Freedom Credit Union Hosting Campaign to Benefit Local Animal Shelters

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Through Feb. 29, Freedom Credit Union is inviting its members, employees, and community to “Paws for a Cause” and make cash donations to benefit the Foundation for TJO Animals in Springfield and Franklin County Regional Dog Shelter in Greenfield.

“These amazing institutions provide food, water, shelter, and a variety of critical services for thousands of animals in our region every year,” Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch said. “They rely on donations to help fund everything from veterinary care to toys and bedding for the animals’ comfort and enrichment as they wait to find their forever homes.”

The Thomas J. O’Connor Adoption Center provides animal shelter and adoption services for the cities of Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke. The Foundation for TJO Animals was formed to allow the group to better serve the shelter animals in its care through medical treatments and rehabilitation. This veterinary care allows pets to be brought to the adoption floor to hopefully find their forever homes.

The Franklin County Regional Dog Shelter is a volunteer-led group serving the communities of Franklin County. Its mission is to protect and improve the lives of stray, lost, and unwanted dogs by offering a welcoming facility, providing care, and finding good homes for each animal.

“We encourage you to donate directly to these organizations or at any of our branches through Thursday, February 29,” Welch said. “Let’s make those tails wag.”

Inside the Campaign to Reopen the Iron Horse This Spring

By Contributor
Chris Freeman
Cover Story Creative Economy

Music Will Live Again

By Emily Thurlow

Chris Freeman

Chris Freeman, executive director of the Parlor Room Collective
Photo by Emily Thurlow

There’s a lot to love about the Iron Horse Music Hall.

Though it’s not as apparent from the outside, with its large storefront windows covered in layers of tape holding up posters advertising myriad performers and upcoming shows, the downtown space holds countless special memories for lovers of live music in Western Mass., as reflected in its venerable slogan, “music alone shall live.”

Over the course of its more than four decades in existence, thousands of musical acts have graced the stage at the historic Northampton venue — one of a handful of hotspots, in fact, that helped define the city as an entertainment destination.

Whether leaning on the balcony railing or sitting at a table, or swaying from side to side at the edge of the stage, audiences of multiple generations have been entertained time and time again by artists like jazz musicians Freddie Hubbard and Bobby McFerrin, singer-songwriters from Brandi Carlile to Robyn Hitchcock, rockers like Graham Parker and the Smashing Pumpkins, and contemporary folk icons like Dar Williams and Dan Bern.

And while concertgoers and performers alike cherished the intimate atmosphere within the historic walls, it’s no secret that the Iron Horse also carries a less-pleasant legacy with regard to uncomfortable room temperatures, underwhelming bathrooms, and a poorly maintained green room — not to mention labor complaints and an extended closure that marred the last few years of the venue’s previous ownership by Eric Suher.

The the new owner, however — a nonprofit called the Parlor Room Collective that operates other small, local performance spaces — has plans to make those less-appealing accounts a thing of the past and reopen the Iron Horse this May.

“This is a living place. You can have people seated around the outside on the balcony or standing, and you could have college kids moshing and dancing in the pit while you have all of their parents eating a nice meal around the outside. Everyone feels safe.”

Nearly halfway to the $750,000 goal of a capital campaign launched in November, the Valley-based nonprofit continues to call on the public to invest in the Iron Horse Music Hall. The Parlor Room Collective will use that investment to expand and renovate the facility’s footprint to enhance the overall experience for patrons and improve the space for artists, which will, in turn, bring people together through music as it did not so long ago, said Chris Freeman, executive director of the Parlor Room Collective.

“Our mission at the Parlor Room Collective is to enhance the health and vitality of our community through the power of music. We have witnessed the magic of our local music scene and its ability to fuel the engine of our economy, enhance the overall well-being of our community, and contribute to our cultural vitality,” Freeman said. “And now we stand at a pivotal moment in our journey as a nonprofit arts organization. We have a unique opportunity to revive a local treasure that has resonated with music lovers for generations: the Iron Horse.”

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Disgusting

Many who have entered the music industry at a grassroots level have performed at one point or another at the Iron Horse, Freeman said.

Take singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, for example. Prior to taking home numerous Grammy awards for her eponymous 1988 debut, Chapman played at the Northampton venue, long before it was the multi-level experience it is today, Freeman noted.

“From John Mayer and Wynton Marsalis to Allen Ginsberg and Beck … the amount of performers that have played here goes on forever, and in every genre,” he said.

Before earning that reputation, the 20 Center St. mainstay was known as the Iron Horse Coffeehouse. At the time of its opening in 1979, the club’s capacity was limited to 60 people. Co-founded by Jordi Herold and John Riley, the venue was named for a work of sculpture that Herold’s mother had created.

About a decade — and a few expansions — later, the club could accommodate 170 seats and had became known as the Iron Horse Music Hall. Suher, a notable Northampton developer, purchased the venue in 1995 and owned it until its sale to the Parlor Room Collective in 2023.

Though he’s spent considerable time in the space, Freeman still marvels at how the unique venue lends itself to an eclectic, multi-generational experience. “This is a living place. You can have people seated around the outside on the balcony or standing, and you could have college kids moshing and dancing in the pit while you have all of their parents eating a nice meal around the outside. Everyone feels safe.”

At the same time, the venue has presented some unpleasantness for its guests. In recent years, some artists have publicly addressed such issues. Freeman recalled attending a show for Vanessa Carlton, who talked about how cold she was during her 2017 performance at the venue.

Carlton, best known for her 2002 hit single, “A Thousand Miles,” publicly thanked an audience member who loaned her fingerless gloves via a post on Twitter, stating, “it was freezing on stage” and Suher’s Iron Horse Entertainment Group “wouldn’t turn the heat up.”

In response, Suher denied Carlton’s assertions and told the Daily Hampshire Gazette at the time that “the performer was cold on the stage. The venue temp was 70 degrees.”

Carlton further spoke of the disarray in the green room, which was also located in the basement. On Twitter, she posted a photo of furniture with ripped and torn fabric and cushions collapsing and urged owners to toss it, so that she would return to the venue again in the future.

Though the space allowed fans to get close to artists, the space wasn’t especially welcoming, Freeman noted, adding the green room was known in the area for its poor condition, and the basement was the only place on site equipped with bathrooms. “These two disgusting bathrooms are supposed to serve 250 people — including the artists. They’re so, so gross.”

“Understanding its history, I kept thinking about how it’s just such an important place for our whole community, and I thought that somebody has to reopen this place.”

As for the HVAC unit, Freeman said the Iron Horse is in need of a serious upgrade. He explained the challenges of trying to keep a packed house well-regulated, whether the meant warm enough or cool enough. “There are tons of famous artist complaints of playing in here with it being 90 degrees — and 20 degrees outside.”

 

Music and Memories

Freeman’s knowledge of the Iron Horse goes well beyond his time as a board member for the Parlor Room. Growing up in Farmington, Conn., he would often attend shows at the Iron Horse with his father. The Valley’s music scene was especially attractive to him and made him want to move to the area, he said.

“Northampton was kind of like a grungy, artsy, cool place where people knew about artists. People had an understanding of bands that ran a little bit deeper than whoever’s on the big country radio station or the big pop stuff,” he said. “I remember the first time I came here. I knew I wanted to be a musician, and I thought that if I could just open a show at the Iron Horse, I’ll have made it.”

By his 10th or 11th visit to the Iron Horse, Freeman did just that and performed with the Americana/folk-rock group he helped found, Parsonsfield.

His band, which was signed to the Signature Sounds record label, was among the first artists to perform at the Parlor Room, located at 32 Masonic St. — just a block away from the Iron Horse. The Parlor Room was founded by Signature Sounds Recordings in the fall of 2012 as an “artist-and-audience-friendly” listening room, performance space, and school of music, he explained.

Chris Freeman

Chris Freeman sits on the Iron Horse’s prominent stairs to the second level, where the new restrooms will be located.

Freeman spent roughly a decade touring with Parsonsfield at venues throughout the U.S. In February 2022, he transitioned into the role of executive director of the Parlor Room and played a critical role in helping the organization transition into a nonprofit music venue and school last January.

On a near-daily basis, Freeman, who is now a resident of Northampton, would find himself walking by the Iron Horse, seeing the legendary venue remain dark.

“Understanding its history, I kept thinking about how it’s just such an important place for our whole community, and I thought that somebody has to reopen this place,” he told BusinessWest. “This was a place that is the heart of the whole Western Mass. music scene. The culture and the city around it made me want to move here.”

Freeman’s understanding of the value of the property led him to reach out to Suher. This past September, the Parlor Room announced it had reached an agreement with Suher to purchase the business, which includes the venue’s liquor license.

The Parlor Room signed a 15-year lease to not only operate the business at its current space at 18 and 20 Center St., but also to expand into 22 Center St. Connecting the adjacent storefronts will allow the Iron Horse to have a dedicated bar and community space and will increase the venue’s overall square footage by 40%, he explained.

Once renovations are completed and the Iron Horse has reopened, the Parlor Room will be, as its name suggests, a collective that encompasses three projects: the Iron Horse, the Parlor Room, and the Parlor Room School of Music. The original Parlor Room venue on Masonic Street will live on as the headquarters for the School of Music and an intimate performance venue.

“My main goal is, I wanted this place to come back, and I wanted to live in a city that has music — that’s why I moved here in the first place. My secondary goal is to make the Parlor Room become just as big of a part of this community,” Freeman said. “The ability to merge these together and to make sure that this place comes back — in the right way and with the right mission and in line with the community’s goals — felt like a really important thing to do.”

 

What’s the Plan?

With the aim of reopening this spring, the Parlor Room has set an ambitious renovation timeline that’s already underway, while the capital campaign continues. To date, the campaign has surpassed $317,500.

Among the biggest costs will be an upgraded sprinkler system and HVAC unit, Freeman said. The first phase of renovations also encompass updates to flooring, a new sound and lighting system, and stage and bar enhancement funded in part by a $73,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant from the city of Northampton.

The nonprofit has also partnered with Dave Schrier, co-owner of Easthampton’s Daily Operation, to redesign the dining and bar experience at the Iron Horse.

Phase two of the renovations will focus on accessibility and other upgrades. Instead of the two basement bathrooms, the new space will include 10 bathrooms that will be relocated for increased accessibility. This also includes two bathrooms accessible for those who use wheelchairs, in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. A wheelchair lift will also be installed to make the stage accessible for all.

The Parlor Room Collective will also establish a brand-new green room that includes private bathrooms with a shower. A new floor layout will allow for 300 people for standing-room-only events and variations of more than 200 people seated in new furniture.

“There is no better investment in our community — and what, historically, has seen Northampton as a community thrive, business-wise — than bringing back the Iron Horse and having this place open 250 nights a year with a bar, with the way that it impacts other restaurants and tourism in the area,” Freeman said.

To donate to the “Revive the Iron Horse” capital campaign, visit ironhorse.org.

Mick Corduff Takes the Reins at Log Cabin, Delaney House

By
Mick Corduff
Features Special Coverage

A New Era Dawns

Mick Corduff

Mick Corduff

 

Mick Corduff calls it his “research and development time.”

It comes early in the year, when things are slower in the hospitality sector. It’s a time to reflect, drill down on what happened the year before, and ramp up the planning for the year ahead.

“I look back and measure all that was good and all that wasn’t good,” he said. “Menus that worked and didn’t work, staffing and structures that worked, management positions that worked and didn’t work; we always try hard to raise the bar.”

This year, research and development time is more than a little bit different … because last year, there were a few distractions, as he put it.

Indeed, 2023 saw a long partnership — more than two decades — between Corduff and Peter Rosskothen come to an end when Rosskothen sold his shares in the company that owns the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, the Delaney House restaurant and D. Hotel Suites & Spa to Corduff and his new business partner, Frank DeMarinis.

The end to the business relationship, which had been talked about for several years and then finalized over the course of 2023, came in late September, ushering a new era for a group of businesses that comprise one of the pillars of the region’s hospitality sector, and for which Rosskothen had long been the face.

“The past four months have definitely been very hectic, but I like to think that I’ve handled pressure well over the years. It’s something that a chef has to do.”

Corduff now becomes the new face, moving from what was mostly, but not entirely, back-of-the-house operations to back and front of the house, although he’s taking steps to delegate some of his many responsibilities to other managers.

For now, and for the foreseeable future, he has a lot on his plate — literally and figuratively. There are the day-to-day operations and coping with challenges ranging from the still-rising cost of food to an ongoing workforce crisis to meeting the many needs of today’s marrying couples. He’s also overseeing the return of Sunday brunch at the Delaney House, planning for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day parade events and a ‘sister-city’ trip to Ireland later this year, and advancing some ambitious plans for the future. While doing all that, he’ll spend some time in the kitchen cooking as well.

In a candid conversation with BusinessWest about all of the above, and especially the many responsibilities he now handles, Corduff said he brings to his new and expanded role what he calls a chef’s mentality.

Sunday brunch at the Delaney House

The return of Sunday brunch at the Delaney House has been just one item on the plate for the new ownership team.

“The past four months have definitely been very hectic, but I like to think that I’ve handled pressure well over the years,” he noted. “It’s something that a chef has to do. What I’ve learned in my years of experience in the back of the house — and in the front of the house as well, especially over the past four or five years — is the importance of keeping a level head and just knowing that, at the end of the day, we’re dealing with people, whether it’s waitstaff or a contact for the bride and groom; they’re people, and you want to treat them with respect.

“I learned a lot from Peter over the years — we always worked in tandem,” he went on. “We always talked about the best way to handle things and put our best foot forward and maintain the integrity of the business. We always had the same message — excellence is what we’re all about, and we try to promote that across the board.”

As for those plans for the future, they are, indeed, ambitious, and include a possible new hotel and restaurant to be built on a portion of the upper parking lot at the Log Cabin.

“We’re dreamers — that’s what entrepreneurs are,” Corduff said. “And we have some dreams that we want to make reality.”

 

Food for Thought

As he talked with BusinessWest at 10 a.m. on a recent Tuesday morning, Corduff had his chef’s coat on, one announcing him as ‘chef owner.’

He wasn’t doing any cooking at that moment, nor was he planning to do any soon, but the chef’s coat was still the attire of choice. To paraphrase Bill Belichick, it is who he is.

“I don’t think I’ll ever the leave the kitchen — I love what I do,” he said, adding that he has a few business suits … somewhere. He had more years ago, when he served as front-of-house manager at the Log Cabin and wore one every day. But he ruined some of them of them when wandering back to the kitchen, where he feels most at home, and getting food stains on them.

“We’re known in the community as a quality product, and we aim hard to maintain that standard.”

Ever since, the chef’s coat has been the uniform, if you will, and Corduff wears it everywhere and for everything, from planning for the Big E (the group has a huge presence there) to meeting with the media, an assignment that mostly fell to Rosskothen years ago, although Corduff did it, too; from reviewing accounts payable to doing long-range planning.

These are now mostly, if not entrely, Corduff’s purview, and it’s a change, that, as noted, has been years in the making.

That’s how long the two partners talked about Rosskothen moving on and focusing his time and energies on one of their latest entrepreneurial ventures — Delaney’s Market, which now has four locations across the region — with Corduff taking the lead at three Holyoke establishments: the Log Cabin as well as the Delaney House restaurant and the adjoining D. Hotel Suites & Spa.

The main ballroom at the Log Cabin

The main ballroom at the Log Cabin, one of several properties in the group now owned and managed by Mick Corduff and Frank DeMarinis.

He’s doing so with new partner DeMarinis, president of Sage Engineering and Contracting Inc. in Westfield and a local developer, builder, owner, and manager of more than 25 commercial real-estate properties in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He is also the founder and owner of Roots Sports complexes in Westfield and East Longmeadow, as well as Roots Learning Center in East Longmeadow.

For Corduff, this is the intriguing next chapter in a story that began when he came to this country from Ireland in 1989, working first as a banquet chef at the Marriott in Springfield and later as a member of its quality-management team.

Eventually, he started doing some catering on his own and began looking at getting into business for himelf. While pursuing those dreams, he also interviewed to be head chef at Twin Hills Country Club. The interview was with Larry Perrault, who was at that time finalizing plans to join Rosskothen in a venture to reimagine the old Log Cabin restaurant property, in the shadow of Mount Tom, into a banquet facility.

They went to lunch at Friendly’s, where the discussion wasn’t about Twin Hills, but about the Log Cabin.

“I met Larry, I met Peter, we walked around the old Log Cabin, whipped out the drawings, and started our dream,” he said. “The rest is history.”

More than a quarter-century of colorful history, in fact, involving change, evolution, expansion (the Delaney House, then the the hotel, then Delaney’s Market), innovation, and overcoming challenges that ranged from the Great Recession to the pandemic. Over the course of that time, Corduff moved from chef to partner when the relationship with Perrault dissolved — a partnership that lasted 20 years.

The buyout came in late September, one of the busiest times for this group of businesses, leaving Corduff “without much time to stop and think,” he said — something he’s able to do now. Early on, he’s spent considerable time and energy reassuring the large staff that the business is stable and ready to maintain its standing as a market leader.

“A lot of what I do now, mapping out the year and planning out the seasons that are coming, is making sure that we have the right people in the right places, making sure everyone’s ready to do whatever it takes and trained in the art of war and the art of optimization.”

Moving forward, in the role of chief operator and executive chef, he will work in partnership with DeMarinis, who will focus on the construction and infrastructure sides of the equation, while Corduff will be handling day-to-day operations.

While doing so, his primary mission is to maintain the group’s reputation for quality — at all levels of its operation, from weddings, which are perhaps its hallmark, to a Friday-night dinner at the Delaney House, to a weekend stay at the hotel, now managed by Corduff’s wife, Dana.

“We’re known in the community as a quality product, and we aim hard to maintain that standard,” he said. “We have to adapt because the business is constantly changing and evolving.”

 

More Growth on the Menu

Looking back on the past 25 years or so, Corduff said that, for much of that time, he was back-of-the-house and more behind the scenes than the colorful, always-quotable Rosskothen. But later on, he started becoming more visible, and people could put a face with a name.

Or a voice with a name.

Indeed, Corduff was prominent in radio spots for the Log Cabin and Delaney House, specifically their steaks, made famous by the word ‘marbling,’ which Corduff would pronounce slowly for added effect. Later, he became more known through the opening of the Mick, a tavern of sorts within the Delaney House providing casual dining and live music.

With the change in ownership consumated last fall, he now assumes more responsibilities, especially in the big-picture planning for the future.

“My managers know that I will run into the hottest fire,” he told BusinessWest. “So whoever needs me, I’m there. And a lot of what I do now, mapping out the year and planning out the seasons that are coming, is making sure that we have the right people in the right places, making sure everyone’s ready to do whatever it takes and trained in the art of war and the art of optimization.

“In the catering world, you can be doing a wedding in a tent under a tree out in the woods, no power, no water, so we have to plan it all out,” he went on, using that example as metaphor for business in general and the need to be ready for anything.

And, as noted earlier, the two partners are entrepreneurial, intent on expanding this business group and making more changes.

One ongoing project is to essentially separate the front (lower) parking lot at the Log Cabin from the rest of the property, with the intention of it becoming home to a Dunkin’ Donuts and the fifth Delaney’s Market, an operation that will be Rosskothen’s domain as part of the buyout agreement.

The larger and more ambitious plan, however, calls for redevelopent of the upper parking lot.

“The vision is to build a hotel in the upper lot,” Corduff said, adding that DeMarinis, the engineer, is developing plans to move dirt and create more space to park cars in that area while also identifying a footprint for a hotel and acompanying restaurant. The hotel would be a smaller, boutique facility, similar to the D. Hotel at the Delaney House, with maybe 60 to 80 rooms.

“We really want to bring to it some of the Log Cabin character, some of the New England character, with some of our own touches,” he said, adding that a rooftop restaurant, one with dramatic views down the mountain, is also within the plan, one that will likely take shape over the next three to four years.

As he talked with BusinessWest, Corduff recalled what he called a “sendoff” for Rosskothen the night before at the the Mick. It was an occasion to mark the end of an era, the end of a business relationship, and the start of the next chapter.

“It was a kind of a thank you and sendoff, and it was cool to see,” he said. “We had some staff that don’t work here anymore that came to say ‘hi’ and ‘bye.’ There was a lot of gratitude in the room last night; there’s been a lot of years of hard work together.”

And many more to come, Corduff added, noting that, with the passage of one era, another has begun. And as it does, he will certainly fall back on that chef’s mentality (not to mention the chef’s coat) he mentioned earlier.

And that means keeping a level head and always treating people with respect.

 

Local Fitness-center Owners Aim to Keep Members Motivated

By Contributor
Steve Conca
Healthcare News Special Coverage

One Workout at a Time

By Emily Thurlow

Steve Conca

Steve Conca, owner of Conca Sport and Fitness

Between platefuls of coma-inducing turkey, complete with all the fixings, and palatable pies and pastries, it’s safe to say that many people are happy to see the hearty overindulgences of the 2023 holiday season firmly in the rear-view mirror.

For many, the start of the new year provides an opportunity to start out on the right foot, by developing better habits and establishing goals. Through myriad resolutions, one theme that tends to stand out year after year is health.

Notably, an October 2023 survey from Forbes Health/OnePoll revealed that 48% of U.S. adults say improving fitness is a top priority for them in 2024. Google Trends also released data showing that some of the top health-related searches in January include meal preparation, healthy meal ideas, and gym memberships.

And while some say they resolve to lose weight or improve their health in January, it often takes another month before they will deliver, said Danny Deane, who owns two local F45 Training franchises with his wife, Jessye.

“February is the number-one month in the fitness industry, with September being second,” he said. “In January, everybody starts to think about it, and then, by the time February rolls around, they’re really making good on their promise.”

Whether it’s during the winter doldrums or as the leaves begin to turn in the fall, local fitness studios and gyms continue to see positive gains in this post-pandemic climate — in both their business and their clients.

“I think people are realizing that putting an investment into themselves pays big dividends.”

“I think people are realizing that putting an investment into themselves pays big dividends,” said Steve Conca, owner of Conca Sport and Fitness in West Springfield.

During the pandemic, gyms and fitness centers were severely challenged by shutdowns and limitations on the amount of people in a space at any given time. For some, the impact was minimal. For others, it’s been rather extreme.

F45 Training

One key to success at gyms like F45 Training is accountability with a workout partner.

In fact, 25% of fitness studios and gyms have closed permanently since the onset of COVID-19, according the National Health & Fitness Alliance, an industry group.

However, Jon Davis, owner and performance director of Powerhouse Training in East Longmeadow, said business is “as good as it ever has been.”

Powerhouse Training, which Davis founded in 2010, offers sports-specific lessons for baseball and softball athletes as well as general performance training in speed, agility, strength, and mobility. The majority of his clientele includes athletes between age 8 and pro-rank levels.

Because Powerhouse Training provides more of a specialized kind of exercise regimen, Davis said he didn’t see the decline in attendance that many commercial gyms did. He said he’s also found that parents are valuing their children’s access to being physically active.

“I think a lot of parents realize the importance of having their kids get outside and socialize and stay active, for not only their physical health, but also their mental health,” he told BusinessWest. “Since we provide more of a specialized training, the kids really can’t train on their own, and they need assistance as well as special equipment, and they need a lot more space. So I think we were a necessity for them, which has certainly helped out.”

The group training, which involves youth athletes coming in two to three times a week, costs between $145 and $195 per month. Prices range between $50 and $90 for baseball lessons and $50 and $75 for fitness training.

 

Investing in Health

For the most part, Conca’s entire membership stuck with his gym. He expressed gratitude for the tight-knit community, or “family,” that is Conca Sport and Fitness, which first opened in 2009.

For months, all the personal training and small-group training was done outside. Unlike more recent weather patterns, the forecast remained relatively sunny, with little precipitation. And once the clouds of the pandemic restrictions cleared, he actually saw a slight resurgence.

“People are always going to want the newest, latest, and greatest thing — and, certainly, some of those innovations are really helpful — but honestly, I think learning good form and focusing on staying balanced, working mobility, and strength training will never get old.”

“I think it’s opened people’s eyes to realize, ‘I really wasn’t taking great care of myself,’ so it’s led them to want to invest in themselves,” he said. “Here, we call investing in yourself a health savings account. The more you can put in now, the more you can reap the benefits.”

In addition to personal training and group training, Conca Sport and Fitness also offers health nutrition and wellness coaching. Memberships range between $209 to $349 a month, with individual sessions ranging between $20 to $37.

“When people come here, they aren’t just going to bang out a few workouts, high-five, fist-bump, and ‘see ya later,’” he said. “It’s a whole process that includes teaching people how to take better care of themselves as they age.”

As for the Deanes, the couple, who opened their first gym, F45 Training Hampshire Meadows in Hadley in 2018, decided to open a second location in West Springfield in 2020.

“A lot of doors closed throughout the last couple years in the fitness world, but we are lucky enough to be on the other side of it and are actually above pre-COVID numbers at Hampshire Meadows,” Danny said. “We made it through.”

The 45 in F45 stands for 45 minutes of functional fitness, with sessions led by two personal trainers in a motivating team environment, said Jessye Deane, who is also executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and Regional Tourism Council.

F45 Training does not employ heavy equipment or machinery

F45 Training does not employ heavy equipment or machinery, but it does include the use of kettlebells, free weights, and body-weight-based movements.

“The goal is really functional fitness. It’s scalable and adaptable, so it fits every fitness level,” she said. “A lot of times, what we hear is that folks go to the gym and want to get healthier, want to be able to move better, and want to be able to feel better, but they don’t quite know how to work the machines or they don’t know what they’re doing, and they get hurt, or they get frustrated. And this is kind of the answer to that. All you have to do is walk through the door, and we will take it from there.”

Every day, the gym features a different workout. F45 Training does not incorporate heavy equipment or machinery, but it does include the use of kettlebells, free weights, and body-weight-based movements.

The workouts for the Australian-based franchise combine elements of high-intensity interval training, circuit training, and functional training. The West Springfield location also currently offers a free seven-day trial, and the Hadley location is offering a seven days for $7 offer.

Trends come and go, but according to the area gym owners BusinessWest spoke with, having a healthier lifestyle comes down to the basics.

“People are always going to want the newest, latest, and greatest thing — and, certainly, some of those innovations are really helpful — but honestly, I think learning good form and focusing on staying balanced, working mobility, and strength training will never get old,” Davis said. “I think those tend to produce the best results.”

Conca agreed, noting that, as people age, he explained, they lose strength, muscle mass and function.

“Father time just begins chipping away,” Conca said. “That’s why maintaining muscle mass and strength levels — the fundamentals — is super important. I’d argue that it’s more important than so-called cardio, because you can get a good cardiovascular response with some very good strength training.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, muscle mass decreases approximately 3% to 8% per decade after age 30. After age 60, the rate of decline is even higher.

While F45 workouts have the adaptability to pull in emerging trends, Jessye Deane emphasized that trends are not the mainstay of the gym.

“We want you to feel great now, and we want you to feel great in 20 years — that’s our motivator,” she said. “The focus of our programming is to make sure that we’re providing people the safest, most effective functional fitness workout they can have.”

One way F45 workouts tap into recent trends is through supersets, she added. A superset includes performing a set of two different exercises back to back with little to no rest in between. One example of this would be doing a set of 10 push-ups, followed immediately by pull-ups.

 

Sticking with It

Finding motivation to stick with any new habit can be difficult, of course. It can potentially be even harder when the only opportunity to dedicate time to fitness is before the sun rises or well after it sinks below the horizon. That time crunch, combined with inclement winter weather, can make someone want to shed their new goal before they even begin.

One way Conca and the Deanes have seen clients stick with their fitness routines is by not doing it alone.

“Accountability is key. Having a group of people that you’re excited to see every day helps,” Jessye Deane said, adding that her husband is her workout partner. “Danny is my accountability partner. He wakes me up every morning whether I want to or not.”

At Powerhouse, Davis coaches each athlete differently based on their personality. Some kids may require more positive affirmation to help build their confidence, while others require him to be blunt and upfront and tell them directly what they’re doing incorrectly.

“It’s getting to know these athletes — getting to know what they like, what they don’t like, what motivates them, and then trying to find out what makes them tick and make sure that, when it’s time to push, we know what button to push,” he explained.

Throughout his tenure, Davis has produced more than 100 All-Western Mass. high-school all-stars, 13 All-Americans at the high-school and collegiate levels, and three Western Mass. Players of the Year in football, baseball, and girls lacrosse. He’s also helped produce 10 Major League Baseball draft picks out of the high-school ranks, including Isan Díaz and Seamus Curran.

At Conca’s gym, motivational phrases festoon the walls, including quotes from famous folks ranging from Wayne Gretzky to Amelia Earhart. The gym also features a so-called ‘strong wall’ that includes one-word motivational phrases that clients create to help drive their personal success. At the time of this interview, Conca was still tinkering with the specifics of the acronym LIFT, with the goal of lifting others up.

For those looking to dip their toe into the fitness and exercise pool, Jessye Deane said anytime is a good time to start.

“There is nothing more important than your health,” she told BusinessWest. “Whether you’re working out at an F45 or you’re doing yoga or you’re visiting any of the wonderful studios in the Valley, we really want people just to feel better and be healthier.”

 

Several Factors Are Accelerating Auto-insurance Rates

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Insurance Special Coverage

Driving Up the Cost

 

 

Wondering why auto insurance is much more expensive now than it was a couple of years ago? You’re not alone.

There are a number of reasons why, but Joe Phillips starts with an unprecedented series of changes in driver behavior brought on by COVID-19.

“Companies started adopting safe-driver points and rebate offers, and when 2020 hit, everyone stopped driving, they stayed home, nobody was going to school, the roads were empty, and people got a lot of money back because accidents were way down,” said Phillips, president of Phillips Insurance Agency in Chicopee.

“That situation, with less activity, went on for more than two years: a reduction in driving, reduction in accidents, lower repair costs,” he went on. “But in late ’22, 2023, more people were back to work, everyone was back to school, distracted driving is on the rise, and claims have gone through the roof.”

John Dowd, president and CEO of the Dowd Agencies in Holyoke, said an increase in accidents after the pandemic caught insurance companies “flat-footed.”

“Insurance companies set their rates in advance for the year; they have to file with the state. So by the time claims started coming in and hitting their books, they could see that they were underwater in terms of seeing a profit.”

“Insurance companies set their rates in advance for the year; they have to file with the state,” he explained. “So by the time claims started coming in and hitting their books, they could see that they were underwater in terms of seeing a profit. So they’ve reacted to that, and this past year, the rates went up significantly.”

“So they’ve reacted to that, and this past year, the rates went up significantly — and in this current year, it’s still going on,” he continued. “It’s a challenge for brokers like ourselves; we’re getting quotes from different companies to try to mitigate some of these increases, but we’re finding they’re all pretty much raising the rates. It’s not isolated.”

Dowd explained a concept well-known in the insurance world, but perhaps not to many customers: the loss ratio. The break-even figure is 100%, meaning that, for every dollar a carrier collects in premiums, it’s paying that much back in claims and administrative costs.

“So, obviously they want to be at least a few points under that to be able to make a profit,” he said. “On the automotive line alone, we’re seeing loss ratios of 110%, 115%. When that happens, they have no choice but to raise their rates because these losses eat into their profits and cause all kinds of problems for companies.”

Why they got caught flat-footed is a story with several different factors, which Dowd and Phillips shared with BusinessWest for this issue’s focus on insurance.

 

Parts of the Problem

Among the ways the pandemic has continued to affect the insurance world are two terms everyone is weary of by now: inflation and supply chain.

“When you’ve got a damaged car and you have supply-chain problems because of COVID, you can’t get parts, and then you had a stimulus from the federal government that just caused inflation. So now you can’t get a part, and they’re more expensive, so these claims have gone through the roof,” Phillips said, citing electric vehicles in particular. He noted that the average cost to repair the bumper of a Rivian electric truck after a collision is $4,200, and the Tesla is the most expensive car to insure in the U.S.

Joe Phillips

“When you’ve got a damaged car and you have supply-chain problems because of COVID, you can’t get parts, and then you had a stimulus from the federal government that just caused inflation.”

Dowd agreed. “All the technology is more expensive. What used to be a $1,500 bumper repair is now $2,500, and that’s because of the sensors. It looks like there’s not much damage, but when you have to replace all the sensors, all of a sudden, you’re asking, ‘how did this bill escalate to this level? It didn’t look like that much damage to me.’ But it was in a bad spot where you had to replace the sensors.”

Beyond the availability and complexity of parts is the sophistication of technicians themselves, who understand the electronics in today’s high-tech cars, Dowd added. “With a lot of technologies built in, the technicians that do these repairs have to be trained properly, and there’s a shortage of them. So it’s the cost of products and labor, it’s the availability, the supply chain, qualified technicians … they’re sort of coming together at once.”

And it’s no myth that accidents are up, Phillips added. “The distracted driving is huge. Not to sound like the old guy, but these kids can’t put their phones down. When you get to a stop sign, you see these young people getting on their phone for 15 seconds, and you have to beep at them. And then the reaction … oh boy.”

Severe weather events in recent years have also played a part in rising insurance rates for every type of coverage, from home and auto to commercial, he noted.

“It’s a real confluence of things coming together to create almost a perfect storm,” Dowd added. On one hand, everyone knows about inflation and what that’s done to prices, whether at the grocery store, the gas pump, anywhere. The cost of parts to repair cars, the cost of materials to repair homes, everything has gone up, and it’s gone up in rather a dramatic fashion over the last 12 to 18 months.”

He noted that inflation has begun to wane, “but there still supply-chain challenges, and that creates delays getting parts, which creates delays in getting the car back, which means you’ve got to rent a car … these are all ripple effects of what’s going on.”

And it’s caused concern in the insurance industry, Phillips said, as evidenced by recent waves of layoffs at national carriers like GEICO and Liberty Mutual. “They’re not making the money they once did because of increased claims.”

Meanwhile, Dowd said, the retail market — which is the realm in which he and other local agencies deal with clients — is being pressured by the reinsurance market, which, as the name suggests, is populated by companies that reinsure much of the risk from retail carriers, which pay a premium to the reinsurer to limit their exposure to catastrophic loss.

“The reinsurance market has been tested financially in the last couple of years, like they haven’t been in a long time,” he explained. “Judgments are higher, the juries are awarding higher payouts to injured people, and it’s starting to get into the reinsurance layer, so the reinsurers have raised their rates; they charge their retail carriers higher premiums, and the retail carriers pass along some of these increases to their customers. For us, that’s another factor.”

With weather events alone contributing to $95 billion in insurance claims last year, much paid out by reinsurers, Dowd said, “they’re scrambling to make their profit.”

 

Risk and Reward

In short, there’s a lot going on, and it’s not a Massachusetts problem, Dowd said. “It’s a nationwide issue, and as brokers, we’re the ones that have to deliver the bad news. We certainly understand the level of concern the customers have, and we don’t want to deliver that news any more than they want to hear it.

John Dowd

John Dowd

“The reinsurers have raised their rates; they charge their retail carriers higher premiums, and the retail carriers pass along some of these increases to their customers.”

“We’re doing the best to find alternatives for them to keep increases to a minimum; sometimes we can, but sometimes we can’t,” he went on. “Every change you make to a policy to try to reduce cost, whether a huge deductible or less coverage, it’s all a gamble. It’s like going to the casino. When you take on a higher deductible or reduced coverage, you’re betting on not having a claim. And that can work for you, but it can work against you.”

Phillips agreed. “Everyone wants the lowest cost until they have a claim. When people come in for a quote, they say, ‘I don’t need that, I don’t need this.’ And when they have a claim, they say, ‘oh, I definitely would have taken that.’ Well, it would have only cost $32 a year.

“We never sell the lowest limits,” he went on, but sometimes clients will insist on saving a couple hundred dollars to raise a $500 deductible into the four-figure range. “People think they can tolerate a $2,000 collision deductible until they have the accident.”

Those who want to keep their costs down should not only shop prices, Phillips added, but be aware of their credit score and their driving record — “even a failure to stop or a speeding ticket can add hundreds of dollars of premium” — but also be aware of the type and make of the vehicle they buy, which greatly impacts coverage, based on average theft rate and repair costs.

Dowd said certain people, who have a long track record of safe driving, may be fine taking a higher deductible.

“There’s obviously no guarantee. And if you take the savings and take a little more risk, you still need the catastrophic protection in case something serious happens,” he stressed. “You don’t want to cut into the muscle of the coverage where the catastrophic protection isn’t there, which can really hurt people financially.”

After all, insurance is all about protecting against the most severe losses — even if purchasing it makes a bigger dent than it used to.

Dietz & Company Helps Its Young Team Members Advance

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Clockwise from top: CFO Tina Gloster and Principals Kevin Riordon, Lee Morrissette, and Jason Newman
Architecture Special Coverage

Professional Development — by Design

Clockwise from top: CFO Tina Gloster and Principals Kevin Riordon, Lee Morrissette, and Jason Newman

Clockwise from top: CFO Tina Gloster and Principals Kevin Riordon, Lee Morrissette, and Jason Newman (Photo by Paul Schnaittacher)

To explain what it means to be named an Emerging Professional Friendly Firm, Jason Newman offered some background on what it’s like to be an aspiring architect.

‘Aspiring,’ because simply earning a degree and going to work at an architecture firm doesn’t make one an architect; other requirements are experience — a certain number of hours worked in the field — and a series of examinations.

“Part of the experience piece is the hours worked in this office, and those hours are not just a lump-sum number of hours worked — it’s a number of hours worked in specific categories of the profession, like drawings, construction administration, and practice management,” said Newman, a principal at Dietz & Company Architects in Springfield.

“One of the things we pay attention to, very thoughtfully for every employee, is that, if you’ve got all your drawing hours satisfied, we’re not going to make you do drawing for another two years,” he went on. “That’s not going to move you forward to your license. So you won’t come to the end of the road here at Dietz and feel, ‘I’m just getting drawing. I have to go somewhere else where I can get construction-management experience.’

“If you’ve got all your drawing hours satisfied, we’re not going to make you do drawing for another two years. That’s not going to move you forward to your license.”

“This is not Boston, where 100 qualified architect candidates are at our door. We have to take care of the people here because we want them to stay,” he went on. “We want to make sure that they feel growth opportunities are here.”

That’s precisely the philosophy behind the Emerging Professional Friendly Firm program overseen by the New England components of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). A handful of firms in each New England state are so recognized each year — Dietz among them for several years running — for promoting the advancement of young team members through professional development and personal growth opportunities.

“A few years back, AIA New England came out with programs to encourage companies to adopt policies and procedures and training and internal education programs that would further develop the younger generation of architects fresh out of school, to take them in and help them grow professionally toward architecture licensure, which is what everyone refers to as the ‘stamp.’ That’s when you officially call yourself an architect,” Newman explained.

“This is a program to encourage firms to get away from the old methods of pigeonholing, where, in many cases, your first experience on an architecture job was drawing bathrooms for three years, being tucked into one thing because you’re brand new,” he went on. “The goal of this program was to incentivize firms to be more supportive, to promote emerging professional development.”

Lee Morrissette, another principal, spent more than a decade in Boston before coming to Dietz, and said he has always appreciated its emphasis on mentorship, continuing education, and lifelong investigation of the profession. “It’s a much more transparent firm, in the way the business goes on, than anywhere I’ve been.”

Jason Newman

Jason Newman

“A lot of the junior staff see when we get praise for our designs — or criticized for our designs. It gives them a fuller perspective on what’s happening beyond the drawings.”

It certainly made an impression on Newman, who came to Dietz as a student intern 13 years ago and “never found a reason to leave,” as he put it. “So I’m an example of someone to wants to stay with this firm because they feel this is a good, long-term place for them.”

 

Drawing Up a Strategy

According to AIA New England, the Emerging Professional Friendly Firm program “has an ability to attract and retain employees by sending a message to current employees, future employees, and other regional firms that the firm has evaluated their policies from an emerging professional lens, the firm recognizes emerging professionals at their firm, and the firm values emerging professionals’ development to sustain the future growth of their practice.”

That resonates with Newman, who noted that the aim is for young professionals to think, “that’s a great place for me to be. That’s a great place for me to grow. I know, when I go to other firms, my development will be of value not only to me, but to the company and the people I’m working with.”

To earn that designation year after year has involved a series of proactive steps, Morrissette said, including that emphasis on diverse experiences that move staff toward licensure more quickly.

“Many larger firms get a bad reputation for being the kind of firm where you get stuck in a position, doing that function for a long time, falling between the cracks,” he noted. “We call ourselves a mid-sized firm — at 25 people, we’re the largest in Western Mass., but still a mid-sized firm for the country — so we get a lot of face time with the staff. It’s hard for someone to fall through the cracks here.”

In addition, Newman said, “we make sure entry-level people are getting the whole experience. We include the whole team in project meetings. I’ve been in the industry 13 years, and back then, the architect and the project manager went to the meeting, and they came back and told you what happened.”

Lee Morrissette

Lee Morrissette

“Over the past two years, we’ve spent more time doing creative designs. That’s what makes us happy as professionals — being able to stretch our creative muscles and push ourselves.”

But the rise of remote meetings made it more common to include everyone, and now it’s simply firm policy at Dietz.

“A lot of the junior staff see when we get praise for our designs — or criticized for our designs. It gives them a fuller perspective on what’s happening beyond the drawings,” Newman explained. “Twenty to 30% of what we do as architects is management of expectations, helping people pull their own creativity into the designs, helping them express ideas that they don’t know quite how to express. Well, this gives the junior staff exposure to that earlier than what they have been given traditionally.”

All staff members are also given a stipend each year, called an educational allowance, which can be used for anything they feel will better their professional development.

“Architecture is a mixture of art and science, and we want to create buildings that are beautiful and people want to look at, but also stand up and are good, strong structures,” Newman noted. “So we allow a very broad interpretation of what is an activity or class or training someone might feel would better their professional growth. It might be as simple as a painting class, targeting the artistic side, or a business of architecture class, or project management class, or they might want to buy books because they’re studying for an exam. People use it in very creative and interesting ways.”

Morrissette and Newman also value the culture of mentorship they’ve seen — and helped cultivate — at Dietz & Company.

“We both love teaching. We both participated in university reviews of student works in a volunteer way,” Morrissette said, adding that he has taught at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston as adjunct faculty. “I loved being involved. But we’ve found, with this focus on teaching and mentoring in the office, we can do that teaching here. For me, it satisfies the reward I get from teaching and mentoring professional staff, and I get to do it as part of my job.”

 

Something to Build On

That job has expanded since Newman, Morrissette, Principal Kevin Riordon, and Chief Financial Officer Tina Gloster began easing into leadership roles last year as part of the firm’s transition from a single owner — President and Trustee Kerry Dietz — to one with an employee stock-ownership plan, or ESOP. Meanwhile, the firm has continued to expand its footprint, including more work outside the 413.

“It’s been a really great year. We’ve had a tremendous amount of work,” Newman said, adding that, while not every project is exciting from a creative perspective, he’s gratified to work on anything that benefits a community or a client. But some of this past year’s work has, indeed, been on the “cool” side. “We’ve shown we can get in with the Boston guys and compete. It’s really encouraging. It shows our model is working and we’re getting better and better every day.”

Morrissette agreed. “As an architecture firm, we’re always looking for more work. You want to do everything; the company wants to pay the bills. But over the past two years, we’ve spent more time doing creative designs. That’s what makes us happy as professionals — being able to stretch our creative muscles and push ourselves.

“You know, we feel creative success at the end of a project that no one knows about for a year or two until it’s built. Then they say, ‘that’s a great project.’ We have projects we’re proud of, and we can’t wait for the public to see them.”

HCC Welcomes New Manager of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving

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Daily News

Elizabeth Ollson

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Elizabeth Ollson as its manager of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving.

Ollson is a 2018 graduate of HCC and also holds a bachelor’s degree in women, gender, and sexuality studies from UMass Amherst. She joined HCC’s division of Institutional Advancement in November.

Ollson came to HCC from Boston College, where she was the senior associate director of Annual Giving Programs. Prior to that, she worked at Amherst College as the Amherst Fund coordinator.

“We are thrilled to welcome Beth back to campus,” said Julie Phillips, HCC’s director of Development. “She brings over a decade of experience working on professional higher-education advancement teams and possesses a deep understanding of the importance of alumni engagement and its impact on advancing college initiatives.”

Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women Launches Scholarship

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Daily News

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) announced the launch of a new scholarship program that aims to support emerging leaders of the Commonwealth to continue their education journey to leadership and economic empowerment.

The MCSW mission is to provide a permanent, effective voice for women and girls across Massachusetts and to innovatively promote and empower the women of the Commonwealth. Designed to support woman-identifying students already enrolled in a Massachusetts public higher-education institution, scholarships will be available to help individuals complete their degree.

“This new program seeks to provide funding for women students, who may not be able to access scholarship and grant funding typically available to more traditional students, to continue their education and path to economic success,” said MCSW State Commissioner Denella Clark, who chairs the new scholarship committee.

The MCSW will award five individuals with scholarships of $5,000 each for the 2024-25 academic year. Applicants must complete the online application and submit supporting materials no later than March 1. Applicants must currently be enrolled in an accredited degree or certificate program in Massachusetts and have completed at least one year toward their degree. The funds from this scholarship will go toward tuition, fees, books, and related supplies or equipment for study. All funds awarded are provided by the MCSW trust fund. Click here to learn more and apply.

VOC Offers Free Tax Preparation to Eligible Residents

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — Valley Opportunity Council (VOC), which manages the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program providing free tax preparation to those of low and moderate incomes, began its 2024 tax preparations this week.

VITA in-person tax preparation appointments are available through May 15 at 35 Mt. Carmel Avenue, Chicopee; 300 High St., Holyoke; and, new this year, 20 Lathrop St., West Springfield. To schedule an appointment, call (413) 612-0206. Those eligible for the VITA program must live in Massachusetts with an income of up to $60,000. Appointments are available on weekdays, evenings, and Sundays.

Certified volunteer tax professionals help qualified individuals prepare and file basic state and federal tax returns and prior-year returns. VOC also offers free electronic filing of tax returns, allowing for individuals to receive their refunds much more quickly than with paper filings.

The core mission of VITA is to assist low- to moderate-income taxpayers in satisfying their tax responsibilities and minimize financial hardships, in turn saving taxpayers thousands of dollars in filing fees.

In 2023, VOC helped 743 individuals file their state and federal tax returns through the VITA program. VOC has been providing the VITA program for 25 years in the communities of Chicopee, Holyoke, and, more recently, Westfield.

Rotary Club Supports Revitalize CDC’s Warehouse and Distribution Center Project

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC) announced it has received a $2,000 grant from the Springfield Rotary Club to support development of a new warehouse and distribution center at its 240 Cadwell Dr., Springfield location, where it moved in early 2023.

Springfield Rotary Club funding will be allocated toward construction supplies for the warehouse and distribution center. The center is essential to supporting Revitalize CDC’s program expansion so it may meet the growing demand for healthier, safer homes and neighborhoods for low-income residents throughout the Greater Springfield area.

The 3,200-square-foot center will have two bays for vehicles and provide sufficient space to store program materials and supplies and refrigerated units to store food for Revitalize CDC’s Nutrition Rx program that provides nutrition and diabetes education and helps to address food insecurity. LaPlante Construction of East Longmeadow is the contractor for the project, expected to be completed by Dec. 31.

Since 1992, Revitalize CDC has repaired and rehabilitated more than 1,500 homes in Greater Springfield with the help of 10,000 volunteers, investing $54 million into Western Mass. In 2022-23, Revitalize CDC served 826 households (more than 2,300 individuals) consisting of low-income families with children, older adults, military veterans, and individuals living with disabilities.

“Now we’ve got a staff of 18, and we’re still growing,” said Colleen Shanley-Loveless, president and CEO of Revitalize CDC. “We certainly need the space and ability to grow within a space to be able to serve more people in the Greater Springfield area.”

Picture This

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Pictured: United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Director of Development Holly Martineau (center) flanked by, from left, bankESB’s Gary Turku, Marge Prendergast, President and CEO Matthew Sosik, Jessica West, Dena Hall, and Bozena Dabek.
Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

 

United in Support

bankESB and its employees recently donated $50,000 to the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region. Employees pledged nearly $23,000 of their own funds in the United Way workplace campaign, which was combined with the bank’s dollar-for-dollar match and additional corporate contribution.

Pictured: United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Director of Development Holly Martineau (center) flanked by, from left, bankESB’s Gary Turku, Marge Prendergast, President and CEO Matthew Sosik, Jessica West, Dena Hall, and Bozena Dabek.

Pictured: United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Director of Development Holly Martineau (center) flanked by, from left, bankESB’s Gary Turku, Marge Prendergast, President and CEO Matthew Sosik, Jessica West, Dena Hall, and Bozena Dabek.

 

 

International Partnerships

Hubert Benitez, president of American International College (AIC), took center stage at the sixth annual International Conference of the Occupational Therapy Assoc. of Morocco on Jan. 6 in Kenitra, Morocco. The conference recognized Benitez with the 2024 Leadership Excellence Award. In his keynote speech, titled “The Role of Higher Education Leadership in Creating Innovative, Entrepreneurial, Diverse, and Interdisciplinary Environments,” Benitez emphasized how international partnerships in higher education play a crucial role in bringing people from different countries and cultures together.

Hubert Benitez, president of American International College

Hubert Benitez, president of American International College

 

 

Distinctive Performance

Mercy Medical Center’s Family Life Center has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts with a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. To earn this designation, a facility must deliver quality care safely and cost-effectively. Designated facilities demonstrate higher-quality care compared to non-Blue Distinction Center facilities, with overall average rates of 26% fewer episiotomies, 60% fewer elective deliveries, and 17% fewer cesarean births, as well as an average savings of 21% for maternity care.

Mercy Medical Center’s Family Life Center

Mercy Medical Center’s Family Life Center has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts with a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program

Agenda

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Agenda

40 Under Forty Nominations

Through Feb. 16: BusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for the 40 Under Forty class of 2023. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 16. Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be as detailed and thorough as possible, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form. Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges, and the selected individuals will be announced and profiled in the April 29 issue of BusinessWest and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala in June. Event sponsorship opportunities are available.

 

Employment-law Breakfast

Feb. 15: Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. will host a breakfast briefing from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel in Springfield. Attorneys from the firm will discuss strategies for defending and avoiding costly wage-and-hour lawsuits. The briefing, titled “Wage and Hour Law Update: Navigating 2024 and Beyond,” will highlight recent significant state and federal cases involving wage-and-hour issues; the proposed salary increase to the ‘white-collar’ overtime exemption minimum salary threshold and the impact of the proposed changes; common mistakes by employers; and suggested action steps for businesses, including the use of arbitration agreements. The cost for the briefing is $35 per person, which includes a continental breakfast and parking. For more information or to register, email [email protected] with the attendee’s name and company.

 

Western Mass Runners Hall of Fame Induction

March 8: The Western Mass Runners Hall of Fame (WMRHoF) board of directors announced the inductees of the third class. Since its inception, the WMRHoF has celebrated outstanding contributors to the running community, with its first class inducted in 2020 and the second in 2022. The third class inductees are Ric Bourie, Mary Cobb, Howard Drew, Sue Haryasz, Rich Larsen, Nicole McGilpin, Bob Neil, Bill Romito, Ed Sandifer, and John Stifler. In addition to these distinguished individuals, the charity organization Griffin’s Friends, which has supported children with cancer and their families for decades in the Springfield area by running and raising funds, will be inducted. Also, Neal Lamberton, a runner who has volunteered his time to the running community for years, will receive the Brian Goddu Volunteer of the Year Award, founded in memory of Goddu, a founding board member of the Western Mass Runners Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. at the Holyoke Elks Lodge. The guest speaker will be Bob Hodge, third-place finisher in the 1979 Boston Marathon, multiple Mount Washington Road Race champion, 40-year course record holder on the DH Jones/Amherst 10 Mile Course, and author of Tale of the Times. Tickets for the dinner and ceremony are priced at $20 and are available for purchase at www.runreg.com/w-mass-runners-hall-of-fame-induction-banquet. For those unable to attend but wishing to support the WMRHoF mission, donations are welcome via the RunReg website.

 

Women’s Leadership Conference

April 4: Bay Path University announced that real-estate legend, investor, best-selling author, entrepreneur, producer, and Shark Tank shark Barbara Corcoran will be the keynote speaker at the 27th Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC), taking place at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. Corcoran has been an investor/shark on ABC’s four-time Emmy award-winning show Shark Tank for 10 seasons, investing in more than 80 businesses to date. She chronicled her rise from waiting tables in a New York diner to heading a $5 billion real-estate company in her bestselling book, Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business! She’ll bring her personal brand of no-nonsense wisdom and supportive advice to the more than 1,600 attendees who are expected to attend this year’s WLC. The WLC will also feature lunchtime speaker Amy Purdy, a three-time Paralympic medalist in snowboarding for Team USA. Throughout her life, Purdy has taken on obstacles and broken through, making her way into the upper echelons of athletics, onto the dance floor of Dancing with the Stars, and onto the New York Times bestseller list as the author of On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life. She co-founded Adaptive Action Sports for athletes with disabilities and is the host of the critically acclaimed podcast Bouncing Forward! Her work has led her to be labeled a “hero” by Oprah Winfrey and has made her one of the most in-demand motivational and corporate speakers on the globe. This year’s conference will also feature breakout sessions led by business experts and authors, including Yvonne Camus, the former COO of SPINCO, Canada’s largest indoor cycling brand and the only female to outperform the Navy Seals in the multi-terrain adventure race known as Eco-Challenge. In addition, the WLC will welcome Sylvia Baffour, an author, podcast host, and emotional-intelligence coach recently ranked by HubSpot among the top 15 female motivational speakers. Additional keynote and breakout session speakers will be announced soon. For further information on the 2024 conference, sponsorship information, and ticket sales, visit baypath.edu/wlc.

 

Difference Makers 

April 10: The 16th annual Difference Makers Gala will be held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Since 2009, BusinessWest has been recognizing the work of individuals, groups, businesses, and institutions through this recognition program. The 2024 Difference Makers will be profiled in the Feb. 19 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. Tickets go on sale Feb. 15. Burkhart, Pizzanelli, P.C., the Royal Law Firm, and TommyCar Auto Group are partner sponsors of Difference Makers this year.

People on the Move

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People on the Move
Kimberly Howarth

Kimberly Howarth

Jenna Roux

Jenna Roux

The certified public accounting firm Burkhart, Pizzanelli, P.C. announced two recent additions to its professional team. Kimberly Howarth, CPA received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant University in 2005 and a master’s degree in accounting from Western New England University in 2007. Her prior experience includes the position of senior accountant specializing in tax preparation. She has vast experience in preparing and reviewing tax returns. In addition to working with small and mid-sized businesses to fulfill their accounting, payroll, and tax-preparation needs, she has significant experience preparing individual and trust returns, as well as probate accounting. Jenna Roux, CPA received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Central Connecticut State University in 2012 and her master of taxation degree from University of Hartford in 2015. Her previous experience includes the position of senior accountant focusing on multi-state corporate, partnership, individual, and nonprofit income-tax returns. In addition, she has expertise in real-estate accounting practices, as well as functioning as an ‘outsourced CFO’ providing strategic consulting and support of daily financial activities.

•••••

Frank Colaccino

Frank Colaccino

Samalid Hogan

The Springfield Rotary Club presented Frank Colaccino and Samalid Hogan with Paul Harris Awards on Jan. 25 at the Student Prince Restaurant in Springfield. Colaccino, founder and president of the Colvest Group, earned a Paul Harris Award in recognition of years of outstanding service to the Springfield community and to the Rotary Club. In addition to his service and contributions to JGS Lifecare and American International College, for over 13 years Colaccino has chaired the Service Above Self Luncheon at the Basketball Hall of Fame. This event brings together more than 300 attendees from the Greater Springfield business community for a luncheon on Center Court at the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Service Above Self luncheon recognizes the charitable work of local and national honorees. Through Colaccino’s leadership, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for the Basketball Hall of Fame and for Rotary grants that have been awarded to local charities. Hogan, CEO and principal consultant at Greylock Management Consulting, is the immediate past president of Springfield Rotary and its first Latina president. Under her leadership, Springfield Rotary started a corporate membership program, collaborated with Dress for Success to develop a long-term investment program for women entering the workforce, and created a Service Day with Habitat for Humanity. Her dynamic and cheerful leadership made her presidency a banner year for Springfield Rotary. Hogan’s service to her community includes board participation on the Governor’s Latino Empowerment Council, Tech Foundry, and the board of trustees of Springfield Technical Community College.

•••••

MP CPAs recently announced the promotion of Amanda LaBonte and Jack LaBranche to senior associates at the firm. LaBonte has experience managing tax filings for high-net-worth individuals, partnerships, limited-liability companies, corporations, trusts, and estates. She also maintains the firm’s social-media presence and website maintenance. She joined the firm in August 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing and a master’s degree in accounting from Elms College. She sits on the Chicopee High School advisory board and works as a mentor and accounting advocate in the Springfield and Chicopee areas. She has also worked as a panelist on the business accounting panel at Elms College, where she answered questions from students and provided valuable industry insights. She belongs to the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield and frequently attends networking events in the area. LaBranche provides consulting and tax solutions to a diverse group of clients, including individuals, partnerships, limited-liability companies, corporations, and trusts. He specializes in working with high-net-worth clients and with private equity firms and their owners. He joined the firm in 2020 as an intern and transitioned to full-time upon his graduation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western New England University. He is active in the community as a part-time coach for West Springfield sports teams and a volunteer at a local soup kitchen, and was a past chairperson of the social action committee at MP CPAs, helping raise money for various local charities.

•••••

Brooke Williams

Brooke Williams

Matt Baran

MP CPAs also announced the promotions of Brooke Williams to audit manager and Matt Baran to tax manager. Williams manages audits, reviews, and compilations for small to medium-sized businesses. She also manages audits of Massachusetts charter schools (governmental entities), nonprofit organizations (including yellow book and single audits), and employee benefit plans. She joined the firm in 2019 and has more than five years of experience in public accounting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics and a master’s degree in accounting from Westfield State University. She is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. She takes an active role in the local community by participating in various community fundraising and networking events. Baran provides consulting and tax solutions to a diverse group of clients, including individuals, partnerships, corporations, and trusts. He specializes in working with high-net-worth clients and with private-equity firms and their owners. He joined the firm in 2018 as an intern and started full-time later that year. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in accounting and taxation from UMass Amherst. He remains involved in recruiting and mentorship efforts with the university.

•••••

 

Bulkley Richardson announced that Stephen Holstrom and Lauren Ostberg were promoted to partner, effective Jan. 1. Holstrom is a general practice litigator with a focus on medical-malpractice defense. In addition to medical-malpractice cases, he has litigated complex tort actions, commercial disputes, insurance cases, complex class actions, and education cases. Ostberg, a key member of Bulkley Richardson’s intellectual property and technology and cybersecurity practice groups, also maintains a diverse commercial-litigation practice.

•••••

Natalia Blank

Natalia Blank

Bay Path University announced that Natalia Blank has been elected to serve as vice president for Academic Affairs, which was effective Jan. 2. Blank will serve on the executive leadership team and work across all divisions at the university. In her role, she will articulate a clear and compelling vision for the academic enterprise that builds on Bay Path’s innovative approach to higher education, marshals the collective talents of faculty and staff in an environment of collegiality and cooperation, and use data-driven decision making and strategic thinking to optimize the student experience, from access through successful completion, as well as the academic operations of the university. After a national search, Blank comes to Bay Path from D’Youville University in Buffalo, N.Y., where she served as vice president for Academic Affairs. She joins the leadership team with nearly 20 years working in university administrative roles, including associate provost for Academic Affairs and Assessment at Norwich University in Vermont. For more than 20 years, Blank has served in various roles on both the faculty and administrative side in education. As a teacher-scholar, she has been the author of numerous publications, earned several awards and honors for teaching excellence, and has received multiple grants in support of student and faculty research. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Nizhegorod State University in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, and went on to receive her doctorate in organic/organometallic chemistry from Dartmouth College.

•••••

Gabrielle Gould, executive director of the Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) and the Downtown Amherst Foundation (DAF), announced she will be stepping down from her position at the BID to form a consulting business. She will continue in a leadership capacity for the DAF and its management of the Drake, the live performance venue in downtown Amherst. Her final day at the BID will be Feb. 22. Appointed executive director in August 2019, Gould’s four-plus years at the helm of the organization have been filled with notable successes, including strengthening the BID’s relationship with town government and institutional partners, teaming with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce on COVID relief for small businesses, producing signature downtown events like the Sip & Shop Stroll and Makers Market holiday event and Fire & Ice, and conceiving and launching the Drake, the downtown’s first-ever live performance venue. In recognition of their efforts, Gould and Claudia Pazmany, the chamber’s executive director, were named Difference Makers by BusinessWest in 2023. A search for Gould’s successor will commence in the coming weeks.

•••••

Devin Kindred

Devin Kindred

American International College (AIC) announced the appointment of Devin Kindred as director of Residence Life and Student Conduct. This appointment reflects the college’s recognition of Kindred’s commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience. In this new role, he will oversee residence education, student conduct, and housing operations at AIC. Serving as the chief housing officer for the college, he will manage the daily functions of the residence halls, supervise the professional live-in hall staff, and administer the student-conduct process. His responsibilities encompass providing support to professional and paraprofessional staff to foster a supportive living environment and maintaining a code of conduct that prioritizes the well-being and success of all students. Before assuming his new position, Kindred served as AIC’s assistant director for Residential and Commuter Student Living, managing housing operations and commuter-student relations. In addition to this role, he facilitated the Safe Zone – LGBTQ+ education series presented to more than 50 faculty and staff on campus. Before joining AIC, Kindred held positions as a residence-hall director at Sacred Heart University and residence director at Stonehill College. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resource management from Western New England University, and later attained his master of education in higher education leadership from Endicott College.

•••••

Country Bank announced the recent promotions of five key team members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise in their respective roles. These promotions reflect the bank’s commitment to recognizing and developing talent within the organization. Shane Elder has been promoted to first vice president, Business Banking team lead. With more than 11 years of experience in commercial lending and eight years in commercial-lending management, he has proven himself as a valuable asset to the Business Banking department. In addition to his role as team leader, he also oversees the Cash Management Sales department. Brett LoCicero has been promoted to first vice president, Facilities and Security. With seven years of service to the bank, his expertise in managing facilities and security operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nichols College and is pursuing his PMP (project management professional) certification. Justin Calheno has been promoted to vice president, Retail Lending Business Development officer. With 20 years of lending experience, including the last seven years with Country Bank, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State University and is currently attending the American Banker Assoc. Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Antonio Palano has been promoted to vice president, Retail Lending. His 15-year tenure at Country Bank showcases his commitment and dedication to the organization. Having progressed through various roles, he currently manages the Retail Lending Servicing and Operations departments. He holds an associate degree in business administration from Springfield Technical Community College and is a 2023 graduate of New England School of Financial Studies. Cuc Nguyen has been promoted to Retail Banking officer of the Paxton Banking Center. With more than 16 years of banking experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role. Her previous experience at Commerce Bank, Berkshire Bank, and DCU has equipped her with a deep understanding of front-line management and customer satisfaction. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Southern New Hampshire University.

•••••

Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan

Shawn Thamert

Shawn Thamert

Health New England announced the recent appointment of two vice presidents: Sarah Morgan, vice president of Human Resources, and Shawn Thamert, vice president of Sales and chief growth officer. Morgan has been promoted from within the organization, where she had been serving as director of Human Resources since 2021. In her new role as vice president of Human Resources, she leads and oversees Health New England’s human-capital and organizational-development operations, ensuring that business strategies, plans, and initiatives are developed and implemented in compliance with governing regulations, internal policies, and procedures. She is also responsible for identifying and implementing long-range strategic talent management goals. Morgan joined Health New England in 2019 as assistant general counsel. She was previously a litigation associate at Bulkley Richardson in Springfield. Morgan is a graduate of UMass Amherst and earned her juris doctor degree from the Western New England University School of Law. She is currently a master’s-degree candidate in diversity, equity, inclusion & justice leadership at Tufts University. As vice president, Thamert is responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and oversight for all sales, product-development, and marketing programs, including the Medicare line of business. He is also responsible for Health New England’s partnerships with brokers, employer groups, and community nonprofit organizations. Thamert joined Health New England as interim vice president, Sales and Marketing, in February 2023. Since then, he has focused on strategic membership growth across all lines of business. He has nearly 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, including as vice president, Market Development for Commonwealth Care Alliance, as well as senior sales positions with MultiPlan, Geisinger Health System, Jackson Health System, Humana, Highmark, and Coventry. He received his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University.

•••••

Victor Rodriguez Sr

Victor Rodriguez Sr

Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced the appointment of Victor Rodriguez Sr. as assistant vice president, mortgage loan officer. In this role, he intends to leverage his extensive experience and expertise to guide borrowers through the homeownership journey with personalized care and local market knowledge. He will be based at the bank’s South Hadley branch. Rodriguez brings more than 20 years of banking experience. Throughout his career, he has earned accolades such as the 2022 Realtor Affiliate of the Year from the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. Rodriguez’s passion for mortgage lending extends beyond client transactions, as evidenced by his recent role as a guest speaker at the NEFMA fall conference, where he presented on the topic “Opportunities Await: Developing a Diverse Mortgage Customer Source.”

•••••

Peter Ruffini was installed as the 2024 president of the Realtor Assooc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV), a nonprofit trade association with more than 1,800 members. The 108th annual installation of officers and directors was held on Jan. 11 at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. A Realtor since 1996, Ruffini is the broker/owner of RE/MAX Connections and has made a long-term commitment to RAPV and the Realtor family. Since 2021, he has served on the local board of directors at RAPV, including as secretary in 2022 and treasurer in 2023. He is involved in several committees at the association, including the government affairs, mediator & ombudsman, professional standards, bylaws & policy task force, and finance. The RAPV named him Realtor of the Year in 2015 and 2021. Ruffini served as president of the Massachusetts Assoc. of Realtors (MAR) in 2014. In addition to serving in leadership, he has been a member of the MAR board of directors since 2006. He received the MAR Private Property Rights Award in 2019 and the MAR Milton H. Shaw Distinguished Service Award in 2020. He also currently serves as chair of the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons and holds 11 professional designations and certifications.

•••••

Ashley Swett

Ashley Swett

Florence Bank recently announced that Ashley Swett has been named manager of the bank’s Customer Service Center at the main office in Florence. In her new role, she will oversee the staff responsible for assisting Florence Bank customers who contact the bank via telephone or email. Swett has 16 years of industry experience and is a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies. She holds a certificate in supervision from the Center for Financial Training. Active in the community, Swett is currently a member of the Holiday Flair in Ware, where she enjoys the annual festival and parade.

•••••

Braman Termite & Pest Elimination announced the promotion of John McCarthy from account manager to sales director. In his new role, McCarthy is directly responsible for leading and developing Braman’s sales team while cultivating customer relationships for long-term customer satisfaction and growth. This includes developing long-range sales goals and objectives, as well as sales plans and tactics to meet and exceed those goals. McCarthy joined the Braman team in 2022 with 22 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles within the pest-control industry, including sales and service manager, branch manager, and district manager. He is a member of the National Pest Management Assoc.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

Fuss & O’Neill Announces Partnership with Trilon Group

SPRINGFIELD — Civil and environmental engineering firm Fuss & O’Neill announced a strategic partnership with Trilon Group, a family of infrastructure consulting businesses. The partnership gives Fuss & O’Neill additional capital and resources to expand its services and markets in the Northeast, while better serving its clients. Founded in 1924, Fuss & O’Neill is a leading provider of engineering services, with offices in each New England state and New York. Fuss & O’Neill was selected by Trilon Group to be a part of the company’s vision to build the next top-10 design firm in North America. Trilon will support Fuss & O’Neill to accelerate the growth and careers of its employees with additional investment in talent, technology, and targeted mergers and acquisitions.

 

Easthampton Announces Business Grant Winners

EASTHAMPTON — The City of Easthampton announced that five local businesses have been awarded business grants as part of the 2023 Business Census, launched earlier this year. The five winners were randomly selected out of the 66 survey respondents. The $1,000 business grant winner is Yarn Dragon’s Basket. The $500 business grant winners are Beautiful Gardens, Jude Ribisi, Klituscope Films, and Staying in Balance Acupuncture. In partnership with both the Chamber of Greater Easthampton and Blueprint Easthampton, the city launched the 2023 Business Census, a comprehensive survey for business owners, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the community. This effort was made possible by participation in the National League of Cities’ City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program, the fourth that Easthampton has been a part of. Through support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the CIE program is a National League of Cities initiative that asks city leaders to commit to an inclusive economic-development policy, program, or practice over the course of one year.

 

Hyundai Hope on Wheels Gives $20,000 to Two Nonprofits

HOLYOKE — During a check presentation on Jan. 25 at Gary Rome Hyundai, Hyundai Hope on Wheels made two donations: $10,000 to LukeStronger Inc. of South Hadley and $10,000 to Each Moment We’re Alive of West Springfield. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope on Wheels is one of the longest-running corporate social-responsibility efforts in the automotive industry. In honor of its 25th anniversary, it announced plans to award $25 million in research grants this year, its largest donation in a single year, bringing its total giving to $225 million since its inception. Each Moment We’re Alive was launched by Sheridan Murphy in 2015 after her second bout with breast cancer. She then realized that reaching out, rather than blocking out, was the best chance for survival. Since then, she has helped organize support groups and workshops with a focus on emotional and spiritual health. Sheridan has since expanded her network to help families with all types of cancer, including pediatric cancer. LukeStronger Inc. is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing assistance to local families dealing with pediatric cancer so that parents can spend time with their children. LukeStronger originated when Luke Bradley, a then 10-year-old boy from South Hadley, relapsed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Local residents rallied to support his family with, among other things, a benefit golf tournament. Complications and another unforeseen relapse kept Luke at Boston Children’s Hospital for 15 months. He underwent a bone-marrow transplant in December 2017 and is doing well today. Bradley’s family created a nonprofit to help other families by continuing the golf-tournament tradition. In its short history, LukeStronger has helped seven local families fill the income gap caused by pediatric cancer.

 

Dietz Supports Nonprofits with ‘Spread the Cheer’ Campaign

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Dietz & Company Architects recently held its annual “Spread the Cheer” holiday campaign with a $2,500 top prize donation. Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) won it with nearly 25% of the total votes. The “Spread the Cheer” holiday campaign began in 2017 in an effort to be more environmentally conscious by not sending out paper holiday cards, but rather raise awareness for all the work local nonprofits do. During the nine-day campaign, 18 local organizations were selected to be included in the event. Voters used a SurveyMonkey link to access the poll and choose an organization they felt was deserving of a share of a $5,000 prize. The organization that received the most votes received $2,500. Second place won $1,500, and third place received $1,000. The International Language Institute of Massachusetts won second place with 22% of the votes, and Dakin Humane Society came in third with 19% of the votes. The remaining 15 organizations received $100 each.

 

Breeze Airways Launches Service to Cincinnati, San Diego

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority announced that low-cost carrier Breeze Airways will be launching non-stop summer seasonal service between Bradley International Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The flight will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, starting May 2. Additionally, Breeze will offer daily summer seasonal service between Bradley and San Diego International Airport, starting May 1. The flight will be part of the airline’s BreezeThru service, which includes one stop, but passengers do not have to change planes. The announcement follows recent news of the airline’s plans to launch service between BDL and Orlando, Fla. and Santa Ana, Calif. in May. Breeze currently flies nonstop between Bradley and Charleston, S.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Fort Myers, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Las Vegas; New Orleans; Phoenix; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Sarasota, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; and Vero Beach, Fla.

 

Greenfield Cooperative Bank Supports Empty Arms Bereavement

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank announced that its nomination of Empty Arms Bereavement, an organization offering compassionate support to families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss, has resulted in a $5,000 grant from the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. (MBA) Community Service Grant Program. “Empty Arms’ dedication to supporting families during some of life’s most difficult moments resonates deeply with our commitment to community service,” said Tony Worden, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank. This year, the MBA Charitable Foundation awarded 41 grants, totaling $152,500, to nonprofit organizations across the state. Empty Arms’ dedication to grieving families stood out among the many nominations, earning it this vital funding.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

CHICOPEE

Maza Market Inc., 1875 Memorial Dr., Chicopee, MA 01020. Mohammed Mehdi, 125 Cambridge Park Dr., Suite 301, Cambridge, MA 02140. Convenience store.

EAST LONGMEADOW

RC Rockstar Inc., 10 Hidden Ponds Dr., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Casey Roncalli, same. Herbalife sales.

FEEDING HILLS

Deca Euro Windows & Doors Inc., 411 North Westfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Uladzimir Mamentau, same. Manufacturing of UPVC windows and sliding doors.

HAMPDEN

Front Runner Medical Corp., 40 Thresher Road, Hampden, MA 01036. Ryan Frangie, same. Sales in consulting services.

LEE

LPH Holdco Inc., 18 Run Way, Lee, MA 01238. Timothy Leprevost Sr., 670 Stockbridge Road, Lee, MA 01238. Holding company.

MONTAGUE

Z and K Estate Inc., 46 Randall Wood Dr., Montague, MA 01351. Zaharia Nichita, same. Real-estate services.

NORTHAMPTON

The New England Visionary Artists Museum Inc., 518 Pleasant St., Northampton, MA 01060. Michael Tillyer, same. Corporation established to educate the public about and increase public awareness of the artistic and cultural resources of New England and to support and expand the creative careers of artists in New England in order to contribute to the cultural richness of the region and beyond.

PITTSFIELD

Funtastic Party Rentals Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Giovanni Nardella, same. Event rentals.

The One America Movement, 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Andrew Hanauer, 1717 North Street NW, Suite 1, Washington, D.C. 20036. Nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for charitable purposes such as making distributions to other similar organizations.

One Vision Media Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Anthony Adamick, same. Media, digital content, and event production.

SPRINGFIELD

Amazing Dental P.C., 1795 Main St., Suite 203, Springfield, MA 01103. Dr. Rekha Joshi, same. Dental practice.

Kidney Care Alliance Inc., 1690 Boston Road, Suite 1072, Springfield, MA 01129. Jerome Westbrook, same. Nonprofit organization established to promote awareness, education, and support for individuals affected by kidney failure.

Oliveira & Oliveira General Contractor Corp., 835 Belmont Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Agenildo Freitas de Oliveira, same. Home improvement and remodeling.

WESTFIELD

Mill River Slab Works Inc., 16 Ponders Hollow Road, Westfield, MA 01086. Lawrence Lashway II, 22 Main St., Williamsburg, MA 01096. Retail and wholesale sales of wood-slab products.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Lakshmi Bhula Inc., 379 Riverdale Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Amish Patel, 7 Pendleton Lane, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Motel.

WILBRAHAM

OM West Yarmouth Mobil Inc., 5 Patriot Ridge Lane, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Falguniben Patel, same. Operation of one or more motor-vehicle gasoline and service stations, selling gasoline, oil and sundries/convenience items; making repairs to motor vehicles; and performing allied services.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of January 2023.

BELCHERTOWN

Cynders Designs
36 Bay Path Road
Cyndy Gillen

GREAT BARRINGTON

Admission Possible
292 Main St., #16
William Short

APK Stoneworks
3 Forrest St.
Andrew Kay

Better Call Ben
54 Dresser Ave.
Benjamin Schmolze

Berkshire Food Co-op
34 Bridge St.
Jessica Bosworth

CVS Pharmacy #8970
362 Main St., Suite 2
CVS Pharmacy Inc.

Dare Bottleshop & Provisions
28 Railroad St.
Mary Daire

Evergreen
291 Main St.
Barbara Watkins

Fuel
293 Main St.
Elan Merkel

J.C. Garden Landscaping Services & More
23 Mechanic St.
Jorge Cedeno

Karen Lindstrom
40 Everett St.
Karen Lindstrom

Lucy’s Rendezvous
268 Main St., Suites B-C
Joad Bowman

National Grid
927 Main St.
Massachusetts Electric Co.

Sea Jay’s
29 Hart St.
Carole Randorf

HADLEY

Bilodeau Automation
148 Mt. Warner Road
David Bilodeau

Fleetwood Environmental Solutions
84 Russell St.
David Cameron

Hartsbrook Farm
291 Bay Rpad
Arthur West

Keep It Movin’
122 West St.
Shannon Bazluke

Lucky Moon Photography
54 Bay Road
David Pikul

Starbucks 22118
344 Russell St.
Starbucks Corp.

HOLYOKE

3 Brothers Auto Sales & Repair
522 Maple St.
Maple Street Sales Corp.

AE Outfitters Retail Co.
50 Holyoke St.
AE Outfitters Retail Co.

David Alger Consulting
1 Deer Run
David Alger

Gallagher Real Estate
1767 Northampton St.
Paul Gallagher

Highland Non Stop Cuts
1375 Dwight St.
Ruben Rodriguez

Illusion Auto Sales
64 Clemente St.
Ismael Ramos

Los Supreme Latin Cuisine
50 Holyoke St.
Marielys Rosado Torres

Monsoon Bistro
50 Holyoke St.
Jin Rong Zhang

Real Dry Waterproofing
137 Dupuis Road
Stephen Wall

Reyes Income Tax and Bookkeeping
2257 Northampton St.
Enrique Reyes

Your Birth Coven
425 Southampton Road
Elissa Carney

WESTFIELD

Armbrook Village Senior Living
551 North Road
Sheila Hebda

The Dance Dad Mafia Inc.
140 Miller St.
Nathan Barnard

Drop Pack and Ship
51 Southwick Road
Sigmund Chimel Barnes

DVP Renovations LLC
48 Taylor Ave.
Dmitriy Pyatachenko

Elevating Retail LLC
16 Angelica Dr.
Paul Ruccio

Elle’s BNB
191 Montgomery Road
Ellen Trapp

EZ Mart Westfield
82 Franklin St.
Zahid Hussain

Forest Doe Botanicals
6 King St.
Kathie Forest

Great Deal Resale
36 Sabrina Brook Lane
William Folsom

Inner Peace Outer Balance
77 Mill St.
Jenniffer Judd

J&V Realty
37 Meadow St.
Joseph Bonkowski

K&K Trucking and Auto
44 Forest Ave.
Kenneth Garrett

Karrie Welch Makeup
467 Springdale Road
Karen Welch

Kat Kattler Photography
48 Elm St., Suite 2
Katherine Kattler Miklasiewicz

Loujean Inc.
918 Southampton Road
Greener Future Solutions LLC

L. Shut Tax Preparation
174 Root Road
Lyudmila Shut

 

Planet Fitness – Keystone NFP Westfield
93A Springfield St.
Sam Giannelli

Salon West – Pignatare Enterprises
43 Southwick Road
Adina Pignatare

Valison Construction
12 Bush St.
Valentin Solokhin

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Cameron, Lucretia
48 Champlain St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 13
Date: 12/23/2023

Del Valle, Javier
43 Dana St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/18/2023

DiLuzio, Lisa L.
12 Allman Dr.
Chester, MA 01011
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/30/2023

Foster, James H.
59 Ashley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/18/2023

Fregeau, William Cole
Fregeau, Janice Virginia
416 Main St., Unit 301
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/18/2023

Grechel, Melanie K.
27 Maplecrest Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Date: 12/29/2023

Holben, Mark
159 Colorado St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Date: 12/19/2023

Khatoon, Aysha
200 Lambert Ter., Unit 53
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Date: 12/18/2023

Kutnik-Sheffield, Jenna L
a/k/a Sheffield, Jenna L.
Skutnik-Sheffield. Heather A.
a/k/a Skutnik, Heather A.
56 Merrifield Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/28/2023

Lippmann, John
Lippmann, Jennifer
a/k/a Chamberlain, Jennifer
28 Shays St., Unit 1
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 13
Date: 12/30/2023

JMB Transport Partner LLC
Bartlett – Arroyo, Sheila R.
a/k/a Bartlett-Arroyo, Sheila Rio
1401 Cascade St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/19/2023

Laureano, Maria
86 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Date: 12/30/2023

Mercury, Amy
31 Bedford Court
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/22/2023

Quinones, Brenda Rijos
1348 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/29/2023

Rodriguez, Luis R.
954 Chicopee St., Apt. 2
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/28/2023

Roncarati, Lynndia Ann
309 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Date: 12/22/2023

Santerre, Gary R.
Santerre, Laurie J.
50 Finch Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/29/2023

Savva, Charles D.
73 Powder Mill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/21/2023

Taylor, Angela Marie
a/k/a Gilbert, Angela M.
PO Box 699
Heath, MA 01346
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/28/2023

Vallieres Jr., Arthur J.
82 Columbia St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/29/2023

Vital-St. Sauveur, Susan
33 Autumn Ridge Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/30/2023

Whyte, Marilyn
95 Entrybrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108-3315
Chapter: 13
Date: 12/18/2023

Willis, Stephen Douglas
420 Main St., Unit 43
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/22/2023

Wilson, Marcia Ann
a/k/a Marineau, Marcia Ann
a/k/a Pouliot, Marcia Ann
494 School St., Apt. 216
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 12/18/2023

 

 

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BUCKLAND

10 Dungarvin Dr.
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Lisa Pontoppidan
Seller: Susan A. Schriber TR
Date: 12/29/23

DEERFIELD

Cross St.
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jeremy Ober
Seller: Peter M. Kuzdeba
Date: 01/03/24

GREENFIELD

20 Congress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Newlife LLC
Seller: Hosford, Charles W., (Estate)
Date: 12/27/23

MONTAGUE

22 Park St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Danielle M. Missell
Seller: Ann M. Lutz
Date: 01/04/24

54 Randall Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: John H. Heins
Seller: Todd M. Dodge
Date: 01/05/24

ORANGE

30 Boyden Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $707,500
Buyer: Davold Parker
Seller: Boyden Road RT
Date: 12/29/23

22 Fountain St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Tarlin
Seller: Carole A. Evans
Date: 01/05/24

28 Hayden St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: William F. Polan
Seller: John B. Barilone
Date: 12/27/23

212 Holtshire Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Ana G. Andino
Seller: Virginia Realty Inc.
Date: 12/27/23

185 Memory Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Burnett
Seller: Jaime L. Ollendorf
Date: 12/29/23

118 Tully Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Janssens
Seller: Mickey Gonzalez
Date: 01/03/24

SHELBURNE

369 South Shelburne Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Amber R. Quinn
Seller: Drumheller, Phillip G., (Estate)
Date: 01/05/24

174 Locks Pond Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Ralph P. Guisti
Seller: Courtney A. Kinney
Date: 12/29/23

SUNDERLAND

654 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: Petite Pond LLC
Seller: Socrates Corp.
Date: 12/29/23

WHATELY

60 State Road
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $3,750,000
Buyer: Northampton Storage Solutions
Seller: Pioneer Valley Self-Storage
Date: 12/27/23

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

209 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Arthur Robichaud
Seller: Trust2u RT
Date: 12/27/23

11 Birch Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Mehmet Yesilbas
Seller: Brenda Loguidice
Date: 12/29/23

12 Depalma St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: David Johnson
Seller: Kozak, Mary, (Estate)
Date: 12/29/23

168 Elm St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $1,130,000
Buyer: Silver Brook Mill LLC
Seller: KB Realty Enterprises LLC
Date: 12/29/23

151 Mallard Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Richard Champigny
Seller: Marnie T. Budreau
Date: 12/29/23

42 Reed St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Esther Rogers
Seller: Cindy L. White
Date: 01/05/24

825 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Rhino Realty LLC
Seller: Paul E. Malkoon
Date: 12/29/23

BRIMFIELD

1222 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Grigorii Novitckii
Seller: Todd R. Burke
Date: 01/05/24

1477 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Richard Anischik
Seller: Residential Asset Mortgage Pro 2006-E
Date: 12/28/23

CHICOPEE

101 Blanchwood Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joel P. Kupeyan
Seller: Galerneau, Alice A., (Estate)
Date: 01/05/24

94 Bonner St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Tiara L. Ortiz
Seller: Christopher M. Roy
Date: 01/03/24

880 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $6,020,000
Buyer: Burnett Road Property LLC
Seller: Quality Beverage LP
Date: 01/03/24

1 Hamburg St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Karen M. Iovaine
Seller: Karol R. Celmer
Date: 12/29/23

46 Joy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Ryan Mooney
Seller: Jedediah S. Fiske
Date: 12/28/23

19 Lemay St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kevin Elliot
Seller: Sharon C. Martin
Date: 12/27/23

22 Lord Ter. North
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Brian Clark
Seller: Malia Homebuyers LLC
Date: 12/29/23

127 Lukasik St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Aaron Metzger
Seller: Nicholas Bourgault
Date: 12/27/23

21 Luther St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Anthony Wheeler
Seller: Thomas P. Urban
Date: 01/05/24

1752 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Kenya A. Guerra-Cesino
Seller: Matthew Yacovone
Date: 12/28/23

Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Angel L. Rodriguez
Seller: Hanecak, Mary M., (Estate)
Date: 12/29/23

77 Norman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Braulio D. Pinto-Maldonado
Seller: William J. Sicard
Date: 01/05/24

126 Peace St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Sukhchain Singh
Seller: Luz A. Eichstaedt FT
Date: 01/05/24

24 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Skyspec LLC
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 12/28/23

49 Pondview Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Revampit LLC
Seller: Bednarz, Elaine M., (Estate)
Date: 01/05/24

65 Sanders St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: David A. Mahan
Seller: Frank N. Laflamme
Date: 12/29/23

20 Towne St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Angel L. Rodriguez
Seller: Hanecak, Mary M., (Estate)
Date: 12/29/23

69 Yvette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $266,500
Buyer: Wiljanet Cornier
Seller: Jennifer Wehr
Date: 01/04/24

18 Wildermere St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Manchester Enterprises LLC
Seller: Thomas P. Rondeau
Date: 12/29/23

EAST LONGMEADOW

1 Jennifer Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Sarah R. Bizzotto
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 01/04/24

170 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Angelica M. Lugo
Seller: Marc J. Oldenburg
Date: 12/27/23

9 Melody Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Evan P. Landers
Seller: Laurene Avezzie
Date: 12/28/23

101 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Brent Lang
Seller: Sarah A. Knowlton
Date: 12/29/23

25 Sturbridge Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $760,000
Buyer: Mario A. Ferrentino
Seller: Sugar Magnolia RT
Date: 12/29/23

GRANVILLE

1251 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Travis Searles
Seller: Gina Beery
Date: 01/02/24

HAMPDEN

66 Greenleaf Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jonathan D. Maciorowski
Seller: F. & Phyllis Watson IRT
Date: 01/05/24

755 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Amanda Knodler
Seller: David L. Williams
Date: 12/28/23

HOLLAND

8 Amber Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Kylie M. Packard
Seller: Renee Couture
Date: 01/04/24

10 Barclay St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Christopher Downey
Seller: Peter Lesbirel
Date: 12/29/23

68 North Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Jacob Singvongsa
Seller: Donna J. Cocaine
Date: 01/05/24

HOLYOKE

114 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Holyoke Haven Properties LLC
Seller: Alex Ilchenko
Date: 01/02/24

294 Cabot St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Danna B. Decolon
Seller: Gurvitch, John M., (Estate)
Date: 01/05/24

45 Lawler St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Derick A. Seibold
Seller: Brian Devine
Date: 01/05/24

60 Lower Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Daryn M. Sampson
Date: 12/29/23

1669 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Tock LLC
Seller: Crosstown Development LLC
Date: 12/29/23

210 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Next Level Energy LLC
Seller: Lydia Rivera
Date: 01/04/24

34 Vernon St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Janet F. Gutierrez
Seller: Jess E. Affhauser
Date: 12/29/23

LONGMEADOW

41 Bel Air Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Jillian Kirastoulis
Seller: Andrea S. Martin
Date: 01/05/24

312 Blueberry Hill Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Matthew Bruce
Seller: Bruce Richard Hayes TR
Date: 01/04/24

359 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Daniel Englehardt
Seller: Aditya Bothate
Date: 12/29/23

130 Ellington Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $679,500
Buyer: Natalie E. Poteran
Seller: William Y. Christie
Date: 12/29/23

221 Meadowlark Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: James Trubia
Seller: Stuart D. Weissman
Date: 01/05/24

LUDLOW

334 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Robert M. Hart
Seller: Krista M. Mitchell
Date: 12/27/23

21 Libby St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Pawel Lukaszewicz
Seller: Beebe, John C., (Estate)
Date: 01/03/24

23 Oregon Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Y. & S. Properties LLC
Seller: Wolf Realty LLC
Date: 01/02/24

1 State St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Brownbox Properties LLC
Seller: Westmass Area Development Corp.
Date: 12/28/23

393 State St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $312,250
Buyer: Vanessa Roxo
Seller: Antonio D. Palatino
Date: 01/05/24

MONSON

135 Upper Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Melissa Nooney
Seller: Domingo Tavarez
Date: 12/28/23

33 Washington St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Matthew Faye
Seller: John D. Holdcraft
Date: 12/28/23

PALMER

34 Commercial St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Stanley R. Castillo
Seller: Tami A. Myers
Date: 12/29/23

69-A-C State St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Adam J. Dziewit
Seller: 69 A-C State St. RT
Date: 12/28/23

123 State St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Cavanaugh
Seller: Emily E. Labarre
Date: 01/05/24

SPRINGFIELD

37 Alberta St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jose J. Mendoza
Seller: Anh N. Nguyen
Date: 12/28/23

390-392 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: 390 Allen St Realty LLC
Seller: Amark II RT
Date: 12/28/23

410 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: First Landing Investments LLC
Seller: Jeannette Barbosa
Date: 01/04/24

410 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Abdall M. Alwreikat
Seller: First Landing Investments LLC
Date: 01/04/24

1893 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Thalia Castro
Seller: Baldwin Street LLC
Date: 12/28/23

212 Almira Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Nicholas Raleigh
Seller: Negron, William Rey, (Estate)
Date: 01/03/24

Ardmore St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Bielcka Builes
Seller: George O. Thompson
Date: 12/28/23

99-101 Ardmore St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Reilly
Seller: Stephen M. Reilly
Date: 01/05/24

33 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Richard E. Duffy
Seller: John S. Jackson
Date: 12/26/23

58-60 Avon Place
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jose Ramirez
Seller: Jose A. Laboy
Date: 01/05/24

63 Beaumont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Peter Bien-Aime
Seller: Zuleika M. Schmitz
Date: 01/04/24

66 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Marie L. Sylvain
Seller: Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC
Date: 12/28/23

70-78 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $4,300,000
Buyer: Forest Park Apartments LLC
Seller: HP Rum LLC
Date: 01/03/24

877 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Bernoulli Louissaint
Seller: Joseph M. Santaniello
Date: 01/05/24

270 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Wei Q. Ni
Seller: Li Q. Zhu
Date: 01/05/24

50 Burton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Livingwater Capital LLC
Seller: McKain, Lorraine A., (Estate)
Date: 01/03/24

653 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Maria R. Chimborazo
Seller: Roberto Cardona
Date: 01/03/24

31-33 Carver St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Shelisha Sinclair
Seller: Chelsey M. Harris
Date: 12/29/23

30 Chester St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Stave-Been Francois
Seller: Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC
Date: 12/28/23

53 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Luis Natal
Seller: Jaime J. Monserrate
Date: 12/29/23

38-40 Clarendon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Jesus M. Roman
Seller: Ana Texidor
Date: 12/29/23

61 Cornwall St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: 21 Shawmut Ave. LLC
Seller: Manuel Robles
Date: 12/29/23

96 Decatur St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Jesus Oquendo
Seller: Brickhouse Homes LLC
Date: 12/29/23

187 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $219,021
Buyer: Dayanalee A. Ruiz
Seller: Medina, Edayn Ruiz, (Estate)
Date: 01/04/24

68 Fitzgerald Road
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Eric Perez
Seller: Carol H. Grise
Date: 12/29/23

102 Florence St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: George P. Anderson
Seller: Ahmed Aljanabi
Date: 12/26/23

251 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Carlos Ortas
Seller: Donna C. Leonard-Dubinsky
Date: 01/03/24

32 Grandview St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Yerica S. Garcia
Seller: Stanislaus J. Skarzynski
Date: 12/28/23

97 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Winslow Suarez
Seller: Jeffrey Donaruma
Date: 01/05/24

122-124 Hamburg St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Reilly
Seller: Stephen M. Reilly
Date: 01/05/24

295 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Shane Shelton
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 12/29/23

85 Hayden Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Luz Quinonez
Seller: J. & S. LLC
Date: 01/02/24

22 Holy Cross St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Beury T. Gil
Seller: Julie A. Kenney
Date: 12/29/23

28-30 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Kwadwo A. Mireku
Seller: Antigoni M. Proctor
Date: 01/04/24

63 Magnolia Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Martha Gavilanes
Seller: Laura Fenn
Date: 12/26/23

38 Manchester Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Jeanne I. Bonnett
Date: 12/29/23

162 Marmon St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Tristan L. Donahue
Seller: Dorcas RT
Date: 12/28/23

111 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Brianna M. Rivers
Seller: Gail L. Foss
Date: 12/29/23

127 Millbrook Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Joejoe Properties LLC
Seller: Edward F. Grant
Date: 01/05/24

84-86 Morris St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Peter Williams
Seller: Samuel Rivera
Date: 01/05/24

104 Norfolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Alexander Fontanez
Seller: Manirakiza Jamari
Date: 12/29/23

180-182 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Mustaf Hassan
Seller: Andre L. Devonish
Date: 12/29/23

214-216 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $387,000
Buyer: Bianna Silencieux
Seller: Adam Carrington
Date: 12/29/23

79 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Alfredo Carrasquillo
Seller: Areid Estate LLC
Date: 12/27/23

295 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Roberto A. Ramos
Seller: Brvsa Associates LLC
Date: 12/27/23

46 Osborne Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: John W. Farmer
Seller: Jennifer I. Dixon
Date: 12/28/23

356-358 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jesuny Ferreira
Seller: Hipolito J. Abreu
Date: 12/28/23

1854 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Richard Ringer
Seller: Louis D. Corgnati
Date: 12/27/23

44 Revere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Yokasta Rodriguez
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 01/05/24

25 Sachem St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: DSZ Management LLC
Seller: Xiuyu Ma
Date: 12/29/23

146-148 Shawmut St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Reilly
Seller: Stephen M. Reilly
Date: 01/05/24

67 Sierra Vista Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Shahab A. Bonakdar
Seller: Patricia Torres
Date: 12/27/23

77 Somerset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Jennifer S. McColley
Seller: Katherine R. Kayser-Hirsh
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB5
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB20
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB3
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB7
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB14
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB15
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB1
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB16
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB2
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB17
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB13
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB21
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB4
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

34 Sumner Ave., Lot PB12
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $3,614,000
Buyer: Mooring NC Investors LLC
Seller: 34 Sumner Realty LLC
Date: 12/28/23

19 Talbot Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Anh N. Nguyen
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 12/29/23

259 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $381,000
Buyer: Kivitz FT
Seller: Geoffrey M. Schmidt
Date: 12/29/23

37-39 Virginia St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Vitalis Acholonu
Seller: Ismael Bernabel
Date: 12/29/23

SOUTHWICK

4 Tall Pines Trail
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Shahil Patel
Seller: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Date: 01/05/24

WALES

38 Walker Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Michael Dupont
Seller: Webfirst LLC
Date: 12/29/23

WESTFIELD

127 Birch Bluffs Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Maddie Sprague
Seller: Bard, Francis L., (Estate)
Date: 12/29/23

4 Brentwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Vanessa Torres
Seller: Paul F. Mazut
Date: 12/28/23

10 Cottage Ave.
Westfield, MA 01040
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Tina-Marie Faunce
Seller: Christine A. Bejune
Date: 01/04/24

10 Heggie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Eugene J. Witczak
Seller: Donald P. Sicard
Date: 01/05/24

555 Holyoke Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $403,000
Buyer: Lisa J. Schwartz
Seller: Carolyn A. Koszarek
Date: 12/27/23

Lockhouse Road (off)
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: TV Realty & Development Inc.
Seller: Burek RT
Date: 12/29/23

92 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Megan Benway
Seller: Matthew K. Berndt
Date: 01/05/24

15 Noble Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Vlam Realty LLC
Seller: Polo Dental LLC
Date: 12/28/23

415 Pochassic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $176,020
Buyer: Dale Darosa
Seller: Rose C. Austin
Date: 12/28/23

280 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Lyudmila P. Shalygo
Seller: Joseph P. Daly
Date: 12/29/23

162 Union St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $2,018,062
Buyer: Pierce Builders Inc.
Seller: H. & W. LLC
Date: 12/29/23

WILBRAHAM

8 Conifer Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $327,500
Buyer: Carlos J. Rivera
Seller: Diplomat Property Manager LLC
Date: 12/26/23

34 Decorie Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Jamie M. Schwarz
Seller: William J. Kern
Date: 01/04/24

119 Silver St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $655,000
Buyer: Shane Linscott
Seller: Rosinski Realty Inc.
Date: 01/05/24

795 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $451,000
Buyer: Jaiminkumar Patel
Seller: Fitzgerald, Robert J., (Estate)
Date: 01/05/24

WEST SPRINGFIELD

342 Circle Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $214,205
Buyer: Lizette Hernandez
Seller: Ashley Drost
Date: 12/28/23

2 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Scott Felt
Seller: Vanity Bryant
Date: 01/05/24

120 Hillside Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Alexandru Pascal
Seller: Patrick M. Daggett
Date: 01/02/24

68 Jeffrey Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Brian Devine
Seller: Lori A. Perella
Date: 01/05/24

69 Sprague St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Kemran Lachinov
Seller: Property Advantage Inc.
Date: 12/28/23

19 Thompson St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Sarkis
Seller: Joseph C. Sarkis
Date: 12/26/23

39 Worthen St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Tara B. Rai
Seller: Mostovoy, Nikolay S., (Estate)
Date: 01/05/24

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

65 Grantwood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Andrea Thamm
Seller: Nathan Margalit
Date: 12/29/23

35 High St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Kirkpatrick Realty LLC
Seller: Henry A. Brown
Date: 12/28/23

10 Pine St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $615,000
Buyer: Vladimir Gotlieb
Seller: Pine Street Partners LLC
Date: 01/05/24

BELCHERTOWN

497 Chauncey Walker St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Christopher Larrivee
Seller: Albert Winkler
Date: 12/28/23

65 West St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $681,500
Buyer: Rachel Thomas
Seller: Timothy J. Ferreira
Date: 12/28/23

EASTHAMPTON

42 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Ryan Murphy
Seller: Chad D. Alexander
Date: 12/29/23

468 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $401,000
Buyer: Joseph R. Gentile
Seller: Paula J. Della-Bernarda
Date: 01/03/24

15 Gaugh St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Abigail M. Forcier
Seller: Foxy Properties LLC
Date: 12/28/23

19 Harvey St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $367,500
Buyer: Michael K. Gonda
Seller: James E. Barnett
Date: 01/05/24

45 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Huanmin Ma
Seller: Helen P. Furman IRT
Date: 12/28/23

GRANBY

601 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Meaghan Tretheway
Seller: Michael Pancione
Date: 12/29/23

611 Amherst Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Charles W. Baranowski
Seller: Carilyn W. Schebel
Date: 12/29/23

96 Cold Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $651,900
Buyer: Katherine MacLennan
Seller: Drew E. Powers
Date: 01/03/24

12-R Jackielyn Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Vitality Village LLC
Seller: Castle Farm Enterprises LLC
Date: 12/29/23

HADLEY

1 Cold Spring Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Richard P. Gotta
Seller: Carrie-Ann Gaynor
Date: 12/27/23

23 North Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $422,000
Buyer: Steven L. Smith
Seller: Shane Conklin
Date: 12/27/23

HUNTINGTON

9 Basket St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Jose L. Acevedo-Rivera
Seller: Brian Kopinto
Date: 01/05/24

69 Bromley Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Gemma McClure
Seller: U.S. Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
Date: 12/29/23

NORTHAMPTON

21 Bliss St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $249,608
Buyer: Thomas F. Kelly
Seller: Ian D. Premo
Date: 01/05/24

12 Marc Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Alicia M. Grubb
Seller: Leslie T. Frey
Date: 12/28/23

23 Mary Jane Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Saddam H. Abdul
Seller: Chelsea Warywoski
Date: 12/27/23

63 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: 63 State St. NT
Seller: Serio Family Realty LLC
Date: 12/29/23

63 Washington Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: Sherry L. Taylor
Seller: Fiona MacNeill
Date: 12/28/23

SOUTH HADLEY

61 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $735,000
Buyer: Viktoria Harrison
Seller: Deborah G. Eaton RET
Date: 01/05/24

47 Hillside Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Jorge O. Mendoza
Seller: Diane D. Afonso
Date: 12/28/23

56 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: South Hadley Rentals LLC
Seller: Gallagher Properties LLC
Date: 12/29/23

47 Susan Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Kristina S. Powers
Seller: Julian Jocque
Date: 01/03/24

19 Upper River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $619,900
Buyer: Ryan Randall
Seller: Christopher E. Flynn
Date: 01/04/24

20 Washington Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Gavin Ulias
Seller: Christine Hamel
Date: 01/03/24

SOUTHAMPTON

382 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Thomas Lucchesi
Seller: Joan G. Muse
Date: 12/26/23

18 Crooked Ledge Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $611,990
Buyer: Adam P. Dunne
Seller: Daviau & Robert Properties LLC
Date: 01/05/24

120 East St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Berkshire County Arc Inc.
Seller: Kristine P. Canton
Date: 11/16/23

3 Rosalie Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Edgardo Sanchez
Seller: Laliberte RT
Date: 01/04/24

23 Strong Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $499,900
Buyer: Caitlin R. Cauley
Seller: Walter L. Hubert
Date: 12/29/23

WARE

78 Aspen St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Rolando B. Santa
Seller: Robert D. Ellithorpe
Date: 12/28/23

83 Beaver Lake Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Jacob F. Crevier
Seller: Stace A. Collette
Date: 12/26/23

24 High St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Jacob Cifizzari
Seller: Brian Curboy
Date: 12/29/23

54 Old Gilbertville Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Tyle Goodfield
Seller: Slattery Sr., George C., (Estate)
Date: 12/29/23

9 Walter Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Daniel L. Collette
Seller: Jennifer D. Shea-Kettles
Date: 12/28/23

WESTHAMPTON

11 Loudville Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $565,600
Buyer: Letitia A. Cole LT
Seller: Greenbrier Estates LP
Date: 01/03/24

WORTHINGTON

184 Cudworth Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Deidre J. Johnson
Seller: Heywood Farms NT
Date: 01/05/24

Starkweather Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Payne FT
Seller: Diane J. Bartletr
Date: 12/28/23

West St.
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Payne FT
Seller: Diane J. Bartletr
Date: 12/28/23

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of January 2023.

CHICOPEE

Alden Credit Union
688 Grattan St.
$14,692 — Replace 12 windows

Church of New Covenant
780 Chicopee St.
$20,000 — Remove and replace 53 windows

Demayo-Chicopee Square LLC
516 Montgomery St.
$9,400 — Remodel two rooms

HADLEY

Gibbs Oil Co. LP
110 Russell St.
N/A — Replace damage storefront hit by car

Salvation Army of Massachusetts
310 Russell St.
N/A — Replace four packaged gas rooftop units

LENOX

600 Merrill Road LLC
374 Pittsfield Road
N/A — Full demolition of five buildings

NORTHAMPTON

City of Northampton
33 Hockanum Road
N/A — Mechanisms and tanks at sewage treatment plant

City of Northampton
274 Main St.
$219,347 — Fire-protection system at Academy of Music

Continental Cablevision of Western New England Inc.
790 Florence Road
$20,000 — Install backup generator on concrete pad

Ellendave LLC
971 Bridge Road
$245,874 — Interior renovation

Equity Trust Co.
11 Valley St.
$28,000 — Roofing, front porch repair, new flooring, cabinet replacement, painting

GAL Realty Co. LLC
96 Main St.
N/A — Suppression system

GPD 29 Industrial Dr. LLC
29 Industrial Dr. East
$10,500 — Sprinkler system

Healthy Neighborhoods Group LLC
47 High St.
$4,000 — Replace existing porch, open interior walls in bathroom

Standick Trust
158 Main St.
$61,800 — Interior demolition, install new sheetrock

Traddles LLC
60 Masonic St., Unit 2
$45,500 — Interior renovation to convert meeting space to commercial kitchen

Tri County Youth Programs Inc.
272 Grove St.
$19,200 — Roofing

Wilmington Trust National Assoc.
17 Glenwood Ave.
$20,000 — Roofing, replacement windows

PITTSFIELD

Douglas Hutton, Charles Slattery III
35 Commercial St.
$91,800 — Install fire sprinkler system

Jedko Properties LLC
199 South St.
$15,631 — Replace gas-fired HVAC unit on roof

Critical HR Issues for 2024

By Contributor
Opinion

Opinion

By Sandra Mauro

 

As human-resource professionals partner with their organization’s senior leaders to set priorities for 2024, we at the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) can’t help but reflect on the 2023 workplace predictions and ask, how effective were we at deciding where to focus our efforts, and, more importantly, did we move the needle on the critical issues we faced?

In 2023, seven key challenges were forecasted. Number one was quiet hiring, challenging us to look internally and determine if our workforce strengths would meet future organizational needs. Number two was equitable flexibility for frontline workers, an inspirational idea to open up the dialogue for frontline workers to freely express their preferences on how, when, and with whom they work.

Three through six were manager support, pursuing non-traditional talent, coping with stress, and workplace civility. Number seven? Technology and the entrance of AI.

Focusing forward on 2024, two through seven are green workplaces, civil culture, defining the new workplace, psychological safety, learning and upskilling, and career advancement. What a difference a year makes. AI has catapulted to number one.

When we think about AI and ask what will my organization do (or not do) with this new technology, we first need to acknowledge that Gen Z now makes up 23% of our 2024 workforce. This generation literally grew up with technology at their fingertips from the time they could touch it, and will expect nothing less in their workplace. Gen Z is not only tech-savvy, they are highly motivated for change thinking and will quickly move into key positions with great influence over our workplaces.

Yes, the demand for faster information, revolutionary thinking, and finding how and where AI can enhance — or threaten — our workplace will dominate our organizations. And equally important on every generation’s mind are the other six priorities.

There is no question 2023 was filled with turning our organization’s energy from day-to-day survival to blazing our future path. We tiptoed through return to the workplace, fought through scarce candidate pools, and contemplated solutions to quiet quitting and disengagement.

With our sights on what to implement to stay relevant in 2024, we need to collaboratively decide where we are going to focus our resources. Now more than ever, we need to keep our doors open and ask for employee ideas, buy-in, and commitment. Fight not only to align your operational objectives, but to nurture your organizational values, welcome authenticity, and embrace a culture where collaboration across every department is encouraged and celebrated.

And when 2025 is around the corner, let’s reflect back together and ask again, how did we do? After all, what gets measured gets done.

 

Sandra Mauro is a human resource business partner at the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. This article first appeared on the EANE blog; eane.org

New Life for the Iron Horse

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

Forty-five years is a long time, and for more than 40 of them, the Iron Horse Music Hall, which opened in 1979, provided not just live entertainment, but countless moments of connection, of joy, of the kind of shared experiences folks tend to remember.

How many young people were inspired by a show there to pick up a guitar and start making their own music? How many solo concertgoers bonded over being seated together at a table, and then carried the conversation to a local bar or café afterward? How many first dates turned into long relationships, marriages, and a whole lot more concerts?

Those moments — and the music itself, of course — have been missed since the legendary College Street storefront in downtown Northampton went dark during the pandemic and, well, never came back. Until now. Or, more accurately, later this spring.

The Iron Horse’s motto for decades has been “music alone shall live.” There’s truth to that — great music does outlast a lot of things. But for a lot of us, live music is about more than the music; it’s about feelings of community, the energy of the give and take between performer and crowd — and, again, a shared, completely unique, ‘you had to be there’ experience.

And, as the story details, you can soon be there again, thanks to the efforts of the Parlor Room Collective, a nonprofit that bought the troubled property from longtime owner Eric Suher and, with the help of many generous donors to an ongoing, $750,000 capital campaign, is renovating and expanding the room.

Chris Freeman and his team certainly want the renovated space to reflect its vibrant past — seating at tables, where a reimagined menu will be served — but they’re also improving what needed improving, from the run-down green room to the famously inadequate bathrooms.

It’s a heartening development, to be sure. We’ve written often about the value of performing-arts institutions to a region, and certainly, venues like Symphony Hall in Springfield, the Drake in Amherst, Hawks & Reed in Greenfield, MASS MoCA in North Adams, and the Parlor Room itself in Northampton continue to deliver plenty of music and good times.

But the Iron Horse always seemed … well, special, with its wild array of styles — both major stars and rising lights from the genres of rock, folk, country, blues, jazz, and a dozen others have graced its stage over the years — its unique setup, and its striking intimacy.

When the Calvin Theatre returns at some point — Suher has been working on a sale of that larger concert hall as well — that will be more great news for a downtown, and region, that could use more music and fewer vacant storefronts.

But no venue has embodied the spirit of ‘music alone shall live’ like the Iron Horse, and we’re hopeful it will rise again to the prominence of its heyday, sending home countless concertgoers with the feeling they’d experienced something truly unique, together.

Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley Names Amara Barbiero Associate Attorney

By
Daily News

Amara Barbiero

SPRINGFIELD — The law firm of Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley (PSRB) announced the appointment of Amara Barbiero as an associate attorney.

Barbiero graduated from Quinnipiac University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting prior to obtaining her juris doctorate from Western New England University (WNE) School of Law. As a law student, she was awarded the prestigious CALI Award in Workers’ Compensation, given to the highest-scoring student in each law-school class. She also worked as a clinician for the WNE Small Business Clinic in Springfield.

Barbiero spent four years working as a legal assistant in Connecticut before joining PSRB as a law clerk in 2021. That immersion into the practice of law has helped her develop an experience-based sensitivity to issues of equity and justice across diverse communities.

“I am excited to be a part of the PSRB family. The incredible breadth of experience of its attorneys and their team approach to helping injured people makes PSRB the type of firm that’s a perfect fit for me,” she said.

Barbiero is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and awaits her admission to the bars of Connecticut and New Jersey.

“We’re thrilled to have Amara in the firm. She is bright, enthusiastic, and possesses excellent people skills. She’s a terrific addition to PSRB,” Managing Partner Charles Casartello Jr. said.

AIC to Host Second Annual Pathway to Higher Education Forum Today

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Springfield community are invited to attend the second annual Parents as Partners on the Pathway to Higher Education forum, presented by American International College (AIC) in collaboration with the Coalition of Experienced Black Educators Inc. and the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership.

The event will be held today, Jan. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. at AIC’s Schwartz Campus Center Auditorium, second floor, 1000 State St., Springfield.

The partnership between AIC and the two community groups is designed to empower parents to support their children’s academic success. At last year’s inaugural event, organized by state Rep. Bud Williams, many families gained valuable insights into how those who have navigated similar paths can greatly impact a young person’s future potential.

This year’s forum will provide a data-driven exploration of the pathway to college. AIC President Hubert Benitez, alongside educators and students, will share insights into how various factors from grades K-12 can shape a student’s journey toward higher education. Attendees will also have an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the higher-education process and the crucial role parents play in their children’s college experience.

The event is free to attend, there is no cost for parking, and dinner will be provided. Registration is strongly suggested by calling AIC at (413) 205-3201; however, walk-ins will be welcome.

Dean’s Beans CEO Named to International Women’s Coffee Alliance Board

By
Daily News

ORANGE — Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Co. announced that its CEO, Beth Spong, has been appointed to serve on the board of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA), a global organization dedicated to empowering women in the coffee industry, fostering gender equality, and promoting the inclusion of women at all levels of the coffee supply chain.

Now in its 20th year, IWCA is committed to creating an equitable coffee industry by empowering women in chapters serving 33 countries around the world through leadership development, strategic partnership, and amplified market visibility.

Spong brings a wealth of experience with nonprofit boards and a passion for promoting equity to her new role. Under her guidance, Dean’s Beans continues to be at the forefront of advocating for fair-trade practices, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility within the specialty coffee industry. As a board member, she will contribute her expertise to further IWCA’s mission and initiatives supporting women coffee farmers, exporters, importers, roasters, and entrepreneurs.

“IWCA is thrilled to welcome Beth to our board of directors,” said Sharon Riecher, IWCA board president. “Dean’s Beans has been a longtime supporter of IWCA, and Beth’s commitment to making a positive impact aligns perfectly with IWCA’s mission. Her insights and wealth of experience will be valuable in helping to guide IWCA toward achieving its goals.”

Added Spong, “it’s an honor to serve on the board of such an impactful organization. IWCA has a 20-year track record of empowering women in the international coffee community to achieve meaningful work and sustainable incomes. Providing leadership training, technical assistance, and support to 33 chapters across the globe makes a big difference. Dean’s Beans is 100% aligned with IWCA’s vision and goals.”

Sen. Gomez Announces Grants for Apprenticeship Programs

By
Daily News

BOSTON — State Sen. Adam Gomez recently joined the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) in announcing grant awards of $275,000 for the Hampden County Workforce Board and $128,239 for the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board.

“Whether for trades, tech, healthcare, or finance, apprenticeships give people the opportunity to earn money while learning highly specialized skills,” Gomez said. “Although some apprenticeships can offer course credits for college, a higher education is not necessarily the path to success for everyone, so I am pleased to see these apprenticeship programs will serve as a viable alternative for Hampden County residents seeking jobs.”

These apprenticeship expansion and opportunity grants will support various healthcare apprenticeships in Western Mass., serving 55 apprentices for the Hampden County Workforce Board and covering operating costs for existing grants and 10 additional healthcare apprentices for the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board. As part of EOLWD, the Division of Apprentice Standards administers this initiative to expand registered apprenticeships to priority industries, diversify the existing apprenticeship workforce, and enhance apprenticeship programs in Massachusetts as part of the Commonwealth’s apprenticeship expansion plan.

BusinessTalk with MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s Shelley Zimmerman, hospital administrator, and Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development

By
Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

We are excited to announce that BusinessWest has launched a new podcast series, BusinessTalk. Each episode will feature in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders, providing thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachuetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running during these challenging times.

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 198: January 29, 2024

Joe Interviews MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s Shelley Zimmerman, hospital administrator, and Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development

Shelley Zimmerman and Kimberley Lee

Mental-health awareness is on the rise — partly because more people are willing to talk about it, and that’s a healthy development. But it’s also because the needs in society are greater too, even as we move further away from an isolating pandemic. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks to MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s Shelley Zimmerman, hospital administrator, and Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development, about what the Holyoke facility is doing these days to meet those needs, from reopening its renovated adolescent unit to supporting families in crisis and, yes, continuing to fight the stigma too-often associated with mental health. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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MCLA Professor Featured Among Top 10 Physics Breakthroughs of 2023

By
Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — MCLA Physics Professor Emily Maher, one of 65 scientists in the MINERvA collaboration at Fermi National Accelerator Lab (Fermilab), has published work that has been chosen as one of the “Top 10 Physics Breakthroughs of 2023” in Physics World.

Over a 10-year span, the MINERvA detector recorded the interactions of neutrinos and antineutrinos, the antimatter partners of the neutrino. The physicists working on the MINERvA experiment used the data to make a groundbreaking new measurement, which was published last February in Nature.

“We work to uncover and understand nature’s smallest building blocks,” Maher said. “I am repeatedly amazed at how we use particle accelerators that span miles to shoot invisible particles at multi-story detectors to ‘see’ something as small as a proton. No human has even been able to make this measurement before, and I am delighted that this science is not merely interesting to specialists in my field, but also recognized by the larger world as a real contribution.”

To be featured on the list of physics breakthroughs, research must have been published within the last year, generate significant advances in knowledge or understanding, and show the importance of work for scientific progress and/or development of real-world applications.

The study, led by Tejin Cai at the University of Rochester in the U.S. and Canada’s York University, shows how information about the internal structure of a proton can be gleaned from neutrinos scattering from a plastic target. The team focused on isolating the signal from neutrinos scattered off lone protons within the background of those scattered off protons bound in carbon nuclei. Their innovative approach involved simulating and subtracting the carbon-scattered signal from experimental data. This provides insights into proton structure and enhances the understanding of how neutrinos interact with matter.

Maher has spent more than 20 years studying neutrinos. She began her work at Fermilab in 2000, studying the tau neutrino for her thesis work. This experiment, called DONuT (direct observation of nu tau), made the world’s first direct observation of the tau neutrino. Maher said she enjoys studying neutrinos because “neutrinos continually surprise us and point us to new physics.”

Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Seeks Applications for Award, Scholarship

By
Daily News

BELCHERTOWN — The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley is now accepting applications for the Young Women in Public Affairs Award and the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship.

Young women (ages 16-19) who have demonstrated leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes are encouraged to apply for Zonta International’s Young Women in Public Affairs Award. The deadline is March 8. For details, visit www.zontaqv.org/scholarships.

Zonta International’s Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship is open to women of any age who are pursuing a business program at an accredited university, college, or institute with specialization in accounting, economics, finance, business management, business technology, information technology, marketing, operations management, human-resources management, international business, or entrepreneurship; demonstrate outstanding potential in the field; and are living or studying in a Zonta district/region. The deadline is June 15. For details, visit www.zontaqv.org/scholarships.

Real-estate Licensing Course Begins in March

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SPRINGFIELD — Beginning Monday, March 4, the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley will host a 40-hour, 14-class sales licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real-estate salesperson license exam. The course will be completed on Thursday, April 4.

Tuition is $425, including the book and materials. For an application, call (413) 785-1328 or visit www.rapv.com.

BusinessWest Calls for 40 Under Forty Nominations

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for the 40 Under Forty class of 2023. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 16.

Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be as detailed and thorough as possible, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form.

Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges, and the selected individuals will be announced and profiled in the April 29 issue of BusinessWest and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala in June. Event sponsorship opportunities are available.

Country Bank Appoints Mary McGovern President, Chief Operating Officer

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Daily News

Mary McGovern

WARE — The board of trustees of Country Bank announced the appointment of Mary McGovern as president and chief operating officer, effective April 1. She will oversee the bank’s operations and drive its strategic growth initiatives. Paul Scully, who has been the president and chief executive officer, will remain the CEO.

McGovern brings more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry, making her a valuable asset to Country Bank. She holds degrees from Emmanuel College and Babson College, and her extensive knowledge and expertise have been instrumental in the bank’s success. Mary joined Country Bank in 2011 as its chief financial officer and has since been an esteemed member of the bank’s Leadership Group.

McGovern recently attended the American Bankers Assoc. (ABA) Wharton Leadership Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, earning an ABA Wharton Leadership Certificate. This accomplishment further solidifies her commitment to excellence and continuous professional development.

“We are thrilled to announce Mary’s appointment as the next president of Country Bank,” said James Phaneuf, board chair. “Mary’s proven track record, dedication, and strategic vision make her the ideal candidate for this role. We are especially proud to break the proverbial glass ceiling by appointing the first female president in Country Bank’s 174-year history.

“The board is confident that Mary’s leadership will drive the bank’s continued success and growth,” Phaneuf continued. “With her extensive experience, strategic mindset, and dedication to excellence, Mary is poised to lead the bank into a new era of innovation and customer satisfaction while maintaining its position as one of the most highly capitalized financial institutions in the region.”

New England Public Media Promotes Elizabeth Román

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — New England Public Media (NEPM) promoted Elizabeth Román into the role of managing editor – daily and digital news. Although her title did not dramatically change, her responsibilities have evolved, and she will now take the lead on delivering daily news programming on the radio, NEPM’s website, and social-media channels.

“As a lifelong Springfield resident and Western Massachusetts native, I’m excited to continue working with our skilled news department to bring you even more stories that highlight the needs, concerns, and successes of the people living and working in this community,” she said.

Among those needs, Román is continuing to focus on expanding the diversity of sources in news coverage and opportunities to create more Spanish-language news content. As the daughter of Puerto Rican parents who migrated to Massachusetts more than 40 years ago, she has intended throughout her career as a journalist to provide accurate representation of communities of color in Western Mass. She has felt empowered to do this at NEPM, and in this new role, with the addition of supervisory responsibilities, she looks forward to sharing her expertise with other journalists.

Román is a graduate of Holyoke Community College and UMass Amherst. Prior to working at NEPM, she was a reporter at the Republican for almost two decades, edited El Pueblo Latino, co-founded Colectivo de Medios Latinos, and appeared as a panelist on NEPM’s “The Short List” and “Connecting Point.” She joined NEPM in 2022.

“I can’t believe it’s been almost two years since Elizabeth joined the NEPM news team,” said Sam Hudzik, NEPM news director. “She is a joy to work with and brought with her a high level of regional knowledge, local connections, and journalistic skill that’s helped NEPM fulfill its role as an essential news source for Western Mass. I’m so excited she’s moving into this new position, where she can further put her stamp on stories in NEPM’s newscasts and on our website.”

Bay Path University Recognized Among Top Online Women’s Colleges

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LONGMEADOW — The American Women’s College (TAWC), Bay Path University’s online college for adult women, has been recognized by the business-media outlet Forbes as one of the top three online women’s colleges in the nation. The ranking cited TAWC’s strong retention rate and called out Bay Path’s WELL (We Empower Learners and Leaders) program, a three-course leadership curriculum unique to the college, designed to equip women with the leadership skills and experience to excel in any career path.

“We are excited to add this recognition to our growing list of accolades and achievements,” said Maura Devlin, dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation at Bay Path. “The American Women’s College takes an innovative, intentional approach to women’s education that’s designed around the realities faced by women who are looking to advance in their careers, while balancing a full work/life load. It’s a uniquely supportive and empowering educational experience that women thrive in.”

Forbes uses 16 data points to evaluate colleges in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes, student experience, and application process. Bay Path, along with Simmons College and Brenau University, made the top three.

“Currently, 74% of all college students have a non-traditional characteristic, meaning they work, have dependents, are transfer students, or are first-generation students. These situations make attending a traditional, four-year, residential college a challenging undertaking,” Devlin noted. “Bay Path was one of the first colleges to recognize this, and we created the American Women’s College to accommodate and support these learners.”

Teach Western Mass Awarded $950,000 to Expand Teacher Retention

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SPRINGFIELD — Teach Western Mass (TWM) has won a $950,000, two-year grant from the Barr Foundation. This generous award will enable TWM to implement a new strategic vision and focus on strengthening and diversifying the local education workforce by licensing, supporting, and retaining powerful teachers reflective of their students’ life experiences and identities. Launched in 2016, Teach Western Mass is a nonprofit organization running a post-baccalaureate residency licensure program, approved by the state.

“We have thoughtfully spent the last six months redesigning our organization and our programming to better meet the needs of the 850+ teachers working in Western Mass. classrooms whose emergency licenses are set to expire this year,” said Pema Latshang, founding executive director of Teach Western Mass. “Now is the time to invest in the teachers who want to stay and are making a positive impact on our students using a culturally responsive approach.

“To do that, we need to create and implement pathways like the Teach Western Mass residency for our educators to move from emergency to more permanent licensure,” she went on. “If we don’t, we risk losing these teachers. Change can be expensive, and we are so appreciative of the Barr Foundation’s trust and support in our vision and leadership on this important issue at this pivotal time.”

This month, Teach Western Mass welcomed its first cohort of emergency licensed teachers to the newly redesigned residency program. Over the next 18 months, residents will earn their initial license in either English learner education or moderate disabilities ­– special education. Residents currently teach in Holyoke Public Schools, the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, or Libertas Academy Charter School. They were selected by both TWM and their school leaders.

“The Barr Foundation is excited to continue to learn alongside Teach Western Mass as they work with partner schools to support, develop, and license diverse early-career educators ready to equip students to lead the life they dream,” said John Travis, senior program officer at the Barr Foundation.

Springfield Chamber Players Launches Education, Outreach Concerts

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Chamber Players (formerly MOSSO) announced the inauguration of a new program to bring education and outreach programs into the community.

According to Beth Welty, chair of Springfield Chamber Players, Quartetto Mosso (using the Italian term mosso, for moving rapidly forward) performed an educational concert at Berkshire School in Sheffield in early January. This performance will be repeated at the Community Music School of Springfield, 127 State St., Springfield on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. The concert, like the January performance, is free to the public.

In Springfield, Quartetto Mosso will perform William Grant Still’s “Lyric Quartette,” Florence Price’s “String Quartet No. 1 in G Major,” and Antonin Dvorak’s “String Quartet No. 12, Opus 96, American.”

“This program introduces audiences to a variety of classical music genres and styles, and we hope to bring this program to schools, senior centers, assisted-living facilities, and other venues,” Welty said.

Springfield Symphony Orchestra musicians performing with the Springfield Chamber Players’ Quartetto Mosso include violinists Welty and Ronald Gorevic, violist Carol Hutter, and cellist Yoonhee Ko.

To book a Springfield Chamber Players education or outreach program, contact Welty at (339) 368-2996 or [email protected].

Braman Termite & Pest Elimination Promotes John McCarthy to Sales Director

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Daily News

AGAWAM — Braman Termite & Pest Elimination, a family-owned and operated business serving residential and commercial customers across Southern New England since 1890, announced the promotion of John McCarthy from account manager to sales director.

“John has been with us for over a year now and quickly proved himself ready for additional responsibilities,” said Jerry Lazarus, third-generation owner of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. “With his extensive experience and a commitment to customer satisfaction, he’s the perfect choice to lead our sales team.”

In his new role, McCarthy is directly responsible for leading and developing Braman’s sales team while cultivating customer relationships for long-term customer satisfaction and growth. This includes developing long-range sales goals and objectives, as well as sales plans and tactics to meet and exceed those goals.

McCarthy joined the Braman team in 2022 with 22 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles within the pest-control industry, including sales and service manager, branch manager, and district manager. He is a member of the National Pest Management Assoc.

Country Bank Donates $10,000 to Quaboag Valley CDC

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Daily News

WARE — Country Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Central and Western Mass., announced a $10,000 donation to the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. (QVCDC) to support various programs to help local communities in the region.

“The Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation is grateful for this generous donation from Country Bank,” said Melissa Fales, QVCDC executive director. “We appreciate Country Bank’s support for our initiatives and its investment in the economic growth and stability of the Quaboag Region.”

To learn more about the various support programs the QVCDC offers, visit www.qvcdc.org.

MassDevelopment Issues Bond for MHA Headquarters Project

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — MassDevelopment has issued a $6,543,000 tax-exempt bond on behalf of Mental Health Assoc. Inc. (MHA), which will use the proceeds to buy and renovate a 78,378-square-foot building at 350 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee, where it will relocate its headquarters from Springfield and house its mental-health programs and residential and support services.

The building originally housed the Charles River West Psychiatric Hospital and most recently served as the MassMutual Learning and Conference Center. The move will allow MHA to keep pace with growth and locate its staff in one office.

Renovations to the building will include interior wall reconfiguration, office construction, HVAC and sprinkler-system updates, added reception-area security, and painting, flooring, and information systems improvements. Construction began in November and is expected to be complete by February 2024. MHA expects to create 45 full-time jobs and 20 part-time jobs over the next three years. Florence Bank purchased the tax-exempt bond, which helped MHA achieve a lower cost of capital.

“Mental Health Association Inc. will soon be able to seamlessly transition its headquarters and programs into a renovated space in the gateway city of Chicopee, expand services for the community, and create dozens of new jobs,” MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera said. “Access to mental healthcare is an essential part of helping people thrive personally and professionally, and this leading nonprofit has a long history of delivering services for individuals and families across Western Massachusetts.”

Florence Bank President and CEO Matt Garrity added that “we were pleased to partner with MassDevelopment on the purchase of a $6.5 million tax-exempt bond to assist Mental Health Association Inc. with the purchase and renovation of a 78,000-square-foot building in Chicopee that will serve as their new headquarters. Mental Health Association is a longtime and highly valued customer who plays a pivotal role in providing behavioral-health services in the communities we serve.”

Founded in 1960, MHA provides access to therapies for emotional health and wellness; services for substance use recovery, developmental disabilities, and acquired brain injury; services for housing and residential programming; and more. MHA serves more than 3,000 people, from ages 5 to 90, each year.

“We are thrilled to announce our move to this new facility,” MHA President and CEO Cheryl Fasano said. “This move represents a significant investment in our mission and demonstrates our commitment to providing quality services to the people in our care.”

Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts Announces New CEO

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Daily News

HOLYOKE, WORCESTER — Following an extensive and thorough search process, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts announced the appointment of Theresa Lynn as its new CEO.

Lynn brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, having most recently served as senior vice president of the United Way of Central Massachusetts, where she focused on fundraising, communications, and some large grant-making opportunities. Her dedication to community engagement is evident through her roles as executive director for Back on My Feet, addressing homelessness and job insecurity in Boston, and executive director for ReadBoston for 14 years. She currently serves as a board member for the Worcester Education Collaborative and BioBuilder Education Foundation.

“I’ve long been a fan of Girl Scouts’ legacy experiences — from outdoor adventure to the iconic cookie program — and an admirer of the cutting-edge STEM initiatives that create one-of-a-kind experiences,” Lynn said. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to join Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts and work alongside the staff, adult volunteers, and community supporters who are deeply committed to serving today’s members in exciting, future-focused ways, because the need for female leadership has never been greater.”

Lynn holds a master of public administration degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, an MBA from Boston University, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of Holy Cross. Her contributions in the community have been recognized by the Boston Celtics, who presented her with a Heroes Among Us award, and by the Boston Business Journal, which acknowledged her as a Top 40 Under 40 leader in Boston.

“We are so proud to welcome Theresa to the Girl Scouts family,” said Nicole Messier, GSCWM board chair. “Her proven leadership, innovative vision, and unwavering commitment to empowering young people align seamlessly with the values that define our organization. We are confident that, under her guidance, GSCWM will continue to thrive and inspire the next generation of leaders.

“We’re thankful to the search committee for their diligence in selecting a leader who shares our commitment to fostering a supportive and empowering environment for the members we serve,” Messier continued. “We look forward to the positive impact Theresa will undoubtedly make as she leads us in fulfilling our mission of developing girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.”

Greenfield Cooperative Bank Commits $10,000 to Victoria Bismark Farm Project

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Daily News

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced a $10,000 sponsorship of Habitat for Humanity’s Victoria Bismark Farm project. This initiative will see the construction of three single-family homes on Burts Pit Road in Northampton, which will be built by hundreds of community volunteers alongside three future homebuyers with low income.

“At Greenfield Cooperative Bank, we believe in the power of homeownership to build strong communities,” said Tony Worden, president and CEO of GCB. “The Victoria Bismark Farm project embodies this principle perfectly, offering families a chance to achieve stability, prosperity, and a sense of belonging within the Northampton community.”

Jane Wolfe, executive vice president of Residential Lending, added that “we are honored to contribute to this impactful project and look forward to witnessing the positive transformation it will bring to these families and the neighborhood.”

The Victoria Bismark Farm project aligns with GCB’s core values of community engagement and financial empowerment. By sponsoring this project, GCB hopes to make a lasting difference in the lives of local families while demonstrating its dedication to building a brighter future for Western Mass.

“The housing crisis is real and happening now. Habitat’s response can only succeed with the help of strong community partners,” said Megan McDonough, executive director of Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. “We are grateful to Greenfield and Northampton Cooperative Bank for joining us in creating three opportunities for affordable homeownership for local families with low incomes who are ready to make their dreams of owning a home a reality.”

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