Page 53 - BusinessWest March 7, 2022

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the par- ties listed, or the court, for more information concern- ing the individual claims.
HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Alecto Realty Trust v. City of Holyoke, et al Allegation: Negligence causing property damage: $14,195
Filed: 12/22/21
Geico General Insurance Co. a/s/o Tracey Brown v. City of Springfield
Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence: $3,969.01 Filed: 12/22/21
Liang M. Hsu and Cui Q. Zhang v. Luigi’s Fine Food Inc. and Louis J. Santos
Allegation: Breach of contract: $63,168.19
Filed: 1/3/22
AMHERST AREA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (413) 253-0700; www.amherstarea.com
n March 9: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce 2022 Annual Meeting, noon to 2 p.m., hosted by the Red Barn at Hampshire College. Join us for lunch as we reflect on our impact, salute our outgoing board members, welcome our new board members, elect a slate of officers, and launch our New Year, New Vision for 2022. Presented by Encharter Insurance, supported by bankESB, and honoring the work
of Amherst Cinema, our featured nonprofit. See COVID guidelines and register at business.amher- starea.com/events.
SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER
(413) 787-1555; www.springfieldregionalchamber. com
n March 11: Outlook 2022, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Hear from top policymakers and influencers on the outlook for 2022, hosted by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Com-
Larry Gray Jr. and Ernestine Gray v. Casella Waste Systems Inc.
Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $126,870.56
Filed: 1/10/22
John Chiarizio v. Guidewire Inc.
Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $284,714.96
Filed: 1/13/22
Angela Allain v. Blythewood Property Management LLC, Peter J. Houser; Michelle Stegall and Property One, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract, negligent misrepre- sentation, negligence: $250,000
Filed: 1/13/22
Diana Mirayes v. Flynn Restaurant Group LP, Apple- bee’s Restaurants LLC, Applebee’s Restaurants North LLC, and Chicopee Marketplace Owners LLC Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $55,498.15
Filed: 1/13/22
mittee. This virtual event is presented by Baystate Health and MassMutual, with sponsorship support from Comcast, Eversource, the Republican, and WWLP-TV22. Cost: $24.95 for SRC members; $110, enterprise-level SRC members (six seats); $29.95 for future members; $140, enterprise-level future members (six seats).
n March 24: Fire & Ice, 5:30-8 p.m., Springfield Country Club, 1375 Elm St., West Springfield. Join us for our annual craft cocktail competition featur- ing area establishments mixing up creative fire- and ice-themed cocktails. Sample the concoctions and vote for your favorite. Cost: $50 for SRC members ($60 at the door); $60 for future members ($70 at the door).
WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(413) 426-3880; www.ourwrc.com
n March 3: Networking Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m. Join us as we meet fellow members, non-members, and local business people to network virtually on Zoom.
JPGCO LLC v. Santo C. Despirt Marble & Granite Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract, negligent property damage
Filed: 1/14/22
Court Dockets
Raymond Bronner v. MGM Springfield Allegation: Assault and battery: $6,765 Filed: 1/21/22
The Dennis Group Inc. v. Nestle Purina Pet Care Co. Allegation: Breach of contract: $90,000,000+
Filed: 1/27/22
Introductions will be followed by breakout rooms to learn about your business peers and network. Register at business.ourwrc.com/events.
n March 23: Job Fair 2022, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Storrow- ton Tavern/Carriage House, West Springfield. The West of the River Chamber will be hosting a local job fair. West Springfield and Agawam businesses, along with other employment opportunities from around Western Mass., will be showcased for the
Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events
public. High-school students, college students, and adults will be attending this event looking to begin or advance their careers. This event is free and open to the public. To be a participating vendor, register at business.ourwrc.com/events.
Mayor
Continued from page 18
a town, I’m it, with part-time people or vol- unteers; so oftentimes, the skill you build working in a small town is the ability to be as creative as you can to meet needs for the community.”
Elaborating, he said that, while Holy- oke does have capacity and resources, the growth in new businesses, an unprecedent- ed influx of federal money through ARPA (The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) and other sources, and a growing mix of challenges and opportunities is putting the city to the test.
“The new challenge internally is the capacity to execute from start to finish,” he said. “In my campaign, I didn’t engage in any of the traditional rhetoric involved in campaigns; instead, I focused on the need for management. My focus with this bud- get season is to help departments build up so that they’re in a much better position
to effectively carry out the responsibilities they’re charged with, and keep up with these projects.
“Holyoke’s form of government, with the mayor as the city manager, is antiquated,” he went on, adding that, overall, he’s work- ing toward reducing or eliminating what
he called ‘learning curves’ — in the mayor’s office and elsewhere in City Hall, and per- haps adding a city manager, comptroller, or other positions.
“Whatever model the city decides to
go forward with, the idea is to strengthen internal controls and better mitigate harm and liability,” he went on. “Those are some of the longer-term objectives, and it’s going to require the community coming together, between this office, the City Council, and residents, because we’re talking about ordi- nance and charter changes, potentially.” u
George O’Brien
Holyoke
BusinessWest
DEPARTMENTS
MARCH 7, 2022 53
Continued from page 21
and Florida, California, New York City, and Boston. They come here because they see opportunities. People see the same thing that I see.”
View to the Future
Candelario said he assigned the name ‘Holyoke’ to one particular room at his B&B because, if one looks closely, he or she can see City Hall from one of the windows.
As he surveys the scene, though, he sees more than that iconic structure. Much more.
He sees a city that is putting its recent, not so glorious, past, behind it, and becoming something else: a destination of sorts, for travelers, but especially residents seeking affordability and quality of life, and businesses looking for a solid spot to land.
This is what Mayor Garcia had in mind when he said that history is repeating itself in Holyoke, and not just when it comes to the mills as a symbol of jobs and economic might.
Indeed, Holyoke’s past, as an ethnically diverse center of business and culture, is also its future. u
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]