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SPRINGFIELD — The United Way of Pioneer Valley Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) will host its second annual Wine and Beer Tasting and Silent Auction on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the TD Bank Center in Springfield. The event will raise money to support WLC membership; financial literacy; and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiatives for middle-school girls.

“When women in the WLC connect around an idea to improve lives, anything is possible,” said Kathryn Dube, senior vice president of TD Bank and event co-chair.

Wednesday’s event will bring together local wine and beer distributors and restaurants offering a variety of food and beverage options that attendees can enjoy while browsing a selection of auction items donated by local companies. Sponsors for the event include African American Point of View, Berkshire Bank, BusinessWest, Comcast, Health New England, the Markens Group, Springfield Technical Community College, TD Bank, and WEIB Smooth Jazz.

For more information about the Women’s Leadership Council, visit www.facebook.com/wlcpv.

Museums Seek Entries for Annual Gingerbread-house Competition

By BusinessWest Staff October 2, 2015

Departments People on the Move

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums are inviting bakeries, schools, individual bakers, and young people to submit design plans for the annual gingerbread-house competition and exhibit. This year’s theme is “A Seussian Holiday,” with houses to be unveiled on Friday, Nov. 27 as part of the Museums’ “Holiday Happenings” event.

The gingerbread houses will be displayed against a backdrop of murals by artist John Simpson that celebrate the whimsical stories and characters created by Springfield native Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss).

Entry forms and design plans must be submitted by Friday, Nov. 13. Bakers who commit by the early-registration deadline (Friday, Oct. 23) will receive a free gift. Applications and guidelines may be obtained by downloading the form at springfieldmuseums.org, stopping by the museum Welcome Center, e-mailing [email protected], or calling (413) 263-6800, ext. 285.

Gingerbread displays may be based on favorite Dr. Seuss stories, historic locations, or other imaginative holiday designs. Entries will be accepted in the following contest divisions: professional division (bake shops, caterers, restaurants, or professional bakers); adult division (individuals or groups age 18 and up); and youth division (individuals or groups age 8-17; school and youth groups are welcome to apply).

Applicants will be notified about selection decisions by Monday, Nov. 16. Gingerbread houses that are not pre-registered will not be accepted. Completed gingerbread houses must be delivered to the Museums on Monday, Nov. 23 and will be on display through Sunday, Jan. 3.

Visitors on Nov. 27 will vote for their favorite gingerbread entry in each division, and prize awards will be presented later that day. Voting will continue for People’s Choice Awards until Jan. 3, and the final winners in each division will be posted on the Springfield Museums Facebook page.

UMass Center at Springfield Looks to Grow Its Influence

By BusinessWest Staff September 22, 2015

Education Sections

Root Geometry

Daniel Montagna says the UMass Center at Springfield is looking to build on the momentum gained during a solid first year.

Dan Montagna says he can easily quantify the success enjoyed by the UMass Center at Springfield during its initial year, as well as the momentum it gained for the second, which started earlier this month.

Indeed, the number of classes offered at the 26,000-square-foot facility in Tower Square increased from 20 in its first semester of operation a year ago to more than 25 this fall. And while he didn’t have an exact count when interviewed by BusinessWest — the so-called ‘add/drop period’ for many classes was still ongoing — he was quite certain that the number of students enrolled in classes in the state-of-the-art facility had increased markedly as well.

“Going from fall to spring, we saw a sharp increase in both the number of classes and programs, as well as enrollment,” said Montagna, who assumed the role of director of Operations at the center last spring. “And for the fall, it looks like a little bit of an uptick in the number of classes, but a potentially greater number of students who will be attending classes here.”

There were other measures of success, he went on, including the 275 or so community events of varying sizes staged at the center’s diverse facilities.

As for the other assignment put to him by BusinessWest — qualifying how the center has fared with its mission of helping to bring vibrancy to downtown Springfield and provide new levels of convenience for area students — he said that was slightly more difficult, especially the first part of that equation.

And it will certainly take more than 12 months to effectively answer that question.

But he felt very confident saying that the center has established a firm foothold downtown, forged several strong working relationships with other area colleges, and already become a huge asset for the region.

“From our measures, it’s been a very successful start for the center,” he said, adding that the obvious goal is to build on that momentum. “It’s about growth, expansion of the academics, and seeing what other courses we can bring in and focus on concentration areas.

“As for the other side of the equation, the community-engagement side,” he continued, “the fact that we’ve been able to plant roots in the heart of downtown Springfield and host perhaps 300 community events has been outstanding, and something we continue to build on.”

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest takes a quick look back at the UMass Center’s first year in operation, and then puts the focus on how this facility can continue to gain momentum.

Course of Action

Montagna was on hand when the center opened its doors a year ago — and actually well before that — in the capacity of assistant director of operations.

He had taken that role after stints as a project manager for a private consulting firm that specialized in work with nonprofits, and, before that, as a program manager for the so-called Bay State Roads program, a state- and federally funded transportation initiative that provided technical assistance to officials in area communities. He said he joined the team at the UMass Center because he was intrigued by the center’s role with the university — and with the city of Springfield — and wanted to be a part of it.

“What attracted me to it was the concept of UMass bringing a campus to the downtown Springfield area,” he explained. “That immediately grabbed my attention, and as a local native, growing up in Agawam and living in the Pioneer Valley my whole life, I have a personal investment in the surrounding community.

“I’ve always been a cheerleader for Springfield doing better things,” he went on. “And the timing around the developments in the downtown, the revitalization efforts, along with the university making this investment and wanting to bring some of what they’re known for to the downtown area, was really exciting to me.”

He would take on a much bigger part last spring, when William Davila, the center’s first director of Operations, left to take a position with the Center for Human Development.

Montagna said his job description has a number of moving parts — from keeping the proverbial lights on to being a liaison to Tower Square management to being the face of the center within the community — but at its heart it’s fairly simple: to continually broaden the center’s impact in downtown Springfield and within the region’s higher-education sector. And, he said, a successful first year has provided a solid foundation on which to build.

“We want to focus on all aspects of our mission, building not only the scope of academic programs here, working with the campus communities,” he explained, “but also the community-engagement component; we want to be much more than a satellite campus.”

Elaborating, he told BusinessWest that the center can be classified using a number of nouns, starting with ‘facility.’

Indeed, it serves as a central location from which UMass Amherst and other colleges and universities can offer classes and other programs.

That location, as well as the large inventory of facilities — from large classrooms to varying-sized conference rooms to large study areas — also makes the center a resource, another of those nouns, said Montagna, adding that a wide array of nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and economic-development groups have staged meetings and other types of events there.

That list includes Springfield Public Schools, the United Way, the Department of Homeland Security (which staged a training program for local law-enforcement officers there), and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield.

As it carries out those roles, the center also serves as a “partnership,” he went on, adding that UMass Amherst collaborates with Westfield State University, UMass Boston, Springfield Technical Community College, and Holyoke Community College to provide convenient access to courses in a number of fields.

The center now hosts classes for several UMass Amherst programs, including the College of Nursing, which has a large presence there, as well as TEACH 180 Days in Springfield, the Isenberg School of Management’s part-time MBA program, and University Without Walls. Meanwhile, it also hosts UMass Boston’s Addictions Counselor Education Program; Adult Career Pathways, Adult Basic Education, community health training, and workforce-training programs from STCC and HCC; and a Community Planning course, which is a collaboration between the STCC, Westfield State, and UMass Amherst planning departments.

All of the above assures a steady flow of students and instructors into the center, which offers both day and night classes, said Montagna, adding that this critical mass inspires use of another term to describe the facility — catalyst.

And while there may be some objective gauges of the overall impact of the center — such as in the number of additional lattes sold at Dunkin Donuts or paninis at Hot Table on the ground floor at Tower Square — this is more of a subjective analysis at this point, he told BusinessWest, although those at the center continue to look for more ways to measure its impact.

“One of the things I’m really working on with my staff is the quantifying component,” he explained. “We’re trying to measure as much as we can; we’re trying to work toward more cohesive, more comprehensive tracking of our usage and our impact downtown.”

Overall, he believes the center is certainly contributing on the micro level — with receipts at area downtown restaurants, for example — and will eventually be impactful on the macro level as well, being one of a host of new facilities, businesses, and initiatives that make downtown a true destination.

Branching Out

Summing up the UMass Center’s first year of operation, Montanga said the initiative (there’s still another noun used to describe it) returned to that notion of putting down roots, noting that they have certainly taken a firm hold.

What develops from those roots remains to be seen, obviously, but he believes the center will grow into a vital contributor to the region’s economy, its ongoing efforts to create a large, capable workforce for the future, and the vibrancy of a downtown in the midst of a comeback.

In many respects, he said in conclusion, it is already all of the above.

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

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff September 22, 2015

Berkshire Bank announced the promotion of Michael Grandfield to Senior Vice President, commercial relationship manager in Berkshire’s Pioneer Valley Region. He will continue his role as a commercial relationship manager in the region. Grandfield has nearly 30 years of managerial and commercial-lending experience, having held leadership roles at community banks in Western Mass. and Northern Conn., including Hampden Bank, Simsbury Bank, Baybank, and Bank of New England. “Mike has been a valued employee for the past 15 years,” said Luke Kettles, senior vice president, commercial regional executive. “Over this time, he has built strong ties to the local community and solid commercial relationships. He is a seasoned banking professional with a strong customer focus, assisting clients with all of their commercial-borrowing and cash-management needs. I am delighted to count him as a member of our team and know he will continue to be an important contributor to our continued growth and success.” Grandfield is a graduate of Bryant College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He also earned an MBA from American International College. He has been civically involved in all of the communities in which he has lived and worked over the years, serving on numerous nonprofit boards. He is also past president of the Agawam Rotary Club and continues to be an active member.

•••••

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts has appointed Janet Daisley vice president of programs effective immediately. Daisley reports to Katie Allan Zobel, president and CEO. “Janet will provide leadership and strategic vision for the foundation’s grant-making programs and help with building capacity for the region’s nonprofit sector,” Zobel said. In her new role, Daisley will be responsible for the team that distributes approximately $3.5 million each year in grants to 100 local nonprofits, and awards scholarships to more than 700 area students. Janet’s area is also responsible for continuing Valley Gives Day, which will happen on May 3, 2016. “We are fortunate to have someone with Janet’s skills and broad experience to work with the foundation to continue to expand our presence in the Pioneer Valley,” said Liz Sillin, who chairs the foundation’s distribution committee, which oversees grant recommendations. Daisley joined the foundation in September after serving as vice president of programs at VentureWell in Hadley, where she led the development, design, and management of a portfolio of programs focused on training young scientists seeking to launch ventures that improve life for people and the planet. Prior to that, she was the director at Commonwealth Corp., where she oversaw a $17 million state contract to provide education and workforce training of youth in Massachusetts’ juvenile justice system. Her experience also includes working on K-12 education policy issues for both the Massachusetts State Legislature and the Connecticut General Assembly. She has served as a volunteer on the boards of the Amherst Education Fund and the Performance Project. She also led an Amherst-based Girl Scout troop for 12 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colgate University and a master’s degree in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

•••••

Melissa Tetreault

Veteran mortgage professional Melissa Tetreault has joined Mortgage Network Inc. as a loan officer in the company’s Longmeadow branch office. In her new role, Tetreault will be responsible for serving homebuyers and homeowners throughout the Western Mass. area. Based in Danvers, Mortgage Network provides mortgage banking services in more than 20 states through a wide variety of retail offices built to fit each local market. Tetreault brings 20 years of mortgage banking experience in the Franklin County area. Most recently, she served as assistance vice president of retail lending for Greenfield Cooperative Bank. Tetreault serves as a board member at the United Way of Franklin County and the YMCA of Greenfield. She is also a member of the Shelburne Falls Women’s Club and an affiliate member of the Realtor Assoc. of the Pioneer Valley. “We are delighted to welcome Missy to Mortgage Network,” said Carrie Hamel, branch manager of Mortgage Network’s Longmeadow office. “Having lived and worked in this area as a mortgage professional for the past 20 years, she knows the market about as well as anyone.” Added Tetreault, “the Western Massachusetts housing market is definitely looking up. Home prices are very affordable, which is excellent news for first-time homebuyers, and price appreciation has been steady, which is great for homeowners.”

•••••

Berkshire Bank recently named five individuals to lead and manage its Wealth Management team, which serves individuals, companies, government organizations, and nonprofit organizations:
• Richard Bleser has been appointed senior vice president, chief investment officer. Bleser has served Berkshire Bank as its senior vice president, portfolio manager since joining the firm in 2010 from Meridian Capital Partners Inc., where he was responsible for macroeconomic, S&P 500, and hedge-fund analysis. He will lead Berkshire’s investment-portfolio-management efforts, working closely with and Edgar.
• Jason Edgar has been named senior vice president, wealth portfolio manager, and regional leader – New England. Edgar joined the banks a senior portfolio manager in 2014 after several years with Enterprise Investment Advisor, a division of Enterprise Bank. He will lead Berkshire’s wealth-management initiatives for the New England region, while working closely with Bleser and Cologero on the investment portfolio.
• Mary Ellen Cologero has been named senior vice president, wealth portfolio manager, and regional leader – New York. Cologero will lead Berkshire Bank’s wealth-management initiatives for the New York region, while working closely with Bleser and Edgar on the investment portfolio. With more than 25 years of investment experience, she joined the team as a senior portfolio manager from Key Bank, where she served as senior vice president, senior portfolio manager.
• Janice Ward has been appointed first vice president, wealth advisor, and senior fiduciary officer. Ward has served Berkshire as a wealth advisor and senior fiduciary officer since joining the bank in 2012 from Greenfield Savings Bank. She works primarily with trust and estate clients, oversees fiduciary activities, and focuses on financial planning; and
• Elizabeth Gore has been named first vice president, trust operations and compliance. Bringing more than 34 years of banking experience, 22 of them in Berkshire Bank’s Trust Operations, Gore oversees all aspects of operations and compliance for the Wealth Management Group and currently manages the Lenox Wealth Management Office and assists clients on a daily basis.

•••••

Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality Group, a Berkshires-based hotel-management company, announced the appointment of Janet Eason as vice president of marketing. In this position, Eason is responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction, and vision to all marketing efforts for the properties in the company’s portfolio. Main Street Hospitality Group manages the new boutique Hotel on North in Pittsfield, the Porches Inn at MASS MoCA in North Adams, and the Williams Inn in Williamstown, and owns and operates the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. Eason brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience to Main Street Hospitality Group, including her most recent leadership role as director of marketing communications at the Colonial Williamsburg Hospitality Co. in Virginia, where she oversaw all aspects of marketing for six unique hotel properties, 12 restaurants, three golf courses, a full-service spa, and 20 retail outlets. “This is an exciting time for Main Street Hospitality Group as we deepen our position as a regional management company with a focus on preservation, innovation, and the communities we serve,” Eustis said. “Janet’s extensive knowledge of integrated brand positioning across multiple properties will be instrumental in guiding the company’s continued success. We welcome her to the Main Street family.” Prior to the Colonial Williamsburg Hospitality Co., Eason served as president at Eason Partners, a Boston-based marketing firm specializing in the travel and hospitality industries, working with clients such as the Barbados Tourism Authority and Elegant Hotels. She was also vice president of strategic planning at Boston-based ISM, where she provided marketing solutions for travel companies such as the Sagamore Resort and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff September 22, 2015

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Oct. 1: Amherst Area Chamber Annual A+ Awards Dinner, 5-9 p.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Annual A+ Awards Dinner is the social event of the year.This year, we will be honoring six awardees for their contributions to life and commerce in the Amherst Area. The MVP Award, Legacy Awards, and awards for Lifetime Achievement in Business, Community Service, and Young Professionals will all be given. In addition, we seek to honor our two Cooley Dickinson Scholarship winners. Presenting sponsor: PeoplesBank.

• Oct. 30: Chamber Legislative Breakfast, 7: 15-9 a.m., at the Lord Jeffery Inn, 30 Boltwood Ave., Amherst. Sponsored by Eversource. Cost: $15 for members, $20 for non-members.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Sept. 23: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Marcotte Ford, 1025 Main St., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information or to register, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.

• Oct. 2: Rock Your Holidays with a Great Promotion, 9-11 a.m., at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. Seminar presented by Liz Provo, authorized local expert, Constant Contact. Cost: free for members, $10 for non-members.

• Oct. 13: Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, and Springfield Regional chambers of commerce. Exhibitor tables are $125 for members of the participating chambers. Cost to attend: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Open to the public.

• Oct. 16: Lunch & Learn with Thom Fox, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Hampton Inn, 600 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. “Want to Make More Money: All You Have to Do is Ask!” Cost: $15 for members, $23 for non-members.

• Oct. 21: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley.

• Oct. 28: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Loomis House, 298 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Oct. 8: Networking by Night, at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Health Center Southampton. Join us and our host for a Fall Fiesta celebration, and enjoy a fun night of networking, interactive health stations, and appetizers provided by Meyers Catering. Sponsored by Dollars for Scholars.

• Oct. 19: Celebrity Bartenders, 6 p.m., at Opa Opa Brewery. Join in on all the fun and laughs as you help support funding this season’s holiday lights.

• Nov. 4: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Join the Greater Easthampton, Greater Northampton, and Amherst Area chambers along with our host, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, for a networking extravaganza. Sponsored by Duseau Trucking.

• Nov. 6:  CheckPoint 2015 Legislative Summit. Registration and networking, 11 a.m.;  welcome, lunch, and keynote speaker, noon to 1:30 p.m.; Chamber View Dialogue with chamber executives, followed by legislative response, 1:30-3 p.m.; cocktail reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, 3-4 p.m. Keynote speaker: state Senate President Stanley Rosenberg. Also hear from Tim Wilkerson, regulatory ombudsman of Economic Policy Development at the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions to invited legislators.

• Nov. 7: 15th Annual Greater Easthampton Chamber Viva Las Vegas Bowl-a-Thon, at Canal Bowling Lanes, 74 College Highway, Southampton. Two sessions: 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. A night of fun, laughs, music by DJ Jay Paglucia, and pizza as you help support funding this season’s holiday lights.

• Nov. 11: Monday Morning with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., Burger King, Easthampton.

• Dec. 3: Holiday tree lighting and visit from Santa, 6:30-8 p.m., at Pulaski Park, Easthampton.

• Dec. 4: Greater Easthampton Chamber Snow Ball, 6-11 p.m., at the Garden House, Look Park. An old-fashioned, elegant, holiday affair. Sit-down dinner featuring Meyers Catering, live music, and dancing featuring Maxxtone. Dress in style, black tie optional.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Sept. 23: Legislative Coffee Hour, 7:45-9 a.m., at Slainte Restaurant, 80 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke. Sponsored by Ferriter & Ferriter Law and Hadley Printing. Speakers: Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Holyoke Police Chief James Neiswanger, and Holyoke Fire Chief John Pond. Join us for coffee and conversation where members of the community have a chance to ask questions regarding issues facing Western Mass. and the Greater Holyoke area. Tickets: $20 for members with advance reservations, $25 for non-members and at the door. Price includes a continental breakfast.

• Oct. 7: The Chamber Coffee Buzz Morning Networking, 7:30-9 a.m., at Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main St., Holyoke. The Coffee Buzz is a great way to jump-start your day with the opportunity to meet business and community leaders while enjoying coffee and a light breakfast. The Coffee Buzz series is sponsored by Lyon & Fitzpatrick, LLC. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse will help launch the chamber’s new morning networking series. Public-school receiver Stephen Zrike Jr. will be the guest speaker. Free to the business community. Sign up online at holyokechamber.com or call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376.

• Oct. 14: Autumn Economic Development Business Salute Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Holyoke Medical Center, Ferriter & Ferriter Law, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite and Driscoll. Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., is keynote speaker. Other guests include Andrew Crystal, vice president at O’Connell Development Group Inc.; Marcos Marrero, director of the Holyoke Economic and Development Office; E. Denis Walsh of Weld Management; and John Aubin of Open Square. New members Holyoke Signs & Design, Elevation Art and Framing, Century Homecare, and Presley Law, PLLC will also be recognized, as well as FlynMar Rubber & Plastics’ 45th anniversary and Open Square’s 25th anniversary. Tickets include a buffet breakfast and cost $25 for members with advance reservations and $30 for all others. Reservations may be made online at holyokechamber.com.

• Oct. 21: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Northeast IT Systems Inc., 777 Riverdale St., West Springfield. Business networking event. Refreshments, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for all others. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to sign up, or visit holyokechamber.com.

• Oct. 22: Leadership Holyoke/Meet at Wistariahurst Museum, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A leadership series with HCC faculty members participating as instructors and facilitators. Community leaders will participate as speakers. Sponsored by PeoplesBank and Holyoke Community College.

• Oct. 28: Murder Mystery Dinner, 6-9 p.m., at the Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampton St. Networking cocktail hour at 6-7 p.m., with full-course dinner to follow. Sponsored by Meyers Brothers Kalicka and Baystate Restoration Group. During “Mystery at the Masquerade,” trade clues with other guests and solve the crime at this night of masks and murder. Cost: $49.95 for members, $52.95 for non-members and at the door.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Oct. 7: October Arrive @ 5 Open House, 5-7 p.m., at the chamber office. Sponsored by Pioneer Training, Innovative Business Systems, and Florence Savings Bank. Cost: $10 for members.

• Nov. 4: November Arrive @ 5 Open House, 5-7 p.m. Hosted by Cooley Dickinson Hospital, 30 Locust St., Northampton. Cost: $10 for members.

• Dec. 2: December Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at Hampshire Council of Governments, Northampton. Sponsored by Applied Mortgage. Cost: $10 for members.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Oct. 1: Community Discussion, 7 p.m., at Westfield State University, Scanlon Hall, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Free and open to the public. The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, the city of Westfield, and Westfield State University, will host a healthy-community advocate, Mark Fenton. Residents, health professionals, business owners, planning experts, and anyone with an interest in redesign of a community for improved health outcomes should attend. Fenton is a national public-health, planning, and transportation consultant; an adjunct associate professor at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; and former host of the America’s Walking series on PBS. He has authored numerous books, including the bestselling Complete Guide to Walking for Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness.

• Oct. 5: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at the Arbors, 40 Court St., Westfield. Event is free and open to the public. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• Oct. 5: Medicare Made Easy, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Presented by Sarah Fernandez, Medicare sales manager, Health New England. Cost: free for members, $30 for non-members. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• Oct. 14: Oktoberfest After 5 Connection, 5-7p.m., at East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Highland Valley Elder Services and MedExpress Urgent Care. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash at the door for non-members. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• Oct. 19: Long-term-care Planning, 4:30-5:30 p.m., at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Renaissance Advisory. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618

NORTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ncccc.org
(860) 741-3838

• Oct. 20: Networking Lunch, noon-1:30 p.m. For more information, contact the chamber at (860) 741-3838 or [email protected]

• Oct. 22: Business to Business Expo, 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 1 Bright Meadow Blvd., Enfield, Conn. For more information, contact the chamber at (860) 741-3838 or [email protected]

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY

www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• Oct. 8: October Networking Social, 5 p.m., at McCray’s Farm. Join us for our monthly networking social, complete with fall fun such as pumpkin picking and hayrides. Cost: free for NAYP members, $10 for non-members. RSVP with the chamber.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• Oct. 7: PWC Headline Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Munich Haus, 13 Center St., Chicopee. Featuring Kathleen Corbett, former president of Standard & Poors, lead director of the MassMutual board of directors, and founder of Cross Ridge Capital. Cost: $30 for PWC members, $40 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.professionalwomenschamber.com.

• Oct. 13: PWC Ladies Night, 5-7 p.m., at Kate Gray, 398 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. Enjoy complimentary wine and refreshments. Reservations are complimentary but required. Reservations may be made by contacting Gwen Burke at [email protected] or (413) 237-8840.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Sept. 22: September 2015 Pastries, Politics, and Policies, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring state Sen. Benjamin Downing, chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members. For more information, contact Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313.

• Oct. 7: Springfield Regional Chamber Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Crestview Country Club, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Featuring Duane Cashin, sales growth strategist, motivational speaker, sales trainer, business development consultant, and author. Saluting Noonan Energy (125th anniversary) and Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding and Windows (20th anniversary). Sponsored by United Personnel. Cost: $20 for members in advance, $25 for members at the door, $30 for generation admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• Oct. 14: Springfield Regional Chamber Lunch-n-Learn, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. “Creating Marketing Campaigns Perfect for the Holiday Season,” with local authorized Constant Contact representative Liz Provo. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for general admission.Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• Oct. 23: Springfield Regional Chamber Super 60, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Honoring the region’s top performing companies. Featuring keynote speakers Emily and Oliver Rich – the Tea Guys. Cost: $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Tables of eight or 10 available. Reserve by Oct. 14. No walk-ins accepted, no cancellations after deadline. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com
413-426-3880

• Sept. 24: Breakfast Seminar, 7-9 a.m. at Oakridge Country Club, Feeding Hills. Breakfast tickets available, $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information and for tickets, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected]

• Oct. 6: West Springfield Mayoral Candidates Forum, 6 p.m., at West Springfield Town Hall. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

• Oct. 7: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted By John P. Frangie, M.D., West Springfield. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

• Oct. 28: Food Fest West, 5:30-8 p.m., at Chez Josef, Agawam. The event will feature the foods of area restaurants, including Chez Josef, Classic Burgers, Crestview Country Club, EB’s, Hofbrau Joe’s, Murphy’s Pub, Partner’s Restaurant, Pintu’s, and more. Proceeds raised by Food Fest West will go toward the Partnership for Education and the WRC Educational Fund, which provides grants to businesses for on-the-job training and continuing-education needs. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

Williamstown Seeks Diverse Development Plan

By BusinessWest Staff September 8, 2015

Community Spotlight

Andy Hogeland (left) and Hugh Daley say the conversion of the former Cable Mills into new apartments is an example of a public/private partnership that will add vitality to the town.

Williamstown is in the process of creating its first economic-development plan, and the Board of Selectmen, as well as key figures from major town institutions, are excited about its potential.

The Economic Development Committee, or EDC, was established in January, and members include Andy Hogeland and Hugh Daley from the select board, business owners, educators, and officials from Williams College and the Clark Art Institute, major employers in town.

“It’s a significant team effort, and I am delighted with the composition and dedication of our committee, as well as the fact that hundreds of people have shown up at public hearings to give us ideas,” Hogeland said.

Fred Puddester agrees. “It’s an important effort; we have a really good working group, and I know we will end up with a great product,” said the EDC member and vice president for Finance and Administration at Williams College.

The initiative came to life late last year after the selectmen identified priorities they wanted the committee to focus on. The most important is stimulating economic growth by attracting new businesses and residents, but it is tempered by an equally strong resolution to protect existing businesses and institutions as well as the town’s educational system, quality of life, and bucolic environment.

“The town is open to doing whatever we can to improve our vitality without losing our character; it’s something we’re all protective of,” Daley said. “But if the Clark is getting 150,000 visitors a year, the question is, how can we can get them to come to Spring Street to frequent our restaurants and businesses?”

In order to answer this and develop a comprehensive plan, the committee has been divided into three subdivisions with different functions:

• The best-practices group, which measures and evaluates findings about the town’s economic health and strategies for growth compared to congruent communities;
• The town-outreach group, which is focused on implementing communication between the team and residents, businesses, enterprises, and town officials; and
• The reporting group, which has developed an interim report and will create a draft and a final report to be presented to the selectmen in December.

Hogeland and Daley told BusinessWest that data compiled by the outreach subcommittee will weigh heavily in the final report. “We want to make sure we understand and incorporate what residents are looking for,” Daley said.

To that end, the committee has hosted two public forums, which included question-and-answer periods. “They were well-attended and turned into discussions about what kind of town people want this to be; values centered around culture, education, the quality of life we have, and our natural beauty,” Hogeland explained. “People said they like the town the way it is, but would enjoy it if it was a little more economically vibrant.”

The feedback was posted on the town’s website, and a survey with eight questions was included with every tax bill, which could be filled out online or on the questionnaire.

“We received 500 responses, which proved that people are actually interested in what we’re doing,” Daley said. “They included a wide range of suggestions, which points to excitement about our plan.”

Hogeland concurred. “Hundreds of ideas were submitted, and the concerns and ideas people expressed were not just about money and jobs, but about the quality of life and what it’s like to live here,” he said. “Some things were as simple as improving the town website, which we are in the process of doing. But it’s our job to distill all of the ideas and come up with a feasible, actionable focus.”

The outreach group also conducted a forum for the business community, and impediments to growth were identified and ideas were generated to help create a more robust economy.

Meetings of the entire committee are held twice a month, and key individuals present profiles of their work, along with updates on institutional and professional efforts relevant to economic development within the community.

Concrete Progress

Williams College, which has close ties to the town, recently kicked off a huge capital program, which benefits local businesses and tradespeople.

“We have a number of interesting projects underway, but the largest is the construction of our new science facilities,” Puddester said, noting that an addition will be put on an existing building and an old building will be torn down and replaced with a state-of-the-art science center. The cost estimate for the projects is $200 million.

The space for the addition contains two houses, and one that is in good condition will be relocated to a vacant lot this fall. “It’s a similar situation that occurred last year when we built a new dorm,” Puddester said, explaining that a house on the site was purchased by the owner of Guntlow Engineering, who moved it and is using the first floor for business and the second floor as apartments.

The college is also building a $15.5 million, 60-bed dormitory that will be used as swing space when renovations are needed on older dorms, and undertaking a $12.5 million renovation of an old fraternity house on Route 2.

“It’s a restoration of a fabulous building that will be used to house our admissions and financial-aid offices,” Puddester continued. “We’re also renovating the performance space in Chapin Hall, a $5.5 million project.”

In addition, an architect has been hired to design a new, two-story building downtown on Spring Street. The first floor will become a college bookstore with a children’s section, coffee bar, and space for poetry readings, book signings, and other events, while the second floor will contain office space.

The Log, located across the street, is also being restored with $4.5 million from alumni who cherish memories of the place that constituted a primary meeting ground for them before the new Student Center was built.

“It will become a fabulous gathering space for people in the community and will contain a restaurant and area for students to practice poetry readings or standup comedy,” Puddester said.

He added that the college has a terrific working relationship with the town and is doing all it can to help the EDC. The college supported the best-practices subcommittee by supplying it with two interns to collect and analyze data from 12 communities in New England, New York, and Ohio that were chosen for comparison and inspiration.

Economics Professor Stephen Sheppard, also a member of the EDC, is supervising the interns, and Daley said the data they collect will allow the committee to identify key characteristics of successful towns.

“We can bounce it against ideas we have generated and learn what works, then use those programs,” he noted. “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

The town is already on the path to enhanced vitality, however, and construction is taking place in a number of arenas, including the Cable Mills buildings downtown, where Phase I of converting them into apartments is well underway.

A total of 61 units will be constructed during the first phase, and 13 will be dedicated to affordable housing, Hogeland said, adding that the $26 million project is a good example of how the town works with developers via public/private partnerships.

Daley concurred. “We used $1.525 million of Community Preservation Act funds for this because it supports affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space.

“The buildings were empty for over a decade and had started to deteriorate, but the new units will be extremely nice,” he continued. “They will have one to three bedrooms, and the adaptive reuse of the existing infrastructure will increase the economic vitality of Williamstown. When the buildings are filled with people again, it will change the surrounding area.”

Units in the new Highland Woods complex for low-income seniors, built on land donated by Williams College, will also be ready for occupancy this winter and will help replace affordable housing lost when Tropical Storm Irene flooded Spruces Mobile Home Park.

“It contained about 300 residents, many of whom were elderly, and we have done everything possible to make sure they have an opportunity to live here,” Daley said, adding that the town contributed $100,000 in Community Preservation Act funds, boosted by $2.6 million from a FEMA grant, to make the project possible.

“It’s an example of how we work to protect our citizens and shows the character of our town, which is one of the things residents want to preserve; everyone knew someone who lived in the Spruces,” he continued, noting that the project came about as a result of a partnership between the town and three nonprofit organizations.

Implementation Process

Officials on the EDC committee are dedicated to the project, and a draft of strategic priorities will be finalized in October.

“At that point, it will go out for public comment — there will be a lot of publicity, and we will host meetings so people can give us feedback,” Hogeland said, adding that modifications will be made after input is received.

The selectmen will receive the final document in December, which will include strategized priorities, an assessment of feasibility, and the projected impact of change, as well as recommendations about implementation.

“Williamstown has great things coming over the next few years; Williams College has kicked off a huge $278 million capital building plan, and the town has taken steps to deal with housing affordability for families and seniors,” Daley said. “And with the creation of an economic-development plan that focuses on increasing the vitality of our local economy without sacrificing the character of our town, Williamstown will continue to be a great place to live and invest.”

Williamstown at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1765
Population: 7,754 (2010)
Area: 46.87 square miles
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $15.61
Commercial Tax Rate: $15.61
Median Household Income: $72,203 (2013)
Type of Government: Town Manager; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Williams College, Steinerfilm, Town of Williamstown
* Latest information available

Main Street Hospitality Group Welcomes Janet Eason

By BusinessWest Staff September 3, 2015

STOCKBRIDGE — Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality Group, a Berkshires-based hotel-management company, announced the appointment of Janet Eason as vice president of marketing.

In this position, Eason is responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction, and vision to all marketing efforts for the properties in the company’s portfolio. Main Street Hospitality Group manages the new boutique Hotel on North in Pittsfield, the Porches Inn at MASS MoCA in North Adams, and the Williams Inn in Williamstown, and owns and operates the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge.

Eason brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience to Main Street Hospitality Group, including her most recent leadership role as director of marketing communications at the Colonial Williamsburg Hospitality Co. in Virginia, where she oversaw all aspects of marketing for six unique hotel properties, 12 restaurants, three golf courses, a full-service spa, and 20 retail outlets.

“This is an exciting time for Main Street Hospitality Group as we deepen our position as a regional management company with a focus on preservation, innovation, and the communities we serve,” said CEO Sarah Eustis. “Janet’s extensive knowledge of integrated brand positioning across multiple properties will be instrumental in guiding the company’s continued success. We welcome her to the Main Street family.”

Prior to the Colonial Williamsburg Hospitality Co., Eason served as president at Eason Partners, a Boston-based marketing firm specializing in the travel and hospitality industries, working with clients such as the Barbados Tourism Authority and Elegant Hotels. She was also vice president of strategic planning at Boston-based ISM, where she provided marketing solutions for travel companies such as the Sagamore Resort and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

For more information on the Main Street Hospitality Group, visit www.mainstreethospitalitygroup.com or call (413) 298-1610.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff August 25, 2015

ACCGS

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Sept. 2: ACCGS September Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place. The program will be “Vision 2017 Dream Big: The Future of Springfield,” featuring Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s chief development officer. Commuters traveling via high-speed rail … fans packing a baseball stadium … sunbathers lounging at the urban beachfront. Can you dream that big? For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $20 for members in advance, $25 for members at the door, $30 for non-members.

• Sept. 16: ACCGS September 2015 Speed Networking, 3:30-5 p.m. at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, 807 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Network in a fast-paced, round-robin format, then stay for the After 5. Speed Networking admission includes admission to the After 5. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $20 for members in advance), $25 for members at the door, $25 for non-members.

• Sept. 16: ACCGS September 2015 After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, 807 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Say goodbye to summer at the lake. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

• Sept. 22: ACCGS September 2015 Pastries, Politics, and Policies, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring state Sen. Benjamin Downing, chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members.

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Sept. 1: 49th Annual Community Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the UMass Student Union Ballroom , 41 Campus Center Way, Amherst. Free parking is available in the Campus Center Garage. This traditional school-year kickoff is an opportunity for community and academic leaders to meet newcomers, renew friendships, and talk about plans for the year ahead. Special performance by the UMass Minuteman Marching Band. Tickets: $10. To register or purchase tickets, call (413) 577-1101 or e-mail [email protected].

• Sept. 9: After 5, at Amherst Golf Club, 365 South Pleasant St., Amherst. Sponsored in part by Restore Physical Therapy and Wellness, LLC. Gather for cocktails and light refreshments and mix and mingle with other fellow businessmen and women. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. To register, visit www.amherstarea.com or call the chamber office at (413) 253-0700.

• Sept. 18: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15 a.m., at the Marriott, 423 Russell St., Hadley. Guest speaker: Ryan Bamford, director of UMass Athletics. Cost: $15 for members, $20 for non-members. To register, visit www.amherstarea.com or call (413) 253-0700.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Sept. 10: Auction/Beer & Wine Tasting, 6-9 p.m., at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Presented by Chicopee Savings Bank. Cost: $35 per person. For more information or to register, visit www.chicopeechamber.org

• Sept. 11: CEO Luncheon with Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Collegian Court restaurant, 89 Park St., Chicopee. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

• Sept. 16: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at LifePoint Church, 603 New Ludlow Road, Chicopee. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members. For more information or to register, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.

• Sept. 23: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Marcotte Ford, 1025 Main St., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information or to register, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Sept. 16: Annual Clambake 2015, 5-7 p.m., at Holyoke Country Club, One Country Club Road. Treat your client to golf or make this your employee appreciation dinner. Purchase Clambake tickets in advance and play golf (with cart) for $15. Jazz on the patio by Simmer Music. Prize packages auction; win a chance to enter a hole-in-one putting contest to win $1,000. Cost: $35 per ticket, with a 10% discount for seven or more tickets.

• Sept. 17: Leadership Holyoke 2015-16, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., city tour. Meet at Holyoke Community College, and tour the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center. Get an overview of community demographics and history, and meet community leaders. A series of seven days comprise Leadership Holyoke 2015-16. Faculty members from HCC will participate as instructors and facilitators. Community leaders will participate as speakers and discussion leaders. Program locations subject to change. Objectives include developing a pool of emerging leaders, supporting individuals to increase their potential by acquiring new skills, and networking with community and business leaders. The program will teach participants to apply skills in an organizational setting, expand the individual’s problem-solving methods, skills, and strategies for achieving change; explore leadership styles that are critical to the effective service of potential volunteers; and give participants an in-depth look at the community’s resources, assets, challenges, and opportunities. For business people learning to become community leaders, tuition is $595, due at the start of the course. The fee also covers continental breakfasts, the graduation luncheon, and a trip to the State House in Boston.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Sept. 9: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at the Academy of Music. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Sponsored by Thornes Marketplace, Johnson & Hill Staffing Service, and BusinessWest. Cost: $10 for members.

• Sept. 15: 2015 Workshop: “Spicing up Your PowerPoint Presentations,” 9-11 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will focus on using PowerPoint features to take a presentation beyond a simple set of bulleted slides. You’ll learn to how to change slide layouts and designs easily and how to add tables, Smart Art, graphic effects, sound effects, and video to your presentation. You’ll also learn to work with master slides to make global changes to a presentation easily. The workshop will also focus on adding animations to text and objects on slides, as well as adding transitions between slides. You’ll learn how to rehearse the presentation and keep track of timing, how to annotate slides during a presentation, and a variety of handy shortcuts to use while giving a presentation. The workshop will also cover the options for printing a presentation, including how to print notes pages for the presenter and workshop participants. You’ll also learn how to add charts to a presentation, as well as a series of do’s and don’ts for effective presentation design. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. RSVP is required, and space is limited. To register, e-mail [email protected].

• Oct. 7: October Arrive @ 5 Open House, 5-7 p.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Pioneer Training, Innovative Business Systems, and Florence Savings Bank. Cost: $10 for members

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Sept. 9: September After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.

• Sept. 14: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m. Join us for our monthly Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik, hosted by Mestek. This event is free and open to the public. Call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register for this event so we may give our host a head count.

• Sept. 18: September Chamber Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at the 104th Fighter Wing ANG, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield. Platinum sponsor: Baystate Noble Hospital. Gold sponsor: United Bank. Silver sponsor: United Way of Pioneer Valley. For more information or to donate a raffle item, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• Sept. 2: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Cutting Edge Salon, Feeding Hills. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information and tickets, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected]

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

• Sept. 24: Breakfast Seminar, 7-9 a.m., at Oakridge Country Club, Feeding Hills. Admission: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information and tickets, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

Valley Fest Organizers Raise a Toast to Springfield and the Region

Features

Since launching White Lion Brewing Co. in Springfield last fall, Ray Berry had a feeling that organizing a beer festival would be a good way to showcase his brand, and craft brewing in general. But what has become abundantly clear, with the help of a diverse group of local partners, is that Valley Fest, slated for Aug. 29, is also a celebration of what they consider a city and region on the rise.

When Ray Berry launched White Lion Brewing Co. in Springfield last October, he planned from the start to create a regional beer festival within the first two years. As it turns out, he didn’t want to wait that long.

“I didn’t know whether it would be year one or year two, but with the momentum of the company and awareness of our brand, we felt comfortable enough to bring the fest in year one,” he said.

Specifically, White Lion will present Valley Fest on Aug. 29 in Court Square in downtown Springfield, expecting to draw some 2,000 beer enthusiasts to sample more than 100 different offerings of beer and hard cider made by more than 50 craft brewing companies from throughout the region — and well beyond.

Ray Berry calls Valley Fest a way to “bring together a cohesive conversation” about what’s happening in the region — with craft brewing and in other ways.

“This is about the city of Springfield, about the region, but it also revolves around craft beer,” Berry told BusinessWest. “Western Massachusetts is starting to see a tremendous amount of momentum around craft beer — new brewhouses, new enterprises, new products on the market.”

White Lion is actually the first one of those brewers based in the City of Homes, and Berry hopes the festival — which will also feature culinary fare from local restaurants, live music, and a home-brewing contest — will create a buzz, so to speak, that raises the profile of the city and region.

“Springfield was a little late to have its own product — White Lion being that — and we thought it was important to showcase White Lion, but also to bring together a cohesive conversation regionally,” he went on. “We didn’t know at the onset that this would be bigger than Western Mass., but we’re covering the spectrum with local, regional, and national brands participating, which is exciting.”

But this isn’t just the story of craft beer, or a day-long, late-summer party. It’s about a number of individuals and businesses coming together to showcase what they call a city on the rise.

The first of those was MGM Springfield, which got on board as the event’s presenting sponsor.

“From the company’s standpoint, showcasing Springfield was obviously important,” said Seth Stratton, MGM Springfield’s vice president and general counsel, noting that the company presented last year’s Downtown Dinner Table event to bring some energy to the casino’s future neighborhood.

“We were all surprised how amazingly successful that event was, and it hammered home to MGM how important it is to bring people downtown,” he added. “If people not used to coming to the city are coming for an event like that, that is a perfect event. We want people to be accustomed to being out in this vibrant city, and making it a destination by showcasing its food and beverage assets, which are a huge part of our business. There’s a synergy between events like this and what our goals are with our project.”

As a downtown restaurant owner, Nadim Kashouh wants to be part of efforts that make Springfield more of a destination, and considers Valley Fest to be just that.

Like Stratton, Nadim Kashouh — owner of Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant and Grill downtown — is invested in developments that make Springfield a destination. He’s one of several area restaurateurs to sign on for the event, citing the event’s potential to showcase Springfield and, by extension, its culinary offerings.

“Ray and I have become good friends, and we were interested in being there at this event,” he said. “Springfield is flourishing right now, and we want to be a part of anything that shows that.”

Worthy Addition

Still, before soliciting sponsors and partners for what would become Valley Fest, Berry first approached Jeff Goulet, who has organized the Worthy Brew Fest in downtown Springfield each spring since 2011.

“We didn’t want our fest to conflict with the other fest, but, rather, to bring a positive impact and awareness of craft beer to Springfield,” Berry said.

Goulet, however, is fully on board — as Valley Fest’s brewery coordinator.

“June was our most successful year by far. It came close to a sellout,” Goulet said. “Our focus has been to have a boutique beer fest, limit it to 1,000 people, with very specialty beers, one-off beers.”

So, when Berry told him about the more wide-open concept of Valley Fest, he felt it was a strong complement to what Worthy Fest has been bringing to the table. He also noted that many of the participating breweries have their own local fan bases, who will then travel to Springfield to take in the festival.

Even after winning Goulet’s support, Berry said a successful event wouldn’t have been possible if not for the support of MGM Springfield. “When they locked in up front as the primary sponsor, that was the key that started the ball rolling.”

Other partners soon followed, all of whom see events like this, as well as Worthy Brew Fest and the second annual Jazz and Roots Festival that landed in Court Square last weekend, as ways to continue the city’s momentum generated by not only MGM Springfield, but a host of new development and business activity downtown.

“Ray came to us and shared his vision for the Valley Fest and asked us to work with him to create the brand narrative,” said Deb Walsh, creative director at TSM Design, which had previously designed the White Lion brand logo, and signed on to create visual and narrative elements to promote the event.

“TSM is very committed to Springfield — and beer,” she said with a laugh. “So we happily joined in and created a look that celebrates the craft, celebrates the location and the history, and emphasizes fun, too, making it an event that people will want to attend.”

Meanwhile, Creative Strategy Agency is developing digital communications and marketing to promote Valley Fest, said President Alfonso Santaniello. Among those efforts is a video introducing the sponsors and vendors and trying to get them to engage with each other well before the event — as well as during it, with the use of the #valleybrewfest hashtag. “This has been a team effort, not just the Valley Fest, but the social site.”

Jill Monson-Bishop, president of Inspired Marketing and Valley Fest’s event planner, said she and other business owners are excited about momentum in the downtown district, whether it’s a company moving into one of the office towers or an event with the promise of becoming an annual attraction.

Jill Monson-Bishop says she and other downtown business owners are looking for “sparks of revitalization.”

“As a downtown business owner, I can say these are the sparks of revitalization we’ve all been waiting for. It’s kind of a renaissance,” she said, adding that she was involved with MGM in the Downtown Dinner Table last year. “That reminded me of back in the days of Taste of Springfield, which brought thousands of people to our downtown without blinking or whining.”

She said it was important to make the event about more than beer, however. That’s why Nadim’s will be joining Plan B Burger Bar, Palazzo Café, the Student Prince, and Sheraton Springfield to deliver an array of food, while live music, including dance-party band Orange Crush and rock act Maxxtone, will spice up the Fest, which Monson-Bishop positioned as an age-21+ event that’s friendly and relaxed.

In addition, Mark Stroobandt of Belgium, an internationally acclaimed beer sommelier, will be on hand for a cooking demonstration. Meanwhile, the second of the event’s two sessions will include pourings from 10 home brewers competing for the title of Valley Fest’s Best Home Brewer, a custom tap handle from East Coast Taps, and, of course, bragging rights.

As a way to give back to the community, Berry said a portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society and Dakin Humane Society, two prominent nonprofits.

Susan Alston, director of development and marketing at Dakin, noted that Berry participated in the PAWSCARS in February, Dakin’s largest annual fund-raiser, and they formed a bond over their concern for animals.

“Every year, more than 6,000 of them need medical attention or new parents,” she said. “Our Dakin facility moved downtown in 2009, and we serve thousands of people who adopt our animals every year within a 50-mile radius. We were lucky to be invited to share the proceeds of this event.”

Coming Together at Valley Fest

The partners promoting Valley Fest stressed that many other entities will support the event in different ways, from Ace Taxi providing free service to those who need it to Sheraton Springfield offering reduced room rates for anyone who wants to turn a day of beer sampling into a safe weekend stay downtown.

“This is a community event,” Santaniello said. “We’re all from various backgrounds and specialties, putting on an event with our community. It’s an opportunity to let people see what can be done when we come together for one great event. People need to realize, it doesn’t have to be one person doing things — people and businesses are here to help, and these events just have to find the right people.”

Berry agreed. “The response from the community — and surrounding communities — has been overwhelming,” he said, noting that those sponsors number around 25, including primetime sponsor MassMutual Financial Group and partnering sponsors the Dennis Group and Williams Distributing. “A number of sponsors stepped up early, believing not only in the festival, but in Springfield in general.”

Berry emphasized that Valley Fest is an important showcase not only for White Lion — which has released three beer selections since last fall and has promoted its efforts in venues all over Massachusetts and other New England states — but for a region ready for a stream of good economic news. “People who are complaining are only reading the headlines. They need to dig deeper.”

Kashouh said MGM and other developments downtown have started to create that buzz, which promises to bring new life to the city.

“I know I find myself investing in renovating, putting more money into the restaurant, waiting for the day when MGM opens up. It’s three years out, but I want to be ready. The beer festival, the jazz festival, these things bring people downtown. People are trickling back. It won’t happen overnight; it’s one store at a time, one restaurant at a time. But we believe in Springfield.”

Stratton stressed that the casino project is not the end-all, be-all, but that each new event or company relocation downtown serves as a catalyst for others.

“I think this is a good example,” he went on. “If you look at the sponsor list, it’s a who’s-who of businesses in Springfield. We’re naturally aligned and interested in having people come down and drink beer and have fun; there’s a natural synergy to what we do. For other businesses, it may not be as immediately apparent. But as people see new, exciting things in Springfield, it’ll eventually be a catalyst for the entire business community, not only those who have a natural interest in this event, like we do.”

That’s a refreshing thought indeed. So cheers, Springfield.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Southwick Lays Groundwork to Spur Development

Community Spotlight: Southwick, Mass.

From left, Todd Phillips, Stephen Phillips, and Doug Moglin say Nitor Corp. in the Southwick Industrial Park plans to double its size.

After 12 years in business, Stephen and Todd Phillips decided it was time to own their own building.

They spent two years looking at sites in Springfield, Agawam, West Springfield, and Windsor, Conn. before they found the perfect location: Southwick Industrial Park.

“We were able to buy 3.1 acres on an industrial building lot for $30,000 per acre, which gave us plenty of room to expand; you can’t touch that price anywhere, and the double whammy was the town’s uniform tax rate. It was a huge incentive to come here,” Stephen said, adding that, prior to building a permanent home for laser-equipment supplier Nitor Corp. four years ago, they had leased space in Westfield and then Agawam Industrial Park.

Today, the brothers are planning to double the size of their footprint, and Stephen calls Southwick’s Industrial Park a hidden gem. “It’s close to Route 57, Interstate 91, 291, and the Mass Pike, and the town’s Planning Board is made up of working-class people who are very receptive and understand business,” he told BusinessWest.

The uniform tax rate, $16.94 per thousand for 2015, and amount of affordable property available for development are among attributes Southwick officials are banking on to spur economic development. There are 50 acres in the industrial park primed and ready for development, another 150 acres that will be available in the future, and about 200 acres of former farmland on Route 57, bordered by Routes 10 and 202, that would be an ideal location for retail establishments, especially since there are new sewers in areas proximate to it.

Other factors officials are relying on include infrastructure improvements; a wide range of recreational opportunities; new residential building; closer ties with the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, led by Kate Phelon, who has held nine ribbon cuttings for them since last year with plans to stage more; and other measures that have evolved as they work to remove impediments to growth.

“All roads are open, and we are working hard to get everything in place for the future. All of the ingredients are here; we have done our part, and our eyes are wide open. We want to help and have things in place so people know exactly what they need to do to open a business,” said Joseph Deedy, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who has owned MooLicious Farm and Ice Cream for eight years, was on the Planning Board before being elected to his current position, and has owned several other businesses in different states, which helps him understand difficulties new companies deal with.

“We’re looking for mom-and-pop operations as well as light-industrial companies that will bring more to the town than just workers. They will be stakeholders in the community,” he explained.

Doug Moglin agrees. “There is so much opportunity here, and our population is growing,” said the selectman, who is OEM director at Whalley Computer Associates Inc., based in town.

Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart says it’s much easier to do business in Southwick than it was 10 years ago.

The town has worked hard to identify areas that need sewers, and completed phase I of its installation plan, which includes downtown as well as part of the area around Congamond Lakes. In addition, the water quality was improved, which has helped to retain businesses along the corridor as well as allowing them to position themselves for growth.

“The interceptor pipe to Westfield’s treatment plant has been finished, which lays the groundwork for us to move forward,” Steinhart said.

In fact, town officials have been working hard for several years to leverage as much federal assistance as they can before their population hits 10,000, when they will no longer qualify for funding aimed at towns below that number. “We want to make sure we don’t miss out on any opportunities,” he added.

New Growth

The multi-faceted efforts of Southwick officials are already bearing fruit.

A new, $2.2 million Rite Aid is under construction on College Highway and is expected to open by Thanksgiving. “They’ve been renting space in a smaller building and are expanding to a free-standing building with a drive-thru,” Deedy explained.

From left, Karl Stinehart, Jesse Saltmarsh, Joseph Deedy, and Gordon Webster at the site of the new, $2.2 million Rite Aid set to open in November.

Site developer Jesse Saltmarsh of Saltmarsh Industries Inc. in Southwick told BusinessWest an old building was demolished to make way for the new, 11,000-square-foot pharmacy, and contractors are creating retaining walls because they lowered the grade of the land to provide enough space for parking.

“Roughly 90% of the vendors we’re using are local companies,” said site superintendent Gordon Webster of Bass Hatfield Construction, the general contractor for the project, adding that Southwick businesses already working or soon to be on the job include Southwick Electric and Brasca Plumbing as well as a landscaper in town.

Meanwhile, Kearsage Venture Capital Co. recently completed construction of the largest solar farm in Western Mass. on Route 168.

“Agriculture is still an important part of Southwick’s identity, and this is just a different way of farming,” Stinehart said. “And the town is in the process of finalizing a purchase agreement to buy a solar farm north of here. We hope it will save us 15% on our electric bill.”

The new, 66-acre Whalley Park, built on donated land and leveraged with Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding, opened this summer and has increased the number of playing fields, which is important because the town didn’t have enough to accommodate demand.

“It’s a wonderful thing, and we are very fortunate because the private, nonprofit Southwick Recreation Center is right next door, which helps kids in town play on sports teams,” Deedy said.

The Polverari Southwick Animal Control Facility was also finished late last year, which meets another need as it replaced an outdated structure.

“We’re doing all we can to make the community an attractive place to raise a family,” Stinehart noted, adding that $69 million was spent over the past few years on renovations to the town’s schools which are almost complete, and a new track was built with private donations and CPA funds. Plus, the Conservation and Open Space committees have used state and CPA monies to acquire land for agricultural use because there is growing demand for it.

New small businesses are also opening, and two restaurants have new owners. D’Georgio’s is expected to open by Labor Day in the former Brew Too building on Westfield Street, which has been repurposed, and the former Salmon Brook Restaurant on Point Grove Road near Congamond Lake was recently purchased and will reopen as the Legends of the Lake.

The selectmen added that the town offers wonderful opportunities for recreation.

“We pride ourselves on our recreation, which ranges from boating to golfing and open space where people can hike,” Stinehart said. “We have two public marinas and a boat launch on the Congamond Lakes, and a dedicated committee makes sure there is a freshwater fishing tournament there every weekend. There is also the 6.3-mile Southwick Rail Trail, four golf courses, a miniature one, and two campgrounds. Southwick is the home of motocross, we have a very active Parks and Recreation Committee, and the Conservation Commission has acquired land that will be used for parking which will provide better access to the segment of the Metacomet Trail that runs through town.”

Residential construction is also on the rise, and land is being cleared for a 26-home development called Noble Steeds. “It was permitted, then shelved due to the downturn in the economy,” Stinehart said. “There are also a significant number of single lots being developed along major roads.

“The housing market is slowly turning around, and a dozen lots in a private community are being developed around the Ranch [golf course], and with our lucrative tax rate, people can afford to build their dream home,” he went on. “The Shops at Gillett Corners were also sold within the last two years, and the new owners have invested money because they see the future in Southwick.”

Deedy noted that the single tax rate has been a great selling point for the town.

“We’re taking a balanced approach to growth,” he explained. “Our planning board is composed of a group of very dedicated individuals, and we are very cautious and deliberate in making any zoning changes. But few are necessary, as permitted uses for land have already been identified; we look at other communities to see what works and what doesn’t.”

Officials don’t expect the MGM casino in Springfield to affect their community much, other than increasing the flow of traffic from Connecticut. “We will evaluate it in the future to see if we are eligible for any funds and will revisit the issue at that time to see if it affects our infrastructure,” Stinehart said.

However, Deedy pointed out that Southwick is only 15 minutes from Springfield, and its low tax rate may prove attractive to businesses that support the casino. “They may want to relocate to the suburbs once it is built.”

Formulated Plan

Deedy added that efforts put forth by the town have been aimed at future development.

“We have plenty of land available, and if people can afford it, they should buy it now while it is still inexpensive,” he said. “Members of the select board are always available to talk to people; the last thing we ever want to hear is that someone who owns a company or wants to open one looked at Southwick, but it was too difficult to do business there.”

Which seems unlikely, because officials strive to promote their town and encourage growth in this rapidly growing community.

Southwick at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1775
Population: 9,629
Area: 31.7 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $16.94
Commercial Tax Rate: $16.94
Median Household Income: $78,476
Family Household Income: $89,970
Type of Government: Open Meeting; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Big Y World Class Markets; Whalley Computer Associates Inc.

* Latest information available

Attendance Surging, the Big E Looks to the Future

Sections Travel and Tourism

Fair Forecast

Big E Crowd

Since taking over as CEO of the Eastern States Exposition in 2012, Gene Cassidy has overseen record-setting attendance during the 17-day Big E fair and a robust series of year-round events that, together, generate nearly a half-billion dollars in economic impact. But that success is no fluke; it’s a result of year-round work and the ability to plan years down the road. That road will soon bring several challenges, from increased competition for dollars (notably from a Springfield casino) to a very worrisome highway reconstruction. But with a century of history behind it, the Big E seems poised for a promising future.

Gene Cassidy buys groceries just like everyone else, but he doesn’t look forward to it.

“I’ve said this before: There are very few places to work, places you can establish yourself as a professional, where your patrons look forward to supporting you,” said Cassidy, CEO of the Eastern States Exposition (ESE). “Don D’Amour [CEO of Big Y] is a good friend of mine, but, as much as I like Don, I hate grocery shopping. But people want to come to the fair. So we have to work 24/7/365 to make sure this stays relevant in people’s minds and they come to support us.”

That year-round effort — which is intensifying this month as the Big E, the ESE’s flagship, 17-day agricultural fair, prepares to open on Sept. 18 — has resulted in record-setting attendance figures every year since Cassidy, who has been with Eastern States since 1993, took the reins from Wayne McCary in 2012.

Gene Cassidy says record-setting attendance for the past three fairs is a result of year-round planning.

“Obviously, our goal is to set records,” he said. “We want to create an event that people want to be a part of, and we really operate 365 days a year with that in mind. We want people to buy into the whole product that is the Eastern States Exposition.”

And they do, he continued. But it’s fun with a purpose.

“We’re geared toward families and geared toward fun, but we have a mission,” Cassidy told BusinessWest. “We are stewards of a nonprofit organization that’s charged with the promotion of agriculture and industry for the six New England states.”

Cassidy reveres the fair’s founder, Joshua L. Brooks, an industrialist so concerned that agriculture was losing ground in New England at the turn of the last century — with so much being produced out of the Midwest and South Central states — that he persuaded the National Dairy Show to move its annual event from Chicago to West Springfield in 1916, christening the new event the Eastern States Agricultural and Industrial Exposition.

“That name was so cumbersome that, in 1923, Mr. Brooks shortened it to Eastern States Exposition,” Cassidy said. “But he was an industrialist; he wanted to make sure we pay attention to industry in our region, and that’s something that’s easily lost in translation to the average fair patron. Even residents of West Springfield may not associate Eastern States with industry, but we play a significant role in supporting educational endeavors to that end.”

As treasurer of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County (REB), Cassidy has long been involved in efforts to meet the workforce needs of area industries by supporting education and training programs. “We need to make sure we have the resources to keep building a workforce for the future.”

He noted that trades aren’t taught in high schools like they were 25 years ago, having been replaced by an emphasis on preparing students for a liberal-arts education in college, and that shift has contributed to a skills gap area companies grapple with today.

From Maine lobster to Rhode Island chowder to anything that can possibly be deep-fried, the Big E offers food for every taste.From Maine lobster to Rhode Island chowder

“The machine-tool industry will need 44,000 more people in the next 10 years, and at the rate we’re educating these kids, we can only produce half that number,” he said. “We have to change the way we’re doing things today if we want to keep these core industries relevant in our economy. Otherwise, those companies will move somewhere else.”

The Big E has long played a role in raising awareness of industry in the region, but that has become an increasingly difficult task.

“We’ve struggled with that,” Cassidy said. “There was a time at the fair when there were more elements of industry; we had big trucks and combines, machine-tooling equipment on display. In this age, there are now trade shows that satisfy those specific markets, and they advertise on the Internet.”

Years ago, he explained, companies like Westinghouse and General Electric would introduce new products at the Big E, and Nash Motors would put brand-new models on display. “In this contemporary age, fairs don’t fill that need anymore; there are other means by which companies communicate with customers.”

To fill that gap, Cassidy and his team bring as many niche trade shows as possible to the fairgrounds throughout the year, but the Big E itself has had to evolve past its industry-centric roots. No worries, though — there’s still plenty on tap.

Farm System

Agriculture, for instance.

“The lion’s share of our revenue goes to supporting best practices in agriculture production,” Cassidy told BusinessWest, and it’s an effort that extends throughout the year.

“Because of the way agriculture has changed over the past 100 years, our reach goes way beyond New England,” he added. “Last week, we had a youth sheep show that attracted people from 20 states, including Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

“Our agriculture schedule takes place all year,” he went on. “Obviously, it’s very important for us, as it was to our founder. We play a material role in subsidizing the horse-show industry. Two of the oldest horse shows in the country are produced during our fair. It’s historically important — a part of our DNA.”

But Cassidy admitted that plenty of people attend the Big E for the wide array of food.

“We’re always searching for new food products, and that search goes on every day,” he said, noting that the recent food-truck festival held on the fairgrounds — which featured 41 trucks and attracted almost 30,000 attendees, double the expected turnout — reflects how important food offerings are to the success of the fair. “And nowadays, the food trailers have incredible technology; they can cook virtually anything.”

Still, he added, “it’s not easy to get into the Big E. We’re very, very concerned about people’s health. We work very closely with the town of West Springfield’s health inspector, and we also have an independent health inspector on our own payroll to make sure the food products are second to none,” he said, noting that, for example, all frying oil must be changed daily, where restaurants might reuse a batch for two or three days.

In a time when an incident can spread across social media with viral speed, the Big E takes its reputation seriously.

“Food safety is extremely important to all of us,” he added. “All you need is one person to get sick, and that’s the end of you. You’ve got to be diligent with refrigeration. It’s not inexpensive to be a food purveyor on the fairgrounds because we insist on high standards.”

The animal shows and competitions also feature much more behind the scenes than patrons realize, he added.

“We have very high ethical standards on our agricultural programming; in fact, the code of ethics at Eastern States has been copied by other agricultural entities across the country. If you’re competing at that level, people will drug their cattle, so we have to do a lot of animal testing. Just like with steroids in baseball, we make sure they’re not chemically tampered with.

“We take that stuff seriously,” he went on. “Just this week, the headlines in the agriculture industry were that all the people showing cattle at the Indiana State Fair last year were stripped of their ribbons after it was determined there was some drugging going on. We wouldn’t want our cattle show to be compromised. That’s our frontline reputation, same as if someone got sick with salmonella at a food stand.”

This year has brought another threat — breakouts of avian flu, which is lethal to poultry.

“The avian flu is a big issue for us. That’s why this is the first year in maybe 60 years we won’t have a chick hatchery,” Cassidy explained. “We just can’t take a chance of contributing to the spread. It doesn’t harm humans, but we don’t want to take any chance of spreading avain flu to other birds.

“People won’t like that,” he said regarding the hatchery closing. “They do look forward to it. But we’ll have an exhibit about poultry, educating people about avian flu.”

Music, Music, Music

Musical entertainment has been a staple of the Big E for generations. But every year, Cassidy noted, it has become more expensive to book top acts, so several years ago, the Big E started charging for a top musical act or two while charging fair attendees nothing for the rest.

The midway lined with carnival rides is typically a big hit with the younger set at the Big E.

“You have to budget for a profit so you can pay your bills, but you have to invest in your product so people can enjoy their experience. We give away a lot of entertainment, so that everyone can participate at no extra cost,” he said, noting that this year’s live concerts include Kansas, Ace Frehley, Bridgit Mendler, the Charlie Daniels Band, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Anita Ward, and about a dozen more, including a visit from DJ Paris Hilton, who, it turns out, enjoys spinning records when she’s not earning tens of millions annually in the fashion world.

“Now, as we speak, in the early weeks of August, we’re really focused on 2016,” Cassidy said, adding that John Juliano, the Big E’s long-time special-events director, is already working on securing entertainment contracts for next fall. “He’s constantly building his contact network so we’re able to attract good-quality talent. So much of our ability to promote ourselves is connected to these big names.”

He added that the Big E has a strong reputation in the entertainment industry for managing talent, which is critical. “We make it so these people have a great experience here, so we can attract the next batch. And we have to be really good at it, because we’re competing in a very difficult marketplace.”

It’s a constant battle, he went on. “Within three days of the fair closing down, John is in Nashville, meeting with talent agents, and the management team from Eastern States will be fully engaged, out at national conventions, looking for exhibitors and vendors. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of work. You have to get 2016 booked up; if you don’t have everyone lined up by May 1, you’re in trouble.”

There’s plenty at stake when planning a successful fair, he noted. According to a report the ESE produced last year, the 17-day Big E, plus all the other events that take place on the fairgrounds each year — which feature exhibitions for animal lovers, car enthusiasts, gun owners, campers, and dozens of other groups — benefit the region with an annual economic impact of $479 million.

The tax revenues alone include $3 million in income tax, $1.4 million in sales tax, $427,000 in hotel tax, and $3.3 million in food and beverage tax. More significantly, events generate $299 million in gross regional product and account for 3,000 jobs in Hampden County that generate $91.9 million in personal income. The exposition’s impact on the rest of New England and New York include 2,000 jobs generating $134 million in personal income. In all, 2.5 million visitors stop by the fairgrounds each year, well over 1 million for the Big E alone.

“A lot of my time is dedicated to discovering more non-fair events, trying to draw people to the region year-round with trade shows and other stuff,” he said. “It’s a means by which to promote the region, get more people here to our hotels, drive people to our airports, and create a mechanism for commerce.”

Home Stretch

Of course, most of the staff’s attention is acutely tuned to the Big E — everything from the big picture to the smallest details.

“We’re making sure the fairgrounds are tuned up,” Cassidy said. “Everything has to be tested — door locks, fire suppression, make sure the drains are clear. We do a lot of maintenance during the year, but this is the time everything gets tested.

“If we didn’t start setting up the fair until very late, we’d have way too many people working way too many hours, and mistakes would happen,” he added. “So, right now, we’re a steam locomotive going downhill.”

That preparation mingles with a healthy dose of hope — mostly for favorable weather, as a weekend of steady rain can wreak havoc with revenues. But weather isn’t the only challenge. As Cassidy mentioned, the entertainment market has been crowded in recent decades by the two Connecticut casinos (and more to come in Massachusetts, including MGM Springfield right across the river in 2017), civic centers, and other venues.

The annual fair also provides a showcase for local talent from schools and clubs.

“The addition of the [Springfield] casino is terrific in terms of a rising tide lifting all boats,” he told BusinessWest. “I’m looking forward to a time when we can help them with promotion and some talent, and maybe they would be interested in helping us as well. Working in unison, they can benefit from the traffic we drive to them, and people experiencing their facility for the first time may learn about the existence of the Eastern States Exposition.”

That casino might not open until 2018, however, thanks to a major highway reconstruction project that will shut down a portion of I-91 in downtown Springfield for more than two years.

“The highway job scares the hell out of me; it really, really does,” Cassidy said. “This could extend beyond two fairs, and it’s something we have very serious concerns about. Frankly, everyone in the region who is in business needs their awareness raised about this. Once it’s done, it will be a marvelous thing, a terrific improvement. But between now and then, it’s going to tax businesses — and the ability of facilities such as ours to attract people.”

But, when it comes to such challenges, he’s accustomed to planning ahead, because that’s how a century-old institution remains vital in the public’s mind.

“In a 100-year-old organization, I have to be thinking 25 years out,” he said. “This place has got to be as relevant in 2040 as it is in 2015. Mr. Brooks, when he conceived of this place, he was thinking way into the future.”

The fairgrounds have seen plenty of change; Cassidy recalled how the site was once an ice-hockey mecca before the rink was eliminated in 1992. And he showed BusinessWest detailed plans for how the Big E grounds might have been used for several Olympic events in 2024, including cycling and cross-country — plans that are now defunct, obviously, since Boston is no longer competing to host those Games. But the effort demonstrates how Eastern States Exposition leaders need to think outside the box to remain relevant in the next 100 years.

“We have a responsibility to families to maintain ourselves as a place that provides a family environment an outlet for socializing and learning about agriculture and industry, and I think those things won’t change; those are staples of American society,” he said. “There’s a sense of community at Eastern States, and fewer and fewer places have that sense.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Western Massachusetts Chambers of Commerce events August 10, 2015

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Sept. 2: ACCGS September Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place. The program will be “Vision 2017 Dream Big: The Future of Springfield,” featuring Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s chief development officer. Commuters traveling via high-speed rail … fans packing a baseball stadium … sunbathers lounging at the urban beachfront. Can you dream that big? For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $20 for members in advance, $25 for members at the door, $30 for non-members.

• Sept. 16: ACCGS September 2015 Speed Networking, 3:30-5 p.m. at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, 807 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Network in a fast-paced, round-robin format, then stay for the After 5. Speed Networking admission includes admission to the After 5. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $20 for members in advance), $25 for members at the door, $25 for non-members.

• Sept. 16: ACCGS September 2015 After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, 807 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Say goodbye to summer at the lake. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

• Sept. 22: ACCGS September 2015 Pastries, Politics, and Policies, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring state Sen. Benjamin Downing, chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members.

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• August 12: Chamber After 5 Lady Bea Riverboat Cruise, 5-7 p.m., at Brunelle’s Marina, 1 Alvord St., South Hadley. Come take a cruise on the Lady Bea Riverboat at our August After 5 networking event. The Lady Bea features both inside seating and outside sun decks that attendees can explore while spending an evening on the Connecticut River. Sponsored by Alden Credit Union. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for guests.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• August 20: Mornings with The Mayor, 8-9 a.m., at Porter & Chester Institute, 134 Dulong Circle, Chicopee. Coffee and light refreshments will be served while Mayor Richard Kos provides updates about what’s happening in Chicopee and other topics that impact the Greater Chicopee area. If there’s a particular issue on which you’d like the mayor to speak, submit your questions by Aug. 17 to [email protected]. This event is for chamber members only and is free, but registration is required so that the host business knows how many will be attending.

• Sept. 10: Auction/Beer & Wine Tasting, 6-9 p.m., at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke.

• Sept. 16: September Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at LifePoint Baptist Church, 603 New Ludlow Road, Chicopee.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• August 10: Monday Morning with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., at A-Z Storage & Properties, 165 Northampton Street, Easthampton. This is your opportunity to bring your questions to Mayor Karen Cadieux for casual conversation and direct answers. This event is free and open to the public.

• August 13: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., at Freedom Credit Union, 422B Main St., Easthampton. Join us along with our hosts, Freedom Credit Union & Wireless Zone of Easthampton, for a night of networking and meeting new friends. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Sept. 16: Annual Clambake 2015, 5-7 p.m., at Holyoke Country Club, One Country Club Road. Treat your client to golf or make this your employee appreciation dinner. Purchase Clambake tickets in advance and play golf (with cart) for $15. Jazz on the patio by Simmer Music. Prize packages auction; win a chance to enter a hole-in-one putting contest to win $1,000. Cost: $35 per ticket, with a 10% discount for seven or more tickets.

• Sept. 17: Leadership Holyoke 2015-16, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., city tour. Meet at Holyoke Community College, and tour the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center. Get an overview of community demographics and history, and meet community leaders. A series of seven days comprise Leadership Holyoke 2015-16. Faculty members from HCC will participate as instructors and facilitators. Community leaders will participate as speakers and discussion leaders. Program locations subject to change. Objectives include developing a pool of emerging leaders, supporting individuals to increase their potential by acquiring new skills, and networking with community and business leaders. The program will teach participants to apply skills in an organizational setting, expand the individual’s problem-solving methods, skills, and strategies for achieving change; explore leadership styles that are critical to the effective service of potential volunteers; and give participants an in-depth look at the community’s resources, assets, challenges, and opportunities. For business people learning to become community leaders, tuition is $595, due at the start of the course. The fee also covers continental breakfasts, the graduation luncheon, and a trip to the State House in Boston.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Sept. 9: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at the Academy of Music. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Sponsored by Thornes Marketplace, Johnson & Hill Staffing Service, and BusinessWest. Cost: $10 for members.

• Sept. 15: 2015 Workshop: “Spicing up Your PowerPoint Presentations,” 9-11 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will focus on using PowerPoint features to take a presentation beyond a simple set of bulleted slides. You’ll learn to how to change slide layouts and designs easily and how to add tables, Smart Art, graphic effects, sound effects, and video to your presentation. You’ll also learn to work with master slides to make global changes to a presentation easily. The workshop will also focus on adding animations to text and objects on slides, as well as adding transitions between slides. You’ll learn how to rehearse the presentation and keep track of timing, how to annotate slides during a presentation, and a variety of handy shortcuts to use while giving a presentation. The workshop will also cover the options for printing a presentation, including how to print notes pages for the presenter and workshop participants. You’ll also learn how to add charts to a presentation, as well as a series of do’s and don’ts for effective presentation design. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. RSVP is required, and space is limited. To register, e-mail [email protected]

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Sept. 9: September After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.

• Sept. 14: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m. Join us for our monthly Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik, hosted by Mestek. This event is free and open to the public. Call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register for this event so we may give our host a head count.

• Sept. 18: September Chamber Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at the 104th Fighter Wing ANG, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield. Platinum sponsor: Baystate Noble Hospital. Gold sponsor: United Bank. Silver sponsor: United Way of Pioneer Valley. For more information or to donate a raffle item, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• August 17: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament at the Ranch Golf Course, Southwick. Schedule: 11:30 a.m.: registration; noon: lunch; 1p.m.: shotgun start/scramble format. Cost: golf and dinner, $125. For more information and tickets, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected]

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

• Sept. 24: Breakfast Seminar, 7-9 a.m., at Oakridge Country Club, Feeding Hills. Admission: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information and tickets, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

Community Spotlight: Agawam Builds on its Family Friendly Character

By BusinessWest Staff July 28, 2015

Mayor Richard Cohen, seated, and Marc Strange, the city’s new director of Planning & Community Development, say redevelopment of the Walnut Street Extension area remains a priority.

When you ask Mayor Richard Cohen to talk about Agawam, the city that still likes to be called a town, be prepared for a non-stop, enthusiastic, 30-minute sales pitch for the community where he has lived for the past 27 years, and served as mayor for seven non-consecutive terms.

And while that might be expected from the individual sitting in the corner office, especially someone who has invested so much time and energy in the city, Cohen said his enthusiasm — and optimism about what’s next — are well warranted.

The fifth-largest Hampden County community in population (neck and neck with West Springfield at around 28,000), Agawam has long endured the image of a town dominated by industrial parks, condos, strip malls, farms, golf courses (there are four of them), and, of course, the largest amusement park in New England. But is is fast becoming known for much more.

Indeed, while Cohen places great value in the town’s fully occupied Agawam Industrial Park, and in the town’s measures to preserve open farm space, his enthusiasm level rises to a new height when he talks about Agawam’s new School Street Park, a 50-acre project he calls “the largest development of its kind in the region in the last 25 years.”

The first phase of the park opened in 2008, with basketball courts, playing fields, play-scapes, and baseball fields. In early July, a ribbon-cutting was staged to open the second phase of the park, which features a concert band shell, a spray park, a disc golf course, a volleyball court, a large pavilion and numerous smaller shade pavilions, and walking trails throughout the park.

“This is truly a park for all ages,” noted Cohen, “and a great example of how family friendly the town of Agawam is. That’s what I want the image of Agawam to be.”

The park has been drawing great crowds in the few weeks that the second phase has been open, said Cohen, whose enthusiasm is also evident when he talks about the new, two-acre dog park, off Maple Street, scheduled to open in the fall. The facility is being built through a $250,000 grant from the Stanton Foundation.

What makes Agawam special though, says Cohen, and differentiates it from a lot of other communities, are taxes and services.

“Agawam has the lowest split tax rate in the area, but we’re able to deliver a lot of services for that money. The residents of Agawam get a great bang for their tax buck. Our schools are fully funded, and we have a great, Level-2-rated school system. We provide full services with no fees. We have weekly trash pickup with no fee, and free kindergarten for every student.”

One of the results of Agawam’s low tax rate and high-service government, said Cohen, is the stability of the town’s residential real estate values.

“When you buy a home in Agawam,” he said, “your investment tends to hold its value very well because of the efficiency of our taxes and services. Our community is one of the safest in the Commonwealth, and we’ve got a great school system. This is what families want.”

The engine that makes all this possible is Agawam’s industrial tax base.

With a fully occupied Agawam Industrial Park and nearly full Shoemaker Industrial Park, Agawam benefits from tax receipts as well as employment opportunities generated by a healthy list of companies that would be the envy of many area towns. Cohen rattles off names like OMG, the largest manufacturer of roofing fasteners in the world, HP Hood, Southworth, Sound Seal, Ebtec, Simmons Mattress, Fisher Scientific, and Six Flags.

“Who wouldn’t love to have Six Flags, one of the biggest attractions in the country, right there on Main Street in your town,” Cohen said proudly. “It’s been a great asset to the town, in terms of revenue, tourism, and job opportunities, especially for our young people, and that’s important.”

Being Industrious

To talk about the next big project on the table for Agawam, Cohen introduced the town’s new Planning & Community Development Director, Marc Strange, who took over the job three months ago from 32-year veteran Deborah Dachos upon her retirement.

Strange, formerly a private practice attorney, will be heavily involved in the long-awaited project to redevelop the Walnut Street Extension area, long a source of frustration and stagnation.

“Our vision is to turn this into a downtown pedestrian walking area,” said Strange, “with retail shops, housing, professional services, restaurants and green spaces, and make it a focal point of Agawam.”

Cohen acknowledged that such talk has been going on for years, if not decades, but there is renewed optimism that something can be done in this once-thriving retail area.

“This is a project that’s been on the drawing board for many, many years,” said the mayor, “but now we’re making some real progress, and I’m confident we can make it happen.”

The need for a “more-focused, city-center shopping area” is echoed by long-time Agawam business woman Kate Gourde, owner of Cooper’s Gifts, Apparel and Home and the developer of the adjacent Cooper’s Commons, an eclectic mix of shops and services housed in the former Country Squire Furniture building on Main Street.

“Agawam is a great town and a wonderful place to do business,” said Gourde. “But we’re not thought of as a great retail destination because our stores are spread out along many different streets.”

Kate Gourde, developer of Cooper’s Commons, says Agawam needs a more focused shopping area to become a true retail destination.

Gourde, who has been running the family business for 28 years, said she welcomes competition from new stores that might open in the redeveloped Walnut Street Extension area. “I think it would be great for business and for everyone in Agawam, and I fully support it. We can really use a downtown retail center.”

Another factor in Agawam retailing that can’t be overlooked, is the effect of the Big E, the 17-day September fair that has grown into one of the largest fairs in the country. The Big E, in West Springfield, is literally a stone’s throw from Main Street in Agawam. When asked about it, Gourde just smiled and shrugged.

“Well, the Big E was here long before we were, and yes, it hurts our business for two weeks like it does most stores in town,” she told BusinessWest. “But we don’t whine about it. Over the years we’ve learned how to market a bit differently during the Fair, to the point where it’s not a huge factor anymore. In fact, it’s a great time to shop at Cooper’s Gifts.”

Kathy Ayre, owner of Ayre Real Estate, also on Main Street, disagreed slightly with Cohen’s assessment of the stability of residential real estate in the town. “We went into a downturn in 2005, just like the rest of Western Mass did, but that has gradually been leveling off,” she said. “And this year has been great. We just had the best quarter we’ve had in the past 10 years, and it’s still going in July.”

Ayre, whose company is traditionally one of the leaders in market share of Agawam real estate adds, “the mayor is correct though in that, compared to many other towns around, residential properties in Agawam do tend to hold their value very well.”

She cites the low tax rate, excellent school system, and the town’s services, as the main reasons for Agawam’s healthy residential real estate market. “It’s a great place to raise a family,” she said, “and it’s also a great location, abutting Connecticut. Suffield is an upscale town and we get a lot of business from Connecticut people looking to lower their costs or get more house.”

Ayre also cites easy access to the area’s highways and to Bradley International Airport as factors in the town’s location.

Like every other greater Springfield community, Agawam awaits the impact of the MGM Casino opening, two to three years down the road.

“I don’t know,” Cohen said flatly when asked to gauge its potential impact. “But we’re going to find out; we’ll be doing some baseline studies on a number of factors, to help us assess the impact during our ‘look-back’ intervals, to see if additional mitigation is warranted.”

Regaining his normal optimistic enthusiasm, Cohen added, “I hope the casino does great. I hope it’s a tremendous success for Springfield, because all of the surrounding towns benefit from a healthy, robust Springfield.”

Gourde looks upon the MGM Casino as an opportunity for Agawam businesses. “I don’t think it will hurt our business in any way, and I’ll be happy to take my shot at getting some of those casino patrons across the river and into our shops.”

Ayre is pragmatic. “No one knows if the casino will have any effect on the real estate market, but I really can’t see it hurting us. The one thing I do know, is that the town of Agawam will be here long after the casino opens, and it will still be a great town for families to live in.”

The Bottom Line

That last comment brings the discussion about Agawam full circle.

While officials there are looking for change, especially with the problematic Walnut Street Extension area — and the retail scene in general — one thing they don’t want to change is that image of being family friendly.

And that character trait extends well beyond the rides at Six Flags.

Agawam at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1761
Population: 28,608
Area: 35.75 square miles 
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $15.74
Commercial Tax Rate: $28.29
Median Household Income: $49,390
Family Household Income: $59,088 (2013)
Type of government: Mayor; City Council
Largest Employers: Six Flags New England, OMG Inc., Agawam Public Schools
* Latest information available

Stanley Park to Host Garden Party Fundraiser

By BusinessWest Staff July 24, 2015

WESTFIELD — Stanley Park will stage its yearly fundraising event, ‘Saturday in the Park,’ a garden party tasting of wine, beer, artisan beverages, and menu samplers from local restaurants, wineries, and breweries on August 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Beveridge Pavilion Annex. Guests will enjoy musical entertainment by The Argiro Quintet with vocalist Andrea Niki, a garden-themed raffle and silent auction, and tasting samples from Westfield River Brewing Company Inc., Skyline Hop Shop, Raven Hollow Winery, Berkshire Brewing Company Inc., Commercial Distributing Company Inc., Artisan Beverage Cooperative, Shortstop Bar and Grill, Tucker’s Restaurant, East Mountain Country Club and more. As a private, non-profit organization, Stanley Park relies on fundraising to support upkeep as well as programming and improvements to the park. This year all funds raised will help complete construction on the new Beveridge Pavilion. Tickets are $35 each, and payments are tax deductible. Pre-registration is required for the event before August 7. No tickets will be sold at the door. To register, visit http://stanleypark.org/event/saturday-park-garden-party or call the Stanley Park office at (413) 568-9312.

Community Spotlight: East Longmeadow

By BusinessWest Staff July 14, 2015

East Longmeadow Touts Residential, Business Gains

By GERRY FITZGERALD

Paul Federici says East Longmeadow’s strong balance, in the form of both residential and commercial growth, has made it an attractive location for businesses.

When asked to list the most pressing problems in his community, Paul Federici, chairman of the East Longmeadow Board of Selectmen, paused, then grimaced slightly as he tried to think of matters that might fit that description.

Finally, he shrugged and almost apologetically offered, “well, we’ve got two issues on the horizon that we’re going to have to deal with, but I’m not sure I’d say either one is a problem.”

And if they are problems, they could well be placed in that category of ‘good problem to have,’ he told BusinessWest, referring to a recognized need to build a new high school and an ongoing study to determine if this town of 16,000 people should change its form of government, from the present three-member Board of Selectmen to a mayor, town manager, or other format.

“As much as I enjoy being a selectman, we’ve got a $50 million corporation here, and it may be time for full-time professional management in town,” said Federici, adding that the two issues he mentioned are tied directly to the town’s strong recent pattern of growth, both commercial and residential.

And there are many reasons for both — everything from available, buildable land to an attractive location near several affluent communities; from an alluring commercial tax rate to a host of quality-of-life amenities (everything from the attractive parks to the region’s largest Fourth of July parade) — that collectively make this an attractive place to live, work, and launch a business.

“The town continues to grow,” said Federici. “Homes are selling in all price ranges, from the smaller starter homes on up to the high-end luxury homes in the developments off Prospect Street, which is a very positive sign, and the business climate here has probably never been better.”

East Longmeadow businessman John Maybury, president of Maybury Material Handling, located in the Denslow Road Industrial Park since 1981, echoes Federici’s comments about East Longmeadow’s commercial economy.

“The industrial park is just about completely filled,” said Maybury, “although there still may be a couple of buildable parcels left. The Deer Park industrial area just south of Denslow is also growing nicely, and all of these companies are doing very well. And, of course, we still have the big ones, Hasbro and Lenox, which has invested $60 million in the plant since its purchase by Newell Rubbermaid in 2003.”

Federici pointed to recent newcomers to town as great examples of the positive business climate of East Longmeadow. He listed the Arbors Day Care, WhiteStone Marketing Group and Go Graphix, a new self-storage facility, Toner Plastics, All Hose Inc., and the recently opened, $15 million Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center of Bay Path University on Denslow Road.

Bay Path’s first physician-assistant class to use the new building graduated in May. “It’s great to have Bay Path University in town,” said Federici. “The new building is fabulous, inside and out, and we’re proud to have it in East Longmeadow.”

That facility is one of many recent success stories recorded in town, and, for this latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest chronicles many others while speculating on what might come next.

In Good Company

Asked to pinpoint the core reason why East Longmeadow is thriving financially — the town’s bond rating is at its highest point ever — and has become an attractive landing spot for families and businesses alike, both Federici and Maybury repeatedly used the word ‘balance.’

“It’s the great balance we have between the commercial, retail, and residential sectors that makes East Longmeadow unique,” noted Maybury. “We’ve got some huge industrial companies, and big employers, in Hasbro and Lenox, along with a great mix of large and small commercial firms in the industrial parks, several thriving retail areas, and a growing residential market. That’s a great mix.”

Federici concurred. “That balance is why we have a strong tax base and reasonable taxes, good infrastructure, and good schools,” he told BusinessWest. “It’s why East Longmeadow is a great town for families.”

And for businesses as well, he added, noting that growth has come in virtually all sectors of the economy, from manufacturing to education.

That extends to the retail sector as well, said restaurateur Bill Collins, who, with his business partner, Michael Sakey, opened the Center Square Grill in May 2014.

According to Collins, the restaurant has far exceeded its first-year projections. “Knock on wood, of course,” he said with a grin, “but business has been great, better than we’d hoped for.”

He is quick to attribute much of the restaurant’s success to the centralized location of the town between Wilbraham, Hampden, Springfield, Longmeadow, and Somers, Conn.

“We draw our customers from a five- to 10-mile radius that cuts through five surrounding towns plus all of East Longmeadow,” he explained. “If you look at a map, the center of East Longmeadow is just a fabulous location for retail businesses, and all of the stores, restaurants, and services in the area are doing very well.”

He also credits the town government for creating a positive business environment. “When were first looking to open at Center Square, the Planning Department, selectmen, and the licensing people could not have been more helpful or more welcoming,” said Collins. “They bent over backward to help us get up and running as soon as possible, and that means a lot to a new business.”

Bring up the 100-pound gorilla that every Western Mass. restaurant is at least wary of, the MGM Springfield casino coming to downtown Springfield in a few years, and Collins says he is aware but not overly concerned. “We’re quickly creating many, many loyal, return customers,” says Collins. “We don’t see these people suddenly heading into downtown Springfield to eat at a casino.”

Federici has a similar reaction to the impact of MGM Springfield. “We’ll see,” he said with a shrug. “I don’t think the casino will have a huge impact on us. Two different impact studies, one by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the other by the casino people, both predicted an increase in traffic in the town of about 6%. For a few hours on certain days, we may feel that, but I don’t think it’s going to be anything dramatic.”

Returning to those aforementioned ‘good problems to have,’ Federici said the School Department has concluded that the nearly 60-year-old high school, built when the town was roughly half its current size, is clearly in need of replacement.

“The selectmen gave the approval to the School Committee to go to the state for funding,” he said. “Last year, the project didn’t make the list of 100 or so building projects approved for partial state reimbursement, but it will be submitted again this year.”

Even if approved for partial state reimbursement, the new high school will be a costly burden for the town. “The estimated cost for a new high school is $80 million,” said Federici, “and some significant part of that is going to have to be picked up by the town. But that will be a problem we’ll overcome, and then, we’ll have a beautiful new high school for our children.”

The Bottom Line

As for a possible change in the town’s governmental structure, Federici chose to discuss it with humor, in the form of a story the town clerk once told some visitors to Town Hall.

“He told them, ‘East Longmeadow has a three-member Board of Selectmen and an open town meeting … the pilgrims had a three-member Board of Selectmen and an open town meeting.’ So maybe it is time to make a change.”

If one does come, it will be a clear sign — yet another one in a series of signs, actually — that this community is in a growth mode, and that the trend will only continue and accelerate.

East Longmeadow at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1894
Population: 15,720 (2010)
Area: 13.0 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $20.72
Commercial Tax Rate: $20.72
Median Household Income: $62,680
Family Household Income: $70,571
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting, Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Hasbro, Lenox Tools, East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing, Redstone, Plastipak
* Latest information available

Living in Luxury

By BusinessWest Staff July 14, 2015

Luxury Living Sections

Demand for High-end, Custom Homes Grows as Economy Improves

From left, Jason Pecoy, Kent Pecoy, and Suzanne Clarke say outdoor living space has become a key component of luxury homes.

Think about a beautiful marble or tiled shower with multiple showerheads that pulse and even give off steam in a state-of-the-art bathroom that glows with warmth from a gas-burning fireplace.

Imagine a pool cabana that resembles a small but stately home and is fronted by fluted columns and floor-to-ceiling windows with a kitchen and bar inside. Or a four-season room with glass walls that open onto a gorgeous patio that extends the home’s living space into the outdoors.

These areas exist locally in luxury homes where every feature is designed to please the most discriminating buyer. The demand for them is growing, and local builders who specialize in this niche market report that they have a substantial number of projects underway or planned for the near future.

“The market is doing well, and the luxury-building market is in full recovery mode,” said Richard McCullough, president of Richard A. McCullough Inc. in Longmeadow, who finished his term as president of the Homebuilders and Remodelers Assoc. of Western Mass. “It took a while for things to improve after the recession, but it’s a different feeling today when I pick up the phone; it’s no longer surprising when someone says they have a lot and want to build a luxury home on it.”

Laplante Construction Inc. in East Longmeadow, which is known for custom-designed homes, has been busy for the past four or five years. It diversified into the remodeling industry long before the economy went into a downward spiral and has steadily built that business, said Raymond Laplante, who founded the company and does most of the design work. “We’ve been doing whole-house teardowns and rebuilds, and are putting up large contract homes today.”

But styles, as well as the size of custom-built homes, have changed dramatically in recent years, and today’s wish lists reflect a desire to save energy and utilize every square foot of space.

“Luxury doesn’t mean large,” said Kent Pecoy, president and founder of Pecoy Signature Homes and the Pecoy Companies in West Springfield. “In the past, luxury homes were usually about 7,000 square feet. Today, they are much smaller — 4,000 to 5,000 square feet — but still have the same appointments: beautiful kitchens, spacious family rooms, built-ins, custom finishes, and swimming pools.

“We’re putting a lot of emphasis on outdoor living, with covered porches, outdoor kitchens, built-in grills, and fireplaces, and are making much better use of basements,” he went on. “Some even have kitchenettes that lead outside to the pool.”

McCullough agrees. “In the ’80s, luxury homes were all about size. Bigger was better, and it was taken to the extreme. Most homes had massive, two-story foyers,” he told BusinessWest.

But that hearkens to a bygone era. Formal living rooms have become passé, and formal dining rooms are not important to most buyers.

“Space that would have been used for a living room in the past is being turned into studies or casual conversation areas,” Pecoy said. “People tell us they want space they can use every day or for more than one purpose, such as a sunroom that doubles as an eating area. As a result, what we’re building is very different than what we built five years ago, and completely different than 10 years ago.”

Lots are also much smaller and closer to workplaces. “In the past, people wanted a lot of land, but now they are happy with an acre or even a half-acre,” Pecoy said. “They don’t want to be way out in the country, so the lots they choose are closer to the center of town. They want convenient commutes; they want to be able to enjoy area restaurants and shopping without having to drive long distances to get there.”

Entertaining has become an important part of many peoples’ lifestyles, and to accommodate that, luxury homes typically have open-concept floor plans that contain a spacious, state-of-the-art kitchen, adjoining family room, and an area that opens into the backyard.

“People don’t want to waste space, so layouts are efficient,” Laplante said, adding that outdoor living plays a key role in design, and his company is building a large number of spacious cabanas, outdoor fireplaces, and kitchens.

Return to Health

The size of luxury homes has gone up and down as quickly as the economy over the past decade or two, and Pecoy said the upward spiral began after 9/11.

“People didn’t want to travel, and since they decided not to buy vacation homes and were going to stay home, they wanted bigger houses. We had built good-sized homes prior to that event, but not nearly as large as the ones that were built for a few years after.”

Richard McCullough says foam insulation and geothermal heating and cooling are popular options in newer luxury homes.

The belief that bigger was better continued until the economy tanked and homebuilding almost came to a halt. Some builders, including Pecoy, had branched out years before, so they still had plenty of work, but although that wasn’t true for everyone, McCullough said, companies with long histories didn’t despair. “Everyone in the industry who has been through this once or twice had a measured amount of optimism,” he explained. “And things are good right now, although that could change because we don’t know what could occur in this geopolitical environment.”

Still, local luxury homebuilders are busy again. McCullough is about to start his fourth home in a development he created in Somers, Conn. called Bridal Path Ridge, and is working on a large addition to a custom-built home there.

“The owners are putting on a new wing with a second family room, office, screened-in porch, pool, hot tub, and outside kitchen area,” he said, noting that he believes many people who could afford to remodel held back while the economy was in a state of flux. “A lot of money sat on the sidelines, but now it is being reintroduced into the market. The fear has faded, and builders are benefiting.”

Jason Pecoy said the demand for screened-in porches, four-season rooms, and covered patios is on the rise. “We just put a roof over a patio in Longmeadow with stone seating walls around it,” said the vice president of the Pecoy Companies and son of Kent.

Efficient use of space even extends into the bathroom, and whirlpool tubs that were rarely used have lost their appeal, while free-standing and claw-footed tubs have made a comeback. In addition, demand for oversized tile or marble showers has heated up.

McCullough said most of the luxury homes he builds today are under 4,000 square feet, and the majority of the space, or about 2,800 square feet, is on the first floor, especially if the home is being built for professionals approaching retirement age who want their master bedroom downstairs, but need bedrooms for visiting children and grandchildren upstairs.

In addition, a growing number of older adults are adding luxurious in-law apartments to their homes, then selling the homes to their children. “There is a big push for these apartments. But people want all the amenities available, and that includes an open floor plan,” Laplante said, adding that he has built in-law apartments that range in size from 1,200 to 1,600 square feet.

The second-home market is also beginning to gain strength.

“We just acquired four acre-plus lots in West Dennis across from the beach and are about to start building a 4,200-square-foot spec home there,” said Suzanne Clarke, director of sales and marketing for the Pecoy Companies. “And we just finished a 3,000-square-foot luxury home in West Dennis that has a beachy feel, with beautiful trimwork, built-in bunk beds for the children with carved seahorses, coffered ceilings, a gorgeous outdoor screened-in porch with a fireplace and TV, and a large patio.”

Attention to Detail

Although today’s luxury homes are smaller, interest in interior detail has grown.

“There is a focus on unique finishes,” McCullough said, citing a custom casing over a doorway with a crown and cap as an example, and adding that, during the course of many remodeling jobs, owners of luxury homes make the decision to change all of the trim on the first floor.

He builds many homes for professionals approaching retirement age, while Laplante has many clients with young children, who prefer a young, transitional style, which translates to elegant, custom-built moldings with simple lines, quartz countertops, and porcelain plank floors in the kitchen that look like hardwood. “They want a clean, modern look, and many choose character wood for the floors, which shows the knots and irregular grain,” he explained.

Keeping rooms off the kitchen have also become popular. “They usually have a fireplace, a small desk, and some seating. They’re small but comfortable nooks that give kids a place to study,” Laplante went on.

Richard Gale, project manager for Laplante Construction, said these rooms allow parents to converse with their children while they cook. “Sometimes we build a center island in them with desks around the perimeter. The room can be used as a place to eat or do homework.”

Raymond Laplante, left, and Richard Gale say attention to detail is a critical component in the design of a new luxury home.

Advances in technology are also making their way into design, and Laplante said mudrooms often contain charging stations where children and adults can plug in all of their devices, and these areas typically have benches that double as storage areas with cubicles and shelves above them to hold books and outdoor clothing.

The playroom is another area where space is maximized. “Parents want things organized, so the rooms may have open shelves or cabinets with pullout drawers,” Gale noted.

The desire to utilize space to the fullest has even washed up in the laundry room, he added. “They’ve become a lot more complicated; they’re bigger and have more cabinetry and space to store things.”

Basements are another area used as part of the living space, and they are becoming recreation centers in new, luxury homes. Some buyers still request formal movie theaters, although builders say that trend is giving way to informal areas that contain a fireplace with a big-screen TV stationed over it.

“Game rooms are popular, and some people want spas, steam rooms, saunas, or lap pools in their basement,” Laplante told BusinessWest.

Incorporating ‘green’ building measures — particularly energy-efficient touches — is also an item on wish lists. “But for many people, it’s more about saving money than about saving the environment,” McCullough noted.

Laplante agrees, but says many of his clients want to make a contribution to the environment, and their desire is boosted by government subsidies that provide cash rebates and incentives for energy-efficient construction.

Pecoy says operating costs have become part of the conversation when people discuss the design of a luxury home.

“In 2004, even if I brought it up, no one wanted to talk about it,” he said. “But today, we’re setting up homes for solar and making sure the main body of the roof faces as much toward the south as we can.”

Foam insulation is slowly replacing fiberglass, and geothermal heating and cooling systems have become popular. “The heating systems cost two to three times more than a traditional system, but pay for themselves over a period of six to eight years,” Laplante said.

Pecoy added that people are also concerned about sustainability and where their building materials come from.

“We used to use a lot of exotic woods, such as ribbon stripe mahogany that came from rainforests,” he said. “But today, people prefer local hardwoods such as oak, ash, and maple.”

Fireplaces are still hot, but the demand for wood-burning models has gone up in smoke, being replaced with gas units that are easy to operate and don’t waste heat. “Saving energy has become ingrained in people’s minds, because no one knows where energy prices will go a year from now,” McCullough said.

Still, the warmth of a fireplace remains attractive, and Laplante’s clients are putting them in bathrooms and bedrooms and using zero-clearance models in hallways that allow them to be mounted on walls.

“They’re not all at ground level, and many look like artwork,” Gale said.

And because entertaining friends and family at home has become so popular, many luxury homes are designed with a guest bedroom and adjoining bathroom large enough to almost be called a second master suite.

Moving Forward

Although designs have changed in recent years, McCullough said, the biggest difference in the market today is people’s willingness to spend money.

“My view is that we’re on a precipitous rise. This year is much better than last,” he told BusinessWest, adding that it means work for builders, subcontractors, suppliers, and companies that make products for construction.

Laplante is building in East Longmeadow, Hatfield, South Hadley, and Southampton, as well as Connecticut. “Some of the homes are on individual lots, while others are in subdivisions. We’re also doing a lot of major renovations,” he noted. “For us, business is great.”

Pecoy said the majority of his firm’s business used to come from building luxury homes. “It has slowly picked up, and right now, it is about 40%,” he noted, adding that many existing luxury homeowners are remodeling and expanding their outdoor space.

Indeed, the list of projects his company is doing is staggering. “We have expanded our footprint, playing in a much bigger sandbox and traveling farther than we used to,” he said.

But for Pecoy and other custom homebuilders, it’s a joyous ride in a season that holds great promise.

Springfield Salvation Army Announces Christmas in July Campaign

By BusinessWest Staff July 2, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — The Salvation Army of Greater Springfield, which has been delivering services and hope to the less fortunate in Massachusetts for more than 125 years, is reaching out to the community for financial assistance in order to maintain essential services and programs.

For the full month of July, the organization will host a Christmas in July campaign featuring counter kettles at local restaurants to raise money to benefit the Greater Springfield community and those individuals who seek Salvation Army assistance.

“We hope to raise a few thousand dollars to support our programs and services so that we may continue to serve those in need,” said Captain John Ferreira. “Last year, the Salvation Army of Greater Springfield provided for thousands of individuals and families thanks to the generosity of our community, and we hope to keep up momentum well into this year.”

In 2014, the Salvation Army of Greater Springfield provided toys for 3,500 families, meals for nearly 4,300 people, clothing and furniture vouchers to 206 families, and fuel assistance to 324 households. Additionally, the agency offers a number of key programs to area families, including afterschool programming, homework help, and nutritious meals; summer activities; and summer-camp scholarships to Camp Wonderland.

Counter kettles will be located at the following local restaurants: the Fort, 8 Fort St., Springfield; Johnny’s Tavern, 30 Boltwood Walk, Amherst; and Johnny’s Bar & Grille, 23 College St., South Hadley.

The Salvation Army of Greater Springfield has also partnered with 94.7 WMAS and Western Mass News to raise awareness of the Christmas in July campaign and the availability of the online red kettle for individuals who are interested in donating but cannot do so in person.

“We are facing an increased demand on our services and, unfortunately, tighter resources with which to address them,” said Amanda Moyer, Springfield Salvation Army board member and director of account services for Springfield-based marketing firm Market Mentors. “By supporting Christmas in July, the Greater Springfield community can help us to bridge the funding gap that occurs before the holiday season.”

For more information about the Salvation Army of Greater Springfield, visit springfield.salvationarmyma.org. Donate to the online red kettle at salvationarmyma.org/christmasjuly.

Classic Cars Make Their Way Back to Springfield

By BusinessWest Staff June 24, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — The Duryea Motor Wagon Co., the first American firm to build gasoline automobiles, had its beginnings in Springfield back in 1895. Now classic and antique cars are making their way back to Springfield for Cruise Night, occurring every Monday this summer.

June 22, was the first night of Springfield’s Cruise Night, offering not only classic and antique cars, but also great music and delicious food. The inaugural Cruise Night was a success, drawing 14 classic-car enthusiasts registering their vehicles. The antique cars lined the two parallel streets next to Stearns Square. No classic Duryeas were showcased; however, a variety of other classic cars showed up, including the first car to register, the infamous ‘Mad Max.’

“I was thrilled that downtown could play host to Cruise Night,” said Chris Russell, executive director of the Springfield Business Improvement District. “With all the history of the automobile in Springfield, we thought it only made sense to have a car show. If you love the classic automobiles as much as I do, please join us next Monday night. And if you have a classic car of your own, don’t forget to register, too.”

While checking out the antique cars, attendees listened to classic music from the ’50s and ’60s and enjoyed food from two downtown restaurants, Adolfo’s and Theodores’.

Cruise Night at Stearns Square features classic and antique cars that are 20 years or older. Individuals who want to register a car may do so beginning at 5 p.m. Registration is on Worthington Street across from Stearns Square. Registration fees are currently being waived. At the end of each night, trophies will be awarded. For more information, visit springfielddowntown.com/cruise-night.

Community Spotlight: South Hadley

By BusinessWest Staff June 16, 2015

South Hadley Falls Rebound Gathers Momentum

Michael Sullivan says the newly opened Texon Mill Park in South Hadley Falls features a walking trail with beautiful views.

The village known as South Hadley Falls was the center of life and commerce in the town of South Hadley for more than a century. But over the past 60 years, major employers downsized or moved, and as buildings and lots were left vacant and underutilized, the village slowly lost its vitality.

But ‘the Falls’ is undergoing a revitalization, one that is a central feature of the community’s master plan. And efforts by town officials to realize a vision outlined in a report titled “The Rise of the Falls” are coming to fruition.

“When we first started down this path, we wanted to draw attention to South Hadley and the Falls,” said Town Administrator Michael Sullivan. “We are at the point where we are seeing some results, but talks with developers have pointed out other needs and opportunities, so the plan is evolving and changing.”

Indeed, officials are taking a holistic approach that includes a variety of measures. For example, several weeks ago, the South Hadley Redevelopment Authority, established last year, unveiled concepts aimed at changing the traffic pattern at the intersection of Main and Bridge streets and Main and Lamb streets. The SHRA would like to see roundabouts created, which Sullivan says are often referred to as “traffic-calming devices,” because they slow down traffic and improve pedestrian safety, while allowing vehicles to flow in an orderly manner.

In addition, the Redevelopment Authority is evaluating the use of several properties that are highly visible to drivers who enter South Hadley Falls from Holyoke via the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge.

“Two are vacant, and two are occupied by businesses, but that may not be their highest and best use; there might be suitable and available space for them to move into elsewhere in South Hadley,” Sullivan said, adding that this would have to be negotiated, but one site contains an auto-repair shop that is an eyesore due to distressed vehicles sitting outside.

“We want to use these properties to make a statement. First impressions count, and they are on adjoining lots that encompass 7.3 acres,” the town administrator told BusinessWest, as he talked about the importance of how people view the Falls.

Another part of the redevelopment plan that plays into the way the area is viewed is abating vacant and blighted buildings, and combined efforts by the Planning Board, selectmen, and Redevelopment Authority to eliminate the problem have yielded some success.

Sullivan said the town was successful in its bid to get Mohawk Paper to open a new, 120,000-square-foot envelope manufacturing and distribution facility in the Falls in the former James River Graphics building, which had been vacant for more than 10 years. South Hadley competed against Chicopee for the business, but Mohawk chose the Falls and invested $2.5 million to retrofit the building. “They opened May 15, added 35 jobs, and told us they plan to add another 35 next year,” he said.

In addition, Presstek consolidated the manufacturing side of its New York and New Hampshire plants and expanded its business in South Hadley via a $2 million upgrade of machinery and improvements. “They also added 25 employees,” Sullivan said.

Expanding Horizons

These investments, coupled with the growth of other businesses, led town officials to realize they need more housing and transportation options if they expect to attract new residents to South Hadley Falls.

“We need to redouble our efforts to provide workforce housing,” Sullivan said, explaining that the hope is that new hires in South Hadley or the environs will want to move to the village.

Progress in that arena is already taking place. Via the tax-title process, the town took ownership of a home on 8 Graves St. that was in deplorable condition, and is hoping to auction it off at the end of the month.

South Hadley officials also worked with the Attorney General’s office to get the owner of an abandoned home on 10 Canal St. to sell it. They were successful, and it was purchased, renovated, then resold to a family that is now living there.

“We’re using a variety of tools to try to improve housing and are really positioning South Hadley for the new millennium,” Sullivan said.

The town’s efforts have been aided by developer Nicholay Dipon, who plans to construct three new buildings that will contain 12 condominiums on an empty lot owned by the town situated across the street from the new, $7.7 million South Hadley Public library on 2 Canal St., which opened in August.

The selectmen have also approved Dipon’s plans to convert the decommissioned library building on 27 Bardwell St. into six market-rate apartments, and Sullivan said all of these units will be steps away from the newly opened, $12 million Texon Mill Park, which features a 3.4-mile looped walking trail with breathtaking views of the Connecticut River and the Holyoke Electric Dam.

In addition, South Hadley applied for a 40R designation from the state, which would allow the town to substantially increase its supply of housing and decrease its cost by expanding zoning for dense housing. Sullivan said officials expect to find out if their bid was successful in the next few months, adding that, if South Hadley receives the designation, it will give the town access to grants and low-interest loans to meet the goal.

“But we’re trying to give thoughtful consideration as to where we would put any new housing,” he told BusinessWest, explaining that the town recently received a $15,000 Planning Assistance Toward Housing Grant, which will be matched by $21,000 from town coffers to determine how to improve the available housing stock and increase density while keeping the Falls safe from crime.

Access to recreation is important to young professionals, and the town appropriated $30,000 to have the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission determine the best way to establish a pedestrian/bicycle path that would connect the Village Commons to the Falls.

Sullivan said the path is necessary because the housing market has changed dramatically over the last decade, and graduate students and young professionals are looking to rent apartments of 900 square feet or less in walkable neighborhoods where they can recreate as well as live and work.

“They can climb the Mount Holyoke Range at one end of town and canoe or kayak on the river at the other end,” he said. “But young people today don’t want to put a bike rack on their car. They are very active and will want a bike path, so we’re trying to find a way to tie in the amenities we have and offer diverse recreational opportunities, which include things such as golf.”

Public transportation is another critical component that appeals to young professionals, and the new Holyoke rail platform slated to open in September is within a mile of the Falls.

Although residents will be able to bike or walk to the train when service begins, South Hadley officials realized they needed to offer alternate ways to get there. To that end, they worked closely with Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority and created a ‘Tiger Trolley,’ which will allow residents to use the bus to get to the high-speed train when service begins without having to use a vehicle, and travel to Big Y, the Village Commons, restaurants, and other attractions in town.

The trolley began operating in February and runs from the Mueller Bridge in Holyoke into the Falls, before looping through South Hadley to the Village Commons. In addition to regularly scheduled stops, there is a transit-access-point, or TAP, program, which allows people to get picked up at any one of eight additional stops if they call a half-hour in advance or use a smartphone app to schedule a stop. Five of the pickup points are in South Hadley, and three are in the Falls, and Sullivan noted that, once the high-speed rail service starts, it could eliminate the need for residents of the Falls to own a vehicle.

“The Tiger Trolley transportation system is the first of its kind in the state, and we plan to increase the number of stops as demand increases,” he said, explaining that people who are on the bus can ask the driver to drop them off at any of the access points.

Work in Progress

Town officials are doing all they can to make South Hadley Falls into a walkable, vibrant neighborhood, and will continue to expand their plan to realize that goal.

“We want to build on our strengths as we head into the future,” Sullivan said, “and although we are positioned well as a cradle-to-grave community, there is still room for improvement.”

South Hadley at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1775
Population: 17,961 
Area: 18.4 square miles 
County: Hampden 
Residential Tax Rate: $19.38 to $20.26 
Commercial Tax Rate: $19.38 to $20.26 
Median Household Income: $46,678 (2010) 
Family Household Income: $58,693 (2010) 
Type of government: Town Meeting; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Mount Holyoke College; Exopack Advanced Coatings; Big Y World Class Markets; Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School
* Latest information available

White Lion Beer to Be on Tap at Plainridge Park Casino

By BusinessWest Staff June 11, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — Plainridge Park Casino, the only gaming and live harness-racing track in Massachusetts, has announced that White Lion Brewing will be available on tap when it opens on Wednesday, June 24. White Lion Brewing will be one of several craft-brewing selections available at the casino’s gaming and racetrack facilities.

Established in 2014, White Lion is the first craft brewery to launch in Springfield. Ray Berry, president, and Mike Yates, brewmaster, have released four brew selections under the White Lion brand and have been busy promoting their beer throughout Massachusetts.

Plainridge Park Casino will be a $225 million integrated racing and gaming facility located just off Interstate 495 in Plainville. The facility will open with more than 1,200 slot machines, multiple restaurants, and an entertainment lounge.

Plainridge Park Casino will offer Insane Mane Red Ale at Flutie’s Sports Pub and White Lion Pale Ale at Revolution 1776 Lounge. According to Berry, “both beers have taken off locally, and are gaining greater awareness in regional craft-beer circles. This new outlet will provide an opportunity to share our selection of craft beers with a much larger consumer base.” All of White Lion’s beers are distributed in Central Mass. through Quality Beverage.

“Plainridge Park Casino is excited to feature White Lion’s quality beers as we open our doors to the public for the first time,” said Barry Rhodes, the casino’s director of food and beverage. “We are committed to working with local vendors and showcasing Massachusetts’ quality businesses.”

Visit www.whitelionbrewing.com for company details and ongoing updates. For more information on Plainridge Park Casino, visit www.plainridgeparkcasino.com.

Community Spotlight: Palmer

By BusinessWest Staff June 2, 2015

Three Rivers Looks to Get on the Right TRACK

Dave Golden was proudly showing off artwork created by Palmer public-school students in a room in the North Brookfield Savings Bank in Three Rivers.

The exhibit has been on display only several weeks, but it has already sparked interest, and other artists have approached Golden, the branch manager, to ask if they could exhibit their own work there. He says the art show is part of a collaborative effort to transform Three Rivers into a thriving center for the arts.

“I’ve partnered with organizations that are working together to bring arts to the village; we want to beautify Main Street and fill empty commercial spaces,” Golden said, adding that he is talking with a property owner about having a mural painted on a wall across the street from the bank.

Members of On the Right TRACK say the popularity of the Palmer Historical Cultural Center indicates that a creative-arts economy could help revitalize Three Rivers.

There are myriad examples of this movement and the momentum it is creating, including Palmer Historical and Cultural Center Inc., or PHCC, which stages performances in Harmony Hall that include concerts by international and national musicians; plays by local theater groups; lectures; and a variety of workshops.

Collectively, they show the potential of the creative arts as a revitalization tool. The PHCC, for example, is just a few steps from the bank and a number of vacant storefronts that could be made available to artists on the half-mile stretch of Main Street.

But a lot more will be needed to realize the vision, and the timing is critical.

“Main Street has fallen victim to the economic downturn, and modern shopping habits have made it difficult for small businesses in the village to survive,” said Alice Davey, director of Palmer’s Community Development Department. “We realize that if action is not taken immediately to reverse this trend, the commercial area of Three Rivers will be lost forever.”

Town Manager Charlie Blanchard concurs. “Three Rivers was once a thriving community, but that has changed over the years,” he said, explaining that the village came into existence when manufacturing plants were built on the riverbanks in the 1800s and early 1900s.

These facilities led to the establishment of a bustling economy, and Main Street businesses cropped up and flourished around the factories until they began to downsize and eventually close. They included the Otis Factory building that was built in 1872 and operated until 1936, and the massive Tambrands plant that was built in 1872 and closed in 1997.

“But until that time, hundreds of employees went to local restaurants for lunch and shopped at the hardware store, grocery store, furniture store, and clothing store,” said Davey. “They patronized the local bank and had their hair done at the local barbershop or hairdresser.”

That ended when Tambrands left the area. “The customer base shrank, and slowly, one by one, businesses closed,” Davey told BusinessWest, adding that people began frequenting big-box stores and using the Internet to shop.

Today, the former Tambrands factory has become the Palmer Technology Center, and although it houses about 20 small businesses, Davey said they don’t come close to employing the hundreds of residents who once worked in the building.

In addition, 41% of the existing storefronts on Main Street are vacant, and the businesses that remain are struggling. “Some Main Street building owners are finding it impossible to find commercial tenants, so they have resorted to converting spaces into residential units in order to have sufficient income to cover their expenses,” she told BusinessWest, adding that fewer people go downtown, and last October, an anchor restaurant closed, due in part to its customers’ concerns for personal safety after dark caused by poor lighting in the area.

But officials hope that is about to change via a consortium called On the Right TRACK (the acronym stands for Three Rivers Arts Community Knowledge). Partners include the bank, Palmer officials, the PHCC, the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce, the Palmer Redevelopment Authority, and the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp.

Individual Efforts

These organizations had known for a long time that something was needed to revitalize Three Rivers, and efforts to that end began in earnest when the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp., a nonprofit that assists businesses with training and other resources, held a number of public hearings to get input from residents as to whether they believed building upon the cultural and creative economy would attract visitors.

“There is a long history of pride in the cultural resources of Three Rivers that dates back many years,” said Executive Director Sheila Cuddy.

Daniel Slowick of the Palmer Redevelopment Authority agreed, and explained that the village contains many families of Polish and French descent who came to Three Rivers to work in the mills. “One of the hallmarks of the Polish culture was the establishment of Pulaski Park, which draws Polish fans from all over the country who come here every weekend from May to September to hear the bands,” he said, adding that the cultural heritage of the French and Polish has been kept alive.

Dave Golden shows off some of the student artwork on display at North Brookfield Savings Bank.

Three Rivers’ first major arts venture was established in May 2012, when the PHCC purchased a former church building for $1 with the intent of preserving its historic character and using it as a place to stage performances that would appeal to a diverse group of people.

“We began holding programs in the fall of 2012, and since then we have rented out the space to outside groups, such as Monson Arts Council, who staged a play here,” said PHCC President Robert Haveles.

The nonprofit has been highly successful, and Haveles said it is sought out by national and international performers and has built an e-mail notification list of more than 1,100 people in the two and a half years since it opened.

Other agencies had also been working on revitalization efforts, and in January 2014, the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce begun putting together a business program that will be launched this year.

“We will provide three months of free rent to new or relocating businesses that will be matched by the building owners. The new businesses will also be provided with a laundry list of professional services donated by members of the chamber, including printing, graphic design, and legal and accounting help,” said chamber spokesperson Renee Niedziela. So far, four landlords have agreed to participate, and the chamber hopes to sponsor two businesses this year.

At about the same time, the Palmer Redevelopment Authority made arrangements with Maple Tree Industrial Center to provide small businesses with free rent for a year, supplemented by a five-week business-planning course offered by the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp.

But it took nine months before the two groups became aware they were developing similar programs independently.

“That all changed a few months ago,” Slowick said.

When Davey found out about the different efforts taking place, she applied for assistance from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative, and received funding that will be used to conduct a market study.

Then, when the Mass. Cultural Council announced it was taking applications for the Adams Arts Program, which supports projects that revitalize communities through the creation of jobs in creative industries and engagement in cultural activities, Davey and Cuddy got together and decided it was an ideal opportunity for Three Rivers because of the success of PHCC and the fact that other communities have been successful in using the arts as an economic driver.

A partnership was formed among the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp., the PHCC, the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce, and the Palmer Redevelopment Authority, which led to the On the Right TRACK project.

It was submitted last month as part of the application for the Adams grant, and if the town receives the money, it will be used to establish a website and pay for marketing and other costs related to the project.

But interest has already been piqued, and attendance was high at public meetings held in April. “People are genuinely excited about using the arts as a revitalization tool,” Davey said.

Moving Forward

Niedziela says it’s amazing to have so many groups working together on a project that holds unlimited potential.

Slowick concurred, and added that the Palmer Redevelopment Authority has the ability to apply for grants from the Dept. of Housing and Community Development that could include money for an enhanced streetscape, which would complement the park that is within walking distance of Main Street. “Each group involved in this brings something different to the table, and the consortium is pulling it all together to make it happen,” he said.

Indeed, enthusiasm is running high.

“We’re really excited about bringing cultural opportunities to residents and visitors,” Cuddy said, explaining that her organization plans to work with landlords to help them view their properties in a new way.

Which will definitely help this effort to put Three Rivers on the right track.

Palmer at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1775
Population: 12,140 (2010)
Area: 32 square miles
County: Hampden
Tax Rate, residential and commercial: Palmer, $20.63; Three Rivers, $21.35; Bondsville, $21.44; Thorndike, $21.61
Median Household Income: $50,050
Family Household Income: $58,110
Type of government: Town Council
Largest Employers: Baystate Wing Hospital; Camp Ramah of New England; Big Y World Class Markets

* Latest information available

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff June 2, 2015

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• June 3: Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Springfield College, Richard B. Flynn Campus Union, 263 Alden St., Springfield. Sponsored by United Personnel and Wolf & Company, P.C. Celebrate success at the last ACCGS Business@Breakfast of the 2014-15 season. Includes presentation of “A Year in Review” and the Richard J. Moriarty Citizen of the Year Award. Cost: $20 for members ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission.

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

• June 24: After 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by J.F. Conlon, 29 University Dr., Amherst. Sponsored in part by J.F. Conlon & Associates. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the chamber office at (413) 253-0700.

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

• June 13: 5K Road Race/2-mile Walk. Cost: $25, $15 for kids 12 and under. Registration includes T-shirt and free lunch provided by the Munich Haus.

• June 17: Breakfast & Health Fair, American Red Cross Blood Drive, hosted by Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Exhibitor space available: $125 per table for members, $175 for non-members.

• June 18: Mornings With the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Willimansett Center West, 546 Chicopee St., Chicopee. Free for chamber members.

• June 24: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Wireless Zone, 601E Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

• June 1: Greater Easthampton and Greater Holyoke Chambers of Commerce 2014 Collaborative Networking Event. Register online at www.easthamptonchamber.org or call Denise at (413) 527-9414.

• June 8: Monday Morning with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Easthampton Savings Bank, Financial Services. Enter via Campus Lane entrance, 36 Main St., Easthampton. This is your opportunity to bring your questions to Mayor Karen Cadieux for casual conversation and direct answers. Register online at www.easthamptonchamber.org or call Denise at (413) 527-9414.

• June 18: Speaker Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by Williston Northampton School, 19 Payson Ave., Easthampton. Join us for breakfast and educational discussion with keynote speaker Tim Brennan, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission executive director, regarding the regional impact and importance of the North South Rail Project. Register online at www.easthamptonchamber.org or call Denise at (413) 527-9414.

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

• June 19: 125th Anniversary Gala Ball, hosted by the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Enjoy an elegant meal and dance to the music of the Floyd Patterson Band. Join Marcotte Ford as one of the major event sponsors by calling (413) 34-3376. Event is open to the public, More details to follow.

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

• June 3: June Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Mineral Hills Winery, 592 Sylvester Road, Florence. Sponsored by Keiter Builders. Cost: $10 for members. For more information or to register, contact the chamber at (413) 584-1900.

• June 12: 2015 Workshop: “Using Excel Pivot Tables to Analyze Your Business’ Data,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. Pivot tables are Excel’s most powerful tool for data analysis. A pivot table lets you easily separate data by various criteria into rows and columns in order to extract significant information from large, complex data sets. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create and customize pivot tables using your own data. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Admission: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. To register, visit [email protected].

• June 26: 2015 Workshop: “Microsoft Excel: Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts in Microsoft Excel,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will present our favorite tips, tricks, and shortcuts that we have collected and developed over 15 years of teaching and using Microsoft Excel. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Admission: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. To register, visit [email protected].

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

• June 1: June Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Westfield Vocational Technical High School, 33 Smith Ave., Westfield. Free and open to the public. Register by calling (413) 568-1618.

• June 10: June After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Westfield Bank, 462 College Highway, Southwick. Sponsored by Southwick Tae Kwon Do. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. Register online at www.westfieldbiz.org.

• June 16: Eat & Educate: “Employee-sponsored Retirement and Benefit Programs,” 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Westfield Bank, 141 Elm St., Westfield. Presented by Shawn Torres, MBA, Westfield Wealth Management and Westfield Bank. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members. RSVP is required; space is limited. Call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618 to register.

• June 19: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Hosted by The Ranch Golf Club, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Platinum sponsor: Mestek. Golf sponsor: Berkshire Bank. Silver sponsor: First Niagara and Prolamina. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Golf special: Registered attendees of the breakfast can golf at a discounted rate of only $65 at the Ranch Golf Club following the breakfast. Call Bill Rosenblum, golf pro, to register at (413) 569-9333, ext. 3. For more information on sponsorships, to register, or to donate a raffle prize, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• June 22: Social Security Workshop: “Make Social Security Work for You,” 4:30-5:30 p.m., hosted by Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Renaissance Advisory Services, LLC. Guest speaker: William Sheehan, district manager (retired), Springfield Social Security Office. Before you retire, ask questions: when should I begin Social Security? Do I plan to keep working? Will all my expenses be covered? What will my beneficiaries receive? Learn about Social Security strategies that may fit into your overall plan. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members.

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

• June 11: Nonprofit Board Fair, 5 p.m., hosted by Union Station, 125A Pleasant St., Northampton. Nonprofits count on volunteers to lead them to success. Join us for the fifth-annual Nonprofit Board Fair, a signature event featuring organizations from throughout the Pioneer Valley whose leadership will be on hand to speak to about opportunities to serve on their boards of directors. In addition, there will be a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres, and raffle prizes. Sponsors and partners: Florence Bank, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and WGBY public television. Register online at www.thenayp.com.

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

• June 3: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted By Lattitude, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 at the door for non-members. Event is open to the public. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

• June 18: Annual Breakfast Meeting, 7-9 a.m., hosted By Chez Josef, Agawam. Sponsored by OMG, Ormsby Insurance, and Development Associates. Event will kick off with the welcoming of new chairman Chuck Kelly and the incoming WRC board of directors. Cost: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information and for tickets, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

TripAdvisor Honors the Fort with Certificate of Excellence Award

By BusinessWest Staff May 27, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — After a successful re-opening last year, the Fort has recently been honored with a Certificate of Excellence award from TripAdvisor, a popular resource for travelers featuring reviews of restaurants, hotels, and other attractions around the world.

The Fort received the award as a result of the high number of positive reviews it has received from people who have visited the restaurant.

“Positive word of mouth is key to the success of any restaurant,” said Andy Yee, managing partner of the Fort. “People are quicker to post a bad review than a good one, so it’s great to see so many people sharing the great experience they’ve had at the Fort.”

The Fort has been going strong since last year’s grand opening, Yee said, with several new developments including Sunday brunch, an updated cocktail menu, and a series of upcoming events.

Community Spotlight: Great Barrington

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2015

Community Profile Features

Great Barrington Gets Creative for Its Own ‘Big Dig’

Christopher Rembold and Jennifer Tabakin say construction hasn’t halted plans to transform the former historic Searles High School into a hotel and conference center.

Main Street in downtown Great Barrington has always been an interesting place with lots to do. These days, it still fits that description, but for many more — and quite intriguing — reasons.

A few weeks ago, for example, a crowd of people outfitted in western clothing, including cowboy hats, gathered in front of the coffee shop known as Fuel for what became a Wild West flash-mob gathering.

“Two large hitching posts had been planted in the dirt outside, and two horses, a wagon, and young calves were tied to them as if it was an old western tavern,” recalled Town Planner Christopher Rembold, adding that farmer Stan Stanton, who brought the animals to the site, gave people rides on the horse and buggy, while others enjoyed unlimited coffee on the dusty sidewalk.

Dusty, because the street and its sidewalks have been torn apart as part of a massive reconstruction project on the half-mile stretch of Main Street along which 20,000 to 25,000 vehicles travel each day.

That western-themed gathering was just one of many events and activities drawn up by the town, the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, and individual business owners to maintain vibrancy in a thriving downtown during a project that is long overdue and will yield long-term dividends — but is, at this moment, a huge pain in the neck.

“We’ve taken a proactive approach because we want to make sure our downtown remains vibrant, so we’re working with local businesses to increase the number of activities they offer,” said Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin, noting that, collectively, these efforts are part of something called the “placemaking” program (more on that later).

“Main Street is not just a road; it’s a place to be. It’s the cultural and commercial hub for all of Southern Berkshire County, and has become our community common,” said Rembold. “We recognized the construction could be disruptive before it began, so we needed to find a way to keep people coming downtown to gather, shop, and dine.”

But while the ongoing construction work is in many ways dominating day-to-day life downtown, there is much going on beyond those scenes, including progress with redeveloping some of the town’s better-known but long-idle landmarks.

For example, the former St. James Episcopal Church, which marks the southern gateway into town, will be transformed into a cultural performing space. Meanwhile, the former Methodist Church at the northern gateway into town, which had also been vacant for several years, was purchased last year by a local developer who just received the permits needed to renovate it.

And the privately owned former train station, just west of Town Hall, was turned into a dance studio last fall, and last year the former Searles High School was purchased by nationally known Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, whose headquarters are downtown.

“They’re working with local hotel owner Vijay Mahida, who owns the Fairfield Marriott on Stockbridge Road, to turn it into a first-class restaurant and conference facility. We hope to see the plans this summer,” Rembold said. “It will bring additional people downtown, as well as jobs.”

Officials say the combination of placemaking events, historic renovations, and infrastructure work will keep Great Barrington vibrant for the coming months — and the long term as well. For this, the latest installment of BusinessWest’s Community Spotlight series, we look at how the picture will likely come into focus.

The Real Dirt

Rembold said Main Street and its sidewalks have needed to be redone for many years.

“They were in very bad shape. We needed new storm-water drainage and a new natural-gas main, in addition to a complete reconstruction of the road and sidewalks,” he said, adding that town officials began planning for the $6 million project in 2009 when they paid Fuss & O’Neill to design a streetscape plan, which included new lighting and traffic signals. At the same time, they applied for state funding to pay for the initiative.

The actual construction began last July, but wasn’t too disruptive because the road had not been torn up. “But we knew this spring and summer would be difficult for businesses,” Rembold said, adding that, by the end of June, the blacktop will be laid from Castle Street to Elm Street, new traffic lights will be installed, and the sidewalks will also be finished. However, J.H. Maxymillian Inc., the firm handling the project, will not complete the work until December, with final aesthetics finished next spring.

That means several more months of Main Street as a construction site, and thus the need for more creative programming to keep downtown humming.

Knowing such initiatives would be needed, town officials last year hired the so-called Project for Public Spaces to conduct a workshop for elected and appointed leaders, the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, and Lee Bank. “We wanted to find out what they could teach us about what other towns have done during similar construction,” Rembold explained.

The next step was a brainstorming session with local businesses, and since that time, everyone involved has gotten quite creative; even Maxymillian has joined the effort.

“We banned single-use plastic shopping bags last year, so Maxymillian donated 1,000 bright yellow canvas bags with a logo that reads, ‘I Dig GB’ printed beneath the shovel of the arm of a large tractor,” Rembold said.

In an effort to keep people informed, Betsy Andrus, executive director of the chamber, pens a weekly construction update to let people know the status of the project and what Maxymillian, Verizon, and other companies will be doing on a day-by-day basis. Businesses receive notification via e-mail, and the information is posted on the chamber’s website, printed in the Berkshire Record, and read on WSBS radio.

“The town is still functioning, and the police are doing a phenomenal job keeping the traffic moving,” she told BusinessWest. “I drive down Main Street several times each day so I can time how long it takes, and it has never been longer than eight minutes.”

Businesses have also held ‘no sidewalk’ sales; the Farmer’s Market is relocating to a parking lot on Church Street, and the town hopes to stage outdoor movies downtown during the summer.

Another placemaker planned for June 1 involves a collaboration between restaurants that will host a GB Dig and Dine Event. “Picture 200 people dressed in white having an elegant dinner on tables with white tablecloths outside in the midst of the Main Street construction,” said Andrus, adding that the food will be provided by Allium, Castle Street Café, and Prairie Whale restaurants, while unusual, construction-related props will add to the fun.

She added that Barbara Watkins, who owns the Evergreen Fine American Crafts store, has been a lead organizer of the dinner and has gone door-to-door to businesses to generate excitement about the placemaking effort.

The multi-faceted infrastructure work should eventually make downtown Great Barrington an even better place to do business, for both existing ventures and several new concepts that will soon take shape in those aforementioned landmarks.

The former St. James Church, for example, sat empty for four or five years and was slated for demolition until Fred and Sally Harris purchased it to prevent that action. The town provided them with $150,000 of Community Preservation Act funding to support their $7 million investment, and the building is scheduled to open next spring and become a venue for concerts, lectures, and more. The first floor, Rembold noted, was attractively renovated to house a food pantry.

At the former Methodist Church, the developer has plans to place an 80-seat restaurant in the historic building, which Rembold described as “critical to Great Barrington’s identity.”

Progress is also being made at the former Leeds Cleaners. It is privately owned, but the town secured funding from MassDevelopment to conduct environmental testing to determine the cost of any contamination cleanup. “It’s been vacant for years, and there has been a lot of interest in it because it’s in an ideal location,” Tabakin said, adding the study results should help to make it more marketable.

In addition to these development initiatives, a number of new activities and programs are intended to bring people downtown and create more momentum for the central business district.

Paint the Town, for example, taking place at the end of July, will give people the opportunity to take painting classes at three or four outdoor locations. “Several organizations have donated easels, artists are donating their time, and we’re working with the stores to donate cookies and lemonade,” Andrus told BusinessWest. “They really understand it’s time to team up and work together.”

Another initiative, dubbed Decorate and Shade, is aimed at recreating the shade that was lost when the trees on Main Street were ripped up. New ones will be planted, but since they will take time to grow, businesses can purchase large planters shaded by 9-foot umbrellas and set chairs around them. “We’re encouraging them to be creative and use the planters to hold signs, flags, or balloons,” Andrus said.

Digging It

Despite all of the placemaking events and activity, it has not been easy for businesses to contend with the traffic backups and construction. However, some, including Alan Kalish, who manages the Vault Gallery, see it as an opportunity for growth. “We’ve doubled our space in the last two months. The town will be so beautiful when the work is done that we will get more tourists than ever before,” he said. “The construction gave us the impetus to want to do more business.”

Rembold said the investments and the collaborations taking place are significant and bode well for the future.

“Great Barrington may be small, but there is a lot happening,” he noted. “Everything here is getting better, and our downtown is being transformed.”

Great Barrington at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1761
Population: 7,003 (2012)
Area: 45.2 square miles 
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $13.72
Commercial Tax Rate: $13.72
Median Household Income: $50,882 (2012)
Family Household Income: $75,508 (2012)
Type of government: Open town meeting
Largest Employers: Fairview Hospital; Prairie Whale; Kutscher’s Sports Academy
* Latest information available

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2015

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• May 26: ACCGS Pastries, Politics & Policy, 8-9 a.m., hosted by TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. For political and policy junkies. Cost: $15 for members, $25 general admission, which includes continental breakfast. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• June 3: Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Springfield College, Richard B. Flynn Campus Union, 263 Alden St., Springfield. Sponsored by United Personnel and Wolf & Company, P.C. Celebrate success at the last ACCGS Business@Breakfast of the 2014-15 season. Includes presentation of “A Year in Review” and the Richard J. Moriarty Citizen of the Year Award. Cost: $20 for members ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission.

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

• May 27: After 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted by Florence Savings Bank, 377 Russell St., Hadley. Sponsored by Florence Savings Bank. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the office at (413) 253-0700.
June 18-22: Taste of Amherst, Amherst Town Common. June 18-19, 5-9 p.m.; June 20, noon to 10 p.m.; June 21, noon to 4 p.m. Featuring 22 individual restaurants on the common for a weekend of fun, food tasting, food demos, live music, kids area, zoo, and much more. All food is under $5 per item. No entry fee.
• June 23: After 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by J.F. Conlon, 29 University Dr., Amherst. Sponsored in part by J.F. Conlon & Associates. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the chamber office at (413) 253-0700.

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

• May 20: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Renaissance Manor on Cabot, 279 Cabot St., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• May 21: Golf Tournament, 10 a.m. shotgun start, hosted by Chicopee Country Club. Cost: $125 per golfer.
• May 27: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Elms College. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members.
• June 13: 5K Road Race/2-mile Walk. Cost: $25, $15 for kids 12 and under. Registration includes T-shirt and free lunch provided by the Munich Haus.
• June 17: Breakfast & Health Fair, American Red Cross Blood Drive, hosted by Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Exhibitor space available: $125 per table for members, $175 for non-members.
• June 18: Mornings With the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Willimansett Center West, 546 Chicopee St., Chicopee. Free for chamber members.
• June 24: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Wireless Zone, 601E Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

• June 1: Greater Easthampton and Greater Holyoke Chambers of Commerce 2014 Collaborative Networking Event. Register online at www.easthamptonchamber.org or call Denise at (413) 527-9414.
• June 8: Monday Morning with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Easthampton Savings Bank, Financial Services. Enter via Campus Lane entrance, 36 Main St., Easthampton. This is your opportunity to bring your questions to Mayor Karen Cadieux for casual conversation and direct answers. Register online at www.easthamptonchamber.org or call Denise at (413) 527-9414.
• June 18: Speaker Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by Williston Northampton School, 19 Payson Ave., Easthampton. Join us for breakfast and educational discussion with keynote speaker Tim Brennan, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission executive director, regarding the regional impact and importance of the North South Rail Project. Register online at www.easthamptonchamber.org or call Denise at (413) 527-9414.

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

• May 21: Chamber Business Connections, 5-7 p.m., sponsored and hosted by PeoplesBank, the Atrium in the PeoplesBank Building, 330 Whitney Ave., Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Join your friends and colleagues for this fun and casual evening of networking. Refreshments, door prizes, and 50/50 raffle.
• June 19: 125th Anniversary Gala Ball, hosted by the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Enjoy an elegant meal and dance to the music of the Floyd Patterson Band. Join Marcotte Ford as one of the major event sponsors by calling (413) 34-3376. Event is open to the public, More details to follow.

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

• June 3: June Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Mineral Hills Winery, 592 Sylvester Road, Florence. Sponsored by Keiter Builders. Cost: $10 for members. For more information or to register, contact the chamber at (413) 584-1900.
• June 12: 2015 Workshop: “Using Excel Pivot Tables to Analyze Your Business’ Data,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. Pivot tables are Excel’s most powerful tool for data analysis. A pivot table lets you easily separate data by various criteria into rows and columns in order to extract significant information from large, complex data sets. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create and customize pivot tables using your own data. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Admission: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. To register, visit [email protected].
• June 26: 2015 Workshop: “Microsoft Excel: Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts in Microsoft Excel,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will present our favorite tips, tricks, and shortcuts that we have collected and developed over 15 years of teaching and using Microsoft Excel. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Admission: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. To register, visit [email protected].

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

• June 1: June Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Westfield Vocational Technical High School, 33 Smith Ave., Westfield. Free and open to the public. Register by calling (413) 568-1618.
• June 10: June After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Westfield Bank, 462 College Highway, Southwick. Sponsored by Southwick Tae Kwon Do. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. Register online at www.westfieldbiz.org.
• June 16: Eat & Educate: “Employee-sponsored Retirement and Benefit Programs,” 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Westfield Bank, 141 Elm St., Westfield. Presented by Shawn Torres, MBA, Westfield Wealth Management and Westfield Bank. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members. RSVP is required; space is limited. Call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618 to register.
• June 19: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Hosted by The Ranch Golf Club, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Platinum sponsor: Mestek. Golf sponsor: Berkshire Bank. Silver sponsor: First Niagara and Prolamina. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Golf special: Registered attendees of the breakfast can golf at a discounted rate of only $65 at the Ranch Golf Club following the breakfast. Call Bill Rosenblum, golf pro, to register at (413) 569-9333, ext. 3. For more information on sponsorships, to register, or to donate a raffle prize, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.
• June 22: Social Security Workshop: “Make Social Security Work for You,” 4:30-5:30 p.m., hosted by Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Renaissance Advisory Services, LLC. Guest speaker: William Sheehan, district manager (retired), Springfield Social Security Office. Before you retire, ask questions: when should I begin Social Security? Do I plan to keep working? Will all my expenses be covered? What will my beneficiaries receive? Learn about Social Security strategies that may fit into your overall plan. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members.

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

• June 11: Nonprofit Board Fair, 5 p.m., hosted by Union Station, 125A Pleasant St., Northampton. Nonprofits count on volunteers to lead them to success. Join us for the fifth-annual Nonprofit Board Fair, a signature event featuring organizations from throughout the Pioneer Valley whose leadership will be on hand to speak to about opportunities to serve on their boards of directors. In addition, there will be a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres, and raffle prizes. Sponsors and partners: Florence Bank, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and WGBY public television. Register online at www.thenayp.com.

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

• May 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Woman of the Year, 5:30 p.m., hosted by Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Sponsored by BusinessWest. Honoring Anne Paradis, CEO, Microtek Inc. Cost: $55. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

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

• May 20: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted By Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative – BISTRO, 174 Brush Hill Ave., West Springfield. Enjoy a sit-down lunch served while networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. Cost: $10 at the door, which includes served lunch. Must be a member or guest of a member to attend. For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].
• June 3: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted By Lattitude, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 at the door for non-members. Event is open to the public. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].
• June 18: Annual Breakfast Meeting, 7-9 a.m., hosted By Chez Josef, Agawam. Sponsored by OMG, Ormsby Insurance, and Development Associates. Event will kick off with the welcoming of new chairman Chuck Kelly and the incoming WRC board of directors. Cost: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information and for tickets, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

Taste for Success

Restaurants Sections

Center Square Grill’s Partners Celebrate an Eventful First Year

Michael Sakey, left, and Bill Collins say the lively tap room turns regulars into friends.

Michael Sakey said restaurants often conduct a soft open with family and friends to work the kinks out before opening the doors to the public.

In the case of Center Square Grill, the East Longmeadow eatery he and business partner Bill Collins launched last spring, the soft opening got a little out of hand. Of the 600 or so people they invited, only 250 said they would come — but 450 showed up.

“By 8 o’clock, we were out of vegetables; then we ran out of proteins,” Sakey said.

Yet, they were enthused by the response to the food that was served — and they’re still excited a year later.

“Sometimes I have to pinch myself,” Collins said. “It’s been a great ride. We’re psyched with our numbers, and the reviews have been great — four and a half stars on Yelp.”

The pair partially credits their success to their chemistry in the kitchen and business, forged over a 15-year friendship, during which they worked for Claudio Guerra, the serial restaurateur behind Spoleto and a broad array of other establishments.

“Not only have we been great friends for a decade, but in business, we both bring different things to the table,” Collins said, recalling how a chance conversation over glasses of wine about 18 months ago turned into a plan to launch their own enterprise. “When we started talking about doing this, it just snowballed.”

Their success in getting off the ground startled them, but also gave them confidence, he added. “We raised the money to buy the place in two and a half weeks. Once we got a ‘yes’ from one investor, we were more comfortable in the next meeting, and the next. By the last meeting, we were like, ‘are you kidding me? Why wouldn’t you invest in our business?”

Opening the doors was a leap into the unknown, but entrepreneurship has suited them so far.

“When we were first talking about a concept we liked,” Collins said, “we thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if we opened this place, and it didn’t go out of business? That would be really cool. Then, once we got a little more secure, we started to think we’d actually make it. It’s been a ride, going from being salaried employees, getting a paycheck every week, to making sure everyone else gets their paycheck every week.”

For its annual Restaurant Guide, BusinessWest sat down with Sakey and Collins to talk about wine, local produce, restaurant reviews, and the mentor they both credit with giving them the confidence to succeed on their own.

Career Moves

“I always joke that I was an accidental restaurateur,” said Sakey, adding that he studied theater in college. Even then, though, he was a restaurant veteran, having worked at pizza, sub, and coffee shops from age 14. In early 2000, he took a job with Guerra, who was opening Spoleto Express at the time.

“I went in thinking, ‘it’s just going to be for now, until I figure out what’s next.’ Over the next 12 years, it spiraled into spearheading the catering division, helping open many restaurants for Claudio, and becoming really good friends with Bill.”

He was also starting to sense a connection between food and his other passion. “Restaurants can be theatrical,” he said. “It’s kind of like throwing a party every night. If you can make them all happy, that’s something really unique, not like any other industry I can think of.”

Collins knew at a younger age where his career was headed. “I’m an un-accidental restaurateur,” he said. “I joke that I wish being a doctor ran in my family, but, no, my family owned restaurants and hotels in New York.”

He started working in those businesses from a young age and rose through the ranks. “I was the youngest restaurant manager ever hired by Applebee’s,” he told BusinessWest. “The head of HR met with me, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, ‘please don’t tell anyone you’re under 21; I might lose my job.’”

Local art — fitting for the fare served up at Center Square Grill — livens up the restaurant’s interior.

Collins met Guerra in 1999, when he was 19. While holding down his managerial job at Applebee’s, he worked as a waiter at Spoleto, just to get his foot in the door in a company he had long admired. He eventually became director of operations. “I wound up opening six concepts with him — and we closed some concepts, too. I got to see the good, the bad, and the ugly. He’s been my mentor in the business.”

Sakey recalls how one location Guerra owned morphed from a fine-dining restaurant to something with a pub feel, then to what is now his flagship Spoleto location. “To have three different concepts in one location and still come out on top … it really does take a unique individual to weather the storms of this industry and know when to change and admit to himself that, even though he liked a concept, it wasn’t working as a business.”

As for Center Square Grill, the partners have broken away from the Italian fare Guerra specializes in. “We call ourselves a creative American grill, but we pull from South America, classic French cooking, New Orleans, Jamaica — we even had some Asian dishes,” Sakey said. “We try to do many things well.”

Collins noted that there are about a dozen Italian restaurants in a 10-mile radius, and families tend to go to their favorite. So he and Sakey wanted to bring more variety to the table.

“My favorite thing about the menu is, if you want to come in and get a cheeseburger and an IPA, you can do that,” Sakey said. “If you want to take your wife out and have oysters and a filet topped with crab Oscar, you can do that, too. The menu runs the gamut, and the atmosphere does, too.”

Indeed, the restaurant features a few different dining areas, from a formal dining room to a small room for private events to a lively bar area. “The tap room is where we meet the regulars; they’re actually friends now,” Sakey said, recalling how one regular and her mother were sitting at the bar, talking about making homemade ravioli, and he joked that they should bring him a couple. “The next day, they brought in two platters — one for each of us — and said, ‘dinner’s on us tonight.’”

Guerra himself has visited the restaurant on several occasions, and the partners said he has been supportive of their new venture. “He taught me the culinary side,” Sakey said. “I made my first roux working with him — ‘no, you’re browning it too much, you want that nutty smell’ — but he also taught me front of house. For a guy in chef whites to be just as good in front, that’s incredible.”

Collins agreed. “The guy doesn’t miss a detail in front of house. He burned a lot of that into us.”

The employees have picked up on that sense of pride, Sakey added. “I can’t speak more highly about the staff. Front of the house, back of the house — they take such ownership of what they’re doing. It’s unique and amazing.”

On the Menu

Collins said that Center Square Grill has stayed true to its original core of steak, seafood, and pasta, but the menu offers many iterations on dishes in those categories, and others.

“We’ve tried to change the menu seasonally,” he added. “Most restaurants, out of the gate, don’t change the menu often, but we wanted to change with the season, and use local produce when it’s available, local meat when it’s available. We bought a whole lamb from a farm recently and used every single piece of it.”

Changing the menu also keeps people coming back to try new things, he added. But the regulars do have their favorites, including a crispy duck confit with house-made tomato jam, butternut squash risotto, and seasonal vegetables; seared Maine diver scallops over asparagus risotto and finished with a lemon thyme beurre blanc; Jamaican jerk chicken thighs marinated in a Caribbean rub and served over dirty rice with black bean corn salsa and chiptle aioli; and a slow-braised lamb shank with creamy polenta and seasonal veggies, finished with a twice-reduced port wine demi-glace.

Collins has been on a mission to create lamb converts with the latter dish, arguing that people who say they don’t like lamb are thinking of their grandmother’s gamy-tasting lamb topped with mint jelly. So he created a lamb-based amuse-bouche to give reluctant diners a taste. “I’ve converted every single one of them. I have people who said ‘I don’t like lamb’ ordering the lamb shank.”

Sakey takes particular pride in the restaurant’s impressive — and affordable — array of wine, beer, and cocktails.

“I think our wine program is one of the things that makes us unique. Bill and I know what wine costs, and when we go out and see a bottle of wine being sold for five times the cost, it’s hard to take the leap,” he told BusinessWest, noting that some restaurants mark up the price three or four times what he does. “We want people to be able to try more than the house wine and not worry about getting taken.”

Added Collins, “it’s a matter of inventory — do I want to sell wine, or do I really want to sell wine? It’s no benefit for me to sit on one case of wine for years.”

Warmer weather means ideal conditions to enjoy a meal or drinks on the restaurant’s outdoor patio.

To make sure the food keeps bringing people back, the restaurant recent hired Andrew Brow as head chef. “He was chef at a French bistro in North Carolina, but had moved up here to be closer to his family,” Collins said.

Brow took a job as director of operations for Rachael’s Smoked Fish, a division of J. Polep in Chicopee. But his passion for the chef’s life eventually took over. “We wanted him to come in one or two nights, to keep his hand in it, and eventually he left Rachael’s and came here full-time. We’re fortunate — he’s been in the food business all his life.”

Collins characterized himself and Sakey as foodies, noting that they visit other restaurants regularly, keeping abreast of what’s happening in their industry. That passion for food, however, is balanced by what they call a refreshing lack of ego. “It’s collaborative; if Mike has the better idea for a dish, it goes on the menu. If I have a better idea, or if Andrew has a better idea, that goes on the menu.

“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little ego, but it’s ego about getting the best product on the menu,” he went on. “It’s a full-on collaboration. It’s a great process, and it keeps us all energetic about finding new ideas. You don’t want to be the one guy at the table without an idea.”

Star Struck

It has been, by any measure, a strong first year at Center Square Grill. “I don’t think we’re just lucky,” Collins said. “It’s taken a lot of hard work. But we’re fortunate in the way the outcome has turned out.”

As for that four-and-a-half-star Yelp rating, Sakey likes it just where it is, noting that it’s a reminder that he, Collins, and Brow can always aim just a bit higher. “Nothing’s ever perfect,” he said, “but we can be really good.”

Collins disagrees, saying he wants that extra half-star.

“The drive for five fuels my passion for food,” he said, saying it’s a constant obsession. One day, he was telling a friend about a conversation he had with his fiancée, Julia, while lying in bed, telling her about an idea for a new dish.

“Someone overheard me talking about that, and they said, ‘that’s your pillow talk?’ But I’m always thinking about what I’m going to do next, what’s going to be on the table the next day.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Winning Recipe

Restaurants Sections

The Alvah Stone Creates Cuisine for Every Palate

Howard Wein says attention to detail has led to the success of the Alvah Stone.

Howard Wein is sitting at a copper-topped table positioned directly above the Saw Mill River in the Alvah Stone restaurant in Montague. The view of the waterfall rushing over a rocky surface below is mesmerizing, and the blues music that echoes softly throughout the historic, carefully apportioned structure was carefully chosen by him to enhance the atmosphere.

“We want this to become known as a community-based neighborhood restaurant that is also the best restaurant in the Valley,” said Wein, who opened his eatery a year ago. “But it’s not a special-occasion place. It’s very casual and very comfortable, and we are providing a service and resource to the community that didn’t exist. We are focused on appealing to different people for different reasons at different times of the week, which is why we have such a flexible menu.”

The restaurant is only one of Wein’s undertakings (more about that later). But it brings together everything he has learned in his career, which includes extensive experience in some of the most competitive markets in the restaurant and hospitality arenas.

“I’ve always wanted a brick-and-mortar business in the community, and this is my dream space,” he said. “You could put this restaurant anywhere in the world, and people would find the setting absolutely spectacular. It’s the most unique location within an hour in any direction.”

Preserving the Past

Wein conducted an in-depth study of the building’s history before renovating the interior, as he felt it was important to retain its character. It is one of several establishments in the historic Montague Mill, including the Montague Bookmill and the Sawmill River Arts Gallery.

“Many different things happened in this building,” Wein told BusinessWest. “In addition to being a grist mill, the logo for Louisville Slugger bats used to be stamped on them here, and it was once home to Martin Machine Shop. But the mill was built in 1834 by Alvah Stone, so I took his name for my restaurant.”

He also kept original machinery related to the gristmill’s operation, some of which is still embedded in the floor, and added a few other historic pieces. But he also injected a modern flair into the space, which can be seen in details such as the citron color of the drink menu, which was created to match the hue of the overhead light fixtures.

Wein also built a bar that serves fine wines and draft beer, including Alvah Stone Ale, made for the restaurant by Lefty’s Brewery in Greenfield, as well as a full stock of liquor.

The Alvah Stone was designed to appeal to a wide audience, and its menus include the best meat and produce that can be found in the region, Wein said. “We are very focused on using local ingredients that are produced close to us. Sustainable agriculture is very important to me,” he noted, adding that he doesn’t limit his business to farms labeled ‘organic’ because he knows the certification process is costly and there are many “very small, talented local growers in the area.”

The Alvah Stone’s outdoor patio is set above the scenic Saw Mill River.

However, he takes great care with the menu, grouping the selections into several categories. People can stop in at the bar and get a homemade pretzel and a beer or hot dog on a brioche bun, share a few items with friends, or order a full meal prepared with ingredients grown in the area.

For example, the restaurant serves Wagyu sirloin, which is the American version of the renowned Japanese Kobe beef known throughout the world for its quality. “We get it from Royalton Farms in Vermont. They are the only producer east of the Mississippi that breeds this beef. It’s very, very rare,” said Executive Chef Dave Schrier, adding that the farm also raises highly sought-after Berkshire and Mangalitsa pork.

Schrier loves all types of food, and although the menu is strongly influenced by Southern and American dishes, there are also items with a bold Asian influence, such as soba noodles and bok choy. “We don’t label ourselves farm to table, but 95% of what we use comes from local farms,” he said, adding that the menu changes frequently.

Wein said local ingredients, including fresh juices, are used in many of the cocktails, and herbs such as sumac and pepper are infused into vodka and other spirits.

“We give everything we do here a lot of thought. The Alvah Stone is not about me; it’s about the experience people have here and the team who serves guests from the moment they enter,” he said. “It’s also about the colors we use, the music we play, and the way tea is served. Every single detail, including every word on the menu, matters.”

To that end, even the menus are in distinct colors: black and white for the food and citron for the cocktail selection. New drinks are created frequently with names that reference the area’s history, such as the Machine, Scotch Shagger, Old to Alvah, and Gristmill Grog.

Fusion of Knowledge

Wein’s illustrious career has come full circle at the Alvah Stone. He chose to leave a high-profile position in New York City four years ago to move his family to Leverett, which is a six-minute drive from where he established Howard Wein Hospitality LLC in 2011.

Everything on the menu at the Alvah Stone is made at the restaurant, including the sausages, hot dogs, breads, hot pretzels, and pastries.

He met his wife, Jennifer, in 1993 when they were both students at Hampshire College, and after Wein graduated with a degree in culinary arts and business, he stayed in the area while she finished her studies. “I was cooking at Sienna Restaurant in South Deerfield and was also the executive director for food and beverage at Jacob’s Pillow,” he told BusinessWest.

But he wanted to own his own business, so he returned to school and earned an MBA from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, which launched him on an ambitious career path. “I took a job at the corporate office of Starwood Hotels and Resorts in White Plains, New York, and was responsible for 400 hotels doing $2 million of revenue in food and beverages alone,” he said.

His next stint was chief operating officer of Starr Restaurants in Philadelphia, where he grew the company from a $40 million operation with eight locations in the City of Brotherly Love to a $120 million business with 16 locations in three cities. “It was amazing, but it was also exhausting. I was working seven days and at least 120 hours every week,” he recalled.

Four years later, Wein took a job as senior vice president of restaurants, bars, and entertainment for the Morgan Hotel Group in New York City. He commuted back and forth from Philadelphia each day and traveled frequently, as the group has hotels in London, Las Vegas, New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

But after his daughter was born, he and Jennifer decided it was time to move back to Western Mass., where they wanted to bring her up, so they left and bought a home in Leverett.

“My wife and I grow all of our produce and like being surrounded by an agricultural community,” Wein said. “This is a very liberal, intellectually-minded area, and people here are content with what they do and what they have.”

Shortly after, he opened Howard Wein Hospitality LLC, in the Montague Mill. He said the business has been very successful, with clients including Iron Chefs Geoffrey Zakarian and Scott Conant, who both regularly appear on the Food Network show Chopped.

But when the restaurant space next door became available, Wein was finally able to realize his dream of owning a restaurant business he cares deeply about.

Broad Audience

Wein is active in the community and serves on the Hampshire College board of directors. The institution was one of his clients before he became a board member, however, and he worked to connect the college’s food service with local farms.

As it has grown in popularity, the Alvah Stone expanded from a six- to seven-day operation. “This area is my home, and the restaurant is a big part of that. It’s an amazing place to work at every day, and we have built an amazing team and an amazing brand,” he said.

His statement is backed by positive reviews from both critics and patrons.

“This is a phenomenal place. It’s very calming and conducive to a fine dining experience,” said Nina Pollard from Hadley as she sat outside on a recent weekend and looked at the river rushing by.

Her dining companion agreed. “It’s a real retreat. The sights and sounds make it a moving oasis and work together to create a special ambience,” said Ann Kenny from Merrimack, N.H.

Wein is glad that people are enjoying his eatery and hopes it will grow and became a significant fixture in the Montague Mill’s history.

“We are trying to build something that will still be here in 50 years,” he said. “We are really committed to this, and everything we do is with a long-term vision in mind.”

Compelling Viewpoints

Meetings & Conventions Sections

Smith College Conference Center Offers a Slice of Paradise

Addie MacDonald was offering a quick tour of the Smith College Conference Center.

He started in the front lobby and quickly moved on to the main meeting room, ticking off its various amenities — including a host of seating possibilities, state-of-the-art audio-visual systems, ample parking, and a slew of catering options — as he walked.

“And then … there’s that,” he said, gesturing out the huge windows covering one side of room.

‘That,’ of course, is Paradise Pond and the many views of it and the surrounding grounds that are perhaps the best selling point of this relatively new entry into the highly competitive local market for meetings and conventions.

Intriguing even in winter, the pond area is exceptionally beautiful in the spring and fall, said MacDonald, manager of the conference center, adding that the views — from the Paradise Room, as that aforementioned main meeting facility is called, to the deck nearby and many of the other rooms in this complex — certainly help explain why this facility has become an attractive option for groups of several sizes since it opened to the public only four years ago.

But there is more to this venue than what’s visible out the windows, or experienced up close if one chooses to venture outside during a break in the proceedings in question — which almost everyone does, said MacDonald.

There’s the location — downtown Northampton and, more specifically, the Smith campus, which boasts everything from century-old buildings to its famous botanical garden (designed by the firm headed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also conceptualized Central Park), to the pond and its waterfall — which is something decidedly different among meeting venues. There are also the many catering options available, said MacDonald, adding that the facility’s kitchens have been used by many of the city’s renowned restaurants to prepare meals for clients.

Addie MacDonald says the Smith College Conference Center is off to a good start because of its mix of scenery and amenities.

Addie MacDonald says the Smith College Conference Center is off to a good start because of its mix of scenery and amenities.
[/caption]Until very recently, these views and amenities could be enjoyed only by Smith faculty and invited guests. Indeed, the conference center, or at least the main building in the complex, was once the Faculty Club and then the College Club, said MacDonald, meaning it was open only to faculty and staff and was, as he put it, the “social epicenter for the academic mission of Smith.”

“For years, there is where faculty would come to wine and dine and entertain lecturers who would come from out of town, or interview potential candidates,” he explained, adding that the conference center is comprised of two buildings — the 1950s-era former Faculty Club, and a century-old building eventually acquired by the college that was believed to be the home of a buggy-whip manufacturing facility. “And this was ultimately a place where they could freely speak, exchange ideas, develop coursework, and invite other professors from local colleges.

“Over the years, it became more and more popular, and the college decided to open it up to the Northampton general public — and then well beyond,” he continued.

Mostly through word-of-mouth referrals, it quickly became the site for a wide array of functions — from weddings to corporate retreats; from holiday parties to meetings of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

“They do retreats, and once or twice a year they might meet here to discuss policy — I think they like looking at our pond because they can identify the various ducks that are coming and going from there,” MacDonald joked, referencing the fish and wildlife agency.

He told BusinessWest that Smith has become more aggressive in its marketing of the conference center in recent months, and it can certainly no longer be considered a hidden gem or best-kept secret.

It now stages more than 25 weddings a year, and the calendar, especially for those warmer months, fills up quickly.

“In many respects, this is like a classic startup business with a great infrastructure behind it,” he said of the venture. “And it’s gone well — we’ve picked up business even faster than we anticipated; the location has really attracted a number of people.”

For this issue and its focus on meetings and conventions, BusinessWest takes in the views at the Smith College Conference Center and examines why it has quickly become a venue of choice for many different types of groups.

Setting the Stage

MacDonald brings an intriguing background to his role as manager of the conference center.

Indeed, the Vermont native eventually settled in New York City, where he worked for years for the Directors Guild of America, handling a number of screenings and movie premieres in Gotham.

“It was the classic New York job in many ways — a lot of late nights and meeting many interesting people,” he explained, adding that there were several factors that motivated him to come back to New England and get this startup successfully off the ground.

The deck, with its views of Paradise Pond and the many forms of wildlife that inhabit it, has become a popular spot at the Smith College Conference Center.

“New England is in my blood, and my wife and I really knew that we wanted to find a place to settle down and find a community,” he explained. “We found all that in Northampton and Smith.”

But there are still quite a few of those late nights that he was in many ways hoping to leave behind, he went on, adding quickly that this is a good thing because it’s a clear sign that the conference center is off to a strong start in its bid to become a player in the region’s meeting and conventions market.

“We hit the ground running, because part of my charge here was to bring in new business, and people from Northampton and beyond, across Western Massachusetts, have always been eager to come to campus, utilize our facilities, and take advantage of the many resources we have here — and, quite frankly, impress their clients, because the view and this location are unparalleled.”

As MacDonald mentioned, the conference center, which was given a facelift in early 2014 — one that opened up the lobby area and gave it a new façade — is more than one room with a great view. Offering a more elaborate tour, he and Merrilyn Lewis, associate director of the Events Management Office at Smith, stopped at a number of smaller rooms that are appropriate for a number of different types of events.

There’s the Oak Room, which can accommodate 75 for a reception, 100 for theater-style seating, and 55 for a seated dinner. There’s the adjacent lounge, which can host 50 for a reception, said Lewis, adding that clients can book both rooms for a slightly larger event.

There’s also the so-called Directors Room, which can seat 15 for meetings, and Meeting Rooms B and C, which can accommodate six and 15 people, respectively. Meanwhile, the lobby and adjoining deck, which can accommodate 75 for a reception, has become a popular alternative, in part because it brings guests even closer to the beautiful surroundings and allows more of the senses to get some exercise.

“Everyone likes it out here, and it’s part of the attraction; not many venues have an outdoor location that’s this convenient,” said MacDonald as he stepped onto the deck, noting that various forms of wildlife often come into view, including some otters that recently established residence nearby and have put on some good shows for guests.

Addie MacDonald says the conference center at Smith is much more than a room with a view.

The venue is a natural for weddings because of the facilities and surroundings, said MacDonald, adding that the center has booked several, some involving individuals, especially students, who have connections to Smith, but also many others who don’t.

And already, a number of businesses, nonprofit groups, and even government agencies have discovered the conference center, said Lewis, noting that Yankee Candle, headquartered in nearby Deerfield, has hosted a number of events there, as has Baystate Health, the Northampton School District, United Way of Hampshire County, and others. Some of those groups are based a few blocks or a few miles from the campus, but many others are headquartered in Springfield and points further south and east.

“Sometimes, when you’re staging a company retreat, it’s nice to hold it away from the office in a completely different setting, which frees up thinking,” Lewis explained. “And that sentiment has brought a lot of people here.”

And while the spring, summer, and early fall are easily the busiest months, the center books a number of corporate outings and annual meetings in the winter, and the venue has hosted a number of smaller holiday parties as well.

View to the Future

Looking ahead, the conference center’s obvious goal is to add more events to its calendar, said MacDonald, who told BusinessWest that he expects this will happen as more individuals and groups come to the facility for the first time.

This will lead to more word-of-mouth referrals, he noted, as well as repeat business — and there has already been a good amount of that.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have a number of repeat clients because of the convenience, location, and simplicity of it all,” he said, adding that a number of businesses and nonprofits have returned several times.

They obviously liked what they saw — both literally and figuratively.

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

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• May 6: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. Speed networking — a fast-paced way to work the room. Sponsored by United Personnel. Reservations are $20 for members (in advance, $25 members at the door), $30 for general admission. Reservations may be made online by visiting www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 13: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 500 Memorial Ave., Chicopee. Join us for our last After 5 of the season for a tailgate party, featuring food trucks with tailgating cuisine, parking-lot games like cornhole and ladder toss, music, and cash bar. Reservations are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online by visiting www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 14: East of the River Five Town Chamber Feast in the East, 5-7:30 p.m., at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow. Enjoy culinary tastings from local restaurants and caterers to benefit the ERC5 Scholarship Fund. Reservations are $25. Reservations may be made online by visiting www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Woman of the Year, 5:30 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Honoring Anne Paradis, chief executive officer, Microtek Inc. Reservations are $55 and may be may be made online by visiting www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 26: ACCGS Pastries, Politics & Policy, 8-9 a.m., at TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. For political and policy junkies. Reservations are $15 for members, $25 general admission, and includes continental breakfast. Reservations may be made online by visiting www.myonlinechamber.com.

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

• May 6: After 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Bridgeside Grille, 9 Amherst Road, Sunderland. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the chamber office at (413) 253-0700. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• May 27: After 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Florence Savings Bank, 377 Russell St., Hadley. Sponsored solely by Florence Saving Bank. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the office at (413) 253-0700. Tickets are $10 members, $15 for non-members.
• June 18-21: Taste of Amherst, on the Amherst Common. Featuring 22 individual restaurants on the common for a weekend of fun, food tasting, food demos, live music, kids’ area, zoo, and much more. Hours: June 18-19, 5-9 p.m.; June 20, noon-10 p.m.; June 21, noon-4 p.m. All food is under $5 per item. No entry fee.
• June 23: After 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at J.F. Conlon , 29 University Dr., Amherst. Sponsored in part by J.F.Conlon & Associates. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the chamber office at (413) 253-0700. Tickets: $10 per member, $15 per non- member.

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

• May 15: Lunch & Learn, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Hampton Inn, 600 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. “ACA Compliance: Employer Requirements and Management Tools.” Learn about a solid, user-friendly road map for understanding compliance issues. Tickets: $15 for members, $23 for non-members.
• May 20: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Renaissance Manor on Cabot, 279 Cabot St., Holyoke. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• May 21: Golf Tournament at Chicopee Country Club; 10 a.m. shotgun start. Registration: $125 per golfer.
• May 27: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Elms College. Tickets: $23 for members, $28 for non-members.
• June 13: 5K Road Race/2-mile Walk. Begins and ends at Portuguese Club, 149 Exchange St., Chicopee. Registration: $25 per person; $15 for children 12 and under. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. Fee includes T-shirt and free lunch provided by the Munich Haus.
• June 18: Mornings with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., at the Willimansett Center West, 546 Chicopee St., Chicopee. Free for chamber members.
• June 24: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Wireless Zone, 601E Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

• May 11: Monday Morning with the Mayor. “Getting Down to Business About Business: Casual Conversation with Mayor Cadieux,” 8-9 a.m., at Easthampton Savings Bank, 36 Main St., Easthampton. Free and open to the public.

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

• May 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored and hosted by Pic’s Place, 910 Hampden St., Holyoke. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for the public. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 18: Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament celebrating the chamber’s 125th anniversary, at Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and lunch at 10:30 a.m.; tee off at noon (scramble format); dinner following game with food stations catered by the Log Cabin. Cost: $125 includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, cart, and dinner. Dinner only: $25. Awards, raffles, and cash prizes follow dinner. Sponsors: Log Cabin and PeoplesBank. Corporate sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Mountain View Landscapes, Holyoke Medical Center, People’s United Bank, the Republican, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. For reservations, call (413) 534-3376 or register at holyokechamber.com.
• May 21: Chamber Business Connections, 5-7 p.m., in the Atrium in the PeoplesBank building, 330 Whitney Ave. Sponsored and hosted by PeoplesBank. Join your friends and colleagues for this fun and casual evening of networking. Refreshments, door prizes, and 50/50 raffle. Cost: $19 for chamber members, $15 for non-members.
• June 19: 125th Anniversary Gala Ball, starting at 6 p.m., at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Cocktails at 6, dinner at 7. Enjoy an elegant meal and dance to the music of the Floyd Patterson Band. Join Marcotte Ford as one of the major event sponsors by calling (413) 534-3376. Event is open to the public. More details to follow.

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

• May 6: May Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored by Whalen Insurance Agency. For more information or to register, call the chamber at (413) 584-1900.
• July 1: July Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored by Pioneer Landscapes and Easthampton Electrical. For more information or to register, call the chamber at (413) 584-1900.

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

• May 4: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Renaissance Manor, 37 Feeding Hills Road, Westfield. Join us for our monthly coffee hour with Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik. This event is free and open to the public. Call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register for this event.
• May 13: May After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Armbrook Village, 551 North Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members; cash at the door. To register, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.
• May 18: 54th Annual Golf Tournament, at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Schedule: 10 a.m., registration and lunch; 11 a.m., shotgun start; 4 p.m., cocktail hour; 5 p.m., dinner. Title sponsor: Westfield Gas & Electric. Premium gift sponsor: Westfield Bank. Cart sponsor: Doctor’s Express.
• June 1: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Westfield Vocational Technical High School, 33 Smith Ave., Westfield. Free and open to the public. Register by calling (413) 568-1618.
• June 19: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Ranch Golf Club, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Platinum sponsor: Mestek. Golf sponsor: Berkshire Bank. Silver sponsors: First Niagara and Prolamina. Registered attendees of the chamber breakfast can golf at a discounted rate of only $65 at the Ranch following the breakfast. Call Bill Rosenblum, golf pro, to register at (413) 569-9333, ext. 3. Cost for the breakfast: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information on sponsorships, to register, or to donate a raffle prize, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

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

• May 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Woman of the Year, 5:30 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Honoring Anne Paradis, CEO of Microtek Inc. Sponsored by BusinessWest. Reservations are $55 and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

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

• May 6: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Northeast IT, 777 Riverdale Road, West Springfield. Free for chamber members, $10 at the door for non-members. Event is open to the public. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].
• May 20: Networking Lunch, noon-1:30 p.m., at the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, 174 Brush Hill Ave., West Springfield. Must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Enjoy a sit-down lunch served while networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. Cost: $10 at the door, which includes lunch. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

2015 Restaurant Guide

Restaurants Sections

Taste for Success

Center Square Grill’s Partners Celebrate an Eventful First Year

Winning Recipe

The Alvah Stone Creates Cuisine for Every Palate

On the Menu

Our Detailed Guide to Restaurants in Western Mass.

East of the River Five Town Chamber to Host Feast of the East

By BusinessWest Staff April 28, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — The East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) will host its annual Feast of the East on May 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow.

From American to Italian, nearly a dozen restaurants and caterers will showcase their signature dishes. Participating chefs featuring their culinary creations include those from Kaptain Jimmy’s of Agawam; Center Square Grill, Fazio’s, and Pasquale’s of East Longmeadow; Twin Hills Country Club and Primo’s 2 Go of Longmeadow; Europa Black Rock Bar & Grill of Ludlow; Magic Spoon Catering of Monson; and Pop’s Biscotti & Chocolates and Dana’s Grillroom of Wilbraham. In addition to serving palate-pleasing portions, the chefs will vie for the title of “People’s Choice.”

The event is made possible by Comcast, the Republican, and Go Graphix. Proceeds will benefit the ERC5’s Scholarship Fund. To date, the fund has provided more than $30,000 in educational funds and scholarships to students in East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, and Wilbraham.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by e-mailing Amanda Brodkin at [email protected].

Community Spotlight: Belchertown

By BusinessWest Staff April 21, 2015

State School Project Tops Belchertown’s Priority List

Douglas Albertson says redevelopment of the former Belchertown State School — and other highly visible projects — are lending momentum to the town’s growth.

With equal amounts of anticipation and relief, officials in this Hampshire County community talked about how redevelopment of the former Belchertown State School campus is finally underway — at least in a way that’s visible to passersby.

“We’re obviously excited about it,” said Town Planner Douglas Albertson with a touch of understatement in his voice. “We just approved a site plan for an assisted-living facility that will be built by the Grantham Group LLC in Marlborough.”

The development will include 83 units, and 40 of them will be affordable housing, he went on, adding that the town has a large senior population and the project will be particularly advantageous to older people who need a place to live but can’t afford market-rate rents.

The three-story structure, which will be known as Christopher Heights of Belchertown, is expected to cost $15 million. However, the Grantham Group has applied for $5 million in federal tax credits and another $2 million in state subsidies. Albertson said the developer is also seeking $250,000 in Community Preservation Act funds from the town, and the Board of Selectmen will vote on the request in May.

“Town officials, MassDevelopment, and BEDIC [Belchertown Economic Development & Industrial Corp.] have all worked hard to facilitate this project,” he told BusinessWest, adding that MassDevelopment is in charge of overseeing the cleanup of the former state-school property.

The Grantham Group was chosen to build the senior-living facility from among three entities that responded after MassDevelopment issued a request of interest for the site.

“They’re known for their assisted-living communities, and ever since the school closed, residents have said they would like to see one built on the land there, so we are thrilled that this is happening,” Albertson said. “It has great potential to enhance the community.”

He said the Grantham Group has developed dozens of assisted-living facilities, including the $13.4 million Christopher Heights of Northampton, which is situated in the Village Hill neighborhood on the grounds of the old Northampton State Hospital.

Although the property has been vacant for decades, several studies have been conducted to determine options for its reuse. Albertson said the last one was completed in 2009, thanks to $100,000 the town received from the state after the campus was designated as a priority development site.

At that time, Belchertown officials hired RKG Associates to assess the land, buildings, and layout of the 85-acre campus. When they finished, Fuss and O’Neill, a civil and environmental engineering consulting firm, created a conceptual use plan based on RKG’s findings. The work was done in association with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, and although they came up with two uses for the property, mixed-use development was seen as the most viable option.

“Our strength is that we are a residential community,” Albertson said, adding that the report stressed that any new residential housing should be targeted to fill gaps in Belchertown’s existing housing inventory, which includes housing for seniors.

The report also concluded that the western end of the property was the most suitable location for residential housing, and advised a gradual transition to mixed-use buildings, then to businesses on the eastern end of the campus near the railroad.

“We’re still using their concept in our work with MassDevelopment,” Albertson said, adding the state agency is developing a master plan for the property.

The report also found the town had enough infrastructure to support dense development on the campus, and Albertson told BusinessWest that Belchertown officials have kept the property in mind over the years as they upgraded and expanded sewer and water distribution lines.

“Provisions have been made to accommodate expansion in that sector of town,” he said, adding that, after the buildings are razed to make way for the new assisted-living complex, the town will seek to bond up to $1.2 million for road construction and utilities over a period of several years.

For this, the latest installment in its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest looks at developments in Belchertown and how the state school project is expected to create momentum on several levels.

School of Thought

Belchertown State School for the Feeble Minded opened in 1922, had a storied history, and was closed in 1992 due to multiple lawsuits that cited inhumane conditions and poor treatment of patients. In 1999, the state turned the property over to the town, and the Board of Selectmen created the BEDIC to manage it and appointed a board of directors.

Although town officials did their best to secure the buildings, Albertson said, the structures have been vandalized over the years. And although a number of proposals were put forth for the site, none of them ever came to fruition.

However, that has finally changed, and the first signs of new life at the old state school could be seen last month when Springfield-based Associated Building Wreckers started working on the three acres where Christopher Heights will be built. The company removed asbestos and other hazardous materials from the area and will begin demolishing buildings in the section known as Pad I this month.

“The work is being paid for with state funding,” Albertson said, explaining that the Commonwealth has released $4 million of $10 million approved to conduct a comprehensive cleanup of the state school campus.

The town also instituted a special type of zoning for the site late last fall, and its Business Neighborhood Center District plan design will provide aesthetic consistency with the surrounding neighborhoods, while encouraging economic development. It will increase possible uses for the property, but site-plan approval by the Planning Board will be required for each development in the district.

“The one thing that was excluded is single-family housing because we didn’t want to compete with local builders who are finishing up subdivisions in town or hope to create new ones,” Albertson explained. “However, we do want to encourage housing for single people, seniors, and artists or artisans who want to create a studio and live and work in the same place. We would also like to have enough density so that people can patronize businesses on the property and work there.

“And now that the economy is improving, things are getting busy in other areas of Belchertown again,” he went on, adding that economic development has gained real momentum over the last year and many home-based businesses are also thriving. “It’s a hidden economy in Belchertown, and some of these businesses do expand.”

Belchertown has two new restaurants that are doing well, he went on. Oneis Almeida’s Café, which was built on an empty lot last summer near the state school campus on Routes 202 and 21, “has been a real success,” Albertson said.

Antonio’s Pizza by the Slice has also gained a following since it opened late last spring in its newest location on 31 Federal St.; others are in Amherst, Easthampton, Rhode Island, Texas, and Illinois.

“The owners saw an opportunity for a sit-down restaurant here,” Albertson said, adding that the location was home to Saporito’s Pizza before it was purchased in the early part of 2014. “The parking lot was packed immediately after they opened, and they have been busy ever since.”

Nelson’s Barber Shop also opened on the first floor of a house on North Main St. that had been a poorly maintained rental property for decades. “The neighbors are happy about it,” Albertson said, noting that the upper story is still a residential rental, but the entire ground floor is occupied by the business.

In addition, Belchertown’s first tattoo shop opened in February in the same strip mall as Antonio’s Pizza, and Surner Heating Co., which provides fuel and service throughout Hampshire County, is expanding its Belchertown facility.

“They’re adding propane and putting in two large underground tanks; the city recently approved the site work, which began several weeks ago,” Albertson said, adding that the property includes a building that houses a mini-mart, several apartments, and a gas station on Federal Street. “Their heating-oil storage tanks are also at that site, and they lease one to Noonan Oil; the business expansion reflects the fact that fewer people want to heat with oil. Propane is another option, and many people like to cook with it.”

Looking Ahead

Town and state officials hope Christopher Heights will spark renewed interest in the Belchertown State School property.

“The redevelopment of the campus has been a long-awaited project, and we’re excited about it. When it is done, we anticipate growth in surrounding areas; we believe it could be a catalyst for the whole area,” Albertson said. “The campus has always been pretty, but it hasn’t been maintained — but that is about to change.”

He cited a small plaza across the street from the property as an example of a site with room for growth. “The complex could be expanded. Plus, there are several other parcels available nearby,” the town planner said, adding that Easthampton Savings Bank opened a branch last year at the entrance to the grounds of the former state school.

Christopher Heights will support 65 construction jobs and create 40 permanent positions, and when the assisted-living community is complete, a long-neglected area in Belchertown will finally begin to realize its potential.

“We believe that, once the Grantham Group develops a portion of the site,” Albertson said, “it will give others the confidence to follow.”

Belchertown at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1761
Population: 14,735
Area: 52.64 square miles 
County: Hampshire
Residential Tax Rate: $17.89
Commercial Tax Rate: $17.89
Median Household Income: $52,467
Family Household Income: $60,830
Type of government: Open Town Meeting; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Belchertown High School; Super Stop & Shop; Cold Spring School

* Latest information available

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff April 21, 2015

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• April 29: ACCGS Beacon Hill Summit 2015, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Massachusetts State House. Hosted by state Sen. James Welch. Day-long opportunity to meet with members of the Baker-Polito administration and the Massachusetts delegation. Reservations are $180 per person and includes continental breakfast, transportation, lunch, reception, and all materials. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 6: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. Speed networking — a fast-paced way to work the room. Sponsored by United Personnel. Reservations are $20 for members (in advance, $25 members at the door), $30 general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 13: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 500 Memorial Ave., Chicopee. Join us for our last After 5 of the season for a tailgate party, featuring food trucks with tailgating cuisine, parking-lot games like cornhole and ladder toss, music, and cash bar. Reservations are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 14: East of the River Five Town Chamber Feast in the East, 5-7:30 p.m., at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow. Enjoy culinary tastings from local restaurants and caterers to benefit the ERC5 Scholarship Fund. Reservations are $25. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Woman of the Year, 5:30 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Honoring Anne Paradis, chief executive officer, Microtek Inc. Reservations are $55 and may be may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• May 26: ACCGS Pastries, Politics & Policy, 8-9 a.m., at TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. For political and policy junkies. Reservations are $15 for members, $25 general admission, and includes continental breakfast. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

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

• May 6: After 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Bridgeside Grille, 9 Amherst Road, Sunderland. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the office at (413) 253-0700. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• May 27: After 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Florence Savings Bank, 377 Russell St., Hadley. Sponsored solely by Florence Saving Bank. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the office at (413) 253-0700. Tickets are $10 members, $15 for non-members.
• June 18-21: Taste of Amherst, on the Amherst Common. Featuring 22 individual restaurants on the common for a weekend of fun, food tasting, food demos, live music, kids’ area, zoo, and much more. Hours: June 18-19, 5-9 p.m.; June 20, noon-10 p.m.; June 21, noon-4 p.m. All food is under $5 per item. No entry fee.
• June 23: After 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at J.F. Conlon , 29 University Dr., Amherst. Sponsored in part by J.F.Conlon & Associates. Register online at www.amherstarea.com or call the chamber office at (413) 253-0700. Tickets: $10 per member, $15 per non- member.

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

• May 15: Lunch & Learn, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Hampton Inn, 600 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. “ACA Compliance: Employer Requirements and Management Tools.” Learn about a solid, user-friendly road map for understanding compliance issues. Tickets: $15 for members, $23 for non-members.
• May 20: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Renaissance Manor on Cabot, 279 Cabot St., Holyoke. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• May 21: Golf Tournament at Chicopee Country Club; 10 a.m. shotgun start. Registration: $125 per golfer.
• May 27: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Elms College. Tickets: $23 for members, $28 for non-members.
• June 13: 5K Road Race/2-mile Walk. Begins and ends at Portuguese Club, 149 Exchange St., Chicopee. Registration: $25 per person; $15 for children 12 and under. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. Fee includes T-shirt and free lunch provided by the Munich Haus.
• June 18: Mornings with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., at the Willimansett Center West, 546 Chicopee St., Chicopee. Free for chamber members.
• June 24: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Wireless Zone, 601E Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

• May 11: Monday Morning with the Mayor. “Getting Down to Business About Business: Casual Conversation with Mayor Cadieux,” 8-9 a.m., at Easthampton Savings Bank, 36 Main St., Easthampton. Free and open to the public.

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

• May 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored and hosted by Pic’s Place, 910 Hampden St., Holyoke. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for the public. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 18: Annual Chamber Cup 2015 Golf Tournament Celebrating the chamber’s 125th Anniversary, at Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and lunch at 10:30 a.m.; tee off at noon (scramble format); dinner following game with elaborate food stations catered by the Log Cabin.
Cost: $125 per player includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, cart, and dinner. Dinner only-$25. Awards, raffles, and cash prizes follow dinner. Tournament sponsors: Log Cabin and PeoplesBank. Corporate sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Mountain View Landscapes, Holyoke Medical Center, People’s United Bank, the Republican, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. For reservations, call the chamber Office at (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 21: Chamber Business Connections, 5-7 p.m., in the Atrium in the PeoplesBank building, 330 Whitney Ave. Sponsored and hosted by PeoplesBank. Join your friends and colleagues for this fun and casual evening of networking. Refreshments, door prizes, and 50/50 raffle. Cost: $19 for chamber members, $15 for non-members.
• June 19: 125th Anniversary Gala Ball, starting at 6 p.m., at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Cocktails at 6, dinner at 7. Enjoy an elegant meal and dance to the music of the Floyd Patterson Band. Join Marcotte Ford as one of the major event sponsors by calling (413) 534-3376. Event is open to the public. More details to follow.

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

• May 6: May Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored by Whalen Insurance Agency. For more information or to register, call the chamber at (413) 584-1900.
• July 1: July Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored by Pioneer Landscapes and Easthampton Electrical. For more information or to register, call the chamber at (413) 584-1900.

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

• April 28: Southwick Home to Business Show. Hosted by Tucker’s Restaurant. For more information, contact Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
• May 4: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Renaissance Manor, 37 Feeding Hills Road, Westfield. Join us for our monthly coffee hour with Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik. This event is free and open to the public. Call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register for this event.
• May 13: May After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Armbrook Village, 551 North Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members; cash at the door. To register, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.
• May 18: 54th Annual Golf Tournament, at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Schedule: 10 a.m., registration and lunch; 11 a.m., shotgun start; 4 p.m., cocktail hour; 5 p.m., dinner. Title sponsor: Westfield Gas & Electric. Premium gift sponsor: Westfield Bank. Cart sponsor: Doctor’s Express.
• June 1: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Westfield Vocational Technical High School, 33 Smith Ave., Westfield.
Free and open to the public. Register by calling (413) 568-1618.
• June 19: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Ranch Golf Club, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Platinum sponsor: Mestek. Golf sponsor: Berkshire Bank. Silver sponsors: First Niagara and Prolamina. Registered attendees of the chamber breakfast can golf at a discounted rate of only $65 at the Ranch following the breakfast. Call Bill Rosenblum, golf pro, to register at (413) 569-9333, ext. 3. Cost for the breakfast: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information on sponsorships, to register, or to donate a raffle prize, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

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

• May 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Woman of the Year, 5:30 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Honoring Anne Paradis, CEO of Microtek Inc. Sponsored by BusinessWest. Reservations are $55 and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

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

• May 6: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Northeast IT, 777 Riverdale Road, West Springfield. Free for chamber members, $10 at the door for non-members. Event is open to the public. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].
• May 20: Networking Lunch, noon-1:30 p.m., at the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, 174 Brush Hill Ave., West Springfield. Must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Enjoy a sit-down lunch served while networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. Cost: $10 at the door, which includes lunch. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

Community Spotlight: Northampton

By BusinessWest Staff April 7, 2015

Northampton Expands Housing and Its Downtown

Mayor David Narkewicz says Northampton officials are planning a major redesign of Pulaski Park.

For more than three decades now, Northampton’s downtown has been the envy of cities and towns in this region and well outside it.

It is known for — and in many cases has won awards for — its cultural community, inventory of dining establishments, vitality, diversity, liveability, driveability (with bicycles), and sustainability. And moving forward, said Mayor David Narkewicz, the goal is to essentially make this city, well, even more of all of the above.

Indeed, plans are underway or on the drawing board for additional housing (especially in the ‘affordable’ category), traffic improvements, a wide range of developments on Pleasant Street (Route 5), long-awaited revitalization efforts involving Pulaski Park in the heart of downtown, new retail, and more.

“Northampton has won awards for its walkability and for having the best Main Street in America,” said the mayor. “And I’m excited about the progress being made and am very bullish about our city.”

The net effect of these many initiatives will be to effectively expand downtown, enable more people to live in it — thus providing more foot traffic for existing businesses and potential new ones — and make the city even more of a destination.

And that’s an important factor in the casino era set to begin in Massachusetts and especially the South End of Springfield, just 20 miles to the south, said the mayor, and also at a time when rail service will improve across the region, making Northampton that much more accessible.

Overall, Narkewicz says Northampton’s initiatives to expand its downtown, add more affordable housing, and make infrastructure improvements is a “winning strategy,” one that should enable it to withstand whatever threat the casino presents to its vitality.

“We need to focus on how to prepare and position ourselves so that we can remain a successful and viable downtown destination,” he said, adding that this is a multi-pronged initiative.

For this, the latest installment in BusinessWest’s Community Spotlight series, we take an in-depth look at the many developments underway or planned for Paradise City, and how they are expected to improve what is already considerable quality of life.

At Home with the Idea

Narkewicz said one of the few downsides to Northampton’s three-decade-long resurgence has been consistently high property values that have had the effect of pricing some people out of the city and its downtown.

Plans to increase the inventory of affordable housing will not only help remedy that situation, but they could also result in a more diverse population.

Two major housing projects that will feature affordable units and are in different stages of development are part of a broad initiative to expand and improve the Pleasant Street corridor.

HAPHousing Inc. is purchasing the Northampton Lodging House and plans to transform the multi-story building from single rooms into 72 units of housing, with half of them affordable or subsidized. The new apartments will be built on the upper stories of the building, and the first floor will contain 3,500 square feet of retail space, enough for two storefronts.

In addition, the Northampton Lumber Site, which sits perpendicular to the Northampton Lodging House, is under contract negotiations. Valley CDC is planning to purchase it and convert the property’s 70,000 square feet into 55 affordable housing units, each with one to three bedrooms.

“It’s a plus for our future to have new housing near state-transit-oriented development; these two projects are on a route served by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority and within a five-minute walk to the Amtrak passenger rail station,” Narkewicz said, adding that the rerouted Amtrak Vermonter train service is operational, and although there are only two trains stopping in Northampton each day right now, ridership is strong and will continue to grow.

“There are also other benefits associated with an increase in downtown housing, including more customers for retail stores and restaurants. The housing will also allow people to be within walking distance to jobs, and the affordability factor is important,” he continued. “We take pride in trying to make sure that Northampton remains affordable to people on every rung of the income ladder.”

New housing options will also become available this year for elders when construction on Christopher Heights is complete. The senior housing facility is being built on the grounds of the former Northampton State Hospital, and half of the 86 assisted units will be affordable.

“It is part of a continuum to try to provide affordable housing for people of all ages,” the mayor said, adding that the Christopher Grantham Group which is building the facility, applied for and received housing tax credits from the state, which were boosted by $250,000 in Community Preservation Act funding from the city.

In addition to new housing options, other developments are planned for that area of the city. The state will begin construction on a major reconfiguration of the intersection of Route 5 and Conz Street, and the fork in the road that people encounter when they enter Northampton from the south will become a roundabout.

“This is one of our busiest intersections, and many businesses are centered around it, so this will help to make the traffic pattern more efficient and will be a more aesthetically pleasing gateway from the south,” Narkewicz said.

The vitality of the roadway was enhanced when the Fairfield Inn by Marriott opened late last year on Conz Street and added 108 new hotel rooms within walking distance to downtown, increasing the city’s hotel space to 300 rooms.

Art of the Matter

Northampton touts a new initiative called “Pleasant Futures,” which Narkewicz describes as a “community re-visioning process for Pleasant Street,” and a number of public meetings have been held to get input from residents in surrounding neighborhoods about what needs to be done to increase density and expand the downtown area in the neighborhood in a way that is pleasing to everyone.

It kicked off last May and is a collaborative effort between the Office of Planning and Sustainability and the Ward 3 Neighborhood Organization. “The concerns expressed in the meetings focused on pedestrian safety and vibrancy along the corridor,” Narkewicz said.

To that end, the city filed an application for a MassWorks grant to install new sidewalks, increase on-street parking, and create an attractive streetscape that would make the roadway more walkable. Traffic-mitigation funds from a new medical-marijuana dispensary soon to open on Conz Street will be used to help fund the planning process, and the mayor said Yes Computer renovated a building there a few years ago, while the owner of the shops across the street has renovated several storefronts.

“One of the advantages of interjecting more housing is that it pushes Pleasant Street to be more walkable and increases downtown’s vibrancy, which we are looking to expand,” said Economic Development Director Terry Masterson.

Change is also occurring in the heart of downtown. The Academy of Music, the oldest municipally owned theater in America, has increased its programming, and a major capital campaign kicked off in the fall of 2013 to install new seating, repair damage to the building’s ornate plaster from a leaky roof, and return the interior to its original colors.

“The city partnered with the Academy to improve the exterior and replace the roof,” Narkewicz said. “Most of the work was done last summer when the academy went black, and the city installed a new fire-escape system in the building at that time. The Academy is a major driver for tourism and brings 45,000 to 50,000 people to the city every year.”

He told BusinessWest that arts and culture play a major role in Northampton’s success, and venues like the Calvin Theater and Iron Horse Music Hall, events such as First Night and a monthly Arts Night Out, and retail stores that showcase the work of artists and artisans are part of the thriving arts fabric.

“A really exciting development in the same realm is also taking place on the other side of town,” Narkewicz said. “The Arts Trust has purchased the Universal Fitness Center, and through fund-raising and grants, they are turning it into an arts center with a black-box theater and space for artists to work in, which is important because Northampton’s success and the growth in property values and rents has made it difficult for artists to find affordable studios to work in.”

Park Place

Meanwhile, another major development is the broad effort to revitalize Pulaski Park.

It sits in the center of the city’s downtown, and a $2.4 million renovation and addition is being planned that will create more green, open space for residents and visitors to enjoy.

“We think the park will become a crown jewel in our already-excellent downtown,” said the mayor. “It sits between City Hall and the Academy of Music and hasn’t undergone a major renovation since 1976.”

Although upgrades had been considered in the past, cost played into the equation. But revamping the park recently became a viable option due to a change in state law that allows cities to use Community Preservation Act funds for existing parks, rather than just for new ones.

As a result, last year Northampton sought and received a $400,000 Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations (PARC) Grant to help fund the construction, as well as some initial design money from the City Council.

Stephen Stimson Associates was hired to create a plan for the park, and after holding a series of open meetings with residents to determine what they would like to see done, “they produced a breathtaking new design,” Narkewicz said. It is pending approval from the Community Preservation Committee, and, if it’s granted, construction will begin in June and continue through July 2017.

“Sustainability is part of the design, and it features a unique bioswale that will collect rainwater runoff and process it in an environmentally friendly way. The park will also have a new nature play area that will replace the existing, dated play structure. It will incorporate rocks, logs, and platforms and have a small slide,” the mayor said.

However, additional funds will be needed to complete the project, and the city is seeking $1,675,000 in the next round of PARC grants. About $200,000 of that funding would be used to comply with state PARC requirements to move utilities and communications lines underground.

Narkewicz said his office, the Department of Public Works, the Recreation Department, and the Office of Planning and Sustainability are all committed to identifying construction funding through a combination of local monies and state grant opportunities.

Bottom Line

For decades now, downtown Northampton has set the standard when it comes to vibrancy, diversity, and, as mentioned earlier, overall liveability.

Mayor Narkewicz and other city officials believe that the overall impact of the many initiatives underway will be to set the bar even higher. And, in doing so, they will give new meaning to that nickname Paradise City.

Northampton at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1884
Population: 28,495
Area: 35.75 square miles 
County: Hampshire
Residential Tax Rate: $15.81
Commercial Tax Rate: $15.81
Median Household Income: $57,991 (2013)
Family Household Income: $81,680 (2013)
Type of government: Mayor; City Council
Largest Employers: Cooley Dickinson Hospital; Smith College; Veterans Administration Medical Clinic
* Latest information available

Mountaintop Vision

By BusinessWest Staff April 7, 2015

Sections Travel and Tourism

Berkshire East Positions Itself as Outdoor Adventure Center

Berkshire East’s new mountain coaster opened last October and has earned the distinction of being the longest alpine mountain coaster in North America.

In the fall of 1976, Roy Schaefer drove his family from Michigan to Charlemont to look at Thunder Mountain Ski Resort, which was about to go bankrupt.

Although it was failing, Schaefer was optimistic that he could bring it back to life, and he and a partner purchased it from Greenfield Savings Bank for $1, plus a debt of several hundred thousand dollars.

Schaefer renamed the resort Berkshire East, and although his hard work and dedication paid off, he dedicated only the fall and winter months to the operation.

“My father and his partner operated a ferryboat company in the summer on Mackinaw Island in Michigan, and when the ski area ended, all of their energy shifted there,” said Roy’s son, Jonathan Schafer, who co-owns Berkshire East Mountain Resort with his family.

However, Roy and his partner kept the area alive, and it became a place where generations of families learned to ski. But, because it was a seasonal operation dependent on weather, he battled Mother Nature for decades. However, his commitment and belief that outdoor recreation is a sustainable model for economic growth not only helped area businesses and provided seasonal employment, but was passed on to his four children.

Today, the resort is undergoing a $5 million transformation and is ushering in a bevy of recreational activities designed to transform it into a year-round destination that offers not only alpine skiing, but snow tubing, ziplining, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and the opportunity to ride North America’s longest mountain coaster.

The family also added overnight accommodations to the resort last September by purchasing the nearby, 530-acre Warfield House Inn and Farm, a bed and breakfast located just over a mile from Berkshire East that operates as a working farm complete with llamas, cattle, chickens, and gardens.

Jonathan has worked alongside his father for years, and says he and his brothers developed their own vision for expanding the family ski resort into a year-round retreat years ago.

“We were all ski racers who traveled the world, and due to our racing, we got to see a lot of things: bungee jumping in New Zealand, mountain biking, and other amazing activities,” he said. “We knew that we wanted to bring them to Charlemont and also realized that the Berkshires compare to any mountain range anywhere.

“We never had a written master plan, but we knew where we wanted to go with the resort due to our shared experience,” he went on, “and our goal now is to become the number-one family, four-season resort in Southern New England.”

The vision morphed into reality in 2008, when Jonathan’s brother, James, who lives in New York City, bought out his father’s business partner in Michigan.

Change began almost immediately, and in 2009, Berkshire East installed its first new recreational venue, Zipline Canopy Tours, that would change its status from a winter resort into one that offered year-round activities.

For this issue and its focus on travel and tourism, BusinessWest looks at the many changes and additions at Berkshire East, and how the resort is now at the top of its game — in more ways than one.

Reaching New Heights

The expanded venue has been a success, and people can choose three different zipline options that begin with a ride up the mountain on a chair lift that offers panoramic views of the Deerfield Valley. The descent is exciting, moving from platform to platform through mountainous terrain, and Zipline Canopy Tours was named by USA Today as one of the top 10 ziplines in the nation.

“The tours are guided and were built to fit in with the landscape. It’s a great adventure that lasts two to two and a half hours,” Jonathan said.

The Schaefer family has always strived to be in tune with nature, and in 2011 they installed a wind turbine, followed by a 10-acre solar field in 2012.

“We were the first ski area to produce all of our own electricity, and we remain the only ski area in the world to produce renewable energy on site,” Jonathan told BusinessWest.

Berkshire Whitewater will begin offering rafting trips in May, with a variety of excursions designed for people of different ages and abilities.

The wind turbine powers the pumps that transform water into snow, and from 2009 to 2013, Berkshire East made dramatic upgrades to its snowmaking operation. “We also added a mountaintop pond, which allowed us to double our snow guns and open earlier each season,” Jonathan said, adding that the resort contains 160 skiable acres. “We opened the last weekend in November, and this year is our longest season ever.”

Another new attraction has increased business and added to the operation’s year-round status. It’s a 5,400-foot, all-season mountain coaster that opened last October on Columbus Day weekend.

“It was built as a diversification against the weather; ski weekends can be wiped out due to cold and snow, so we needed a way to drive business and give people a great experience,” said Jonathan. “The things we have done allow us to be open 365 days a year, and we built a 12,000-square-foot addition onto our lodge last year. It’s beautiful, as it’s made from hand cut timber.”

He noted that the lodge has two floors, two restaurants, and a bar, and has been a tremendous boost to the property. “Many couples book their weddings here, and now their guests will be able to enjoy the activities we offer year-round.”

The mountain coaster is one of them, and it’s a noteworthy attraction. “It is the longest mountain coaster in the nation and the third-longest in the world. It’s powered by our wind turbine and solar panels, and is an inviting way for people to enjoy the outdoors, as there are no fitness or skill requirements,” Jonathan said.

The coaster’s construction proved to be an extraordinary engineering feat, because each section had to be designed to adapt to the contour of the mountain with minimal impact to the landscape. The sections were installed in 10-foot lengths, and each car is towed up the mountain by a stainless-steel cable and strategically released when it reaches the top.

“Each car is independent of the others and has its own braking system, which allows people to slow down or speed up by pulling on the handles,” Jonathan said. “However, if one car gets within 80 feet of another going down the mountain, the brakes automatically stop it.

“The track twists and turns down a mountainside of cliffs and trees, so it’s a wild ride on a dynamic hillside,” he added. “Anticipation builds in riders who are going up, as they can see others coming down because the course crosses uphill four times.”

The new attraction has attracted coaster enthusiasts from across the nation, and groups have already booked trips there this summer.

Growing Venues

Berkshire East enjoyed a cooperative partnership with Moxie Outdoor Adventures for years, and recently acquired its Deerfield River rafting operation. It has been renamed Berkshire Whitewater, and although it kept most of Moxie’s river guides, Berkshire East purchased 10 new rafts designed exclusively for the river, along with other state-of-the art equipment.

“We have 60 spots on the river, plan to open in May, and will continue the rafting trips until it gets too cold to run them in the fall,” said Jonathan. “We can’t add 1,000 vertical feet to the ski area, so we are adding world-class activities to show off what a beautiful spot we have here.”

Trips will be available five days a week and will begin when the hydroelectric Bear Swamp Generating Station releases water, which is done on a regular, scheduled basis. Since it stores approximately 1.7 billion gallons of water almost 800 feet above the river, when it is released, it turns the river into an ideal spot for rafters, kayakers, and downriver canoeists.

A variety of adventures along different sections of the river are planned for different age groups and abilities, but all rafters will receive a 20-minute safety lecture before they leave. A picnic lunch is provided for people who opt for one of the easier excursions, while another, more advanced course ends with a barbecue.

Each trip lasts four or five hours, and there are options to satisfy everyone, including a leisurely, half-day float trip that families with children ages 5 and up can enjoy.

“They float along in a whitewater raft, and there are places for them to get out, splash around, and swim,” Jonathan noted.

In addition, guided kayaking trips will be offered daily, and children ages 5 and up can accompany an adult in a boat on the four-hour adventures.

Since some people have already rafted on the Deerfield River, Jonathan said, Berkshire Whitewater is offering trips on the Millers River, east of Greenfield, and the West River in Jamaica, Vermont. “But they all start here, and people are taken to those sites in vans,” he told BusinessWest.

Despite the resort’s all-season changes, skiing remains a major part of Berkshire East’s roster of offerings.

The Schaefer family is also building a new mountain-biking park and commissioned a group from Whistler Mountain, whose track record includes building the largest and most dynamic bike trail in the world, to construct 10 miles of trails down the mountain. “We plan to open the park in early July and will have a major focus on beginners, with a learn-to-ride program,” Jonathan said.

Meanwhile, because the Schaefers know that many people want to enjoy their resort for more than a day, the purchase of the mountaintop complex that contains the Warfield House Inn will allow them to offer overnight lodging.

“It was a logical move because there was no housing at the ski area and this was a beautiful facility that needed new life. We thought it would be a great complement to our business,” he said.

The bed and breakfast, which was recently renovated, contains a meeting facility, restaurant, and pavilion with mountaintop views. “It’s a gorgeous place to get married,” Jonathan said, adding that the farm is also known for its maple-sugaring operation, producing about 1,000 gallons of the sweet treat each year.

Endless Possibilities

Over the past few years, Berkshire East also installed a new Sky Trac Quad chair lift, with the help of a helicopter and an army of loyal employees, that can deliver 2,400 people an hour to the top of the mountain to ski, mountain bike, hike, and enjoy other outdoor activities.

“For many years, we were just a ski area, and we have continued to expand the skiing and offer a lot of learn-to-ski programs for children,” Jonathan said. “But it’s a sport that takes skill. There is a learning curve, and it requires equipment, so we wanted to add other year-round activities that would give families the experience of a lifetime.”

He added that his brother Bill, who lives in Iowa, is part-owner of the whitewater-rafting business and has purchased rental properties in the area; his brother Tom, who lives in California, has also purchased rental properties; and he, his brother James, and their father run the day-to-day operation of the resort and remain committed to providing healthy, recreational outdoor activities.

Today, the family is excited about the expansion, and their goal is for Berkshire East to become known as “New England’s Outdoor Adventure Center,” Jonathan said.

“We think it is possible,” he noted, “because we have added attractions that will drive business and give people a great experience here 365 days a year.”

Bowling Event to Benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County

By BusinessWest Staff March 30, 2015

GREENFIELD — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County will host Bowl for Kids’ Sake, the mentoring organization’s biggest annual fund-raiser, on Saturday, April 25 at the French King Entertainment Center in Erving from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ]

The 45 year-old, donor-funded organization challenges everyone — mentors and mentees, their friends and families, business people, community leaders, and others who may not have time to mentor, but still support Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission — to join Bowl for Kids’ Sake help change the life of a child forever. For more than 40 years, Bowl for Kids’ Sake has supported Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country, becoming its premiere fund-raising event and raising $20 million nationwide each year.

People interested in forming a team should contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County directly, via [email protected] or (413) 772-0915. Once a team is formed, each team member should starting soliciting donations from friends, colleagues, or family members. The minimum total pledge amount, per team member, is $75. In addition, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County is still accepting corporate sponsors for this event.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2015 challenges bowlers to dress like a superhero — either a known character or one from the participant’s own imagination. Prizes will be awarded to teams and individuals for creativity and team unity. In addition, all bowlers can qualify for gift certificates to area restaurants by raising $100 or more; all bowlers who raise $75 or more automatically receive a free T-shirt. The day will also include 50/50 raffles, a photo booth provided by Base Camp Photo, music, food, drink, and more.

Springfield Restaurant Week Slated for April 23 to May 2

By BusinessWest Staff March 27, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council’s young professionals subcommittee, partnered with the Springfield Business Improvement District (BID), will serve up mouth-watering meals during Springfield Restaurant Week 2015. The event will take place from April 23 to May 2, 2015.

Many downtown and riverfront restaurants are featured in this event, including Chef Wayne’s Big Mamou, Currents (Marriott), Champions (Marriott), Luxe Burger Bar, Nadim’s Mediterranean, Panjabi Tadka, PICKS/MVP (Sheraton), Plan B Burger, the Fort/Student Prince, Theodore’s, Pizzeria Uno, Adolfo’s, McCaffrey’s Public House, Blackjack Steakhouse, and Shakago. Each restaurant will offer a special two- or three-course dinner menu for a set price of $20.15 per person. Further details and menus will be posted on springfielddowntown.com/dinespringfield.

City Councilor Justin Hurst, who chairs the young professionals subcommittee, noted that “attracting and retaining young professionals to this great city has always been my priority, and Restaurant Week is a great start to bringing this vision to fruition. It is an opportunity for not only young professionals, but families and the community at large to experience the unique spread the city has to offer.”

Added BID Assistant Director Morgan Drewniany, “we’re proud to forge a partnership with the YP subcommittee to promote a vibrant downtown through supporting Springfield restaurants.”
Event sponsors include Baystate Health, Williams Distributing, White Lion Brewing Co., Garten, LLC Landscaping and Services, Farmington Bank, MassLive, and Inspired Marketing Inc.

Community Spotlight: Lenox

By BusinessWest Staff March 24, 2015

Lenox Aims to Become a Year-round Destination

Town Manager Christopher Ketchen says winter recreation in Lenox includes snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

On March 5, Yankee magazine named Lenox the “prettiest winter village in New England.”

The accolade was not only timely, but in perfect alignment with recent efforts by the town and the Chamber of Commerce to market Lenox as a year-round tourist destination.

“Although we are known for what happens here in the summer, we want people to realize there is a lot to see and do in Lenox 12 months a year, especially in terms of recreation and culture,” said Town Manager Christopher Ketchen.

Ralph Petillo agreed. “Lenox used to be perceived as a summer resort, but today it attracts people in every season, and the winter is the perfect time to come here, enjoy the beauty of nature, and regenerate the mind and body,” said the chamber’s executive director. “There is value in that, and this is a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

“Lenox has great cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Kennedy Park and three downhill ski areas within a 20-minute drive,” he went on. “We’re also home to Canyon Ranch, and Travel and Leisure magazine ranked it as the number-one health spa in the nation. Bill Clinton went there five times last year.”

A second high-end resort that will add to the mix is in the approval process. The palatial, Gilded Age mansion known as Elm Court, which sits on almost 90 acres in Stockbridge with frontage in Lenox, was purchased for $9.8 million in 2012, and Travassa Destination Resorts & Spas, which runs high-end destination spas in Maui, Hawaii, and Austin, Texas, is hoping to transform it into an elaborate, upscale resort/spa with a restaurant.

In addition, plans are moving forward for a $15 to $20 million renovation of the historic, 29-acre Spring Lawn property, which will be become a 95-room, 14-building resort with a unique twist. “It will be open to the public, but will also offer memberships that will allow people to stay there at a reduced rate; the goal is to incentivize return customers and attract new clientele who like to visit the Berkshires, but don’t necessarily want a second home here,” said Gwen Miller, town planner and land use director.

The buildout of the property will occur in two phases. During phase one, the mansion will be turned into a 20-room inn with a restaurant, and the carriage house will be outfitted as a fitness center. Phase two, based on market demand, will include construction of a dozen low-rise buildings that will house an additional 75 hotel rooms.

“A number of older structures will be torn down, and the new buildings will be carefully sited,” Miller said. “The membership option will make it easier for people to come here, as they will know exactly where they will be staying. Spring Lawn is within walking distance to downtown and contains hiking trails and a skating pond with views of Stockbridge Bowl. The master planners really took the historic landscape design into consideration, and the views and trails on the property help make it a desirable location.”

The town is also being promoted by a number of popular venues offering a wide range of wedding packages. They include Blantyre (Castle), the Brook Farm Inn, and Chesapeake Inn of Lenox.

Recreational Opportunities

The Lenox Chamber of Commerce launched a phone app in late December. It is updated daily and lists restaurant specials, store sales, and things to see and do, as well as school closings and other town-related information. A number of businesses are also offering loyalty programs and promotions through the app, such as giving a 10th lunch free at a restaurant.

“We’re helping to shape the future by changing with it,” Petillo said, as he spoke about the new app. “People age 50 and under are much more tech-savvy than they were in the past, so we deemed it prudent to create this app, which we linked to Facebook and to our chamber website. It becomes a personal guide to what’s happening every day in Lenox and even has a section on weddings that lists the places that are available and the contact people, as well as a service directory with plumbers, electricians, doctors, lawyers, real-estate agents and other professionals.”

Keeping up with the times is important because the face of Lenox continues to evolve. Petillo said that, although it was once a summer getaway for the upper 2% of Americans, including the Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan families, after Tanglewood opened 75 years ago and General Electric left Pittsfield, Lenox became the perfect place to establish year-round cottage industries.

“The number of tourist attractions here is growing, and last year Shakespeare and Co. extended its season,” Petillo told BusinessWest. “The Mount is now open eight months a year, and the National Museum of the Gilded Age and Ventford Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum are both open year-round.”

Special events are also staged to attract tourists, and the summer season will kick off with the town’s annual Memorial Day Races, which start and end at Tanglewood and include a marathon, half-marathon, 10k, and 5k, as well as a 15k trail race.

Last year, participants came from more than 25 states and nations, including Florida, California, Canada, the Philippines, and Brazil. “We look forward to having folks take part in this great event, especially since it helps raise money for Team Red, White and Blue, which supports veterans,” Ketchen said.

The town has also focused on promoting Kennedy Park, which contains 500 acres, is used by locals 12 months a year, and boasts several different entrances.

“It’s the recreational gem of the town and is located right in the center, off of Routes 7 and 20. It’s a five-minute walk from our downtown, which contains boutique shops and galleries and a plethora of restaurants, and it’s not uncommon to see mountain bikers stopping to get a coffee or something to eat,” Ketchen said. “But the park is also an ideal place to go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, and horseback riding. People can rent skis and snowshoes at the Arcadian Shop, and horses at Berkshire Horseback and Undermountain Farm.”

Meanwhile, efforts are being made to revive the man-made Baker’s Pond, which sits in a remote area of the park. “It served as a water source for the cottage known as the Dormers during the Gilded Age and was acquired by the town years ago,” Ketchen said. “A number of trails go into that part of the park, but the pond has slowly filled in over time.”

Last fall, the town received a $100,000 grant from the state to restore the area, and plans were made to dredge the pond to remove invasive species, then refill it. Access to the trails is being improved, and Berkshire Community College is working with town officials to develop an environmental curriculum that will allow students to study the ecology around the pond.

“The town also hopes to eliminate hardy kiwi from around the pond. It is an invasive plant, and we are working with the Mass. Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program, under the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, to do this,” Ketchen said, noting that Lenox is seeking a $15,000 state grant that would be matched by an equal amount from the city, if the Board of Selectmen votes to move forward with the project during its May 7 meeting. He added that Massachusetts Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, which offers hiking on seven miles of trails, along with a number of other activities, is right around the corner from Kennedy Park, and has joined the effort to mitigate the impact of hardy kiwi on the properties.

Four-season Getaway

Petillo said Lenox was called “A Gem Among the Hills” in a Chamber publication in 1921, and he noted that the Church on the Hill at the entrance to Kennedy Park is the most-photographed church in New England.

Visitors can find its exact location as well as a lot more to see and do by downloading the new phone app, and Petillo believes the new technology tool, coupled with efforts to promote events taking place throughout the year, will help increase tourism.

“Our fall season has become as busy as the summer. Our Apple Squeeze and Harvest Festival features phenomenal food, artisans, and crafts, and celebrates life in Lenox. It’s Americana at its best,” he said. “And our annual Tub Parade marks the end of the summer, while re-enacting an event held in the Gilded Age. The men used to go hunting right before the cottages were closed for the summer, and while they were gone, the ladies would decorate small, horse-drawn carriages, then drive them through town when they returned.

“Lenox is steeped in history,” he went on, “and we are doing all we can to draw the tourist of today and tomorrow and let them know all that we have to offer.”

Lenox at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1767
Population: 5,077
Area: 21.7 square miles 
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $12.33
Commercial Tax Rate: $15.18
Median Household Income: $51,089
Family Household Income: $74,531
Government: Town Manager; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: B Mango and Bird; Cranwell Resort Spa and Golf; Guidewire Inc.; Boston Symphony Orchestra

* Latest information available

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff March 24, 2015