Page 142 – BusinessWest

Amid Labor Peace, SSO and Its Musicians Key in on Growth

By Joseph Bednar May 25, 2023

Cover Story Creative Economy

Playing in Harmony

Springfield Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Paul Lambert

Paul Lambert left a long career with the Basketball Hall of Fame in early 2022 to become interim director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

He said his family has often asked him why. Incredulously. Like … really, Paul, why?

To answer that question, he first notes that he loves music, but that’s only part of why he took over an institution that was still emerging from the pandemic and a long stretch without concerts at Symphony Hall — and embroiled in labor strife with Local 171 of the American Federation of Musicians, which, absent a new contract, had filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.

But Lambert, who shed the interim tag and was named president and CEO of the SSO earlier this year, saw the value in righting the ship, working toward labor peace, and re-establishing — or at least re-emphasizing — the organization’s importance to not only downtown Springfield, but Western Mass. in general.

With the announcement on May 4 of a new, two-year labor deal between the SSO and the union — which calls for a minimum of eight concerts per year at Symphony Hall, annual raises for the musicians, and possibly other community and educational concerts around the region as well — Lambert, the SSO board, and the musicians are all breathing easier as they plan the 2023-24 season.

“Everyone had been reading the negative stories in the press about the labor issues. People were aware of the global pandemic issues. People were aware of all the challenges facing the SSO. And we had to rebuild people’s confidence.”

“I was very aware of the talent on stage and a great appreciator, if that’s the correct word, of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra,” Lambert said of his career change last year. “But I also was aware of the fact that it was a very challenging time.”

In fact, even long-time supporters in the community, including corporate sponsors, were growing anxious, Lambert admitted.

“Everyone had been reading the negative stories in the press about the labor issues. People were aware of the global pandemic issues. People were aware of all the challenges facing the SSO. And we had to rebuild people’s confidence that not only would we perform, but perform on a first-class basis, and then come back with a full season, with real concerts and real energy with our musicians working with us.”

Beth Welty, the union’s president, called the past few years a “demoralizing” time in many ways, but said everyone is feeling grateful now.

Union President Beth Welty said the musicians are relieved to have a new contract but hope to increase the number of performances in coming seasons.

“There are a ton of people throughout the organization that want to work together,” she told BusinessWest. “The musicians want to work with Paul and the staff and the board, and we are working together. We’ve got to come together and put the past behind us and work for a much better future.”

Lambert agreed. “This has been a very challenging time for the SSO on a variety of fronts. Certainly, the labor issues that have been in place for some years, on top of the global pandemic, which shut everything down and badly affected all performing-arts organizations for some time, were very real. And to get ourselves into a new beginning, a fresh start for all concerned around this labor deal, was critically important.”

Developments of Note

That said, as in many negotiations, no one got exactly what they wanted. For one thing, Welty said the musicians have been clamoring for more performances.

“When I joined the orchestra 40 years ago, we probably did three times the number of concerts we do now. For years, they’ve been constantly cutting and cutting; it felt like no number was small enough for them. They wanted to keep cutting, and we felt like we had to take a stand on that.”

She said the musicians were looking for more than 10 shows, the SSO wanted to go as low as five at one point, and they settled on eight — six classical and two pops.

“We’re not happy about that, but we’re looking to build back up from eight, and now there are some new board members interested in growth,” Welty noted. “You can cut yourself out of existence; the less we play, the less people know we exist.”

“The idea now is to put ourselves in a safer place to see what we can do together, to see what revenue streams we can create, where we can create new opportunities to play.”

Welty did have appreciative thoughts for Lambert, saying it’s clear he understands where the musicians are coming from. And Lambert told BusinessWest that eight concerts is not a hard ceiling, but only the minimum.

“That was a critical point in the negotiations: let’s see what we can do,” he said. “Let’s see what the market will bear. Let’s see what funding is available and what opportunities present themselves. We have to be very creative and open-minded as we work together to see what’s available.”

Symphony Hall will host eight SSO performances in 2023-24: six classical and two pops concerts.

Revenue is the big sticking point, he added, noting that, if the SSO sold every ticket for every performance, it would still be running a deficit without increasing external support.

“The challenges that face the Springfield Symphony Orchestra are hardly unique to Springfield. The industry as a whole — traditional, classical symphonic orchestras — is challenged right now,” he explained. “Those audiences, demographically, are aging and fading, and the folks who go to those concerts on a regular basis, and donors and corporations who support those concerts, have been a shrinking pool around the country. There are a lot of orchestras that are really struggling right now to make ends meet.”

He noted that many cities with wealthier populations and deeper corporate pockets than Springfield don’t even have symphonies.

“The idea now is to put ourselves in a safer place to see what we can do together, to see what revenue streams we can create, where we can create new opportunities to play. The whole idea, of course, is to play, to create opportunities for people to hear the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in a variety of formats.”

To that end, the Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (MOSSO), the organization formed by SSO musicians during the labor unrest to perform smaller concerts across the region, will transition into a newly named entity, the Springfield Chamber Players, and will continue to present chamber-music concerts, including the long-standing Longmeadow Chamber Series.

Performances like these, Lambert said, will help build a larger audience pool. “They allow new people to come in, who, perhaps, have not listened to the music on a regular basis, and will be exposed to the symphony orchestra and say, ‘wow, this is beautiful. I didn’t know they played this.’”

He and Welty noted that the new season of full-orchestra performance at Symphony Hall, and seasons to follow, will feature a healthy mix of what might be called ‘the classics’ and newer works by more recent composers.

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra, boasting 67 musicians, is the largest symphony in Massachusetts outside of Boston.
Photo by Chris Marion Photography

“People love the classics, but you have to bring in living composers and composers of color and women composers, and represent everyone at concerts,” Welty said. “We really started to do that this season. It was more diverse and inclusive. In terms of the repertoire we’re doing next year, it’ll be the same type of year; we’re really excited about that programming, which is going to be more diverse and interesting. We’re still going to do a good dose of the classics — we’re not abandoning them — but we are combining them with stuff that was written in our lifetime.”

Lambert was also excited about this broadening of choices. “We want to certainly maintain and nurture our core audience, the folks who have grown up with us for many years, the subscribers and the bedrock of our audience who love the classic repertoire of classical music. But at the same time, there’s all kinds of music.”

He feels like that’s an important element in bringing in younger, more diverse SSO fans, who will continue to support the organization in the coming decades.

“We happen to live in a very diverse community and region,” he said. “So I think it’s really important that we find ways to reach all those audiences, let them know that the Springfield Symphony Orchestra is for everybody, that it’s music for everyone. We really are excited about those opportunities for people to come in and hear this beautiful music and these wonderful musicians.”

Sharp Ideas

The other key element in expanding the audience, of course, is connecting with young people. To that end, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno announced that the city of Springfield will provide $280,000 over two years in financial support for SSO to create educational programming for youth.

“As the Springfield Symphony and its talented musicians turn a fresh page of music in our beloved Symphony Hall, I cannot stress enough how important Springfield’s talented youth are to the success of this new beginning,” the mayor said in announcing the grant. “Creating a younger, more diverse, and more inclusive classical-music ecosystem should be a top priority of the symphony organizationally. The success of these efforts will ultimately be reflected in the diversity of the music that is played, those represented on stage, and those in the audience.”

Lambert said outreach to youth had been a big success, but stopped happening over the past few years. “As I talked to folks out in the business community, so many people said to me, ‘the first time I ever heard a symphony orchestra, I was in fourth grade … I remember going to that concert, and it changed how I looked at the symphony.’ So I said to the board on more than a few occasions, ‘that’s just not discretionary, that’s mandatory; we have to start redoing that.’ It opens the door for so many people, for the first time in their life, to hear a symphony orchestra live on stage.”

“As I talked to folks out in the business community, so many people said to me, ‘the first time I ever heard a symphony orchestra, I was in fourth grade … I remember going to that concert, and it changed how I looked at the symphony.”

Welty wants to go beyond those experiences, hoping to not only bring kids to Symphony Hall, but for small groups of musicians to visit area schools.

“We used to go play for kids in the classrooms. We probably stopped doing that in the early 2000s, but we did hundreds of those concerts,” she recalled. “I loved it. We interacted directly with the kids; there were Q&A sessions. I want to get back to that as an educational resource.”

She also fondly recalls the days when the symphony toured New England. “I understand that a lot of financial repair has to happen, and we can’t afford to take the whole orchestra, but we can take a quartet out. We can take a quintet out.”

Such traveling shows, like the two series of performances MOSSO staged at the Westfield Atheneum over the past two years, are another way to grow the SSO’s fanbase, she added. “It’s not just great for the audience, but a great marketing tool for the SSO. We hope to keep expanding that.”

As for corporate sponsorship, Lambert said it was a tough year, scheduling live performances on the fly under the old contract’s terms while building up the staff, negotiating with the union, and keeping supporters on board.

“There was a lot of work being done trying to convince people to trust us and come on board. Some folks started to do that when MassMutual came back and was willing to support us; that was critically important. There are other folks we need to embrace that. We’ve had some really wonderful response from a core group of sponsors — I hope there’s a lot more.”

As for growing new audiences, Lambert is confident that those who attend a concert — whether a full symphony performance in Springfield or a chamber concert in Longmeadow, Westfield, or elsewhere — will be “blown away,” and not only want to attend more shows, but perhaps support the SSO as a sponsor or donor. “We need everybody to work together.”

In Tune with the Community

After a couple years of performing concerts under the old contract’s terms, Welty is relieved the musicians can focus on the positive impact of what they do.

“For this community to thrive, it really needs a vibrant art scene. It’s a real economic driver,” she said, noting the impact of downtown events on restaurants and other attractions — not to mention on the ability to grow a business.

“If you’re a CEO or business person looking to be based in the Springfield area, and you want to attract the best talent to come work for you, Springfield has to be an appealing place to live — and the arts are so important to that,” Welty added. “Local sports teams are important, but the arts are just as important. If you think you’re living in a cultural desert, you won’t get the best people to come work for you.”

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra, boasting 67 musicians, is the largest symphony in Massachusetts outside of Boston — which is impressive in itself, Lambert said.

“The fact that Springfield, Massachusetts has a symphony orchestra in 2023 is kind of a miracle at this point. There are much bigger places that don’t have this great gift,” he told BusinessWest. “I think it’s really important that we all get together and recognize how this adds to the quality of life here in Springfield, how it adds to the reasons that people might want to live and work here and come downtown.”

Which is why Welty is encouraged by what the new labor agreement promises, and what it may lead to in the future.

“On paper, there’s less guaranteed work, but there’s more energy on the board to create new concerts, new programming,” she said. “I think, in the end, we will start building back and offer more to the community.”

Millennium Press Owners Named Small Business Persons of the Year

By George O'Brien May 25, 2023

Features Special Coverage

News That’s Fit to Print

Jim and Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Paul Schnaittacher

At first, Jim and Kelly Sullivan thought the email was junk or a hoax.

“It was an invitation to us from the president to go to the White House to sit in the Rose Garden with him and the vice president for a remarks ceremony,” Kelly recalled, adding that the missive was followed shortly afterward by an email from the Small Business Administration (SBA), essentially letting them know that the email from the White House was real, and they should reply — soon.

They did, and when they gathered in the Rose Garden with the other 49 Small Business Persons of the Year for each state, as recognized by the SBA, they managed to get within a few feet of the president, but didn’t fight the crowd to get any closer.

This gathering, which came during National Small Business Week, has been part of a nearly month-long whirlwind for the Sullivans, owners of Millennium Press in Agawam, the Small Business Persons of the Year from Massachusetts.

There was an awards ceremony in Washington that came just after the White House visit, and, earlier this month, another small-business awards ceremony in Massachusetts, at which they were recognized for their accomplishments in business — and for their perseverance through a series of challenges over the past 34 years.

There was an appearance on a Bloomberg podcast — “I was terrifed; I’m a printer, and they’re firing questions at you left and right,” Jim said — and, just a week ago, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who directed the Sullivans to SBA funding, and other officials toured Millennium’s facilities to get a look at its cutting-edge technology and talk with its team of 18 employees.

“Never in a million years did I ever think we would ever win anything like this — I’m still in awe that we did get it.”

As they spoke with BusinessWest at their shop in Agawam, the Sullivans talked a little about their awards, meaning the physical awards (they each got one) they received from the SBA. They are glass, large, quite heavy … and, for now and probably for a long while, “safe at home, under lock and key,” as Jim put it.

“You don’t want to ever break something like this,” he said. “Never in a million years did I ever think we would ever win anything like this — I’m still in awe that we did get it.”

But mostly they talked about what’s behind the award and the wording on it, and how they were chosen over the 700,000 other small businesses in Massachusetts to receive it. Specifically, it would be more than 30 years of hard work, sacrifice, making those large investments in technology, coping with and overcoming adversity — from several downturns in the economy to the Great Recession to the pandemic — and, in short, doing what they had to do to keep the doors open and the dream alive.

“I feel that we did a lot of good things with these SBA programs,” said Jim, adding that, personally, the couple did everything they were asked to do to qualify for such programs, including reducing their income and even buying a smaller home.

Jim and Kelly Sullivan, center, with the team at
Millennium Press.
Photo by Paul Schnaittacher

SBA District Director Robert Nelson said essentially the same thing as he remarked on the Sullivans and their achievements.

“The Millennium Press story demonstrates how small businesses can persevere when faced with extraordinary challenges,” he said. “The Sullivans didn’t give up on their dreams and kept working toward sustainability with support from public/private resources, including the SBA and its lender network that help stand by your side through the toughest challenges.”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked with the Sullivans about the SBA award, what it means to them, and why it embodies their approach to doing business and managing a workforce.

Don’t Stop the Presses

To say the Sullivans started small with their venture would be a huge understatement.

Indeed, they launched their business in a garage — and it wasn’t even their own garage.

“Our house didn’t have one, so we used Kelly’s brother’s garage,” said Jim, a printer by trade who was working at a shop in Holyoke at the time, but started printing short runs of specialty forms for different customers at night and on weekends, a part-time job that quickly became full-time.

Indeed, the Sullivans, who quickly became partners in the venture, said they recognized a growing need for printed forms that could be produced inexpensively and quickly. With an Apple computer, a two-color press, and a collator that would put the forms together — Kelly would handle the desktop publishing, and Jim ran the printing press — they started adding customers and achieving a foothold in the competitive printing business.

Over the course of the next 30 years, they would continue to grow the company, establishing a full-service, one-stop printing and mailing business operating out of a 20,000-square-foot building in the Agawam Industrial Park that they would eventually purchase and expand.

From the beginning, Jim recalled, they understood the importance of investing in new equipment and staying on the cutting edge of improving technology, knowing that doing so would open new doors for them.

Small Business Persons of the Year for Massachusetts in 2023

Jim and Kelly Sullivan pose with an award they recently received at the recent SCORE Boston awards breakfast, where they were recognized as Small Business Persons of the Year for Massachusetts in 2023.

This was especially true with the installation, in 2007, of an automated, six-color Heidelberg press, the XL 75, a more than $2 million investment that included not only the press, but also Heidelberg software to automate all the company’s processes, from estimating to shipping.

This was the first such installation in the U.S., he told BusinessWest, and it came on top of a $1 million expansion of the building and a number of existing equipment loans.

The acquisition of the XL 75, and those other investments, were a well-thought-out business strategy, and the equipment was expected to enable Millennium to take a major step forward, he went on. However, the timing was unfortunate, to say the least.

Indeed, just a year later, the words ‘Great Recession’ were working their way into the local lexicon. The Dow was cratering, the economy was in freefall, and businesses large and small were hunkering down and simply trying to survive the onslaught. And, by and large, no one was printing anything.

“In 2008, we saw sales drop. People weren’t purchasing as much printing — annual reports, mailings … they just weren’t doing the volume of printing they were in the past. Yet, our expenses were at their highest point.

“In 2008, that was the first year we didn’t turn a profit,” he went on. “And the banks … they want to know who you are at that point.”

Elaborating, he said the couple had a great 19-year relationship with a bank (he chose not to name it) that was sold to a larger bank, an entity that saw Millennium’s declining debt-to-income ratio and essentially said, “you’re not for us.”

The Big Picture

The Sullivans said they knew they needed to create a plan to slash debt, both business and personal. They altered their lifestyle and borrowed a significant portion of their retirement money to retain employees and pay down debt to keep the business open. They also sought help from the SBA, working with the agency’s lending team to refinance their building and business debt and essentially save the business.

And for the next decade, until 2020, the company continued to be profitable, pay down debt, and even build a reserve fund, said Kelly, adding that, by the end of 2019, they approached a traditional bank about a loan to pay off all their existing SBA debt.

“Our numbers were good enough, our equity was good enough, our debt was right where it needed to be, and they approved us in March of 2020,” said Jim, adding emphasis when noting the month and year, and for obvious reasons. That was the start of the pandemic.

“The bank came back and said, ‘we’re going to have to put your financing plan on hold,’” he went on, adding that the company saw more than half of its customers shut down, a staggering loss that forced Millennium to lay off 75% of its workforce, although the Sullivans continued to pay for their health insurance after they were laid off.

Even with a skeleton crew — the Sullivans and a few others — the company was chewing up its reserve fund at a rate that was not sustainable, Kelly said, adding that PPP loans and EIDLs (Economic Injury Disaster Loans) from the SBA not only helped Millennium, but also enabled other businesses to regain their financial footing and buy services — like printing.

“Those two products from the SBA helped jump-start the economy,” she said, adding that, by the fall of that year, Millennium was able to bring back all of its employees. The winter of 2022 brought another slowdown and more “scary” times, she added, but a second round of PPP enabled the company to retain its workforce and make it through the whitewater.

The company was also able to take advantage of an SBA debt-relief program for its outstanding loans from the agency, Jim said, noting that the SBA made payments on those loans during the pandemic — payments that did not have to be repaid.

“In 2008, we saw sales drop. People weren’t purchasing as much printing — annual reports, mailings … they just weren’t doing the volume of printing they were in the past.”

All this support had the company back to “almost normal” by the end of 2021, he went on, adding that he and Kelly again approached the bank that had approved their financing plan but put it on hold because of the pandemic — and this time it was approved, just before interest rates started climbing at a precipitous rate.

Milennium’s involvement in many SBA programs had the effect of “putting us on the agency’s map,” said Kelly, referring to recognition programs such as Small Business Person of the Year.

But what won the Sullivans this honor, in her opinion — and Jim’s — has been its willingness to invest in cutting-edge technology, its commitment to supporting its employees through the many difficult times, and to do everything they had to do keep the company on the track they set in on back in 1989, even through extreme hardship.

“To do the amount of work we do, we would probably need more than 30 employees — if we didn’t invest in the technologies we have,” Jim said. “And we have technologies that no one in this area has, especially at the small scale that we are; we’re Heidelberg’s most advanced print shop with fewer than 20 employees in the United States.”

Bottom Line

Jim and Kelly’s email now comes with a signature, courtesy of the SBA, identifying the sender as a 2023 Small Business Person of the Year State Winner.

Behind those words, printed on a gold banner above storefronts depicting small businesses, is a compelling story, one that involves sacrifice, perseverance, determination, and, as Nelson noted, a firm commitment not to let go of a dream.

All that has earned the Sullivans those large, glass awards they are keeping safe at home. But it has earned them much more than that — the ability to keep writing new chapters to a remarkable and inspirational success story.

Andrew Brow Is Living the Dream — One Sticky Rib at a Time

By George O'Brien May 25, 2023

Restaurants Special Coverage

A Lot on His Plate

Andrew Brow outside Jackalope in downtown Springfield.

On his long and winding road to being a serial restaurateur, Andrew Brow says he’s had many inspirations, role models, teachers, and even an “idol.”

The latter would be Claudio Guerra, the now-legendary restauranteur — think Spoleto, Mama Iguana’s, the Del Raye, Paradise City Tavern, and many others — who gave Brow, like so many others, much more than a job.

“What I got from Claudio is what I wanted — I wanted to be a restaurant owner,” he explained. “It just seemed like this glamourous, fun, wonderful thing — not always, but Claudio made it something to aspire to.”

But there were others who had an impact as well, including Bill Collins, who also worked for Guerra and later hired Brow to be his executive chef at the restaurant he opened in East Longmeadow, Center Square Grill. Then there was Therri Moitui, the owner and chef of a French restaurant on Cape Fear River in North Carolina, where Brow worked for a time after leaving his native Western Mass. to find, well … something else.

“I thought I was God’s gift to the kitchen at this point, when I was 24 years old,” Brow recalled. “And, sometimes gently, sometimes not so gently, he let me know that I was not God’s gift to the kitchen and that I still had a lot to learn. And he proceeded to teach me.”

Today, Brow — owner of HighBrow, a wood-fired pizza restaurant in Northampton, and Jackalope, which just celebrated one year of bringing ‘creative American’ food to downtown Springfield — is still absorbing lessons from others, but he’s also the one passing on knowledge, experience, and keen insight to those who work for him.

His most important bit of advice, if that’s what it is: “if you stop learning, you’re no good.”

This is an operating style that has dominated his career and his time as a restaurant owner, which has been marked by overcoming adversity — as in extreme adversity in the form of the pandemic — and seizing opportunity.

As for the pandemic, it nearly cost him his dream just a few months after he opened HighBrow, but he persevered, knowing that one doesn’t get many opportunities like this one, and it might be his only opportunity.

At Jackalope, Andrew Brow says the focus is on ‘creative American’ and presenting food that is different and unique.
Staff Photo

“It was an interesting time,” he said with a large dose of understatement in his voice. “The first thing is, you feed into that fear — this is my first restaurant, this is basically my one shot; if I fail here, there probably wouldn’t be a second chance. I didn’t come from money, and without money, you can’t really do much. This was my one shot at making it out of being someone else’s chef and being my own guy.”

As it turns out, and largely because of that perseverance, HighBrow wasn’t his only shot. He seized another opportunity with the opening of Jackalope just over a year ago at the site of the former Adolfo’s on Worthington Street. At first, he didn’t want any part of downtown Springfield, thinking the city and its restaurant section had seen its day.

But a visit to the soft opening of Dewey’s nightclub, next door to Adolfo’s and owned by a friend, Kenny Lumpkin, changed his mind.

“I went back the next day because I had enjoyed myself that night, and I was standing on the patio and thinking, ‘maybe I could do something over there,’” he said, adding that this ‘something’ is Jackalope, which he described as a place where could “create and plate whimsical, fun, different things.”

That list includes everything from grilled pizza to mac & cheese to prosciutto-wrapped rabbit saddle. And on the appetizer side, there are his now-famous ‘sticky ribs,’ braised baby-back pork ribs cooked in a host of secret ingredients and juices and then made crispy.

‘Sticky ribs’ are becoming part of the local culinary lexicon — his restaurants go through more than 1,000 pounds of ribs per week — and Brow, one of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty honorees for 2023, is one of the rising stars in the region’s galaxy of restaurateurs.

His is an intriguing story of someone who forged a dream when he was just in high school and then, thanks to hard work and lessons from those mentors and idols, made it happen.

A Different Breed

The jackalope, by most accounts, anyway, is a mythical creature, a jackrabbit with antelope horns — hence the name — said to be ferocious and quite deadly. Stories about them have appeared in many cultures worldwide.

By now, Brow has become an expert on the subject.

“A Jackalope drinks bourbon and beer and eats bologna — and they get enraged,” he explained. “And they would go and attack hunters, who would wear stovepipes on their legs so they wouldn’t get ripped up.”

But he admits that, in this case, the chosen name for his restaurant (after he put aside plans to resurrect the name Caffeine’s) was more a nickname for an old friend who “would drink beer and act crazy in the woods,” than anything else.

“I was having coffee with my wife one day, and she said, ‘when’s the Jackalope moving back up?’” he recalled, adding that the name resonated, and he eventually chose it. Today, there are stuffed jackalopes on his walls, and the logo is on everything from the door to the menu to T-shirts.

Andrew Brow recalls thinking downtown Springfield had seen its day, but a few visits to the area convinced him he wanted to be part of the scene there.

The road to opening Jackalope, his second restaurant, has been a long and winding one, with, as noted earlier, countless lessons and influences on his life and career along the way.

Our story begins in Northampton, where Brow grew up in the “projects,” as he put it. Anxious to climb out, he sought work as soon as he could. That was age 15, when, with the proper paperwork, he could work at a Dunkin’ Donuts.

This was a location that was still making its own donuts, rather than having them shipped in from a commissary, so Brow was able to get real experience making things in the kitchen. His work at Dunkin’ came during his freshman year at Smith Vocational in Northampton, and it inspired him to enter the culinary-arts program there, which fueled more interest in cooking as a career.

His first job in a restaurant, at age 16, was as a dishwasher at La Cazuela, owned by Barry and Rosemary Schmidt, who became his first real mentors and role models.

“They were two of the coolest restaurant owners I ever met,” he recalled. “They were kind of like ’60s hippie people, and for them, everything was from scratch and quality. They would fly down to New Mexico and Mexico, and they would meet chili farmers and buy wholesale dried chilis from these farmers; that showed me the passion behind actually loving what you do. It was very inspirational.”

From the dishes, Brow moved up to the pots and pans, which means he also got to prep some of the rice and beans, shred the cheese, and fry the tortilla chips. “It was grunt work, but I thought that was the coolest thing ever, and a few months later, I was a line cook.”

SEE: Restaurants in Western Mass.

From there, he did a stint at the landmark Joe’s Pizza as a pizza cook, and then a job at the recently opened Spoleto Express, one of several restaurants owned by Guerra, as a sauté cook. There, he met Collins, and the two quickly bonded.

“We became like brothers,” Brow said, noting that he worked for the Spoleto Restaurant Group for close to a decade, helping to open several new restaurants along the way. “I was like the young, rising chef in the organization; I lived the restaurant business.”

He took that passion with him to North Carolina as he sought to get away and do something different somewhere else. “I grew up, I’d spent all my time here, I didn’t go to college … I got out of a long-term relationship, and I was like, ‘why am I still where I was born?’ I wanted to go see something different and new.”

Food for Thought

Brow stayed in North Carolina for two years, learning butchery, charcuterie, French techniques, French sauces, and much more, before returning to Western Mass. to tend to his ailing grandmother.

He first took a job at Springfield Smoked Fish Company, and soon took on some part-time work at the recently opened Center Square Grill. Eventually, he became executive chef there and stayed in that position for four years before he fulfilled that lifelong dream to own a restaurant, buying a wood-fired pizza restaurant from Guerra and renaming it HighBrow.

Pizza wasn’t exactly his passion, he admitted, but this was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. And, as things turned out, it was a godsend because, as noted earlier, Brow became a restaurant owner just a few months before the pandemic reached Western Mass.

Pizza was a model that lent itself to delivery and pickup more easily than other types of restaurants, he explained, adding that he was able to pivot in many different ways, including by partnering with other businesses to bring meals to frontline workers, including those at hospitals and the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke.

“I started off with just myself — I laid everyone off,” he recalled. “I told them to be on standby until we knew what the world was going to look like. Later, it was me and one of my cooks, Carlos. We would come in every day, and we’d go to Restaurant Depot every morning. We would have a limited menu; he would cook pizzas, and I would cook sauté and salads and appetizers. Eventually, I slowly introduced more staff as we were getting busier and I could justify putting more people back on payroll.”

Brow said he wasn’t exactly looking to open a second restaurant when Lumpkin implored him to take a hard look at the Adolfo’s site, but eventually he warmed to the idea of being part of the scene — and part of a comeback — in the central business district.

Over the course of his first year, there has been some change — and pivoting — there as well, he said, adding that he started off focusing primarily on fine dining, but has shifted and evolved, as he put it, and is now offering “more approachable things — but done with the detail we would use if we were plating a filet Oscar or something with delicate construction.”

For instance, with the mac & cheese, he offers a unique pasta with a cheese sauce made with many different types of cheeses, topped with crushed Goldfish crackers instead of the usual breadcrumbs.

“I try to be unique — I don’t like to do anything the same as anybody else around me is doing,” he explained. “I try to be different.”

And, like the name over the door, he is.

Unlike the jackalope — or Claudia Guerra, for that matter — Brow is not the stuff of legend. Yet. But he is getting there — one sticky rib at a time.

At Girls on the Run, Everyone Has a Winning Time

By Joseph Bednar May 25, 2023

Nonprofit Management Special Coverage

Confidence Games

Girls on the Run

Alison Berman recalls a girl who finished her first 5K with Girls on the Run last year.

“This was a girl who had never even walked three miles, which is true for many of our kids. And it took her two hours. I mean, everything was being packed up, and when she finished, it was the most moving thing when she came across that finish line. Her aunt was crying. It was just … something that she never thought that she could possibly do.”

That, in a nutshell, is why Girls on the Run (GOTR) really isn’t about running — at least, not in the sense that competitive runners think about a 5K.

“You have the kid who can do it in 20 minutes and the kid who can do it in two hours,” said Berman, council director of Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts. “It’s not timed. They keep their own goals.”

So, if running isn’t the main focus, what is Girls on the Run about?

In a nutshell, it’s a physical activity-based, positive youth-development program that uses running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3-8. During the 10-week program each semester, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections, and encourage community service while they prepare for a celebratory, end-of-season 5K event.

“The goal, really, is for them to increase their confidence and be able to achieve something they haven’t achieved before.”

Berman explained that each session features a social-emotional life-skills lesson drawn from a nationally distributed curriculum. “There are lessons on how to stand up for yourself, lessons on choosing friends, lessons on identifying and expressing emotions, on stopping to take a breather, empathy, gratitude.”

Meanwhile, each team — there are 75 of them in the Western Mass. council — tackles a community-impact project to give back to their community, Berman explained.

“They could write letters to children’s hospitals, or they can make things for animal shelters. We have one school in Chicopee that did a project in their girls’ bathroom because it was so gross; they made all these amazing signs for it.

“And then, all the while, they’re also training to run a 5K,” she went on. “But running is really secondary to the social-emotional part of it. They can run, they can walk, but the goal, really, is for them to increase their confidence and be able to achieve something they haven’t achieved before.”

The Western Mass. council of GOTR launched in 2015 with 90 girls on six teams. Now, the chapter boasts 75 different teams — 1,030 girls in all — and 285 volunteer coaches. Molly Hoyt, the nonprofit’s program director, started out as a coach herself and can speak to why these women — about half of them teachers by trade — volunteer.

“I think it touches the heart of a lot of people, thinking about themselves at that age and what they needed and probably could have benefited from and didn’t have. So I think they’re filling a gap, and they want to give back” she explained. “And I think teachers see a lack of social and emotional learning in schools. The days are so busy. So it’s a way to give this kind of education to some kids.

From left, Molly Hoyt, Alison Berman, and Coleen Ryan say Girls on the Run changes not only the participants’ lives, but often the culture of their schools.

“They also learn stuff from this,” Hoyt went on. “I think the reason we have coaches come back season after season is because they are also benefiting from it. I love coaching. I feel like I learned a lot from it. And there are lessons that are really great at any age; they work for all the coaches too.”

Keeping on Track

The end of the fall and spring seasons end with a 5K celebration, with the spring event typically being the larger of the two. That will take place on Saturday, June 3 at Western New England University, where about 4,000 runners, families, coaches, and supporters are expected to gather.

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., fun events get underway at 9:30, a group warmup begins at 10, and the walk/run steps off at 10:30. The registration cost is $30 for adults and $10 for youth and includes an event shirt. Volunteers are still welcome to sign up. For more information about the event, how to register, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.girlsontherunwesternma.org.

“We have families come with coolers and lawn chairs and signs, and they set up like they’re tailgating,” Hoyt said. “It’s really fun. It’s a very special day … it’s very unifying. They feel like they’re part of something bigger.”

“It’s a group of girls around the same age going through the same things together. And when you put caring adults with them, it kind of holds them in this vessel and allows them to take risks and lean in a little bit and have these discussions.”

She emphasized that the 5K, like other GOTR activities, is not about achieving a time, but about personal growth.

“I feel like this redefines what running means to them. I think that a lot of kids think, if they’re a runner, it means they have to run marathons or win races. Here, they start understanding that anyone can be a runner because it’s super individual, and what you get out of it is what you want.”

Hoyt said her daughter took part in the program and had never been a runner, and now she runs cross country at school.

“We hear that from a lot of kids; they just did the program and really weren’t into the running piece while they were doing Girls on the Run, but discovered that actually they can do it if they want to. So I do think it redefines the whole concept of being physically active and what running is.”

Coleen Ryan, program manager at GOTR Western Massachusetts, added that, once girls develop a love for running, they find it’s an always-available pastime. “Running doesn’t cost money. Anybody can go out their door and run and be successful.”

She added that the groups at each session are kept to a healthy coach-to-child ratio, so when they’re having discussions or doing laps, they get a lot of individualized attention. “That makes a difference.”

While the girls’ personal growth is exciting, Berman said, perhaps even moreso is the impact of those changes on their families and schools.

“A lot of our coaches who are teachers tell us that they see the kids using the curriculum in the classroom, and they’re becoming leaders in school, like standing up for their friends. So we see the impact at a community level as well. We’ve had some of our teachers, coaches, and principals talk about how it’s also changed the culture of their school and how it’s even gotten guardians and parents more involved.”

The end-of-semester 5K events are always celebratory, not competitive.

And it’s not only the girls who are internalizing lessons and deploying them outside of Girls on the Run, Hoyt said — so are the coaches.

“The nice thing about coaching as a parent or a teacher is that you are learning the same language that the girls are during practice, so you can really support them, at home with your own child or in the classroom with kids in the program. You have that common language and start the lessons from the same page. I think it allows adults to support kids better when they go through the experience with them.”

Mission Accomplished

As one girl stated in a video created by GOTR Western Massachusetts, “one thing I love about Girls on the Run is that it’s about body positivity and showing that I’m who I am.”

It’s a message, among many others, that has caught on over the years. The national Girls on the Run organization was formed in 1996 and has since reached more than 2 million girls, with at least one council in every state; three call Massachusetts home.

GOTR claims to make a stronger impact than organized sports and physical-education programs in teaching life skills such as managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others, and making intentional decisions. There are separate curricula for grades 3-5 and 6-8, so the lessons are age-appropriate. And the girls keep journals to track their personal goals and progress.

“That progress is what’s important,” Hoyt said. “It’s not really about how fast anyone is or how far anyone’s running, but that they’re making individual progress.”

That sense of personal growth — Girls on the Run describes itself as developing joyful, healthy, and confident girls — is an attractive quality when so many negative factors are weighing on kids’ mental health these days, Berman said.

“We’ve definitely tapped into a need. There’s a huge child mental-health crisis right now. And whatever’s going on with them, Girls on the Run is giving them this extra layer of skills to support them. And it’s not just the lessons, but having these caring adults that are outside of their school and their parents, who are hopefully building up their resilience.”

Hoyt agreed. “It’s a group of girls around the same age going through the same things together. And when you put caring adults with them, it kind of holds them in this vessel and allows them to take risks and lean in a little bit and have these discussions.”

Berman emphasized that the coaches aren’t trained in running; instead, they’re skilled in the truly important things. “They’re more trained in how to hold a group of kids and how to facilitate discussions and be aware of some mental-health stuff that might come up — because, obviously, there’s a lot of behavioral stuff that comes up in the groups as well. And they have to know how to handle that.”

Because of the importance of the program, Berman said 65% of participants are on full or partial scholarships, which defrays the $160 cost based on ability to pay. “We don’t turn anybody away for financial need. And we also provide shoes for anybody that doesn’t have shoes. We also provide a snack for everybody.”

GOTR relies on fundraising to support its work, including grants and business sponsorships, to help pay for not only the 10-week program twice a year, but also, starting this July, an annual week-long summer camp in Chicopee.

But before that is the not-so-small matter of hosting 4,000 people at Western New England University on June 3 for the region’s most celebratory 5K.

“Normally you might be cheering someone on to win,” Ryan said, “but this is just like, ‘you did it. Everybody, you did it!’”

Proposals Sought for Large Parcel Within Uniroyal Property

By George O'Brien May 25, 2023

Commercial Real Estate Special Coverage

The Last Big Piece of the Puzzle

Since he’s only 37, Lee Pouliot has only known the buildings on the Uniroyal site as empty shells. With the request for proposals, that may finally change.

Lee Pouliot says he’s always had what he calls a bit of a fascination with what is known simply as the Uniroyal property in Chicopee — although there is nothing simple about it.

He grew up the city, but, because he’s only 37 (and a BusinessWest 40 Under Forty winner in 2020), all he’s known of the buildings — most of them, anyway — is as empty shells, the subjects of stories that almost every long-time resident of this community tells about working at the tire-manufacturing complex, or being related to someone who did.

While he was earning a master’s degree in landscape architecture at Cornell more than a dozen years ago, Pouliot took this fascination to a higher level, engaging himself and a few of his classmates in a final project — one that would create a development plan for the complex of buildings for the Uniroyal and adjacent Facemate properties, located in the center of the city.

Later, as an intern in the Chicopee’s Community Development office and then as a staffer in that office, he worked with city leaders to move a project to redevelop that complex, through a series of critical next steps.

“The reality is that there are a number of developers who have considerable experience with mill conversions. And so, in some ways, the city is trying to target developers who have this kind of experience, in the hope that we can see something creative done with those buildings that keeps them standing.”

And now, as city planner, a position he’s held since 2015, Pouliot is playing a lead role in writing what is essentially the final chapter in a long, complicated story that has, in some ways, been more than 40 years in the making.

This chapter involves a 9.58-acre parcel at the Uniroyal site, one of two yet to be developed, the other a 10-acre parcel being eyed by the city for recreational uses. A request for proposals was recently issued for the first of those parcels, which includes four buildings, including one that served as an administration building.

Those requests are due back on July 21, and Pouliot, like everyone else in the city, is anxious to see what the development community has in mind for this parcel, which is being marketed as RiverMills at Chicopee Falls, and especially the four remaining buildings on it, which the city opted not to demolish, in part because of their structural soundness.

This drone shot shows demolition of one of the former Uniroyal buildings. A request for proposals has been issued for the still-standing structures at the top of this image.

“The reality is that there are a number of developers who have considerable experience with mill conversions,” he explained. “And so, in some ways, the city is trying to target developers who have this kind of experience, in the hope that we can see something creative done with those buildings that keeps them standing.”

The bid package issued by the city touts this as “one of the largest contiguous areas of former industrial properties poised for redevelopment in Western Massachusetts.”

Further, the big package notes, “unlike other comparable sites, most of the costly and lengthy procedures required to prepare for redevelopment have been completed, reducing the risk and uncertainty typically associated with brownfield redevelopment.”

It is hoped that these amenities, if they can be called that, will trigger the imaginations of developers and yield some intriguing proposals, said Pouliot, adding that there are many possible uses for the buildings and the property. Housing is still a priority for the city and region, and the buildings, with some work, will lend themselves to that purpose. But there are other potential uses as well, he said, including retail, hospitality, and service businesses.

For this issue and its focus on commercial real estate, BusinessWest talked with Pouliot about the long journey that Chicopee has taken to reach this critical juncture with the Uniroyal property, and what might happen next.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

When asked what it was like, personally and professionally, to see the project reach this important milestone, Pouliot exhaled, glanced toward the ceiling, and then shook his head a few times.

“Housing is still a priority. I think anyone looking at the state of housing in the Commonwealth, or this country, would be foolish not to consider housing a likely piece of redevelopment here.”

The body language spoke volumes about the length and complexity of this project, which has been ongoing — in some respects, anyway — longer than he’s been alive and has involved several different mayors, planners, and Community Development directors.

“In some ways, it feels odd that we’re nearing the end because so much of our time has been focused on getting to this point,” he said. “But it’s also significant — this has been no small feat for a community of Chicopee’s size; this is a huge milestone for the city.”

Recapping the Uniroyal story quickly, Pouliot said it starts back in the late 1800s, when that the land was first used for manufacturing. From 1896 to 1898, the property was owned by Spaulding and Pepper Co., which manufactured bicycle tires. Fisk Rubber Co., which later changed its name to United States Rubber Co. and then to Uniroyal, manufactured bicycle, automobile, and truck tires and adhesives at the site from 1898 to 1981.

This photograph, taken some time in the 1930s, shows a shift change at the Uniroyal plant, which employed more than 3,000 people in its heyday.

Uniroyal closed its plant in 1980 and sold the property — which stretched over 65 acres and included 23 buildings — to Facemate Corp., located adjacent to Uniroyal, in 1981.

Fast-forwarding, he said the city spent years working to acquire both the Uniroyal and Facemate property (Facemate went bankrupt in 2003), and did so in 2009, soon embarking on a massive cleanup that would cost more than $40 million and involve federal, state, and local money, while also planning work for development.

Eventually, individual parcels on the site were developed; the initial redevelopment project involved construction of the RiverMills Senior Center. Later, a private developer built River Mills Assisted Living at Chicopee Falls on a three-acre parcel. A third, four-acre parcel has been optioned to Brisa Development LLC of New York, which plans to build a mixed-use development that includes a 107-unit apartment building, an indoor sports complex, and a brewery and restaurant.

The 9.58-acre parcel that is the subject of the request for proposals is essentially the last big piece of the puzzle, said Pouliot, adding that it’s dominated by the four remaining Uniroyal buildings.

One is the administration building, or Building 26. The city has an agreement with the Massachusetts Historical Commission to try to see that structure redeveloped, he explained, adding that it is eligible for listing on the National Historic Register.

There is also a smaller building, what Pouliot called a retail shop for Fisk Rubber Co., where it sold and even installed tires, as well as two large manufacturing buildings, numbered 27 and 42, that are considered to be in “structurally decent condition,” he said.

“Instead of incurring the cost of demolition, which would have been a few million dollars more than what we were paying for cleanup, we decided to preserve them and see if there was appetite within the development community to do something with them,” he explained, adding that, if there is no appetite for taking them on, the city will look at what developers are proposing and decide the best course from there.

“We’re not going to predicate a decision on just whether or not all the buildings can be reused,” he said. “Certainly it is the city’s intention to sell the land and see something happen; this is just one of the criteria we’re looking at to see what the development community can respond with.

“There are a number of developers who would prefer raw land, but the reality with this site is that it’s not raw land,” he went on. “You could consider this an industrial archaeological site; there are going to be limitations on development regardless of whether the buildings are standing or not.”

Elaborating, Pouliot said he’s learned much about the property — and tire manufacturing — over the years, including the fact that, at some point between the two world wars (exactly when he’s not sure), the U.S. government began to oversee rubber production to make sure there would be enough tires for the war effort.

This government involvement helps explain why many of the buildings at the Uniroyal site, including Buildings 27 and 42, were built to withstand aerial bombing, he went on, adding that the structures are still sound a century or more after they were built, in some cases, which may become a factor in whether those in the development community want to try to do something with them. “Their structural capacity is incredible.”

Returning to the matter of what the city would like to see by way of development, Pouliot said priorities were spelled out in the River Mills Vision Plan, the development plan created for both the Uniroyal and Facemate properties combined.

“We were looking for redevelopment that reconnected these properties to the Chicopee Falls neighborhood and supported the neighborhood with appropriate-scale development,” he said of the overarching objective, adding that there hasn’t been any connection, other than history, for many years.

This aerial shot from 2008 shows the Uniroyal complex before the start of demolition of many of the buildings at that site.

This effort would ideally be a mixed-use project that can connect people with the river, he went on, adding that housing was, and still is, a need within the city.

“Housing is still a priority,” he said. “I think anyone looking at the state of housing in the Commonwealth, or this country, would be foolish not to consider housing a likely piece of redevelopment here.”

When asked for a timeline for the project, Pouliot said the city will likely take six to eight months to review the submitted proposals before eventually choosing a preferred developer. That developer will then need time to secure the various forms of financing that will be needed, he said, adding that it will likely be two to four years before work actually commences.

View to the Future

Returning to that project that he and a few of his classmates took on at Cornell, Pouliot said that, while creating that development plan — one that in many ways mirrored the one crafted by the city — he and the others involved worked to get a “feel for the community’s relationship with this property, its context within the city, and what they wanted to see.

“And one of the big takeaways, even for me, having grown up in this city, was just how many families had someone who worked at this property throughout history,” he went on. “So many people could tie themselves back to a sports league or working there, or the shift changes — we heard so many stories about how loud and noisy Chicopee Falls was when that plant was operating, and the volume of people.”

For the better part of 40 years now, most all talk concerning Uniroyal has been in the past tense. But if the request for proposals yields the imaginative concepts that city officials are hoping for, that will soon change — and people will start talking about what’s happening there now, not what happened a half-century or more ago.

As Pouliot noted, it’s odd in some ways to be at this point in the process. But it’s also quite rewarding. There’s plenty of work left to do, but a milestone has been reached.

Cedar Chest, Stay Golden in Thornes Marketplace Change Hands

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Two longtime downtown businesspeople, Lauren Gunther and Alex Feinstein, have together purchased two stores in Thornes Marketplace: Cedar Chest, which is in its 75th year, and Stay Golden, a new business on the first floor.

Gunther, previously the merchandise manager for both businesses, and Feinstein, the former owner of GoBerry in Northampton and Amherst, purchased the stores in mid-April from Rich Madowitz, who is also a co-owner of Thornes. Gunther and Feinstein are both natives of Hampshire County.

Feinstein closed his Amherst shop early in the pandemic, and the GoBerry in Northampton closed in January 2022. He has been doing pandemic-related financial consulting in the region and had been actively looking for his next challenge when Madowitz connected the two new co-owners late last year because he thought their skillsets were a great fit for joint ownership.

“We’re excited to move forward and be able to involve our staff in the transition,” Gunther said.

Feinstein added that “I’m pleased to step into businesses that are already doing awesome work and see what our energy can bring to them to make them do more.”

Gunther has been with Cedar Chest for 13 years. Feinstein came into the mix in early December 2022 in a consultant role.

Cedar Chest, an eclectic gift store, carries everything from home décor to stationery, loungewear, bath and body products, and holiday items. Its new sister store, Stay Golden, which opened in October 2022, offers primarily casual and business clothing for women along with jewelry and other accessories. About 30 associates work at the shops, with a half-dozen dedicated to Stay Golden.

Gunther and Feinstein said they do not have plans to make changes to merchandise in the stores, but they will be looking at creating efficiencies that will allow them to make their staff team stronger.

“I love to find efficiencies and document and implement systems,” said Feinstein, who grew up in Northampton and Easthampton. “I’ve been on board for five months now and have a new scheduling system, email platform, and digital invoicing system in place. Finding tools that work across departments and help people collaborate is what I bring to the table.”

Gunther’s expertise is in merchandizing. She grew up in Williamsburg and shopped in downtown stores as a young person, later working at Faces for a time as well. “It’s interesting to be among those helping two of these shops to evolve,” she said. “It’s unique to have two entrepreneurs of similar age who grew up in the area and are now really involved in downtown and Thornes. That’s fun and unique.”

‘Voices in Food Equity: A Gathering of Emerging Leaders’ to Take Place Today

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Daily News

HATFIELD — The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will host “Voices in Food Equity: A Gathering for Emerging Leaders” today, May 24, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke. The free event is designed for anyone who is passionate about advancing food justice and creating a more equitable food system for the people of Western Mass., and will feature speakers, networking, and learning to create awareness about food equity and advance initiatives that help end hunger in the region.

Featured speakers include:

• Ileana Marie Carrion, a young professional working in public health. She has been dedicated to the Western Mass. community, ensuring residents can obtain adequate health resources and healthy culturally relevant foods. She previously worked for the Holyoke Planning & Economic Development office;

• State Rep. Pat Duffy, who represents Holyoke;

• Liz O’Gilvie, a self-described 60-year-old black produce farmer and wannabe public-health policy wonk based in Springfield. While developing 40 Acres Farm as a cooperatively managed venture, she serves as director of the Springfield Food Policy Council and the interim director of the youth-driven, urban agriculture organization Gardening the Community;

• Ashley Sears Randle, a fifth-generation dairy farmer who was sworn in as the 21st commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) by Gov. Maura Healey on March 6; and

• Lee Drewitz, who for the past 10 years has served Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, as well as Erfurt, Germany, on empowering members of the community to build a sustainable life for generations of their families.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click here for more information and to register.

“Voices in Food Equity” is made possible by the support of sponsors Instacart, Norcom Mortgage, Alekman Ditusa Attorneys at Law, Sun Bug Solar, and Rovi Homes.

Yiddish Book Center Receives $100,000 Capital Grant

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Daily News

AMHERST — The Yiddish Book Center announced it has been awarded a capital grant in the amount of $100,000 from MassDevelopment and Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund. This grant will support the center’s crucial infrastructure project to replace its aging boilers and heating system.

Founded in 1980, the Yiddish Book Center has been preserving and promoting Yiddish language and culture for more than four decades. Located on a picturesque, 10-acre apple orchard adjacent to the Hampshire College campus in Amherst, the center opened its current facility in 1997.

The replacement of the original boilers, which have been in service since 1996, is essential to ensure the ongoing safety and functioning of the facility. The project will involve installing high-condensing, low-fire, energy-efficient boilers; updating piping, valves, and controls; and integrating the system with the existing geothermal HVAC controls. Additionally, the project will include the replacement of circulating pumps and pneumatic control systems with more efficient Ecocirc pumps, as well as the elimination of the compressor, reducing the need for regular service and inspections. The replacement of the boilers will significantly enhance energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and support the center’s ongoing efforts to maintain an environmentally responsible facility.

“We are immensely grateful to MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support of this project,” said Susan Bronson, executive director of the Yiddish Book Center. “Capital improvements and major maintenance projects pose significant challenges in terms of funding. It is not easy to raise funds for behind-the-scenes projects like boiler replacements. This grant will ensure the continued functionality and sustainability of our facility, allowing us to serve our community and fulfill our mission for years to come.”

Funded annually through the governor’s capital spending plan, this round of cultural facilities grants is supported by a $10 million capital bond appropriation approved in 2022. The Healey-Driscoll administration has also proposed a $10 million appropriation in its second supplemental budget to support an additional round of the program.

Freedom Credit Union Announces Free Community Shred Day on June 3

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union will once again offer the opportunity for Western Mass. residents to securely purge unwanted paperwork.

In cooperation with PROSHRED Springfield, Freedom is offering its free Community Shred Day at two of its branches on Saturday, June 3: from 9 to 10 a.m. at 58 Union St., West Springfield; and from 11 a.m. to noon at 959 Springfield St., Feeding Hills.

The public is invited to bring old bills, bank statements, tax returns, and other sensitive documents for free, quick, and secure on-site shredding.

Members and non-members alike may bring up to five file boxes or paper bags (per vehicle) to the events. There is no charge for this service.

Many Roads to Mental Wellness

By Editorial May 24, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Girls on the Run isn’t about running.

Sure, running is a big part of this program for girls in grades 3-8; participants learn to enjoy running and build endurance so they can keep at it longer — and become healthier in the process.

But the heart of this organization (see story on page 30) isn’t physical endurance; it’s emotional resilience. It’s about social-emotional health, developing confidence, and finding joy.

And those can be challenges for young people today.

“We’ve definitely tapped into a need,” Alison Berman, council director of Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts, told us. “There’s a huge child mental-health crisis right now. And whatever’s going on with them, Girls on the Run is giving them this extra layer of skills to support them.”

Interestingly, we spoke with Berman and her team members during Mental Health Awareness Month, just a few days after we visited Springfield Central Library for another program aimed at young people and their emotional wellness.

Specifically, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center partnered with the Holyoke Public Library and Springfield’s city libraries to encourage awareness and conversations on the topic of mental wellness. Displays of books and other materials have been prominently set up to promote understanding around mental health and to encourage such collaborations for libraries to become better resources on the topic — for visitors of all ages, including (and, perhaps, especially) youth.

María Pagán, Holyoke Public Library director, said she hopes that, by making educational materials about mental health and substance use more accessible, the effort will eventually encourage people to learn about these conditions, recognize them, and seek any needed assistance.

Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director for Public Services at Springfield Central Library, said librarians don’t judge what people read. “The same thing goes for if you were to come into a library and ask a question that concerns mental health or emotional wellness. We don’t judge that. We’re here to help you no matter what.”

The displays, she said, might help visitors find something they need, and realize that “this is a safe place to ask questions, including about your emotional wellness.”

Meanwhile, just a few months ago, the Springfield Youth Mental Health Coalition, convened by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, launched “I Am More Than My Mood,” a new awareness campaign that aims to normalize healthy conversations about mental health and encourage youth and their caregivers in Greater Springfield to discuss stress, anxiety, and depression as common challenges that everyone goes through.

These are just a few examples, but the message is clear: mental-health issues are common — and were certainly exacerbated during the pandemic, especially for young people — and the time is always right to talk about them (as in the case of the library partnership and the coalition campaign) and give kids healthy alternatives to achieve personal wellness (as Girls on the Run and other youth-serving nonprofits do).

Pagán, for her part, agrees with Canosa. “No judgment. You might read something because you want to, you’re curious, or because you know somebody that might benefit, and you could help if you learn about it. Information is power.”

So is talking about mental health. So let’s keep talking.

Anchor Collaborative Benefits Businesses

By Contributor May 24, 2023

Opinion

By Rick Sullivan

The Western Massachusetts Anchor Collaborative (WMAC), founded by the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC) in partnership with Baystate Health, provides comprehensive, systemic, and locally led solutions to regional women- and minority- owned businesses and workforce challenges. The WMAC was initiated to propel hiring and career pathways for BIPOC and marginalized populations.

The WMAC has successfully established multi-year targets to increase local procurement opportunities for women- and minority-owned businesses, and are developing an ‘Anchor-ready accelerator’ that will cultivate a resilient local supplier pipeline for targeted goods and services. The accelerator will provide wrap-around services and resources to prepare and scale vendors for contracts with Anchor institutions.

WMAC institutions seek to address inequities that have resulted from historic patterns of disinvestment and bias related to neighborhood, race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status in Western Mass. These institutions have more than 18,000 employees, with nearly 3,000 residing in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Western Mass.

Collectively, Anchor Collaborative institutions currently spend more than $2 billion in goods and services and have committed to annually increasing the percentage of spending toward local and diverse businesses. Bridging the gap between Anchor institutions and the local community is a key ingredient to successful and positive economic impact.

The Anchor Collaborative aims to foster equitable communities and strong local economies, pilot career-pathway programs, align support for entry-level and low-wage employees from disadvantaged neighborhoods, cultivate jobs and promote healthier employees and residents, and leverage each institution’s purchasing and hiring power

The WMAC chooses smaller businesses that have historically not had the opportunity to enter supply chains, or get capitalized, underwritten, etc. It coordinates workforce-development strategies with Springfield WORKS, an EDC community initiative, to create training opportunities for career pathways to living-wage jobs. WMAC institutions provide a mentorship role to smaller businesses to allow them to scale up and help them grow. Big Y has been an influential leader in this initiative, supporting local greenhouses and farmers. It even offers a reusable food-wrap product, Z-Wrap, on its shelves.

Data will be regularly collected and analyzed to set effective targets and monitor progress. The goal is to design an internal process that allows for accessible professional development and growth, leading to promotions and careers within each institution. We aim to enhance our impact and drive regional economic equity and financial vitality for our communities.

Rick Sullivan is president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council;
www.westernmassedc.com

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Picture This

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

Royal Sendoff

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, elected officials, and community members gathered at Holyoke Community College on May 3 to celebrate the leadership and legacy of retiring President Christina Royal. Among those in attendance was Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia (pictured below right with Royal), who delivered a proclamation recognizing her service to the city. Royal’s last day at HCC will be July 14. George Timmons will begin his service as HCC’s fifth president in June.

Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia with Royal

from left) state Sen. John Velis, Holyoke Director of Planning and Economic Development Aaron Vega, and state Rep. Pat Duffy.

Kentucky Derby Party

On May 5, the Armory at MGM Springfield was the setting for hats, horses, and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate the 149th Kentucky Derby. The annual fundraiser for Square One was presented by lead sponsors PeoplesBank, USI Insurance, Alekman DiTusa, Baystate Health/Health New England, and Meridian Industrial Group. (Photos by Chris Marion Photography)

From left, Jenny MacKay of USI Insurance Services and Rob DiTusa and Ryan Alekman of Alekman DiTusa

Jennifer Yergeau of PeoplesBank (left) with Kristine Allard, Square One’s vice president of Development & Communication

Exciting Chapter

On May 4, Link to Libraries hosted its signature biennial fundraising event at the Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition to raising $109,000, this year’s celebration marked a huge milestone for the nonprofit: the donation of its 1 millionth book to a child and school in need.

Susan Jaye-Kaplan, co-founder of Link to Libraries, presents the millionth book to Mary Fitzgerald, librarian from Springfield’s Warner School, which was the first school to receive books from Link to Libraries when it was founded in 2008

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal with Laurie Flynn, president and CEO of Link to Libraries

Dealer of the Year

On May 4, Gary Rome Hyundai hosted the TIME Dealer of the Year Celebration, a reception honoring the company, which TIME magazine chose from a field of more than 16,000 dealerships nationwide. (Photos by Ivy Pohl)

Gary Rome (center) with Gary Gilchrist, vice chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Assoc., Jeff Jenkins and Keith Cail of Ally, Robert O’Koniewski of the Massachusetts State Auto Dealers Assoc., and, of course, Daisy

Rome greets (from left) Sister Mary Caritas SP, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, and his Chief of Staff Jon D’Angelo

Court Dockets

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Court Dockets

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

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Emanuel Diaz and Netsy Diaz v. Saltmarsh Brothers Construction Inc.

Allegation: Breach of contract: $61,500

Filed: 4/12/23

Xiao Xin Zhang v. Springfield Area Transit Authority Inc. d/b/a Satco

Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury and property damage: $179,479

Filed: 4/12/23

Trickstar Trumbling & Fitness LLC v. Westmass Area Development Corp.

Allegation: Breach of lease: $100,000

Filed: 4/13/23

Faspac Plastikes Inc. v. East Baking Co. Inc.

Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $173,512.67

Filed: 4/17/23

Homestesd Baking Co. v. East Baking Co. Inc.

Allegation: Money owed for goods sold and delivered: $204,357.36

Filed: 5/2/23

Ken Lansing SC LLC v. Whiting Building LLC, Friedman Real Estate, and CWFS-REDS LLC d/b/a Realinsight Market

Allegation: Breach of real-estate contract: $104,742

Filed: 5/12/23

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Agenda

Free Music Fridays

May 26 to Sept. 8: Live music returns to MGM Springfield with the new and expanded Free Music Fridays concert series. Every Friday from May 26 to Sept. 8, some of the area’s most popular bands and national artists will perform on the Plaza at MGM Springfield in the city’s South End, starting at 7:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Kicking off the 2023 series is the popular Pink Floyd tribute band Brain Damage. Additional local favorites such as Trailer Trash, Brass Attack, Back in Black, and Aquanett, among others, are scheduled to perform throughout the summer. MGM Springfield will also welcome new additions to the Free Music Fridays lineup, including local light Brynn Cartelli, season 14 winner of The Voice. Also debuting on the Plaza stage is Zac Brown tribute band Zac N’Fried; Springfield based R&B, soul, and hip-hop group Malado!; and national pop and hip-hop band LFO. MGM Springfield will continue its partnership with White Lion Brewing Co. to provide guests with a wide selection of craft beer during each Free Music Fridays concert. The series will also feature local food trucks, including North Elm Butchers Block, Batch Ice Cream, Cousins Maine Lobster, Las Kangris, and many more.

You Ball Fundraising Gala

June 1: The Springfield Pride Parade organization announced the inaugural You Ball Fundraising Gala, taking place at 6 p.m. in MGM Springfield’s Aria Ballroom. With a Met Gala-inspired Fabergè egg theme, the You Ball will celebrate the diverse beauty, uniqueness, and prestige of the LGBTQIA+ community. The gala will feature music, dining options, performances, and conversations with parade organizers and Springfield city officials. Proceeds from the You Ball Fundraising Gala will directly support the Springfield Pride Parade organization’s Safe Space program, which provides Springfield public-school students with a safe environment to effectively communicate, build self-confidence, work on their social and emotional skills, develop healthy relationships, and focus on community engagement. Sponsored by MassMutual, MGM Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College, and the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, the event aims to be an inspirational evening to celebrate and honor the region’s LGBTQIA+ and ally business owners, professionals, and community leaders. For more information on You Ball tickets, table sponsorships, and gala program marketing inquiries, visit www.springfieldprideparade.org/youball.

Hospice of the Fisher Home Golf Tournament

June 2: Hospice of the Fisher Home will host its seventh annual par-3 golf tournament at Amherst Golf Club. Tee times will be scheduled beginning at 1 p.m. Tournament sponsors include Greenfield Savings Bank, Kuhn Riddle Architects, Amherst Insurance Agency, Florence Savings Bank, Studley Do Right Cleaning, M.J. Moran, and Northampton Cooperative Bank. The tournament is one of Hospice of the Fisher Home’s largest fundraisers, supporting the compassionate, comprehensive, and supportive end-of-life care it provides to individuals and their loved ones, in their homes or at the Fisher Home’s nine-bed residence in Amherst. According to Maria Rivera, executive director of Hospice of the Fisher Home, support of this year’s golf tournament is especially important because funds raised will also go toward the replacement of the home’s HVAC system. Visit www.fisherhome.org/event-info/7th-annual-golf-tournament-registration-4 for sponsorship information or to register a foursome.

Purse & Power Tool Bingo Fundraiser

June 2: Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) will hold a Purse & Power Tool Bingo fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus on 371 Washington Road, Enfield, Conn. Event participants will enjoy 10 rounds of bingo, each with the opportunity to win a designer handbag or a power tool. Registration fees will support JAWM programs and events for youth throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties. Guests are welcome to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy, and there will be a cash bar. Registration costs $40 per person, which includes 10 bingo cards and a dauber. Raffle tickets and extra cards will also be available for purchase. Admission must be purchased in advance through paypal.me/2MomsOnAMission or via Venmo @Two-MomsOnA-Mission. Include the date of the event when purchasing tickets.

Western Mass Eldercare Conference

June 8: The 31st annual Western Mass Eldercare Conference will take place at the Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College. Registration is open at jgslifecare.org/wmecc. All workshop descriptions are on the website so attendees can plan their day. Keynote addresses include “Cultural Humility: Moving Beyond the Principles and into Authentic Practice” by Dora and Frank Robinson and “Old Age Ain’t for Sissies” by Judith Black. Organizations with multiple people attending can pay by check if they want to; all checks need to be postmarked by May 31 in order to be registered for the conference. This program has submitted for approval to meet the requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing at 244 CMR 5.00 for six contact hours.

Free Shred Days

June 10, Sept. 23, Oct. 14: Monson Savings Bank announced it will once again host free community shred days in 2023. All are welcome to attend. As in previous years, Monson Savings Bank is partnering up with PROSHRED of Wilbraham for this series of events welcoming the public to discard their documents in a safe and secure manner. This is an ideal opportunity to dispose of unwanted documents such as tax returns, bank or credit-card statements, bills, and medical records. Pre-packaged refreshments and giveaways will be available while supplies last. Shred days are scheduled for Saturday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hampden branch, 15 Somers Road; Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Ware branch, 136 West St.; and Saturday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Wilbraham branch, 100 Post Office Park.

40 Under Forty

June 15: BusinessWest will host the annual 40 Under Forty Gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. One of the most anticipated events of the year, the gala will celebrate the class of 2023, which was announced and profiled in the May 1 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. The gala will feature a VIP hour for the honorees and sponsors, networking, the presentation of the Alumni Achievement Award, and introduction of members of the class of 2023. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit businesswest.com. This year’s 40 Under Forty presenting sponsor is PeoplesBank, and the 40 Under Forty Alumni Achievement Award presenting sponsor is Health New England. Partner sponsors include Comcast Business, Live Nation, the Markens Group, MGM Springfield, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management, and Webber & Grinnell Insurance.

sheLEADS Conference

June 16: The Chamber of Greater Easthampton announced its upcoming women’s leadership conference, sheLEADS, to be held at Williston Northampton School, 19 Payson Ave., Easthampton. This year’s conference will feature a lineup of inspiring speakers who will share their personal stories and insights on leadership, career development, and understanding the power of knowing one’s worth. This year’s conference features two keynote speakers: Sabrina Antoine Correia, vice president of Public Engagement and Corporate Responsibility for New England, JPMorgan Chase; and Lindsay Barron LaBonte, branch manager, Applied Mortgage. Correia will discuss “Advocating for Yourself and Your Ideas,” and LaBonte will discuss “How I Found My Worth.” Other topics to be discussed during the conference include “Is Money Power,” a thought-provoking discussion featuring panelists Karen Curran of Curran & Keegan Financial, Diane Dukette of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Ashleigh Beadle of Sourcepass, and Joanna Ballantine of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Attendees will also participate in the interactive workshop “The RACI Side of Communication and Collaboration,” led by Tiffany Espinosa from Teal Executives, Mount Holyoke College. Event tickets cost $119. To register, visit business.easthamptonchamber.org/events.

Hooplandia

June 23-25: Registration for Hooplandia, a 3×3 basketball tournament and festival, is now open at www.hooplandia.com and includes levels of play for all ages and divisions. The tournament, presented by the Eastern States Exposition (ESE) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will take place on the grounds of ESE in West Springfield June 23-25, with special games at the Hall of Fame in Springfield. Dunkin’ was recently named presenting sponsor of the event, which is expected to attract thousands of fans and players as hundreds of games take place across more than 70 courts. Divisions of play have been created to provide an all-inclusive environment for players of all ages and playing abilities. With brackets that include veterans, first responders, youth, wheelchair athletes, college elites, and many more, there’s a spot on the court for everyone. 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 from $75 to $190, with children under 8 and participants in the Special Olympics category being free of charge. Anyone interested should email [email protected]. Hooplandia welcomes participation from youth team referees, scorekeepers, Fan Village contest facilitators, and volunteers for myriad duties to help make this inaugural year a success. Those interested in participating in this groundbreaking event can fill out the volunteer form at www.hooplandia.com.

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

People on the Move

Candace Pereira

Florence Bank promoted Candace Pereira to the role of vice president, commercial lender. Since 2018, she has worked at Florence Bank as assistant vice president, commercial portfolio manager in the Commercial Lending department. In her new role, she will concentrate on commercial and industrial lending, as well as lending to women-owned businesses. Pereira holds an associate degree in finance from Springfield Technical Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. She is currently pursuing an MBA from Isenberg as well. She began her career in banking in 2003 and has held various roles at mutually held and stockholder-owned banks in Western Mass., in both residential and commercial lending. Recently named an ambassador for the Springfield Regional Chamber, Pereira is also a member of the BusinessWest 40 Under Forty class of 2017, and she attended the Springfield Leadership Institute. She has served on various local boards over the last several years and has also volunteered as an athletic coach in East Longmeadow, where her daughter is a student.

•••••

Dennis Gober, a longtime executive in hospital management, has been named chief operating officer of MiraVista Behavioral Health Center. Gober served previously as CEO in Oklahoma of Cedar Ridge Behavioral Hospital, whose campus in Oklahoma City provides inpatient psychiatric and residential services to children and adolescents, and its Bethany campus, which serves the mental-health needs of adults. Cedar Ridge is part of Universal Health Services, one of the largest providers of hospital and healthcare services in the country. Gober, who holds a master’s degree in community counseling, has held several other senior-level positions, CEO for Acadia Healthcare’s Rolling Hills Hospital in Ada, Okla., which provides mental-health and substance-use services for adolescents, adults, and seniors, and division director of community-based youth services for the state of Oklahoma. As a licensed behavioral practioner, Gober also served as the Director of the Community Works’ Norman Academy Day Treatment Program leading treatment teams, and providing individual, group, and family therapy. He received a master of education degree in community counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma.

•••••

Leanne Martin

BFAIR announced it has promoted Leanne Martin to assistant director of Day Habilitation. Martin began working for BFAIR in 2014 as a direct-care professional at the agency’s Day Habilitation program located in North Adams. In 2020, she was promoted to case manager for the Community Based Day Services (CBDS) program and later to the Day Habilitation program in the same role. In her new role, Martin is responsible for the everyday operation of the Day Habilitation program, which is designed to support members and their unique needs to increase independence and socialization, helping them participate as active and fully integrated members of their community.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Company Notebook

Elms Receives $1 Million to Expand Two Programs

CHICOPEE — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal recently joined Elms College President Harry Dumay to announce a $1 million earmark to expand the education and social work programs at Elms College. The allocation was made possible through congressionally directed spending from the U.S. Department of Education. Neal included funding for this project in the FY 2023 spending bill that was signed into law on Dec. 29, 2022. With this funding, Elms College will address community workforce development by expanding its education and social work programs. This expansion will include investments in the Center for Equity in Urban Education at Elms College, which was created to bolster educator talent and diversity through innovative programs that target existing and aspiring educators. Funding will also be used to invest in the master’s in social work program in an effort to address the shortage of social workers in the Greater Springfield community.

AIC Signs Housing Agreements to Benefit HCC, STCC Students

HOLYOKE — Representatives from American International College (AIC) and Holyoke Community College recently signed a historic agreement that will allow HCC students to live in residence halls and apartments on the AIC campus in Springfield. In addition, a new agreement between AIC and Springfield Technical Community College will allow STCC students to reside in the AIC campus residence halls and apartments. The agreements call for AIC to discount its room rates for HCC and STCC students. The housing option will be offered to all students 18 and older who are enrolled full- or part-time and in good academic standing. According to the agreements, HCC and STCC students who opt to live at AIC will have access to other amenities there as well, including health services, the college library, laundry facilities, and a gym. Dining and parking plans are also available for an additional cost. There is no age limit for students, couples can live together, and campus apartments are also a possibility.

WNE, BCC Sign Joint Admissions Agreement

SPRINGFIELD — Berkshire Community College (BCC) signed an articulation agreement with Western New England University (WNE) on May 8, allowing BCC students to transfer seamlessly to WNE. The joint admissions program, which is consistent with the individual missions, policies, and regulations of each institution, seeks to strengthen the academic and student-support partnerships between BCC and WNE, facilitate student access to baccalaureate and graduate education, and provide barrier-free movement for students enrolled in an associate-degree program at BCC to the baccalaureate graduate degrees at WNE. Students will be informed about the opportunity to participate in the joint admissions program at the time they are applying to BCC. Students who satisfy the requirements of the joint admissions program are eligible for guaranteed acceptance to WNE, provided they complete an approved associate-degree program at BCC and meet the requirements of the joint admissions program and major-specific requirements; guarantee of junior status at WNE upon matriculation with an associate degree; and guarantee of 60 transfer credits, with some stipulations.

Chris Marion Celebrates Grand Opening of Studio

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield native Chris Marion celebrated the grand opening of his new Chris Marion Photography studio, located at 270 Albany St. in Springfield, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 18. The ceremony included brief remarks, with appearances by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, City Council President Jesse Lederman, and other local dignitaries. Marion said he chose the 1,000-square-foot space to be a part of the surging Gasoline Alley section of the city and its proximity to downtown Springfield. He has also recently hosted photography workshops in the new studio.

UMassFive Donates Items to Local Survival Centers

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union announced the success of its personal-care-items drive, which was held during March in its Hadley, Northampton, and Springfield branches. The drive collected more than 365 pounds of personal-care items, which were donated to three local organizations: Amherst Survival Center, Northampton Survival Center, and the Gray House in Springfield. UMassFive is committed to supporting the communities it serves, and this drive was just one example of its ongoing efforts to give back. Members and staff at all three branches enthusiastically participated in the drive, donating a wide variety of items, such as toothpaste, shampoo, soap, menstrual products, diapers, and more.

Local Farm Awards Distribute $225,000 for Projects in 2023

AGAWAM — The Local Farmer Awards distributed grants totaling $225,000 to 97 farms in Western Mass. this year, a 30% increase over the number of 2022 recipients. These grants of up to $2,500 empower farmers to purchase essential equipment for planting, growing, harvesting, and processing. All projects include a funding commitment by the farm as well. The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Big Y and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, along with 12 other funders, provide financial support for these Local Farmer Awards. Other community sponsors include Ann and Steve Davis, Charles and Elizabeth D’Amour, Audrey and Chick Taylor, PeoplesBank, the DeNucci Group at Merrill Lynch, Farm Credit East, HP Hood, Eastern States Exposition, Baystate Health, Country Bank, Franklin First Federal Credit Union, and bankESB. This year the Local Farmer Awards received a record 182 applications. Roughly two-thirds of this year’s awards went to farms in Hampshire and Franklin counties, with the remainder split between Hampden and Berkshire counties, and a few awards going to farms just across the Massachusetts border that participate in Massachusetts farming programs. About 25% of the recipients were new farmers (five or fewer years in business), and another 34% have been in business more than 20 years, many being multi-generational farms. The largest number of winners focus on vegetables and meat, while others include maple, fruit, dairy, and flower farms.

WSU, HCC Announce Nursing-degree Partnership

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) and Westfield State University (WSU) will announce a new pathway for individuals to earn both an associate and a baccalaureate degree in nursing simultaneously or in a streamlined manner by combining the curricula of both programs. The concurrent program is the first in the Commonwealth. Beginning one’s professional life as an RN with all the demands on new nurses in a post-COVID era can make it challenging to go back to school and earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This program provides an opportunity for students to earn both their ASN and BSN credentials simultaneously before entering the workforce. The ADN-to-BSN pathway creates efficiency for students as it incorporates a joint admission process, thereby eliminating the need for students to submit a separate application for admission to the university. By facilitating the attainment of a BSN, this pathway helps to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare industry. The concurrent nursing program will help address the nursing shortage by increasing the number of students who can get into a bachelor of nursing program and allow them to earn their degree faster.

MassHire Franklin Hampshire Announces New Location

GREENFIELD — MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center and Workforce Board, the leading workforce-development agencies providing employment and training services to job seekers and employers in Franklin and Hampshire counties and the North Quabbin area, are moving to a new location in Greenfield. Doors will open to customers at the new location at the Greenfield Corporate Center, 101 Monson St., Suite 210, on Thursday, June 1. The new MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center features 13,000 square feet of modern space with state-of-the-art resources to provide in-person, virtual, and hybrid services and allows MassHire Franklin Hampshire to provide even better service to more customers. Partner agencies with a staff presence at the Career Center include the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Literacy Project, the Center for New Americans, International Language Institute of Massachusetts, Westover Job Corps, Greenfield Community College, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, and Community Action Pioneer Valley. Core partner Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission already has office space at the Greenfield Corporate Center.

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Incorporations

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

ADAMS

Adams Street Fair Corp., 31 Winter St., Adams, MA 01220. Leann O’Brien, same. Hosts charitable events.

BELCHERTOWN

Lebeau Boudoir Inc., 20 Mountain View Dr., Belchertown, MA 01007. Ashley Lebeau, same. Photography services.

CHICOPEE

DD General Services Inc., 15 Sunnymeade Ave., Chicopee, MA 01020. Estrella Vasquez, same. General construction services including carpentry, remodeling, and renovations.

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Music Boosters Inc., 62 Briggs St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Shelby Hyvonen, same. Corporation is organized and will be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.

GREAT BARRINGTON

GJB Productions Inc., 696 South Egremont Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Gideon Brown, same. Video post-production services.

HOLYOKE

Changing the Narrative Inc., 98 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Anthony Basile, same. A nonprofit organization created to provide a safe, private, musical space for children who have experienced tragic events; cultivating positive experiences by providing outings to sporting events.

LUDLOW

Law Office of Carolyne Pereira, P.C., 125 Letendre Ave., Ludlow, MA 01056. Carolyne Pereira, same. Law practice.

PALMER

Anointed to Restore Family Christian Center Church Ministries, 1430 Main St., Palmer, MA 01069. Natanael Lopez Ozuna, 1 Beacon Ave., Holyoke, MA 01069. Reaching Massachusetts, the U.S., and around the world with the message of hope and compassion of Jesus Christ.

PITTSFIELD

No Starch Press Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. William Pollock, same. Any lawful business purposes.

Big Wave Dog Rescue Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Sydney Fitzpatrick, 49 Clarissa Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824. Nonprofit organization established to reduce the population of homeless and euthanized dogs in overcrowded animal shelters; fund veterinary care, rehabilitation, and training to animals to ensure a successful adoption; provide temporary housing for animals through a volunteer foster-based program; and support local animals in need of rehoming, rehabilitation, and veterinary interventions.

Uni-Structures Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Wesley Barnes, same. Manufacturing and installation of signs and awnings for quick-service restaurants.

SPRINGFIELD

Excelone Ministries, 90 Nelson Circle West, Springfield, MA 01089. Janet Poi, same. Offers community-outreach services to marginalized individuals and families through a support network platform for leaders and their leadership teams within the Christian community.

AMG Solutions Inc., 115 State St., #403, Springfield, MA 01103. Yariseliz Diaz, same. Management and business consulting services.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

DSG Enterprise Inc., 1321 Morgan Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Daniel Giustina, same. General construction services.

WILBRAHAM

M Jude Stirlacci Inc., 8 Meadow View Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Michael Stirlacci, same. Carpet-cleaning services.

Doing Business as Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the months of April and May 2023.

AMHERST

Alkemedia
150 Fearing St., Units 101-104
Sara Russell

Cheeky Moon Design
677 Station Road
Merlina Wehman-Brown

Epic Remodel & Repair
52 Chapel Road
Julian Albo

Massage Therapy by Angela Morsbach LMT
441 West St.
Angela Morsbach

Powell Family Home Improvement
149 Pomeroy Lane
Michael Powell

Shine Acupuncture
19 Research Dr., Suite 5
Jack Mattrey, Stephanie Mattrey

EASTHAMPTON

A.C.K. Therapy
123 Union St., Suite 300
Alison Kinsey

Amy Thompson Avishai Photography
116 Pleasant St., Suite 032
Amy Thompson

Chris Korczak, Bookseller
1 Cottage St., #307
Chris Korczak

Mitra: Healing Centered Yoga
2A Pine St.
Angelica Lopez

OM Valley Farm Inc.
128 Northampton St.
Falguni Patil

Paws to Smell the Roses
10 Clinton St.
Lauren Adams

Precision Painting by Papy LLC
68 Pleasant St., Apt. 1L
Guy Mbangu

RKR Design
10 Chapman Ave.
Rachel Keenan Roberts

EAST LONGMEADOW

D&B Mechanical Inc.
631 North Main St.
Daniel Murray

Dutko Electric LLC
50 Heatherstone Dr.
Andrew Dutko

East Village Taver
n
53-55 North Main St.
Joseph Sullivan

Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation
220 North Main St.
Frank Forastiere

Kieu Nail Artist
30-34 Shaker Road
Kieu Nguyen

Marvelous Me Aesthetics LLC
280 North Main St.
Hannah Hubacz

Meadows Motor Cars
179 North Main St.
Meadows Motor Cars

Pediatric Dental Associates
52 North Main St.
Vincent Trimboli

Richard A. Calvanese CPA
200 North Main St., #201
Richard Calvanese

Silverson Machines Inc.
355 Chestnut St.
Stacey Nuzzolilli

Site Welding Services
475 Somers Road
Justin Howell

GRANBY

American Specialty Designs
77 West State St.
Emelie Lyszchyn, Paul Lyszchyn

Deere Creek Farm
193 Amherst St.
Jonathan Szymonik, Naomi Szymonik

Jaime’s Cat Sitting Service
97 New Ludlow Road
Jaimelee LeBreton

Lazer Automotive
114 School St.
Charles Lofland

Prospective Energy Solutions Inc.
14 Pinebrook Circle
Rachel Hall

Reeds Coffee
141 Taylor St.
Bandhana Sinha

GREAT BARRINGTON

Berkshire Compost
307 North Plain Road
Melissa Beeson

MGH Management Co.
205 Blue Hill Road
Marion Gilliam

Stonybrook Farm Garden Design
206 Blue Hill Road
Marion Gilliam

HADLEY

AMETG
200 Venture Way
Diagnostic Equipment Service Corp.

Buck Brothers Enterprises
340 River Dr.
Leonard Buck

Courtyard by Marriott
423 Russell St.
Russell Hospitality LLC

Jefferies Wealth Planning
4 Bay Road, Suite 100
Kevin Jefferies

Next Barn Over
17 Lawrence Plain Road
Next Barn Over LLC

Niedbala Farms
136 East St.
Niedbala Farms LLC

Rodrigues Towing
10 Mill Valley Road
Adylson Rodrigues

Whole Foods Market
327 Russell St.
Whole Foods Inc.

HOLYOKE

Divine Restoration Behavioral Health
98 Lower Westfield Road, Suite 101
Amdonne Mbouadeu

Ergonomic Collaboration Group
337 High St.
Martin Rodgers, John Maslar

Frank Storage
19 St. James Ave.
Francisco Marrero

Holyoke Tax Service
295 High St.
David Yos

Jan Transport
36 Hampden St.
Juan Morales

Lane Bryant
50 Holyoke St.
Lane Bryant Brands OPCO LLC

Mo’s the Clean Freak Services
31 Beacon Ave.
Monica Goucher

Paper City Car Wash
990 Main St.
Michael Marcotte, Michael Filomeno

Premium Brands
50 Holyoke St.
Premium Brands Services

Rejuven8 Painting and Powerwash
116 Waldo St.
Anel Serrano

Route 22 Liquors
518 Westfield St.
Vimal Patel, Shivani Patel

Stacy Wright, Therapist
164 Rock Valley Road
Stacy Wright

Unity Financial & Insurance
330 Whitney Ave., Suite 300
Robert Houle

Western Mass Appliances LLC
2291 Northampton St.
Jason Brazee, Donald Dumais

PITTSFIELD

ABC Trucking
17 Holmes Road
David Pill

Andy’s Carpentry Group
82 Wendell Ave.
Andy’s Carpentry Inc.

Babe Botanics
5 Daytona Ave.
Brooke Moore

Berkshire Foundations
996 Pecks Road
Berkshire Pools & Patio Co. Inc.

C&M Carpentry and Contracting
55 Oxford St.
Carl Morrison

CMD Lawn Maintenance
90 McIntosh Dr.
Christopher Dadak

Cozy Amenities LLC
82 Wendell Ave.
Christopher Fowler

The Elevate Group
82 Wendell Ave.
Think Strategy LLC

Harvest Handarts
177 King St.
Things That Work

Jem Cleaners and Property Management
100 Thomas Island Road
Joseph Merriam

JZC’s Graphic T-Shirts and E-Scooter Rentals
76 Hollister St.
James Sevigny

Lure Looks by Jessy
1450 East St.
Jessica Perrault

Masora
76 Foote Ave.
Piyachat Ardia, Matthew Ardia

Olivia by Paradox
82 Wendell Ave.
Paradox Inc.

Pro Finish Auto Body
1589 East St.
6 Giovina Dr.

Qualprint
3 Federico Dr.
Brilliant Graphics Group

Room at 267
267 Holmes Dr.
Nate Buller

TC Group Inc.
82 Wendell Ave.
Yifan Jiang

Walden Village Club
20 Alcott Lane
Walden Village Club Inc.

SOUTH HADLEY

Delaney’s Market
459 Granby Road
Delaney’s Market

Doneright Cleaning
15 Pershing Ave.
Doneright Cleaning

Forbes & Son Painting & Staining
63 Laurie Ave.
Brad Forbes

STOCKBRIDGE

Berkshire Muse
53 Interlaken Road
Lauren Fritscher

Ride-N-Shine Mobile Detailing
3 West Stockbridge Road
Andrea Bailly

WARE

A&J Motorsports LLC
51 Monson Turnpike Road, Lot 1019
Adam Holbrook

DragonWolf U.S.A.
98 Greenwich Road
Debra Monday

Fontaine Consulting Solutions
47 Babcock Tavern Road
Jennylyn Fontaine

Swistak Stump Grinding
131 Church St.
John Swistak

Woodsmiths
5 Anna St.
Mark Smith

WESTFIELD

Buildx
504 Holyoke Road
Anthony Deven

Cybernesticks
34 Tekoa Trail
Lawrence Foard

Hannoush Home Designs LLC
99 Springfield Road, Suite 1
Tiffany Hannoush

Healthy Flavors LLC
217 Root Road
Health Flavors LLC

Jack Pots Hotdogs
16 Fowler St.
John Symmons

Potholes Magazine
66 Ridgeway St.
Jacob Fleron

Silverfox Creations
23 Sherwood Ave.
Wendy McCann

TJ Networks
7 Nancy Circle
Thomas Jarry

Ur Prfct Bowl
45 Meadow St.
Roselyn Cedeno

WILBRAHAM

Audiology Services Co. USA LLC
95 Post Office Park
Lisa Mulligan

LML Enterprises LLC
17 Cooley Dr.
Maissoun Jackson

Nouveau Aesthetics LLC
40 Dumaine St.
Jean Brodwski

Pink Door Interior Design
913 Stony Hill Road
Michelle Patrick

Verdon’s Restoration
65 Main St.
Real Verdon

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Bankruptcies

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

Arnould, Meghan M.
90 Lovefield St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/26/2023

Beauregard, Jeffrey B.
16 Maple Crest Circle, Apt. H
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/26/2023

Bellucci, Robert Alan
Bellucci, Dorka
a/k/a Domador, Dorka
329 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/24/2023

Beltran Suren, Felix
1342 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/26/2023

Caulton, JaJuan Robert
24 Lorimer St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/19/2023

Cembura, Joseph J.
959 Westhampton Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/20/2023

Dimartini, Katherine
178 Glendale Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/17/2023

Gauthier, Roxanne
1794 White Pond Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/19/2023

Malafronte, Michelle L.
a/k/a Larkins, Michelle L.
2 Pidgeon Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/26/2023

Meyers, Todd C.
Meyers, Christina M.
a/k/a Bailey, Christina M.
48 New Broadway
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/19/2023

Montalvo, Melquisedec
Burgos, Melquisedec
24 Knollwood St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/17/2023

Proulx, Jeremy J.
1 Belden Court, Unit E3
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/17/2023

Rex, Daniel B.
Rex, Doreen M.
6 Cleveland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/20/2023

Richards, Janet
116 Fieldston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/25/2023

Tollis, Alexander
Dagostino-Tollis, Annalisa
15 Deerfoot Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/26/2023

Wisniak, Mark John
221 North Orange Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/18/2023

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Building Permits

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

190 Briar Hill Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Jennifer Hart
Seller: Briar Hill Road 190 RT
Date: 04/26/23

912 Creamery Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Troy Santerre
Seller: Marley Engvall
Date: 04/25/23

1029 Spruce Corner Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jon T. Romer
Seller: Nicole Romer
Date: 04/28/23

CHARLEMONT

Avery Brook Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Jonathan Mirin
Seller: Jacob W. Rheinheimer
Date: 04/21/23

3 High St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Troy A. Fortin
Seller: Vaughn Tower
Date: 04/28/23

11 High St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Troy A. Fortin
Seller: Vaughn Tower
Date: 04/28/23

CONWAY

244 Pine Hill Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: George W. Siguler
Seller: William C. Blumer
Date: 04/26/23

DEERFIELD

300 Conway Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Adam Czachorowski
Seller: Amy B. Royal
Date: 04/27/23

20 Elm Circle
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Eric Baldwin
Seller: Joan C. Baldwin
Date: 04/19/23

ERVING

16 Flagg Hill
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $338,250
Buyer: Diane Steingart
Seller: Jacob M. Earl
Date: 04/24/23

93 Mountain Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Andres A. Ortega
Seller: Arthur D. Johnson
Date: 04/28/23

GILL

Mountain Road
Gill, MA 01376
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Catherine Woolner
Seller: Alyce A. Sokolosky IRT
Date: 04/27/23

GREENFIELD

144 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Savannah Donahue
Seller: 452 RT
Date: 04/24/23

63 Fort Square
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Theodore J. Burrell
Seller: Michael J. Egan
Date: 04/28/23

67 Fort Square
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Theodore J. Burrell
Seller: Michael J. Egan
Date: 04/28/23

52 French King Hwy.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: John B. Dunphy
Seller: MLE Real Estate Enterprises LLC
Date: 04/27/23

54 Glenbrook Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jacob S. Rhodes
Seller: Joanne Zywna
Date: 04/24/23

368 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Town Fair Tire Centers Of Mass.
Seller: 368 High Street LLC
Date: 04/18/23

6 Locust St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Lawrence R. Loranger
Seller: Luther A. Massey
Date: 04/21/23

16 Michelman Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Michelina R. Armenti
Seller: Robert J. Escott
Date: 04/26/23

434 Mohawk Trail
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: John M. Gates
Seller: Gates, Donald James, (Estate)
Date: 04/18/23

20 Plum Tree Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Frances D. Hadsel
Seller: Margaret Martin
Date: 04/28/23

10 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $708,000
Buyer: Town Fair Tire Centers Of Mass.
Seller: 10 Silver Street LLC
Date: 04/18/23

MONTAGUE

6 Bulkley St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Peter J. Klepadlo
Seller: Murphy, Joanne, (Estate)
Date: 04/27/23

188 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Richard Palmisano
Seller: Ewell, Dale E., (Estate)
Date: 04/25/23

2 New St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: A&A New Street LLC
Seller: Edmond C. Tolzdorf
Date: 04/27/23

NEW SALEM

59 Cooleyville Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Douglas R. Ruopp
Seller: Kyung M. Kang
Date: 04/26/23

NORTHFIELD

271 West Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $442,000
Buyer: Micheal Neeley
Seller: David W. Leduc
Date: 04/28/23

ORANGE

24 Johnson Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Andrew S. Chandler
Seller: John D. Carey
Date: 04/21/23

84 Mattawa Circle
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Maxine A. Gerhard
Seller: John A. Emery
Date: 04/20/23

33 Packard Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Courteney White
Seller: Mary Paluk
Date: 04/21/23

66 Packard Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Mark J. Hettinger
Seller: Eliot E. Nottleson
Date: 04/28/23

177 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Neil Ketola
Seller: Mark S. Greco
Date: 04/28/23

114 Warwick Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Jennifer N. Stone
Seller: Amln RET RT
Date: 04/28/23

SHUTESBURY

105 Sand Hill Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Trisha Davis-Gray
Seller: Great Bally Inc.
Date: 04/20/23

SUNDERLAND

406 Russell St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: JJK Investments LLC
Seller: Maiewski Jr., Joseph B., (Estate)
Date: 04/26/23

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

33 Cleveland St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Van P. Nguyen
Seller: Coleen E. Gruska
Date: 04/27/23

19 Damato Way
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $615,000
Buyer: Mahmood Ahmed
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 04/21/23

157 Elmar Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Victoria L. Walker
Seller: Cheryl L. Walker
Date: 04/24/23

30 Federal St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Diana Horning
Seller: Timothy W. Reimers
Date: 04/19/23

46 Independence Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Matthew B. Coppellotti
Seller: Michael P. Viara
Date: 04/28/23

39 Losito Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Louis E. Conte
Seller: Kevin Wright
Date: 04/25/23

586 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Rosewood Way Townhomes LP
Seller: Chicopee Kendall LLC
Date: 04/28/23

288 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Shawn T. Battles
Seller: Ronald G
Date: 04/28/23

74 Pleasant Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $226,100
Buyer: Stuart W. Stork
Seller: Gloria P. Stowe
Date: 04/24/23

44 Russo Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Aga Brothers LLC
Seller: V. & K. Realty LLC
Date: 04/27/23

109-111 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Muhammad Razzaq
Seller: Daniel F. Melbourne
Date: 04/21/23

61 Villa Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $449,900
Buyer: Steven Tencati
Seller: Pine Crossing Construction Inc.
Date: 04/20/23

31 Wilbert Ter.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $344,100
Buyer: Ben J. Masse
Seller: Mark E. Slinsky
Date: 04/28/23

BRIMFIELD

99 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $354,900
Buyer: Nathaniel Oswald
Seller: Herbert F. Seymour
Date: 04/20/23

10 Governor Fairbanks Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Bruce Walker
Seller: Brian G. Thompson
Date: 04/21/23

55 Haynes Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Richard A. Buck
Seller: Jewel Real Estate Inc.
Date: 04/28/23

39 Knollwood Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Daniel Dougan
Seller: Dmitriy Lissitsine
Date: 04/28/23

68 Saint Clair Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Tyler J. Bigda
Seller: Kirsten M. Desjardins
Date: 04/24/23

CHICOPEE

191 Arcade St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Samual Laurin
Seller: Gregory S. Assarian
Date: 04/28/23

32 Boutin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Caroline Cyr
Seller: Michael P. Michon
Date: 04/25/23

39 Broad St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Richard M. Ramos
Seller: Mark Goebel
Date: 04/27/23

328 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Patricia Marrow
Seller: Peter A. Bilodeau
Date: 04/28/23

590 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Ivan Carrasquillo
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 04/28/23

30 Canal St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $708,150
Buyer: Thinktree Realty LLC
Seller: KV Properties LLC
Date: 04/28/23

129 Catherine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Ace Securities Corp.
Date: 04/24/23

37 Coolidge Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $266,900
Buyer: Jennifer Weisgerber
Seller: Laura Scibelli
Date: 04/24/23

58 Edbert St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $349,999
Buyer: Katarzyna Letowska
Seller: Sonia I. Soto
Date: 04/28/23

325 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $708,150
Buyer: Thinktree Realty LLC
Seller: KV Properties LLC
Date: 04/28/23

76 Garland St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Cheryl Moore-Sevelo
Seller: Cournoyer, Robert A., (Estate)
Date: 04/26/23

22 Harrington Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Irene Kepler
Seller: Alexandre C. Holan
Date: 04/21/23

96 Hilton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Griselle F. Carrion
Seller: Mark Hebert
Date: 04/26/23

39 Jennings St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Sergey Privedenyuk
Seller: John E. Rhodes
Date: 04/21/23

25 Keddy Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Kaycee Pereira
Seller: Lillian M. Mika
Date: 04/19/23

35 Langevin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Dustin A. Blair
Seller: Norman Grandbois
Date: 04/24/23

137 Lawrence Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $270,100
Buyer: Michael Disley
Seller: Paulette Neubauer
Date: 04/26/23

137 Manning St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Christa Giannini
Seller: Mildred E. Tracy
Date: 04/28/23

924 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Natalie Sacdal
Seller: Susan A. Lazier
Date: 04/19/23

104 Mount Vernon Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Ronald F. Hartling
Seller: Raymond N. Laroche
Date: 04/24/23

20 Murphy Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $341,100
Buyer: Alan C. Edwards
Seller: David A. Wolowicz
Date: 04/21/23

130 Murphy Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Steven D. Carrington
Seller: Joseph R. Caproni
Date: 04/18/23

123 Newbury St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Travis J. Haley
Seller: Jennifer L. Weisgerber
Date: 04/24/23

11 Pearl St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Weary Travelers LLC
Seller: Jane C. Labak
Date: 04/25/23

14 Royalton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Govindbhai P. Patel
Seller: Lawrence P. Rodrigues
Date: 04/19/23

62 Sandtrap Way
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Brian P. Loud
Seller: Debbie Burkott
Date: 04/28/23

49 Stedman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Audriana L. Vargas
Seller: Michael A. Kroell
Date: 04/28/23

72 Sunnymeade Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: John C. Wolanski
Seller: Christa Giannini
Date: 04/28/23

33 William St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $232,900
Buyer: Susanna M. Butler
Seller: Travis J. Haley
Date: 04/24/23

EAST LONGMEADOW

10 Lester St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Ryan F. Wheeler
Seller: Steven H. Clark
Date: 04/26/23

160 Millbrook Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $645,000
Buyer: Keri Deming
Seller: Jennifer White
Date: 04/21/23

3 Peachtree Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $536,500
Buyer: Jacob Garcia
Seller: Dallae Kang
Date: 04/20/23

461 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Nancy Weithofer
Seller: 461 Prospect Street RT
Date: 04/19/23

73 Redin Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Robert J. Racicot
Seller: Gregory A. Riberdy
Date: 04/19/23

6 Townview Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $472,000
Buyer: Mary A. MacDonnell
Seller: Shao Q. Ma
Date: 04/28/23

65 Westernview Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $387,000
Buyer: Rebecca O. Lewis
Seller: William Raleigh
Date: 04/28/23

180 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Johnna S. Healey
Seller: Custom Home Development Group LLC
Date: 04/20/23

GRANVILLE

199 Barnard Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jacob S. Schultz
Seller: Douglas Max
Date: 04/28/23

279 North Lane
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Shawn A. Lindsay
Seller: Miller, Stephen T., (Estate)
Date: 04/28/23

HAMPDEN

61 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Kimberly Darney
Seller: Christina Mateer
Date: 04/28/23

HOLLAND

11 Fenton St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Jennifer Bellino
Seller: Michael G. Peltier
Date: 04/28/23

34 Leno Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $315,102
Buyer: Eric R. Lefebvre
Seller: Nicholas C. Ellsworth
Date: 04/28/23

82 Stafford Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Juanita Mandanna
Seller: Meegan L. Bullock
Date: 04/20/23

HOLYOKE

25-27 Claremont Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Mark P. Vaclavicek
Seller: George Yeramian
Date: 04/28/23

5 Essex St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Appleton Redevelopment LP
Seller: Mailhott LLC
Date: 04/19/23

645-647 Hampden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Felix R. Soto
Seller: Scott Family Properties LLC
Date: 04/25/23

26 Lower Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Arthur D. Johnson
Seller: NJRE Property Group LLC
Date: 04/28/23

13-15 Meadow St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Elissette M. Marquez
Seller: Shirley Donkor
Date: 04/24/23

87-89 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $277,500
Buyer: Katherine Hopkinson
Seller: Maryjane R. Mejias
Date: 04/24/23

175 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Zailly Martinez
Seller: Four Harps LLC
Date: 04/19/23

42 Richard Eger Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Elizabeth L. Atkins
Seller: Michelle B. Lonergan
Date: 04/27/23

185 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Stephanie Sawyer
Seller: Suzanne Rataj
Date: 04/27/23

LONGMEADOW

88 Berwick Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Czaplicki
Seller: Joseph C. Suse
Date: 04/27/23

144 Brookwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Song J. No
Seller: Lindsey Jones
Date: 04/20/23

168 Concord Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $561,500
Buyer: David Thor
Seller: Killeen, Judith B., (Estate)
Date: 04/21/23

90 Ellington St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $572,000
Buyer: Gregory Morrison
Seller: Emilio Melchionna
Date: 04/21/23

7 Farmington Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Jamie B. Miller
Seller: Lindsay Maloni-Kuntz
Date: 04/28/23

684 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: George Romeo
Seller: Mark A. Hirschkorn
Date: 04/28/23

86 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $459,000
Buyer: Lindsay Maloni-Kuntz
Seller: John W. Miller
Date: 04/28/23

904 Shaker Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Quercus Properties LLC
Seller: Summa Ventures RT
Date: 04/25/23

300 Tanglewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Ashley Thielen
Seller: Jessica L. Mack
Date: 04/20/23

79 Wildwood Glen
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $486,750
Buyer: Emma Szalay
Seller: Silvio Baruzzi
Date: 04/28/23

LUDLOW

40 Arch St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Sean M. Niles-Demarco
Seller: Jeffrey C. Dias
Date: 04/24/23

29 Baker St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: Jorge Vieira
Seller: JT Realty Associates Inc.
Date: 04/18/23

24 Helena St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $321,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Sternowski
Seller: Jennifer Hansen
Date: 04/21/23

56 Hillcrest Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Tiffany Y. Hernandez
Seller: Liam Powers
Date: 04/28/23

258 Howard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $278,900
Buyer: Jonathan M. Belanger
Seller: Casey L. Mendrala
Date: 04/28/23

369 Lyon St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Kathleen M. Morgan
Seller: Deborah L. Costa
Date: 04/25/23

Riverside Dr., Lot B1
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: A. Crane Properties LLC
Seller: Westmass Area Development Corp.
Date: 04/19/23

Riverside Dr., Lot B2
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: A. Crane Properties LLC
Seller: Westmass Area Development Corp.
Date: 04/19/23

160 Wedgewood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Ross J. Bennett-Bonn
Seller: David W. Puzzo
Date: 04/27/23

MONSON

214 Cedar Swamp Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Meghan Alves
Seller: Dimitri Krutov
Date: 04/28/23

246 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Frank Hull
Seller: James E. Meurisse
Date: 04/18/23

135 Upper Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Domingo Tavarez
Seller: Gouger, Shawn A., (Estate)
Date: 04/19/23

31 Woodhill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $526,000
Buyer: Jennifer Wolowicz
Seller: Glen R. Peck
Date: 04/24/23

MONTGOMERY

Thomas Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Thomas Road Land Trust
Seller: Gaylon R. Donovan
Date: 04/26/23

Thomas Road (off)
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Thomas Road Land Trust
Seller: Gaylon R. Donovan
Date: 04/26/23

PALMER

60 Beech St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: William Peckham
Seller: Raymond Dranka
Date: 04/28/23

57 Mount Dumplin Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Andriana Macri
Seller: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Date: 04/27/23

1461 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Dore Real Estate Co. LLC
Seller: Jean C. Ciukaj
Date: 04/28/23

381 Rondeau St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: William Smith
Seller: Beverly A. Dudek
Date: 04/26/23

1152 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jeremy Greene
Seller: Oleg Loginov
Date: 04/28/23

17 Temple St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Thomas H. Duncan-Emmons
Seller: Rhiron Realty LLC
Date: 04/20/23

RUSSELL

1441 Blandford Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Gregory A. Roach
Seller: Lakeview Loan Servicing
Date: 04/18/23

SOUTHWICK

1 Iroquois Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Alyssa Chambers
Seller: George A. Romeo
Date: 04/28/23

6 Silvergrass Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Mark S. Karangekis
Seller: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Date: 04/18/23

12 Veteran St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $314,900
Buyer: Francis E. Perusse
Seller: Marjorie C. Currie
Date: 04/25/23

SPRINGFIELD

89 Agnes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Matthew Nichols
Seller: Patricia G. Marrow
Date: 04/28/23

81 Anniversary St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Delissa Kraus
Seller: Billy Molina
Date: 04/20/23

115 Berkshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Kim H. Tran
Seller: Arminda Esteves
Date: 04/28/23

1655 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $4,500,000
Buyer: Onyx Springfield Counseling LLC
Seller: 1685 Boston Road LLC
Date: 04/19/23

1719 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $4,500,000
Buyer: Onyx Springfield Counseling LLC
Seller: 1685 Boston Road LLC
Date: 04/19/23

144 Bristol St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Anthony R. Mazza
Seller: John N. Mbugua
Date: 04/26/23

29 Bruce St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Steven Dunn
Seller: Andrew M. Murrell
Date: 04/27/23

22 Bruce Landon Way
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Mass. Convention Center Authority
Seller: Springfield Redevelopment Authority
Date: 04/18/23

35 Cedar St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Prestigious One LLC
Seller: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Date: 04/21/23

44 Cheyenne Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jose Lopez
Seller: Evergrain Orchard LLC
Date: 04/26/23

142 Cloran St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Skyspec LLC
Seller: Fallah Razzak
Date: 04/28/23

75 Clydesdale Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Roberto Lugo
Seller: Hogan, Kevin P., (Estate)
Date: 04/21/23

19 Colonial Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Janeiah Fickling
Seller: Gabriel Martinez
Date: 04/28/23

7-9 Cornell St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Edgar F. Criollo
Seller: Jacqueline A. Holden
Date: 04/27/23

15 County St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Daisy Rivera
Seller: Kenny J. Soto
Date: 04/25/23

85 Covington St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Jose A. Vazquez
Seller: Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
Date: 04/18/23

86 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Maria Gonzalez
Seller: Jeannette M. Ramos
Date: 04/25/23

62-64 Davenport St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Priscilla Nkwantabisa
Seller: Winners O. LLC
Date: 04/28/23

346 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Son Vo
Seller: STV Realty LLC
Date: 04/18/23

346 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Minh T. Chau
Seller: Son Vo
Date: 04/19/23

360 Eastern Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Tracy Dotterrer
Seller: Sanjeev K. Bhatia
Date: 04/27/23

99 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Kepler Senecharles
Seller: Carlos M. Hernandez
Date: 04/25/23

114 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Angel Mendez
Seller: Timothy Perkins
Date: 04/26/23

172 Garvey Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Anthony Santaniello
Seller: Aames Mortgage Investment Trust
Date: 04/27/23

74 Gilman St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Casey Mendrala
Seller: Joana P. Palero
Date: 04/28/23

67 Glenham St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Derrick T. Whitley
Seller: Mass Investors LLC
Date: 04/19/23

75 Glenmore St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Matthew Begley
Seller: Amber L. Dyke
Date: 04/26/23

58 Governor St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Jjj17 LLC
Seller: Betsy A. Cavanaugh
Date: 04/18/23

119 Greene St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Shreyas Ovalekar
Seller: Anthony Brice
Date: 04/19/23

85 Hampshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Justin Vasquez
Seller: Luz A. Herrera
Date: 04/28/23

41 Hardy St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Dayanara Caban
Seller: Antonio V. Lopriore
Date: 04/21/23

338 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Merlyn M. Martinez
Seller: Van Orman Ft
Date: 04/28/23

72-74 Kenyon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Erika M. Alvarado
Seller: Samantha M. Anderson
Date: 04/20/23

264-266 King St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Carlton Minott
Seller: Cynthia J. Lajzer
Date: 04/21/23

15 Leete St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Rejuvenate Real Estate LLC
Seller: Birch Properties LLC
Date: 04/21/23

315 Lexington St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Candido I. Del Moral
Seller: Briarwood NT
Date: 04/18/23

83-97 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Mirzai 87 LLC
Seller: Saremi LLP
Date: 04/20/23

84 Mayfair Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Farah Pimentel
Seller: Mayra Uceta
Date: 04/20/23

27 McBride St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jesus A. Burgos
Seller: Nehal Parekh
Date: 04/20/23

114 Melville St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Frances Yates
Seller: Brickhouse Homes LLC
Date: 04/27/23

57 Merwin St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Devin Thomas
Seller: Herman Cohee
Date: 04/28/23

11 Metzger Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Nadiyah A. King
Seller: Alexsis K. Alvarez
Date: 04/28/23

28 Nathaniel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,525
Buyer: Damian Carrizo
Seller: Jesenia Santiago
Date: 04/20/23

785 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Penelope LLC
Seller: DDM Page LLC
Date: 04/21/23

38-40 Pasadena St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $416,000
Buyer: Margarita Garcia
Seller: Aguasvivas Realty LLC
Date: 04/28/23

170 Pendleton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Juan L. Rodriguez
Seller: Evelyn Fernandez
Date: 04/21/23

83 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $304,900
Buyer: Patrick K. Treffon
Seller: Beth A. Nolan
Date: 04/27/23

73 Randolph St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $379,900
Buyer: Rosa Espejo
Seller: Aguasvivas Realty LLC
Date: 04/28/23

131 Ranney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Emmanuel Pinywah
Seller: Jose A. Cuevas
Date: 04/19/23

55 Redlands St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Carola M. Espada-Sanchez
Seller: Inas S. Alitbi
Date: 04/24/23

115 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Roderique P. Heartley
Seller: Craig M. Cox
Date: 04/26/23

185 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Alyssa Koske
Seller: Wendy K. Newton
Date: 04/28/23

69 Silas St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Shayne A. Spencer
Seller: Jose A. Lopez
Date: 04/26/23

9 Stockbridge St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Springfield Preservation Trust Inc.
Seller: Community Loan Servicing LLC
Date: 04/28/23

35 Stuart St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Stephanie Martinez
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 04/25/23

15 Sue St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Denise Caraballo
Seller: Peter S. King
Date: 04/20/23

61 Suzanne St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Kashelle M. Feliciano
Seller: Sareen Properties LLC
Date: 04/28/23

67 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Adilenia Ramos
Seller: Jennifer L. Hogan
Date: 04/27/23

300 Tremont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Kayla Schlenz
Seller: Maureen M. Pilon
Date: 04/28/23

15 Wellington St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Cwabs Inc.
Seller: Ivin Rennix
Date: 04/28/23

43 Wellington St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jose Rivera
Seller: Cynthia L. Jones
Date: 04/24/23

75 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Omeiry Cruz
Seller: John M. Turner
Date: 04/26/23

383 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Danielle E. Johnson
Seller: Panther Development LLC
Date: 04/21/23

2020 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Wieslaw Kanar
Seller: Olga Campbell
Date: 04/28/23

60-62 Windemere St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Jose L. Ortiz
Date: 04/28/23

138 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01199
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Patrick Tacho
Seller: Clevan Cooper
Date: 04/28/23

WALES

50 Monson Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Tina M. Ehrstein
Seller: Cioccolate RT
Date: 04/18/23

WESTFIELD

38 Castle Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Matthew S. Gray
Seller: Robert A. Stoops
Date: 04/28/23

186 City View Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Mark Lavoie
Seller: Alfred J. Albano
Date: 04/27/23

310 East Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $615,000
Buyer: Metrolube Realty LLC
Seller: Speedway LLC
Date: 04/20/23

11 Howard St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $162,750
Buyer: Salim Abdoo
Seller: City Of Westfield
Date: 04/28/23

49 Ingersoll Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $422,550
Buyer: Daniel W. Stephenson
Seller: Michael B. Wilson
Date: 04/28/23

13 Leonard Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Patrick T. McMahon
Seller: Francis T. Edwards
Date: 04/28/23

5-7 Morris Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Oscar N. Naranjo
Seller: Madeleine E. Smith
Date: 04/21/23

177 Munger Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $729,900
Buyer: Rupinder K. Multani
Seller: Ali R. Salehi
Date: 04/21/23

113 New Broadway
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Megliola Realty LLC
Seller: Thomas Hopper
Date: 04/20/23

Old Long Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Monica Bermejo
Seller: R&L Golden Acres RT
Date: 04/20/23

105 Park River Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $311,500
Buyer: William J. Conklin
Seller: Callahan, Robert C., (Estate)
Date: 04/20/23

120 Roosevelt Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Muenzen
Seller: Gabriella C. Hernandez
Date: 04/21/23

46 Saint James Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Preston G. Webb
Seller: Lisa Bricault
Date: 04/28/23

38 Salvator Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Tobias
Seller: Jose J. Bermejo
Date: 04/25/23

59 Scenic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Keith E. Tremblay
Seller: Robin A. Watras
Date: 04/28/23

475 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,300,000
Buyer: Pioneer Vly Trading Co. LL
Seller: Sao Joao Realty LLC
Date: 04/21/23

285 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Timothy Basak
Seller: Michael Werman
Date: 04/18/23

56 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $361,000
Buyer: Conor Dalton
Seller: Donna F. Dubour
Date: 04/28/23

WILBRAHAM

19 3 Rivers Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Jonathan Eliza
Seller: Richard A. Jodoin
Date: 04/20/23

9 Bittersweet Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Lisa A. Hutchison
Seller: Maryann Nunez
Date: 04/20/23

11 Circle Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Sarah E. Johnson
Seller: Brian Nogueira
Date: 04/19/23

24 Dumaine St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: RS&D Ventures LLC
Seller: IJN Equities LLC
Date: 04/28/23

10 Echo Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Amanda T. Theocles
Seller: Judy L. Van Raalte
Date: 04/24/23

10 Kensington Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $730,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Falvey
Seller: Thomas C. Cebula
Date: 04/26/23

215 Maynard Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Lopez
Seller: Daniel J. Falvey
Date: 04/26/23

939 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: BP LLC
Seller: Bridget W. Wallace
Date: 04/19/23

1 Squire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $755,000
Buyer: Eva Rodriguez
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/28/23

7 Victoria Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $655,000
Buyer: Roland Nkwanyuo
Seller: Kelly Nygren
Date: 04/26/23

WEST SPRINGFIELD

182 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Desiree Law
Seller: Deborah A. O’Neil
Date: 04/27/23

337 Gooseberry Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Christopher Fall
Seller: Angel Otero
Date: 04/21/23

42 Janet St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: HVC LLC
Seller: Begley, Joanne E., (Estate)
Date: 04/19/23

42 Janet St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Darrin J. Begley
Seller: HVC LLC
Date: 04/20/23

Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Town Of West Springfield
Seller: Paul J. Sears
Date: 04/21/23

37 Nelson St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Melissa J. Small
Seller: Pendleton, Katherine P., (Estate)
Date: 04/28/23

21 Russell St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Aga Brothers LLC
Seller: Bacile, Joseph, (Estate)
Date: 04/27/23

163 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $343,900
Buyer: Dvon Cordero
Seller: Lothlorien TR
Date: 04/18/23

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

850 Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $562,000
Buyer: 80 Acres
Seller: Steve A. Ozcelik
Date: 04/20/23

40 Berkshire Ter.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Sean D. Lopez
Seller: Emily T. Hamilton
Date: 04/21/23

150 College St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,300,000
Buyer: Hamshaw Amherst LLC
Seller: Filion Leasing Inc.
Date: 04/24/23

130 Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Christopher Kueffner
Seller: Huong C. Chow
Date: 04/19/23

105 Pondview Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Robert Gustafson
Seller: Ronald M. Loescher
Date: 04/28/23

17 Shumway St.
Amherst, MA 01004
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Mei Jiang
Seller: Sarah E. Thomson
Date: 04/28/23

16 Summerfield Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $730,000
Buyer: Nan Wang
Seller: Ming Yan
Date: 04/26/23

311 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Gorge Road LLC
Seller: Samuel G. Moody
Date: 04/28/23

BELCHERTOWN

24 Autumn Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Sean Ruell
Seller: Laurence L. Ruell
Date: 04/28/23

458 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Adam D. Chapin
Seller: Shufang Chen
Date: 04/28/23

399 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Myckey J. McNutt
Seller: Michael Benoit
Date: 04/28/23

108 North Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Miguelina A. Hernandez
Seller: Richard I. Cole
Date: 04/25/23

67 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $459,900
Buyer: Arlene Soleimani
Seller: Modern Homes LLC
Date: 04/28/23

118 Railroad St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Michael J. Ekmalian
Seller: Audra A. McLeish
Date: 04/24/23

397 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Bryan St Cyr
Seller: Antonio Carvalho
Date: 04/26/23

EASTHAMPTON

195 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $361,000
Buyer: Laura E. Jefferson
Seller: Donald J. Tymkowiche
Date: 04/28/23

346 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: James Cherewatti
Seller: Katherine E. Buckley
Date: 04/19/23

8 Summer St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Trouble Factory LLC
Seller: Christopher E. Gobillot
Date: 04/18/23

GRANBY

64 Aldrich St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $531,000
Buyer: Andrea Beaupre
Seller: Great Bally Inc.
Date: 04/20/23

17 Lyn Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Thi T. Nguyen
Seller: Ian A. Cooke
Date: 04/28/23

HADLEY

7 Arrowhead Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Leah Grace
Seller: Martha Watson-Lorentzen
Date: 04/26/23

21 Lawrence Plain Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Matthew Olszewski
Seller: Joseph S. Buckowski
Date: 04/19/23

1 Nikkis Way
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $765,000
Buyer: Hao Zhang
Seller: Stephen H. Belgrad
Date: 04/28/23

35 Spruce Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: David Lippa
Seller: Hadley Rentals LLC
Date: 04/27/23

HATFIELD

52 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $425,500
Buyer: Lisa Farrick
Seller: 119 Real Estate LLC
Date: 04/26/23

124 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Andria L. Moglia
Seller: Ernest T. Booth TR
Date: 04/28/23

HUNTINGTON

Thomas Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Thomas Road Land TR
Seller: Gaylon R. Donovan
Date: 04/26/23

NORTHAMPTON

61 Austin Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $289,999
Buyer: Jennifer A. Carbery
Seller: Benjamin C. Matthews
Date: 04/21/23

116 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $785,000
Buyer: David Lederer
Seller: John H. Selden
Date: 04/27/23

97 Mountain St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Bryna Cofrin-Shaw
Seller: Peter J. Bienkowski
Date: 04/26/23

65 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Benjamin D. Premo
Seller: Harold A. Asher
Date: 04/28/23

205 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Stephanie Levin
Seller: Zaka LLC
Date: 04/28/23

250 North Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Sarah E. Coburn
Seller: Christine E. Young
Date: 04/21/23

12 Rick Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $477,500
Buyer: Jai M. Alterman
Seller: Thomas J. Wickles
Date: 04/20/23

35 Willow St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Ariel Guitron
Seller: Robert V. Redick
Date: 04/28/23

SOUTH HADLEY

464 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $562,500
Buyer: Neal D. O’Meara
Seller: Barbara J. Smith
Date: 04/21/23

192 Brainerd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jose L. Ortiz
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 04/28/23

415 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Marissa L. Bailly
Seller: Scott Family Properties LLC
Date: 04/21/23

333 North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Jessica Ayala
Seller: Onstar Properties LLC
Date: 04/28/23

5 Pine St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Mary A. Callahan
Seller: Karl R. Wailgum RET
Date: 04/26/23

3 Sunrise Circle
South Hadley, MA 00107
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Caitlyn Shabshelowitz
Seller: Harvey Ashman
Date: 04/27/23

13 The Knolls
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Mary Couture
Seller: E&G RT
Date: 04/24/23

12 West Parkview Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Michael Mcelhaney
Seller: Phillip A. Chesky
Date: 04/28/23

WARE

83 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Matthew Crowner
Seller: Ronald E. Ellithorpe
Date: 04/19/23

4 Eddy St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Mooch Properties LLC
Seller: David J. Mendelsohn
Date: 04/19/23

123 Main St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Ye & Zheng FT
Seller: Jasmina NT
Date: 04/18/23

5 Ross Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Connolly FT
Seller: MFRA TR
Date: 04/28/23

63 South St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Kelsey Shea
Seller: Christopher Robare
Date: 04/27/23

WESTHAMPTON

197 Southampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Judith Lewis
Seller: Sharon P. Lewis
Date: 04/27/23

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff May 24, 2023

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the months of April and May 2023.

EASTHAMPTON

Center for Human Development
55 Union St.
N/A — Selective interior demolition

Bernard Gawle
14 Ward Ave.
N/A — Roofing

HADLEY

Joseph Czajkowski
Shattuck Road
N/A — Install dual-use solar array

LENOX

Boston University
45 West St.
$66,715 — Roofing

Bruce Stringer
529 Walker St.
$4,310 — Install four vinyl windows

PITTSFIELD

Roy Andersen Jr.
25 Bartlett Ave.
$6,010 — Replace five windows

Berkshire Family YMCA
292 North St.
$298,887 — Roof replacement over court and track; alterations to toddler room; add two new windows; add lockers and changing stalls at men’s locker room

Cedar Tree Investment Group LLC
409 West St.
$44,000 — Install 33 roof-mounted solar panels

Kidzone Child Care Educational
699 Dalton Ave.
$30,850 — Modify existing fire sprinkler system

NORTHAMPTON

Bang Bang LLC
29 Pleasant St., Unit C
$14,000 — Basement renovation for tattoo artist

Bowles Enterprises LLC
235 Main St.
$5,350 — Illuminated wall sign for Bagalan Cannabis

Glass Lake Partners LLC
43 Ladd Ave.
$4,000 — Build partition wall in storage area

Healthy Neighborhoods Group LLC
47 High St.
$18,000 — Siding

Lankleine Realty LLC
881 North K ing St.
$6,000 — Illuminated ground sign for Northeast Painting Associates

Northampton Rentals LLC
206 King St.
$3,000 — Illuminated ground sign for Advance Psychotherapy

Northampton Revolver Club
519 Ryan Road
$27,000 — Roofing

Rankin Holdings LLC
115 Conz St.
$220,000 — Demolish building

Smith College
7 College Lane
$15,000 — Remove mezzanine

Standick Trust
158 Main St.
N/A — Remove partition walls

SPRINGFIELD

1277 Liberty St. LLC
1295 Liberty St.
$24,000 — Alter tenant space for Ivy’s Events at Springfield Plaza for use as assembly area

CIG2 LLC
281 Belmont Ave.
$7,000 — Repair exterior rear egress system, install new Sonotube to left-side deficient post

City of Springfield
1170 Carew St.
N/A — Remodel entry of Van Sickle Academy into handicap-accessible passageway, remodel life-skills classroom.

Hector Bermudez
175 Oakland St.
$9,000 — Insulation

DDM Property Group LLC
1630 Boston Road
$185,000 — Remodel interior for new Hannoush Jewelers store

David Della Torre, Lynn Baker, Paul Della Torre
13 Morgan St.
$20,000 — Alter interior for accessible restroom, office, and storage area for vehicles

Five Town Station LLC
380 Cooley St.
$50,000 — Erect addition for additional dining seating at Texas Roadhouse

Ronald McDonald House of Springfield
34 Chapin Ter.
$242,454 — Remove and replace windows and siding

Stone Soul Inc.
41 Colton St.
$4,000 — Install new bathroom

Springfield Cemetery
171 Maple St.
$25,875 — Remove and replace garage roof

Haq Zahoor Ul
679 Main St.
$92,000 — Erect canopy #1 for gas station pumps

Haq Zahoor Ul
679 Main St.
$92,000 — Erect canopy #2 for gas station pumps

YMCA of Greater Springfield Inc.
1784 Dwight St.
$60,999 — Roofing

1Berkshire Announces Return of Berkshire Trendsetter Awards

By BusinessWest Staff May 23, 2023

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — 1Berkshire announced the return of its Celebrate the Berkshires premier event and the Berkshire Trendsetter Awards for 2023. Celebrate the Berkshires will be held on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, honoring the Berkshire region. At this event, 1Berkshire will announce the Putting the Berkshires on the Map honoree, as well as present the Berkshire Trendsetter Awards to exceptional individuals and businesses.

“After a three-year hiatus, we are so happy to be able to bring back the Trendsetter Awards, along with the Celebrate the Berkshires event,” 1Berkshire President and CEO Jonathan Butler said. “These awards allow us to shine a light on all the great work going on in our region and acknowledge how each of the nominated individuals and businesses truly makes the Berkshires a more vibrant place to work, live, and play.”

The Berkshire Trendsetter Awards recognize outstanding initiatives, talented people, and innovative organizations moving the Berkshires forward. Click here to learn more about the new award categories, and click here to submit nominations. The deadline to nominate is Friday, June 16. Nominees do not have to be members of 1Berkshire.

HCC Lands $1.28M Grant to Create Free Human-services Internship Program

By BusinessWest Staff May 23, 2023

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) has landed a $1.28 million grant to launch a new, free certificate and internship program intended to help address a shortage of workers in the human-services industry.

The grant, from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services, will cover the full cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies for students who want to earn a certificate in human services coupled with a paid internship at one of four local social-service agencies.

Partnering with HCC on the grant are Gándara Center, ServiceNet, Mental Health Assoc., and Jewish Family Services.

“This program is really meant to accelerate a student’s entry into the workforce,” said Donna Rowe, chair of HCC’s Human Services program. “It’s wonderful that these four agencies have made this agreement with us. They’re looking for workers, and we have students looking to get into the field.”

The two-semester Social Service Internship Program will begin in the 2023-24 academic year, with up to 30 students starting this fall and another 30 next spring. Recruiting for those two classes is now underway.

The human-services industry presents a wide variety of career options for people who are interested in providing care to children, seniors, adolescents, the homeless, or individuals dealing with substance abuse or mental-health issues.

“This is a great opportunity for students to get into this field, get their academic and their learning experiences with us, and then have a placement with a community agency that could end up as a full-time paid position after their internship,” Rowe said. “Plus, their tuition and books and everything else is paid for. That’s huge.”

The total savings on attendance is estimated to be $5,384 per semester for full-time students. During their second-semester internship, students will receive a stipend of $2,500, which equates to roughly $20 per hour for 10 hours per week.

A 2018 report from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission detailed a gap of some 600 social-service and human-service workers in Western Mass., a deficit that has only widened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is definitely a big shortage of human-service workers, and it’s a challenge for agencies who have a variety of workers at different levels,” said Amy Brandt, HCC’s dean of Health Sciences. “They don’t have a lot of additional resources to develop that talent pool. They really are on shoestring budgets, trying to provide services to the community. When you look at this grant, it’s a huge investment that can really help fill their needs.”

The HCC Social Service Internship Program is modeled after other successful, grant-funded certificate/internship programs HCC has developed in the areas of community health and engineering.

Additionally, the grant provides for the creation of two new full-time positions: a human-services certificate coordinator to focus on recruiting, planning, and academic support; and a social-services coordinator to coordinate the internships and help students with any non-academic issues that might interfere with their education.

“A lot of community-college students have complicated lives that impact their success in school. For instance, they might be at risk of having their power turned off, or they are facing housing insecurity or childcare issues,” Brandt said. “The social-services coordinator is there to be somewhat of a case manager, to help students find the resources at the college or in the community they need so they can remain successful in the program.”

The 24-credit human-services certificate students earn can also be ‘stacked’ or applied toward an associate degree in human services, which could then lead to a bachelor’s degree in social work.

“The program really has the potential to set students up for lifelong learning and career advancement, and it’s also helping these social-service agencies meet their needs,” Brandt said.

For more information or to complete a general-interest form, visit hcc.edu/hsv-grant.

bankESB Promotes Brenna Breeding to Digital Marketing Officer

By BusinessWest Staff May 23, 2023

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently promoted Brenna Breeding to Digital Marketing officer. She joined bankESB in 2020 as Digital Marketing manager. In her new role, she will be responsible for digital marketing content strategy and development and corporate website management, and will serve as the relationship manager for third-party vendors.

Breeding earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from the University of Delaware and recently earned a marketing certificate from American Bankers Assoc. Bank Marketing School.

Monson Savings Bank Donates $4,000 in Support of Monson Arts Council

By BusinessWest Staff May 23, 2023

Daily News

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank recently made a $4,000 donation to the Monson Arts Council in support of the local arts.

David Dupuis of the Monson Arts Council expressed his gratitude to the community Bank. “Monson Savings Bank is very generous in their support of the Monson Arts Council and the local arts,” he noted. “We are very grateful for their longtime support. This donation in particular will be essential to our Spring Art Exhibition and Sale.”

Susan James of the Monson Arts Council was also thankful for the donation. “The Monson Arts Council is so fortunate to have a community partner like Monson Savings,” she said. “The bank has been a longtime supporter of the Monson Arts Council. It is because of loyal supporters like them that we can continue our mission.”

Dan Moriarty, Monson Savings Bank president and CEO, added that “Monson Savings is always happy to lend our support to community organizations in any way that we can. The Monson Arts Council does so much to bring the town of Monson and the surrounding communities together through the arts. As a lifelong resident of Monson, I am always so impressed by the events and workshops the council puts together.”

Hooplandia Announces More Corporate Partners

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2023

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Hooplandia, presented by Dunkin’ and co-hosted by Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, is set to debut on the Big E fairgrounds June 23-25. The 3-on-3 tourney and festival announced that its official healthcare partner is Baystate Health.

The healthcare organization will have a presence on the grounds during the event weekend, featuring a branded vehicle, an informative vendor table, and even some representation participating on the courts.

“Baystate Health is pleased to be a sponsor for the very first Hooplandia basketball tournament,” said Annamarie Golden, director of Community Relations at Baystate Health. “We are excited to be part of an event where people can be active and engage in a game that is such a key piece of Western Massachusetts history. We hope Hooplandia will become an annual event we can all look forward to.”

In addition, Hooplandia announced that its official vehicle is Ford via a new partnership with Ford Dealers of New England, which will have an on-grounds presence during the tournament weekend, featuring a range of vehicles.

Through the newly formed partnership, Ford Dealers of New England will sponsor Hooplandia’s high-school freshman elite, high-school varsity elite, and college elite divisions.

Hooplandia is more than just a 3-on-3 tournament for all-star and recreational players throughout New England and beyond; it’s an all-inclusive festival filled with hands-on experiences for children and family, entertainment by DJ Meechie, an early taste of some of the Big E’s popular eats, and much more.

Registration for the tournament is open at www.hooplandia.com. Teams that complete registration by June 4 will receive a ticket to the 2023 Big E, scheduled for Sept. 15 to Oct. 1; a Dunkin’ gift card; and tickets to a Connecticut Sun game for each member. The final deadline for registration is June 19. Ten dollars of every team sign-up will be donated to Hooplandia’s philanthropic partner, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Springfield.

BusinessTalk with Alison Berman, council director of Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2023

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 Massachusetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running during these challenging times.

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 163: May 22, 2023

BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Alison Berman, council director of Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts

Girls today deal with a host of challenges, from school stress to social pressures and much more, all of which can weigh on their happiness and health, both physical and mental. On the next installment of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Alison Berman, council director of Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts, an organization that uses running as a framework for crucial lessons on self-care, managing emotions, empathy, gratitude, building confidence … the list goes on. Just weeks before its celebratory 5K event steps off on June 3, Berman explains why Girls on the Run’s mission resonates so powerfully.

Sponsored by:

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Greenfield Cooperative Bank Supports RiverCulture Series of Summer Events

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2023

Daily News

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank announced its sponsorship of the 2023 Summer Event Series organized by RiverCulture, the creative-economy program of the town of Montague. The series features a variety of cultural events happening in the five villages of Montague and the Turners Falls Cultural District, including live music, outdoor movies, theater, family activities, and festivals.

The series aims to showcase the rich and diverse cultural offerings of the region and to foster community engagement and enjoyment. As a community bank, Greenfield Cooperative Bank is committed to supporting local arts and culture and to enhancing quality of life for its customers and neighbors.

“We are delighted to partner with RiverCulture and to contribute to the vibrant and creative atmosphere of Montague and Turners Falls,” said Tony Worden, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank. “We hope that everyone will take advantage of these wonderful opportunities to enjoy some great entertainment and to connect with their fellow residents.”

Paper copies of the calendar of events are available at local retail stores and restaurants, or can be downloaded at www.riverculture.org.

Massachusetts Unemployment Down Slightly in April

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2023

Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s April total unemployment rate was 3.3%, down 0.2% from the revised March estimate of 3.5%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 5,100 jobs in April. This follows March’s revised gain of 12,100 jobs. The largest over-the-month private-sector job gains were in education and health services; information; and professional, scientific, and business services. Employment now stands at 3,759,200. Massachusetts gained 697,600 jobs since the employment low in April 2020.

From April 2022 to April 2023, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 99,100 jobs. The largest over-the-year gains occurred in education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; and leisure and hospitality.

The state’s April unemployment rate of 3.3% was 0.1 percentage point below the national rate of 3.4% reported by BLS.

The labor force decreased by an estimated 2,200 from the revised estimate of 3,741,200 in March, as 8,300 more residents were employed and 10,500 fewer residents were unemployed over-the-month. Over-the-year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 0.4%.

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 — dropped by 0.1 percentage point to 64.9% over-the-month. Compared to April 2022, the labor-force participation rate was down 0.5%.

LightHouse Holyoke Signs Agreement for Possible New Home

By BusinessWest Staff May 22, 2023

Daily News

HOLYOKE — LightHouse Personalized Education for Teens in Holyoke announced it has signed a purchase-and-sale agreement for the historic Congregation of the Sons of Zion building in downtown Holyoke. The agreement establishes a 120-day inspection and planning period to determine the viability of the move.

LightHouse is a personalized, competency-based middle and high school now in its eighth year in its current location in the STEAM Building at 208 Race Street in Holyoke. LightHouse’s tagline is “changing what school can be.”

“The location is perfect for us. It’s in great shape for a 120-year old building, but it will need extensive renovation to come up to code for a school and to meet our needs,” said Catherine Gobron, co-founder and executive director of LightHouse Holyoke. “It’s exciting. This could be our new home. We hope it will be.”

Current renovation estimates are being drawn up and are expected to run well into the millions of dollars, Gobron added. “We’re in the beginning stages of applying for grants and preparing for a capital campaign to fund all the work that needs to be done.”

LightHouse has grown strategically during its eight years, from a program serving 36 students in its first year, 2015, to its current enrollment of 75 students. Students come from towns and cities across the Pioneer Valley, including Holyoke, and as far away as New Haven, Conn. Almost half of the student body are Holyoke public-school students who attend LightHouse full-time through a public-private partnership, a model for innovation for school districts everywhere.

The plan for the school, according to Gobron, is to remain small, growing to not more than 120 students. The move to a permanent home would allow LightHouse to reach that goal possibly within its first 10 years. “If everything comes together, we see ourselves there by 2025,” she said.

The Sons of Zion building is located at 378 Maple St., on the corner of Cabot Street, diagonally across from Holyoke Library Park and the Holyoke Public Library. It has been the home of the Congregation of the Sons of Zion since 1904.

Florence Bank Awards $150,000 to Nonprofits in Customers’ Choice Community Grants

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2023

Daily News

FLORENCE — In its 21st year, Florence Bank’s Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program awarded $150,000 to 46 area nonprofits in honor of the bank’s 150th anniversary.

“I know the total we announced we would award this year was $125,000, but I feel like $150,000 would be a more appropriate amount to celebrate the 150 years that Florence Bank has been in existence,” President and CEO Matt Garrity said in leading his first Customers’ Choice celebration on May 16. “It’s amazing to see so many community organizations being recognized, and the fact that the recognition comes from Florence Bank customers in the form of votes is really special.”

Garrity handed checks to 46 nonprofit leaders across the region, awarding 13 with $5,000 gifts — the most ever granted in 21 years — and presenting $500 surprise awards to 10 organizations that fell just short of the required 50-vote count.

These organizations received $5,000 grants: Dakin Humane Society, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Amherst Survival Center, Friends of the Williamsburg Library, Northampton Survival Center, Goshen Firefighter’s Assoc. Inc., Cancer Connection, Manna Soup Kitchen, It Takes a Village, Friends of Forbes Library, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Our Lady of the Hills Parish, and Friends of Lilly Library.

These 23 organizations also received an award: Williamsburg Firefighter Assoc., $4,701; Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition Inc., $4,652; Easthampton Community Center, $4,309; Friends of M.N. Spear Memorial Library, $4,064; Northampton Neighbors, $4,064; Springfield Shriners Hospitals for Children, $3,917; Grow Food Northampton Inc., $3,819; Amherst Neighbors, $3,721; Smith Vocational High School PTO, $3,721; Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, $3,624; Performing Arts Charter School, $3,575; Therapeutic Equestrian Center, $3,575; Kestrel Land Trust, $3,427; Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation, $3,330; Northampton Community Music Center, $3,232; Safe Passage, $3,134; Empty Arms Bereavement Support, $2,987; New Hingham Elementary School PTO, $2,987; R.K. Finn Ryan Road School, $2,889; Whole Children, $2,693; Belchertown K-9, $2,595; Northampton Football League, $2,545; and Tapestry, $2,448.

Finally, these 10 organizations received unexpected $500 awards: the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, Gray House, Holyoke Community College Foundation, Mental Health Assoc. Inc., Springfield Rescue Mission, the Parish Cupboard, and Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center.

Voting takes place all year long, online at www.florencebank.com/vote and in bank branches, and each customer has only one vote. To qualify for a community grant, organizations must receive at least 50 votes. In 2022, roughly 7,000 votes were cast, making 36 nonprofits eligible for a grant; the other 10 funded organizations were invited to attend the event and were surprised with their $500 award. Over the past 21 years, Florence Bank has donated a total of $1.5 million to 165 organizations.

Delaney’s Market Store to Open in South Hadley

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2023

Daily News

SOUTH HADLEY — Owner Peter Rosskothen is announced the opening of a Delaney’s Market store located at 459 Granby Road, South Hadley. The grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration is scheduled for Thursday, May 25 at 10 a.m.

“We are excited to be opening our next Delaney’s Market in my hometown of South Hadley,” Rosskothen said. “We are looking forward to welcoming the local community into our newest location and welcome the press, supporters, and friends to join us for this special event.”

Delaney’s Market is a retail store that features chef-inspired, ready-made meals that are fresh and ready to serve with no real effort. Delaney’s Market strives to assist the busy individual or family that wants to eat a quality lunch or dinner at their home or office without the hassle of long prep times or high costs. The South Hadley location is unique because it is the new home of Delaney Market’s production kitchen.

This is the fourth Delaney’s Market store; the first one is located at the Longmeadow Shops in Longmeadow and has been open since 2016. The Wilbraham and Westfield locations have been open since 2019.

“I am grateful for the support we have gotten over the years and excited to grow across Western Massachusetts,” Rosskothen said. “We live in a great place with great people.”

Virtual Program to Examine the Workplace Reset

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2023

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — The workplace reset is real, troublesome, and challenging. Business media buzzes with reports of companies requiring employees to return to work, shrinking their office space, or introducing ‘hoteling’ practices. Offsetting these trends are the increased appetite of many employees for flexible work schedules, while fewer people are quitting their jobs, according to a breaking report from the ADP Research Institute. And looming large is the rise of AI devices in workplaces.

“The Workplace Reset” is the topic of the next Dulye Leadership Experience (DLE) virtual program on Friday, June 9, when a diverse group of professionals will exchange experiences and perspectives in a frank conversation about changing expectations. Participants will speak about how their workplace is handling this reset and what they are doing to manage this reset in their companies, work teams, and social connections.

This one-hour, virtual program starts at noon and features moderated discussion as well as breakout sessions. There is no fee to attend. To promote an open and transparent space, the program will not be recorded. To register, click here.

United Way of Pioneer Valley to Present Free OnBoard Workshop

By BusinessWest Staff May 19, 2023

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) will offer a free OnBoard workshop for newly elected nonprofit board members as well as potential nonprofit board members.

The interactive workshop will be held on Thursday, June 1 from 2 to 4:30 p.m., with a social hour directly following the training. Registration is required to attend. Workshop topics include how to identify boards that align with your own interests and how to get your name on a nonprofit’s radar as a potential board member. Various board models will also be discussed.

“Since incorporating the OnBoard program into the UWPV family of programs, it has been our intent to provide relevant training and workshops for new board members in the region,” said Jason Newmark, president of the UWPV board. “We believe this is a significant way for UWPV to support our fellow nonprofit organizations. We invite new and potential board members to take full advantage of the abundant, shared knowledge that will be in the room.”

Space in the program is limited, so UWPV encourages people to register soon. To do so, contact Jennifer Kinsman at (413) 693-0212 or [email protected].

Keiter Corp. Spins Off Site-work Division into Wholly Owned Subsidiary

By BusinessWest Staff May 18, 2023

Daily News

FLORENCE — Keiter Corp. has formally spun off its excavation and site-work division, Hatfield Construction Inc., into a wholly owned subsidiary in a move that President Scott Keiter said poises the new organization for growth. Historically, the division served only Keiter clients, but it will now scale up to serve many other clients in the industry.

Key leaders in the firm will be Bill Moynihan, director of Operations, in charge of project management and field operations; and Dylan Courtney, director of Pre-construction, who will oversee project development, estimating, and sales.

“The businesses are run differently from one another, have different needs, and now have entirely separate management teams,” Keiter said. “We’re now able to position ourselves for continued growth, and we are excited about the opportunity for Hatfield Construction to develop new relationships with other contractors and builders in the region and partner with them on their construction projects.”

Hatfield Construction offers services including trucking and hauling, excavation, demolition, sewer and water, septic systems, land clearing, stormwater systems and trenching for underground utilities. Keiter said the business also works closely with solar companies, assisting them with trenching and ground-mount systems.

Hatfield Construction has approximately 20 employees in roles ranging from equipment operator and laborer to site foreman and management.

“Hatfield Construction ensures the same core values and quality of service as its parent company,” Courtney said.

Keiter added that “we bring a high level of professionalism to the table. We have a deep reservoir of talent on staff, and we’re always up for the challenge of complex projects.”

Moynihan has been with Keiter for eight years. He holds an associate degree in architecture from Springfield Technical Community College and a bachelor’s in building construction technology from UMass Amherst.

Hired last fall, Courtney holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nichols College and an MBA from Washington State University. He is also certified in construction project management by Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Hatfield Construction offers a broad scope of services. Current projects include the development of an outdoor exercise ‘airnaseum,’ or open-air gymnasium, at Hampshire Regional YMCA; infrastructure upgrades to Parsons House at Smith College, including a new elevator shaft; and excavation, stormwater systems, and other site work on Belchertown property being developed by Cutchins Programs for Children & Families.

John Ciolek Joins Team at Associated Builders

By BusinessWest Staff May 18, 2023

Daily News

SOUTH HADLEY — John Ciolek recently joined the team at Associated Builders in South Hadley, where he will be active in sales, finance, and administration. He will also spearhead activities in the Ciolek family’s commercial real-estate business.

Associated Builders (AB) is a third-generation, family-owned, design-build general contractor that has served the Pioneer Valley for morenthan five decades. Founded by his father in the early ’70s, John’s three brothers — Michael, Paul, and Tom — have led AB for the past 30-plus years. This is a return to the company of sorts for John, as he worked with the field crews with his brothers throughout his high-school and college years, gaining practical knowledge of the construction business. The company has grown tremendously since then and has completed projects across New England with a focus on Western Mass. and Northern Conn.

John Ciolek brings extensive experience in finance and strategy garnered over a long career in banking and corporate strategy. Most recently, he was head of Strategic Initiatives at NGL Energy, where he was responsible for the company’s M&A activities and its sustainability efforts. Prior to that, he had a decades-long career on Wall Street, over the course of which he served as a managing director in Investment Banking for Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, and Citigroup. He started his banking career as a corporate lender for Shawmut Bank in Hartford, Conn. before attending the University of Michigan, where he received his MBA. He received a bachelor’s degree in political economy from Williams College in Williamstown.

Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley to Host Exclusive Ride and Drive Event Today

By BusinessWest Staff May 18, 2023

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley will host a Ride and Drive event today, May 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., offering a unique opportunity for car enthusiasts and eco-conscious consumers to experience the cutting-edge C40 electric vehicle. The event will take place at Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley, 48 Damon Road, Northampton.

During the event, attendees will have the chance to get behind the wheel of the highly anticipated Volvo C40, allowing them to experience the performance and handling of the C40, as well as its range and eco-friendly features.

Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley will offer free gifts to all attendees. Additionally, Caravan Kitchen will be present, providing complimentary food to further enhance the attendees’ experience. In addition, attendees will have the chance to win an array of door prizes, including tickets to the June 12 Red Sox game, restaurant gift certificates, and an opportunity to win two tickets to the Ed Sheeran concert in Boston on June 29.

“We are delighted to invite the community to our Ride and Drive event and showcase the incredible capabilities of the Volvo C40 electric vehicle,” said Carla Cosenzi, president of Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley.

Interested individuals are encouraged to RSVP in advance by clicking here.

Rachel’s Table Celebrates 30 Years with Bountiful Bowls Fundraiser

By BusinessWest Staff May 18, 2023

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — On Tuesday, June 13 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, Rachel’s Table, a program of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, will hold its biennial fundraiser, Bountiful Bowls. The evening will celebrate the organization’s 30 years of serving the community; honor its founders, mentors, and supporters, and share information about its launch as a new nonprofit entity.

“Rachel’s Table is the premier food rescue and distribution program in Western Massachusetts and wouldn’t be where it is today without those who contribute in instrumental ways,” said Jodi Falk, director of Rachel’s Table. “We look forward to celebrating our 30 years and honoring all those involved.”

Dave Brinnel, comedian and musician, will emcee the evening and will be joined by honorary chair and former state Sen. Eric Lesser. Among the honorees are the 10 female founders of Rachel’s Table in Springfield: Judy Ingis, Myra Gold, Susanne Osofsky, Liz Kittredge Rome, Patti Weber Weiner, Linda Skole, Ronnie Leavitt, Nancy Posnick, the late Daydie Hochberg, and Margie Berg.

The Springfield program was modeled after the first Rachel’s Table in Worcester and has grown into a full-fledged hunger-alleviation program, which is the main reason it is now becoming its own nonprofit entity.

Also being honored are four mentors that have helped Rachel’s Table in its most recent growth phase, offering their skills and talents in seminal ways. They are Janice Greenberg, Jon Lasko, Jerry Munic, and the late Joseph Dorison.

Finally, the Arbella Insurance Foundation will be honored as the entity that helped initiate the Growing Gardens program at Rachel’s Table, its food-equity and access program that works directly with those most affected by food insecurity to grow their own food.

Food, refreshments, film, and entertainment will support Rachel’s Table’s 30th-year celebration to honor its past, present, and future. Visit www.rachelstablepv.org to learn more about the event and purchase tickets.

Florence Bank Celebrates 150 Years of Doing Business with Giveaway

By BusinessWest Staff May 17, 2023

Daily News

FLORENCE — To commemorate 150 years in business, Florence Bank is drawing on its partnership with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield to offer a chance for 12 community members to win complimentary use of the popular venue’s birthday room.

In addition to the use of the room, one winner from each of the bank’s 12 branches will receive 10 general-admission tickets to the Hall of Fame and a goody bag for each party guest.

“It’s our birthday, but we’d like to celebrate it by making the birthdays of others a little more special,” Florence Bank President and CEO Matt Garrity said.

Those entering the giveaway can complete a ballot at any of the bank’s branches or visit florencebank.com/bday. The contest ends June 2. Winners will be chosen on Monday, June 5.

May 6, 1873, marks the date of the first 25 deposits at Florence Savings Bank, totaling $825.75. Henry Bond was the bank’s first treasurer, and its founding president was Alfred Lilly. The first trustees and corporators were business owners, shopkeepers, farmers, and community leaders, and the mission of the community bank was to help citizens safely save their money and make a significant contribution in the lives of the people of Hampshire County.

“We’ve grown a lot in the past century and a half, but we have remained true to our core values,” Garrity said. “We still have business owners, shopkeepers, and community leaders on our board, and our mission remains the same as it was 150 years ago. We remain a mutual bank, unbeholden to stockholders. We provide the best possible service to customers, and we are proud community partners, giving back in many areas to help our neighbors thrive.”

Florence Bank’s original home was the second floor of the Davis Building on Main Street in Florence. It has outgrown its space twice, moving into a two-story brick building next door in 1891 and again in 1978 to its present main office.

The first branch outside Florence was opened at the corner of King and Finn streets in Northampton in 1986, and the most recent branch in Chicopee cut the ribbon on May 5, 2021.

In 1880, Florence Bank made history when Mary Bond, the sister of Henry Bond, became the bank’s second treasurer and the first woman to hold the office of treasurer of a savings bank in the state. She served as principal of the Northampton public schools and later as the first woman elected to the Northampton School Committee.

Bond was followed in 1891 by Mary Gould, who was succeeded in 1911 by another woman, Emilie Plimpton.

Growth came steadily for the bank, most notably during World War II, when it received a record number of deposits. These came mainly from government allotments to area residents serving in the military. In the 1950s, a time of rapid growth in the local housing market, the bank was a principal source of home mortgages for Florence residents. Today, Florence Bank’s assets total $1.8 billion.

First Annual Jack Rome Memorial 5K Established

By BusinessWest Staff May 17, 2023

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Local canine celebrity Jack Rome, official greeter of Gary Rome Auto Group, who peacefully passed away on Oct. 10, 2022, will now be memorialized with an annual 5K run/walk to benefit the Foundation for Thomas J. O’Connor (TJO) Animals.

Sponsored by Gary Rome Hyundai and Western Mass News, the first annual Jack Rome Memorial 5K will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. at Forest Park in Springfield, and will be a family- and dog-friendly event. Click here to register.

All funds raised will be donated directly to the Foundation for TJO Animals and will be used specifically for medical and veterinary care, emergency surgery, and rehabilitation services to help the animals find new, loving homes.

“Jack lived a very full and happy life for 13 years,” said Gary Rome, president of Gary Rome Auto Group. “When I was at work, Jack was at work. He brought a million smiles to customers and employees, and I am so thankful his memory will live on and benefit the animals at TJO.”

Hugh Zeitlin, news director of Western Mass News, said the station’s employees voted to make TJO the station charity for 2023 because of the positive impact it has on the community.

“Jack’s been around for a long time and been going to work with him every day, so we decided that this would be a wonderful idea to raise money for the Foundation for TJO Animals and start an annual memorial 5K walk/run in honor of Jack Rome,” said Stewart Bromberg, executive director for the Foundation for TJO Animals.

Jack Rome was a Vizsla breed, a Hungarian hunting dog. He embodied the common Vizsla traits of affectionate, loyal, and energetic, yet quiet and gentle. He appeared in all Gary Rome Hyundai Kia advertisements and filmed many commercials alongside Gary and 2-year-old ‘sister’ Daisy, also a Vizsla.

The Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center provides comprehensive animal-control services and programs to the Western Mass. community for the protection of animals, public health, safety, and the environment. TJO responsibly places unclaimed and relinquished animals into care and new adoptive homes. Its animal-control officers respond to routine service calls daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Emergency response for ill, injured, or aggressive animals is available 24 hours a day. The TJO Adoption Center, located at 627 Cottage St. in Springfield, provides a second chance for adoptable dogs, cats, and occasionally other animals.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities or obtain more information, contact Dara Davignon, executive assistant to Gary Rome, at [email protected] or (413) 420-8049.

Playing in Harmony

Developments of Note

Sharp Ideas

In Tune with the Community

News That’s Fit to Print

Don’t Stop the Presses

Bottom Line

A Lot on His Plate

A Different Breed

Food for Thought

Confidence Games

Keeping on Track

Mission Accomplished

The Last Big Piece of the Puzzle

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

View to the Future

Editorial

Opinion

Royal Sendoff

Kentucky Derby Party

Exciting Chapter

Dealer of the Year

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Free Music Fridays

You Ball Fundraising Gala

Hospice of the Fisher Home Golf Tournament

Purse & Power Tool Bingo Fundraiser

Western Mass Eldercare Conference

Free Shred Days

40 Under Forty

sheLEADS Conference

Hooplandia

Elms Receives $1 Million to Expand Two Programs

AIC Signs Housing Agreements to Benefit HCC, STCC Students

WNE, BCC Sign Joint Admissions Agreement

Chris Marion Celebrates Grand Opening of Studio

UMassFive Donates Items to Local Survival Centers

Local Farm Awards Distribute $225,000 for Projects in 2023

WSU, HCC Announce Nursing-degree Partnership

MassHire Franklin Hampshire Announces New Location

Episode 163: May 22, 2023

BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Alison Berman, council director of Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts

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