Agenda

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Agenda

‘Colors of Grief’ Art Exhibit

Through Nov. 30: Rick’s Place invites the community to join in honoring Children’s Grief Awareness Month through “Colors of Grief: Shades of Love and Loss,” an inspiring art exhibit featuring original works created by youth and adult participants of Rick’s Place. The exhibit is on display at the William Blizard Art Gallery in Blake Hall at Springfield College throughout the month of November, daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This meaningful collection of artwork explores how grief, love, and memory shape our lives after loss. Each piece offers a personal reflection — an intimate expression of what it means to remember, to miss, and to move forward. The title, “Shades of Love and Loss,” reflects the many ways grief can be uniquely experienced, with each artwork revealing the individual journey and creative expression of its artist. Rick’s Place, a nonprofit organization based in Wilbraham, provides free peer grief support programs to children, teens, and families across Western Mass. and Northern Conn. With more than 5,000 children in Hampden County having experienced the death of a parent or sibling, Rick’s Place continues to be a compassionate space where families find understanding, connection, and hope.

 

Food Fest West

Nov. 13: The West of the River Chamber of Commerce announced the return of Food Fest West, a community culinary celebration, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Crestview Country Club in Agawam. This event showcases the region’s eateries, offering guests the opportunity to sample a wide variety of delicious dishes and vote for their favorite restaurant of the night. From savory bites to sweet treats, attendees will experience the best of Western Mass. cuisine, all under one roof. In addition to food, guests will enjoy a fun-filled evening featuring a silent auction, raffles, photo booth, and cash bar. It’s an ideal way to connect with friends, colleagues, and community members while supporting local businesses and restaurants. Tickets are available through the West of the River Chamber of Commerce. For tickets, restaurant participation, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

 

Friends of Children Artisan Market

Nov. 16: Friends of Children Inc. will host its first-ever Artisan Market from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Garden House at Look Park, 300 North Main Street, Florence. This juried artisan event will feature 30 local creators, food vendors, and a silent online auction with a selection of local seasonal experiences to bid on. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit children and young adults affected by the child welfare system. Admission is free, and there is no parking fee. Artisan items available for purchase include fiber arts, pottery, woodworking items, kiln glass, framed prints, holiday decor, jewelry, and all-natural self-care items. Push for Joy and Local Burger will be the featured food vendors. The online silent auction will run through Nov. 23. Visit www.32auctions.com/focartisanmarket to view or bid on available items, including experiences at New England’s premier holiday season attractions, museum admissions, lift tickets to local ski resorts, and an array of handmade items from local artisans.

 

A+ Awards Dinner

Nov. 18: The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced the return of the A+ Awards Dinner, created to honor leaders in the Amherst area who have made a positive impact through their dedication in education, business, and civic engagement. The 2025 A+ Awards Dinner will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the UMass Student Union Ballroom. Presented by PeoplesBank, the event recognizes contributions to the community across Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland, as well as the broader Pioneer Valley. Attendees have the opportunity to network with business leaders in the community and enjoy a meal catered by award-winning UMass Dining. Following dinner, the A+ Award honorees are celebrated with custom videos that share their story. The 2025 A+ Award recipients include Alyssa Petrides, owner of Nature & Nurture Preschool (Young Professional Award), Sarah Maroney, chair of the Belchertown Creative Economy Committee (Community Service Award), Weston Dripps, director of Sustainability at Amherst College (Leader in Sustainability Award), Robert Allingham, Marketing & Communications manager at the Amherst Business Improvement District (Chamber MVP Award), Clare Higgins, retired executive director of Community Action Pioneer Valley (Legacy Award), and Tullio Inglese, founder and principal architect of TIA Architects (Lifetime Achievement Award). Tickets to the dinner are available at www.amherstarea.com/awards.

 

Women of Impact

Dec. 9: BusinessWest will celebrate its eighth annual Women of Impact cohort at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. Tickets cost $95 per person, and tables of 10 are available. To purchase tickets, visit www.businesswest.com/eventcalendar/womenof-impact-2025. The class of 2025, featured in the Oct. 27 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com, includes Tara Brewster, vice president of Business Development and Director of Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank; Tracy Friedenberg, executive director of Bacon Wilson, P.C.; Chelsea Kline, executive director of Cancer Connection; Ayanna Crawford, president of AC Consulting and Media Services; Rania Kfuri, vice president for Philanthropy, Sales, and Marketing at Glenmeadow; Angelina Ramirez, CEO of Stavros Center for Independent Living; Amanda Sanderson, executive director of Resilience Center of Franklin County; and Sarah Rose Stack, lecturer of Public Relations at UMass Amherst. The event is presented by Country Bank and TommyCar Auto Group and sponsored by Bacon Wilson, P.C.

 

Follow My Steps Foundation Annual Gala

Dec. 14: Follow My Steps Foundation announced its annual gala, Stepping Into 2026, will be held at the Basketball Hall of Fame. This event will bring together community leaders, partners, supporters, and youth to celebrate the strides made over the past year and to rally support for future expansion of the foundation’s mentorship, career readiness, and financial literacy programs. The event will also introduce the Pioneers for Change Award, recognizing exemplary changemakers whose actions resonate with Follow My Steps’ mission. Guests will enjoy a catered dinner, live entertainment, and uplifting stories about the youth served by the foundation. The evening also marks the launch of a community giving campaign, aiming to raise $10,000 in individual contributions that fuel mentorship, education, and empowerment initiatives throughout the year. Early bird tickets (through Nov. 14) cost $55 for adults and $27.50 for children. General admission tickets (Nov. 15-30) cost $65 for adults and $32.50 for children. Final admission tickets (Dec. 1-14): cost $75 for adults and $37.50 for children. Visit www.followmysteps.org/steppinginto2026 to purchase tickets. Businesses and community partners are also invited to join as sponsors of the Stepping Into 2026 Gala. Five tiered sponsorship levels — copper, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum — offer meaningful opportunities to align one’s brand with youth empowerment and community advancement. Each level includes a range of benefits such as brand visibility across digital and print channels, recognition during the event, logo placement, program ads, reserved tickets, and social media promotion.

People on the Move

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People on the Move
Carla Cosenzi

Carla Cosenzi

TIME magazine announced the nomination of Carla Cosenzi, president of Country Nissan in Hadley, for the 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year award. Cosenzi is one of a select group of 47 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 109th annual National Automobile Dealers Assoc. (NADA) Show in Las Vegas on Feb. 5, 2026. The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors, recognizing the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Cosenzi was chosen to represent the Massachusetts State Auto Dealers Assoc. in the national competition, one of only 47 auto dealers nominated for the 57th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide. Second-generation president of TommyCar Auto Group, Cosenzi has grown the family business through strategic expansion — adding new franchises, launching TommyCar Collision and TommyCar Towing, and making significant investments in modern, customer-centric facilities. She also established the Carla Cares program, which reviews thousands of local requests annually and mobilizes volunteers and funding across youth programs, women’s shelters, food banks, and more, giving team members ownership of the causes they champion. The group’s signature event, the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament, held in memory of her father, is one of the largest charity golf tournaments in Western Mass. and consistently ranks among the top 10 events supporting the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since its founding in 2009, it has raised more than $2 million for glioblastoma cancer research, with more than 90% employee participation each year. In addition, the Tom Cosenzi Scholarship, also created in her father’s memory, awards $5,000 annually to local graduating seniors.

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Steven Weiss

Steven Weiss

Attorney Steven Weiss, a shareholder at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., a regional law firm with offices in Springfield and Northampton, is now bringing his legal expertise to a national stage. He has been elected president of the National Assoc. of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT), the premier organization advocating for and supporting the interests of bankruptcy trustees across the country. Weiss, who has served as NABT’s first vice president, assumed the new role on Oct. 1. He has been a member of the NABT for more than two decades and is co-chair of its amicus committee, which evaluates requests for friend-of-the-court briefs to be filed in cases for which the bankruptcy profession may have an interest. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and consumer bankruptcy, reorganization, and litigation. He supervises the bankruptcy, reorganization, and workout practice at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin. He is also a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and has been part of the private panel of chapter 7 trustees for the District of Massachusetts for 38 years. He is a graduate of Boston University School of Law.

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Country Bank announced the appointment of David Gentleman as retail loan officer. With nearly 20 years of experience in the lending industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge, dedication, and customer-first values that align with Country Bank’s mission to make a difference in the communities it serves. Throughout his 18-plus years in the financial industry, Gentleman has focused on helping customers navigate the often complex process of buying a home. He takes pride in making the experience as smooth and understandable as possible, especially for first-time homebuyers. His approach to lending is built on transparency, education, and trust, qualities that have earned him long-standing relationships and even generational referrals. He also brings a strong sense of community to his work. He serves on the board of directors for North Central Massachusetts Habitat for Humanity and the Worcester Children’s Chorus, organizations that align with his passion for affordable housing and youth development through music.

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Janice Pirog

Janice Pirog

Monson Savings Bank announced the promotion of Janice Pirog to Digital Systems manager. In her new role, she will oversee the workflow operations of digital banking products and services, while also managing and training employees within the eBanking Department. Pirog brings a wealth of experience to her new position. She has worked in the finance and banking industry for 33 years, including 23 years with Monson Savings Bank. Her deep understanding of banking operations and commitment to excellence have made her a valuable asset to the community bank. Like Monson Savings Bank, Pirog is involved in community initiatives. She volunteers her time as a reader in local elementary school classes and Rays of Hope, reflecting her dedication to making a positive impact both inside and outside the workplace.

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Jacqueline Robles

Jacqueline Robles

Holyoke Community College (HCC) Police Chief Jacqueline Robles was honored on Oct. 10 as one of ‘100 Women of Color’ during a celebration at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, Conn. The 100 Women of Color gala and awards ceremony, sponsored by the June Archer Foundation, recognizes the contributions of women of color in leadership, business, education, government, entertainment, healthcare, and public and community service, and the impact they have made on the lives of people in Connecticut and Western Mass. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Springfield, Robles is a graduate of Holyoke High School and has been a member of the HCC Police Department for 22 years. With her swearing-in in May, she became the first Latina to serve as HCC Police chief. Since then, Robles has received a slew of honors. She was named a Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, recognized with proclamations at the State House from both the House of Representatives and Senate, and selected as the civil service ambassador for the Springfield Puerto Rican Day Parade. A portion of the proceeds from the 100 Women of Color event supports programs and scholarships for young women of color.

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Berkshire Money Management (BMM) announced that Brendan Bullett has joined its team as a financial advisor. He brings more than 20 years of experience helping Berkshire County residents navigate the transition from saving for retirement to retiring with confidence. Bullett’s experience and local roots enhance BMM’s ability to serve the growing number of people seeking retirement guidance in the Berkshires, especially in Northern Berkshire County. He has extensive experience leading employees of Williams College and Berkshire Health Systems into confident retirements and provided vital support to nurses and hospital staff who faced unexpected retirement transitions following the closure of North Adams Regional Hospital in 2014.

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Xiaolei Hua

Xiaolei Hua

Shadia Coley

Shadia Coley

Florence Bank announced that Xiaolei Hua has joined the bank as vice president / commercial loan officer, while Shadia Coley has been named branch manager / branch officer of the bank’s new Holyoke office set to open in 2026. Hua has 20 years of banking experience, and prior to joining Florence Bank, he held the positions of commercial credit officer, assistant vice president / portfolio manager, and vice president / commercial lending. He is skilled in business development, relationship management, financial and credit analysis, and underwriting. In his new role, he will develop, manage, and deepen client relationships while supporting the bank’s strategic growth goals. Hua holds both a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. He also attended the New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College, which trains banking professionals. He is a board member and finance & investment committee member for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and a board member and finance committee member for Tech Foundry. He was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2013 by BusinessWest. Coley has more than 10 years of banking experience and previously held the positions of assistant branch manager / business specialist and branch manager. In addition to managing Florence Bank’s newest branch, she will oversee community outreach and engagement, team leadership, and coaching and customer service. Coley holds both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA with a concentration in finance from Southern New Hampshire University. She sits on the board for Dress for Success Western Massachusetts.

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Stacy Farber

Stacy Farber

Whittlesey announced that Partner Stacy Farber has been named to Forbes’ “America’s Top 200 CPAs” list for 2025. This prestigious list honors the nation’s most accomplished and trusted CPAs across various specializations and regions, recognizing those with exceptional expertise, leadership, and community service. Forbes’ editorial team selected honorees through a rigorous process involving independent nominations, direct outreach, and comprehensive editorial review. Farber joined Whittlesey in 2025 as an assurance partner, bringing more than 25 years of experience in public accounting. She provides assurance and advisory services to closely held entities in manufacturing, construction, retail, franchising, and employee benefit plans. Her prior roles as CFO and controller for privately held businesses give her an understanding of clients’ financial and operational challenges. Her professional excellence has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition as one of the Hartford Business Journal’s Top 25 Women in Business (2023) and the CTCPA Women Distinguished Service Award (2024). She is active in the Assoc. of International CPAs and the Connecticut Society of CPAs, where she serves as chair of the employee benefit plan committee and a member of the advisory council. She also previously served as treasurer and board member at Gifts of Love, reflecting her deep commitment to community service.

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Western Mass.-based author J.D. O’Brien is among 20 featured writers in this year’s Best American Mystery and Suspense short fiction collection. His story, “Outlaw Country,” follows a struggling Nashville country singer who decides the best way to get his name in lights is to commit a high-profile crime. It originally appeared in the journal Starlite Pulp and was selected for the Best American Mystery and Suspense anthology by New York Times bestselling author Don Winslow and series editor Steph Cha. The annual series features the finest mystery short fiction published in the previous year. O’Brien is the author of the novel Zig Zag, a 2023 Southwest Book of the Year.

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Dana Robb

Dana Robb

Ray Smith

Ray Smith

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced the promotions of Dana Robb and Ray Smith to senior vice president positions. Robb was promoted to senior vice president, Retail Banking & Operations, bringing more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry. A graduate of the 2016 Berkshire Leadership Program, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing customer experience and operational excellence within the bank. Deeply rooted in the community, he is also involved with the Dalton Community Recreation Center and serves on the board for Girls Inc. He is a 2024 graduate of the New England School of Banking. Smith was promoted to senior vice president, Marketing and Communications. He brings 30 years of experience in marketing and communications, spanning industries such as technology, consumer goods, travel, healthcare, and finance. His community involvement includes past service on the boards of the Southwestern Vermont and Williamstown chambers of commerce, as well as volunteering for Williamstown’s annual Holiday Walk. He received his bachelor’s degree in communications from Colby-Sawyer College and his master’s degree in corporate communications from Ithaca College.

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Advantage Truck Group (ATG) diesel technician Riley Sullivan has been named one of the 2025 NEXT Top Talent Award winners by the Next Generation in Trucking Assoc. This national recognition celebrates young diesel technicians and CDL drivers under age 30 who are setting a new standard for excellence, professionalism, and purpose in the trucking industry. Sullivan is one of 20 diesel technicians from across the country to be recognized with this award. Sullivan joined ATG’s shop in Westfield in 2020, beginning his career as a diesel technician through the cooperative education program at Westfield Technical Academy. Today, he not only actively mentors and guides co-ops and apprentices, but has also completed more training hours than any other technician his age across all eight ATG locations.

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Matthew Sheridan

Matthew Sheridan

Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson

Matthew Sheridan, founder and managing director of Salmon Falls Wealth Advisors, announced that Michael Johnson has joined the firm as associate director and senior wealth advisor. Sheridan and Johnson first worked together at the former A.G. Edwards & Sons office in Greenfield and have maintained a long-standing professional respect for one another. Both have extensive experience managing investment and insurance programs at local financial institutions and share a client-first philosophy rooted in trust and integrity. Salmon Falls Wealth Advisors, in partnership with LPL Financial, provides independent financial guidance and personalized strategies for retirement planning, investment management, and estate and tax planning. The firm is located at 50 State St., Shelburne Falls. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC.

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Eight attorneys with Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., a multi-disciplinary law firm with offices in Springfield and Northampton, were selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America or Ones to Watch, with two receiving the prestigious Lawyer of the Year designation in their practice areas. Carol Cioe Klyman was named Lawyer of the Year in Springfield for both trusts and estates and elder law. She was also recognized in Best Lawyers in America for her work in these fields, marking the 19th consecutive year she has received Best Lawyers recognition. Steven Weiss was selected for Best Lawyers in America for bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights / insolvency and reorganization law for the 14th consecutive year. He was additionally honored as Lawyer of the Year in Springfield for this practice area. Timothy Mulhern, managing partner, was recognized for his excellence in corporate law and tax law. Michele Feinstein was honored in Best Lawyers in America for elder law, litigation – trusts and estates, and trusts and estates. She was previously named Lawyer of the Year in trusts and estates in 2025 and has been honored annually since 2013. Gary Fentin, founding shareholder, was recognized for banking and finance law and commercial transactions / Uniform Commercial Code law. Steven Schwartz, founding shareholder, was recognized for business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), closely held companies, and corporate law. James Sheils was honored for commercial transactions / Uniform Commercial Code law. A partner with the firm since 1985, Sheils has been recognized by Best Lawyers annually since 2015. Stephen Sobey was recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for trusts and estates.

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Kathy Martin

Kathy Martin

Glenmeadow Inc. announced that President and CEO Kathy Martin has been elected to a three-year term on the board of trustees of LeadingAge Massachusetts, an association dedicated to supporting the work of not-for-profit aging service providers. The appointment was made during LeadingAge Massachusetts’ 71st annual meeting of the membership and awards ceremony, held at College of the Holy Cross. Martin’s election reflects her commitment to advancing the mission of not-for-profit aging service providers and her leadership in reframing perceptions of aging more broadly. Western Mass. is well-represented on the LeadingAge Massachusetts board. At the same ceremony, Margaret Mantoni, CEO of the Loomis Communities, was elected chair of the board, succeeding Walter Ramos, president and CEO of Rogerson Communities, who will continue to serve as immediate past chair.

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook

MassDevelopment Issues Bond for Mount Holyoke College Plan

SOUTH HADLEY — MassDevelopment has issued a $154,750,000 tax-exempt bond on behalf of the trustees of Mount Holyoke College, who will use bond proceeds to make investments in its campus, with the goal of ensuring accessibility for all and sustainability for years to come. Mount Holyoke’s campus renewal will respond to the existing needs of the college community and continue both its transition to geothermal energy and its residence hall renovations. The college’s geothermal exchange project, already in progress, includes the drilling of geothermal exchange wells and the purchase of heat pumps and related energy equipment. The institution will also use bond proceeds to fund other strategic improvement projects on its campus, such as renovations to its residence halls and key academic buildings, as well as refinance previously issued debt. The tax-exempt bond, purchased by TD Bank, helped the borrower achieve a lower cost of capital.

 

Holyoke Community College Lands $300,000 RISE Grant

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) received a $300,000 state grant to train low-income job seekers whose primary barrier to employment is their English language skills. The Readiness, Integration, Skills, and Employment (RISE) grant to HCC is part of a $2.7 million package awarded recently to eight employers and organizations for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) initiatives that also include career readiness, job training, and placement services. The RISE grants are funded by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and administered by Commonwealth Corp. through the state’s Workforce Competitive Trust Fund. HCC was one of only two grant recipients outside the Boston area; Greenfield Community College received a $195,000 grant to train home health aides. Overall, the grants will support the training of more than 500 residents in the state in workforce ESOL training programs and help ease the demand for ESOL services. HCC is partnering with three Springfield-based agencies — Way Finders, Tech Foundry, and MassHire Springfield — to provide training and career placement services for 50 individuals. HCC’s employer partners include Baystate Health, Holyoke Medical Center, Adhesive Applications, Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, and MGM Springfield, who have agreed to interview program participants. Originally, the grant focused on people living in emergency shelters but has been expanded to also include other low-income job seekers with children below age 18.

 

$560,000 Endowment Created at Cooley Dickinson Hospital

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital announced the establishment of the Paul and Susan Mannheim Endowment for Facilities Improvement with a gift of $560,000 from Susan Mannheim and her late husband, Paul Mannheim, a family with deep roots in the Pioneer Valley, known for their long commitment to community service. Paul’s involvement with Cooley Dickinson began in 1988 as a member of the Golf FORE Health Committee, and he eventually became a volunteer and trustee. In honor of his contributions, he was honored in 1999 with the William E. Dwyer Distinguished Service Award. Over nearly four decades, the couple have supported many capital projects at the hospital, both individually and through their business, including what is now the Main Entrance, the Imaging and Childbirth Center, as well as the North Building and Kittredge Surgery Center. During his life, Paul took out a life insurance policy and named the hospital as the beneficiary. After his death earlier this year, the life insurance benefit payout was used to establish the Paul and Susan Mannheim Endowment for Facilities Improvement. The endowment will support capital projects, helping to ensure access to modern, state-of-the-art facilities for years to come.

 

Sentillian, Hogan Technology Announce Strategic Partnership

EASTHAMPTON — Sentillian, an innovator in AI-driven call center solutions, announced a strategic partnership with Hogan Technology, a provider of communication technology and services, to expand beyond the legal sector. Together, the companies will deliver enterprise-grade, AI-powered call center solutions designed by regional engineering teams in Easthampton to improve customer engagement, streamline operations, and reduce costs for clients across industries that require help desk and customer service support. The partnership combines Sentillian’s next-generation AI agent technology — which functions as a call center answering agent with natural, human-like voices and the ability to handle most basic tasks typically performed by live staff — with Hogan Technology’s robust telecom infrastructure and decades of industry expertise. Hogan Technology will serve as Sentillian’s strategic partner, enabling both companies to expand market reach and deliver turnkey solutions to enterprise clients. Together, the companies will focus on solving long-standing challenges in call center operations, including long wait times, high labor costs, and the need for 24/7 multi-lingual support. The partnership between Sentillian and Hogan Technology launches immediately with clients in legal, automotive, and other industries that rely heavily on help desk and call center operations.

 

D. Hotel Suites & Spa Completes Renovations

HOLYOKE — D. Hotel Suites & Spa, a 60-room boutique hotel located on the grounds of the Delaney House, announced the completion of a series of renovations designed to enhance comfort, security, and style for its guests. The project, which began in January and concluded recently, aims to bring a fresh, modern feel to the property while preserving its boutique charm. The extensive updates include a reimagined breakfast area, providing guests with a welcoming and contemporary space to start their day. The hotel’s lobby has also been redesigned, creating a brighter and more inviting first impression for both leisure and business travelers. Guest rooms and hallways received significant improvements as well. Most rooms now feature new flooring, updated fixtures, modern furniture, and fresh paint, as well as enhanced lighting and thoughtful design details. As part of the renovations, D. Hotel also invested in upgraded door lock technology, providing guests with an added layer of security and peace of mind. The integration of these modern systems reflects the hotel’s ongoing commitment to guest safety and convenience.

 

TSM Design Announces Closing After 40 Years in Business

SPRINGFIELD — TSM Design, a marketing, branding, and design firm, will close on Dec. 31 after 40 years in business. The firm was founded as the Super Market by Leslie Lawrence in 1985. Nancy Urbschat, Lawrence’s colleague, who joined the firm three months after its opening, became a partner in 1986 and purchased the company in 2005. TSM Design continues to work on client projects and is developing the means for a smooth transition at the end of the year. This will be made possible in part because Deb Walsh, Janet Bennett, and Brittany Arita, the TSM team, will continue their work independently. Urbschat’s decision follows decades of work with many of the region’s businesses, nonprofits, and Massachusetts government and quasi-government agencies. TSM Design has partnered with clients ranging from small startups to a Fortune 100 company the firm engaged with for more than a decade. TSM also held a state contract that brought high-profile projects across several agencies. A fierce advocate for the city of Springfield, Urbschat has served on numerous boards, committees, and initiatives, and has donated countless hours of pro bono branding, marketing, and design expertise to organizations such as the branding of Springfield Men of Color Health Awareness, rebranding the Springfield City Library, and capital campaign materials for Friends of the Homeless.

 

bankESB Honored with Top Workplaces Awards

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB announced it has been recognized as a Financial Services Industry Top Workplaces award winner and has received three additional Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards for fall 2025: Employee Appreciation, Employee Well-being, and Professional Development. Presented by Energage, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools, these awards celebrate organizations that excel in fostering exceptional workplace cultures based on employee feedback and engagement. Winners are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an anonymous, third-party employee engagement survey, issued by Energage. More than 42,000 organizations across the country were invited to participate in the survey. Results are calculated by comparing the survey’s research-based statements, including 15 culture drivers proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks. The awards highlight organizations that demonstrate a genuine commitment to their employees’ success, health, and overall experience. bankESB’s achievement across all categories underscores its dedication to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow professionally.

 

Tech Foundry, Comcast Partner to Expand Digital Opportunity

SPRINGFIELD — Representatives from Tech Foundry, a Springfield-based workforce development organization, and Comcast were joined by Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno and City Councilor Jose Delgado on Oct. 23 to celebrate a new initiative aimed at expanding internet adoption and digital skills training for Greater Springfield residents. Through this collaboration, Tech Foundry will sponsor six months of Comcast’s Internet Essentials service for the first 25 individuals who complete 12 digital literacy classes. Additionally, Comcast will donate laptops to the first 50 individuals who complete six digital literacy classes through Tech Foundry’s program. This initiative is made possible through Comcast’s Internet Essentials Partnership program, which enables community organizations to fund Internet Essentials (IE) service for qualifying households. Sponsored families receive all the benefits of IE: a high-speed internet connection at home, the option to purchase a low-cost computer, and access to free digital skills training online, in person, and in print. Tech Foundry offers free computer literacy and information technology certification programs to residents across the region.

 

Country Bank Recognized for Charitable Giving

WARE — Country Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Central and Western Mass., announced that the Boston Business Journal has once again named the bank an honoree in its annual Corporate Citizenship Awards, recognizing the region’s top corporate charitable contributors. The magazine annually publishes this list to highlight companies that promote and prioritize giving back to their communities. During this year’s celebration on Sept. 10, 99 companies qualified for the distinction by reporting at least $100,000 in cash contributions to Massachusetts-based charities last year. Collectively, they gave more than $416 million in cash contributions. This year’s honorees include companies from such industry sectors as financial and professional services, healthcare, technology, retail, and professional sports. Country Bank employs 239 staff members in Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties. Its team of Difference Makers actively promotes the bank’s mission of making a difference in their communities by volunteering for various nonprofits throughout the year.

 

Assets for Artists Transitions to Independent Status

NORTH ADAMS —Assets for Artists (A4A), a 17-year-old initiative supporting artists across New England, is marking its formal transition to independent nonprofit status with more than $2 million in new funding. This includes a $1.5 million general operating support grant from the Barr Foundation. The three-year grant will power A4A’s work providing capacity-building programs, professional development, and financial education to artists in all disciplines across New England. A4A has also secured significant program support, including $460,000 from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to launch the Greater Hartford Creatives Alliance, more than $100,000 from the city of Boston through the Arts Action Consortium, and $82,000 from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts to continue the ValleyCreates artist support programming. Since its founding, A4A has delivered professional development support to more than 3,700 artists in seven states, awarding more than $1.7 million in capacity-building grants to artists and providing more than 1,600 hours of career-building and financial education workshops and more than 4,000 hours of individual coaching sessions led by A4A’s roster of experienced artist trainers. Launched as a collaborative program under MASS MoCA in 2008, A4A began by serving artists in Berkshire County, but has since expanded to serve all of New England.

 

Whittlesey Wins ClearlyRated’s Best of Accounting Award

HARTFORD, Conn. — Whittlesey has earned ClearlyRated’s 2025 Best of Accounting award for service excellence. The award is based entirely on client feedback and recognizes firms that consistently deliver exceptional client experience. ClearlyRated’s program provides statistically valid and objective benchmarks for the accounting industry, highlighting which firms deliver the highest levels of client and employee satisfaction. Whittlesey received a Net Promoter Score more than twice the industry’s average. On average, clients of Best of Accounting winners are 60% more likely to be satisfied than those who work with non-winning firms — a testament to Whittlesey’s commitment to trusted guidance and personalized service.

 

Tighe & Bond Acquires Geosphere Environmental Management Inc.

WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, a Northeast leader in engineering, design, planning, and environmental consulting, announced it has acquired Geosphere Environmental Management Inc., a New Hampshire-based hydrogeology and environmental firm. As a trusted groundwater advisor with service offerings in hydrogeology, geothermal, and environmental science, Geosphere’s client base includes public municipal, utility, and private sector clients. Aligned with Tighe & Bond’s mission, Geosphere strives to create an economically feasible and environmentally responsible built environment. Following a successful history of collaborating on projects, the addition of Geosphere complements Tighe & Bond’s capabilities in its Water Business Line, which offers clients full-service engineering and environmental expertise to support their drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, geotechnical, dam, and ecological restoration projects. Geosphere’s water supply development and groundwater discharge capabilities enable Tighe & Bond to even more comprehensively support its clients’ drinking water and wastewater needs. Geosphere’s geothermal and ground heat exchange expertise also align with Tighe & Bond’s whole asset approach to the built environment, adding to site utility and building mechanical system design capabilities for high-performance building projects. The Geosphere team will now be based out of Tighe & Bond’s Portsmouth, N.H. office.

 

Bay Path University Continues OTD Grant Program

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University is now accepting applications for the second cohort of its post-professional occupational therapy doctorate grant program, Improving School-based OT Practice: A Doctoral Program to Improve Outcomes for Children with High-intensity Needs. Supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs), this innovative program is designed to advance the preparation of school-based occupational therapy leaders committed to improving outcomes for children with disabilities and high-intensity needs. Through this two-year, fully online program, participants earn a doctor of occupational therapy (OTD) degree, an American Occupational Therapy Assoc. (AOTA) school-based practice certificate, and a graduate certificate in autism spectrum disorders. In addition to advanced academic training, participants receive up to $21,000 in federal grant funding, covering more than 50% of tuition costs. Additional benefits include one-on-one faculty mentoring, professional development opportunities, and up to $3,000 to present research at the AOTA national conference. Only eight spots are available for the upcoming cohort. Applications are now open for the next cohort, which begins Jan. 12, 2026. The deadline to apply is Dec. 1. To learn more or apply, visit baypath.edu/otdosepgrant.

 

Hyundai Hope on Wheels Supports Baystate Children’s Hospital

SPRINGFIELD — On Oct. 6, Hyundai Hope on Wheels presented Baystate Children’s Hospital with a $100,000 Impact Grant to support pediatric cancer care. The funding will expand access to the latest treatments through clinical research, support a nurse practitioner specializing in childhood cancer, and enhance quality-of-life programs for pediatric patients. These programs include milestone celebrations, holiday gifts, and engaging activities for children undergoing long treatments. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is a nonprofit organization committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, it provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing critical research aimed at improving treatments and saving lives.

 

Beetle Press Earns Certification as Women’s Business Enterprise

NORTHAMPTON — Beetle Press, a PR business specializing in marketing and media strategy and consulting, was recently awarded national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Center for Women and Enterprise, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Founded in Northampton in 1998, Beetle Press offers marketing and public relations strategy as well as writing and editing services. In the Pioneer Valley, it currently serves Laplante Construction, Florence Bank, Thornes Marketplace, Keiter, and the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council. The WBENC standard of certification implemented by the Center for Women and Enterprise is a meticulous process, including an in-depth review of the business and a site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women, and that the business has appropriate structure and strategic business planning and implementation in place.

 

WillPower Foundation Joins Multicultural Community Services

SPRINGFIELD — WillPower Foundation, a longtime champion of families with different abilities in Western Mass., announced its next chapter: a formal partnership with Multicultural Community Services (MCS). WillPower Foundation will transition to become the WillPower Fund at MCS. Since 2008, WillPower Foundation has awarded nearly a half-million dollars in direct grants to families and individuals with different abilities across Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties. Founded by Maria and Craig Burke in honor of their son, William Michael Burke, who lives with a rare brain malformation called schizencephaly, the foundation was created to fill critical gaps left by insurance and other systems, funding items such as mobility aids, therapeutic programs, and sensory equipment. When the pandemic hit, WillPower was forced to eliminate most of its part-time staff to cut operational costs and stay afloat. Thanks to the continued generosity of donors and a dedicated board and volunteer base, the organization not only survived, but continued to grow its impact. Still, the long-term sustainability of operating without staff was uncertain. After 17 years of empowering families, the WillPower board worked diligently to plan for the future and find a more efficient way to ensure that more donor dollars are directed to families, thereby maintaining a strong mission for years to come. On Oct. 1, WillPower Foundation and MCS marked this milestone with a celebration featuring Burke himself. The WillPower board presented a $40,000 founding gift to MCS to officially launch the WillPower Fund in its new home.

 

Zeretas Studios Opens New Salon in Westfield

WESTFIELD — Zeretas Studios held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Zeretas Studios, a new Latina-owned salon business located at 501 Southampton Road in Westfield, on Oct. 18. Owner Jesse Rivera developed her business vision and plan with the support of EparaTodos, the Spanish-language business accelerator program of EforAll Pioneer Valley. Rivera’s story is one of resilience and culture. In the late 1990s, her mother opened her first salon in Puerto Rico, dedicated to textured hair at a time when very few stylists knew how to properly care for curls. Rivera grew up in that salon, later joining their mother in the work, and quickly recognized the gap in the beauty industry when it came to textured hair education and representation. After the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2019 and the 2020 pandemic, the family was forced to close their doors in Puerto Rico. Rivera carried the vision forward, launching Zeretas Studios in Texas and most recently expanding to Massachusetts, with the opening of Zeretas Studios in Westfield.

 

Indie Readery & Records Opens on North Street in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD — Indie Readery & Records, located at 314 North St. in Pittsfield, hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 23. Owned by Emma Lenski, Indie Readery & Records is an independent bookstore that combines a curated selection of books, vinyl records, and a variety of humorous and progressive gifts. The store’s focus on offering literature that promotes social justice, equity, and freedom places a strong emphasis on liberal and progressive viewpoints. The store will serve as a community space for like-minded individuals to engage with new ideas, music, and humor, while providing a space for cultural and community events.

 

Thunderbirds Partner with Foundation for TJO Animals

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds announced the inception of Luff’s Pups in partnership with the Foundation for TJO Animals. As part of this newly established initiative, T-Birds veteran forward and animal lover Matt Luff will pledge a donation of $50 to the Foundation for TJO Animals for every point he records during the 2025-26 season. Springfield Thunderbirds fans are encouraged to join in the Luff’s Pups pledge and donate to the Foundation for TJO Animals. A donation of just $25 can help feed up to 20 hungry animals or supply rabies vaccines for five animals.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

ADAMS

Adams Taxpayers Assoc. Inc., 215 Gould Road, Adams, MA 01220. Paula Chenail, same. Association advocating for the best interests of the taxpayers of Adams.

AMHERST

Ann Sutliff Inc., 280 Amity St., Amherst, MA 01002. Ann Sutliff, same. Real estate services.

BELCHERTOWN

Omega Perseverance Foundation Inc., 72 Mountain View Dr., Belchertown, MA 01007. Richard Griffin Jr., same. Nonprofit organization providing mentorship, leadership development, and social uplift programs to underserved youth and communities.

CHICOPEE

MN2TS Corp., 70 Exchange St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Tania Forte-Dileo, 173 Summit Ave., Chicopee, MA 01020. Restaurant and bar.

DALTON

The Stephanie Rose CHS Foundation Inc., 19 Claremont Road, Dalton, MA 01226. Alyssa Farella, same. Foundation honoring the life of Stephanie Rose by raising awareness of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), providing support to families affected by CHS, and contributing to medical research toward prevention, understanding, and treatment of the condition.

FEEDING HILLS

Drews Fabrication Inc., 562 South West St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Jamie Drew, same. Heavy equipment and structural steel erection.

Horeb Mission Vidyalaya Inc., 10 Gary Place, Apt. C, Feeding Hills, MA 01030. David Reji, same. Nonprofit educational institution for the instruction of students from kindergarten through grade 12 in academic, artistic, athletic, and other subjects, consistent with a comprehensive educational curriculum.

HAMPDEN

Chapin Road Farm Inc., 91 Chapin Road, Hampden, MA 01036. Brian Lee, same. Educational organization promoting sustainable agriculture, community-supported farming, and environmental stewardship, committed to providing inclusive access to nature-based education and wellness programming with a special focus on supporting individuals and families affected by multiple sclerosis.

HUNTINGTON

Horological Heritage Foundation Inc., 10 East Main St., Huntington, MA 01050. James Stoudenmire, 124 Goss Hill Road, Huntington, MA 01050. Charitable organization whose mission is to preserve, promote, and education the public about horology, the history, science, and craftsmanship of timekeeping through museum exhibits, educational programs, workshops, and community outreach.

LONGMEADOW

786 Properties Inc., 45 Woodside Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Hamza Mustafa, 85 Lynwood Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Real estate management.

NORTH ADAMS

Great Sky Media Inc., 504 Church St., North Adams, MA 01247. Joe Aidonidis, same. Video production company that serves businesses, nonprofits, and creative organizations by creating short-form documentaries and promotional material.

ORANGE

BB Realty Group Inc., 511 East River St., Orange, MA 01364. Olivia Paras, same. Real estate broker.

PITTSFIELD

Always on Electric Inc., 536 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Augustus Rizza, same. Electrical contractor.

Bicameral Labs Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Erik Parker Hoel, 149 Wheeler Road, Mashpee, MA 02649. Corporation conducting and disseminating independent research on the safe, ethical, and freedom-preserving integration of artificial intelligence with human systems.

Coordinated Civil Management Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Thomas Blakeney, same. Construction company specializing in electrical contracting and installation work, including but not limited to fire warning and security systems.

Ebon Solar Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Dong Hu, same. Holds investments and owns equity interests in other companies.

KBJB Legacy Corporation, 185 Highland Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Kevin Garcia, same. Real estate investment, development, and property management.

ODAI Inc. 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. George Sibble, same. AI and software development.

WCA Express Inc., 120 Lyman St., Apt. 4, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Wanderson Camargos de Alvarenga, same. Transportation of vehicles and other miscellaneous products.

SOUTH EGREMONT

Gulshan Jaffery Inc., 6 Fisher Lane, South Egremont, MA 01258. Gulshan Jaffery, same. Production consultancy.

SPRINGFIELD

Corepath Alliance Corp., 132 Fort Pleasant Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Asiala Rivera, same. Nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide workforce training and entrepreneurship education in trucking, skilled trades, real estate, and business development.

Sun & Summer Corp., 140 Fort Pleasant Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Lauro de Queiroz, same. Cleaning services.

Twinsbrothers 6 Inc., 1390 Allen St., Springfield, MA 01118. Shirleen Pereira, 31 North Woods Road, Hamden, CT 06518. Retail grocery.

WARE

Mary Lane Health Inc., 10 Crescent St., Ware, MA 01082. Cynthia Allen, same. Acquires, accepts, develops, and maintains land and buildings located in the town of Ware to be used and occupied for the provision of healthcare, administration of health-related programs, and facilitation of economic development activities in furtherance of healthcare services.

WESTFIELD

VOK Corp., 446 Southwick Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Vladyslav Kravets, same. Auto transportation.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

George of All Trades Inc., 64 Riverdale St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Heorhii Kambur, same. General remodeling services.

Ready 2 Go Inc., 43 Russell St., # 1, West Springfield, MA 01089. Jamila Agayeva, same. Specialty and dedicated services of transporting commercial goods, vehicles, and other commodities via flatbed container and heavy hauling trailers on a for-hire basis.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Hig-4 Cleaning Services Inc., 111 North St., Williamstown, MA 01267. Claudia Higgiston, P.O. Box 777, Williamstown, MA 01267. Residential and commercial cleaning services.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of October 2025.

BELCHERTOWN

Forever Excavating
494 South Gulf Road
Dillon Natle

Forever Tree Care
494 South Gulf Road
Dillon Natle

Grace Aesthetics and Wellness PLLC
3 Stadler St., Suite 2/3
Grace LaValley

Tran Family NLN
205D Ware Road
Linh Tran

Window World of Western Massachusetts Inc.
20 Daniel Shays Highway
Timothy Drost

Window World of Western Massachusetts Inc.
401 Mill Valley Road
Timothy Drost

NORTHAMPTON

Debra Joyce Family Law Consulting
78 Main St., Suite 402
Debra Joyce LaMonica

Emily Gilbert Photography
16 Forbes Ave.
Emily Gilbert

Hampden Hampshire Massage Therapy
181 Main St., Suite 2
Leigh Salvage

Hampshire Dermatology and Skin Health Center
39A Carlon Dr.
Katherine White

Hampshire Speech Therapy
75 Lyman Road
Danielle Baker

Northampton Volkswagen
361 King St.
Carla Cosenzi Zayac

The Old Book Table
9½ Market St., Suite 3A
Hosea Baskin

Radical Connection LLC
25 Gregory Lane
Audra Taylor Winn

River Valley Insight Meditation Community
575 Bridge Road, Unit 11-4
Kim Weeber

WEST SPRINGFIELD

AQ Games
150 Hannoush Dr.
AQ Games

Aveanna Healthcare
78 Capital Dr.
Epic Health Services Inc.

Begley Law
1284 Elm St., Unit U3
Michelle Begley

Details by Ananda
109 Ashley Ave., Apt. A
Details by Ananda

Distinctive Works
31 Lowell St.
Distinctive Works

Generator Supercenter of Western Massachusetts
1285 Riverdale St.
KMV Services LLC

Rise & Redefine
47 Amherst St.
Rise & Redefine

Salamon Flooring Inc.
103 Myron St.
Salamon Flooring Inc.

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Abbott, John W.
60 Franklin St., Apt. 16
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/10/2025

Alban, Orly Alejandro
2118 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/07/2025

Bannish, Lindsey Anna
479 Blandford Road
Granville, MA 01034
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/15/2025

Bousquet, Linda L.
44 Peros Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/10/2025

Carroll, Maryann
915 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 10/09/2025

Chobot, Brittany M.
15 Bellevue Ave.,  Apt. 2
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/07/2025

Crowther, Kate Frances
47 East Center St.
Leeds, MA 01053-9716
Chapter: 13
Date: 10/14/2025

Fonseca, Joel Jay
20 Joy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Date: 09/30/2025

Gallagher, Sharon L.
6 Leonard St., #1
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Date: 10/06/2025

Hogan, Alan David
Usher, Jessica Ann
7 Park Slope
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/06/2025

Kennedy, John C.
16 Inwood Commons
East Longmedow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/09/2025

Kimball, Morgan Dunbar
89 Howard St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Date: 10/15/2025

King, Daniel C.
King, Alexandra Lynn
a/k/a Troncoso, Alexandra Lynn
204 Freedom St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/03/2025

Li, Audrey
386 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/01/2025

Longtin, Rielly J.
21 Ridgeway Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/08/2025

Morales, Ivelisse Marie
27 Middlebrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Date: 10/03/2025

Norval, Christopher P.
Norval, Sarah D.
10 Linwood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/15/2025

Pozzuto, Laura M.
36 Maplewood St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Date: 10/03/2025

Reynolds, Diane Leslie
121 Waldo St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 09/30/2025

Rohrbach, Ace C.
Schaeneman, Leigh Ann
133 Ellington St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Date: 10/03/2025

Sanchez, Janira
273 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/15/2025

Santiago, Pedro L.
559 Main St., Apt. 1
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/14/2025

Skovorodin, Aleksandr A.
36 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/15/2025

Smith, Jamellah
13 Park St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 10/10/2025

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

688 Bear Swamp Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: Jordan Friede
Seller: Daniel K. Lederer
Date: 10/10/25

1450 West Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $457,000
Buyer: Daniel T. Butler
Seller: Lynn R. Dole
Date: 10/10/25

BERNARDSTON

390 Bald Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Zain Naveed
Seller: John W. Graves
Date: 10/10/25

55 Keets Brook Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Peter Harrington
Seller: Bmfn LLC
Date: 10/10/25

60 Keets Brook Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Peter Harrington
Seller: Bmfn LLC
Date: 10/10/25

BUCKLAND

1 Bray Road
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Nawontah Waters
Seller: Robert D. March
Date: 10/15/25

24 Conway Road
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $551,000
Buyer: John Gravenmier
Seller: Donald G. Paye INT
Date: 10/07/25

CHARLEMONT

463 Legate Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Sharon Matthews
Seller: Suzanne Webber
Date: 10/08/25

DEERFIELD

44 Thayer St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Kathryn S. Hanning
Seller: Saunders N. Whittlesey
Date: 10/14/25

43 Whately Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $1,950,000
Buyer: 43 Whatley Road LLC
Seller: R. Sitterly LLC
Date: 10/10/25

51 Whately Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $1,950,000
Buyer: 43 Whatley Rd LLC
Seller: R. Sitterly LLC
Date: 10/10/25

 

GILL

7 Riverview Dr.
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Marek Tresnak
Seller: MW & MW Realty
Date: 10/10/25

GREENFIELD

38 Butternut St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: 38 Butternut LLC
Date: 10/10/25

260-1/2 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Karla B. Quintanilla
Seller: Emily S. Greene
Date: 10/10/25

130 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Livingwood LLC
Seller: Prb LLC
Date: 10/06/25

312 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $1,347,000
Buyer: Phoenix GF LLC
Seller: Lorenz Family LLC
Date: 10/14/25

221 Hope St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Brandie L. Soulia
Seller: Freedom Hill RT
Date: 10/09/25

2 Mead St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Fret Mill LLC
Seller: Historic Factories LLC
Date: 10/15/25

44 Russell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Brian M. Hillard
Seller: Michael A. Biskerski
Date: 10/10/25

104 Wildwood Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $347,500
Buyer: Leah Dion
Seller: Sandra P. Smith
Date: 10/10/25

HEATH

93 Colrain Stage Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Yevgeniy Yefimov
Seller: David J. Travers
Date: 10/10/25

MONTAGUE

20 Dunton St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Suzanne M. Hale
Seller: Sherry L. Debarge
Date: 10/14/25

ORANGE

286-288 Butterworth Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Alexis Mejia
Seller: Kurt M. Moisan
Date: 10/09/25

77 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Walter Ferreira
Seller: Craig Ballou
Date: 10/10/25

61 East Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $398,500
Buyer: Monica D. Knight
Seller: Joshua T. Behrens
Date: 10/14/25

900 North Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $176,467
Buyer: Megliola Realty LLC
Seller: Phillip E. Miller
Date: 10/14/25

SHELBURNE

175 Peckville Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Christian Parenti
Seller: William H. Stafford INT
Date: 10/10/25

SUNDERLAND

31 Garage Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Morse & Morse Realty LLC
Seller: Jelf Properties LLC
Date: 10/09/25

415 Montague Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jaime M. Rodriguez
Seller: Barbara J. Harlow-Robinson
Date: 10/09/25

61 South Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Michael Shanahan
Seller: Margaret L. Gutman
Date: 10/14/25

WARWICK

37 Smith Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Craig Tourigny
Seller: Jose M. Bovio
Date: 10/10/25

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

51 Bradford Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Jenna M. Lavrenchuk
Seller: No Limit Assets LLC
Date: 10/10/25

41 Channell Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Sarah Cannamela
Seller: Aldo Properties LLC
Date: 10/10/25

26 Dutchmaster Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Victoria Egan
Seller: Paul K. Laviolette
Date: 10/14/25

60 Edward St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Orhan Ahmeti
Seller: Jason M. Douthwright
Date: 10/10/25

60 Farmington Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Aisha Khan
Seller: Steven M. Jones
Date: 10/08/25

19 Harding St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Maria Webster
Seller: Nadia Grushetskiy
Date: 10/10/25

16 Laura Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Nicholas McMahon
Seller: Carl F. Roberts
Date: 10/07/25

53 Memory Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Adam Anischik
Seller: David J. Mias
Date: 10/09/25

848 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Mackenize Douglas
Seller: Hardy, Steven A., (Estate)
Date: 10/09/25

940 North St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Svg Holdings LLC
Seller: Crescent Hill Realty LLC
Date: 10/08/25

489 North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Susan E. Jenney
Seller: David P. Jenney
Date: 10/10/25

67 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Gladys Provost
Seller: Shelby Texeira
Date: 10/15/25

BRIMFIELD

50 John Haley Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Beau X. Boudreau
Seller: Theresa M. Muska
Date: 10/14/25

249 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Kenneth S. Longtin
Seller: Richard Chaffee
Date: 10/09/25

CHESTER

97 Old State Hwy.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: James D. Adams
Seller: Perennial Flow LLC
Date: 10/15/25

124 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $749,000
Buyer: Clifford A. Madru
Seller: Richard A. Sutton 2025 TR
Date: 10/07/25

CHICOPEE

12 Allen St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Adam D. Struthers
Seller: Anne M. Whelihan
Date: 10/09/25

25 Andover Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $347,500
Buyer: Susan L. Arcisz
Seller: William K. Malone
Date: 10/15/25

62 Charpentier Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $293,800
Buyer: Steven Caraballo
Seller: Andre Savoie
Date: 10/10/25

21 Depot St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $227,777
Buyer: Mazal Real Estate LLC
Seller: Winners O LLC
Date: 10/10/25

20 Gilbert Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Natalie A. Escalera
Seller: Michelle Paneto
Date: 10/14/25

46 Guerin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Kellie A. Serrao
Seller: 539 Lancaster St. Realty LLC
Date: 10/10/25

248 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Veteran Stan LLC
Seller: Gladys Provost
Date: 10/15/25

333 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Pablo Colon
Seller: Susan A. Midura
Date: 10/06/25

27 Janine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: John D. Griffin
Date: 10/14/25

36 Lapa Farm Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Eric Dorn
Seller: Dunigan, Bruce C., (Estate)
Date: 10/15/25

664 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Prossy Drinkwine
Seller: Christopher Nascembini
Date: 10/14/25

1709 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: R. & R. Hoe Improvement
Seller: Arpc LLC
Date: 10/14/25

38 Ward St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Rachel L. Dane
Seller: Christopher M. Barrett
Date: 10/06/25

68 Woodcrest Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $407,000
Buyer: Iolanda Arocho
Seller: Justin S. Simonich
Date: 10/10/25

EAST LONGMEADOW

198-200 Benton Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $2,375,000
Buyer: 198 Benton Drive LLC
Seller: Fluids NT
Date: 10/08/25

158 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Marc Dulaimy
Seller: Tashjian, Armen, (Estate)
Date: 10/14/25

57 Marci Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Marc J. Riccio
Seller: George L. George
Date: 10/15/25

20 Maynard St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Wiklund
Seller: Marc J. Riccio
Date: 10/15/25

31 Melwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Ariana Mateus
Seller: Sabeena Dave
Date: 10/07/25

383 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Andrew T. McAlary
Seller: Timothy J. Carlin
Date: 10/10/25

HAMPDEN

58 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: Kaitlynn Muse
Seller: Jeffrey E. Bates
Date: 10/09/25

43 Colony Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Samuel Murtaugh
Seller: Lisa A. Millett
Date: 10/10/25

HOLLAND

7 Sheila Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Cassidy Horner
Seller: Beau X. Boudreau
Date: 10/10/25

88 Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $377,000
Buyer: Heather Davis
Seller: Stephen A. Kavorkian
Date: 10/15/25

108 Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Carr
Seller: Daniel D. Carr
Date: 10/15/25

HOLYOKE

43 Bemis Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Marie A. Schlosstein
Seller: Jeremiah J. Mullane
Date: 10/14/25

29-31 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Juan J. Pizha
Seller: Stanwich Mortgage Loan TJ
Date: 10/10/25

131 Center St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $216,500
Buyer: Jessica M. Foss
Seller: Christopher Marble
Date: 10/09/25

55 Hitchcock St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Paige Hamelin
Seller: 55 Hitchcock LLC
Date: 10/09/25

10 Humeston Slope
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Sam O’Vonnor
Seller: Mary Ann J. Lapointe RET
Date: 10/09/25

845-851 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $2,950,000
Buyer: Springdale Apartments LLC
Seller: Cig3 LLC
Date: 10/06/25

16 Meadowview Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Devin Colon-Grenier
Seller: Grant T. Schlosstein
Date: 10/14/25

14 Scott Hollow Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Chad Finley
Seller: Dorota M. Garncarz
Date: 10/10/25

186 Suffolk St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Tiana Pena
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 10/07/25

45 Vernon St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $2,950,000
Buyer: Springdale Apartments LLC
Seller: Cig3 LLC
Date: 10/06/25

LONGMEADOW

15 Berwick Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Jackson T. Kleintz
Seller: Anthony Gandelli
Date: 10/15/25

41 Dennis Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $1,070,000
Buyer: Eduardo R. Nunez
Seller: Fabricio Ochoa
Date: 10/14/25

31 Homecrest St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Abigail Bertheaud
Seller: Rhonda A. Theroux
Date: 10/09/25

124 Longfellow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Mason F. Rapaport
Seller: Song Zhang
Date: 10/15/25

26 White Oaks Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Dle Properties Trail TR
Seller: Lorraine M. Slepski
Date: 10/10/25

LUDLOW

34 Briarwood Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $388,000
Buyer: Trevor J. Lewicki
Seller: Lori A. Lewicki
Date: 10/10/25

Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: S. & C. Investors LLC
Seller: Town Of Ludlow
Date: 10/14/25

68 Fairview St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Morales Real Estate Solutions LLC
Seller: Naples Home Buyer TR
Date: 10/14/25

194 Pine St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Anita Patrie
Seller: Mare-Lene Properties NT
Date: 10/14/25

41 Roy St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Racine
Seller: Domingos Verissimo
Date: 10/08/25

157-159 Sewall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Amy M. Coelho
Seller: Adelia Pedro
Date: 10/08/25

MONSON

138 Brimfield Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Ryan M. Fay
Seller: Jerry R. Degon
Date: 10/14/25

32 Bunyan Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jeremy Vargas-Percy
Seller: Carole Singh
Date: 10/15/25

211 Butler Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Michael Cain
Seller: Mountain House Properties LLC
Date: 10/10/25

18 Munn Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Coalie Rt
Seller: Mark S. Schwartz
Date: 10/09/25

MONTGOMERY

11 Old Main Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $155,334
Buyer: Kathy A. Lee
Seller: Jeffrey C. Lee
Date: 10/15/25

PALMER

10 Forest St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $444,900
Buyer: Joshua Banas
Seller: Lynne W. Rahim RET
Date: 10/14/25

139 Griffin St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $428,000
Buyer: Samantha Haraty
Seller: Antonio Sebastiao FT
Date: 10/06/25

63 Mount Dumplin Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Natalie Brewer
Seller: James L. Godin
Date: 10/08/25

16 Old Farm Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Conor O. Flynn
Seller: Dolores M. Elkas
Date: 10/15/25

464 Old Warren Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Beauregard
Seller: John W. Lizak RET
Date: 10/06/25

690 River St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Joanna G. Sorreiro
Seller: Shelby F. Lamothe
Date: 10/09/25

SPRINGFIELD

245 Arthur St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jaileen Rodriguez
Seller: Erik Collazo
Date: 10/06/25

467-469 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Nalani Capital 3 LLC
Seller: Lyons, Charles Rogers, (Estate)
Date: 10/15/25

222 Bolton St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Patricia G. Beauregard
Seller: Patricia Duprat
Date: 10/09/25

68-70 Cambridge St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jjj17 LLC
Seller: Pfgc LLC
Date: 10/10/25

34 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: Debra Craig
Date: 10/15/25

175 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Bar Belmont LLC
Seller: Eleanor Chestnut Realty LLC
Date: 10/14/25

186-192 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Bar Belmont LLC
Seller: Bruce Wright Group LLC
Date: 10/10/25

150 Cloran St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $328,000
Buyer: Merna Ivey
Seller: Genevieve Construction Development Group
Date: 10/10/25

137 Cobb St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Clx Real Estate LLC
Seller: Falynne P. Correia
Date: 10/15/25

31-33 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $472,500
Buyer: Abraham Adolphus
Seller: Cig4 LLC
Date: 10/09/25

435 Dwight St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $6,500,000
Buyer: Bar Belmont LLC
Seller: Dwight Taylor Realty NT
Date: 10/10/25

64-66 East Bay Path Ter.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Monica Kuku
Seller: Phantom Holdings LLC
Date: 10/15/25

51 East Canton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Sean Curran
Seller: Paige Bradley
Date: 10/08/25

144 Euclid Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: 144 Euclid LLC
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 10/10/25

45 Fenimore Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Nadine A. Thomas
Seller: Kimberly A. Douglas
Date: 10/14/25

87 Fenwick St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Heather S. Guadeloupe
Date: 10/14/25

72 Firglade Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Keith Olenchak
Seller: W. B. Grisel
Date: 10/07/25

30 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Zachary J. Brown
Seller: Jose C. Santiago
Date: 10/08/25

47 Garfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $483,460
Buyer: Meredith Lemasurier
Seller: Stefan Hagmann
Date: 10/14/25

14 Garford St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Maria I. Vazquez
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 10/08/25

93 Garfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Luz A. Devasquez
Seller: Corina Young
Date: 10/10/25

58 Gilman St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $271,500
Buyer: Gabriel A. Santana
Seller: Orange Park Mgmt.LLC
Date: 10/15/25

19 Harbour Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Nicholas Albert
Seller: Kaitlyn Bouffard
Date: 10/10/25

79 Keith St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $443,000
Buyer: Amaurys J. De Los Santos
Seller: Ackeem J. Donaldson
Date: 10/07/25

5 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Tony E. Sousa
Seller: Ellis C. Gray
Date: 10/09/25

52 Luden St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Jenna Jackson
Seller: Anna Cardaropli
Date: 10/15/25

101-103 Lyman St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Bar Belmont LLC
Seller: Bruce Wright Group LLC
Date: 10/10/25

127 Lyman St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Bar Belmont LLC
Seller: Bruce Wright Group LLC
Date: 10/10/25

130-134 Lyman St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: Bar Belmont LLC
Seller: Bruce Wright Group LLC
Date: 10/10/25

2 Lyons St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Michael Krause
Seller: Joseph D. Szarek
Date: 10/06/25

254-256 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $760,000
Buyer: RG Main & Oak LLC
Seller: Rafael A. Martinez
Date: 10/10/25

128 Maplewood Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $417,000
Buyer: Darnel Alouidor
Seller: Moses Pava TR
Date: 10/06/25

136 Maynard St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Manchester Enterprises LLC
Seller: Tyrus T. Ferguson
Date: 10/09/25

19 Metzger Plaza
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Clarissa Camacho
Seller: Pablo Colon
Date: 10/06/25

168 Middle St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Joshua L. Morin
Seller: William Royland
Date: 10/09/25

41 Nevada St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Lance Hamilton
Seller: Susan L. Guterl
Date: 10/15/25

179 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $215,250
Buyer: Joseph L. Selevitch
Seller: Cwbs Instrument Of Redemption
Date: 10/15/25

148-150 Oak Grove Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Emma Burke
Seller: Leggett, Gladys, (Estate)
Date: 10/07/25

72-74 Palmer Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Chamber Investment Group LLC
Seller: Sandy Moon RET
Date: 10/07/25

423-425 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Albertina Ozor
Seller: 423-425 Parker Street TR
Date: 10/10/25

61 Russell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Arnoldo W. Gallardo
Seller: Theresa M. Rice
Date: 10/15/25

60 Saffron Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jonathan Samataro
Seller: Jacques, Normand G., (Estate)
Date: 10/07/25

35 Tioga St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $251,832
Buyer: Federal National Mortgage Assn.
Seller: Phyllis A. Sojka
Date: 10/08/25

140 Wait St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jonathan Hafer
Seller: Jason Pagan
Date: 10/10/25

27 Welland Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: M&H Property Ventures LLC
Seller: Gary J. Lafave
Date: 10/08/25

92 Woodside Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,120,000
Buyer: American Patriots Real Estate LLC
Seller: Rbt Enterprise LLC
Date: 10/06/25

1275 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Derek Estrella
Seller: Victor A. Ramos
Date: 10/09/25

SOUTHWICK

33 Birchwood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Connor T. Kane
Seller: William A. Cunningham
Date: 10/08/25

7 Pondview Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $710,000
Buyer: Jill Brody
Seller: Analytical Sciences Marketing
Date: 10/09/25

TOLLAND

64 Porcupine Point Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $649,900
Buyer: Charles H. Keller
Seller: Dorothy Nicoletti
Date: 10/14/25

27 Stones Throw Dr.
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Lipchus
Seller: Judith Factor
Date: 10/08/25

WALES

6 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Naples Home Buyes TR
Seller: Ernest J. Bertothy
Date: 10/15/25

WESTFIELD

53 Bristol St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Vladislav Biley
Seller: Evelyn D. Casey
Date: 10/10/25

16 Glen Ridge Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Joseph Crevier
Seller: Heather White
Date: 10/10/25

99 Hillcrest Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $557,500
Buyer: Heather L. White
Seller: Angelique L. Cadieux
Date: 10/10/25

15 Laro Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Ryan Simmitt
Seller: Francis B. Marsh
Date: 10/14/25

19 Locust St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Kristin A. Brouillette
Seller: David Smith
Date: 10/08/25

15 Maple Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Zazzaro
Seller: Brett M. Worden
Date: 10/07/25

50 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Maria Williams
Seller: Elizabeth Provo
Date: 10/09/25

16 Spruce St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $432,000
Buyer: Lisa R. Frances
Seller: Melissa K. Lavimoniere
Date: 10/10/25

WILBRAHAM

20 Bartlett Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Jessica Barrett
Seller: Mark D. Haggan
Date: 10/07/25

31 Brooklawn Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $538,000
Buyer: Ralph F. Hess
Seller: Anita E. Richard
Date: 10/15/25

37 Brookside Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Caitlin Phelps
Seller: Rene A. Romero
Date: 10/14/25

4 Highmoor Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $561,000
Buyer: April B. Robinson
Seller: Smith, Barbara J., (Estate)
Date: 10/10/25

21 Hunting Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Olivia G. Fernandes
Seller: Jeffrey Webb
Date: 10/14/25

9 Longview Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Zachary Charbonneau
Seller: Karla Impionbato-Sass
Date: 10/07/25

8 Meadowview Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $429,900
Buyer: Kathryn Fischman
Seller: Michael J. Stirlacci
Date: 10/14/25

505 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Kara Rice
Seller: Positive Spin Real Estate Investors Inc.
Date: 10/10/25

344 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Janet E. Johnson RET
Date: 10/08/25

WEST SPRINGFIELD

45 Autumn Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Lisa M. Cosgrove
Seller: Dean J. Martilli
Date: 10/10/25

55 Bliss St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $594,000
Buyer: Ibrahim S. Kilic
Seller: Nikulin FT
Date: 10/10/25

77 Bowers St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $378,000
Buyer: Julissa Muniz
Seller: Nostin, Thomas J., (Estate)
Date: 10/10/25

51 Craiwell Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Sandra Brodeur
Seller: Moira F. Centracchio
Date: 10/14/25

45 Elm Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Danielle Maynard
Seller: Jennifer A. O’Connor
Date: 10/14/25

31 Fox St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Tara Cataloni
Seller: Manchester Enterprises LLC
Date: 10/09/25

103 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Silvia D. Dejeronimo
Seller: James R. Keddy
Date: 10/15/25

22 Maple Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Mario D. Fairweather
Seller: Haskell Holdings LLC
Date: 10/10/25

132 Nelson St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Sara Moriarty
Seller: Aem Property Investment LLC
Date: 10/08/25

43 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $327,925
Buyer: Kate J. Karl-Morin
Seller: Brandon Clement
Date: 10/06/25

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

313 Amity St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $651,388
Buyer: Bingyu Hu
Seller: Robert L. Stern
Date: 10/06/25

57 Harlow Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Nicholas J. Skowronek
Seller: Karen Isabelle
Date: 10/08/25

15 Research Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Dickinson Street LLC
Seller: Carex LLC
Date: 10/09/25

BELCHERTOWN

1 Chestnut Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $554,000
Buyer: Lawrence Lacombe
Seller: Robert C. Lattanzi
Date: 10/15/25

287 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $379,900
Buyer: Chelsea Cooke
Seller: Dexter J. Labonte
Date: 10/10/25

1003 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Andrea Fernandes
Seller: Jason W. Fernandes
Date: 10/09/25

41 Meadow Pond Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Geoffroy FT
Seller: Pinto IRT
Date: 10/09/25

4 Metacomet Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Marcus P. Lafountain
Seller: Fumi Realty Inc.
Date: 10/10/25

17 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joelle A. Michigan
Seller: Ann L. Tabb
Date: 10/15/25

343 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $570,100
Buyer: Earnest E. Bliss
Seller: Thomas A. Johndrow
Date: 10/06/25

EASTHAMPTON

40 Division St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jonathan T. Freniere
Seller: Jeffrey J. Kolodziej
Date: 10/08/25

25 Meadowbrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Maren E. Buck
Seller: Jessica L. Strom
Date: 10/08/25

5 Morin Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $273,766
Buyer: Rcaf Acquisiion TR
Seller: Charles Adams
Date: 10/15/25

16 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Michael K. Lalak
Seller: Hikari Mamata
Date: 10/10/25

9 Sandra Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Elizabeth G. Provo
Seller: Anthony O’Brien
Date: 10/09/25

GOSHEN

95 Ball Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Jessica Emmonds
Seller: Linda A. Sbrega
Date: 10/15/25

GRANBY

31 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Paul M. Delp
Seller: Carlos M. Garcia
Date: 10/09/25

HADLEY

10 Bristol Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Jacquelin Sordillo RET
Seller: W. & Rosemary M. Skiba IRT
Date: 10/10/25

6 Highland Circle
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michael MacDonald
Seller: Bishko, Theodore E., (Estate)
Date: 10/09/25

20 North Maple St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $9,500,000
Buyer: RW North Massistant
Seller: Elaine Manor LP
Date: 10/10/25

2 Nikkis Way
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $1,015,000
Buyer: Chang Liu
Seller: Firefly Vacation Home LLC
Date: 10/15/25

HATFIELD

353 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01066
Amount: $464,000
Buyer: 119 Real Estate LLC
Seller: Shirley Skorupski
Date: 10/15/25

MIDDLEFIELD

120 River Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Molly Laflesh
Seller: Brush FT
Date: 10/14/25

NORTHAMPTON

71 Forest Glen Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Adam K. Komosinski
Seller: Haynes, Christopher A., (Estate)
Date: 10/14/25

183 Grove St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $830,000
Buyer: Missy Ehrgood
Seller: Ajna Maric
Date: 10/10/25

42 Harrison Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,099,000
Buyer: Katherine A. Boyer
Seller: Jeffrey M. Mast
Date: 10/07/25

53 Harrison Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: W. & Allison V. Brewer RET
Seller: Seth M. Shulman
Date: 10/10/25

35 Hillcrest Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Stephen M. Tirrell RET
Seller: Karen C. Hogan
Date: 10/15/25

1 Walnut St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Jelb Properties LLC
Seller: Donald P. Judge
Date: 10/09/25

10 Ward Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,750,000
Buyer: Stephen Trichka
Seller: Luke C. Brown
Date: 10/09/25

SOUTH HADLEY

341 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $335,200
Buyer: Richard Veltman
Seller: Chateauneuf, Lucille J., (Estate)
Date: 10/14/25

10 Easy St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Robyn Robitaille
Seller: William Joniec
Date: 10/10/25

28 Hillside Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Michael L. Williams
Seller: Lewis, Richard Ennever, (Estate)
Date: 10/10/25

7 Hunter Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Steven Pelletier
Seller: 2 Black Cats LLC
Date: 10/10/25

2 Silverwood Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Jessica S. Dubois
Seller: Steven R. Pelletier
Date: 10/10/25

40 Spring St. Ext.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $153,300
Buyer: Lcr Builders LLC
Seller: Polly A. Vauhgn
Date: 10/14/25

SOUTH HADLEY

59 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Joseph Garcia
Seller: William P. Tanguay
Date: 10/06/25

2 Red Ledge Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Natalie L. Strokes
Seller: Gelinas, Judith Ann, (Estate)
Date: 10/09/25

SOUTHAMPTON

43 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: Megan Creighton
Seller: R. B. & Johna L. Merritt FT
Date: 10/15/25

23 Wolcott Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Christopher R. Schelling
Seller: Joly, Shirley F., (Estate)
Date: 10/08/25

WARE

9 Cottage St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Hoa Le
Seller: Sharafat Khan
Date: 10/15/25

13 Crescent Ter.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Michael J. Richardson
Seller: Melinda Terry
Date: 10/07/25

12 Mountainview Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Bethany Racine
Seller: Daniel P. Racine
Date: 10/08/25

27 Old Poor Farm Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $690,000
Buyer: Emmett A. Bumpus
Seller: Thomas R. Klenke
Date: 10/10/25

150 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $437,000
Buyer: Lee Conner
Seller: Anthony J. Nevue
Date: 10/10/25

70 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Licia J. Galinsky
Seller: Patricia G. Moriarty
Date: 10/08/25

37 Warebrook Village
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Comptois
Seller: Bryce D. Haley
Date: 10/10/25

164 West St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: H&Y 2025 LLC
Seller: G&A RT
Date: 10/09/25

WILLIAMSBURG

86 South St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Kit C. Walsh
Seller: Brian R. McGill
Date: 10/08/25

WORTHINGTON

209 Old North Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $358,750
Buyer: Mary E. Davidson
Seller: Mark A. Spiess
Date: 10/09/25

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2025.

CHICOPEE

Walnut Properties LLC
1400 Memorial Dr.
$7,000 — Carport metal kit

EASTHAMPTON

City of Easthampton
Daley Field Road
$9,000 — Machine demolition of dilapidated shaed with collapsing roof

Easthampton Mahadev LLC
71-77 Cottage St.
$32,000 — Roofing

Easthampton Mahadev LLC
37-43 Union St.
$25,000 — Roofing

Porvenir LLC
100-106 Cottage St.
$30,000 — Repair rear fire escapes on second floor

HADLEY

Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield
120 Russell St.
Siding

LEE

Berkshire Bank
1 Park St.
$19,570 — Replace gas-fired rooftop unit

Enlighten Next Inc.
850 Summer St.
$216,550 — Demolish existing pool house and construct new pool house

Pollard Realty LLC
184 Main St.
$12,000 — Install 12 vinyl replacement windows

Ponds Assoc.
852 Summer St.
$13,829 — Roofing on pool building

LENOX

25 Franklin Street LLC
25 Franklin St.
$18,050 — Roofing

Electric Power Research Inc.
115 East New Lenox Road
$25,000 — Install metal storage building

McGee BMW of Lenox
374 Pittsfield Road
$253,498 — Furnish and install rooftop solar system

Sean and Michael Berkshires AV LLC
384 Pittsfield Road
$252,325 — Furnish and install rooftop solar system

NORTHAMPTON

175 Main Street LLC
175 Main St.
$7,500 — Illuminated wall sign for TD Bank

American Dream Realty LLC
142 Main St.
$41,000 — Interior renovation to Dunkin’

American Dream Realty LLC
142 Main St.
$2,800 — Illuminated ground sign for Dunkin’

American Dream Realty LLC
142 Main St.
$2,800 — Illuminated wall sign for Dunkin’

Biapita LLC
32 Orchard St.
$5,000 — Repairs to deck

Chase Bank
1 King St.
$55,000 — Replace HVAC split system

City of Northampton
80 Locust St.
$6,000 — Non-illuminated wall sign

Florence Congregational Church
130 Pine St.
$25,000 — Remove chimney and bathroom

King Auto Body Inc.
141 King St.
$5,000 — Interior demolition

Northampton Holdings LP
180 North King St.
$56,371 — Change fixtures for Bank of America ATM

O’Connell Development Group
10 Hawley St.
$2,985 — Non-illuminated ground sign for Hawley Manor

O’Connell Oil Associates Inc.
506 Pleasant St.
$39,000 — Build wall in new coffee shop

Om Shiv Gauri Inc.
81 Maple St.
$10,000 — Build/finish partition wall and floor

Smith College
64 Kensington Ave.
$15,000 — Replacement windows

PITTSFIELD

18 Degrees
480 West St.
$330,000 — Minor interior elevations, new air handling units, roofing, and gutters

BHD 10 Pittsfield Realty LLC
10 Lyman St.
$10,000 — Add offices and hallways space

BPDSR LLC
77 Elm St.
$58,316 — Repair existing front porch, ramp, and back porch

City of Pittsfield
180 Connecticut Ave.
$1,671,420 — Roofing at Allendale Elementary School

City of Pittsfield
96 Valentine Road
$532,000 — Horticultural garage for Taconic High School

Elizabeth Freeman Center Inc.
66 Allen St.
$200,000 — Roofing

Guido’s Quality Fruit and Produce
1020 South St.
$3,500 — Add insulated shed on back side of store, mounted on concrete slab, to house tower chemicals, controls, and pumps

Chen Hao
157 Seymour St.
$31,455 — Roofing

Hillcrest Educational Centers Inc.
400 Columbus Ave. Ext.
$850,000 — Foundation for construction of two-story facility

Pittsfield Cemetery Corp.
203 Wahconah St.
$7,200 — Roofing

Sonal Patel LLC
524 North St.
$4,680 — Demolish non-bearing partitions and doors

Wojtkowski Bros. Inc.
501 East St.
$1,000 — Remove non-load-nearing walls and doors, construct one non-load-bearing wall, install two doors and two cased openings, and construct stage platform

Let the Speculation Begin

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

Several weeks back, we opined that the ongoing search for a new courthouse site in Springfield has been much like the race to locate the Western Mass. casino more than a decade ago — an exercise packed with speculation, hope, and … more speculation.

Now that DCAMM (the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance) has released the list of proposed locations and developers, we’d have to say this search is like the casino hunt on steroids.

In all, 11 proposals have been submitted, covering a wide range of properties across downtown Springfield, many of them vacant or underutilized to one extent or another — everything from Steiger Park to the building that was home to the closed Mardi Gras strip club; from the Springfield Newspapers property to the current courthouse itself; from the former YMCA building on Chestnut Street to office properties on Main Street, Maple Street, and State Street.

It’s quite a list, and together these proposals tell the story of just how much real estate downtown falls into the categories of ‘non-performing’ and ‘underperforming.’

Indeed, the quest for a new courthouse offers an intriguing answer to the question — and in some cases it’s been asked for years, if not decades — ‘what to do with…?’ Examples include:

• Steiger Park. Created after the demolition of the Steiger’s department store on Main Street, it was then called by some ‘a little park for a little while.’ That was nearly 30 years ago. Meanwhile, the park has become a popular gathering spot, home to a farmers’ market and at least one art exhibit. Many would like to see it stay a park.

• The Republican building. Built during a much different time for newspapers and for a staff exponentially larger than the one now working there, the property has been the subject of considerable speculation in recent years and was a big part of one of the proposed Springfield casino plans. In a few signs of the times, a considerable portion of the property is now being leased out to a cannabis dispensary;

• The Liberty Arts Building (125 Liberty St.). Built in the mid-’60s as part of comprehensive urban renewal in the North End (as was the Republican building), this property has certainly seen better days and now has a relatively high vacancy rate. It would be combined with another parcel to create the requisite space for a new courthouse.

• The Mardi Gras building (91 Taylor St.). The strip club has been closed for years, and the building that housed it has been mostly vacant. Housing has been proposed as a new use, but this would be an expensive retrofit.

• The existing courthouse site. It has long been considered a second development opportunity if and when a new courthouse is built elsewhere. It has some advantages as home to the new courthouse, but a temporary facility would have to be found while a new facility is being built, and that might prove problematic. The theater section of the former Eastfield Mall had been suggested for that role before it was torn down.

We can continue this exercise with the other properties on the list, including the former YMCA, the office building at 55 State St., and two mostly vacant office and medical buildings on Maple Street.

Unfortunately, the courthouse project will only solve one of these problems. It will be up to the city and the development community to solve the others.

Meanwhile, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno is calling for a courthouse project that will be ‘game-changing.’ We interpret that to mean something that will do more than solve one of the above-listed problems, a project that could help transform a part of the downtown.

It remains to be seen if any of the projects actually fit that description. So let the speculation begin. Actually, it began a long time ago, so … let it continue.

Food Security Programs Serve Vital Role

By Contributor
Opinion

Opinion

By Community Action Pioneer Valley

As Gov. Maura Healey called on the Trump administration late last month unfreeze SNAP benefits (an issue that remained unresolved at press time), Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Center for Self-Reliance food pantries in Greenfield and Shelburne Falls were preparing for an unprecedented surge in need while facing their own funding crisis.

More than 1.1 million Massachusetts residents — including thousands in Franklin & Hampshire Counties — were set to lose their SNAP benefits. Simultaneously, the Trump administration has been targeting Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding for elimination, threatening the very resources that allow the Center for Self-Reliance to operate.

The crisis highlighted the importance of regional food security programs. In the most recent program year, the Center for Self-Reliance provided free, nutritious food to 3,341 neighbors across Franklin County, distributing 184 tons of food — the equivalent of 25 meals per person. The food pantries served an average of 1,400 people per month, with 27% of those served being children.

Unlike some food pantry distributions, the Center for Self-Reliance operates as a client choice food pantry open four days a week, allowing shoppers to select their own groceries, produce, and frozen meat. Forty percent of all food distributed is fresh produce.

“Dignity starts at the front door,” said Cheo Ramos, program coordinator. “When people can shop for what they want and need, rather than receiving a pre-packed bag, it honors their autonomy and ensures food doesn’t go to waste.”

The CAPV food pantries serve a diverse community, with staff speaking Spanish, English, Portuguese, Russian, and Moldovan to better connect with participants. A team of 25 volunteers donated 2,972 hours of time last year, helping make the program possible.

The Center for Self-Reliance’s partnership with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and other suppliers allows it to stretch donated dollars remarkably far.

“For every dollar you give me, I can turn it into three,” Ramos explained. But this efficiency depends on CSBG funding, which covers essential operating costs, including staff, facilities, and the infrastructure that makes bulk purchasing and food distribution possible.

If SNAP benefits freeze and CSBG funding is eliminated, the Center for Self-Reliance will face an impossible situation: serving dramatically more people with dramatically fewer resources.

How can you help? The Center for Self-Reliance is calling on community members to donate funds at www.communityaction.us/giving, which can be stretched further than food donations; volunteer time at the Greenfield location to help with food distribution and/or making deliveries; spread awareness about the crisis facing food security programs; and contact elected officials to protect SNAP benefits and CSBG funding.

Thunderbirds, Wellpoint, Community Partners Bring Back First Line Program

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds, Wellpoint, and community partners are teaming up to connect local students and public safety officials through the return of the First Line Program. The initiative, sponsored by Wellpoint and revived from the 2017-18 season, pairs Springfield Public Schools students with Springfield and Hampden County public safety officials for an unforgettable night of hockey, mentorship, and community pride.

“Re-establishing the First Line Program was deeply important to our organization as we continue to strive to be pillars of this community,” Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa said. “This initiative creates meaningful connections between local youth and public safety officials, helping to build trust, inspire dialogue, and strengthen relationships that make Western Massachusetts a better, safer place for everyone.”

Seven students and teachers from Kiley Prep Middle School attended the program kickoff at the Nov. 7 Thunderbirds game, where each student was paired with a Springfield police officer, firefighter, or corrections officer from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office. The event celebrated community connection, with participants enjoying food, conversation, and hometown pride as they watched the Thunderbirds face the Bridgeport Islanders.

“We aim to empower every individual we serve with the resources and support they need to thrive,” said David Morales, general manager of Wellpoint. “The First Line Program does exactly that. By bringing students together with public safety leaders and community partners through sports, we’re enabling young people to grow and thrive.”

The First Line Program will continue throughout the Thunderbirds’ 2025-26 season, with students and educators from schools across Springfield joining in future games.

“At Springfield Public Schools, we believe that one of the cornerstones of a strong community is shared purpose,” Superintendent Sonia Dinnall said. “The First Line Program reminds our students that they are valued and supported by the people who protect and serve them every day. We are deeply grateful to the Springfield Thunderbirds and Wellpoint for creating this opportunity. When young people and public safety officials come together in positive ways, it fosters compassion and trust — values that make our city stronger.”

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Welcomes Victoria LePrevost as Chief Accounting Officer

By
Daily News

Victoria LePrevost

PITTSFIELD — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced that Victoria LePrevost has joined the bank’s senior leadership team as chief accounting officer.

LePrevost brings more than eight years of experience in public accounting to her new role, most recently serving as a senior manager in Deloitte’s Audit and Assurance practice. Throughout her career, she has worked with a wide range of clients, offering expertise in banking, securities, and capital markets.

A Berkshire County native, LePrevost earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting and an additional liberal studies major in ethics and social responsibility from Bentley University. She is a certified public accountant in Massachusetts and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

“We are thrilled to welcome Victoria to the Co-op Bank leadership team,” President Gregg Levante said. “Her distinguished experience at Deloitte and her passion for community-focused banking make her an exceptional addition to our organization. Victoria’s insight and integrity will strengthen our financial foundation and help us continue delivering trusted, personalized service to the families and businesses that rely on us every day.”

LePrevost will oversee all accounting functions of the bank, supporting its continued commitment to sound financial management and community-focused banking.

Party with 1 Purpose Raises Nearly $470,000 for Type 1 Diabetes Research

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The second annual Party with 1 Purpose lit up the Basketball Hall of Fame on Oct. 4, bringing together a sold-out crowd for an evening of inspiration, generosity, and community. Co-hosted by David Fontaine Jr. and Sarah Fontaine, the event raised nearly $470,000 to support Breakthrough T1D’s mission to accelerate life-changing research and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes (T1D).

The evening featured a silent auction filled with unique experiences and local treasures, along with an energetic new live auction that had guests raising their paddles for exclusive trips, dining experiences, and one-of-a-kind items, all to fuel T1D research.

Guests were deeply moved by the stories shared throughout the night. Speaker Katie Bone — a professional rock climber, American Ninja Warrior champion, and proud T1D advocate — delivered a powerful message about perseverance and strength in the face of T1D.

One of the most emotional highlights came during the Fund a Cure segment, featuring a touching video spotlighting Beth, Shane, and Braden Kouflie. Their story — alongside other local T1D warriors — captured the daily realities of living with diabetes and the hope that drives this community forward. Their heartfelt words inspired an outpouring of generosity, resulting in a record-breaking Fund a Cure moment.

The weekend continued on a high note on Oct. 5 with a special event at Pioneer Gymnastics Center in East Longmeadow, where Bone led demonstrations and gave local kids the chance to try out fun, ninja-style activities while hearing her inspiring story as a T1D athlete. The uplifting session brought together Breakthrough T1D families for a morning of connection, encouragement, and empowerment.

“Party with 1 Purpose has become more than just a gala — it’s a movement,” David Fontaine Jr. said. “To see our community come together again, sell out the event, and raise nearly half a million dollars toward a cure — it’s truly humbling.”

All proceeds from the evening will directly fund Breakthrough T1D’s critical research and advocacy work, supporting the more than 1.4 million Americans living with T1D.

Due to overwhelming success and community support, organizers have already announced that Party with 1 Purpose will return next year on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.

Greenfield Community College Celebrates First-Generation College Students

By
Daily News

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) is hosting its fifth annual celebration of first-generation college students with a slate of activities this week, Nov. 10-14.

More than half of all GCC students are first-generation, meaning their parents did not earn a bachelor’s degree, or they self-identify as the first in their immediate family to attend college.

National studies show that completing a college degree remains a powerful driver of economic mobility. Workers with a bachelor’s degree earned about 61% more annually in 2023 than those with only a high-school diploma. Graduates from historically underrepresented or first-generation backgrounds who complete their degrees see stronger long-term gains — such as higher lifelong earnings and lower poverty rates — than peers with similar early-life disadvantages who stop short of a credential.

While Nov. 8 is national First-Generation College Celebration Day, GCC extends the recognition throughout the week with campus-wide activities, food, and community displays honoring the achievements of first-generation students. Faculty and staff who were the first in their families to attend college will also be featured in mini-profiles across campus to highlight shared experiences and foster connection.

GCC student Rebecca Durand shared what being first-generation means to her. “It’s difficult to put into words what it truly means to be the first in my family to go to college and earn a degree. Through four generations, I am the only one who will be graduating from college, and that fills me with immense pride and gratitude. Although I’m doing this in my 50s, it’s never too late to chase your dreams. This journey represents not only my personal determination, but also the hopes and sacrifices of the generations before me who didn’t have the same opportunity. Being a first-generation student means breaking barriers, setting an example, and proving that education has no age limit.”

GCC President Michelle Schutt added that “being a first-generation college student means stepping into unfamiliar territory and carrying your family’s hopes with you. When I first arrived on a college campus, I didn’t always know where to turn or what to expect, but I learned that resilience and curiosity can open every door. I see myself in our students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education, and I want them to know they belong here. Being first-generation isn’t just about being the first; it’s about ensuring you’re not the last. It’s about transforming opportunity into legacy.”

PeoplesBank Authorizes Additional $100,000 to Address Food Insecurity

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank announced it will immediately increase funding to regional food banks, survival centers, and food pantries to address the growing issue of food scarcity, donating an additional $100,000 to organizations the bank has already supported this year.

The bank’s executive leadership team, as well as associates throughout the bank, believed that a response to SNAP benefit disruptions and the pressures they are causing on food banks, pantries, and families warranted additional financial assistance.

“We felt it was important to act quickly and address a significant need in our communities, and we hope that others will do the same,” said Amy Roberts, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at PeoplesBank. “Already knowing these community-based food pantries and soup kitchens, and their service to vulnerable populations, we believe they are best positioned to deliver immediate, measurable impact to help people.”

PeoplesBank has already begun to distribute grants of $5,000 to $10,000 to the following organizations: the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Connecticut Foodshare, the Care Center of Holyoke, Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, Rachel’s Table, Amherst Survival Center, Northampton Survival Center, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Providence Ministries – Margaret’s Table, Salvation Army of Holyoke, Family Outreach of Amherst, Gifts of Love, Midwest Food Bank – New England Division, Hands on Hartford, Hartford Interval House, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, and Friend to Friend Food Pantry.

“With a 30% surge in demand, we’re deeply concerned about meeting every client’s needs while maintaining the quality of care and support we strive to offer,” said Shannon Rudder, CEO of Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services. “Families are feeling more vulnerable than ever, and the emotional toll is growing. When community leaders like PeoplesBank step forward in partnership, it’s more than a donation — it’s a powerful act of solidarity. This support helps us respond to the overwhelming need, and when we come together like this, we remind our neighbors that they’re not alone.”

Over the past year, PeoplesBank has made donations totaling $1.8 million in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and $5 million over the last three years. The bank’s associates and board members contributed matching gifts of $55,750 in addition to the 8,500 volunteer hours they contributed to the community.

Elms College to Host Gaelic Football Match Between UMass, UConn on Nov. 16

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — As part of International Education Week, Elms College will host a Gaelic football scrimmage on Sunday, Nov. 16 between club teams from UMass Amherst and the University of Connecticut. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Leary Field. Admission is free.

Gaelic football, one of Ireland’s national sports, has roots dating back to the 14th century. The sport has been played in America since the arrival of the first Irish immigrants. It is a fast-paced, high-scoring game combining elements of soccer, basketball, and rugby. The afternoon will provide an opportunity to learn about Irish culture and heritage.

Elms College, under the direction of Irish Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Michaela Burke, launched its own Gaelic football club this fall as a fun way to expose students to Irish culture.

International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State, and is part of efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and to attract future leaders from abroad to study in the U.S.

Berkshire Botanical Garden to Host Holiday Marketplace, Festival of Wreaths Dec. 5-7

By
Daily News

STOCKBRIDGE — A holiday tradition continues at Berkshire Botanical Garden (BBG) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Dec. 5-7, with Holiday Marketplace, featuring a preview party and Gallery of Wreaths.

The festivities begin Friday evening, Dec. 5, in BBG’s Center House from 5 to 7 p.m. The party includes early wreath-buying opportunities, live music, hors d’oeuvres and a raw bar, and festive libations. This is a pre-registered event. Admission is $75 for members and $100 for non-members.

The Marketplace runs Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature artisan vendors from throughout the region as well as a collection of one-of-a-kind designer wreaths, an assortment of holiday-blooming amaryllis and paperwhites in decorative and clay containers, succulent arrangements, garlands, hanging terrariums, and other gift items. The weekend festivities will include live music, s’mores around a campfire, and hot drinks from the Best Damn Espresso coffee truck.

Established in 1934 as the Berkshire Garden Center and revered as one of the older public display gardens in the Northeast, Berkshire Botanical Garden, located at 5 West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge, is a not-for-profit, membership-supported educational organization encompassing 24 acres of land at the intersection of Routes 102 and 183.

Michael Treash Takes Helm at Health New England

By
Michael Treash
Cover Story

A Time to Re-energize

Michael Treash

 

“This is complicated, but it’s not that complex.”

That’s how Michael Treash chose to describe the challenges he faces as he takes the helm at Health New England, and there are many of them, including those common to all health plans — everything from the rising cost of healthcare to the poor image of this industry to integrating technology (and paying for it).

But his most immediate challenge involves re-energizing a company that was due to be sold by its parent, Baystate Health, before that sale was terminated, and creating a growth plan for the short and long terms. And here’s where it’s not that complex, he told BusinessWest.

“We’re going to have to focus on growth and on opportunities,” he said, noting that the vast majority of these lie within Medicare and with small-business groups. “We can focus on a handful of things, most of them quality-driven, where we can change the narrative and change the game.”

Elaborating, he said doing this comes down to listening, responding, and providing value to members, and Treash firmly believes that provider-based health plans, like Health New England, are uniquely positioned to create needed trust and generate value for members.

“The beauty of provider-based health plans, the integrated system, is that we can work with our clinical partners to craft messages,” he went on. “Let’s be honest — when you list what industries you trust the most, rarely do you see health insurers on this list; we’re just above tobacco companies, usually. People trust their physician and their pharmacist more than they trust us. We can craft a really meaningful message, and that is our opportunity; that’s how we transfer power to the consumer.”

Treash most recently served as chief operating officer and senior vice president at Health Alliance Plan in Detroit, and his previous leadership roles include vice president of Enterprise Operations at Priority Health in Grand Rapids, Mich., interim CEO of Missouri Health Care Cooperative, COO of the Outsource Group, and executive vice president and COO at Mercy Health Plans in Chesterfield, Mo.

“You can actually work with physicians and nurses and people who are on the front lines, and not many people who work with insurers can say that. That’s what attracts me. It’s a unique space — I can stay close to the customer; I can stay close to the clinician. That’s how you innovate; that’s how you influence the customer experience. I wouldn’t give up this space for anything.”

Treash’s appointment comes just a few months after that planned sale of Health New England to Point32Health was effectively terminated. When asked if the company lost momentum, in all its various forms — from workforce morale to making needed investments in technology — during the lengthy sale process, and how much, Treash didn’t answer that question directly, opting instead to focus on what will happen next, and also what happened at Health Alliance Plan.

“I got there right after an acquisition didn’t go through. The organization needed an energy boost, and it needed to get re-engaged with its parent, similar to where we’re at,” he explained. “Eight years later, we were an organization where people wanted to come to work for us, we were making money while the rest of the insurers in the state were losing money, and we were growing.

“We can do it here,” he went on, adding that he intends to draw on his vast experience with provider-based plans to generate growth, as he did at Priority Health, which is in many ways similar to Health New England and served a region comparable to this one.

“It was owned by a large provider system, it’s a mid-sized city, the competitive landscape is pretty darned similar,” he explained. “When I was there, we had incredible growth; we went from 700,000 members to 1.1 million, and we did that by focusing on Medicare, we focused on quality, we focused on the customer experience.”

The plan will be to do the same at Health New England, where there will be a hard focus on Medicare and certain segments within it amid the ongoing open enrollment period.

“Age 65 — that is our sweet spot because they’re new to Medicare and they’re making decisions,” he said, while explaining one example of broad and emerging strategies to grow membership, currently at about 164,000. “We have to get in front of them and illustrate that we can offer a different experience.”

“There’s an adage in this industry … if you just do the basics well, you can really get ahead,” he went on. “I believe that, but things are changing; I don’t think doing the basics well is good enough anymore — we really have to use our data assets and use our collective insights into the patient experience, and we need to morph that into something which is tangible.”

“When I say, ‘this is where we’re going to head,’ so far, what I’ve heard is, ‘that’s great; how fast can we go?’”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Treash about his plans for re-energizing the company and achieving the kind of growth he’s generated elsewhere.

 

Making Connections

Treash said he has spent almost his entire career with provider-based health plans and described this as a “unique space,” one he enjoys working within.

“You can actually work with physicians and nurses and people who are on the front lines, and not many people who work with insurers can say that,” he explained. “That’s what attracts me. It’s a unique space — I can stay close to the customer; I can stay close to the clinician. That’s how you innovate; that’s how you influence the customer experience. I wouldn’t give up this space for anything.

“The provider space itself … we’re constantly in marriage counseling between the two of us; when we’re aligned, it is remarkable what we can accomplish,” he went on. “I’ve been with provider-based health plans in competitive markets such as Detroit and St. Louis, and I’ve also been in smaller cities and rural areas in Texas and West Michigan. It’s different challenges; in competitive markets, like Boston, it’s a challenge — you have competitive health systems; you have competitive health plans. It’s very different in a market like this, where you have a unique opportunity to connect with the community, and part of our challenge here is that we are — and we can be more of — a driver of the local economy.”

Treash arrived in Springfield in mid-October and immediately commenced what he called a comprehensive listening tour, one that will continue for some time and involve a number of constituencies, including local officials, business leaders, those in the healthcare community, and, especially, his own employees, who have been through a challenging time for the company and the industry.

“They’ve been through the ringer, and right now, they want direction,” he explained. “I’m getting good responses, though. When I say, ‘this is where we’re going to head,’ so far, what I’ve heard is, ‘that’s great; how fast can we go?’”

As noted earlier, he didn’t want to talk about the sale that was terminated and what was lost during that process. “If I had a time machine, I’d go back and try to change that narrative, but I can’t do that right now — the only thing I can speak to is where we go from here.

“Right now, we’ve got to get energized, and where we can get energized is by focusing on Medicare, because we have opportunities there to change the experience of Medicare. We have opportunity to grow; we have opportunity to recapture revenue which is leaving Western Mass. — these are things I can change.”

“And right now, we’ve got to get energized, and where we can get energized is by focusing on Medicare, because we have opportunities there to change the experience of Medicare. We have opportunity to grow; we have opportunity to recapture revenue which is leaving Western Mass. — these are things I can change.”

Assessing the current landscape for providers, Treash acknowledged the obvious — “in this business, scale is our enemy.”

“We have to do the same things that United does, Aetna does, Cigna does, Blue Cross of Massachusetts does, but we don’t have 5 million members to spread those fixed costs across,” he explained, adding that, despite this size disadvantage, the company can compete by making full and effective use of technology and data.

“We’re at an inflection point in this industry right now,” he said. “The game is about data and insights, using your combined data assets to drive insights, and that’s not very capital-intensive; that’s about training your leaders and asking your leaders, mid-career, to shift and enter the gray area.

“Most of my folks, if you ask them — and if you go to any insurer and ask the people who have fancy titles — ‘on your résumé, do you have anything about how you use data to grow the business, improve the business, and improve the customer experience?’ you will not see a single hand go up.

“Then, if you ask them, ‘do you think you need to add that to your résumé to advance your career in the next decade?’ every hand would go up; they get it,” he continued. “That is the equalizer for us. We’ll use our data assets to create a new way to compete through customer experience.”

 

Healthy Discussions

As he talked about where he wants to take the company, Treash related a recent experience at Austin Airport and Southwest Airlines.

“There was this big digital board, and they’ve got, ‘Gate A13 — Better Hurry Up.’ ‘Gate A14 — You Have Time for a Cup of Coffee.’ ‘Gate A15 — You Can Grab Breakfast.’ I thought, ‘that’s great because that’s what I really wanted to know.’ They thought ahead to what the consumer was thinking.

“That’s our opportunity,” he went on. “Our opportunity is to see craziness and the things that go off the rails before you do and get in front of it. And if something does go off the rails, acknowledge it; I don’t want to make you have to call me.”

Such thinking will help drive the growth strategy for Health New England, the blueprint for which will emerge in the months to come, he said, emphasizing that the opportunities are in Medicare and small-employer groups.

With the latter, he acknowledged that small businesses are certainly the mainstay of the regional economy, and thus there is obvious potential for growth.

But there is also considerable competition for that segment of the market, he said, adding that he faces a learning curve when it comes to this specific market and its needs, as well as the broker community that plays a vital role in this process.

With Medicare, the basic strategy calls for segmenting the market and responding to the needs of the various segments, he explained.

“That creates real opportunities when we engage with providers because now we look at Medicare differently,” Treash noted. “As an insurer, we need to have a mix — we need to have folks out there who are going to supplement the folks who are sick, and you need to have those people who have a lot going on in their lives healthcare-wise, because we’re a nonprofit organization, and we have a fiduciary responsibility to serve everyone; you have to balance it out.”

As an example of these segments, he mentioned younger seniors new to Medicare.

“It takes us a couple of years to get them engaged and get them to the point where we have a meaningful, engaged relationship,” he noted. “If we lose them in that first two years, we’ve lost a lot of effort. We have to get people to year two, which means engaging them on a personal level, reminding them why they enrolled in Health New England and getting their physician partners involved and doing outreach.

“If we get them to year two, they become more comfortable with us because it’s a very price-sensitive market, and price elasticity is sky-high,” he continued. “Once we get them to year two, we’ve done our job engaging them in a meaningful manner, the price elasticity goes down, and we’ve created that stickiness.”

Meanwhile, within all segments, the company must work hard to understand how to meet and communicate with them, Treash told BusinessWest.

“How you connect with someone who’s going through cancer is very different from how you connect with someone dealing with pulmonary disease and learning how to live with that on an ongoing basis,” he said. “We have to figure out how we message those individuals and where we message them. We don’t want to see providers texting people with a cancer diagnosis, but there are certain things you want to hear from your provider on your time.

“The folks aging into Medicare right now are digital junkies,” he went on. “If you are not present with them both on an individual basis — taking their phone calls and being willing to have one-on-ones with them — and if you’re not willing to meet them on their iPad, you’re falling down.”

Rather than fall down, Treash wants Health New England to move up, grow membership, become an employer of choice, and broaden its overall impact in the community.

And as he said, the path to get there is complicated, but not that complex.

BusinessTalk with Chelsea Kline, Executive Director, Cancer Connection

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Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

With new episodes airing every other Monday, BusinessTalk features in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders who offer thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachusetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running. BusinessTalk is sponsored and presented by Greenfield Cooperative Bank.

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 246: November 10, 2025

Joe Bednar talks with Chelsea Kline, Executive Director, Cancer Connection: Leading with Empathy and Impact

Chelsea Kline has long had a passion for helping people who are struggling, and found the perfect outlet for that as executive director of Cancer Connection, the Northampton-based nonprofit that offers a raft of services — from support groups to integrative therapies to the all-important model of ‘befriending’ — to people dealing with a cancer diagnosis, as well as their families and caregivers. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Chelsea talks with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about the many community connections that make it all happen, her committed team at Cancer Connection, the many ways people can support the mission, and why it’s so gratifying to be named to BusinessWest’s Women of Impact class of 2025. It’s must listening, so tune into BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest on both audio and video platforms, and sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank.

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Banks Eye Impact of Fed Rate Cuts, and Potential for More

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Matt Garrity says declining interest rates are typically good for the consumer and good for business.
Banking and Financial Services Special Coverage

Lending Perspective

Matt Garrity says declining interest rates are typically good for the consumer and good for business.

Matt Garrity says declining interest rates are typically good for the consumer and good for business.

The Federal Reserve’s decisions to lower its federal funds rate by a quarter-point in September, then another quarter-point in late October — landing at 3.75% — were good news to consumers and borrowers.

“A declining interest rate is good for the consumer and good for business; a business that’s borrowing on a regular basis for working capital can enjoy lower costs from that,” said Matt Garrity, president of Florence Bank. “A higher rate is more difficult for consumers.”

But the story is more complicated than that for banks themselves. The interest rate environment tends to be a mixed bag for financial institutions, impacting their core profitability, demand for loans, and the value of their balance sheets.

The primary mechanism for this calculation is net interest margin, the difference between the interest income banks earn on assets (loans and securities) and the interest expense they pay on liabilities (deposits and borrowed funds).

In a rising interest rate environment, banks’ profitability often increases, particularly in the short term. They can increase the interest rates they charge on new variable-rate loans more quickly than they raise the interest rates they pay on customer deposits, which widens the net interest margin. Meanwhile, yields on new loans and short-term securities increase, boosting overall interest income.

“When there’s a lot of volatile movement, like a couple of years ago, when the rates went up 400 basis points in a very short time, that causes a lot of problems because the market is moving too fast, and it’s hard for banks to rightsize, and it usually causes volatility on the lending side of things.”

At the same time, however, as borrowing becomes more expensive, consumers and businesses may be less willing to take out new loans for major purchases, which can slow loan growth.

Conversely, in a falling interest rate environment, bank profitability tends to be challenged, especially over the medium to long term. The rates banks earn on new and existing variable-rate assets fall faster than the rates they can cut on deposits, squeezing net interest margins.

“Banks are impacted in different ways when the Fed reduces interest rates. Most banks use the Federal Home Loan Bank, which borrows based on fed fund rates, so as the Fed reduces rates, those costs go down for banks,” Garrity said, while revenue falls for variable-rate loans.

Meanwhile, borrowers are more likely to refinance existing high-interest loans into new, lower-interest loans, which reduces the bank’s expected interest income on its existing portfolio.

However, lower interest rates make borrowing cheaper, which encourages consumer spending and business investment, increasing the volume of loans and potentially offsetting some of the margin pressure. “Certain investments make more sense with the lower rate,” Garrity said.

PeoplesBank President Brian Canina noted that, “when the Fed adjusts rates, it has a more immediate impact on deposit rates. On the loan side, it’s typically based off of a long-term rate. For example, a 30-year fixed rate more typically correlates with a 10-year treasury rate. There are some exceptions to that with credit cards and some home equity lines of credit; those are going to be more tied to the fed funds rate. But for the most part, when there’s a spread between the fed funds rate and the 10-year point of the treasury curve, that’s what drives profitability for the bank.”

Whether interest rates are high or low, Brian Canina says, what bankers are looking for is stability.

Whether interest rates are high or low, Brian Canina says, what bankers are looking for is stability.

What banks don’t like, he said, is a situation in which short-term rates rise faster than long-term rates, causing a flattened or inverted yield curve, which is what happened when rates shot up in 2022. “Banks were challenged by these underwater rates, but over time things normalize, and profitability comes back.”

Essentially, Canina added, what bankers are really looking for is stability in the interest rate environment.

“When there’s a lot of volatile movement, like a couple of years ago, when the rates went up 400 basis points in a very short time, that causes a lot of problems because the market is moving too fast, and it’s hard for banks to rightsize, and it usually causes volatility on the lending side of things. Essentially, more of a stable environment in interest rate changes, whether that be increases or decreases, and maintaining a steepness in the yield curve is ideal for a banker.”

 

Home Sweet Home

Interestingly, mortgage rates rose in the wake of both Fed fund cuts, jumping from 6.13% to 6.33% in the hours around the Oct. 29 Fed meeting. The reason is that the bond market had already priced in a cut, and commentary from Fed Chair Jerome Powell tamped expectations for another rate cut in December.

In fact, typically, when a fed funds rate cut is anticipated, mortgage rates usually fall in the weeks leading up to the meeting, but don’t necessarily continue to decrease afterward. In 2024, mortgage rates fell sharply throughout August and early September as people expected the Fed to lower its rate at its September meeting, but they stopped decreasing significantly after the meeting, a trend repeated after two additional rate cuts later that year and, as noted, twice again in recent weeks.

Mortgage rates remain problematic for a number of reasons.

“Folks who are currently paying a lower interest rate don’t want to give that up for what could be a higher rate, which causes lower inventory — people are not putting their homes on the market, and that impacts affordability.”

“We’ve seen, across the country and in our region in the last few years, how it’s impacted folks and led to lower inventory on the market because folks who are currently paying a lower interest rate don’t want to give that up for what could be a higher rate, which causes lower inventory — people are not putting their homes on the market, and that impacts affordability,” Garrity explained.

Canina agreed. “What’s causing fewer homes to be available for purchase is that so many of them are tied to a sub-3% mortgage,” he said, a situation that took many years to develop.

Essentially, when interest rates cratered after the Great Recession (and fell again in the immediate wake of the pandemic), many homeowners refinanced to take advantage. And many of them who might otherwise looking for a new home don’t want to trade in that rate for something around 7%, so they’ve been sitting on their homes, reducing inventory in the market.

“I don’t know how long it’ll take before that changes, because so much of the banks’ books are now 3% on 30-year mortgages,” he explained, and the refi market has been non-existent.

“Once you get below 6% mortgages, you could start seeing an increase in residential lending refinancing, as people with 7% mortgages might want to refinance to, say, 5.5%,” he added — but that won’t be immediate. “Typically, you have a delay. No one wants to jump in immediately, and we don’t know what the inflection point will be to spur increased demand.”

“It’s been steady. I think, because of general uncertainty, you’ve got people sitting on the sidelines. I wouldn’t say it’s robust market, but it’s not a stalling market. There is activity going on; it’s just modest.”

Still Canina stressed that, “for new mortgages, the demand is not being driven by an interest rate; it’s being driven by the availability of homes in the market” — which causes prices to soar, creating another barrier for people to get into homeownership.

 

Broad View

Overall, banks are generally optimistic about the current environment, after struggling with profitability following those sharp rate increases in 2022 and 2023 and building back from that ever since.

“As we move through this environment, it’s been a very good year for us,” Garrity said. “We continue to grow customers, and we’re growing and expanding our footprint, opening a new branch in Holyoke early next year. It’s been a successful 2025 for us, and it’s looking to be a successful 2026 as well.”

On the lending side, Canina noted, “it’s been steady. I think, because of general uncertainty, you’ve got people sitting on the sidelines. I wouldn’t say it’s robust market, but it’s not a stalling market. There is activity going on; it’s just modest.”

He believes lending activity will respond to clearing skies, however, and lowering rates won’t hurt.

“The uncertainty is due to what’s happened and what’s going to continue to happen in the economy. People don’t want to make a commitment because they’re unsure where the Fed’s going to go, where the economic indicators are going, where the administration is going with tariffs. When that finally gets played out and there’s more stability, we’ll see what will happen. We could end up with lower rates in lending, but not an increase in economic growth because a lot of that could be potentially from refinancing.

“Anytime you have a very low interest rate environment — for example, coming out of the Great Recession or coming out of the pandemic, when interest rates were at all-time lows — you then have a period of significant increases in refinancing loans, and mortgage financing goes way off,” Canina elaborated. “Even on the commercial side, we will always have a lot of borrowers coming back to the table looking to see if they can refinance. If rates go up, it’s going to have an opposite effect.”

For now, interest rates seem to be on the decline — not to those post-pandemic levels, but lower than the past few years — which comes as good news for borrowers, and an optimistic yet still complicated picture for banks.

These Are Just a Couple Descriptors for an Evolving Job Market

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Special Coverage Workforce Development

‘Weird’ and ‘Confusing’

 

“Confusing.”

That’s the one word that Kevin Lynn, executive director of MassHire Springfield Career Center, chose when asked to describe the current jobs market and put into perspective what he’s seeing and hearing.

Elaborating, he referenced the center’s job fair at the Basketball Hall of Fame on Oct. 6, the latest of dozens of such events in recent years. In the weeks leading up the fair, organizers were worried about having a critical mass of companies seeking applicants — a nod to a slowing in overall hiring across the 413. But then, over the final few days of registration, there was a rush to sign up.

“We had 64 businesses — we literally did not have room for another company — and that was very surprising to us,” Lynn said.

Meanwhile, on the job seekers side of the equation, organizers were expecting what they’d seen in recent fairs — anywhere between 200 and 350 people — or maybe a few more. Instead, 617 turned out.

“That’s both good and concerning — that’s the busiest job expo we’ve had since before COVID,” he noted, adding that, while the numbers generate confusion on some levels, on another level, they make sense, because some sectors are hiring, but also still struggling to find talent with the requisite skills. Meanwhile, a variety of factors, from tariffs to turmoil in Washington, are leaving many people with jobs feeling less certain about the security of those jobs, and this helps explain the fair’s large turnout.

Allison Ebner

Allison Ebner

“They’re feeling like there’s enough uncertainty around … they’re hearing about layoffs with the larger companies and AI taking jobs — and there’s so much buzz about all that, the job market seems unstable.”

“I’ve talked to people who say they’re in businesses that are seeing a slowdown, and people are getting a little concerned,” said Lynn, listing manufacturing in that category, and adding that, overall, the pendulum has swung, and what was a buyers’ (job seekers’) market maybe as late as nine months ago has now shifted to employers, with an abundance of candidates for many positions and, overall, fewer job opportunities.

Allison Ebner, president of the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast, agreed, but noted that the higher levels of uncertainty and anxiety — in Washington, the job market, and everywhere else — are key contributors to the latest trend (and buzz term) in employment circles: ‘job hugging.’

“Folks are staying put; they’re giving their job a hug,” she explained. “They’re feeling like there’s enough uncertainty around … they’re hearing about layoffs with the larger companies and AI taking jobs — and there’s so much buzz about all that, the job market seems unstable.

“People are feeling a sense of volatility and continuous change, and when you feel like that, you look for some personal anchors, and for a lot of people, their job is their personal anchor,” she went on, adding that this is a fairly recent phenomenon dating back to last spring or early summer. “Everything in the world is changing, and they want to keep something consistent, and maybe it’s their job.”

But just because people are staying put in many cases that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily happy or that they aren’t looking, Ebner went on, adding that wages are stagnant after a period of upward movement in the years after COVID, and, in some cases, companies — especially smaller ones — are making do with fewer or the same number of employees, which often adds up to more work.

Overall, she had her own word for the current job market — ‘weird’ — meaning that there are many forces pushing and pulling at people and businesses (from tariffs to general uncertainty to AI) that are creating a confusing landscape.

nicole Polite

Nicole Polite

“Companies are running a little bit leaner, so they may not have the capacity to train like they used to, so they need someone who already has the skill base to come in and hit the ground running a little faster than before.”

As for AI, it is impacting everything from job availability in some sectors — everything from hospitality to computer technology — to candidates being overlooked because they don’t have those skills.

“It’s definitely a skill set that they want to stay ahead of,” said Nicole Polite, CEO and founder of the East Longmeadow-based MH Group, adding that this is part of a larger trend she’s seeing toward skill-based hiring rather than focusing on whether someone has a requisite degree.

“The degree requirement isn’t as strong as it once was, and employers are really focusing on the skill base,” she told BusinessWest. “And the reasoning for that, in many cases, is the ability to train. Companies are running a little bit leaner, so they may not have the capacity to train like they used to, so they need someone who already has the skill base to come in and hit the ground running a little faster than before.”

 

Hire Powers

Lynn told BusinessWest that the job fair, as it played out, presented an accurate snapshot of what’s happening in the employment market — at least when it comes to the companies turning out to recruit and the makeup of that crowd of 617 people.

With the former, there were businesses across the spectrum, he said, but certain sectors were better-represented, including healthcare (although much of it is on the lower end, with CNAs and home health aides), area schools, and the broad realm of government, where there are jobs — with water and sewer operations and public works departments, among other realms — but fewer takers, especially among the younger generations.

“They don’t see any future in it,” he said, adding that many area cities and towns are struggling to fill such jobs.

As for the job seekers, or those simply exploring options, there was a good cross-section, said Lynn, noting that there were professionals, “people in suits — which we haven’t seen a lot of lately,” as well as a mix of young people, some mid-career types, and “significant amounts of gray hair.”

Kevin Lynn

Kevin Lynn

“Part of the problem is that the people doing the hiring are much younger than the people looking for work, and they don’t have a clear understanding of the skill sets that the older worker brings.”

This diversity points to the across-the-board nature of a softening job market and the restlessness of those with jobs, but also the plight of older workers.

“There’s a lot of ageism that people have to deal with,” he explained. “And part of the problem is that the people doing the hiring are much younger than the people looking for work, and they don’t have a clear understanding of the skill sets that the older worker brings.

“One of the best things about older workers is they show up every day, and they’re very task-oriented — you can plug them in, and they’ll just go,” he went on, adding that this attribute is often overlooked amid perceptions that older workers struggle with technology. “There are all these assumptions being made that often don’t let the older worker get past the first cut, the résumé screening.”

As for those at the other end of the spectrum — recent college graduates and those wrapping up degrees — the overall job market remains solid, but some areas have slowed, said Cheryl Brooks, associate provost, Career and Professional Development at UMass Amherst, who put jobs in technology, life sciences, and, understandably, the federal government at the top of that list.

Tiffany Appleton, associate director of Employer Relations for the university’s Office of Career Development & Professional Connections, agreed, noting that jobs with the federal government are fewer in number than many other sectors, but they cross many degree programs at the school.

“It’s a bigger number that many people would think,” she told BusinessWest. “I know there were a number of people from the class of 2025 who had offers they had accepted for government jobs early in the spring of 2025, and by the time they graduated, those offers had been rescinded. They had to restart their job search, and many of them have been successful with finding jobs elsewhere.”

Brooks said it will be early next year before she has hard data on how the class of 2025 has fared, but anecdotally, she believes it has fared well, with those notable exceptions, and also with lingering questions about whether some international students will be able to obtain OPT (optional practical training, a temporary work authorization for F-1 student visa holders in the U.S. directly related to their field of study) or work visas.

As for this fall and the class of 2026 and beyond, she said turnout among employers at job fairs staged at the school, such as those for engineering, life sciences, and building and construction technology, is down slightly (8% to 10%, by her estimate) from previous years, but companies are turning out in good numbers, looking for both employees and interns.

Appleton concurred. “The vast majority of employers I’m talking to are still moving forward with their recruitment plans,” she noted. “They’re actively coming to campus, posting jobs, interviewing and extending offers to start after graduation.

“There’s only been a little bit of a decline, and if there’s a decline, it’s more like, instead of hiring 20 students into this entry-level job, they’ll hire 15 — and I haven’t seen much of that.”

 

The AI Factor

Overall, job seekers across the board are seeing fewer opportunities, at least in some sectors, as companies cope with uncertainty, tariffs and threats of tariffs, and other forces by being “more careful” in their hiring, Ebner said.

This phrase applies to both the numbers of people being hired and the skills they bring to the table, noted Polite, adding that, overall, companies are taking their time — because they have it, whereas they were far more under the gun a few years ago — and sharply focused on getting it right.

“They’re fine-tuning what they’re looking for,” she went on. “And since demand has changed in terms of the job seeker pool, they’re able to have more leverage and recruit in a different manner than they did post-pandemic.

“We saw post-pandemic that employers had positions they needed to fill immediately,” Polite continued. “This didn’t allow them the capacity to do some of the more intensive skill-set requirements that they’re doing now. So it’s definitely a different market in terms of what they’re looking for — and holding the line for.”

This is one of many forces contributing to job hugging, said Ebner, adding that this trend is both good and bad for employers.

“Even though people may not be jumping ship as quickly as they had been over the past few years, people are still unhappy where they are,” she noted. “They are looking, they’re out there, they’re seeing what’s out there, so it doesn’t necessarily mean that people are staying put and they’re more productive.

“It means they’re staying put, their job search is probably quieter, but they might be looking,” she went on. “Depending on their industry and whether they feel they might have more exposure to a layoff or job reduction — depending on whether they’re being impacted by tariffs or AI — they might be a little more motivated to search.”

As for AI, it is one of the more powerful forces impacting the job market and the plight of job seekers. In the broad realm of computer technology, for example, some jobs are being lost to AI, but others are being, created, Brooks said.

“It’s like a net-zero in terms of overall jobs, because it’s changing a bit,” she explained. “Some of the jobs are going away, but others are being created. It’s hard to parse out exactly what the numbers are, but we’re definitely seeing a decline this year, and who knows if that will level off this year.”

Ebner agreed. “Software development … that was the hottest gig in town 10 years ago, 15 years ago,” she said. “And now, AI is doing a lot of that work.”

Meanwhile, AI is having a growing impact on other sectors, including hospitality.

“Go visit the McDonald’s at Bradley Airport — there are no people,” Ebner said. “There are people making your food, but there are no people at the counter; it’s all kiosks. These are the pockets where we’re seeing technology replace people.

“But most industries are looking at how they can bring AI in, not to replace the people, but to use it to enhance the work that humans are doing,” she went on, adding that AI skills are increasingly becoming a determining factor is whether a candidate can land a specific job.

“The phrase you hear now is, ‘AI won’t replace all the people, but it will replace people who don’t have AI skills,’” Ebner explained, adding that this new reality crosses the broad employment spectrum.

Both Lynn and Ebner said their agencies offer training in AI and that, overall, there are an abundance of opportunities to gain these skills, and job seekers need to take full advantage of them.

Polite agreed. “I often talk to people during the interview process and ask them what training they’ve had in terms of AI and make sure they stay in front of it,” she noted, “because AI is here for the long haul, so we have to adjust to it.”

JGS Lifecare Puts Focus on Effective Memory Care

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From left: Beth Cardillo, Mary-Anne Schelb, and Dalila Jones of JGS Lifecare.
Healthcare News Special Coverage

Empathy and Engagement

From left: Beth Cardillo, Mary-Anne Schelb, and Dalila Jones of JGS Lifecare.

From left: Beth Cardillo, Mary-Anne Schelb, and Dalila Jones of JGS Lifecare.

While explaining the many ways in which JGS Lifecare folds memory care into all its services, Delila Jones noted that she’s a certified trainer in the Virtual Dementia Tour, a process that every employee on the campus goes through, no later than day two.

“We put our staff in the shoes of someone who has dementia. That’s done by providing external stimuli and an environment to replicate what would be confusion, anxiety, neuropathy, lack of dexterity in your fingers, visual limitations,” said Jones, Life Enrichment director at JGS.

“We do all those things as kind of a crash course into what it would feel like to be in the shoes of someone with dementia for a total of eight minutes — and that’s really all it takes. Eight minutes, and staff members cry. They come out changed because they’re getting an understanding, on a personal level, of what it feels like to be out of control. It allows us to reach the heart of what it’s like and then give them the compassion and empathy they wouldn’t receive if they didn’t go through the experience.”

Beth Cardillo, a long-time regional leader in the memory care field who now works part-time at JGS as a geriatric social worker in the Leavitt Family Jewish Home, a skilled nursing facility, has plenty of experience with the Virtual Dementia Tour, which simulates the physical and sensory challenges of dementia using special goggles, headphones, and gloves that distort vision, hearing, and touch. And she understands its impact.

“This is a truly unique experience. One of the takeaways we hear from everybody when we ask, ‘what did you get from this eight-minute experience?’ is ‘slow down, slow down your life, slow down the way you talk to people.’ It takes 90 seconds for somebody with Alzheimer’s to process what you say to them. Normally, we talk so fast and we’re so busy and really haven’t learned to slow it down. And it just makes a huge difference.”

Jones agreed. “I kind of measure the success of our training with how many people cry because I feel like you’ve got to touch the heart. You have to reach the heart in order to really get that point driven through — because, unfortunately, dementia breaks hearts. So in order for us to care properly, we have to kind of have a broken heart for them.

Beth Cardillo

Beth Cardillo

“It takes 90 seconds for somebody with Alzheimer’s to process what you say to them. Normally, we talk so fast and we’re so busy and really haven’t learned to slow it down. And it just makes a huge difference.”

“And it’s truly effective,” she went on. “Just this week, we did our dementia training, and I had two or three CNA staff say, ‘we were CNAs for years, we know that we’re good staff, but I need to up my game. I didn’t realize that I can improve.’ And to have someone reach a point where they’re evaluating themselves and looking to improve because of this training, because they’re learning something new about what it’s like to have dementia, I think that’s a success.”

The Garden, a separate, secure neighborhood in the Ruth’s House assisted living facility on the Longmeadow campus, specifically caters to individuals with increased cognitive and physical limitations, including Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. But JGS has, over the years, incorporated specific memory-care training across its continuum of services, from Legacy Lifecare VNA & Hospice to Wernick Adult Day Health Care; from the Leavitt Family Jewish Home (where 80 of 200 beds are secure) to the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation.

That’s 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, making sure all the points along its continuum of services can handle different levels of dementia, has become dominant in the world of senior living and care.

“I really work hard with families to help them understand that their loved one is in the right place, and that we are going to do everything for that experience to be as purposeful as possible,” Cardillo said.

“People just feel an incredible amount of guilt: ‘my mother took care of me, but I can’t take care of my mother at home anymore.’ But at some point, things change. ‘I promised my mother she would never go into a nursing home.’ Well, at some point those negotiations are off the table. You just can’t do it,” she added, explaining the transition so many families experience when choosing a residential memory care situation, whether assisted living or skilled nursing.

“The nursing home is more of a medical model. We’re more equipped to deal with medication changes and things like that more quickly,” she said. “And the training with the staff is called a habilitation model, where, unless it’s a safety issue, the resident is always right. We want to avoid conflict. We want to make it as engaging as possible.

“I really work hard with families to help them understand that their loved one is in the right place, and that we are going to do everything for that experience to be as purposeful as possible.”

“Do I care if someone thinks it’s Friday, and it’s Tuesday? No. Whatever he thinks, unless it’s safety, I don’t care. Make it Friday, make it Christmas, make it whatever. All good,” she went on. “And I think we work hard at promoting that. It’s all about relationships that we develop with our residents in the nursing home. They can read your mind. They know if you’re on your game that day or not. And it’s up to us to provide the best relationship we can with each person.”

 

Home and Garden

Then there’s Ruth’s House, the assisted living facility with its own dedicated memory neighborhood, the Garden, where employees are specifically trained to care for this population.

“When it comes to caring for those who have memory issues, we adapt to them, as opposed to someone who may not have those issues, and are able to communicate their needs properly and efficiently,” Jones said.

“When it comes to someone who’s living with dementia, we are the ones that have to adapt. We are the ones that have to become the detectives and be purposeful in everything that we do for them. We are more sensitive and gear everything toward how they may respond. We are more fluid. It’s more organic,” she went on.

“When we are facilitating programs, we’re also seeing how this person feels today. It’s very important that all of the staff are trained and educated to work with those living with various forms of dementia because it’s a whole different world. It’s a whole different way of communicating.”

In that setting, Jones said, the staff makes sure to provide a daily schedule of activities that engage the whole person — physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually — while also communicating with families who may be anxious about their loved one’s experience.

“The families are pivotal in the care of the seniors. So, we must maintain a very healthy relationship with the families.”

“We take the same approach we’d have toward all the seniors [at JGS Lifecare], which is compassionate care, understanding, empathy, making sure that their feelings are validated, and then working together as a team to accomplish a goal together collectively,” she explained. “That’s really important when it comes to families as well — because we are that bridge to connect the families to these seniors living with various forms of dementia. The families are pivotal in the care of the seniors. So, we must maintain a very healthy relationship with the families.”

Families — often with the help of the resident — also fill out what’s called a resident profile, a kind of life story including a social history, background, education, interests, hobbies, and more. “It allows us to have the information and the tools to have a personalized approach to care as they join us in living here,” Jones said. “With that information, if I know Mary was a teacher, then I can definitely tap into that, no matter what stage of dementia she’s in.”

Tapping into personal history is important across the campus, even outside the dementia neighborhood. One five-year resident of Ruth’s House, Johnny Scalia, affectionately known as “Johnny Rocket,” is a DJ with infectious energy who has shared his musical mixing skills with residents and families over at the Leavitt home. “I’m living my best life here,” he said. “The music keeps me going — and I love making people happy.”

Mary-Anne Schelb, regional director of Business Development at JGS, told BusinessWest that care at any of the JGS facilities is “really a matter of meeting people where they are.”

The Garden at Ruth’s House also features a sensory room, highlighted by a high-definition projector that shows soothing scenes on a wall — think ocean, nature, and the like.

“It’s so soothing and calming and inviting,” Jones said. “Just recently, for a resident who is on hospice and who has a hard time connecting in certain programs, we played a classical symphony through this projection. It was like you were there. And his caretaker was in tears, seeing how he was able to enjoy that moment with something that he passionately loved.”

Schelb added that the room is also used to de-escalate if somebody gets a little bit agitated or is sundowning. “It’s a very calm space that is utilized to decompress or kind of level them out. And it’s been very, very successful.”

 

Growing Need

About 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, a number projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., mainly due to the aging of America and the soaring over-65 population. That makes it critical for senior living communities to offer specific care to people with memory issues.

“However, I would like to point out the advent of new medications and infusions that are happening now,” said Cardillo, who serves on the executive leadership committee of the regional Alzheimer’s Assoc. chapter. “In the last five years, we have some medications that are actually looking at getting rid of the amyloid plaque in the brain, not just treating the symptoms. We have some new medications for people that are in the beginning stages, and it’s promising — I think it’s a springboard for better medications to come.”

What that means, she believes, is that “we are going to see the first survivor of Alzheimer’s in our lifetime.”

In the meantime, JGS Lifecare will continue to take care of those living with dementia locally.

“We genuinely want to take care of the person as a whole, and we’re providing various forms of engagement and opportunities to provide quality of life to our seniors,” Jones said, noting, as one example, a staff member who helps residents use an Oculus Quest headset to allow residents to access virtual reality experiences, “to walk through an ocean or get an experience on a different side of the world. And this is all thanks to the technology that we have today.

“So we’re growing; we’re expanding. We’re providing quality of life with just crayons and paper, if that’s something that they enjoy, or paint. But we’re also transforming for the current age, moving forward with technology, and I’m pretty proud of where we’re going.”

“And,” Cardillo was quick to add, “we’re not just treating our residents — we’re treating our families.”

East Longmeadow Is on the Road to Progress

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The infamous rotary in East Longmeadow, as seen in this Google Earth image, with its seven converging streets.
Community Spotlight Special Coverage

Community Spotlight

The infamous rotary in East Longmeadow, as seen in this Google Earth image, with its seven converging streets.

The infamous rotary in East Longmeadow, as seen in this Google Earth image, with its seven converging streets.

Tom Christensen says most East Longmeadow residents have learned to live with — and drive through — the infamous rotary in the center of town.

And some even take a small bit of pride in that it once owned a line in the Guinness Book of World Records for having seven converging streets, several of which carry heavy volumes of traffic, with no traffic lights, making it — unofficially, of course — the most dangerous intersection in the world. The rotary has been featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for the same reason.

“We seem to wear this Ripley’s Believe It or Not! as a badge of honor, but I believe that list is for things that shouldn’t exist in nature,” said Christensen, town manager since 2023 and, before that, deputy director of Public Works. “It’s one of the most inefficient intersections ever devised, and while, at some point, it wasn’t so cumbersome due to the number of cars — and it wasn’t even cars at the beginning — now, with the traffic we have … we need to do something.”

He’s not alone in this thinking, which helps explain why, as the town makes progress on several different fronts — from ongoing construction of a new high school to a new fiber optic network to an emerging blueprint for development in the town’s center — there is renewed interest in trying to fix this seemingly most difficult and stubborn of problems.

Indeed, the rotary has been studied, and studied, and studied some more, said Christensen, adding that there is building momentum for finally finding a practical, affordable solution.

“There’s a lot of logistics and a lot of money, but for the health of the community and the future of the community, we have to do something to make this intersection more efficient.”

It won’t come tomorrow, and will likely take 10 to 15 years, he said, but a fix involving a reduction in the number of streets converging on the rotary — maybe to four — is in the earliest of stages.

“We want to take a look at reimagining this intersection. Obviously, it handles all area traffic, not just East Longmeadow traffic, and we need to figure out how to make it more efficient,” he said. “We have this traffic problem that expands out from the hub, but it all starts in the center, where everything grinds to a halt at least a few times a day.”

As for those other projects mentioned above, most are much further along, especially the high school, which is on track to open for the start of school next September.

The new school and adjoining natatorium (which will be open to the public), with a combined price tag of nearly $200 million, will make one of the region’s more attractive communities to live and own a business even more so, said Tanzi Cannon-Eckerle, who owns two businesses in town, a law firm and a craft brewery.

She noted that a modern high school (the current structure opened in 1960) is one of the few missing pieces in a town that boasts a large industrial park, a strong and diverse business community, attractive neighborhoods, and land for new development.

“If you don’t have a fairly new high school, are you going to lose residents to the next town?” she asked rhetorically. “Maybe, maybe not, but it’s good to keep up with the latest technology; this new high school is a great asset for the community.”

Tom Christensen says that, while a fix for the rotary is 10 to 15 years away, more immediate progress is evident on many fronts in town.

Tom Christensen says that, while a fix for the rotary is 10 to 15 years away, more immediate progress is evident on many fronts in town.

Another missing piece, if you will, is a solution for the eyesore that is the long-dormant site of the former Package Machinery manufacturing plant and warehouse on Chestnut Street.

Developers who had proposed a 560,000-square-foot warehouse, a plan that met with considerable opposition from abutters and was ultimately rejected by the Planning Board, recently submitted new plans calling for four warehouses totaling roughly 450,000 square feet.

That plan is still before the Planning Board, said Christensen, adding that the area in question is considered part of the town’s industrial garden park zone — with that section of Chestnut Street being its northern border — and warehouses are therefore a permitted use.

For this latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at the many storylines that are, like the roads in the center of town, converging.

 

Round About

As he talked about the town’s rotary, Christensen acknowledged it’s a complicated engineering challenge and a problem that has defied a solution for several generations of residents.

Locals have gotten used to it, but are still put off by it, he said, adding that, for non-locals, it can be harrowing.

“I have people come to visit, and they come to my house, and their face is all white,” he said. “And they’re like … ‘you have to yield in that intersection?’ I tell them that conventional wisdom says they have the right of way, but not in our town.”

“It would be great to have that area cleared up in the form of a new development in any form, and get the property back on the tax rolls for the community. It’s hard to drive by that every day and see a derelict property of that size.”

The problem won’t fix itself, and it will only get worse as the town continues to grow and, hopefully, add more jobs, Christensen noted, adding that advances in intersection and rotary design could yield a solution.

“Many studies have been done over the years, and the design parameters were too excessive — we’d have to do some takings and knock down buildings,” he said, referring to the area around the current rotary and the size of a circle needed to accommodate seven streets. “Now, all over the region, they’re popping in rotaries and intersections that you didn’t think were feasible.

“There would be some combination of reconfiguring to a traditional circle, with only four roads coming into it,” he said of the likely fix. “The latest idea is to sort of dog-ear some of these streets into other streets before they got to the rotary by way of a stop sign; we have to figure out some way to get some of those entrances out of the circle to make it work.”

East Longmeadow at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1894
Population: 16,430
Area: 13.0 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $19.28
Commercial Tax Rate: $19.28
Median Household Income: $62,680
Median Family Income: $70,571
Type of Government: Town Council, Town Manager
Largest Employers: Lenox; Cartamundi; CareOne at Redstone; East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center
* Latest information available

As he noted, this will be a lengthy process, and a solution with a steep price tag — at least $10 million, by his estimate.

“It takes a long time to even come up with a schematic; it’s going to take a long time to design, and then to come with the funding for this or for us to get on a list with MassDOT is going to take some time,” he said. “There’s a lot of logistics and a lot of money, but for the health of the community and the future of the community, we have to do something to make this intersection more efficient.”

While that project plays itself out into the next decade, there is progress on other fronts, and potential progress (depending on one’s point of view) with others.

The latter is certainly true with 330 Chestnut St., an address where industrially zoned land and residential neighborhoods abut.

The public hearing process on the newest proposal, which has included questions on everything from traffic volume to noise and pollution to whether trucks can and should navigate nearby intersections, is continuing, said Christensen, adding that the area has been an eyesore for decades now.

“It was a great idea when the town decided to move all of its industry into that corner of town in the form of the industrial garden park, but naturally, there are places it abuts that are residential,” he said. “You have to work hard to make sure that the impact is not great on any of the surrounding areas.

“It would be great to have that area cleared up in the form of a new development in any form, and get the property back on the tax rolls for the community,” he went on. “It’s hard to drive by that every day and see a derelict property of that size.”

 

New School Thinking

Meanwhile, crews are keeping to an aggressive timetable for the new high school, he noted, adding that the project also includes not only the natatorium, but new athletic fields, tennis courts, and improvements to the football stadium area.

“There’s obvious excitement in the community for the new school — it’s a glorious campus,” said Christensen, who graduated from ELHS in 1997 and brings that perspective to the project. “It’s really exciting on so many levels, obviously for the school system, but also for the community to have this wonderful new space.”

And as that project moves forward, the town is also working toward creating a center town district and bylaws for development in that area.

A $22,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will be used to hire a consultant to help with the planning of the district, said Christensen, adding that the Town Council has voted not to create the district under the state’s Chapter 40R regulations, which would make the town eligible for state funding, but also bind it to meet specific requirements for housing, including affordable housing.

“The community decided it didn’t want to be beholden to the state, so we have decided to create our own district with our own guidelines, free of any 40R requirements,” he noted. “Depending on how the final parameters of how our bylaw shake out, it could have the parameters of 40R; it just won’t be eligible for that reimbursement to the developer and/or town, because it won’t carry that designation.”

Elaborating, Christensen said that, with all industry moved to the southwest corner of town, several properties in the town center, including the former Carlin Combustion site on Maple Street, could be redeveloped for other uses, including housing. And the development community has interest in that area for that purpose.

The next step in the process is likely to be Planning Board public hearings on the district, he said, adding that he is expecting “robust conversations in a public setting” about what residents want to see regarding density, building heights, and other matters.

“We’re looking at a comprehensive study on not only what the town can handle, but what developers are willing to build,” he went on. “We want to find that happy medium so the bylaws are feasible for all.”

As that project plays out, the community is proceeding with plans to address the lack of broadband competition by building a town-owned fiber optic project with Whip City Fiber, the rapidly growing broadband arm of Westfield Gas & Electric.

“We have a design done, and we’re working with the utilities to get their make-ready costs so that we can formulate a plan on how to roll out this initiative, which we’re really excited about,” Christensen said. “Currently, the town is only served by Spectrum, and residents have long been calling for some competition in town.

“It’s a long process, and a lot of infrastructure has to be put in place,” he went on, adding that the project gives the town the ability to improve services to residents while also generating revenue, which can be put back into the community.

It’s a community that is business-friendly and does a good job of balancing business growth with quality of life for residents, said Cannon-Eckerle, whose craft brewery, Brew Practitioners, is celebrating 10 years.

“They do a really good job of asking questions and doing all the legwork up front,” she said of the Planning Board, Town Council, and other panels that consider plans from businesses. “But then, they take the time to take in the concerns of the residents; they do a very good job of listening to both sides. East Longmeadow does a good job of doing it by the book.”

ESE-West Springfield Trust Supports Boys & Girls Club Technology Lab

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Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — On Oct. 20, Eastern States Exposition (ESE) and the town of West Springfield visited the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club to present a check for $6,000 that afforded the club an all-new technology lab for the students it serves. This donation comes from the ESE-West Springfield Trust, funded by ESE.

The trust began in 1994, which was the year the Big E grew from five days to 17 days in length. Annually, ESE donates 1% of its gross operating revenue to the town to support and maintain the ESE-West Springfield Trust. The donation funds grants awarded to various community organizations selected by a committee comprised of ESE President and CEO Gene Cassidy, attorney Mary Powers, and West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt.

This year, ESE’s donation to the ESE-West Springfield Trust totaled $370,970, the not-for-profit organization’s largest donation to date. Since the trust’s inception, ESE has contributed more than $5 million. In 2025, 34 local organizations benefited from the trust, including sports teams, food rescues, places of worship, veterans’ outreach services, and more. The Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield was among these recipients.

The grant funded the club’s newest initiative: the Plugged In program and technology lab. This state-of-the-art lab is equipped with computer-aided design tools, 3D printers, advanced software, comfortable gaming chairs, and more. The goal of the program is to allow children to explore technological skills and prepare for the workforce.

“On behalf of the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club and our club kids, we are incredibly grateful to Eastern States Exposition and the town’s collaborative trust,” said Dan D’Angelo, executive director of the club. “The new technology lab — along with the program opportunities in coding, robotics, aviation, content creation, drone navigation, and more — gives our members the chance to explore, create, and learn with the latest technology.

“These are the skills that will prepare them for tomorrow,” he continued. “This support ensures our kids stay ahead of the curve and have every opportunity to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”

Elena Gervino Named Chair of Western New England University Board of Trustees

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Elena Gervino, senior vice president at Travelers Insurance Co., has been named chair of the Western New England University (WNE) board of trustees.

With nearly four decades of experience spanning law, education, and corporate leadership, she brings a combination of strategic insight, operational excellence, and commitment to community impact to her role. A respected leader in the insurance industry, Gervino aims to guide the university’s continued growth and innovation at the intersection of business, technology, and social responsibility.

“I am honored to serve my alma mater at such an exciting time,” she said. “Western New England shaped my life and career. Its focus on innovation, leadership, and community impact mirrors what we strive for at Travelers — empowering people to learn, grow, and make a difference.”
At Travelers, Gervino serves as senior vice president for Claim Shared Services (CSS). Her portfolio spans 10 business units within Claim and CSS, including Behavioral Science, Claim University, CSS Business Intelligence and Analytics, CSS Operations, Claim Legal and Staff Counsel Product, Claim Regulatory Compliance, Claim Contact Centers, Subrogation, Business Process Improvement, and QuantumSubro by Travelers Inc.

“Elena’s career embodies the very qualities we strive to instill in our students — innovation, integrity, and service,” said Michael Alexander, interim president of Western New England University. “Her professionalism and experience leading large, data-driven teams at one of the nation’s top insurers is invaluable as WNE continues to prepare graduates who are ready to lead in dynamic, technology-enabled industries.”

A cum laude graduate of the Western New England University School of Law, Gervino served as Notes editor of the Law Review and was named Outstanding Woman Law Student of the Year. Her longtime support as a law school alumna earned her the Dean’s Alumni Excellence Award in 2020. Gervino joined the WNE board of trustees in 2021 and has served on the governance, academic affairs, development, student affairs, investment, and finance committees. In 2025, she received the university’s Benefactors Award in recognition of her commitment to WNE and her exemplary record of leadership.

Beyond the boardroom, Gervino’s leadership reflects a lifelong dedication to service. She has held board positions with Horizons Inc., TRUE Colors, and Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, advancing opportunities for youth and individuals with disabilities.

Westfield Bank Welcomes David Gadouas as Branch Manager in Chicopee

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Daily News

David Gadouas

WESTFIELD — James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced the appointment of David Gadouas as assistance vice president and branch manager at the bank’s 599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee branch.

Gadouas joins the bank with nearly two decades of banking experience. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading and managing the branch, including customer service, retail and business product sales, employee development, and overseeing general branch operations.

Gadouas has held various officer and management positions at both community and national banks across the local area. Throughout his banking career, he has been recognized for his significant contributions to employee development and advancement. He is an alumni of Westfield State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.

“I am very excited to welcome Dave to Westfield Bank,” said Kelly Pignatare, first vice president and manager of Retail Banking and Business & Government Deposit Services. “He brings valuable experience, a strong commitment to employees and customers, and an impressive track record of success. As a Chicopee native, he knows the market and community well, and is already making an impact.”

Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts to Hold 5K Celebration on Nov. 23

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts will host its annual fall 5K event on Sunday, Nov. 23 at Western New England University and is expecting more than 3,000 people to turn out.

Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3-8. During the eight-week, 16-lesson program, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections, and encourage community service while they prepare for an end-of-season celebratory 5K event.

This fall season, Girls on the Run has 775 participants in 52 sites in all four Western Mass. counties, with 210 volunteer coaches that bring the curriculum to life — the largest fall season since the start of the organization 10 years ago.

The run starts at 10:30 a.m., but the group warm-up will begin at 10 a.m., with participants arriving for fun events at 9:30 a.m. Participation in the 5K event is open to the public, and all proceeds from the event will benefit Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts.

Registration cost is $25 for adults and $10 for youth under age 12 and includes a 5K shirt for the first 1,000 registered. Early arrival is suggested. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 23 for day-of registration.

The 5K event will also include a food drive. Participants can bring a non-perishable food item to the 5K, and the collection will go to a local food pantry.

Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts is also looking for volunteers for the event. For more information about the event, how to register, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.girlsontherunwesternma.org.

Springfield Symphony Orchestra Holding $30 Ticket Offer Today for Nov. 8 Concert

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — In the spirit of community, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced a limited one-day ticket offer today, Nov. 7, with all tickets for the “Fiesta Sinfonica” concert on Saturday, Nov. 8 priced at $30 or less.

The discounted tickets are in response to the current economic hardships faced by families in light of the government shutdown, and the SSO hopes concertgoers will also contribute to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in partnership with American International College’s baseball team by bringing canned goods to the performance.

The discounted tickets can be purchased on the SSO’s website, springfieldsymphony.org, with the discount code SPFLD, throughout Nov. 7. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the box office at (413) 733-2291.

“This is more than a ticket offer — it’s a reflection of what we’re all feeling right now,” said Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the SSO. “The world feels heavy. People are struggling — with the cost of living, with the constant bad news, with just trying to hold it together. There’s a real sense that joy has become harder to find. So for one night, we’re making it easier for everyone to join us. We’re offering a one-time, deeply discounted ticket opportunity so more people can come experience what live music does. It recharges you, it reminds you of beauty, and it connects us back to each other.

“Music has always been about connection, about lifting spirits, about reminding people that they’re not alone,” she added. “We can’t fix everything happening in the world, but we can create a moment where people come together, where they feel inspired, and where kindness still feels possible.”

The November concert is sponsored by the Ruiz Family Foundation and Wyckoff Country Club. As part of that dual sponsorship, hundreds of tickets were donated to local schools in Springfield, West Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee through the SSO’s Beethoven’s Buddies program.

The SSO is asking concertgoers to bring non-perishable food items for Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in partnership with AIC baseball. Concertgoers can also make donations to Square One’s holiday wish list as part of the giving-back effort.

Saturday’s concert features the return of the Mambo Kings and Camille Zamora to Springfield for “Fiesta Sinfonica: A Symphonic Celebration,” sure to heat up Symphony Hall with everything from tangos and mambos to Latin jazz hits and pop music standards. “Fiesta Sinfonica” will also welcome master trumpet player Herb Smith as guest conductor.

Also added to the concert offerings, the Hispanic-American Library will have a table in the Mahogany Room prior to the concert with Juan Falcon, founder and executive director of the Hispanic-American Library.

Westfield Bank Welcomes New Business Development Team at Liberty Street Branch

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Daily News

Hector Suarez

WESTFIELD — James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced the appointment of Hector Suarez as retail banking officer and branch manager, and Jeffrey Lomma as business specialist, both at its 1342 Liberty St. office in Springfield.

Suarez, who joins the bank with more than 30 years of banking experience, is responsible for leading and managing the branch, including customer service, retail and business product sales, employee development, and overseeing general branch operations. He has held various officer and management roles for several national banks in the Greater Springfield area and has been recognized throughout his banking career for sales and service excellence. He has been very active with financial literacy, most recently with first-time homebuyer seminars for the Holyoke Housing Authority.

Jeffrey Lomma

A familiar face to customers and coworkers, Lomma returns to the bank, where he previously served in business development and management roles, including in the Springfield market. In his new role, he is responsible for servicing existing and developing new business relationships, community development within Springfield, and supporting the branch as needed.

Lomma originally joined Westfield Bank in 2006, departing to be the Member Services director for the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University and is deeply involved with the local community, currently serving as a board member for the West of the River Chamber of Commerce and as treasurer and board member of the Asnuntuck Community College Foundation.

“I am very excited to welcome Hector and welcome back Jeff to Westfield Bank,” said Kelly Pignatare, first vice president and manager of Retail Banking and Business & Government Deposit Services. “Hector and Jeff bring a combined 41 years of banking experience, including strong management and business development expertise. Complemented by their knowledge of and commitment to the Springfield market, they are well-positioned to deliver better banking and drive growth in our Liberty Street branch.”

Berkshire Leadership Program Now Accepting Applications for Class of 2025

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Daily News

PITTSFIELD — 1Berkshire is again offering the Berkshire Leadership Program (BLP), an opportunity empowering Berkshire County residents to develop essential skills, expand their networks, and gain insights from top industry leaders. Participants will only sharpen their strategic thinking and decision making, but also build the confidence to lead teams and drive impactful change.

BLP seeks, prepares, involves, and sustains individuals from diverse backgrounds who are committed to and competent in addressing community challenges and improving quality of life in the Berkshires. Close to 700 community-minded individuals have graduated from the program since its inception in 1997.

The class of 2026 will kick off with a two-day retreat on Friday and Saturday, April 24-25, which includes training in many facets of leadership, problem-solving techniques, and networking. The retreat is followed by weekly sessions held on Thursdays, April 30 to June 25, focusing on areas of economic development, healthcare, tourism, creative economy, education, and community involvement.

The Berkshire Leadership Program is coordinated by 1Berkshire with the support of the volunteer BLP steering committee, composed of professionals from across the region who commit their time and expertise to develop and facilitate the entire program.

“The Berkshire Leadership Program is one of the most comprehensive ways to learn about the community and a great opportunity for additional professional development,” said Christine Hoyt, 1Berkshire’s director of Member Services and BLP coordinator.

“The Berkshire Leadership Program changes how you see yourself and your community,” added Abigail Allard, chair of the BLP steering committee. “Each cohort brings together emerging and established leaders from every corner of the Berkshires to learn, problem-solve, and build relationships that last well beyond the program. Creating a network that opens doors, with scholarships to help make participation possible. If you’re ready to grow your impact, this is the place to start.”

Class of 2026 applications are open. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 at 4 p.m. The cost of tuition is $800; some scholarship dollars are available. Click here for the application and a full program schedule. Email [email protected] with any questions.

Region Secures TechHub Designations, $1 Million for Quantum Supply Chain Accelerator

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Today, the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC), along with regional partners, celebrated a major milestone for the innovation economy as Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley announced that Western Mass. has been designated as both a Quantum Technology TechHub and a Food Science TechHub through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

In addition to the two designations, funding in the form of $1 million to advance a feasibility and design study of a quantum supply chain accelerator (QSCA) was awarded to Springfield Technical Community College (STCC).

The QSCA will anchor the next phase of the Commonwealth’s quantum strategy, building on the foundation established in Holyoke at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) and the state’s first quantum computing complex launched with QuEra Computing Inc. The accelerator will be the first regional facility of its kind to drive commercialization, support startups, and strengthen advanced manufacturing supply chains across the Pioneer Valley.

The accelerator will be located at the Springfield Technology Park, a quasi-public entity affiliated with STCC, which is the only technical community college in Massachusetts and has a legacy for producing graduates who work in precision manufacturing, engineering, photonics, and information technologies in support of the emerging quantum and adjacent sectors. Current enrollment at STCC is more than 6,200 — a talent pipeline that gives Western Mass. a distinct competitive advantage as the region advances in this rapidly emerging field.

“Western Massachusetts is the only region in the Commonwealth to receive two TechHub designations, which is a testament to the strength of our innovation ecosystem and the collaboration that defines it,” said Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the EDC. “These designations, and the $1 million dollar investment in the quantum supply chain accelerator, represent years of hard work and vision from our regional partners. The EDC was proud to lead both applications and bring these opportunities home for our communities.”

The Food Science TechHub designation recognizes the region as a national leader in food innovation and highlights UMass Amherst’s world-renowned Food Science program. The university’s researchers and facilities are driving advances in sustainable food processing, safety, and nutrition, while expanding partnerships that strengthen regional food manufacturing, commercialization, and career pathways across Western Mass. The EDC will receive a $100,000 planning grant to continue working with UMass and regional partners on identifying commercial, business, and workforce opportunities within the food science sector.

“The dual designations and this new investment show that Western Massachusetts is ready to lead the Commonwealth into the next generation of innovation,” said Xiomara DeLobato, vice president at the EDC. “The EDC’s role has been to connect vision with action and ensure that quantum and food science grow as inclusive economic engines that create opportunity across our region.”

State and regional partners with the EDC and STCC include the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), UMass Amherst, the city of Springfield, the city of Holyoke, and members of the Pioneer Valley Quantum Innovation Hub, working closely to develop these initiatives. The Western Mass. legislative delegation also voiced strong bipartisan support for the project, emphasizing its potential to create more than 1,400 direct jobs and demonstrate the Commonwealth’s commitment to growing innovation economies in every part of the state.

“As the only technical community college in the Commonwealth, we are leveraging the capabilities of STCC and our assistance corporation to bring the vision of a quantum supply chain accelerator to reality,” STCC President John Cook said. “With this unique investment in a region well-known for precision manufacturing, STCC looks forward to creating new job opportunities in quantum and related industries.”

PVPC Executive Director Kimberly Robinson added that “we look forward to a quantum accelerator that provides jobs and startup opportunities for residents across our communities. It is for this reason that we have launched a Quantum Training Academy that strives to include individuals who have been historically deprived of opportunities in technology investment.”

The Quantum and Food Science TechHubs are part of Massachusetts’ broader strategy to strengthen advanced manufacturing, research, and innovation capacity across the state. With this recognition, Western Mass. is now positioned as a vital partner in the Commonwealth’s innovation corridor from the eastern research centers to the western manufacturing base.

“I am grateful for this state investment in quantum and its potential to boost the Springfield economy,” Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said. “The city of Springfield is excited to give local firms and quantum startups a chance to attract new talent, including technicians and entry-level employees, to build a more innovative quantum sector in the region.”

Added Gov. Maura Healey, “the opportunity for a quantum accelerator in Springfield only strengthens the case that Massachusetts is a destination location for quantum innovation. Our industrial strengths and research capabilities in quantum make Massachusetts a top hub for quantum globally.”

Square One, Health New England Partner to Provide Financial Relief to Families

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — As the government shutdown continues to impact the stability of families throughout the region, Square One is providing relief to those enrolled in its early education and care programs. Using a reserve fund previously gifted by Health New England, Square One will waive all parent fees for child care for the month of November.

“Seventy-five percent of Square One families receive SNAP benefits,” said Dawn DiStefano, Square One president and CEO. “With families currently receiving half of what they qualify for food assistance, we did not want to put our families in a position to have to choose between feeding their children and paying their childcare fees. We hope this gesture brings a bit of relief to our families during these challenging times.

“We are grateful to our wonderful partners at Health New England for recognizing the need for an emergency reserve fund gifted previously to be used to at a time when families need it to meet their basic needs,” she added. “Their gift came at an ideal time.”

As part of its mission to provide a healthy foundation for all children, Square One has an unwavering commitment to ensuring that its children receive healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks every day while they are in care. All meals include fresh fruit and vegetables. The agency partners with community organizations including Rachel’s Table, Gardening in the Community, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and others to ensure that all families have access to food supplies.

Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets Supports Sunshine Village, Project New Hope

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Daily News

AGAWAM — Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets announced the results of its second annual Charity Golf Tournament, raising a total of $31,385 to benefit two local nonprofit organizations, Sunshine Village and Project New Hope.

In Agawam on Oct. 29, the leadership team presented Sunshine Village with a donation of $15,692.50 to support the organization’s programs for adults with developmental disabilities throughout Western Mass. Then on Oct. 30 in Leominster, they presented the remaining $15,692.50 to Project New Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to providing veterans and their families with support programs, retreats, and community resources designed to help them rebuild their lives after military service.

“We are incredibly proud of what our team, sponsors, and community accomplished together,” said Jorge Morgado, owner of Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets. “These organizations do so much to uplift others, it’s an honor to be able to give back in a meaningful way.”

The annual tournament, held in September at Chicopee Country Club, brought together more than 100 golfers, dozens of sponsors, and community partners for a day of friendly competition and fundraising. The event’s success reflects Allied Flooring and Budget Cabinets’ ongoing commitment to supporting local causes and building strong community connections beyond the showroom.

“Our golf tournament is more than just a fun day on the course — it’s a way to make a real difference,” said Becky Tedeschi, president of Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets. “Seeing those checks handed over to Sunshine Village and Project New Hope reminds us that small businesses can have a big impact when the community comes together.”

Plans are already underway for the third annual Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets Charity Golf Tournament, with hopes of raising even more funds in 2026.

American International College Opens Food Pantry to Combat Student Food Insecurity

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) is helping students facing food insecurity with the launch of the Buzz Stop, a new campus food pantry. According to government data, approximately 3.8 million college students nationwide, or about 23%, face food insecurity. Many do not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to application barriers or lack of awareness.

The pantry, located in the Student Affairs office on the upper level of the Schwartz Campus Center, offers both perishable and non-perishable foods as well as basic academic supplies. Students can fill a shopping basket once per week without restrictions, ensuring they have access to essential nutrition while pursuing their studies.

“This initiative makes essential resources more accessible for students worried about their next meal,” said Melisa Loa, dean of students. “With the Buzz Stop, they can concentrate on their studies without the added stress of food insecurity.”

Since December 2024, AIC has been preparing an unused office on the upper level of the Schwartz Campus Center to host the Buzz Stop. The renovated space includes shelves stocked with non-perishable items, a refrigerator for perishable foods, and basic academic supplies. Students can find supplies like canned goods, fresh produce, snacks, macaroni and cheese, and more with items available on a rotating inventory.

AIC partnered with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to stock the pantry, with support from an anonymous donor. Michelle Geoffroy, the Food Bank’s agency relations manager, noted that “we look forward to supporting their efforts to provide nutritious food to students.”

The college will continue refining the Buzz Stop based on student feedback to ensure it meets evolving needs. Students are already responding positively. Junior Blake Latham, who learned about the pantry through a college Instagram post, said it “will have a big impact on the school.”

HCC Names Linda Chavers First Director of Restorative Practices and Mediation

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Daily News

Linda Chavers

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Linda Chavers as the inaugural director of its new office of Restorative Practices and Mediation.

A published writer, educator, and consultant, Chavers has spent her career examining structures of institutional inequality and reimagining what justice can look like in the field of education. She brings to HCC a specialization in restorative practices in the workplace, including crisis management, curriculum design, diversity support, and organizational development.

Most recently, she has been working as a nonprofit leadership consultant and a national executive search consultant. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in higher education, serving as co-director and English professor at the Clemente Course in the Humanities in Dorchester; resident dean, assistant dean, and lecturer at Harvard College; and assistant professor of Instruction at Temple University in Philadelphia. She also was an instructor of English at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H.

Chavers holds a Ph.D. in African and African American studies from Harvard University, a master’s degree in English from Harvard, and a bachelor’s degree in cultural studies from New York University. She began her role at HCC on July 30.

“I am honored to join Holyoke Community College as the inaugural director of the office of Restorative Practices and Mediation,” Chavers said. “This role is designed to be a first point of contact for workplace concerns at HCC, and my goal is to provide an accessible, safe entry point where concerns can be heard, options explored, and relationships strengthened.”

The office of Restorative Practices and Mediation is part of HCC’s division of People, Culture and Equity. In her position, Chavers works closely with the office of People and Talent (human resources) and the college’s chief impact officer (affirmative action and Title IX) to ensure HCC approaches its work with care, accountability, and a commitment to equity.

“This office represents a bold step forward in our commitment to cultivating a campus culture rooted in healing, accountability, and relational justice,” said Marlowe Washington, vice president of People, Culture and Equity. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Chavers to HCC. She brings with her a rare blend of scholarly depth, lived experience, and visionary leadership.”

Bulkley Richardson Named 2026 Best Law Firm in 14 Practice Areas

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Best Lawyers, in partnership with U.S. News and World Report, ranked Bulkley Richardson as 2026 Best Law Firm in the Springfield region in the following 14 practice areas: banking and finance law, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights / insolvency and reorganization law, business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), commercial litigation, corporate law, criminal defense – general practice, criminal defense – white collar, employment law – individuals, employment law – management, litigation – labor and employment, medical malpractice law – defendants, personal injury litigation – defendants, real estate law, and trusts and estates law.

To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer included in the list of Best Lawyers. Bulkley Richardson has 12 lawyers included on the 2026 Best Lawyers list, and Mary Jo Kennedy was named 2026 Springfield-area Lawyer of the Year for both employment law (management) and litigation (labor and employment). Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from leading attorneys in the field.

‘Annie’ Returns to JaDuke Stage, Spotlighting Franklin County Talent

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Daily News

TURNERS FALLS — The beloved red-headed orphan is returning to Franklin County this November as JaDuke Theater revives the musical Annie for a two-weekend run beginning Friday, Nov. 7. The show, which was one of the first productions to grace the JaDuke Theater stage in 2019, marks a full-circle moment for the community arts hub located in Turners Falls’ industrial district.

“This is one of the greatest and most beloved family musicals JaDuke has done in a very long time,” director Nick Waynelovich said. “It’s one of my favorites, and we know you will love it too.”

Local talent takes center stage, with the title role being shared by two young performers — Turners Falls’s Molly McCarthy (Nov. 7, 8, and 9) and Bernardston’s Madison Bernard (Nov. 14, 15, and 16) — both of whom have grown up in JaDuke’s youth arts programs. They’re joined by veteran cast members from across Franklin County, including Briggs Doxzen as Oliver Warbucks and Sara Paige as the scheming Miss Hannigan. The musical features iconic songs like “Tomorrow,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” and “Maybe,” along with a canine co-star, Sandy, Annie’s loyal sidekick, and a crowd favorite.

In addition to offering award-winning productions, JaDuke is deeply committed to youth arts education in Franklin County through its theater, dance, voice, and music programs.

“We’re so proud that this production features so many young people who have honed their performance skills right here at JaDuke,” said Kimberly Williams, producer and executive director of JaDuke Inc. “The captivating music and timeless story are perfect to kick off the holiday season.”

Theatergoers can also take advantage of the JaDuke Café, which offers a wide variety of concession options available before the show and during intermission. In keeping with JaDuke tradition, audience members may send ‘performer perks’ backstage to cast members during the performance, a popular gesture that adds to the community camaraderie of the production.

Performances of ‘Annie the Musical’ will be held Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 7, 8, 14, and 15, at 6 p.m.; and Sundays, Nov. 9 and 16, at 2 p.m., at JaDuke Theater, 110 Industrial Blvd., Turners Falls. Tickets are available now at jaduketheater.com or at the box office.

Colonial Carpentry Innovations Welcomes Jason Urban

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Daily News

Jason Urban and Bob Szklarz

SOUTH HADLEY — Colonial Carpentry Innovations Inc. announced the addition of Jason Urban as consultant and production manager.

Urban brings more than two decades of experience in the custom woodworking industry, cabinetry design, and home improvement to the Colonial team. Known for his strong communication skills, organizational excellence, and steady leadership, he has built a career centered on craftsmanship, collaboration, and genuine customer care.

“Jason has a hands-on approach and a real respect for the craft,” said Bob Szklarz, owner of Colonial Carpentry Innovations. “He shares our belief that a successful project isn’t just about materials or measurements — it’s about creating spaces that make people feel at home.”

Urban’s experience includes years with Michael Humphries Woodworking, where he worked closely with architects, builders, and homeowners. He earned accolades while working at rk MILES, where he served clients throughout the Pioneer Valley. He built his career helping homeowners and builders alike find creative, practical solutions that balance beauty and durability.

As a U.S. Army National Guard Veteran, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. His background instilled a strong sense of discipline, responsibility, and teamwork — qualities that continue to shape his professional approach today.

“Joining Colonial Carpentry Innovations feels like coming home,” Urban said. “This company has built its reputation on honesty, quality, and relationships. I’m proud to be part of a team that values people as much as the finished product.”

Notch Mechanical Constructors Announces Leadership Transition

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Daily News

Nick DePalma

CHICOPEE — Notch Mechanical Constructors announced the retirement of Steven Neveu, who has served as president for the past 28 years, and the appointment of Nick DePalma as the company’s new president, effective Oct. 1. This leadership transition marks a new chapter for Notch, continuing its long-standing commitment to quality, safety, and innovation across New England’s industrial mechanical construction industry.

“As [Neveu] begins his well-earned retirement, the company expresses its deepest gratitude for his decades of guidance and vision that helped shape Notch into what it is today,” the company stated. He will continue to serve in a limited capacity as director and board chairman.

Stepping into the role of president, DePalma brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of Notch’s operations, clients, and values. Having served as executive vice president for the past three years, he has played an integral role in driving strategic growth and maintaining the company’s reputation for excellence in mechanical contracting.

“His leadership ensures that Notch will continue to deliver exceptional results while fostering a culture built on teamwork, integrity, and safety,” the company stated.

Founded in 1972, Notch Mechanical Constructors specializes in the construction and maintenance of mechanical systems for clients in the energy and industrial manufacturing sectors across Southern New England from its two locations in Chicopee and Hudson. Notch became 100% employee-owned in 2020, a leadership transition developed to ensure continuity, stability, and ongoing success for clients, partners, and employee owners.

Florence Bank Donates $73,520 to United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region

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Daily News

FLORENCE — Florence Bank recently announced a gift of $73,520 to the United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region. Florence Bank provided direct support of $50,000, and its employees pledged an additional $23,520 as part of the bank’s annual workplace campaign. The combined gift will be used to support the annual Diaper Drive, food insecurity efforts, the Ski United event, and several event sponsorships.

“Once again, our team members stepped up and showed how much they care about helping their fellow neighbors,” said Matt Garrity, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “I’m humbled by their generosity and proud of their dedication to help those less fortunate.”

In addition to financial support, Florence Bank will help lead the United Way’s 2026 annual campaign, which kicked off on Oct. 9. Garrity will serve as campaign co-chair along with Eric Mills, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Mayhew Tools in Turners Falls.

“I’m excited to be out in the community, supporting the United Way and asking organizations and individuals to join us in supporting such a great organization,” Garrity said. “The need in the community is real, and supporting our neighbors is integral to Florence Bank’s mission, vision, and values.”

Holly Martineau, United Way’s director of Development, said the financial goal is to increase giving as much over the $1.2 million raised in 2025 as possible, and to encourage organizations and individuals to double their gifts from last year.

“Our efforts this year are to have as many people double down as possible,” Martineau added. “We’re trying to do as much as we can as an organization to support our partners in the community who do so much for individuals in need. Our partners are being asked to do so much more with much less. The social safety net is diminishing every day.”

Geoff Naunheim, executive director of the United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region, said he hopes Florence Bank’s commitment will encourage other organizations and individuals to consider increasing — or doubling — their pledges.

“It’s early in the campaign, but we’re already seeing an increase in employee giving,” Naunheim said. “People know it’s a hard time. They’re helping us support a healthier, more resilient community.”