/09/15

90 Frederick St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Mark H. Harrison
Seller: Yelena Chernysh
Date: 10/02/15

58 Glenview Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Corey R. Decker
Date: 10/15/15

139 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Stephen Leclair
Seller: Edward W. Grabowski
Date: 10/01/15

19 Houston Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Donna J. McCarthy
Seller: Dorothy O. Barrett
Date: 10/08/15

129 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Anthony Valentino
Seller: Patricia G. Desrosiers
Date: 10/15/15

293 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Zijad Catic
Seller: Jason D. Lashway
Date: 10/02/15

177 Norman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Sunnyside Corp.
Seller: Cardinal Homes Inc.
Date: 10/14/15

42 Old Barn Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: William V. Guiel
Seller: Joyce Bannick
Date: 10/05/15

46 Penrose Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $352,500
Buyer: Carrie R. Ingham
Seller: Walter R. Tucker
Date: 10/16/15

726 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $143,900
Buyer: Katelynn T. Filippone
Seller: William J. Lyons
Date: 10/07/15

96 Sawmill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Michael J. Marcus
Seller: James M. Black
Date: 10/16/15

WILBRAHAM

1844 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: 935-979 Main St. Realty
Seller: Emanuel D. Rovithis
Date: 10/02/15

1846 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: 935-979 Main St. Realty
Seller: Emanuel D. Rovithis
Date: 10/02/15

1872 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: 935-979 Main St. Realty
Seller: Emanuel D. Rovithis
Date: 10/02/15

15 Bradlind Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Michael Gagne
Seller: Christopher L. Garrow
Date: 10/16/15

68 Cherry Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Darlene A. Bowen
Seller: 2301 Boston Road LLC
Date: 10/02/15

2 Conifer Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: S&C Homebuyers LLC
Seller: Gregory D. Vreeland
Date: 10/07/15

10 Dollar Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: HLZC Holdings Inc.
Seller: Lower Pioneer Valley Education
Date: 10/01/15

9 Dudley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: 935-979 Main St Realty
Seller: Emanuel D. Rovithis
Date: 10/02/15

11 Dudley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: 935-979 Main St. Realty
Seller: Emanuel D. Rovithis
Date: 10/02/15

13 Dudley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: 935-979 Main St. Realty
Seller: Emanuel D. Rovithis
Date: 10/02/15

15 Dudley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: 935-979 Main St. Realty
Seller: Emanuel D. Rovithis
Date: 10/02/15

680 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Brian M. Kibbe
Seller: Barbara W. Fitzgerald
Date: 10/15/15

10 Merrill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $139,200
Buyer: Ashley E. Adamski
Seller: Aly E. Sebae
Date: 10/08/15

11 Pearl Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Eric D. Ganley
Seller: Mashiyat Moghaddam
Date: 10/09/15

2 Pidgeon Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michelle Malafronte
Seller: Shelby L. Cook
Date: 10/09/15

11 Pleasant View Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Douglas J. Althen
Seller: John G. Singiser
Date: 10/01/15

4 Stirrup Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Thomas R. Sheldon
Seller: Peter A. Rossi
Date: 10/02/15

2 Three Rivers Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Andrea L. Davis
Seller: Jeffrey C. Allard
Date: 10/02/15

1 Whisper Walk
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Patrick J. McCarthy
Seller: John M. Zeroogian
Date: 10/15/15

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

129 Gray St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Kilerine Properties LLC
Seller: Virginia Lewis
Date: 10/05/15

72 Mechanic St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Eric Knyt
Seller: Mary E. Gouge
Date: 10/13/15

14 South Orchard Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $676,000
Buyer: Casie A. Smith
Seller: Gail Fuller
Date: 10/01/15

89 State St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $219,500
Buyer: Matthew D. King
Seller: Edward G. Lyon
Date: 10/06/15

BELCHERTOWN

170 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Heather A. Plouffe
Seller: KLN Properties LLC
Date: 10/16/15

1 Bunker Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Patrick Guerdon
Seller: Lynn A. Bock
Date: 10/02/15

196 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Brandon J. Gonzalez
Seller: Gregory N. Normand
Date: 10/08/15

88 Gold St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Michael A. Mosher
Seller: USA VA
Date: 10/16/15

25 Green Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Nathan M. Goraj
Seller: Michael McLaughlin
Date: 10/01/15

40 Grenwich Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Robert J. Donovan
Seller: James F. Holden
Date: 10/01/15

N/A
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $124,141
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Debra L. Ducharme
Date: 10/15/15

71 North Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Olympic RE LLC
Seller: Yih-Ming Hsiao
Date: 10/07/15

345 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Lee Belisle
Seller: Michael E. Millette
Date: 10/05/15

260 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Irene Mariettos
Seller: Michael E. Mariettos
Date: 10/14/15

16 Trillium Way
Belchertown, MA 01002
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: Linda M. Wentworth
Seller: Mark G. Jackson
Date: 10/02/15

199 Warner St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. Raimer
Seller: Steven McCafferty
Date: 10/02/15

CUMMINGTON

24 Main St.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $212,844
Buyer: Richard M. Zafft
Seller: Christopher S. Beach
Date: 10/02/15

12-B Swift River Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Justin J. Wiernasz
Seller: Gary P. Burt
Date: 10/16/15

EASTHAMPTON

9 Elliot St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: John A. Connolly
Seller: Aaron J. Stone
Date: 10/09/15

86 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Heather Salazar
Seller: Leakhena Som
Date: 10/02/15

203 Loudville Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: David Jean
Seller: Elizabeth Nieves
Date: 10/15/15

15 Melinda Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Raymond E. Dinsmore
Seller: Michael P. Broussard
Date: 10/07/15

199 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Kevin C. Netto
Seller: Richard E. Konopka
Date: 10/07/15

5 Pinebrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $221,125
Buyer: Felicia K. Malachite
Seller: Angelique M. Britt
Date: 10/05/15

16 Sterling Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $191,363
Buyer: Veterans Affairs
Seller: Sean E. Krause
Date: 10/16/15

GRANBY

545 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Leanne A. Becker
Seller: Rose E. Gonzalez
Date: 10/01/15

162 Kendall St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $427,104
Buyer: Bank of America
Seller: Bonnie B. Snyder
Date: 10/08/15

HADLEY

204 Middle St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Angelo Vissas
Seller: John Fillio
Date: 10/15/15

319 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Montgomery Rose LLC
Seller: D. A. Johnson
Date: 10/02/15

River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Sweet Meadow Farm LLC
Seller: D. A. Johnson
Date: 10/02/15

HUNTINGTON

30 Pisgah Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $785,000
Buyer: Bernard P. Gawle
Seller: Julia M. Jones RET
Date: 10/09/15

MIDDLEFIELD

102 West Hill Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Conservancy Nature
Seller: Richard S. Merrell
Date: 10/02/15

NORTHAMPTON

40 Berkshire Terrace
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $421,000
Buyer: Mark W. Erba
Seller: Robert & Heather King NT
Date: 10/02/15

20 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $482,631
Buyer: Mark D. Hamill
Seller: Bridge Road LLC
Date: 10/06/15

60 Emily Lane
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Michael L. Kesten
Seller: Arnold D. Well
Date: 10/09/15

40 Fairway Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Hampshire Fairway TR
Seller: Lee J. Robinson
Date: 10/02/15

350 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Nancy E. Kirk
Seller: Delia A. Shelkey
Date: 10/09/15

7 Hampton Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Alan H. Bloomgarden
Seller: Zimmerman, George R., (Estate)
Date: 10/14/15

317 Kennedy Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Rachael A. Hanley
Seller: Michelle Stevens
Date: 10/05/15

38 Ladyslipper Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $461,000
Buyer: Alexander Simon
Seller: Deborah J. Cahillane
Date: 10/09/15

67 Liberty St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Roger Taylor
Seller: Debra B. Costello
Date: 10/02/15

97 Mountain St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Peter J. Bienkowski
Seller: Christine Driscoll
Date: 10/08/15

68 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $343,400
Buyer: David C. Hammer
Seller: Suzanne R. Starling
Date: 10/08/15

51 Phillips Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $569,000
Buyer: Hope M. Klein
Seller: Phillips Place LLC
Date: 10/16/15

182 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Bryan Coutain
Seller: Donald J. Sonn
Date: 10/09/15

409 Rocky Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Kira E. Jewett
Seller: Suzanne Schuster
Date: 10/07/15

Village Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Wright Builders Inc.
Seller: Hospital Hill Development
Date: 10/15/15

61 Woodlawn Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Frank E. Antonucci
Seller: William R. Murray
Date: 10/07/15

PELHAM

9 Pine Tree Circle
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Janet Lansberry
Seller: Chastain, Frances G., (Estate)
Date: 10/07/15

PLAINFIELD

64 Old South St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Christine T. Pinney
Seller: Michael R. Packard
Date: 10/02/15

386 West Main St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $118,500
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Peter C. Gorham
Date: 10/05/15

SOUTH HADLEY

279 Brainerd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Kristene M. Schwantner
Seller: Louise K. Haas
Date: 10/15/15

24 Brigham Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Kelley F. Haigh
Seller: Debra L. Sayers
Date: 10/09/15

239 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Jade C. Jump
Seller: Rhoda M. Donze
Date: 10/09/15

317 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: John H. McCarthy
Seller: David D. Gregory
Date: 10/16/15

12 Harvard St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $141,973
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Robert W. Bishop
Date: 10/14/15

3 Hillside Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Michael R. Boyle
Seller: David R. Scofield
Date: 10/08/15

29 Noel St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: F. H. Donovan
Seller: Mercier, Walter I., (Estate)
Date: 10/09/15

3 Ralph Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Kasey N. Bunnell
Seller: Christopher J. Schwantner
Date: 10/15/15

SOUTHAMPTON

16 Geryk Court
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Petra 2 T
Seller: Robert H. Perrea
Date: 10/14/15

Old Harvest Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $128,900
Buyer: G&F Custom Built Homes
Seller: Triple 7 LLC
Date: 10/05/15

Old Harvest Road #4
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $126,900
Buyer: James F. Boyle
Seller: Triple 7 LLC
Date: 10/09/15

WARE

78 Aspen St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Robert D. Ellithorpe
Seller: Smith, Lauretta C., (Estate)
Date: 10/08/15

36 Fisherdick Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Paul A. Moryl
Seller: Anna Wyderka
Date: 10/07/15

16 Monroe St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Roman Catholic Bishop Springfield
Seller: Phillip G. Vadnais
Date: 10/01/15

WORTHINGTON

47 Old Post Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Keith Desjardins
Seller: McGrath, John J., (Estate)
Date: 10/05/15

Incorporations

By
Departments Incorporations

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

CHICOPEE

Avidity Care Inc., 264 Exchange St., Ste. 2, Chicopee, MA 01013. Corey Briere, 16 Stewart St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Home health care services.

EASTHAMPTON

Tabbat Inc., 116 Pleasant St., Suite 158, Easthampton, MA 01027. Richard S. Lyman Jr., 96 Gunn Road, Southampton, MA 01073. Real estate holding company.

HATFIELD

Masssolar is Working Inc., 136 Elm St., Hatfield, MA 01038. Mark Sandeen, 10 Brent Road, Lexington, MA 02420. To create a public understanding of solar energy generation.

HOLYOKE

Gil’s Auto Repair & Performance Inc., 606 Main St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Gilberto Rivas, same. Auto repair.

Maruti Corp., 455 Homestead Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Shivani Patel, same. Package store.

LONGMEADOW

Brown & Brown Investment Advisory Inc., 734 Bliss Road, Ste. 4, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Registered investment advisor.

NORTHAMPTON

Rightway Drywall Inc., 206 Coles Meadow Road, Northampton, MA 01060. Brian Johnson, same. Drywall installation.

SOUTH HADLEY

Art Builders Inc., 311 Brainerd St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Deoclecio F. Artur, same. Construction and renovation services.

SPRINGFIELD

190 Bowdoin St. Development Inc., 11 Preston St., Springfield, MA 01109. Elisha Colgram, 304 Bay St., Springfield, MA 01109. To develop land at 190 Bowdoin Street in accordance with historic preservation.

Behavior Services of Western Massachusetts Inc., 1441 Main St., Ste. 900, Springfield, MA 01103. Kathleen Deniger, same. Autism behavior services.

WESTFIELD

Aura Nails & Spa Inc., 261 East Main St., Unit 10, Westfield, MA 01085. Youngran Chan, 20 Sunbriar Dr., Westfield, MA 01085. Nail salon.

TNN Transport Inc., 11 Lockhouse Road, Apt. A, Westfield, MA 01085. Anatoliy Tulchinskiy, same. Trucking.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

9312-3610 Quebec Inc., 23 Morningside Terrace, West Springfield, MA 01089. Miroslav Tkach, same. Trucking.

WILLIAMSBURG

Hilltown Village Inc., 106 Petticoat Hill Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096. Meghan Patricia Taylor, same. Practical, social, and emotional support services.

Autobahn Indoor Speedway Coming to Hampshire Mall

By
Daily News

HADLEY — Autobahn Indoor Speedway will begin construction this winter at Hampshire Mall. Autobahn’s 35,000-square-foot site will be the largest indoor karting facility in Western Mass. and will be located at Center Court across from Café Square and Cinemark.

Autobahn offers European-style go-karting in a completely enclosed facility. Each adult kart has a 20-horsepower electric motor that reaches speeds up to 50 mph, and the junior karts reach speeds up to 25 mph. For novice groups of racers, the sophisticated timing system allows for regulated speed in order to maintain a safe racing environment.

Autobahn — which also markets itself for special occasions such as birthday parties and corporate team-building events — currently operates locations in Baltimore, Md. and Jacksonville, Fla., and has plans to open more facilities. The Hadley location is projected to be open by spring. For more information, visit www.autobahnspeed.com.

Chase, Clarke, Stewart & Fontana Draws on a Rich History

By
Insurance Sections

A Downtown Institution

CCSF President Bob Stewart

CCSF President Bob Stewart

Bob Stewart says that when it comes down to the fine print, there’s not a lot of difference in the cost of insurance policies from one company to the next.

“It’s all about relationships,” said the president of Chase, Clarke, Stewart & Fontana (CCSF), an independent insurance agency with deep, 144-year-old roots in Springfield. “Any insurance purchaser can go down the street and find another policy that may be a few dollars less than the policy they have. But it’s not all about being the lowest price on the street; it’s about providing the best coverage and providing the best service you can for your clients.”

He said his firm isn’t unique in that respect; in the era of managed competition, a time when large, national insurance chains have flooded the market with marketing campaigns focused on bottom-line promises, independent insurers have been forced to focus on the personal touch, or, as he called it, “servicing the heck out of it.” Fortunately, he added, that’s long been key to the culture at CCSF.

“That’s how we keep business — return the phone calls, answer the e-mails, go see clients,” he went on, noting that house and office calls make even more sense as downtown Springfield prepares for three years of construction hassles related to the MGM casino and the I-91 viaduct reconstruction.

“With what’s going on downtown, the parking is horrible, so we don’t encourage any of our clients to come into our office; we will go out and see them. We’re always hopping in the car; that’s just routine. We’d rather go see our clients in their office or home and talk to them there. That’s part of the service aspect, too.”

And those clients are diverse, Stewart said.

“We don’t necessarily specialize in any one thing; we do an awful lot of personal-lines insurance — homeowners, auto insurance — but we do a large amount of commercial insurance as well, a lot of professional liability, medical liability, social-service-agency liability, lawyers’ liability. I have a small program of accountants’ professional liability, with clients all over, from Boston to Pittsfield. My brother [Jim Stewart] runs a church program; he’s a broker for a national church organization, the United Church of Christ.”

Jim Stewart is one of three vice presidents, along with Dan Fontana and Raymond Lukas, and they all bring different types of expertise to the table, Bob explained. “We’re all over the map. Ray is a financial planner by trade, so he’s done a lot of life insurance, employee benefits, and financial planning, so any stuff we need done on that end, that’s always his bailiwick.

“It really is a fun business,” he went on, “and I wish we were able to attract more younger people into the field because it’s a great business. It might not have all the glitter of a Wall Street job, and we are in downtown Springfield, which doesn’t appeal to a lot of people. But it’s a wonderful business, and we’ve been very successful over the years. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”

For this issue and its focus on insurance, BusinessWest sat down with Stewart to talk about why he’s a believer not only in his industry, but in Springfield itself, and why he’s still excited after 42 years in the business about helping people and businesses protect what’s important to them.

History Course

Since William Fuller opened an insurance business in downtown Springfield in 1871, that firm has never been headquartered more than a couple blocks from where it sits now, on the corner of State and Main streets.

“We’re probably the oldest independent agency in Springfield — maybe in Western Massachusetts,” Stewart noted. “Basically, our history is a series of mergers and purchases over the years.”

Fuller’s agency was later acquired by Samuel Sherwood and William Cone, growing under their leadership and then with Sherwood’s son, Malcolm. Raymond Redfield then added the business to his own agency, along with the Oppenheimer Agency, which had started around 1880. In 1957, Redfield invited the Russell D. Chase Agency and the Arthur H. Clarke Agency to merge together as Redfield, Chase & Clarke.

Meanwhile, another agency had been thriving in Springfield — the Lewis J. Stewart Insurance Agency, started by Stewart’s grandfather just after World War I and later run by his son, Robert Stewart Sr. In 1966, that agency joined with the growing Chase agency, which was renamed Chase, Clarke, Stewart. Bob Stewart came on board in 1973, followed by Jim in 1980.

Click HERE for a listing of area insurance companies

But the consolidation process was far from over. In 1995, the agency merged with the R.J. Fontana Agency — bringing Dan Fontana into the fold — forming Chase, Clarke, Stewart & Fontana.

CCSF

CCSF, located in the office building on the corner of State and Main Streets, has had a presence in downtown Springfield for nearly 150 years.

In 2000, the company purchased the Mutual Insurance Agency of Springfield, whose history dates back to 1827. Finally, in 2004, CCSF purchased the Lukas Insurance Agency of Springfield.

Through it all, the commercial-lines business has changed little over the years, save for occasional shifts in rates, but the same can’t be said of personal lines.

“That has changed drastically since what they call managed competition,” Stewart said. “Take auto insurance — back in the ’80s, we had probably about 12 insurance carriers writing auto insurance in Massachusetts, and not the big ones. No one wanted to come in because the state set the rates and said, ‘this is what you’re going to charge.’ Insurance companies were bound by those rules, and most of them felt they couldn’t make money in Massachusetts.

“But then the gloves came off and managed competition started,” he went on. “Insurance companies could set their own rates within certain parameters, so the field is much more wide open now. We’re now competing with the big insurance carriers from all across the country.”

Before this new era, he explained, independent agents wrote some 80% of auto policies, which was unheard of across the U.S.; that figure was closer to 40% or 50% in most states.

“That market share has dropped, and we knew it was going to,” Stewart went on. “And it has caused the insurance carriers we do business with, the independent-agency carriers, to really come up with some unique and unusual coverages and pricing to compete with some of the big companies that have come into the state. They’ve been very responsive. They’ve stepped up to the plate when they needed to compete from a pricing standpoint or from a coverage standpoint, by enhancing policies.”

Marketing has changed in some ways as well, particularly with the emergence of social media, which CCSF has put to effective use with a blog, where it shares information with various types of clients — for example, an article about cybersecurity for business customers, about insulation for homeowners, and about child car safety for motorists, just to name a few recent entries.

“That’s one way to stay in touch with them, let them know what’s going on in the industry, what kinds of things they can do to lower their premiums, protect their properties, and lower their risk,” he explained. “We’re been fortunate to have a young woman in the office who is really versed in social media. I’m kind of old-school, but everyone says it’s beneficial, so we’ll continue to do it.”

Selling a Promise

Stewart is just as pleased to see the changes emerging in Springfield — not just the casino, but a surge of activity and new business in the central business district that give him hope for the city’s future.

“When I started here in 1973, it was an entirely different downtown area. We had Steiger’s, Forbes, A.O. White, Johnson’s Bookstore — all sorts of stuff down here,” he told BusinessWest. “We went from that to seeing not much of anything in downtown Springfield. But I’m positive about the changes that are proposed and are happening. I they will benefit the city as a whole, not just downtown. I’m very positive about it. For those of us who work right in the center, what’s going on now in construction is inconvenient, but it’s an inconvenience that will be short-lived.”

Three years of construction and traffic snarls may not seem short-lived to some business owners, but with his company’s history sprawling back 144 years, he finds it easy to take the long view. Besides, there’s always someone new to get in the car and visit.

“For me, it’s really all about the people I deal with. We have a tremendous staff in our office, it’s fun to deal with them, and it’s fun to deal with all my clients — I really enjoy talking to people, going out to see them. That’s what makes it interesting. If I had to sit behind my desk all day, every day, I’d probably be miserable.”

Stewart is also gratified by a job where he helps people protect themselves against the worst, or at least mitigate hardships when they do strike.

“One client I’m dealing with now, his house was badly burned — a very extensive, very serious loss,” he said. “I talked to them a few times the last few weeks, and things are going smoothly, and the checks are getting cut. It’s good to see that what we’ve provided for them is actually going the way it’s supposed to, and things are being put back together without any further issues.”

At its heart, he concluded, “all we’re selling as an insurance agency is a promise, so we’d better be able to deliver on that promise when the time comes.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Holyoke Medical Center Breaks Ground on New ED, Office Building

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) broke ground this week on construction for a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department that, when completed, will expand the current space from 8,500 square feet to approximately 22,000 square feet, as wel as a new, 16,000-square-foot medical office building.

The project is expected to be completed in spring 2017. The Emergency Department will feature a new Crisis Center for Psychiatric Services, 40 treatment areas, multi-patient trauma rooms, advanced life-saving equipment, and a patient-navigation service. This will allow HMC to treat patients in a more efficient and dignified way.

The medical office building will house a host of new services, including a comprehensive weight-loss center, sleep-apnea clinic, and other multi-specialty physician practices. These expanded services will address the current and emerging community health needs of Hampden County, including the sharp rise in obesity and diabetes rates, while also creating new jobs in Holyoke.

“Today’s groundbreaking represents our strong commitment to providing tens of thousands of patients in the Pioneer Valley with access to convenient and compassionate life-saving care,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems Inc. “HMC’s new Emergency Department and medical office building will offer the latest in medical technology, a broader range of emergency services, and highly skilled clinicians dedicated to serving our community.”

Funding for the project is provided partially by the Commonwealth’s Health Policy Commission (HPC), through Phase 2 of the Community Hospital Acceleration, Revitalization, and Transformation Investment Program, also known as CHART, which aims to promote care coordination, integration, and delivery transformation to enhance Massachusetts community hospitals’ delivery of efficient and effective care. The $3.9 million grant supports the integration of new behavioral-health services in the Emergency Department.

“Our partnership with community hospitals is a critical part of HPC’s efforts to achieve the Commonwealth’s cost-containment and quality-improvement goals,” said David Seltz, executive director of HPC. “CHART hospitals were issued a challenge: propose initiatives that will put you on a path of transformation, while meeting the critical health care needs of your community. Today, I’m pleased to report that HMC exceeded that challenge. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Holyoke community to build a more coordinated and affordable healthcare system.”

HMC’s award was the highest award for a single hospital in CHART Phase 2.

HMC will leverage an innovative, multi-disciplinary high-risk-care team, known as the Behavioral Health Emergency Care Service, to support all patients with behavioral-health conditions in the Emergency Department. At the same time, this coordinated initiative will introduce robust care navigation in partnership with community-based organizations to ensure that patients receive targeted interventions, including those necessary to address the high incidence of complex, challenging social issues, and are referred to the right services for successful follow-through on individualized care plans.

A portion of this investment will also support HMC’s efforts to redesign its Emergency Department, and will create a separate healing and therapeutic behavioral-health space in the emergency room designed to reduce patient anxiety, streamline patient flow, and improve overall quality of care in a safe and secure environment.

Additional financing partners for the total project budget of $22.8 million include Valley Health Systems, MassDevelopment, People’s United Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and A.I. Wainwright.

Last year, more than 42,500 patients visited Holyoke Medical Center’s Emergency Department, and the department will continue to serve the Greater Holyoke community throughout the construction phase of the project.

Sarno Says a Baseball Deal Would Have to Make Sense for the City

By
Features

Covering His Bases

Springfield’s Vision 2017

Springfield’s Vision 2017 presentation offered the Republican property as one possible site for a ballpark. City leaders say there are several options.

As he discussed the current talks concerning the possibility of minor league baseball coming to the City of Homes, Mayor Domenic Sarno spent a good deal of time referencing the last time this matter came to the table.

That was a rather extended period, actually, from the mid ’90s into the start of this century, when several proposals were floated for a ballpark that would be built on sites ranging from the city’s North End, to the riverfront, to the Chicopee River Business Park. And that go-around, if one chooses to call it that, is much different from this one, said the mayor.

For starters, he said, back in the ’90s, baseball and the stadium in which it would be played were talked about in terms of being a major economic development initiative, a ‘build-it-and-they-will-come’ proposition, where the city would build a park and then essentially lure a team to play in it.

This time around, things are much different, said both Sarno and Kevin Kennedy, the city’s chief development officer. In the current environment, baseball would be a piece of the puzzle — not the piece, they said.

“This is part of the economic development equation, the vision that we have,” said the mayor. “It fits right in with the momentum we’re enjoying right now.”

Meanwhile, instead of having a hypothetical team as the focus of the discussions, the current talks involve the Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

That team, which has played in Pawtucket for decades, and is known affectionately as the PawSox, is looking for a new home, a search that began in earnest in Providence, but will not end there, apparently, after negotiations concerning a site adjacent to the Providence River were terminated amid a host of obstacles.

Now, several other cities are supposedly in the mix, with Springfield being one of them.

The changed climate involving the current discussions is apparent in the way both Sarno and Kennedy address the matter. Early and often they said the city would pursue the team “only if makes sense for the city,” and vowed that they wouldn’t get into anything approaching a bidding war with Worcester, Fall River, or any of the other cities rumored to also be in some form of contention for the team.

“To have the home town, home state Triple A Boston Red Sox affiliate in Springfield would be a home run,” Sarno noted. “But it’s got to be done smart, it has to be done with community input, it has to be done in partnership with the business community … done the right way, it could be a huge benefit.”

Indeed, Sarno and Kennedy both said this matter is certainly worth an investment in time and energy on the part of the city, primarily because some of the officials with the Red Sox organization have expressed interest in the city, and also because bringing the PawSox to the city makes sense for both parties involved.

As noted, Springfield officials would get another building block to go along with MGM’s casino, a new factory to build subway cars, Union Station’s revitalization, and new entrepreneurial energy downtown, in its efforts to stage a complete revitalization, Sarno said. Meanwhile, the Red Sox would be locating their Triple A affiliate in a city with a number of other entertainment options (either already existing or planned) and in a market with easily accessible to people across the state, but also Connecticut, Vermont, and eastern New York State.

“We’re going to be very methodical about this,” the mayor stressed. “We’re going to look at the numbers, we’re going to look at the private investment; if it makes sense, we’ll pursue it. If it doesn’t, again, it’s just one piece of the puzzle.”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Sarno and Kennedy about the prospects for baseball, and how this bid is much different than the failed adventure of 15 years ago.

Stepping up to the Plate

Sarno said the current baseball talks started — or at least gained some traction — at a recent awards ceremony in Boston known as the Globies, named after the newspaper the stages them, the Boston Globe.

The mayor was in attendance to accept an honor on behalf of Springfield — ‘best comeback city’ — and during the early stages of the ceremony he was approached by Sam Kennedy, the recently named president of the Red Sox, who has some ties to the City of Homes.

“He said, ‘Larry would like to speak with you guys,’” said Sarno, adding that this was a reference to Larry Luccino, Kennedy’s predecessor as president of the Red Sox and managing partner of the PawSox.

Sarno noted that he did eventually get to speak with Luccino. It wasn’t a long conversation, but the latter got across the message that he wanted Springfield to become part of the mix when it came to finding a new home for his team.

How Luccino, who has scripted some intriguing stories of ballpark construction in urban settings — Camden Yards in Baltimore and Petco park in San Diego, most notably — became interested in Springfield is not known, but Sarno believes it has a lot to do with why he was at the Globies to begin with.

He said the city is staging a noteworthy comeback, and MGM’s plans to build an $800 million casino in its South End have put the community on many radar screens that would not have picked it up years ago.

“MGM has put us on the map,” said Sarno adding that the casino initiative has already created new opportunities — he credits the project as being a big motivating factor in the decision of Falvey Linen Supply to relocate to Brookdale Drive — and could help inspire many others.

What becomes of this baseball opportunity is a function of economics and practicality, said the mayor, again noting that any deal “must make sense for the city.”

The starting point will be what is usually is in such matters, said Kennedy, referring to a planned feasibility study that will examine where a stadium could go, how it would be financed, and whether the numbers do indeed make sense.

“We need to look at the economics of this in terms of potential sites, and we need to know all there is know about the whole baseball business in terms of the size of the stadium and everything else” he said, adding that the city is asking the business community to step to the plate, figuratively, and underwrite some or all of the cost of the study.

As for possible locations for an 11,000-seat stadium required to host the team, Kennedy said that several could eventually emerge.

At his department’s now annual presentation last spring on development initiatives, this year called Vision 2017, Kennedy presented a number of images representing possible future developments. One of them was a baseball stadium on the site of the Republican newspaper’s complex on Main Street just past the Arch.

While that would be a very expensive option for the PawSox, there are many other potential sites, he said, especially in the area near Union Station and what has come to be the “blast zone,” site of the 2012 natural gas explosion.

A baseball stadium in the North End and a casino in the South End could create opportunities for not only those areas, but the real estate in between, said the mayor, adding that the two entertainment entities, as well as others already in place, such as the AHL’s Falcons, will likely create a steady flow of pedestrians in downtown.

“Getting that pedestrian traffic, thousands of people going back and forth — having an anchor like the stadium in the North End and the casino in the South End opens up myriad possibilities,” Sarno noted.

A Potential Hit

As he talked with BusinessWest about the PawSox and the possibility of them coming to Springfield, Sarno introduced some history lessons.

He related how his father, who was one of nine barbers doing business in downtown Springfield when the city last had a minor league team — an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants — in the ’60s, still tells stories about the players he saw.

“He would talk about Billy Ray Hart, the Alou brothers, Juan Marichal — they would all come in, and it was a glorious time,” he said, adding quickly that this latest pursuit of baseball has nothing to do with nostalgia or creating memories for future generations.

Well, it’s not all about those things. In reality, it’s about building on current momentum by adding another important piece to the revitalization puzzle — if it works.

“We’re going to be very methodical,” Sarno said again. “I think people know we’re open for business and they like that, but we’re also very succinct in making sure that we cross the ‘t’s and dot the ‘i’s.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Longmeadow Looks to Spur Development

By
Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Richard Walker and Antigoni Proctor

Richard Walker and Antigoni Proctor say the addition to the Longmeadow Shops will enable retailers and eateries to stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace.

The economic landscape in Longmeadow will soon be changing — quite literally — and the new development is just what this residential community needs — in many ways.

Indeed, for the first time in more than two decades, the Longmeadow Shops will undergo a major expansion, which will include a 13,100-square-foot space with a drive-through to accommodate the growing needs of CVS.

“Voters approved a zone change in February for an adjacent 1.2-acre parcel that we have owned since we purchased the Longmeadow Shops 22 years ago,” said Steve Walker, regional property manager for Grove Property Fund LLC.

“More than 80% percent of residents approved the change after we showed them what we want to do; we felt it was important for them to know as much as they could about our plan,” he continued, explaining that they will add a new, 21,000-square-foot building, which will be separated from the current strip that houses shops, banks, and eateries, by Bank of America’s drive-through, located on the far end of the existing structure.

The site plan has received approval from the Planning Board, and although some might wonder why Grove would want to expand now after leaving the grassy parcel empty for so many years, Walker said several factors provided the impetus.

“We felt the time was right. Longmeadow has a new high school that was completed last fall and the town has a lot of new residents,” he said. “CVS has had several conversations with us about expanding, but we never had room to accommodate them. The space they are in is too small for their needs, and elderly patrons as well as parents with sick children often need to park quite a distance away to get inside the store.

“In addition, we’re trying to strengthen our position in the marketplace,” he went on. “Change is good, and we want to provide shoppers with more variety, and make this into a larger lifestyle center, which will help our retailers stay competitive, especially since Internet shopping has taken a toll on all local retail businesses.”

The expansion of the Longmeadow Shops is expected to generate an additional $80,000 to $90,000 in taxes each year, which makes this development significant for another reason.

Indeed, although officials say the new revenue will help, they have serious concerns about their ability to sustain services over the next decade due to a lack of developable land, and therefore, a distinct lack of opportunities to generate new tax revenue.

“The state limit on how much you can charge residents on their home is $25 per $1,000, and we are projecting we could hit that limit in five years,” said Selectman Chairman Richard Foster. “There are some variables, and a debt exclusion is possible, but it would mean no increases to the town budget and no new hires, and if we reached that figure, we would be faced with a possible reduction in services.”

He knows other communities have had to deal with the same situation, but said they usually have land that can be developed.

“Our town is 96% residential and 4% commercial, so what makes it so great also cripples it, and everything we do affects homeowners’ tax bills,” he noted. “Our infrastructure is aging and we need to start replacing it, which will cost millions. We need to keep moving forward, but I have become very concerned as I watch tax bills increase each year. There is a finite limit to how much people can pay and we need to find new ways to generate income.”

For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinesWest explores just how Longmeadow intends to go about that all-important mission.

Growing Pains

Town Manager Stephen Crane said rezoning the land next to the Longmeadow Shops from residential to commercial certainly shines a spotlight on challenges the town could face in the future.

“We have the highest combined tax rate in the state; we instituted a split tax rate for the first time this year, but there is such a small amount of developable land left,” he told BusinessWest.

To help solve that problem, the town has engaged the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to help officials update the community’s long-range strategic plan, with the goal of assessing development opportunities in the community.

“We have a AA bond rating, and the town is very well- managed, but the lack of growth isn’t keeping pace with the increased cost of operating the town,” Crane said. “So, we’re taking a proactive stance to find areas that are underdeveloped or undeveloped and plan to look at any restrictiveness in our zoning that impedes new development.”

The PVPC will re-evaluate the land-use portion of a document titled, Face the Future: The Long Range Plan of 2004, and present town officials with options for redevelopment. Foster said officials will study three sites that could potentially be used as recreational, commercial, or residential development at some point in the future, if residents voted in favor of such proposals. They are:

• The 20.1-acre Water Tower Property on Academy Drive near the East Longmeadow line;

• 65 acres of developable land in Turner Park, the town’s largest tract of unused property (the park contains more acreage but it is composed of wetlands and ponds). “From a developmental standpoint, this area could be a phenomenal site due to its natural features,” Foster said, adding that building a senior community on the property might be a viable option;

• Either of the middle school properties, since one of them may become available if the facilities are consolidated, a move which some have suggested. Williams Middle School sits on 16.1 acres, while Glenbrook Middle School is on 20.5 acres.

Last March, the School Committee voted unanimously to recommend the submission of two statements of interest for a new middle school to the Mass. School Building Authority, based on their age and limited amount of space. The district would like to move students from both schools into a new facility.

Although the selectmen denied the request, they had an engineering firm update a report they had done several years ago by re-inspecting the schools and bringing cost estimates up to date.

“But the school department may come back with the proposal again this spring,” Foster said, adding that the middle schools could be consolidated. “We’re looking at a lot of things right now.”

Due to that and the fact that the town needs to establish new sources of revenue, officials are being diligent about fleshing out all possibilities, he went on.

“I’m striving to establish a plan that is so dynamic that future boards will institutionalize it and accept it and continue to reinforce its development,” Foster continued. “It could become our 15-to-20-year master plan and the number one objective of our community.”

What’s in Store

Meanwhile, the plans for expanding the Longmeadow Shops are becoming reality.

And as she went into detail on them, Grove Property Fund Manager Antigoni Proctor first explained the meaning and value of a lifestyle shopping center.

“It’s a place where people can have a cup coffee, shop for clothing and gifts, get their hair and nails done, pick up medicine, have dinner and visit with their friends,” she said, adding that this is what the shops have become. “We want it to be enjoyable to come here.

“It’s a place where people can socialize and buy things they want and need. They can also do their grocery shopping across the street at Big Y, or buy children’s toys at Kiddly Winks in Williams Place,” she continued as she pointed to the shopping complex, which is fronted by Williams Street and separated from Longmeadow Shops by an island containing a gas station, Big Y and Bliss Road, which runs in front of the shops.

Walker said Grove is excited about the expansion and grateful to the town and its residents for approving the plan.

“This is a really unique property. It sits in the most affluent community in Western Mass and it’s not right off a highway,” he said. “It has become Longmeadow’s downtown and it’s a great place to do business.”

Construction is expected to begin early next spring and be completed by November 2016. The cost is estimated at $3.1 million, which includes adding a fourth entrance with a new curb cut, as well as a complete reconfiguration of the parking lot. In addition to 139 new parking spaces, the current lines will be blacked out, the lot will be resealed, then it will be restriped to provide room for more vehicles.

“The new parking design will make it easier for people to get in and out of the shopping center,” Walker continued.

CVS will move from its current 7,900-square-foot space and become the anchor tenant in the new structure. “Their new store will contain 13,100 square feet, and the drive-through will help elders, parents with young children, and other people who don’t want to go into the store to pick up prescriptions,” Walker said.

That will leave about 8,000 square feet in the new building, he went on, adding that Grove is having discussions with a national retailer interested in leasing about 6,000 square feet and they hope to sign a contract within the month.

“We’re really excited about the tenant,” he said, noting that the company is taking a proactive stance in filling the remaining space and hopes to get a new restaurant in the building. “We also have to backfill CVS’s current space as well as the space that was vacated when Semolina Bread moved out this month.”

To that end, Proctor recently visited The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor, Conn., hoping to find a shop or eatery that would be a good fit for the Longmeadow Shops.

“We try to find the best national, regional and local tenants that will complement what we already have here,” Walker said.

Crane believes the expansion will be beneficial on a number of levels.

“It will provide additional tax revenue as well as giving the community more retail options. Something like this doesn’t happen often in Longmeadow,” he noted.

Forward Progress

Foster said Longmeadow is doing everything possible to generate new revenue, and the addition of a meals tax two years has generated $125,000. But it’s not nearly enough, so the quest to find ways to generate new income will continue. “We’re stretching our thought process as far as we can and hope PVPC will bring new ideas to the table,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Longmeadow Shops will be expanded, and the town will remain a quiet, bucolic place with a small number of businesses that do very well.

“Longmeadow is a well-managed community that offers residents and businesses a wide range of high-quality services,” Crane said. “We don’t have many opportunities for commercial expansion, so we are being proactive and in spite of our limited economic development tools, we are trying to apply them in the most effective way possible.”

Longmeadow at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1783
Population: 15,803
Area: 9.5 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $23.63
Commercial Tax Rate: $26.13
Median Household Income: $99,089
Family Household Income: $114,515
Type of government: Open Town Meeting; Town Manager; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Bay Path University; Glenmeadow; Longmeadow School Department
* Latest information available

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

287 Bald Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Dmitriy D. Darmanchev
Seller: June S. Foster TR
Date: 09/24/15

76 Church St.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Pavel Belogour
Seller: Jacques A. Lamuniere
Date: 09/23/15

94 Church St.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Pavel Belogour
Seller: Jacques A. Lamuniere
Date: 09/23/15

BUCKLAND

46 Avery Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Jack P. Hayden
Seller: PDV Inc.
Date: 09/25/15

CONWAY

76 Pleasant St.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Jessica Dampier
Seller: Ira N. Band
Date: 09/30/15

79 Upper Baptist Hill Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Suzanne O. Artemieff
Seller: Sharon Carty
Date: 09/23/15

DEERFIELD

47 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: Adele B. Dowell
Seller: Yves R. Jacques
Date: 09/28/15

85 Mill Village Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Matthew Marceau
Seller: Anthony J. Furnari
Date: 09/30/15

83 Sugarloaf St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: Gabriel S. Smith
Seller: Frank P. Marchand
Date: 09/29/15

ERVING

4 Semb Dr.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Lori A. Hall
Seller: Elizabeth M. Call
Date: 09/30/15

GILL

30 Franklin Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Nash L. Bly
Seller: Bradford S. Stone
Date: 09/30/15

GREENFIELD

54 Adams Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Shana A. Korenewsky
Seller: Denise M. Hubert
Date: 09/24/15

7 Freeman Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Steven G. Childs
Seller: Robert C. Simpson
Date: 09/21/15

376 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Philip F. Deyman
Seller: Charles W. Purple
Date: 09/30/15

40 Lovers Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $215,900
Buyer: Anthony M. Falco
Seller: Shanna L. Burke
Date: 09/21/15

23 Pleasant St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Evan S. Childress
Seller: James W. Cole
Date: 09/22/15

36-1/2 Russell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: William B. Kern
Seller: Holly A. Christensen
Date: 09/21/15

28 Spring Terrace
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Emily M. Notarfrancesco
Date: 09/30/15

135 Thayer Road Ext.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $124,500
Buyer: John R. Lyons
Seller: FNMA
Date: 09/29/15

44-46 Water St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jerad Goulston
Seller: Jeffrey A. Traft
Date: 09/30/15

LEYDEN

333 Greenfield Road
Leyden, MA 01301
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Paul S. Fisher
Seller: Susan E. Pazmino
Date: 09/21/15

MONTAGUE

18 Bridge St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Michael A. Ketcham
Seller: Bridge Street TR
Date: 09/25/15

NEW SALEM

237 Neilson Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Evan L. April
Seller: Paul J. Golden
Date: 09/29/15

NORTHFIELD

1013-C Millers Falls Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Corwin D. Edson
Seller: Jessica S. Edson
Date: 09/25/15

ORANGE

84 Oak Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Lynn M. Bielecki
Seller: Jamey Cearley
Date: 09/25/15

SUNDERLAND

47 Howard Hepburn Dr.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: David Sagan
Seller: Laura C. Grace
Date: 09/24/15

WARWICK

8 Gale Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Colleen M. Byrnes
Seller: Kevin L. Alden
Date: 09/25/15

165 Hockanum Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Joel V. Rice
Seller: Paul Robbins
Date: 09/30/15

WHATELY

Dickinson Hill Road (SS)
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: J. R. Klinger
Seller: Louis D. Hannum TR
Date: 09/28/15

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

135 Anvil St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Justin D. Matisewski
Seller: Michael D. Balise
Date: 09/30/15

78 Cooley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Patricia Semanie
Seller: Sandra Dauphinais
Date: 09/25/15

95 Edward St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Anthony D. Saloio
Seller: Richard L. Voltz
Date: 09/29/15

123 Elm St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Joyce E. Siana
Seller: Patricia Misisco
Date: 09/23/15

99 Forest Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Charles K. Frohock
Seller: David M. Healey
Date: 09/24/15

43 Fruwirth Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Angela M. Mancini
Seller: Frederick S. Fruwirth
Date: 09/30/15

Lango Lane #6
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Svetlana Strela
Seller: PBI Inc.
Date: 09/28/15

1410 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Shellie M. Donner
Seller: William A. Saltman
Date: 09/30/15

180 Mallard Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $262,900
Buyer: Carrie L. Smith
Seller: Bruce R. Hebert
Date: 09/25/15

497 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Sherika T. Allen
Seller: Joshua X. Tower
Date: 09/28/15

536 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Sarah C. Hoisington
Seller: Frank M. Lalli
Date: 09/21/15

1068 North St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kostiantyn Kuterhin
Seller: Rose M. Alessandri
Date: 09/22/15

189 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Michael C. Lagacy
Seller: Jacob Dushane
Date: 09/30/15

337 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Robert J. Consedine
Seller: Town Of Agawam
Date: 09/29/15

30-32 Ottawa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Stephen M. Buynicki
Seller: Evans, Ernest D., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/15

139 Parkedge Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Robert J. Carey
Seller: Lynne Kerber
Date: 09/30/15

266 Poplar St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: William J. Sperry
Seller: Francis C. Lewis
Date: 09/30/15

74 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Juanita D. Estrada
Seller: Walter Hollinger
Date: 09/30/15

570 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: George Deveno
Seller: KMCG Realty LLC
Date: 09/30/15

1275 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Carmen C. Marin
Seller: James D. Dow
Date: 09/28/15

105 Witheridge St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Sarah R. Lempke
Seller: Robert J. Carey
Date: 09/23/15

BLANDFORD

66 1st St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Lori J. Hitchcock-Mietka
Seller: Michael A. Mike
Date: 09/30/15

14 Island Acres Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Willmott
Seller: Joshua A. Weinstein

30 Mill Lane
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $689,900
Buyer: Hilltop Northeast Enterprises LLC
Seller: Donald G. Moriarty
Date: 09/29/15

BRIMFIELD

Route 20
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: RCFAM LLC
Seller: Robert H. Clark
Date: 09/25/15

160 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Jerrold Bennett
Seller: Jeremy P. Hart
Date: 09/22/15

CHICOPEE

157 Amherst St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Rafael Cornier
Seller: Melro Associates Inc.
Date: 09/24/15

145 Beauregard Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Raymond D. Potvin
Seller: Jeanne M. Lafleur
Date: 09/30/15

54 Berger St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Tatyana Onufriychuk
Seller: MNH Sub 1 LLC
Date: 09/25/15

47 Blanchwood Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: David Sullivan
Seller: Myles J. Mueller
Date: 09/25/15

53 Bonneville Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Cristina Polanco
Seller: Angela Coulopoulos
Date: 09/25/15

50 Calvin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Miroslawa Mazgula
Seller: Mark J. Dion
Date: 09/30/15

10 David St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Caleb Z. Provost
Seller: Heather K. Wrisley
Date: 09/29/15

162 Empire St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Nathan P. Mahoney
Seller: Patricia A. Fredette
Date: 09/28/15

82 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Aleksey Stebenkov
Seller: Vyacheslav Kuzmenko
Date: 09/29/15

36 Harrington Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Kimberly Dout
Seller: Bruce Flynn
Date: 09/30/15

20 Harwich St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kenneth P. Andrulot
Seller: Kenneth C. Burkamp
Date: 09/22/15

115 Haven Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Michael W. Guiel
Seller: William V. Guiel
Date: 09/21/15

47 Lester St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: Craig Cwalina
Seller: Kenneth R. Hebert
Date: 09/28/15

63 Ludger Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Buyer: Andrew R. Beaudry
Seller: Jeremiah Beaudry
Date: 09/25/15

6 Macek Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Arminda P. Hanifin
Seller: Lynn Dehneh
Date: 09/24/15

55 Mary St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Linda Furgal
Seller: Christopher P. Renaud
Date: 09/29/15

165 McCarthy Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Jean P. Desjardins
Seller: Shirley R. Chretien
Date: 09/21/15

75 Murphy Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Riverbend 2 Properties
Seller: Charles M. Johnson
Date: 09/24/15

N/A
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Nathan F. Labak
Seller: Weaver, Kimberly K., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/15

18 Ogden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Alexis Rodriguez
Seller: Thanh Monat
Date: 09/30/15

148 Telegraph Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Tammy Szukala
Seller: Yelena S. Pavlenko
Date: 09/29/15

153 Tolpa Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Angela Rodriguez
Seller: Bank Of America
Date: 09/23/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

22 Bettswood Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Thomas Anthony
Seller: Donna W. Gore
Date: 09/22/15

28 Crescent Hill
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Michael M. Brock
Seller: Norman R. Vigneault
Date: 09/30/15

98 Evergreen Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: David E. Labrie
Seller: Jason M. Newmark
Date: 09/25/15

53 Melrose Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Dung V. Pham
Seller: Michael Carabetta
Date: 09/22/15

17 Peachtree Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Seved P. Gheblealivand
Seller: Micheal A. Sorokin
Date: 09/24/15

HAMPDEN

198 Ames Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Thomas Petzold
Date: 09/30/15

61 Stafford Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: James R. Damour
Seller: Kevin J. Caputo
Date: 09/25/15

53 Steepleview Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $747,682
Buyer: Robert J. Villeneuve
Seller: Michael J. Kane
Date: 09/25/15

HOLLAND

10 Forest Court
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Gerald Baseel
Seller: Jon R. Macneal
Date: 09/22/15

HOLYOKE

43 Amherst St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: James E. Durfee
Seller: Maureen M. Grenier
Date: 09/30/15

61 Bemis Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Mark Peltier
Seller: Philip B. Kraus
Date: 09/24/15

57 Calumet Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $156,200
Buyer: Samuel J. Verla
Seller: Michael J. Sullivan
Date: 09/30/15

108 Chapin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $164,408
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Gilberto J. Sotolongo
Date: 09/28/15

121 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Hugenpoet LLC
Seller: Gretna Green Development
Date: 09/30/15

19-27 Hadley Mill Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Reynardo Nazario
Seller: Patricia Gosselin-Gorman
Date: 09/30/15

1155 Hampden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Amer F. Ahmed
Seller: Conrad Duquette
Date: 09/29/15

19 Joanne Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Stephen M. Swindell
Seller: Lorraine M. Gorham
Date: 09/24/15

4-6 Orchard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Karl H. Hastings
Seller: Ana E. West
Date: 09/30/15

358 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Jose L. Colon
Seller: Everett J. Sexton
Date: 09/30/15

206 South St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $122,333
Buyer: Ventures TR
Seller: Edwin R. Rivera
Date: 09/23/15

417 Southampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,500
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Kathleen Welch
Date: 09/25/15

54 Sterling Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $224,500
Buyer: Kathleen M. Marcinek
Seller: Deanna M. Dunn
Date: 09/25/15

LONGMEADOW

67 Allen Road
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Eileen S. Savoy
Seller: Scott M. Gousse
Date: 09/28/15

18 Blokland Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Kenneth R. Holt
Seller: Sun T. Lin
Date: 09/30/15

25 Dover Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Robert Heap
Seller: Barbara K. Seabury
Date: 09/30/15

40 Edgemont St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Maynard
Seller: Henry Dutcher
Date: 09/25/15

70 Emerson Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Donna Flores
Seller: Warren S. Sumner
Date: 09/25/15

43 Fernleaf Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: PLS Realty Inc.
Seller: Regan, Jeanette T., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/15

81 Glenbrook Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Sean Daoust
Seller: James F. Foard
Date: 09/29/15

68 Northfield Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Douglas W. Taylor
Seller: Jay B. Appleman
Date: 09/30/15

170 Overbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $870,000
Buyer: James M. Fitzpatrick
Seller: James F. Zick
Date: 09/30/15

101 Tanglewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Kalyan K. Pundla
Seller: Gloria J. Wilson
Date: 09/23/15

26 Whitmun Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: Richard Butera
Seller: Gary M. Hebert
Date: 09/23/15

LUDLOW

608 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Michael Georgiadis
Seller: Patricia H. Johnson
Date: 09/30/15

132 Cislak Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Anna Rodrigo
Seller: Marek Skora
Date: 09/28/15

East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Corry Real Estate Holdings
Seller: Antonio Sebastiao
Date: 09/30/15

300-302 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $715,000
Buyer: Cumberland Ludlow LLC
Seller: Jorge Dias
Date: 09/25/15

12 Keith Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Matthew G. Nay
Seller: Jaime A. Poulin
Date: 09/28/15

83 Skyridge St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Nancy E. Tenney
Seller: FNMA
Date: 09/30/15

103 Waverly Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $332,000
Buyer: Vasilya Turan
Seller: James W. Monette
Date: 09/30/15

MONSON

6 Maplelawn Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Edward A. Perry
Seller: Ryder, Esther C., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/15

225 Moulton Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Keith C. Leonard
Seller: Erin F. Percoski
Date: 09/25/15

140 Peck Brothers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Tobias Trudeau
Seller: Loren B. Littrell
Date: 09/25/15

PALMER

227 Boston Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Mario Morales
Seller: Jeffrey C. Allard
Date: 09/28/15

23 Brown St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $138,500
Buyer: Matthew Marciniec
Seller: John, Mary S., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/15

57 Commercial St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: David A. Matteson
Seller: Joel B. Sefchik
Date: 09/23/15

Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $140,000
Seller: Orlanda H. Miner
Date: 09/28/15

4400 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $167,220
Buyer: Roberto Chacon
Seller: Robert A. Shepka
Date: 09/30/15

54 Mount Dumplin Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Ryan R. Talbot
Seller: Blueline Management LLC
Date: 09/25/15

16 Orchard St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Paul D. Sigovitch
Seller: Jon R. Rhodes
Date: 09/23/15

2086-2088 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Christopher Denison
Seller: Pietrewica, A. E., (Estate)
Date: 09/22/15

5 Sylvia St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Danny R. Champagne
Seller: Rudolph E. Kivior
Date: 09/30/15

1212 Thorndike St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Kevin M. Wenzel
Seller: Adams, Marry G., (Estate)
Date: 09/25/15

RUSSELL

271 Blandford Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Indy B. Edwards
Seller: Michael A. Vaillancourt
Date: 09/30/15

SOUTHWICK

12 Bugbee Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Richard W. Anderson
Seller: Anderson, Elwood H., (Estate)
Date: 09/29/15

97 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Zachary P. Dougherty
Seller: Janet L. Nesbitt
Date: 09/28/15

17 Ed Holcomb Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Red Oak Investments LLC
Seller: Elizabeth A. Cassady
Date: 09/29/15

11 Falmouth Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Maksim Dzyubenko
Seller: Susan J. Barnett
Date: 09/28/15

181 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $187,900
Buyer: Christopher L. Belinda
Seller: Pauline A. Fedora
Date: 09/29/15

SPRINGFIELD

80-82 Abbe Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Johnathan S. Delgado
Seller: Gloria Baez
Date: 09/25/15

244 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Justin Veillette
Seller: Andreas A. Kralios
Date: 09/21/15

35 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Carly Muniz
Seller: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Date: 09/23/15

1217 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $179,800
Buyer: Migdalia Pinto
Seller: Amanda M. Pereira
Date: 09/25/15

36 Calvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Salomon A. Mateo
Seller: Beverly A. Capparelli
Date: 09/25/15

156 Carol Ann St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $153,900
Buyer: Juan C. Dominicci-Sierra
Seller: Brittney H. Devenitch
Date: 09/25/15

248 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Epsilon Property Mgmt. Inc.
Seller: Taste Of Greece Springfield
Date: 09/28/15

54 Fairfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $154,900
Buyer: Charlie J. Lee
Seller: Concerned Citizens of Springfield
Date: 09/23/15

119 Garnet St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Adrian N. Howell
Seller: Robert J. Palmer
Date: 09/25/15

23 Green Way
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Carey D. Lape
Seller: Andy T. Trinh
Date: 09/30/15

15 Haven Ave.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $199,500
Buyer: Brian W. Terlik
Seller: Daniel J. Garrity
Date: 09/25/15

238 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Gloria J. Wilson
Seller: Donna M. Dougherty
Date: 09/23/15

97 Holly St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: 97 Holly LLC
Seller: Holly Street Realty Inc.
Date: 09/23/15

166 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Winston J. Nixon
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 09/25/15

78 Kenwood Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Epsilon Property Mgmt. Inc.
Seller: Taste Of Greece Springfield
Date: 09/28/15

2220 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $296,382
Buyer: Roger Cohen
Seller: Re-Co Partnership
Date: 09/28/15

360 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Jose A. Lopez
Seller: Jimmarie Sosa
Date: 09/30/15

87 Melville St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Alessandro Calabrese
Seller: Benjamin M. Ulrich
Date: 09/29/15

N/A
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Lucrecia N. Andujar
Seller: Muhammad Chaudhery
Date: 09/30/15

13 O’Connell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Kaitlynn N. Hoague
Seller: Christine A. Roy
Date: 09/25/15

50 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Christina Diaz
Seller: Rafael A. Vallejo
Date: 09/30/15

1247 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Zusha E. Rodriguez
Seller: R2R LLC
Date: 09/30/15

1587 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Robert J. Pelletier
Seller: Donald Laverdiere
Date: 09/28/15

54 Pheasant Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Ivan V. Rosas
Seller: Darrel L. Franklin
Date: 09/28/15

730 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Maria Prendergast
Seller: Daniel Garte
Date: 09/30/15

926 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Nelson R. Gonzalez
Seller: Heather Long
Date: 09/29/15

120 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $179,500
Buyer: Abby L. O’Quinn
Seller: Norman R. Boucher
Date: 09/29/15

94 Surrey Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Justin Ferreira
Seller: Jerrold E. Prendergast
Date: 09/30/15

124 Sylvan St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Thomas S. Campbell
Seller: John T. Branciforte
Date: 09/23/15

60 Talmadge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Aleksey M. Taganov
Seller: Mary J. Allen
Date: 09/24/15

84 Wachusett St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Mariovy Gonzalez
Seller: Costantino G. Venezia
Date: 09/22/15

36 West Bay Path Terrace
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Maria I. Ortiz
Seller: Myron St. Louis
Date: 09/30/15

193 Westbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $136,900
Buyer: Miguel A. Cruz
Seller: Pelletier, Dorothy M., (Estate)
Date: 09/21/15

1308-1310 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: JJS Capital Investment
Seller: JJS Capital Investment
Date: 09/24/15

60 Wrenwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Sheila Hayes
Seller: Tanya O’Neil
Date: 09/30/15

TOLLAND

968 Colebrook River Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Billy J. White
Seller: Whitney Bonadies
Date: 09/30/15

37 Lakeside Dr.
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Kollo Pal
Date: 09/28/15

WALES

101 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01010
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Ricky J. Simoneau
Seller: Robert G. Woodward
Date: 09/30/15

129 Stafford Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Kelly Nepus
Seller: Isaac P. Rattin
Date: 09/30/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

601 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Joseph E. Eveson
Seller: Kevin J. Wedemeyer
Date: 09/24/15

291 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $189,200
Buyer: Kerry M. Jackson
Seller: Siri J. Lewis
Date: 09/25/15

38 Monastery Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: Sarah A. Latour
Seller: Mary A. Flaherty
Date: 09/29/15

738 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Martin
Seller: Edmund Apostle
Date: 09/22/15

42 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Carolyn L. Gallo
Seller: Charles K. Frohock
Date: 09/24/15

130 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $204,500
Buyer: Michael J. Vickers
Seller: Jane Provost
Date: 09/28/15

WESTFIELD

70 Broadway
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sokhom Yan
Seller: Ruth E. Finney
Date: 09/24/15

128 Devon Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $378,000
Buyer: Mark Archambeault
Seller: Mary L. Hood
Date: 09/30/15

11 Flynn Meadow Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Kevin D. Matheny
Seller: RSP Realty LLC
Date: 09/25/15

9 Irene Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Brian M. Hale
Seller: Michael J. Veillette
Date: 09/28/15

311 North Elm St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: 301 North Elm LLC
Seller: Jonathan D. Powers
Date: 09/25/15

856 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Russian Evangelical Baptist
Seller: Mino Inc.
Date: 09/30/15

48 Pinehurst St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Eric Grimaldi
Seller: Richard P. Carotenuto
Date: 09/29/15

55 Ridgecrest Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Luis Otero
Seller: Ronald G. Watson
Date: 09/28/15

1 Russell Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Melinda Gnoza
Seller: Johnson, Harold W., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/15

31 Southview Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Popielarczyk
Seller: David J. Barton
Date: 09/25/15

13 Stuart Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sherrilynn M. Guffey
Seller: Luis Otero
Date: 09/25/15

21 Vine St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Nicole Niemiec
Seller: Clegg, Barbara B., (Estate)
Date: 09/23/15

182 Western Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Robert A. Ferrier
Seller: Swanson, Donald N., (Estate)
Date: 09/25/15

WILBRAHAM

5 Birchknoll Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Willard W. Boss
Seller: Kathryn B. Leary
Date: 09/22/15

66 Cherry Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $282,900
Buyer: James P. Kane
Seller: 2301 Boston Road LLC
Date: 09/21/15

35 Decorie Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $267,900
Buyer: Timothy Stasiak
Seller: Willard W. Boss
Date: 09/22/15

11 Horseshoe Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Malgorzata M. Zalinska
Seller: Lynne D. Quintin
Date: 09/30/15

2 Margaret Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Anibal Machado
Seller: Joseph C. Kruzel
Date: 09/22/15

4 Old Orchard Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Leo P. Tassinari
Seller: David A. McCarthy
Date: 09/24/15

3 Park Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Heather Wrisley
Seller: Nathan T. Walker
Date: 09/29/15

16 Pearl Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jason Fahey
Seller: Richard A. Schieding
Date: 09/22/15

2 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Robert T. Kelliher
Seller: George Deveno
Date: 09/30/15

19-21 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Michael W. Scibelli
Seller: Patricia A. Waite
Date: 09/21/15

1329 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Jason D. Frisk
Seller: Amy C. Rice
Date: 09/25/15

888 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Nichols
Seller: Michael C. Grise
Date: 09/24/15

1-1/2 Weston St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: French Property Mgmt.
Seller: James Charles
Date: 09/25/15

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

8 Coach Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Laura Leclair
Seller: William M. Loving
Date: 09/24/15

N/A
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Steven V. Andon
Seller: Shumway, Wilbur O. 2nd, (Estate)
Date: 09/22/15

428 Pine St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $288,400
Buyer: Stephen S. Nonnenmann
Seller: William J. O’Neil
Date: 09/30/15

20 Valley View Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Plumtree Real Estate LLC
Seller: Ertel, Madge O., (Estate)
Date: 09/28/15

BELCHERTOWN

38 Chartier Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $306,500
Buyer: Ethan E. Farrell
Seller: Daniel C. Larouche
Date: 09/24/15

766 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Heather L. McCann
Seller: Andrew R. Whiteley
Date: 09/30/15

10 Blacksmith Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Joseph E. Zadworny
Seller: Edward F. Bock
Date: 09/30/15

50 Center St.
Belchertown, MA 01056
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Lawrence A. Bandolin
Seller: Commons Group LLC
Date: 09/28/15

22 Emily Lane
Belchertown, MA 01002
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Seth M. Tellier
Seller: J. P. Builders Inc.
Date: 09/29/15

125 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Angela M. Bergeron
Seller: Donna L. Perry
Date: 09/30/15

19 Laurel Ridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $389,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Lauricella
Seller: Franco Desantis
Date: 09/30/15

22 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Katherine D. Lorenz
Seller: William Verrochi
Date: 09/29/15

369 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Modesto Zenon
Seller: Adam J. Niziolek
Date: 09/29/15

539 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: William S. Verrochi
Seller: Robert E. Henrichon
Date: 09/29/15

121 South Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Capital One
Seller: Lori A. Klekotka
Date: 09/22/15

7 Town Beach Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $181,400
Buyer: Dorothy J. Beye
Seller: Deborah A. Palmer
Date: 09/22/15

CHESTERFIELD

17 Fuller Road
Chesterfield, MA 01096
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: CJ Lammers
Seller: Lauren B. Fox
Date: 09/21/15

EASTHAMPTON

8 High St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Anup K. Sangar
Seller: Felix Rodriguez
Date: 09/30/15

58 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Sheila Prosterman
Seller: Brian D. Burrell
Date: 09/30/15

98 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Michael T. Lucia
Seller: Derek M. Degrandpre
Date: 09/25/15

22 Lyman St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Julia M. Mathiau
Seller: Gail Dearellano
Date: 09/29/15

176 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Timothy Luce
Seller: Earl H. Lizotte
Date: 09/30/15

32 Mayher St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Stone
Seller: Andrew Caires
Date: 09/30/15

29 Sandra Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Michael J. Natale
Seller: Anne M. Theberge
Date: 09/30/15

53 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Elissa F. Perrier
Seller: Wendy J. Allen
Date: 09/30/15

GRANBY

60 Aldrich St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: James S. White
Seller: James W. Lowe
Date: 09/24/15

531 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Davis
Seller: Travis C. Scheinost
Date: 09/25/15

374 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Charles Rider
Seller: Alice Vlasenko
Date: 09/23/15

258 East St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: George A. Randall
Seller: Ran-Lin NT
Date: 09/28/15

80 Kendall St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $314,200
Buyer: Philip B. Kraus
Seller: Stephanie Linnehan
Date: 09/30/15

7 Lyman St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $337,500
Buyer: Kenneth R. Hebert
Seller: Anthony V. Cerini
Date: 09/29/15

144 South St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Raymond E. Aldrich
Seller: James White
Date: 09/28/15

145 South St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Peter Giroux
Seller: Coderre Development Inc.
Date: 09/30/15

HADLEY

21 Meadowbrook Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $271,900
Buyer: Kimberly A. Schlichting
Seller: Reichert, Katharine E., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/15

292 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Vincent J. Tran
Seller: Brett F. Johnson
Date: 09/28/15

48 Shattuck Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Olusoji D. Olakanpo
Seller: James P. Tudryn
Date: 09/30/15

HATFIELD

12 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $840,000
Buyer: Ahca 6 LLC
Seller: Carol L. Benson
Date: 09/21/15

27 Old Stage Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $408,000
Buyer: Patrick B. O’Connor
Seller: Jacklyn A. Dibrindisi
Date: 09/21/15

354 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $358,000
Buyer: Jo Stearns
Seller: Malinowski, Frank A. Jr, (Estate)
Date: 09/25/15

HUNTINGTON

11 Mountain View
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Todd G. Whitaker
Seller: Ralph L. Alcock
Date: 09/21/15

4 Sampson Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Malin Cederquist RET
Seller: Frank A. Zajac
Date: 09/29/15

NORTHAMPTON

11 Acrebrook Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Jennison
Seller: Alvin I. Cohen
Date: 09/28/15

22 Berkshire Terrace
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $285,500
Buyer: Katherine L. Lytton
Seller: Loren V. Ball
Date: 09/21/15

120 Chestnut St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Etavab RT
Seller: Lisa A. Dee
Date: 09/28/15

135 Crescent St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Crescent Street Creamery
Seller: Joann Christiansen
Date: 09/29/15

261 Crescent St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $695,000
Buyer: Real Estate Associates
Seller: Northeast Ent. Realty
Date: 09/21/15

300 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: RJ Elm LLC
Seller: 300 Elm Street LLC
Date: 09/25/15

70 Fern St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Elizabeth K. Young
Seller: Janet A. Zmaczynski
Date: 09/22/15

748 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $157,600
Buyer: Rachel Rothman
Seller: Mary L. Curtis
Date: 09/30/15

40 Hickory Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $372,500
Buyer: Ann M. Stauble
Seller: James J. Keefe
Date: 09/21/15

28 Keyes St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Anna K. Bartenstein
Seller: Frederick A. Johnson
Date: 09/21/15

26 Langworthy Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $575,500
Buyer: Steven O. Gullerud
Seller: Dorcas F. Fisher
Date: 09/30/15

27 Langworthy Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Richard A. Macisaac
Seller: Rosemund LLC
Date: 09/25/15

32 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Wilfred A. Morin
Seller: Alice L. Blatchley
Date: 09/21/15

225 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $239,500
Buyer: Shawn Gundersen
Seller: Lisa Tennyson
Date: 09/25/15

99 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $372,448
Buyer: John E. Moore
Seller: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Date: 09/25/15

68 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Mary J. Marquard
Seller: Labato, Marcella T., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/15

120 River Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $1,115,000
Buyer: Equinox Partners LLC
Seller: Audubon Partners LLP
Date: 09/22/15

68 Sheffield Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $441,000
Buyer: Stephen P. Burg
Seller: Corey A. Fox
Date: 09/21/15

SOUTH HADLEY

141 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Lisa C. Gebhardt
Seller: Mark M. Ducharme
Date: 09/29/15

10 Cedar Ridge
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Miriam W. Esber
Seller: James E. Durfee
Date: 09/30/15

450 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Steven E. Deren
Seller: Louise Goldberg
Date: 09/30/15

42 Ferry St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jeremy J. Cotton
Seller: Walter, Catherine C., (Estate)
Date: 09/22/15

15 Harvard St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Mark Burrows
Seller: Myra L. Quick
Date: 09/24/15

192 Pearl St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Richard T. Stebbins
Seller: Theresa A. Peltier
Date: 09/28/15

49 Pearl St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Timothy W. West
Seller: Angela B. Haggerty
Date: 09/30/15

20 Roundelay Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Jennifer R. Grabowski
Seller: Jeanette C. Peters
Date: 09/28/15

126 Silver St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Michael J. Sobon
Seller: Donald J. Casey
Date: 09/30/15

7 Skinner Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Manuel T. Reyes
Seller: First Niagara Bank
Date: 09/25/15

4 Valley View Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Ruliere Thomas
Seller: David L. Brunelle
Date: 09/22/15

SOUTHAMPTON

8 Birchwood Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: James Keefe
Seller: Richard J. Truehart Jr. LT
Date: 09/22/15

51 Glendale Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Derek A. Revord
Seller: Nicholas V. Tracy
Date: 09/24/15

5 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Volkan Polatol
Seller: James F. Boyle
Date: 09/28/15

8 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01085
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Dastoli
Seller: F&G Development Corp.
Date: 09/25/15

25 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Dana E. Green
Seller: Susan M. Rusconi
Date: 09/25/15

WARE

90 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $221,500
Buyer: Janet A. Crosier
Date: 09/22/15

5 Hillside Terrace
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: William Korzec
Seller: Yvette L. Dudek
Date: 09/30/15

177 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $173,500
Buyer: Amber A. Wilder
Seller: Francis H. Dixon
Date: 09/28/15

104 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Jennifer Bradley
Seller: Joseph P. Hession
Date: 09/22/15

66 West Warren Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Brett Richards
Seller: Amber A. Wilder
Date: 09/28/15

WESTHAMPTON

120 Chesterfield Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Mark S. Keel
Seller: Nancy J. Ronan
Date: 09/30/15

179 Easthampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Duane P. Desilets
Seller: Nabil A. Hannoush
Date: 09/25/15

97 Main Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Paul R. Tourville
Seller: Daniel Dmuchovsky
Date: 09/30/15

WORTHINGTON

43 Thayer Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Charles T. Ryan
Seller: Alan K. Lecker
Date: 09/30/15