Daily News

CHICOPEE — Beaulieu Home Improvement, a family-owned business based in Chicopee, announced the winner of its second annual Veterans Project: Home Renovations for Heroes. This community initiative provides essential home renovations — at no cost — to local veterans in recognition of their service and sacrifice.

This year’s recipient, Timothy Tracy, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Springfield, will receive a brand-new roof replacement courtesy of the Beaulieu Home Improvement team. The installation is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 77 Partridge Dr. in Springfield, MA (weather permitting) and will be completed in one day by Beaulieu’s skilled craftsmen.

Tracy was nominated by his daughter, Lindsey, who shared in her letter: “I am honored to nominate my father, a proud United States Marine Corps veteran, for this opportunity. Straight out of high school, he answered the call to serve. Although he left military service just before I was born to be present for his growing family, he never stopped living by the values instilled in him during his time in uniform.”

She went on to describe her father as someone who has “worked hard and sacrificed much to support those he loves,” adding that, even when facing challenges, “he always looks for ways to give back — paying it forward whenever he’s able.”

The Veterans Project was created by the Beaulieu family to give back to those who have served this country. Fully self-funded by the company, the program provides up to $10,000 worth of exterior home improvements for deserving veterans across Western Mass. and Northern Conn., helping improve not only their homes, but their peace of mind.

“Our team created the Veterans Project to give back to the people who have given so much for our country,” said Al and Fran Beaulieu, brothers and co-owners of Beaulieu Home Improvement. “It’s our way of honoring their service and ensuring that they and their families have safe, comfortable homes.”

Daily News

CHICOPEE — The board of directors of Sunshine Village announced the upcoming retirement of Gina Kos, the organization’s longtime president and CEO, after more than three decades of leadership. Kos will step down at the end of April 2026, marking the conclusion of an era of growth, innovation, and service to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout Western Mass.

Kos joined Sunshine Village in 1991 as director of Marketing and Development and, after being appointed president and CEO in 1997, guided the organization through a period of transformation. Under her leadership, Sunshine Village grew from a $6 million agency to a $17 million, nationally accredited nonprofit.

Amid the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she successfully led the organization through a safe closure and phased reopening, rebuilding services and programs to meet the evolving needs of clients and families. Today, she leaves behind a financially strong, programmatically vibrant Sunshine Village, widely recognized as both a provider of choice for families and an employer of choice for staff.

“On behalf of the board of directors and the entire Sunshine Village family, I want to express our deepest thanks to Gina for her years of exceptional leadership and unwavering devotion to our mission,” said Peter Benton, chairman of the Sunshine Village board of directors. “Through her vision and heart, she built more than financial and operational strength — she nurtured a culture of excellence, compassion, and belonging. Sunshine Village shines brighter today because of her incredible legacy.”

In addition to her work at Sunshine Village, Kos has been deeply committed to strengthening the broader community. She has served in leadership roles on numerous boards and civic organizations, including MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, Human Service Forum, Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, the Westfield State University board of trustees, and the Elms College board of trustees. Her extensive volunteer work and community leadership have earned her multiple honors, including recognition as one of BusinessWest’s inaugural Women of Impact in 2018, a Paul Harris honor from the Chicopee Rotary Club, and the St. Joseph Medal – Distinguished Alumni Award from Cathedral High School.

“Serving Sunshine Village has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Kos said. “I have been endlessly inspired by the resilience and achievements of the individuals we support, the dedication of our incredible staff, and the unwavering generosity of our partners and community. While it is bittersweet to close this chapter, I leave with full confidence that Sunshine Village will continue to shine and create bright futures for many years to come.”

The board of directors has initiated a comprehensive search for the next president and CEO and is committed to ensuring a smooth leadership transition. It has engaged the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast to assist with the executive search, which will begin in the next few weeks.

“While we will deeply miss Gina’s presence and leadership, her legacy of excellence, innovation, and compassion will live on in every program, partnership, and person touched by Sunshine Village,” Benton said.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Amy Royal, founder and CEO of the Royal Law Firm, announced that she is selling the firm to Patrick Parker, owner and managing partner of Spruce Law. Going forward, the combined firm will be known as Royal Parker Spruce.

“In 2008, when Amy made the decision to leave the security of a well-established boutique management-side labor and employment law firm to form Royal, she did so with this specific objective: to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession,” the Royal Law Firm explained in a statement. “Amy firmly believed that with a team comprised of diverse backgrounds, to provide greater, more comprehensive, and well-rounded counsel for our corporate clients. Over the last 17 years, we have continually upheld that mission, which is proved by the composite of our workforce.”

Spruce Law is an Andover-based employment law firm. Parker is licensed in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. He has extensive legal experience, having clerked for both state appellate and federal courts, practiced at the global law firm Clifford Chance, and served in-house at Merrill Lynch and UBS. He has a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law and an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

“With Patrick’s combination of legal expertise and business perspective, he is uniquely positioned to carry the firm forward. He will be taking the helm and leading us into the future. The Royal Law Firm will now combine with Spruce Law, creating a stronger platform to serve our clients,” the Royal Law Firm stated. “Together, we will offer expanded resources, deeper bench strength, and a continued focus on delivering practical, business-oriented labor and employment law counsel our clients can rely on.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and marketing professionals across the Pioneer Valley are invited to ignite their digital presence at the upcoming Social Media Bootcamp, a dynamic, hands-on workshop designed to transform how businesses engage online.

Hosted by the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) at UMass Springfield, this in-person event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 2 to 7 p.m. at 1500 Main St., Tower Square, Springfield.

With the theme “Content Is Fire. Social Media Is Gasoline,” the bootcamp promises an immersive experience where p, Srticipants will build a one-page marketing plan tailored to their business; master branding, SEO, and email marketing strategies; learn how to turn likes into leads; discover how to integrate AI tools into their marketing efforts; and network with entrepreneurs and leaders from across the Valley.

General admission is $90, with a partner rate of $70 available through promotional codes provided by MSBDC, local chambers of commerce and community development corporations, Common Capital, and the Women Business Owners Alliance. Attendees who register by Friday, Oct. 10 will receive a boxed dinner included in their ticket price.

This bootcamp is ideal for anyone looking to sharpen their digital marketing skills, explore the power of AI in business, and connect with a vibrant community of innovators. For more information and to register, visit wboa.org/bootcamp.

Daily News

AGAWAM — The West of the River Chamber of Commerce announced the return of Food Fest West, a community culinary celebration, on Thursday, Nov. 13 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.

“Food Fest West is one of our most exciting community events of the year,” said Robin Wozniak, executive director of the West of the River Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a great opportunity to bring people together, celebrate our local dining scene, and have a great time doing it.”

Tickets are available through the West of the River Chamber of Commerce. For tickets, restaurant participation, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

Cover Story Restaurants

On a Roll

Co-owner Jeff Igneri

Co-owner Jeff Igneri

 

Aromance can spark a lot of things. For restaurant patrons in Western Mass., it sparked a successful burger chain that continues to grow.

Jeff Igneri, who earned degrees in hotel restaurant management and hospitality administration at Johnson & Wales University, was looking to open a restaurant in the Providence, R.I. area, or maybe Worcester, but he happened to be dating a woman — now his wife, April — who was enrolled in a master’s degree program at Smith College.

“I came and visited her once, and as we were walking down the streets of Northampton, I saw an open location and said, ‘let’s check that out.’ I called the landlord, and things worked out.”

It took some work and a $65,000 investment to renovate the Main Street space, but Igneri and three family business partners — his father, Joe, and brothers, Chris and Steve — opened Local Burger in 2008, and found it to be an immediate success, despite some initial naysayers.

“We always wanted to do burgers, but as we were renovating the place, people came by and said, ‘burgers won’t work here; it’s a vegetarian town,’” Igneri recalled. “But when we opened up, it was just go, go, go — thankfully.”

Local Burger does offer more than one meatless burger, along with a wide variety of other burgers and sandwiches — not only beef, but chicken, pastrami, hot dogs, and more — as well as chicken tenders, donut-sized onion rings, and a wide array of starters. Some of its most famous fare was developed during those early days.

“Obviously the food has to be good, and the service, too, but it feels fun when you’re here. It feels like a carefree break from the chaos. You can come in here, be who you are, eat what you want to eat, and just chill out.”

“We created the Cap’n Crunch chicken tender right away. We played around with cornflakes and said, ‘huh, cereal sounds good on chicken. Let’s try something different. Cap’n Crunch, why not?’”

What has almost certainly raised the profile of a restaurant chain that launched in Northampton is Local Burger’s emphasis on buying ingredients from local farms, from beef to produce. Early on, Chicoine Farm in Easthampton supplied most of the beef, but these days, Igneri sources meat from several local farms, including Porter Family Farm in Ashfield, Holly Berry Farm in Chesterfield, and Mayval Farm in Easthampton.

Meanwhile, all the chain’s potatoes come from Szawlowski Potato Farms in Hatfield, the ice cream comes from Maple Valley Creamery in Hadley, and other farms supply a variety of produce.

“I had lived in New York, Providence, Eastern Massachusetts,” Igneri told BusinessWest. “So coming out here, seeing all the farms with all the local meats, local produce, it was not typical for me. I wasn’t used to it.

“So we just talked to a bunch of different farmers and asked what they had, what meats they had, what produce they had, and that’s how it all started — just going to different farmers and checking to see what they had for us,” he added, noting that he wasn’t initially thinking of partnering with farms when he first thought about opening a restaurant. “It wasn’t even on my radar until I came out here and saw everything that’s available. There was so much out here.”

Tabitha Saalfrank

Tabitha Saalfrank says it’s critical to keep loyal, reliable employees happy in an industry where workers can be hard to find.

Today, Local Burger has grown to four locations — the Keene, Vt. restaurant opened 13 years ago, a spot in Haydenville opened nine years ago, and Igneri and his father (his brothers are no longer partners) moved into the former Riff’s Joint space at Eastworks in Easthampton last year. In addition, they also maintain a food truck and a catering operation.

And throughout all of it, buying and serving local ingredients comes first.

“At first, there weren’t as many restaurants doing that,” he said. “So ‘Local Burger’ has two meanings. One is using as much local products as possible, and one is being the local burger joint. It wasn’t necessarily using local produce at first — it was just supposed to be the local burger place. But it worked out with the other meaning.”

 

Moving On Up

Tabitha Saalfrank has been with Local Burger for eight years and has moved from working in the food truck and catering aspects of the business to managing the Easthampton location. So she has interacted with customers in many different ways, and said that, besides the food, what keeps customers coming back are the people and the experience.

“People will recognize me. I’ll be wearing a plain black sweatshirt at the gas station, and someone’s like, ‘oh, it’s the Local Burger girl.’ So, not to be cliché or corny, but it feels like family,” she said. “We have a customer that’s been coming here since she was pregnant with her first kid, and she’s now pregnant with her second kid, and I’m watching that baby grow up because they come here so often.

“I think it’s the vibe that we’re able to give off as well, just the experience and the environment. Obviously the food has to be good, and the service, too, but it feels fun when you’re here. It feels like a carefree break from the chaos. You can come in here, be who you are, eat what you want to eat, and just chill out.”

“People perceive burgers to be a low-cost item because you can go to McDonald’s for X amount of dollars and buy something that’s not a great product. But beef is one of the highest-priced proteins out there.”

Igneri said he’s made a point of promoting from within — the manager of the Keene location, Mike Collins, joined Local Burger as a dishwasher in 2012, and many employees have been in the organization for most of its history — but giving managers an ownership stake as well.

“Mike is a great story,” he added. “He came in, started washing dishes, went on to be a cook, and now he’s running it, and he has part ownership there. I think that’s why we keep our employees so long. We try to get people involved and keep them happy and give them a piece of the action. I just wanted to do something to make them feel like they’ve earned it.”

Saalfrank, for one, is excited to work for a company that allows room for growth.

“I had been working for a while, and Jeff was like, ‘what can I do for you? If we were to buy Riff’s, would you want step up and take over?’ And I was like, ‘sure,’” she said. “He’s actively looking around and considering the staff when opening a location — like, ‘OK, who’s up next?’”

Igneri said he has always kept a community focus with Local Burger, supporting events like Bikes Fight Cancer and Magic for Maddie (a pediatric cancer fundraiser), as well as local schools and nonprofits, like Tapestry Health, Cutchins Programs for Children & Families, and Cancer Connection.

The former Riff’s Joint space in Eastworks has turned out to be an ideal site for the fourth Local Burger location.

The former Riff’s Joint space in Eastworks has turned out to be an ideal site for the fourth Local Burger location.

“We have this core of people who have been here for so many years that just represent us in such a great way. We’re lucky to have them,” Igneri said. “The community supports us, and we support them.”

 

Serving Up Challenges

While Local Burger is clearly a success story, the restaurant business is fraught with challenges, Igneri said, from rising ingredient prices — and the resulting balancing act in pricing between making a profit and keeping customers happy — to maintaining a loyal, reliable workforce.

“That’s a challenge in Haydenville because it’s seasonal — we’re six months out of the year. Trying to hire people for six months is difficult for us. Luckily, we can take the staff in Haydenville and put them in the other locations when workforce needs arise there,” he explained. “So we don’t let them go — we try to keep them as long as possible.”

Saalfrank said it’s critical to hang onto the best talent because it can be hard to find.

“Finding people who want to work is my biggest challenge lately. I get so many applications, but the people with the work ethic who are determined to actually get the job done, I feel like that’s rare. It’s a job, yes, and I don’t expect more from them than their job, but it sometimes seems like they don’t want to be here at all. So when I find the ones that do, I hang onto them.

“We take care of our staff, too,” she went on. “If you have an idea or you think something’s not working, we’re going to listen, and we’re going to try to make it so that everybody’s happy. To find people who still don’t want to be here after that, it’s just like, ‘OK, well, maybe this just isn’t it for you.’ But I’ve noticed there is a work ethic issue, especially in the younger generation.”

As for the challenge of rising prices, “there’s a perception with burgers,” Igneri said. “People perceive burgers to be a low-cost item because you can go to McDonald’s for X amount of dollars and buy something that’s not a great product. But beef is one of the highest-priced proteins out there; it fluctuates from $5 to $6 a pound. And you can’t adjust your prices on a daily basis, even though a lot of the prices fluctuate weekly. So you just have to shop around different providers and do the best you can. It’s a constant battle with prices.”

That said, Igneri is gratified by the business he has built.

“On a busy night, you look around, you see people eating, having a good time, and it makes it all worth it. You see families laughing, having a birthday party here. We rent out our bar area for rehearsal dinners. So to pull Local Burger into those big moments in your life — it’s not a small thing finding where you want to have your birthday party or your rehearsal dinner. So it means a lot.”

Speaking of the bar area in Easthampton, Saalfrank said the team recently launched Thursday night bingo games there, and they have been a big hit.

“Our Thursday night will sometimes be busier than our Friday because of the people that are here for bingo,” she said. “It’s a new, fun thing that I feel proud to have been able to get started. It’s a good vibe.”

Igneri reiterated toward the end of his conversation with BusinessWest that the three things that make Local Burger stand out are food quality, the staff, and community connections.

“We’re lucky to be in the west of Massachusetts, where people support local businesses — local farms, local restaurants … it’s important to people,” he said. “I sometimes ask, ‘how did this happen?’ I remember opening the restaurant in Northampton saying, ‘what am I doing? I’m in way over my head. Why am I doing this?’”

Seventeen years — and a lot of happy customers — later, he understands why.

Features Special Coverage

Hire Calling

Emily Benoit (left) and Erika Lamere say the Lincoln Street Stop & Shop in Holyoke has strived to cultivate an inclusive workplace.

Emily Benoit (left) and Erika Lamere say the Lincoln Street Stop & Shop in Holyoke has strived to cultivate an inclusive workplace.

 

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. But for Lhea Destromp, it’s a year-round effort.

“This isn’t just seasonal. It’s about carving out intentional opportunities and making our workspaces more inclusive. And that’s a slow and thoughtful process,” said Destromp, an employment counselor in Regional Employment Services for the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS).

That said, the increased awareness in October does present an opportunity to create more dialogue around the value that workers with disabilities add to the workforce, the importance of inclusive employment policies, and barriers to employment that people with disabilities may face.

“When I’m talking to employers, I’m talking to them in terms of value and what they’re looking for, so I need to be able to convince them that an individual, or a whole group of people, are reliable and not a risk — because, at the end of the day, business people are thinking about risk. So it’s about putting the facts in front of people so that they can make informed decisions. And a lot of people don’t realize that individuals with disabilities tend to have the greatest longevity in their careers.”

As an example, she connected BusinessWest with the Stop & Shop store on Lincoln Street in Holyoke, where a man with a developmental disability named Michael has been bagging and retrieving carriages — and occasionally other tasks — for the past 35 years.

“Michael has been like a brother to me,” said Erika Lamere, an administrator at the store who has roughly the same tenure at the store. “We grew here together. And he feels like this place is his home because he’s been here so long.”

Emily Benoit, a department head who works closely with Michael, said there are rough days when he’ll get a little overwhelmed.

“Whenever something’s bugging him, like if he had a bad interaction with a customer, he’s able to talk to us and explain what happened and what he’s feeling, and we can kind of direct him — ‘OK, that’s all right, this happens, it’s normal.’ And talking about it helps him and brings him down a level so he’s not overwhelmed.”

That said, Michael’s time at Stop & Shop is marked by mostly good days, and the same goes for Chris, another employee with a developmental disability who mainly bags groceries. They’re popular with customers and — importantly — extremely reliable, Benoit said, something Destromp says is true for many of the clients she works with and helps connect with jobs.

Lhea Destromp

“It’s about putting the facts in front of people so that they can make informed decisions. And a lot of people don’t realize that individuals with disabilities tend to have the greatest longevity in their careers.”

“Why should these people not be included?” Lamere asked. “We’ve had supervisors come through the building that say, ‘what do they do?’ Well, they can do anything anyone else can do if they’re just taught how to do it.

“That’s one thing I love about this place — in all my years here, we have always made sure that everyone is included, no matter what it is: a disability, your race, your sexual preference, I don’t care,” she went on. “Everyone is a person and deserves to work if they want to. And yes, they may not be able to perform all tasks, but that doesn’t mean places shouldn’t hire them. And once they get comfortable, you’d be very surprised with the other things they are willing to do and end up doing.”

And doing well, Destromp added.

“Not only do many of these folks work in their positions for a long time, they’re very reliable, they very seldom call out, and individuals with disabilities have the lowest of workers’ compensation claims. So when we think about how an employer defines risk within the context of an employee, we’re checking all the boxes here.”

 

Meaningful Connections

Destromp, as noted, helps people with developmental disabilities secure meaningful work, and she does this from both sides.

“I work with job coaches on job development with individuals who are looking to get jobs. Typically they have a number of obstacles and barriers that have led to a pattern of instability that has made it so they can’t retain work. So I help create goals and strategies to work with these folks so that they can resolve these issues,” she explained.

“At the same time, on the other end, I’m working with employers and helping to prepare them so that they can embark on this journey. For some of them, it’s an easy job, and it’s just about placement. For others, we’re really carving in — helping them identify roles for people and supports.”

In many ways, she said, her department acts as a training program to determine where the barriers are and what someone needs to overcome them and secure employment.

“It really depends on the individual, almost how you think about physical therapy. If somebody has an issue with their leg versus an issue with their back or their core, they’re going to have a whole different regimen to support them and strengthen what they need. So, for us, it’s really about targeting those areas,” she explained. “We’re working to assess where the deficits are, and then we can identify strategies to support them.”

She’s also busy with engaging different constituencies around the issue of inclusive workplaces and what that means to both job seekers and employers.

“I’m doing more around community engagement and around finding places where folks can be establishing and deepening their skill sets and then connecting them more meaningfully to opportunities in the community, and then also working more closely with employers and helping them figure out ways to establish value and take that leap of faith.”

Jason Randall

Jason Randall

“When they find an employer like ours and get into an environment where they feel accepted and wanted, their loyalty is increased, and their length of service with us is higher than others.”

As one motivation, she directs them to tax incentives for hiring disabled workers. The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit reimburses 40% of up to $6,000 in wages to any employer that hires disabled individuals certified by a state workforce agency. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Disability Employment Tax Credit provides up to $5,000 or 30% of the wages paid to each qualified employee with a disability in the first taxable year of employment, whichever is less, decreasing to $2,000 or 30% of the wages paid, whichever is less, in subsequent years.

Those are attractive incentives, Destromp said, but they’re not the whole picture — more important is tapping into an employee pool that, as she noted, tends to be longer-tenured and more reliable than workers in general, at a time when businesses of all kinds are struggling with maintaining a workforce.

“It’s smart business, and the data doesn’t lie,” said Jason Randall, executive director of Human Resources at MGM Springfield, another employer that has embraced inclusivity in hiring.

“These employees do have a longer tenure with us. And in return, they find loyalty in a company that is taking a chance on them because other doors get closed on them through various interview processes or companies that don’t want to engage,” he noted. “When they find an employer like ours and get into an environment where they feel accepted and wanted, their loyalty is increased, and their length of service with us is higher than others.”

Randall explained that MGM has partnered with a number of organizations, not only DDS, but also the Western Mass Employment Collaborative, Viability, and ServiceNet — that support individuals with disabilities who are looking for work.

“We have great relationships with these organizations, meet with them frequently, and are very candid up front about the environment that we provide as a workplace as they’re trying to match their constituents to employment,” he noted. “We know that this environment may not be for everybody. Certainly, working front of house with guests isn’t for everybody, and working back of house, without guest contact, isn’t for everybody. So being candid and having dialogue up front helps create an expectation that these agencies can place or help their candidates apply for appropriate positions.”

The partnership doesn’t stop after hiring, onboarding, and training, Randall added, as the casino complex provides employee accommodations when needed, and works with the aforementioned agencies to determine those needs. “We’ve worked with employees who have a variety of disabilities, and some you can notice by sight, and some you don’t know what’s going on in their life, but they do have a disability.”

Destromp noted that employers she works with are never asked to hinder their productivity with a hire that’s not the right fit.

“If you’re accommodating an employee in a way that is impacting the flow of your environment, then that’s not a reasonable expectation, and you, as an employer, are not expected to meet that expectation,” she said. “But, while that will be a difficult conversation, some difficult conversations yield high rewards — you may say to that person, ‘this is not the right role for you. Let’s examine the other things that are going on in our place of business and needs that we have that you may be able to fill.’”

 

Continuing the Conversation

To mark not only the 80th year of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and 35 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the DDS will present a panel discussion on disability inclusion practices in collaboration with the Springfield Regional Chamber, New England Business Associates, Springfield College, and the ADA National Network.

The event, to be held on Monday, Oct. 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Springfield College Learning Common, will bring together leading employers to share innovative strategies for building inclusive workplaces — including how companies have successfully carved out roles tailored to employees’ strengths and support needs, creating true win-win outcomes. Panelist topics will include ADA recommendations, universal supports, expanding one’s labor pool and cultivating an inclusive culture, and addressing difficult disability-related questions. Email Tina Macy [email protected] with questions and to register.

“I think that individuals with disabilities have long been an overlooked and undervalued and marginalized group of people,” Destromp said. “I think that’s such a shame because these are people who are so eager to prove their worth, to prove their value, and who deserve just the same as anybody — that opportunity to be able to feel the value and the worth that comes along with contributing to your community.”

She said she was excited to meet Michael at the supermarket in Holyoke. “Everybody’s eyes lit up when they saw Mike — he was like the mayor of Stop & Shop.”

That’s gratifying for Lamere, who appreciates what her employees with disabilities have contributed to the store.

“Michael comes in every day, he stays his whole shift, he is reliable. And Chris is the same way. He was hospitalized recently, but he came right back to work. They’re both very reliable. We’re lucky to have them.”

At the same time, an inclusive workplace helps all employees understand differences, and that’s valuable in itself, she added.

“It gets you to open up and see they are people too, and they’re very capable of doing the things we do if they’re just given a shot. [Employees] learn very good lessons — that if you have the right people showing them and the right people giving them the courage or whatever they need, they end up doing it.”

That said, “some customers can be pretty rough,” Lamere went on. “With Michael, he sometimes will struggle with that because his feelings get hurt easily or he feels like he did something wrong. We’ve had customers call him stupid before. And the second I hear that, I’m flying downstairs, because nobody’s doing that. We try to make sure they feel protected.”

Randall said an inclusive workplace, like MGM Springfield, benefits everyone, including the company as a whole.

“Whether it’s a member of the LGBT community, veterans groups, women in the workplace … having an environment that accepts, promotes, and encourages everyone helps from a retention perspective,” he explained. “When employees feel proud about the workforce they are a part of and the company they work for, they become your recruiters. They’re going to tell their friends or family members the experience that they’ve had, and that brings us more candidates coming in the door.”

Destromp agreed. “I think it’s about shining that light and helping local employers see that value and understanding the many unique characteristics and qualities that individuals with disabilities bring to the table as a whole — and that’s even before we take a step closer and get to know each individual better and unpack their unique qualities.”

Community Spotlight Special Coverage

Community Spotlight

 

James Birge says MCLA owes its high ranking among liberal arts colleges to many factors, but especially its strong track record with helping students succeed.

James Birge says MCLA owes its high ranking among liberal arts colleges to many factors, but especially its strong track record with helping students succeed.

Marya Kozik says North Adams is much like its larger neighbor to the south, Pittsfield, in that it is working very hard not to live in the past.

This is a past dominated by massive mills, led by Sprague Electric, that employed thousands; a thriving downtown fueled by payday at those mills; and a population that was significantly larger and much younger, said Kozik, director of Community Development and someone who grew up in the city.

“We’re trying to look forward to new opportunities, whether it be the creative economy or food science and entrepreneurship,” she said, adding that the focus is squarely on the present and the future, and continuing the process of redefining the community known as Steeple City because of the many church spires that dominate the skyline.

Elaborating, she the city is working to build its creative economy, headlined by MASS MoCA, located in the Sprague Electric complex, but including a growing number of art galleries and related businesses, while also trying to attract the many kinds of businesses that will bring young people here — and keep them here.

“The creative economy is taking off,” Kozik said. “We have a lot of artists coming into the community; we have small-scale manufacturing of artistic products and home goods that use the skills of artists who are here and, hopefully, the skills of other people who had left jobs that required that kind of manufacturing skill. There are opportunities coming back, and it’s nice to see new people coming in to the community.”

These efforts comprise many of the storylines now converging in North Adams, a community of roughly 13,000 people. Others include:

• Continued progress at the mill revival initiative known as Greylock Works. The former cotton-spinning mill has been converted into a thriving campus that includes a restaurant, a co-working community, a craft distillery, the Berkshire Cider Project, and event spaces that include the Weave Shed and Engine House, as well as 50 loft condos;

• The reopening last year of North Adams Regional Hospital. Now part of Berkshire Medical Center, the facility, closed after financial problems, was honored with a MassEcon Impact Award earlier this year;

• Progress, in the form of a $17.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, toward creation of the Adventure to Ashuwillticook trail, a 9.3-mile stretch of shared-use pathway connecting the existing Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to the Williamstown Mohican Path by way of downtown North Adams and the rotary at the MASS MoCA campus;

• The North Adams Steeplecats, a team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (which also includes the Holyoke Blue Sox), which continues to draw fans to Joe Wolfe Field, playing an important role in economic development within the community; and

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), one of the city’s largest employers. The school recently maintained its ranking of sixth among the nation’s public liberal arts colleges — marking 11 consecutive years in the top 10.

“This consistency in rankings reflects our core mission — providing an affordable, transformative liberal arts education that empowers students,” MCLA President James Birge said, adding that the school continues to evolve and add new programs and majors — from nursing to ‘music, industry, and production,’ to meet the needs of students and the business community.

 

Progress Report

As she talked about North Adams, what’s been achieved, and the work still be done, Kozik said the city’s evolution from a mill town to a city with an arts- and hospitality-based economy is still very much a work in progress.

MASS MoCA has been a part of this story, she said, noting that, while the facility — the most spacious modern art museum in the world, known for its large-scale installations — has not spurred the kind of economic development that had been hoped, it has become a valuable asset for the city and perhaps the most important piece of an economy now based mostly on tourism, hospitality, and arts-related businesses.

“Do we bring people here when we don’t have all the elements to support them? And how do we create the elements to support them, like restaurants and shopping venues, when we don’t actually have the people to support them?”

Pieces are coming into place, she said, but North Adams, like most all cities trying to attract young people, is facing what she called a ‘chicken-or-the-egg’ scenario.

“Do we bring people here when we don’t have all the elements to support them? And how do we create the elements to support them, like restaurants and shopping venues, when we don’t actually have the people to support them?” she asked rhetorically, adding that the city is essentially working on both sides of the equation simultaneously.

There have been several intriguing additions to the landscape in recent years, businesses created to meet needs and create vibrancy, Kozik noted, citing, as one example, Steeple City Social, a community-oriented bakery, café, and cocktail bar on Eagle Street, launched by a recent transplant to the city, Andrew Fitch.

“He saw a need for what they call a ‘third space,’” she said, meaning a place that’s not home and not the office. “He opened a space that’s a bakery in the morning and a café in the evening; it’s a place to gather, and people have been very supportive.

“Spaces like this build community,” she went on, adding that there have been other additions that fit this description, including several art galleries, many with ancillary products and services, such as tea, that make them more financially viable.

Still, there are considerable challenges to revitalizing the downtown, Kozik said, citing the loss of vitality that came with the loss of all those mill jobs as well as the aftereffects of ’60s-era urban renewal, which essentially left one side of Main Street intact and the other side demolished in favor of a parking lot and mini-mall, plagued by a high vacancy rate in recent years, that has gone by various names, including Steeple City Plaza, the Parkade, and the ‘L-shaped mall.’

“We have one side with beautiful old buildings, and the other side, across a four-lane road, which is unheard of in small cities, two vacant lots,” she explained. “We’re looking to restore the vibrancy of downtown in the storefronts, working with developers who are interested in restoring the top floors into apartments, but we also have these huge vacant lots.”

Meanwhile, outside the downtown, the city is seeing several signs of progress, including adaptive reuse of former mills.

North Adams at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1878
Population: 12,961
Area: 20.6 square miles
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $16.71
Commercial Tax Rate: $35.22
Median Household Income: $35,020
Family Household Income: $57,522
Type of government: Mayor; City Council
Largest Employers: BFAIR Inc.; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; North Adams Regional Hospital
* Latest information available

Indeed, Greylock Works has become one of the better success stories in North Adams. The initiative, led by architects and entrepreneurs Karla Rothstein and Sal Perry, who acquired the mill in 2015, has several intriguing elements, the latest being loft condos that will provide another housing option in the community.

Meanwhile, another former mill, the Norad Mill in the Braytonville section of the city, has been repurposed into office space and home for a diverse mix of tenants, including a yarn manufacturer, a dog biscuit baker, a coffee shop, and a candy company.

Overall, the city’s goal is to create more jobs — it will likely never replace all those lost when the mills closed — with a diverse mix of smaller businesses in those mills, and across the downtown.

 

School of Thought

Creating a workforce to support such businesses is one of the overriding goals at MCLA, formerly North Adams State College, which continues to thrive in its category because of its commitment to liberal arts, even as some colleges and universities have been cutting back on programs in that realm.

“There’s an initiative among institutions today to eliminate academic programs or majors that don’t really generate positive revenue streams, that don’t contribute to the overall revenue of the institution; that hasn’t been my approach here,” Birge said. “Because we’re a liberal arts institution, it’s important to have a broad base of academic programs and majors for students to develop critical-thinking skills.

“For example, we offer philosophy and modern language majors that don’t generate lots of tuition revenue for us, but they’re essential to a liberal arts education. We’ve leaned into those things, like history — we think that’s an important element in a liberal arts education,” he went on. “And because of the facility we have, students who major in those departments do very well.”

Elaborating, he said the school is far more likely to add new programs with potentially strong revenue streams so that it can maintain programs like those he just listed, rather than make cuts.

One example of this is the radiological technology program added just a few years ago, but one that has already become one of the most popular majors, along with health sciences and more traditional offerings such as business, education, and psychology.

“Because of the population of students we have — 50% are first-generation college students, and 50% come from families earning less than $38,000 a year — there are some challenges in terms of what they understand college to be and how they can be here, coming from an economically challenged background.”

As it offers such programs, MCLA has put a hard focus on helping its students, many of them the first generation in their families to attend college, succeed with their goals, whatever they may be.

And these efforts take many forms, from various mentoring programs to the school’s Essential Needs Center, which addresses hardships outside the classroom that can become obstacles to student achievement and overall well-being. The space, run by students, offers food, essential items, housing and transportation assistance, seasonal clothes, SNAP applications, and more.

“Because of the population of students we have — 50% are first-generation college students, and 50% come from families earning less than $38,000 a year — there are some challenges in terms of what they understand college to be and how they can be here, coming from an economically challenged background,” Birge explained. “So, as a result of that, we really try to help students through programs that don’t just advise students, but mentor them so that they can be successful with their academic goals.

“And we don’t necessarily define that in a limited fashion as graduation, but also, how do you achieve a certain grade point average? How do you make sure you succeed in a course that’s going to help predetermine what your major will be? How do you make sure that your academic success is meeting the standards in order to be a student leader in athletics, student government, or in the residence halls?” he went on. “A few years ago, we implemented this success coaching model, in addition to our academic advising, to guide students throughout their time here, not just as they’re coming in, but all along the way.”

 

Healthcare News Special Coverage

The Overlooked Addiction

By Christopher Soderberg and Justin Szwajkowski

Addiction has become a prevalent topic in today’s society, dominating headlines and impacting communities globally. The destructive effects of many of the most common and prevalent addictions are becoming better documented and have led to more open discussions with the younger generation in an effort to deter them from falling victim to their binds.

While the most destructive of these addictions often come to mind when the idea is brought up, many do not consider that the same chemical pathways and environmental factors can be responsible for other forms of addictions.

In recent years, a new form of addiction has risen in frequency: work addiction, sometimes called workaholism. This addiction is defined as a compulsive need to work incessantly, even when it causes harm to one’s physical or mental health. In the relentless pursuit of professional success, it often progresses to the point of burnout, a term that has become quite common in today’s society.

Acknowledging the detrimental effects of burnout on one’s professional performance is the first step towards embracing work-life balance, a strategy that ultimately revitalizes productivity and enhances long-term career success.

 

The Value of Work

In many ways, work is one of the biggest defining characteristics of a human being. What you do for work becomes a large part of who you are, how you see the world, how you live, and what you talk about. Work ethic and personal success have become common status symbols within the community and between peers.

For these reasons, it is easy to see how unhealthy working habits can soon become routine and normalized within one’s own life. While working hard is certainly important, finding a healthy balance between professional success and personal well-being is essential for long-term fulfillment and sustained progress.

In 1989, sociologist Ray Oldenburg shared his ideas on these topics in his book, The Great Good Place, and coined the idea of a ‘third place’ for individuals to help drive this balance. When taking a step back and reflecting on one’s life, an individual’s first two places are obvious — the first place being one’s home, while the second is their workplace.

Christopher Soderberg

Christopher Soderberg

Justin Szwajkowski

Justin Szwajkowski

“Setting boundaries, taking breaks throughout the day, prioritizing your well-being, and the scariest for many — taking vacation time — are all ways you can recharge your mental and physical health.”

These places are where a substantial chunk of one’s life are centered, and in the modern working environment, these places can even become blurred, with the adoption of hybrid work models becoming more common. To effectively manage the stress of these two places, it’s essential to have a third place — a dedicated space outside of these two environments where you can go and relax, recharge, and detach from the ordinary for a moment.

In many cases, the third place can be anywhere or anything you want it to be — the golf course, the gym, the library, even an open field. To truly serve its purpose, your third place should be a space where you can pursue your passions, establish new hobbies, and build meaningful connections. Finding this third place and incorporating it into your schedule will not only help you counteract the effects of workaholism and burnout, but it will help you become a more effective and well-rounded boss or colleague by increasing your overall mental well-being.

When one begins to take the essential steps in addressing their work-life balance, or tendency toward workaholism, they not only restore their own well-being, but also enhance their professional and personal relationships, ultimately leading to increased production and happiness.

On the other hand, when individuals experience burnout from this behavioral addiction, they often begin to experience irritableness, exhaustion, and decreased motivation, which directly impacts the quality and quantity of their work. Most people can probably think about their friends, colleagues, or family and pinpoint an individual who has dropped nearly everything else and worked themselves into the ground in the chase for success.

Luckily, as noted previously, there are steps one can take to both achieve this success and improve quality of life. Setting boundaries, taking breaks throughout the day, prioritizing your well-being, and the scariest for many — taking vacation time — are all ways you can recharge your mental and physical health. These simple remedies lead to renewed focus, increased creativity, and a stronger sense of purpose, ultimately resulting in a significant boost in performance.

It is important to emphasize that the idea of being able to remove yourself from your work is not to say you should not work hard. It is still possible to be the first person into the office, the last to leave, and even put in overtime while still leaving dedicated time for things you enjoy. Short-term compromises can and will sometimes be necessary — issues will pop up, and some weeks may leave less room to visit your third place than others.

Success is a direct result of this kind of hard work and dedication, but that does not mean it has to come at the sacrifice of yourself and those around you. The career ladder is a marathon and not a sprint, and long-term balance offers benefits that outweigh a metaphorical short-term sprint that results in burnout.

 

Bottom Line

In summary, you can still build a successful career while maintaining a balance in life that keeps you energized and well-rounded. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Square, blocks at least one day off a week to go hiking, per a CNBC interview in 2019. Warren Buffet famously took time out of his days to take ukulele lessons and play regularly, as he admitted to Yahoo during an interview in 2023.

These figures achieved incredible levels of career success, and likely worked harder than most for sustained periods of time. However, they still found hobbies and pursued passions to keep them recharged and balanced in life.

Similar to other addictions, drawing boundaries and making changes to eliminate compulsive or learned behaviors can be challenging. In the long run, however, creating a life of balance will be beneficial not only in life outside the office, but also in career success.

 

Christopher Soderberg is a supervisor, and Justin Szwajkowski is an associate, at the Holyoke-based accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Architecture Special Coverage

Weathering Some Uncertainty

A rendering of a project in downtown Pittsfield, one of many housing initiatives in the Dietz & Company portfolio.

A rendering of a project in downtown Pittsfield, one of many housing initiatives in the Dietz & Company portfolio.

 

A rendering of a public safety facility in Taunton designed by Caolo & Bieniek.

A rendering of a public safety facility in Taunton designed by Caolo & Bieniek.

Lee Morrissette was probably looking for some wood to knock on.

In the architecture industry, he explained, there is chatter about things slowing down and work becoming more difficult to attain, and for several reasons. But at the same time, Morrisette, a principal with Springfield-based Dietz & Company Architects, has a different take.

“The architecture industry has been saying that things have been softening for quite a while — billings are down, and new job starts are down, but we’re just not seeing that,” he said, noting that the firm — which recently opened an office in Cambridge, where Morrissette leads a team of four — has a considerable amount of work on the books.

Especially strong is work within the broad housing sector, he added, noting that the critical need for housing of all kinds, but especially the affordable variety, is a statewide problem that is keeping the firm busy.

“We’ve maintained a consistent stream of work,” he said, noting that housing and housing-related projects — from a new community center and administrative office for the Fitchburg Housing Authority to an intriguing 48-unit housing project in downtown Pittsfield, to redevelopment of a demolished shopping plaza in Manchester, Conn. into 232 units of market-rate housing — are dominating the portfolio.

Others we spoke with agreed, at least to some extent, but noted that there are some signs of slowdown and a variety of forces — from rising prices of materials and labor to tariffs to a slower-than-expected pace of decline in interest rates — contributing to a good amount of uncertainty, which is never a good thing within the broad building trades sector.

Still, area firms seem to be maneuvering through this uncertainty, mostly through the diversity of their portfolios, the housing crisis, and the fact that many projects are moving forward in some form, though maybe a little later than planned in some cases.

“While some people have hit pause on projects, there’s more of what I’ll call re-evaluation,” said Curtis Edgin, a principal with Chicopee-based Caolo & Bieniek Architects. “People are saying, ‘is this what we really want to do, or do we want to explore a plan B opportunity?’ We’ve seen a little bit of that, and we’ve been fortunate that there’s always been a plan B.

“The architecture industry has been saying that things have been softening for quite a while — billings are down, and new job starts are down, but we’re just not seeing that.”

“We’ve had another good year, and we have good work in the boards for next year,” he continued, adding, again, that diversity of projects — public, private, large, small, long term and shorter term — has been a real asset for the firm.

Kevin Rothschild, principal with East Longmeadow-based Architecture Environment Life (AEL), agreed, but noted there are some forces that will make 2026 somewhat more challenging. These include the end of several pandemic-related programs to fuel the economy, cutbacks to some public sector programs, and other factors.

“Things are a little harder, a little slower,” he told BusinessWest. “We’re seeing the tail end of funding programs like ARPA and ESSER [Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief] as well as municipal or federal grants that were out there for schools and cities and Green Communities,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of those programs reach their conclusion. The work that we’re exposed to on those projects has had a good run, and we’re seeing a lot of that closing out.”

For this issue and its focus on architecture, we talked to several area firms about what this bellwether sector is seeing, hearing, and experiencing, and what they’re expecting in the months to come.

 

Drawing Conclusions

Morrissette said it was the housing crunch and ongoing efforts to address it that prompted the Dietz firm to expand with its Cambridge office, a small space in the Cambridge Innovation Center, a co-working facility — a step taken after lessons learned from the pandemic about remote work, virtual meetings, and the ability for teams to work effectively even if they’re not all in the same office at the same time.

“We were finding that the housing authorities, particularly the Cambridge Housing Authority and others that we working with … we had enough work with them, and they kept saying, ‘if you had an office here in the Boston area, it would be a lot easier to work on a continuing basis,’” he recalled. “You don’t have to hear that too many times before taking some action.”

And it is housing that continues to broaden the book of business, he said, adding that the firm is involved with several intriguing projects, including the redevelopment of the corner of Linden and Center streets in Pittsfield’s Downtown Arts District. The initiative calls for 48 units of affordable apartment housing through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits — a 30-unit apartment building and two six-unit townhouses designed for passive house certification, the firm’s first such project.

“While some people have hit pause on projects, there’s more of what I’ll call re-evaluation. People are saying, ‘is this what we really want to do, or do we want to explore a plan B opportunity?’ We’ve seen a little bit of that, and we’ve been fortunate that there’s always been a plan B.”

Dietz is also working on an ambitious project in Manchester, Conn. on the site of a razed shopping center. In addition to the 232 units of market-rate apartment housing, plans call for a clubhouse with a fitness center, outdoor pool, and space for community events, as well as a multi-use recreation trail extension, said Morrissette, adding that the project appeared stalled last fall amid uncertainty and higher interest rates, but quickly got back on track.

“We had done some schematics and design-development drawings, and they said, ‘you know what … hold on, we’ll finish out the space, and we’ll see what happens, and if interest rates start to come down, we’ll contact you,’” he recalled. “It didn’t take much of an interest rate drop before they said, ‘OK, it’s looking good enough; we’re moving in the right direction,’ and they re-engaged and got it going again.”

Meanwhile, the firm, with the help of that Cambridge office, has been able to secure work with several housing authorities, including the one in Fitchburg, in the center of the state, where it is designing a new community center and administrative offices.

A rendering of an ambitious housing project in a demolished strip mall in Manchester, Conn. being designed by Dietz & Company.

A rendering of an ambitious housing project in a demolished strip mall in Manchester, Conn. being designed by Dietz & Company.

“We’ve been successful with quite a fair amount of housing authority work, which has been rooting us nicely in this Cambridge office; it’s been good,” Morrissette said, adding that the firm has work in other realms as well, including municipal — the renovated former Chicopee Library, for example — as well as hospitality, education, and office projects.

 

Growth — by Design

Diverse portfolios are also the key to success for the other firms we spoke with.

Indeed, Caolo & Bieniek has been involved with everything from renovations to the clubhouses at Springfield’s two municipal golf courses, Franconia and Veterans, to the new Barry Elementary School in Chicopee; from work at public colleges, including UMass Amherst and Westfield State University, and the municipal library in Richmond to several public-safety projects. That list also includes early-stage work on what will be one of several proposals for a replacement for the troubled Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse in downtown Springfield.

“Our work varies from very long-term projects, like the Barry Elementary School, to the short-term, ‘the roof is leaking; we need to do something’ projects,” Edgin explained. “And that’s what has kept our lights on through the years; we don’t only depend on public sector money. We do some private work, and we have some good private clients as well. And through the years, they appreciate what we we’ve done for them, and they keep coming back, and that’s how we’ve been fortunate.”

The firm has developed a strong niche in the design of public safety facilities, he went on, adding that it has several in various stages of progress in Lenox, Taunton, and Princeton. And, like most firms, it is garnering work in the broad housing sector.

Edgin said his take on the short term, meaning the next several quarters, is one of cautious optimism as the public and private sectors cope with all those challenges listed above and face decisions about whether to proceed with projects, and how.

Curtis Edgin

Curtis Edgin

“We don’t only depend on public sector money. We do some private work, and we have some good private clients as well.”

As he noted, there is usually a plan B.

Rothschild agreed and said his firm still has considerable work on its plate and in the pipeline, but noted that the winding down of several COVID-related programs will certainly be felt within the industry.

He said his firm secured several ESSER-funded, HVAC-related projects to improve ventilation in schools, especially in Holyoke — work that is coming to an end.

Meanwhile, AEL has also garnered some work — lighting, ceiling, insulation, and other initiatives — via the state’s Green Communities program, which provides grants and technical assistance to municipalities to reduce their energy consumption and costs through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

“That seems to be ongoing,” he said. “But with national trends in support of different policies, obviously there are question marks moving forward.

“Meanwhile, the national trends and the pulse of federal cuts, the changes the federal policy, tariffs, labor, immigration … we’re seeing direct impacts from all that,” he went on. “We’re seeing the availability of labor slowing, we’re seeing the cost of work going up, we’re seeing the availability of materials challenged — even if it’s uncertainty concerning what might be coming, it has an impact.”

Rothschild mentioned a HUD-funded project involving a local housing authority the firm was involved with to get his points across.

“I think we were 90% through the drawings, and that was stopped because the funding was not secure. I think ultimately it was cut, and that project was put on the shelf,” he said. “We’re seeing the impact of what’s happening on the federal level on the private market and the public side as well.”

On the positive side, there is the strong potential for new work through state law now permitting property owners to build one accessory dwelling unit in an area zoned for single-family homes, he said, adding that area communities are adapting the bylaw, and some are seeing requests for permits to build.

Meanwhile, AEL is still seeing a good amount of work on both sides of the ledger, and some pockets of the economy, including the commercial market, show the confidence needed to move forward with projects.

“Everything from people trying to open a dance studio to a carpet business looking to expand to trucking and warehouse facilities — there’s a diversity of work out there,” he said. “It’s still there, it’s just hard. Financing is a challenge, contracting is a challenge — everything seems to take a little longer, and it’s a little harder to get through the pipeline.”

 

Daily News

Christopher Marsh

WESTFIELD — Advantage Truck Group (ATG), the largest Daimler Truck North America dealer network in New England, whose locations include a full-service dealership on Southampton Road in Westfield, announced three key promotions in its senior leadership team, promoting Christopher Marsh to executive vice president of Network Truck Sales, Christopher Pentedemos to executive vice president of Network Service Operations, and Michael Ramian to executive vice president of Parts Operations.

Christopher Pentedemos

“These promotions reflect our commitment to fostering leadership within our dedicated team, and I am proud to recognize Chris Marsh, Chris Pentedemos, and Mike Ramian for the contributions they have made to ATG’s growth and success,” ATG President and CEO Kevin Holmes said. “Their expertise has driven improvements that deliver an exceptional experience for both our customers and team members, and their leadership will continue to help shape ATG’s future.”

Michael Ramian

Marsh will lead strategy and management of sales operations across ATG’s eight locations. He has nearly 15 years of experience in truck sales, joining ATG (formerly Tri State Truck Center) in 2011 as sales account executive and progressing to Truck Sales manager and vice president of Network Truck Sales. During this time, he increased ATG’s business with municipalities, growing existing accounts, and expanding its customer base. In 2017, Marsh completed the American Truck Dealers Academy, an intensive leadership and business training program for current and future commercial truck dealership leaders. He currently serves on the Daimler Truck Financial Dealer Council.

Pentedemos is responsible for the overall management, operational efficiency, and customer experience at each service department across the ATG network. He joined ATG (formerly Tri State Truck Center) in 2005 as a bus parts expert and was an Employee of the Year Award recipient. He was promoted to Outside Parts Sales manager, where he was instrumental in building the Thomas Built Bus business, and later progressed to service manager, service director, and vice president of Network Operations. Pentedemos also championed the creation of an onsite training facility at ATG Shrewsbury to further the education and professional development of the organization’s diesel technicians.

Ramian will oversee all aspects of ATG’s parts operations. In his previous role as Parts director, he led parts sales and support for the ATG dealer network, where he grew ATG’s Parts department and its onsite delivery service, establishing the company as the top parts provider in New England. He started his career with ATG (formerly Tri State Truck Center) in 2006 as a Parts counter associate and progressed to assistant Parts manager, Parts manager, and Parts director. Ramian is a recipient of the 2011 ATG Employee of the Year Award and also the 2022 Patriot Award from the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, an organization affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Hogan Technology, a managed technology service provider, announced the launch of its new managed data backup services with flexible solutions that prioritize cloud-based storage while also offering the option for on-site replication, catering to the varying needs of small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). This managed data backup solution is optimized for peak performance, reliability, and efficiency, which are key to ensuring optimal backup and recovery.

As the value of sensitive client data continues to increase, organizations are finding new ways to secure their clients’ information in the most reliable way possible. While many businesses operate with on-site backup appliances, a hybrid approach combining cloud and on-site storage can help mitigate risks associated with obsolescence and inefficiency. Hogan Technology’s cloud-first approach eliminates the need for on-site backup devices altogether, allowing SMBs to back up their data and receive patches, maintenance, and upgrades.

“Organizations can optimize their backup investments by leveraging managed data backup services, which ensure data security and immediate recoverability while offering the flexibility of cloud-first and on-site replication options,” said Sean Hogan, president of Hogan Technology.

By leveraging Hogan Technology’s data backup services, customers can efficiently manage server, workstation, and Microsoft 365 backups and recoveries for multiple locations or customers from a single web-based dashboard. Performing cloud-first data backups translates to significant cost and time savings while ensuring customers’ data remains accessible and protected.

One of the biggest drawbacks of data backup is when the process is inefficiently managed. For example, if the customer’s managed services provider or their IT department decides to perform a data backup during work hours, it could strain network resources or interrupt bandwidth for other employees on the network.

Hogan explained that the best data backup systems utilize deduplication and incremental backup capabilities to move up to 60 times less data than conventional image backup products, enabling organizations to back up their data more frequently without causing network issues. This is important because most companies are so competitive that they cannot afford to reduce the productivity of all other employees due to inefficient IT practices. This solution minimizes bandwidth usage, making daily backups small, lightweight, and cost-effective.

“Every single IT system that an organization implements needs to take cybersecurity into consideration,” he said. “Cyber criminals have unprecedented access to artificial intelligence-based cybercrime software, and it’s vital that any data backup solution takes security very seriously.”

For businesses that want to create an additional layer of security, he added, it’s important that files are encrypted using a 256-bit encryption to secure files both in transit and at rest to ensure data privacy, which is exactly how Hogan Technology’s new managed data backup solution is configured. This gives management the ability to restrict certain data so that only authorized personnel can access encrypted data with their private key. Additionally, the cloud-first managed data backup solution uses ISO-certified data centers located worldwide, with region-specific certifications to maintain strict security and compliance standards.

Daily News

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union is running a winter coat and cold-weather clothing drive in its Hadley, Northampton, and Springfield branches throughout October. Donations from this annual drive will be distributed in partnership with the Amherst Survival Center and Gray House in Springfield.

“This winter, many of our neighbors are worried about keeping up with the rising costs of groceries, heating bills, and rent, all while trying to make the holidays special for their families,” said Miranda Groux, resource coordinator at Amherst Survival Center. “The winter coat drive makes sure that having a reliable winter coat is one less worry. Times are especially tight, and we appreciate the opportunity to partner with UMassFive to provide free winter coats for anybody who needs one.”

UMassFive is accepting clean, new, or gently used coats, gloves, scarves, hats, sweaters, snow gear, and boots. Donations should be bagged and dropped off during business hours at the branches located at 200 Westgate Center Dr., Hadley; 25 King St., Northampton; and 233 Carew St. (Mercy Medical Center Rehabilitation Building), Room 110, Springfield.

While the Amherst Survival Center does accept donations directly, limited storage space makes drop-offs at participating UMassFive branches preferred.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society will partner with Balise Subaru of Hadley to offer discounted adoption fees for select dogs and cats at Dakin during the month of October as part of Subaru Loves Pets, a national Subaru initiative to support the lives of as many shelter animals as possible.

“We’re proud to partner with Dakin Humane Society to support their incredible work finding loving homes for animals in need,” said Joe Clark, general manager of Balise Subaru of Hadley. “Our showroom has always welcomed pet lovers, and this partnership is a meaningful way for us to give back and make a real difference. Subaru Loves Pets is one of our favorite initiatives because it connects our team, our customers, and the community through a shared love for animals.”

Dakin Humane Society organized the pet event in collaboration with Balise Subaru of Hadley to raise awareness of local pets in need. During October, Balise Subaru of Hadley and more than 630 Subaru retailers nationwide worked with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to provide grants to local partner shelters, resulting in more than $3 million in donations.

Subaru has donated more than $70 million since 2008 to national and local organizations that help in the adoption, rescue, transport, and health of more than 700,000 animals and pets.

In addition to hosting the pet adoption event, Balise Subaru of Hadley helped celebrate the seventh annual National Make a Dog’s Day by encouraging the local community to do something special for the dogs in their lives, adopt a shelter dog, or volunteer at an animal shelter and share the experience on social media using the hashtag #MakeADogsDay.

Daily News

HADLEY — Just two weeks ago, the only improv comedy theater in Western Mass., Happier Valley Comedy (HVC) in Hadley, was celebrating its 10th anniversary. Now, there is even more to celebrate as it prepares for the grand opening of its new Dream Theater on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.

“When we first brought the idea of expanding the theater to our board in early 2023, part of us wondered if our dreams were too big for our little theater to achieve,” said Pam Victor, HVC founder and head of happiness. “But we should have known our remarkable community’s dreams were just as big as ours.”

The new theater features a fully accessible stage, expanded installed theater seating, and a more professional improv stage. The new expansion is connected to Happier Valley Comedy’s existing space at 1 Mill Valley Road in Hadley. HVC worked with general contractors at Integrity Development and Construction of Amherst and architect Tom Douglas of Thomas Douglas Architects of Northampton.

The grand opening event will feature performances from HVC mainstage casts with musical improv, theatrical longform improv, and true storytelling. After the show, attendees are invited to join in the after-party for snacks, drinks, and community celebration.

Proceeds from ticket sales will contribute to the sustainable continuation of the Equity Fund, which supports BIPOC participation in HVC programming and phase two of the Dream Theater project, including more accessible seating for all bodies, enhanced theatrical lighting and audio systems for a supported visual and auditory experience, and a lobby space to allow more connection-rich opportunities to bolster community.

“In 2015, Happier Valley Comedy was born of a dream to make a living doing what I love,” Victor said. “The opening of our expanded Dream Theater in 2025 means even more people can share in that dream. And now that the hard work of building it is done, it’s time to get on that stage and play.”

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — This October, Storrowton Village Museum invites visitors to step into the past and get into the Halloween spirit with its popular Ghost Tours, held on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 per person and are available online at storrowtonvillage.com.

The self-guided evening tour takes visitors through the village’s historic buildings, featuring a video on its paranormal past and stories of how each structure came to be here. Thursday, Oct. 9 is Family Night, including a lantern-making activity for guests to bring along on their tour.

From jiggling doorknobs and phantom footsteps to unexplained taps on the shoulder, paranormal activity has been reported in Storrowton Village for generations. During the Ghost Tours, the village’s storied past is explored through a supernatural lens. Each building, relocated to Storrowton between 1927 and 1930 from towns across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, was saved from demolition and preserved to share its history. The lives of their original families linger in these walls, joined by nearly a century of new stories from the millions who have since passed through. Now, guests can uncover the paranormal secrets hidden within this recreated 19th-century New England village.

Ghost Tours last approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours and are recommended for ages 12 and up. All ages are welcome on Oct. 9, when the tour content will be tailored for families. Photography is permitted in select areas, but video recording is not allowed. Guests should check in at the Meeting House, where the tour begins. Tickets will be available at the door only if the event is not sold out. The tours, which run rain or shine, are not wheelchair-accessible and include stairs and uneven surfaces.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will conclude its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with “Our Stories, Our Voices, Our Lens,” a conversation with local Latinx ‘artivists,’ talking about how art contributes to the preservation and celebration of history and culture.

The panel discussion will run on Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the second floor of the HCC Campus Center.

The discussion, moderated by Naoimi Robles, an HCC alum and student success counselor for El Centro, a bilingual HCC student support program, will include three panelists:

• Maria Salgado-Cartagena, director of Community Engagement at Mount Holyoke College. Known as the ‘people’s historian of Holyoke,’ she is working to ensure the visibility of Puerto Ricans in the city’s vibrant past and present. A former resident of Holyoke, she has been involved in community organizing since high school and has worked in the nonprofit sector of Holyoke for more than 25 years;

• Michelle Falcón Fontánez, an award-winning storyteller working in photography, film, theater, and installation art. She is currently working on a three-part mini-series that unpacks the psychological and environmental impacts on Puerto Ricans in South Holyoke during a series of fires in the 1970s; and

• Eartha Mejia, a Latiné transfem, organizer, cultural worker, healer, writer, and artivist from Pawtucket/Pentucket lands in Lawrence. Currently a student at Mount Holyoke College, Mejia hopes one day to become a clinical social worker to serve the queer BIPOC community. They seek to create spaces where collective healing and liberation meet by hosting healing circles, writing workshops, resistance book clubs, and more.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationally each year from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 to recognize the cultural and historical influences of Hispanic Americans. On the HCC campus, it is called Latinx Heritage Month.

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

 

Supporting Students

On Sept. 24, Holyoke Community College (HCC) celebrated the grand reopening of its Itsy Bitsy Child Watch Center in a newly renovated and expanded space on the second floor of the Frost Building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception. Itsy Bitsy Child Watch is a free drop-in service for student parents who need short-term child care while they attend classes, study, or meet with tutors and advisers. 

Pictured: HCC President George Timmons, state Sen. John Velis, Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw, and others get ready to cut the ribbon.

Pictured: HCC President George Timmons, state Sen. John Velis, Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw, and others get ready to cut the ribbon.

 

Soccer Without Borders

On Sept. 4, the Rotary Club of Springfield hosted Mohammed Abdulahi and Tajaldin Jalil from Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, who provided an update on their Soccer Without Borders program, for which they used a $2,000 grant from the Rotary to purchase T-shirts and other equipment. Soccer Without Borders helps participants improve their English, build leadership skills, develop healthy lifestyles, and make social connections with their peers. 

Pictured, from left: Carla Alves, Rotary treasurer; Abdulahi; Michael Kelley, Rotary president; Samalid Hogan, Rotary vice president and membership chair; and Jalil.

Pictured, from left: Carla Alves, Rotary treasurer; Abdulahi; Michael Kelley, Rotary president; Samalid Hogan, Rotary vice president and membership chair; and Jalil.

 

Best Fare at the Fair

Each year, the Big E’s food vendors compete in the Big Eats awards, sponsored by Cutco Cutlery. This year’s competition was held on Sept. 16. The award for Best Sweet Treat went to the spicy PB&J vegan ice cream sundae from Soulfully Vegan, owned by Calvin and Allison Vaughn . The award for Best Savory Snack was awarded to the deep-fried enchilada from Deep Fried Taco, owned by James and Andrea Staub.  Judges included West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt, Madeline LeBlanc of @HelloFoodReviews, Daymon Patterson of the Netflix show Fresh, Fried and Crispy, and Christina Allingham of @BiteofNewEngland.

The award for Best Sweet Treat went to the spicy PB&J vegan ice cream sundae from Soulfully Vegan, owned by Calvin and Allison Vaughn

The award for Best Sweet Treat went to the spicy PB&J vegan ice cream sundae from Soulfully Vegan, owned by Calvin and Allison Vaughn

 

The award for Best Savory Snack was awarded to the deep-fried enchilada from Deep Fried Taco, owned by James and Andrea Staub

The award for Best Savory Snack was awarded to the deep-fried enchilada from Deep Fried Taco, owned by James and Andrea Staub

Agenda

Up Next Summit

Oct. 16: The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS) announced the launch of the Up Next Summit, a first-time leadership event designed to empower, inspire, and connect the region’s rising professionals. This event will take place at MGM Springfield, and tickets are now on sale. Visit www.springfieldyps.com/upnext to reserve a spot. Designed to bring together emerging leaders for a day of workshops, keynote speakers, and high-impact conversations, Up Next will directly address the challenges faced by rising professionals and the leaders who champion their development. This one-day event will bring together professionals from across the region for an energizing mix of expert-led micro workshops, networking, and big-picture conversations with topics ranging from community impact to personal development. In addition, Up Next will feature dynamic keynote presentations from Jill Monson, founder of POP!more Confidence Coaching, and Michelle Wirth, founder of Feel Good Shop Local. Both speakers are known for their powerful insights on leadership, purpose-driven work, and community engagement.

 

Cancer Connection Harvest Dinner

Oct. 16: Cancer Connection’s annual Harvest Dinner will take place at Union Station in Northampton. The Harvest Dinner is one of Cancer Connection’s most important fundraisers, and bankESB’s support will help underwrite the costs of the event and allow the organization to raise more funds for its programs. This festive evening brings the Cancer Connection community together and raises critical funds to bring support groups, integrative therapies, and educational programs to more cancer patients and their caregivers. The event will include a cocktail hour, farm-to-table dinner, silent auction, and a program of speakers. Cancer Connection, the only independent cancer support center in the area, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. Founded in 2000, Cancer Connection’s mission is to provide a haven where people with cancer and their loved ones can learn how to navigate the complicated cancer journey through one-to-one guidance, education, peer support, integrative therapies, and creative programs. Cancer Connection is the only cancer support center in Hampshire and Franklin Counties and draws additional participants from Hampden County and beyond. For more information on sponsorships and tickets for the Harvest Dinner, visit www.cancer-connection.org/special-events.

 

Healthcare Heroes Gala

Oct. 22: BusinessWest and the Healthcare News will celebrate this year’s eight Healthcare Heroes starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The class of 2025, profiled in the Sep. 15 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com, includes the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit at Mercy Medical Center; Areliz Barbosa, clinical assistant professor and senior project coordinator at Bay Path University; Andrea Bertheaud, clinical assistant professor at Elms College; Chrissy Humason, Nursing supervisor and Stroke coordinator at Baystate Noble Hospital; Linda Koh, assistant professor at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at UMass Amherst; Cindy Leonard, Infusion manager at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center; Dr. Thomas Lincoln, physician and associate professor of Medicine at Baystate Health; and Dr. Yannis Raftopoulos, director of the Holyoke Medical Center Weight Management Program. Tickets cost $95, and tables of 10 are available. To purchase tickets, visit businesswest.com/healthcareheroes. Presenting sponsors include Baystate Health/Health New England and Elms College. Partner sponsors include Trinity Health Of New England/Mercy Medical Center and Holyoke Medical Center.

 

Fall in Love with BFAIR – One Sip at a Time Fundraiser

Oct. 22: Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR) invites the community to an evening of fine wine, food, and music at its upcoming fundraiser, Fall in Love with BFAIR – One Sip at a Time, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Balderdash Cellars, 81 State Road, Richmond. The event, sponsored by Sourcepass, will feature wines paired with appetizers, charcuterie, and desserts by Pizza Trails. It will also feature a lively program including a silent auction, raffles, and live music performed by Brian Benlien. The evening’s proceeds will support BFAIR’s mission of providing quality, individualized services to people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injury. Tickets cost $100 per person and must be reserved by Oct. 8 at bit.ly/452LPRn.

 

EANE Fall Conference Events

Oct. 23: The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced a conference, “Safety Leadership for Your Workplace,” taking place at the Marriott in Springfield. Attendees will experience a full day of presentations, including Dick Flynt from the National Safety Council, OSHA, certified safety professional Dan Williams, and the team from Protective Advanced Safety Services. Qualified Massachusetts employers can apply for reimbursement for conference fees using the MA Express Program. To learn more or register for these events, visit www.eane.org or email Allison Ebner at [email protected].

 

bankESB Shred Day

Oct. 25: bankESB invites customers and members of the community to a free shred day at its 241 Northampton St., Easthampton branch. No appointment is necessary. The events will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. or until the truck is full. Residents can reduce their risk of identity theft by bringing old mail, receipts, statements, bills, canceled checks, pay stubs, medical records, or any other unwanted paper documents containing personal or confidential information and having them shredded them safely and securely for free. A professional document destruction company will be on site in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per person.

 

Springfield Chamber Players Opening Night Concert

Oct. 26: The Springfield Chamber Players (SCP) will launch their 2025-26 season at 52 Sumner at 3 p.m. Alexander Svensen, assistant principal bass of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, will perform works by Bach, Bartók, Dragonetti, and more. He will be joined by Romina Kostare, violinist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and Patrick Berry, radio and TV personality, on select pieces. This will be the second season for the Springfield Chamber Players at 52 Sumner and will feature more musicians of the SCP in this five-concert series. Another series at the Westfield Athenaeum, as well as a partnership with the Springfield Youth Orchestras, are planned for this season.

 

Halloween Mall-O-Ween

Oct. 30: Families and children of all ages are invited to Holyoke Mall’s annual Halloween Mall-O-Ween trick-or-treating event from 4 to 6 p.m. Participating mall retailers will be handing out candy throughout the center, making it an ideal destination for little ghouls and goblins to safely enjoy trick-or-treating. Attendees can also participate in a Social Media Costume Contest. Simply snap a photo while trick-or-treating at the mall, post it on Facebook and/or Instagram, follow and tag the mall @HolyokeMall, and use the hashtag #HolyokeMallHalloween2025. Contestants must be at least 18 years old. Winners will be announced on Nov. 3 and awarded prizes.

 

Friendsgiving Fundraiser

Nov. 3: The Iron Horse Music Hall will turn up the volume on community with the Friendship Band Friendsgiving Fundraiser, a music-fueled party with a purpose. Two local favorites, the Friendship Band and Soul Magnets, will take the stage to raise support for the performing arts at Whole Children and Milestones, programs of ServiceNet, where people with disabilities take center stage. The Friendship Band unites musicians with and without disabilities in a shared celebration of music’s power to connect. Over the past 10 years, it has built a loyal following with its mix of originals and covers, memorable collaborations with Yo La Tengo, and standout sets at Transformance at Look Park. Joining them is Valley funk powerhouse Soul Magnets. With a horn-heavy, nine-piece lineup and a setlist that slides from funk classics to neo-soul originals, the band has fired up crowds from the Green River Festival to the Drake and Millpond Live. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $30, including fees. Both seated and standing options are available (first come, first served). Accessible seating is available at (413) 200-0425 or [email protected]. Visit ironhorse.org to purchase tickets.

 

Next Gen Summit

Nov. 5: Six-Point Strategy announced the launch of its first Next Gen Summit, a one-day retreat designed for emerging leaders in family businesses. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Venture Way in Hadley. The summit is built around the unique challenges of succession and generational leadership. Next generation leaders have the difficult task of navigating the ‘in-between’ space, shaping the future of their companies while still carrying the weight of family legacy. Participants will gain tools, frameworks, and connections to help them lead with confidence and authenticity. The event will be facilitated by three leaders with deep expertise in family business, leadership, and strategy: Meghan Lynch, CEO of Six-Point Strategy; Ira Bryck, founder and longtime director of the UMass Amherst Family Business Center; and Joshua Hornick, director of the Hornick School for Coaching. Summit highlights include “Leadership Styles” (balancing authenticity with authority), “The Power of Being Different” (why differentiation matters more than excellence), “Family-ness in Business” (using family culture as a superpower), and “Peer Learning” (shared conversations on succession and influence). The program is designed to be intimate and highly interactive, ensuring every participant has a voice. Space is limited, and early bird registration is open through Oct. 3 at a discounted rate of $395. Standard tickets are $495. For more information or to register, visit sixpointstrategy.com/nextgensummit.

 

 

People on the Move
George Timmons

George Timmons

Holyoke Community College (HCC) President George Timmons was honored on Sept. 12 as one of 100 Men of Color during a black-tie gala at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, Conn. The 100 Men of Color awards ceremony, sponsored by the Archer Foundation, recognizes the contributions of men of color in education, business, government, entertainment, and other industries, and the impact they have made on the lives of people in Connecticut and Western Mass. Timmons was chosen to speak on behalf of all 100 honorees as the 2025 class ‘valedictorian.’ Timmons, HCC’s president since July 2023, holds a bachelor’s degree in financial management from Norfolk State University, a master’s degree in higher education from Old Dominion University, and a PhD in higher education from Bowling Green State University. He is the first African-American man to serve as HCC president. A portion of the proceeds from the annual gala support mentorship programs and scholarships for young men of color who graduate from high school and plan to attend college.

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Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) announced that its board of directors has selected Michael Sugrue, current executive vice president, as the next president, effective Sept. 17. Following the retirement of current President and CEO James Kelly on May 31, 2026, Sugrue will assume the CEO title. Kelly’s 20-year tenure as president and CEO has driven significant growth in membership and assets, introduced innovative financial services, and strengthened community ties. Sugrue brings nearly 30 years of banking experience to his new role. Since joining PNCU in 2016 as executive vice president and chief lending officer, he has driven strategic growth and member engagement initiatives. His prior roles include positions in risk oversight, audit, compliance, community reinvestment, and as a financial institution examiner for regulatory authorities at both the state and federal levels. Sugrue holds an MBA from UMass Amherst and a graduate degree in executive banking from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking. His community involvement includes serving on the Holyoke Medical Center board, the Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Effective Sept. 17, PNCU also announced the promotion of Charlotte Hansen to executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). Hansen brings more than 30 years of financial services experience and has been with PNCU for more than seven years, most recently serving as senior vice president and CFO. She now oversees finance and accounting, financial services, and marketing, with responsibility for financial reporting, budgeting, investments, treasury, and asset liability management. Prior to joining PNCU, Hansen was CFO and senior vice president at Bankers’ Bank Northeast and began her career in public accounting with Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C., focusing on audit and tax services for financial institutions. A certified public accountant, she holds an associate degree in accounting from Manchester Community College and a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from the University of Hartford. She also serves on several local boards. Kirk Burnham, promoted to executive vice president of Operations/Technology, has more than 30 years of experience in financial services. Since joining PNCU in 2013 as senior vice president of Operations, he has overseen daily operations, including security, facilities, vendor management, data processing, electronic delivery systems, and the contact center, while driving technology objectives and policies. Previously, he served as vice president of Operations and chief Technology officer. Burnham holds a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting and attended the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. School for Financial Studies and the National School of Banking. He serves on local education boards and supports financial literacy programs. David Fernandes, promoted to senior vice president of Retail, and Sherri LaPlante, promoted to Human Resource director, further bolster PNCU’s leadership with their expertise in member services and workplace culture.

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Westfield Bank announced the promotion of Kelly Pignatare to first vice president, manager of Retail Banking and Business & Government Deposit Services. Pignatare has more than two decades of banking experience, in both retail and business capacities. In her new role, she aims to drive deposit and loan growth, as well as customer service excellence, across all Westfield Bank branch locations, as well as the bank’s Business & Government Deposit Services Department, responsible for providing deposit and cash management services to commercial and municipal customers. Pignatare has served in many roles at Westfield Bank, most recently as a vice president and regional manager. In 2023, she graduated from the New England School for Financial Studies, completing an intensive two-year program for banking professionals. She is also deeply involved with the community and serves as a board member for the Pathlight advisory board and the Pioneer Valley Conference for Women, where she was chosen as a panelist for the 2025 conference held earlier this year.

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Janice Ward

Janice Ward

Berkshire Bank, a division of Beacon Bank & Trust, announced the appointment of Janice Ward as senior vice president and head of Fiduciary Services to lead the bank’s fiduciary activities, including its trust business. Before rejoining the bank, Ward was first vice president and trust officer at Greenfield Savings Bank, where she was a member of the bank’s senior leadership team, overseeing all fiduciary activities. Ward’s other prior experience includes serving as senior fiduciary officer in Berkshire Bank’s Wealth Management department based out of Lenox, and chief wealth management officer at Citizens & Northern Bank in Wellsboro, Pa. Ward earned a law degree from Western New England University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She is co-founder and former president of the Estate Planning Council of the Berkshires.

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Thomas Osuch

Thomas Osuch

MountainOne announced the appointment of Thomas Osuch as vice president, commercial loan officer. Osuch joins MountainOne Bank with more than 18 years of experience in commercial banking. His primary focus will be to manage a growing loan portfolio, generate new business opportunities, and remain actively engaged in community and charitable organizations. Osuch is a board member of both the Weymouth Chamber of Commerce and the Hanover Chamber of Commerce. He is actively involved in Weymouth youth sports programs, currently serving as coach for Cal Ripken baseball, youth basketball, soccer, and flag football. He most recently served as vice president, commercial loan officer with Rockland Trust. A graduate of Trinity College with a degree in economics, he continued his education by earning an MBA from UMass Dartmouth.

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Jonathan Denmark

Jonathan Denmark

MountainOne announced that Jonathan Denmark, president and chief operating officer of MountainOne Insurance Agency and executive vice president of MountainOne Bank, has been named to Berkshire Magazine’s prestigious Berkshire 25 list. Now in its 12th year, the annual honor celebrates 25 individuals who have made a significant impact on the Berkshire region in Massachusetts. Denmark, president and COO of MountainOne Insurance and executive vice president of MountainOne Bank, has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth and evolution. Under his leadership, MountainOne Insurance has expanded from four offices to nine in the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley. His strategic vision and commitment to community engagement have helped strengthen MountainOne’s presence and impact throughout the region. In addition to his leadership roles within MountainOne, Denmark serves as board chair of the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority; on the mayor’s economic development council, the finance committee of the Berkshire Innovation Center, and 1Berkshire; and as vice president of administration at Congregation Knesset Israel in Pittsfield. He also a member of the Housie Shakers, a band that performs at local venues and charitable events.

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Kristen Smidy

Kristen Smidy

The Healey-Driscoll administration announced that Gov. Maura Healey has appointed Kristen Smidy as the newest member of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Smidy is a former teacher, principal, and superintendent with nearly 20 years of experience as an educator in Massachusetts. She currently serves as associate director for Accreditation and School Improvement on the New England Assoc. of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Public Schools. Smidy joined NEASC in the fall of 2025 after almost five years as superintendent for the Gateway Regional School District in Huntington. She previously served as principal of Hampshire Regional High School and began her career as a sixth- and seventh-grade social studies teacher at Duggan Middle School in Springfield. She has served on the legislative committee for Massachusetts School Superintendents, the Connecticut Valley Superintendent Roundtable executive board, and the Massachusetts Inclusive Higher Education task force. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst and Boston University.

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The Springfield Thunderbirds announced a hire and several promotions to its business staff heading into the new season. Sophia Mackin has been hired as coordinator of Digital & Social Media, Frank Grimaldi has been promoted to director of Ticket Operations & Retention, and Steve Brousseau has been promoted to senior account executive. Mackin joins the Thunderbirds after serving as a Social & Digital Media intern with the team for the previous two seasons. She graduated from UMass Amherst in May. Grimaldi is an original staff member of the Thunderbirds front office, having been with the club since the team’s inception in 2016. He served as an account executive from 2016 to 2018 before transitioning to Ticket Operations & Retention before the 2018-19 season. He is an alumnus of Western New England University. Brousseau joined the Thunderbirds front office full-time during the 2021-22 season after spending two seasons as a game-day intern with the team. He has been recognized for his excellence, having been named a finalist for the Howdy Award this past April for outstanding customer service in the hospitality industry. He is an alumnus of Springfield College. In addition, the Thunderbirds have also appointed Andrew “Guam” McCormic as Retail Office coordinator and Ethan Vattaso as Gameday Operations assistant. McCormic served as Gameday Operations assistant last season before transitioning into his new role, where he will assist in gameday merchandise and retail sales. He is a 2025 graduate of Springfield College and will be entering his fourth season with the T-Birds organization. Vattaso, a current undergraduate at Springfield College, is entering his third season as part of the Thunderbirds’ gameday staff. He will manage the staff and oversee live entertainment elements throughout home game nights at the MassMutual Center this season.

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Donna Bishop

Donna Bishop

MountainOne Insurance Agency announced the promotion of Donna Bishop to senior vice president, Commercial Lines Operations manager. Bishop is recognized as a leading authority in commercial lines insurance and holds the prestigious certified risk manager designation. Her knowledge of insurance carriers, coverage solutions, and operational strategy has been instrumental in strengthening the agency’s commercial infrastructure. She has played a vital role in launching the small business unit and has led process improvements, including key workflow optimizations. Bishop’s leadership continues to shape the agency’s success through strategic carrier negotiations, regulatory oversight, and long-term planning.

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Julianne Fruscio

Julianne Fruscio

Chikmedia, a boutique firm specializing in marketing, public relations, branding, and design, announced the addition of Julianne Fruscio to its growing creative team as a content producer. With more than a decade of expertise in marketing strategy, social media, and brand development, she brings a proven ability to craft impactful content that drives engagement, strengthens brand presence, and fuels growth. Fruscio is a seasoned marketing director, social media influencer, and expert in content creation, with extensive experience developing innovative campaigns for major brands, including her work with Amazon and Comfrt. She specializes in brand positioning, storytelling, and creative direction, consistently producing results-driven content that captivates audiences and boosts conversions. In addition to her corporate achievements, Fruscio has built a thriving body positivity community, showcasing her talent for fostering authentic engagement and inspiring audiences. Her strengths in trend analysis, content planning, and visual production ensure that the brands she works with achieve consistent growth and lasting impact. She holds a bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Ithaca College’s Roy H. Park School of Communications. Prior to joining Chikmedia, she served as director of Marketing, Retention, and Field Services at Dominion Dealer Solutions, as well as Business Development and Marketing specialist at Excelsior Integrated.

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Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., a labor and employment law firm serving employers in the Greater Springfield and Worcester areas, announced that one of its partners, Timothy Murphy, has been recognized once again by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America list for 2026. He is listed in three fields: employment law – management, labor law – management, and litigation – labor and employment. Focusing his practice on labor relations, union avoidance, collective bargaining and arbitration, employment litigation, and employment counseling, Murphy has been included in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2013 and was Lawyer of the Year in 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2025. Murphy is very active within the local community, sitting on boards of directors for several area organizations, such as the Human Service Forum and Community Legal Aid. He also is a member of the World Affairs Council.

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Caroline Morrissey

Caroline Morrissey

West Springfield native Caroline Morrissey has been named the first executive director of the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England (ICCWNE), bringing with her a wealth of global experience and a deep passion for Irish heritage. Morrissey, a Colby College alumna, earned her master’s degree in international administration with a policy focus from the University of Denver. She spent nearly a decade working in post-conflict zones across Africa, most recently serving with President Carter’s the Carter Center in Liberia, before returning to Western Mass. just before the pandemic. Since returning, she has been an active member of the ICCWNE’s events committee, where she founded the new book club — a now-thriving literary group that she continues to moderate monthly. In summer 2024, she took on a larger leadership role by joining the board of directors. The newly established executive director position is made possible in part through the support of the government of Ireland. Serving as the ICCWNE’s chief administrator, Morrissey will oversee daily operations, guide the implementation of the strategic plan, and expand cultural programming and community reach.

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Zeno Temple

Zeno Temple

Zeno Temple recently joined the Royal Law Firm as a legal assistant. He manages attorney calendars and deadlines; assists with litigation management, including drafting pleadings, discovery, and motions; and helps organize federal and state case files, pretrial documents, and exhibits. Temple is completing his juris doctorate at Western New England University School of Law in the evening division. He has experience as a paralegal, supporting litigation in family law and civil matters, as well as externships in state and federal agencies where he assisted with legal research, drafting, and case management. Outside the office, he is active in community service and mentoring programs.

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MountainOne Insurance Agency announced the promotion of Jennifer Smith to Senior Personal Lines account manager, a new, leadership-level role that recognizes team members who bring exceptional experience, knowledge, and client service to the agency. Smith delivers a thoughtful and client-focused approach to every interaction and has a reputation for explaining complex insurance details clearly and confidently, making her a trusted advisor to both clients and colleagues. She is also deeply committed to her community and actively supports the National Alliance on Mental Illness and mental health advocacy efforts.

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Jon Berthiaume

Jon Berthiaume

Dr. Natasha McKay

Dr. Natasha McKay

Dr. Mark Keroack

Dr. Mark Keroack

The Springfield Museums elected new members to its board of trustees at its annual meeting of corporators, held Sept. 24. The newly elected trustees are Jon Berthiaume and Dr. Natasha McKay, with Dr. Mark Keroack named board chair. Kate Kane was also named to the trustees emeriti and two new corporators were elected as well, bringing the total number of Springfield Museums corporators to 325. Former CEO of Baystate Health, Keroack has served on several local boards focused on improving the quality of life in Springfield and across Western Mass., as well as several state and national boards. During his time at Baystate Health, he expanded the reach and variety of its clinical services by overseeing the implementation of two new community hospitals, as well as growing its outpatient practices. He also provides strategic oversight for philanthropic and community benefits activities in support of the health system. Berthiaume has served in executive brand marketing leadership roles at MassMutual and eBay. In his positions, Jon has stewarded brands including American Express, Deloitte, and Walmart to focus on portfolio and architecture strategy and new brand introductions, and he has led global go-to-market activations. He is currently a board member for the Spirit of Springfield Inc. and was banquet co-chair for the 2020 National Conference for Community and Justice. He is a member of the Springfield Museums’ marketing, communications and community relations and Mi Museo committees. Since relocating to the Springfield area from New York City in 2005 to join Mercy Medical Center as a neurosurgeon, McKay has held positions such as serving on the board of directors of the Colony Club and is currently completing her second term on the board of the YWCA, where she served four years as chair of governance and two as vice president. She also serves on the board of directors of Mercy Medical Center. She has been a long-time member of the Society of William Rice, joined the subcommittee, and serves on the collections committee. Kane, a wealth management advisor for Northwestern Mutual and board chair at Elms College, has been a long-time supporter of the Springfield Museums in many different capacities. She is a former trustee, committee member, volunteer, and Society of William Rice member. She also helped organize the Museums’ ad hoc inclusion task force when she was chair, as well as helped the Museums pivot its strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among many regional awards, she was honored as a Difference Maker by BusinessWest in the inaugural class of 2009.

•••••

BFAIR (Berkshire Family and Individual Resources) announced the promotion of Macayla Flanigan to the position of director of Learning and Employee Development. Flanigan began her journey with BFAIR as a part-time administrative assistant and has since demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and a strong commitment to excellence. Most recently serving as lead administrative assistant, she played a key role in advancing several agency initiatives, including chairing the wellness committee, co-chairing the IT development committee, and actively serving on the employee engagement and entertainment committees. In her new role, she will lead BFAIR’s initiatives to enhance staff training, foster professional growth, and strengthen employee engagement across the agency. A graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Flanigan has also worked as a business support specialist, guiding clients in areas such as social media and podcast production, CRM management, e-marketing operations, and administrative support.

•••••

Barney Garcia

Barney Garcia

Barney Garcia was elected as a student trustee for Westfield State University’s board of trustees for the 2025-26 academic year. Garcia is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in public administration and brings a record of public service and campus leadership to the board. He recently served as a Senate fellow for Massachusetts state Sen. Adam Gomez. In 2023, he also completed a Local Commonwealth Municipal Finance Fellowship through the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services. Before transferring to Westfield, Garcia served a one-year term as the student trustee on Holyoke Community College’s board of trustees (2023-24), where he also completed an associate degree in business administration. Garcia is the co-founder and president of the Queer Straight Alliance at Westfield State. In addition, he is a commuter representative on the Student Government Assoc. and previously served on the Commuter Council.

Company Notebook

PeoplesBank Named Among Top Corporate Charitable Contributors

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank has again been recognized by the Boston Business Journal as a top corporate charitable contributor. The journal named the bank the top contributor among community banks in Western Mass, and second overall behind Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. PeoplesBank has made investments totaling $1.6 million annually in Massachusetts and Connecticut for the past three years. Over the last 12 years, the bank’s charitable contributions have topped $16 million. Further, the bank’s associates and board members contributed matching gifts of $55,750 in addition to the 8,500 volunteer hours they contributed.

 

Window World Named to Qualified Remodeler Top 500

BELCHERTOWN — Qualified Remodeler (QR), a leading publication serving remodelers and home improvement companies in the U.S., has ranked Window World of Western Massachusetts 125th in the country on its 47th annual Top 500 Remodelers list. This places Window World of Western Massachusetts number one in Western Mass. Since 1978, the QR Top 500 has tracked the industry’s largest and fastest growing companies. In 2025, the Top 500 represented nearly $25 billion in remodeling sales volume and 2.2 million completed jobs. Window World of Western Massachusetts was chosen as a 2025 Top 500 remodeler by the Qualified Remodeler editorial staff for meeting a set of criteria including installed remodeling dollar volume, total years in business, industry association membership, industry certification, industry awards, and community service. For more than two decades, the company has served the community with a wide range of products, including energy-efficient windows, doors, durable siding and roofing, and more.

 

Springfield College Joins Efforts to Train Teachers, Empower Readers

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College and its local K-12 school district and college partners will share $380,000 in state grant funding to support teacher development, specifically to give teachers access to evidence-based literacy instruction. The Healey-Driscoll administration recently awarded a total of $800,000 in grants to 17 school districts and 14 colleges to promote the evidence-based early literacy instructional skills of prospective and existing teachers. Springfield College is a partner with local public school districts and colleges in two consortia: the Early Literacy Consortium (ELC) and the Western Massachusetts Literacy Collaborative (WMLC), both of which will use the funding to make sure teachers are well-prepared to teach evidence-based early literacy and help students develop critical reading and writing skills. The ELC has three main priorities: improve teacher preparation, enhance classroom practices, and improve student outcomes. The WMLC consortium features the Summer Learn & Earn Program, in which the college and Springfield Public Schools select current undergraduate or graduate education majors to participate in a free graduate course offered through Elms College and work in WMLC districts as literacy intervention teachers during summer school. For Springfield College, Valerie Annear, director of Educator Preparation and Licensure, and Mark McCarthy, associate professor of Literacy Education and chair of the Department of Education, attend all meetings, participate in decision making on grant activities, and distribute both resources and training opportunities to the college’s faculty and teacher candidate supervisors.

 

Eversource Again Recognized as Tree Line USA Utility

BOSTON — For the second year in a row, Eversource has been named a Tree Line USA utility by the Arbor Day Foundation, a distinction highlighting the energy company’s ongoing commitment to following best practices for quality tree care while ensuring safe, reliable electric service for customers. The Tree Line USA program, a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Assoc. of State Foresters, celebrates forward-thinking utilities that exemplify industry leadership in vegetation management, strengthening reliability, sustainability, and public trust in the communities they serve. Eversource achieved the Tree Line USA recognition by meeting the program’s five core standards: following industry standards for quality tree care, providing annual worker training in best tree care practices, sponsoring a tree planting and public education program, maintaining a tree-based energy conservation program, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. This year, the energy company partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to distribute more than 1,000 free trees to customers across its three-state service territory through the nonprofit’s innovative Energy-Saving Trees program. As part of its commitment to thoughtful vegetation management practices, Eversource works year-round to advance educational partnerships with municipalities, students, and the public about planting the right tree in the right place. Additionally, the energy company’s arborists have crafted a variety of free planting resources for customers, which can help them learn more about utility-compatible plants that are native to New England as well as plants that attract pollinators and can also thrive alongside power lines.

 

UMass Amherst, Tech Foundry Partner on Degree Completion

AMHERST — UMass Amherst and the Tech Foundry announced a new collaboration enabling staff and community members of the Springfield workforce development nonprofit to complete their undergraduate degrees through the university’s flexible, customizable online program. Tech Foundry members can take classes, receive academic counseling, and map their educational pathway through UMass Amherst’s University Without Walls Department of Interdisciplinary Studies (UWW-IS), a leader in flexible, non-traditional, adult-focused education. The new collaboration reflects the university’s commitment to increasing access to public higher education while increasing workforce capacity across the Commonwealth. Current UWW-IS admission requires 12 transferrable college credits and a 2.0 GPA for adults who did not previously attend UMass Amherst. As part of its unique program, UWW-IS offers credit for prior learning or life experience. Under the agreement, students who are accepted into UWW-IS and have completed Tech Foundry’s 18-week immersive hybrid training program will receive 15 credits via special transcript, which is equivalent to a full semester courseload. UMass Amherst students need a minimum of 120 credits to earn a bachelor’s degree. The collaboration builds on earlier programs in which UMass Amherst IT provided internships for Tech Foundry trainees.

 

STCC Launches New STEM Studies Degree Program

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) has launched a STEM studies program designed to equip students with the technical knowledge, practical skills, and hands-on opportunities needed for success in a wide range of science and technology fields. An interdisciplinary program, STEM studies integrates core principles from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with a strong emphasis on industry-relevant applications with time spent learning equipment in labs. Students will benefit from exposure to industry-standard tools and instruction from experienced faculty with real-world knowledge of STEM careers. Students who might be interested in a career in STEM, but might not know which field to pursue, will be well-served by the program’s varied approach. The degree is also a point of entry for the burgeoning quantum sector, given that Massachusetts has invested in locating a quantum computer in Western Mass. Because quantum draws from a number of disciplines, STEM studies offers introduction to state-of-the-art equipment, as well as industry-relevant programming software. As students progress on this STEM pathway, they will have opportunities to focus on fields such as advanced manufacturing, computer systems engineering, and laser optics and photonics. The STEM studies degree program is ideal for individuals who enjoy problem solving, innovation, and applying technical skills to real-world challenges. By balancing theoretical knowledge with hands-on training, the program ensures graduates are equipped to contribute effectively to the modern technology workforce.

 

HCC Gateway to College Earns National Award

HOLYOKE — For the third consecutive year — and sixth time in the past nine — the Gateway to College program at Holyoke Community College (HCC) has received a national excellence award from its parent network, Achieving the Dream. Achieving the Dream presents excellence awards to its Gateway affiliates when those programs meet or exceed four benchmark criteria: grade point average, retention (one-year persistence and two-year persistence rates), and graduation rate. The Gateway to College program at HCC has won one or more benchmark awards for the last 10 years, and the excellence award in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025. Through Gateway to College, students who have dropped out of high school, or are at risk for dropping out, complete their high school diplomas in college-based programs while simultaneously earning credits toward a college certificate or degree. HCC has hosted a Gateway to College program since 2008. The program enrolled 144 students during the academic year when they received the award. During the assessment year (2024-25), students entered Gateway with an average GPA of 1.57, compared to a network average of 1.89, and finished their first term with an average GPA of 2.89, compared to a national average of 2.55. The one-year persistence rate at HCC was 94%, compared to a 63% network average. The two-year persistence at HCC was 88%, compared to a national average of 63%. HCC’s three-year graduation rate was 84%, compared to a national Gateway average of 65%.

 

DBA Certificates

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

BELCHERTOWN

Alves & Sons Remodeling
621 Franklin St.
Lori Alves

Bespoke Vintage Gifts
1 Terry Lane
Michelle MacKenzie

China Speakers Bureau
22 Oakwood Dr.
Maria Korolov

Kim’s Crafts & Quilts
506 Michael Sears Road
Kimberly LeClerc

Mama Bear Hug
16 Two Ponds Road
Donna Spraggon

Olde Enfield Co.
419 North Liberty St.
Erick Keller

Pioneer Valley Hauling & Cleanout
122 Old Bay Road
Paulos Goulas, Michael Nelson

SPG Logging
171 Old Enfield Road
Stephen Glaszcz, Beth Glaszcz

Susan Brighenti
40 Daniel Shays Highway
Susan Brighenti

Tiny Snoozers
16 Oakwood Dr.
Ann Smith

GREAT BARRINGTON

Berkshire Advocacy
140 West Ave.
Rania Markham

Berkshire Mills
117 Main St.
Patricia O’Donovan, Finbarr O’Donovan

Canopy Integrative Health Care
168 Main St.
Lisa Nelson

Elwood’s World
181 Castle St.
Elwood Smith

Friends of Moe
30 Elm St., Apt. 1E
South Berkshire Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Great Barrington Academy
449 Monterey Road
Joan Sanchez

Green Berkshires Inc.
292 Main St., Suite 12-14
Eleanor Tillinghast

Macro Builders
11 Berkshire Heights Road
Eric Roozekrans

Odd Bird Farm Bakery
490 Main St.
Anne-Marie Lasher

Setmile
13 Lake Ave.
Aurelien Durant de Saint Marie

Shobu Akido of the Berkshires
2 Stillwell St., Suite 3
Satoru Sato

Sundari Hair
651 Main St.
Dawn Ford

Tessa Adams Psychotherapy
38 Reed St.
Tessa Adams

Warrior Trading
Ross Cameron
20 Castle St., Suite 201

HADLEY

Jamie’s House Cleaning & Home Care
102 Burke Way
Jamie Waskiewicz

KSK Plowing
5 Birch Meadow Dr.
Steven Keith

TommyCar Auto Group
40 Russell St.
Carla Zayac

TommyCar Management
40 Russell St.
Carla Zayac

Valley Community Arts Teaching
148 Russell St.
Mari Champagne

HOLYOKE

D’Angelo
2175 Whiting Farms Road
New England Authentic Eats LLC

E Trade Auto Center
1635 Northampton St.
Mohamad Ahma Dib

GameStop
50 Holyoke St.
GameStop Inc.

La Karaokee Kitchen
349 Main St.
Candy Villaronga

Kennedy Foods Inc.
333 High St.
Yasser Hussain

Mass Medical Bioquantum Academy
188 Linden St.
Fernando Loayza Galvan

Signature Engraving Systems
120 Whiting Farms Road
United Innovations Inc.

Specialty Loose Leaf
120 Whiting Farms Road
United Innovations Inc.

Urban Planet
50 Holyoke St.
CR Bricks LLC

Valley Etching Engraving
120 Whiting Farms Road
United Innovations Inc.

NORTHAMPTON

Burke Chevrolet Inc.
200 North King St.
Bryan Burke

Celia O. Hilson
575 Bridge Road, #8-5
Celia Hilson

The Center for Healing Journeys
94 King St.
Bennett Gaev

Dunephase
123 South St.
Rachel Anderson

Fitzwilly’s
21-23 Main St.
Christine Casagrande

LCS Business Solutions
17 New South St.
Anne Fitzsimmons

Lisa Owen Design
223 Main St.
Elisabeth Owen Garbutt

Mineral Hills Winery
592 Sylvester Road
Anna Pearlman

Toasted Owl
21-23 Main St.
Christine Casagrande

WESTFIELD

413 Crack Fix
419 West Road
Chase Boisseau, Jaden St. Pierre

Atlantic Cards
115 Main St., #4
Grig Cinema LLC

Chloe’s Petals
288 Russellville Road
Judith Radle

Deep Roots Landscaping & Property Services
405 Root Road
Leroy Clink Jr.

Ember’s Resin Art & Jewelry
19 Meadowbrook Lane
Jaime Dubois

Irfan HR Solutions
126 Union St., #8-12
Hameed Irfan

Ken Fletcher
28 Union St.
Kenneth Fletcher

Moments by AJ
115 Roosevelt Ave.
Andre Arkoette

Platinum Plumbing
27 State St.
Tymofiy Dymytrov

Rudy Does
10 Columbia St.
Rudolf Galustov

Summit Solar Wash
240 Buck Pond Road
Parker Goyette, Paul Deven

Bankruptcies

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

Breslin, Stephen M.
580 Fuller St.
LudlowMA01056
Chapter: 13
Date: 08/08/2025

Brodecki, Marc V.
Brodecki, Jennifer
a/k/a Ramos, Jennifer
253 Fernbank Road, Apt. 8
SpringfieldMA01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/05/2025

Browne, John I.
15 Dewey St.
SpringfieldMA01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/08/2025

Copeland, Ryckayla A.
308 Wilbraham Road
SpringfieldMA01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/04/2025

Daniels, Felissa
136 Marsden St.
SpringfieldMA01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 08/04/2025

Demos, Jonathan Garrett
36 Chipmunk Road
SpringfieldMA01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/31/2025

Frogameni, Anthony J.
42 Sunridge Dr.
SpringfieldMA01118
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/08/2025

Galarneau, Megan J.
46 Rosella St.
SpringfieldMA01118
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/15/20

Gomez, Amanda Lynn
136 Robert Dyer Circle
SpringfieldMA01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/13/2025

Grant, Susan E.
2363 Westfield St., 2nd Fl.
West SpringfieldMA01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/14/2025

Johnson, Susan Z.
22 Lyon Hill Road
ChesterMA01011
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/31/2025

Kelley, Richard C.
14 Jackson St., Apt. 1
North AdamsMA01247
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/13/2025

Kelly, Tianna
50 Campechi St.
SpringfieldMA01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/31/2025

Kratovil, Susan Marie
94 Kensington St.
Feeding HillsMA01030
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/14/2025

Lingenberg, Robert G.
36 Foss Ave.
ChicopeeMA01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/08/2025

Martin, Joseph Robert
P.O. Box 262
WestfieldMA01086
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/06/2025

Morales, Vidal L.
62 Worcester Ave.
SpringfieldMA01107
Chapter: 7
Date: 07/31/2025

Murray, Aaron P.
176 Draper St.
SpringfieldMA01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/14/2025

New England Upholstery
Vento, Paul R.
3824 Chestnut Hill Ave.
AtholMA01331
Chapter: 13
Date: 08/15/2025

Ortiz, Robert Junior
95 Prospect St., Ext
WestfieldMA01085
Chapter: 13
Date: 08/11/2025

Peterson, Katherine Tara
131 Ashley Ave., Apt. N4
West SpringfieldMA01089-1342
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/31/2025

Pierce, Emily C .
113 Tannery Road
WestfieldMA01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/13/2025

Salvador, Patricia
269 Stoney Hill Road
WilbrahamMA01095
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/08/2025

Sarlan, Amy Lynn
19 Lower Hampden Road
MonsonMA01057
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/13/2025

Serrano, Ivan O.
Serrano, Melina C.
a/k/a Cintron-Serrano, Melina
99 Kingsley St.
SpringfieldMA01104
Chapter: 13
Date: 07/31/2025

Stanley, Kena L.
a/k/a Richardson-Wright, Kena L.
350 Riverbend St.
AtholMA01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/13/2025

Sullivan, Michael J.
294 Regency Park Dr.
AgawamMA01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/14/2025

Tavarez, Jose J.
a/k/a Tavarez Salcedo, Jose J.
421 Maple Str.
SpringfieldMA01105
Chapter: 7
Date: 08/15/2025

Williams, Tyrese Daquan
244 Redlands
SpringfieldMA01104
Chapter: 13
Date: 08/15/20

Uncategorized

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

1327 Williamsburg Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Isaac Held
Seller: Travis Minnick
Date: 09/09/25

BERNARDSTON

703 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Connelly RT
Seller: Lauri A. Rice
Date: 09/08/25

ERVING

4 East Prospect St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Mitchell Mailloux
Seller: William F. Lemieux
Date: 09/10/25

DEERFIELD

9 Elm St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Otter Brook Realty LLC
Seller: Richard Strong
Date: 09/05/25

49 Sawmill Plain Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Alliance Partners Real Estate LLC
Seller: Kyle R. Bryant
Date: 09/03/25

24 Steam Mill Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Mason
Seller: Arthur L. Morgan
Date: 09/04/25

GILL

186 West Gill Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $228,216
Buyer: Kristy E. McCay-Kim
Seller: Tracy L. Shaw
Date: 09/02/25

GREENFIELD

40 Allen St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Emerson Properties LLC
Seller: Squires, Deboran M., (Estate)
Date: 09/05/25

303 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Ellen Adkins
Seller: City Of Greenfield
Date: 09/08/25

98-100 Hope St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Trang N. Nguyen
Seller: Salim Abdoo
Date: 09/11/25

LEVERETT

60 Camp Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Benjamin Strohler
Seller: Thomas H. Friedman
Date: 09/09/25

MONROE

98 North Road
Monroe, MA 01350
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Final Harbor Farm LLC
Seller: Lee Stau
Date: 09/05/25

MONTAGUE

Meadow Road, Lot A
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Joshua N. Goldman
Seller: Charles E. Bell
Date: 09/02/25

NORTHFIELD

166 Gulf Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $598,000
Buyer: Phillips B. Sherburne
Seller: Eds Enterprises LLC
Date: 09/05/25

3 Linden Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Ella-Simone L. Trickey
Seller: Catherine N. Woolner
Date: 09/05/25

759 Millers Falls Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Brittany L. Chapin
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 09/10/25

ORANGE

331-333 E. Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: My-Ilove A. Bazelais
Seller: Courtney A. Fifield
Date: 09/08/25

37 Logan Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $180,500
Buyer: Athol Realty Investors LLC
Seller: Michael D. Woessner
Date: 09/08/25

107 Mechanic St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $345,780
Buyer: Maureen L. Johnson
Seller: Archer Acquisition LLC
Date: 09/03/25

SHELBURNE

45 Main St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Ons Realty LLC
Seller: Josiah J. L. Simpson INT
Date: 09/10/25

WHATELY

Long Plain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Matthew C. Kidd
Seller: Kathleen M. Wroblewski
Date: 09/05/25

103 Long Plain Road
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $785,000
Buyer: Matthew C. Kidd
Seller: Michael R. Morawski
Date: 09/05/25

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

98 Alhambra Circle N
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Peter P. Hoffman
Date: 09/03/25

62 Clematis Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Jennifer Cote
Seller: David L. Wells
Date: 09/09/25

93 Hall St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Erin Mallory
Seller: Brindle, Jean Graham, (Estate)
Date: 09/04/25

529 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Christopher T. Lombardi
Seller: Hayder Dawood
Date: 09/08/25

42 Mountainview St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Kristin A. Smith
Seller: Robin Wozniak
Date: 09/03/25

38 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Sherrie Szafranski
Seller: John S. Convertino
Date: 09/12/25

166 Nicole Ter.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Sharon Hamel
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 09/10/25

96 Roberta Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Mykola Mokhnatskyi
Seller: Dolores T. Shea
Date: 09/12/25

30 Royal Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Nelcilia Telfort
Seller: Sharleen Diaz
Date: 09/09/25

80 Vassar Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Christopher C. Hale
Seller: David Wolff
Date: 09/04/25

125 Woodside Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Todd Helems
Seller: Jennifer Cote
Date: 09/09/25

BRIMFIELD

153 Haynes Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Herbert F. Seymour
Seller: Jewel Real Estate Inc.
Date: 09/05/25

12 Paige Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $458,000
Buyer: Tiyika Minton
Seller: Andrew T. Porter
Date: 09/12/25

199 Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Mark Kline
Seller: Jewel Real Estate Inc.
Date: 09/09/25

CHESTER

11 Campbell Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: J. Sperry Realty LLC
Seller: Karen L. Sakaske
Date: 09/12/25

275 Goss Hill Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Kyle Bienia
Seller: Deane R. Messeck
Date: 09/08/25

279 Goss Hill Road
Chester, MA 01050
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Kyle Bienia
Seller: Deane R. Messeck
Date: 09/08/25

277 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Zachary MacKechnie
Seller: Brendan MacKechnie
Date: 09/09/25

613 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $489,500
Buyer: Dominick M. Leva
Seller: Alan D. Vautier
Date: 09/05/25

CHICOPEE

163 Amherst St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Jovan O. Rivera-Vazquez
Seller: Illumination Home LLC
Date: 09/04/25

233 Basil Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $479,000
Buyer: Renee A. Rodolakis
Seller: David J. Dingee
Date: 09/12/25

63 Chapin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Anthony Wheeler
Seller: Diane M. Szlachetka
Date: 09/12/25

72 College St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Carlos Rivera-Melo
Seller: Elite Investment Group LLC
Date: 09/08/25

80 Frontenac St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $317,500
Buyer: Tiffany L. May
Seller: Eliezer R. Vazquez
Date: 09/05/25

55 Fuller St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Cascade Funding Mortgage TR Hb1
Seller: Louis P. Suzor
Date: 09/03/25

112 Grape St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: IHI Wave LLC
Seller: Richton & Wynne LLC
Date: 09/11/25

156 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $230,692
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: Dennis T. Biggins
Date: 09/08/25

336 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Kamacite Holdings LLC
Seller: PC Sandals LLC
Date: 09/04/25

16 Lincoln St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: David Wagner
Seller: Snatch Block Properties LLC
Date: 09/04/25

97 Lombard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Ihi Wave LLC
Seller: Kaali Huang LLC
Date: 09/09/25

165 Old Lyman Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Riley G. Villeneuve
Seller: Guimares, Rose M., (Estate)
Date: 09/03/25

14 Ralph Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Janna L. Dewitt
Seller: Elizabeth A. Gaskins
Date: 09/04/25

47 Sullivan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Danielle Lefebvre
Seller: David C. Berthold
Date: 09/08/25

25 Yelle St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Burhan Holdings One LLC
Seller: Louis Veillette
Date: 09/09/25

EAST LONGMEADOW

18 Brook St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Prosser
Seller: Sai W. He
Date: 09/12/25

44 Edmund St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Stellar Homes Inc.
Seller: Hubert J. Severin
Date: 09/03/25

65 Harwich Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $365,500
Buyer: Brittany Trombley
Seller: Erin Beck-Richard
Date: 09/11/25

234 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Emtay Inc.
Seller: John E. Foley
Date: 09/05/25

103 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Trevor S. Banas
Seller: Bryan Hughes
Date: 09/09/25

10 Silver Fox Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $655,000
Buyer: Julie Burger
Seller: Gaurav Yadav
Date: 09/12/25

37 Terry Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $718,000
Buyer: Zhi Huang
Seller: Irina Taylor
Date: 09/08/25

GRANVILLE

176 Silver St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $995,000
Buyer: Scott R. Taylor
Seller: Patrick Sullivan
Date: 09/12/25

HAMPDEN

376 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $496,000
Buyer: Rowan Sutton
Seller: Keith D. Lemelin-Bliss
Date: 09/09/25

Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Thomas E. Cooke
Seller: Steven E. Guzzo
Date: 09/04/25

12 Rose Circle
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Joejoe Properties LLC
Seller: Scott T. Mason
Date: 09/08/25

181 Sessions Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Joseph F. Davis
Seller: Constance Cooley RET
Date: 09/08/25

HOLLAND

43 Lake Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Gary Naples
Seller: Bruce Przygocki
Date: 09/12/25

61 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Lisa Boudreau LLC
Seller: Fontaine, Kenneth R., (Estate)
Date: 09/10/25

HOLYOKE

70-72 Center St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Hassle Free LLC
Seller: Aponte, Carlos Jose, (Estate)
Date: 09/05/25

165-167 Essex St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Hoodoo Realty LLC
Seller: 165-167 Essex Street RT
Date: 09/05/25

14 Longfellow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: John E. Leahy
Seller: B&B Real Estate LLC
Date: 09/09/25

31 Longfellow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $461,000
Buyer: Ryan M. Ferriter
Seller: John J. Ferriter
Date: 09/02/25

26 Lower Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $402,500
Buyer: Angela Gonzalez
Seller: Maureen L. Johnson
Date: 09/02/25

349-351 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Dennis Burgos
Seller: Netflips LLC
Date: 09/12/25

284 Maple St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Levi Smith
Seller: Ryan E. Knoechelman
Date: 09/04/25

33 Montgomery Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $495,150
Buyer: Ruth Epstein
Seller: Mathieu Hemono
Date: 09/05/25

136 Oak St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Leannice Del Valle
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 09/12/25

140 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Maylin Garcia
Seller: Witman Properties Inc.
Date: 09/03/25

271-273 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Marie-Ange Laroche
Seller: Francis M. Croke
Date: 09/05/25

72 Reservation Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $276,500
Buyer: Stephen J. Dickenson
Seller: Eric Lavalley
Date: 09/04/25

140 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Property Advantage Inc.
Seller: Susan R. Canedy
Date: 09/05/25

83 Wellesley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Amy E. Thompson
Seller: Lily A. Foster
Date: 09/02/25

LONGMEADOW

57 Arcadia St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Tracy L. Bentley-Root
Seller: Brian J. Krylowicz
Date: 09/09/25

15 Bellevue Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Olivia M. Kowal
Seller: Nuno M. Machado
Date: 09/05/25

72 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Meili Song
Seller: Stephen T. Digiacomo
Date: 09/08/25

291 Deepwoods Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $630,000
Buyer: Matthew Murphy
Seller: David L. Rainey
Date: 09/12/25

240 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $501,000
Buyer: Nicholas Manthei
Seller: Suzanne S. White
Date: 09/04/25

7 Twin Hills Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $1,050,000
Buyer: Nakul Ravikumar
Seller: Susan E. Denmark
Date: 09/08/25

223 Wolf Swamp Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Kelly E. Loftus
Seller: Barbara S. Thomas
Date: 09/12/25

93 Wyndward Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Jeffrey D. Kraez RET
Seller: John P. Dombek
Date: 09/02/25

LUDLOW

51 Alden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Jennifer A. Martin
Seller: Joseph L. Wlodyka
Date: 09/02/25

763 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Jospeh P. Sepanek
Seller: Obrzut, Michael S., (Estate)
Date: 09/12/25

32 Rood St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Szf Properties LLC
Seller: Town Of Ludlow
Date: 09/08/25

MONSON

37 Bridge St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Real Estate Investors Northeast LLC
Seller: Cascade Funding Mortgage TR Hb4
Date: 09/09/25

34 Paradise Lake Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Geoffrey D. Parke
Seller: Paradise Lake Road LLC
Date: 09/10/25

PALMER

23 Fieldstone Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $499,000
Buyer: John Lendway
Seller: Renee E. Rochette
Date: 09/12/25

163 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Noah P. Casino
Seller: Traceyann Gallagher
Date: 09/03/25

RUSSELL

716 Woodland Way
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $615,000
Buyer: Joseph Liberti
Seller: Dewey M. Kolvek
Date: 09/09/25

SPRINGFIELD

123 Appleton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Thy Truong
Seller: Tuan Truong
Date: 09/11/25

24 Arliss St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Neffortiti B. Okyere
Seller: Carlos Cruz
Date: 09/08/25

122 Avery St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Kirk D. Craigg
Seller: Kadian P. James
Date: 09/02/25

1396 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Pablo H. Flores-Martinez
Seller: David J. Pluta RET
Date: 09/09/25

88 Biltmore St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Rufus Polk
Seller: Alecsei Cherkashin
Date: 09/12/25

443-445 Cadwell Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Leyfi A. Sanchez
Seller: 102-104 Davenport TR
Date: 09/09/25

34 Canterbury Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Megan Fueston
Seller: Milagros Rodriguez
Date: 09/12/25

478-480 Central St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Serie 056 Motors & Services LLC
Seller: 480 Central Street RR
Date: 09/05/25

169 Centre St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jose A. Hincapie
Seller: Round Two LLC
Date: 09/10/25

52-54 Cherrelyn St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Cheryl Norwood
Seller: April P. Tluszcz
Date: 09/05/25

117 Croyden Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Jesus M. Vazquez Rosario
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 09/09/25

35-37 Daviston St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $376,000
Buyer: Michael Munoz
Seller: Sheila Scott
Date: 09/12/25

105 Denwall Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Beard, Theresa A., (Estate)
Date: 09/02/25

166 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: De J. Devasquez
Seller: Fernando D. Dos Santos
Date: 09/08/25

145-147 Elmore Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Silk Morrison
Seller: Bertha C. Frye
Date: 09/02/25

125 Fair Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Stacyann O. Lothian
Seller: William E. Butler
Date: 09/04/25

94 Fenimore Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Anibelka Reyes
Seller: Randall C. Wing
Date: 09/08/25

30 Firglade Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Lbe LLC
Seller: Mildred J. Horensky
Date: 09/05/25

89 Firglade Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $517,500
Buyer: Jinzy M. George
Seller: Jjj17 LLC
Date: 09/12/25

34 Flora St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: AJ Capital Inc.
Seller: Jayson Morales
Date: 09/03/25

34 Flora St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Springhouse Prop LLC
Seller: AJ Capital Inc.
Date: 09/03/25

53 Freeman Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Tower Property Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Tower Property Mgmt. LLC
Date: 09/12/25

44 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $371,000
Buyer: Hahn Chanh
Seller: Darla Rivest
Date: 09/09/25

28 Glen Albyn St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Farrova Forren Inc.
Seller: William Rivera
Date: 09/05/25

67 Grandview St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Reinaldo Pacheco
Seller: Samone A. Nowlin
Date: 09/09/25

21-23 Howes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Shakayla S. Washington
Seller: Round Two LLC
Date: 09/08/25

48 Lawnwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Grace Obeng
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 09/09/25

58 Maebeth St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Kimberly Lovewell
Seller: 58 Maebeth Street NT
Date: 09/05/25

170-174 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jose A. Hincapie
Seller: Round Two LLC
Date: 09/10/25

178-180 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Unlimited Plus Realty LLC
Seller: Standing Bear LLC
Date: 09/11/25

16-18 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $408,000
Buyer: Anthony A. Izquierdo
Seller: Hector Torres-Diaz
Date: 09/02/25

17 Marquette St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Eric Perez
Seller: Eric R. Kenney
Date: 09/05/25

130 Merida St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Luis M. Torres
Seller: Linda Pierson
Date: 09/09/25

50-52 Milton St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Cassidy Britton
Seller: Jessica U. Bergeron
Date: 09/09/25

103 Monrovia St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Luis D. Arroyo
Seller: Diane H. Hunter
Date: 09/12/25

11 Nathaniel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Deasiah S. McMillian
Seller: Courageous Lion LLC
Date: 09/05/25

27 Nokomis St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Virgilio Santos
Seller: Sandra R. Shea
Date: 09/02/25

84 North Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Marian N. Tombri
Seller: Naples Home Buyers TR
Date: 09/12/25

202 Oakland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Round Two LLC
Seller: Evelyn M. Bellerose
Date: 09/05/25

11-31 Park St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $4,200,000
Buyer: H. P. Rum LLC
Seller: Briarwood Seven LLC
Date: 09/04/25

331 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Vicki L. Anderson
Seller: Jeffrey P. Czelusniak
Date: 09/11/25

23 Pennfield St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: April Tluszcz
Seller: Lewis, Richard A., (Estate)
Date: 09/05/25

43 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Orlando J. Monegro
Seller: Wanda Sanchez
Date: 09/08/25

61-63 Pomona St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Oraka Wellington
Seller: Onassis Martinez
Date: 09/04/25

49 Prospect St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Mariela M. De Martinez
Seller: Welhington S. Dasilva
Date: 09/12/25

62-64 Rifle St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Richard D. Cruz
Seller: Jeremiah Sampson
Date: 09/05/25

90 Rochelle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Francisco Tavarez
Seller: Thomas P. Myers
Date: 09/05/25

76 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $301,500
Buyer: Marie A. Chartrand
Seller: Carole J. Stmarie
Date: 09/10/25

244 Springfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Jama Barbour
Seller: Mark Manzella
Date: 09/02/25

407 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Jose T. Sagrero
Seller: Gen-Wealth Properties LLC
Date: 09/04/25

38 Tyrone St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Hassle Free LLC
Seller: Reuter, Philip C., (Estate)
Date: 09/04/25

58-60 Virginia St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Shonnette S. Clarke-Smith
Seller: Angela Y. Jenkins
Date: 09/03/25

87 Wakefield St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Carlos E. Ortiz-Lopez
Seller: Kate Faulkner
Date: 09/03/25

24 Wands St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Dpn Homes LLC
Seller: Citigroup Mortgage Loan TR 2022
Date: 09/03/25

53 Warrenton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Luis J. Cintron
Seller: Bho Realty LLC
Date: 09/02/25

25 West Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Joshua Fines
Seller: Nres LLC
Date: 09/12/25

61-63 Wilcox St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kokoleka RT
Seller: Robert Lopez
Date: 09/12/25

403 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Domingos Barroso
Seller: Gama Investments LLC
Date: 09/03/25

46 Wildwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Jose J. Garcia
Seller: Salvatore Decesare
Date: 09/12/25

854-856 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $394,000
Buyer: Nyasia Lopez
Seller: Mint Realty Group LLC
Date: 09/11/25

SOUTHWICK

264 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: 264 College Owner LLC
Seller: Southwick Acres Inc.
Date: 09/03/25

24 Congamond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Bridget Mancini
Seller: Lisa M. Morse
Date: 09/08/25

116 Congamond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $537,500
Buyer: Michael Leander
Seller: Deborah Elias
Date: 09/12/25

56 Summer Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jaydub LLC
Seller: James A. Neill
Date: 09/05/25

TOLLAND

77 Chipmunk Xing
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $502,500
Buyer: Marianne Du Toit
Seller: Nicholas D. Porter
Date: 09/02/25

78 Slope Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $377,500
Buyer: Eric Fisher
Seller: Matthew J. Perry
Date: 09/05/25

WESTFIELD

48 Darby Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $458,000
Buyer: Mikaela Spence
Seller: Scott G. Mortimer
Date: 09/12/25

6 Elise St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $7,125,000
Buyer: Tea-Land Westfield LLC
Seller: Real Estate Invest I LLC
Date: 09/04/25

8 Elise St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $7,125,000
Buyer: Tea-Land Westfield LLC
Seller: Real Estate Invest I LLC
Date: 09/04/25

28 Jeremy Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $579,000
Buyer: Robert Lepage
Seller: Jodi L. Kashouh
Date: 09/05/25

19 Kellogg St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Perusse, Joseph T., (Estate)
Date: 09/04/25

32 Linda Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Allison Garriss
Seller: Donald F. Burrage
Date: 09/04/25

173 Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $338,000
Buyer: Cristian J. Morales
Seller: Laura C. Smithies
Date: 09/05/25

33 Miller St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: E. Karathanasopoulos
Seller: Squires 101 LLC
Date: 09/08/25

27 Mountain View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Peter Miller
Seller: Gay A. Megliola IRT
Date: 09/05/25

13 Myrtle Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Isaias Colombani
Seller: Candace Champagne
Date: 09/05/25

14 Old Park Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $647,000
Buyer: Bryan Mruk
Seller: Julie A. Thompson
Date: 09/10/25

20 Perkins St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: Veronica Garcia RET
Seller: Richard B. Veduccio
Date: 09/03/25

22 Pinewood Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Jack Masciadrelli
Seller: Zachary S. Mackechnie
Date: 09/09/25

30 Radisson Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $571,000
Buyer: Nancy A. Brown
Seller: Joseph P. Liberti
Date: 09/09/25

978 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Ddmns Realty LLC
Seller: Kenneth G. Dulude
Date: 09/04/25

59 Susan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $434,000
Buyer: Zachary Mackechnie
Seller: Maloney, Eleanor C., (Estate)
Date: 09/09/25

82-1/2 West Silver St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Griffin Gundersen
Seller: Benson, Cheryl L., (Estate)
Date: 09/02/25

WILBRAHAM

3076 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Fumi Realty Inc.
Seller: Walter W. Tyszka
Date: 09/09/25

11 Brentwood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Daniel E. Dwarska
Seller: Timothy J. McMahon LT
Date: 09/03/25

21 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $690,000
Buyer: Nisha Malik
Seller: Wonhong Lee
Date: 09/03/25

6 Hitching Post Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $989,900
Buyer: Zachery J. Carr
Seller: Ryan Shaink
Date: 09/02/25

5 Kensington Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $830,000
Buyer: Philip M. McCarthy
Seller: Amandeep Guliani
Date: 09/11/25

461-465 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Doublemark Properties LLC
Seller: Kruller LLC
Date: 09/11/25

1 Maplewood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Maria A. Restrepo
Seller: Brian Bracci
Date: 09/05/25

25 Pineywood Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $326,250
Buyer: Aidan J. Baceski
Seller: Mco Construction LLC
Date: 09/12/25

7 Scenic Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $558,000
Buyer: Veronica Cruz
Seller: Krista M. Mazucca
Date: 09/08/25

495-497 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Ckj Realty LLC
Seller: Sean B. Fitzgerald
Date: 09/12/25

20 Wellfleet Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $810,000
Buyer: Ryan Costello
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 09/12/25

WEST SPRINGFIELD

149 Ashley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,600,000
Buyer: Jdz Realty LLC
Seller: West Springfield Club Properties LLC
Date: 09/05/25

147 Highland Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Ronald J. Tomasauckas
Seller: Toton, Loretta Sigrid, (Estate)
Date: 09/05/25

94 Baldwin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Nilson De Sa
Seller: Bayram Kadimov
Date: 09/11/25

39-41 East School St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Roman Kirstia
Seller: Dmitriy Shalypin
Date: 09/08/25

40 Field St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Sara Koizumi
Seller: Marc R. Bryden
Date: 09/12/25

20 Harney St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: James M. Stoddard
Seller: Langton, S. Hathaway, (Estate)
Date: 09/09/25

87 Havenhurst Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Christopher Comack
Seller: Christopher D. Fager
Date: 09/12/25

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

124 Pomeroy Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Manire RET
Seller: Peggy Jeanne Corkan RET
Date: 09/12/25

1301 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Cristy L. Galvin
Seller: Rachel J. Kennedy
Date: 09/03/25

3 South Middle St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ourverture Consulting Svc
Seller: South Middle St. Inc.
Date: 09/05/25

1535 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Audrey Bulger
Seller: Jean A. Kentfield
Date: 09/11/25

7 South Middle St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ourverture Consulting Services
Seller: South Middle St. Inc.
Date: 09/05/25

BELCHERTOWN

485 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Choquette Capital Properties LLC
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 09/09/25

595 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Javier Cruz
Seller: John C. Nadeau
Date: 09/08/25

191 East St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $499,000
Buyer: Marcella Fitzgerald
Seller: Robert G. Zucker
Date: 09/05/25

720 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $150,300
Buyer: Robert Mileski
Seller: Town Of Belchertown
Date: 09/10/25

285 Granby Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $225,007
Buyer: B&B Realty Partners LLC
Seller: Joseph A. Jacintho RET
Date: 09/12/25

33 Helen Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Bryan Hughes
Seller: Edward O. Mathurin
Date: 09/09/25

445 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $549,900
Buyer: Normand Rioux
Seller: Mass. Home Buyers LLC
Date: 09/03/25

612 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Alisson Cote
Seller: Darin W. Braese
Date: 09/10/25

12 Old Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Alexander Washut
Seller: Gordon W. Boyce
Date: 09/12/25

438 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Sjana Pobieglo
Seller: Alyssa Maggi
Date: 09/04/25

CHESTERFIELD

196 Ireland St.
Chesterfield, MA 01084
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Messeck
Seller: Kenneth A. Sicard
Date: 09/03/25

EASTHAMPTON

15 Davis St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Tiny Dreams Property LLC
Seller: Sally Rourke
Date: 09/08/25

119 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Kyle Lucchesi
Seller: David H. Lucchesi
Date: 09/10/25

103 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Allison I. Guinn
Seller: Aleeta J. Sasarak
Date: 09/03/25

17 John St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $391,000
Buyer: Ami N. Breton
Seller: Murphy, Janice M., (Estate)
Date: 09/03/25

6 Orchard St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Ninis Real Estate LLC
Seller: Melvin J. Lafrance
Date: 09/02/25

6 Russell Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Lucie Bodnar
Seller: Andrea Young
Date: 09/03/25

50 Williston Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Alec Bates
Seller: Boone W. Shear
Date: 09/02/25

GRANBY

74 Aldrich St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Kristy J. Daniels
Seller: Michael P. Sheridan
Date: 09/08/25

150 Harris St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Nicholas Shaink
Seller: Scott A. Merrill
Date: 09/05/25

12 Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: William Bateson
Seller: Brian J. Williams
Date: 09/12/25

 

HATFIELD

15 Gore Ave.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Brian Lickel
Seller: Arthur F. Rubeck
Date: 09/09/25

40 North St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Jean P. Crevier
Seller: Kristen L. Forrest
Date: 09/05/25

66 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Barker Properties LLC
Seller: Susan Breen
Date: 09/12/25

MIDDLEFIELD

88 Town Hill Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Lucy R. Miller RET
Seller: Michael W. Romanowski RET
Date: 09/04/25

NORTHAMPTON

40 Alamo Court
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Sonja D. Williams
Seller: Elizabeth M. Robinson LT
Date: 09/05/25

243 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Joshua Cohen
Seller: Paul G. Solomon
Date: 09/05/25

17 Brookwood Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $392,000
Buyer: Darcy Lambert
Seller: Stacey L. Noble
Date: 09/04/25

75 Chesterfield Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Stacey L. Noble
Seller: Lerena E. Silverman
Date: 09/04/25

237 Glendale Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Meredith Rochette
Seller: Kelly R. Baxter
Date: 09/12/25

115 Industrial Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $2,950,000
Buyer: Gbt Associates LLC
Seller: WAM LLC
Date: 09/09/25

263 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,700,000
Buyer: 261 Main St. LLC
Seller: Lub LLC
Date: 09/02/25

35 Marshall St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: John O. Mitchell
Seller: Emily C. Griffen
Date: 09/12/25

208 North Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Coalie RT
Seller: Brouwers, Lissa A., (Estate)
Date: 09/09/25

303 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Jonathan Blocksom
Seller: Graham J. Carlson
Date: 09/05/25

8 Warner St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Markert
Seller: Karen Moran
Date: 09/08/25

PELHAM

40 Harkness Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Jefferey L. Kahn
Seller: Peter Turowski
Date: 09/05/25

SOUTH HADLEY

64 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $361,000
Buyer: Adrea Ricketts-Preston
Seller: Patrick Murphy
Date: 09/12/25

2 Bunker Hill
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jeremy Mendez
Seller: Rodzen, Pamela J., (Estate)
Date: 09/04/25

309 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: James Duffy
Seller: Philip S. Thomas
Date: 09/12/25

73 Lamb St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Bernash Realty LLC
Seller: Dominic R. Florence
Date: 09/05/25

11 Laurie Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Crystal Barnes
Seller: Kyle J. Callahan
Date: 09/12/25

4 Lyman Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Brandon St Hilaire
Seller: William T. Baxter
Date: 09/12/25

96 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Bernash Realy LLC
Seller: William J. Mugg RET
Date: 09/05/25

149 North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Michael Sawicki
Seller: Zachary E. Martin
Date: 09/12/25

SOUTHAMPTON

198 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Christian A. Cosme
Seller: Sarah E. O’Donnel
Date: 09/09/25

121 East St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Liam C. O’Connor
Seller: Deborah M. Trudeau
Date: 09/12/25

54 Pequot Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Servicenet Inc.
Seller: Fitzgerald, Emily M., (Estate)
Date: 09/05/25

WARE

26 Cummings Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Sam Zhano
Seller: Charlotte E. Mulligan RET
Date: 09/03/25

60 Cummings Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Hunter Piche
Seller: David R. Silloway
Date: 09/12/25

106 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Robert B. Owens
Seller: Lynn A. Kinner
Date: 09/02/25

WESTHAMPTON

49 Burt Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Analytical Sciences Marketing
Seller: Michael H. Dunn
Date: 09/02/25

WILLIAMSBURG

2 North St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Rachel Goodenow
Seller: York, Jean T., (Estate)
Date: 09/11/25

WORTHINGTON

269 River Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $392,000
Buyer: Dylan Young
Seller: J. H. Chase
Date: 09/12/25

Building Permits

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

CHICOPEE

London Realty LLC
101 Springfield St.
$15,000 — Roofing

Newell Real Estate LLC
398 Front St.
$8,300 — Roofing and brick replacement at Fruit Fair

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Mahadev LLC
37-43 Union St.
$60,000 — Removal of existing roof and some interior drywall and insulation due to water damage

MAPAM-1 LLC
179 Northampton St.
$38,000 — Refurbish tenant space, including removal of some interior wall partitions to create enlarged space

LEE

Berkshire Restaurant Properties Inc.
33 Main St.
$23,625 — Insulation and air sealing

Khant Min, Khaing Mahnin
114 Housatonic St.
$28,250 — Add full bathroom on second floor

LENOX

Crown Castle International
90 Pittsfield Road
$56,398 — Install three panel antennas on tower

United Church of Christ
169 Main St.
$110,000 — Remove existing ramp and install new ramp and deck at north entrance

PITTSFIELD

AC Enterprises LLC
163 Fourth St.
$15,000 — Modify existing room into two accessible toilet rooms

City of Pittsfield
8 Holmes Road
$102,500 — Roofing

Clinical & Support Options Inc.
877 South St.
$40,044 — Interior fit-out with new framing and finishes to add additional office space

Five Sixty Tyler Street LLC
560 Tyler St.
$10,000 — Enclose wash bay for new mechanical room

Hurricane Properties LLC
20 Pomeroy Ave.
$2,800 — Frame out and install fireblock drywall ceiling in laundry room, install handrail in basement

Keypoint Partners LLC
660 Merrill Road
$99,000 — Interior renovation of existing Five Guys restaurant, including new wall finishes, new furniture, new lighting upgrades, and equipment replacement

New Amsterdam LP
421 North St.
$2,191 — Upgrade egress lighting

Unistress Corp.
500 Cheshire Road
$1,770,000 — Structural steel addition to existing manufacturing facility

White Terrace Building LLC
592 North St.
$2,000 — Remove some sidewalk and one step, replace step with ADA ramp

Opinion

Opinion

By Karen Serra

 

Autistic people and their families in Western Mass. have been reaching out to ServiceNet’s Autism Connections team in recent days, unsettled by new claims about what causes autism. Some are worried, some are angry, and many are simply exhausted.

Parents want to know how to sort through the noise and find real answers. Autistic adults want their voices respected in conversations that so often exclude them. Everyone deserves information they can trust.

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition shaped by many factors — genetic, environmental, and still others that science has yet to fully map. Autism is not one story, one profile, or one path. It is many stories, as autistic people have a wide range of strengths and challenges. And the support we offer must reflect this diversity.

While causes remain under study, evidence is strong about what helps. Early support — speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral strategies — can expand opportunities for children. Inclusive classrooms give autistic students the chance to learn and grow alongside their peers. Social groups give autistic people of all ages opportunities to come together in supportive spaces where they can be themselves, gain confidence, and build friendships.

Autism Connections has long partnered with autistic individuals and their families to navigate this landscape. Our workshops translate complicated research into practical strategies. One-on-one consultations give families clarity about services and next steps. And our annual conference lifts up the voices of autistic people alongside researchers and professionals, so the community hears directly from those with lived experience.

Autistic individuals and their families deserve better than alarm and confusion. ServiceNet and its programs, including Autism Connections, will continue to be a steady source of reliable information, grounded in science and respect. We will continue to provide spaces where autistic people can lead, connect, and thrive. And we will continue to listen — because autistic experiences and perspectives are essential to this conversation.

Autism is not a passing headline. It is part of the fabric of our community. With the right support and with autistic voices at the center, people on the spectrum live full and meaningful lives. That is where our attention belongs, and that is the commitment Autism Connections and ServiceNet will keep.

 

Karen Serra is vice president of Family Services at ServiceNet, which includes Autism Connections.

Daily News

WILBRAHAM — Charter (Spectrum) announced a nearly $50 million private investment by the company in Massachusetts, as part of its ongoing and company-wide network evolution project. This major initiative will further enhance Spectrum’s internet services, delivering faster speeds and improved reliability for Spectrum customers across the Commonwealth.

The Spectrum project has been underway in Massachusetts for much of 2025, and the company expects the upgrades will be substantially complete in Massachusetts by the end 2025. The company’s investment will enable the delivery of symmetrical gigabit and multi-gigabit speeds to Spectrum customers in communities throughout Massachusetts, including Wilbraham, Belchertown, Brimfield, Chicopee, Easthampton, East Longmeadow, Hadley, Hampden, Ludlow, Southampton, and Wales.

“This nearly $50 million investment in Massachusetts highlights Spectrum’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge internet technology to our customers,” said Camille Joseph, group vice president of State Government Affairs at Charter Communications. “This project is another example of Spectrum’s dedication to continuous improvement, including upgrading our network now to meet the future speed and reliability needs of our residential and business customers, in addition to delivering highest-quality service from our 100% U.S.-based employee workforce, all at great value. Particularly when combined with our award-winning mobile and video services, Spectrum delivers the best in entertainment and connectivity services for our customers.”

State legislators were on hand for the announcement. “Spectrum’s investment in Massachusetts marks a significant step toward closing the digital divide,” state Sen. Jake Oliveira said. “As we move deeper into the digital age, this project will equip our communities with the essential infrastructure to succeed in education, healthcare, and business.”

State Rep. Angelo Puppolo added that “today marks a pivotal moment for our area as Spectrum unveils its commitment to enhancing digital connectivity. This investment is not just about speed; it’s about empowering our residents and businesses with the tools necessary for innovation and growth.”

State Rep. Brian Ashe agreed. “I applaud Spectrum’s dedication to improving digital access across our state,” he said. “This nearly $50 million investment will bring transformative changes, offering unprecedented internet speeds and reliability. Our communities stand to gain significantly, with new opportunities for development and modernization at their doorstep.”

Karen Charles, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable, added that, “together with industry partners like Spectrum, we have continued to tackle the broadband connectivity challenges faced by Massachusetts residents and businesses, and today’s announcement marks another step forward in providing reliable and sustainable broadband service to communities throughout the Commonwealth.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $7.4 million in workforce development grant funding for 16 initiatives across Massachusetts — including two in Western Mass. — representing partnerships with employers, training providers, and regional collaborators to train, upskill, and provide job placement for 1,161 workers for in-demand occupations in healthcare, education, information technology, and more.

The Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants are funded by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and administered by Commonwealth Corp. through the state’s Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund. Each awarded grant aims to close the skills gap, increase access to well-paying jobs for unemployed and underemployed residents, and strengthen productivity and workforce needs among employers in regions throughout Massachusetts.

Workforce Success grants fund job training and job placement for untapped talent and upskilling programs for incumbent workers. Among the 16 awarded grants, seven will incorporate English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) in planned job training — an effort to reduce employment barriers such as language that some job seekers experience.

“Workforce Success Grants give residents the opportunity to gain new skills and launch careers in high-demand fields,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “These programs help people earn good wages, build long-term career paths, and connect directly with employers who need their talents.”

Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones made the announcement at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) in Springfield. STCC will receive $500,000 to provide training and placement services, including ESOL training, to 120 unemployed and underemployed participants for IT support specialist, help desk analyst, hardware technician, computer repair technician, network technician, network administrator, cybersecurity technician, and cybersecurity analyst roles. They will partner with Springfield Public Schools, Baystate Health, Holyoke Public Schools, Springfield Technical Community College, the Center for Human Development, the city of Holyoke, and Entre Technologies.

“Continued investment by the Healey-Driscoll administration in high-demands sectors like IT and cybersecurity is tremendous,” STCC President John Cook said. “As technology continues to impact every facet of our lives, institutional support and innovation that brings a focus to skill building and credential attainment makes a big difference for families and communities.”

The other Western Mass. grant is $500,000 to the Franklin Hampshire Employment and Training Consortium in Greenfield, to provide training and placement services to 50 unemployed and underemployed participants for patient representative, receptionist, and medical secretary roles. They will partner with Community Health Center of Franklin County, Hilltown Community Health Center, and Valley Medical Group.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) is seeking sponsors and volunteers for its 20th Annual Stock Market Challenge, taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Western New England University in Springfield. This fast-paced Wall Street simulation offers student teams the chance to compete in an exciting, hands-on competition, building skills and experience they can carry into their futures. For sponsors, the event offers high-visibility recognition, a way to connect with the community, and the chance to inspire and support the next generation of financially savvy leaders.

“This is a special year for us, marking two decades of bringing the thrill of the stock market to life for local students,” said Amie Miarecki, JAWM president. “It’s so much fun to see how engaged and competitive the students are. The event is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses and volunteers to make a lasting impact while having a great time themselves.”

During the simulation, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., teams made up of 350 middle and high school students are each ‘given’ $1 million to invest in more than 50 fictitious stocks. With trading days lasting just 60 seconds, the goal is to build the highest portfolio net worth in a frantic 60 days.

Students walk away not only with a deeper understanding of the stock market and the importance of teamwork, but also greater awareness of financial services and career opportunities in the field. By introducing students to concepts of investing and financial decision making early, the event helps cultivate a talent pipeline of young people who are better prepared to pursue careers in finance, business, and related industries.

In the evening, the competition heats up for the adults, with dinner followed by the opening bell at 6 p.m., when corporate sponsors and college teams put their trading skills to the test.

“The adults have as much fun as the students, and it makes for a fantastic team-building experience,” Miarecki said. “We offer sponsorship opportunities starting at $250 and welcome companies across the region to get involved.”

For more information about the JAWM Stock Market Challenge, sponsorships, and volunteering, visit jawm.org/stock-market-competition.

Daily News

STOCKBRIDGE — The Stockbridge Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Walk will take place on Friday, Oct. 24 for area children.

Marchers will meet at the corner of Main and Pine streets at 6 p.m. and march up Main Street to the front lawn of the Stockbridge Library for cider and donuts, as well as a pumpkin walk-about with lighted pumpkins carved by local businesses and area children. A fire truck will be stationed for discovery, and there will be a sheep petting pen on the front lawn. A Halloween story time will take place at 6:30 p.m., as well as drop-in Halloween crafts inside the library from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Children and businesses interested in showcasing a jack-o-lantern of their own should drop them off at the library any time before 5:30 p.m. The library staff will light them and provide candles, and the pumpkins can be taken home at the end of the evening. In case of rain, the parade will be canceled, and activities will take place in the library.

These events are sponsored by the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce, Stockbridge Library, the Stockbridge Police and Fire departments, Stockbridge Coffee & Tea, and Prado de Lana Sheep.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services (MLKFS) announced the recipients of the 2025 Social Justice Impact Awards, honoring individuals and organizations whose work embodies the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18 at noon at Twin Hills Country Club, celebrating changemakers who uplift equity, justice, and community transformation.

This year’s theme, inspired by King’s enduring words — “We are determined to work and fight until justice runs down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream”— led the nonprofit to recognize those who lead with courage and compassion. This year’s 2025 Social Justice Impact Award honorees represent the spirit of social justice across sectors, from education and health to arts, enterprise, and civic engagement. They are:

• Rev. Barbara Headley, Zion Community Baptist Church: Faith-Based Leadership

• Justin Haynes, JUS10H.com: Impact Through Enterprise

• Kali Green, Springfield Cultural Partnership: Arts and Cultural Advocacy

• Sheldon Smith, Make-It Springfield: Architect of Equity and Expression

• Rev. Terrlyn Curry Avery, Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, Race Relations Leadership

• Tyonne Hinson, Baystate Health: Health Equity Advocacy

• Andrew Morehouse and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts team: Civic Engagement Champions

• Dawn DiStefano, Square One: Equity in Education

• Icie Jones, retired, real estate and housing: Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement

• Maddy Landrau, MassMutual: Equity in Economic Development

The featured keynote speaker is author and educator Stefan Bradley, the Charles Hamilton Houston 1915 Professor of Black Studies and History at Amherst College. Bradley’s major works include his most recent book, If We Don’t Get It: A People’s History of Ferguson. He has appeared on C-SPAN Book TV, NPR, PRI, as well as in documentaries on the Oprah Winfrey Network and the History Channel. An educator at heart, Bradley’s life ambition is to personally teach, mentor, and inspire the young people who change the world for the better.

The afternoon will feature powerful storytelling and community celebration in support of the mission at Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services to lead with hope and drive action, shaping futures and igniting transformation across cultures and generations. This includes awardee celebrations; immersive live art with LESN101, a Lao American visual artist; a performance by Vanessa Ford; a book signing with Bradley and his newest book (books provided by local bookseller Olive Tree Books-n-Voices); a raffle of exclusive experiences; and live music with MLKFS youth and local musicians.

Click here to register or learn more. For inquiries or sponsorship and ad opportunities still available, email Claudia Pazmany at [email protected].

Daily News

DARTMOUTH — On Oct. 6, the Healey-Driscoll administration celebrated the launch of Go Higher, a new brand and awareness campaign designed to inspire more students to go to college by highlighting Gov. Maura Healey’s efforts to make community college free and expand financial aid at public four-year colleges and universities.

Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega visited UMass Dartmouth to speak with students, educators, and community leaders on how the state’s investments and multitude of initiatives are breaking down barriers and opening more doors to higher education across Massachusetts.

“Massachusetts is leading the way in proving that higher education can be both excellent and affordable,” Healey said. “Through Go Higher and the work of the ACARE Council, we are showing students and families that college is within reach and that we are committed to success for every student and their families.”

The event also coincides with the opening of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-27 post-secondary academic year. This federal form is required for students to be eligible for certain federal and state financial aid, including free community college and opportunities to attend the state’s public four-year universities without paying tuition and fees.

Certain eligible students who cannot submit a FAFSA may submit a Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) to apply for state financial aid. Students and families can learn more about FAFSA/MASFA by visiting mass.gov/financialaid.

“The Go Higher campaign is a great way to let students and families know about all the financial aid support that is available to make public higher education more affordable,” UMass President Marty Meehan said. “We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration for their expansion of the MassGrant Plus program, which has bolstered our affordability initiatives at UMass. We’ve worked hard to ensure a world-class UMass education remains affordable and accessible.”

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Visitors to Holyoke Community College (HCC) on Friday, Oct. 24 can expect to see witches, ghouls, ghosts, and an assortment of characters from popular children’s movies, games, books, and TV shows as the college celebrates Halloween with its eighth annual Trunk or Treat event.

Every year, the event draws thousands of children and their parents to the HCC campus for a fun, safe, and early Halloween celebration as dozens of HCC departments, programs, and student clubs, as well as community groups and area businesses, decorate their cars and trucks with a wide assortment of themes.

Trunk or Treat runs from 5 to 7 p.m. in Parking Lot M by the Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation on the main HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave.

Last year’s trunk themes included Charlotte’s Web, The Wizard of Oz, Minions, mummies, Dr. Seuss, pirates, enchanted forest, haunted vet clinic, aliens, Ratatouille, monsters, Jurassic Park, Shrek, the zoo, STEM, Fairly Odd Parents, castles, Wednesday Addams, spiders, skeletons, scarecrows, witches, sharks, and the Justice League.

Prizes are awarded to vehicle sponsors in various categories, including best executed theme, scariest trunk, best costumes, and most original. Each vehicle will hand out free Halloween treats and also have non-food items for children with dietary restrictions.

Trunk or Treat at HCC started in 2017 as an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Rather than going door to door seeking Halloween treats, children go ‘trunk to trunk’ to collect their candy, visiting cars decorated with seasonal themes and familiar stories and characters.

The event is free and open to the public and will be held outdoors, rain or shine. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

To sponsor a vehicle, email Student Engagement at [email protected] no later than Monday, Oct. 20.

Daily News

Michael Dodge

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) promoted Michael Dodge to provost and Michael Eriquezzo to vice president for Marketing and Communications.

“Both Michael Dodge and Michael Eriquezzo bring valuable experience and proven results to their new roles,” AIC President Nicolle Cestero said. “These promotions recognize effective, impactful leadership and strengthen our organizational structure as we continue to grow and serve our students.”

Michael Eriquezzo

Dodge earned a doctor of education degree in education policy and leadership – higher education from UMass Amherst, an MBA from Eastern University, a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education – English from SUNY Oswego. He previously served as executive vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Life. In his expanded role, Dodge will continue to oversee academic affairs, student life, grants, and institutional effectiveness, while also assuming responsibility for campus police operations.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve AIC in this role and to support the college’s mission of access,” Dodge said. “Working alongside dedicated faculty and staff, I look forward to continuing our efforts to strengthen academics and create meaningful pathways for student success.”

Eriquezzo, a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, has led AIC’s marketing team since 2020. Under his leadership, the department has expanded its community presence, launched strategic campaigns, and elevated the college’s brand locally and regionally.

“AIC’s mission has always been rooted in opening doors and fostering growth — and that does not just apply to our students,” Eriquezzo said. “This college has a remarkable story to tell, and I am proud to champion that story alongside my dedicated colleagues.”

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SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health announced the appointment of Michael Treash as president of Health New England, effective Oct. 6. Treash will report directly to Baystate Health President and CEO Peter Banko and serve as a member of the president’s council.

The appointment comes at a pivotal time as Baystate Health and Health New England deepen their integration across care coordination, physician alignment, and value-based care. Together, the organizations aim to advance Baystate Health’s growth strategy, enhance member value, and build a healthy, mission-driven future for the communities they serve.

Treash, a seasoned healthcare executive with more than three decades of leadership experience in provider-based health plans and health system integration, will oversee all operations of Health New England. His responsibilities will include strategic planning, sales, product development, actuarial services, provider relations and contracting, health services, and day-to-day operations.

“Mike brings a proven track record of operational excellence, innovation, and consumer-focused leadership,” said Peter Banko, president and CEO of Baystate Health. “At this critical moment, his vision and expertise will accelerate Health New England’s ability to grow, deliver differentiated value, and strengthen the connection between Baystate Health and Health New England. We are thrilled to welcome him into this important role.”

Treash most recently served as chief operating officer and senior vice president at Health Alliance Plan in Detroit, where he led operations, IT, PMO, supply chain, and data insights while developing and executing a multi-year data transformation strategy. His previous leadership roles include vice president of Enterprise Operations at Priority Health in Grand Rapids, Mich., interim CEO of Missouri Health Care Cooperative, chief operating officer of the Outsource Group, and executive vice president and chief operating officer at Mercy Health Plans in Chesterfield, Mo.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Michigan University and a master of public administration degree from Arizona State University.

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SPRINGFIELD — The board of directors of Big Y Foods Inc. announced leadership changes within its legal team. Michael Gold, senior vice president and chief legal officer, recently retired following more than 30 years of legal experience in both private practice and corporate counsel roles. During his 18-year tenure at Big Y, he played a pivotal role in guiding the company through significant legal and strategic milestones.

“Michael has been a trusted advisor, providing thoughtful guidance on all legal matters of the company, including regulatory and compliance issues,” said Michael D’Amour, Big Y president and CEO. “His extensive legal knowledge and sharp insight helped the company navigate complex challenges with integrity and clarity. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Succeeding him, Big Y welcomed Richard Stamm as its new general counsel. In this role, he will be responsible for delivering legal advice and managing the legal affairs of the company across all aspects of the business, with an emphasis on strategic guidance and business counseling in the areas of compliance, commercial relationships, and corporate governance.

Stamm brings more than 30 years of legal, business, and executive experience across a variety of industries and business structures. Prior to Big Y, he was immersed for 24 years within food/beverage and agriculture with Ocean Spray Cranberries, serving ultimately as its vice president, general counsel, and secretary and vice president of Cooperative Development. Most recently, he served as vice president of Operations, general counsel, and corporate secretary at Activ Surgical Inc., a med-tech, venture capital-backed, AI-focused startup.

“I am both honored and excited to join the Big Y family,” Stamm said. “This is an incredible opportunity to support what is truly an amazing family and company heritage. I look forward to leveraging my experience to help drive Big Y’s continued commitment to its customers, employees, business partners, and the communities it serves as we continue to grow, innovate, and evolve.”

Stamm holds a bachelor’s degree in business economics from Brown University and a juris doctorate with highest honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He teaches an evening class each spring as an adjunct professor at UConn Law (“The In-house Counsel in a Global Market”) and is a frequent speaker on corporate governance and in-house legal strategy.

“We are thrilled to welcome Richard to Big Y,” D’Amour said. “His extensive experience and thoughtful leadership will be invaluable as we continue to evolve. I’m confident that, under his guidance, our legal department will build on its strong foundation, adapting and advancing to meet the changing needs of our dynamic business.”

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LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced that the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have awarded Marie Meckel, assistant professor in Physician Assistant Studies, a Fulbright Specialist Grant.

With this award, Meckel will partner with the Wa West District Health Administration, Ghana Health Service, to launch a cervical cancer screening and prevention initiative. The project is designed to exchange knowledge, foster partnerships, and expand access to preventive healthcare in underserved communities.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in low-resource settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, more than 3,000 women are diagnosed annually, and nearly 2,000 die — often due to late-stage diagnoses. To address this urgent need, Meckel’s two-week project this month will feature four community outreach events offering free cervical cancer screenings, HPV vaccinations, and health education to women in remote villages.

Meckel joins more than 400 U.S. citizens each year who share expertise with host institutions abroad through the Fulbright Specialist Program. Specialists are selected for their academic and professional accomplishments, leadership in their fields, and potential to build lasting international collaborations.

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative, operates in more than 160 countries and has supported more than 400,000 scholars, teachers, scientists, and professionals since 1946. Alumni include Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, as well as heads of state, who have contributed to advancing solutions to shared global challenges.

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BOSTON — Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia was named Mayor of the Year on Oct. 3 by the Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition at the organization’s annual awards gala at Liberty Hotel in Boston. The award was presented to Garcia by Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.

Garcia was recognized for his leadership in advancing clean energy initiatives in Holyoke and for positioning the city to be a hub for sustainable innovation.

Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) also won top honors at the gala, receiving the Utility of the Year award for its role in attracting clean tech industries to the city. Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition Executive Director Kristin Rode cited HG&E’s success at providing reliable, low-cost electricity sourced from the Connecticut River to serve energy-intensive industries seeking clean, green, inexpensive power.

Garcia characterized the awards as “testament to the resilience and ingenuity of Holyoke’s development strategy.” He cited the growing interest of startups and entrepreneurs impressed by the city’s vision of a clean energy economy. “It’s also the commitment of Holyoke’s residents and neighborhood activists, including our small businesses, who have won these awards. Their support and contribution to making Holyoke an innovator in energy conservation has been extraordinary.”

The Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition’s Mayor of the Year award celebrates municipal leaders who exemplify excellence in promoting renewable energy adoption, community engagement, and economic development through sustainable practices. Garcia was selected from a field of finalists, marking the first time a Massachusetts mayor has received the distinction.

“Holyoke was once known as the Paper City. But now we’re the Innovation City, powered by affordable and renewable energy that draws cutting-edge industries and that will continue to help us attract businesses that want these benefits,” Garcia added. “This recognition will help spread the word that Holyoke can provide much more affordable and cleaner energy than the big utility suppliers can.”

Friday’s event capped Massachusetts Clean Energy Week, during which the state’s leadership in renewables is showcased. Northeast Coalition teams visited Holyoke and HG&E twice in the lead-up to the awards event.

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CHICOPEE — Elms College will host a public lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. in Alumnae Library by religious studies professor and author Ryan McLaughlin as part of the annual Mary Dooley Lecture Series. The lecture is free and open to the public.

McLaughlin, an associate professor of Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Theology at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey, is scheduled to give an address titled “What Are Humans, Anyway? The ‘Human’ Behind ‘Human Dignity.’” He has published two books on Christian theology and non-human animals. He has also authored more than 20 articles and book chapters on environmental ethics, biblical studies, feminist hermeneutics, and the problem of evil. He is working on his third book, The Guilt of God: A Dissonant Theodicy.

The Mary Dooley Lecture Series is named in honor of the late Sr. Mary Dooley, who served as Elms College president from 1979 to 1993 and had a distinguished career as an educator and scholar. The lecture series emphasizes spirituality and focuses on a broad, diverse range of topics. McLaughlin’s talk is in keeping with this year’s Catholic social teaching theme, “Life and Dignity of the Human Person.”

In addition to teaching, McLaughlin is also an associate fellow at the Oxford Center for Animal Ethics. He hosts an academic channel on YouTube called “The Wandering Professor,” which explores questions of philosophy, religion, and ethics.