Community Spotlight

By
Aaron Vega
Community Spotlight Special Coverage

Holyoke Looks to Build on the Momentum from Cannabis, Entrepreneurship

 

Aaron Vega

Aaron Vega says there are many cannabis-related businesses now operating in Holyoke, and many more in the pipeline.

Joshua Garcia, Holyoke’s first Puerto Rican mayor and a lifelong resident of this historic community, says that, in many respects, history is repeating itself in the city.

Elaborating, he said that for the better part of a century, the paper and textile mills on the canals were a symbol of strength, a source of jobs, and, in many ways, the city’s identity (see Sidebar here)

It wasn’t that way through the latter half of the 20th century as most of the mills went south, and into the 21st century, he went on, but it’s becoming that way again, largely because of the booming cannabis industry that is breathing new life into those long-vacant mills.

“Those mills were the economic anchor,” he said. “And it’s interesting to see history repeat itself; but instead of the Paper City, there’s now this ‘Rolling Paper City’ interest. Although it’s a different industry … the impact is the same.”

Indeed, cannabis is changing the landscape in Holyoke, figuratively if not literally, although that, too. Aaron Vega, director of Planning & Economic Development in Holyoke and a former state representative, said there are now eight cannabis operations doing business in Holyoke, and several dozen more in various stages of development.

Just as important as the number of ventures is the broad diversity on display, he said, noting that the city boasts several cultivating operations, dispensaries, a testing lab, and more.

“We continue to see cannabis interest and cannabis companies opening,” said Vega. “There’s a lot in the pipeline.”

But while the emergence of a cannabis cluster in Holyoke — similar to what is happening with biotech in Worcester in many respects — has been impressive, there is much more to what most would call a resurgence in this city than one industry. There has been a surge in entrepreneurship that has brought many new businesses to High Street and other streets. There have been several new restaurants, for example, despite the toll the pandemic has taken on that sector, but many other kinds of ventures as well, said Jordan Hart, executive director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

“Over the past year, we’ve had more than a dozen ribbon cuttings, most of them restaurants and all of them small businesses.”

“Over the past year, we’ve had more than a dozen ribbon cuttings, most of them restaurants and all of them small businesses,” she said, noting that her ceremonial scissors have been given a workout. She credits the pandemic and the manner in which it has prompted introspection and, for many, a desire for something different and hopefully more fulfilling than their 9-5 job, as being a catalyst for some of this activity.

Tessa Murphy Romboletti, director of EforAll Holyoke and now also at-large City Councilor — she was elected last November — agreed.

She said the pandemic has helped fuel interest in entrepreneurship across the board, meaning people of all ages and demographic groups. EforAll has been expanding and evolving in ongoing efforts to meet the needs of such individuals, she said, adding that it is now staging its 12th and 13th cohorts of aspiring entrepreneurs, one for English-speaking candidates, and one for Spanish. It is also adding a new program, called E-Forever, a resource for those who are already in business rather than trying to get off the ground.

But beyond COVID, this surge in entrepreneurship is also being fueled by Holyoke’s emergence as a landing spot for those looking for affordability, diversity, a growing cultural economy, and a chance to do something they may not be able to do in a larger, far more expensive municipality.

People like Jay Candelario, who grew up in the city, moved to New York, but eventually returned. Battling heavy doubts and some long odds, he took an historic home on Dwight Street that had been damaged in a lightning strike, and converted it into Jay’s Bed & Breakfast.

Opened in 2016, the facility has certainly been challenged by the pandemic, but it has hung on, through diversification into catering and events, and Candelario’s persistence and belief in not only himself and his concept, but Holyoke itself (more on that, later).

Jay Candelario

Jay Candelario, seen here at the grand staircase at his B&B on Dwight Street, says Holyoke is staging a resurgence and attracting many new residents and businesses.

For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at Holyoke and the many forces that are shaping progress in the city and, as the mayor noted, enabling history to repeat itself.

 

On a Roll

While there are many developments in Holyoke from a business perspective, cannabis continues to be the story.

And as Vega said, it’s one that involves a large number of businesses, diversity of ventures, and large supply of potential new initiatives in the pipeline.

Providing a quick snapshot of the cannabis cluster in Holyoke, which has a popular destination because of its cheap electricity, location near major interstates, and large supply of old mill buildings, Vega said there are now more than 500 people working within the industry in Holyoke, many of whom have graduated from cannabis programs at area colleges (see related story, page 35), and many different kinds of facilities, from cultivation and manufacturing operations., to dispensaries, to a testing facility, Analytics Labs, which opened last year, on Appleton Street. It’s the first operation of its kind in Western Mass., and provides a vital service to businesses that are required to submit the cannabis to independent labs that run a number of tests, for potency, solvents, pesticides, pathogenic microbes, and more.

“We have several businesses already operating, and another dozen growth and manufacturing facilities that could be up and running by the end of the year,” said Vega.

But there are still many challenges facing those looking to enter this industry, especially the smaller ventures, he went on.

“I think there’s still a lot of challenges for these companies to get their financing,” said Vega. “The MSOs — the multi-state operators — are able to set up shop more easily than the locally owned companies, but they are starting to come to fruition.”

Tessa Murphy-Romboletti

Tessa Murphy-Romboletti, director of EforAll Holyoke, took her involvement in the city to a higher plane with election to the City Council last fall.

One development that may help some of these businesses get over the hump — and help Holyoke as well — is the creation of what Vega called an “incubator” for cannabis businesses in the old National Blank Book property on Cabot Street. There, many smaller businesses are getting support to break into the business and overcome the many hurdles — from financing to licensing to building a workforce — to opening the doors to a new cannabis business.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Vega, adding that there are a number of smaller enterprises occupying spaces in the facility and trying to move ventures forward.

Looking ahead, both Vega and Garcia said that one challenge — and opportunity — for the city is to promote the development of support businesses for the cannabis sector.

Elaborating, Vega said that these businesses must now order lighting, raw materials, and other products from companies on the other side of the country, and would certainly prefer to be able to source them locally.

“They all agree; there could be substantial savings if they didn’t have to order their products from Texas and Florida,” he told BusinessWest. “And we also like to think about the bigger picture — if we get those kinds of companies to land here in Western Mass., not just Holyoke, but Western Mass., there could be tremendous opportunities for the region.”

Elaborating, he said several neighboring states have either already legalized marijuana or are in the process of doing so, and having support businesses that can provide lighting and products in Massachusetts, as opposed to Texas, could facilitate efforts to make this area a hub, not just for Massachusetts, but for all of New England.

 

Getting Down to Business

Murphy-Romboletti said she first started thinking about running for City Council two years ago. A former city employee — she worked in the mayor’s office and, later, the Office of Planning & Economic Development — she said she has always wanted to be involved with the community and knew that the Council was where one could make an impact — on the city, but also its business community.

After consulting with her bosses with EforAll, a national organization with several locations in the Bay State, including two in Western Mass., and getting their blessing, she threw her hat into the ring. She’s only been on the job a few months now, and has spent most of that time reaching out to department heads and talking with them about what they need for their offices to run better and more effectively.

From an economic development perspective, she said she has long understood the Council’s impact on business. “It has the ability to slow down process or speed up process on things,” she said. “And I think permitting, in and of itself, within our local government, is confusing and not always as necessary as it needs to be, and that’s one of the reasons why I ran.”

Elaborating, and without actually using the phrase, she said one of her goals is to help make the city more business-friendly, and especially at a time when there is so much interest in entrepreneurship — both within the cannabis sector but also well beyond it.

Which … brings her back to her day job. EforAll is seeing growing numbers of applications for its cohorts, she said, adding there are 22 participants in the current sessions. The pandemic has brought a regrettable halt to most in-person learning opportunities (although she’s hoping that might change soon), but the agency is carrying on through Zoom.

A number of graduates have gone on to open businesses, many in the downtown area, she said, adding that the ongoing needs of these ventures prompted the creation of E-Forever.

Undertaken in conjunction with Entrepreneurs Forever, the new group is a “resource for those who have gone through the program and are currently in business, rather than those who are just getting started,” she explained.

“These businesses are generating revenue, and they have unique challenges,” she went on, adding that this group of perhaps 8-10 entrepreneurs will meet once a month, share information, and troubleshoot. “The entrepreneurs pick what they want to work on; it’s like having an accountability group that meets each month to support whatever challenges you’re having as an existing business owner.”

The broad goal, she said, is to enable more businesses to weather the many storms they will face as they mature and grow and stay in business, preferably in Holyoke.

A good deal of resilience has already been on display, said Jordan, adding that she couldn’t think of a single business in the city that closed during the pandemic, and, meanwhile, as she noted, many new ones have been opening.

Jordan Hart, executive director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber

Jordan Hart, executive director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber, says the pandemic has helped create a surge of entrepreneurship in the city and a number of new businesses.

“It’s been remarkable to see the perseverance the community has to see Holyoke thrive,” she said, adding that while existing businesses, often with help in the form of local, state, and federal grants, have found what it takes to survive the pandemic, COVID has inspired many others to join their ranks in the business community.

“People began to prioritize not only their personal life and their personal interests, but also their mental health and well-being,” she explained. “And many found that what they wanted was more work-life balance and flexible schedules. And that’s where entrepreneurship came into play … with people finding their true selves, what their purpose is, and what they want their purpose to be; the pandemic really shook things up in that sense.”

She said the roster of new businesses includes restaurants, like Crave, El Paradiso Colombiano, and the Avalon Café, and several cannabis-related businesses, but also a few boutiques. And, as noted, most are in the heart of downtown, bringing many formerly dormant spaces to life.

 

Rooms with a View

That historic home on Dwight Street that Jay Candelario found was more than dormant.

It needed considerable work inside and out, he told BusinessWest, adding that while most were more than willing to consider the property known to most as the Moriarty mansion and ultimately pass, he decided to take a chance.

“I’m a risk taker,” said Candelario, who was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Holyoke and then Amherst, and moved to New York City as an adult. “And you would have to be a risk taker to take this on.”

Those sentiments reflected more than the condition of the Queen Anne Victorian; they also referenced the time of this acquisition (2009, the height of the Great Recession) and the seemingly long odds against creating a successful B&B in downtown Holyoke.

But Candelario was able to look past the challenges and the doubters and see opportunity. It’s taken a while for the vision to become reality, and the pandemic has certainly put more hurdles in front of him — he admits to coming close to packing it in and moving on to something else — but Candelario, like many business owners in Holyoke, has persevered.

“We have several businesses already operating, and another dozen growth and manufacturing facilities that could be up and running by the end of the year.”

As he gave BusinessWest a tour and pointed out rooms bearing the names of places he’s visited in and lived in — ‘Brazil,’ ‘New York,’ ‘Puerto Rico,’ and ‘Holyoke,’ among others — Candelario said business has been steady if unspectacular, with guests ranging from traveling nurses, to executives for Coca Cola, to “emergencies” in the form of needed beds for those being helped by the nonprofits Roca Holyoke and Women’s Shelter Companeras, now Alianza. Over the years, though, he’s been able to draw guests visiting area colleges, individuals in town on business, and those attending the St. Patrick’s Day parade and road race. His audience is those who want something different than the run-of-the-mill hotel room.

Shut down for the better part of a year by the pandemic starting in March, 2020, he said he’s been able to keep his dream alive by diversifying and expanding his operation into catering and the hosting of events ranging from baby showers to family reunions to nonprofit retreats.

While reflecting on his business and where he can take it, Candelario also ruminated on Holyoke, its present and its future. And he drew many comparisons to the Bronx, another diverse community he believes is also misunderstood and underappreciated. He lived there for some time, and was originally planning to open a B&B near Yankee Stadium until the economic downturn in 2008 scuttled those plans.

“The Bronx and Holyoke have a lot in common,” he said. “It’s the inner city, working class, different cultures; they’re melting pots that many people just don’t appreciate for all that they are.”

Beyond these qualities, the city boasts location and affordability, two important factors in these changing times.

“Holyoke is very affordable for those people who are starting off,” he explained. “They can get better housing for the buck. And if you want to work in Northampton, it’s 10 to 15 minutes away; Springfield is 10 to 15 minutes away; Agawam is 10-15 minutes away.

“I see Holyoke as a very progressive, very upwardly mobile city,” he went on. “You have people from many different areas coming here, not just locally, but from around the country. I run into people from Chicago who moved here, and Florida, California, New York City, and Boston. They come here because they see opportunities. People see the same thing that I see.”

 

View to the Future

Candelario said he assigned the name ‘Holyoke’ to one particular room at his B&B because, if one looks closely, he or she can see City Hall from one of the windows.

As he surveys the scene, though, he sees more than that iconic structure. Much more.

He sees a city that is putting its recent, not so glorious, past, behind it, and becoming something else: a destination of sorts, for travelers, but especially residents seeking affordability and quality of life, and businesses looking for a solid spot to land.

This is what Mayor Garcia had in mind when he said that history is repeating itself in Holyoke, and not just when it comes to the mills as a symbol of jobs and economic might.

Indeed, Holyoke’s past, as an ethnically diverse center of business and culture, is also its future.

 

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

Changing Landscape Should Leave a Harder Focus on the ‘Long Term’

By Contributor
Special Coverage Wealth Management

Facing New Realities

 

The past few years — and even the past few months — have brought about changes to the landscape that should give individuals reason for thought as they consider their long-term financial goals — and how to reach them. These changes include everything from soaring real estate prices to inflation rates higher than those seen in the past 40 years. Overall, these changes and many others should prompt an even stronger emphasis on the ‘long term’ when it comes to financial planning.

 

By Patricia Matty

 

The pandemic and the resulting environment of the past few years has brought about a lot of changes to the financial advisory world.

While not unique to financial advisory, the widespread use of Zoom (or Microsoft Teams) meetings in lieu of face-to-face interactions has been a big change. This is true for initial meetings of new clients as well as existing client financial planning meetings and account reviews.

As we have all experienced, remote meetings make it much more difficult to get a real sense of someone’s body language, gauge their comfort (or not) with a recommendation, adequate vocalization of their fears, and an increased difficulty in just making a true emotional connection. Aside from the physical aspect of the change, there have been some other repercussions that I would like to focus on. Some of these changes have been driven by the client, the others are being driven by me as the advisor.

On the client driven side, there has been a lot of moving parts. Some of these changes are monetary, some not. Looking at monetary changes:

• Real estate prices have changed drastically over the past several years. For most people real estate is the first or second largest piece of their assets. The upending of the real estate market has greatly increased the value of home equity for a lot of people, which has strengthened their balance sheets. For the Millennials who had not yet entered the market, the price of entry became a lot higher, with parents being asked for help more than ever.

 

• The impressive increase in the stock market over the past two years has altered the client side of the ledger. At the start of the pandemic, many people felt they could never afford to retire. The recent run up has given some hopes of retiring earlier than ever.

• Prices have risen. As a visit to any grocery store or home improvement center will demonstrate, inflation levels have been creeping up.

Patricia Matty

“The gains made in real estate and stocks over the past few years are sometimes making clients too optimistic, and we need to temper expectations.”

On the non-monetary side:

• Many people lost a loved one due to Covid related illnesses. For many, this has them questioning their existing priorities in life. Even if you did not lose a loved one, you probably had severe restrictions on visiting many of them, which has had a similar effect.

• Working from home has caused a reassessment of priorities as well. For those where work from home may continue, they often want to live someplace completely different than where they reside today.

• There is a great pent-up demand for travel. ‘Stuff’ seems to be taking a backseat to experiences and travel.

But as I stated earlier, this isn’t one sided. On the advisory side, we have also seen some changes.

• Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies now receive a lot more attention;

• The changing client priorities necessitate updating client goals, and therefore financial plans.

• The gains made in real estate and stocks over the past few years are sometimes making clients too optimistic, and we need to temper expectations.

• Increased use of more-sophisticated financial planning software that can be screen shared with clients on Zoom calls.

• And last but certainly not least: needing to incorporate some ‘long term’ in long term financial plans. This is especially true on inflation over time, as well as accounting for lifespans.

It has been quite some time since planners have been faced with an inflationary environment. Rising prices can be devastating to a financial plan if you are not adequately positioned. All too often, we see clients who are overly concerned about short-term market volatility, but turn a blind eye to the long-term effects of rising prices on their spending power. As our sophisticated software consistently demonstrates, however, this is the real risk to achieving your goals over time.

Regarding longevity, it is all too easy to say you and/or your spouse “won’t make it to our 90s” and fail to adequately invest for the long term. Despite COVID, people are living longer than ever, and healthcare continues to improve. Having adequate resources over the long term is essential and requires planning.

With all of the above said, in the wisdom of Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” We don’t know what the stock market, real estate market, inflation, lifespan, and other factors will be over the years to come. So what should you do in light of the evolving changes?

Meet with your advisor. In person if possible, especially if you have significant changes. Life changes, and so do your priorities. Make sure your advisor understands your goals, especially if they have shifted. In addition, have a two-sided dialogue with your advisor, making sure you are comfortable with their recommendations as to how to achieve your goals. u

 

Patricia Matty is senior vice president and financial advisory director at Springfield-based St. Germain Investment Management. She has an extensive education and business background, with 18 years in the financial services industry. Her background is in business management, financial planning and relationship development. She holds Series 7 and 66 designations for securities representatives and investment advisors, earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary [AIF], and holds the Trust 1 certification; (413) 733-5111.

JGS Lifecare Incorporates Memory Care into Entire Continuum of Services

By
Ruth’s House
Business of Aging Special Coverage

Peace of Mind

Ruth’s House

Ruth’s House dedicates its lower-level Garden neighborhood to memory care.

 

The connection between music and memory is a complex and often surprising one. Just ask the families of loved ones with dementia at Ruth’s House, the assisted-living residence on the JGS Lifecare campus in Longmeadow.

“We ask, ‘what sort of music did your loved one enjoy?’ Then we have volunteers come in and build personal playlists,” said Susan Halpern, vice president of Development and Communications at JGS. “It’s amazing to see the reactions — to see someone who’s agitated get less agitated, or someone who had been very quiet come out of their shell because they’re hearing something that’s very familiar to them.”

Mary-Anne Schelb, director of Business Development, has also seen the results of what JGS calls its music and memory program.

“Maybe they’re not much of a talker, and suddenly they’re singing this song. It’s hard to carry on a conversation with them, but when the music comes on, they remember every word. The artistic and creative ability is really the last to go. It’s in there — we just need to know how to pull it out.”

Or, as Halpern put it, “it’s about meeting them where they are.” That’s why residents’ families fill out a long (around eight pages) resident profile upon admission, Schelb added.

“We really want to get to know your mom or dad, and we want to know what they like and don’t like, because then we utilize that.”

“If they can’t stand bingo, we’re not going to try to push bingo. Or if they love hot-air balloons, we can go up to them and ask, ‘hey, do you know we’re showing a hot-air-balloon movie in the movie room?’ You see their face light up — ‘you are? I love hot-air balloons.’ The profile is time-consuming, but we really want to get to know your mom or dad, and we want to know what they like and don’t like, because then we utilize that.”

Meeting residents where they are is especially important for those with early- to mid-stage memory impairments and other dementia-related diseases who live in the Garden at Ruth’s House, a separate, secure neighborhood that caters to individuals with increased cognitive and physical limitations, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, and where staff members are specifically trained to care for individuals in need of memory care.

Sue Halpern (left) and Mary-Anne Schelb

Sue Halpern (left) and Mary-Anne Schelb say incorporating memory care into the entire JGS continuum makes sense with people living longer and dementia becoming more prevalent.

But what some might not know, Schelb said, is that JGS has, over the years, incorporated specific memory-care training across its contimuum of services, from Spectrum Home Health & Hospice Care to Wernick Adult Day Health Care; from the Leavitt Family Jewish Home to the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation.

Why? Because the memory-care population is on the rise as Americans live longer than ever — and early-onset dementia in younger people is ticking up as well. So the model JGS has adopted, of making sure all the points along its continuum of services can handle different levels of dementia, is one increasingly taking hold in the world of senior living and care.

“We were the ones who spearheaded dementia-friendly Longmeadow a few years ago, which was really important to us, to make people aware of the differences of folks that have this higher level of memory loss, because people really didn’t know how to deal with them. They didn’t know what to do, how to act,” Schelb explained. “We wanted to make people aware, so I worked with the senior center, some emergency responders, and we worked with the Alzheimer’s Association and got certified as a dementia-friendly town.”

Similarly, making JGS a dementia-friendly campus was a natural evolution, she noted. “Except for Genesis independent living, every single piece of the campus concentrates on memory care.”

 

Gardening Tools

The Garden gives Ruth’s House an element of security and higher-level care for individuals with dementia, Schelb explained.

“Maybe you start out in traditional assisted living, and as they progress [with memory loss], we could add services to the apartment as long as they’re not a wander risk, and if they do become a wander risk, we’ve got the secure Garden level, which is beautiful inside and out,” she said, noting the waterfall, scenic walkways, and benches out back; the fact that the area is safely fenced in is obscured by the landscaping.

“We just wanted to make it this gorgeous, park-like environment. A lot of people like to walk, and and here they can be outside, and it gives them that sense of freedom.”

In the Leavitt skilled-nursing facility, two nursing neighborhoods are dedicated to caring for people with memory impairments, Halpern explained, while staff of the other JGS programs, like Wernick and Sosin, are trained in working with people with memory loss as well.

“As a campus, we’re caring for elders, and it sort of goes hand in hand that, as people get older, they’re suffering memory loss,” she told BusinessWest. “So we take the care of people with dementia, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease as a central care delivery that we train our staff on during orientation.”

That orientation, when staff are taught how to engage with people with dementia, is followed by annual reviews and specific skills-training events during the year, she added, noting that JGS will be using grant funds to expand that skills training.

Ruth’s House’s memory-care residents

Ruth’s House’s memory-care residents take part in both indoor and outdoor activities intended to engage their minds.

“We’re a person-centered campus, and we deal with memory impairment across our entire campus the same way,” Halpern added. “You take the approach that you’re meeting the person where they are.”

Added Schelb, “we’re finding a lot more people suffering from memory loss at earlier ages. Early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s is something very real that a lot of people are experiencing, so we need to pivot and shift to make sure we can care for our folks here on the campus in any way, shape, or form.

“We’ve even got our home health dealing with folks with memory loss, or even end-stage Alzheimer’s in hospice,” she went on. “Unfortunately, we have seen more of it, across the board; I think healthcare in general has seen a lot more. And we want to be able to give our residents as fulfilled a life as possible.”

“We just wanted to make it this gorgeous, park-like environment. A lot of people like to walk, and and here they can be outside, and it gives them that sense of freedom.”

Many times, Halpern said, a senior-living facility is one of the first places family members contact when they suspect a memory issue.

“People reach out to us when they need help. And when do families need help? Often, it’s when they have a loved one who’s suffering from dementia and memory impairment, and they’ve tried to work with them at home. So we’ll work with them at home with our Spectrum Home Health Care, but then it can get to a point where you just can’t handle it. Maybe it’s the incontinence, maybe it’s the wandering and the risk of that, but we find that families are reaching out to us when they’re willing to give up their loved one. And it is a tough decision to place your loved one in a care setting.”

Even people with dementia who are able to live at home with family members can benefit from Wernick’s day programs, Halpern added.

“We were one of the first adult day health centers in Western Mass., back in the ’70s. We get a lot of people needing adult day care who have memory impairment and forgetfulness, and they are benefiting from being in social settings — and we offer social settings, be it in adult day care or assisted living, that helps people not feel isolated, and we help give them experiences that are failure-free.”

 

High-tech, Human Touch

Some of those experiences at Ruth’s House take place in a sensory room that allows residents to have experiences that reduce agitation and frustration, especially late in the day, a phenomenon known as sundowning.

“Some don’t want to be touched, or don’t like bright lights or loud sounds. They react differently to activities,” Schelb said, explaining that the sensory room is softly lit, soothing music often plays, and the room incorporates tactile technology, on touchscreens and activity panels, that stimulates in a calmer way.

“We downplay the aggravation for them. We teach staff how to recognize it and what to do, and it’s part of their care plan. We know what activities they like. And any new technology they have out there, we try to get and incorporate into our care plans and train staff to utilize them properly.”

Beyond its own programs, Ruth’s House works with families on their own communication, Schelb said.

“Sometimes we find families don’t know how to interact with their loved ones, causing frustrations. There’s a level of resentment because it really engulfs their whole life. We say, ‘let us help you; let us be the caregiver, and you go back to being the son or daughter or husband or wife.’ It’s really hard to do both.”

By focusing on the relationship and not the caregiving, families learn to move past the frustrations of life with Alzheimer’s or dementia, especially during the early stages when they’re just getting acclimated to the situation.

“They can get upset with mom or dad: ‘I just told you that; how do you not remember that?’ But they’re not purposefully forgetting; this is just part of the disease,” Schelb said, so family education and support groups are crucial — as is understanding when it’s time to seek the appropriate level of help. “Sometimes they can stay at home, and we can help. But sometimes they realize it’s just too much, and they realize they have options on our campus.”

It’s a campus that embraces not only person-centered care, Halpern said, but — at least in the Sosin Center — the ‘green house’ model of small-house care, which focuses on three goals: an authentic, home-like setting; meaningful life; and empowered staff.

“We recognize the environment is important to peoples’ well-being and how they feel,” she noted, adding that a second phase of what’s been called Project Transformation will bring the green-house model of renovations to the Leavitt Jewish Family Home as well — arguably a more important site for it, since it’s a long-term facility where residents will live the rest of their lives.

In short, Halpern said, JGS continues to look at ways to meet residents where they are.

“That affects how we care for people with dementia as well,” she added. “It’s part of our philosophy.”

Joshua Garcia Becomes Holyoke’s First Puerto Rican Mayor

By
Features

Sidebar

Joshua Garcia

Joshua Garcia

Joshua Garcia says that, among his friends, family, and colleagues at various career stops, there was always an expectation that that he would someday run for mayor of Holyoke. And not just run, but win.

“Even when I was a kid … people would say ‘this young man one day is going to run for mayor, should be mayor,’” he said, adding that it took a while before he eventually started believing — and acting on what people were saying.

Born and raised in Holyoke, he attended city schools and spent much of his time at the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club, where he would later work. Starting at an early age, he got deeply involved in the community.

That involvement included stints on the School Committee, the Fire Commission, Nueva Esperanza, an agency devoted to promoting entrepreneurship and spurring economic development in the city, and other groups. Meanwhile, on the career side, he was gaining experience in the management of municipalities, early on at the Holyoke Housing Authority (while he was also earning a master’s degree in Public Administration), then with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, which he served as municipal services coordinator, and later as town manager of Blandford, population 1,200.

That blend of professional growth and community involvement would earn Garcia a 40 Under Forty plaque from BusinessWest in 2015. Meanwhile, each of these stops seemed to bring him closer to that ‘someday’ when his friends and family thought he would run for mayor, and that day came last year, and an election that would determine a successor to Alex Morris, who left Holyoke City Hall to become town manager of Provincetown.

“I started getting the questions again … it was election time, and people were saying ‘why aren’t you running for mayor?’” he recalled. “My answer was that I liked my career track — it was great being a town manager of a town where I could go home at the end of the day and spend time with my family.”

It was with some prodding from his wife, Stefany, (Garcia actually called it an “endorsement”) that he was eventually swayed to become the seventh candidate to declare for the position.

“What many don’t realize is that small towns have their own set of unique challenges that can be just as challenging as a large city.”

“That endorsement really sealed the deal for me,” he told BusinessWest. “She just simply said that, in her opinion, being mayor of the City of Holyoke, knowing who I am, is bigger than her family. I thought that was a very humble and unselfish response. We talked more about what that meant …and felt strongly that if running for mayor to help more people is the sacrifice, then why not?”

He would eventually triumph in that crowded race, becoming the city’s first Puerto Rican mayor. He commenced finishing Morse’s unfinished term in November, and started his own first term in January.

Garcia moves into the corner office at a time when Holyoke is in what most would call a growth mode, especially when it comes to jobs, new business development, housing, and overall vibrancy. As the story on page 14 relates, the city has benefited tremendously from the strong five-year start of the cannabis industry, with many of its long dormant or underutilized mills roaring back to life as homes to a wide array of cannabis-related businesses.

But there is more to the story than this one industry, he said, adding that, even during a pandemic, many new businesses have opened across several sectors, especially hospitality.

“During the pandemic, when restaurants everywhere were shutting down, Holyoke was opening six new ones,” said the mayor, adding that the EforAll Holyoke, the nonprofit created to inspire would-be entrepreneurs and help them get started and to the proverbial ‘next stage,’ has helped create a wave of entrepreneurial energy that is bringing new businesses to the downtown and other areas, and also creating more interest in the city as a place to live.

While all this is positive, said Garcia, these forces are spawning some new and different challenges for Holyoke, especially when it comes to the affordability that has defined it for decades now.

“There’s a tidal wave that’s coming in a very positive way, but it’s going to create a new set of challenges that we’re going to have to figure out,” he told BusinessWest. “One of them is affordability. No one wants to be in a situation where they are priced out of their neighborhood. Costs are rising everywhere, not just in Holyoke but around the region. How to move forward and embrace these new quality-of-life activities that are going on, but also balance that with making sure we’re not pricing people out of the neighborhoods they grew up in. And that’s why affordable housing continues to stay in the forefront.”

While focusing on these issues, Garcia said he will also concentrate on how Holyoke is managed, with an eye toward improvement. And as he goes about that work, he will take some lessons from his last assignment.

Indeed, while Blandford and Holyoke are seemingly worlds apart when it comes to the size and nature of the communities, Garcia said he can draw on his experience serving that hilltown in his new role in the Paper City, especially when it comes to creativity — in management and finding solutions to problems.

“What many don’t realize is that small towns have their own set of unique challenges that can be just as challenging as a large city,” he explained. “The greatest benefit for a city of Holyoke’s size is capacity and resources — you have enough resources to hire full-time department heads and experts to help mitigate liability and meet mandates.

“In a town, you have the same expectation, but you have to be very creative in how you can keep and be competitive, meet needs and mandates, and maintain quality of life,” he went on. “Here, I make a call to a department, and I have someone on a grant, writing and executing it, and doing things. In a town, I’m it, with part-time people or volunteers; so oftentimes, the skill you build working in a small town is the ability to be as creative as you can to meet needs for the community.”

Elaborating, he said that, while Holyoke does have capacity and resources, the growth in new businesses, an unprecedented influx of federal money through ARPA (The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) and other sources, and a growing mix of challenges and opportunities is putting the city to the test.

“The new challenge internally is the capacity to execute from start to finish,” he said. “In my campaign, I didn’t engage in any of the traditional rhetoric involved in campaigns; instead, I focused on the need for management. My focus with this budget season is to help departments build up so that they’re in a much better position to effectively carry out the responsibilities they’re charged with, and keep up with these projects.

“Holyoke’s form of government, with the mayor as the city manager, is antiquated,” he went on, adding that, overall, he’s working toward reducing or eliminating what he called ‘learning curves’ — in the mayor’s office and elsewhere in City Hall, and perhaps adding a city manager, comptroller, or other positions.

“Whatever model the city decides to go forward with, the idea is to strengthen internal controls and better mitigate harm and liability,” he went on. “Those are some of the longer-term objectives, and it’s going to require the community coming together, between this office, the City Council, and residents, because we’re talking about ordinance and charter changes, potentially.”

 

George O’Brien

American International College Names Susan Henrichon Dean of School of Education

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has appointed Susan Henrichon dean of the School of Education.

Henrichon joined American International College in 2018, bringing more than 30 years of experience in PK-12 public education, with more than 15 years spent in senior leadership roles. Most recently, she served as the associate dean of academic programs while teaching extensively in the School of Education, and additionally serving as a senior instructor and program supervisor for graduate students.

Prior to coming to AIC, Henrichon was an assistant superintendent of schools in Oxford and director of Special Education and Student Services for the Oxford Public Schools system. Before that, she was the director of Pupil Personnel Services in Monson, director of Special Education in Easthampton, director of Student Services for the Southwick-Tolland-Granville school district; special-education team leader in the Holyoke Public Schools; and assistant department head of Quality Assurance at the Monson Developmental Center.

Henrichon has been recognized by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for her work. Her professional affiliations include the Massachusetts Assoc. of School Superintendents, the Worcester County Superintendents Assoc., Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education, the Western Massachusetts Special Education Directors Assoc., the Assoc. for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Council for Exceptional Children.

She received a doctor of education degree in educational administration at Northcentral University in Phoenix; her certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational administration from the University of Massachusetts; a master’s degree in education, special education, from Westfield State University; and a bachelor’s degree from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H.

Mary Hurley Will Not Seek Re-election to Governor’s Council in 2022 Election

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Mary Hurley, governor’s councilor for the 8th District since 2017, announced that she will not run for a fourth term.

A lifelong resident of Western Mass. whose former positions include mayor of Springfield and District Court justice, Hurley issued a statement reflecting on her three decades in public service:

“Not everyone can say they had a wonderful life. Some say there is an old Chinese curse that says, ‘may you have an interesting life.’ I’ve been fortunate enough to have both. I have had great support from my family, who have been with me through every election and there for me through the good times and bad in my personal life.

“I have been lucky enough to have had great friends all throughout my life from grammar school through law school, and in my professional life from attorney to mayor to judge — and now as governor’s councilor for Western Massachusetts. Working with Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito and my colleagues on the Governor’s Council has been an amazing experience.

“In 2014, when I retired from the District Court judgeship, I thought I was done with work. However, I knew firsthand how short we were in judicial positions: eight in the District Court, three in Probate Court, three in Juvenile Court, and three in Superior Court. This meant people were not having their day in court in a timely way. As Martin Luther King said, ‘justice delayed is justice denied.’ That is when I decided to run for Governor’s Council to do something about that. In the first three years, I was able to get over 20 new judges and clerks.

“For those of you who don’t know what the Governor’s Council does, in short, we vote to approve the governors’ nominations for judgeships and clerkships, which are lifetime positions, as well as parole board members, Department of Industrial Accident judges, and other administrative quasi-judicial positions. It is critical that we get it right.

“It has been an honor to serve in such a meaningful position alongside some extraordinary colleagues. Now in my third term, I find that I believe the time has come for me to give someone else the opportunity to serve Western Massachusetts as their governor’s councilor. Therefore, I will not be a candidate for a fourth term.

“It is my hope that there are great, qualified candidates who are interested in running for the position. As the election unfolds, I may endorse someone who I feel will do the best job and has the best qualifications to serve our region. Last but certainly not least, I want to thank the people of Springfield and all of Western Massachusetts who placed their faith and trust in me when they voted for me as city councilor, mayor, and governor’s councilor. My almost 30 years in public service gave me a wonderful and interesting life, which I greatly appreciate. Thank you.”

Western New England University to Host Undergraduate Open House on March 5

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University will host high-school students and their parents at an open house on Saturday, March 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting in the University Commons. The event is free, but registration in advance is requested. Visit wne.edu/openhouse or call (413) 782-1321 to register.

This undergraduate open house is intended for all prospective students, regardless of their year in high school. It is an opportunity to come to campus to get a sense of the university’s warm and engaging community, while learning about the wide variety of academic programs and emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration.

Students and parents will have the chance to tour the campus and a first-year residence hall, meet current students, get a general overview of the admissions and financial-aid process, and have academic questions answered. The day concludes with an exhibit hall where students can gather more information on student clubs and activities, the honors programs, and athletics, as well as hear from the Career Development Center regarding the varied internship and career opportunities students are receiving.

Three County Fair Drive-thru Food Drive on March 26 to Benefit Local Food Pantries

By
Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — The Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society, the nonprofit organization that manages the Three County Fair, the oldest ongoing agricultural fair in the country, will conduct a drive-thru food drive on Saturday, March 26 outside its main office at 54 Fair St. in Northampton. The fair held its last food drive in the spring of 2020 during the onset of the pandemic and delivered more than 2,000 pounds of food to area pantries.

The fair is seeking non-perishable foods such as canned fruit, soup, tuna, and vegetables, plus cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, and peanut butter for area food pantries that have partnered with the fair, including the Easthampton Community Center, the Franklin County Meals Program, the Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry at BOCC in Belchertown, and the Westhampton Congregational United Church of Christ food pantry.

“The pandemic created food insecurity for many families for the first time and increased the need for others,” said Gerry Devine, a member of the society’s board of directors. “Because of the continued hardship of so many, the success of our last food drive, and the extreme generosity of our community willing to help their neighbors, we are proud to once again provide this service.”

Each vehicle that donates will be supplied with a pair of complimentary tickets to the 2022 Three County Fair, scheduled for Sept. 2-5. Donations can be dropped off at the fair’s main office at 54 Fair St. in Northampton between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The fair requests that donations be compiled in disposable bags or boxes for volunteers to easily accept them from vehicles.

WNE’s Julie Steiner Has Led the Way in Cannabis-law Education

By
Julie Steiner
Cannabis Special Coverage

Joint Concerns

Julie Steiner

As a law professor, Julie Steiner saw the thorny issues raised by cannabis legalization in Massachusetts — and the way it conflicted with federal law — very early in the process and turned it into a passion of sorts, not only educating students at Western New England University School of Law, but bringing other educational resources to the region and becoming a go-to resource on the topic of cannabis law. Yet, it’s not just legal nuts and bolts she’s interested in, but the real people impacted by a drug-regulation history in the U.S. that’s problematic at best — and still evolving.

 

 

Julie Steiner has been interested in the connections — and, often, the contradictions — between the fields of law and cannabis for a long time.

And when momentum was building in Massachusetts to legalize adult-use cannabis, just a few years after medical marijuana was given the green light, she really started thinking about the implications.

“Lawyers raise their hand and swear to uphold the law of the United States,” said Steiner, professor of Law at Western New England University (WNE) School of Law. “But cannabis is federally illegal, even though it’s technically legal in Massachusetts. How are lawyers to navigate this whole murky system?”

Based on informal conversations with her colleagues, plenty of law professionals were fascinated by this topic — and unsure how the practice of law could deal with the emerging business of cannabis.

“Cannabis is federally illegal, even though it’s technically legal in Massachusetts. How are lawyers to navigate this whole murky system?”

“It was getting off the ground in Colorado and Washington recreationally, so we had those two states to look at,” Steiner told BusinessWest. “But there was a dearth of scholarship. It was such an interesting time, really. Back then, support for legalization wasn’t as strong as it is now. In law, there was concern about clients and lawyers being prosecuted under RICO statutes.

“I called it the Wild West,” she went on. “The state bar association in Colorado had taken the stance that you can advise on the law, but since it’s federally illegal, if you actually started advising clients through the process of licensure, you risked bar sanction. That ultimately went away because courts reversed the bar stance on that, but it was a risky time. It was really, really interesting.”

That’s one reason why she applauds her university and its administration for being forward-thinking in establishing curriculum around this rapidly evolving topic, specifically a course called Cannabis Law and Policy. She proposed the course in 2015 and, after a year of legwork, and study, started teaching it in 2016, just a couple months before voters made adult-use cannabis legal in Massachusetts — but long before businesses actually started to open.

“Our primary mission was, and still is, lawyer competency,” Steiner explained. “I try to touch upon every facet that I can of the industry, teaching aspiring lawyers but also the practicing bar about how to counsel clients.

“I call the most risky the ‘plant touchers’ — cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers. They’re the most highly regulated and most vulnerable to prosecution if they do anything wrong,” she went on. “That requires a lot of competence, legal advice, knowledge about regulatory regimes, and ability to keep abreast of the ever-changing landscape.”

Julie Steiner welcomes Cannabis Control Commissioner Steven Hoffman

Julie Steiner welcomes Cannabis Control Commissioner Steven Hoffman as a guest lecturer in one of her Cannabis Law and Policy classes.

And changing it is, she emphasized. “I find I can’t rely on anything I said last month without updating it.”

Beyond the plant touchers, plenty of other types of businesses have been involved in the world of cannabis, from lightbulb suppliers for growers to drivers who transport money; from property landlords to IT and security firms. And the list goes on.

Sensing that this new industry would need legal guidance, Steiner not only created the course, but was involved in bringing Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) regulatory public hearings to the law school starting in 2018. The following year, the city of Springfield retained her to serve as a consultant to develop a process to solicit and select marijuana shops.

And she’s become a sought-after resource on cannabis law, having been been interviewed by regional and national media; published scholarly articles in many legal journals; advised educational institutions on the topic of drug policy; and lectured on the topic in WNE’s Mini Law School and Road Show programs.

It’s a field, she notes, that has already crept into numerous law niches, from banking and finance to taxation; from real estate to employment law; from intellectual-property law to prosecution and defense, just to name a few. “Cannabis law touches on all of it. It’s a serious and evolving subject field in the law.”

 

Legal, Yet Illegal

The Cannabis Law and Policy course, WNE’s website explains, “focuses on how society has historically, and is currently, regulating cannabis,” also touching on legal, professional, and business ethics; enforcement policy; and much more.

Prohibition, Steiner noted, began at the state level early in the 20th century and eventually crept into the federal code. Over the past decade or so, individual states have again led the change to decriminalization, then legalization, but federal law has not followed suit … yet.

As a result, if it wanted to, the U.S. government technically could enforce the federal Controlled Substances Act, which pre-empts all the conflicting state laws, she explained.

“I call the most risky the ‘plant touchers’ — cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers. They’re the most highly regulated and most vulnerable to prosecution if they do anything wrong.”

“Now, they can’t force states to enforce federal laws. The real conflict happens when participants, pursuant to those state regimes, start touching the plant. Once you get there, you have a conflict with the Controlled Substances Act. You have cultivation, which is prohibited. That’s where the federal government could technically come in and enforce. But that’s not happening because the federal government is exercising enforcement restraint.”

Changing public opinion is a factor as well, she noted. “When I started teaching this, public support was hovering just above 50% in the Gallup poll. Support is now about 68%. There’s much stronger public opinion for legalization than there was back then.”

Along with the history of cannabis regulation and enforcement, Steiner discusses civil rights, mass incarceration (using Michelle Alexander’s popular tome The New Jim Crow), and social equity.

“We have a robust dialogue about this. It’s very eye-opening to students,” she said, noting that drug laws regarding cannabis possession in the U.S. have historically had a fourfold disproportionate impact on people of color and those of lower socioeconomic means.

“Then we start thinking about what it means to be a lawyer representing the cannabis business. We talk about what that business looks like,” she went on, noting that she previously used Colorado and Washington as templates, but now draws on Massachusetts, since the cannabis industry has taken such deep roots here.

She also talks about banking challenges and Section 280E of the federal tax code, which requires even illegal enterprises to pay taxes. These tend to be more onerous for cannabis businesses, which can deduct the cost of goods, but not payroll.

“They get hammered. So lawyers work to structure these plant-touching businesses to maximize the taxation system, often creating two separate companies.”

The Cannabis Control Commission

The Cannabis Control Commission has often used the WNE Law School as an outpost for holding public hearings and listening sessions, like this one, attended by (from left) then-commissioners Britte McBride, Shaleen Title, Chairman Steven Hoffman, and Kay Doyle.

Steiner will bring in guest speakers from different areas of the law, including CCC members, to provide real-world perspectives, and students are also required to write and present their own independent scholarly papers on cannabis-law topics.

Speaking of the CCC, the law school’s seminars with commissioners and other experts in various areas of the law proved to be a valuable resource for locals, including potential business owners, who wanted information on topics ranging from licensing to operational requirements to municipal controls, without having to go to Boston.

“We thought early on we had the ability to align with the Cannabis Control Commission to help educate the practicing bar across the state,” she noted. “Lawyers, consultants, and people who wanted to be stakeholders would show up, and we’d talk about regulations and what businesses looked like. When they amended the regulations, we educated people again. We were, pre-COVID, the physical presence in Western Mass. for the Cannabis Control Commission.”

 

Changing the Narrative

Cannabis law is a passion project for Steiner, who also teaches Environmental and Land Use Law, Torts, and Introduction to Law.

“I’ve been involved in the history of how it has gone from its infancy through decriminalization through medical legalization, watching the birth of the adult, recreational-use industry, and now we have a viable and developed phenomenon. We have to keep pace with this, and that’s a fun challenge, educating lawyers and would-be lawyers. It’s truly a mission of mine in life.”

She prides herself on teaching law students how to be not only competent, but ethical practitioners in the field, who can counsel clients who often have plenty of misimpressions about legalization and what that means, since state and federal laws are currently so far apart.

As for federal legalization, “I welcome it because it’s sensible policy,” Steiner said. “We simply shouldn’t have a robust, viable workforce and an industry that is a real economic player that is forced to confront all-cash situations, which is dangerous and poor policy for everyone involved.”

Her public talks have addressed colleges grappling with the issue of legal medical marijuana, employers wondering if they can drug test for something that’s now legal in Massachusetts, and other audiences, ranging from public-health professionals to drug task forces, and even legislators. “Early on, policy influencers needed to think through policy changes. We tried to be on the cutting edge, helping them think through that lens.”

Steiner is also passionate about social justice in the realm of drug policy. “Or, should I say, social injustice,” she quickly added. “We have become part of the sealing and expungement movement and have partnered to provide sealing and expungement clinics.”

But even that effort is problematic, she wrote in a scholarly article last summer.

“While expungement is a laudable and necessary remedy to mitigate individual cannabis criminal record-based harm,” she wrote, “expungement also yields an outcome paradox: to further justice by expunging criminal records, society is erasing evidence of historic enforcement injustice.”

Because of the need to balance relief for the convicted with the need to maintain an historical account of the cannabis enforcement era, she suggests expunging entities maintain a record — one that eliminates sensitive, personally identifying information, while maintaining other important information of historic and legal value.

And that expungement process needs to continue, she told BusinessWest.

“We’ve gotten involved in helping those with prior drug convictions clear their records. This helps mitigate the profound effect of the War on Drugs, which we now understand overly penalized people given the severity of what was going on. And that criminal conviction follows them for life, with all those collateral consequences,” she added, making it harder for convicted drug users to access a job or housing. “It’s hampering people in their ability to move forward in life. We’re part of that social-justice movement to mitigate the effects of the War on Drugs.”

Again, cannabis law — and how it impacts not only future lawyers, but users as well, past and present — is one of Steiner’s passions, and it’s a satisfying challenge to stay atop the latest developments.

“We have a body of law now. When I jumped in, there was hardly any case law,” she said. “Learning about it, compiling it, and providing it to students is something I continually do.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Picture This

By
Picture This

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

 

 

 

211 Day

 

The United Way of Pioneer Valley hosted the grand opening of its new Springfield Community Service Center, sponsored by Balise Auto Group, on Feb. 11, a day declared as ‘211 Day’ in the Commonwealth. Municipal and business leaders gathered at ceremonies at 1441 Main St., the location of the new center, for a ribbon cutting that followed comments from several speakers on the services provided by Mass211 and the importance of this program to the region. Ceremonies were held simultaneously in Framingham and the Mass211 headquarters there. Among those speaking were Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno (pictured at the podium); Paul Mina, president and CEO of the United Way of Pioneer Valley; and many others.

 

 

Recognizing Support for Community Colleges

 

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was awarded the 2022 National Education Service Award during the Assoc. of Community College Trustees’ (ACCT) Community College National Legislative Summit. Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal was on hand to make the presentation. Pictured, from left: Richard Rhodes, American Assoc. of Community Colleges board chair; Neal; Royal; James Cooksey, ACCT board chair; and Jee Hang Lee, ACCT president and CEO.

 

 

Home Sweeter Home

 

In September, Purple Heart Homes (PHH), a veterans-services agency that focuses on housing solutions, and Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity collaborated on a home-preservation project for Peter, a retired Army National Guard staff sergeant, and his wife, Beth. They purchased a duplex in Monson three years ago and live in one unit, while Beth’s daughter and young son live in the other residence. The project fixed a moss-spotted roof, a broken water heater in the daughter’s unit, and damaged exterior doors at both dwellings.

 

 

 

Court Dockets

By
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

Alecto Realty Trust v. City of Holyoke, et al

Allegation: Negligence causing property damage: $14,195

Filed: 12/22/21

 

Geico General Insurance Co. a/s/o Tracey Brown v. City of Springfield

Allegation: Motor-vehicle negligence: $3,969.01

Filed: 12/22/21

 

Liang M. Hsu and Cui Q. Zhang v. Luigi’s Fine Food Inc. and Louis J. Santos

Allegation: Breach of contract: $63,168.19

Filed: 1/3/22

 

Larry Gray Jr. and Ernestine Gray v. Casella Waste Systems Inc.

Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $126,870.56

Filed: 1/10/22

 

John Chiarizio v. Guidewire Inc.

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $284,714.96

Filed: 1/13/22

 

Angela Allain v. Blythewood Property Management LLC, Peter J. Houser; Michelle Stegall and Property One, LLC

Allegation: Breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, negligence: $250,000

Filed: 1/13/22

 

Diana Mirayes v. Flynn Restaurant Group LP, Applebee’s Restaurants LLC, Applebee’s Restaurants North LLC, and Chicopee Marketplace Owners LLC

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $55,498.15

Filed: 1/13/22

 

JPGCO LLC v. Santo C. Despirt Marble & Granite Inc.

Allegation: Breach of contract, negligent property damage

Filed: 1/14/22

 

Raymond Bronner v. MGM Springfield

Allegation: Assault and battery: $6,765

Filed: 1/21/22

 

The Dennis Group Inc. v. Nestle Purina Pet Care Co.

Allegation: Breach of contract: $90,000,000+

Filed: 1/27/22

 

Chamber Corners

By
Chamber Corners

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 253-0700; www.amherstarea.com

 

March 9: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce 2022 Annual Meeting, noon to 2 p.m., hosted by the Red Barn at Hampshire College. Join us for lunch as we reflect on our impact, salute our outgoing board members, welcome our new board members, elect a slate of officers, and launch our New Year, New Vision for 2022. Presented by Encharter Insurance, supported by bankESB, and honoring the work of Amherst Cinema, our featured nonprofit. See COVID guidelines and register at business.amherstarea.com/events.

 

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

(413) 787-1555; www.springfieldregionalchamber.com

 

March 11: Outlook 2022, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Hear from top policymakers and influencers on the outlook for 2022, hosted by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. This virtual event is presented by Baystate Health and MassMutual, with sponsorship support from Comcast, Eversource, the Republican, and WWLP-TV22. Cost: $24.95 for SRC members; $110, enterprise-level SRC members (six seats); $29.95 for future members; $140, enterprise-level future members (six seats).

 

March 24: Fire & Ice, 5:30-8 p.m., Springfield Country Club, 1375 Elm St., West Springfield. Join us for our annual craft cocktail competition featuring area establishments mixing up creative fire- and ice-themed cocktails. Sample the concoctions and vote for your favorite. Cost: $50 for SRC members ($60 at the door); $60 for future members ($70 at the door).

 

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 426-3880; www.ourwrc.com

 

March 3: Networking Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m. Join us as we meet fellow members, non-members, and local business people to network virtually on Zoom. Introductions will be followed by breakout rooms to learn about your business peers and network. Register at business.ourwrc.com/events.

 

March 23: Job Fair 2022, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Storrowton Tavern/Carriage House, West Springfield. The West of the River Chamber will be hosting a local job fair. West Springfield and Agawam businesses, along with other employment opportunities from around Western Mass., will be showcased for the public. High-school students, college students, and adults will be attending this event looking to begin or advance their careers. This event is free and open to the public. To be a participating vendor, register at business.ourwrc.com/events.

Agenda

By
Agenda

Horace Smith Fund Scholarship, Fellowship Applications

Through March 15: The Horace Smith Fund has scholarship and fellowship money available for residents of Hampden County graduating from eligible public and private high schools. This year, a total of $247,000 will be awarded in the form of 16 scholarships given to students working toward an undergraduate degree, three fellowships given to students enrolled in a graduate-degree program, and one award given to a high-school senior with special needs who is about to enter college. Scholarship awards of $12,000 are distributed as $3,000 annually, renewable each year until graduation. Fellowship awards of $15,000 are distributed as $5,000 annually, renewable for two additional years. All recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 each semester. Recipients are selected on a variety of criteria, including merit, financial need, recommendations, and community involvement. Of greatest importance is the applicant’s personal written account of why they feel deserving of the award. All recipients must be full-time students and residents of Hampden County. Completed applications must be received no later than Tuesday, March 15, either electronically or by mail to the Horace Smith Fund, 16 Union Ave., Suite 2K, Westfield, MA 01085. Applications are available at local high-school guidance offices, college financial-aid offices, online at www.horacesmithfund.org, or by calling (413) 739-4222.

 

Pynchon Award Nominations

Through March 31: The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties for the Pynchon Award, which recognizes Western Mass. citizens who have rendered outstanding service to the community. To nominate an individual, submit a letter explaining why the nominee should be considered, including biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon. The Pynchon trustees reserve the right to eliminate nominations from consideration due to insufficient information. Qualifying nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon trustees, composed of the current and five past presidents of the Advertising Club. Nominations must be submitted by March 31 to William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090-1022 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Pynchon medalists are chosen by unanimous decision of the Pynchon trustees. The 2022 recipients will be announced in June, with an awards ceremony tentatively scheduled for the fall.

 

Nominations for 2022 Ubora and Ahadi Awards

Through March 31: The Springfield Museums announced a call for nominations for the 31th annual Ubora Award and the 12th annual Ahadi Youth Award. These prestigious awards, conferred by the African Hall Subcommittee, honor African-American people from Greater Springfield who have — above and beyond — demonstrated commitment to the fields of community service, education, science, humanities, and/or the arts. The African Hall Subcommittee is a volunteer group comprised of educators, business people, and community leaders from the African-American community. The nomination deadline for both awards is Thursday, March 31. True to the Swahili word that comprises its name, the Ubora Award recognizes an adult of African heritage who exemplifies excellence in their commitment to creating a better community through service. Named for the Swahili word for promise, the Ahadi Youth Award is presented to a young African-American who excels in academics and performs admirable service to the Greater Springfield community. Eligible candidates must be age 19 or younger, live in or have strong ties to the Greater Springfield area, and be currently enrolled in grades 10, 11, or 12. The Ubora and Ahadi awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Springfield Museums in September. Nominations forms can be downloaded by visiting springfieldmuseums.org/ubora. Nominations may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to African Hall Subcommittee, c/o Karen Fisk, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, MA 01103.

 

Monson Savings Bank Scholarship Applications

Through April 5: Monson Savings Bank provides $28,000 in scholarships to local graduating high-school seniors annually. The bank’s 2022 scholarships are now available to graduating seniors in the Monson, Ware, Hampden-Wilbraham, and East Longmeadow school districts. The purpose of the Monson Savings Bank scholarship is to promote the attainment of higher education for graduating seniors who reside within the communities the bank serves. To qualify, graduating seniors must be planning to attend an accredited college, technical school, or certification program. Scholarship awards will be based on the applicant’s financial need, academic performance, and extracurricular activities. A candidate for this scholarship should have also demonstrated a commitment to their community. In addition to an application, applicants should include an essay outlining the service that they have generously given to their community and the impact achieved through this contribution. If students are interested in applying for the Monson Savings Bank scholarship, they should contact their high-school guidance department for an application. The deadline for application acceptance is April 5.

 

Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet

March 10: The Valley Blue Sox will host the ninth annual Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, presented by Westfield Bank at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m. The class of 2022 inductees include William Bathel, Western MA High School Fall Baseball League co-founder (2004); Brian Collins, who revived the Springfield Post 21 baseball program (2010) and was Hampden County commissioner of Legion Baseball from 2016 to 2018; Mark DiFranco, Western MA High School Fall Baseball League co-founder (2004); Charles Roys, baseball coach at Springfield College (1979-96); Patrick Strange, MLB pitcher, New York Mets (2002-03); Mark Wohlers, MLB relief pitcher, Atlanta Braves (1991-99), Cincinnati Reds (2000-01), New York Yankees (2001), and Cleveland Indians (2002); and Westfield High School’s 1967 state champion baseball team. The Ryan Doyle Courage Award will be presented by the Doyle family to Jake Goodreau. Each year, this award honors an athlete who has displayed similar courage and perseverance as Ryan Doyle did as they face a difficult time in their lives. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno will serve as master of ceremonies for the night’s event. Individual tickets are $55 per person, or a table of eight can be purchased for $400. Dinner, coffee, and dessert will be served at the banquet. There will also be a cash bar. Tickets to this year’s event can be purchased at valley-blue-sox.ticketleap.com/2022-western-ma-baseball-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony.

 

94.7 WMAS Radiothon to Benefit Baystate Children’s Hospital

March 8-9: Hattie Avigliano spent the first months of her life in the NICU at Baystate Children’s Hospital, arriving in the world three and a half months early and fighting for her life. Seven-year-old Zachary Roy was admitted to Baystate Children’s Hospital to treat multi-system inflammatory syndrome after battling COVID-19. Four-month-old triplets Paul, Brandon, and Jackson Dube entered the world 10 and a half weeks before they were expected. These children and their families will share their miraculous stories of surviving and thriving during the 21st annual 94.7 WMAS Radiothon to benefit Baystate Children’s Hospital. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will not be held at the hospital this year, but broadcast live from the WMAS studios for two days from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. WMAS on-air personalities, led by the Kellogg Krew of Chris, Dina, and Lopez, will fill both days with encouraging stories, and listeners will get to know the professional team from Baystate Children’s Hospital who care for their kids, their grandkids, and their neighbors’ kids. The public is encouraged to call, text, or go online to donate. Listeners can call to donate via the Lia Auto Group Phone Bank at (413) 794-1111, visit wmaskids.com, or text WMASKIDS to 36413.

 

Difference Makers

March 24: Since 2009, BusinessWest has been recognizing the work of individuals, groups, businesses, and institutions through a program called Difference Makers. The 14th annual Difference Makers celebration will be held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $75 and can be ordered at BusinessWest.com/difference-makers/difference-makers-tickets. The 2022 Difference Makers include Tara Brewster, vice president of Business Development at Greenfield Savings Bank; the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; Heriberto Flores, president of the New England Farm Workers’ Council; John Greaney, retired State Supreme Court justice and senior counsel at Bulkley Richardson; Ruth Griggs, president of the Northampton Jazz Festival and principal at RC Communications; Ted Hebert, owner of Teddy Bear Pools and Spas; I Found Light Against All Odds and Its Founder and CEO, Stefan Davis; and Roca Holyoke and Springfield. Their stories are told in the Feb. 16 issue of BusinessWest and HERE. The sponsors for this year’s program are Burkhart Pizzanelli, the New England Farm Workers’ Council, the Royal Law Firm, TommyCar Auto Group, and Westfield Bank.

 

 

Springfield Symphony Orchestra Spring Concerts

April 22, May 13: The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Board announced two spring concerts will be hosted at Springfield Symphony Hall with former SSO Music Director Mark Russell Smith serving as guest conductor. Smith is music director and conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. He previously served as music director for the SSO from 1995 through 2000. He has worked as director of New Music Projects for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and artistic director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Minnesota, and has also served as music director for the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra. Details about the concerts, program, and availability of tickets will be forthcoming and available at springfieldsymphony.org.

 

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Hubert Benitez

Hubert Benitez

The American International College (AIC) board of trustees announced that Hubert Benitez, DDS, PhD has been unanimously selected as the 12th president of the 137-year-old institution. Benitez will succeed President Vince Maniaci, who is retiring after 17 years of service. Benitez will join American International College on April 11. In his most recent position, Benitez served as vice president for Strategic Initiatives and Academic Innovation and as acting chief inclusion officer at Rockhurst University (RU) in Kansas City, Mo., a comprehensive institution of higher learning that offers educational programs to a diverse student population in business, communications, education, engineering, healthcare, humanities, performing and visual arts, science, and mathematics. Among his responsibilities, Benitez had direct oversight of strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, accreditation and assessment, distance education/e-learning, and the Prosperity Center for Financial Opportunity. Prior to Rockhurst, Benitez served as president and CEO of Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences in Kansas City for almost five years, where he provided visionary and strategic leadership that included growing and diversifying the college’s academic portfolio; promoting a culture of assessment; increasing the visibility of the institution through community presence, engagement, and outreach efforts; engaging in recruitment and enrollment-management practices that increased the college’s population while meeting the needs of a new and diverse demographic of students; and implementing a financial strategy that increased the institution’s fiscal stability and outlook. Benitez received his first doctoral degree in dentistry from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Latin America. He subsequently completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Connecticut Health Sciences Center, later earning a PhD in higher education administration from Saint Louis University’s College of Education and Public Service. He is a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, and he completed the Executive Leadership Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He has dedicated the last two decades to higher education as an academic and administrator, and 15 years prior as a clinician. A member of numerous academic organizations, boards, and advisory committees past and present, Benitez currently serves on the board of directors for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City and the board of trustees for Cristo Rey Kansas City, a Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth high school; is a peer reviewer for Middle States Commission on Higher Education; is a member the Hispanic Advisory Committee for Kansas City Public Schools; and is a member of the KC Rising Steering Committee, a body of the KC Rising initiative, composed of business and community volunteers from across the Kansas City metropolitan area who are committed to regional collaboration. His professional associations include the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, the American Assoc. of Hispanics in Higher Education, the American Dental Assoc., and the Golden Key International Honor Society, among others. In addition to an extensive selection of published works, Benitez has been a guest lecturer in the U.S. and abroad and has been the recipient of federally and privately funded research grants. His work ethic and commitment has been recognized by Univision Kansas City for his ongoing support for Hispanic heritage and by Universidad Piloto of Colombia for forging international and interdisciplinary exchange programs. He has been a recipient of the Hispanic Heritage Award and received special recognition for service to the community through Excellence in Education. His contributions to Suffolk County from the Office of Minority Affairs have been praised, in addition to being selected as one of the Top 25 Advocates for Latino Empowerment in Long Island, N.Y.

•••••

Carla Banas

Freedom Credit Union has hired Carla Banas as branch officer for its Ludlow location. She brings more than 16 years of banking experience to her role, the last several of which were in Ludlow, where she specialized in commercial banking. In her new role, Banas will oversee the daily operations of the branch, ensure the growth and development of employees, ensure exceptional customer service for members, and grow new business by cultivating lasting relationships. Outside her professional role, Banas is on the board for Women to Watch and serves as community outreach chair. She is also a member and past president of the Ludlow BNI Core Connections chapter and is active in the East of the River Chamber of Commerce. In her previous position, she was recognized for her work with employed veterans by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

•••••

Elena Hovagimian

Elena Hovagimian

Elena Hovagimian has been promoted to director of Agriculture at the Eastern States Exposition (ESE) after a 25-year career spanning agriculture and education, IT, and retail sales management at the West Springfield fair and trade-show facility. Hovagimian, who succeeds retiring Director of Agriculture Donna Woolam, will oversee all agriculturally based events year-round as well as the hundreds of animals entered in shows and contests, educational presentations, the Creative Arts department, the Fiber Festival of New England, the Gold Medal Wine and Cheese competitions, and retail sales for the Farmers Market, Storrowton Village Museum Gift Shop, and Christmas Shop. Hovagimian joined the Eastern States Exposition staff in October 1997 as a part-time data-entry clerk, and shortly thereafter became assistant to the Agriculture manager. In addition, she took on the Management Information Systems (MIS) coordinator duties, supervising and implementing the computer systems and programs in the company. In January 2007, she became a full-time staff member at ESE as Agriculture and Education/MIS coordinator. She was responsible for coordinating and producing more than 119 agricultural events throughout the year and during the Big E. She also increased the efficiency of all facets of the department through the use of computer software and technology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from UMass Amherst, a master’s degree in innovative thinking and entrepreneurial business practices from Bay Path University and a certificate for online journalism from UMass. She graduated from the International Assoc. of Fairs and Expositions’ (IAFE) Institute of Fair Management in 2015, and earned her certified fair executive status from the IAFE in 2018. During her career, Hovagimian led a cross-functional team to innovate and promote New England agriculture in a virtual environment, maintaining the pillars of the Exposition’s mission. She also developed processes and systems of efficient software and technology applications to allow for day-to-day business to continue in a remote environment. She developed four attractions outside of the Big E, including the Big East Youth Cattle and Jackpot Show, the Fiber Festival of New England, and the Wine and Cheese competitions. Hovagimian is an active member of the IAFE, where she chaired the agriculture and education committee in 2020 and was website technology committee chair in 2017. She is also a member of the North American Livestock Show and Rodeo Managers Assoc. and the Massachusetts Cheese Guild Advisory Board.

•••••

Tanzania Cannon-Eckerle

Tanzania Cannon-Eckerle

Attorney Tanzania Cannon-Eckerle has rejoined the Royal Law Firm full-time in a partner-level position as chief legal and administrative officer. Her practice includes matters involving labor relations, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, wrongful discharge, workers’ compensation, employee privacy, wage and hour law, leave laws, and matters involving business, including business planning, business formations, business contracts and negotiations, franchise law, and licensing and permitting. Her preventive work includes drafting a variety of employment-related manuals and contracts, such as executive agreements, compensation and commission agreements, and severance and settlement agreements. Cannon-Eckerle obtained her juris doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.

•••••

Rae Brown

Rae Brown

Freedom Credit Union announced it recently promoted Rae Brown to the role of branch officer for its Northampton and Easthampton locations. She previously served as the assistant branch officer at the Main Street, Springfield office. “Rae has been with us for nearly eight years and has proven herself to be a wonderful leader, dedicated to providing outstanding service to our members and committed to the success of her team,” Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch said. “She is the perfect person to oversee our two branches in Hampshire County.” Brown has more than two decades of experience in banking, including more than 11 years in Hampshire County. She has an associate degree from Springfield Technical Community College and is also a notary public.

•••••

Carli Ross

Carli Ross

Carli Ross recently joined Raipher, P.C. in Springfield as a personal-injury and civil-litigation attorney. Ross is a passionate advocate who began her legal career concentrating on criminal defense and employment discrimination work. She joined the practice in November and became the firm’s 16th lawyer. Ross completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California Santa Cruz in 2017, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and legal studies. She then went on to earn her juris doctor degreee from Western New England University School of Law in 2021, graduating cum laude.

•••••

Comcast named Saif Malik vice president of Finance for the company’s Western New England region, which serves more than 300 communities across Connecticut, Western Mass., Vermont, Western New Hampshire, and New York. In this role, Malik will oversee finance and accounting, warehouse and materials, information technology, facilities, fleet management, and environmental health and safety. Malik joined Comcast in 2007 as senior manager of Finance for Comcast’s Greater New Haven area, where he was responsible for the financial growth of technical operations, marketing, warehouse, and customer service centers. He most recently served as senior director of Finance for the Western New England Region, providing strategic direction for technical operations, construction, and Comcast Business functions, including the region’s capital expenditures. Prior to joining Comcast, he was manager of financial planning and analysis for AT&T. Malik earned his master’s degree in economics from the University of the Punjab and his MBA in finance from Oklahoma City University. Over the past seven years, he has served on the board of CRIS radio, an organization that provides audio access for people who are blind or print-challenged.

•••••

Curtis Haines

Curtis Haines

OMG Inc. has added to its Technical Services department with the addition of a technical-support specialist in its OMG Roofing Products division. In his new role, Curtis Haines will provide the roofing sales team with expanded technical product training and technical support in the field. Additionally, he will work with the new-product-development team to assist in expanding the company’s product lines. He reports to Stephen Childs, Technical Services manager. Haines comes to OMG Roofing Products with eight years of technical and product management experience from ITW/Permatex in Hartford, Conn. Most recently, he was involved in inside technical sales. Earlier, he had been a technical services manager and an associate innovations manager for the company. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University.

•••••

The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS) recently welcomed 14 new board members. As Springfield YPS continues to concentrate its efforts on business and career development, networking, social and cultural involvement, and community activism, its diverse membership comes from a wide range of professions and backgrounds united by a commitment to make Springfield a better place to work, live, play, and stay. New board members include Nikai Fondon of the “She Did That!” podcast, Tyler Hadley of DDS Acoustical Specialties, Kara Bombard of Performance Foodservice, Isabella Brady-Prankus of the Gray House, Julie Fruscio of Dominion Dealer Solutions, Russ Kelly of LUSO Federal Credit Union, Emily Burr of PeoplesBank, Christopher Scuderi of Charter Oak Wealth Partners, Jessica Colson of Girls Inc. of the Pioneer Valley, Drew McConaha of Train for Life, Stefany Scliopou of Elms College, Kara Sotolotto of LiftTruck Parts & Service Inc., Lauren Martin of the Markens Group, and Alaina Macaulay of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. The new board members join existing board members Jack Yvon of Charter Oak Financial, Melissa Cuzzone of EBS Insurance Brokers, Ashley Batlle-Ramos of Beauty Batlles Lounge, along with Andrew Mankus of UMass Dining, treasurer; Amie Miarecki of Christopher Heights of Belchertown, immediate past president; and Heather Clark of the Baystate Health Foundation, president.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of February 2022. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

DEERFIELD

Hermes’ Home Repairs
67 Sugarloaf St.
Andres Kwart

Petal & Wing
24 Graves St.
Sara Curtin

Thayer Street Builders
8 Coates Ave.
Kelly Potts, Robert Goulet

HADLEY

Devine Brothers Farm Partnership
26 Knightly Road
Stephen Devine

Devine Farm
26 Knightly Road
Devine Farm Inc.

Doubleday Farm
201 River Dr.
Thomas Doubleday

Dunkin’ Donuts
331 Russell St.
Mason Donuts LLC

Esselon Café
99 Russell St.
Mark Krause

Greggory’s
195 Russell St.
Greggory Thornton

North Maple Properties
27 North Maple St.
Austin Eglehart

Norwottuck Crossfit
220 Russell St.
Robert Migliaccio

Panera
351 Russell St.
Dean Carmon

Olde Hadley Flea Market
45 Lawrence Plain Road
Thomas Sobasko

Subway
367 Russell St.
Mothers Haystack LLC

LONGMEADOW

Centered Counseling
175 Dwight Road
Centered Counseling

JBC Epower Press
18 South Park Ave.
JBC Epower Press

SOUTHWICK

Altered Performance & Wiring
10 Cedar St., Apt. 12
Joseph Mussell White

Trendy Right Now, LLC
44 Bugbee Road
Robert Boyd

WESTFIELD

Big Big Box LLC
66 Westfield Industrial Park
Big Big Box LLC

The Crack Man
14 Clifton St.
The Crack Man

Fields of Flowers Farm
435 North Road
Patricia Field

Florek Family Farm
840 Granville Road
Christopher Florek

Franchy’s Restaurant
868 Southampton Road
Abdou Sane

Hickory Hill Farm
325 Montgomery Road
Dennis Bishop

Mercy Adult Day Health of Westfield
24 Clifton St.
Trinity Health PACE

Richards Fine Jewelers
461 East Main St.
M. Anthony Diamonds

Westfield Animal Clinic
422 North Elm St.
D & J Animal Clinic

Westfield Nails & Spa
459 East Main St., D5
Hanh Chanh

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Kimberly Salvas LMHC
425 Union St.
Kimberly Salvas

Lucky Se7ens Carpet LLC
1752 Riverdale St.
Gabfriel Khatchadourian

McCarty Law
594 Rogers Ave.
Jerome McCarthy Jr.

Mercy LIFE
200 Hillside Ave.
Emmanuel Cheo

Ryan Magni Media
986 Morgan Road
Ryan Magni

Siciliano Salon
1362 Westfield St.
Siciliano Salon

St. Joseph’s Family Dental LLC
258 Main St.
Susana Aguero

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Allen, Susan M.
103 A Hillside Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/26/2022

Balzer, Charles C.
21 Ferry Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/18/2022
Boyd, Tracie H.
60 Allen Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Boyd, Geoffrey L.
28039 Pisces Lane
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/21/2022

Chandler, Joel Jeffrey
451 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/28/2022

Chartrand, Kenneth Shields
20 Hampton Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/18/2022

Chevalier, Michael J.
Chevalier, Sidney J.
96 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/24/2022

Gazda, Steven
15 Bates St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/25/2022

Hartin, Andrea
3 Perennial Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/25/2022

Kupiec, Mitchell S.
152 Sewall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/27/2022

Landry, Irene L.
3 Meadow St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/31/2022

Mayes, David Alan
128 Avery St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/31/2022

Mercure, Richard A.
198 Brookfield Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/28/2022

Quinones, Samuel
44 Bruce St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Date: 01/20/2022

Roy, Jerome R.
106 Horseshoe Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/18/2022

Songini, Laurie Ann
15 Sutton Place, Apt. 3
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/20/2022

Wakefield, Irene I.
73 Tannery Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/25/2022

Walker, Bruce H.
Walker, Mary Ellen
198 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/21/2022

Whitman, Sabryna N.
662 Amherst Road, Apt. 1
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/18/2022

Wojnilowicz, Lisa J.
69 Hillside Village, Apt. 69
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Date: 01/20/2022

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

Valley Venture Mentors Joins Forces with Western Massachusetts EDC

SPRINGFIELD — The Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC) announced it has welcomed Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) into the EDC ranks as a regional leader in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. With a shared vision in stimulating and facilitating a vigorous regional economy, the EDC is committed to supporting local entrepreneurship, which ultimately leads to the acceleration of economic development and community vitalization. EDC and VVM leadership have been in discussion on the future of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and have decided to join forces. “The leadership at the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts recognizes the unique value of VVM, its impactful programming, and diverse pool of mentors,” the VVM board of directors noted in a statement. “We are excited to hand over the reins to the EDC and watch VVM and the EDC work more closely together to fulfill the mission of helping all entrepreneurs in Western Mass. not just succeed, but thrive.” With this new transition, the EDC has appointed Hope Ross Gibaldi as executive director of VVM.

 

Mellon Foundation Awards Five Colleges $1.6 Million Faculty-development Grant

AMHERST — The Five College Consortium has been awarded a $1.6 million grant by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to create programming that will develop faculty members’ administrative leadership skills. Titled “Building Academic Leaders in the Humanities,” the grant will fund a three-and-a-half-year program to prepare humanities faculty to take on leadership roles at Five Colleges’ member institutions — Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith colleges and UMass Amherst — and elsewhere. The program builds on a seminar one held at Amherst College in 2020 for 24 faculty members interested in taking on or already occupying administrative roles. The success of the Amherst model led the chief academic officers of the Five College campuses to propose a collaborative leadership-development effort across all five institutions. Amherst College Associate Provost and Associate Dean of Faculty Pawan Dhingra will lead the grant team, along with UMass Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Sociology Michelle Budig, Mount Holyoke College Associate Dean of Faculty Elizabeth Markovits, Smith College Dean for Academic Development Hélène Visentin, and Hampshire College Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Yaniris Fernandez. The Mellon Foundation funding will support two annual institutes, one designed for early- to mid-career faculty who are planning to take on their first administrative responsibilities, and another for current faculty administrators looking to move into higher leadership roles. Facilitated by experienced campus leaders, these institutes will cover subjects ranging from managing budgets to maintaining work-life balance. Developing participants’ capacity to support diversity, equity, and inclusion will be an overall theme of both institutes.

 

 

Manning Family Foundation Gives $3 Million to UMass Amherst

AMHERST — Alumnus Paul Manning and his wife, Diane, have committed $3 million through their family foundation to expand the Manning Innovation Program at UMass Amherst. The gift provides three years of support in advancing a robust and sustainable commercialization pipeline of applied and translational research projects from the university. The Manning Innovation Program, based in the university’s Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), provides grants to advance applied research and development efforts in the sciences and engineering through the creation of startup companies and the licensing of intellectual property. Since its inception, 14 faculty members have received a Manning Innovation Award, including one research professor who has used these new funds to make strides toward new, life-saving liver-disease treatments. The program has also fostered a stronger culture of entrepreneurship in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) and greater collaboration among Isenberg School of Management advisors, science and technology researchers, and industry experts as they work to translate research into field-disrupting products. The Manning Innovation Program was originally established in 2019 with $1 million in seed funding from the Mannings and was initially open only to CNS faculty. “When we established the Manning Innovation Program almost three years ago, our goal was to fund brilliant minds as they tackled some of the world’s biggest problems,” Paul Manning said. “But the program’s success has surpassed our expectations, which is why we are investing in its expansion. We look forward to seeing many more innovative solutions that are sure to make a global impact.”

 

Upright Education Partners with GCC on Technology Career Training

GREENFIELD — Upright Education and Greenfield Community College (GCC) are partnering to provide award-winning career-enhancement programs in technology in Western Mass. and beyond. The new partnership is being provided through GCC’s Workforce Development Office and will give learners a unique chance to participate in boot camps that help them quickly learn marketable skills in technology, including software development and user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. Participants will be able to attend the programs virtually and can complete them in as few as 10 weeks. With Upright’s national partner network and suite of curriculum offerings and GCC’s access to the area’s working population and robust higher-education system, this partnership aims to significantly augment efforts to develop the technology workforce in the region. All courses are fully accessible to online participants and offered with a variety of pricing models. For more information on available Upright offerings, visit bootcamp.gcc.mass.edu, or attend an upcoming information session on Wednesday, March 9.

 

WNE College of Engineering to Offer Hands-on Integrated Photonics Training

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University’s (WNE) College of Engineering Laboratory for Education and Application Prototypes (LEAP@WNE) in Springfield is the first to offer the latest hands-on integrated photonics training in collaboration with Spark Photonics to enhance the Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) Department’s optics/photonics bachelor of science in electrical engineering degree sequence. Spark Photonics, an independent commercial photonic integrated circuit-design house based in Waltham, recently delivered its first commercially available education and workforce development (EWD) photonic integrated circuit (PIC) kit to the Western New England University College of Engineering Laboratory for Education and Application Prototypes. LEAP@WNE is a state-of-the-art optics/photonics training center established through the Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing to advance innovation and job growth throughout the state. Steve Adamshick, associate professor and director of LEAP@WNE, said there will definitely be a shift in the program as a result of the EWD PIC kit. Unlike other established industries, few education and workforce-development programs focus specifically on the integrated photonics industry in the U.S., and only a handful of those offer students the type of hands-on experience that they will face in a real-world manufacturing environment. The hands-on difference at WNE has resulted in the ECE department placing 99% of its students in jobs with a median salary of $103,390 or full-tuition scholarships at prestigious R1 institutions (those with very high research activity).

 

Berkshire Bank Earns Gold Community Champion Award

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank was recently presented the Gold Community Champion Award from Banking Northeast magazine in the economic-development category. This award recognized the bank’s comprehensive efforts to foster economic resilience in its communities. Banking Northeast established the Community Champion Awards to honor the banks and credit unions who went beyond the call to aid their community in a special time of need or whose cumulative effort has made a substantial, positive impact. Winners were presented at the magazine’s Gala Awards last month at Mohegan Sun. Berkshire Bank’s Gold Community Champion Award recognized its efforts to harness its core business activities, pandemic response, community involvement, philanthropic programs, and innovative financial solutions such as MyFreedom Checking and the Futures Fund to strengthen its neighborhoods. Berkshire helped deploy nearly $1 billion in PPP funding to assist small businesses during the pandemic and helped more than 180,000 individuals with financial-wellness programming. According to an independent third party, Berkshire reinvests at a rate nearly 70% higher than the industry average. Through its BEST Community Comeback program, the company expects to lend and invest $5 billion over the next three years to lift up its communities across four key areas: fueling small businesses, community financing and philanthropy, financial access and empowerment, and funding environmental sustainability. The plan is expected to result in more businesses and jobs being created, more families achieving the dream of owning a home, more quality housing in neighborhoods, and investments in activities that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

 

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

DEERFIELD

299 Greenfield Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $409,000
Buyer: Adam J. Daniell
Seller: STS Properties LLC
Date: 01/28/22

14 Old Albany Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Adrie Rose
Seller: Donna L. Almstead
Date: 01/26/22

GILL

10 Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Helene Grosvenor
Seller: Jacob B. Rau
Date: 01/28/22

1 Main Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: PGM Management Property LLC
Seller: Steven B. Luzi
Date: 01/26/22

88 North Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Shea
Seller: Thomas W. Wyman
Date: 02/01/22

GREENFIELD

350 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Lucas T. Seaman
Seller: Kevin C. Seaman
Date: 01/28/22

41 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,050,000
Buyer: MAG Real Estate Holdings Greenfield
Seller: James J. Dillon
Date: 02/02/22

49 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,050,000
Buyer: MAG Real Estate Holdings Greenfield
Seller: James J. Dillon
Date: 02/02/22

29 Cypress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Bonnie L. Brown
Seller: Timothy D. Mosher
Date: 01/26/22

62 Fargo St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Tatyana Mihai
Seller: Ronald P. Croteau
Date: 01/31/22

12 Fort Square
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,050,000
Buyer: MAG Real Estate Holdings Greenfield
Seller: James J. Dillon
Date: 02/02/22

15 Fort Square
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,050,000
Buyer: MAG Real Estate Holdings Greenfield
Seller: James J. Dillon
Date: 02/02/22

4 Hayes Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,050,000
Buyer: MAG Real Estate Holdings Greenfield
Seller: James J. Dillon
Date: 02/02/22

7 Laurel St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Peter L. Studt
Seller: David Jarvis
Date: 02/03/22

54 Main St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,050,000
Buyer: MAG Real Estate Holdings Greenfield
Seller: James J. Dillon
Date: 02/02/22

HAWLEY

49 East Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Douglas F. Blough
Seller: James R. Schaefer
Date: 01/28/22

62 Labelle Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Kiley E. Turner
Seller: Michael King
Date: 01/24/22

LEVERETT

220 Pratt Corner Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Kathleen F. Markland
Seller: Tramazzo FT
Date: 01/24/22

MONROE

161 Main Road
Monroe, MA 01350
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Sheila M. Thoresen
Seller: Thomas S. Thoresen
Date: 02/01/22

MONTAGUE

33 East Main St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Millers Falls Property Management
Seller: Vidya G. Patel
Date: 02/02/22

17 Masonic Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Joseph P. George
Seller: George R. Marchacos
Date: 01/27/22

68 Old Stage Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $506,500
Buyer: Adam M. Thurrell
Seller: Athena M. Morris
Date: 01/31/22

NORTHFIELD

81 Highland Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Joshua Lim
Seller: Aquinas College-Thomas
Date: 01/28/22

ORANGE

85 Cheney St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Joshua Blackburn
Seller: Reginald C. Haughton
Date: 01/26/22

ROWE

37 Brittingham Hill Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Mazen Nasrallah
Seller: Robert J. Avallone
Date: 02/02/22

SUNDERLAND

140 North Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Louai Abu-Osba
Seller: Mieczkowski, Stanley E., (Estate)
Date: 01/31/22

WHATELY

52 Webber Road
Whately, MA 01039
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Angelia Bisbee
Seller: Mary St.Germain
Date: 02/03/22

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

52 Briarcliff Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Clifford W. Robinson
Seller: Michael J. Tufariello
Date: 01/31/22

77 Dutchmaster Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $502,000
Buyer: Anthony Montano
Seller: Joseph L. Montano
Date: 01/24/22

62 Federal Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jonathan M. Latourelle
Seller: Michael D. Latourelle
Date: 01/26/22

104 North St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Douglas R. Nooney
Seller: Alan E. Boissonneault
Date: 02/03/22

127 Princeton Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $406,000
Buyer: Sean M. Roda
Seller: Lynnann Tremble
Date: 01/28/22

11 Rhodes Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Nicholas M. Kupiec
Seller: David C. Young
Date: 01/25/22

55 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Maks Realty LLC
Seller: Bonavita, Victor R., (Estate)
Date: 02/02/22

111-113 Rowley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Nicholas Maratea
Seller: RSKE LLC
Date: 02/01/22

94 Wagon Wheel Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Juan Henriquez
Seller: Jacob Thomas
Date: 01/31/22

BRIMFIELD

324 Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $325,900
Buyer: Christopher Puskas
Seller: Stephen R. Holuk
Date: 02/01/22

CHESTER

102 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: O’Connor Hart
Seller: Martha S. Barus
Date: 02/04/22

CHICOPEE

33 Andover Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Rebecca A. Chmura
Seller: Marnee G. Grace
Date: 01/25/22

89 Chapel St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jorge Llull-Vazquez
Seller: Dennis E. Banville
Date: 01/28/22

732 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Property Management Investment & Development
Seller: The V. Huynh
Date: 02/01/22

98 Clairmont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,010
Buyer: Mary E. Goulette
Seller: Eleanor A. Weeks
Date: 01/24/22

152 College St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: David E. Vickers
Seller: Denette Properties LLC
Date: 02/02/22

32 Concord St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Maryann E. Haas-Porter
Seller: Caryl Velago
Date: 01/31/22

43 Davenport St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jeffrey W. Laplante
Seller: SRV Properties LLC
Date: 02/01/22

53 Dickinson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Alexander I. Latoshkin
Seller: Judith A. Harmon
Date: 02/01/22

38 Dorrance St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Adrian Delarosa
Seller: Janessa M. Santana
Date: 01/28/22

15 Driscoll St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $242,900
Buyer: Tammie Mitchell
Seller: Michael A. Roch
Date: 02/01/22

40 Dublin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $331,000
Buyer: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Seller: Dublin Street LLC
Date: 01/28/22

44 Dublin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $331,000
Buyer: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Seller: Dublin Street LLC
Date: 01/28/22

68 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Skyspec Holdings LLC
Seller: Henry J. Zyla
Date: 01/31/22

62 Fedak Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: John J. Flynn
Seller: Kenneth M. Lemanski
Date: 01/26/22

21 Fredette St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Michael J. Ash
Seller: N. Riley Development Inc.
Date: 01/28/22

874 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Alexandr Emciuc
Seller: Carlos G. Dias
Date: 01/31/22

29 Hampshire St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $268,500
Buyer: Anthony J. Deprey-Willis
Seller: Matthew W. Beaudette
Date: 01/28/22

66 Hyde Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Jovany M. Sanchez
Seller: Rui M. Baltazar
Date: 02/03/22

58 Kaveney St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jesus E. Arocho
Seller: Mya V. Gaskins
Date: 01/28/22

35 Kimball St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $331,000
Buyer: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Seller: Dublin Street LLC
Date: 01/28/22

34 Lafond Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Matthew J. Dupuis
Seller: Gerald S. Campion
Date: 01/31/22

97 Leo Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $193,605
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Brian A. Bogart
Date: 02/01/22

69 Ludger Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Ashley Grant
Seller: Jessica M. Daly
Date: 02/04/22

820 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Matthew Robitaille
Seller: Michelle Bedard
Date: 01/28/22

680 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: NSPFD LLC
Seller: DTS Meadow Street LLC
Date: 02/04/22

25 Montauk Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Adrian Vadney
Seller: Robert P. Morin
Date: 01/27/22

30 Olivine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Property Advantage Inc.
Seller: David E. Spafford
Date: 02/02/22

157 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Sean Fournier
Seller: Roger Laflamme
Date: 01/31/22

123 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ivonne Reyes
Seller: Jared S. Johnson
Date: 01/28/22

220 Royal St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: David E. Vickers
Seller: Denette Properties LLC
Date: 02/02/22

157 Ruskin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $118,500
Buyer: Ali S. Younes
Seller: Palys, John S., (Estate)
Date: 02/01/22

20 Simone Road
Chicopee, MA 01440
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Latrisha Rodriguez
Seller: Desrosiers, Irene V., (Estate)
Date: 01/24/22

61 Simonich Circle
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Justin Olmo
Seller: Hector J. Centeno
Date: 01/24/22

210 Stebbins St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Daviau & Robert Properties LLC
Seller: 91 East Park Inc.
Date: 01/27/22

95 Ward St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Roza Albahadly
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 01/26/22

EAST LONGMEADOW

19 Alvin St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Christopher Borecki
Seller: Savannah Richards
Date: 01/24/22

23 Brook St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Constance Gallagher
Seller: Judith A. Smith
Date: 01/27/22

353 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Dmytro Pechonkin
Seller: Daniel L. Handzel
Date: 02/01/22

10 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Gary C. Jacobs
Seller: Richard M. Martin
Date: 01/24/22

115 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $489,000
Buyer: Geoffrey P. Peer
Seller: Ryan M. St.Germain
Date: 01/28/22

30 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: David E. Fortier
Seller: B. J. Anzalotti Colby IRT
Date: 01/28/22

HAMPDEN

Briarcliff Ave.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Richard G. Herdsman
Seller: Karl Burston
Date: 01/27/22

19 Echo Valley Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Tyler H. Simons
Seller: Gregory F. Dubois
Date: 01/28/22

34 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $4,495,833
Buyer: Vantage Care Hampden Realty
Seller: Massachusetts SNF 1 LLC
Date: 02/04/22

Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Jessica Boyle
Seller: Rocky Mountain Wood Co. Inc.
Date: 01/25/22

HOLYOKE

116-118 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Benjamin Sullivan
Seller: Leonard F. Surdyka
Date: 02/02/22

104 Columbus Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Kathleen Fahey
Seller: Matthew O’Connor
Date: 01/27/22

21 Francis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jailson Varela
Seller: Maria C. Harris
Date: 01/31/22

65-67 Hitchcock St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Alex Hiller
Seller: Frank Drobiak
Date: 02/04/22

68 Lawler St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Wayne Versace
Seller: Deanna L. O’Neill
Date: 01/27/22

151 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Mary Hatch
Seller: Amy S. Meek
Date: 01/28/22

14 Maple Crest Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Tanesia Westbrooks
Seller: Alfaville LLC
Date: 01/28/22

4 Memorial Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Caitlin E. O’Hare
Seller: Cynthia L. Walsh
Date: 02/04/22

51 North Summer St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $167,400
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: Warren P. Fay
Date: 01/26/22

1140 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Sharon A. Farmer
Seller: Ruth H. Pinon
Date: 02/04/22

51 Norwood Ter.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Suzanne E. Platanitis
Seller: David J. Herbert
Date: 01/31/22

48 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Mlada Bukovansky
Seller: Doty, Richard M., (Estate)
Date: 01/24/22

6 Shawmut Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Robert A. Fournier
Seller: Stephen F. Marion
Date: 01/26/22

73-75 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Bull Stack Industries LLC
Seller: Albert E. Paone
Date: 02/02/22

77 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Bull Stack Industries LLC
Seller: Albert E. Paone
Date: 02/02/22

272 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Alycar Investments LLC
Seller: Efrain Martinez-Ramos
Date: 01/26/22

142 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: J&E Real Estate LLC
Seller: Luis E. Agudelo
Date: 01/28/22

21 Woods Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $344,000
Buyer: Lisa D. Lindstrom
Seller: Kimberly S. Olvert-Provost
Date: 01/31/22

LONGMEADOW

53 Homestead Blvd.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $276,500
Buyer: Kelly Cuoco
Seller: Jessica A. Reed
Date: 02/04/22

110 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Nathaniel Hammond
Seller: John P. Labulis
Date: 01/27/22

18 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: Michael J. Yaeger
Seller: Quynh L. Nguyen
Date: 01/25/22

96 Woodside Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Blackwood Sampson & Turner
Seller: Phyllis Levenson
Date: 01/28/22

LUDLOW

23 Armand St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: Joann C. Broussard
Seller: Steven J. Mastalerz
Date: 02/01/22

124 Cedar St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Yesenia M. Cruz
Seller: Maria T. Ferreira
Date: 01/28/22

844 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Amanda Waldron
Seller: Jordan Machado
Date: 01/28/22

303 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Lengieza
Seller: Cristina M. Grimes
Date: 01/31/22

116-120 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Antonio Sosa
Seller: Nancy Dias
Date: 01/25/22

565-567 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $332,000
Buyer: Clayton S. Booth
Seller: Paul Baltazar
Date: 01/26/22

115 John St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Emel Yaglidere
Seller: Maria Dosanjos-Pereira
Date: 01/27/22

162 Massachusetts Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Golden Gorillas LLC
Seller: Veteran Stan LLC
Date: 01/26/22

137 West Akard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $285,500
Buyer: Jordan Machado
Seller: Katimae Strycharz
Date: 01/28/22

32 Wilno Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Adam Jacobson
Seller: Haley A. McGinnis
Date: 01/27/22

MONSON

10 Robbins Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $221,490
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Linda S. Costa
Date: 01/26/22

50 Thompson St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Courtney
Seller: John H. Courtney
Date: 01/28/22

21 Wilbraham Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $173,550
Buyer: Selene Finance LP
Seller: David D. Perkins
Date: 01/25/22

PALMER

15 Barlow St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Kallie Lacrosse
Seller: Muhammad Siyyar
Date: 01/28/22

270 Boston Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Andrew Close
Seller: Robert J. Sullivan
Date: 01/31/22

307 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: E. M. Delcampo-Gloria
Seller: Alexandra R. Zerwitz
Date: 01/24/22

229 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Heather McMillan
Seller: Mainville, Karen R., (Estate)
Date: 01/31/22

4293-4295 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Marco Vieira
Seller: Arenas Investments LLC
Date: 01/28/22

4293-4295 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Arenas Investments LLC
Seller: Ted Strzelecki
Date: 01/28/22

1479 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Lakiesha Sciarra
Seller: MWA Realty LLC
Date: 01/25/22

1594-1596 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Citadel Projects LLC
Seller: J. Danusia Lokii-Braese
Date: 01/28/22

4042-4044 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Avyanna Cruz
Seller: Citadel Projects LLC
Date: 01/24/22

SPRINGFIELD

169 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jennifer Ramos
Seller: Charles D. Vanzant
Date: 01/25/22

672 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Elisandro Cuevas
Seller: Ana Terrero
Date: 02/04/22

70 Alderman St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Rodman Capital Group LLC
Seller: Thuy D. To
Date: 02/04/22

80-82 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Vladimir S. Chacho-Paltin
Seller: Albert D. Facchini
Date: 01/28/22

5 Amanda St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Hilton J. Zapata-Ramirez
Seller: Teshena I. Jones-Swaby
Date: 02/03/22

61 Bacon Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $248,668
Buyer: Ryan Murphy
Seller: Martina B. Papierski
Date: 02/02/22

35 Barber St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Meagan A. Morrissette
Seller: Leslie J. Macaulay
Date: 02/04/22

731 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Billy Clark
Seller: Matrisa R. Crapps
Date: 02/01/22

23 Baywood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Mary Okyere
Seller: Shirley Lebron
Date: 01/26/22

77 Beaumont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Alycar Investments LLC
Seller: SRV Properties LLC
Date: 02/01/22

97 Bellevue Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $307,000
Buyer: Cedric Smith
Seller: April M. Foulks-Rivera
Date: 01/24/22

638 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $437,000
Buyer: Dos Gorditos LLC
Seller: Central Commons LLC
Date: 02/03/22

448 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Gladyneth P. Salinas
Seller: William J. Bergmann
Date: 01/28/22

42-44 Biltmore St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Damaris Cartagena
Seller: Juan L. Henriquez
Date: 01/31/22

65 Burnside Ter.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Value Properties LLC
Seller: John J. Kuhn
Date: 01/24/22

476-478 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $306,000
Buyer: Ismael Torres-Mendez
Seller: JJJ17 LLC
Date: 01/25/22

89 Carol Ann St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Israel D. Rosa-Moreno
Seller: Tony Younes
Date: 02/03/22

12 Carroll St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Prestigious 1 LLC
Seller: Mohegan Real Estate LLC
Date: 01/27/22

141-143 Carver St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: M. A. Jimenez-Decortorreal
Seller: Carleny Henriquez
Date: 01/27/22

135-137 Cedar St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Johnie Harolda-Sanders
Seller: Migdalia Valentin
Date: 01/28/22

142 Chapin Ter.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Seller: Carol A. Gittles
Date: 01/25/22

51 Clough St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Amber Anderson
Seller: Elizabeth M. Case
Date: 01/26/22

45 Crabtree St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Holden Krueger
Seller: Maurice G. Lindsay
Date: 01/24/22

110 Darling St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Kelley Gangi
Seller: Jasmine Bosworth
Date: 02/04/22

32-34 Dawes St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Leonard A. Denette
Seller: Anthony M. Rodriguez
Date: 01/27/22

305 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kennedy Acquisitions LLC
Seller: Citizens Bank
Date: 01/27/22

79 Denwall Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Ana M. Brown
Seller: Cynthia J. Gonzalez
Date: 02/03/22

540 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Muhammad Hatib
Seller: Iris B. Little
Date: 01/28/22

53 Druid Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Stasia B. Boris
Date: 02/01/22

475 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Van T. Nguyen
Seller: Bishan Gajmer
Date: 01/31/22

30 Eldridge St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Cong T. Co
Seller: Thiet T. Son
Date: 01/31/22

45-47 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Cherialy Colon
Seller: Justin M. Alejandro
Date: 02/04/22

267 Fountain St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Kemler M. Long
Seller: Patricia R. Gallerani
Date: 02/01/22

93 Garfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Corina Young
Seller: Deborah Roque
Date: 01/31/22

65 Garland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $213,500
Buyer: Jason P. Fahey
Seller: Olga L. Orengo
Date: 02/03/22

463 Gifford St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Steven White
Seller: Michael W. Belmarce
Date: 01/28/22

188 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Yariana Rivera
Seller: US Bank
Date: 01/27/22

412 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Justin C. Ayala
Seller: Matina Metropoulos
Date: 02/03/22

35 Gladstone St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $202,500
Buyer: Deng Dynasty LLC
Seller: Vanessa McCoy
Date: 01/27/22

106 Greene St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Reynaldo M. Sepulveda
Seller: Ibrahim Aljashaam
Date: 01/31/22

79 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Ebonie D. Bethea
Seller: Valerie Cotto
Date: 01/25/22

28-32 Hillman St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Hillman Lot LLC
Seller: TD Bank
Date: 01/27/22

57 Hobson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Curtis Emerson
Seller: Marie Pervonga
Date: 02/03/22

35 Itendale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,600
Buyer: Delroy Gayle
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 01/31/22

166 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: Winston J. Nixon
Date: 01/28/22

87 Kingsley St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Josue Vazquez
Seller: Meredith Griswold
Date: 02/02/22

34 Lamont St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Ryan A. Riel
Seller: Antonio Lebron
Date: 01/28/22

105 Lancaster St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Stephanie R. Johnson
Seller: Michael D. McLane
Date: 01/31/22

44 Larchmont St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Carla E. Perez
Seller: Jimarie Quinonez
Date: 02/02/22

306 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Leslie Figiela
Seller: Tawana Davis
Date: 02/03/22

41-43 Lester St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Gleny E. Bryan
Seller: Mark A. Robbins
Date: 01/25/22

18 Littleton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Equity Trust Co.
Seller: Marisol Molina
Date: 01/28/22

190 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $506,000
Buyer: Johnnie Asencio
Seller: Mark G. Hambley
Date: 02/04/22

283 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Keith Celebrezze
Seller: Johnnie Asencio
Date: 02/04/22

160 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: A&T Home Improvement LLC
Seller: James L. Garnes
Date: 01/26/22

145-151 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $915,000
Buyer: 145 Main Street Property LLC
Seller: Lachenauer LLC
Date: 01/28/22

1441 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $5,075,000
Buyer: 1441 Main St. LLC
Seller: SIS Center Inc.
Date: 01/27/22

3500 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $6,700,000
Buyer: KAGR 2 Springfield 3500 LLC
Seller: Springfield 3500 Medical Properties
Date: 02/04/22

3550 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $19,500,000
Buyer: KAGR 2 Springfield 3550 LLC
Seller: Springfield 3550 Medical Properties
Date: 02/04/22

3640 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $23,900,000
Buyer: KAGR 2 Springfield 3640 LLC
Seller: Springfield 3640 Medical Properties
Date: 02/04/22

78 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $288,500
Buyer: Vito C. Resto
Seller: Maple Street Assocs. LLC
Date: 01/25/22

111 Margerie St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Angelika G. Rodriguez
Seller: Williams, Georgia, (Estate)
Date: 01/28/22

182 Marsden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Lutece P. Richardson
Seller: Norman E. Harris
Date: 01/28/22

38-40 Massachusetts Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Francisco Pojoy
Seller: Roger Cruz-Cordero
Date: 01/26/22

60 Michigan St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Alfredo Maldonado-Rivera
Seller: Marceau, Theresa B., (Estate)
Date: 01/28/22

170 Mildred Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: 170 Mildred Avenue LLC
Seller: Brital 1987 LLC
Date: 01/31/22

56-58 Milton St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $205,500
Buyer: Hamid T. Hallums
Seller: Robert W. Salmond
Date: 02/02/22

40 Murray Hill Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jimmy B. Wilbon
Seller: Iveliz Ramos
Date: 01/25/22

333-335 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Omar Anderson
Seller: Junior Williams
Date: 01/28/22

240 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jeffery Markham
Seller: Lynn R. Leonard
Date: 01/31/22

211 Nottingham St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: William Delgado-Sanabria
Seller: Joanne M. Kendall
Date: 01/24/22

61 Orlando St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jose L. Matute
Seller: NKZ Realty Inc.
Date: 01/24/22

217 Osborne Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Josean J. Morales-Rivera
Seller: William C. Reardon
Date: 02/03/22

359 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Old Sudbury Realty LLC
Seller: Joseph A. Boudreau
Date: 01/26/22

1847 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Muhammad Akbar
Seller: Tyeka Robinson
Date: 02/02/22

14 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jasmine Bosworth
Seller: Pratt, Judith A., (Estate)
Date: 02/04/22

45 Peer St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Henry Anderson
Seller: K. C. Anderson-Herdsman
Date: 01/27/22

132 Pilgrim Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Mathew P. Caron
Seller: Wilfredo Ramos
Date: 02/04/22

139 Pilgrim Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: Robert Dufresne
Seller: Dufresne, Cecile D., (Estate)
Date: 01/27/22

546 Plainfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Juan Alejandro
Seller: Jorge Perez
Date: 01/24/22

50 Pondview Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $355,500
Buyer: Nancyjo C. Rongner
Seller: Redmond FT
Date: 01/26/22

63 Porter St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Felix L. Gonzalez
Seller: Evelyn Carbone
Date: 02/02/22

167-169 Prospect St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Xiaomao B. Wang
Seller: Stephen M. Borucki
Date: 02/04/22

34 Quebec St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $214,999
Buyer: Bradley Kirby
Seller: Luis Eugenio
Date: 01/28/22

118 Quincy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Tynayko Melendez
Seller: Juan L. Then
Date: 01/28/22

221-223 Quincy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Morgan V. Dibacco
Seller: Gustavo Kruschewsky
Date: 01/24/22

115 Ranney St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ariana Nunez
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 01/28/22

13 Ringgold St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Antwan Kendrick
Seller: Angeline Poulis
Date: 01/28/22

35 Russell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Katherine L. Stapp
Seller: Joanne C. Laflamme
Date: 01/26/22

102-104 Santa Barbara St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Daphne Gojo-Cruz
Seller: Allyssia M. Rivera
Date: 02/04/22

76 Savoy Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Leah E. Griswold
Seller: Timothy J. Distefano
Date: 02/03/22

155 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jeyson Soto-Ocasio
Seller: Marcos A. Ortiz
Date: 01/28/22

463-465 State St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: 463 State Street LLC
Seller: Highview Properties LLC
Date: 01/27/22

471 State St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: 463 State Street LLC
Seller: Highview Properties LLC
Date: 01/27/22

331 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Justin G. Rosado
Seller: Cindy M. Goodyear
Date: 01/31/22

83-85 Tulsa St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $270,900
Buyer: Naisha L. Rodriguez
Seller: Mark T. Demos
Date: 01/25/22

677 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: 67 Properties LLC
Seller: Jeffrey Bousquet
Date: 01/28/22

42 Waltham Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $820,000
Buyer: Knox Residences 2 LP
Seller: James Hwang
Date: 02/04/22

781 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Alexandria G. Escribano
Seller: William Tejada
Date: 01/24/22

150 Winton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Jamie Pons
Seller: Donna J. Lessard
Date: 02/03/22

178-180 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Nicholas Bencivengo
Seller: Elizabeth Andujar
Date: 01/31/22

1407-1409 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Eric F. Galarza
Seller: Evan A. Powers
Date: 01/31/22

SOUTHWICK

54 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Amanda B. Evans
Seller: Peter S. Attardo
Date: 02/02/22

21 Congamond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Alexis Romero
Seller: Patricia Edelstein
Date: 01/24/22

249 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Ethan A. Hoch
Seller: Devon Arnold
Date: 02/03/22

WALES

20 Woodland Heights
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Daniel Rice
Seller: William L. Haughey
Date: 01/31/22

WEST SPRINGFIELD

31 Alderbrook Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $499,000
Buyer: Thomas Sudnick
Seller: Dana R. Barrows
Date: 01/28/22

28 Almon Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Jennifer Patton
Seller: Jeffrey Marini
Date: 01/28/22

8 Bretton Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $454,000
Buyer: Felecia Griffin
Seller: Lane, Nancy Emily, (Estate)
Date: 01/27/22

130 Circle Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: William L. Haddenham
Seller: Thomas J. Murray
Date: 01/28/22

30 City View Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $251,500
Buyer: Eric Arabian
Seller: Christopher J. Bryant
Date: 01/27/22

484 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Angela M. Zielinski
Seller: Henry F. Spadoni
Date: 02/03/22

130 Doty Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: 130 Doty LLC
Seller: Hubert S. Derenzy
Date: 02/01/22

38 Hill St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Real Estate Investments Northeast
Seller: Wolfpack Realty Corp.
Date: 02/02/22

24 Kelly Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Zoya Johnson
Seller: Thomas L. Sudnick
Date: 01/28/22

26 Pheasants Xing
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Deborah I. Roque
Seller: Anthony W. Kelley
Date: 01/31/22

23 Queen Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jeffrey R. Hoppe
Seller: Maria E. Ashley-Parent
Date: 01/27/22

73 Russell St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Zafar Takhsilov
Seller: Pesa, Sadika, (Estate)
Date: 01/31/22

7 Smith Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Aurianna P. Davis
Seller: Michael S. Egan
Date: 02/01/22

37 Upper Beverly Hills
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Megan Seiler
Seller: Howard B. Bernard
Date: 01/24/22

14 Vernon Place
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Gary M. Gorman
Seller: Heritage Ventures LLC
Date: 02/01/22

53 Warren St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Kate MacDougall
Seller: Felecia Montiel-Yager
Date: 01/26/22

30 West St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Carol A. Brunelle
Seller: Nancy E. Hamlin
Date: 01/28/22

15 Wilfred St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Walter Rodgers
Seller: Thomas M. Jarry
Date: 02/03/22

WESTFIELD

217 Apple Blossom Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Matthew Lepage
Seller: Richard P. Briggs
Date: 01/28/22

18 Bowdoin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: William Malone
Seller: Dorothy L. York
Date: 01/28/22

48 Brentwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Michael Meunier
Seller: Sandra Canterbury
Date: 02/03/22

41 Church St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: 309 Park Street LLC
Seller: Nathan A. Byrnes
Date: 01/27/22

2 Cycle St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Brandon Tessier
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 01/24/22

130 Elizabeth Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Danielle Barton
Seller: Fitzgerald Home Solutions LLC
Date: 01/28/22

48 Franklin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: 502 Union Station LLC
Seller: Robert J. O’Connor
Date: 01/28/22

12 Fremont St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Milos Reljic
Seller: Yelizaveta Belyakova
Date: 02/02/22

54 Jefferson St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Lynnette Sibley
Seller: Anne E. Kibbe
Date: 01/28/22

64 Lockhouse Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: DDM Property Group LLC
Seller: Robert A. Baker
Date: 02/03/22

70 Notre Dame St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Bethany L. Thomas
Seller: Stephan K. Prefontaine
Date: 02/01/22

8 Oak St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Michelle Carter
Seller: Walide Soufane
Date: 01/31/22

157 Rachael Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Angelo Valentini
Seller: Sodi Inc.
Date: 02/01/22

33 Raymond Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Dermot Hurley
Seller: Mark A. Wilson
Date: 01/31/22

114 Roosevelt Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $244,999
Buyer: Steven Blake-Bianco
Seller: David A. Burl
Date: 01/31/22

535 Russellville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Diamond Investment Group LLC
Seller: Kenneth F. Bourdon
Date: 02/03/22

98 Sergeant TM Dion Way
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $6,400,000
Buyer: Alden Credit Union
Seller: Yoshi Corp.
Date: 01/26/22

15 Stratfield Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $236,001
Buyer: Stacey L. Chevalier
Seller: Alexis K. Godden
Date: 01/27/22

11 Sycamore St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Rachel Altman
Seller: Jennifer L. Pirnie
Date: 01/25/22

9 Tow Path Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Ivan Zuev
Seller: Helen S. Kitchell
Date: 01/28/22

478 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Marybeth A. Kennedy
Seller: Elaine Ryan
Date: 02/04/22

110 Woodside Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Volodymyr Nosenko
Seller: Vadim Plotnikov
Date: 02/03/22

150 Yeoman Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Kriha
Seller: Dermot J. Hurley
Date: 01/31/22

WILBRAHAM

8 Birch St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Boyer
Seller: Matthew D. Boyer
Date: 02/01/22

2155 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $987,500
Buyer: 670 Wilbraham LLC
Seller: New Woodcrest LLC
Date: 02/02/22

2201 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $987,500
Buyer: 670 Wilbraham LLC
Seller: New Woodcrest LLC
Date: 02/02/22

2771 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Gopal Krishna LLC
Seller: Fettes Realty LLC
Date: 01/24/22

35 Brooklawn Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Casey London-Nathan
Seller: Daniel G. Flanagan
Date: 02/03/22

10 Deer Run Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Nuno G. Guerra
Seller: Germano Andre
Date: 01/24/22

10 Dollar Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Miguel Goncalves
Seller: HLZC Holdings Inc.
Date: 01/28/22

46 Dudley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Carol R. Markland
Seller: Heidi H. Cincone
Date: 01/26/22

2 Linwood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: David D. Benoit
Seller: Benoit, Violet A., (Estate)
Date: 01/24/22

967 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Jesse S. Kearns
Seller: Robert Zanolli
Date: 01/28/22

9 Maple St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $6,455,367
Buyer: Vantage Care Wilbraham
Seller: Massachusetts SNF 3 LLC
Date: 02/04/22

6 Oxford Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Carla Carnevale
Seller: Anthony Carnevale
Date: 01/31/22

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

180 Aubinwood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Ki Y. Lee
Seller: Frederic I. Eisen RET
Date: 01/31/22

37 The Hollow
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Sangyeon Yun
Seller: Brian D. Mulak
Date: 02/02/22

70 Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Amir Mikhchi
Seller: Amira Y. Pellett
Date: 01/26/22

100 Mechanic St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Craig L. Josais
Seller: Nancy M. Drake
Date: 01/25/22

63-69 North Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,240,000
Buyer: Rara Realty LLC
Seller: Galleria Realty Co. LLC
Date: 01/31/22

677 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Merlina A. Nova-Brown
Seller: Kathleen F. Markland
Date: 01/24/22

218 Strong St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Sean D. Lopez
Seller: Michael A. White
Date: 01/25/22

36 Summer St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Susan Chajes
Seller: Melinda Laus
Date: 01/28/22

43 Summerfield Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: Wei Fan
Seller: T. J. Mountziaris
Date: 01/24/22

BELCHERTOWN

140 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Mallory Bouthilette
Seller: Eagle Home Buyers LLC
Date: 01/31/22

30 Azalea Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Benjamin K. Goulet
Seller: Christopher R. Dupont
Date: 02/01/22

321 Chauncey Walker St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Michael Morin
Seller: Brian R. Woodward
Date: 01/31/22

21 Dogwood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $548,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Moore
Seller: Morando Defronzo
Date: 02/02/22

111 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Brent F. Walton
Seller: John F. Loncrini
Date: 01/26/22

25 Maple St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Wakefield
Seller: Andrew P. Boyko
Date: 01/24/22

103 Shea Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $395,550
Buyer: Brian K. Owczarski
Seller: M&G Land Development LLC
Date: 02/03/22

531 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Onna G. Downey
Seller: Hiersche, Patricia G., (Estate)
Date: 01/28/22

184 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Scott J. Urban
Seller: Linda Sickler
Date: 01/25/22

32 Sycamore Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $494,900
Buyer: Barry C. Carlson
Seller: JN Duquette & Son Construction Inc.
Date: 01/25/22

149 Turkey Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $280,400
Buyer: Jocelyn E. Dennen
Seller: Jonathan A. Lawall
Date: 02/04/22

71 Underwood St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Christopher R. Laurenzo
Seller: Timothy M. Healey
Date: 01/28/22

CHESTERFIELD

33 Partridge Road
Chesterfield, MA 01098
Amount: $529,000
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Greenwood
Seller: Jo A. Smith
Date: 01/31/22

EASTHAMPTON

3 Adams St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $415,750
Buyer: Hans W. Dalhaus
Seller: 3 Adams Street LLC
Date: 01/24/22

1 Broderick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Hotel Charlie LLC
Seller: Thomas C. McCarthy
Date: 01/25/22

97 Glendale St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Taylor Graves
Seller: Joseph J. Dushane
Date: 01/28/22

145 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $304,900
Buyer: Clark L. Andrew
Seller: Blythewood Property Management LLC
Date: 02/02/22

10 Plumbrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $409,900
Buyer: Carol Jennison
Seller: Lauri J. Domina
Date: 01/25/22

5 Saint James Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Courtney B. Jaworski
Seller: Naumowicz, Robert J., (Estate)
Date: 01/31/22

GOSHEN

74 S. Chesterfield Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Randy S. Messeck
Seller: Blaise P. Berthiaume
Date: 02/04/22

GRANBY

68 Aldrich St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: Ellen G. Cool
Seller: Benjamin P. Ocasio
Date: 02/01/22

4 Jerry Lane
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Ryan C. Donoghue
Seller: Cresenzo Calabrese
Date: 01/26/22

13 Pinebrook Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Anita J. Price
Seller: Lorraine J. Destromp
Date: 02/01/22

HADLEY

4 Lawrence Plain Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $533,000
Buyer: G&B Realty Partners LLC
Seller: Rebecca A. Chmura
Date: 01/25/22

South Maple St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: BH Real Estate LLC
Seller: Gordon Smith
Date: 02/02/22

HATFIELD

99 Prospect St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Frank C. Perman
Seller: Duga, Paul 3rd, (Estate)
Date: 01/27/22

HUNTINGTON

79 Worthington Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Cassie McDonald
Seller: Elizabeth A. Ulm RET
Date: 02/04/22

NORTHAMPTON

6 Cahillane Ter.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Robert Gougeon
Seller: Langlois, Joseph N., (Estate)
Date: 01/28/22

27 Clark St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Maureo F. Fernandez
Seller: Ceara D. Yahn
Date: 01/26/22

66 Cooke Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Paul C. Szumski
Seller: Linda M. Morin
Date: 01/26/22

12 Diamond Court
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $673,000
Buyer: Timothy G. Bratsos
Seller: S. William Dipillo TR
Date: 01/27/22

50 Ice Pond Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Jordan Carduner
Seller: Joni S. Miller
Date: 01/28/22

59 Phillips Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $610,000
Buyer: Debra T. Bercuvitz
Seller: Lula, Arline L., (Estate)
Date: 02/04/22

43 Rick Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Sara L. Ottomano
Seller: Bonnie S. May
Date: 01/24/22

59 Riverbank Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Andrea C. Kwapien
Seller: Jesse L. Lang LT
Date: 01/31/22

21 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Atif Tasneem
Seller: John F. Ryan
Date: 02/01/22

848 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Noel Peel
Seller: Joy Younger-Flynn
Date: 01/24/22

29 Sumner Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $473,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Novick
Seller: Paul M. Shirk
Date: 01/31/22

6 Warner St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $698,000
Buyer: Melissa Fowler
Seller: Nu Way Homes Inc.
Date: 02/02/22

1007 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Erin J. Kuehn
Seller: Karen Wheeler
Date: 01/27/22

SOUTH HADLEY

2 Berwyn St., Ext.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $258,900
Buyer: Alex J. Blondek
Seller: Thomas Blondek
Date: 01/28/22

1 Bolton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Dakota P. Richards
Seller: Rebecca S. McGinley
Date: 01/28/22

36 Dale St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Leonardo C. Machado
Seller: Gilroy Property Renewal Inc.
Date: 01/26/22

14 Elm St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $267,250
Buyer: Samantha E. Bruno
Seller: Brian R. Mannix
Date: 02/03/22

573 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $6,301,800
Buyer: Vantage Care S. Hadley Realty
Seller: Massachusetts SNF 2 LLC
Date: 02/04/22

47 Lexington Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Rebecca J. Mercer
Seller: Matthew S. Bauer
Date: 02/02/22

135 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Brendan Burke
Seller: Maureen F. Sweeney
Date: 01/28/22

55 North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Stherlie Petit-Frere
Seller: Katarina Noyes
Date: 01/28/22

SOUTHAMPTON

32 Cold Spring Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Samuel J. Garstka-Osley
Seller: Walter J. Michonski IRT
Date: 01/31/22

55 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Sarah L. Henry
Seller: Myron H. Searle IRT
Date: 02/02/22

20 Strong Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Brian D. Mulak
Seller: Thomas P. Keenan
Date: 02/02/22

67 White Loaf Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $429,900
Buyer: Yevgeniy Ovechkin
Seller: Karen R. Peters
Date: 01/31/22

WARE

79 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Olawale Shaw
Seller: Ronald E. Ellithorpe
Date: 01/28/22

7 Coldbrook Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Carenelise Titus
Seller: Donna Granatelli
Date: 01/27/22

83 East St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $209,700
Buyer: David Annunziata
Seller: Martin H. Greany
Date: 02/02/22

56 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Eurides Batista
Seller: WKG Investment Group LLC
Date: 01/31/22

197 Upper Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $316,500
Buyer: Joseph D. Kelly
Seller: Kenneth P. Monette
Date: 01/24/22

5 Williams St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Tegra Properties LLC
Seller: L&B Realty LLC
Date: 01/27/22

WESTHAMPTON

88 Easthampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $357,500
Buyer: Matthew Clark
Seller: Robin Paradis-Stern
Date: 01/31/22

WILLIAMSBURG

107 Petticoat Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: M. Richard Klarich
Seller: Eric W. Weber
Date: 02/01/22

WORTHINGTON

163 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Mark D. Corner
Seller: Michael P. Frazier
Date: 02/03/22

33 Partridge Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $529,000
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Greenwood
Seller: Jo A. Smith
Date: 01/31/22

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of January 2022. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

CHICOPEE

548-554 Chicopee Street LLC
548 Chicopee St.
$25,367 — Roofing

Henry Avery
15 Chapel St.
$48,500 — Remove and replace windows on second floor

B & L Realty LLC
760 Front St.
$190,000 — Roofing

DCL Property Management
185 Chicopee St.
$50,000 — Roofing

PRN Tower LLC
84 Second Ave.
$5,000 — Install fire-suppression system in commercial kitchen exhaust hood

HADLEY

ENZ LLC
207 Russell St.
N/A — Build waxing and eyelash rooms

Target Corp.
369 Russell St.
N/A — Replace drive-up signs

LEE

Douglas Wilcox
74 Main St.
$1,360 — Replace back entry unit

LENOX

Fontaine S Real Estate LLC
36 Walker St.
$2,500 — Selective and exploratory demolition

PVI Lenox Village LLC
51 Church St.
$30,000 — Roofing

Blantyre LLC
16 Blantyre Road
$47,000 — Selective demolition

NORTHAMPTON

ADB-2 Properties LLC
50 Chapel St.
$2,525 — Insulation and weatherization

Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County Inc.
593 Elm St.
$20,000 — Bulkhead replacement and repairs

Gándara Mental Health Center Inc.
25 Graves Ave.
$80,000 — Repairs due to fire

Manhan Narrow LLC
196 Pleasant St.
$24,000 — Build three interior offices in second-floor space

Meetinghouse Realty Investment
547 Easthampton Road
$1,250 — Non-illuminated sign for Move In Self Storage

PITTSFIELD

Alan Brown
96 Elm St.
$10,000 — Build new egress stairway from second floor

Dettinger Lumber Co.
24 Warren Ter.
$59,850 — Roofing

SPRINGFIELD

44 Howes Street Realty LLC
250 Albany St.
$35,600 — Roofing

44 Howes Street Realty LLC
270 Albany St.
$21,200 — Roofing

125 Paridon Street LLC
125 Paridon St.
$77,000 — Remove 15 cellular antennas and install new antennas on existing smokestack for Verizon Wireless

City of Springfield
36 Court St.
$8,000 — Install partition walls for new office on fourth floor of City Hall

Fifty 50 Realty LLC, Spectra S2 LLC
28 Randall Place
$14,000 — Remove and replace siding on second and third floors

Five Town Station LLC
300 Cooley St.
$6,900 — Construct wall for alterations to checkout service area at Big Y

Derrick Hatwood, Dana Hatwood
50 Chapel St.
$40,000 — Replace one cellular antenna, install four remote radio units, replace one surge arrestor and associated cables on existing AT&T tower

New Mercies Church of God in Christ Inc.
185 Industry Ave.
$1,150 — Disassemble non-load-bearing walls, remove wood paneling and replace with sheetrock, repair drop-down ceiling, and install platform

WILBRAHAM

Christ the King Lutheran Church
758 Main St.
$4,515 — Replace sign

Country Bank Gives Back to Community with 1.1 Million in Annual Donations

By
Daily News

WARE — Country Bank reported that its community donations for 2021 totaled more than $1.1 million. The bank’s philanthropic efforts supported local nonprofits throughout the communities it serves, with more than 300 organizations receiving grants in 2021. In addition, the bank’s staff volunteered 478 hours of service.

The bank’s annual meeting at Polar Park created a buzz when it surprised the executive directors of two regional food banks by pledging a total of $1 million to the Worcester County Food Bank and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. The bank didn’t stop there; recognizing the need to address hunger throughout its markets, in addition to the $1 million pledge, it provided an additional $100,000 in donations to food programs throughout the region.

Other organizations receiving donations included Behavioral Health Network, Hanover Theater, Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp., Revitalize Community Development Corp., Springfield Rescue Mission, the Children’s Trust, Provision Ministry, United Way of Central Massachusetts, Ronald McDonald House, and YWCA.

During its annual Season of Giving campaign, Country Bank supported more than 2,500 local individuals with gifts of meals, toys, winter hats, mittens, and other essential items for those in nursing homes, shelters, and local schools.

“As a community partner, we care deeply about the sustainability of our communities,” said Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank. “As such, recognizing the burdens our communities have experienced these past two years, we are honored to support so many organizations through donations and volunteering to help them with their work. Supporting and enriching our communities is not only a part of our mission; is simply who we are as an organization.”

Neal Announces That Massachusetts Gained 11,600 Manufacturing Jobs in 2021

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, announced Massachusetts added 11,600 manufacturing jobs last year, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Through his work successfully advocating for the passage of the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Neal said he is committed to helping local manufacturers create and restore jobs. The House also recently passed the America COMPETES Act, which includes important provisions from the Ways and Means Committee that will help Massachusetts create even more jobs, strengthen its supply chains, and encourage the manufacturing of more critical domestic products in the U.S.

“The manufacturing jobs report from last week shows that our economic plan is working, and we are getting Massachusetts residents back to work,” Neal said. “As we continue to implement the bipartisan infrastructure law and encourage Senate passage of the America COMPETES Act, we will be able to create millions more good-paying jobs. Investment in our infrastructure and manufacturing is an important component to our overall success.”

Under President Biden, the U.S. has created 375,000 manufacturing jobs and a total of 6.6 million jobs nationwide.

American International College to Offer Virtual Graduate Information Sessions in March

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The American International College (AIC) Admissions office will offer virtual information sessions for prospective graduate-degree program applicants during March.

Information sessions provide an opportunity for attendees to speak with admissions counselors and faculty virtually to learn more about the admissions process, available programs, financial aid, and more.

In addition to general information sessions, there are several specialized sessions for advanced-degree programs in the School of Health Sciences, the School of Education, and the School of Business, Arts and Sciences. Interested participants are invited to visit go.aic.edu/portal/grevents for a complete list of the information sessions and to register.

To learn more about graduate-degree programs available at American International College, visit www.aic.edu or call (413) 205-3700.

CAIR Massachusetts Names Attorney Tahirah Amatul-Wadud Executive Director

By
Daily News

BOSTON — The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Massachusetts) announced that Tahirah Amatul-Wadud has been chosen to serve as its new executive director.

Amatul-Wadud is an attorney based in Springfield with more than 16 years of experience in corporate, family, and civil-rights law. A former staff attorney with Western Massachusetts Community Legal Aid before entering private practice, she served as a commissioner with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women from 2014 to 2020.

In 2016, she rose to national prominence serving as the principal attorney on behalf of the residents of Islamberg, N.Y. against Robert Doggart, an anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist who had planned a violent attack against the community. In 2018, she ran for Congress in Massachusetts’ first district, securing 30% of the vote.

She served as vice president of the board of directors at CAIR Massachusetts from 2016 to 2018 and its president since 2018, and during her tenure has overseen the organization’s restructuring and rapid growth.

“We are honored to welcome Sr. Tahirah Amatul-Wadud as executive director of our Massachusetts chapter,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said. “She has done incredible work as an attorney and activist, and we are excited to see all the things she will achieve in this new role, God willing.”

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

Monson Savings Bank Plans 150th Anniversary Celebrations

By
Daily News

MONSON — As it gets ready to celebrate its 150th anniversary, Monson Savings Bank (MSB) announced ways it is sharing the celebration with customers, employees, residents, local businesses, nonprofits, and the entire community.

Monson Savings Bank’s anniversary pmarks 150 years of helping consumers and businesses reach their financial goals, supporting local nonprofits, and contributing to the overall progress of the local area. Additionally, the anniversary commemorates 150 years of MSB being a true mutual, independent bank — one of few left in Massachusetts to not merge and remain mutually independent over the past century and a half.

“All of us at Monson Savings Bank are incredibly proud of achieving 150 years of being a trusted, local, community bank,” said Dan Moriarty, president and CEO of the institution. “We have worked hard to remain mutually independent, free of mergers, and it is elating to reach this milestone and celebrate our 150th anniversary with everyone.

“Without our dedicated team members and the support of our customers and communities over the years, this would not be possible. We are eternally grateful,” he added. “Now we are ready to celebrate, and then serve the local area for another 150 years.”

To officially kick off the 150th anniversary plans, Monson Savings Bank team members will join together at a “Cheers to 150 Years” event on Saturday, March 19. Then, March 28 through April 2, the bank will celebrate with its customers, local businesses, and communities during its 150th Anniversary Week celebrations. All those who visit a branch, whether through the front door or through drive-up, will be welcomed with a planned schedule of excitement throughout the week.

As a throwback to the Monson Savings Bank grand reopening event in 1966, the bank will also have ‘then and now’ grand-prize drawings, with winners being announced at the culmination of Anniversary Week.

To extend the festivities, each month from March through December, MSB customers will be automatically entered for a chance to win a monthly $150 cash prize. At the end of the month, a winner will be drawn and announced.

To further commemorate the anniversary and accomplishments of the bank, MSB will unveil a historical plaque at both the original bank building at Main and State streets and at the current Monson branch. At the unveiling ceremony, team members will fill a time capsule with mementos, artifacts, and reminders of the year 2022. The capsule will be buried at the Monson branch during the ceremony and will be excavated at the bank’s 175th anniversary in 2047.

To learn more about the anniversary, the bank’s historical timeline, and a full schedule of events, visit www.monsonsavings.bank/anniversary.

To further honor the 150th anniversary, the bank is pledging to show extra support to nonprofits and have an extra level of community participation throughout the year. This will be in addition to the typical nonprofit support and community participation MSB offers each year.

For example, Monson Savings Bank will launch a Build a Bike Campaign, purchasing more than $15,000 worth of children’s bicycles and helmets from the Family Bicycle Shop in East Longmeadow. Bank team members will then partner with five local nonprofits — YMCA of Greater Springfield, YWCA of Western Massachusetts, I Found Light Against All Odds, Educare Springfield, and the South End Community Center — to assemble the bikes for local children.

The bank will be a major sponsor of Spirit of Springfield’s World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast taking place on Saturday, May 14, as well as hosting its annual Shred Days and supporting various other large-scale community events throughout the year.

Amherst College Music Department Donates Steinway Piano to the Drake

By
Daily News

AMHERST — The Drake, the Downtown Amherst Foundation’s (DAF) soon-to-open arts and cultural venue, will be the permanent home of a Steinway & Sons piano, thanks to a gift from the Amherst College Department of Music. The department donated the instrument after the college made a $100,000 gift to the Drake project in January 2022.

“This is a game changer for the caliber of performers the Drake will be able to entice to play in Amherst and yet another incredible show of commitment from Amherst College to our downtown, to Amherst as a whole, and to the arts and culture of the Valley,” said Gabrielle Gould, DAF’s executive director. “We are beyond thrilled and in awe of this instrument and what it will offer to our community over the years.”

Steinway pianos are widely recognized as the best pianos made. The specific model the college is donating, the Steinway B, is considered the finest high-resolution piano in the world, and is generally used in mid-sized venues like the Drake, according to the Steinway & Sons website. The instrument will arrive after construction is complete in April.

“We thought it only fitting that, after the college made an investment in the venue itself, the department make its own investment in the music that will be made in the Drake,” said Darryl Harper, associate professor of Music, chair of the Music Department, and director of the college’s Center for Humanistic Inquiry, adding that his colleague Jeffers Englhardt, professor of Music, had the idea for and coordinated the donation. “We can’t wait to see what performers take the stage at the Drake and what beautiful music is created on a piano that has been played by many talented college students, faculty and other artists. We also can’t wait to see what kinds of partnerships and programs the college and the Drake will make happen.”

The Downtown Amherst Foundation is in the final stages of fundraising for the Drake, Amherst’s first dedicated live performance and music venue. In addition to the music-loving supporters who have donated to the Drake’s Patronicity page, Amherst College, the town of Amherst, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development have offered support to the project.

World Affairs Council to Present Webinar on Russian Foreign Policy on March 9

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — On Wednesday, March 9 at noon, the World Affairs Council will present author Constantine Pleshakov at an Instant Issues webinar on Russia’s Foreign Policy in the 21st Century.

A former foreign-policy analyst at the Institute of U.S. and Canada Studies in Moscow, Pleshakov emigrated to America in 1998. He has published six books on geopolitics, war, and revolution, translated into 12 languages. His most recent book is The Crimean Nexus: Putin’s War and the Clash of Civilizations. Other titles include The Tsar’s Last Armada: The Epic Voyage to the Battle of Tsushima, Stalin’s Folly: The Tragic First Ten Days of World War II on the Eastern Front, and There Is No Freedom Without Bread! 1989 and the Civil War That Brought Down Communism. A native of Yalta in Crimea, he is currently a visiting professor at Amherst College.

The program will be moderated by a longtime member and friend of the council, Stephen Jones, professor of Russian Studies at Mount Holyoke College and co-author of Georgia: From Autocracy to Democracy.

This event is free and open to the public. Click here to register.

Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts Joins Campaign to Support Ukrainian Jews

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts has joined Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) $16 million emergency campaign to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable Jewish populations living in Ukraine.

Funds will be allocated through Jewish Federations’ core partners, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Joint Distribution Committee, and World ORT, and others who are on the ground in Ukraine, and will provide critical welfare where it is needed most and support to protect and safeguard Ukraine’s Jewish community as well as Jews in neighboring countries.

Funds will support urgent necessities of vulnerable Jewish populations, community security, temporary housing for displaced persons, emergency needs in Jewish schools, and aliyah-related assistance.

“We were built for moments like this, for the daily needs of our community and for support of Jews in need wherever they live; the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts was founded in 1926 and over the past decades has been here in every crisis working together with our partner organizations,” said Nora Gorenstein, interim executive director of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts. “When one Jewish community is under attack, it is our responsibility and our honor to be able to stand up and support each other. We urge all members of our community to give toward the efforts of our overseas partners.”

There are approximately 200,000 members of Ukraine’s Jewish community, which boasts close to 300 Jewish organizations dispersed over some 100 towns and cities. Since the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, they have been profoundly affected by political and economic instability, and Jewish Federations, together with partner agencies, have provided ongoing support to this vulnerable population for communal needs, programming, and humanitarian aid.

Through the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Jewish Federations have brought Shlichim to Ukraine, run Sunday programs, brought Ukrainian youth to Israel for immersive programs, and supported the aliyah of Jews. Through JDC partners, Jewish Federations supported multiple Hesed centers across 1,000 locations, supporting the most vulnerable people of Ukraine. Jewish Federations run JCCs and Jewish youth programs to help younger generations reimagine Jewish life where it once was all but decimated. Through World ORT, Jewish Federations have played an important role in the renewal of Jewish life through Jewish day schools, vocational training, and more.

“Jewish Federations are hard at work, day after day, year after year, in times of crisis and calm, to build flourishing Jewish communities,” said Mark Wilf, chair of the board of trustees of Jewish Federations of North America. “And when an emergency erupts, we are positioned to meet the challenges of Jewish people and communities around the world.”

BusinessTalk with Tanzania (Tanzi) Cannon-Eckerle, Esq., an employment law specialist — and a brewer

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Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

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

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 102: February 28, 2022

George Interviews Tanzania (Tanzi) Cannon-Eckerle, Esq., an employment law specialist — and a brewer

On this installment of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien has a lively, wide-ranging discussion with Tanzania (Tanzi) Cannon-Eckerle, Esq., an employment law specialist — and a brewer. They talk a little about employment law and lot about Brew Practitioners, the business she created with her husband, Joe, the growing craft beer industry in Western Mass., and what it takes to stand out in a crowded field. It’s all must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

 

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Mass. Latino Chamber to Salute Businesses at Eastfield Mall

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Daily News

 

 

SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with The Eastfield Mall, state Reps. Orlando Ramos and Carlos Gonzalez, and state Sen. Adam Gomez, will congratulate and salute the 22 Latino Businesses operating out of The Eastfield Mall on March 1.

Sixteen of these businesses have opened in the past six months. 

 

The Eastfield Mall’s commitment to the minority business community is demonstrated in the partnering with The Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce to pilot a new ‘pop-up’ shop every month for 12 new Latino micro-business. These businesses will have the opportunity to showcase their products or services and grow into an open space in the mall or in the City of Springfield.

 

“This will create opportunities for entrepreneurs that set the foundation for the future,” said Andrew Melendez, director of the Mass. Latino Chamber of Commerce. 

 

“The resurgence of the Eastfield Mall from Latino and Black owned businesses sets the tone for transitioning malls, shopping plazas, and downtown store fronts all over Springfield and Massachusetts,” he went on. “We congratulate the 12 new businesses and all 22 Latino Businesses in the Eastfield Mall. The pandemic has only increased the motivation for our community to take the leap and become their own boss as business owners.” 

Big Y Holds Third On-the-spot Hiring Event at All its Retail Locations

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Daily News

 

 

SPRINGFIELD — On March 1, Big Y will stage its third on-the-spot hiring event at all locations across Massachusetts and Connecticut. It’s an opportunity for anyone 18 years and older to try new skills and to be a voice for sharing innovative ideas. “

People are eager to get back to work, so Big Y has simplified its application process. Every hiring location will conduct interviews, and hiring managers will be able to make on-the-spot job offers for full-time positions from 4 to 7 p.m. on this day. Currently, there are openings at all Big Y supermarkets, Big Y Express Gas and Convenience Stores, and Table & Vine Fine Wines and Spirits.  

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply in advance online at http://www.bigy.com/careers which also includes addresses of all host hiring locations.

Full-time supermarket openings include a 40-hour work week with some weekend availability. Open positions include bakery, meat, seafood, in-store kitchen, deli, department managers, assistant department managers, and overnight stock clerks. Big Y Express Gas and Convenience openings include managers, assistant managers, head cashiers and clerks. Table and Vine has openings in all departments.  Fresh and Local Distribution Center openings include selectors, porters, and equipment operators.

‘A Community Conversation on the 1619 Project’ Slated

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Daily News

 

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University in partnership with Olive Tree Books-n-Voices will be staging a Zoom event, How Did We Get Here: The 1619 Project Panel Discussion, on March 1, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. 

Several noted panelists will participate in this panel discussion, including: Bridgette Baldwin, professor of law at Western New England University; Mark Flowers, adjunct professor of African- American religion, Springfield College; Amilcar Shabazz, professor in the W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies UMass/Amherst; Jameliah Shorter-Bourhanou, assistant professor of philosophy, The College of the Holy Cross. This program will be facilitated by Janine Fondon, assistant professor and chair of the Communications department at Bay Path University, and moderated by Demetria Shabazz, who teaches African-American Literature and The Black Press at UMass/Amherst and social justice at Cambridge College in Springfield.

Baldwin offers this background on the event: “Considering all of the controversy and concern about what people are calling Critical Race Theory, this discussion of the 1619 text will be essential. Moving past myth and conjecture, this panel of experts will facilitate a rich and honest conversation that has been long overdue.”

According to The New York Times, The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. To learn more, click here  for an introduction to the 1619 project.

How Did We Get Here: The 1619 Project Panel Discussion is open to the public, and you can register by clicking this link, or go to baypath.edu/events-calendar/.

Leading Latino Businessman Calls for Massachusetts Electronic Signature Legislation

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Daily News

 

 

Western Mass. businessman Cesar Ruiz, one of the state’s first-ever elected Latinos and the president and CEO of Golden Years Home Care, is urging Massachusetts to adopt electronic signatures as a means for candidates to access the ballot statewide in constitutional offices.

As a result of the pandemic, the Massachusetts Supreme Court in a ruling in 2020 allowed the gathering of electronic signatures needed by candidates to see their name on the ballot for election. The ruling was temporary, and Ruiz is advocating for this to be made permanent. Ruiz announced the formation of a group, Citizens for Transparency, to lead the effort to bring about this change and to support other initiatives that encourage enfranchisement of voters and those attempting to gain ballot access.

 

Ruiz and his business are based in Western Massachusetts, and he will be calling on the Western Massachusetts delegation to file legislation immediately to make the 2020 ruling on electronic signatures permanent.

 

“We hear so much in the political discourse today about inclusion and enfranchising all in the electoral process,” he said. “The sad truth is, as we see around the nation with voter suppression legislation being enacted and the failure of Washington to pass a voting rights bill, that there is still a very long way to go. The Commonwealth should immediately adopt the use of electronic signatures to provide more access to the ballot for those seeking office.

 

“How in good conscience can any reasonable elected official oppose a ruling that was implemented during the height of the COVID pandemic to leverage technology to help candidates access the ballot?” he went on. “Our elected officials often preach inclusion in our electoral system and this is an opportunity to put those words into action. Citizen and candidate participation are the cornerstones of a healthy democracy, and I look forward to working with the Western Massachusetts legislative delegation and other sponsors to file and pass this legislation this year.”

Ruiz, who was recognized by the Massachusetts State Senate for being the first Latino ever elected at large in Massachusetts history, said another avenue would be for Secretary William Galvin to permanently adopt the 2020 ruling. 

Ruiz was elected at age 25 as the first Hispanic in Springfield on the School Committee, and served until 1986. 

Golden Years Home Care was named Entrepreneur of the Year for 2020 by BusinessWest magazine. Ruiz was also featured by Hispanic Executive, a publication spotlighting business’s most influential Latinos.

MCLA Slates Seminar on ‘Plastic Pollution Crisis’

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Daily News

 

 

NORTH ADAMS — David Sayer of Beyond Plastics and Sustainable Saratoga will give a talk titled “Community Strategies for Addressing the Plastic Pollution Crisis,” at 5:30 p.m. on March 2 at the Mass. College of Liberal Arts’ Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, Room 121.  

Part of MCLA’s Green Living Seminar series, this event is free and open to the public. Please note that masks are required in all buildings on MCLA’s campus. 

Sayer is a charter member of the Beyond Plastics Alumni Network, and coordinates its growing online community. He is a recent but devout student of the plastic pollution crisis and maintains educational and activist resources on the Beyond Plastics wiki (bit.ly/plasticwiki). Locally, he supports Sustainable Saratoga in his hometown of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and coordinates community pickups and other Zero Waste activities. 

While he has become a recognized “trash vigilante” in his community (@madplastic on Instagram), Sayer is increasingly working at the keyboard to pressure state and federal lawmakers to support plastic-pollution legislation and related climate protections. He bands together weekly with other Beyond Plastics supporters to drive initiatives that would stem the plastic tide at the source and safeguard vulnerable communities.

Outside of his engagement with Beyond Plastics, Sayer is a consulting IT architect for Accenture, specializing in Microsoft modern workplace technologies.

MCLA’s annual Green Living Seminar Series continues through April, presenting a series of lectures on the theme of “Greening the City.” Every semester, the Green Living Seminar Series centers around a different topic, timely and relevant in current sustainability issues. Seminars take place on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. until April 20.

The series is a presentation of the MCLA Environmental Studies Department and MCLA’s Berkshire Environmental Resource Center. 

 

Presentations will also be broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television Channel (NBCTC) 1302 at the following times: 

  • Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.; 
  • Fridays at 4 p.m.; 
  • Saturdays at 3:30 p.m.; 
  • Sundays at 11:30 a.m.; and 
  • Mondays at 5:30 p.m. 

 

Recordings will also be available on the College’s YouTube channel. 

 

For more information, visit www.mcla.edu/greenliving or contact professor of Environmental Studies Elena Traister at (413) 662-5303. 

Baker-Polito Administration Launches New $75M Small-business Relief Program

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Daily News

 

 

BROCKTON — The Baker-Polito Administration has announced the launch of a new $75 million grant program to support Massachusetts small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new program is part of the plan to spend $4 billion in American Rescue Plan funding that was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker in December 2021.

The new program is modeled after Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation’s (MGCC) successful COVID-19 small business relief program. Under that effort, which became the biggest state-sponsored business relief program in the nation, MGCC oversaw the distribution of approximately $705 million to more than 15,000 small businesses across Massachusetts.

 

“We have been proud to support small businesses in every corner of the Commonwealth through the MGCC small business program during the pandemic, but we know that some challenges remain for many businesses,” said Baker. “With the launch of this new effort, we can build on MGCC’s successful work and direct important federal funding to those businesses with the greatest need quickly and effectively.”  

 

The $75 million will be focused on small businesses that employ between two and 50 people, with $25 million directed toward businesses that did not qualify for previous MGCC grants because of a lack of revenue loss in 2020; and $50 million directed to businesses that reach underserved markets and historically underrepresented groups, or are minority-, women-, or veteran-owned businesses, or are owned by individuals with disabilities or who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. 

 

Under both categories, grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000, and will be capped at the lesser of $75,000 or three months of operating expenses. Grant funding can be used for employee and benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, and interest on debt.

 

“The challenges faced by Massachusetts’ small businesses during COVID have been enormous, but in my district and across the state I have seen so many entrepreneurs and innovators respond with incredible perseverance and grace. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve our support,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “Today’s grants represent a choice by the Legislature to center small businesses in our effort for an equitable recovery. I am grateful to the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation for their work to distribute these funds to so many deserving businesses and I am thankful to all of the small businesses who have done so much for Massachusetts.”

 

In addition to prioritizing applications from businesses that did not qualify for prior aid and businesses owned by individuals from historically underserved populations or operate in underserved markets, eligible businesses must currently be in operation and based in Massachusetts. Applicants must also demonstrate that business revenues for 2020 were between $40,000 and $2.5 million. 

 

Learn more at EmpoweringSmallBusiness.org.

Bradley International Airport Welcomes Back Air Canada

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Daily News

 

 

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority announces that Air Canada will restore its nonstop service between Bradley International Airport (BDL) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) this summer.

The airline last operated the flight in the spring of 2020, when international travel was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will restart the service on June 1.

“People are ready to travel, and we’re excited to relaunch service between Hartford and Toronto starting June 1 with daily flights operated by Air Canada Express Jazz with a CRJ900 featuring Business Class and Economy Class cabins,” said Mark Galardo, senior vice president, Network Planning & Revenue Management at Air Canada. “With overall travel demand accelerating, our flights linking Hartford and Toronto will be of interest to customers visiting friends and family, looking to explore Canada’s largest city. The route will reconnect two well established business regions and Air Canada’s flights are scheduled to connect easily to a myriad of flights across Canada and Europe through our Toronto Pearson hub. We look forward to welcoming you onboard.”

Said Kevin Dillon, A.A.E., executive director of the CAA, “after nearly two years of international travel disruptions, we are thrilled to welcome back Air Canada to Bradley International Airport. Air Canada has been an important partner for many years at our airport, facilitating seamless connectivity between our regions. The resumption of the Toronto service is a major milestone on our road to recovery. Today, we extend our thanks to Air Canada for their continued commitment to Bradley International Airport and for underscoring the importance of this route with their return to Connecticut. Welcome back, Air Canada.”

The flight between BDL and YYZ airports will operate daily, year-round.

UMass Dining to Host 11th Annual 5K Dash and Dine to Benefit Amherst Survival Center

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Daily News

 

AMHERST — University of Massachusetts Dining Services will host its 11th annual “UMass 5K Dash and Dine” on campus on April 9, at 9 a.m., after a two-year hiatus. The goal of the event is to promote health and wellness at the university while raising funds for The Amherst Survival Center (ASC). In total, UMass dining has been able to raise more than $50,000 for the Amherst Survival Center. 

The 5K features a USA Track and Field (USATF) certified course to runners, walkers and wheelchair participants. When race participants are finished, all are welcomed to have lunch at the award-winning dining commons on campus. 

“It’s fantastic to see the UMass Community come together for such a great cause,” said Ken Toong, Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises. “We’re a big believer of building community through food and this event is another shining example of this. I’m extremely proud of our team and what we are able to accomplish.”

The race fee is $10 for all UMass and Five-College students, $15 for UMass Amherst faculty and staff, and $20 for the general public. Children 8 years and under may participate for free. This race fee includes registration, and the complimentary meal at the Hampshire or Berkshire Dining Commons. Online registration ends at midnight on April 6. Walk-up registration is available on Race Day. 

To register for the event or make a donation, please visit RunUMass.com.

“We are so excited to see Dash and Dine return; this event is such a perfect fundraiser for the Center,” said Amherst Survival Center Executive Director, Lev Ben-Ezra. “It is all about community, everyone pitching in, and world class cooking A huge thank you to everyone who makes it possible and comes out to join. See you there.”

Myers Brothers Kalicka to Host Tax Q & A Event With MHA

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Daily News

 

Are you a shared-living provider or thinking about becoming one and have tax-related questions?

The Mental Health Association invites you to a free, question-and-answer Zoom, March 17 at noon with Meyers Brothers Kalicka tax professionals. Meeting ID on Zoom: 755 8128 9170; Passcode: 6mS63X

Associates Fran Murphy and Rachel Curry will be available to answer queries during the hour-long event. Both women have been with the firm for approximately 10 years, and hold associate degrees from Holyoke Community College.

Murphy has a special focus in tax preparation for not-for-profits and individuals, and Curry, individual tax preparation as well as for closely held companies whose owners may be required to pay state tax returns in several states.

MHA’s shared living program is for individuals served by the Mass. Department of Developmental Services and families willing, with the help of a tax-free stipend between $30,000 to $45,000 paid annually by the state, to open their homes to them as an alternative to group home living.

The information event will provide the opportunity to understand what services the state is compensating a shared living provider for and to learn whether and how such compensation needs to be listed on a tax return and if there are any implications for the filer’s tax bracket.

Designated care providers, if matched with an individual, support that individual in their daily living, and a more independent lifestyle. Specific responsibilities in the program, which is seeking more providers, would include cooking meals, ensuring the individual is taking any medications, providing transport to health care and other appointments and helping the individual work toward specific goals.

RSVP, if planning to attend at [email protected].

Cheryl Smith Named HR Director at Elms College

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — Cheryl Smith has joined Elms College as the new director of Human Resources. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and extensive leadership experience in higher education.

Smith will be responsible for the administration of college policies and procedures, employee relations, performance management, compensation, training, talent development and benefits.

Smith has her J.D. from Western New England University School of Law. Prior to accepting this position, she served as general counsel and Title IX Coordinator at Western New England University.

MOSSO to Present Live Concert on March 26

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Daily News

 

 

SPRINGFIELD — The Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, known as MOSSO, return to Springfield Symphony Hall with a live performance, MOSSO’S VIRTUOSOS, on March 26, their first performance in Symphony Hall, since October, 2021.

Although all of the musicians are members of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, MOSSO is not affiliated with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Inc. Proceeds from this concert will be used by MOSSO to produce additional concerts, including the ongoing chamber music series at The Westfield Athenaeum, and an additional concert celebrating the music of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, at Symphony Hall in June. 

 

MOSSO’S VIRTUOSOS showcases the members of the MOSSO family, and all of the soloists for the program are principal players of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Trumpeter Thomas Bergeron and Timpanist Martin Kluger will share the conducting duties. The program comprises: Faure’s Fantaisie for Flute and Orchestra with Ann Bobo; the first movement of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto with Thomas Bergeron; Concerto for Alto Trombone by Leopold Mozart with Brian Diehl; two movements from Ney Rosauro’s Concerto No. 1 for Marimba with Nathan Lassell; the first movement of Mozart’s Haffner Symphony; and Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, itself a showcase of soloists within the MOSSO chamber orchestra. The evening will be introduced by Patrick Berry, co-host of Mass Appeal on 22 News.

 

“The Springfield Symphony Orchestra Inc. hasn’t produced nor programmed any concerts in Symphony Hall since March, 2020,” said Beth Welty, violinist and MOSSO chair. “The musicians formed MOSSO as a non-profit organization to produce live music to provide employment opportunities for its 70 musicians. When the National Labor Relations Board settlement awarded the musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra $276,000 in January, MOSSO members decided to use that money to produce concerts in Western Massachusetts. Our MOSSO family is investing in the cultural life of our communities.”

Welty added that the Rosauro piece will be dedicated in memory of Springfield Symphony Orchestra percussionist Warren Myers and his late wife, Marlene, who had been part of the SSO family for decades.

 

MOSSO expressed its thanks to Mayor Domenic Sarno, Amanda Spear-Purchase and the staff of Springfield Symphony Hall, Music for Life International, supporting social impact through music, Gerry’s Music Shop,), BusinessWest and Healthcare News, The Republican/MassLive, WWLP-22News & The CW Springfield, Lynn Klock, and other donors. 

 

Tickets for the March 26 performance, general admission, are $20. Producers Circle general admission in the center orchestra and center grand tier sections are $30. Tickets must be purchased in advance. There will be no door sales. Masks will be required inside Symphony Hall. For details and reservations, visit:  www.SpringfieldSymphonyMusicians.com.  

 

Donations can be made online through the MOSSO website: SpringfieldSymphonyMusicians.com or checks can be made out to MOSSO and sent to MOSSO, PO Box 3513, Amherst, MA 01004. All donations made to MOSSO will be used to produce live musical events for the Springfield community. 

14 Massachusetts Firms Take Home ‘Impact’ Awards

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Daily News

 

MassEcon, the state’s private sector partner in promoting business growth in Massachusetts, recently announced its Eighteenth Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Award winners, recognizing 14 companies for their outstanding contributions to the Massachusetts economy.

The companies were selected for establishing new operations in Massachusetts or expanded existing operations. Each employer added new jobs and facility investment; pursued social impact through community involvement/philanthropic efforts; and embraced equity, diversity & inclusion practices. The winners will be honored at Gillette Stadium on April 7, with Citizens as presenting sponsor.

The winning companies were selected after site visits by teams of judges and a Finalists Showcase in November, 2021. The company expansion projects resulted in $3.9 billion in new investment, 1.375 million in additional square feet of facilities, and approximately 975 new jobs in Massachusetts.

“The commitment of these companies to innovate, invest, and grow in Massachusetts is emblematic of the broader vitality of our economy and the workforce that drives it,” said Peter Abair, Executive Director of MassEcon. “We are incredibly honored to recognize these companies and their achievements.”

The winning companies from Western Mass. are:

Gold: Big Y Foods of Springfield – Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, Big Y Foods, Inc. was named after an intersection in Chicopee, where two roads converge to form a Y. Now, it is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England with almost 12,000 employees and 85 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. Since January 2020, the company added 52 new jobs and invested $50.9 million in a 232,000-square-foot expansion in Springfield for its “Fresh & Local Distribution Center.”

Silver: The White Lion Brewing Company of Springfield – The White Lion Brewing Company is a black-owned brewery that reactivated 8,000 square feet of space that sat vacant for more than 15 years and on-boarded an additional 3,000 square feet of storage, marking a total expansion of 11,000 square feet in Springfield and the first craft beer brand to go to market in Springfield. More than a brewer, White Lion intends to serve as a catalyst for Springfield’s revitalization. While still a small and growing company, White Lion added 13 new employees (69% women and 46% persons of color), donated close to $25,000 to the community, and its ownership sits on a number of local and statewide boards or commissions.

Bronze: United Aircraft Technologies of Pittsfield – United Aircraft Technologies (UAT) is a veteran, minority, and female led business that is creating a new class of smart clamps for electrical wire harness management that is designed to reduce weight, improve safety, and simplify maintenance through the use of Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence. The company currently plans on investing in around 7,000 square feet of vacant office space in Pittsfield and is looking to hire four new team members in 2021 in addition to the five already onboarded earlier this year. UAT is also providing STEM-based programs within the community, partnering with MCLA on future internship opportunities and further job creation.