Bay Path Cybersecurity Program Ranked in Top Five by Forbes

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced that its master of science (MS) in cybersecurity program has been recognized as one of the top five such programs in the nation by Forbes in its Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity rankings for 2024.

Forbes’ ranking of Bay Path’s MS in cybersecurity online program reflects the university’s dedication to providing students with a comprehensive, cutting-edge education that prepares them to address the complex challenges of cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape. With a curriculum designed by industry experts and taught by experienced faculty members, the program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to succeed in this critical field.

Bay Path is also a partner in the federally funded, $1.5 million Union Station cyber range project in Springfield. This state-of-the-art cyber range will mirror IT environments and allow students to gain experience through live-fire attacks, blue-team-red-team events, training modules, labs, assessments, and more. In addition, Bay Path is a member of MassCyber’s training and education working group, giving students access to internships and real-world opportunities, the latest research, professional networks, and insight into best practices.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition from Forbes for our MS in cybersecurity program — the only program in New England to earn this accolade,” said Thomas Loper, associate provost and dean of the School of Management and Technology. “This ranking is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as our ongoing commitment to deliver innovative and high-quality education that prepares graduates to make a positive impact in their careers and communities.”

HCC to Inaugurate George Timmons as Fifth President on April 19

By
Daily News

George Timmons

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will mark a new chapter on Friday, April 19 with the inauguration of George Timmons as its fifth president.

The investiture ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the Leslie Phillips Theater on the second floor of the HCC Fine & Performing Arts building.

Timmons started working at HCC in July. He is the fifth president in the 78-year history of the college and the first African-American man to serve in that position.

The ceremony will start in the theater lobby of HCC’s Fine & Performing Arts building with a procession of faculty, staff, and distinguished guests, including presidents from many other Massachusetts community colleges and four-year colleges and universities in the region.

Also attending and offering brief remarks during the ceremony will be state Sen. John Velis; state Rep. Patricia Duffy; Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia; Patrick Tutwiler, Massachusetts secretary of Education; Robert Awkward, assistant commissioner of Academic Effectiveness at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education; Carlee Drummer, president of Columbia-Greene Community College; Quintin Bullock, president of the Community College of Allegheny County; and Briana Beaver-Timmons, Timmons’ eldest daughter (accompanied by her two younger siblings).

Barney Garcia, the student representative on the HCC board of trustees, will offer remarks. The event will also feature performances by several HCC students: Ally Carnes will sing the national anthem, William Rodriguez-Otero will give a spoken-word performance, and Chestina Thrower will give a musical performance.

Vanessa Smith, interim chair of the HCC board of trustees, will present the presidential medallion to Timmons, who will then give an address.

A community reception will immediately follow the inauguration ceremony in the HCC Campus Center. Those interested in attending should visit hcc.edu/inauguration24 and follow the link to RSVP.

Before coming to HCC, Timmons served as the provost and vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, N.Y. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University, a master’s degree in higher education from Old Dominion University, and a bachelor’s degree in financial management from Norfolk State University. At HCC, he succeeded President Christina Royal, who retired in July 2023.

Tech Foundry Announces New Hires, Promotions

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry, the regional leader in IT workforce development and training, announced the hiring of four new staff members as well as promotions of existing staff to support the organization’s growing operations.

Phillip Borras, Tech Foundry’s Career Readiness and Recruitment coordinator, was recently promoted to Coaching manager. A professional speaker, comedian, and life coach, he now leads a team of three coaches who mentor student members throughout the organization’s IT support training program and after graduation. This work complements Tech Foundry’s professional-development training, including résumé writing, interviewing, networking, and other professional-development skills.

Jessica Cogoli has been promoted to instructor. A Tech Foundry alum, she has been working closely with the organization since she graduated, as a volunteer, assistant instructor, and technical lead for the IT support training program. She recently graduated from Holyoke Community College with an associate degree in computer science and is now working toward her bachelor’s degree at Southern New Hampshire University.

Eric Maldonado, a 20-year veteran of the human-services field, joins the Tech Foundry team as a coach. His previous work focused on youth and homeless adults, including experience as a career coach with MassHire in Springfield. He is also an entrepreneur and has been running two successful businesses for the past five years.

William Medina, a former instructor at Tech Foundry, returned to the organization as the new Tech Hub director at the end of February. He is a technology enthusiast who helped build the organization during its early years. In his new role, he is responsible for managing the daily operations of the Tech Hub, a Holyoke-based center which provides digital-literacy classes, technical support, and device distribution throughout Western Mass. As director, he manages daily operations, curriculum development, community relations, the digital fellows program, and professional development.

Hilda Santa, a recent graduate of Tech Foundry, joins the team as the new administrative assistant and coach. She is a retired 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air National Guard and brings more than 15 years of administrative experience to the organization. In her role as a part-time coach, she will mentor the next generation of student-members. She holds a bachelor’s degree in health studies from UMass Amherst.

Pattie Carulli-Hauser brings her passion for coaching and mentoring to the Tech Foundry team as one of the organization’s new coaches. In her role, she will provide ongoing mentoring and support for Tech Foundry’s student members. She has spent most of her career in research and development leadership roles in the consumer-goods industry.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and resourceful team of professionals working at Tech Foundry,” CEO Tricia Canavan said. “We are grateful to our funders, donors, and partners in the community, whose support allows us to grow our programs, which in turn benefit more individuals, families, and businesses in Western Massachusetts and beyond.”

Balise Auto Donates $40,000 to Square One

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Balise Auto recently presented a check for $40,000 to Square One. The funding combines Balise’s generosity with matching gifts from Balise’s corporate partners at Lexus and Toyota.

“Square One has such a positive impact on local children and families” said Alex Balise, director of Marketing for Balise Auto. “We are so grateful to Toyota and Lexus for matching our donations and enabling Square One to have an even greater impact in our community.”

Square One currently provides early learning services to more than 500 infants, toddlers, and school-age children each day, as well as family support services to 1,500 families each year, as they work to overcome the significant challenges in their lives.

“Just as the auto industry is constantly evolving, so is Square One’s work with children and families,” said Kristine Allard, vice president of Development & Communication for Square One. “For decades, Balise has been by our side helping us respond to the growing needs of our community. We are humbled by and grateful for their longstanding, generous support for Square One.”

Clean Crop Technologies Is Changing the Greentech Landscape

By
Co-founder and CEO Dan White
Cover Story

Planting the Seeds

 

Co-founder and CEO Dan White

 

Dan White calls it “turning back the clock on decomposition of food and seeds.”

That’s how he chose to describe the technology created by Clean Crop Technologies, a Holyoke-based company that has become one of the foundations of that city’s emerging cleantech and greentech sector and one of the more intriguing regional entrepreneurial success stories in recent years.

Elaborating, White said there have long been technologies that will prevent the decomposition that results from molds, fungi, toxins, and pathogens that attack seeds and crops. But until recently — in fact, until the technology developed by the team at Clean Crop — there was little if anything to reverse that decomposition, or turn back the clock, as he put it, once those foods were in the supply chain.

Getting more specific, he said that, when it comes to seeds, which have increasingly become the company’s focus, Clean Crop has been able to address a long-standing tradeoff when it comes to addressing decontamination.

“You can choose between killing the contaminant, and in so doing harm the germination of the seed, or you can make sure you have vigorous seeds, but not be able to kill everything,” he explained. “What we focus on at Clean Crop is developing our Clean Current technology to solve the tradeoff; we’re targeting applications where we can achieve the same or better decontamination as things like hot water and chemical treatments, but without harming germination in the process.”

In simple terms, the company is using a high-voltage cold-plasma technology to revolutionize food safety, and it’s doing it in downtown Holyoke in space that was once a paper mill, helping that city build what could be called a cluster of cleantech businesses, while further diversifying the region’s business community and perhaps laying the tracks for more businesses of this type.

“What we focus on at Clean Crop is developing our Clean Current technology to solve the tradeoff; we’re targeting applications where we can achieve the same or better decontamination as things like hot water and chemical treatments, but without harming germination in the process.”

This is an inspiring story, with chapters that have played out in Pennsylvania, where White developed an affection for agriculture and a desire to make it a career; in sub-Saharan Africa, where he would meet eventual partner Dan Cavanaugh and develop a passion for solving a problem that until then lacked a solution; in Iowa, where the partners would meet and then collaborate with Kevin Keener on new technology and a company to refine it and put it to practical use; in the Boston venture-capital market, where $3 million would be secured to bring the concept to the next stage; at UMass Amherst (and its Institute of Applied Life Sciences); and in a small office in Northampton, where the partners built a core technical team and proof of concept.

And now, in Holyoke, where the company, recently named among TIME magazine’s Top Greentech Companies of 2024, landed amid a search for clean energy (Holyoke boasts hydropower), needed space, and a landlord sympathetic to the needs and challenges of startup ventures (read: a shorter-term lease). There, Clean Crop is now deep into the process of scaling up, building its team, telling its story — there have many visitors to the site for tours as well appearances by the principals on several agriculture-related podcasts — and writing the next chapters.

Putting the problem of contamination into perspective, White said the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that roughly 30% of crops are lost in farmers’ fields every year to a wide range of toxins, pathogens, molds, and pests, with this loss quantified at $220 billion. And while the monetary loss, not to mention the huge loss of food to the supply chain, gets plenty of attention, what doesn’t is the fact that this crop loss is also a huge driver of greenhouse-gas emissions.

“These same contaminants, both on farm and in the supply chain, result in a lot of food being wasted,” he explained. “And as food waste decomposes, it generates methane, which is more than 50 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.”

Thus, Clean Crop Technologies is addressing several problems at once, from increasing the amount of food eventually reaching the table to reducing those harmful greenhouse gases.

For this issue, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at Clean Crop, a budding enterprise that provides both food for thought when it comes to technology and its ability to solve some of the world’s bigger problems and more food for the table.

 

A Growing Venture

White grew up in Gettysburg, Pa., a farming region heavily populated by apple orchards. In high school, he started working at a friend’s family orchard and “fell in love with agriculture.”

“I wound up working for them for a few years in high school and college, and ended up spending most of my career working overseas,” he said, adding that he lived in Beirut, Lebanon for some time trying to get a hydroponic industry up and running there.

But he spent most of his career in sub-Saharan Africa, helping U.S.-based companies that were developing promising technologies to enable farmers and supply-chain operators to build market share.

For example, he worked with a South Dakota-based company that developed a biostimulant that allowed farmers to grow the same amount of crops while using less fertilizer.

“As food waste decomposes, it generates methane, which is more than 50 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.”

“They were interested in their applications for corn, bean, and other crop producers in Africa, and had no idea how to get it to market,” White explained. “So I helped them develop a go-to-market plan and figure out the regulatory pathways, and now they’re commercially active in six different countries on the continent and doing quite well.”

It was during that time that he met Cavanaugh, who was working as a commercial manager for Cargill in East Africa, handling all its trading in corn and oil seed commodities.

“He really learned the post-harvest side of the business,” said White, adding that it was a venture that Cavanaugh set up that eventually laid the groundwork, pun intended, for Clean Crop.

“He was tasked with establishing a peanut mill in Mozambique, which today basically just exports all its peanuts as farmer stock to South Africa, with very little value,” he explained. “The original thesis was that, if you have a mill that would be able to do that primary processing for the peanuts in Mozambique, you could then extract more value from the export market, exporting them as grade-A processed peanuts rather than the raw farm stock.

“That ended up failing because of a wide range of things, including pathogens and toxins that are common not just to peanuts but a lot of other food categories as well,” White went on. “Once they’re in the supply chain, there’s very few tools to solve them.”

Fast-forwarding a little, White and Cavanaugh essentially went about creating such technology.

“There’s a lot of ways to prevent contamination by these pathogens; there’s a lot of ways to mitigate or exclude food that’s been contaminated from the supply,” White explained. “But there were very few tools that we were aware of that could actually turn back the clock on contamination that was safe and that would keep that food in the supply chain.”

This reality led them down a rabbit hole as he and Cavanaugh looked at many different technologies in this space that held promise, including UV light, and eventually met Keener, then a professor at Iowa State University.

“Our long-term vision is that we want our machines to be operating in every seed-processing facility globally as the first line of defense in crop loss.”

“We read a lot of his papers and actually built a prototype of the technology we’re using today from schematics he had put in one of his publications,” White recalled. “And it worked, or seemed to work, and that was good enough for us to go out and meet him and visit his lab, and we started Clean Crop with him in early 2019.”

Early-stage work was focused primarily on the peanut industry, he said, adding that, when the technology was validated, a machine was taken to a peanut sheller in Georgia that was interested in piloting it. That pilot went well, he said, adding that the peanut company essentially said to come back when the machine was a thousand times bigger.

The partners agreed, but knew the pathway to commercialization involved several smaller levels of scaling before getting to that point. In the meantime, starting in the spring of 2021, they started exploring several other markets — everything from other high-value nuts to shelf-life extension for ground beef, seafood, and dairy products, and, eventually seeds.

 

Seed Money

Explaining the technology in somewhat simple terms, White said Clean Crop combines food-grade gases and electricity to create cold plasma, thus inactivating a broad spectrum of contaminants from seed surfaces in a dry, automated, and residue-free process.

Seeds travel through a hopper in a class-7 clean room and onto a proprietary conveyance mechanism where they then get exposed to the Clean Current ionized gases and are decontaminated before moving on for further processing. At present, the technology can process 25 pounds of seed per hour.

The seeds are shipped to Holyoke, where they are processed, bagged aseptically, and shipped back to customers, who are charged a flat fee per pound. These customers come in two categories — growers, especially those in the greenhouse, micro-green, and sprouts markets that are concerned about molds, but also food-safety risks; and also seed companies, specializing mostly in high-value vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, radishes, and others.

“One of the most compelling reasons that we moved here, long-term, is the municipal hydro dam.”

The goals moving forward are to expand that customer base, scale up operations, grow market share, and eventually sell the machines to customers.

“Right now, we only have one machine operating, but we’re looking to significantly expand our capacity this year,” said White, adding that the company has a large backlog of work. “Our goal this year is to scale our operations to absorb as much of that demand as possible and get our machines out into the world to customer facilities.

“Our long-term vision is that we want our machines to be operating in every seed-processing facility globally as the first line of defense in crop loss,” he went on. “To get there … it’s a non-trivial challenge to develop not just the manufacturing side of a company, but the company success. To be able to support a remote set of machines is a challenge, one that we want to grow into once we figure out the supply chain.”

Elaborating, White said the company, which is still in what he calls phase 1 of its development, will bring a second machine online in the near future, greatly increasing its capacity for serving customers, and scaling from there, bringing several machines with much larger capacities online. The goal is to have machines in at least 50 seed processors around the world by 2030, giving Clean Crop perhaps 10% of the global market and $100 million in annual revenues.

Doing all that will take capital, he said, adding that the company is well-capitalized and is committed to staying, and growing, in Holyoke, with opportunities to expand in its current space and into other space nearby if the need arises, while taking advantage of the city’s abundant and comparatively inexpensive green energy.

“One of the most compelling reasons that we moved here, long-term, is the municipal hydro dam,” he explained. “We have some of the cheapest commercial electricity rates in the state, and as an electro-chemical solution, that’s one of the main variable costs we’re going to have as we scale, and we see that as an enormous asset.”

It’s an asset that could attract other companies in this emerging realm as well, he went on, citing the pending arrival of Sublime Systems, a producer of low-carbon cement, as another sign that Holyoke’s inexpensive power and other selling points are turning heads.

“We see this as a real opportunity, not just with us, but with a range of other companies coming out of the Greater Boston ecosystem that are really going to drive this next wave of industrial decarbonization,” White said. “There’s an opportunity for Holyoke to be a leading space for the next milestone of scale-up for those companies coming out of Greentown Labs and MIT. The city happens to have this tremendous advantage of having a carbon-free, economically competitive energy source as well as a lot of underutilized industrial space.”

Meanwhile, the company is working to ensure that it has sufficient talent to meet its future goals, partnering with Springfield Technical Community College on an initiative to create a pipeline of technicians for the years to come.

 

Bottom Line

Whether Holyoke does, indeed, attract other greentech companies, and whether Clean Crop reaches the lofty goals it has set for the coming years, remain to be seen.

But for now, the company is already making its mark when it comes to the global issue of seed health, and helping to put Holyoke on the map as a potential home for companies in this sector.

This is a company, and a story, that bears watching as the seeds it has already planted continue to bear many different kinds of fruit.

Golf Industry Continues to Build on Pandemic-fueled Momentum

By
Melissa Aitken
Special Coverage Sports & Leisure

Course Correction

Melissa Aitken

Melissa Aitken says the surge in the sport, and business, of golf enjoyed during COVID continues four years later.

 

Golfers, regardless of their skill level, know the importance of getting off to a good start.

Indeed, often — but not always, obviously — the first few holes, and even the first few shots, will set the tone for an entire round.

And when it comes to the business of golf, and a specific season, the same is generally true. Usually — but, again, not always — a good start can pave the way to a solid year.

And in recent years, with winters ending early, area courses, especially those with the desire and the means to open before the grass starts growing in earnest, have been able to get off to great starts.

“We’ve had some early springs, and this one is even earlier, and that has helped a lot of courses; for most, this is bonus time,” said Jesse Menachem, executive director and CEO of the Massachusetts Golf Assoc. (MGA). For decades, he noted, players in this area set their watches to Master’s weekend (mid-April) for when to get the clubs out of the cellar and start hitting balls; in recent years, they’ve had to recalibrate and start in mid-March.

But fast starts in the spring, and even the late winter, are not the only things going right for a golf industry that was in many ways on the ropes in the years leading up to the pandemic. Indeed, a surge that resulted from COVID, when there was little else that people could do for exercise and socialization — they couldn’t even play tennis — has had real staying power, said Menachem and others we spoke with, with the MGA’s leader noting a 1% increase in the total number of rounds played last year. That’s a modest hike, to be sure, but the needle is still moving in the right direction.

Bobby Downs, head professional at the Country Club of Wilbraham, said the upswing that started during COVID has continued and even accelerated in some respects, with membership as high as it has been in many years.

“We could take in a few more people, but we’re at a point, just under 400, where we’re very satisfied with the number we have here,” he said, noting this number would have been a pipe dream just five years ago.

“We’ve had some early springs, and this one is even earlier, and that has helped a lot of courses; for most, this is bonus time.”

Melissa Aitken, CEO of the Country Club of Pittsfield, a Donald Ross course that can trace its roots to 1897, cited similar momentum.

“Our club is doing tremendously well,” she said. “We’ve seen a surge in membership, and last year our membership count was the highest it has been since 2008. Post-COVID, we’ve seen an increase of 21% in our membership level. Every year, more and more people are inquiring despite the dues increases that have been necessary since COVID changed the world.” 

Other factors benefiting the industry include everything from demographics — Baby Boomers are retiring in large numbers, and many are looking for things to do — to the younger generations embracing the game in some form (maybe not 18 holes every Saturday, but nine holes here and there and an hour of practice), to remote work schedules, which make it slightly easier to get out for a round than being in the office five days a week.

Tom Baron

Tom Baron says the Topgolf simulators at MGM Springfield have benefited from the recent surge in interest in the sport.

And these factors are benefiting not only courses, but other components of this business as well, from retail stores to the growing number of facilities with golf simulators; from driving ranges to mini-golf courses.

Dave DiRico, the mostly retired owner of Dave DiRico’s Golf in West Springfield and a former club pro, can speak to all aspects of the business and the current trends. He told BusinessWest that his simulators are booked solid in the winter months (not so much when people can play for real), and that those who took up the game during COVID or returned to it are sticking with it — and buying new equipment while they’re at it.

He’s also seeing and hearing that tee times have been nearly impossible to get in these early days of spring (and more difficult to get in general) and that private courses are at capacity and, in some cases, even have waiting lists.

“I see the game in a very healthy place,” he said. “The golf courses are busy, and the membership in most places is full — or, if they’re not full, they’re nearly full. Young people are getting into the game, and they’re staying with it. The signs are all very positive.”

All this is a far cry from where things were in the years leading up the pandemic. What was a struggling business now has a good lie, as they say in this sport, and it is looking to take full advantage and do some scoring. For this issue and its focus on sports and leisure, we talked to representatives of many facets of the golf business about how the sport has rebounded and why they believe the good times will continue.

 

Out of the Rough

Tom Baron, senior manager of Food & Beverage at MGM Springfield, who oversees the Topgolf facility on the property, told BusinessWest that the simulators there can provide users with a seemingly endless stream of information to digest and analyze as they work to improve their games.

“They instantly give you the ball’s spin rate, the clubhead speed, whether the clubface was open or closed, the ball speed, the arc … it’s amazing,” he said.

Meanwhile, these simulators can enable users to play some of most renowned courses in the world, from Pebble Beach to Pinehurst No. 2 to the Old Course at St. Andrews, where they can even take a simulated walk over the famous Swilcan Bridge after hitting their drives on the 18th hole.

“I see the game in a very healthy place. The golf courses are busy, and the membership in most places is full — or, if they’re not full, they’re nearly full. Young people are getting into the game, and they’re staying with it. The signs are all very positive.”

Baron said Topgolf, which is open only on weekends, has become an increasingly popular attraction, and event space, at the casino complex, especially on Father’s Day, Master’s week (people play but also watch the tournament on the 12 TVs), and other times. It attracts players of all skill levels, from novices to those who bring their own clubs — and even their own golf shoes.

And, as noted, it enables them to work on their game while also playing courses they’ve only read about or seen on TV.

“The attention to detail on these simulators is amazing,” he said. “Like with the par 3s at Pebble Beach with the waves crashing around them — the technology makes you feel like you’re there.”

But the real surge in golf involves what’s happening at courses right here in the 413, and across the state and the country, for that matter — specifically the continuation of a rebirth that began not quite four years ago.

Indeed, while COVID was a dark time for businesses across all sectors — and it was for golf at the start as well, because courses were included in the wide state shutdown of businesses — it eventually became a blessing for the industry.

In the years leading up the pandemic, the game was suffering. Play was down across the board, at public courses and even at the most esteemed private courses, to the point where some were resorting to something they’d never done (or had to do) before — advertise on various media in the hopes of attracting more members. A few courses in the area actually closed, and others saw their existence threatened.

Dave DiRico, seen here with daughter Carrie Michael and son-in-law Drew Michael

The mostly retired Dave DiRico, seen here with daughter Carrie Michael and son-in-law Drew Michael, who now manage Dave DiRico’s Golf, says all aspects of the business have flourished recently, including retail.

“We were in a year-to-year situation,” said Downs as he recalled the years prior to COVID. “We were running on such a shoestring that we weren’t sure, at some points, if we were going to stay in existence.

“From 2005 until 2018 and 2019, you saw a steady decline in the number of rounds being played throughout the country,” he went on. “There was not a lot of new people coming into the game, and not a lot of engagement; people who had played the game when they were younger weren’t engaged anymore.”

For many, especially those of the younger generations, the game was too slow, too costly, and too time-consuming. When the pandemic hit, it was still all those things, but it was suddenly far more attractive — because there was little else to do for fun.

So many took up the game while others who had left it returned, sparking a renaissance of sorts. And while courses suffered through seemingly unending rain in 2021, oppressive heat in 2022, and an irritating pattern of rain on weekends in 2023, the arrow has continued to point up in most respects at both public and private courses.

This has been the case despite some persistent challenges that range from the workforce issues now common to virtually every sector of the economy to the rising cost of everything from fertilizer to the chicken served at the 19th hole or the club’s restaurant.

Aitken said there are many factors contributing to the growing popularity of the game — and better times for clubs like hers, everything from young people getting involved to a broad focus on fitness to families moving from larger urban centers to more rural areas like the Berkshires.

“Our membership is driven by our dual residents who join us from May to October every year, as they come back to their summer homes in the Berkshires,” she explained. “We’re primarily 65 years and over, but with COVID, many young families moved out of the city and made their way home to the Berkshires, so it’s been great to see the increase in young families not only at the club but in Berkshire County.

“I think the fitness and health-conscious mindset also plays a big part in our daily lives now, so many people are joining the club to be outdoors, get exercise, and be with their friends,” she went on. “I strive to make our club a home-away-from-home environment, and I think it’s that feeling of family and familiarity that makes our club really special in our area.”

 

Round Numbers

As for young people, while golf is still too slow for some, many are discovering the game and sticking with it, said Aitken, adding that this bodes well for the game long-term because people can play the sport into their 70s and 80s.

“I’ve seen a large increase in the interest of the younger generation,” she told BusinessWest. “My son is a freshman in high school, and they had more than 20 students try out for the golf team last year, which is higher than our town of Dalton has ever had. I think the popularity of younger golfers like Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, and Rory McIlroy have increased the desire for young students to try out the game of golf as well. Shows like the Netflix series Full Swing certainly don’t hurt either.”

Downs agreed, but noted that clubs must be proactive and try to bring young people into the game through youth programs, membership options, and more.

“One of the first things I did when I took over here seven years ago was get in touch with the town’s Recreation Department and try to create a good relationship with them,” he recalled. “We grew our PGA Junior League program from where there were maybe 15 kids involved to where, two years ago, there were more than 60.”

While more younger people are certainly finding the game, the current surge is essentially across the board, said those we spoke with. And it is manifesting itself into what could be called good problems to have for clubs — full membership and full tee sheets, for example — that have forced them to turn some people away.

Indeed, DiRico recalled being in his store one weekday earlier this month, talking with customers who struggled, in vain, to find a tee time at the courses that were open for business.

They will certainly have better luck as more clubs open their pro shops in the days to come, he said, but the pandemic boost has shown to be resilient thus far, enduring inflation and all that bad weather mentioned earlier.

And, as noted, the surge has trickled down to not only courses, but the many other facets of the game, including retail.

DiRico noted that, as soon as Golf Digest publishes its annual Hot List of the newest equipment, from drivers to irons to putters, good players, but also those at all levels, will come in to see and try what they’ve read about. But this annual spike has been helped by new players, and returnees, who have stuck with the game since COVID and now want to upgrade what’s in their bag.

“Over the past two or three years, there’s more golfers than ever before,” he said. “More people took up the game — spouses who had never played before, kids who never played took up the game. Now, these people have become repeat customers; those people who bought used clubs are now buying new clubs.”

That’s just one of many signs that a game that was certainly in the rough just a few years ago has found its way onto the green and, more importantly, on the path to a very solid future.

Area Auto Dealers Optimistic About Year Ahead

By
Rob Pion
Autos Special Coverage

Drive Time

Rob Pion

Rob Pion says the customer experience has become more important in a competitive marketplace for dealers.

 

 

 

Auto dealers have seen it all over the past few years, from soaring costs for vehicles, parts, and labor to inventory shortages to a rapid rise in interest rates.

But they’ve adjusted and adapted, they say — and so have consumers.

“We’re still doing all right. There still seems to be plenty of traffic and activity out there,” said Rob Pion, general manager of Bob Pion Buick GMC in Chicopee. “I would say there was a period last year where people really started to get rate-conscious, but that has passed to some extent. We’ve seen rates start to come down as well as people just kind of accepting it. I mean, it’s not our rate; the Fed sets the rate.”

Despite those concerns, Pion added, “2023 was a great year for us. GMC’s got a couple new products and redesigns coming out, and Buick’s got a number of redesigns coming out. We’re going to have almost a completely new set of models by this time next year. So there’s a lot happening. The used-car market has somewhat stabilized, too, and think that’s going to continue to stabilize throughout ’24. But right now, the public still seems to be out there buying and looking for vehicles.”

Especially on the new-car side, “everything’s kind of back to where things were,” said Mike Filomeno, general manager of Marcotte Ford. “The inventories are really good; products are coming in quickly. Prices are still up there, though, based on supply and demand.”

Manufacturers recognize the dual crunch of rising costs and rising interest rates, however, said Mike Marcotte, president of the dealership. “When interest rates rose last year, Ford started putting programs on the new vehicles again, like the 1.9% or lower interest rates that help with the financial changes going on. The market is definitely starting to react to that.”

Pion has seen similar moves. “Throughout the year — and it’s still continuing — GM has had some aggressive financing rates out there. We’re not seeing the big rebates of years past, but depending on credit approvals, we’ve seen 3.9%, 2.9%, they even went down to 0.9% for a little bit for 36 months. So there has been some help from the factory on that side of things. Not the big cash rebates that we saw in years past, but certainly interest-rate relief.”

Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar Auto Group, said business has been strong, and she’s seeing positive trends across her family of six dealerships.

“We’re not seeing the big rebates of years past, but depending on credit approvals, we’ve seen 3.9%, 2.9%, they even went down to 0.9% for a little bit for 36 months.”

“Despite inflation affecting costs of parts and services, consumers understand the situation,” she told BusinessWest. “Manufacturers are offering more aggressive lease incentives, which our customers are taking advantage of, leading to increased business. Certain manufacturers like Volkswagen, Nissan, and Hyundai are also offering 0% financing to consumers.”

That’s in addition to TommyCar’s internal loyalty program, which allows customers to earn up to 15% back on every dollar spent in the service department, which can be used toward their next vehicle purchase.

Meanwhile, “our inventory levels for both new and used vehicles are returning to normal,” Cosenzi noted. “We’ve seen an increase in our used inventory levels, primarily due to steady trade-ins and our aggressive buy-back offers, which have helped us maintain a steady supply of used cars. We’re optimistic about the year ahead.”

 

Back in Stock

Marcotte said his dealership, like many others, dipped to around half of normal inventory in the wake of the pandemic. “But now we’re back to good levels. I’m so glad we can offer gas, diesel, hybrid, and now electric vehicles, which are 8% of the market right now. We’re in every segment.”

Used-car inventories were one of the biggest stories in auto sales across the U.S. over the past few years, as shortages led to soaring values. That situation has stabilized (not necessarily to car owners’ benefit; see story on page 22), but dealers are breathing easier when it comes to what they can put on their lots.

“We’re a big Ford certified pre-owned dealership,” Filomeno said, “and there’s still demand for a good used car out there. A lot of people have been holding on to their cars for the last five years and repairing them because there wasn’t a vehicle for them to buy, so now they’re trying to trade those vehicles in.”

Marcotte Ford’s mobile service vans

Marcotte Ford’s mobile service vans have been a popular customer perk.

Pion agreed, noting that inventory has rebounded, for both new and used vehicles, and across the spectrum, from cars to SUVs to trucks.

“Some of the specialty trucks, especially the heavy-duty trucks, things of that nature, are still difficult to get. It could be anywhere from 12 weeks to 8 months to get it. But people have also become a little more accustomed to that today, too. They don’t expect things tomorrow. They kind of know what it’s like, so they’re willing to wait a little longer.

“Specific trucks are still hard to get,” he went on. “If you come in here and you want a black one with a black interior with the 22-inch wheels with this type of engine … that could still be a hard truck to get. If you came in here and said, ‘hey, Rob, I want a pickup truck. I don’t need to have a big engine, I’m going to use it mostly for my family, some landscaping on the weekends, just around the house’ … I have that. So that purchaser who isn’t incredibly specific about their needs can walk in and be serviced pretty quickly. But that business owner that only wants the white truck for their company? That can be tough.”

The used-car market has continued to favor sellers, Pion added, “and I think it’s created a desire in some people to keep their vehicles longer. In the service department, we definitely see larger repair bills than we have in the past because people are keeping their vehicles longer.”

Another big shift in auto sales continues to be the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs), a trend that TommyCar has embraced.

“We’ve been a strong electric-vehicle dealer and continue to be one of the top electric-vehicle dealers,” Cosenzi said. “Electric vehicles are more affordable than ever, thanks to federal and state rebates, along with manufacturer incentives.”

While some new EVs, like the Volvo EX90 and EX30 models, require pre-orders due to their popularity and limited availability, others can easily be found on lots, including the Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6, and Nissan Ariya.

“Once people are in the EVs, they’re going to buy another EV. I love the EV. That’s my next purchase.”

Marcotte Ford boasts three EVs — the Mach-E, the F-150 Lightning, and the E-Transit — and “they’re bringing a different shopper than we normally see, with different trade-ins. So it’s bringing a new face, a new customer, into the dealership,” Marcotte said. This evolution is also why the dealership installed four high-speed EV chargers on its lot last year.

“We see people from all over New England coming through here on the weekends. They’ll charge up before going skiing,” he said. “Our employees, if they buy, can charge right here. Customers can come here to charge.”

Marcotte said EV adoption is still increasing, but not as quickly as before, and Ford has changed its production level based on that trend, but the company still envisions a strong future for electrics.

Carla Cosenzi

Carla Cosenzi says interest-rate incentives, the return of healthy inventory levels, and solid options in electric vehicles have all boosted sales.

“Once people are in the EVs, they’re going to buy another EV. I love the EV. That’s my next purchase,” he told BusinessWest, noting that some drivers are more comfortable driving hybrid vehicles first, and many of those will eventually move to all-electric as well. “So it’s good we can offer every option to customers.”

Many drivers, he added, are waiting to feel more confident about charging stations becoming more widespread. “So once there’s more infrastructure, I think that anxiety will go away a little bit.”

Whether they’re buying electric, hybrid, or traditional vehicles, today’s drivers tend to be interested in certain bells and whistles, Cosenzi said.

“Customers are seeking vehicles with advanced high-tech features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, large touchscreens, smartphone integration, and voice recognition,” she noted. “These trends reflect a desire for practical, safe, convenient, and sustainable vehicles with the latest technology.”

 

Out and About

Still, at the end of the day, customers still appreciate a positive experience when purchasing a vehicle, Pion said.

“These brands mean everything to us,” he said, noting that he’s now the only Buick dealership within an hour’s drive. “I just hope that we can offer an experience where people want to be here and be a part of the family. That’s how we try to treat everybody and differentiate ourselves. I try to meet and talk to as many of my customers throughout the day as I can because it’s important to me.”

Marcotte agreed the customer experience is critical. One intriguing development at his dealership has been the introduction of five mobile service vehicles that will drive to a home or business and service a car on the spot.

“It’s bringing the convenience to the customer, and we know time is so valuable, and want to get them up and running,” Marcotte said, noting that the program has been a positive for Ford. “It’s a whole brand differentiator, and not all manufacturers are up on this. So we keep focusing on the guest experience, giving them every option, and now you can be at your home while we do the oil change, or keep your business up and running. We’ve had really great feedback from the customers.”

Spring Allergies and Asthma Are Problems in Western Mass.

By Contributor
Healthcare News Special Coverage

A Blooming Challenge

By David Robertson, MD, MPH, MBA

Spring is a season of rebirth and rejuvenation, with flowers blooming and the world around us turning from brown to green. However, for many area residents, this beautiful transformation comes with a less-welcome companion, with Springfield consistently ranking as one of the worst cities in the country for allergies and asthma.

This year, the warm winter that just came to an end is set to extend the allergy season, bringing about an early and possibly more intense onset of symptoms for allergy sufferers.

 

The Warm Winter Effect

Typically, cold winters help delay the start of the allergy season by keeping plants dormant and the ground frozen longer. A warmer winter can lead to an earlier thawing and activation of outdoor molds in the soil. This early activity, combined with spring rains, means that outdoor mold spores are already circulating, ready to trigger allergy symptoms. With tree pollen following closely behind, residents may find themselves in the midst of a particularly challenging allergy season.

 

Understanding Allergies and Asthma

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to substances in the environment, known as allergens, which are harmless to most people. These can include tree, grass, and weed pollens; molds; animal danders; and dust mites. When these allergens are inhaled or come into contact with the skin, they can cause symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, and watery eyes.

“Managing allergies and asthma requires a multifaceted approach. The three basic strategies for dealing with environmental allergens are avoidance, medications, and allergy immunotherapy.”

For some, allergies can also exacerbate asthma, a condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. Asthma can be triggered by allergens as well as changes in the weather, making the spring season particularly challenging for individuals with both allergies and asthma.

 

Strategies for Relief

Managing allergies and asthma requires a multifaceted approach. The three basic strategies for dealing with environmental allergens are avoidance, medications, and allergy immunotherapy.

The first line of defense is to minimize exposure to allergens. This can include staying indoors on days when pollen counts are high, using air purifiers at home, and changing clothes and rinsing off after time spent outside. Some people also find wearing masks or even protective eyewear helpful, particularly with activities that may increase allergen exposure, like cutting the grass and gardening.

Many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications can help manage symptoms of allergies and asthma. Antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, and eye drops are widely used to alleviate allergy symptoms, while asthma sufferers often use prescription inhalers to control their symptoms. However, choosing the right medication can be daunting due to the vast array of options available.

For those with severe allergies, allergy immunotherapy, which includes allergy shots and sublingual tablets, may be an option. This long-term treatment gradually desensitizes the body to specific allergens, potentially providing lasting relief.

 

Navigating Treatment Options

While many effective treatments are available over the counter, selecting the right product can be challenging without professional guidance.

In studies, nasal steroid sprays like Flonase or Nasacort are the most effective family of medicines for helping with congestion, sneezing, and post-nasal drip, but many people do not like using them. They may not be right for everyone, particularly people prone to nosebleeds or with glaucoma or cataracts.

Oral antihistamines, like Allegra, Claritin, or Zyrtec, can help with sneezing and itching, and these new antihistamines are not supposed to cause drowsiness, though everyone’s body is different. Antihistamine eye drops can help with itchy, watery, or swollen eyes, but can also cause or worsen dry eyes.

Oral decongestants can provide temporary relief of sinus pressure, but can also cause increased blood pressure and insomnia, so we generally recommend minimizing these medications. Nasal decongestant sprays like Afrin can provide temporary relief of congestion, but should not be used for more than two or three days in a row because they can cause increased congestion.

All of these medicines are available in less expensive generic forms, which most people find equally effective.

Given the number of treatment options and potential side effects for some people, it may beneficial to consult with a healthcare provider or an allergist to develop a personalized treatment plan. If you already have a treatment strategy that works for you and your family, now may be a good time to get a few boxes of your preferred medicine — in the last few years, there have been occasional shortages at the peak of allergy season. But leave enough for your neighbors!

 

The Road Ahead

As Springfield and the surrounding region brace for a longer allergy season, staying informed and proactive in dealing with allergens will be crucial for those looking to enjoy the spring while keeping their symptoms in check.

By understanding the triggers, using effective management strategies, and seeking professional guidance when necessary, allergy sufferers should be able to navigate the challenges of spring allergies and asthma with increased confidence.

 

Dr. David Robertson is an allergist and clinical immunologist and owner of Western Massachusetts Allergy, LLC in Springfield.

Alex Balise Took a Different Road to the Family Business

By
Alex Balise
Special Coverage Women in Businesss

Driving Ambition

Alex Balise

Alex Balise

 

Alex Balise always thought she would get involved in the family business.

She just thought that would happen when she was maybe 40, not in her mid-20s, as things turned out.

But since they did turn out that way (and we’ll go back and explain way later), she is now eight years into what has become an intriguing and wide-ranging career, one that has her engaged in everything from cars — the family business is Balise Motor Sales — to car washes; from two laundromats (one in Springfield and the other on the Cape) to whatever might come next for this 105-year-old enterprise.

Indeed, Balise, 36, representing the fourth generation of the family to assume leadership roles with the company, recently saw her role change, or, to be more precise, expand. While she’s still director of Marketing, she is now also director of Corporate Strategy, which means she will play a large role in helping to shape what might come next.

“I’ve been doing more … projects,” she said, being intentionally vague. “I’ve been very involved in the car washes, and that’s been a rapid expansion, and we’re also looking at some other business opportunities that we haven’t done before.”

While doing that, she is still leading the marketing efforts for the Balise company, which has dealerships in the 413, on the Cape, and in Rhode Island; car washes in Western Mass. and Connecticut; five collision centers; and that aforementioned laundromat in Springfield’s South End.

“We’re doing a lot to highlight our people in the ads recently, and that makes sense. After all, they’re the people who make Balise … Balise. Our teams are who make the difference, so why not have them be the face?”

This a wide-ranging assignment, one that keeps a staff of six (with some help from a few agencies) busy, and includes ad creation, media buying, social media, website content, and determining if, how, and to what degree the company will honor the myriad requests it receives for support from area nonprofits, a difficult assignment because, as she put it, “I can’t think of a single thing that came in that wasn’t a good cause; they’re all good.”

For many years, marketing at Balise was the purview, if you will, of her late uncle Mike, who succumbed to stomach cancer in 2015 and was named a BusinessWest Difference Maker posthumously in 2016. He was the face of the company, she acknowledged, adding that she has resisted any and all efforts to become the new ‘face,’ noting that “I don’t have the personality for it.”

Instead, she has led efforts to make the company’s employees the collective new face, with ads featuring them in many different roles.

“We’re doing a lot to highlight our people in the ads recently, and that makes sense,” she said. “After all, they’re the people who make Balise … Balise. Our teams are who make the difference, so why not have them be the face?”

Meanwhile, she is carrying on her uncle’s tradition of getting involved in the community, especially in the broad realm of education.

Alex Balise is carrying on her uncle Mike Balise’s tradition

Alex Balise is carrying on her uncle Mike Balise’s tradition of buying coats for students at Springfield’s Homer Street School, now the Swan School.

Indeed, just as Mike did for several years, she reads in the classroom for Link to Libraries at the recently opened Swan School, a replacement for Homer Street School, which was sponsored by the Balise company for many years.

She also carries on another of Mike’s traditions — buying winter coats for students at the school — and takes it to another level with some serious shopping for deals, stretching the allotted dollars and using the savings to buy hats and other accessories.

“Costco will have these deals — ‘spend this much and get this much off,’” she explained. “So I’ll buy them in buckets so that we get the most of the discount, and then I’ll use what we saved with the discount to buy the extra things, like hats and gloves. There are definitely some things that Mike started that we’re happy to continue.”

And while doing all that, she’s also raising two young children, son Connor, 5, and daughter Emma, 3. It’s a complicated and delicate balancing act, one that she discussed, along with many other topics, in a wide-ranging interview with BusinessWest for this issue and its focus on women in business.

 

Drive Time

One of the better perks for those in the auto-sales business — even those in charge of marketing and, now, corporate strategy — is being able to drive a demo.

And for Balise, the car of choice — and there is a lot to choose from in an auto group that sells several different makes — is the Toyota Crown, a sporty hybrid sedan. Yes, a sedan. Even with two young children, she’ll leave the SUVs for others to drive.

“If we have the opportunity to have more focused donations that have a bigger impact on the organizations that we’re helping, that’s the direction we’ve decided to take.”

Although this sedan doesn’t look much like anything else on the road.

“I’ve never had more people ask me, ‘what is that you’re driving?’” she said. “Because it is a little different.”

Balise spends a considerable amount of time in whichever Crown she’s driving at the moment — she doesn’t keep them past 5,000 miles — splitting her days between the 413, Rhode Island, and the Cape. While driving, she’s usually listening to audiobooks (she likes both fiction and nonfiction and is currently ‘rereading’ the Harry Potter books) and thinking about all the many balls she’s keeping in the air at present.

All this wasn’t exactly where she pictured herself at this stage of her life and career, but there have been some, well, unexpected turns.

Like most who grew up around the car business, Balise spent summers and school breaks working in various jobs at dealerships. She recalls working in the parts department, calling customers to tell them their appointments were coming up, and even handling paperwork created by the federal government’s infamous Cash for Clunkers program designed to fuel auto sales in the wake of the Great Recession.

But she wasn’t thinking about making this a career.

Alex Balise meets some residents of the Zoo in Forest Park

Alex Balise meets some residents of the Zoo in Forest Park after the company wrapped a vehicle and donated it to the zoo for its educational programs.

Instead, while earning her undergraduate degree at Colgate University, she was thinking about teaching and then working in the broad realm of education policy.

But she graduated into a tough job market in 2009 and eventually moved to Boston with her husband, Trevor McEwen, who did manage to find work. She eventually secured some herself, working for a student health-insurance brokerage and consulting firm for three and a half years.

She learned a lot about business in that role, but decided she needed to further that education and earned an MBA, with a concentration in marketing, at Babson College. With that degree, she sought work in education consulting and hospital operations, but “couldn’t find anything I loved.”

Meanwhile, Balise Motor Sales was opening another car wash in West Springfield, and her father, Jeb, its CEO, asked her to run some pro formas and work on the project.

“That was really interesting — I didn’t know anything about car washes, so I learned a lot there,” she said, adding that she spent most of her time on the Cape, where the company opened its first such facility.

To make a long story shorter, that learning experience would be the start of her career with the company, she said, adding that she moved on to a different project, the opening of a Kia store in West Springfield in 2016 after the company was awarded that franchise.

And during that project, Balise’s vice president of Marketing retired, and Alex was asked by then-President Bill Peffer to take over that broad realm.

She did, but while doing so, she became a hybrid worker long before that phrase came to be, working at her home in Framingham two or three days a week and driving to West Springfield the others.

“My father didn’t love that idea — he felt that a manager should be in the office every day,” she recalled. “He said, ‘how can I manage these people if I wasn’t there every day?’ But I decided to do it and see if we could make it work. And we did.”

 

To a Higher Gear

Balise eventually moved back to this area in 2018, putting her further away from the company’s dealerships in Rhode Island and on the Cape, but in a better place overall to oversee marketing for a steadily growing portfolio of auto-related businesses.

And some not auto-related.

Balise said the laundries, operating under the name Love Your Laundry, were her father’s idea, and the Springfield facility, right behind the company’s Mazda dealership, was seen as a way to help the residents of Springfield’s South End.

“It’s not something that we’re planning to blow up and have 25 locations, like the car washes, but if there are opportunities … we’ll see where it goes,” she said, adding that she has plenty of other things on her plate, especially the duties that come with being director of Corporate Strategy.

Whatever the title on the business card might be, Balise said she will always be heavily involved in the community. In fact, opportunities to do so comprised one of the larger reasons why she joined and then stayed with the company.

“I felt I could make a bigger impact through the family business than I could on my own if I worked somewhere else,” she told BusinessWest, adding this impact comes in many different forms.

One of them is playing a lead role in reviewing requests for support from the area’s legion of nonprofits and deciding which directions the Balise company’s philanthropic efforts will take.

It’s a huge responsibility and one she takes quite seriously.

“Having to say no is the worst — it’s tough,” she said, adding quickly that it’s even harder to say no when Balise doesn’t have guidelines for its giving.

So the company — more specifically, her team — created some, addressing everything from areas of focus, such as youth, education, healthcare delivery, and civic and community development, to how to make the most impact.

“In talking about it and in looking at what we’ve supported historically and where we’ve been able to have the biggest impact, we thought we could say yes to $100 for several small donations and have small impacts for some, or … we could refine our guidelines and make sure that, where we’re donating, we have a bigger impact that’s going to have a lasting result in the community.

“So instead of sponsoring a golf tournament or a gala, we want to actually sponsor the new computers or building a new classroom or medical deliveries, as opposed to the 5Ks to raise money. They’re all important, and we need all of those to fundraise, but if we have the opportunity to have more focused donations that have a bigger impact on the organizations that we’re helping, that’s the direction we’ve decided to take.”

Meanwhile, as noted, she is out in the community herself. In addition to reading at Swan School, she’s a corporator at Square One (the company also sponsors a classroom there), and, in the Providence market, she helped wrap presents to be given to patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, an initiative that involved many from the company.

While doing all that, she also saves large amounts of time for family, part of the balancing act that is part and parcel of being a woman (and, especially, a manager) in business today.

“It’s a lot, and it’s hard,” Balise acknowledged. “I’m lucky that I have a great team at work, and I have family nearby that can help pick up some days.

“When you have two young kids and you work, there is no balance. Basically, when I’m not working, I’m focused on my kids and my family, and we try to fit in as much as we can and have dinner together.”

Dazed Cannabis Continues to Grow Its Footprint — and Its Goals

By
Co-owners Chris Vianello, Rich Rainone, and Keshawn Warner.
Cannabis Special Coverage

Expanding Their Vision

Co-owners Chris Vianello, Rich Rainone, and Keshawn Warner.

Co-owners Chris Vianello, Rich Rainone, and Keshawn Warner.
Photo by Savanna SLUSA Productions for Dazed Cannabis

 

Chris Vianello said he and his partners at Dazed Cannabis never intended to be the first player on the scene. In fact, their first dispensary in Holyoke, which opened in 2021, was that city’s fourth.

“We were never the only game in town. That’s not our model. If our only claim to fame is that we’re the only game in town, that’s not a sustainable business practice,” Vianello said, noting that Dazed instead stresses quality products and its friendly but funky vibe. “We anticipated competition going into this, especially because Holyoke is not a limited-license jurisdiction.”

The model has worked. Not only has the Holyoke shop has survived a raft of competition, but Dazed co-owners Vianello, Rich Rainone, and Keshawn Warner have opened two stores since then: in New York City in 2023 (first as a pop-up shop in April and then a permanent storefront in November) and, just last month, in Monson, where Dazed is currently the only cannabis game in town.

That store, where the Magic Lantern strip club operated for more than a half-century before closing in 2022, honors the location’s history by keeping a small stage and dancer’s pole as part of the décor.

Rainone told the Cannabis Business Times recently that the first 90 days after a dispensary’s opening are the most turbulent. The first month is all about establishing operating procedures and employee routines, the second about fixing the challenges of the first 30 days, and the third month about putting it all together and excelling.

He told the publication that Dazed is a “fun party brand,” with visitors encountering a “meet and greet” before they get to security, and the environment inside the shop characterized by music playing and a pink-dominated color scheme that extends to all three dispensaries.

When asked why the team chose each location, Vianello told BusinessWest they appeal in different ways.

“We were never the only game in town. That’s not our model. If our only claim to fame is that we’re the only game in town, that’s not a sustainable business practice.”

“You try to find the balance between what’s the ideal location and what’s a doable location,” he said. “We try to straddle that balance; we don’t want to open up a dispensary just anywhere because that’s not going to work, but also we don’t want to get stuck looking for the perfect location and end up not opening anything. They’re all different in where the traffic is coming from and how we attract different folks to different stores.”

At a time when competition is fierce and some stores have actually closed in Massachusetts, Dazed’s focus on customer experience and steady growth has been a winner, he added.

“In 2018, 2019, you had people who were the only game in town. And that worked for those who were able to get themselves positioned to be the first in the market. They had months, even years where they were cranking as literally the only game in town.”

“We never experienced that. We were never the first,” he continued, understanding that being the first shop in Monson is still being one of nearly 400 in Massachusetts. And amid increasing competition, Vianello doesn’t intend to engage in a race to the bottom when it comes to pricing.

“We’ve seen people trying to undercut the next guy by 10 cents and create an environment where you devalue the purpose of even being there,” he explained. “Understanding that price is always part of what people consider when shopping, you still have to differentiate yourself; you have to make yourself stand out. Ideally, you want people that are coming to you rather than other people because they like what you have going on.”

By doing so, he said, “we’re creating our own lane, our own pie, instead of slicing up what’s already out there.”

 

Rolling with the Punches

And there is, indeed, a lot out there, and still considerable debate over whether the burgeoning cannabis industry has a ceiling or whether there’s enough growth potential — from new users or consumers rejecting the illegal market to buy from regulated stores — to make up for more competition emerging from both within the Bay State and from outside its borders.

“A lot of it comes down to community outreach, giving people the information they need to buy legal rather than what they’ve been doing the last 20 years,” Vianello said.

The leaders of Dazed Cannabis

The leaders of Dazed Cannabis hope the recent Monson grand opening isn’t their last, but one of many more.
Photo by Marsco Media for Dazed Cannabis

The discussion these days around a possible ceiling for the industry in Massachusetts doesn’t happen in other sectors, he added. “People don’t talk about us the same way they talk about other businesses, like restaurants, liquor stores. It’s really an open market, a lot of competition. And people are competing. I don’t know that we’re hitting the limit.

“There’s still a lot more legal cannabis dollars that haven’t been realized yet,” he added, citing, again, potential from a massive group of users who currently buy from unregulated sources. “But I don’t think businesses are doing poorly as a whole. I don’t think prices are crashing as much as people suggest. I don’t necessarily see that happening as blatantly as they’re describing it. Businesses still have a lot of growth potential.”

At the end of the day, he added, dispensaries have to offer what people want, and that requires staying ahead of the curve. “There are always new, innovative things coming out in the market. You have to stay up on what’s happening, and with market prices. You try not to be the cheapest on the block because that turns into a whole downward spiral. So you try to have competitive pricing and give people a good customer experience.”

Like all other cannabis entrepreneurs, Vianello hopes for the eventual end of the disconnect between state and federal drug laws that have posed onerous burdens on business owners, from IRS Section 280E, which forbids business owners from deducting otherwise normal business expenses, to hardships around banking, transportation, and other activities.

“That has to happen at some point. I think it’s going to happen. But I don’t think anyone knows when. It’s been right around the corner for years,” he told BusinessWest, acknowledging, like many have, that cannabis is legal for well over half the U.S. population, and bipartisan support exists for decriminalizing cannabis, but lawmakers always seem to have other concerns with which to contend.

“We just act accordingly within the rules in place,” he added. “But we know, if it happens, it will open up a lot of things for a lot of people. We need to have all the same rules and regulations as all businesses, the same opportunities, so we can run these businesses properly.”

 

Land of Opportunity

The New York location, in Manhattan’s Union Square neighborhood, has certainly been a success story, starting with its origin as a pop-up opened under the state’s CAURD (conditional adult-use retail dispensary) program, which invested in communities and entreprenuers that had been harmed by the war on drugs; Warner, a Harlem native, was arrested in 2008 for trying to buy marijuana during a sting operation, which hindered his ability to find employment afterward.

Now, he and his two partners are the employers at three Dazed stores — with more locations in the works, they hope.

“You try not to be the cheapest on the block because that turns into a whole downward spiral. So you try to have competitive pricing and give people a good customer experience.”

“Keshawn and his dedicated team at Dazed exemplify entrepreneurship in action, shining a spotlight on the importance of social equity in the cannabis industry,” Chris Webber of the New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund said upon the Union Square location’s grand opening in November. “This isn’t just about a dispensary; it’s about leveling the playing field, creating opportunities, and building a more inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape.”

Vianello said it’s been gratifying to hire locally, providing job opportunities to others.

The interior of the Holyoke dispensary

The interior of the Holyoke dispensary is, like other Dazed shops, resplendent in pink.
Photo by Dazed Cannabis

“That’s the most exciting thing. When we started Dazed in Holyoke, we made a conscious effort to hire hyper-locally. Most of our folks are Holyoke residents or from the surrounding areas, Greater Springfield — but mostly from Holyoke. That’s the entire staff, from the general manager to the newest employee; they’re all local, and they’ve all been promoted and hired from within. And when we had the opportunity to expand into Monson, we were able to bring a lot of those folks over and give them a broader opportunity for employment.”

Indeed, many young people entering the cannabis field recognize it as a new industry with plenty of advancement opportunity.

“We want our team to grow with our expansion, and that’s been good for us to see,” Vianello said. “It’s a new industry, so there’s definitely a lot of opportunities for those folks to grow too. Not everyone has a lot of experience, and those that have experience are super valuable.”

As the cannabis workforce continues to mature and move up, Vianello and his partners are excited to see the industry do the same, despite all the challenges and all the hand wringing over how many dispensaries are too many.

“The thing I like best is that it’s changing and growing, with a lot of different opportunities coming up,” he said. “You just don’t know what’s down the road.”

Cybersecurity Center at Union Station Named for Congressman Neal

By
Daily News

From left, STCC President John Cook, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Springfield Redevelopment Authority Chair Armando Feliciano, and CyberTrust Massachusetts CEO Peter Sherlock.

SPRINGFIELD — At a construction project walk-through on March 26, regional leaders unveiled a name for the cybersecurity center at Union Station: the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.

Announced by a group that included STCC President John Cook and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, the name honors Neal and his commitment to leading-edge cybersecurity education and the betterment of Union Station. Neal, who provided a tour of the center currently under construction, led a funding effort in 2023 that resulted in $3 million of congressionally directed spending to establish the center.

“This is a great honor, one that I am particularly proud of, knowing that this Cybersecurity Center for Excellence will have a profound impact on local students for years to come,” Neal said. “This project marks several noteworthy feats for our region. As one of just two cybersecurity centers in the state, this technological hub will invest in the brightest young minds in our region, giving them the resources needed to learn how to combat these threats, and shoring up the resiliency of our cybersecurity in Western Massachusetts.

“With the opening of the Cybersecurity Center for Excellence, we are also celebrating a historic milestone in this historic building: 100% occupancy of Union Station’s main concourse,” Neal went on. “Springfield Union Station has re-established the city of Springfield as the crossroads of New England, and it will soon serve as home to a state-of-the-art cybersecurity training center that will greatly benefit our region.”

The center also is supported by a $1.46 million state grant and $500,000 from the city of Springfield. It is one of two such centers to be established in the state. The other is situated at Bridgewater State University.

The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Springfield, scheduled to open later this year, will serve as a hub for advancing cybersecurity awareness, education, and innovation while battling global security threats. The 6,000-square-foot facility will include a cyber range, which is a simulated training environment, and a security operations center, which is envisioned as a support service for Massachusetts municipalities, as well as regional businesses, to detect cybersecurity events in real time and respond quickly.

“Once a mayor, always the heart of a mayor, Congressman Richard Neal continues to provide exemplary leadership on behalf of our city of Springfield and Union Station — the house that Neal built,” Sarno said.

The facility will serve as a regional center for Western Mass. and beyond, and is a collaboration between STCC, the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, and CyberTrust Massachusetts.

“Under the leadership of Congressman Neal, the collaboration of government, business, and higher-education leaders in Western Massachusetts has been critical to our statewide initiative to grow and diversify the cyber workforce and address the security needs of the region’s cities, towns, nonprofits, and businesses,” CyberTrust CEO Peter Sherlock said. “With its state-of-the-art cyber range, educational facilities, and security operations center, this cyber center of excellence is a world-class resource to serve the region’s people and institutions.”

Students who train at the the center will have access to paid internships in preparation for employment, where they would work with professionals to confront cybersecurity threats, a growing global problem. The cybersecurity industry needs more trained professionals to help prevent incursions and defeat security threats, and the new center will help fill the demand.

Cook continued to express his appreciation as well as enthusiasm, given the center’s alignment with STCC’s mission of accessible and dynamic education and workforce development.

“Congressman Neal has long been a supporter of STCC, of Springfield, and our regional needs,” he said. “We are grateful for his dedication to driving innovation and excellence in cybersecurity, and for leading the collaboration that is making this center a reality.”

The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence will offer a wide range of programs and resources, including but not limited to cutting-edge cyber range training, internships and industry partnerships that build experience and career networks, research opportunities that establish best practices combined with emerging technologies, and community outreach and education forums to raise awareness about cybersecurity risks and solutions.

The center will also work to ensure access for underrepresented communities into the industry, with a particular effort to draw women and students of color to the field. STCC’s programs, including degrees in cybersecurity, programming, and computer systems engineering, represent more than 200 students who could train at the CCE as part of their degree or certificate.

Laplante Construction Partners in Development of Modern Workspace

By
Daily News

EAST LONGMEADOW — Bill Laplante of Laplante Construction announced that Modern Workspace, a co-working facility he is developing with partners Chris Orszulak and Jason Pananos, should be open for business by May at 7 Purves St. in East Longmeadow.

The modern, net-zero building will feature 25 individual spaces available on a membership basis for businesspeople who work remotely. The modern, luxury building will be heated and cooled by electricity produced from solar panels on the roof, which will also provide hot water and a charge for tenants’ vehicles.

The building will be accessible to tenants 24-7. In addition to high-speed internet, amenities will include conference rooms and office equipment such as standing desks.

Laplante and his partners said Modern Workspace is the third in a model that also extends to the historic Brewer Young Mansion in Longmeadow, with 17 offices; and Chatham, on Cape Cod, in a location with nine offices.

Various levels of membership will be offered, including an address-only membership, a 10-day pass, or a private office with all amenities.

To learn more about Modern Workspace or purchase a membership, visit modernworkspace.co or call (413) 627-4949.

The Royal Law Firm to Present Seminar About Union Activity

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The popularity of unions has created dangers for employers, both unionized and non-unionized alike. Even if an employer is non-unionized, the employer risks violating the National Labor Relations Act and being subject to charges from the National Labor Relations Board if new laws and rulings are not considered.

Attorney Trevor Brice from the Royal Law Firm will present a seminar, titled “The Dangers of Union Activity Within a Non-union Workplace and Other Recent Changes to Enforcement of the National Labor Relations Act,” on Wednesday, April 17 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the firm’s offices at 33 Elliot St., Springfield.

Brice will discuss the dangers of union activity in a non-union environment, as well as other updates and changes to enforcement of the National Labor Relations Act that have occurred in the past year. The cost is $30 per person. Payments should be mailed to, and checks made payable to, the Royal Law Firm.

Registration is required, and seating will be limited. Email Heather Child at [email protected] to register or with any questions about this seminar.

Bed In for Cancer Connection Comes to Northampton on April 5

By
Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — For years, it was Monte’s Camp Out for Cancer Connection. Building on that inspiring and fun event, a new tradition has emerged: Bed In for Cancer Connection, hosted by Tara Brewster. Relaunched in 2023, the Bed In is now an annual spring event.

The 2024 Bed In will take place on Friday, April 5 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Greenfield Savings Bank’s newly renovated location at 325 King St. in Northampton.

All day long, the public is invited to stop by Greenfield Savings Bank to visit with Brewster; enjoy free food and drinks donated by local restaurants; hear live music; meet local business owners, artists, writers, and community leaders; hear inspiring stories; and show support for Cancer Connection. Donations placed online, in person, and by phone will fund crucial programs and services at Cancer Connection.

Brewster, the bank’s vice president of Business Development and director of Philanthropy, as well as host of the Western Mass Business Show on WHMP, will be talking from a bed all day, with the bed and furnishings provided by Andy’s Oak Shoppe.

Last year’s Bed In drew dozens of guests who climbed into bed with Tara to talk about their own cancer experiences, their family’s story, or how cancer has impacted their community. “People have cried here today, people have laughed here today, people have told really true and honest stories,” Brewster said last spring. “That’s what Cancer Connection is about.”

Thanks to the generosity of Greenfield Savings Bank and its $15,000 Community Leadership Challenge Grant, and through partnerships with local radio stations, the Bed In will bring the community together for fun and to raise vital funds for Cancer Connection. The whole day will be shared with a live broadcast from WRSI 93.9 and a livestream on YouTube Live.

Founded in 2000, Cancer Connection’s mission is to provide a haven where people with cancer and their loved ones can learn how to navigate the complicated cancer journey through one-to-one guidance, education, peer support, integrative therapies, and creative programs. Cancer Connection is the only cancer-support center in Hampshire and Franklin counties and draws additional participants from Hampden County and beyond. All of Cancer Connection’s services are provided free of charge.

Picture This

By
Baystate Health and Audacy Springfield
Picture This

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

 

Healthy Support for a Good Cause

The annual 94.7 WMAS Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon, held on March 5-6, raised $289,355 in support of Baystate Children’s Hospital. Throughout the two-day event, WMAS personalities spearheaded fundraising efforts, rallying listeners and supporters to contribute to the cause and make a difference in the lives of children facing medical challenges.

Baystate Health and Audacy Springfield

Pictured: the Kellogg Krew’s Chris Kellogg (left) and Dina McMahon (third from left) with one of the families that received treatment at Baystate Children’s Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Baystate Health and Audacy Springfield)

 

 

Empowerment and Inspiration

Springfield Technical Community College capped off its celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 29 with an inspiring talk by Ilyasah Shabazz, an award-winning author, educator, and producer, and daughter of the late activists Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. She spoke about historical injustices and offered a message of empowerment and social change. She also shared engaging personal stories about her parents and addressed larger themes of social justice, love, and human rights.

STCC group

Pictured: Shabazz (second from left) with STCC students and Karolyn Burgos-Toribio, STCC’s Community Outreach counselor (far right). (Photo by Ed Cohen)

 

Positive Steps in Mental Health

During his Feb. 27 tour of the newly renovated adolescent unit at MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal called this age group a population that can be treated successfully, and the recently reopened unit “clearly a step in the right direction.” He was joined on the tour by Holyoke City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos and some of the psychiatric hospital’s executives.

MiraVista and TaraVista Behavioral Health Centers

Pictured, from left: Joel Doolin, executive vice president of MiraVista and TaraVista Behavioral Health Centers; Dr. Negar Beheshti, chief medical officer of MiraVista and TaraVista; Shelley Zimmerman, hospital administrator at MiraVista; and Neal.

 

 

Agenda

By
Agenda

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. The WLC will also feature lunchtime speaker Amy Purdy, a three-time Paralympic medalist in snowboarding for Team USA. 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. For further information on the 2024 conference, sponsorship information, and ticket sales, visit baypath.edu/wlc.

 

Margarita Madness

April 4: The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will host its largest event of the year, Margarita Madness, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Interskate 91 at the Hampshire Mall. Attendees will network and enjoy an evening of tasty margaritas and vote for this year’s fan favorite. Local restaurants showcase their culinary skills, and dozens of raffle prizes are donated by Amherst Area Chamber members. The event’s presenting sponsor is TommyCar Auto Group, and the supporting sponsor is Hampshire Mall. The cost is $35 pre-registered or $45 at the door. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Emergency Department. Visit business.amherstarea.com/events/details/2024-margarita-madness-24121 to purchase tickets.

 

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 — profiled in the Feb. 19 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com — are Matt Bannister, senior vice president, Marketing and Corporate Responsibility, PeoplesBank; Delcie Bean, CEO, Paragus Strategic I.T.; Linda Dunlavy, executive director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments; Dr. Fred and Mary Kay Kadushin, co-founders, Feed the Kids; Scott Keiter, CEO, Keiter; the staff of Rock 102; Shannon Rudder, president and CEO, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services; and Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Springfield Chamber Players. Tickets cost $95 each, with reserved tables of 10-12 available and available now through March 29. Partner sponsors for the 2024 Difference Makers include Burkhart, Pizzanelli, P.C., Keiter, Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health, the Royal Law Firm, and TommyCar Auto Group. Supporting sponsors include the Springfield Thunderbirds and Westfield Bank. For more event details and to reserve tickets, visit businesswest.com/difference-makers/difference-makers-tickets.

 

Common Threads

April 11: Common Threads, the signature event of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts (DFSWM), will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Common Threads will feature networking, a sit-down dinner, and a silent auction leading into a program that will highlight multiple local women who have made significant strides toward financial stability and personal goals. Award-winning weeknight evening anchor Ciara Speller of WWLP 22News will be the emcee for the event. LaTonia Monroe Naylor, school committee representative, small-business entrepreneur, gunshot survivor, author, nonprofit founder, wife, and mother, will serve as the keynote speaker. During the event, Sarai Arroyo of West Springfield Public Schools and a student at Holyoke Community College will be given the Distinguished Alumna Award, Tammy Hickey will be honored as Volunteer of the Year, and Jessica Dupont of Alliant Health Plans, a DFSWM past board president, will be recognized as an Outstanding Contributor. All proceeds support DFSWM’s mission to provide women and non-binary people in the community with the tools and network of support to achieve financial independence. Local programs include the Foot in the Door workforce-readiness program, the Margaret Fitzgerald Mentorship Program, the Professional Women’s Group, a digital-literacy program, and the suiting program. The event will feature opportunities to donate to the work of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts. Tickets, which cost $75 each, are available until April 1 at www.dfswm.org.

 

Get Hired Job Fair

April 17: Holyoke Mall will host its spring job fair from 2 to 5 p.m. on the lower level near Macy’s. The Get Hired Job Fair is a convenient opportunity for Western Mass. employers to interview and hire workers, and to help job seekers connect with businesses who need their skills. Employers from a variety of industries will be in attendance, looking for candidates at all skill levels. The event is free to attend for all job seekers. Employers that have already signed up to staff a table include Baystate Health, PeoplesBank, Holyoke Community College, YMCA Greater Springfield, and more. Last year, the September job fair drew more than 40 employers, representing more than 10 industries, and nearly 400 candidates. Employers interested in participating in the upcoming job fair should contact Jim Geraghty, advertising representative for Holyoke Mall, at (617) 840-2998 or [email protected].

 

YWCA Golf Tournament

May 6: The YWCA of Western Massachusetts Golf Tournament will be held at Springfield Country Club, with registration now open online at ywworks.org. Proceeds of the charity golf tournament will support the Children Who Witness Violence program, which offers therapy for children who have witnessed or experienced abuse and violence. The Healthy and Empowering Relationship Education program of the YWCA, which helps Springfield middle- and high-schoolers learn about healthy relationships and friendships, will also benefit from proceeds raised at the tournament. Cost per golfer to participate in the tournament is $155, which includes golf, cart, lunch, dinner, and a quarter-zip jacket. There will be a raffle and cash bar at the country club. Individuals or organizations interested in registering or sponsoring the event can visit ywworks.org.

 

Hooplandia

June 21-23: Registration is now open for Hooplandia, the second annual 3×3 basketball tournament and festival, at www.hooplandia.com. The three-day event includes levels of play for all ages and divisions. Hooplandia launched in 2023. Taking place in the heart of Greater Springfield, the birthplace of basketball, the event is hosted by Eastern States Exposition (ESE) in West Springfield and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Most games will be played on the ESE grounds, with special games held at the Hall of Fame. Seventy-five basketball courts will be set up to accommodate more than 650 games played by approximately 2,100 participants of all ages. Divisions of play have been created to provide an all-inclusive environment for players of all ages and playing abilities. The diverse divisions include young girls, boys, women, men, high-school-level, college-level, OGs, veterans, and more. Players are invited to build teams of four, create their own unique team name and uniforms, and register at www.hooplandia.com. Team fees range according to age, and children in the under-8 category are free of charge. Hooplandia will once again partner with Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the region as its designated philanthropic partner, providing $10 from every paid team registration to support the mission and programs of the clubs. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For inquiries, email [email protected].

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Claudia Pazmany

Claudia Pazmany

Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services (MLKFS) named Claudia Pazmany as its new chief Development officer. She will be responsible for developing a sustainable institutional development effort to both support existing programs and expand them to serve the emergent needs of the organization’s clients. Pazmany had served as a volunteer member of the MLKFS development committee before being appointed to her new position. Pazmany, who most recently served as executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, brings a history of professional fundraising with a career total of raising more than $15 million in a development capacity for the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, Providence Ministries, and other organizations. She also serves as volunteer, advisory board member, and former board president of CHD’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, a development committee member of the United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Region, and as a 2020 and 2021 EforAll Pioneer Valley mentor. In 2021, Pazmany received a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives for her leadership role in supporting Amherst’s small businesses throughout COVID, leveraging more than $2 million in small-business assistance. She was honored with the Family 2022 Outreach Center’s Helen Mitchell Community Service Award for conceptualizing and implementing a program that provided restaurant relief while feeding families who were disproportionately impacted by COVID. She was also honored as a 2023 BusinessWest Difference Maker along with Amherst Business Improvement District Executive Director Gabrielle Gould for their partnership and leadership to build a stronger community throughout COVID. Pazmany earned a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in French and business from UMass Amherst, and an MBA from Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. She earned a program leadership certificate from the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts’ Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact.

•••••

Peter Banko

Peter Banko

The Baystate Health board of trustees announced it has appointed Peter Banko as Baystate Health’s new president and CEO. He succeeds Dr. Mark Keroack, who previously announced his plans to retire after serving as the system’s leader for 10 years. An executive experienced in leading multi-faceted health systems in markets throughout the country, Banko was chosen after an extensive national search by the board of trustees. Banko will officially join Baystate Health at the beginning of June. Banko most recently served as president and CEO of Centura Health in Centennial, Colo., which was part of the national CommonSpirit Health system. The $3.8 billion hospital and health-services system comprised more than 20 owned and affiliated tertiary and rural hospitals, an extensive network of physician partners, and numerous community-based services and clinics across Colorado, Kansas, and Utah. Banko, a native of New Jersey, started his calling in healthcare as a junior volunteer and has served in CEO-level roles for several health systems for nearly two decades. He has an industry reputation of leading innovation, transformation, integration, and partnerships with hospitals, physician groups, and health plans. He earned his bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Notre Dame and his master of health administration degree from the Sloan Program in Health Services Administration at Cornell University.

•••••

Vicki Baldyga

Vicki Baldyga

Amber Messer

Amber Messer

Monson Savings Bank announced that Vicki Baldyga, former Ware branch manager, and Amber Messer, former assistant Ware branch manager, have transferred to the bank’s Wilbraham branch to take the helm as the new management team of the 100 Post Office Park location. Baldyga has 25 years of experience in the banking industry, 17 of which have been in branch management. She has been employed with Monson Savings Bank for five years. Committed to expanding her knowledge and skill set, she is currently enrolled in the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. New England School for Financial Studies and holds several diplomas and certificates from the Center for Financial Training. In her role as Wilbraham branch manager, she will be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing branch operations. She aims to foster an environment of teamwork and provide a high level of leadership to her team, as well as provide a high level of customer service with a positive, respectful, and courteous attitude. Baldyga is very involved in the local community, volunteering at Crossway Community Clothing Outreach, serving on the board of the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce, and donating blood to the Red Cross. Messer began her banking career as a customer service representative and teller at Monson Savings Bank six and a half years ago. Throughout her career, she has proven to be an asset to the bank and has achieved several promotions, ultimately attaining the position of assistant branch manager. In 2023, she was a nominee for Monson Savings Bank’s President’s Award. She was recognized by a peer for her commitment to customer and community service, teamwork, and excellence. She has also received several customer-service excellence awards during her time with the bank for going above and beyond. As the assistant Wilbraham branch manager, Messer will support Baldyga to manage the branch. She will also assist customers with their banking transactions, drawing on her extensive knowledge of bank products and services, while promoting an atmosphere of positive staff morale by inspiring trust and respect.

•••••

Country Bank announced the appointment of Clare Ladue as the assistant vice president of the Customer Care Center. With 30 years of financial-service experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to her new role. Ladue graduated from Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. New England School of Financial Studies. She has a commercial lending certificate from the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. and numerous professional leadership certifications. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in banking, including retail banking, deposit operations, commercial lending, and regional management, making her the ideal candidate to lead Country Bank’s Customer Care team. Her connection to the local community is evident through her previous involvement as an executive committee member of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce. She has also participated in numerous charitable initiatives, including the Walk of Champions, Junior Achievement, Rays of Hope, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, and Link to Libraries. Her dedication to making a positive impact aligns with Country Bank’s core values.

•••••

Hector Suarez

Hector Suarez

bankESB recently hired Hector Suarez as assistant vice president, branch officer of its Sargeant Street office in Holyoke. Suarez grew up in Holyoke and Puerto Rico and has nearly 30 years of banking experience. He says he is passionate about providing a customer-first experience and brings an extensive background to his new role, where he will manage the Holyoke office team while fostering relationships within the community. Prior to joining bankESB, he was a vice president, branch manager at M&T Bank, People’s United Bank, and United Bank. Before that, he was a branch manager at Key Bank and First Niagara Bank, as well as a personal banker with Baybank, BankBoston, FleetBoston, and Bank of America.

•••••

Seth Clark

Seth Clark

bankESB recently promoted Seth Clark to wire transfer officer, based in the 36 Main St., Easthampton office. Clark has 11 years of banking experience and has held a variety of positions since joining bankESB in 2013, including wire transfer manager, assistant branch manager, personal banker, and senior teller. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State College. Outside of work, he has been a part-time church organist in Westhampton and Holyoke for 20 years.

•••••

Alignable, an online networking platform for business owners, invited its more than 8.7 million members to shout out local business leaders who have gone above and beyond guiding peers and supporting entire communities amid challenging economic conditions. The network announced that Judy Herrell of Herrell’s Ice Cream has again been elected Northampton’s 2024 Businessperson of the Year. Alignable’s 2024 Local Businessperson of the Year contest reached unparalleled participation levels, logging more than 309,000 votes, more than 64,000 recommendations, and more than 5,100 local winners across the U.S. and Canada. It was most popular competition Alignable has hosted in more than five years, marking a 40% jump in participation over 2023. Winners were commended for helping their peers and communities through a year with many challenges, including rising interest rates and rents, not to mention skyrocketing supply costs.

•••••

Jessica Roncarati-Howe

Jessica Roncarati-Howe

The board of directors of Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts (DFSWM) announced that Jessica Roncarati-Howe is the organization’s new executive director, effective March 1. Candidates were vetted by a volunteer hiring committee and the board of directors. After four years with DFSWM, most recently as director of Programs and Operations before taking on the interim executive director role, Roncarati-Howe has an intimate understanding of the work of the organization. Before joining DFSWM, Roncarati-Howe held several leadership roles, including executive director of both the AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce. She has dedicated her career to promoting dignity and quality of life in the community and has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, focusing on program development, management, board governance, and leading mission-based organizations toward maximum community impact. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and fine arts from Elms College and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and philanthropy with a certificate in fundraising from Bay Path University.

•••••

Caolo & Bieniek Associates Inc. announced that Principal Bertram Gardner has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Donald & Lois Prescott Founders Award by the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee. This recognition is awarded annually to individuals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the youth, community, and mission of the club. Each year, the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee carefully selects community members who exemplify dedication and support toward the club’s vision. Gardner has been chosen as this year’s recipient in acknowledgment of his inspirational commitment, vision, courage, enthusiasm, and leadership. The Donald & Lois Prescott Founders Award, initiated at the Centennial Gala in 2012, honors the legacy of Lois Prescott and the late Donald Prescott, a longstanding member of the club’s board of directors.

•••••

Shannon Ortona

Shannon Ortona

Monson Savings Bank announced the recent promotion of Shannon Ortona to Ware branch manager. In addition to her new role, Ortona will continue to serve as the bank’s IRA administrator. She is now based out of the Ware branch, located at 136 West St. Prior to joining the Monson Savings Bank family 11 years ago, Ortona began her banking career with Chicopee Savings Bank. After five years there, where she held the positions of full-time teller, senior teller, and head teller, she accepted the position of customer service associate supervisor in Monson Savings Bank’s Ware branch. During her tenure with the bank, Ortona has earned positions of increasing responsibility. She became the assistant branch manager of the Ware branch and became a certified IRA specialist through Ascensus. Prior to her most recent promotion, she worked as the Wilbraham assistant branch manager. In her new role, she will draw on her extensive experience and knowledge of retail banking. She will be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the Ware branch’s operations. She will also aim to foster an environment of teamwork within the branch and provide her team with a high level of leadership. She will work with customers to conduct various banking transactions and help them reach their financial goals. Ortona is board member with the Ware Business Civic Assoc.

•••••

Aaron Lansky, founder and president of the Yiddish Book Center, announced he plans to retire in June 2025. Lansky founded the Yiddish Book Center in 1980 as a 24-year-old graduate student, and since then, the organization has rescued more than 1.5 million Yiddish books, created educational programs that bring the language and culture to new audiences, documented the oral histories of more than 1,300 narrators, created a publishing imprint devoted to Yiddish translation, and much more. Susan Bronson, who has been the center’s executive director for 14 years and holds a doctorate in Russian and Jewish history, will succeed Lansky as president.

•••••

Heather Rush

Market Mentors LLC recently welcomed Heather Rush to its team as associate creative director. She arrives with more than 20 years of experience in everything from graphic design, photography, and copywriting to creative direction, art direction, and brand development. In her previous roles, Rush has been immersed in all things creative, from storyboarding, strategizing, and conceptualizing to brand development and implementation, photography, and video shoots. Over the past six years, she managed a marketing team of designers and project editors and launched campaigns and products through digital and print channels. A graduate of Elms College with a degree in commercial arts, Rush is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. She has received the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for book-cover design and layout, and several awards for book-series design from BookBuilders of Boston, which also awarded her the 2017 iPad App UX/UI design award. An avid painter, she recently spent two weeks in Italy on a watercolor painting intensive. Active in the Hampshire County community, Rush is a team captain and team organizer/top-50 fundraiser for the Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage, a member of the Easthampton Farmers and Makers Market committee, and a volunteer with Easthampton Arts.

•••••

Francis “Sandy” Dibble, John Pucci, and Jeffrey Roberts, attorneys at Bulkley Richardson, have been recognized by Super Lawyers for 20 consecutive years, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Massachusetts Super Lawyers. According to Super Lawyers, there are 42,635 attorneys registered with the Massachusetts state bar, but only 264 attorneys selected to Super Lawyers all 20 years, making this an elite group of 0.6% of attorneys in the state. Dibble, partner, has been recognized in the area of business litigation. He has tried and won, or favorably settled, significant cases for a wide range of clients throughout the U.S. Pucci, partner, has been recognized in the area of criminal defense: white collar crimes. He is one of Massachusetts’ top trial lawyers, representing individuals and companies in complex civil and criminal litigation of all kinds in both state and federal courts. Roberts, counsel, has been recognized in the area of estate & probate. He has handled many sophisticated estate-planning matters throughout his career, as well as corporate work and business transactions, primarily for closely held companies.

•••••

Tech Foundry, the regional leader in IT workforce development and training, announced the appointment of 12 new members to its board of trustees. Hailing from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and including an alumnus of the organization’s 18-week IT support training program, the new slate of directors represents the diversity of the communities served by Tech Foundry. The organization welcomes Paul Nicholson (treasurer), Finance director at Wellfleet Insurance, and Briana Dawkins (clerk), associate attorney at Litchfield Cavo LLP in Simsbury, Conn. They join veteran officers Mike Walker (chair), retired financial-services professional at MassMutual Financial Group, and Delcie Bean (founder and immediate past chair), CEO of Paragus Strategic IT. New directors include Jay Ash, CEO of Mass Competitive Partnership; Everton Chin, director of IT at Travelers; Damon DePaolo, director of Human Risk Management at MassMutual; Samalid Hogan, CEO and principal consultant at Greylock Management Consulting; Xiaolei Hua, first vice president at PeoplesBank; Cindy Knowles, Strategy & Change Management lead at MassMutual; George Timmons, president of Holyoke Community College; and Hector Toledo, commercial lender and vice president at New Valley Bank. Patrick Streck, president and founder of Estli Consulting, returns to Tech Foundry after serving on the original board of advisors from 2013 to 2021. Salam (Sam) Zebian, Information Protection senior advisor at Cigna, graduated from Tech Foundry in 2017 and has been volunteering with the organization as a guest speaker since then. They join veteran board members Greg Bialecki, principal at Redgate; Ann McFarland Burke, owner of Ann McFarland Burke Consultancy; Dawn Creighton, Community Outreach officer at Liberty Bank; and Dianne Fuller Doherty, one of the original founders of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts.

•••••

Hubert Benitez

Nicolle Cestero

Nicolle Cestero

American International College (AIC) announced that Hubert Benitez plans to step down as president of the college at the end of the current academic year on June 7. Frank Colaccino, chair of the AIC board of trustees, said Nicolle Cestero, who serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer at AIC, will be appointed interim president immediately. In his letter of resignation, Benitez said, “I made this decision by engaging in a deep process of prayer and discernment, and after thoughtful consideration and reflection with my family, I have decided to focus on the next chapter of our lives.” Colaccino said the tenure of Benitez’s service as president of the college was marked by a number of progressive actions designed to promote the mission of AIC and his effective leadership in the development of AIC Reimagined, the strategic plan that will guide the initiatives undertaken by the college during the coming years. Cestero, who will serve as interim president until the next president is identified, has been with AIC since 2011 when she joined as associate vice president for Human Resources. She has served the college as chief of staff and most recently as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining AIC, her professional journey began in New York City at the Council on Foreign Relations, a leading nonpartisan foreign-policy think tank in the U.S., focused on disseminating information to members, government officials, and the public on matters of international significance. She holds an MBA degree from AIC, a master of arts degree from the University of West Florida, and a bachelor of arts degree from Mount Holyoke College. According to Colaccino, as COO, Cestero has overseen the day-to-day operations of the college and played a key role in implementing AIC’s strategic plan.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

AIC Launches Center for Sport Physiology and Exercise Testing

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) recently opened its Center for Sport Physiology and Exercise Testing (CSPET). The state-of-the-art human-performance laboratory, located in the AIC Colaccino Center for Health Sciences, is the only one of its kind in the Greater Springfield area. It features sophisticated testing equipment used to provide advanced exercise assessments and analyses in all aspects of health and performance, including BOD POD body composition testing, resting metabolic rate testing, and VO2 max testing. Working in the testing center benefits AIC students in the allied health professions, providing them with learning opportunities to advance their practical knowledge in exercise science. After being trained by faculty, students gain experience administering exercise testing protocols and educating participants on their results, setting them apart from others as they enter their careers. The CSPET is now open to members of the college and Greater Springfield community by appointment. AIC student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff may sign up for testing at a discounted rate. To request information or to make an appointment, visit www.aic.edu/lp/sport-physiology.

 

Keiter Executive Headquarters to Move to West Springfield

FLORENCE — Keiter, a construction-services firm located in Florence since 2008, recently announced it will relocate its executive headquarters to a 6,000-square-foot facility at 1 Interstate Dr., West Springfield later this year. Keiter is comprised of Keiter Builders, the commercial/institutional division; Keiter Homes, the residential arm; and Keiter Properties, the real-estate venture. Its pre-construction, sales and marketing, finance and administration, and operations departments will be located in the new space. The move is prompted by growth and will allow Keiter much-needed space to collaborate with customers and partners on projects. The new location will also help Keiter better serve clients in Hampden and Berkshire counties while continuing to serve clients in Hampshire and Franklin counties.

 

Gazebo Opens Second Store in East Longmeadow

NORTHAMPTON — Gazebo, the lingerie, bra-fitting, and swimsuit store in downtown Northampton, has expanded with the opening of Gazebo Too in the location of the former Coughlin’s Place restaurant at 182 North Main St., East Longmeadow. Gazebo was founded in 1978 by Judith Fine and sold to employees Donna McNeight and Amy Dickinson in 2016. McNeight will run Gazebo Too, and Dickinson will run the original Gazebo in Northampton. Gazebo prides itself on full-service bra, binder, and cup-sized swimsuit fittings, with cups ranging from AA to N. Gazebo is a proud ally of the LGBGTQ community and is wheelchair- and service-animal-friendly.

 

Eversource Tests New Mobile Batteries for Emergency Power

SPRINGFIELD — As part of Eversource’s commitment to advancing clean technologies and exploring innovative ways to help the Commonwealth achieve its decarbonization goals, the company is testing a mobile battery energy storage system (MBESS) as a zero-carbon backup power source. As part of its MBESS pilot program, the energy company now has two mobile batteries that it is strategically deploying across its Massachusetts service territory, including in environmental-justice communities, to provide power to customers while its crews make upgrades or repairs to the electric system that would otherwise require a power outage. Eversource is also charging one of the batteries using a solar array at its Springfield Area Work Center, further enhancing the clean-energy applications of the technology. Mobile batteries produce no exhaust fumes, and, unlike diesel generators, the MBESS operates virtually silently. Also, by eliminating noise, batteries can facilitate clearer communication between workers on construction job sites or disaster-relief efforts. The MBESS can also be swapped out for recharging and save money previously spent on diesel fuel to power generators. One new 500 kilowatt-hour mobile battery can, for example, charge a 50-home neighborhood for four hours. The current plan is to have two mobile batteries at the Springfield Area Work Center for deployment.

 

Independent Connections Expands into Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD — Independent Connections (IndyConn), an IT-solutions company in the Berkshires, announced the grand opening of its Pittsfield office. The new building will serve as the company’s Massachusetts branch and will house its growing team of skilled professionals dedicated to providing innovative technology solutions to businesses across the region. The company has other office locations in Hartford, Conn. and East Greenbush, N.Y.

 

Tighe & Bond Opens Second New York Office

WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond announced the opening of a new office in Troy, N.Y. Located at 433 River St. in the Hedley Building, this location will allow the firm to better service its growing base of clients in the Albany region. Tighe & Bond’s newest location brings the firm’s total office count to 16 throughout the Northeast and is the firm’s second New York location, in addition to the Hudson Valley office located in Rhinebeck. Vice President Erin Moore will provide leadership for the establishment of the Troy office as location manager. A lifelong resident of New York’s Capital District, with more than two decades of experience in municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater projects, she has been actively engaged in expanding Tighe & Bond’s services throughout New York in response to clients’ needs.

 

Three Nonprofits Deliver Pet Food to the Elderly

NORTH ADAMS — In partnership with the Berkshire Humane Society Pet Assistance Program, BFAIR and Elder Services of Berkshire County are helping elders feed their pets in conjunction with Meals on Wheels, which provides hot lunchtime meals for people age 60 and older. BFAIR’s Community Based Day Services (CBDS) program participants fill a vehicle at Berkshire Humane Society before embarking on a journey through Pittsfield and Dalton to deliver pet food to more than 20 elders in the Berkshire community. The program will run monthly, and BFAIR program participants will continue to deliver this resource. BFAIR’s Community Based Day Services program helps adults with disabilities participate in their community and improve their skills by providing access to regular, meaningful social contact and stimulating activities. Services are designed to maximize a person’s ability to manage everyday life activities in their community. To be eligible to receive pet assistance through this program, the individual must receive services through Elder Services’ Meals on Wheels program. For more information on how to get started, visit esbci.org or call (413) 499-0524.

 

Community Foundation Receives $560,000 Grant from MassMutual Foundation

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts announced it has received a $560,000 gift from the MassMutual Foundation to support grantmaking in Springfield through the Community Foundation’s Flexible Funding program. Through this grant, the MassMutual Foundation seeks to create more equitable access to social and economic opportunity in its local community. Recognizing a need in Springfield to address barriers to financial well-being, the MassMutual Foundation identified the opportunity to support the Community Foundation’s Flexible Funding grant program, which uses a trust-based approach, informed by community, to make resources available to those nonprofits best positioned to increase equity and opportunity for all residents. The MassMutual Foundation’s funding will specifically target programs and organizations with a focus on building financial resiliency through four focus areas: building networks, fostering financial health, fulfilling basic financial needs, and expanding employment opportunities. The Flexible Funding program provides unrestricted financial support to nonprofits and other organizations assisting their communities in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, prioritizing organizations actively working to combat racial disparities, promote equity and justice, and create pathways for marginalized communities. The program is designed to uplift the day-to-day operations and sustainability of these organizations. Applications for the next Flexible Funding round will open in August, and recipient grantees will be announced in December.

 

bankESB Parent Wins 2024 Top Workplaces USA Award

EASTHAMPTON — Hometown Financial Group, parent company of bankESB, Abington Bank, and bankHometown, announced it was named a winner of the 2024 Top Workplaces USA award by Energage. Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that are dedicated to building an exceptional, people-first culture. Winners are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an anonymous, third-party employee-engagement survey, issued by Energage, a leading provider of technology-based employee-engagement tools. More than 42,000 organizations across the country were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Results are calculated by comparing the survey’s research-based statements, including 15 culture drivers that are proven to predict high performance, against industry benchmarks.

 

Rocky’s Ace Hardware Supports Baystate Children’s Hospital

SPRINGFIELD — Rocky’s Ace Hardware announced the results of its semiannual Round Up for Kids fundraiser, with its Western Mass. stores raising a grand total of $8,336.74 for Baystate Children’s Hospital. Local participating Rocky’s locations include the Island Pond Road and Liberty Street stores in Springfield, and the Agawam, East Longmeadow, Westfield, Ludlow, Palmer, and South Hadley stores, with all local funds benefiting Baystate Children’s Hospital. Throughout the campaign, which took place at all 48 Rocky’s stores during November, customers rounded up their purchase totals to the next dollar. The difference added up to $41,376.96 and was donated to the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospital nearest to each store. This was the second Round Up for Kids fundraiser the 48 Rocky’s stores held in 2023.

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.

AGAWAM

Sweetdreams Inc., 141 Riviera Dr., Agawam, MA 01001. Jennet Niyaz, same. Online retail sales.

BELCHERTOWN

Jeffrey O’Connor Electrician Inc., 35 Warner St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Jeffrey O’Connor, same. Electrician.

CHICOPEE

Loud Mktg Inc., 39 Fernwood St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Scott Lee, same. Digital marketing services.

Tradeti Inc., 97 Lord Ter. North, Chicopee, MA 01020. Tahir Habib, same. Investment services.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Western MA Wound Care Inc., 293 North Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Alyssa Ayala, same. Wound-care practice.

GRANBY

Foxhill Inc., 82 Kendall St., Granby, MA 01033. Norman Connaughton, P.O. Box 279, Granby, MA 01033. Specialty trades contractor.

HOLYOKE

Crespo All Season Land and Landscaping Perfection Co., 10 Robert Dr., Holyoke, MA 01040. Natanael Crespo, same. Landscaping business.

LUDLOW

Hair Haven Inc., 44 Sewall St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Nicole Afonso, 53 Stivens Terrace, Ludlow, MA 01056. Hair salon.

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Burrito Inc., 12 Winesap Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Domerica Chairez, same. Restaurant sales of Mexican cuisine and American cuisine.

Lit Alerts Corp., 15 Westbrook Terrace, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Nathan Girard, same. Technology creation and sales.

Strobe Alert Foundation Inc., 82 Wendell Ave, Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Olga Chernyatyeva, same. Foundation established to create a safer and more inclusive entertainment experience for individuals susceptible to light sensitivities, migraines, and photosensitive epilepsy.

SPRINGFIELD

Dwelling Place Church, 9 Winterset Dr., Springfield, MA 01129. Mahdee Naylor Sr., same. Church for religious worship.

Social Equity Media Group Inc., 179 Longhill St., Apt. 3, Springfield, MA 01108. Tyler Kimball, 101 State St., Springfield, MA 01103. Nonprofit organization to conduct research, journalism, media, and community projects focused on elevating underprivileged voices, as well as provide and develop opportunities and programs for the betterment of underserved communities.

WESTFIELD

A&D HVAC Services Inc., 81 South Maple St., Apt. 24, Westfield, MA 01085. Slava Kurdun, same. Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system installation, and maintenance and repair of indoor air-quality systems.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bissley Realty Inc., 439 Morton St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Meghan Dudley, same. Purchase, sell, lease, manage, and mortgage real estate.

WILBRAHAM

Shannon Mumblo Consulting Inc., 10 Longfellow Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Shannon Mumblo, same. Organizational consulting, executive coaching, leadership training, event and fundraising planning, and support services.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of March 2024.

LEE

Berkshire Craftsmen
1240 Cape St.
Kurt Warner

Convenience Plus #2750
241 Main St.
Global Montello Group Corp.

Hanesbrands Inc.
400 Premium Outlets Blvd.
Jeffrey Teal

Nautica #2253
110 Premium Outlets Blvd.
Nautica Retail USA LLC

Rick Puleri Carpentry
365 Fairview St.
Richard Puleri

LONGMEADOW

180 Construction
190 Englewood Road
Garrett Moulton

Clear Eyed Media
75 Erskine Dr.
Joseph Douglass

Fibrenew Springfield
82 Canterbury Lane
Brian Newburn

Flynn Consulting Services
37 Birnie Road
John Flynn

Keller Williams Realty
66 Dwight Road
Laura Stevens

Mortgage Giver LLC
1650 Longmeadow St.
Daniel Edwards

Mulberry Real Estate Group LLC
18 Fernleaf Ave.
Jason Donaldson

OASSA Lean Quality Consulting
253 Pendleton Lane
Muhammed Awais

Prime Real Estate
111 Warren Terrace
David Roffo

Razzmatazz Kids
803 Williams St.
Anna Whitton

Sonny’s Junk Removal
45 Berwick Road
Sonny Nicholas

PITTSFIELD

Alpine Services
71 Bartlett Ave.
Christopher Dombrowski

Berkshire Event Lighting
30 South Merriam St.
Alana Gillooly

Bittersweet Farm
973 Barker Road
David Halley

Bliss Nails
180 Elm St.
Thoa Kim Huynh

Elm Street Barber Shop
321½ Elm St.
Christopher Welker

Empire Pizza
413 North St.
Larry Food Corp.

Entech Engineering Associates Inc.
82 Wendell Ave.
Entech Engineering Inc.

General Machine and Control Engineering
82 Wendell Ave.
James Ruggieri

Greylock Investment Group
150 West St.
Greylock Federal Credit Union

Heal to Toe Nursing Foot Care
20 Euclid Ave.
Lynette Dukehart

Ideal Insurance Agency Premier
82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100
Ideal Insurance Agency Inc.

Jehovah’s Business Solutions
32 King St.
Stacia Wright

KLE Project Services
82 Wendell Ave.
KLE Inc.

Mom’s Auto Sales
221 Newell St.
Jaime Traversa, Christopher Barris

Negotiation Task Force
82 Wendell Ave.
Negotiation Design and Strategy LLC

Nerdz for Hire
146 South St.
Poulton Zane

NetworkFolio LLC
82 Wendell Ave.
Gabrielle Chanel

NJS Concrete
51 Robert St.
Nicholas Sumner

Pittsfield Language Services
22 Worthington St.
Elizabeth Trabulsi

Ready Set Clean
82 Wendell Ave.
Edward Savarese

Sister’s Cleaning Services
283 First St.
Cintia de Moura Miranda

Teddy’s Pizza
508 East St.
Wind Chime Properties LLC

Third Avenue Fitness
54 Wendell Ave.
Brittany Gingras

SOUTHWICK

Baystate Printing
13 Sterrett Dr.
Nick Boldyga

Capital Strategies
13 Sterrett Dr.
Nick Boldyga

Coffee Canvas Café
141 Congamond Road
Volkov Demyan

Congamond Coffee & Café
108 Congamond Road
Pam Sclafani

Fusion Bar & Grill
141 Congamond Road
Jose Fernandes

Great Brook Greens
11 Great Brook Dr.
Erica Heng

Hillside Property Services LLC
198 Hillside Road
Mark McDonald

Lynch’s Heating & Cooling
303 North Loomis St.
Kenneth Lynch

Southwick Pools
18 Woodside Circle
Thomas Favreau

Speakers and Sports Services
535 College Highway
Konstantin Makarov

Walker’s Landscape Services
35 Birchwood Road
Jacob Walker

WESTFIELD

413 Alarms
174 Honey Pot Road
Eric Dauplaise

Appalachian Press
11 Railroad Ave.
Michael Dion

Bhatnagar Enterprises
19 Winding Ridge Lane
Nitin Bhatnagar

Dream Meadow Farm
631 West Road
Pamela Boisseau, Joseph Boisseau, Justin Boisseau

Forever Dream Boutique
20 Goose Hollow Road
Holly Janisieski

Kaylisse Ruiz @ A Slight Edge Salon
20 Elm St.
Kaylisse Ruiz

Lauri’s Locks
33 Broad St.
Lauri Gardner

M.D. Siebert Renovations
51 Barbara St.
Mark Siebert

NAP Electric
160 Holyoke Road
Neil Peloquin

NAP Properties LLC
160 Holyoke Road
Neil Peloquin, Dawn Peloquin

Natalia’s Custom Crayons
126 Union St., #821
Shahana Gaston

Nouria
88-90 South Maple St.
Nouria Energy Retail Inc.

Pearl City Antiques
284 Hillside Road
Jessi Messier

Pioneer Valley Home Sales
77 Mill St., #120B
Juan Cruzado

PLAYNOW!
5 East Silver St.
Jennr Ventures LLC

Rick’s Home Improvements
63 Country Club Dr.
Richard Doiron

Right Solution
13 Madison St.
Nelya Misiruk

Slumber Massage Therapy
102 Elm St., Suite 1
Fantasia Garcia

Southwick Road Shell
27 Southwick Road
Abdulsalam Alsaleh

Sushi’s Thrift
56 Washington St.
Kseniya Covileac

Willow and Grace Photography
22 Cherry St.
Jessica Cernak

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Class General Contracting
425 Union St.
Class General Contracting

Delta Bulk Transport
66 Western Ave.
J.E.P. Inc.

JG Site Services LLC
78 Poplar Ave.
JG Site Services LLC

John R. Sweeney Insurance Agency
1233 Westfield St.
John R. Sweeney Insurance Agency

Money Wise Mom
41 Galaska St.
Money Wise Mom

Mylyfe Specialty Pharmacy
1111 Elm St.
Mylyfe Specialty Pharmacy

Park Square Realty
464 Westfield St.
PSQ Inc.

Shah Traders
464 Main St.
Shah Traders

Sono Bello
171 Park Ave.
Sono Bello

Tied Down Solutions LLC
110 Quarry Road
Tied Down Solutions LLC

Treehouse Orthodontics
46 Daggett Dr.
Treehouse Orthodontics

Visiting Angels
33 Westfield St.
Living Assistance Corp.

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Brown, Bryan D.
19 Evergreen Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/20/2024

Byrnes, Donna Louise
44 Riverboat Village Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/29/2024

Charland-Tait, Michael Valentine
80 Barrett St., #22
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/29/2024

Clark, Everett D.
Clark, Tammy L.
10 -12 Weber St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/27/2024

Cormier, Anthony J.
59 Mary St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/15/2024

D and J’s Hash House, Inc.
a/k/a D&J’s Hash House
P.O. Box 1151
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 11
Date: 02/23/2024

Decasse, Elizabeth A.
45 Summer St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/26/2024

Elgin, Linda
1038 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/29/2024

Galica, Eric
595 Northampton St., Apt. 8A
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/25/2024

Larose, Elba
11 Allison Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/25/2024

Mancini, Robert M.
110 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/20/2024

Moulton, Jeffrey Gillman
75 Riverview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/22/2024

Muisa, Judith L.
161 Davis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/20/2024

Mumblo, Yvonne Dale
60 Prescott Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2024

O’Brien, William R.
30 Birchwood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/29/2024

Oliva, Jeffrey M.
1009 Wauwinet Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/29/2024

Perez Lorenzano, Edwin
35 Highview Dr., Apt C
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/29/2024

Ponce, Jacqueline
11 Bessemer St.
Springfield, MA 01104-1507
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/22/2024

Rofulowitz, Logan H.
6 Ed Holcomb Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/28/2024

Roncarati, Lynndia Ann
309 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/28/2024

Sedberry, Don Wesley
629 West St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/01/2024

Shackelford, Dara Lum
Lum, Dara Michelle
44 Evergreen Road, Apt. 104
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/16/2024

Shackelford, Jason Keith
55 Empire St., Unit 68
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 02/16/2024

Smith, Allen F.
314 Caldwell Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/20/2024

Torres, Felix
408 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Date: 02/15/2024

Vega-Mata, Yoana Padua
52 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 02/26/2024
Date: 13

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

ASHFIELD

228 Plainfield Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Serena Bouvier
Seller: Fidelis Bridge Loan V
Date: 02/28/24

BUCKLAND

200 Lower St.
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: 1900 Capital TII
Seller: Daniel Hyytinen
Date: 02/20/24

ERVING

3 Central St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Elise Edward
Seller: Ala J. Escott
Date: 02/23/24

48 River Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Michael J. Winn
Seller: Daniel M. Majewski
Date: 02/26/24

GREENFIELD

633 Bernardston Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $599,000
Buyer: Nancy Conner
Seller: Eds Enterprises LLC
Date: 02/22/24

81-83 Hope St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: House Hack Helpers LLC
Seller: Kevin J. Cummings
Date: 02/23/24

171 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Matthew Saba
Seller: Mark S. Richardson
Date: 02/29/24

MONROE

9-A Main Road
Monroe, MA 01247
Amount: $216,200
Buyer: Ramon F. Deandrade
Seller: Tammy R. Habacker
Date: 02/27/24

MONTAGUE

4 Depot St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Cody J. Celino
Seller: Angela D. Varilly
Date: 02/29/24

12 Montague St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Varilly
Seller: Pamala J. Reipold
Date: 02/29/24

NEW SALEM

21 Old County Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $131,500
Buyer: Daniel T. Leaders
Seller: William F. Leanders
Date: 02/28/24

NORTHFIELD

Fisher Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $120,900
Buyer: Ramona M. Pinto
Seller: Valerie A. Duvall
Date: 02/22/24

15 South Mountain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Gary M. Weber
Seller: Cynthia J. Harrington
Date: 02/23/24

ORANGE

27 Chaste St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jacobo Delacruz
Seller: Vrmtg Asset TR
Date: 02/26/24

49 Cherry St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Matthew V. Buscaenra
Seller: Kenneth M. Capasso
Date: 02/23/24

20 Fieldstone Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jessica Schavrien
Seller: Christie Goodwin
Date: 02/20/24

23 Stone Valley Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $162,800
Buyer: Pennymac Loan Services LLC
Seller: Judith M. Gancorz
Date: 02/26/24

15 West Myrtle St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Deysi V. Barahona
Seller: Gleison Rocha
Date: 02/27/24

94 West Orange Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: David J. Murphy
Seller: Murphy, David J., (Estate)
Date: 02/23/24

ROWE

16 Hazelton Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Matthew Brown
Seller: Richard K. Quinn
Date: 02/21/24

SHUTESBURY

74 Lake Dr.
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Timothy A. Pickering
Seller: Maryjane Trubulski
Date: 02/28/24

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

206 Colemore St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Randy Wessels
Seller: Darlene A. Sandstrom
Date: 02/29/24

73 Edward St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $377,000
Buyer: Brandon Montalvo
Seller: Payden Yates
Date: 02/22/24

94 Harvey Johnson Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Gregg Dipietrantonio
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 02/23/24

19 Lancaster Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Andrew Armstrong
Seller: David E. Kozel
Date: 02/21/24

111 Reed St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Emily Ashe
Seller: Joseph R. Moore
Date: 02/21/24

17 Rowley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: William Rivera
Seller: David B. Donoghue
Date: 02/20/24

925 Shoemaker Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Nicholas W. Turnberg
Seller: Michael S. Lynch RET
Date: 02/26/24

164 Tobacco Farm Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Latina A. Devaughn
Seller: David B. Dussault
Date: 02/21/24

174 Tobacco Farm Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $499,900
Buyer: Russell Oneill
Seller: Michael J. Breault
Date: 02/29/24

194 Tobacco Farm Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $459,900
Buyer: Isidro Acosta
Seller: Ward, Gregory Lee, (Estate)
Date: 02/20/24

CHESTER

10 William St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Eugene B. Watters
Date: 02/05/24

CHICOPEE

20 Alvord Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Logan M. Lacroix
Seller: Alycar Investments LLC
Date: 02/29/24

46 Bromont St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Jennifer T. Labonte
Seller: DGL Properties LLC
Date: 02/28/24

63 Clarendon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Nathaniel E. Martinez
Seller: Eduardo Zayas
Date: 02/29/24

37 Erline St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Handyflippers Inc.
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 02/23/24

23 Fitzpatrick Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Julian Arias
Seller: George A. Croteau
Date: 02/29/24

120 Gill St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jose A. Diaz
Seller: Suzanne L. Krause
Date: 02/28/24

10 Harding St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $396,000
Buyer: Aneudi J. Ortiz
Seller: DCL General Construction LLC
Date: 02/29/24

69 Lafayette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Irene T. Rollings
Seller: Anne M. Labrecque
Date: 02/28/24

86 Lapa Farm Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $386,000
Buyer: Alexander Richi
Seller: Robert Desroches
Date: 02/29/24

6 Leo Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: William J. Rokowski
Seller: Zakowski Jr., Leo F., (Estate)
Date: 02/29/24

505 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Connor D. Presz
Seller: Roman Tryba
Date: 02/20/24

27 Moreau Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Joshua Croake
Seller: Matthew Dunn
Date: 02/28/24

58 Rzasa Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Dominik R. Bieniasz
Seller: Nancy A. Coughlin
Date: 02/26/24

104 Stedman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $286,500
Buyer: Amer Alalean
Seller: Dean M. Fay
Date: 02/22/24

40 Sunnymeade Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Handyflippers Inc.
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 02/29/24

24 White Birch Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Timothy J. Kulig
Seller: Henry P. Roux
Date: 02/29/24

18 Wildermere St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $284,700
Buyer: Artur Tkachenko
Seller: Manchester Ent. LLC
Date: 02/29/24

189 Wilson Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Gilberto R. Cruz
Seller: Aneudi J. Ortiz
Date: 02/29/24

209 Woodcrest Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Ali M. Mourad
Seller: LSF11 Master Part TR
Date: 02/27/24

EAST LONGMEADOW

239 Braeburn Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Hong Nguyen
Seller: Christine A. Martin
Date: 02/26/24

325 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: John McCullough
Seller: Rinaldi, James A., (Estate)
Date: 02/22/24

228 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Angel L. Agront
Seller: Barbara J. Nutbrown
Date: 02/21/24

88 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Abigail Caple
Seller: Patrick Ayres
Date: 02/20/24

16 Shawmut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Liam R. O’Donnell
Seller: Karen M. Schmidt
Date: 02/23/24

HAMPDEN

102 Baldwin Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Matthew Catjakis
Seller: Lumturi RT
Date: 02/28/24

66 Forest Hill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Yabela RT
Seller: Bienvenue, Camille C., (Estate)
Date: 02/23/24

34 Mountainview Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Devin Hoagland
Seller: Robert G. White
Date: 02/28/24

129 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Paul M. McKenna
Seller: Susan Arce-Beaver
Date: 02/05/24

HOLLAND

38 Lake Shore Dr.
Holland, MA 01081
Amount: $677,000
Buyer: Roy St Andre
Seller: Michael A. Benedetto
Date: 02/23/24

HOLYOKE

Anniversary Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: 0 Anniversary Road LLC
Seller: Telahc Properties LP
Date: 02/26/24

340 Appleton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Mango Group LLC
Seller: 340 Appleton LLC
Date: 02/21/24

16 Arden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $337,900
Buyer: Kathy J. Labombard
Seller: Patricia L. Matthews
Date: 02/28/24

75 Brook St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Calvin Stotz
Seller: Debra Bombard
Date: 02/29/24

17 Clayton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Brian Johnson
Seller: Rene M. Barkyoumb
Date: 02/28/24

606 County Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Ellen Little
Seller: Bryce G. Menninga
Date: 02/23/24

820 High St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: ER Energy LLC
Seller: OM Holyoke Real Estate LLC
Date: 02/27/24

48-50 Holy Family Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $30,000,000
Buyer: Devonshire Owner LLC
Seller: Holy Ventures LLC
Date: 02/22/24

82 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $347,500
Buyer: Cody A. Ross
Seller: Corbin H. Chicoine
Date: 02/29/24

28-30 Longwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: George Papulis
Seller: Shane M. Ezyk
Date: 02/28/24

71-73 Longwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Julio Fernandez
Seller: Sullivan, Karen M., (Estate)
Date: 02/20/24

1244 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Nicolas Feliciano
Seller: Justin Tomasini
Date: 02/23/24

100 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Hurley
Seller: Gregory K. Hurley
Date: 02/23/24

280-282 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Frederic R. Beddall
Seller: Jordan Doucette
Date: 02/20/24

LONGMEADOW

18 Barbara Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $240,418
Buyer: Maria O. Perales
Seller: Samantha Fenska
Date: 02/21/24

157 Captain Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $477,000
Buyer: Diego V. Calle
Seller: Craig A. Super
Date: 02/28/24

83 Longfellow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $412,295
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: Christina A. Knybel
Date: 02/05/24

195 Meadowbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Chris J. Dobbins
Seller: Stephen B. Shelasky
Date: 02/29/24

191 Nevins Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Douglas J. Bixby
Seller: William J. Kaplita
Date: 02/26/24

80 Roseland Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Jonathan L. Dent
Seller: Anthony Rubio
Date: 02/26/24

94 Westwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Anne R. Most
Seller: Frank T. Lucchesi
Date: 02/05/24

186 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $397,000
Buyer: Amanda May
Seller: Katrina Martin
Date: 02/20/24

109 Williston Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $660,000
Buyer: Jatin J. Patel
Seller: John P. Ward
Date: 02/28/24

49 Wimbleton Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: Yeslin B. Gonzalez
Seller: Sheehan, Catherine M., (Estate)
Date: 02/21/24

LUDLOW

17 Arnold St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Edward R. Perlak
Seller: Lisa A. Chaves
Date: 02/27/24

Athol St., Lot 11B2
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Banas Jr., Joseph, (Estate)
Date: 02/21/24

Athol St., Lot 43
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Banas Jr., Joseph, (Estate)
Date: 02/21/24

Athol St., Lot 43A
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Banas Jr., Joseph, (Estate)
Date: 02/21/24

Athol St., Lot 44
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Banas Jr., Joseph, (Estate)
Date: 02/21/24

Athol St., Lot 45
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Banas Jr., Joseph, (Estate)
Date: 02/21/24

48 Baker St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Dreambighomes LLC
Seller: Maureen A. Buccacio
Date: 02/29/24

60 Blanchard Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Tiago B. Martins
Seller: Mint Realty Group LLC
Date: 02/28/24

18 Butler St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Trisha L. Arsenault
Seller: Blanco Realty LLC
Date: 02/28/24

1634 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $165,500
Buyer: Wicked Deals LLC
Seller: Brain T. Gaudreau
Date: 02/21/24

329 Holyoke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Banas Jr., Joseph, (Estate)
Date: 02/21/24

30 Lillian St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Michael Bettencourt
Seller: AEM Property Investment LLC
Date: 02/22/24

1385 Lyon St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Amanda Mcclure
Seller: 1385 Lyon Street RT
Date: 02/23/24

63 Margaret Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $281,500
Buyer: Nicholas R. Fales
Seller: Richard S. Fales
Date: 02/20/24

441 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Brandon M. Underwood
Seller: Stephen M. Nareau
Date: 02/27/24

32 Warsaw Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Cherie A. Ptaszkiewicz
Seller: Rogerio B. Costa
Date: 02/23/24

MONSON

139 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $327,500
Buyer: Jeffrey Peristere
Seller: John M. Wilson
Date: 02/20/24

12 Upper Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $649,900
Buyer: Frank W. Kochanowski
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 02/22/24

PALMER

46 Glenn St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Frank C. Didomenico
Seller: Elaine T. Rice TR
Date: 02/29/24

3182-3184 High St.
Palmer, MA 01009
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Carlson Abel
Seller: Chenevert Properties LLC
Date: 02/22/24

4425 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $211,300
Buyer: Allyson Strahan
Seller: Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC
Date: 02/29/24

3205 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: B. & B. Realty Partners LLC
Seller: Abaigeal M. Duda
Date: 02/05/24

1512 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Nsroma Multi Buses Corp.
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 02/27/24

209 Old Warren Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: William O’Toole
Seller: David M. Ingram
Date: 02/05/24

126 State St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Tommy Leigh RET
Seller: Roman, Judith A., (Estate)
Date: 02/29/24

SPRINGFIELD

31 Alice St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Stephanie O. Rodriguez
Seller: Dexter Williams
Date: 02/27/24

14 Aster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Post Investment LLC
Seller: Solo7 Capital & Consulting LLC
Date: 02/23/24

Balis St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: United We Care LLC
Seller: Roy FT
Date: 02/22/24

126 Benton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Giovanni Crespo
Seller: Rodman Capital Group LLC
Date: 02/29/24

29 Berbay Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Olmstead Realty LLC
Seller: Courageous Lion LLC
Date: 02/20/24

270 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Qian Z. Li
Seller: Wei Q. Ni
Date: 02/29/24

40 Bissell St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Hassan Thomas
Seller: Paul L. Gauthier
Date: 02/28/24

174 Bloomfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Juan C. Reynoso
Seller: 174 Bloomfield Street RT
Date: 02/26/24

17-19 Braddock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $323,000
Buyer: Peter M. Mungara
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 02/27/24

29 Bruce St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Jerry B. Gonzalez
Seller: Steven Dunn
Date: 02/27/24

18 Brunswick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Hualiang Zhou
Seller: Mclp Asset Co. Inc.
Date: 02/27/24

89 Carroll St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sybel Gonzalez
Seller: Fiorini Sr., John Donald (Estate)
Date: 02/29/24

126 Caseland St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Christos Notidis
Seller: Loleta Collins
Date: 02/23/24

309 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Independent Housing I Inc.
Seller: Springfield Housing Authority
Date: 02/26/24

520-526 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Aliza Abid
Seller: Gonzalez, Pedro M., (Estate)
Date: 02/23/24

91 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Olmsted Realty LLC
Seller: Courageous Lion LLC
Date: 02/20/24

53 Clifton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Rodney Eltinor
Seller: Springfield Ventures RT
Date: 02/28/24

68 Crestmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Manchester Enterprises LLC
Seller: Johnson, Marnie-Faye, (Estate)
Date: 02/27/24

93 Crestmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jonathan Stone
Seller: Carolyn A. Curpenski
Date: 02/27/24

72 Darling St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: William A. Chapman
Seller: Michael G. Kijek
Date: 02/26/24

21-27 Decker Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $439,000
Buyer: Cherlie Magny-Normilus
Seller: Hat Trick Properties LLC
Date: 02/28/24

100 Derryfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Pennymac Loan Services LLC
Seller: Kendall J. Brea
Date: 02/21/24

109 Dewitt St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: James L. Omahoney
Seller: Anthony J. Zalowski
Date: 02/28/24

98 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Gilberto J. Sotolongo
Seller: Luis E. Dominguez
Date: 02/29/24

88-90 Edgewood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Hunter Property Group LLC
Seller: Omar Abeed
Date: 02/29/24

103 Euclid Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Newlife LLC
Seller: Thuy T. Tran
Date: 02/27/24

16 Fordham St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Chenevert Properties LLC
Seller: Mary A. Figueroa Torres
Date: 02/23/24

396 Grayson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Cottages By Lorraine LLC
Seller: Andrew M. Croteau
Date: 02/22/24

86 Gresham St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Margaret Vanderburgh
Seller: Mae O. Bell
Date: 02/29/24

177 Hartford Ter.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Keila Santiago
Seller: Daniel A. Richton
Date: 02/29/24

66 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Zachary Larabee
Seller: John P. Ryan
Date: 02/23/24

49 Hillmont St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: P. & R. Investments LLC
Seller: Courageous Lion LLC
Date: 02/29/24

30 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Virgen Santa
Seller: Matadormus LLC
Date: 02/27/24

31 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: James A. Bunch
Seller: Thomas M. Slavin
Date: 02/28/24

70 Kirk Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Mariapamela Caldas
Seller: Cornerstone Homebuying LLC
Date: 02/26/24

66 Lancaster St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $352,000
Buyer: Maya N. McCann
Seller: Better Builders Construction LLC
Date: 02/26/24

 

60 Malibu Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Sandra I. De La Cruz
Seller: Carmen R. Palma
Date: 02/26/24

55 Mandalay Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Prestigious One LLC
Seller: Marie J. Bates
Date: 02/29/24

77 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: SFMG Capital LLC
Seller: Develop Springfield Corp.
Date: 02/22/24

83 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: SFMG Capital LLC
Seller: Develop Springfield Corp.
Date: 02/22/24

63 Margerie St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Michael Simmonds
Seller: MCLP ASSET CO. Inc.
Date: 02/21/24

146-148 Marion St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $449,000
Buyer: Elizabeth W. Wanjigi
Seller: Advanced Aesthetics Medical
Date: 02/21/24

18 Mark St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Rachel Jansen
Seller: Cornerstone Homebuying LLC
Date: 02/21/24

68-70 Massachusetts Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Kelnate Realty LLC
Seller: AJN Rentals LLC
Date: 02/23/24

25 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Karen Paris
Seller: Joanne M. Denver
Date: 02/26/24

57-59 Michigan St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Mert Gunaydin
Seller: Annie Salem
Date: 02/05/24

79 Monmouth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $136,500
Buyer: Chenevert Properties LLC
Seller: David J. Hartman
Date: 02/29/24

123-125 Moxon St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Ivan M. Valdez
Seller: G. A. Irizarry-Marrero
Date: 02/29/24

281 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $206,500
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Freedom Mortgage Corp.
Date: 02/29/24

63 Quincy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Neysha M. Marrero
Seller: Yadira Santiago
Date: 02/20/24

60 Rencelau St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Seller: Sandra M. Pallotta
Date: 02/22/24

32-34 Rittenhouse Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Julio M. Santana
Seller: Keishla M. Diaz-Olavarria
Date: 02/20/24

10 Rollins St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Adianez Lopez-Andujar
Seller: Roberto Rivera-Negron
Date: 02/23/24

37 Stanhope Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Diana I. Garcia
Seller: Calvin F. Owens
Date: 02/29/24

1522 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: United We Care LLC
Seller: Roy FT
Date: 02/22/24

234-236 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Sfmg Capital LLC
Seller: DevelopSpringfield Corp.
Date: 02/22/24

161 Verge St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Elliot M. Lehane
Seller: Lorraine L. Gazda
Date: 02/05/24

200 Whittum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Shayna J. Sullivan
Seller: Mary K. Flaherty
Date: 02/21/24

114 William St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $407,000
Buyer: Christopher Flores
Seller: RBT Enterprise LLC
Date: 02/23/24

96 Willowbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Michael Cahill
Seller: James A. Glover
Date: 02/29/24

1275 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Lavotto Group LLC
Seller: Alexis Martinez
Date: 02/29/24

 

SOUTHWICK

59 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $1,475,000
Buyer: Catic Exchange LLC
Seller: Papyrus Equities LLC
Date: 02/29/24

23 Congamond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Rene L. Crete
Seller: David Humphrey
Date: 02/21/24

4 Crystal Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Steven R. Manning
Seller: Timothy A. Barry
Date: 02/27/24

16 Crystal Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $435,100
Buyer: Timothy Fratini
Seller: Daniel L. Garrity
Date: 02/22/24

183 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $121,755
Buyer: Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC
Seller: Orcutt, Constance, (Estate)
Date: 02/28/24

3 Gargon Ter.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Christopher Bedard
Seller: Jeremy P. Fisher
Date: 02/26/24

11 John Mason Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $475,100
Buyer: Magdalena Czerkawska
Seller: James McInerney
Date: 02/22/24

26 Noble Steed Xing
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Hailey E. Charpentier
Seller: Giberson Construction Inc.
Date: 02/23/24

Silvergrass Lane, Lot 13
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Seller: Fiore Realty Holdings LLC
Date: 02/23/24

279 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Viktor Moshkovskiy
Seller: Patricia J. Schmidt LT
Date: 02/20/24

36 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Matthew T. Seklecki
Seller: Erik Roberts
Date: 02/21/24

WEST SPRINGFIELD

57 Burford Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Michael Laguerre
Seller: Shaji S. Almstoo
Date: 02/29/24

511-R Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $473,000
Buyer: Lilliya G. Salem
Seller: Pavel Panasyuk
Date: 02/21/24

533 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $473,000
Buyer: Lilliya G. Salem
Seller: Pavel Panasyuk
Date: 02/21/24

116 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Stephanie Dusza
Seller: Cornerstone Homebuying LLC
Date: 02/29/24

61 Homestead Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $353,000
Buyer: Victoria L. Colpas
Seller: Ashleigh Chrusciel
Date: 02/29/24

61 Larchwood St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kai Devlin
Seller: Carocci, Claire E., (Estate)
Date: 02/26/24

79 Massasoit Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Ilyas Koc
Seller: Melan Gurung
Date: 02/26/24

51 Spring St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Philip O. Champigny
Seller: Mohanad Jumaah
Date: 02/26/24

77 Wilder Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Toby L. Daniels
Seller: Larkspur LLC
Date: 02/23/24

WESTFIELD

80 Alexander Place
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Michael W. Farrell
Seller: Jeffrey P. Grabiec
Date: 02/21/24

66 Barbara St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: William M. Lamirande
Seller: William M. Lamirande
Date: 02/23/24

62 Bayberry Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Milan P. Peich
Seller: Thomas D. Pirnie
Date: 02/20/24

2 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $466,000
Buyer: Nadezhda S. Tsvor
Seller: Jan I. Dickinson
Date: 02/23/24

4 Birch Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Cora Knurek-Hogan
Seller: Kvitek, Ricky David, (Estate)
Date: 02/20/24

98 Dartmouth St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: John Marcyoniak
Seller: Krystal S. Guilmette
Date: 02/27/24

312 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $293,500
Buyer: Nicholas M. Roy
Seller: Alexandra Whiting
Date: 02/29/24

25 Ellsworth St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $216,667
Buyer: Tim A. Balser
Seller: James Garcia
Date: 02/22/24

289 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $268,851
Buyer: Freedom Mortgage Corp.
Seller: Jason M. Donnachie
Date: 02/05/24

15 Jeremy Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Michael P. Grise
Seller: Christopher R. Manfredi
Date: 02/29/24

140 Meadow St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $392,000
Buyer: Peace I. Ovabor
Seller: Vantage Home Buyers LLC
Date: 02/05/24

99 Mountain View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $318,500
Buyer: Sarah A. Welch
Seller: Manchester Enterprises LLC
Date: 02/23/24

38 Park Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Veniamin Shovgan
Seller: Brian R. Knowlton
Date: 02/23/24

23 Pearl St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $302,500
Buyer: Barbara J. Nutbrown
Seller: Krista D. Chechile
Date: 02/21/24

21 Summer St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Summerset II LLC
Seller: John P. Morizio
Date: 02/28/24

WILBRAHAM

310 3 Rivers Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Xiaotian Zhang
Seller: Danyun Huang
Date: 02/29/24

33 Delmor Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Brian Fortier
Seller: Matthew Enzor
Date: 02/28/24

104 Sandalwood Dr., Lot 104
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $634,935
Buyer: Thomas K. Brown
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 02/29/24

675 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $433,088
Buyer: Blanco Realty LLC
Seller: Christopher Anciello
Date: 02/29/24

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

42 Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $589,000
Buyer: Joanna Carber
Seller: Snoeyenbos FT
Date: 02/28/24

111 Logtown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Amherst Community Land Trust Inc.
Seller: Maly Mao
Date: 02/23/24

BELCHERTOWN

North St., Lot 1A
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Richard G. Prager
Seller: Hilary Whitlock
Date: 02/29/24

EASTHAMPTON

15 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Kyle D. Cross
Seller: Keely S. Sexton
Date: 02/23/24

25 Golden Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Evergrain Orchard LLC
Seller: Diane J. Miller
Date: 02/20/24

21 Pepin Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $412,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Holland
Seller: Jaime M. Rogers
Date: 02/20/24

GRANBY

4 Deerbrook Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Wood FT
Seller: John J. Curley RET
Date: 02/20/24

12 Truby St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $129,250
Buyer: Leo E. Fugler
Seller: Kumiega, Christine M., (Estate)
Date: 02/23/24

 

12 Truby St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $129,250
Buyer: Leo E. Fugler
Seller: Walter A. Kumiega
Date: 02/23/24

NORTHAMPTON

469 Audubon Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $699,000
Buyer: Rachel S. Piscette
Seller: Frederick J. MacInnis TR
Date: 02/27/24

239 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $522,000
Buyer: Deborah Keisch
Seller: Gordon M. Meadows
Date: 02/29/24

236 Grove St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Thea Paneth
Seller: Kelly A. Gallagher
Date: 02/29/24

21 North Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $787,000
Buyer: Robert M. McKittrick
Seller: Roger P. Clark
Date: 02/29/24

54 Pilgrim Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $697,025
Buyer: David Bond
Seller: Barbara J. Ryan LT
Date: 02/22/24

39 Ridge View Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: 21st Century Green Home Inc.
Seller: James Bachand
Date: 02/29/24

PELHAM

378 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Julie Gimbrone
Seller: Isa Wang
Date: 02/20/24

49 Enfield Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $438,000
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Joan R. Hart
Date: 02/28/24

SOUTH HADLEY

Bombardier St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Mary G. Biastoff
Seller: Kathleen A. Duffy-Silcott
Date: 02/27/24

4 Douglas Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Mary G. Biastoff
Seller: Kathleen A. Duffy-Silcott
Date: 02/27/24

49 Fairview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: David B. Grey
Seller: Charlebois, John A., (Estate)
Date: 02/29/24

1 Hollywood St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Thala Rivers
Seller: Baker, Janet M., (Estate)
Date: 02/29/24

27 Hollywood St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Jacobs
Seller: Robert K. Desgres
Date: 02/20/24

150 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Ml Sale Holdings Inc.
Seller: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Date: 02/28/24

28 Maple St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: Joshua Breault
Seller: Corrine Lavalle
Date: 02/22/24

81 River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $386,000
Buyer: Joshua D. Sanford
Seller: Carol Dineen
Date: 02/20/24

SOUTHAMPTON

116 County Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $416,300
Buyer: Cyris R. Copen
Seller: Wiliams, Marcia B., (Estate)
Date: 02/23/24

WARE

56 Old Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Todd A. Blais
Seller: Toni J. Stewart
Date: 02/26/24

11 Old Would Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $634,600
Buyer: Mark Dore
Seller: Evergreen Design Build Inc.
Date: 02/29/24

39 South St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: R&L Property Invest LLC
Seller: David Guerra
Date: 02/22/24

80 West Main St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Ian J. Merry
Seller: Ronald W. Gresty
Date: 02/26/24

WESTHAMPTON

89 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Garrett Tenczar
Seller: Hayden, Richard J., (Estate)
Date: 02/20/24

WILLIAMSBURG

8 Petticoat Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Alicia M. Smith
Seller: Smith FT
Date: 02/28/24

WORTHINGTON

226 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Mark Nielsen
Seller: Leon W. Horning
Date: 02/21/24

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of March 2024.

CHICOPEE

Buckley Property Investments
30 Buckley Blvd.
$35,000 — Remove ceiling tiles

EIP 1 Better Way LLC
1 Better Way
$144,000 — Roofing

Holly Gay
82 Olea St.
$14,000 — Air sealing and insulation, install ventilation, weatherize accesses

Willard McKinstry II
753 Montgomery St.
$18,000 — Shed

EASTHAMPTON

Atomic Real Estate Inc.
193 Northampton St.
$8,000 — Sheetrock, flooring

Joe Martinez
36 Chapman Ave.
$16,823.55 — Insulation

The Philipp Maufacturing Co.
17 Ward Ave.
$23,000 — Roofing

HADLEY

Joseph Boisvert
8 Stockwell Road
N/A — Build new agriculture storage building

E&A/I&G Campus Plaza LP
454 Russell St.
N/A — Fire sprinkler work

NORTHAMPTON

1XO LLC
6 Fairfield Ave.
$22,350 — Roofing

310 Bridge Street Realty LLC
310 Bridge St.
$1,500 — Install free-standing, illuminated, double-faced sign with changeable copy track

Blue Mountain Properties LLC
76 Maple St.
$16,000 — Renovate basement bathroom

City of Northampton
20 Florence St.
$407,500 — Replace windows at Leeds Elementary School

D.A. Sullivan & Sons Inc.
84 North St.
$425,000 — Convert business space to residential unit

JW Inc.
13 Old South St.
$30,587 — Insulation and weatherization

Lathrop Community Inc.
680 Bridge Road
$30,000 — Kitchen and bath renovation

Maiewski Real Estate Investments
218 Audubon Road
$65,940 — Install detached ground-mount solar carport

Maiewski Real Estate Investments
102 Vernon Road
$2,500 — Insulation and weatherization

New England Deaconess Assoc.
37 Coles Meadow Road
$243,466 — Renovate community room

Northampton Holdings LP
180 North King St.
$75,000 — Replace HVAC rooftop units and one split unit

ServiceNet Inc.
48 Pleasant St.
$140,000 — Create new space for pharmacy; modify second floor to create offices, break room, and waiting area

Smith College
2 Tyler Court
$106,700 — Renovate Room 309 of McConnell Hall

Smith College
14 Green St.
$1,000 — Non-illuminated wall sign for Sub Rosa

Suher Properties LLC
24 Center St.
$95,995 — Roofing

PITTSFIELD

The Cooper Center LLC
116 North St.
$3,000 — Repair beam supporting fourth floor and roof

Hurricane Properties LLC
307 Springside Ave.
$7,000 — Upgrade existing common-area fire alarm to monitored, addressable system

Pittsfield Realty Investments LLC
831 Dalton Ave.
$45,600 — Roofing

White Terrace Building LLC
592 North St.
$2,000 — Temporary plywood enclosure in Building 1 to accommodate asbestos abatement work

Time to Reverse Some Trends

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

The numbers are alarming.

Indeed, state tax revenues have fallen below projections for seven consecutive months now, and the shortfall is beginning to put some real pressure on the Commonwealth’s ability to spend what it needs to spend to support vital programs.

Earlier this year, Gov. Maura Healey, citing the lower-than-expected tax-revenue collections — they were running nearly $800 million, or 4%, behind the state’s original projections at the time, and the estimated shortfall for the fiscal year is now pegged at $1 billion — slashed $375 million in spending, cutting hundreds of millions from programs that provide outreach for seniors, behavioral-health supports, and other services.

These cuts hurt, and they may be just the first, with more to come impacting other vital services that communities large and small provide to their residents.

While the numbers are cause for concern, what’s behind them should prompt even more concern. Indeed, while debate on why the revenues continue to decline continues, it seems clear that the state has tipped the pendulum too far in the wrong direction when it comes to taxing businesses and wealthy individuals — especially when it comes to the so-called millionaire’s tax — and, at the same time, it’s spending too much, especially when it comes to housing the thousands of migrants that have made their way to the Commonwealth.

Jay Ash, CEO of Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, noting that the state ranks 46th in state tax climate, including 44th in personal income tax, recently told a Boston media outlet what that dubious ranking means.

“We’re just losing our competitiveness. We have states around the country that are cleaning our clock. We’re no longer competitive when it comes to taxes. What the pandemic has done is showed us that business can take place away from the bricks and mortar that it was always tied to. So businesses, the people who run those businesses, investment, are all flowing to places where it’s easy to do business, and that’s not Massachusetts’ calling card.”

Places like neighboring New Hampshire, which is considerably more tax-friendly. And it’s not just businesses. Wealthy individuals are leaving the state as well, and the millionaire’s tax, which was enacted by referendum and imposes a 4% surtax on taxable income over $1 million, is likely a big reason why.

While the tax has certainly brought in new revenue — as much as $1.5 billion for 2023, according to some estimates — those gains are being offset by the loss of revenue, talent, and, eventually if not already, jobs. Indeed, the millionaire’s tax will wind up doing much more than keeping desired free agents from joining the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins. It will contribute to a brain drain that will have a long-lasting impact.

As for spending, the state has long had a spending problem in general, and now it has another one — the steadily rising cost of housing and other services for the migrants pouring into the Commonwealth.

State Sen. John Velis, a Westfield Democrat who was among the National Guard members deployed to buttress the state’s shelter system last fall, told the Boston Globe earlier this year that Healey’s imposed budget cuts were “a warning shot” about the financial pressures wrought by the influx of migrants and the demands it has put on the state.

“A dollar is a dollar. And state money is state money,” Velis said. “I don’t know how I can continue to support more funding for [the shelter system] without some type of notion of where does it end or how are we limiting it?”

The state has to answer those questions, and, overall, it needs to reverse the trends that have brought such serious, and dangerous, reductions in overall revenues and pressure on the state budget.

MGM Sale Rumors Not Surprising

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

When the report surfaced on March 21 that MGM Resorts International is exploring the sale of its casino operations at MGM Springfield and Ohio’s Northfield Park, it should not have come as a shock to anyone.

Indeed, rumors about MGM shedding the Springfield property from its portfolio of casino holding have been floating around since … well, since the facility opened its doors in August 2018.

And they have persisted, primarily because the casino has, to put it mildly, underperformed, at least when it comes to the expectations MGM had when it decided Springfield would be a good entry point for the Massachusetts market.

MGM projected that a Springfield casino could reap $34 million in revenues a month. The reality is, it hasn’t come close to that number, with $26 million the first month it opened being the actual high-water mark.

The casino has had to endure a pandemic and increased competition from several points on the compass — and there was already formidable competition not far away in the form of well-established Connecticut casino complexes.

But from day one, when the long lines that were expected to form outside MGM to check out the shining new attraction failed to materialize, it was clear that this facility was not going to perform as hoped, and it was going to become a drain on the parent company, which invested $1 billion in its creation.

That became clear when Bill Horbuckle, MGM CEO, told reporters after meeting local officials last year, “our original valuation of this market simply was off — full stop.”

So what now?

Talks of a sale are in the preliminary stages, and nothing may come of this. If MGM is intent on selling the property, we hope it will be to a responsible party, and maybe even a local party, that can somehow change the trajectory of the property and at least continue to make it a key contributor to the local economy.

From the start, we have said that MGM Springfield was not going to magically change the landscape and transform the Western Mass. economy. But it would be an important addition to the mix and would bring people to the region.

It has done that, to some extent, but it simply hasn’t performed as MGM Resorts expected it would and needs it to.

“The news of MGM exploring the sale of MGM Springfield is both surprising, as they’ve become a fixture in our community, and unsurprising, as the rumors of their fickleness to the site started even before a shovel was in the ground,” state Sen. Adam Gomez said. Other local elected officials have even stated they won’t be sad if and when MGM leaves town.

Not knowing who or what might come next, we won’t go that far.

But we will say that Springfield and this region could certainly do much worse than what MGM has brought to the 413 — and that anything worse would be a serious setback to the South End, Springfield, and the area’s economy.

Almost from the day the casino opened, people have been asking, “what will happen if MGM sells the property?” We may soon be finding out.

BusinessWest Accepting Nominations for Alumni Achievement Award

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — When BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007, it did so to identify rising stars across our region — individuals who were excelling in business and through involvement within the community — and celebrate their accomplishments.

In 2015, BusinessWest announced a new award, one that builds on the foundation upon which 40 Under Forty was created. It’s called the Alumni Achievement Award. As the name suggests, it is presented to the 40 Under Forty honoree who, in the eyes of an independent panel of judges, has most impressively continued and built upon his or her track record of accomplishment.

Candidates must be from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007 to 2023.

Past winners include: 2023: Amy Royal, founder and CEO, Royal Law Firm (40 Under Forty class of 2009); 2022: Anthony Gleason III, president and co-founder, Gleason Johndrow Companies (class of 2010); 2021: Anthony Gulluni, Hampden County district attorney (class of 2015); 2020: Carla Cosenzi, president, TommyCar Auto Group (class of 2012), and Peter DePergola, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health (class of 2015); 2019: Cinda Jones, president, W.D. Cowls Inc. (40 Under Forty class of 2007); 2018: Samalid Hogan, regional director, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (class of 2013); 2017: Scott Foster, attorney, Bulkley Richardson (class of 2011), and Nicole Griffin, owner, ManeHire (class of 2014); 2016: Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president, Allergy & Immunology Associates of New England (class of 2008); 2015: Delcie Bean, president, Paragus Strategic IT (class of 2008).

The 2024 Alumni Achievement Award finalists will be profiled in the June 10 edition of BusinessWest, and the honoree will be announced at the 40 Under Forty gala on June 20. The presenting sponsor of the Alumni Achievement Award is Health New England.

Click here for the nomination form. Only nominations submitted to BusinessWest on this form will be considered. The deadline is Friday, May 10 at 5 p.m., no exceptions. For your convenience, a list of the past 40 Under Forty classes may be found by clicking here.

Sublime Systems Awarded $87 Million by Department of Energy

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — As part of a $6.3 billion initiative funding 33 projects across 20 states, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that Sublime Systems in Holyoke will receive $87 million in federal funding from its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and its Industrial Demonstrations Program.

Sublime Systems plans to build a new, ultra-low-carbon cement manufacturing facility in Holyoke. The company’s new method to make cement, detailed in the March 4 issue of BusinessWest (click here), replaces carbon-intensive limestone with abundant calcium-silicate-based feedstocks, resulting in industry-standard cement that is produced electrochemically instead of using high heat.

By demonstrating this transformational process that was previously supported by ARPA-E, Sublime aims to strengthen American supply chains for low-carbon products, increase transparency for product environmental impact and performance, and catalyze industry-wide change.

“I am thrilled that Sublime Systems has been named the recipient of federal funding under the Department of Energy’s Industrial Demonstrations Program,” U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said. “This funding will play a critical role in accelerating the construction of Sublime’s first commercial manufacturing plant in Holyoke, an investment that will spur significant economic opportunity in the Paper City and throughout Western and Central Massachusetts.”

The Industrial Demonstrations Program is a $6.3 billion initiative funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program invests in decarbonization projects in energy-intensive industries, providing American manufacturers a competitive advantage to help position the U.S. at the forefront of the race toward low- and net-zero carbon manufacturing, Neal noted. Click here for a list of award recipients and descriptions of their projects.

The Sublime project expects to create 70 to 90 permanent manufacturing jobs in a community that once produced nearly all of the country’s writing paper but has seen a decline in industry over the 20th century.

Sublime Systems and the United Steelworkers have signed a strategic partnership agreement supporting Sublime employees’ right to organize at the Holyoke factory. The company has also signed memoranda of understanding to negotiate project labor agreements with the region’s building trade unions.

Sublime Systems also plans to support the Holyoke K-12 education system through curriculum enhancement and teacher support in partnership with the Smithsonian Science Education Center and facilitate a long-term training pipeline for Holyoke and the broader Pioneer Valley.

Franklin Community Co-op Hires Outreach and Communications Manager

By
Daily News

Caitlin von Schmidt

GREENFIELD — Franklin Community Co-op recently welcomed Caitlin von Schmidt as its new Outreach and Communications manager, effective March 19.

“Caitlin’s time as coordinator of the Greenfield Business Association and in the Mayor’s Office at the city of Greenfield sets her up beautifully to succeed in her new position, and we’re excited to have her on board,” co-op General Manager John Williams said. “We’re happy to have her as the newest member of our successful team.”

Williams also thanked Amy Britt for her time in the position as she moves on to other opportunities.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Franklin Community Co-op family,” von Schmidt said. “The co-op is a beloved establishment, and its role as an anchor business and vital community member can’t be overstated. In addition, I’m thrilled to be involved at such an important time, with the expansion into the Wilson’s building on the horizon.”

Westfield State to Induct Six Alumni into Criminal Justice Alumni Hall of Fame

By
Daily News

WESTFIELD — On April 6, Westfield State University will recognize and induct six alumni into the Criminal Justice Alumni Hall of Fame. Inductees are recognized for their excellence in their chosen field and for their accomplishments in criminal justice and law enforcement at the state, federal, and local levels.

This year’s alumni inductees are Benjamin Campbell ’11 of the Maine State Police; David Campbell ’84, a retired special agent in the U.S. Department of Justice; Cheryl Clapprood ’92, Springfield Police superintendent; John Kotfila Jr. ’08, who served in the Sheriff’s Office in Hillsborough County, Fla.; Kenneth O’Connor ’87, a chief court officer in the Massachusetts Trial Court; and Jeffrey Trask ’02, a leader in emergency management and preparedness. Kim Tobin, professor of Criminal Justice, is also being honored for her distinguished service to Westfield State. Both Benjamin Campbell and Kotfila are being recognized posthumously.

The ceremony will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and commence in the Scanlon Banquet Hall on campus. Michael McCabe ’84, Westfield mayor, will deliver the opening remarks, followed by addresses from university President Linda Thompson and Nicholas Smith ’24, president of the Student Government Assoc. Brunch will take place afterward and precede McCabe and Alice Perry, assistant professor of Criminal Justice, presenting the honorees.

For more information and to register to attend this event, visit westfield.ma.edu/cjhof by April 2.

BusinessTalk with Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau

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 206: March 25, 2024

BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau

Mary Kay Wydra

Tourism is critical to the economic energy of Western Mass. — it’s often the first experience people have with the region, and can be a strong factor in whether they want to move or work here. And the annual economic impact of visitors — at tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels, conventions, and events — soars into the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, about what goes into energizing, promoting, and sustaining this critical sector — as well as the many events and attractions that promise to make 2024 a year to remember. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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Gregory Merchant Named President of Air Distribution Institute

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Duc-Pac Corp. announced that its president, Gregory Merchant, has been voted to serve as president of Air Distribution Institute (ADI), the national alliance of steel HVAC pipe and fittings manufacturers focused on research and working with industry leading decision makers to create better policy.

Duc-Pac is a family-owned and operated business that was founded in 1949. The company moved its manufacturing facility to Springfield in 2022.

“I am proud to contribute my experience by helping lead the ADI,” Merchant said. “Duc-Pac has been a member of the organization for over 15 years. There is a lot of attention today on the use of green energy in HVAC and achieving ever-greater efficiencies with heating and cooling our homes. On one hand, we are very specialized production manufacturers. On the other hand, we have a big role to play in providing products and information essential to more efficient HVAC systems. We cannot lose sight that to not participate in HVAC improvements this way is to invite overseas competition to do so.

“I believe that my serving as president of ADI can also bring positive attention to our efforts here in Springfield, and in Western Massachusetts. This is specialized manufacturing that we see too little of still remaining in the United States,” Merchant added. “While most of the attention is on equipment such as electric heat pumps, the ADI works in a less visible but equally important space. Our efforts make sure that the overall installed system maximizes those new efficiencies for the benefit of both the homeowner and the environment. We do this by studying air-distribution systems, specifically the duct systems. Highly engineered, state-of-the-art equipment can lose a lot of efficiency if it is tied into a poor duct system. For decades, we have worked with universities around the country to study duct design and material. We communicate our findings to a variety of groups that are influential in residential construction, including building-code organizations and building designers.”

Massachusetts Unemployment Down Slightly in February

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Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s February total unemployment rate was 2.9%, down 0.1% from the revised January estimate of 3.0%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced. The Massachusetts unemployment rate was 1 percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.9% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 0.7%.

The labor force decreased by an estimated 1,700 from the revised estimate of 3,750,200 in January, with 2,500 residents more employed and 4,200 fewer residents unemployed over the month. The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — decreased 0.1% over the month to 64.8%. Compared to February 2023, the labor-force participation rate was down 0.3%.

The BLS preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 6,300 jobs in February. This follows January’s revised gain of 11,500 jobs. The largest over-the-month private-sector job gains were in education and health services; leisure and hospitality; and trade, transportation, and utilities. Employment now stands at 3,738,900. Massachusetts gained 675,400 jobs since the employment low in April 2020.

From February 2023 to February 2024, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 24,800 jobs. The largest over-the-year gains occurred in education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and government.

Margarita Madness Slated for April 4

By
Daily News

HADLEY — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce’s signature Margarita Madness event is scheduled for Thursday, April 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Interskate 91 North at Hampshire Mall. TommyCar Auto Group returns as the presenting sponsor, and Brick & Mortar Realty returns as supporting sponsor.

Margarita Madness will convene more than 150 local businesses, drawing nearly 500 attendees from across the region. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Emergency Department.

“The teams at Hampshire Mall, Interskate 91N, and TommyCar Auto Group continue to be exceptionally generous, and we cannot wait to bring our Amherst Area businesses together. It’s an opportunity to highlight our local businesses and create community at the same time,” said Youssef Fadel, committee chair. “Leave your skates at home, please. There will be many activities and opportunities to network, but skating will not be one of them.”

The Amherst Area challengers who will compete for this year’s fan favorite or best margarita are (those designated with an asterisk are also providing food tastings): Amherst Innovative Living LLC; Arizona Pizza*; Better Together Dog Rescue; Bub’s BBQ; Encharter Insurance LLC; Garcia’s Restaurant*; Greenfield Savings Bank; the Hangar Bar and Grill*; Johnny’s Tavern*; Jones Group Realtors/William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance; Legacy Counsellors; Loophole Brewing; MiTierra; the Nathan Agencies/Amherst Insurance; New England Promotional Marketing; Protocol; PiNZ Bowl; Texas Roadhouse*; TommyCar Auto Group; UMassFive College Federal Credit Union; Wagging Tails Pet Resort Inc.; and 30Boltwood.

Not mad about margaritas? There is something for everyone at Margarita Madness, including hosted water stations, beer and tequila tastings, and some sober sips with margarita mocktails. Tickets are $35 per person when purchased in advance at amherstarea.com.

bankESB to Host Two Free Shred Days

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Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB invites customers and members of the community to two free shred days at local offices. Events will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. (or until the truck is full) on the following dates and at locations. No appointment is necessary.

• Saturday, June 8: 770 Main St., Agawam

• Saturday, June 22: 241 Northampton St., Easthampton (two trucks at this event)

Local residents can reduce their risk of identity theft by bringing old mail, receipts, statements or bills, canceled checks, pay stubs, medical records, or any other unwanted paper documents containing personal or confidential information and shredding them safely and securely for free. A professional document destruction company will be on site in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per person.

Country Bank Appoints New Corporators, Trustee at Annual Meeting

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Daily News

WARE — Country Bank announced the appointment of four new corporators and a new trustee at its annual meeting on March 11.

James Phaneuf, chair of the board, welcomed the new corporators to the bank, saying, “we are thrilled to have these accomplished individuals join our team. Their diverse backgrounds and expertise will contribute to the continued success of Country Bank.”

Ivon Gois, president of Gois Broadcasting, brings a wealth of experience to the bank. Based in Worcester, Gois operates 12 radio stations in New England and is well-known for his contributions to the media industry, ethnic and racial diversity work, and financial expertise.

Mechilia Salazar, CEO and director of Hope for Youth and Families Foundation in Springfield, is a respected leader in the nonprofit sector. Her previous role as CEO of the Ludlow Boys and Girls Club demonstrates her commitment to serving marginalized and underbanked communities. She often serves as the bridge between local businesses and the communities they serve.

Samalid Hogan, a business consultant, CEO, and principal at Greylock Management in Ludlow, is a seasoned professional with a strong track record of success. Her leadership as past president of the Springfield Rotary Club and her involvement on various boards further highlight her dedication to making a positive impact. Her passion for empowering small businesses has made her a respected leader in the industry.

Walter Pacheco, a prominent figure in the hospitality industry, owns several Western and Central Mass. restaurants and investment properties. His extensive business acumen and local ties make him a valuable addition to the bank.

In addition to the new corporators, President-elect Mary McGovern was appointed to the board of trustees. Her expertise and leadership will help guide the bank’s strategic initiatives and ensure its continued growth as she takes over as president on April 1.

Paul Asselin Named ABC National 2024 Craft Instructor of the Year

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Daily News

Paul Asselin

WOBURN — The Massachusetts chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors announced that Paul Asselin, Gould Construction Institute instructor, is the 2024 ABC National Craft Instructor of the Year. Asselin was honored at the 2024 ABC Convention in Orlando, Fla. on March 13.

ABC presents the annual Craft Instructor of the Year Award to an outstanding instructor with a passion for their craft, creativity, a positive attitude, and the ability to transfer knowledge through excellent communications skills and forward-thinking teaching to future construction professionals.

With nearly 40 years of experience in the construction industry, Asselin has taught basic through advanced electrical courses since 2001. He is the training manager for Elm Electrical Inc. in Westfield, where he has worked since 1983. He is also the wiring inspector for his hometown of Russell and previously served as chair of Westfield Technical Academy’s general advisory board and electrical shop advisory board.

“Problem solving is a daily occurrence,” Asselin said. “From the field to the classroom, it’s important that we, as craft professionals, know how to solve problems. As I tell my students, it is about training your brain to problem-solve, which we do our whole lives. Technology and safety awareness are vital components of our industry and are important tools in the way I teach, work, and volunteer in my community.”

As Craft Instructor of the Year, Asselin received a $10,000 cash prize. Co-sponsors of Craft Instructor of the Year are the National Center for Construction Education and Research, the training, assessment, certification, and career-development standard for the construction industry; and Tradesmen International, North America’s premier craft-professional staffing resource. Asselin will also be profiled in the June issue of Construction Executive magazine.

“Holding dozens of electrical and teaching certifications, Paul utilizes his electrical expertise to better his community and the construction industry as well as the next generation of craft professionals,” said Buddy Henley, 2024 national chair of the ABC board of directors and president of Henley Construction Co. Inc. in Gaithersburg, Md.

“A truly outstanding teacher whose excellence extends beyond the classroom, Paul’s nominator said that he wholeheartedly embraces any opportunity for professional development and is just as adept at teaching simple topics as more advanced ones, which is attributable to his excellent written and verbal communication skills,” Henley added. “Congratulations, Paul, on this honor, and I appreciate how you have furthered the industry and career pathways for countless electricians.”

T-Mobile Hometown Grant to Fund LED Lighting Installation in Northampton

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — The city of Northampton is the recipient of a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant to install an artistic LED lighting system on the railway underpass in downtown Northampton. The new lighting system will enhance walkability and the physical connection of Main Street. The city of Northampton will hold a check presentation on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. at 6 Strong Ave.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to T-Mobile for awarding Northampton a Hometown Hero grant award,” Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said. “This invaluable contribution allows us to complete our popular bridge-lighting project on Lower Main Street, helping us connect two beloved sections of Northampton’s downtown. This is a true placemaking asset for everyone to enjoy. This project not only enhances the physical connection between Main Street and the area known as Paradise East, it also fosters a stronger sense of unity and community pride.”

T-Mobile Hometown Grants support community development initiatives across infrastructure, education, technology, environment, and more. Northampton is the first city in Massachusetts to receive such a grant. T-Mobile has awarded 275 projects across 46 states since the $25 million, five-year initiative launched in April 2021.

Nonotuck Resource Associates Honored Among Top Workplaces

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Nonotuck Resource Associates Inc. was recently named a recipient of a USA Today 2024 Top Workplaces USA award, issued by Energage. The Top Workplaces program has a 15-year history of surveying more than 20 million employees and recognizing the top organizations across 60 regional markets.

Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures. More than 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee-engagement survey, issued by Energage.

“We are humbled and honored to be recognized as a USA Today Top Workplace. At Nonotuck, our culture of civility and kindness is not just a philosophy, but a way of life,” Nonotuck President and CEO George Fleischner said. “We prioritize not only professional growth but also the delicate balance between work and home life. This award is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our incredible team who embody these values every day.”

This news comes on the heels of Nonotuck being selected as a Boston Globe Top Workplace.

Report: MGM Looking into Selling Springfield Casino Operations

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — According to a report yesterday in Bloomberg, MGM Resorts International is exploring the sale of its casino operations at MGM Springfield and Ohio’s Northfield Park.

Bloomberg reported that the company is working with financial advisers on potential sales, but the discussions are preliminary and may not result in any action, according to people familiar with the matter who asked to not be identified. A spokesperson for MGM declined to comment on the discussions.

According to the report, MGM’s management has been frustrated with the company’s share price. The stock has climbed less than 5% over the past two years despite growth in sales and profit. MGM won the license to operate in Springfield after Massachusetts authorized casino gambling and opened in 2018.

“Our original valuation of this market simply was off — full stop,” MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle told reporters after meeting with local officials last year. The property generated $278 million in gambling revenue in 2023.

The real estate at both casinos is owned by New York-based Vici Properties Inc., which declined to comment on the sale talks.

Mei-Ann Chen Named Artistic Advisor of Springfield Symphony Orchestra

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Daily News

Mei-Ann Chen

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced that internationally acclaimed conductor Mei-Ann Chen, who was guest conductor for the SSO’s 2023-24 opening-night performance, is joining the SSO in the newly created position of artistic advisor, effective for the 2024-25 season.

Chen will serve as the orchestra’s artistic face, curating programs, selecting guest soloists, and facilitating other artistic needs. She will also conduct a minimum of two symphonic concerts per season. At the same time, the SSO will continue to engage guest conductors in performances of the symphony.

Since the orchestra’s opening-night concert, “A Festive 80th Anniversary Year,” Chen’s skills were recognized by the SSO as a critical artistic voice as it moves forward in building its audience and diversifying its symphonic offerings.

“We are thrilled, as we surpass 80 years of sharing beautiful music in the city of Springfield and with the region, to begin an exciting new era of innovation, creativity, and memorable music collaborations with the guidance of Maestra Mei-Ann Chen,” said Paul Lambert, president and CEO of the SSO. “Her energy, artistic vision, incredible ideas, and musical drive align perfectly with our plans for growth and engagement as we evolve our music making and work to inspire current and future audiences. Our growing community of music lovers has shared their enjoyment of new faces on the podium for performances, which will continue with Chen’s guidance.”

Added Paul Friedmann, SSO board chair, “on behalf of the SSO board, I welcome Mei-Ann Chen and the energy and artistic sensibility she brings to the SSO. She will be an important creative asset by helping us to present concerts that will inspire both our loyal longtime subscribers and those new to live symphonic music.”

An acclaimed, innovative leader both on and off the podium, Chen has served as music director of Chicago Sinfonietta since 2011. Chief conductor of Austria’s Recreation – Grosses Orchester Graz at Styriarte, she also serves as an artistic partner with ROCO in Texas and Northwest Sinfonietta in Washington.

A sought-after guest conductor, she has appeared with distinguished orchestras throughout the Americas, Europe, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia (more than 150 orchestras to date). Named one of Musical America’s 2015 Top 30 Influencers, Chen is a recipient of a League of American Orchestras Helen M. Thompson Award, a Taki Concordia fellowship, and several ASCAP awards, and is the only woman in the history of the Malko Competition to have been named First Prize Winner.

“It is an honor to join an icon in Massachusetts’ cultural scene,” Chen said. “The extraordinary musicianship, the commitment, and energy of this organization excites me. I look forward to working with this incredibly talented ensemble of musicians and exceptionally devoted staff introducing new ways to experience and appreciate music, sharing ideas and introducing innovative programs that continue to build upon the dynamic legacy of creativity and inclusion that Springfield Symphony Orchestra has achieved over the past eight decades.”