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Legislature Approves UMass Funding Increase
BOSTON — UMass President Robert Caret commended the state House and Senate for approving a major funding increase for the UMass system, funding sufficient for a second consecutive tuition and mandatory-fee freeze for in-state undergraduate students. “UMass is poised at the brink of a new era as a result of what would be an extraordinary, two-year, $100 million state investment in its future and in the futures of the tens of thousands of students who bring their aspirations and abilities to our campuses every year,” Caret said. “We are honored by this expression of support from the Legislature, particularly because the members of the House and Senate, given how in tune they are with their constituents, take this step because they recognize the vital role that UMass plays in every corner of the Commonwealth.” Henry Thomas III, chairman of the UMass board of trustees, called the Legislature’s action “historic,” adding: “over the past two years, the University of Massachusetts has received one of the largest increases of any public university in the nation, and this provides opportunity for our students and a strong foundation for our Commonwealth’s future. In addition to thanking the Legislature and its leaders, I want to commend President Caret for his leadership and vision and note the key role the chancellors play in making this process work. We are here in part because we have demonstrated the significant steps the university has taken in the areas of efficiency, transparency, and accountability — and these steps have been championed by our leadership team at the system and campus levels.” He added, “this historic moment would not be occurring without the support of our governor, as Gov. Patrick has been our university’s staunch ally throughout his tenure in office, vividly understanding education’s transformative power.” The fiscal year 2015 state budget approved by the House and Senate funds UMass at $519 million — a $40 million increase over FY 2014 and enough for the second tuition-and-fee freeze as envisioned under Caret’s 50-50 proposal. The state budget approved by the Legislature now goes to Patrick, who has 10 days to review it. Because the $40 million appropriation increase the university received in FY 2014 carried with it an additional $10 million in state fringe-benefit funding, UMass actually saw a $50 million hike in state funding during the year — a pattern that would be repeated in FY 2015 if funding for UMass remains at $519 million. Advanced by Caret after he assumed the UMass presidency in July 2011, the 50-50 plan called for a two-year, $100 million increase in state funding for UMass, with the goals of strengthening the university overall and equalizing the amount of money students and the state provided for educational programs. UMass said it would freeze tuition and mandatory fees in each of the years it received full funding of the 50-50 program. UMass received the first year of 50-50 funding during 2013-14 and froze tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students. Student charges vary from campus to campus, but under the rates recently approved by the UMass board of trustees, tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students at UMass Amherst in 2014-15 will remain at $13,258. The cost of attending the university’s flagship campus with room and board factored in would be $24,215. “College affordability is an issue that is on people’s minds in every corner of the Commonwealth,” Caret said. “Students and parents want to be sure that there is going to be an affordable, high-quality educational opportunity available for the young man or young woman who has worked hard and has achieved at the K through 12 level. And that is what is so important about the action the House and Senate has taken. The Legislature is saying that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the University of Massachusetts stand ready to be your partners in achievement. That is a critical message, and one that is being heard across the state.”

State Business Confidence Off in June, Up on Year
BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index recorded a reading of 53.7 in June, making for a second-quarter average of 53.8. “The positive quarterly average reflects the diminution in recent months of major economic-policy conflict in Washington, which has contributed to stronger business confidence,” said Raymond Torto, global chairman of research at CBRE and chair of the AIM Board of Economic Advisors (BEA). “With less ambient uncertainty, employers are becoming more positive about adding personnel, a sign of confidence that is reflected in our survey. The other notable improvement is in responses from small employers, those with 25 or fewer employees, who are now about as optimistic as mid-size firms.” The AIM Index has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. In June 2013 it stood at 48.9. Nearly all of the sub-indices based on selected questions or categories of respondent were down from May, but all were up from last June. The Massachusetts Index, assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth, was up 3.3 points on the year to 50.9, and the U.S. Index of national business conditions was 7.6 points ahead of last June at 48.2. “Massachusetts has generally outperformed the nation economically since the onset of the recession,” said Alan Clayton-Matthews, professor at the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University, and a BEA member. “Our state is well-positioned to continue to thrive, but is inevitably standing out less as the rest of the country returns to normal performance.” The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, was 4.1 points above last June’s level at 52.8, and the Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, was up 6.7 points from a year before at 54.6. “The consensus of economic forecasts calls for faster growth through the rest of this year and into 2015, and most respondents to our survey agree,” Clayton-Matthews noted. “Small and large employers are more optimistic about the near future than mid-size companies; manufacturers rate current conditions lower than other employers, but have similar expectations for the second half of the year.” The Company Index, reflecting survey respondents’ assessments of conditions for their own operations, was up 5.3 points on the year to 56.5. The Employment Index was up the same amount at 54.6, and the Sales Index gained even more, 7.6 points to 57.6. All three were off fractionally from May. “The employment results, even with a marginal loss for the month, continue to reflect a moderate upward trend,” said BEA member Elliot Winer, chief economist for Northeast Economic Analysis Group LLC. “Among employers responding to the survey, 41% expected to add personnel in the next six months, while only 10% foresaw staff reductions, a marked improvement from the already positive 38%-23% split for the prior six months.” Confidence fell in the manufacturing sector (down 2.9 to 51.5) but rose among other employers (up 2.8 to 56.8), and lower outside Greater Boston (52.8, down 1.5) than within the metropolitan area (54.1, down 0.2). Small employers (25 or fewer employees) were about as confident as mid-size firms (26 to 100 employees), while employers of more than 100 were more positive. “Responses on employment were, however, remarkably uniform,” Winer noted, “by region, for manufacturers and other employers, and for companies of all sizes.”

Construction Spending Inches Higher in May
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Total construction spending edged higher for the third straight month in May, as solid increases in private non-residential and public construction outweighed a downturn in residential projects, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the pickup in highway spending is in jeopardy of reversing sharply unless policy makers act urgently to shore up the federal Highway Trust Fund. “The May figures show that construction activity continues to expand, but with lots of variability by month and project type,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “These uneven patterns seem likely to continue for the rest of the year.” Construction put in place totaled $956 billion in May, 0.1% above the upwardly revised April total and 6.6% higher than in May 2013. For the first five months of 2014, total spending rose 8.2% from the January-May 2013 total. Private residential construction spending in May retreated 1.5% from April, when homebuilders may have put in extra hours to make up for adverse winter weather in many regions. The May total was 7.5% above the May 2013 level, representing an 11% increase in single-family spending, a 31% boost for multi-family, and a 2.4% decline in improvements to existing housing. Private non-residential spending rose 1.1% in May and 11% over 12 months. The largest private segment, power construction — comprising work on oil and gas fields and pipelines as well as electricity projects — rebounded 4.3% from a sharp drop in April and was up 30% year-over-year. Among other major private nonresidential segments, commercial construction climbed 6.5% over 12 months, manufacturing construction rose 6.7%, and office work jumped 23%. Public construction spending rose 1.0% for the month and 1.2% year over year.

Cost of Unemployment Insurance to Fall
BOSTON — Massachusetts employers will save money on unemployment insurance under legislation signed by Gov. Deval Patrick Thursday as part of a compromise to raise the state’s minimum wage. The new law freezes the rates for the insurance this year at 2013 levels, and lowers them slightly in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Currently, Massachusetts has the fourth-highest unemployment-insurance cost, with companies spending $714 per employee, on average. Under the new law, the minimum wage in Massachusetts will increase to $11 per hour by 2017, from $8.

Greenfield Launches Technology Master Plan
GREENFIELD — The town of Greenfield announced recently that implementation of the town’s technology master plan is underway. The master plan, an initiative started by Mayor William Martin in the fall of 2010, is another step in the mayor’s continuing “Stabilize and Expand Greenfield” Campaign, an effort to create a sustainable and resilient community that also prepares for opportunities created by external forces in the form of jobs, grants, loans, and recreational, cultural, and societal enhancements, as well as upgrades related to infrastructure, buildings, and quality of life. The plan includes upgrading the town’s information-technology assets and building a town-wide ‘last-mile’ broadband infrastructure to serve every business and resident that chooses to subscribe. “This is the culmination of three years of independent research and planning,” Martin said. “We have read and reread the information, discussed with internal and external experts, and now seek to follow a pathway outlined by this research and discussion that will produce a new, technology-rich future for the town of Greenfield. It will allow us, as local providers, to serve our citizens and businesses in a proactive, efficient, and user-friendly manner. We will have the ability to provide Internet access to many of our citizens who cannot currently access the Internet today or are prevented from a rapid and broad connection.” Beginning in 2010, Martin and Economic Development Director Robert Pyers began an effort to focus on the town’s lack of telecommunications and information-technology infrastructure. They believed that an investment in technology would help spur economic development, enhance public-health and public-safety communications, increase quality educational opportunities, and encourage government efficiency and local democracy. Research had also shown that investing in technology would help the town retain technology-based businesses and spur a knowledge-based economy while helping residents take advantage of the global educational, economic, and entertainment resources available through the Internet. “Over the course of the past three years, we have engaged three consulting firms to plan our approach,” said Martin. “The three Massachusetts-based consulting firms include Kelley Management Group Inc. of Wilbraham, JFK Systems of Somerset, and the Skyline Group from Uxbridge. Each has completed their studies and presented their strategic recommendations, which we are now deploying.” Kelley Management Group produced a Municipal Telecommunications Business Plan, which recommends that Greenfield move forward as a municipal telecommunications services provider with full town ownership and control. KMG’s business plan suggests the town will provide the best telecommunications services to every municipal entity, business, and residence at the lowest possible cost. Martin has accepted this plan and is moving forward with the creation of a town-owned Greenfield Technology Division, which will operate a break-even business with reserves for investment into future capital expenditures. JFK Systems developed a comprehensive municipal information-technology strategic plan, which defines and coordinates how the town focuses its IT resources and provides a consistent process necessary to link the various IT departments’ plans and initiatives with the needs of the citizens of Greenfield. The Skyline Group produced a municipal LAN/WAN site-assessment report and recommendations for the town’s municipally owned and town-occupied buildings. This report gives an assessment, inventory, and analysis of current network infrastructure, along with the risks associated with the current deployment. It also provides recommendations to achieve network enrichments in preparation for the town’s new municipal telecommunications network and services. Implementation of the technology master plan is a three-step process that is currently underway. The process begins with upgrading and/or selecting new municipal IT business applications that support the town’s business processes and incorporate industry standards and best-practice functionality and technologies. The next step in the process involves a redefinition of the technical requirements of the newly selected municipal IT business applications — requirements such as CPU speed, memory, data-networking speed, storage, data management, security, data sharing, etc. — and then building an optimal IT infrastructure, including computers, printers, servers, local area networking, etc., required to support it. The final step is the town’s most ambitious and will have the greatest impact on the community: Greenfield will build a low-cost, high-speed ‘last-mile’ broadband infrastructure to support the town’s new IT infrastructure, and to meet the voice, data, and Internet needs of every business and resident.

2015 Healthcare Costs Projected to Grow 6.8%
Growth in healthcare spending is expected to tick upward next year, in part because consumers are now seeking care they put off during the economic downturn, according to a report released this week. Authored by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute, the report forecasts medical cost growth of 6.8%, compared to 6.5% for this year. The projected increase is slight compared to double-digit increases seen before the downturn, but the rate of growth had been slowing in the past five years, so the upward shift is worth noting, said Ceci Connolly, managing director of the institute.

Number of Jobless Seeking Aid Falls
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined late last month, the latest evidence that an economic slowdown earlier this year hasn’t caused employers to cut jobs. Weekly applications fell 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 312,000, the U.S. Labor Department said. The four-week average rose 2,000 to 314,000, but the average has fallen 9% since Jan. 1.

Home Sales Post Largest Gain Nationally Since 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sales of previously owned homes posted the best gain in nearly three years in May, the National Assoc. of Realtors reported, rising 4.9% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.89 million. That gain was the fastest since August 2011; still, sales are 5% below the pace of May 2013. And the pace of home sales is well below the 5.1 million homes sold in 2013 and off the pace of 5.5 million annual sales that would reflect a healthy economy. Sales were dampened by last year’s rise in mortgage rates, tight supplies, and tougher lending standards.

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook Departments

Bay Path Is Now Officially a University
LONGMEADOW — Bay Path faculty, staff and students marked July 1 as the official first day as a university — in fact, the first women’s university in the Commonwealth. Before a crowd of more than 250 members from the Bay Path community, President Carol Leary said, “we are enthusiastic about becoming Bay Path University as it more appropriately reflects the complexity, drive, and bold dreams of this institution. Our three campuses have been expanded by a location in downtown Springfield, bringing us back to our roots, that boasts the first online college in the country exclusively for women. Soon, we will have a new location in East Longmeadow with a 57,000-square-foot building to house our programs in health science.” She noted that 19 graduate degrees, online learning communities, and athletic fields round out the picture of “today’s Bay Path.” This spring, the college secured approvals for the transition to university status from the Mass. Department of Higher Education and the New England Assoc. of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). With this approval, the board of trustees also reaffirmed the university’s mission to the education of women at the undergraduate level. Bay Path is a four-year, private university with an enrollment of more than 2,400 students at its Longmeadow campus and satellite campuses in Sturbridge and Burlington. The university offers undergraduate degrees for women, graduate degrees for men and women on campus and online, and the American Women’s College, offering accelerated degrees programs for adult women online or on campus through its One-Day-a-Week program.

Jewish Lifecare Announces Campaign
LONGMEADOW — Dr. Robert Baevsky, chair of the Jewish Lifecare board of directors, announced that Susan Kline and Stephen Krevalin, longtime volunteers for the organization formerly known as Jewish Geriatric Services, are chairing Project Transformation: A New World of Care, a $9 million capital campaign in support of several projects that will transform elder-care services at Jewish Lifecare. “Jewish Lifecare has always prided itself on being a progressive, forward-looking organization that continuously engages the ever-changing needs of the elderly,” said Baevsky. “Project Transformation: A New World of Care continues our journey of culture change and person-centered care, as we enhance, build, and expand services and facilities to improve health outcomes and enhance resident dignity, independence, and quality of life.” Both Kline and Krevalin are former chairs of the Jewish Lifecare board of directors. Kline served as chair from 2012 to 2014, during which time she led the strategic-planning process leading to Project Transformation. Krevalin served as chair from 1996 to 2000, and has served on or chaired numerous committees, including the 2012 Centennial Celebration. Both Kline and Krevalin also served on the rebranding committee, leading to the organization’s rebranding as Jewish Lifecare. “For the past two years, it has been my privilege to chair the board of directors and help shape this transformational journey,” said Kline. “As we move away from traditional models of care and embrace the small-house model of care, we will not only improve the care provided, but also enhance the dignity of those living here.” In addition to her Jewish Lifecare volunteerism, Kline has also long been associated with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, currently overseeing all HGF programs and grants in Western Mass. Krevalin, a managing partner at Bacon Wilson, P.C., and his family have given back to the Jewish Lifecare community for generations. The Project Transformation: A New World of Care campaign will support the construction of a state-of-the-art, 24-bed rehabilitation facility; renovations to the Leavitt Family Jewish Home in the small-house model of care; and other significant upgrades to the entire campus. Other funding sources will include an owner’s equity contribution and bank financing. Jewish Lifecare has engaged the architectural firm of Perkins Eastman, as well as Jude Rabig, two of the foremost experts on culture change and small-house design in the U.S., to assist in the design of the upgrades and new facility. Groundbreaking for the new rehabilitation center is expected later this fall, with construction to be completed by the fall of 2015.

Plastics Manufacturer Pioneers New Technology
LUDLOW — Meredith-Springfield Associates Inc., a plastics manufacturer specializing in extrusion blow molding and injection stretch blow molding, is pioneering the use of new technology to manufacture sustainable plastic packaging for major brands like Mrs. Dash, owned by B&G Foods. “An analysis of the Mrs. Dash packaging process revealed the need to create a more sustainable bottle,” said Mel O’Leary Jr., president and CEO of Meredith-Springfield. “While sustainable packaging has become a point of interest for manufacturers with regard to environmental benefits, significant cost savings can also be realized. Sustainable package innovation offered by advanced plastic molding technology minimizes packaging costs, which in turn reduces warehousing and transportation costs as well.” Meredith-Springfield constructed pilot molds and conducted design experiments with the objective of reducing the amount of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) used in the creation of Mrs. Dash packaging. “Manufacturers seeking more sustainable plastic packaging should look for innovative ways to reduce PET,” said O’Leary. “For Mrs. Dash, we are using the most advanced plastic molding technology to alter the amount of plastic and place PET only where it most impacts package performance.” By adjusting the weight-bearing performance of the packaging, Meredith-Springfield was able to reduce the weight of a Mrs. Dash bottle by more than 25%. The more sustainable packaging saves B&G Foods an excess of 200,000 pounds of PET resin per year and reduces related costs of optimizing other aspects of the molding and delivery process. “In reducing the weight, we carefully engineered the placement of remaining mass of plastic to go into the areas of the bottle which would maximize top-loading ability,” said O’Leary. The entire redesign resulted in a significant cost savings for B&G Foods, but required in-depth research and development. The new extrusion blow molding machine produces more than 100,000 Mrs. Dash bottles in each 24-hour production period and is capable of delivering more than 35 million units per year. “This process is a major volume addition to our evolving PET business,” said O’Leary. “It provides economies of scale with resin, packaging, and transportation purchases, so it helps lower all costs and adds to our critical mass on both extrusion blow molding and stretch blow molding capabilities.” The machine is a one-step process for making specialty PET bottles versus a two-step process used to make carbonated beverage bottles. Beverage bottles require multiple steps; first, a ‘preform’ is molded in an injection molding machine and then transferred to a reheat-stretch machine. “Our technology is the most energy-efficient method available,” said O’Leary. “It goes from plastic pellets to finished bottles on one machine.”

Holiday Inn Express Ludlow Receives Recognition for Service
LUDLOW — Pioneer Valley Hotel Group announced that its Holiday Inn Express Ludlow received recognition from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for service excellence among the 47 Holiday Inns and Holiday Inn Expresses in the Greater Boston region. The three-story, 71-room hotel at 321 Center St. ranked first in overall service, first in lowest percentage of guest problems, and second for overall guest satisfaction. General Manager Melissa Labonte said that “it is an honor to be recognized for the hard work my staff puts in each day. We really do believe our guests are like family. When they are here, they are home.” The hotel is located just south of the Mass Pike. Guests enjoy complimentary high-speed wireless Internet throughout the hotel, as well as Express Start breakfast in the lobby each morning. The hotel also features a fitness center, indoor heated pool, and 24-hour business center. Holiday Inn Express Ludlow is owned and operated by Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, LLC. Reservations can be made by calling (413) 589-9300 or visiting hiexpress.com/ludlowma. Group and meeting inquiries can be directed to Connie Foster, the hotel’s director of sales, at (413) 750-3106 or [email protected].

Leavitt Family Jewish Home Accredited by Joint Commission
LONGMEADOW — The Leavitt Family Jewish Home at Jewish Lifecare has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards for healthcare qualityand patient and resident safety in nursing homes. The accreditation award recognizes the nursing home’s dedication to continuous compliance with the Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards. The Jewish Home underwent a rigorous, on-site survey on June 18. A Joint Commission surveyor evaluated the nursing home for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients and residents, including infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management. “In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, the Leavitt Family Jewish Home has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients and residents that goes above and beyond federal and state requirements,” said Gina Zimmermann, executive director, Nursing Care Center Accreditation for the Joint Commission. “Accreditation is a voluntary process, and I commend the Jewish Home for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.” The Joint Commission’s Nursing Care Center accreditation program, formerly the Long Term Care accreditation program, was established in 1966 and accredits nearly 1,000 organizations offering nursing home services. The Joint Commission’s standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and residents and the management of nursing-care centers. The standards are developed in consultation with industry experts, providers, measurement experts, and consumers. “With Joint Commission accreditation, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence,” said Stephen Roizen, administrator of the Leavitt Family Jewish Home. “Achieving Joint Commission accreditation, for our organization, is a major step toward maintaining excellence and continually improving the care we provide.”

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.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Laura Zych v. Complete Restoration Solutions Inc.
Allegation: Negligence and failure to warn of accumulation of liquid on floor causing a slip and fall: $3,608.57
Filed: 6/11/14

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Jennifer Atlee and Marko Packard v. Michael G. John d/b/a Excavating, Etc. and Timothy E. Maginnis
Allegation: Negligence in the design and installation of a septic system: $28,000
Filed: 6/10/14

Kevin Davis, as parent of Nicole Davis, and Leah Davis v. Zoar Outdoor Adventure Resort Inc.
Allegation: Failure to properly supervise a whitewater rafting trip and failure to respond to a medical emergency involving the minor plaintiff: $50,000
Filed: 6/6/14

Laura Doull, et al v. Anna C. Foster, N.P. and Robert J. Miller, M.D.
Allegation: Failure to adequately monitor and document dosage of progesterone therapy leading to right heart failure, severe VTE due to thrombophilia ascribed to progesterone: $1,000,000+
Filed: 5/15/14

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT
M. Solomon Casket Co. of Rhode Island Inc. v. Fiske Funeral Home Inc., d/b/a Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $18,235.99
Filed: 6/9/14

Western Mass Electric Co. v. Somerset Long Term Care, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of electrical services provided: $24,795.63
Filed: 5/2/14

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Bakaert Corp. v. Rene America Co.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $27,579.93
Filed: 6/14/14

City of Springfield v. MGB Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract: $59,750
Filed: 6/9/14

Pedro T. Perez v. Pascacio Reynoso and Springfield Homeowners Assoc. Inc.
Allegation: Misrepresentation in the sale of a business and breach of contract: $130,000
Filed: 5/30/14

Raymond St. Hilaire v. Western MA Environmental, LLC
Allegation: Negligence and breach of warranty in connection with remediation work done at the plaintiff’s residence: $100,000+
Filed: 5/30/14

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Elena Reyes v. Premier Plus Consulting, LLC and Raymona Dube
Allegation: Defendant accepted payment for services they failed to provide: $5,495
Filed: 5/23/14

Jennifer P. Kalvinek v. Oscar Reyes d/b/a Reyes Auto Sales
Allegation: Fraudulent sale of vehicle, odometer fraud, breach of Truth in Lending Act: $20,000
Filed: 6/9/14

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Adler Tank Rentals, LLC v. GML Construction Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $6,817.51
Filed: 6/17/14

Country Development Corp. v. Maureen Basile d/b/a Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $11,957.30
Filed: 6/3/14

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Islam Agayev, a minor, by his parents and next friends, Ravshan Agayev and Dilbar Takhsilova v. Everett Beird, Eric Fleming, 3PD Inc., and Tony Walters Services
Allegation: Negligence causing the minor plaintiff to be struck by a refrigerator falling off of a truck: $60,000
Filed: 5/1/14

M.B. Haynes Corp. v. Alliance Medical Gas Corp.
Allegation: Enforcement of a previous judgment: $14,781.74
Filed: 5/19/14

Western Mass Electric Co. v. Ronald H. Lynde, Roy Bros. Inc., and Safety Insurance Co.
Allegation: Defendant struck and damaged plaintiff’s electrical facilities and failed to make a reasonable offer of settlement: $9,755.34
Filed: 5/15/14

Into the Unknown

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Cover Story
All Bets Are Off on the State’s Casino Referendum

COVERl0714aPaul Robbins calls it “casino fatigue.”

He describes this condition as being burned out by the long, drawn-out, often controversial process of bringing casino gambling to the Bay State, to the point where this frustration will manifest itself at the polls in November when state residents will vote on a referendum that will decide the fate of the industry here.

“You may have voters who say, ‘you know what? This was an experiment, it came and went, it’s a mixed bag, there’s a lot of questions … let’s just vote ‘no,’” said Robbins, principal with the marketing and public relations firm Paul Robbins Associates, adding quickly that the amount of casino fatigue that exists now — and will exist come Nov. 4 — is one of a great many unknowns when it comes to what will be perhaps the most expensive and most closely watched referendum vote in the state’s history.

Some others? Here’s just a short list:

• Will the casino operators come together and form an effective coalition to fight the referendum question?
• How hard will Mohegan Sun — which has proposed a casino at Suffolk Downs in Revere, but is the short answer to the question ‘who benefits most if the anti-casino forces prevail?’ because of its operation in Connecticut — fight to win this referendum battle?
• How will area communities (like Longmeadow and Northampton) that are not necessarily happy with MGM’s plans for a casino in Springfield, or the way they’ve been treated by the company, vote come November?
• How will MGM, which has drawn considerable praise for the campaign to win the vote in Springfield and then the Western Mass. license, scale up its campaign and make it statewide?
• How prominently will Springfield, the only community with a casino license, and its story, involving everything from high unemployment to tornado damage, be on display in this campaign? And how will that story be received?
• How will the highly publicized struggles of the casino industry in Atlantic City — several facilities have closed or gone bankrupt in recent months — play into the equation in Massachusetts?
• How will the casino referendum impact the many political races on the ballot this fall, from the governor’s contest to the pitched battle for the Senate seat being vacated by Gail Candaras?
• How will the confusing nature of the question itself — a ‘yes’ vote means opposition to casinos and a ‘no’ vote means you support them — impact the outcome?
• What will ultimately determine how this casino vote will go?

Mike Mathis

Mike Mathis, like Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, used the word ‘grassroots’ early and often as he talked about the upcoming campaign concerning the casino referendum question.

Many of these questions are not yet answerable, but BusinessWest put them to a host of key players, including analysts like Robbins and Tony Cignoli, president of A.L. Cignoli Co.; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; Mike Mathis, president of MGM Springfield; and others.

They are, for the most part, predicting a close contest, one where Springfield’s story will get a considerable amount of play, and one where the outcome will likely be determined by how effective the rival camps are at getting their points across and separating fact from conjecture — words that have different meanings to different people.

For example, Mathis noted, casino opponents and some analysts say that economic conditions have changed considerably since the gaming legislation was passed in 2011, and believe there is sentiment that casinos are no longer needed as a stimulus for jobs and economic development. But Mathis said that whatever progress has been made is more or less confined to the eastern part of the state, and conditions elsewhere, and especially Springfield, remain dire.

“In November 2011, the state’s unemployment rate was 7%. Today, it’s about 5.5% across the state, but lower in the east, so clearly the Greater Boston area is in the middle of a recovery,” he explained. “In November 2011, the unemployment rate in Springfield was 10.5%, and today, it’s still 10.5%, and across the region it’s probably 7.5%. It’s great that the rest of the state is recovering, but Springfield still needs this economic injection.”

Cignoli said that sentiment has been borne out in some recent headlines, such as those from North Adams — the mayor there said the fiscally struggling city was “one cycle away from Detroit” — and suggested that a case can, and will, be made that cities and towns need casino revenue.

Tony Cignoli

Tony Cignoli says Western Mass., and especially the city of Springfield, will likely play a big role in the upcoming referendum fight.

“I can see the gaming folks showing up in North Adams and saying, ‘gosh, we realize that you’re about to go under; you’re one year away from insolvency,’” he said. “They can make a case to the people of North Adams — ‘here’s your salvation, here’s that chunk of change you need.’”

Overall, there is no shortage of speculation concerning this referendum and the factors that will determine the outcome. For this issue, BusinessWest takes an indepth look at the many nuances of this critical moment in the state’s history and what will likely determine the fate of the casino industry in the Commonwealth.

Playing the Odds

Mathis told BusinessWest that MGM has not faced a referendum question quite like the one in Massachusetts — where companies that have earned licenses can have them swept away by a vote of the residents — but it has confronted statewide votes on casino issues, such as a recent, hotly contested bid to expand gaming in Maryland with a sixth license in Prince George’s County.

MGM learned a number of lessons from that campaign and others like it, he said, including several involving not underestimating the opposition — and the many forms it takes.

Indeed, he noted that, in addition to in-state opponents to the planned expansion, there were casino rivals in neighboring states that had a vested interest in the outcome, and thus injected themselves into the fray by secretly funneling money to those opposing the measure.

“When the state Supreme Judicial Court ruled that this question could go on the ballot, there were lawmakers and different businesses in Connecticut and Rhode Island that were given a real gift — the possibility that they can keep their operations in full force and Massachusetts would continue to give them hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues and tens of thousands of jobs,” he said. “We are very concerned about the outside influences that may impact this campaign and try to protect their own across state lines.

“Foxwoods is looking for a potential license in the southeast part of the state, and Mohegan is looking for a license in Boston, but a facility like Twin River in Rhode Island has no conflict of interest — they clearly want this law to go away so their slots facility can continue to generate the millions of dollars of revenue that they see,” Mathis went on. “So there’s a real potential for outside influence, and I suspect it will come through late financial contributions to casino opponents, and it will come in such a form that you won’t find out where the money came from until after the race is over.”

But outside influence is just one of many factors that those we spoke with believe could possibly determine the outcome of the referendum question. Others range from the amount of money that will be spent to present both sides of the argument to the tone of the messages that are sent, to that aforementioned ‘casino fatigue’ and just how much of it exists.

The most recent polls, including one conducted by the Boston Globe just before the SJC’s decision on the referendum, show there that there is still support for casinos in the state, with more than 50% of those queried backing the licensing of up to three facilities.

But Robbins said the poll numbers can, and often do, change quickly in the heat of campaigns. He noted that the numbers on this referendum are narrowing and that opposition forces have certainly picked up momentum in recent months, in part because of changing economic conditions since the legislation was passed, and also because casinos in other states are struggling.

But there are other factors in play as well, he said, noting that casino operators made a number of mistakes during the licensing-contest portion of this process that have cast the industry in a more negative light. He lists everything from Hard Rock’s proposal to place a casino on the Big E grounds — a plan that drew considerable criticism inside and outside West Springfield — to what he considers Mohegan Sun’s bungling of its plans to place a casino off Turnpike exit 8, a gambit that ended abruptly when Palmer voters narrowly rejected the proposal last November.

Paul Robbins

Paul Robbins says the so-called ‘casino fatigue’ factor is one of many unknowns going into what is expected to be an intense campaign leading up to the referendum question.

“Somehow, Mohegan took a consistent 20-point lead in polling over the past two years and lost a nail-biter — by less than one percentage point,” Robbins wrote in a recent blog post titled “The Massachusetts Casino Wars.”

“Some of this was just bad communications or a lack of communications,” he went on. “Mohegan presented its casino renderings — affectionately called by some opponents ‘the spaceship,’ because it looked like one and it landed in front of voters with no input from the local community. Mohegan also promoted one of the traffic options being a five-lane access road — communicating this proudly on the front of mailers to residents living in a two-lane, rural community. Not terribly smart.”

Robbins said the fate of the referendum may come down to how deep — and effective — a coalition of supporters becomes. And he threw into question, as other analysts have, just how hard Mohegan Sun will fight for this question.

“They’re conflicted, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “At the end of the day, they’re the ones that stand to benefit most if gaming is defeated.”

Mathis concurred. “What Mohegan is proposing at Suffolk Downs is a $1 billion facility; what they have in Connecticut is a $5 billion facility,” he explained. “They pay an 18% tax rate in Connecticut, and in Massachusetts they would pay a 25% tax rate — anyone can do the math. I think they do want a presence in Boston, and I think they are fighting hard for that license, but at the same time, I don’t think they’d be harmed if, at the end of the day, they didn’t have that license.”

Dicey Situation

Overall, Mathis expects the emergence of a broad pro-casino coalition, one that will involve not only the casino operators, but also labor groups, business and economic-development organizations, convention and visitors bureaus, and elected leaders in communities, like Springfield, that have the most at stake.

“The issue for us it to make it as broad as we can and make sure that all the different supporters who have a stake in this are part of the effort,” he explained. “When most people think about a coalition, they think about MGM Springfield and the other casino applicants, but that’s secondary to us; what we’re attempting to do is build a coalition around Massachusetts stakeholders who are already here.

“We compete for these licenses from time to time, and we understand that we go in not knowing if we’re going to be successful or not,” he went on. “Frankly, we can afford to lose and life will go on for us, and we’ll do it again in another jurisdiction, probably internationally. But what we’ll leave behind is a great gateway city like Springfield that is in the middle of a renaissance partly inspired by what we’re trying to do downtown. Those are the people that the rest of the Massachusetts residents need to hear from.”

Sarno agreed. He expects that the city’s story — all of it, from its economic struggles to its resiliency in the face of natural disasters — will be a big factor in the referendum battle. And he believes the task at hand is to convince those who don’t want a casino in their backyard that there will be benefits — for the state, this region, and especially Springfield — to putting one in someone else’s backyard.

“What’s important for people across the state to know is that, in Springfield, we’re trying to stand on our two feet, and that’s not easy because we don’t get a tremendous amount of unrestricted government or local aid,” he explained. “We have to send out a heartfelt message that, while someone may not want a casino in their community, this is important for our city, it’s an outside-the-box proposal, and it’s woven into the fabric and the mosaic of Springfield.”

MGM’s $800 million casino plan translates to $25 million in direct aid to Springfield each year, he went on, as well as 2,500 to 3,000 permanent jobs, a unique opportunity to revitalize 15 blighted, tornado-ravaged acres in the South End, and a real chance to move the city out of decades of stagnation. And he believes that story will resonate around the Commonwealth.

As they talked about the campaign ahead, Mathis and Sarno made repeated use of the word ‘grassroots.’ They said this was the tone of the initiative that was successful in Springfield, and it will be scaled up and taken statewide.

“The Springfield campaign was door-to-door, and we think that’s the key to a successful campaign statewide,” Mathis explained. “The question is how do you scale it up, and how do you make sure that the rest of the state, which isn’t directly impacted by all the great things that are happening in Springfield, understands at least how important it is to Springfield.

“We’re going to do that in a number of ways,” he went on. “Most importantly, we’re going to go back to our supporters in Springfield and Western Mass. and make sure that they’re engaged and they’re talking to their friends and neighbors and colleagues across the state about how important this industry and this development is to them; it’s as simple as that.”

Elaborating, he said the broad strategy will boil down to two primary missions: educating and communicating.

“This is a new industry in Massachusetts, so what we did in Springfield was educate them about the industry, which is not the old industry,” he told BusinessWest. “What the antis [opponents] want to do is put us in a box and rely on old, tired stereotypes. We at MGM are a Fortune 500, international hospitality company; we got that message across in Springfield, and we need help getting that message out to the rest of the state.”

Bill Mandel, a professor of Political Science at Western New England University who believes that pro-casino forces will prevail come November, said one key for gaming supporters is to drive home all the economic-development aspects of their argument and convince voters in every corner of the state that this is a critical matter for some communities — like Springfield.

“Leaders in Springfield really need to go out and sell this to the rest of the state as something that we need and want,” he explained. They need to go out there and say ‘we want it,’ and explain to the people of Arlington, Belmont, and Foxborough that, while it may seem abstract to them, it’s very important to us. That may be a critical strategy.”

Playing Their Cards Right

Cignoli told BusinessWest that, while there are many question marks concerning the upcoming referendum fight, some things are known.

For starters, it appears certain that the turnout will be high — perhaps record-setting, given the casino question and a number of high-profile races, especially the one for governor. What isn’t known, although there is speculation, is which side gets helped the most by that turnout.

Robbins said conventional wisdom holds that the side that spends the most money benefits from a high turnout. However, Cignoli said a high turnout generally brings out opponents.

What’s also certain is that this will be a lucrative year for the media, with the pro-casino forces expected to spend heavily on print, radio, television, and social media to get their message across, said Cignoli, who projects that $10 million and perhaps much more could be spent on the casino referendum, because of the stakes involved.

“There’s so much on the line, not only for the developers, but all the people around them who will try to motivate this issue,” he explained. “There are the political consultants, the lawyers, the lobbyists — this has been a full-employment bonanza for a lot of these people, especially in the Boston area. So they’re going to double down, no pun intended, and go the full nine yards.”

And he expects the Western Mass. market to get a decent share of that windfall, because he believes this region will play an important role in this contest, even though the vast majority of votes are concentrated in the eastern part of the state.

“It’s going to be close, so that means every vote is going to count,” he explained. “It’s polling 50-50 right now, and in a tight race, you have to pay attention to Western Mass., especially because of the urban base in Springfield, which can turn out a significant vote. You need every single vote you can get in Western Mass.”

And to get votes, in this region and elsewhere, Cignoli believes the pro-casino forces will lean heavily on MGM and the strategy that worked well for it in Springfield — primarily a focus on jobs, economic development, and revitalizing the tornado-ravaged South End — as well as Penn National’s slots parlor in Plainville, which is already under construction.

“MGM ran a fantastic public-relations campaign leading up to Sarno choosing them to move forward,” said Cignoli, “and they ran a very good referendum campaign. So you can use the better elements of that out and about and in the other 350 cities and towns. They were textbook perfect in their campaign in Springfield — can that translate and help them elsewhere? That’s the big question.

“Also, Penn National will be front and center as well,” he continued. “They won a license for slots, and they’re in the ground. They’re pouring concrete, you can see cranes, you can see jobs, you can see economic impact already.”

But while the stories in Springfield and Plainville may sway some of the voters in communities not directly impacted by casinos, the question of ‘what’s in this for me?’ may ultimately decide how this referendum question goes, he went on.

“That’s the big litmus test this year,” he told BusinessWest. “If I live in Pittsfield, North Adams, or Fall River, what’s in this for me? Why should I care if this benefits Revere, Everett, Greater Boston, Springfield, or Plainville? You have to motivate those voters in those other places.

“And if you’re a proponent of casinos, you have to worry about the parochial aspects of this,” he went on. “Longmeadow may be getting a settlement from MGM, but do the people there really want this? This is their first opportunity to vote for or against this. And in Northampton, there’s always been that rivalry with Springfield, and Northampton has been out there very clearly with their concerns about a revival in Springfield and MGM in Springfield and what that means to their nightlife and their entertainment district. Casino proponents have to make a case to everyone and explain what’s in it for them.”

Cignoli told BusinessWest, and several other media outlets, that conventional wisdom suggests that it’s easier to secure ‘no’ votes in such referendum questions, and in this case, ‘no’ is a vote against casinos.

But Mandel said that conventional wisdom may not apply in this case, because of the many factors mentioned earlier, and especially the large amounts of money that pro-casino forces will spend to get their messages out.

“There’s a good amount of time left, and there’s going to be a lot of money thrown into this,” he noted. “Any thoughts right now as to how this may go might well be off the mark.”

No Sure Bets

There is considerable time before November, leaving plenty of opportunities for speculation about the vote and what might drive its outcome.

What’s certain is that this will be a high-profile, high-stakes contest, where, as Cignoli suggested, all the parties involved will be doubling down.

That’s because, when this is over, all the chips will be in the middle of the table, and the winner really will take all. n

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

Community Spotlight: East Longmeadow

By
Community Spotlight Features
Balanced Growth Continues in East Longmeadow

Paul Federici

Paul Federici says a favorable business climate bodes well for further economic development in East Longmeadow.

Paul Federici says East Longmeadow has undergone a growth spurt over the past several years, and the trend is continuing.

“The town has been fortunate to have new developments in both our residential and commercial areas,” said the clerk of the Board of Selectmen. “Real estate has picked up tremendously in terms of new construction as well as sales of existing homes, and there has also been a steady increase in commercial growth.”

He attributes the upswing to the availability of property, East Longmeadow’s favorable business climate, and the town’s many amenities. “Businesses and individuals like what we have to offer, and our single tax rate is a big incentive for businesses to move here. We’ve never had a serious discussion about changing the rate because town officials want to keep business owners happy and give them the ability to grow without additional tax burdens. Plus, residents and employees can take advantage of our restaurants, shops, and businesses.”

Robyn Macdonald agrees. “The school system is great, and the town is very safe. The crime rate is very, very low,” said the director of Planning, Zoning, and Conservation. “The single tax rate has a lot to do with the increase in business.”

This business growth is important because East Longmeadow suffered a loss of tax revenue during the recession. “We had a severe slowdown of residential building after the downturn in the economy,” Federici said. “A number of businesses moved out of our industrial area or ceased to operate, and the Appropriations Committee had to tighten their purse strings.”

Although the town fared better than others of its size, Macdonald added, foreclosures occurred for the first time in years. “There were also fears that other businesses would be forced to leave.”

But that has changed, and a surge in balanced growth has helped to improve East Longmeadow’s financial outlook. “Last year, the town was given a triple-A rating by Standard & Poor,” Federici said, referring to the upgrade in long-term bond rating from AA to AA+.

Federici credits the strong fiscal rating in part to dedicated efforts by the Appropriations Committee and town department heads to adhere to tight budgetary constraints while retaining high standards, which include working closely with new businesses to minimize the pain of relocating to the community or opening new.

“Building Commissioner Dan Hellyer does an outstanding job of helping builders get permits and other things they need, which range from utilities to curb cuts,” he said.

As a result, the landscape continues to evolve. “I’ve lived here since 1996, worked in East Longmeadow since 1986, and have witnessed tremendous growth over the years,” said Federici. “We foresee it continuing because we have a favorable business climate.”

Altered Landscape

Roughly 70% of the town is zoned for residential use, and a number of new, high-end housing developments have taken root over the past few years.

“It’s good to see so many developers have confidence in East Longmeadow and are willing to put their shovels in the ground and build houses in anticipation of selling them,” Federici said.

Al Joyce, president of Rose Bud Builders of East Longmeadow, said his company has a new subdivision on Wisteria Lane, off Somers Road (Route 83). “It contains eight lots. Five homes have been built and sold, and the remaining three are under construction,” he said.

In addition, the Great Woods development of single-family homes on Shaker Road and Prospect Street continues to expand. “Phase 11 is almost complete, and we are anticipating Phase 12,” Macdonald said.

Meanwhile, Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction Co. also has a new subdivision called Bella Vista that contains 30 lots, and Macdonald said the homes are all large, with five bedrooms.

“A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held after the first one was completed about 18 months ago, and they are selling as fast as they are built; prices start at about $500,000, and demand continues to be strong,” Federici said.

“Families see East Longmeadow as a good place to live and buy a home. It is a growing community with a great school system and a busy rotary area filled with shops and restaurants,” he added, noting that a new high school has been proposed as well.

Town officials are also happy that Bay Path University in Longmeadow has chosen to expand its campus to East Longmeadow. It is building a new, two-story, 56,000-square-foot structure that will be called the Center for Graduate Studies in Health Sciences; construction is underway, with a completion date expected in early 2015.

“It will be prestigious to have their graduate-studies program here, and it’s also nice to see a parcel of land that sat vacant for many years put to such a good use,” Macdonald said. “The building will be absolutely gorgeous and fits in well with the neighborhood, as there is a residential area across the street and subdivisions on the other side of it.”

Federici agrees. “It’s wonderful that they have chosen to expand from Longmeadow to East Longmeadow, and the college is already doing a lot for us,” he said, noting that Bay Path has made a commitment to provide the town with an annual payment (as a nonprofit, it is exempt from paying taxes), and plans to offer scholarships to East Longmeadow High School graduates and town employees.

Growth is also occurring a short distance away in the town’s Industrial Garden district.  A vacant building on 126 Industrial Dr. was given new life when it was purchased by the Arbors Kids two years ago. “They renovated it and have been very successful. They offer full-time day care, after-school care, and summer camps, which is a great addition to the town,” Federici said, adding that, a short distance away, a new self-storage facility is also in the initial phase of construction.

Go Graphics is another firm that finds East Longmeadow attractive. It relocated from a shopping plaza on North Main Street to a 5,000-square-foot space on Benton Drive in the industrial park. “The company that was in the space before them left because they downsized, and Go Graphics took advantage of the opportunity to move there, which gave them room to expand,” Federici said.

Nearby, he added, the Deer Park section of the Industrial Garden district is also growing. “GMH Fence relocated from Parker Street to a space on Benton Road as they needed more space.”

Change has also taken place in the town center. “Bentley’s Bistro on North Main Street just celebrated its one-year anniversary, and Baystate Rug opened next door about a month ago,” Federici said, adding that the side of the building that houses Bentley’s had been vacant for close to a year, and the portion that is home to Baystate Rug had been empty for almost two years.

The former Spoleto’s restaurant building at 84 Center Square has also changed hands. It was sold to its long-term managers, has reopened as Center Square Grill, and has a staff of about 75 employees.

And Macdonald said a new gas station and convenience store have been approved at the corner of Chestnut Street and Shaker Road on an empty piece of property. “It will contain a 6,500-square-foot building,” she told BusinessWest.

Housing options for older adults are also expanding. The Fields at Chestnut, a condominium association with individual homes for people age 55 and over, continues to grow. “It’s in Phase 5. Most of the homes contain 2,200 square feet, and they are sold as fast as they are built,” Macdonald said.

The town also boasts a new assisted-living facility. Emeritus at East Longmeadow opened a few weeks ago on the grounds of the former Bluebird Acres apple orchard on Parker Street. The property had been vacant for a number of years, and Federici said it offers assisted-living apartments as well as a unit for people with dementia. “It is a well-staffed facility,” he told BusinessWest.

Solid Base

Federici is happy about the surge in residential and commercial activity, especially since East Longmeadow does not have an economic-development director and the marketing budget is limited.

“The town is definitely on the upswing, and the growth is balanced,” he said. “New businesses and families are moving here, and we still have our stalwarts — Lenox and Hasbro. Lenox has been growing and has spent tens of millions of dollars on their facility and training for their employees in the last decade.

“There is still plenty of open land and space available,” he went on. “The town has a lot to offer, and the future looks bright.”

East Longmeadow at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1894
Population: 15,720 (2010)
Area: 13 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $20.47
Commercial Tax Rate: $20.47
Median Household Income: $62,680 (2010)
Family Household Income: $70,571 (2010)
Type of government: Open Town Meeting; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Hasbro Games, Lenox, Lower Pioneer Valley Educational, Redstone

* Latest information available

Fine Lines

By
Architecture Sections
Kuhn Riddle Continues to Build on a Solid Foundation

By KEVIN FLANDERS

John Kuhn, president of Kuhn Riddle Architects

John Kuhn, president of Kuhn Riddle Architects

When local architects John Kuhn and Chris Riddle began their first project together in 1978, they never imagined it would lead to a thriving partnership.

In fact, they had no idea where it would take them. But success, they’ve learned, is a lot like architecture — you start off with a foundation and steadily build your way upward.

Kuhn and Riddle made a risky decision back in 1978, quitting their jobs after receiving a $500 commission to complete a sketch for the Northampton Armory. Kuhn admits it wasn’t one of their most calculated moves, but looking back on it almost 40 years later, he realizes their decision built the foundation for what would eventually become Kuhn Riddle Architects (KRA), one of the most successful firms in the area.

“We were working for a firm in Springfield at the time and carpooling together,” recalls Kuhn, president of the Amherst-based firm. “We’d been talking about what it might be like to get work on our own, and then we saw an article about the building being renovated in Northampton. If we’d known better, who knew what would have happened?”

Fast-forward 36 years — past the initial years of uncertainty, past the fire that engulfed one of KRA’s early buildings, past the painstaking process of building not only structures but relationships — and the firm is prospering in a challenging climate. With 16 employees, it isn’t the largest or smallest firm around, which Kuhn believes is conducive for success in projects of varying scales.

“It’s been a spotty market, and we’ve been fortunate to stay fairly busy,” he told BusinessWest. “Being profitable in a competitive industry is a challenge, and you have to work hard to keep work coming through the door. We’re big enough that we can handle larger projects, but small enough where everyone still wears a lot of hats.”

Kuhn estimates that the firm completes between 50 and 100 projects a year, many of them involving major renovation and reuse efforts. This year, KRA designed renovations for the building that formerly housed the First Baptist Church of Amherst — which now serves as non-academic offices for Amherst College — in addition to renovating an Easthampton mill into affordable housing units and redesigning a Springfield building for National Public Radio.

With dozens of old, once-bustling buildings now sitting dark and abandoned, New England towns are perfect for renovation projects that save structures and money. Like many area architectural firms, KRA has mastered the ability to modernize and repurpose old buildings that would otherwise remain blights on their communities and eventually be torn down.

“Redevelopment and adaptive reuse of buildings brings a lot of work for us,” said Kuhn, who remembers being excited about architecture ever since he took a mechanical drawing class back in high school. “Oftentimes, a building will be renovated for a completely different use. The Amherst College project is a good example; it was once a church and is now used for office space.”

For this issue and its focus on architecture, BusinessWest goes behind the scenes at KRA to see how it takes concepts off the drawing board, or the computer screen, as the case may be, and makes them reality.

Growth — by Design

The building in which Kuhn and his staff work each day is also a testament to the power of redevelopment. The Amherst Cinema Building at 28 Amity St., which houses the KRA offices, Amherst Cinema, Arise Pub and Pizzeria, GoBerry Frozen Yogurt, and HB Financial, among other businesses, has become a major recreational and commercial hub in downtown Amherst. But it wasn’t always that way — many residents recall the building’s former distress before KRA completely overhauled it in 2006.

“The building was an empty black hole, a dead zone in the middle of town,” said Kuhn, who described the 28 Amity St. renovation as the most personally rewarding project in his career. “We were able to renovate it into a mixed-use building that everyone can enjoy. It was rewarding for us to transform a building that served no purpose into a vital part of the town center.”

The renovated Amherst Cinema Building


The renovated Amherst Cinema Building is now one of the highlights of downtown Amherst and home to KRA’s offices.

For local business and civic leaders, the project was not only a restoration, but a reclamation. Don Courtemanche, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, described the work Kuhn and his staff put into the building as a major revitalization effort for the town and region.

“The building had fallen on hard times and was in desperate need of reinvention,” said Courtemanche. “Now it’s one of the most active parcels of real estate in downtown Amherst thanks to John’s design and vision for what it could look like. He took the project on full speed ahead, and the building has become a mixed-use, vibrant powerhouse of downtown activity.”

The project also emphasized Kuhn’s belief in the importance of strengthening cities and towns at their cores by renovating and redeveloping in downtown sections, as opposed to taking on multiple projects calling for new construction at the fringes of towns that offer few geographical benefits.

‘If it’s old and broken, fix it up’ would be a fitting summary of KRA’s stance on redevelopment — and at 28 Amity St., arguably the new heart of downtown Amherst, the benefits and opportunities are endless, even after normal business hours.

“The building doesn’t go dark at five o’clock like a lot of downtown buildings. With the cinema and the shops, it’s alive even on weeknights and weekends,” Courtemanche added.

Yet another advantage for Kuhn to renovating the building that would house his firm’s offices was the ability to include details to enable his employees to maximize their production each day. With spacious rooms and high ceilings comprised of the original beams and trusses, the building has a historical yet modern air, far removed from the standard office environment.

“It was a great opportunity for us to design our office and create new workspace,” Kuhn said.

Building Solid Relationships

A successful career can often distance business leaders from their early adversities, but Kuhn still remembers the struggles he and Riddle endured, the ones they had to persist through in order to build their firm into its current incarnation. Their first few projects were completed out of a cramped, rented space in 1978.

“That’s how we got started,” said Kuhn, “in someone else’s office” — until they partnered with Bill Gillen and began to establish an identity in the community. In November 1989, a fire totaled their office and forced the staff to move to another building. On several occasions thereafter, business threatened to dry up, but through it all Kuhn and Riddle stuck together and used their struggles as learning tools.

“We always had a solid relationship, both professional and personal,” Kuhn said of Riddle, who is now retired. “We were different, we worked well together, and I don’t think we ever said an angry word to each other in all of those years.”

renovated Fuller Block

This rendering shows an interior view of the renovated Fuller Block in downtown Springfield, which will house National Public Radio.

One of the most important lessons Kuhn and Riddle learned during their challenging years was the value of building lasting relationships. Recently, KRA has completed several projects for Yankee Candle, a relationship that has strengthened with each new endeavor. Local high schools and universities are also a wellspring for annual construction opportunities, as they are constantly expanding and evolving to better serve their student populations.

“For us, it’s more about looking for clients rather than projects,” said Kuhn, whose portfolio also includes the $22 million expansion and renovation of Amherst Regional High School and extensive work at River’s Landing Complex in Springfield. “We like to establish long-term relationships with companies and institutions. A primary source of work for us has been repeat customers.”

It’s always difficult to predict the future when it comes to the construction industry, but Kuhn anticipates housing will dominate KRA’s focus over the next five years. In a bustling college town like Amherst where apartment units don’t go vacant for very long, student housing is always a hot topic, but it’s become even more of a focal point in an economy that has seen student costs soar. There will also be an increased need, Kuhn believes, for affordable-housing opportunities for families living in and around Amherst.

“Housing of various types will continue to be a challenge, especially student housing and affordable housing,” said Kuhn, whose firm is also working on a project at Springfield’s American International College, as well as a renovation to the Common School in Amherst. “Housing for retirees is also a huge, untapped market.”

Following the recent completion of a successful affordable-housing project in what has been a busy 2014 for KRA, the firm is eagerly anticipating the opening of 43 units at Olympia Oaks in town. The conversion of abandoned mills, warehouses, churches, and other defunct buildings into affordable-housing units and senior-living facilities has become a popular construction approach over the past 10 years, one that KRA and other firms have taken advantage of with their expertise in adaptive reuse.

“It’s nice to be as flexible as we are in the marketplace,” Kuhn said. “We can handle a range of different projects.”

Drawing on Experience

No matter how big or small the project, Kuhn and his staff are ready to tackle it, not simply with the goal of renovating or constructing buildings, but continuing to transform promising real estate into vital assets for area communities.

In a nutshell, this is what the company has built on that foundation that Kuhn and Riddle laid all those years ago — and continue to build today.

Market Mentors Relocates, Doubles Space

By
Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Market Mentors, LLC, a full-service marketing, advertising, and public-relations firm, announced the grand opening of its new office located at 30 Capital Dr. in West Springfield.

The grand opening of the new Market Mentors office comes on the heels of the company’s 10th-anniversary celebration last summer. Clients of the firm represent a broad range of industries, including banking, financial planning, healthcare, higher education, insurance, law, political, nonprofit, retail, as well as manufacturing and industrial — many of which contributed to the design of the new office space, said company President Michelle Abdow.

She added that environmentally friendly business practices are becoming more than just an initiative, and the ‘green’ movement has created an entirely new set of industry standards that were included in the construction. “Working with our clients to build our new space was a natural extension of our professional relationship,” Abdow said. “For example, our new offices feature high-efficiency and energy-saving lighting from Hampden Zimmerman and appliances including high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR hand dryers from Excel Dryer.”

Construction Industry Adds 6,000 Jobs in June

By
Daily News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. construction industry added 6,000 jobs in June, according to the July 3 report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, non-residential construction added only 700 of those jobs, and the heavy and civil engineering sector lost 700 jobs.

“Although non-residential construction’s performance is somewhat disappointing, the general tenor of today’s employment report is upbeat. It is worth noting that non-residential construction tends to lag that of the overall economy,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Today’s jobs numbers are largely a reflection of the softer growth recorded by the U.S. economy for much of last year and during the initial months of 2014. Given that the economy added over 200,000 jobs for the fifth consecutive month in June, there is some optimism about improvement in the second quarter; however, the lack of monthly construction employment growth, particularly in the non-residential sector, is troubling.”

Although the national construction unemployment rate stands at 8.2% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, there are parts of the nation in which unemployment is far lower, Basu added. “In fact, there are emerging shortages of industrial construction workers in growing segments of the south, which will trigger large increases in wages and per diems during the year ahead. By contrast, there are communities in which construction unemployment remains well above the 8.2% average, suggesting that wage inflation will be meaningfully experienced only in certain communities.”

According to the BLS household survey, the national unemployment rate fell to 6.1% in June, reaching its lowest level since September 2008. The civilian labor force expanded by 81,000 in June. Individual sectors saw the following changes:

• Non-residential building construction employment increased by 2,100 jobs for the month, but is up by 22,200 jobs, or 3.3%, since June 2013.

• Residential building construction employment rose by 4,500 jobs in June and is up by 50,600 jobs, or 8.3%, on an annual basis.

• Non-residential specialty trade contractors lost 1,400 jobs for the month, but employment in that category is up by 29,500 jobs, or 1.4%, from the same time last year.

• Residential specialty trade contractors gained 2,100 jobs in June and have added 55,700 jobs, or 3.6%, since June 2013.

• The heavy and civil engineering construction segment lost 700 jobs in June, but job totals are up by 28,300, or 3.2%, on a year-over-year basis.

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Announces New Executive Director

By
Daily News

FLORENCE — Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity (PVHH) announced that Megan McDonough has accepted the position of executive director for the organization.

McDonough has been working for Habitat for more than a year and has demonstrated skilled leadership and vision since the previous director left in April, said Mike Simolo, PVHH’s board president. “I am pleased to report that the hiring committee made an enthusiastic recommendation to the board to hire our own Megan McDonough as PVHH’s next executive director,” he added. “The board members present unanimously accepted that recommendation, and we all look forward to working with her in her new role.”

McDonough holds a master’s degree in regional planning from UMass Amherst, and is an alumna of the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton. She has seven years of experience working with green builders during her time at the Center for EcoTechnology, and seven years of experience working with the Valley Community Land Trust, an affordable-housing nonprofit based in Franklin County. Her experience in housing, paired with her past leadership experience at the UMass Graduate Employee Organization, makes her an ideal fit for furthering Habitat’s mission, Simolo said.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue to work alongside the many kind and generous Habitat volunteers I’ve met in the past year,” said McDonough. “The board, the office volunteers, the committees, the building volunteers, and our many donors are what make it possible for Habitat to be a catalyst for change — not just for the families we house, but for the whole community that is enriched by the experience of helping build hope.”

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity (PVHH) serves Hampshire and Franklin counties, seeking to eliminate homelessness and substandard housing by making decent, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action for all people. PVHH builds homes with volunteer labor and donations of material, supplies, land, and services. PVHH then sells each home with a no-interest mortgage to a low-income family. The family becomes an active Habitat partner, contributing many hours of sweat equity during the construction of their home. Since 1989, nearly three dozen families have become homeowners in the Valley through Habitat’s work.

Construction Spending Inches Higher

By
Daily News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Total construction spending edged higher for the third straight month in May, as solid increases in private non-residential and public construction outweighed a downturn in residential projects, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the pickup in highway spending is in jeopardy of reversing sharply unless policy makers act urgently to shore up the federal Highway Trust Fund.

“The May figures show that construction activity continues to expand, but with lots of variability by month and project type,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “These uneven patterns seem likely to continue for the rest of the year.”

Construction put in place totaled $956 billion in May, 0.1% above the upwardly revised April total and 6.6% higher than in May 2013. For the first five months of 2014, total spending rose 8.2% from the January-May 2013 total. Private residential construction spending in May retreated 1.5% from April, when homebuilders may have put in extra hours to make up for adverse winter weather in many regions. The May total was 7.5% above the May 2013 level, representing an 11% increase in single-family spending, a 31% boost for multi-family, and a 2.4% decline in improvements to existing housing.

Private non-residential spending rose 1.1% in May and 11% over 12 months. The largest private segment, power construction — comprising work on oil and gas fields and pipelines as well as electricity projects — rebounded 4.3% from a sharp drop in April and was up 30% year-over-year. Among other major private nonresidential segments, commercial construction — retail, warehouse, and farm projects — climbed 6.5% over 12 months, manufacturing construction rose 6.7%, and office work jumped 23%. Public construction spending rose 1.0% for the month and 1.2% year over year.

The largest public segment, highway and street construction, expanded 2.3% from a year before. The second-biggest category, educational construction, gained 1.7% since May 2013.

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

Kristina Drzal Houghton

Kristina Drzal Houghton

At its recent annual meeting, the Springfield Boys & Girls Club board of directors elected Kristina Drzal Houghton as its new Chairman. Houghton has been an active member of the Springfield Boys & Girls Club’s board of directors since 2003, serving on the club’s finance, Festival of Trees, and resource-development committees. Houghton is a partner and director of taxation services for the Holyoke-based public accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. She has extensive experience in tax-exempt organizations and unrelated business-income tax issues, as well as tax compliance and planning for closely held businesses. Her clients include those in the service, retail, transportation, medical, construction, manufacturing, education, insurance, and not-for-profit industries. Houghton received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from American International College and her master’s in taxation from Bentley College, and she has more than 30 years of experience in the area of taxation. She was a former tax manager with Coopers & Lybrand. Her professional affiliations include the AICPA and the MSCPA. She is the immediate past president of the board of the Springfield Symphony, served as the former treasurer of Spirit of Springfield, and was a troop leader for more than 12 years for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Mass. Houghton is licensed as a certified public accountant in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
• • • • •
The Columbus Blue Jackets have named Jared Bednar Head Coach of the Springfield Falcons, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate. Bednar has served as an assistant coach of the Falcons since 2012, helping the club capture consecutive division titles since his arrival. “Jared has been instrumental in the development of several of our prospects in Springfield while serving as an assistant coach, and was a big part of the team’s recent success,” said Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Chris MacFarland. “He’s very well-respected throughout the hockey community, and we’re confident he will excel in his new role within our organization.” Bednar served as the head coach of the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen from 2010 to 2012, amassing a record of 81-63-12 over the course of two seasons. He joined the Rivermen after serving as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat during that club’s inaugural 2009-10 season.
• • • • •
Susan Seaver

Susan Seaver

Florence Savings Bank, a mutually owned savings bank serving the Pioneer Valley through nine branch locations, announced that Susan Seaver has joined the bank as Vice President and Mortgage Originator, responsible for mortgage originations in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Seaver comes to FSB with a strong résumé of service in the banking industry. Most recently, she was vice president and mortgage officer with People’s United Bank. Her experience includes training and supporting a staff of in-house originators, and she has been a multi-year recipient of the top producer award for success in closing residential loans. Her professional activities include serving as a member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley, the Professional Women’s Chamber of Western Mass., and the National Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. In the community, she has volunteered with a number of organizations, including the Michael J. Dias Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Western Mass. Eldercare. In announcing the appointment, FSB President and CEO John Heaps Jr., said that “we are very pleased to have Susan join our team here at Florence Savings Bank. She comes to us with extensive banking experience. I am confident our customers will be well-served by her contributions.”
• • • • •
Loomis Communities announced that Gabrielle Thomes has been appointed Director of Social Services at the nursing center at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing. In this role, she will plan and implement social services and help individuals and their families find the correct level they need for care and recovery or, when necessary, hospice. Thomes is a licensed social worker who previously worked at Wingate in East Longmeadow.
• • • • •
Joseph Malmborg

Joseph Malmborg

FSB Financial Group, the investment division of Florence Savings Bank, announced that Joseph Malmborg of Springfield has joined its team as a Financial Services Representative. In this capacity, he will work with individuals and business owners to develop strategic, long-term financial plans to help customers achieve their financial goals and objectives. Malmborg comes to FSB Financial Group with a résumé of 25 years of banking and investment-management experience. Most recently, he was an investment advisor with United Bank, where he managed and developed a $30 million investment portfolio. He is additionally a former investment advisor at Banknorth, registered investment advisor with MassMutual, and business development manager at Fleet Financial. Malmborg began his career as a branch sales manager at SIS Bank. The Westfield State College graduate is a licensed investment advisor representative with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding the Series 7 (General Securities) and Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law) licenses. He is also licensed to sell both life and health insurance. Malmborg is a past director of the East Longmeadow Chamber of Commerce. His other community activities include teaching Junior Achievement and being involved with Cursillo of Western Mass. “We are pleased to welcome Joe to our investment team. He will work closely with Jean Kelley and Nicole Domnarski to ensure that every FSB Financial Services client receives the highest degree of service and best possible investment advice in the Pioneer Valley,” said John Heaps Jr., president and CEO of Florence Savings Bank. “Joe’s extensive background and strong community involvement will make him an invaluable part of our team.”

Jewish Lifecare Announces Capital Campaign

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Dr. Robert Baevsky, chair of the Jewish Lifecare board of directors, announced that Susan Kline and Stephen Krevalin, longtime volunteers for the organization formerly known as Jewish Geriatric Services, are chairing Project Transformation: A New World of Care, a $9 million capital campaign in support of several projects that will transform elder-care services at Jewish Lifecare.

“Jewish Lifecare has always prided itself on being a progressive, forward-looking organization that continuously engages the ever-changing needs of the elderly,” said Baevsky. “Project Transformation: A New World of Care continues our journey of culture change and person-centered care, as we enhance, build, and expand services and facilities to improve health outcomes, and enhance resident dignity, independence, and quality of life.”

Both Kline and Krevalin are former chairs of the Jewish Lifecare board of directors. Kline served as chair from 2012 to 2014, during which time she led the strategic-planning process leading to Project Transformation. Krevalin served as chair from 1996 to 2000, and has served on or chaired numerous committees, including the 2012 Centennial Celebration. Both Kline and Krevalin also served on the rebranding committee, leading to the organization’s rebranding as Jewish Lifecare.

“For the past two years, it has been my privilege to chair the board of directors and help shape this transformational journey,” said Kline. “As we move away from traditional models of care and embrace the small-house model of care, we will not only improve the care provided, but also enhance the dignity of those living here. Small house combines the best of a home-like setting with skilled care, and gives elders the freedom to live life on their terms, rather than conform to the rhythms of the institution. It helps them thrive in comfortable spaces that feel like home.”

In addition to her Jewish Lifecare volunteerism, Kline has also long been associated with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, currently overseeing all HGF programs and grants in Western Mass. Krevalin, a managing partner at Bacon Wilson, P.C., and his family have given back to the Jewish Lifecare community for generations. “Jewish Lifecare has a 102-year history of compassionate, caring, ever-growing services and facilities to best serve our residents, patients, and their families. Now, it’s time to reinvent ourselves once again,” he said. “It’s about a new philosophy, a new architecture, and a new look for the entire organization, ushering in a new world of quality care.”

The Project Transformation: A New World of Care campaign will support the construction of a state-of-the-art, 24-bed rehabilitation facility; renovations to the Leavitt Family Jewish Home in the small-house model of care; and other significant upgrades to the entire campus. Other funding sources will include an owner’s equity contribution and bank financing.

“For more than a century, we have been the proud caretakers of our local community,” said Martin Baicker, president and CEO of Jewish Lifecare. “From the very beginning, we have dedicated ourselves to delivering the very best elder care for everyone, regardless of religion or background. So, as we enter our second century, we are excited to introduce a new range of services and updates to serve our life-long commitment to our community.”

Jewish Lifecare has engaged the architectural firm of Perkins Eastman, as well as Jude Rabig, two of the foremost experts on culture change and small-house design in the U.S., to assist in the design of the upgrades and new facility. Groundbreaking for the new rehabilitation center is expected later this fall, with construction to be completed by the fall of 2015.

Transit Transformation

By
Cover Story
Region Sees Economic Potential in Rail Service

BW-0614c-1Timothy Brennan calls the return of passenger rail service to the Pioneer Valley a “new frontier.”

That’s a phrase that has been used in other cities across the nation where revitalization has occurred as a result of the introduction or expansion of commuter rail service, which caters to the growing demand among young people and Baby Boomers for housing in downtowns complete with shops, restaurants, entertainment, and a good transportation system. And Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, believes it applies here.

Next year, after more than a decade of planning and infrastructure work, Amtrak’s Vermonter passenger train will run again along a direct route from Springfield to St. Albans, Vt., with stops in Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield. In addition, beginning in 2016, there will be more than 25 trips a day between Springfield and Hartford.

“We think this will be a game changer,” said Brennan. “There is a palpable sense of excitement about it, and the Valley has the disposition to be very supportive of this endeavor.”

Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s chief development officer, agreed.

“As vehicular and truck traffic grows, it may become more relaxing to take a train with wi-fi service where people can use their cell phones and tablets or sit with a coffee, muffin, and their laptop and get some work done,” he said, pointing to the congestion that will be caused by the Mass. Department of Transportation’s three-year rebuild of the I-91 viaduct between State Street and the I-291 ramps as just one of many reasons why rail service may see a surge in popularity.

Tim Brennan

Tim Brennan says expanded rail service could be a game changer for the region.

In addition, the world of work is changing, and more people are telecommuting and reporting into an office only on occasion, Brennan noted, making it more possible for someone to live in Greater Springfield and work in New York, Boston, or another metropolitan area.

“Working from home is a growing phenomenon, and people could have a job in New York City, live here, and take the train to meetings,” he told BusinessWest, adding that, in some parts of California, employers allow employees to log into work via their laptops during their commute.

Marcos Marrero, Holyoke’s director of Planning and Economic Development, says it’s critical to keep up with societal change, and commuter rail service is part of this equation.

“Rail is the future for the Hartford-Springfield metropolitan area, and rail service is key to economic development in the Pioneer Valley,” he said. “Interconnected cities offer fertile ground for economic activity, as it allows them to prosper through the movement of people, products, and services. It’s important to go beyond our parochialism and understand globalization, and if we want to be part of what we know is successful in so many other metropolitan areas, we have to be interconnected and part of that fabric.”

This belief reverberates in Greenfield, and Linda Dunlavy says Franklin County has recognized the importance of restoring rail service to the area for more than a decade.

“We haven’t had a rail stop here since about 1985, but have always known that travel by passenger rail is really important to our economic development and quality of life,” said the executive director of the Franklin County Council of Governments (FCCG). “It has been one of the goals in all of our long-term planning, even though a decade ago it seemed like wishful thinking.”

Experts also hope commuter rail will boost local tourism, as it has in Vermont and other states. “Tourism is an export business, and Vermont does a very good job of marketing packages to people in New York that include Amtrak and hotel stays,” said Marrero. “Having a rail system allows that to happen.”

For this issue, BusinessWest looks at the reasons behind the reopening of the rail line, and also at the hopes and expectations of communities that find themselves on what is being called a path to progress.

On the Right Track

Passenger rail service existed to and from Springfield for decades before it was halted in 1989. At that time, Amtrak deemed the 49 miles of track running to the Vermont border through Greenfield in too great a state of disrepair to continue using.

AMtrakVermonterMapAlthough some freight traffic continued, train speed was limited to 10 mph. “The principal reason the track was used was to deliver coal to the Mount Tom power plant in Holyoke, which will soon be closing,” Brennan said.

But Vermont found the rail service, which extends today from St. Albans to Washington, D.C., so lucrative that it chose to make a sizable investment to continue it. “The Vermonter is enormously popular, especially during ski season and during the summer,” Brennan said, adding that Vermont views it as an economic-development vehicle.

However, in order to keep the train running, it had to be diverted from Springfield to the east in Palmer, where a switchback sends it north. That switchback has always been problematic, as it takes 30 minutes, and passengers cannot leave the train.

As a result, more than a decade ago, Vermont approached the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission asking for help in restoring the deteriorated track. “Congressman John Olver was enthusiastic about it and was able to get an earmark for a study,” Brennan said.

At that point, the PVPC became the custodial agency responsible for moving the project forward, and a consultant was hired in December 2009 to determine what it would take to revitalize the track and analyze its return on investment.

The timing proved serendipitous, as the PVPC had the plan ready when President Obama allocated $8 billion in grant money for high-speed, inner-city rail projects.

The state’s application for a $73 million grant to rebuild the aging rail corridor, which would allow trains to travel in excess of 75 mph, was accepted, and a construction plan began to take shape.

“The work is being implemented as we speak and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year,” Brennan said.

Although he is optimistic about the return of passenger rail service in the area, he said it will need to be expanded down the road to satisfy expectations.

“It will be great to get the Vermonter back, but there will only be one train a day in each direction, so we are working in earnest with partners to get more service up and down the valley to attract commuters,” Brennan said.

Still, experts predict that, if the MGM casino is built in Springfield’s South End as planned, it could generate an enormous amount of traffic. This development, coupled with construction work on the I-91 viaduct, which will begin in 2015 and take at least three years, could prompt people to use the train.

“If there is more north and south rail service, it could serve as a relief valve; our challenge now is how to add more trains between Springfield and Greenfield,” Brennan continued, explaining that an expansion will cost $30 million, but the PVPC is working with the Mass. Dept of Transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) on that goal, and funding could come from the state transportation bond bill passed in April.

“The biggest issue is that the rail corridor is owned by Pan Am Rail, which is a division of Norfolk Southern Rail,” he explained. “The state reached a verbal agreement to buy it for $17 million, but it hasn’t happened yet.”

Still, action is underway, and a letter has been sent to the secretary of Transportation, asking if the MBTA could donate locomotives and passenger cars that are being retired to the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority. They could be refurbished, Brennan said, and the final step would be to find an operator to run them. He added that a connection from Vermont to Montreal is also on the drawing board, and there is keen interest in making that happen, but it is not a priority.

Accelerating Growth

Meanwhile, progress has been made in the form of new, multi-million-dollar intermodal transportation stations, and Union Station in Springfield is undergoing the first phase of its long-awaited restoration.

Kevin Kennedy

Kevin Kennedy says MGM Springfield, if it comes to fruition, would be one of many factors that could drive use of rail service in Western Mass.

Kennedy said the Union Station project has generated excitement, and the restoration of rail service is one of three ingredients — a major development investment, a significant transportation project, and a large-scale, market-rate housing development downtown — necessary in the revitalization of a city such as Springfield.

MGM represents the first element in that equation, and if the casino is built, it is expected to create 2,200 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs, in addition to vendor activity. “People could work in Springfield and live in Windsor Locks, Conn. or Northampton, but we will need to be able to get all of the workers in and out of the city,” said Kennedy, adding that rail service could help address that need.

The third element (housing) is also expected to come to fruition. “We anticipate a major housing announcement for downtown soon,” Kennedy told BusinessWest, adding that MGM’s plans include a trolley system with stops throughout downtown Springfield, which ties into the entertainment factor that makes a downtown attractive.

“Rather than focusing on MGM as a gaming place, think of it as an outdoor skating rink and place of entertainment which ties in with venues already in Springfield — the MassMutual Center, City Hall, and CityStage,” Kennedy said.

But he added that the rail system will eventually need to connect to New York City as well as the north for revitalization in Springfield to be successful.

Marrero also views the restoration of commuter-rail service as a key factor in Holyoke’s economic development.

“The Vermonter route runs along a major spinal cord, and the realignment will cut down on the time it takes to get to Vermont while providing service to Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield; Chicopee could also have a stop in the future,” he said, adding that he believes rail service will make the area more attractive as a place to live, work, or establish a business.

Holyoke is already moving in that direction, said Marrero, citing the success of Open Square in the city’s Innovation District, which is home to 50 businesses located a block from where the new rail station will be built.

“Vertitech Corp. moved into Open Square last fall, and they have plans to open in the New York metropolitan area,” he noted, adding that employees could take the train to meetings to and from either site. “We also have a lot of investment opportunity nearby in architecturally attractive buildings, which could lead to a walkable, dense neighborhood rich in interaction, which all fits together with rail service.”

Research on transit-oriented development shows that property within a one-mile radius of a rail station tends to be popular for mixed-use development. “So, rail has been my highest priority in terms of projects in the past two years,” Marrero said.

In May 2012, the city procured an architect to design a new, 12,000-square-foot rail station at the corner of Main and Dwight streets, which is the site of the first rail stop in Holyoke. It is expected to be complete by the end of July, and the next step will be to hire a contractor with MassWorks funding to build the $2.4 million structure, which will include new sidewalks leading into the station.

Economic Engines

Today, the $12 million John W. Olver Transit Center in Greenfield, located a few blocks from the heart of downtown, sits ready for rail service. It is the first zero-net-energy transit center in the nation and home to the Franklin County Regional Transit Authority and the FCCG.

Dunlavy and other Franklin County officials are also looking to the future and hope to expand the number of rail trains that stop there.

“When we first envisioned rail service, we only thought about Amtrak,” she explained. “But we hope to add a shuttle service to help employers expand workforce opportunities and help residents expand their opportunities for employment. Not everyone who lives here has a car.”

Passenger rail service is also expected to help with Greenfield’s revitalization, which got a boost a few years ago when new market tax credits and historic tax credits were approved for redevelopment of the upper stories of buildings.

Today, about 10 buildings have added office or residential space to their second floors and have also made aesthetic improvements to their first floors. In addition, the Franklin County Courthouse is undergoing a major renovation, and with the intermodal transit center as an anchor, “our long-term plan is finally coming to fruition,” Dunlavy told BusinessWest.

Pittsfield is also hoping to improve its rail service, and Mayor Daniel Bianchi believes rail “will be great for the area.”

The city’s primary goal is an east-west connection with New York City, and he believes reinstating rail is a viable form of transportation. “But it’s a huge project that involves a multitude of states. It’s a large, complicated issue, and we have to be realistic,” he said, suggesting that, since Connecticut already has good commuter rail service, the state might not be as willing as Massachusetts to make further investments in rail expansion a priority.

However, Community Development Director Douglas Clark envisions people from New York City who don’t own cars taking the train to Pittsfield to enjoy its cultural attractions.

That belief was enhanced when the results of a study conducted by Williams College Economics Professor Stephen Sheppard were made public, showing that the Berkshires could reap $344 million in the first 10 years of passenger train service to and from Gotham.

Unknown Potential

Brennan said Worcester is connected to Boston via rail service run by the MBTA, and it has made a significant difference in the city’s growth and revitalization.

“Worcester is now thought of as an attractive, affordable alternative to living in Boston,” he explained. “It has been an effort that has taken about 15 years, but it has really come together over the past few years. So our feeling is that we should anticipate a similar outcome once there is a high level of rail service available here.

“There will be talent shortages in the next decade, and we need to be connected so we can leverage these connections,” Brennan concluded. “We have to make sure we are well-positioned for the 21st century.”

With expanded rail service, he believes the region will have the right economic-development vehicle to meet that goal.

Moving Forward

By
Education Sections
Westfield State Works to Put the Dobelle Controversy Behind It

WSU Interim President Elizabeth Preston

WSU Interim President Elizabeth Preston

Elizabeth Preston acknowledged that, in the vast majority of cases, when someone in academia has the title ‘interim president’ in front of their name, they are usually in a caretaking role, holding down the fort until the institution chooses its next leader.

But at Westfield State University, that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, it’s been more of the exception than the rule, she said, noting that individuals have been called upon to restore order and change the tenor of front-page headlines in the wakes of scandals in the ’80s that led to the resignations of Frank Pilecki and Irving Buchen.

And that is the situation that Preston, formerly the school’s vice president of Academic Affairs, finds herself in as she serves as interim leader following the tumultuous end to what could only be called the Evan Dobelle era at WSU.

It’s been roughly eight months since Dobelle, who by then had the adjective ‘embattled’ seemingly attached to his name and title, abruptly retired amid a searing controversy over his lavish spending of university resources. Dobelle, who had been suspended from his $240,000-a-year job with pay while a law firm hired by the university’s board of trustees investigated his spending habits, had vowed to fight for that job, filing a federal lawsuit against the trustees and accusing the chairman of conspiring to destroy his reputation.

But he eventually stepped down for what he said was the good of the university — although state and federal lawsuits he’s filed against various parties are still pending — and Preston, who has also served as dean of faculty and chair of the school’s Communications Department, stepped into the breach, first as acting president, then as interim, which means she’ll serve until a new president is selected — a year from now, by most estimates. She will not be a candidate for the permanent position.

Today, most of the headlines concerning the university — and the Dobelle controversy — concern the size of the legal bills the school has amassed in this mess (roughly $1.3 million to date), and there is still the rather large matter of a state inspector general’s report on the school’s noncompliance with the state’s Public Records Law, which was due to arrive several weeks ago, but is still being awaited.

But Preston believes that, to a large degree, the university is succeeding with the ongoing work of putting the Dobelle scandal behind it and moving on with the present, and especially the future.

WSU community

Elizabeth Preston says the WSU community has recovered quickly from last fall’s controversy.

It is being helped in this regard by the school’s 175th-anniversary celebration — which has come in parts and is still in progress (more on that later) — because there have been a number of events that have helped the campus community focus on the positive, said Preston, and also change the tone of news coverage and begin the discussion about what the school could, and should, look like when it turns 200.

The sentiment can be summed up with the phrase ‘moving forward,’ which is more than the name given to a website (www.westfield.ma.edu/movingforward) created to serve as the university’s official resource for information on the inspector general’s investigation and related legal action.

Indeed, it is also a mindset.

Looking back on the academic year that began last September and ended in May, Preston said that, while there were some bright spots, this was what amounted to a timeout for the college, as the Dobelle controversy played itself out in the media, he eventually retired, and the school dealt with the aftereffects.

“And you can’t have a two-year timeout. You can’t sit in the break-down lane for two years. That’s simply not an option in higher education today,” she went on, adding that evidence that this won’t happen comes in a number of forms. They range from enrollment numbers for this fall, which are slightly higher than last year, and on target with the administration’s goals, to fund-raising efforts, including a successful initiative that was part of the recent 175th Anniversary Gala, to comments she’s received from faculty, students, and parents.

Meanwhile, there are other positive developments, such as the planned construction of a new science center, the matriculation of the school’s first class of nursing students last spring, and a collaborative initiative with Holyoke Community College to improve access to, and the affordability of, a bachelor’s degree.

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest talked at length with Preston about what being interim president means in this situation, and about what’s next for this school as it marks a milestone.

Altered State

Preston was vacationing in Yosemite National Park last July when the controversy surrounding Dobelle and his spending habits started to reach a boiling point.

She had only limited Internet access where she was staying, but enough to learn that a special meeting of the board of trustees had been called. “That’s when it first occurred to me that this was serious.”

That wasn’t the first time she allowed herself to think about having to assume the role of acting president — the vice president of Academic Affairs is next in line in such situations, according to the school’s well-entrenched succession plan — but it was the first time she thought it was a real possibility.

And four controversy-filled months later, it was reality.

A few weeks after that, her title changed to interim president, which is not an automatic progression, but a role she wanted and one the board of trustees asked her to accept.

It’s been a learning experience on many levels, one that has taken her out of what she called her “comfort zone” within academic affairs, but she’s found it rewarding in a number of ways.

“I was a little bit unprepared for the feeling of responsibility that I have — I’ve always been in a position where there was someone else who was ultimately responsible for things,” she explained. “There’s something very challenging about knowing that you’re responsible for the institution. That would be challenging under any circumstances, but under these circumstances, it’s been more difficult.”

Preston told BusinessWest that, from the beginning, she’s considered her job description as interim president to be fairly simple, even if carrying out that assignment isn’t.

“I thought I clearly had the responsibility for boosting morale and restoring confidence,” she explained, adding that she has gone about this in a number of ways, from effectively communicating not only with the campus but the outside community as well, especially with the ‘moving forward’ website, to putting in place spending safeguards to prevent another controversy like the one authored by Dobelle, to revamping the school’s financial-management team by creating two new positions that focus on internal auditing and risk management.

The website is a key part of the process of putting information in the hands of those who want and need it, and being completely transparent, she said, stressing the importance of communication — at all times, but especially in situations like these. The site answers often-asked questions about the inspector general’s investigation, which began last August, other investigations, ongoing litigation and the accompanying costs to the school, the impact of the scandal on enrollment and fund-raising, and even the search for a new president.

As she talked about the past academic year, using that term ‘timeout’ on more than one occasion, Preston said it’s obviously been a challenging time for the school — and for her.

But in some ways, she said she’s been pleasantly surprised by how quickly the school has seemingly recovered, while also acknowledging that maybe she shouldn’t be surprised.

Indeed, Preston told BusinessWest that, in many ways, the Dobelle scandal, while it received national and international coverage, did not leave what she would consider a deep mark on the school. Few on the campus were really affected by the spending controversies, she noted, and many at the school have been able to focus on the many positive developments from Dobelle’s tenure, and not on how or why it ended so badly.

“The controversy really hasn’t affected much of the work of the university,” she explained. “In terms of morale, Evan Dobelle did a lot of good things for this university, and he greatly elevated its profile.”


School of Thought

Backing up a bit, she noted that, prior to Dobelle’s arrival, WSU endured two caretaker interim presidencies following the departure of Vickie Carwein and then a failed presidential search. This led to what she called “pent-up energy” when Dobelle arrived that translated into a number of initiatives.

She used one — a greater focus on international programs — to show how this pent-up energy manifested itself.

“There was a lot of interest in international study-abroad programs and travel-abroad trips; the faculty had been proposing those kinds of programs for years on campus and hadn’t been able to get any traction,” she explained. “He [Dobelle] opened the doors to all kinds of international programs, and that was typical of a number of things.

“There was a lot of interest in movement on campus in a number of directions,” she went on, “and he elevated the profile of the institution and also empowered faculty and staff to do a number of things they wanted to do; there were a lot of people on campus who were very partial to his presidency.”

So when the controversy broke and Dobelle was eventually compelled to resign, some felt a sense of loss, while others experienced a sense of betrayal, she went on, adding that the extensive, global media coverage and commentary that slammed not only Dobelle, but the trustees — first for hiring him and then for an apparent lack of oversight — made matters much worse.

It all added up to a challenging period, but one that she doesn’t believe has lingered.

A new science building

A new science building, seen here in an architect’s rendering, is one of many positive developments taking place on the Westfield State campus.

“This really is a tight campus community, and people are really focused on the education and experience that our students receive,” she said. “So it was surprising to me how quickly things returned to a degree of normalcy on campus.”

She can’t pinpoint exactly when that happened, but a social event late last fall may have been a factor in accelerating the healing process.

“There were no speeches, and there was no program,” she said of the gathering. “There was just a chance for everyone to reconnect. I think that was the beginning of the process of rebuilding morale on campus.”

Meanwhile, the 175th anniversary and various celebrations to mark that occasion provided not necessarily a distraction, she went on, but a chance to focus on the institution’s history, future, and core values.

“When you celebrate something like a 175th anniversary, what gives that occasion such power is what it allows you to recognize and talk about where the institution has been, and also about the timeless values that have been the foundation of everything you’ve been doing, and how much they’re still present.

“It gave us a chance to celebrate being a public institution, our history of inclusion, and the centrality of service to our academic programs and the campus culture,” she went on, “because those have been part of the institution for 175 years, and it gave people a chance to be proud of who we are and where we’ve come from; it was very helpful in moving the institution forward.”

The festivities culminated with a gala on campus on March 29. The event raised more than $125,000 for scholarships, the highest total for a single event in the school’s history.

And the 175th celebration will continue, she said, adding that there is some “fuzziness” about the dates surrounding the school; the Legislature approved the charter for Framingham State and what became Westfield State in 1838, but the schools didn’t open until the fall of 1839.

Moving forward (there’s that phrase again), the school is looking at new enrollment of more than 1,500 students this fall, which will exceed the target set by administrators. Meanwhile, work is expected to commence this fall on the new, $48 million science building, the first new academic building on campus in nearly 40 years.

There are other initiatives, such as an RN-to-BSN initiative that will be part of a growing Allied Health program, as well as the articulation agreement with Holyoke Community College, which will enable students at HCC to transfer from that school’s online associate’s degree program to WSU’s complete online bachelor’s degree program.

“We have a lot going on here,” said Preston, adding quickly that such initiatives may not be generating big headlines, at least when compared to those stories about the school’s legal bills, but they do provide evidence that the timeout is clearly over.

Steady Course

Preston wanted to make it clear — and did — that the Dobelle controversy and its aftereffects are not entirely in the rear-view mirror.

The inspector general’s report still hangs over the campus, as do the lawsuits filed by Dobelle and the resulting legal fees. Meanwhile, there are several vacancies on the board of trustees resulting from resignations  and expiring terms.

“We’re not on the other side of this completely,” she told BusinessWest, adding quickly that, with the issues that matter most — those of morale, momentum, and positive energy with regard to what comes next — the school has in almost every sense turned the corner.

Which means that Westfield State University is moving forward — in a great many ways.

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

More Investments in the Future

By
Autos Sections
Balise Unveils $9 Million Plan to Reshape Its South End Complex

Balise Hyundai dealership

An architect’s rendering of the planned new Balise Hyundai dealership on East Columbus Avenue in Springfield.


“Serviceable.”

That’s the term Mike Balise, vice president of Balise Motor Sales, used early and often to describe the auto group’s Hyundai dealership on East Columbus Avenue in Springfield’s South End, a nearly century-old building that underwent roughly $1 million in renovations in 2007.

“It’s older, but serviceable,” he told BusinessWest, adding that the term, as well as the adjective ‘cramped,’ applies to the showroom, which can accommodate only two vehicles, the service area, the service waiting area, and the bathrooms. Even the small parcel of land features very little space between the road and the front door. “It’s definitely an old-timer building.”

rendering shows the planned Balise complex in the South End

This architect’s rendering shows the planned Balise complex in the South End, with, from left, a car wash, a new Ready Credit facility, and the new Hyundai dealership.

And in this day and age, ‘serviceable’ and ‘cramped’ don’t meet the needs and expectations of either carmakers or their customers, said Balise, adding quickly that what does register is anything worthy of the term ‘state of the art.’

And that phrase can definitely be attached to not only a new Hyundai dealership, but the other components of a $9 million project, due to commence later this summer, that will dramatically change the landscape on that portion of East Columbus Avenue.

Plans call for demolishing Balise’s Ready Credit used-car operation, located a few hundred feet south of the current Hyundai store, and building a new home for the Korean automaker’s products there, and then demolishing what will then be the old Hyundai store to make room for both a new Ready Credit facility and a car wash  — a relatively new line of business for Balise — that will likely be intended for internal use but may eventually open to the public.

The East Columbus Avenue project is the latest — and probably the last, “at least for now” — for the company in Western Mass., said Balise, noting that every dealership in the regional portfolio has been replaced or substantially renovated over the past eight years, with investments totaling more than $30 million.

The project list includes new facilities for Balise Toyota, Balise Lexus, and Balise Honda, all on Riverdale Street in West Springfield; Balise Chevy Buick GMC on West Columbus Avenue in Springfield; and Balise Ford on Boston Road in Wilbraham. Meanwhile, the Balise Mazda facility, also on Riverdale Street, has been renovated.

And that’s just in this market. There have also been a number of renovation and new-construction projects on Cape Cod and in Rhode Island, where Balise has greatly expanded its footprint over the past several years.

The investments have been necessary, said Balise, because car buying is changing, and both consumers and automakers are expecting, if not demanding, more from the dealers.

Such is the case with Hyundai, he noted, adding that the brand has gone from being mostly ridiculed when it made its debut roughly 30 years ago, to being one of the most respected in the business, with popular mid-priced models such as the Accent, Elantra, and Sonata, and a successful foray into the luxury market with the Genesis and Equis.

“That brand has become a juggernaut, and it deserves more,” said Balise, adding that ‘more,’ in this case, comes in the form of a dealership that will be substantially larger (30,000 square feet as opposed to the current 18,000) and more customer-friendly in many ways.

There will be room to display up to eight cars in the new showroom, said Balise, adding that the service area will be expanded from 10 bays to 16, and the service waiting area will be larger and have the many amenities that customers now expect, including comfortable chairs and high-definition television.

“There will be a definite ‘wow’ factor with this new facility,” he told BusinessWest, adding that, with this sizable investment, Balise may — that’s may — be in a position to acquire more inventory, something that has become an ongoing challenge for many Hyundai dealers as the company struggles to match production volume with demand for its products.

Mike Balise

Mike Balise says the new Hyundai dealership will enable the company to retire the term ‘serviceable,’ and replace it with ‘state of the art.’

There is a similar challenge in the used-car market, said Balise, adding that inventory remains elusive at a time when many consumers are hanging onto their vehicles for a decade or more, on average. Still, the Ready Credit component of the Balise portfolio, which gives special credit considerations to those with no credit or credit problems, has been a valuable asset, not only in Western Mass. but also on the Cape, he noted, and the South End development project will provide a better showcase for that venture.

As for the car wash, Balise said the company now has such facilities on the Cape and in Rhode Island, and they have proven an effective way to add value for those getting their cars serviced at a dealership, but also a cost-effective way to help better present cars for sale on the lot.

“It speeds up the process of reconditioning cars,” he explained, adding that the phrase ‘state of the art’ now also applies to car washes, meaning that these facilities can do a lot of the work that once had to be done by hand to make cars look presentable. “This car wash we have on the Cape gets the cars so much cleaner than you would think a machine could.”

Work is slated to begin on the demolition of the current Ready Credit facility in late July, said Balise, adding that the business will be relocated to another site on the property until its replacement is constructed. The project should be completed by the end of 2015. n

— George O’Brien

Home Team

By
Construction Sections
N. Riley Construction Builds on Its Early Success

Company President Nick Riley

Company President Nick Riley

Nick Riley had never been one to turn down challenges, and he wasn’t about to turn down this one.

It was the summer of 2011, and he had opened his own construction business five years earlier. It was mainly repairs and remodeling work at first, but the goal was always to get into new-home construction. So he accepted a big request — to build a house in the Upper Hill neighborhood of Springfield.

Oh, and it would have to be done in a week.

Almost three years after accepting that challenge from the producers of TV’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, his company, N. Riley Construction, has managed to procure more new-construction jobs, in addition to expanding the remodeling — especially kitchens and bathrooms — that have always been his bread and butter. And he sees that crazy week in 2011, and the preparation that led up to it, as a net positive when it came to taking his business to the next level.

“We ended up turning a lot of work away for that project,” he told BusinessWest. “Initially, going into it, we had many reservations about taking on a project of that size with a company my size. We certainly had never built a house in a week. But looking back at it, accepting that project was probably the best move I have made. It was gratifying personally to be able to help a family out on that scale, and as a business owner, the contacts that I made throughout that project — and the experience we gained from that project overnight — helped our business grow.”

Today, Riley is preparing to tackle three or four new-home builds this year, with one already under construction, and a slowly improving economy is bringing more remodeling business to his door as well.

“Our goal going forward is to build more new homes, but I think the market will dictate how that grows,” he said. “We’ve been busy, though. We’re pretty fortunate that we do all types of services, from small repairs right up to new construction and light commercial. That way, we’re able to adapt to different changes in the economy; if commercial is doing a little bit better, we do more commercial. We’re trying to stay flexible, not be bound to one thing.”

For this issue’s focus on construction, Riley talks about how his eight-year-old company has continued to evolve, the lessons he learned from the Extreme Makeover project, and how he’s giving back to the community — and helping to raise up the next generation of builders — in some unique ways.

One Big Week

Riley started out in the construction business working for his uncle, Andrew Crane, president of A. Crane Construction in Chicopee.

“My family has always been around construction, and I’d been around it all my life,” he said, adding that, with Crane, “I learned a lot of hands-on parts of the job. I found I really enjoyed this business, this industry. Then I started a family and decided to start my own business.”

That was a challenge, he said, but he intentionally started small, focusing on home repairs and gradually ramping up to larger remodeling projects and whole-home renovations. When the Great Recession began, construction was among the hardest-hit industries, but home remodeling took less of a dip, and Riley stayed busy.

And then ABC came calling, just four weeks before the planned blitz build in Springfield. Riley was recommended to Extreme Makeover producers by the Home Builders Assoc. of Western Mass. and other contractors, including Crane — even though he had never actually built an entire house.

The homeowner was Sirdeaner Walker, a single mother who lived on Northampton Avenue with two daughters, a sister, her mother, and her grandmother. A seventh person used to live there — her son, Carl Walker-Hoover, who took his own life in 2009 after being incessantly bullied by peers at the New Leadership Charter School in Springfield.

Nick Riley

Nick Riley on site at the one-week Extreme Makeover project in September 2011.

In the months following the tragedy, Walker became a strong advocate against school bullying, successfully pushing for anti-bullying legislation in Massachusetts, meeting with federal lawmakers and President Obama, and establishing a foundation in her son’s name that raises awareness of the bullying issue and scholarships for area students. But her house, in the Upper Hill neighborhood close to Springfield College, was run down and riddled with plumbing and electrical issues — in short, the kind of need, coupled with an emotional story, that the show specialized in.

“The family was amazing — and they’ve really maintained the house,” Riley said, noting that not every Extreme Makeover beneficiary has done so. “They’re amazing owners, with the things they’ve done and continue to do. It was well worth our time. Everyone involved agreed that the project went extremely well.”

Riley was starting work on another new-home build at the time, and since then, he’s expanded into other such projects, he said. “We’ve been adding more and more new construction as the economy gets a little better and the housing market starts to regain a little strength. But we haven’t gotten away from what we started out doing, remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. That’s what we most enjoy doing. We like working on people’s houses and making them into homes.”

The recession did scale back some homeowners’ plans, he noted. “It was smaller repairs and remodeling. People weren’t spending money on big-ticket items — kitchens, really ornate bathrooms — but they were still remodeling their homes. Fortunately, insurance work propped that up.”

He referred specifically to the freak weather year that was 2011, which started with an epidemic of ice dams and leaking roofs, included the June tornadoes and the August tropical storm and flooding, and concluded with a freak snowstorm two days before Halloween. BusinessWest has spoken with many contractors who said insurance work stemming from those events carried them through a rough year or two, and Riley was no exception.

Today, though, he sees an improving economy starting to make a positive difference in home building and remodeling.

“It’s far better than five years ago. I think the housing market has a lot of hurdles to overcome, but it’s definitely improving,” he said. “I’m not an economist, but I see very slow improvement over the next 10 years. In my opinion, we’ve still got a lot of negatives to overcome. Regulations, material prices, and land costs are really three keys slowing things down. I think the demand for new housing is there; the challenge is building it at prices someone can afford.”

Next Generation

With his company’s success, Riley said, has come an increased civic involvement, efforts that go far beyond financially supporting community organizations and getting involved with Rebuilding Together Springfield, which was formed in the wake of the tornadoes.

It also extends to Student Builders, an effort N. Riley launched to help young people gain experience in the building trades.

“It’s something we set up to help out vocational kids at Chicopee Comp,” he explained. “Two years ago, we built a house on McKinstry Avenue. Well, we didn’t build it — we just facilitated the financing and worked out the logistics and coordination, so students at Chicopee Comp were able to have a real hands-on project, able to build a house from start to finish.

“It was a great project to help the students figure out if that’s what they want to do for a living,” he continued. “It was a good project to train the kids and develop a better workforce, because in this industry, it’s hard to find quality employees. It’s so hard to find the workforce for what we do.”

A second build is scheduled for 2015, and he’d like to see a project begin every two years. “Whatever proceeds come from the house, if it ends up making money, goes right back to the kids in the form of tools or scholarships or into the next project. The idea of doing it every other year or so is that, over four years, the kids are able to at least see part of a project.”

As for his own business development, Riley has seen an evolution in the way customers approach projects, and said the change has probably been more dramatic for contractors who have been in the game a lot longer. In short, it has to do with the expectations of clients and the ideas they come with.

“With social media and things like Pinterest, people are able to find ideas and pictures and things like that,” he said. “Years ago, it was, ‘it’s a bathroom; can you put in a toilet and sink?’ Now, there are hundreds, thousands of sinks, bathtubs, and tile configurations they can visualize on sites like Pinterest.”

Personally, he doesn’t mind the more detailed input. “It certainly helps with the design aspect. A lot more creativity is going into these projects,” he said, whether it’s a client seeking an ultra-modern look or the recent customer in Chicopee who wanted the bathroom design to reflect the 1880s when the house was built, complete with a claw-foot tub and hardwood floors instead of tile.

“The best part about this job is being able to have a customer say, ‘this what I want; this is my vision,’ and you’re able to put it together for them,” he told BusinessWest. “We’re doing something different every day in this industry. That’s one of the main reasons why I love doing what I do — it’s something different every day.”

Of course, it’s still a challenging profession, one still crawling slowly from the tough years of the recession. Even so, Riley said, he managed to avoid the lows some builders experienced and keep making families happy — although it usually takes more than a week to do so. “We’ve been able to grow consistently every year. We’ve been very fortunate.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at  [email protected]

 

MassMutual Unveils Renovation Project at Enfield Campus

By
Commercial Real Estate Sections

ENFIELD — MassMutual unveiled more than $38 million in renovations to its Bright Meadow campus, the primary location for the company’s retirement-services and workplace-insurance businesses, on June 17. The investment enhances the company’s overall infrastructure and positions MassMutual for future growth. It follows the company’s 2013 acquisition of the Hartford’s Retirement Plans division.

The renovations encompass approximately 15,000 square feet on the 66-acre, three-building site, and include infrastructure and technology improvements, a state-of-the-art data center, and enhancements to common areas. Several federal, state, and local officials and employees gathered to help MassMutual officially cut the ribbon on the revamped facility, as the 163-year-old company reasserted its commitment to driving economic growth in the state and the surrounding Enfield community.

“The significant improvements we have made to our Enfield campus reflect our efforts to position our integrated retirement business for continued success, as well as our broader commitment to invest in our facilities and our communities,” said Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual. “We now have a world-class facility to accommodate the excellent growth potential of this business, and we look forward to delivering an outstanding service experience for our customers here for many years to come.”

The improvements in and around the building include:

• A state-of-the-art data center, the largest portion of the overall renovation project. The $23 million center will also deliver standby emergency power generation to most of the Enfield campus, thus enabling the facility to remain open in the event of a widespread power outage;

• The two-story lobby, which has been redesigned to prominently feature MassMutual branding, including the story of the company’s history and technology to create personalized greetings for special guests;

• A third-floor presentation room, created to welcome clients and visitors and demonstrate the company’s retirement-solution capabilities;

• A new innovative learning lab aimed at enhancing employee learning; and

• A redesigned visitors’ parking lot.

“Through the new construction and enhancements to our Enfield campus, we have created a dynamic and inviting work environment that fosters efficiency and productivity, and enables us to better provide our clients with the products and services they expect,” said Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual’s Retirement Services division. “Our significant infrastructure investment also reaffirms MassMutual’s commitment to the state of Connecticut and to Enfield, a community we’ve been proud to be a part of for more than a decade.”

In addition to the new enhancements at its Enfield facility, MassMutual is also making infrastructure and workplace improvements to its Springfield campus. Between the two locations, the company is investing more than $85 million. MassMutual currently employs about 2,400 people in its Retirement Services division; more than 1,600 work at the Enfield campus. The company also currently has 200 employees with Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, a MassMutual subsidiary, in Hartford.

ENFIELD_exterior_JUNE2014
At left, MassMutual’s Bright Meadow facility, which recently underwent $38 million in renovations. Below, cutting the ceremonial ribbon are, from left, Enfield Mayor Scott Kaupin; Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual; Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president, MassMutual Retirement; Connecticut state Rep. Joe Courtney; and Connecticut state Sen. John Kissel. Below, left, Crandall addresses those gathered for the event. At bottom, the third-floor presentation room.

GuyPodiumRibbonBM3rdFloor01

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

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

CHICOPEE

Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$150,000 — Replace existing showers in Rose Williams dormitory

MLRD
351 Front St.
$33,000 — Repair stucco facade

Pride
167 Chicopee St.
$410,000 — Renovate and expand existing store

LUDLOW

East Street Auto Service
575 East Street
$150,000 — Fire damage repair

NORTHAMPTON

Better Homes Properties, LLC
34 New South St.
$108,000 — Exterior repairs

James Lee
221 Main St.
$127,000 Interior renovation and new storefront construction

Paradise Realty Partners, LLC
766 North King St.
$190,000 — Convert two units to one doctor’s office

Smith College
2 Seelye Dr.
$398,000 — Construct handicap accessibility ramp

Smith College
22 Elm St.
$255,000 — Renovate second and third floors at Tryon Hall

Smith College
69 Paradise Road
$269,000 — Exterior renovations for The Quad

Smith College
79 Elm St.
$9,751,000 — Phase 2 of new construction

Smith College
102 Lower College Lane
$307,000 — Install replacement windows

PALMER

American Tower Corp.
400 Peterson Road
$17,500 — Change antenna on existing tower

Palmer Redevelopment, LLC
4 Springfield St.
$100,000 — Replace AC unit

Robert Rapisarda
1139 Thorndike St.
$27,000 — Install new windows

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
550 College St.
$81,500 — New windows at Pearson Hall

Mount Holyoke College
57 College St.
$70,000 — New roof

South Hadley Housing Authority
643 Newton St.
$8,000 — Construct a handicap ramp

Wingate
573 Granby Road
$8,200 — Roof work

SPRINGFIELD

JoAnne Martinez
355 Belmont Ave.
$71,000 — Pharmacy going into supermarket

WMECO
300 Cadwell Dr.
$322,000 — Interior renovation

WESTFIELD

CPL, LLC
37 Feeding Hills Road
$373,000 — Interior renovations

Frank Demarinis
217 Root Road
$139,000 — Commercial addition

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Lindco
176 Wayside Ave.
$104,000 – Renovate 1,076 square feet of existing space

Raj Patel
560 Riverdale St.
$39,000 — Exterior renovations

Real Estate Transactions

By
Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

10 Dewey St.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $199,500
Buyer: Ruth M. Levy
Seller: Catherine C. Tallen
Date: 05/19/14

BUCKLAND

62 Ashfield Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Adam W. Griffin
Seller: Donald A. Billiel
Date: 05/23/14

COLRAIN

129 North Green River Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $225,568
Buyer: Cersosimo Industries Inc.
Seller: Edward D. Higley
Date: 05/21/14

DEERFIELD

7 Porter St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Stephen J. Sloan
Seller: Matthew T. Wilcox
Date: 05/22/14

4 Robs Way
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Mary Ann Barnes RET
Seller: Ruth V. Loudermilch
Date: 05/23/14

242 Upper Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Mark A. Sokoloski
Seller: Robert T. Tensel
Date: 05/30/14

62 Wapping Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: LCCNP LLC
Seller: Christopher Domian
Date: 05/21/14

31 West St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Madelaine E. Bartlett
Seller: Elizabeth A. Karas
Date: 05/28/14

GREENFIELD

28 Brookside Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Allen J. Holmes
Seller: P. G. Butterworth RET
Date: 05/30/14

435 Deerfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Lisa A. Sandri
Seller: David A. Strahan
Date: 05/28/14

31 Mill St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Richard C. McCarthy
Seller: Fevroniya Mikhaylichenko
Date: 05/23/14

11 Olive St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Town Of Greenfield
Date: 05/20/14

45 Place Terrace
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: David C. Kempf
Seller: Sarah J. Marchefka
Date: 05/29/14

52 Vernon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Victor Turcan
Seller: Henry J. Machaiek
Date: 05/23/14

HEATH

84 Burrington Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: David D. Peterson
Seller: Peregrin J. Schwarzer
Date: 05/30/14

Sumner Stetson Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Dena M. Briggs
Seller: Berkshire Bay Lobster RT
Date: 05/23/14

LEVERETT

26 Teawaddle Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Leah H. Roth-Howe
Seller: Davis, Edward L., (Estate)
Date: 05/30/14

MONTAGUE

80 4th St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $269,675
Buyer: DLJ Mortgage Capital Inc.
Seller: Bret W. Matteo
Date: 05/21/14

9 James Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ashley J. Williams
Date: 05/30/14

7 Norman Circle
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Rebecca L. Sevrens
Seller: Mary V. Emery
Date: 05/21/14

NEW SALEM

2 Fay Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Alane Mallet
Seller: Voutselas, Theodore, (Estate)
Date: 05/20/14

NORTHFIELD

30 North Lane
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Howard F. Hastings
Seller: Marguerite L. Lentz
Date: 05/22/14

ORANGE

25 Gay St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Michael P. Gemelli
Seller: Workers Credit Union
Date: 05/30/14

426 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jason A. Kimball
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/23/14

SHELBURNE

115 Main St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $133,118
Buyer: Keiralee S. Jerrold
Seller: Generation Mortgage Co.
Date: 05/30/14

SUNDERLAND

358 Montague Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Cory Doubleday
Seller: McLean, Arthur F., (Estate)
Date: 05/19/14

181 North Main St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Frederick A. Laurenitis
Seller: Sophie A. Zewski RET
Date: 05/28/14

57 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $216,260
Buyer: Michael Murray
Seller: Bonnie J. Grise
Date: 05/27/14

78 South Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Sawin
Seller: Scott J. Mceuen
Date: 05/30/14

WHATELY

233 Haydenville Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Gary Jennings
Seller: Gary R. Jambazian
Date: 05/30/14

15 Long Plain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Clifton E. Stone
Seller: Jane M. Banash
Date: 05/30/14

111 River Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jennifer T. Lafountain
Seller: Donald E. Vollinger
Date: 05/29/14

WENDELL

78 Wendell Depot Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Boyden
Seller: Patricia L. Hughs
Date: 05/23/14

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

74 Blairs Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $353,800
Buyer: Michael H. Tremble
Seller: Hung Y. Zhao
Date: 05/23/14

23 Capua Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $323,500
Buyer: Ahmet Gunay
Seller: Tonya L. Plante
Date: 05/30/14

336 Cooper St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Barry J. Battista
Seller: Himadhar Vemulapolli
Date: 05/30/14

51 Debra Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Sarah R. Stack
Seller: George Chrisanthopoulos
Date: 05/30/14

16 Lancaster Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $323,000
Buyer: Andy Wong
Seller: John W. Saulenas
Date: 05/28/14

35 Losito Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $321,500
Buyer: Travis J. Miles
Seller: William H. Vogel
Date: 05/30/14

703 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Thomas J. Davis
Seller: Collier, Eileen C., (Estate)
Date: 05/27/14

1064 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Richard A. Borsari
Seller: Randy L. Cordner
Date: 05/21/14

132 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Shane A. Wild
Seller: Francis R. Marsh
Date: 05/30/14

161 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Lisa Gawron
Seller: Euripides Torres
Date: 05/30/14

16 Tanglewood Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $233,254
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Steven L. Paul
Date: 05/23/14

BLANDFORD

Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Remy E. Rogers
Seller: Chester E. Broughton
Date: 05/30/14

BRIMFIELD

26 Dearth Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Robert J. Barker
Seller: Donald J. Howard
Date: 05/29/14

CHESTER

Brown Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $195,200
Buyer: James D. Giza TR
Seller: Gary P. Shannon
Date: 05/22/14

CHICOPEE

47 Acrebrook Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: David R. Carriveau
Seller: Kokoszyn, Mark C., (Estate)
Date: 05/29/14

16 Alvord Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Cedar Investment Group LLC
Seller: William E. Johnson
Date: 05/30/14

33 Ashgrove St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Deanna M. Verderber
Seller: Gerard F. Kiely
Date: 05/22/14

21 Bliss St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Andrew G. Vienneau
Seller: Dolores Jakeway
Date: 05/30/14

785 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Kuta Plaza LLC
Seller: River Shore Real Estate Inc.
Date: 05/30/14

111 Casino Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Christina Clifford
Seller: James D. Vermette
Date: 05/30/14

336 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: David A. Bailey
Seller: Christine L. Tanner
Date: 05/23/14

26 Forest St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Lindy M. Holguin
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 05/22/14

102 Frontenac St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,500
Buyer: David Medina
Seller: Mary C. Young
Date: 05/28/14

38 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Nichole Lafleur
Date: 05/30/14

51 Lafayette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Katishia Gallishaw
Seller: Dmitriy Siroklin
Date: 05/30/14

108 Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Kristen M. Marceau
Seller: Matthew M. Jagodowski
Date: 05/30/14

78 Marble Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Thomas Goodrow
Seller: PFR Investments LLC
Date: 05/28/14

33 Martha St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Geraldine A. Kasulinous
Seller: Edwin P. Rowell
Date: 05/28/14

591 Mckinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Melvin Bonilla
Seller: James J. Whelihan
Date: 05/29/14

123 Moore St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Kirt J. Lafrance
Seller: Tallman, Lynda L., (Estate)
Date: 05/30/14

97 Moreau Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Michael A. Taylor
Seller: Melissa A. Purcell
Date: 05/22/14

13 Oakridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Corey A. Diaz
Seller: Eric J. Fontaine
Date: 05/30/14

36 Parenteau Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Rudolph J. Berg
Seller: David S. Billips
Date: 05/30/14

113 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Alberto Gallego
Seller: Dionisio Rodriguez
Date: 05/30/14

92 Rich St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Rachelle R. Kiley
Seller: Marc S. St.George
Date: 05/28/14

39 Roy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Antonio F. Tereso
Seller: Richard P. Pieczarka
Date: 05/23/14

18 Shirley St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Raymond W. Blair
Seller: Eda D. Blair
Date: 05/29/14

154 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Richard Ring
Seller: Douglas M. Blaney
Date: 05/28/14

48 White Birch Plaza
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Kuta Plaza LLC
Seller: River Shore Real Estate Inc.
Date: 05/30/14

EAST LONGMEADOW

79 Meadow Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Thomas D. McCormack
Seller: Neil Maki
Date: 05/19/14

14 Somerset St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Carolynn B. Vincenzo
Seller: Joanna R. Miles
Date: 05/30/14

HAMPDEN

240 East Longmeadow Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Bean
Seller: Stanley V. Pawlowicz
Date: 05/21/14

69 North Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Timothy P. Lord
Seller: Arthur L. Burger
Date: 05/20/14

85 Sessions Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Donald F. Schmidt
Seller: Caitlin L. Sample
Date: 05/29/14

HOLLAND

32 Old Acres Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ethan Loiselle
Seller: Nelson N. Ehinger
Date: 05/21/14

5 Sunset Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Albert R. Neumann
Seller: Sylvia E. Morgan
Date: 05/30/14

HOLYOKE

31 Bayberry Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Anne O. Murphy
Seller: Matthew F. Sandler
Date: 05/29/14

19 Florence Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,900
Buyer: 21st Mortgage Corp.
Seller: Albert F. Hellyar
Date: 05/23/14

6 Gordon Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jessica A. Dulaski
Seller: Dulaski, Francis M., (Estate)
Date: 05/28/14

25 Granville St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Pomerleau
Seller: William Delgado
Date: 05/30/14

567 Hampden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Richard J. Dominguez
Seller: Bruce C. Campbell
Date: 05/20/14

124 Locust St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Jose A. Hernandez
Seller: Sean P. Breen
Date: 05/27/14

7 Meggison Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Ivan I. Biley
Seller: Benjamin W. Dempsey
Date: 05/21/14

62 Norwood Ter
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: James P. Masi
Seller: Stephen J. Sloan
Date: 05/22/14

8 Radcliffe St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Doreen D. Fifield
Seller: Marion O. Dibble
Date: 05/29/14

250 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Rebecca Hardy
Seller: California Coastal Acquisition
Date: 05/29/14

99 Sheehan Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $169,205
Buyer: Nicole Pagnoni
Seller: Gator LLC
Date: 05/29/14

14 Queen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $179,500
Buyer: Anthony F. Piaggi
Seller: Ann E. Deforge
Date: 05/23/14

11 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Daniel Falcetti
Seller: Michael J. Falcetti
Date: 05/20/14

12 Valley Hts.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $161,500
Buyer: Michael W. Zaremba
Seller: Kyle R. Maurer
Date: 05/28/14

40 Washington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $158,500
Buyer: William Ramirez
Seller: Yocelyn Figueroa
Date: 05/29/14

LONGMEADOW

24 Birnie Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: James M. Daly
Seller: Matthew Sadosky
Date: 05/21/14

257 Brookwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Colin W. Burns
Seller: Todd C. Coon
Date: 05/21/14

19 Cobblestone Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Valerie C. Sharpe
Seller: Nicholas J. Ciciretti
Date: 05/28/14

51 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Donald J. Sonn
Seller: Jeffrey E. Schechtman
Date: 05/29/14

5 Cranwell Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $453,000
Buyer: Junshu Zhou
Seller: John C. Suillivan
Date: 05/22/14

144 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Spencer Ross
Seller: Timber Development LLC
Date: 05/20/14

604 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Eric R. Kretschmar
Seller: Steve D. Schultz
Date: 05/19/14

534 Park Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Michael K. Jarvinen
Seller: Frederick C. Craig
Date: 05/22/14

59 Prynnwood Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Laura J. Kattan
Seller: Ernst P. Zobel
Date: 05/28/14

58 Twin Brook Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Brad L. Albert
Seller: David Starr
Date: 05/29/14

19 Western Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Daniel P. Daly
Seller: Mark W. Seals
Date: 05/30/14

57 Wheel Meadow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Marni L. Joseph
Seller: Elaine P. Saffer
Date: 05/22/14

MONSON

73 Cote Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $178,779
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Laurie A. Day
Date: 05/21/14

40 Crest Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $138,750
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Toby R. Bridges
Date: 05/23/14

287 Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: James G. Miller
Seller: Alan D. Provost
Date: 05/23/14

PALMER

30 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: John L. Duquette
Seller: Stephen R. Holuk
Date: 05/30/14

39 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Dawn Zoto
Seller: Pikul, Julia B., (Estate)
Date: 05/29/14

40 Forest Lake Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Lisa A. Beaudry
Seller: Anthony Czarnecki
Date: 05/30/14

3166-3168 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Brian R. Stanley
Seller: Grace Dias
Date: 05/30/14

4063 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Mireille Bolduc
Seller: AMC Building Construction LLC
Date: 05/20/14

116 Mason St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Mark H. Cahoon
Seller: Michael L. Deyorio
Date: 05/21/14

2022 Overlook Dr.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $183,500
Buyer: Mark D. Baker
Seller: Michael Ruszczyk
Date: 05/30/14

25 Searle St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Lynn F. Desroches
Seller: Karen L. Morassi
Date: 05/30/14

SPRINGFIELD

140 Berard Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $173,300
Buyer: Jeremy R. Polastry
Seller: Krawiec, Kathleen C., (Estate)
Date: 05/30/14

54 California Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Laiona M. Weaver
Seller: CDM Properties LLC
Date: 05/29/14

9 Cleveland St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Charity Ayala
Seller: Nelson Garcia
Date: 05/22/14

30 Commonwealth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $139,999
Buyer: Cedric Crapps
Seller: Joseph C. Basile
Date: 05/21/14

649 Cottage St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $592,500
Buyer: Amasdav LLC
Seller: H&S Truck Leasing Inc.
Date: 05/30/14

26 Fenway Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Nathan P. Bean
Seller: Kevin M. Robbins
Date: 05/30/14

53 Gail St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $144,700
Buyer: Jenna M. Molinari
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/27/14

107 Grandview St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Brian L. Bartholomew
Seller: Francis A. Fratini
Date: 05/22/14

61 Keith St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $147,925
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Carlena G. Morgan
Date: 05/29/14

354 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $1,875,000
Buyer: 2331 Associates Corp.
Seller: Main St. Indian Orchard NE
Date: 05/29/14

485 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: DGG Realty Partnership LLP
Seller: Tinkham Glen Realty LLC
Date: 05/30/14

33 Marengo Park
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $148,900
Buyer: Shelah R. Corey
Seller: Jeffrey W. Zabel
Date: 05/21/14

76 Meadow St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Andrew Serrano
Seller: Rodrigo Rodriguez
Date: 05/29/14

88 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Raymond Hamel
Seller: Laurie E. Martin
Date: 05/27/14

202 Oakland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Evelyn M. Bellerose
Seller: J. B. Camerlin Real Estate LLC
Date: 05/19/14

63-65 Orpheum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Ron E. Christenson
Seller: Evelyn Paige
Date: 05/20/14

571 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Vaygnakon Soumpholphakdy
Seller: Patricia Yablonski
Date: 05/22/14

2026 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Piotr A. Lipert
Seller: Barry Haber
Date: 05/30/14

136 Pinecrest Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Tyrone L. Shaver
Seller: Thomas J. Ferris
Date: 05/27/14

26 Pineview Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Daniel S. Hesser
Seller: Patrick O’Brien
Date: 05/30/14

21 Sonia St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Megan E. Bergman
Seller: Nelson Bernardes
Date: 05/23/14

131 Spring St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $9,600,000
Buyer: Armoury Commons LLC
Seller: Tritex Real Estate Advisors
Date: 05/21/14

24 Thornton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Amber D. Degrandpre
Seller: Blanca Rodriguez
Date: 05/30/14

126 Undine Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Harry L. Burgos
Seller: Ting Chang
Date: 05/30/14

130 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Tango Investments LLC
Seller: Anti Displacement Project
Date: 05/19/14

30 Wexford St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Shannon L. Frederick
Seller: Mareen D. Harwell
Date: 05/30/14

248 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $149,400
Buyer: Jose L. Rodriguez
Seller: Adeleke Thomas
Date: 05/21/14

SOUTHWICK

22 Babb Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Noipe RT
Seller: Joseph P. Brennan
Date: 05/30/14

3 Castle St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: William D. Storozuk
Seller: Joseph F. Molta
Date: 05/30/14

22 Castle St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Robin Solek
Seller: Andrea H. Scully
Date: 05/22/14

68 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $262,452
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Colleen M. Forest
Date: 05/27/14

15 Jeffrey Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Paul Tsatsos
Seller: Smith, Brian D., (Estate)
Date: 05/19/14

15 Veteran St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Anita L. Bage
Seller: Gail J. Howard
Date: 05/30/14

WESTFIELD

33 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Boguslaw Janik
Seller: Cofrancesco, Sandra A., (Estate)
Date: 05/30/14

89 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Joseph P. Finnie
Seller: Ann L. Morytko
Date: 05/30/14

14 Carpenter St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Nicole Polo
Seller: Jonathan J. Tooker
Date: 05/28/14

47 Court St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: William Reinhagen
Seller: Richard S. Pomeroy
Date: 05/29/14

9 Deepwoods Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Buyer: Viktor Lysenko
Seller: Gould, Melvin J., (Estate)
Date: 05/28/14

41 Dickens Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Tonya L. Plante
Seller: Joseph P. Finnie
Date: 05/30/14

38 Hampden St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $218,999
Buyer: Travis Moszynski
Seller: John M. Hess
Date: 05/27/14

50 Laflin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $182,900
Buyer: Padma Darjee
Seller: Bernice B. Bush
Date: 05/30/14

85 Old Farm Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Daniel W. Sherry
Seller: Carolyn A. Cleland
Date: 05/21/14

3 Pine St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Steven R. Walker
Seller: John M. Hibert
Date: 05/28/14

3 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $367,000
Buyer: Michael A. Mastroianni
Seller: James H. Cepican
Date: 05/30/14

83 Ridge Trail Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Tianyi Zhou
Seller: Holland, Margaret K., (Estate)
Date: 05/28/14

71 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Amanda R. Hines
Seller: Neil A. Daboul
Date: 05/30/14

181 Springdale Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Ivan Nozdryn
Seller: USA VA
Date: 05/30/14

24 Sunbriar Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Brent J. Kowal
Seller: William A. Reinhagen
Date: 05/29/14

10 Woodland Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Matthew Sandler
Seller: Stephen M. Shea
Date: 05/29/14

WILBRAHAM

2345 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Huntmar Realty LLC
Seller: Tomkat Realty LLC
Date: 05/20/14

114 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Devonia M. Long
Seller: Eric R. Kretschmar
Date: 05/19/14

12 Sandlewood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: John C. Tranghese
Seller: Mile Oak Land Holdings LLC
Date: 05/28/14

WEST SPRINGFIELD

26 Christopher Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Enith Mendez-Runge
Seller: Lois C. Albury
Date: 05/23/14

270 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Mohammed S. Alsultani
Seller: Osama S. Jalal
Date: 05/27/14

55 Elm Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Milan Graovac
Seller: Brian J. Kolodziej
Date: 05/29/14

37 Hewitt St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $121,125
Buyer: Martha M. Brodsky
Seller: Albert P. Biseinere
Date: 05/27/14

355 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jason E. Freitag
Seller: Judith M. McKay
Date: 05/30/14

389 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Town Of West Springfield
Seller: Merrick Drug Co. Inc.
Date: 05/30/14

166 Morton St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: David M. Melega
Seller: Thomas W. OÆBrien
Date: 05/30/14

452 Morton St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Islamic Society of Western Mass.
Seller: Sheila A. Pecor
Date: 05/28/14

110 New Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Pratap Gautam
Seller: Vladimir Lapik
Date: 05/30/14

163 Queen Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: George D. McCanch
Seller: Daniel W. Sherry
Date: 05/21/14

227 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Theodore J. Paradise
Seller: Harold Jenkinson
Date: 05/22/14

19 Wishing Well Way
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $357,500
Buyer: Thomas W. OÆBrien
Seller: Jonathan P. Reed
Date: 05/30/14

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

111 Amity St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $628,000
Buyer: Sophie Latham
Seller: Arthur D. Hyde
Date: 05/28/14

1260 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $226,748
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: David S. Allen
Date: 05/30/14

5 Blackberry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Victor A. Ortiz
Seller: Gregory C. Curtis
Date: 05/28/14

62 Blue Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Spiridon E. Hatiras
Seller: Louise Pressman
Date: 05/30/14

56 Chesterfield Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Nicholas M. Slavich
Seller: Isabella D. Cable
Date: 05/28/14

62 Justice Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Issac Chow
Seller: Larry Barkman
Date: 05/30/14

563 Montague Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Tara P. Boucher
Seller: Marga Coler
Date: 05/30/14

47 Pokeberry Ridge
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $476,000
Buyer: David Markland
Seller: Caroline C. Elbow
Date: 05/30/14

28 Pulpit Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Margaret E. Gage
Seller: Daniel J. Waskiewicz
Date: 05/19/14

125 Summer St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Ryan G. Holmes
Seller: Russell J. Dupere
Date: 05/29/14

10 Thistle Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Diana Peters-Ross
Seller: Ann H. Clark
Date: 05/21/14

10 Tyler Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Rockey Hill Road Partners
Seller: Joshua Hornick
Date: 05/28/14

18 Wildflower Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Boris Lau
Seller: Martha L. Kearsley
Date: 05/30/14

BELCHERTOWN

153 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: UFP Eastern Division Inc.
Seller: Paul A. Bachand
Date: 05/28/14

27 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Pauline E. Stokes
Seller: Cheryl J. Logan
Date: 05/29/14

491 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $228,021
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Judy M. Lacroix
Date: 05/20/14

611 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Michael R. Kendall
Seller: Sallie Sawin
Date: 05/23/14

671 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Gabriel Goncalves
Seller: Bradley S. Bedard
Date: 05/30/14

14 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: Tania J. Grael
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 05/23/14

42 Pepper Ridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $363,000
Buyer: John B. Dowd
Seller: Curtis S. Copeland
Date: 05/30/14

297 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Chaisson
Seller: Robert J. Meyers
Date: 05/30/14

CUMMINGTON

51 Lilac Ave.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Kyle J. Citro
Seller: Matthew J. Hathaway
Date: 05/30/14

EASTHAMPTON

19 Chapin St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Maegan M. Davis
Seller: Janice M. Davis
Date: 05/22/14

2 Dartmouth St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $189,623
Buyer: Campagnari Construction LLC
Seller: Shannon S. Fifield
Date: 05/30/14

11 Fairfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Anthony K. Sillars
Seller: Jorge J. Pedroza
Date: 05/30/14

37 Franklin St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Sarah L. Zazzaro
Seller: David E. Derouin
Date: 05/30/14

58 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Brian D. Burrell
Seller: Lussier, Donald M., (Estate)
Date: 05/28/14

1 Oakridge Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Brad E. Fink
Seller: Linda A. Cyran
Date: 05/30/14

9-11 Orchard St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Milo Properties LLC
Seller: 19 McKinley Terrace Westfield LLC

28 Parsons St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $337,000
Buyer: Nina K. Derouin
Seller: Robert J. Powers
Date: 05/30/14

34 Torrey St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: John C. Barnes
Seller: Lori A. Devine
Date: 05/28/14

15 Underwood Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: David J. Haines
Seller: Anne A. Pinkerton
Date: 05/29/14

58 Water Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: David G. Shelton
Seller: Deborah M. Mielke
Date: 05/21/14

GOSHEN

45 Bissell Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: William H. Carter
Seller: Virginia A. Berry
Date: 05/23/14

GRANBY

115 Amherst St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Cheryl L. Pitt
Seller: Cheryl L. Pitt
Date: 05/20/14

547 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Todd Messinger
Seller: Tyler E. Scheinost
Date: 05/29/14

58 Cold Hill
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Dorota B. Sadowski
Seller: Joseph A. Bergeron
Date: 05/23/14

368 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Emiliano Ricciardi
Seller: Dale M. Jones
Date: 05/30/14

HADLEY

14 Comins Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Paul Narus
Seller: Irene M. Russell
Date: 05/23/14

HUNTINGTON

46 Harlow Clark Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $328,852
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Todd B. King
Date: 05/20/14

NORTHAMPTON

448 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Maureen M. Speight
Seller: Kiara M. Vigil
Date: 05/27/14

540 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Joanna L. Jordan
Seller: John M. Sullivan
Date: 05/20/14

30 Carolyn St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jayme R. Malinowski
Seller: Richard R. Malinoeski
Date: 05/28/14

35 Chestnut Ave.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Nira H. Elkins
Seller: Jesse C. Montgomery
Date: 05/29/14

176 Federal St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Anna Alter
Seller: Suzanne M. Smith
Date: 05/22/14

96 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $226,500
Buyer: Kristen R. Wilmer
Seller: William Z. Forray
Date: 05/30/14

24 Landy Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: James P. Dadmun
Seller: Donald C. Dadmun
Date: 05/29/14

N/A
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Melinda M. Smith
Seller: Violet Clark
Date: 05/23/14

52 Olive St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Cole Archambault
Seller: Linda K. Rahm
Date: 05/30/14

39 Orchard St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: William M. Miglore
Seller: Julianne S. Salzman
Date: 05/23/14

121 Pine St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Robert T. Sippel
Seller: Bill & Marie G. Emerson RET
Date: 05/30/14

303 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $491,500
Buyer: Amy Berner
Seller: Stanley A. Hunter
Date: 05/30/14

76 Reservoir Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Carla J. Zayac
Seller: Wright Builders Inc.
Date: 05/27/14

24 Water St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Lisa A. Morrison
Seller: Day, Lynn A., (Estate)
Date: 05/30/14

24 West Center St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $247,225
Buyer: Daniel S. Millman
Seller: Sandra M. Gross
Date: 05/20/14

40 Washington Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $512,000
Buyer: Gerome A. Miklau
Seller: Andrea E. Reber
Date: 05/20/14

PELHAM

124 North Valley Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Dennis R. Spalding-Fecher
Seller: John A. Kuusisto
Date: 05/28/14

SOUTH HADLEY

19 Helm St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $217,900
Buyer: Elizabeth B. Musto
Date: 05/30/14

30 Kimberly Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $335,900
Buyer: Bruce C. Campbell
Seller: Charles Heyer
Date: 05/20/14

203 Lathrop St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Rebecca J. Leclair
Seller: Michaud, Marc P., (Estate)
Date: 05/30/14

13 Silver St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Michelle N. Darling
Seller: Janice A. Hudgings
Date: 05/30/14

158 Willimansett St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Michael C. Nergararian
Seller: Christopher Ratkiewicz
Date: 05/23/14

SOUTHAMPTON

12 Bluemer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Jesse A. Morrisey
Seller: Leonard A. Gagnon
Date: 05/29/14

9 Cottage Ave.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Christine L. Tanner
Seller: Linda J. Pedigo
Date: 05/23/14

8 Geryk Court
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Matthew Carrasquillo
Seller: Steven M. Mielke
Date: 05/30/14

79 Glendale Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Abdallah Hage-Sleiman
Seller: Paul R. Tourville
Date: 05/30/14

20 Helen Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Lori Beaudry-Flint
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 05/22/14

20 Katelyn Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Ningsheng Zhu
Seller: Andrew A. Boysen
Date: 05/28/14

6 Kevin Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Ryan G. Holmes
Seller: Russell J. Dupere
Date: 05/29/14

30 Mountain View Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Mellisa E. Herrere
Seller: Barbara A. Petersen
Date: 05/28/14

87 Pleasant St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Linda Rubner-Braastad
Date: 05/23/14

36 Strong Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Leclerc
Seller: Matthew R. Phillips
Date: 05/29/14

114 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Yocelyn F. Delgado
Seller: Emily D. Holmes
Date: 05/29/14

WARE

117 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Pauline E. Stokes
Seller: Cheryl J. Logan
Date: 05/28/14

40 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Tracy J. Giard
Seller: Sandra M. Crowley
Date: 05/27/14

84 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Guy P. Beaulieu
Seller: Daniel R. Ogoley
Date: 05/29/14

106 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Heather E. Young
Seller: Jennifer Jyringi
Date: 05/19/14

8 Richfield Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Michael J. Beauregard
Seller: Greg R. Miner
Date: 05/27/14

West St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Cumberland Farms Inc.
Seller: Shawna R. Andrews
Date: 05/23/14

West St. #B
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Cumberland Farms Inc.
Seller: Shawna R. Andrews
Date: 05/23/14

WESTHAMPTON

7 Pomeroy Mountain Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Kiara M. Vigil
Seller: Sally G. Sasso
Date: 05/27/14

315 Southampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Gavin C. Cook
Seller: Mary A. Munson FT
Date: 05/30/14

WILLIAMSBURG

77 Ashfield Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Cory J. Zawadzki
Seller: James F. Zawadzki
Date: 05/27/14

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

MGM Springfield Wins Casino License
SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts International received a unanimous vote from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) approving an agreement to award MGM Springfield a license to operate a resort casino in downtown Springfield. This is the first approval of a casino license in the Commonwealth. The commission’s decision comes after an extensive, two-year process of hearings and background investigations culminating in a final week of hearings and deliberations. MGM formally announced its interest in a resort casino in Springfield in August 2012. At one time there was a field of five companies vying for the sole Western Mass. casino license. The MGM Springfield site is located on approximately 14.5 acres of land between Union and State streets, and between Columbus Avenue and Main Street. Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts, called it “a great day for Springfield, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and MGM. We’re proud of what our talented team and our many dedicated city and community partners have accomplished together. We thank the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for its thorough vetting process and look forward to continuing our work with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and other Springfield and Western Mass. elected officials and governmental leaders, along with residents and businesses of Springfield and the region, as we move this project forward.” Murren was joined by MGM Resorts President Bill Hornbuckle and MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis for the decision at the MassMutual Center. The crowd gathered included elected officials; civic, business, and community leaders; and MGM Springfield supporters. MGM Springfield, an $800 million investment, is designed to ignite an urban revival. MGM and its professional partners worked painstakingly to put together a design that celebrates the history of Springfield while moving the Gateway City into a new era of commerce and economic opportunity. The integrated resort casino is designed to enhance the entire urban center of Springfield. The mixed-used development project calls for a 25-story, 250-room hotel with world-class amenities, including a spa, pool, and roof deck; 125,000 square feet of gaming space with 3,000 slot machines, 75 gaming tables, a poker room, and a high-limit VIP gambling area; about 55,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space that will accommodate 15 shops and restaurants; and a multi-level parking garage. Plans also envision a high-energy dining, retail, and entertainment district with an eight-screen cinema, bowling alley, and outdoor stage. This will be developed by Davenport Properties of Boston, in partnership with MGM on land now occupied by the tornado-ravaged South End Community Center and Howard Street School. Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president, said, “MGM is very grateful to the MGC and, most importantly, to our supporters. Today’s decision says yes to jobs, yes to downtown revitalization, and yes to opportunity and hope. We have been, and will continue to be, a committed partner to the city and the Commonwealth. We have worked hard to develop the strong relationships necessary to create a world-class urban casino resort proposal that will anchor a renaissance for an important gateway city and the region around it. We now look forward to that becoming a reality.” MGM Springfield will bring 3,000 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs to downtown Springfield. MGM has established a hiring goal of 35% of the workforce from the city of Springfield and 90% from a combination of Springfield and the region. Additionally, MGM Springfield has entered into surrounding-community agreements with neighboring communities providing for tens of millions of dollars. However, all casino projects in the Commonwealth still face the threat of a ballot repeal of the casino law, now that the Supreme Judicial Court has allowed the question to appear on the November ballot. Because the repeal effort hangs in the balance, the MGC and MGM entered into an agreement to award the single Category 1 (resort-casino) license available for Region B (Western Mass.) contingent on the outcome of the repeal matter. The future date allows the postponement of the licensing and related fees until the repeal question is resolved. “The City of Springfield deserves a brighter economic future,” Mathis said. “Its residents spoke loudly when they voted yes for MGM Springfield in a July 2013 referendum. A successful repeal would mean the loss of good jobs, new economic development, and a needed revenue stream. It would also eliminate the opportunity to recapture billions of dollars currently lost to neighboring states. MGM is ready to help the Commonwealth achieve these worthy goals.”

SJC Approves November Referendum on Casinos
BOSTON — On June 24, the state Supreme Judicial Court cleared the way for a repeal of the state casino law in November’s election. In a unanimous vote, the SJC ruled that Attorney General Martha Coakley was wrong to reject the anti-casino ballot question last year. “We conclude that the attorney general erred in declining to certify and grant the requested relief so that the initiative may be decided by the voters at the November election,” the court said in a lengthy decision written by Justice Ralph Gants. The ruling paves the way the way for what experts predict will be a protracted — and expensive — campaign that will certainly draw significant national interest. Commenting on the court’s decision, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno stated, “I appreciate the due diligence and consideration the SJC has given to this case. Going forward, we will proceed like we did last year before our local referendum and present the facts on what this means to not only Springfield but to Western Mass. and the entire Commonwealth.” He argued that the two main keys to knocking down poverty and public-safety issues inurban America are education and jobs. “People are hungry to work. MGMSpringfield is a massive jobs-generation project. It also means $50 milliondollars in local vendor procurement opportunities and the redevelopment of the downtown area heavily affected by the June 1, 2011 tornado.” He added, “The entertainment attractions that MGM Springfield will offer to all of New England will not only bring new life and vibrancy to Western Mass., but help to repatriate over a billion dollars currently leaving Massachusetts to other resort destinations. We are prepared and optimistic that, once the voters of the Commonwealth see and hear all the facts, we will prevail.” Michael Mathis, president of MGM Springfield, also weighed in on the decision in a preparedstatement. “MGM Resorts has spent three years collaborating and talking with the people of Western Mass. on the value of a casino resort as a unique economic-development catalyst,” he said. “We are confident that our urban revitalization project in Springfield, one of the Commonwealth’s most prominent gateway cities, is something to which all Massachusetts voters can relate. It is a comeback story in progress with hardworking people eager to grow jobs and get back to work. We are fully prepared to extend this message to a larger audience through a statewide campaign to educate the voters on the enormouseconomic benefits that would be lost to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth in a repeal.”

DevelopSpringfield Announces Grant for State Street Improvements
SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield announced that it has awarded a $25,321 grant for facade improvements to the 886-892 State St. property owned by Lorilee I, LLC. Building tenants include the new restaurant Q Smokin’ Good Food. The grant is made possible under DevelopSpringfield’s Corridor Storefront Improvement Program, 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. Improvements to this space included renovations to three separate storefronts, two which were combined to create the new restaurant space. The recently awarded funds were used to revitalize and repair the existing façade and included new windows, doors, and signage. The grant is supporting a substantial investment for improvements to the building by the property owners. Q, featuring homemade southern barbeque, opened in mid-May. “We are grateful for DevelopSpringfield’s support of our façade renovations. We are a family-run business and are thrilled to bring our love of great southern barbecue to the neighborhood,” said Craig Spagnoli, Q co-owner. “We’ve already received great feedback from folks who have appreciated the visible improvements to the building and have also enjoyed our food. We serve both lunch and dinner, along with takeout, and look forward to serving this community.” The project shows a strong commitment to reinvestment and revitalization along the State Street corridor. It is also an example of initiatives recommended in the State Street Redevelopment Program and the Rebuild Springfield Plan to focus on strategic redevelopment in this area. For more information on the Corridor Storefront Improvement Program, visit www.developspringfield.com and click on ‘programs,’ or contact Jay Minkarah, DevelopSpringfield President and CEO, at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

Northampton Jazz Festival Seeks Additional Funding
NORTHAMPTON — Facing the loss of a major sponsorship, the founders and organizers of the fourth annual Northampton Jazz Festival are looking to the community for financial support so that September’s full slate of offerings can continue to be held free of charge. This year’s festival is slated to begin Tuesday, Sept. 2 with various events held each day of the week, leading up to the Saturday, Sept. 6 main festival event from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Northampton. Musicians on tap will include some of the “most cutting-edge players, mostly from the New York scene,” said Tom Reney, host of WFCR’s Jazz a la Mode radio show. Rick Gifford, a founding member of the board of directors, said the cost of the festival is about $35,000 per year: $15,000 for the musicians and another $20,000 in maintenance and set-up costs. This year, the festival lost an annual $10,000 sponsorship from a large corporation due to a change in its funding priorities. Gifford and fellow festival board members are hoping to close the gap with new business sponsorships as well as private donations, which they are seeking from the community at large for the first time. “We’re determined to continue to make it a free concert for participants,” Gifford said. “All of the music that is supported by our sponsors and patrons of the arts is designed to allow people of any walk of life with an interest in jazz to come to the jazz festival and not worry about buying a ticket. Northampton is all about inclusion. That is the mission of the Jazz Festival, too.” To help close the gap, organizers held a private fund-raising party on June 4 in Northampton, raising more than $3,500 and bringing the total needed down to $11,500. “Supporting the festival is supporting the vitality of the region. I am committed to do what I can to continue to keep free and open jazz alive in this Valley,” said Allen Davis, founder of the Davis Financial Group, LLC, in Hadley and a patron of the festival. Willie Hill, director of the Fine Arts Center at UMass Amherst, added that “we must dig as deep as we possibly can to support jazz and pass it on to our children and the next generation, or it will die as an American art form.” Events begin Tuesday, Sept. 2 with a performance by vocalist Giacomo Gates at the Northampton Jazz Workshop at the Loft at the Clarion Hotel at 7:30 p.m. Next, Wednesday, Sept. 3 and Thursday, Sept. 4 are Jazz and Food Nights at Popcorn Noir in Easthampton and Sierra Grill in Northampton, starting at 6 p.m., and on Friday, Sept. 5, the ‘Northampton Jazz Strut’ will give music lovers a chance to explore different venues across downtown Northampton and hear a number of local and regional jazz performers. At Saturday’s signature Northampton Jazz Festival event, featured performers will include Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, the Steve Davis Quintet and the Champian Fulton Quartet, the Seamus Blake Band, FlavaEvolution, the Miro Sprague/Marty Jaffe Group, and Hendrik Meurkens/Scott Mullet with the Green Street Trio. The festival will also feature the 12-Mile Meal event (12milemeal.com), a battle between three local chefs who are given locally raised ingredients and must cook a dish on the spot with those ingredients. Participating in this year’s challenge will be Xavier Jones of Viva Fresh Pasta of Northampton, Brian Graham of Johnny’s Tavern in Amherst, and Chef Casey Douglass of Galaxy Restaurant/Lounge in Easthampton. For more information, visit northamptonjazzfestival.org or contact Gifford at (413) 582-7925. Contributions can be sent to Northampton Jazz Festival, P.O. Box 641, Northampton, MA 01060.

Massachusetts Adds 9,100 Jobs in May
BOSTON — The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 9,100 jobs in May and the total unemployment rate dropped 0.4% from the April rate to 5.6%. Over the month, jobs were up 9,100, with private-sector jobs up 8,800. Since May 2013, Massachusetts has added a net of 49,700 jobs, with 51,300 jobs added in the private sector and 300 added in the public sector. The total unemployment rate was down 1.4% from the May 2013 rate of 7%. Not only are Massachusetts jobs above the April 2008 high point before the latest recession, they also exceed the February 2001 pre-recession job level. BLS also revised its April estimates downward to a 2,000-job loss from the 1,600-job loss previously reported for the month. Meanwhile, nationally, employers added 217,000 jobs in May, pushing total employment to 138.4 million, or slightly above the previous peak reached in January 2008 as the recession got underway, the Labor Department reported. The six-plus years it took to fully recover the jobs represent the longest unemployment slump since World War II. The unemployment rate, which held steady at 6.3% in May, remains well above the 4% to 5% levels that preceded the recession, a sign that the economy has not generated jobs quickly enough to keep up with population growth.

Advertising Club Seeks Pynchon Nominations
SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations for the 99th annual William Pynchon Award, the area’s oldest community-service recognition program. Established in 1915, the award honors individuals from all walks of life who go beyond the call of duty to enhance quality of life in Western Mass. communities. Social activists, philanthropists, educators, clergy, physicians, journalists, and business leaders have received the award in years past. To nominate an individual, submit a one-page letter explaining why the nominee should be considered. Please include brief biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon. All nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon trustees, comprised of past and present presidents of the Advertising Club. Nominations must be submitted by end of business on Friday, July 11 to: William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090, or by e-mail to [email protected]. The 2014 Pynchon medalists will be announced on Friday, Sept. 12. The Pynchon awards dinner and ceremony will be held on Thursday, Nov. 20 at Chez Josef in Agawam.

Leadership Pioneer Valley Graduates Class of 2014
NORTHAMPTON — The 2014 class of Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) graduated on June 5 in ceremonies at the Smith College Conference Center. Prior to getting their certificates, the 35 participants in the 10-month program presented their accomplishments from working in six teams on issues facing the region. Each project was submitted by a local nonprofit or past LPV team. Three of the projects were continuations from prior years, and the nonprofit partners included Peace Jam of New England, STCC’s Latino Success Project, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Project topics included increasing access to higher education, attracting and retaining young professionals, publicizing regional history, engaging young people in leadership, and connecting local colleges and universities to the regional food bank. Each team offered expertise and energy to make a difference on community challenges from throughout the region. Each team project afforded experiential-learning opportunities and the chance to furthercommunity trusteeship while making a real impact in the region. Teams also had to collaborate with their partners to reach their own goals and meet the expectations of the nonprofit partners. Each participant participated in day-long monthly sessions from October until May, featuring seminar-style leadership-development sessions and hands-on field experiences in communities throughout the Pioneer Valley. Through the program, they refined their leadership skills, gained connections, and developed a greater commitment to community trusteeship and cultural competency. The culturally diverse class of 35 men and women represent nonprofit, private, educational, and public organizations throughout Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. The 2014 graduates are: Sherill Acevedo, Baystate Medical Practices; Jasmine Amegan, Westfield State University; Kerri Bohonowicz, Community Health Center of Franklin County; Amy Britt, Tapestry Health; Ronda Carter, Health New England; Christina Casiello, MassMutual; Jenny Catuogno, Gaudreau Insurance; Tammy-Lynn Chace, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce; Eliza Crescintini, Children’s Study Home; Geoffrey Croteau, MassMutual Charter Oak Insurance & Financial Services; Nasheika Durham, YMCA of Greater Springfield; Andrew Fletcher, Holyoke Community College; Kelsey Flynn, MassMutual; Valerie Francis, Health New England; Meghan Godorov, Mount Holyoke College; Cynthia Gonzalez, Greenfield Cooperative Bank; Richard Griffin, City of Springfield’s Economic Development Department; Rachel Jones, Springfield Technical Community College; Kevin Jourdain, Sisters of Providence Health System; Diane LeBeau, Westfield State University; Yamilette Madho, Big Y Foods Inc.; Matthew Kullberg, WGBY; Rosemarie Marks-Paige, Health New England; Josiah Neiderbach, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; Lizzy Ortiz, City of Springfield’s Office of Housing; Beena Pandit, MassMutual; Lee Pouliot, City of Chicopee; Jennifer Sanchez, Springfield Technical Community College; Isabel Serrazina, Springfield Housing Authority; Nicole Skelly, United Bank; Kyle Sullivan, John M. Glover Insurance; Colin Tansey, Specialty Bolt & Screw; Todd Weir, First Churches of Northampton; Christopher Whelan, Florence Savings Bank; and Jonencia Wood, Baystate Health.

State Requires Utilities to Modernize Electric Grid
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration announced that the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has issued two groundbreaking orders requiring Massachusetts electric-distribution companies to modernize the electric grid, building on the Commonwealth’s national leadership on energy efficiency and renewable energy. With these orders, Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to require electric-distribution companies to take affirmative and far-reaching steps to modernize the electric grid. “The grid-modernization order builds on Gov. Patrick’s commitment to strategic investments in innovation and infrastructure, and creates jobs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “By implementing grid modernization, Massachusetts will once again be leading the nation in the clean-energy revolution and enabling customers to participate in how and when they consume energy.” The DPU’s order requires each utility to develop and implement a 10-year grid-modernization plan, to be updated regularly. The DPU determined grid modernization will provide several benefits, including empowering customers to better manage and reduce electricity costs; enhancing the reliability and resiliency of electricity service in the face of increasingly extreme weather; encouraging innovation and investment in new technology and infrastructure, strengthening the competitive electricity market; and addressing climate change and meeting clean-energy requirements by integrating more clean and renewable power, demand response, electricity storage, microgrids, and electric vehicles, and providing for increased amounts of energy efficiency. The companion order on time-varying rates recognizes that the cost of electricity changes dramatically over the course of a day and year. Currently, most customers pay a flat rate.

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Meredith Corp. to Acquire WGGB
SPRINGFIELD — John Gormally, president of Gormally Broadcasting, LLC, as well as BusinessWest magazine, yesterday announced that he has signed an agreement to sell Springfield-based ABC 40/FOX 6 to Des Moines, Iowa-based Meredith Corp. The sale is subject to approval from the Federal Communications Commission and is expected to close later this summer or early fall. Gormally acquired ABC 40 in the fall of 2007 and soon began a series of significant investments in new facilities and equipment. Shortly thereafter, he launched Fox 6 Springfield, bringing a fourth TV station to the market. The sale is a reflection of a trend toward ongoing consolidation within the media industry, particularly in television. Meredith currently operates 14 local broadcast stations, including WFSB Channel 3 in Hartford and its low-power sister station, WSHM, in Springfield. Other Meredith stations are located in Georgia, Oregon, Missouri, South Carolina, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Tennessee, and Nevada. Under Gormally’s ownership, ABC 40 earned numerous awards for news excellence, including News Station of the Year honors from the Associated Press in 2013 and 2014, competing against all Springfield and Providence, R.I. stations. WGGB continues to be the only commercial TV station broadcasting news in HD.

Baystate Health Announces Naming of Tolosky Center
SPRINGFIELD — To honor the leadership and achievements of President and CEO Mark Tolosky over his 22-year career, the Baystate Health board of trustees announced the naming of the Tolosky Center at 3300 Main St. in Springfield. The Tolosky Center, a regional destination for outpatient healthcare services, opened in 1998 and ignited the redevelopment of an underused former industrial area in Springfield’s North End. The area today comprises more than $200 million of Baystate Health investment and more than 455,000 square feet of space, including the Tolosky Center, the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, the Baystate Children’s Specialty Center, the Baystate Breast and Wellness Center, and the Baystate Orthopedic Surgery Center, among other Baystate-owned and -occupied properties. Tolosky is transitioning out of his position as president and CEO on July 1, moving into a president emeritus role. He served Baystate Health and the community for 22 years, beginning in 1992 as executive vice president of Baystate Health and CEO of Baystate Medical Center. In 2004, while retaining leadership of Baystate Medical Center, he assumed the titles of president and CEO of Baystate Health. The naming of the Tolosky Center culminates a series of recognitions of Tolosky’s long tenure and contributions to Baystate Health and the community. In May, a program that has provided nearly $1 million in forgivable loans to help Baystate Health employees purchase homes was renamed the Mark R. Tolosky Baystate Neighbors Program. Also last month, the nurses of Baystate Medical Center recognized Tolosky with their Nursing Collaborative Award, a testament to his commitment to nurses, patients, and families. “During his tenure, Mark’s commitment has extended beyond the traditional definition of health,” said Victor Woolridge, chair of the Baystate Health board of trustees. “He made it a priority to forge community partnerships that improve lives, and as a result he has helped to strengthen the Western Mass. economy. He has been committed to the well-being of communities and the individuals and families within them.” Presiding over the naming ceremony for the Tolosky Center were James Sadowsky, vice chair of the Baystate Health board of trustees, and John Maybury, chair of the Baystate Health Foundation board of trustees. “My family and I consider ourselves very fortunate to be part of this amazing community,” said Tolosky. “We’ll look with tremendous pride and gratitude upon on our family name on this building, where so many patients receive the skilled and compassionate care that changes their lives for the better.” Under Tolosky, Baystate Health has developed a national reputation as a leader in healthcare quality, being named among America’s top 15 health systems and seeing its hospitals regularly included on prestigious lists of the top-performing medical facilities in the country. In the same period, Baystate Health has scaled up its charitable commitment to the communities it serves, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in community-benefit funding, and collaborating with a diverse range of partners to devise and implement new ways to improve community health each year. It also has substantially increased its economic impact, now employing 10,000 people and producing more than $2.6 billion in economic output annually, according to one recent study. Tolosky recently led Baystate Health through the largest building project in the history of the health system and region, the planning, design, and construction of the $300 million expansion of Baystate Medical Center. During tenuous economic times, he championed the need for these projects for patients, families, and the community. He also fostered unprecedented support from generous donors in the community, raising more than $23 million to make it possible. On July 1, Dr. Mark Keroack assumes duties as Baystate Health’s president and CEO.

Jewish Geriatric Launches Rebranding Campaign with New Name, Logo
LONGMEADOW — Jewish Geriatric Services Inc. (JGS) announced recently that it is launching a rebranding campaign featuring the new name Jewish Lifecare (JL), a redesigned logo and brand identity. “Two years ago, JGS celebrated its centennial. It was a time to look back at this organization’s venerable history of caring for our elders, but also an opportunity to envision the future,” said Martin Baicker, president and CEO of JL. “We challenged ourselves to develop a brand that would provide greater clarity of who we are and what we do.” In 2012, the JGS board of directors voted to move forward with the rebranding process, and a rebranding committee was formed, chaired by Susan Goldsmith, president of Marcus Printing in Holyoke. “We needed to shed limiting parts of our present brand, while differentiating ourselves from competitors,” said Goldsmith. “The name Jewish Lifecare was chosen because it encompasses so much more than just geriatrics. It provides the image of life in its entirety and the phases in which we live.” Retaining the word ‘Jewish’ in the name was important because it embodies the mission of the organization, which is rooted in the Jewish faith. The tagline, “Excellence for generations. Serving all faiths” highlights a 102-year history of excellence in the community and the broader audience of people of all faiths, she added. The icon combines the symbolism of an eternal flame and tree of life into one cohesive image. The dot on the top of the icon allows the symbol of a person to emerge, and ties in the human connection to the organization. Jewish Lifecare will phase in the new branding across all platforms and services over the next several months. “We’re introducing the world to the next evolution of an organization founded as the Daughters of Zion Home for the Aged,” said Baicker. “We have a long tradition of embracing culture change to better serve our residents, patients, and families, and we are excited to introduce the community to the next stage of this venerable organization.”
 
Country Bank Awards $80,000 in Scholarships
WARE — Country Bank recently awarded $80,000 in scholarships to 16 area high-school students at its annual Scholarship Dinner. The recipients, selected from the scholarship committees established at each location where a scholarship is awarded, each received $5,000 to help get them started in their college career and assist with the many expenses that go along with a higher education. At the event, staged this year at Teresa’s Restaurant & Alfonso Banquet Room in Ware, Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank, had the opportunity to meet each of the recipients, their guests, and a representative from their high school. “It means so much to have the opportunity to meet the students and their parents when the scholarships are presented,” he said. “They have all worked very hard to get to this point, and I have no doubt that each of them will succeed in the next chapter of their lives.”

Country Bank Awards $12,000 to Carson Center 
WARE — Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank, and Shelly Regin, first vice president and director of marketing at the bank, recently paid a surprise visit to the Baystate Mary Lane Community Benefits Advisory Committee (CBAC). Scully personally acknowledged the work of the CBAC and awarded the Carson Center two checks. The first, for $2,000, was a portion of the proceeds from Country Bank’s Community Series performances at the Center at Eagle Hill. The second check, for $10,000, was a direct gift from Country Bank to further the Carson Center’s provision of services for community members who are struggling with addiction. These funds were given to compliment the Yes to Life structured outpatient addiction program at the Carson Center, which was funded by Baystate Mary Lane Hospital’s determination-of-need (DON) funds last year. DON funding was made available for community health initiatives as part of the state Department of Public Health’s DON process related to capital expenditures for Baystate Medical Center’s new Emergency Department in Springfield. “We are so proud to support this important and worthwhile program, which will help so many of our community members” Regin said. “Country Bank recognizes this as an opportunity to assist the Carson Center and their Yes to Life Program, and in turn bring support to those who need it in our surrounding towns.”

MassMutual Donates $155,000 on Behalf of Financial Professionals
SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual has awarded $155,000 to eligible nonprofit organizations through its annual Community Service Awards (CSA) program. The awards are given on behalf of MassMutual financial professionals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to nonprofit organizations in their local community. New this year, MassMutual has increased its giving to include six $5,000 Silver awards in addition to its usual 10 $10,000 Gold awards and a top $25,000 Platinum award. “At MassMutual, we are proud of the significant impact our financial professionals have on their communities. What better way to encourage more of them to volunteer than to recognize those that are highly dedicated to helping others?” said Nick Fyntrilakis, vice president of Community Responsibility at MassMutual. “We are delighted to expand our program this year to honor more individuals who are making a positive difference in their communities across the country.” This year’s $25,000 Platinum Award winner is Darren Scrimpshire, a financial professional with MassMutual South Texas in San Antonio. Scrimpshire is being recognized for his work with San Antonio Fitness, Independent, & Recreational Environment (SAFIRE), a day activity center for young adults with intellectual disabilities that focuses on healthy lifestyles, continuing education, and pre-vocational skills. This year is MassMutual’s 18th year presenting Community Service Awards. Each award recognizes the many selfless hours of volunteer time and talent that MassMutual’s financial professionals put in during the year to improve their communities. MassMutual has contributed more than $1.4 million to charitable organizations across the country through its CSA program since its inception in 1996. The CSA program is just one of a variety of philanthropic programs sponsored by MassMutual in support of nonprofit organizations where its financial professionals live and work. Last year, in total, MassMutual provided nearly $8 million in philanthropic investments throughout the U.S., of which more than $900,000 supported organizations in honor of its financial professionals.

Steward Health Care, Doctors Express Announce Affiliation
SPRINGFIELD — Doctors Express has announced support for a growing trend of healthcare system partnerships with urgent-care facilities. Steward Health Care, the largest fully integrated community-care organization and community-hospital network in New England, recently announced a new clinical affiliation with AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care, the largest urgent-care provider in New England. This partnership is the first of its kind in Massachusetts and makes urgent-care centers available to Steward patients and others within the next year. Master franchisors Richard Crews and James Brennan of the local Doctors Express facilities — located in Springfield and West Springfield — commend the efforts to increase the quality and efficiency of patient care. Doctors Express has 11 locations in Massachusetts and plans to open 15 more locations in the next two years. Steward now has the largest integrated network of urgent-care providers in Massachusetts with 24 affiliated locations to be opened within the next year. Through this affiliation with Doctors Express, 45 family-practice, emergency-medicine, and internal-medicine physicians employed by Doctors Express will join the Steward Health Care Network. As part of this clinical affiliation, Doctors Express physicians will now have access to Steward’s patient portal to evaluate a patient’s clinical history prior to commencing treatment. Clinical notes from a Doctors Express visit will be communicated back to a patient’s primary-care physician or specialist for necessary follow-up. Steward patients will remain in-network while visiting a Doctors Express location. Urgent care includes some services offered by primary-care physicians, including treatment for acute illness, trauma (including minor surgical procedures), vaccinations, X-rays, medication dispensing, and more. Many patients might not take advantage of these services through primary-care practices because of inconvenient hours. “Our Doctors Express urgent-care practices are an advocate for better healthcare throughout our Western Mass. community,” said Brennan. “Not only do our physicians treat symptoms, but they also provide preventative care. We have moved urgent care far beyond the boundaries of traditional clinic care, and we look forward to more growth opportunities, from franchise development to partnerships with major healthcare systems.” Added Crews, “emergency rooms continue to be overcrowded with patients seeking non-emergency health-care. Partnerships with major healthcare providers alleviate the burden of crowded emergency rooms, and more importantly, these partnerships increase the quality of care by providing fast and efficient care during non-business hours.”

Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin Receives United Way’s Gold Award
SPRINGFIELD — Local law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., serving Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut, was recognized as a Gold award recipient from the United Way of Pioneer Valley during its 2014 annual celebration. Local businesses were recognized with Gold, Silver, or Bronze awards for extraordinary support during the 2013-14 campaign. Each year, the United Way of Pioneer Valley runs an annual campaign that provides funding for local nonprofit organizations and community initiatives. Donations finance health and human-service programs throughout the region. Awards were presented at the annual celebration, which was hosted recently at Chez Josef in Agawam. “We are proud to have the good fortune to be able to give back to a community that supports our success,” said partner Steve Schwartz, who has been with the firm since its inception 45 years ago. “We are equally proud of the other contributing businesses recognized at the United Way of Pioneer Valley annual event. We accomplish more working together.” The United Way of Pioneer Valley is the regional affiliate of United Way Worldwide, a leadership and support organization and network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories. United Way envisions a world where all individuals and families achieve their full potential through education, income stability, and healthy lives. For 90 years, the United Way of Pioneer Valley has been working in partnership with individuals, businesses, and organizations that advance the common good throughout the Greater Springfield community, including the 25 cities in Hampden County, South Hadley, and Granby.

Student Prince to Close, Expected to Reopen Under New Ownership

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Student Prince Cafe and the Fort Dining Room will close on Monday, June 30, and is expected to reopen in about a month, most likely under new ownership. Managing Partner Rudi Scherff told the Republican that he and his sister, fellow Managing Partner Barbara Meunier, haven’t made money with the downtown landmark for some time. He added that several prospective buyers are interested in the 79-year-old German restaurant, which has a staff of 79 and seats 240 patrons. Scherff also noted that a combination of age, declining business, and a major construction project nearby on Interstate 91 — potentially disrupting downtown traffic and keeping away diners from Connecticut — contributed to the decision to sell. He added that business has generally declined as fewer people are willing to shop or eat downtown, partly because of a perception of crime. He said lunch business, dependent on office workers, has also declined, which led to his decision to close a storefront deli on Main Street three and a half years ago. The Student Prince Cafe opened in 1935, followed by the Fort in 1946. Rudi Scherff and Rupprecht Scherff, Meunier’s father, began working there in 1949, and the elder Scherff bought the establishment in 1961. He died in 1996. In 2008, Gourmet magazine listed the Fort as one of the “21 Legendary Restaurants You Must Visit.”

Baystate Health Announces Naming of Tolosky Center

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — To honor the leadership and achievements of President and CEO Mark Tolosky over his 22-year career, the Baystate Health board of trustees announced the naming of the Tolosky Center at 3300 Main St. in Springfield. The Tolosky Center, a regional destination for outpatient healthcare services, opened in 1998 and ignited the redevelopment of an underused former industrial area in Springfield’s North End. The area today comprises more than $200 million of Baystate Health investment and more than 455,000 square feet of space, including the Tolosky Center, the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, the Baystate Children’s Specialty Center, the Baystate Breast and Wellness Center, and the Baystate Orthopedic Surgery Center, among other Baystate-owned and -occupied properties. Tolosky is transitioning out of his position as president and CEO on July 1, moving into a president emeritus role. He served Baystate Health and the community for 22 years, beginning in 1992 as executive vice president of Baystate Health and CEO of Baystate Medical Center. In 2004, while retaining leadership of Baystate Medical Center, he assumed the titles of president and CEO of Baystate Health. The naming of the Tolosky Center culminates a series of recognitions of Tolosky’s long tenure and contributions to Baystate Health and the community. In May, a program that has provided nearly $1 million in forgivable loans to help Baystate Health employees purchase homes was renamed the Mark R. Tolosky Baystate Neighbors Program. Also last month, the nurses of Baystate Medical Center recognized Tolosky with their Nursing Collaborative Award, a testament to his commitment to nurses, patients, and families. “During his tenure, Mark’s commitment has extended beyond the traditional definition of health,” said Victor Woolridge, chair of the Baystate Health board of trustees. “He made it a priority to forge community partnerships that improve lives, and as a result he has helped to strengthen the Western Mass. economy. He has been committed to the well-being of communities and the individuals and families within them.” Presiding over the naming ceremony for the Tolosky Center were James Sadowsky, vice chair of the Baystate Health board of trustees, and John Maybury, chair of the Baystate Health Foundation board of trustees. “My family and I consider ourselves very fortunate to be part of this amazing community,” said Tolosky. “We’ll look with tremendous pride and gratitude upon on our family name on this building, where so many patients receive the skilled and compassionate care that changes their lives for the better.” Under Tolosky, Baystate Health has developed a national reputation as a leader in healthcare quality, being named among America’s top 15 health systems and seeing its hospitals regularly included on prestigious lists of the top-performing medical facilities in the country. In the same period, Baystate Health has scaled up its charitable commitment to the communities it serves, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in community-benefit funding, and collaborating with a diverse range of partners to devise and implement new ways to improve community health each year. It also has substantially increased its economic impact, now employing 10,000 people and producing more than $2.6 billion in economic output annually, according to one recent study. Tolosky recently led Baystate Health through the largest building project in the history of the health system and region, the planning, design, and construction of the $300 million expansion of Baystate Medical Center. During tenuous economic times, he championed the need for these projects for patients, families, and the community. He also fostered unprecedented support from generous donors in the community, raising more than $23 million to make it possible. On July 1, Dr. Mark Keroack assumes duties as Baystate Health’s president and CEO.

MassMutual Unveils Renovation Project at Enfield Campus

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Daily News

ENFIELD — MassMutual unveiled more than $38 million in renovations to its Bright Meadow campus, the primary location for the company’s retirement-services and workplace-insurance businesses, on June 17. The investment enhances the company’s overall infrastructure and positions MassMutual for future growth. It follows the company’s 2013 acquisition of the Hartford’s retirement-plan business. The renovations encompass approximately 15,000 square feet on the 66-acre, three-building site, and include infrastructure and technology improvements, a state-of-the-art data center, and enhancements to common areas. Several federal, state, and local officials and employees gathered to help MassMutual officially cut the ribbon on the revamped facility, as the 163-year-old company reasserted its commitment to driving economic growth in the state and the surrounding Enfield community. “The significant improvements we have made to our Enfield campus reflect our efforts to position our integrated retirement business for continued success, as well as our broader commitment to invest in our facilities and our communities,” said Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual. “We now have a world-class facility to accommodate the excellent growth potential of this business, and we look forward to delivering an outstanding service experience for our customers here for many years to come.” Among the improvements in and around the building are:
• A state-of-the-art data center, the largest portion of the overall renovation project. The $23 million center will also deliver standby emergency power generation to most of the Enfield campus, thus enabling the facility to remain open in the event of a widespread power outage;
• A redesign of two-story lobby to prominently feature MassMutual branding, including the story of the company’s history and technology to create personalized greetings for special guests;
• A third-floor presentation room, created to welcome clients and visitors and demonstrate the company’s retirement-solution capabilities;
• A new innovative learning lab aimed at enhancing employee learning; and
• A redesigned visitors’ parking lot.
“Through the new construction and enhancements to our Enfield campus, we have created a dynamic and inviting work environment that fosters efficiency and productivity, and enables us to better provide our clients with the products and services they expect,” said Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual’s Retirement Services division. “Our significant infrastructure investment also reaffirms MassMutual’s commitment to the state of Connecticut and to Enfield, a community we’ve been proud to be a part of for more than a decade.” In addition to the new enhancements at its Enfield facility, MassMutual is also making infrastructure and workplace improvements to its Springfield campus. Between the two locations, the company is investing more than $85 million. MassMutual currently employs about 2,400 people in its Retirement Services division; more than 1,600 work at the Enfield campus. The company also currently has 200 employees with Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, a MassMutual subsidiary, in Hartford.

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ECS Acquires Assets of Pangean-CMD
AGAWAM — Environmental Compliance Services Inc. (ECS) announced the completion of the acquisition of the corporate assets and human talent of Pangean-CMD Associates Inc. (PCMD) of Woodstock, Ga. This acquisition, the largest in ECS’s 32-year history, will drive its evolution by expanding the market areas the company serves into Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, and Utah. In addition, it will also expand the existing company capabilities in the Carolinas, Florida, and Ohio. “This acquisition now means that ECS has a national presence that combines senior think-tank engineering with self-performed field services throughout the petroleum, building-sciences, and due-diligence market sectors,” said Mark Hellstein, ECS founder and CEO. “With the addition of the passionate team from Pangean-CMD, we are better-positioned to service the upstream petroleum market.” Kevin Sheehan, ECS COO, added that “this acquisition will also provide professional growth and opportunity to employees as well as an effective tool to recruit new, talented staff.” ECS is now one of the only firms in the petroleum market that offers environmental services, compliance services, remediation, and cost recovery with in-house staff on a national basis. This strategic acquisition enables ECS to simplify the compliance and remediation process for petroleum customers while reducing their costs, essentially becoming a one-stop shop for clients. The expanded staff will also allow for boots-on-the-ground support for ECS’s existing web-based compliance-management programs. “The success of Pangean-CMD has evolved solely from our passion, our commitment to our customers, and our reputation for good, solid work,” said Darren Moore, president of Pangean-CMD. “Combining our assets will allow us to build relationships, share knowledge, and draw on the collective expertise of our co-workers to do what we have always done best: provide the best customer service and work environment possible.” Established in 1982 and headquartered in Agawam, ECS has grown to more than 20 office locations nationwide.

Lioness Magazine Aims to Raise $10K in 60 Days
SPRINGFIELD — Lioness magazine is looking to raise $10,000 in seed funding on indiegogo.com, a popular crowd-funding website. “Mainstream entrepreneur magazines are geared toward men, from their style to their content. Their publishers admit that more than 60% of their readers are males. Even though female entrepreneurship is rapidly on the rise and even though in 2013 female-owned companies generated more than $1.3 trillion, there was still no mainstream magazine for these women, until now,” explained Lioness founder Natasha Clark. Lioness launched in August 2011 and since then has been read by more than 3,000 people worldwide. Seventy-nine percent of the readers are women between the ages of 25 and 45. With the launch of the new lionessmagazine.com, the news site is able to provide daily content in addition their regular monthly magazine. “Western Mass. is a great place to live and do business, and my hope is to grow Lioness and keep it headquartered right here,” Clark said. From June 2 to Aug. 1, she is shooting to raise $10,000 in seed money to keep the magazine afloat through 2014. She has primarily been funding the company herself. Working as a program manager at the nonprofit Springfield School Volunteers, Clark — one of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty honorees in 2010 — works on the all-female staff to bring volunteers into the school district as mentors, academic tutors, and participants in the popular Read Aloud program. When the campaign closes, Clark will transition to running the startup full-time. She thought crowd funding would be an ideal way to raise funds and educate the public about Lioness’ mission at the same time. “I love that platforms such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter give entrepreneurs like me a fighting chance to raise some capital to get our startups to the next level,” she said. “I just want to do something really awesome for women entrepreneurs around the globe, and I want to be able to do it in my hometown.” To learn more about Lioness and its Indiegogo campaign, visit igg.me/at/lionessmagazine.

Kathleen Doe Launches Creative Design Venture
NORTHAMPTON — Kathleen Doe has announced the launch of Kathleen Doe Creative Design, putting more than a decade of industry experience to work in founding her own business. The Northampton-based venture specializes in print and package design, marketing communication, and brand development, providing a complete range of creative services from concept to execution. Previously, Doe was the senior graphic designer and studio director at Stevens 470 in Westfield. She graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in the school’s renowned Electronic Media, Arts and Communication program. She is a member of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, the Northampton Area Young Professionals, and is on the Board of Directors of the Irish Cultural Center at Elms College.

Leadership Pioneer Valley Graduates Class of 2014
NORTHAMPTON — The 2014 class of Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) graduated on June 5 in ceremonies at the Smith College Conference Center. Prior to getting their certificates, the 35 participants in the 10-month program presented their accomplishments from working in six teams on issues facing the region. Each project was submitted by a local nonprofit or past LPV team. Three of the projects were continuations from prior years, and the nonprofit partners included Peace Jam of New England, STCC’s Latino Success Project, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Project topics included increasing access to higher education, attracting and retaining young professionals, publicizing regional history, engaging young people in leadership, and connecting local colleges and universities to the regional food bank. Each team offered expertise and energy to make a difference on community challenges from throughout the region. Each team project afforded experiential-learning opportunities and the chance to further community trusteeship while making a real impact in the region. Teams also had to collaborate with their partners to reach their own goals and meet the expectations of the nonprofit partners. Each participant participated in day-long monthly sessions from October until May, featuring seminar-style leadership-development sessions and hands-on field experiences in communities throughout the Pioneer Valley. Through the program, they refined their leadership skills, gained connections, and developed a greater commitment to community trusteeship and cultural competency. The culturally diverse class of 35 men and women represent nonprofit, private, educational, and public organizations throughout Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. The 2014 graduates are: Sherill Acevedo, Baystate Medical Practices; Jasmine Amegan, Westfield State University; Kerri Bohonowicz, Community Health Center of Franklin County; Amy Britt, Tapestry Health; Ronda Carter, Health New England; Christina Casiello, MassMutual; Jenny Catuogno, Gaudreau Insurance; Tammy-Lynn Chace, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce; Eliza Crescintini, Children’s Study Home; Geoffrey Croteau, MassMutual Charter Oak Insurance & Financial Services; Nasheika Durham, YMCA of Greater Springfield; Andrew Fletcher, Holyoke Community College; Kelsey Flynn, MassMutual; Valerie Francis, Health New England; Meghan Godorov, Mount Holyoke College; Cynthia Gonzalez, Greenfield Cooperative Bank; Richard Griffin, City of Springfield’s Economic Development Department; Rachel Jones, Springfield Technical Community College; Kevin Jourdain, Sisters of Providence Health System; Diane LeBeau, Westfield State University; Yamilette Madho, Big Y Foods Inc.; Matthew Kullberg, WGBY; Rosemarie Marks-Paige, Health New England; Josiah Neiderbach, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; Lizzy Ortiz, City of Springfield’s Office of Housing; Beena Pandit, MassMutual; Lee Pouliot, City of Chicopee; Jennifer Sanchez, Springfield Technical Community College; Isabel Serrazina, Springfield Housing Authority; Nicole Skelly, United Bank; Kyle Sullivan, John M. Glover Insurance; Colin Tansey, Specialty Bolt & Screw; Todd Weir, First Churches of Northampton; Christopher Whelan, Florence Savings Bank; and Jonencia Wood, Baystate Health.

ESB Teams Up with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Easthampton Build
EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of Easthampton Savings Bank, announced that the bank has become a keystone sponsor for the first Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity home in Easthampton. The bank contributed $10,000 to the East Street Habitat home. The money will go toward the costs of planning, construction, volunteer recruitment, and training. A 15-volunteer committee is already in place to plan the building of the East Street Home. “This particular build is significant because we are building two homes at once, and it is our first Women Build Initiative, which is a project designed to proactively welcome women leadership and women volunteers,” said Peter Jessop, interim executive director of the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. “Three of our steering committee members are from Easthampton Savings Bank, so ESB is providing more than just financial support — they are also providing leadership and volunteer capacity. This is the true spirit of the Habitat model, and we hope ESB’s commitment will inspire others to get involved.” Added Sosik, “the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity is about building communities. Being a sponsor gives us the unique opportunity to become involved in a family’s journey towards home ownership in our community. Plus, the Women Build Initiative is a great way to empower women to get involved in the construction of a home and help a family who wouldn’t be able to build a home otherwise.” Easthampton Savings Bank has supported Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity since 2004 with contributions totaling over $31,000, while ESB employees sit on the organization’s board of directors, finance committee, and the Women Build steering committee.

Wellness Center Becomes Accredited Program for Diabetes Education
SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University and Big Y Foods Inc. Consultation and Wellness Center was recently named an accredited diabetes-education program by the American Assoc. of Diabetes Educators (AADE). This accomplishment represents yet another step in the implementation of the ‘pharmacist as educator’ philosophy that is central to the vision of the university’s College of Pharmacy. Diabetes education is a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions. These are provided by diabetes educators. “Trends show that diabetes education is moving out of the hospital and into the community, so AADE’s accreditation program was created, in part, to encourage diabetes education where the patient is seeking care,” said Leslie Kolb, program director for the AADE’s Diabetes Education Accreditation Program. “The Western New England University and Big Y Foods Inc. Consultation and Wellness Center is exactly the type of program we envisioned when we set up our accreditation program in 2009.” Kam Capoccia, associate professor and director of the Consultation and Wellness Center at 300 Cooley St. in Springfield, noted that it is one of 13 AADE-accredited programs in the Commonwealth. “This is a pharmacist-run diabetes center, and we are proud and honored to serve the community.” Added Nicole D’Amour Schneider, senior manager of Pharmacy Operations for Big Y, “the Western New England University and Big Y Foods Inc. Consultation and Wellness Center has been providing our community with excellent, patient-centered care and disease-state-management education for nearly four years. Our congratulations go out to our partners at the Western New England University College of Pharmacy for achieving this impressive accomplishment.”

Q Restaurant Opens on State Street in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Dominic Sarno joined other public officials and neighborhood business leaders on June 2 for a ribbon cutting to mark the grand opening of the Q Restaurant, the latest example of renewed reinvestment and revitalization along the State Street corridor. Advertised as serving “real southern barbecue,” the restaurant opened for lunch on May 19 and started serving lunch and dinner on May 26. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. “This is another example of the city’s continuing ability to attract new investment that revitalizes neighborhoods,” said Sarno. “Not too long ago, this building was seized by the city. Now, it is back on the tax rolls, it is looking better than ever, and I’m hoping it will be an asset to the neighborhood for years to come.” Located at 890 State St., the property was purchased from the city in 2013 by Craig and Chris Spagnoli, a father-and-son team that had previously worked with the city on revitalizing foreclosed properties in the Forest Park neighborhood. The Spagnolis have invested more than $500,000 in starting the restaurant and are also planning to rehabilitate the upper floors into 15 units of rental housing. “My son Chris’s wife, Sarah, is from the South, and since we’ve been working in Springfield, we’ve always talked about how we thought a good southern barbecue restaurant would go over well,” said Craig Spagnoli. “We’re hoping Q will be a popular place for the neighborhood, for the colleges nearby, and for commuters wanting to pick up takeout on their way home.” The restaurant is located in Mason Square on the edge of the campus of American International College and a few blocks from Springfield College. It is across the street from the former Indian Motorcycle factory, and the restaurant boasts several Indian models as a tribute to the neighborhood’s manufacturing legacy.

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

Dena Hall

Dena Hall

Michael Moriarty

Michael Moriarty

United Financial Bancorp Inc. announced that J. Jeffrey Sullivan, president and member of the board of directors, is leaving the company to pursue other professional interests. In addition, it was announced that Dena Hall has been promoted to Western Mass. Regional President for United Bank, and Michael Moriarty will be Executive Vice President, Western Mass. Commercial Banking Executive. “I want to thank Jeff for his commitment to United Bank over the past 12 years and his effort in helping us achieve a successful legal close of our merger,” said William Crawford IV, CEO of United Bank and United Financial Bancorp Inc. “Jeff has enjoyed a long career in banking and demonstrated a strong personal and professional commitment to Springfield and Western Mass. All of us who have had the opportunity to work with Jeff wish him well in his future endeavors.” In addition to her leading role as Western Mass. Regional President for United Bank, Hall will continue to serve as Chief Marketing Officer for the bank and President of the United Bank Foundation. She has nearly 20 years of experience in bank marketing and charitable giving. She came to United Bank in 2005 after serving as Assistant Vice President of Marketing for Woronoco Savings Bank (now Berkshire Bank) and Executive Director of the Woronoco Savings Charitable Foundation in Westfield. Hall worked previously for the Community Foundation of Western Mass. Hall was named one of the Springfield region’s top young business and community leaders by BusinessWest magazine in its inaugural 40 Under Forty compilation in 2007, and was also named the Business Woman of the Year by the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the board of trustees for the Baystate Health Systems Foundation as well as a member of the Westfield Re-Development Authority and the Western Mass. Corporate Funder’s Forum. She is also the chairwoman of the Capital Campaign Scheduling Committee of Greater Springfield. Hall is a graduate of UMass Amherst, the Massachusetts School for Financial Studies, and the National School of Banking and Finance at Fairfield (Conn.) University. Moriarty, who previously held the title of Senior Vice President and Regional Team Leader for United Bank for more than seven years, will take on a key role as Executive Vice President, Western Mass. Commercial Banking Executive. Prior to joining United Bank, Moriarty was Vice President of Commercial Lending for the Bank of Western Massachusetts. He also was Vice Pesident of Commercial Lending for the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency. Earlier in his banking career, Moriarty was a Bank Examiner with the Office of the Commissioner of Banks in Massachusetts. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Merrimack College and an MBA from Western New England University. He is also a graduate of the Stonier National Graduate School of Banking, American Bankers Assoc. Hall’s and Moriarty’s new roles with the company became effective earlier this month.
•••••
Douglas Bowen

Douglas Bowen

Banker & Tradesman has named Douglas Bowen, President and CEO of PeoplesBank, a Community Bank Hero. In awarding that honor, the publication said it goes to individuals who show “an exceptional dedication to service and investment in their community.” Bowen and the others were recognized at a special reception to honor those in the industry who have gone above and beyond to better their organization and their community. Since becoming President and CEO of PeoplesBank in 2007, Bowen and his leadership team have led a culture change at the bank. That shift defined a triple bottom line for the bank: going forward, enhanced financial performance would be linked to community and employee engagement as well as environmental sustainability. The team focused on developing new and higher levels of employee engagement and involvement by creating life-work balance initiatives, a management-development program, employee-led think tanks, and employee-recognition events. PeoplesBank associates have volunteered an average of 6,000 hours each year for charitable causes, and 48 of the bank’s officers serve on the boards and committees of 115 nonprofit organizations. The bank has also donated more than $5 million to local charitable and civic organizations and financed more than $70 million in wind, hydroelectric, and solar energy projects. PeoplesBank, having built three LEED-registered offices, is also a leader in green construction. “I am proud to say that, when I look around at work, I see heroes — PeoplesBank associates doing remarkable things for our customers, the community, and our organization every day,” Bowen said in accepting the award.
•••••
Linda Ellen Jones

Linda Ellen Jones

Linda Ellen Jones, currently the Vice President of Statutory Affairs at Alfred University in New York and a national expert in structural ceramic materials, has been appointed Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Western New England University. Jones will be the university’s chief academic officer and oversee the academic integrity of all colleges, schools, and institutes on campus. The provost is responsible for working with the deans and faculty to develop new programs, and oversees the academic-appointment process.
“I am thrilled to be joining Western New England University as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs,” said Jones. “As we all know, higher education is at a remarkable crossroads. The work in front of us is to help our students answer the questions, who do I want to be, and how do I best prepare for a future rich in possibilities? I look forward to championing a faculty and staff who understand the potential and who are willing to embrace our collective future.” Jones currently heads the New York State College of Ceramics, which is comprised of the School of Art and Design, the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering, the Scholes Library, and the Schein-Joseph Museum. The College of Ceramics is a unit of the public SUNY system, but administered and housed by the private Alfred University. A materials scientist, Jones is recognized as a national expert in high-temperature corrosion and degradation of structural ceramic materials, and serves as a professor of materials engineering. Prior to her post at Alfred University, Jones served as Director of the Picker Engineering Program at Smith College in Northampton. She received her Ph.D. and master’s degree in fuel science, materials science, and engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mary Washington College. Jones succeeds Dr. Jerry Hirsch, who is retiring after 16 years of service as the Provost of Western New England University.
•••••
Monson Savings Bank (MSB) has announced the promotion of Terry Poloski to Mortgage Originator. Poloski joined the bank in December 2011, has more than 30 years of experience in consumer and mortgage lending, and has worked with every aspect of the lending process, including underwriting. She is not only adept at helping her borrowers obtain the right financing package, but also at assisting them with every detail along the way, said Steve Lowell, MSB president, adding, “we are extremely fortunate to have Terry on our team. She embodies the Monson Savings commitment to customer service and is highly qualified to help people find the right financing package for new homes, construction, and refinancing.” Poloski is a member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley.
•••••
Steven Mitus

Steven Mitus

PeoplesBank announced that Steven Mitus, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Balise Motor Sales Co., has been named to the PeoplesBank board of directors. Mitus formerly served as a Corporator for the bank. He is a cum laude graduate of UMass Amherst, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is also a graduate of Holyoke Community College. Mitus currently serves as a trustee of Baystate Health, where he is vice chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee; as a trustee of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, where he chairs the Audit and Finance Committee; and as a director of Health New England, where he is a member of the Compensation and Audit committees. The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield presented him with the Richard J. Moriarty Citizen of the Year Award for his current and past community service. Mitus is also a past recipient of the Holyoke Community College Distinguished Alumni Award. He is a member of Financial Executives International, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the the Mass. State Society of CPAs.
•••••
Ryan Leap

Ryan Leap

Easthampton Savings Bank announced that Ryan Leap has joined the bank as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. Leap brings to the bank more than 14 years of commercial-lending experience, most recently as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending for Union Bank in Morrisville, Vt. He has worked as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending for Hoosac Bank, a division of Mountain One Financial Partners, MHC, in North Adams. Prior to that, Leap was a Vice President of Commercial Lending with the Bank of Western Massachusetts in Northampton, which later became People’s United Bank. Leap earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, with a concentration in finance, from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Pa.
•••••
FieldEddy Insurance announced the following:
Gina Clark

Gina Clark

Sara Goodreau

Sara Goodreau

• Gina Clark has been appointed Finance Manager. She will be responsible for training and supporting the finance-team members on all aspects of accounts payable and accounts receivable. Previously, she worked for several years in the finance and human-resources departments at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.;
• Sara Goodreau has been appointed Personal Lines Account Manager. She holds her CISR and CIC designations. Her knowledge of various computer operating systems will benefit Goodreau as a staff trainer, and she will assist with operational tasks.
Carla Dawley

Carla Dawley

• Carla Dawley has been appointed  Personal Lines Account Manager. In that role,  she will apply her knowledge in both the insurance and banking industries to provide customer service to her existing and new clients. Dawley has her P&C license and is currently working on obtaining her CISR designation.
•••••
TD Bank has named Denise Fleming Assistant Vice President and Store Manager of the branch located at 693 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee. She is responsible for new-business development, consumer and business lending, managing personnel, and overseeing the day-to-day operations at the store. Fleming has more than eight years of banking experience. Prior to joining TD Bank, she served as a Branch Sales Officer at Rockville Bank in Enfield, Conn. Fleming is a member of the Chicopee Rotary Club and the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, and is a graduate of the Connecticut School of Finance and Management.
Denise Fleming

Denise Fleming

She serves as community chairperson for the Independent Transportation Network’s annual Walk for Rides and also is a volunteer driver for the nonprofit organization, which provides transportation to senior citizens and the visually impaired.
•••••
The YMCA of Greater Springfield announced the following appointments to its board of directors:
• Fran Smith, a veteran of the newspaper advertising and circulation business for 34 years, and currently Advertising Manager at the Republican and masslive.com;
• Mark Smith, Vice President of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management for Smith & Wesson, and previously Director with the Chicag0-based consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal;
• Dan Flynn, Senior Vice President and Marketing Manager at People’s United Bank; and
• Stacey Church, Assistant General Manager of the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield.

Court Dockets

By
Court Dockets Departments

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

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
ERPortal Software Group, LLC v. Dee Zee Inc.
Allegation: Defendant has failed and refused to pay for software created and installed by the plaintiff: $473,877.95
Filed: 4/29/14

Hillcrest Capital Partners, L.P. v. Max S. Construction, Maxim Shalypin and Liliya Shalypina
Allegation: Defendant defaulted on various promissory notes: $463,855.73
Filed: 4/22/14

Kayrouz Realty, LLC v. EL Pilon Restaurant and Jose I. Gonzalez
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $151,950.00
Filed: 5/13/14

U.S. Electric Services Inc., d/b/a Hampden Zimmerman Electric Supply Co. v. PAL Construction, LLC, Jeff Steil Electric, and Albany Road-Springfield Plaza, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $39,357.10
Filed: 4/23/14

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Boulanger’s Plumbing & Heating Inc. v. 1776 Brewing Company, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of labor and materials: $41,983.61
Filed: 4/22/14

Interland Real Estate v. William Shelton d/b/a High and Mighty Beer
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $179,313
Filed: 4/8/14

June A. Ducharme v. George P. Grillo, M.D.
Allegation: Negligent and careless treatment: $1,010,000
Filed: 4/17/14

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Loss Prevention Services v. Shahid Iqbal and ZMS, LLC
Allegation: Default on contract: $6,149.47
Filed: 5/15/14

Raymond D. and Lynette M. Shipman, as trustees of Shipman Realty Plus v. Positive Reflections
Allegation: Non-payment of rent, plumbing services, water and sewer damages, and commission: $10,274.47
Filed: 4/14/14

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Yolette Jean-Babtiste v. Classic Management, LLC and William and Joan Metcalf,  d/b/a S&K Lawncare
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing slip and fall: $23,860.94
Filed: 5/15/14

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Ted Ondrick Co. v. Patriot’s Environmental Group
Allegation: Suit on previous judgment: $20,784.87
Filed: 4/22/14

Samantha Parsons v. Millenium Nails Inc.
Allegation: Failure to use sanitary instruments resulting in infection: $7,739.07
Filed: 4/10/14

VIP Physical Therapy v. Elco Administrative Services Co.
Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to pay: $2,575
Filed: 4/22/14

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Alves Fuels Inc. v. W&I Construction Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of fuel services rendered: $30,931.02
Filed: 4/15/14

Kristina Drzal Houghton Elected Chair of Springfield Boys & Girls Club

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — At its recent annual meeting, the Springfield Boys & Girls Club board of directors elected Kristina Drzal Houghton, CPA, as its new chairman. Houghton has been an active member of the Springfield Boys & Girls Club’s board of directors since 2003, serving on the club’s finance, Festival of Trees, and resource-development committees. Houghton is a partner and director of taxation services for the Holyoke-based public accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. She has extensive experience in tax-exempt organizations and unrelated business-income tax issues, as well as tax compliance and planning for closely held businesses. Her clients include those in the service, retail, transportation, medical, construction, manufacturing, education, insurance, and not-for-profit industries. Houghton received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from American International College and her master’s in taxation from Bentley College, and she has more than 30 years of experience in the area of taxation. She was a former tax manager with Coopers & Lybrand. Her professional affiliations include the AICPA and the MSCPA. She is the immediate past president of the board of the Springfield Symphony, served as the former treasurer of Spirit of Springfield, and was a troop leader for more than 12 years for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Mass. Houghton is licensed as a certified public accountant in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Ingredients for Success

By
Cover Story
Hot Table Puts Expansion on the Menu

Co-founders John (left) and Chris DeVoie.

Co-founders John (left) and Chris DeVoie.

John DeVoie calls it an “internal motivator.”

That’s how he chose to describe the small, rather nondescript note taped to one wall of what passes for the corporate headquarters of Hot Table Panini — the cramped back room of the location within Tower Square in Springfield.

It reads simply “500 stores by 2030.”

That’s not an official goal of this company, which now operates three sites that specialize in what could be called custom panini sandwiches, and has another two set to open in the next six months or so. But it is a target, or a conversation starter, or, as he said, a number designed to motivate those working for this growing venture.

“If you don’t put goals on the walls, you don’t get anywhere,” he joked, adding that Hot Table may indeed have 500 locations by the start of the century’s fourth decade. “Or it could have five by 2030.”

Right now, the plan is to be exponentially closer to the former number than the latter, said both John and his brother, Chris, who launched this venture together, along with their brother-in-law, Don Watroba, in 2006, and have made their brand a growing part of the local culinary lexicon ever since.

They started in the Breckwood Shoppes in Sixteen Acres near Western New England University (they’re both alums) in the spring of 2007, opened their second site in Tower Square in 2009, and their third in Enfield in 2012. They plan to open a site in Glastonbury, Conn. in September, and another on Route 9 in Hadley a few months later.

After that? Well, that’s to be determined, said the brothers DeVoie, who noted that there have been discussions about more locations in Connecticut and Western Mass., a likely push toward Central and Eastern Mass., possibly starting in the region known as MetroWest, and perhaps expansion in the Albany area.

“We’re leaving ourselves open; we’re pushing further south into the Hartford market,” said John, adding that the company is in preliminary talks with franchising consultants about that eventual step. “But we do see opportunities in Eastern and Central Mass.”

What is known is that the co-owners feel good about where they are, and excited about where they could be a few years down the road. In other words, they believe the concept they’ve adopted — what’s known in the industry as ‘fast casual,’ which rests strategically between fast food and traditional sit-down dining — shows great promise and staying power, and also that their brand has established itself in this market and has the potential to do so in other markets.

For evidence, they look at what’s been achieved at their first three locations. The Breckwood Shoppes store has shown steady growth and has attracted a following that goes well beyond the university across the street, said Chris. Meanwhile, the downtown Springfield location has succeeded in space where several other eateries failed, growing each year since it opened and showing enough promise to re-up on the lease for another five years.

The original Hot Table location

The original Hot Table location, in the Breckwood Shoppes, has drawn business from well beyond Western New England University, which sits across the street.

And in Enfield, on Freshwater Boulevard next to Costco, Hot Table has proven it can go toe-to-toe with a host of competitors in close proximity, said John, noting that the location there, in a major retail area, competes effectively with Starbucks, Red Robin, Panera Bread, McDonald’s, Friendly’s, Arby’s, and many others.

“You gain confidence when you jump into the sandbox, and there’s a Panera Bread across the street, and a Chipotle, and a Moe’s, and a D’Angelo’s,” he explained. “In Springfield, we were working in a certain market with not a lot of competition, but then we jumped into Enfield, and all the national brands are there — you name it, it’s there — and we’ve grown sales every year since 2012, hopefully taking market share from all those other people.”

Chris agreed. “When you’re on that stage with all the nationals, you need to perform,” he explained. “You need to give people a reason to choose Hot Table over all the others, and we’ve done that.”

All of the above has given the DeVoies that confidence John noted, as well as the wherewithal to scale up their concept. The questions now concern when, where, and how the expansion will play out.

The partners intend to be patient, picking their spots carefully and strategically, and for this issue, they talked at length with BusinessWest about just what those terms mean.

Bread Winners

While certainly not as well-known as the exploits of the Blake brothers — Prestley and Curtis — who launched Friendly’s almost 80 years ago, the story of the DeVoie brothers is becoming part of local entrepreneurial lore.

A decade or so ago, they were both working in corporate sales, doing well at their craft and making good money. But they were not feeling entirely satisfied.

“I was getting tired of making money for other people,” said John, effectively speaking for the two of them. “I always wanted to do something on my own, and I was definitely ready for something else, something entrepreneurial.”

HotTableLogo0614And he and Chris were leaning strongly toward that ‘something else’ being in the restaurant business.

They started talking with Watroba, a veteran of the industry who had operated the Gold Mine, Admiral DW’s, Captain DW’s, and TD Smith’s, among other area venues, and eventually agreed to go into business together.

And in choosing a dining concept, they listened, and responded, to advice from other family members.

Indeed, it was the DeVoies’ sister who told them about a dining model she encountered on a trip to Italy — cafés of sorts called tavola calda, which translates, literally, to ‘hot table.’

“This was their version of fast casual,” said Chris, adding that more input from their parents helped solidify the concept. After returning from an ocean cruise, they reported that the most popular dining option was a made-to-order panini bar.

Meanwhile, the two took what they had learned from years on the road in sales and applied it to their vision. “We had a lot of experience with taking clients out, all over the Northeast, and all over the country, for that matter,” said Chris, “and we could see the fast-casual market was what people were migrating toward — away from the sit-down restaurants and diners, where they could sit in a good environment or get it to go. We knew that this was the kind of restaurant we wanted to establish.”

What eventually emerged and opened its doors in the Breckwood Shoppes in 2007 was what John described as a cross between Panera Bread — which he credited with popularizing fast casual — and Subway, where customers could customize their sandwich, see it being prepared, and, if they desired, eat it in a warm, relaxed atmosphere.

“People like to customize their sandwich as they move down the line,” John explained. “They like to see what’s being done, and they love to see presentation.”

Over the past seven years, the brothers DeVoie have solidified their place in the market (Watroba is no longer involved in the venture) while also putting in place a product and a culture they believe will help take the company to the next level, or the next several levels, as the case may be.

“To succeed in this business today, you have to fire on all cylinders; if not, you’ll get gobbled up,” said John, referring to food, service, cleanliness, and the environment. “You have to do it all well, and I think I can say that we do that here.

“At this point in the game, we’re pretty confident that we have a product that people want, and while we’re still streamlining things, we know who we are,” he went on. “Now it’s the real-estate game — finding the right real estate for us to expand.”


Turning Up the Heat

As he talked with BusinessWest, John DeVoie opened his laptop and clicked his way to Google Earth and then to aerial photos of the area in Glastonbury where the next Hot Table location will open in the fall.

He did so to illustrate just what the company is looking for as it goes about selecting sites. This particular location, on Main Street, is in the middle of a bustling retail area that sits on the edge of a large, somewhat affluent residential area, he said, adding that this site is very similar to the Enfield location in that regard, and this is the model the company is eyeing as it moves forward.

“Look at the rooftops,” he said while panning across the specific site. “It’s right off a major highway, and this plaza is loaded — there’s a whole bunch of high-end retail. And right down the street, there’s a Whole Foods, Panera Bread, Plan B Burger, Five Guys, and more. There’s also a corporate center where a lot of people work; this is where we want to be.”

That same phrase could be applied to Hadley, he went on. The chosen location on Route 9, a plaza now under construction, is just in front of the Home Depot, visible from the road, and surrounded by a host of national chains, including Panera Bread. Hot Table will share the building with Starbucks, Aspen Dental, and two or three other tenants, and hopefully draw from the area colleges, but also the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.

“That area has a lot going on,” said John. “It has the university and the five-college system, but there are also a lot of people living there, and it’s a huge retail area.”

Chris agreed. “The college community is part of it,” he explained, “but we look for rooftops, industry, businesses, and a destination shopping area, because people will often drive to an area like Hadley or Enfield and say, ‘where do we want to go to eat?’ — and there are several choices.”

While working to get the next two locations off the ground almost simultaneously — something the company hasn’t done before — the DeVoies have been thinking about where to go next, and when.

They are in no rush to expand, and will be careful and deliberate in this process, waiting for sites they know will enable their model to succeed.

For example, the company would like to expand into West Springfield and be part of the sprawling retail area on Riverdale Street. But they can’t find exactly what they want and have no intention of forcing the issue.

“There’s tons of space available, but finding the right spot is very difficult, and I’d rather wait for the right spot than make a mistake,” said John, referring to his overall philosophy with regard to expansion. “I’d love to be in West Springfield on Riverdale, but we’re not going to put a store north of I-91 — that’s a deathtrap there. I’d like to be in the Riverdale Shops, and we’ve been looking for four years, but there’s nothing that meets our criteria.”

Overall, said Chris, the preferred locations must offer visibility, accessibility, and parking, and would ideally be in a regional shopping center located in a heavily populated area. In other words, Hot Table is looking for the same qualities that all other chains are seeking.

And this helps in the selection process, he went on, adding that it’s very easy to track where other brands, such as Panera Bread, have gone, and essentially follow their lead when it makes sense to do so.

“The nationals spend a lot of money picking the right real estate,” he explained. “We can piggyback on what they do.”

This is what many experts say Burger King did decades ago — locating almost everywhere McDonald’s did — and it’s not a bad strategy for an emerging company that doesn’t have a small army of people scouting possible sites.

Elaborating, John said the company won’t expand simply for the sake of expanding and reaching stated goals, something he said Starbucks did years ago when it was adding roughly six new sites a day and eventually had to close many of them due to poor performance and what amounted to market oversaturation.

“It’s all about picking the right spots,” he said, adding that the proper equation involves both quantity and quality. “The big guys can afford to make mistakes, and they all do, but at our size, we can’t.”


Food for Thought

Looking ahead, the DeVoies said they’ll continue to look for expansion possibilities in Western Mass. and Connecticut, but also look hard at taking the brand — complete with a new logo featuring the name and a grill — into new markets.

“Our short-term goal into next year is to stick our toe into Eastern and Central Mass.,” said Chris, adding that MetroWest, a cluster of cities of towns west of Boston and east of Worcester, will likely be the landing point.

Also, there could be movement west into the Albany area, he went on, adding that there are ongoing discussions about which direction — figuratively, but also quite literally — to take next.

But there is more to taking a brand like Hot Table to the next level than scouting for locations, said the brothers.

Indeed, the company must be aggressive in its branding and marketing, said John, with the goal of associating the name with a product — in this case, paninis — an important consideration when it comes to taking it to new markets.

He noted that, with products like fried chicken and burritos, a few brand names immediately come to mind. And when it comes to burgers, it’s more than a few, especially with the flood of new chains to emerge in recent years. The goal with Hot Table is to make just such an association, he went on, adding that the company is working hard on that assignment.

“Paninis are very popular, and you’ll find them on a lot of menus,” he explained. “And the industry leader [Panera] has a section of the menu dedicated to paninis. But no one, on a national scale, has said, ‘this is ours — this is what we identify our company with.’

“Before McDonald’s came on the scene, everyone was selling hamburgers — they were very popular, and they were on everyone’s menu,” he went on. “Then McDonald’s came along and said, ‘this is going to be what we do.’ Our strategy is to do the same thing with the panini.”

As part of this process, the company, working in conjunction with the Springfield-based marketing firm Six Point Creative, has introduced a logo, one that ditches the coffee cup that was once juxtaposed against the Hot Table name and replaces it with a grill mark.

“This is one of the ways we’re working to associate us with the panini — and nothing leaves the store without a logo on it,” said Chris, adding that the company is building name recognition, and a reputation, largely through word of mouth and aggressive use of social media, although other vehicles, such as billboards, may be put to use after the two new locations open for business.

Meanwhile, another challenge for the company as it expands, said John, is maintaining standards for excellence, as well as the company’s culture — which he said is grounded in taking care of both customers and employees — as it moves into new markets, either organically or through franchising.

“One of the challenges to growing, and especially with franchising, is making sure things get done the Hot Table way, and also making sure people know the heart of our company, know who we are, know our systems, and know how we treat employees,” he explained.

“If you open a store in Natick and just hire someone off the street,” he continued, “you might find someone who’s great, but they still don’t know the culture. So we have to figure out a way to imbue that culture without watering it down. And that’s a challenge for any company that’s growing.”

Setting Their Sites

Returning to that small sign in the Hot Table headquarters room, John DeVoie said, in essence, that 500 is just a number, or, as he said, a motivator.

He and Chris are not at all sure how many locations they’ll have in 16 years, or 16 months, for that matter. What they do know is that their concept and their specific product works. And they believe they can take it to new markets regionally and perhaps nationally.

“When we started this venture, the plan was never to build just one of these,” said Chris, adding that the business plan has been altered many times over the past eight years, and that process will certainly continue. “How many we open and where we go … those are questions we can’t answer now, but we wanted to build a scalable model, and we have.”

In other words, and as they say in another medium, stay tuned.

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

Community Spotlight: Agawam

By
Community Spotlight Features
Zone Change Spurs New Growth in Agawam

Deborah Dachos

Deborah Dachos says a recently approved ordinance for mixed-use zoning in the Walnut Street Extension area will promote revitalization.

Mayor Richard Cohen created what he calls a “dream plan” to revitalize the Walnut Street Extension area years ago, and says it has taken tremendous patience and untold hours of dedicated work to bring it to fruition.

The idea is to make the area into an attractive, walkable, downtown-style location with venues that enhance quality of life for residents of the city, he told BusinessWest, adding that the plan received a major boost early this month when city councilors approved a mixed-use business C zoning change for the area. It relaxes dimensional requirements for buildings and is aimed at encouraging the development of new restaurants, cafés, family-oriented enterprises, and second-story residences.

“Agawam is a great place to live, work, and play, and we want to maintain those attributes and continue to develop them. Our goal is to create an environment that is friendly and can be used by families for entertainment. We don’t have a downtown, and need a place where people can walk and have things to do,” said Cohen, adding that the Walnut Street Extension area had been declining for years, and prior to the zone change, there was no incentive for business owners to improve their property because they were uncertain as to whether they could realize a return on their investments.

Deborah Dachos, director of Planning and Community Development, agreed, and said the new zoning offers an ideal setting for growth and is in line with what business owners and residents want in that section of the city. “The zoning change has finally passed,” she said. “It involved a concerted effort to work with businesses to make the area more user-friendly and less restrictive. We worked hard on the plan, which includes the old Food Mart site and former Ames store building.”

She explained that the downturn in this commercial area began when Food Mart and Ames moved out, leaving both structures in the Springfield Street shopping plaza vacant. The decline was exacerbated after a fire led to the closing of the former Games and Lanes building, which housed a bowling alley. “The Walnut Street commercial area was developed in the ’50s, and the decline occurred over a 10-year period. But the mayor and I made a concerted effort to revitalize the area 12 years ago.”

Progress began after the city sought and gained acceptance from the state to designate the location as an exceptional-opportunity area. The designation made tax-increment financing possible, allowing the city and businesses to agree on a property-tax exemption for up to 20 years, based on a percentage of value added through new construction or significant improvements.

In 2010, city officials also completed an economic-development plan that made the Walnut Street Extension neighborhood a priority. It included the provision for mixed-use zoning, which was refuted by the city council last December before being passed this month.

Parking has been problematic for business owners in the district, but that obstacle is being addressed. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission accepted the city’s application for district technical assistance, and has plans to study parking and pedestrian issues in the area. “Their report will provide the town with the information we need to seek a MassWorks grant of up to $1 million to address the deficits and construct new parking areas. It’s important because business owners have complained that there is inadequate parking,” Dachos said, adding that the study was contingent on getting mixed-use zoning passed.


Inroads to Success

New venues for family entertainment have begun to crop up in the Walnut Extension Street area in the past few years, and several new businesses are expected to open in the future.

Revitalization began when Dave’s Pet Food City purchased the former Ames building about six years ago. The company used about half of the space and put the remainder up for lease.

Stick Time Sports Inc. opened its doors last fall in a portion of the building, offering training for hockey, field hockey, and lacrosse in its complex, which includes two 45-by-85-foot synthetic turf fields, a strength and conditioning space, a fully equipped pro shop, and a birthday party/conference room for special events.

And a new YMCA is scheduled to open in early August in the old Food Mart building. It is under construction, and will be called the Agawam YMCA Wellness and Program Family Center.

“It will offer everything included in a traditional YMCA, with the exception of a swimming pool and basketball gym,” said  Kristine Allard, chief operating officer for the YMCA of Greater Springfield. “There will be a fitness center, café, community space, group exercise area, and technical center, as well as a child-development center with projects and activities for children whose parents are exercising or participating in other programs.”

The facility is being built in response to need expressed by residents and city leaders, and will be the first YMCA in New England without a pool and gym. “It’s a groundbreaking concept, and we are extremely excited about it; it will be beautiful and functional and will contribute to the community,” Allard said.

Mayor Richard Cohen

Mayor Richard Cohen says the Walnut Street Extension area is becoming a center for family recreation.

The site was chosen several years ago, but it took time to raise enough money to proceed with construction. Allard said $300,000 has been raised for that purpose, but $100,000 is still needed to cover the first year of operating expenses, and fund-raising efforts include soliciting new memberships as well as donations.

Another major improvement is also anticipated. The former Games and Lanes site at 346-350 Walnut St. Extension, which has been an abandoned eyesore for 13 years, may soon be sold and revitalized, thanks in part to an environmental study completed in March that provided the city with a cost-assessment and remediation plan for the 2.3-acre brownfields site. The building on the property was occupied by Standard Uniform Corp. from 1969 through the late ’80s, and when an underground gasoline tank was removed in 1989, contamination was discovered.

“In the past, developers were reluctant to purchase the property because the cost of cleaning it up was unknown,” Dachos said.  “The current owner invested $1 million to do the work, but it was not enough. So in 2012, the city applied for a MassDevelopment grant so prospective buyers would have a better understanding of what needed to be done.”

She told BusinessWest that four parties recently expressed interest in the site, and a Ware couple is pursuing a purchase-and-sale agreement. “They want to make the property into a family entertainment center with a racing theme,” she said, adding that go-kart racing would not have been possible before the mixed-use ordinance passed because the site had been zoned for industrial use.

“Their plan is consistent with other new businesses in the shopping center, which include a tae kwon do training center that opened about 18 months ago and a new Napa Auto Parts store,” Dachos said. “The theme of the Walnut Street Extension area has become family-oriented entertainment and services. A new Dollar General store opened a few months ago at 53 Springfield St., and a Salvation Army Family Store opened about two years ago at 65 Springfield St.”

Cohen said fulfilling his dream plan has taken years of effort, but the vision is finally being realized.

“We have been diligent in pursuing our goal of making this area into a beautiful place for families to enjoy, and we are finally going to be able to see the fruits of our labor,” he explained. “Many people become critical when they see empty buildings, but they don’t know the passion and time it takes to get something to happen. Now that the economy is turning around, there is money for mixed-use zoning from state, federal, and private investors, and a private-public partnership is beginning to take shape.”

Infrastructure improvements that will advance the plan include widening the Morgan Sullivan Bridge from four lanes to five. The bridge connects West Springfield and Agawam, and MassHighway has deemed it structurally and functionally deficient. It approved $12.3 million for bridge reconstruction and remediation of three intersections neighboring the span.

“The bridge is the gateway into the Walnut Street shopping-center area,” Cohen said.

Dachos added that the state has assigned the project to a consultant and it is in the design stage, with construction expected to begin in the winter of 2016-17.

The mayor said these improvements are needed to promote the area and give new businesses the easy commuter access they need to thrive. “There were a lot of pieces of the puzzle that had to be put into place. But everything is finally coming together.”

Other changes are also being made to enhance quality of life in the city. Agawam’s 50-acre School Street Park will undergo a $2 million expansion this year that will include a splash park, disk golf, a volleyball area, a picnic area, walking trails, and a band shell, where open-air concerts can be held during the summer. And a 1.7-mile stretch is being added to the 3.7-mile Connecticut River Walk and Bike Path, which will make the park accessible from the pathway that runs from Springfield into Agawam.

The city will also begin construction on a new dog park this summer, said Cohen, adding that funding for that project comes from a variety of sources. The city received a $237,000 grant from the Stanton Foundation, which was supplemented by $14,000 in Community Preservation Funds and another $10,000 raised by the Agawam Dog Owner’s Group.

In addition, the city recently saw completion of a $4 million project on Main Street that includes new curbing, lights, signs, sidewalks, and traffic signals.

“There are a lot of nice things going on here,” the mayor said, noting that Agawam was designated the second-safest city in the Commonwealth and the 11th-safest in the U.S. in January, based on data from police reports.


Future Outlook

Cohen is happy the City Council voted in favor of mixed-use zoning in the Walnut Street Extension area, and says the future outlook is bright.

“Agawam is a beautiful place, and our convenient location, affordable land and buildings, and low tax rate allow us to build good lives for ourselves and our children. We are proud that this is a safe community with family values and great schools, and the year 2014 bodes very well for Agawam residents,” he said.

“We have learned to be patient and never give up,” the mayor added, “and I hope our dream and vision for the Walnut Street Extension will become a reality that the community will be proud of in the near future.”

Editorial

By
Opinion
State Must Think Big on Gateway Cities

The Patrick administration recently announced that it will seek $100 million from the Legislature to spur business growth in the state’s so-called gateway cities, which include several communities in Western Mass. The four-year plan calls for everything from job training to loans for small businesses, all in an effort to spark progress in communities that, for the most part, have missed out on the economic progress the Commonwealth has seen in recent years.

But while that may sound like a big number, it really isn’t, not when you consider that there are now 24 of these cities — there were an original 11 designated in 2008, with 14 more added in 2010 — and that the problems facing them are large and quite stubborn.

For those reasons, we ask the governor and his administration to think and act bigger — make that much bigger — when it comes to these cities. Otherwise, progress will come slowly and unremarkably, if at all.

Backing up a bit, the state’s stated desire to help gateway cities, also called ‘legacy cities’ by some, is laudable, because help is clearly needed. These are, for the most part, old, industrial cities, with the industries varying from paper to shoes to fishing, that have tried in recent years to reinvent themselves as something else, but mostly have come up well short in those efforts.

The original 11 gateway cities are Brockton, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Springfield, and Worcester. Those later added include Attleboro, Barnstable, Chelsea, Everett, Leominster, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, Peabody, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Taunton, and Westfield.

Some of these cities are doing better than others — Lowell has made a stunning turnaround over the past decade or so, for example — but most are still burdened with high unemployment and poverty rates, underperforming school systems, struggling neighborhoods, moribund downtowns, old mills that haven’t found new uses, and a lack of new business development.

The Gateway Cities program was launched to provide assistance to these communities — many of which, like Springfield, Worcester, New Bedford, and Pittsfield, anchor the regional economies surrounding them — because it was clear that they were not rebounding on their own.

One of the biggest reasons why is jobs, or, more precisely, a lack thereof. To create more, these communities must become more entrepreneurial — a theme we’ve stressed before — while also assembling workforces that can compete in this knowledge-based economy and embracing new industries and the cultural economy.

All that will take a lot more than $100 million over the next four years.

The Patrick administration’s plan calls for spending $20 million in job training in technology and advanced manufacturing careers at vocational schools and community colleges; $5 million to be spent on loans for small businesses; another $25 million to renew annual tax credits for companies that commit to adding jobs; a $15 million fund to jump-start commercial development projects; tax credits for housing construction; and $10 million in grants and loans to clean up contaminated industrial sites, among other considerations.

In our view, this represents a good start.

But if the Patrick administration is serious about enabling cities like Springfield, Holyoke, Lawrence, and Fall River to share in the prosperity enjoyed by Boston, Cambridge, and other communities, it must adequately fund programs to get the job done.

As we said, the state must think and act bigger when it comes to making investments in these legacy cities.

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

BUCKLAND

7 Martin Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $374,000
Buyer: Horace D. Taft-Ferguson
Seller: Peter Chadwick
Date: 05/12/14

CONWAY

98 River St.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $149,500
Buyer: Danielle L. Thompson
Seller: Anthony T. Rice
Date: 05/15/14

DEERFIELD

20 Crestview Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Butz
Seller: Willard E. Plumley
Date: 05/13/14

382 Lower Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $382,000
Buyer: Jaime D. Reloj
Seller: Steve & Kathy Melnik FT
Date: 05/09/14

GILL

14 South Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jonathan Holmes
Seller: US Bank
Date: 05/14/14

GREENFIELD

42 Congress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Valencia LLC
Seller: Freehigh LLC
Date: 05/09/14

108 Crescent St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Monahan INT
Seller: Krystyna Colburn
Date: 05/15/14

111 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Jeremy S. Stone
Seller: Troy Santerre
Date: 05/15/14

39 Gold St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $243,750
Buyer: David H. Tasgal
Seller: James R. Scace
Date: 05/05/14

16 Michelman Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Robert J. Escott
Seller: Warren D. Sampson
Date: 05/16/14

347 Wells St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Dmitry D. Darmanchev
Seller: Mackin Construction Co.
Date: 05/09/14

89 West St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Johnathan R. Griffen
Date: 05/13/14

MONTAGUE

116 Montague St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jonathan E. Billings
Seller: Macintire INT
Date: 05/14/14

49 Old Stage Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Scott P. Schenk
Seller: Duane W. Greene
Date: 05/12/14

32 Park St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Hall
Seller: Sarah J. Reid
Date: 05/08/14

14 Randall Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: William Codington
Seller: Rita T. Plaza
Date: 05/14/14

66 Sunderland Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Windy Hollow Acres LLC
Seller: Amy Plavin
Date: 05/14/14

NORTHFIELD

299 Birnam Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Clifford S. Phillips
Seller: Nurten Foster
Date: 05/16/14

ORANGE

12 North Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust
Seller: Scott Grenquist
Date: 05/15/14

70 Oaklawn Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Marc H. Moss
Date: 05/07/14

540 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Brian A. Heath
Seller: Karol L. Brodeur
Date: 05/09/14

SHUTESBURY

20 Great Pines Dr.
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jaime C. Morton
Seller: James M. McNaughton
Date: 05/16/14

828 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jennifer Smetzer
Seller: David A. Bellemore
Date: 05/15/14

284 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: David J. Larue
Seller: Salvatore Dinardi
Date: 05/12/14

SUNDERLAND

104 North Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Gregory M. Bell
Seller: Mark D. Clark
Date: 05/15/14


HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

73 Bessbrook St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Armando Arroyo
Seller: Antoinetta Moylan
Date: 05/16/14

157 Cambridge St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: David W. Piette
Seller: Joseph M. Santaniello
Date: 05/15/14

341 Cooper St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Marlene N. Johnson
Seller: Sullivan, Catherine M., (Estate)
Date: 05/16/14

2 Corey St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $152,110
Seller: Dmitriy M. Shapovalov
Date: 05/09/14

5 Cottonwood Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $346,500
Buyer: Thomas M. Gordon
Seller: Robert C. Roy
Date: 05/09/14

45 Liswell Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Kara Krupa
Seller: Jeffrey R. Jochim
Date: 05/07/14

437 Southwick St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Donna M. Bys
Seller: Katherine E. Petschke
Date: 05/08/14

28 Virginia St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Sergey Tokarev
Seller: Matthew C. Hunter
Date: 05/08/14

BRIMFIELD

85 Cubles Dr.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Laura M. Kuszarski
Seller: Samsel, Una, (Estate)
Date: 05/15/14

131 Tower Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Genise Jackson
Seller: Nancy Orr
Date: 05/15/14

CHICOPEE

64 5th Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: David A. Fredette
Seller: Sergey Savonin
Date: 05/15/14

15 Boutin Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Michael W. Robbins
Seller: Michael J. Robbins
Date: 05/14/14

17 Graham Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Brandon R. Houle
Seller: Czupryna, Frederick J., (Estate)
Date: 05/14/14

716 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Stephen R. Doel
Seller: Marta Alvarez
Date: 05/05/14

86 Orchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Danielle M. Cormier
Seller: Suzanne F. Bruno
Date: 05/15/14

20 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Resolute RT
Seller: Richard A. Burns
Date: 05/07/14

3 Pleasantview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Tisha D. Libbey
Seller: Oak Ridge Custom Home Builders
Date: 05/14/14

24 Sandtrap Way
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $377,900
Buyer: Jesse A. Wells
Seller: Francis W. Soucie
Date: 05/14/14

School St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Yarland Properties LLC
Seller: John B. Murray
Date: 05/09/14

21 Sitnik Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Olga Kvashenko
Seller: Sophie Czekanski
Date: 05/09/14

EAST LONGMEADOW

15 Converse Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. McCluster
Seller: Sean P. Shimansky
Date: 05/16/14

241 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: David Ayers
Seller: Matthew A. Bean
Date: 05/09/14

N/A
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Shannon L. Ecker
Seller: Wilbraham Builders Inc.
Date: 05/05/14

55 Pineywoods Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Vladimir Strelnitski
Seller: Anthony E. Gentile
Date: 05/16/14

278 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $219,500
Buyer: Steven A. Carando
Seller: Linda S. Orcutt
Date: 05/14/14

14 Redstone Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Julianne M. Lessard
Seller: Anthony Cianflone
Date: 05/16/14

887 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Shelby P. Marrin
Seller: Robert R. Driscoll
Date: 05/15/14

40 Spruce St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: T&K Realty LLC
Seller: Kirkpatrick, Mark D., (Estate)
Date: 05/14/14

5 Tamarack Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $487,500
Buyer: Laura L. Grant
Seller: Joseph R. Kennedy
Date: 05/05/14

178 Tanglewood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Stephen J. Beek
Seller: Richard F. McKeever
Date: 05/05/14

80 Waterman Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Scott R. Caron
Seller: Michael Torcia
Date: 05/15/14

338 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Ortiz
Seller: Thomas F. Drumm
Date: 05/16/14

HAMPDEN

43 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $167,200
Buyer: Richard B. Francis
Seller: Ryan S. Hemingway
Date: 05/09/14

40 Oak Knoll Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $289,555
Buyer: Bruce J. Strange
Seller: Robert P. Kaboray
Date: 05/05/14

HOLLAND

1 Hamilton Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Diane Cady
Seller: Jason P. Curving
Date: 05/07/14

5 Inlet Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Daniel Burns
Seller: Gary Biesadecki
Date: 05/09/14

23 Island Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Timothy Hill
Seller: David R. McGuill
Date: 05/15/14

2 North Leisure Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $244,900
Buyer: Robert J. Kamay
Date: 05/09/14

40 Old County Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Eric B. Piskorski
Seller: Leslie Germaine
Date: 05/09/14

30 Over The Top Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Todd Oberheim
Seller: Mark D. Schultz
Date: 05/07/14

HOLYOKE

293 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Javier Soto
Seller: Pyles, Allie E., (Estate)
Date: 05/15/14

540 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Daniel A. Warner
Seller: John Gajowy
Date: 05/16/14

35 Ridgeway St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $152,900
Buyer: Donald R. Packard
Seller: Richard G. Rondeau
Date: 05/09/14

237 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Richard G. Rondeau
Seller: Barbara J. Crosson
Date: 05/09/14

24 Vassar Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Neil N. Feldman
Date: 05/06/14

LONGMEADOW

28 Ardsley Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Seth Tenenbaum
Seller: Richard G. Duncan
Date: 05/09/14

33 Brittany Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $461,500
Buyer: Jack W. Bailey
Seller: W. S. Keeley
Date: 05/16/14

106 Longfellow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Huse
Seller: Jeffrey E. Roche
Date: 05/16/14

309 Merriweather Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Brent L. Ulrey
Seller: Elizabeth A. Barton
Date: 05/12/14

205 Nevins Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $211,300
Buyer: Michael J. Templeton
Seller: Carole A. Veratti
Date: 05/13/14

162 Williamsburg Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Kal A. Dulaimy
Seller: Kay A. Rhee
Date: 05/05/14

76 Woodland Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Joshua Warren
Seller: Robert F. Cheritano
Date: 05/06/14

LUDLOW

810 Moore St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $319,900
Buyer: John J. Diggins
Seller: Marc A. Toton
Date: 05/12/14

52 Norwich Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Mol
Seller: Patrick D. Meffen
Date: 05/16/14

PALMER

255 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Stanley J. Zych
Seller: Glen A. Hitchcock
Date: 05/16/14

3007 Palmer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Barbara A. Corbett
Seller: Shorey E. Dow
Date: 05/16/14

52 Smith St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Timothy S. Benton
Seller: Wallace J. Roberts
Date: 05/16/14

Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $129,500
Buyer: Stephanie L. Bearce
Seller: June M. Slozak
Date: 05/13/14

RUSSELL

122 Huntington Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Jessica M. Beaudry
Seller: Rosanna Seymour
Date: 05/15/14

SPRINGFIELD

34 Audubon St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Ruben Borrero
Seller: Julianne M. Lessard
Date: 05/16/14

40 Bangor St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Laurie A. Gilbert
Seller: James M. Daly
Date: 05/16/14

705 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Mohammad Sarker
Seller: JJSA 17 Acquisition Co. LLC
Date: 05/16/14

604 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Grez Automotive LLC
Seller: Walter J. Grzebien
Date: 05/07/14

901 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $1,073,865
Buyer: GP Springfield MA
Seller: US Bank
Date: 05/14/14

145 Chalmers St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jessica L. Cote
Seller: James M. Wingard
Date: 05/15/14

15 Delaware Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Wanda Lockett
Seller: Sticks & Stones Inc.
Date: 05/13/14

195 Durant St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Sherleen Alequin
Seller: Blueline Management LLC
Date: 05/08/14

196 East St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Juan Vazquez
Date: 05/16/14

19 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Carlito Gonzalez
Seller: Kenneth M. Mills
Date: 05/16/14

50 Ellery St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $122,817
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Toum Sea
Date: 05/05/14

44 Fallston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Brianna M. Dieni
Seller: Jorge Herrera
Date: 05/09/14

63 Freeman Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Robert Hines
Seller: MBC Properties LLC
Date: 05/16/14

58 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Sara D. Burrington
Seller: Heather M. Woods
Date: 05/16/14

103 Glenoak Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $135,500
Buyer: Geoffrey R. Farrington
Seller: Carl J. Paquette
Date: 05/16/14

43 Hazen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Howard C. Hill
Seller: John F. Carberry
Date: 05/15/14

Hickory St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Bretta Construction LLC
Seller: Courtside Of Springfield
Date: 05/15/14

56 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Ryan B. McGuire
Seller: Gregg P. Desmarais
Date: 05/15/14

78 Manchester Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Christine Dettman
Seller: John E. Cole
Date: 05/13/14

216 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Quetszy A. Melendez
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 05/07/14

122 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Rimondi
Seller: Amanda L. Spear-Purchase
Date: 05/05/14

84 North Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Anthony Santos
Seller: Jose A. Rivera
Date: 05/14/14

Naismith St. #41
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Bretta Construction LLC
Seller: Courtside Of Springfield
Date: 05/15/14

198 Park Dr.
Springfield, MA 01106
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Michael A. Torcia
Seller: Dorene A. Archambault
Date: 05/14/14

Paridon St. #10
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Grand Paridon LLC
Seller: Camelback LLC
Date: 05/06/14

1956 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Dominic A. Falzone
Date: 05/12/14

202 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Simone S. Carvalho
Seller: Lawrence Picard
Date: 05/08/14

108 Pidgeon Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $138,900
Buyer: Jose L. Rodriguez
Seller: Barbara J. Klocker
Date: 05/14/14

215 Rosemary Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Nitza Ramos-Cruz
Seller: Charlotte A. Carrington
Date: 05/16/14

Silver St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Bretta Construction LLC
Seller: Courtside Of Springfield
Date: 05/15/14

1493 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Leonard A. Lindsay
Seller: Curtis F. Terrell
Date: 05/08/14

82 Treetop Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Robert Ackerman
Seller: Meilleur, Aline D., (Estate)
Date: 05/16/14

23 Varney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Patricia M. Shibles
Seller: Ronald Rovelli
Date: 05/16/14

45 Welland Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jorge L. Baiz
Seller: Regina F. Walker
Date: 05/12/14

Wells St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Bretta Construction LLC
Seller: Courtside Of Springfield
Date: 05/15/14

1425 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: RHL Properties LLC
Seller: Simmons Ventures LLC
Date: 05/07/14

SOUTHWICK

3 Field St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Michael F. Ferraraccio
Seller: Marc A. Wenners
Date: 05/07/14

4 Iroquois Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Michael Diotalevi
Seller: Robert V. Sala
Date: 05/14/14

35 Miller Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Dayle Stowell
Seller: Robert G. Valentine
Date: 05/12/14

10 Tammy Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jacqueline N. Ditrocchio
Seller: Gregory F. Garstka
Date: 05/08/14

WALES

49 Mount Hitchcock Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Amy Roode
Seller: Wendy E. Baker
Date: 05/05/14

WESTFIELD

41 Canal Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Gregg P. Desmarais
Seller: Tirone Development Corp.
Date: 05/15/14

32 Carriage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $223,500
Buyer: Scott P. Battles
Seller: David C. Carkhuff
Date: 05/12/14

13 Clinton Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Marta V. Martinez
Seller: Oleg Iurtue
Date: 05/16/14

26 Kellogg St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Rustam Orozaliev
Seller: Stanislav Morozov
Date: 05/09/14

56 Overlook Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Laura Reinholz
Seller: Elizabeth B. Goyette
Date: 05/09/14

45 Parker Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Ion Malancea
Seller: Ivan Mokan
Date: 05/15/14

321 Pochassic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Pavel Matovich
Seller: Frank A. Langone
Date: 05/09/14

187 Tannery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Matthew P. Wzorek
Seller: Cesar Ramirez
Date: 05/09/14

42 Willow Brook Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Robert T. Clayton
Seller: Marc T. Bergeron
Date: 05/12/14

WILBRAHAM

9 East Colonial Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Samuel B. Everett
Seller: Hale, Doris M., (Estate)
Date: 05/16/14

4 Oldwood Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Keith A. Person
Seller: Samuel B. Everett
Date: 05/16/14

WEST SPRINGFIELD

103 Forest Glen
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Jessica F. Caron
Seller: Joan B. Smith
Date: 05/15/14

50 Harney St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: David M. Siegel
Seller: Una Z. Reiser
Date: 05/16/14

43 Kerry Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: John J. Yates
Seller: Donald W. Duquette
Date: 05/09/14

698 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Kevin R. Lalonde
Seller: Mary P. Lagodich
Date: 05/05/14

161 New Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Shannon L. Tanski
Seller: John D. Clarke
Date: 05/16/14

78 Pease Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Robert C. Roy
Seller: Laura A. Kaplan
Date: 05/09/14

64 Sean Louis Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $612,000
Buyer: Rajshree Patel
Seller: Stephen R. Hoey
Date: 05/09/14

32 South Blvd.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: TM Properties Inc.
Seller: Ralph Draper
Date: 05/12/14

18 Wilbert Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Kyle M. Douglas
Seller: Bohn, Gustave F., (Estate)
Date: 05/16/14


HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

28 Kettle Pond Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $389,900
Buyer: Molly J. Goren-Watts
Seller: Djaferis FT
Date: 05/05/14

136 Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Ludmila Tyler
Seller: Joslad & Associates PC
Date: 05/14/14

150 Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $350,430
Buyer: David T. Eisenhauer
Seller: Jeremy Ober
Date: 05/07/14

Lindenridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Buyer: M. C. Dufour
Seller: Tofino Associates LLC
Date: 05/16/14

38 Maplewood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Dean Brown
Seller: Barbara B. Yaukey
Date: 05/15/14

20 McClure St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Nathaniel A. Whitmal
Seller: Marta Ostapiuk
Date: 05/15/14

Sunset Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Worcester City Campus
Seller: August M. Woicekoski RET
Date: 05/15/14

BELCHERTOWN

211 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jonathan J. Crosby
Seller: Michael Beresky
Date: 05/16/14

45 Depot St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: NE Fibers LLC
Seller: Whitney National Realty
Date: 05/12/14

29 Ledgewood Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $258,500
Buyer: Scott M. Blanchard
Seller: Dennis M. Dube
Date: 05/15/14

59 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Thomas N. Synan
Seller: Deborah Becerra
Date: 05/16/14

62 South Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Pogoda
Seller: Robert T. Marsh
Date: 05/15/14

130 Springfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Nathan A. Marean
Seller: Clarence E. Robinson
Date: 05/07/14

76 Sheffield Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Dustin J. Carey
Seller: Christopher T. Faber
Date: 05/15/14

EASTHAMPTON

17 Bayberry Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Michael J. Horan
Seller: John F. Horan
Date: 05/09/14

110 Lovefield St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Albert C. Park
Seller: Robert A. Varey
Date: 05/13/14

412 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $1,460,000
Buyer: Argotec Stevens LLC
Seller: JPS Elastomerics Corp.
Date: 05/09/14

19 Matthew Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Sandra L. Graves
Seller: George R. Paquette
Date: 05/16/14

99 Plain St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Jenna K. Schmidt
Seller: Tyler J. Novotny
Date: 05/06/14

5 Susan Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Jeremy A. Jungbluth
Seller: Kristi Neathawk
Date: 05/16/14

38 Treehouse Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $274,900
Buyer: Kathleen I. Dyer
Seller: EH Homeownership LLC
Date: 05/09/14

19 Wemelco Way
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Miri Realty LLC
Seller: FDR LLC
Date: 05/15/14

GOSHEN

1 Lake Dr.
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Charlie Lotspeich
Seller: David Weiland
Date: 05/09/14

GRANBY

92 School St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Ryan T. Williams
Seller: Francis W. Gallagher
Date: 05/08/14

151 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Willard A. McKinstry
Seller: Alfred W. McKinstry
Date: 05/15/14

HADLEY

2 Hawks Meadow
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $137,200
Buyer: Countryside Home Builders
Seller: Alan Sthilaire
Date: 05/09/14

150 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: George F. Moriarty
Seller: Shauneen A. Valliere
Date: 05/12/14

153 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Vertical Assets LLC
Seller: Jeffrey C. Mish
Date: 05/09/14

20 Sylvia Heights
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $516,000
Buyer: John F. Pappenheimer
Seller: Sortino, Elaine J., (Estate)
Date: 05/14/14

123 West St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $602,400
Buyer: James B. Mead RET
Seller: Frederick H. Pratt
Date: 05/07/14

HUNTINGTON

3 East Main St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Hamel Arenius-Kinloch
Seller: Nance J. Bendus
Date: 05/15/14

NORTHAMPTON

29 Adare Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Nada M. Kawar
Seller: Matthew D. Thomas
Date: 05/16/14

102 Bancroft Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $797,000
Buyer: Ravindra M. Nadkarni
Seller: David J. Starr
Date: 05/15/14

24 Bayberry Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Melanie J. Currie
Seller: Gary R. Campbell
Date: 05/13/14

57 Chestnut St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $479,000
Buyer: Killian O’Connell
Seller: Gertrude E. Hooks
Date: 05/14/14

241 Crescent St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Suleiman A. Mourad
Seller: Peter N. Gregory
Date: 05/05/14

34 Forbes Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: David B. Erickson
Seller: Suzanne J. Williams
Date: 05/15/14

30 Hatfield St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Peter W. Kelley
Seller: Longtin, Kyle, (Estate)
Date: 05/09/14

9 Kingsley Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $266,500
Buyer: TN Real Estate Group LLC
Seller: Koch Holding Co. Inc.
Date: 05/08/14

60 Masonic St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $965,000
Buyer: Traddles LLC
Seller: Media Education Foundation
Date: 05/15/14

SOUTH HADLEY

51 McKinley Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: James M. Purchase
Seller: Annemarie Sias
Date: 05/09/14

15 Normandy Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Jermey S. Milligan
Seller: Dustin Carey
Date: 05/15/14

19 North St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jonathan E. Fedus
Seller: Leonard F. Pope
Date: 05/09/14

99 River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Bryan Barsalou
Date: 05/16/14

3 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Raymond L. Brousseau
Seller: Robert A. Baker
Date: 05/05/14

SOUTHAMPTON

7 Parsons Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Robert D. Hutchison
Seller: Laura A. Reinholz
Date: 05/09/14

227 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Ronald H. Laurin
Seller: Rita M. Kosior
Date: 05/14/14

WARE

80 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Margaret D. Soucie
Seller: Theresa M. Girard
Date: 05/14/14

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

Archambeau, David J.
Archambeau, Dawn L.
a/k/a Archambeau, Dawn Kelleher
24 E St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/14

Axler, Bobby
Axler, Roberta A.
336 Inverness Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/15/14

Barnes, Steven S.
Barnes, Lori A.
125 East Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/08/14

Booth, Jamie Marie
121 North Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/14/14

Botta, Roberto G.
Botta, Carmela
32 Green St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/14/14

Boyd, Amy L.
a/k/a Hochreich, Amy Lee
14 Meadow Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/05/14

Bushey, Henry D.
74 Woodstock St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/04/14

Cameron, Lucretia D.
1259 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/07/14

Casey, Kathleen E.
P.O. Box 296
East Otis, MA 01029
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/09/14

Chey, Chansophoan
392 Paige Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/15/14

Collins, Michael A.
283 Wildermere St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/01/14

Collins, Michael C.
Collins, Meagan L.
a/k/a Laramee, Meagan L.
22 Pembroke Place
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/15/14

Devine, Tarra M.
268 Talmadge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/09/14

Ezold, Jerome
Ezold, Amanda
16 Maple Crest Circle, Apt. G
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/01/14

Fitzgerald, Sean
9 Brookside Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/09/14

Frates, Jennifer Anne
a/k/a Collasius, Jennifer A.
8 Western Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/09/14

Gagne, Lester T.
24 Kowal Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/06/14

Garczynski, Kamie A.
52 Yvette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Gilardi, David A.
Gilardi, Linda E.
18 Sixth St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/09/14

Gondek, Richard M.
Gondek, Barbara A.
61 Williams St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/13/14

Hansen, Barbara
405 Pittsfield Road #A3
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/02/14

Harris, Jesse Allen
Harris, Samantha Marie
a/k/a Gwozdzik, Samantha
16 Lee Road
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/14

Hemminger, Sylvia A.
188 Main St.
Haydenville, MA 01039
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Hughes, Susan C.
36 Collins St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Johnson, Lana D.
13 Cherry St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Kelly, Michelle Ann
90 Blueberry Hill St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/15/14

LaCosse, Daniel A.
2517 Hancock Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/14

Laura Robitaille Interiors
Robitaille, Laura A.
11 Hillary Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/14

Leger, Gary Michael
77 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/01/14

Lemire, Joseph T.
59 New Ludlow Road, Apt. 18B
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Lemire, Tina G.
67 Kendall St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Lenahan, Michael R.
167 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/08/14

Manning, Cathy A.
P.O. Box 463
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Marcil, Glenn S.
Marcil, Ann-Marie
a/k/a Marcil, Ann Marie
220 Blandford Stage Road
Russell, MA 01071
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/05/14

Miazga, Matthew M.
165 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/15/14

Midstate Construction
Lackey, Theodore L.
299 Phillipston Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/14

Moran, Katiria E.
a/k/a Lopez, Katiria
530 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/08/14

Moreira, Iris R.
a/k/a Moreira Gomez, Iris R.
PO Box 80636
Springfield, MA 01138
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/08/14

Moynihan, Cynthia A.
85 Jarvis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/14

Olmo, German J.
19 Lockhouse Road, Apt. 23-3
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/08/14

Peguero, Aurelina T.
P.O. Box 3403
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/09/14

Perez Claudio, Carmen M.
258 Union St., Apt. 3
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/15/14

Petley, Brandon H.
1015 Doe Valley Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/02/14

Ramos, Frank
274 Eleanor Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/14/14

Reynolds, Debbie M.
a/k/a Mason, Debbie M.
392 College Highway
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/01/14

Rolnick, Misty M.
a/k/a Fletcher, Misty M.
160 Montgomery Ave. Ext.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/01/14

Rosario, Freddy
64 Prospect St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/07/14

Royal Air
Moskvitch, Peter
Moskvitch, Svetlana
a/k/a Archoulik-Moskvitch, Svetlana
171 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/09/14

Rudder, Melissa Sue
P.O. Box 725
Greenfield, MA 01302
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Sexton, George C.
Sexton, Eleanor J.
P.O. Box 541
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

Sheehan, Jean A.
a/k/a MacGillivary, Jean A.
75 Appleton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/14

Sign Smith
Smith, William E.
Smith, Jayne R.
158 Route 20
Chester, MA 01011
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/14

Sjolander, Amy A.
292 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/14

Slattery, William P.
321 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/08/14

Smith, Robert F.
Smith, Michele M.
24 East Palmer Park Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/14

St. Amand, Steven A.
134 Cabot St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/07/14

Willmore, Sandra O.
252 Union Stret, Apt. 1A
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/15/14

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

Titos Auto Sales Inc., 357 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Jeffrey L. Jose, 80 Fisher Road, Chicopee, MA 01013. Used auto sales.

SOUTH HADLEY

Rock Voices Inc., 33 Carlton St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Anthony Lechner, same. Musical instruction, education, and performance.

Silverthorne Theater Company Inc., 41 River Road, South Hadley, MA 01075. J. Lucinda Kidder, same. To prepare and present theatrical productions and engage in educational activities in theater skills and appreciation.

SPRINGFIELD

Vargas Cleaning Services Inc., 14 Draper St., Springfield, MA 01108. Carlos Enrique Vargas Gabriel, same. General cleaning services.

WESTFIELD

Zhong Rong Inc., 68 King St., Westfield, MA 01085. Shou Qi Liang, same. Restaurant.

WESTHAMPTON

J & D Sales & Repairs Inc., 19 Perry Hill Road, Westhampton, MA 01027. James Meehan, same. Automotive sales and repairs.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Go Pro Appliances Repair Inc., 149 Wayside Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Priscilla J. Kowal, 91 Blue Ridge Dr., Somers, CT 06071. Appliance repair.

S.A. I.T Inc., 12 Royce Court A#1, West Springfield, MA 01089. Surya Sharma, same. IT enabled services.

WILLIAMSBURG

MRJW Enterprises Inc., 39 Petticoat Hill Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096. Louis Montgomery, same. Construction.

WILLIAMSTOWN

New England Lawn & Garden Care Inc., 371 Hopper Road, Williamstown, MA 01267. Valerie Caryl Ross, same. Landscape and garden services.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

DevelopSpringfield Touts Rebuild Springfield Work
SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield hosted an event on May 29 to mark the two-year anniversary of the Rebuild Springfield Plan release and to commemorate the third anniversary of the June 1, 2011 tornado. City officials, volunteers, contributors, residents, and other stakeholders gathered on Central Street to hear remarks highlighting Rebuild Springfield Plan progress. Attendees were provided an opportunity to tour newly rebuilt homes in the severely tornado-damaged Central Street corridor. The Rebuild Springfield Plan is a city-wide master plan designed to provide a framework for addressing the redevelopment needs of neighborhoods impacted by the June 2011 tornado. Additionally, the plan serves as a guide for addressing a wide range of issues relevant to the city as a whole. DevelopSpringfield, in partnership with the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, facilitated the planning process, which included the input of city residents and stakeholders and was published in the spring of 2012. The recent gathering featured remarks by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; Jay Minkarah, president and CEO of DevelopSpringfield; Nick Fyntrilakis, DevelopSpringfield board chair and vice president of Community Responsibility for MassMutual Financial Group; Bishop Bruce Shaw, pastor of New Hope Pentecostal Church; Melvin Edwards, city councilor and Maple High/Six Corners Neighborhood Council president; Tim Allen, city councilor; Steven Bradley, DevelopSpringfield board member and vice president of Government and Community Relations and Public Relations for Baystate Health; Jose Claudio, DevelopSpringfield board member and director of Community Development for the New North Citizens’ Council and speaking on behalf of the North End Housing Initiative; and Alberto Ayala, speaking on behalf of VIVA Development. All of the speakers played a role in planning and rebuilding efforts in the city. They noted that the new homes and cleanup in the Central Street corridor are clear signs of rebirth in that neighborhood, with construction of the new Elias Brookings School in the background. With the assistance of federal, state, and city investment, progress is being made on several other key projects, including plans for construction of a New South End Community Center at Mason Wight Park. Trees have been planted, parks rehabilitated, and the Dryden Memorial School rehabilitated, among many other signs of physical improvements since the tornado. Beyond the response to the challenges brought on by the tornado, the plan also provides a framework to advance other important community priorities throughout the city. Progress on these fronts is also evident in many ways, including work in addressing educational and workforce-training priorities; efforts to highlight cultural assets, including the designation of the Springfield Central Cultural District downtown; enhanced public safety programs; and cohesive and collaborative economic-development initiatives to attract business and permanent jobs to the city. The full plan is available at www.developspringfield.com. DevelopSpringfield also announced the publication of the Rebuild Springfield Progress Report 2014. Developed in collaboration with many volunteers who participated in the Rebuild Springfield planning process, the report highlights many of the plan’s priorities. It is available online at www.developspringfield.com and in print at DevelopSpringfield offices at 1182 Main St. in Springfield, and was distributed in the Republican on June 5. A Spanish-language version will be available soon and distributed throughout the community and also online.

Construction Spending Rises Modestly in April
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Total construction spending rose modestly for the third straight month in April as a mix of increases and declines in public and private categories showed the sector’s recovery remains fragile and fragmented, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said the industry could benefit from new federal investments in infrastructure to offset declining public-sector demand. “Residential, private non-residential, and public construction spending all have areas of strength but also pockets of weakness,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “While the overall trend remains more positive than last year, growth is likely to be spotty for the foreseeable future.” Construction put in place totaled $954 billion in April, 0.2% above the revised February total and 8.6% higher than in April 2013. The year-over-year growth so far in 2014 has exceeded the full-year increase of 5% recorded from 2012 to 2013. Private residential construction spending inched up 0.1% in April to a six-year high. The latest total exceeded the year-ago level by 17%. Single-family construction rose 1.3% in April and 14% year-over-year. Multi-family spending soared 4.4% and 31%, respectively. Improvements to existing single- and multi-family structures slumped 2.2% for the month but increased 17% from a year ago. Private non-residential spending dipped 0.1% in April but climbed 5.6% over 12 months. Most major categories increased from year-ago levels. However, the largest private segment, power construction — comprising work on oil and gas fields and pipelines as well as electricity projects — slipped 0.6% for the month and 3.9% over the year. The fastest-growing private type was office construction, which jumped 3.1% in April and 26% since April 2013. Public construction spending rose 0.8% for the month and 1.2% year-over-year. The largest public segment, highway and street construction, declined 1.1% in April but increased 4.9% from a year before. The second-biggest category, educational construction, gained 3% and 4.9%, respectively. “The outlook for the rest of 2014 remains uneven,” Simonson predicted. “Demand for apartments appears to be very strong, but there are several warning signs about home building. Despite dropping last month, power and manufacturing construction should remain the leading private non-residential categories, with hefty growth for the year as a whole. The rebound in public construction that occurred last month may not be repeated soon.”

<strong>State Seeks $100 Million for Gateway Cities
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick is asking the Legislature to approve a bill that would make $100 million available to the state’s 26 so-called Gateway Cities, including Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield, and Pittsfield, for a host of economic development initiatives. Included in the bill are provisions for: $15 million for commercial development projects; $10 million in grants and loans to clean up contaminated industrial sites; $5 million for loans for small businesses; $25 million in annual tax credits for companies that commit to adding jobs; and $20 million for ‘middle-skills’ job training in manufacturing and information technology. “We are trying to make sure every resident — and not just residents of Boston — have access to economic opportunities,” said Alex Zaroulis, a spokeswoman for Patrick’s office of Administration and Finance. However, some legislators said the proposed spending was not enough to make a real difference in the struggling cities. “The level of funding proposed by the governor is simply insufficient,” said Rep. Antonio Cabral, a New Bedford Democrat. “The surest way to undermine faith in the Commonwealth’s programs is to fund them at a level that we know won’t solve the problem.”

April Trade Gap Widens to $47.2 Billion
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. trade deficit jumped to a two-year high in April, as exports declined and imports surged to a record high. The deficit rose to $47.2 billion in April, up 6.9% from an upwardly revised March deficit of $44.2 million, the Commerce Department announced this week. Exports dropped for the fourth month out of the past five, falling 0.2% to $195.4 billion. Meanwhile, imports climbed 1.2% to a record high of $240.6 billion.

MGM Springfield Wins First Casino License in Massachusetts

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts International received a unanimous vote Friday from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) approving an agreement to award MGM Springfield a license to operate a resort casino in downtown Springfield. This is the first approval of a casino license in the Commonwealth. The commission’s decision comes after an extensive, two-year process of hearings and background investigations culminating in a final week of hearings and deliberations. MGM formally announced its interest in a resort casino in Springfield in August 2012. At one time there was a field of five companies vying for the sole Western Mass. casino license. The MGM Springfield site is located on approximately 14.5 acres of land between Union and State streets, and between Columbus Avenue and Main Street. Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts, called it “a great day for Springfield, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and MGM. We’re proud of what our talented team and our many dedicated city and community partners have accomplished together. We thank the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for its thorough vetting process and look forward to continuing our work with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and other Springfield and Western Mass. elected officials and governmental leaders, along with residents and businesses of Springfield and the region, as we move this project forward.” Murren was joined by MGM Resorts President Bill Hornbuckle and MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis for the decision at the MassMutual Center. The crowd gathered included elected officials; civic, business, and community leaders; and MGM Springfield supporters. MGM Springfield, an $800 million investment, is designed to ignite an urban revival. MGM and its professional partners worked painstakingly to put together a design that celebrates the history of Springfield while moving the Gateway City into a new era of commerce and economic opportunity. The integrated resort casino is designed to enhance the entire urban center of Springfield. The mixed-used development project calls for a 25-story, 250-room hotel with world-class amenities, including a spa, pool, and roof deck; 125,000 square feet of gaming space with 3,000 slot machines, 75 gaming tables, a poker room, and a high-limit VIP gambling area; about 55,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space that will accommodate 15 shops and restaurants; and a multi-level parking garage. Plans also envision a high-energy dining, retail, and entertainment district with an eight-screen cinema, bowling alley, and outdoor stage. This will be developed by Davenport Properties of Boston, in partnership with MGM on land now occupied by the tornado-ravaged South End Community Center and Howard Street School. Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president, said, “MGM is very grateful to the MGC and, most importantly, to our supporters. Today’s decision says yes to jobs, yes to downtown revitalization, and yes to opportunity and hope. We have been, and will continue to be, a committed partner to the city and the Commonwealth. We have worked hard to develop the strong relationships necessary to create a world-class urban casino resort proposal that will anchor a renaissance for an important gateway city and the region around it. We now look forward to that becoming a reality.” MGM Springfield will bring 3,000 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs to downtown Springfield. MGM has established a hiring goal of 35% of the workforce from the city of Springfield and 90% from a combination of Springfield and the region. Additionally, MGM Springfield has entered into surrounding-community agreements with neighboring communities providing for tens of millions of dollars. However, all casino projects in the Commonwealth still face the threat of a ballot repeal of the casino law. Attorney General Martha Coakley ruled last year that the repeal question is unconstitutional. Following an appeal by advocates of the repeal effort, the Supreme Judicial Court is expected to decide by July if the question may appear on the November ballot. Because the repeal effort hangs in the balance, the MGC and MGM entered into an agreement to award the single Category 1 (resort-casino) license available for Region B (Western Mass.) contingent on the outcome of the repeal matter. The future date allows the postponement of the licensing and related fees until the repeal question is resolved. “The City of Springfield deserves a brighter economic future,” Mathis said. “Its residents spoke loudly when they voted yes for MGM Springfield in a July 2013 referendum. A successful repeal would mean the loss of good jobs, new economic development, and a needed revenue stream. It would also eliminate the opportunity to recapture billions of dollars currently lost to neighboring states. MGM is ready to help the Commonwealth achieve these worthy goals.”

Tighe & Bond Honored for Its Role in Developing Computing Center

By
Daily News

WESTFIELD — During its 21st awards celebration in Boston last month, the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) presented Tighe & Bond with an award for its role in developing the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC). The EBC named this state-of-the-art data center, which sits on a former industrial site in Holyoke, the James D.P. Farrell Brownfields Project of the Year. Tighe & Bond was one of several key project contributors to receive this award. Three years in the making and completed in November 2012, the $165 million MGHPCC transformed a historic Holyoke canal mill complex into a gleaming Massachusetts success. It also heralded in a new age of revitalization for this former paper-mill city. The purpose of this project was to prepare an abandoned industrial property for redevelopment into an energy-efficient, 90,300-square-foot data center to support the growing computing needs of five of the most research-intensive universities in Massachusetts. This includes MIT, UMass, Northeastern University, Harvard University, and Boston University; together they are known as the MGHPCC consortium. Tighe & Bond’s contributions to this project, which achieved LEED Platinum certification in 2013, included demolition engineering, permitting, and remediation services to clean up the former 8.5-acre Mastex Industries site prior to the MGHPCC’s construction. Specifically, this encompassed coordination of project funding, hazardous-building-materials surveys, building demolition design and coordination, creative building-debris reuse, environmental permitting activities, assessment and remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater, urban fill-soil management, and multi-disciplinary engineering services. Other key contributors to this project’s success include the MGHPCC Consortium, the Massachusetts Governor’s Office, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, MassDevelopment, Holyoke Gas & Electric Department, the city of Holyoke, the MIT Department of Facilities, Cisco Systems, EMC Corp., the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Leggat McCall Properties, McCarter & English, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Turner Construction, and Haley & Aldrich.

ESB, Pioneer Valley Habitat Team Up for First Easthampton Project

By
Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of Easthampton Savings Bank, announced that the bank has become a keystone sponsor for the first Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity home in Easthampton. The bank contributed $10,000 to the East Street Habitat home. The money will go toward the costs of planning, construction, volunteer recruitment, and training. A 15-volunteer committee is already in place to plan the building of the East Street Home. “This particular build is significant because we are building two homes at once, and it is our first Women Build Initiative, which is a project designed to proactively welcome women leadership and women volunteers,” said Peter Jessop, interim executive director of the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. “Three of our steering committee members are from Easthampton Savings Bank, so ESB is providing more than just financial support — they are also providing leadership and volunteer capacity. This is the true spirit of the Habitat model, and we hope ESB’s commitment will inspire others to get involved.” Added Sosik, “the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity is about building communities. Being a sponsor gives us the unique opportunity to become involved in a family’s journey towards home ownership in our community. Plus, the Women Build Initiative is a great way to empower women to get involved in the construction of a home and help a family who wouldn’t be able to build a home otherwise.” Easthampton Savings Bank has supported Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity since 2004 with contributions totaling over $31,000, while ESB employees sit on the organization’s board of directors, finance committee, and the Women Build steering committee.

Doug Bowen, PeoplesBank Earn Community Bank Hero Award

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Banker & Tradesman has named Douglas Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank, a Community Bank Hero. In awarding that honor, the publication said it goes to individuals who show “an exceptional dedication to service and investment in their community.” Bowen and the others were recognized at a special reception to honor those in the industry who have gone above and beyond to better their organization and their community. Since becoming president and CEO of PeoplesBank in 2007, Bowen and his leadership team have led a culture change at the bank. That shift defined a triple bottom line for the bank: going forward, enhanced financial performance would be linked to community and employee engagement as well as environmental sustainability. The team focused on developing new and higher levels of employee engagement and involvement by creating life-work balance initiatives, a management-development program, employee-led think tanks, and employee-recognition events. PeoplesBank associates have volunteered an average of 6,000 hours each year for charitable causes, and 48 of the bank’s officers serve on the boards and committees of 115 nonprofit organizations. The bank has also donated more than $5 million to local charitable and civic organizations and financed more than $70 million in wind, hydroelectric, and solar energy projects. PeoplesBank, having built three LEED-registered offices, is also a leader in green construction. “I am proud to say that, when I look around at work, I see heroes — PeoplesBank associates doing remarkable things for our customers, the community, and our organization every day,” Bowen said in accepting the award.

Monson Savings Bank Promotes Terry Poloski to Mortgage Originator

By
Daily News

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank (MSB) has announced the promotion of Terry Poloski to Mortgage Originator. Terry joined the bank in December 2011, has more than 30 years of experience in consumer and mortgage lending, and has worked with every aspect of the lending process, including underwriting. She is not only adept at helping her borrowers obtain the right financing package, but also at assisting them with every detail along the way, said Steve Lowell, MSB president, adding, “we are extremely fortunate to have Terry on our team. She embodies the Monson Savings commitment to customer service and is highly qualified to help people find the right financing package for new homes, construction, and refinancing.” Poloski is a member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley.